#might draw zou might not..

[murachinchi]

doairaku

[hauntingblue]

Them doing a photo lineup of the mugis for the battle and when it's Robin's turn she just turns and does a blue eyed stare at the camera 😭😭

Look at her 😭😭

[luffysinterlude]

Could you write a drabble of Luffy excited to see reader again in Zou?

BITTERSWEET LOVE CONFESSIONS. . .

★ summary: luffy’s so excited to see you again on zou. (gn!reader)

★ warnings: one piece antics, pre-wci spoilers kinda, sorta ooc! luffy, a lil angst, reader’s an overthinker (wc: ≈1100? is this considered a drabble?)

★ an: ty for allowing me to whip up something to feed my creative side!! i rushed through this though i’ll admit 🥲 but i hope it’s somewhat close to what you were expecting, anon! i’m still trying to get back into writing, so please excuse any grammar/spelling errors TT…also, happy nami day!! my favorite girl <33

luffy’s so so excited.

he’s excited to continue his journey on the grand line, in the new world, his next stop zou to pick up the rest of his crew and hopefully enjoy a nice meal. he’s excited to tell the rest of them about his reunion with sabo, what he’s learned on dressrosa, and to catch up on what’s been happening while he was dealing with business.

but more importantly (though he might never say it out loud, because it’s obvious) he’s excited to see you.

it feels as if the two of you haven’t gotten alone time together since reuniting at sabaody. you promised him you’d tell him all about your training during the two years the crew was separated, but there’s just not enough down time to do so.

as soon as the poorly drawn dragon made its way up the elephant’s leg, luffy wasted no time in his search for you. he was eager to see your face again. to hear your voice. to feel your presence. robin giggled at her captain’s behavior, mentally agreeing with him: wanting to see you and nami again (and her chopper and the crew’s skeleton, too).

“YNNNNNNN!!! where are you?” usopp’s eyes shot out of his head as he looked up and saw his captain standing on a tall wall. “CHOPPER!! NAMI!! SANJI!! BROOK!! YN!! DRAGON BOY!!”

“LUUUUUFFY?! GET DOWN HERE!” usopp screamed. “you’re going to draw attention towards us — we don’t need it!!” law watched as the four of them — zoro, robin, franky and usopp (despite just scolding him) — sighed and continued walking forward. what an odd group of individuals. he must be a handful. the doctor decided to follow the rest of the straw hats, choosing to ignore their captain’s loud antics.

+x+

nami’s voice shook you awake from your slumber, your eyes blurry as you rubbed your forehead. you’re grateful to have been able to get some sleep, your mind still trying to process what’s been happening these days. too much thinking. miss him so much.

“let’s go outside,” nami suggests. “i think they’re finally here.”

upon hearing the words you’ve craved to hear since you’ve arrived on the walking elephant, you jump from your spot and rushed outside. you’re greeted with the crew mates you left on dressrosa, eyes taking in their forms searching for any injuries. after you’ve decided that they’re all in pretty good shape, your attention returns to the loud boy who stood before you.

“LUFFY!” you shout, legs moving towards him without hesitation, almost as if he was magnetizing. you throw your arms around his frame and jump into his embrace, the warmth of his skin meeting yours. his right hand immediately grabs hold of the back of your head, the other steadying your waist in place. he’s about to tell you how much he’s missed you, until you beat him with a hushed whisper in his ear.

“i’m so, so sorry, Lu. sanji…” you start. “we couldn’t stop him.” you’re standing a foot away from him now, head hanging in shame as luffy processes your words. his hands rest on your shoulders, your eyes ignoring his gaze.

the others who joined him on dressrosa collectively let out their confusion, wondering what could’ve happened in the short amount of time they’ve been on dressrosa. you feel luffy’s left hand move from your shoulder to under your chin,

“tell me, yn.”

+x+

you’re all sat in a circle as your captain listens to everyone explaining what’s happened since the twirly hat’s arrival on zou. luffy’s right beside you, digging into his food as your mind fills with memories as nami explains the whole situation regarding sanji. you feel luffy shift slightly, his left arm wrapping around your waist, the other still indulging the meal set in front of him. his attention remains on nami, but the grip on your waist tightens at every mention of you.

after eating, the two of you are able to find some alone time. it’s awkward at first, sitting side by side on a brick wall that guarded the cat viper’s castle. you feel small in his presence as both of you watch the sun set.

“i’ve missed you,” you break the silence. “it’s been a while since we’ve been together.”

luffy’s cheeks are painted with a light blush, a smile forming on his face. “i missed you too yn! been thinking of you ever since you left me on dressrosa — actually, haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since two years ago!”

you return the smile, gaze locking in on his as he brings your body closer to his. his warmth meets your chilled skin, a kiss pressed to the top of your head as you lean into his shoulder.

“have you been okay? doflamingo wasn’t too harsh on you, was he?” you pry. you’ve researched the warlords and came to the conclusion that donquixote doflamingo is — or was — the worst of the seven. when it clicked on punk hazard that doflamingo would be the next victim to fall to luffy, you weren’t sure how to feel. a ton of emotions hit you all at once, but then again, this is the new world. you have to expect the worst.

“oh, mingo? he was this big shot and i’m glad i was able to bring him down. he was doing some really terrible things on the island. but! i did get to see my brother, sabo! you remember me telling you about him, right? turns out he’s been working under my dad for some time now! it’s crazy how the world works,” he eagerly tells you. “he was really hoping to meet you, you know? but i told him you were dealing with business over here — so maybe next time. he also made me a vivre card! it’s in robin’s bag but i’ll be sure to give you a piece when we go back in. hmm, what else?”

you smile as you watch the boy place a hand under his chin and think of events to tell you. you watch as his face changes into many different emotions, and you can’t help but sigh lovingly at the sight.

“hmm? you okay yn?” you shake your head no at the question, inhaling deeply before replying,

“just happy you’re back. missed you so so much. thinking about how much i love you,” warmth filled your face as you realized your last sentence was the first time you’d ever said that to him, eyes darting back to the open sea in front of you.

“huuuuuuuuh?! finally! i love you too, yn. maybe even more! sanji told me i should wait for you to tell me first, but i realized i loved you a long time ago!” luffy’s words were accompanied by his arms wrapping around you once again. he’s always been physical, but this time, you can feel the love radiating off of him. he pulls away and suddenly, your lips are on his. you kiss back instantly, something you’ve craved for a long time; before, luffy’s kisses were always mere pecks. your reunification on sabaody proved that luffy had matured a lot the past two years, but this kiss seals the deal.

“i’ll never leave you, y’know? i kind of wanted you to stay with me on dressrosa,” luffy says as he pulls away and rests his forehead on yours. “but i came to conclusion that you’re strong! which is why i put you in charge. you all made it safely, which was what i told you to do, right? despite what came after…” make sure you and the others arrive on zou safely, yn! you’re now both facing each other, with legs crossed. you quickly think about how high up the two of you are, but the wave of worry vanishes when you remember the bright boy that sat in front of you.

“we’ll get sanji back. we’ll have all our friends together again, so don’t worry. we’re in this together, right?” the words sounded so sweet falling from his lips, and you felt like crying. “it’s a goal of mine to watch you achieve your dream, and so far it’s been a pleasure. don’t plan on missing out!”

seeing the sparkle in his eyes despite the sun setting, made you grab his face with both hands and bring his lips to yours. you poured all the love in your body into the kiss, hoping he’d experience the same feeling you felt when he had kissed you earlier.

“and i’ll be there for your coronation, King.” you smiled at him, turning your body back to the open sea, one you were once afraid of. luffy helped you overcome it; you loved voyaging and the thrill that the ocean offers. you can’t wait to see everyone reach their life dreams, knowing that it’ll happen with the help of the man who sat next to you.

minutes pass you both watched as a pretty shade of dark blue painted the periwinkle sky, in a comfortable silence accompanied by waves clashing against zunesha’s legs.

“….so does that mean we’re technically married now?!”

“luffy..”

+x+

★ an: ty for reading!! please lmk what you thought! constructive criticism is always welcomed! :)

[1000sunnygo]

The fun thing about long running series is that you can trace a character's narrative evolution in real time.

The Law we saw pre-timeskip clearly aimed for One Piece.

Unless it was an elaborated lie to his crewmates (which I guess is the in-series explanation at the moment), it's safe to assume that his D lineage and self assigned suicidal mission didn't exist as a concept back then. The goal is eventually re-established with a context.

While drawing, I assumed Kidd would become important, but I didn't think LAW would move forward like that. So it's youu?? 😱

Weekly serialization, it's a Wonderland.

Weekly serialization means adding oomph on micro scale. I have a particular theory extrapolated from this statement: Law's introduction in Punk Hazard wasn't planned at all.

It might sound far fetched for how integral Law is to Punk Hazard's plot. But it's not an uncommon event, and not just in One piece. Editors often suggest heavy changes to accommodate strong cliffhangers and quick surprises. Eleven supernova were created because early Shabondy lacked oomph, Law might have appeared in Punk Hazard for the same reason.

Even without Law, the straw hats would've anchored in Dressrosa to save Kanjurou, Zou to reunite with Raizo, and in Wano to escort their friends back home. Law just happened to have something going on in all of these places.

I think both Law and Kidd's post timeskip debut was planned to be in Wano arc. Law's competitive dynamic with Kidd and Luffy in Wano is more consistent with Shabondy than anything that came before.

Doflamingo was initially one of Kaido's strongest allies to be defeated within Wano country (confirmed in volume 98 SBS). It means Dressrosa was entirely different from what we got.

Given the similarity in their Jolly Roger, Oda may have always planned Law to be Doflamingo's ex-subordinate with a complicated history, keeping his and Doflamingo's conflict reserved for Wano. But Law was popular, resourceful and the story needed a boost after a monotonous Fishman Island arc. Thus, Law gets his early screentime that snowballs into a dramatic Dressrosa arc. I'm sure Oda didn't mind.

Tldr, I think this is how it went down: Oda decides that Kidd and Law would return and fight alongside Luffy in Wano -> Punk hazard is written and introduces Kinemon -> Punk Hazard falls bland and editor pesters Oda to bring Law early -> Law appears and proposes an alliance, so the plot is now directly chained to Wano -> Oda realizes ope ope makes a good device to explain Imu's immortality -> Oda makes Law a D as he's now connected to endgame plot.

Even if the theory above is wrong, it's a fact that Law was not a part of the bigger picture but became unexpectedly relevant. To work with him, Oda had to figure the smaller details of his personality slowly as the story progressed; such as his honesty and the suicidal tendency.

Law roped straw hats into his revenge scheme while deep down wanting them to leave Dressrosa safe and unharmed. But Law in the draft for this scene looks more... certain. Maybe Robin wasn't wrong to suspect Law after all.

I guess, by the time Oda actually reached the scene, the shadiness didn't suit his personality anymore. Corazon would not approve.

Wano Law was the best written Law. His personality was fully ironed out, not just the revived rivalry with Luffy-Kidd but also a reluctance to be nice while time and time proving it's mostly just talks. It's a mix of his personality traits that were decided at his very introduction and the later decided improvisations.

This post was getting too big and derailed so I had to cut it short lol. Maybe I'm reaching with my speculations but it was a fun topic to brainstorm about.

Edit: Here's a bit of extension of this theory.

[sakura-rose12]

What was the reason (in the cora lives au) where he stopped deciding to wear makeup?

Ps i just followed you b/c ur art is cool 👍

THANK U SO MUCHHH ❤️

In most of the drawings so far, it's pretty soon after he reunites with Law, and they get back to the Polar Tang on Zou.

In my head he had the makeup on as a sort of story, cover up, hiding thing while undercover at Doffys.

After he 'died' and was kept hidden until Doffy was taken down, he didn't really need it anymore, since his marine photo didn't have anything, suggesting this wasn't a thing all the time.

Seeing Law again probably makes him think about makeup again and wears it from time to time (as in, I might make him have the hearts now cause it's too damn cute)

[differentpostrebel]

Lost and Found: A Pirate's Promise

Chapter 39: Fog of Zou and Forbidden Whispers

The first gif because Robin be saying the most out of pocket thing when it was the Zou arc LMFAOO

And this one because the reaction LMFAOOO

A/N: And we are back at it again with another chapter!, thank you guys do much for liking, reblogging, sharing and commenting on these chapters! Starting on chapter 42 its officially the start to whole cake island arc!” I am still working on the bonus chapter for Doflamingo in there. It’ll say chapter 41.5 Bonus Chapter. Each bonus chapter will be a .5 and say Bonus chapter so that way it’ll be easier. I might do color coordinating for the chapters when I go on my master list so that way the different arcs are highlighted. We get a slight confession by Zoro in the end… but all is fair in love and war ;). Now with out further ado, let the adventure begin!

Word Count: 14K

Sanji x Reader, Sanji X Y/N, One piece X Reader 

Y/N POV…

"Are we all ready?" I called out, making my way down the steps. My sword was secured on my back, and the two blades King had given me were strapped snugly to my thighs. As I descended, I felt the weight of everyone's eyes on me. Zoro let out a low whistle, his gaze trailing up and down.

“My, my,” he muttered as he stepped closer, his hand finding its way to my hip, casually flipping my hair over my shoulder with a playful smirk. “Looks to me like you’ve healed up nicely.”

I shot him a smirk of my own, confidence swelling in my chest. “Well, I need to make sure I’m at my best.” My hand instinctively went to the hilt of my sword. “Especially since this Vinsmoke guy has an ass-kicking coming his way after pulling that stunt on my wanted poster.”

Before Zoro could respond, Kinemon’s voice interrupted. “Sir Law! There you are! Where have you been?”

Law’s gaze was still locked on me, a lingering look of desire flickering in his eyes from our earlier moment. I smirked knowingly. “It’s alright, Kinemon. He was probably just checking his vivre card, making sure his crew is still safe.”

Kinemon nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Alright, let’s catch up to them!” Luffy exclaimed, brimming with excitement.

“Be careful out there!” Usopp called, already inching away from the group.

“Oh no, you're coming too!” I said, pulling him back. Zoro added a playful smack to the back of Usopp’s head.

Kanjuro stepped forward, beginning to sketch what appeared to be... something. "Is that a worm?" Robin asked, tilting her head.

“No, it looks like a fish?” I said, narrowing my eyes at the drawing.

“It’s got legs, Y/N. I’d say it’s a lizard,” Franky added with a shrug.

“What is it though?” Luffy asked, confused.

“It’s a snake, I told you!” Usopp interjected confidently.

“A snake, you say?” Kinemon echoed.

Kanjuro pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration before exclaiming, “Appear, rising dragon!” Suddenly, the drawing came to life.

“No way!” Luffy shouted in amazement.

I couldn’t help but question the creature. “Is that dragon okay?”

“Unleash your might, dragon!” Kanjuro urged, but the dragon looked anything but mighty.

“Whimpy or not, if it can fly, it’ll make things easier,” Usopp muttered.

“Make haste, everyone! Climb upon it so that it may carry us,” Kanjuro announced.

“So it can fly!” Usopp said with a bit more enthusiasm. One by one, we climbed onto the dragon. As I was about to get on, Zoro lifted me up effortlessly and placed me in front of him.

“Really, Zoro?” I said, raising a brow.

“Gotta make sure you’re secured,” he teased, his grip tightening slightly around my waist, a flirtatious reminder of how he held me back in Dressrosa when we rode the bull.

Before I could respond, I felt a sudden shift. In the blink of an eye, Law’s Room technique activated, and suddenly, Zoro was switched with Law, who was now behind me, his chest pressing lightly against my back.

I glanced over my shoulder, catching Law’s smirk as he leaned in slightly. “Looks like I’m the one keeping you secure now.” His voice was low, sending a shiver down my spine.

Zoro let out a frustrated sigh. "Tch, damn room technique..."

As we continued to travel up the elephant's leg, the drawing Kanjuro drew was having a difficult time pulling all of us up. "You can do it, big guy!" Luffy shouted encouragingly.

"How long is it?" Usopp asked, looking up at the towering elephant. His voice wavered with nervousness.

"Hey, Luffy! Your biggest fans have something to say!" Franky called, glancing back to see Bartolomeo and his crew, who were in tears.

"Oh yeah! I forgot to thank them for everything!" Luffy exclaimed, turning toward them. "Hey, Lomeo, thanks for bringing us here! You and your crew were a huge help!" Luffy yelled, waving energetically.

"Please take care, Mr. Luffy!" Bartolomeo yelled back, tears streaming down his face.

"Same to you! Be careful, and see you later!" Luffy waved one last time as we continued to ride the dragon, now climbing higher along the elephant's leg.

"We're so high!" Usopp groaned, clutching the dragon tightly. "I can't take this!"

Suddenly, the dragon started to slip, its grip faltering as it tried to maintain its balance. Instinctively, I tightened my grip, my heart racing. Law's hand moved to my waist, steadying me, and I gasped softly at the sudden contact. His fingers tightened slightly, the warmth of his touch grounding me.

I turned to look at him, catching his intense gaze. His eyes were filled with a mix of concern and desire. "Careful now," he murmured, his voice low, the closeness between us heightening the tension.

"Aw crap! We're all going to die!" Usopp screamed as the dragon started slipping again.

"Are you trying to pull my pants down, or what?!" Zoro yelled at Usopp, who was clinging onto him in a panic.

"Don't give up on us now, buddy!" Luffy cheered, holding on as the dragon struggled to maintain its footing, slipping all the way back to where we started.

Usopp, his nerves getting the better of him, named the dragon "Reonosque."

"That scared the crap out of me," Law muttered, his usual calm demeanor shaken just slightly.

I clenched my left hand in frustration. "I'm on the verge of just flying up there myself."

Law’s hand gently gripped my arm. "You're not going anywhere, princess."

Kanjuro suddenly mentioned his friend Raizo, a ninja, causing every single guy in the group to light up in excitement.

"Oh my," Robin said with amusement.

"That's so cool!" Luffy's eyes sparkled.

"Does he have shuriken?!" Zoro asked eagerly.

"Does he sit on a waterfall?" Usopp added, starry-eyed.

"Does he have powers? He has to!" Law's usually composed face was lit up with interest, almost geeking out at the thought of an actual ninja.

"Can he move in shadows and disappear?" Franky chimed in, his excitement infectious.

Robin and I exchanged a look, both confused but amused by the guys' reactions. "So… are we going to move, or—"

Suddenly, a loud sound came from above, startling us. Something fell toward us at high speed. "Ahh, that came out of nowhere!" Luffy yelled.

"Hit the deck!" Luffy shouted again, but before I could react, something hit me square in the face, causing me to lose my grip.

"Y/N!" Law shouted as I began to fall.

"Ahh!" I screamed, trying to steady myself as the wind rushed past me. In mid-air, I noticed Kinemon and Kanjuro also tumbling through the air.

"Why are you guys falling too?!" I yelled in disbelief.

"We lost our grip!" they both shouted back, flailing wildly.

"You boneheads!" I shouted, the panic in my voice mixing with the absurdity of the situation.

Taking a deep breath, I clenched my left hand and used the momentum of the fall to leap back into the air, flipping gracefully. "That was close," I muttered, landing safely back on the dragon.

Zoro smirked as I settled in front of him. "Comfortable now?" he teased, his arm naturally wrapping around me to steady us both.

"That was one rush, geez," I said, smoothing my hair out of my face, the adrenaline still pumping through me. I glanced back at Law, catching his expression—guilt weighing heavily in his eyes. I gave him a soft smile and a playful wink, letting him know it was alright. His features softened, though the hint of jealousy lingered.

"At first glance, I thought it was a wounded man covered with knives," Robin commented dryly from behind us.

"Really, Robin, can you not be morbid for one second?" I chuckled, trying to shake off the absurdity.

"Or perhaps a little monkey," she continued with a deadpan expression.

Suddenly, we heard Kinemon’s voice call out, "We’re alright! We’ll reunite soon!"

The dragon continued to climb, even though Usopp and the others kept insisting that it was suffering. "He’s struggling; we better press on," Usopp said, looking genuinely concerned as tears formed in his eyes. "Stay strong, Reonosuke!"

"You can do it!" Robin added, holding her hand over her mouth to contain her emotion.

As the evening sun began to set, casting a warm glow over everything, Luffy, completely oblivious to the tension, decided it was nap time and fell right on me.

"Luffy! I swear, if I fall off one more time..." I muttered, trying to shift under his weight.

"Hey, look up there! I see the top!" Franky shouted, his voice filled with excitement.

Suddenly, Luffy stirred in his sleep, lost his grip, and nearly toppled over the side, which set off a chain reaction.

"Phew, that was a—" I started to say until I was cut off by screams.

"Crap! Luffy fell!" Usopp shouted in panic.

"Usopp!" I yelled back. 

"How stupid can you be?!" Zoro roared, clearly frustrated with the chaos.

Before things got worse, Luffy managed to save himself by using his stretchy arms to grab hold of the dragon’s horns, but the sudden shift caused us to start tipping over. Now, Zoro, Usopp, and I were hanging upside down, blood rushing to my head as I tried to maintain a tight grip on the dragon.

Zoro’s arm tightened around my waist, pulling me in closer to secure me. "I got you, Y/N," he whispered, his voice low and filled with a mix of protectiveness and something more... intimate.

I could feel Zoro drawing me even closer, his grip firm yet gentle as he pulled me against his chest. His face was now tucked between my neck and shoulder, his breath warm against my skin.

Suddenly, I felt him place a light, teasing peck on my neck. My breath hitched at the unexpected gesture.

"Z-Zoro…" I started, but his hand remained on my waist, his touch lingering. The playful flirtation between us was undeniable, and Law, from his spot behind, was watching—his eyes darkening with jealousy.

Law clenched his jaw, his irritation clear as he witnessed the moment, but Zoro’s smirk only grew wider. He held me tightly, his lips grazing my skin again, sending a shiver down my spine.

Zoro's smirk widened as he held me tight, still savoring the tension between us, his lips grazing my skin one more time before we both refocused on the task at hand. Luffy, oblivious to the earlier moment, finally managed to pull himself up and land on the dragon's nose. Despite still hanging upside down, we all cheered for Reonosuke to keep going.

"You can do it, Reonosuke!" Luffy yelled encouragingly.

"That’s your word of encouragement?" Usopp said, clearly about to slip off himself.

"Do your best, dragon!" Zoro muttered, annoyed but smirking again. "Actually, take your time."

"Zoro, really!" I said, rolling my eyes at his teasing, though secretly enjoying the playful moment. Finally, Reonosuke managed to pull himself up, and we sped ahead, the dragon straining but continuing the climb.

"Almost to the top! Almost to the top!" everyone cheered, calling Reonosuke's name.

"Be strong, Reonosuke," Robin whispered, tears in her eyes as she covered her mouth.

We finally reached the top and all dismounted the dragon. "We made it! We're here!" Luffy exclaimed with joy.

Robin and I turned to thank the dragon, but he was starting to change back into the drawing.

"You can’t leave!" Usopp cried, emotionally attached now. "Please, Reonosuke! You’re a true hero!"

The rest of us, except for Law and Zoro, were moved by the dragon’s sacrifice.

"This is dumb," Law muttered, crossing his arms. "It’s just a crappy drawing."

Zoro snorted. "Yeah, let’s not get sentimental over a doodle."

As we continued forward, the atmosphere shifted. The once lively place looked abandoned, and the gate ahead was destroyed.

"Did something happen here?" I asked, my eyes scanning the eerie surroundings.

"You see Curly Brows anywhere?" Zoro asked as he stood next to me.

Usopp, who had climbed a tower, yelled down, "Nope, nothing!"

"Should we wait for the others?" Robin asked, a little hesitant.

"Nah, they’ll be fine," I said, waving it off as we ventured further inside. The place felt strange—like something ominous had happened recently.

"Look at the trail too," Zoro pointed out. "No normal animal could’ve made a path this wide."

"I wonder what caused this," Usopp said nervously. Zoro and I exchanged a glance, both sensing the tension in the air.

I clenched my right hand, allowing electricity to surge through it. "Only one way to find out!" Zoro and I said in unison as we moved ahead.

"Wait, slow down!" Usopp yelled, clearly panicking.

"The flowers here grow in odd places," Robin mused, her eyes examining the strange flora around us.

"Geez, what happened here?" Franky added, sniffing the air. "It smells like gas and gunpowder."

Suddenly, we all felt a presence nearby. Zoro unsheathed his sword with a confident grin. "I got this."

A figure darted out from the shadows, swiftly dodging Zoro’s attack mid-air. Before the figure could land a strike, I managed to block it with my electrically charged hand, sending sparks flying.

"Sorry, Zoro, looks like you needed a little backup," I teased, electricity still crackling from my fingertips as I smirked over at him.

Before Zoro could respond, a voice called out. "Carrot! Stop immediately!" Another figure—a giant gator—burst through.

"Since when are there gators here?!" I asked, not taking my eyes off the mink who had just attacked.

"Talking animals?" Usopp said, his voice shaking.

"They’re the Mink Tribe," Law explained, sounding more intrigued than alarmed.

"Wait a second... I know those clothes!" Usopp shouted, realization dawning on him. "But that’s not Nami…"

The mink and I stood off, both still charged with electricity. I raised an eyebrow. "Why don’t you lower your hand?" I suggested, smirking at her. The mink hesitated but backed away as I did the same, turning off the electrical current in my arm.

"There's an invader in the Whale Forest too?!" the mink, Carrot, exclaimed, her eyes wide.

"Yes, the situation is dire," said another mink, wearing Nami's clothes. "The Guardians won’t be happy about this."

"Listen, what did you do to Nami?" Usopp shouted, his fear clear.

"Do you think they’re cannibals?" Robin asked with her usual calmness, causing Usopp to scream in terror.

"Great, now I’m double scared!" Usopp wailed.

Just then, the mink I had faced, Carrot, leaped into the air with impressive force. "That technique looks similar to mine," I thought. "I’m definitely learning that to improve my left leg's agility."

I turned to Zoro. "I could use that move."

Zoro chuckled but stayed focused. "Looks like it could come in handy."

"Carrot, see anything unusual?" the other mink asked.

Carrot pointed west. "Over there!"

The mink in Nami’s clothes got ready to move. "There’s no time to transport you all-tia, so head west to the Trump Forest. That’s where you’ll find your crew’s corpse. Wait for us on the right flank."

The words hit us like a punch. Usopp dropped to the ground in shock.

"Wait… what?" I asked, my voice trembling. "What did she mean by corpse?"

Fear surged through me as the reality of the situation began to settle in. Something terrible had happened to the crew, and we needed to find out what.

Fear still gripped me, but Zoro’s calm logic cut through the panic. "Nobody’s been killed. Curlybrows is with them, remember?"

Usopp, still crying, sniffled, “But she said something about a corpse!”

“Well, she did say ‘corpse,’ which means they haven’t been eaten… yet,” Robin added, ever the realist.

“That’s not the point!” Usopp wailed, shaking his head dramatically.

"Those animal ladies must’ve been trying to trick us," Franky added, his voice tinged with skepticism.

"If that’s the case, then it’s a terrible lie," I said, crossing my arms, trying to push down my own anxiety as I watched Usopp continue to cry.

“Are they the only tribe, or not? And are they cannibals?” Robin asked, still fixated on the worst possibilities.

"Can you please stop with the cannibal stuff?!" Usopp freaked out, his nerves clearly getting the best of him.

"First things first, we need to learn everything we can about this place," I said, trying to focus the group. "Law, your crew should be here, right?"

Law nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, they should be."

"And can you contact them?" Robin asked, always thinking ahead.

"I'm afraid not," Law replied, a hint of regret in his voice. "I didn’t expect to see them again this soon, but I do still have this." He pulled out a small piece of paper from his pocket. "It’s a Vivre Card—from our navigator, Bepo."

“That’s right!” I said, feeling a bit of relief. “Bepo should be here, waiting for you.”

"Yeah," Law added, "this place is where he was born. But he left the island when he was little, so he doesn’t remember much about the Mink Tribe."

"Are you sure we can trust him?" Usopp piped up, his voice shaky. "Like, what if he still longs to taste human flesh?"

Before Law could respond, I stepped forward, holding up a hand. "Usopp, calm down. I know Bepo, and he’s the sweetest little mink you’ll ever meet. He wouldn’t even think about doing something like that."

Usopp was still unconvinced, his eyes wide. "Y/N, you’ve only met him a handful of times! How can you be so sure?!"

I rolled my eyes, sighing. "Because, Usopp, I met Bepo back in Sabaody. I even gave him my number back when we were in that auction house. When we met, he was so nervous! Trust me, he’s super sweet. Once you see him, you’ll understand." My words came out with complete confidence, trying to ease Usopp’s worries.

As I turned to Law, I noticed something. His gaze had softened as he listened to me talk about Bepo. There was a warmth in his eyes that wasn’t there before, like hearing me speak fondly of his crewmate had stirred something in him. His usual calm demeanor shifted slightly, and for a brief moment, his expression held a depth of emotion—appreciation, admiration, maybe even something more.

But just as quickly, Law broke out of his trance, clearing his throat and composing himself. "Look," he said, his voice steady but with a lingering softness, "I’ve known Bepo for a decade. He’s my friend, and if you want reliable info, follow me." His tone carried a certainty, but there was still that lingering connection in the way he looked at me, like something unspoken had passed between us. 

"Wait! There was a town back there, what if they’re all there waiting?!" Usopp said, still not convinced.

"There might be some cannibals," Robin chimed in, causing Usopp to freak out further.

All of us followed Law as we made our way into town. Destruction was evident everywhere—buildings and houses were reduced to rubble, and debris littered the streets.

"What happened?" I asked, feeling a chill run down my spine as I took in the devastation.

As we moved further, Zoro’s voice came from behind me. "What is this?" He pointed toward a series of crude torture devices scattered in the ruins.

"I don’t know, but it doesn’t look right," I replied.

"Hey, check this out!" Law called, showing us a giant dent in the ground. "This is huge."

"Two weeks," Robin said, eyeing the area. "This place has been abandoned for two weeks."

"Two weeks?!" Usopp exclaimed in disbelief.

Suddenly, the ground shifted beneath us.

"What is it now?" I said, my voice laced with frustration just as a water eruption burst forth, sending us all into chaos.

"Run, guys!" Robin shouted. "Get to higher ground!"

"It’s too late, brace yourselves!" Franky yelled as the floodwaters swept us away.

I fought to stay above water, but the current was relentless, pulling me under again and again. Water filled my lungs, and every gasp for air was followed by another forceful wave that dragged me down. Just when I thought I might be lost to the flood, a strong hand grabbed hold of me.

"I got you!" Zoro shouted, pulling me to safety along with Franky, Usopp, Robin, and Law.

I collapsed onto higher ground, coughing up water as I tried to catch my breath. "Th... Thanks, Zoro," I managed to say, my voice weak but grateful.

Zoro knelt beside me, his strong arms helping me to sit up as I placed a trembling hand on my chest, focusing on steadying my breathing. "Easy, princess, breathe," he said in a tone that was both protective and teasing.

As I opened my eyes, I saw both Zoro and Law staring at me. There was a palpable tension in the air. "Is everything alright with you two?" I asked, my confusion growing as I followed their gazes—only to realize, with a jolt of embarrassment, that my wet top was now clinging to my body, revealing far more than I intended.

Zoro's smirk widened as he looked at me with his usual playful glint. "Well, if you wanted to get my attention, you definitely succeeded, princess," he teased, his voice low and suggestive. His fingers brushed against my arm again, sending another shiver through me. "Though you didn’t have to go this far."

I shot him a glare, my face heating up. "Zoro, seriously—this is not the time."

He chuckled, clearly enjoying my flustered reaction. "Could’ve fooled me," he murmured, leaning in slightly as his grin deepened. "But hey, I’m not complaining."

I turned away, trying to regain some semblance of composure, only to lock eyes with Law, who had been silently watching the entire exchange. His expression was harder to read, but his eyes were dark, filled with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. Though he said nothing, the hunger in his gaze was unmistakable, sending a different kind of shiver down my spine.

"Law?" I asked, my voice hesitant. "You okay?"

He blinked, breaking free from whatever trance he was in, but the tension in his body and the lingering look he gave me told me everything. He cleared his throat, his usual stoic demeanor returning. "I’m fine," he said curtly, though his gaze drifted back to me, betraying his words.

"Right..." I muttered, feeling the weight of both their stares.

Suddenly, Usopp's frantic voice echoed through the air. "Luffy! Luffy's with that Nami dog lady, and the flying rabbit is there too!"

"Ahh! Luffy is being eaten... kinda!" Usopp screamed from above.

"Then it's true, they must be..." Franky started, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"A cannibal tribe," Robin finished calmly, as Usopp spiraled into another panic.

I slapped my hand on my forehead in frustration. "Of course..." I muttered as we quickly made our way toward Luffy’s direction. The idea of a cannibal tribe was starting to become ridiculous, but convincing Usopp otherwise seemed impossible.

As we ran, Law swiftly used his powers, calling out "Shambles!" In an instant, we were teleported—Usopp and Franky landed horribly on the ground, groaning and tumbling in disarray. Robin, as always, landed gracefully alongside Zoro.

Just as I braced myself for a rough landing, I felt strong arms catch me mid-air. Law held me steady, his grip firm but gentle, and for a brief moment, I was suspended in his arms, our faces inches apart.

I blinked, surprised by the sudden closeness. "Thanks for the catch," I said, my voice soft as I met his eyes.

Law gave a small nod, his usual stoic expression momentarily replaced by something warmer. "Anytime," he replied, his voice low and deliberate, his gaze locked on mine for just a moment longer than necessary.

I felt my cheeks heat up at his words, but before I could respond, Law finally let his hand fall away, leaving a tingling sensation in its wake as he turned his attention back to the task at hand.

"Hey, look who it is?" yelled Luffy, his voice echoing across the clearing as we saw him standing with two Minks by his side. "Are you okay? No missing arms or legs?" Usopp questioned, hiding nervously behind Zoro. Then, in typical Usopp fashion, he took over, pretending to be Zoro, moving his arms like a puppet as if he was Zoro himself.

I sighed, shaking my head at the absurdity. "Well, this is a mess, whatever impression you guys have, it’s all wrong," said the female Mink, crossing her arms. "Look over there. There’s a guard and a gate to our fortress," she continued, pointing ahead where a group of Minks stood guard, watching us cautiously.

"None of them meant any harm. They just didn’t know they were supposed to ring the welcoming bell, open the gate, and deliver this message for me—the Straw Hat Pirates have arrived!" she announced proudly. "We have very important guests! They are friends of our saviors and should be welcomed as such!"

Instantly, the crowd of Minks surrounding us cheered in unison, "Garchu!"

I let out a small laugh, shaking my head. "Well, I’ll be damned."

"Garchu!" Luffy yelled back, beaming at the crowd.

Suddenly, familiar voices cut through the noise. "There they are!" came Nami’s voice.

"You’re right! I see them!" shouted Chopper, running toward us.

"Chopper!" I called out, rushing forward to meet him. His little arms flew around me as he jumped into my embrace.

"Hey, look! It's Nami and Chopper, and not a scratch on them!" Usopp cried, tears streaming down his face.

"Y/N! You’re not dead!" Chopper sobbed, squeezing me tightly.

"Of course, I’m not, Chopper!" I laughed, hugging him close.

"Luffy!" Nami yelled, relief clear in her voice as she threw herself toward him. "I was so worried! I’m so glad you’re safe!" Luffy just grinned, completely relaxed.

But then, as I held Chopper, I felt him start to tremble. I looked down, only to see him starting to cry again. "Chopper, what’s wrong?" I asked softly, my heart sinking a little at seeing him like this.

He sniffled and looked up at me with tear-filled eyes. "Why didn’t you tell me you were engaged?"

I froze, completely blindsided. "Engaged?" I blinked. "What made you think that, Chopper?" I asked, genuinely confused, wondering what could have given him that idea.

But before I could get a response, I turned to the others. "By the way, have you guys seen Brook or Sanji? I need to talk to Sanji... I’m sure he’s been going through it." I chuckled, imagining his dramatic reaction to everything.

However, Nami’s expression turned serious. Her smile faded, and I could see the weight of something dark in her eyes. "I’m sorry, but... Sanji is gone."

Her words hit like a punch, and everything around me seemed to blur. "Gone?" I whispered, feeling the weight of the revelation press down on me.

The shock lingered as time passed, but eventually, the minks began to bring us food and booze, trying to lift our spirits.

I found myself sitting next to Zoro as they served us some kind of monkey wine. Zoro took a sip, nodding appreciatively. "This is fine wine," he said, sounding a bit impressed.

"Mind if I try some?" I asked, curious. I was handed a cup, and as I took a sip, the warmth of the drink immediately spread through me. "Delicious," I murmured, feeling a slight flush rise to my cheeks.

Suddenly, the minks began to cuddle up to Zoro, yelling, "Garchu!" and nuzzling against him. I couldn’t help but giggle at the sight.

Zoro, looking completely annoyed, tried to shake them off. "Enough of the cuddles! Can’t you see I’m drinking here?" he growled, pushing them away gently.

"Aww, but it’s fun!" one of the minks whined, trying to cling to him again.

Laughing, I leaned in toward him, teasingly adding, "You guys, Zoro isn’t the mushy type. Watch this." With a smirk, I nuzzled my cheek against his, just like the minks had done. "Garchu!" I said playfully.

Zoro’s eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, he froze, caught off guard by my sudden closeness. But then, with a playful smirk of his own, he slid his arm around my waist, pulling me even closer. His breath was warm against my skin as he whispered, "Oh, so you think you’re clever, huh?"

I giggled, enjoying the lightheartedness of the moment. "Looks like you’re getting used to the cuddles, Zoro."

"Don’t push your luck," he murmured, though his tone was laced with amusement. His fingers gently brushed my side, and I felt the warmth of the wine and his touch mix, sending a slight shiver down my spine. He leaned in, his lips brushing close to my ear. "I’ll give you something to 'garchu' about."

His words, paired with the proximity, sent my heart racing. "Oh, really?" I teased, trying to keep my voice steady, but the tension between us was palpable.

Zoro chuckled, his grip on me tightening slightly. "Remember that favor you owe me from losing that drinking bet?" he said, his tone playful but carrying a hint of challenge.

I blinked, momentarily surprised. "Oh? I thought you’d forgotten about that," I replied, laughing lightly.

"Not a chance," he whispered, his lips almost grazing my ear as he spoke. His voice was low and teasing, making it clear he had been waiting for the perfect moment. "I’ve just been waiting for the right time to cash it in. And trust me, you won’t forget it when I do."

I was about to respond, but the minks once again garchued Zoro, and I couldn't help but laugh at the adorable interaction unfolding. "Don't be mean, Zoro! They are giving us all this meat, and you can't be nice for one second," Luffy muttered, his mouth full of food.

Suddenly, a mink came up to me, garchuing with excitement. "You're so cute! Garchu!" it squeaked. I couldn't resist the playful energy around us, joining in the laughter as we all began to mingle and enjoy the feast.

Just then, someone burst through the doors. "You're... you're here!" Brook exclaimed, rushing towards us with an air of excitement.

"Brook!" I exclaimed, placing my drink on the floor and rushing to greet him. "Brook!" everyone echoed joyously, their voices filling the room.

"Ohhh Joy! I read about your big battle!" Brook cried, his eye sockets dripping with tears of relief. "I'm so glad you’re all okay!" His gaze fixed on me, and he added, "Y/N! You’re not dead!"

I laughed, a sense of warmth spreading through me. "No, I’m very much alive!" I replied, grinning at his exuberance.

But then Brook's expression shifted to one of concern. "Also, why didn’t you tell me you were engaged?!" he asked, rushing over to hug me from the side, his tears now flowing freely.

"Brook, what are you on about?" I replied, slightly confused. I raised my right hand, showcasing the only ring I carried. "Engagement ring? The only rings I carry are the ones King gave me!" I insisted. "Who told you I was engaged?"

Before Brook could answer, he turned his attention to Luffy. "I’ve missed you!" Brook cried, suddenly clinging to Luffy and shedding tears. "What’s wrong? You’re all banged up!"

"Never mind me, I’m sorry about Sanji! I feel like I’ve lost all face! Although not that I have one to begin with," Brook lamented dramatically. I was about to ask about Sanji when Usopp interrupted.

"Oh yeah, wasn’t Momo supposed to be with you guys?" he asked, curiosity lighting up his face.

Brook tensed up at the mention of Momo. "Momo isn’t fond of the minks," he explained, his tone becoming more serious. He then pulled us aside for a private chat, clearly wanting to ensure the discussion remained discreet.

"We aren’t allowed to mention samurai or Wano," Brook explained, glancing around cautiously. "It might cause offense or pain to the minks."

"What’s the deal?" I asked, confused and concerned about the implications.

Just as Brook was about to continue, he was suddenly bitten by one of the dog minks, who seemed enamored with his bony figure. "He’s so popular," Robin remarked, smirking as we all walked to sit down together.

"Luffy, I don’t see Traffy anywhere," Chopper said, looking around.

"Yeah, he said ‘bear place,’" Luffy replied, scratching his head in confusion.

"Bear place?" Chopper echoed, his brows furrowing in thought.

"I think what Luffy is trying to say is that Traffy is with Bepo and the rest of his crew," Robin clarified, rolling her eyes at Luffy’s usual antics.

I felt a surge of relief knowing that Traffy was with his crew. "I hope they’re okay," I said quietly, glancing at my friends.

"He’s fine! Instead, we should worry more about Sanji," Nami interjected, her expression turning serious.

"He left you a letter, didn’t he? His thing will work out," Zoro said, his tone indifferent, though I could sense his concern.

"Actually, Zoro, he left two letters, and one was for Y/N," Nami corrected, holding out the folded paper to me.

"A letter for me?" I said, my curiosity piqued as I took the letter from Nami's hands.

I carefully opened its contents, and as I read, the words made my eyes glossy with tears. "What is he saying?" I whispered, my heart racing.

The letter read:

My beloved Y/N,I didn’t want you to find out this way, nor did I want the crew to think I was hiding anything. I’m not marrying Big Mom’s daughter, nor do I care about engagements. The only woman I have my eyes set on is you. I’ll be damned if I let anybody harm you or force you into doing anything against your will. I’ll be back in no time, once I sort this whole situation out. Y/N, as I write this letter, I want you to know...

The ink smudged slightly, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. The words danced before my eyes as I tried to process everything. I only want to be engaged to you, and I’ll be damned if I let a Vinsmoke claim you as his.

"This letter doesn’t make any sense," I said, my voice trembling as I struggled to comprehend his declarations.

Luffy began to ponder, his brow furrowed in thought. Zoro’s grip on my waist tightened slightly, a possessiveness evident in his posture. "Hmmm, he didn’t get kidnapped; he just left?" Luffy mused, trying to piece together the situation.

"That’s what I’m worried about! It all seems too fishy!" Nami exclaimed, her eyes wide with concern.

"I’m so sorry!" Chopper chimed in, his voice quivering with emotion. "We couldn’t do anything to stop him."

"You’re going to need to give us more details because I’m lost," Franky added, crossing his arms as he looked at Nami expectantly.

"Same here!" I echoed, my thoughts racing. With the letter Sanji gave me, my wanted poster stamped with "Only Alive," and the ominous mention of a Vinsmoke, I felt like I was caught in the middle of a storm. "I need a rundown of everything."

"Listen, Nami, we need to know the details in full. Tell us what happened in the last 11 days since you left Dressrosa and boarded the Sunny," Robin urged, her expression serious.

"Okay, I’ll tell you everything that happened," Nami said, her tone shifting as she prepared to recount the story.

As Nami began to detail the events that unfolded—from my capture by Doflamingo to the sudden appearance of Big Mom’s ship—we all listened intently, absorbing every word. The atmosphere shifted from anxiety to excitement as Nami recounted how they fought valiantly against overwhelming odds.

We all cheered as Luffy recounted how they kicked ass. 'Way to go, guys!' I said, resting my head on Zoro’s chest, feeling the comfort of his presence. His heartbeat was steady, a reassuring rhythm amidst the chaos of our situation. Zoro looked down at me, a hint of a smirk on his lips, as if he was proud to be my anchor in this whirlwind of emotions and revelations.

"So, you came here after that? How long did it take?" Robin asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Zou was close to us, so we arrived in a day," Nami replied.

"We’ve been here ten days!" Chopper added, holding up his hooves, his eyes wide with surprise.

Robin then turned her attention to Wanda, asking about the city’s situation. With a solemn expression, Wanda recounted the tale of what had transpired, her face bearing the weight of the tragic events. She explained how they owed everything to the Straw Hats and Chopper's medical expertise for saving many lives in the aftermath of the attack.

Just then, the minks received news that the Duke was awake. "Duke Dogstorm would like to meet the saviors," one of the minks announced, excitement rippling through the gathered crowd.

Wanda continued, her tone turning serious as she recalled the assault by Jack and the Beast Pirates. "They wanted something we didn’t have," she explained, her voice thick with emotion. "The Beast Pirates attacked and caused destruction beyond what we could handle."

"So it was Kaido's crew that attacked, and they are the Beast Pirates," Robin clarified, piecing together the information.

Wanda nodded, confirming Robin's deduction. "Those bastards," I muttered, my anger flaring at the thought of what the minks had endured.

Sensing my growing rage, Zoro placed his arm around my shoulder, a silent gesture of support meant to calm me down. His warmth enveloped me, grounding me amidst the tumult of emotions swirling within. I leaned into him slightly, grateful for his presence as I tried to push the anger aside 

"They wouldn't listen to a word we said; we were forced to fight or die," Wanda recounted, her voice heavy with the memories of the battle.

"Wait, so Jack ended up leaving but he never found the samurai?" Usopp asked, piecing together the timeline.

Luffy, oblivious to the tension, began bouncing with excitement, his voice high and squeaky. "Wow, that was fun!" he declared, moving up and down the bridge in his usual overenthusiastic manner.

"Luffy! Stop!" I shouted, half-amused and half-exasperated.

"Not for us!" the rest of the crew chimed in unison, their frustration evident.

We finally arrived at the place where Duke Dogstorm was resting, and Wanda continued sharing details about Cat Viper and the Duke, her tone shifting to a more somber note. "But then... a poison gas," she said, her expression darkening.

Realization dawned on all of us simultaneously. "You know what that means," Chopper chimed in, his eyes wide. "The poison gas—it was Caesar's."

"Looks like he’s getting another ass-kicking," I muttered, my determination hardening. "He’s number three on my list." I made a mental note to settle the score with Caesar, the memory of his past actions fueling my resolve. Zoro tightened his grip on my shoulder,

"So I see the connection now! Kaido's bio-weapons came from Doflamingo!" Robin said, her words cutting through the room with sharp clarity.

The mention of his name made my body tense up, a wave of anxiety washing over me. My breathing became shallow, and the air around me felt like it was closing in. The memories of Doflamingo's cruel grip, his suffocating presence, all surged back.

"Y/N, breathe... breathe," Zoro's voice came, steady and firm, his hand gently squeezing my shoulder.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the rhythm of my breaths, trying to push the panic back down. Just the mention of Doflamingo was enough to set me on edge, but Zoro’s calm presence beside me helped me regain control. I nodded slightly, silently thankful for him as I worked to ground myself, the weight of the past momentarily easing.

Luffy gritted his teeth, fists clenched tight. "Caesar!" he growled, fury evident in his voice. "He's getting an ass kicking!"

"I've already made a mental note, Captain," I said, my eyes narrowing. A small electrical current sparked from my fingers as I added with a smirk, "He's getting an ass kicking and a shock."

Luffy grinned, his anger momentarily turning into excitement at the thought. “Good! He deserves it!”

Luffy’s grin faltered, replaced by a more serious expression as Wanda continued recounting the terrible events they endured. “It wasn’t your fault, you must’ve been frustrated,” Luffy said, trying to comfort her.

Wanda’s voice trembled as she recalled the horrors. “We were all completely paralyzed… and as for what happened next... I don’t even want to say it.” Her eyes brimmed with tears. “I can’t shake the screams of innocent lives, begging for help…”

I felt my heart ache for her and the minks. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered, wishing there was more I could do to ease their pain.

“We were spared by fate,” came a deep, weary voice. Duke Dogstorm was now awake, slowly lifting his head.

“How long have you been awake?!” Luffy exclaimed in surprise.

The Duke, still groggy but focused, lifted a newspaper to show us. The headline read that Jack had died. "The day Jack left our kingdom was the day you two, Gara,"—he nodded towards both Luffy and me—“challenged Doflamingo. I realized then, Jack was trying to liberate Doflamingo from captivity. It must have been bound by some deep-rooted connection. The reason they left... was because of you two.”

The Duke’s words weighed heavily, the realization settling over us all. His eyes closed again, falling back into sleep as exhaustion claimed him.

Wanda, tears still fresh, turned to us. “Knowing that, I feel even more gratitude. All of our lives are deeply indebted to you.”

“And the day Doflamingo was defeated was the day we arrived here,” Chopper added, putting it all together.

I couldn’t help but feel the immense gravity of our actions—how they rippled across the world and saved so many lives, even when we didn’t realize it.

Zoro’s grip tightened slightly, his proud grin never faltering. “That’s my partner,” he repeated, leaning down to kiss the top of my head again, his lips lingering just a bit longer this time.

I smirked, unable to resist teasing him. “Look at you, Zo. Being all soft.”

Before Zoro could reply, Usopp’s voice cut through the moment. “Soft? Zoro? Are we still talking about the same guy?!” Usopp threw his hands up in exaggerated disbelief. “Must be the wine talking, no way he’s being all cuddly!”

Zoro shot Usopp a glare, his face flushed—probably a mix of both embarrassment and the booze. “Hey!, keep it up and you’ll be next.”

Usopp immediately raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright! No need to get all ‘swordsman’ on me!” he said, backing off with a grin.

Zoro pulled me closer, his arm a steady presence around my shoulder as Chopper recounted their harrowing journey to Zou. He detailed how Nami and Brook faced off against one of the Beast Pirates, and how he, Sanji, and Caesar saw the devastation that had torn through the Mink Tribe. The image of the crucified Minks caused a chill to settle over the group. Chopper explained how he managed to create an antidote, saving lives while Caesar, predictably, gloated about his role in creating the gas.

"Man, Gas Guy sucks," Luffy muttered, his face twisted in disgust.

"Just wait until I get my hands on him," I growled, my right hand now glowing with a red crackle of electricity. The spark of power surged through me, fueled by the anger at the devastation Caesar had caused.

Zoro gave a quick side glance at the electricity in my hand, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Seems like someone’s extra fired up."

“Y/N?! When did you learn to do that?!” Chopper asked, eyes wide with surprise.

I was about to explain, but Zoro cut in. “The princess’s blades pick up on her energy. So it depends—one can be blue, one can be yellow, and I believe red. Right, princess?” he said, resting his chin on my head with a casual possessiveness.

“There’s more to the blades,” I added, “but I’m still figuring it out. They can even cast white sometimes.”

Usopp, ever observant, raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Zoro, are you sure that wine didn’t do something to you? You’re acting a bit… soft.”

Zoro’s eyes narrowed, but before he could retort, I grinned and added, “Maybe it’s the garchu he got earlier.”

The group continued to laugh as Zoro tightened his hold around me, a playful yet protective gesture. Chopper then recounted how he and Caesar had managed to neutralize the gas, detailing the tense moments where time was against them. “We were in a race against time,” he said, his eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation. He explained how Wanda initially thought they were enemies, but Pedro and Tristan vouched for the Straw Hats. With Caesar’s reluctant help, they managed to create a vaccine to save the minks.

Wanda’s voice trembled as she spoke, tears welling in her eyes. “You-tia saved our civilization.”

Franky, ever the emotional one, began to cry openly. “I’m so proud of you guys! Look at that! You guys are super!” His exaggerated sobbing only added to the warmth of the moment.

Chopper suddenly perked up, remembering something. “Oh! Since the sun’s down, that means I’m on night shift. I’ve got to take care of Cat Viper!”

“I’m coming! Let’s go meet him!” Luffy said excitedly, his energy as boundless as ever.

“Let’s all go!” I chimed in, my own curiosity piqued by the mysterious figure of Cat Viper.

“Sweet, guess that settles it!” Luffy grinned as we all made our way to climb onto Wanda’s gator. 

as we all made our way to climb onto Wanda’s gator, excitement buzzing through the group. As we rode through the lush forest, Luffy leaned forward, his curiosity clearly building. “Anyway, Wanda, you never finished the story.”

“Yeah, you didn’t tell us what happened to our dumbass cook and idiot gas guy,” Zoro added from behind me, his arms wrapped securely around me as my back rested against his chest. His casual comment earned a few chuckles from the others, but there was an edge of concern beneath his words.

As the gator moved through the forest, the cool night air brushing past us, I could feel Zoro’s steady heartbeat against my back. His head resting gently on my neck sent a soft laugh bubbling up from my chest, and I couldn’t help but lean into the moment, feeling completely at ease.

That’s when Usopp, always the drama king, jumped in with a theatrical gasp. "Zoro has definitely gone soft! This would totally set Sanji over the edge!" He threw his hands in the air for extra emphasis, grinning widely as he continued his teasing. "It’s like you’re claiming Y/N or something!"

Everyone burst into laughter at Usopp’s over-the-top performance, and I shook my head, trying to stifle my giggles. "Usopp, you’re too much!" I managed to say through the laughter.

Zoro, however, remained calm, though the corner of his mouth quirked into a smirk. "Tch. Let Sanji think what he wants," he muttered, his arms tightening just a bit more around me. "I don’t need to explain myself to him."

Usopp snickered. "You’re totally claiming her!"

Zoro smirked, completely unfazed. “Well, she is my partner, after all,” he said boldly, tightening his grip slightly.

My cheeks flushed at his statement, but I couldn’t help but laugh along with everyone else, feeling a mixture of warmth and excitement. “I thought I was just your nap sidekick?” I teased, looking up at him with a grin.

Zoro leaned in, his grin widening. “You’re that too,” he replied, making the others chuckle more. Usopp exaggeratedly threw his hands up again.

“Now they’ve got titles for each other! Sanji’s gonna lose his mind when he hears this!” Usopp added dramatically, shaking his head.

Before Wanda could respond to Luffy’s earlier question, Brook suddenly intervened, strumming his guitar ominously. “Perhaps it’s best if I tell the rest of this tale,” he said solemnly. “I fear our dear friend Sanji may never return to our side.”

“What?!” Luffy and I both exclaimed in shock.

“That’s crazy. In both our letters, Sanji said he was coming back,” I argued, confusion creeping into my voice.

“He wouldn’t lie to us! I believe Sanji’s story!” Luffy shouted, fists clenched in determination.

Zoro, leaning back with a scoff, added, “Don’t know about you guys, but I wouldn’t miss him. If I never see him again, he was kind of dead weight for us.”

I turned in Zoro’s arms and thumped him on the chest. “Don’t be mean!” I said, giving him a stern look before turning back around.

“Sanji is still our friend, Zoro!” Luffy yelled, his temper flaring slightly.

Brook then continued the story. “It was then that Pekoms and Bege from Big Mom’s crew showed up on the island as well.”

“So, Big Mom’s pirates were here on Zou?” Usopp asked, his voice incredulous.

“Yeah, so Sanji must have kicked their pickled asses, huh?” Luffy added, grinning wide.

“That would’ve really set Big Mom off!” Usopp said, a mix of awe and fear in his voice.

“It’s fine since I already started that fight,” Luffy said nonchalantly.

Brook strummed his guitar once more, his voice softening. “Sanji is as kind-hearted as they come... He led those two into a fortress in the forest. But Bege kept mentioning something odd. He kept asking, ‘Where’s the girl?’”

I furrowed my brows. “What do you mean?”

Brook looked at me seriously, his hollow eyes reflecting concern. “When Sanji confronted Bege about it, he thought they were talking about Nami at first. But we were all taken inside Bege’s body. Sanji sat across from Bege, while Pekoms was shot for being willing to call Big Mom and tell her the mission failed. Nami, Caesar, Chopper, and I were all chained.”

My body tensed at the revelation. Zoro’s grip on me tightened instantly, his protective instinct kicking in.

“Wait, inside his body?” I interrupted, my body tensing at the strange revelation.

“How’d you guys even fit?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood despite my rising unease.

"I would presume you'd need to cut up his abdomen," Robin said casually, prompting Usopp to freak out.

"Enough with the body horror, okay?!" Usopp exclaimed, visibly disturbed.

Brook continued. “After that, Bege asked about ‘the girl’ again. Sanji, still assuming it was Nami, asked who they meant. But then Bege clarified, saying the one they were looking for was Princess Y/N.”

“What?!” I shot up from my position, now sitting straight. “What could Big Mom want with me?!”

Zoro’s grip tightened further, his tension matching mine as he tried to keep me calm.

“We all tried to figure that out too,” Brook said gravely. “But then, there was startling news. Bege revealed that Big Mom had planned two weddings, and she requested both Sanji and Y/N’s attendance. Sanji was enraged and rejected the idea, saying he was already engaged—to you, Y/N.”

“He said what?!” I shouted, coughing in surprise as I tried to process the revelation. "I never agreed to any marriage! Why would Sanji say that?!" My mind raced, recalling the words in Sanji's letter. “Is that why he added that to my letter?!”

Brook nodded, continuing, “Which is what I told Nami—it’s more of a one-sided marriage since you didn’t agree to it.”

“But I just know you would’ve made a blushing bride! Yohohohoho!” Brook added, his laugh oddly light-hearted despite the tension.

Before I could respond, Luffy, oblivious to the seriousness of the situation, cut in. “Y/N! Why didn’t you tell me you were engaged?! We could’ve done something on the Sunny!” he said with wide, innocent eyes.

“Well, you know, Captain, I was hoping to keep it under—" I began sarcastically before losing my temper. "I HAVEN’T EVEN AGREED TO A PROPOSAL!” I yelled, my rage finally spilling out.

Zoro, sensing I was on the verge of losing control, got up from his lounging position and pulled me back into his arms, holding me close. He leaned down to whisper in my ear, his voice calm but firm. “You’re not marrying anyone you don’t want to, princess. I’ll make sure of that.”

Brook then revealed the next shocker. “Bege pulled out a second invitation—this one meant for you, Y/N. You were to be married to the first son of the Vinsmoke family, Ichiji.”

“So I’m in an arranged marriage?!” I said, my voice rising with the burning anger inside me.

Luffy’s confusion was palpable as he scratched his head. “Wait, Y/N, I’m confused. So are you marrying Sanji or this Ichiji guy?”

“I’M NOT MARRYING EITHER ONE!” I yelled, my frustration boiling over.

Zoro’s arm tightened protectively around me as he smirked, his voice low. “That’s the spirit.”

Brook continued with the story, “Sanji then asked whose bright idea it was and why. Bege answered, telling him he’s a Vinsmoke and how should he know. Sanji even asked why you were involved, to which Bege said that Ichiji would have been there, but he was taking care of business for Judge. He’s excited to see his soon-to-be bride, but what shocked me was that he was the one who called for your wedding and that yours would be first, then Sanji's,” he said, causing me to cough once more.

Brook continued, saying that the revelation that Sanji was also a Vinsmoke chilled him to the bones. “Sanji kept denying it, saying he wasn’t going to marry or go to a tea party for Big Mom, and that he’d be damned if he let any of those bastards harm Y/N,” Brook added, looking solemn.

“Bege was adamant in having you there as well, but since you were in Dressrosa fighting, they both kept arguing back and forth.” Brook continued, his tone growing more serious. “Bege even said that if you didn’t show, then something would happen.”

“What do you mean, something?” I asked, my heart racing at the implication.

“We don’t know,” Brook admitted, his expression grave. “But Sanji willingly left with Bege and helped us escape. He said that he was going to deal with his… family, along with the whole wedding situation.”

“So now I understand why my wanted poster suddenly showed ‘Vinsmoke Y/N.’ This Ichiji guy was trying to claim me,” I said, the weight of it all crashing down on me.

"One of Bege's members also whispered something to Sanji which caused him to tense, which also led to him deciding to go," said Brook.

"Okay! If we can't figure it out, then we'll just have to go and ask Sanji!" yelled Luffy.

"You're crazy!" Usopp exclaimed, eyes wide. "Bad idea!" Zoro chimed in, still gripping my waist.

"I'm with you, Luffy!" I declared, causing everyone to turn to me in disbelief. "What?!"

"You guys have to understand, I'm also at stake here," I insisted, pulling out one of my blades from the thigh halter, its blue hue glowing. "I'd like to pay my fiancée Ichiji a visit."

"You’re crazy! So you think we can just waltz on over to Big Mom?" Usopp protested.

"Yeah, we gotta," Luffy affirmed, determination in his eyes.

"She's one of the Four Emperors! We've never faced anyone like that," Robin cautioned.

"Right, which is why we gotta be sneaky!" Luffy said, and I pointed at him, nodding. "That's the idea."

"Now that I think of it... I might know a way," Chopper added thoughtfully. "They did leave someone behind, so he could tell us something helpful."

As time continued to pass, I found myself leaning against Zoro as we traveled to Cat Viper. His hands traced soothing patterns on my body, trying to ease my anxiety. My blades were now back on their halter. I turned to look up at him; he met my gaze with a lazy grin, clearly enjoying the moment of peace.

"Poor Pekoms, he put himself in harm's way to defend us," Brook said with a sigh.

"We need to know where to find Sanji. Pekoms is the best lead we have," he continued.

"Right! He'll talk to me. If not, I'll drag it out of him," Luffy declared, enthusiasm bubbling over. "Then when we find Sanji, we can figure out if he’s getting married or what."

"And I can kick Ichiji's ass and make him take off his last name on my wanted poster! It’s a win-win if you ask me!" I chimed in, grinning.

We finally arrived at Cat Viper's location, greeted once again by the guardians. Pedro came down from the tree, his demeanor sheepish as he apologized for attacking Luffy earlier.

"Go see Bepo; they’re in the back," said Pedro, motioning for us to move.

"Not right now. We want to talk to Cat Viper and Lion Viper first," Luffy responded, his tone firm.

Pedro leaned in closer and whispered, "Pekoms is awake. We should head to the back."

Chopper, starstruck by a lady reindeer, decided to check on Cat Viper himself. I couldn't help but smirk at the interaction. Robin, Brook, and Usopp followed Chopper, while Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Wanda, Carrot, and I made our way to see Pekoms.

As we approached, Pekoms looked weary but determined. "That bastard Bege, I’m sorry I couldn’t do more, but your pal Black Leg’s long gone," he said. "No one can refuse Mama’s wedding."

"As for you, Princess," Pekoms continued, "Ichiji will more than likely look for you since you're not on the boat with Black Leg."

"He can try, but I’ll still be able to kick his ass," I smirked defiantly. "No one is going to force me to marry anybody, and these Vinsmokes can all get their asses kicked too if I have anything to say about it."

Luffy chimed in, "Sanji would never just pick one girl to marry. Besides, he said he was engaged to Y/N already."

I thumped him on the head, feeling my face heat up. "We aren’t engaged!" I snapped, frustration bubbling over. "There were already two agreements established: one was Mama’s, and the other was Sanji’s father. Since, Princess, you are to be married to Ichiji, then you were also invited to Mama’s party, and your wedding is first."

"Again, I’m not marrying anybody," I said, my tone still defiant.

"So what kind of person is Sanji's father?" Nami asked, curiosity shining in her eyes.

"He’s got quite the reputation in the underworld," Pekoms replied, a serious expression crossing his face. "Are you familiar with a group called Germa 66, the warmongers?"

"The Vinsmoke family sits at the top, and their leader is Black Leg’s father," Pekoms said, his voice steady.

"What?!" I exclaimed, disbelief washing over me. "If you know anything about them, then you’d know they are a vicious group of assassins."

Suddenly, the revelation caused me to stumble back slightly. "So... does that mean..." I said in a low voice.

"That’s right, your future husband is an assassin," Pekoms confirmed, his words hanging heavily in the air.

“No way! This can’t be happening!” I shouted, feeling panic rise like a wave threatening to crash over me. My chest tightened as I felt the weight of it all—the forced engagement, Sanji's family, and everything beyond my control. "I won’t be part of this! I refuse to let anyone dictate my life like this!"

Feeling overwhelmed, I muttered a rushed excuse and bolted from the room. Once outside, I pressed my hand to my chest, trying desperately to steady my breathing. The cool air hit my face, but it did little to calm the whirlwind inside me. My other hand gripped my hair tightly, as if holding myself together.

From inside, I could still hear Luffy’s voice, his tone sharp with determination. "Is Sanji coming back to us or not? I don’t care if he’s getting married! Listen, if you think we’re going to work under Big Mom, then you’re crazy! I’m fine with making an alliance, but you guys gotta work for us!"

Luffy's words were bold and comforting in their own way, but I could barely focus. My breaths came shallow, rapid. My heart was pounding too fast, too hard. I was teetering on the edge of a full-blown panic attack.

Suddenly, I felt strong hands snake around my waist from behind, pulling me close to a warm, familiar chest. "Breathe, princess. Breathe," Zoro’s low voice rumbled in my ear as he gently kissed the back of my neck. His lips grazed my skin, and the sensation sent shivers down my spine.

"I… I can’t—" I started, but he tightened his grip just a little, his calm presence pulling me back from the brink.

"Shhh," he whispered, his lips still close to my neck. "You’re stronger than this. I know you are." His hands slowly moved up to my shoulders, grounding me, his thumbs tracing slow circles. "No one’s going to make you do anything you don’t want. Not Ichiji. Not Sanji’s father. No one."

I leaned back into him, letting his steady breathing guide mine, the storm inside me slowly subsiding.

"You don’t have to handle everything alone," Zoro murmured into my ear, his voice deeper now, filled with something more than just comfort. His lips brushed the edge of my jawline. "You’ve got me. And I won’t let anyone hurt you, not them, not anyone."

I could feel the heat of his breath against my skin, his hands sliding down to my hips, holding me firmly against him. There was a protective intensity in the way he touched me, but something else lingered beneath the surface.

He leaned down, his mouth ghosting over the shell of my ear. "I’d take on the entire Vinsmoke family myself if it meant keeping you safe. Don’t doubt that for a second."

My heart, still racing from the panic, now fluttered for a different reason. "Zoro…" I whispered, his name barely leaving my lips as his hands wandered lower, his touch both reassuring and wanting.

He turned me around slowly, his eyes dark, intense, locking onto mine. "You don’t have to be afraid, Y/N," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "Not when I’m here. I won’t let them take you." His forehead rested against mine, his breath mingling with mine as his hands gripped my waist tighter.

"Zoro... thank you for everything," I whispered, my voice barely audible, but he heard it clearly. My hands slid up behind his head, fingers tangling gently in his hair as I scratched lightly at his scalp. He let out a low, quiet groan, the sound rumbling in his chest and sending a thrill through me.

For a moment, I stayed there, relishing the warmth of his body and the comfort he gave me. Slowly, I began to pull away, my heart still racing, though for entirely different reasons now. Before I let him go completely, I leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his cheek, feeling the heat of his skin beneath my lips.

"Thank you... again," I whispered, my breath brushing against his face. His eyes stayed locked on mine, the intensity never leaving them as he nodded, though I could see a flicker of something deeper behind those dark eyes.

I turned and made my way back inside, feeling his gaze linger on me as I reentered the room, a small sense of calm returning to my chaotic world.

“So you get it or not?! Go tell Big Mom that’s the deal!” Luffy shouted as I finally reentered the room. My eyes met his as he turned to me, grinning. “Your little eyeballs are funny,” he said with a laugh to Pekoms, as both he and Carrot giggled.

“Either way, neither Blackleg nor the princess can get out of this marriage,” Pekoms muttered darkly.

“And why not?” Luffy snapped back.

“Nobody puts Mama to shame, not without paying the price,” Pekoms responded.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, feeling the dread rise in my chest again.

“In a couple of days, if they don’t show up to the party, Mama’s guests get a surprise. They get a box... with the loved one’s decapitated head in it,” Pekoms said grimly. I felt the weight of his words crash down on me, heavy and suffocating.

Pekoms continued, “It might be one of your heads if Mama sees fit, or maybe it’s one of the heads of Blackleg’s old crew back at the restaurant, or someone who trained with him from Kamabakka Kingdom. And for you, princess, it’s the same. Could be one of your crew, or King, or one of the men you trained with.”

My eyes widened, and rage surged through me. Before I could stop myself, I lunged at Pekoms, grabbing him by the shirt. I didn’t care if he was injured—I wasn’t going to let him finish that threat.

“Now you listen, and you listen good, you lion viper!” I snarled, tightening my grip. “I will not let you or anybody lay a hand on my crew, or King, or the men I trained with back on that island! You got that?!”

“Y/N, relax!” Nami tried to intervene.

“No, Nami, you don’t understand!” I shouted, tears welling in my eyes. “I’d rather die than let anything happen to you or them!” The tears finally spilled over, and I could feel the overwhelming sense of helplessness creeping in.

Luffy’s voice snapped me out of my rage. “Hold on, how do you guys even know all this about Sanji and Y/N?”

“There’s no hope... she’s gonna follow through with it. That’s why no one can fight the Four Emperors,” Pekoms muttered as I released him, feeling a wave of exhaustion hit me.

Pekoms coughed before adding, “Once these marriages happen, Blackleg and the princess will no longer be part of the crew. These marriages are strictly political.”

I felt lightheaded. Luffy, clearly frustrated, grabbed Pekoms and shook him. “What the hell kind of threat is that? Y/N and Sanji are my friends! Okay?!”

“Alright! You can take me with you!” Luffy declared, determined.

“Luffy!” Nami protested.

“Listen, I’m going without you,” Luffy said, turning to her. “I’m with Robin on this one. If we all go together, it’ll be like we’re starting a war.”

Luffy then turned to me. “Y/N, you’re coming with me too!” he said confidently.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” I smirked, pulling my sword from its sheath. “We don’t have time for an all-out war. If I stick with this guy, all we need to do is stop Sanji’s wedding and kick Ichiji’s ass.” said Luffy

“Hey, screw you!” Pekoms interjected.

“Well, too late, Pekoms. Looks like you’re doing it,” I said with defiance.

“I never agreed to this,” Pekoms grumbled.

“And I never agreed to get married. Looks like we both got issues,” I shot back, making my way outside.

As I stepped out, I could see Luffy and Zoro talking. “You’re worried about Sanji too, huh?” Luffy asked.

“You want me to cut you? I’m more worried about Y/N than that lovesick cook,” Zoro muttered.

I couldn’t help but smile at his words. “Thank you for worrying about me, Zo,” I said as I leaned in, placing a kiss on his cheek. He was taken off guard, eyes widening in surprise.

Just then, Usopp called out. “Hey! Luffy! Zoro! Y/N!”

The rest of the crew caught up to us, and Chopper asked, “Hey, how’s Pekoms doing?”

“Oh, good! You’re here! Pekoms is bleeding a lot and banging his head—better check him out,” Luffy said casually as Chopper rushed over.

“Hey there! You guys must be the Straw Hats!” a voice called out. We turned to see Cat Viper approaching, towering over us.

“He’s so cute!” I squealed in surprise.

Suddenly, Cat Viper charged at us with excitement, giving us a giant thank-you “Garchu,” knocking Luffy, Zoro, and me onto the ground.

“Ugh... oww,” I groaned.

Luffy, who had already bounced back up, grinned. “Alright, Zoro, it’s your turn.”

As I tried to pull myself back up, Zoro straddled me, smirking down with his trademark lazy grin. “I’m actually starting to like this position,” he said with a teasing edge to his voice.

I felt my cheeks flush at his words, but I rolled my eyes, not willing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered. “You would,” I muttered, trying to push him off, but his weight remained firm, pinning me beneath him. His grin only widened as he watched my futile attempts.

“Zoro! Get off her, we don’t have time for this!” Usopp called from behind, half-panicked but also mildly amused by the scene

Zoro’s irritation was palpable as he pulled out his swords, but I couldn’t help but laugh at his frustration. “If you want to garchu to death, do it without me!” he barked at Cat Viper, who looked like he was having the time of his life despite the injuries.

Luffy and I burst into laughter at the sight of Zoro dealing with the giant feline's enthusiastic energy. "Come on, Cat, get up! We’re going to fight!” Zoro growled, drawing his two swords.

“Woah, take it easy! He’s still injured,” Usopp shouted, trying to calm Zoro down.

Zoro, with a cocky grin, muttered, “So? He’s got nine lives. About to be eight, though!”

I quickly smacked him on the head, giving him a stern look. “Don’t be rude!”

Amid the playful chaos, I heard Luffy call out, “Hey, Traffy!” My gaze followed his voice, and there stood Law with his usual stoic expression, seemingly ignoring the lively commotion. “Is this your crew!” said Luffy eying traffys crew. 

“Those are the Heart Pirates, twenty members strong,” Luffy said, pointing toward Law’s crew. Each of them struck poses in unison, proudly displaying their unity.

“Thanks for taking care of our captain, Strawhat!” they called out in unison.

“No problem!” Luffy replied with his signature grin.

Law, ever the serious one, tried to steer the situation back on track. “Let’s talk in private,” he said, causing his crew to boo in disappointment.

“We’re not having a party, and we’re not friends. We are strategic allies,” Law added, his tone firm.

I couldn’t resist the chance to tease him. I crossed my arms and smirked. “Ohh, is that so?” I said, stepping forward.

Law’s eyes widened when he finally noticed me. “Princess... I...”

Before he could finish, I clenched my left fist playfully and leaped into the air, landing gracefully beside him. “Are we really just strategic allies?” I teased, leaning in slightly with a playful smirk.

Law, flustered, was about to reply, but before he could, Bepo’s loud voice interrupted. “Y/N!”

I laughed as I turned to Bepo, who was already making his way toward me. “Bepo! Come here!” I exclaimed, running toward the giant polar bear, who lifted me effortlessly and nuzzled my cheek. His soft fur tickled my face, making me laugh harder. “I missed you!”

When Bepo finally set me down, I turned to see Penguin and Shachi standing nearby, their expressions a delightful mix of awkwardness and warmth. “Penguin, Shachi! Always good to see you!” I exclaimed, pulling both of them into a hug. They exchanged glances, unsure whether to hug back or blush, their faces turning a bright shade of pink.

“It’s great to see you too, princess!” they finally said, giving in to the hug with relieved smiles.

“And these must be the rest of the Heart Pirates,” I noted, eyeing the crew curiously. “I’m sorry if your captain hasn’t introduced us to you guys, but my name is—”

“Ohh, we know who you are!” one member interrupted with a playful smirk.

“Yeah, Captain goes on and on about you,” another chimed in, grinning.

“Oh really? Is that so?” I teased, turning my gaze to Law, who was trying his best to maintain a stoic expression while Luffy pointed and laughed at him. I could see a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks.

Bepo's eyes widened in excitement as he spotted the half heart necklace hanging from my neck. “Ohh, Y/N! Is that the heart necklace?” he asked, practically bouncing on his feet.

“Yes, it is, Bepo! But while I was with Doflamingo, he yanked it and it split in two. So I keep one, and Law kept the other. He’s wearing it too,” I explained, smiling at the memory.

“Look at that! Our captain has a matching accessory with the princess!” Penguin teased, elbowing Shachi, who giggled in response.

“Getting pretty cozy, aren’t we, Captain?” Shachi added, winking at Law.

I laughed at the teasing, enjoying the light-hearted atmosphere. Just then, Law suddenly teleported next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. His hat tilted forward, casting a shadow over his face as if to shield himself from the relentless banter of his crew.

“Don’t mind them, princess.,” he said, trying to play it off casually, though the smirk on his face betrayed his amusement. I rolled my eyes playfully.

In response, Law leaned closer, whispering softly, “At least I can hide my face while still being close to you.” He then subtly pressed a soft kiss to my shoulder, his breath warm against my skin. The gesture sent a delightful shiver down my spine, and I couldn’t help but smile at the unexpected sweetness amid all the teasing.

The crew exchanged glances, clearly noticing the moment, and Shachi raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Wow, look at you, Captain! Getting all romantic now!”

“Shut up,” Law muttered, but I could see the hint of a smile creeping onto his lips, even as he tried to maintain his usual stoic demeanor.

Bepo grinned, clearly pleased for his captain. “I think it’s sweet!” I laughed, pulling away from Law’s embrace. “I’ll see you inside, okay?” I said, placing a hand gently on his cheek and slowly gliding down to his chin, making sure to savor the moment just a bit longer.

With a playful smirk, I clenched my left hand once more and leaped into the air. “Great meeting you guys! I can’t wait to hang out more!” I called back, waving as I made my way toward Luffy.

“Well, that was fun!” I said, laughing as I joined Luffy, who wore a wide grin.

Minutes passed, and Law, along with our crew, finally stepped inside. Usopp was animatedly giving him the rundown of everything, from Sanji's arranged marriage to my own alleged engagement.

Law’s expression darkened at the mention of my supposed marriage, his brows knitting together in frustration. “What do you mean, Y/N is getting married?” he snapped, his voice low but intense.

Usopp scratched his head, looking sheepish. “Uh, well, it’s a long story, but apparently, she’s supposed to marry Ichiji from the Vinsmoke family,” he explained.

“Like hell I am!” I interjected, crossing my arms defiantly. “I won’t let anyone dictate my life like that!”

Law's gaze softened slightly as he looked at me, but the irritation was still evident in his posture. “You shouldn’t have to deal with this, Y/N. We need to figure out a way to stop it,” he said, his voice calmer now but filled with determination. 

“Don’t worry, Y/N and I are going to get Sanji and kick this Ichiji guy’s ass!” Luffy declared, grinning broadly while seated on top of Cat Viper, who looked a mix of bemused and amused.

“Do you mind if we hold off fighting Kaido a little?” Luffy asked, glancing around.

“Not really my call. Anywhere around it, Kaido is going to come for us,” Law replied, standing next to me with a serious expression. “My original plan was to hide out here in Zou for a while, but now that they know we’re here, we’re screwed. If they come back for us and invade this country, then its people will suffer, and it’ll be all our fault.”

Just then, the minks overheard, and a few of them began to shed tears. “That is so kind!” one of them exclaimed, clearly touched by Law’s concern.

Cat Viper, who had been resting, suddenly woke up with a loud declaration. “Let’s have a party! BBQ time!”

The mood instantly shifted as everyone cheered, and we began to feast on the meals provided. The smell of grilled meat filled the air, and drinks flowed freely.

“Cheers!” I said, raising my cup with a wide smile, surrounded by my friends. “Again, this is great booze,” I added, taking a long sip.

Zoro, sitting next to me with his drink in hand, smirked. “You know, if you keep enjoying it this much, you might turn into a total lush.”

I laughed, nudging him playfully with my elbow. “And what’s wrong with that? Someone has to keep the party going!”

As we all dug into the delicious food, Cat Viper brought out a massive tray of lasagna, setting it in front of us. “This is my special recipe!” he proclaimed proudly.

As I took a generous bite of the lasagna, I couldn’t help but let out a little moan of delight. “This is so yummy!” I exclaimed, savoring the flavors.

“Zoro, are you okay?” I asked, noticing he wasn’t looking at the food but at me, his gaze intense, a darker hue glinting in his eyes.

He blinked a few times, seemingly pulled from a trance. “Uh, yeah,” he replied, a slight flush creeping onto his cheeks. “I just didn’t expect that sound to come from you.”

I raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on my lips. “What, you never heard someone enjoy their food before?”

Zoro smirked, leaning a bit closer. “Not like that. You’ve got to be careful; a sound like that might give someone the wrong idea.”

“Maybe I want to give someone the right idea,” I shot back, my heart racing a little at the implication.

Time passed and I found myself settled against Zoro's chest, the warmth of his body enveloped me like a comforting blanket. The night had taken on a cheerful glow, with laughter and chatter filling the air, but as the drinks began to flow, I felt a gentle drowsiness creeping in.

"Zoro, what are you..." I started to ask, but he shushed me softly, his grip tightening around me as he pulled me closer. "Shhhh, get some rest," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that soothed me.

With the rhythmic beating of his heart echoing in my ears, I let my eyes flutter shut, my mind drifting in and out of sleep. "You know, it's kind of funny," I confessed, the wine loosening my tongue. "The way you're holding me is the same way Sabo used to hold me back when I was training."

Zoro, feeling a bit tipsy himself, chuckled softly. “Yeah? Well, Sabo’s not here now, and I’m not letting you go.” He tilted his head back slightly, allowing a lazy grin to spread across his face. “Plus, I think I’m better at it than he is.”

I couldn’t help but giggle softly, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. “Is that so?” I teased. “What makes you think that?”

He smirked, his eyes glinting mischievously. “Because I’m not just holding you for training; I’m holding you because I want to.” There was a playful confidence in his voice, and even in my drowsy state, I felt a flutter in my chest at his words.

“Is that your way of flirting, Roronoa?” I half-laughed, half-yawned, snuggling deeper into his embrace.

“Maybe it is,” he replied, his voice dropping to a husky whisper as he tightened his hold, making me feel safe and cherished. “But don’t get used to it. I might just be too tired to do it again tomorrow.”

“Yeah, right,” I mumbled, already slipping into the comforting embrace of sleep. The last thing I heard before I fully succumbed to slumber was Zoro’s low chuckle, warm and reassuring, echoing in the night air.

Third person POV…

As the party continued around them, Zoro found himself enveloped in a haze of warmth and contentment, his heart beating steadily beneath Y/N’s gentle weight. The laughter and chatter of the crew were like distant echoes, a soundtrack to this rare moment of tranquility. He had always been the stoic swordsman, known for his fierce loyalty and unwavering resolve, yet here he was, cradling Y/N as if she were the most precious treasure in the world.

The soft rise and fall of her chest against his own made him acutely aware of the closeness they shared. In that cocoon of warmth, he allowed himself to let down the walls he had carefully constructed over the years. “What am I even doing?” he muttered softly to himself, a mixture of disbelief and acceptance washing over him. “This isn’t like me at all.”

Zoro’s tipsy mind spun with thoughts he rarely entertained. He thought about how Y/N had a way of breaking through his defenses, melting the ice that surrounded his heart. The way she laughed, the way she fought, and how fiercely she cared for her friends—it all drew him in like a moth to a flame.

“You’re not just some princess,” he whispered, his fingers absently tracing patterns on her back. “You’re… different.” He shook his head slightly, as if trying to shake off the feelings that threatened to overwhelm him. “It’s a pain, you know?”

Yet, beneath his gruff exterior, a soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he glanced down at her peaceful face. She looked so serene, lost in her dreams, and for a fleeting moment, Zoro wished he could protect that tranquility forever. “You’re going to get me killed,” he murmured, half-laughing as he recalled the danger that seemed to follow her wherever she went.

As he sat there, holding her close, the tension from earlier began to fade. His thoughts drifted back to Sabo, to the challenges they faced, and to the looming threat of the Vinsmoke family. But in this moment, none of that mattered. All that existed was the two of them, wrapped in the soft glow of lantern light and the warmth of camaraderie.

Y/N stirred slightly, murmuring something incoherent that brought a grin to Zoro’s face. “What did you say?” he teased, gently shaking her. She responded with a soft sigh, nuzzling deeper into his chest. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” he chuckled, feeling his heart swell with affection.

In that moment of vulnerability, he leaned down, brushing his lips against her forehead. It was a subtle gesture, but it carried the weight of unspoken words. “I’ve got your back, you know? Always,” he whispered, his breath warm against her skin.

Just then, Cat Viper’s booming laughter broke through the haze, and Zoro’s attention flickered momentarily to the chaos surrounding them. He watched as Luffy and the others feasted, their joy infectious, but his heart remained tethered to Y/N.

“You’re trouble, princess,” he said, his voice low and teasing as he pulled her a little closer. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He felt the heat rising in his cheeks, a testament to the alcohol coursing through him and the intoxicating pull Y/N had on his heart.

With a smirk, he pondered how this moment might look to an outsider: the fierce swordsman, often viewed as aloof and detached, holding a girl in his arms, completely lost in the experience. “What would the others think?” he mused to himself, stifling a chuckle.

But as he gazed down at Y/N, he found that he didn’t care. In this world of pirates and chaos, of battles fought and friends lost, she was his anchor, a light in the darkness that surrounded them. “You’ve got me wrapped around your finger, huh?” he whispered, a hint of amusement coloring his tone.

And with that thought, Zoro finally surrendered to the quiet, allowing sleep to take him. The sounds of the party faded into the background as he drifted off, the weight of Y/N in his arms anchoring him in a way he had never imagined possible. For tonight, he was just Zoro, the man who would do anything to keep her safe, and the man who, for the first time, dared to dream of a future where they could both be free.

[lawomi]

Heart Pirates depart from Zou! Part 2/2

What they see is... over here 🔞 BlueSky💃. ...She's genuinely an airhead. (Its on tumblr too now. Lol)

OC Omi is She/Any nonbinary

Blah blah blah... and brief devil fruit summary.

He gives in to Shachi and Penguin and lets her board, but with the catch that she's required to escort Nekomamushi! Of course, she stays... thanks to some situations I might draw. Oops.

Hito Hito No Mi: Model Werewolf gives a mink a semi-human form & boosts power + speed under Any moonlight.

Its awakening allows minks to sulong regardless of time or moon phase with the catch that it takes further intensive training to control compared to the typical sulong.

[celluceta]

✭ Law, Bepo, Penguin, Shachi & Ikkaku finding out you like Vocaloid + headcanons ✭

Hi there! Here are some silly headcanons I've been thinking about the past few days. I've been listening and drawing Vocaloid a lot lately and this idea popped in my head, so I hope you like it!! A good friend of mine helped me with this💚

Please keep in mind that english isn't my first language so there might be grammar errors🫠

I had a lot to write about Law and Bepo...

Also I won't be talking about UTAU that much since I'm not very familiar with them,,, sorry.

🎐Please keep in mind these are MY headcanons! If yours are different, that's perfectly fine! Feel free to drop them in the comments if you want🎐

⭐Gender neutral reader⭐

Law

Ok so I headcanon there is a common room in the Polar Tang, with a couple of long sofas and where every member of the crew has their own little space somehow, like walls covered in posters and shelves filled with, books and even plushies of marine animals and their hobbies.

You were spending one morning there, listening to your favorite Vocaloid playlist in a den den mushi (you know, like the ones that appear in film red) when Law arrived, looking for a medicine book he didn’t have at his office.

Normally he would have just walked out the room, but as your den den mushi started playing Tokyo Teddy Bear, his eyes couldn't help but rush to look at you.

You noticed it and glanced at him as well. As your eyes met, he quickly looked back, grabbing the book and heading out the room.

"You like Vocaloid, captain?"

It took him a few seconds to answer before leaving you there. "Why would I do? It's a waste of time".

You were confused but didn't think much about it.

Until a couple of days later, when you walked past the door of his office and heard something familiar...

"Shinkai shoojo mada mada shizumu"

You couldn't believe it. You opened the door and looked at him with a smirk on your face, meeting with his shocked, flushed red face.

"IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!" He shouted at you before you left the room giggling, hoping you wouldn't tell the rest of the crew.

He's not the biggest fan, but since Bepo is, he ended up liking a few songs. He would never admit it out loud though, he thinks it would ruin his image.

I can't stop thinking he listens to the most edgy Vocaloid songs... . ...

You know, Lost One's Wheeping, Ghost Rule, Aishite Aishite Aishite and more.

Definitely enjoys Kikuo more than any other vocaloid producer. Also Wowaka.

Nobody knows about this, but he knows the whole lyrics of The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku.

Bepo

Do I have to say it?

Seriously, do I have to say it?

This guy's OBSESSED. He's been listening to Vocaloid for years.

Maybe even before leaving Zou.

Everyone in the crew learned about Vocaloid thanks to him, so when he discovers you also enjoy it, he'll go so excited you'll get trouble understanding what he's saying. You'll see his eyes shining as he's speaking.

One day, on a karaoke session they decided to have not so long after you joined the crew, he started playing Ring no Shitensi.

"Oh, I know this one!"

And his sprakling eyes rapidly landed on you, his lips drawing a bright smile on his face.

He runs into you, not midning the music still playing as he holds your hands and starts talking to you so fast you can barely understand him.

You glanced nervously at Penguin and Shachi for a moment, and they just lifted their thumbs, telling you it was normal.

His favorite producers are definitely Mitchie M, Kinoshita and Livetune.

No matter how many redesigns Miku gets, he'll always prefer the first one.

He knows all the producers mentioned in Kagamine Let's Say the P Names. All of them.

He's one of those people who blast christmas music once it's October 1st, but instead of Mariah Carey it's just Snow Miku songs.

He has a space in his room dedicated exclusively to his lightstick collection, and he knows all existing choreographies from the concerts.

Obviously, in their karaoke sessions, he'll just sing Vocaloid (and Uta) songs.

He has dragged Penguin and Shachi with him, and the rest of the crew knows the lyrics of at least one song or two. Knowing about Vocaloid is inevitable when he's around.

When he discovers a new song Law might like, he eagerly shows him. Law always says he's not interested, but he ends up listening to it on repeat when he's alone.

And he's just as obsessed with UTAU as he is with Vocaloid.

Penguin & Shachi

I feel like instead of them reacting to you, you'd react to them.

Like, again, on a karaoke session, you'd see how they sing along with Bepo, and that just surprises you.

"I didn't know you guys liked Vocaloid!"

"You never asked" They said to you with a playful smirk.

They are glad you also enjoy the music, but don't mind as much as Bepo. Shachi would maybe express it better than Penguin.

Sometimes they join Bepo with the lightsticks, specially if he's playing classics as World is Mine or Luka Luka Night Fever. They ended up learning the movements from watching the bear.

Huge. Deco*27. Fans.

Also they enjoy a couple of Mitchie M and Neru songs, but leave the edgy ones to Law.

Would have a whole discussion over what Miku's voicebank is better on a daily basis.

"V4 pronunciation is way better, man"

"Yeah but it doesn't sound as robotic as V2. What's the point of Miku if she doesn't sound like a robot?"

Shachi's a Rin fan while Penguin prefers Len. Sometimes they tease each other like little kids over who's better, but at the end of the day they both enjoy the twins.

Not that much to say about these guys, just average fans.

Ikkaku

(so sad there aren't more GIFs where Ikkaku appears😭 but this one's fire anyways)

Short because she doesn't really care about Vocaloid that much.

She would be like "Oh that's cool" and continue what she was doing. She just doesn't care at all.

Definitely the most chilled listener among all of them.

V Flower and Gumi. That's it.

She doesn't listen to Vocaloid that often, just from time to time when she remembers they exist.

At first she was like "Wth are they doing..." whenever Bepo, Penguin and Shachi danced with the lightsticks, but now she's gotten used to it.

Has no problem listening to Bepo talk about Vocaloid for quite the long time.

But the bear made her hate Snow Miku songs. She wouldn't have if he didn't played them on repeat from October until the next one is released.

She actually enjoys some of the classics.

Specially Magnet.

You know why... 🧡🤍🩷

[lawbin-archive]

Lawbin Zou Analysis: where the dream starts

Zou is an interesting arc. It's one of the arcs that really blows my mind (egghead is another one) I personally like these kind of informative arcs a lot because Oda can always surprise me with his infinity ideas.

highlighted in purple are my delulu~

Again, don't read if you don't like Lawbin. Includes lots of bias.

~LAWBIN FRIENDS PHASE~

Before start analyzing the arc, I just want to say I feel like Lawbin are friends at this moment. Even though Law will deny it and say they are allies only haha, I feel like they are at least friends. Robin wouldn't worry someone for an entire arc and use her whole body to save him if she doesn't see him as a friend in my opinion. Well - in law's perspective, they might just be alliance all the way. But I think deep down, he see Robin as friends since Dressrosa from how they talk with each other.

Chapter 801 ~ 806: Always beside you

Law and Robin sitting across again! Funny that's how they started and ended Dressrosa. And their physique and vibes are so similar. I guess it's really nice to look at Robin all the time hehe

This scene is so funny. Did Law just called Usopp "God-ya" just to make fun of him Lmaoo Law did pick up Robin's habit to tease Usopp just to see him scared Lol Robin even asked Usopp "Need some gum?" Girlll you know exactly why he's looking pale hahaha I love how Law and Robin basically team up here just to tease Usopp. (Maybe Robin is genuinely asking Usopp but it's still so funny to me)

The seating plan here is just sus to me!! Because Law can definitely sit anywhere else and not sit behind Robin! Like he can sit with Zoro and Luffy, it wouldn't affect the plot that much. But no, he needs to sit between Robin and Franky and separating the straw hats lol To be fair, Franky need to sit in front of Kin'emon for plot purpose. (So the monkey can make them fall, because Franky block most of their sight) But it can also be Law - Robin - Franky (there's one panel is, but I think it's just a mistake) Maybe Oda just draw their sitting order randomly but I still feel kind of sus about it because usually he will draw Luffy and Law together, and Robin Franky (or Usopp) together.

For me, it's really normal if Oda always draw Franky Robin (or any straw hats) together. Because they are in the same crew and of course you will stand or sit with a person that you're close with. It's not normal if he always draw Robin with a non-straw hat a.k.a Law together! People always forget that and said they barely interact (which I don't even bother- oh well), but Law isn't a straw hat, it's normal that he doesn't interact a lot with people who isn't close with. That's why it's significant when Oda purposely make him interact with a certain straw hat a.k.a Robin more than others.

So back to the seating plan, that's why I think it's interesting that Oda is trying to put Law and Robin more together!! Maybe they did get closer during their trip :p

I think zolaw is cute sometimes haha. Zoro and Law are so logical here. I searched up their MBTI (which is voted by people). Law is INTJ and Robin is INTP (Zoro is ISTP if you're curious) The three of them personalities are so similar. They all have "T" in their MBTI which stands for thinking logically before feelings. And of course they are all introverts lol Robin cares here because she thinks the dragon is cute, imagine it's some kind of robot ninja, she will probably say something mean here too haha and Zoro & Law will be those getting emotional (like law reacting to Stealth Black)

Logically, I would say Robin ask Law to get in touch with his crew so that they know how Minks act and if they will hurt the straw hats. But in my delulu, I would say it's sus Robin think about Law's crew first and she always keep his situation in mind. Even Usopp needs to think for a minute to realize there's a mink in Law's crew. But seems like Robin know so well about it! (Ok rationally I know Robin is smart so she think of reaching Law's crew is the best way to learn about mink)

It's these kind of small moments make them so compatible. Law & Robin are analyzing a lot during their way on Zou. Robin is more proactive on investigating but I found Law can always quickly analyze of what Robin found. Just imagine they both go on discovering a ruin after everything, Law is behind protecting Robin and help her analyze the ruins it's just seems so perfect to me. (well it's just like the wano scene hehe)

This shows exactly what I meant - Robin said the town is built for this water level and Law can just quickly figured out the shower always happen. Oda I see what you're trying to do here!!! They are just so similar so intelligent together!! And they seems like always talking with each other because they sync a lot.

When Law shambles the whole group, he shambles Robin the last and also the closet to him. Seems like he's protecting her >< In the anime, Law Zoro and Robin landed perfectly but in the manga is only Law and Robin. I knew Law has bias towards to Robin! But rationally, I think Law will do the same for other girls too but because for girls, he mainly only interact with Robin lol so we didn't know how he treat other girls haha But so far, I can see he did seems treat Robin nicer than others. Law seems like very distance to other girls in general.

Chapter 814 ~ 820: Road Poneglyph

Since Vinsmoke is from north blue, so maybe she heard from Law?! jk it's probably from the revolutionary army but I can delulu right?! :p

Law starting to change tears me up T-T In Dressrosa, he really hides his empathy but I know deep down he cares a lot. And now he's showing the soft side of him. That's why I said he is probably going through the character development of what Robin went through during pre-time skip.

Law didn't say a lot here, but I think this part is probably one of the reasons what makes him want to find the will of D later. Inuarashi revealed that Robin is from Ohara and can decipher ruins. And since Law told Robin his real name later on and ask about the Will of D, he probably knew what Robin and Ohara went through. I think Robin and Law did get a lot closer during Zou -> Wano, but I will save my analysis later!

Law said "show me your shadow clone technique" here and it's literally what Robin had shown him back in Dressrosa haha

Seeing this scene, I personally think if everything goes well, Law will probably go to Laugh Tale with the straw hats. I don't think he will join the straw hats but as like an accompany or alliance. Also he already told Robin he want to learn about the will of D too so if Oda is mercy enough, we can probably see Law & Robin learn history together.

Usually, Law will have an annoyed expression when straw hats compliment each other or saying they will protect each other. But when's it's Robin, he didn't react to it hehe But I also think it's because he respect Robin a lot. And I personally think he will definitely protect her when someone is after her.

Robin and Luffy's dynamic is just so cute! >< And the passion of Robin has on road poneglyph is a lot and she always search it when she has a chance. So I really think Law and Robin did collaborate on finding road poneglyph, otherwise, she would definitely search in Onigashima too (which she didn't and Law did)

That's the end of Zou. They didn't interact a lot but I can feel like Law and Robin is getting closer. I'm also saving some of my thoughts for Wano. Wano is definitely a big change for these two, even though there are not a lot of scenes of them together :( Anyways, thank you for reading again!!! Let me know if you have any thoughts!!

[crepes-suzette-373]

Whole Cake Island comments

I'm late to this party, so what I'm posting here is probably old news to everyone, I just want to unload my thoughts.

I've read enough creator interviews to know that sometimes manga artists do things just for the heck of it with no deeper reasons. That's why I often hesitate to read too deeply into the scenes, but it's still there anyway, so I just want to react/ramble.

1) This arc repeatedly says that Sanji's brothers are supposed to be emotionless/heartless. Somehow despite that, they still burst into heart eyes when they see Nami. All of them!

If they're heartless, but they still do this, then what does it feel like for Sanji who isn't "heartless"?

It's to the point that Chopper goes "Are you sure you're not Sanji" at Yonji, and Yonji can't stop ogling at Nami's wanted poster. And they all say they want to take Nami home once the stupid wedding is over with.

Like, those 3 can normally kill people and clobber that poor helpless maid without even twitching a single curly brow, but Nami can still make them explode into heart eyes...

Maybe this is just a joke to laugh at, like "hahaha the quadruplets all have the same taste". Or maybe this was meant to show that deep down the other Vinsmokes aren't that heartless after all. Still...

2) I find it kind of strange that Sanji's injuries under the "skin mask" is drawn to look like the "joke" swollen face Luffy often gets when Nami beats him up for being dumb:

I mean, this scene with Pudding and the scene before that, when Sanji just got clobbered, I'm assuming they're both supposed to show his vulnerability. Then why make it look like the silly swollen faces that are usually meant for laughs and gags?

Compare that to the much more serious injured face Luffy has when Sanji beat him up, or way way back in the Skypiea arc when Sanji faced off Eneru.

If the in-plot intention is just to have him Sanji look so severely beat up that he needs a mask to hide it, why not draw him with the "serious" injured face?

My conspiracy thought was that sensei did that on purpose to make the scene with Pudding look either weird or awkward so that we can't take it seriously.

Like, now that it's all over we know it was a big nothing, but maybe during its initial run this specific art choice was a hint? Especially because later when Pudding revealed the trickery, she made fun of it. Something that probably can't be done with a more serious injured face.

3) Nami gave up so easily because...? She's someone who had literally done the exact same thing in almost the exact same way back in Arlong Park. She has also experienced being on the rescuer side with Robin, where they all eventually find out that there's something suspicious going on.

But somehow this time she took Sanji completely at face value and backed off in a very emotional way. Does it not even occur to her that something might be fishy again? And it's Luffy who saw through the nonsense and is completely not buying it.

Luffy, who is so clueless that he was dead-shocked to find his dad is Dragon, even though Garp already flat out told him so.

I mean, maybe because of the manga's tight schedule, sensei had to run this quickly to heighten the drama/stakes. Maybe there isn't a long plot game being played, and I guess I have a hyperactive imagination, but with a certain slant it can look like Nami gave up because she got heartbroken/jealous of the wedding.

When the group split up and the Sanji Rescue group was leaving from Zou, Zoro and Usopp said this:

They're all still there, the whole group heard it.

Oh no, maybe Sanji is on board with it. And then they actually meet Pudding:

Oh no, she's cute and he did go heart eyes at her. They then find Sanji, but he acts like this:

Oh no, maybe he does want to do the wedding for real after all.

Nami's reaction is such a classic "misunderstanding drama" reaction in romance novels.

4) Generally speaking, I feel like the wedding sham feels like something straight out of romance novels.

The leading lady gets closer to the leading man, then out of nowhere he turns out to be secretly a Very Important Person. His horrible family show up to threaten the leading lady, and he saved her at the cost of himself. Dramatic roller coaster and misunderstandings ensue, often including arranged engagements and/or almost-weddings.

This plotline really hurts my heart (poor baby Sanji), but at the same time I'm so baffled at how it all unfolds, because parts of it honestly kind of reminds me of telenovelas that my mum used to like to watch. Pretty sure I've even seen a couple permutations of this plot with vampires and whatnot during the supernatural romance craze in the Twilight era.

[murachinchi]

An anon asked me this on my curiouscat might as well share it here too :DDDD

I do have some thoughts for Tanjiro and the kidoairakus but its for my kidnap AU!

out of all the clones he's the closest to aizetsu. It starts when Tanjiro wanna escape somewhere where the others won't bother him and stumbled upon his room. Tan thought he gonna get kicked out but Ai just ignore him. So Tan just start hanging out there, they just do their own thing, sometimes Tan try to talk to him but Ai just answer with "hmm." he still talk though lol. then one time Aizetsu got in a little argument with his clones and just vent everything on Tan. Now they are somewhat best buddies. The others (the rest of the hantengus) like to eavesdrop on their convo and this is where they learn more about Tanjiro

Urogi like Tanjiro but he's bad at showing it. if he wanna hang out with Tan he just swoop him up to the sky with his legs which annoys Tanjiro alot lol. But they have their moments, Tanjiro helped preen his wings. Tan said it's because he leave loose feathers around the house but he finds it calming and u got a quiet Urogi with it.

Karaku like to tease Tanjiro. He found his pouting face very cute, and it's nice to not get slap once in awhile (sekido does that when karaku teased him) Tan is usually a patient guy but these are not his friend so he's a bit hostile towards them.. at first :D But as time goes they start to prank each other even on Sekido lol. their fav activity together is go on a walk through the woods. Urogi and Karaku like to accompany him forage for food

Sekido was pretty hostile towards Tan at first. He was the one in charge of Tan's well being when they first brought him home. Tanjiro is not exactly a nice care receiver, he pick fight all the time and made alot of mess. When Tanjiro can take care of himself he stays away from him. But when Tan start helping around the house he warms up a little. They become friends from their mutual feelings of how annoying the rest of the Hantengus are

Tanjiro is wary of Zohakuten. He was the one who punished him everytime he tried to run away so even now when Tan have a somewhat good relationship with the rest of the Hantengus he still walked on an eggshell with Zou. They are still trying to fix their relationship lol

With Urami he treats him the same like Hantengu. Note in my AU Urami is still Hantengu, he just acts a bit cooler and more reserve lol.

so yeah in this AU the clones also end up having romantic feelings towards Tanjiro.

hehe thanks for reading this far!

I'm sorry that i haven't drawn anything for the clones x Tanjiro (except Urami LOL) i have so many thoughts but not enough motivation to draw them all 😭 if only i could split myself like Hantengu so they can draw em all 😂 one of em can go to work while i laze around at home lmaoo

[swordsmans]

Do we know if one piece will be finished soon? Thinking of it's end makes me so anxious haha

short answer is yes, long answer is... "soon" is extremely relative when it comes to one piece (lol). so i personally would not worry too much!! ive been in and out of one piece since thriller bark was releasing real-time, and im like... trying not to think of the end. this series has been a part of my life for like... fifteen years or smth crazy. BUT i don't think it's going to come any time soon irl. here's why! (that's what im telling myself, at least)

as of last fall, the manga has officially entered the "final saga" starting with the egghead arc (official twitter announcement), which is basically macro-plot endgame for the whole series. for context, one piece is so huge it's broken up into "sagas" and "arcs", with each saga most often containing multiple arcs. this means that sagas can last literal years of real-life time. there's some debate about where to actually draw lines around sagas--for example: i have seen some people combine WCI and Wano into the "Emperor Saga" before, but i think it's commonly accepted that Zou/WCI/Reverie are one saga and Wano is it's own thing.

SPOILERS BELOW

however, even in a world where the final saga is one large "arc" (unlikely, since we're already starting to move off egghead imo) think about how long Wano was on it's own. i fell off reading consistently around the the middle/end of WCI and didn't pick things back up for four years, and all i missed was a hefty chunk of Wano. one arc/saga. i'm not saying that every arc/saga is going to be as long as Wano (i think it's the longest to date), but think about how many moving pieces are still on the table and how it took years to address two emperors and the samurai (which was set up in Thriller Bark). we still have:

the remaining emperors, shanks and blackbeard (and buggy, tentatively, but i do think cross guild is going to be an ally because buggy/croc/mihawk all have histories as "temporary" straw hat allies and once you cross that threshold you're in it for life)

marines (absolute justice), e.g. akainu and his followers

the five elders and imu (seperate from AJ marines because they're clearly making their own moves)

marines (honorable justice/SWORD), although it looks like they've starting moving as of 1080

revolutionary army

what's left of the supernovas, because i highly doubt the other two monster captains have died at this point

saul and the ohara survivors + straw hat grand fleet (again, allies, so they might just appear out of nowhere or not take an active plot role outside of narration [re: saul] or battle [re: shgf]), but they still have to do something)

yes, i realize that these are all pieces that he's basically moving across the board from where they are now to where the final battle is going to take place, but considering the pace of one piece chapters that could take years alone. at a rate of 40-ish chapters a year, even if the final saga is 150 chapters like Wano, that's still a lot of irl time.

and that's not to mention the narrative elements oda has left to wrap up (although i will admit, now that he's started cutting narrative/worldbuilding and putting things in SBSs exclusively, i do think there will be a lot of unanswered/unsatisfyingly answered questions by the end--why senor pink got a flashback backstory and not zoro's family/the shimotsuki lineage is one of the top 5 most burning questions i am going to ask god when i die). explanations for lore and worldbuilding often cover multiple chapters, especially if it's in the form of a flashback. and we still have so much plot plot to get through when you consider joyboy/void century "plot A" and current timeline "plot B".

i firmly believe we're going to get an extended flash-back sequence of joyboy/void century events because that has been the backbone of one piece's plot since alabasta. so at some point we're going to have to break away from the "plot B"/current timeline to get the full picture of what's been driving the world since joyboy's era. i think that's going to be a whole ~thing~ that's even longer than oden's flashback sequence, which people were calling "oden's flashback arc" at the time (literally, it was like a mini arc because releases covered six months irl time). so setting aside everything that has to happen in the main plot, there's also (hopefully) going to be a huge unaccounted for chunk of backstory/narrative.

so my guess? five years, personally. anything less would leave a lot of unanswered questions or cut huge corners. unless it ends abruptly like bleach or naruto (please please please no), i think it will be longer than wano's 150 chapters, so when you take into account release schedules and filler five years feels like a good estimate. (you could even say six because the there's about a year delay between the manga/anime, and i almost count that as... one piece TWO! because it's like a whole different experience sometimes [see: spandam manga vs. anime; ace's expanded backstory; SH timeskip extended sequences; etc])

(and on a purely selfish note, in five years i'll have been into the series for two decades, and i think it would be extremely satisfying to cross that threshold lol)

ANYWAY YEAH i'm feeling totally normal about the thought of one piece ending and have put a completely normal amount of effort into convincing myself it'll still go on as long as i possible. hope this answers your question(???) i got a little off track there lol

[tfw-no-tennis]

one piece live blog hrmmmmm

why hello its me LJ starting another liveblog. yayyyyyyy i love liveblogging lol. so ive been wanting to do this one for ages - the one piece manga! im starting at zou bc i wanna catch up, then i plan to go back and read from thriller bark on. lets hope I get there!

I have read most of this already (I was last caught up to the end of act 1 of wano) so there will probably be spoilers scatter through, for now...

So i started w/chapter 803. here goes!

robin thinking the dragon drawing is cute awww

revolutionaries wwwwwwwwwwwwwww

dragon asking about robin awww <3

DRAGON NOT ASKING ABT LUFFY BHVJDSKFBJSKHDFBJKH

dragon: luffy who???

still thinking abt the person on reddit who posited that blackbeard is actually 3 guys in a coat and thats why he can have multiple devil fruits and also thats why his flag has 3 skulls. mans might be onto st

uh ohhhh the revolutionaries have been busted 😬

BUGGY OH MY GOD

buggy having like. a pirate temp agency. hhhhhhhhhakjdhsfsjkjdfjkjl

ok but buggy failing upwards is always so funnyyyyy pleaseeee

I admire buggy for sticking to the clown theme. can't quit the bit

also him pretending to be Large is hilarious

luffy usopp law and zoro all being like NINJA???? 👀 I love it

okaaaaaaay onto 804:

AUGHHHHH not the ASL bros playing baseball cover 😭😭😭 mannnn I wasn't ready 😭

the coordinated strawhat dodge lmao

hvbahdjkfbsjhdf kanjuro and kin'emon fucking around back there and getting knocked off lmfaoooooo

robin with the morbidity hvbhjadfjbaksjf love her sm

them being like ehhhh should we get those guys or just leave them? they're fine lets just go. hvaikdfbjksdf

oh my goddd everyone getting so invested in the dragon's struggle. plssss

LMFAO NOOOO HE DIED ??!?!

zoro and law being lame hvabdjkfbsjdkf

I love sm that luffy and usopp are always wow'd by everything new and cool that they see and that they always share that awwww

godddddddddddd I forgot the official scans call him zolo. SOOOO cursed

in my head zolo is just the OC ruth and I made up; zoro's twin brother on wano who is heterosexual, doesn't really care about swords, and has a great sense of direction. we're so funny

oh shitttt is that carrot???

usopp being so stressed all the time makes sense if u think about one piece's crazy condensed timeline...like they Really were getting into a new insane fight every single week with no pause

CARROT JUKES

still mad that she got sidelined back to zou later in the manga :| I'll talk abt that more later I'm sure lol

ooomg wanda showing up w/nami's clothes on. hello. not kidding when I say that nami is a lesbian w/the most game ever she legit has a gf on every island

usopp being like 'a talking animal!?' how long have u known chopper my dude

omg at this point in time naruto had just ended 😳 crazy for one piece zou was a while ago at this point but naruto has been over...one piece rlly won that huh

oda saying 'kishimoto has escaped the hell of weekly serialization' bruh somebody needs to unionize these mangaka. fr.

okayyyyy 805!

usopp being worried for nami awwh

robin 'perhaps they eat people.' hbvhajdfbjksdfbhksja love her

oh my god so many implications that the other straw hats are dead lmao

lmao god law just casually being like 'yea I never expected to see my crew again' bc he was planning to die in dressrosa...

bepo oooobh show me bepo

THER HE ISSSS BEPO MOMENT

luffy immediately getting into a fight lmao

oooobh I love carrot she's so cute why did she have to get booted from the story :( boo hiss

of course luffy actually remembers bepo bc he's a talking bear and that's COOL

law's crew missed him sm awwwwwwwww that makes it extra sad that he was planning to die yeesh

oh shitttt they all missed some drama

806!!

omgggg the cover story w luffys village awwwhhhh dadan and makino and her shanks babyyyyy also is she wearing a wedding ring?? are she and shanks married????

kin'emon and kanjuro shenanigans lmao are they ever gonna make it up the elephant

bruh that's so cool how the elephant spraying water on itself sustains the minks on zou ooooooooommh I love the creative ways that the one piece world works

carrot just randomly biting luffy...mood

aight WHO was getting crucified.

yall gave zoro directions to somewhere???? is anyone seeing the problem here lmao

'chambres' lmfao the translations...french ass sounding law

usopp hiding behind zoro and puppeteering his arm hhhhhh I love them

NAMIIIII my fav

omg I forgot abt the pineapple houses. SO cool

reunion!!!! :D

ohhhh my god the sanji cliffhanger. yessss so juicy fuck yeah

honestly I am soooo pumped to read whole cake again lol that was the first one piece arc I read since that's what was coming out when I got into one piece in 2018 and it slapssssss. also I'm really excited to read the rest of wano, especially now that it's over, and to catch up and hopefully read weekly like I do w/CSM. yayyyy

[hereloveblooms]

day 9 of the improvement hell challenge! I'm not too good at backgrounds so I decided to do a screencap re-draw of Zou! I might also take a short break on this challenge!

[silversoulstardust]

Hi YES i'd love to see ur ver of law! ((And if i werent shy af id also love to share mine (prob might just slide into ur dms w this one c.c))) If it happens it's gna be pretty underwhelming tho. my plan so far is zou-time law (sans kikoku) bc i think it's the only outfit i can try to pull off ahhh, if even that.

So im currently looking around the secondhands for a white baseball cap (it's so hard to find one without some text on it? Jfc. But ye gna put spots on it w a marker); a black dressshirt; jeans that i might also paint with spots but tbh im too scared ill ruin em (and i only have one pair of blue jeans xD i wear black usually); +plus i'll buy some facepaint n do the tattoos!!; The only one thing i actually have so far at the ready is a black wig, purely by chance. Idk if ill manage the rest in time ahhh.

Whats funny is that im gna be at that con for around 3-4hours tops, and my only motivation to do law is because i wanna let ppl know that i wanna talk ab him asffghjjkl (tho i might be too awkward to actually hold a convo lmao thatll be funny. In and out.). My whole idea w going to that con started actually PURELY bc im deeply hiperfixated w law rn (and by 'right now' i mean 'for the last two months', ever since i read the most recent spoiler regarding him n drowned in the fandom again ahah), and im having a very minimal outlet socially ahh. The next anime-related con i could attend would be in winter.. i dont wanna wait that long..

Sorry for the long message asdfgh it got away from me. ALSO just saw the pool noodle!! Love the idea!!!! We need thorough updates on the progress!!!! (ofc as long as u wanna keep doing em v.v)

bestie there's no such thing as underwhelming cosplay!! it's either you do or you don't and if you do? you already deserve a star bc at least you tried! ⭐ I know how some people are very particular and want it to follow their character design to a perfect t but you also need to consider time and resources for it. some people can afford to buy expensive props while others have to make it from scratch and I think that's the fun part of cosplaying that is lost these days. you have to get crafty ^-^

ashjkl also mildly related to this I love watching hijabi cosplayers getting creative with their costumes whilst covering themselves properly. I think I'm gonna take a leaf out of their book and wear my yellow blouse and make it a modest version of law so I don't have to draw all over my chest lol. I recently cut my hair to a short wolf cut and it's naturally black so that part is settled too :] don't paint on your jeans, though!! it's pretty risky. maybe buy a black cloth duct tape and cut it into small round shapes and paste it on? that's what I'm planning to do to my jeans too hehe

and I feel you on wanting to talk about your fav character with other people!! honestly I can't shut up about luffy even for a second. I went to a concert with another tumblr mutual recently and one piece was all I talked about lol. but since I'm a big lawlu believer I can't help but love torao too 💛

[enruiinas]

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Law has been quieter than usual these past few days. Watching from the sidelines, or lounging in the sun's pale rays as the allied pirates bustle to and fro about the deck of the Thousand Sunny. They've kept themselves busy, ushering in the holidays with a carefree cheer ill-fitting of the journey ahead of them, and though Law had scowled throughout the process, he's been unusually reserved in his judgment of late.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ If asked, he would say it was because they've left him alone in turn for the most part. It wouldn't be a lie; he's enjoyed the time left to his own devices. But if Law were being honest, even he could not deny the Straw Hats their merriment. There's little point in gnashing his teeth about it, and it's been interesting to observe them this way. They've done an impressive job creating an atmosphere even Law feels somewhat content in, and in the silence they've left him to, Law's thoughts have drifted elsewhere. To another crew on another vessel.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Somewhere on these seas, his Hearts will have finished their own decorations by now. They'll have found their own tree, dressed it in ornaments crafted and accumulated throughout the years; there will be lights wound around banisters, warm drinks in the galley, laughter and inside jokes. Or perhaps they'll have reached Zou by now, and they'll celebrate the day in Bepo's homeland. The Vivre card can't tell him if they're there by now, only that they're safe. He hopes they are celebrating. Having as good a time as the pirates around him despite their missing captain.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Soft footfalls cut through this line of thinking, and though Law greets the navigator with signature aloofness, he's almost grateful for the distraction. Keeps him from wondering if, against all odds, he might be there to celebrate with them next Christmas.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ He doesn't say anything as she approaches. Simply observes from the corner of his eye as she takes in the festive decorations around them and her breath forms clouds in the sharp night air. Then her gaze drifts up, and her features morph from quiet contentment to quiet uncertainty, and Law follows the gesture when a slender finger points to the plant hanging above them.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ He's paid little mind to the sporadic sprigs of greenery that dot the ship, except to scoff and roll his eyes at the desperate fawning of the chef who hangs them. Hasn't thought mistletoe or of Straw Hats he might get stuck beneath it with, secure in his belief there'd be no such encounters given the wide berth the allied crew give him. Except for Straw Hat himself, of course. But even the raucous captain is occupied elsewhere for the moment, too distracted by the snowflakes to delight in his blatant disregard for their guest's personal space for once.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ For the moment, it's just him and the navigator. And though his brow creases into a frown as he looks up at the mistletoe, there's a rare hesitance in Nami's demeanor that keeps him from dissuading her. A deepening flush of cold-pink cheeks that leaves him curious if she'll go through with it. For a moment, Nami herself doesn't seem sure. Indecision mars her features; her eyes hold his as if she's waiting for him to protest. And maybe it's the tranquil ease in the air, or the glitter of the snowflakes in her hair that stops him from reacting, but he doesn't. Maybe thoughts of his crew have left him more agreeable, or he’s simply intrigued to see what she’ll do, but the surgeon only watches, grateful for the shadow his hat casts over his eyes as Nami draws near and rocks onto her toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. He feels his skin color and his grip tighten reflexively on the sheath of his blade against his shoulder. The touch of soft lips against his skin is brief, surprising, and not unpleasant.  

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ It's over as quickly as it happened, and it’s only as she draws away from him that Law finally offers a delayed ❝Nami-ya❞ by way of greeting – just in time to be met with a small twitch of her lips and a wave as she turns to leave. For some reason, he finds himself frowning. It doesn’t occur to him to realize he hadn’t been.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ And he’s not sure why he does it, or even if she hears it – his voice is little more than a whisper as he calls out to her retreating back. ❝Watch for the light fixtures next time you're heading for the library.❞ And even more softly, as if in afterthought, he added, ❝Merry Christmas, Nami-ya.❞

🌿🍒 from @enruiinas send 🌿🍒 or "mistletoe" to have our muses caught under the mistletoe! || accepting!

Sailing across the world has always reduced festivities greatly. But even so, Nami would not spend it any other way. She enjoys being able to hang out with her friends, the ones she considers family, and watch how the atmosphere of the Sunny transforms from normal to that of complete wonder for the month of December.

The redhead likes exchanging gifts with her nakama to express how much she cares and thinks about them, likes watching Chopper's face light up as he's served nearly nothing but sweets on his birthday, likes Robin's face melt from content to excited at yet another book she had been gifted. There is something about this time of year that had them all merry than normal, relaxed and at ease.

Even with another crew being at their side whose apparently only allied with them for the sake of a mutual goal. The other captain is quiet in his place, and Nami chooses to not bother him despite her moving to stand beside him.

Nami glances around the ship, taking her time to admire the decorations that Usopp and Franky had strung across the Sunny. They had constructed different coloured lights to curl around the masts and the bannisters, her mikan grove had been decorated lightly with baubles and glittering stars to avoid disturbing the fruits. Mistletoe had been placed around by Sanji in the hopes of getting caught under it with herself or Robin (no luck so far), and the whole ship constantly smelled like cocoa and a warm roast. Brook stands in a corner, humming along to a song he plays on his violin.

Snow only dots the sky, and Nami can see every individual snowflake as they fall gently. They land against her hair and she doesn't mind, genuinely serene for the first time in a long time.

She looks up, still looking at the decorations until she spots one of those daft plants that she had managed to slip by every time she and Sanji were caught in the same room.

❝ Torao, ❞ Nami says, ignoring the way her cheeks warm. Even though it's cold, it doesn't sting along her skin. She gestures upwards at the plant and then looks at him, as though trying to gauge his reaction. She can go through this without it being awkward, right? He's cute, mysterious, and certainly won't say anything to anyone.

She can trust him. There is no point of thinking too much into this.

She purses her lips and carefully sidles up beside him. Usually she is so much more confident around people like this, but this isn't a planned attack of hers. She is not planning on robbing him blind after flirting shamelessly or seducing him. He isn't a victim.

She carefully presses her lips to his cheek, having to move onto her tiptoes. Not that he is so much taller than her, but it's enough. She draws away carefully, not wanting to anger him. She only offers a half-smile in response and turns on her heel with a wave of her hand.

❝ Merry Christmas, ❞ she manages.