Angel of Death Fruit
Book Two: Lifeline
By Dixxy Mouri
Author's Note: If you have not read the first book in this series, Deadline, I would strongly recommend putting this story away and reading the first one to understand what's going on here and to avoid major spoilers. However, if you REALLY want to read this one first because you can't stand the idea of Sanji and Nami taking center stage and you've just got to have your Zoro fix, there is some re-capping woven into the first chapter.
Otherwise, One Piece itself is not mine, but all non-canon characters within this story are.
Prologue – A Few Weeks Earlier
The night air was cool as a gentle breeze blew through the streets of Alubarna. Most of the citizens were sleeping with their windows open, and there was generally a very calm, relaxed feeling floating through the consciousness of the city. With the rebellion ground to a halt and the rebuilding process well under way, there wasn't much to worry about anymore.
Princess Vivi sat on her windowsill with a cup of tea and a book, a light shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She was clutching the bounty posters of the Straw Hat Pirates in her hands, sighing to herself as she looked at them. According to the papers the Straw Hats had declared war on the World Government, meaning that, technically, she was at war with some of her very best friends.
"Fear not, Vivi-sama – er herm, MA, MA, MA! If the Straw Hats return to Alubarna they will be welcomed and not pursued – your father will declare our city a sanctuary for them, but understand that is the best he can do," Igaram had assured her. "We will not bring any harm to the men and woman who saved our country from Sir Crocodile no matter what the World Government says."
Still, she couldn't help but wonder why they had done such a thing. Vivi was positive that they had a reason – even Luffy wouldn't do something like that without being provoked – but she couldn't help but worry, knowing that they were probably being pursued by more bounty hunters and Marines than she could imagine.
No. Luffy was stronger than that. He would protect them – they meant too much to him.
She crossed her legs and spread the eight posters out before her. The first one she picked up was that of Cyborg Franky, who must have joined the crew after her departure. He looked a lot like the kind of person Luffy would pick up and she wondered what he was like. Not that she would get a chance to find out anytime soon. Back into the pile it went.
Nami's poster was sexy and provocative and not as high as most of the rest of the crew. But it was a very good picture of her and looked like she had posed for the shot. Vivi missed having late night talks with the navigator thief – they always talked before they went to sleep for the evening about a variety of things – clothes, books, men, everything.
Now she was probably having those conversations with Miss All Sunday. Vivi was still a little upset over Nico Robin joining the Straw Hats, though, like she had figured with Mr. Franky, Luffy must have had a good reason for recruiting her into his crew. After all, her father did mention that she had tried to assassinate Crocodile and gave Luffy a life-saving antidote. Maybe she wasn't as bad as the princess originally thought.
The poster advertising the bounty for a man known as Sogeking had to belong to Usopp – the nose gave it away. She marveled at this alter ego that the marksman had created for himself. She wasn't sure what his intention with the persona was, but the mask was colorful and he kind of looked cool. She smiled – it fit him.
She felt bad for Tony-kun and Sanji-san – especially Sanji-san. He'd wanted a bounty for a while, and certainly the price the Marines had placed on his head was nothing to sneeze at, but the picture was simply horrible! There was no way the cook was happy with that picture – it was so ugly Vivi almost couldn't stand it. Poor thing.
Tony-kun at least had a good picture, but the bounty itself was laughable. Only 50 berries? Why bother printing the posters? The Marines had likely spent more money looking for the little reindeer than they say he was worth. Vivi sighed. The decision didn't make any sense to her. Why bother with a bounty at all?
Luffy, of course, was far and away the most expensive head on the crew, now worth ten times the amount he was worth when he and Vivi first met. But he was still smiling in that poster, and Usopp was still in the corner of the picture. Wherever he was, Vivi was certain Luffy was happy as long as he had his crew with him.
Then there was Mr. Bushido, Roronoa Zoro. His bounty had doubled to a sizable 120 million, something he might have been holding over the cook's head (a bigger number AND a better picture? It was the perfect fodder for him!). It was a good price for someone like Zoro – he was certainly nothing to scoff at with his strength and skill.
He was very impressive.
Vivi leaned back, yawning. She straightened the posters into a neat pile and placed them under a throw pillow on the windowsill. It was probably time for her to go to bed soon. It was late and there would probably be lots of things to attend to the following morning, what with the rebuilding of the city to deal with. She swung her legs over the side and started to shuffle towards her bed.
"Good night, Carue," she said, crawling under the covers and hugging a pillow.
There was no squawk in return.
Vivi paused. "Carue?"
Still no response.
Vivi sat up and looked around. "Carue?" she asked. "Where are you?" She looked toward the door – she'd left it open for him to come in, but, come to think of it, she hadn't noticed him nudge the door open and come through tonight. She stood up and grabbed her bathrobe, wrapping it around herself before venturing out into the hallway.
"Carue! Carue, where are you?" she called.
Vivi felt someone behind her place a gun to the back of her neck. "Stay quiet."
BANG! BANG!
Igaram frowned – it wasn't like the princess to sleep in this late.
"Vivi-sama! Vivi-sama!"
The captain of the guard sighed. Of all the times for her to start acting like a lazy teenager, why did it have to be the day of a meeting between all of the foremen trying to rebuild the city AND the day a foreign royal family was visiting AND the day she was supposed to have her royal portrait painted?
Still no answer.
Igaram was starting to get cross. "VIVI-SAMA!"
A thought flashed through his head. What if something had happened to her? Igaram turned the doorknob and stepped into the room, afraid of what he would find. "Vivi-sama! Are you hurt? Are you ill? Are you all right?" He pushed the door open and rushed in, looking around for her.
The bed wasn't made – it looked at least partially slept in. Other than that there was no sign of Princess Vivi having been in the room recently. Igaram felt his heart beat a little faster. If Vivi wasn't there, then where was she? Where would she have gone without telling anyone about it? This just wasn't like her!
Igaram spotted a piece of paper on the desk. "A note?" he wondered aloud.
If you want your precious little princess back safe and sound, we will require no less than 500 million berries for her return. No Marines, no bounty hunters, no mercenaries. You will await further instructions before you act or else the princess will die. We will contact you when we're good and ready.
-The Allen Beetle Pirates
PS – WE MEAN IT
Igaram froze, staring at the empty bed. "Vivi-sama. . ."
Author's Notes
And. . . we're back! Not that long (I hope) after the end of Deadline to boot! And at that, we're starting off with some action right off the bat.
Villain this time is named for a famous author and a famous character. We have the original emo kid himself, Edgar Allen Poe, and Beetlejuice (shorted to "Beetle" here).
That's all for now guys!
-Dixxy