Outside the Cabin
The sound of waves hitting the Going Merry's hull was muffled by the tension on deck. The group stood before the closed cabin door, the air thick with anticipation.
Sanji stepped forward again, fists clenched, frustration growing with each passing second, eyes feverishly fixed on the door.
BAM!
A precise kick collided with the invisible barrier, generating a reddish flash that forced him a step back.
"Damn you, Riser! I'll break this door and get Nami-san out of there!"
Before he could attempt another strike, the wood creaked.
Creeeeek…
The door slowly opened.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment.
Nami emerged first, her silhouette bathed in the cabin's dim light.
Sanji froze, eyes wide. The cigarette dropped unnoticed from his lips.
Vivi covered her mouth with both hands, eyes shining in pure shock.
Usopp stumbled backward, clutching onto Karoo, whose eyes also widened.
Zoro uncrossed his arms, narrowing his eyes.
Luffy tilted his head, blinking slowly.
Alvida released a low whistle, a smile playing on her lips.
Nami's body was different.
Taller.
Her curves more pronounced, orange hair shining under the moonlight. Pale skin contrasted perfectly with gleaming golden eyes.
Each step was fluid, graceful, as though gliding across the deck rather than walking.
The white dress clung to her figure, accentuating her new form.
She was no longer the same.
A shiver ran through Sanji, but he couldn't speak.
Behind her, Riser leaned casually against the door frame, golden eyes sparkling with amusement.
Nami's eyes swept the group, filled with disdain.
"Don't you have anything better to do than bang on my door?"
Her tone was cold, dripping with arrogance.
Vivi took a hesitant step forward but faltered under those predatory eyes.
"N-Nami…?"
The navigator's lips curled slowly.
"I hope it was worth interrupting my rest."
She crossed her arms, further accentuating her new figure.
Sanji opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He couldn't.
Eyes still fixed on her, mind in shock.
Heart racing.
Every cell of his body screamed adoration, yet something inside him trembled.
Luffy scratched his head.
"Nami, you look different…"
Her eyes glinted sarcastically.
"Wow, Luffy, so observant."
Alvida chuckled softly.
"Hahaha! Now I like you, girl."
Zoro remained silent, analyzing her.
Vivi averted her gaze, fists clenched.
Usopp opened and closed his mouth several times before managing a sound.
"N-Nami… what happened to you?"
She turned toward him, expression bored.
"What happened? I've become better."
Her smile widened, slightly revealing sharp canines.
"Riser gave me a gift. And I accepted it."
Silence.
The wind blew gently across the deck, softly fluttering the sails.
Sanji finally caught his breath.
He opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Tried again.
But words simply wouldn't come.
He was utterly lost.
Nami didn't care. Her gaze moved across the deck as though observing everything from above, like a queen surveying her subjects.
"Vivi, come with me. I need you at the helm."
Vivi blinked, still absorbing the vision before her. Golden eyes, flawless skin, hair shimmering in moonlight. A strange emotion squeezed her chest.
'Why… why does she seem so perfect now?'
Igaram adjusted his collar, clearing his throat.
"Princess, is it safe—"
"I'm coming."
Vivi moved forward without hesitation, passing Sanji without even glancing at him. Her eyes never left Nami, a mix of admiration and envy burning within her.
Igaram followed, though his expression remained tense.
Sanji stood motionless. Vacant eyes, hands still clenched into fists. His lips moved in an inaudible murmur.
Zoro crossed his arms, watching from the corner of his eye.
Luffy tilted his head, scratching his nose.
"Hey, Zoro, what's wrong with Sanji?"
Zoro snorted, looking away.
"He lost before he even started fighting."
Luffy laughed, hands on hips.
"Sanji! I want meat!"
The blonde didn't answer.
Nothing.
Not a shout, punch, or angry glare.
Only silence.
Luffy blinked, shrugged.
"I'll get it myself, then."
Usopp, still recovering from shock, rubbed his eyes. His mind screamed he was living a nightmare.
"This can't be… Nami? Like this? It's witchcraft!"
Karoo tilted his head. His small eyes brightened, seeing something near Usopp's feet. A strange scent drifted through the air.
An interesting scent.
The small purple sphere rested on the deck, rolling slightly as the ship rocked.
Karoo pecked it.
"Quaaack?"
Pecked again.
The fruit split open slightly.
The scent intensified.
He tilted his head.
And swallowed.
PLOP!
The flavor was horrible.
Karoo grimaced.
"Quaaack!?"
His body trembled.
Muscles contracted, skin twitching as if something moved beneath.
BOOM!
His feet suddenly widened.
Wings shrank.
Beak elongated.
Eyes bulged.
His whole body stretched, and in an instant, where a duck once stood… now stood a feathered yellow velociraptor, wild eyes, and sharp teeth.
"QUAAAAAAAAAAAACK!"
A thunderous roar filled the air.
Usopp fell backward, eyes wide.
"AHHHHH! WHAT IS THAT?!"
Karoo examined himself.
Moved his legs, feeling stronger muscles.
Flexed his toes, sharp claws glistening in moonlight.
His tail moved, balancing his new body.
He raised his head.
And ran.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Each step made the deck shake.
Luffy jumped excitedly.
"WOOOAH! THAT'S AWESOME!"
Usopp pointed, still lying down.
"HE ATE MY FRUIT! MY DREAM OF BEING SUPER POWERFUL! NO! NO NO NO!"
Zoro clicked his tongue, observing the scene.
"Better this way. A faster Usopp would be trouble."
Alvida laughed, leaning against the railing.
"Hahaha! The duck is more useful than Long Nose now!"
Usopp gritted his teeth, shaking fists in the air.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! THAT WAS MY DESTINY!"
Karoo stopped next to Vivi, looking down at her.
She blinked, still processing everything.
"Karoo…? You… you're…"
He tilted his head.
"Quaaack!"
And growled.
A low, guttural sound.
Vivi covered her mouth.
"This is… incredible!"
The feathered yellow velociraptor puffed up proudly.
Luffy stretched his arms, laughing loudly.
"Shishishi! Now we have a super duck! This will be great!"
Sanji still didn't move.
Zoro observed him, amusement shadowing his eyes.
"The cook hasn't woken up yet."
Luffy approached, poking Sanji's shoulder.
"Sanji! Sanji! Got meat?"
Nothing.
Luffy scratched his head.
"Weird…"
Sanji, still frozen, was processing everything.
Nami.
Riser.
The transformation.
How she'd passed him as if he were nothing.
His fists tightened harder.
Teeth ground together.
Something inside him broke.
But he didn't move.
Not yet.
Riser stepped away from the cabin, approaching Alvida.
She smiled.
"Satisfied?"
Golden eyes sparkled slightly.
"For now."
She tilted her head.
"But what will you do now?"
Riser glanced at Nami, confidently steering the ship, her silhouette shining under the moonlight.
The corner of his mouth curled.
"Now, we sail for Alabasta."
The deck swayed gently with the rhythm of the waves. Silence among the crew remained thick.
Vivi, still processing everything, hugged Karoo in his new form. The feathered yellow velociraptor tilted its head, growling softly, without hostility.
Riser approached slowly, watching the animal's transformation with interest.
'Even changed, he's still loyal to his owner.'
Vivi raised her eyes, feeling his presence.
"He's still Karoo… just stronger."
The golden gaze slid over her, measuring every detail.
"Interesting. If you want strength too… just spend some time in the cabin with me."
The princess immediately turned red.
"W-what?! I… I would never do such a thing!"
Alvida laughed loudly.
"Hahaha! Good one, Riser!"
Sanji, still locked in place, twitched slightly at hearing that, but his gaze remained empty.
Usopp sat on the floor, hugging his knees, staring blankly at the horizon.
"My Devil Fruit… My millions of berries… My dream of becoming super powerful… It's all gone."
Zoro rolled his eyes.
"Tch. You never would've eaten it anyway."
Usopp buried his face in his hands.
"I could've sold it! Now Karoo's a monster and I'm still just a guy with a slingshot!"
The velociraptor gently pecked his head.
"QUAAAAACK!"
The sniper screamed, grabbing onto the mast.
"Aaaaah! He's gonna eat me!"
Vivi laughed, stroking Karoo's feathered neck.
"He'd never do that, Usopp."
The duck-raptor blinked yellow eyes, proud of his owner's trust.
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Reincarnation in Smallville
A new life, a new Clark Kent — with all the memories of his past life intact.