Going Merry
The Going Merry rocked gently, the waves lapping softly against the hull after the cyclone had passed. The scent of salt mixed with wet wood, and the deck was littered with leaves, loose ropes, and debris.
Luffy sat on the railing, swinging his legs.
"That was amazing! Shishishi!"
Zoro sighed, crossing his arms.
"More work to clean up."
Sanji wiped the deck with a cloth, frustration etched across his face.
"Damn wind! And I had just finished making the deck spotless for Nami-san!"
Karoo shook his feathers, letting out an indignant "Quack!" before curling up beside Vivi again.
Alvida leaned against the mast, watching everything with disdain.
"You all complain too much."
Nami tossed a bucket of dirty water over the side, sighing.
"At least it's over. Now we just need to reorganize everything."
Vivi picked up a soaked piece of paper from the debris. The paper clung to her fingers, and the ink was starting to smudge at the edges. Her eyes fell on the printed words.
Time seemed to stop.
"No… this can't be…"
Her fingers clenched around the newspaper as her eyes scanned the headline.
"Alabasta's royal army loses 300,000 soldiers to the rebels."
A chill ran down her spine.
"No… this must be a mistake…"
Her breathing quickened.
This means…
The words swirled in her mind.
If they really deserted… If the war begins…
A tremor overtook her hands.
Countless dead… Blood in the streets… Orphaned children…
Sanji glanced at her, noticing the sudden paleness on her face.
"Vivi? What happened?"
She didn't respond.
The newspaper slipped from her hands, fluttering slowly before landing on the soaked deck.
Karoo let out a worried "Quack?" nudging her with his beak.
"This… This is wrong…"
Igaram approached, reading the words quickly. His face hardened.
"Princess…"
The air felt heavy.
Zoro cast a sidelong glance at the newspaper.
"So the war has already begun."
Luffy frowned.
"Then we need to get there fast!"
Nami picked up the newspaper, analyzing the information carefully.
"This was three days ago. If we don't stop this now, it might be too late."
Vivi swallowed hard.
"My people… My country…"
Her heart pounded, images of Alabasta's streets soaked in blood filling her mind.
If this war happens… I won't be able to stop it… I…
Fear took root in her soul.
Sanji clenched his fists, his jaw tightening.
"That means we have to hurry."
Luffy grinned, punching his palm.
"Let's end this before it gets worse!"
Everyone seemed ready to move forward, but…
Riser remained still.
Leaning against the railing, his golden eyes gazed at the ocean, expressionless.
Without a word.
Without a reaction.
The cold breeze blew, ruffling his blond hair.
Vivi looked up, still in shock.
"Riser…"
No response.
She clenched her fists, fear growing.
Why isn't he saying anything?
His golden gaze flickered slightly, but his expression remained the same.
Alvida chuckled low, breaking the silence.
"Is he waiting for someone to beg?"
Sanji growled.
"Don't joke about this, Alvida!"
The wind howled once more, carrying the suffocating tension.
And Riser, as always, simply watched.
The silence stretched. The sound of waves breaking against the hull mixed with the rustling sails.
Nami stood close to Riser, unmoving, her golden eyes locked onto him. Her body responded involuntarily to his presence, the vampiric instinct pulsing beneath her skin.
The atmosphere shifted.
A chilling breeze cut through the air, making Vivi shiver.
"Riser!"
No reaction.
She pressed her lips together, frustration flashing in her eyes.
"Are you listening to me?!"
The cold intensified as if the very ocean was responding to his silence.
The blond closed his eyes for a moment, letting the wind whip through his hair. His mind drifted.
'If Nami has become a vampire, then Chopper is no longer necessary.'
The words echoed inside him, cold and calculated logic.
'The only reason we were going to Drum Island was to get a doctor. But now…'
His eyes drifted to Nami.
Her body no longer showed weakness. Her senses were sharpened. Her regeneration, advanced.
He didn't need a doctor for her.
And he didn't need Chopper.
The wind blew stronger.
'So why follow the original script?'
Options danced before him.
'Go along with them and chase something useless… or speed up the game.'
His golden eyes opened slowly.
Riser had decided.
"Riser!"
Vivi's shout cut through the cold night.
Her face was flushed, eyes filled with despair and fury.
"Are you ignoring me?! Since when do you do that?"
His gaze finally fell on her, unhurried.
Time seemed to stretch.
Vivi breathed heavily, her shoulders rising and falling.
"Don't you understand?!"
Her fingers tightened around the crumpled newspaper.
"I need to return to Alabasta now!"
The wind roared around them, whipping her hair across her face.
Riser remained still. His golden eyes glowed intensely, but devoid of emotion.
'What gave this princess the courage to challenge me like this?'
His fingers slid along the railing, a light touch on the damp wood.
"You're used to giving orders, aren't you, princess?"
His voice was low, laced with something dangerous.
Vivi shuddered.
Sanji stepped forward, placing himself between them, tense.
"That's enough, Riser! Vivi is desperate, and you're playing with her!"
Igaram grabbed the princess's arm, trying to pull her back.
"Princess Vivi, perhaps it would be best—"
"No!"
She tore away from his grip, her eyes burning.
"I won't stay silent while he acts like nothing matters!"
Riser raised an eyebrow slightly, a smirk playing at his lips.
The wind slashed across the deck, sending leaves and broken ropes scattering.
Sanji clenched his fists.
"Enough! If you don't want to help, then step aside!"
Alvida leaned against the mast, a sharp grin on her lips.
"Ahahah! That cook really thinks he can talk to you like that, boss?"
She uncrossed her arms, walking slowly forward, her club resting on her shoulder.
Sanji turned to her, his eyes burning with rage.
Alvida's grin widened.
"I like men with fire in their eyes… But I like crushing them even more."
The tension on the deck became suffocating.
Zoro uncrossed his arms, watching intently.
Usopp swallowed hard, clutching Karoo.
The duck trembled slightly, sensing the pressure in the air.
Nami, leaning against the mast, sighed.
"You're all so dramatic."
She stepped away from the mast's shadow, her golden eyes gleaming in the dim light.
"Riser."
Her voice broke the silence.
"We're close to the next island."
Riser's golden eyes flickered.
Then, he laughed.
Low at first. Then louder.
"Ahahahahah!"
Everyone froze, confused.
Sanji frowned.
"What's so funny, you bastard?"
Riser raised a hand lazily.
"Relax."
The smile never left his lips.
"You all get so tense over so little."
He took a step forward, looking at Vivi.
"You want to get to Alabasta quickly?"
Her gaze wavered for a moment.
"Yes…"
"Then stop acting like shouting will convince me."
Her body stiffened.
Riser's gaze fell on Sanji.
"And you, cook… Calm down before your emotions kill you before your enemies do."
Sanji growled low but didn't respond.
The wind carried away the tension.
Nami sighed.
"So, what's the plan?"
Riser turned toward the horizon, staring into the darkness beyond the waves.
His fingers slid through Nami's hair, entangling in her now even more vibrant orange strands under the moonlight.
She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the cold touch against her skin. Her body reacted instinctively.
"I'm going to kill Crocodile."
The air seemed to stop.
Vivi's eyes widened.
Igaram let out a choked sound.
Sanji and Zoro exchanged tense glances.
Luffy tilted his head, curious.
Alvida chuckled low, resting her club on her shoulder.
"Ahahah! Straight to the point, huh?"
Riser continued running his fingers through Nami's hair, his golden eyes glowing with casual interest.
"And I'm going to take his place as a Shichibukai."
A chill ran down Vivi's spine.
"Y-you can't be serious…"
Her eyes trembled as they locked onto Riser's.
"Crocodile is dangerous! He has an entire organization—"
"That's not my problem."
The response was cold, merciless.
Vivi clenched her fists, her heart pounding in her chest.
Riser's confidence was absolute.
Sanji clicked his tongue, crossing his arms.
"Tsk. You talk like it's easy."
Zoro, silent until now, frowned.
"…You've already decided everything, haven't you?"
Riser's lips curled into a lazy smile.
The wind blew stronger.
Then…
Fwoosh!
A magical circle glowed beneath the Going Merry, its intricate patterns forming a flaming symbol.
The emblem of the House of Phenex.
Nami's eyes flashed crimson for an instant, her body instinctively reacting to the spell's presence.
Vivi stepped back, her heart racing.
"What—?!"
Igaram gripped his cape, struggling to stay steady.
Karoo let out a panicked "Quaaack!"
Sanji's eyes widened.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Riser simply raised his hand.
The circle glowed intensely.
Light engulfed them all, pulling them into a fiery vortex.
The last thing they saw before vanishing…
Were Riser's golden eyes, shining with a silent promise.
And then, the Going Merry was gone.
Transported to its final destination.
Alabasta.
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Also, don't forget to check out my other fanfic:
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A new life, a new Clark Kent — with all the memories of his past life intact.