Chapter Text
Nami sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration. Not even 5 minutes had passed since they had docked and her crew had gone crazy, excluding Sanji who was still busy cleaning despite her and Robin's offer to help, and Robin herself who simply smiled at the scene. She could feel a headache forming at how loud and destructive they were being.
Zoro was chasing after Franky who was laughing after he dumped a bucket of water over the swordsman to wake him up, while Usopp and Chopper laughed at Luffy who was doing impressions once again. Brook simply played his violin and laughed occasionally, and she just stared at them, her eyebrow twitching with irritation.
'I swear to the ever-loving god, if you exist despite Luffy striking you down, please I beg to take these idiots out.' Her hands were clasped together as she prayed, looking towards the sky with a pitiful expression, causing the caravanette next to her to chuckle lowly before patting her back.
Nami looked up and gave Robin a small smile, trying not to think of the group of troublemakers who were making such a racket.
"Navigator-San, why don't we head to town? The boys want to explore and we must get new supplies right?" Robin smiled tenderly and Nami nodded.
"You're the only one on my side..!" Nami grabbed her hands and squeezed them before turning towards the crew.
"Listen here, brats!.." The rest was blocked out, and Robin just smiled fondly, amused at the antics of the younger crew members, excluding their favorite shipwright.
Sanji skipped out with hearts in his eyes, swaying on his legs and arching his back, accepting everything Nami was telling them. Robin chuckled and found him both cute and funny, maybe some women found it annoying but she saw Sanji as a cute little puppy, somebody so similar to her but just as good at concealing his emotions. She nearly frowned at the thought but held back, not letting her smile falter even when Sanji looked at her, blushing, but quickly covering the reaction with his facade.
'How cute ' Her eyes squinted in amusement. She simply watched, carefully taking note of what Nami requested of her without complaints.
"Yosh! Let's go!" Luffy cheered once Nami finished, causing the redhead to groan and sulk, already knowing that something bad will happen. She just didn't expect that Luffy would be such an idiot and have no regard at all, well maybe she did but that was beside the point.
Sanji jumped off the railing of the Sunny, now heading towards the town while most of them ran, the sensible and more mature- Brook, the women, and himself, of course, walked calmly. They wished not to bring attention to themselves, being pirates with high bounties and all, especially with such a big island that was bound to have some marines hiding in the shadows. Although it was too much to ask Luffy to stay low and stray away from fighting or danger, he was too childish.
Brook let his face resemble a smile, well the best imitation he could pull off at the sight, he was staring at the crew with a certain softness and he let his heart melt.
'But I don't have a heart! Yohohoho, bone joke!' He let out a breath and followed Sanji to the market.
They had left the ship unattended but far away from any type of settlement or people on the island, and the log pose wouldn't take so long to set so they would be off the island soon enough.
'Great' Usopp now understood why Luffy was livelier than usual, he enjoyed it because Luffy was being extremely funny and entertaining after all the trouble they had gone through recently, to Usopp? It was a nice change of pace, his smile never changing when he followed Luffy without much thought.
Not the same could be said for Franky, who was now, much to his displeasure, being held in a chokehold by Zoro.
"Bro! S-..stop! You're killing me!" Frank cried out, and Zoro did let him go, but not before smacking him with his sheathed sword and walking off lazily.
To be honest, he was planning on staying on the ship, maybe having Chopper with him since he had obtained some wounds during their last major battle. Much to his dismay though, he was drenched with cold water, waking him up and putting him in an awful mood, seeing as he wasn't even able to change his outfit. Now walking around like a wet dog, his eyebrows twitched with irritation, he was satisfied he taught Franky a lesson, but still, the clothes that clung to him like a cat was annoying him.
Although, thinking of Chopper. Zoro looked around, good, he didn't get lost yet but his eye searched for the bundle of fur- relaxing only for a brief moment before he tensed, the aura he felt off of the woman Chopper was helping, the aura of the woman Luffy was apologizing too, and the aura of the woman that Usopp asked questions of concern to, something was wrong, he was sure of it.
Nami bit her lip, feeling a shiver going down her spine, a devastating feeling stabbing into her gut and making her throat clog with possible vomit. She looked at Robin, seeing the older woman's face pale made her worry more, she wasn't the only one feeling it. That was a relief until it wasn't. Her eyes caught onto a green-haired man, his face shadowed and a hand on the hilt of one of his precious swords. Then to Franky who had gotten up, walking slowly to Brook, the skeleton was even more barefaced than a skeleton could be from possible fear.
The reaction that caught the most off guard was Sanjis, the face that usually carried a flirtatious expression when looking at a woman, or even a fond expression was something else. His eyes filled with fear, he resembled a child and her hands started shaking. Usopp and Chopper were beginning to feel the danger too, only Luffy not being able to tell.
'That idiot!' Nami almost screamed his name, but was briefly shut up by the blinding light, Luffy had disappeared. For a few seconds nothing happened, she looked around and the rest of her crew that moved, spoke, or even showed concern were caught in the same light. She frantically looked at the streets, just realizing how empty and dead they were, everything seemed so lively, what happened?
Then, on cue, the bright light covered her figure and eyesight, she got a small squeak of fear escaping her mouth, the rest of the scream muffled when her consciousness faded.
Sanji was the first to regain consciousness, stirring awake. At first, he was calm, a bit confused, but suddenly his eyes widened in recognition.
'Where the hell am I?-' His thoughts were cut off when he heard coughing coming from behind him, the blackness of the room, space, or whatever this place was catching up to him. He could recognize his friend's bodies, counting all 8 with a sigh of relief.
"Excuse me?" Sanji nearly jumped out of his own body, if he had Brooks's devil fruit his soul would've left his body as he turned around slowly, eyeing the lady standing before him.
"Mellorie- '' He stopped himself, skeptical. "Did you- did you do this to us?" The cook bit the inside of his cheek when the woman nodded, smiling brightly. Although for several unknown reasons, it made Sanji's stomach flip, fear was all he felt when he looked at her pale face.
"Why? I know you want to know, I'll tell you," She paused and corrected herself. "I'll tell you and your crew. When they wake up, of course, I'll leave. Consider it fortune or misfortune that you're the only one to have seen my face." Her lips pursed, not in an attempt to kiss him, but in a pitying look.
Sanji's breath hitched. "I'll give you a hint." He looked intrigued and expected demand for money, maybe their captain or something else.
"The secrets your crew has kept from each other, not caring for the past or the background you come from? Foolish, all will be revealed, as the judgment is bestowed upon you like too many others, your faith and nakamanship shall be tested until the very end." Her grin spread wider, covering her face with white pearls in the shape of razors for her teeth.
Sanji still, if this was some cruel joke he wanted it to end now, but he was here, right? He watched the woman slowly disappear where she walked, he tried following her, but minutes passed and he didn't hit a single wall. With much reluctance, he returned to his friends.
'I can't..' Sanji's breath quickened, he pulled at his silky locks or knees to his chest. He would believe a woman over a man, and that's why he was almost wailing like a kid.
'What will she show? Everything?'
With that, he closed his eyes, waiting patiently.
Slowly the rest of the straw hats began shifting uncomfortably on the floor, showing signs of waking up. Sanji tried his best to get the girls into the most comfortable positions to sleep in but there was simply nothing more he could do.
He let Chopper rest on Robin, even sucked in his breath when he moved Luffy to cuddle next to Nami, allowing it only for his comfort this time. While he reluctantly tried to move Brook to Franky, using both of his free hands to pat Usopp and Zoro's heads. His cheeks tinted a light pink with how much effort he put in, not knowing if this would be the last time he ever saw them, but he didn't care, sometimes he felt like a mother.
"Cook?" Zoro opened his eyes, groggy, and confused when he felt the weight of a hand run through his green locks. He nearly scowled but suddenly the swordsman sat up, his tan hand holding Sanji's thinner one in a right grip.
"Where the hell are we?" Not realizing the intimacy, Sanji yanked his hand away from Zoro's death grip and shrugged.
"I don't know, moss head.." He grumbled, sounding pathetic.
Zoro eyed him carefully, being able to tell with ease that something was wrong with their cook. I mean you didn't spend so much time on the same ship as somebody and not know how they think, move, and live. Even breathe…
"UGH. My head." They both turned to see Franky waking up, followed suit by Usopp and then Robin, who seemingly still felt quite fatigued; let her devil fruit powers help her sit upright.
"Guys?" Chopper whispered, clearly scared, and within an instant Usopp was clinging to Sanji and screaming in fear, causing the remaining Strawhats to wake up.
"Ahhh! I had a great nap!" Luffy laughed, earning a slap to the back of the head from Nam, causing him to apologize slowly, in a quiet and barely audible murmur which thankfully Nami heard and accepted.
"Where are we?!" Many screamed, excluding Robin and Zoro, and of course, Sanji too, who had memories of the previous events and the woman.
Seemingly Zoro noticed and he turned to the Cook. "You feel like sharing? I can tell you're hiding something, spit it out." This caused everybody's panicking to seize for a moment and they stared at their cook, expecting something sinister.
"Look, there was a woman-" Zoro snickered, murmuring, 'Of course' earning a glare from Sanji before he continued.
"I woke up first, I don't know how long ago, maybe minutes? A couple of hours? Anyways, she said she brought us here to reveal our secrets, perhaps ruin our bonds." Sanji bit his lip, and everybody stared at him, Luffy began laughing and Usopp slapped his back.
"Nice joke man!"
"Yeah, you got me!"
"Shit cook.."
"Sanji-san! No time for joking!"
"Gah Sanji, so funny!"
Robin sighed. "I fear our cook is telling the truth, despite how unbelievable, maybe the woman you speak of lied, but the words he says are his true recollection before we woke up." Everyone stared at Robin and then back at Sanji.
"Well?! Where did she go?" Luffy jumped excitedly, and Zoro stared at him, expecting an answer.
"I don't know." He stated simply, staring at the ground.
"You-!" Zoro nearly grabbed his collar, but he looked at Sanji's face, the look of.
'Fear?' He stepped back and Sanji knew from the look on the swordsman's face that he figured him out, he could see through his soul and even for a moment could see how scared he was. How weak he was, why fear somebody like her? Black Leg Sanji wouldn't fear something like that, but he did, he wouldn't even be able to swoon, he didn't understand and Zoro didn't either.
He pointed left. "She went that way, she disappeared after a few seconds and I tried going after her but it felt endless. I mean. She just disappeared right? Yet when I ran, for much longer I found nothing but darkness." His crew looked shocked, but before anybody could say anything a voice boomed throughout the space, echoing and bouncing into their ears. Making many winces in pain from the sensation.
No person was in sight but the voice was so loud, a screech in her voice and Sanji recognized it. He immediately stepped forward, grabbing everyone's attention. "You're the woman from before! Let us out, please! They cannot- Some things are better kept private!" The crew was in shock, the desperation in his voice, maybe for his own sake but he was begging to be let out so everybody knew it was serious.
While Luffy grits his teeth, wanting to knock this brat out for making his cook this miserable. Begging and he could tell how Sanji barely kept tears in, he told them he woke up before them, so what had he done? Instead of waking them, he let them sleep and what was he doing while they rested? Trying to find a way out? Crying? Luffy bit his lip awkwardly, hating the image of Sanji crying, he shook his head like a wet dog and tried to get rid of the image in his head; Sanji sobbing violently because of the pain and Luffy took it away.
"Ah, I am sorry, since your scars run deep it's no wonder you're so scared. Not to worry my little Sanji, my prince," He could feel the smirk in her words when a tremble caught his body, with wide eyes his crew stated. Luffy looked stunned and Zoro was more murderous than before, a sense and feeling of-
'I need to protect them, him.'
He gripped the hilt of his sword, preparing for a fight that would never come. Almost like the whole world burned, leaving nothing but the darkness that surrounded them, swallowing them whole and feeding on their memories.
"That's not to say that the rest of you don't have moments, better yet, memories you wish not to relive. I'm right, aren't I?" Visibly the straw hats paled, Zoro stilled and tried to look in a direction he thought the voice might be coming from.
"Let's put it simply, let's say I'm an entity in charge of unifying or destroying people's friendships." A laugh followed, causing shivers to erupt from Usopp and Chopper, who both clung to Sanji.
"I'll show you the deepest, darkest secrets, memories, and. For the fun of it- make your friends relive what you went through." A low growl erupted from Zoro, but not like it did much because the woman went on.
"Will they forgive you? Will they hate you? Or will you be pitied? What about those who suffer more? Will they be looked after while you're cast aside for not experiencing the same?" Usopp looked down, and his bottom lip quivered.
Sanji looked down at him, cupping his cheeks and bringing his face to look up at him. He gave the curly-haired man a small smile, squinting his eyes and Usopp blushed. He felt flustered for being found out so fast but he smiled and softly thanked Sanji who responded with another sweet smile.
"Will you be considered a monster?" Chopper clung to Sanji's leg, desperately trying to tune her voice out.
Sanji's hand made its way to the top of Chopper's head and he ruffled his fur. The reindeer looked up at him with teary eyes, comforted by the reassuring look in his eyes.
"How about guilt? Will you forever feel at fault for not being there?" Luffy dug his nails into his palms and Sanji bit his lip, her words cut through them like a knife.
"Does your betrayal run deep? Do people's sacrifices haunt you to this day?" Everybody seemed taken aback by her statements, and almost like they expected it; nobody flinched or said anything when she let out a low chuckle.
"I know you better than you know each other, doesn't that terrify you?" Luffy suddenly stretched his arm out, flinging it into the air.
"Gomu game-" His fist came flying back, hitting Zoro in the face and sending him flying a couple of feet back. Although he never hit a wall, which was more of a concern to the people watching.
"You damn- I'm gonna fillet you!" The swordsman quickly got up and grabbed Luffy's collar, twitching in anger.
"Sorry.." Luffy mumbled.
"Whatever you guys! We have bigger problems at hand!" Nami yelled, turning her attention back to the screen in front of the group.
"What the hell?" Zoro mumbled, stepping forwards, and dragging their captain along.
"This is where your memories will be broadcasted, one after another. Maybe you'll have a break but I can't guarantee that luxury." The woman's voice faded out the longer she spoke before they were left in silence.
"Hey wait! Let us out of here!" Franky yelled, taking a stance that meant he was ready to attack, grinding his feet against the floor and clenching his fists.
Robin used her powers, carefully trying to gain any kind of advantage or clue to where they were but to her disappointment, nothing seemed to work.
Zoro and Luffy stuck to just attacking the air while Sanji tried his best to comfort Nami and Chopper without swooning for the redhead. Brook simply looked around, finding it more useful to stay calm and take in as many details of the place as possible, of course, there wasn't much but whatever he came across could help.
"Shall we start with your dear sniper or perhaps the swordsman?" Usopp froze and Zoro's expression changed, a shadow casting over his eyes.
Zoro's aura changed and even Sanji was afraid of what he would and could do to the woman if he ever came in contact with her. Frankly, he didn't wanna find out and be victim to his wrath so he just shut his mouth and listened, observing the scene in front of him while Usopp freaked out.
"How fun, yes let us start. Do not worry, once all is revealed I will release you, after all, that's what you want right?" She spoke menacingly and before the idiots of the group could speak Robin covered their mouths with her hands.
"Of course, but there are too many of us, far too many memories even if they are negative. What will we do if we return and our ship is gone? What if people have forgotten about us, what if others have died? The world keeps going and time doesn't stop for us." Robin spoke elegantly and held a calm tone, her back to the crew.
"Do not worry Nico Robin, time has stopped. After we are done you will be safely returned to the exact place and time you disappeared from. That is.. if you manage to survive." Her harsh words stunned Robin for a moment before she regained her composure and spoke with confidence.
"So there is no problem? What makes you think we will fall to our knees because of you? We will survive this, I see no other way out so. Let's get it over with." Nami gasped, watching as Robin sat down on the ground, looking in front of her when the voice chuckled.
"Of course, as always you are very mature and wise." Nami shook Robin, in disbelief but still joined her, trusting the knowledge and intelligence of her crewmate more than her gut feeling.
With many protests the rest sat around the two women, many clung to the stronger members and the few that were fighting earlier still couldn't let the feeling of anger go. Zoro for one was holding Chopper in his lap, mumbling curses under his breath while Luffy laughed at him, earning many glares.
"I see. Your trust runs deep, shall it be broken?" The voice laughed, and with that the screen flashed, a memory began and the torture they would endure would follow.
"We shall begin."