One Piece: RotPQ Chapter 39

One Piece: Rise of the Pirate Queen

Last time on One Piece: Rise of the Pirate Queen,with the kids kidnapped by the SDM group to be handled by Capone's men the crew chased after the group to the Port of Ruins. They were not the only ones giving chase, a joint marine-Royal Army rescue squad to capture the supposed Hurricane crew that kidnapped the kids. At the Port, all the crew faced off with a member of the mercenary group. Lena and Ryuudo were able to defy the odds defeat their opponents as Nore and Drake used their wisdom and knowledge to defeat and teach their own. With the mercenaries' losing their numbers, will they pull through in delivering the children? Or will the crew succeed? And who will face the marines' and Royal Armies' wrath?

Fight Proudly
Protect the Children
Nicole's Determination

"Captain!" Still riding on the dromedary elephant known as Corporal, the joint marine-Royal Army was making their way to the Port of Ruins in great time. Chaka, having stood at the front of the stand unaffected by the sun, turned back towards the marines as a young officer ran up to the current superior commander to the marines. Justin stood from his seat, excited for what the low ranked marine had to say.

"What is it?" asked Justin interested in what the marine was reporting though knowing full well what he had to say.

"We've spotted the ruins in the distance." The marine pointed directly towards the distance as tanned colored sand met adobe white colored ruins. The marines as well as Chaka caught sight and their energy renewed as they saw their goal only some minutes away.

"Perfect." smiled Justin as he left his seat to join Chaka where he stood to see the ruins ahead. "Hopefully your friend and your squad have already detained the Hurricane pirates."

"I'm sure they doing their best." said Chaka still looking straight forward hiding his true intentions from the young marine captain. 'Mika, Akio, please hurry and finish the real kidnappers.'

"Sir! I've caught sight someone!" Both men turned to a new marine soldier as he peered through the telescope scouting out the situation at the ruins. "Several actually."

"Report." ordered Justin as he was curious know what the soldier had fine. The marine saluted and nodded in understanding.

"Sir, I've spotted two unidentified downed figures and two of the Spot-Billed Ducks." Both the soldier's eyes widen as they heard the marine speak of the defeated characters. Of course, the two had completely different thoughts.

"Still sure that your squad is as strong as you thought." said the captain now concerned about the man's squad. However Chaka was far from concerned, he knew those two must have been the real kidnappers and was proud that the rookie crew defeating the kids' kidnappers.

"I'm sure their fine." stated Chaka folding his arms in confidence.

"Um, sirs." The two men turned back towards the marine as he seemed to not be finished. "There's still one more."

"Huh?" said both men as they stared at the man with interest.

"There was one other man I found and identified him as the man you described as Drake."

'Shit!' grunted both men in silence though once again from different thoughts. Hearing the name, many of the marines in the shade were mumbling to each other about Drake and/or the Hurricane crew. Before Chaka could try to discourage the marines, Justin quickly stepped up.

"Drake is not a kidnapper!" shouted the captain scaring the lower ranked marines into quieting. Chaka was surprised to see the man openly protect someone who, to the best of his knowledge, a pirate. He looked at the marine and saw that he was very serious about what he said.

'What's his connection with Drake?' thought Chaka curiously as he wondered upon the mystery of Justin. Eventually Justin caught his outburst and quickly calmed down.

"I mean, the individual known as Drake is currently under suspicions of being held as a captive, and is to be treated as captive civilian." corrected Justin trying to cover his earlier outburst. The marines eyed him suspiciously, but since he was currently the highest ranked marine there no one could call him on it.

"Back to your post!" ordered Justin in frustration and irritation scaring the marines enough to actually listen. Chaka still eyed the young captain as he turned back towards the ruins still wondering about the marine captain connection with the navigator.

"Don't ask." Chaka seemed surprised as the man seem to have read his mind. He gave a curious glance at the captain only to see him continue to stare out towards the ruins. Nothing but his goals in mind.

"Can't we just talk this over!" Back at the ruins, Nicole screamed as she laid on the ground backing from the approaching female mercenary desperately trying to convince her to stop attacking her. Lust/Nela scoffed at the girl as she pointed her staff at Nicole. "Please!"

"You're so pathetic!" shouted the pink haired mercenary as she looked on the girl with disgust and pity. Nicole flinched at the accusation her eyes softening from the hurtful thing her opponent had said. "You're a pirate?! You should be like all ruthless, blood thirsty, adventurous, and willing to die at a moment's notice!"

"I-"

"You're a disgrace to you're entire crew!" Nicole's were about to tear up as she could no longer handle the older woman's thrashing on her. Lust/Nela saw that her opponent was about to go into tears, it only made her even more infuriated as she prepared to swing. "Why don't you just di-!"

"Shut Up!" Before Lust/Nela could strike, she turned to see a large dark red forearm of Ryuudo swing towards her. Acting fast, she brought her staff over to defend herself only for it to launch her into the river. Nicole gasped as she saw Ryuudo in front of her panting semi-heavily his forearm still extended from the attack. "Don't talk shit about Nicole."

"Ryuudo!" happily cried Nicole as she stood up and ran to hug her dear nakama.

"HELP!" Before she could do so, both her and Ryuudo heard the desperate plea for help from the female mercenary as she seemed to be drowning. "PLEASE HELP! GARGLE!"

"Oh my!" gasped Nicole as she ran over to river's edge to see the women drowning.

"Good riddance." stated Ryuudo showing his unconcern for the drowning. However, as he looked at Nicole, she looked at Ryuudo with an angered expression making him feel guilty and uncomfortable. Thus he did the opposite of what he wanted. "Errrr, fine!"

"Thank you." Nicole's expression quickly turned into a smile as she watched Ryuudo jump into the river to rescue.

"Bi bi biri!" squawked Biri pointing down from his perch on the ruined wall to the kids below. Sabo and Ace were amazed to see the rather large bird while Titi had other things on her mind.

"What is it?" asked the twins in unison as they both seemed captivated by the bird.

"Titi! Ace! Sabo!" The boys turned their heads allowing them to see Lena as she was ran up to the kids still in their bags as they laid in the shrinking shade of the ruined wall.

"Lena!" shouted the twin revealing his missing tooth thus now being named Sabo.

"Oh thank Oda, you guys are okay." As Lena ran up to the four bags, she saw that while Sabo, at least she thought it was Sabo, seemed okay his twin Ace seemed to be trying to help the princess deal with something.

"What's wrong with them?" asked Lena making sure that whatever it was she wouldn't make it worse. Unfortunately, it seemed to already be bad as Sabo's joyful smile turned to a frown.

"It's-"

"I trusted them!" shouted Titi sending a new wave of tears burst forward. At first Lena didn't get what the kid was saying, then she realized what the princess was saying. Remembering her and Ryuudo's fight, and a bit on Nore and Drake's fight, their opponents were disguised members of the royal staff and/or army.

"Oh......yeah that."said Lena feeling kinda awkward. She wasn't sure how to cheer the child from her sadness, but the best she could do for them now was to rescue them. "Well just forget about them."

"Huh?" said the twins as they both looked back at Lena confusedly.

"Right now, let's get you three out of here." grinned Lena trying her best to bring the princess out of her depression as she drew a knife hidden in her coat out. While she was still sad, Titi nodded and the two boys cheered.

"Biri!" As Lena reached out to untie the bags and release the kids, Biri's frantic squawking caught her attention and she pulled back. Just in time for the knife to miss her hand. The kids saw the knife and freaked gaining Lena's attention only to see the knife that she had luckily dodged.

"What.....the." stuttered Lena trying to remain calm though was clearly freaked at the closeness of the knife was.

"I'm afraid I can't let you take the children." Hearing the familiar voice of Ty, Lena quickly spun around to see the man coming at her with two blades ready to strike. Lena was frozen in fear as she saw the bald headed man charging straight towards her and the kids.

"Lena!" shouted the kids as the feared this was the end for their friend. Lena closed her eyes as she waited for the inevitable slash to cut her down in the prime of her life.

'With my final breathe, I curse Haru-'

"Mach Jab!" Lena opened her eyes hearing the familiar attack of her first-mate seeing the dual swordsmen step back as Akio was now in between her and the former guard.

"Akio!" shouted the kids happily seeing that their rescuer was rescued. Speaking whom, Lena was just ecstatic.

"Oh thank Oda." cried Lena as tears of relief followed through her eyes. Akio looked behind him seeing Lena cry only to sweat-drop at her.

"Anyways." said Akio as he looked back at Wrath/Ty giving the man a stern glare. "Your fight is with me, leave Lena and the kids alone."

"I like to see you try little man." said the bald man as he raised his swords to the Mach boxer. Akio seem to twitch at the name "little man" as he gave the man a harsher glare a sadistic smile.

'Haven't been called that since my time on the Sunny.' "Since you asked. Mach Gatling Gun!" Akio launched himself forward sending multiple high speed attacks towards the dual swordsmen. Wrath/Ty seemed unconcerned as he skillfully dodged and stepped back from on approaching man.

"Perfect let's get you kids out of those bags." smiled Lena assuring the kids their rescue. The Monkey kids grinned back at her, looking almost like Luffy's and somehow Mika's, while Titi seem to just give a small smile. Lena then went to work as she untied the bags with Biri squawking cheerfully.

"Bi ri biri bi!"

"Ah Uh Ah Uh. Thanks." breathed Lust/Nela as she laid on the stone path as not to pick up sand. Ryuudo only grunted as he stood above the mercenary still cautious of the women. However Nicole was kneeling right next to her with a proud smile.

"No problem."

"But why?" said the women as she looked at the brown-haired chef.

"Even if you said all those things," said Nicole rather soft as she was still a little bit hurt from what the mercenary had said. "you're still a person."

"With an apparent devil fruit power." added Ryuudo though still unconcerned about the women. The women continued to stare at young girl that saved her life despite being her enemy.

'Maybe Pride might-'

"Raaaaw!" The three looked towards the ruins were Mika and Pride had ran off to. Several spark spheres were flying through the air while the sound of something crashing followed. Lust/Nela turned her head looking down at the sand as realization hit her.

'There's no turning back.' "You're a good person, Nicole." The two nakama looked back at the pink haired women as she see looking towards the sand. However they didn't notice that she was forming a pink cloud in her hand.

"I'm sorry it had to come to this. Rosa Ball!" Acting quickly, Lust/Nela launched herself to the side while she threw the pink smoke cloud towards Lena.

"Watch Out!" Before the cloud could hit Nicole, Ryuudo got in the way taking the full cloud to the face. The cloud dissipated in front of him with Ryuudo trying to shake off the affects.

"Damn." cursed the women as she saw the half-Fishmen take her attack. Though she quickly smirked realizing something more. "At least he's out of the way."

"Ryuudo?" questioned Nicole curious as her nakama suddenly stood unmoving. As Nicole walked around Ryuudo, she gasped seeing that Ryuudo's eyes were glazed over with pink.

"They're like Drake's." gasped Nicole as she stepped back from the dazed half-Fishmen as she recalled the crew's navigator's situation. She then turned to the women seeing her smile proudly. "What did you do to him?!"

"He's stuck in his own fantasy now." smirked Lust/Nela as she got up and grabbed her bo staff. Nicole still didn't get what the women was saying as she looked at the women confusedly. "You see, I have the powers of the Rose Rose fruit."

"Rose Rose fruit?" questioned Nicole confused about the name as she had produced a pink cloud not roses.

"Have you ever heard the phrase 'To look through rose-colored glasses'?"

"No, I can't say that I have."

"Well the phrase itself means to look to a more happier things, essential your own fantasy." explained Lust/Nela as she produced another pink cloud though this seem to be showing treasure and gold. "I have the power to bring out ones fantasies as well as use illusions to trick even freeze people."

"So what you did to Ryuudo-"

"Yes, he's currently experiencing his desired fantasy and is currently cut off from the real world until I say so." The women quickly spun her bo around showcasing her skills. "Now are you willing to step aside and let me do my job or will you be put in the same state as your friend."

"As long as the kids are still endanger." stated Nicole determinedly as she stretched her hands out readying to fight. "I'll......fight." The mercenary seem a bit taken back from the younger woman's sudden determination, despite not wanting to fight, but quickly replaced it with mockery finding the girl amusing as she gave a light scoff at the girl.

"You're doomed to fail. Check out behind me." Nicole complied with the women and looked behind and down the river. Her eyes widen in shock as she saw a small dot coming up to river. "That would be the pick up I'm sure. I figure you have roughly twenty minutes before they get here."

"I'll figure something." said Nicole still giving the women a stern look. Figuring that the talks were over, Lust/Nela charged towards the chef her bo twirling fast.

"Here I come!"

"Sharp and adaptable Sandora Bandit Cacti block the path and change the field." Before Lust/Nela could step another foot closer, a cactus grew in front of her halting her advance. Frozen in her spot, the mercenary saw that there were more cacti growing all around her and Nicole limiting her movements.

"What the! How did you do this!" shouted the pink haired women as she looked confusedly at Nicole as she smiled at her work.

"I also ate a devil fruit." stated Nicole surprising the other devil fruit user. "I ate the Vine Vine fruit, I can control plants. Especially plants I scattered while you chased me."

"What!"

"Sorry, but I'm not going to let you harm the children." Lust/Nela flinched when the young teen mentioned that she was going to harm the kids. Nicole caught this, but soon took notice of how she was getting angrier.

"Shut Up!" In a skillful use of agility, Lust/Nela used her bo staff like a pole vault sending high in the air and heading towards Nicole. Nicole quickly stepped back as the women landed were she was earlier, but the women was far from done. She soon launched herself at Nicole surprising the teen as she flinched back as the women swung her staff at her.

'Remember Nicole.' In a split second, Nicole remembered what she had learned from Nore since he had joined their crew. 'Any attack can be blocked, you just need to be willing to block it.' Remembering those words of wisdom, Nicole threw her arms as the wooden staff came colliding into her.

"Ahh!" Nicole screamed in pain as she flew as she couldn't hold her ground against the attack. The female mercenary smirked as she saw head towards the river.

"That should fin-"

"Help." Before the Nicole could hit fly off the edge, a single cacti quickly grew in front of her and caught her. Lust/Nela was stunned that the girl had quickly saved herself from a watery death and made her even more frustrated. "Thank you." As Nicole recovered, uninjured from the cacti as it had not grown its spikes, she used the cacti to stand up and stare back at the women still determined to protect.

"Heh, clever." commented Lust/Nela as she brought her staff up aimed right for Nicole. Meanwhile Nicole rubbed her bruised arms, slightly scolding herself about doing that move.

'I wish that could've gone better.' Nicole winced a bit from the pain that she was feeling in her arms. As she looked at her opponent then over to where Lena and the kids were currently at. Currently Lena was untying one of the bags with one of the twins did another one. However what caught her attention was that Akio's fight seem to draw near the kids and Lena. 'I need to stop this fighting soon.'

'How does he keep dodging?' screamed Akio in his head as he launched another high-speed punch to the bald man only to once again dodge it. This had been the same thing since they started fighting, neither one had seem to land a hit on the other.

"You're quite skilled to be able to dodge my swords." Akio broke out of his thoughts as he glared at the man as stopped finding their current battle particularly useless.

"I have to be if I want to defeat a certain swordsmen." said Akio vaguely not wanting to reveal too much to the mercenary. However it did not stop the man from raising an eyebrow at how vague he was being.

"I see, interesting that you picked a skill that Sloth also practiced." stated Wrath/Ty as he glanced over to where his fellow mercenary had gone off. "Though I don't recall Mach Fist style being used against sword style?"

"I'm far from your average Mach boxer." grinned Akio as he punched the air in front of him. Wrath/Ty seemed amused giving a slight chuckle.

"Really? Then let's try some more difficult moves." Akio's eyes widen as he realized that up until now the mercenary hadn't used any real moves other than just slashing his sword. Wrath/Ty stared determinedly at the boxer as he readied his two swords. "Two-Sword Style: Hawk Wave!"

"Shit!" Akio quickly ducked under the air slash move allowing it to keep traveling destroying a pillar nearby. Akio then quickly launched himself back at the bald mercenary as the man prepared his next attack. "Mach-"

"Left punch to the face." spoke Wrath/Ty as he closed his eyes. Akio's eyes widen as he heard the man spoke exactly what his move was about to do and watched as the man dodged his punch. Akio quickly halted his attack and jumped away from the man not wanting to be hacked by the mercenary's sword. The mercenary smirked seeing that his opponent's smarts. "Good thinking."

"How do you know my moves?" asked Akio becoming increasingly frustrated with his failed attempts. The man only smirked as he lowered his swords as he spoke.

"Haki."

"Haki?" repeated Akio confusedly though the concept seemed to sound familiar to him. Wrath/Ty allowed Akio a few seconds of thought as he waited for him to recall any information that he may have on the subject. 'It rings a bell, but where have I heard of it before.'

"Times up." Akio broke from his thought as the bald man spoke, raising his swords, and charged straight for him swords held back as he ran. "Two-Sword Style: Wrathful Vengeance:-"

"Ah! Mach Step!" The mercenary jumped at Akio about to attack the mach boxer, however, Akio quickly disappeared from his sight. Unfortunately the man quickly gained footing and relaunched himself to the right where Akio quickly appeared.

"Fall of the Guard." Akio's eyes widen as the man he thought he dodged only to find him in the same spot he was in only moments ago.

'Crap!' Akio quickly dodged on of the slashes as Wrath/Ty went into his attack.

"Oh man, Akio's not looking good." said Sabo as he and his brother watched the fight ensue as Lena finished untying Titi's bag.

"Bi bi." nodded Biri as he watched the fight from his perch.

"Thanks." nodded Titi as she crawled out of the bag relieved to be out of the stuffy bag. As she stood up, she saw what was going around them. She saw both of her 'cousin's' nakama currently holding off the people she once thought as her friends and most trusted people. Of course she looked at her guardian with disdain not wanting to ever see the women.

"Alright." spoke Lena as he stood up checking on the two fights making sure they were focus on their own problems. "Let's get you three out of here."

"Wait!" Before Lena could lead the kids away, Titi stopped them sounding quite distressed about something. Lena and the twins looked back at the princess confused while she pointed to the side where one last bag laid against the wall upright.

"Who's that?" asked Lena as she had no clue about the fourth bag.

"Ahh! We forgot Selim!" shouted the twins as they ran up to the bag. Hearing the name, Lena turned to the kids surprised.

"Wait! Selim's here!?"

"Biiii? Biri ri bi." squawked the yellow bird recognizing the name looking over to the bag. Down below, Lena followed the kids as she was wanted to see if what the twins said was true. As the kids brought down the bag, Lena walked to the tied end ready to reveal the captured fellow inside.

"Mach Left!" Akio swung to Wrath/Ty's side only for him to dodge once again infuriating the boxer as he interchanged between his right and left attacks. Finding the fight boring, the mercenary looked over to where he knew the jet black haired girl was freeing their targets. However his eyes widen in surprise as he saw the group head towards the fourth bag.

"Excuse me." said the mercenary politely surprising the boxer into stopping. Wrath/Ty the made a quick slash at Akio causing him to loose balance and fall back allowing the bald man to quickly make his way to the other group.

"Shit." cursed Akio as he noticed the mercenary not heading for him, but the rescue group currently distracted.

"Hey Selim are you okay buddy?" asked Lena concernedly  with the kids next to her as she pulled out her knife, hidden in her coat, and prepared to cut the man out of his bag.

"Lena!" Before she could though, she heard Akio cry out her name in distress. With the whole group turning back towards the fight, they all gasped as they saw Wrath/Ty launch himself above the group swords pointing straight down on them.

"Two-Sword Style: Wrathful Vengeance: Descending Hell!"

"Biriiiiiii!"

"Ahhh!"

"Lena!" shouted Nicole as she saw the bald mercenary descending towards the kids, his blade pointing down at them.

"Oh no you don't!" shouted Lust/Nela at the girl as she was becoming increasingly frustrated. Nicole's super grown cactus were keeping her at bay from attacking the girl, and she was not gonna take this anymore. Quickly, Lust/Nela stepped back only to use her staff to pole vault once again over the cacti and right in front of Nicole unable to see what was happening beyond the mercenary.

"Please. Can't you just release the kids. They don't-"

"Shut Up!" Interrupting Nicole's attempt to persuade the mercenary,  the pink haired mercenary was gathering a huge pink cloud while still glaring at the young girl. "Just Shut Up Little Ms Perfect! Just Go Off To La-la Land! Grand Fantasy!" She then sent the cloud crashing down onto Nicole. Luckily Nicole jumped off to the side as the cloud crashed into the sand, however, as the smoke dissipated Nicole was unfortunate enough to still breathe in the pink smoke.

"Hmm, smells like roses." said Nicole rather surprised though she was slightly confused at why she was smelling a flower that doesn't grow in the desert. Lust/Nela heard this and gave a soft chuckle as she stood back up.

"Well it's not what I wanted, but it'll work for now." smirked the pink haired mercenary as she picked her staff.

"What are you talking about?" asked Nicole confused suddenly feeling a sense of dread.

"You see, even if you inhale a tiny bit of the my illusion cloud you will be under my influence." Nicole looked at women wide eyed as she was shocked to hear what the women said. She then noticed that the woman's eyes turned pink, much like Ryuudo's was, however, it was far from a unblinking dazethat she saw both Drake and Ryuudo in. "Let's see you try to find me, Rosa Parade!" Nicole gasped as she suddenly saw Lust/Nela actually multiply into ten others.

"Oh my!" All the Lust/Nela illusions  then moved all surrounding the chef as she looked confusedly at each and every one of them. All then began to chuckle as they saw Nicole's shocked expression all of them then pointed their staffs towards Nicole ready to fight.

"I wonder which one of us is the real one, little pretend pirate." spoke all the pink haired mercenaries as they all stared at the girl mockingly. Nicole was having a difficult time figuring what to do as she kept twisting and turning looking at each Lust/Nela illusion.

'What do I do?' frantically thought Nicole as she was losing her self confidence.

"Here I come!" Nicole turned to see one of the Lust/Nelas come running at her. Not leaving to chance, Nicole dodged the women allowing her to pass by. Meanwhile another illusion also made their move as  it went for Nicole. This was the pattern for a while as Nicole dodged it illusion trying her best to figure which was the real one. For a while, Nicole wasn't even sure if any of these were the real Lust/Nela.

'Maybe if I can have the cacti grow this way I can-' "Gah!" Unfortunately for Nicole, her assumption was wrong. One of the Lust/Nelas managed to hit her, and doing serious damage as she fell to the ground.

"Uh oh, looks like you didn't keep your eye open." mocked all the Lust/Nelas all giving a mocking laugh. Nicole picked herself up from the sand as she tried her best to keep a strong face, despite being incredibly hurt. Nicole once again stood before the many illusions unharmed  and completely at the mercy of the mercenary.

'What can I do.' desperately cried Nicole to herself as she found the situation she was in almost unbearable. She wasn't in a forest, she was in the desert where plant life barely grew. She only had the cactus, and they can't out anymore then what she had.

"Hehe, that ship is getting closer." Nicole broke from her thoughts as all the Lust/Nelas talked at once looking back over to the river. Nicole looked down river along with the illusions to see the the once brown dot now larger and giving it form of a very small ship. All the Lust/Nelas chuckled as they all looked back at the girl with sinister grins. "Even if those kids are free, Wrath and easily find them, we'll get our pay, and you all will be blamed for the whole thing. A perfect plan from our prideful leader."

"Why!?" shouted Nicole as she looked at the illusions not caring if it was the real one as she knew that the mercenary would hear her. All the illusions looked at the girl with identical looks, confused at what the girl was trying to saw. "Why are you doing this!? Those sweet children don't need this!"

"Look sister, I-"

"You were their caretaker! They trusted you way more than us, yet you're the ones that betrayed them. How can you live with yourself knowing that you betrayed those children." scolded Nicole glaring at the older women with disdain and disgust. The illusions all showed the same emotion of shock as they seemed to be actually hurt by what they younger said.

'Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut Up!' The women couldn't hold back her tears as the young teen spoke the truth. It was an action all the illusions showed the same emotion surprising Nicole greatly, however, it was soon short lived.

"You don't understand anything!" shouted Lust/Nela angrily as she charged towards the unsuspecting chef. Right as Nicole turned, she saw the real mercenary come swinging her staff right at her. Nicole went to defend herself as she collided with the staff sending her to the ground. Immediately the Lust/Nela illusions started moving around, covering the tracks of the real mercenary as the circled around the downed pirate. As Nicole recovered, she saw that she was once again in the same situation as before.

'What am I going to do.' thought Nicole worriedly as she felt trapped in a losing fight. But she couldn't lose, it meant the children would be taken away. Both Mika and Vivi would be devastated with the young teen probably going on a rampage to get them back. 'Mika's counting on me, the whole crew is fighting to rescue the children, but what can I do?'

"She's to your right." Nicole's eyes widen as she heard a soft whisper of a small girl tell her a direction. Nicole glanced over to her right still seeing the same person.

"Who said that?" said Nicole out loud as she looked around only seeing the many mercenaries and the stunned friend Ryuudo some feet away. All the Lust/Nelas looked confusedly at the girl as they weren't sure what she was doing.

"Use me!" Nicole stopped she realized the soft voice was close. Like right next to her close. The brown-haired chef knew that she was the only in the circle, so who was calling her. "In your pocket!"

"In my....pocket?" repeated Nicole as she quickly dug through her pockets until she found something. However there was only one thing in her pocket, Nicole brought her hand up to see that it was. "The seed the queen gave me?"

Flashback

"Nicole, Mika tells me you have quite the green thumb." spoke Vivi as she approached the brown-haired chef, who seemed rather quite. Nicole turned to the queen looking rather conflicted, something the queen herself could understand.

"Yes, I have the ability to grow and control plants." spoke Nicole sounding rather calm, but couldn't help but shake as she was worried about the fighting the crew would probably doing.

"Excellent, I have a few bags of seeds that can be of great use for supplies." smiled Vivi as she handed her some packets labeled with different names, ones which Nicole would sure to learn later. As she was about to thank the queen, she saw that the queen had suddenly become more serious surprising the young teen. "Can I talk you for a bit."

"Ah, yes your highness." The queen then separated Nicole from the others as they marveled at the others' gifts. Once they had a good distance from the rest, Vivi spoke to the timid woman.

"I know you don't like violence," Nicole lowered her head, a bit shamed, as she believed the queen was going to chew her out for not being more battle willing like Mika and Lena. "and I understand your position a bit."

"Huh?" Nicole rose her head not believing the queen, but was surprised with the queen giving a very understanding smile to the chef.

"Before I met Straw Hats, my country was endanger of destroying itself caused by an evil man."

"Yes, Mika and Akio told us the story. It was so nice of them to help you." commented Nicole as she recalled Mika's tale of excitement of her family's adventures and fights in Alabasta and Akio filling in more of the details.

"Then you know that I didn't want them hurting themselves for my cause." Vivi watched the woman's face as she saw Nicole look rather surprised hearing that the brave princess now the queen of Alabasta didn't want the Straw Hats to risk their lives. "Back then, I thought I could stop the rebellion before they could attack and save everybody from harm."

"But you did stop the rebellion in the end." stated Nicole recalling the stories ending and current position. Vivi shook her head.

"True, but only because Luffy.....knocked some sense into me." laughed Vivi recalling her argument with Luffy about whether to go to the Rebels base or Crocodile's base. Nicole looked confused at the queen, not sure what she was laughing about. Vivi quickly composed herself seeing as Nicole was looking confused and continued. "Anyway, before I just wanted to risk my life so no one would lose theirs. Then Luffy told me that I can't save everyone, and I didn't take it very well.

"Your highness." said Nicole rather amazed at what the queen was telling her

"But if I put my faith in what I have, risking all the lives of my friends together." Vivi couldn't finish, but she knew that Nicole was slightly getting what she was conveying. She placed her hand on Nicole's shoulder causing the brown-haired chef to look to Vivi as she spoke again. "Nicole, I know you don't like violence, no one likes needless violence, but when you're fighting for someone important. It makes all the more necessary."

"I know but...." Nicole couldn't seem to answer the queen as she was still conflicted about the situation. However, Vivi understood the girl's situation. She had to figure it out for herself.

"Oh one more thing." Nicole looked back to queen as she grabbed her hand and placed something in it. Nicole opened her hand to find a single seed confusing her greatly as the queen had given her packets of others.

"What's this one?"

"It's a very problem plant in Alabasta, but in the right hands."

Flash-In

"Use me!" Nicole jumped back a bit as the voice seemed to actually come from the seed. Still watching on, the pink haired mercenary still wasn't sure what was going and didn't want to wait around anymore.

"I'm tired of this!" said the all the illusions as they started sweeping in on Nicole one after another.

"To your right! Dodge!" Looking up from the seed, Nicole saw what she believed to be an illusion come at her, but she dodged the sweep from the staff. The women than kept going as another came at her. "Stay still, it's a fake."

"How can you-?" Before Nicole could finish, she saw the illusion strike at her, however, it simply flew through her clearly fake. Nicole breathed a sigh of relief seeing that it was fake. "Thank you."

"Don't worry, I'll tell you when the real one comes. Ignore the rest." said what she believed to be the seed while the other illusions started to attack her. She did as the seed told her, as the illusions just flew through her, infuriating the real one.

'How?! How is she figuring out which one is real?!'

"How can I hear you?" asked Nicole as she ignored the illusions running past her as she looked at the seed in her hand.

"You ate the Vine Vine fruit, you can control plants."  stated the seed with an almost all-knowing sense about it. "And, if we feel like it, we can talk to you."

"Really!?" gasped Nicole surprised to hear that there was more to her power than just forcing plants to her will. "Then why haven't I've heard any of the other plants speak."

"It's considered taboo to talk with anyone who has eaten a devil fruit, especially one that misuses their power."  stated the seed knowingly unknowingly making Nicole slightly shamed that she has essentially been forcing plants to help her. "But."

"But?"

"You are different. You are kind and compassionate, you even ask for our help when helping others for their sake and thank us properly." Nicole was surprised as the small seed seem to compliment her on how she had handled her powers. She was glad that the plants weren't feeling misused by her and, more specially her crew's, antics. "You are truly one with nature."

"Oh, thank you." smiled Nicole joyfully as she brought the seed closer to her face

"And that's why, I want to help you!"

"Really?"

"Stop ignoring me!" Nicole looked up from the seed to see the infuriated mercenary high in the air and hurdling straight down at her. Nicole didn't need the seeds help to know this was the real one as she quickly jumped to the side as the women crashed into the sand. Nicole quickly got up as she looked at the angered women getting back up here illusion doubles soon falling in line. "I'm ending this fight! Right Now!"

"Nicole, allow me to grow right in your hand." Nicole looked down on the seed in her hand as she heard it speak something nearly impossible.

"But you need-"

"I'm unique, I just need some water and your sweat will provide it." stated the seed hurriedly. Nicole still seem hesitant to actually have the seed grow in her hand, not sure what the seed was.

"Aaaah!" Nicole looked up to see all the Lust/Nelas come charging straight at her at once. The young chef was freaked by the scene as it was like a heard of charging deer. Nicole froze as she stared wide eyed at the group of doubles.

"Grow me and swing now!"

"Aaaahh!" Nicole screamed back at the group of doubles as she did as the seed had asked her to do. With her eyes closed, Nicole activated her powers and swung out not sure what will happen.

"Gah!" Nicole opened her right eye hesitantly only to see the entire group before her was flying back with a nasty wound across the chest. She then opened both eyes as she marveled at what happened.

"That was close." Nicole backed at her hand where the seed was, it sounding more mature female voice than previously, and gasped. No longer was there a seed, but a vine. A green wine that extended at least five feet in front of Nicole with a foot of it having spikes. She then looked at her hand seeing the vine having wrapped around her hand tight and snugly with a beautiful flower with white petals outlined by a pinkish red color and blue steams sticking out of the middle.

"So beautiful." commented Nicole as she marveled over the vine and flower that was now wrapped around her hand.

"Thank you, I am the Sandora Desert Snake Vine. We tend to grow anywhere as long as there is water. We are very tough to get rid of, and we don't go done without a fight. We often don't get to grow long enough to show off our flowers, but when we do they are beautiful." Nicole couldn't help but agree with the vine as it seem to talk to her from the end of the vine acting like a snake. Nicole seem to chuckle as the snake vine seemed to move around freely with the aid of her powers as it seemed to show off it's emotions. However, it soon stopped and looked over to the chef making Nicole rather curious about what the vine was doing. "Ah, let me fix something. Sorry about this."

"Sorry about wh-OUCH!" screamed the girl in pain as single spike poked Nicole shocking her. Getting over the pain, she looked at the vine angrily. "Why did you do that?"

"Look at the pink haired one." Nicole did so, though very displeased, and gasped in shock. No longer were there ten Lust/Nelas laying in the sand, but just the one and only pink haired mercenary.

"How did you-?"

"A good shock to the system can break any illusion." Nicole smiled at the snake-acting vine as she realized it wanted to help.

"Thank you."

"No problem, partner." The moment Nicole heard the plant speak the word 'partner', she quickly realized something.

"Do you have a name?" The vine seemed to freeze with Nicole's question as it looked at Nicole rather confusedly.

"Well, uh, I'm the Sandora Desert Snake-"

"I know, but if we are partners I think you should have a proper name." said Nicole with a proud smile shocking the vine. "I was thinking maybe Dahlia Tempest."

"Dahlia Tempest?"

"Yes, your flower reminds me of a dahlia flower and tempest because your a fighter, something I'm not. We can compliment each other." reasoned Nicole producing a warm smile. The vine seemed to think about for moment until it finally gave her answer.

"Hmmm, I like that, Nicole. For now on, I'll be known as Dahlia Tempest or just Dahlia."

"I like that too, welcome to the Hurricane crew Dahlia."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Next time on One Piece: Rise of the Pirate Queen,

Drake: Heh, can't leave you for the marines can we.

Akio: Leave them alone!

Lena: Hurry, let's hide.

Wrath/Ty: You have fought well, may you die with honor.

Next time: Akio's Final Gambit Unbridled Rage From a Past Long Ago

Hurricane Theater
Gakuen Grand Line

Day 1: 2nd Period – Math

"Here we are! Math Class!" announced Chibi Mika happily as she and the dizzy Chibi Lena entered a different room with the same style though with different chibis.

"Mika, can't we slow down." whined Chibi Lena having been dragged through the hallway. Chibi Mika didn't seem to catch it as she entered with Chibi Lena in tow.

"Oi! Ryuudo, you here!" Chibi Lena was surprised when her new friend just shouted into the class room. All the chibis seem to simply ignore her, while only one spoke up.

"Hey Mika." The two chibi girls looked over to see the biggest chibi in the whole class waving at them, with an odd skin condition making him look sun-brunt. Instantly Chibi Mika dragged Chibi Lena straight to the large chibi somehow  not intimidated by his big size and gruff looks.

"Hey Ryuudo, meet our new friend Lena." grinned Chibi Mika as she brought up a slightly terrified Chibi Lena giving a wave to the chibi.

"H-H-Hi."

"Geez don't be so scared, I'm far from a bully." stated Chibi Ryuudo with a smile easing the chibi girl's nerves.

"Yeah! Ryuudo's just smart. He makes some of the best stuff." cheered Chibi Mika her grin growing larger.

***BRRRRIIIIINNG***

"Alright everyone, sit down." The teacher, Mister Chibi Usopp, entered the room causing every chibi student to gather at their seats. This included Chibi Mika and Chibi Lena, but not before Chibi Lena got a tap causing her to look back to Chibi Ryuudo giving her a knowing smirk.

"Welcome to the club, Lena." Chibi Lena looked at the chibi confused, but didn't have time as the lesson was about to begin.

"Come on Lena sit by me!" That and Chibi Mika quickly grabbed her and brought to her seat unaware of the sun-burnt chibi softly chuckled.

"Alright everyone, did you all complete your homework?" asked Chibi Usopp as he saw many of his students starting to take out their homework. However, a hand quickly went up belonging to Chibi Mika. "Yes, Mika."

"We didn't get homework yesterday." stated Chibi Mika with a gleeful smile making every chibi student turn to Chibi Mika confusedly while Chibi Usopp sighed.

"Yes I did Mika."

"Liar."

"I Don't Lie About Schoolwork Mika!" The class laughed at the chibi teacher's outburst, except Chibi Lena as she was confused.

'What's with this girl?'
Ah, if only she knew.