Chapter 520 - One Man Band
Pirates are crazy, and the Emperors of the sea are the mad-kings of the world.
That was the only way Nefertari could describe Kaido and Big Mom; the only explanation for how they chose to act with enemies on their doorstep, practically breathing down their necks.
He wasn't complaining, though; and not just because complaining would carry a non zero chance of them killing him for being annoying.
No, he was more than happy to let his captors "party it up", as the kids would say. He'd wager the odds were high that this "Fire Festival" would be used as a cover for the coming war, and that meant tonight was the night he'd be out of here and back into the company of pirates he actually liked.
"Say, Cobra..." Big Mom rudely allowed herself into his assigned quarters.
"Did you need more advice? I thought you were getting along nicely with Kaido," Cobra hid the chill that went down his spine when she spoke his name so casually.
"How would you like to marry me?" Big Mom asked.
Cobra had the distinct feeling that if Cherry hadn't healed his body, he would have had a heart attack and died right then and there.
"What brought this on? I'm not very strong, you know; nor is my family known for producing any warriors of great merit," Cobra kept his outwards calm, even if he was panicking on the inside.
"Plenty of my children are talented in battle. I do not need more of that sort," Big Mom answered. "However, it has occurred to me that your kingdom has withstood the test of time for many centuries. I imagine your blood must possess some innate talent for diplomacy, no?"
Cobra's mind raced as he frantically looked for a way out of this mess. He didn't predict this, though perhaps he should have in hindsight. The woman was well known for seeking husbands with outstanding qualities.
"I'm flattered, but I'm afraid that I've sworn off remarrying since my wife died," Cobra decided to go with a bit of truth. He didn't think Big Mom would pity him, but perhaps she had enough decency, however little, to not press the issue.
"Oh?" Big Mom said. "That's fine, I suppose. You can just put a baby in me and we'll call it square, then."
'Is this how I die?' Cobra wondered.
Well, if nothing else, then he wasn't going to let this monster anywhere near his bloodline. The very last thing he needed was her demon spawn contesting his daughter's claim to Alabasta's throne.
"I haven't bathed in almost two weeks, now," Cobra grasped at any straws he could get his hands on.
Shockingly, this actually did give Big Mom pause. "Hmm, I suppose that won't do. I've had a little to drink, but not quite that much yet. Go on and prepare yourself, then. I'll be waiting for you."
'She doesn't let up, does she...' Cobra hastily fled into the adjoining bathroom and locked himself inside. The lock wasn't actually going to stop anyone who really wanted in, but at least the dimensions of the bathroom were far too small for the likes of Big Mom.
'Now I just need to stall until I'm rescued,' Cobra nodded to himself. He might as well make use of the amenities while he's at it.
Someone was coming to find him at this very moment, he was sure.
...
Cherry was not that someone.
In fact, it had quite slipped her mind that Cobra was even in Wano, despite the fact that she brought him here herself. She had a lot on her mind though! It's not her fault that he ran off on his own in such a dangerous place!
She might even voice those excuses at some future time, but for now she was very distracted. Much too distracted to notice a single human with average life force amidst a sea of stronger life forces, especially when she wasn't specifically looking for him.
Instead, she was watching Scratchmen Apoo's devil fruit in action.
It was certainly an interesting one. Music that could affect whoever hears it? Pretty neat.
That wasn't what had her so enraptured as she was, though.
"What is this?" Cherry muttered to herself, deep in thought.
"That's the Roar of the Sea's special ability! I can tell you more-!" some loser rambled in her ear. She didn't pay any mind to the blabbermouth, though, even if she would have normally gotten tired of and silenced him by now.
"Why is this devil fruit special? What makes it so unique?" Cherry continued thinking aloud. "No, it's not unique; it's the opposite in fact. But why? What is it that it has in common with all the other devil fruits I've seen until now.
Blubbermouth, whose name Cherry only barely registered and misunderstood as Blabbermouth because that's what he was in her mind, didn't understand. That was okay, though! He got to speak to a pretty lady and she hadn't told him to shut up yet! Nice!
Cherry was certain that whatever it was that made the Tone Tone fruit both unique and universal was the key to completely deciphering the devil fruit's energy inscription language and syntax.
The trouble was, she needed to understand it to figure out what that was! It's so frustrating that she could punch somebody!
"OH!" Cherry decked Blabbermouth in his blabbering mouth. "Yup, that's much better."
A few Beast pirates took more than a few steps away from her.
'Damn, am I going to have to kidnap this guy?' Cherry considered it.
Pros: She gets to study the devil fruit for longer and even experiment with it provided Apoo "cooperated".
Cons: This guy was super annoying.
It's a really tough decision.
'Ah, they're running away,' Cherry sighed as she watched Luffy, Zoro, Killer, and Kid run away.
She wasn't sure if she was annoyed that she didn't get to see any more of the devil fruit in action, or if she was relieved that they didn't kill Apoo before they did so. It would have been a real bitch and a half if she had to hunt down the devil fruit to wherever it went in the world. That'd be like looking for a needle in the Thorn Wood back home during autumn.
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'Ugh...' Cherry grimaced. She was really going to do it.
Cherry watched Apoo for a moment, seeing where he would go, and followed after him when he did. She made sure to stay as inconspicuous as she could. There were plenty of drunks she could emulate, so that wasn't too difficult.
She was mildly surprised that Apoo wasn't going to chase after them, though. Perhaps he was just smart enough to know when he's outmatched? Four to one aren't great odds even against weaker foes, unless they're much weaker.
'With that ugly mug, he needs to have something going for him, I guess. Otherwise it'd be way to pitiful," Cherry thought.