Reaching over from her comfortable spot, Faythe grabbed a green apple that sat on a plate by her bedside. She sat crisscrossed on her bed, her feathered pen scrawling across her pages excitedly. She took a bite of the apple and read over the pages, making sure their are no grammar mispronunciations. She hummed to herself as she finished reading, her blue eyes trailing down the paper. Writing down the part where she and Vivi scaled the cliff, with the help of Carue, and Mr. 2 on their tail, Faythe grimaced at the spectacular memory. Stopping for a moment to remember what came next, she heard Luffy grumble in his sleep, probably having a crazy dream.
Luffy was getting better now, but he still had a slight fever. He should be better in due time. He rolled over on his back, arms and legs spread out in star formation. He had a bit of drool falling out of his mouth.
Faythe turned towards the door, hearing it click open. Vivi peeked inside and spotted Faythe still in her bed writing, "You're still writing?? Well I can't blame you, so much had happened, yesterday.."
"Ya.. but it's kinda worth it in the end." Faythe trailed her fingers down the page, her eyes softening seeing the whole adventure end.
Vivi watched Faythe read through her writing and let out a soft smile, looking down at her hands clasped together, "Faythe.."
"Hm?"
"Thank you.. For everything." Vivi looked up at the girl, "It truly means everything to me.. Without you, I might've been-"
Faythe held up a finger to the blunette's lips, "Nope! We ain't gonna talk about that depressing shit here. It's over. We're safe and alive, fortunately. So, come on over here and get the hug, you've been waiting for." She held her arms out, motioning for the girl to come closer.
Vivi let out a soft laugh and bounded over to the girl. She felt Faythe's arms wrap around her waist and her head rest on her shoulder. Vivi melted into the hug almost instantly, feeling relaxed in that moment. She felt like all the duty and burden as Princess were lifted in that moment, and she was just Vivi.
Listening to the door click open again, both girls turned to see Usopp peer in and see them both embracing each other, "The hell... Was I interrupting something..??"
Faythe let out a giggle at the scene that was now engraved in Usopp's memory, "No, just giving a friend a hug. Do you want one too?" Faythe raised a brow, a smirk present on her face.
Usopp's face scrunched up in disgust at the actual idea of hugging Faythe, "HA! A hug from you, Faythe? That'd be the last thing I'd ask for."
"As much as I love seeing you two bicker like siblings" Vivi giggled to herself as she saw they're faces morph into a look of pure disgust, "But, I'm also curious as to why your here.. Weren't you going to go shopping with Sanji?"
Usopp's disgusted face went blank as he just realized what he came here for, "Oh! I was gonna ask if Faythe wanted to come along, she can't sit in her bed all day. But after that whole conversation, I'm a bit hesitant now..."
Faythe let out a smirk, "Don't worry, I won't bother you too much."
Usopp was now getting skeptical, "Riiiiiiigggghhhhhtt.."
Vivi watched Faythe close her book and place it gently by her nightstand. She grabbed her green apple and took another bite from it. Faythe held her hand out towards Vivi who smiled as she helped the red head up to her feet.
Faythe knew right away that her legs were still wobbly and needed some time to get used to, "Looks like I need to walk around a bit..." She chuckled nervously, already feeling the soreness in her calves.
Usopp frowned at Faythe's fragile state. He let out a sigh and walked over to her, holding out his hand, "Hold onto me so you don't go tripping over yourself."
Faythe couldn't help but stare at the chad as she felt a smile grow on her face, "Thanks.. I didn't wanna miss going shopping, I needed some things."
"Ya, ya, ya. Sanji looks like he's in a hurry." Usopp helped Faythe out the room and into the hallway. As they passed multiple doors, Chopper came waddling out of a room filled with doctors. He looked up at who the people were infront of him and let out a squeal as he saw it was his favorite crewmates.
"FAYTHE!" Chopper leaped onto Faythe's sides and latched himself there. Confirming to himself that she was up and awake, "Your awake! Sorry, I couldn't see you, I was making so much medicine for Luffy and his fever that I missed the time that you woken up yesterday..." He looked so close to letting out the waterworks.
Faythe scooped the young reindeer up and gave him a big hug, "It's fine, it's fine. Just focus on Luffy for now. Me and Usopp are going to go catch up with Sanji for some shopping." She took off his hat to give him a pat, which made the reindeer blush in content at her touch. Faythe gently placed Chopper back on the floor and waved goodbye.
As Faythe had her arm wrapped around Usopp's they started descending the stairs and saw Sanji at the bottom, "HEY SANJI!"
Sanji whipped his head around and starting twirling around happily at the sight of the girl, "Ah!~ FAYTHE-CHAN! Even when your in this state, your beauty still glows through!"
Faythe paused at the comment and felt her cheeks heat up a bit. She good never good with comments about her looks. She rubbed the back of her neck nervously, her face flushing a bit, "T-Thanks.. You look good too." She smiled softly.
Sanji looked like he was about to faint from Faythe's reaction.
Usopp tugged Faythe along and walked down into the capital, with the list in hand, "Let's hurry it up. We don't want marines on our tails and spot us."
"True." Faythe giggled to herself.
/;/~***~/;/
Strutting through the streets, Faythe was asking the two crewmates about the others and what they were doing currently.
Usopp lifted his finger thinking, "Well, last I've heard of Zoro, was him being stubborn and going straight back to training."
"Idiot marimo.." Sanji clicked his tongue in irritation.
"And Nami?" Faythe was half focusing on the conversation and mostly on her footing.
Sanji spoke up this time, "Oh Nami was looking through the library with that note, your brother gave to you. She said she would at least try and find it in the Royal Library."
Faythe let out a hum, "I'll have to thank her later."
"But that book title was in a completely different language. Even it's writing looked strange. You think your brother would at least tell you what it's called.." Usopp let out a huff as he steered the red head away from some drunk workers.
Sanji dragged out his cigarette and sighed, "Your brother was pretty domineering, almost possessive of you, Faythe-chan."
"He would glare at almost all the boys in the crew." Usopp added, letting out a shiver that ran down his body.
"I can't really do anything about his protectiveness of his little sister, but about the title of the book, I would think of it as a mystery he gave to me to solve. It makes it more exciting that way." Faythe explained her brother's reasoning.
"Uuooohhh.. So it's just a weird thing between family. You both are also freakishly strong as well. Must be a gene of one of your parents." Usopp tilted his head, glancing at the red head.
"One of my parents, huh? Corbett did say that my father is still alive out there." Faythe raised a brow at Usopp, "Meaning it could be him, since he had survived for so long in this pirate era."
"That is also true." Sanji nodded.
With that they carried on their shopping list.
/;/~***~/;/
"Did we get everything on the list?" Sanji asked as Faythe was reading through it.
She looked up at the blonde and gave a thumbs up, a bright smile adorning her face, "Yep! We can go back now." She rolled the paper up and stuffed it don her back pocket.
Both of the men hummed in agreement and started walking through the crowd of people. They were all repairing the houses and shops that were devastated during the crewmates' fights. The sound of hammering and sawing filled the air around them as they walked.
"YOU GOT ANY MORE LUMBER!?"
"I'm running short here too!"
"I've got some left over. Feel free to use them."
Usopp was carrying bags with both hands, so Faythe had to lean on Sanji for support, "This country sure is robust." Usopp commented as he glanced around.
"That's 'cause their princess is a babe!" Sanji stated with a smile on his face.
"That makes a difference?" Usopp raised a brow at the male skeptically.
"You bet." Sanji grinned.
Faythe shook her head as she muffled her amusement, "That's one way to put it."
A sudden shout from a townsfolk from the side grabbed the trio's attention, "DAMMIT! WHAT THE HELL'S WITH THESE HOLES FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE!?"
Faythe and Usopp gazed at it curiously as the statement was true. There were at least seven holes.
Then the townsfolk shouted something that made her smirk at the blonde, "IT'S ALMOST AS IF SOMEONE JUST KICKED HIS WAY THROUGH!"
Faythe turned her attention to the cook as he looked to his right. Not even meeting the girl's gaze, his hands were shaking with sweat as he held his bag of groceries', "Man, Doesn't that sound very familiar to a particular fighter e have in our crew, Sanji-kun?"
"Nope, doesn't ring a bell whatsoever. Anyways, Look, Usopp, Faythe, I think there's something over there that e might need later." Sanji changed the subject, trying to distract his crewmates.
/;/~***~/;/
"Did you not hear me tell you they're not here!? Leave at once!"
Walking up the steps, which led to the palace's gates, Faythe, Sanji, and Usopp, watched General Chaka glare down some marines that kept insisting on the kingdom harboring pirates.
"LYING WON'T HELP YOUR COUNTRY!"
"HARBORING PIRATES IS A SERIOUS CRIME!"
The trio of said pirates walked by the marines and continued their way up the stairs.
"I know of no pirates!" Chaka lied through his teeth, he almost seemed to be enjoying this.
"Keep up the good work out here." Sanji commented as he passed the general.
Chaka turned his attention towards the trio, "Ah, welcome back. Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Yeah, a decent amount." Usopp grinned as he carried on his way.
Chaka let out a grin as he heard they're happy remarks until his eyes landed on the wobbly legged red head, "Ah, Faythe-sama, how are your injuries? I was defeated by that horrible man before I could actually see what happened after. I've heard that you stood up for the Princess til the end."
Faythe stopped in her steps as she glanced back at the General, "The wounds are healing very quickly, and the protecting Vivi thing, was just an order I was following."
Chaka chuckled at her statement, "And with that, I still thank you for your hard work."
Faythe was quiet for a moment and then let out a tired sigh, "All these 'Thank you's' and 'Are you okay's' really aren't my thing..." She grumbled with her cheeks tinting a light color of pink.
"HAHAHA! Your gonna have to get used to it then. Because I believe many more will be coming soon." Chaka turned back towards the marines with a nasty glare, contrasting the soft laugh that erupted in the air just seconds ago.
Faythe turned around and saw Sanji with his empty hand out towards her. She let out a amused giggle and accepted his hand, "Why thank you, your such a gentlemen." She steadied herself beside Sanji and they continued they're way up. She glanced at Usopp and saw him roll is eyes.
"Considering the state of the city right now, buying this much is enough." Sanji commented, referring back to Chaka's question.
"I guess..." Usopp shrugged.
A shout from Chaka erupted in the area, "DO YOU HAVE PROOF THAT PIRATES ARE HERE!?"
A terrified squeal came from a marine as he responded, "W-well, no, but...!"
Faythe glanced at the gates hearing Usopp ask her and Sanji a question, "Y'think he's woken up yet?"
"If he did, it's gonna get noisy." Sanji sighed at the thought of a loud and obnoxious teenager screaming for meat and food from him.
Faythe smiled instead at the thought, suppressing a laugh that wanted to burst out, "Noisy, yes. But it's what makes him that missing piece in our crew."
"Your not wrong, but your not right.." Usopp snorted.
Faythe sent him a playful glare and continued to speak, "You say that, but deep down you missed his presence." she held her head up, laughing.
"Whatever you say." Usopp rolled his eyes, but Faythe noticed he never denied it.
/;/~***~/;/
Word Count:(2188)
This arc is taking a lot longer than I thought is was going to be.
AND YES.
We're also doing the skypia arc!
Whether you like it or not.
But with the time and how long this book is gonna be.. I might end this book at the next arc and continue on to the next book.
The story is going to continue but not the book so don't worry!
Plus after ending Book 1 it'll give me some time to focus on my other stories.
Like the Rengoku Fanfic : Her sun
or
Naruto Fanfic : Foresight (Book 1)
Also if you have any questions go ahead and ask now or forever hold your piece. Ask below.
Questions:???