CHAPTER 303 MEMORY
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you really married to that guy?” Reba asked from beside me. She and I were sitting on a little shelf in the small cave.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No, I’m just messing with him,” I said. “Why? Jealous?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No,” she said a little too quickly. Kicking her legs as we hung around. The others didn’t appear to trust me since they were conversing on the other side of the cave. I didn’t me them, I’d have trouble trusting me as well.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tell me about yourself,” I said, putting my hands behind my head as I leaned back. I had gotten used to the small body surprisingly easily.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You already know most of it,” she mumbled.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I really don’t though,” I said. “I have no idea what my backstory is. You seem fun, any friends?” She shook her head. “No friends? And you’ve lived here your whole life?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“My family wasn’t well loved here,” she reminded me. “Domingo tricked the people into thinking that my grandfather wanted them dead. So the citizens thought I was just like him.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“How old were you when that happened?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“6?” She asked. “Young. I always thought I had a good memory, but how could I forget my father?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey Robin!” I yelled. “Who talked you into betraying Crocodile?” I asked. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“What?” She asked, brought out from their huddle.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Crocodile. Back on basta? Who talked you into betraying him?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I did that on my own,” she said slowly, confused. I nodded and she turned back to Law and Usopp.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“That girl right there is called the Devil’s Child. She was willing to let what happened to you, happen to someone else. I helped here to her senses a little. Saved her life once.” Fucked her brains out on the regr, but I didn’t say that part.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“She has no idea who I am. I hold no animosity toward her for forgetting me. I’m sure your father doesn’t either,” I said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Do you really think he’s alive?” She asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“He has to be. There were a lot of toys down in that basement. Sugar mentioned a contract. I’m sure she is controlling them somehow. I don’t see why she wouldn’t have done the same to your dad,” I said. Moving my arm to over her shoulder I pulled her a little closer. “It’s gonna be alright, Reba.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I hope you’re right,” she said, leaning into me a little. I was sure we lookedical. An orange and a ck teddy bear consoling one another. I really wished I had a camera. There had to be one since someone would take our bounty poster pictures. I just hadn’t found any yet.
<span style="font-weight:400">“We have decided to believe you,” Trafalgar said as they ended their huddle.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well good. I’d hate to have to beat up my husband,” I said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“We aren’t married!” Usopp said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Usond? You have a queen?” One of the dwarves asked. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Uh no, I-I don’t know,” he said, lost for a moment. I knew I should end the charade, but it was too funny. I didn’t think Usopp was gay since he had that one girl on his home ind, but now he was questioning it. I deserved whatever hell he gave me when they got their memories back.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You said Zoro was on his way?” Robin asked, hiding a smile. Even Trafalgar was trying not to smile at the poor dejected look on Usopp’s face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, should be about here,” I said, feeling him draw closer. “I think he’s gotten lost about 5 times since I said itst. Should be here anywhere between 5 and 30 minutes.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“What is our n then?” Robin asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I think we should be asking Trafalgar that,” I said. “You looked about ready to kill Domingo back there on the bridge. Mind telling us your beef with him?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t have a beef with him,” Trafalgar lied.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah you do. This entire ploy with Caesar was a way for you to get Domingo alone,” I used. “You really think you had a chance against him?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I know I do,” Trafalgar said. “I hadn’t used my all when you stepped in.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“But, you did go there to kill,” I said. “Soe on. What’s with the game on the Smile Factory? I don’t mind, Trafalgar. I just want to be on the same page. Is it because you used to be a Donquioxte pirate?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Trafalgar stiffened. “How did you know that?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“You must have forgotten,” I said. “You told me.” He hadn’t of course, but he didn’t know that.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I doubt it,” he mumbled, but stepped away. Looking out into the dwarf vige he was quiet for a little bit. “I was born in North Blue. A famous ce called Flevance.” He let out a sigh. “You wouldn’t know it now, because it’s been wiped off the map.” I looked to Robin, her home was destroyed as well. Her Haki leaked pain as she remembered her own pain.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Flevance had a very rich source of a special kind of lead. The town prospered, but it wasn’t until yearster that the real effects of the lead surfaced. Shorter lifespans and an illness for starters. At first no one cared, but when even outsiders started to catch it…we were quarantined and eventually killed off.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“How did you escape?” Robin asked, holding back her own pain as she listened intently.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“In a pile of dead bodies,” he admitted. “I yed dead. Was carted out. Escaped before they burned the bodies. I made my way to the Donquixote pirates after that. They were big in North Blue then. I hated the government and the world for what they did to my family right in front of my eyes.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“And you want to punish Domingo because…?” I asked. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Because he is doing the same to the world,” Trafalgar spat. “How many kids was he having experimented on under Caesar? The government turns a blind eye to it all. I should have died years ago. The man that saved my life did it because he said it was the right thing to do. Domingo killed my savior right in front of my eyes. And I’ll pay him back for that 10 fold. Destroy everything he has built my savior''s death upon. Smile? That’s just the start. I want to destroy his crew. Destroy his name. And everyone or everything that has ever profited from those he hurt. So yes, I want Domingo dead. Even if it kills me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">There was a long silence as we studied him. I could feel the rage in the normally quiet man as he stared at me. Confronted with my cuteness I wasn’t sure how he could appear so angry, but to each their own. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“So you want to kill him right now?” I asked. “Or destroy everything he loves, everything he has worked for, then kill him?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I…don’t know,” he admitted.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s fine, we can figure it out,” I said. “Usopp, it looks like Zoro is here. Would you be a dear and make sure the dwarves don’t attack him?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t call me that,” he huffed but walked out. Iughed loudly as he stormed off.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Damn that’s funny.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you really married to him?” Robin asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fuck no,” I said. “He’s not my type. I prefer long legs and a glorious bust.” I eyed her up and down.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ha! Doubtful. You’re a cute little teddy bear,” she said with one of her rareughs.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I am made for cuddling no matter what body I am in,” I said. Reba elbowed me harder than I expected, causing me tough and wince. “What?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re very shameless, you know that?” Reba asked. “I remember when we were kids you were always hitting on every woman that walked by.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Damn, young Weston sounds like a yer,” I said. “Must have been the royal blood.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re royalty now?” Robin asked, walking over. “What else can you do?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I have many tricks, Robin my dear. Many that will make you blush when you remember who I really am,” I promised.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“And who is that exactly? My husband now?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Perhaps I am. How else would I know about that birthmark on your rump?” I asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I do not have a birthmark,” she said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh right, maybe it’s just a bruise I gave you,” I said. It was annoying. I couldn''t wink in the body. “You should check it out. I bet the bruise will look oddly simr to teeth marks.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re lying,” Robin said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Guess we will never know,” I teased. “But if I’m proven right. You’ll remember the usual price soon enough.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Price?” She asked, confused. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’ll see,” I promised as Zoro and Usopp walked in.
<span style="font-weight:400">“How’d you find your way here so quick, Zoro?” I asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Who''s the doll?” He asked, looking over to me on the shelf.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Apparently a crew member,” Usopp grumbled.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Usopp’s husband,” Robin said, ying into it. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Zoro looked around, “Uh congrattions.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“We are not married!” Usopp yelled. “Especially not to a teddy bear?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“What? If I was a toy robot you wouldn’t be so against it?!” I barked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Stop!” Trafalgar yelled. “We need to n.” I breathed a sigh of relief, I thought he would put an end to my fun.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alrighty,” I said, jumping down to the cave floor. “Trafalgar, we went with your nst time. Now it’s my turn.” Picking up a small stick I drew a donut in the Earth. “Luffy is probably still fighting at the coliseum here. Franky is still in town. Kinemon too, looking for that samurai friend of his.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Who is Kinemon?” Robin asked. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Goddang it, check your sheets. He must have been turned into a toy as well,” I said. “I was able to interrogate an executive of the Donquixote pirates earlier. The main people we have to watch out for are Sugar,” I pointed at Usopp. “You’re on her. Knock her out and you’ll get the glorious memories of our wedding back to you…or not. I could be making it up.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll knock her out so hard,” Usopp said, anger leaking off of him.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Trebol is another executive. He ate the Mucus Devil Fruit. Diamante as well. He ate the Fabric Devil Fruit. Pica is probably the most dangerous after Sugar. He’s a giant that can control stone. If Luffy hasn’t been found out yet, we should try to break him out of the coliseum. I will look into that since I can float. The rest of you and the dwarves need to storm the castle. Beat up everyone in your path. If we take out Sugar, we win this thing.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“When did we start taking instructions from a doll?” Zoro asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Our captain is basically a big kid, is this such a stretch?” I asked. Zoro rolled his eyes but thought about it and shook his head. “Good. Time to get the show on the road. ytime is over.”