Queen of the Pirates

Trapped by Crocodile

We burst into the casino, and I'm not really sure what I am expecting to see, but I am a bit shocked to see it be a casino where tons of people are gambling at slot machines or poker tables. There's a lot of chatter and happiness in this place which is not how I thought a country on the brink of war would be like, but I guess there would be areas that aren't as effected.

"Crocodile!" Luffy empties his lungs, letting go of my hand to raise his fists to the air. "Come on out! Come out!"

I shrink away from Luffy. The words he's shouting reminding me of a terrible memory, but also not wanting to have all the attention that is now turning towards us.

Nami and Usopp whack the back of his head as he is seething with anger.

"Dumbass, you can't call him out like that," Nami snaps.

"He is a hero around here," Usopp says. "Do you want us to be torn to pieces?"

"Then what do we do?" Luffy clenches his fists and sets his jaw.

"Hold on, Vivi is the only one of us that actually knows what he looks like."

"Where is she anyways?" I ask. "Didn't she run off with Zoro?"

"I sent her ahead," Zoro shrugs.

"Vivi! Crocodile!" Usopp, Nami, and Luffy shout as they raise their fists.

A commotion comes at the front door, and we all turn to see Smoker running right at us.

"I've got you now Straw Hat, and you too, little girlfriend!" Smoker shouts. "There's no way to run now! A lake surrounds this place!"

"He never gives up," I groan.

"Great, it's Smoker-roo!" Luffy exclaims, grabbing my hand and getting us all to start running again.

The guards of the casino try to stop Smoker, but that is a mistake by them as he easily takes them out. Then he is right on our tail as a group of well-dressed men that are directing us towards a large door that leads us deeper into this place.

"Hey, look at that!" Usopp calls out.

"This way please!" the casino men smile and wave us towards the door.

"Is he daring us to attack him directly?" Nami asks.

"He's got some style," Zoro grins.

"There's no where else to run!" I nervously glance behind us.

"Then let's go!" Luffy orders.

"A V.I.P. room?" Smoker questions. "Is this connected to Crocodile? Ah, with a little luck I can catch them all!"

"What is a V.I.P. room?" Luffy squeezes my hand.

"It could be us," I giggle.

"Look, which way do we go?"

A sign appears in front of us, showing that left is for V.I.P. and the right is for pirates. We are about to make a very important choice that will set up how we meet Crocodile.

"The V.I.P. room is to the left!" Usopp says.

"But we're pirates! To the right!"

We all make the quick turn to the right, not really arguing the fact with the two boys that maybe we shouldn't listen to a sign in the base of one of the Warlords of the Sea. It really hits me when the floor falls out below us, and we are trapped in a large cage with no way out.