Showdown in Alubarna:
-x-
In the dead of night Pell knelt next to the wounded form of Luffy, his skin and clothes were caked with blood and sand and the hole going through his chest was still bleeding profusely.
"KOFF! KOFF! KOFF!" Luffy wheezed.
"Hey kid... are you alright?" Pell asked with concern.
"Neeed meeaat..." Luffy groaned. "Ugghh... meeeaaat..."
"Meat?" Pell repeated, "You don't need food now. That's the least of your worries. Hang on, I'll get a doctor for you." Pell got up and started headed back towards Rain Base but was stopped when a hand grabbed his ankle. WHAP! Pell flinched in surprise when he looked down and saw that Luffy's arm had stretched to allow him to grab him.
"I'm going to make sure Crocodile pays for this..." Luffy growled, "He insulted Vivi... and that old man with the shovel... he gave me water... HE'S DEFINITELY GONNA PAY!"
Pell blinked in surprise, "Who is this person?" he wondered.
"Meeaat..." Luffy gasped.
Pell walked back over to the strange boy and knelt down next to him. He'd learned from Princess Vivi's letter to King Cobra that Crocodile was behind the whole rebellion and now this boy seemed determined to defeat Crocodile. And despite his incredible injuries all the boy was asking for was 'meat'? Ms. All Sunday had even admitted that this boy was the reason Princess Vivi had made it home safely. If 'meat' was all the boy was asking for in return Pell couldn't think of any reason not to give him some.
"Alright," Pell agreed, "I'll get you something to eat."
-x-
The sun was barely starting to rise as Ms. All Sunday's Accelagator sped through the badlands of the Sandora Desert. ZZZZOOOOOOM! The large yellow reptile finally came to a stop outside the Spider's Café.
Mana was inside leaning over the counter humming to herself as she spread chocolate icing on a small personal-sized cake. The blonde was still wearing Nami's yellow skirt with the white circles on the side as well as a tight black t-shirt with yellow sleeves and over that she wore a yellow apron that read 'Kiss the Cook' on the chest. Her usual yellow hat had been replaced by a small yellow chef's hat that the blonde stylishly wore on an angle.
Kreeek! Mana looked up and her blue eyes widened in surprise as the tall form of Ms. All Sunday walked through the swinging double doors into the café. "M-M-Ms. All Sunday..." Mana stammered in shock.
"Ms. Valentine," Ms. All Sunday greeted her as she crossed the empty café until she was standing in front of the counter.
"Wh-what do you want?" Mana asked.
"Hmm... that looks and smells delicious," the Vice President commented as she eyed Mana's chocolate cake before looked up at the blonde. "But I'm afraid I'm here for business. Mr. 5 came to us up in Rain Base and told Mr. 0 that you, he, and Ms. Goldenweek got here on the Straw Hats' ship. Despite Mr. 5's information the First Mate 'One Eye' Y/N managed to free his crewmates when we had them captured. Something about him intrigues me. Mr. 5 knew a little about him but since he convinced you to defect I assume that you know even more. I'm here for information. What can you tell me about 'One Eye' Y/N?"
"Nothing," Mana answered firmly.
"Can't or won't?" Ms. All Sunday inquired.
"Won't," Mana insisted. "Y/N's done more for me than any of you Baroque Works jerks ever could. I won't betray him."
