Hungry For Justice: A Hero For Lvneel: A One Piece Fanfic

Chapter Nine: Time To Prepare

As soon as he saw the broken window, Zoro knew it was too late.

"Oi, Sanji, are you alive?" asked Usopp. He refused to step in before anybody else. To his relief, Brook eagerly hopped into the castle first.

The skeleton twirled his hat on top of his cane. "Sanji! Hope none of your bones are broken! Yo ho ho!" he chuckled, earning him a whack. "Oi, Brook, hold the jokes for now," said Usopp. It appeared they in the conference room of the castle. The sniper inspected the area, careful not to step on any of the glass pieces. As well, he had to hop over some of the defeated guards lying unconscious. It would not be a good idea to wake them.

Zoro found the ero-cook and an old man sulking in his throne. Before the old man could utter a word to his new visitors, more came via window.

Each of the passengers took a turn beating up Luffy, except for Robin and Paris. "Never, ever, use Rocket until all of us are ready!" yelled Nami. Chopper furiously nodded, agreeing with the navigator. "What if we hit Sanji with that impact?" the reindeer cried.

"Oi, you guys are here!" Luffy grinned. He ignored the protruding bumps on his head. "It was getting boring without you guys, so we decided to fly over." The captain took in the sight of the broken windows. "Oops, I didn't mean to break that."

Paris seemed to be a daze from the Gum Gum Rocket. The librarian scratched her head, looking at the pirates. "I guess I haven't seen everything yet," she muttered.

The archaeologist analyzed the castle room. She noted the guards, the richly unconscious man leaning against the wall...the hole in the wall...and the man that seemed to resemble their cook. After a moment, Robin turned to Paris. "That's King Francois, isn't he?" she asked.

Paris squinted, then nodded in confirmation. "He's more wrinkled than the last time I saw him, but yup, that's him." She walked on ahead to read the documents on the table. "Oh my sweet petunias," she gasped.

The king took the time to acknowledge his former employee. "It's been a while, Paris," he murmured. Sad eyes focused on the intruder in front of him. "Is he really my- Cosette's child?" Sanji frowned. Was this man still going to deny that they shared the same blood?

"Yes, King Francois," Paris answered, sarcastically ringing his title. She opened her mouth to say more, but stopped when King Francois started to cry.

Weeping, the royal fell out of his throne, and onto his knees. His robe shook as the sobs coursed through his fragile body. "I'm..." he started.

"Don't say you're sorry." Sanji cut him off. He scowled, but then sighed. Despite the past, he felt pity for his grandfather. The death of his mother, the threat of St. Alphonse, and ruling a kingdom could drive someone normal into insanity. Now wasn't the time to be mad. He took his cigarette out, then continued. "Don't you dare apologize to me. Unless you finally understand what your daughter, my mother, wished for this kingdom, then you can. But you don't need my forgiveness the most. You have to apologize to her first."

Slowly, he offered his hand out to the kneeling king. The man's frail hand shook as it reached out, and tightly gripped his grandson's hand. The royal stood again and turned to face Sanji.

The elderly man was clouded with thoughts. He opened his mouth to say something, but promptly shut it. His eyes drooped. "You have summoned one of the admirals to come," he stated.

Confused and worried chatter echoed in the room. Sanji sighed, and pointed to the unconscious Celestial Dragon leaning on the wall.

The swordsman grunted. "Oi, Swirly-sama, what did you do?" he demanded.