De Fragee Prutia

t w e l v e

  "And we're sure this is going to work?" Nami asked, holding one of the smoke bombs in her hand.

"It's the only chance we got." Lonnie held out a sword. "You know how to fight, princess?"

It was a joke. There were a lot of things Lonnie knew the princess wasn't good at, swords were one of them.

"You know I never learned how to use a sword."

"Just stick them with the pointy end."

Nami pulled the small dagger from the thigh strap they brought for her, close quarter defense was all she ever truly mastered, and held it near Lonnie's throat— both of them smiled.

"I know which end to stick them with."

"You're not going to get close enough to use that," Mal instructed. "Let's just hope we don't have to use any of this."

They all walked up to Uma's boat. Nami heard Gil yell loud and clear that they had arrived.

"Welcome!" Harry said too enthusiastically. Nami watched him push a tied-up Ben towards the plank.

"Finally," Uma laughed.

"Give us, Ben."

"Ha. Let's get this party started, there's no negotiation..."

Nami watched Harry push Ben closer and closer to the plank with each of Uma's words. She locked eyes with him. She wanted to tell Ben it was alright but couldn't risk blowing her cover.

Mal scoffed at Uma. "Now let's all just be smart, although for you that must be hard. You'll get your wand no one has to come to any harm..."

Nami panicked as Harry dangled Ben over the edge. Her fingers started itching and it wasn't from the chemical residue of the smoke bombs on her hands. Now wasn't the time. Nami willed her shadow to understand.

The pirates huddled to discuss something, Mal called their group to do the same. She knew what she was thinking, Uma was too angry. This plan wasn't going to work. But they had no other options, Nami saw her shadow and it grew the same devilish smile before it winked at her. She turned to walk up to Uma. Mal grabbed Nami's arm but she yanked it away and continued walking.

"Okay, look. This is not a conversation. It's a do or die situation."

Uma laughed at her.

"If you don't give me back the king... I'll serve you right here. Release Ben now and we can go our separate ways..."

Nami stepped up to Uma until she was directly in her face. Nami's voice got low as she got pissed, the subdued magic coursing through her veins added fuel to the fire.

"Unless you wanna deal with me... and the VKs."

Uma wasn't even fazed. "So that's the big speech, huh? An empty ultimatum?"

"All it takes is one swing and I'll humiliate him." Harry shoved himself in between the two girls, causing Nami to stumble back, Uma stood steady as a rock.

"Matter fact, make one wrong move and I'll debilitate him. And if he even starts to slip..."

He pressed the hook lightly against Nami's cheek. She could feel the sharp sting when he pressed it deeper and slowly dragged it across her cheek, leaving a cut on her face.

"I'll eliminate him. All it takes is wrong move and—"

Uma grabbed him by the hook, avoiding the tip with Nami's blood on it. "Harry, we get it. Chill."