"Bonney! Did Sin wake up?" Nami came running out on the Main Deck and asked the first question of the day, which had been her routine for the last three weeks since Sin had gone to sleep.
Behind her, Vivi too hopefully looked at the Pinkhead, and the Staff Officer of the Crew shook her head.
"No."
"It's been 22 days." The Princess depressedly lowered her head.
Though everyone on the crew was worried for Sin and was waiting for him to wake up, those who were not privy to certain pieces of information were much more worried than the rest. And they happened to be the youngsters on the ship.
"Don't worry. It's normal for him to sleep for days or even weeks." She assured them, but the next thing she heard froze her.
"Yeah, but the Doctors said that his injuries were quite dreadful..." Nami immediately placed her hand on Vivi's mouth, but it was already too late.
"I will be right back."
"Bonney!" The orange head immediately grabbed her hand, stopping her from going to see the two Doctors on their Ship. "We forced them to tell us. Please, don't be mad at them."
"Stay here." She sternly said, and Nami lowered her head, sensing the coldness in her words. "They went against an order, and they will have to answer for it."
Vivi apologetically looked at Nami when Bonney went inside the ship, and her friend sighed and comfortingly squeezed her hand.
"It will be fine."
Since they had been told to stay there, they obediently stood there for a few minutes until the pinkhead returned.
"There's always a reason why orders are given on this ship, Nami. I don't want to hear it again that you insisted someone go against their orders. Understood?"
"Yes." They both kept their heads lowered and nodded to her.
"As for his injuries, don't worry about them. They are already healed." She smiled and told them, and both of them surprisedly looked at her.
"Really?"
"Yes." She nodded to them.
"Fully healed?" Vivi doubtfully asked.
"Yes. Not even the scars remain."
"How?"
"This is why Robin had ordered the Doctors to not speak about his injuries to anyone." She sighed and then patted their heads. Since the cat was out of the box now, she might as well give them some information or otherwise, they would have even more questions in the future. "He has an extraordinary healing rate that kicks in when he goes to sleep. Don't ask how, because it is not my place to speak about it. And this is a piece of information that you must not let slip. Understood?"
"Yes." They both promised her, nodding their heads, and finally smiles of relief crept on their faces.
"So, what's your plan for the day? Wavers or are you going to check out the ruins on the Upper Yard?"
"Where's everyone else?" Nami asked, having not seen anyone inside the ship.
Even Kuina, who usually practised her Sword at this hour, on the Main Deck, was not here today.
"They left early today. Robin found a new Island up the Giant Jack, which was hidden inside the Clouds. She believes that it is the ancient city of Shandora."
"The City of Gold?!"
Sure enough, as soon as she heard the words, the Goblin's eyes sparkled in excitement.
"Yes."
"We are going after them." Vivi excitedly smiled and then followed her friend who was already running inside the ship to grab their Shooters.
The two girls had learned how to use those skates without a hitch, and Bonney smiled as she watched them come out and fearlessly jump off the rail, right onto the river.
"Be careful!"
"We will!" Nami promised her and then raced her friend as they rushed up the Cloud River, towards the centre of the Island.
"Augur, please keep an eye on them." She spoke and soon heard the Marksman, who was further up on the Island, nod to her words.
"Hey! Please return us to normal!" Two kids, who were no older than three years old, came out of the ship and begged her to return them to their true age.
And Bonney smiled at them before she walked over and turned him a year younger, and then simply ignored the Two-Year-Old Kids, who were once the proud Doctors of Isshi-20, now bawling their eyes out.
She left them crying on the Main Deck and entered the Captain's Quarters, soon arriving inside the Cabin where Sin was sleeping in his bed, half-naked, wearing only his pants.
The bandages had been taken off a few days ago, and as she had told the girls, there was not even a scar left on his body. Even the horrifying gashes, which would have definitely left some scars on any other body, were perfectly healed and had no traces left.
"Good morning." She softly whispered and then leaned in to steal a soft kiss from his lips.
A silly smile crept on her face when she pulled back, and then she froze when she saw his grey eyes staring at her.
"Sin!" In just a second, her eyes were misty and the next second, a tear slipped out of her eyes.
"Hey!" He brightly smiled at her and then pulled her into the bed with him, squeezing her in his arms as she held onto him, shedding her tears.
"Why are you always so reckless?!" She sobbed and angrily smacked a punch in his side when he chuckled.
"Ow..."
"Shut up. I know that did not hurt you."
"It did!"
"Good." She pouted and then straddled him, looking right into his eyes. "Marry me. You promised, remember?"
Sin playfully pinched her waist at her words, and she smacked another punch on his chest.
"I am serious."
"I know. But are you old enough now?" He grinned, and his words made her frown.
"You married Hancock and Robin when they were 16 and 14!"
"And how old are you?" He teasingly asked.
"16."
"You have been 16 since the day we first met." He smiled.
"You know how my Devil Fruit works. I won't age a day if I don't forcefully age myself."
"I know, my dear Immortal Princess." He chuckled and then sat up, stealing a kiss from her lips. "But it's been 15 years since the day you were born."
"That still means I am a year older than what Robin was at the time you married her." She reminded him again.
"True." He took in a deep breath, filling his lungs with her scent, and then stared into her purple eyes.
There was no doubt in his mind that Bonney loved him with all her heart, and if he was being honest, he no longer had any reason to keep her waiting.
"We will get married before I leave for the Reverie."
She pouted at his words but was truly elated in her heart as that meant that she would only have to wait three more months.
"Why are there two kids crying on our ship?" He curiously raised his brow when he heard their voices, and the Pinkhead furrowed her brows.
"Nami tricked the two Doctors into speaking about your injuries." She sighed. "And I told her that you have a special healing ability."
"Did she?" He chuckled. "Impressive."
"That's it?"
"Yes." He nudged his nose with hers and then stood up, carrying her in his arms. "Want to see Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Thunderbird?"
"You found it?!" She looked at him in surprise, and then excitedly nodded her head. "Show me."
He laughed and then put her down on her feet before he pushed the bed to the side, revealing a trap door to the hidden Cellar.
Bonney followed him inside and curiously looked around.
It had been quite some time since she had last been inside this Cellar, and she noticed that Sin had moved a lot of Devil Fruit Boxes and other Important things from here.
"The Hidden Chamber?"
"Yes." He nodded to her, confirming that he had moved things to the Hidden Chamber that they had discovered on Nanatsu Islands. "Here." He opened a chest, and showed her the Devil Fruit that was lying inside it."
"An Orange?" She grinned and then curiously picked it up, checking out its patterns. "It's pretty." She nodded to herself and then opened the next chest, where a beautiful green Devil Fruit was resting. "Which Fruit is this? The one you found on the Star Island?"
"Yes." He nodded to her. "It's the one that I know Nojiko would pick. And I am sure it is a Mythical Zoan."
"Two Mythical Zoans." Bonney smiled as she looked at the Devil Fruits she was holding in her hands. "People die without seeing even a single Devil Fruit in their lives, and here I am, holding two Mythical Zoans in my hands. And then we have Yamato and Hiyori, who have consumed them as well." She grinned. "Have you ever wondered why your luck is so good with finding these Devil Fruits?"
"It isn't my luck." He shook his head. "I already have my Fruit. It is the luck of those who will consume them that I have found them."
"No." She shook her head too. "It's your luck too. Your dream is to rule over the World. How can someone rule the world without holding the most power in the world in every sense?"
Sin smiled at her words and then shrugged.
"I suppose you are right." He took a deep breath and then stretched his arms. "I will leave Hiyori as the Queen of Skypiea."
"Oh." The Pinkhead curiously looked at him. "She won't be part of our Crew?" She guessed.
"No."
"Why?"
"I want there to be ready to rule Wano one day." He told her, and she understandably nodded her head.
"Who will stay with her?" She asked. "Nami and Nojiko would never agree to be left behind. Pascia will feel like you have abandoned her. And everyone else belongs to the Sea."
"She already has a Guardian by her side."
"Grount?"
"Yes." He nodded. "At the rate they are growing strong, Hiyori will only take 2 years to grow strong enough to rule and protect this country all by herself."
"You have a lot of faith in her."
"I can sense her conviction and determination." He told her and then curiously looked at her as she eyed the Thunderbird Fruit.
"I want something."
"Yes?"
"Let me keep this Fruit on me today. And if Nami shows any interest in it, I will give it to her right away." She said and she met her eyes. "I won't tell her which Devil Fruit it is."
"You want the two sisters to have these two Fruits?" He smiled. "What if Vivi is the one who is attracted to it? Or Pascia? Kuina? Bart? Vigaro?"
"Well, we shall see. But if it is either Vivi or Nami, I will give it to them right away. They are young, and it would be good for them to start with their Powers as early as possible."
"Okay." He nodded to her, and a bright smile bloomed on her face.
"Thank you!" She jumped at him and then stole his lips in a deep kiss.