"Oh, if it isn't Harpin D. Cherry! Long time no see!" A starfish wearing a rastacap said to Cherry as he walked over on his little legs.
"Who are you?" Cherry asked, turning her attention away from the distant Ryugu palace.
"It's me! Pappag! How can you not remember me?!" Pappag felt aggrieved.
"I think I'd remember a talking starfish." Cherry spoke bluntly.
"You'd think so, wouldn't you?!" Pappag said, getting a little angry. "I was with Caimie and Hachi when you went to Sabaody Archipelago two years ago!"
"I know. I'm just blowing off some steam by grating your nerves." Cherry admitted.
"Well, I'd appreciate it if you didn't do that. I have more nerves than the average starfish, you know?" Pappag harrumphed.
"So why are you here? I thought you were Camie's pet?" Cherry asked.
"I am, but I'm also a super successful fashion designer as you know! Naturally I live in my own mansion and act independently as I please." Pappag bragged.
"Oh, I thought that was a joke…" Cherry said, stabbing Pappag with a metaphorical spear through his body.
"Come with me! I'll have you acknowledge my superior fashion skills!" Pappag demanded.
Cherry's first instinct was to refuse, but she relented in the end. She didn't have the means to gain an audience with the king, and barging into the palace would get the others into trouble as well. She wasn't a thoughtless fool like Luffy. Besides, if Pappag was truly as important as his massive ego implies, then perhaps he would be able to get her that audience, or at least know someone who can.
"Fine then, lead the way." Cherry said.
"Yeah, that's the spirit! It's not everyday that a famous fashion designer offers a personal makeover to you after all!" Pappag exclaimed, leading the way somewhere.
Cherry suddenly had to suppress her fight or flight instincts.
'This isn't what I signed up for!' Cherry shouted in her mind, even as her legs mechanically dragged her forward.
Pappag hailed some sort of fish taxi service which they both boarded.
"Not to brag, but I'm also acquainted with Princess Shirahoshi, you know. I'm in all the important social circles~" Pappag chattered away.
"That's Whitebeard's flag over there, isn't it?" Cherry asked.
"That it is! As far as pirates go, Whitebeard has claim on fishman island as his territory. That was enough to keep the pirates who visit in line, at least up until two years ago. After the war at Marineford, a bunch of idiots actually dared to cause trouble here. As I've heard it, every crew that did that and went to the New World got annihilated without mercy. Things got a lot quieter after the rumors started to make the rounds." Pappag explained.
Cherry wondered how the old man was doing. He ought to be better than he was before they met at least. Cherry reckoned he could have gotten as much as ten more years of life from her vital energy boost.
Soon enough they arrived at their destination in front of a clothing store. Pappag led the way inside and greeted the employees before leading Cherry to a particular section.
"See anything you like?" Pappag grinned smugly.
Cherry gulped.
"I was inspired by your appearance last we met to make this fashion line. It's a bit niche, but for the people who like this sort of thing, they've never been disappointed." Pappag praised his own work.
Before her eyes were various martial arts inspired outfits. Some were dark and cool like a ninja, others were colorful and gave off the feeling of natural elements, and all of them were-
"Cute~" Cherry exclaimed and rushed over.
For the first time in both of her lives, Cherry felt like a normal girl out shopping for clothes.
After a while of trying on different outfits with Pappag's advice for what worked best for her, they heard an argument start to get heated with the manager of the store.
Peeking over the clothing racks, they spotted Nami 'haggling' with the poor fishman.
"There's no way I can sell these to you for only a quarter of the listed price, miss!" He said exasperatedly.
"6,000 Beri, final offer!" Nami said shamelessly.
"That's still less than a third, miss!" He tried to reason with her.
"Alright you got me. Exactly one third, then!" Nami nodded as if the deal was already struck.
"I can't do th- OH, Monsieur Pappag, please help me with this witch- ahem, customer!" The fishman said.
"Pappag! We're friends, right~? Help me out with this stubborn man~!" Nami said, trying to look cute.
"He's just a starfish, not a starfish-man, Nami. You can't seduce him." Cherry said.
"That's right!" Pappag rubbed his face where his nose would be if he had one.
"Goodness, Cherry! You look so cute and stylish now~! Since you're already buying some new clothes, why don't you pay for mine too~!" Nami switched targets instantly, accentuating her chest.
"I won't fall to your foul temptations, you seductress!" Cherry hissed, whilst pulling out her wallet at the same time.
"Don't worry about it, ladies!" Pappag interrupted. "I owe you one for saving Camie two years ago anyways, you can just take what you want for free."
Nami seemingly vanished from the place she was just standing.
"You went and did it now, Pappag. I pity you." Cherry said, putting her wallet away.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Pappag looked at her with confusion.
"All done~!" Nami said, drawing their attention.
Looking around, the entire store was cleaned out and stuffed into several giant sacks. Not even the clothes hangers were spared from her looting spree.
"Cherry, be a dear and help me with the bags~?" Nami asked innocently.
"Monsieur Pappag, the store is empty." The fishman manager stated.
"Ah, well, just restock the shelves with what you can from the back." Pappag said, deciding to just let the greedy woman have her victory this time.
"Monsieur Pappag, the customer cleaned out the back as well." The fishman manager said.
If starfish had any blood, Pappag would have spat some just then.
Cherry picked up three bags whilst Nami had the single smallest one. Cherry had one on her back and one in each arm, causing her to be surrounded on all sides by bags.
Fortunately Nami was there to guide her, which combined with Life Sense to avoid running into anyone for an easy enough method to navigate.
"Do you know where the ship is, Cherry? Otherwise we'll have to drop these off at Camie's house temporarily." Nami asked.
"The Sunny was swept away by a current, but Franky has been hanging around somewhere for a while. Maybe he found it." Cherry suggested.
"It's a good place to start. Can you carry this bag too? My poor arms are getting tired~" Nami said.
"If this much is making you tired, then I think it's time I start your training regimen~" Cherry answered.
"Ah, I think I'll be fine after all!" Nami said, suddenly seeming full of vigor.
"That's what I thought." Cherry said.