One Piece: Starting With Flame-Flame Fruit

As agreed, several workers hauled the five large chests of gold onto Tony's power sailboat before returning to Angel Island to reunite with their families.

That night, the bright lights of Sky Island shimmered from all directions, accompanied by sounds of joyous celebrations. Tony knew this was the long-overdue happiness of the island's people.

However, Tony and his crew didn't join the revelry. The four of them gathered aboard the sailboat anchored in the White-White Sea for a meeting.

The pressing issue was the Rumble-Rumble Fruit resting in Tony's possession. He knew he couldn't take such a valuable item openly back to the Blue Sea—it would only invite trouble.

The only solution was for someone in their group to consume it.

As the four of them sat around a circular table, Tony placed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit at the center.

He was aware that the choice would come down to Nami or Vivi. Robin, already a user of the Hana-Hana Fruit, couldn't consume another Devil Fruit without suffering the deadly consequences of bodily explosion.

Tony himself could consume it, thanks to his system's unique protection from this world's curses. But as someone already wielding the powers of the Flame-Flame Fruit, he didn't need another fruit—especially since his current abilities could evolve further.

His priority was to empower his crew. They needed this fruit more than he did.

Tony's gaze shifted between Nami and Vivi as he spoke:

"Nami, Vivi, are either of you ready to become a Devil Fruit user?"

It was the same question he'd posed before. This time, though, Nami's hesitation from earlier was gone.

After returning to Angel Island, she had sought advice from Robin, the only other female Devil Fruit user in their group. She asked about the inconveniences and challenges that came with such powers.

Robin, who had lived with her abilities for years, answered truthfully and without reservation.

"Other than not being able to swim, it's no different from being a regular person," she had explained. "If anything, having a Logia-type Devil Fruit ability offers unparalleled strength, even compared to Paramecia or Zoan types. Physical attacks become almost meaningless."

Robin's candid response helped Nami make her decision.

She had witnessed firsthand the terrifying power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. For the first time, Nami felt an earnest desire for strength—not just for herself but for Tony. She no longer wanted to cower behind him in fear during battles. She wanted to stand beside him, to face dangers together.

This newfound determination sparked something within her.

"I want to become a Devil Fruit user, Tony!"

Nami's voice was steady but filled with resolve. Her eyes glimmered with an unshakable yearning for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's power.

"Oh?"

Tony raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by her sudden change in attitude. He had prepared a whole speech to convince her, but it seemed he wouldn't need it after all.

Without hesitation, Tony picked up the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and handed it to Nami. Smirking, he teased her:

"Well, it's settled then. Make sure to savor the taste—it's worth billions, after all!"

"E-Er…"

Nami hesitated, her inner conflict palpable. The thought of eating something worth hundreds of billions of berries rattled her deeply. Her obsession with money clashed fiercely with the reality of consuming such a priceless treasure.

After a brief struggle, she shut her eyes tightly and took a firm bite of the fruit.

"Ugh… gross!!!"

The moment the fruit's vile flavor hit her tongue, Nami nearly spat it out. It tasted like pure rot, a flavor so revolting it brought tears to her eyes.

Tony, Vivi, and Robin burst into laughter at the sight of her distress.

"Nami, you chose this path—you've got to finish it, even if it makes you cry!" Tony teased, nudging the fruit closer to her mouth.

Robin, her voice dripping with amusement, chimed in:

"Oh, Nami, I've been there too. Just endure it—it'll be over soon. Come on, you've got this!"

Vivi added with a grin:

"Nami, just pinch your nose and swallow it all at once—like taking bitter medicine. You can do it!"

Although Vivi had been a candidate for the fruit herself, she felt no resentment toward Nami. On the contrary, she was genuinely happy for her friend.

To Vivi, the well-being and strength of her companions mattered far more than any Devil Fruit—even one as legendary as the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

Under the cheers and encouragement of her companions, Nami finally managed to finish every last bite of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

Afterward, she slumped onto the table, pounding it in regret.

"That was so disgusting! If I had another choice, I'd never eat something that tastes like... that! You're all so mean for not warning me ahead of time!"

Pouting, she glared at Robin and Tony, her fellow Devil Fruit users.

Robin coughed lightly, as though caught in a guilty act, avoiding Nami's accusatory gaze. Meanwhile, Vivi stepped in, ever gentle, hugging Nami to comfort her wounded spirit.

"Hmph! Vivi is the only one who's nice to me. I'm not talking to the rest of you anymore!" Nami declared, clutching Vivi dramatically, her face filled with grievance.

Tony smirked and quipped, "You should be thanking me. You're always crying about being broke, and now look—hundreds of billions of berries' worth of treasure is sitting in your stomach. If that's not generosity, I don't know what is!"

His teasing tone softened as he turned serious. Fixing his gaze on Nami, he spoke with a weighty air:

"You're a lightning woman now. With just a flick of your wrist, you can unleash the power of thunder. Be careful—don't accidentally hurt Vivi."

He paused before continuing, his tone even graver.

"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit isn't just any Devil Fruit. Among Logia types, it easily ranks in the top two. You've seen its destructive power firsthand—this is not something to take lightly.

"You're new to these powers, so I'll need to train you to at least gain basic control. Otherwise, you'll risk injuring your crewmates."

Hearing this, Nami's playful demeanor faded. She nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of Tony's warning. If she couldn't control her abilities, she might end up hurting the very people she cared about—a thought that filled her with dread.

"I understand. I'll work hard to master this power!"

"Go, Nami!" Vivi cheered, her voice full of encouragement. Although she couldn't help with the training, she was determined to do whatever she could to support Nami and the crew.

Tony observed Vivi quietly, his thoughts swirling. Here was a princess of a great kingdom, someone who had willingly cast aside her royal status to travel with him. He couldn't allow her to be left behind.

As he pondered what skills he could teach Vivi, an idea struck him.

"Vivi, how about swordsmanship? Would you like me to teach you?"

"Really? Yes, I'd love to!"

Vivi immediately ran over to him, grabbing his hand with excitement. Though she knew nothing about swordsmanship, the opportunity to learn thrilled her.

In truth, Vivi had always harbored a faint sense of inadequacy. She felt that, compared to the others on Tony's ship, she contributed very little. The adventure she had envisioned didn't match her current reality, where she constantly relied on Tony's protection.

Leaving Alabasta had been a bold step, but it seemed she had been a burden ever since. And now that Nami had become a Devil Fruit user, her feelings of self-doubt only deepened.

She didn't want to be left behind. More than anything, she wanted to stand as an equal alongside her friends, capable of supporting them in return.

So, when Tony offered to teach her swordsmanship, Vivi agreed without hesitation. This was her chance to grow stronger—to no longer feel like a liability to the crew.

~-------------------------

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