One Piece: Dream of Immortality

It turned out that it wasn't a horse at all, Cabernet realized belatedly, but her eyes weren't as good as Cherry's so she couldn't be faulted.

Sure, it hadn't been that long since she saw Yamato's wolf form nor did it really resemble a horse at all, even from a distance, but that wasn't Cabernet's fault.

Regardless of whether a wolf looked like a horse or not, Yamato had returned. With someone riding on his back, no less. Cabernet didn't have to be a genius to figure out they had a plan of some sort, but the fact that Cherry wasn't here didn't inspire confidence in whatever that plan was. Especially not after having tasted the strength of the Big Mom pirates herself.

Cabernet was conflicted, but ultimately decided to trust that Yamato knew what he was doing. She could probably get away with Yamato and whoever he brought with him if it came down to it.

Angling downwards, Cabernet rapidly approached the wolf and rider on the ground… and forgot how fast she was going.

*Smash!*

Dirt was tossed up into the air in a cloud where Cabernet landed. By the time the cloud cleared, Cabernet had managed to pull herself free from the new hole in the earth and somewhat pretend that she had made it on purpose for dramatic effect.

"Yamato, why did you come back without…?" Cabernet started to ask before stopping to gawk at the person Yamato had brought with him.

"Hello, again," Nefertari Cobra spoke with an easy smile. An odd expression to wear when the Big Mom is bearing down on you not so far away.

"Why'd you bring Vivi's dad here?! I thought you had a plan?!" Cabernet started to panic. Had she misinterpreted the situation somehow and now her mistake was going to cost the man his life?!

"It's actually my plan that led me here. Yamato-kun was just kind enough to provide me with transport despite the danger, but I can handle it from here," Cobra said, oozing confidence. A confidence that, again, didn't seem to be the correct reaction given the dire circumstances.

"I won't just leave you here!" Yamato insisted.

"On the contrary, you must leave me here," Cobra shifted and suddenly he felt like an impenetrable wall. "My efforts will almost certainly fail if I don't do this alone."

"But you're so weak!" Cabernet chipped in. "She might eat you!"

"She might," Cobra chuckled.

Cabernet could hear Big Mom's laughter already. She looked over her shoulder to find the monstrous woman had almost caught up.

"Do not worry. I have heard many terrible rumors about Big Mom, and I believe them all, but I have seen worse things in my life than her. Trust me with this," Cobra beseeched them.

Cabernet and Yamato looked at each other, at Cobra, at Big Mom, then back at each other.

"... I'll tell Vivi it's all my fault if you die," Cabernet pouted.

"That is a shockingly good motivator not to die," Cobra agreed. "I wouldn't want my daughter to lose a friend over me; but then, I doubt she would truly blame you."

"Hmph," Cabernet grappled Yamato and started flying away.

"Hey, I didn't agree to leave! Let me down!" Yamato argued, clearly not onboard.

"Shush," Cabernet said.

…

Cobra wasn't nervous as he watched his two young friends leave him alone. He wasn't nervous when he turned back to see one of the infamous emperors of the sea look between him and the two that left before deciding that he was more interesting.

It was a very strange thing to feel so in control of a situation that he logically knew he had very little actual control of. There was nothing he could do to stop Big Mom from squishing him like a bug for shits and giggles, but he was certain it wouldn't happen.

'I must have gone mad. I hope I didn't suffer any brain damage when the elders attacked me…' Cobra thought.

Big Mom hopped off of the odd cloud with a face and landed before him with a great thud.

"What do we have here?" Big Mom started. "The king of Alabasta, all the way on the other side of the world from the safety of home."

The way she emphasized the word "safety" suggested that she didn't actually believe that, he analyzed. And if she were to invade his home, he reckoned she'd be correct.

"Good day," Cobra said.

That clearly wasn't what she was expecting. "Good day? Is it, now?"

"Indeed, I think so," Cobra confirmed with a nod. "It isn't every day that I meet someone of such resplendence and renown."

Big Mom snorted. "Flattery will get you nowhere. Tell me what you want from me, because if you're just here to stall me, then I'll make you regret it."

"No, it was Cabernet's task to stall you, madam. I apologize if she caused any inconvenience or insult," Cobra bowed, but not too low. Just low enough to be considered respectful towards another monarch, though he doubted she knew that.

"Hmmmm," Big Mom hummed and Cobra could almost feel her annoyance radiating off of her. Or perhaps he actually could; haki was a mysterious power to him.

"I'm here to negotiate with you," Cobra got to the point, firming up his tone. "It has come to my attention that your family attacked a settlement earlier today, and concerned parties would like you not to do so again."

"Hoh?" Big Mom stepped towards him and leaned such that she towered over him. "Why should I?"

At this point, other members of the Charlotte family were catching up and started to surround him. His heart remained calm and steady.

"For the treasure, of course," Cobra smiled a politician's smile.

Big Mom's own smile widened and he knew he was on the right track. "I'm listening."

"The first and most obvious is the king's ransom you'll receive for returning me to Alabasta, safe and sound," Cobra chuckled. "Though that part was already a given, hm? After all, I am at your mercy."

Several of the Charlottes laughed with him.

"More than that, I can offer you my services for the duration of my imposition on your crew. I suspect that you are not in Wano to go to war with Kaido, but to form an alliance. I also suspect that he wasn't that amenable to the idea," Cobra guessed. "I can help with that. Not only that, but when I am returned to my homeland, I'll even publicly support Totto Land's legitimacy!"

"HA! Really, now?" Big Mom did stop to consider it for a moment, which was good news. "Why?"

Cobra had already prepared for this question and needed no elaboration. "I have no loyalties to any pirates, certainly not the Straw Hats. In fact, it was Harpin D. Cherry who kidnapped me and brought me here against my will."

He was careful to include barely suppressed anger and disgust in his tone there, but Big Mom still looked suspicious of him. He had faith that this would go in his favor, though.

After a few moments of consideration, Big Mom spoke the words he wanted to hear- "I refuse."

"I thought as much," Cobra lied without hesitation. "I have an ace up my sleeve, though. One that you can't ignore."

Big Mom squinted at him disbelievingly. "Which is?"

"I know where Pluton is hidden, right here in Wano. It is for that reason that Harpin D. Cherry brought me here," Cobra dropped a bombshell.