Crocodile Tears

Title: Crocodile Tears
Rating: T
Fandom: One Piece
Summary: [Alternative Ending to The Tale of Crocodile and Alligator] Alligator died at the War of Marineford, protecting Luffy. His last request was for Crocodile and Daz Bones to join the Straw Hat Pirates. He wanted Crocodile to learn how to care about others again.

Luffy picked up his straw hat. "I can't believe it's been two years already,"

"Neither can I," Crocodile said. His appearance had changed quite a bit due to Akainu's magma. His scar was gone but Law had managed to heal the burns, leaving his skin slightly tinged red. He had changed his hairstyle too; he stopped slicking it back and instead let it resemble Alligator's spikes although tamer. His hook had been replaced with an actual hand now, courtesy of Law's Devil Fruit and whoever the hell the victim was. He was also a bit taller and a bit more muscular now.

"Nor I," Daz's arms were a darker shade of red than Crocodile's due to having taken the direct hit from the magma. He was also taller and more muscled.

They all wore different clothing too. Crocodile wore a dark brown button up shirt with the top two buttons left undone along with long black pants and black shoes. His fur coat was packed away into a backpack for when the weather was colder. He wore a wristband, which was the last gift he had ever received from his younger brother. It was made by Alligator too. Daz wore a black sleeveless shirt, black pants, and black shoes. Luffy wore a red unbuttoned tunic, a yellow sash around his waist, and blue shorts with a white fur lining the hole of the pants legs.

"Luffy, Crocodile, Daz," Marguerite addressed. "The ship is ready to sail out at any moment,"

"Okay, thanks," Luffy said. He looked at the three giant animals: a gorilla, a crocodile, and a lion. "Since I made friends with them, it's too bad that I can't eat them. They look yummy too,"

"Can we bring the crocodile?" Crocodile asked.

"I just said I made friends with them so we can't eat them!" Luffy snapped.

"Isn't that cannibalism?" Daz Bones questioned.

"I didn't say we were going to eat it!" Crocodile yelled back.

Over the two years they had been together, Crocodile had begun to open up to Luffy. Luffy had shared the story of the death of his other brother, Sabo, and had told Crocodile that he knew how it felt to lose a brother. During those two years, Luffy had gotten Crocodile to act less like he did when he tried to take over Alabasta. He even managed to learn that Crocodile liked animals.

"We put everything that you like on the ship, Luffy," Boa informed. "And I think I'll be a good wife since I'm thoughtful like that,"

"I'm not gonna get married but thanks for the food," Luffy rejected the marriage proposal.

Crocodile only stared. 'Did he just reject her just like that?'

"I can't help loving you even if you're so bitter!" Boa put a hand to her face.

"Rayleigh left six months ago," Marguerite told the trio. "He must be waiting for you at Sabaody already,"

"I already learned the basics in eighteen months," Luffy said. "Croc and Daz got the hang of it easier than me. Now we have to say goodbye to you guys and the island," Luffy placed the straw hat on his head. "Alright, let's go!"

XXX

Luffy's giant bag of food had accidentally bumped Fake Luffy, knocking him down. "Oh, did I hit you? Sorry. Bye," He continued his way, Crocodile and Daz Bones following not too far behind.

"Wait a minute!" Fake Luffy called.

Luffy turned to him. "Huh?"

Fake Luffy began to walk over to him. "Hey, did you hit me on purpose?" Fake Luffy tapped Luffy's head. "Why don't you say something?" He pushed the muzzle of the gun to Luffy's cheek. "Did you hit me knowing who I was? Did you see it? You made me look like a fool. You humiliated me in public. It shouldn't happen to me. I'm an elite pirate with a four hundred million bounty!"

"Really?" Crocodile didn't believe that lie for one second. "If you had such a high bounty, why can't anyone recognize you?"

"I'm Straw Hat Luffy!" Fake Luffy pointed to his straw hat. "I'm the son of the revolutionary Dragon!"

"Kuhahaha," Crocodile laughed. "No you're not,"

"Oi, Hancock said to not cause any trouble," Luffy whispered to his friend.

"It's a miracle how stupid people can be," Crocodile grinned. "There's zero effort in those disguises the impostors are wearing,"

"I-Impostors!?" Fake Luffy stammered.

"H-How did he find us out?" Fake Franky, Fake Nami, and Fake Sogeking exclaimed quietly.

"Tell me," Crocodile said. "What happened at the end of the War of the Best then?"

"Marco the Phoenix brought me, Crocodile, and Daz Bones to Trafalgar Law's submarine," Fake Luffy answered, recalling what the Transponder Snail had showed. "Crocodile and Daz Bones didn't make it though. They're injuries were too severe. Besides, why would a weakling like Crocodile survive? He cried over some stupid Marine's death,"

That last sentence had struck a nerve. Crocodile didn't bother to keep his anger hidden. He grabbed Fake Luffy's throat. "What did you call my little brother?"

"Y-Your brother?" Fake Luffy struggled to breathe due to the tight grip.

"The Marine that died was my little brother, Alligator," Crocodile growled. "Not 'some stupid Marine' like you said. Now why don't you take a closer look at my associate," He pointed to Daz Bones.

"D-Daz Bones!?" Fake Luffy recognized him.

"Didn't you say that Crocodile and Daz Bones both died?" Crocodile slowly added more pressure to his grip.

"Crocodile, we don't have time for this," Luffy told Crocodile.

Crocodile threw Fake Luffy towards the other fakes. "Let this be a warning to never talk trash about Rear Admiral Alligator! I don't care what you say about Mugiwara or anyone else but I will not let anyone get away with speaking about my brother like that!"

As the three left, the information sunk in. "T-That was the real Sir Crocodile!" Fake Nami exclaimed.

"That guy can't be Crocodile!" Fake Franky said. "He has two hands and not a hook!"

"And he doesn't have that scar across his face!" Fake Sogeking added.

XXX

The three were approached by Fake Sanji and Fake Zoro. "They're starting to get on my nerves," Crocodile said.

"So you're Sanji aren't you?" Luffy asked Fake Sanji. He then turned to Fake Zoro. "So you must be Zoro! Long time no see!"

Crocodile and Daz Bones were shocked at Luffy's gullibility. 'They look totally different!'

"H-Hey, it's been a while!" Fake Zoro went along with the act.

"I thought you said we don't have time for this?" Crocodile asked Luffy.

"These two are my friends!" Luffy pointed out.

"They're impostors," Crocodile revealed. "They hardly resembled your actual crew. Let's go meet up with the real ones. These guys are just a waste of time,"

"Impostors?"

XXX

"Your looks have changed in the past two years," Luffy said as he followed Fake Zoro and Fake Sanji.

Crocodile and Daz Bones had given up trying to convince Luffy that they were impostors. 'He's so gullible!'

The fakes brought them to Fake Luffy. "Aren't these the guys you're looking for?"

"So it's you," Crocodile narrowed his eyes.

"There's no way you're the real Crocodile," Fake Luffy said. "Crocodile has a scar across his face and a hook for a left hand. I'll prove it too. That 'Alligator' Marine that died was a dumbass and a weakling! See? What are you going to do about it?"

Crocodile clenched his fists, turning them to sand. "I'm going to kill you!"

When they saw the sand, they Fake Straw Hats realized that they ****ed up.

Crocodile is still traumatized from Alligator's death, which is why he's acting a bit different from his usual self. As said in the story, he's starting to open up to Luffy since he had also lost a brother. Well, Luffy doesn't know that Sabo is still alive.

I might not write the Fishman Island Arc but it still happened in this timeline, it just finished a lot quicker than in the Canon Universe. I didn't really enjoy that arc as much as I did with the other arcs. Sorry Fishman Island Arc lovers.