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.

Crocodile drained most of the moisture from Fake Luffy's body, leaving him barely alive. He then kicked the mummified pirate. "I'm not going to let you die that easily. You deserve to suffer," Crocodile then looked to the rest of the pirates in Grove 46. "Anyone else want to pick a fight!?"

Suddenly, there was a loud explosion as Marines began to surround the area. "Pacifista!" Pirates screamed. Two Pacifista stood not too far away, blasting away pirates. "What are the Navy's human weapons doing here!?"

"It's those guys who look like bears! Even though Hancock told us to not cause a scene..." Luffy said.

"Boss has already drew attention to us," Daz Bones told him.

"The Pirate Straw Hat Luffy has been identified," One of the Pacifista announced.

"The Pacifista!? Really!?" The Fake Straw Hats exclaimed. "Captain's their target!?"

"They still haven't realized it yet, have they?" Daz sighed.

"Sandstorm!" Crocodile sent a tornado of sand towards the Pacifista, destroying one of them along with a bunch of Marines and pirates.

"To think that you and Daz Bones survived Fleet Admiral Akainu's attack," Sentomaru said, recognizing the Sand-Sand Fruit. "Though you look very different now. That man with the giant bag is Mugiwara, am I correct?"

"THE REAL STRAW HAT LUFFY IS HERE!?" The Fake Straw Hats exclaimed.

"Wait, that guy was imitating me?" Luffy pointed to Demaro Black. "And the Sanji and Zoro were fakes too?"

"That's what Boss tried to tell you," Daz answered.

"PX-5, attack!" Sentomaru ordered.

Luffy, Crocodile, and Daz Bones dodged with ease. "Too slow," Luffy said before using Gear Second. He then appeared right above PX-5. "Gum-Gum…Jet Pistol!" He destroyed it with one punch.

"That Mugiwara…" Sentomaru realized. "He coated his fist with Haki!"

"HE DESTROYED THE PACIFISTA WITH A SINGLE PUNCH!?"

"See ya later! I'm sure I'll be seeing you again!" Luffy told Sentomaru. "Come on Croc, Daz!"

"Wait Mugiwara!" Sentomaru called but the three continued running.

"Seems like Sentomaru is more interested in taking down Mugiwara than us," Crocodile said.

"Hey, do you know that guy?" Luffy asked Crocodile.

"Met him when he was an annoying brat that wouldn't leave me alone," Crocodile muttered. "He kept wanting to hear stories about my missions when I was a Marine,"

"You used to be a Marine!?" Luffy exclaimed.

Even Daz was shocked at this fact until he recalled that Alligator was a Marine. "Your brother was a Marine, so it shouldn't be surprising that you were probably a Marine too,"

"Hey, Luffy!" Zoro called before recognizing Daz Bones. "Mr. 1!? What's he doing here!?"

"Luffy! That was you after all! How can you already be in trouble?" Sanji shouted before also noticing Daz.

"Zoro! Sanji! There's no mistake! You guys are the real ones!" Luffy cried. "I missed you guys!"

"Roronoa! Black Leg!" Sentomaru recognized the two original Straw Hats. "There alive too!"

"Hey Luffy, your ninth," Zoro told his captain. "Anyway, why is Mr. 1 here? And who's that other guy?"

"I'll explain back at the Sunny," Luffy answered. "But they're our new nakama!"

"EH!?"

"Don't let Mugiwara and the others escape! Capture them if it's the last thing you do!"

"Are you sure I can't just kill them all?" Crocodile asked Luffy.

Suddenly, Luffy stopped and turned around. "Rayleigh!"

"I decided to come and have a look but it seems you guys are doing just fine," Rayleigh said. "You three have gotten even stronger since I last saw you three,"

"Yeah," Luffy nodded.

"Then hurry up and get going! Back to your friends!" Rayleigh told him.

"Right," Luffy nodded once more. "Rayleigh, thanks for everything for the past two years!"

"Hurry up and go," Rayleigh ordered.

Luffy put down his bag. "Rayleigh…I'm going to do it…I'm going to be the Pirate King!"

"Mugiwara, we don't have time to waste!" Crocodile snapped. "Let's go!"

"That voice is familiar," Sanji said to Zoro.

"Yeah," Zoro nodded.

The five of them started to run again as the Marines resumed their chase. "Keep going all the way to the top!" Rayleigh shouted.

"The Straw Hat Pirates are heading for Grove 42!" The Marines said. "Don't let them escape!"

Rayleigh blocked the path of the Marines. "My three apprentices are setting sail. Please do not interfere,"

XXX

The Marines had surrounded the five but suddenly became depressed. "Hey, isn't that…" Sanji started.

"So you were the ones causing all this commotion?" Perona asked. "Honestly! Why are you still dawdling around here?"

"You're the woman from Thriller Bark!" Sanji's eyes turned to hearts.

"Aren't you Moriah's underling?" Crocodile asked.

"Huh? Who are you?" Perona asked. "Anyway, you have to set sail quickly. Warships have surrounded the island. If you don't hurry, your escape route will be cut off,"

A giant bird appeared. "I finally found you guys!" Chopper called.

XXX

"Oi!" Luffy called from atop the giant bird. "Hey!"

"So they're finally here," Usopp said. "Huh, there are two new people—ONE OF THEM IS MR. 1 FROM BAROQUE WORKS!"

"Huh!?" Nami and Robin exclaimed.

"Luffy! Zoro! Sanji! Chopper! Watch out! Mr. 1 is next to you!" Nami shouted.

"Don't worry!" Luffy said as they all boarded the Sunny. "These two are our new nakama!"

Sanji's nose bled at the sight of Nami and Robin. "Does this happen a lot?" Crocodile asked.

"Yeah," Zoro nodded.

After bringing Sanji back onto the ship and thanking the giant bird, everyone turned to Luffy. "Why are you letting Mr. 1 join the crew!? He works for Crocodile!"

Robin locked eyes with Crocodile. "Hello Mr. 0,"

"MR. 0!?" The crew exclaimed once more while Brook and Franky were confused.

"Shouldn't we start sailing before the warships sink us?" Crocodile asked.

The Marine's ships began to fire at the Thousand Sunny. "Slave…Arrow!" Boa attacked the cannonballs from her ship.

"That's the Kuja's mark," Robin said.

"The Kuja?" Nami asked.

"The crew of one of the Shichibukai," Crocodile explained. "She's known as the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock,"

"One of the Shichibukai!?" Usopp shouted.

"Rumor has it that anyone who sees her beauty is completely overwhelmed and turns into stone," Robin added.

"S-So bright! Shining!" Brook fell backwards, dropping his telescope.

Usopp grabbed the telescope and looked at Boa. "I can't believe her unsurpassed beauty!"

"Unsurpassed beauty!?" Sanji jolted to consciousness. "Where?" He looked at Hancock too and turned to stone.

"Oh, it's Hancock and the others!" Luffy walked over to the railing.

Brook fell backwards. "She just winked at me…"

"No, she winked at Mugiwara," Daz Bones corrected.

"Luffy, you know that woman?" Nami asked.

"Yeah. I was sent flying to the Island of Women. They're all friends of mine," Luffy answered.

"The legendary island populated entirely by women?" Usopp queried. "You mean it really exists?"

"You're on friendly terms with the Empress?" Sanji grabbed Luffy by the collar. "Hey! Did you even train at all!?"

"Yeah, heaps!" Luffy replied calmly. "Daz and Croc did too,"

"Croc…" Usopp slowly turned to Crocodile. "You mean he really is Sir Crocodile!?"

"And I was…I was…" Sanji banged on the floor of the Thousand Sunny.

"What happened to you, Sanji?" Luffy questioned.

"It's not as if you were sent to the Kamabakka Kingdom," Crocodile mumbled.

"Shut up!" Sanji snapped. "Wait, how do you know about that kingdom?"

Crocodile averted eye contact, slightly blushing out of embarrassment. "I…ah…Shouldn't we start sailing since the Pirate Empress bought us time!?"

"You're avoiding the question!"

While they were talking, Franky dove into the water. Soon, the coating started to expand. "It's starting to swell up!" Luffy said.

"We need to be inside the coating or else we'll drown," Crocodile pointed out.

"How do you know that?" Franky asked.

"I've been to the New World multiple times," Crocodile answered.

XXX

After the Thousand Sunny had full submerged, the crew demanded answers. "Why the hell are we letting Crocodile and Daz Bones join the crew!?"

"Croc's little brother asked me," Luffy answered.

"How can you even trust them!?" Usopp ranted. "Don't you remember what happened in Alabasta!?"

"Croc's brother gave up his life to protect me," Luffy said in a serious tone. "His last wish was for me to let them join my crew,"

"So the newspaper was right…" Robin looked to Crocodile. "Alligator really did—"

"Please don't bring this topic up again," Crocodile pleaded quietly, looking away.

Seeing Crocodile like that surprised them. They've always seen him as the man who tried to take over Alabasta. Now, at that moment, they only saw a man who has people that were dear to him.

So the Straw Hat Pirates finally reunited! The next chapter will begin at the beginning of the Punk Hazard Arc, but Fishman Island Arc still happened. Basically the only difference was that the fight ended faster. There was going to be more Croc VS Fake Luffy but the Marines interrupted them.
Matt: Holy crap that's an awesome idea! Sand Shack Feeding Frenzy reminds me of the movie Sand Sharks. (Don't watch it if you're sensitive to blood).