A/N: Sorry! I didn't post this up on the 8th! And i have a good reason! On day before school starts my computer gets a virus! and guess what I was screwed! I still hadn't printed out my homework due the very next day and all my files were destroyed! So I had to rewrite this whole chapter again even though it was already ready! Sigh. School has started and I have mountains of homework! So, I'll try to update regularly but you guys understand... right? Please be patient I will try to post on Saturdays, my only free day, sorta... Sorry if this chapter is kinda rushed and doesnt make sence but, i tried my best to get it out soon. It sounded way better before.
Note: Italics are either flashbacks or thoughts! Bold is used to emphasize!
IMPORTANT: If you haven't gotten up to the Alabasta arc, there are spoilers ahead, read at your own risk!
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, cuz' well... I don't. Which SUCKS!
Chapter 5: Danger! Man eating Crocodiles!
A woman's heels could be heard as she walked on smooth marble, it was the only noise in the luxurious room.
"Straw Hat and his crew have been spotted..." The woman's cold voice showed no emotion. Her statement caught the attention of a man who faced a glass wall.
The man didn't bother turning around and continued to see his pet giant crocodiles swim behind the glass. He fingered the gold hook that served as his missing left hand and brought it up to his face. The scar running across his gray face was prominent as he laughed out loud.
"Bring them in... It's about time to get rid of these pests!" His thick black fur coat swayed as he turned to face the woman. Piercing blue eyes met dark brown eyes.
The man smiled evilly while holding his cigar with his teeth. The woman casually put a hand on her hip and fixed her white cowboy hat with her other hand.
"Plan Utopia is almost complete... Don't fail me now, Miss All Sunday." The man said gruffly. No flicker of emotion was seen on her face as she started to walk away. "Yes, Crocodile." were the last words spoken between the two as her heel clicks started to fade away.
Meanwhile The Straw Hat Pirates all hid behind a sand dune, oblivious to the fact that Baroque's work members were planning their defeat.
"We're at Rainbase, this is getting serious guys... Don't go attracting too much attention. This is where Crocodile is." Nami spoke in a hushed tone to the crew. "And I swear, Luffy if you get us killed I will haunt you every day as a ghost and make sure you..." Nami's rambling was cut short by Zoro.
"You do know he's been gone since you started talking right?" Zoro smirked as he saw her redden with anger. His smirk dropped as Nami punched him in the head.
"THAT IDIOT!" she growled out. "Ussop is gone too..." Chopper dared comment, not realizing his fluffy cuteness wouldn't save him from the wrath of a very pissed of Nami.
The two missing pirates were currently gulping down barrels of water. It wasn't their fault! They had been traveling in the dessert for so long and they were hot!... and very thirsty. Yup, it wasn't because Luffy lost their supplies to a bunch of seagulls.
"I have a bad feeling about Alabasta, Tashigi" A man's voice could be heard over the fierce gulping Ussop and Luffy were doing.
"Why is the princess associating herself with the Straw Hat pirates?" The two pirates didn't pay attention to the white haired man speaking about them. Even though they were sitting right next to them in the counter of the restaurant.
"What should we do then, Smoker-san?" Tashigi spoke with respect toward her elder as she fixed her glasses.
Two things happened the second Tashigi uttered the word 'Smoker.' One, Luffy and Ussop turned to see the White haired navy captain and his subordinate, their cheeks blown up because of the water they held in them. Two, both pirates spit out their water directly in the faces of the navy officers as they shouted out "SMOKER?" and proceeded to run out of the restaurant.
Smoker then ran after them leaving Tashigi behind to gather the other navy officers. The only thought running through Smoker's mind: That was disgusting! as he wiped his face furiously , determined to strangle Straw Hat.
As Ussop and Luffy ran for their lives, Smoker right behind them, Luffy wondered why this all seemed so familiar.
"YOU'RE BROTHER WONT SAVE YOU NOW STAW HAT!" Smoker yelled.
Oh... so that where it's from! Luffy smiled to herself despite the circumstances.
Meanwhile all Ussop could do was wish that Ace would drop out of the sky and save them. Wait scratch that, Ace would probably burn him alive. He had already lost the count of burn marks he received while the mean older man was on board the ship.
I didn't even do anything to that mean fire dragon older brother of Luffy! Why the hell was he always trying to kill me? Does he have something against my nose?
Ussop dared dart a look at Luffy running alongside of him.
Ah! I understand now! It must be because I'm better looking than him! He's jealous Luffy thinks I have dashing good looks and he doesn't! Muahahaha! Of course! I am Captain Ussop!
Ussop started to choke as he realized Smoker was about to catch up to them.
"Ah! HEY GUYS!" Luffy shouted as she realized her crew was still at the same spot she had left them in.
"Please God, please! Let it not be that idiot! Please! I don't wanna die!" Nami was praying as she heard the loud voice of her captain.
Nami dared take a glance up. And she face palmed herself. "THAT IDIOT!"
"How the hell did they attract so much attention?" Zoro gruffly commented as he started to grab chopper and run. The others following suit.
"Luffy I swear! if the navy doesn't kill you I will!" Nami screeched alongside Vivi who were running all over the place, trying to lose the navy officers that had gathered.
And soon the pirates had all caused such a great scene that the Baroques Works members noticed them as well and were trying to kill them.
"We need to split up!" Vivi shouted through the confusion
"Meet up in that building with the crocodile!" Luffy yelled while pointing to a casino.
And everyone went their separate ways, each having to fight off either navy officers or Baroques work members.
Minutes later after successfully leaving Sanji to fend for himself against Baroques work's underlings, Ussop and Nami were gasping for breath in front of the meeting spot.
CLICK!
A gun was pointed at the two pirates. And both cowardly pirates proceeded to hug each other. A second later Zoro had kicked the enemy in the face. Pshh, they weren't even worth the wrath of his sword.
A very annoyed Zoro was greeted by the sight of Nami And Ussop almost peeing their pants.
Nami pushed Ussop off herself briskly "Where are the others?" Zoro muttered at the two, while looking around for his crewmates. A hand resting on his swords, ready to fight.
"Probably inside the ca-" Nami was cut off from the brute force of her captain lunging at her. Luffy twirled them around and ran into the casino, dragging Nami and the rest with her. A shouting Smoker could be heard as they entered the gambling building.
Two security officers proceeded to try and stop Smoker from entering the casino. "We do not let in Navy officials in here, sir!" They were both smacked down as Smoker forced his way in, his only goal right now was to arrest Luffy and spit in his face!
The casino was pure chaos as the pirates went around looking for their fellow members and smoker destroying machines while he chased them. Nami was purely in heaven as she ran around, there was so much money! She was practically drooling as Smoker slashed a coin machine in half and beli's came out by the thousands. Too bad she couldn't pick any up! And that just pissed her off.
Ussop on the other hand was thinking about how if he challenged Sanji or Zoro in a 'who has better looks?' contest he would probably win. And why was he so hung up on that idea anyways? He should be shrieking for his life as he ran around the casino.
Zoro wasn't doing any better as he was forced to save his captain from slipping on coins. He wasn't exactly being forced as much as he just liked catching Luffy before his face reached the floor. He smirked at himself ad he dragged Luffy out of the immediate danger of a mean bad smoker.
All of them didn't notice they were being led straight to a secluded hallway. Neither were they aware that the other crew members including Chopper, Sanji and Vivi weren't even there yet.
They all arrived in front of a sign at the end of the hallway. Oblivious to the fact that they were being led into a trap. One sign said 'go to left if you're a pirate' the other 'go to right if your being chased by the navy' As they debated which sign to follow An angry Smoker finally catched up and lunged at Luffy's throat.
And suddenly they were all falling through a trap door, landing painfully on smooth marble. A cage entrapped them, with no way of getting out.
Smoker took the confusion as chance to pin Luffy down using his jutte. The weapon was placed around Luffy's neck and slowly choking her.
"Luffy!" Nami screamed as she realized her captain couldn't reach out and punch Smoker.
"Let him go!" Ussop shrieked almost begging Zoro to go and slice the man in half.
Zoro proceeded to take out his sword, knowing in vain he wouldn't be able to even touch Smoker because of the man's devil fruit powers. His mouth turned into a snarl.
"So we finally meet" a thundering voice broke through the commotion.
The man took a step closer and all the Pirates stopped, and Smoker even released Luffy. It was him.
In that split second Luffy managed to jump up and run to grasp the bars of the cage. "Crocodile I'm going to beat you!" She shouted halfheartedly as she started to slip to the floor.
Luffy fell to the ground only to have Zoro save her yet again, from smashing her head on the floor. Zoro released a feral growl directed at Crocodile.
"You see, there's no way of getting out! I won't have a bunch of insects ruin my plans!" He laughed out and pointed to Smoker's weapon.
"The cage is made of sea stone, just like that jutte he's carrying." Crocodile took a moment to stare them down. "Cant' slice through it either, Swordsman-san." A woman's voice appeared.
Crocodile chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. "We seem to have an intruder..." The woman in the cowgirl outfit said. She didn't move from her position on the stairs, only to be greeted by Vivi's attempt of attacking her.
"Let them go!" Vivi shouted at the two villains. She twirled the sharp Peacock Slashers aiming to defeat Crocodile.
Looking up, Luffy ran from her position cradled against Zoro, to the cage and yet again grasped it. This time not letting go even though her powers were draining from her.
"VIVI! RUUUUNNNN! DON'T FIGHT HIM!" Nami and Ussop proceed to try and tear their captain from the bars, even though they too didn't want the princess to risk their lives for them.
"I can do this Luffy!" Vivi shouted as she used her speed to reach behind Crocodile. She sliced his head off his shoulders with her weapon but was soon smashed to the ground by sand. Crocodile reattached himself using his powers and laughed.
The next few moment were full of Vivi trying to attack Crocodile and escaping by a mere second his attempts at killing her.
"IF ANYBODY'S GOING TO DIE, IT CANT BE YOU VIVI!" Luffy shouted from her position trapped in the cage. "THINK ABOUT ALABASTA!"
Crocodile stopped his attacks and reached into his pocket, seeing that Vivi was bleeding profoundly and gasping on the floor. He dangled a key in front of her face, mockingly.
"This is the key to the cage" he said before throwing it down an opening on the floor. Five huge crocodile's appeared and battled to eat the key. It was swallowed by an unknown crocodile and Crocodile himself stated his masterful plan. "Go down there, it's the only way you'll save your friends. But, they think what ever goes down is food, so you're probably going to die..." He looked up to see the shocked faces of the trapped pirates and Smoker.
"This room will self destruct in about an hour too... either way you pests are out of the picture." Crocodile then turned and headed up the stairs leaving behind an injured Vivi, Pirates threatening to kill him and a navy officer yelling he would be arrested for this.
Miss All Sunday walked alongside Crocodile, only taking a glimpse behind her shoulder at Luffy . Her Blue eyes looked forlorn at the captain of the pirates.
"Vivi! Get Sanji! He can help us!" Nami screamed trying to get Vivi away from the opening on the floor. Vivi smiled determined to not give up despite her injuries "I'll save you guys..."
The room rumbled with the force of the five crocodiles trying to get out and eat Vivi from the opening. And the glass walls shattered, the only defense against the man eating crocs was gone. Soon Vivi was face to face with five hungry crocodiles and to top it all off the room was beginning to flood.
"VIVI!" They all shouted as one of the crocodiles dove to eat her. Luckily she had speed on her side, as she avoided their sharp teeth.
"This is impossible! She can't possibly take down all five of them!" Ussop whimpered out. Praying someone would save them.
"If Zoro was out there we could get out... But there's no way! were all trapped! And Luffy can't swim he's going weak on us!" Nami was clutching her orange hair in her hands.
"Didn't anyone ever teach you, not to harm a lady!" A smooth voice came from the top of the staircase.
"SANJI!" Nami and Vivi even Ussop screamed.
With great ease the blond cook was able to knock the five crocs unconscious, only stopping to complain his clothes were getting wet.
"Only someone from the Monster trio could easily do that" Ussop muttered to himself.
Sanji ignored his comment and with the help of Vivi looked for the key that could free their friends. They worked hastily, the room was flooding faster and Luffy was barely clinging on to Zoro.
The last crocodile had his mouth opened with no luck, instead a ball of wax came out.
A skinny man with a strange hairdo, of the number 3 was in the ball of wax. "I'm saved! Luckily I used my powers to save myself from those ugly crocs! How can I eve thank you my savi- EHHHH? YOURE THE PIRATES! IF I TRAP YOU MAYBE CROCODILE WILL FORGIVE ME! Wait... What's this key for?" Mr. 3 shouted and quieted down when he found a key in his hand.
Vivi lunged at him for the key and ran to the cage. Only realizing the key had been fake all along.
"DAMN IT!" She hissed out. Her eyes watering at the thought that her friends might die right there. Plus Luffy already looked painfully weakened.
"Isn't this guy's power that he can turn into wax?" Sanji muttered while pointing at Mr.3. He then carried a scrawny villain to the cage and stuck his finger in the keyhole. The cage was opened with the impromptu key. "Thank you!" Sanji said and kicked the man with great force to the side.
There wasn't enough time to think as the whole room flooded, and the Pirates tried to make their way to the surface.
The girls made it to the surface safely and gasped for breath looking around to see the others. Only seeing a spluttering Ussop reach the surface they became worried.
Sanji finally reached the surface, and Luffy was snuggled in the crook of his neck trying her best not to die. He placed her on the dry surface so she could breath properly. His eyes looked worried but he stopped himself from hovering all over her. She was a guy right now.
Soon Zoro popped out of the water an annoyed look etched on his face.
Why did he have to save Smoker? He was suppose to grab Luffy, not this stupid bulk of Navy officer!
"Are you an idiot? Why save the enemy?" Nami complained only to be stopped by a breathless Luffy
"I told him to save Smokey. He shouldn't die like that..." Luffy's words were cut short as said smoker attacked a weak Luffy.
"Don't think I'll let you go just because you chose to save me." The older man gruffly spoke, cigars nowhere in sight and white hair sticking to his forehead.
"I don't. But you're not my main priority! Crocodile is, so get out of the way!" Luffy swatted at Smokers hands. " And, I'm going to beat him up until he regrets what he's done!" She said as she squeezed her hat, taking the water out. Beginning to walk away her crew followed and Smoker froze.
He wasn't that cruel. Crocodile needed to be defeated and if Straw Hat was going to do it, then he would lend a hand just as a way to payback his debt. Then Straw Hat was his.
A/N: AHHHH! 95 reviews! So close so close! just five more! I love you guys! Please review! oh, and those who sent me cookies and baked goods, consider them eaten *insert smile here*
See you next time~!