Sabo and Sara arrived at Sabody about one month before the year given was over. After they arrived, they received a call from the Den Den Mushi.
It was Sabo who answered. "Hello?" he said.
"Sabo, it's me," the person said. Sabo relaxed; it was Dragon. "Have you arrived yet?" he said.
"Yeah, just did. We're in grove 46," Sabo said.
"Good, that's a safe area. Listen, remember last time I called you? I think the Government might have intercepted that call."
"What?" Sara, who was also participating in the call, exclaimed. "This is bad, there was a lot of information in that call!"
"Precisely," Dragon said. "This time I'm using a White Den Den Mushi. Be ready for an attack, but do not lay a finger on the Tenryuubito folk."
"Dragon-taisa, but aren't we supposed to bring down the World Government?" Sabo said.
"Are you ready to fight an admiral?" Dragon said. As Sabo didn't answer, he continued, "Didn't think so. Get your stuff, including the Den Den Mushi, and leave the boat. Go to grove 13 to a place called Shakky's Rip-Off Bar. Remember the keywords, call me back when you're there." With that, Dragon hung up.
Both kids remained silent for a second, until Sara spoke. "Well, you heard him, let's go!" They went inside and came back out with a small bag each and their weapons. It was a good thing that they hadn't brought much, just the necessary stuff, and they were low on food, so they decided to leave that behind. They jumped off the boat and headed to grove 13.
On their way they passed the amusement park, the hotel district, and the Sabao-Dome. They followed the grove numbers in a descending order, from grove 40, to grove 39, to grove 38, and so on. When they reached grove 30, right before the lawless district, they were circled by a group of about thirty marines.
"That's them!" the leader said. "Sabo, the rebel, ex-noble of Goa Kingdom; and Sara, the maker, former princess of White Kingdom!"
Sara flinched at the mention of her real identity, and Sabo gaped at her, but didn't say a word. Instead, he gripped his staff, and Sara hooked an arrow to her bow.
"Do not hesitate just because they're children! They're high-ranking revolutionaries directly under Dragon's command!" the leader yelled, and he charged. Sabo received the attack, and easily disarmed the marine and hit him in the head, knocking him unconscious.
The other marines stopped for a second, then attacked. The kids dropped their bags and started fighting. Sara limited herself to shooting at arms and legs in order to immobilize, but Sabo had no mercy at all. He hit with all his might to the most vulnerable spots he could think of. Soon enough, all the marines lay bleeding on the grass. Some were unconscious missing some teeth and with many broken bones; the rest were paralyzed by the arrows piercing their limbs. The kids picked up their things and continued their way.
Sara was thankful that Sabo didn't ask any questions, because she wasn't ready to talk about that topic just yet.
When they entered the lawless groves, they immediately noticed the difference between these and the other groves. Pirate ships were docked at the coast, and some were attacking each other. Bounty hunters could be seen around the groves chasing pirates, dueling with them, or even executing them.
Sabo and Sara continued on their way with little trouble. Once, a pirate had tried to assault Sara, but Sabo easily knocked him unconscious before he could lay a finger on her. Another time, a slave trader tried to put a collar on Sabo, but two arrows sprouted from each of his arms, making him drop the collar and fall to the floor squirming in pain.
"Thanks," Sabo said.
"Now we're even," Sara replied with a grin.
They finally reached grove 13, and it was deserted. There were many bars and hotels, but they all looked abandoned – except one. The sign read 'Shakky's Rip-off Bar.'
"This must be it," Sabo said and knocked on the door. A small window on the door opened and a pair of eyes peeked out.
"Who calls to the hermit's cave?" a female voice said.
"Someone who treads on snow yet feels no cold," Sara replied without hesitation.
The eyes widened a little, nevertheless the door was unlocked and opened. A tall, black-haired woman greeted them. "Step inside," she said.
Sabo and Sara blinked; for a second they thought they were looking at Shinju, but with shorter hair. But they knew that would be impossible, since Shinju was with Dragon somewhere else in Grand Line, and as they stepped inside and got a closer look, they noticed that the woman's lips were slightly thicker and her eyes weren't blue like the weapons master's.
"You must be Sabo and Sara," the woman said. "I'm Shakuyaku, but you may call me Shakky. Make yourselves at home," she said as she locked the door again.
"Thanks, Shakky-san," Sara said. She and Sabo dropped their bags beside the counter and sat on its stools.
"Do you want anything to drink or eat?" Shakky said as she walked behind the counter.
"Uh, I'll have a Cola, please," Sabo said.
"I'd just like some water," Sara said.
Shakky, smiled, and a few moments later they were both drinking happily. "So, how long have you been in the revolution?" she said.
Sabo stopped drinking and wiped his mouth. "Three years," he said and pointed to himself with his thumb.
"Two years," Sara said raising her hand slightly.
"What? That can't be, how old are you?" Shakky said, smile never leaving her face.
"I'm thirteen," Sabo said. "And she's twelve."
"Wow, you guys sure are young for an elite revolutionary. Believe me, I know your mission, and it's not one that Dragon would give to any normal person."
Sabo and Sara silently felt proud that Dragon trusted them so much.
"And how long have you been in the revolution?" Sara asked.
"Oh, I'm just an ally," Shakky said. "Say, do you know Shinju?"
Sabo snorted. "Know her? We've been partners since forever!"
"She's my little sister," Shakky said.
"Ha! No surprise there, the resemblance is remarkable!" Sara said cheerfully.
Just then, the door was unlocked and opened, and an old yet surprisingly fit man entered the bar.
"Ah, Ray, what a timing." Shakky greeted. "Guys, this is–"
"Silvers Rayleigh!" Sabo exclaimed in awe, looking wide-eyed at the man.
Rayleigh laughed. "I guess you know me!" he said.
"Who doesn't!" Sabo jumped down from his stool. "Dark King Rayleigh, Gold Roger's first man!"
Rayleigh extended his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Sabo, of the revolutionaries!" he said grinning.
Sabo squealed and looked ready to faint, but he didn't, and he shook Rayleigh's hand, giggling nervously.
After Sabo had gotten over it, Rayleigh introduced himself to Sara, and stayed to chat for a while. Then Shakky went upstairs and showed the kids their room. It was a small yet comfy room, and it had two single beds, a couch, a table, two wide windows and a bathroom. Seeing as it was already late night, Shakky and Rayleigh went back downstairs, and the kids got ready to sleep.
Sara sat down on the edge of her bed and sighed. "I guess I owe you an explanation for earlier," she said.
Sabo looked at her. He was going to ask her, but he was surprised that she had brought up the topic herself. "I guess you do," he said and sat on his own bed, facing Sara.
"My parents… they didn't die," she started. "They're the King and Queen of White Kingdom in South Blue. It's a small, kingdom, yet well-known by its beauty and so-called 'perfection.' I was always in my room and got to walk on the garden once a day, because my parents were afraid that I'd cause any trouble after one time that something happened – I don't even remember what. One day, when we were having dinner and I was seven, a merchant came and tried to sell us a Devil Fruit, and I accidentally ate it. When my parents saw what I had done, they threw me out, disowned me, banished me. They saw my strange power as an imperfection that would ruin their reputation. I wouldn't have survived if it wasn't for Aiko, one of the servants that was usually my babysitter. She took me to her hometown, to the local orphanage. Then I was kidnapped by the marines, and then you rescued me."
Sabo looked at Sara and wasn't surprised to see a silent tear running down her cheek. Now he understood. She wasn't sad or angry for the fact that they threw her out, but for the reason. Her hatred towards the Government wasn't only for kidnapping her, but because of her parents being perfectionist royalty. All those years ago when he'd heard her crying at night for her parents – she wasn't crying for them, no, she was cursing them.
Sabo leaned forward and wiped Sara's tear with his thumb. "Well, we both joined the revolution, right?" Sabo said encouragingly. "We'll make this world right." With that, he pulled Sara into a hug.
Sara was surprised, but she hugged back. She was so glad that they had each other.