Renegade Hearts
by Kaline Reine

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of the characters/settings. This is just a fanfiction story. I claim nothing.

WARNINGS: This story contains (or may contain) graphic adult content and language, explicit sex scenes which may or may not be consensual, possible violence, cursing, dark and/or adult themes, etc. I do not censor my writing, but I do warn people about the subject matter and potential subject matter. Not all of my stories contain such things, but many of them will. So if you don't like that kind of thing or can't handle it, then I suggest not reading this story. This is the same warning that is on all of my stories, just in case. You have been warned.

(I doubt this particular story is going to be all that bad, but I tend to get carried away sometimes, so you never know.)

Chapter 25:

Finally, thanks to Ace's help, they could continue onward... He'd stayed behind, fending off the Marines so Robin could get away. He was fighting everyone, uncaring of which side they were on. If they attacked him, he returned the sentiment, and then some... Truthfully, he just wanted to destroy the Government's lackeys. Robin knew him well enough to know that.

Suddenly, there was a large explosion overhead. It seemed to gather everyone's attention. There were many screams. Lots of people were talking about a bomb. For one brief moment, the fighting ceased. And then it started up again, with people using the momentary pause as a distraction before attacking their enemies. Even Ace stopped where he was, looking to the sky to find the source of the loud bang that was heard all throughout Alabasta.

Robin heard a loud noise, and there was a sudden burst above them. A blazing white light engulfed at least half of the sky. In spite of the fact that he was supposed to be leading her, Cobra also stopped short. Was this the enormous bomb that Crocodile had mentioned? He'd threatened the entire country with it. The notion that he hadn't been bluffing was a serious threat, all on its own.

It was all for naught, because as soon as the bomb went off, people did stop fighting for several seconds... But moments later, they were all fighting again. No one seemed to care that they'd come so close to death or that someone had set off a bomb. They didn't even care who it was. All they seemed to crave was more bloodshed.

And no one heard the cries of their forgotten Princess, bellowing from the top of the palace where she hoped to be seen, only to be carried away on the same winds that had been permeated by the explosion only moments ago. Her efforts too were in vain.

The King suddenly noticed... Familiar white robes came fluttering down from the source of the explosion. And there was only one person he knew of with the ability to fly, even if it was only sometimes... A certain devil fruit user who happened to be a valuable member of the royal guard. It could have been no one else.

"Pell..." He stated the name with grim recognition, before bowing his head in a moment of silence for his fallen comrade. Cobra's brow furrowed as he fought the urge to cry.

"That was Pell?" Robin was a little confused. "What makes you think it was him?"

"It's obvious. He's found the bomb and he sacrificed himself to save everyone." The King stated, falling to his knees on the ground, and sobbing. The tears would not relent. "There wasn't enough time to find another solution. I weep at the loss of such a good soldier, a brave guard... And a fallen friend. He's served us well for all these years."

Robin was stunned into silence. There really wasn't anything she could say. She'd only known the man for a short time, but he was a good guy. She felt partially responsible for his death and the guilt was eating away at her. She recognized the bomb as the one Crocodile had planted in the central clock tower. Assuming it had gone off as planned, that was the way it was supposed to detonate... And the timing was right. But somehow, she still didn't want to believe it. She'd never seen someone act so completely selflessly in the face of war. Not even with all of the war and violence she'd seen.

Before she could ponder the bravery of such a man and all of the implications surrounding his sacrifice any longer, she was reminded that they needed to keep moving. A small legion of soldiers appeared to be catching up to them. She knew if they were found out, it would jeopardize everything. However, there was no way these people would just let her waltz out of there with their King. Not if they could help it, anyway.

She still wasn't sure why Ace had stopped the Marines and stood between them like that. She had to obey her boss, and he seemed to know that. Maybe he'd just sensed it? She was unsure of how much he really knew about the situation.

"We've got to keep moving. Let's go."

"You heartless wench!" The King shouted at her, bitterly.

Not like Robin cared what he thought of her though. "We've got to hurry! If the bomb's already gone off, it means there isn't much time left. We'll never make it to the Poneglyph if we don't get a move on. And this war will never end. You do want it to end, don't you?"

"Not if the outcome is-"

"Just shut up, and let's go!" She sighed. "You seriously don't want to find out what will happen to both of us if we're not in the correct place once my boss has finished fighting Luffy."

She'd had it with the stalling and arguments. This whole thing was turning out to be a giant headache. And it throbbed with pain each time something else happened.

Robin was currently making a run for it, dragging Cobra along toward the Poneglyph site. She pushed him onward, despite his numerous protests. He could grieve later. He led her through the winding desert sands, around the old ruins she'd found several months ago.

Finally... They came to a large cavern. It actually wasn't too far away from where everything was happening. It had taken a while to get there because of the war.

"It's through here..." Cobra told her, even though he did not want to.

"How do we get in?"

"I'll open it for you," He walked around to the side of the broken down building. "Only royalty can do that. This way..."

She began to lead her hostage inside. "What is this place?"

Stone grated against stone, as the tomb slowly opened. Sand fell away from either side to reveal the entrance. The whole thing was underground. It was dark and ominous, but there was a bit of light filtering in from somewhere above.

"The Grave of the Kings. I'll leave you to imagine why it's called that."

'Oh, come on. I'm am Archaeologist! Give me a little more credit than that, old man...'

"I'm pretty sure I already know..."

A moment after they were inside, he led her down a narrow path to the Poneglyph. Robin saw it and ran right up to it right away, aware that she was bypassing all of the various ancient artifacts that were scattered about along the way. She couldn't stand to wait a moment longer, before deciphering it. Nothing excited her more than an opportunity to learn something new. Especially when it pertained to her main goal in life, her true passion...

There was one thing she had to take care of first, however. Taking a young Den Den Mushi from her pocket, Robin dialed up the one she knew her boss had.

"Hey, boss?"

"Yeah," He growled. She could hear him grunting in order to block several blows, probably coming from the Strawhats' Captain. "I'm kinda busy at the moment. What is it?"

"I have good news, sir. We've located the Poneglyph. Meet us inside the Grave of the Kings. We'll be waiting."

"Alright," His opponent had been momentarily subdued. She heard him inhale something, probably another cigar. She wished he'd quit those damned things. "Who is 'we'?"

"Myself and the King. No one else."

"See to it that it stays that way. Kill anyone else who tries to enter. I'll be there soon." He hung up.

If she hadn't told Crocodile about their arrival the moment it happened, and he ever found out about it, he would have undoubtedly been furious.

"I need to translate this now," She stood before the enormous monolith, her mouth agape in awe of its ancient beauty. "Before we run out of time."

Her eyes frantically scanned the giant structure, making ample use of what little time she did have. This monolith was supposed to contain directions to find Pluton, an ancient superweapon. It was rumored to be so powerful that even the World Government was after it, which was just one more reason they were after her. Not just anyone could read the Poneglyphs. She would have to de-code the message, figure out what to tell Crocodile it said, and a good way to cover up the real meaning behind it. She didn't know who's hands it would be worse in; his, or the Government's! She finished her task, doing her best to memorize the paragraph or so of ancient text.

In her haste, she had forgotten all about Cobra. Luckily her phantom limbs still entrapped him, so he couldn't run away. Not that he was trying to anyway... The King sat near the entrance they'd come through, looking out at the bright blue sky. It was starting to fade to a grayish hue.

"Rain will come soon..." He muttered.

"How do you know? It could just pass right overhead and fall somewhere else."

"We have an old legend about that," A sudden smile cracked across aging face. He stroked his beard thoughtfully, a little surprised that she allowed him any movement. "Hopefully this war will be put to rest soon."

"I hope so."

"Tell me something... If you're so against it and everything, why would you work for such a man? Why do what he tells you? You're clearly smart and strong enough to go off on your own. Why do you need him?"

"Well..." Robin hesitated. Should she tell him her reasons? Could he really be trusted? "The truth is... We have an agreement. I provide him with knowledge and allow him to make use of my intelligence. And he protects me from the World Government. They've been after me for a long time. Which is why I can't stay in one place for very long. I've been running all my life and I'm so tired of it."

"Intelligence?" He urged her to go on. "How does he make use of that? I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

"Yes," Her eyes lit up with passion, as she spoke about her greatest dream. "I have an endless thirst for knowledge. For my entire life, I've been searching for the Rio Poneglyph. This isn't it, but I believe it contains directions on how to get closer to finding it. All of the Poneglyphs tie in together, telling the history of the world. I'm the last person left in the world who can read them... And I want to know what happened."

"So? I don't think you're a bad person, Nico Robin... I think you just fell in with a bad crowd. And you think someone's going to come along and save you now?"

"No. I don't care what happens to me. Working for Crocodile no longer suits my purposes. I'm actually hoping Luffy will put him in his place, so this whole pointless war can be put to rest."

"What? The Strawhat Pirate Captain? Haha, that's rich!" He laughed. "But maybe he will... He seems to be Alabasta's last chance. So let's hope he wins, eh?"

"Maybe so... But you should know what I'm planning, for your own safety. I'm not giving Crocodile the real translation. So please try not to worry."

"Hmm..."

He didn't seem to have an answer for her. Cobra didn't know who to trust, since he could not decipher the ancient texts for himself. How would he know what she did? He was still worried, but he gave her a brief nod.

Robin ran her hand down the side of the stone, feeling the grains of sand scraping across her open palm. She traced some of the letters idly, waiting for her boss to show up. Robin found this kind of artifact incredibly beautiful. To think that it had been there, for all those years... She hoped it wouldn't be destroyed in the war. That would be a tragedy...

Before they could say anything else, they were interrupted. Robin noticed a shadowed figure falling across the Poneglyph. She turned, and her entire being filled with dread. There, in the doorway that was the entrance to the Grave of the Kings, stood Sir Crocodile.

"You ungrateful bitch!" He snarled at the woman who had just blatantly double-crossed him. Crocodile grabbed her by her neck, his fingers crushing her windpipe. "Did you really think you would get away with betraying me? I've never betrayed you, not even once, and this is how you repay me?!"

Apparently he'd overheard part of their conversation. For a few minutes, he pretended to be oblivious to her plan. Then she'd come at him with an attack, attempting to catch him off guard. Obviously, her boss was more cautious than she gave him credit for. She'd chosen to lie to him about the meaning behind the words etched into the Poneglyph, and proceeded to attack him immediately afterward. There was no going back now.

"Funny that you talk about betrayal. Weren't you the one who turned me in to the World Government? They... they found me..."

Robin gasped for air, fighting to get away. He'd lifted her up off the ground. She did manage to kick him once, but it didn't do any good. His leg turned to sand the moment her boot connected. It was of no use.

"What are you talking about? That would be counterproductive to my own plans. Having the Government snooping around my base of operations wouldn't be good for me. No, I don't see myself doing that... Unlike you, I was actually loyal!"

"CP8..." She choked, writhing in his grasp. "They found me... Ackk ahhh huuhh- Back in... Rainbase... My apa- ah haahhh ackh! Apartment..." She could barely speak for coughing so much.

"And you said nothing about it then because...?" He paused for a moment, letting her speak. Perhaps it was out of vague curiosity.

"Because I assumed you were the one behind it."

She was so used to everyone betraying her that it had cost her everything. Robin knew she shouldn't have assumed anything. Now she was starting to become resigned to her fate. But if she'd told him, he would have denied it, whether he was guilty or innocent. That's just the sort of man he was.

"They probably found you because you remained in one place for too long. I warned you about that, didn't I? Hell, you already knew better... You really aren't as intelligent as you give yourself credit for, Robin."

"Fuck off!" She spat, even as she was choked. "It's not like I- ackkhh ahh- wanted them to find me! My p-problems always follow me, like a... Like a plague!"

"Well it doesn't matter anymore. Soon, you won't have any problems left to worry about. You'll be dead."

He tightened his grip even more, until Robin was completely unable to speak. All that came out of her mouth were strangled noises and choking sounds. Her hands flew up to her neck, prying at his determined fingers. She tried to compose herself enough to use her devil fruit abilities, but it did little good. He already had hold of her and she couldn't move. Even if she could, her powers would be no match against his. She was hoping she might be able to distract him enough to get free. But he continued to choke her, wordlessly, his cold, dead eyes staring into hers, unmoved by the pain he saw on her face.

She'd actually almost gotten away with lying to him about what the Poneglyph said. Although he'd suspected it might be a lie, there was no real way for him to tell anyway. It was a well-known fact that Nico Robin could pass a lie detector test with ease. There was no getting the truth from her once she decided to tell a lie. If only she hadn't chosen to tell Cobra about it...

Then she'd made the foolish mistake of attacking him, as if that weren't bad enough. Her assassination attempt had failed miserably, but she couldn't have stood idly by, watching him destroy a country that was of no more use to him. She'd always had a hard time understanding Crocodile's motives. He didn't even want to be King! He only wanted to use the country for it's resources and then abandon it. He wanted to rape this land for all it was worth. He wanted to leave only ruin in his wake.

'Some men...' She thought, hazily. 'Some men just want to watch the world burn... Burning... Hah, that's laughable. I remember when my world was burned, once... And it was incredible. Ace... Where are you now, I wonder...? Do you think of me as often as I think of you? Where are you, my friend, my love...? Are you still fighting in a pointless war because of me? You've saved me so many times, and I couldn't even return the favor... I hope you're safe.'

Cobra stood by, unable to do anything. He'd been treated so roughly by Baroque Works' Officer Agents that he was in pretty bad shape. He wished he could somehow help his people, but whatever he did, it was not enough. He seemed lost in thought, like he was currently mulling something over. Or like he was trying to remember...

Robin began to panic. Her air supply was being cut off and had been for several agonizing minutes. She probably only had a few precious seconds left... Prepared to have those be her last thoughts, she stopped fighting for air. She'd given up. The Devil Woman hung there limply, suffocating in Crocodile's unforgiving grasp.

"Stop it!" A voice rang out. She didn't recognize it, as she was only half-conscious at that point... Someone had entered the grave site with them.

'Ace...?'

No. It was Luffy.

"Drop her! Get away from her!"

He was covered from head to toe in blood. Luffy didn't appear to have any more water on hand, but that was okay. During their first battle, he had learned that blood could also harden sand. He looked like he'd been hit pretty hard though. It was a wonder that he was even able to stand.

In the confusion, Cobra decided to make his move. In the chaos of her betrayal, Robin had dropped her hold on him. She wasn't able to maintain her devil fruit ability when she was so close to death.

"Damn this place!" The King's words echoed off the walls. "It's never been of any use to anyone! I'll make sure our secrets remain safe, from this point onward."

Making some complicated hand gestures that the others didn't recognize, and then pressing a hidden switch, Alabasta's King triggered the destruction of the ancient grave site. He was having no more of this... Of people trying to usurp his throne just to learn what kinds of secrets his country guarded! These were outsiders and it was none of their business.

He would have done it much sooner, but he didn't want to risk Robin getting hurt. She really seemed like a decent enough woman. He would have felt bad for trapping her down here when she wasn't even the one responsible for starting the war. But desperate times called for desperate measures. Even if he couldn't guarantee her safety, he had to do it. He'd used the distraction to his advantage, finally being able to run over and press the destruction mechanism, after performing the sacred rites of his people.

And besides, he was hoping to trap Crocodile down here, once and for all. He didn't care that his enemy would be resting alongside his royal ancestors. Luffy was most likely done for anyway. All that mattered right now, he decided, was getting out and hopefully taking Crocodile out too. The only good his hasty actions had done so far was in causing him to drop Robin. She fell to the ground, coughing and gasping raggedly.

"You asshole! What did you just do?" Crocodile growled, dropping Robin so he could after the King.

Cobra was already halfway out of the long tunnel that would lead outside. "This place will be history soon. And I don't care if I have to die here. It's a fitting death for the King of a failed country..."

From her place on the ground, Robin smirked at the pun. 'I guess it will be history soon...' She always did appreciate irony...

"You fool!" Crocodile laughed. "I can easily escape this place with my devil fruit powers!"

True to his word, he immediately began turning his body to sand. He started tunneling his way out. At least they'd managed to stall him, and kept the remainder of Alabasta's secrets forever hidden, so Cobra was momentarily satisfied with himself anyway. He'd saved Robin too, or at least bought her a little more time.

Luffy went after Crocodile, now that he no longer had a hostage, launching attack after attack, in a flurry of rage. He was intent on not letting him get away. He refused to let him just sink into the desert sands, where he could disappear and cause more problems for them later. He was so angry that he continuously punched him, even going so far as to grab him and drag him back out.

"I don't care how many times you turn to sand! I'll just keep hitting you, old man!"

"I'm not old, you damn brat!" He growled at the boy who was pestering him. "I'm ready to end this. I'll get rid of you this time, once and for all!"

With his good hand, Crocodile removed the golden cover over his hook to reveal a silver one. It was peculiar in it's design, being littered with lots of small holes. Luffy cocked his head to one side, not seeming to understand what this meant. In his eyes, it looked weaker and less flashy than his other one.

"Luffy!" Robin managed to choke out his name, although her voice was still raspy. She wanted to help more, but in her current condition, she could barely even move. All she could do was lend him her knowledge. "Beware of that hook! It's designed to dispense poison!"

Crocodile sent her an angry death glare that showed she was next on his hit list. It didn't matter whether he knew she was betraying him or not. He wanted her dead too. So she would do whatever she could to help the people who were once her enemies. She had nothing else left to lose.

"Thanks for the heads up lady!" He flashed her a smile, which she returned in kind.

"Any time..."

It was like he hadn't even been in the same fight earlier. Luffy looked like he was brimming with energy. He and Crocodile exchanged many blows. Eventually, he gained the upper hand, but in a twist of fate, he was struck by the poisoned hook. It glanced across his torso, just barely abrading the skin. And then the Shichibukai caught him again with the tip of the hook, piercing his arm. Damn... He was poisoned!

However, he was still determined to defeat his enemy. He had to help Princess Vivi and all of her people who had risked so much. That was the only thing currently driving him... On sheer willpower alone, he continued fighting. Robin and Cobra stared in awe at how it had hardly phased him, much to Crocodile's increasing frustration. Anyone else would have been out cold already, but not Luffy.

Just what sort of man was he?

Crocodile removed the poison sheath to reveal that he had yet another ace up his sleeve, a hidden knife in his hook. He went after his opponent with it, fighting with full force. They exchanged several more blows, and Luffy dodged it every time.

He was sick of this fight and knew he would have to end it soon. He pretended to go in for a punch, but kicked him into the air instead. Crocodile landed on his feet and countered with an attack that further decreased the stability of the catacombs. The walls began to shake and crumble even faster. They were probably all doomed, but still the two of them continued to duke it out.

Luffy had managed to get into himself into the air after his last attack. Both of them went in for a final attack. It was brutal.

Gathering all of his strength, Luffy let out a mighty battle cry, before attacking him with a flurry of kicks and punches. Many of them moved faster than the eye could see.

"Kyyyaaaahhhhhhh!" He tried to think of a name for this new technique he'd just made up... "Gomu Gomu no... Storm!"

'He's naming his attacks?' Robin thought, with an amused smirk. 'Who really does that?'

Luffy managed to bust through Crocodiles' sand attack, slamming him straight through the roof of the mausoleum. His bones cracked, making sickening sounds, as he was thrown through solid bedrock, and into the air, knocking over several buildings in the process, landing him in the center of the capital.

'He's done it! He's really defeated him!' Robin stared at Ace's younger brother in awe.

She had been fishing around for something in her corset top. Just as the walls crumbled further, she managed to pull out a small vial.

"Luffy, catch!" She tossed it to the Pirate Captain, who caught it with no problem.

"Eh? What's this?" He scratched his head, puzzled.

"The antidote to the poison! Hurry up and drink it! All of it!"

"Thanks!" He beamed. "You're pretty nice for a-"

"Just drink it!" Robin shouted frantically, wanting him to do it before it was too late. It may already be too late, for all they knew...

He downed the antidote as soon as he got it open. He'd been feeling lightheaded and dizzy and his movements were slowing down. He couldn't move much right after his victory, but moments after consuming the antidote, he had regained a lot of his mobility. Cobra approached him, placing a shaky hand on his shoulder. The King was not in the greatest shape, himself. He was unsure of what to say to this man, who had just put everything on the line, even his own life, to help him in his time of need.

"Thank you for saving my Kingdom..."

"No problem," He smiled. "We should get out of here now."

Not wanting to be buried in the sand a second time, Luffy picked up the King as well as Robin, and carried them outside. He slung one person over each shoulder, stretching his arms safely around them, and got them both to safety as quickly as he could. Behind them, the ruins crumbled, the walls finally having caved in...

A/N: Just so you know, a lot of the final fight between Crocodile and Luffy was taken from the One Piece Wiki. So I'd like to give them credit for most of that. I did change the wording around and embellish it quite a bit, but still... That Wiki is very helpful! I cheated a bit, lol. And I don't want to take credit for writing which isn't completely mine. I was just trying to get through the whole fighting scene and stuff, since I don't really remember most of it, I just remember the outcome.

Thanks for hanging in there! That's pretty much it for the war stuff, but there are more chapters coming soon. c;

-Kaline