Chapter 37

Struggle at the Palace

Hawke stayed close to Vivi and Chaka as the soldiers set about rigging the palace to explode.

"E-everything here is ready," a man holding a torch saluted them as he took up his position.

"We can ignite here at any time, too!" another called from across the plaza.

Vivi nodded.

"This castle has taken in Alabasta's history for 4000 years," she shot a glance at Hawke and smiled, "It has been a source of pride for me." She clenched her fists and held her head high. "But if we destroy it, the people will stop fighting and pay attention. I will be able to tell them the truth in my own words!"

There was a pause in which everyone was unsure if the order would actually come. Hawke caught Chaka watching her, but he quickly averted his gaze and regarded his princess once more.

"Now. Light them up!" Vivi commanded.

The men holding the torches lifted their shaking hands. The fuses sparked to life.

A harsh, sandy, wind abruptly sprung up, blowing out all the torches and dowsing the flames on the fuses. Hawke stiffened and stepped swiftly forward, grabbing Vivi by the arm and pulling her behind Chaka. The wind grew in strength until it physically blew away all the men except the small group of three standing in the center of the plaza.

"W-what is this?!" Chaka stammered as he watched the guards plummet back to earth.

Vivi hurried forward and knelt by one of the fallen men. Hawke stepped back out as the wind subsided, her glaring eyes scanning their surroundings.

"It's him," she growled.

Chaka stiffened and sent her a wide-eyed stare. Then he nodded and began searching the courtyard as well. A dark laugh blew in on the breeze and a cloud of sand formed on the balcony above where they stood.

"We can't have that now, can we?" Crocodile chuckled as his body materialized, "That was quite the treacherous thing to do, Miss Wednesday. This is soon to be my house."

"Crocodile!" the venom in the princess' voice matched what Hawke felt as she glared up at the sand man from under her hood.

The scout's eyes widened as she saw that the Warlord was carrying a person tucked under his arm.

"Father!" Vivi cried out.

The King?! Hawke's eyes moved across the balcony to another figure who had just emerged. And Miss All Sunday.

"W-where is Luffy-san?" Vivi's fists shook with anger.

Hawke stiffened and waited for Crocodile's answer. She was barely able to keep silent as a sickening smile lift his lips

"Huh? You mean that rookie Straw Hat?" his eyes glinted, "He's dead."

The princess' shoulders tensed up.

"Vivi," Hawke kept her shaking voice low so only she and Chaka could hear, "Don't listen to him. He's lying. Luffy's coming soon." I hope…

Crocodile let out a deep, taunting laugh as he stared down at them. His eyes flit over the scout and she tugged at her hood, but his attention quickly returned to the blue haired girl.

"Luffy-san's dead?" Vivi shook her head, "Impossible! I don't believe you!"

"Heh," Crocodile sneered, "Never the less, it's true. Straw Hat is buried in the sand of Rainbase, Miss Wednesday. If only he hadn't gotten involved with you, he could have lived a long life."

"Luffy-san wouldn't be beaten by the likes of you!" Vivi's voice was harsh, her body trembling.

"Well, it's thanks to their sacrifice that you're able to rant right now," Crocodile gave them a bored smile. "Give them your deepest thanks, so at least the dead-"

Hawke's fists shook as she lost control of her anger. Stepping forward, she threw back her hood and drew out a knife.

"Just shut up!" she snarled, "Stop playing with Vivi's emotions just to amuse yourself!"

"Oh?" Crocodile's eyes widened slightly and he leaned forward over the balcony, "Could this be the third time you've come to me now, brat? What makes you think I'm still interested?"

Hawke frowned, keeping her weapon raised, and shook her head.

"I could care less about what you want," she snapped, "I'm more interested in taking what you want away! We won't let you steal this country from Vivi's family!"

This brought a frown onto the Warlord's face. But before he could reply, a loud banging began sounding from the large green doors behind Chaka leading out into the city. Shouts could be heard coming over the wall.

"Hurry! Vivi-sama's in danger!"

"Cannons! Bring cannons here! Destroy the gate!"

"W-what?"

The shouts were cut short, and then loud thumps and cries of pain replaced them.

Hawke's attention returned to the balcony to find the three figures gone. Her eyes flew to the door in front of her as it opened and Crocodile, still carrying the unconscious King, and Miss All Sunday emerged. Miss All Sunday's arms were crossed over her chest and her eyes were focused on the great green doors.

"I hope we can have some peace and quiet now," her lips formed a silky smile.

Now, while her powers are occupied! Hawke flicked her wrist and her knife flew towards the agent, quickly followed by the scout as she ran forward.

Miss All Sunday's eyes widened and she tried stepping to the side, but the blade caught her shoulder and sent her stumbling. Hawke checked her course and lunged towards Crocodile, aiming at his right arm. But her second blade didn't get the chance to strike. There was a loud rustling sound followed by two sickening crunches, then her forearm was caught in a vice-like grip.

"You really are troublesome," Crocodile's eyes were hooded as Hawke was forced to the ground at his feet, "I've decided I don't need you. And I won't give her the satisfaction of seeing you return home."

Hawke cried out in pain as her arm was bent behind her back.

"Father-sama!" Vivi screamed from somewhere behind her.

What happened?! Hawke lifted her head and saw the reason Crocodile's hand had been free to grab her. She recoiled in horror as she saw the King of Albasta crucified against the wall of his palace. Large metal spikes had been driven into his elbows, holding him up just enough to let his feet support him, but not enough so as he could stand.

"Let His Majesty go, Crocodile!" Chaka growled.

Hawke's restraint was taken over by Miss All Sunday as the sand man lit a cigar.

"Oi, oi," he scoffed, "You really think that I'd agree to let him go after going through all the trouble of immobilizing him like that? Seriously, use your head," He tossed the match to the ground and crushed it underfoot, "And what have you done with your hair? Are your true colours finally showing?"

Hawke took a moment to realize he was now speaking to her.

"What?" she spat, "What's wrong with my hair?"

"Actually, Hawke-san," it was Vivi's voice, "Your hair has changed colour a bit."

The scout shook her head, letting her bangs fall into her eyes.

"Looks normal to me," she muttered as she stared at the dark brown waves.

The King shifted, lifting his head to reveal a severely beaten face.

"I'm sorry, Vivi," he rasped, "I couldn't make full use of the Chance that you risked your life to create…"

"Father," Hawke heard Vivi's reply but she still couldn't see her friend from her position at the King's feet.

Some footsteps approached from her left and Hawke heard Crocodile sigh.

"Good grief… is this how a father and daughter talk after being separated for so long?" he asked in a bored voice, "Anyways, Miss Wednesday-"

"Don't call me by that name!" Vivi's shout cut him off and left a tense silence in its wake.

There was another sigh as the footsteps drew closer. Hawke looked over her shoulder to see Crocodile staring down at her.

"You should know that I don't intend to keep you and your father alive," he said, speaking to Vivi even as he glared at Hawke, "When a kingdom dies out its only natural for its royal family to die as well. Right?"

"Bastard," the scout's voice shook and she lowered her face. She couldn't bring herself to look at the King's state again.

Crocodile let out a grunt and Hawke flinched as his foot made contact with her hip. She was sent flying and landed heavily on the stone.

"However," Crocodile continued as if nothing had happened, "Before I take the throne, there's something that I need to ask the current king."

Hawke hoisted herself into a sitting position, wincing at the throbbing pain in her side. Crocodile stepped closer to the crucified King, blowing a cloud of smoke into his face.

"In fact, this has been my true interest," he paused, relishing the tension, "Cobra…. Where is the Pluton?"

A small gasp, almost inaudible, escaped the King. His eyes widened and his forehead wrinkled as his brows drew together. Hawke frowned at Crocodile's words. There's Pluton again, she thought, whatever it is, it must be important to cause such a reaction in a King.

"How… do you know that name?" Cobra spoke haltingly.

A dark smile lifted Crocodile's lips and he let out a satisfied chuckle.

"Pluton?" Vivi gasped, "What's Pluton?"

Crocodile turned and leered at the Princess.

"I hear that one shot from Pluton will completely destroy an island," he said, "A weapon from ancient times so powerful that it's named after a god. And it's sleeping somewhere in this country."

So it is a weapon, Hawke shuffled across the ground towards the wall and used it to push herself to her feet. The arms protruding from her back tightened, forcing her to remain in a half standing position against the wall.

"Such a thing exists in this country?" Vivi stammered, casting a worried glance at Hawke, "And Father knew about it?"

"That's been my goal from the start," Crocodile went on as if there had been no interruption, "With it, I'll be able to build the best military state right here. Once I'm king here, it'll be easy to bring pirates in this area under my umbrella. Soon I'll be even more powerful than the World Government!"

"There's no way they would allow that!" Cobra shouted, his voice gaining strength.

"They probably wouldn't" Crocodile agreed, "That's why I need it… the powerful Pluton."

There was a pause in which Hawke became aware of the noise the royal army was making in the the square below them. She inched up to stand, groaning as Miss All Sunday's arms twisted her own back in warning.

"What noisy ants," Crocodile scowled at the wall, "The rebels should arrive in the square below in about twenty minutes and start fighting." He took a long breath on his cigar. "In precisely half an hour I've ordered a giant cannon ball to be launched into this square. The blast radius is 5 km. No one from either the rebel army or the royal army will survive. The battle will end right there." He gestured out to the square before turning to Vivi. "Aren't you happy?" he asked, "After all you wanted to stop them so badly."

"Stop taunting her!" Hawke shouted, straining forward against her restrained arms, "How can you be so cruel!?"

Crocodile's eyes began to burn as he turned to her.

"Don't go sticking your neck out for others," he growled.

Hawke struggled to move forward, returning his glare.

"If you keep pushing you'll bite off more than you can chew," she muttered, shifting to release some of the pain in her shoulders.

Crocodile drew himself up to his full height. Forgetting the man before him, he spun around and loomed threateningly over her.

"I won't stand being lectured by the likes of you," he was almost whispering but his eyes were screaming hatred, "I'll dispose of you right now then. It will give me some satisfaction knowing that woman will suffer."

Hawke struggled to dodge as she saw his hook rise over her head.

"Who the hell do you keep talking about?!" she cried, "Stop confusing me with someone else!"

Crocodile halted his movement. A flash of disbelief was quickly replaced with anger.

"Don't patronize me, brat!" he snarled, "You're the spitting image of that she-wolf."

"Maybe I am. But I have no idea who my parents are, or any of my family for that matter!" Hawke pushed her point through, "Whoever Cielle is, she has nothing to do with me!"

Crocodile hesitated.

Hawke's eyes were drawn to Miss All Sunday. The woman had remained silent and motionless since their little scuffle. But now she stepped forward, ignoring the blood seeping through her sleeve and dripping onto the ground.

"You said Monkey D. Luffy was your brother, did you not?" the woman frowned at her.

Hawke blinked and paused her struggling.

"Yes, he is my brother," she stated, holding her head high, "But not by blood."

Miss All Sunday nodded, a satisfied expression moving over her face. But Crocodile's shoulders began shaking with laughter.

"How touching," he smiled widely down at her, "But you've done nothing to prove yourself innocent." His arm flew upwards. "Now die."

The hook came down in a golden blur. Something tugged Hawke sideways and there was a loud crack as the base of the hook struck the side of her head. A blinding light filled her vision and the world went silent. Everything began to spin as a pit of darkness opened up before her. Hawke could do nothing but fall.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Vivi was shouting…

Hawke shifted her neck, trying to see through the blinding light that surrounded her. Vivi's voice echoed around her head and was joined by another. A man… one she didn't recognize.

The scout blinked hard as shapes began forming out of the whiteness. Her attention moved to the largest of these blobs. A hint of blue… that was Vivi! And there was someone sitting on the ground near the princess. Hawke shook her head and pushed her arms against the smooth stone.

Her hearing became clearer. The voices weren't echoing anymore…

"What do you think will happen if they realize the square is about to be blown up?! It won't be just panic!" the princess was pleading loudly to the man on the ground.

The blinding light receded a bit and Hawke realized that the man was lying flat on his back and Vivi was kneeling on his chest, her hands grasping at his coat collar.

"Once that happens, the war won't be able to stop! No one will be saved!" Vivi shouted.

Hawke hauled her body up to a sitting position. Leaning back, she was immediately supported and craned her neck to see she was sitting at the base of a large statue of a jackal.

"Well, well, what clever judgement," a new voice. No… she knew this man. Hawke jerked her head around, causing her vision to spin and pain to shoot down her neck. She glared through watering eyes at the balcony where Crocodile stood. Then a cold shiver ran through her gut as she saw a man's corpse hanging off the roof at his feet. He had a strange mask on, but Hawke recognized his robes. Then her eyes fell to the ground before her and she saw four more corpses littering the grass.

Chaka! Who are they? How long was I out? Hawke lifted a hand to cradle her forehead. She closed her eyes as Vivi began speaking again, but couldn't understand what she was saying.

Then a new sound came to Hawke's sensitive ears. A sound she had begun to hate. The rustle and hiss of sand moving through the air.

She jerked her head up, ignoring the pain in her neck, to see Crocodile's body materializing right behind Vivi.

"And you think I'll just sit back and watch?" the Warlord's low voice sent a stab of panic through Hawke.

Vivi! Her body bent forward and her wings stretched out. One flap took her to where she needed to be. Her hands ducked into her robes and came out with two knives. Sparks flew as the obsidian blades met with the gold metal hook. The shock wave rattled her bones and made her dizzy, but Hawke managed to stand it.

"What?" Crocodile grunted, but the scout couldn't hear him over the ringing in her ears.

"Vivi…" she gasped, "Go… Hurry!"

She heard no response, but a rapid glance over her shoulder let her know that both Vivi and the new man had taken off running towards the stairs leading down into the square.

I need to keep him occupied, Hawke lifted her eyes to the Warlord glaring down at her, until…

Crocodile shifted his stance and jerked his hook out, pulling Hawke down and away from him.

"How are you still alive?" he snarled.

Hawke fell heavily to one knee. Biting back a cry of pain, she pushed back up.

"I can't stop yet…" her breathing was laboured but her vision had mostly cleared. She shook her head as the ringing in her ears subsided, "Not until Luffy gets here."

A sneer pulled at Crocodile's lips.

"Well I doubt you can last forever," he said.

There was a sudden uproar from the square behind them. Hawke turned to see clouds of dust billowing up through the air.

"No!" Vivi's cry chilled Hawke to the bone, "Please stop! Don't fight! Look, I'm here!"

They still couldn't stop the war? Hawke grit her teeth and lifted her weapons.

"You fought well, young ladies," Miss All Sunday spoke up from her place beside the King, "But your voices will no longer reach them."

Hawke sent a glare at the Baroque Works agent and got a smirk in return.

"Run, Vivi!" Cobra shouted fearfully, "Get away from that man!"

"Yeah, Vivi," Hawke panted, "Go find the others. There's still time."

"No," Vivi spoke levelly as she turned to face Crocodile, "If I stop the attack that's scheduled to happen in 15 minutes, I can still reduce the number of casualties!"

The look on Crocodile's face wasn't angry. It wasn't frustrated. But for some reason, the calm that stole across his features scared Hawke even more.

"If we do this, the rebellion will stop," he said with a smile, "If we do that the rebellion will stop."

He took a step forward and thrust his hook out, launching Hawke into a stone rampart. She twisted her body so that her wings remained unscathed, but a snap in her right arm and the numbing pain that followed were not a good sign. She collapsed to the ground, cradling her arm.

"Wake up, Princess," Crocodile's voice was no longer calm, "I can't stand how annoying your idealistic theories are."

Hawke looked up to see he had grabbed Vivi by the throat and lifted her off her feet.

"No!" the scout began crawling toward Crocodile, "Let her go! Fight me instead!"

But Crocodile ignored her.

"If you want to talk about ideals, you have to be able to make them real," he continued, "You're not qualified to do that!"

Vivi struggled against his hand as tears began to fall down her cheeks.

"I don't care if it's annoying," she choked, "I won't give up on my ideals either! You could never understand! I'm the princess of this country! I won't give in to someone like you!"

Hawke was close enough now. She thrust out a knife and sliced through the base of Crocodile's cloak. She felt the blade make contact, but Crocodile didn't even flinch.

"You really have no charm…" he muttered.

What can I do?! Hawke thought frantically, surely there's something?

"I don't care!" Vivi's voice became weaker as her air was cut off, "I will… save this country!"

The scout grimaced as she forced her wounded arm up and grasped the hilt of her knife with both hands. She raised it up over her head and brought it down with even more force. Or that's what she would have done if arms hadn't sprouted from her back to keep her trapped in her attack position.

"Miss… All… Sunday!" Hawke seethed through gritted teeth.

Crocodile gave her a sidelong glance and smirked. Then he thrust Vivi out over the edge of the wall, dangling her out over the square hundreds of feet below.

"Vivi!" Hawke cried out in fear and pain as she beat her wings, frantically trying to get to the princess.

"Had you let the Royal Army know earlier about the explosion in the square, even if there had been a panic, you could have saved tens or thousands of lives," the sand man reveled in his success, "In the end, your optimistic ideas about saving everyone have resulted in the deaths of all the citizens you loved so much."

He paused here for a chuckle. Hawke felt her heart despairing. Come on! I need to keep Vivi safe, she tried not to notice the tears of frustration on her cheeks.

"From start to finish, everyone in this country…," Crocodile turned to look down at Hawke and his smile widened, "Amused me." He turned back to Vivi, "Let me tell you something. You can't save this country. Goodbye, Princess."

There was a frightened gasp, and then Vivi was gone.

"NO!" Hawke lunged to her feet and ran out to the edge of the rampart.

There she is! Vivi was still in the air, though falling fast. Hawke bent her knees and was about to launch after the princess when a hand descended on her.

"And where do you think you're going?" the sand man laughed, "I've still got to kill you proper-"

His words cut off and Hawke wriggled from his grip, stumbling away into the rampart beside her.

"It can't be…" the disbelief in the sand man's voice drew up the hope she'd been struggling to keep.

Turning her face upward to follow Crocodile's gaze, she saw something shooting down out of the sky. There was a flash of feathers and a white fabric. And then… Hawke's smile was so wide her cheeks hurt.

"Crocodile!" There, astride a giant falcon's back, was Luffy. His chest was heavily bandaged but his voice was loud and full of energy as he shouted his challenge to the Warlord.

"Straw Hat…," Crocodile muttered, still processing this information.

Hawke let a laugh escape her as she waved her arm, only then realizing that Miss All Sunday had released her.

"Luffy!" the scout shouted at the top of her lungs, tears of joy staining her cheeks this time.

The rubber boy waved as the falcon plummeted straight down into the square below. Hawke leaned out over the edge to see Luffy catch Vivi just before she hit the ground. Then he soared up and away, circling the square once before coming in to land at the base of the stairs below her.

"How did he get out of that quicksand with those injuries?" Crocodile's voice startled Hawke and she quickly backed away from him.

"I told you not to bite off more than you can chew." Her eyes were bright. New energy flowed through her body. "Now you're in for it."

The Warlord turned his burning eyes to her but no words escaped him.

Loud shouts and familiar voices rose up from below and Hawke saw the rest of the Straw Hat crew arriving at the base of the stairs. Chopper, Sanji, and Eyelash arrived, carrying a heavily bandaged Usopp on the camel's back. Then Zoro arrived with Nami ridding piggy-back despite the large wounds visible through his shirt.

"Everyone's alive," Hawke let out a relieved sigh and smiled.

Suddenly, rubber hands flew upwards and landed on the block at her feet. With a loud cry, Luffy quickly followed.

"You bastard!" the rubber boy was launched up past the plaza.

"No matter how many times you try, you can't land a hit on me," Crocodile grunted in annoyance, "Looks like you want to get skewered again."

He then turned and stepped back from the edge. Hawke noticed the ever so slight limp on his right leg and grinned.

So it did do some damage, she thought, stifling the hatred that rose upon hearing Crocodile's words, that'll help Luffy a little.

As her brother descended onto the plaza, his fist drew back and aimed right at the sand man. Crocodile wasn't moving out of the way of the shot, staring boredly back at Luffy. His face began drifting off into a cloud of sand.

And then Luffy's punch hit. And it hit hard.

Crocodile was thrown sideways off the rampart and onto the grass of the plaza, a look of complete shock on his face.

Hawke watched in delight as her captain skidded in to land and immediately launched another attack. He grabbed Crocodile by the shoulders and began winding up his body.

"Who is that?" Cobra stared openly as Luffy prepared to release his attack.

"Could he… possibly?" Hawke heard Crocodile's uncomprehending stammer.

"Oh yes he could!" she shouted as Luffy launched towards the Warlord and landed a headbutt so heavy that they both shot off in opposite directions.

Crocodile landed against the stone rampart, chunks of rock flying everywhere with the force of his impact.

Luffy landed with a chuckle and Hawke eyed the barrel and hose he had strapped to his back.

"I'm glad you figured out a way to fight like that," she smiled, running over to his side.

Luffy smirked and nodded.

"I'm glad you're alright," he said, then he turned to face Crocodile, "Get up," he called, "Because I have the best scout on my crew, she found out that you can't turn into sand once you get wet. You took all the rain away because you're afraid of water, right?" he lifted the hose and squirt some water onto his fist, "Now I can beat you up. Our fight starts now. Now, get up, Crocodile!"

The sand man slowly sat up, letting out an ominous chuckle.

"You really think you can defeat me?" he laughed.

"Yes," Luffy nodded, "Now that you can't turn into sand."

Crocodile smirked at them.

"Well I'm impressed you figured it out," his eyes flit to Hawke, "But that is still nowhere near enough to put you on level with the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

A sudden scream drew everyone's attention and they turned to see King Cobra on the ground, the stakes having been removed from his elbows.

"Now, you show me where the poneglyph is," Miss All Sunday spoke down to the King.

"What in the world are you going to do just by looking at it?" Cobra replied, his brow creased in pain.

"Poneglyph?" Hawke muttered as Miss All Sunday turned to face her and her brother.

"I wonder if your luck is running out," the woman spoke quietly, "There isn't much time left."

Another chuckle escaped Crocodile.

"Go already, Nico Robin," he wiped a trickle of blood off his chin, "Unless you want to get dried up too."

Hawke's eyes widened. Nico Robin? No way…

"Nico Robin?!" Cobra exclaimed.

The woman ignored them and nodded to Crocodile.

"Yes, as you wish," she turned and began walking away. Arms sprouted from Cobra's body and pulled him after her.

"You should go too, Hawke," Luffy said, putting his hand on her shoulder, "Vivi still needs your help. Leave this guy to me."

The scout opened her mouth to protest, then closed it again as her aching body throbbed. I won't be of any use here, she nodded.

"Kick his ass, Luffy," she glared across at the sand man, "He deserves so much more than that."

Crocodile returned her glare, but that flash of familiarity popped up again. Hawke shivered and turned away. What a creep, she thought as she stretched out her wings. With a few beats, she was up and over the wall, shooting down towards the square where the rest of the crew waited.

As she dove down, an explosion rocked the palace behind her. Be careful, Luffy, she bit her lip as her dream flashed before her eyes. But she quickly shook her head to banish the thoughts, pulling her hood up over her head. First we need to stop this bomb, then I can worry about him.