A huge, Luffy sized balloon, thanks to 18KmPerHour and OnePiecefan202 for their reviews and for the latter's follow/favorite! I really appreciate it :)
I hope everyone enjoys this chapter because it felt relatively easy for me to write :o
I do not own One Piece - that is property of Eiichiro Oda
Chapter 49: Our Justice
Robin's eyes widened as the Marine, still holding her youthful brother, gave a high kick which shattered the debris hurtling towards them. "Oi! Both of you get up or we'll be trapped here!"
Cobra had stood up easily as did Robin but the woman from Ohara was wary. "You'll turn me in…"
"My priority right now is my brother. Whether you live or die at this moment is none of my concern so come on!" she retorted with annoyance which was quickly placated when Cobra assisted her in carrying Luffy out of the collapsing temple. She did not turn back to see if Crocodile's former partner escaped or not.
-A little later-
"Oi! Stop pulling me," a bandaged Usopp wailed as Zoro dragged him despite his protests.
"Ah… there's the captain and surprisingly his sister too," the first mate commented in amusement as he noted the injured king and marine who had her arm practically wrapped up as well as walking with a slight limp.
Cobra looked carefully at the pirates before him before turning to Andrea. "Can we trust them?"
She chuckled and patted her brother who was dozing in their arms. "That's his crew."
Sanji stepped forward and pointed at Luffy. "I can carry him. What happened to your ankle Andrea-san?"
She shrugged as she passed her brother to the slightly worn out chef. Cobra however, surveyed the crew in amusement. "So, you are the crew that brought Vivi back here…"
Zoro nodded as he knew that with Luffy out cold, he was technically the second in command. "Who exactly are you?"
Vivi came towards them at that very moment. "Oh you found my dad!"
Sanji's jaw dropped dangerously low as he looked at the monarch. "You're Vivi's father?"
The green haired swordsman nodded in understanding. "So you're the king." He poked Andrea in the forehead in amusement. "As a marine, you should have protected him better then."
"Hey, the damage he had was there before I saw him," she protested as the king laughed.
"I was certain that I was going to be killed but Andrea's brother saved me. This kid really is something. To have all the stamina to beat Crocodile with a poison flowing through his veins is amazing."
Usopp poked Luffy's wounds in curiosity. "So, is the poison gone because he's obviously still alive?"
Chopper examined him carefully before proclaiming, "It should be worked out of his system by now but his wounds need taken care of as does Andrea-san's ankle." The marine waved the antsy reindeer away from her leg and pointed demandingly at her brother.
Satisfied that Luffy was safe, Zoro slumped down against a nearby wall. "Vivi, stop worrying about us and go." The princess tilted her head in confusion before Zoro explained further. "You need to head to the palace."
Usopp nodded his agreement. "The uprising is over but there is still work to do."
Vivi's eyes widened in realization. "Oh so let's all go together then."
Andrea chuckled heartily as she looked around at her brother's friends. "Vivi-sama, they are pirates and if they are involved even slightly in your country's politics, things could get tricky."
Sanji nodded as he lit a cigarette. Chopper pulled on Vivi's leg however. "Feed me please," he whined cutely to the princess.
"Could we rest in the palace?" Nami inquired as she wavered in front of them. "I'm about to collapse."
The minute Vivi nodded, the pirates collapsed around them. Andrea gave the princess a brief hug before walking away. "Now to take care of some business. I'll be back later," she murmured as she mentally reached for Tashigi's presence and felt it near Crocodile's.
She was pleased to hear Smoker's voice over a Den Den Mushi as Tashigi stood over Crocodile. "We captured Baroque Works' Rainfall ship which shockingly had Dance Powder. Our information matches Andrea-san's in that Crocodile served as this criminal organization's president despite his status of a Shichibukai."
"Glad I could find you Tashigi-san. Smoker-san, are you preparing for what I think you are?" Andrea inquisitively asked to be rewarded a small smile from the swordswoman.
"I'd let you have the fun but you lack the official authority, Andrea," Smoker's voice responded with great amusement. "Therefore let it be known: with the power vested in me by the World Government, I declare Crocodile in abuse of his position as a Shichibukai and strip him of the rights he once had."
-Afterwards-
Hina looked up at the rain in wonder before turning to Captain Smoker. "Did you use the Dance Powder?"
He snorted in annoyance before nibbling on his cigar. "I know the difference between right and wrong," he retorted in annoyance. "I know perfectly well it's outlawed."
"Hina apologizes then," the female marine intoned before changing the subject. "You look rather pudgy and I never got to meet this marine called Andrea. Hina wishes to take her shopping." Smoker rolled his eyes in annoyance before his fellow captain continued. "You are rather brash to use Hina's troops to randomly search a ship. Hina is greatly surprised."
"Now go take this ship and Crocodile to headquarters," Smoker ordered which ensued in an argument which was resolved via coin flip.
-Meanwhile-
"Do not violate my orders," Tashigi muttered in annoyance at her troops who were surveying the collapsed pirates like meat. Andrea's face hardened at the thought of having to step in but she was surprised how gutsy her fellow marine had gotten.
"But this is a chance who cannot lose!" one of her men protested before Tashigi pulled out her sword and pointed it at the very protestor.
"They are not to be touched. Will you disobey a direct order from me?" the female marine screeched as her tolerance was running low.
"But they are just laying there! We could get promoted for bringing them in!"
Andrea pulled out her dagger and stood alongside Tashigi. "I rarely agree with Tashigi-san but you will not touch them at all and any promotion you get, I will ensue it is shot down."
-Meanwhile-
Vivi held Kohza in her arms as she told him about how they meet his father in Yuba and how proud he would be to see this rain. The rebel leader could not help but agree. "Where do you think I get my nature from?" he asked the princess as he rested in her arms and allowed his weariness to win.
-Meanwhile-
Mr. Toto looked at the rain and was pleased to see it fill the hole that was dug by him, that pirate Luffy, and his sister. "I told them Yuba could not be defeated by mere sand!" he proclaimed to the cloudy sky.
-That night-
Vivi winced at the bandage on her head as she looked out the palace window to watch the rain. "Rather peaceful yes?" Andrea murmured softly as she stepped in the room and sat on her brother's bed.
She nodded as she noted that Igaram also entered the room behind the marine. "I'm surprised you yourself are not staying with the marines detaining Crocodile," Vivi said in mild surprise but Andrea just smiled softly and poked her still tender ankle.
"I'm to await retrieval via one of my handlers. My position is not a normal one within the marines," she reasoned as she petted her brother's hair.
-The morning-
Andrea walked with Tashigi to the port and was surprised to see not just Smoker there. "Tashigi, nice to see you," the other female marine greeted.
"Miss Hina…" her eyes widened slightly in surprise before she turned away. "I apologize but I'd like to rest." Andrea walked with her to the ship where her superior awaited. "I'm back, Captain Smoker."
He nodded as he assessed the two women before him. "I heard about the Straw Hats."
The swordswoman bowed before them before whimpering softly, "Not only did I help the pirates, but I allowed them to escape me. I should be punished."
Andrea scoffed at Tashigi's tone but before she could speak, Smoker interjected, "Why would you apologize? Don't you feel justice was done?"
"I could only do as I was told and try to help from behind," Tashigi grimaced as she recalled the prior events. "This is not the justice I know."
"Tashigi, sometimes the higher you are doesn't mean you have more power. If you feel you can only go downward, you can never rise." The swordswoman walked away from Andrea and up the gangplank past her superior. "Will you rise or sink and drown? Why did you come along with me?"
She shook her head in sadness. "Please, I just want to rest," she murmured but Smoker refused to take that attitude.
"Idiot." He then pointed at Andrea who was looking at them expectantly from the shores. "Do something besides cry about what happened. Get stronger! Just look at that runt down there! Do you think Andrea accomplished anything by whimpering at her woes and holding her blade improperly?"
Andrea did not have the heart to scold Smoker as she saw Tashigi's shoulders shake with tears. "I will get stronger! I promise." They smiled before a marine ran up.
"Captain Smoker, you have a call!"
The two captains looked at each other curiously and Smoker raised an eyebrow at Andrea. "Don't look at me. My presence here is hush hush remember?"
Smoker took the phone call but each word from the higher officials just enraged him more and more. Andrea bit her lip as she listened to how Smoker and Tashigi were going to get promotions and commendations for their work in apprehending a treacherous Shichibukai. Hina attempted to stop Smoker from losing his temper however. "Do you really think the World Government will acknowledge the people who saved Alabasta are a group of pirates?"
The condescending call just kept getting worse. "We will to invite the two of you to an award ceremony."
Hina and Andrea saw the man's temper flare more and more. "Hina says just to accept the damn reward. There is no point to go against the government."
Smoker's body stiffened in irritation at both Hina and the speaker using the Den Den Mushi. He looked up to see Andrea to see tears prick her eyes. So is this the shit she had to deal with before? "We didn't beat Crocodile because we weren't able to. That's why my subordinate is crying her eyes out. I'm sick of this…"
"Smoker!" Hina exclaimed as she had a bad feeling.
"Tell those stuffy, high ranking bastards to go eat shit," he intoned as he hung up the call. Andrea saw him in a new light as Hina shook in fear of what might happen.
