Miss All Sunday hid a grimace as she kept walking through the battlefield. She had lost track of Crocodile and Cobra when a cannonball strayed near them, taking the three by surprise. She had anticipated chaos considering their location but that was certainly unexpected. At the very least, she was almost sure Crocodile still had the king trapped.

Her eyes narrowed a bit when she glanced at the warring armies. If it were up to her, she wouldn't have let things come to this but what other choice was there? She had to get to the royal tomb. She was so close to her goal.

No, it wasn't just about that. It wasn't simply a goal, it was the only thing she had been fighting for-part of what kept her going all this time. She didn't trust Crocodile more than she could throw him but the fact was, she needed protection and he was her best chance at that.

The sound of footsteps nearby made her pause for a moment. Assuming it was just the army battling, she turned around to brace herself in case she had to fend them. Thus, the flying figure she saw a moment later threw her off.

Miguel stopped, just as surprised to see her there. He landed to her far right, frowning as he watched her warily ''...Where's the king?''

''I'm afraid I wouldn't know. We were seperated just a short while ago.'' She returned. ''I have to say, I'm impressed you defeated Zeke. Crocodile had high hopes for him.''

''Yeah well, I did what I had to. We didn't come all this way to fail now.'' was the response. ''I don't suppose you'd actually tell me if you know where the bomb is?''

''That was the one part of the plan Crocodile kept to himself.'' Miss All Sunday admitted, she had only learned about it when they were in the palace. ''I'd imagine he likely expected any of us to interfere if we found out sooner.''

Miguel noted the honesty in her tone ''...Figures. For someone who's started all this by pretending that he'll build a utopia, he sure seems to look out for himself above all else.''

''I couldn't agree more. '' Miss All Sunday raised an eye as he turned to leave ''You're just going to let me go?''

''Stopping the bomb is much more important than dealing with you. I'm not going to let anything get in the way of that now.'' Miguel responded curtly as he tried to think of where the device could be.

''Hm, it's nice to see that some people have their priorities straight.''

His eyes narrowed at her tone, not realizing that Miss All Sunday actually meant it. The situation made her remember running into Tashigi and some of her men a few minutes ago as they chose to intervene to try saving Cobra. Crocodile had merely hung back, deeming that group beneath him so he left dealing with them up to her.

They had insisted on fighting, despite Cobra warning them about the bomb, assuming they could defeat her in such a short time. She had actually been willing to leave without a fight but was quickly force to take the fools down-pressing on afterwards, refusing to let them stop her.

Miss All Sunday had held nothing but contempt for the Marines and this incident served as a reminder of why that was. They were just lucky Crocodile couldn't be bothered with them.

She hummed, a small smile playing on her lips as she watched Miguel fly away ''Well, he's certainly on the right track...''

She was soon able to find Crocodile, discovering that Cobra was in fact with him. The three quickly reached the royal crypt. As they went in, Cobra decided to ask something that had been bothering him since he learned the reason they wanted to come here ''What good would seeing that stone do for you? No one has been able to read what was said on it in many, many years.''

''I can.'' Miss All Sunday stated simply.

The king's eyes widened as she approached the stone ''How? I thought the only people who would possess such knowledge are...''

''Don't worry about the details.'' She cut him off, knowing exactly what or rather who he was talking about.

''Ah, so even you don't have any idea what the poneglyph says.'' Crocodile remarked as he walked over.

''It has been our family's duty to protect it, that's all I know.'' was the king's response. ''Why does it interest you?''

The Warlord smirked ''You'll find out soon.''

If they had looked over at Miss All Sunday at the moment, they would have seen the increasingly perplexed expression settling on her face...

Luffy inwardly cursed as he kept running, hating how things wound up.

He had lost to Crocodile again. Even after promising his crew that he wouldn't. He had not only used up the water from his second lacrima but also the water Toto had worked so hard to dig up. At first, it helped him well enough and he was able to deal good damage but the more Crocodile showed of his prowess, the more things got worse. The Warlord had shocked him with his ability to dry up pretty much anything. Luffy could admit that it was partly pure luck that he could keep going after the man now, still he would press on.

He had to defeat Crocodile, no matter what!

The teen quickly came to a halt upon spotting a familiar figure nearby, it was a marine he vaguely remembered seeing before...

Tashigi stiffened at the sight of him ''Straw Hat...?''

''You know where Crocodile went?'' Luffy demanded. She blinked, clearly no expecting the question.

Tashigi bit her lip as she thought back. She had tried to stop Miss All Sunday earlier but the woman merely broke her leg and left. Just after that, she had been found by the Warlord. Crocodile only just mocked her, stating that people like her cannot defend justice, so she should just go back and prattle on about her worthless ideals at HQ.

She had never felt so powerless in her life. All they had done since coming to the Grand Line just seemed pointless.

She remembered overhearing a couple of rebel soldiers mention how the Straw Hats were working to help the country. There didn't seem to be any evidence to the contrary so far. As much as she hated to admit it, it looked like the pirates were doing far more good than they were.

''Well?! Tell me!'' Luffy pressed on.

Gritting her teeth, Tashigi pointed in the direction she had seen Crocodile take earlier, leaving him to thank her and hurry ahead. The marine glanced at his figure for a moment before cursing herself, the frustration almost overwhelming her. ''I've never felt so useless before...! Why can't I do anything?! I'm so powerless!''

Few minutes remain till the explosion as the Straw Hats, Vivi and Pell keep searching for the bomb. They had to be careful to avoid the ongoing battles and fend for themselves from any Baroque Works agents in the vicinity. Needless to say, they had their hands full...

Vivi kept going, pushing her pain and weariness. They had to find this bomb or it would all be over. They couldn't stop now...

Trouble was, no matter where she looked she couldn't find a thing.

She ducked at Usopp's call, just avoiding an attack from a Billion that could've killed her then. Thankfully, the agent was swiftly defeated by Pell, who looked back at Vivi then.

''Princess, are you all right?''

''Y-yes...thank you.'' She returned, somewhat shaken from that close call.

Vivi kicked herself for forgetting her surroundings then, only grateful that Pell, Usopp and Miguel were watching her back.

It was then that she noticed a place, a familiar place that she hadn't seen in years.

A radical struck her ''Everyone, I know where the bomb is!''

Miss All Sunday was somewhat thrown for a loop to learn that all the poneglyph had was information about Pluton.

She felt herself growing numb with shock. All this time, this had been what she was working for?

Unlike Crocodile, she didn't care much for the Pluton in the first place. Her goal had been far out of reach for years but working with the Warlord seemed to be her only to reach it and now...

''Well? What does it say?'' Crocodile demanded.

She steeled herself and looked back at her boss. Despite her having only been driven by her goal all this time, Miss All Sunday knew that she couldn't tell him the truth. A devastating weapon like Pluton was best left buried in mystery.

''...All I see here are details about Alabasta and its history.'' She said at last. ''Nothing else.''

''What?!'' He growled. ''That can't be all there is.''

''And yet that's how it is.'' Miss All Sunday stated.

''...I see...'' He said a few seconds later. ''...well then, our agreement is over.''

Things escalated rather quickly from there. Since they agreed to work together till they reached the poneglyph, Crocodile decided to terminate their agreement by killing his partner.

Miss All Sunday briefly surprised him by revealing a hidden water container and a poisoned knife, revealing that she expected as much. The two fought briefly, with her trying to use the water to nullify his logia powers before stabbing him.

Had they looked over at Cobra, they would've seen him stand before a pillar, his hand reaching for a hidden switch...

Crocodile was soon able to defeat his partner, turning into sand and surprising her from behind before stabbing her with his hook, leaving her to collapse. ''I never trusted you in the first place either, Miss All Sunday.''

The chamber began to shake, making his eyes widen slightly before looking back at the third person present. ''I take it you're behind this?''

Cobra's expression was answer enough ''I set it up so the chamber would be brought down on us. You've harmed my people more than enough. I refuse to let you run unchecked any longer!''

The Warlord laughed, surprising him ''...You certainly are determined, I'll give you that, Cobra. But it's all for nothing, I can easily escape this with my logia powers and still take over the country.''

The king paled at this, despair setting in as he realized tht his final gambit was futile. Would it really end like this?

''Crocodile!''

Cobra's eyes widened, noting how the aforementioned man froze at the voice. Both looked to the source of the voice only to see that Luffy had arrived.

Zoro was confused, he had just defeated some Billions when he spotted the Red Snake Star. For some reason a few royal soldiers and a marine kept trying to point him in a different direction as he tried to follow Usopp's flare. At least it looked like they knew to focus on Baroque Works now. He had seen Pell in this area earlier, maybe he had warned them?

For some reason, he kept getting further away from the clock tower...

''Would you just go north?! You've gone and gotten lost!'' One of the present soldiers cried, completely fed-up.

''I did not!'' Zoro cried, though of course the man was right but he'd never admit it. ''Where do you think I'm going anyway?!''

''You're going the exact opposite direction, that's where! You were actually close just a second ago!''

Zoro froze. Dammit, why did this keep happening?!

Thankfully, his luck began to change when Miguel flew over ''I thought that was you...why are...?''

The words died in his mouth as he considered that this was Zoro he was dealing with here. ''Wait, you got lost again?''

''Shut up!''

Miguel rolled his eyes, snapping his fingers as he cast Telekinesis magic on his friend before flying on towards the tower, taking Zoro along.

''...Good thing that other guy showed up.'' One of the soldiers remarked.

''I'll say, who knows how long we would've had to drag this on with just that moron here? It was like talking to a wall...'' Another added. ''...how can anybody be so bad with directions anyway?''

''Straw Hat...'' Crocodile snarled while Cobra and Miss All Sunday looked on in surprise. ''...just how many times do I have to kill you before you stay down?!''

The teen clenched his fists ''I told you, I won't give up, you bastard! I'll make sure you return what you stole!''

With that, he proceeded to punch the Warlord, surprising all three when the attack worked, sending Crocodile to the ground.

''How did he...?'' The man grunted, pulling himself up. His eyes widened as he noticed a familiar liquid around Luffy's fists.

It was his blood.

''Of course, blood hardens sand too...'' Cobra uttered in realization, stunned. ''...still, this method...can he really keep fighting like this?''

Miss All Sunday was thinking along similar lines. The fact that Luffy was still willing to fight said a lot about his perseverance and determination. She had noticed that the worst of his injuries had been healed and she knew exactly who was behind that.

Still, the odds were against him...in her opinion, the real question was, could he win this time?

Miguel and Zoro landed near the clock tower, quickly making to head over. They found Pell, who had informed them that some of their friends had also seen the flare and were just up ahead.

As they were about to close in on their destination, the three came across Tashigi. The officer had forced herself to walk until she found some of her men, who were able to help her get further. She knew she couldn't do much with a broken leg and it was mostly determination and sheer grit driving her onwards.

She certainly hadn't expected to run into more of the Straw Hats now. Her men had just left to fend off a few soldiers she knew to be working for Crocodile, leaving her with little room to go anywhere.

Zoro stiffened a bit, surprising his companions ''You again...'' He still couldn't get over how much she looked like old friend Kuina.

''...Why are you here?'' She demanded.

''Crocodile planted a bomb that's set to go soon, we're trying to stop it.'' Miguel replied, not noticing Vivi and Chopper coming close to them as he requipped his ice sword.

''Am I really supposed to believe that? What do you pirates gain by doing this?'' Tashigi demanded, her eyes narrowing on him then. ''And you...wizards say they just wanted to live in peace but they went against the government's law. Simply letting in pirates and their ilk like it was nothing-the fools simply wouldn't understand. If they had just obeyed, things could've been different. Yet here you are, working with pirates as if it were nothing. You people really are despicable, you deserve all what came to you.''

Zoro's eyes narrowed dangerously, barely noticing that Pell was staring at her in similar anger and disgust. How dare she?! ''Listen here...!'' He stopped when Miguel held up an arm in front.

Miguel didn't remember the last time he felt so angry. All right, he knew not all the navy were bad. He knew that only certain groups within its ranks were responsible for the war but he couldn't just let this slide. She had absolutely no business talking like that and he would not let her get away with it.

''Don't talk about things you don't understand.'' He said at last, anger coloring his tone. ''Pretty convenient for you to forget quite a few crucial facts. Elysia needed time to recover after whatever happened the last time our ancetors cooperated, that's why the government's demands were turned down. That doesn't give them the right to attack us and it definitely doesn't give them the right to start that war! You keep talking like pirates are the root of all evil and that was that. There are all sorts of pirates just like there's all sorts of people out there. The war started because the navy pushed themselves on my people, there are reasons for what we did but only few of you ever tried to understand. We did want peace, we just never had a chance to get it. In the end, pirates are the more humane ones in my eyes.'' He glared at the stunned Tashigi as he continued. ''It wasn't pirates who killed my parents before I ever had a chance to know them. It wasn't pirates who almost destroyed my family and homeland and it definitely wasn't them who killed a lot of my friends and even her...no, it was all marines like you. People who just decided we were worthless and that was that. So they decided we didn't deserve to live, you guys are supposed to be defenders of justice but there's hardly much of anything to show for it.''

Tashigi wanted to deny that but she couldn't, because the more she thought about it, the more she could see how honest he was. Also, there had been a few accounts contrary to what she knew...

She stiffened when he lifted his sword towards her, only to be surprised when it gave a slight glow. Moments later, a makeshift brace made of ice formed around her broken leg.

Why would he...?

''You don't know anything so don't pretend like you do.'' Miguel continued to walk. ''I won't let any of you look down on my people ever, you couldn't be more wrong about us. Is that what your idea of justice amounts to? It's looking like a big joke now.''

Zoro spared her a dark look but followed the quartermaster. Pell stepped in to block her view of the two swordsmen ''The Elysians wanted to defend their home and people-they most certainly don't deserve to die. A good number of us, including myself, his majesty and Princess Vivi have had friends there. People we are proud to consider friends, they deserve to live just as any of us. That was never up to the government to decide and the same applies to you.''

The officer noticed Vivi watching with contempt, her expression proving that she agreed with Pell.

Any other time and the princess would've been happy to royally chew the woman out for these words but she figured Miguel said plenty, besides they needed all the time they could get. ''You have no right talking about them like that.''

Tashigi lowered her head, part of what drove her to say that was her sheer anger and frustration at the whole situation but she could admit that those were thoughts she'd had for long. She had once talked to Smoker about that, only to be surprised when he told her off in return, stating that she really was naive. Even he had said that there was no justice in what happened to Elysia but he refused to talk to her about it anymore.

After all that happened, she simply couldn't hold on to those beliefs anymore. Whether he knew it or not, Miguel's words and actions had shaken her to the core. She didn't doubt that he was completely honest...and he had helped when he had every reason not to...the more she tried to look at it, the more she realized how wrong she had been...

Crocodile had been right. She was too weak, her justice was a sham...what else did she have wrong?

If the situation was any different, Chopper thought he might have attacked Tashigi for her words. How could she even think...?

Shaking himself, he approached Miguel as he stopped near the clock tower, taking a moment to calm himself down. ''Miguel...'' The little doctor took his hand.

The quartermaster gave him a small smile, patting his head then. He was all too used to the marines' terrible treatment. This time just pushed him a little too far.

Usopp found them then, shortly followed by Nami and Sanji ''There you...'' He blinked, noticing their troubled expressions. ''...what's wrong?''

Vivi looked at Miguel in concern before exhaling, knowing that he wouldn't want to dwell on what happened ''...It's nothing. The bomb is at the top of the clock tower, I'm sure of it.''

Nami blinked ''Come to think of it...that's definitely worth a shot. Not many would think to look there.''

Pell's eyes narrowed ''I'll take care of this.''

But just as he finished his transformation into the falcon form and began to soar, he was suddenly shot down, to their shock.

''Pell!'' Vivi cried.

Chopper thought fast and transformed, catching the warrior before he hit the ground. He happened to look up then, noticing something green being pulled from the hole in the top of the tower...

''Oi, heads up!''

He started at Sanji's call, seeing a number of rebels and royal soldiers closing in, weapons at the ready.

Nami's eyes narrowed ''Oh, isn't this convenient?''

''Yeah, I knew most of those guys aren't too bright, but really?'' Sanji shook his head. ''No wonder they still can't get that Crocodile's a piece of crap.''

''You can say that again. They make Luffy look a genius...'' The navigator trailed off, holding her Climatact.

Zoro drew his sword but then Pell called out a warning to him, making him look back just as a bullet was fired at him from the top of the tower.

A second later, he was surrounded by a familiar golden shield that repelled the projectile. Miguel quickly aimed a few blasts towards the window. He was quickly forced to look back as one of the enemies attacked him, leaving him to jump back and dodge.

The Baroque Works members kept up the offense but the group fought back hard. Usopp sniped at all of those in the distance and Nami tricked them with use of her weather balls, Vivi cut a few with her slashers. With this pace, they were soon on top of things, forcing the enemies back.

Sanji grunted ''I doubt it'd end like this. They could be under orders to keep us here.''

''And there's still that shooter...'' Chopper frowned. ''...what now?''

''I have an idea.'' Miguel admitted after a few moments. ''It's about the best I can think of right now but...'' He quickly proceeded to explain.

Pell nodded ''That could work.''

''Yeah, it's a good plan but...'' Zoro glanced at their oncoming enemies. ''...we better split up. Miguel, you and Pell take any of us for back up but the rest will deal with those guys.''

The two nodded back and everyone glanced at the tower before Vivi speak ''I'd like to go. Please, I want to see this through to the end.''

''Same here.'' Nami added. ''I can't get around much thanks to a couple of annoying injuries but I can still help.''

''That decides it then...'' Miguel returned when no one else spoke. ''...get ready.''

Mr. 7 and Miss Father's day were the agents chosen to detonate the bomb. They were busy preparing as the time drew to a close. That was why they told the Billions to trap the ones who discovered them here. Both believed this to be a chance at promotion. But if only they knew...

''Go on, Mr. 7, ribbit. It's time.''

Nodding, the man approached the bomb which was hidden in the cannon in front of them...

Pell remained focused on the window, quickly spotting the movement there with his enhanced eyes. He glanced at Miguel as Mr. 7 became visible ''Now!''

The latter nodded, conjuring a sphere of starlight which he sent up in the air. He snapped his fingers and it shone, catching the two agents by surprises. The two cried out as the strong blinded them, sending them reeling. Miguel and Pell immediately seized the chance, flying up with Nami and Vivi in tow. Once they were close enough, Vivi jumped in, knocking Miss Father's Day down. Mr. 7 recovered enough to grab his gun and try to shoot but Vivi dodged with ease. The former was quickly knocked out when Nami clubbed the back of his head with the Climatact while Miss Father's Day was stunned when Vivi cut her a few times with her weapon before kicking her into the wall.

The former tried to strike back as Vivi hurried to find the bomb, leveling her rifle. Pell stopped her in her tracks, knocking her rifle away with one swipe of his sword. He quickly struck her in the gut with the pommel to knock her out.

Vivi quickly cut the bomb's fuse then, almost slumping with relief then.

''You did it!'' Nami exclaimed with a grin while their companions smiled.

But just as it looked like things were looking up, Vivi discovered a terrible truth...

Crocodile pushed Luffy back with a wave of sand ''What was that about me stealing something before? What do you want me to give back, Straw Hat?''

''This country!'' Luffy returned, surprising thm. ''Alabasta's in bad shape and we all knew it. Vivi's going to keep pushing herself for her country's sake and she's going to do whatever she can even if she puts herself at risk. I won't let happen!''

The former scoffed ''Princess Vivi is an idealistic fool. You're just as bad if you're willing to die for her. I'll finish you off for good this time.''

''You don't scare me, I'll win for sure!'' Luffy returned.

''Vivi, what's wrong?'' Nami demanded, seeing how the princess froze.

''There's...there's an automatic fuse on the bomb! It's supposed to activate if the manual one is stopped!''

The answer made the others stare at her in horror, just when they thought the problem was solved...

Vivi realized that Crocodile's behavior back in the palace made a lot of sense. No wonder he was so cocky, he contengencies all along. She cursed him again for making them look like fools. Ovewhelmed by the emotions swirling with in her, she cried out in anguish. They had come so far and yet the goal was snatched out of their fingers...!

''Princess...'' Pell stopped when Miguel walked over.

He placed a hand on her shoulder ''It'll be all right, Vivi. We haven't lost, we'll just have to keep going.''

She looked at him desperately ''How?!''

''Do you trust me?''

Vivi blinked, staring at him in surprise ''I-of course! But why would you even ask...?''

Miguel helped her up, giving a reassuring smile ''Just wait, I know how to deal with this.''

She, Nami and Pell watched in confusion as he picked up the bomb before heading to the window. He surrounded the bomb in a sphere of starlight before gathering more magic power.

Miguel closed his eyes for a moment 'Come on...remember how she did it...'

In seconds, the power he had gathered took the shape of a bow made of starlight while the sphere holding the bomb transformed into a bow. He willed more power into his constructs making them shine.

Miguel proceeded to nock the arrow and aim ''Cenas...Arrow!''

He launched it, leaving the others to look in awe as the arrow soared high. Miguel skilfully used gravity magic to proper it even higher. Moments later, the bomb exploded, leaving Alubarna unharmed.

Happiness ensued all around the group at this development with the girls, Usopp and Chopper cheering loudly at this while Zoro and Sanji seemed pleased.

''They did it!'' Chopper jumped up and down.

''All right!'' Usopp beamed.

A delighted Vivi hugged Miguel then, leaving him to laugh as she thanked him, quickly followed by Nami and Pell. The capital was saved, no one would die from this...

''What was that? It didn't look like your usual heavenly magic.'' Nami remarked, interested.

''Ah, it wasn't...it's technically the first spell I made with that power.'' Miguel admitted.

She blinked at the wording ''Technically?''

''Mm, it's supposed to be based off the technique the original user taught me. I learned it from someone very dear to me...it's meant to be in her memory.''

This left them staring at him in surprise and sadness once the words sank in. They had no idea who this female was but to the girls, Miguel's tone proved how much he cared for her.

The wizard gave a small smile ''Come on, we better go see what's going on down there. This isn't over, whatever happens from here on out, we'll finish it.''

Vivi nodded, a determined look settling on her face ''Right.''

Well, let's stop here.

This looks like a good spot to stop as any. You know there's more to come but I think there was plenty said and done here as it were.

I mostly skipped Luffy's second fight with Crocodile because it was about the same canon and I didn't feel like repeating it. But the last fight is going to be in focus on the next chapter along with the end of the war and aftermath.

If you remember I mentioned before that wizards' reputation outside the Grand Line can be pretty bad since they're detached from the situation. That's what I wanted Tashigi's viewpoint to represent. Things in the war got bad from both sides and Miguel knows that but most of what the wizards did was in retaliation. Given that the nation never would've started the fight if the navy hadn't made things worse, I think it's easy where he's coming from this. Miguel's a pretty easy going guy in general but there are a few things that really piss him off and Tashigi pretty much hit one of his berserk buttons. His opinion of the world government is hardly any better than Robin's but he also knows that they're not all bad and he's trying to remember that.

I thought about how to deal with the bomb a lot but I didn't see any need to repeat Pell's sacrifice since I had a pretty good way around it so there we are. To clarify, Miguel's Cenas Arrow is a technique powered by heavenly body magic but since he followed the original user's style (and she had differnet magic) it's not like his usual attacks. This seemed like a pretty good time to reveal it. By the way, care to guess who the original user was? She's an OC who I'm going to reveal more about eventually. It's something I plan to touch upon after everything is settled in Alabasta anyway but you know, if you feel like it, feel free.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. Till next time!