Chapter 28
Exodus
Maxwell looked up at the moon as the crew got everything ready to sail. He had waked up, but he still needed a few hours rest. The mage stood on the poop deck with a baguette it his hands. Food and water had done wonders for Maxwell, even if Luffy had stolen some earlier. He hadn't even changed back into his armor yet. Max was still in night clothes and his Alabastan robes were on his shoulders like a blanket.
He took another bite out of the garlic bread.
Maxwell felt like he was a new man, yet nothing had really changed. Maxwell felt like his senses were sharper than ever. Colours became crisper and shapes were less fuzzy. He could hear the subtle wind blowing in the desert night. It's as if a blanket had been pulled off his head that was muffling the world around him. Then again, if what Salem said was true, he had been subconsciously blocking his perceptions to fit in this world.
That's the thing about the Circle doesn't tell their mages. Blood Magic comes from the physical realm and doesn't draw on the Fade. They warn of the dangers, but never how to identify the practise. Maxwell shook his head as he remembered how he came across that bit of knowledge. An inscription on a statue had told him, though in more poetic terms. Maxwell briefly had access to the Circle vault when one of his seniors had pushed off a menial tasks onto him rather than one of the formori. Maxwell had tried his best to ignore everything, but certain artifacts did catch his attention.
He takes another bite.
Zoro had told him what was going on and what had happened while he was asleep. Maxwell was surprised they were in the palace for as long as they were. Now Vivi had to decide whether or not she would come with them.
...Oh, and Mr. 2 was coming with them. Or at least something like that. The swan shaped ship was coming with them so they both had a chance to break the blockade. Though they've yet to inform him about the Strawhats roundabout little route. They were enemies at one point.
"So what are you doing here, Ms. All Sunday?" Maxwell hadn't even taken his eyes off of the moon. There in the shadows, the vice-president of Baroque Works stepped out.
"My, my. I didn't expect anyone to notice me on bored,"
"I've learned a few tricks since our last encounter." Maxwell felt more connected to the Going Merry than ever. He could detect Merry's klabautermann, but it was mischievous, giggling while staying out of sight. She evaded him both physically and mentally, like trying to remember a brief idea.
"I still owe you for nearly breaking my spine, you know."
Sunday smiles, "You had me captured. Who wouldn't try to escape?"
"Touche... But that still doesn't explain why your here... Or why you haven't killed any of us," Maxwell thought about all their encounters with the woman. She was like a cat play with them like a mouse.
"...I owe your captain a debt. When we had King Cobra with us, Crocodile betrayed me. I was content just let the temple collapse on me, but your captain wasn't. He save me... And now I want him to take responsibility."
Maxwell looked over at the woman, "...You wanted to die, didn't you."
"...I didn't have anywhere else to go."
She had this sad look in her eye. Like everything she ever loved, all that she hoped for, was suddenly dashed in an instant. Maxwell had felt such pain when he first arrived. The only difference was that she was wallowing in it.
He takes a breath, "...If you join the crew, you won't here any objection from me." Maxwell breaks off the a large piece of the bread and presents it to her, "Baguette?"
She doesn't move for a moment, but gingerly takes the offering, "...Thank you."
Maxwell finishes off his morsel and takes a deep breath, "You know, if you're going to join, you should at least tell us your real name..."
She looks at the mage from the corner of her eye. She had paused mid bite.
"...Nico Robin," she lowers he baguette, "My name is Nico Robin."
"Then I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Nico Robin."
Maxwell moves to walk away but pauses, "Oh... Be prepared tomorrow, we're likely to encounter marines. When you want to reveal yourself, that's up to you. Have a good night..."
Nico "Demon Child" Robin watched as Maxwell walks away down the stairs. He was a mysterious man that one. And that mystery seems to have deepened after the events of Alabasta. She wondered what it would be like to sail with all of them...
*BOOM!*
*BOOM!*
*Bang!*
"Damn it all!" Maxwell had tried another Flashfire against the marine ships that had surrounded them. Mordred hadn't been kidding when he said his control was shot. His arcane bolts were pathetic, his magic kept blowing up in his face, and his staff had already burnt to a crisp. It was a useful javelin, but Max didn't want his Inferno spells to build up like a miniature sun again. He didn't have any other choice than to throw it, and it landed with an unexpected boom. Not something you want on the ship. All he could rely on now were his glyphs, and those kept blowing up!
"Hehe, having performance issues, Max?" Usopp asked cheekily, "You know you could always—" Usopp suddenly bent over backwards 90 degrees.
Maxwell had sent a "harmless" blast his way, "SHUT UP AND MAN THE CANNON!"
Usopp straightens like a board, covered in soot, "Aye-aye sir...!"
Maxwell steadied himself as the Merry rocked again beneath his feet. He could hear Luffy yelling at the marines, "Fire some cannonballs dammit! At least then I can bounce them back!" Maxwell looked over the side to see another steel ballista sticking out of their ship. He could hear Merry panicking in the back of his mind, but she was determined to stick through it.
Sanji grunts in frustration, "If we continue taking these spears into our hull then it's only a matter of time before we sink!" They already had thirteen spears in their hull, and two holes in the sail.
"Here comes more!"
"Okay, let's try this again..." Maxwell casts a Winter array this time. He uses it to conjure an Ice Wall as he's made an iceberg before. But it's too unstable! It blocks one side of the artillery, but it collapses and the wave to makes them tilt to the side, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, WHOA!" Maxwell grabs onto the railing.
"Dammit Max! Get your stuff together!" Zoro yells at the mage, getting his feet under him.
"Hey! I can't seal off any more holes!" A human-point Chopper pops up from bellow deck with a bundle of planks and a hammer,
"We can just barley hold off a barrage from one side! Eight ships are just too much to handle!" They were surrounded from all four fronts. The marines sailed in pairs aiming their artillery at them. Zoro stumps onto the main deck, "We'd have the upper hand if this were hand-to-hand... But whether we try to escape or chase them, they won't break their formation at all!"
A voice could be heard from one of they marine's ships, "The Black Cage Force's specialty: 'Black Spear Formation!'" Wait a second, Maxwell knew that voice.
"It ain't a formation you little private's can break out of! Haha! Take that dumbasses!" Another voice had yelled from another boat.
Luffy's eyes widen as he sees Jango, "Ah! It's that hypnotist! Aren't you a pirate!?"
Sanji squints at the marine ship, "Who's that guy on the left again...?"
Fullbody punches the air with his iron knuckled fist, "At last we've crossed paths again! This time, I'll send that violent cook and the rest of his crew to the bottom of the sea! I've powered up plenty!"
"No look closely at this ring!" Jango had his pendulum again, "I'll prove it to you today that I'm no weirdo! One—WHOA!" He ducked beneath a searing fireball.
"Wow, that actually—Ow ow ow! Hot-hot-HOT!" Maxwell' shakes his hand as it was on fire.
"Haha! You missed—"
*BOOM!*
"BRO!" The ship that had Jango began to fall apart— *CRASH!* —and hit Fullbody's ship as both began to sink.
Luffy looks over to see Usopp beside a smoking cannon, "That was you Usopp!? You're amazing!"
Usopp couldn't believe his luck either, "Y-Yes! It all went according to my calculations! That's what happens when you go up against me!"
"You're amazing Long-Nose!" ...Oh yeah, Mr. 2 was still on the ship. His own boat, the Swanda Express, was tagging along behind them, "Look, the southern flank of their formation has collapsed! We'll bust out by charging through there!"
"Mr. 2 Bon Kurei, we've got trouble!" One of his crewman called out to Mr. 2.
"What!?"
"It's the Black Cage!"
"GAH!" Mr. 2 starts shaking in terror.
Luffy tiredly looks at the okama, "What's that?"
"Black Cage Hina! She's the Marine HQ captain who patrols this area! This is bad! Let's get outta here at once!"
"Yes sire, Mr. 2 Bon Kurei!" His underlings start running around their ship.
Then he spots it, the capital ship bearing her name, but the Strawhats don't change course. "What're you doing!? We've gotta escape! If we aim for that opening, we can get outta here with minimal casualties! Keep sailing like this and we'll be done in for sure!"
"Go if you want but we're staying," Luffy responds to the cross dresser.
"You're WHAT!?" Mr. 2 could only look at them incredulous, as crew calls for him.
"We have a promise to be at the eastern port at noon. We've got no time to change directions," Nami reasoned.
"That's ridiculous! Is there some treasure worth risking your lives over at that port!?" He huffs and turns around on the spot, "Fine, go ahead and die if you want!"
"We're going to pick up a friend."
Mr. 2 pauses and looks back at Luffy. He looked at the young captain in shock. They were doing this for a friend? He crosses his arms, not moving.
"Mr. 2 Bon Kurei...!?" Mr. 2's crew looks at him in confusion.
"...Running away here is unbefitting of an okama!" Now everyone looks at him confused.
"Could any of you find your meals palatable on the day after abandoning friends who risked their lives to see another friend!?" His crew looks at him in shock, "Listen up you scallywags and the Strawhat crew, and listen well!" He then does a pose, flowing like the wind.
"Stray from the path of men,
Or stray from the path of women,
But the path of humanity,
We cannot stray.
If we are to fall,
Then may we scatter across the true sky.
Okama Way."
"MR. 2 BON KUREI~!" His crew cry tears of shames as they realize what their captain was saying. Maxwell didn't get it, but it made a sort of sense...
"Alright, my little ducklings! You know what to do!"
"Yes sir! Mr. 2 Bon Kurei, sir!"
The ballarina turns toward Luffy, "Strawhat! We'll draw the marines attention! Sit tight until they have their focus on us! It shouldn't take more than three minutes," Mr. 2 then touches his right cheek, turning into Luffy.
"Gahahaha! Until we meet again!" The fake Luffy jumps onto the swan shaped ship. Maxwell could see the other crew picking out outfits similar to their own crew.
"...Everyone, hide against the deck!" calls Max.
"We'll have to time this perfectly... 3 minutes everyone!" Nami hides as she pulls out a pocket watch. They all take positions trying to stay out of site.
They could hear the Swanda Express whirl to life as it's propel spins in the ocean. Maxwell notices the marine ships going after it. Looks like the plan worked.
...
...
...
"3 minutes...! It's time to move! Max! Full speed ahead!"
"Yes ma'am!" Maxwell makes a grabbing motion and the Going Merry glows into life. He could feel her. Every nook and cranny, and every hole those stakes drove into her.
"Let's go...!" He could practically hear her yell, as she caught the wind in her sails.
The distant crunch of splintering wood could be heard behind them. Even at a distance Max could tell they were getting creamed out there.
"Bon...! BON!" Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, and evening Sanji began to tear up, "WE... WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!"
Maxwell could only see a swan's neck in the distance.
They managed to get away from Black Cage Hina. They're coastal trek was relatively calm, considering they had to face another set of marine ships. These guys though, they were considerably amateur compared too the marines of Hina's formation. Luffy could reflect the cannonballs, and the crew could get in close. Maxwell had no problem raging hellfire on those idiots. Uncontrolled it might be, but it was damn sure destructive.
The Going Merry arrived in the bay of Temarisque Port. They didn't dare drop anchor inside the harbour, the crew couldn't afford to run another blockade.
That's when they heard a screeching tone...
"[...I went, on a little adventure.]"
Maxwell's jaw dropped. It was Vivi's voice. As if it came out of the heavens!
"[It was a trip in search for despair across the dark gloomy seas... Having left my home country, the sea I then saw before me was vast... It was hard to believe how many strong islands there were out there.]"
"]Plants and animals I had never seen... Sight's I'd never imagined in my wildest dreams. The music of the waves, were quiet at times, gently washing away my trifling concerns. At other times they were fierce, laughing to tear apart my timid feelings.]" Maxwell closed his eyes as nostalgia filled him, the sea can do that to you.
"[...And in the midst of a dark storm, I came across a single small ship. The ship pressed me onwards from behind and said, 'Can't you see that light ahead?']"
"[The mysterious little ship that never lost it's way in the darkness, crossed over monstrous waves as if dancing. Never defying the sea, and yet the ship's bow always heading straight ahead... Even in the headwinds.]" Maxwell pats Merry's rails. She really was an incredible ship.
"[And then it points a finger out, 'Look. The light is right there..." History may call this a myth, but to me it is the truth. And so—]"
The voice suddenly cuts out. Maxwell looks at the town as the sun is high in the sky. It was mostly rocky cliffs encircling the port.
"You heard the speech, didn't you?" Zoro asked Luffy, who slumps against the rails, "That was definitely Vivi's voice."
"It's broadcasted from the Coming of Age Ceremony at Alubarna. It means she decided not to come...!" said Sanji.
Luffy only looks at the city determined not to move, "No, it only sounded like her voice!"
"...Let's go. It's past noon..." Sanji suggests.
"There's no way she won't come! Let's get off the ship and look! She'll be there for sure!" Luffy argued.
Usopp calls down from the stern, "Guys, we've got trouble! The marines are heading this way!"
"How many ships do they have!?" demands Zoro.
Both Max and Sanji look at Luffy. It was hard, but they had to leave. Sanji was then only one to speak, "Give it up, Luffy. Her case is different from the rest of us when we joined."
Maxwell takes a breath. Maybe he was a little disappointed as well. Parting with a friend was never an easy thing. And his last memory of her was in the clock tower.
It's not how he would have wanted to part ways.
Nevertheless, Maxwell turns the ship to starboard.
"EVERYONE!"
"What the—!?" "VIVI!?" "KAROO!"
Sure enough, there on the beach stood Vivi and Karoo waving at them. Maxwell could barely believe his eyes.
"See! She DID come!" "Vivi!" "Turn the ship around quick!"
Maxwell was almost quick to react until he heard Chopper. "The marines are almost here!" The little doctor pressed his back against the rails. Max looks between their friend and their enemies. This was going to be tight.
"...I've come to say goodbye!" Luffy could only look at her in shock. He wasn't expecting this.
Vivi was holding a transceiver that projected her voice, "[I... I can't come with you! But I want to thank you for everything until now! I'd love to go on another adventure, but I can't...! Because you see, I love my country too much! That's why I can't come!]"
Maxwell closes his eyes, but grins as he understands what she's saying.
"[I...!]" They could practically hear her tear up, "[Although I'll remain here now... IF WE MEET AGIN SOMEDAY... WILL YOU CALL ME YOUR FRIEND ONE MORE TIME!?]"
Maxwell wipes away a tear. When was the last time he left someone happy and whole?
Luffy takes a breath, "WE'LL ALWAYS—"
"QUIET!" Nami grabs his mouth before he could say anymore, "You can't reply! The marines are watching right now. If they have proof that she has connections with us, she'll be branded a criminal."
Maxwell frowns, as well as everyone else. What could they do?
"...Perhaps I can help with that?" Maxwell looks up in surprise as Mordred's voice suddenly popped into his head.
Tears ran down Vivi's face as she looked out to sea. Her friends didn't reply to her words. After all the time they spent together, they couldn't say a word.
But then... as if by magic, a long lost memory surfaces in her mind...
Everyone was standing on the deck of the Merry, "I want the mark to be a cross!"
"Why?"
"'Cause we're pirates!"
They discussing the mark for their identification system, "You know those crosses on pirate flags actually symbolize death."
Luffy ignores Usopp on this, "Who cares! Let's go with a cross! Right, Vivi? You think crosses are cool too, right!?"
His smile is infectious, "Sure, I'm fine with a cross."
"Whatever, just draw the damn mark already. That's not the point here," Mr. Bushido eggs him on to draw the mark.
"You know, this is the closest thing I've ever gotten to a tattoo..." Maxwell was looking at the marker curiously.
Vivi's eyes widen when out of her revelry she sees everyone on the stern. Their backs were towards her but they held their left arms aloft.
And they were bare, showing the mark of their friendship.
Sanji, Nami, Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, Zoro... Where was Max?
...Maxwell then walked up to the stern. Her eyes widened when she realized he was okay. He was alive and well aboard the Merry!
She realized something was enhancing her vision. Because she swore she saw Maxwell grin at her and pulled his glove up to show her his mark.
"No matter what happens," his voice suddenly rang in her ears, "We will always be friends. Call on us, and we'll always be there... Looks for us in your heart. In your dreams..."
Vivi could've cried for joy when he saw his head nod. It was actually him, speaking to her. They were her friends.
And so she and Karoo lifted their own arms into the sky, knowing their friendship would last forever.
"SET SAIL!"
The marines were firing at them. Time to get out of here!
Maxwell brought the Merry to life and sailed as fast as they could out of national waters. Max could feel here ready to go on the next big adventure.
The skies were clear and a single marine ship was out on the open ocean. No one could be seen on deck, in uniform. Just a door opening, with Master Chief Petty Officer Tagashi stepping out on deck. She wore a tank top, shorts, and a floral pattern tourist shirt.
"Captain Smoker..."
The man was lounging in a chair at the bow. He was shirtless at the moment, smoking his usual two cigars. Beside him was another chair, and pot of coffee. Two cups were on the table.
"...Morning miss. You're legs alright now?" Tagashi had done a lot of running back in Alabasta.
"P-Please don't refer to me like that!" Smoker was usually a serious man, addressing her with official title. It was weird to see him so casual.
He pours her a cup of coffee, "Thank you..."
She takes a sip of the black brew before speaking, "I saw the wanted posters..."
WANTED
DEAD OR ALIVE
"STRAWHAT" MONKEY D. LUFFY
B 100,000,000
"It's an appropriate figure for them."
WANTED
DEAD OR ALIVE
"PIRATE HUNTER" RORONOA ZORO
B 60,000,000
"Do you know what his swordsman friend did?" Zoro's wanted photo was a picture of him from the battle of Alubarna. He was covered in blood, looking out of the corner of his eye with a serious face.
"You mean Roronoa?" Smoker shifted the cigars in his mouth, "He cut down a hundred bounty hunters at Whiskey Peak, and even defeated Daz Bones at Alubarna."
"Daz...!?" She had heard that name before, "Daz the Assassin!?"
"Yes, that was his nickname in his bounty hunting days in the West Blue... At Baroque Works, he was called Mr. 1. As impressive as Crocodile was for recruiting so many famous and powerful people to serve as his agents, in the end, he was defeated."
Smoker draws another wanted poster, "Also take a look at this..."
Tagashi takes the flyer from her captain, "...Is HQ serious about this?"
"Who knows? It's not up to me... But I do know one thing," Smoker puts one boot over his knee, "It's time to begin the chase again!"
"Yes, sir!" They were going to arrest Strawhat, him and his crew, no mater what.
WANTED
DEAD OR ALIVE
"MAGISTER" MAXWELL P. D. TREVELYAN
B 29,000,000
The demon laughed, kicking it's legs in the air, as it watched the two marines having coffee.
"HAHAHAHAHA! You think you can actually catch them! HAHAHAHAHA!"
It wipes and imaginary tear from it's eye, "Ah... Mortals. Such fascinating creatures... Shame about the poster though. Maybe someone has it out for him? HAHAHAHAHA!"
"I'm surprised to see you like this," another voice echoes in the Fade.
As if from nowhere another spirit appears. This one took the form of a Revenant, but it too looked more alive than dead as a corpse. It wore the same mismatch armor, with one arm having thick vambraces, gauntlets, a giant pauldron. The other was more streamlined with weaving steel and an exposed leather harness. Metal bit into it's waist, leading into banded tassets, and a lower robe. It wore no cuirass, just a winged helm with an open face guard. But's face was hidden in shadow. A sword swing at it's hip, and a round shield on it's back. And the other big difference was that it took the shape of a woman. And it's armor was black as pitch, like like the Arcane Horror.
"Ever since the mage appeared, you've been watching the mortals more and more closely. Why is that?"
The Arcane Horror rolls onto his side, propping it's head, knee up, and back towards the Revenant. It waves an arm lazily, "Well, when one needs entertainment, some aren't content swinging their sword around all the live long day."
"You prefer them setting theirselves on fire?"
The Arcane Horror shrugs it's shoulders at the question, "Eh, it won't last forever... Could you find him?"
The the breast wrapped gladiator shakes it's head under it's helm, "No."
"Tch, always the elusive bastard. Never showing up when you expect him too."
The Revenant looks at the viewing portal, "...I see your newest entertainment is heading towards one of your chosen mortals."
The Horror snorts, "Arrogant prat, that one. I still wonder whether or not it was worth it. But your right, they may just encounter him. You know me too well to deny it..." The spirit then turns to it's friend giving them a fiendish smile, "You see any potential in them?
"...We shall see." Both spirits look to see the vision of an island. One that looks like half of a skull.
Then they vanish. Disappearing into the ether of the Fade.
...
...
...
To be continued...
Author's Note:
Alright ladies and gentlemen, that is the end of the Alabsata Arc. Hope you had a fun time reading, and leave me your thoughts and comments bellow. And yes I do realize I sound like a youtuber trying to get likes with that. I'm just being a stinker.
Anyways, there is definitely going to be a break in my writing after this. I only plotted this story up to the end of Alabasta, so now I need to read, and watch, the material again to see what I have to work with. I must also inform you I am marking this title as complete. I am not abandoning the storyline. But when I started writing, I never had the intention of writing 80+ chapters for this thing. As much as I like really long fanfics, I feel accomplished with what I put out on here. So, I will be posting a new title featuring Maxwell and the Strawhats on a later date. I hope you stick around to read it.
Stay safe in these trying times.
—Sorceric7
