GATES OF ALUBARNA

PRINCESS VIVI

Vivi grunted, catching the blow across her face as she was thrown to the ground. Koza was both taller and stronger than her, but human. There was no mystical strength or power like Crocodile held. No cheating death as Penny had.

It was just her and her ability that was holding back the start of a war.

Her peacock slashers spun faster, clashing against Koza's blade as they fought. She had fought plenty under her disguise as Miss Wednesday, but this was a different kind of battle, one where she held every disadvantage and the crowd of rebels around her were waiting for her downfall.

Vivi twisted like an eel and slammed her heel down across Koza's outstretched foot. There was a sudden cry of pain, and she was free, moving forward faster than he did to let one of her slashers wind around his arm. He flew at her, knocked her backward into the sand, and landed against her chest with his sword outstretched and angled toward her neck.

Vivi brought her leg around his hip and threw all her weight into turning them over, mindful of the wire coiled around his arm and his sharpened blade.

"Please listen to me," she pleaded, between quick breaths. "Koza, it's not at all what you think."

"Enough lies," he grunted. "I'm done with you."

The air sang with the clash of metal once more. It was undignified but familiar to once again be rolling around on the dusty ground with Koza. This was something they had done a thousand times before, scraping together as they led a band of misfits. They would do that again when this was all over, thought Vivi.

He was getting angry and, in his anger, he began to slip. Vivi kept calm. Luffy had knocked some sense into her, and Penny's impactful words had driven it home once more. Everyone here was prepared to die and Vivi could not convince them of another path unless she was steadfast and true.

She wished to be like one of the heroes in the stories she grew up on, like the Queens of old who defended the country even in battle.

When at last, an opening presented itself, Vivi placed herself in his path, her feet steady, her weapon sure and pulled the sword from Koza's grip. It swung in the air and landed with a dull thud in the dirt, not nearly as climatic as she had hoped, but she had disarmed him.

Her peacock slashers wrap around him once more and take him off his feet. Vivi is surer than ever that she might get him to listen to her, but before she can open her mouth another voice interrupts.

"Vivi!"

She looked up, horrified to see her father standing tall at the entrance of the gate. The Royal Army lined the outer wall,

"Don't hit the princess!" ordered Chaka, one of her father's head guards. Vivi's brow furrowed, unable to understand why they had chosen to appear when she might have stopped the war.

"F-father?" called Vivi, staring at the familiar face with a sense of betrayal. He was slightly banged up, but no worse for wear than she and Koza were. A kind look took over his face. Vivi had spent two years with her only safety being Ingram. Even her father's face had become a stranger's.

"Traitor," snarled Koza, tackling her. "You're all liars!"

Vivi struggled, but Koza's rage proved stronger now. His hands wrapped like iron around her and dragged her up.

"Kill her," said King Nefertari, waving a hand casually. "A useless daughter will only get in my way."

Vivi's heart sunk in her chest, but she didn't lose hope. There was another capable of wearing her father's face and she knew at that moment that this was Mr. 2. Her father was the sort of man who would remain unyielding in all troubles, but he would never put her at risk.

An arrow ripped through the air and one of the rebels fell from his horse, dead on the ground. Another followed as a volley of arrows rained down aimed toward the spot where Vivi was, despite Chaka's orders to stop.

Koza shoved her down, slicing through some of the arrows. "Still think your father is a man worth saving?"

"He's not my father!"

Mr. 2 yelped and turned to run away as Chaka approached him.

"You're blind."

"No, you are," said Vivi fiercely. "You're so determined to do something that you're ignoring everything in front of you."

Koza kept a tight grip on her, despite her struggling and ordered his men to march forward. Those who had fallen under whatever magic Penny had pulled were left behind. Vivi was roughly tossed onto Koza's horse. There was no halting the chaos that ripped through both armies as soldiers charged out of the gates and met the advancing rebels with swords.

Vivi's pleas that he listen went unheard.

A figure flew at them and Koza was thrown away from her. Usopp's face stared back at her, but the grin was not one she had ever seen on his face.

"Need a rescue?" he asked, holding out a hand.

She saw the edge of a white bandage on his wrist but slapped his hand away. "Not from you."

The face Mr. 2 wore changed quickly back to that of her father's. "How about now? I can order them to kill everyone man here." He twirled from her and threw some of the rebels back with a fierce kick. "Mr. Zero wouldn't mind!"

Koza had been pulled into a fight with Chaka and was being carried further away from her. She needed to get to him.

"Where is my father?" asked Vivi.

"I don't know!" said Mr. 2 brightly. Vivi ran at him, but something swept down from the sky toward her. The shadow streaked and then Vivi was suddenly airborne.

"Vivi-chan, take my hand!" Sanji grinned, bright and bold. Vivi latched on and was pulled onto Pell's back with ease.

Sitting at his side on Pell's back was King Nefertari. Vivi understood without a doubt that this was her real father. He was bleeding from the corner of his mouth and his wrists were ragged and raw, but he was a king, through and through. Vivi threw herself forward, hugging him tightly.

"I took a bit of a detour," said Sanji, pulling his cigarette from his mouth to shake away the ash.

Pell swooped back down, landing cleaning, and let them off. Vivi thanked both him and Sanji profusely.

"Marry me," whispered Sanji, legs shaking as his eyes turned soft. Vivi held him up before he could faint, glancing at her father who was sending a strange look toward the blonde.

"He's still there," said Pell, glancing at the distance. They hadn't gone very far from the fighting and could see Mr. 2 battling in and out of his form as her father.

"You bastard!" Sanji shot out of her arms and raced toward Mr. 2. His kick landed and sent the other man into the side of a building, just as a column of sand erupted from the palace in the distance. "How dare you put Vivi-chan's life at risk! I'll filet you!"

The debris settled and they call caught sight of Mr. 2's real face. Another rebel moved forward and cut down the man in front of him. A Baroque Works tattoo revealed itself as his scarf came undone.

Vivi gasped, hands flying to her mouth. "It's not gonna be that easy," snarled the man softly as the rest of the rebels caught up. "We're Zero's men. We're everywhere, on every side."

A royal guard slammed his spear down toward her father's head. Pell spun around and caught it in his grasp, pulling it free before striking the man. The guard had the same tattoo on his arm, Vivi noticed. The rebels tore into the approaching Army, trying to catch both her and her father.

"Stop it!" screamed Vivi hoarsely, unable to see where Koza was or where Sanji and Mr. 2 had gone. "STOP FIGHTING!"

Pell pulled them both forward, calling to Chaka as he fought to get to them.

Uselessly, she sunk to her knees, watching the fighting with unseeing eyes, feeling as if her voice had been taken from her. All her bravery, all her friends—no, what was she thinking?! She had been the one determined to stop the war. She couldn't give up, not when everyone was still fighting with her.

Her eyes pinned to the swirling sands in the distance where Crocodile was likely fighting.

"The palace."

Her father nodded, "A strange woman came and cut me loose. She only asked that she have the Throne Room as her stage, but it might—"

"Let's give it to them."

"Vivi?" he asked, gently.

"The palace. Alabasta is more than just a building, but that building represents all their anger right now. If we destroy it, then we have a chance. We can rebuild everything together as long as this war ends."

The ground shook as they raced forward, the effects of Crocodile and Penny's fight felt from their distance. Would there even be a palace to destroy as they moved forward? Vivi couldn't be sure.

MOMENTS AFTER LUFFY'S ARRIVAL

ALUBARNA'S PALACE

PENNY

Penny hadn't gotten very far from Crocodile when she became caught in the chaos of Princess Vivi rushing toward the palace with a bunch of guards and the King. Over their heads, Penny caught sight of Nico Robin in all her cowboy-esque glory. Penny was half in love, but the cold, unforgiving look in her eye washed away the fantasy. This woman had stabbed her and hadn't hesitated. But… Luffy must've come to Alubarna with her, so maybe…maybe Nico Robin was just someone stuck with no way.

"I DON'T CARE ABOUT AN ANCIENT WEAPON," snarled Luffy, voice echoing through the air, nearly bringing the entire war to a stop. Crocodile flew out of the palace, skidding across the square as Luffy chased after him, with a round and swollen belly. "I WON'T LET YOU HURT ANYONE ELSE!"

Penny moved quick and light, tying up some of the rebels and leaving them caught in webs of fabric as she sought a reprieve from the fighting.

Penny slowed as she reached Vivi and flipped one of the Baroque Works members over the outer wall of the city. The poor man would have a large bruise if he survived. "Did you win?"

"I'll tell you later!" called Vivi. Her father threw a look over her shoulder to which Penny waved.

Penny merrily skipped away and then stopped, blinking as more of Crocodile's copied memories slid into place. "B-words…berry? Boy? Bastard? Boo? Boom? Bomb! Vivi-chan, there's a bomb!"

The girl stopped and stared at her with abject horror, only barely missing her own beheading as a blade kissed her skin and was shoved away by one of the rebels. "A bomb?!"

"That's right! It'll be big—three miles or so near the palace square! Good luck!"

Penny resumed down her path, following on Nico Robin's heels. How brilliantly evil of him. She was getting rather inspired by this country. When all was said and done, she'd have enough material to write a brilliant tragedy, but what to call it? The Desert Sun? Too on the nose. Captain Hook and the Straw Prince? Luffy as a prince would never work. The Rains of Alubarna. If only it was raining.

She didn't like the idea of going somewhere she couldn't see the sun. Her entire life was spent at sea save for a few brief interludes, but the crypt was well lit and though it was filled with whispers of the dead, Penny thought it was rather beautiful. Mosaic tile of glittering blue and amber stone depicted the history of Alabasta. Hieroglyphics showcased the building of its great cities in brightly patterned paintings. There were busts of clay and marble of kings and queens thousands of years old interspersed in the hallways. Even the air rippled with age.

The room where the Poneglyph was situated was wide and open with a high domed ceiling depicting the sun and stars. Penny's eyes traced the symbols eagerly. She had seen them before painted in a book on a ship long-lost.

Her steps echoed loudly, telling her that Robin had already arrived and was waiting. Penny walked toward her, standing side by side as they stared at the empty spot where the Poneglyph had been.

Clearing her throat, she infused as much gentleness as she could into her voice. "Will you join my crew?"

"Where is it?" asked Robin harshly.

Penny grimaced, folding her arms across her chest, one of which seemed to be bleeding non-stop. "Guess that's a no."

"If you think Crocodile will abandon his plans because of you, you're wrong."

Penny had become rather impressed by the man, but he was also evil, so she needed to settle down before she acted on her first impulse rather than her brain. "He's got his whole life riding on this one victory. If he did give in so easily, I'd be disappointed."

"He'll kill you if he realizes you've taken it. He'll kill everyone in this city." For the first time, Robin found herself wondering what might happen to her, to all of them, if they incurred Crocodile's rage. "He's not a man you want to make an enemy of."

"Look," Penny rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly and then unsheathed her sword, holding it limply. "I planned a series of dramatic lines to deliver on the way here, and we haven't run through them all yet, so give me a chance to say them," complained Penny.

Robin crossed her hands together in front of her. "You didn't have enough time to move it out of the city, so it must be here somewhere."

"Alright, alright," said Penny, rolling her eyes. "I'll take you to it…" She waited for a beat and then smiled, "…but only if you come with me!"

A cold look passed over Robin's face, forcing away the curious, scholar's gaze she had. Penny wished that the world they lived in was kinder and less cruel than it had been to Robin. To be utterly alone in the world…it sounded like a nightmare.

Something silver flashed towards her face, and Penny instinctively stepped back, sliding Tsune from its sheath. The dagger slid down the blade with a screech. With a slight laugh, she dodged to the side, avoiding another strike before lashing out with her blade.

Tsune missed Robin entirely, warning her instead of what fate would meet her as the cut sunk into the stone behind her and continued onward, leaving a scar in its path that only ended when Penny shifted her wrist.

Robin's brows folded together in her first sign of anger. "Those artifacts were centuries old."

There was no time to debate as Robin came again, whipping her dagger in a tight arc from left to right. A hand latched around her ankle, tripping her up. Penny rolled with the fall, escaping the downward swing of Robin's dagger.

With no openings, Penny could admit she was impressed with the older woman's skill. After all, it was a rare chance to fight with an opponent trained in death. She was forced to step back, running out of space. Penny could feel the wall at her back. When her left heel struck the stone, she pushed off, launching herself through the air at Robin.

The back of her sword slipped against the gap in Robin's finger and bluntly knocked the dagger aside. Her knee collided with Robin's chest forcing her down. Quickly, she saw the hand forming at her side, fingers clawing at her forearm as Robin attempted to wrestle her back into submission.

Admittedly, it was hard to fight, even with Observation Haki, against an opponent who could turn her own body against her. Penny pushed against the grappling hands and threw herself back against the wall, crushing the limbs beneath her back.

Robin charged forward, angry now. Her fist collided with empty air, and she stumbled.

Robin was too slow to pull back as Penny's elbow rammed against her face. Blood trickled down her cheek, but she didn't cry out. Penny wished she had. How much pain had she held in until now?

Penny flicked Tsune out, the thin sword pressing into Robin's neck. "If you have no desire to live, why are you still fighting?"

"What have I done to you?"

"Nothing at all."

"You hunted me in the West Blue. You're willing to kill—"

"I looked for you because there was something in Ohara that belonged to me. Beyond that…I thought we could've been friends. I thought you might have been able to teach me to read them, so that I could figure out my own past."

"Friends?" spat Robin, breathing harshly. "You're a pirate! You don't know what friends are!"

"You're more pathetic than I thought you'd be," admitted Penny. Robin's eyes widened, looking up at her as if startled. Penny knew the words were harsh. Everything Robin called home was gone and turned the world against her…yet…yet…

How could she give up and let the world win? Where was her fury? Did she not realize that living was the greatest act of rebellion she could engage in? Her life was all that was left. If not herself, then who else would fight for her?

"I don't like people who are ready to die."

Several memories flashed through her mind, but Penny swallowed them down, hiding them in the crevices of her heart where the pain would not reach her.

She would tell them everything when they next met—all that had happened to her during her time alone, all that had made her into who she was before they met.

ALUBARNA'S PALACE

KING NEFERTARI

Crocodile, bruised and battered and bleeding, was fighting, struggling, against a ballooning ball of rubber called Luffy, according to Vivi. This was her friend. King Nefertari wasn't sure what Vivi had been up to in her absence, but more pirates seemed to be the opposite of what they needed. It was no matter though—he had seen how hard they fought for a country that wasn't there's.

The Throne Room was no more as evidenced by the gaping hole on the side of the palace.

"You roaches still won't die?" asked Crocodile, roughly. He had many bruises on his face and his clothes were torn with precision, flesh weeping blood beneath the tears.

"Aren't you after the Poneglyph?" called a figure on the roof. "You're rather resilient, aren't you?"

It was the woman who had freed him from his imprisonment, but there was an identical version of her standing in the street too. Crocodile tore after her. King Nefertari looked at Vivi in confusion. Just a short time ago, they had seen her running past when she informed them of the bomb.

"That's Penny," breathed out Vivi.

Luffy threw himself forward too, chasing after Crocodile and Penny. "PENNY, I SAID STAY OUT OF IT!"

The woman laughed, dodging an attack from Crocodile with ease. "You said it to the wrong me!"

"AFTER I'M DONE WITH HIM, I'M GONNA TEACH YOU A LESSON!" Luffy's arms stretched toward her, missing by an inch as she jumped off the roof and into the street to join the clone of herself.

"You're about five years too young to boss me around, Loulou."

"ARGHHH, DON'T CALL ME THAT!"

They disappeared.

Vivi shrugged helplessly. "Kopi Kopi no Mi. The first one we saw was probably the real one?"

King Nefertari nodded, thinking back to her appearance in the palace. She hadn't looked like much of a fighter, but she had done away with Crocodile's men in a heartbeat before releasing him into Pell's care.

It seemed she had a talent for drawing people toward her for Crocodile paid them no mind in his attempt to slaughter the woman.

He had little time to linger on those events, focusing his energies instead on commanding his troops away from the rebels and toward the palace square. They had no way of knowing where the bomb was, but it was important, more so than ever that as many lives were saved as they could.

A splitting cracked through the air, and they watched as the rebels who had followed them, broke into the square, leading them was Koza, a dark figure covered in red. He had Chaka on his horse and tossed the man down as he came to a stop.

Vivi's hands flew to her mouth. She shot forward before he could stop her, hands trembling as she attempted to stem the bleeding.

"Will nothing temper your rage?" asked King Nefertari.

"Your head," one of the rebels said and the others laughed with him.

"You spat at our feet, and you've got the nerve to ask us that?" said Koza, bitingly. There was something dark in his eyes, but behind it, King Nefertari saw the doubt, the sadness that had led him here. "My father stays in that hellhole, spouting beliefs about you as he dies. How are you going to pay for that? How are you going to pay for all the lives we lost while you sat on your golden throne—"

"SHUT UP!" snarled Vivi. "JUST STOP IT AND LISTEN FOR ONCE! THIS IS ALL CROCODILE'S FAULT!"

"A warlord your father allowed—"

He stopped and then looked up, eyes skimming the skies for a moment. Vivi followed his line of sight and was shocked to find what it was that stood on the balcony of the palace. A trail of smoke curled in the sky as the bright shining symbol of justice made itself clear.

Captain Smoker.

"Go on, kid," he said, blandly. "You weren't done making a fool of yourself."

"The Navy? What's the Navy—"

Smoker spoke around his cigar, "Arresting Sir Crocodile on several charges, chief among them initiating a rebellion and causing a drought for half a decade, but you're probably going away with him too."

"No," said Cobra, fiercely. "I'll charge them as I see fit, by the laws of Alabasta."

"What're you saying?"

Smoker diffused into a plume of smoke and then reappeared steps away from them. "Things changed a bit with Akahimebeing here—can't leave her to Tashigi. We've got a dozen battleships headed here to help out if things go south, but you idiots are wastin' my time."

He grabbed Koza roughly, holding him by the scruff of his neck. "You're a damn fool! Think of the worst version of this you can and then believe it."

"H-he's our national hero—"

"He's a pirate. Even the best of 'em got blood on their hands and the two monsters you have here are bathed in it. The whole world's at stake."

"It's not—"

"It is," said Vivi gently. She moved forward and Smoker lowered Koza, looking at King Nefertari with a dark look. He rarely interacted with the Navy head-to-head, but he found that there was something genuine in the Captain's face.

"Your Majesty…."

"Don't despair," said King Nefertari. "Now, that you know, it's for the better. We can save as many lives as we can."

"I—I'll go tell them. I'll go right—"

Vivi shoved him to the ground, slamming his face into the dirt. Smoker smiled. "NO!"

"Let me go! I'll tell them and stop this from escalating!"

"WHAT DO YOU THINK I'VE BEEN DOING?! IF YOU TELL THEM, THEY'LL THINK WE PLANTED IT! THE ROYAL ARMY, THE REBELS—THEY'LL BE NO STOPPING IT!"

Koza nodded, dazed. Vivi moved back and let him go.

As he stood, King Nefertari spotted a hint of movement from one of the rebels with him.

It was without a thought that King Nefertari moved. He remembered the small, fair-haired boy who would play with Vivi as a child and swore to stay by her side as they grew. It was their Kingdom they had come here to save, and he felt no anger toward them for taking up arms to do so. The ideals of the young were rarely listened to.

The spear went in quick and clean, but the look of horror remained on Chaka's and Pell's faces, too far to stop the Baroque Work's member from harming. He turned ghostly and stuttered, rushing to his aid.

King Nefertari clutched the wound as Koza threw himself forward.

"FATHER!" yelled Vivi, kicking aside the man she was fighting and rushing to catch him as he fell.

"STAY DOWN!" ordered Smoker, pinning the man to the ground with his jitte.

"I'm fine," Cobra gasped. "Are you safe? Are you—"

"Why would you do that?" roared Koza, clutching him fiercely. "My life is not worth more—"

Cobra smiled kindly, body tense against the pain. "Did you not come here because you believed that every life was equal to that of a King?" He breathed in shallowly, finding strength when he had none. "I believe the same."

Koza's face shattered and finally, finally, it seemed as if their words had made it through his stubbornness. His eyes turned glassy, and he pulled his shirt, rubbing his face. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of it."

"Someone help!" shouted Vivi, helping lower him to the ground. Her glassy eyes overflowed with tears. "Someone help! Please! He needs a doctor!"

"I'm here!" cried a small voice, slipping through the crowd. "Everyone please move!"

The small reindeer appeared with another pirate by his side. What had the world come to, thought Cobra with a hint of humor, that pirates were saving Kings and Kings were saving rebels?

The reindeer took one look at the wound and then cursed, calling him a bastard for getting hurt, but reassured Vivi in the same breath that he would be just fine with a bit of treatment. Koza sunk to the ground, looking lost and childlike.

"I know a bit about bombs," said the other pirate, adjusting his goggles. "I don't want to be anywhere near it though, so you find it and maybe we'll stand a chance!"

"Usopp?" asked Vivi, as he screamed and shot behind her. A rebel threw the Baroque Works member over his shoulder, preventing another attack. "What do you—"

"Your dad's hurt, so if you want to stay here and help him then—"

"I'll help him more by stopping this war," said Vivi fiercely. Usopp nodded and for a moment, his cowardice faded too. They smiled at one another.

"You're very clever," said Cobra to the reindeer. Though the pain was still there, it was lesser now that the doctor had set to work. A dull ache where there had been a throbbing burst of agony.

The young boy flushed and danced with pride as he said, "That doesn't make me happy at all! Keep it to yourself!"

Vivi's hand dropped on Koza's shoulder and pulled him up to his feet. "You can feel sorry, or you can help us. The choice is yours."

Koza swallowed, mind spinning behind his lost eyes.

"There is no forgiveness needed," said Cobra. "Save Alabasta."

Koza clenched his fist, his body shaking with small tremors, and accepted the hand that was extended to him. He bowed his head once, putting aside his pride, and then stood to his feet, his voice rising above all else.

"STOP FIGHTING AND PROTECT THE KING!"

"WHAT?" shouted one man back.

"ENOUGH!" shouted Koza back, infuriated. "WE'RE FIGHTING OUR OWN MEN, OUR OWN BROTHERS! I DIDN'T COME HERE TO LEAVE WITH A MOUNTAIN OF THE DEAD."

"COWARD!" called one of the rebels, enraged. "YOU BROUGHT US HERE!"

"Vivi, take your father and go," said Koza, picking his sword up once more. "Stop the bomb. I'll hold everyone here until it's over."

Smoker lit a new cigar and looked to him. "Ever thought of joining the Navy, kid?"

THE ROYAL CRYPT

PENNY

Robin's eyes flickered from her face to a point over her shoulder. Twice now, Luffy had lost. He was still gaining strength, but she was sure his rise would be similar to Shanks. His uncontested strength and optimism pushed him against the crushing weight of the world.

Crocodile couldn't mask his intent as he rushed for her exposed back, but Penny had felt him coming. One of her copies had survived the chase and was tending to Luffy, but Penny canceled out the copy, needing all her energy to focus on the threat.

She caught the hook in her hand. Her sword was still outstretched, resting against Robin's neck, leaving her exposed to any attack, but neither moved to take advantage, sensing that she was now getting angry.

Looking at Crocodile from the corner of her eye, she noted the deadly intent woven through his body. He tugged his hook back, jerking her off her feet and caught her neck in his hand, lifting her up.

Penny laughed and let her sword drop to the floor. "Don't worry, I'm going to tap out now. I've done what I came here for."

"Have you?" asked Crocodile, tightening his hand. "Where is the Poneglyph?"

"It won't give you back the pride you lost."

His face twisted with hatred.

"Be quiet," said Crocodile dangerously. "You had your chance to kill me and all you did is talk."

"I like to talk." Penny swallowed, feeling as if her mouth had dried out. "It's what I'm best at."

"Judging from how much effort you've placed to protect that precious stone, Pluton must be real."

"Do you know how many people I've met in my life? How many of their secrets and stories, I've copied? Lots of things we call myths are real, but that doesn't mean we should hunt them down. Roger-san didn't become Pirate King because of some weapon, he did it on his own or have you forgotten?"

Her words hit that tender wound buried deep inside. Crocodile drew the moisture from her and tossed her away, intending to bury her once more, but Penny landed near Robin's foot and grabbed the woman's ankle, copying what health she could from her. Exhaustion settled in, despite the healing wounds. Any more use of her Devil Fruit and she wouldn't be able to fight.

"Tell him what was on it," ordered Penny. Robin's face flashed with shock for a single moment, but cleared when Crocodile stared at her.

"You saw it?" he asked, anger burning.

"You were preoccupied. I couldn't inform you," said Robin, lying with a smoothness reserved for an actress. "We fought. She did something strange to the stone and it disappeared like your sandstorm, but I did see it before she arrived."

"What did it say?"

"Kahira was conquered by Alabasta, that was in the Year of Heaven 239. In the year 260, Tymar of the Bitein Dynasty took the throne. The Great Taph Temple in Erumalu was completed in the year 306. In the year 325, the Great Hero of Oltea Mamudin…"

"None of that's what I want to know! I don't care about the history of this kingdom. Just tell me where it's hidden! The location of the most destructive—"

Robin's eyes were sharp, and her voice even, "It wasn't on the stone. The Poneglyph only recorded the History of Alabasta."

Penny laughed and flopped toward the ground, a smile crossing her face. "Is that true? I got all worked up for no reason!"

Crocodile remained quiet.

"There was no mention of Pluton," reiterated Robin.

Crocodile's tone shifted, the energy swirling around him which had been angered, but patient sharpened. "I see…how unfortunate."

His gaze stuck on Robin. Penny pushed herself up on her elbow, watching the drama unfold with an unyielding pleasure. Would they betray each other now? Who would kill who? She itched for a pen or a camera, to capture the deep emotions playing on their faces.

"You were an excellent partner, but I'm going to kill you now," he said. Penny hadn't really had time to examine the warlord's face in the fury of their battle, but she could admit he was handsome. A strong jaw and straight nose, eyes of gold, even the scar added to the allure.

To those who knew her best, chiefly Benn Beckman, Penny's greatest vice was her weakness for beauty. How old was Crocodile anyway? Early 30s? She'd have to find out. Then there was Robin, who held a kind of mysterious beauty that was cold and distant, but enticing. Penny's hands rubbed at her throat, regaining her breath as she stared at Robin in awe.

Robin had lied without hesitating, but Penny wondered what she wanted in return.

"The deal we made four years ago has come to an end. You were the one who came to me saying that if I brought you to the Poneglyph, you would give me information on Pluton. During the years you worked for Baroque Works…you showed remarkable intelligence and leadership. That was good enough for me."

Crocodile moved forward with the chilling air of a lion that had caught it's prey. "I will say this—you were an extremely valuable woman."

Crocodile struck her quick and hard, knocking her off balance as he admonished her, "You're a fool if you think I'd believe you now. The entire world knows that Akahime's strength is in words, not power. You can't possibly think you would betray me first, did you?"

"Hah," laughed Robin lightly. "What's the protection of a warlord compared to that of an Emperor? I was your partner for four years. Don't you think I know what you're like?"

From her coat, she pulled a small vial, tossing it toward him. Penny felt an odd sense of betrayal, knowing that Robin was only siding with her because of Shanks, but despite her alliances with the Red Hair Pirates, Penny was her own captain.

Crocodile smirked and dodged it, sand forming to catch the vial. "Water, huh?"

"You were the one who failed to keep his side of the deal," said Robin. An arm appeared on Crocodile's coat, smashing the vial against his skin. He snarled in anger.

Robin shot forward, picking up her knife once more and swinging it at Crocodile. Crocodile dispersed into sand, whipping around them, but his voice was still present. "It's alright," he said, "I forgive you for everything…after all, I never trust anyone from the start."

As he reformed, Robin struggling in his grasp, he had a dark look on his face. His hook swept forward and might have hit its mark had Penny not kicked her out of the way.

Robin went flying, hitting the wall, and then slumped to the ground, bleeding where Penny's heel had struck her. Crocodile's hook swiped the air cleanly, but his feet didn't stumble as he moved to attack her next. The hook caught against her torso but didn't sink in as Penny coated herself in Haki. She threw him back into one of the pillars which collapsed under his back.

"There you go again," he snarled, reforming quickly as sand rushed all around her and swept her off her feet. "Inserting yourself somewhere you don't belong."

A deafening boom sounded before Penny could answer and bits of the ceiling fell around them. Penny yelped and jumped out of the way before one could hit her.

A crack appeared on the ceiling. Penny watched it grow in confusion. Her Copies had made sure not to disrupt anything when they moved the Poneglyph, but had their fighting accidentally weakened the crypt? She didn't think so.

There were a few floors above them, so maybe someone had entered into the crypts after Crocodile. Penny suspected she knew who it might have been.

"Is that you?" asked Penny faintly as the crack stretched across the entire ceiling. Bits of debris fell into her hair. Penny shook it out, already feeling the need for a bath arise.

"Does it look it's like me?" snapped Crocodile.

"Well, do something!" she ordered. "I'm not dying underground."

"Why should I? You'll both die and I'll be rid of two problems."

"When faced with death, even enemies become friends."

Crocodile glared at her. "Romantic ideals—"

Their chatter had done nothing but distract them from the growing threat.

Sound spilled from the cracks and then the entire ceiling collapsed around them. Penny dove for Robin, covering her body with her own and copied the air around them to fortify against the falling stone, but she was slightly off balance.

When her hand slipped against the floor to steady herself, she accidentally copied the stone slabs, shooting them up as Luffy dropped down.

Penny was sandwiched between the two colliding forces and felt the impact rattle around her body with a bone-breaking force. Her head rolled and Luffy's voice was a fuzzy whisper against her ear as she slumped down. Her eyes fell as Robin's hand rose to gently wheedle her off.

Penny was frighteningly dumb at times and quite often her own worst enemy.

Upon seeing Penny and Robin's unmoving bodies, Luffy turned his rage toward Crocodile. The rest was a battle that would turn the tides of history toward a boy known as Straw Hat Luffy, the future King of the Pirates. Penny, for her part, succeeded in doing nothing but getting in the way and denied ever having been in Alabasta anytime anyone asked.

END CHAPTER