"You 'quit'?!"
"What do you mean, Luffy-san?!" Vivi asked.
"We don't have time for your stupid games now, Luffy!" Sanji-san exclaimed, "Now get up!"
"We're going back." Luffy said simply but didn't move slightly from his spot.
"Yeah, we're using the road we took yesterday, to go to Katorea and stop the rebellion. If 1,000,000 citizens of this country clash, it's all over!" Sanji-san replied, "This is for Vivi-chan! Let's go!" he continued.
"Boooooring." Luffy said.
"What did you say?!" he yelled.
"Vivi." Luffy called.
"Yes?" Vivi replied.
"I want to beat the crap out of Crocodile!" Luffy stated and Vivi flinched at that. "If we stop the rebels, will we stop that Crocodile?" he continued.
"We can't do anything, even if we go to this place." Luffy said, "We're Pirates. You'd be better off without us."
"Sometimes he hits the bull's eye without even thinking." Sanji-san commented.
"That's Luffy for you." Usopp replied.
"…Well" Vivi started but quickly cut off by Luffy.
"You just don't want anyone to die in this war. The people of your country, or us, or anyone." he stated, "You're talking about a fight against one of the 'Shichibukai', in which over a million people will be in battle, and all you want is for no one to die." He continued before looking at Vivi straight in the eyes.
"That's naïve." He stated.
"Stop Luffy! Can't you think of Vivi's feelings—" I quickly cut Nami off by raising my arm to stop her.
"Don't interfere and watch." I told her simply and she protested but listened.
"What's wrong with that?!" Vivi exclaimed, "What's wrong about not wanting people to die!?"
"People die." Luffy continued simply and Vivi lunged at him before punched him hard.
"Stop talking like that! Don't you dare say that again! That's what we're trying to stop!" she yelled, "You can't blame the rebels of the army for this! Why should anyone die?! This is all Crocodile's fault!" she continued as Luffy pushed himself up before punched her back.
"Then why are you risking your life!?" he exclaimed as he punched her back and everyone is about to protest but I quickly stopped them.
"Even I can tell what this country needs the most just by looking at the situation!" Luffy exclaimed as Vivi kept slapping him hard while he talks. "You think risking one life is enough?!" he yelled.
"Then what am I supposed to risk?!" she yelled back as she kept slapping him, "There's nothing else o have to—"her words was cut off as Luffy grabbed her wrists and sat up.
"WHY DON'T YOU TRY RISKING OUR LIVES, TOO?!" Luffy yelled at her, "WE ARE NAKAMAS, RIGHT!?" he continued and that immediately made Vivi covered her mouth as her eyes started to tear up.
…
"…look at you." Luffy said as Vivi cried, "You're crying." He continued and Vivi pulled her hood to cover the sights from anyone. "You're the one who wants to kill him the most!" he stated as he grabbed his hat and dusted off the dusts.
I walked to Vivi and hugged her tight as I pat her head while she cried and Nami joined in.
"Now tell me," Luffy started, "Tell me where Crocodile is!"
XXX
"This is the oasis called 'Rainbase', which is where Crocodile is." Vivi explained as she pointed at the map, "Straight to the north of Yuba, it will take a whole day to walk through the desert." She continued.
"Will there be water there?" Chopper asked.
"Yes, it will be safe. It's a gambling town, separate from all the fighting." Vivi told him.
"Ooh, gambling?!" Nami exclaimed as her eyes changed into belis.
"Oh no, what are you thinking?" Zoro asked as he sweat-dropped at the sight.
"I guess there are towns like that even in Alabasta." JSanji-san commented.
"I SAID NO!" I yelled as I kicked Usopp away.
"Huh?" "Are they still at it?"
"Come on, Eri… all you have to do is give me one sip… he gave us that water to use…!" Usopp said as he comical cried.
"Nope!" I exclaimed and kicked him away again.
"Gimme!"
"Nope!"
"Gimme!"
"Nope!"
"Gimme!"
"No way!" this time Luffy joins in and grabbed the small barrel, "That Dried-Up ossan gave us this water after digging all night long!" he exclaimed.
"We can't just drink it right away, you baka!" we exclaimed in sync and Luffy clings it around his neck immediately.
"So you really can restrain yourself when you need to." Name commented in amazement.
"Of course I can! How rude!" Luffy replied as we walked toward north, or so Vivi said.
"Alright already, let's just go." Zoro replied as he walked toward the opposite.
"North is this way, baka." Nami said to him as we walked forward, while I tried my best to stop myself from snickering but failed miserably, which was earning a whack in the head by the marimo.
After hours of walking and the sun is getting higher, I already passed out of heatstroke as Takao carried me on his back while the other two seventeen-year-olds were moaning because of the heat.
"I thought I told you to stop doing that!" Nami exclaimed.
"Shut up, you're riding on the camel!" Usopp replied.
"Yeah, let us ride too!" Luffy joined in.
"Camel-woman/Nami-camel." both of the said in sync.
"Shut up!" Nami yelled.
"You aren't all wiped out today, Chopper." Zoro praised.
"Nope, I'm sticking out today." Chopper replied and Sanji-san grinned at that.
"Luffy-san." Vivi called and he turned to look at her, "Thank you." She said.
"I never could have made that decision without you." She continued.
"Rewwy?" Luffy asked, "Then feed me."
"What?"
"Once I whoop Crocodile, you gotta feed me until I explode." Luffy continued.
Vivi just smiled at that and replied, "Okay. I promise!"
"And don't forget the sweets…" I joined in as I brought up my head to look at her and she giggled before nodded.
XXX
"I see it! That's 'Rainbase'!" I exclaimed in happiness, "We finally made it!"
"YEESSSS! CROCODILE/ALLIGATOR, YOUR ASS IS GRASS!" both Luffy and me exclaimed as we cried comically.
"AND WADUUUUUUUHHHHHH(water)!" Usopp, Chopper and me exclaimed.
"Shut up already." Zoro deadpanned.
"Now, Nami-san, Vivi-chan, you don't need to fight… I'll protect you instead!" Sanji-san said with sparkling around him and the smoke of his cigar changed into stars, "Just call me 'Prince'! Hahaha!" he continued.
"Prince." Both Zoro and Takao said with blank faces as they're side by side.
"SHUT THE HELL UP, DAMN IT!"
"Hey, do you think the Baroque Works knows we're here in this country?" Zoro asked.
"Probably…" Vivi replied. "We met Mr. 2, and we know Mr. 3 is here. so I think we should assume they know we're here."
"So what?" Luffy asked simply.
"They know our faces, so no more random actions." Usopp said.
"How come?!" Luffy asked.
"We have no idea where the Baroque Works fighters could be hiding." Usopp explained, "There's no way we can get to Crocodile of we're caught first!"
"Assassination is their specialty." I said.
"Okay! Crocodile, your ass is grass!" Luffy exclaimed, totally doesn't understand while Usopp slapped his back head in frustration.
"But Usopp-san," Vivi started, "I… I agree with Luffy-san! Everything is about to happen now. We don't have time to think." She said.
I smiled at this and take a deep breath before me battle-cried as I ran toward Rainbase with full speed, which shocking most of the Straw-Hats while Takao and Flame just sighed before Takao flew after me. I kept running as I felt both Luffy and Usopp ran along with me and we finally arrived to the town. We quickly ran into a café and yelled.
"WE CAN DRINK WATER NOW, MINNA!" I yelled.
"WATER!" both exclaimed before we ran towards the counter and pounding our hands to the counter.
"GIVE US WATER, LADY!" both Luffy and me exclaimed in sync.
"BARRELS! SEVEN BARRELS OF WATER!" Usopp continued and old lady came with barrels in her hands as she gave them to us. We quickly drank it all before we felt other familiar presences beside us and we turned, only to face-to-face with Smokey and Tashigi.
We stared for a moment with mouthful of waters before blurted out all of them toward those two before we grabbed the remaining barrels for our Nakamas and ran away from there, yelling loudly.
"WHY ARE THE MARINES HERE?!" Luffy exclaimed in shock as we ran away.
"HOW SHOULD I KNOW?! LET'S GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE!" Usopp yelled back.
"SMOKEY'S 'LUFFY'S RADAR' IS CREEPY AS HELL!" I exclaimed as we ran fast and we finally saw the others before we ran towards them, with Marines hot on our trail.
"HEY GUYS! THE MARINES ARE COMING!" we exclaimed in sync as we ran while the others ran away also.
"YOU BROUGHT THEM OVER HERE!" they yelled back.
"These aren't good! Running around like this will help the Baroque Works spot us!" Sanji-san exclaimed as we kept ran and I felt several presences around us that looking at us.
"I think it's too late." I pointed out.
"Let's go then!" Luffy said, "To where Crocodile is, Vivi!"
"Okay." she replied and pointed at a building with a crocodile on top, "Over there! Can you see the building with the crocodile on top?! That's the casino that Crocodile owns, 'Rain Dinners'!" she pointed out.
"We should scatter." Sanji-san said.
"Yeah." Zoro said.
"Okay!" I said.
"We'll meet back up at the 'Croc's house'!" Luffy exclaimed as we scattered away.
"THEY SPILT UP!" "DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY!"
Both Luffy and me jumped away a building in front of us and Luffy stuck out a tongue at Smokey that is right behind us with the rest of the Marines.
"Come and get us, 'Smokey'!" we exclaimed in mocked tone in sync as we stuck out our tongue at him before we continued to run away.
"Don't think you can run away forever!" he exclaimed as he turned into smokes to go after us, "'White Bind'!" he was about to trap us with his body but I quickly took out my staff and pierced him away from us using my staff. Then we landed on the ground and ran away again, but it seems Smokey is still persistent of capturing us so I decided to throw the barrel of water at him, which slows him down a bit and we continue to run toward Rain Dinners while Smokey kept going after us.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHH!" we yelled as we ran forward and spotted some of us (plus Flame) in front of us.
"Luffy! Eri!"
"Wait, damn you!" we heard Smokey exclaimed.
"Smokey is chasing us!" we exclaimed.
"Let's go everybody!" Luffy exclaimed first, "Run inside! RUN!" I continued as I yelled and we ran toward Rain Dinners, with Smokey hot in our trail.
"JUST YOU WAIT! CROCODILE/ALLIGATOR!" we exclaimed and ran inside.
"CROCODILE! GET YER ASS OUT HERE!" Luffy yelled as we're finally in.
"YEAH YOU STUPID ALLIGATOR! HOW DARE YOU MAKE OUR NAKAMA CRY!" I yelled, which kind of taking some of the gambles' attentions to us but turned back to their business while both Nami and Usopp hit him on the back of his head as they scolds him.
"It's Crocodile, Eri." I heard Zoro deadpanned.
"It's the same!" I replied stubbornly.
"I actually wondered why Ace would want to be with you." He commented.
"What!? How rude!" I yelled at him.
"VIVIIII! CROCODIIIILE!" this time Nami, Usopp and Luffy yelled out loud.
"Oi." We deadpanned.
"I've got you now, Straw-Hat, Demon Fox!" I heard a familiar person exclaimed and we turned, only to see Smokey running in. "This place is on a lake! You can't get away!" he continued and we cursed before all of us ran forward.
"IT'S SMOKEY!" we exclaimed as we ran away before both Luffy and me felt we ran into things but we shrugged it off as we kept running.
"Hey, look at that!" Usopp pointed out and we saw some staffs were welcoming us toward somewhere, and I heard it's a VIP room.
"Is he saying 'bring it on'?" Nami asked.
"A clever guy!" Zoro said.
"C'mon! Let's go!" "Let's just go!" both Luffy and me exclaimed in sync while Flame just woofed as we went into the VIP room.
"This is leading us straight to our deaths!" Usopp exclaimed.
"What's VIP by the way?" Luffy asked in the wrong time.
"It means it's reserved only for someone that already order the room!" I explained it to him, also it the wrong time.
And then we saw a sign that points to the opposite direction. The first one is toward the VIP room, while the other is for pirates. That, of course, making Luffy to turn to the 'pirate' section and it eventually a trap and in the end, we end up in a cage, along with Smokey.
"Well," I started as I put it a candy into my mouth, "Isn't it wonderful?" I asked in sarcasm.
"A fiendishly clever trap." Luffy commented.
"Indeed it was." Usopp agreed.
"That's exactly what he wanted us to do! How could you be so stupid!?" Nami yelled.
"And besides… I can't feel any power…" Luffy whined slowly as he touched the bars and I pulled away hi hands.
"It's kairoseki, Luffy. Touch them, you'll feel weak." I explained. "It's the same one as my staff and Smokey's jitte." I added before I warded Smokey's jitte with my staff I took out in a mere seconds.
"Attacking a lady from the back, Smokey~?" I asked teasingly, "That's a coward way to attack you know." I added.
"Pirates are pirates." He replied and I pushed off his weapon as he glared at me and Luffy before I stood up in front of Luffy, blocking Luffy away from Smokey's view.
"No one touch my brother." I threatened as my eyes changed color to blood red and glared him as I growled. "Besides, I can just fight you soon or later if you want, and if I use my full power, I can beat you." I stated and pointed my staff at him.
"I can grab you." I stated as I brought up my arms and infused my haki from my arms to my staff, turning them into black color. "I can also kill you." I continued and Flame growled at Smokey loudly while the two cowards yelled in fear.
"GYAAAAAA! No, wait! How can you fight while we're in this predicament!?" Usopp yelled.
"He's right, cut it out." We heard someone said and we turned to the source of the gruff voice, which belongs to our target.
Crocodile.
Or Alligator.
"You'll kill each other. Why can't you all just be friends?" he asked.
"Crocodile…!" Smokey growled.
"Ooooh… you really are a stray hound, Smoker-kun." Crocodile said with that smug grin of his, "You never thought of me as your ally from the start."
"Oh, that's right." Crocodile picked up, "I was going to have you die in an 'accident'. I reported that you've been fighting the 'Straw-Hat' several times. Hahaha!" he continued. "I don't know why you came here, but it was obviously of your own accord. The governments believe me. They wouldn't send any Marines here normally." He added.
"So that's one of the 'Shichibukai'…" Zoro pointed out while the two cowards screaming in silent.
"So you are Crocodile, huh…?!" Luffy said slowly as he got up before lunged back to the cage, "HEY! YOU! Fighh meeeh…" he said slowly as he touched the cage.
"Don't touch the cage!" Usopp yelled at him.
"STUPID ALLIGATOR!" I yelled at him. "HOW DARE YOU SHOW YOUR UGLY MUG TO ME!"
"You did well to come this far, 'Straw-Hat' and 'Demon Fox'… I never thought I'd actually meet you." He said, "Don't worry, I'll be killing you very soon." He continued.
"But the guest of honor isn't here yet. I've just sent my partner to go pick her up." he said as he smirked and I quickly put down my bag as I rummaged through it before taking out a scissor and throws it passing the cage by the holes toward Crocodile fast, which got him right in the head, but unfortunately only passed through him and I cursed.
"Stupid Logias and their abilities." I cursed before throws another one to Smokey, which of course passed through him and it annoyed him a bit.
"You sure got enough guts to try to attack me." I heard Crocodile said as he turned to me as his head slowly reshaped back from before, which become sands earlier before walked away.
"Shut up you stupid Alligator!" I yelled with shark-teeth, "Stop being a coward and fight me, damn it!" I continued as I fumed cause I can't touch him a slightness bit. "I got many scissors and cutters here to throw at you!"
"Why stationeries?" Zoro asked.
"They're easier to bring and to throws at." I replied simply and he sweat-dropped at that.
But then again, for who knows how long the times past away, we got bored and we did some things that unusual and hilarious.
Luffy parted his hair into the same style as Sanji-san's and posed as him, "Sanji impression." He said before he put a connected fingers, like he's smoking, and said, "'Hey, did you eat all the meat?!'"
Usopp, Flame, and me laughed hard at the sight and I took a picture of it. "My turn!" I cheered and started putting in two rolled papers between my lips before making my face like Smokey's expression.
"'I will catch you, Straw-Hat, Demon Fox!'" I started with muffled voice as the rolled papers in my lips and started posing before one of them fell off before I couldn't take hold of two of them and there's an awkward silence before the four of us laughed hard again.
"Would you take this…"
"Check this one out!" Usopp said this time, "Oni—"
But then our happy time is interrupted by Nami as she punched our heads hard and earning a big bumps in the head.
"…SERIOUSLY!?" she continued while we moaned in hurt.
"What the hell Nami! That hurt you moron!" I yelled at her as I sat up.
"Yeah! We can't get out! It's not like we have anything better to do!" Luffy agreed as he yelled at her too.
"It's serious because we can't get out! We might be killed like this!" She yelled back at us before turning to Zoro, who was sleeping, and punched him in the head. "And why are you sleeping!?" she yelled.
"What, is it morning already?" he asked simply with a bump in his head.
"IT'S BEEN MORNING ALREADY!" she yelled, shark-teethed.
"You're quite a feisty young girl…" a comment from Crocodile was heard, who was sitting peacefully with feasts in front of him.
"What!? You'd better take this time to compose yourself!" Nami replied, "Once these guys get out of this cage, they'll knock your worthless—"
"ASS!" I interrupted her with loud voice.
"—high above the clouds! Isn't that right, Luffy?!" she continued.
"YEAH! GET READY YOU BASTARD!" Luffy yelled before I sat down beside Smokey and started putting back in the sharp stationeries (scissors, cutters, pins, etc) into my bag, unconsciously showing my mask from years ago as I organized the things back into my bag, making Smokey, who saw it, widened his eyes.
"You…" I heard he started and I turned to him with questioned look.
"What?" I asked.
"…are you that infamous 'Bloodied Mask'?" he asked carefully and I quite taken aback by that question before smirking.
"And what if I am?" I asked, challenging him before taking out of the mask before putting it on, which earning a fierce look from him before I took it off and smirked at him.
"Now now, don't give me that look, Smokey," I said and put it back into my bag before zipped it back, "I stopped killing people after Luffy told me to not do it again." I continued and sling my bag on my back before walked beside Luffy and Nami.
"How dare he make fun of us!?" Nami growled in anger while Usopp tried his best to calm her down.
"CROCODILE!"
We turned toward the source of the voice and we saw a very familiar person at the top of the stairs.
"Vivi!" we called and we saw Vivi was panting hard and two people are right behind her.
The first one is Miss All-Sunday, of course, the second one is, however, unfamiliar to most of the Straw-Hats but me.
"Hey, you're the one that attacked me." I said loudly as the person turned her dead-eyes to look into me.
"So you've survived," she stated softly, "That's too bad." She continued and turned away and walked away from the room, which making me cursed softly.
"Well hello… welcome, Vivi, Princess of Alabasta." Crocodile said mockingly as he spread his arms, "No, Miss Wednesday." He quickly changed, "You have done an admirable job of avoiding my assasins on the way here." he continued.
"Of course I'd come…!" Vivi replied darkly, "I'd come from anywhere as long as it means I can watch you die!" she continued, "Mr. 0!"
"It's your worthless country that's going to die… Miss Wednesday." He replied darkly with smug grin, which making Vivi flinched at that and all tensed up. That pissed me off and I threw another scissor toward his head, which unfortunately still passed through him and I cursed loudly.
"Stupid Logias!" I growled and he slowly turned to me as he glared at me and I glared back before stuck out my tongue and Nami punched me upside head.
"That hurt you stupid witch!" I yelled at her as a steaming bump on my head.
"Stop making him mad you idiot!" she yelled.
"I'm no idiot!" I yelled back.
"Yes you are!" she replied before gave me another bump.
"IF YOU WEREN'T HERE, ALABASTA WOULD BE IN PEACE!" we heard Vivi exclaimed as she lunged toward Crocodile with her weapon while Crocodile is calmly put in a cigar between hiw lips as she get closer to him.
"'PEACOCK STRING SLASHER'!" she exclaimed as she attacked Crocodile, which cutting off his head along with the back rest of the chair he sat down before he turned completely into sands.
"He's Logia, so not a good thing to do." I said as I saw the scene while almost everyone is startled by the sight.
"Are you satisfied… Miss Wednesday…?" Crocodile said slowly as he reshaped back into human and grabbed Vivi from behind. "If you live in this country, then you should know… about my 'Suna Suna no Mi' power…" he continued.
"Shall I turn you into a mummy?" he asked darkly and the others were yelling at that while I grabbed a cutter before infusing them using haki and threw it toward Crocodile, which cutting his hand a bit and I glared hard at him while he glanced at me with dark look.
"You won't dare…" I growled darkly as my eyes turned into blood-red with slits.
He then threw Vivi to a chair as he walked away, "Sit… and stop glaring at me." he said while Miss All-Sunday walked down the stairs. "It's just about time… for the party to begin. Am I wrong, Miss All-Sunday?" he asked.
"You are correct." Miss All-Sunday replied as she checked a pocket watch, "It's past seven." She stated.
XXX
I was looking down as shadows crept over my eyes and I frowned deeply while everyone else looked slightly surprised and in disbelief at the said 'plan' Crocodile told us about and he laughed so loud, which full of confidence and evil.
"What do you think, Miss Wednesday? The plan that you helped set up is blooming… if you listen carefully, I bet you could hear the shouting all over Alabasta!" he said, "And what do you suppose all of them believe? That we will protect them…!" he continued.
"Protect Alabasta! Protect Alabasta!" he chanted in mocking tone and Vivi finally snapped.
"Stop it! How can you be so awful!?" she yelled in desperate while I gritted my teeth in anger as Crocodile laughed at that.
"Isn't that a tearjerker? Love for one's country is what will destroy it in the end!" he said.
"I think this guy fits the definition of 'depraved' to the letter." Zoro commented as he glared at Crocodile.
"THAT BASTARD! If only this cage weren't here…!" Luffy growled in anger as he rolled up his sleeves.
"I can remember all the hassle I had to go through to get this far! Collecting up members, scraping up money to buy the silver necessary to produce the dance powder… stirring up towns on the brink of destruction… teaching my employees how to carry out false acts of army corruption… slowly eroding the people's trust in their king and increasing their frustration…!" he exclaimed.
"Do you know why I want to control your country so badly, Miss Wednesday?" he asked as he turned to Vivi.
"How could you understand what's in your rotted head!?" Vivi spat back.
"Hmm, a foul-mouthed princess." Crocodile commented before Vivi made herself fell to the ground and started to crawl away.
"Whoa there, what do you think you're doing, Miss Wednesday?" he asked.
"We can stop you!" Vivi exclaimed. "We can still make it in time! If we just go to Alubarna, directly east of here!"
"If we can get to Alubarna before the rebellion does! There's a chance that we could stop them!" she continued.
"Ooh, isn't that odd? We were just going to go there, as well." he said, "Straight to Alubarna. To ask your daddy one little question…!"
"What…? Now what are you going to do to my father?!" Vivi yelled.
"Huh? Which is more important to you, the people or your father, Miss Wednesday?" he asked before taking out a key, "If you want to come with us, the go right ahead." He continued.
"Is that… a key?!" Vivi exclaimed as she saw the key while I grabbed my bag and started rummaging through it before taking out a lock picker while everyone else is yelling in frustration and such.
"Good thing I always bring this." I muttered and sighed before turning back to everyone else, who was watching Vivi and listening to Crocodile and such, I don't care anymore.
"Whoa! Look at that! There's a crocodile growing out of that banana!" Luffy exclaimed and I quickly walked up next to him to see the real thing from the window afar.
"Wow! They're huge!" I commented while I smiled sweetly-but-creepily, "I think beating them up for revenge to that Alligator is a great idea!" I added and giggled creepily, which making Usopp cowered in fear.
"Weird bananas." Luffy stated.
"Look at them, you dumbass. The bananas are growing out of the crocodiles." Zoro told him, "They're weird crocodiles." He finished.
"Aah!" we turned and saw Vivi is looking down with terrified look.
"What wrong, Vivi?!" the Straw-hats asked.
"One of the Bananawani* just swallowed the key!" she replied and I closed my eyes to detect the wani* up that ate the key and nodded as I knew it. Everyone is in their panic states at the news and started talking things to each other while Crocodile is talking things before saying that he and his partner are going to leave.
"Also, this room will automatically destroy itself in one hour." Crocodile said, "I have no use for this Baroque Works secret base anymore. Water will flood into this room and turn it into part of the Rainbase Lake." He continued as the enormous doors were opened.
"One million innocent civilians… or your worthless pirates with no future ahead of them? Your chances of saving just one of the two is slim." He stated, "The 'bet' here os your feelings, Miss Wednesday." He continued before laughing mockingly.
"Even a princess is powerless in these circumstances. It was too easy to do my work here. There are so many idiots…" he trailed off, "Especially those young rebels and a certain old hole-digging man…!" he said and they're started talking about Dried-Up Ossan and he's giving a hint about the sandstorms that always attacked Yuba.
"You did that…?!" Luffy growled in anger and Crocodile laughed out loud as he and Miss All-Sunday walked toward the road behind the doors before the floors were somehow started to open up and waters started to fill up the room.
This time, I walked toward the door of the cage and started my best to pick it as I tried my best to not taking any attentions, which fortunately the Straw-Hats are busy panicking about it and looking at Vivi, who tried to get up and attack Crocodile, but stopped as she fell on her knees. My face darkened as I saw the sight and focusing back on lock picking, which unfortunately kept failing.
"VIVI!" Luffy called loudly, "DO SOMETHING! GET US OUTTA HERE!" he continued before he breathe heavily in anger.
"Luffy-san…" Vivi muttered.
"Luffy." Usopp called.
"Kuhahaha! Are you begging for your life already, Straw-Hat Luffy?!" Crocodile laughed, "I guess everyone is afraid of dying—"
"IF WE DIE HERE, THEN WHO'S GOING TO STOP HIM!?" Luffy yelled.
There is silence until Crocodile cuts it off.
"Don't get too conceited… little man." Crocodile said darkly.
"No, that's you…" I started as I stood up as I glared at him, "YOU'RE THE LITTLE ONE!" Luffy continued darkly as he glared at him also while the two cowards were stared in shock and fear at that.
Then I focused back to my lock-picking while I felt a bananawani is coming into the place as Crocodile is talking things and the wani came into the room, which making Vivi who stared at it trembled in fear.
"Beat it up, Vivi!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Don't be ridiculous! It's too big!" Usopp yelled at him.
"Run away Vivi! You can't fight it!" Usopp yelled, "B-but save us too!" he continued.
"You're the one being ridiculous!" Nami yelled at him.
"Hey, look out the window!" Luffy pointed out, "They're all lining up!"
"Waiting their turn for food." I commented as I still try to picking the lock of the door, which kinda hard as I can't see it.
"So you want to fight… fine. Kill all of them, and the key will be in one of their stomachs." I heard Crocodile said and the wani in the room growled loudly while Vivi readied her weapon to attack. I stopped watching the scene where Vivi is fighting over the crocodile that move fast and have powerful jaws. Then I heard a faint sound of den den mushi and the ruckus from outside the cage suddenly stopped.
Apparently, the one who called is someone called 'Mr. Prince' AKA Sanji-san. They're talking things as I kept focusing on my work right now and apparently, 'Mr. Prince' is making Crocodile angry and the others were yelling to 'Mr. Prince' to save us. 'Mr. Prince' is still talking things until he suddenly cut off by some 'attacks' before the phone is answered by someone else.
"Where are you? Spit it out…" Crocodile growled.
"Yes, sir… at the front gate of the casino called 'Rain Dinners', in Rainbase."
Everyone is panicking about it while Crocodile laughed out loud. I just rolled my eyes at that and finally, the lock of the door unlocked but I kept it still and didn't tell anyone yet about it, cause now's not the time. Then Vivi tried to run toward the top of the stairs and unfortunately, it was seen by the crocodile and it lunged to the princess and making most of us called Vivi out. But apparently she wants to call for help but Crocodile tried to stop her by pulling her back down and making her fell unconscious as her head is bleeding.
"If you love your friends so much, then you can die here with them." Crocodile said as he used the stairs along with his partner, "The water's already filled the crocodile feeding room and is now going to flood this room."
"I think I'll bring that punk 'Mr. Prince' here too…" he continued before grinned evilly, "As a corpse that is! Hahahaha!" he laughed and walked away from the room, which making Luffy all mad and yelled out in anger.
Then I opened the cage door and walked out from the cage, which surprising the Straw-Hats about it. I walked up to the wani as my fists changed color into black before the croc turned to look at me before it lunged at me. I gritted my teeth as shadows crept over my eyes before I readied my fists and battle-cried as I punched the croc away from me toward the wall, hard, and making it unconscious, which unfortunately making the water went in rapidly from the cracks of the walls.
"How do you like that, stupid banana?" I grinned evilly as dark auras spread out from me, which making the areas chilled up so suddenly.
"Hey! The door is open!" Luffy exclaimed in shock, "How did you do that, Eri!?" he asked.
"I picked it." I replied simply and almost everyone comically fell at that.
"YOU PICKED IT!?" everyone yelled in disbelief at me.
"Yep." I replied and cracked up my fingers as I saw more crocs are coming into the room and I glared at them, eyes changed color into blood-red with slits and I grinned evilly.
"Well then," I started and looked up to see the crocs, "Who's next?" I asked and all of them lunged toward me at once.
A few moments later, I stood up on a piled up unconscious bananawanis while Luffy looked so mad as I wiped them all out by myself.
"That's not fair Eri! I want to beat them up too!" he exclaimed childishly.
"Too late." I huffed as I still fuming about Crocodile while everyone else is looked so shock about me able to wipe out all the bananawanis by myself.
"Is she always this strong…?" Usopp asked softly.
"She really is in the same level as Luffy's, or maybe more." Nami said softly.
"Now," I started, "Shall we move on?" I asked and that's the time 'Mr. Prince' came.
"Oh, did I miss some things?" he asked as he looked around.
"You're late." I stated and jumped off from the tower of the wanis as he apologized to me with flirty eyes.
"I'm taken already by Ace, Sanji-san, if you're forgot about it." I exclaimed and he immediately all depressed about it.
Then another bananawani came and about to lunged toward me, only quickly being attacked by Luffy using his punch, hard. That apparently making the croc to spits out a white big ball and after it landed on the filled-up-with-water floor before it cracked up like a egg, revealing there's someone inside the thing, who's Mr. 3.
He's all wrinkly and dried up, maybe because of Crocodile, before he drank the river's water and he turned back into normal. Then he saw us and started screaming in fear before talking things. But the Luffy punched him upside head and Sanji-san did something to him.
Suddenly the water level is increased and actually drowns us along. I was about to swim along with the others until I remember about Smokey and swam back into the cage, where he is now, who was already unconscious. I grabbed him and swam away from the place along with everyone else to the surface and gasped in an air as I pulled Smokey also.
I coughed up before I pulled myself away from the water, along with everyone else. I panted as I tried to catch my breath before I felt Smokey is about to attack me and I quickly dodged away from his reach.
"Why…" I heard him said, "Why did you save me?!" he yelled at me.
I just stared at him before grinned at him, "Because Luffy and Ace won't forgives me if I kill someone again." I said simply and he looked a little taken aback by that.
"Besides," I glanced at Luffy, who tried to catch his breath before turning back to Smokey, "You're a good guy, right?" I asked with a smile. "I won't let a guy like you to stop chasing us wherever we go." I stated and walked toward everyone else.
"THERE THEY ARE!"
"Crap, Marines!" I pointed out and everyone else is starting to panic.
"Go." He said, "I owe you my life, so I let you go for now." He continued and we all a little taken aback by that.
"But the next time we meet, you're dead bunch… remember that, 'Straw-Hat Luffy', 'Demon Fox Eri'…" he said as we stared at him while everyone else is still taken aback by that but Zoro laughed at that.
"Hurry, the Marines are coming! Which way's Alubarna?!"
"That way! Straight to the east!"
"What are you doing, Luffy, Eri? hurry!" Zoro called us and we nodded before turning back to Smokey.
"You really are a good guy, Smokey!" we exclaimed in sync and that apparently made him felt embarrassed and chased us off because of that. We yelped at that and laughed as we ran away toward everyone else, which on a giant crab right now.
"Wow! A giant crab!" I exclaimed and took a picture of it before we hopped on and the crab started to walk away.
But then a golden hook got Vivi and the crab stopped as she got caught by that. But Luffy quickly pulled her away as he traded him with her, and I quickly caught Vivi in my arms before she turned to look at Luffy, who was already in distance.
"YOU GUYS GO AHEAD! I'LL BE FINE BY MYSELF!" he exclaimed and I gritted my teeth at that. "MAKE SURE YOU GET THERE! GET VIVI TO THE PALACE!" he continued while everyone is calling him in worried tones.
"Stupid brother…" I muttered. "HEAD STRAIGHT TO ALUBARNA, CHOPPER!" I exclaimed.
"Okay! Got it!" Chopper replied and we moved again.
"What!? We're just going to leave him, Eri!?" Usopp asked frantically.
"LUFFY-SAN!" Vivi called.
"It's okay Vivi! He'll be fine!" Nami told her. "I feel sorrier for them! There isn't one single person who's tried to fight Luffy and gotten away safely!" she continued.
"Understand, Vivi? He will stop Crocodile." Zoro told Vivi. "The moment the rebellion moved to attack, this country's 'limit' was defined." He continued, "If the army and the rebels collide, this kingdome is done for!"
"If you are our only hope for stopping this, then you must stay alive, no matter what!" I said, "And it doesn't matter to what happens to any of us!"
"But…"
"Vivi-chan," Sanji-san called, "You helped set this fight up." he said. "You left your country years ago, and you began fighting an organization you knew nothing about." He continued.
"However…" he paused for a moment as he turned around, "You're not fight by yourself anymore."
"LUFFY-SAAAN!" Vivi called out loud, "WE'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU IN ALUBARNA!"
"YEAH!"
I kept watching the small figures in distance as I silently prayed for him.
'Please, keep him save…!'
A/N: AN UPDATE! YEAH! And it's late at midnight right now and I'm dead tired, so sorry if there are typos here and there. I typed this when I was half-conscious.
REVIEWING TIME!
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DISCLAIMER: I NEVER OWN ONE PIECE THAT ALWAYS WILL BE OWN BY ODACCHI!
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