SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 45 out, this is Chapter 46 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors, myself included, sustain on readers' reviews.
Pairings: Ace/Sasha, familial Luffy/Sasha, patriotic Law/Sasha (Might end up as a Law/Sasha pairing later if I end up killing Ace at Marineford and if reviewers don't mind the age gap)
Disclaimers: One Piece belongs to Oda EiichirÅ-sensei. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except my OC.
Chapter 46: Arc 4: The Terrifying Banana Gators and Mr. Prince!
"Just what are you planning to do with Alabasta?" Vivi demanded.
"Would you like to know the type of people I look down on most of all?" the smirking Crocodile taunted. "Hypocrites who treasure the so-called 'happiness of the people'."
"You intend to kill my father?" Vivi glared. "As if you could ever do that?"
"There's no need to shout." Crocodile tsked. "I have no such intention. He's not even worth killing. I'm going to let Cobra taste humiliation far crueler than death. That's no way for a princess of a country to look." he mocked.
"I'll ask one more time!" Vivi snapped. "Just what is Operation Utopia? Tell me!"
"Now, now." Crocodile chided. "Do you realize where you stand in this situation?"
"Answer the question!" Vivi ordered.
"You're a valiant princess." Crocodile admitted. "But very well: the operation has already began. I'll tell you about the plan to end this country. About Operation Utopia..." and he detailed how he had Mr. 2 impersonate Cobra and burn down Nanohara just to force the rebellion army into action. "Well, do you like it? The operation you once participated in has now blossomed. If you listened closely, you could probably hear the howls of Alabasta. And they all think the same thing. 'Protect Alabasta.'"
"Stop it!" Vivi screamed. "How can you be so cruel?"
"Isn't that just heartrending?" Crocodile mocked. "Love for the kingdom will be what destroys the kingdom. So many moves I've made to make it this far. The sabotage to instigate the citizens, directing the royal army's misconduct. Have you any idea why I'd go to such lengths to attain this country?"
"The Ancient Weapon: Pluton." Sasha started plainly. "That is what you really after, am I right? Too bad though," she smirked. "Even if you did manage to awaken it, you won't be able to use it."
"What do you mean?" Crocodile turned a glare at the unfazed water user.
"That's because you're missing the one key to gain access to its power." Sasha informed. "The blood of a God."
"A hole?" Vivi gasped when the sneering Crocodile dropped the cage's key into the water tank.
"It won't be too long before their fight to the death begins." Crocodile declared. "To stop the rebellion, you'd need to leave at once, Miss Wednesday. Or will you save these people instead? Though it doesn't help that I accidentally dropped the key below the floor into the banana gators' den."
"What's that insanely huge alligator?" Nami exclaimed, seeing the congregation of alligators swim about in the water tank.
"This room is underwater?" Usopp echoed.
One of the Banana Gators sniffed the fallen key and swallowed it.
"A Banana Gator swallowed the key to your cell!" Vivi informed the trapped group. "Banana Gators are so ferocious that they even prey on Sea Kings. Get near one and you'll be eaten in one bite."
"I apologize for clumsily dropping the key." Crocodile smirked. "Plus, there's no telling which one swallowed it."
"Damn!" Zoro cursed. "If we can get out of here, I could handle those reptiles.
"Well then." Crocodile snapped his fingers and the door in front of him opened. "We must be going a little earlier than you. Also, this room will be destroyed automatically in one hour's time. The secret underground room I've used as Baroque Works president is no longer of use. It will soon fill with water and be submerged in Rainbase's lake. One million innocent citizens or a mere five pirates with no future? Only one choice can be saved, though the odds are low for both. Your feelings are you ante, Miss Wednesday. Do you like gambling? With so many fools in this country, this was such an easy job. The juvenile rebels and the old man digging in Yuba, for example. A foolish old man who keeps pecking away every day at an oasis that's long dead. He keeps at it, despite the constant sandstorms. Tell me, Straw Hat Luffy, do you think sandstorms can strike towns perfectly time after time?"
"What are you saying?" Vivi demanded.
"You did it?" Luffy concluded.
"Exactly, aniki." Sasha confirmed. "Sand and water don't mix; with him eating the Sand-Sand Fruit, rain is his main antithesis. Take that away and he'll be able to use his abilities to its fullest."
"I'll kill you!" Vivi swore as Crocodile and Robin sauntered off.
"Water is leaking in!" Usopp panicked when the water in the tank burst out from the trap doors. "The whole room's gonna be flooded if we don't do something! Vivi, do something!"
"The kingdom or my friends, you say?" Vivi growled. "I doubt you really plan on giving anything back. You plan to take my life too before I reach Alubana. I know full well that nothing will end unless I beat you. You don't even know anything about this country's people, history, way of life... you don't know anything about it!"
"Vivi, do something!" Luffy shouted. "Get us out of here!"
"Finally starting to beg for your life, Straw Hat Luffy?" Crocodile mocked. "But it's only natural. Everyone is afraid of dying."
"If we die, who's going to kick your ass?" Luffy snapped.
"Don't flatter yourself, small fry." Crocodile snorted.
"You're the small fry." Luffy glared.
Crocodile snapped his fingers and a Banana Gator emerged from the hatch on the ground. "Well, this is your chance to abandon them, Miss Wednesday." he remarked. "If you wish to stop the rebellion, that is."
"It's so big!" Vivi took a step back when faced with the oversized reptile.
"Look out the windows!" Nami pointed out.
"They're all waiting their turn!" Usopp panicked, seeing the row of Banana Gators lining up outside.
"Peacock String..." Vivi readied her weapon when an immense Haki flooded the underwater room, keeping the Banana Gator rooted to the ground.
"This power..." Smoker was alerted by the powerful Haki wave. "I sense such a powerful Haki from this girl..." his eyes focused on Sasha. "What on earth is this? I've never felt such an immense Haki. It's isn't any Conqueror Haki I've felt before... it's more powerful... and greater... no... this Conqueror Haki is one that overflows the entire universe... who is this Sasha..."
"Someone's calling." Robin pointed out in the underwater tunnel, the Mini Den Den Mushi she had on her started ringing. "What?" she took the call.
"Hello?" Sanji voiced from the other end. "Can you hear me?"
"You're a Millions, right?" Robin asked.
"Hurry up and state your business." Crocodile took over. "What happened?"
"I've heard that voice before." Sanji noted. "Heya, you've called the Kuso Restaurant."
"I'm certain we have all five Straw Hat pirates inside that cell." Crocodile remarked. "All that's left is their pet. Does that mean there are still others?"
"Sanji-san..." Vivi muttered. "That's right. Sanji-san and Tony-kun are still outside."
"Just who are you?" Crocodile demanded.
"Me?" Sanji echoed. "I'm Mr. Prince."
"Where are you?" Crocodile growled.
"'Fraid I can't say." Sanji taunted. "If I did, you'd come to get rid of me. Though, setting aside whether or not you can get rid of me, I'm not so stupid as to give up information so easily. Unlike you, Mr. 0."
"Prince, help!" Usopp screamed. "We've been caught! There's no time!"
"Sounds like my crew's right by your side." Sanji chuckled. "In that case, I'm gonna..."
"Troublesome bastard!" a huffing voice took over after a gunshot was heard. "We've caught him. What should we do with this strange man?"
"Where are you?" Crocodile asked. "Tell me!"
"The right gate of a casino in Rainbase called Raindinners." the Millions agent replied.
"That is great." Crocodile drawled. "Let's go to the front gate."
"Vivi," the manifested Water Empress turned to Vivi. "Get outside to get help from Sanji and Chopper."
"Alright." Vivi nodded and started climbing up the stone staircase.
"Kneel!" Sasha turned her focus on Crocodile and Robin, strengthening her Divine Haki to bind both Devil Fruit users to the ground.
With both Crocodile and Robin immobilized, Vivi took the chance to escape.
What is this pressure...Crocodile was forced to one knee. I can't move...
What is this immense power... Robin hid her wince, sweat dripping from her forehead. Could she be... her eyes widened when she saw the silhouette of Queen Selena appeared behind Sasha. Queen Selena? She recognized the image of the woman from the prayer shrine Clover had kept within the Tree of Knowledge, the aged scholar had related to her numerous times that for generations, the islanders on Ohara revered the Water Dragon Goddess.
SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.