"Attack Alubarna!" shouted a rebel soldier as the rebel army flooded into Alubarna.
"Crap. The rebellion's already started." Jet said.
"I've seen countless fights before so I don't need to say this but...things are going to get bad quick." Hera said.
"If we want to stop this, we're going to have to take out the source of the problem itself, the Baroque Works." Adora said. "Specifically, their top guys. Then move on to Crocodile."
"That's not gonna work. These people are riled up. Just stopping Baroque Works isn't going to calm them down." Hera said. "We'll have to end up fighting against the rebels too if we want even the slightest chance of stopping this."
"She's right. While stopping them is our goal, we'll also have to fight these guys." Jexi said.
"It's nothing we can't handle." David said.
"We'll need some way to get some control over the situation." Miles said before looking to the cannons. "And there is our answer." he smirked as he took control of the cannons as they opened fire on the enemy soldiers.
From the palace, Crocodile could see all of this unfolding. "Huh...seems those losers still have some fight in them." he said.
"Mr. 0. We need to be going now." Robin said.
"Yes. I was getting bored with this. Have Mr. 1 and Mr. 2 finish this and clean up the mess." Crocodile said as the two retreated into the palace.
Just as soon as they took some parts of the city, two men soon appeared within it. One was dark skinned and bald and one was a man dressed like a ballerina.
"Bosses orders...take care of anyone interfering." Mr. 1 said.
"Hahahaha! Just die now." Mr. 2 said.
"Looks like the tops of Baroque Works just joined the fight." Rainbow said.
"So it's that annoying guy again… I'll take care of him." Zoro said, advancing on Mr. 1.
"Which leaves me with…" Sanji said as he countered a kick coming from Mr. 2.
"Move! Eh, who are you?" Mr. 2 asked fighting Sanji kick for kick.
"Sanji...one of the greatests chefs on the sea." Sanji said.
"You gotta be kidding! A newbie cook like you challenging little ol' me?!" Mr. 2 asked as he struck back at Sanji. "I was merciful to you and your friends when we last met. This time, we fight like we mean it!"
The two ferociously exchanged kick for kick before lunging at one another with final strikes each.
"Veau Shot!" Sanji shouted.
"Bombardier Arabesque!" Mr. 2 shouted.
The two of them landed on both sides as Mr. 2 ended up spinning out and crashing into a building as he lied on the ground.
"Well...you may as well go ahead and finish me. I'm gonna end up killed when they learn I've failed." Mr. 2 said before Sanji offered a hand.
"You fought well." Sanji said.
"(Is this...a hand of friendship?)" Mr. 2 thought as he took Sanji's hand before turning his head as tears leaked out. "(Don't cry. Don't you dare cry.)"
Sanji then lifted a leg and dealt a final kick to his head before walking off.
"Later." Sanji saluted.
"(Ah… he ended it.)" Mr. 2 thought before losing consciousness.
On the other side of the city, Zoro and Mr. 1 fought against one another before he ended up against a pillar as Mr. 1 approached.
"Die with dignity." Mr. 1 said, dicing up the pillar as it fell towards Zoro. Thinking his job was complete, Mr. 1 walked away, only to hear the sounds of cutting through stone. Turning back, he was surprised to see Zoro still standing. "You think you can stand against me with just one sword?"
"No." Zoro said.
"Then you are prepared to die. Happy to oblige! Atomic Spar!" Mr. 1 said, rushing at Zoro.
"One Sword Style: Lion's Song!" Zoro said, cutting right through Mr. 1 who fell to the ground. "Thanks to this fight….I know I can get stronger. I have no idea what your past was like...but let it end here in Alubarna." he said walking off.
"That takes care of all of the tops. Now we just need to get to Crocodile." Sunset said.
"He's probably already in the ruins under the city by now." Jexi said.
"Thats where Luffy will be headed too, if he's not already there." Hope said.
"Then let's stop wasting time stating the obvious. Let's get down there." Scarlet said as they hurried into the palace and into the ruins where they saw Crocodile and Robin in front of a large black stone.
"So these are the Poneglyphs, are they, Nico Robin? How strange looking they are. And you can read them?" Crocodile asked.
"Yes." Robin said.
"The guards must all be sleeping. I will take this place and turn it into the strongest military nation ever seen! That's why I started this civil war, to take over this nation. Now...read the inscription." Crocodile said. "The strongest military weapon, the Ancient Weapon Pluton, where is it?"
"Unfortunately...all that is here are historical records." Robin said.
"I see. Shame. Well...guess this is where we'll have to part ways." Crocodile said as Robin pulled out a knife and a vial of water. "Water?" he said.
"If you get wet, you'll become as vulnerable as everyone else." Robin said as she was about to smash it onto him before he turned to sand. "Where did…" she said before being struck from behind by him.
"It's okay. I understand. You thought you had my complete trust. Thing is...I've never trusted anyone in my whole life." Crocodile said as she fell to the ground.
"Such a shame. That's no life to live." David said.
"Ah...it's you all again." Crocodile said. "Why do you annoying little bugs keep coming back?"
"Because...we still need to take back this country you stole." Jexi said.
"And unfortunately for you, you're all alone. There's no one left to hide behind anymore." Cheetah said.
"Hiding? Why would I need to hide?" Crocodile said. "Desert Sparda!" he said, sending a cutting wave made of sand at them.
"Freeze Lancer!" David said as he fires crystals at the sand wave. Both attacks collided.
"You all have no business being here! Are all of you willing to die for other people's purposes?!" Crocodile asked.
"If you're asking that of us, then you don't seem to understand." Hope said. "We don't want anyone to die! Friend or not!"
"As enemies...you all disgust me. Ground Secco!" Crocodile said striking the center of the room and drying out anything the sands touched. "Ground Death!" he said as the room collapsed and turned into sand.
"This is bad! He's gonna bring the whole tomb down on us!" Shoji said.
"The pillars are cracking!" Double D shouted.
"Will you all stop panicking already?!" David asked. "If you all just calm down, you can hear our countermeasure roll right in."
"That's right. The guy himself said that this place tends to flood periodically." Captain Cold said.
"And that's exactly how we're going to turn the tide." David said.
"And look...the pillars he cracked...they're full of water." Sci-Twi said.
"Looks like you just screwed yourself over, Crocky." David said.
"Don't mock me, brats!" Crocodile said turning to pure sand and attacking. Mermista was one step ahead as she leaped into the air.
"Hey, croc! Why don't you take a bath?!" Mermista called. She crossed her arms as all four pillars burst apart, water flowing to her before she shot it at Crocodile, drenching him and returning him to his physical form.
"Gah… my body..!" Crocodile said.
"Like Robin said...when he's drenched…" Natsu said, landing a solid punch on him. "He can't turn into sand!"
"Now's our chance to strike!" Cheetah said.
The group executed an all-out attack on Crocodile, wearing him down. Sectonia sends him upward as David leaps.
"Luffy, heads up!" David said as he spikes Crocodile like a volleyball. In response to this, Luffy filled himself with air, twisted himself up, and launched himself up towards Crocodile.
"Gum Gum…!" Luffy started.
"Desert…" Crocodile said.
"Storm!" Luffy shouted.
"La Spada!" Crocodile said sending five sand blades at Luffy only for Luffy to break through them as he rapidly beat up Crocodile high into the ceiling before one final punch sent him crashing right through it, defeating him.
"Let's get out of here." Jexi said as they hurried out of the tomb. By the time they got outside, they saw the skies had darkened as rain fell on the desert country as the fighting outside stopped. "Rain…"
"Looks like...we did it." Glimmer said.
It wasn't long after that they returned to the ship and prepared to head off.
"Looks like we did it. And this was just the first stop on our journey." Jexi said.
"Yeah. There are still more adventures to be found in the Great Pirate Era." Hope said.
"You don't have to keep calling it that." Jexi said as they looked out to see Vivi bidding farewell to the Straw Hats as they sailed off. "But...let's have some more fun in this world."