A/N: I hope you enjoy this:) I didn't mean to be gone for so long, but I really struggled to write this chapter, rewrote it about 5 times!
Chapter XIX: Rewritten History
'Beasts that cannot be tamed must be put down.'-Doflamingo(chapter 790, One Piece Manga)
The harsh dry winds of Alabasta, buffeted Doflamingo's light blond hair, dispersing pesky grains of sand throughout his scalp along the way.
He had little love for them, and at that moment his patience with Alabasta and the entire situation—dried up, like the water inside the wells of this ancient kingdom.
Seeing the all familiar glint of Crocodile's hook, the man who indirectly presented Doflamingo with a golden opportunity on a silver platter, he felt a peculiar sense of satisfaction.
By stealing my clients, you effectively gave me what I need. How delightfully ironic!
His smile grew even wider when his eyes zoned in on Crocodile's distant, mirage-like "entrance" on the sunlit streets below them.
It's time to start the day's show fufu.
"Looks like I found my target." he licked his parched lips, "once I finish this business, I will take you-" he tilted his head back to face Vivi, "home with me fufu."
Vivi was holding onto his shoulders, using his back as her make-shift "transport."
"I'd rather not discuss this right now," she flinched in response and turned away, straining her vision to get a better look at the other Shichibukai in the distance.
"Learn to multitask." Doflamingo surmised laconically.
The Princess opted for diplomatic silence, but the twitch in her eye gave away her irritation. Thankfully her rising fury was crushed the moment her eyes made out a blurry outline of the infamous golden hook which glowed in the sunlight just how Doflamingo did seconds earlier. Vivi could almost feel the leader of the Baroque Works taunting her, with his mere presence.
She chewed her bottom lip in frustration and tried to lift herself up by pressing into the blond Shichibukai's back while mentally thanking Robin for returning her peacock slashers right before they separated and checked the pocket of her cloak for the small test-tube with saltwater. Another precious, "informative" gift from Robin, to be used against Crocodile.
How is this going to be enough though? Argh, I should have brought more! Vivi tried to brush all her worrying thoughts aside.
Just a little longer now and it will be over. Focus.
She steadied herself feeling the cold metal of her concealed weapon against her warm skin.
Doflamingo sensed Vivi's mounting tension and as if on cue his mouth stretched out into a menacing grin.
Well, now there's a wildcat ready to pounce on her prey.
"Get ready." he declared with a flourish whirring right towards their target.
Sir Crocodile's hazel eyes lazily trailed the empty streets of Alubarna. It looked as if the city was void of life.
Shrouded in silence, there was no sign of an ongoing civil war.
And the Shichibukai did not like it. Not one bit. The city was supposed to be steeped in blood, screams and gunshots. Where was all that?
Where were the chaos and havoc he worked so hard to wreak on this "pathetic sandbox of a kingdom?"
What happened here? Crocodile scowled as he reached for his transponder.
This is not how I planned it to be. It's almost noon, where the hell is everybody?!
He squinted his eyes and scanned the horizon for the umpteenth time, but still, no one was there.
His large fingers clenched into a fist.
Suddenly he could sense a shift in the dry air current above him; this could be a trap.
But of course. HE got here before me. How?
Something zoomed above his head accompanied by a ruffling sound; Crocodile snapped his head in its direction.
With or without haki, the elder Shichibukai knew who it was.
"You feathered scum just had to meddle with my affairs!" he thundered into the sky above.
Roaring laughter came from above, Doflamingo circled Crocodile through the infinite blue sky, mocking him with his amusement.
Sir Crocodile did not take this lightly.
He spat out the small bits of tobacco left over from his habit of biting off the tips of his luxurious cigars.
"I told you to STAY OUT OF THIS. You filthy bastard!" Crocodile extended his palm forward creating swirls of sand.
A flash of turquoise fluttering on Doflamingo's back caught his attention.
You stupid girl! All your effort is going to be wasted once you side with this maniac.
"I am many things Croco-man, but a 'bastard'? Really? Not sure about yours, but my parents were married long before I was born. I tend to legitimize whatever I do...or at least try to fufu." Doflamingo quipped as he descended with Vivi in tow who was oblivious to the petty exchange.
A storm was brewing behind those grey eyes of hers; he could sense it just as much as Crocodile.
"Time to pay for what you did to my people and our country!"
Vivi yelled as she gracefully hopped off her feathered "perch" she flipped backwards in the air to amplify the momentum for her spinning slashers and just before her feet hit the ground she sent them forward.
Whoosh.
They flew right past Doflamingo's left cheekbone. He barely had the time to admire the stunning Alabastan metalwork which sparkled in the sunlight before the paper thin blades sliced right through Crocodile's wrist.
Now, this is entertaining fufu!
Vivi pulled her weapons back, feeling the familiar sensation of adrenaline coursing through her veins, she called the first shot in this fight, and it infused her with a long-missed vivacity.
She landed in the middle of the space between Doflamingo and Crocodile. She was effectively facing her enemy with her back to a marginally more dangerous ally. That fact never escaped her but-
I will deal with Crocodile first.
For Vivi, her position between the two dominant men was like a perfect allegory of her past and future. Confronting the evil that plagued Alabasta and her conscience for all those years.
Crocodile was the reason she had to commit so many crimes as a Baroque Works agent. There he was. The man who pushed her into even more dangerous waters. This is why she signed the pact with the devil himself, who stood smiling behind her.
May the Gods and the People of Alabasta forgive me for this.
Her target dusted off the sand that covered the sleeve of his shirt and nonchalantly regenerated his missing limb.
You just don't go away do you brat?
"So becoming a maniac pirate's whore is your way of dealing with me? Tsk. My...how the Nefertaris have fallen kuahaha!"
"SHUT UP!" Vivi spun her slashers.
SNAP.
Her hand froze, and the blades fell uselessly against her forearm, Vivi jerked her head to the left to glare at the source of her restraint.
But Doflamingo only smirked in her direction.
"Croco-man, I told you to stay away from my possessions. This includes the Princess here as well."
Vivi grimaced at his words, but there was no point in arguing with him at this moment.
Futility.
A state that she has sadly been familiar with, for the past four years. But it will end. Everything does at some point.
She cleared her throat, Doflamingo glanced at her, his brows raised quizzically. "Yes?"
"Fine. Feel free to restrict me and think that you are in command, but..." Vivi turned her head to the side, her eyes lowered and transfixed upon the ground in mock acquiescence.
"Never forget that neither you—Doflamingo nor YOU," she practically screeched as she glared back at Crocodile, "belong here! This is MY land. You are both merely uninvited guests! Relish the power you have right now, for it will be gone someday and that is what you are both afraid of."
Doflamingo huffed in faked indignation and snapped his fingers to release her as if to show that those words carried little weight and that he has little need for force to have his way. He would never admit it, but Vivi's words certainly hit that weak spot of his inner sanctum that he hid beneath layers and layers of seemingly impregnable protection.
His silence spoke volumes. Sir Crocodile, on the other hand, did not take this affront so stoically.
"Kuahaha! Lofty words for a Baroque Works' agent don't you think? How many people have you killed for me, Princess?" Vivi's face fell at that reminder.
This is something that I have to live with for the rest of my life.
She often wondered about her targets, marked for death, were they that bad? Or innocent? What about their families? She swallowed the rising lump in her throat.
They were just one of the myriad of tombstones dotting Whiskey Peak, that is if they were lucky enough even to have a burial if not...well that was a sacrilege in Alabastan culture. Vivi would bless their soul, in turn, it's the very least she could do.
They were sacrifices on her bloody path to identify the culprit behind the chaos in her kingdom. There were, of course, the fleeting moments when she felt that she was ridding the world of harmful evil, a perverse justice of sorts, but that was her flimsy consolation.
Vivi was utterly still, save for a few flyaway strands of her long hair that gently blew about her face.
Doflamingo folded his arms, carefully studying her expression, even though Vivi's previous reprimand did not sit so lightly with him. But Crocodile was relentless.
"Speechless? Perhaps your feathered whoremonger should do the talking the hell do you think you are, girl? To spew your moralising lectures at me!"
Doflamingo stepped between the hotheaded pair, but the bluenette wasn't having any of it.
"I am anything but speechless, Crocodile!" Rightfully incensed, Vivi wanted to lunge at Crocodile, but Doflamingo's outstretched arm sent a clear message.
"Croco-man, manners are not your forte, we all know that, but my, you have turned into a peasant out here fufu! That's not the way to speak to the rightful heir to the land you work in. I have to re-educate you. Lesson number one-"
The brunet Shichibukai was unimpressed and scowled at the blond; he swept his hand across his impressive form.
"Barha-"
"Overheat," Doflamingo interjected.
Vivi gasped when a blazing string sprung forth from the palm of his hand, the intensity of its heat was so powerful that she could feel it from behind Doflamingo.
The scorching whip landed right across Crocodile's chest, throwing the statuesque man back. He roared with a mixture of shock and pain as he felt his skin sear beneath the glowing string. His body landed with a loud thud surrounded by a cloud of dust.
"Hmm, it worked as I thought it would." Doflamingo nodded with satisfaction.
He began to circle Crocodile, who was writhing in pain on the ground, with specks of glass around his body going up to his arm. The remnants of his failed attack.
"Lesson number two, I can crush you by using your own logia fruit against you. You see heat melts sand and turns it to glass. Surely you would know that eh?" he mocked before glancing back at Vivi, "That's a useful tip for you there too Princess fufu."
Vivi wasn't sure if she should be disturbed by, Doflamingo's sadistic smile (he was positively glowing with delight), or feel relief in seeing her sworn enemy practically laying at her feet, cursing in pain.
How could he infuse his attack with heat?
"Unbelievable," she whispered.
"That's exactly what you will say to me later in bed! HA!" Doflamingo shot back, his smooth voice full of mirth.
"..." Vivi rolled her eyes
"Don't mock me, degenerates! I am still here, and THIS-" Crocodile rematerialized behind Vivi with his hook pressed against her neck and his hand pressed firmly against her mouth with his fingers squeezing her jaw, "isn't over yet Doflamingo!"
There were screams and shocked gasps in the background as the hiding Alabastans saw what their "hero" was doing to their Princess.
Vivi, however, was unperturbed by their shock, she was more than glad to see the "ugly" truth finally rear its head.
Finally, let it all come out.
An ironclad determination engulfed her senses, in that instant she knew that this would be over and done with, once and for all. She was going to free herself and break these chains, inviting her remarkable reflexes, honed from her rambunctious childhood right through the years as an agent, to come into play.
With her free hand, Vivi pulled out the test-tube, wincing at the glaringly absurd way to store water. Inhaling sharply, she bashed the fragile little thing against Crocodile's hand.
"What the hell is this?!" he hissed.
Doflamingo clapped his hands at Vivi's ingenuity, guffawing at his opponent's reaction.
Taking advantage of the man's momentary lapse in attention, the Princess bit down on his calloused hand, tasting the outlandish mixture of sand, tobacco and to her shock—the familiar metallic taste of blood.
"Argh, you impudent bitch!" Crocodile pulled his hand away, Vivi swerved from beneath his massive arm and swung her slashers forward, spinning them around his wrist. She jumped back to tighten her "reins" around him while freeing herself.
I want you to feel the pain of my people. She watched the metal embed itself into Crocodile's dry skin. Her reaction surprised her with its similarity to Doflamingo's attitude towards violence.
What if I become like him?!
As if sensing her question, her "mentor" touched her shoulder.
"Bravo!" Doflamingo gave her a radiant smile. Interesting, her weapons resemble my strings, with more training or perhaps a devil fruit they would be a lot more useful fufu.
She wanted to ignore his praise and look away, but there was no need for a response.
"Five colour strings." Doflamingo, not wanting to waste any time, ignored Vivi. He ran his long fingers through the air, emitting rainbow-coloured strings. Vivi watched in awe as they gracefully flew from his fingers and cut right through Crocodile's flesh.
How can something so beautiful be so dangerous?
The latter didn't fall back as he did before, he pursed his lips bearing what must have been an insurmountable pain, and wiped the blood off his with the sleeve of his luxurious silk shirt.
Ptui. He spat out a blood clot.
"Pfft, you always fought like a little girl Flamingo, hiding behind your Devil Fruit because you lack the backbone to fight me like a real man."
"Like a real man you say? Fufu, something like this?" Doflamingo landed a haki infused kick with surgical precision into Crocodile's stomach who coughed up more blood.
Vivi watched his blood trickle down his mouth. It was a sobering reality for her, a life lesson of sorts: a person's invincibility is made up of subjectivity and speculation.
Crocodile seemed a lot tougher to me before than he is now.
But the older man had more tricks up his sleeve than he let on, he didn't spend a wild youth in the New World for nothing. He leant back and swung his fist through the air.
"Desert Grande Espada" Crocodile bellowed, wincing as he felt the glass particles from his first failed attack dislodge themselves from his skin.
The momentary sacrifice was worthwhile for the giant blade of sand (fortified with glass) that erupted from beneath Doflamingo's feet knocked the air right out of him. If he hadn't used his strings to mend the lacerations quickly, he might have even lost a leg in the process.
The tall blond swayed from side to side; it took a lot of effort of him not to fall. His chest was slowly rising and falling with each laboured breath, some of the sand and glass mixture got into his lungs amplifying his internal injury. Crocodile still had it in him.
It wouldn't do for the Desert Cat to see me struggle.
Little did he know, that this was the last thing Vivi thought of in that instant.
All the bluenette noticed were the beads of sweat trickling down his sun-kissed skin and to her shock a thin line of crimson blood in the corner of his mouth. Vivi had an urge to wipe it. Oddly enough, it was his vulnerability or the fact that he IS vulnerable that appealed to her strong protective and nurturing instincts.
No, no, no! This can't be happening! I can't be attracted to HIM, not at a time like this! What do I do?
Panting with anxiety, as she tried to decide on the appropriate action Vivi's foot hesitantly took a step forward, towards Doflamingo, but she paused before following it with an accompanying step.
Should I walk up to him? But then that will make him think that I care about him!
Vivi looked side to side, more and more onlookers were timidly making their way to the battle site.
"I have to tell them to stay back," she said in relief for having her titular duties back, no need to think about Doflamingo. For now at least.
"Everyone! Please stay back, you shouldn't be here!" she shouted imploring her people to listen with her hands raised high above her.
A wall of sand rose up behind her; its power blew her hair up, she whipped her head around only to catch the wall crumbled by a wave of iridescent strings.
They just don't give up. Vivi paused trying to get a sense of what was going on only to be interrupted by the people around her
"But your Highness, you're there all by yourself, we can't just leave you like that!" a young woman yelled from the crowd.
"So Sir Crocodile betrayed us huh?" grumbled another.
"The man in pink is he here to help us?!"
And more voices joined in, throwing questions at her from all sides, overwhelmed by their zealous curiosity, Vivi lost track of the Shichibukai fight behind her, while the onlookers formed a circle around her.
By the time she managed to disperse the crowd Doflamingo and Crocodile were both gone.
The midday sun began to lose its dominance to the mellow glow of the afternoon, casting shadows around the vast space of the public square below the palace walls.
Royal soldiers crammed the foreboding defences, gawking down at the scene below them.
Even King Cobra couldn't stop himself from joining in on the spectacle, but who could blame him? Two infamous Shichibukais were locked in a deadly battle virtually at his doorstep.
They moved so fast that it was hard to keep up, landing blows and blocking attacks by the second. It was hard to fathom that anybody of their size could be so light on their feet.
It was almost like an entrancing dance that kept the onlookers enthralled from the start.
And Doflamingo relished the attention their audience lavished upon them. It was his time to shine, another opportunity to drape himself in a hero's mantle, so he would let the wind dramatically swoop his pink coat mimicking his fantasy. Fixing his internal injuries with his devil fruit he imperiously beckoned Crocodile with his hand to continue.
Oh, how he loved the irony of it all.
Crocodile's semi-permanent scowl, on the other hand, said otherwise. The countless nights of planning Operation Utopia, indulging his whiskey and cigar habit, along with the weak opponents he dealt with in Alabasta left him out of shape and a little too comfortable. So comfortable in fact, that he was no longer used to the speed and ferocity of Doflamingo's attacks.
He was struggling to keep up.
That alone incensed him.
The swarming crowds were booing him and throwing whatever they could find at him.
Filthy losers, you used to beg me for help and is this how you repay me?!
Blinded by his natural arrogance Crocodile failed to see what these "losers" did. A scheming pirate who framed their king kidnapped or terrorised their Princess all while trying to take over their country and who knew what else.
"Sables!" he thundered at the "rabble" covering the disgruntled audience with sand.
That will keep them shut for now.
He glanced up at the sky; clouds were beginning to dot the vast space, allowing Doflamingo to zone in on him, poised to attack at any moment.
Crocodile smirked, even though the appearance of the clouds in the sky meant that he was losing stamina at an alarming rate. He used the Suna-Suna fruit to prolong the drought in the area; Dance Powder alone was not sustainable in the long-run. And Sir Crocodile prided himself on thinking everything through from start to finish. Still, it felt good to fight a worthy opponent again despite the high stakes involved.
"Desert la Spada!" he sent forth solid blades of sand at Doflamingo, who just as Crocodile predicted, dodged them laughing all the way.
The blond landed in front of Crocodile with uncanny grace.
"Fufu, your tricks are getting old, much like yourself Croco-man."
"You think?" Crocodile plunged his arm into the ground, "Desert Girasole!"
An enormous crack formed in the centre of the square, splitting the area into two halves with a quicksand hole in the middle.
Doflamingo fell briefly into it; Crocodile had a knack for ingenuity, his opponent gave him the due credit.
But a simple raise of his hand, a few moves with his fingers and his pearly strings propped him right out of the sinking sand.
What an exciting technique, useless against me though.
"This is fun! What else can you do eh?"
"Itching to die flamingo freak?" Crocodile yelled as a few people screamed, trying to scramble out of the quicksand pit.
Doflamingo pulled them out with his strings, they were bowing and thanking him profusely.
"You are our true hero, Sir!"
"Thank you so much!"
"You are incredible!"
And on it went, with more people gathering around and chanting their praise and gratitude for their unlikely saviour.
"Doflamingo! Doflamingo! Our hero!"
"He saved our Princess!"
"Not only that, he saved our land!"
All that cacophony alerted Vivi, whose blood practically froze when she heard the chants.
What if he pulls off what he did in Dressrosa?!
She dashed towards the palace to get a better view, climbing up the walled ramparts that housed the Royal Guards was a lot easier now, given their distraction.
They are still fighting?! It's been hours!
Running past the security, she finally made it to the seemingly empty palace.
Father is probably watching this too; she thought while making her way to the balcony.
Sure enough, there he was with Chaka.
"Father!" she yelled, panting from her marathon.
"Vivi dear, you must see this!" he smiled beckoning her to join him.
She leaned over the balustrade, gasping at the damage the Shichibukai duo caused.
I will make sure the repair money comes from Baroque Works' coffers. Speaking of which,
"Chaka, could you send someone to the casino at Rainbase? We need to get the Baroque Works' treasury before it leaves Alabasta."
"It will be done." the stoic man bowed.
"Vivi, take a break for once!" Cobra smiled at her sympathetically.
"Father, we need to reduce our dependence on Doflamingo as much as possible. Right now he is making himself out to be a hero; this is what he did in Dressrosa, tricking everyone, what if-"
"Shh." Cobra raised his palm.
"Whatever happens we will deal with it as it comes," he hugged Vivi, "together this time, you are not going to shoulder these burdens all by yourself anymore. This is not what I promised your mother. Besides, as notorious as Doflamingo is, he has to have an ounce of good in him." Cobra concluded mysteriously.
"Why do you say that?" Vivi pulled away from their embrace, while briefly glancing at the man in question down below. He was hit in the face by Crocodile's golden hook; he kicked back the latter with an armament haki covered leg.
The bluenette focused back on Cobra, waiting for an answer.
"His father was a dear old friend of mine," he said wistfully.
"What?! "
"Yes, Homing Donquixote, a wonderful man. He left Mariejois and abandoned his Celestial Dragon status. Surely some of his goodness would pass on to his son."
Vivi felt a chill run down her spine, remembering the book she found back on Nanimonai island with Crocodile's neat handwriting describing how Doflamingo took over Dressrosa.
He is trying to regain what his father had lost, all his talk about an empire, about having an heir with someone "worthy", he craves power. Nothing like his Father!
"He must hate his Father then," Vivi concluded abruptly.
"How could you be so sure?" Cobra stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"It doesn't matter right now; I will explain it all later, but we can't let him take full credit for Crocodile's defeat, the people are proclaiming him to be their saviour while you and I are back to being hapless victims! This has to stop!"
"Vivi you need to step back for a change, you've been through enough. My plan failed, Crocodile escaped the tombs what else can we do now? Doflamingo is no angel that's for sure, but he had to fend for himself from an early age. Surely it can't be that bad, I mean the people of Dressrosa chose him..." Cobra's speculations faded out when he saw the urgency in his daughter's eyes.
Who was he to argue with her after all that she has been through? Cobra will be plagued by guilt for the rest of his life, for letting his only child go through all that while he stayed in the background.
"Alright, what do you suggest we do then?" he clasped his daughter's shoulders and looked her intently in the eye.
"Well first-" she gave him a cheeky smile. His simple question gave her an insurmountable sense of fulfilment.
"Yes?" Cobra gave her a conspiratorial wink, seeing her smile like that reminded him of all the mischief she got into as a child.
It was like old times, except this time he is seriously considering what I said!
The bluenette paused, letting this realization sink in, her father now saw her as virtually an equal, an adult.
Cobra gently tapped her shoulder, "Go on."
Vivi nodded firmly.
"We will need water, whatever is left in the palace for our use."
Cobra ran his fingers through his hair, Vivi could almost see him weighing all the pros and cons in his head.
"But Your Majesty, we only have drinking water here, everything else has dried up orbeen distributed to the public, but I can send someone to get us seawater." The loyal Jackal-zoan still blamed himself for his failure to stop the Baroque Works, and now they risked the entire drinking supply for the reptilian monster! Thus he felt obliged to question a Nefertari's suggestion.
"Chaka, I appreciate the gesture, but we don't have the time for this. Either we have a hand in Crocodile's defeat now, or we sit back and face the reality of becoming another Shichibukai's pawns." Vivi countered coolly.
Chaka bowed solemnly, to her, accepting her authority before glancing at the King.
Cobra beamed with pride at seeing his precious daughter's foresight.
"Do as she says, everyone!" Cobra clapped his hands at once.
"Your word is my command." Chaka clasped his left fist with his right hand before bowing and leaving the terrace.
Vivi picked up the spyglass from the balustrade, "Let's see where Crocodile and..." she didn't want to bring up his name again, remembering the trickle of blood running down a chiselled cheekbone, the cocky smile, her mixed emotions whenever she saw him... her lips pursed in annoyance.
But there he was, basking in the sunlight with an adoring crowd cheering him on to finish off Crocodile. His hands on his hips, ever the hero. Or conqueror?
He was their new darling.
Crocodile was belting out one attack after another at Doflamingo, who either blocked or dodged them while shooting bullet strings.
Vivi had to admit it was a beautifully choreographed fight, even if neither participants planned it to be so. Both men showcased their lethal skills to utmost perfection.
It was fascinating to watch their dance of death; she could see why the public was drawn to it too at the risk of their own lives.
But for Vivi, the spectacle was an excellent opportunity to remind Alabastans that the Nefertaris stayed loyal to their land and could still fight back when needed. Crocodile started the fight, and Vivi must end it, Doflamingo cannot hog all the spotlight and credit for Alabasta's liberation. It will only diminish the dwindling power of her dynasty and give him even more bargaining power over her.
She already agreed to pay his hefty price in full; she would die before giving him any extra benefits.
Vivi carefully followed the movements of the two men, waiting for that breach in their fight to bring her plan to fruition. It was a risky gamble, but it would help diminish Doflamingo's role by a notch or two and consequently—his hold over her. And so she waited for the right moment to strike.
The skies over Alubarna were saturated in pink and orange hues of dusk by the time a brief pause ensued between the battling Shichibukais. It all started when Doflamingo blocked Crocodile's punch and hurled the brunet across the square-right into the walls of the palace.
The air was charged with insurmountable apprehension, as loud gasps echoed throughout the space. This was the culmination everyone was waiting for. There was barely anything left of the famed square, and people used its glorious remnants as makeshift shields against Crocodile's fury or Doflamingo's counterattacks.
"Is it over?"
"Did you see it? Crocodile landed in front of the palace!"
"Is he dead?"
That's a question Doflamingo wanted an answer for too; he was somewhat annoyed with their prolonged fight, all that sand thrown his way made it difficult for him to focus his attacks.
Crocodile may have lacked the agility he had back in the day before he settled in Alabasta, but the older man certainly made up for it with his cunning and vicious attacks, which kept Doflamingo at a considerable distance most of the time.
But he wasn't fast enough fufu.
Covered in sweat and blood, with his dishevelled blond hair Doflamingo looked like a predator on the prowl, several women swooned when he passed by, fervently thanking him for saving their city.
"Shh, no need to thank me yet." he grinned before taking off to check Crocodile's status. Oddly enough the clouds were beginning to gather towards the end of their fight and Doflamingo had an inkling on why this was the case, he just had to confirm it in person.
As he zoomed through the air, he heard a familiar voice. Her voice.
"Alabasta, I Nefertari Vivi want to thank you for your support!"
Hushed voices rose up all around him.
"Did you hear that? She's alive!"
"This must be the Royal Broadcast Service!"
"Shh, let me listen to it!"
What is she doing? Doflamingo held back when he heard Vivi's broadcast throughout the capital's loudspeakers.
"I apologise to you on behalf of the King and the Royal Guard in our failure to stamp out this treacherous evil earlier, but rest assured that it will all end now because I sentence Sir Crocodile to death in the name of my Father, the King and You! The People of Alabasta! It's over! The war is over, let there be peace in our land, and I vow to guard it with my life. Let's rebuild our country together this time!"
The bluenette's voice flowed with remarkable clarity and confidence instilling the same sentiments into the hearts and minds of her people.
There was brief silence before a loud bang rang out in the air.
Cheers went out all around him.
"The Princess is back!"
"What Princess?! She should be a Queen already!"
"For Alabasta! For our Vivi!"
More and more people came out from hiding, brandishing their support for the Royal house of Alabasta some with eponymous flags, others with their fists or swords up in the air and on it went. A chain of cheers and relief.
Doflamingo frowned, that little snake! Trying to diminish my role here eh? I ought to teach you a lesson that you will remember for the rest of your life fufu!
As he flew over the heads of the jubilant crowds, the King of Dressrosa realised that he underestimated the young woman's cunningness, and yet he wasn't angered by it as much as he thought he would be.
In fact, Doflamingo caught himself enjoying her machinations, and so rare it was that he couldn't remember the last time he had this much fun in a woman's company.
Vivi's fist clenched the transponder snail with such force that her knuckles turned white, she knew Doflamingo wouldn't like this. But she didn't risk it all for so long only to be relegated to the background as his little damsel in distress.
The gunshot earlier was her signal for Chaka and the Royal Guards to pour the remaining water supply of the Royal Palace on Crocodile, exploiting the latter's weakness to the maximum.
Vivi climbed down the palace walls to see Crocodile herself, sidestepping a few newly "made" crags in the ground, she nimbly jumped over a fallen column, landing herself just a stone's throw away from her mortal enemy.
There he was, sprawled out on the ground, the granite wall behind him, partially destroyed after he hit it with his back, crumbled right on top of him. Soon the palace guards and the marines will be here too, but Vivi wanted to savour this sweet moment of victory.
A double victory even, by announcing to everyone that she sentenced Crocodile to death and by getting here first, the people will have to acknowledge that Doflamingo didn't do it alone.
But where is he? Vivi looked around carefully, but there was no sign of the flamboyant man.
With a sharp inhale Vivi took a closer step towards Crocodile's large form, eyeing his patent loafers with distaste, she kept walking until she stood right above his head.
Scanning the area for Doflamingo once again, she took out her peacock slashers and placed them on her fingers, before shrugging her father's thick cloak off her shoulders.
"I told you this day would come, Crocodile! I swear on the gods of Alabasta and my ancestors that I will never-" she raised both her arms to propel the slashers, "allow anyone to take over our land and disrupt our peace. This one is for my people!"
"A bit too early for that don't you think?"
Vivi's hands froze, she knew this wasn't of her own doing, there was no way she could have stopped the slashers instantly like that.
But he can.
"Why did you stop me?!" she hissed.
"I hate it when people take credit for my work fufu."
"You said you would make him pay for what he did to Alabasta!"
"That I did, but I want the ending to be staged differently."
Vivi blinked back tears of rage.
We are all just puppets in his play, everyone. Even Crocodile today. This isn't fair; one man shouldn't have THIS much power.
"What ending did you have in mind?" She glanced up at him; her eyes burned with fury.
SNAP.
Vivi's arms fell limply to her sides.
"There that's better." Doflamingo murmured, as he ran his thumb along her jaw, "and since you're so accommodating, I may even forgive you for your earlier transgression fufu."
"You didn't answer my question."
"I'll show you later, but for now I want you to look up."
Vivi complied.
"See the clouds up there, and it looks like it may rain soon right?"
Her grey eyes widened, "Yes! It does!"
Even the air was beginning to feel more humid, and the wind picked up.
"That's only because Croco-man here, has an awakened Devil Fruit, he's not so lazy after all. He must still be conscious because if he weren't, it would be raining by now."
"Bullet string," Doflamingo commanded nonchalantly, as four pearly bullets lodged into Crocodile's palms and ankles. He didn't even move.
"This will keep him in place for now fufu."
Vivi furrowed her brows, his nonchalance towards violence made her question her own decision to punish Crocodile.
"Are you saying he held back the rainfall with his power? But he used dance powder and framed Father for it." Vivi recalled sceptically, eyeing the sky again, it was even cloudier than before, the sky almost matched the colour of her eyes.
"There is not enough dance powder in the world to hold back the rains for so long."
"I am sure you would know all about its supply...what was it again? Ah, yes...Joker. Did you sell it to him by any chance?"
"No darling, nowadays I am more of a SMILES man fufu."
"Don't call me that!"
"Get used to it. Or do you prefer Desert Cat?"
"I prefer my actual name." Vivi didn't want to waste another minute on his mockery; she knew that this was all part of his punishment, keeping Crocodile alive for as long as possible.
Doflamingo stretched out his hand to her; she pushed it away.
"You said that you would kill him for your future heir and me."
"And I will."
"Then what are you waiting for?!"
Doflamingo grinned, "Give me your hand, let me show you something."
"What?"
Vivi gasped as his large hand clasped over her own, he led her back to Crocodile, letting go of her hand Doflamingo crouched down behind her.
She could feel his hot breath on her shoulder, "Pick any part of him and cut it off. But remember anything but the neck." he whispered into her ear, as he pushed her hair to the side to gently touch her neck.
Vivi froze, she could almost sense his arousal.
He is a sadist.
But this is Crocodile, and I want him to suffer a hundredfold for what he did...but I didn't want it to be like this.
Is this a test?
Vivi gulped, "Why?"
"This is part of the ending I had in mind." he breathed.
"I-I see." she shivered.
"Go on." he licked his lips, letting his tongue graze Vivi's burning skin in the process.
She practically jumped at the sensation and tried to focus on Crocodile's impressive form instead. His eyes were closed, the usually slicked back hair stuck to his face, his massive arm and hook spread out to the sides.
I have to make him suffer for what he did to us. So he will learn his lesson. But then...
The infamous golden hook caught her eye with its polished shine. Vivi
"I will start," she spun her slashers, "with this!" Vivi sent her lethal metal strands right at her target. What's done is done.
SLASH.
Hot crimson splattered around, and Crocodile's hook rolled off to the side. Vivi picked it up, it was heavier than she expected, and the poisonous blade inside it oozed a few purple droplets that sizzled when they reached the ground.
I can't believe I did this.
Doflamingo gave her one of his most radiant smiles, which unnerved her.
"Croco-man has the unique privilege of losing the same limb twice fufufu! "
"Right.." Vivi smiled nervously, for some reason there was no initial satisfaction that she envisioned experiencing upon Crocodile's defeat. On the one hand, she was glad to be rid of the failed usurper, but on the other, she wasn't sure if this was the right approach to take.
"I know what you are thinking...Vivi, but death is the last thing people like him would fear. You know what he would hate the most?"
The bluenette was startled when she heard Doflamingo use her name in a serious context.
"I do." she nodded, pointing the bloodied hook at the brunet. "Crocodile would hate to live to see his ambitions shatter right before his eyes."
"That's right. So why don't we shatter them right here, right now?"
Vivi hesitated.
"All those people who died here because of him, all the sacrifices you and your father made because of him...what he did to you," at that moment Doflamingo's pleasure in getting Vivi to succumb to his cruel games came to an abrupt halt.
He pursed his lips remembering how Crocodile almost choked her to death at Rainbase.
Vivi fell into a stupor when she saw Doflamingo casually flick his hand, and with it, Crocodile's left arm came off in the clean cut. A pool of blood formed around him, soaking his opulent clothes.
This is what you get for laying your hands on what's rightfully mine! You can say that you lost the same limb thrice fufu.
Vivi was stunned into silence.
A loud rumbling sound came from above, followed by the cool, wet, pitter-patter of rain.
Vivi looked up in disbelief raising her hands up to welcome the life-giving force that finally deigned to bless Alabasta with its presence.
Croco-man must be out of it by now. Doflamingo cast an unperturbed glance at the fallen man.
"It didn't go according to plan huh...Mister Zero? Fufu should have picked a better codename." he laughed at his joke.
Still dazed and in a state of shock, Vivi wasn't sure if she felt what Doflamingo did, but she joined in. Whether it was out of solidarity or relief, she didn't know.
It's over. The war is over, and Operation Utopia failed.
But her laughter, genuine and melodic this time, finally gave Doflamingo him a glimpse of a happy, carefree side of her that he wanted to see before.
"That's true, now he certainly lives up to it." she grinned at Doflamingo mischievously.
Seeing her like this: the dress drenched by the rain, clinging to her every curve. Her long cerulean hair stuck to her glistening skin and those wild eyes of hers echoing the skies above, looked at him directly and unabashedly. Doflamingo knew then that he wanted her all to himself and no one else.
A powerful possessive urge threatened to unleash itself from within him, but he reigned it in as best as he could.
Vivi, overcome with gratitude and relief at that moment almost forgot about their deal.
"Come, Chaka will be here soon. We need to head back to the palace." she tugged at the sleeve of his coat.
"Wait." Doflamingo pulled her into his body, Vivi gradually came out of her reverie and was about to pull away when she realised that he was wrapping his coat around her.
"I can almost see through your dress, and you can't walk around the guards like that."
"Oh." her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"But don't hold yourself back when it's just the two of us fufu."
"..."
"We made a deal remember?"
"Yes, a deal to unite dynasties not you getting a private brothel, which I'm sure you probably have anyway."
Doflamingo laughed at her retort to the shock of a newly arrived Chaka and the accompanying guards.
The jackal cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, do you want us to carry out his sentence now?" he gestured at Crocodile.
"No, send him to the dungeons and keep him there until the Marines pick him up," Vivi ordered.
"As you wish." Chaka bowed along with the rest of the guards, who then proceeded to chain Crocodile's unconscious body with massive Kairoseki chains.
Back at the palace, an anxious King Cobra was relieved to see his daughter alive and well. She was readying to address the exuberant crowds gathered at the foot of their terrace, in the ruined square.
But before Vivi could pick up the transponder Doflamingo came to stand next to her, facing the Alabastans with her.
The crowds went wild when they saw the statuesque Shichibukai stand by their Princess, who still wore his coat.
That did not go unnoticed.
"Oohs" and "ahs" followed by loud chants of "Alabasta! Alabasta! Princess Vivi! Doflamingo!"
Just when Vivi reached out for the loudspeaker transponder, Doflamingo gently took it out of her hand, of course, she would not fight him over it in public, lest it prompts further civil discord and heavens knew they had enough of that for now.
So she pulled on a fake smile, waiting for Doflamingo to seal her fate.
"Alabasta, what an impressive Kingdom this is! Some of you may wonder why I decided to rid you of your Crocodile problem," he casually perched himself on the balustrade of the terrace. "The reason is quite simple actually. Being a king of the land of passion—Dressrosa, I often wondered if I would ever find my Queen, that is until the day," he reached for Vivi's hand, "I met the divine Princess of Alabasta...Nefertari Vivi. After receiving His Majesty's blessing," Doflamingo smiled at a visibly paler Cobra and gestured for him to come forward and join them on the terrace, "I am happy to announce that Princess Vivi and I will marry right here in Alabasta!"
A thunderous roar went out below as the exuberant crowds cheered over this announcement.
"A fairytale! The Princess will marry her knight in shining armour...feathers!"
"Donquixote Doflamingo is a true hero! What a gentleman!"
"This is incredible!"
"Long-live Alabasta! Nefertari! Donquixote!"
It was as though a wave of euphoria swept through the entire country; the news would spread like wildfire.
Doflamingo beamed at his newfound admirers, Vivi smiled too, but hers was strained by fear.
King Cobra came to stand between the two as if to show a united front.
"I never gave you my blessing Doflamingo," he muttered through his teeth.
"Oh, how rude of me fufu, I assumed since your daughter accepted my proposal I automatically have your approval."
"Vivi?"
"Father it's alright, I accepted it a while ago. Don't worry, we can discuss the details later, and everything will be fine, right...Doffy?" she smiled at Doflamingo, but he now knew what lay behind that smile, only given away by the steely coldness of her gaze.
"Of course, you are in for a deal of a lifetime Princess fufu."
A/N:Thank you for reading! I can't find the source of the fan theory that Crocodile's awakened DF (I read about it a long time ago) could prolong the draughts in Alabasta, if anyone knows the original source please let me know.