This is the 58th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
Magnificent Wings! Pell, Guardian Deity of Alabasta!
Alabasta, Alubarna
At the Alubarna town square, the ongoing fight between the rebels and the royal army continued to rage on while Mr. 7 and Ms. Father's Day prepared a cannon. The Marines were questioning the people which they didn't know that it was actually the Baroque Works, which the agents are answering the question by lying to them.
"Baroque Works? I don't know that I even heard of such a company. Are you sure it exists? We're just ordinary citizens of Alabasta, Mr. Marine. You wouldn't wanna hurt good citizens just because there's a rebellion."
And just then, Tashigi slashed the Baroque Works agents, killing them in the process which it got the Marines shocked of her actions.
"Wait, Sergent Major, they-"
"Shut up!" Tashigi shouts, sheathing her blade and then turns to her fellow Marines. "Why were hesitating, Marine?! If you wait for proof, you won't prevent anything! You should be able to tell who the enemy is immediately!"
The Marines then gives Tashigi a salute.
"Yes, we're very sorry, Sergent!"
'We only have until 4:30, we're running out of time!' Tashigi mentally thought, looks up at the clock tower when she noticed a cannon inside. "The clock..."
At the clock tower, both Ms. Father's Day and Mr. 7 were about to prepare to fire the cannon at the town square to wipeout the city along with the rebels and the royal army since it's the final mission given by Crocodile. Although, what they failed to notice was that the Baroque Works agents are still around, but the agents were clever enough to figure it out.
"Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit! Hey, listen Mr. 7, I think this is a very important mission the boss has assigned to us." Ms. Father's Day states with a smirk.
"I think you're absolutely correct about that, Ms. Father's Day." Mr. 7 agrees with a laugh.
"And you know what else? I'll bet we'll get big promotions for pulling this off successfully. Ribbit, ribbit!" Ms. Father's Day told her, causing Mr. 7 to laugh.
"I do hope that that is the planful reward. After all, this is quite the difficult mission when you think about it, Ms. Father's Day." Mr. 7 agrees with a laugh. "We're shooting a cannonball into the ground, using such a big cannon. So, the reward should be just as big."
The clock continues to countdown since it's almost time for the cannon to fire.
"Ribbit, it's almost time to go now, Mr. 7." Ms. Father's Day informed him.
"We're ready to fire." Mr. 7 said, lit the match as he gets ready to light the fuse of the cannon.
At the Royal Tombs, the tomb is starting to fall apart and fast, but the fight between Crocodile against Luffy, Ventus, and Ace continued. Cobra and Nico Robin were still watching the fight, not leaving the tomb since they know that Crocodile won't let them leave. Crocodile glares at them with a grunt.
"What is it you're saying?!" Crocodile demands. "What is it that you think I don't understand, Straw Hat?"
Luffy can only give him a silent response while readied his fighting stance along with Ventus and Ace. Luffy makes the first move by charging after him and delivers a punch, but Crocodile dodges toward the opposite direction and lands on the ground while Luffy does the same. Luffy jumps in midair after him with his fists ready which Crocodile dodges while the Straw Hat captain hits the ground.
"Gum-Gum: Gatling" Luffy then delivers rapid barrages of punches at Crocodile, causes the Warlord of the Sea to dodge and lands on the ground before the rubble falls in front of him.
"Vorpal Thrust" Ventus cuts him with an upward blow, then followed by a downward strike, causing Crocodile to stumble back when the young Dragoon done a backward lunge.
Crocodile stood his ground with a grunt, even though he's heavily wounded and it's surprising that he's still able to fight in this condition. Luffy pants heavily after losing so much blood from his body it continues to flow over him, and also surprising that he's still able to fight in his condition.
"I don't either of you will understand, you three are about to die here very soon." Crocodile states. "No matter how much you try to fight me, the tomb and Alubarna will be destroyed, and I'll make it out alive. It doesn't matter if you win or lose this fight, your bodies will still be buried underneath the rubble when this temple collapses."
"Keep telling yourself that." Ace remarked. "'Cause your plans will go up in smoke along with attempting to rule Alabasta."
Meanwhile at the square, the cannon is about to get ready to fire the cannonball at the main square when Mr. 7 and Ms. Father's Day were about a few seconds away.
"15 seconds until we shoot." Mr. 7 informed her with a laugh.
"Cannon aimed at the center of palace square! Ribbit, ribbit!" Ms. Father's Day states, swaying her hips. "Fire!"
And with that, Mr. 7 lights the fuse.
Pell then used his Devil Fruit power to turn himself into a falcon while both Anna and Vivi climbs on his back. He then takes flight by flying up towards the clock tower while Anna readied her bow and arrows.
"Once I fire my arrow, you take off and knock them out. That way it'll be faster to stop the cannon from firing." Anna suggested.
"Are you sure it'll work?" Vivi asks. "You've only got 4 left since you used most of them at the Baroque Works."
"I know, but we've only got one shot and if we missed, then Alubarna will be destroyed along with us." Anna told her.
Then, both Mr. 7 and Ms. Father's Day noticed them which it got Anna, Vivi, and Pell shocked.
"Oh, hello, Ms. Wednesday." Mr. 7 greeted her.
"Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit! I'd recognize that little traitor to our company anywhere." Ms. Father's Day states with a smirk.
"They noticed!?" Nami yelled in horror.
"They did?!" Usopp exclaims in disbelief.
"They're still in flight! This is really bad!" Zoro states with a scowl. "If they shoot at them, we're finished!"
"Damn! Guess there's no turning back now!" Anna grunts with a scowl, mentally cursed herself.
Back at the tomb, the structure keeps crumbling down and Crocodile is starting to get very annoyed of Luffy, Ventus, and Ace resistance and not giving him the answer.
"Whatever it is you really want can't be in this country." Crocodile shouts with a scowl. "Aren't I right?! You're fighting for somebody else's goal now! And how could there be any point in time for that?! If only you would just get rid of a friend or two, you could easily avoid so many of these inconvenient problems! Loyalty is only for idiots and weaklings!"
"Your words, not ours!" Ventus retorted. "You know nothing about loyalty, and you don't understand anything! Vivi was the first to lay down her life in order to save Alabasta! She may not like her people to risk their lives, but when it comes to this, there's no other choice! And if we can't prevent this ongoing rebellion and the cannon to fire at the square, then everything we've worked will be for nothing!"
"You still don't get it! That's what makes it such a burden! So, why not ditch the princess and save yourselves?!" Crocodile suggests in annoyance.
"BECAUSE NONE OF US WANT VIVI TO DIE!? HELPING EACH OTHER IS WHAT FRIENDS DO!" Luffy yelled. "AND THAT'S WHY NONE OF US WILL LEAVE HER BEHIND OR QUIT FIGHTING YOU! AS LONG AS SHE DOESN'T GIVE UP ON HER COUNTRY THEN NEITHER WILL WE!?"
"Even if that means all the rest of you end up dead." Crocodile states with unamused expression.
"If we die, we die. That's all there is to it." Luffy growled.
While back at the square, both Mr. 7 and Ms. Father's Day readied their guns, aiming at Pell when they're flying their way up to the tower.
"And just ribbit, ribbit, gun for attack. This is an unexpected catch." Ms. Father's Day states with a sinister smirk.
"Adjust yellow gun." Mr. 7 said with a sinister smirk, laughing. "How nice! How nice is as good! They are the perfect prey for us!"
"What do you think you bastards think you're doing pointing your guns at Vivi and Anna?!" Sanji yelled with white eyes.
"This isn't good! The two of them are a sniper team!" Vivi exclaims.
"So am I! Flash Arrow" Anna then fires her arrow at Mr. 7 and Ms. Father's Day as the light flashes at them, causing them to block their visions.
"Dual Arrows" Anna then fires two arrows right at their shoulders. "Now Vivi!"
"Right!" Vivi replied when Pell flew towards the clock tower, then jumps off of him while readying her peacock slashers. "Peacock String Slasher"
Vivi then brings out her two long chains and slashes Mr. 7 and Ms. Father's Day while lands inside of the clock tower. Pell and Anna then lands inside of the clock tower.
"Vivi, hurry and cut the fuse!" Anna shouts.
And with that, Vivi then uses her slasher to cut the fuse, stopping the cannon from firing. She then remembered of her time in the palace since childhood when the children used the secret passageway to find Vivi, but the royal guard noticed them.
'Hey! Out of here, ya brats! Do you sneak in through the shortcut again?!'
And with that, the children quickly flees while the guard gives Pell and Chaka an explanation after hearing that noise. Pell and Chaka knew that the children want Vivi to come out and play with them, but to them, there's nothing wrong with Vivi playing with her friends. However, the royal guard says otherwise.
'Will the two of you please say something to the kids to keep them away?'
'Sure.'
After the talk with the children a while ago, Vivi was about to leave the palace when Pell noticed her leaving.
'Vivi! Going somewhere?'
'Secret base.'
'Right. You have a good time.'
And just like that, Vivi left the palace while Igaram followed her. Chaka then ran next to him when Pell was sitting on the pile of logs as he turns to him.
'So, where did Princess Vivi go?'
'Huh? Oh, I can't tell you. It's a secret.'
Though, it took Chaka long enough to figure out where Vivi was heading.
'The clock tower, huh?'
After her flashback was finished while the fight between the rebels and the royal army continues, which they're losing numbers of soldiers in battle. The Straw Hat pirates noticed that the cannon isn't firing, meaning Vivi, Anna, and Pell were able to succeed.
"It's stopped, right?" Usopp asks in panic when the snot is flowing down to his nose.
Vivi, Anna, and Pell panted heavily after making up to the clock tower and beating up Mr. 7 and Ms. Father's Day while stopping the cannon from firing at the square. Until, they heard a ticking sound which it got them confused.
Sanji, Zoro, and Ivan were able to get out of the building as they look up at the clock tower, wondering what's taking Vivi, Anna, and Pell so long.
"What happened to the cannon?" Zoro questions.
"Well, they managed to stop it from firing and beat Mr. 7 and Ms. Father's Day." Shanise answered with her arms crossed. "Hopefully, it's enough to stop the rebellion."
"Yeah, but what do you think is happening at the clock tower?" Chopper asks curiously.
"Apparently, something's gone wrong up there." Zoro answered bluntly.
"And we still haven't seen her." Nami adds with worry.
Until, they saw Vivi revealing herself as she spoke.
"Oh no! You guys!" Vivi called them in panic.
"What is it?" Nami asks with a shout.
"The cannonball has a timing device! If we don't do something, it'll explode!" Vivi warned them, leaving the Straw Hat pirates stunned with horror.
"WHAT DID YOU SAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!?" Usopp screamed in panic.
Back at the tomb, Crocodile explains that the cannonball has the timer attached to it if the fuse was cut, which Vivi actually did it after taking care of Mr. 7 and Ms. Father's Day, the timer starts to countdown and Alabasta will explode.
"A timebomb?!" Cobra exclaims shockingly. "No!"
"I was very well-prepared. You have to admit that much, surely." Crocodile said with a chuckle, turns to Cobra. "The most successful missions always come for unforeseen circumstances. In this case for instance, even if something happens to the cannoneers, the cannonball will still explode on its own. The attack will only be delayed by a few seconds or so. Of course, I did originally wanted to be shot into the center of the square, but the cannonball is big enough that it should do plenty of damage from what where it is."
Cobra was shocked while Luffy, Ace, and Ventus scowled at Crocodile's explanation which it got to the point where they're going to beat him.
"You sick bastard! Just how twisted of your actions can really get?!" Ventus growled in pure anger, dilated his eyes into a dragon eyes.
At the town square, the Straw Hat pirates were stunned that the cannonball has a timer when Vivi, Anna, and Pell looked at the inside of the cannon that's ticking in seconds away. Vivi then remembered of Crocodile's words while clenching her fists tightly with anger.
'Stopping the rebellion, saving the kingdom. All those worthless ideas you've clung to for so long...In the end, they just created more victims for me. Let me tell you something...You'll never going to save this country.'
These words have echoed on Vivi's mind which it got her widen her eyes with dread.
"Dammit! This isn't right!?" Sanji growled. "Stopping the cannoneers should've stop the attack!"
"A timer?!" Chopper exclaims in disbelief.
"Considering that Crocodile made one step ahead of us! He's twisted and a sick bastard!" Shanise growled in anger.
"Considering its power, even if it explodes from up there, it will still kill all the people in the square and the town." Zoro points out with a scowl, causing Nami to gasp with her eyes widen in horror.
"Then what's gonna happen now?!" Usopp shouts in panic. "Oh crap! Does this mean it was impossible all along for us to stop the explosion from happening?!"
"It would seem so." Ivan answered with a glare. "And with every chance we've got to stop the explosion, Crocodile may have his chance in victory."
Vivi slams her fist down with frustration repeatedly.
"He made us spend all this time, looking for it! Even if that's the attack so it would do just that! Why?!" Vivi shouts in anger, kneeling down to her knees. "Just how far would Crocodile insist on going to make fools of us all?! It's not enough for him to tear this country apart, he has to mock us while he's doing it!? CROCODIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEE!?"
Vivi can imagine Crocodile made a mockery out of Alabasta by laughing at her ideals of saving her country. Anna and Pell knew that Crocodile is a step ahead of them, but time isn't on their side. Pell decided to make a big risk in order to save Alabasta from the explosion as he spoke.
"This place brings back so many memories." Pell said with a smile, earned her attention. "The Sand Sand Clan's super-secret base. You certainly were a mischievous little child, Princess Vivi, you gave us no end of trouble will all of your pranks and disappearances."
Pell even remembered of the times in Alabasta, where Vivi always cause trouble in the palace when she was a child. He remembered when the royal guards infromed him of Vivi's whereabouts after hearing an explosion at the ammunition bunker.
'It's Vivi! What's she doing in the ammunition bunker?!'
After the royal guards and Pell made their way to the ammunition bunker, noticing Vivi is covered in gunpowder which she's all messy.
'Hey! What happened?! What was that explosion?!'
Vivi was too busy coughing after getting out of the ammunition bunker.
'Princess Vivi, how many times have we told you not to go near the ammunition bunker? You could get hurt!'
'Pell!'
Vivi noticed that Pell and the royal guards arrived at the ammunition room which it got their attention.
'Sir!'
'I was trying to make some fireworks, but I mess up. I know it's the anniversary of the day you joined the army, Pell. So...'
And when Vivi was trying to come up with the sentence, Pell slapped her in the face which it left the royal guards shocked. Pell then decided to give her a good scolding.
'What are you doing?! I've told you a hundred times! Never ever come near here!'
It got Igaram furious when he revealed himself from the bushes.
'Just what do you think you're doing?! How dare you touch the princess?! You're through! No one dares hurt her!'
This is until Cobra revealed himself from the bushes, stopping Igaram.
'Hold on, Igaram! It's fine.'
Cobra knows what Pell was trying to do by scolding Vivi since she's been causing trouble at the ammunition bunker. Pell then kneels down to her level and spoke with worry.
'It could've been much worse. What if you were killed?'
After escorting Vivi back inside of the palace, she got a lot to think about what Pell have told her. Even though, she knows that Pell was right, and she would've been killed if she ever tried something like that again in the ammunition bunker. Few hours later, Pell used his Devil Fruit to turn himself into a falcon as he gives Vivi ride by flying in the sky which it got her excited.
'Faster! Go higher! Higher!'
'Vivi! I need you to promise me something, never tell the King about this. He made it clear that I'm not supposed to do this. He told me to neve go flying with you on my back.'
'If you're scared, fine, but I won't forgive you if you stop.'
It got Pell sweat dropped with a nervous smile on his face, but it got Vivi giggled of his reaction.
'After all, didn't you say you'd do anything I wanted you to?'
Vivi couldn't help but laugh while Pell just smiled.
'Pell?'
'Yes?'
'You've trained for battle every day, why?'
'Because I'm a guard, it's my duty to protect this country. I have to stay strong.'
'So, who will you be fighting?'
'Who? I don't know, but I don't fight, I protect.'
'They're different?'
'They serve different purposes.'
'Hmm...I don't understand.'
As the flashback ends, the timer continues to countdown as Pell spoke.
"I'm so proud that I've been able to serve you all these years, Princess." Pell said with a smile on his face. "Protecting the Nefertari family has been an honor."
Both Vivi and Anna are now realizing what Pell is planning as he used his Devil Fruit to turn himself into a falcon, grabs hold of the cannonball out of the cannon with his strength, and takes flight up high into the sky. The Straw Hat pirates noticed Pell was taking a time bomb up to the sky which it's a risky move. And just as Pell reaches higher into the heavens while the timebomb ticks down to zero and Vivi tried to get him to stop, but was holding back by Anna, the timebomb explodes. The Straw Hat pirates, Vivi, and Anna widen their eyes in horror after witnessing of Pell's sacrifice.
"I am...Alabasta's Guardian Deity! The Falcon! And I am sworn to destroy the enemies of the royal family!"
And with those words, the statue of the falcon tumbles down to the ground, crumbled to pieces.
That's it for the 58th chapter.