Sorry for the brief disappearance, I was busy trying to reach a milestone in another story.
Enjoy!
"Vivi!" Vivi looked up as someone called her name, the bird-like figure dropping towards her. She'd already figured out what who it was.
"Pell!" She exclaimed as the other commander of the army landed, carrying Nami, Marianne and Chopper with him. "You're here!"
"Indeed," Pell said with a smile, "I brought your friends with me too." The two girls and Chopper were released from his grasp, and they ran to her.
"Did you stop the rebels?" Nami asked. Vivi nodded.
"They're fighting with the army right now," she said, gesturing to the chaos. "We stopped the civil war, but it's still a war." Nami nodded, frowning.
"Are Nojiko and the others okay?" She asked, Vivi nodding.
"Yes of course," she replied. "They're fine. You're hurt though. What happened?" Nami frowned as she played with her bandages.
"Crocodile got the better of us," she said, "it won't happen again."
"We'll kick his ass this time!" Chopper added enthusiastically.
"I need to get back in the air," Nami said, turning to Pell, "can you handle one person without a Rumble Ball?"
"Of course," Pell replied. "Come with me."
"What're you going to do?" Vivi asked, "Luffy said you were helping him." Nami grinned and twirled her staff in her hand.
"Crocodile's weakness is rain!" Nami said, "I can create rain with my staff. Well, with Marianne's help, anyway. Her work with chemicals was a lifesaver." Marianne hid her face behind her hat.
"It was nothing," she excused.
"Anyway," Nami said, "I have to keep the rainstorm going to help Luffy! Let's go, Pell!"
"Right!" Transforming, Pell flapped his wings and carried Nami high into the air, taking off from the palace.
"Wait, where are Zoro, Sanji and Johnny?" Vivi asked Chopper.
"We let them off earlier to help in the fight!" Chopper replied, "they know to look for Number agents. What should we do, Vivi?" The Princess frowned as she thought this over.
"Ms. All Sunday took my father somewhere in the palace," she said, "we could go and stop her-"
"About that," Marianne said, "Ms. All Sunday saved our lives."
"What?" Vivi asked, "how?" Marianne explained to her how they had lost against Crocodile in Rainbase, and then about how Ms. All Sunday had stopped Nami and the others from being killed without raising suspicion from Crocodile.
"It's possible she's going to betray Crocodile," Marianne surmised. "Maybe we can forgo looking for your father right now."
"Is that safe?" Chopper asked, "what if she's just as bad, but doesn't want to kill us?" Vivi made a face and crossed her arms, thinking this over. She was interrupted by an explosion in the city.
"We have bigger problems," she said, "we need to stop the fighting first! My father will be okay, I know he will be. We need to take out Baroque Works!" Bringing her fingers to her mouth, Vivi whistled as loud as she could. It took a few seconds, but Karoo rounded the corner of the palace and raced for her, looking alert and ready.
"Are you going to fight too?" Marianne asked.
"I have too," Vivi replied, "This is my home. I can't let it go down like this!" Marianne smiled.
"Well, let's go and stop them, then."
Deep in the bowels of Alubarna's royal palace, Nico Robin led King Nefertari Cobra down a flight of stairs. She made sure to keep her Devil Fruits effect on him lax, but she knew she could tighten the hands on him at a moments notice.
"You don't have to do this," Cobra said as he stopped at a door. Robin smiled at him.
"If what I think is down here is down here, I actually do," she said. "After all, there is a Ponegylph in the Tomb of the Kings, right?" Cobra's eyes widened and he turned to her.
"So you are after the artifact!" He exclaimed, making her nod.
"I am," she replied.
"But no one can read it!" Cobra explained, "the text on it has been lost for centuries!"
"I can read it."
"You...What?" Cobra asked.
"I can read the Ponegylph, Your Highness" Robin clarified. "Now, if you please, show me the secret entrance to the-!"
A gunshot rang out behind her, and Robin froze.
"Let the King go!" Someone shouted. Looking over her shoulder, Robin saw she had been tailed. Standing behind her were three of the Straw Hats, all aiming their weapons at her.
"Ah," she said, "you were following us?"
"Waiting for an opening," The woman with blue hair replied as she cocked the hammer of her revolver back. "I'll say it again. Let the King go."
"D-D-Don't make any sudden moves!" The man behind her said, aiming sniper rifle at her. "Or else!"
"Give Big Sis Vivi's Father back!" The bald swordsman said, ready to rush her. Robin examined the trio warily, knowing full well her powers could not stop gunshot.
I'm so close. I can't let them stop me.
"I'm afraid I still need the King," she said, hands raised. "But this doesn't need to end in bloodshed."
"It will unless you give us the King," The woman insisted. "You already killed Igaram, we don't need to listen to you."
Ah, right. They still think I did that.
"Right," she said. "Well hows this, then? I saved your friends at Rainbase." The three clearly paused at what she said, the blue-haired one lowering her weapon somewhat.
"What did you say?" She demanded. Robin shrugged.
"The fight against Crocodile at Rainbase was going very well for him," she said, "he would have killed all of your friends then and there. Well, if I hadn't stepped in, that is."
"What, you appealed to his better nature?" The woman asked coldly.
"No, I put myself at risk by pulling them out of the way or out of the sand discreetly," Robin replied. The woman narrowed her eyes at her, and the sniper started shaking again. "I saved their lives, does that not account for anything?"
"Who cares?" The girl asked, steeling her resolve. "You've still got the King hostage! Let him go!"
"I will not," Robin said, growing agitated. "However, perhaps we can make a deal. What is your name?"
"Don't give it to her!" The sniper insisted. The woman glared at her hard.
"You first," she said.
"Nico Robin," she said. "You may call me Robin." She did not reply right away, but soon she shuffled on her feet.
"Nojiko," she said. "So talk. What are you on about?"
"Nojiko," Robin said, "I know your allies are probably out there trying to stop Crocodile. I could assist you, in exchange for not shooting at my anymore."
"How do you figure?" Nojiko asked.
"I could tell you the powers and locations of the Numbers Agents," she said, "and in exchange, you leave me and the King to our business."
"We can't do that, Nojiko!" The sniper insisted, "she's the enemy!"
"Let me think!" Nojiko snapped. The woman scanned her face for a good long while, not saying anything.
It's a good deal, I think," Robin said lightly. Nojiko hummed and crossed her arms.
"Back at Whiskey Peak," she said, "you gave us an Eternal Pose for Alabasta."
"I did."
"You knew Little Garden was an ambush, didn't you?"
"I did."
"And you said you saved my crew."
"I did," Robin repeated again, trying to discern Nojiko's opinion. She was clearly thinking hard, and from what she could see both men were waiting on her order. She must have been their superior.
"The Number Agents are very powerful," she said. "You risk losing some of your friends if you aren't prepared. I'm willing to give you what you need to win. All you have to do is turn around and leave us be." Nojiko began tapping her foot on the ground.
"N-Nojiko," the sniper said in her ear, "L-Luffy won't like if we let her keep the King."
"Luffy isn't here, Usopp," Nojiko replied, And I'm third in command."
"Gah, Yosaku, help me out! We can't trust her!" The swordsman shifted on his feet uncomfortably.
"I trust Big Sis Nojiko," he said, "she knows what to do." Usopp looked annoyed at this, returning to aiming at Robin. After a few more tense seconds, Nojiko unfolded her arms and put her hands on her hips.
"On one condition," she said.
"Which is?" Robin asked.
"If you touch a hair on the King's head," the woman said, glowering at her, "I'll hunt you down for the rest of my life. I won't let you get away with betraying me." Robin smiled at this.
"You won't have to worry about that," she said, "I won't lay a finger on him."
"Let him go of your power, then," Nojiko told her. Reluctant, Robin did as she was ordered. The hands holding King Cobra stiffly in place disappeared.
"Happy?" She asked. Nojiko nodded.
"I am. Now, tell me everything you know about your 'allies'. Spare no information. Oh, and I dare you to double-cross me and hurt the King. I'll kill you."
"Is there any reason you're still hanging around with me?" Zoro demanded. The two of them were running through the streets of Alubarna, taking out scores of Baroque Works members on their way.
"Oh please," Sanji replied, "if I left you alone you'd end up back in Little Garden."
"I'm not that stupid!"
"I'd debate that." Zoro paused and glared at Sanji, who gave it as good as he got. They stopped running and nearly came to blows over this, but Zoro stopped him when they hurt a strange shout. Looking forward, Zoro watched as a mountain of a man slashed through a squad of soldiers, sending them flying every which way. The most unnerving part was that the mans body itself was the blades. His forearms and legs sharpened into steel as he slashed through the soldiers who came for him, before turning to the two of them.
"Well, this guys bad news," Sanji said pointedly, huffing on his cigarette.
"What gave it away?" Zoro asked as he drew his swords. The man stopped two dozen feet from them, the battlefield growing silent around them. Zoro clenched his jaw. "You need to get out of here, Shitty Cook. This guy means business."
"Don't tell me what to do," Sanji replied irritably.
"I'm seriously," Zoro said as he reached for Wado Ichimonji. "Last thing we need is you losing those precious legs of yours."
"Don't look down on me, Marimo!" Sanji replied, "I can look out for myself!"
"Yeah? You want to go up against that?" Sanji took another look at the man when asked this. As if to reply, the man raised a hand and it glinted with steel as sword edges creased his inner fingers. Sanji audibly gulped.
"I'm making it known I'm not listening to you," The cook noted, it's just that you're better suited to fight him, got it?"
"Just go already, you moron." Zoro replied. Sanji took the hint and fled, leaving the two of them alone amid the bleeding bodies of Alabasta soldiers.
"You were a full to send your help away," the man said.
"I get the distinct feeling someone without a sword would have a hard time fighting you," Zoro said. The two paced in a circle, watching each other warily.
"You shouldn't have," the man replied. "You have insured you will die alone."
"I could say the same thing about you," Zoro said. They paused in their circling. Zoro kept an eye on every inch of the man, doing his best to notice any change in him that told of an attack. "Could I get a name before you 'kill' me?" He asked sarcastically.
"You can't," the man replied as he readied a stance, "but you'll get a code-name. Mr. One."
"Ah, that must mean you're pretty high up on this stupid Bounty Hunter crap we've gotten messed up in," Zoro said. "Second strongest?"
"Indeed," Mr. One said. "You'll find cutting me with those pathetic blades quite impossible."
"I guess we'll just see," Zoro replied.
Another beat of silence came before them.
Then, the battle erupted.
Placing Wado Ichimonji in his mouth, Zoro charged forth and brought his blades together, aiming for the Mr. One's chest. His attack was blocked by the mans forearms, which grew sharp blade edges and clashed against him. Zoro pushed his strength against Mr. One's, but the mountain man had a muscle difference between them, and pushed him back. Sliding to a stop, Zoro clicked his teeth as he toke Wado Ichimonji out of his mouth.
"God damn Devil Fruit powers," he noted, "you freaks are annoying to fight."
"How foolish to come to a fight with a Fruit User unprepared," Mr. One commented as his forearms glinted in the desert sun. "I became a Blade Man after I ate the Dice-Dice Fruit. I can turn any part of my body into a blade. No swordsman will ever beat me."
"I didn't ask for a synopsis," Zoro replied flatly, "ready yourself and fight!" He charged again, meeting Mr One's leg with his blades. They exchanged a flurry of blows, but none of Zoro's attacks made contact with skin, only steel. They clashed over and over, but he made no headway. He bounced backwards after deflecting a blow from the forearm blade, narrowing his eyes at Mr. One.
Seems he wasn't kidding, every part of his body can become a sharp blade. How will I get around this, I wonder?
"Big Bro Zoro!" A voice called, making Zoro's eyes widen. He looked over his shoulder, and saw a familiar shades-wearing swordsman running up to him. "You and Big Bro Sanji are too fast! I got left behind!"
"Get out of here, Johnny!" Zoro shouted, "this is dangerous!" Johnny seemed slow to comprehend the situation, but once he did he yelped in surprise.
"Ah! That's a Number Agent, isn't it?! And he looks tough as hell! Don't worry Big Bro, I've got your back!" He drew his blade, and Zoro grunted in frustration.
'I said get out of here!" He said, "you're not ready to fight this guy yet!"
"I can't leave you!" Johnny replied.
"Just get ou-!" Zoro had been too distracted to catch Mr One's surprise attack. He just barely managed to block it, narrowly avoiding getting his jugular sliced open. He pushed with all his might, managing to put some space between him and Mr. One.
"Big Bro!" Johnny cried out.
"Johnny, this is an order from not only your superior, but your teacher!" Zoro shouted, "GO! This is Mr. One, the second strongest! Go and help somebody else!"
"How can I abandon my teacher against such a foe?!" Johnny demanded, "We fight together!" Zoro groaned in frustration.
"You're such an-!"
Mr One attacked again, but this time he blasted past Zoro and went for Johnny. His student looked unprepared, but was raising his blade all the same.
"Johnny!" Zoro cried, rushing to catch Mr. One. Sadly, he couldn't. The two connected, Johnny blocking Mr One's bladed palm and fingers with his sword. The tatted swordsman grunted in the exertion it took to keep Mr. One off of him, who looked indifferent to his struggle.
"You're much weaker then your ally," Mr One noted, "pathetic strength for someone in the Grand Line. Did you expect to get anywhere with this level of power?" In one swift movement, Mr. One raised his leg and sliced Johnny across the front, sending him backwards in a spurt of blood.
"Johnny!" Zoro shouted angrily, leaping the remaining distance to Mr. One. He brought his blades down on him, but Mr One simply turned the points where Zoro's blades connected into blades, effectively blocking him.
"What did I just tell you?" Mr. One demanded, "no swordsmen will beat me, not unless they can cut through solid steel." Mr. One grabbed him by the arm, his fingers becoming blades and digging into him. Zoro was launched over Mr. One's head into a nearby building, cracking the wall as he made impact. He landed in what looked like a kitchen, on his back and bleeding.
So, I guess I need to cut steel, huh?
"Johnny!" Zoro shouted, "pay close attention!"
"T-Too what?" Johnny asked weakly. Zoro grinned like an animal.
"You'll have to help me teach Yosaku to cut steel!"
Luffy dodged Crocodile's fist, which was swirling with sand. He kicked out with his foot, which made contact thanks to the rain created by Nami up above. Crocodile gritted his teeth as he slid backwards.
"God damn weather witch," he hissed under his breath. "Once I'm done with you, I'll kill her next!"
"You won't lay a hand on her!" Luffy shouted as the rain pelted him just as hard. The sounds of battle resounded around him, but he didn't care about any of that. All he needed to do was take down Crocodile. "Gum-Gum Pistol!" He stretched his arm back, letting it snap back and fly for Crocodile, who batted it away with his claw.
"Did you think just because you have the rain you're stronger than me?" Crocodile demanded, "what a foolish plan! Desert Spada!" With a slice from his hand the sand cut through the ground on it's way to Luffy, who jumped out of the way.
"Of course I can beat you!" He shouted back, "now that the rain is constant, I don't have to worry about you just getting rid of it!"
"Then you're an even bigger fool than I thought possible," Crocodile spat as he placed his hand on a nearby building. "Ground Death!" Luffy watched with wide eyes as cracks spread from Crocodile's hand, spreading over the building onto the ground, and then nearby buildings. In the blink of an eye the entire block disintegrated into sand, and began to swirl above Crocodile's open palm.
"Ah crap," The Captain swore under his breath.
"Rain does not cancel out my power!" Crocodile shouted as the vortex of sand roared. "Sables: Pesado!" The storm of sand flew from his hand and straight at Luffy, engulfing all the open space in front of him. Gritting his teeth, Luffy had no choice but to take the brunt of the impact. The sand exploded against him, sending him flying backwards into the nearest available building. He crashed through it and landed hard on the ground, groaning to himself. Even through his rubber body, the impact was painful. It took an extremely hard impact to hurt him, so he could tell. Crocodile still had a lot of gas in his tank. He sat up quickly, watching Crocodile stalk towards him slowly. The man looked livid, taking the cigar out of his mouth and tossing it aside.
"Do you think taking me down solves anything?" The Warlord demanded. "It solves nothing. Alubarna is doomed either way. My Number agents will finish what I started even if you managed to defeat me. So what is your plan, Straw Hat? Do you really think you can beat me? All alone?" Luffy narrowed his eyes at Crocodile, noticing a blur speeding towards them from behind Crocodile.
"Maybe," Luffy replied with a grin. "It's too bad I'm not alone. Right Nami?!"
Crocodile had no time to react, he hadn't been prepared. Turning, Crocodile saw Pell speeding down the street, Nami on his back, just in time to receive the Clima Tact right to his jaw. Nami struck the Warlord as hard as she could, and coupled with the speed from Pell the Warlord was sent flying away into another building. Pell quickly flew away, Nami's laugh echoing in the air around them.
"That was for cutting my beautiful body, you stupid lizard freak!" She shouted angrily, making Luffy laugh.
"Nice one Nami!" He called after them, Pell continuing to circle the battlefield. Crocodile growled in frustration as he got up out of the hole he'd created, glowering at Luffy.
"Never mind," he said, "I think I'll kill her now."
"You'll have to get through me first!"
I plan on finishing two fights a chapter from here on out, so we should be down quick. I hope you enjoyed!