Vivi kicked and struggled as Koza dragged her out of his tent with one of her own pistols pointed at her head. She grimaced when one of her feet dug harshly into his shin, but she needed to make the act convincing.

"Thank you for taking the time to come to us, you poisonous snake," Koza said to the assembled crowd. "You saved us the trip to Alubarna."

Alabasta's army and ranks of Marines formed battle lines around the camp, digging trenches and setting up cannons. At their vanguard were King Cobra and Pell, Iron Cage Hina with Smoker and another captain, Vice Admiral Garp, who looked very uneasy and almost apologetic, and to Vivi's dismay, five Warlords. Crocodile glared at her with enough venom to kill a Sea King, Hawkeye's gaze swept with distaste over the roughshod weapons the rebels carried, and Doflamingo lazily twirled a shimmering string between his fingers, grinning at a joke only he understood.

Her father, who had turned ashen at seeing his daughter at gunpoint, froze. As he looked closer, relief flickered across his face before he set it in stony determination. Vivi had hoped he would remember their discussion about venomous and poisonous animals, and he had given her a set of decorated pistols from the palace's armory when she left.

The Marines raised their rifles, and in response, Koza moved so he stood behind Vivi. His hands shook, and she heard the frustration in his voice, and for a second, Vivi was afraid he would go off script.

"Hold your fire!" Cobra snapped. "That's my daughter you're aiming at."

"Your daughter was colluding with the Straw Hats," Hina said, her voice carrying enough to echo across the rebel camp. "But then again, Hina does not see any Straw Hats. How did she end up in your possession, rebel?"

"A group who kept their identities secret sold her to us," Koza sneered. "Maybe they were the Straw Hats, maybe they weren't. They took crates of weapons and supplies and left."

Koza laid a false trail for the Marines to follow. Hina gave some orders. Marine runners took off towards the eastern coast, while other groups canvassed the surrounding countryside.

"State your demands, rebel."

"We demand that the Nefertari step down from power immediately," Koza said. "Their use of dance powder has left the land parched and fallow. We had to abandon Yuba to the encroaching sands, and trade has dried up. The people suffer, and we will not abide by it any longer. We shall choose a leader from amongst us, who will set this country to right. Step down, and we shall allow you and your daughter to leave unharmed."

Cobra looked nervously at Vivi. She wondered if she would have to push the point when Hina said, "Hina will have to look into these rumors of dance powder. If you are truly found to have been using it, we can't simply let you leave."

Vivi hid her cheer as her father hid his sudden understanding. He humbly bowed and said, "Of course, Vice Admiral. I may not speak for this country after today, but I personally will submit to whatever investigation the Marines carry out."

Crocodile turned red with rage, and Vivi felt hope rising within her. There was always a risk that Crocodile had planted more evidence against them, but anything kept in their castle grounds would have been found by the palace's clerks and quartermasters. More likely, the only dance powder to be found in Alabasta would be in Crocodile's possession.

"Surely you can't allow this rabble to make demands," Crocodile said. "You need to establish order."

Hina gave Crocodile an annoyed look. "Hina does not have the authority to intervene in a civil war. Hina's mandate was to find and capture the Straw Hats, not clear out a kingdom's rebels. If the Straw Hats are truly not in this camp, then Hina's troops will withdraw."

Koza called out, "You have our permission to search for them in our camp, so long as you keep your distance from the princess."

As the search began, Crocodile turned his attention to the Alabastan army. "And what of you? Will you allow these traitors to dethrone your king? Will you not fight for your country?"

Cobra turned to his army and said, "Stand down, all of you. If I must step down to keep our country at peace, then so be it."

Crocodile smirked and called out, "Your King would have you hide like cowards. Are any of you unafraid to fight?"

Vivi's stomach turned as soldiers trickled forward. She felt almost certain that they were Baroque Works plants, but how many of them were swayed by Crocodile's words? Unease rippled through the army as soldiers watched their comrades trickle towards Crocodile. The ranks wavered, and a large portion of the army drifted away from King Cobra.

Pell, face bearing a falcon's beak and visage, let out a sharp screech that halted the soldiers in their tracks. "My place is by my King, Crocodile," he hissed. "And here is where I shall remain."

The firmness of his words settles the soldiers. The ranks tighten around the king, and a few of the soldiers by Crocodile hurry back into formation. Left with a couple-hundred of his false soldiers, Crocodile glowered and turned back towards the rebels.

"Fine. If this country's soldiers refuse to bring this rabble to heel, I shall do so myself."

As Crocodile drifted forward, crashing down on the rebels like the front of a sandstorm, Cobra shouted at Hina, "Stop him! He's going to get my daughter killed!"

Hina looked vexed, but she did nothing to stop Crocodile's charge. "Alabasta is Crocodile's island. I have little authority to command him here."

Koza, voice shaking slightly as the full weight of a Warlord bears down at him, shouts, "Men, wet your weapons and form up! Don't let him rescue the princess!"

Out of the shadows of the tents materialized ranks of white-clad warriors, armed with barrels on their backs and swords glistening with water. As Crocodile's sand swept over them, water splashed out, and the damp sand dropped harmlessly to the ground.

Vivi let out the breath she had been holding. Her plan had worked so far, but everything hinged on Izuku and Luffy winning against a Warlord without getting caught. She could only watch, with a figurative and literal pistol to her and her nation's head, as the mixed group of Straw Hats and ill-prepared rebels squared off against the Desert King.

Crocodile took a shallow cut to the cheek and growled. His hooked hand lashed out, but Izuku ducked under the attack and sprang away. The sword felt awkward in his hands, but he hoped his clumsy swings sold the idea he was one of the rebels. Next to him, Luffy grumbled and rubbed at the manacles around his wrist, but he kept his face hidden.

"This sucks," Luffy said. "We could beat up that Croc-guy easy if it weren't for these."

"You know why we have to do it this way."

Luffy frowned, but didn't complain further. As the rebels wavered, Izuku and Luffy ran forward, swinging in tandem. Luffy's swing with a pipe, of all things, was a hair too short, and Izuku's got brushed aside with the hook, but it bought the rebels time to fling more water and throw a knife into Crocodile's bicep.

"Insolent pests," Crocodile snapped. "Who told you about my weakness?"

"Surely you didn't think we'd be unprepared to face you," Koza said. "You're the king's lapdog, after all."

Crocodile's sand whirled, soaking up moisture around it. Even with the water splashed into the cloaks, and on the wrappings around everyone's faces, men stumbled as their skin dried out and their tongues stuck inside their mouths. Izuku soldiered through and swiped at Crocodile, and the men took quick drinks from their barrels.

Around them, more fighting raged as the rebels surrounded and overpowered Crocodile's turncoats. Crocodile, seeing the tide of battle swing against him, raised his hook and shouted, "Desert Spada!"

The sand flicked forward like a giant scythe. Izuku, halfway through an impulsive Soru, aborted the move and instead ducked and rolled. He lost his sword in the sand and a piece of his cloak got cut, but he otherwise emerged unscathed. The rebels around him, however, weren't so lucky. A few severed limbs, completely desiccated, littered the ground, and one man had been cut cleanly in half.

The rebels wavered. Izuku saw Crocodile ready another attack and threw the first sharp object at hand. Crocodile lazily battered it aside with his hook, but the sudden attack delayed him long enough for Luffy to get in close. Izuku picked another sword off the ground and ran to help him.

With Crocodile distracted and his defectors defeated, the rebels hurried into position with piles of barrels. Crocodile lunged towards the ring encircling him, but Izuku and Luffy kept him penned inside.

Seeing the circle nearly complete, Crocodile gathered his sand about him and flew into the air. The rebels splashed water after him, but Crocodile darted easily around the droplets.

Izuku crouched and cupped his hands. Understanding the gesture, Luffy raced forward and put a foot on Izuku's hands. Izuku hurled upward with all his might, and Luffy shot towards the Warlord. Between his soaked hands and the Sea Prism on his wrist, his fingers found purchase on Crocodile's sand and dragged him down. Crocodile struggled furiously and slashed at him with the hook, but his movements grew sluggish as Luffy got a better grip.

"Now!" Izuku shouted. "Do it now!"

All at once, the rebels broke the barrels. Their entire reserves of water rushed out in a massive surge, sweeping any rebels in the way off their feet. The water rapidly soaked into the parched ground, but enough of it made it to Crocodile to leave his legs completely waterlogged. Izuku tackled Crocodile into the muck. Izuku took a knee to the chest, and Crocodile shoved him off.

Sopping wet and trailing wet clumps of sand as he rose, Crocodile stood tall and unsheathed his hook. An ominous purple cloud wafted from the holes bored through the gilded metal. "You think a little water is enough to stop me? I am a Warlord of the Sea! I've sailed the New World, fought against Whitebeard himself! You lot? You lowlife scum aren't fit to shine my boots."

A shiver ran up Izuku's spine. Crocodile's words had a greater effect on the rebels. Some dropped their weapons, and a few even stumbled away in terror. Koza, however, was made of sterner stuff. His voice snapped like a whip, startling the men back into action. "Are you going to let him scare you off when we're so close to freedom? Get him!"

Izuku roared with the words and charged. The rebels, seeing him run, thinking him one of their own, add their own voices and follow a step behind him. Izuku's heart sang as he bore down Crocodile. There stood a man who had ground this country and its people into the dust, and he was about to bring him to justice. All his training with Roger and Rayleigh, the fights against Whitebeard and the Golden Lions, all of it led to this moment.

Here, finally, he would be a hero.

"Sables!"

The wet sand moved sluggishly, but its sheer weight as it flew and clung to the charging men pushed them back. Izuku darted through like a fish, parting the way with his sword and charging at Crocodile. The sand fell as his first slice nearly took off Crocodile's nose. The Warlord's hook crashed down, splitting the earth. Izuku leapt on it, heel narrowly missing the tip of the hook, and drove his fist deep into Crocodile's cheek. The Warlord tumbled, then kept rolling out of reach of Izuku's downward slash.

"That move." Crocodile rubbed his cheek, molding his sand back into place. "You're one of them."

Izuku felt a flash of fear run through him. He had overdone it, and everyone here would pay the price if he didn't end it quickly. Risking just a touch of Soru, Izuku blitzed under Crocodile's guard and slashed the sword at his thigh. Crocodile's leg fell away in a clump of wet sand before his blade made contact. Caught off-balance, Izuku was leaning too far forward to dodge the claw swinging up towards his eye. He bonelessly bent sideways, just enough that he felt the hook brush against his ear through the fabric.

Crocodile let out a dark chuckle as he strode towards Izuku. "Soru and Kami-e. You might as well take off your mask if you're going to be throwing around Rokushiki like that."

Izuku gritted his teeth, but there was little else he could do. His first slash got lazily deflected by the claw, and his follow-up punch only got a glancing blow as Crocodile's sand shifted aside. He could see the sand drying out. The rebels had used up all their water in the surprise attack, and he wouldn't get another chance.

The other rebels finally caught up, charging with wetted spears, clubs, and swords. A gust of dry sand shrouded Crocodile as they grew close, and they hesitated. The sand swept out, knocking them off their feet, and Izuku staggered back a few steps.

Crocodile lunged out of the sand, his hook weaving rapid arcs through the air as Crocodile's sand guided it faster and faster. Izuku kept the sword in front of him like a shield, falling back step by step as the hook pounded dents and scratches into the cheap blade.

Crocodile smashed the hook down. The blade shattered into pieces, and one sliver caught Izuku under the eye. The distraction almost got him a hook in his guts, but between a panicked Tekkai and leaning back, the hook grazed his belly without leaving a scratch.

"You're the kid with the lightning, aren't you?" Crocodile growled. "I heard about what you did to my men at Whiskey Peaks. Impressive stuff. Why don't you really cut loose? Think about it. A Logia with your power, what's stopping you from taking out all the Marines by yourself?"

Crocodile's words were a siren's call for the sparks dancing under Izuku's skin, but the weight of the Sea Prism around his wrists kept him grounded. Shoving memories of shattered buildings and scorched bodies back into the deepest recesses of his mind, Izuku wetted his fists and punched. Crocodile dodged faster, but Izuku had dropped his handicap of his sword, and a few of his blows got through. Yet, with each second that passed, Izuku could tell that their advantage was slipping away. The air felt parched again, all the moisture sucked away by Crocodile's sand, and the rebels backing them up grew nervous.

Izuku had to turn the tides again. Using more Rokushiki was too risky, Armament Haki would give him away, and his Devil Fruit was out of the question. He couldn't even use it then, not with the Sea Prism around his wrist.

Izuku's eyes widened. The Sea Prism. Crocodile's backhand sent him flying. As he rolled on the ground, Izuku unlatched the cuff. A flicker of worry ran through him. He could lose control, or Crocodile's attack could pass right through him. But, seeing men fall with desiccated skin and missing heads, Izuku found his resolve. He palmed his manacle and charged at Crocodile.

Luffy kept him busy with swings of his pipe. When he saw the Sea Prism glinting in Izuku's hand, Luffy nodded and redoubled his assault. Crocodile spared Izuku a glance and flung a sandy arm at him, and that's when Izuku struck. The sand solidified as it brushed against the Sea Prism. A hand formed in the sand cloud, and Izuku clamped the manacle around it.

The sand fell. It had permeated the air, drying them slowly from the inside, and Izuku hadn't even noticed until he felt a clean lungful of air. Crocodile stared down at the Sea Prism on his wrist and scowled. "That was a cheap shot. Well played."

The men, realizing something had changed, renewed the assault. Weighed down as he was by the Sea Prism, Crocodile still fended them off, though he took a few cuts and bruises. Izuku's fist dug deep into a kidney, and Crocodile whirled with his hook. Izuku ducked, and Luffy behind him shattered the golden prosthetic with a swipe of his pipe.

Though the hook had a blade beneath it, the hidden weapon did Crocodile little good against Luffy's onslaught. Crocodile parried a few swipes before a distraction from Izuku let Luffy get a solid hit in the Warlord's jaw. His eyes rolled back in his head. He stood for a few seconds, tottering on his feet, before a rebel's spear to the back made him topple forward.

The rebels, frozen where they stood, let out a jubilant shout as they celebrated the Warlord's fall. They brought out rope and bound him in enough of the stuff to outfit a fleet. Hog-tied and bruised, the Warlord, having woken from the rough treatment, could only glare as Izuku stuffed a gag into his mouth.

"Your pet Warlord has fallen," Koza said. His gaze swept somberly over the fallen men as their comrades carried them away, but he shook himself and turned his attention to the Marines. "Are you going to send anyone else at us?"

Hina glowered. "Hina gave Crocodile no orders. We have wasted enough time here, and Hina must find the Straw Hats before their Log Pose resets. Provided you haven't been sheltering them, we will withdraw."

Izuku let out the breath he hadn't known he had been holding. They did it. They beat one Warlord, and they did it without revealing themselves to the rest of the Marines. They saved Vivi's country. They still need to figure out how to leave, but with the King helping them, they should surely think of something.

"Hina asks that you return the Warlord to us."

Izuku's stomach dropped, but Koza scoffed and said, "And let you send him again? I don't think so. He shall face trial for slaughtering the people of this country."

Crocodile tried shouting something, but with the gag, his words were unintelligible. Yet, Izuku felt a prickle of something down his spine. A warning hung in the air, like a noose overhead. He gave Crocodile a closer look, but the Warlord had his prosthetic broken off, the manacle remained firmly clasped around him, and he could barely twitch with all the rope around him.

Hina's expression darkened. She nodded and said, "The Marines take no responsibility for his actions on Alabastsa. You may do with him as you wish. So long as you submit to a thorough inspection of your base and your members, which is strictly for the purpose of apprehending the Straw Hats, we shall not interfere in your rebellion."

"You will have the other Warlords leave," Koza added.

"They will remain in the country until our investigation is complete."

"They come anywhere near my camp, and I will kill the princess. They must leave immediately."

Cobra tensed. Hina gave the King and his army a cursory glance, before saying, "They will wait outside. Once Hina is certain the Straw Hats are gone, they will leave."

Izuku still felt nervous, despite their plans going exactly as Vivi had said. The others will have disguises and cover stories, but Izuku and Luffy are too recognizable. Luckily, Vivi had the perfect disguise for them. Feigning a head injury and a limp, Izuku went up to Luffy and dragged him towards the medical tent, blending in with the other survivors nursing cuts and missing limbs. Once they were fully bandaged up and feigning throat injuries, all too realistic with the sand flying about, they could lay in bed with no one the wiser.

Izuku was a step away from the medical tent when he felt the noose tighten. A string, thin enough to escape notice and strong enough to cut, sheared through Izuku's neck. Izuku felt himself fizzle and crackle as his body parted around the string.

He remained upright, as if nothing had happened, but the bandages wrapping him weren't so lucky. Dried cloth blew away in scraps on a breeze, and his wild green hair flew like a Jolly Roger.

Izuku felt thousands of eyes on him. Vivi stared horrified as her plans crashed down around her. Koza felt death descend upon his rebellion. Cobra went pale, Garp closed his eyes and silently mourned the coming deaths, and Hina, gaze sharp as steel from across the battle lines, gave him a resolute look that promised manacles and prison bars.

Izuku hid in the medical tent, but outside, he could hear the outburst from the Marines. Doflamingo's laughter hovered like a vulture over the sounds of Marine infantry charging across the sandy plain, panicked rebels forming firing lines, and cannonfire booming from both battle lines.

Chopper, clad in enough scrubs and protective equipment to outfit a hospital, gave Izuku panicked looks. "Your hair! What happened?"

"Someone attacked me with string." Izuku felt at his neck, but not a scratch remained.

"That would be Doflamingo." Robin closed her eyes as she spied around the camp. "The path is clear to the river, but they'll soon encircle us. We need to leave."

Luffy shook his head. "We still need to help Vivi."

"We beat Crocodile!" Usopp shouted. "Aren't we done already!"

At that moment, Vivi and Koza both ran in together. Vivi took in the Straw Hats' expressions and said, "We can't fight off the Marines. Even if you did, they would simply attack the country with greater numbers."

Koza said, "We will take to the sea, but we need help covering our retreat. Straw Hats, we will be in your debt if you engage the Warlords and Captains while we make our retreat."

Luffy took off his manacle and rolled his shoulder. "Got it. Izuku and I will take them all on. Everyone else, get to the Merry."

"Like hell you will!" "Mihawk is mine."

Sanji and Zoro glared at each other, before exchanging nods. Seeing them step up, Mei said, "I can help too! There's enough spare parts here I can make an incredible new baby."

Usopp gulped and said, "If it helps us get out of here, I'll help!"

Nami looked around and asked, "Then who will help me get the ship moving?"

Robin let hands bloom around her. "Many hands make for light work. I've sailed bigger ships on my own before."

Nain nodded and hefted his bat. "I'll keep the Merry safe for you guys. Give those Marines hell."

"I'll keep the Princess safe," Igaram said. "We will remain with the rebels."

The four Straw Hats emerged from the tent. A chaotic battlefield greeted them. Marines charged headlong at the entrenched rebel firing lines. Some of them fell, but more made it past the clumsy volleys and fell among the rebels' ranks. Smoker laid into rebels with his Jitte, blowing through them like a thundercloud, while Hina bound entire groups in iron bindings.

The Warlords stood aloof from the action, waiting from behind the firing lines. Jinbei cracked his knuckles, Mihawk drew Yoru, and Kuma put away his book.

Sanji took a final drag from his cigarette and flicked it into the sand, and Zoro drew his swords.

"You sure you don't want to trade, Mosshead?"

"I cannot fail my captain again."

Sanji grunted. "Fine. I'll take Kuma."

"The giant Fishman's mine," Luffy said. "Don't die, any of you."

Izuku stared down his opponent. Doflamingo met his gaze and grinned, a predatory smile with too many teeth and more malice than Izuku had ever seen out of any villain back home.

Doflamingo giggled and flung his cloak back like a pair of blood-stained wings. "Well well well! I get to play with one of Roger's little brats. Try not to die too fast on me. I want to enjoy this one."

Izuku felt lightning flicker through his chest at the challenge. Forcing back his temper, Izuku said, "I won't let you hurt my friends."

Doflamingo rolled his eyes. "Really? That's the best you could come up with?" He slashed with a string, and Izuku narrowly dodged it. The string cleaved through solid rock, leaving a gash in the ground.

Snickering, Doflamingo said, "Let's hope you have some more entertaining last words."

A/N: I'm not one chapter ahead of schedule. I am TWO chapters ahead of schedule, and it feels amazing. Such is the power of M&M's. Though the real test begins now, since I got Tears of the Kingdom for my birthday. How they made a perfect game even better, I'll never know, but I sure as hell won't complain.

I made apple pie. When I was preparing the apples, I checked my recipe, and it said to add a tablespoon of salt. In went a tablespoon. I checked the recipe again, and I wondered why it wanted me to add baking powder and baking soda. I looked it over and saw it was my choc chip cookie recipe. I was only supposed to add a pinch of salt. Won't be making that mistake again.

Alright, that's it out of me. Time to go save Hyrule… and maybe crucify a few Koroks along the way.