A.n I own nothing.

Thank you everyone for being patient with me, My family's issues have settled down. Mum responded well to the therapy and my sisters arm is almost completely healed; I will try and get back into to posting a chapter once a week.

Again thank you for your patients.

As always pleas Review

Outside The Palace, Alubarna

Vivi and Jacob were hiding in one of the empty house; the house was close to the palace. It would have been easy for both Jacob and Evie to sneak in and past the defence line surrounding the Palace, but they had Vivi with them so discretion was needed.

Evie had gone ahead to scout the perimeter of the Place and had yet to return, it made Vivi very anxious and despite Jacobs calm demeanour he was worried about his sister.

"Are you sure she'll be all right?" Vivi asked worriedly.

"Relax Evie is an infiltration specialist, this is what she does," Jacob reassured.

"That and kill people,"

"I didn't want to say it,"

"Why couldn't I just show the army who I am and have them take me to Chaka?" Vivi asked.

"Because the army has been infiltrated by Baroque Works, if any of them saw you it would be very bad news," Jacob reminded.

Suddenly Evie faded into view, Vivi looked at her expectantly and the older Frye twin shook her head.

"There are guards everywhere; the defence around the palace is incredible and very tight. Getting in is next to impossible," Evie claimed.

"But I have to get in there, how else are we going to stop this war?" Vivi urged.

"Now calm down she said it was next to impossible and that means she's found a way in," Jacob said "Right sis?"

"Oh I found a way in all right, but Vivi won't like it," Evie warned.

Chaka walked down one of the hallway through the palace, he was an imposing dark skinned man with medium length black hair. He wore a long, light-green tunic, revealing his muscular chest, with two belts around his waist: a striped, pale-red and crimson large one, and over it a purple, thinner one, a dark-green coat draped on his shoulders like a cape. He carried a massive sword, with a blue hilt and sheath, on his right hip.

Chakra had just been in an emergency war meeting with the commanders of the royal guard. The commanders wanted to send troops to back up the first wave that had been sent to stop the rebels at the gates of the city but Chakra had wanted the bulk of the army guarding the palace.

Pell had also not returned from his previous scouting mission, although Chaka had complete faith in his fellow adviser and body guard, Pell's absence concerned him. And to top it all off there had been a report of Assassins had infiltrated the city.

"Damn this war, first Princess Vivi and Igaram disappear and now the King," Chakra muttered angrily.

Suddenly a clocked hooded figurer crashed through the window in front of him, the figure land erd in a couching position and stood up facing him. Chaka quickly reached for his sword but before he could draw it a second crash was herd behind him.

Chaka whirled around to see a second hooded figure but this on had a passenger. The figure was holding someone bridle style in his arms.

The noise had attracted the guards as soldiers came running, the two figures and Charka were surrounded in an instant.

"I don't know who you are but you will surrender now," Chaka demanded.

The second figure placed their passenger on the ground and stood up straight not saying a word.

"STAND DOWN NOW!" the passenger yelled.

Chaka's eyes widened, he knew that voice.

"By the order of the princess," Vivi said and threw off her hood.

Every in the corridor lowered their weapons and instantly fell to their knees.

"Well that was dramatic," one of the figures joked.

"Princess Vivi…you're alive…how?" Chaka asked in shock.

"I had some help from a few friends," Vivi smiled.

"And them?" Chaka asked gesturing to the two hooded figures.

"They're my new incredibly deadly and good looKing body guards. The Frye twins," Vivi giggled.

"A royal with a sense of humour…I really like her," Jacob chuckled.

"Oh lord, it's contagious," Evie sighed.

"T…T…The Frye twins? You mean Jacob and Evie Frye?" Chaka yelled in surprise.

Being a royal advisor he of course had her d of these two, they were notorious killers and if anyone ever saw them it meant death was not far behind.

"Your highnesses please step away from them," Chaka urged, fearing Vivis life.

"Well that's not very nice, after we went to all the trouble of bringing her here," Jacob claimed.

"Y…Y…You brought her back…Why?" Chakra asked in shock.

"Chakra we don't have time, I have a plan to stop this war but I need all of the gunpowder we have," Vivi urged.

"Of course but what are you planning to do with it?" Chaka asked.

"I'm going to blow up the palace," Vivi said seriously.

Chaka stared at Vivi in shock and horror, he had not expected that.

"You can't be serious," Chaka said "You can't destroy the palace…"

"I am, I can, and I will," Vivi said in a no nonsense tone.

"But this is the heart of our country. Over 400 years of Alabastion history is stored here and the royal family has lived here for almost 800 years," Chaka reminded her "Why would you destroy all that, if this palace were to fall it would be like destroying the country itself. Your father would never allow it,"

Vivi looked down at the ground, she knew the history and the significance of this place and that is why she was going to destroy it.

"I know, I know what the palace represents. Your right, this place I very important, historically wise but your wrong," Vivi answered.

"Wrong?"

"Yes, the palace is not the heart of the country; it is an object, another building and nothing more. As long as the people survive then Alabaster will survive, they are what make up a country. Not the history, not the royal family and certainty not the palace," Vivi said looKing Chaka directly in the eye.

"And right now the people are fighting and dying for no reason. So yes I will throw away hundreds of years of history and Kings and queens because if that what it takes to save this country then no price is too high. And if my father was here he'd do the same thing," Vivi finished.

Chaka stared at the princess and processed what she had just said. He wanted to object but deep down he knew she was right, he smiled a proud smile.

'When did she grow up? Where did that little girl go?' Chaka could not help but think.

"You know it might be possible to save some of the palace," Jacob pointed out.

"How?" Vivi turned and to the Assassin.

"All your important historical documents are kept in some vault or basement right?" Evie asked.

"Of course, we store all records down there," Chaka agreed.

"Well if you only destroy a few key structural points on the upper levels, the Palace will collapse on itself leaving the basement intact," Jacob said.

"And then all you'd have to do is dig the records out of the basement," Evie agreed.

"Would that work?" Chaka responded.

"Well it would have to be smaller explosions and the theory hasn't actually been tested…but it would increase the chances of that history you mentioned surviving," Jacob claimed.

"Weather it works or not the palace will still be destroyed," Evie agreed.

Vivi nodded and turned to Chaka.

"How about it Chaka?" Vivi asked.

Chaka sighed and tuned to the solders.

"You herd her get that gunpowder and all explosives here now," Chaka ordered "someone get me a layout of the palace and find those key points,"

The soldiers saluted and ran off to fill their orders. It took about twenty minutes to set everything up, during that time Vivi explained to Chaka how the Frye twins had helped her and the Straw hats involvement in bringing her home.

Chaka was at a loss for words, he always knew that Vivi loved adventures and she always wanted to go on one. When she was a child she and Koza's gang always pretended to be royal knights, bandits and anything else they could think of while ether him or Pell would act as bad guys.

It was all make believe of course and there was no harm in encouraging a child's imagination, though the night raid on the palace took things a bit too far. Chaka still remembered catching Vivi and the entire Sand Sand clan in the kitchen stealing sweets; Vivi's father of course thought it was hilarious and suggested that the kids try the treasure room next time to test the palace security.

They did and the kids actually managed to steal a handful of gold coins each, they had to give the money back but the King let all the kids keep one coin each as a trophy.

But infiltrating a criminal organisation, traveling with pirates and befriending two of the most notorious killers in the world was not what Chaka would consider an adventure.

"I'm getting too old for this," Chaka said to himself.

Once all the explosives had been set and the place had been evacuated; Chaka sent the guards to protect the palace gate encase any of the Rebels or Baroque works tried to stop them. Vivi, Chaka and the Fry twins stood in front of the palace, there were a few men standing by ready to light the explosives.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Chaka asked, he was hoping that Vivi would change his mind.

"Yes, if we do then the war will stop," Vivi said, she looked at her home with regret in her eyes but Vivi knew that it was the only way.

"Very well," Chaka said and gave the signal to the men.

The few solders began too light the fuses but suddenly a large sand tornado surrounded the palace. Jacob and Evie instantly pushed Vivi and Chaka behind them and drew their weapons. The sand tornado disappeared leaving the dried out corpses of the men who were supposed to light the fuses.

Vivi and Chaka stared in shock and horror, Crocodile was standing in front of them.

He had the King under one arm and Miss All-Sunday stood next to him with a confidant smirk on her face.

The King was an older man with a wrinkled face, a tied-off beard, and long, curly, black hair. He wore a green robe with yellow edging, an orange and beige sash around his waist, and a purple coat.

"Now, now I can't allow that, after all this is going to be my house after today," Crocodile claimed.

"Crocodile?! Why is he here? Where's Luffy?" Vivi asked in shock.

Crocodile gave a wicked smile and looked at the Frye twins. Jacob and Evie got ready to strike at a moment's notice; they could not risk the King getting hurt.

"Straw hat is dead, I buried him under the sands at Rainbase," Crocodile claimed.

"No…No…Your lying," Vivi's eye's widened in shock.

"I've lied about a lot of things, but when it comes to weaklings like him…there is no point,"

"Luffy would never lose to the likes of you," Evie shouted out.

Jacob looked at his sister in surprise; he was thinking the same thing. When did she put faith in a pirate? Come to think of it when did he?

"She's right, besides you have bigger things to worry about," Jacob agreed.

"Oh and what would that be?" Crocodile mocked.

"Us," Jacob claimed.

"Oh, it's true you two are well known killers but your no match for me. I only entertained Straw hat because I had the time, you two should be glad I don't have time to play with you," Crocodile said.

"Then why did you come here?" Vivi demanded.

"Simple I came to collect my prize, Pluton," Crocodile said.

The Kings eyes widened as did Chaka's, Vivi was confused.

'Was that the weapon the twins mentioned?' She wondered.

Vivi looked at the twins they had suddenly become very stiff and nervous.

"I see you all recognise it," Crocodile continued and looked at the King.

"Tell me where it is," he demanded.

"How do you know that name?" The King asked.

"Simple, as a Shichibukai I have access to highly classified documents in the Government; you would not believe the things that they have covered up,"

"But what is Pluton?" Vivi asked.

"It's a secret passed down through the royal line," Chaka answered.

"It's a powerful weapon; legend says that it could wipe an Island out of existence with a single shot. The inhabitants and the land would be gone, as if they were never there," Crocodile claimed.

Vivi's eyes widened, no wonder the Brotherhood was willing to wipe her family out. No one should have that kind of a weapon.

"Once I find it I will turn Alabasta into the greatest military nation in the world. Not even the government will stand against me," Crocodile boasted.

"WE'LL NEVER LET YOU HAVE IT!" Jacob yelled and charged at Crocodile.

Jacob ran up with his Kukri drawn intending to kill Crocodile, he aimed strait for the man's hart. Crocodile dropped the King and blocked Jacobs strike with his golden claw; his other arm turned into sand and wrapped around Jacobs waist.

Jacob's eyes widened and Crocodile slammed him into the side of the palace. Jacob's body went limp from the impact and dropped his weapon. Crocodile repeated to slam Jacob into building; suddenly he felt a knife go into his shoulder.

The Shichibukai felt very weak and his sand arm instantly returned to normal, he looked and saw Evie standing in front of him enraged.

"NO ONE MESSES WITH MY BROTHER!" she yelled, she pulled her wrist back and released her hidden blade.

Before she could strike various arms sprouted and restrained her. Miss all Sunday walked up to crocodile and pulled the knife out of his shoulder.

"Can't have you dying on me," Miss All-Sunday said and pocketed the knife.

The moment the knife came out Crocodiles wound healed over and he got his strength back. He held the King up by his throat.

"Now that that's over and done with where is Pluton?" the Shichibukai demanded.

"I…I don't know," the King answered "Just because it's supposed to be hidden here dose not mean that it actually is…I don't even know if the legend about it is true or not,"

Crocodile stared down at the King contemplating his words.

"I thought that might be the case, an ancient powerful weapon surrounded in mystery…sounds like something made up; even to me. But I planned for that; tell me where is the Ponyglyph that Pluton that the royal family is so desperate to protect?" Crocodile asked.

"Ponyglyph?" Vivi asked, she had never heard of a Ponyglyph before.

Sounds of battle drew closer and Crocodile looked out into the town.

"They're so noisy," he commented.

"What did you expect? You started this war; did you think that it would be quite?" Chaka accused.

"No but they will be silenced soon enough, in about 20 minutes the rebels and the Royal army will meet in the Palace square. Once the fighting starts…the rebellion will end," Crocodile claimed.

"End? What do you mean?" Vivi demanded.

"I've arranged for a bomb to go off at 4:30 this afternoon about ten minutes after the two army's clash,"

"NO…HOW CAN YOU BE SO EVIL?! WHAT DID THE PEOPLE EVER DO TO YOU?!" Vivi screamed.

"I would have thought you would have been happy, I'm ending this war for you. TalKing never brings peace; it's much more efficient to wipe both army's out," Crocodile smirked "After all every coronation has fire works

"YOU MONSTER!" Chaka yelled, he drew his sword and charged straight at the Shichibukai.

In mid charge he morphed into a large black dog, using the speed from his altered from he sliced Crocodile in half, Chaka's eyes widened when he saw the Sand reform. Crocodile turned and gave the General a board look.

"A Zoan type…even with that power your still so weak," Crocodile said, he lashed out and a blade or sand cut across Chaka's torso.

Chaka screamed in pain and collapsed form his wound, he reverted back to human form.

"Being so weak is a sin," Crocodile said coldly.

Vivi fell to her knees, she had watched all of her allies fall, first Jacob, then Evie and now Chaka; there was no one left to help her.

Crocodile slowly started walKing towards her with a murderous expression in his eyes. Vivi stared at the Shichibukai in fear; she'd failed, everything she had done was in vain.

"Vivi?" a new voice asked.

Crocodile, Miss All-Sunday and Vivi turned their attention too where the voice had come from. There standing in the courtyard was a young blond man, Vivi recognised him instantly; the Rebel Leader, Koza.

He wore purple-tinted glasses and had a scar on his left eye, he wore a blue scarf around his neck, a dark purple jacket that went all the way down to his ankles, a white shirt, black pants and a yellow sash around his waist.

"K..Koza?" Vivi gasped, she had not expected to see her childhood friend here.

"Oh you're early," Crocodile commented.

Koza took in the scene around him; he saw the unmoving bodies of Chaka and Jacob, Evie restrained by dozens of hands sprouting out of her body and the King on the ground next to Miss All-Sunday.

"W…W…What's going on here?" Koza asked in shock.

"Your confused, that's completely understandable," Miss All-Sunday said. Koza looked at her.

"It's quite simple really, what's the worst situation your mind can think off at this point?" Miss All-Sunday asked.

Koza's eyes widened as he began to realise what was truly happing.

"I…I came here to try and convince the King and the Royal army to surrender…but…" Koza claimed.

"Koza listen to me this war is a massive sham," Vivi tried.

"What? Then does that mean the drought was…"

"Was all caused by Crocodile, he stole the rain and drove Alabasta into despair," Vivi finished.

Crocodile burst out laughing; Vivi and Koza looked at him.

"Oh princess, you are far crueller than I expected, now he knows that everything he's done, the treason him and his army have committed was all for nothing," Crocodile stated.

"Your lying…everything I have done has been for the good of Alabasta," Koza claimed.

"No everything you have done was for me, you were a good puppet; always dancing on your strings. While the Royal army and Family were desperately trying to prevent war, you instigated it,"

"No…" Koza said in despair.

"It would have been better if you had never found out the truth, dying in ignorance is more than you deserve," Crocodile said coldly.

"KOZA DON'T LISTEN TO HIM!" the King suddenly cried out.

Koza looked at the king in shock, the King was angry but not at Koza.

"YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME FOR THIS WAR! THERE IS A BOMB IN THE SQUARE, SAVE AS MANY AS YOU CAN!" the King shouted.

"A…A bomb? But…Both armys will perish," Koza whispered.

Koza turned and ran towards the gate, he had to stop both armys before the final battle started. He doubt the Rebls would accept it but Koza was going to surrender, it was the only way to stop the fighting.

"NOO!" Vivi cried and talked him to the ground.

"Vivi? Get off me I have to warn them," Koza said urgently he was pinned under Vivi's weight.

"No, that what Crocodile wants," Vivi argued.

Crocodile raised an eyebrow at Vivi's statement.

"But people will die…"

"Your not thinking straight…if you tell both armies that there is a bomb what do you think will happen?"

"I…"

"They'd panic, there'd be such a panic that no one will escape. Even if the battle did not happen both armies would be wiped out," Vivi said with tears in her eyes.

"She's smarter than she looks," Robin commented.

Koza stared at Vivi and processed what she was saying, he knew she was right.

"So…what do we do?" Koza asked.

"I'll order the Royal army to surrender and then…you'll have to accept it. Once the Rebels see you they'll stop," Vivi suggested.

"Vivi you…LOOK OUT!" Koza screamed.

Behind Vivi sand was forming into Crocodile, once he was fully formed he raised his hook intending to kill the princess.

"Do you think I'd let you do something like that?" Crocodile asked.

Vivi turned to look at the Shichibukai as he brought his golden hook down on her.

Clang!

Something blocked the strike, standing between Crocodile and Vivi was Jacob, he had Evie's Cane sword drawn and it blocked the strike.

Corcodlie's eyes widened, he had taken Jacob out of the fight earlier, he glanced over to where the Assassin had been lying; the spot was empty. Suddenly Miss All-Sunday cried out in pain, Corcodile looked behind him just in time to see the arms restraining Evie dissapear.

"What? How?" Crocodile asked in shock, he took a stp away from Jacob.

Koza was impressed, he hadn't seen ether of them move yet here Jacob was defending Vivi.

"Who are you?" Koza asked.

"What are you doing? Hurry up and make both armies surrender," Jacob yelled, he kept his focus on Crocodile.

"Jacob…" Vivi stared.

"We'll hold them off, don't let this chance go to waste," Evie agreed.

Vivi and Koza stood up and ran off towards the square, leaving the Frye twins to face Crocodile and his partner.

"Miss All-Sunday, Take the King and get the location of the Ponyglyph out of him. I'll catch up with you in a bit," Crocodile ordered.

Miss All-Sunday nodded, a small sand storm picked up separating the King and Miss All-Sunday from the Fyre twins; when it cleared up the King and Crocodiles Partner were gone.

Vivi and Koza ran towards the gate leading to the castle square, once there Vivi ran towards one of the rafters' overlooking the army below; sounds of the rebel army could be herd heading in they're direction.

"EVRYONE!" Vivi shouted out.

The soldiers turned and saw Vivi standing with Koza, they began to mummer among themselves as to the reason that the Rebel leader was here.

"I COMMAND YOU TO LOWER YOUR WEPONS AND RAISE THE WHITE FLAG!" Vivi continued "AS PRINCESS OF ALIBASTA, I HERBY SURNNEDER TO THE REBAL ARMY EFFCTIVE IMMETATLY!"

The royal army stared at the princess in shock; she had effectively handed the kingdom over to the Rebels without a fight.

"AND I KOZA, LEADER OF THE REBEL ARMY ACCEPT THE SURRENDER!" Koza responded.

"Lay down your arms…this war is over," Vivi said.

The soldiers looked at each other and reluctantly did as they were told. They gathered the spears and tied sheets to them as make shift white flags. Koza came down and took one of the flags he stood in front of the Royal army with it raised.

About a moment later the Rebel Army charged into the square, they had to stop as in front of them was they're leader standing in front of the Royal army that was holding several white flags.

"Leader? What's going on?" one of the Rebels asked.

"This war is over, the Royal army has surrendered and I have accepted," Koza claimed.

"The King surrendered?" another Rebl asked.

"No the King is not here, however Princess Vivi has surrendered in his stead. Alabastaion Law says that in the absence of the King the next in line to the throne may make decisions on his behalf,"

"That's true but…" the Rebels started to mutter.

"There is no debating this, I have accepted they're surrender and they no longer wish to fight," Koza finished.

"Really? Then it's over," a Rebel said happily.

"Yes this war is…" Koza started.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three shots rang out, they hit Koza in the abdomen, and the Rebel leader fell backwards and collapsed on the ground. Blood poured from his wounds and Vivi screamed for someone to help him, but here words fell on deaf ears.

Enraged by the sudden attack on their leader and the sudden break in the surrender both armies charged and collided with each other.

Vivi watched helplessly as the final battle begun.