A.N I own nothing.
Special thanks to lionkingd15 for helping write this Chapter, it would not be as awesome as it is without your help.
Also check out our new combined story High Tide of Vengeance. This was a combined Project by lionkingd15 and myself set in the Straw Hats Creed universe. High Tide of Vengeance is under the pen name Author2.0, a new joint account was created for the story.
Note: High Tide of Vengeance will not have any impact on this story.
Crocodile stood over a completely dried out Luffy, he was injured and annoyed. Luffy had challenged him again this time the rubber captain had come prepared and used his barrel of water to his advantage. Crocodile was extremely angry at Luffy's unusual battle tactics and his anger was fuelled by the fact that the younger pirate had actually gotten a few good hits in.
Crocodile had gotten serious and turned the whole front of the palace into a mini dessert, the trees, grass ground and even statues had turned to sand. Luffy had stretched up to the top of the palace to avoid the attack but Crocodile had followed him.
In his last attack Luffy had spat out three large shots of water but Crocodile had dogged them effortlessly and drained all the moisture out of Luffy's body.
"I can't believe he gave me so much trouble," Crocodile said.
He looked over his shoulder towards the clock tower.
"Less than seven minutes…perfect," He smiled "Now where did Miss All-Sunday go to?" Crocodile asked himself and dissolved into sand.
Once he was gone a familiar looking white robed man appeared next to Luffy, he looked down at the pirate's dried up corpse and shook his head. Suddenly three large balls of water fell on Luffy and landed with a splash, Luffy shot up completely rehydrated.
"WAHHHHHH!" he screamed "That was close I thought I was dead,"
The man in the white robe looked up at the sky in confusion; there were no clouds in the area not to mention the massive drought the country was in. So where had that water come from?
Luffy stood up and looked around, he noticed that he was not alone.
"Hey…you're the guy from Rainbase…" Luffy stated.
"I am," the man in white said looking at the Rubber captain.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to kill Crocodile, looks like I just missed him,"
"That's right!" Luffy suddenly remembered and looked around desperately "Which way did he go?"
"I'll show you if you answer my question,"
"Okay but make it quick," Luffy agreed.
"Where did that water come from?"
"Oh I shot it up into the sky," Luffy answered.
'He shot it up into the sky? Was he taking measures to ensure his survival…did he know he was going to lose? He must have an amazing tactical mind,' the man in white thought highly Impressed.
"I'm kind of glad I missed," Luffy continued.
"Wait…you missed?" the other man asked in surprise.
"Yeah I was aiming for Crocodile, he dodged and I became a corpse," Luffy said rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"So…you didn't plan on using the water to rehydrate yourself?"
"Nope that was just lucky," Luffy answered.
The man in white frowned, so it was just a coincidence.
"So where did Croc go?" Luffy asked.
The man in white turned his back to Luffy and his eyes turned yellow, he surveyed the area and found what he was looking for. A glowing yellow trail headed off to the east.
"Follow me," he said without looking back at Luffy and took off into a run.
Luffy followed him; he was starting to like this guy.
"Hey what's your Name?" Luffy asked.
The man hesitated for a second before answering.
"Altaïr," He answered.
"Hi Altiy, I'm Luffy," Luffy grinned.
"Don't call me that," Altaïr warned and his eye twitched.
"How about Ally?"
"No,"
"Airey?"
"No,"
"…Novice?"
"DEFIANTLY NOT!"
"Altiy it is then,"
"How about my name," Altaïr hissed.
"Yeah but I can't pronounce that," Luffy whined.
Altaïr groaned he was probably going to wind up breaking the first rule of the creed again.
Altaïr ran through the streets leading Luffy to Crocodile, the Assassin took great care to insure that Luffy did not see his glowing yellow eyes, they rounded a corner and Altaïr switched his eyes back to normal, ahead of them was an intersection where the path split into three other directions and in the centre was Tashigi.
She was on her knees crying, she had several cuts and a large gash across her forehead, around her were the bodies of injured Marines, most were just unconscious but a few were dead. Tashigi picked up her sword and pointed it at both Luffy and Altaïr as they approached.
"You're with Smoky right…What happened here? Did you see Crocodile?" Luffy asked urgently.
Tashigi glared at them, Crocodile had passed her by. He had mocked her and the marines before walking off laughing. Suddenly three squads of Marines came running in and surrounded Luffy and Altaïr.
"Lieutenant are you all right?" one marine asked.
"No…No I'm not…" Tashigi hissed angrily.
"Did Straw Hat do this?" another asked examining the fallen Marines.
"No it was Nico Robin," Tashigi answered, she then looked at Luffy and Altaïr.
"They passed by here…the king said there was a bomb. Is that true?" she asked.
"Yes…his crew are looking for it," Altaïr claimed.
"I see…Crocodile went that way," Tashigi pointed down the east path. "Let them pass,"
"Lieutenant…are you sure they're…" a Marine started.
"I said let them pass…we have bigger worries than a couple of wanted criminals. Everyone is ordered to search for the bomb and lend any and all support to the Straw Hats." Tashigi ordered.
The Marines looked at each other unsure what to make of the order. But Tashigi's determined expression left no room for argument and they broke off into groups to look for the bomb.
Luffy ran off down the east path but Altaïr remained, he stared at the Lieutenant.
"You just ordered your men to help pirates, you could be considered a criminal for that," Altaïr stated.
"A Shichibukai who the government employed is going to wipe out this city and everyone in it and pirates are trying to save it…I don't know what's right anymore," Tashigi answered.
"It makes you wonder who the true villains are Pirates or the Marines," Altaïr agreed.
"And you…where do you fit into it? Why are you helping Straw Hat?"
"I'm not, I don't exist. Your Navy saw to that,"
"The world is not divided into black and white, Marines and Pirates,"
"You're right, the world is a blood red…a big bloody mess and the sooner you realize that the longer you'll live," Altaïr claimed "open your eyes or keep them closed, it does not matter to me which you chose. But if you do open them you may not like what you see,"
Tashigi watched Altaïr run off after Luffy; she briefly contemplated his words before she ran off to help look for the bomb. He did not have to run far because just up a head Luffy was lying on the ground asleep.
Altaïr paused to look at the rubber pirate before continuing on by himself. He came into an area that looked like a large grave yard, though there were no headstones there was a large Mausoleum that was guarded by two very large Jackal statues and the area was well looked after. Off to the side was a small hidden hatch that led underground.
Altaïr walked up to it and activated his second sight, the yellow trail led down under ground.
"Of course they're underground…nothing is ever easy," he complained.
Altaïr took a deep breath before entering the underground passage; he walked down the stairs silently and followed the hall to an open chamber. He hid behind a pillar and peaked into the room.
Inside Crocodile and Miss All-Sunday were in front of a large blue stone slab with writing carved into it.
'A Ponyglyph…the ancient weapon's location is supposed to be inscribed on there,' Altaïr thought.
"Have you deciphered it?" Crocodile asked.
"Almost…I'm on the last line now," Miss All-Sunday answered.
Altaïr's eyes widened, there was someone still alive who could read the Ponyglyphs.
"Done," Miss-All Sunday announced.
"So where is it? Where is Pluton?" Crocodile asked eagerly.
"That's not written here," Miss All Sunday said.
"W…What?"
"All that is written here is history; it dates back about 800 years. The word Pluton does not appear once nor is there any mention of it," Miss All-Sunday claimed.
Crocodile looked at his partner in shock…if what she was saying was true then he had wasted three years, his eyes fell on the King and he was looking just as surprised as he was.
"I see…maybe the weapon does not exist but I have a feeling even if its location was written on here you would not tell me," Crocodile said calmly.
Miss Sunday turned around and looked at the Shichibukai in surprise. She quickly pulled out a small glass vile filled with water out of her coat and threw it at Crocodile. The war lord dodged but an arm grew out of his back and smashed it on him.
Robin charged at Crocodile with a knife but Crocodile was faster and more experienced, he sliced his partner across the side of her hip. Miss All-Sunday collapsed and struggled to move as Crocodile bent down to her, she was in a lot of pain and blood was pouring out of her wound.
"Miss All-Sunday…You're fired," Crocodile said.
Miss All-Sunday looked at the war lord in fear as he was about to finish her off, swirls of air began to form behind him and Altaïr appeared, Crocodile quickly dissolved into sand just as the Assassin's blade was about to pierce his heart.
Altaïr's hidden blade did not hit its target instead it came deadly close to going into Miss-All Sunday's eye; stopping mere inchers from it. The assassin pulled it back in to its holster and faced Crocodile; he had re-assembled himself.
"Hello Crocodile, I believe I told you I was coming for you," Altaïr said.
Crocodile stood on the other side of the chamber, away from Altaïr.
"Y…You're the Mentor?" He asked in fear.
"I am and your life is mine to take,"
"Not if I take yours first," Crocodile yelled and launched himself at Altaïr.
Altaïr made no move to doge the attack in fact he just stood there. Just as Crocodile was in front of the Assassin and right before he could attack a foot kicked him in the jaw and sent him crashing through a wall.
Altaïr smirked.
Altaïr and robin looked and saw the foot was attached to an outstretched leg.
"CROCODILE!" Luffy screamed in rage.
"Oh you're still alive," He said to Luffy.
"Shut up, I just needed a quick nap," Luffy defended.
Luffy walked over to Altaïr and took note of Robin and the King. Crocodile pushed himself up and glared at Luffy. How many times did he have to kill that boy.
Suddenly the tomb began to shake as walls crumble, pillars started to collapse and bricks fell out of place. Luffy, Crocodile and Altaïr looked around in confusion.
"What's going on…it's too soon for the bomb to go off," Crocodile claimed, he still had at least five minutes before it exploded.
"I can't let you leave," The King suddenly said, attracting everyone's attention.
"What did you do?" Crocodile demanded.
"This tomb was designed to collapse if a certain brick was removed. After everything that you have done to my country and my daughter…I will bury you with me," the King declared.
"You fool…I'm made of sand, I may get buried but I won't die," Crocodile smirked "You on the other hand will,"
"No you won't, I will end you" Altaïr claimed.
"If you can kill me before you get crushed," Crocodile laughed.
Luffy ran up and punched Crocodile in the face the force of the punch sent him into a nearby pillar. The pillar broke and Crocodile glared at Luffy.
"How did you...?" Crocodile started.
"I figured it out, you're vulnerable to water, which is why you stole the rain however, blood is a liquid too and it works just as well," Luffy said seriously, his fist was cut and dripping with blood.
Altaïr dashed past Luffy and with his sword drawn and stabbed at Crocodile. Despite the fact that he had thrust his sword too early and he did not hit Crocodile with his blade, the warlord was still thrown back by an invisible force. Altaïr raised his arm and snapped his fingers, the ceiling above Crocodile exploded and debris fell on the warlord.
The debris dissolved and Crocodile launched the sand at the Assassin, Altaïr brought his sword down and not only cut through the sand but the very air itself. Crocodile reassembled himself and glared at the Mentor.
"That was so COOL!" Luffy shouted "How did you do that?"
"I ate the Kaze-Kaze no Mi(Wind-Wind) like Crocodile I too am a Logia type user, he controls sand and I control the wind," Altaïr answered.
"How did you make the debris fall on him?"
"You would be surprised what a little displaced air can do," Altaïr smirked as small air currents swirled around his sword.
Crocodile snorted and removed his golden claw to reveal a slightly thinner hook underneath that it had holes into it and from those holes dripped purple ooze, the ooze melted away the ground it touched.
"Well then let's see you stand up to my scorpion venom," Crocodile goaded.
"First you're a crocodile then you're a scorpion make up your mind," Luffy said.
Luffy and Altaïr charged at Crocodile, the assassin sliced at the war lord's sternum however Crocodile dissolved his midsection into sand which allowed the sword to pass through, Luffy took the opportunity to slam his fist into Crocodile's face and sent him flying.
Luffy tried to get in another punch, however Crocodile was ready for it he dodged the fist and sliced Luffy's arm with his hook, Luffy gritted his teeth from the pain he then hit Crocodile in the chest with his other fist.
"You're pretty tough kid, but not tough enough!" Crocodile yelled he tried to slice Luffy in half with his hook but Altaïr blocked the blow with his sword and pushed Crocodile away with a strong force of wind.
"Thanks," Luffy said.
"Don't mention it," Altaïr replied.
The two continued to battle the war lord however Altaïr was starting to slow down and Crocodile took notice, Luffy had taken a few hits with Crocodile's scorpion venom and it was quickly making its way through the rubber captain's system. Luffy refused to give up though and kept up the pressure while the tomb collapsed around them.
Robin had managed to crawl over to the King and they both watched the fight unfold. After a particularly powerful punch by Luffy Altaïr disappeared and reappeared behind the warlord and slashed him across the back before stabbing him in the ribs with his hidden blade.
Crocodile coughed up blood and suddenly felt incredibly weak he swung his hooked arm at the Assassin but it went right through him. Luffy then punched the warlord in the stomach further injuring him.
Altaïr removed the blade and he and Luffy watched as Crocodile struggled to get back up.
"Ha…Ha HA HAAA! Times up," Crocodile laughed.
Luffy and Altaïr froze but nothing happened then a loud explosion was heard.
"Oh looks like they found the bomb…not that it did much good. I set it on a timer and it still went off. This kingdom is mine," Crocodile claimed confidently.
"No…IT"S NOT!" Luffy screamed and began the fight again.
Altaïr didn't join in he was too busy focusing on the now almost buried exit. The bomb may have gone off but it had missed its target.
'It must have detonated above the city…if it hadn't then the explosion would've come in here already,' the assassin thought.
"Give it up Straw Hat, you can't win against me, plus the poison will finish you off soon enough," Crocodile claimed.
"Not until you give back what you stole," Luffy demanded.
"I've stolen lots of things, money power, rain…what do you expect me to give back?"
"The kingdom," Luffy answered seriously.
"The kingdom? I haven't stolen that yet," Crocodile said.
"Yes you have, you stole it the moment you set foot on this Island. If you hadn't then Vivi wouldn't be crying!" Luffy shouted, he grab Crocodile by his shirt and punched him so hard the warlord was flung up through the stone ceiling and bedrock.
"GOMU-GOMU…GATTLING" Luffy yelled and unleashed a barrage of punches at the warlord that kept forcing him higher and higher.
Altaïr drew all the air he could form the chamber and sent it up in a massive burst at Crocodile, it was risky because now they would have nothing to breath.
Crocodile took the attacks and the combined force was enough to break through a tower on the ground level above them and take him down once and for all.
Altaïr use the newly destroyed tower and drew the air back into the chamber, it would not hold on for much longer.
Luffy took a deep breath and walked over to the King and Robin, he picked them both intending to escape with them.
"No…Leave me here, I have nothing left to live for," Robin claimed.
"You know…I have no reason to listen to you," Luffy shot back.
He took two steps forward before collapsing on the ground and dropping both Robin and the King Altaïr sighed; Luffy had finally succumbed to his injuries and the poison.
"Please…help him," the King begged.
Altaïr grabbed all three and a very large tornado formed around them, the King and Robin closed their eyes to shield them from the dust. The winds died down, Robin and the King found themselves above ground.
Altaïr knelt down to Luffy, he reached into one of his pouches and pulled out a vial with a clear liquid inside. He tilted Luffy's head back and poured the liquid down his throat before holding the pirates nose forcing him to swallow it.
"What was that?" the King asked.
"Antidote, it should nullify the poison but if you want him to live he'll need immediate medical treatment," Altaïr warned.
The King nodded and looked at Luffy gratefully for a second, when he turned back to Altaïr the man was gone and a small but gentle breeze blew past him.
And then…it began to rain.