Sanji, Johnny, Yosaku, and Eyelash were all racing through the battlefield until they finally got out of the city and into the desert before looking around for their friends.
"That explosion came from that direction." Sanji said before spotting a few figures in the distance. Two of which sent him into love mode, causing him to run over to them while wiggling around like a noodle. "Valerie-Swan~! Alvida-Chwan~!" he called out, gaining the group's attention.
"Huh?" Gin said before he spotted them all running towards them.
"Sanji!" Chopper yelled out as the others looked as well.
"Are you ladies okay~?" Sanji said.
"Uh, we're here too, you know." Usopp said as he sat up in a full body cast, leaving only his fingers and most of his face in the open.
"Oh...hey there." Sanji said with a small wave. "What happened to you?"
"It's a long story." he said. "So, you beat that Mr. 2 guy?"
"I'd be dead if I hadn't." he said before lighting another cigarette. All of them talked for a few moments before they decided to pack up and head for the city to find Vivi and the others. As they ran through the city, explosion and other various sounds could be heard.
"Wait! I recognized one of those explosions!" Valerie said as she listened for a moment. "Those are from Greg!"
"He must be fighting against someone!" Yosaku said as they all took in the direction the explosion came from.
"Why are you crying Brother Usopp?" Johnny asked, noticing the tears in Usopp's eyes.
"That stupid mole woman said...that Luffy was killed by Crocodile!" Usopp said with a sniffle.
"BRO CAPTAIN'S DEAD?!" both swordsmen yelled.
"You honestly believe that load of crap?" Sanji asked in annoyance.
"No way!" Usopp yelled.
"Yeah! Luffy wouldn't die from that Crocodile jerk!" Chopper yelled. Even Eyelash grunted something in anger at the question.
"They're right! No way would Big Bro die!" Johnny and Yosaku yelled in unison.
"Still, you gotta wonder what happened to make her say that." Gin said as they neared the explosions.
"Outta my way!" they heard Greg shout as the smoke cleared from another explosion.
"Having fun?" Grace asked.
"Greg! Grace!" Valerie yelled, getting their attention. Both of them looked to see the group friends quickly running towards them.
"Hey! You guys are alright!" Grace said.
"Though barely from the looks of things." Greg said as they ran towards the two of them. "You guys know where Vivi is?"
"No." Valerie said before spotting two people tied up and bleeding. "What the- the Mr. 7 pair? What are they doing here?"
"More agents?" Alvida asked.
"Yes, but these two are sharpshooters." Grace said.
"And they look like shit because...?" Gin asked.
"Because...we have a really big problem." said Greg.
-Zoro-
Zoro was in another part of the city battling against Mr.1, who's Dice-Dice Fruit powers let him make blades from anywhere on his body while also making his body as hard as steel. Both fighters exchanged words before they starting fighting, one claiming that the fight would make him stronger, the other claiming to have never been cut since obtaining their powers. Both were at it again as Zoro pushed Mr. 1 back before attacking, only to result in his heavy breathing while Mr. 1 came out without a scratch.
"Like I said." Mr. 1 said.
"I'm shocked. Not a scratch." Zoro said. "No one's ever stood up after my attacks like that before."
"You've never met me before." Mr. 1 said, repeating what Zoro had said moments ago, causing Zoro to smirk before Mr. 1 attacked again.
"SPARKLING DAISY!" Mr. 1 cried out as he attacked. Zoro blocked it with his swords while the buildings behind him were sliced in the direction of his fingers. Zoro struggled to keep up his defense before Mr. 1 pushed him through the buildings, letting them topple all over him before leaving him bleeding under the rubble.
'I've trained myself...more than anyone.' he thought. 'I've been in fights that left me on the brink of death, yet always risen to the occasion. What am I missing?' he thought as memories of his childhood came back to him when he asked his Sensei about people who can cut steel. He remembered how his Sensei told him that their were swords out there that couldn't cut a thing, but at the same time could cut steel. Cutting what they wish to cut with the same sword they use to protect what they wish to protect. Nothing made sense to him as he lifted part of a building at flung it at Mr. 1, who slashed it into pieces before they both clashed again. Zoro kept up his assault, only to find that his attacks did nothing yet again. "You're pissing me off."
"Same here." Mr. 1 said. "Maybe you'd have a chance if I was a swordsman, but I'm far better than one. Observe." He then sprouted multiple small curved blades on his arms before spinning them at high speeds.
"What are you? An excavater?" Zoro asked as he charged at him.
"An assassin." Mr. 1 said as he held up his arms to block Zoro's blades, causing sparks to appear.
'Sparks?!' Zoro thought in shock. 'How fast are those blades spinning?! At this rate, my swords are gonna break!' he thought before his swords were pushed aside, leaving him open as both of Mr. 1's blades arms tore across his front. Zoro was now sent flying back a bit before finding himself on one knee. He struggled to get up, but wasn't fast enough to evade Mr. 1, who drove his fist into gut again. Blood was now flying out of Zoro before Mr. 1 turned his fingers into blades, which he used to send Zoro flying into a stone pillar. Bleeding and without his swords, Zoro was now face down in the dirt as Mr. 1 approached. 'Can't...let him see...my back.' he thought as he struggled to get up. He found himself sitting up against the stone pillar, breathing hard and covered in his own blood.
"What will you fight with now?" Mr. 1 asked. "You're hands?"
"Doesn't matter if I tried to explain it to you." Zoro said. "You're not a swordsman, so you'd never understand."
"Not even interested." Mr. 1 said. "SPARK...BREAK!" he called out as he slashed Zoro once more. Blood poured out of Zoro as th pillar behind him, which was also slashed, slowly crumbled on top of him.
'Stones...really hate me today.' Zoro thought as the pillar smashed onto the ground. Mr. 1 was walking away from the rubble while popping his neck before he stopped walking and turned around. The sight before him caused his eyes to widen and a bead of sweat to appear on his forehead. Zoro, bleeding out of many cuts and wounds, was standing once again.
"Impossible!" Mr. 1 said in surprise. "I've cut him so many times. How'd he dodged those falling stones?"
'Dodge?' Zoro thought. 'No. I sensed where they wouldn't fall.' he thought as he slightly turned his head to a fallen stone. 'One of my swords...is under that stone there. I can feel it.' he thought as he turned the stone over to reveal his Wado Ichimonji. 'I've experienced this feeling before. All around me goes quiet. So quiet, all I can hear is my heartbeat. Is this what being on the verge of death feels like?' he thought as he remembered the falling stones. 'I could hear them...the voice of the stones. I wonder...trees...soil...' He then eyed Mr. 1, deaf to the words he was shouting at Zoro. 'And...his steel...They all have a voice.' he thought as he slashed at the leaves of a tree, yet harmed not one of them before slicing a nearby stone in two. 'Do I have...what it takes...to cut steel?' he thought as he pointed his sword at Mr. 1. 'Only one way...to find out!'
"If three swords couldn't stop my attacks, what's one sword gonna be any good for?" Mr. 1 asked.
"...Defeating you." Zoro said as he slowly placed his sword into it's sheath.
"DIE!" Mr. 1 shouted as he charged at Zoro.
"One sword style...Lion Strike!"
"ATOMIC SPARK!" Both fighters didn't move as they now faced away from one another before Zoro fully sheathed his sword, leaving Mr. 1 to grunt in pain as blood gushed from his chest.
"I must thank you." Zoro said as Mr. 1 fell to his knees. "Because of you...I'm stronger now." he said before falling to his knees.
'He actually did it!' Mr. 1 thought. 'He learned...how to cut steel!' He slowly turned his head to Zoro before asking, "Now that you've cut steel...what's next...diamonds?" Images of Luffy and his warning of their death at the marines flashed through Zoro's mind at that moment.
"Maybe...maybe not." was all he said.
"Heh heh." Mr. 1 laughed as he slowly collapsed. "This fight...is yours."
-With Vivi-
Vivi could only stare in horror as Chaka, along with a group of Alabasta's finest warriors, were now either dead or near death. Kohza had shown up using a shortcut he used as a kid to demand Cobra's surrender, only to find that all the hatred for the King was due to Crocodile's influence and scheming. The news only continued to get worse as Chaka wheezed out that the palace square was going to be blown to bits by a bomb. Chaka yelled for him to go and warn them before Crocodile slammed his hook down onto him while Kohza ran to warn them, but was tackled to the ground by Vivi.
"Get off! The rebels are about to reach the palace sqaure! If it's set to blow, we have to warn them!" he yelled.
"Listen to me!" she yelled back. "If you tell them about the bomb, they'll only panic and add more chaos then there already is! And even if you stop the bomb, it won't stop the fighting! Either way, people will still die! No one will be saved!" she said before her face softened. "Understand?"
"Aren't you a smart one?" Crocodile said with a smirk.
"We must do what should've been done from the start, and that's to stop this rebellion! And the only one who can do that is you, Leader!" she said. Kohza stared at her before sitting up, his face full of understanding.
"If you think I'll let you stop my plans," Crocodile said as he reformed from sand behind Vivi, his hook poised to strike. "Then think again!" he said as he struck, only for Chaka to block his attack at the last moment. Chaka held Crocodile off so that Vivi and Kohza could give an order to Alabasta's Royal Army: To wave the White flag and surrender. Shortly after, the rebels had finally reached the palace square to meet with a sight that had shocked them all.
"They're...waving the white flag?!" one of the rebels said.
"They're giving up?"
"Wait! Why's Kohza with them?!"
"REBELS!" Kohza yelled. "This war is over! The Royal Army does not wish to fight any longer! Let go of your anger and drop your weapons!" he said. All the rebels were shocked at his words, while Vivi stood up on top of the palace as watched, hoping that this would finally end the fighting.
"Is this...true Kohza?" one of the rebels asked.
"Yes." Kohza said. "This battle is-" he said before four gunshots rang out, each one striking Kohza in the back and causing him to fall. Everyone was left in shock and horror, all but the Billions agent dressed as a Royal Guard, holding a smoking gun.
"KOHZA!" Vivi screamed.
"They shot Kohza!"
"Those Bastards!" the rebels yelled. Kohza tried to tell them not to fight before a sandstorm began to rage around them all, blinding them as Billions agents from both armies began to fire at the other army, which caused both armies to attack each other. Vivi could only watch in horror as she noticed the mark of Baroque Works on one of the soldiers before everyone started fighting. She screamed for them to stop, but nothing could be heard over the roar of the sandstorm.
"You've fought well Princess, but it's time to give up." Robin said.
"Vivi! RUN!" yelled Cobra as Chaka passed out. "You have to get away from him!"
"No!" she said as she glared at Crocodile. "There's still time. If I can stop the bomb from detonating I can still save them!" she said before Crocodile grabbed her by the throat and lifted her into the air.
"If I do this, the rebellion will stop! If I do that, the rebellion will stop!" he said before telling her that her idealism was nothing, and that without power they'll become nothing but dreams and that if they had warned the royal army beforehand, they would've panicked but have been able to save many lives. "I'm amazed you were able to spy on us for two years, I'll give you that. But sadly, all that you've done is condemn your people to death in the end! Listen very closely Princess," Crocodile said before giving her a smirk. "You can't save anyone!"
"I don't care! As the Princess of this Kingdom, I won't give up!" she said in defiance.
"Hmph." was all Crocodile said before turning his arm into sand, releasing her to fall to her death. "Then you can die with this kingdom!" he said before laughing. Vivi could only glare at him as she fell while Crocodile laughed at her before something caught his eye in the sky. He watched as it came closer before his eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible!"
"CROCODILE!" Luffy roared as he and Pell flew down towards them.
"Luffy!" Vivi cried out in joy as they swooped down and snatched her before she hit the ground, startling the fighters just below them.
"Just in time." Luffy said as Vivi clung to him and cried.
"Luffy...Pell." she said in a cracked and weak voice. "We don't have much time. A bomb's going to go off soon in the square...my voice...no one can hear it...this country...is falling apart!" she sobbed.
"Vivi." Luffy said. Vivi looked at to see him smiling at her. "As long as we're here, we'll always hear your voice." he said. Vivi could only smile before she hugged him again as they flew down and were now on the ground. Luffy glared up at Crocodile, who returned the glare while Luffy began to spin his arms, readying himself for another round with Crocodile.
"Good luck Luffy." Pell said. "Be careful."
"I ate a lot of meat. I'll be fine." Luffy said as he looked up at Crocodile again. "You caught me off guard last time. That won't happen again."
"LUFFY! HE'S ALIVE!" screamed someone. They looked behind them to see all the Straw-Hats joining them one-by-one until all of them were now standing there. Nami was riding piggy back on Zoro before jumping off and heading towards Usopp.
"Usopp!" Nami yelled as she smacked Usopp with her Clima-Tact. "What's wrong with you?! I asked for a weapon, not a party trick!"
"You can stand just fine!" Zoro yelled.
"What happened to Nami and Nojiko, Moss Head?!" Sanji yelled. "How'd they get so hurt?!"
"Shut up! They're alive, so deal with it!" Zoro yelled as he tried to catch his breath.
"Sorry everyone." Luffy said. Everyone looked at him as he continued. "I lost last time. But this time, I'll win. The rest is up to you guys!" Everyone was smiling at him at his words.
"Then get going!" Zoro said.
"Right. Time to end this!" Luffy said as he stretched his arms up.
"YEAH!" they all yelled.
"Everyone...Thank you." Vivi said as she wiped the tears from her eyes, truly happy to see that all her friends were alive. "Even after all of this, you're still with me!" she said. Luffy gave them all one last grin before rocketing up to fight Crocodile. He threw a punch at him, but missed when Crocodile turned to sand, leaving Luffy to land on his feet in the grassy field of the palace.
"I'm amazed you survived that quicksand, along with that wound I gave you." Crocodile said. "However, I'm afraid you're luck has run dry. This time, I'm gonna suck all the water from you until not even a husk remains."
"Not this time Crocodile!" Luffy said as he cracked his knuckles. "This time, I'm gonna kick your ass!"
-With Vivi-
Vivi and the others watched Luffy rocket up to face Crocodile before facing her friends.
"Everyone! We haven't got much time!" she said. "A bomb's been set to go off at 4:30!"
"A bomb?!" Usopp yelled as some of the others eyes widened.
"We know about the bomb!" Greg said.
"We forced one of the Billions to tell us where it was!" said Grace as she moved to the side to reveal the Mr. 7 pair that they dragged along with them. "And we even got the two who were ordered to fire it."
"The Mr. 7 pair!" Vivi said.
"Hey! If they're here, then that means the bomb won't be fired!" Chopper said.
"Hey, he's right!" Nojiko said.
"No." Sanji said. "Unfortunately, that won't stop it."
"What?" Vivi said in disbelief. "What do you mean Sanji?"
"Vivi." Greg said in a grim tone. "The bomb...it's on a timer." Everyone around him either looked at him in shock, or in Vivi and Pell's case, horror.
"Then...it's still gonna go off?" she asked, not wanting to even think about it.
"Whoa! Hold on! How big is this bomb anyway?!" Usopp started yelling.
"Big enough to blow the square away, along with everyone fighting inside it." Grace said.
"No way!" Nami said.
"Look out!" Zoro yelled as a man came out of the sandstorm, aiming to cut Vivi in half before Zoro and Sanji stopped him.
"Looks like we found the Princess!" said another Billions as a few dozen Billions were surrounding them. "We're sure to get a promotion for kill you!"
"Billions!" Vivi yelled in shock.
"Where's the bomb?" Pell suddenly asked. "I'll take care of it! Just lead me to it!"
"It's in the clock tower!" Greg said as Zoro and Sanji took out the Billions in no time at all.
"The clock tower?" Gin asked.
"Of course!" Vivi said. "It's high enough and out of the sand, so it has a perfect shot of the square!"
"Alright!" Nami said as she pointed to Greg and Grace. "You two, take Pell to the bomb so he can deal with it!" She then turned to the others. "The rest of you, stop anyone who tries to harm Vivi! And while you're at it, try to stop these guys from fighting this pointless war!"
"Right!" they said.
"Don't worry Vivi! No ones getting near you while I'm here!" Sanji said. The fate of Alabasta, whether it thrive or fall, was upon them.
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter.