A/N: Before we start, I have somethin to say to you all. The poll I had set up was whether or not Zoro should get a girl or not, NOT which girl you want me to set him up with. Keep who you want him with to yourself! Understand? Good. On to the story.

Those of the two armies who were still awake were staring at the sky in confusion as Crocodile's broken form sailed through the air. With everything quiet, Vivi shouted her plea to her people at the top of her lungs.

"STOP FIGHTING!" she shouted as clouds formed overhead. Everyone looked at her before they all, one-by-one, felt something cool and refreshing touch their skin. They all looked up to see a sight they had longed to see for so long. Rain.

"Kohza." one of the rebels said as Kohza laid there on the ground, his hand extended outward to catch a drop of rain.

"Yes...this war is over." Kohza said as a few more raindrops fell in his hands. The rain began to slowly wake many people from their slumber as they all got up and stared at the sky in a daze, as if unable to comprehend what was happening while the Straw Hats slipped away.

-With Luffy-

Shortly after a few drops of rain splashed on Luffy, his anger at Crocodile subsided long enough for him to remember to others that he needed to see before speeding up towards them. He kept going before spotting Tashigi, along with a group of marines, standing on the road and preparing for something.

"Ah! It's Straw Hat Luffy!" one of the Marines yelled, gaining the attention of the others around him.

"Straw Hat!" Tashigi said as she rested her hand on the hilt of her blade. Luffy lifted his arm, prompting the rest of them to get ready for whatever attack he was going to throw at them. The last thing they were expecting was him pointing off in the direction of the square.

"Good thing you guys are here!" he said with a smile. "Crocodile should be that way. Go arrest him, okay?" The marines just stared at him before he turned away. "Later." he said before disappearing. The marines blinked in confusion before they started off in the direction Luffy went.

"Hold it!" Tashigi yelled, making them all stop. "We'll deal with Straw Hat later. For now, we take care of Crocodile!"

"Yes Ma'am!" they all yelled before heading for the square. Tashigi glanced in the direction Luffy went with a glare before joining her squad.

"Which way was it?" Luffy asked himself before stopping in front of the staircase that lead to where he fought Crocodile last time. "This way!" And with that, he quickly descended the staircase and soon found himself inside, looking around for Robin. Thanks to his Haki, he quickly sensed her before walking into the room containing the Poneglyph. Robin was looking at it with her hand against the stone's surface, not even bothering to look back at the door.

"You?" stated Cobra, who was sitting against the wall, still being held there by Robin's powers. "You're the boy who was fighting Crocodile! What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you two." was Luffy's answer before looking at Robin. "Hey, can you let him go?" Robin didn't move at all as the hands holding Cobra disappeared.

"Go." was all she said. Cobra just stared at the two of them before turning to leave.

"Young man," he said before smiling. "Thank you." And then he left to address his people.

-Outside-

Both armies were listening to Vivi, who was pleading to them all to stop fighting, and that this whole war was pointless. The Rebels however were still wanting to fight due to Cobra attacking Nanohana and the Royal Army shooting Kohza. Their anger ended however after they were told the truth by a little boy, who had witnessed the fake King in Nanohana. Vivi cried out in joy as the boy was being held by none other than Igaram, who was accompanied by her friends Mr. 9 and Miss Monday from Whiskey Peak. They had dropped their weapons after being promised a full explanation by Igaram as Vivi looked around for her friends, who had all disappeared.

-With the Straw Hats-

All of the Straw Hats had slipped away from the crowd and were now gathering in a secluded alleyway before running into Cobra. Valerie, Greg, and Grace looked away as they all tried to keep on walking by.

"What's wrong you guys?" Nojiko asked. "You know him?"

"He's...well..." Valerie said before they heard someone shout at the man.

"Daddy! Everyone!" Vivi cried out as she ran towards them all.

"Daddy?" Sanji said before looking at Cobra with his mouth comically hanging open with his visible eye bugging out a bit. "YOU'RE VIVI'S DAD?!"

"So that must mean you're the King." Zoro said.

"Big Sis Vivi's dad?" Johnny and Yosaku said in unison.

"That's right." Cobra said. "But, who are you people?"

"They're the friends I told you about." Vivi said with a smile.

"Ah." Cobra said, a small smile coming to his face. "So these are the friends you mentioned in your letter. Then, I owe you a great debt. You and that young man in the Straw Hat."

"You met up with Luffy?" Alvida asked.

"Yes." he said before turning to the sky, watching the rain fall all around him. "I can't believe that the nightmare is finally over." Everyone else smiled before Zoro sat down next to a wall.

"You two should head for the square." he said.

"Yeah." Usopp agreed. "Now that the war's over, it's only natural for the King and Princess to address their people. Tell them the whole truth and all that."

"And I'll tell them about all that you've done as well." Vivi said, only to be stopped by Sanji.

"Vivi-san." he said as he lit a cigarette. "It's best that you keep us out of this." He then turned to her, giving her a big smile. "We're pirates anyway. Gotta stay out of the public eye, right?"

"But we would like some food." Chopper said with his tongue hanging out of his mouth.

"And rest." Nami said. "Mind if we crash at the palace?" Vivi and her father only smiled, letting them know it was alright before they both turned and walked away, leaving everyone to slowly pass out from exhaustion.

"You have very strange friends Vivi." Cobra said with a smile. Vivi let out a small laugh as they continued on.

"If only you knew how strange they really are." she said before someone in front of her caught her eye. "Luffy!" Cobra turned to see Luffy was walking towards the both of them.

"Hey! Vivi!" Luffy called back as he met up with them. "Glad to see you're alright!"

"Yes." Vivi said. "Thanks to you and everyone else."

"What of that woman?" Cobra suddenly asked. "Where is Nico Robin?"

"I let her go." Luffy said.

"What?!" Vivi asked in disbelief. "After what she did?!"

"The guy with curly hair, the muscle woman, and the fake king are still alive, right?" Luffy said. "I told you she wasn't as bad as you thought she was." Vivi just stood there, trying to think of something to say to counter it. "And don't forget the others who joined us." Luffy said. Vivi's thoughts immediately went to Grace, Greg, and Valerie before she sighed.

"You're right." she said.

"I won't ask why you let her go." Cobra said. "But I pray that your choice does not come back to haunt us."

"Don't worry." Luffy said, knowing where Robin was going to be. His smile disappeared though, and was replaced with a serious look. "Hey, Vivi's dad?"

"Hmm?" Cobra said.

"I have a request." Luffy suddenly said.

"A request?" he asked. Both he and Vivi were staring at Luffy, who sighed before looking them both in the eye.

"Aside from Crocodile, can you try and make it so that your Kingdom decides what happens with Baroque Works?" he asked.

"What?" Cobra said in confusion.

"The Marines will arrest them." Vivi said. "They're in the city alre-"

"NO!" Luffy yelled, startling them both. "I know that they tried to destroy your country, but if the Marines get their hands on them, then...then..." he trailed off as memories of seeing Bon Clay, Mr. 3, and others inside Impel for what they did to Alabasta came to his mind. Cobra seemed to notice a strange look in Luffy's eyes at that moment before coming to an answer.

"I will try." he said before walking past Luffy. "You're friends are waiting for you." And with that, he and Vivi left to calm their people while Luffy left to be with his friends. Vivi was cofused by Luffy's request as they neared the square. Cobra, on the other hand, was deep in thought. 'The look in that young man's eyes.' he thought, remembering the look of pain in his eyes at that moment. He didn't have much time to think on this as he addressed his people, telling them that they've lost so much with nothing to gain, that they cannot undo what they have done, but that they could go forward once again as one country, bringing everyone who could hear him to tears.

-With Tashigi-

Before Cobra had arrived at the square, Tashigi and a squad of Marines came and took Crocodile away after stripping him of his title as Warlord for his crimes. Moments later, she and the Marines had come across Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hats, with Luffy looking at them all.

"All but the Captain are out cold!" one of the marines said. "This is our chance to arrest them all in one go! Tashigi looked at all of them before staring at Luffy, who was staring back at her. She remembered when Luffy appeared, told them where Crocodile was, and then vanished. She looked conflicted before a shout came from behind them, telling them to wait. They turned to see the king himself walking towards them all, accompanied by Vivi, Igaram, Pell, Chaka, Mr. 9, and Miss Monday.

"It's King Cobra Nefertari!"

"What's he doing here?" The marines asked the group stopped in front of them all.

"What do you mean wait?" Tashigi asked.

"It was our Kingdom that was the victim due to Baroque Works." he said. "Aside from Crocodile, I ask that you leave the fate of the rest of Baroque Works in this Kingdom's hands." The marines looked on in stunned disbelief at the request. They looked ready to object, only for Tashigi to step forward.

"What you're asking is something I cannot authorize." she said before sighing. "But you are right. Your Kingdom was the victim. I will call my superiors and pass on your request."

"Thank you." Cobra said.

"Sergeant Major!" screamed one of the marines. "The Straw Hats are gone!"

"What?!" she said as she turned around, seeing that all the Straw Hats had vanished, not knowing that they were silently moved to safety by Cobra's royal guards when they were distracted by Cobra. Tashigi only growled before composing herself and facing Cobra. "I will pass along your request! Now if you'll excuse me, we must go." she said before she and the marines left. Cobra and the rest of them smiled as the rain fell all throughout the country, eliciting cries of joy everywhere.

-Later that night-

All the Straw Hats had their wounds tended to and were now sleeping inside the Palace, with Vivi watching over them all and smiling. Her country was free, her friends were alive, and Crocodile was taken away. She was silently watching the rain fall before Igaram stepped inside.

"Trouble sleeping Princess Vivi?" he asked.

"No." she said before looking out the window. "I just want to watch the rain. That's all. It's been a long time since I've seen it." she said. Igaram smiled as he stared out the window as well before looking back at her.

"Indeed it has." he said before turning towards the door. "Sleep well Princess Vivi." And with that, he left the room, leaving her to listen to the rain, along with various snoring from the men.

"..." Vivi glanced around the room for a moment, having heard a mumble. She stopped when she saw Luffy, twitching and sweating in his sleep with a look of pain and horror on his face. "...no...no...get away...from them." he said before he began thrashing around violently. "GET AWAY! STOP! DON'T TOUCH THEM!" he yelled, startling Vivi while awakening the other Straw Hats, who were looking around in a daze before they saw Luffy. "NO! YOU WON'T TAKE THEM AWAY AGAIN!"

"Luffy?!" Nami yelled as she and a few others rushed over to him and tried to wake him up while avoiding the punches he was throwing in his sleep.

"What's wrong with Big Bro?" Johnny asked.

"Is he having a nightmare?" asked Yosaku.

"WAKE UP!" Zoro yelled as he managed to grab Luffy by the ankle and throw him into the wall, leaving an imprint before Luffy fell to the floor. Luffy just laid there on the floor before opening his eyes and trying to catch his breath, still terrified at what he saw. His eyes darted around the room before stopping at all his friends, who were looking at him in surprise. He sighed in relief as he relaxed and fell back onto the floor.

"Just a bad dream." he said before closing his eyes.

"Are you okay Luffy?" Chopper asked as he walked over to Luffy, wondering if he was in pain. He didn't get the answer he wanted though as the only thing that came from Luffy was the sound of him snoring away, clearly back to sleep.

"He wakes us up, makes us all worry, then falls back asleep like nothing happened?" Alvida groaned before going back to her bed. "What a moron." Most of the others agreed as they went back to their beds to sleep. Zoro, Nami, and Vivi however were looking at Luffy with different levels of worry before they decided to turn in for the night.

-Later with the Marines-

Tashigi and the marines with her had returned to the Marine ship that was awaiting them and their captives. Tashigi explained that the Straw Hats got away, and that she couldn't do a thing about it before apologizing, which Smoker said she had nothing to apologize for.

"You couldn't do it, so the Straw Hats did." he said from where he sat at the top of the ramp that lead onto the ship as she walked up and onto the ship. "I also got an answer back from HQ about the request the King gave. Don't know why, but they agreed to have only a tiny portion turned over to them. Probably just to stay on good terms with the Kingdom." he said as she walked past him.

"With your permission sir, I'm tired and wish to rest." she said as she walked away. Smoker took out his cigar and breathed out some smoke before addressing her.

"If you've got time to cry, then you've got time to get stronger Tashigi." he said as tears rolled down her faces.

"YES SIR!" she screamed out before walking inside the ship.

"You should all have that kind of conviction." Smoker said. "Now get those criminals onto the ship." As the marines followed his orders, they received a call from HQ.

"HQ wishes to congratulate you and Sergeant Major Tashigi for stopping Crocodile. They've ordered that you both return to HQ to recieve your medals."

"Captured?" Smoker said in confusion. "We didn't stop him. The Straw Hats did."

"Also, both of you are to recieve a one rank promotion, along with-"

"Are you listening to me?!" Smoker yelled. "Did you not read my report?! The Straw Hats took down Crocodile and Baroque Works, not us!"

"Enough Smoker!" said a Marine Captain by the name of Hina. "It's clear that the government plans to cover this whole thing up. They don't want the world to know that a bunch of criminals stopped a Warlord from taking over Alabasta while the Marines couldn't do a thing."

"Also, regarding the award ceremony-" continued the voice on the other line.

"Shut up!" Smoker yelled.

"Just accept it Smoker." Hina said. "Do you want to get in trouble with the top brass?"

"It's because we couldn't stop Crocodile that my subordinate is crying!" he said. "Hey, you listening?" he asked the man on the Den Den Mushi. "Mind passing a message to those old farts at the World Government?"

"Yes?"

"Smoker!" Hina yelled.

"TELL THEM I SAID 'GO FUCK YOURSELVES'!" he roared before hanging up.

A/N: The Poll is over. Zoro gets a girl since you all want to see that. Who it will be is up to me. Also, apologies if it's not good enough. Been trying to figure out how to wrap this chapter up. Hope you like it.