A/N: Next chapter. Enjoy.
It was late at night in the kingdom of Alabasta. Luffy's crew had left and were now heading through the desert after carefully managing to get onto the Super Sonic Duck Squad and Eyelash the camel without hurting them or slowing them down.
"Hey Vivi!" Zoro called out.
"Yes Mr. Bushido?" she said.
"IT'S ZORO!" he yelled, getting fed up with her not getting his name right. He calmed down enough to remember what he was going to say. "Not trying to disuade you from joining, but what's your old man and the rest of the country gonna think when they find out their Princess is missing?"
"Not only that," Nami said. "But if the Marines see you leaving with us on our ship, won't that cause trouble for your father and Kingdom?"
"Yes." she said as she looked on ahead. "If news got out that I joined you all, then the marines might act against my Kingdom." She then smiled before looking at them all. "Good thing I left something for my father to do that so that the Marines won't figure that out."
"You have something planned?" Chopper said. Vivi only smiled back at him and nodded.
"This is so awesome!" Luffy suddenly said, his eyes glued to the paper in front of him.
"You haven't stop looking at that since we left." Nojiko said to him before turning to Vivi. "You shouldn't have let him see that until we got to the ship."
"Sorry." Vivi said as she was lost in thought for a moment. 'Forgive me father. Forgive me Igaram. This is something I must do.'
-Flashback-
Vivi had left to go and pack a few things back at the Palace before she and her friends would leave Alabasta.
"Princess Vivi!" Igaram shouted. Vivi turned to see him running towards her, sweat falling down his face before he stopped in front of her to catch his breath. "Princess Vivi! Something urgent has come up!"
"What's wrong Igaram?" she asked in worry.
"It's Luffy!" he said as he held up two pieces of paper. "He and the one called Zoro both now have outstanding bounties!" Vivi stared at the wanted posters for a moment before taking them from Igaram's hands. "We must warn them!"
"No need." she said with a smile.
"But Princess Vivi! Their lives are about to become chaotic!" Igaram said in almost a panicked shout. "The World Government knows about Luffy taking down Crocodile! They won't just turn a blind eye to him now!"
"I know that." she said. "But Luffy wouldn't care. In fact, both of them would just see it as another challenge and laugh." She then started pushing him off down the hallway. "Now you go get some rest. A lot is going to happen tomorrow."
"Oh right. Your 'Coming of Age' ceremony is tomorrow." Igaram said. Both of them now left in opposite directions as Vivi went to her room to gather a few things and write a note for her father. She left her room with her bag before taking a good look around herself and giving off a sad smile.
'I wish I could stay,' she thought before sighing and steeling her resolve. 'But from what I heard Luffy say, my country is still in danger. And as long as it's still in danger, my journey is far from over.'
-Present-
"Wanted: Monkey D. Luffy. 150,000,000 berries!" Luffy laughed. "My bounty skyrockted!"
"Mine's not too bad either." Zoro said as he pulled out his own wanted poster, showing he had a bounty of 65,000,000.
"Are you sure that there wasn't a bounty for me?" Sanji asked Vivi.
"Sorry Sanji. Only for them." Vivi replied, causing Sanji to pout.
"Why would you get a bounty, Ero-Cook?" Zoro said with a smirk. "No one in their right mind would see you as a threat."
"SHUT UP, MOSS HEAD! DON'T MAKE ME KICK YOUR ASS ALL THE WAY TO THE SHIP!" Sanji roared.
"I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!" Zoro snapped.
"SHUT UP BEFORE I MAKE YOU BOTH WALK TO THE SHIP!" Nami yelled, making them both shut up.
"They may be monsters, but they still can't stand up to her." Grace said while Valerie laughed.
The Straw Hats kept on riding until they reached the Going Merry as they, with Bon Clay on board waiting for them all.
"Hello my friends!" Bon Clay shouted from where he stood on the crow's nest. "Miss me?"
"No!" most of them replied.
"All our supplies is unloaded." Sanji said. "Bye ducks. Thanks for your help." he said as they waved off the ducks, minus Carue. The others all waved them off, even Bon Clay said farewell before they all started arguing.
"Give us a reason why we shouldn't be kicking your ass for stealing our ship." Gin said as they started loading their stuff onto the ship.
"Is that any way to thank me?" Bon Clay asked. "If I hadn't of moved of it from where it was moored, what would've happened?"
"The marines would've confiscated it." Nami said as she grabbed her things.
"Exactly!" Bon Clay said. "The Marines are looking everywhere for you guys and your ship. Every port has been put on lockdown!"
"Why even help us?" Johnny asked.
"Yeah. Aren't you in Baroque Works?" said Yosaku.
"Maybe he got pardonned just like with some of those other members." Nojiko said.
"Not quite. I escaped before the Marines could find me." Bon Clay said. "Baroque Works is finished anyway, so that's old news. And even if it wasn't, wouldn't that make having two Officer Agents on your crew a bit of a taboo?" he asked, looking at Grace and Valerie.
"He's got us there." said Valerie as Bon Clay noticed Vivi hadn't left.
"Going to see your friends off before returning to the life of royalty Princess Vivi?" he asked.
"No. I'm joining them all on their journey." she replied while Carue quacked.
"WHAT?!" Bon Clay shouted, not understanding why she would leave her country once again. "WHY EVER SO?!"
"I can't explain why, but my journey's not over yet." she said. "So until then, I'm going to sail the seas with my friends." Bon Clay's jaw dropped to the deck before he began to cry.
"To give up a grand life of royalty all to travel and share adventures with your friends!" he cried in happiness. "IT'S MOVED ME TO TEARS!"
"Hey, why did you help us anyway?" Usopp suddenly asked.
"Because," Bon Clay said with a smile as tears ran down his face as he gave them a thumbs up. "We're friends!" That seemed to be all that was needed to be said before he, Luffy, Chopper, Johnny, and Yosaku all started dancing a can-can on the ship while Carue ran around them in circles.
"Friends huh?" Zoro said. "Tell the truth. You helped us because having us here increases your chances of getting out of Alabasta, right?"
"IS THAT TRUE?!" most of the dancing group shouted in shock as Bon Clay fell down.
"I'm afraid you've caught me!" Bon Clay said as he cried again. "But in trying times like these, friends must band together! If you believe in friendship, say I!"
"IIIIIIII!" shouted Bon Clay and the dancing Straw Hats, gaining eye rolls and odd looks from the rest of the crew.
"IIIIIIII!" shouted Bon Clay's crew as his ship and crew appeared out of nowhere.
"WHERE'D YOU COME FROM?!" Zoro shouted as the last of the supplies was now onboard.
"Let's set sail guys!" Luffy shouted, earning a shout of approval from everyone else.
"Wait!" Vivi shouted.
"Wait?" Nami said. "Wait for what?"
"You're not having second thoughts now, are you?" Nojiko asked.
"No, it's not that." she said. "I'm sorry, but for me to be able to join the crew without causing trouble for my kingdom, we can't leave just yet."
"Huh?" they all said in unison.
-Dawn-
People all throughout Alabasta were gathering around loudspeakers, awaiting to the Princess Vivi's voice at her 'Coming of Age' ceremony. Everyone in the Kingdom was excited except for a few in the palace, who were now acting like the world was ending.
"Your Majesty!" Terracota cried out as she began looking for Cobra.
"Terracota!" Igaram shouted, having woken up from a nightmare about Vivi becoming a pirate. "Why are you shouting?"
"I went to help the Princess dress for the ceremony, but all I found was this!" she said as she held out a sealed envelope that read -To Father-.
'No.' thought Igaram as the color drained from his face. 'It can't be!' He took the envelope and immediately ran to Cobra's chambers, where the king had finished dressing himself.
"What's wrong Igaram?" he said as he looked at his distraught servant and friend as Pell and Chaka, who were guarding his doors, walked in to know as well.
"Princess...Vivi's...gone!" he wheezed as he handed Cobra the envelope. Cobra opened the envelope and began to read it while Igaram and the rest were waiting to hear what it said.
"I see." Cobra said with a small smile. "So that's the path you've chosen Vivi."
"What?! What did it say, your Majesty?!" Igaram said.
"It's simple." he said as he folded the note up. "Vivi has dediced to join them as a pirate." No one said a word as Igaram's jaw hit the floor.
"WWWWWHHHHAAAAAATTTTTTT?!" Igaram roared as his eyes bugged out of his skull, his voice echoing throughout the Palace. Chaka and Pell were also surprised, but kept themselves more composed than Igaram.
"I had seen from the banquet that Princess Vivi was on good terms with them, but to actually run off and join them is...unbelievable." Chaka said.
"HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED?!" Igaram shouted. "THE KINGDOM HAS FINALLY BEEN FREED FROM CROCODILE AND SHE UP AND LEAVES?! WHAT WILL THE CITIZENS SAY?!"
"Calm yourself Igaram." Cobra said.
"Your Majesty!" Igaram shouted again before being hit by his wife.
"It's her choice." Cobra said.
"Still," Pell chimed in. "Igaram is right. Not just the citizens, but the World Government as well. I fear they may react to Princess Vivi's decision rather harshly."
"So do I." said Cobra with a smile. "Which is why Vivi has a plan."
-With the Straw Hats-
Both the Straw Hats and Bon Clay's crew were fleeing from the 8 marine ships that were shooting gigantic iron spears at them. Luffy managed to deflect most of them with haki infused attacks, but a few spears would hit their ship. Chopper, Gin, Johnny, and Yosaku were below deck doing there best to remove the spears and patch up the holes they made, while the rest were up on deck trying to figure out what to do.
"Can you guys try and do something?" Gin shouted from below deck as he chucked an iron spear out of the way.
"Yeah! It's hard enough plugging up these holes as it is!" Chopper yelled.
"This is bad!" Alvida said as a spear was heading straight for her. It slid off her body and flew in another direction, heading straight for Carue, who dodged at the last second before turning ghostly pale and giving off a weak quack before fainting. "They've got us surrounded."
"Take that Straw Hats!" shouted Fullbody from one of the ships from the south. He and Jango were closing in on them while they bragged before Usopp fired a cannonball at them, hitting Jango's ship just right so that it collapsed, fell over, and hit Fullbody's ship, sinking them both.
"Nice shot!" Grace said as Usopp stared at the damage he did, clearly surprised at what he did before he started shouting that they were no match for him.
"It's not time yet." Vivi said in worry from below deck. "We haven't recieved the signal to start the plan."
"What's taking so long Straw Hats?" Bon Clay shouted from his ship.
"We can't start the plan yet!" Nami yelled back.
"Darn it!" Luffy yelled. "Can't we just start now?"
"Everyone!" Bon Clay yelled. All eyes were on him as he shouted out to his crew. "We're going to give the Straw Hats the time to escape!"
"What?!" both crews shouted. None of them expected this to happen as Bon Clay began to speak about if they didn't help, then they couldn't face themselves in the future. His crew was stunned silent as he turned himself into Luffy while his crew disguised themselves as the Straw Hats and fled into another direction, taking the marines with them.
"Did you all think we were Straw Hat and his crew?" Bon Clay asked as Luffy before turning back into himself. "Well you'd be wrong!"
"Captain Hina! The Sheep ship is getting away!" one of the marines shouted as Bon Clay laughed at her.
"Me and my boys are masters of disguise! As well as," Bon Clay announced dramatically as he posed on the railing, his back to the marines. "Straw Hat's friends." Hina looked pissed as Bon Clay spoke again. "One may stray from the path of a man. One may stray from the path of a woman. But no one can stray from the path of a HUMAN! All friends must scatter into the sky of truth, and blossom! OKAMA WAY! By: Bon Clay!" All of Bon Clay's crew were now crying at his words as Bon Clay turned and glared at the marines. "Bring it!"
"Hina humiliated." Hina muttered before the marines began to bombard Bon Clay's ship, both sides now fighting all out before Bon Clay's ship was destroyed.
"Bon Clay!" Luffy shouted as tears flowed down his face. He, Usopp, Johnny, Yosaku, Chopper, and Sanji were all staring at the destruction and crying. Flashes of Bon Clay's sacrifice at Impel Down flashed through Luffy's mind, causing his tears to fall faster as he shouted out. "WE'LL NEVER FORGET YOU!" Most of the women who were hiding from view were also shedding tears at Bon Clay's sacrifice before Nami wiped her tears and had them steer them back on course.
-Some time later-
The entire Kingdom was now awaiting to hear Vivi's voice as the time of the ceremony was approaching. The Straw Hat's were sailing close to Alabasta with the Marines closing in on them.
'Come on father.' Vivi thought, wondering if her father may not have approved.
"Citizens of Alabasta!" came Cobra's voice over a loudspeaker.
"There!" Nojiko said. "That's the signal."
"Alright guys. Do it!" Valerie said.
-In Alubarna-
The people were now staring up at Cobra in confusion as Cobra was now addressing his Kingdom. "I know that all of you have gathered here to see my daughter after her long absence."
-In Yuba-
"What's going on?" Toto asked as Kohza looked at the loudspeakers in confusion. They and all the rest of Alabasta were wondering why Cobra was speaking and not Vivi.
-In Alubarna-
"I'm afraid...that I have some grim news." Cobra said. The citizens were mumbling amongst themselves as Cobra braced himself for what may happen. Igaram, Pell, and Chaka were all preparing as well as Cobra said "Princess Vivi has...been kidnapped." To say that the citizens were horrified would be an understatement. The audible gasp and sounds of worry and fear for Vivi rung throughout Alabasta. "It seems that a group of pirates had heard of the war, along with Crocodile's defeat and imprisonment, and took the opportunity to sneak in and kidnap her at our weakest moments."
-With the Straw Hats-
"...moments." Cobra's voice could be heard over the loudspeaker.
"Kidnapped?" Hina asked.
"Captain Hina! Look! The Straw Hats!" shouted a marine in panic. Hina looked at the Straw Hat's ship through a pair of binoculars for a moment before breaking them in half, fury across her face. She saw Princess Vivi being held hostage on the Straw Hat's ship with Carue tied up and a pair of swords being held against her throat.
"Those cowards." she hissed as a marine was shouting out what was going on.
"One of the pirates looks to be holding up what appears to be a large sign!" he shouted. "It reads...it reads...'Back off or she dies!' Captain Hina! Your orders!"
"They're using the princess of Alabasta to ensure their escape." she growled. She clenched her hands into fists before lowering her head in defeat. "We have no choice. All ships, break formation!" she called out.
"But what about the Straw Hats and Princess Vivi?!" yelled a marine.
"What can we do?!" Hina snapped back. "As long as they have the Princess, we can't do anything." she said as the King went on about how even though this tragedy has happened, they would one day have Princess Vivi back. That she would want them to be strong and to rebuild the country. You could hear the roar of the people as they all spoke of their anger at the pirates who would dare take their princess, all of them wanting to band together to never allow this to happen again. Vivi was shedding tears on deck as she listened to it all.
'Forgive me everyone, but until this great threat to our Kingdom, and to all the world itself still lives, I can't return.' she thought. 'One day, I'll explain to you all.'
-On Hina's ship-
"Smoker! Did you hear?" Hina said over the Den Den Mushi.
"Yeah. I heard." Smoker said over the line.
"First they take out Crocodile, now they kidnap the Princess of Alabasta!" Hina said. "How can we pursue them if they have a hostage such as her on board?!" Smoker said nothing as he thought back to when he saw the Straw Hats and Princess Vivi talking to each other like they were friends, doing their best to help each other fight for Alabasta, and to Luffy having Zoro save his life.
"Kidnapped...Right." Smoker finally said.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Hina shouted. "SMOKER!"
-Hours later-
The marines had given up chase and were nowhere to be seen on all horizons.
"I don't see them anywhere!" Usopp shouted from the crow's nest. "No marines anywhere!"
"We did it!" Luffy shouted as Zoro cut Vivi and Carue loose.
"Then we can drop this act." Gin said as Sanji began yelling at Johnny and Yosaku.
"HOW DARE YOU TWO BASTARDS HOLD YOUR SWORDS TO VIVI-SWAN'S NECK!" he roared.
"It was her idea Brother Sanji!" they shouted back. "She said to make it look convincing!" all three of them were arguing as Vivi walked to the rails and looked back to where her homeland was.
"Daddy...everyone." she said in a sad voice. Everyone looked at her with a frown as Carue walked up to her and quietly quacked.
"Worried about your home?" Alvida asked.
"Yeah." Vivi said.
"Don't worry." Nami said. "If they're like you, then they'll pull through. They're tough."
"Yeah." said Usopp with a smile. "It's something like this that gets everyone to band together. I betcha that this'll make them all stronger than ever." Vivi smiled as she looked at them all.
"Thanks everyone." she said. They were all smiling, with Sanji going all lovey dovey, before Zoro blurted out, "Besides, we're not turning this ship around, so don't think about going back now."
"What's wrong with you?!" Nojiko demanded as most of the crew began reprimanded him for his choice of words.
"Guess the marines are long gone." someone said from the galley as the door opened. They stepped out into the sunlight so everyone could see her. "Nice job." Everyone besides Luffy freaked out at seeing Nico Robin standing in the doorway and smiling.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" most of them shouted.
A/N: Hope you all liked how I had Vivi leave. I wanted to do something like this so that her home wouldn't get into any trouble. Peace out!