Continuing to run, Luffy and the others managed to leave Rainbase.

'' How far are we going to run like this ? " Wanted to know Usopp.

" We will never get to Alubarna in time. " Vivi affirmed. " We need horses. "

" There were plenty of them in the city. " Johnny remarked.

" We should have stolen some. " Zoro growled.

Suddenly, Luffy stopped.

" What are you doing ? " Nami asked him.

" Look. " He cried.

Heading towards the pirates, a huge cloud of dust appeared in the distance, triggered by a gigantic figure.

" What is that ? " Wanted to know Yosaku.

Narrowing his eyes, Bruno finally smiles.

" Our reinforcements have arrived. "

" What ? "

" Ohey, friends. "

Managing to become more visible, what triggered this cloud of dust was a huge red crab, which was being driven by Chopper.

" Chopper ? " Menma wondered.

" Where did he find this crab ? " Nami asked.

" It's a crab mover. " Vivi remarked.

"Yum ! A living banquet. " Luffy asserted, salivating.

Stopping, the crab mover allowed the pirates to see its passengers.

" Princess Wednesday. " Neni cried, leaning over the crab.

Jumping over the crab, Ace left the crab's back before landing in front of Luffy.

" Beautiful beast, isn't it? With that, we can leave town. "

" Perfect . " Sanji affirmed. " With such a large creature, we can quickly get to Alubarna. "

" Yeah! Let's hurry to go. " Luffy ordered.

'' Hold on, Luffy. " Ace stopped him. " Sorry to tell you at such a tragic time, but it's time for me to leave you. "

" What ? " The pirates wondered.

" When I fought against him, Crocodile told me that Teach had just left Rainbase in order to leave Alabasta! If I want to have a chance to catch up with him, I have to leave immediately. "

" What ? What ? What ? " Usopp wondered. " But Ace… we need you! You are a powerful ally besides Crocodile is a Logia! You are … "

" Stop Crocodile's plans and fight him is our mission. " Luffy retorted. " Not Ace's. "

" Luffy is absolutely right. " Zoro asserted. " It was our crew and not Whitebeard who promised Vivi to save her country. "

" If we go back on our word by letting Ace fight Crocodile, I will never be able to look Vivi-san in the eye again. "

Listening to them, Ace nodded, still smiling.

" Indeed ! I don't intend to involve Whitebeard any further in this matter. "

Despite having to leave his brother, Luffy kept a confident smile, while asserting.

" Ace… I would kick Crocodile's ass ! I don't intend to die here! I promise you. "

" You have interest, little brother! By the way … "

Rummaging in his pockets, Ace pulled out a strange piece of paper which he handed to Luffy.

" Take this with you. "

" What ? What is that ? Paper ? "

" It's up to you to find out! But know that this piece of paper will surely allow us to see each other again in the future. "

" You think ? "

Just smiling, Ace looked at the pirates behind Luffy before he bowed.

" Thank you for taking care of my little brother! And I know I can trust you to take care of it. "

" Forget about it. " Sanji advised him. " After all, compared to the long years you spent with him when he was a kid, I'm sure our job as a nanny is much easier. "

" I'm not sure! Ace retorted, before starting to run! This idiot is as immature as when he was a child! See you next time. "

" Hey, Ace! Hold on ! "

Stopping, Ace saw his brother smile at him confidently.

" I want you to send a message to your captain. "

" A message ? "

" Yes ! I want you to tell him that… the next Pirate King… it's gonna be me. "

Hearing it, Ace chuckled a little, before running off.

" I will give him the massage. "

So Ace left the group so that he could pursue Teach.

" We also have to go. " Zoro asserted, climbing onto the crab's huge claw.

Imitating him, the other pirates let the animal raise its clamp to allow them to jump on its back. So the pirates fired the rest of their friends. While Chopper led the animal with reins, there were also Raynare, Gin and Neni, all three of whom were covered in bandages. And in a corner, the pirates also saw Matsuge.

" What happened to you ? " Wanted to know Menma.

" Nothing. " Gin and Raynare lied.

" They got beaten up by Crocodile's spy. " Zoro said, remembering Noscula's words. " Tsss, pathetic. "

" Shut up. " Roared the duo.

" Where did this crab come from ? " Johnny asked.

" Matsuge was born here and this crab is his friend. " Chopper assured, gesturing to the camel with a nod of his head.

" Great! He looks fast to me. " Sanji remarked.

Looking around, Vivi cried out.

" A moment ! I don't see Pell! Wasn't he with you ? "

" As soon as he was able to move, he left for the casino to save you. " Neni explained to him. " I wanted to stop him, but he didn't want to hear anything. "

" The friends ! Hang on tight. " Chopper warned them, shaking the reins

Immediately, the crab started to run at full speed and covered a long distance in a few seconds.

" At this speed, we will be able to reach Alubarna before the rebel army. " Vivi rejoices.

" And we can kick Crocodile's ass. " Luffy asserted.

" What happened on your side ? " Wanted to know Gin. " Did you manage to enter the casino and meet Crocodile ? "

" Yes ! But we have been captured. " Yosaku confessed. " Not only is this guy super cunning, he really is an unscrupulous demon. "

" And he was not alone. " Johnny remarked. " There was also Nico Robin, as well as the man called Noscula. "

" Noscula…? " Growled Raynare and Gin.

" You know him ? " Lucy wondered.

" Yeah… " Raynare growled. " But I don't want to talk about it. "

Suddenly rummaging in her pockets, she pulled out a bunch of keys which she threw at Lucy.

" Well, you had lost that. "

" My keys. " Lucy rejoices. " Thanks, Ray-chan. "

" This guy, Noscula… " Gin growled. " He went to Alubarna with Crocodile? As soon as I find him, he will feel my tonfas shatter his teeth. "

" It would surprise me that you could find him! He's gone to Nanohana to accomplish one last mission. " Usopp asserted.

" What ? " Neni wondered. " But, in this case, even if we beat Crocodile, Mr. X will be able to escape. "

" There is no question. " Gin asserted. " We must catch up. "

" How ? " Zoro asked him. " This guy can fly and has been out of Rainbase for a while. "

" I can catch him. " Raynare asserted, spreading his four wings.

" This is out of the question. " Lucy retorted, pretending to grab her arm. " Ray, you're hurt! And then, if you have already lost, you… "

" I would not lose. " Said Raynare, clenching his fist. " I swear I won't lose against this guy again. "

" But it's too late. " Nami asserted. " He must be far now! Raynare, do you really think you can fly to Nanohana ? "

" Of course, I can. "

Hearing his friends, Luffy remained silent. Thinking back to Noscula, he remembered his conversation with Smoker. Noscula had dared to betray his friends, who trusted him, something Luffy could not forgive.

Finally, turning around, Luffy stared at Rayanre before yelling.

" Raynare… "

" Hum ? "

" Recover Noscula and make him regret having attacked our crew. "

Surprised, the fallen angel stared at Luffy and noticed something strange in his eyes. Luffy knew Raynare had lost to Noscula. She had even been completely dominated. Yet Luffy's eyes only showed confidence in Raynare. Luffy was certain that the fallen angel was able to defeat Noscula. And that was why he was giving her permission to go and fight him again.

"Luffy… since when has he trusted me so much ? "

Nodding, Raynare asserted.

" I will beat this guy. "

" Ok, I trust you. "

Raynare immediately ran on the back of the crab before taking flight. Flapping her wings, she walked towards Nanohana. Then, in an instant, it increased its speed tenfold and flew like a shooting star. Not wanting to give Noscula a single chance to escape, she accelerated again and again, while ignoring her injuries.

" Fast. " Neni remarked.

" Luffy. " Cried Lucy. " Do you think Ray-chan can…? "

" Of course, she can defeat Noscula. " Luffy assured, seeing Raynare disappear. " Of all of us, Raynare is surely the person who bears defeat the least! If I hadn't let her go for revenge, she would never have been happy with the situation, even if we would have beaten Crocodile. "

Then looking in the direction of Rainbase, he cried out.

" As for us, we will take care of Crocodile! Are you guys ready? "

" Yeah. "

" ZIP ! "

Suddenly rushing towards Vivi, Bruno directed his hand to her face.

" What .. ? " Wondered the princess.

Brushing against Vivi's face, Bruno closed his hand on a golden hook that had pretended to pierce the body of the princess.

" What ? " Wondered Crocodile, whose legs were turned to sand.

" As if I was going to let you do it. " Bruno roared.

At that moment, a zipper appeared on Crocodile's body before opening to separate it in two. However, to Bruno's surprise, the two parts of Crocodile's body immediately turned to sand, which then piled up to reform the original body of the Shichibukai, who appeared to be annoyed.

" You ... "

But before he could do anything, a pair of arms gripped his hook, in order to immobilize his arm.

" I've got you. " Luffy assured.

" Mugiwara ? " Crocodile wondered.

" Luffy. " Cried Bruno.

" Hurry to go to Alubarna. " Luffy ordered. " Stop the massacre from happening! Me, I take care of Crocodile. "

" Little vermin. " Crocodile growled, gripping his throat, before dropping to the ground, crushing Luffy. " If you want to die, I'll make your wish come true. "

" GOMU GOMU BALLOON ! "

Swelling his body, Luffy forced Crocodile to let go and back away. Turning to sand, he resumed his appearance a few yards from Luffy, who stood up.

" Mugiwara! Instead of playing the hero, you would have been better off running away and leaving Nefertari behind! You would have had your life saved. "

As if I was going to run away! Luffy retorted, cracking his knuckles! You dared to make fun of Vivi, Yuba's grandpa and the rebels who fight while thinking of saving this country you are trying to destroy! I will destroy your face!

" Tsss! A runt like you, I kill hundreds every day. "

Looking behind him, Bruno couldn't help but frown. Rainbase was disappearing in the distance, as were Luffy and Crocodile. Clenching his fist, he finally cried out.

" Luffy has no chance against a logia. "

Immediately he jumped off the back of the huge crab to come to Luffy's aid. However, a hand quickly grabbed the back of his clothes, before throwing him violently between Johnny and Yosaku.

" What do you think you're doing ? " Zoro roared. " Let Luffy fix this problem! We have to go to Alubarna! It's an order from our captain. "

" Luffy is not my captain. " Bruno retorted. " I have no orders to receive from him! And then, you know very well that Crocodile is a logia! If he has a power similar to that of Ace, Luffy doesn't stand a chance! We must go help him. "

" It's an impossible. " Zoro retorted. " Because by doing so, Luffy made it clear that he didn't want to start a battle against Crocodile! No, he challenged him to a duel! This fight will be a 1 VS 1 fight! If we ever decide to help him, we will sully his pride. "

Staring at Bruno, Zoro exclaimed.

" As a former boss, a man like you must understand what I mean. "

In response, Bruno began to growl. Still, he understood why Luffy was acting this way. He had decided to challenge Crocodile to a duel in order to protect the rest of his crew. He hadn't acted out of pride, but as a captain.

"Luffy… you better not die. "

Three minutes later

" Who do you take me for, you scoundrel ? " Crocodile muttered.

Unable to answer him, Luffy froze, as his feet were suspended above the ground. Unable to speak, he felt a trickle of blood trickle out of his mouth. Staring at him with a sadistic and amused smile, Crocodile raised his hook even further, which pierced Luffy's abdomen. Within three minutes, Crocodile had managed to defeat him, and now Luffy was near death.

" Die with the worms. " Growled the shichibukai, throwing it into a huge hole in the middle of the sand.

No sooner had Luffy's body touched the bottom, than he was sucked into the sand, disappearing in seconds.

'' Abortions like you, I killed hundreds. " Crocodile asserted, then walked away.

Who will join Luffy's crew?

Before Shells Town: Raynare - 9 million - (Highschool DxD) / Lucy Heartfilia (Fairy Tail)

Arc Shells Town: Roronoa Zoro

Kuro Arc: Usopp

Arc Baratie: Sanji / Gin - 13 million -

Arlong Arc: Nami / Johnny / Yosaku

Bow Drum: Chopper

Alabasta Arc: Nico Robin /? /? /? /?

Skypiea Arc:?

Arc Enies Lobby: Franky

Arc Post Enies-Lobby :?

Thriller Bark Arc: Brook

Punk Hazard Arc:?

Tesoro Arc :?

Dressrosa Bow : ? / ?

Wano Kuni Arc: Jinbei / ?

Post Wano Kuni Arc:?

Arc Battle Teach :?

With other characters:

Buggy: Magi (OC), Bull (OC), Kuro, Morgan, Megumim -23 million- (Konosuba)

Arlong: Syra (OC)

Milhawk: Alice (OC)

Wapol: Musshuru

Crocodile: Noscula (OC), Mr 6 (OC), Miss Halloween (OC)

Garp: Sakura (Zombieland Saga)

Gold D. Roger: Igneel - 1.380 billion - (Fairy Tail), Acacia (Toriko), Bardock (Dragon ball Z)

Individual: Bruno (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure); Shinichi Kudo (Detective Conan); Menma (Anohana); Neni (Mr 9), Reiner ( Shingeki no kyojin ), Eevee (Pokemon)