The Holy Land of Mariejois, a fabled land of order and prosperity, glistened in the sun as per usual. High amongst the elaborate dwellings of the Celestial Dragons is Pangaea Castle, the immaculate beacon of the planet. Its central spire was the highest point of the world, clouds surrounding the alabaster column at all times.
Inside, the Five Elder Starts were anything but sunny. They had just received word of Sir Crocodile, one of the Warlords of the Sea, being arrested for a truly ridiculous list of charges. Running a criminal organization in secret, contact with countless black market peddlers, hundreds of charges of murder, extortion, theft, blackmail, willingly hiring wanted criminals as his agents, and most egregiously of all, attempting to seize control of Alabasta from its ruling family.
Obviously, the answer to this was to strip his Warlord position, sentence him to life in level six of Impel Down, and make some token apology to the Nefertaris. But that wasn't the concerning part. It was the person responsible for defeating Crocodile. A pirate from the East Blue of all places, one who'd made a massive splash in his sea in only a few months, now managed to defeat Crocodile alone.
And if the reports were to be believed, he had a very curious Devil Fruit called the Gum-Gum Fruit…
That's what got His attention.
Inside the conference hall reserved for the regular Reverie was the Empty Throne. A stunning seat upholstered with the finest red velvet with the emblem of the World Government sewn in special fabric formed out of gold. Its lack of an occupant was to remind all the kings and Nobles of the world that there was no one true ruler…
…Except, of course, for Him.
For only when the doors were sealed did He appear. An indistinct mass of living shadow, a crown stretching up several feet, and two piercing red eyes that commanded absolute obedience from all beneath Him.
Imu, the true ruler of the world, stared at the wanted poster before Him. The carefree smile on this boy's face. That incessant need to stand up to injustice. And the power to defy logic itself and stretch his body in any way.
"Nika… You finally show yourself. Very well then… This time, you will kneel before me as all others will. Your champion shall beg for death once I am through."
Days had passed since the end of what's now being called the Royal-Rebel War. King Cobra wasted no time having the damages to Alubarna repaired. Laborers and guards worked hand in hand to fix up the capital while the towns devastated by Crocodile's sandstorms were being repopulated and rebuilt. Rain began to fall outside of Alubarna for the first time in years, as if nature itself was helping to restore balance.
And inside the palace, the Straw Hats were naturally treated as guests of honor with an invitation to stay as long as they wanted. The gargantuan abode had more than enough beds for everyone along with a staff of dozens who tended to any need they had.
This included a personal doctor who patched them all up and Igaram's wife Terra Cotta who took feeding their new guests as a sort of personal challenge. Even if she did have an uncanny resemblance to her husband, Luffy couldn't deny that her cooking stacked up to Reiju and Carmen.
Once the crew had been properly rested, they were invited to the throne room for a personal audience with the king. The entire crew were led by Igaram and knelt before Cobra. Besides him was Vivi, dressed in a regal pink gown and still beaming with joy at how her nation was safe at last.
"There's no need for formality anymore, you all," the king chuckled, "Raise your heads."
The pirates did just that as Cobra stood from his seat and bowed to them. "On behalf of all the people of Alabasta, thank you for your help. My daughter is alive, the civil war is no more, and I can confirm that Crocodile has been given a life sentence in prison along with his Warlord status revoked. He shall never repeat this stunt again."
"Well, at least they did something right!" Kuina laughed.
"Indeed. As of now, you are heroes of our nation. If there is anything I can do to assist you all, I shall do so if it is within my power."
Nami and Carina glanced at each other as their eyes turned to beri signs before turning in unison. "Well, now that you mention it…"
"Ah, Vivi did mention you'd be interested in a monetary reward. Unfortunately, with all of the damages and revitalizing the many small towns, it will drain a large chunk of our financial reserves."
The two wilted before Vivi smiled. "Buuuuut, there is Crocodile's casino, Rain Dinners. It's obviously been closed since he was using it to finance Baroque Works but there is the large crocodile statue on top. The one made of solid gold."
"SOLID GOLD?!"
"Could you two not drool?!" Nojiko snapped, "Yes, it's a lot of money…"
"Approximately one ton of gold, if my memory is right. And it would be a shame to let Crocodile have it, so I had the liberty of having it melted down and the bullion stored on the Going Merry-OOF!"
Vivi was promptly smothered in a hug by Nami, Carina, Nojiko, Desire and even Kinderella who were all now showing beri-sign eyes. "WE LOVE YOU, PRINCESS VIVI!"
"Oy vey…" Ban and Sally sighed. The rest of the crew just laughed, as did Cobra once the girls had gotten their hands off of his daughter.
"Speaking of which, the Marines have since rounded up all of the Baroque Works minions. While the rabble is taken care of, there is one other matter of concern. Vivi, please show Luffy to the dungeons."
"Yes, Father." The blue-haired royal led Luffy out of the audience chamber and down many corridors until they reached a staircase down flanked by two cards. They were saluted before being granted entry.
The dungeons, built into the bedrock that the palace itself sat on top of, were as bleak and dreary as Luffy imagined. Cells with deflated mattresses and thin sheets sat in empty rooms with stone walls with the front wall being wrought iron bars where the door inside could be unlocked. In three of these cells were the four remaining Officer Agents in the city.
On the left was Mr. 1, glaring at Luffy in hatred. The middle was Mr. 4 and Miss Merry Christmas, the latter getting very slow massage to her back while Lassoo slept calmly next to them. And on the right was Miss Doublefinger, lying back on the bed as comfortable as she could be given her surroundings.
"My father was amazed to hear you convinced so many of the Frontier Agents to join your cause, along with dissuading Mr. 2. He wanted you to decide if you wanted any of these to come with you."
"No fricking way!" Miss Merry Christmas barked, "I'm too old to be a damn pirate! And I'm not some floozy, either! Don't think I didn't notice how you've got nothing but girlies on your crew!"
"Okay, okay, geez!" Luffy waved her off. Mr. 4 just shook his head, clearly not up for the idea either. He turned to Mr. 1 who just brought up a finger to his neck, turning it into a gleaming knife.
"What's your problem?" Vivi asked him, "Haven't you heard Crocodile was going to betray you?"
"Maybe you runts, but not me. Crocodile used his status as a Warlord to get me off of death row. I owe him my life, so I'll follow him wherever he goes. Tell your father I'm going to Impel Down."
Luffy and Vivi blinked. They could almost respect that kind of loyalty. But with him clearly not coming, that left only the leather-clad lady on the end.
"Well now, it's either rot in here until I go to prison or join your little crew and walk free…"
"If you do, you follow my orders," Luffy warned her, "If you take one step back then I will kick you out."
"Fine by me! I owe that Mikita one for saving my skin. And, I'll be honest, sailing with a crew full of hotties… Sounds like fun!"
"Well, if you insist…" Vivi left to call one of the guards to free Zala from her cell before taking Luffy out of the dungeons and up to another room. Luffy was puzzled until the princess opened the door to reveal who was staying there.
Nico Robin was at the desk in the back of the guest room, calmly sipping tea while reading something that held her interest. Her purple cowboy hat was hung on the corner post of the bed while her fluffy coat rested on the footboard. Luffy noticed the Seastone anklet over her right leg, making sure her flower powers were useless.
"Well now, I suppose congratulations are in order," she chuckled, setting her book aside before turning to meet her guests.
"Uh, really?" Luffy scratched his head, "I'm pretty sure you lost."
"No, Crocodile lost. I, however, got exactly what I came for. The only question now is what happens to me now that Baroque Works is no more, yes?"
"We've done a full investigation of your role as Miss All-Sunday," Vivi said with a new authority, "While it is true you didn't support his mission, you did help run his casino which is how Crocodile bankrolled his operation. Furthermore, you attacked Igaram and several palace guards in the process of abducting my father to take you to the Poneglyph's chamber under duress. Your punishment is thus…"
Vivi lowered herself to Robin's eyes and glared through her. "You will be banished from Alabasta. If you ever set foot on this island again, your life is forfeit."
"Understood, Your Majesty. Now then…" She turned to Luffy with a coy smile, "…Would you be interested in taking me with you?"
He blinked in surprise before crossing his arms. "I'm not some free ride."
"Oh, I don't mean for that. I meant joining your crew. I have nowhere else to go, and we're both wanted by the World Government."
"True, but I don't trust you. You're hiding something even now. What is it you want, really?"
Robin lowered her head, closing her eyes before speaking. "The Poneglyph on this island? It's what I was after, yes, but it didn't contain the information I seek. Luffy, what do you know about the world's history?"
"Um, not much. Why, what does that have to do with giant rocks?"
"The island I was from, Ohara, was full of archaeologists that sought the true history of the world. Specifically, about the mysterious gap of one hundred years before the official founding of the World Government."
Luffy blinked. That did sound eerily suspicious. He turned to Vivi, but she seemed puzzled as well.
"There are said to be four specific blocks called the Rio Poneglyphs. These contain the true history of the world, and the World Government is hellbent on keeping whatever secret they are hiding. And as of now, I am the only person capable of reading them."
"Wait, what? What about your home?" Vivi asked.
Robin's eyes seemed to glaze over as she spoke. "It's gone."
"Gone?! How do you just get rid of an entire island?!" Luffy balked.
"Oh God…" Vivi gulped, "Don't tell me…"
"Yes, Princess, it's exactly what you think. A Buster Call."
Luffy's eyes turned to saucers. One of the few times he ever truly listened to his grandfather was the time he recalled being a part of one to take down a truly heinous band of pirates in the South Blue. Ten Marine battleships, with five Vice-Admirals overseeing the operation, laid siege to the island and then proceeded to annihilate the entire landmass with cannon fire until nothing remained.
At the time, Luffy thought it sounded awesome. What little kid wouldn't? Now, it made him sick to his stomach that such an idea even exists.
"That's the real reason you're wanted…" he realized, "You're the last person who can read those Ponegylphs and discover whatever the government wants to hide."
"Exactly. I don't ask this out of some desire to just avoid prison. I'm asking because if I die, and they will kill me if I am apprehended, then everyone's dreams on Ohara die with me."
Robin sunk to the floor, her shoulders trembling. "Please… Take me with you… I have nowhere else to go…"
Luffy knelt down and gently raised her chin so she could see his eyes. "Okay. I'll make sure nothing ever happens to you."
Vivi then joined him. "I forgive you."
"What?!"
The princess nodded. "I do. I cannot imagine being persecuted your entire life. And, from what your interrogation revealed, all you essentially did was manage Crocodile's casino."
"I also tried to dissuade his more destructive strategies, like actively ransacking trading caravans or having his spies in the Royal Guard sabotage things around the palace."
"You don't have to convince me, Robin. I forgive you… Right after this."
Robin looked up only to get a light slap across the face. "Also, I expect you to apologize to Father, Igaram and the other palace guards you manhandled on your way in."
The ravenette almost lost it, unbelieving this was all happening. The one person she was convinced would stab her at the first opportunity was now the one offering her a helping hand. She took it and was stunned when Vivi also brought out the key to unlock Robin's shackle. Luffy then took his new archaeologist by the hand so she could meet the rest of her new crew.
With the fate of the remaining Baroque Works agents handled, there was only one item remaining for the Straw Hat Pirates: celebrate!
They were all gathered into the palace's banquet hall, the table piled with every dish the cooks could think of. Cobra sat at the head of the table, watching with amusement as the pirates chatted and messed with each other. After a long, festive night of eating and drinking, the crew had retreated to the private baths. Each side was a massive space, almost closer to an indoor swimming pool, but with steaming hot water brought in through special pipes lined with hot desert coals to keep the bath warm at all times.
The girls expected Luffy to use such a steamy, private escape as a means of relieving his sexual urges, but he did not. He considered it rude to do such a thing somebody else's abode, especially since Vivi had only just come back after two years. This meant that Luffy quickly washed himself on the men's side while the ladies took their time.
All of them dressed in their swimsuits for the sake of making Vivi comfortable, as the bluenette sunk into the deeper end of the pool to unwind and finally relieve all of this pent-up stress.
"Man, this is the life!" Nami sighed next to her, "And you can do this every night?"
"Yes, and I'll admit I have missed this so much… Haaaah, at last, everything is back to normal."
"So, how much longer are we staying?" Makino wondered, "Knowing Luffy, his thirst for adventure will kick in any day."
"I hope you'll all at least stay for my coronation. It'd mean the world if you all got to be a part of it, after all you've done for Alabasta."
While most the girls nodded, Zala and Robin looked down. Neither of them could say much of the same. They were even on the opposite end of the pool from the others.
"That girl must be a saint…" Zala sighed, "Any other royal would've had all of us beheaded."
"Take solace, then. The Nefertaris are one of the few ruling lines left that don't follow the World Nobles' example."
"Oi, what are you two doing over there?"
The two watched as Mikita, Custard and Clarisse swam and then walked up. The former Miss Mother's Day had her hands on her hips. "You two aren't going to spend the entire time sulking, are you?"
"Yeah, plus I saved your life!" Mikita pointed out, "That means you owe me one, yeah?"
Zala nodded, so the former Officer Agent insisted, "And I say, cheer up! That sandy maniac is gone for good, and no more Baroque Works means no more stupid codenames!"
"Why were you called Miss Doublefinger instead of Miss New Year's, anyway?" Clarisse asked.
"Beats me, but I never want to be that again. Now then, there's one question I have to ask…"
Zala stood up and marched up to the rest of the crew near the deep end, "So, which one of you has fucked Luffy?"
Everyone present save for Robin and a very blushing Vivi raised their hand. Zala raised her eyebrows. "Hot damn, really?! And here I thought the all-girl thing was just a gimmick!"
"Oh, you have no idea," Ban tittered, "Luffy is usually all too happy to receive company after sundown."
"Oh, what a gentleman," Kinderella snarked, "No offense, Vivi, but I'm starting to get tense over here, if you know what I mean!"
(Cue Sex Scene)
"Oh, are you now?" Robin asked, "If you'd like, my Devil Fruit can fix that…" She then crossed her arms, spawning a pair of limbs on the pinkette's knees that quickly went to work sliding under her bikini bottoms.
"What are you-OOOH! G-God, yes…"
"Hmhmhm, you don't get where I am without learning how to 'handle' all kinds of people…" Robin chuckled, "Would anyone else care for some?"
Several of the girls glanced at each, many of them shrugging. If Luffy was preoccupied, then they supposed any needs they had were up to them.
Robin's limbs suddenly began to sprout all over the Straw Hats. Some appeared on their shoulders to fondle their chests and tweak their erect nipples. Others appeared on their knees and began fingering and massaging their pussies. All of them soon began to moan as the many dexterous limbs ignited the dormant libidos they had since arriving on this island.
The only one exempt was Vivi, watching the debauchery unfold with an open mouth. Of course, she knew full well that Luffy had a serious appetite for women but to see this! That all of the women she had befriended were being pleasured all at once.
And then she noticed Nami unstrapping her top, giving Robin even better access to her tits. She panted like a dog in heat, her own hands furiously going in and out of her pussy. That was when Mikita walked up to her, as best as she could given her legs were trembling from the pleasure of her own snatch being plundered.
"Oh, Gods… I can't help myself…!" She then threw herself down into the water before scrambling up and stealing a kiss from the orange-haired navigator. Robin's hands promptly disappeared from the duo as they began furiously making out, hands gliding all over their wet bodies while their exposes breasts mashed together.
And from there, the bath descended into a full-blown female orgy. As the women paired off, Robin's limbs disappeared into pink petals until the entire room was filled with moans so loud it almost drowned out the constantly trickling water.
The princess couldn't turn her head without seeing two of the Straw Hats going at it. The once innocent Kaya was face-deep between Rasa's legs, the other navigator groaning as she held the blonde in place. On the edge of the bath, Nojiko and Desire were on the edge of the bath scissoring each other with Ban and Alvida doing the same a few feet away.
Zala, in an effort to make herself useful to her new crewmates, had both Sally and Ban in her grip. She seemed to be using her Spike-Spike Fruit to turn her fingers into extra-long (and thankfully dull) dildos which made the two queens go insane. The bluenette just moaned as Desire came up behind her, eager to suck face and adding to her own pleasure.
Vivi watched all of this take place and more, feeling a scandalous thrill at this happening in her own bath. It was only then that felt Robin's real arms surround her, followed by her tan twins squish into her back.
"Fufufu... Goodness, Princess, how have you survived on this randy crew for so long..."
"Hah… Haaaah…"
"Oh dear, Princess! Your face! It's so red! Don't worry, I know just how to help you…" Vivi turned only for Robin's lips to surround her own. Unable to resist anymore, the princess leaned into the archaeologist's embrace and gave into her own feelings.
They stayed together, tongues twirling and groaning, until they had to come up for air, Vivi's face drunk with lust. "Every time… I saw Luffy take a woman to bed… I wished it could have been me…"
"You naughty little thing… You love him, don't you?"
"Y-Yes! I-mmmph! I want to show him…"
"Oh, then do I have some ideas for you. Consider it an extra apology for all the trouble I caused…" Robin leaned in close and told Vivi a surefire way to showcase her appreciation, all the while her hands moved lower until the princess squealed as Robin's real hands proved even more dexterous than her summoned ones.
The ladies would only exit the bath hours later, cleaned and refreshed in more ways than one!
(End Sex Scene)
Though Luffy defeated Crocodile, he didn't get out unscathed. While his dehydrated arm was easily fixed with a drink of water, he sustained a number of bruises, fractured bones and some blast injuries from the point-blank explosion of the clock tower bomb.
All of this meant he spent the first several days in the palace confined to his bed, resting and eating Terra Cotta's delicious cooking to get his strength back. While his crew stopped in on him and made sure he was never too bored, he didn't want to hold them up. They deserved to unwind too, after all.
And so, that night, he headed to his side to the royal bath once again. As much as he wanted to hop onto the other side to give his girls something special, it felt wrong to do so in such a swanky palace that still belonged to Vivi's father.
So, with the moon high over the desert island, Luffy was about to drift off to sleep when someone knocked on his door.
"Luffy?"
"Vivi?"
"Yes. May I come in?"
"Um, sure…" The princess entered, dressed in a very concealing robe, before shutting the way behind her. She then began going around the room, lighting the candles that Luffy had put out before tucking in.
"Luffy, I know this is sudden but… I've been meaning to tell you something…"
In the dim candlelight, Luffy felt his eyes drawn to Vivi's eyes and blue hair… Until she dropped the robe to reveal she was wearing the dancer garb from one of the crew. The translucent blue fabric and shawls left almost nothing to the imagination, making Luffy sit up in attention.
"…I love you, Luffy. Please, allow me to thank you properly for saving my home."
(Cue Sex Scene)
With a pair of castanets attached to her fingers, Vivi set her own tempo and began slowly swaying her hips. Like a hypnotist's watch, Luffy couldn't move his eyes from her gentle movements. The fabric swishing around her thighs, which drew his attention to something else.
She wasn't wearing any underwear.
Luffy's jaw dropped as he realized the sheer blue fabric was the only thing separating Vivi's muff from being completely exposed. She blushed through the veil covering her mouth, gyrating her waist towards him. She then turned to reveal her completely naked behind, her cheeks shaking back and forth as she shimmied from side to side.
"Do you think I'm beautiful like this, Luffy?"
"I always thought you were, Vivi… I just know how much saving your home meant to you."
With a single step, she lifted herself onto the mattress and let Luffy look up directly past her skimpy garments to see the swell of her breasts and her unprotected sex. Her movements became faster,
"And that's one of the things I love about you. So respectful and thoughtful, even with so many women all around you…"
Her legs moved to straddle his body, each step being accompanied by an exaggerated flair of her waist.
"…This is actually a traditional Alabastan wedding dance… Meant for the queen to be to consummate her marriage…"
Then, she reached behind her back and with one tug of her fingers the bedazzled blue bikini top fell to the covers. She then slipped the miniscule cover off her waist, standing before Luffy completely naked, save for the veil still around her mouth.
The princess then crawled over to him, relishing how Luffy's eyes visibly drank every inch of her. Her loins started to burn as she ghosted her hand over his very obvious erection, then moving further up to rub his chest.
"…Please, Luffy… Take me."
That was the final straw for him. He bolted upright, eliciting a squeak from Vivi as he chucked her last bit of fabric aside so he could take her first kiss. The princess moaned in his arms, wrapping herself around her new lover as his hands began exploring her body.
He grabbed ahold of her butt cheeks, molding the soft curves in his grip with his breathing getting faster as his tongue thrashed in Vivi's mouth.
Once they came up for air, Vivi gasping as Luffy's hands refused to break away from her derriere, his mouth moved towards her very excited nipples. As his moved towards her dripping pussy, he sucked and toyed with her teat making the princess weak in the knees.
"Oh gods! Luffy! I'm… I'm OOOOOOOOOOH!"
A trickle of nectar covered his hands, Luffy stopping to savor the flavor by sucking his digits dry.
"Delicious…"
"L-Luffy… I still want m-more!"
"Just lie back and let me take it from here…" He spoke softly, soothing any worries Vivi had about him being disappointed. Luffy carefully pulled himself out from under Vivi, letting the princess lie down as Luffy primed his cock over her sopping wet tunnel.
"Are you ready?"
"Y-Yes! Take me!"
He entered slowly, guessing this was the princess's first time. He was right, quickly finding the hymen. With a nod from Vivi, he pushed through and let her cry and grimace as much as she needed before calming down. Only then did he keep pushing in until he reached her womb, letting her grow used to his throbbing member being inside her.
"Hah… Hah… Gods, it's so much…" She began slowly pumping her hips, begging him to continue. He moved just as slowly on the way out, again letting her set the pace before pushing back into her cunt.
Soon the two had a rhythm, Vivi's voice growing heated and pitched as their slow, sensual lovemaking quickly became faster. Luffy's hands held firmly onto her hips while hers wrapped around his arms. The same arms she knew could probably break her in half, yet felt completely secure.
And the whole time, they stared into each other's eyes. Vivi's eyes shining with ecstasy, her first time feeling so much better than she ever imagined. Not just from the sheer size of Luffy's dick, but from the tender love and care he gave her. And Luffy hadn't stopped smiling once, relishing seeing her so content and satisfied.
Minutes passed and soon their sex became a frenzy. Vivi was arching her back and having to shove a pillow over her face or else her screams could alert the guards. And Luffy was grunting and bucking his hips like an animal, driving his newest lover even more wild.
"Vivi… Fuck, I'm gonna-!"
"Do it, Luffy! Please, cum in me! Just like you do with all the others!"
Luffy suddenly knocked the pillow away and captured Vivi's lips one last time as the two came together, the princess moaning in bliss into his kiss.
When the two separated, Luffy pulled out and now it was Vivi's turn to reach down and taste something. Her fingers, slathered in Luffy's sperm, were raised to her mouth and she moaned as she sucked them clean.
"Delicious. Luffy…"
"Yes?"
She slowly sat up, even as cum slowly dripped out of her lower lips, and shared one more tender kiss. "…I love you."
"I love you too, Vivi."
(End Sex Scene)
After almost a week, the Straw Hats were back in shape and had their ships loaded up with all the supplies they'll need. The Log Pose was going to reset within the next twenty-four hours, so it was soon time to head out for the next adventure.
Thankfully, today was also the day that Alabasta had been waiting for. It was tradition for the princess to enter high society at age seventeen and become an eligible bachelorette looking for a suitor. But Vivi was so determined to discover the source of the civil war, she left for her mission only days before the momentous occasion.
At last, now that Crocodile was gone, the princess was getting gussied up in the finest silken gown the royal tailors could imagine. She was surrounded not by handmaidens or ladies in waiting, but by the many ladies of the Straw Hat Pirates. She felt it was only right they would get to be the first to see her in this luxurious getup, as one last reward for their help.
"Wow, Vivi, you look incredible!" Makino awed as the princess twirled on the fitting platform, extravagant pink silk covering her.
"Thanks! I wish I could have outfits for all of you, but there's nowhere near enough time…"
"Don't sweat it too much, hon," Zala assured, "I doubt we'd fit in with high society, anyway."
"Trust me, it's not all banquets and balls," Ban agreed, "It's also a massive load of bureaucracy and customs."
Vivi just giggled. "Very well. But you are all staying for the party! Luffy can wait until tonight to ship off."
As the ladies laughed, the double doors to the room suddenly burst open. The group all turned expecting Terra Cotta, offering another snack. Instead, it was Igaram with a newspaper in his grip and drenched in a cold sweat.
"P-P-Princess… You have to go…"
"What? The coronation isn't for several hours."
"N-No, Princess… You need t-to… Leave…" The bodyguard simply fainted, the papers fluttering out of his hand until a bunch of hands sprouted from the floor to gather them all.
"Goodness, what's gotten into him?" Robin asked, her disembodied hands passing the regathered papers. Then her eyes passed over the front page and felt faint herself.
"Robin?! What is it?!" Nami asked her, yanking the newspaper and then turning the cover to show Vivi her own picture.
"Vivi, the Princess Pirate? The Two-Year Reign of Terror of Alabasta's Devious Daughter!"
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"
Nami kept reading and saw that almost the entire paper was about how Vivi was a spoiled brat of an heiress who simply got bored of her duties and ran off to join Baroque Works on a whim. The "inside source" of this article claimed that Vivi was a sadistic murderer, who even planned on assisting Crocodile's takeover of the country as a means of becoming queen faster.
"Who the hell wrote this shit?!" Kinderella yelled, "It must've been some mook looking for a quick payday!"
"Not with how this is written. It's a full breakdown of Crocodile's plan, including the bomb in the clock tower and the structure of Baroque Works. It evens gives the identity of several Officer Agents."
Sally turned to see the princess herself so fuming mad that it made her step back. The blue-haired royal was trembling in fury, teeth bared, and fists wound so tight her knuckles were already white.
"It was him…"
"You can't mean Crocodile, can you?" Nojiko asked, "Look, the rest of this issue is about his capture and losing his Warlord status!"
But Vivi was already gone, running out with her peacock slashers drawn and seeing red. Someone grabbed ahold of her shoulder. Vivi turned to strike them down, only to look into Luffy's eyes as he caught her wrist.
"Stop."
Vivi's weapons clattered to the floor as she started wailing into Luffy's chest, hammering her fist uselessly against his arm. He escorted her back to the dressing room, where King Cobra was waiting for them.
"Father! I-I'm sorry, I can't-!"
"Vivi, you have nothing to apologize for. This is clearly the work of someone else higher up the ladder."
"Wait, can't we just explain this?" Mikita offered, "You're the king of Alabasta! Just offer her clemency or something!"
"I'm afraid my hands are tied. The International Statute Against Piracy overrules my authority. If I pardon Vivi, then the World Government will impose sanctions on Alabasta. And right now, we cannot afford that."
The Straw Hats all looked at each other. Ban and Sally looked at Vivi in pity. At least they chose to leave behind their thrones, and didn't have much to look forward to. Kinderella was now cursing the same law that got Wapol kicked off of Drum Island, even if he totally deserved it.
"Sir, we'll make sure she's safe."
Vivi and Cobra looked at Luffy, the sheer resolve in his eyes put them both at ease. The king nodded, giving one last hug to his daughter before leaving. Now he had to prepare an announcement for today's ceremony.
"Well, looks like I don't have a choice now…" Vivi picked up the other thing Igaram brought in; a stack of bounty posters.
"Oh dear…"
"Sparkling" Kaya - 16,000,000
"Hmph! They still underestimate me!"
"Wildfire" Carmen - 18,000,000
"Well, enjoy being outclassed, Bear King!"
"Heartless" Honey Queen - 24,000,000
"Oh goodie, I got a new name…"
"Green Thumb" Nojiko - 28,000,000
"Aw, come on! That's the best they could come up with?!"
"Bar Brawler" Kinderella – 33,000,000
"Kinderella, do us a favor and keep that to yourself. Some of us have… Bigger concerns."
"Royal Rounds" Ban Dedessinee - 35,000,000 (ONLY ALIVE)
"Indeed… You and me both…"
"Hive Mind" Sally Isntoinette – 36,000,000 (ONLY ALIVE)
"Damn, never thought it would get even higher."
"Frigid" Moodie - 40,000,000
"Eh, I ain't complaining! A higher bounty means people don't mess with us!"
"Enforcer" Desire - 40,000,000
"Exactly! These bounties represent our strength!"
"Stampeding" Clarisse - 46,000,000
"Hahahaha! I'm actually quite happy! I've come a long way from where I started."
"Iron Mace" Alvida - 50,000,000
"Well… As long as we're together!"
"Buckshot" Makino - 50,000,000
"Must… Resist… Urge… To cash in!"
"Shrieking" Carina - 58,000,000
"Kyahahaha! You try it, honey, and I'll squash you like a bug!"
"Graviton" Mikita - 60,000,000
"Carina, get a hold of yourself! It's not worth it… Mostly."
"Meteorologist" Nami - 66,000,000
"Mother is sure to notice this… But now, I'm ready for whatever she brings."
"Harvester" Charlotte Custard - 72,000,000
"So, your amounts all doubled? It seems they were extra generous to me…"
"Pride Queen" Reiju - 135,000,000
"Whatever. I'll take down everyone between me and my goal!"
"Steel Tide" Shimotsuki Kuina - 150,000,000
"Huh… That's new."
"Chaos" Monkey D. Luffy- 300,000,000 (ONLY DEAD)
"Wait, WHAT?!" Nami ripped Luffy's poster out of his hands. For once, she wasn't focused on the astronomical amount of money her captain was worth. Nor the fact that her own bounty had doubled along with most of the rest of the crew.
"'Only dead?' It seems the World Government is making a special exception for you," Robin observed.
"So what? I'm not dying until I'm King of the Pirates!"
Luffy's exuberance faltered, though, when he turned and saw Vivi. Once again, the young girl was sobbing as a paper was clutched to her chest. He knelt down and gently removed the poster, and nearly crumpled it in his hands.
On it was a picture of Vivi as Miss Wednesday, smugly smiling at the camera with the title "Sirocco" Nefertari Vivi – 50,000,000 (ONLY ALIVE)
"Motherfuckers…" she muttered.
"Wait, why would she be wanted only alive?" Ban asked, "In my case, it's because I abdicated my country and for Sally it's because her wretched husband wants her back in Goa."
"It's because of them… Those damned World Nobles."
Everyone turned to see Cobra, the king clearly having to hide his rage judging from how he was gripping the sides of his robe. He explained to the crew that the Nefertaris were actually one of the twenty families who founded the World Government. Unlike the others, they chose not to ascend to Mariejois and become Celestial Dragons. They stayed in their ancestral home of Alabasta, content with their lot in life.
"…And because of that, they have always resented us," Cobra finished. The long story had given him the opportunity to lead everyone to the throne room. A nearly catatonic Vivi was clinging to his side as Cobra sat on his throne, the Straw Hat Pirates listening in growing outrage.
"I have no doubt that, if Vivi were to be captured, she would be brought to Mariejois where the other Nobles would take delight on 'getting back' at our bloodline."
"That is NOT going to happen."
Luffy's words were met by the rest of the crew nodding as one. All of them had been screwed over by the World Government at some point or another. But this? This was Vivi being framed, robbed of everything she risked her life for, and now being branded a criminal in front of the whole world.
"Sir, you have our word that we will do everything to protect her," Kuina bowed, befitting a true knight with her sword in hand, "There's a simple rule we follow: you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us."
"I thank you all very much. I cannot adequately express my gratitude enough, but please let the earlier reward for your services suffice. Now, there is the matter of escape."
"We have that covered."
Everyone turned to see Captain Barbarossa, Rasa and the rest of the Barbar Pirates enter. Now, however, they were all dressed in the typical shroud and cap of the royal guard. Alongside them was Chaka and a healthy Pell, both flanking the captain's side.
"We have a new sand ship ready for your departure," Chaka reported, "Pell will act as an escort to ensure no bandits or Marines get the wrong idea."
"Princess, we have taken the liberty of emptying your belongings and loading them onboard already," Pell added, "You will leave while King Cobra hosts the reworked coronation ceremony."
"And I will, from this day forth, act as a member of the Straw Hat Pirates," Rasa said calmly, bowing her head as the little parasol in her hair opened. The rest of the crew, while pleased with the escape plan, did a double take.
"Wait, what are you all doing here?!" Custard asked, "What happened to you all being pirates?"
"Well, we can't very well do that without a ship, eh?" Barbarossa said with a chuckle, "But, as thanks for getting the princess here back safely, her pal Igaram offered us a new way to make a living! Now we're the official Alabasta Mobile Infantry Unit! We get to steal from scumbags by day, and sleep in cozy barracks at night!"
"As for me, I was planning on staying but it seems somebody made the decision for me…" Rasa unfurled a paper kept inside her new uniform, revealing her own wanted poster.
"'Sand Bandit' Rasa – 25,000,000
"Oh, come on!" Desire growled, "What the fuck is this shit?! Vivi was bad enough, but now just helping us out gets you a price?!"
"What's done is done. I hold no regrets about helping my country. And since the Barbar Pirates have officially been disbanded, I'm now free to join your crew. Please, let me become a navigator for your ship."
"Um, we already have Nami…" Nojiko said, raising her little sister's hand before Nami pulled it away.
"I meant on land. While it's true you might be a gifted navigator on the ocean, I have spent years learning the ins and outs of topography and cartography. I can guarantee you that once I have a lay of an island, I can escort you anywhere you wish."
Figuring they could use the help, Luffy accepted and Rasa shared one final hug with her old captain before moving to reacquaint herself with her new crew. And with that, the newly-expanded Straw Hats followed the Alabastan guards down to the hidden dock for the new sand ship.
A pair of glasses clinked inside Smoker's office. Between the two at the table were the letters from Marine Headquarters, congratulating them for capturing Crocodile and promoting each of them. The bottle on the table, another gift easily worth several hundred thousand beris, was half-empty.
Despite the occasion, both captains-turned-commodores looked miserable. The office was clouded with smoke between Smoker's cigars and Hina's cigarettes.
"This is officially the biggest load of bullshit I've ever seen," Smoker growled, "And if I know Chaos, he'll tear Marineford apart if he finds out whoever's bright idea this was."
"Hina can't even understand it. Raising their bounties and giving us the credit, that's the Navy's M.O. But why punish the princess? The Nefertaris are beloved by their people, especially now that the truth about Crocodile is out."
"I've got two guesses. One: a certain hotheaded mutt or one of his cronies got wind of the princess's involvement with Baroque Works…"
Hina grimaced. If it weren't for Akainu's absurdly powerful Devil Fruit, he would have been discharged ages ago.
"…Or two: the order came from higher up the chain."
Hina's eyebrow rose in confusion. "Higher than an admiral? Sengoku wouldn't be that petty or stupid."
"Not him, or Kong. I mean higher than us Marines…"
Her cigarette promptly fell out of her mouth. "Oh, fuck."
"My thoughts exactly. Mention the name 'Nefertari' to any World Noble and you'll get a five-minute lecture about how they're traitors and deserve all sorts of horrible things for daring to not act like true nobles. That's probably why she's got the stipulation that she needs to be captured alive."
The pink-haired commodore had to set her glass down before it shattered in her grip. Ever since her first encounter with the Straw Hats on Kyuka Island, her resolve had been shaken. Sure, she'd met pirates that were not all bad. They partied, made a ruckus, maybe caused some property damage, but only got truly violent if you went out of your way to antagonize them.
Then Queen Ban, a monarch from a World Government-allied nation, dressed her down in front of her men. It had to have been the most humiliating moment of her career. Then she spotted another royal, the missing Princess Vivi, running away not with her men in uniform but a ragtag group of wanted pirates.
She had struggled over what this meant, looking over any clues as to why but all the papers claimed was the princess had gone missing. When she was offered a chance to join Smoker on a mission to the desert kingdom to keep the peace there, she leapt at the opportunity.
And, only a few days after arriving, who does she run into? The infamous Monkey D. Luffy himself, who was happy to explain himself and that Vivi had come onto his ship willingly. That made Hina's head spin, and it would take her journey to Alubarna to see not only Luffy fighting Crocodile himself, but the rest of his crew trying to keep the feuding armies apart and keep Vivi safe.
It was true, she realized. Luffy did all of that, fought a Warlord, entire packs of hired goons, had his crew essentially wage war on a massive criminal gang, all to genuinely help one person.
Before she could lament further, the door to the office burst open. "Capta-er, Commodore, sir! We need your help! Master Chie-damn it, Ensign Tashigi has lost her mind!"
The two commodores followed the seaman up and out onto the main deck of Smoker's ship, where indeed a half-circle of sailors was blocking their view. Hina and Smoker quickly shoved their way to the front and saw Tashigi furiously trying to recover her sword while cursing and screaming up a storm.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Smoker yelled.
"Commodore, I don't know! Tashigi was just practicing, and then suddenly she went berserk!"
"Ensign, front and center!"
"BITE ME!"
The entire crew gasped in horror. No one had ever defied a direct order from Smoker before.
"Tashigi, stop this or I'll have you court martialed!"
"FINE! THROW ME IN JAIL! IT'S BETTER THAN WORKING IN THIS SHITSHOW!"
"I don't get it," one sailor cried, covered in slash marks that were hastily bandaged up, "All I did was congratulate her on her promotion…"
"That's it!" Hina suddenly rushed in, the other Marines leaping aside as the commodore hit Tashigi with a lariat that quickly formed an iron shackle to trap both of her arms to her sides.
"Now, you will calm down and explain yourself! Did you attack a man because he complimented you?"
After trying and failing to free herself for several minutes, the crowd dispersing with Smoker taking possession of Shigure for now, Tashigi slumped.
"You call this a compliment? Being promoted for swooping in and taking credit for someone else's work? It's a damn joke! Princess Vivi went through hell for her country and this is what she gets?! She'll be forced out of her own home and be hunted for the rest of her life!"
While her ranting started out heated, she quickly started losing steam and soon tears were dribbling onto the deck.
"All my life, I wanted to stop pirates from doing what they did to my family to anyone else… And now here I am, forced to admit that he was right. This isn't justice, it's tyranny! And I've been a part of it for years! How much else have they done?! How many lives have they ruined, and for what?! Tax money?! Expensive goods?! Just for kicks?!"
And with that, Tashigi burst into a blubbering mess. Hina released the shackle binding her, and brought the broken Marine back to her feet before leading her to Smoker's office. She couldn't help but notice that Tashigi was the only one to get a double promotion, going straight from Master Chief Petty Officer to Ensign, which no doubt made her guilt worse.
Once she calmed down, and indulged in some liquor herself, the swordswoman asked the obvious question. "Well, now what do we do?"
"Well, we can sit back and enjoy our new ranks and all the cushy perks that come with it. Maybe even keep climbing the ranks."
Tashigi and Smoker both looked at Hina, unimpressed.
"Hina thought you wouldn't like that, and neither does she. Our other option, is to do something about this."
"And how do you plan on doing that?" Tashigi asked.
"Simple. The Navy wants to give us all the credit? That we're the heroes and Luffy's crew are the villains?"
A truly devious smirk came to the commodore's painted lips as she lit a fresh cigarette. "Well, if we don't like that story, let's write another one…"
Oh dear... Somebody has really gone and stirred the pot now. Well, the Straw Hats do NOT take insults lying down and neither will a certain bunch of Marines. Next time, the crew will have to make a daring escape from Sandy Island.
Thank you all so much for reading! Feel free to leave a review along with any questions or comments.
The Straw Hat Pirates:
"Chaos" Monkey D. Luffy
Wanted for: 300,000,000 (ONLY DEAD) (NEW!)
Captain
DF: Human-Human Fruit - Model: Nika (Publicly known as the Gum-Gum Fruit)
"Buckshot" Makino
Wanted for: 50,000,000 (NEW!)
First Mate/Bartender
DF: Burst-Burst Fruit
"Steel Tide" Shimotsuki Kuina
Wanted for: 150,000,000 (NEW!)
First Swordswoman
DF: Wait-Wait Fruit
"Meteorologist" Nami
Wanted for: 66,000,000 (NEW!)
Navigator (Sea)
DF: Nimbus-Nimbus Fruit
"Shrieking" Carina
Wanted for: 58,000,000 (NEW!)
Treasurer
DF: Volume-Volume Fruit
"Sparkling" Kaya
Wanted for: 16,000,000 (NEW!)
Nurse
DF: Gem-Gem Fruit
"Frigid" Moodie
Wanted for: 40,000,000 (NEW!)
Deckhand/Seamstress
DF: Chill-Chill Fruit
"Hive Mind" Sally Isntoinette
Wanted for: 36,000,000 (ONLY ALIVE) (NEW!)
Deckhand
DF: Hive-Hive Fruit
"Pride Queen" Reiju
Wanted for: 135,000,000 (NEW!)
Head Chef
DF: Cat-Cat Fruit - Model: Lion
"Green Thumb" Nojiko
Wanted for: 28,000,000 (NEW!)
Groundskeeper
DF: Grow-Grow Fruit
"Iron Mace" Alvida
Wanted for: 50,000,000 (NEW!)
Helmswoman
DF: Smooth-Smooth Fruit
"Wildfire" Carmen (NEW!)
Wanted for: 18,000,000
Sous Chef
DF: Bird-Bird Fruit - Model: Peacock
"Enforcer" Desire
Wanted for: 40,000,000 (NEW!)
Street Hustler/Fighter
DF: Barrier-Barrier Fruit
"Heartless" Honey Queen
Wanted for: 24,000,000 (NEW!)
Janitor
DF: Syrup-Syrup Fruit
"Stampeding" Clarisse
Wanted for: 46,000,000 (NEW!)
Bodyguard/Fighter
DF: Rhino-Rhino Fruit
"Graviton" Mikita
Wanted for: 60,000,000 (NEW!)
Patissier
DF: Kilo-Kilo Fruit
"Harvester" Charlotte Custard
Wanted for: 72,000,000 (NEW!)
Second Swordsman
DF: Harvest-Harvest Fruit
"Royal Rounds" Ban Dedessinee
Wanted for: 35,000,000 (ONLY ALIVE) (NEW!)
Gunner
DF: Curve-Curve Fruit
"Bar Brawler" Kinderella
Wanted for: 33,000,000 (NEW!)
Handywoman
DF: Shard-Shard Fruit
"Poison Spider" Zala (NEW!)
Wanted for: 35,000,000
N/A
DF: Spike-Spike Fruit
"Devil's Child" Nico Robin (NEW!)
Wanted for: 79,000,000
Archaeologist
DF: Flower-Flower Fruit
"Sirocco" Nefertari Vivi (NEW!)
Wanted for: 50,000,000 (ONLY ALIVE)
N/A
DF: N/A
"Sand Bandit" Rasa (NEW!)
Wanted for: 25,000,000
Navigator (Land)
DF: N/A
Total Bounty: 1,446,000,000