The Sandora River was a wide, sluggish artery of life cutting through the desolation of Alabasta. The Going Merry, restored to her full size, cut through the brown water, her white sails stark against the deep ochre of the desert banks.
On the foredeck, the mood was no longer festive. The barbecue was over. The time for laughter had passed. Now, there was only the grim calculus of war.
Ben stood by the main mast, a large map of the kingdom floating in mid-air. He tapped the map with his wand, highlighting two distinct locations: Rainbase in the north and Alubarna in the east.
"Listen up," Ben said, his voice carrying over the wind. "We are approaching the critical juncture. The river forks ahead. One branch goes to the capital, the other to the Warlord's lair."
The crew gathered around—Giants, humans, reindeer, and duck.
"We cannot put all our eggs in one basket," Ben continued. "If we all go to Rainbase, we leave the capital exposed. Crocodile isn't just sitting in his casino; he has agents everywhere. He has likely already rigged the capital to blow, or has spies embedded in the Royal Army ready to assassinate King Cobra the moment the Rebel Army stands down."
Vivi gasped. "My father..."
"Exactly," Ben nodded. "We need to secure the King. We need to purge the Royal Army of Baroque Works agents just like we did with the Rebels. And we need to ensure that when the truth comes out, the Royal Guards don't panic."
Ben drew a line down the middle of the crew.
"Group Alpha: Destination Alubarna."
Ben pointed to Vivi. "You are the face. You need to take command of your father's army."
He pointed to Sabo and Koala. "You have political experience and stealth. You will act as Vivi's personal guard and counter-intelligence."
He pointed to Dorry and Brogy. "You are the muscle. If Baroque Works tries a siege, you are the walls."
He pointed to Chopper. "You're the doctor. The King might be hurt or poisoned."
And finally, he pointed to Robin. "And you. You know the city better than anyone. You know where the agents hide."
Robin adjusted her disguised appearance, the illusion ring glinting. "A logical choice. The Poneglyph is in the Royal Tomb, after all. I can secure the history while you secure the future."
"Group Bravo: Destination Rainbase."
Ben thumped his chest. "Me."
He pointed to Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Nami.
"The core crew. We are going to walk into the Lion's Den. We are going to find Crocodile. And we are going to end this."
Luffy punched his palm. "I get to fight the Crocodile guy? Good!"
Sabo stepped forward, his brow furrowed. He looked at Luffy, then at Ben.
"Ben... are you sure about this?"
"About what?"
"Crocodile," Sabo said, his voice low. "He's a Logia. A Sand-man. Physical attacks don't work on him. Luffy hasn't mastered Armament Haki yet. He can't touch him."
Sabo looked at his little brother with genuine worry. "I've fought Logias in the New World. Without Haki, it's a death sentence. Maybe I should go to Rainbase."
Luffy puffed out his cheeks. "I can beat him! Ben gave me magic juice! I'm super strong now!"
"Strength doesn't matter if you can't hit the target, Luffy," Sabo said gently.
Ben stepped between them. He placed a hand on Sabo's shoulder.
"Trust our captain, Sabo-san. And trust me. Every Devil Fruit has a weakness. Crocodile's weakness is elemental. We don't need Haki to beat him. We just need to be smart."
Ben looked at Luffy.
"Captain. Can you handle the Warlord?"
Luffy adjusted his straw hat, shadowing his eyes. He stopped smiling. The goofy kid vanished, replaced by the man who would be King.
"He made Vivi cry," Luffy said simply. "I'm gonna kick his ass."
Sabo looked at Luffy's expression. He saw the same determination he saw when they were kids, the same unbreakable will.
Sabo sighed, then smiled. "Alright. But if you die, I'm going to kill you myself."
"Shishishi! Deal!"
---
By late afternoon, the Going Merry pulled up to a dusty river port. This was the disembarkation point for the road to Alubarna.
The gangplank was lowered.
Group Alpha gathered their gear.
Dorry and Brogy stepped off first, their size now about 10 feet, the wooden dock groaning under their weight. "GABABABA! We shall march to the capital! Little Princess, you ride on my shoulder!"
Dorry lifted Vivi up. She looked tiny perched on the Giant's massive pauldron.
"Be careful, everyone," Nami called out. "Don't let the King do anything stupid."
"I won't," Vivi promised. She looked down at the crew. "Luffy... everyone... thank you. Please... be safe."
"We'll meet you at the palace!" Luffy shouted, waving frantically. "Have a big banquet ready!"
"I will!" Vivi wiped a tear.
Sabo adjusted his pack. He looked at Ace's Vivre Card in his pocket, then looked at Luffy.
"Go get 'em, brother."
He turned and joined Koala. "Let's move. We have a kingdom to save."
Group Alpha departed, a strange but formidable army marching east into the desert sunset—two Giants, a Revolutionary Chief, a Fishman Karate master, a disguised archaeologist, a reindeer, a duck, and a Princess.
"They'll be fine," Zoro said, watching them go. "With the Giants and Sabo, Alubarna is the safest place on the planet right now."
"Yeah," Sanji lit a cigarette. "Now let's go skin a reptile."
Ben waved his wand at the ropes. "Cast off! Full sail to Rainbase! We have a date with destiny."
The Going Merry pushed off from the dock, picked up speed as it headed north, straight into the heart of the enemy's territory.
---
Night had fallen by the time the Going Merry sailed into the massive artificial lake of Rainbase.
The city was a jarring sight.
Surrounded by miles of barren, starving desert, Rainbase was an explosion of neon lights, gold leaf, and water fountains. It was a monument to greed, built on the suffering of a nation.
And sitting in the center of the lake, connected by a long stone bridge, was the Rain Dinners Casino. A massive pyramid topped with a golden crocodile statue.
"Tacky," Nami assessed, looking at the gold. "Though I wouldn't mind stealing that statue."
"Focus, Nami," Usopp whispered, his knees shaking as he clutched his slingshot. "That's where the monsters live."
Ben steered the ship to a quiet dock on the edge of the city, using the Notice-Me-Not charm to keep the harbor master from asking questions.
"Let's walk," Ben said.
They stepped off the ship. They walked through the streets of Rainbase. The citizens were happy here—ignorant of the war, gambling their berries away, praising Crocodile as a hero.
Luffy ignored them. He walked with a singular purpose, his sandals slapping the stone pavement. The crew flanked him in a V-formation.
---
Inside Rain Dinners.
Crocodile sat in his office, staring at a transponder snail.
"Sir," a voice crackled. "A man with a straw hat and a few other people alongside him have just entered the rain base."
Crocodile hung up.
He didn't rage. He didn't shout. He simply smiled—a dry, cracking expression that reached nowhere near his eyes.
"So, the rats have walked into the trap."
He pressed a button on his desk intercom.
"All agents. They are here. Assume battle positions."
"And let them come to me," Crocodile whispered to the empty room. "I want them to see the hopelessness of their situation before I crush them."
He stood up and walked to the secret entrance behind his bookshelf. Down below, in the basement, beneath the water where the Bananawani swam, was the cage. Made of Sea Prism Stone.
---
The Straw Hats stood before the massive double doors of the casino.
Luffy stood in front of the doors. They were made of mahogany and reinforced with gold plating.
He pushed open both the doors.
Inside the casino, hundreds of people were laughing. Slot machines were ringing. Roulette wheels were spinning. Jazz music played softly. It was a cacophony of indulgence.
Luffy stepped into the light. He looked furious. He looked dangerous. He looked like a Pirate.
He took a deep breath, filling his lungs to capacity.
"CROCODILE!!!"
The scream was so loud it cracked the glass of the chandelier overhead.
"GET OUT HERE! I'M HERE TO KICK YOUR ASS!"
The patrons stopped doing what they were doing and looked at Luffy and the Crew in silence.