As the celebration continued, Koala pulled Sabo aside with a concerned expression.
"Sabo-kun, we need to leave soon. The Revolutionary Army can't stay here much longer - it's too risky," she whispered.
Sabo nodded, his eyes showing a hint of sadness. "I know. I just wish we had more time..."
Robin, who had overheard, turned to address everyone. "We should prepare to depart before the Marines arrive."
"Don't worry too much," Nami interjected. "According to Koala, we still have about a day and a half before they get here."
"Is that enough time to fix Merry?" Usopp asked anxiously.
King Cobra smiled reassuringly. "Our shipwrights can work quickly, though discretely."
"And our Revolutionary shipwrights will help too," Sabo grinned.
The king nodded solemnly. "It would be best if you all left after the feast. While I wish you could stay longer, having the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command here puts us all at risk."
Vivi's expression fell as she realized their time together was growing short. Luffy, noticing this, turned to her with his characteristic directness.
"Hey Vivi," Luffy's voice carried across the quiet room, his straw hat casting a shadow over his eyes. "Are you coming with us or staying?"
Vivi stood frozen, her heart torn between two worlds. On one side stood her nakama - the crazy, wonderful pirates who had fought alongside her, bled for her country, and shared her dreams. On the other, her father, her people, and the kingdom she had crossed oceans to protect.
"I..." her voice trembled as tears began falling freely. "I..."
"JUST SAY IT!" Luffy suddenly shouted, making everyone jump. "Say what's in your heart!"
"LUFFY!" Nami started to scold him but stopped when she saw his expression - understanding, warm, yet somehow sad.
"I'M SORRY!" Vivi finally burst out, her tears flowing like the rain that had saved her country. "I love you all! You're my precious nakama! But..." She looked at her father, Igaram, Chaka, and Pell, and the kingdom spread out beyond the palace walls.
"But I love Alabasta too!" She continued through her sobs. "I love it so much it hurts! And right now... right now..."
"Your people need their princess," Robin finished softly, understanding in her eyes.
"Shishishi!" Luffy's serious expression broke into his signature grin. "Why are you crying? Being a princess is your dream, right?"
"But... but..." Vivi hiccupped.
"IDIOTS DON'T CRY AT THEIR DREAMS!" Luffy declared loudly, making everyone smile despite their tears.
"That's right!" Usopp struck a pose, though his voice was suspiciously thick. "The brave warriors of the sea understand following your dreams!"
"Besides," Sanji lit a cigarette to hide his emotions, "a princess should smile, not cry."
"You'll always be our nakama," Zoro said, but his words carried weight.
"Everyone..." Vivi's tears continued, but now she was smiling through them. "Thank you... thank you for everything!"
"GROUP HUG!" Luffy suddenly stretched his arms, wrapping everyone up.
"DON'T JUST GRAB PEOPLE!" they all shouted, laughing and crying at the same time.
Even King Cobra wiped away a tear, watching his daughter surrounded by the strange, wonderful pirates who had saved their kingdom and his daughter's smile.
"Shishishi! Now let's finish this feast!" Luffy declared. "Because Vivi's following her dream, we should celebrate even harder!"
"YOU JUST WANT MORE FOOD!" Everyone shouted, but the heavy mood had lifted, replaced by the bittersweet joy of friends supporting each other's dreams, even when those dreams led down different paths.
"Speaking of Marines..." Sabo's tone became somewhat cheerier, relieved he didn't have to leave his brothers yet, "We need a plan. Vice Admiral Momonga is already here, and tomorrow two more will arrive with... with..." His face went pale. "With Gramps."
"WHAT?!" Luffy and Ace turned white as sheets.
WHACK!
"Focus!" Koala's fist connected with Sabo's head, leaving a steaming bump.
BONK! BONK!
"Stop panicking!" Nami's fists found both Luffy and Ace, creating matching lumps.
"Your Majesty," Koala turned to King Cobra, her expression serious. "Could we have a private room to discuss our escape plan? Some information would be... better if you didn't know it."
King Cobra nodded understanding. As they moved to a prepared room, Vivi followed.
"Vivi-" King Cobra started to protest, but Sabo waved it off.
"It's fine, she already knows about-"
Koala shot him a warning glare that made him shut up immediately. They entered the room, closing the door behind them.
WHACK!
"Stop being so careless!" Koala scolded, creating another bump. "The Revolutionary Army's Marine connections aren't something a kingdom's ruler should hear about! We don't know what might happen to him or Alabasta because of it!"
Sabo lowered his head, guilt evident in his eyes.
"Mellorine~!" Sanji twirled with hearts in his eyes. "Koala-chan is so beautiful when she's angry!"
"NOT THE TIME!" Everyone shouted with shark teeth.
"Can we PLEASE focus on the escape plan?!" Nami shouted, her patience wearing thin.
"Shouldn't we start fixing Merry?" Usopp spoke up. "Vivi's father can't send shipwrights if he doesn't know where she is..."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Okay, Usopp," Nami turned to him. "Go to the king now, give him Merry's location, and stay with the shipwrights to learn about maintaining her better. Is that okay, Vivi?"
"I'll go right now!" Usopp jumped up, heading for the door.
BONK!
"LISTEN TO THE END!" Nami's fist created another bump. "Ask him for supplies too! Lots of food and money!"
"Ohhh!" The crew nodded appreciatively at Nami's thinking.
Meanwhile, Luffy poked Zoro. "Oi, let's go for a walk! This is boring!"
The two snuck away, and nobody tried to stop them - the smarter crew members knew they wouldn't follow the plan even if they stayed to hear it. Chopper watched them leave with sparkling eyes, thinking how cool they were.
After Usopp left to tend to Merry, Robin spoke up seriously. "Three Vice Admirals and Garp will be too much for Merry. She won't survive their attacks."
Everyone nodded grimly.
"How about I help?" Vivi suggested. "If I pretend to be your hostage-"
Koala shook her head. "If it was just Luffy-san and Ace-san, maybe. But with the Revolutionary Army involved, they'll shoot even with a hundred princesses. The connection to us is too dangerous - we might have already caused trouble for Alabasta just by being here, and that's without revealing we're friends."
Robin nodded while feeding Chopper some sweets. "How about a diversion?"
"That's brilliant, Robin-chwan~!" Sanji twirled with hearts in his eyes. "A diversion?" Ace grinned, flames flickering around his shoulders. "I could take a small boat and-"
"And get caught immediately because you'll fall asleep mid-escape," Sabo interrupted dryly.
"Oi!" Ace protested. "I don't fall asleep that often!"
THUNK!
Ace's face hit the table as he started snoring.
"YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW!" Everyone shouted with shark teeth.
"Fufufu," Robin chuckled. "Actually, I was thinking we could use our three brothers as the perfect distraction."
"What do you mean, Robin-chan?" Sanji asked.
"Well," Robin smiled mysteriously, "who better to cause chaos than those three? And if Garp-san is anything like them..."
"That's... actually brilliant," Nami's eyes lit up. "The Marines would definitely focus on catching the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, a Whitebeard Commander, and Luffy!"
"NO WAY!" Ace (suddenly awake) and Sabo shouted simultaneously. "WE'RE NOT FACING GRAMPS!"
"Scared?" Koala teased.
"IT'S CALLED SURVIVAL INSTINCT!" Both brothers protested.
"But it's perfect!" Chopper bounced excitedly. "While they're running from Garp-san's Fists of Love, we can escape!"
"DON'T SAY IT SO CHEERFULLY!" Ace and Sabo cried with blue faces of terror.
The planning continued, with the two older brothers trying desperately to think of any other option that didn't involve facing their grandfather's infamous Fist Of Love.
As Luffy and Zoro walked through the palace halls, Zoro yawned widely.
"Oi, Luffy. Why are we walking around? We could be napping instead."
"Shishishi! I need to tell Vivi's dad something important!" Luffy grinned, though there was a serious glint in his eyes.
"Hm?" Zoro raised an eyebrow. "What's so important?"
"Well..." Luffy's expression turned more serious, a rare sight that made even Zoro pay attention. "In the future I saw, he goes to this big meeting with five old guys, and... he doesn't come back."
"The Five Elders?" Zoro's hand unconsciously moved to his swords.
"Yeah! Those guys! So I'm gonna tell him not to go!" Luffy's serious expression broke into his signature grin. "Simple, right?"
"Nothing's ever simple with you," Zoro smirked but nodded in understanding. "Alright, let's find the king."
"Shishishi! This way!"
"That's a wall, idiot."
"Oh! Then this way!"
"THAT'S STILL A WALL!"
The two continued their search, though, with Zoro's direction sense and Luffy's attention span, it might take them a while to actually find King Cobra.
Back in the planning room, Sabo and Ace huddled in a corner, muttering about "they fail" or "Damn grandpa" while occasionally shuddering at memories of Garp's fist.
"Those two are hopeless," Koala sighed, then brightened. "But I have an idea! I'll send instructions to our shipwrights to modify a small vessel that Ace-san's flames can power. That way, you'll at least have a fast escape route!"
"That's perfect!" Nami clapped her hands. "Now we must find those two idiots before they destroy half the palace."
"I'll go!" Sanji volunteered immediately. "Anything for Nami-swan~!"
"Take Chopper with you," Nami added. "His nose might help track them down."
"I can help!" Chopper bounced excitedly. "Luffy smells like meat and adventure!"
"That's... surprisingly accurate," Robin chuckled.
As Sanji and Chopper headed out to search for their wayward captain and swordsman, the women gathered to spend time together before they left.
At the Marine base outside Nanohana, Captain Smoker and Tashigi, arrived to report the situation in Alabasta to Vice Admiral Momonga.
"Report," Momonga commanded, his stern expression unchanged as he listened to their account.
"Sir," Smoker began gruffly, cigars trailing smoke. "The situation is more complicated than initially reported. Crocodile has been manipulating this country from the start."
"And the three brothers?" Momonga's eyes narrowed.
"Straw Hat Luffy defeated Crocodile," Tashigi added. "We witnessed Fire Fist Ace disposing of a bomb that would have destroyed Alubarna."
"And the Revolutionary?"
"The Blue Gentleman was spotted with their crew," Smoker stated, cigars trailing smoke. "The situation in Alabasta has been resolved, But those three brothers."
At the Marine base outside Nanohana, Captain Smoker and Tashigi, arrived to report the situation in Alabasta to Vice Admiral Momonga.
Captain Hina was already present, her characteristic cigarette trailing smoke.
"Report," Momonga commanded, his stern expression unchanged.
Smoker added gruffly, his cigars trailing smoke. "Crocodile has been manipulating this country from the start."
"And the three brothers?" Momonga's eyes narrowed.
"Straw Hat Luffy defeated Crocodile," Tashigi reported. "Fire Fist Ace was seen disposing of a bomb that would have destroyed Alubarna."
"Hina witnessed their power firsthand," Hina added. "Those three brothers... they're not ordinary pirates."
"The Blue Gentleman was spotted with their crew," Smoker continued. "While the situation in Alabasta has been resolved, those three together pose a significant threat."
"Hina agrees," Hina nodded. "Their combined strength is... troubling."
Momonga's expression darkened as he considered their reports. "And with Vice Admiral Garp arriving tomorrow..."
"There's another problem," Smoker growled, his cigars trailing more smoke than usual. "Straw Hat... he has some strange power now. He could touch me, despite my Logia abilities."
"And that's not all," Hina added, her expression unusually serious. "He did something... Hina still doesn't understand what happened."
"Our troops just collapsed," Smoker continued. "And both Hina and I... we were forced to our knees by some invisible pressure."
Momonga's eyes widened significantly. "Tell me exactly what happened. Did you see Straw Hat make any specific movements or gestures?"
Smoker shook his head, frustration evident on his face. "That's what's disturbing. He just stood there, said it was time to go, and suddenly..."
He clenched his fists. "It felt like something inside me was being overwhelmed."
"Hina felt the same," Hina confirmed, unconsciously touching her throat as if remembering the pressure. "Like an invisible weight crushing down."
"This is... troubling," Momonga's expression turned grave. "Very troubling. If what you're describing is what I think it is..."
"What do you mean, sir?" Tashigi asked, concerned by the Vice Admiral's reaction.
"If Straw Hat has truly awakened that power..." Momonga's voice trailed off, his expression darkening further. "This changes everything. We'll need to inform Fleet Admiral Sengoku immediately."
Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, Luffy and Zoro wandered through the ornate halls, completely lost.
"Oi, Luffy," Zoro crossed his arms, looking around. "Where exactly is the king's room?"
"Hmm..." Luffy tilted his head, then grinned. "That way!" He pointed at a solid wall.
"THAT'S A WALL!" Zoro shouted.
Before they could continue their directionless wandering, familiar voices called out. "There you are!" Sanji appeared around a corner, with Chopper close behind.
"Nami-swan sent us to find you idiots!"
"Oh! Sanji!" Luffy brightened immediately. "Is it time for more food?"
"NO!" Sanji kicked his rubber captain. "Nami-swan sent us to bring you back before you destroy the palace!"
"Shishishi! We're not destroying anything!" Luffy grinned, despite having already cracked several walls by bouncing off them.
"Tell that to the holes you've been making!" Sanji gestured at the damaged corridor. "But I need to tell Vivi's dad something important first!" Luffy protested.
"What's so important it can't wait?" Sanji lit a cigarette, irritation clear on his face.
Luffy's expression suddenly turned serious, his hat shadowing his eyes. "In the future I saw, Vivi's dad goes to meet these five old guys... and he doesn't come back."
The mood shifted instantly. "The Five Elders?" Sanji's cigarette nearly fell from his mouth.
"Yeah! Those guys!" Luffy nodded firmly. "So I gotta warn him!"
The others exchanged glances, understanding the weight of this information.
"Let's find the king," Sanji finally said. "Chopper, can you track his scent?"
"Leave it to me!" Chopper's nose twitched as he began leading the way, while behind him, Zoro somehow started walking in the completely wrong direction.
"OTHER WAY, MARIMO!"
Back at the Marine base, Momonga waited for the Den Den Mushi to connect to Fleet Admiral Sengoku while explaining to his subordinates.
"What Straw Hat used," Momonga's expression was grave, "is called Haki. It's a power commonly used in the New World, but rarely seen in Paradise."
"Haki?" Tashigi leaned forward with interest.
"There are three types," Momonga continued. "First is Observation Haki, which allows one to predict attacks and sense presence. Second is Armament Haki, which lets you hit Logia users and strengthens attacks."
"That explains how he could touch me," Smoker growled.
"When we heard reports of Straw Hat using these abilities in Loguetown, it was concerning enough to warrant his high bounty," Momonga explained. "But what you experienced... that was the third type."
"The pressure that made everyone collapse?" Hina asked.
"Yes. Conqueror's Haki - the power of kings. It only awakens in one in several million people." Momonga's expression darkened further. "Those who possess it have the potential to shake the world itself."
"Like the Yonko?" Tashigi asked quietly.
"Exactly. For someone so young to already possess and control it..." Momonga shook his head. "This changes everything. Straw Hat Luffy isn't just some rookie anymore."
The Den Den Mushi finally connected, Sengoku's stern expression appearing on its face.
"This had better be important, Momonga."
"Sir," Momonga reported grimly, "Straw Hat Luffy has awakened Conqueror's Haki."
The Den Den Mushi's eyes widened significantly. "Are you certain?"
"Both Captain Smoker and Captain Hina witnessed it firsthand."
A heavy silence followed before Sengoku spoke again. "First he recruits Nico Robin, then we discover he's brothers with Fire Fist and the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command, and now this..." The snail's expression turned thunderous. "He's becoming too dangerous too quickly. We need to stop him before he grows any stronger."
"Sir," Momonga hesitated, "with Vice Admiral Garp arriving tomorrow..."
"Garp will do his duty," Sengoku's voice was firm, though the Den Den Mushi's expression suggested he wasn't entirely convinced of his own words.
"But sir," Momonga pressed, "what if we fail to capture him? The more time we give him, the more trouble he will become. Already he's showing abilities that shouldn't be possible in Paradise."
The Den Den Mushi's expression darkened as Sengoku considered this. "If he escapes here... we'll have no choice. We'll send a Buster Call to the first location where we can confirm his presence. His existence has become too much of a threat to the World Government."
"A Buster Call?" Even Smoker looked shocked. "Isn't that excessive?"
"Excessive?" Sengoku's voice rose sharply. "A rookie pirate with Conqueror's Haki, allied with both the Revolutionary Army and the Whitebeard Pirates through his brothers, who are already recruited one of the most dangerous women in the world? No, Smoker, it's not excessive - it's necessary."
"Hina disagrees," Hina spoke up suddenly. "A Buster Call would cause too many civilian casualties."
"Sometimes sacrifices must be made for Justice," Sengoku replied grimly. "If Straw Hat escapes Alabasta, you have your orders. Am I clear?"
"Yes, sir," Momonga responded, though his expression suggested he wasn't entirely comfortable with the order. As the Den Den Mushi clicked off, the Marine officers exchanged troubled glances, each wondering if they were truly on the right side of Justice.
"A Buster Call..." Tashigi whispered, remembering the stories she'd heard about Ohara. "Just for one pirate crew?"
"Not just any crew," Smoker growled, his cigars trailing more smoke than usual. "A crew that's making the World Government itself nervous."
The implications hung heavy in the air as they considered what lengths the Marines might go to stop the rise of Monkey D. Luffy.
Back at the palace, Luffy bounded toward the king's office with his usual energy, but Sanji caught him by his stretchy collar before he could burst in.
"Wait, you rubber idiot!" Sanji scolded. "You can't just barge into a king's office!"
"But it's important!" Luffy whined.
"Then we'll do this properly," Sanji turned to the guard. "Could you please inform His Majesty that we have an urgent matter to discuss before our departure?"
The guard nodded respectfully and entered the office. A moment later, he returned.
"His Majesty will see you now," the guard announced, stepping aside.
They entered to find King Cobra at his desk, looking tired but content as he sorted through documents about Alabasta's reconstruction.
"Ah, Luffy-kun," Cobra smiled warmly. "What brings you here?"
"Old man!" Luffy's serious expression caught everyone off guard. "Don't go to that meeting with the five old guys!"
Cobra's eyes widened in surprise. "What meeting?"
"The Reverie!" Luffy declared. "In the future I saw, you go there and don't come back!"
King Cobra's eyes widened at Luffy's revelation, but he quickly composed himself. Having heard from Vivi about Luffy's straightforward and honest nature, he knew this wasn't some trick.
"You... saw the future?" Cobra asked carefully, leaning forward in his chair.
"Shishishi! Yep!" Luffy nodded, plopping down in one of the office chairs. "You were in a wheelchair, and there were these really big stairs. The five old guys were standing at the top, and then..." Luffy's expression turned unusually serious. "This other guy came in and sat on this big empty chair."
Sanji's cigarette fell from his mouth in shock. "The Empty Throne? Someone sat on it?!"
Cobra's face went pale, understanding the implications. "That's... that's impossible. The Empty Throne is meant to symbolize that no one person rules the world..."
Zoro and Chopper exchanged confused glances, not understanding the significance.
"What's the big deal about some chair?" Chopper asked innocently.
"Yeah, seems like a weird thing to get worked up about," Zoro yawned.
"You idiots!" Sanji hissed. "The Empty Throne is sacred! No one has sat on it since the void century! It would mean..."
"Someone declaring themselves the king of the world," Cobra finished grimly.
"Ohhhh!" Chopper's eyes widened in understanding. "So it's a mystery chair!"
"Tch," Zoro's hand unconsciously moved to his swords. "Someone wanting to be king of the world? Sounds like trouble."
"It's more than just trouble," Sanji lit a new cigarette to calm his nerves. "It's a declaration of absolute power."
Cobra leaned forward, his expression grave. "Luffy-kun, do you remember what was discussed? What did they say to me?"
Luffy's casual expression suddenly turned serious, his hand dropping from his nose. "Oh yeah! You asked about the D... and that Im guy said something about D being the enemy of the world."
Cobra's eyes widened. "The D?"
"Then," Luffy continued, his voice unusually quiet, "they asked about some names, and you mentioned... Nefertari D. Lily?"
Cobra suddenly stood up, shock evident on his face. "What did you say? Lily... had a D. in her name?"
"Yeah! And when you said that name, they got really angry and..." Luffy's fists clenched. "They killed you. But Sabo was there! He tried to save you, but you told him to tell me and Vivi something important before..."
The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the sound of Sanji's cigarette hitting the floor.
"Your Majesty," Sanji spoke carefully, "who is Lily?"
"Lily was the first Queen of Alabasta," Cobra said, still visibly shaken by the revelation. "But I've never heard of her having a D. in her name. This... this can't be..."
"Oi, Luffy," Zoro's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure about what you heard?"
"Yep! Super sure!" Luffy nodded firmly. "That's why they got so mad!"
Cobra sank back into his chair, his mind racing. If what Luffy saw was true, then there were secrets about his family line that even he didn't know about.
"This changes everything," he muttered. "If what you say is true, then somewhere in our records..."
"Then don't go!" Chopper pleaded. "It's too dangerous!"
Cobra looked intently at Luffy. "Luffy, did you see if they knew the Queen's true name before I said it?"
Luffy thought for a moment, tilting his head before shaking it. "Nah, they didn't know. The seaweed-head guy actually asked you to tell him her name."
"Seaweed-head?" Sanji raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, the guy sitting on the chair!" Luffy grinned, picking his nose casually.
WHAM!
"BE MORE SERIOUS, YOU RUBBER IDIOT!" Sanji's foot connected with Luffy's head, leaving a steaming bump.
"But I am serious!" Luffy whined, rubbing the bump. "He really did look like seaweed!"
Cobra leaned forward intently. "Luffy-kun, did you hear the name of this... seaweed-headed person?"
"Hmm..." Luffy put his finger to his chin in thought. "I think it was Ime... or maybe Mai? I forget! But seaweed is a better name! Shishishi!"
"Imu?" Cobra's face went even paler. "Are you certain?"
"Yeah! That's it!" Luffy brightened. "Though I still like seaweed better!"
"THIS ISN'T THE TIME FOR NICKNAMES!" Sanji shouted with shark teeth.
"But Sanji~" Luffy whined. "He really did look like-"
BONK! "FOCUS!" Sanji created another bump.
"King Cobra," Zoro spoke up, his usual lazy expression replaced with something more serious. "Do you know who this Im person is?"
Cobra shook his head slowly. "No... and that's what worries me most. In all my studies of world history, I've never heard that name."
"Someone important enough to sit on the Empty Throne," Sanji mused, lighting a fresh cigarette, "but whose name isn't in any history book?"
"Sounds fishy," Zoro's hand tightened on his swords.
"Like a mystery person!" Chopper added with sparkling eyes.
"More importantly," Cobra looked at Luffy seriously, "thank you for this warning. I will... reconsider my attendance at the Reverie."
"Shishishi! No problem!" Luffy grinned. "I promised Vivi I'd protect her country, and that includes her dad too!"
Despite the gravity of the situation, Cobra couldn't help but smile at Luffy's straightforward nature.
"Now," Luffy jumped up energetically, "is it time for more food?" "YOU JUST ATE!" Everyone shouted with shark teeth.
"But thinking makes me hungry!" Luffy protested.
"EVERYTHING MAKES YOU HUNGRY!" They shouted back.
"Your Majesty," Sanji bowed politely, "we should get this bottomless pit fed before our escape. Once he starts whining about food, there's no stopping him."
"Of course," Cobra nodded with an understanding smile. "And thank you again, Luffy-kun. For everything you've done for Alabasta... and for this warning."
"Oh!" Chopper bounced excitedly. "We should tell Robin about the mystery chair person! She knows lots about history!"
"Yeah!" Luffy grinned. "Robin's super smart! She probably knows something about seaweed-head!"
"STOP CALLING HIM THAT!" Sanji kicked Luffy again.
"But Sanji~" Luffy whined, rubbing his new bump.
"Let's go," Zoro headed for the door... in completely the wrong direction.
"THAT'S A WINDOW!" Everyone shouted.
As they left (after redirecting Zoro), Cobra sat back in his chair, his mind heavy with the implications of what he'd learned. The mystery of Nefertari D. Lily and this unknown Im person would require careful investigation - if he could find any records at all.
Meanwhile, Luffy was already racing toward the feast hall, shouting "MEAT!" at the top of his lungs while the others chased after him, trying to prevent him from causing more property damage in his quest for food.
"Wait, you shitty rubber head!" Sanji grabbed Luffy's collar before he could rocket off. "Sit down and let me cook something properly. We can't have you destroying the palace kitchen!"
"But Sanji~" Luffy whined, though he allowed himself to be pulled back.
"Chopper," Sanji turned to the little reindeer, "go tell Robin what we learned about the mystery person. She might know something important."
"Right!" Chopper nodded eagerly, trotting off to find Robin.
"Tch," Zoro leaned against the wall. "Why should I follow your orders? Especially from someone who couldn't even stop those rebels."
"That applies to you too, moss-head!" Sanji's eye twitched. "We both had to hold back because they were Vivi-chan's people!"
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, dart-brow."
"What was that?!"
"MEAT!" Luffy interrupted their brewing fight, his stomach growling loudly.
"FINE!" Sanji kicked both Luffy and Zoro toward the nearest chairs.
"Just sit down and let me cook before you destroy something else!" As Sanji stormed off to the kitchen, muttering about "idiotic captains" and "directionally-challenged swordsmen,"
The palace guards watched nervously, wondering how much more chaos these pirates would cause before they left.
In a luxurious palace room, Nami, Koala, Vivi, Robin, and the two older D brothers were sharing stories and laughter.
Ace was in the middle of telling an embarrassing tale about Luffy's childhood when Chopper burst in, his little hooves clicking on the marble floor.
"Robin! Robin!" Chopper called out excitedly. "We found out something important!"
"Oh?" Nami looked around, noticing three conspicuous absences. "Where are those three idiots?"
"Sanji took Luffy and Zoro to the kitchen," Chopper explained. "Luffy was hungry again, and Sanji wanted to stop him from raiding the palace kitchens."
"Of course he was," everyone sighed in unison.
"But that's not important!" Chopper bounced excitedly. "We learned about a mysterious person who looks like seaweed, who sat on some important chair!"
Robin's calm demeanor shifted slightly, her eyes widening with interest. "The Empty Throne? Are you certain that's what they mentioned, Doctor-san?"
"Yeah!" Chopper nodded enthusiastically. "Vivi's dad and Sanji got really worried when Luffy said someone sat on it! Some person with seaweed-colored hair named Im!"
At the mention of that name, Robin's teacup froze halfway to her lips. "Im...?"
Both Ace and Sabo immediately sat up straighter, their playful attitudes vanishing instantly.
"That's impossible," Sabo muttered, adjusting his cravat nervously. "The Empty Throne has been vacant since..."
"The Void Century," Robin finished, her voice unusually tense.
Vivi and Koala exchanged worried glances, while Nami looked between them in confusion.
"What's the big deal if someone sits on some fancy chair?" Nami asked, not understanding their reactions.
"Nami-san," Robin set down her teacup carefully, "the Empty Throne represents the agreement between the Twenty Kingdoms that formed the World Government. It symbolizes that no single person has absolute authority over the world."
"For someone to sit on it..." Koala's expression darkened, "would be declaring themselves the supreme ruler of the entire world."
"But that's not all," Sabo added grimly. "The fact that none of us have ever heard of this 'Im' person, yet they have such authority..."
"It means someone's been ruling from the shadows all along," Ace finished, flames flickering unconsciously around his shoulders.
"There's more," Chopper continued, his excitement now replaced with concern. "Luffy said they killed Vivi's dad in the future because he mentioned something about... um... Nefertari D. Lily?"
"WHAT?!" Everyone exclaimed, while Robin's normally composed face showed genuine shock.
"A D. in the Nefertari bloodline?" Robin whispered, her historian's mind already racing with implications.
"That's..." Vivi's face had gone pale. "That's impossible! I've never heard of any D. in our family history!"
"Which might be exactly why it was hidden," Robin mused, her expression thoughtful. "The World Government goes to great lengths to erase certain parts of history..."
The room fell into a heavy silence as they processed these revelations, each understanding that they'd stumbled onto something far more significant than they'd imagined.
"We need to tell Dragon-san about this immediately," Koala said firmly.
"Agreed," Sabo nodded, already reaching for his Den Den Mushi. "This changes everything we thought we knew about the World Government's structure."
"And about the D. clan," Ace added quietly, his expression unusually serious.
"Oh yeah!" Chopper bounced excitedly, stars sparkling in his eyes. "Luffy said the seaweed person called the D clan 'the enemy of the world'!"
"The D. clan..." Robin's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "They must be connected to what happened during the Void Century - the very history the World Government has worked so hard to erase."
"Like the Poneglyphs?" Nami asked, remembering the mysterious stone tablets.
"Exactly," Robin nodded. "The D. clan and the Poneglyphs... they're pieces of the same puzzle."
"So my D..." Ace stared at his hands, flames flickering softly. "It wasn't just some useless letter after all?"
Vivi sat quietly, her hands trembling slightly. "Father... in that future... he died protecting our family's secret?"
"Vivi..." Nami moved to comfort her friend.
"I won't let it happen," Vivi's voice grew stronger. "If our family does have this connection... then we'll face it together!"
"That's the spirit!" Chopper cheered, though his eyes were teary.
Robin crossed her arms thoughtfully. "If the Nefertari family truly carries the D., it would explain why they were the only ones who refused to leave their kingdom during the Void Century."
"What do you mean?" Vivi leaned forward, eager to learn more about her family's history.
"The Twenty Kingdoms that formed the World Government all moved to Mariejois," Robin explained. "All except the Nefertari family, who chose to remain with their people."
"And now we might know why," Sabo added, twirling his pipe. "If they were connected to the D. clan..."
"Then they were probably enemies of the other kingdoms!" Nami's eyes widened in realization.
Ace's flames flickered more intensely. "So the D. isn't just some useless letter like I always thought... it's a legacy the World Government fears."
"Amazing!" Chopper's eyes sparkled. "So many of our friends are D.s! Luffy, Ace, and maybe even Vivi's family!"
"This is dangerous information," Koala warned, her expression serious. "If the World Government learns we know about this..."
"They already killed Cobra-san in that future just for knowing he has a connection to it," Robin reminded them grimly.
Vivi's fists clenched in her lap. "We can't let that happen. We have to protect this secret, and my father."
"The Revolutionary Army will help," Sabo assured her. "This kind of information is exactly what we've been searching for."
"And the Whitebeard Pirates won't let anything happen to a friend," Ace added with a confident grin.
"Everyone..." Vivi wiped away tears, touched by their support.
Suddenly, an explosion rocked the palace, followed by familiar shouting.
"LUFFY!" Sanji's voice echoed. "GET BACK HERE WITH THAT MEAT!"
"Shishishi!"
"AND MARIMO, THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO THE KITCHEN!"
The serious mood broke as everyone sighed fondly, reminded that even with world-changing revelations, some things never changed.