5 years ago, in the secret base of the Revolutionary Army, Baltigo
Behind the doors of the room, where Kuma was pouring out the burdens and grief within his heart, a small boy, Monkey D. Luffy, was standing still, hearing the choked sobs and wails of pleads and begging from one of his favorite uncles, who has been also a devoted priest of his. Monkey D. Luffy, or, rather Nika, felt the sadness and suffering which Kuma was going through firsthand. He had never seen or heard the stoic and yet cheerful man break down like that.
Luffy's mind replayed the conversation which he had with his mother a few months back. He had inquired her about the whereabouts of Kuma, who had left the army without even bidding them farewell. He was worried and his worries came to reality when his dreams filled with Kuma's calls for him, begging him to show a path, a way which can help his daughter. Luffy had been really confused on what was happening and had asked his Dad and mother about the situation, only to not get any answers from his mother while his Dad had told him about Kuma's predicament, of him trying to search for doctors throughout the globe in hope of curing the incurable disease which Bonney had inherited from her mother.
Drops of tears fell down Nika's eyes as he held down his sobs in order to hear the whole scenario from Kuma himself.
"I wish Nika would at least show me some path to help my daughter." Luffy couldn't hold down the choke which came out of his throat, hearing the broken voice of Kuma begging to him desperately.
"Who is there?" A sharp voice asked, making Luffy realize the mistake which he had committed. He wasn't given time to ponder on it, as the door opened to reveal his dad, Iva-chan and Kuma, seeing him cry pitifully.
"I'msorry!I'msosorry!I'mreallyreallysorry!" Luffy apologized to Kuma, tears streaming down from his face like a river, for not hearing his prayers, for not being there for him when he needed him the most. He apologized to his most devoted priest for not rescuing him and his parents from the Celestial Dragons who had enslaved them all for their blood, he apologized for not being able to be there when Ginny was kidnapped. He apologized... because he knew he couldn't help even Bonney now... with how weak he was.
"It's okay, Luffy." Kuma gently patted his back, as Luffy bawled like a little baby before him. "I'm not angry at you for eavesdropping." Kuma spoke gently, wiping down his tears.
"But I can't do anything to help you!" Luffy sniffled, telling the heart wrenching words which he really didn't want to, but he needed to tell Kuma that the god whom he is praying relentlessly, hoping that he will help him save his daughter and liberate her... is powerless and can't do anything for him and his daughter!
"It's okay. I am trying to search for a d-doctor for Bonney. S-She will be f-fine." Kuma himself choked out, his throat feeling heavy with the new onset of tears which were forming in his eyes.
"B-But-"
"I bet Bonney is feeling lonely with me going to the seas to find a doctor for her. How about you help her by keeping her company and playing with her?" Kuma was quick to wipe away his tears and try to soothe the little kid in his arms. He really didn't like to see the cheery and energetic boy, who is always laughing and making others laugh, bawl his eyes out like this.
"Really?" Luffy hiccupped, looking at Kuma who nodded softly to him.
"Really." Kuma affirmed with his words. "We can even have Ace and Sabo join us. Bonney would love to play with you guys." Kuma spoke, making Luffy nod slowly and rub his red puffy eyes.
"I'll bring her lots of m-meats." Luffy sniffled, getting out of Kuma's grasps and standing on his own legs.
"She will love to have it." Kuma smiled, as he ruffled Luffy's hair with one of his fingers, making Luffy finally give him a weak smile and rush outside to call his brothers and gather meat from the galley.
.
The Present Time
"What do you mean you started growing pretty stones on your skin and weren't allowed to go out in the sun or the moon?" Nami questioned with wide eyes, hearing about such a condition for the first time. A part of her wondered if Bonney was spinning stories but it didn't look like that. But stones growing up on skin? What the hell is even that?
"Daddy told me I was sick and if I go out in the sun, then he'll get super sad and I would get 'ouchies'." Bonney told what she had been told by her Daddy. She still remembers the kids in the kingdom calling her vampire because she wasn't allowed to leave the church and go out in the sun. "Daddy even got lots of doctors to check me over for the stupid disease." Bonney pouted a bit, remembering the doctors, who were sometimes mean to her about the disease and got Daddy angry at them for their words.
"But you can get out in the sun now, which means you got treated right?" Vivi questioned, thinking how Bonney would have felt as a kid when she wasn't allowed to even go out to play with the others or in the sun. This made her realize the true love which Bonney has for the sun, which she had voiced it out several times.
"Yep!" Bonney smiled gleefully remembering that incident. "A doctor told Daddy that the sickness will leave me when I turn 10!" Bonney chirped, remembering about the times which she excitedly planned with her Daddy about the places they would be visiting together. That was a part of her reason to join her Daddy in the Revolutionary Base and train her powers in his, Dragon-san's and Iva-chan's guidance. "But Luffy-nichan helped to shoo away the sickness before I even hit my sixth birthday! He saved me! That's how I know him!"
Nami, Vivi, Zoro and Sanji who had their ears on the conversation were too confused to say anything. How could Luffy cure a disease which several doctors couldn't? Though Zoro wondered if it was due to his powers as a god... which he might have lost while curing Bonney...? But that didn't seem like it, with Luffy telling him that he had lost those powers a long long time ago. So, how did Bonney get cured?
"Bonney, how did Luffy do it?" Vivi inquired about the question, which everyone had in their minds.
"Eh? I can't say such secrets now. Moreover, I am getting bored!" Bonney whined, remembering the secret which she had promised to keep to her Daddy. She wasn't going to tell the scare and awe she had felt that time, even if her heart wanted to tell everyone how Nika-nichan had helped her. She shook her head, remembering the promise, and hopped out of the camel to join her brothers, who were walking on the sand. She wasn't tired and wanted to listen to Nika-nichan's adventure personally!
"You better tell us later, Bonney!" Nami stated with a pout, which made the youngest girl flash her a smile.
.
5 years ago in Sorbet Kingdom, South Blue
The Sorbert Kingdom, ruled by King Bekori, was divided into two provinces: the Southern province, which was excluded from the kingdom's jurisdiction- as only the poor and aged peasants lived there- making the northern province the only portion of the island which made up the Sorbet Kingdom. At least this was the case, until the Freedom Fighters, who later came widely known as the Revolutionary Army overthrew the king, who was forced to flee from the kingdom, but he hadn't given up hope on reclaiming the throne which his brother ruled now.
Kuma was leading the ASL trio towards the church where Bonney was. He was really happy that Bonney could have some playmates as the trio volunteered to come and play with Bonney inside the church. He had already informed them of the disease which she has, meaning that they can't take her to any source of natural light.
"No natural light?" Luffy uttered, hearing the explanation which Kuma gave them.
"It means no sun and no moon for Bonney." Sabo explained sadly to Luffy in a simpler version. He felt bad for the girl to be trapped inside and after knowing the reason why Kuma, one of his favorite trainers and uncles, had to leave the Revolutionary Army, he wanted to do something, anything.
Luffy, on the other hand, had stopped dead in his tracks. The thought that someone can't feel the warmth of the sun on their skin and the beautiful cool shine of the moon, made him feel extremely sad. But this was not the only reason why his legs stopped all of a sudden.
"Nika!" His mother was calling him, wanting to have a talk with him. "Don't go near the child. Not now." That had him stand on the edge and look back the way they had come. To his mother. He didn't want to hear her but he knew if she is saying it, then it has to have a bigger reason.
"Luffy? What happened? We need to move. Don't you wanna see Bonney and play with her?" Ace asked, as he tugged on his wrist lightly.
"Go on ahead. I can't come now. Mamma doesn't want me to." Luffy whispered to Ace, who was near him, which led Ace to let go of his wrists in confusion. Moreover, they were just near the church where Bonney was.
"When you are done, you can come in." Kuma spoke softly to Luffy, a bit disappointed but fine, as he led Ace and Sabo inside the church to meet Bonney.
Luffy nodded to Kuma as he saw them enter the church. He looked back towards his mother with questions visible on his face.
"Nika." His mother once again called to him. This time her voice was tinged with sadness. Luffy moved towards the shore to hear what his mother had to say. "The child will die if she is exposed to your glow."
Nika felt a direct stab to his heart at the explanation which his mother gave him. It was enough for his legs to give out on himself in sadness and guilt that he can't even see the daughter of his priest, who has an unwavering belief and trust in him.
"I-I can't help h-her in any way?" Nika whimpered, as he buried his head in his legs, which were pulled up to his chest. The floodgate of tears which he had been holding onto, were left open as ugly sobs wretched out from his throat, leading his mother to quickly envelop him in her watery arms and rock him patiently. He was crying, because that's all he can do for Kuma and Bonney now. Cry with their griefs as he wasn't capable of helping them in any way. "I-I'm s-so po-powerless."
Nika sniffled, his blurry eyes seeing the figure of his mother and his surroundings. Not a single sea amphibian dared to approach them as mother sea took her figure and cradled her baby in her arms, trying to soothe him from the pain which he was experiencing in his heart. She wished for the umpteenth time that her youngest son wouldn't be so attached to the mortals, but who was she trying to pray to, 'cause she certainly knew her son's ways better than anyone.
"Sometimes there are things which even your father can't control, my son." Mother sea whispered to her son, who seemed to be inconsolable, but her words just fell to the deaf ears of Nika, who was mentally beating himself for not helping Kuma, his parents and his daughter now.
"O-Only i-if I-I had my po-powers ba-" The sea was quick to shush Nika from even completing the sentence. It wasn't time and she wouldn't let him have his powers. Not now. Not even in the near future.
"I know you want to help them but that's not how you should do it. You are just a child." Mother Sea spoke softly, rocking her baby in her arms gently, to calm him down.
"B-But I want to do something to help B-Bonney. She is also a child, who won't even be able to enjoy the sun or the moon!" Nika sniffled, his tears mixing with that of his mother's waters. His heart cried out from realizing that Bonney might never make it to her teen years even. He really wanted to be there for Kuma, at least this time, but he wasn't even allowed to go near Bonney, lest he wanted her to die. Nika felt helpless, he felt powerless and useless for failing Kuma time and time again. For the first time, he wished with his entire body and soul to have his powers back, even a tiny bit, which he can use to help them.
"The child will be able to enjoy the sun and the moon." Mother Sea finally spoke, not able to see the grief in her son's heart anymore. Her words made Nika look up to her with hope in his chocolatey doe eyes.
"H-How?" Nika choked out, hastily wiping away the tears from his eyes.
"Bring the child to me tonight, when the moon is hidden behind the sheets of clouds. Bring the child to me when no one is watching, I'll cure her." The sea spoke, her watery features forming a gentle smile on her ethereal face. She was hesitant to help the child, seeing her having the age-age fruit powers, but seeing her son cry out for her and her father was enough to make her relent on the whims of her son.
"You'll do that?" Nika sniffled, as he blinked away the tears forcefully. Her mother had always treated only his injuries, except for the time when Ace and Sabo rescued him from Bluejam's henchman, Porchemy, where she had washed away their pain too.
"For you, indeed." Mother Sea answered to her son, hugging him. "Now, go, bring that girl. The time seems just perfect." She whispered to her son, leading him to the surface, where the night had already taken control and the moon was hiding behind the clouds.
Luffy nodded determinedly as he rushed towards the church, forgetting that his mere glow can expose Bonney to a threatening position. All that he knew was that he needed to convince Bonney to come with him.
On the other side, a few hours ago, in the church, or near the middle of the Island, fire had erupted, traveling at a fast rate towards the Southern province, wanting to consume anything in their paths. That was the time when Kuma was busy watching Ace and Sabo play with Bonney, entertaining her with the stories of their training and their silly missions, where they made a joke on the marines and other pirates, who are way too corrupt to even spare.
That was the time, when the door of the church was hastily thrown open and several crying old folks of the Southern province came in, begging and crying to Kuma. The scene put Ace, Sabo, Bonney and Kuma on edge but what they heard next was even more aggravating.
"You've got to save us!"
"King Bekori has returned, and he's just as monstrous as ever!"
"It's just like 16 years ago! He still wants to cut loose the country's deadweight! He's going to burn the people in their homes!"
The last statement from one of the old folks was enough to convey to the people inside the church about the gravity of the situation. The memories of the fire in the Grey Terminal erupted in the minds of Ace and Sabo, who were prepared to not let anyone be the prey of fire this time, while Kuma was enraged at the cruel acts of the king. He was torn between saving the Southern province from being engulfed due to the fire and going after the king.
Luckily, Sabo, who had got better at reading his emotions, proposed a plan. "Kuma-san, you can leave the Southern Province to me and Ace. We will help the people. You can go there."
"I leave the Southern Province in your hands then, future Chief of Staff." Kuma uttered to the sixteen year old, who would soon be the chief of staff of the revolutionary army the next year. He even gave Ace a nod, who returned it with determination, and then left straight for the palace of the king Bekori, to end his cruel deeds once and for all.
"Bonney, you can't come out. Okay?" Ace spoke to the little girl who looked frightened. "We will protect you. Promise." Ace uttered, making the girl nod her head hesitantly.
"Please take care of her." Sabo, on the other hand, spoke to the old folks and rushed outside the church to rescue any people whom he could find. He would have been concerned about Luffy, if not for Ace to inform him that Luffy was with his mother, which means he is away from the fire and safe.
Bonney was scared of what was happening. She was really happy at the beginning of the evening, when her Daddy brought her friends to play with. There was one more friend she was supposed to meet, but that friend had vanished for some important business. Bonney was okay with it though, as her father was still with her and she got new friends!
But now, Bonney doesn't feel okay at all. She had never seen her Daddy so on edge. Her playmates even left her alone with the others, who were bringing in the wounded inside the church. The sight of their burns was scary and made her feel frightened, that's why she was looking out of the door, to find her Daddy.
"Bonney-chan, stay inside. We can't have you get caught in the light." Someone from inside the church warned her, but Bonney was too distressed and scared to hear them.
"Is it gonna be okay?" Bonney uttered in worry, looking at the skies which were covered with raging colors of red and the air was filled with the cackling sounds of fire. It looked pretty but at the same time too scary.
"Do you trust Nika?" Bonney stumbled back, when a kid, who looked a little older than her, spoke, appearing in her sight of vision.
"I do." Bonney uttered, showing her belief in the deity which her Daddy trusted the most to. She watched as a bright smile stretched on the face of the strawhatted boy at her words. 'Was he also a believer of Nika?' Bonney wondered.
"Then come with me." The boy stretched his hands towards her, his whole body glowing, which she thought looked amazing on him. She would have told him her Daddy won't like it if she gets out in the light or would have told him that her Daddy had taught her to not trust strangers but she didn't. The way her purple eyes locked with the flickering scarlet red eyes, made a pool of warmth flood within her.
Bonney extended her hand, willingly, to the boy, whom she was trusting herself to. The boy didn't waste a single second, holding onto her hand and pulling her out of the church where she had been confined to as long as she remembers. She was so captivated by the smile on the boy's face and her feeling the warmth explode within her, she couldn't even feel the excruciating pain which threatened to consume her. It was only when they arrived on the shore and for the first time, she witnessed the ocean, which she had only seen in the books, she came to her senses.
"Why are we here?" Bonney asked, frightened due to the sea, which her Daddy had told her not to go near without him when she is cured. But even without the water touching her, she felt way too weak to even breathe and finally collapsed on the sand.
"Bonney, are you okay?" The boy asked, turning to her, when she fell on the sand, face first.
"What..?" Bonney felt as if she couldn't breathe. She felt her throat was filling with painful stones, which were preventing her from saying something, just like her legs, which felt way too heavy for her to move.
Luffy's eyes widened at the sight which he was witnessing. Bonney's entire arm, which he had been holding to, was covered with blue stones. Even her legs till the thighs were starting to turn into stones.
"Mom! Help!" Luffy shrieked in panic, making his mother open up wide, creating a clear path of water, which was guiding them to the depths of the ocean.
"W-Who ar-are you...?" Bonney tried to speak, she wanted to know what was happening, seeing the ocean open wide and the boy carrying her in his arms and running towards it. What was happening? Why did the ocean open up? She hadn't heard of it ever happening in any of the books she read. But who is the boy she trusted? Where were they going? She wanted to know but her throat refused to let her speak anymore. She wanted to witness the ocean clearing a path, clearly in awe, but her body refused to obey her.
Doom dut~!
"I'm Nika." Luffy answered Bonney honestly as he held her to his chest, letting her hear the beats of his drumming heart. "Bonney will be fine. I promise."
Doom dut da~!
"Ni...?" Bonney tried to call the name of the god, of the boy who stood still and looked at her with tears in his red eyes and with a small smile stretching on his paling face. The ocean was closing up and Bonney wanted to scream in fear but at the same time, Nika was here for her. She wouldn't have trusted him for his words, if not for the familiar beats of drums beating in his chest, making her feel home and remember the stories Daddy told her about Nika.
Doom dut da da~!
The ocean finally closed onto the duo, making Bonney close her eyes shut and stop breathing but when she couldn't hold it anymore, her eyes opened and her lungs wanted air. She was left in awe, when she realized that she can see as well as breathe in the waters. The sight of the cloudy wisps of hair and the brilliant glow which Nika was radiating even inside the ocean, was the last thing she saw before losing herself to the much needed sleep.
.
The horizon was a canvas of brilliant colors, painted with the fiery hues of red and orange, which was slowly blending into softer shades of pink and coral, before the gradient finally seemed to settle on mesmerizing color of blue for the longest of the evening, before ending in the pitch black sky adorned by the numerous stars and the moon, which awed the group of travelers with their silvery glow.
"There are so many stars in the sky!" Chopper uttered with fascination as he laid on the back of the Sandora monitor lizard, which was still carrying the ones who didn't want to walk.
"It's cool, right?" Bonney asked Chopper, as she laid beside him and observed the sky which was adorned with the stars and moon like jewels. She had always wondered how the sky would look with the lack of cloud cover in a desert and honestly, the sight was leaving her surprised and speechless, each time she looked at it.
"Back in Drum Island, I could never see so many stars altogether." Chopper continued with the conversation. Even though it had already been a week of traveling in the ship, which was sailing through the waters of the Grand Line, he had never once seen the sky look so beautiful with the lack of the presence of clouds to cover its beauty.
"Are you guys talking about stars and moons?" Usopp asked as he joined the youngest two in the group, with his voice brimming with excitement. "Let me tell you the legendary story of how Usopp the starmaker helped the stars to shine so brightly-"
With that, Usopp captivated Bonney and Chopper with his long stories, making Luffy who was listening to it all, with slightly sleepy eyes, smile. He would have joined in the conversation if not for the feeling that they were close to Yuba and the sense of foreboding, which was lingering in the atmosphere. Luffy walked with his brothers, at the front, just beside Vivi, Zoro and Sanji, who were the ones who didn't want to rest anymore and walk.
"How much long before we finally reach Yuba, Vivi?" Luffy heard Sanji question Vivi about it. He would have answered him if his attention wasn't on the winds which had suddenly shifted, and the sky which was further turning into inky black at an alarming rate. Even the air was charging with an almost palpable sense of foreboding, making Luffy fasten his steps.
"We are just near there but there's something wrong in Yuba." Vivi uttered, her eyes locked with the light coming from afar which they were nearing. Vivi's eyes widened the moment the sounds of the ominous rumble of the winds, which were growing louder and louder and more intense with each passing second, grew nearer. "Oh no! The entire city is struck by a sand storm!" Vivi squeaked in fear at the sight of the tremendous whirlwind of sand storm which was raging in the poor city of Yuba.
"DAMMIT LU! WHY ARE YOU SO RECKLESS?! DON'T GO RUNNING THERE!" Ace shrieked, noticing Luffy running towards it, but his voice got lost in the howling winds which threatened to consume anything in their paths.
"LUFFY! YOU, IDIOT!!" Sanji was the second one, who clamored out to Luffy, and ran after the idiot who was running to the center of the sandstorm, which can definitely kill him.
"WE NEED TO GET LU OUT OF THERE! QUICK!" Sabo shouted in fear of losing his brother, even though he and Ace knew that it wouldn't really affect him that much, but he could still get hurt!
"LUFFY!" The ones who saw Luffy run off, shouted in fear as the sandstorm showed its fury.
"Dammit, Luffy! What the hell are you thinking now?!" Zoro cursed under his breath, as he ran towards the sandstorm with the mind of cutting it, as the reckless idiot of god is probably thinking something and not going to stop now.
The group's words concerning Luffy and his well-being were truly commendable but they were consumed by the furious winds which were raging beyond control.
The cries of the begging winds, their howls for mercy and forgiveness and the desire for freedom, which was disguised in the veil of anger, reached Luffy, the moment the wind had picked up its pace. It had confused him for a moment before he realized what was truly happening. The sandstorms in Eramula had tried to show him or tell him something, which they couldn't convey with their words and consciousness. At that time, he hadn't been able to fully grasp what was happening but now he was getting to an understanding of what was truly occurring, of how the towns were forced to dry up. The ominous haunting howls and roars, encompassing the mournful shrieks of their pain was enough to make Luffy understand that they were being abused; that they were being used repeatedly each day, without their own will, or the will of nature and Halad.
"I'LL NOT SPARE YOU! I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!!" Luffy shouted out as loud as his voice could allow him, freeing the winds from the control which they were forced into and ceasing the whirlwind of the sandstorm in an instant. The sound of rumbling thunder clapping in the skies above and the calm whistling of the winds thanking for the dire rescue, was heard after the sandstorm finally vanished.
"The sandstorm vanished!" Vivi was the first one who pointed it out in shock. The sight of the frightening sandstorm which had threatened to consume anything and everything in its path, had just vanished. It was as if some otherworldly powers had decided to intervene and put a stop to the destruction and injustice on the... dried up town of Yuba.
"Thank god! The sandstorm stopped, otherwise the idiot would have been blown off to who knows where." Sanji tutted, lighting a cigarette for himself, to relax his frightened heart which was worried for Luffy.
"Luffy is safe." Ace sighed at the same time, rubbing his temples seeing Luffy who was still acting weird but now not in the danger which he seemed to run towards but what was up with Luffy? Him shouting out to the sandstorm only for it to vanish?
"I'm glad that he is." Sabo voiced out next, as he stood beside Ace and witnessed the sight of Luffy still glaring at a far off distance to the dried up city of Yuba, which was covered in sand, making it look eerily similar to that of Eramula. He wondered if Luffy knew something which they didn't, as it wasn't far-fetched for Luffy to know something out of thin air.
"What had gotten into Luffy? Did he eat some weird mushroom or cactus?" Usopp questioned out loud, getting out of the lizard which had stopped in its path once the sandstorm showed its fury and weirdly enough, the very same lizard was crying now.
"I don't think so." Bonney answered with worried eyes as she jumped off from the lizard, her eyes not leaving Luffy whose fury she can feel from even here.
"Luffy, what happened to you?" Nami questioned the strawhatted teen, who finally turned towards the group to give an answer.
"That son of a bitc-"
"No swearing now!" Sabo was quick enough to bonk Luffy on the head while Ace could only facepalm and try to hide himself from the glare which Sabo directed towards him. Both of them knew very well that Luffy had picked up the colorful vocabulary of words from none other than Ace himself. While the others, except Bonney who was laughing, could only look at Luffy with slightly wide eyes and dropped jaws, as Luffy cried out in pain for being hit with a Haki infused fist. They had never thought that the sweet, innocent, sunshine boy can even utter those cursed words.
"Vivi? Is this what Yuba is supposed to look like?" Nami inquired as she stepped on the sand and looked at the surroundings which had dying palm trees. The sight was enough to make her forget the question which she had just asked to Luffy.
Vivi could only clench her fists at Nami's words. This wasn't supposed to be Yuba. This shouldn't have happened to this town even. The Yuba which she had come to know was one of the most prosperous towns which leader was set to make... so what happened? What curses had befallen here too?! Where was the oasis? Was it also swallowed by the sand?
"We should start moving. If the rebel army is here in this town then you got to talk them out of the war." Zoro commented after seeing the quietness Vivi had resigned herself to. It was not the time to wallow in pity. It was the time to take action and stop the war.
"The rebel army?" Luffy questioned as he looked towards the group. He had thought that they were heading to Crocodile, not the rebel army, which couldn't be in this town, seeing it having only a handful of people.
"Ni-chan? Is this what the towns in a desert are supposed to look like?" Bonney questioned Sabo, tugging his sleeves, as they walked inside the town, only to find everything hollow and vacant. She was truly confused and sad, seeing two towns in a row now covered with sand and almost on their last legs. The night was even making the town of Yuba look haunted and scarier.
"Nanohana wasn't that way, was it now, Bonney?" Kuma appeared suddenly from behind, making Bonney smile wide and jump to her Daddy, happy to finally see him. Kuma smiled, hugging his daughter gently.
"Kuma-san, where is the rebel army? They were using this town as a base, right?! Did you talk to them?! Did something happen?" Vivi questioned, approaching Kuma, with a worried expression. She was already on the edge after seeing the town's condition but seeing the revolutionary's face contort into that of disappointment made her panic. 'Please! Please! Let Leader be here-'
"They have relocated their base to Katorea, princess." Kuma answered, making everyone's eyes widen up in shock.
"WHAT?!" "IT CAN'T BE!" "WAIT! THEY ARE GONE!?!" "THEY LEFT!?"
The words of shock and denial rang through Vivi, Nami, Usopp and Chopper.
"We walked this far for nothing?!" Zoro questioned, gritting his teeth in frustration. He didn't mind the walk through the scorching sand and the boiling temperature but he did mind that they were wasting the precious time which was required to stop the war from happening.
"It was not for nothing, Zoro." Luffy stated with a frown, as he looked towards the direction which the sandstorm had come from and if he was right in thinking that it was Crocodile's fault somehow, considering how the man was the user of the Sand Sand fruit, he knew they were walking towards the right direction. After all, that man better be aware that his times of peace and games are going to end soon.
"What am I supposed to do now?!" Vivi panicked, as she began pacing around the place where they were, which was once the oasis of Yuba. Vivi couldn't believe that they had already wasted so much time and the rebel base had shifted to Katorea which was just near Nanohana. They were so close to it from the beginning and yet, now, they were too far from it. "But why did they relocate their base in the first place?"
"You just saw the sandstorm now, didn't you?" Kuma questioned, seeing the group nod. With that, he started explaining the reason for the relocation of the base, as he had been informed by the man who had been digging up the oasis since the time he had arrived in the town. He would have helped the man in his work, if not for him contacting the other revolutionary army agents who were near the town of Katorea. He would have himself teleported there, but someone was needed to inform the group of the situation, and he also wanted to see how Bonney was holding up. "According to the head of this town, Toto, the sandstorm wasn't the first this town had ever had since the drought started three years ago."
"They weren't regular sandstorms." Luffy uttered, getting a nod from Kuma and getting his theory confirmed. He was really getting angry at Crocodile for even doing this. He better regret it all when he beats the crap out of him.
"Right and because of that, the oasis is now in that state." Kuma pointed them to the sight of Toto, who was probably eavesdropping in the conversation while digging up the oasis. Toto would have shouted at the group for even thinking about the rebels but having heard from Kuma that they were here to stop the revolution, he stayed quiet. He was still skeptical about it though.
"That means the rebels would have realized that they couldn't hold out here any longer, right?" Nami theorized, seeing the sand covering the oasis completely.
"Yes, that's why they relocated their base." The man who was indeed eavesdropping on the conversation started, turning towards the group, making Vivi instantly cover her face with the black scarf which was included in her Arabastian costume. "Now, I know that Kuma-san has told me that you guys won't be joining the rebel army but if you even think about joining those bunch of degenerates then it won't be good." Toto threatened the group, showing his shovel, which he would definitely use to attack them.
"I like this man, Vivi!" Luffy laughed gleefully, seeing the man willing to stand up to his words, despite his frail body, as he patted Vivi's back.
"Vivi? Did you just say Vivi..?" Toto instantly inquired, his shovel falling from his hand, as he tried to get a better look on the girl which the strawhatted kid was patting to a mere second ago.
The blue hair and those brown eyes were eerily familiar.
"Vivi's not princess V-Vivi if that's wh-what you are thinking!" Luffy instantly tried to defend his friend by sprouting a lie, only for his lying skills to be so good that even a kid can understand the truth by it.
"SHUT UP, IDIOT!" Zoro, Ace and Sanji shouted to Luffy instantly while Sabo facepalmed himself, seeing Luffy basically utter out the information, which he wasn't supposed to, but Sabo was more perplexed by Zoro, Sanji and Ace to do more damage to the situation than it was required. Well, the damage was done, so all they could do now was flee or knock out the man before he decided to do something, which Sabo doubted he would do.
"Vivi? Princess Vivi? Is that really you...?" The old man, Toto, questioned seeing the girl try to deny it, but the voice and the face which got revealed due to it, was the last thing the poor man needed to recognize the princess of the country, the girl who was so benevolent to play with the commoners even though she is a princess. "I'm so glad to see you're still alive!" Toto cried, as tears welled up in his eyes at the sight of the girl whom he had last seen when she was a kid and last heard about when she disappeared. "It's me! Don't you recognize me?!" He questioned Vivi, who still looked confused at his sudden shock and surprise. "Guess I can't blame you; I did lose quite a bit of weight..."
"I-Is that you, Toto?" Vivi gasped, finally clicking the name which Kuma-san had uttered, to the shriveled up man who stood before her, with tears streaming down from his face.
"Do you know him, Vivi?" Sanji questioned Vivi, who nodded her head in an instant.
"Vivi! I still believe in the king! He's not the type that could ever betray his country and people. I am right, aren't I?!" Toto cried out, his hands shaking as they held Vivi's shoulder. He wanted to hear from Vivi that the king was innocent, he wanted to know that the rebels were wrong in thinking that the king would ever betray the people, he wanted Vivi to stop them. "Those rebels are all out of their minds! Please! Please! You have to stop them! You are the only one who can! Please, stop Koza! He'll definitely listen to his vice-captain!"
"Vice-captain? Vivi, you are a part of the rebel army?!" Luffy gasped, getting an instant kick on his head by Sanji for even thinking that the lovely princess was involved in it.
"No, Koza and I knew each other when we were kids. He was the leader of the sand sand group, of which I became the vice-captain." Vivi explained to everyone that she had known Koza when she was five and he had come to the palace, blaming the king for the drought which his town faced that time. He wasn't there for himself but for the town and the suffering of other people. Vivi still remembers the day when she fought with Koza and lost the first time but when they fought the next time, she and Koza became friends. That had also resulted in her to join the sand sand group and become its vice-captain. They had played together a lot, enjoyed and had fun but then the time which had scared them all had come. A group of bandits wanted to kidnap her, and the sand sand group had fought for her, ready to give their lives just for her. Vivi had cried when Koza and others got beat up, but Koza still rescued her until her Dad and Igaram rescued them. She had cried later nonstop too, because the others hadn't cared for their lives when they were ready to save her.
Vivi knew Koza was the same kid, who grew up in Yuba, and had promised her to make the town prosperous, when her father had left the town in the capable hands of Toto.
'See ya, Vivi! I hope you grow up to become a great princess!' Vivi still remembers those parting words. She still knows deep inside her heart that what Koza was doing was for the country's people but he was misguided by the plans which Crocodile crafted.
"I really tried and tried... I swear to god, I tried so hard to stop them." Toto cried when Vivi finished her explanation to the group which she was traveling with. Streams of tears were flowing from his eyes, as he continued to speak. "But nothing I said was of any use. Those rebels just won't stop... But their supplies are running low, and they know they can't hold out for much longer. That's why they're planning on settling things once and for all in their next offensive! They've lost their minds! They're practically suicidal at this point!"
"Please, Vivi!" Toto's voice shook and cracked, as he practically begged the princess. "You have to stop those fools!"
"Toto, please don't worry anymore." Vivi extended her hand to the man who was sitting on the sandy ground and wailing. "I'll stop the rebels no matter what!" She spoke with a smile, which conveyed her determination to do anything if it meant that she could stop the rebel army. She was ready to sacrifice her own life, if it meant that none of the sides would get any casualty.
The group of the pirates and revolutionaries just looked at Vivi, their faces frozen with a small frown, but none of them voiced out the discomfort they felt. Not right now. It wasn't the time to make Vivi understand that she wasn't alone, that she had friends who would help her in her journey. No, it wasn't time to make her remember this once more, because it was Vivi's turn to give hope to the man who really needed it.
"Thank you, Vivi!" Toto sniffled, wiping down the tears and taking the hand.
With that done, Toto finally showed the group inns and rooms which they could stay for the night.
"Well, great job everybody! Really, we did some good work. Now, let's all lie down on these comfy beds and get some well deserved rest, okay? We need our strength." Usopp took the mantle, seeing Luffy was outside in the cold night. "Good night guys!" Usopp uttered the words and straight off plopped on the warm, cozy bed which they were offered and slept, only to be hit by a pillow on head.
"This whole trip you have done nothing but lazing around!" Zoro grumbled, him being the one who hit lazy Usopp with the pillow. He was the one who was really tired as he had dared to walk on the sand after taking a rest on the reptile which Luffy had befriended.
"Why you?!" Usopp retorted in anger, as he rubbed his head and glared at Zoro. "Quit comparing me to you and all the others superhuman freaks!" Usopp finished his sentence by throwing a pillow back to Zoro, hitting his face.
"Now, you are annoying me!" Zoro growled, getting a tick mark and throwing a pillow back to Usopp, only for Usopp to nullify the attack by another pillow and shout out.
"I think that Blue nose her wins today's award fro laziest talking animal in the desert!" Usopp retorted angrily, throwing a pillow to Chopper's face, as he had been the one to not even walk a single step, as he was being carried by Luffy and then had the opportunity to rest on the lizard all the way till here.
"You jerk! Have you been around in the fur coat in that heat?!" Chopper retorted back, with slight tears in his eyes, and threw back the pillow, only for it to hit Ace, who had been laughing at the antics of Luffy's crew with Sabo at his side, smiling.
"Oh, you guys are on it!" Ace smiled like a devil, making Chopper and Usopp gulp in fear. He quickly got his hands on several pillows and started attacking Chopper, Usopp, and Zoro. This resulted in a fight, where the pillows were thrown hayway. One of Ace's pillows hitting Bonney, making her join in the childish game, and Chopper's pillow hitting Sanji, who like a pervert was sleeping on the bed which Vivi was about to, and another Zoro's pillow hitting Vivi, whose lips tugged to a smile.
"Ace, you overgrown child!"
"And what the hell do you think you are doing over there?!"
"Hey! Who just threw that pillow?! You've got some guts!"
"Some people are actually trying to get a little shut eye here!"
"Oh, that's it! You're all ooonnnn!!"
This is how a pillow fight among the grown-up children started, each of them forgetting about the worries which were plaguing them and their tired bodies, which demanded rest after the day's hard walk in the desert. The room littered with shouts which was soon followed by the peals of laughter, which was truly needed.
Meanwhile, Luffy, who had wanted to sleep even before the group had reached Yuba, didn't want to, anymore. He was sitting on the cold sandy ground under the shiny night sky, silently watching Toto continue to dig for water, which he could feel there. It was getting boring, and he was starting to zone off with each passing second. His mind was getting overwhelmed by thinking about all the questions which he had for his mother, for the winds and for Halad. He wanted to know the answers to his questions, which none of them were responding to! He was getting tired of getting silence instead of answers.
"Are you here for water, kid?" The old man snapped Luffy out of the whirlwind of his emotions and questions which were continuously forming in his heart.
"Old gramps, how are you holding up?" Luffy questioned the man instead, who without a break was digging and digging the sand with the shovel in his frail hands.
"The water will come. The Yuba Oasis still has live in it." Toto uttered, not answering the question of the strawhatted kid. He was tired too, but he didn't want to rest. "The dream of Yuba can't be beaten by a bunch of lousy sand. The king left this land in my hands and I will keep it alive. I'll dig up the sand as many times as it takes."
The words of Toto made a small smile stretch on Luffy's face. He couldn't help but smile seeing the determination, the conviction and the strength to back up the words in the old man. Despite the gods abandoning the land and not helping it, the people still held on, they still believed in the king and above all, believed in themself to make a change.
"Yosh! Then let's dig! Shishishishi!" Luffy chuckled, getting onto work with a brilliant smile on his previous neutral face. He was getting bored anyways with watching the old man dig up all by himself and the questions which weren't getting answered were only making him feel lonely.
"HEY! WOULD YOU QUIT?! You are filling up the hole that I spent all this time on." Toto shouted, seeing the kid dig up the sand and throw it in the hole which he was making. He was so frustrated and annoyed by the kid's actions, despite his innocent act, that he didn't even question the kid digging the sand with his hands. "Are you trying to fill up my holes?!"
"But I am just digging like you old guy." Luffy pouted, seeing the old man get angry. He was only trying to help and by seeing the amount of sand which he had already dug up, it was far more than the sand which Toto had done after the sandstorm vanished.
"No! I am digging holes and you are filling them up! The sand from the hole you are digging is going in the hole that I am digging. In other words, it's not helping!" Toto angrily scolded and explained the kid, as he threw his shovel away. He was already tired and the kid pouring sand in all his hard work was making him feel too frustrated and moreover, the confused look on the kid, clearly showed that he didn't understand him. "There's no point in digging if you're also going to fill up the very hole I dug already!" With that, Toto left the place angrily, deciding to finally rest to calm down his frustration.
While Luffy didn't mind the man's words and continued to dig up until he finally found the bubbling cool water which erupted from the sand. It was enough to make Luffy happy and start digging up more.
"Mamma!" Luffy chanted his mother's name, hoping the eldest deity would answer to him, but it was getting futile the more and more he kept digging and calling her name.
"Why aren't you responding to me?!" Luffy questioned sadly, as the waters crawled till his legs, not gently caressing him or calming him down like his mother always does. Luffy sucked in his lips, looking at the waters, which was enough to let him curl in. He was tired, he wanted his mother, he needed to get answers to his questions, of all the why's which only she knows, and yet all he was getting in response was silence, which he really wasn't liking. He needed to...
When Toto finally returned back to continue his digging work, he found a large hole in the middle of the oasis, which truly amazed him, but on further inspection, he started crying, astonished by the amount of water which the kid had dug up all alone and... was curled up and sleeping in, peacefully.
"Thank you. Thank you so much." Toto spoke gratefully to the sleeping teen, whom he approached to carry out of the water, where if he stays can get sick due to the cold night and the cool water. Toto tried to lift the kid's body, which almost seemed to refuse to let go of the waters. He tried once again, only for the kid to smuggle his head deeper inside the waters, making him panic, seeing the kid drown in that little water. He tried once again and this time, finally he was able to let the teen let go of the waters, which he seemed to be inseparable from.
"Toto-san? What are you doing so late at night?" A voice uttered, looking at him, or rather the kid who was weirdly... glowing? He blamed it on his tired mind, or chalked it to the moon light, not believing that the kid can even glow in the first place.
"I was just going to take the kid to the room." Toto replied back, seeing the blonde-haired teen softly smiling at the kid and approaching them.
"I'll take him. Thanks for looking after my little brother." Sabo spoke, taking Luffy who was completely drenched in the waters, which he found out in the middle of a desert, from Toto. He wondered if Luffy was already missing his mother.
"It was no problem. In fact, he found the oasis!" Toto smiled, looking at the oasis which seemed to start filling up the hole slowly. He was really happy, seeing his belief in the oasis not break. He was happy that the sandstorm had not swallowed up the oasis whole. Now, he could just hope that the sandstorm doesn't consume it once again... but if it does, then he'll not give up hope. Not ever.
Sabo used his scarf to dry Luffy's wet hair as he carried him to the room where the others had already fallen asleep. He would have been one of them, if not for a call that had interrupted his amusement of watching the others engage in the childish battle of pillow fighting. The call was from one of the revolutionary agent who had been monitoring the Baroque Works agents at Spider's Cafe/ The information which he received was scant, only including the details of the number of agents present and their basic profiles but it did reveal that they planned to meet their boss, Crocodile, the following morning in Rainbase.
This prompted Sabo to consult with Kuma, only to learn that they have their agents dispersed throughout Alabasta, including Rainbase. Hence, this led him and Kuma to alert one of them about the situation and to gather intelligence on Crocodile's intentions.
.
Crocodile was not in a mood to listen to the yapping and gibbering of the agent who he had specifically picked up and led them here. He was certainly not in the mood of their reaction when he revealed himself as the leader of the criminal organization, Baroque Works. Yeah, yeah, he knows that a government sanctioned pirate running such things is really strange, as pointed out by Miss Double finger, but it isn't money or status or land that he desires. He desires military strength, the power which can bring anyone to fall onto their knees before him. That's what he wants and that's what his final plan, Operation Utopia, will give him.
"Military strength...?" One of the fools asked the simplest and most foolish question, but Crocodile was willing to explain the plan which he had carefully crafted for years and have reached here.
"You mean something like that really exists on this Island and we are going to steal the whole country along with it?!" Mr. 2 was the first one, who opened his mouth to question the most obvious thing, which he had answered, all the while, trembling with excitement. "Oh my! I'm giddy as a little schoolgirl now!"
Crocodile lit another one of his thick, fat cigars, silently hoping it would last longer than the ones, which he had been inhaling like air.
"So, these new orders are the final pieces of one giant plan? The one the Baroque Works has been working towards?" Mr. 1 asked, coming straight to the point, which Crocodile liked, considering the situation. Crocodile for the first time was thankful for someone having the brains to utter what was truly needed to be said.
"Yes, that's correct. Every assignment performed as an agent, every mission finished since the Baroque Works was founded has been part of the single operation." Crocodile answered, throwing papers containing a detailed plan of the operation which they are supposed to do, to each of the agents. "Inside those letters there, are the final orders that you will receive. The time has finally come for Alabasta kingdom to disappear."
"Pardon me, sir, but the papers say it starts tomorrow at 7 am, but you told us..." Miss Double finger spoke, looking at the papers and then at Crocodile. She was still nervous about the Warlord being their leader, but she had to question it.
Crocodile leaned back on the chair, his confident expression finally falling to a grimace, to hide the fear which was dwelling behind it. "There is one more thing we need to discuss." Crocodile flicked his fingers, ordering Robin to bring out the bounty posters of the ones, who, he feared, were currently in the country. Robin swiftly followed the orders, placing the bounties of three individuals masked in mystery on the table. "Them."
Mr. 2 gulped, his eyes wide in shock, at the amount of bounty and the attire of the bounty owners. The taunting smirk peeking out from one of them, the deadly stone-cold smile from another and the carefree but feral stretch of smile on the last one, which were all peeking out from the trademark cloaks were enough to inform Bon Kurie of the names of the bounty owners without even seeing it. "T-The 3C's?!"
"W-What do they have to do wi-with this?!" Miss Merry Christmas asked with her eyes wide and more shock on her wrinkled face than the shock which she had when the boss was revealed. She almost looked petrified in fear while her partner couldn't even get a single word out of his mouth.
"Miss All Sunday, have you, perhaps, made a mistake?!" Miss Doublefinger tried, looking at Miss All Sunday and then the bounty posters and then at Sir Crocodile, repeatedly. She wanted someone to tell that the bounty posters were not the ones that were originally meant to be shown to them. She wanted Crocodile or Miss All Sunday to deny it. Mr. 1, on the other hand, was silently panicking but at the same time, he desired to cross his swords with at least one of them, despite knowing that he would be defeated or rather end up dead.
"The operation was supposed to begin tomorrow morning at 7." Crocodile uttered; his fear carefully hidden behind the mask of his scowl. He would have liked the agents to already start their plans at Nanohana, but he knew that they ought to know about the situation, to be warned and be ready for what can be coming towards them in the form of the 3C's. "But with the presence of the 3C's in the country, we will begin it tonight."
"B-But w-why are th-they here?!" Mr. 2 questioned out, getting out of his seat. He was starting to get unsure of the whole plan now. With the presence of the 3C's the plan can crumble to dust and if somehow, they faced them... No way! Why will they even face them in the first place?! That thought was the only thing which was calming the okama down.
"Let me play the recorder snail." Crocodile spoke, as he was passed the snail by Robin to him. He wanted to explain the situation to them, but the recording was the best way to show what had truly occurred, considering the agents who were sitting here in this room, were the only ones he would need in the future after his operation Utopia succeeds.
"Mr. 3? Aren't you a little late with your reports?" The snail started replaying the words, which were once spoken by an oblivious Crocodile.
"Who is it?" A childish voice questioned, soon followed by the munching sound of crackers. The sound was enough to make Mr. 2 stop panicking and listen to it closely, his eyebrows raised as a thoughtful expression settled on his face, which didn't go missing from Crocodile's and Robin's watchful eyes.
"It's me. Mr. 0. What happened to the Strawhats and Princess Vivi?" Crocodile's earlier words were enough to make Mr. 2 realize that the childish voice was eerily familiar and 'Strawhats'...? He had surely heard of the name, hasn't he...?
"Crocodile!" The childish voice uttered, gleefully, which didn't go amiss by Mr. 2 who was very closely inspecting the voice, racking his brain for the answer which was on his throat but not on his tongue. While the other agents could only hear the conversation go on with confused and shocked expressions.
"Who are you?!"
"It's Cyra." All the confusion from the agents turned into gasps of fear. They knew there was a possibility that the child on the other side can be faking it, but they also knew for sure, that no child in the Grand line or any blues, can be that suicidal to either invoke the wrath of Cyra who would definitely find the imposter within a day and finish him/her, or joke with one of the 3C's name with that much confidence. All the criminals in the underworld and the surface knew one thing for sure, that the 3C's were a group who had never shown their faces but if someone ever dared to impersonate them, they would be killed in the same week, if not for within the night.
The agents were even sure that the person behind it all was Cyra, which was proved by the trademark maniac smile which appeared on the snail, which had even recorded the facial expressions of Cyra, who was on the other line.
"What does the 3C's want from me?"
"Nothing! 'Cause I'm coming to kick your ass!" Another stream of gasps of fear and shudder rang throughout the silent room, where everyone was listening with their bated breaths.
"We can make a deal. I can give you 50% of the wealth from my plan." The agents desperately hoped that Cyra would take up on the offer and leave their plan and them alive. But a part of them was already questioning if the plan would even succeed after the exclusive warning they got from Cyra of all people?
"Not interested! 'Cause your plan is doomed to fail." The agents, except Mr. 1, were silently wishing that they could have never come here to listen to Mr. 0's plan. They really prayed for it but now that they knew the final plans of Crocodile, they knew that if they refused to take part in the plan, they were doomed to die in the hands of the Warlord but if they do take it... then they can have the privilege to die in the hands of 'Red Maniac' Cyra.
"What do you want then?!"
"I already told you! I want nothing from you, Crocy." The nickname was the final thing which Mr. 2 needed to realize why the voice felt eerily familiar to him. He had been shocked when the voice had introduced himself as Cyra, making him fear and forget about what he had been thinking in the first place.
"That's too bad. How about taking half of the credit of my plan?" Mr. 1 was really amazed at the sheer confidence which was leaking from Crocodile in the recorded voice, but unknown to him that confidence was nothing but fake.
"Are you stupid old man? I want nothing from a bad guy like you. Just prepare to get your ass kicked. Goodbye!"
Mr. 2 couldn't understand why that kid, of all people, would lie and pretend to be Cyra?! Bon Kurie knew one thing though about the kid in the short time where their friendship had bloomed, that the kid sucked at lying. He had seen it when he had tried to lie about the place where they were headed to when he had asked out of the goodness in his heart. So, why did the kid lie...? Or... was he even lying? Mr. 2 gulped at that thought which made its way to his brain. Was Cyra... that little kid, Luffy? B-But that can't be, r-right..?
The recording stopped and with that the souls of Mr. 4 and Miss Merry Christmas almost left from their bodies. They couldn't even imagine the situation where they had got themselves entrapped in. Both of the options which they were able to see before them led them to one place, which was to the valley of death.
Miss Doublefinger and Mr. 1 were trying to act all calm and composed but inside they were a mess of panic. One was trying to find all and any options which she can to get out of the situation, or better, out of the country before either Cyra gets her or Crocodile kills her. But she knew that she just needed to hide safely until Crocodile is done for by the hands of Cyra, whose bounty and strength is enough to make the Warlord kneel before him. Mr. 1, however, was panicking yet he was looking forward to working with Crocodile because of the confidence which he was showing.
"I hope everyone knows the consequence of backing away now." Crocodile warned, sharply glaring at Mr. 4 and Miss Merry Christmas, who immediately wiped away their tears and looked at him, only hoping that the expensive P.P.P. materials which they were next given by Crocodile, would work as they were said in their advertisements. Crocodile's eyes next landed on Mr. 2, who had been acting weirdly since the recording started and was pale now, and then on Robin, who had a thoughtful expression on her usually emotionless face. "Mr. 2, mind telling me, what's so important that you felt the need to zone out?!" Crocodile finally questioned the okama. He could question Robin in private, so she was safe for now.
"I-It can't be." Mr. 2 gulped, looking at the snail and then trying to calm his racing heart. "I-It c-can't be C-Cyra." He uttered, not wanting to accept that the merry go lucky little kid, who the crew was truly protective over, was Cyra. But what if...? Mr. 2 shook his head instantly. "It has to be a fluke!"
"Everyone in the Grand Line knows the consequence of playing 3C's, Mr. 2!" Crocodile snapped at the okama, making the okama finally blurt out the secret which he was thinking to never utter.
"It isn't Cyra 'cause that voice clearly belongs to Strawhat Luffy!" Mr. 2 uttered, even before he could realize his mistake. He didn't want to admit that Luffy was Cyra or anything along those lines.
Robin's eyes widened a little, seeing the reality hidden behind the undeniable eyes of the okama. Her theory of the kid, Strawhat Luffy, being Cyra solidifying with each passing moment. It was true that she hadn't seen the trademark cloak or the jewel, which they were known for, but the authority, confidence, strength and the smile which the kid carried himself with, was undeniable. It felt almost otherworldly to her when she had been caught before she had even climbed on the ship, her extra eyes having met with that of the kid's.
"Kuhahahaha! KUHAHAHAHA!" Crocodile cackled out loud, not knowing if he was really relaxed knowing a puny brat was trying to play 3C's or was scared that Mr. 2 was lying seeing the uncertainty in his eyes, but one thing was sure that he would be making the agents march towards his goal and plan which he had crafted, but carefully. "That puny brat?!" Crocodile laughed further, silencing the tense atmosphere in the room and making the agents look at him. "If it's the Strawhats all the while then no fear, my dear agents, our plan will go without a hitch! Your only objective shall be to stop Vivi and Koza from meeting each other then!"
Crocodile knew he wouldn't back his words even if the agents came to him in the afterlife taunting him on it. 'Cause Crocodile knew that someone had destroyed the fleet of 80 ships with around 1800 men in it, including the Billions and the Millions. He knew that Mr. 6 had, in panic, stated about the Strawhats and the 3C's, making him come to a realization which he doesn't want to, yet couldn't help but think about it. But that wasn't required right now, as he saw the color return to every agent's face in the room, except for Mr. 2, who he could see trying his best to deny the fact that he had met Cyra in his real form. Each of the agents in the room knew the theory, without any proof to back it. Each of them knew they would be marching to their dooms, but they raised the curtains with their own hands.
At the end, when it would be all said and done, it would be them, who would be rotting in a jail cell, if Cyra showed them mercy, or in the depths of hell, where they would be forever tortured and haunted.