Hello, ladies and gents. I have some sad news. Patrons are leaving one after another, leaving holes in my tender heart. Heizz. Well, as I said before, it is never smart to stretch out a fanfic, but One Piece is a long one—what can I do? Last month I was the king, and now I am the beggar again. But fret not; I have already finished writing Wano and am thinking ahead. It is honestly killing my motivation, but I will continue writing. Please consider helping this bro out, as your support is my inspiration and sometimes food on my table. Thanks!
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--xLOVEx--
The sandstorm began to die down, and Crocodile's laughter faded with it. They had escaped, for now. Coby peeked out from behind the rocks, scanning the area to make sure Crocodile was gone. Satisfied that they were in the clear, he turned to Luffy.
"We need to get back to the crew," Coby said. "We'll regroup and figure out our next move."
Luffy, though still bristling with the urge to fight, nodded again. "Alright," he agreed, his voice low. "But next time, I'm taking him down."
Coby shook his head, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You promised, Luffy. If you can't hit him, then it's my turn. At least I have Uchimizu to hurt him." He kept his tone light, but the underlying seriousness was clear.
Luffy flailed his arms in frustration. "I need to learn that Haki thing. Yes! I'll learn it before we reach Alubarna, then beat him for sure!" His eyes lit up.
Coby chuckled, shaking his head. "If you can learn it by then, you can have your rematch. But until then, Crocodile's mine."
Luffy snorted, folding his arms. "Fine, but I'll still take him down eventually."
By the time they returned to the Going Merry, the sun was already setting over the desert, casting long shadows across the sand. The ship sat waiting at the riverbank, its sails flapping gently in the evening breeze. As soon as they climbed aboard, Nami took the helm without a word, guiding the ship across the Sandora River.
Vivi, who had been anxiously pacing the deck, rushed over to meet them as soon as they stepped on board. Her eyes darted between Luffy and Coby, noticing the defeated look on Luffy's face. "What happened?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
Luffy slumped onto the deck, his usual energy drained with defeat. "I couldn't beat him, Vivi. He's too strong. His sand just slips away every time I punch him."
Vivi frowned, her worry deepening. She bit her lip, her thoughts racing. "If we can't stop him, then Alabasta…"
Coby cut in, his voice steady. "We'll stop him, Vivi. Next time, I will definitely end him."
Nami glanced over from the helm, steering the ship. "What's the plan then? We can't just charge in without a strategy.."
Coby nodded, agreeing with Nami. "We'll regroup in Alubarna. The rebels are heading there too. Crocodile thinks the rebels are charging to fight against the Kingdom, but he's in for a rude awakening." He smirked slightly, casting a quick glance at Vivi. "I'll sneak Vivi inside the palace. She'll take command and root out the Baroque Works agents within the army. Then, we'll merge both forces. Once I take care of Crocodile, this kingdom will be saved."
Vivi nodded, though worry still shadowed her face. "I can do that. I know who I can trust in the palace."
Luffy punched his palm, clearly eager for the next fight. "Alright! Let's go kick Crocodile's ass!"
Zoro gave a small nod. "Sounds simple enough. Just tell me where to go."
As the Going Merry approached the banks of the Sandora River, the crew disembarked, leaving the ship behind once more. This time, the journey through the desert felt shorter, their urgency propelling them forward.
When the silhouette of Alubarna appeared on the horizon, they paused to catch their breath. But it wasn't just the city that caught their attention—on the city's right, a massive cloud of dust rose into the sky. The rebel army was approaching.
Coby could see the rebel army approaching, but they were slower than normal—definitely putting on a show. They weren't here to fight; they were just playing their part. "They're close. Let's go," Coby said. Vivi nodded and quickly jumped onto his back.
Coby turned to the crew, giving them a quick rundown. "There should be five agents—Mr. 1 and Miss Doublefinger, Mr. 2, and Mr. 4 with Miss Merry Christmas. Since we took out Mr. 3 and Mr. 5 along with their partners, Crocodile might have sent more. But you can handle them."
The crew nodded, ready for action. Without wasting any more time, Coby reduced his weight to 1 kilogram and took off, moving swiftly with Stealth Foot, his speed making it look like he was gliding across the desert.
Vivi held onto Coby tightly as they sped towards the palace. She could feel the wind whipping past them, the landscape blurring around her. The heat of the desert was relentless, but they didn't let it slow them down. Every second counted.
Behind them, the crew split up to cover more ground. Luffy and Zoro headed toward the main gates, while Sanji went to intercept Mr. 2. Nami, Chopper and Usopp paired up, sticking to the shadows as they moved to deal with Mr. 4 and Miss Merry Christmas. They knew the agents would be tough, but they were ready for the fight.
As Coby neared the city, he spotted a group of Baroque Works agents stationed at the entrance. They were on high alert, but Coby moved too quickly for them to react. He dashed past, slipping through the gates unnoticed.
Inside Alubarna, the tension was palpable. The city was on edge, with soldiers and citizens alike bracing for the inevitable clash. Coby could see the royal palace in the distance, its grand towers looming over the city like silent sentinels.
Coby landed softly on a rooftop, Vivi still on his back. "We're going in through the back entrance," he said, keeping his voice low as they made their way across the rooftops.
Vivi nodded, her eyes scanning the city below. "I know a secret passage that leads directly into the palace. It's hidden near the western garden."
Coby adjusted his course, following Vivi's directions. They moved quickly and silently, avoiding the patrols below. The palace was heavily guarded, but they weren't here to fight their way in—they were here to outsmart Crocodile.
Reaching the western garden, Vivi pointed to a small, inconspicuous entrance hidden behind a thick wall of ivy. Coby nodded and quickly made his way inside, careful not to disturb the surroundings. Once inside the narrow passage, they navigated the winding corridors that led deeper into the palace.
As they reached a heavy wooden door, Vivi motioned for Coby to stop. "This leads to the throne room," she whispered. "We need to be careful. There might be agents inside."
Coby nodded, pushing the door open just enough to peer through. The throne room was grand, with tall pillars and intricate designs carved into the walls. But it was empty—except for a few Baroque Works agents patrolling the area.
Coby turned to Vivi. "Stay behind me. I'll take care of them."
She nodded, stepping back as Coby moved in. He approached the agents quickly, his movements silent. Before they could react, he struck them down with switft blows, each one crumpling to the floor without a sound. Once the coast was clear, he signaled for Vivi to follow.
Coby knew Cobra was kidnapped by now, and Chaka was on the verge of making a desperate decision. He quickly found Chaka, who was pacing anxiously in one of the grand hallways, preparing to mobilize the kingdom's forces. The King's absence weighed heavily on him, and it was clear that he was about to make a move against the rebel army.
Coby, with Vivi by his side, approached Chaka swiftly. Vivi quickly explained the situation, trying to keep her voice calm. "Chaka, it's not the rebels who are the enemy. It's Crocodile and Baroque Works. The rebels know the truth now. We need to stop Crocodile before any more damage is done."
Chaka's eyes widened as he absorbed the information. He nodded, realizing the gravity of the situation. "I'll gather my most trusted men," he said. He moved quickly, issuing orders to his loyal guards. They dispersed throughout the palace, beginning a thorough search for the Baroque Works agents hiding within.
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