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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟓𝟎
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"Damn it!" Luffy winced when the razor-sharp edge of Zoro's sword sliced across his cheek
"Augh!" Zoro groaned, feeling the impact of Luffy's fist drilling into his stomach
"Dammit..." Cursed Mr. Five from the side as he got up from the ground, blood dripping down the side of his head as he spit onto the ground "The title of Baroque Works Officer Agent will be shamed if we let these guys make fools of us" He mumbled while Miss Valentine stood beside him with a cheerful smile even though there were bruises all over her body
"Mr. Five, let's show them how truly terrifying we can be!" The blonde cheered as her grip tightened on her umbrella
"Let's do it, Miss Valentine!" Mr. Five said as he ran forward toward the two fighting Pirates
"Yes, Mr. Five!" The woman cheered as she sprinted right after him, keeping her weight light for maximum speed
"Don't mock us! We're Baroque Works Officer Agents!" The man shouted "Come out and face us—"
An explosion went off when Mr. Five crashed into the building behind him making Miss Valentine stop running and glance back at him in shock as she started to float upwards, sensing the danger she currently could see
"Mr. Five! What happened?!" She yelled while the clashing of fists and swords continued in the background "Ah!" She yelped when a hand gripped her ankle before slamming her whole body into the ground
"Tch, that was easy" (Y/n) mumbled as she clapped her hands to get rid of the dust while she looked at the two Baroque agents "And they call themselves Baroque Works Officer Agents? Quite a long name for someone so pathetically weak..."
"N-No way..." Vivi's eyes were open wide as she looked at the (H/c) who stood too far from Luffy and Zoro who were still going at it "How is she that strong... She wasn't even walking straight a couple of minutes ago!"
"Hm?" (Y/n) then turned her gaze to the fight not far from her "And why are those two fighting?"
"Alright, let's settle this!" Zoro jumped back as he smirked at Luffy
"Yeah, let's settle this!" Luffy smirked right back but there was something in their eyes making (Y/n) think this wasn't just a friendly competition
"AAAHHH!" Zoro shouted as he ran at Luffy
"AAAAHH!" Luffy screamed in return as he ran toward Zoro
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Nami roared, her fist connecting with each of their faces, sending them sprawling on the ground before halting on either side of Vivi "What in the world do you think you're up to?!" She screamed
"Well at least the Princess is fine" (Y/n) pointed out with a sheepish smile as she walked past Nami who let out a huff of air with a glare at the two "Let the two be..." She let out a sigh while walking past their bodies with their eyes white in anger
"You almost let five hundred million Berries get away from us!" Nami screamed as she grabbed onto Zoro's ear whose eyes were white "Understand?!" She then turned around and picked up Luffy as well
"What are you talking about?" Vivi asked as she looked at them in shock, the duck she was sitting on had his jaw glued to the floor "Why did you... Save me...?"
"You didn't think we'd save you for free, did you?" (Y/n) smiled as she put a hand on her hip before glancing at Nami who held Zoro and Luffy by the backs of their collars but they were slowly punching and kicking one another even though they were on the brink of passing out, "I think a nice punch to the head will be good..."
"It's like this-" Nami smiled while Zoro pulled on Luffy's cheek "-Won't you make a contract with me?"
"Co... Contract?" Vivi repeated in confusion
"Quit fighting!" Nami finally snapped as she hit the two upside down making bells ring in their ears
"That was well deserved..."
. . .
"Haha!" Luffy laughed as he threw his head back "Oh! You should have just said so, Zoro! I just figured you cut them all down 'cause they didn't make any food you liked!"
"Don't compare me to you!" Zoro yelled in anger as he sat against the wall while Luffy sat on top of a barrel
"Quit moving..." (Y/n) mumbled as she put her hand on Luffy's chin to move his face sideways where she slowly wiped the blood, she was being more careful than when she was cleaning Igaram's wounds "You should've listened to Zoro, you know full well that he's not a person to attack someone innocent"
"Sorry, sorry" Luffy giggled with a sheepish smile as he rubbed the back of his neck
"At least the both of you are not dead" (Y/n) whispered and let out a sigh before turning to Nami who finished explaining the whole situation to Vivi and her duck called Karoo
"So there you have it" Nami grinned "As compensation, I'd like five hundred million Berries," She said while Vivi just looked down at the ground with a frown "You saw how strong these guys are — it's a pretty good offer if you ask me"
"I can't!" Vivi finally said as she looked up at the ginger "I do appreciate you saving me, thank you"
"Why can't you?" Nami asked with almost a whine at the loss of the money she could've had "You're a Princess"
"Do you know of the kingdom known as Alabasta?" She asked while looking at the four "It's a peaceful kingdom known as a great civilization and nation" She began "Well, it used to be"
"Used to be? What about now?" Nami asked with a raised eyebrow
"There is a civil war at Alabasta right now" (Y/n) said as she continued tending Luffy's cut "That's why I asked only for half the amount, if it were a normal country we would've asked for one billion Berries"
"O-One billion?!" Vivi shrieked as her face significantly paled "But she's right... For years now, signs of a revolution have begun to appear, the people revolted, and the kingdom fell into total chaos..." She explained slowly with her head bowed down "Then, one day, I heard the name of an organization... Baroque Works!"
"No need to shout that" (Y/n) winced as she put a hand to her ear "I think we know who Baroque Works are"
"Sorry..." Vivi blushed and then continued "I learned that the populace was being manipulated by this group. But there was a tight lid on any information than that and there was nothing I could do, that's when I asked Igaram who always meddled in my business since childhood, for help"
"The old tube hair guy?" Luffy asked as he made his palms into circles to represent the tubes
"Tube? Oh, yes..." Vivi nodded "I asked him if there was a way I could infiltrate Baroque Works because that would let us see who was pulling the strings and what their goal was"
"You're a pretty high-spirited princess" Zoro smirked with a low chuckle "So? Did you figure out this goal of theirs?"
"Mhmh"
"The founding of an ideal nation," Nami said making everyone turn to her, except Luffy who wasn't really listening "That's what Igaram said, anyway — oh, does that mean..."
"Yes," Vivi nodded "The boss says it's to create an ideal nation but it's an enormous lie!"
"Who would've guessed..." (Y/n) mumbled under her breath before letting out a sigh
"The true goal is to take over Alabasta Kingdom!" Vivi finally said "I have to hurry back, tell everyone the truth, and stop the fighting! If I don't do something... If I don't do something..."
"So that's the deal, now everything finally connects" Nami let out a sigh of her own as she crossed her arms "There'd be no money during a civil war, huh..."
"Hey" Luffy called out making (Y/n) raise an eyebrow as he smirked at Vivi "So did you find out who is pulling the strings?"
"T-The boss's identity?!" Vivi screeched as her face paled again "You shouldn't ask that!"
"But you do know who it is, right?" (Y/n) titled her head
"Don't ask me! Anything but that!" Vivi panicked as she waved her hands around "Your lives will be put in danger too!
"I-I think I'll pass on that!" Nami chuckled nervously "After all, these are guys trying to take over an entire country — they're obviously insanely dangerous people!"
"Yes, they are!" Vivi nodded frantically "As strong as you people may be, you'd never stand a chance against one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea..."
"...Against Crocodile!"
"...You can't be serious" (Y/n) mumbled
"Who's that?" Luffy tilted his head
"You just had to say it..." Zoro groaned as Vivi slapped her hand over her mouth while Nami paled
"Um..." (Y/n) paused as she looked up at the building that Zoro was leaning against "Who are they?" She raised an eyebrow when she looked at a vulture and an otter both of them wearing black sunglasses
The bird cawed before the otter jumped on its back and they flew off
"What was that bird and sea otter?!" Nami screamed as she gripped onto Vivi's jacked
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
"Hey! A Warlord!" Luffy's eyes sparkled while the two girls screamed
"Not too shabby!" Zoro laughed "What do you say, (Y/n)?"
"A pretty bad start for the journey on the Grand Line but, I guess it could be fun" She chuckled with a smile
"Being hunted by a Warlord the moment we enter the Grand Line!" Nami cried out dramatically as she dropped her head onto (Y/n)'s shoulder "It's too much to handle!"
"We're lucky we can see him soon!" Zoro smirked while Vivi sat on the ground with tears flowing down her cheeks
"I wonder what he's like!" Luffy said with a smile
"Shut up, you two!" Nami yelled before spinning on her heel and walking away "It's been a short acquaintance, but I thank you for everything!" She called out while gripping onto (Y/n)'s wrist as she dragged her along
"Where are we going?" The (H/c) wondered
"They don't know what we look like yet, we're running away!" She yelled in anger before she turned around a corner "Huh...?"
Looking down at the ground, (Y/n) saw the sea otter wearing a white pajama with purple dots as he drew something in a notebook before turning it around to show four pictures of Luffy, Nami, Zoro, and (Y/n)
"Wow, that's so good!" Nami praised with a clap of her hands "I guess this means there's nowhere to run now, HUH?!" She turned back around in anger
"No big deal, we'll be fine" (Y/n) assured as she walked together with the ginger back to the crew
"I-I'm sorry!" Vivi cried out
"She's funny!" Luffy laughed
"Where was she planning to run to, anyway?" Zoro wondered "Guess that means all four of us are on Baroque Work's hit list now"
"Hehe! That's exciting for some reason!" Luffy grinned from ear to ear
"Wasn't really on my to-do list but... We can make it work" (Y/n) let out a sigh as she smiled
"Fear not!" A voice called out making all five of them turn to the person speaking "It's— Augh" Igaram coughed "Ma, ma, ma...! It's alright, I have a plan!" The man said but when (Y/n) looked him up and down he had his blonde hair done in a ponytail, he wore Vivi's clothes, and held four dummies in hand
"Igaram!" Vivi called out as she turned to him in shock "What are those clothes?"
"You look hilarious in those, old guy" Luffy laughed as he jumped off the barrel to look closely at Igaram
"It's idiot after idiot..." Nami mumbled as she slumped into a corner
"Vivi, please listen to me carefully" Igaram began as the Princess looked up at him "Once Baroque Works' intelligence network learns of something, pursuers may come after you almost immediately on top of that, if you know the boss' secrets... You know what happens"
"A thousand or so people will come after you" Vivi whispered as she looked up at him sadly
'He even put on lipstick...' (Y/n) thought to herself as she looked at ex-Mr. Eight
"Therefore, I will pretend to be you, like so, and sail straight to Alabasta with four dummies on board" Igaram explained while Luffy pocked one of the dummy heads
"These are us...?" He raised an eyebrow in confusion
"While the pursuers are busy with me, all of you will head to Alabasta via the normal route" He continued only for Nami to cut him off
"Hold it!"
"She's right, hold it" (Y/n) cut in "Why the normal route? It could take months to get to Alabsata"
"Not that!" Nami screamed "Who said we were gonna take the Princess there?!" She then let out a breath as sweat dripped down her forehead "We still haven't come to an agreement, you know!"
"Take the Princess there? What now?" Luffy tilted his head
"You haven't heard?" Zoro scoffed
"He wasn't listening..." (Y/n) mumbled with a sigh "...Igaram wants us to take her home so she can warn her kingdom"
"Oh, that's what this is about? Sure" Luffy agreed with a shrug
"Crocodile is gonna come after us, you know!" Nami screamed before turning to (Y/n) "Stop him!"
"He's the Captain, not much I can do Nami" (Y/n) shook her head with a smile
"Will you do it?" Igaram turned to them
"Yeah! It sounds like fun!" Luffy grinned "What do you say, (Y/n)?"
"Say no!"
"Sure, if Luffy wants to then we will"
"Traitor!"
"I am very grateful"
. . .
"Ma, ma, ma!" Igaram sang only now his voice was high pitched to imitate the Princess "Now, then — I, Vivi, will leave from here" He announced with a smile as they stood on a cliff near a docked ship that was behind the Whisky Peak island
"Haha! That's a perfect imitation, old guy!" Luffy laughed with a hand on his stomach while pointing at Mr. Eight
"Imitation of who?" Zoro mumbled and sweat dropped at how Luffy was impressed by the not-even-close imitation of Igaram
"I'd say it's pretty spot on" (Y/n) chuckled to which Zoro gave her a side eye making her laugh
"Now then, Princess" Igaram opened his palm toward the real Vivi "Please give me the Eternal Pose," He said seriously
Letting out a sigh, Vivi slowly took out the Log Pose from her pocket before handing it to Igaram who took it
"You're going to use this to go to Alabasta?" Vivi asked, her worried expression not flattering as she looked up at him
"Vivi, please take the indirect island-hopping route to Alabsta," Igaram said "I've not taken the path myself but it should only be two or three islands if you follow the Log"
"I get that it's safe but-" (Y/n) paused making Igaram turn to her "-It will take significantly longer since it might take up to a week for the log to set on an island" She pointed out making Igaram take in a deep breath
"As much as I hate to say this — we're forced to rely on lady luck here" Igaram took in a breath "But I prefer it took you a week to get to Alabsta rather than the Princess being in danger" He paused as he looked at the (H/c) and the ginger who stood beside her with crossed arms "I hope you can understand my way of thinking"
"Well of course her safety would be your top priority" Nami agreed with a nod before groaning "We'll take the safer route"
"Thank you" Igaram nodded in gratitude "Please take good care of the Princess"
"Of course" Luffy nodded back with a grin
"Igaram!" Vivi tried to argue only to see the man turn to her with a fond smile
"I expect it will be a harsh journey," He said with a smile "Be careful on your way..."
"Iga—" Vivi stopped herself, she bit her lip as if to prevent the tears that threatened to spill, she then forced a smile and reached out her hand which Igaram gladly shook "You, too!"
After that, Vivi couldn't hold herself back as she hugged him. The hug didn't last long before Igaram turned around, picked up the four dummies, and got on the ship.
"There he goes," Luffy thought out loud with a smile as he looked at the parting ship "He was a funny old guy, to the very end"
"He really is reliable" Vivi nodded with a smile as the ship got further and further away, a calm breeze flew past them making (Y/n) let out a sigh with a smile
"Okay, I admit — he is nice" She chuckled as Nami shook her head at her behaviour
It was silent, all (Y/n) could see was white as it flashed in her eyes before a loud explosion echoed in her ears making them ring in pain. Her eyes were open wide in shock as she looked at the enormous explosion that happened right where Igaram's ship was... Right, where Igaram sailed... And now he was gone
Horror settled in (Y/n) as she took a step back in shock, her eyes hurting from the bringing light as her ears continued ringing not only from the explosion but also from the deafening silence from the people around her
He was fine... Just a moment ago
Luffy took in a deep breath as he put the Strawhat on his head before turning around "He was a great person!" He shouted in anger before running toward the Going Merry
"Nami! What's the Log say?!" Zoro called out to the ginger who shielded her eyes from the explosion
"We're okay! It's stored up!"
"Vivi!" (Y/n) shouted as she grabbed onto the Princess' shoulder "We gotta go—" Her eyes then widened when she saw the broken expression on Vivi's face, her mouth was parted as tears gathered up in the corner of her eyes. Vivi had gripped her hands into fists so hard that blood dripped onto the dirt below her "Vivi..."
"Bring her with us! We're setting sail!" Zoro ordered before turning around to run after Luffy
"Vivi! Vivi!" Nami called out as she ran toward the two "Hurry! If they find us, it'll all be for nothing!"
"Vivi, we'll get you there, I promise" (Y/n) grabbed onto her hand and gave it a squeeze making the Princess turn to look at her with dull eyes "We told Igaram we'd take care of you — we're leaving!"
. . .
"Where the hell are Sanji and Usopp?!" (Y/n) yelled as she looked up at Zoro who stood on Merry's deck
"Luffy went out to get them" He answered back before he noticed (Y/n) holding Vivi's hand who franticly looked around
"Where is he?" She asked as her head spun to the right before to the left but she saw no sight of Karoo
"There's no time to look for him!" Nami argued as she tugged on Vivi's other hand "Let's go"
"But I can't just leave him here!" Vivi argued right back making (Y/n) let go of her hand
"You get ready to set sail, I'll go find that duck—" The ex-Marine called out to Zoro who just raised an eyebrow
"This duck?" He asked while pointing at Karoo who stood right beside him
"He was here even before me..."
"You're there?!"
Nami and Vivi both yelled in unison before (Y/n) continued looking panicked
"Alright, you two — get on the Merry!" (Y/n) ordered the two "Where's Luffy? Oh god if he takes a detour or—"
"Hey!" Luffy yelled with a smile as he ran toward the (H/c) while dragging her two other crewmates in the most uncomfortable positions "I brought 'em!"
"W-What happened to them?!" (Y/n) paled as she saw Luffy's hand gripping Usopp's nose who didn't look too good himself while Luffy's other handheld Sanji by the foot whose head seemed to be bleeding from being dragged
"Huh? These guys are still sleeping!" Luffy said in confusion as he looked at the two
"You knocked them out!" Nami yelled at him
"Get on, Luffy! Get on!" (Y/n) ordered as she picked up Usopp over her shoulder before handing him to Zoro who put him on board
"There's a tributary just up the river," Vivi said as she turned to Nami before looking at (Y/n) that helped bring Sanji on board "We can use it to get out to sea a little faster!"
"Good idea — Luffy drop the sails!" (Y/n) said as she pulled the two unconscious roommates toward a safer area away from any moving parts of the ship "We're getting out of here now! We have everyone, right?"
"Yep!" Luffy said before releasing the sails "Set sail!" He shouted
"Hey," Zoro called out to Vivi who turned to him in confusion while (Y/n) ran toward the steering wheel and past them "Just how many people are gonna be chasing us down?"
"I don't know" Vivi admitted as Karoo stood beside her "There are about two thousand people in Baroque Works and I've heard there are several town-like bases like this one nearby"
"They really might send a thousand people?" Nami paled at the thought
"I would really appreciate directions, Nami" (Y/n) mumbled as she turned the helm
"H-Huh..." Usopp's eyes slowly opened as he looked around "Hey! The ship's leaving!"
"Finally awake, I see" Nami rolled her eyes before walking to the (H/c)
"Wait! Let's stay just one more night!" Sanji yelled at them
"Yeah!"
"This town is great and the girls are cute!"
"There's no telling when we'll have this much fun again!"
"SHUT IT!" (Y/n) finally snapped "Both of you, we're leaving and that's final!"
Both Sanji and Usopp instantly quieted down as they looked at her with hurt expressions
"They have some nerve" Zoro groaned "They don't even know anything..."
"But... Maybe just one night?" Usopp offered quitley with a pout as he looked up at the (H/c) with pleading eyes
"Please, love, one more night is all we're asking for," Sanji asked with pleading eyes while (Y/n) tightened her grip on the helm
"Hey, explain to them," Zoro told Nami who just punched the two upside down
"I just did" She smiled before turning to (Y/n) "But maybe I left out the complicated parts"
"Thanks, Nami..." (Y/n) let out a sigh as her grip lightened on the helm but her ears continued ringing as she looked between the gingers Log Pose and the river she was sailing in "Let's get out of here"