-Approximately 12 Hours before the SBS' Premiere-
"We have a problem."
Cobra blinked at me in confusion and concern. "What problem, Mister Jeremiah? Did that entity return, or—?"
"More importantly!" Nami interrupted. "Did you know that Mr. 2 would take our ship!? What the hell were you—?!"
"Nami," I hissed, not giving her a chance to continue. "At any other point in time, I would be cocky or sarcastic or whatever, but right now, I could not be made to give a damn. Just know that for now, 2 won't hurt the Merry, alright?"
That brought the navigator up short, causing her to blink at me in shock. "Uh… okay?" she agreed hesitantly.
"Good." I moved past her and directed my furious gaze at Cobra. "And to answer your question, no, it didn't, and God help me, but this is a hell of a lot worse. This problem, or should I say catastrophe, is a lot more grounded in reality." I slapped the third aberrant bounty I was carrying into his chest before stalking off to pace about furiously, only managing to keep from verbally cursing up a storm by doing it mentally. "Read."
"Ooh, is that one of our new bounties, Cross?" Luffy asked eagerly, jumping to try and look over Cobra's shoulder.
"Yes, Luffy. Our crew's total bounty has increased sevenfold. And as soon as you read that poster, you're going to find it impossible to be happy about that," I growled, kneading my forehead viciously in an attempt to alleviate the vicious pounding in my skull. Shit shit shit shit shit how the hell had everything gone so sideways? And so fast to boot!?
I was vaguely aware of Cobra unfolding the paper and taking a look at it, before gasping in a myriad of emotions, the most dominant of those being shock. He would have almost certainly collapsed if not for Igaram and Vivi rushing to hold him up.
"Your highness!"
"Father!"
"No… no, this, this cannot be happening…" Cobra gasped weakly, shivering furiously as he stared at the paper he was clutching like it was his lifeline.
"Wha—?! Father? Father, what's wrong?" Vivi pleaded. "Father, whose bounty is that!?"
"Yours."
All eyes snapped over to the snail on my shoulder, obviously trying to process what he'd just stated with all the life of a death knell, before going right back to the sulking he'd gotten over earlier today.
"… W-What?" Vivi finally managed to weakly stammer out.
"It's your bounty," I repeated darkly. I continued to pace as I listened to her furiously scramble to snatch the poster out of her father's hands, looking it over with just as much, if not more, horror than Cobra. "'Corsair Princess' Nefertari Vivi. Wanted for the price of 55 million Beris for the crimes of treason, espionage, assassination… honestly, I think that they just threw in whatever they could think of at the time. Only Alive, oddly enough, they must want to handle you themselves." I let out a hoarse chuckle as I massaged the bridge of my nose. "It looks like they got that picture of you while you were up in the clock tower. Decent angle, impressive lighting. The Cipher Pols do good work. Do you think they have any going rates or—?"
"Cross!" Nami cut me off.
"I'm sorry, I just got legitimately blindsided by something that's most likely my direct fault! Pardon me for trying to keep from breaking down here and now!" I snarled back with barely restrained fury.
"Cross!" Zoro interjected, interposing himself between our navigator and me. "Calm down and tell us how this happened. How do you have that poster, and why do you think it's your fault?"
"A News Coo, I made a good impression on the way back after we left Little Garden, did us a huge favour and brought me tomorrow's newspaper. And how can it not be my fault? This didn't fucking happen in the story!" I jabbed my finger at the still shell-shocked princess. "Vivi was going to choose to stay! It was going to suck, we were going to cry and miss her, but we were going to respect her choice! But now, because I screwed up, because I got too cocky, that's all gone, and it's all on me!"
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone processed what I said. Finally, Cobra slowly worked his way to his feet and gave me a studiously neutral look.
"What do you think you did, Mister Jeremiah?" he asked, his tone as colourless as his expression.
I ground my teeth as I started pacing again, clutching at my temples. "As I said, I got too cocky. Back in Nanohana, I got it into my head to taunt Smoker while he was chasing Luffy and me. I threw the fact that we were here in Alabasta as a favour to its 'heir apparent' in his face."
I slapped my hand to my face and ground the heel of my palm into my forehead.
"Soundbite gave Tashigi his number after the rebellion, and she called me about the same time the Coo arrived, to apologize for this. Then she filled in what happened from there: Smoker didn't know all the details at the time, so he went by the book and passed the news on to his higher-ups, who passed it up to their higher-ups, who passed it to their higher-ups. And it should have died there, when instead it got scooped up by a Cipher Pol agent and passed straight to the top. After that…" I waved my hand helplessly. "After that, they turned it into a witch hunt. They interrogated foot soldiers, they interrogated agents… hell, they even 'questioned' Crocodile when he came to, and if you hear any sarcasm in my voice, it's because he sang like a canary, giving up as much intelligence as he could with the intention of dragging Vivi down with him."
"Bu-but why?" Vivi finally managed to croak out. "What possible reason could Sengoku have to—?"
"I said that this came down from the top, Vivi," I flatly interrupted. "Not their sock puppet. Be glad that they weren't around to hear you say it, because if they had, they'd shoot you where you stood, and any onlooking Marines would just compliment them on the fine shot they'd made."
Most of the crew wore identical looks of confusion, but Nami, Sanji and the Alabastans stiffened in understanding.
"You can't mean—!" Sanji hissed out, his cigarette flaring up from both rage and terror, while Nami gripped Vivi's shoulder as reassuringly as she could manage.
"The World Nobles," Cobra concluded grimly, dark emotions warring in his voice.
"That's what Tashigi said she heard, and I don't doubt that she heard right," I confirmed.
"Uhh…?" Chopper's head was practically on a swivel as he looked between, clearly made uneasy by the tension in the room. "Who are—?"
"The descendants of the—ahem, mah, mah, MAH!—of the twenty kings who founded the World Government 800 years ago," Igaram explained gravely. "They are above all law and punishment, and the World Government bends to their every command, regardless of the senselessness."
"Luffy," I spoke up when I noticed him starting to nod along. "They're the ones for whom Gray Terminal was burned. One of them personally tried to kill Sabo, and didn't even see so much as a speck of blowback for it."
And just like that, Luffy's expression turned thunderous, a scowl on his face. "Oh." That one word needed no elaboration. The next time we saw a World Noble, he or she was getting punched in the face, no ifs, ands, or buts.
"The-the Nefertaris would have been among them…" Vivi noted weakly, her mind obviously still grinding against itself in an effort to process what was happening. "But our ancestors, t-they refused to join the other 19 lines in Mariejois, they didn't want to leave Alabasta…"
"And the rest of the World Nobles have always despised us for it," Cobra growled, fire and thunder starting to creep into his expression. "They've always despised us for 'spurning' their ascension; they've always made sure to spite us at every turn they could find. It's a grudge that's festered for almost eight centuries straight. Up until now, it's taken the form of petty annoyances, but this—!"
"This time I gave them an opening," I completed with just as much heat. "I gave them the chance they needed, the chink in your armour that they've always been looking for! I gave them the means to win."
"Huh?" Usopp blinked as he tried to catch up. "What do you mean? How does a bounty—?"
"Usopp," Vivi cut him off weakly. "The only royals allowed to rule when they have bounties on their heads are those with the immunity of Warlords. If any other noble were to get a bounty, then they would immediately be… be…" She choked, obviously unable to get the words out.
"Delegitimized," Nami finished for her, clutching the betrayed noble as she sobbed into her shoulder.
Sanji clicked his lighter furiously as he tried to ignite a new cigarette. "Before any of you morons ask," he growled out. "That means that as far as the World Government is concerned, Vivi can't take her father's place ruling Alabasta one day."
"So, the Princess isn't a Princess anymore…" Lassoo mused.
"Which means that unless Cobra takes a new wife and has a new child— and there isn't a doubt in my mind that those bastards know you wouldn't—then the Nefertari's time ruling over Alabasta will come to a screeching stop, which would mean that they win," I summarized sourly.
"But-but to go that far!? Over a grudge none of them were even alive for!?" Usopp sputtered incredulously. "That's just—that's just insane! No sane person would ever—!"
"Exactly!" I snapped, throwing up my hands in frustration. "By any human standard, they'd make most murderous psychopaths look positively compassionate! Don't ever bet on how far a World Noble is or isn't capable of going. Because I guarantee you, you will always fall short of the lengths they will go to, every. Single. Time. There is no issue too petty, no slight too imagined, no complaint too insignificant, no depths they will not sink to—!"
CHOMP!
"GRGH!" I grunted in pain as my leg was suddenly crunched. Glancing down confirmed that Lassoo had started to use my leg as a chew toy.
"S'rry," he grumbled out before spitting on my leg. "But you were starting to rant like Christmas."
I clenched my fists as I mulled that statement over for a moment before letting out a lot of the venom in one harsh exhale. "The point… I was making…" I hissed out through gritted teeth. "Is that this is well within their boundaries, and not surprising in the least when you know their habits."
Silence fell, broken only by Vivi's sobs, and I took the chance to calm myself down. Several minutes passed before Zoro broke the silence.
"So, what happens now?"
Cobra shook himself out of his stupor and straightened up, reasserting some measure of control over his actions. "The first thing we must do is clear." And with that, he marched up to me and placed his hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look up at him. "Do not blame yourself for this, Cross."
I froze as I tried to comprehend just what the hell I was hearing before attempting to protest. "Wh—are you kidding me?! Your highness, I-I already told you, I gave them their opening! Without me, Vivi would still be fine two years from now! Without me—!"
"Then they would have attempted something equally heinous three years from now," Cobra countered. "Or ten, or twenty, or however long it took. Maybe in my lifetime or my daughter's, maybe not, but do not be mistaken: it would have happened sooner or later. This is a tragedy, to be sure, but it is no more your fault than it is my daughter's. I forgive you for the small part that you had in this; I do not blame you, so you should not blame yourself."
Vivi had managed to get to her feet and turned to look at me, her eyes red from crying. Guilt hit me like Rocketman, and I looked away.
"Vivi, I swear—"
"… You're my friend, Cross."
I snapped my gaze back at her, staring in awe as she steeled her expression and obviously fought to maintain her composure.
"I know that you would never do this on purpose," she continued. "And that you're already punishing yourself more than I ever could."
For the first time since I told the crew the truth, I felt tears spring to my eyes. "That's more than I deserve," I hiccuped gratefully.
Vivi managed a small smile at that.
"Alright, so, what's next?" Zoro asked again.
Cobra glanced back at Igaram for a moment before sighing dejectedly. "Well, I suppose it's better that the Nobles decided to act now, as opposed to waiting until a later date. After all…" He looked at Luffy before bowing his head. "At least at this moment, there is already an escape route present, and good friends and allies prepared to safeguard you."
Vivi gasped in shock as she stared at the king. "Wha—F-Father, no, I—!"
"He's right, Vivi," I interjected, wiping my forearm across my eyes. "If you stay, it's practically a foregone conclusion that the World Government will manage to capture you. From there…" I shook my head solemnly. "That 'Only Alive' isn't a good thing, Vivi, it's the final blow against your father. If they take you to Mariejois…" My mouth ran dry as I considered what few horrors Oda had allowed us to glimpse. "Then you'll be praying for either death or Impel Down, and none of us want that."
"I… b-but that…" Vivi fumbled desperately as she tried to find something, anything to say.
"Vivi," Cobra said, grasping her shoulders firmly and looking her dead in the eyes. "Two years ago, you left our kingdom of your own volition to protect it from forces seeking to destroy it, and you succeeded. Now, I am begging you to leave once more… for your sake, for mine, and for that of the whole kingdom."
Vivi stared wordlessly up at her father for a moment, a maelstrom of emotions swirling across her face until she finally jerked forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.
"I'm so sorry, Daddy," she sobbed. "I'm so, so sorry…"
"Shh, there, there, it's not your fault…" he soothed as he rubbed her back kindly. "This was never your fault, you've made me prouder than you can ever imagine…" Cobra weathered her sobs for a few moments longer before looking at Luffy with a determined expression. "Protect her as if she were one of your own."
"CORRECTION," Soundbite stated firmly. "SHE'S one of our own, PERIOD."
Cobra looked at the snail, then he looked at the rest of our crew. Every face showed the same expression of loyalty and determination. Cobra's eyes fell once more on Luffy, whose expression was the firmest of all.
"I'll make sure Vivi stays safe," he promised, answering the unspoken question. "We all will."
Cobra nodded and bowed to Luffy. "You have my gratitude. Now… Vivi, we'll need to get you packed. Igaram."
The Captain of the Guard straightened. "Sir?"
"Assemble the Supersonic Duck Squadron, then find Chaka and Pell. Inform them of the situation… and send them to the third floor of the royal storage to prepare a Sirocco charm-container."
Igaram's eyes widened in shock, while Vivi stared at him in confusion. "Your Majesty, are 'ou—" He promptly flinched and coughed uncomfortably under the stern gaze Cobra shot his way. "Y-yes, sir, as you wish."
"Ah, Igaram?" Vivi interrupted hastily. "When you wake the Squadron… make sure that Carue doesn't catch wind."
"What!?" The Captain jumped in shock. "But Princess—!"
"I'm… not a Princess anymore, Igaram…" Vivi cut him off weakly before reaffirming herself. "And this is my problem, not Carue's. I already dragged you and him away from Alabasta once; I won't do it again."
Igaram considered protesting for a moment before nodding solemnly. "Very well… Vivi."
"Thank you, Igaram," Cobra breathed, before standing up to leave. "Come, Vivi. We'd better not keep Chaka and Pell waiting."
As Cobra and Vivi left the room, Igaram made to follow, only to stop as I tapped him on the shoulder.
"Uh, wait a second."
Igaram looked back at me. "Yes?"
I shook my head slightly as I eyed the door. "I don't know any of the details, but that comment I made about Vivi two years from now? She'd have been fine, but Cobra was in bed with bad health when I last saw him. See what you can do about that. Drum—er, Sakura Kingdom is your best bet, just name-drop us and you should be good."
Igaram blinked, then nodded. "Thank you, Mister Cross. Now, then, Soundbite?"
The snail straightened as much as he could. "Yeah?"
"I'll leave it to you to gather the Supersonic Duck Squadron together. You'll need to leave as soon as the Princess—"
He cut himself off with a grimace and sighed.
"…As soon as Vivi is ready."
"Hey," I spoke up as I patted his shoulder. "No matter what Vivi or those bastards in the World Government say, she is and always will be the brave Princess who saved this great Kingdom. Right?"
Igaram glanced at me for a moment before smiling sadly and nodding in agreement. "… Indeed, Mister Cross. Thank you."
---
The ride to the Merry had been even more sombre than I expected; the joy of having Vivi staying with us couldn't begin to measure up to the anger and sadness we felt on account of why she was coming with us in the first place. Carue's absence was further proof of that; I never thought I'd say this, but I actually missed the poor duck's ever-worried squawking. Soundbite made a couple of attempts to break the tension in his own way, but ultimately, he lapsed into depressed silence as well. So we rode on, the wind and footfalls the only sounds until Soundbite spoke up again.
"We'll be there in FIVE MINUTES," he said, just loud enough for us to hear him. He waited until everyone had nodded, then sent a quizzical glance my way, and put his next words directly in my ears. "Do you want to tell THEM THERE ARE two INTRUDERS, OR SHOULD I?"
"Not a word. I'll tell Nami and Zoro, but that's it," I hissed. "Not until she shows herself, at any rate."
Soundbite blinked in confusion. "WAIT, her? What do you—?" The snail's eyes shot wide in shock. "HER!? Are you out of your—!?"
"Hey!" I hissed hastily. "This situation is a lot more complicated than you think, especially with Vivi onboard!"
Soundbite ground his teeth furiously for a moment, but nodded nonetheless.
We rode on silently for a bit longer until one of the ducks chose to speak up.
"Pwincess, is there anything we can do to help?" Stomp asked.
Vivi sighed and spoke for the first time since we'd left the capital. "I appreciate the offer, Stomp, but no. What's done is done. Just… just help Carue, alright? He's…" She shook her head miserably. "He's going to need it."
"Cap'n won't wike it…" Kentauros pointed out.
"None a' us do, swick," Cowboy sighed sadly. "None a' us do…"
Finally, exactly five minutes later, we managed to reach the shore of the Sandora River, and the Going Merry's familiar form came into view. Upon our return to our home, we were greeted with a rather… unconventional greeting.
"HELLO, MY FRIENDS!" Mr. 2 Bon Clay cried as he posed upon the lip of the Merry's crow's nest. "I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU FOR SO LONG NOW! LONG TIME NO SEE~!"
We pointedly ignored the okama's flamboyance as we started unloading our supplies and belongings from the Duck Squadron. I walked behind Ivan X and undid the ropes that were holding the hefty cannon he was carrying to his back, letting it tumble to the sands. "How'd you like your first duck ride, Lassoo?"
The weapon promptly morphed into its more mobile, fully organic form, shaking the sand out of his fur with a huff before glaring up at me. "The seating could have been a bit better, in my opinion."
I shrugged helplessly as I unfastened the rest of the bags the giga-duck was carrying. "Sorry, Lassoo, but you outweigh me three to one at a minimum. I couldn't carry you ten feet if I tried. Either you drop weight, or you wait until I gain some muscle."
The dog grumbled darkly under his breath as he rolled his eyes and used his jaws to toss a few bags of food onto his back."Fine, but you'd better be working on your muscles just as much."
"Hey, fine by me. One, the stronger I get, the more damage I can take and dish out, and B. I want to be able to tote around a badass cannon like you," I said, smirking.
Lassoo smirked back, then looked up at me with a cocked eyebrow. "So…" he asked quietly, "second intruder?"
I graced Soundbite with a flat look out of the corner of my eye before hefting a rucksack onto my shoulder. "Suffice to say that you, Vivi and 2 aren't the only ones using the Merry as a way to get off of Baroque Works' sinking ship, and that's all you're hearing until everyone else finds out, got it?"
Lassoo huffed and shrugged slightly. "Fiiiine."
Once we finished unpacking, the Supersonic Duck Squadron lined up before us.
"Well…" Vivi started sadly. "This is it. Again, thank you so—"
"Company, atten-shun!" She was interrupted by Kentauros squawking firmly, he and the rest of the squad snapping into salutes.
"Wha—?" our newest companion started in shock.
"Pwincess Vivi!" the helmet-wearing duck announced, never breaking his form. "We of the Supah Sonic Duck Squawdwon will always consider you ta be the wegitimate wuler of dis kingdom, and nothing that anyone says will evah change our minds! We and evewy subsequent genewation of this Noble squadwon do sweaw to wait for your weturn, no mattah how wong it might take! So do we sweah!"
"So do we sweah!" the rest of the ducks chorused.
Vivi blinked numbly as she tried to process just what she was seeing. "I—! Y-you guys—!"
Kentauros interrupted her with a wing on his shoulder. "Cap'n Cawue would pwuck us all nude if we did anything wess, as would any otha' membah of the squadwon," he stated solemnly. "We missed you 'dese wast two yeahs, and we'll miss you now." He wrapped her up in a feathery hug. "Goodbye, Your Highness. Pwease… stay safe."
A medley of similar farewells was squawked out by the rest of the squad, each with just as much emotion as the last.
Vivi was silent for a scant moment before choking out a pained sob and wrapping her arms around the duck's neck. "I will miss you all so much…"
Kentauros patted her back consolingly before shooting a look over his shoulder at us. "If she gets hurt, we will fweaking fwy so that we can peck you all straight ta' death."
"If Vivi gets hurt, then that means that the bastards who did it literally went through us first and we're six feet under anyway," Sanji declared firmly.
Kentauros nodded in approval before moving back from Vivi. He gave her a final salute before wheeling around and leading the squad back into the desert.
"Good luck, guys!" Luffy waved after them.
"HAVE A NICE TRIP!" Soundbite hollered in agreement.
"MAY WE MEET AGAIN SOMEDAY!" Mr. 2 sobbed for a moment before snapping into an angry scowl. "HEY, WAIT A MOMENT! IS THAT ANY WAY TO TREAT A FRIEND WHO HELPED YOU!? IGNORING ME!?"
"Sorry, Bentham," I huffed as I carried my share of the supplies onto the deck, stepping around the assassin. "But we've kind of got things on our mind. Everything went straight to hell after you called."
The okama's indignant anger promptly faded to one part concern, three parts surprise. "You know my name?" he asked incredulously.
"I have my sources, don't bother asking." I dusted my hands off before turning around and jumping back to the shore. "Anyway, most of us may have forgiven you at this point, though your involvement in this whole mess was seriously boneheaded, but I think now would be a good time for you to make it clear how sorry you are." As I said this, I pointedly glanced at Vivi.
Bentham followed my gaze and promptly jerked in shock, apparently noticing Vivi for the first time. "P-P-Princess!" he yelped before falling to his knees and bowing his head solemnly. "S-s-so you have joined the Strawhats, hm? V-v-very well then! You have my humblest apologies for my part in this entire illicit affair, and I humbly beg your utmost forgiveness! B-but nevertheless!" He slowly looked up, eyes pleading. "You should acknowledge that without me looking over your ship, something could very well have happened!"
"We had the kung-fu dugongs tow the Merry upriver and protect it; it wasn't in any danger," Nami dryly informed him.
Mr. 2 cocked an eyebrow at her. "Really? Then why did those little creatures disappear into the river the second they caught sight of me approaching?"
I couldn't help but smirk as I glanced at Soundbite; I had been waiting for this opportunity for days. "I told them. Yeeessss, I foresaw your arrival…" I droned out, with Soundbite layering on some appropriately spooky sound effects, drawing the desired reaction of fear from Bentham and amusement from everyone else.
Once I'd done the gag, though, I frowned in confusion. "Though… the dugongs booking it is a surprise, I'll admit. You'd think they'd at least stick around long enough to say goodbye."
"Maybe they had an aquatic-animal martial artist tournament to get to?" Usopp suggested.
"Are you serious?" Zoro deadpanned.
"It's a lot more likely than you might think…" Chopper mused. "Seriously, you couldn't even begin to imagine the kind of things the stronger animals back on Drum would get up to."
"I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit," Soundbite drawled before shaking his head. "BUT joking aside, THEY AIN'T in the river."
"A mystery for another day, then," Vivi concluded before addressing the kneeling okama. "And as for you… Bentham, was it? Honestly, on any other day, I'd see you locked away in the deepest, darkest cell I could find for what you've done." She brought her hand to her face and sighed morosely. "But in light of recent events, I think I've lost any stomach I might have had for vengeance for a while now. So… I forgive you."
Bentham sprang to his feet, gratitude only barely poking through the confusion written all over his face. "Oh, thank you, your highness! But… if I may ask, 'recent events'?"
Rather than answer, I instead dug out the piece of paper that had started this whole debacle and slapped it to the assassin's chest as I passed him by.
Mr. 2 looked at the bounty in confusion and scanned it for a minute or so—
"OH, YOU POOR DEAR!"
"Wha—MMPH!?"
Before he suddenly bounded forwards and wrapped Vivi up in a hug, pressing her face into the… 'impressive assets' that he was suddenly in possession of.
"My heart weeps, weeps with horror and regret at this most horrendous of crimes you have been subjected to!" Bentham lamented sorrowfully, twirling both himself and Vivi around all the while. "For a beautiful swan such as yourself to be subjected to such cruelty, such ignobility, for your wings to be clipped so horrendously! Truly, this is a black day amongst black days! But fear not, my dear, for you are not alone! I, too, have been subjected to the horrors of the World Government, and it was even these same injustices that drove me to join Baroque Works! We are united in our cause, our hearts beating as one! Dare I even call us, sis—!"
THWACK!
"Bwoogh!" Bentham suddenly grunted, releasing Vivi as he clutched his stomach and groaned.
Vivi, meanwhile, was shaking her fist out as she stumbled away from him and tried to get her balance back. "Okay, first, there is a limit on just how much I'm willing to forgive you, and second—" Her eyes zeroed in on Bentham's chest. "Are those mine!?"
"Well, yes, as a matter of fact! A bit spur of the moment, but—!"
THOCK!
"Hoogh! R-right, dropping it now!"
"And you thought Crocodile had a mean hook," I joked.
"YOU SHOULD see her Cross!" Soundbite chortled.
"I'm not 'hers,'" I promptly protested.
"Well, to be fair, you are her bitch." Lassoo cocked an eyebrow as Soundbite, and I looked down at him in surprise. "What? I can sarcasm."
I opened my mouth to protest, then closed it. "Is it sad that I can't really argue against that?"
That got at least a few laughs out of most of the crew before Nami called for everyone to get to work, though in light of the tragedy and her 'innocent figure', she naturally excluded both Vivi and herself from the chores. She also took a moment to gesture from me to the okama.
Taking the hint, I sighed and stood next to Mr. 2, giving him a searching look. "What did you mean about injustices making you join Baroque Works?"
Bentham made to speak before narrowing his eyes into a glare. "Before I answer that… that taunt you threw at me in Alubarna to trick me out of my disguise. Was that just to make me drop the act, or do you actually believe that about the great Ivankov?"
I immediately shook my head in denial, no hesitation. "No, no, I was speaking out of my ass for shock factor. Ivankov's a weird and quirky individual, but that's the norm of these seas, not a mark against him. I won't deny that he's definitely worthy of being called a miracle worker."
Bentham processed this and finally nodded. "Fair enough. Now, in answer to your question, I joined Baroque Works in hopes that when the plan came to fruition, I would be able to negotiate Ivankov's release with the World Government."
I gave him a flat stare for a moment before hanging my head with a groan and pinching the bridge of my nose. "OK, there are three things that you need to know: first, the World Government would sooner call a Buster Call down on Alabasta—"
I sighed at the blank look on his face. "Nightmarish full-scale military assault, more often than not, maximum civilian casualties, generally levels everything above sea level before they scrub the location from the maps," I explained, and his confusion melted into horror. "It's a last resort, only admirals can use it, but I say it's still not worth it. Anyway, yeah, they'd rather do that than release Ivankov; the charges they have him on are completely accurate. Which leads to the second thing: Ivankov is a Revolutionary, one of Dragon's most trusted and high-ranking officers. If he ever found out that you tried to conquer a kingdom in his name, much less commit genocide and work with Crocodile, who he does not like, well… how should I put this…" I snapped my fingers in faux-realization. "Oh, yeah, he'd make you go from both genders to none."
Bentham went as pale as the swans on his back as he slapped his hands to his groin.
"Yeah, not your smartest move. Now, for the third thing: if you want to see Ivankov that badly, wouldn't going to him be easier than having him come to you? After all, Impel Down's gates are always open one way, and I think you might have more than earned a stay there."
Bentham considered what I'd said for a moment before sighing dejectedly. "You… make some good points. That makes for a decent silver lining, I suppose." He looked back up at me. "You seem to know a lot of things that you shouldn't. I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but it pays to double-check: I've heard rumours that Impel Down is divided into multiple levels. I don't suppose you know what floor he's on?"
I hesitated; sure, Bentham was trustworthy, but telling him about Level 5.5 could change too many things too quickly. Though I was still hoping beyond all hope that his help wouldn't be needed. Even if it wasn't, though, the fact remained that if he went searching for Ivankov, he could lead the wardens there with him, and that… that was just too risky. In the end, I sighed.
"The jailers are going to tell you that he's not in the prison anymore, and they believe it. Ivankov plans on keeping it that way until he gets new orders from Dragon, so discretion is key. If you get down deep enough and make enough noise, then maybe he'll find you, but no guarantees. That's all I can say, as much for his sake as yours. Got it?"
Bentham nodded again, and then his eyes narrowed. "Oh, very well, then." He then promptly fell to his knees and cast his forearm across his face, taking up a very sorrowful pose. "I suppose that there is naught left for me in this world but to surrender myself to the mercy of the Marines and plead guilty for my crimes! Oh, cruellest of fates! Goodbye, fair winds! Until I see you again!"
My eye twitched slightly at the performance before I leaned down towards Lassoo. "Sooo, to confirm, is he always—?"
"Yes," the hound groaned.
"That's what I thought…" I muttered before tapping Bentham's shoulder. "Just for the record, while surrendering yourself is one thing, maybe going out with a bang would be better? Like, saaay… helping a nefarious band of pirates with three wanted criminals blow past a Marine blocka—?"
THWACK!
"YEOWCH!" I yelped, slapping my hands to the lump on my skull. "WHAT THE HELL, LUFFY!?"
"WE DON'T USE FRIENDS AS DISTRACTIONS, CROSS!" Luffy shot back indignantly.
"THAT'S A JERK MOVE, JERK!" Usopp concurred.
"YEAH, YOU JERK!" Chopper brought up the rear.
I grimaced before rallying my nerves. "WELL, DO YOU BASTARDS WANNA SEE MERRY GET HARPOONED!? THIS IS BLACK CAGE HINA WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND SHE'S ABOUT AS DANGEROUS AS HER FRIEND SMOKER! SHE'S SMART, AND SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE USING CANNONBALLS AGAINST SOMEONE WHO'S GOT A REPUTATION FOR BOUNCING THEM AWAY!"
"Wait, you mean that the Black Cage Formation is awaiting us at the mouth of this river?" Bentham blinked in shock and more than a little fear. He then brought his hand to his chin in thought. "Well, now… I suppose that helping you break such an infamous maneuver would enrage more than a few Marines…" He promptly swooned dramatically. Again. "Then I suppose that there is no choice! For the sake of my dear friends, as well as my lifelong dream, I shall sacrifice myself!"
"MR. 2, NO!" the Kiddy (read: Dumbass) Trio wailed dramatically.
"But yes, my friends! It is the only option! But, do not weep for me, my friends!" He covered his eyes sorrowfully. "For though this swan may never fly again and though I may be destined for the depths of hell itself…" He shot them a brilliant smile. "At least our friendship shall last eternal!" He pumped his fist and sobbed dramatically. "FOR FRIENDSHIP!"
"FOR FRIENDSHIP!" the Dumbass Trio mirrored him.
"FOR FRIENDSHIP!" a shipload of Baroque Works soldiers riding on a swan-shaped ship concurred.
"WHERE THE HELL DID YOU MORONS COME FROM!?" Zoro roared incredulously.
After a brief period of explaining the situation—and I had to admit, Bentham's crew had loyalty that rivalled any Whitebeard or Strawhat, if nothing else—we finally set the sails and started sailing down the Sandora. It was nice to be back on the Merry's decks once more, soon with nothing but the sea and the wind at our backs.
Still, even back at our home, there were one or two things I had to deal with.
Once I was certain that no one was looking, I walked around to the back of the Merry's poopdeck, Lassoo on my heels. Apparently, I was a bit predictable, because Soundbite gave off an electric whine a second later. "I need to talk with you two real quick," I muttered beneath my breath. A few seconds later, Nami and Zoro joined me.
"What is it, Cross?" Nami asked promptly.
I was silent for a moment as I considered how to word this. "I need to talk to you two about something seriously sensitive. There are… going to be a lot of people mad at me about not mentioning this, and rightly so, but the only way this'll work out is if everything comes to light after it's too late to do anything about it, alright?"
The two narrowed their eyes at me. "What did you do now/this time, Cross?"
Lassoo stuck his nose up a little and sniffed at the air before flopping onto his belly with a little 'wuff'. "If I had to guess, it'd be because she's the stowaway you mentioned, right?"
I flinched as my higher-ranked mates pinned me with equally accusing looks.
"'Stowaway'?" Zoro demanded coldly.
"'She'?" Nami concurred even more frigidly.
I winced and thought once again about how to word this, before stiffening as I felt a sudden weight appear on my shoulder and saw Zoro and Nami tense furiously, accompanied by Soundbite matching Lassoo's growl for growl. I slowly turned my head and glared at the disembodied hand that was waving at my friends. "Not. Helping," I growled acidically out of the corner of my mouth, prompting the hand to evaporate into petals. I refused to look at my crewmates for a second as I gathered my thoughts. "Alright, so I know this looks bad—GYERK-why-is-it-always-my-head-or-my-balls?!" I whimpered miserably as Nami grabbed a very sensitive target.
"Because both of yours are fucking huge," Nami growled out. "And I don't care what you think your reason is, but you had better know what you're doing, you dumb blond bastard!" She emphasized the last word with a final clutch before stalking off thunderously.
Even through the pain, I stared after her in surprise. "… I know I've earned some trust, but I was expecting to have to do a lot more explaining and convincing," I muttered.
"Oh, believe me, you're going to," Zoro growled at me. "As soon as we reach the next island and get to somewhere that she can't overhear us. And you do realize I'm not going to help you when Vivi finds out, right?"
"Ohohoh, believe you me, I've already made peace with that aspect of my fate…" I muttered miserably before shaking my head. "Anyways, just know that I have my reasons and…" Goddamn, what a verbal minefield I was practically prancing through. It took me a minute to gather my thoughts and re-steel my nerves. "No matter what anyone says, anyone at all, I personally believe that we can trust Nico Robin. I trust her with my life. Understand?"
Zoro snorted. "Funny you're saying that when the last time you saw her, she actively tried to kill you."
"Funny how the first time you saw Luffy, you told him to buzz off before you killed him," I shot back.
The swordsman stiffened momentarily before a ghost of a smirk appeared on his face. "Touché… Alright, Cross, I'll go along with this for now, but Nami's right." He started to walk towards the main deck. "I really hope you know what you're doing."
My companions and I watched after him for a moment longer before Lassoo spoke up. "Been meanin' to ask. Do ya know what yer doin'?"
I blew out a heavy sigh as I slowly followed Zoro. "I damn well hope so, boy. I damn well hope so…"
Back on the deck, I took a moment to glance around in search of something to do. As it was, there really wasn't much. Usopp was wheeling out the cannon from the weapon's room, Sanji and Luffy were working the sails, Chopper and Bentham were talking animatedly about… something or other, I don't know, there was a lot of gesticulating going on there…
And Vivi… Vivi was standing at the fore of the Merry, leaning against the railing next to Luffy's 'special seat'. I shot a guilty glance back at the storeroom before walking up the steps to join her, leaning on the railing next to her.
A sidelong glance was all I needed to see that she was doing pretty badly, staring off at nothing and… playing with a metal orb she had on a chain around her neck? Huh, hadn't ever seen that before. Must have been a memento or heirloom or somesuch.
I reached out and shook her shoulder lightly. "Hey."
Vivi jerked in shock, shoving her necklace beneath her collar before looking at me. "C-Cross, hi! S-Sorry, were you there long?"
I cocked an eyebrow at her for a moment before electing to ignore the obviously suspicious action. "At the risk of sounding like an oblivious idiot, I still have to ask: how's it going?"
Vivi huffed out a weak, semi-hysterical laugh as she looked back down at the water. "Really? You really have to ask?"
I considered that for a moment before sighing and rubbing her shoulder. "No, I don't, but I think you need to say it. It's about the same as a booze overload: better out than in."
She didn't react for a few seconds. Then she sighed. "I went through the worst experience of my life for two years, all for my country, and this is my reward? Being accused of treason because of some stupid centuries-old grudge? I spent so much time away from my father, from Chaka and Pell, from Kohza and my friends, from my people… Every time Baroque Works seemed to be too much for me to handle, all I had to do was remind myself why I was doing it, and I found the strength to keep going."
Her voice gradually became more hysterical as she went on. "But now I have to leave everything behind. I'm… I'm happy I'm leaving with you, my friends, but… but this…" She clutched at her chest furiously. "It feels like I'm being stabbed in the chest. It feels like everything should be hurting, but it's not hurting enough. I feel like the ground's dropped out from under me and I want to be sick, but everything that I've learned my whole life is telling me that I need to show a strong face, and it is so hard…" A few tears came down her face as she balanced her arms on the railing and buried her face in her hands. "And the worst part of it all… is that I can't tell my people the truth. I can't tell anyone the truth. I can't speak, I can't say a word, because if I do…" She sobbed miserably. "Because no matter what I say… they won't believe me. I just… I've been silent for so long… I just want to say something…"
I winced and rubbed her back consolingly. I considered what to say when I was interrupted by Soundbite knocking his head against my neck. When I glanced at him in confusion, he snapped his eyes downward, staring directly at—!
I suddenly became acutely aware of the weight that had been hanging off my side since we'd left Alubarna, and then the exact implications of what I'd been given swept over me.
"What if I could make that happen?" I heard myself say.
Vivi blinked in confusion as she glanced up at me. "W-what?"
"What if…" I started slowly before gaining steam. "What if I could get you into each and every household on this planet, so that you could explain yourself to every last person in the world in your own words?"
Vivi stared at me silently for a moment before looking away sadly. "That's a nice dream, Cross, but that'd take years to do… and I doubt we'd even manage to finish in our lifetime."
"Oh, yeah?" I reached into my bag and withdrew the mic, holding it up to her. "How about all at once in seconds?"
Vivi glanced up… and promptly jerked up straight in shock, her eyes shooting from the device to me. "Wha—!? Y-you can't mean—!"
"Madness… it's the gift that keeps on giving," I quoted before grinning maliciously. "What do you say we spread it a little everywhere?"
The crew's newest member simply gaped as she tried to line her thoughts up properly. "C-Cross, if you do this—if we do this… then the damage this will cause, the dangers—the World Government will not rest until it manages to arrest or kill you! They'll throw everything that they have at us! This isn't just taunting the Marines, this—!"
"Vivi," I cut her off firmly, a fire flaring in my gut as for the first time I allowed the implications of what the World Government had done to wash over me, allowing me to really react to it. "These bastards have done a lot of hellish shit in the past, but this time? This time, they've gone way past the pale and personally screwed over one of my friends, and rest assured that this is neither the first time nor the last. I am beyond caring about consequences past the obvious." I held the mic out to her. "What about you?"
Vivi stared at me in disbelief for a moment before shifting her gaze down to the mic. Then… then a hint of steel entered her eyes, she took hold of the mic, and I knew that the World Government was screwed. Sideways.
"That's what I thought." I grinned viciously before gesturing towards the dining room. "What do you say we go somewhere quiet so that we can plan this out, hm?"
"THEY WON'T know what HIT 'EM!" Soundbite cackled malefically.
---
-Present time-
"… and that's my side of the story. I don't know how many of you will believe me, but I'm satisfied with being able to speak the truth. People of Alabasta… I apologize to you most of all for my silence these past two years, and for leaving so soon after my return. But…" Vivi's voice caught slightly as she forced herself to continue. "Know that I do not do this willingly. I will miss you all, but I will remain in contact through the SBS for those of you who believe in me. In the end, you may believe what you want to believe, just know that…" Vivi trailed off slowly for a moment before choking out a sob. "… I am sorry… I am so, so sorry…"
I slowly worked the mic out of Vivi's hands, letting her jerk over to bury her sobs in Nami's welcoming shoulder. I hastily smothered the flare of rage and vitriol I felt as I brought the mic up to my mouth; I wanted to rant and rage, I really did... but that wouldn't solve anything. As it went, we'd already won. All I had to do was hammer in the nails in the coffin. "And there you have it, people. An absolute mockery of justice and due process, in every sense of the words. Now, because of a stupid, senseless grudge, one of my friends can't ever go home. Can't see her family again. This isn't right, this isn't just, and this isn't even fair. A life has been ruined based solely on pettiness, on a grudge no one today was even alive for. In the end… There really isn't much more I can or have to say on the matter. Enough has been said already. So for now, I think it's time to draw things to a close…"
I started to reach for the transceiver's off switch before freezing as a thought struck me.
---
"Oh, wait, one last thing before I forget! I have a message for the amnesiac who was named by his hat, who I really hope is either listening or one of his comrades is."
Dragon eyed the Transponder Snail and the curious transmission it was broadcasting, all movement in his Baltigo command center stilling.
"Hey, Sabo, do you think—?" a thoughtful female voice spoke up.
"… if that's not specific enough, he's often closely associated with a very prominent and cuddly Koala."
"I'LL RIP THAT BASTARD'S FUCKING HEAD OFF!"
Dragon smirked as the female voice suddenly screamed furiously, a large commotion erupting as her mentor and the intended target of the message fought to keep her from assaulting one of the snails in the room.
"I imagine I'm going to catch absolute hell for that someday…" Cross mused contemplatively before forging on. "But the fact is that there's no room for error here. My message is in regard to your family. Not the blood relatives that turned you away from your home, but the two brothers you made after that. Your older brother is most likely going to try to get in contact with you soon. He's a notable individual, and he's got a hold on his temper that suits him well, but I promise you that if you meet him face-to-face, there won't be any doubt as to whether he's who I mean. And as for your younger brother… well, suffice to say you know his father better than he does. Not that he cares, of course. Your brother, I mean."
Sabo's eyes had gone as wide as dinner plates, and Koala's temper seemed suppressed by the revelation of his past. Dragon, meanwhile, felt a suspicion enter his mind… could Cross actually mean… but how could he know?
"Gilteo," Dragon barked. "I want every broadcast of this… 'SBS' transcribed and saved for future records."
"Yes, sir! But, ah…" The soldier dropped his salute hesitantly. "If I might ask why, sir?"
The Chief Revolutionary turned a neutral gaze on the still-cocky snail. "I have a feeling that it will turn out to be an… educational experience."