Chapter 24: Arc 2: Deliver Princess Vivi! The Luffy Pirates Set Sail!

"Can the two of you knock it off already!?" Sasha roared, arriving on the scene with Nami and locking two males in a 'Water Lock' bubble each.

"What the heck are you guys doing?" Nami glared. "It's a good thing you managed to keep the girl safe. You almost let 1 billion Berry get away from us. Understand?"

"What are you talking about?" Vivi asked as Sasha released the two men. "Why did you save me?"

"Right, we need to talk about that." Nami noted. "It's like this... won't you make a contract with me?"

"And so, there you have it." Sasha explained the situation to Vivi.

"And as compensation, I'd like 1 billion Berry." Nami negotiated. "You saw how strong these guys are. It's a pretty good offer, if you ask me."

"I can't." Vivi rejected. "I do appreciate your saving me, thank you."

"Why can't you?" Nami protested. "You're a princess! 1 billion Berry shouldn't be much..."

"Do you know of the Kingdom known as Alabasta?" Vivi asked. "It's a peaceful kingdom known as a great civilization and nation. Well, it used to be." she corrected. "It's in the middle of a civil war. For years now, signs of a revolution have begun to appear. The people revolted and the kingdom fell into total chaos. Then, one day, I heard the name of an organization, Baroque Works! I learned that the populace was being manipulated by this group. But there was a tight lid on any other information than that, and there was nothing I can do. That's when I asked Ingram, who always meddled in my childhood, for help. I asked him if there was a way I could infiltrate Baroque Works. Because that would let us who was pulling the strings and what their goal was."

"'The founding of an ideal nation.'" Sasha supplied. "That was what Ingram said anyway. Does that mean..."

"Yes." Vivi admitted. "The boss said it's to create an ideal nation, but it's an enormous lie. The true goal is to take over Alabasta Kingdom! I have to hurry back, tell everyone the trust, and stop the fighting."

"I see." Nami concluded. "So that's the deal. Everything finally connects. There'd be no money during a civil war."

"Who's the one pulling the strings?" Luffy asked.

"The boss' identity?" Vivi stammered. "You shouldn't ask that."

"You know who it is, right?" Luffy pressed.

"Don't ask me!" Vivi panicked. "Anything but that! Your lives would be put in danger, too! As strong as you people may be, you'd never stand a chance against one of the Shichibukai, Crocodile!"

"You just said it, didn't you?" Sasha sighed.

"What was that bird and sea otter?" Nami shook Vivi furiously, Mr. 13 and Miss Friday having taken off into the night sky after overhearing the discussion. "Are they going to tell someone?"

"It's almost morning." Nami mused, the Going Merry sailing out of the morning fog with Vivi on board.

"It's good we managed to escape the people chasing us." Robin remarked.

"That's for sure." Nami agreed.

"We need to be careful not to crash the ship into the rocks." Robin reminded.

"Just leave it to me." Nami assured. "Wait." she turned to Sasha. "Was that you, Sasha?"

"No." Sasha blinked. "Don't tell me..." she turned back.

"This is a nice ship." Robin praised, lounging on the railing.

"You're...!" Vivi gaped.

"I ran into Mr. 8 a short while ago." Robin stated. "Miss Wednesday."

"Who cares about that?" Luffy cut in. "What're you doing on this ship!? Who are you?"

"What are you doing here, Miss All Sunday?" Vivi demanded. "She's the partner of Mr. 0... the boss. She's the only one who knows the boss' identity. We found out who he is by following her."

"More accurately, I allowed you to follow me." Robin corrected.

"I know that!" Vivi snapped. "You're also the one who told him we discovered his identity, right?"

"Correct." Robin admitted.

"What exactly is it you're trying to do?" Vivi snapped.

"Good question." Robin conceded. "You were all so intent and serious that I found myself helping out. The idea of a princess trying her hardest to save her kingdom while making her an enemy of Baroque Works. It was just so ridiculous, you see."

"Don't you mock me!" Vivi screamed, Sanji and Usopp leveling their weapons at the intruder as Zoro and Nami pulled out their own weapons.

"I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't point such dangerous objects at me." Robin stated, using her Hana Hana no Mi abilities to send Sanji and Usopp to the deck and slapping Zoro's and Nami's weapons off.

"A Devil's Fruit?" Zoro realized.

"Now, now." Robin chided. "Don't be so hasty. I haven't been given any orders. I have no reason to fight. How unlucky of you, you people who picked up a princess Baroque Works is out to kill. And a princess is being protected by a mere handful of pirates. But what's unluckier is the course your Log Pose indicates. The name of the next island is Little Garden. We don't even need to do anything, you'll be wiped out long before you can even reach Alabasta. Do you not think letting yourself get wiped out is a little foolish?" returning Luffy's straw hat, she tossed an Eternal Pose to Vivi. "You can skip Little Garden with that. It points to an island just before Alabasta: Nothing At All Island. None of our employees know that course, so no one will chase you."

"Why are you giving this to us?" Vivi pressed.

"Who cares about that?" Luffy retorted, snatching the Eternal Pose from Vivi and crushing it in his fist. "You're not the one who decides this ship's course.

"I see." Robin shrugged. "That's too bad. I don't hate high-spirited people." she added, walking off. "if you survive, let's meet again. Let's go, Banchi."

"One of the three Ancient Weapons: Pluton." Sasha looked over the ship as Robin jumped onto her transport. "That is Crocodile's true aim, am I right?"

"Perhaps." Robin gave the younger female a smile and rode off.