Chapter 59 - Heart Pumping

When Smoker made it back to his subordinates he started giving them orders.

"Have all the warships in the vicinity of Alabasta directed here."

"Sir, just for the Strawhats?"

One soldier asked.

"No… There's someone else with them."

Smoker recalled Bob's image and his fast sword.

While Smoker was busy giving orders to the marines, Bob was riding a giant crab with Luffy and his crew.

"So Bob how did you come to meet Luffy?"

Bob laughed.

"Well, I was eating one day and this guy here stole my food off my plate. You know how he can stretch his arms and stuff, he did just that and snatched the food off my plate. I got upset and punched him. Then he turned around and hit me back, after that we fought."

"And, you won right?"

Usopp asked.

Bob shook his head.

"No way. You try fighting a devil fruit user. Punches didn't hurt this guy."

Bob said as he shook his head.

"If you couldn't beat Luffy, how'd you become so strong?"

Usopp asked.

"Usopp!"

Nami shouted at him.

"What? I'm just trying to learn!"

Bob laughed.

"It's not much. I just got trained."

"I bet I can still kick your butt."

Luffy said as he rubbed his nose.

Bob flicked Luffy on the forehead.

"Ouch!"

Luffy said as he rubbed his head.

"How'd you do that?"

Luffy asked in pain.

"Magic."

Bob said as he grinned.

"Still think you can beat me?"

"I'm going to beat all the strong people and become king of the pirates! That just means I have to beat you to get there!"

Luffy said.

Bob looked at Zoro who was seated with his arms crossed.

"Why are you so quiet?"

"Just thinking about something. How did you move so fast when you made that cut?"

"Practice. If you want to be the best, you have to learn from the best."

Bob said.

Zoro thought over his words and nodded his head. He recalled the swordsman he met before, the one who defeated him as if it was nothing.

"Can't this thing go any faster?"

Koza asked in an irritated tone of voice.

"It's going as fast as it can!"

Chopper replied.

Bob could understand how Koza felt. Someone was pretending to be him and leading the army he raised against the king. He wanted to get there to stop it and tell them that he was wrong.

Afterall, he found out that Crocodile was indeed the mastermind behind the drought in Alabasta.

A golden hook came and grabbed Vivi from behind.

"Ahhh!"

Vivi yelled out as she was dragged off of the crab.

"Vivi!"

Everyone yelled.

Luffy stretched his arms and grabbed onto the golden hook. He tossed Vivi back down to the crab and Bob caught her in his arms.

Luffy was then dragged away but he was tossed to the ground.

"Go on without me! I'll catch up!"

Luffy shouted.

"Luffy!"

"Go. He's the captain you heard him."

Zoro said.

"Don't worry about him, once he sets his sights on someone he won't stop until he beats them."

Bob said as he put Vivi on the crab.

He didn't mind that she was in his arms, but how would she feel? She'd be embarrassed.

The crab continued to go towards the palace.

Zoro began giving his speech to Vivi about how once the rebel army and royal army clashed then Alabasta would be done for. She was their only hope at stopping this war.

Sanji also piggybacked off of Zoro's speech talking about how Vivi challenged an organization she knew nothing about to save her country.

Time passed and the sun set, Bob and the others were getting closer to the palace. However, Bob already knew that the rebel army was in sight of the palace already.

"We need to split up. Crocodile still has others underneath him that could be waiting nearby."

Bob suggested as he was riding on a super spot-billed duck.

"What?"

Usopp was confused.

"He's right, they'll expect us to head straight to the palace. They might be waiting for us, it's best for us to go separate ways to draw their attention."

Zoro said.

"I'll go with Koza, we'll head to meet the rebel army and try to stop them."

Bob said.

Koza nodded his head.

"If there's anyone that can stop the rebel's its Koza."

Vivi had faith that Koza could stop them.

Bob and Koza went off in a different direction than the others.

"I'm sorry, I should have taken your words more seriously."

Koza said.

"Don't worry about it, now you know."

"It's just when you came and said all of that I was at a loss. If everything you said was true, then what was I fighting for? Me going against the king, dragging all those people with me. There would be so much blood on my hands if it was all for nothing. You know?"

"Yeah, but as long as you get there in time everything will be fine."

Bob assured him.

Bob wasn't even sure anymore, he was just passing along some encouraging words.

Things were from before, Mr. 1 was dead and Miss Doublefinger was turned into the marines. Mr. 2 was leading the rebel army. There was less people for the Strawhats to deal with.

Bob wondered what would they do then if they didn't have anyone to fight?

It wasn't really his problem at this moment, as he had to get to the rebel army.

John and the others should be in the middle between both armies. If anyone wanted to fight, they'd need to get past Bob's crew.

Granted, there was a lot of people but they weren't as strong as Bob's crew. They might not be able to hold them all off, but they'd be able to stall for a while.

Bob and Koza made it to the palace without meeting anyone.

Bob rushed over to John.

"John!"

"Bob! I see you made it."

John said.

Bob saw the sand ship off in the distance and grinned.

"I wouldn't miss it."

Bob could hear the rumbling of the ground.

"Hear that? It's about to begin."

John said with a grin on his face.

Koza hopped off of the super spot-billed duck and stood in front of the rebel army.

"STOP! STOP!!"

Koza started to yell towards the rebel army.

Bang!

A cannon ball hit the ground causing the sand to cover up Koza's image and block out his voice.

"Charge!"

Mr. 2 who was disguised as Koza shouted.

"Yeah!"

All the rebel's charged forward full speed.

Bob licked his lips, as his heart started to beat fast.

"It's good to be alive."

Bob said.

"Sure is."

John agreed.

A beat started playing loudly causing Bob to grin.

As the rebel army came closer Bob noticed the royal army was rushing forward as well.

"There's a moment

In your bones when

When the fire takes over

Blood is running

Heart is pumping

As the battle gets closer"

Charles' wonderful voice could be heard all across the battlefield.