Chapter 153 - Alabasta 22.

[Chapter Size: 2300 Words.]

Third Person POV

Alabasta, First Half of Grandline.

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The Black Pearl advances through the desert, the arid landscape beginning to reveal the capital of the country, elevated on a kind of large rock, giving it a unique architecture.

"Get ready, folks! We're arriving in Alubarna!" Vivi yells happily.

"KAROOOO!!" Her duck seems equally excited.

Vivi's words are met with nods. Their week-long journey in Alabasta is finally coming to an end. As the Black Pearl approaches the capital, Luffy notices shadows appearing in the sky.

"You took too long!" Nami says dissatisfied while crossing her arms.

"Hahahaha, did you get outnumbered?!" Yamato comments laughing, looking at the addition to the crew like Broggy and Dorry with Chopper in a corner afraid of the two newcomers.

"We've been holed up in that palace these last few days, just training and dodging some of the king's assassins..." Nami comments dissatisfied.

"Hm.. no need to be like that, I'll relieve your boredom soon." Luffy with super speed appears behind them before grabbing them by the waist and whispering in their ears with a smile so no one else hears.

"Hm... I'd like that!" Yamato responds with a smile.

"I hope this makes it worth being away from you for 2 weeks!" Nami said dissatisfied, but with a blush on her face.

Luffy smiles, satisfied; "Anyway, let's go. I have some new crew and fleet members to introduce." Luffy says and takes them to the crew.

The Black Pearl approaches Alubarna, the ship did not go unnoticed by the people at the gates, Yamato and Nami had already commented that Luffy and his crew were approaching, but for some people, it was a surprise. The ship stopped near the entrance and the crew disembarked for Luffy to store it in his pocket, before they continued.

Now Luffy, Yamato, Shirahoshi, Megalo, Zoro, Lami, Bepo, Chouchou, Usopp, Nami, Reiju, Hugo, Nojiko, Hachi, Kuina, Alvida, Laboon, Vivi, Karoo, Nico Robin, Choopper, Broggy, and Dorry also, follow to the city on foot.

"Who are you?!" One of the guards goes on alert, as Yamato had warned the king that Luffy was coming and had gone out to meet him, no gate guards had been notified, hence the expression of caution with the group.

"Vivi..." Luffy murmurs and Vivi steps forward.

"I am Princess Vivi, I'm going to meet my father. I would like you to open the gate," Vivi said.

"Princess Vivi...?" Said one of the guards.

"It's really her!" Another exclaimed, recognizing her. It was no surprise to anyone Vivi's unique features to the country, even more in the capital itself.

"Let's do this, Princess Vivi-sama. Do you want an escort to the palace?" A guard asked.

"No need to worry, I'm quite safe with them, let's go, folks!" Vivi exclaimed and they entered the city after climbing the stairs.

Luffy's group passed through the streets while everyone walked and made comments here and there about the place, the people noticing the strange group, couldn't help but be surprised by it, making similar comments to when they were in Loguetown, some recognized Luffy as the captain of the Straw Hats and exclaimed in shock, after all, it was a pirate band with almost half a million, what kind of crime they must have committed to have that bounty on their heads.

Upon arriving at the palace, they are received by guards who quickly recognize the crew that fought alongside their princess. They are led through opulent corridors, decorated with tapestries and artifacts that speak of the rich history and culture of Alabasta. Finally, they enter the main hall, where King Cobra awaits them. The king, a man of noble posture and gentle expression, receives them with a warm thank you as he rises from his throne to greet them.

"Captain Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, welcome to the royal palace of Alabasta, I am aware of everything you've done and Alabasta is in debt to you."

"No need to thank us, King Cobra. Helping Alabasta was our choice," Luffy responds with an unpretentious smile.

"Even so, it's disturbing how our country was being covered with a shadow that we couldn't do anything about and how you, along with my daughter, emerged and helped this kingdom out of a crisis," the king praises, looking at the diverse crew.

"That's just what we do, King Cobra. Besides, Vivi is part of our crew. We couldn't leave one of our territories in danger," Luffy continues, indicating Vivi with a hand gesture.

"Vivi my daughter..." King Cobra approaches his daughter and hugs her, his gaze full of admiration for his most precious possession.

"Hello daddy." She says with a smile.

"Now tell me everything that happened and your plans." He turned his attention back to Luffy, who nodded.

They exchange information, with Luffy reporting the attack against Crocodile, confrontation with the rebels, and the declaration of Alabasta as his territory. King Cobra listens attentively, recognizing the complexity of the new reality that his nation faces.

"Your support and protection mean a lot to us. Alabasta will face many challenges ahead, but with friends like you, I have hope for the future."

Luffy, with a confident smile, responds:

"We'll always be here if you need us. Alabasta is part of our journey now."

"You plan to spend a few days here, right? Let's arrange a room for everyone."

And with that, the Straw Hat crew spends some time in the palace, resting, recovering from the journey, when night falls, a grand banquet is prepared in honor of their heroism in the country. They celebrate the victory over Crocodile and the restored peace. And as always, the group is quite peculiar, especially at the joint banquet.

The hall of the Alabasta palace is lit by torches and chandeliers, creating a welcoming atmosphere for the banquet in honor of the Straw Hat Pirates and their allies. The table is filled with local delicacies, exotic fruits, and succulent meats. The sound of music and laughter fills the air as crew members and kingdom guests mingle and celebrate.

Luffy, already with a full plate, yells excitedly: "This is amazing! It's not better than Reiju's food, but it's so tasty!" He tries to balance a giant piece of meat in his mouth, he used a lot of his energy in the last days, so he needed to replenish his energies.

Yamato, sitting next to Luffy, laughs: "Don't forget to chew, Luffy. We don't want you to choke." She herself can't resist and grabs a chicken leg.

Shirahoshi, a little shy amidst the crowd, looks at the dishes with curiosity. "So much food I've never tried before! Can I really taste everything?" Megalo, by her side, makes a noise of approval: "Sharky!"

Zoro, trying to get up to get more sake, ends up getting lost and going in the opposite direction. "Hey, this isn't the way to the kitchen," he murmurs confused.

Lami, watching from afar, comments with Bepo: "Those two never change, do they? Always getting lost or eating too much." Bepo just smiles and agrees with a nod.

Chouchou, lying at Luffy's feet, barks happily whenever a piece of food falls from the table. Luffy laughs and gives him a special piece of meat.

Usopp, trying to impress some palace guests, exaggerates in his stories: "And then, with a single shot, I defeated a giant beast!" Chopper, listening, nods enthusiastically, totally convinced.

Reiju, preparing some special dishes in the kitchen, calls Terracotta, the palace's cook: "Come taste this. You as a chef will love it!" Terracotta, moved, rushes to taste and praises: "It's amazing! You have a natural talent!"

Hugo, with his calm manner, chats with Nojiko and Hachi about the different cultures they encountered on their travels. Kuina, the young swordsman, listens attentively, dreaming of her own adventures.

Alvida, always trying to draw Luffy's attention, offers him the juiciest piece of meat. "Luffy, dear, try this!" Luffy, distracted, accepts without realizing her intention, continuing to have fun with the others.

Nami, glued to the side of Luffy like Yamato, puts another piece in the captain's mouth. Meanwhile, Broggy and Dorry share stories of their epic fights with others, making everyone around laugh and ask for more details.

The night advances with food, drink, and many stories. King Cobra, watching the scene, smiles, knowing that his kingdom has gained strong allies and unique friends. And, in the middle of it all, the cheerful sound of Luffy's laughter echoes, uniting everyone in a memorable celebration.

As everyone settles down, King Cobra proposes a toast. "To the health of the Straw Hat Pirates, to the heroes of Alabasta and to lasting friendship

Everyone raises their glasses in a toast. The laughter and stories being shared continue with an overall feeling of camaraderie and relief.

"Luffy, thank you again. You not only saved Alabasta but also brought joy and hope back to our people." Vivi approached wearing a blue dress.

"It's nothing, Vivi! All this is very good, and you look beautiful." Luffy spoke but turned his attention to the food, Nami, and Yamato, who seemed to be glued to him at that moment. Vivi blushed but soon joined Shirahoshi.

Sometime later, Luffy leaves the banquet and heads to the throne room, where the king called him for a private conversation. He finally meets King Cobra.

King Cobra, sitting on his throne with the posture of a leader who carries the weight of an entire country, looks seriously at Luffy. Despite being grateful, there is a clear concern in his eyes, a father's worry.

"Captain Monkey D. Luffy, I want to thank you again for what you did for Alabasta. But there's something we need to discuss - about my daughter, Vivi."

Luffy, with his usual casualness, nods, indicating he's listening.

"Vivi mentioned an agreement between you. She chose to join your crew to help her people, but that also means she's more under your protection, right?"

"That's right! Vivi is my crewmate, of course, she will be protected," Luffy speaks calmly.

"And nothing more? Monkey D. Luffy, I don't want to seem intrusive, but as a father, there's something that has been weighing on my mind." He said seriously.

Luffy tilts his head, indicating for the king to proceed. There was something in the seriousness of the king's gaze that made him pay attention.

"You and Vivi have spent a lot of time together, facing dangers and sharing victories. She talks a lot about you and your companions. I can see... she has special fondness for you. And I, as a father, cannot help but worry about what this might mean for her future, and potentially for the future of our lineage."

Luffy scratches his head, wondering where the king was going with this, but played dumb. "Well, Vivi is amazing! We all like her."

"Yes, but it's not just that," King Cobra insists, choosing his words carefully. "Luffy, you are a young man, on a path that leads to many dangers and discoveries. Vivi, as your companion, will be at your side on this path. But what will happen if, one day, this closeness leads to something more... If she chooses to start a family with you?"

The word "family" makes Luffy stop for a moment. He imagined having several children in the future, but that only after his journey when he becomes a conqueror and has a safer life to give attention to the children, after all, he wanted to raise his own children with their mothers.

"I... I don't know," Luffy admits. "I haven't thought much about it now, as I intend to finish my journey before building a family."

"Even so, accidents can happen and I'm talking about something like children, Captain Monkey D. Luffy. My grandchildren. The future heir to the throne of Alabasta," King Cobra explains. "If Vivi chooses this path with you, she will be choosing a life very different from what she could have here. And that worries me, not just as a king, but as a father. Will she be happy? Will she and the children be safe in such an uncertain world?"

Luffy falls silent, pondering the King's words. He had never considered the idea of having children or the impact his lifestyle could have on them.

"About that, I will create a world where I can protect my wives and my children. I don't know what the future holds, but I know that we won't leave our friends or our family behind. That's what we do, isn't it?" Luffy says with a determination that even surprises King Cobra.

The king sighs, a mix of concern and confidence shining in his eyes. "I just hope you're right, Luffy. And I hope that Vivi finds the happiness she deserves, whether in Alabasta or sailing the seas with you."

Luffy nods, the king's words echoing in his mind. He knows there is much to consider and that today's choices will shape tomorrow, for him, for Vivi, and for any future they may create together.

They continue to talk a little more about the future of Alabasta and the plans of the Straw Hats. When the conversation ends, Luffy stands up, ready to join two specific companions. He bids farewell to the king with a nod and goes to one of the palace's rooms, in this place there were two women waiting for him with no surprise, Nami and Yamato had expelled Alvida and Nojiko to have a night alone with Luffy, wanting to catch up on two weeks of not sleeping with their man, Luffy sighed before entering because this night would be one filled with activities to satisfy two beauties.

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