Chapter 73

Crocodile was seeing the world through rose tinted glasses the moment Cyane and Cole vanished leaving only Cyra to deal with him. It was as if he had forgotten who had lunged at him twice by now, attacking with a strength far above what Crocodile could handle. The Warlord didn't look scared at all unlike before, when he was cowering in front of the very same teenager or rather kid who was out for his blood.

"Fufufufu!" Crocodile laughed, throwing his head back. Maybe the fear within him finally reached a threshold crossing to insanity, making all of his wits to bid him goodbye. "A kid?!" Crocodile dusted off his pants as he stood up, a smirk etched on his scarred face. He wouldn't have ever thought that one of the most feared 3C's is actually a kid. Cyra's short stature, which he hadn't noticed before, and the childish high pitched voice was a total give away. "Hey brat? Wanna run away to your Mommy?" Crocodile laughed at his own joke. "Or should I give you a chance to run away before I kill you?" Crocodile tauntingly questioned the teenager, his teeth clenching in anger by the end of his sentence, and eyes glinting maliciously, thinking about all the trouble the kid put him through.

Poor Crocodile, his poor, small brain and his too big ego was playing games with him, refusing to acknowledge the reality and acting way too calm for someone who was about to incur the wrath of a god, even if said god appeared to be a child.

"Do you even know what your companions have done?!" Crocodile questioned angrily to Cyra, ignoring the thunder which cackled in the sky. "Three years! It took three years to meticulously plan and execute the scheme to overthrow this kingdom. Three years of manipulating the civilians and creating conflict in Alabasta! Three years worth of trouble to gain the dance powder to steal the country's rain!" Crocodile's voice grew louder and louder in annoyance and anger with every one of his claims. "It's because of you, I am losing everything which I built. You are the cause and you will pay for it with your damn life." Crocodile lunged at Cyra, his eyes bloodshot in rage and expression that of a crazed animal.

"You stole the country's rain?" Cyra questioned out with disbelief, the images of the dried up town of Eramula and nearly collapsing town of Yuba flashing in his mind. He had known that someone was doing it knowingly and that someone was surely Crocodile but hearing the sandman accepting it hit a nerve within him as he evaded each of the warlord's attacks. He was furious. Furious at the sandman for thinking that he can steal rain when his brother Halad was there. At least that's what he would have been furious about but there was no sign of any rain... which meant that his brother, his dearest, beloved big brother had ignored the suffering and prayers of the dying and thirsty people. His brother, Halad, who was famous for his indulgence with the mortals and couldn't see their agony had left them to suffer and wither in agony.

'Are you really abandoning the mortals? Why? Why brother?! Are you also too bored to indulge in this painful beauty called life and death like our father?! Why?! What happened?! Why can't you hear the cries of this country, begging for just rain?' Nika questioned angrily to his brother, hoping that the winds and the clouds would at least urge Halad to reply to his questions for once. He really needs it, he needs to hear it from Halad himself, who was giving him a silent treatment and ignoring him like he... wasn't even there in the first place. What grave mistake had he committed for his own brother to abandon him?!

"Aren't you an interesting one? Abandoned by ones who should have held you close!"

The haunting voice of that man- creature- echoed in his head. Nika didn't want to hear those words. He didn't want to think for even a moment that Halad had truly-

"ARE YOU IGNORING ME, YOU INSOLENT BRAT?!" Crocodile shouted, unknowingly cutting off Cyra's thoughts and bringing him back to reality but his voice was getting engulfed by the sad melody of the winds which were following past them. It seemed like even the winds were trying to play with Crocodile, wanting him to just shut up. But Crocodile wasn't going to, he was furious and he needed to take his sweet revenge by finishing Cyra for good. 'If he is not paying attention, he will pay.' A cold smirk played on the Warlord's lips as he hurled a massive sand tornado at Cyra, which surged forward, promising to rip anything in its path to shreds.

Leaping backwards, Crocodile was happily imagining the bloodied mess, which would be left when the whirlwind would subside but when it finally did, the hooded figure was standing there, untouched and uninjured. Heck, Crocodile was sure that Cyra hadn't even moved from his place, taking the full whirlwind to his face but there was not even a speck of sand on his being!

"Tch. How irritating." Crocodile growled, his smug grin replaced by a scowl and his fists clenching in annoyance at the ignorant brat who was just a moment ago throwing tantrums but now he was standing unresponsive, looking at the sky. Something was off. The brat wasn't even fighting or paying him any attention. He could see the way his fists were clenching up and his lips formed a thin line.

Cyra was frustrated. But, Crocodile was soon to realize that he was not frustrated due to him. Something else was troubling the kid.

Crocodile couldn't help but laugh at the realization of how inexperienced and foolish the kid before him was to think of other things while fighting one of the seven warlords of the sea. He can bet that Cyra probably hides behind Cyane and Cole while they deal with strong opponents. Anyways, Cyra's frustrations only meant lowered defenses, which really gave him a good opportunity which he refused to miss, to earn fame and name for defeating a member of the 3C's.

Crocodile clenched his fist, commanding the sands to obey him. The ground beneath Cyra shifted, the sand coiling around him like a snake and pulling him towards the gaping hole. "Say goodbye, brat!" Crocodile jeered, sure that his new attack will work without a fail and imagining Cyra's dried up corpse. But as he closed the distance to shut the sandy coffin, he realized that the brat wasn't even there.

Before Crocodile could even react, a gut wrenching force slammed into his abdomen. His eyes widened in pure shock. He felt like someone punched him with a seastone glove, sending him flying back, crashing into the sand, which acted as a cushion for his terrible tumble. He was truly lucky as if it had been raining then he wouldn't even be able to control the sand. Still, something else was going through the sandman's mind. No one at this part of the sea could ever touch him so how did the boy of all people do it?! Did the boy know Haki? He must have it if he was able to land that blow but at the same time, it didn't feel like Haki. It was something else. Something different.

Crocodile had completely erased all memory of Cyra punching him with a Haki coated fist. Poor guy!

But Crocodile was once again coming back to his senses, accepting the truth hesitantly but surely. He wasn't just facing any pirate, he was facing Cyra. Someone worth 500 million beri and one of the feared members of the 3C's. The 'Red Maniac' Cyra.

'No more playing around. Time to get serious.' Crocodile swore to himself, launching his strongest sand based attacks at Cyra, each one far deadlier than the last, while he closed on to his prey. Splitting the desert beneath Cyra's legs, turning the sand into quicksand, sending Barjan- which soaks moisture from anything it hits, forming a massive tornado- only for it to vanish the next moment- Crocodile tried everything up on his sleeve but yet Cyra danced through each of them and remained distracted.

Meanwhile, Luffy was barely even registering the incoming attacks. His mind was wandering, his thoughts tangled in frustration, filled with questions which remained unanswered by everyone. 'Where is Halad!?' Nika questioned his other siblings but none of them even replied about their brother, the god of weather, storms and sky. It wasn't the first time. He had tried to reach him countless times, sending him messages through the winds and his mom but nothing ever came back as an answer. It was frustrating and on top of that, the sandman was hurling attacks one after another at him. Couldn't he just-

Luffy's body moved on its own, his instincts guiding him just in time to perform a backflip to avoid the drying sand beneath his feet, including a poison laced hook. But that turned out to be a mistake as a gasp of shock was let out of Crocy's mouth and the attacks finally stopped. Luffy looked with confusion at the man, feeling his eyes roaming on his body and the wave of disbelief and fury growling within the sandy man's heart and mind.

"How? Why?" Crocodile was muttering, his voice low and mind racing to piece together the sight before him. The red extravagant jewel, the alluring blue feather- which he had seen somewhere but can't remember- the black hair, the scar under one of the eyes and that damned childish look! It all made sense now. The infamous 'Red Maniac' Cyra was none other than 'Strawhat' Luffy all along. "Strawhat Luffy, the kid kidnapped by the 3C's... was actually one of them all along!" This has to be the biggest fraud Crocodile had ever seen or heard of. Because of course, this was all a set up! A damn clever ruse so no one would ever suspect that the 50 million beri upstart pirate, Strawhat Luffy, had any connection to the infamous 3C's. They had fooled even him, a seasoned, experienced Warlord and a pirate. 'Their cleverness is off the charts. No wonder these sneaky and dangerous bastards are so heavily sought after and feared by both marines and pirates alike.'

Above them, black clouds, brimming with water, which Crocodile was sure to be extinct for more years to come due to the overuse of dance powder, were churning with unnatural anger, growing darker and darker and darker. The rumbling thunder reverberated throughout the area, far louder than the one which Cyra- or rather Strawhat- was controlling prior.

Everything was signaling to Crocodile's bad luck and defeat. He had planned to take over the country by removing the one thing which could stop him, but that very thing- rain- seemed to be soon approaching the land, which it shouldn't. Crocodile glanced around frantically. He needed a shelter, to be not wet, otherwise whatever advantage he held against Strawhat, it would be lost. But alas! They were too deep in the desert, and still 15 minutes away from Alubarna. Even if he tried to run right now, ignoring the exhaustion and his pain, he was sure he would be dripping wet, which was the last thing he needed.

"I am done with your games, Strawhat." Crocodile uttered, finally looking at the teen only to get goosebumps all over his body and take a staggering step backwards.Luffy was glaring at Crocodile, seething with anger. He was already pissed that his brother Halad wasn't even giving him a reply but now?! Now his identity was even exposed to a scumbag like the sandman. A raging inferno was coursing through him like wisps of cloud, but something else too simmered beneath it. Acceptance.

Doom..

If Halad was not going to use his powers, if he was insistent on keeping his mouth shut, then Nika will use the powers of weather which he somehow has. He knew that something was wrong, that he, the guardian of the sun, shouldn't have any abilities of the god of the sky, Halad, unless..

"W-W-What are you?!" Crocodile shouted in fear, his eyes stuck to the red demonic eyes which were peeking from the black unruly hair that was starting to float. He wanted to run. He needed to run. Everything in his body was urging him to run as far as from the demon before him, whose entirety started leaking an oppressive force pinning him there. Forced to watch as the demon's necks and arms got majestically wrapped by wisps of cloud.

Dut...

Nika ignored the pointless banter of the man before him, his turn coming up soon. 'One last time I will ask. Are you going to do something, Halad?!' Nika questioned, refusing to even think that Halad had passed on his godly powers to him and.. No! He refused to! Halad must be being a jerk and playing somewhere, taking a pleasant break. Nothing more. That's why he was going to use his powers and do what he should have done ages ago.

If Halad was not going to bless Alabasta with rain, then Nika was going to take matters in his own hands... which to his shock was coming more easily than the times when it was his flickering emotions which were calling or playing with the weather. Or the rain and the gloomy and ominous clouds which covered the sky when he had terrible nightmares or was sad or angry.

Doom dut...

A roaring lighting struck the sandy grounds, scorching the land, turning the hit area into glasses, rumbling with happiness far beyond which anyone could ever decipher. The winds sang its melody, finally getting back a pioneer who completely acknowledged them as their own. The clouds blossomed like flowers, covering the sky as fast as it could, happy that Nika, their previous master's brother was finally acknowledging them like his own powers. And just beyond the sand, Mother Sea rejoiced as Nika finally took command of the sky left to him by her beloved late son, Halad.

"Shishishi!" Nika snorted, seeing the pure terror on Crocodile's paling face.

Doom dut da da!

"Don't- don't-! N-No!" Crocodile tried to keep calm, he tried his best but it wasn't helping. The sudden beating of drums over his own beating heart and the ear piercing thunder, which he was trying his best to ignore; the floating wisps of black hair turning to white, defying all gravity and wind; the pure maniacal laughter which resounded with nature... it was terrifying, drilling him into his place.

"You stole the country's rain, huh?" Nika chuckled, his face stretching into a wide grin, terrifying Crocodile. "Who told you?!" Nika stretched his arms wide, feeling the first drop of rain to hit his skin, soothing him just like how Halad's would quench all his sadness and spread warmth throughout him.

"I-It can't be..!" Crocodile spoke, horrified at the rain drops pricking his skin like needles, trying to drill holes on him. The clouds above him let leash the rain it had been building up till now. He didn't know what was exactly happening but he could tell that the demon before him was responsible for everything. For bringing his fears to life. For destroying his plan and blocking his only way to run.

The sandman wasn't even given enough time to either despair or be scared when the red eyed demon child suddenly vanished from his sight, only for a few seconds later for him to feel warm yet cold fingers tapping on his shoulder- which he could swore was supposed to be protected by his clothes, at least should have.

Crocodile felt his breath caught up in his throat as he slowly turned around to face the ghostly figure, only to come face to face with the red eyed demon child, grinning like a maniac and looking so white and not wet at all, the water seems to just turn to steam around him.

"DON-" Crocodile wasn't even allowed to complete his sentence when a rubbery punch, covered with Haki met his gut. Before losing consciousness and still traveling in the air due to the force, Crocodile was sure that he would sustain an abysmal internal injury from which he'll never recover if he does survive.

"OOPS! Not that way! I need to bring you to the capital! Wait, which way was that?!" Luffy panicked as he saw Crocodile flying due to his attack.

.

Kouza was frozen, his mind racing after overhearing the conversation between the unknown women in white dress, that same big man, the king and Vivi. The truth hit him like a cannonball, not even allowing him to rejoice about the return of his Vice captain.

Crocodile.

All this time, Crocodile, the hero of the country, had been the biggest villain, manipulating and pitting the rebels and the royals against each other. All this time, that bastard was playing with them and laughing in his chambers at how they struggled and died. But it was still not enough for his amusement that he dropped a bomb, the chaos and the entire war on top of that. All a set up by his organization, Baroque Works.

Vivi, beside him, clenched his fists. Her heartbeat quickened at the mention of the bomb which would diffuse in just mere 5 minutes. They didn't have much time and she knew that the sly woman wouldn't even tell them the exact location until her desires were fulfilled.

"We have to tell everyone! Right now, Vivi!" Kouza proposed, gripping Vivi's arms, wanting to run towards the edge of the palace. Some of the royals, who were with them, seemingly agreed to it. "If we can warn them about the bomb, maybe they'll finally stop fighting and leave the city immediately!"

"No," Chaka interfered. "It will only lead to chaos."

"We can't let it become a battlefield!" Vivi shouted, instantly latching onto Kouza's side, not allowing him to take a step further. "You're still not thinking straight. If you just go out there and tell the soldiers that the palace square will be blown up, then there'll be truly a pandemonium. Everyone will be too panicked to even listen! YOU CAN'T STOP THE WAR NOR SAVE ANYONE THAT WAY!" Vivi uttered, her eyes locking firmly onto Kouza's.

"Then what should we do?!!" Kouza pulled his hair in frustration. He was thankful for Vivi to stop him time but still, they don't really have time.

"The proper course of action is still the same thing you should have done from the start. This whole fabricated rebellion must be stopped. And that's something only you can do, Kouza." Vivi answered, holding onto Kouza's arms. "TAKE OUT THE WHITE FLAGS! PUT UP THE WHITE FLAGS OF SURRENDER THIS INSTANT, ROYALIST SOLDIERS!" Vivi shouted with all her might, the moment Kouza nodded his head in determination. She needed to do her part. They need to surrender for the royals and the rebels to stop fighting and then Kouza will do his part.

Vivi hoped that she could leave the bomb to the white haired man she had met earlier. She had encountered him on her path to the palace, with the marine trying to capture Kuma only for him to say that he had more important work than catching criminals. That man had hinted on something disastrous, which he was finding and going to stop. Vivi really hoped that the marine captain was truly finding the bomb.

"WHAT?! But Princess Vivi..?!" "We're to surrender?!" "What will become of this county if we do that?!"

The confused soldiers muttered out loud, confused as hell at the sudden order given by the princess.

"Hey, look! It's Kouza!" "Why is the leader of the rebels in the palace of all places?!"

Some more soldiers pointed out as Kouza stood on a higher platform, from where everyone could see him. Behind him was Vivi, ready to support him through the ordeal.

"Listen to me! We wish neither victory nor to fight. All we want is to stop this war." Kouza assured, backing Vivi, who nodded at him. "There is absolutely no reason to fight anymore. So wave the white flags. I beg of you!"

They could hear the hurried footsteps of the rebels and royals alike, their footsteps shaking the ground immensely. The royals scrambled to get the flags while the rebels were headed to the palace to capture the king, ready for the gruesome battle. But the sight which greeted the rebels was not one they could have ever imagined. White flags waved on the windy day with their captain holding one of them, standing above a small platform with the royals behind him.

"White flags?!!" "The royalists are waving white flags?!" "Kouza?!"The confused rebels questioned out, halting in their steps momentarily.

"The battle is over!" Kouza shouted as loud as his lungs were allowing him to. "Rebels, lay down your arms and quell your rage. The royals no longer have any intent to fight."

"Is it.. really true..?" One of the battered rebels questioned, with hope glinting in his eyes. None of them wanted to fight but they needed to pick arms in their hands. They needed to do something.

"Yes. The war is finally-"

BANG!

A shot rang through the air, whizzing straight at Kouza, who barely had any time to react as the bullet tore through the air, aimed straight for his heart. But before it could finish him, suddenly, a blur of orange appeared, intercepting the bullet amid air, shattering it into pieces.

The crowd gasped.

Standing in front of Kouza was one of the infamous pirates of the sea, Cole, who smirked, casually flicking away the fragments of the bullet and giving a pointed glare at one of the baroque work agents, disguised as royal, who had fired it initially.

The crowd would have gone crazy if they were given enough time to realize that the bullet was out to kill the leader of the rebels but now it almost stood frozen in fear.

"Well, well, this is quite the mess." Ace spoke, his voice smooth and almost teasing as if he were commenting on the weather rather than stopping an assassination attempt and practically appearing out of thin air. It wasn't the initial plan though, after seeing the leader of the rebels and Vivi solving it but the assassination attempt to cause chaos? No way, Ace was going to stay silent and let the Baroque Works cause further bloodshed.

"Cole! I-It's Orange Wrath Cole!" Someone from the crowd shouted, eliciting further screams and shouts of confusion.

"Tch, Cole." Sabo landed beside Ace, also appearing out of thin air, further gaining streams of shouts. "You are always the hasty one, you know." Sabo spoke in a low voice, before surveying the area with a calm and calculating gaze. He could see the crowd was about to dissolve into chaos and in midst of it, the revs finally got the signal to eliminate all the baroque work agents without any discretion like before.

A commotion broke out near the front lines of both the sides, as the revs kicked out the infiltrators forward to the small stage.

"The hell are you doing?!" One of the agents spat, his voice wavering as Cole gripped him by his hair and pulled him to the podium as if to be presented to the whole crowd.

"W-What are you doing..?" Kouza questioned, his eyes wide at the sight of the 3C's. He could Vivi at her side, her eyes wide and stuck on the arm of the royal in Cole's grip.

"Here's your real enemy." Cyane spoke coldly, gesturing towards the revealed agent while Cole simply raised the arm where the symbol of Baroque Works laid for everyone to see. "Baroque Works has been manipulating this entire conflict."

"Hey..? Wasn't that the symbol on the ship which crashed in Nanohana..?" One of the rebels muttered with wide eyes, his mind trying to follow on the words of one of his favorite pirate groups. He was a pirate fanatic after all. But still, he also wasn't left unkempt from the fear rolling through him in waves from the real deal.

The soldiers and rebels exchanged uncertain glances. First of all, they were scared due to the presence of the most dangerous crew but should they truly trust their words? But they had seen it with their own eyes, right? So, it maybe-

"Lies! You are lying!" One of the agents who had stumbled on the ground shouted, snatching two guns from a stunned royal and firing incessantly at Cole and Cyane. He didn't care if it hurt anyone else. No, all he cared about was the rank which the boss would bestow him for hurting the 3C's and going on with the mission.

"Bad move, pal." Cole's grin widened.

Before the bullets could even hurt anyone, both Cole and Cyane moved, their figures becoming blurry. Cole was crushing them with his bare hands while Cyane simply flicked them away with a subtle use of Haki.

The display of strength further left the crowd in stunned silence. Cole turned to Cyane, chuckling. "Think they realize we are the real deal here?"

"Probably." Cyane replied, shrugging his soldier. "But we are not done yet." Cyane spoke, turning back towards the stunned Kouza and Vivi, the latter finally coming to her senses and realizing the golden opportunity. The crowd was waiting and they needed to speak. "The stage is all yours, Princess." Cyane spoke playfully, before taking a step back with his brother, giving the stage to the princess and the rebel leader. They would only be standing here to keep the crowd in check and from further attacking anyone.

.

Smoker's mind was racing as he made his way through the streets of Alabasta, his heart pounding fast in his chest, even though his face didn't show any of his emotion. He cursed the 3C's for the hundredth time since leaving Rainbase. He didn't know if what they were telling was the truth but it needed to be. Luffy was still with them, used as a pawn in the twisted games of the 3C's. Smoker leaped through a crumpled wall, running as fast as he could, knowing very well about the time limit he has. They had promised to return Luffy unharmed only if he managed to disarm the bomb in time.

Smoker's eyes scanned his surroundings as he moved with determination. He spotted some of the Strawhat Pirates. They were all battered, bruised from their own individual battles.

Zoro, with his bloodied swords, and Sanji, clothes somehow battered from who knows what, both glared at Smoker as they each shielded their friends, standing upright and ready for another battle.

"If you are here to cause trouble, I'll take you down right now." Zoro snarled, hand gripping his sword.

"Touch any of us, and you won't make it out of here, Marine." Sanji spat, cracking his neck and fixing his shoe.

Smoker tched, barely even stopping in his path to reach the town square, which the Strawhat gang was seemingly heading to. His eyes were set on something much more important than catching the pirates right now. The lives of everyone in the town.. the innocent life of a kid.. "I have got bigger problems than you lot." He growled, his voice a rumble of impatience as he skipped past the pirates. He absent mindedly noted how the rest of the Strawhats stood nearby, wide eyed and clearly panicking at the thought of another fight. But Smoker could hardly give them any attention.

The clock tower was all Smoker could think about. He knew it. The bomb has to be in there, hidden inside. The letter from the 3C's had been cryptic, but Smoker was no fool. He could tell that the letter was a game, testing and taunting him. Smoke billowed out behind Smoker as he raced towards the tower, wanting to save everyone.

When he finally reached the base of the tower, he cursed again under his breath. The place was almost deserted, filled with the sound of the ongoing battle in the main plaza. Smoker scaled the tower in an instant, his mind focused solely on disarming the bomb but when he reached the top, the sight of the damn bomb, ticking down sent a wave of curse through him.

"Fuck it!" Smoker spat, his eyes narrowing at the bob, noticing the timer. Even if he somehow manages to disarm the bomb- which will blast in another 30 seconds- the timer wouldn't stop. Moreover, he had no idea how to disarm it in the first place. There was only one thing he could do right now.

Grabbing the bomb in his hand, he looked up at the sky, which was covered with... dark, stormy clouds, which didn't make sense but right now he didn't have the luxury to think about that.

Without thinking any further, Smoker did the only thing he could. He used his smoke powers, lifting the bomb high in the air, intending to throw the damned thing as high as he could.

"That better be it."

.

Vivi took a shaky breath as she stepped forward. She couldn't believe that the 3C's were truly helping them but this was an opportunity for them to finally end the war. "It's true. The leader of the Baroque Works, our country's very hero, Crocodile had been pulling the strings all along. He stole the rain and plunged our country into a war."

"That's right." Kouza backed Vivi, standing beside her, looking towards the crowd. "We have been fighting the wrong enemy the whole time. We need to stop this war before more lives are lost."

The rebels and some of the royals exchanged uncertain glances, hesitant to believe the words. They had been fighting for what they believed in but now this new information shattered the foundation of their anger but blossomed another array of confusion. Was it the royal family who was lying to hide their own dirt? Or was it truly Crocodile who planned everything?

"How do we know you're telling the truth? You expect us to believe your words alone? What if this is all just another lie? Who hired these so-called agents to sprout your story?" Someone from the crowd shouted, albeit hesitantly. He had been one of the people to be saved by the kind hero of the country whom the princess was blaming and their leader was backing. The rebel knew for sure that there were many among the rebels who were somehow saved by the Warlord and he could see them hesitating like him to believe the set of lies.

Kouza and Vivi both flinched, having not considered this aspect. The trust between the rebels and the royals had been shattered three years ago, widening their gaps ever after, and this very crowd had seen nothing but betrayal and deception for a long time. Vivi opened her mouth to respond, not wanting to hear the taunting laughter of the agents but what does she have to say? What proof can she give them other than her words?!

Kouza was also in the same boat as Vivi. He hadn't seen Crocodile back in the palace but someone else. But he didn't want to think that Vivi would ever lie to him.Cole and Cyane, sensing the commotion, stepped forward. They had proof, which they can surely present to quell the chaos and war-

BOOM!

A loud thunder cackled in the sky, tearing everyone's gazes above to witness the sight of dark clouds once again covering the entire sky. The hearts of every person standing in the plaza witnessing the miracle stopped, their eyes growing hopeful for-

BOOM!

Another explosion went off illuminating the square plaza, but this time it wasn't the sweet cackle of the thundering clouds but a real bomb which was thrown by Smoker up high in the sky.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!" "A FUCKING BOMB?!"

"Looks like the bomb is disarmed." Cyane whistled looking at the bright explosion which was calming down and silently thanking Smokey for completing his part.

"And he's finally here too." Cole, on the other hand, smirked, glancing sideways at his brother.