Some Justice

Out at sea, north of Sandy Island in Alabasta, a Marine ship sails through a sudden downpour. A voice calls out, "Smoker! What's with this sudden rain!? Don't tell me... You didn't use this dance powder, did you!?" Inside the cabin, Captain Smoker sits smoking two cigars at once. He replies calmly, "...Don't be idiotic. I know what is and isn't illegal." Standing behind him, looking out the window, is Marine HQ Captain Hina, known as "Hina the Black Cage". She questions him, "What would I gain by willingly violating the king of Alabasta's judgment, To never use this powder under any circumstances?" She then adds, "Pardon Hina. Hina reflects for baseless accusation. But those are some cute words from the man known as the 'White Hunter.' Has the hunter mellowed out a bit compared to the past?" Smoker simply retorts, "Mind your own business."

Hina turns her head slightly, her expression serious. "In any case, isn't this a little extreme? Appropriating my elite troops," she says. A close-up shows her looking annoyed as she continues, "Just to search for one puny ship... Quite vexing. Hina is vexed." A full-body shot reveals Hina's elegant attire, a dark suit with a Marine coat draped over her shoulders. She turns fully to face Smoker, placing a hand on her hip. "Oh come on, you and I've been long-term associates. Don't be like that," she tells him. Smoker, still seated and puffing on his cigars, grumbles, "Always giving me that excuse... Hina sympathises with Tashigi's troubles. Hmph..."

Outside, the massive Baroque Works' Artificial Rain ship, "The Fool", sails alongside the Marine vessels. Hina suggests, "Just take this artificial rain ship back to HQ. Along with Crocodile, who Tashigi'll be bringing over soon." Smoker scoffs at the idea, "Why should I? Get real. You think you can boss me around?" Hina confidently calls out, "Heads." Smoker flicks a coin high into the air. It spins and lands with a clink. Hina looks at the result and states, "You lose." Smoker sighs, leaning back in his chair, "Yeah, yeah, I'm already aware of that." Hina, clearly frustrated by his attitude, scolds him, "ALWAYS DOING THIS AND THAT YOUR WAY ONLY... YOU REALLY HAVEN'T CHANGED A BIT SINCE YOUR DAYS AS A FRESH RECRUIT! HINA IS DISAPPOINTED!"

In the rain-soaked streets of Alabasta, a Marine urgently addresses Sergeant Major Tashigi. "But Sgt. Major! This is a golden opportunity! At our current strength, we won't be able to handle them once they regain cons-" Tashigi, standing firm in the downpour, cuts him off, "That's an order...!" The Marines look shocked, muttering, "Wha?" Tashigi's face is fierce and determined, rain streaming down her cheeks as she shouts, "I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYBODY... TO LAY A HAND ON THEM RIGHT NOW!" On the ground before her, the entire Straw Hat crew—Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper—lie completely unconscious and battered in the mud. A Marine protests, "B-BUT WHY!? THEY'RE ALL HERE IN ONE SPOT RIGHT NOW! THEY'RE SITTING DUCKS!"

Elsewhere in the city, the Rebel Army and the Royal Guards stand together in the rain. Someone calls out, "Leader..." Vivi kneels beside a heavily bandaged Kohza, who is lying on a stretcher. Kohza looks up at her and asks, "How are your wounds? You won't die on us, right...?" Vivi smiles gently, "You know... Toto said about Yuba that..." Kohza says her name, "Vivi." Tears well up in Vivi's eyes as she continues, "AND I'VE GOT HIS BLOOD RUNNING IN ME TOO..." Kohza smiles back, his face bruised but relieved. "I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YUBA, BUT... THAT STUBBORN OLD MAN OF MINE WON'T KICK THE BUCKET NO MATTER WHAT. I SEE YOU'RE STILL THE SAME OLD WORRY-WART..."

The citizens of Alabasta stand in the streets, looking up in awe as the rain continues to fall on the capital city of Alubarna. Kohza tells Vivi, "ONCE I GET FIXED UP, I'M HEADING BACK TO YUBA. I'LL SEND YOU A LETTER FROM THERE. DON'T WORRY." Vivi replies softly, "Sure..." Around them, the realization sets in. "It's raining!" someone shouts. The streets erupt into joyous cheers. People throw their arms up in celebration. "LOOK! IT'S RAIN! IT'S RAINING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3 YEARS!" "The rebellion will now end!" "And those foolish sons of ours will surely return!" The long drought has finally broken.

The joy spreads across the land. The Kung-Fu Dugongs and the giant crab Hasami cheer wildly, shouting "KUO! KUO! KUO!" as the rain pours down on them. In the desert, a parched skull is finally washed by the rain. In the ruined, sand-buried town of Yuba, Kohza's words echo in memory: "HOW LONG WILL YOUR STUBBORNNESS LAST, FATHER!? YUBA IS DONE FOR! WHAT WILL YOU ACCOMPLISH BY STAYING HERE ALL ALONE!? ARE YOU TRYING TO DIE WITH THE TOWN!?" A shovel stands stuck in the sand. Toto, the stubborn old man, sits alone in the ruins. He looks up as the drops begin to hit the sand. "Look, Kouza. The rain is falling..." he says softly. Nearby, a broken water pump is soaked by the downpour.

A close-up shows Toto's face, weathered and exhausted, but now breaking into a wide, tearful smile. The rain washes over him as he cries tears of pure joy. "Only 3 years... That was all it took..." he whispers. He sits on the ground next to his trusty shovel, looking up at the gray sky as the heavy rain falls around him. He speaks to the sky itself, "Isn't that right, Rain...?"

Across Alabasta, the celebration continues. In front of the palace, Chaka and the guards throw their arms wide, welcoming the downpour. Text boxes narrate the momentous event: "No longer forced to fall by any force," Citizens dance and embrace in the streets, crying and laughing as the water soaks them. "On and on, without end." The vast desert landscape, dry for so long, is finally quenched. "The rain poured down on Alabasta."

The rain falls heavily over the royal palace of Alubarna. Inside, Luffy is fast asleep in a large bed, his mouth wide open as he snores loudly. In a spacious recovery room, the rest of the Straw Hat crew are also sound asleep in a row of beds, completely exhausted from their battles. By the window, Vivi sits quietly, looking out at the rain. Igaram stands nearby, keeping watch. The room is filled with the sounds of deep sleep and the steady drumming of the rain against the glass.

Igaram notices Vivi is still awake and asks, "Princess Vivi, You're still awake...?" Vivi replies, "Igaram... Having trouble falling asleep?" Igaram shakes his head, "No... I just don't want to sleep, that's all." They both look out at the rain falling past the palace windows. Vivi says softly, "I simply wish to keep on watching, This rain fall down." In another bed, Zoro sleeps soundly, snoring. Vivi and Igaram stand together in the quiet room, watching the life-giving rain continue to pour.

Chopper, Nami, and Sanji are shown sleeping peacefully in their respective beds. In another bed, a figure is completely wrapped in bandages, resting quietly. Vivi continues to look out the window. Igaram speaks up, "About Pell... He was the noblest and strongest warrior I had the pleasure of knowing." Vivi agrees, her expression somber, "Yes... I just wish... I could have said, 'Thank you.'" Igaram reassures her, "...There could surely be no greater honour to him." The rain continues to fall over the peaceful city.

The next day, at the Eastern Alabastan port of Tamarisque, the weather has cleared. A Marine calls out, "Capt. Smoker, Miss Hina, Sgt. Major Tashigi has arrived!" Tashigi walks slowly toward the docked Marine ships, looking exhausted and downcast. Marines greet her, "Good work! It's been a while, Tashigi." She approaches Smoker and Hina. Hina says, "Welcome back... I heard about the incident with Straw Hat." Tashigi salutes weakly, "Sgt. Major Tashigi reporting back, Capt. Smoker." Smoker looks at her questioningly. Tashigi avoids his gaze and says, "Hello to you too... I... I'm rather tired so please excuse me while I take a rest." She walks past them, her head hung low.

Smoker stops her, asking, "Why do you apologize? Did your actions not stem from your own sense of justice?" Tashigi, looking battered and ashamed, replies, "Forgive me, captain... I aided the pirates, And let them escape when they were vulnerable for capture. I understand these are shameful actions for a marine." She looks down, her voice trembling, "It was because it was the only action I was capable of." Smoker looks surprised, "Sgt. Major...!?" Flashbacks show Luffy screaming, "WHERE'S CROC!? TELL ME!" and Crocodile sneering, "LOSERS CAN'T TALK OF JUSTICE...! THAT'S THE KIND OF SEA THIS IS...!" Tashigi confesses, "Even though I knew where the enemy was, I was only capable of conveying that location."

Tashigi continues her painful confession, "Even though I knew when the bombing would be, I was only capable of providing them support. I had no justice which I could choose myself." Smoker sits down on the ship's stairs, looking out at the sea. He tells her, "...People who you've thought to be on your level until recently have climbed higher and higher, spreading their infamy. They know that you can't survive in this sea without constantly continuing to climb higher." He asks her pointedly, "Will you advance or die? Who was it that decided on her own to come to this sea?" Tashigi, unable to face him, says, "Please excuse me, captain. I need to rest a while," and walks away. Smoker watches her go, muttering, "You idiot..."

Smoker suddenly yells after her, his voice booming across the deck, "THEN TRY GETTING STRONGER! IF YOU'RE FRUSTRATED ENOUGH TO CRY," Tashigi stops, tears streaming down her face. She bites her lip, her face contorted in frustration and sorrow. The other Marines watch in concern, murmuring, "Sgt. Major..." Tashigi grips the hilt of her sword tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. Smoker looks away, his expression stern but understanding. Hina watches the exchange silently. Gathering her resolve, Tashigi turns back, salutes sharply through her tears, and screams at the top of her lungs, "YESSIR!"

A Marine runs up to Smoker, interrupting the moment. "Capt. Smoker! You have a call from HQ!" Smoker acknowledges, "Hm? Alright, get yourselves onboard. I'd like to see that much guts from the rest of you too..." He picks up the receiver of a Marine Den Den Mushi. The voice on the other end says, "IS CAPT. SMOKER THERE? THIS IS THE MARINE HQ." Smoker replies, "Yes, that'd be me." The voice continues, "CONCERNING YOUR SUBJUGATION OF CROCODILE, YOU AND SGT. MAJOR TASHIGI WILL BE AWARDED WITH MEDALS, BY THE UPPER BRASS OF THE WORLD GOVERNMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE TWO OF YOU WILL BE PROMOTED BY ONE RANK EACH." Smoker is taken aback. "Subjugation? Hold on a moment there... We ain't the one who beat Crocodile. Didn't you listen to my report!?" Hina interjects, "The government's set on covering up the truth of this affair. It's pointless to object, Smoker." Smoker ignores her, yelling into the receiver, "THERE IS ALSO- Look, the ones that fought Crocodile and his Baroque Works, Were the Straw Hat pirates!"

Hina tries to reason with him, "Do you really think anyone in the World Government would want to declare to the world, That 'pirates' were responsible for saving the kingdom of Alabasta from destruction!? AS SUCH, THE MEDAL-AWARDING CEREMONY FOR YOU TWO WILL BE..." Smoker furiously interrupts, "THAT'S A LOAD OF CRAP!" Hina yells back, "JUST ACCEPT IT, SMOKER! ALL THEY'RE MAKING YOU DO IS TAKE THE CREDIT! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU DISOBEY THE HIGHER-UPS?" Smoker grips the receiver tightly, his face dark with anger. "WE defeated Crocodile...!? My subordinate is crying right now BECAUSE she wasn't capable of doing that,... Pass on this message for me to those senile fools you call the upper-brass." The voice on the Den Den Mushi asks, "WHA?" Hina warns, "SMOKER!" Smoker delivers his final message with absolute venom: "TELL THEM TO EAT SHIT." He slams the receiver down with a loud "CLICK!".

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