King

Vivi stands in the pouring rain, her face bruised and exhausted, panting heavily as a voice cries out, "...HOLD IT!". The scene shifts to the massive square before the palace, where the immense crowd of rebel soldiers and royalists still have their weapons raised, the tension palpable despite the rain. A voice from the angry crowd shouts, "NIGHTMARES DON'T END JUST BECAUSE YOU OR ANYBODY DECLARED IT OVER! WE SAW WHAT THE KING DID AT NANOHANA WITH OUR OWN EYES!". Another voice chimes in, fueling the fire, "THAT'S RIGHT! OUR LEADER KOUZA WAS SHOT TOO!". In the thick of the throng, two furious men yell passionately, their faces contorted with rage. One shouts, "IT'S THE SAME WITH EVERY ACT OF VIOLENCE THE ROYALISTS HAVE CARRIED OUT UP UNTIL NOW!". The other screams, "DO YOU THINK ANY OF OUR FALLEN COMRADES CAN JUST ACCEPT THIS CONCLUSION!?". The conflict seems far from over as the crowd refuses to stand down.

Two royal guards, clad in their armor, look on in absolute shock as a commanding voice rings out over the chaotic square, "THROW DOWN YOUR ARMS! ROYALISTS!". In a grand doorway of the palace, Commander Chaka appears. He is heavily injured, his clothes torn and body battered, but he stands firm with his arms spread wide to block the path. He pants heavily from his wounds. A voice from the crowd yells in recognition, "COMMANDER CHAKA!". Another voice shouts, directing the order to the opposing side, "YOU TOO, REBELS!". The massive crowd looks towards the palace entrance in surprise. Vivi, her face streaked with rain and dirt, looks on in disbelief and relief, whispering, "Chaka...". The sudden appearance of the commander halts the immediate violence, and a voice in the crowd stutters, "You d- Ahem! Maa Maa...", unsure of how to react to the sudden command.

Igaram stands tall and resolute in the ruined street, holding a small, heavily bandaged boy in his arms. Voices from the stunned crowd yell out in shock, "C... CAPTAIN!?" and "CAPTAIN IGARAM!". Vivi, seeing him, remembers a poignant flashback of Igaram smiling and saying, "MAY WE MEET AGAIN IN OUR HOMELAND." Tears well up in her eyes as she gasps, "IGARAM?", unable to believe he survived. Nearby, the Straw Hats react to his sudden appearance. Sanji, cigarette in mouth, exclaims, "He's still alive!?". Zoro, looking annoyed, yells, "It's that perverted old man from Whiskey Peak!". Chopper looks on, confused by the commotion. A cloaked figure, revealed to be King Cobra, says with relief, "Igaram!". Another voice from the crowd adds, "You're alive!", as the realization that the captain of the royal guard has returned washes over them.

The crowd murmurs in confusion as Igaram looks down at the bandaged boy in his arms and asks gently, "Boy... Can you talk?". The boy replies weakly, "Yes." Someone in the crowd points and says, "Hey, isn't that... It's the kid shot by the royalists at Nanohana." The boy, Kappa, suddenly speaks up loudly, tears streaming down his face as he addresses the massive crowd. "...YOU'VE GOT IT ALL WRONG! IT WASN'T THE ROYALISTS WHO SHOT ME! EVERYONE LISTEN TO ME! I SAW THEM...! THE 'ROYAL GUARDS' WHO ATTACKED NANOHANA... WERE ALL FAKE!". The crowd is stunned into silence, marked by a collective "!!?". A voice shouts out the horrifying realization, "EVEN THE KING WAS A FAKE! IT WAS ALL A TRAP SET BY SOMEONE!". A flashback shows Mr. 2 Bon Clay, disguised perfectly as King Cobra, laughing maniacally, "GAHAHA! AMBIGUOUS!". Chaka listens intently to the boy's testimony. A rebel soldier drops his weapon, realizing the truth, and says, "...He's right. This whole conflict... Was set up from the very beginning."

Sanji sits exhausted on the wet ground, his clothes torn and body battered from the intense battles. Behind him, a heavily bandaged Kouza is sitting up, supported by another man. Voices from the rebel army cry out in relief, "KOUZA!" and "LEADER!". Igaram stands before the massive crowd in the square, with the young boy Kappa now resting securely on his back. He announces with authority, "I will now explain, Everything that has occurred in this country... But first, throw down your arms, all of you!". The rebels and royalists listen in stunned silence, the truth finally dawning on them. Slowly, the sound of clattering metal fills the air as swords, axes, and spears are dropped to the wet ground. A close-up shows a hand releasing the hilt of a sword, letting it fall into a puddle, symbolizing the end of the senseless violence.

Vivi runs frantically towards the heavy wooden doors of the palace, panting heavily as she pushes them open with all her remaining strength. She steps out into the rain-swept city, looking around anxiously for her friends, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the quiet courtyard. "VIVI!" a voice calls out from the ruins. She turns, calling back desperately, "...Everyone! Where are you!?". From off-screen, Usopp's voice yells, "Hey! Walk properly!". Sanji's voice complains loudly, "UGHH... LISTEN... I'VE BEEN AFFLICTED... WITH 'WALKING-ANY-MORE-WILL-KILL-ME-ITIS.'". Zoro's voice retorts bluntly, "Fine, then stay behind here.". Sanji quickly replies, "HEY, WAIT!". Vivi looks towards the source of the voices, a look of immense relief washing over her face as she realizes her friends are alive and bickering as usual, their familiar banter a stark contrast to the grim reality of the war.

Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and Chopper emerge from an alleyway into the ruined streets of Alubarna. Zoro is dragging a large, wrapped bundle behind him, which appears to be Smoker. Sanji is smoking a cigarette, looking battered and exhausted, his suit torn. Nami walks beside them, her clothes torn and face bruised, looking completely drained. Chopper waddles along, looking equally tired. Zoro says, "That's where you are." Sanji complains, dragging his feet, "WHY MY LEG!?". Nami sighs, "Ah-". In the next panel, King Cobra is shown walking through the rubble, carrying an unconscious Luffy on his back. Luffy's arms and legs dangle limply as Cobra carries him, his straw hat hanging from his neck. They walk through the devastated city, the rain continuing to pour down on the ruins of Alubarna, washing away the dust of the battle.

Sanji points at Cobra and says, "Thanks for carrying him over here, But we'll take him from here. He's kind of our crew's whatchamacallit." Cobra, still carrying the unconscious Luffy on his back, looks at them and asks, "Who are you people...?". The Straw Hats stand in the ruined street, looking at the older man. Cobra realizes, "...Does that mean you're the pirates who escorted Vivi back to this country?". Nami looks confused, "Huh?". Sanji asks, "And who might you be?". Zoro bluntly asks, "You the king?". Sanji and Usopp react in absolute shock, their jaws dropping and eyes bulging as they yell, "P-PAPA!? Y-Y-YOU'RE... VIVI'S FATHER!?". Vivi runs towards them, crying out, "PAPA!? EVERYONE!". Cobra smiles warmly and says, "It's Vivi!", relieved to see his daughter safe after all the chaos.

A close-up shows Luffy's battered and unconscious face as he rests on Cobra's back, a large gash visible on his chest. Cobra says, "I had already resigned myself to death, But he saved my life." Nami looks relieved to hear this. Sanji comments, "Even after fighting Crocodile and in that body, he carried two people back up to the surface. His strength is incredible...". Zoro adds, "...Then that 'poison' should no longer be a problem." Chopper confirms, "Yes, it should be neutralized by now... But he still needs to be treated for his other wounds... The same for all of you as well." Zoro turns to Vivi and says, "More importantly, you should get back, Vivi." Nami asks, "Back?". Zoro continues, "Get back out to the square." Usopp agrees, "That's right. The rebellion was finally stopped, But it's gonna feel pretty anticlimactic, Without a word or two from the king and the princess."

Nami looks at Vivi as Sanji says, "Then all of you should also-". Sanji interrupts himself with a wide grin, "Vivi, you understand, don't you? That we're outlaws... We've got no intentions of getting involved with the affairs of a country." Chopper, looking exhausted, says, "I'm hungry." Nami smiles gently and adds, "We're gonna head to the palace on our own. We're all dead-tired." Cobra looks at the pirates with a slight, knowing smile, appreciating their discretion and the immense help they've provided. Vivi looks at them, understanding their decision to stay out of the kingdom's official matters. Sanji turns and begins to walk away, waving his hand dismissively as he heads towards the palace, leaving Vivi and Cobra to address their people and bring true closure to the conflict.

In the rain-soaked square, Tashigi is on her knees, her head bowed to the ground in defeat and frustration, her sword resting beside her. She is completely drenched. Marines stand around her, securing the area. A Marine speaks into a Den Den Mushi, "YES, UNDERSTOOD, CAPTAIN SMOKER." The Marines look around at the defeated Baroque Works agents scattered across the square. One Marine says, "Then Crocodile was... The man behind it all...? I can hardly believe it...". Another Marine stands at attention and salutes. A voice commands, "MARINES!". The reality of the situation is finally sinking in for the Marines, who had been manipulated by Crocodile's status as a Warlord, and they now must face the truth of his crimes and the failure of their own justice.

Crocodile lies unconscious on his back in the rain, completely defeated, his hook resting beside him. A Marine's voice announces, "An artificial-rain ship owned by Baroque Works, Has been found containing significant amounts of dance powder. And the head of this secret criminal organization Baroque Works, Has undeniably proven to be you, Sir Crocodile, a Royal Shichibukai Pirate." Close-ups show Crocodile's battered face, Tashigi looking down with tears in her eyes, and a flashback of Luffy's angry face. Voices yell out, "WHERE'D THAT CROC GO!?" and "WHERE IS HE!?". The Marine continues the proclamation, "Under the authority of World Government's Marine HQ, The special permit of 'Lawful Seizure of Enemy Assets,' And all other rights and titles granted to you by the World Government, Are hereby revoked." Tashigi stands silently in the rain, listening to the official downfall of the man who deceived them all.

The Marines continue to secure the defeated Baroque Works agents scattered throughout the city. A Marine points his rifle at the unconscious Mr. 4 and Miss Merry Christmas, who are lying in the rubble, completely incapacitated. Another Marine stands over the defeated Mr. 1, Daz Bonez, who is lying face up in the rain, his body covered in cuts. Miss Doublefinger is shown slumped unconscious against a stone pillar, her extravagant outfit ruined. The Unluckies, Mr. 13 and Miss Friday, are tied up and hanging upside down from a wooden beam. Mr. 2 Bon Clay is lying face down in the dirt, completely knocked out. Mr. 3 is also shown unconscious, his face planted in the ground. The entire officer agent roster of Baroque Works has been utterly defeated, bringing an end to their secret operations.

A massive footprint is indented into the ground, a remnant of the fierce battles that tore through the city. Nearby, Miss All Sunday, Nico Robin, lies unconscious on her back among the debris, her clothes torn and covered in blood, her fate uncertain. In a quieter part of the city, a civilian man peeks out from a doorway, looking at the rain falling on the streets. He says, "WELL WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT...". In an alleyway, the camel Matsuge peeks his head around a corner, observing the aftermath of the chaos. A close-up shows Matsuge's face. The scene shifts back to the grand palace square, where the massive crowd of soldiers and citizens stand silently in the pouring rain, waiting for their leaders to speak and bring an end to the nightmare.

Sanji, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper are resting in an alleyway, hidden from the main square. Sanji sits on the ground and says, "We've done, Something we can never take back...". Vivi looks down, her face filled with sorrow and exhaustion, overwhelmed by the tragedy that has befallen her country. She says, "I CAN'T FIND THE WORDS TO SAY TO EVERYONE...". Igaram stands before the massive crowd, a solemn figure. Someone murmurs, "Leader...". King Cobra walks forward, his cloak billowing behind him. He addresses the crowd with a heavy heart, "To mourn it is natural... To find it unbearably regretful is natural... We have lost much, And gained nothing." People in the crowd look up and yell, "YOUR HIGHNESS!", their voices filled with emotion as they listen to their king speak the painful truth.

Cobra continues to walk forward, his voice ringing out over the square, cutting through the sound of the rain. "THE FIGHT HAS BEGUN AND NOW ENDED! NO MATTER WHOM IT IS YOU FOUGHT," A rebel soldier looks on, whispering, "The king...". A close-up shows Cobra shouting with immense passion, his face contorted with emotion, "BUT WE HAVE ADVANCED FORWARDS NONETHELESS! NO MAN CAN SIMPLY FORGET THE PAST! BUT YOU CAN ALL RISE ABOVE THE ASHES OF THIS CONFLICT! LIVE ONWARDS," He stands tall before his people, a beacon of hope and resilience. The crowd, including Igaram, Kappa, and Chaka, look on in awe, deeply moved by his powerful words, ready to rebuild their shattered nation and move past the tragedy that nearly destroyed them.

A massive double-page spread shows the Kingdom of Alabasta. The grand royal palace of Alubarna stands tall in the background as the immense crowd of citizens, rebels, and royal guards fill the square, standing together in the pouring rain, united once more. Narration boxes read: "And the battle never to be told in history..." "The battle that would go down in history," "KINGDOM OF ALABASTA!" "Both drew to a close." At the bottom of the page, Vivi is shown with tears streaming down her face, deeply moved by her father's words and the end of the war. Beside her panel, Sanji, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper are shown resting, battered and exhausted, but with small smiles of relief on their faces, knowing their mission is finally complete and the country is safe.

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