Some Justice

In Alabasta, north of Sandy Island, a Marine ship sails through sudden rain. Smoker, cigar in mouth and coat collar up, glares as someone asks, "Don't tell me... You didn't use this dance powder, did youI" Smoker replies, "I know what is and isn't illegal." A voice warns, "...Don't be idiotic." On the ship's deck, Hina stands with her back to the viewer while Smoker lounges in a chair. Crew members speculate: "Has the hunter mellowed out a bit compared to the pastI" "But those are some cute words from the man known as the 'White Hunter.'" Hina reflects, "...Pardon Hina. Hina reflects for baseless accusation." Smoker states, "To never use this powder under any circumstancesI What would I gain by willingly violating the king of Alabasta's judgment," and Hina answers, "Mind your own business."

Hina stands tall in her long black coat and Marine uniform, arms crossed, as large impact symbols and the word "!!" emphasize her anger. She declares, "Appropriating my elite troops, in any case, isn't this a little extremeI" Close-ups show her glaring eye with symbols of irritation while voices note, "Hina is vexed." "Quite vexing." "Just to search for one puny ship..." Smoker, still seated with cigar, mutters "Hmph..." as Hina continues, "Always giving me that excuse... Hina sympathises with Tashigi's troubles. Oh come on, you and I've been long-term associates. Don't be like that." A label identifies her as "Marine HQ Captain 'Hina the Black Cage'."

The Baroque Works artificial rain ship "The Fool" floats beside the Marine vessel in the rain. Hina says, "Along with Crocodile, who Tashigi'll be bringing over soon." Smoker retorts, "Get real. You think you can boss me aroundI" and "Why should II" "Just take this artificial rain ship back to HQ." Hina flips a coin and calls, "Heads." In a flashback panel she tells Smoker, "ALWAYS DOING THIS AND THAT YOUR WAY ONLY... YOU REALLY HAVEN'T CHANGED A BIT SINCE YOUR DAYS AS A FRESH RECRUIT!" Smoker replies, "Yeah, yeah, I'm already aware of that." Hina concludes, "You lose." The coin spins with sound effects "キィ..." and "!!" as rain continues to fall.

A Marine sergeant shouts desperately at his superior, "But Sgt. Major! This is a golden opportunity! At our current strength, we won't be able to handle them once they regain cons-" The order comes back cold: "That's an order...!" Tashigi stands with her back turned, reacting with shock, "WhaI" In a dramatic close-up, Tashigi's face twists with fury and resolve as she declares, "TO LAY A HAND ON THEM RIGHT NOW! I WILL NOT ALLOW ANY-BODY..." Below, several figures lie sprawled in the rain-slick street while a voice warns, "B-BUT WHY!I THEY'RE ALL HERE IN ONE SPOT RIGHT NOW! THEY'RE SITTING DUCKS!"

Vivi kneels beside the injured Leader lying on a stretcher amid the ruined square. She whispers, "Vivi." The Leader replies weakly, "You know... Toto said about Yuba that..." Vivi asks with concern, "You won't die on us, right...I How are your woundsI" The Leader answers, "AND I'VE GOT HIS BLOOD RUNNING IN ME TOO..." Vivi calls out, "Leader..." He continues, "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..."

In the town square, a cloaked figure says, "I'll send you a letter from there. Don't worry." The Leader answers from off-panel, "Once I get fixed up, I'm heading back to Yuba." A voice calls, "Leader..." Rain begins to fall heavily over the city as someone exclaims, "Sure..." and another shouts, "It's raining!" In the streets, excited citizens cry out, "And those foolish sons of ours will surely return!" "The rebellion will now end!" A man in a turban points skyward and yells, "LOOK! IT'S RAIN! IT'S RAINING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3 YEARS!"

Rain pours across the desert town. A small monkey-like figure on a wrecked ship calls out, "KUO!" while other creatures echo, "KUO!" A skull lies in the street as rain falls. A large panel shows the city under dark clouds with the question, "HOW LONG WILL YOUR STUBBORNNESS LAST, FATHER!I" A shovel stands stuck in the sand with the caption, "Look, Kouza." "The rain is falling..." In Yuba, a voice declares, "YUBA IS DONE FOR! WHAT WILL YOU ACCOMPLISH BY STAYING HERE ALL ALONE!I" Another demands, "ARE YOU TRYING TO DIE WITH THE TOWN!I" Water drips from a broken faucet as rain continues to fall.

An elderly man with a thick beard and turban laughs heartily in the rain, tears mixing with the downpour. He says, "Only 3 years..." and "That was all it took..." Below, a wide rainy vista shows a large shovel stuck in the ground amid ruined buildings. A cloaked figure sits with a smaller companion nearby. Speech bubbles read "Rain...I" and "Isn't that right,..." while large stylized SFX echo across the sky.

Citizens of Alabasta rejoice wildly in the pouring rain. A man in a dark coat throws his arms wide in celebration. People dance and cheer around a striped pyramid structure topped by a crocodile statue. A narration box declares, "No longer forced to fall by any force." Smaller panels show joyful faces and figures spinning in puddles. Bottom captions state, "On and on, without end." and "The rain poured down on Alabasta."

Rain falls over the royal palace at night. Inside a large bedroom, multiple beds hold sleeping figures. A blonde girl with a cross-shaped bandage on her forehead sits up sharply and shouts "SHUT!" as a loud snore erupts from one bed. SFX like "ぐごぉおおおお..." and "ぐごー" fill the room. A figure by the window reacts with surprise.

Vivi sits up in bed and tells Igaram, "No... I just don't want to sleep, that's all." Igaram replies from across the room, "Having trouble falling asleepI" and "Princess Vivi. You're still awake...I" Rain continues outside with large SFX. A narration box reads, "This rain fall down." and "I simply wish to keep on watching." Below, a mustached man wakes with a start amid more snoring and rain sounds.

In a quiet room lined with beds, Luffy lies with his mouth wide open in a massive yawn as SFX "がぁぁぁ" and "すー" fill the air. Nearby, a bandaged figure sleeps soundly with "んがーっ" and "はぃぃー" sounds. A lone silhouette stands by the window as someone murmurs, "About Pell..." In the next scene a long-haired woman with a headband stands by the window overlooking the domed city, replying softly, "...There could surely be no greater honour to him." A wrapped figure on the bed answers, "I just wish... I could have said, 'Thank you.'" Another voice agrees, "Yes... He was the noblest and strongest warrior I had the pleasure of knowing," while faint SFX "ザッアァアア..." and "パチ..." linger in the air.

The next day at the Eastern Alabasta port of Tamarisk, a Marine announces, "Sgt. Major Tashigi has arrived!" as a ship docks. Capt. Hina stands on deck while Capt. Smoker watches from the pier. Tashigi salutes, "Capt. Hina. It's been a while, Tashigi." Smoker replies, "Good work!" Tashigi steps forward and reports, "I heard about the incident with Straw Hat. Welcome back... Sgt. Major Tashigi reporting back, Capt. Smoker." A Marine questions her with a "I" as Tashigi turns away, saying, "Hello to you too... L... I'm rather tired so please excuse me while I take a rest."

Smoker confronts Tashigi, demanding, "Did your actions not stem from your own sense of justiceI Why do you apologizeI" Tashigi answers, "And let them escape when they were vulnerable for capture. I aided the pirates, forgive me, captain... I understand these are shameful actions for a marine." She continues, "It was because it was the only action I was capable of." Marines react in shock, "Sgt. Major...!I" as Smoker snaps, "No, they did not." Tashigi looks down and admits, "Even though I knew where the enemy was, I was only capable of conveying that location." Luffy's face erupts in rage, "WHERE'S CROC!I TELL ME!" while Smoker growls, "LOSERS CAN'T TALK OF JUSTICE...! THAT'S THE KIND OF SEA THIS IS...!"

Tashigi stands firm, stating, "I had no justice which I could choose myself. I was only capable of providing them support. Even though I knew when the bombing would be." Smoker exhales smoke and replies, "They know that you can't survive in this sea without constantly continuing to climb higher....People who you've thought to be on your level until recently have recently climbed higher and higher, spreading their infamy." Tashigi turns to leave, "Please excuse me, captain. I need to rest a while." Smoker calls after her, "Who was it that decided on her own to come to this seaI Will you advance or dieI" Tashigi pauses and answers quietly, "You idiot..."

Tashigi stands with tears streaming down her face, her glasses fogged, as she shouts through sobs, "IF YOU'RE FRUSTRATED ENOUGH TO CRY, THEN TRY GETTING STRONGER!" Behind her looms a large figure in a jacket bearing the kanji "正義" (Justice). In smaller panels, a scarred man addresses "Sgt. Major..." while Tashigi continues crying with sound effects "ギュッッ...!!!" and "ドドドド... sob...". The sequence ends with a close-up of Tashigi's wide-open mouth as she yells "YESSIR!" with dramatic impact lines and the onomatopoeia "バタン!!" nearby.

At Marine HQ, a call comes through: "IS CAPT. SMOKER THEREI" Smoker answers, "Yes, that'd be me." HQ informs him, "Capt. Smoker! You have a call from HQ!" and orders, "Alright, get yourselves onboard. I'd like to see that much guts from the rest of you too..." Smoker reacts with "HmI" The conversation continues as HQ states the pair will receive medals for the subjugation of Crocodile and a one-rank promotion each. Tashigi interrupts angrily, "We ain't the one who beat Crocodile. Didn't you listen to my report!I" while Smoker holds the receiver.

Tashigi protests fiercely, "JUST ACCEPT IT, SMOKER! ALL THEY'RE MAKING YOU DO IS TAKE THE CREDIT!" and "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU DISOBEY THE HIGHER-UPS!I" Smoker retorts, "THAT'S A LOAD OF CRAP!" and "AS SUCH, THE MEDAL-AWARDING CEREMONY FOR YOU TWO WILL BE..." while questioning the government's narrative about the "pirates" who saved Alabasta. He then barks into the phone, "TELL THEM TO EAT SHIT." followed by a loud "CLICK!" as he hangs up, with Tashigi shouting "SMOKER!" and "WHA!I" in shock.

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