❛ I CAME TO SAY GOODBYE! ❜
₊˚៹ . ❪ episode : 130 ❫˖ ₊˚.⋆
࿐┊ CH. 24┊🏴‍☠️🌊👒

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       THE PIRATES DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO LEAVE THE PALACE. THEY KNEW THE MARINES WOULD BE ONTO THEM SOON AND THEY NEEDED TO FIND THEIR NEXT DESTINATION. It was late at night when they departed into the desert sands again, not really choosing that time to leave, it was just straight after they finished eating and had a discussion on their given room for the crew.

      The ducklings of the kingdom were giving them a ride through the cooler sand environment, knowing they would get to their ship faster by taking the animal transport. (Y/N) did offer to use her bending to get them across, but that idea was shoot down by her two loyal crew members instantly as she did just recover from the fight with Crocodile prior.

     Currently they were all sat on each duckling, their fast movements creating a sand gust behind them. She was sat on one of them in front of Zoro, sharing one with him much to Sanji's whining about it, that had the swordsman snickering amused to himself that he got to hold her again.

      She had a piece of meat in her mouth, one that Luffy shared with her as he had the other half. She wore a protective white drape over her body, like the rest of the crew, but Zoro made sure it was up over her straw hat to protect her more.

      "So this is finally farewell to the sand kingdom..." Usopp was sobbing to himself from beside them, having Happy and Chopper together sat on his duckling, and turned to see their captains both eating meat, "Hey, (N/N), Luffy, when are you gonna stop eating?"

      She didn't reply, only munching on the meat in her mouth and leant back into Zoro's muscular chest, feeling one of his arms wrapping around her waist and the other perched on her thigh, respectfully of course. He never crossed boundaries with where he touched her.

     But Luffy did answer instead, "The Alabasta dishes are great!" His words were muffled from the stick of meat between his teeth, and his big eyes moved to the cook, "Sanji, make them sometime."

      Sanji hummed in agreement, shooting the swordsman a scowl at how comfortable he looked with their captain, before replying to the other male, "Yeah. I was interested, too, so I got some recipes from Terracotta. Some spices too."

     Chopper, the ever observant doctor he was, noticed how down Nami was and asked her worriedly, "Nami, are you feeling sick?" This gained the crew's attention, and it had (Y/N) leaning up from her slouched position on Zoro.

     Luffy offered Nami some meat, but only said she could have one piece though. His sister giggled amused at the comment, however soon grew serious which was rare as she talked to Nami, "You're thinking about Vivi, aren't you? We gave her time to decide, the rest is up to her. We can't stay here any longer then necessary, you know that."

     Nami bit her bottom lip, and gripped the straps that control the duckling she was on tighter, "For Vivi's sake.... I'm willing to give up..." Her voice sounded on the verge of tears, but then the switch up happened, "...on the 1 billion berries."

      The crew all exclaimed together at her answer, not even shocked that's why she was sad, and it even made Usopp fall off the duckling he was on, causing Chopper and Happy to freak out. (Y/N) blinked rapidly, stunned for a few seconds before releasing loud laughter, use to her crew and their odd ways.

     "Nami! Don't act misleading!" Zoro scolded with wide eyes, keeping one hand on his captain's thigh to make sure she doesn't fall off, and held the reins with the other, her laughter music to his and Sanji's ears.

       The burglar looked innocently at her friends, wondering why they were reacting the way they did, "What?! What're you guys worked up about?" She questioned confused, gaining incredulous expressions back, "If it's about Vivi, it's no use worrying about it, right?

      "Hey! Usopp fell again!"

          "Just leave him."

            "It was your fault!"

       After all the arguing and commotion was over, they eventually arrived back at the Going Merry, where they knew Bon, Mr.2 had their ship. He told them he wasn't doing anything bad, but was just looking over their ship until they got back since they were so called 'friends'.

     And as soon as they did arrive, Bon clay was waiting there for them, standing on the ship's edge looking all mighty proud of himself, "I've been waiting, you guys! Long time no see!"

      The crew hoped off the ducklings, as they needed to go back to their home. Zoro helped (Y/N) off the animals back by the waist, gaining a shy smile from her and she softly kissed his cheek in thanks. The swordsman flushed in the face that time, and sent Happy a glare hearing his snickers in the background.

      She brushed her hand over the duck's beak that brought her, feeling his soft feathers and patted his head gently smiling, "Thank you for brining us back! Have a safe trip through the desert." She chirped, gaining a quack back and waved to the rest of the group, along with her crew doing the same.

     Bon was crying for some reason and saying goodbye to the ducklings also, until he felt the judgmental stares from the pirates down below on the ground, "Don't what me! That's not how you should treat your friends, is it?!"

     "What do you mean 'friends'?" Luffy asked incredulously, pointing a finger at Bon who acted like he was shoot in the heart from his words, "We were enemies. You lied to us!"

     "I didn't lie! I didn't know it, either!" Bone tried to defend himself, "But you see... who cares about it anymore?" He slumped down on the edge of their ship, right near the ladder that lead onto the deck, "Baroque Works fell. We're no longer enemi--"

     Zoro, who was carrying stuff up the ladder with two hands easily, interrupted the swan male, "--Hey, move over." He grunted, not being able to move past Bon blocking the ledge, and he shuffled over with a sheepish apology.

      (Y/N) raised an eyebrow at the new male on the Going Merry, eyes following Zoro's figure until he was out of sight, and crossed her arms over her chest, "Even if we're not enemies, why are you on our ship? I mean, I figure you're probably watching over her for us, but--"

     "Listen! If I wasn't on this ship now," Bon once more tried to defend him, just as Sanji walked past him carrying some more of their supplies, which one of the boxes was something he got for his captain, "what do you think would've happened to it?!"

      The siblings shared a look between each other, matching expressions being worn which made Happy slap his forehead at their dumbfounded looks. That was until Nami answered from behind, "It might've been taken by the Navy."

     "What?!" Luffy and (Y/N) both exclaimed with wide eyes, snapping their heads back to where Nami was backing up her massive bag full of most likely gold and food, "You are for real?!"

     "It's not 'might've'! It definitely would've happened!" Bon cried from the edge of the ship still, and waved his arms around frantically to get his point across, "Do you know what's going on around this island right now?! It's completely blocked by the Navy ships! It's blocked!"

     Luffy, Usopp and Chopper gaped up at the male, and Luffy was the one who asked in shock, "What?! Then you protected the Going Merry from the Navy?!" At his words, it made the other two add onto the questioning also.

    "Because we're friends!"

      The Monkey D. girl stepped back away from the scene, holding Happy in her arms as she gawked at the scene in front. She stood on the deck with the others, and watched her brother, Chopper, and Usopp all dance with Bon Clay like that did when they first met.

      She giggled a bit amused at their behavior, fingers running through Happy's soft fur and looked up to Sanji, who came up beside her still carrying stuff, "Do we still have stuff to pack, Ji?"

      His deadpanning expression shifted as soon as he heard her sweet voice, and tilted his head down to her with a dorky grin, "No, my love. This is the last one." He answered in a cooe, motioning to the stuff in his arms.

      "So, in other words, Mr. 2..." Zoro's deep voice spoke up next, him placing away his captains bag on the other boxes carefully, "You guys couldn't get off of the island due to the Navy's coast siege," His sharp eyes glanced over his shoulder at the four dancing, "so you wanted to find allies... Isn't that right?"

      Instantly the dancing stop, and the three broke apart from Bon, exclaiming his name in disbelief and horror. Bon slide to the floor, dramatic tears rolling down his painted cheeks, "That's right... In a time like this... because it's a time like this... Gather! In the name of friendship! Let's untie out strength and fight together!"

      "Yeah!" The other three were cheering with him, persuaded easily and Bon's ship and crew suddenly appeared beside theirs, giving (Y/N) whiplash from everything happening so quickly, but still laughed with them all happily.

        What followed after this came all of a sudden.

       The night going into morning had started with laughter. Bon Clay had been mid-monologue—something about the beauty of friendship and flamboyant flair—when the first fire of something tore through the sky.

      It whistled as it came, landing with a thunderous crash on the starboard side, exploding into splinters and shrapnel. The Going Merry lurched violently, sending their supplies up deck flying and conversations scattering like the panicked crew. It was chaos.

     The sea around them churned in a mix of white foam and smoke as Marine ships appeared from the mist, cannons primed and merciless.

     Luffy was already on the mast, screaming, "They're so annoying! I can't deflect beams!" His hat nearly flew off his head from the wind, only saved by the string tied around his neck.

   Half the ship groaned under the weight of large iron poles embedded deep in its belly, meant to sink it fast. Another round of them was already being fired, slicing through the sky like arrows from hell.

      "WE JUST FINISHED FIXING THAT SIDE!" Usopp wailed, helping Chopper carry planks of wood down to fix up the holes below deck from the Marines.

      (Y/N) stood near the mast, swaying slightly. Her bruises from the battle with Crocodile still hadn't faded, the bandages peeking from under her shirt testament to her recent near-death. She was still healing.

      Zoro and Sanji had all but placed her on lockdown after that fight, "You move more than a toe and I'll tie you to the damn mast myself," Zoro had grunted earlier. Sanji, softer but no less serious, had said, "Please, mon amour... rest. Let us handle it."

      But now, the sea was on fire, the crew overwhelmed, and they were losing.

       "Hey! I can't keep plugging the holes any more!" Chopper yelled out, holding a hammer and planks of wood, as he was currently inside one of his larger forms.

      "Do something, you guys!" Nami shirked from her spot by the top of the ship, glancing over the crew with wide eyes, very much panicking knowing they could sink anytime soon.

      "If this was close combat, we'd have a better chance..." Zoro grunted to himself, teeth gritted together and clenched his sword handle tighter, as he looked at the many Marine ships surrounding them from all sides, "Whether we chase them or run away, they'll never change this formation!"

      (Y/N)'s fingers clenched tightly at her sides, her elemental connection to the sea humming like a song she couldn't ignore. Water called to her. And yet... their words echoed in her head like guilt-soaked bells.

     Still, when another pole shot through the air and buried itself into the deck just ten feet from Chopper's medical supplies, she knew she couldn't wait anymore.

     A glance to her side showed Happy, her best friend, the little blue Exceed cat flapping his wings nervously. Their eyes met. He didn't need to speak. She just nodded.

      Together, they sprinted. No backing out now, as the crew worked harder around them to patch up the holes all around the ship

      "(Y/N)—Hey!" Zoro's voice cracked over the roaring ocean the moment he caught sight of her.

      She sprinted through the pandemonium, feet light and hair flying as she ran straight to the edge of the boat. Crew members dodged incoming poles, others screamed in disarray, but she was already climbing up the railing.

      "Oi! Get back here, damn it!" Sanji shouted from across the deck, voice breaking with panic as the ship tilted dangerously under the assault. His heart nearly dropped at the sight of her so close to the edge again.

      But (Y/N) heard nothing now. She raised her arms, palms skyward. Her eyes fluttered shut, and the ocean rumbled beneath her.

        A deep breath in.

      The water surged in response to her call. With a snap of her wrists, it rose in spiraling columns, dancing around the ship with wild grace.

       Then—her eyes snapped open. Fierce. Determined.

      And with yell and a thrust of her arms forward, the spirals of seawater collided with the iron poles flying toward them, slamming them midair with devastating precision. The crash of metal against water echoed across the ocean as each spear was swatted away, some crashing into the Marines' own ships.

     Cheers erupted behind her—Happy whooping, Chopper and Usopp crying out in joy, Nami screaming, "GO, (Y/N)!" as Luffy tried covered her from behind with his abilities.

          But it wasn't over.

      More poles had already pierced into the wood, deep enough that the ship was groaning with strain. Water was already flooding the lower level, and the few hands couldn't plug the holes fast enough.

      (Y/N) felt her knees weaken. Her breathing came fast and ragged, every ounce of bending drawing on energy she didn't have yet. The world tilted. She swayed backward—and was caught.

      Strong arms scooped her up before she could slam into the deck. Her head lolled slightly, heart pounding, until the scent of smoke and salt hit her.

           Sanji.

      He held her close in a tight bridal hold, one hand under her knees, the other cradling her against his chest as if she were the most precious thing in the world. His body moved instinctively to keep her balanced even as the ship rocked.

     She blinked up at him, dazed, and gave him a crooked smile, "Hey, Ji... I made a splash."

      But her smile faded the moment she saw his face—lips set in a tight line, his jaw clenched, brows pulled down with something deeper than anger. Fear. "What the hell were you thinking?!" He exclaimed at her.

      She flinched. The warmth in his arms didn't match the scolding in his tone,  "Zoro and I told you—don't push yourself. You just got out of a fight with a warlord! You push yourself like this again and you could seriously hurt—again!"

     "HE'S RIGHT, DAMN IT!" Zoro's voice boomed from the back as he shoved another pole out of the way, hating that he was agreeing with the cook but for once did, "We told you not to do something reckless! You're not invincible, (N/N)!"

     Her shoulders sank under the weight of their worry. Her arms slipped around Sanji's neck, her face burying into the crook where it met his shoulder, "I'm sorry," She whispered, the words nearly lost in the crashing waves and frantic shouts around them.

      He exhaled, chest rising and falling quickly. His lips brushed against her temple, then lowered to press against the bare skin of her neck. She gasped at the warmth, a jolt of flustered energy shooting through her.

      "I'm sorry for yelling, too," He murmured in a raspy tone, lips still brushing her skin, "We're not mad. I'm not mad. We just... we care about you. Too much to watch you get hurt again."

     She held onto him tighter, fists gripping the fabric of his shirt. The tears she didn't realize were building began to sting at the corners of her eyes, "I would've done the same," She mumbled, barely a breath, "If it was you, or Zoro, or Luffy... I'd do anything to protect the crew."

     He smiled against her skin, soft and sad, as he whispered, "I know, angel."

      The crew scrambled in the background, fixing the ship, yelling orders, and tried to sail desperately out of Marine range. But they couldn't, not when they were blocked up from all sides.

      Another ship was destroyed when she managed to hit one, and the both of them came crashing down together. Luffy turned his head, to see Usopp with his jaw dropped and eyes wide with Happy floating above him just as stunned, "Guys! Did you two do that?! Amazing!"

      Usopp and Happy snapped their heads in sync to Luffy, the sharp shooter making a confused noise until he shakes his head and acts like that was meant to happen, "O... okay! It was just as I calculated! That's what happens to ships once I'm on the job!"

      Happy deadpanned knowing it just wasn't him who destroyed the ships, as his best friend was also the one who helped getting rid of them both. He saw (Y/N) still inside Sanji's arms, with Zoro by her side now also, and smiles to himself at the cute scene.

     "Nice work! The ships in the south sank!" Bon Clay shouts from his spot on the deck, a wide and large grin covering his face, "Now we can break through there in one shot!"

      That was until the 'Black Cage' showed up, causing Bon's face to drop into a horror filled one, and informed the crew of who she is. Hina was a captain at the Navy Headquarters and basically the area they were in was under her protection, so they needed to hurry and leave before getting captured.

      But the Straw Hats knew they couldn't flee, not when they needed to travel the way all the Marine ships were to where they agreed to pick up Vivi if she wanted to join them. Bon Clay didn't understand as to why they didn't want to leave yet.

      "What're you guys doing?! We have to run!" He yells waving his hands around, and pointed to the spot where the ocean was clear apart from the two broken Marine ships, "If we pass through that point in the south, we'll be able to escape with minimum damage! If we don't change course, they'll take us down for sure!"

      "If you wanna go, then go. We can't." Luffy told the male who looked more confused then anything and was about to throw a fit, as his crew was telling him to jump on board.

      Nami hummed in agreement, her back facing Bon Clay who was getting ready to jump onto his ship's deck, "Noon at the eastern harbor... we have an appointment." She added onto the explanation, "We don't have time to go around, so we have to dash through."

      (Y/N) tapped her palm against Sanji's chest to place her down, to which he did gently and she stood in between the boys now. She tipped her head back at Bon, and sent him a wide grin, "We're going there to pick up our friend!" She chirped, straw hat hanging down by the rope around her neck.

     This seemed to stop Bon Clay in his tracks. He gazed over at the Straw Hats one by one, as he made up his mind and whispered, "... So it's for your pal..."

      "Bon Clay!" His crew shouted from their swan ship, watching as their captain suddenly turned serious all of a sudden, and pause before he jumped onto the deck where they were.

     "Running now wouldn't be like Bon Clay..." He started to speak, his back turned to the Straw Hat's, making Happy, Chopper and Usopp gape at the male, "--If we abandon pals who would risk their lives to pick up their pal, "will we... be able to enjoy our food tomorrow?!"

      His crew all felt their jaws drop, and gasped in realistion, while Bon continued to talk, "Listen guys... Straw Hats, too! Listen to what I have to say carefully!" He had tears running down his cheeks, but a wide smile still shone through as he told them his plan to help the Straw Hats escape the Marines and pick up Vivi.

      So now, the Swan ship was heading south, and they divided forces, making the Marines think that they were currently on the ship driving, when they weren't at all. Hina fell for their trick, and followed them, but soon realised that the crew on the ship were fakes, and the real ones were getting away.

     Clay Bon cackled loudly in Hina's face, and span around the fake straw hat around his pointer finger, knowing he fooled the Marines and gave a chance for his friends to flee without issue, "You were tricked, weren't you? We're experts at disguising ourselves! and..." He spread his arms wide happily, ".... we're the Straw Hat's friends!"

      From back over on the Going Merry, where they were further away now from the Marines, majority of the crew was at the end of the deck watching what was happening with Bon Clay. He was fighting all the Marines with his crew, despite knowing they were out numbered and would probably fall.

     Thanks Bon Clay, (Y/N) thought to herself with a teary smile, her back against Zoro's chest who kept an arm around her shoulders, so she wouldn't run off and try to do something reckless again, Hopefully we meet again soon.

      Luffy, Usopp and Chopper were all crying dramatically over Bon's sacrifice. Sanji and Happy shared a wide eyed look, the cat sat on his shoulder, before watching the fight again, seeing the massive fire now separating their view from the scene.

     But this gave them the chance to escape, even though the Marines were back on their tail again. The pirates didn't have time to mess around anymore. They fought back against the Marines surrounding them, each Straw Hat taking out the Marines in their own way.

      (Y/N) and Happy were taking out ones from up above together, while the others worked on the Marines below on their ship. And this kept up until they were free for a while giving them a chance to hear Vivi's speech, and not see her where they agreed to pick her up from.

      "You heard the speech, right? It was Vivi's voice without a doubt." Zoro informed the group of the obvious, his dark eyes glancing to his captain to see her face hidden by the brim of her hat, and Happy giving her a worried look from floating beside her.

     "They're just broadcasting the ceremony being held in Alubarna." Sanji added on, strolling up beside (Y/N) to place a gentle hand on her lower back for comfort, and lowered his tone to a softer one, "She's already decided that she wouldn't come here."

     Luffy looked to his sister, knowing she felt conflicted also hearing the voice, and shakes his head stubbornly for the both of them, "No, that voice just resembled Vivi's voice. That's all. This is the Tamarisk place, right?"

      Her (E/C) eyes glanced up from under the brim of her hat, and surprised the boys when she moved out of their hold, "Yeah, it is." She said quietly, walking up to the ledge of the deck, "We aren't moving till I see Vivi with my own eyes. I know she's here somewhere."

      Zoro and Sanji shared a look, the only time they ever did or get along was because of her, this time no different. Neither of them spoke after hearing what she said, but Luffy was more then happy to back her claim up, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders in a side embrace.

     "Hey, this is bad! The Navy is after us again!" Usopp exclaimed from the top of the stairs, having spotted them when keeping watching with Nami, and pointed at the incoming ships heading their way, "There's too many this time!"

     (Y/N) refused to move from her spot near the edge of the boat, feeling deep in her bones that Vivi would come to at least see them off. She ignored the commotion around her, but felt eyes on her and heard Happy's wings flap up beside her next, landing on the ledge.

     And she was right. Because not even a few minutes later, the familiar shrill voice of Vivi was yelling out to them, "Everyone!" There she stood on the banks of the sands, with Karoo right by her side.

     The Monkey. D girls eyes lit up upon spotting her, and a wide smile broke out across her face, "Vivi! Karoo!" She exclaimed back with a giddy laugh, making the rest of the crew turn around and smile at their friends waving to them from the sands of Alabasta.

     The crew were getting ready to sail back for her, but what she said next made most of their hearts drop, and movements pause. (Y/N) felt her face fall, already having a feeling she knew this would happen.

     "I came to say goodbye!" She projected her voice once more, before grabbing the handset so her pirate friends could hear her better, "I can't.... go with you! Thank you so much for everything! I'd like to go on more adventures, but there's no ignoring that I love this country! So I can't go!"

     (Y/N) held Happy tighter in her arms, and felt his blue paw squeeze her forearm in comfort. She knew this was going to happen, and she didn't blame Vivi for not coming, as she knew she wanted too but Vivi needed to stay with her country before anything else.

     "I..." Vivi's words died out in her throat, getting a flashback to when they first placed the X marks on their wrists to signalize their friendship and bond with each other. Tears started to pour from her eyes, and sobs began to leave her mouth, "I will remain here.... but if we ever meet again some day... will you call me your friend again?!"

      No one on the crew responded knowing the Marines had caught on now, but Luffy almost did and it was lucky Nami slammed her hand over his mouth to stop him before he could, "Idiot! Don't reply! The Navy has noticed Vivi. If we prove she's connected with us, she'll become a criminal. Let's part without saying anything."

       And so, they did the one thing only Vivi and Karoo would understand. (Y/N) was the first to raise her arm above her head, revealing the black cross marked on her skin. The rest of the crew followed, all in a line with their arms above their heads to show no matter what -- no matter how much time passes, they would remain friends.

     This made Vivi's tears come to a sudden stop, and her face brighted up into a wide, relieved smile, in utter happiness knowing what this meant for their friendship. Vivi and Karoo lifted up their arms next, all of them saying farewell without having to speak.

     Even when the Marines were firing at them, and sea water was raining down on them, (Y/N) managed to peek over her shoulder and gave Vivi the brightest smile she could muster, the final goodbye between both parities that made the princess cry harder, but happy tears this time.

"No matter what happens, this thing on our left arm is the sign of our friendship!"

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❪ ✏️ ❫ 𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙳𝚂 : 4611
─►☆ AUTHOR'S NOTE :
another updated who cheered?? i know i did eheehehe because now we are entering one of my fav looks on zoro and im so excited SOO excited to write this one scene i have planned out for my zoro lovers like ughh i knew i had to add it as soon as i remembered a certain dance in this next arc 🛐

alabasta will forever be one of my fav arcs ever and im sad its over but also not because we can move on and the more i do write the closer i get to wano (my fav arc ever in anime). i have a problem where i tend to plan ahead a lot lmfao