(A/N: I almost wrote this chapter in one sitting the other day before realizing the time. But here I am the day before Thanksgiving at like 11pm finishing it up because I was very close to being done with it and I wanted to get it done. Also this is the last chapter of the entire book before I move on to book two! I hope you enjoy it!!!)

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Chapter Forty-Two:

" Our New Crewmate, Nico Robin "

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(NO POV)

As the Straw Hats were trying to leave with the help of Bon Clay, a fleet of Marines attacked them led by Rear Admiral Hina. They were shooting numerous iron spears into the Going Merry, causing damage to the crew's precious ship. "Dammit! Shoot cannonballs! I can't deflect pointy things!" Luffy complained. "If we take any more iron spears into the bottom of the ship, it'll be only a matter of time before we start to sink!" Sanji shouted in concern. "MORE INCOMING!" Nami cried. More iron spears were fired into the ship, "Hey! I can't keep plugging up these wholes, you guys!" Chopper exclaimed. 

"Dammit! One ship versus eight!? This isn't a fair fight! And to think they call us the lowlifes!" Isaac cursed. "If this was close combat, we'd have a better chance. We're stuck! Whether we chase them or run away they won't change formation!" Zoro shouted. 

BOOM!

Suddenly, two Marine ships went down. Isaac turned his head to see Usopp who had fired one of the cannons, both of them were shocked at what Usopp had accomplished. "Usopp! Was that you who did that!?" Isaac exclaimed. Usopp was silent for a moment before his expression became confident, "Wh-Why yes! It's just as I calculated!" He said with a grin. "That was amazing, Nosey! Now nothing can prevent us from breaking crew!" Bon Clay cheered. "Bon Clay! We got trouble!" Shouted one of his subordinates. "What's wrong!?"

"BLACK CAGE!"

Bon Clay paled, "Oh no!" 

"What's going on, Bon Clay?" Isaac asked. "It's 'Black Cage' Hina! She's a Marine Rear Admiral we're in her jurisdiction! She's a real pain! We need to hurry and fly the coop!" Bon Clay explained. "We must run! If we can pass through that point in the South, we can escape with minimal damage!" He said to the Straw Hats. "But if we don't change course immediately, they'll surely take us down!" Luffy looked at Bon Clay with a serious expression, "If you wanna go that way, go ahead. But we can't." He said. "You can't!? But why!?"

"Noon at the Eastern harbor...We've got an appointment." Nami explained. "There's no time to go around. We'll head straight through." "THAT'S LUDICROUS! IS THERE SOME TREASURE YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME ABOUT THAT'S WORTH THROWING AWAY YOUR LIVES!?"

"We have to go get one of our friends," Luffy said. Bon Clay gasped, "So...It's for your pal that you'd risk it all..." 

Meanwhile, in Alubarna, Vivi had finished getting dressed for the speech she was going to give regarding the end of the harsh times in the country. "You look pretty in your princess get-up." Vivi turned to see June leaning against the doorway with a smile. "June!" Vivi cheered, hugging the taller female with a smile. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay in Alabasta as my official Lady-In-Waiting? You could be so happy here and you'd have a permanent home unlike your life as a bounty hunter." She said. June chuckled, "Vivi, over these few years you've become like a little sister to me, I'll miss you so much. But I can't stay. I don't belong in a lifestyle like yours. But don't worry, I think I'm going into early retirement regarding bounty hunting thanks to the payment you gave me for helping you." She then looked at Vivi with a more serious expression, "Have you thought about what you're going to do, Vivi?" June asked. Vivi sighed. 

"Sweetie what did you want to talk about-" Cobra and Igaram entered the room, both becoming stunned at the sight of Vivi's appearance. "I almost mistook you for your mother in her youth...You're the spitting image of her, Vivi." Cobra said. "Yes, indeed." Igaram agreed. "Father, Igaram, have a seat," Vivi said. "I have an important matter to discuss." 

"GREAT BON CLAY!!!" Cried the subordinates aboard Bon Clay's ship. "Running away would go against everything Bon Clay stands for! If we abandon allies risking their lives to pick up a friend...Could we live with ourselves tomorrow!?" Bon Clay exclaimed, tearing up. "Listen, guys, Straw Hats too! What I have to say is of great importance!" 

Rear Admiral Hina and her scouts watched as Bon Clay's swan ship began separating from the Going Merry. "The duck ship is probably a decoy," Hina said. "Well, it seems all the Straw Hats are on the duck ship! The sheep ship is a decoy!" Hina grit her teeth, "Follow the duck! Return to formation immediately!" She ordered. All the Marine ships had their sights on the swan ship. Only for them to quickly discover they'd been tricked by Bon Clay and his crew in disguise!

The real Straw Hats, aboard the Going Merry, headed East as fast as they could. The Straw Hats watched from afar as Bon Clay's ship was ruthlessly attacked, "BON CLAY! WE'LL NEVER FORGET YOU!" Luffy cried. As they entered the eastern harbor, they began hearing Vivi's voice giving her speech over the loudspeaker. "Vivi..." Chopper mumbled. "Forget about it, you heard the speech. It was Vivi's voice without a doubt." Zoro said. "They're just broadcasting the speech being given in Alubarna. Vivi's already made up her mind not to come here." Sanji added. Isaac glared at the two, "You two be quiet! There's no way Vivi wouldn't at least say goodbye!" He insisted before looking back to the kingdom in front of them, wistfully, "Or at least...I hope so." He mumbled sadly. 

"No, I don't buy it. She's here." Luffy said. "This is the Tamarisk place, right?" 

"Yeah, that's right."

"Let's go. It's past noon."

"No! There's no way she wouldn't have come! She's definitely here, let's go out and look for her!" Luffy insisted. "Hey, this is bad! The Marines are after us again!" Usopp shouted. "How many?" Zoro asked. "I'd say at least six!" "Dammit! Let's move!"

"Give it up. Her case is different than ours." Sanji said. 

Meanwhile at in Alubarna, the citizens were throwing a hissyfit as the one on the palace balcony wasn't Vivi despite it clearly being her voice giving the speech, but Igaram dressed as Vivi. They were throwing all kinds of things at Igaram in anger, but he was unfazed. Vivi and June rode together on Karoo's back to Tamarisk, skidding to a halt as they finally saw the Going Merry in their sights. 

"EVERYONE!" 

Luffy and Isaac turned their heads and perked up, "VIVI! KAROO! JUNE!"

The three waved from the land excitedly, grinning. "Vivi!" Nami exclaimed. "See! She came!" Luffy shouted happily. "We'd better hurry and go back!" Usopp said. "I came to say goodbye!" Vivi shouted. Isaac and Luffy's expressions faltered. "Goodbye...?" June took the handset from Karoo and handed it to Vivi. "I'm sorry...But I can't go with you! Thank you so much, for everything! I'd like to go on more adventures, but I can't ignore the needs of my country. Which I love more than anything! I have to stay, I hope you understand." She said. Vivi thought back to when she, June, Karoo, and her friends had put the 'X' on their wrists and then when Isaac's was added after he returned. Vivi thought about all the times she'd bonded with each and every one of the Straw Hats, as she began to tear up. She glanced at June who was struggling to hold back tears of her own. "I...I will remain here to fufill my duty. But...If we ever meet again, no matter how much time's passed...Will you call me your friend again!?" She sobbed. 

Luffy was about to reply, but Nami shoved him to the ground. "You idiot! The Marines have noticed Vivi! If we prove she's connected with us, she'll become a criminal. Same goes for June. Turn away, and not another word." She ordered. 

As the silence went on, Vivi's tears actively streamed down her face, same for June's as the running eyeliner mixed with her own tears. Isaac was holding back his own tears so that he could keep their relationship with the princess and June under wraps, but it was proving difficult. Then, one by one, each of the Straw Hats raised their wrists, revealing their 'X's', the sign of their everlasting friendship. The girls and Karoo saw this, smiling as they raised their own marked wrists in reciprocation. 

(SIMEON's POV)

I slammed my fists angrily against the desk. "Damn that Sky-Boy! He managed to escape by grasp twice! First on the way to Alabasta and then after he was reunited with his crew! What am I supposed to tell her." I grit my teeth. After failing to capture Sky-Boy and his crewmates along with two of his fellow witches, I had to hitch a ride with the recently promoted Commodore Smoker and Ensign Tashigi who thankfully would take me back to HQ on their way out. I then heard the nearby transponder snail ringing, and I cringed. "It's her! Crap!" I cursed before hesitantly picking up the call. "H-Hello? This is Rear Admiral Ellmeyer Simeon." I said. 

"Greetings, Simeon." An all too familiar voice responded. I gasped, "P-Professor Nerissa! Hi...How's it going?" I stammered. "I heard you ran into a rather interesting individual recently. A certain Sky-Boy Isaac?" She asked. "Yes, I did. But I unfortunately failed to capture him along with the Black Rose Witch and Maledictive Swordsman..." I replied. "I'm aware, Simeon. Just don't make it a habit of letting these witches slip out of your fingertips. We need to make sure there isn't a huge resurgance of witchcraft. The more witches that appear, the more danger they pose. And we wouldn't want that, now would we?" "N-No Ma'am." "Good. I trust you'll be able to do better in the future. Goodbye."

The line went dead. 

"SHIT!"

(ISAAC'S POV)

All of us, aside from Zoro and I were sulking after bidding our silent farewell to Vivi, June, and Karoo. "Looks like the Marines have stopped following us." Zoro said in attempts at looking on the bright side. Silence. "That's good news! We shook 'em off!" He grimaced staring, "Stop it! What's with the pathetic groans?" 

"I MISS HER!" They all cried. 

"That's enough whining! If you wanted her to stay with us that badly, you should've taken her by force!" Zoro said. Everyone gasped in offense.

"YOU SAVAGE!"

"BLOCKHEAD!"

"MOSS-HEAD!"

"Three-Sword Style."

Usopp looked at Luffy, "Wait a minute, 'Three-Sword Style isn't an insult."

"Four-Sword Style."

I frowned at Zoro, "Come on! Don't you miss Vivi?" I asked. Zoro sighed, "Of course I miss her, but I'm not here sulking and crying about it!" I facepalmed, "Just try showing some sympathy, okay?" "Fine..."

"Looks like we finally escaped the firing squad." Said a voice.

"Yeah..." Zoro and I replied in unison. My eyes grew wide, "Wait a minute..." I turned my head and glared. "IT-IT'S YOU! NICO ROBIN!" I shouted. "Here to avenge your friends!? Just try it!" Zoro threatened. Everyone else began to panic before Nami, Zoro, and I pointed our weapons at her. "Who's she?" Chopper asked. "I don't know, but she's beautiful!" Sanji swooned. Hands sprouted, knocking our weapons down. "I told you before not to point such dangerous weapons at me." She said. I groaned, "Dammit, I forgot about that..."

"How long have you been on our ship!?" Nami interogated. "Quite awhile. These are your clothes, right? I'm borrowing them." Robin replied. Nami grew angrier, "JUST A MINUTE LADY! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?" She shouted. Robin then looked at me and Luffy, "Monkey D. Luffy and 'Sky Boy' Isaac...It hasn't been so long you forgot what you did to me, has it?" She asked. Sanji's jaw dropped and he grabbed Luffy by the collar, "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU TWO DO TO THAT BEAUTIFUL LADY, YOU LOUSY BASTARDS!?" 

"Woah woah we didn't do anything!" I replied in defense. "Yeah, don't lie, Lady! We didn't do anything to you!" Luffy agreed. "Yes, you did. What you both did to me was unbearable." Robin said. "You're not making any sense! What do you want?" Luffy asked. "I want to join your crew." Robin stated. 

"WHAT!?"

Robin recalled the events that transpired back in the tomb of the kings, the events where Luffy and I saved both her and King Cobra. "You forced me to live then when I wanted to die, that's your crime." Robin explained. "WHAT THE HELL!? WE SAVED YOUR DAMN LIFE!" I retorted. "I didn't ask you to." Robin replied. I growled. "Anyways, there's no place for me to go or go back to. So I decided I'd join you." 

"Oh wow, I guess there really is no other choice. Welcome."

"LUFFY!"

Luffy grinned back at us, "Don't worry, she's not a bad person." He reassured. I sighed, "I hate to say it but after all the stuff I heard her say back then, I have to agree. Robin was just running with a bad crowd, or whatever..." I said, crossing my arms. A few minutes later Usopp was sitting across from Robin, anxiously tapping his fingers with her mimicking the same stim. She'd made an arm sprout that kept Luffy and Chopper entertained. "Pay attention!" Usopp scolded. "Answer my questions honestly! I'll ask you one more time! What's your name?" He then paused for a moment before introducing himself first. "My name is Nico Robin," Robin replied. "Alright Nico Robin, what's your occupation?" "I'm an archaeologist." 

"Really!?"

"I come from a long line of archaeologists."

Zoro glanced at the conversation, unsure what to make of it. "You find this weird too, right?" He asked me. I shrugged, "I dunno. Maybe a little. But it's better than leaving her to her mysteriousness." I replied.

"It was when I was 8 years old that I decided to pursue archaeology. And shortly after that I found myself wanted by the World Government. Since then I've spent the past 20 years hiding from the world." Robin explained. She continued explaining how she used various rogues, now including Crocodile, to get her ahead in life. "I'm good at maneuvering through obstacles to achieve a goal. I'd be a great asset to you and your friends." She said. 

Usopp nodded, "You're full of confidence. What's your specialty?" He asked. Robin rested her head in her hand, nonchalantly before speaking, "Killing." 

"LUFFY! MY INVESTIGATION HAS CONCLUDED THAT SHE'S FAR TOO DANGEROUS!" Usopp cried. But both Luffy and Chopper were distracted, being tickled by spare hands. "YOU GUYS EVEN LISTENING TO ME!?" Nami kicked a part of the ship, hard enough to gather everyone's attention. "Seriously, I'm disappointed in you two. You're both pathetic. Until recently, she was the vice president of a crime syndicate. And you really think such a woman should join us?" Nami looked Robin dead in the eye, "You may have fooled those idiots, but you can't fool me! You pull anything, and I'll personally kick you out."

Robin nodded, "I'll keep that in mind. Oh I just remembered..." She pulled out a small bag jingling at she put it on the table. "I brought some of Crocodile's jewelry with me." Nami immediately had a change of heart, "Wow! I love you, sister! You're the best!" She exclaimed. 

"NAMI NO!" I cried. Zoro, Usopp, and I grouped together, "Nami's been suckered." Usopp said. "This chick's bad news," Zoro added. "How did she know Nami's weakness so easily?" I whimpered. "She's following her lead like some pet." Usopp said. Sanji slid down the railing with two plates in his hand, giving her a snack and a cup of tea. "His reaction is no surprise." Zoro groaned. "Yeah, he was a lost cause from the start." Usopp agreed. 

"Looks like it's just me, you, and Pinky left as the last holdouts on this ship of insanity," Zoro said, crossing his arms. "HEY USOPP!" Luffy called. Usopp turned to see Luffy with two hands on his hat, resembling antlers, "Chopper." He joked causing him, Chopper, and now Usopp to laugh. I could tell Zoro was getting increasingly annoyed, he grabbed my hand and practically dragged me to the front of the deck. I looked at him, frowning, "Come on she clearly isn't that bad Zoro. It's like I said before, she was just running with a bad crowd." I said. 

Robin walked up the stairs after us, a casual smile on her face. "This ship has charm. Is it usually this lively?" I nodded, "Yeah, it is." I replied. "They seem very accepting, and I bet you'd know that all too well, Sky Boy." She said. I felt Zoro pull me into him and I wiggled in his grasp, "Zoro! Calm down, we're just having a conversation!" I protested. Robin chuckled, "Don't worry Swordsman, I'm not going to hurt him." "Like I'd believe a word you'd say after all the crap you pulled!" Zoro retorted.

I sighed, 'Hopefully everything settles down sooner rather than later...'

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END OF BOOK ONE