Lara's POV;

“So what are we gonna do?”, asked Yosaku me and Lia when we were back with the others.

“There are four large ducks to ride on. We are eight”, I began and everyone instantly knew that some of us have to stay back.

“I would like to stay here and give our ship a throughout check. I'm still not strong enough anyway”, volunteered Noa instantly. I nodded in acceptance, it was reasonable. We don't have to take an extra stop to check the ship, it gets guarded and he is out of harm's way.

“Igaram is also necessary, that makes one duck less. I think me having with you as the doctor is also important”, said Jo from the side, he was preparing his field medical kit.

“So Josef, you, Lia and Igaram?”, asked Nojiko, slightly saddened. She probably wants to visit her sister. Her use as a sniper could also be helpful in a fight, and if it comes to the canon storyline then she can help her sister with fire support.

“No, Lia and I can ride on one duck. I rather thought that Noa, Jonny and Yosaku will stay here. Noa is not strong enough, yet. And Jonny and Yosaku can protect him, I don't think that this place will stay unchecked by the revolutionaries or Crocodile”, I said with a shake of my head.

“Ah man, I so wanted to bash some heads in”, grumbled Jonny while kicking a pebble into the water.

“Yeah”, Yosaku agreed equally dejected.

“You still might do, it depends on how important this port is for Crocodile”, I said in a placating manner. Maybe we can go hunt some pirates after this arc? More experience is always good.

“Okay, Nojiko, Jo and Igaram will go to Alubarna and inform Cobra about Crocodile. Lia and I will go to Rainbase. We might be able to intercept Crocodile and take him out directly”, I explained when it looked like no one would complain.

Igaram looked at both me and Lia with a worried expression.“He's a Warlord of the Sea, are you sure you can take him on?”

I waved him off. “Crocodile has a right to his name, but he is surely arrogant. All we need is to hit him fast and hard.” A serious Crocodile is dangerous, especially in a desert, but he showed arrogance in his fight against Luffy and only became serious when it was almost over.

If it comes to a serious fight than I have to worry a little. But this world is surreal, with the water inside my inventory I will be able to resist his water absorption, the only true danger.

“If you say so, be careful”, warned Nojiko. We then prepared the needed food and rations and set out. Igaram, Nojiko and Jo were riding south-east and will reach Alubarna in only three hours. While Lia and I will need half a day to reach Rainbase.

First, we have to cross the big river that is parting Alabasta in two. The duck wanted to use one of the three bridges, but we told it to just run directly towards Rainbase. We will carry it over the river with Geppo. This bird isn't too heavy. I wonder how it tastes like.

“Quack?” The duck was looking up at me with a worried look.

“What? I won't eat you, as long as you are fast enough”, I told it. The duck increased its running speed and we left an even bigger dust cloud behind us.

Suddenly something moves in one of our food pouches. The pouch is wiggling around and then opens. Out came the head of Mrs Chicken Wing. “Bog?” The hen looked around for a moment and then jumped out of the pouch. She evaded the swing of my arm and landed on my shoulder, where she sat down and looked onwards.

“Seems like she wanted to tack along”, laughed Lia from in front of me. She was leaning herself against me, while I had the rains for the duck.

“Stupid bird”, I grumbled but was bought out of my cursing by Lia's hand that was caressing my cheek.

I looked down at her and smiled. “So what is the real reason for us going to Rainbase?”, she asked me then.

“You know me too well. Yes, taking Crocodile out is not the real reason. I want to take the sea stone and some of his money. It's the largest casino on this island, there is sure to be some fine money inside its vault.

Fighting Crocodile is also cool, but not the real goal. I'm not even sure if we can beat him if he uses his fruit in the correct way. But so far most people with a Devil Fruit were really lacklustre if it came to the possible applications of their skill.

Especially those who have a concept fruit.

“Fine with me, who is fighting him?”, she asked a moment later.

“You can if you want, I've noticed how you want to let loose. So feel free to get him, I will speak with Robin in the meantime”, I said with a shrug. Lia's fruit is better suited to fight him anyway. She can immobilise him with a few sea stone pebbles or use pressure bombs. Maybe even make his use of sand impossible by increasing the pressure each sand corn has on each other, making the whole desert way 'heavier'.

“Thank you”, she chirped and gave me a kiss. We continued to kiss while the duck under us continued to stomp forward.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nojiko's POV;

We reached Alubarna after only a few short hours of riding these fascinating ducks. Their feathers are really soft and they don't look like animals that could survive in the desert. Yet they are able to do just that.

The Grand Line is really fascinating, it was a good decision to follow Lia and Lara. Even if they are often a little 'quirky'. At least it never gets boring with them and they aren't stupid like my sister's captain. Seriously, this Luffy acted like an idiot the whole time I talked to him. He has a good heart, but he is not someone I want to follow with my life on the line.

I'm not really concerned with the chances of us beating Crocodile. Both Lia and Lara are strong, extremely strong. They will be able to beat him. And it's not like I am where they will fight.

Anyway, we had no problem with passing the desert and are now being guided through the palace towards this king called Cobra Nefeltari. I never was in the presence of someone with such a high rank, it's good that the two idiots aren't with us, they would probably cause our execution.

“King Cobra, I have returned with grave news”, said Igaram seriously while falling down on one of his knees. Josef and I did the same a few meter behind him. Better safe than sorry.

“Stand Igaram, it is good to see you, where is Vivi?”, replied the king in a friendly tone. Not a speck of arrogance or 'I'm higher than thou' in his voice. The king was a middle-aged man with black hair that was combed to the back, it got curled and reached his shoulders. He had a tied-off beard that looked like a small totem. His clothes are a green version of a robe with a purple overcoat. I once heard that purple is the colour of the kings.

“Yes, princess Vivi is currently not with me. We had to part ways to increase our chance of reaching you. She is in the capable hands of a group of volunteers.” Igaram worded that carefully to not say the word pirates.

“I see, and you trust these volunteers to protect her?” This time the king sounded more serious with some hidden worry.

“I believe that they would not let harm come to Miss Vivi. I myself was in the care of some really helpful individuals. Without them, I would not have been able to reach you this fast, nor without injury.” Igaram gestured to me and Josef and I fell uncomfortable under the gaze of the king. Why can't Lara be here? She is the captain or Lia, she is not as skilled in speaking as Lara, but she is at least the co-captain.

“Pardon my late introduction. My name is Cobra Nefeltari, 12th king of Alabasta. Whom have I to thank for protecting the leader of my personal guard and friend?”, he asked and smiled down at us.

“And please stand, I am not someone who likes to have his conservation partner kneeling.” Josef and I stood up and he glanced at me, clearly saying that I will have to speak.

“My name is Nojiko and to my left is Josef, we are part of the Kage crew”, I said. Better leaving Josef's surname out, as well as the fact that we are pirates. Hopefully, we aren't known enough to recognised yet.

“A pleasure, wasn't the crew with the name Kage a pirate crew under the leadership of a woman named Slicer Lara? I've seen her bounty poster, 150 million is not a small amount in this part of the world”, he mused with a small smile, obviously seeing how I paled. Well shit, he knows!

“My king, I can assure you that these are not your average pirates. They never did anything normal pirates would do during my voyage and always act friendly. Without them I would not be here”, defended Igaram us instantly.

“Worry not Igaram, I trust you. If they are good enough for you to travel with them then they are good enough to speak with me. So what is it that you want in return for helping my close aide?”, reassured the king. His gaze hasn't left me the whole time.

“I'm sorry, but I can't answer that. My captain is not with us at the moment and only she knows an answer to that, or her sister possibly, who is also not present.” My apology was received with a nod. He kept staring at us for a moment and then looked back at Igaram. I almost left a deep breath out in relieve.

“So be it then, rewarding you can wait until your captain has returned. Igaram, what is it you've said a moment ago. About grave news?”

Without a pause, Igaram began to explain. “Yes, the princess and I have found out who was and still is responsible for the Dance Powder incident and brewing rebellion.”

“And who is it? Who is responsible for the suffering of my people?”, interrupted the king angrily. He no longer was calm and collected, he was angry and his whole posture showed this.

“It is Crocodile, the local hero and member of the Warlords of the Sea.” Igaram's words hit them like a sledgehammer and the room got silent. The two guards of the king, who I now am only able to look at with more detail got pale. They had a presence on them, I can't exactly point at what it is.

“Are you sure? This would be grave news indeed,” questioned the king with a slightly shaky voice.

“Yes, he is the leader of a criminal organisation and plans to take Alabasta over. Everything he has done so far was planned for a takeover. And he has almost succeeded with his plans.

While I am here to inform you, princess Vivi will go to inform Kohza about this. She knows him well and is sure to be able to convince him away from civil war.” Igaram's confirmation was again greeted with silence.

That was until the face of the king turned into a serious and determined frown. “Then we have to confront Crocodile. He is in Rainbase, our army will put him under arrest.”

“My king, we can't do that. As much as it pains me to say, but Crocodile is well liked under the civilian population. Sadly more so than even you. Attacking him now will only spark the final powder keg and result in full-blown civil war,” opposed one of his guards. He had a white chequered robe and some kind of purple eye paint.

“And what am I else to do? If we don't stop him he will be the death of thousands of people”, shouted the king back.

“Excuse me?”, asked Josef suddenly. I glared at him, why did he say something? Now we are back in the king's focus.

“Yes?”, asked the king, a little less angry.

“My captain and her sister are on their way to Rainbase, the main base of Crocodile. If they cross his path then I'm sure that they will fight him. I don't know much about Crocodile, but I am confident in my captain's strength.” Right, Lara is on her way to this Warlord. She will take him out and everything is fine.

“Are you sure? Crocodile is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. His ability to control sand is fearsome in the desert and he is a Logia on top of that”, asked the other guard with a big amount of scepticism. Understandable, if they don't know Lia and Lara, those two are monster.

“I'm sure, if it comes to a fight then Lia and Lara will be able to beat Crocodile. That is if they fight to the end. If it does not come down to a fight than Crocodile will have to start his endgame.

Igaram's appearance will not stay unnoticed. He will want to finalise his plans before anything can change too much. This means that he will come to Alubarna. Moving the army now would help him in the end”, explained Josef. He gave this so much thought? I'm impressed, I knew that he was intelligent, but I thought that was only in things regarding medicine.

“Yes, I can see what you mean. And you are sure that they can beat Crocodile?”, asked the king to be sure.

“Absolutely. Lara alone would be able to there is no question of if but of how fast, especially with the help of her sister Lia. Those two should not be in this part of the Grand Line, to begin with”, said Josef confidently. The king stocked for a moment when Josef mentioned this part of the Grand Line. That isn't the first time that Josef said this. Lara and Lia too mentioned something about a second part. Is it so much different from this one?

“Then I can rest assured. Still, it would be good to be prepared. Chaka, Pell, prepare the army I want them to be on high alert,” ordered the king. Both guards bowed and then left the throne room.

“Igaram, please lead Nojiko and Josef Mengele to their rooms”, said the king then and both Josef and I twitched slightly when the king mentioned Josef's surname. So he knew, thankfully he seems to be open minded. I don't want to think about what might have happened if they tried to arrest us. Especially when Lara learns about it.