Queen of the Pirates

The Clock Tower

Vivi sniffles, "We need to find the person that is going to set off the explosion."

"Find the guy who is going to set off the explosion?" Usopp blurts out, not back on his feet as we stand in a circle. "How are we going to do that?"

"We don't have time to think with only ten minutes left."

"The blast will be three miles in diameter, so he has to be shooting from a mile and a half away, right?"

"No! Whoever is setting off the explosion is near the square. I am sure of it."

"Won't that mean he'll blow himself up too?"

"Do you expect anything less from that croc bitch?" Nami asks.

"He'd sacrifice his own people!?" Chopper gasps.

"He's disgraceful," Sanji says.

"It doesn't matter," I speak up. "We don't have to worry about him or what goes through his mind."

"Then we better-" Zoro starts but cuts himself off when he quickly unsheathes his sword.

Vivi and I cower together as Zoro stops the sword of a Baroque Work member and Sanji kicks them in the face.

"Holy shit," I breath out as my heart skips a beat.

"Found you princess!" a group of Baroque Work members shout as we turn to see them the large group evilly staring us down. "If we bring back your head, we are sure to all get big promotions!"

"The Billions!" Vivi exclaims.

Sanji and Zoro look at each other, and understanding floating between them.

"Ten minutes minus...how long is this going to take?" Sanji clenches his jaw.

"Let's not waste time talking," Zoro grits his teeth.

They both look back at the men who are ready to attack, "Two seconds."

"Come on princess!" I give her a tug to get us to start running.

"We're going ahead!" Nami shouts to the boys as the others burst into runs and Pell breaks into flight as a falcon.

"Scatter! Get out of this dust storm and scatter!" Usopp shouts.

With Vivi and my hand holding each other's tightly, we end up breaking off from the others together with Pell flying close to us. If anyone saw us, they might think that we were actually twins. Not that those kind of thoughts have any place on a battlefield that is about to explode in less than ten minutes now.

"Pell! Do you see anything!?" Vivi asks.

"I've checked all the rooftops nearby, but there's no sign of a bomb or cannon!" Pell answers.

"Is it possible that they could fire it from inside a building?" I look at Vivi then Pell.

"Interesting idea, Akari," Pell nods. "I'll search everything!" He banks steeply into the air.

"Sounds good!" Vivi and I keep running ahead.

"We are going to save, Alabasta, Vivi!" I look around at all the buildings. "We've made it this far, gone up against so many people, and we are not going to stop until we save Alabasta!"

She forces a smile onto her lips as the tears stream down her face.

After all we've been through in the last couple of days, both of us are not in the right shape to be running around as fast and as much as we are. I don't know how it happens, but both of Vivi's shoes fling off, causing her to skid across the stone street, tearing up both of her shins. She isn't able to let go of my hand quite in time, send me tumbling to the ground and scrapping both my elbows and knees. Both of us lying in the street as our wounds bleed.