Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

A Dark Power Emerges: The Final Clash Begins

Ryomen and Luffy stood on Pell’s back in his falcon form, soaring toward Alubarna.

“Are you sure you can carry both of us, Pell?” Ryomen asked, concern tinging his voice.

“I have to. The kingdom is in danger, and the rebellion might’ve already started.” Pell replied, his tone heavy with urgency.

Ryomen nodded, a decision already forming in his mind. He glanced over at Luffy, his brow creased with worry. “How do you feel now?”

“Better!” Luffy exclaimed with a grin, a barrel of water strapped to his back. “That meat really helped! I'm ready to kick Crocodile’s butt now!”

Ryomen chuckled softly but his voice was firm. “You should still take it easy.”

The trio flew in silence, the tension in the air palpable as Alubarna finally came into view. The towering castle loomed over the city.

“There it is!” Pell pointed with his beak, his wings beating faster. “That’s the castle!”

“Huh? Is that Vivi?” Luffy mumbled, squinting ahead. Crocodile was holding Vivi by her neck at the castle’s edge.

“Pell! We need to get there faster!” Ryomen yelled, his heart pounding in his chest. Without hesitation, Pell sped up, cutting through the wind in a desperate attempt to reach them.
…

“This kingdom is doomed, you can’t save it!” Crocodile declared, releasing his grip on Vivi and letting her plummet toward the ground.

He barely had time to register the approaching figures in the sky before a massive falcon, carrying two figures, hurtled toward him.

“Impossible!” Crocodile spat, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.

“Crocodile!!” Luffy’s voice rang out as Pell caught Vivi in mid-air, and Ryomen’s arms wrapped around her tightly.

“You’re alright!” Vivi gasped, her relief palpable as she clung to Ryomen.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she buried her face into his chest, her body trembling. “There’s no time! There’s going to be a huge explosion in the square! Everyone will be killed! Alabasta is…” Her voice cracked, the weight of the kingdom’s doom pressing down on her.

“Vivi.” Ryomen gently lifted her face with a soft smile, meeting her teary gaze.

Luffy stood beside them, grinning confidently. “Leave it to us!”
…

As Pell dropped them off on the castle grounds.

“Be careful, you two.” Pell cautioned, his voice heavy with concern.

“Don’t worry.” Luffy shot back, his confidence unwavering. “There’s no way…we can lose.”

The two locked eyes with Crocodile, who stood menacingly atop the castle’s highest point, his expression unreadable.

“I’m surprised. How did the poison not kill you?” Crocodile asked, suspicion lacing his voice.

“They’re alive!” Chopper exclaimed from below, having just arrived with the rest of the Straw Hats.

“See!? Didn’t I tell you all along!?” Usopp cried out, his body covered in bandages.

“Sure you did…” Sanji muttered under his breath.

“Usopp!” Nami growled, slapping him in the back of the head, knocking him over. “I asked you to make a weapon, not a party favor!”

“But it worked, right?” Usopp whimpered fearfully.