As the sun dipped below the horizon, its golden rays bathed the coastline of Alabasta in a warm, fading light.
Ron and his crew arrived at a secluded cove where the Thousand Sunny was quietly moored. Its unique, lion-headed figurehead and vibrant hull glowed richly in the twilight.
Vivi stood on the shore, the sea breeze tousling her blue hair. Tears welled in her eyes, but a determined smile graced her lips.
"Big Brother Ron, Luffy, everyone... I will definitely become stronger!" She clenched her fists. "When I've secured my kingdom's future, you all must come back!"
Ron stood by the ship's railing, his robes fluttering in the wind, taking on the solemn shape of a final farewell. He smiled gently. "Of course. We are friends."
The words were simple, but they broke the dam, sending Vivi's tears flowing freely.
Luffy waved his arms wildly. "Shishishi! That'll be a great adventure!"
Nami wiped the corner of her eye, pretending to be stern as she shouted, "Hey! Take good care of that Log Pose! It's a super-navigation treasure that can predict weather patterns!"
She had given the specialized navigational chart she'd found earlier to Vivi. Though she tried to play it off, no one missed the deep fondness and reluctance in her eyes.
Zoro leaned against the mast, his swords at his side, and spoke with uncharacteristic encouragement. "Next time we meet, show me how much your swordsmanship has improved."
Sanji, wiping a bloodstain from his lip, gazed toward the shore. "It's a miracle those Marines didn't give chase. Farewell, Princess Vivi! We are nakama!"
Usopp and Chopper were already a sobbing mess, leaning over the railing and waving goodbye.
"Mhm! Goodbye... everyone!"
The Thousand Sunny's anchor slowly rose, and its sails caught the evening wind.
Vivi stood on the dock, her vision blurred, but she waved with all her might. "We will meet again!"
Ron stood at the stern, watching the blue-haired figure gradually shrink, and made a soft promise to the wind. "Without a doubt."
The sea breeze billowed the sails. The Thousand Sunny, carrying the dreams and promises of its crew, sailed into the shimmering vastness. Vivi's figure finally vanished beyond the horizon, but the bonds forged, like the ship itself, were built to last.
A new adventure had begun!
...
In the plaza of Alabasta's royal palace,
The ten Poneglyphs were arranged in a neat circle, their ancient surfaces emitting a faint, mysterious aura. Marines carefully secured the priceless stone tablets with special anti-shock casings, assigning a dedicated guard to each one.
Kizaru stood to the side, idly fiddling with his sunglasses. "Kuzan~ I'll leave the escort of these troublesome stones to you~"
He was eager to distance himself from this political powder keg. "This old man has to... ah... pursue the remaining fugitives!"
Aokiji's expression darkened, a chill emanating uncontrollably from his feet. "Don't push your luck."
He glanced at the securely bound Crocodile and the deceptively "docile" Ace, a vein throbbing at his temple. "How could I possibly monopolize such a... *grand* achievement..."
Smoker, however, was in high spirits. He cleared his throat at the perfect moment. "Ahem! Reporting, Admirals! Your subordinate is available and requests permission to lead a team in pursuit of the Straw Hat Pirates!"
He saluted with righteous fervor. "They are dangerous criminals! We cannot let them escape!"
Kizaru and Aokiji exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them.
"Ooooh, by all means, go ahead~" Kizaru waved a dismissive hand. With Aokiji sharing the blame, the reprimand from headquarters might be less severe. "Do remember to... be cautious~"
Smoker immediately gathered Tashigi and a squad of elite Marines and boarded a warship.
Tashigi whispered as they set sail, "Captain, are we really going to pursue them?"
"Of course not, you fool!" Smoker muttered back, a shrewd glint in his eye. "We just need to make it look good. Those Straw Hats are my lucky charm. Next time we cross paths, they might lead us to an even bigger catch!"
The warship slowly left the port, gradually heading in the general direction the Thousand Sunny had taken.
Smoker stood at the bow, raising his binoculars with a feigned look of intense focus. "Full speed ahead! We must not let the Straw Hats escape!"
...
The next morning,
With the frantic flapping of newspaper delivery birds, world-shaking news swept across the Grand Line like a typhoon!
The front page of the **World Economic News** was dominated by a shocking headline:
**[SHOCKING DISCOVERY! TEN PONEGLYPHS UNEARTHED IN ALABASTA! INCLUDES TWO ROAD PORNEGLYPHS!]**
The paper featured clear photographs: ten large, square steles arranged in a circle in Alabasta's royal plaza, two of which glowed with a distinct and eerie red light.
Even more explosive were the smaller sub-headlines below:
**[PERSONALLY ESCORTED BY ADMIRALS KIZARU AND AOKIJI! FIVE TABLETS ASSIGNED TO EACH FOR TRANSPORT TO MARINEFORD!]**
...
"What a load of bullocks!"
In a grimy tavern on a deserted island in the New World, "Bone-Snapper" Basil, with a bounty of 320,000,000 Berries, slammed the newspaper onto the wooden table, making empty bottles rattle.
His scarred face was twisted with rage, his eyes burning with bitter jealousy.
"Me and my crew have been scouring the New World for twenty damned years!"
He grabbed the newspaper, his thick fingers nearly tearing through the image of the Poneglyphs. "We've searched over forty islands, lost three ships, and haven't even caught a whiff of a single one of these stones!"
The tavern fell silent. The other pirates wisely kept their heads down, though some shot him looks of pure skepticism.
Basil grabbed a bottle of rum and took a deep swig, the liquor dribbling down his beard. "And now, look at this!"
He suddenly hurled the bottle against the wall, shattering it. "Alabasta pops up with ten?! And two of 'em are the bloody red ones?!"
In a dark corner, a young pirate muttered, "I heard it was some kids called the Straw Hats who dug them up..."
"Bollocks!"
Basil kicked over a nearby table, sending splinters flying. "It has to be a stash the Marines have been hoarding! They're dangling them as bait now!"
He panted heavily, then a ferocious grin split his face. "But... since they're out in the open now..."
His first mate leaned in close. "Captain, you mean...?"
Basil pulled a crumpled, well-marked sea chart from his coat. "Give the order! Mobilize the entire crew!"
He licked his cracked lips. "If the Marines are arrogant enough to ship ten Poneglyphs to Marineford..." A wild light flashed in his eyes. "...then we'll ambush them en route!"
Gasps echoed through the tavern.
Intercepting a shipment guarded by Marine Admirals?
It was suicide!
But twenty years of futile searching had driven Basil to the brink. "I'm sick of living in the shadow of the Emperors, picking at their scraps!"
He drew the serrated cutlass from his belt. "With those Poneglyphs, *I'll* be the next Pirate King!"
At that same moment,
Similar scenes were playing out across the New World. Countless pirate crews, their judgment clouded by greed, began to gather. Like sharks drawn to the scent of blood, they started to converge on the Marines' projected route, a storm of ambition and violence brewing on the high seas.
....
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