The Return Of Joyboy!

"Leave the okama to me, Bonney-chan," Sanji muttered, his eyes following every move of the okama, as he took another drag from his cigarette. He really needs all the nicotine he could have for the fight.

"What?! Do you want to hog all the fun for you?!" Bonney questioned, her pink hair flicking as she shot Sanji an incredulous way. There was no way she was going to sit down in a fight. "No way! I am fighting this one." Bonney asserted, crossing her arms defiantly and glaring at the blonde cook.

Sanji exhaled the smoke from his mouth, feeling the calmness of the nicotine rush into his system. He could see Mr. 2, whose face was twisting into confusion and rage but in all honesty, Sanji could care less.

"Oi! How dare you two ignore me like this?!" Mr. 2 was shouting, his arms flailing dramatically. Bon Kurie didn't like how he had been fooled. He had thought for sure that he had chased after the looney princess but somehow it turned out that even his luck decided to say goodbye to him right now. "I am an officer agent of Baroque Works! You should be groveling in fear before me!" Mr 2 struck one of his signature poses, though it had lost much of its flair in midst of his frustration.

Sanji lit another cigarette and took a puff from it, ignoring Mr. 2's antics entirely as if the okama didn't exist. "I am serious, Bonney-chan. You should not dirty your hands against this guy."

"What?! Do you think I'm a kid?! Powerless?!" Bonney retorted angrily, her purple eyes glaring holes in Sanji. She knew that she was weaker than her brothers and maybe even the cook before her but with her fruit powers she has a chance to win. She can definitely win if she de-aged her opponent, turning him to old or like a baby. "I can fight, you cook!"

"Oi, you swineheads!" Mr. 2 growled, getting enraged each time he had to repeat himself, only to get ignored. "I'm still here!" He shouted, not liking how the duo continued to bicker- one was definitely bickering while the other was being all protective to the lady. It was as if he didn't even exist!

'Like I don't even exist?' Mr. 2 repeated in his head, before quickly glancing around, his eyes darting towards the terrain and the city, where Princess Vivi could be. 'I can complete the mission and escape before the 3C's even arrive!' The thought finally made its home in his mind, as he frantically realized that he was wasting his precious time. If Crocodile couldn't handle the 3C's- which he truly doubted if he could- then the 3C's will probably come after him. No way, he was going to be dead without meeting him.

That's why, Mr. 2 slowly started inching backwards, hoping to slip away unnoticed. But just as began tracing his steps back, he was noticed.

"You are not going anywhere, you okama!" Sanji's sharp eyes flicked to the fleeing okama, his leg shooting out in a blur and landing squarely against Mr. 2's back, sending him tumbling into the dirt. No way was Sanji going to let the officer agent go after Vivi.

"Who the hell do you even think you are?!" Mr. 2 questioned, his twisting into fury as he scrambled back to his feet. A rational part of his mind knew that he needed to complete the mission and flee but he wasn't going to back down now.

Sanji's lips curled into a confident smirk as he stomped on his cigarette, finally getting into the much awaited fight. "The name's Sanji. I'm the chef of the Strawhat pirates and you are not going after Vivi-chan."

"A Strawhat?!" Mr. 2 repeated, his eyes narrowing at the blonde man. His mission is to stop princess Vivi and eliminate anyone who stops him from that, which meant the chef before him was going to die. "You got my attention, cook. I'll show you the power of Okama Kenpo!" With a dramatic flourish and twist, Mr. 2 launched into a spinning kick aimed directly at Sanji's head.

Bonney watched in poorly hidden awe. She was amazed the moment when Sanji struck the agent at first. The speed at which he did, the strength behind the sole kick... it amazed her. But now, seeing the two clashing against each other- No, that's wrong. Bonney was amazed and awestruck seeing Sanji meeting Mr. 2's kicks with his own, but faster and more precisely. She could swear that some of the parts of the fight she wasn't even able to follow properly. Each time Mr. 2 was trying to gain an upper hand, Sanji was countering them effortlessly, with minimal effort.

"You're fast but not enough." Sanji spoke, spinning around and delivering a powerful roundhouse kick, the sound of which echoed throughout the streets and sent Mr. 2 skidding back. "Your kicks don't even put a dent to the hellish training which Luffy puts us through." Sanji uttered, looking at the okama with a smirk. He knew that he was still far behind Luffy, but no way in hell was he going to stop reaching or lose to the okama.

Mr. 2 gritted his teeth, not believing what he was hearing or experiencing. Indeed, he was getting overpowered by the blonde but it was unbelievable to even think that the adorable kid would be the one to personally train the blonde. 'But if it's really true... then.. the recording.. the voice... is Strawhat Luffy really... C-Cyra?' Mr. 2 shuddered at the thought, not wanting the monster to be really hiding under the disguise of an adorable kid, who he befriended.

"That was awesome..!" Bonney slipped out from her mouth, before quickly turning away from Sanji and shutting her mouth with her hands. She was not going to admit that to the cook but unfortunately Sanji had heard it and was gushing at the praise.

Mr. 2 felt frustrated at the sight. He didn't like how they were already partying and enjoying while he was not yet defeated and was worrying about the 3C's.. but the cook was clearly stronger than he had thought or given credit.

"Don't you think that you can beat me that easily! I still have a few tricks up my sleeve." Mr. 2 boasted, quickly getting up on his legs. He wasn't going to give up, not now.

Before Sanji could react, Mr 2's form shifted and in a blink of an eye, he had transformed into none other than Nami, even if Mr 2 wanted to transform into the kid captain. He had seen how the whole crew was overprotective on the kid but that damned swordsman didn't let him even grace the kid's face!

Unknown to Mr 2, he just escaped with his life by an inch, as if he would have changed to Luffy, then catastrophe would have surely crushed him and ended his life.

"NAAAAMI-SAN!"

Mr 2 was shocked at the gushing face of the blonde and the hearts floating in his eyes. Mr 2 smirked, getting the weakness of the cook before him. With the form still intact, Mr 2 delivered a swift kick to Sanji's chest, sending him instantly crashing into the wall. "You're too predictable, cook." Mr 2 smirked. He had a hunch that the blonde was a women pleaser the moment he had laid his eyes on him and it was merely confirmed by the way he was acting overprotective over the lady beside him and now by gushing on the orange haired girl, whom he had transformed into.

"Oh hell no!" Bonney cursed under her breath, watching Sanji cough up blood but refusing to get out of his lovestruck glance at the fake Nami. She was not letting the cook get trampled on, not because he refused to lift a hand on any woman. She was not going to let the okama beat Sanji using the dirty trick. "You won't do it!" She dashed in, her hand outstretched to grab Mr 2, with her powers flaring to life as she aimed to increase the okama's age.

But Mr 2 was quicker than she had expected. The moment her hands grazed the okama's flailing wrist and the aging process started, Mr 2 twisted out of her grasp and landed a kick straight to her stomach, throwing her crashing to a nearby wall.

"BONNEY-CHAN!" Sanji shrieked, seeing the pink haired girl turn to her child form and cough out blood. Rage engulfed Sanji as he witnessed Bonney stagger to get up.

"WHAT?! You are a freaking kid?!" Mr 2 yelled out, but there was no remorse in his words, which further enraged Sanji.

"You are gonna pay for that." Sanji growled, his anger bubbling to the surface, as he launched himself forward, determined to finish off the okama for hurting Bonney-chan.

.

Vivi's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she witnessed the massacre unfolding in the town she had grown up in. The sight that greeted her, when her savior led her into the heart of the chaos, to find Kouza, was more devastating than she could have ever imagined. The bloodbath occurring in the city, turned to be a battlefield, was leading doubt to creep in her mind. Could she even make it through the chaos to find the leader of the rebels? Uncertainty was clouding her thoughts but the truth still stood firmly inside her heart and mind: the future of her country rested on her shoulders and no matter how dire the circumstances, she had to move forward without giving into despair or tears.

"What's your plan, princess?" The man who had saved Vivi inquired, breaking her out from her thoughts.

Vivi blinked away the tears, wiping them away with the back of her hand and composed herself. "Thank you for bringing us this far, but from here, Carue and I will manage." She replied, trying her best to not sound arrogant. The path ahead was filled with life threatening dangers and she didn't want to burden the revolutionaries any further. Even if she was uncertain about navigating through the chaos, she was certain that, with Carue on her side, they could manage it and find-

"My apologies, princess, but we're under strict orders to ensure your safety." The rider interjected, steering the horse through the chaos with unwavering determination and resolve.

Vivi opened her mouth to protest, to assert her own intentions, when her gaze was once again drawn to the carnage unfolding before her. The tumult of battle consumed her thoughts, drowned out by the clash of steel and the deafening roars of gunfire.

"GATHER THE WOUNDED! BRING THEM IN!"

Vivi heard several voices, shouting the same order, cutting through the chaos. Her eyes instantly landed on the sources of commands, leading her gaze to land on a small camp where both wounded and fallen soldiers were being tended to. But what shocked her most was the sight of rebels aiding to the royals and other rebels equally. Weren't the rebels out of the blood of the royals and her dad? Weren't they here to overthrow the king?

"The Revolutionary Army has already infiltrated the rebels."

Vivi recalled the words written in the letter which she had read first hand. At that time, she hadn't fully grasped the significance of that statement, but now she understood how that single detail was subtly altering the course of the war. She could vividly see the non-Alabastian fighters- likely the revolutionaries in disguise- bringing in the wounded and treating them.

Vivi could hear their reasoning as they explained why they were treating the other side, despite their role as enemies, all to make the other rebels soften a little. They claimed to be not cruel like the king, that they wanted to distinguish themselves from the oppressive regime they were fighting against. Vivi realized the clever ruse at play- a way to sway the rebels' conscience and undermine the notion of violence for violence's sake.

The deeper they headed into the city, the more changes Vivi was able to pinpoint. Royals and rebels were locked in combat, but it wasn't a massacre anymore, which she had initially feared. The rebels were fighting but not with the same brutality like some of the royals who were lashing out like animals, trying to provoke the rebels into mindless slaughter. But whenever a rebel was on the verge of succumbing to that trap, someone was always there to remind them of their true goal. Heck, she could even hear orders to knock opponents unconscious, not kill them, the reason being to show the king they were not as monstrous and cruel like him.

"Thank you." Vivi whispered, feeling her throat tighten with emotion and her heart swelling with a mixture of slight relief yet anticipation and fear. She was grateful to the revolutionaries for aiding her country in such tough times but it also made her realize her role in the war. She has to find Chaka or Pell, and make them stop the war before it is too late. "But now I need to go, to find Chaka or Pell first."

"But-"

"Princess Vivi, I would be honored to guide you to the palace." A familiar voice interrupted, cutting off the revolutionary before he could protest further. But the latter didn't need to worry anymore, for the leader of the mission stood with a gentle smile on his face.

"Kuma-san?" Vivi turned to see the towering figure of Bartholomew Kuma, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. She hadn't even seen him till right now, assuming he was elsewhere in the city, overseeing other parts of the battle.

"I'm searching for the palace as well, to find the king." Kuma declared his intentions. He knew that the king had been kidnapped but he believed that the monarch wouldn't be taken far away from the palace grounds. If Crocodile's plan was to succeed, they needed the king to guide them to the weapon, which meant he was alive and would be soon forced to guide, likely Nico Robin, to the place. "Allow me to escort you."

Without hesitation, Vivi dismounted the horse, stepping away from her revolutionary savior, with Carue quickly following her lead. She would have hesitated if she wouldn't have been acquainted with the man.

"Let's go, Kuma-san, Carue." Vivi led the way, her determination unwavering. Fortunately, the part of the city they were entering hadn't been overrun by the rebels yet, allowing them a swift, unobstructed path to the palace grounds.

.

At the south-eastern gates of Alubarna, one could hear the sounds of explosions blasting off and see smoke rising from the scorched sandy grounds, but yet if someone tries to hear the commotion with apt attention, they could also hear the terrified screams, shrieks of horror, the groans and grunts of pain, and a sharp, shrill voice of a woman barking orders to someone.

Unknown to the many rebels and royals, a battle of sheer bravery and determination was raging through those dusty terrains in the outskirts of the city. Despite the injuries, dirt and blood staining the bodies of the two fighters, who were literally having a tough time dealing with their enemies, but they refused to go down or surrender. They refused to fall, not while their friends were holding on their own enemies, giving the princess the chance to stop the war.

Chisle, one of the revolutionaries disguised as a rebel, was both impressed and concerned as he watched the confrontation from the sidelines. He might have stumbled onto the outskirts of the city unknowingly while searching for injured rebels or royals, but he was really grateful that he had trained his observation haki to notice the confrontation. He found himself observing a fierce yet almost comedic battle. The long nosed sharpshooter and the zoan user doctor were struggling against Mr. 4, his dog turned gun, and Miss Merry Christmas, the seemingly mole zoan fruit user.

Though Chisle wanted to intervene in the fight immediately, he had to hold himself back. He didn't want to upset the trouble attracting sunshine, whose crew the fighters belonged to. He knew that Luffy would never ever let his crew face opponents they weren't prepared to handle but his growing concern compelled him to stay and observe the fight. While the two Strawhats had managed to outsmart their opponents twice, Chisle could clearly see that their plans were not working.

Usopp's fake five ton hammer had done little to frighten the agents after the secret was out of the bag, though it had managed to spark newfound resolve and determination in Chopper, who was quick to find the weak point of the dog turned gun and use it against their opposition by sending the bomb balls in one of the holes created by the mole woman, to blast them. But it wasn't enough yet. Not when from the fire and smoke, the monstrous agents emerged, seemingly unharmed but pissed.

"I'M SICK AND TIRED OF THIS! WE'RE GONNA BE KILLED ANYWAYS! THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN BEAT THESE MONSTERS!"

Chisle heard the long nose teen's panicked shrieks as he tried to flee, leaving his comrade behind. It angered him, but he knew Luffy would never recruit a crew mate who would abandon their comrades for self preservation. He wanted to intervene- they really didn't have a lot of time to spare for these small skirmishes- but he decided against it. He needed to see if they truly belonged to their sunshine's crew or if they had merely tagged along uninvited.

"Usopp, stop! You can't run away from these guys!" Chopper screamed to Usopp, who was trying to flee with terror visible in his each step. Chopper couldn't blame Usopp for wanting to leave the battle, but he could see the earth shifting beneath Usopp's feet, signaling Miss Merry Christmas's steadfast approach.

"Your friend is right." Miss Merry Christmas's voice slithered through the air, haunting Usopp and sending chills down his spine as the claws of the mole woman aimed for his legs.

In his panic, Usopp barely noticed the surge of instinct that forced him to dodge the clawy hands. His was so scared to even notice how his body acted on its own to avoid the lethal hold of the woman, who had given him wounds for a lifetime to remember.

"USOPP!"

Usopp could hear Chopper calling out his name but fear reigned supreme in the form of the mole woman, who was hell bent on catching him and which she did when he stumbled over the sand, only to be caught by the clawy grips. He screamed, pure terror and pain emanating from his voice, knowing all too well what awaited him- a brutal crash into the walls or rocks, just like before.

"You think you can get away scot-free?" Miss Merry Christmas sneered, her voice dripping with venom as she glared up at the long nosed teen. She was furious, her patience was wearing thin by Usopp's tricks and lies, which had rattled her and her partner, even if only momentarily. "A weakling of a captain makes his followers even weaker."

"Captain? A-Are you talking about Luffy?" Usopp questioned, momentarily forgetting his fear and pain. The mention of his captain's name was enough to pull him out of the daze, his mind grasping onto it like a lifeline. Luffy, his friend, his captain, the heart of their crew. The very name was sufficient to dull the agony in his body and calm the fear gnawing at his chest.

"If you mean 'Strawhat' Luffy, then yes." Miss Merry Christmas taunted with a cruel smile, speaking the truth which she was informed from her sources. "That kid is nothing but a cold corpse now, lying somewhere even gods can't find. The pitiful kid wasn't even strong enough to face Mr. 0 before he met his untimely demise."

"Luffy's.. d-dead...?" Chopper whispered, his wide eyes with horror, at the words uttered by the mole woman. He didn't want to believe her, but the seed of doubt had been planted, which was quick to sprout, threatening to overwhelm his common sense and hope.

Usopp was silent, staring at the mole woman, who had a nasty smirk on her furry face, in disbelief. Her words were echoing in his mind, repeatedly announcing Luffy as dead. The literal sunshine of the crew, the energetic, playful captain with all his crazy antics, the one who always dragged him into his wild schemes, the bouncing teen who pestered him for new games... he can't be dead. Usopp couldn't accept that. He refused to acknowledge it. Not even in his worst nightmares. He might be the most pessimistic person in the entire universe but never when it comes to Luffy, his captain, the sunshine incarnate, the one who believes in him. The one who had given him a helping hand, had taken him in the crew despite him being... weak and useless.

Usopp was not going to hear such insolence about his captain from a woman who knew nothing about Luffy. He wasn't going to tolerate the woman's fucking words even if he was weak.

"DON'T YOU DARE SPOUT LIES ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU MOLE HAG!" Usopp roared, his fear shattered and buried into the sand. He was not going to cower, not when anyone was degrading his friend and especially not the goofy teen. "THERE'S NOT A CHANCE IN HELL THAT LUFFY IS DEAD!"

Chopper and Chisle stood frozen and speechless, shocked by Usopp's sudden transformation. The latter was even stunned beyond belief, witnessing the cowardly sharpshooter, bloodied and battered, who now stood firmly, unwavering in his loyalty and friendship to Luffy.

"Not a chance in hell? You speak like you have proof." Miss Merry Christmas mocked without a hint of remorse. She was certain of the fate of the Strawhat captain. After all, there was no escaping the 3C's.

"HE'S GOING TO BE THE FUTURE PIRATE KING! THERE'S NO WAY HE'D DIE IN THIS COUNTRY!" Usopp shouted, his voice breaking as he willed every ounce of his faith into his words. He wished and prayed that Luffy was okay, he has to be! The teen has a monstrous power, which Usopp has witnessed time and time again, especially the freaky transformation in the Syrup village. He was sure that was enough to kick the ass of the 3C's if they dare to touch him.

Miss Merry Christmas didn't like how the long nosed teen was shouting out his lungs at her but she was utterly baffled and flabbergasted at the declaration he was making one by one. First, for his captain being alive when every pirate and civilian knew that the 3C's never let anyone leave with their lives and lastly, the dead captain being the pirate king?!

"Pirate king?! Hahahahahahahaha!" Miss Merry Christmas couldn't help but laugh out loud at the silly dream, which was unbelievable for a scrawny teen to achieve even if he was alive. "You must be joking! Saying something that delusional on the Grand Line? Honestly, idiots like him are better off dead." Miss Merry Christmas uttered, trying to stifle her laughter but it wasn't helpful as she burst out laughing once again at the thought itself.

Unknown to the mole woman, something changed in her opponent, who was eerily silent until he yelled out for his friend. Miss Merry Christmas really didn't want to give anymore precious time of hers to the lying and stupid delusional teen, that's why she used her special attack once again, wanting to finish the teen for once and all.

"Time for you to die too, long nose!" Miss Merry Christmas relished in the panicked yelp which followed from the long nosed teen's mouth, as she held his legs in her claws, directing him to the crumbling buildings for another crash. But that wasn't satisfying to her at all, seeing and hearing how the fear had almost vanished from the long nosed teen's voice and face.

"EVEN WHEN YOU'RE FIGHTING TERRIFYING ENEMIES!" Usopp screamed through his lungs, not letting his fear etch on his face, he refused to! Getting reminded about Luffy had truly removed all his fears, as Luffy's punches and kicks in the brutal Haki training was far more worse than what the mole woman was giving him.

Chisle refused to stay at one place anymore. He didn't want to. He had seen enough of the whole fight. The sharpshooter wasn't a coward, not when it came to his captain. That's why, Chisle came out of his hiding place, aiming to reach the teen before he would be used as a ball by Mr 4. Even if he wanted to know what the teen was shouting out, even if he wanted to see what the teen has in store, he refused to watch the brutality any further.

"DIE!"

With a sickening crash, Usopp slammed into a wall, leaving a human-shaped dent. Blood poured from his nose, several of his teeth shattered, and his entire body throbbed with unbearable pain. But even then, it wasn't enough. Not enough to make his vision blur due to nausea or the sweet embrace of sleep to cascade him. Usopp had felt pain worse than this in his life and he still had words to say, a truth that needed to be spoken.

"Even... when you... don't have... a chance in hell.. of winning..." Usopp was coughing, his voice felt like tearing and his vision was starting to get obscured with the blood flowing from his forehead, but the words reached Chopper and Chisel, both of them trying to reach the teen in hopes of saving him.

"MR. 4! BATTER UP!" Miss Merry Christmas screamed, signaling her partner, who was ready with a bat. She wanted to finish the pointless babbling and fight for once and all and leave the place in search of Vivi and finish the mission, before the 3C's can come.

"FO..FO..!"

"LET'S END THIS THEN! MOLEHILL 4TH ROAD INTERSECTION!"

With a devastating swing, Mr. 4's bat connected with Usopp's face, shattering the bones in his nose and sending him flying into the air. The dog turned gun soon followed up, blasting him away with a ball bomb.

"YOU BASTARDS!" Chopper and Chisle growled in unison, fury roaring through their words. They were running as fast as they could to tend to the battered and bloodied teen but they screeched to a halt, staring at awe and disbelief at the sight of Usopp refusing to fall down despite him being laden with wounds and fractures.

"If you're a man.. there are times.. when you have to fight... no what what." Usopp's wheezing and painful voice made its way to Chopper and Chisle, cutting through the mocking laughter of the officer agents, who got stunned by the teen still not down.

"And that time... is when your friend's dreams are laughed at." Usopp stood tall, despite the blood, despite the agony, despite his entire body screaming for him to rest and take a nap. "Luffy's not dead. I know... he'll become the pirate king one day... SO, THAT'S ONE THING I WON'T LET YOU LAUGH AT!" With his last strength, Usopp shouted out, loading 'Certain Kill Fire Bomb' in his slingshot and aiming at the mole woman. "CHOPPER NOW!" He shouted out, as the fire erupted in the sandy plains making it scorching hot to even stand on.

"Leave it to me!" Chopper quickly responded, charging straight to the dancing agents, who were trying to get away from the fire and the sudden heated plains. Chopper charged straight towards the mole lady, after changing into his horn point. He refused to let the woman hurt Usopp any further, he refused to let her waver his trust on Luffy. He refused to!

Chisle watched in awe as the reindeer crashed the mole woman straight to Mr 4 using all his strength and ducked out of the way as Usopp's second attack came soon to crash both of them into a pillar behind them. Chisle was amazed at the sight but he knew that it was not enough, seeing how the dog turned gun was ready to fire his bomb balls at the Strawhat pirate duo and the agents were twitching.

"Chain strike! Chain binding!" Chisle unleashed his attacks consecutively, the first attack aiming for the bomb ball to change the course and blast it towards the agents and the second attack capturing the dog and flinging it straight towards the eruption.

BOOM!

.

Crocodile's heart was pounding with fear as he stumbled across the sands of Alabasta, feeling razor sharp wind graze his face. He was running, trying his best to reach Alubarna, before the storm which was roaring above in the sky following him the moment he had crossed the banks of the river which separates Rainbase from Alubarna. The storm was following him like a sentient being, almost determined to corner him.

Crocodile's fear was justifiable, when he knew that there shouldn't be any rain or storm for at least two more years due to the excessive use of the dance powder. The rumbling of the clouds and the threatening claps of the thunder without any ounce of rain was further scaring him. He knew what those calamities meant. He knew what had tracked him down and Crocodile wasn't going to take them lightly. Every pirate worth their salt had heard the rumors of a trio who could wield elements, whose powers and identities were beyond comprehension and a mystery. Even Crocodile, a seasoned and experienced pirate, knew what it would mean for him if he got caught right now. He didn't want to-

"Oi, Crocy." A sudden calm yet authoritative voice from Crocodile's back had him frozen in fear momentarily. Hell, even the sandstorm and the rumbling of the clouds stopped for an instant letting the voice seep into the very atmosphere.

Crocodile didn't want to turn around. Every instinct in his body was urging him to run, to leave, to escape but a sudden ominous fear was holding his heart in its clutches, refusing to let him go, forcing him to slowly turn his head back. Crocodile wished and prayed with all his heart that the voice was a fluke; that it was just the whistling of the winds which had created the voice combining with his fear. He hadn't felt a single presence behind him, having his observation Haki constantly turned on.

But there they were. Standing in all their glory, looking down at him. The three ghostly figures with their capes obstructing their faces and bellowing in the wind furiously. Two of them standing on the freaking giant bird while the other nonchalantly leaning down from the bird's beak and looking down at him.

The cackling lightning was back, the thundering clouds seemed to be singing praises with the winds as the ghostly trio almost looked godly yet devilishly at him. Crocodile would have refused to acknowledge that the trio were the 3C's, as it was his first time meeting with them, but their trademark cloaks and the crystals around their necks glimmering in the sporadic flashes of lightning told him another story. It almost seemed to him that the Almighty God or the Demon King had stepped in his domain to cast a judgment on him.

"Where do you think you are running, Crocy?" The one leaning down from the bird's beak questioned Crocodile, snapping him out of his trance of fear and astonishment. It was none other than the one who had stopped Crocodile in his path.

'Cyra.' Crocodile's mind provided him, recognizing the childish voice from the call as well as the trademark cape and jewel.

"Wasn't he the one boasting about being invincible in this desert?" Cole taunted, his voice carrying a hint of amusement as he looked down at the face which Crocodile was making. It was truly a mixture of fear and astonishment, which Cole had witnessed several times among the ones they corner.

"Aye, seems like the famed Crocodile is now just a lizard." Cyane mocked along with his twin, his blue cloak blending almost seamlessly with the darkened sky.

The momentarily mesmerized, awestruck and scared Crocodile finally found his way back to his senses. He was standing before the 3C's, whose power he could feel radiating in the very atmosphere cackling with the thunder. Crocodile gritted his teeth, hoping to grind himself back and maintain his composure. He forced himself to stand tall, despite feeling everything around him wanting to make him kneel.

"You think you can take me down so easily?" Crocodile sneered, raising his hook and letting the swirling sand around him gather strength. He knew that he was masking his fear and faking his confidence but what else could he do in face of the beings who were far too powerful than him? He can't do a single thing until that ancient weapon was in his hands-

At that moment, the air changed as Cyra's playful expression darkened. The sky followed suit, covering every inch of it with crimson. The wind whipped violently, tearing through Crocodile's heavy fur jacket and dismissing the sand which he had managed to gather. It was almost as if every part of nature was bending to the whims of Cyra.

Before Crocodile could register anything, Cyra had vanished only to reappear before him in an instant, with his fist connecting with his guts, making him throw blood and flung far away from them.

Crocodile couldn't hear the conversation which the 3C's made soon after he was thrashed like a rag doll but he felt the panic taking over his senses. He turned, scrambling to his feet, and without even thinking twice about his pride or anything, Crocodile ran, his adrenaline pumping, every instinct in his body screaming at him to escape.