Ben checked the horizon. Alubarna was still a distant silhouette, a crown upon the plateau. Even with the magical shortcut, they were on foot now, and the capital was miles away.
"We won't make it tonight," Ben decided, "We rest here. We enter the city tomorrow at full strength."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bundle of canvas that looked no bigger than a folded handkerchief. He tossed it onto a flat patch of sand.
"Erecto."
The canvas unfurled, poles snapped into place, and ropes staked themselves into the hard earth. In seconds, a small, unassuming beige tent stood before them. It looked barely large enough for two people to sit in, let alone six people to sleep.
"A pup tent?" Nami raised an eyebrow, hugging her arms for warmth. "Ben, I appreciate the magic, but unless that's like your pouch, we're going to be sleeping in a pile."
"After you," Ben gestured to the flap.
Luffy didn't hesitate. "Yay! Camping!" He crawled inside.
A second later, his voice echoed out—not muffled, but booming and cavernous. "WHOAAAAAA! IT'S HUGE!"
Nami blinked. She went in after him.
Her jaw dropped.
The interior was not a tent. It was a fully furnished, three-bedroom apartment with Persian rugs, mahogany furniture, a roaring fireplace, and a kitchen that smelled of lavender and cedar. The ceiling mimicked a clear night sky, but the air was warm and conditioned.
"Undetectable Extension Charm," Ben explained as he stepped in, closing the flap behind him and shutting out the howling desert wind. "Standard issue for the magical traveler."
The night that followed was a stark contrast to the violence of the day.
Sanji whipped up a desert stew—rich, spicy, and hearty—using meat from the Sandora dragon they had killed earlier (which Ben had also stored) and fresh vegetables from the tent's stasis-pantry.
The crew sat around a large oak dining table.
Luffy ate with his usual ferocity, but there was a relaxed air about him. He had won. Crocodile was gone.
"So," Zoro asked, taking a swig of beer from a magically chilled tankard. "The plan is to walk in, find Vivi, and then what? Fight the army?"
"Hopefully not," Ben said, wiping his mouth. "If Sabo and the others did their job, the fighting should be contained. We're going in for the cleanup."
"I hope Vivi is okay," Nami said softly, swirling her tea. "She's been fighting this war alone for so long."
"She's not alone anymore," Usopp said, puffing out his chest. "Captain Usopp and his avengers are here!"
"You screamed when you saw a lizard earlier," Sanji deadpanned.
Laughter filled the tent. For a few hours, they weren't wanted criminals or saviors of a kingdom. They were just a family having dinner.
Eventually, the fatigue won. One by one, they drifted off to the plush bedrooms. Ben stayed up a little longer, checking and extracting Devil Fruits from Crocodile and others, except Bonclay.
---
The next morning, the crew emerged from the tent, refreshed and well-fed. Ben packed the magical dwelling back into his pocket with a flick of his wand, and they set off.
The journey to Alubarna took the better part of the day. The sun beat down on them, but they moved with purpose.
By late afternoon, the rocky terrain gave way to the massive, sloping path leading up to the great plateau.
Alubarna loomed above them. The white stone walls were high and imposing.
"It's quiet," Zoro noted, his hand resting on his sword. "Too quiet. If there were a war against the rebel army, shouldn't there be smoke? Screaming? Cannon fire?"
Luffy tilted his head, listening. "I don't hear fighting. I smell... cooking?"
Ben stopped. He tapped the Kimoyo Beads on his wrist.
"Vivi," Ben said clearly. "Status."
A moment later, Vivi's voice came through, sounding breathless but ecstatic. "Ben?! You're here! We saw you on the sensors approaching the South Gate!"
"We're at the base of the stairs," Ben said. "The city looks intact. Did we miss the party?"
"The party is over, Ben," Vivi laughed, a sound of pure relief. "But you can't come in the front gate. The Royal Guard is still processing the prisoners, and it's a bit chaotic. There's a secret entrance on the west side, near the old tombs. I'll meet you in the courtyard."
"Understood."
Ben led the crew around the base of the plateau. They found the entrance—a disguised stone slab covered in vines. With a little push, the stone slid aside.
They walked through a cool, torch-lit tunnel that wound its way up through the bedrock of the city.
Finally, the tunnel ended at a heavy wooden door. Ben pushed it open.
They stepped out into the blinding late-afternoon sun.
They were in the Royal Palace Courtyard.
It was a beautiful space, filled with fountains and lush greenery, a paradise compared to the desert outside.
And waiting for them was a welcoming committee that could only be described as eclectic.
"LUFFY!"
A small, furry reindeer in Heavy Point form came barreling toward them.
"Chopper!" Luffy grinned, catching the doctor in a hug.
Behind Chopper stood the rest of the alliance.
Sabo and Koala, looking dusty but accomplished.
Nico Robin, leaning against a pillar with a mysterious smile, holding a book.
Vivi, dressed not in her pirate outfit, but in the fine silks of a Princess, yet with her hair tied back for action.
Caroo, the spot-billed duck, saluting with his wing.
And towering over them all, laughing heartily, were the two giants of Elbaf—Dorry and Brogy.
"Gahahaha! The little leader returns!" Brogy bellowed, his voice shaking the leaves off the trees.
"Welcome back," Sabo stepped forward, shaking Ben's hand. "You cut it close. We almost started the banquet without you."
"What happened?" Nami asked, looking around.
Vivi stepped forward. She was smiling brighter than they had ever seen.
"A lot happened," Vivi said, her voice trembling with emotion.
---
The group gathered in the shade of the palace veranda. Servants brought trays of iced tea and fruit as Vivi and Sabo explained the events of the last few days—events that had completely completely diverged from the timeline Ben knew.
"When we arrived at Alubarna yesterday, we went straight to my father," Vivi said, her voice softening. "I told him about Crocodile's plot. I told him about the organization."
"King Cobra is a good man," Sabo interjected smoothly. "But he was blind to the rot inside his own house. Once Vivi opened his eyes, he acted immediately."
"We cross-referenced the orders given to the army with the movements of Baroque Works," Sabo explained. "We found that the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Supply, and nearly a quarter of the Royal Guard officers were on Crocodile's payroll."
Vivi confirmed darkly. "Last night, while you were fighting Crocodile and his men, the loyal Royal Guards, Sabo, the Giants, and I swept through the palace and the barracks. We arrested the corrupt Ministers in their beds. We disarmed the traitorous captains before they could mobilize their squads."
"It was a purge," Dorry laughed. "Quick. Quiet. Efficient. Like hunting rabbits!"
"And during the interrogation of the Minister of Defense," Sabo added, "he cracked. He revealed the final contingency plan. Crocodile didn't trust the war to destroy the city fully. He wanted to be sure."
"The bomb we were going to tell you about that Crocodile mentioned about it before he was defeated," Ben said.
"It was hidden in the clock tower," Koala nodded. "Timed to fire into the market square today at noon. It would have killed thousands and triggered the war regardless of Koza's orders."
"But since we controlled the palace," Sabo smiled, "finding it was easy. We dismantled it hours ago. The gunpowder is currently at the bottom of the oasis."
"When Koza sent a message that the traitors were arrested and the rain powder was found," Vivi finished, tears pricking her eyes again, "We are waiting for the news of the official disbanding of the Rebel Army. The drought is still a problem, but... the war is likely over."
"So..." Luffy scratched his head. "I don't get to punch anyone else?"
"You defeated the Warlord, Luffy," Sabo laughed, patting his brother on the back. "You cut off the head of the snake. Vivi just made sure the body stopped thrashing."
"The King is currently in the throne room," Vivi said, bowing her head to the crew. "He wants to meet you. He wants to thank the pirates who saved his country."
---
The sun had set, and the Royal Palace of Alubarna was alive with light and music.
The threat of civil war had vanished like a mirage. The city below was celebrating the news—Baroque Works was exposed, the King was innocent, and the rain was beginning to fall. (Don't know how, anime logic for you.)
King Cobra, a man who looked aged by the stress of the past year but relieved beyond measure, sat at the head of a massive banquet table.
But he wasn't sitting with dignity. He was bowing so low his forehead was mashed against the tablecloth.
"Thank you!" the King wept openly, tears streaming down his face. "Thank you for bringing my daughter home! Thank you for exposing the vipers in my court! Alabasta is in your debt forever!"
"Lift your head, old man!" Luffy shouted, his mouth full of a whole turkey leg. "You're getting snot on the food! It's gross!"
"Luffy! Show some respect!" Nami hissed, whacking him on the head. She turned to the King with a dazzling, predatory smile. "Think nothing of it, Your Majesty! We did it out of the kindness of our hearts! Though, of course, pirating is an expensive hobby..."
"Nami," Ben warned gently, sipping his wine. "We have the casino gold. Don't be greedy."
"Casino?" King Cobra blinked, wiping his eyes. "Ah, Crocodile's funds? Rain Dinners? Keep it! Take it all! It is dirty money extracted from the suffering of my people. I want nothing to do with it. If you take it away, you are doing us a favor!"
Nami froze. She dropped her fork. She turned to Ben slowly, her eyes wide.
"Did you hear that, Ben? He said keep it. It's legal now. I'm legally rich."
She slumped back in her chair, fanning herself, overwhelmed by the sheer joy of solvent finances.
The feast was legendary.
Sanji was in the royal kitchens, trading recipes with the head chef of Alabasta. They were sending out platters of grilled scorpion, desert salads, spiced lamb, and endless jugs of wine.
Dorry and Brogy chugging entire barrels of ale and laughing at Usopp's exaggerated stories of bravery.
"And then!" Usopp shouted, standing on the railing. "I stared the Warlord in the eye! And I said, 'Crocodile! You may be made of sand, but I am made of BRAVERY!'"
"Gahahaha! A true warrior of the sea!" Dorry cheered, slamming a fist down that shook the palace foundation.
Zoro was in a drinking contest with the Captain of the Royal Guard, Chaka. Chaka was already swaying, while Zoro was calmly opening his thirtieth bottle.
"Is that all?" Zoro muttered. "I thought jackals were tougher."
Robin sat quietly on the balcony, watching the crew. She held a glass of wine, her expression unreadable.
Ben walked up to her, leaning on the railing next to her.
"So," Ben said. "Miss All Sunday is dead?"
"She died in the desert," Robin smiled, a small, genuine thing. "I am just an archaeologist looking for a ride. The Revolutionaries offered me a position, but..." She glanced at Luffy, who was trying to eat a melon whole. "This seems more interesting."
"The Poneglyph in the Royal treasury, do you want to see it?" Ben said quietly, lowering his voice so only she could hear.
Robin's eyes widened slightly. She turned to him. "Can I?"
"I will ask the King for permission," Ben tapped his pocket. "I also want to hear of void century."
"History is a puzzle," Robin said, looking up at the stars. "I suppose I have more searching to do."
"Welcome aboard, Robin," Ben said. "Try not to kill the cook. He's useful."
"I make no promises," she chuckled.
---
As the night deepened, the adrenaline finally faded.
Vivi, looking exhausted but lighter than she had been in years, clapped her hands.
"The maids have prepared the guest wing," she announced. "The finest beds in Alabasta. Please, rest. You have done enough."
The crew stumbled toward their rooms.
Luffy had to be rolled by Sanji because his stomach was so distended he resembled a beach ball.
"So full..." Luffy mumbled happily. "So much meat..."
Nami was sleepwalking, clutching her bag of gold like a teddy bear, muttering about interest rates.
Zoro had fallen asleep standing up in the hallway, snoring loudly, clutching his sake bottle.
Ben walked into his room. It was opulent, with silk curtains and a balcony overlooking the sleeping city.
He walked out onto the balcony. The desert wind was cool.
He looked down at the city of Alubarna. Lights flickered in the windows. Families were sleeping safely. The bomb hadn't gone off. The war hadn't happened. There were no bodies in the square.
He had changed the story. He had saved Alabasta without the bloodshed of the original timeline, and he had strengthened the crew.
But he knew this was just the beginning. The World Government would not ignore the defeat of a Warlord and the dismantling of a criminal syndicate. A new bounty was coming. A new threat was approaching.
He turned and walked back into the room, collapsing onto the bed. For the first time since arriving in this world, Ben felt a true sense of accomplishment. The first major saga was over.