The heavy door creaked open as Nami gently guided a trembling Vivi back into the chamber. The princess's eyes were red-rimmed, her face pale with dread, expecting to see her father's condition worsened or, worse, his lifeless body.
Instead, she saw him sleeping peacefully. The ghastly grey pallor was gone, replaced by a healthy, rosy hue. His chest rose and fell in a strong, steady rhythm.
The blood was wiped from his mouth, and he looked for all the world like a man enjoying a deep, restful nap after a good meal, not someone who had been on the brink of death minutes before.
Vivi froze, her breath catching in her throat. She stared, disbelief warring with burgeoning, overwhelming joy. She rushed to the bedside, her hands hovering over him as if afraid to touch and break the miracle.
"He's... he's..." she stammered, tears of a completely different kind welling in her eyes.
"He'll be fine," Takuya said, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. "He just needs rest. The sickness is gone."
Vivi stared at her father's peacefully sleeping form, the reality of the miracle washing over her. The rigid posture of a princess holding a kingdom together shattered completely. The dam of her composure broke, and a raw, guttural sob tore from her throat.
She didn't just step towards Takuya; she stumbled into him, her body collapsing against his chest as if her legs could no longer support the weight of her relief. Her arms wrapped around him, clutching the fabric of his shirt as sobs wracked her entire frame.
"Thank you!" she cried, her voice muffled against his chest, thick with tears. "Thank you, Takuya! I... I don't know how you did it... but thank you! Thank you for saving him... for saving everything!"
Takuya stood firm against the force of her emotion. He didn't push her away, but his reciprocation was controlled, deliberate. After a moment's pause, one arm came up to encircle her shoulders, not in a passionate embrace, but in a steadying, almost paternal hold. His other hand came up to gently pat her back, his touch firm and calming.
"Shhh, it's over now," he murmured, his voice a low, anchoring rumble near her ear. "I told you to surrender yourself completely and I would handle everything. Your father is safe. Your kingdom is safe. There's no more need for tears, Vivi. You've been strong for so long. You can rest now princess."
His words were like a balm, giving her permission to finally, fully let go. She buried her face deeper, her tears soaking into his shirt as she cried for all the fear, the desperation, the sleepless nights, and the overwhelming burden she had carried alone.
He simply held her, a solid rock in the storm of her emotions, his calm presence slowly seeping into her, replacing the panic with a profound, weary peace.
From the doorway, Nami watched with a soft, understanding smile, seeing not jealousy but the relief of a friend. Mira's grin was softer now, and for the first time she had a genuine look of approval at the scene, showing normal emotions based on the location and setting.
They both understood this wasn't just a hug of gratitude; it was the moment Vivi truly, completely, placed her trust and her future in Takuya's hands. After a long moment, her sobs subsided into hiccupping breaths, and she finally, reluctantly, loosened her grip, pulling back slightly to look up at him with red, but radiant, eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered once more, the words filled with a meaning that went far beyond her father's healing.
Takuya gave a final, reassuring pat before releasing her. "It's done," he said simply, his gaze shifting to the sleeping king. "Now, we let him rest."
Nami watched, a soft smile on her face, her own heart feeling lighter. Mira just grinned, giving Takuya another, more enthusiastic thumbs-up.
It was some time later when King Cobra's eyes fluttered open. There was no disorientation or pain, only a profound sense of wellness he hadn't felt in years. He took a deep, clear breath, marveling at the feeling.
His gaze found Vivi, who was clutching his hand, her face radiant with happiness. Then his eyes moved to Takuya, who stood watching him with that same unreadable calm.
Cobra slowly sat up, feeling no weakness. He looked at his own hands, flexing his fingers, feeling the vibrant life coursing through him.
"I... I feel like a young man again," he breathed, his voice strong and clear. He looked directly at Takuya, his expression one of awe and deep respect. "You... you did more than save my kingdom. You saved my life. You gave me back to my daughter."
He placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head deeply, a king humbling himself before a greater power. "Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."
He then looked at Vivi, taking her hand in his. "Vivi, my dear daughter. In my weakness, I feared I would leave you alone to bear the weight of this crown in a broken nation. But now..." He smiled, a genuine, happy smile.
"Now, I see a brighter future. I leave you in Takuya's care with a heart full of peace. I know you will be safe, loved, and that Alabasta will prosper under his... influence." It was his blessing, freely given.
With a new strength in his step, Cobra rose from the bed. "A promise is a promise. Come. I will take you to it."
He led Takuya and Robin deep into the bowels of the palace, down a hidden staircase behind a moving bookshelf, into a cool, dark, cavernous chamber. There, illuminated by a single shaft of light from above, stood the massive, square, indestructible Poneglyph.
Robin's breath hitched. This was the moment she had waited for, the reason she had allied with Crocodile. She approached the dark stone, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached out to trace the ancient script.
Takuya and Cobra watched in silence as her eyes scanned the intricate poneglyph, her scholar's mind deciphering the language of the Void Century. Minutes stretched out, the only sound was the soft rustle of her clothing as she moved along the stone's face.
Finally, she stepped back. Her shoulders, which had been tense with anticipation, slumped just a fraction. She turned to Takuya, her expression a complex mix of professional satisfaction and personal disappointment.
"You were right," she said, her voice echoing softly in the chamber. "This Poneglyph is not a tool of the Ancient Weapons. It does not speak of Pluton."
She gestured towards the text. "It is a historical record. It tells the story of the founding of Alabasta by the Nefertari family and their commitment to its people. It confirms their pledge to protect this land, a pledge that has been passed down through the generations."
She looked at King Cobra with newfound respect. "It is the proof of your family's noble legacy, Your Majesty. But it holds no information on the Rio Poneglyph or the location of Pluton."
Cobra nodded slowly, a weight of ancient responsibility in his eyes. "That is what my father, and his father before him, told me. It is our history, not a weapon."
The heavy stone door of the hidden tomb slid shut behind them, sealing the Poneglyph and its world-altering secret back into darkness. They walked in silence through the palace corridor, the only light coming from flickering torches that cast long, dancing shadows.
The air, once thick with the weight of ancient history, was now charged with a different kind of tension—one of unspoken questions and dangerous knowledge.
As they turned a corner, putting distance between themselves and the king, Robin finally broke the silence. Her voice was a low, careful murmur, meant for Takuya's ears alone.
"You were certain," she began, her eyes fixed on his profile. "You knew with absolute certainty that the Poneglyph did not contain the history of Alabasta, but the location of the Ancient Weap—"
Before she could even finish the word 'Weapon', Takuya cut her off, his voice calm and definitive.
"Wano."
The single word hung in the air between them, sharp and resonant. Robin stopped walking, her breath catching in her throat. Her composed mask slipped for a fraction of a second, revealing sheer, unadulterated shock.
Wano. The isolated, closed-off country of master swordsmiths. How could he possibly know that the secret to Pluton, revealed here in Alabasta, was intrinsically linked to a country half a world away? It was a connection she herself had only just pieced together from the text.
She stared at him, her mind reeling. "How… How could you possibly know that? Why did you mention in the letter that it didn't contain anything about the ancient weapon when you knew it did?"
Takuya finally turned to face her fully, a slow, knowing smile playing on his lips. It was not a warm smile, but one of deep, unnerving confidence.
"That," he said, his tone leaving no room for further inquiry, "is a story for another time. For now, it's enough that you and I share this truth."
He took a step closer, his gaze intensifying, and his voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "But what you did back there… that was exceptionally clever. You looked Cobra in the eye and gave him a noble, simplified history for his legacy.
You didn't even flinch when you lied. You understood that revealing the true, dangerous contents would have been… problematic."
He reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering for a moment. The gesture was possessive, appreciative.
"You confirmed the most important thing," he continued. "That other than you, Nico Robin, no one in this world can simply read those stones. They can't verify it. They would have to take your word for it. Or mine. And that… that makes you the most valuable person on the planet."
In that moment, surrounded by torchlight and shadow, Robin felt the full weight of his words. It wasn't just a compliment; it was a recognition of her power, and a stark reminder of her absolute dependence on him.
He knew secrets he shouldn't, saw steps ahead she couldn't, and held a power that could unmake worlds. The path forward was indeed uncertain, but his hand was the only one holding a light.
Her resolve to walk beside him, to earn his trust and protection, was no longer just a strategy—it was her only possible destiny. She gave a single, solemn nod, her eyes reflecting a newfound, fierce loyalty.
"Then I suppose it is fortunate we are on the same side," she replied, her voice steady. In a gesture of complete surrender and newfound intimacy, she gently took his left hand in both of hers, resting her cheek against his knuckles for a brief, grounding moment as they walked side-by-side out of the torchlit gloom and back into the light of the palace proper.
The main hall of Alubarna Castle, which had so recently been a place of tension and fear, was now a scene of boisterous celebration. The Straw Hats had returned, with a tied-up and unconscious Crocodile being unceremoniously dragged by Luffy.
"We're back! And we brought the bad guy!" Luffy announced, dropping Crocodile on the floor with a thud.
King Cobra, looking healthier and more vibrant than anyone had seen him in years, stepped forward, his voice booming with genuine joy and authority.
"Welcome, heroes of Alabasta! You have saved my kingdom from ruin, and for that, we will hold a grand banquet in your honor!"
The Straw Hats cheered, but Cobra wasn't finished. He placed a hand on Vivi's shoulder, drawing her forward. "And I will use this joyous occasion for another, even happier purpose!
It is time to officially introduce my beloved daughter, and our saviour, to whom I will gladly give her hand in marriage, as the future of this kingdom!"
From across the hall, Sanji's eyes lit up. He smoothed down his suit, a preening, lovesick look on his face. "Ah, at last! The king has seen my true worth! It is only natural, after my dazzling performance against Crocodile! Of course he would want a prince of my caliber for his daughter—"
"Takuya," King Cobra said, his voice filled with warmth as he gestured for the man to join them. "Come, my future son-in-law. Let the people see the man who will one day rule beside my daughter."
Sanji's pose froze. The color drained from his face. His jaw unhinged, dropping so low it nearly hit his chest. He slowly pointed a trembling finger, first at Robin, then at Vivi, then back at Takuya.
"YOU! AGAIN?! First the archaeologist goddess! Now the beautiful princess! What cosmic crime did I commit in a past life?! Was I a sea slug?! A particularly ugly piece of seaweed?!
Is this some divine punishment for being too handsome and too good a chef?! WHY, GODS?! WHY DO YOU HATE MY ROMANTIC SOUL?!" He fell to his knees, shaking his fists at the ceiling.
Takuya, completely ignoring Sanji's meltdown, gave a respectful nod to Cobra. "Your Majesty, I am honored. However, I have a request. Nico Robin is already my wife in spirit and fact. But I believe in formalities. I wish to marry both her and Vivi in a dual ceremony during the banquet."
King Cobra, a man who had just seen his body unmade and remade, took this in stride. He looked at his daughter, who gave a small, trusting nod. "A most... modern proposal," he said, stroking his chin. "But for the man who saved everything, it is a small thing. Very well. We shall have a double wedding!"
The sound that came from Sanji was not human. It was a high-pitched whine of pure, concentrated, soul-crushing agony. He clutched his chest, stumbling backward as if physically struck.
He looked like a man who had just been told the entire ocean was now made of soup. The emotional damage was absolute and catastrophic.
Meanwhile, Takuya found Mira, who was curiously poking the unconscious Crocodile with her foot.
"Mira," Takuya called. She bounded over. He held out a fruit that looked utterly bizarre—its skin swirled with a pattern of red and white hemispheres, like a strange berry.
"Here. A gift."
Mira took it, tilting her head. "What is it, Boss? Weird-looking snack."
"It's a Devil Fruit," Takuya explained. "I made it." He saw the question in her eyes. "Devil Fruits are, in a way, the manifestation of desire given form. The world's greatest scientist understands this. I simply used my power to... expedite the process. I desired this specific power to exist for you, and so, it does."
Mira's eyes widened. "You made a Devil Fruit? For me? What does it do?"
"It's the Poké-Poké Fruit," he said. "Eat it, and you'll be able to create these." He gestured to the fruit itself. "We'll call them Poké Balls. You generate them from your hands.
When you throw one at a living target, it converts them into pure energy and captures them inside the ball. The ball seals them in a state of suspended animation. They can't escape unless you release them yourself, and willingly or not they'll have to follow all of your commands."
Mira's face lit up with savage glee. "Whoa! So I can catch pets?! Awesome!"
Takuya gave a dark, approving smile. "Yes. You can catch all the pets you want. After all," he said, glancing at her, "you are already my pet. It's only fitting you have your own."
Without a second's hesitation, Mira took a massive bite of the fruit. Her face instantly turned green, and she gagged violently. "BLECH! That's the worst thing EVER!"
But she forced it down, and a moment later, a shimmering red and white sphere of energy coalesced in her palm, solidifying into a perfectly crafted Poké Ball.
"Now, for your first catch," Takuya said, nodding toward Crocodile.
Grinning like a maniac, Mira wound up and hurled the Poké Ball at the defeated Warlord. It struck his chest with a flash of red light. In an instant, his entire body dissolved into the same red energy and was sucked into the ball. It fell to the floor and wiggled once... twice... click.
A small symbol, resembling a swirling sandstorm, appeared on the ball's front button.
Mira skipped over and picked up her new possession, shaking it next to her ear. "He's in there! I got a sandy pet!"
"Good," Takuya said, his voice dropping to a warning tone. "Now, don't lose it. If you do, and someone else finds it... well, let's just say I might decide to see if you fit inside something even smaller than this ball."
Mira immediately stopped shaking the ball and clutched it protectively to her chest, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and excitement. The message was received. She had a new toy, and a new, very clear reason not to disappoint her master.
If my story made you smile even once, that's a win for me. That's what I want to live for—brightening dull days and reminding people that joy still exists. My dream is to keep getting better, to someday reach legendary level of storytelling.
If you can support me financially please join my patreon from the fic's bio, cause I don't know why Webnovel doesn't show my patreon link and honestly speaking I really need money. And if you can't it's alright, just adding few words of appreciation and power stones will be enough motivation I need.
Thankyou for choosing my fics to read.