The Next Day — Outside the Royal Palace
The morning sun rose over Alubarna, casting golden light across the capital. Just outside the palace, the wide roads and courtyards had transformed into a sprawling campsite. Tents of varying sizes lined the grounds—some worn and dusty from desert travel, others hastily made from military supplies.
After yesterday's emotional reunion and the revelation of the truth, King Cobra had extended an invitation: both the royal soldiers and the rebels were welcome to camp within the city walls. Trust, once fractured, was beginning to mend.
Inside the palace courtyard, a comforting aroma wafted through the morning air.
Sanji was already awake, sleeves rolled up and cigarette between his lips, hard at work in an outdoor kitchen he'd set up with makeshift stoves. At Zino's request, he was cooking breakfast—for everyone. The ingredient? A massive sea king the Orcas had slain during their journey towards Alabasta.
"Big guy makes a good request," Sanji muttered, expertly slicing slabs of the beast's meat. "At least he didn't bring a sea king with rubbery flesh."
Zino had provided enough to feed an army.
Most of the Orcas were still passed out inside the palace, snoring in awkward piles of limbs and weapons. Only a few were up and moving.
In the courtyard, a strange scene was unfolding.
Stev sat stiffly on a mat, a cup of tea pressed to his lips—his expression deadpan, eyebrows twitching in silent protest. His hand moved on its own, lifting the cup again. He sipped with slow, robotic resistance.
"Please… someone… help…" he muttered under his breath, but his mouth betrayed him with another unwilling sip.
Nearby, Marianne—formerly Miss Golden Week—sat with Nojiko, smiling faintly as she added a few final strokes to her artwork. She'd painted a familiar sigil under Stev's seat: one of her "Color Traps," forcing him into a polite teatime against his will.
"That'll teach you not to carelessly use your explosives," Nojiko said dryly, not even glancing at Stev's miserable face.
Marianne tilted her head. "His aura is calmer this way."
Marianne, or Miss Golden Week as she'd once been known, now sat calmly beside Nojiko, discussing a series of paintings and symbols. To everyone's surprise, she had made no attempt to flee after the Baroque Works collapse. In fact, she seemed more relaxed here than she ever did under Crocodile's command.
Meanwhile, Nami leaned over a spread of maps, marking notes and routes with sharp precision.
Outside the palace, Zoro, Gin, and Creed are doing their morning exercise. Creed, who is Kruz's strongest split personality, was training hard for the benefit of his body. He hasn't even taken a wink of sleep, in order to maintain his control over the body.
Inside the palace, Chloris and Moris took turns tending to King Cobra's injuries. His leg, still fragile from being crushed under rubble, was slowly recovering thanks to their healing skills. Cobra, though weary, insisted on sitting up and discussing the day's coming events.
Today, he would make an official announcement—one that would set Alabasta on a new path forward.
To prepare, Zino had already flown off toward Yuba, seeking out the wise old man Toh Toh. Cobra wanted him present for the declaration. Elsewhere, soldiers were dispatched to Nanohana Port and other towns to invite key figures to attend the royal address.
Back in the courtyard, the smell of roasted sea king filled the air.
"Alright, it's ready!" Sanji called.
People began to line up—soldiers, rebels, civilians, and even the palace staff. Vivi, wearing a wide smile and light robes, stepped in to help serve. She handed out plates with practiced ease, assisted by several soldiers who were more than happy to follow her lead.
"Enjoy!" she beamed as she handed food to each person.
The shared meal, cooked with care and served with warmth, became more than breakfast—it was a symbol of unity.
For the first time, the people of Alabasta—royal and rebel, soldier and pirate, civilian and former enemy—sat down side by side, laughing, eating, and recovering. It was the dawn of a new chapter.
...
Somewhere Along the Shores of Alabasta.
The waves lapped quietly against the hull of the marine vessel as it rested by the coast. A hot breeze drifted over the sea, carrying the scent of salt and sand. On the deck, Captain Smoker stood with his Den Den Mushi pressed to his ear, finishing up his detailed report to Marine Headquarters.
"The situation in Alabasta has stabilized. The uprising was fueled by Baroque Works manipulation. King Cobra is alive, and Crocodile has been apprehended. We'll await further orders."
The Den Den Mushi blinked slowly, its face mirroring the gruff voice of the admiral on the other end.
"Understood. Return Crocodile to base. We'll follow up shortly."
Click.
Smoker exhaled a cloud of smoke from his mouth and tucked the receiver away. Before he could say another word, a shadow passed overhead. A large seabird swooped low across the ship, its talons clutching a small bundle. With a flutter of wings, it dropped a stack of glossy photographs onto the deck, then soared off toward the horizon.
"Hm?" Smoker turned his head.
Tashigi was already stepping forward. She bent down and picked up the scattered photos, flipping through them one by one. Her expression quickly shifted from curious to shocked.
"Captain… You need to see this."
Smoker raised an eyebrow and took the photos from her hand. He flipped through them slowly.
One image showed Gin locked in combat with Mr. 4, the impact of tonfas captured mid-motion. Another depicted Hibari firing his rifle, the bullet flying toward Miss Doublefinger. A third caught the moment he aimed at Miss Merry Christmas, just as the enemy's claws reached for a frightened Stev.
A shot showed Zoro standing behind Mr. 1, swords in his hands, as blood spurted from Daz Bones' chest.
Smoker's brows furrowed.
More photos followed. One captured the precise moment Zino's fist connected with Smoker's gut—his body reeled back, smoke erupting from the impact. Another showed Crocodile being launched with a similar punch, his face twisted in surprise.
Tashigi paled.
Her fingers trembled as she flipped to the last photo—one of her own. She was frozen in frame, mid-stumble, after receiving a humiliating karate chop from Zino.
"C-Captain!" she gasped. "This is bad! These photos—they're everywhere!"
Smoker narrowed his eyes, flipping back to the shot of Zino's punch connecting with his own chest. His jaw clenched, but his voice remained calm.
"Tch... Someone's been documenting everything."
"Should we confiscate them? Destroy them?" Tashigi asked, clearly alarmed. "What if these are already being spread?"
Smoker took a deep drag from his cigar. "If they're in our hands, then they're in others' hands too."
He scanned the edges of the photos—there was no watermark, no sign of origin. Just clean, crisp images that should not have existed.
"We'll report this to HQ," he said finally, his voice resolute. "Let the higher-ups deal with the implications."
Tashigi hesitated. "But… those photos of you… and me…"
Smoker raised a hand dismissively. "Let it go. It doesn't matter. We're marines—we don't get to hide from our mistakes. Or our beatings."
Tashigi looked down, still blushing from the photo of herself being chopped.
"Understood… sir."
Smoker turned to the horizon, the wind ruffling his coat. "But I want to know who took those shots… and how."
Far off in the sky, another bird circled. Somewhere, someone was watching—and laughing.
And the photos… had only just started spreading.
...
Back in Alubarna.
The warm sun bathed the capital city in golden light. Inside the temporary camp around the palace, the aroma of roasted Sea King meat filled the air. Laughter and conversation buzzed as both royal soldiers and rebels sat side by side, enjoying their meals—an impossible sight just days ago.
Suddenly, a cloud of dust rose on the horizon, drawing everyone's attention. The sounds of utensils clinking against plates paused. Shadows danced in the distance, growing clearer as they neared the city gates.
Soon, a familiar figure came into view—riding atop a massive, battle-hardened duck.
"It's… Captain Igaram?" a soldier exclaimed.
"No way! Igaram's back?" another chimed in.
"Where's he been all this time?"
"Was he on some secret mission?"
The murmurs grew louder as the distinctive curls of Igaram's hair bounced with each stride of the duck. As he approached, he raised his voice.
"Stand aside! Make way for the royal hair—err, I mean, royal aide!"
Vivi turned at the familiar voice. Her eyes lit up, and she broke into a smile. "Igaram!"
"Princess Vivi!" Igaram gasped in relief. "You're safe—thank the heavens!"
He slid off the duck and rushed toward her. "I feared the worst when I heard about the uprising and the impersonation. What is going on here? Why are the rebels and the royal guards… eating together?"
Vivi chuckled. "It's a long story. Let's just say… a miracle happened. Alabasta is finally healing."
Still bewildered, Igaram allowed Vivi to guide him toward the palace, eager to catch up on everything he had missed.
But before they could get far, another gust of wind swept across the plaza—strong enough to stir the tents and knock over a few plates. All heads turned toward the western sky.
Two figures were descending rapidly from above.
"It's Zino!" someone shouted.
"And... is that an old man?"
Zino was flying, cradling an elderly figure in one arm as air spiraled beneath his feet. With practiced control, he slowed their descent, gently landing near the gathering.
"We're here," Zino said simply.
He released the wind pressure, and the old man, Toh Toh, took a moment to steady himself before gazing around. His eyes shimmered with nostalgia.
"This… this is Alubarna?" he murmured. "It's been so long. Everything looks so different now."
The surrounding soldiers watched in silence. Some whispered to each other, curious about the old man's identity.
"Who is he?"
"No idea. But if Zino brought him, he must be important."
"Did you see how he flew? What is that guy?"
"Wind powers… terrifying."
While admiration and unease mixed in the crowd, Zino led Toh Toh toward the palace. The noise slowly returned to the courtyard, but anticipation still hung thick in the air.
Not long after, the murmurs gave way to silence as the palace doors opened once more.
King Cobra emerged—still regal, despite the limp in his step. His leg was partially healed, thanks to the efforts of the Orcas' healers, but the pain clearly lingered. Supported slightly by Chaka, he climbed the short steps to the royal podium.
Gasps and quiet cheers rose from the crowd as they saw their king—alive.
From soldiers and rebels alike, attention turned upward.
King Cobra looked over the sea of faces gathered below. Though not everyone from Nanohana had returned, and some parts of the kingdom still stirred with unrest, he knew the time had come.
It was time to speak. Time to restore trust. Time to announce the truth.
"Citizens of Alabasta… loyal soldiers… brave rebels… and friends who have come from afar…
Today, we stand at the end of a nightmare. One that nearly tore our beloved kingdom in two.
Let it be known to all: the war we nearly fought was born of deception. Our enemy was not each other, but the shadowy hand of an organization called Baroque Works, led by none other than one of the Seven Warlords—Crocodile.
He manipulated both royal and rebel forces. He placed an imposter in my name. He sowed doubt, fear, and hatred among us, hoping to seize the throne of Alabasta for himself."
Gasps spread among those who had not yet heard the full truth. Cobra raises a hand to steady them.
"But we were not defeated. Why? Because truth still lives in the hearts of this kingdom. When it mattered most, royalists and rebels did not strike each other down—they rose up, together, to stop a greater evil.
To the rebels who took up arms: I understand your anger. I do not hold it against you. You were betrayed, as were we all. I declare here and now: you are not enemies of the crown—you are citizens of Alabasta. And I welcome you home."
The crowd murmurs with emotion. Cobra continues.
"In light of these events, change must come. We cannot pretend nothing happened. I have decided to introduce reforms that will allow better communication between the people and the palace.
I will work with Koza and trusted representatives from across the kingdom to ensure that the voices of the people are heard. We will rebuild trust—not just with words, but with action."
He pauses, glancing at the distant tents of the rebels and the banners of the royal guard.
"This is not the beginning of a new war. This is the beginning of our healing. Of unity. Of Alabasta, whole again."
He then smiles faintly.
"We could not have done this alone. There are… friends from afar who lent us their strength in our darkest hour. Some of them may choose to remain in the shadows. But we know who they are, and we will never forget what they've done for us."
He places a hand over his heart.
"To them, I give my eternal thanks."
The king then steps back slowly, his message complete—but the roar of applause that follows is thunderous, as royal soldiers and rebels alike begin to cheer together.