We finally reached Alubarna — the capital of Alabasta. The streets looked peaceful, but you could feel something heavy in the air. People walked fast, whispering to each other, guards patrolled everywhere.
I turned to Ace. "Hey, wanna join my crew?"
Ace grinned. "Sorry, Noah, can't do that. I'm already part of a pirate crew."
"Let me guess…" I said. "Whitehead Pirates?"
He blinked. "Whitebeard."
"Right, that's what I said," I muttered quickly.
Ace laughed, shaking his head. "Anyway, it's time for me to go. Maybe we'll meet again on the sea — if you make it to the second half of the Grand Line."
He waved, and just like that, he was gone — walking off like he didn't just survive almost frying alive in the desert.
Emma and I found an inn and checked in. It was small but at least had a roof, a fan, and no sandstorm inside. After cleaning up, we decided to look around town.
"Wait," I said, squinting at Emma. "Where did you get all that money from?"
She smiled proudly. "You didn't think I was going to leave empty-handed after fighting all those guys, right?"
"…Emma," I said slowly. "Did you rob Captain Bounce?"
"I borrowed it," she said innocently.
"That's not how borrowing works!"
We stopped by some food stalls, and I bought a stick of grilled meat that was probably camel, but I didn't ask. Emma tried every single thing she saw until she had both hands full of snacks.
Then we found a weapon shop. A big sign said: BEST SWORDS IN ALABASTA!
An old man behind the counter greeted us with a huge smile. "Come in, come in! We sell the best blades around!"
Emma narrowed her eyes. "You can't fool us, mister. These are all cheap swords made from weak metal."
The man froze. "…You can tell?"
"She can smell scams," I said proudly.
While they argued, I noticed a sword on the wall behind a glass case. It looked different — black hilt, strange carvings on the blade.
"I want that one," I said, pointing.
The old man coughed. "Ah, sorry, young man. That one isn't for sale."
I frowned. "Why not?"
"Because it's cursed," he whispered dramatically.
Emma sighed. "Oh, great.
"Hey, cursed means cool!" I argued.
In the end, Emma bought a regular cheap sword and paid with "borrowed" money.
After that, we stopped at a clothing store. I got a new black shirt and pants — simple, light, easy to move in. Emma picked out a mini skirt with tights and a blouse.
I blinked. "Is that… uh, appropriate for battle?"
"It is," she said.
We finally returned to the inn. My feet were killing me, and the heat was unbearable. I fell face-first on the bed.
"This," I mumbled into the pillow, "is the happiest moment of my life."
Emma dropped her shopping bags beside me. "Don't fall asleep yet, Captain. We still need to plan our next move."
I waved lazily without lifting my head. "My next move is sleeping for ten hours straight."
"You snore," she said.
"I lead loudly," my voice muffled by the pillow.
And just like that, the great pirate Captain Noah — future legend of the Grand Line — fell asleep in the most unheroic way possible.
Emma sighed and looked out the window at the desert city glowing under the setting sun.
"Some captain you are," she said softly, smiling.
The next day, we woke up to shouting outside.
"Rebels versus soldiers," Emma said, peeking through the window.
I rubbed my eyes. "Can't they wait until after breakfast?"
Down below, people were running and screaming. Smoke rose from the far end of the street, and I could already hear the clash of swords and gunfire.
We hurried downstairs and found the innkeeper stuffing money into a bag.
"What's going on?" I asked.
He looked pale. "It's a civil war! The rebels finally reached the capital! You two better get out while you can!"
"Civil war…" Emma said shocked. "Great vacation spot, Captain."
"Yeah," I muttered. "Next time, we pick somewhere with less screaming."
Before we could leave, a straw bullet smashed through the window and buried itself in the wall behind us.
"GET DOWN!" I shouted.
The innkeeper yelped and dove behind the counter. Emma and I crouched as more shots tore through the walls.
"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath, "I think it's time we—"
"—run?" Emma guessed.
"Exactly!"
We bolted out the door, into chaos. The streets were filled with smoke, shouting, and panic. Rebels and soldiers clashed everywhere. Stalls were overturned, fires burned in the distance, and horses screamed as they bolted through the crowd.
I spotted a familiar green-haired swordsman cutting through soldiers like it was just another Tuesday.
"Zoro?" I shouted over the noise.
He glanced back.
Emma grabbed my sleeve. "What do we do, Captain?"
"We leave this place before it collapses!" I said.
"Then why did we come here?" she yelled.
I blinked. "...I don't remember."
She groaned. "Perfect."
We started running again. A cannonball hit a nearby building, and the shockwave knocked us both to the ground. Sand and debris flew everywhere.
Emma coughed, brushing dust off her face. "You still think leaving's a good idea?"
"It's the best idea!" I said. "We just need one thing before we go."
"What's that?"
"Our very, very own ship."
Emma blinked. "You want to steal a ship in the middle of a civil war?"
I grinned. "Exactly."
She stared at me, then sighed. "You're insane."
Another explosion rocked the street. "Then it's a good thing crazy people survive the longest!" I shouted.
We took off running again — two idiots in the middle of a war, trying to find a ship before the city burned down.