After the Battle

In the end, Alabasta—or rather, the Straw Hat Pirates—won. Alabasta was saved, and the marines took Sand Crocodile Crocodile into custody.

"Just thinking about everyone's faces makes me laugh." Li Ziming smiled, holding a glass of wine.

"You really are hopeless when it comes to that twisted sense of humor." Robin sat nearby with an ancient book she had found in Alabasta's palace.

"You're the one who was almost beyond saving," Li Ziming shot back. "When Straw Hat started fighting Crocodile, you could've run. But no, you had to stay and get stabbed with a hook. Proud of yourself?"

"Sorry, sorry. That was my mistake," Robin said, though she looked anything but sorry. "But staying meant I got to see such a spectacular fight."

"So? Luffy's pretty good, isn't he?" Li Ziming wore the smug look of a man whose choice had been vindicated. "Life around that kid is bound to be interesting."

"Interesting?" Robin gave him an amused look. "I don't know what you're really thinking, but I'll accept that as your reason for now."

"Could you stop seeing right through me?" Li Ziming shrugged.

"Sorry to interrupt." Vivi approached, looking embarrassed, and bowed to Li Ziming and Robin. "I'm sorry. My father told me everything. I misunderstood you."

Li Ziming walked up to Vivi and tipped up her chin. "Did you misunderstand us? Or didn't you? That's the question." He grinned at her bewildered expression, then walked away.

"Don't mind him," Robin said helplessly. "He's like that. He acts like an idiot sometimes."

"Uh..." Vivi froze, unsure how to answer, then sat beside Robin. "Robin, why do you want to see the Poneglyph so badly?" Her father had told her that Robin had stayed with Crocodile for the Poneglyph, and had later pretended to be captured by him again for the same reason.

"Everyone has their own story. So do I." That was all Robin said before turning her full attention back to her book.

Meanwhile, Li Ziming wandered over to where the Straw Hat Pirates were resting. After their battle with Sand Crocodile left them badly injured, he had brought them to the palace.

"Li Ziming!" Chopper was preparing medicine. He called out happily when he saw him.

"Shh." Li Ziming chuckled. "Never mind. You could probably set off a cannon beside their ears and they still wouldn't wake up. We really have you all to thank for this battle."

"Oh, we weren't that great!" Chopper swayed happily. "Oh, right! How are Robin's injuries?"

"She's fine. The wound went right through her, so it was serious, but sitting around reading won't hurt her now. Kureha's antidote worked well, and your treatment was excellent too, Dr. Chopper." Li Ziming spared no praise.

"I won't be happy just because you complimented me!" Chopper wriggled with delight.

"How about a bath?" Li Ziming asked.

"Okay. Can I bring a duck in?" Chopper asked earnestly.

"Of course." Li Ziming picked him up and carried him to the bathroom.

"Your Majesty?" Li Ziming stared in surprise at Cobra, who was sitting in the bath.

"Your injuries haven't healed yet!" Chopper hurried to Cobra's side. "Your wounds could reopen!"

"It's fine, Doctor. Your bandaging is excellent, and I'm not that fragile." Cobra proudly flexed his muscles. "I may not be as strong as you lot, but I'm still plenty sturdy!"

"Ignoring your doctor is a bad habit." Li Ziming found a floating tray and set a flask of sake on it. "Ahh." He sank into the water with a helpless sigh. It wasn't seawater, but once three-quarters of his body was submerged, all his strength drained away.

Cobra gave Li Ziming a strange look. "Sorry. I didn't realize..."

"Don't get the wrong idea." Li Ziming weakly waved a hand. "I have a Devil Fruit power. Water just saps my strength."

"Haha! I thought you were like that fellow who can turn into anyone he wants." Cobra showed no embarrassment at all.

Li Ziming thought of the man who impersonated people, pictured Mr. 2's face, and irritably splashed water at Cobra.

"Are you and Robin a couple?" Cobra asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

"I'm pursuing her." Li Ziming narrowed his eyes. "And don't get any ideas. Vivi and I would never work. I'm a pirate. You wouldn't want a thief for a son-in-law, would you?"

"So you don't dislike Vivi?" Cobra's eyes lit up. "I could recommend you for a position among the Shichibukai. Then—"

"Forget it." Li Ziming's voice turned scornful. "I've got no love for the marines or the World Government. I won't work under them. If I'd wanted to, I would've joined the marines instead of Baroque Works when I first went to sea. Besides, you look fit enough to keep going another two or three years. By then, Vivi will make a fine queen."

"A queen?" Cobra gave a bitter smile. "Vivi, she..."

"Vivi isn't as fragile as you think. Her will is far stronger than you imagine. Sometimes you have to trust your children. An eagle needs the open sky, not a rope and a Birdcage." Li Ziming fell silent, plainly unwilling to say more.

"Doctor, do you like Vivi?" Cobra asked. Li Ziming gave him an odd look. Is this old man really that desperate to marry her off?

"I do!" Chopper nodded eagerly. "Vivi's so nice!"

"I see." Cobra's voice dropped, carrying helplessness, sorrow, and perhaps a trace of pain.

"Yeah! We all like Vivi." Chopper showed Cobra the mark on his wrist with a proud grin.

"Yes. I think you're right, Doctor." Cobra pulled his mouth into a grin.

"Huh?" Chopper looked at him in confusion.

"A bath really can reopen a wound." With that, Cobra fainted, and a broad cloud of red spread through the bathwater.

"Oh no! Doctor, Doctor! Wait, I'm the doctor!" Chopper scrambled to lift Cobra out.

"This guy really knows how to cause trouble." Li Ziming sighed, then hauled himself out of the water to help Chopper.

One by one, the Straw Hat Pirates woke up. Only Luffy, whose injuries were the worst, remained asleep.

"Please, have a taste, my beautiful lady." Sanji showered Robin with attention. Ever since he had woken up, the food had kept coming.

"We have to keep an eye on those two!" Usopp watched Li Ziming and Robin warily. Nami, meanwhile, had been won over by a bag of diamonds from Robin.

"Usopp, I'd love to hear about your heroic exploits," Li Ziming said with a smile.

"Oh? Well, if you insist, then the great Captain Usopp shall tell you how I..." Usopp launched into a grand tale.

"What a bunch of idiots." Zoro shook his head and swung his sword, trying to recapture the feeling he had found when he cut through steel.

"But why hasn't Luffy woken up?" Chopper's question silenced the Straw Hat Pirates.

"Can't be helped. How about I give it a try?" Li Ziming volunteered.

"You know medicine too, Li Ziming?" Chopper asked curiously.

"I have a feeling this won't be a good idea," Robin said.

"Oh, would anyone like a hundred pieces of meat?" Li Ziming spoke softly, and his suggestion sounded absurd. A second later, everyone stared in shock.

"MEAT!" Luffy shot up with his bandages still wrapped around him. "Where's the meat?"

Li Ziming wore a look that said there was no need to praise him. The others either looked unsurprised or as though they had seen a ghost.

"Did you say there was meat?" Luffy demanded, turning to Li Ziming.

"Well, surely the palace can afford to treat us to one meal?" Li Ziming looked at Vivi.

"Of course! Now that everyone's awake, let's have a banquet!" At Vivi's command, the whole palace sprang into action—especially the kitchen.

Luffy dominated the dining table. Dishes could practically be cleared the moment they arrived, and everyone else struggled to snatch a bite from under his hands. When Sanji saw that the ladies weren't getting any food, he went straight for Luffy, turning dinner into a brawl. Usopp retaliated with a Pepper Star, while several empty barrels had already piled up beside Zoro. Li Ziming was craftier: he took food from the serving carts before they reached the table and shared it with the ladies, earning their unanimous approval.

"Vivi looks happy, doesn't she, Igaram?" Cobra said wistfully.

"Your Majesty?" Igaram seemed to guess what Cobra was thinking and looked at him with concern.

"I'm fine. An eagle needs the open sky, not a rope and a Birdcage." Cobra's wistful words left Igaram silent.