One Piece: Bai Ye Deputy Captain of the Straw Hats

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

Throughout his journey, Luffy had invited many to join his crew, and he had faced rejection before. There was Gaimon, the man in the treasure chest, and Dr. Kureha, to name a few. But among them, only one had accepted his offer, been recognized as a true Nakama by the entire crew, yet chosen not to sail with them: Princess Vivi of Alabasta.

At the port of Alabasta, in their tearful farewell, her final words to him had been a promise.

"Luffy! You're going to be the Pirate King, aren't you?"

"When I become the true queen of my country, I'll be able to help you even more, Luffy!"

And now, standing before them, it seemed Vivi was ready to make good on that promise.

-----

On the island, Vivi, dressed in the same familiar clothes she wore during her time aboard the Going Merry, looked at the faces she had missed so dearly, tears welling in her eyes.

"Everyone... it's been so long!"

"Vivi!" Nami was the first to rush forward, pulling her into a tight embrace. They had been inseparable sisters on the ship.

Sanji, seated in a wheelchair, was overcome with emotion, his heart-eyes spinning as he tried to leap forward for his own hug, only to be firmly held in place by Bai Ye. They both offered her warm greetings. Zoro, ever the stoic, allowed a rare, genuine smile. Chopper was immediately swept up into Vivi's arms for a hug. As for Robin, Vivi had forgiven the former Baroque Works agent long ago, back in Alabasta, when she chose to protect the Straw Hats.

With pride and excitement shining in his eyes, Luffy introduced Vivi to the crewmates she hadn't met: Franky and Brook. Of course, it was hardly necessary. Vivi had followed every scrap of news about the Straw Hat Pirates with rapt attention. As a result, they all became fast friends. It's worth noting that when Brook, in a most gentlemanly manner, asked to see her panties, he was met with the swift and joint punishment of both Nami and Robin.

-----

Vivi's visit was more than just a reunion. She had come to express the official gratitude of a new global power, the Spark Alliance, to the Straw Hat Pirates.

In the swirl of Morgans' chaotic news reports, one fact had been absolutely correct: the formation of Spark was inextricably linked to the Straw Hats. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were the secret patrons behind the entire movement.

The initial seed of the idea was planted in a conversation between Bai Ye and the Revolutionary leader, Monkey D. Dragon. Later, during the five months the Straw Hats spent in the world of the Rainbow Mist—which equated to one month in the outside world—Dragon and Bai Ye refined the plan.

The decision for Vivi to become the public face and leader of the Alliance was Dragon's own. The Revolutionary Army's reputation was too controversial, its image too grim. But Alabasta, a kingdom that had risen from the ashes and was beloved by the world, was the perfect ally. It just so happened that Vivi herself was already disillusioned with the World Government and prepared to stand against it. The two sides found they were in perfect accord.

It was Vivi's endorsement that gave the Revolutionary Army the credibility it needed to persuade nearly one hundred non-affiliated nations to join the Spark Alliance in a remarkably short time.

But the Straw Hats' contributions went far beyond political maneuvering. For the newly formed Alliance to survive, it needed military strength. The basic enhancement pills, developed by Chopper through a fusion of his medical knowledge and Bai Ye's alchemy, had fundamentally changed the calculus of warfare.

The Marines couldn't suddenly take a pill to recover from injuries mid-battle. The Spark Army could.

The Marines couldn't consume an elixir to enhance their physical capabilities before a major engagement. The Spark Army could.

This breakthrough brought immense pride to Dr. Kureha, who had also joined Spark. She had sent a message for Vivi to relay to her former apprentice: "You're finally standing on your own two hooves, my stupid son."

The simple, gruffly affectionate words left Chopper flustered and misty-eyed.

Beyond the alchemical advantage, Franky provided critical support in the form of a [Robot Manufacturing Factory]. These were not the hyper-advanced, sentient battle-mechs of the Straw Hats' own Robot Corps. Their advantage was not in sophistication, but in sheer, overwhelming numbers. They were the perfect supplementary force for the burgeoning Alliance, providing the defensive manpower needed to protect the territories of its many member states. Franky also shared improved battleship designs with Iceburg, who then used the full resources of the Galley-La Company to construct a new, advanced fleet for the Spark Army.

Finally, Bai Ye had woven a network of defensive formations—a combination of Qimen arrays and the power of the Rainbow Mist—to create a formidable first line of defense for all Spark territories.

It was this multifaceted support from the Straw Hat Pirates that gave the Spark Alliance the strength to stand its ground, forcing the World Government into a protracted conflict rather than a swift annihilation.

Military power was one thing, but for a nation to thrive, it needs a stable economy. It's a well-known fact that 99.9% of the nations unaffiliated with the World Government were simply too poor to pay the exorbitant Heavenly Tribute. The remaining fraction were nations like Wano and Elbaf—powers the World Government was reluctant to provoke. These impoverished islands joined Spark not just for protection, but for the promise of a better life. This meant the Alliance needed a vast amount of capital for its initial phase of development.

On the matter of funding, Bai Ye demonstrated that owning a pocket dimension had its perks. When he presented Dragon with a literal island's worth of treasure, the Revolutionary leader was reportedly stunned into silence for a full half-hour. Bai Ye guessed Dragon's internal monologue was something along the lines of: "I, Monkey D. Dragon, have never in my life fought a war this well-funded."

It was this treasure that gave Spark the confidence to absorb nearly a hundred nations at once. Robin, a survivor of Ohara, provided invaluable economic and logistical guidance, while Franky and Usopp collaborated on inventions to jump-start their economies—more advanced agricultural tools, mining equipment, and irrigation systems. The goal was to help these struggling nations achieve self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.

"Vice-Chairman Dragon and I have already detailed the full extent of your aid to the Alliance council," Vivi said, her smile radiant as she addressed her friends. "And so, by a unanimous vote of the committee—"

She stood a little taller, her voice ringing with formal authority.

"The Straw Hat Pirates will forever be recognized as the greatest friend of the Spark Alliance. Furthermore, you will be granted the sole 'Honorary' rank within our Adventurers' Association."

"The Alliance may still be young and our strength may be limited now," she concluded, her gaze firm and full of promise. "But I swear to you, as the first Chairman of Spark, that in your battles against the World Government and the Navy, the Spark Alliance and its army will always be your most loyal and steadfast ally."