Erumalu and the Dance Powder

Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece.

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BAM BAM BAM

WHACK WHACK WHACK

Azu shook his head as he hammered a brand new plank into the galley's floor, "An asshole makes a hole of their own in the floor, and doesn't even bother to try and patch it up," he growled, smacking the head of a nail with a hammer, "Looks like I came at a good time. I bet if I hadn't joined, this ship would be a wreck in just a few months,"

It had only been a short time since he officially joined the Axe-Head crew as the shipwright/carpenter of the Tomahawk, but he was already hard at work fixing up any and all holes he could find. From the hole in the floor and the large hole in the wall, Azu found a couple of good areas around the ship that had been either cut into or blown apart by gunfire.

"Buncha damn psychoes on board...using guns and swords to hurt the ship," he murmured, running his hand along the wooden planks, "Ya don't need that, do ya?"

-At that moment-

"ACHOO!"

Devon, DJ, and Niri rubbed their noses.

"Someone's takin' a shot at me, I know it!" Devon glanced around suspiciously.

"Dusty-chan must be talking about how great I am!" DJ cried happily.

Niri's eye twitched, "Axe better not be telling anyone any lies about me...,"

Herman and Austin looked at each other, shrugged and went back to getting their supplies ready for the journey across the scorching Alabastan desert.

"Lessee...," Herman wiped his face with a rag, "How much do we have?" he murmured, looking around the deck of the ship. He, Austin, and some of the others had tried to divide up the supplies that the crew had bought for themselves in Nanohana while Luffy's crew bought theirs. Along with food and water, they had purchased robes and saris, as well as dancer girl outfits for the ladies (courtesy of DJ, but with a much less perverted reason than Sanji's).

"We have...," Herman counted the supply mountain, "A weeks worth of dried meat, fruit...layers of clothing to protect us from the heat of the desert sun, as well as any insects that may come at us...," he glanced at a large number of big barrels nearby, "And about eight to ten barrels of fresh, cold water...now, we gotta divide them up for all of us,"

"Actually, you're staying behind, Herman,"

The Fish-Man swiveled his stalks around to see Axe standing behind him, wearing a set of black robes made for the heat, dusting off a black, brimmed hat.

"What?"

Axe planted the hat on his head, "You and Pingu are staying behind,"

Herman's arms fell to his side, "But...why, Captain?"

"For one thing," Axe pointed to the penguin who was helping Niri out with her duties, "A little guy from a Winter Island won't have a snowball's chance in hell surviving out here. Also," he pointed back to Herman, "You're a Fish-Man. Now, I'm aware we could use some extra water to keep you hydrated, but this climate is gonna be too harsh on ya. You know what's it like in countries like this?"

Herman nodded slowly, shoulders slumping, "Scorching heat in daytime, freezing temperatures in the nighttime...," he sighed, "I understand. The little one and I shall stay behind and look after the boat,"

Axe smiled a little and patted his chef, "Look, big guy, normally, I'd love to have you to come with us, but in this desert, I'd be sending you to your death...if that happened, I wouldn't be able to live with myself,"

Herman nodded again and Axe slapped him lightly.

"There ya go. I'll make it up to ya, promise," Axe swore, heading back to the Going Merry, "Just make sure no dumbass bastards come aboard, okay? Make sure that you and Pingu get to a nice cool place!"

Herman waved idly at him as he jumped over to the Straw Hats ship, "Alright...,". With a sigh, the Fish-Man took a seat on a large box and hunched over, a little saddened that he wouldn't be able to go on land.

"Aw don't be like that, Red,"

The Fish-Man's stalks swiveled around and watched as Niri plopped down next to him, holding Pingu in her arms, the penguin holding a cold rag to his forehead.

"Niri...do you agree with the captain?"

"Usually, I'd argue with him about stuff, but he's right," Niri hugged her little bird friend, "Pingu would die out there, so he needs to stay aboard, and he needs someone to watch over him," she carefully handed the black and white bird into the lobster's large hands, "Right now, you're the only one that I can really trust with caring for him. I trust Kirsty, but since she's going with us...," she trailed off and shrugged.

Herman chuckled a little and planted a large hand on Niri's head, ruffling her black hair, "Thank you, Niri...I'll make sure that he's safe, cool, and well-fed in your absence,"

"Good," Niri shot to her feet and adjusted her sari, "Because if I come back and he's not alright, your ass is mine!" she warned, walking away.

Herman watched her leave, then looked down at the vest wearing bird in his arm, "She's a tad on the crazy side, have you noticed that?"

Pingu honked and nodded.

-----

"Speed Speed, Heal Heal, a new Kachi Kachi model, Kit Kit...," Kagura set down her clipboard and watched as both crews threw their anchors over into the water, taking port on a nearby rocky shore, "Then there's the Hito Hito, and the Gumo Gumo no Mi's. Damn, I hit the mother effin' jackpot!"

"You seem happy...,"

Kagura leaned back and looked up, grinning at Devon, who wore a blood-red robe and headgear, "Yosh...very much so. I found a lot of interesting people, got to kick the ass out of some annoying bounty hunter wannabes, and made some great notes," she held up her clipboard, "All I need now is a Poneglyph...,"

Devon blinked, "Pone...glyph? The hell is that?"

"A poneglyph is a giant block of stone with ancient writing on it,"

Both Kagura and Devon looked down to see Chizuru sharpening her daggers.

"These blocks of stone are scattered all around the world, hidden from the eyes of the people, normall. However, if one can find one, and is able to decipher it, they can unlock the secrets of the Void Century, or find hidden locations of the ancient weapons...," she twirled one of her larger blades around her finger, "Then again, while one does this, it puts them in danger, for the World Government has outlawed the study of these great monoliths of mystery, and if anyone should try to study them, they are ordered to be put to death,"

"How the hell do you know that?"

Axe stepped into view, strapping his giant axe to his back, a deep frown on his face.

Chizuru smirked a little bit and sheathed her large dagger into her boot, "I know many things, Captain. How I know them...," she shrugged, "As I said when we first met, some things can be known from things that are neither rumors or printed word...," she turned and walked to the edge of the ship, where the others were gathering, "I'd say it's time to go ashore, Cap'n...,"

Kagura and Devon watched as Chizuru approached the others, then turned to Axe, whose fists were clenched so tight, even they could see his white knuckles from where they were. The young captain huffed and glared up at Devon, "Get your ass down here, Dev...we're going ashore,"

He stomped off, grabbing a couple of barrels on the way, leaving the other two behind.

"...he's not exactly in a good mood, huh?"

"Nope...,"

-----

"Dude, what the hell are those?"

"I dunno...,"

"Turtles?"

"Doncha mean seals?"

"Whatever they are, they're kawaii!"

Both Axe-Heads and Straw Hats stood on their ships, which were docked one ahead of the other, staring at a large group of strange creatures. They all had the body of seals, but on their chests, back and heads, they had the green shells of turtles.

"You must fight and defeat me if you wish to disembark here! If you're too afraid, go and dock on the other shore, you wimps!"

Chopper looked up at the crews, "That's what he said...," he said with a shrug as one animal waved his flipper around, looking important.

Both crews watched as Usopp leapt from the Going Merry, letting out a battle cry in an attempt to fight one of the strange creatures. Sadly, but humorously, Usopp got his ass beaten easily because the next thing he knew, he was laying on the rocky shore, bloody and bruised.

Vivi shook her head, "I forgot to tell you! These things are called Kung Fu Dugongs, and they're very strong!"

"I WIN!"

Axe slapped a hand to his face as the other watched Luffy stand triumphantly over a fallen Dugong with a lump on his head, "We got a winner...," he looked up at the creatures, "Weren't there a whole bunch of them? There seems to be less,"

"Uh...Axe?" Dusty tugged on his sleeve, "To the left...,"

"Hm?" Axe turned and his jaw practically hit the deck, "What the f-?!"

Standing on top of a small dogpile of Kung Fu Dugongs, Pingu flexed his flippers and danced around on a Dugong's shell, honking.

"Chopper, could you translate?" Kirsty asked loudly.

"You're just like turtles, slow and thick headed! I've beaten you, now let us dock here you runts!"

"Wonder where he got that attitude..?" Dusty murmured, glancing at Niri, who was waving at her little friend.

"WAY TO GO PINGU! SHOW THOSE TURTLE WANNABES WHAT IT MEANS TO KICK ASS!"

Axe blinked, and turned around to see Herman, who was also shocked at the bird's strength, "I...don't think that's a normal penguin...,"

"Oh, ya think?"

"Well, at least he won!"

"Uh...," Azu pointed ahead and everyone watched as each of the Dugongs bowed to both Pingu and Luffy, "What the hell...?"

"It's the Code of the Kung Fu Dugong!" Vivi explained, leaning over the railing, looking at them, "Whoever defeats them in a fight, they must become a disciple of them!"

"Hard core martial artists...," Zolo cracked.

Kirsty looked on as each Dugong looked hopefully at both Pingu and Luffy, "Even animals are martial artists...man, there's so much I gotta learn,"

"Aw, don't worry about it...,"

Kirsty felt a hand land on her shoulder, then a sudden weight on her back. She looked behind her to see Azu leaning on her, jug of saki in one hand, his face red.

Azu hiccuped, "Ish okay, doc...if ya want, I'll teach ya everythin' ya want to know about the martial arts...,"

"Really?"

"Yep," Azu nodded, "Just don't let me forget,"

"Don't worry, I'll be sure to help you remember,"

Azu hiccuped again and looked at her confused, "Remember what?"

Kirsty facefaulted, You're kidding me...

"Dude...," Azu grinned as he watched the Dugongs mimic Luffy's and Pingu's moves, "What's with the turtle-seals?"

"Man, he's wasted," DJ shook his head, pulling Azu off of Kirsty, "C'mon...Kirsty-san needs some space,"

"YOSH!" Luffy cried, taking another pose, "WE'RE HEADING TO YUBA!"

Axe shook his head as he jumped off the ship, followed by his own crew, minus Herman and Pingu, who was now slapping a Dugong over the head for something, but plus Kagura who was following right behind Devon.

The nittoryru user frowned, "Why is she still with us?!" he hissed to his Captain while the blonde female walked alongside of the other ladies of the crew.

Axe shrugged, "I dunno...just got a feeling about her,"

"Oh great, a feeling," Devon threw his arms into the air, "Praise Odin, our captain has a feeling!"

"Shaddup,"

"You shaddup!"

-----

After bribing the Kung Fu Dugongs with a lot of Straw Hat's food, the two crews made their way into the desert, hoping to reach Erumalu, also known as the Green City, before heading onward. Devon glanced at his nakama, feeling the gaze of someone staring straight into him.

Ever since I told her, Kirsty's been givin' me this weird vibe... he thought, glancing down at his brother, who was walking alongside him wearing protective robes, I bet Austin's feeling the same stare...

Devon wasn't the only one who thought someone was staring at them. Chizuru had a nagging feeling that someone was glaring daggers at her back. After a few moments, she couldn't help but smile a little, knowing full well who it was.

Don't worry, Captain...I won't tell a soul until you're ready. However... she looked back at her nakama, I can't promise the same with the others.

Unwittingly sharing the sense of paranoia, Kirsty had a nervous feeling that someone in the group kept looking at her as well. Out of the corner of her eye, she managed to glance at Ace, who looked away at the same moment.

What's his problem? she thought a little annoyed, Doesn't he know it's rude to stare?

"Captain, are you sure it's wise to leave Herman behind?" Azu asked, teetering here and there, "A cook is necessary to survive on journeys and with him back at the ship...,"

Axe held up a hand, "It's okay, Azu. We have plenty of dried meat with us. With that as our food source, and as long as we ration our water supplies, we'll be just fine. Ain't that right, Princess?"

Vivi nodded as Axe walked up, walking next to Ace, who slugged him in the shoulder.

"Different crew...same flag...," Ace scratched his face, "Bad luck with old crew, Axe?" he murmured.

Axe rolled his eyes, "Yes...everyone I run across from my past is askin' me that same damn question, and I'm sick of it!" he removed his hat and wiped his brow, "I'd kill for one person who knew my old nakama not to bring it up!"

"..."

Not hearing anything from "Firefist" Ace, Axe turned and was sort of surprised to see Ace staring at the black hat he wore on his head...which looked very similiar to Ace's orange hat, except for the absence of two face medals and a belt.

"What?"

Ace frowned and pointed up at the hat, "So...it was you who stole that! Why?"

"Hey, I needed a hat, and I couldn't find one on my ship," Axe held the hat tightly, "You had a spare, it was my color, so I took it,"

"...I hate you so much,"

"Not as much as Blackbeard...right?"

"..."

"..."

"Gimme my hat,"

"No,"

"Gimme...my...hat!"

"Screw you, Ace!"

"Gimme my hat, or I'll roast your ass from here to Reverse Mountain!"

"Screw you!"

"Don't make me get my little brother over here...LUFFY!"

"WHAT?! Luffy's your little brother!?"

A short distance away, Niri held her head and sighed, "Baka...boys are so immature...," she looked up at the sky and adjusted the veil covering on her head, "I hope Pingu's okay...,"

-At that moment-

"Pingu...you seen the-,"

Herman stood on the deck of the Tomahawk and stared at the sight in front of him. Pingu was standing in front of the Kung Fu Dugongs he had beaten in combat, dropping fish into his beak with one flipper and mimicking a karate chop with the other.

"-fish?" Herman slumped his shoulders, "Man...well, at least this gives me a chance to see what kind of fish this desert country has to offer...,"

-Back with the group-

"DJ-kun...will you carry me?" Dusty asked sweetly, hopping onto DJ's back.

"YES, DUSTY-CHAN!" the swordsman shouted, tossing the pack to Devon, "Here, carry this!"

"Oi...," Devon caught the pack and his eye twitched, "Sneaky sonofa...,"

Dusty stuck out her tongue, "Devon's just mad 'cuz he has a little more to carry," she leaned forward and rubbed DJ's cheek a little, "DJ-kun's just been a gentleman, aren't you DJ-kun?"

DJ's eyes lit up, "YES, DUSTY-CHAN!"

Devon and Austin exchanged somewhat disgusted faces.

"Can you believe this?" Devon asked, using hand gestures silently.

"Actually, yeah...," Austin paused his signals and glanced back at DJ who was clearly enjoying lugging Dusty around, "He's just like that cook Straw Hat has...whipped over a lady,"

Devon laughed and patted his brother on the head, "So true...so true,"

"Guys, hold up!"

The two brothers, as well as the others in the group stopped walking and looked ahead to see Niri running up to Vivi, who was standing on a small dune, staring out at something on the horizon.

Everyone caught up with the two girls and took in the sight of what lay ahead of them. What was once a beautiful desert city, was now a ruin filled with broken rubble and sand burying most of the village.

"What the hell happened to this place?" Niri murmured, looking around in awe.

"This is...or was Erumalu...once known as the Green City. Just by looking at it you can see how much Baroque Works has done to my country...and how much suffering there is," Vivi said evenly, gulping a little, trying hard to not break out into tears.

Kirsty closed her eyes, the memory of her village being raided flooding back to her.

While it's not a pirate raid, it might have just as well been she thought, biting her lower lip.

Devon glanced at her from the corner of his eye and laid a hand on her shoulder, "It's okay...,"

"Why is it so dry around here?" Dusty asked, leaning over the edge of a nearby well while Chopper tossed a rock into it. The two of them waited for a few moments until they heard a loud clacking sound that told them it was completely dried up. The kitsune and the reindeer groaned, their tongues sticking out.

Vivi stopped walking and looked towards the horizon while everyone else stopped behind her, "It's because of the Dance Powder...,"

"Dance Powder?" Nami repeated.

Axe and Luffy turned to her, "You've heard of it?" they asked together.

Nami nodded, "Yeah. It's also called 'Rain-Calling Powder'. I've only heard of it myself, but...it was invented by a researcher in a Kingdom where rain never fell. The powder emits a green mist-like smoke that rises up into the air and artificially creates rainfall," she explained.

Axe whistled and looked up to the sky, "Damn...so wait, if it makes rain, why the hell is this place," he jerked a thumb to the ruins, "...like this?"

"Because it has a tremendous defect," Nami continued, "While it gives rain to the city it's deployed, it gives droughts downwind to other cities and countries. Do you get it?"

Luffy scratched his head, while Axe nodded.

"Yeah...I think I do. The powder helps make rain, but it must leave some sort of residue that keeps the other places from being rained on?"

Nami smiled a little, "Something like that. The Powder basically takes normal clouds, which would've kept traveling with the winds, and matures them into rainclouds in just seconds to make rain...with me so far?"

Again, Axe nodded, "Yep,"

"Anyway, it basically steals rain that would've otherwise fallen in another city or country,"

"So that's it!" Axe slammed a fist onto his hand, nodding, "Crocodile must be using this Powder to make it so that Vivi's dad is getting all the good rain for himself, which pisses off the citizens and has caused this whole rebellion!"

Everyone, especially Vivi stared at Axe in silent amazement.

Axe held up a V-sign, "What? I was the only one that got that figured out?"

Niri turned to Dusty and Kirsty, eye twitching, "Why is it he can figure shit like that out in seconds, but when it comes to dividing up leftovers, he gets so lost, he eats them all himself?" she murmured.

The two girls shrugged, "I dunno...,"

"Anyway, he's correct," Vivi broke the weird silence that hung over the other members of the group, "Before I joined Baroque Works, I found mass quantities of Dance Powder in the Palace...,"

"So it turns out that the conspiracy is also taking place inside the Palace," Zolo thought aloud.

"Wait a minute...," Luffy stared at Vivi for a few moments, taking all this in.

Axe nudged Sanji, "Dude, I bet you 50,000 Beli he doesn't get it," he whispered.

Nami glanced at him, "Did I just hear a bet?"

"No," Axe said quickly, looking away.

Suddenly, Luffy let out a loud scream.

"VIVI! YOUR DAD IS EVIL!"

Sanji glared at Luffy and bonked him over the head with his foot, "BAKA! HE WAS SET UP!" he snapped, hitting Luffy's head over and over again, "How could Vivi-chan's father ever do such a thing, ever?!"

Kagura bent down and raked the sand with her fingers, "Who knew something as major as drought could come from something so simple as powder?" she murmured.

Niri looked at Vivi, "So...a drought wiped this place out?"

"That, and fighting that broke out," Vivi explained, "With no rain, the canal in this city dried out and the people migrated to new oases to obtain water and avoid conflict. When people discovered Dance Powder in Alubarna, suspicion rose against the King until...,"

"Someone actually did something," Axe finished, holding his hat as a wind began to pick up, "It was because of these factors that this town was wasted and left in ruins...," he clenched a fist, Crocodile...you sonofabitch, why would you do that? She and these people never did a damn thing to you!

A low moaning sound made Axe, as well as the rest of the group, look up as a strong wind suddenly blew through the ruins. As the sand blew around them, everyone began to hear the moaning.

"What the hell is that?!" Niri yelled over the wind.

"Could it be assassins from Baroque Works?!" Usopp yelled back.

Ace shook his head slowly, "Nah...just the wind," he said calmly.

Luffy looked at him, "They sound like voices...,"

Dusty tightened her hold on DJ's neck, "DJ-kun, help me!" she wailed.

Austin took refuge behind his brother, who had his hands on his gladius blades.

"It's just the wind guys," Ace repeated, louder this time, "Nothing dangerous. The wind is passing through the town and reverberating among the building ruins...,"

"Sounds like-," Azu hiccuped, "Sounds like the city's crying...," he looked at his jug of saki, "I think I'm wasted again, though...,"

As the group listened to the "cries" of the Green City, the wind began to get stronger and stronger, and they could see a large sand twister coming towards them.

"AW CRAP!" Dusty gripped DJ's back, "SANDSTORM, EVERYONE TAKE COVER!" she shouted just as the twister engulfed them all.

Everyone tried hard not to be blown away by the storm's powerful winds. Chizuru, Kirsty, and Niri latched onto one another while Austin clung to Devon's robe, his face in the fabric.

"DON'T ANYONE SEPERATE! YOU DO, AND IT'S BAD MOJO!" Kagura screamed just before she started to slide backward, "AW CRAP!"

Axe looked back at her and while everyone covered their eyes protectively, he used his Soru technique to move behind her and keep her planted so she wouldn't go back further. Surprised by his appearance, Kagura looked up at him while he wrapped his arms around her.

"MY SAKI!" Azu screamed as he leapt into the air. His saki jug had been blasted back and was about to pass Kagura and Axe when the drunk landed on it, keeping it anchored and safe.

As the twister died down, Axe began to notice something. He could swear that as the wind passed by, he could hear someone laughing. Turning his head around, he thought he saw a figure gliding in the wind, the only clue to it's presence was the rippling form that flowed behind it.

"What the hell kinda storm was THAT?!" Dusty coughed, shaking her head free of sand, "That was messed up!"

Axe looked down at Kagura, "You okay?" he asked quietly.

The blonde Zoan user nodded, "Yeah...thanks," she dusted herself off, "Stronger wind that I thought,"

Axe grinned and patted her on the head, "You're just light 'cuz you're a chick,"

Kagura glared at him, "What was that...,"

"Nothin'...,"

-----

Axe groaned as a set of large lumps and bruises covered his face.

Not to self...if you want to joke around with a girl, stick with those who aren't strong thanks to Devil Fruits he moaned as Kagura walked ahead of him, a grin on her face and her hands behind her head, Damn she's got a good kick...I gotta make a note to go head to head against her in a fair match next time!

The two of them caught up with the others just as Vivi was kneeling in the sand, crying. Axe looked around to see a few people were missing.

"Where's Luffy?" he asked through his bruised lips, "And Sanji, Usopp, and Niri?"

The answer came in the form of a loud crumbling sound. Everyone else turned to see a large ruined building in the distance falling to pieces while the four pirates came walking back, not looking too pleased.

"Why the hell did Niri go with them to do that?" Azu asked, clipping his jug to his belt again, "Not like she lives here,"

Axe knew the answer to that. Niri knew exactly how it felt for someone to set someone up and leave them to hang. Needless to say, he wasn't going to say anything about it to her.

Once everyone regrouped, Axe looked at the whole gang and sighed, "Guys, we gotta talk,"

Everyone turned to him, looking curious.

"You all remember when Luffy wanted to bring those Dugong with us, but Nami said that it was too dangerous with a crowd that big?"

They all nodded.

"I've come to a decision, thanks to Nami's advice," Axe walked in between Luffy's crew and his own, as well as the guests, "Here, we split up,"

"WHAT?!"

"What the hell do you mean?!"

"I don't wanna split up!"

"ENOUGH!" Axe snapped, making everyone go silent again. He looked hard at his crew, "Look, this is my decision and it's final. Here, at the ruins of the Green City, the Straw Hat crew and the Axe-Head crew split up! It's for our safety, as well as our mission to take down Crocodile...,"

"How the hell do you figure that?" Zolo asked, looking at him evenly.

"Think about it, marimo," Axe replied, making Zolo a tad irritated, "You guys go and try to stop the Rebels at their base in Yuba, and they," he nodded to his crew, "...will stop any senseless bloodshed they can find. This is a disaster and we have to take up different roles in order to bring peace back to Vivi's kingdom,"

He turned to his nakama, "Guys, I'm counting on you to stop any Rebels you can find. Don't kill them unless you have any other choice, alright?"

"Axe?" Niri walked up to him while everyone else nodded, "You're talking like you're going off on your own while we split up from Luffy and the others...,"

"That's because I am Niri. I got something to take care of. Now," he reached into his robes and pulled out two rolls of paper, "I got two maps of Alabasta in Nanohana," he handed one to Niri, "This one's for you and I got one of my own. Stick to the map, ration your food and water, don't get overheated, watch your backs, and you all should be fine. Just remember, do not...under any circumstances...split up. Got it?"

"Yosh," Niri snatched the map away from him, "Got it, boss,"

"Good...,"

Kagura nudged him with a foot, "Oi oi...where does that leave me? What am I supposed to do?"

Axe glanced at her, "Personally, I don't care, Kagura. You can go with Luffy's crew, you could go with mine, or hell, you could go back to Nanohana for all I care,"

While the Zoan user was left with her choices, Axe made sure his weapon, water and food supply was alright before taking off into the desert sands.

"YOU BE CAREFUL YOU BAKA!"

Axe waved back at Niri as he kept walking, "YOU TOO!" he shouted.

Both crews watched as the axe-wielding pirate in black walk into the dunes, shouldering his supplies.

Kirsty folded her arms and looked on worriedly, "You think he'll be okay?"

"I hope so...," Dusty rested her head on top of DJ's, "If he don't come back, DJ-kun's the new captain,"

Before DJ could say anything, Niri whipped out her shotgun and pointed it right above his head.

"Don't...ever...say that...again," she seethed.

"Niri, easy, easy...," Chizuru pushed her shotgun downward, "Take it easy, and calm down,"

The sharpshooter mumbled under her breath and holstered her weapon.

"Now, since we have no captain now, and we have a mission," Chizuru put her hands on her hips, "We need a leader for the time-being, as well as a plan...anyone got any ideas?"

"I vote Devon be the leader,"

Everyone turned to see Azu had his hand raised.

The drunk shrugged, "He's the First Mate after all. Isn't he technically next in command?" he asked.

"That makes sense,"

"Indeed,"

"I got no problem with it,"

"DJ-kun-,"

"Devon's in charge, alright," Chizuru interrupted, nodding, "It's decided. Now, as for our plan...," she turned back to see Luffy's crew had already left and were a good distance away, "Well, they sure took their leave, didn't they? Anyway," she unrolled the map and held it out while everyone crowded around her, "What exactly are we gonna do, and how do we get there?"

-----

While his crew was behind him, and Luffy's crew further away from him, Axe trudged through the sand dunes, his new hat keeping his head safe from the heat.

"Crocodile...I don't care what you offer me...I don't care what Luffy wants to do...I don't really care what your goal is here. You're ruining Vivi's life with this coup of yours...and you're gonna pay. I'm gonna take you down, and I'm gonna give your head to the Gorousei as a gift! But first...," he grinned widely, "I'm gonna have a little fun with you and your employees for a little bit,"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kilnorc: Well, that's that, folks! Sorry I haven't done an update in a few days...been busy with stuff. Hopefully, this makes up for it, and hopefully, it's good! Time for some "hot" desert action folks!

-rimshot is heard...crickets chirp-

Axe: Uhm...no one liked that joke...

Kilnorc: Shaddup, Axe! You try making one off the top of your head! Anyhoo, sadly, no chapter preview this time...but hey, it's gonna be good anyway, I can promise ya that!