Arrival In The Desert
Another Coincidence?
We all were terrified as Usopp shouted, "MR…2?
"VIVI!" Luffy complained. "You didn't know who he was by just looking at him?"
She said she never saw any of the top agents, but she had heard rumors that Mr. 2 had a swan coat, ballet slippers, and talked like a woman.
I shouted in anger, "WHO ELSE COULD FIT ALL THOSE REQUIREMENTS?"
She looked scared. I groaned in annoyance and looked through my scope vision.
"Well, I can't sink their ship from here. He's gone now!" I said in disgust.
She was mumbling on how he had turned into her father when he was performing for the others. I was going to ask when he did so but Zoro whispered that it happened when I was unconscious.
"You gonna faint in front of every girl we meet here? Even the ones who aren't even women?" He said jokingly.
I grit my teeth. "Shut you're fucking mouth or I'll break your jaw." I whispered back to him.
Vivi looked like she was about to cry. We all realized how dangerous that guy could be if he got to Arabasta in time.
Nami told us that if he found out that we were the ones that Baroque Works wants to kill, he could use his memories to become any one of us. We wouldn't be able to trust each other.
Zoro disagreed. He said that since we met him before we got to Arabasta, we could prepare.
We were relaxing on the ship for a while until the ship began to shake violently.
-WHOOSH-
A giant cat-like fish came out of the water and looked down at us.
Usopp and Chopper coward in fear. "IT'S A MONSTER!"
-SLICE-
"IT LOOKS LIKE FOOD TO ME!" Zoro shouted in a crazed look of hunger and joy. All of his swords were drawn.
"YEAH, LET'S GOOOO!" Luffy shouted with the same crazed look. He was gripping his arm and flexing, ready to fight it.
"FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!" I shouted as I drew both my bazookas.
The kitten backed away in fear. "IT'S GETTING AWAY!" Zoro shouted in anger.
"REVERSE!" Luffy ordered. "PUT THE SHIP IN REVERSE!"
"NO WAY! WE CAN'T DO THAT!" Usopp declined.
Sanji rushed out as well shouting, "HEY! DON'T LET IT GET AWAY! IF THE THREE OF YOU DON'T CATCH IT I'LL KIIIIILL YOU!"
He was right next to us, same crazy look, rolling up his sleeves. "NOW THEN SEA KITTEN! HOW DO YOU THINK I SHOULD COOK YOU?"
We were all ready to strike until…
-BANG-
We were all hit in the head, hard, by Vivi holding a broom.
"NOOOO!" She screamed.
As we were all knocked into the railing, the giant catfish sunk back into the sea.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! OUR FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!" I shouted in anguish.
I went into the feetle position, chanting, "hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia. I'm…not…gonna…make it…before I die…tell my mother…she was…a…mother. I guess."
"Vivi…"Luffy complained. "What are you doing? I'm hungry!"
"Why?" Sanji repeated. "Just why? It was food!"
Because you can't eat a sea cat! I can't let you!" She explained. "Sea cats are sacred animals in Arabasta!"
Of all the important crap she forgets to tell us, and she remembers something as usless and stupid as THAT HORSE SHIT?
Sanji put a hand on my back. "Come on inside. You need to sit down. Not eating for several days will do something to a guy with your problems."
I was sitting in the galley, wiping the sweat off my forehead. Sanji was looking throughout the kitchen for any food.
"I guess Luffy ate everything huh?" I said.
"Greedy pig." Sanji cursed. "No respect for the rest of us. And you have it the worst of all of us!"
"It's ok Sanji." I ensured him. "I've lived with this for many years. I'm used to this feeling."
"Well, as long as I am on this ship, no one will suffer from an empty belly! It's my duty as a cook!" He said to me.
In the end he found nothing. I thanked him for looking and slowly walked out to the deck.
Zoro was telling us all his plan about how to counter Mr. 2's devil fruit power.
He looked at me and smiled. "Hey Screaver! I want you to test something for me!"
-SSSSSSSSS-
"Ow." I moaned in monotone as he branded an X on my arm.
"There now! Who's next?" He said.
One after another he branded a black X on our left arms and we wrapped them in white cloth.
"This Clone Clone fruit guy, he can become similar to anyone of us?" Sanji asked.
"Not just similar, exactly the same. He became everyone of us, except you and me. He even formed into Nami and flashed her breasts at us."
"WHAT?" He jumped up and began shaking me.
I smiled slightly and said, "Oh yeah, we all got to see Nami boobs. Sorry you weren't here."
"YOU BASTARD! NEXT TIME, IF I EVER SEE THAT GUY WHO DISGRACED NAMI I'M GONNA KICK HIS HEAD IN!" He cursed.
"Yeah yeah, me too." I weakly said.
Luffy rallied us all into a circle and told us to hold out our arms.
"Now remember!" He told us. "This mark is a symbol of our friendship!"
We all agreed. "Now! Let's land ok? Then EAT! Oh and help Vivi."
"I'll cheer to that!" I shouted.
We made it to Arabasta. From the distance it was a huge island covered in giant desert dunes and sand. Just sand. Nothing but sand.
Oh, and a town or two.
We pulled into a sandy port a little ways away from the town.
"So this is an Arabasta city?" Usopp asked.
"Is there food?" Luffy asked in anticipation.
"Now listen carfully guys," Nami announced. "I want you all to do your best to control yourselves while we're here."
"Course Nami!" Sanji cheerfully replied, blushing and acting like typical Sanji.
I felt like I was a grade-schooler and we were about to go on a field trip personally.
Luffy had ran off before he got that message.
"FEEEEEEED MEEEE!" We heard him shout as he ran further away from the ship.
"GET BACK HERE!" Nami shouted in anger.
"Don't worry. He'll head towards the smell of food so we know he'll be in the city." I ensured him. "Otherwise listen for the sound of yelling and smashing!" I said and hoped off the ship.
I had my bazooka strapped to my back as well as my gun in its holster that I fastened around my waist. I also brought my bag of money, hidden inside another bag so Nami wouldn't find it.
Whatever, I brought it.
I looked up at them and asked, "Aren't you guys coming?"
Sanji, Zoro, and Chopper hoped off as well. Vivi said she couldn't go, seeing as how everyone would recognize the princess.
Carue also pointed out that Mr. 3's ship was docked next to ours!
We were wondering about what we were going to do until Usopp announced, "Don't worry. Usopp has a plan."
A stupid plan, but a plan none of the less.
Usopp, Nami, Vivi, Carue, Zoro, and I were hiding under a large tarp as Sanji and Chopper were casually walking behind us.
"This is blending in?" Nami asked him.
Usopp lead us to an area and threw off the tarp.
"HAHA!" He cheered. "It's safe to come out guys!"
We were in a broken down building with no roof, furniture, pretty much four broken walls.
It was out of the way so I couldn't complain.
Vivi was staring off into space, until Sanji asked her what was wrong.
She told us how glad she was that at least this town was ok, despite all the terrible things that were happening to Arabasta.
"Vivi." Zoro asked, "You said you had a plan to stop the rebel army didn't you?"
She told us that our only agreement was to bring her to Arabasta safely, until Nami hit her on the head and told her to shut up.
"We can't leave you now." I explained. "Not until we save this country."
Everyone else agreed. She looked at us gratefully, rubbing her head.
Nami also reminded Vivi how that Arabasta still owes her a big reward for bring her back. And she did it rather coldly.
I was about to say something, but Nami turned to me in a flash and said, "One word Screaver. One word, and your debt is tripled."
I closed my mouth and sunk back down.
She also began telling Zoro how he owed her 400,000 berri from Lougetown and they began arguing.
Wait, if my debt is 200,000 for grabbing her breast, and Zoro is twice that for just borrowing some money then…why is that?
Maybe she likes you? Michael suggested.
Well, I was smarter than to ask her why my debt was so low.
Vivi told us about going to an oasis called Yuba, so that we could head the rebel army. She said we had cross a lot of desert before we get there so we should stock up on supplies.
Everyone was concerned about how Mr. 3 and the Baroque Works agents know our faces, but Sanji and Chopper were ok. Sanji hasn't seen any of the agents, and Chopper just got here so they decided to go out and buy everything.
"Hold it, I'm going too. I'll be damned if I just stay here and wait around. I've got some exploring to do." I said and walked off.
"Wait Screaver!" Nami complained.
I waved back and said, "Don't worry. I'll cover my face. None of them will find me!"
I was feeling more like a tourist by the minute. Open markets, shops, con artists, and lots of people in desert garb. I looked out of place with my black shirt and tan pants, so I found a shop with some clothes in it.
New clothes felt good. I had a blue head cover, a zig-zag gray coat with big sleeves, a pair of baggy pants, and new leather shoes.
The pants were a little too baggy so I fastened them wit a rope.
It was the perfect outfit!
I spent the next several minutes stuffing my face with food. I spent all my money, but it was worth it.
I munched down on many plates as the chef stared at me like I was some sort of freak.
After the nice meal I tossed him my money, wiped my face, thanked him, and left.
Crap! Now I'm out of money!
I need to get some money soon, or Nami will charge ME with interest.
Well, I looked all throughout the town, lots of different stuff but nothing.
Hours passed by until I thought I hit the jackpot.
"Attention! The annual Music Festival is about to begin! Anyone is welcome to enter in! Grand prize is 50,000 berri!"
Not 200,000 but it's a start.
Ok, a music festival, all people are welcome to participate, and it has a cash prize.
Can you say…coincidence?
