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Kung Fu Dugongs paraded through Cade's mind. Her heavy feet lifted and placed down in front of each other. Dark blue settled around her.
"Cade, are you okay?" A distance voice echo, fade then got louder.
The dugongs punched Usopp out then danced around as if they had reached some great goal. They then marched around like soldiers. One after another her crewmates appeared and marched along with the soldiers without a word or looking in her direction.
"What's going on?" Cade asked. No one answered.
"March two three four!"
Cade's heart thumped. She turned to the familiar voice. There Sabo appeared, marching along with everyone else. "Sabo?"
"Come on, Cade! March two three four! March two three four!" Sabo, the same age as when he died, marched in a circle around Cade.
"What are you doing, Sabo?" Cade looked at the others. They also marched in circles around her.
"Cade? Cade, wake up."
"Who said that?" Cade over her shoulder. Water poured over her gills. The darkness parted. Ace's face appeared in her sight. "What?"
"Glad to see you back." Ace smiled. "We were worried about you."
"I zo abby!"
Cade turned to her right to find Luffy beside her, crying while shoving food in his mouth.
Cade looked around to find themselves in a room of some kind. Multiple bunk beds line the walls. "What happened? Where are we?"
"You've been coming in an out of consciousness this entire time," Ace said.
"Entire time?" Cade sat up.
"We're in Yuba," Ace said. "You should have told us you were have trouble with the heat."
Cade placed a hand on her forehead. "That's right. The heat. Sorry. I didn't know it would affect me so bad. When did I black out?"
"About an hour into the trip," Ace said. "You've missed quite a lot."
"We have a camel now!" Luffy grinned.
"A camel?" Cade blinked.
A door opened. Sanji walked in with a plate and cup in hand. "You're awake. I'm glad. Sorry I couldn't make you soba. But here's a sandwich."
"Uh, thanks." Cade took the plate and cup. "Soba?"
"You kept asking for it." Sanji smiled and left. "Don't worry. I'll make it when we get back to the ship."
Cade tilted her head.
"You were calling out Sabo's name in your sleep," Ace said.
"Were you dreaming about him?" Luffy asked.
"Yeah. I was." Cade took a bite of her sandwich, thinking of her weird dream.
...
Ace remained quiet for a moment before pulling out a piece of paper. He ripped it in two then tossed a piece to his siblings. "Here. I want to give this to you."
"Huh?" They caught the paper.
"Always keep that with you."
"It's a piece of paper," Luffy said.
"That piece of paper will reunited us one day," Ace said.
"Really?" Luffy said.
"You don't want it?"
"No! I do!"
"Having a couple dumb siblings always makes and older brother worry."
"Hey! I'm not dumb!"
"Yes. You are." Cade padded Luffy's head.
Ace grinned at the crew. "They probably give you a lot of trouble, especially Luffy. But take care of them for me."
The crew looked at the paper Luffy was holding, but Cade kept her eyes on Ace. She walked off with him. "Do you really have to go?"
"I do. I'd love to stick around and help you, but I have to find Blackbeard." Ace eyed her. "You going to be okay now?"
"I think so. With Eyelash here I can ride him during the day and walk during the nights. Once we get into a city there should be plenty of water to keep me hydrated during our fights."
"I hope you're right."
"Don't worry. The crew will take care of me."
Ace nodded. Her gave her a hug then left.
Cade tucked her piece of paper in her locket then walked back to the crew.
"There you are," Luffy said. "Cade, can you sew this into my hat?"
"Sure." Cade reached into her pouch and pulled out some thread and needle. "Here you go."
"Thanks. Don't want to lose it." Luffy pulled his hat back on. "Let's get going."
...
"Huh?" Cade opened her eyes. She groaned. She had passed out again thanks to the horrid heat of this island. "I hate the dessert."
"So you're awake. How you feeling?" Sanji said.
"I feel water," Cade said.
"Not surprised. We've reached our destination," Sanji said.
Cade swallowed, her throat dry. "Need to get to it."
"Don't worry," Sanji said. "I'm taking you to it."
Cade lifted her heavy head to find she was on Sanji's back.
"Don't worry. I'll have you there in a second." Sanji grinned.
"Sorry. I'm such a mess. Useless."
"Don't say that. We should have known better. You're a fishman. You're suppose to be in water not a dessert."
"I hate this place."
Sanji chuckled. "Can't say I disagree. Ah! There it is!"
Cade shifted her eyes. Blue water surrounded a golden pyramid with a sculpted gator head on top. "Great. Hurry. Please."
"You got it." Sanji rushed forward. Reaching the water he lowered her in.
"Thanks. I'll catch up with you later. I'm going to be a while."
"You sure?"
Cade nodded. "The others need you. I'll be fine."
"Okay."
Cade didn't wait for him to walk off before dipping below the surface. Only a few seconds pass before a heavy feeling fell over her. She opened her eyes and looked around. Her heart leapt into her throat. Swimming in the water were several large gators with banana shapes on their head. Great. I can't fight them feeling this weak. She shifted into the shadows of the bank. Good thing I wore a dark colored cloak. I should be able to hide long enough to get my strength back. Her eyes shifted to the column coming down from the pyramid. That's odd. Why would someone put a building in the water like that? All well. I'll check it out when I'm feeling better. Right now I need to rest.
...
Feeling better, Cade swam to the building, carefully eyeing the gators and praying they didn't notice her yet. Reaching a window she looked in. Her heart about hammered out of her chest. Luffy was locked us with several others from their crew and Smoker. Standing next to the cage was Crocodile. Crap. They got captured.
Cade watched as events unfolded. When Crocodile and the dark haired woman with him left the room, she made her way to the line of giant gators. Drawing back her fist she punched each gator on their heads, knocking them out, until she got into the room with her crew. Another punch to a gator and a large white ball and key flew out of it. She grabbed the key and eyed the ball. "What the heck is that?"
"Who cares? We have the key. Let's get them out and go," Sanji said.
Cade shoved the key into the hole. It wouldn't turn. "Crap! The key's a fake!"
"Freedom!" Mr. Three jumped out of the wax ball.
"Huh? He was inside of the gator?" Cade blinked.
"Ah! It's you!" Mr. Three's eyes popped out of his head.
"Great. Now we have to deal with this idiot again," Sanji said.
"Actually, this is very fortuitous," Cade said.
"How?"
"He can create anything with his wax. He can make us a key."
"Huh?! Why would I do that?!" Mr. Three asked.
Cade grinned.
Mr. Three turned white.
Sanji lifted his leg. Cade lifted her fist. Together they punched and kicked the man.
Bruised, beaten, and bloody, Mr. Three formed a key with his wax and opened the door.
"We better hurry." Cade eyed the cracking glass. "We don't have much time."
"I think the tunnel they went down should lead to Alubarna," Vivi said. "But the tunnels are still filled with bananadiles."
"You mean them guys?" Cade jerked her figure at the creatures outside the window. "Don't worry. They're not going to bother us."
"You knocked them all out?! I couldn't even handle one!" Vivi said.
"I am a fishman. Besides, I wanted to make sure I got the key, even though it was a fake. The best option I could think of was knocking them all out," Cade said.
"Nice plan." Zoro grinned.
"Ah! The wall's cracking!" Usopp said as the wall and window's cracked got bigger. "The tunnel's collapsing! Escape! We have to escape!"
Cade grabbed Luffy as the window shattered. Water poured into the room.
"Z-Zoro," Luffy said. "Save Sm-Smokey. He can't swim."
Zoro growled but did as his captain ordered.
Cade kept an eye on her crew as they made their way up to the surface. With a hard kick she launched herself and Luffy out of the water. The others soon followed.
"Get up, Usopp!" Vivi pulled on Usopp's nose while Nami tried to push him up.
"What are you doing?!" Nami said. "Why couldn't you swim like a normal human being?! Ack! It's Smoker! Why did you bring him?!"
"Shut up. I didn't want to," Zoro said. Smoker laid on the ground beside him.
"We lost a lot of time. Can we still make it, Vivi?" Sanji asked.
"I don't know." Vivi wrung out her cloak.
"Nami, do you still have that perfume you bought in Nanohana?" Sanji asked.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Put it on."
"Like this?" Nami spritzed herself.
"Ah, fall in love to the end of the world!" Sanji gushed.
"Seriously just die," Zoro said.
Smoker jutted his weapon at Zoro. Zoro blocked with his sword. "Roronoa, why did you save me?"
"I was only following captain's orders. You don't have to thank me. It's just him being weird," Zoro said.
"Then I assume you don't have any complaints if I have to complete my duty as a professional here."
"This is what we get for saving that stupid sailor," Sanji said.
"Hah! Full speed ahead to Alubarna!" Usopp shouted.
"Where are you, Crocodile!" Luffy growled.
"Oh, they're awake," Sanji said. "How are you doing, Cade?"
"Better now that I've been in the water." Cade closed her eyes for a moment. "But with this heat I won't be like that for long."
"At least the sun is going down," Sanji said. "You'll stay conscious for a while."
"Whoa! Smokey! You wanna fight?!" Luffy lifted his fists.
"Smoker! Let's get out of here, Luffy!" Usopp said.
"Go." Smoker closed his eyes. "Only this time I'll let you get away. The next time we meet, you're a dead man. Remember that, Straw Hat Luffy."
"There they are! The Straw Hat crew!" a soldier called out.
"Can we go now?" Cade asked.
"That way! Straight to the east," Vivi said.
"What are you doing, Luffy?" Zoro asked.
"Right." Luffy dashed forward.
"Hey! Don't tell me we're suppose to run all the way to Alubaran from here!" Usopp huffed and puffed.
"Eyelash, where did you go?!" Nami called out.
"There's a stable here, right? Let's get some horses," Luffy said.
"But the marines," Vivi said.
"Don't worry. Look up ahead." Sanji grinned.
"A crab!" Usopp said.
"Chopper!" Nami smiled.
Cade looked up to see the small creature sitting on the body of the giant crab.
"That's a moving crab! Vivi said.
"Well, that's an original name," Cade said.
"Looks tasty!" Luffy drooled.
"Get on," Chopper said.
"We can ride that thing?" Luffy asked.
"He's one of Eyelash's friends," Chopper said. "Eyelash was born in this town, so he has lots of friends."
"Wow. Moving crabs are always under the sand, so some people don't believe they exist," Vivi said.
"It's pretty fast, right?" Zoro asked.
"Who cares? Let's just go." Cade jumped upon the crab. The others follow by climbing on the crab's claw when he lowered it.
Vivi's screams rip through the air. Cade turned to see sand pulling the princess away from them. Luffy jumped out. Grabbing Vivi he flung her back to the grab. "Luffy! What are you doing?!"
"Go! Don't stop! I'll be fine! Cade, make sure they get there! Get Vivi to the palace!" Luffy said.
"Dang it. Luffy." Cade clenched her fists. "Luffy! You be careful! We'll be waiting for you!"
"Of course! I'll be fine!"
"Luffy! We'll be waiting for you in Alubarna!" Vivi said.
"Okay!"
Cade watched the area behind them. She knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't look away. She couldn't focus on what the others were saying. Luffy was in trouble. She knew it. Crocodile had the sand sand devil fruit. How could Luffy fight against sand? A logia type of devil fruit?
Suddenly a large sand storm appeared over Rain Base.
Cade's concern grew. "Luffy..."
