Rain

"What?! This crab can't cross water?!" Usopp shrieked. "We have only four hours left!"

"Moving crabs are creatures of the sand," Vivi said. "They can't stand water."

"But it's a crab!" Usopp tugged his hair.

"It'll take all day to float across this huge river." Vivi showed the map again. "And look. Once we cross the river there's still kilometers of desert left to go. If the crab can't make it to the other side then we have to run. There's no way we can make it in time. Oh no! Look! You can see the Sandora up ahead!"

"Do something, Scissors!" Nami said.

"Oh yeah! Scissors loves dancers!" Chopper said.

"Like this?" Nami shook her hips.

Scissors turned his large eyes to Nami.

"He's looking over here," Chopper said.

Sanji and Eyelash drop with hearts throbbing in her eyes.

"You morons," Cade said. "You're so pathetic."

"How is this suppose to help, Chopper?" Nami asked.

Scissor shot across the water.

"Wait a minute. Crap! This thing's amazing!" Sanji said.

"I don't believe it!" Usopp said. "It's a miracle! He's running on top of the water!"

"This isn't possible!" Cade said.

The crab sank.

"You just had to say that." Nami glared.

"It's true!" Cade glared back. "Just swim."

"Come here." Zoro grabbed Chopper and put him on his shoulders.

"At least I get more time in the water," Cade said.

"How far is it to the other side?" Usopp asked.

"About fifty kilometers," Vivi said.

"We can't swim that!" Usopp said. "Cade! You have to help us!"

"How?" Cade asked.

"Swim us across."

"That'll take too long!"

A giant cat fish rose up out of the water.

"A Sandora rare cat fish! Named because it's extremely rare!" Vivi said.

"Who cares about that?!" Zoro said.

"It also loves to eat humans!" Vivi said.

Cade shot forward. Throwing out her fist she slammed into the fish, knocking it out before the dugongs popped up. "It's you guys."

"They said they came to help," Chopper said. "Hold on to them."

"Great." Usopp grabbed one.

The dugongs swam them across the river.

"Thanks!" Vivi waved from the bank.

"We're doing good. Think we can make it there on time?" Zoro asked.

"I don't know. Even with Eyelash here, it will be tough," Vivi said.

"But he can only hold three people, and from here on the Baroque Works will be trying to trap us!" Usopp said. "Isn't there a way we can travel as an entire group?!"

"Wait! Over there!" Nami pointed into the distance. Dust rose into the air.

"What's that?! More Enemies?!" Usopp said.

"No, it's Karoo! And the super spotted bulled duck squad! You came for us?!" Vivi said.

The ducks stop in front of them.

"This is great! We'll get there in no time!" Vivi placed her hand on Karoo. "Let's go."

"Hold on a second," Cade said.

"What is it?" Sanji asked.

"Sorry, guys, but with this heat there's no way I can fight against agents like Baroque Works. I'm going to be useless," Cade said.

"Don't say that," Chopper said. "You're not useless."

"Here I am. I can't handle the heat of the desert," Cade said. "Sorry. But you'll have to survive this without my help."

"It'll be fine." Vivi smiled. "I have an idea." She rolled out a map. "Look here. There are steps that lead up into the city from each side of it. I believe Baroque Works will place agents around here to keep me from getting into the city. Cade, I want you to come with me to stop the rebels."

Cade cocked an eyebrow.

"While it may be true that you won't have enough strength to fight high profile members of Baroque Works you'll be able to handle normal humans. Right?"

"Yeah." Cade nodded. "I should be able to. For a while anyway."

"There will be water at the palace you can use." Vivi rolled up her map. "How about it?"
Cade thought for a moment before accepting. "Okay. Let's go."

...

"Why did I agree to this?" Cade faced the stampede coming towards them. "This is stupid. Very stupid."

"Don't worry. This will work," Vivi said.

A cannon exploded. Sand rose up, blocking their view of the rebel army.

"Crap!" Cade cursed. "What happened?"

"No! Why did the royal army fire?!" Vivi looked at the city. "Now no one can see!"

"They're here!" Hooves thundered around them. Crap. I can't see anything in this sand. Cade felt out for water. If I don't get us above all this we'll be crushed. Pulling water from the city she wrapped it around them and shot them into the air. "That was close."

"Yeah. But what now?" Vivi closed her eyes.

"What about the palace? Could you stop the royal army?" Cade asked.

"I should be able to."

"Then let's go." Cade lowered them to the ground then got on Karoo with Vivi. They dashed towards the city.

"Hold it!" Usopp, on a horse, rode in front of them. "There you are. I was worry."

"Huh? Why are you here?" Cade asked. "Shouldn't you be with Chopper?"
"I came to check on you." Usopp smiled.

Cade knitted her eyebrows. Something doesn't feel right about this. Usopp wouldn't have come back.

"Thanks. But we're fine," Vivi said.

"Hold it," Cade said. "Prove to use your really Usopp."

"What? Of course I am." Usopp lifted his arm with the fabric. "See?"

"Go, Karoo! It's not him!" Vivi said.

Karoo squawked and shot forward.

"Hey! Come back here!"

"That voice! It's Mr. Two!" Vivi said.

"Keep going!" Cade said.

Karoo ran towards the cliff. With the stairs blocked he went towards the cliff.

"Are you insane?!" Cade asked. The duck didn't stop. He ran up the side of the cliff. "This isn't possible!"

"You can do it! Karoo!" Vivi cheered.

Cade looked down to see Mr. Two followed. "Hurry!"

Kaoo flew over the side of the cliff and ran.

Gunshots exploded around them.

Karoo lurched and stumbled to the ground.

"No! Karoo!" Vivi said.

Cade grabbed Vivi and jumped off the falling duck.

Vivi ran over to her friend.

"There you are!" Mr. Two said.

Cade growled and faced him. Crap. I hope I can handle this guy. Before she could move, Sanji spun in, kicking the man away. Two of the ducks was with him.

"Go! I've got this!" Sanji said.

"Thanks, Sanji," Cade said.

"You two take care of Karoo." The ducks gave Vivi a salute before moving their friend out of the way.

...

Cade huffed, tensed as she stared down Crocodile. Even though they had made it to the castle and there was water in this city, the heat was still weighting on her. Still she charged. Swirling her water she attempted to drown the warlord in it. It was the only way to land a hit. But he vanished. Pain exploded through her head.

"Stupid girl," Crocodile said.

Cade slammed into a solid force. Her body crumbled. Her vision went dark.

"Cade?"
Cade opened her eyes to Luffy. "You're okay."

"Of course I am." Luffy smiled. He placed his hat on her head. "Hold on to this for me. I'm taking care of Crocodile now."

"Be careful."

Luffy nodded.

Cade sighed, relaxing against the wall. Heat engulfed her before darkness claimed her again.

...

"Whoa! I slept very well!" Luffy threw his hands in the air. "Wait! My hat! Where's my hat?! I feel very hungry! Where's my breakfast and hat?!"

"Your hat is right here." Cade placed it on his head.

"This guy is really noisy when he's up. Also it's not breakfast time, it's dinner time," Sanji said.

"It's good to see you in high spirits," Vivi said.

"High spirits? I am like this all the time," Luffy said.

"You idiot, you had a high fever and your condition was pretty serious," Nami said.

"Really? Thanks you, all!" Luffy said.

"Ah, Luffy, you're awake." Zoro walked in.

"Zoro! Long time no see." Luffy waved.

"Long time no see?" Zoro questioned.

"Ah! Hey!" Chopper shouted. "Don't tell me you were training!"

"What's wrong? It's my problem." Zoro poured him some water.

"No is a no! I'm the ship's doctor! Don't take off the bandage!"

"It's hard to move that way."

"It's so that you won't move!"

"Three days?! I slept for three days?!" Luffy gasped. "I missed fifteen meals!"

"How come you can count those kind of things so fast?" Nami asked.

"And he counted five meals a day." Usopp crossed his arms.

Vivi laughed. "I already asked for dinner to be prepared, don't worry."

"The captain has just woken up. It will take another thirty minutes for dinner to be ready. Will you all please wait?" A female looking Igaram walked into the room with a servant pushing a cart of food. "It'll be better if we all ate together."

"Hey! You! You're still alive!" Luffy said.

"You... so you're into dressing as a woman," Zoro said.

Cade tilted her head. Her crew could be dumb at times. Clearly this person was a woman not a man.

"You all misunderstood, she's Terracota. Igaram's wife. She's also the head servant," Vivi said.

"There should be a limit as how similar a couple should be," Zoro said.

"I heard that one of you eats a lot before dinner, please enjoy these fruits first, okay?" Terracotta said.

"Too late," Cade said pointing to the empty cart that held the food.

"What?! It's all gone!" The crew's mouths fell open.

"Auntie, I want three more days worth of food!" Luffy said.

"You could put a please in there." Cade bopped him on the head.

"Don't worry. I have worked for thirty year. I won't disappoint your appetite, just eat your fill!" Terracotta flexed a muscle before leaving the room.

A while later a maid appeared and had them follow her to the dinning hall. The quiet room erupted with laughter.

Cade sat quietly beside Luffy. She didn't feel like partying. She didn't feel like eating. For awhile she sat there and picked at her plate before slipping from the room. Leaving the palace she jumped upon the wall and looked out at the dark horizon without paying attention to the time.

A familiar snap of rubber broke the silence. Luffy's hand landed on the wall beside her before his body took its place. "What are you doing out here?"

"Nothing. Just thinking." Cade tightened her hold on her knees.

"Really? About what?"

"Nothing."

"Is that so?"

"What?" Cade glanced at him.

"You're not acting like yourself. Sanji said you didn't eat much either."

"Surprised he noticed. You all were partying so hard."

"Cade, talk to me. You're not like this."

"Sorry. It's just... I was so useless."

A moment of quiet. "Is that all?"

"What do you mean 'is that all'?!" Cade turned to him with a glare. "You could have died, Luffy! You almost did!"

"Naw. I was okay. I told you I wasn't going to die." Luffy grinned. "I only lost to him once because I wasn't ready for him. Then I was. I came back and beat him."

Cade sighed and turned away. "That still doesn't help that I was completely useless here."

"I don't care."

Cade looked at him again.

"So what if you couldn't fight here? I can't fight in the ocean. When I fall in you're there to help me. We all have weaknesses, right?"

Cade nodded.

"Then this one was yours." Luffy pressed his forehead to hers. "When I am weak you're always strong. This time you were weak and I was strong. Don't ever devalue yourself like this again. Okay? You're my sister. You're strong."

Cade sighed and leaned into him. "Thanks. Luffy."