Dude, it's been such a long time since I have written anything on this story. But, i decided I had better get my stories on here done, because I feel so guilty about not updating. Plus, I know that other stories take a while to update, and I don't like leaving my readers on too much of a cliffhanger, unless of course it's a really good cliffie and then I just have to. XD Anyway, I have to say, that it might be a while before this story continues after this chappie, because as I said in Palace Guard, I have exams coming up and I need to study because I would like to leave school at the end of the year with at least a sound achievement. Oh god, I'm rambling. Sorry. Hit me over the head with a giant chicken if you like... and I'll shutup now.
Chapter 4: The desert and Giant chickens
"It's so hot!" Luffy cried running a hand over his face. Vivi and Nami looked down at him from atop Eyelash.
"Deal with it." Nami replied. Luffy glared up at her.
"What do you care? You get to ride on a camel!" Luffy screeched before groaning and bowing his head towards the sand. I walked behind them, slightly detached from the group. I noticed that Nami and Vivi glanced at me every now and again.
Sanji too, although Sanji was a slightly freakier look. Almost like a wolf waiting for it's prey to make a wrong move and then pounce. Scary. I felt rather than heard someone walk up behind me.
"Hey." a soft voice said. I turned slightly to see Zolo walking beside me. I turned back to look at the sand again.
"Hey." I replied.
"Look, I'm sorry about the other night. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable but, you just knew so much about us and we are wanted people so… but anyway, Luffy seems to trust you so, if captain trusts you, then so do I." he said. I blinked as I looked back up at him. Was he trying to apologise? Was he honestly trying to be nice to me? I smiled and shook my head.
"Nah. It's cool." and I brushed a hand through my hair, still not used to the colour.
"Ah, Nami, you requested me?" a voice called and I turned my head slightly to see Sanji walking beside the camel, eyes raised to Nami who was saying something I couldn't quite make out. It must have been a mixture of starvation and lack of water that made me do this but, when Luffy offered me something that looked reasonably like food, I accepted.
"WHAAAAA!" Luffy cried, running around like an idiot while he raved on about killing the all time nemesis at this point in time, Crocodile. Now, I would have laughed at the situation had I not been pretty much the same way. But, my condition was a little different. I was yelling about monkey's and giant chickens.
"Giant chickens are good for throwing!" I screamed as I ran after Luffy who had decided to climb the sand dune and run along the top of it. I fell over the side and tumbled down into the sand, still yelling even as I spit the sand from my mouth.
Luffy then paused, his eyes swirling in a circle. Classic anime look, especially for Luffy and once again, I would have laughed had I not had the same thing. Then Luffy looked at me. Uh oh.
"Crocodile!" Luffy yelled. I frowned.
"Giant chickens!" I returned.
"Crocodile!"
"Giant chickens!"
"CROCODILE!"
"GIANT CHICKENS!"
"Stop screaming like a pair of banshees!" Zolo's voice broke through our argument. I looked over, and I saw the weirdest thing. A giant, yellow chicken standing on the side of the dune. I smiled and began running towards him, holding my arms wide as Luffy did the same thing only, Luffy was aiming to punch and I was aiming to hug. Oh dear. Poor Zolo was caught in the middle, and as Luffy punched, he ducked and I got hit head on, knocking me back into the sand where I was knocked out instantly.
When later I awoke, it was to the sound of a squeaky voice calling out to me. Chopper, the little reindeer, was leaning over me. How? I was buried armpit deep in sand, my actual arms resting on the sand next to me.
"Thank heavens you came around. I need you to help me pull Zolo out of the sand, he's stuck deep." the reindeer explained. I looked down at myself and then back up at the cuddly guy.
"Uh, I'm not much better. But here's an idea, you have a devil fruit power right?" I asked, not wanting to sound to knowledgeable about anything to do with the crew in case they started to suspect again. Chopper nodded.
"Yeah, I can transform into-" and he slapped a small hoof to his head before transforming into his big monster form, which let me tell you is rather frightening the first time you see it in real life…anime life. You know what I mean.
He gently took me by the arms and pulled me easily out of the sand, releasing my body from the harsh substance. I began dusting myself off, sand in places I didn't even want to think about.
"Right. Now let's get Zolo out." I said before looking around. There, a small patch of green in a sea of yellow. Luffy was beside him, obviously unconscious, his fist still raised. Zolo was out cold as well, eyes rolled into the back of his head.
Quite frankly, I was a little worried he was dead, until I noticed the snore he gave. Chopper smiled and pulled a small phial of some purple stuff out of his pocket.
"This will wake him up." he assured me as he waved the smoke under the swordsman's nose and then pulled him up out of the sand. Chopper waved the smoke again and Zolo gave a loud cough before blinking and looking around. His eyes came to rest on me and I turned away, ashamed of my inexcusable behaviour.
"I'm… sorry." I muttered. Zolo laughed.
"What for? It's not your fault." he replied before crawling over to his captain and pulling him out of the sand.
"But I shouldn't have eaten the … whatever it was he gave me." I cried as I followed, big Chopper at my side.
"Luffy does these things, and you'll learn from them. He's just a bit stupid." Chopper assured me. I bowed my head.
"Crocodile!" Luffy shouted, having woken up again. Zolo whacked him over the head, causing the boy's head to bounce like a rubber ball.
"Get over it!" the swordsman shouted at him. Luffy looked around as he put a hand to his head.
"Where are we?" he asked. Chopper and Zolo leaned in close, yelling into Luffy's face.
"Lost! Because of you!" they yelled. I winced and turned away, looking out at the sand. It was partially my fault, I mean, I didn't help matters by following the wacky captain. Chopper and Zolo walked past and I looked up.
"Come on S." Zolo called over his shoulder. I looked back at Luffy, who was still looking rather dazed.
"Captain?" I asked and he turned and smiled at me before running forward. I watched them for a minute before following as well, a little unwilling to be left behind. Okay, so I was a lot unwilling, so sue me. Who would want to be left in the desert alone anyway?
Soo, morale of the story is, don't accept food from Luffy, especially when you are in the desert, and are surrounded by wacky cactus. And if you do eat a wacky cactus, why not come and write a review (hint hint, nudge nudge, wink wink) ah forget it...