This is the 32nd chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
Adventure in the Country of Sand!
In three years, not a drop of rain has fallen in the desert kingdom of Alabasta, the Land of Oasis. Desperate for rain and prodded by outside forces, the kingdoms people have taken up weapons. The land is at the brink of war with nowhere else to turn, the people are turning on each other. The once Green City, Erumalu now lies in ruins. To stop the rebel army, Luffy and company now head into the desert, seeking the oasis town of Yuba.
Somewhere in the desert
Continuing on to their journey to Yuba, Luffy kept whining while walking through the desert. Ventus kept his dragon scales on his body to keep his body temperature in check, but leave the wings and tail so he won't wear himself out.
"Aaah...Aaah...Aaah...I'm burning up...I don't think I can even sweat anymore..." Luffy complains, continues to walk with a long stick for balance.
"Will you please spare us the melodramatics, Luffy? You're only gonna wear yourself out." Nami said with annoyance, but Luffy kept whining.
"Forget it Nami, it'll never get through his thick skull." Anna told her.
"Can't go on...Can't take hot weather...I'm fighting cold weather..." Chopper said with his tongue stick.
Chopper collapsed not too long ago and with Ventus being a brother-figure to the reindeer, he carried him in his arms. Though, Chopper was being careful as he can with water Ventus bought him, maybe a bit too careful.
"At least drink the water I bought you." Ventus suggests. "That's why I left it hanging around your neck."
"Oh yeah." Chopper said, forgot about the small barrel around his neck.
"It's because of all that fur, why don't you take off stupid reindeer costume?" Usopp suggested with a pant, but also walks with a long stick, earned a tick mark from Chopper.
"Hold him." Ventu said, quickly tossed Chopper to Anna as she grabs him. He then gave Usopp a good beating. "Thanks for holding him."
"Sure." Anna confirms, passed Chopper to Ventus.
"I should've kept my mouth shut." Usopp grunts with his beaten up face, continued to walk.
"And that you should've done." Ventus told him.
Ace couldn't help but chuckle a little, seeing Ventus already beaten Usopp.
"Hey, the desert doesn't seem to bother you much, Vivi." Sanji states.
"Well, I was born and raised in this country. So, I guess you can say that I'm used to it." Vivi explains as they then walking up at the sand hills.
"So...what's with all these hills?" Usopp complains. "I was expecting a desert to be more flat!"
"It's because this is an ancient desert. Some of the sand dunes here are over 900 feet high." Ventus told him.
"900 feet?! Oh my God...No! That's...that's a mountain!" Usopp complains.
"Ventus, how did you know? Do you remember about being in a desert once?" Vivi asked.
"Yes, I've being here during my travels with my teachers." Ventus nods.
"Guess it's a good thing they taught you about the climates and how to be aware." Zoro guessed. "It explains why you're being resourceful."
"So hot...Water..." Luffy complains.
"Just one drink, Luffy! Just one mouthful!" Nami told him, but Luffy drank more than one mouthful as she and Usopp punched him in the back of his head, causing him to spit out the water. "DON'T DRINK SO MUCH!"
"IDIOT! YOU BETTER SAVE SOME OF THAT WATER FOR USOPP!?" Usopp yelled with white eyes and shark-like teeth.
"Hold on! You just had some! I next! Give me that keg!" Sanji shouts with white eyes and the fight broke out.
"Stop it, you guys! You're only going to wear yourselves out if keep it up!" Vivi shouts, tried to reason with them.
"She started it!" Luffy complains.
"It's your fault!" Nami points out.
"It's always his fault!" Sanji agrees.
"Guys, calm down! It's not like we're going to die if we waste a barrel." Ventus said, tried to reason with them.
"There's a possibility that we will!" Nami, Sanji, Usopp, and Luffy shouted back with white eyes and shark-like teeth.
"But Ventus and Anna bought 15 barrels is case if Luffy wastes them. And Anna even has them all cold." Chopper told them.
"WHAT?!" They exclaims in unison.
"Where?! As your Captain, I demand you give it all to me!" Luffy ordered.
"Fat chance, Luffy. You'll just drank it all." Ventus points out, refuses. "Anna and I bought these barrels for everyone; not just for you. Just because you're my Captain, doesn't give you the right to take what it should be for your whole crew."
"He's right, these barrels are not just for you, they're for all of us." Shanise agrees. "Would you like it if we don't give you any food while we eat our meal? Or if we tie you up and have you watch us eat?"
"Well...No..."
"Then, there you go." Ventus interrupts. "Besides, even though you spat out that water, at least a little bit of it should be enough."
"But-"
"No 'buts', Luffy." Ventus interrupts again. "I'll give you some water when we rest somewhere, same goes for everyone. Chopper is okay, since he has a small water of barrel around his neck."
That said, Chopper was drinking his portion of water.
"Hey! No fair, Chopper! Give-"
Ventus then grabbed Luffy's face, slams him against the ground with a glare.
"I thought I told you that Chopper's portions are in a small barrels I bought. Ours are in the big barrels." Ventus growled with his dragon tone. "Understand?"
"Ech. I umbersan (Yes. I understand.)" Luffy muffled while given him a thumb-up.
"That's what I thought." Ventus said as they then continued to journey to Yuba.
Later that night after a long journey, they make camp while try to warm themselves up since the temperature in the desert drops. Sanji and Anna were cooking up the food which Luffy and Usopp are anxious to eat.
"I'm so hungry!" Luffy whines.
"Don't be such a greedy pig! It's still raw!" Sanji scolds when Luffy was about to eat, but stopped by Anna. "Don't eat that! Your dinner will be ready in just a minute, Nami~!"
"Hey, that looks good." Usopp said with a smile.
"GET AWAY FROM THAT!"
"AH! Jerk! We're starving!" Luffy complains, getting impatient. "Give me food!"
"BACK OFF!"
"Do you idiots want me to call Ventus?" Anna questions with a death glare, making Usopp, Sanji, and Luffy scared.
"NO! WE'RE GOOD!" Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji shouts in unison with fear, shook their heads.
"What happened? It was so hot all day and now all of a sudden, it's freezing." Nami points out, tried to warm herself.
"I know it seems strange, but it's cause by the lack of cloud cover here." Vivi informed her, looking at the desert. "With nothing to act as insulation, it's scorching by day and freezing by night."
"This is just one of the unexpected dangers we'll have to face in the desert. While you have to try to stay cool during the day, you'll also have to do something to keep yourself warm during the night." Ventus adds. "There are many unexpected dangers. One of them being the Desert Strawberry."
"Desert Strawberry?" Usopp repeats, listened to the conversation.
"What's that?" Sanji asks.
"It's a poisonous breed of spiders that look like a strawberry. If you eat one, you'll die in a few days. And after a few hours, a contagious poison will spread from the corpse." Ventus explains. "Or so I'm told."
"Where did you hear about that spider?" Anna inquires.
"From the townspeople at Nanohana and read the book that one of them gave me." Ventus told her, showing the book. "I've been doing some reading while back at the Sandora River."
"And that's actually a true story. It happened once in this country. One of the people even sacrificed themselves to save the whole country." Vivi informed them.
"There are a lot of dangers we have to expect, besides the basics disasters like sandstorms, cobra, quicksand, and scorpions." Shanise points out.
"Well, good thing we have Ventus had that book with us so we'll know what danger we have to face." Ivan states with a smile.
"He didn't need to bring that with him though." Vivi told him.
"Can't be too careful." Anna points out.
"Just look at all those stars..." Chopper said with a smile, looking at the stars.
Seeing Chopper happy brings Ventus peace. In all of his life with the reindeer, the young Dragoon has never seen Chopper have such a peaceful look on his face. Ventus can only see him either happy or scared expression, but mostly the scared one because of Dr. Kureha. He's glad that Chopper have joined the pirate crew.
"Couldn't you see the stars back on your island?" Usopp asks, tried to warm himself up.
"The skies of the winter islands are almost always covered by heavy snow clouds, so I've never been able to see this many before." Chopper told him.
"I am way too cold to enjoy the stars right now." Usopp complains, shivering.
"Cold weather doesn't bother me." Chopper states when Usopp starts cuddling him, much to his annoyance.
"That's because you wear such a nice fur coat." Usopp told him, nuzzling him.
"Back. Off." Chopper growled with his white eyes and shark like teeth.
"It's not my fault that you're all soft and fluffy." Usopp mocks.
"QUIT MAKING FUN OF ME!?" Chopper yelled, turns into a human form.
"Oh no! Monster!?" Usopp yelled with his budging eyes, frightened.
"Chopper, don't turn big. We have to huddle for warmth." Zoro told him, turns to Chopper.
"Why don't you gather around Ventus? He's got warmth." Chopper points out.
"If we tried that, he'll burn us alive!?" Usopp exclaims, but overexaggerating.
"Ventus doesn't like anyone crowding him for warmth, so he'd rather have some space to warm himself up. Remember, dragons are both warm-blooded and cold-blooded." Anna told them.
"Woo-hoo~!" Luffy shouts excitedly, jumped over Chopper and grabbed him. "So warm~!"
"Get a little closer." Usopp adds.
"See, isn't this cozy?" Luffy asks.
"Yeah." Chopper said in dazed.
"Hey Ven, I've been meaning to ask you." Ace said, earned his attention. "I've already got the idea of Crocodile tried to take over, but I think there's more about that story. Do you know?"
"As far as I know, you might be right about that, even after he sent the Baroque Works to do all his dirty work to have the people of Alabasta rebel against each other." Ventus explains.
"Baroque Works? That bounty hunting group. Why would he sent them here?" Ace ask surprisingly. "I mean, I get the part of the result because of the powder, but still..."
Ventus then starts explaining how they first know about the Baroque Works, Vivi and Igaram gone undercover in order to find out what Crocodile was up to, how they got involved, and the young Dragoon has a pretty good idea of Crocodile's true goal. When he finished explaining, Ace rubbed his temple annoyance.
"Dammit Luffy, what have you gotten yourself into this time?" Ace muttered with annoyance.
"I guess you've had a fair share, huh?" Ventus asks with a smirk.
"Yeah, Luffy always get himself into a lot of trouble, I just sit here and laugh while having him learn the hard way." Ace nods, turns to him. "Anyway, if you don't mind, I'll help you guys out for taking down Crocodile."
"I thought you're looking for Blackbeard." Ventus points out surprisingly.
"I was, but I'm making an exception." Ace told him. "Besides, we're partners in crime and no way I'm letting you guys take down Crocodile on your own."
Ventus was shocked that Ace had a change of plan about finding Blackbeard and decided to help them find Crocodile, causing him to smile as he nods in confirm.
"I suppose you're surprised, aren't you?" Vivi asks with a smile, earned his attention. "I mean by Luffy, that is. I have to admit, I was a little surprised too at first. After all, he doesn't seem very much like a pirate Captain, does he? I mean, normal pirate Captains are respected or feared by their crews. Just this afternoon, a simple drink of water left it at a big fight. Well, I think, that's just the way that Luffy does things. Took me a while to understand that."
"He's been that way for as long as I can remember." Ace said with a smile, earned her attention. "He hasn't changed a bit since he was a kid. He seems like a fool, but people have always gathered around him. He maybe my little brother, but he has this mysterious charm about him."
"I guess I wasn't telling you anything you didn't already know." Vivi said.
"He and I do go way back, you know." Ace points out. "I appreciate it. You thought I was worried about him, didn't you?"
"Yes, but I guess my concern was a little misguided." Vivi told him, causing Ace to chuckle.
And with that, they then head inside of their tents and went to sleep for the night.
The next morning, both Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp were up bright and early while try to find something to eat, but the rubber Captain manage to find a scorpion which he thought it was something else. Ventus woke up early, stretching himself while getting ready to head out.
"Ah! I found a shrimp!" Luffy shouts.
"You sure it's a shrimp?" Chopper asks, looking at the scorpion. "That's neat!"
"But shrimp don't live in the desert." Usopp points out when he rush towards Luffy, looking at the scorpion.
"Look." Luffy said, showing the scorpion to them.
"I stand corrected, it's a desert shrimp." Usopp states.
"Looks yummy." Luffy said.
"I wonder if it's edible." Usopp said, wondered if the scorpion is good.
"Why not? Crawfish are edible, aren't they?" Luffy asks when Vivi came out of her tent, stretching.
"I've never seen a real life shrimp before, this is really exciting!" Chopper states.
'A shrimp? In the middle of the desert?' Ventus mentally wondered, took a whiff and caught the scent of a scorpion. Vivi also noticed Luffy was holding a scorpion, causing her to scream.
"Luffy, are you crazy?! Get rid of that thing quick!" Vivi warned him which Ventus wasn't the only one who noticed Luffy is holding.
"Uh-uh! That would be wasteful." Luffy refuses.
"Let go of that thing before it stings you, you moron!" Ventus yelled at him, sprint towards Luffy as he quickly grabs the scorpion and tossed it away.
"Thanks, Ventus." Vivi thanked him, earned a nod from the young Dragoon.
"AHH! Ventus! What was that for?! That was food!" Luffy complains, but Ventus bonked him in the head.
"It's a scorpion! Don't let it small size fool you, the poison in its stinger can kill in seconds!" Vivi warned him.
"EEEEEHHHHHHH!?" Chopper gasped in shock.
"You mean that thing would've killed us?!" Usopp exclaims with panic.
"It would've if I didn't react fast enough." Ventus told him with a deadpan expression. "Now listen up, in the desert, not everything is trusting. You see something that looks like food, you'll then find yourself dead in the next few days or worse. So, if you see anything that looks good, don't just go ahead and touch it or eat it. Got it?"
"Yeah. I got it." Chopper and Usopp replied.
"Man, are we to have you here? Even if Vivi did reason us on these kinds of things, a certain someone will most likely do the opposite." Usopp said, given Luffy a weird look when he said the last part.
"Sorry, I should've mentioned it earlier." Vivi apologized.
"That's for sure." Usopp agrees.
Until, both Ventus and Chopper had a serious, yet uneasy look on their faces when they heard the sound coming their way.
"What's wrong? What's going on?" Luffy asks.
Both Ventus and Chopper then look at the sky, hearing the sound that's getting louder.
"Somethings coming...and quick." Chopper muttered.
"'Something', like what?" Usopp questions.
Ventus then narrowed his eyes, using his Dragon Sight to look further which it got him widen his eyes with dread.
"Take cover!" Ventus shouts.
"How come?" Luffy asks, being clueless.
"Didn't you hear me?! The sandstorm is coming this way!" Ventus shouts. "Everyone, take cover!"
And with that, the entire crew, except Luffy and Ace, head for cover when the sandstorm is getting cover.
"Whoa, now that's cool." Luffy said as the sandstorm gets closer. "Okay, enough with the sand already. I'm not impressed anymore."
The tents then break up when the sandstorm gets stronger when they either try to cover behind those rocks or the tents.
"I should've mentioned it earlier! Sandstorms are another of the deserts danger!" Vivi shouts.
"YOU GOTTA START REMEMBERING THIS STUFF!?" Usopp yelled with panic as the sandstorm covered the entire crew.
Some time later, the sandstorm passed and some of them were buried in the sand, but luckily, they weren't buried that deep. Ace got out of the sand with the yawn, scan the area when he noticed Vivi and the group were there as he helped her up.
"What the hell was that?" Zoro groans with a question.
"Can't a guy sleep in?" Sanji complains, got up when Chopper merged out of the sand along with Usopp and Ventus.
Luffy merged out of the sand, but the sand covered in Usopp's face.
"Dammit, Luffy!" Usopp muffled.
After they got themselves out of the sand, they all continued their way to Yuba. However, not even an hour has passed and Luffy is already hungry.
"Hey, Sanji! Let's have one of those box lunches!" Luffy suggests.
"Not yet, not until Vivi says so." Sanji told him.
"Come on, Vivi! How about it? Let's eat!" Luffy suggests, walking towards Vivi. "Doesn't that sound good?"
"But we're not even attend the way to Yuba, Luffy. And we have make our supplies last the whole way." Vivi told him.
"She's right, we can't waste supplies before reaching to Yuba." Shanise adds. "We still have long ways to go and we gotta make the most of it."
"Don't be silly, Vivi, Shanise. Haven't you heard of the old Proverb: 'Make sure you eat when you're hungry'." Luffy told them.
"That's the stupidest Proverb I've ever heard, Luffy." Ventus said with annoyance.
"And there's no such saying, either." Anna adds with annoyance.
"They're right. Quit making things up, you big fat liar." Usopp groans, agrees.
"Besides, you saw Usopp out of strength and he's not complaining." Ivan states. "Why couldn't you?"
"But I'm hungry!" Luffy complains, earned a tick mark from Ventus, Ivan, and Anna.
'Why do I bother?' Ventus, Ivan, and Anna mentally questioned themselves.
"Okay, if you're that hungry. I'll tell you what, why don't we stop and eat at the next group of rocks we come through." Vivi suggests.
"Alright, rocks it is!" Luffy complied happily, turns to his crew. "Onward, to the next group of rocks! 'Kay guys, whoever wins a rock-paper-scissors has to carry everybodies stuff!"
"Quit deciding things!" Usopp protests.
"Don't you mean the loser carries our stuff?" Sanji asked.
"And ready, go! Rock...Paper...Scissors...!"
Though it's already too late when everyone, except Ventus, Ace, Ivan, Anna, and Shanise, all did as he said and purposely lose against him.
"I win!" Luffy said with a smile, chuckled.
"Idiot." Nami muttered.
A couple of hours later, they continued to the next group of rocks while Luffy is behind them, carrying everyone's, except Ventus, Ace, Ivan, Anna, and Shanise, baggage. Though, Luffy did say the winner gets to carry their belongings since he didn't realize that the loser obviously carries their things.
"Heavy...So heavy...Why am I doing all the work?" Luffy asks, complaining while carrying everyone's, except Ventus, Ace, Ivan, Anna, and Shanise, baggage.
"You said the winner carries all." Sanji reminds him. "Not shut up and haul."
"Make sure you don't drop anything." Nami told him.
"That idiot shouldn't have suggested that in the first place." Ivan scoffed with annoyance. "It's obvious that the loser carries our belongings, not the other way around."
"It's Luffy we're talking about, he always went on ahead without thinking things through." Ventus points out.
"Well, we better hope that we don't run in to those birds." Anna states when she and Usopp are looking for a spot to rest a little.
"Why's that, Anna?" Chopper asked when Ventus is carrying him.
"Well-"
"Hey guys! We spotted rocks, dead ahead!" Usopp informed them.
"You mean it?!" Luffy exclaims, relieve to hear that and rushed over to the group of rocks ahead of them. "It's lunch time!"
"Whoa! That's so fast!?" Usopp exclaims with his eyes budging out.
"He would do anything to get things his way." Ventus muttered with deadpan expression. "Well, in any case, we should get moving."
After Luffy made it to the group of rocks, the birds landed on the top of the rocks.
"Hah...the shade!" Luffy said, lands flat on the sandy ground. "It feel so good."
Suddenly, he heard the sound of painful groan that's coming from the other side as Luffy head to the source and saw the group of birds in pain, caused him to gasp in shock. He then approaches them and spoke.
"Hey! Say something!" Luffy said, grabbed one of the birds. "I'll go get you a doctor!"
And with that, he rushed out of the group of rocks, making his way towards his crew.
"I NEED HEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLP!?" Luffy yelled, rushed after them.
"That's weird, why is he coming back?" Usopp asks in confusion.
"What's wrong, Luffy?" Anna asked.
"There's a whole flock of birds here and they can't move!" Luffy shouts with an answer. "We need a doctor! Chopper!"
It got Chopper's attention when he jumped out of Ventus' arms, approaches Luffy.
"Alright, let's go Chopper!" Luffy ordered.
"Coming." Chopper replied as he and Luffy rush towards the group of rocks when Vivi pondered.
"We gotta help those birds!" Luffy shouts.
'Birds? Injured? Wait a second...' Ventus mentally exclaims, ran after Luffy and Chopper. "Luffy, you idiot!"
"What birds?! Wait a minute, Luffy! Those birds might not be what they think they are!" Vivi shouts which it got Luffy and Chopper's attention.
However, it didn't stop Ventus from running towards to the group of rocks to prevent those birds from stealing. When the young Dragoon arrived at the group of rocks, he was too late to stop them when their belongings were already stolen. Ventus is very angry about this because of Luffy's stupidity and fell for that trick.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
"All of our stuff is gone!" Zoro shouts.
"We've been had!" Nami adds.
"Hey, Ventus! What did you do to our baggage?! And what happened to the flock of birds here?!" Luffy demands, pointing his accused finger at Ventus which he made a big mistake.
That question made Ventus very mad and his blood vessels popped out of his head when he got his lance out.
"Lance Burst" Ventus then charges after Luffy, stabs him and then flip and kick him in the air.
"Spiral Blow" Ventus then leaps in the air and strike him, knocking him in the air.
"Sky Rave" Ventus then descends, impales him and slams him down to the ground.
Ventus then lands on the ground, breathe heavily with rage, looking at Luffy when he got himself out of the ground he was slammed into.
"Ventus! What was that for?!" Luffy demands, but Ventus grabs him in the neck and starts strangling him.
"You came across the Warusagi Birds, idiot! They're the birds who tricked travelers and steal their belongings!" Ventus shouts with his dragon tone, strangling him.
"But they're also known as the 'Desert Bandits'." Vivi told them sadly.
"Wha-...What?" Luffy grunts, tried to spoke.
"You mean these birds played dead? What a lousy bunch of crooks!?" Usopp exclaims with shock, showing his shark-like teeth.
"This is all my fault." Vivi said.
"Don't beat yourself up, neither of us knew about this." Shanise assures her.
"Those birds...tricked...me! Ventus...let go..."
"Not until you die!" Ventus answered, still strangling the rubber idiot.
"Luffy, you dolt! Is that all you have to say for yourself?!" Sanji asks with a scowl, joining Ventus for strangling Luffy. "There were three days worth of supplies in those packs and you just have to go and let a bunch of stupid birds rob us blind in the middle of the desert! How are we suppose to get across of this wasteland without food or water?! I hope you're proud of yourself!"
"It's not...my...fault...They outsmarted me..."
"ENOUGH OF YOUR EXCUSES!" Ventus yelled, giving him a hard punch and knocked him out. "In any case, just be glad that our baggage still has the food to last us."
"What do you mean, Ventus?" Sanji questions. "That idiot-"
"-didn't have our bags on him. I had it on me this whole time." Ventus interrupts as he pulls out his gallery pouch, brings out the baggage out.
"Yeah! Lucky!" Luffy said happily, but spoke too soon.
"None for you, Luffy." Ventus told him.
"Huh?! Why is that?!" Luffy shouts with his jaws dropped.
"You let those flock of Warusagi Birds take everyone else's supplies!" Ventus points out. "You have to take responsibilities for your actions!"
"But-"
Before Luffy could say anything, Anna tossed his sleeping gas and put the rubber Captain to sleep. Sanji and Ventus get to work when the cook gets the rope from the sled and tie him up. Ventus made sure to tie his fingers and his lip to have him prevent any ways of getting out of the ropes.
"Mmm! Mm mmm! Mm mmm mm!" Luffy muffled while tried to speak, but due to his lips being tied up, speaking is useless.
"Oh, shut up!" Sanji growled with annoyance.
"In any case, we should take a break, all this beating Luffy tries me out from all this heat." Ventus suggests.
"Fine by me." Zoro agrees with a smirk, sits on a rock. "This heat is just starting to wear on everybody's nerves. I'm sure we'll manage food and water wise, it's nothing that'll kill us right away. Let's put it out of our minds for now."
"Yeah, that's a good idea, because when I think about it, I get really thirsty." Usopp states with his tongue stick out, leaving Chopper nods with an agreement.
Luffy is trying to get himself out, but saw the Warusagi Birds with their belongings, mocking when the rubber Captain manage to get himself out and left his mouth agape in shock. The Warusagi Birds then leaves, but Luffy starts chasing after them.
"GIVE US OUR STUFF, BASTARDS!?" Luffy yelled.
"No, Luffy! Don't chase them!" Vivi shouts, tried to stop him.
"That idiot." Sanji muttered with annoyance.
"He just won't learn." Anna said with a deadpan expression.
"Wait! Will you be able to find your way back?" Nami questions, but Luffy didn't hear it.
"Get back here, you dope!" Usopp yelled. "Luffy!"
Luffy is starting to get worn out because of the desert heat, still chasing after the Warusagi Birds when they're taking flight.
"Stop...You can't get away from me!" Luffy yelled, heavily pants while chasing after the Warusagi Birds. "Get back here!"
Though, Luffy is slowing down while the Warusagi Birds flew higher to get away from him with the belongings, but one of them got caught and sunk down in the sand. The rest of the Warusagi Birds noticed one of them got caught and killed which they're flying away from the sky.
"I said come back!" Luffy yelled, pants heavily.
But as soon as he makes a step, the carnivorous plants merged out of the sand and goes after Luffy which he dodges them.
"What is this?" Luffy asked himself, dodges the plants.
However, one of the carnivorous plants chomped Luffy whole, tried to digest, but Luffy tried to fight his way out. The carnivorous plants then sink down into the sink, but one of them got out and snapped into two. Luffy pulls himself out of the sand with a grunt, turns to the dead plant.
"What is that thing?" Luffy questions. "A mystery desert plant? Man, that is so cool!"
Until, he heard something that's coming from the right as he turned, saw a camel about to get eaten by the carnivorous plant.
"What are you doing?" Luffy asks, laughing. "That's funny!"
Though, the camel didn't like his remark, grunting at Luffy with a tick mark on its head.
"Huh? You want me to help you?" Luffy asks, earned a nod from the camel. "Okay. Gum-Gum: Pistol"
Luffy then stretched his arm and launch his fist, punching the carnivorous plant, causing the plant to pop and the camel to rush towards the rubber Captain.
"Good thing you didn't get eaten, huh?" Luffy said with a chuckle, looking for the Wasuragi Birds which they got away. "Dammit! Those stupid birds got away while I was busy beaten up these mystery plants! The desert sure is full of strange creatures. So, pal, how'd you manage to get stuck out here in the desert all by yourself?"
Though, the camel turned away which it got Luffy curious.
"What's wrong?" Luffy asks.
Suddenly, they heard a roar that was coming from the inside of the sand, causing the camel's face to pale and frightened.
"Did you see something out there?" Luffy asks, looking at the sand.
Then, the sand is slowly starting to flow down which it got Luffy into a serious expression on his face while the camel is getting even more frighten the sand is slowly merged out.
"What the heck is that?" Luffy questions as something big merged out of the sand.
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat pirates are relaxing at the group of rocks while waiting for Luffy to get back since he's been gone for a some time.
"Come on, Luffy. Hurry it up." Usopp complains, waving his hand.
"Um, you don't suppose he could be lost, do you?" Chopper inquires.
"Who knows. That idiot has caused a lot of trouble and never thinks about his actions." Ivan told him.
"He has absolutely no sense of direction, but he's always running off." Nami states.
"Not to mention he just doesn't even think things through." Ventus adds with annoyance. "I don't know why I even join this crew in the first place."
"And there are still so many desert dangers I haven't had a chance to warn him about yet." Vivi told them.
"Not to mention the moron was hungry. So, you know he's not thinking straight." Sanji adds.
Zoro is starting to grow impatient as he pulls himself up and spoke.
"That guy is so hopeless." Zoro said with a scoff.
"You can say that again." Sanji agrees, stood up.
"We better find this idiot before he does any more stupid." Ventus suggests as he, Zoro, and Sanji were about to head out.
"I'm sorry." Ace apologizes with a smile, earned their attention. "I know my brother can be a flake. I apologize."
Sanji, Zoro, and Ventus smiled and turns away to head out.
"Good luck finding him." Usopp said.
"Yeah." Sanji replied.
Until, they heard something tremoring and it's getting louder as they turn to that direction.
"What's that?" Chopper asks as they saw the sand burrowing which it's coming closer.
"What on earth is that rumbling?" Usopp asks with panic.
"I think I know a certain someone who gets himself into a lot of trouble." Ventus states with annoyance when he sniff the air.
And the young Dragoon is right, Luffy is riding on a camel with a laugh which of course, Anna, Ventus, Ivan, and Shanise recognizes that laugh. Usopp then look through his goggles when he saw Luffy riding on a camel, but the sand was burrowing behind them.
"Is it another sandstorm?" Usopp said, but noticed Luffy and the camel. "No, wait! That looks like...It's Luffy!"
"Oh no! It can't be!" Vivi exclaims when she and the others watched Luffy getting chased.
"Huh? Why is he on a camel?" Nami questions.
"Someone want to tell me what the hell is chasing him?" Sanji demands.
"I can't really tell, but it looks like there's something in the sand burrowing after him." Zoro states, readied his sword.
"And something is heading our way." Anna told him, readied her bow while Shanise grabbed her axe.
And with that, the sand revealed a giant purple desert lizard chasing after Luffy and the camel. Usopp and Chopper screamed in panic along with Vivi and Nami.
"What is that?" Zoro questions with his raised eyebrow.
"It's a Sandora Dragon!" Vivi exclaims.
"It's a WHAT?!" Usopp yelled.
"A Sandora Dragon! They're the biggest reptile that lives in a desert! They wait under the sand for their prey and then ambushed them! They have razor sharp fangs and claws, but they hardly ever use them, because they're incredibly huge, they usually just end up swallowing the victims whole!" Vivi explains.
"I gotta admit, that boy does have a talent for attracting trouble." Ace states with a smirk.
"Right, and all of us have the scars to prove it." Sanji said with annoyance.
"What kind of crap star was he born under to attract trouble like that?" Zoro rhetorically questions with a scowl.
"Better go and give this idiot a helping hand." Shanise suggests as she, Zoro, and Sanji rush towards Luffy.
"Stop, camel! You're going too fast!" Luffy yelled with his shark-like teeth when the Sandora Dragon keeps chasing after them.
"Is it too much for you, Luffy?" Zoro questions.
"We'll lend a hand." Sanji told him.
"Thanks guys, I brought home a little something for dinner." Luffy thanked them as he leaps off the camel and turns to the Sandora Dragon. "Gum-Gum: Pistol"
"Dragon Twister" Zoro spins his swords to create a dragon-like tornado.
"Epaule Shoot" Sanji leaps into the air and brings his heel up.
"Fell Cleave" Shanise then raise her axe horizontally.
Luffy then punched it, Zoro sliced it, Sanji kicked it in the head, and Shanise cleaved it, killed the Sandora Dragon which it got Chopper, Usopp, Nami, and Vivi dropped their jaws. Anna, Ivan, Ventus, and Ace knew they were able to kill it.
"You didn't have to go that far." Usopp said in teary eyes.
"Whenever those guys fight, it almost makes me feel sorry for the monsters." Nami said as the Sandora Dragon collapses down.
Suddenly, the sand is merging something out from behind which it got their attention and noticed the other Sandora Dragon merged out, causes Chopper and Usopp screamed in panic.
"Another one?!" Nami exclaims with her eyes widen.
"I'm sorry, I guess I must've forgot to mention that Sandora Dragons always have to come in pairs!" Vivi told them.
"Get with it." Nami, Anna, Ivan, Usopp, and Chopper said in a dull expression.
Though, that roar got Ace woke up when they tried to warn him.
"A lot of pests in these deserts. You want to play?" Ace asks with a smirk when the Sandora Dragon roared. Well alright, if that's what you want. Hey Ven, you up for some good barbecue?"
"Let's." Ventus complies as he and Ace leaps in the air.
Ventus jumps higher then Ace when the Sandora Dragon chomps him whole, but Ace uses the Devil fruit to burn its mouth while the young Dragoon channels his lance with fire magic.
"Dragonfire Dive" Ventus then descends down, impales the Sandora Dragon as he and Ace burns it into a crisp, killing the second Sandora Dragon.
After the fight is over, Sanji, Shanise, Ventus, and Anna cut up the Sandora Dragon meat, using the rocks to cook it up.
"This is convenient, these rocks are just like a natural frying pan." Sanji states.
"Yep, if we don't even have food and water. All it takes is survival and wits in order to find some food and water." Anna replied.
"So, now that we have a moment, what's the deal with a camel?" Zoro questions.
"How were you able to find the camel while running after the Warusagi Birds?" Ivan adds with a question, placed his hands on his hips.
"I don't know. It was getting eaten by the mystery plants while I was chasing those birds." Luffy told them.
"It's obviously not a wild camel." Nami states.
"No, not with a saddle on bridle." Vivi replied.
"Hey Chopper, do you think you can communicate that camel and see who he belongs to?" Ventus asks.
"I can." Chopper complies as he approaches the camel. "Excuse me, can you tell me where did you come from?"
The camel turns to the reindeer, communicates with him which Chopper can understand what he's telling him. Ventus can understand what the camel is telling Chopper.
"Chopper, what's he saying?" Anna inquires.
"He says 'He belongs to the rebels from Katorea. He left the rebels and goes on his own.'" Chopper explains.
"He's a passenger carrying camel." Usopp guess with a smile, turns to the camel. "That sure gonna make things a lot easier."
"Yeah, that'll be a real help." Sanji agrees. "It looks like he can carry two."
"Camels do go hand in hand with deserts." Zoro states with a smirk.
"Camels are also known as the 'Ships of the Desert' for a reason." Ventus adds.
"Great, I'll take the first shift." Luffy suggests when he about to hop on, but the camel bites him.
The camel then speaks that Chopper can only understand.
"Any idea what's he saying, Chopper?" Shanise inquires.
"He says 'I'm afraid I'm a love hard-boiled, yet compassionate ship of the desert. I'm very grateful for having help me out in the jam back there, and I'll be glad to give some of you a ride, but I'm afraid I don't accept male passengers.'" Chopper explains.
It got Sanji, Luffy, and Usopp beaten up the camel while questions why.
"'I'm too macho.'" Chopper said, translating.
Now Sanji, Luffy, and Usopp beaten up the camel more, leaving the camel beaten and battered.
"And by the sound of it, this camel rather accepts female passengers instead of male passengers." Ventus guessed.
"'That's right, young dragon. I take female passengers.'" Chopper said, translating.
"I'm so sorry that my crewmates are a bunch of ill-brat louts." Nami apologizes, causing the camel to go goo-goo eyes. "Now, what should we call you, you great big precious camel you."
"Idiot!"
"Moron!"
"Doofus!"
"Eyelash it is then." Nami said with a smile, riding on the camel.
"Uh, how'd you rive it that?" Zoro asks with a sweat drop as the camel approaches Vivi.
"Okay, climb on Vivi." Nami suggests.
"No, I'm fine. I can still walk." Vivi declines. "Thanks."
"Just get on." Nami suggests as Vivi gets on the camel, approaching Anna. "Climb on, Anna."
"I'd rather have my feet on the ground while tracking." Anna refuses. "But right now, we should get moving."
"Yuba is still a long way to get there." Shanise agrees.
Though, Nami and Vivi can make a better time by riding the camel when Ventus sprouts his wings, carrying Chopper as the Straw Hat pirates then continued to head to Yuba.
That's it for the 32nd chapter.