This is the 46th chapter. Okay, over 30K views of the first volume and now, over 10K views of the second volume of Straw Hats Dragoon? Dude, it's like you guys are eating it. Thank you for reading the two volumes, especially to all of you One Piece fans!
I don't own the series of One Piece.
Dash for a Miracle!
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. Having escaped from the trap at Rain Dinners, Luffy and the others set out towards Alubarna with a hope to plea with the rebel army, numbering 2 million soldiers. However, a waiting Crocodile ensnared Luffy and the two began a vicious duel. Unable to find a foothold against Crocodile's overwhelming power, Luffy fell victim to a mere lethal blow. Can Luffy discover his opponents weakness in time? Or is it the end for the mighty Straw Hat pirate?
Alabasta, Yuba
In the city of Yuba, Toto have kept digging the canal after the Straw Hat pirates left for Rainbase, and finally, the water flows out of the canal when he was able to dig so deep. Toto couldn't even believe his eyes, it left him stunned when he saw the water flowing over.
"Water!? I can hardly believe my eyes!" Toto exclaims.
Unknown to him, the sandstorm is heading Yuba since he's too occupied looking at the water, but it got him in tears.
"T-There's so much...precious water!" Toto muttered, kneel down and placing his hands on the water, holding the little of it. "The water is coming forth! Didn't I tell you, Luffy?! This land is strong! Through it all, Yuba lives on!"
Alabasta, Rainbase
After Luffy's defeat by the hands of Crocodile, the Warlord of the Sea lifts him up in the air as he spoke.
"This sandstorm will deal with Yuba of final destructive blow." Crocodile said with a smirk. "Adding the flames of anger within the rebel army until inferno ignites. But in the end, the bleeding hearts which infest this land of what's killing it. And you, Straw Hat Luffy, are the worst of them all. If only you had purged yourself of such weakness, you may have lived a little longer."
Crocodile then noticed his golden hook on his right arm is soaked with water that was coming from the small barrel. He realized that he impaled it with his hook, but it was enough to thrust it towards the center of Luffy's chest.
"Water..." Crocodile muttered, turns back to Luffy with a sneer. "I assume you don't feel indebted to this water now."
Then, Luffy used his what was left of his strength as he grabbed Crocodile's arm, leaving him shocked and grunts when the rubber Captain grip it. Crocodile then looked at Luffy with shocked, noticed the rubber Captain is still alive and watched him try to move.
"What's this?! You're still alive?!" Crocodile growled in frustration as he tosses Luffy right to the quicksand, use the Devil fruit power to sink him down. "That looks like it hurts, but you'll be out of your misery soon enough. Goodbye."
And with that, Crocodile then left Rainbase with a triumph laugh, leaving Luffy sank down to the sand with a weaken yell.
"That was a complete waste of my time." Crocodile states.
Alabasta, Yuba
Toto got out of the hole and walk towards the sandstorm when it was about to hit Yuba. Toto stood up with a determined glare, placing the shovel next to him.
"Not so bad! Once we've weathered this storm, the rain will bless us with sweet relief! Just like always!" Toto shouts, gripping the shovel tightly. "Your winds will never vanquish us, you cowardly storm! Yuba will never give in to the sand!"
Just then the sandstorm hits Yuba, the city is destroyed.
Somewhere in Alabasta
Meanwhile, the Moving Crab kept running to Alubarna. Zoro lifting his katana up with the camel on top with his right hand. Sanji, Ventus, Anna, and Ace were keeping an eye on the horizon in case Crocodile ever try to chase after them. Shanise is sharpening her axe with the whetstone, getting ready to fight in Alubarna while Ivan polishes his baseball bats. Vivi is watching Usopp telling lies to Chopper while Nami watches Zoro lifting his right arm repeatedly.
"And that's when it happened, I looked at him straight in the eye and yelled, 'YOU BONELEGGED BASTARD!'." Usopp lied. "And ever since that day, crabs throughout the world have been self-conscious about being bone legged."
"Aaahhhh! That's the reason they walk sideways?" Chopper asks with awe.
"Yep, and at that pivotal moment, a lobster happened to be an earshot and heard the whole thing." Usopp told him.
"Ohhhh! So, lobsters are crabs too?" Chopper asks again.
"Better believe it." Usopp answered with a laugh, leaving Chopper awed while Vivi sweat dropped.
"Zoro, why don't you relax? You're just wasting your energy doing that." Nami suggests.
"Who asked you?!" Zoro retorted.
"Excuse him, Nami, he's hopeless." Sanji told her, smoking his cigarette. "Guys like Zoro, they gotta keep moving or they won't stay focused. They have one track minds, especially...our own resident muscle freak here now that he has a taste of the Seven Warlords."
"And just what the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Ventus demands with a scowl, turns to Sanji.
Zoro then stopped lifting his arm and turns to Sanji with a growl.
"Stop whining! Just say what's on your mind or shut up!" Zoro rebuked.
"Ah, you need to spell it out? All this tough guy bluster is just a sad attempt to mask your fear that Luffy might lose this one." Sanji states, leaving Vivi gasp with her eyes widen.
Ventus is just about had enough of Sanji as he turns to him with a growl.
"You bastard! Do you honestly think I didn't know that, you stupid jackass?! My ears are as good as your mouth!?" Ventus yelled, stood up with anger. "We already know he won't stand a chance against him, he's only buying us time, you heartless son of a bitch!?"
"What did you call me?!" Sanji demands with a scowl. "Are you telling me I'm deaf, you damn half-breed?!"
"What'd you call me?! You damn perverted ass!" Ventus retorted.
"And you're saying I'm scared, huh?! Is that what you're saying?!" Zoro demands with anger. "Look at me! Fancy eyebrows!"
"That's it! I've had enough of both of you! You damn mosshead!" Sanji growled with anger.
"WHAT'D YOU CALL ME?!"
"YOU WANNA GO AT IT?!"
Just when Ventus, Sanji, and Zoro butted each others heads and about to fight, Nami and Anna bonked their heads, leaving bumps on their heads.
"Cut it out! This is pointless." Nami points out.
"Ventus, I don't know who taught you that language, but you need to calm down." Anna scolds the young Dragoon.
"I know we're on edge right not, but we need to focus on getting to Alubarna." Shanise suggests seriously.
'Nami and Anna are strong.' Chopper mentally thought with his jaws dropped.
'Look at them, they're at each others throats! Everyone's worked up. It's up to me as Vice-Captain to take charge.' Usopp mentally thought with a serious expression on his face.
"Calm down, all of you." Vivi said, tried to reason with them. "Everyone's frightened, yes, but we mustn't turn on each other. Luffy's counting on us to meet him at Alubarna."
"Yeah well, you seem moron-edged than any of us!" Usopp retorts with his face pale when Nami bonked her in the head.
"Keep your mind on the rebellion and leave the rest to us." Nami suggests.
"Sorry about that, Vivi." Sanji said, rubbing his head while gone goo-goo eyes.
"If we tear each other apart, we've already lost." Zoro points out.
"Alright, that's settled! Now, let's devote our attention to Alubarna!" Nami suggests. "Full speed, Scissors!"
And with that, the Moving Crab scuttled faster to Alubarna, but Usopp turned his attention to Nami.
"Scissors?" Usopp repeats in confusion.
"The name for the crab." Nami answered simply.
"You just made that up?" Usopp demands.
"Got something better?" Nami counters with a question.
"No, not really." Usopp answered, leaving Chopper chuckled a bit.
Alabasta, Rainbase
Meanwhile, Smoker was about to leave when he informed Tashigi that she's in charge of the Marine units and head for Alubarna without him. It really got her off-guard when he told her.
"Me? Go to Alubarna?" Tashigi said surprisingly. "Are we chasing after the Straw Hat pirates? Or reinforcing the royal army?"
"That's up to you." Smoker told her, leaving her confused. "You'll have to decide which is more important when you get there."
"But sir, I don't understand. What's going on?" Tashigi questions, wanted to know why.
"Rely on sense of justice." Smoker said, pulling his gloves and gripping the handles. "Whatever happens, I'll accept responsibility."
"Captain, where are you going?" Tashigi asks.
"I have to head out to sea, something unforeseen has come up." Smoker told her. "Be on alert to receive communication from me at any time."
"Right." Tashigi complies when Smoker placed his goggles on.
"I need you to keep a vigilant eye on this country and where it ends up." Smoker ordered, leaving Tashigi confused. "Whether it falls or whether it survives, the dawn of a brand-new historic age is on the horizon."
And then Smoker starts his billower bike and leaves Rainbase, heading to the Marine ship, leaving Tashigi alone when one of the Marines approached her.
"Sergent Major! Sergent Major!?"
Tashigi then turns to the Marine after snapped out of her stupor.
"Yes." Tashigi said, turns to the Marines when they're waiting for her orders.
'Whether it falls or whether it survives, the of a brand-new historic age is on the horizon.'
Those words have echoed on Tashigi's mind, remembered what Smoker have told her before he left. She then turns to the Marines with the determined expression on her face, moved her glasses up.
"Our target is the pirate, 'Straw Hat' Luffy and everyone who serves under him! And Ventus Starwind must be apprehended and have him at HQ! All hands, reinforce your gear! Prepare to depart for Alubarna!" Tashigi ordered as the Marines saluted her. "'Straw Hat' Luffy!"
Somewhere in Alabasta
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat pirates continued their way to Alubarna, but Vivi explains to them that the Moving Crab can't go up to the Sandora River, meaning Moving Crabs can't swim.
"What?! What do you mean we can't cross this river?!" Usopp demands with white eyes and shark-like teeth, sweating bullets.
"Think about it! Moving Crabs are creatures of the desert, they don't take to water." Vivi points out.
"Has everyone gone nuts?! It's a crab! They can exist on land and water!" Usopp shouts, pulling the map of Alabasta and placed it down. "Guys, this is not good! This is a serious problem! Look, if we just carelessly spend our energy swimming across the river, we're not gonna make it in time. See here? After the river, there's a ton of desert to deal with! So, if this crab can't make it to the other shore, are we suppose to run the rest of the way on foot?"
"We don't have a choice." Nami states.
"We won't make it time! It's absolutely impossible!" Usopp complains when Shanise bonked in the head very head, leaving a massive bump on his head.
"Quit your complaining, we don't have any other options." Shanise points out with annoyance.
Sanji then turns his head, noticed they're heading to the Sandora River which it's close.
"Uh oh!" Sanji muttered, turns to them. "Hey, I can see it! Sandora River straight ahead!"
"Oh great!" Usopp states with a smirk.
"Help us, Scissors. Pretty please." Nami pleads sweetly.
"Any idea of getting through the river faster?" Ace questions.
"I know! Scissors love dancer girls." Chopper said, thought of an idea.
Nami then takes off the cloak which she was still wearing the dancer attire.
"Will this do?" Nami inquires curiously.
"Probably." Chopper answered quickly when Sanji and the camel went goo-goo eyes.
"Wow, I can't take it~!" Sanji said with a perverted smile when the Moving Crab turn its eyes towards Nami, gone goo-goo eyes.
"He's looking this way." Chopper states as the Moving Crab then moves faster. "We're accelerating!"
"Nami-Swan~!" Sanji shouts.
"Great, now we've got two animals in heat!" Zoro exclaims with annoyance.
"More like three perverted horndogs!" Anna adds with annoyance.
"Alright, we're moving now!" Chopper informed them.
"And what exactly has this solve, Chopper? Nothing!?" Usopp shouts.
"SHUT UP, USOPP!?" Ventus, Anna, Shanise, and Ivan shouts with annoyance, bonked him in the head.
Just as the Moving Crab goes faster and faster, they made to the Sandora River and heading to the other side of Alubarna.
"He did it!" Chopper shouts cheerfully.
"I'm seeing it, but I don't believe it. This crab is incredible." Sanji states.
Way to go!" Usopp cheered. "Now, don't you stop, just keep on going! Hurry, run, run, run all away! Go! Keep moving! Nothing can stop us now! Oh, I love this crab!"
Unfortunately, the Moving Crab is sinking down into the water while moving faster which it got Usopp panicked.
"Hey, wait a minute! What's going on?! If I didn't know better, I think we're sinking!?" Usopp shouts as the Moving Crab finally stops, merged out of the water white eyes and shark-like teeth. "You stupid crab!"
"It's over. No use whining about it, keep moving." Zoro suggests, swimming while Chopper is on his head.
"He's right, let's just swim the rest of the way over there." Ivan agreed, swimming with the others.
Usopp couldn't help but groan since he has no choice. However, he had a question that pops out of his mind.
"Hold on a second. Are you sure there aren't any boats around here? How long will take for us to reach the shore?" Usopp questions, swim next to Vivi.
"The rest of the night." Vivi answered.
"THAT'S INSANE!?" Usopp yelled with blood-shot eyes and shark-like teeth.
"If you want to stay and die in the desert, be my guest cuz' listening to you complaining isn't going to help." Ventus told him, swimming while carrying Ace. "Now either shut up or I'll put you out of your misery myself."
That got Usopp paled as a sheet of paper, decided to swim while not going to try to get on the young Dragoon's bad side. Chopper then turns, noticed the Moving Crab made it back to the shore.
"Thanks a lot!" Chopper thanked the crab, waving his hoof. "Thanks for the ride! Bye, Scissors!"
"Wasn't that crab in the water just now?" Ace questions.
"Who knows." Ventus sighed.
"Oh, shut up! He's the reason we're in this mess!" Usopp exclaims with annoyance.
"And who's fault is it?" Anna questions with annoyance, causing Usopp to flinch.
Suddenly, the water rises up from the surface which it got their attention as it revealed to be a huge catfish. It got Usopp and Chopper screamed with panic.
"It's a Sandora Catfish! They're rarely seen by humans!" Vivi identified.
"That doesn't seem rare to me!" Usopp rebuked.
"That's not all! People are its favorite food!" Ventus adds as the Sandora Catfish opened its mouth and went back into the water, causing them to swim away.
"SAY THAT PART FIRST!" Usopp yelled with panic.
"JUST SHUT UP AND KEEP SWIMMING!?" Ivan yelled at him.
They, except Chopper and Ace, were swimming away from the Sandora Catfish. Zoro however, couldn't even tell if he's swimming away or towards that Sandora Catfish because Chopper is clinging onto him, blocking his view. Until, they heard the sounds of Sandora Catfish getting beaten by something else. When things calm down, Zoro tried to pry Chopper off of his face which the reindeer is still too sacred. Just when the Sandora Catfish got knocked out, the Kung-Fu Dugongs reveled themselves from the water.
"Kung-Fu Dugongs?!" Usopp exclaims happily.
And with the Sandora Catfish knocked out, the Straw Hat pirates climbed on the top of it and ride it, the with Kung-Fu Dugongs pulling the Sandora Catfish towards the other shore.
"They say they were just looking out for their fellow pupils." Chopper told them.
"Pupils?" Usopp repeats. "What? They think Luffy is out master? Please!"
"Do you really want to argue with them?" Vivi questions.
"And get another beating by these guys?" Anna adds with a question, leaving Usopp paled when he remembered getting quickly beaten.
"Hang in there, little guys! Just a little further!" Usopp shouts.
Once they reach to shore, they all got off the Sandora Catfish and land on the other side of Alabasta.
"Thanks a lot!" Vivi shouts with a smile, waved her hand.
"Bye, bye!" Chopper adds as the Kung Fu Dugongs went down to the river.
"Well, we're making good time." Ace states, tipped his hat.
"Yeah, but we won't make it time by foot." Ventus nods when Zoro approaches her.
"Now that things have gone smoothly, can we make it time?" Zoro asks.
"I don't know." Vivi answered. "Even riding Eyelash, I'm not sure when we'll would get there."
"And don't forget, I can only carry one at a time whenever it comes to flying." Ventus adds. "Even if Eyelash can only carry two, we won't be able to get there in time, or by foot, either."
"Also, the Baroque Works will be going to attack us from here in Alubarna. So, splitting up isn't going to work like time at Rainbase." Shanise told them.
"Isn't there any way for us to stick together?" Usopp asks which they're in some deep thought at the question, but they're out of options. "Damn! This isn't good!"
Then, both Ventus and Nami heard something coming their way which he's using his hearing to hear something far and caught up a scent.
"What's wrong, Ven?" Ace asks.
"I'm hearing footsteps and it's coming this way." Ventus answered, sniffing the air. "And it smells...Carue!"
They all looked at his direction to see if he's hearing things, but it's coming from the dust cloud.
"Look! Over there!" Nami shouts, pointing at the dust cloud.
"What is it now?! Is it the enemy?! Don't tell me they're here to kill us?!" Usopp exclaims with his eyes budging and shark-like teeth.
Vivi then recognizes the footsteps as she gasp with her eyes widen.
"No, wait! Ventus' right...it's..."
Then as the dust cloud clears, it was Carue and a pack of ducks running to the Straw Hat pirates.
"It's Carue and the Supersonic Duck Squadron!" Vivi states as the ducks stopped. "You've come to help us, haven't you?"
The ducks responds with a salute.
"Carue!" Vivi shouts his name.
Alabastsa, Rainbase
At Rainbase, Luffy was still able to get out of the quicksand but barely because his head is the only thing that got out. Luffy is trying with all of his strength, but he's too weak because of the fight against Crocodile. He then said only one thing...
"MEEEEEEAAAAAAAT!"
Luffy then pant weakly and then remembered what Crocodile have told him after the fight.
'We may both be pirates, but you grossly short on skill.'
'This sandstorm will deal Yuba a final destructive blow. Adding the flames of anger within the rebel army until an inferno ignites.'
These words have echoed on his mind, which it got Luffy angry as he tried to get himself out of the sane, but the quicksand buried him. Until, Ms. All-Sunday walk towards the spot where Crocodile has buried Luffy in the sand as she uses her Devil fruit power, getting Luffy out of the quicksand with multiple hands and placed him next to her. Luffy then weakly turned his head to her with a weak groan.
"Th-Thank you." Luffy thanked her.
"Why do you fight?" Ms. All-Sunday questions with a serious expression on her face. "Those of you with the name of D."
"D?" Luffy repeats, but cough the blood out of his mouth.
'Who are you people? What are your intentions?' Ms. All-Sunday mentally questions. "Apparently, you don't have a clue what I'm talking about."
She then uses her Devil fruit power as the arm limb threw the straw hat, grabbed it.
"I found you." The voice of Pell said when she turns to him, who's approaching her with a scowl on his face. "Where is Vivi?!"
"My, left Rainbase already?" Ms. All-Sunday mockingly questions with a smirk.
"Now that I've studied your ability, this time I'll be sure to kill you without help." Pell states when Ms. All-Sunday threw it on Luffy's chest.
"Be careful, you won't be so lucky if you try." Ms. All-Sunday warns him, but Pell won't take that warning as she begins to walk away and head to the F-Wani. "Perfect timing. Why don't you save the boy before he dies?"
Before Pell could even start the fight, he turned his attention to Luffy which he's all bloodied and heavily wounded after the fight against Crocodile.
"After all, if it weren't for his courage and selflessness, who knows if your precious princess would've made it back alive at all." Ms. Ann-Sunday points out, climbed on the F-Wani. "It must please you to know Vivi is safe, but even as we speak, she's on her way to Alubarna. Though, it's a long trip and anything could happen. Guess the situation is what it is."
Pell couldn't help but growl while Ms. All-Sunday left Rainbase to catch up with Crocodile. Though, it left Pell wondering why would she inform of Vivi's whereabouts and why did she save Luffy when she became an enemy. Whatever is going up on her mind is a complete mystery. Pell is feeling worried of Vivi's safety when he snapped out of thoughts, noticed Luffy grabs hold of his sleeve and looked at him.
"MEEEEAAAAAT!?"
Somewhere in Alabasta
The rebel army continued to ride towards to Alubarna by night so they can begin the fight by the hands of Crocodile.
"Damn you, Cobra! My brethren and I are willing to defend Alabasta with every last drop of blood in our bodies!" Koza cursed the King, but failed to realize it was the Baroque Works and Crocodile came up the deception. "We will die before turning over to you!"
Alabasta, Alubarna
Soon as they heard the rebels are heading their way to the kingdom, the royal army began evacuating the civilians to safety and taking up weapons to get ready for the upcoming battle. They're placing the sandbags on top of the walls when one of the royal guards telling them to hurry because the battle won't wait and it'll start by daybreak. They've also taken the cannons to the southern gate and getting the cannonballs. One of the royal guards rushed towards Chaka to inform the news.
"Chaka! The enemies number is said to be well over 2 million!"
It got Chaka widen his eyes with shock.
"Tell me, soldier, what do you think of his majesties attack on Nanohana?" Chaka questions, crossed his arms.
"I have served his majesty for over 10 years, and I was quite surprised!"
"You're right, there's really no way anyone could rationalize it." Chaka agrees. "Logic would suggest that something has happen to the King. If true, it is all the more reason why we must not lose this fight. Burial feared deep, for your Kings sake as well as that of Princess Vivi. We will defend this country at all cost!"
Many of the people of Alabasta are leaving the kingdom of Alubarna since the war is about to begin, they packed their belongings and getting evacuated. Unknown to them, both Mr. 4 and Mrs. Merry Christmas are watching the people leave from above the ledge whild guarding Cobra.
"Things are getting hectic down there, I see." Mrs. Merry Christmas states, getting impatient. "But it's still moving too slow! Hurry up and fight already! I can't stand waiting!"
Mrs. Merry Christmas then pats her back with her fist, hearing Mr. 4 laughing.
"I can't take this, I really don't care if he is or isn't the King! I've gotta go out of my mind if I to stand here, guarding him any longer! Can't! Can't! Can't! Can't take this!" Mrs. Merry Christmas shouts when Mr. 4 spoke very slowly. "I mean sure, slipping pass the palace guards and kidnapping this royal pain in the rear is a mission, which it'll be the team of our accomplish skill can pull off, but now that it's over, this assignment has become a tedious fore! Right, Mr. 4?"
Though, Mr. 4 only speaks slowly which it got her annoyed.
"In anything I said manage to see through that thick-head of yours, it's slow! You're so slow!" Mrs. Merry Christmas points out. "Ugh! My back is killing me!"
'Chaka, Koza, you mustn't fight. The two of you embodied the spirit of this great country, defied it you'll only weaken our resolve.' Cobra mentally thought.
There are those who'll admit war, and those who'll race towards it. Still, others insight war. But, for the very few who know the truth, they strive to prevent it. These wide opposing viewpoints all have one thing in common, they're about to clash here in the Capital City of Alubarna.
Alabasta, Nanohana
At the ruined city of Nanohana, Igaram somehow survived from the explosion back at Whisky Peak and made his way to Alabasta, which he was too late to stop the conflict. However, he knows that Vivi and the group of pirates are heading to Alubarna to stop the war and Crocodile since it is now a race against time. Igaram look at the sight of the city that is now in ruin by the hands of the Baroque Works.
"Ma~Ma~Maaa~! So, the final revolt has begun." Igaram said to himself. "There was a lone ship. Hopefully, that means Princess Vivi and the others were able to make it to Alabasta in one piece. I must hurry, I pray there's still time."
That's for the 46th chapter.