I really am sorry about the long wait, but school really made me busy as I said before, being a senior in high school makes you busy plus I have college in August. I will try to update my stories as much as I can and because of the long wait, I have a chapter that's bigger than normal, hope you enjoy it.

Girl Falls Into One Piece

Chapter 30

The heat sucked, I hated it. Those were the thoughts that were running through my head. Once again, Luffy had a thick stick in his hand and he was using it to pull him along the sand, his tongue stuck out as he panted like a dog. I used the back of my hand to wipe my sweat slicked forehead and pulled the brim of my hat lower. My shoulders were hunched too.

Luffy whined. "It's so hot, water..."

I felt my eyebrow twitch. He's been saying the same thing for the past hour. I heard Chopper say. "Thanks Zoro, this heat is too much for me."

Zoro snorted. "Don't blame yourself, it's stiffling."

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah and I bet that fur of yours don't help either."

Sanji yelled. "Nami! Where have you gone?! I even love you when you abandon me in the desert!"

I felt my eye twitch more at that. I do not have the patience in this heat to deal with him either. I walked forward and was surprised to see Usopp stop and look back. I turned and quirked an eyebrow at a hunched over Luffy. Usopp asked. "What's wrong Luffy?"

Luffy looked left and I walked back over to him. "Hey Luf, what is it?"

I looked for Ace and then remembered that he wandered off a while ago, when we didn't notice as we were already walking in the desert for a couple of hours. Luffy threw his fists in the air and yelled. "Tsunami!"

I scowled. "Is he seeing things?"

Zoro raised an eyebrow. "You think so? Oi Luffy, what's the matter?"

Usopp said. "Maybe it wasn't such a good idea."

Chopper asked. "What wasn't a good idea?"

"He said he was so thristy he couldn't stand it, so he chomped down on some cactus over there to suck out the water."

I grimaced and my hand drifted to the half full canteen of water, I have been drinking some when the others didn't look. I don't care that it is selfish, I am a pirate after all. Plus, eating a cactus, that thing has thorns, no one would...unless your Luffy, of course. I slapped a hand to my face with a sigh. "Damn it."

He pointed to the green round plants on the ground. Chopper flipped out. I frowned in worry, anything that bothered the doctor is something to worry about. "You got to be kidding, those are Miscalg cacti, they're used to make hallocagenic drugs!"

I sighed again, I knew it, I fucking knew it. Why? Luffy flipped out, screaming about a wave, he yelled. "Gum Gum-"

I tensed, oh no...but he fell to the ground, asleep. I grinned when I saw it was Chopper with a needle (after making sure I stayed away from him, I hate those stupid things).

Sanji praised him and we were ready to go. With a sigh of fustration, I bent down and threw Luffy over my shoulder, hooking my arm over his knees so he wouldn't fall off. After a couple of minutes of walking, Usopp asked. "Where is Nami? They must be a couple of miles away by now."

I shrugged, the move a little heavier with Luffy on my shoulder. "Who knows, we'll find them later."

Sanji said. "Yeah and they're footprints are disappearing."

Zoro said. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen Ace for a while either."

I nodded. "Yeah, he must of fallen asleep or something while we were walking."

Usopp asked. "Fallen asleep? Out here?"

I nodded. "Yeah, since Ace was around 14, he would fall asleep randomly."

Chopper spoke up. "Ah, that sounds like Narcopelsy."

I shrugged again. "Who knows, he's strong though, he'll be fine."

I heard Luffy voice. "I bet he got seperated from us, hey Mace, why am I on your shoulder? Did I fall asleep?"

I glared at him and gripped the back of his cloak, dropping him on his rear in front of us. He blinked up at me and the other three flipped out on him, stomping on him. I walked back and stood next to Chopper, who was in a regular reindeer form. I took my hat off and ran a hand through my hair, only to cringe at the sweat I collected. Maybe I haven't mentioned it, but I hate the heat. I wiped my hand on my pants and plopped my hat back on my head.

I cocked my head to the side, what was that? Usopp heard it too and he went to check it out. I watched as he ran up the hill, where something that sounded like a bunch of animal's hooves pounding like in Lion King, poor Mufasa. I shook my head, the heat was getting to me. I put my hand on the hilt of my sword.

I followed him and the others were behind me. My eyes widened at the ship that was gliding through the sand like it was water. I then noticed the flag perched. We all yelled. "A pirate ship!"

Usopp adjusted his goggles. "Guys, I got bad news, Nami and Vivi have been captured, and the camel too."

My eyes widened, I and Zoro snapped. "What?!"

Luffy ran forward and I smirked, great idea.

"What are you doing, Luff-dammit Mace not you too!"

Ignoring Zoro yell, I followed a screaming Luffy down the sandy hill. I heard the others behind me. Luffy attached himself to the main mast and I grabbed his waist. He shouted. "Gum Gum...give me water!"

I snorted at that and we flew into the ship. I let go and landed on my feet, Luffy crashed into the mast. I moved to the right as the mast collasped on part of the ship. I raised my hands with a smirk as pirates pointed ordinary sabers at me. Luffy sat down. "That was my bad, I was just so thirsty. Do you have water?"

Nami snapped. "Are you saying you didn't come here to rescue us?"

I grinned. "I did."

Luffy shrugged off what Nami said and Vivi looked at me in relief. "Thank you, they're going to eat Eyelash."

Luffy raised his eyebrows. "Your kidding, you can eat him?"

I waved a hand. "Eh, who cares."

Vivi gave me a horrified glare. "Mace!"

Nami rolled her eyes and gave me a glare at the same time. I looked up to see a huge, at least 15 feet tall man with a scruffy black beard and bushy eyebrows, a pink mini umbrella on his head. His voice was rough. "We the Sand Bar Bar Pirates having a saying. With the exception of friends, their is nothing live in the desert that can't be eaten."

I laughed at that and Luffy grinned. "I even eat stuff off the ground."

I wrinkled my nose. "Yeah and it's still gross."

The big guy made a face too. "Ew, but you'll get sick.".

Luffy smiled. "Hey, I'm careful."

The guy laughed and I couldn't help, but chuckle too. Luffy laughed, offering the camel and getting Nami to yell at him. I sighed and leaned against the railing of the boat, the men lax with their swords. "I'm Barbarosa, Captain of the Bar Bar Pirates. And your name's Luffy, huh? Let me apologize for being rough with your friends here. It just that we're all so hungry that we got carried away."

I smiled and waved my hand. "No problem, they don't look harmed anyway."

He laughed again and I felt the death glares my way by Nami, but ignored it. I said. "Okay, I'm going to untie them."

Noticing he didn't do anything to stop me, I walked over and with a lazy flick of my wrist, cut the ropes away and sheathed my sword. Nami huffed and rubbed her wrists. Other than being red slightly, she was fine and I knew Vivi was in the same condition. She gave me a glare. "You took your sweet time."

I grinned smugly. "Not at all, Nami."

I turned back toward the big guy. One guy I took to being a leader or some kind of first mate told them that they had no food or limber for the main mast. The crew wailed in the background. I snorted in amusement, it was a comedy show.

I noticed that the others came on the ship. The captain grinned widely. "The mast broken was a thing of fate. Pirates won't do anything to defy the flow of the sand. Fate aside, there is timber at the Marosis Oasis."

Luffy asked. "And where's that? I'll be glad to dash over and get it." Well, he did go and break they're main mast.

The Captain said. "Hm, bad idea, the sands have changed. Too dangerous for outsiders."

"I caused this, I'll take care of it."

"I agree with my brother, let him do this for you." He wouldn't take no for an answer anyway.

Barbarosa laughed a deep belly laugh. "Alright, your on, you can use this sand sled to bring back the lumber."

I looked down to see a canoe that looked like it was made of wood attached to something else was on the ground in the sand. Nami said. "It looks more like a canoe to me."

I jumped down and the others followed me. Barbarosa said to bring someone and that two of his men would come with. The sled did look interesting. I tensed as I saw something out of the corner of eye headed for Vivi. I pushed her away (making her yelp in shock) and glared and in a quick moment, brought my sword out to fling it away, the dull ring of metal hitting metal in the air.

I glared up at the intruder and snapped sharply. "Who's there?"

The person jumped down. It was a girl with purple hair and brown eyes, a cold expression on her face with a light pink unbrella in her hair. Barbarosa laughed. "Very impressive, Rosa."

Her voice was surprisingly rough. "These others, they seem like outlanders. But your from here. I'll wager you have experience with the sand sled, so you'll be coming with us."

I scowled as my hand tightened on the hilt of my sword. "Do you normally try to stab natives from your country with knives and then invite them for a ride."

She looked at me blankly. "No." I waited for her to say something else, but she didn't.

I stared her down and she did the same with me. Sanji and Nami objected to that and Vivi said she would go. Rosa smirked. They got on the ship and I sent Luffy a look, watch after Vivi. That girl threw a knife at her. Luffy grinned back at me and nodded. Soon he disappeared and was gone in the blink of an eye. With a fustrated sigh, I sheathed my sword.

I slapped a hand to my forehead. Oh, Luffy...He came back tired and the others screamed at him. "Will you let Vivi handle the sled for now on!?"

Luffy and Vivi were off, Rosa and one of the crew members following them. Chopper asked. "What do we do while we wait for them?"

I moved a little bit away from them and drank from my canteen, swallowing silently and putting it away again. I licked my lips and was happy when my throat was not so dry. I feel a bit bad about hiding this, but not bad enough to say anything.

I walked back over to see the others laying around, but Nami was on the boat with Barbarosa. I climbed up and jumped on the railing and then the deck.

"What's that?"

I narrowed my eyes at the sand and galloping in front of us. I looked to see men that looked to be bandits on top of camels with swords.

"Captain, they found us. It's time, off to the starboard's side!"

They just kept coming. Usopp called. "There's hundreds of them!"

Nami asked. "What are they?"

I smirked. "If I had to guess, I'd say bandits of some kind."

Barbarosa agreed. "Yeah, your right! They are desert bandits. A desperate band of vermin who are always attacking us. Conflict seems to be in the air today. Everyone in the desert seems to be on edge."

Both sides were getting ready to fight, until they screamed. "Ah! The Great Dung Beetle!"

I grimaced, that better be not what I think it is. A huge ball was rolling toward us and my eyes widened. "That's a big ball of shit."

Barbarosa ran toward it and I paled when it rolled over him. That's just nasty. Nami, Chopper and Usopp flipped out. It came rolling toward us. I jumped on the railing and saw Zoro cut it in pieces and I sliced away pieces that came close to the deck and Sanji kicked them away. I wiped the flat of my blade on the deck on disgust.

"We'll let you off easy this time, your lives are spared for now!"

I cocked my head to the side as he ran away, should I chase after him? I knew it wasn't my fight, but I was bored and wanted a way to get rid of the energy I had. Nami said before I could even take a step. "Don't even think about it."

I gave her an innocent look. "I have no idea what your talking about."

She glared and I shrugged with a grin. "Not a big deal anyway." That was my way of saying that I would stay.

Everything called down after that, the Bar Bar pirates went back to doing what they were before the desert bandits came to attack. Barbarosa came back smelling bad, but okay. I sighed and leaned against the wall of the ship. The sun was setting. I even felt the air getting colder as day came closer to night.

I heard Barbarosa talk about how the desert belonged to no one and that's what made it free. I smiled at the thought. "Yeah, that's why I wanted to be a pirate anyway."

Chopper asked. "What do you mean?"

I shrugged, looking at the red sun. "Well, most people become a pirate for different things, money, power, adventure, what ever they desire, but freedom is the one thing a pirate is entitled to have. Other than adventure and being with my brother, I became a pirate so I could be free and not chained down by anyone. So in a way, the ocean and desert is the same."

Barbarosa said. "If you want to think of it that, who knows."

I scratched the back of my head. I wonder where Ace is, he's been gone all day. I knew he had to be awake by now. He never fell asleep this long. Eh, he'll met with us later. He's probably looking for us now.

/ / / / / /

Luffy came back with wood and the crewmembers got to work at fixing the main mast. Bored out of my mind, I helped the pirates carry the wood around and let them fix it themselves, I'm not the best with ship repair, that's more Usopp ally than mine. We were sailing on the sand (that is still wierd) and I reached for my canteen as the sun rays beat down on my neck.

"What do you have there?"

I froze at Usopp's question. The canteen barely had a drop in it. Since Luffy was gone, I drank a bit, as there wasn't much attention on me. "Uh, nothing."

Nami eyes were on me. "What are you hiding, Mace?"

I grinned nervously at her, if she found out, she would kill me. "I said, nothing, jeez."

She frowned and I looked to see Zoro with a raised eyebrow. "Your hiding something, you sound nervous."

Chopper was looking at me too. Nami came over and I moved away from her. Luffy laughed. "Mace, what're you doin'?"

Even knowing that Sanji would be the only one not mad at me, I looked to see him smoking by the railing, eye distant. I bumped into Chopper and regained by footing so I didn't trip as he was in his small form. My eyes widened when the canteen left my side and into Zoro's hand. He must of reached up and grabbed it when I was near his side. He shook the canteen a little and they all stared at it as the liquid sloshed a little.

They all looked in shock. Usopp and Chopper shouted. "W-water!"

I sighed, this wasn't going to turn out good. Zoro rolled his eyes, annoyance rolling off him in waves as he glared a hole in the side of my head. I snatched the canteen from him. I was staring at the fuming, shaking Nami, ah shit. I didn't notice Luffy tackle me to the deck. He grabbed my collar and started shaking me. "Jerk! You had water this whole time and didn't share!"

With a grunt, I grabbed his shoulder and pushed him away from me, he fell on his back. "Get off of me."

"Mace."

I stiffened at Nami's call. Vivi didn't look as angry, as she was used to the heat, but annoyance could be seen on her face. I raised my hands. "Nami calm down." I yelped as she stormed up to me and I moved away from her. "Leave me alone!"

"Get over here now!"

"Never!"

I grabbed the railing on the side of the boat as it suddenly stopped and stopped Nami from going overboard. She seemed to forget she was mad at me. Barbarosa laughed. "We're here. A village ahead is called Edo, you'll be able to get water there without much difficulty."

I grinned at the hostile glares I recieved. Luffy asked. "Does this mean your not coming with us?"

He said. "We sand pirates can not sail past this desert realm. You see, this land belongs to my people, brave souls who lived and died here for generations."

Luffy asked. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah! The desert is the land of the free, but most can survive in this harsh envirnment. In the village provides a better home. Where one can seek out a satisfying living."

I walked forward and asked. "So, what now?"

Barbarosa grinned. "Nothing much actually, on this ocean of sand, we survived freely and that's what we plan to keep doing."

Luffy laughed and I smirked. "Sounds good."

Luffy grinned. "Shishishi! You sound like my crew."

They laughed together and soon we got off and started walking in the blistering sand and heat. Luffy, Usopp and Chopped walked backwards for a bit, waving them off. I turned my head with a grin and waved them goodbye, tuging the brim of my hat over my eyes to block out the sun some.

Sanji asked as we walked farther from the pirate ship. "By the way, where did your brother go?"

Luffy shrugged. "I don't know, but he'll show up again sooner or later."

I shrugged too. "Yeah, he wouldn't leave Alabasta without telling us first."

Nami rolled her eyes. "Another bold claim you can't prove, why do you do that?"

Luffy shrugged her off, but I said. "We can too, we know Ace will come find us."

"That's not proof enough, idiot!"

"I'm not the idiot here."

I walked ahead a little bit and heard Nami and Luffy arguing. I grinned a little while later when I saw someone ahead and realized who it was. It was Ace, I knew he would come back.

"Hey! Hey!"

And as impaitent as ever. I snickered to myself and waved with Luffy. He was riding on top of a purple lizard too. I ran with Luffy until we were in front of him. Luffy asked. "Hey, what's this thing?"

Ace hopped down with a grin. "So, your the sand pirates those flakes were scared of!"

Luffy asked what he was talking about and I was confused, how did he know about the Bar Bar Pirates and who were these flakes he was talking about?

Luffy said. "We left the sand pirates a little while ago."

He put his hands on his hips. "Huh, really? Ah, whatever."

I frowned at him. "Did you forget something again?"

He smirked at me. "I wouldn't talk, you the one who usually forgets stuff."

I glared at him. "Whatever."

He chuckled and let out a loud laugh. "Anyway, I brought you guys food and water and plenty of it too."

My eyes widened in joy at the large barrel of water and huge fish. Luffy cheered. "Yeah and Mace can't hide it."

I rolled my eyes, would they ever let that go? Sanji and Zoro came over happily. Sanji said. "This should be more than enough to last us a good while."

Usopp was amazed. "Ace is one incredible man."

I snorted. "Don't inflate his ego."

Nami rolled her eyes. "Doesn't that sound like someone else I know."

I smiled just to annoy her. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

I looked back for Vivi and saw her jump down. She said. "Uh, Ace. You must of used another way instead of money to get this, but please don't tell me you stole the supplies."

I looked back at my older brother. How did he get it? Ace just smiled. "That's not my style, the Rebel Army gave it to me."

I sat down with Luffy and Chopper, drinking from a bowl I filled with water. Vivi shouted in shock. "The Rebel Army?!"

Oh, yeah, we're supposed to find them. Ace scratched the back of his head. "Well, more like the fake Rebel Army soldiers would be a better description."

Fake? Nami asked. "Fake? What do you mean by that?"

"I mean they pass themselves off as rebel soldiers in order to get hired by the village. And the villagers were so greatful for their protection, that they accepted these hoodlums with open arms."

I stopped drinking and came back over to them, by the lizard. "What a bunch of despicable assholes."

Ace nodded in agreement. Nami asked. "I get that they are desperate for help, but won't they eventually figure out that they been dooped?"

Ace waved a hand. "Not really, the mere mention of the Rebel Army would scare any bandit, it's ingenious really. A confident swagger with a little misdirection and the money and prestege comes rolling in."

I rubbed my chin. "Who knew idiots could be so smart."

Vivi was beyond upset about this, which bothered me a bit. Sanji said. "I'm sure we'd be happy to teach these guys a lesson."

I nodded with a smirk. "Yep, sounds fun."

Ace said. "If you plan on dooping the villagers, that exactly how they were treated by the hoodlums. As it stands now, the villagers live in peace with their fake protecters."

I frowned in thought. "I get what your saying, but..."

If a situation arrives where they need to fight and these guys bail or lose, the villagers could get hurt. Sanji and Ace talked about it. I looked a Vivi who had her head down. "Fine, my kingdom is no longer able to protect everyone. So I find nothing wrong with villagers attempting to uphold public safety on their own whenever possible."

Nami said. "Done."

Vivi smiled at Nami. "First I mean to put these bandits to the test. If these imposters are protecting them, even if that protection is nothing more than a by product of a ruse, then I really don't care what they pass themselves off as."

I smirked at that and Ace asked, smirking too. "You want us to find out if these hoodlums have hearts of gold?"

Vivi comfirmed what he started walking to where that village is and I chuckle to myself as I thought over what Vivi said and what she wanted to do. I again laughed to myself. "You really are the perfect princess, Vivi."

I felt a hand knock off my hat and ruffle my hair so the bangs got in my eyes. I need to cut them soon. I shook my head to see Ace smiled down at me. He messed up my hair a little more and then moved his hand. I huffed and put my hat back on my head. He knew what I was thinking about and I shook my head, walking forward, not saying anything to him. When it came to him and Luffy, I didn't really have to. It was scary sometimes, how close the three of us were.

Other than Sabo, Vivi was the nicest royal I have ever met in both timelines. I wouldn't let anything happen to her.

/ / / / / / / / / /

When we got close to the village, Ace wondered off to check on the bandits. We were in every direction so they couldn't escape and Luffy was in the middle. I kept my head tilted down and all of us looked scary for extra effect. The 4 bandits all looked like they were going to shit themselves.

Luffy voice was low as he said. "What's that, you're a rebel soldier?"

I was on Luffy left, spaced out and also to the left of Zoro. Sanji and Chopper were behind him and Usopp was to the right.

The blond guy waved his hands. "What? Nothing of the sort! We're simple travelers!"

I smirked in amusement, what a bunch of babies. A sort of fat man with a turban on his head said from a statue above us. "Say your prayers, sea vermin! The rebel soldiers are going to make mince meat out of the lot of you, you cowardly-"

The blond man flipped out and screamed at him and the man apologized. I sighed under my breath and slid my right foot out, nudging the hilt of my sword a bit. I saw them stiffen, my action didn't go unnoticed. I saw the villagers jeer at us. Hm, the more I see it, the more I get used to villagers hating us.

Luffy face was in shadow, he said in the same rough voice. "Hey, according to the crowd, you guys are the real deal."

I knew this was about the time that Ace was going to do whatever he said he was going to do. He didn't really go into detail. They must of heard him, but because they paled even further and looked around, scared.

The blond one stepped forward. "You think we're bad. We have a hundred million other rebel soldiers here."

I felt my eyebrow twitch and muttered. "Is Usopp teaching them to lie?"

Zoro snorted in amusement, but stayed stern. I looked at Luffy face and sighed, please tell me he doesn't believe them...

"WHAT?! A HUNDRED MILLION?!"

I just stopped myself from face palming.

Usopp and Sanji yelled. "Can you see a lie when you hear one!?"

"As ironic as Usopp saying that, it is true." I heard Usopp exclaim in protest. What, it's true?

Chopper wiped his forehead in relief. "It's a lie, woah."

Zoro rolled his eyes. "Jeez."

I could not stop myself from face palming, only a real idiot would believe our act now. Luffy growled, clenching his fist in the air. "Faker! How dare you lie to me!?"

He punched the blond in the face using Gum Gum Pistol. I grimaced, this guy was spineless, but ow. I've been hit with that move so many times that I lost count. Imagine being hit with a just blown up basketball and then add 10 times the speed.

Anyway, the guy flew back. I looked forward, is he going to get up. I think he's knocked out. I saw Luffy grin as he walked forward. I smirked myself as the other guys trembled. My eyes widened a little when the blond stopped Luffy, so he is going to fight then?

I heard the blond say as I was closest. "It's true, we aren't rebel soldiers, we lied. All we ever wanted was to be as strong as our childhood heros. And now we're just a bunch of scoundrels. Even if my hopes never become reality, those dreams we had as kids will never die. Today I stop running and face my fears, I may be no match for you, but I'm, willing to give it my best shot. Maybe it will inspire these children to grow up and fight. I rather die a hero and stand up against you, then being remembered as a lying coward who got up and ran away."

He punched Luffy in the face and Luffy allowed himself to fall on his back. Normally I would be all tense with someone attacking my brother, but this guy didn't make me protective. The others decided to attack us and I raised an eyebrow. I chuckled to myself as Luffy grinned brightly and laughed loudly. "Spoken like a true rebel soldier, now I can go and take care of Crocodile without worrying about this place."

I made a mock scared face when Usopp it was time to go. "Ah, got to go."

I ran in the other direction and the others followed me. We ran off until we were far enough from them. I heard Ace call. "Hey, Mace, Luffy!"

Ace asked. "How long should we keep running, surely we can stop?"

I shrugged. "I don't know." The running was not putting me out of breath at all. Ace looked down at us with a fond grin and Zoro was amazed at how they changed. Luffy seemed to have that effect on people. Eventually we stopped running and walked again, I saw it was a little later than the middle of the day. Man, that was more fun than I thought it would be.

Now all we had to do was find the Rebel Army and deal with Crocodile to get Vivi her country back.

Whew, I finished, I liked this chapter, it was fun. Tell me how you liked it. Thank you Gamelover41592 and Cupcake for reviewing and all my readers too.