Ace left shortly after Luna and his talk. She quickly caught up the the group only to find out that Luffy had eaten another cactus.
"GYYYAAA! CROCODILE, I WILL GET YOU!!"
Apparently Luffy's hallucination was that Zoro was Crocodile and was trying to fight him, only to fail miserably. Chopper was laying incapacitated in the sand due to heat exhaustion. Rubbing the bridge of her nose Luna called over to Zoro after seeing Luffy ran blindly into the desert.
"Zoro I could use some help catching our captain." The swordsman sigh before grabbing Chopper's leg and followed after the white head woman.
Nami called to the smaller group, "we'll continue! Don't take to long!"
Blue eyes looked up into the clear sky, jerking up Luna grabbed her head. Confused at what happened she looked around to see Zoro and Chopper's bodies peeking out of the sand. Luffy was a bit further up ahead from the other two. Walking over she shock Zoro's shoulder, "Zoro wake up."
The swordsman's eyes peered open, before looking around confused.
"What happened?"
"Well it looks like Luffy finally settled down. Unfortunately I believe we suffered from heat exhaustion and passed out." Luna blocked her eyes from the sun to look at their surroundings. "I don't see the others, so it's safe to say we're on our own for the time being." She turned towards Chopper's covered body, "you want to grab Luffy? I'll wake Chopper."
Groaning Zoro pulled himself out of the sand before making his way to Luffy. Waking the captain up Chopper, in his large form, and Luna joined them. Once Luna reached Luffy she wasted no time grabbing him ear and pulling, "Monkey D Luffy Don't Let Me Catching You Even Near Another Cactus Let Alone Eating One!"
"OOOWWWWW LUNA LET GO!"
Luna moved to grab the boy's cheeks, "NOT UNTIL YOU PROMISE ME!"
"I PROMISE! I PROMISE!"
Huffing Luna let him go before turning with her arms crossed as she lead the way. Chopper gulped watching the woman walk away, "I've never seen Luna get mad before."
Zoro chuckled, "not mad, worried. She's his big sister, of course she knows how to get Luffy to listen."
The group was moving through the desert quitely... well most were. Luna and Zoro were walking next to one another while Luffy all but crawled behind them. Chopper following the two older members while observing Luffy's form, "will he be alright?"
"He's not the kind to kick the bucket so easily." Zoro answered him.
"Grandpa's training was worse, he'll survive he's just dramatic." Luna answered with a close eyed smile at the doctor.
Chopper sweatdropped, "say, is pirate life always like this? Always climbing snowy mountains, crossing deserts..."
"Ain't that the truth?" Zoro mumbled out. "But we're just a little out of the ordinary... Plus there's our captain."
"I think I might've gotten on board a not-so-good ship..." Chopper let his shoulder dropped.
"What a coincidence. I was just thinking the same thing myself." Zoro answered.
"Say, you're the most veteran crew member here, right?"
"I guess, but there's not that much of a difference between us... Minus Luna but only cause they grew up together."
"Why did you join?"
Zoro and Luna's eyes met and with a nod Luna fell behind them to match Luffy's speed. Luna knew that as Luffy's right hand Zoro needed to handle the crew's uncertainty when the captain is indisposed. She gave Luffy a bit of water to carry him while she looked for some shade to rest.
"I FOUND SHADE!" Luna jumped at her brother's yell and new found energy. It sadly dawned on the three crewmate's what was about to happen. "GOMU GOMU NO..."
One of Luffy's arms wrapped around the three crewmates, "ROCKET!"
The four went flying towards the rocks, while Zoro and Luna landed in the shade of the rocks. Poor Chopper was launched rather head first.
"Whoo! It's nice and cool!" Luffy exclaimed in joy.
"I OUGHTA CHOP YOU APART!" Zoro stood drawing his swords.
"Oh! My bad! My bad!" Luffy cried waving his hand dismissively. "Huh? Where's Chopper? Oh! There he is!"
Luna had gotten in between Zoro and Luffy. "Zoro please calm down."
"What's he doing out there? Is he trying to act funny?" Zoro escaped from around Luna and held his swords to Luffy's neck. "Yes. It was my fault. I'm sorry."
Luna moved to separate the two when she felt the ground fall out from under her. "AH!"
Luna landed in a pile sand in a cavern. Two heads appeared at the hole she fell into.
"Luna are you okay?" Zoro's voiced echoed in the area she found herself. Rubbing her back she stretched her shoulder.
"Yes I'm fine. I think I'm in a cavern so I believe I'll be safe."
Luna found herself looking around as her eyes adjusted it the dark. Just after she moved from where she fell she heard a yell then a thumb.
"SORRY ZORO!"
Quickly she moved to his side, "Zoro! Are you alright?"
Groaning the swordsman sat up before looking up at the hole. "What the Hell You Pushed Me?!"
Sighing knowing he was alright Luna gave her attention back to the cavern they were in, "where are we?"
Zoro called out to her as he stood, "It looks to be... a building? Probably buried long ago."
The duos eye's found the large black cube, "what this? What's something like this..."
"... doing underground?" Luffy finished as he had lowered himself down.
"WHY ARE YOU DOWN HERE?!"
"I used my arms."
"I ASKED WHY?!"
"Cause"
"IDIOT! With you down here too, we might get separated from Chopper! Without him, we'll never meet up with Vivi and the others!"
"Oh, that's okay!" Luffy smiled happily while snickering.
"And why's that?"
"Because Chopper was falling down here too!" As if on cue Chopper fell down from the surface.
"Chopper are you okay?" Luna called out to the doctor while making her way to the cube.
"Luna! Zoro! Luffy! Where's this place?" Cried the reindeer as he looked around.
"Where ever it is it's underground." Zoro answered watching Luna place a hand on the cube. "What is it Luna?"
"I know what this is... not the name but I know it's important." She traced the carving with her fingers.
"Can you understand?" Chopper moved next to her. Luna closed her eyes before pulling her bag open. "No but I feel we will find someone who will."
Zoro moved up behind her, "what are you doing now?"
"Doing a etching. It allows me to take the markings with us."
"My eyes have adjusted. On closer look, we're inside a giant dome." Zoro said looking around.
"Built by people, no less. These are probably ancient ruins or something," Chopper explained as he looked around. "Those symbols. I saw them in a boat or something before. These are ancient letters."
"Who cares about that stuff?" Luffy yawned, laying in the sand. "It's so nice and cool in here."
"If you're right, then why is this place doing underground." Zoro questioned, ignoring Luffy.
"I don't know... was it built underground, or did it get buried after it was built?"
"Most likely the history of Vivi's people buried by the sand after centuries." Luna added as she stored the etchings away safely.
"They sure worked hard..." Zoro trailed off as he turned to walk back to the lounging Luffy. "In any case, it's none of my business,and it doesn't interest me. What we gotta do now is get the hell outta here. Right, Captain?"
"Really? But it's cool in here." Whined the captain.
"Lu if we don't leave here you'll never get to fight Crocodile." At his sister's prompting Luffy jumped up.
"Okay! Time to get outta here! We gotta meet up with the other!" He looked up towards the hole Luna first fell through. "Alright! Gomu Gomu no Pistol!" Luffy's arm stretched up to the side of the hole only for it to break and land on Luffy.
"Darn it I missed!"
"Just grab the boulder above the hole." Suggested the swordsman as he stood next to Luffy, looking at the hole.
The boy didn't listen to his vice-captain, "this is getting annoying!" Luffy yelled in irritation. "GOMU GOMU NO GATLING!"
Luna just pinched her nose with her eyes closed. Chopper looked in shock while Zoro yelled at him.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?! What are you gonna grab on to now you broke that boulder?!"
"It's okay. I got an idea!" Luffy walked to a fallen pillar.
Luna sighed as she followed him, "Chopper you may want to turn small for this." The reindeer nodded, shrinking before following the woman.
"GOMU GOMU NO..." Luffy wrapped his arms around the pillar.
"I see now..." Zoro groaned in displeasure. "There's no way to refuse. We have to..."
Chopper jumped onto Luna's back as Luna grabbed onto Luffy's shoulders, Zoro followed suit.
"Here goes!" Luffy took several steps back. "...SPRING!"
The rubber boy let go and the group rapidly whirled around the pillar before launching like a slighshot towards the hole.
"YAHOO!"
"HOW ARE WE GONNA LAND?!" Chopper cried from Luna's shoulder.
"Heck I know!"
"YOU SON OF A...!"
"Luffy do Gomu Gomu no Balloon." Luna suggested as they started to fall towards the sand.
"OH! Good idea! GOMU GOMU NO BALLOON!" The boy inflated with air allowing the group a slightly softer landing. Upon hitting the ground Zoro, Chopper, and Luna pounced away. Luffy was laughing happily as Luna stood shaking sand out of her robe.
"I think I did choose the wrong ship to ride on..." groaned Chopper his head covered in sand.
"We're on the same wavelength today..." Zoro breathed out painfully. "I was just thinking the same thing."
It was evening by the time the small group was on the road once again. The sun was setting beautifully on the horizon, and the other half of the crew was nowhere in sight. Suddenly Chopper stopped and sniffed the air.
"You got something Chopper?" Zoro questioned.
"The wind has changed direction. I smell something!"
Luna looked to where Chopper was smelling, "I'm sensing five people that way."
"What?!" Zoro fully turned to the two.
"No doubt about it! It's Nami's purfume! It's this way!"
"Oy, Luffy!" Zoro called to the captain who had been heading in the wrong direction. "Chopper and Luna found the others! It's in the sunset direction!"
"For real?!" He ran passed the other three, "GUYS!"
The others ran after him following closely so not to get separated again. Finally the other's forms came into view, finding them after a few minutes running.
"GUYS! WE'RE BACK!"
The reunited group continued their journey to Yuba. Nami and Vivi were still riding the camel while the others walked around them, Chopper was once again on Luna's shoulders while Zoro walked besides her.
"Hey, Luffy. What did your brother give you?" Usopp asked randomly.
"I dunno. It's just a scrap of paper," answered the rubber boy as he pulled the sheet out.
"Lemme see that," Sanji said taking the paper. "It really is just a scrap of paper. It's not even a note or anything..."
Luna stepped forward as the paper was blown from Sanji's hand, catching it in her own. She handed it back to Luffy, "it's a vivre card. It's quiet common in the New World because on the navigation issues."
That interested Nami, "vivre card? How does it work?"
"They are made from a persons nail clippings, are water and fire proof, but can be torn to give them to friends." Luna pulled the piece Ace had given her earlier. Holding it in her palm flat the group watched as it moved slightly.
"IT'S MOVING!" Usopp screamed in fear as her jumped back. Luna let a chuckle escape her lips. "Yes it moves. It's other name is 'paper of live.' Not only can it lead you to the specific person but it also reflect the person's life force. It burns away when the life force is weak, but will grow back when the person recovers."
Nami held her hand out to Luffy as Luna put her own vivre card away, "give me your hat Luffy. If it's that important, I'll sew it to the underside of your hat ribbon."
After the task was finished Nami handed the boy's hat back, who popped it back onto his head. "Thanks! Now I don't have to worry!"
Vivi broke the silence that followed, "Everyone! Yuba is just over those big rocks!"
"Yeah! Yuba!" Luffy took of in a sprint, with the others following behind him.
"Up ahead, I see a light!" Vivi pointed out as they move closer.
"Did we make it to Yuba? I can't see with all this sand!" Luffy said covering his eyes with his hands.
"What could that sound be?" Vivi wondered aloud, a gasp escaped her lips. "The city doesn't look right!"
"Yuba is being struck by a sandstorm!"
As the group approached the wind died down, leaving the city covered in sand.
"T-this can't be..." muttered Vivi, staring at Yuba in sorrow.
"This is bad. It's almost no different from that Erumalu city." Zoro clicked his tongue.
"Where's the water?!" Luffy whined in desperation.
As the others talked Luna moved forward sensing someone in the town. Zoro took noticed of her absence and looked after her.
"Oy! Luna where you going?"
This caught the attention of the others, Vivi moved forward as Luna looked back to meet her eyes.
"Vivi there is someone here."
Vivi rushed up to the woman looking where she was just staring at, her eyes fell on a figure who was digging in the center of town.
"Are you travelers?!" He asked, not stopping his work. "You must be exhausted from your trek through the desert... Sorry. This city is a bit dried up, but you're free to rest here if you want. There are plenty of inns here. They are this town's pride, after all."
"Umm, we came because we heard the rebel army was in this city..." explained Vivi, her voiced muffled as she covered her face.
'What business do you have with the rebel army?!" The man's head whipped around on the princess. He became aggressive, throwing rocks and barrels toward the group, missing luckily. "Curse you! Don't tell me you're hoping to join the rebellion?! If you're looking for those fools, they left town long ago."
This pissed Luffy off, "THEY WHAT?!"
Luna held Luffy back as Vivi cried out in disbelief.
"A sandstorm hit the town just now, but certainly wasn't the first," the man returned to his digging. "The oasis has dried up after three years of drought, and sandstorms began to frequent this town ever since. Little by little, the oasis of the past was swallowed up, leaving what you see now..."
The others looked around at the sand covered city.
"With the town's flow of supplies gone, not even the rebel army's prolong struggle would have worked out. So the rebel army moved its base to Katorea."
"Katorea?!" Vivi repeated.
"Katorea is the town where I got lost and met Lashes!" Chopper cried, Lashes mumbled something. "Huh? Lashes say he was carrying rebel army goods to Katorea!"
Zoro growled in agitation, "why did we come all this way, then?!"
The man finally stopped digging and looked at Vivi, "Vivi?"
Luffy jumped in between, "Wait, old guy! Vivi isn't the princess!"
The crew smacked themself in the face. Sanji kicked Luffy, "DON'T TELL HIM THAT, MORON!"
"Vivi-Chan? Is it you?" The man was infont of Vivi and placed his hands on her shoulders. "You're alivie! Thank goodness! It's me! Don't you recognized me?"
Vivi looked at his face trying to remember him. "I suppose I can't blame you. I did lose some weight..."
"Toto-ojisan?!" Vivi covered her mouth in shock as tears started to flow from the man's eyes as he nodded his head. "It can't be..."
"Vivi-Chan. I have faith in His Majesty! He's not someone who would ever betray the kingdom. Don't you agree?"
The man fell to his knees as Vivi knelt down before him. With his shoulders shaking, his tears hit the ground only to evaporate instantly.
"This rebellion is ridiculous!" Toto angerly said. "Those fools... so what if it hasn't rained for a mere three years? I. Have faith in His Majesty. Most of the country still does, in fact. So many times.. so many times I tried to stop them. But they won't listen to anything I say. The rebellion won't stop and their strength is at its limits, too. Their backs are to the wall... they're prepared to die!" Sobbed out the man. "Please, Vivi-Chan! Stop those fools!"
Vivi offered his a tissue with a kind smile.