(A/N: If some parts seem different from the anime, I'm using the manga for this part and the previous one. Since the anime contained so much filler during the trip to Yuba, and I figured it was best to get through it more quickly. :))
Before reaching Yuba, the moderate sized group had to trek through a ruined area that was once known as Erumalu: The Green Town. Considering not long ago they had crossed paths with rather cute creatures that were a cross between a sea turtle and manatee known as kung-fu dugongs, the setting had taken a sudden rather ominous turn when Luffy came across a human skull.
"I can't believe this town ever used to be lively and green..." Toffee couldn't help but voice as she frowned at the ruined homes. Just how many people had lost their lives here? There were various skeletons scattered across the desert, and Toffee felt her chest tighten seeing a few small ones, no doubt having belonged to children.
"Yes...In the past three years, not a single drop of rain has fallen in the entire country," Vivi confessed somberly. Just hearing this made Toffee feel guilty for ever complaining about how much it rained back on her home island.
"Is that port town going to be okay?" Chopper asked with worry.
"Nanohana gets its water supply from the oasis at Katorea, so they're safe," Vivi reassured the small reindeer with a smile. "Even in Alabasta, no rainfall has never been something to worry about, for thousands of years...But there was always one place that got more rain than anywhere else. The capital 'Alubarna'. The city built around the kings palace. People called it the 'Kings Miracle'. At least, they did up until that day..."
Vivi explained that 2 years ago, cargo that had been carrying two large sacks had fallen off, displaying a green substance that was known as dance powder. This development had left the people shocked and horrified to discover such contents were being delivered to their king.
"Dance powder? What's that?" Luffy asked, confused to why Nami looked startled.
"It's a powder that calls rain. It was created by a country with no rain long ago," Nami clarified with a deep frown. "The powder emits a mist-like smoke that rises up into the air. It speeds up the creation of the ice particles in sub-freezing temperature clouds and causes rainfall."
"Huh? But wouldn't that make it perfect for this place?" Usopp brought up, not understanding why Vivi and Nami seemed to be treating it like a bad thing.
"Originally, yes. The people who created it called it dance powder because it made them dance with joy...But there was a large pitfall to all this. It caused droughts to country's downwind. Do you understand? Artificial rain is the process of nurturing clouds that aren't ready to rain yet. It sucks the water out of the clouds."
"I see! It steals rain from clouds that would mature over neighboring countries!"
Nami gave a solemn nod. "Yes...And it started a huge war. The loss of life was profound. Since then, the World Government outlawed the manufacturing and possession of dance powder world wide. The powder that brings happiness and misery at the same time..."
"That large shipment of dance powder appeared in Nanohana. Soon afterward, an abnormal weather pattern started. And no rain fell anywhere except for where the king was..." Vivi spoke up with her head lowered.
"It's normal to distrust the king. They must have thought he was using the powder to steal all the rain..." Zoro said, peering at the downhearted princess out of the corner of his eye.
"Dang, Vivi! Your dad is evil!" Luffy shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at the blue haired girl.
Sanji growled and placed a kick upon Luffy's head, something that made it bobble from side to side. "He was framed, you idiot! Vivi-chan's father would never do such a thing!"
Kneeling down, Vivi gently grabbed a head from one of the many skeletons they had passed. "Now I realize that Crocodile's terrible plan was already in effect. My father was suddenly surrounded by scandal he had nothing to do with...Somehow, a large volume of dance powder had been brought into the palace under his nose. It was all a trap set up by Crocodile...! A rebellion rose just as he planned! Towns dried up, people starved, and an army of furious rebels started a bloody battle with an innocent country...!"
A sob escaped the princess, and she rested her forehead against the skulls. "The kingdoms peace...The trust in the royal family...The rain...! The towns...And even the peoples lives were all stolen! And it was done by one man...WHAT RIGHT DOES HE HAVE TO DO THOSE THINGS?! I WILL NEVER EVER LET HIM GET AWAY WITH THIS...!"
Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp were the most angered by Vivi's mournful cry, a shadow covering their eyes. Toffee had never seen them unleash such rage before, but it was understandable why they needed to vent out their frustrations on something. They had run off, destroying buildings in the distance before returning back with resolute expressions hardened onto their features.
"Let's move forward already. I'm anxious now." Luffy declared, gripping onto his right arm which he had balled up into a tight fist.
Vivi let out a sniffle, biting down on her bottom lip; her misty eyes turning to meet Toffee's kind eyes when she felt a hand upon her shoulder.
"Don't worry. Crocodile and his men won't get away with this," Glancing up at the sky since she had sworn she had heard a hawk, Toffee found her eyes lighting up for she recognized the bird that was hovering above them high up in the sky. "And if we aren't able to stop him, I'm certain someone else will make Crocodile experience worse pain than he's made your people suffer."
"Someone else...?" Vivi asked softly, wondering what Toffee meant.
Baroque Works must be the reason they showed up here...Otherwise, Lilith wouldn't be here. She never leaves Theo's side unless she's scouting the area Toffee thought, not sure if her heart, that had begun to race, was due to excitement or a case of nerves. She hadn't expected her family to be here on the Grand Line, and on the very island Toffee was on at that...Still, Alabasta was a large place. What were the chances they'd run into each other?
Seeing the red-tailed hawk flying toward him, Theo extended out his arm, reaching out to stroke at the birds head once she had perched. "Did you see any signs of life out there?"
Listening to Lilith's hoarse screeching, Theo's gold and red eyes widened for a brief moment before they returned back to their normal indifferent gaze. "She says Toffee was in Erumalu.."
"What?!" Cain, Deimos, and Ashley yelled out, surrounding their older brother.
"Really?! So Toffee's okay?! She's really okay?!" Cain badgered, making Theo twitch when the long haired blond moved much too close to his face. "Then what the heck are we standing around here for? We need to go get her! It's dangerous out there!"
"...Toffee wasn't alone. She's traveling with a band of pirates..."
Deimos gawked at this. "Pirates? Why would she be with them of all people?!"
Theo shook his head and scowled. "I don't know. But Lilith says she was acting friendly with them, so she isn't being held against her will...We'll have to deal with that later. You know the mission comes first."
"Yes. The sooner we can be done with this horrid place, the better," Ashley huffed out, holding a red fan that he used to cool his face with. "This heat is drying out my flawless skin...We can go collect our adorable little sister after we help that rebellion assassinate the king."
"The king may not necessarily be our target. There's still too many loose ends, and I don't like agreeing to a contract unless I know our targets deserve to receive true justice...Nefertari was said to be a benevolent ruler, and yet he suddenly puts the lives of his people in danger?" Theo voiced, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Yet that Warlord, Crocodile, is made out to be a hero? I don't buy it one bit..."
Ashley just smirked at this and placed a hand on his cocked hip. "You sure you're not just trying to make these suspicions of yours sound accurate because you want to have an unblemished reason to kill Crocodile?"
A grin more on the dark side formed behind the black surgical mask Theo wore. "I don't need a reason. All pirates, the Warlords in particular, deserve to die." he claimed, veins suddenly pulsing on his forehead.
In the distance, a rock exploded despite nothing having connected with it, this making Cain shiver and hide behind his twin. "So scary!"
Deimos only laughed and smiled teasingly. "You know, I'm starting to think this is the reason Toffee left. She didn't want to be around her scary eldest brother any longer and fled for the hills~"
An anger mark appeared on the side of Theo's head and he kicked Deimos far away. Luckily Cain had quickly moved to the side, knowing what was coming, and avoiding the painful damage his brother normally ended up bringing onto himself.
"I. Am. Not. Scary."
Ashley rubbed at his temple. Sometimes he wondered who was really the oldest and more mature one of them? "Great. Now we have to stand out here under this blistering sun longer and wait for that idiot to catch up with us!" Ashley complained, stomping his foot on the ground and sending the dark haired male a heated gaze.
The smallest of blushes appeared on Theo's pale face, his eyes shifting to the side. "...Sorry..."
"Aaaaah!" a drained Luffy moaned out. He had taken to using a long stick for a makeshift cane to help drag himself across the endless sands after they had been traveling for some time.
"Would you stop going 'aaaaah!' already, Luffy?! You're just wasting energy..." Nami chided.
"Aaaaah...I'm burning...Can't even sweat..." Luffy continued to complain, his ranting causing Nami to sigh heavily.
Chopper wasn't fairing any better and was sprawled out on a sled Zoro had made for him from some dead limbs they had come across. "I can't stand the heat...but I'm fine in the cold..."
"It's cause your all fuzzy. Why don't you take that costume off?" Usopp suggested, propped up on his own walking stick.
Chopper unleashed a snarl at this, turning into his larger and more human-like form where he towered over Usopp. "DON'T MESS WITH A REINDEER, PUNK!"
"GYAAAAAH! A MONSTER!"
"Oi, Chopper! Don't get huge like that or I won't pull you!" Zoro scolded, this causing the reindeer to snort, but he reverted back to his original form while still glaring at a trembling Usopp.
"This heats making everyone so irritable...It's impressive that your not bothered by this weather at all, Vivi," Toffee praised, using a hand to fan at her own sweat drenched face.
Vivi just gave a small smile. "It's not such a big deal. I grew up here, so I'm fine more of less,"
"Why are there so many damn hills? It's like we're climbing mountains," Sanji brought up, wiping his own sweat from his brow.
"This is an ancient desert. The largest dunes are over 300m tall,"
Usopp sent the princess an alarmed gaze. "3-300m? No wonder it seems like a mountain," he muttered, blinking over at Luffy when he noticed him grabbing one of their barrels of water. "Make sure not too drink too much, Luffy."
"Right," Luffy said, only for his cheeks to swell up like balloons. He had definitely taken more than a mouthful.
"THAT'S TOO MUCH!" Nami and Usopp bellowed, punching Luffy in the back of his head and causing the straw hat boy to spit out the water. The water instantly dried up the moment it touched the ground, showing just how searing the surroundings were.
Toffee's eyes had grown small since Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji had gotten into a dust ball fight, blaming one another for the loss of such a precious resource. To think people who had been complaining earlier would have that much stamina to still beat the crap out of one another...Turning away from the childish sight, Toffee mentioned sheepishly, "Maybe we should take a break, Vivi-chan...?"
"Yeah! Let's eat the pirate lunchboxes Sanji made!" Luffy chimed in, holding Usopp by his coats collar as the snipers face was swollen from having been punched quite a few times.
Vivi wore a tired smile since they hadn't even walked a quarter of a mile, but resting might ease some of the tension that had been stirred up. "I understand...Why don't we take a break when we reach the next rock?"
Toffee glanced back at Luffy who had lagged behind them. He was continuing to whine about the heat, occasionally shouting for a rock as if the mineral would answer him back. "Is it really right to make him haul all of our luggage...?"
"Don't feel bad for him, Toffee. He's the one that lost at janken which he decided we were playing to begin with," Nami pointed out, turning to give Luffy a warning look. "And don't drop it, Luffy!"
Shifting his goggles over his eyes, Usopp grinned and shouted out, "All right! Rocks sighted dead ahead!"
The misery that had once been on Luffy's face instantly disappeared. "Really?! Break time!"
"Damn he's fast!" Usopp gawked, watching Luffy rush ahead where his figure became a blur. "Hard to believe he was struggling only a few minutes ago..."
Toffee couldn't help but laugh at this, but an ecstatic Luffy wasn't gone for long. The group was surprised to see the panic on his face, wondering what could have happened to have upset him this badly?
"There's a bunch of dying birds back there! Come on, Chopper! Heal them!"
"O-okay! I'm coming!"
Vivi's reaction was one more of horror, the light having even faded from her eyes. " Birds?! Wait, Luffy-san! Those birds are...!"
At Vivi's distress-for the princess even seemed unable to finish her sentence-the group shared looks before quickly heading to the shaded area made up of many tall rocks. The birds Luffy mentioned were no where to be seen. Along with all of their things.
"It's the truth! There really were dying birds here!" Luffy remarked, pointing to where they had once been laying when he received accusatory stares.
"I'm sorry. I should have mentioned it earlier," Vivi apologized with a deep look of guilt. "Warusagi birds are 'desert bandits' that trick travelers and steal their belongings."
"Birds playing dead? That's dishonest!" Usopp muttered with a look of disbelief.
Sanji gritted his teeth and gripped Luffy by the front of his shirt. "That was luggage for three days, Luffy! How could you let a bunch of birds steal it?! And that was all our luggage! Without food or water how are we going to-"
"But I was tricked! I can't help it!" Luffy cut in with irritation.
"You're dumber than a bird!"
"What?!"
"Cut it out!" Zoro reprimanded before things escalated further, sitting down on a nearby rock. "Let's take a rest...You're getting angry because of the heat. Chill out for a minute. We're going to get to Yuba at night, right?"
"Yes..." Vivi spoke up in a soft voice.
"If it's an oasis, then we'll just have patience. We're not gonna die," Zoro stated. "Just forget about this. Thinking about it makes my throat dry up. We'll rest 10 minutes and then leave."
Hearing a slurping sound, Toffee turned to see a gaggle of crane like birds enjoying the water that belonged to them. "I think those birds are taunting us..."
"AAAAAH! YOU JERKS! GIVE US OUR STUFF BACK!" Luffy roared, chasing after the birds who were surprisingly fast. They were already leaving Luffy behind, but that didn't deter him from heading further out into the scorching desert.
"Don't follow them, Luffy! How will you get back?!" Nami exclaimed.
"Yeah, that would be even worse! Come back, Luffy!" Usopp cried out in panic.
Hearing Luffy abruptly screaming-he hadn't gone far at all-Toffee squinted her eyes to see that he was rapidly making his way back. And he wasn't alone. What looked like a camel was running beside him, along with some huge monstrosity that was coming up on them fast. "Wh-what is that thing?!"
"A giant Sandora Lizard!" Vivi shouted out in great alarm, her hands moving to cover her mouth.
Letting out a puff from his cigarette, Sanji mumbled, "I suppose we should save that camel running beside him..."
Zoro groaned and reached for his swords. "What star was I born under that gives me all this damn trouble?"
Running forward, Zoro and Sanji joined Luffy in landing deadly hits on the massive purple skinned lizard that actually made it gag in pain; blood spurting from its mouth where it collapsed to the ground and remained completely limp.
Nami, Vivi, Usopp, and Toffee's eyes had turned bold white, their mouth's having dropped to the ground from the rather brutal display. That was why Usopp slight tearfully brought up, "T-they didn't have to go that far..."
"When they're fighting, you almost feel bad for the monsters..." Nami agreed, giving the Sandora Lizard a pitying gaze.
"A-at least we have something to possibly eat now..." Toffee spoke up meekly when hearing Luffy excitedly asking Sanji if the creature was edible.
"What's up with the camel?' Zoro questioned after tearing some of the meat he ate off with his teeth. Sanji had made the large chunks of meat into a sort of shish kabob after using some nearby stones to fry it up.
"Dunno...When I was chasing the birds, he came running up. Then I saw the lizard chasing him, so I started running too." Luffy replied with a shrug of his shoulders.
"It doesn't look wild. It's got a saddle and everything," Nami verified with a smile. "Looks like two people could ride on it."
Having already devoured his portion of meat, Luffy began to climb up onto the camel. "Okay, I'll go on fir-Ow! What was that for?!" Luffy yelped out when the animal bit down on his head.
Chopper stepped forward to translate for the desert mammal. "I am just a passing camel. Thanks for rescuing me. I'll let you ride me but...I won't let any guys ride me. That's what he says,"
"YOU STUPID PUNK! WHO DO YOU THINK JUST SAVED YOUR WORTHLESS LIFE!" Sanji roared, kicking the long legged animal along with Luffy and Usopp. Though the camel shockingly fought back by biting on each of the men's heads.
Nami cooed as she walked up to stroke the camel under its jaw, her actions making hearts form in his eyes. "I'm sorry my bandits are so mean to you. What a good boy. What should I call you?"
"So even animals can be perverts..." Toffee pondered, scratching at her cheek when Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji called out insulting names toward the camel. Nami decided on calling it Eye-brows, something Zoro pointed out was worse than the other names.
"Vivi. Toffee. Who want's to ride first?" Nami hummed out, smiling down at the two girls.
"Toffee-san you should-"
"No, you go ahead, Vivi-chan. If I get tired, Neoshadow can always carry me," Toffee announced with a smile, her shadow cutely saluting beside her.
"Don't worry, Toffee-chan! I'll gladly carry you where that grubby shadow doesn't have to~" Sanji quipped, giving Toffee a charming gaze that made her shadow glower at him.
Nami just shook her head, grinning ahead. "Now we can get to Yuba a little faster. Let's go, Eye-brows!"
"Vwo!"
"WAIT A MINUTE!" everyone cried out when the lovestruck camel dashed off.
"Hurry up, everyone! If you get lost, you'll never make it out of the desert alive!" Nami cheerfully called out.
"SCREW YOU!" Zoro, Usopp, and Luffy all screeched out, even waving their fists despite the fact the orange haired girl couldn't see them.
"I still love you, Nami-san~!" Sanji chirped, earning heated looks from Usopp and Zoro.
Toffee smiled tiredly from the tense air. "Should we start running...?"
"We do need to catch up to Nami-san and Vivi-chan quickly. We can't count on that dumb camel to protect them, after all...Here, Toffee. Go ahead and climb onto my back," Sanji courteously offered, bending down and making the gray haired woman sweat drop.
Zoro snickered when Toffee's shadow ended up kicking Sanji in his backside, making the blond face plant with the sand. "Serves you right, you perverted chef!"
Spitting out some of the sand that had gotten into his mouth, Sanji glared at both Zoro and the shadow monster. "Bastards..."
Chopper flinched when Zoro, Sanji, and Neoshadow got into an even more aggressive dust ball fight than the guys had been in earlier, looking nervously up at Toffee. "D-does that happen a lot?"
"Unfortunately it seems to. Best to ignore it." Toffee sighed out, placing a gentle pat upon Chopper's head. While Usopp pushed an amused Luffy forward, Toffee had taken to pulling Chopper. She was sure Zoro and Sanji would catch up eventually, (her shadow would just return to her side once she got too far away).
At least, Toffee hoped the odd pair of companions would anyways.