The rubber boy panted with his tongue stuck out, "burning up... sweat won't even come out."
"Quit moaning so much Luffy. You'll only tire yourself out." Nami called out as she waved herself trying to cool down. The rubber captain groaned in response, "Guess he's not listening."
Usopp looked over to the town older siblings, Ace looked unbothered while Luna was staring off to the distance, "I'm amazed you two looked unbothered by the heat..." his eyes fell to the doctor. "Unlike Chopper."
"I can't go on..." the small reindeer panted from his spot on the board Zoro was pulling behind him. "I can't take hot weather... I'm fine in cold weather, though..."
"It's cause of all that fur... you should take off that animal suit..." Before the two began to argue, Luna stepped between them. "Chopper I believe you might be more comfortable on my shoulders. I lower temperature may offer you relief." The little reindeer's eyes became stars, "Really?!"
Luna nodded before calling Ace over to help her place the doctor on her shoulders under her cloak. As soon as the reindeer was settled on the white head shoulders he melted onto her head.
Usopp looked on with jealousy, "Hey why does he get special treatment?!"
Luna looked to the sniper with a deadpanned look, "do you have fur?"
That quieted the sniper down as the group continued. As he turned away he face planted into the sand.
"What's wrong with all these hills? I thought a desert would be more flat!" Usopp cried as he spat sand out of his mouth.
"This is a very old desert, so some sand dunes here are over 300 meters high."
"300 METERS!"
"Lu are you alright?"
The boy ignored the question from his sister and continued to pant, "it's too much... it's so hot..."
Nami sighed and relented to Luffy, "just one drink Luffy. Just one mouthful."
That was her mistake telling a rubber man one mouthful. As predicted Luffy took a large 'sip' while stretching his cheeks like a hamster. Both Nami and Usopp kicked the back of his head while yelling, "DON'T DRINK SO MUCH!"
This started an argument with four of the group members. Zoro, Ace, and Luna looked on unimpressed. Chopper was still snoozing on Luna's head, while Vivi tried to stop the bickering crew mates. Luna sighed as she took Chopper off her head and handed him to Zoro, knowing Ace would be to hot for the furred doctor. Walking up to the small group Luna stood next to them, hip cocked, arms crossed before clearing her throat.
The bickering group halted all movement. Having gained their attention she held a hand out. Without much trouble the water source was handed to her as she made her way back over to the four who weren't arguing over water. She held her arms out for the doctor while handing the water to Zoro. The two making the exchange easily before Zoro took a drink for himself then pushing it to Ace.
The scorching sun became the cool night as the group settled down for the night. Chopper was finally not suffering from the weather as he gave a happy sigh.
"So hungry!" Luffy cried as he fell into the sand.
Sanji was trying to keep the others at bay while he tried to cook dinner. Nami, who's never been in a desert, was confused by the drastic weather change, "it was so hot during the day! What's going on?"
"With nothing blocking out the temperature, the desert scorches during the day, but falls below freezing at night." Vivi explained while shivering, "the desert is fraught with unpredictable dangers..."
Chopper gazed at the sky happily, "Oh! Look at the stars!"
Usopp looked over at the reindeer confused, "didn't you see stars on your winter island?"
Luna chimed in as she helped Sanji dish out the food, "if you remember Doctor's island was almost always snowing. Meaning that unlike Alabasta the cloud cover was quiet dense. This is one of the beauties of the warmer climate."
Usopp shivered again, "I don't have the luxury of looking at stars right now."
"Cold weather doesn't bother me!" chirped Chopper happily only to be ruined once the sniper grabbed Chopper to cuddle him.
"That's because you wear such a warm suit!"
This started another small argument that was interrupted by Luffy launching himself into the pile. "Yahoo! So Warm!"
Luna chuckled softly as she took a seat next to Ace.
"Luffy hasn't changed a bit." Luna hummed in reply before answering, "I don't know I see small changes in him."
The two older siblings settled down for the night with the rest of the group.
The next morning the three youngest members were exploring around the rock. Luffy finding something called out, "hey look at this."
Vivi looked over seeing what Luffy was holding, "Luffy-San Throw That Away!"
"Why? That would be a waste." Luna made her way over to the boys, stopping Luffy from trying to eat the poor scorpion.
"Luffy this is a scorpion," she took the small creature letting the scorpion on her hand. "They are arachnids that thrive in desert environments and primarily use their venom to obtain their prey." She pointed to the tail of the scorpion, "this holds their venom. You are unable to eat them raw."
Luffy pouted about not being able to eat it, but understand what Luna was explaining to him. Luna turned to Vivi, scorpion still in hand.
"It's better to explain to Luffy the danger or he will just be careless." Luna allowed the scorpion to scurry off into the rocks, before standing.
Vivi looked sheepish, "I'm sorry. I should've mentioned it earlier."
Luna placed a hand on the princess's shoulder, "no need to be sorry Princess. You have so much on your mind, your country is in the throes of a civil war."
Vivi looked at the older woman pain in her eyes. Luna just gave her a small smile. Before anything else was said the wind started to pick up. Both women look towards the horizon to see a tornado forming.
Vivi quickly turned back to everyone, "Everyone! Hide behind the rocks."
"What?" Luffy asked confused.
"A sandstorm is coming!" Vivi continued.
Before they could hunker down the storm was upon them. Luffy yelled his displeasure, "deserts are nothing but storms!"
"I forgot to mention it, but sandstorms are one of the desert's dangers."
"MENTION THESE THINGS SOONER!" Usopp screamed as the sand crashed on them.
It was hard to tell how long the storm beat down on the group but by the time it stopped sand covered all of them. Luna pulled Vivi out of the sand as the others started doing the same.
"What the hell was that?!" Zoro called out having slept through that storm.
After taking stock of everyone and ensuring no one was injured the group started out for Yuba once more.
"Sanji! Let's have a lunch! A pirate boxed lunch!" Luffy demanded of the cook.
"Not yet. Not until Vivi-Chan says so." This made the captain lean over to Vivi.
"Come on, Vivi! Let's eat! I'm out of strength."
"But we're only one-tenth of the way to Yuba, Luffy."
"You're so dumb! Haven't you heard of this proverb? If you're hungry, eat!"
Luna thumped his head making the boy groan in pain and grab his head. "Luffy where are your manners?! Do not call people dumb just because you want your way. Apologize! Now!"
Luffy whimpered still rubbing his sore head, "sorry Vivi."
Vivi decided to take pity on Luffy, "what do you say we take a break at the next set of rocks? Is that okay?"
This reinvigorated the boy, "ALRIGHT! ROCKS! LET'S FIND ROCKS! WHOEVER WINS ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS HAS TO CARRY EVERYONE'S BAGS!"
"Quit deciding stuff like that!" Nami called out. "Shouldn't the loser carry the stuff?" Sanji added both being drowned out by the rubber boy.
"ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!"
Luna and Vivi watched the others start the game only for Luffy to 'win.'
"WOOHOO! I WIN!"
Luffy was falling behind the group whining about carrying all the bags.
"You did say the winner!" Sanji called back to him. The only ones carrying their own stuff was Ace and Luna.
"Rocks spotted a small ways ahead." Usopp called.
"FOR REAL?" Luffy became lively once more, "BREAK TIME! FOOD!"
Luffy blazed past the others causing wind to blow the group.
"He can be fast when he wants to be."
Just as fast as he disappeared he raced back towards them yelling, "CHOPPER! THERE'S LOTS OF HURT BIRDS THAT CAN'T MOVE!"
That made Chopper switch to doctor mode running towards Luffy.
"We got to help the birds!"
"Birds?" Vivi repeated in confusion before her eyes widened. "Wait, Luffy! Don't tell me those birds are--!"
"ALL OUR STUFF IS GONE!"
"It's the truth! There really were dying birds here!"
"I'm sorry.I should've mentioned it earlier." Vivi mumbled. Luna sighed as she pitched her the bridge of her nose, "Vivi I understand you have so much on your mind but is there anything else that we need to know before we continue? Anything dangerous besides the obvious?"
Vivi looked sheepish once again, "they are Warusagi birds. They are known 'desert bandits' that trick travelers and steal their belongings."
"WHAT?!?"
"Birds playing dead?! That's dishonest!" Usopp cried.
"They tricked me!?"
"Luffy! Is that all you can say for yourself?!" Sanji grabbed his collar, shaking him. "That was three days of provisions. And you just had to let some damn birds steal everyone's stuff smack in the middle of the desert?! How're we supposed to cross the desert without food or water?"
"It's not my fault. They tricked me."
"Is your brain less than a bird's?"
"Oi!" The two stopped their fighting to look over a Zoro, "while you two are fighting the birds are over there with our stuff laughing at you."
"WHOOOAAAA!?" Both screamed before Luffy ran at them yelling. "GIVE US OUR STUFF BACK!"
"Luffy! Don't chase them!" It was too late as Luffy raced after them into the desert.
Luna sighed before digging through her bag, "in the environment of the desert I can't really fault them. It's probably near impossible to find food and water regularly, especially with the drought this country is experiencing."
Luna passed out some of her extra water to the others. "Drink sparingly. It's easier to last without food than it is water."
"Ah! Luna-swan is so smart." Sanji gushed out as she handed him a water container.
"Sorry. For my little brother's ineptness. I apologize for the trouble." Ace smiled knowingly. Just as Sanji and Zoro were about to go looking for their rubber captain, the ground rumbled.
"What's this rumbling?" Usopp asked while looking through his binoculars. He caught sight of Luffy on the back of a camel, but that wasn't the scary part. Behind the two was a massive creature chasing them.
"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!"
"A Sandora Dragon! They're the largest of the reptiles living in the desert and they wait under the sand for their prey! They have sharp claws and fangs, but they hardly ever use them! The reason being that they tend to swallow their prey whole because they're so large!"
"He really does have a gift for attracting trouble," chuckled Ace only to get smacked in the back of the head by Luna.
"Setting aside the camel for the moment..." Sanji trailed off.
Zoro drew his sword, "...what star was he born under to be able to attract trouble like this?"
"HEY! I BROUGHT SOME MEAT!" The trio preformed there devastating attacks, bringing the massive lizard down. Ace and Luna looked on with smiles but no surprise while Chopper and Usopp stared in shock and awe.
Another rumbling came from under them, as another Sandora Dragon appeared behind Ace and Luna. Before it had a chance to do anything Ace burned the lizard to a roast.
Luna scoffed, "show off." Ace only grinned in reply as Sanji gathered some rocks to use a skillet.
"What's with the camel?" Zoro questioned as he leaned back with his arms behind his head.
"I dunno. It was getting eaten by a mystery plant when I was chasing the birds." Luffy said with a mouthful of food.
"It doesn't seem to be a wild camel," muttered Vivi looking the camel over.
"No. It even has a saddle." Nami remarked while Chopper moved towards the camel.
"I knew it!" Cheered Chopper as the camel gave a happy sound at the reindeer.
"Huh? You know each other?" Luffy asked still munching on a piece of meat.
"Yeah! He gave me a ride when I escaped from Katorea!"
"That's great! We can ride it?!" Usopp happily ran up to the camel. "That'll make things easier!"
"Yeah, that'll be a real help!" Sanji called as he cooked, looking over he continued, "looks like it could carry two people."
"Camels do come hand-in-hand with deserts." Zoro quipped as Luffy race over to climb on said camel. "Then I'll be the first one." The camel slammed its nose on his head, "Oi! What was that for?!"
"'I am a freedom-loving, hard-boiled, compassionate camel! Thanks for helping me out of a pitch. I can give you a lift, but no men allowed!'" Chopper translated for the camel, which just irritated Usopp, Luffy, and Sanji.
"You punk!" Sanji called as the three men attacked the camel.
"Yeah! You let Chopper ride you!" Shouted an angry Usopp, punching the camel.
"'I'm manly!" Chopper continued as the camel smiled, only to receive more hitting.
"Quit being stupid!" Yelled Luffy.
Before the camel could be beat up anymore Nami stepped in cuddling the perverted camel.
"I'm so sorry! My crew mates are so ill-bred!" Cooed the red head. "You're a good boy! What should we call you?"
The boys chimed in, "idiot,""moron,""doofus."
"Lashes it is then." Nami cheered before mounting the camel. "Come on Vivi get on."
The princess looked over at Luna who nodded her head to the camel, sighing Vivi climbed on the camel.
"Now we should make a little better time! We need to get to Yuba as fast as we can to talk to the rebel army! Giddy up, Lashes!"
The camel took off in an alarming speed, Luna looked on with a deadpan look. "She does realize it will be impossible to keep up correct?"
The boys nodded in agreement before they ran after the camel.