"Excellent work today, my followers!" Usopp said with a closed eye smile. "So let's hit the hay for now and regan our strength for tomorrow! Nightly-nightly!"
The sniper flopped onto the bed, pretending to sleep. Zoro took the chance to throw his pillow at him, sending him face first to the floor.
"You've been sleeping this whole time!" Zoro snapped annoyed.
"Why y-you... don't compare me with you monsters!" Usopp throw the pillow back at Zoro's face.
"Now you've done it!" Zoro growled standing from his bed.
The scared sniper throw a pillow at their doctor only for it to be stopped by Luna. She looked over her shoulder at the boy who stopped his comment.
"Don't bring others into your squabbles. Zoro isn't a monster, Chopper can't help that he's covered in fur, and you can't help your stamina is low."
"Erm... Sanji-San? This is..." Vivi stuttered while eyeing the cook laying in her bed.
"Yes. I thought you might have a hard time sleeping alone tonight..." A pillow hit Sanji's face from the sniper.
Sanji wasted no time jumping up, "that took some nerve. Which one of you is spoiling for a fight?"
Before an all out war took place Luna throw the pillow she held at the back of Sanji's head shocking the cook.
"Okay ladies that enough you're all pretty."
Both Nami and Vivi giggled at the comment as Luffy and Chopper laughed, leaving the other three embarrassed. Everyone decided to settle down as they all climbed into their beds.
It wasn't long before the group to fall asleep with the exception of the two siblings. Luna listen to Luffy leave the room and laid there listen to the conversation between Toto and Luffy. Slipped out of bed she made her way outside watching Luffy dig his hole next to Toto, shocking the man.
An hour went by before Luffy fell asleep, moving towards the hole she stood next to the amazed Toto.
"Is he even human?"
Luna smiled down at her dirty brother, "sometimes it makes you wonder." Luna looked at the man out of the corner of her eye, "you should rest I'll take care of him."
Toto looked at the woman something about her calmed him, "I believe you're right." He looked back to Luffy, "he truly is amazing."
Luna watched Toto retire to his room, before turning back to Luffy. "You really are something."
Jumping down into the hole she picked Luffy up before leaving for the room. Once Luffy was safely put to bed, Luna made her way back out to his hole.
"You going to keep following me."
Zoro stepped up to her, "what are you planning on doing?"
She scoffed, "I can't just leave that man with no water. Plus Luffy worked so hard."
Zoro croutch next to the hole, "how bad is it gonna be on your body?"
She jumped down inside, "so you noticed? Luckily not to much Luffy did the majority of the labor."
Zoro clicked his tongue, "not hard to notice after the last island. So you gonna tell me why you seem to know things are gonna happen?"
Luna sighed as she leaned down to pull the water from below, "I guess that's only fair. Since I was young I would receive visions. Never has this ability failed me."
"Which is why you were mad at Ace?"
Luna stood wiping her forehead as water started to pool around her ankles, "exactly. Before joining everyone I saw a vision around Ace. I thought if I warned him I could circumvent what I saw, but it seems his duty out ways my warnings."
Zoro held out his hand for her to grab, slipping her hand into his he effortlessly pulled Luna out.
"Before you say anything I know he isn't doing it maliciously, it just angers me."
Zoro looked her in the eye, "you saw him die?"
Luna looked at Zoro in shock, before her shoulders fell in defeat. "Am I really that easy to read?"
Zoro offered a small smile, "your anger was telling. Why else would you be so mad that he didn't listen? That's why you tensed up at Chopper's island when they mentioned Blackbeard, right?"
Luna rubbed her eyes, "I usually hide my emotion and reaction better. I must be getting rusty from being alone."
Zoro tugged her towards the room with the others, "nah you're exhausted. I can see it every time I look at you."
Luna stopped him before entering the room, "could we stay out here?"
Zoro looked at the woman before his eyes moved to the sky, there sat the moon shining brightly. Sitting down outside the door he tugged the woman down next to him. Luna's body relaxed next to the swordsman, while Zoro eyed the sky.
"So you control water, control Seakings, have visions, and are connected to the moon. Anything else I need to know?"
Luna's eyes closed as she mumbled out, "don't control Seaking just can speak to them. They still have the free will to blow me off."
Zoro looked over to the woman with a smirk, "no fancy talking anymore?"
"Oh no you discovered that I can talk normally. It's almost like I'm feeling more comfortable around you. Are you gonna be shocked when I swear too?"
Zoro scoffed, "Sarcasm too. Who would have thought? And you swear I think the world will end when that happens."
Luna's head fell onto Zoro's shoulder, "well I guess this is the end of the world cause I swore on Drum Island during the avalanche."
"Go to sleep moon girl, we'll need our strength for tomorrow." Zoro didn't get a replay before falling asleep himself.
"WHAT THE HELL MOSS HEAD HOW DARE YOU CUDDLE LUNA-SWAN?!?!"
Luna was rudely awaking by the angry cook the next morning, without hesitation Sanji was punched away by Luna. The group was shocked minus Luffy who laughed.
"That's why you don't want to be the one who wakes Luna up!"
Usopp looked at Luffy in fear, "she does that regularly?"
"Yep, since we were kids she's never been a morning person."
Nami looked up with a thoughtful expression, "now that you mention it she's usually the last one up."
Luna's anger for being woke up was forgotten as Toto walked up to the group.
"I'm sorry for being so unseemly, Vivi-Chan," excused Toto as he stopped by the group.
"Not at all!" Vivi waved her hands infont of her. "Well, we should be off."
"Oh Luffy-kun, take this with you." Toto held out a small barrel to the captain.
"WOW! WATER!" He looked at it like it was meat, "you found some?"
"The hole you dug last night, it had water flooding from the bottom."
"Oh! Thanks!"
"It's genuine Yuba water! I'm sorry it's all I could spare." The older man looked sad. Moving forward Luna place her hands on Toto's shoulders.
"Sir please take care of yourself now. Let us worry about the battle to come. We will care for Vivi. You've fought long enough."
Toto seemed to physically relax the same calming feeling taking over from last night, her touch was cooling. He couldn't stop the tears from filling his eyes. Luna gave him a kind smile before catching up with the others. Toto looked after them feeling his hope be solidifying, he knew his princess had brought true hope.
They had been traveling to Katorea to met with the rebel army. When Luffy suddenly flopped down under a palm tree.
"Luffy! What're you doing?" Usopp called as he walked back to the captain. Luffy's response was him closing his eye with a frown.
"Luffy?" Nami's call caught the others attention. Vivi moved closer to him.
"What's wrong Luffy-San?"
"I quit!"
"Huh?!"
"Luffy-San... what do you mean?"
"C'mon Luffy! We don't have time to put up with your whims, you know." Said Usopp. "Get up!"
"Aren't we going back?" Chopper asked from Luna's shoulders.
"Yeah. If we don't go back to Katorea the way we came and stop the revolt, a million citizens here are gonna clash and thing'll get ugly quick!" Sanji exclaimed. "This is for Vivi-Chan! Now let's go!"
Sanji made a move to grab Luffy only to be thrown off by the boy.
"It's boring," complained Luffy. "Vivi! I wanna kick Crocodile's ass! If we stop the people rebelling, will that stop Crocodile? Besides, we won't be able to do anything in Katorea anyway. We're pirates, you see. Things are better off without us around."
"He can really get strait to the point without thinking sometimes..." Sanji muttered.
"That's-"
"You want it so nobody dies in this fight. None of the citizens, and none of us! Even when we're up against a Warlord and a million people are going wild, you hope everyone will stay safe and sound. Don't you think that's a little childish?" Vivi tightened her fist, her shoulders shaking in anger.
"Hold on, Luffy-" Nami was stopped by Luna's arm blocking her.
"And what's wrong with thinking that?" Vivi's eyes filled with tears. "What's wrong with not wanting people to die?!"
"People die," answered Luffy. Causin Vivi to smack him.
"Stop talking like that!" She shook her head wildly. "Say that again and I'll make you pay! That's exactly what we're trying to stop here! The rebel army, the royal army, and the people of this kingdom. So why do people have to die when it's all Crocodile's fault?!"
Luffy stood up before punching Vivi, sending her to the sandy ground. "Then why are you putting your life on the line?!"
"Whoa Luffy! You're going to far!" Usopp cried in a panic, but both Luna and Zoro kept the others from intervening. Vivi stood before she jumped Luffy, but it didn't stop Luffy.
"Just one look at this kingdom and even I can tell..." Luffy trailed off.
"Tell What?!" Vivi cried as she punched and slapped him.
"... what most needs to be done!" finished Luffy.
"I d-don't have-" Luffy cut the princess off by grabbing her wrist, stopping her for punching him. "I don't have anything else that I can put on the line...'
"At least try putting our lives on the line together!" Luffy pushed her off him. "AREN'T WE FRIENDS?!"
She gasped as she covered her mouth. Tears started to cascade down her cheeks while sobs racked her body.
"Aren't we friends?" Luffy repeated as he donned his hat. "Oh, you can cry those kind of tears..."
Luna allowed Nami to move to comfort Vivi as the tears shook her body. Luffy glared at the sky with determination.
"Now tell me where Crocodile is!"
"Everyone..." Vivi stood wiping her tears away. "Luffy-san is exactly right. I've made up my mind now. Let's go to Crocodile now!"
"That does seem to be the quickest shortcut," Nami said.
"Meaning no more of this annoying, roundabout traveling," Zoro stated crossing his arms.
"Was starting to wonder when we were going to stop this field trip?" Luna scoffed.
"So where's this damn Crocodile?" Sanji asked blowing out a puff of smoke.
"Let's see..." Vivi pulled out her map. "This is the capital city of Alubarna, where my father rules from. And the rebel army is currently here, preparing to invade Alubarna."
"So we need to take care of Crocodile before that happens," muttered Sanji.
"Crocodile is here. Rainbase... it's about a day's journey north of here."
"Rainbase... sounds like the perfect place for a Crocodlie in a desert." Luna mumbled.
"Right! Let's Go!"
The journey was anything but peaceful as Usopp and Luffy moaned from the heat.
"C'mon, I told you to quit moaning you two!" Nami spat back at them.
"Who're you to say anything when you're riding the camel?!" Usopp barked back.
"Yeah! Let us ride, too!" Complained Luffy.
Ignoring the argument Zoro called out to Chopper, "Chopper! You haven't collapsed today!"
"Yeah. I'm gonna try extra hard!" The little reindeer looked up at Vivi on the camel. "Vivi, does Rainbase have water?"
"Yes. There's no problem there. It's a gambling town, almost completely detached from the rebellion." The blue haired woman answered.
"OOH! Gambling?!" Said Nami.
"GOMU GOMU NO WAY!" Luffy yelled using his rubber abilities to keep his water barrel away from Usopp.
They argued before Luffy denied him once more followed by calling Usopp a dumbass.
"Luffy-San," Vivi called out gaining his attention. "Thanks. I never would've been able to make this decision on my own."
"Gimme food."
"Huh?"
"After I kick Crocodile's ass, gimme so much food I might die!" Luffy replied while pulling his mouth open more.
"Okay. I promise."
Luna and Zoro cornered the captain after Vivi's promise. The two talking to Luffy about Crocodile.
"Luffy, Crocodile is a devil fruit user like you. Which would normally would make me the perfect counterpart, but Crocodile's power isn't only the control of sand but the ability to extract all the moisture from anything."
Nami spoke up from behind, "does that mean he could essentially evaporate you?"
Luna shrugged, "I'm not fully sure. My body mimics logia fruit but at the same time I still have a physical body." She turned back to Luffy, "think of your fight with Smoker. His body wasn't physically there, his body was the smoke."
Luffy nodded along with his sister explanation, "so I can't just punch him."
"Correct. It would be like fighting a literal sandstorm. Though like other devil fruit users Crocodile is weak to water. Like how Ace's fire countered Smoker's smoke. Water will counter Crocodile's sand, as well as the weakening from the sea."
"Well if Luffy can't use water what can he use?" Usopp inquired.
"Though water is optimal there is another fluid that could damage Crocodile."
Chopper spoke up from beside Luna, "blood..."
"What?!" Usopp yelled.
"Chopper's right blood is the other option. It's a liquid and one that Crocodile won't be able to manipulate." Luna grabbed Luffy's cheek before continuing, "but that is ONLY a worst case scenario option. Understand?"
Luffy whined before nodding to his sister. Sanji spoke up to the woman, "Luna-swan how do you know so much about Crocodile's devil fruit?"
"I've studied devil fruit since Luffy first obtained his, Grandpa gave me a book on ones that have been documented. I thought that if I would join Luffy's crew someone better understand the devil fruits."
Chopper's eyes sparkled in amazement, "wow could I read that book later Luna?"
"Of course Chopper."
They made it to Rainbase by the afternoon, a large gold crocodile sat in the center of town on a large building.
"By the way, does Baroque Works know we're in the country now?"
"Most likely," Nami replied with a frown. "We did run into Mr.2, so we should assume they know we're here."
"So what?" Luffy called out without a care.
"They know what we look like!" Usopp answered their captain. "We can't do much of anything while we're in Rainbase."
"Why not?"
"If we get spotted first, Crocodile can probably deal with us in all kinds of ways." Contiued Usopp.
"Though I feel that they may want Vivi alive?"
Usopp looked at her confused, "how come?"
"It would be the ultimate proof of power to kill off the royal family before taking full control. Wiping the survivor's hope in one swift move out. Wouldn't be surprised if there have been Billions in the royal army for years. You have to remember he's still a pirate in the end."
Zoro continued after Luna, "assassination their area specialty."
Usopp turned white, "why do you have to be so morbid?!"
"Crocodile come out!" Luffy yelled.
"Were you even listening?!" Usopp punched the boy.
"In any case, no matter who we run into, I'll protect Nami-San, Vivi-Chan, and Luna-swan! You three girls can call me 'Prince'!" Sanji gave a thumb up.
"Water! Need Water!" Usopp gasped out.
"ME TOO!" Cried out Luffy as he and Usopp ran into the city.
"Well so much for not getting spotted." Luna shook her head. "We might as well split up now, they're about to bring Marines."
"What?!" Nami cried out.
"Sanji, Chopper you're team one since they still don't know you're apart of the crew. Zoro, Vivi you're team two, make sure she isn't captured. Nami you're with me. Fan out, we'll meet at the gold crocodile."
Just as Luna finished Usopp and Luffy rounded the corner with Marines close behind. The group split taking off in different directions.
As Luna and Nami run down their road several Baroque Work agents ahead and several marines behind them. The girls pressed their backs together, "you got the billions?"
Nami gulped but agreed, "now!"
Luckily they easily took out their opponents. They made it to the casino to see they were the first to arrive and three Baroque Work's agents pointed their weapons at them. Luna jumped just to kick the three in the face.
Four more appeared behind her, "Luna!"
The men fell as Zoro landed behind her. Luna smirked over her shoulder, "about time you got here."
Nami ran up to the pair, "Zoro wasn't Vivi with you?"
Zoro looked at the girls, "yeah isn't she here yet?"
Shaking her head Luna spoke up, "you got ambushed too?"
Zoro slipped his swords back to their sheath, "yeah told her to go ahead. I thought she'd be fine since she knows the place."
Nami looked towards the building, "maybe she went inside to avoid the assassins."
A yell caught the trio's attention as Usopp and Luffy ran towards them with Smoker hot on their trail.
"GET BACK HERE!"
"HEY! LET'S GO! RUN INSIDE, GUYS!" Luffy yelled as the two caught up with the group. Luffy lead the way into the casino.
"Listen Crocodile! I'm going to kick your ass!" Luffy shouted out as customers looked over at their group. Nami hit the captain on the back of the head. "Will you shut up already?!"
Usopp continued worriedly, "We're dealing with the country's hero! Are you trying to make the patrons our enemies too?!"
"Alright! What do we do, then?" Luffy asked looking back at the sharpshooter.
"H-hold on! Without Vivi, we won't know who Crocodile is!" Stopping Luffy from running off again.
"VIVI! CROCODILE! WHERE ARE YOU?!" The pair yelled out.
Luna couldn't help it any longer as she punched the two in the head. In a harsh whisper, "you two need to be quiet!"
"Vivi and Crocodile aren't coming!" Groaned out Luffy as he rubbed his lumps.
"I GOT YOU NOW, STRAWHAT!" Smoker yelled as he entered the casino.
"Smoker!" Nami cried in fright.
The group flee rather into the casino as Smoker followed. "Damn! What's that smoke freak doing here in Rainbase?" Usopp cried.
"I'd say he's taken quite a liking to Luffy." Zoro jokingly said.
"This building is surrounded by a lake! There's nowhere to run." Yelled Smoker from behind.
"He's so stubborn!" Luffy groaned out in annoyance. "I can't deal with this guy."
Three bodyguards tried to block the path ahead but Luffy just blow through them. "Huh? Did I just run into something?"
After running farther inside Luffy's eyes landed on the VIP sign.
Usopp took noticed to the sign, "VIP's room?!"
"Could it mean, 'bring it on'?!" Nami asked confused.
"This guy gets right to the point!" Smirked Zoro itching for a fight.
"Alight let's go!" Called out Luffy entering the room as the doors opened. "But what's a VIP room?"
Before anyone could answer they were in a long hallway with a split ahead. One way said VIP while the other said Pirates. Smoker was closing in on the group.
"Hey! The path splits!" Luffy called from the front.
"It says VIP go to left!" Usopp said.
"And it says pirates go this way!" Nami continued looking to the right.
"WHICH ONE DO WE CHOOSE?!"
"VIP OBVIOUSLY, YOU MORON!" Nami cried out.
"BUT WE'RE PIRATES! PIRATES GO THIS WAY!" Luffy snapped back.
Luffy lead the group and Smoker down the right hallway just for the floor to open under them.
"What in the world is going on?!" Demanded Smoker as he fell with the Straw Hats.
"I can't believe we fell for this trick." Zoro huffed as he crossed his arms.
"My I-wind-up-swimming-when-falling-in-the-darkness disease." Cried Usopp as he tried to swim.
"A TRAPDOOR!"
No one noticed the quite white head said noting nor did they notice a light flash and a loud thudding noise.
Luna looked down at the sea stone prison cell that the others landed into, her feet perched on her scythe that was imbedded into the wall. Luna could feel that Crocodile was in the room below so she stayed silent.
"A clever trap" she heard Luffy mention.
"Yeah. It wasn't our fault." Continued Usopp.
This only seem to piss Nami off as Luna heard punching and the boys groans.
"Eh? ...I'm suddenly out of strength..." Luffy sounded tired as Luna figured he touched the sea stone. Luna heard more struggling as Usopp cried out.
"I-I-I'LL FIGHT YOU IF YOU WANT, SMOKE FREAK!" Luna figured he was hiding behind Zoro. She listened as Smoker explained to them what sea stone was and that his weapon was tipped with it. The realization that they were in said sea stone shocked Nami. As Zoro made a move to the marine she heard Nami inform him how swords wouldn't work on Smoker.
"That's correct. Give it up. You're going to die together..." a deep voice rang from the room below. "So why not get along first?"
"Crocodile." Smoker growled out at the Warlord.
"What?!" Luffy cried suddenly having his strength back. Luna heard the squeaks of a chair as Crocodile finished his entrance.
Usopp and Nami's voices cried out in fright. Luna glared down at the room knowing their best course of action is for her to stay hidden. The white head closed her eyes as she listened to the interaction below her. Crocodile antagonizing Smoker and Luffy's cries for a fight. Usopp was finally able to pull the rubber boy away from the sea stone. Crocodile switched his attention to the captain.
After Crocodile monologue for a bit he took his seat to wait for his 'guest' arrival. Luffy got bored waiting and started impressions of Sanji. Usopp laughed at the impression before Luffy finally noticed her absence, luckily she heard Nami stop him from calling out to her. After silencing the captain Nami turned her anger to the sleeping swordsman. Suddenly amongst the chaos Vivi's voice yelled out.
"Welcome, Vivi, Princess of Alabasta!" Greeted Crocodile. Luna shivered feeling the smugness in his voice. "No. Miss Wednesday. I'm impressed you managed to evade our assassins to come this far!"
Luna closed her eyes tuning the meeting out, all she had to do was wait until Sanji tricked Crocodile outside. She listened to Crocodile monologue once again while she heard the pain in Vivi's voice. Finally she heard him drop the fake key into the Bananagator's cage.
To add to Luffy's anger Crocodile admitted to causing the sandstorms in Yuba. Crocodile laughed as he and Miss All Sunday exited the room.
"Finally starting to beg for your life Strawhat Luffy? But it's only natural. Everyone is afraid of dying." Crocodile taunted from the hallway.
"If we die, then who's going to kick your ass?!" Luffy retorted back at the Warlord.
"Don't flatter yourself, small fry."
"You're the small fry!" Luna knew Luffy was once again grabbing the bars as he yelled at Crocodile. The Warlord snapped his finger to release the other bananagators inside the room. Luna heard the gator enter the room and advance towards the cell and Vivi.
"Well, this is your chance to abandon them, Miss Wednesday." Taunted the Warlord. "If you want to stop the rebellion, that is."
"It's so big..." Vivi whispered out, staring up at the gator. Luffy called out for Vivi to 'beat it' in his words. Luckily Luna could see the bananagator from her spot, using some water she sharpened it to a point before firing at the gator's eye. It caused the gator to miss Vivi but destroyed the stairs.
As Vivi continued evading the bananagator before a ring filled the room. 'Mr. Prince' did his bit to draw Crocodile outside after knocking Vivi back off the destroyed stairs.
"I'll drag your cheeky Mr. Prince here too, if you'd like! Hopefully you don't mind the corpses!" Crocodile mocked as he left for outside.
Luna finally was able to act as she heard the glass start to crack in the room below. She silently landed on the top of the prison as Vivi cried out at the bananagator lunging at her. Luna jump down landing a heavy blow to the gator's skull.
"What's with all the crying? Did you really forget about me?"
Luna jumped down next to Vivi, her scythe held in her right hand.
"LUNA?!" The group cried happily. Luffy once again grabbed the bars as he cried out to her. "Luna! Get The Ke-"
Luffy again suffered from the sea stone. Luna reached through and pushed Luffy away from the bars.
"No need that key was fake." Luna explained while running her hand along the bars taking in the structure.
Smoker scoffed, "Lunar Reaper why are you here?"
Luna ignored the man as she stepped back from the cell as another bananagator closed in on the white head. "Luna!"
The woman looked over her shoulder at the gator, which froze at her look. "Back off."
Her voice was deadly cold as Zoro spoke up, "Lunar Reaper?"
The woman sighed as she looked back at the group, "a name the marines came up for me. Quite unimaginative if I must say."
She shifted her scythe in front of her, "Vivi get behind me. Everyone else get away from the bars."
Smoker called out, "you won't be able to cut these bars. The entire cage is sea stone."
Luna said nothing as Vivi did as told, as did the others. The scythe began to glow as well as Luna's eyes. The once normal scythe grew in size both the blade and pole. The blade's glow faded, the blade went from a sliver to a pale blue and white. Giving off it's own glow Luna raised the scythe as she preformed a single slice before stepping back. Her scythe disappearing in a flash of light.
"That's it?" Grunted Smoker. Luna smiled before snapping her fingers as the bars fell apart. Everyone looked at the woman in shock.
With a smirk across her lips, "you were saying?"