After days, the Straw Hats finally arrived at Alabasta.
They tighten the bandage around their wrists to hide the "X" mark and gets ready to set foot on Alabasta...
The crew finds a place to hide while Sanji went to buy clothes and other stuff to blend in with the crowd.
A little while later, Sanji came back with what's needed but they ran into Smoker and Ace. Ace distract Smoker to give Luffy and the others time to run.
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On the ship, Ace caught up on them before they raise anchor to leave.
Ace thanked the crew for taking care of Luffy. "But I never thought that "you" would actually become a pirate, what's more you're working under Luffy." Ace said to Rin.
"I... I do what I want." Rin said simply.
"...But why Luffy?" Ace asked in a serious but curious tone.
Rin thought for a second on what to say "Luffy said he'll be King of the Pirates. I believe what he said so..." She paused smirk. "I thought I'd hitch a ride to see One Piece."
Ace stayed quiet for a moment, amused by Rin's reason. "...Well, do what you want." He chuckled.
Rin grin "I plan to do so."
After Ace talk a bit with the others, he told them he's searching for someone named Blackbeard. He gave both Luffy and Rin a small piece of paper and left.
Nami sewed Luffy's paper to his straw hat to make sure he didn't lose it. "How about you? Do you want to to sew it somewhere?" Nami ask Rin.
"No thanks. I'll just let Tomo hold it (using the inventory)." Rin answered.
After sketching a rough map, Vivi explain that they should dock the ship at Sandora River and afterwards head to Yuba where the Rebels Base is.
They walk for a bit and arrives at Elumalu, a town that use to be called the "City of Greens". But the place doesn't have any greenery instead it looks dead and empty. They continue their way.
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On the way to Yuba, they stumble across a camel that's being chase by a giant lizard called "Sandora Dragon". Luffy, Zoro and Sanji easily save the camel. Nami named the camel "Eyelashes" as the camel ended up tagging along. It gives Nami and Vivi an ride and went ahead of the others.
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"... Are you tired?" Sanji asked Rin seeing how she's walking slower than usual.
"Hm? Oh- No, I'm not tired.. just thinking about something." Rin answered.
"What is it?" He asked.
"..." Rin stayed silent for a bit before shrugging her shoulders with a smile.
Sanji didn't probe into it and instead ask "... If you're tired, how about I carry you?"
"Thanks but it's fine." Rin politely reject the offer.
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After the day turn into night, they finally arrives at Yuba but... Just like Elumalu that they saw a few hours ago, Yuba is dead and empty...
Except for an old man (Mr. Toto) digging in the middle of the town. Apparently he's searching for underground water and the rebels the crew and Vivi were searching has moved to Katorea, a city near Nanohana.
Mr. Toto recognized Vivi and kindly offerd everyone to rest in one of the town's inn for the night. Rin went to the middle of the town, where Luffy and Mr. Toto is.
Rin went to Luffy, "The old man's still digging?" She ask.
Luffy nod. "Hey old guy, is there still no water?"
"There'll be water. The Yuba oasis is still alive." Mr. Toto said to Luffy.
"... How long have you been digging?" Rin asked.
While still digging, Mr. Toto answered "It doesn't matter, I'll dig it back up as many times as it takes!"
For some reason, Luffy decided to dig for water too.
"... Good luck." Rin said before heading back to the inn.
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The next day, somehow Mr. Toto managed to extract some water from the hole Luffy dug and gave it to him.
They begin heading to Katorea when Luffy suddenly stop walking and sat down near a tree saying, "I quit." which confused Vivi and the crew.
Luffy continue talking about how it's better if we go fight Crocodile than go to Katorea since we can't do much there anyway.
He pick a fight with Vivi till she snaps and they exchange some hits.
And then there's Rin eating some chips cause she's seen this already.
'You had the time to eat chips?' Tomo asked using telepathy. She's in the system form right now.
"..." Rin quietly put it away in the inventory.
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After a small fight, Vivi and Luffy decided to head to Crocodile instead of going to the rebels.
Vivi explain that Crocodile should be at Rainbase. She said it should take about a day to the north to reach Rainbase and so they continue their journey.
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