It's been a good nights sleep...and while they don't exactly what to go wandering back across the desert they don't exactly have much of a choice if want to stop the rebellion. So, they rise early in the morning, gather their things and prepare to set back out into the desert once more. Ahead of them, the edge of the city and, surprisingly, Toto come into view.
"Toto!" Luffy calls, approaching the man quickly. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to give you something before you left," Toto tells him, presenting him with a small jug. "It's water from the hole we dug last night. I managed to find a moist layer of sand, and extract some water from it. Please, take it with you."
"Thanks! I'll drink it with care!" After saying their goodbyes to the man they depart from the city, heading back in the direction that they've come from. As soon as they've put some distance between Yuba and themselves, Luffy suddenly sits down, leaning against a thin tree. Everyone stops, staring at their Captain in confusion. The girls climb down from the back of 'Lashes' as the rest of the crew gathers around.
"Oi, Luffy, what are you doing?" Usopp asks, facing him.
"I quit," Luffy tells them all.
"You...quit?" Nami asks, confused.
"Aah, this is a pretty piss poor place to just quit," Run tells him. "C'mon. We've got a long way to go before we can quit, Luffy. We're already behind the eight ball."
"Aren't we going back?" Chopper questions him.
"If we don't got back to Katorea and stop the revolt, then millions of people are going to get hurt!" Sanji shouts. "This is for Vivi! Now, let's go!" The cook grabs Luffy by the front of his shirt...only for their Captain to toss him aside easily. Sanji jumps to his feet quickly, and Run steps between the two immediately, placing a hand against their cooks chest.
"Easy, casanova," Run tells him, giving him a gentle push back. "Let's not fly off the handle. Alright, why are you quitting, Luffy?"
"Because it's pointless, Run," Luffy says plainly. "You know it, and I know it." While everyone else is seemingly taken aback by this attitude, Run actually chuckles a bit and squats down in front of his Captain, balancing on the balls of his feet...a rather difficult feat considering he's wearing geta.
"Well, I'm sure others would disagree. Now, c'mon. We haven't got time to waste."
"I wanna kick Crocodiles ass!" He looks past Run at Vivi, who is standing several feet away from the two. "Vivi...even if we stop the people from revolting, will that actually stop Crocodile? Besides that, will we even be able to do anything in Katorea? We're pirates, aren't we? Things would be better off without us."
"Yes, they would," Robin agrees. "But we can't stop now."
"Vivi wants it so that no one dies in this fight, Robin. None of the citizens, and none of us. Even when we're facing one of the Shichibukai, and eveyone is running wild, she want everyone to just stay safe and sound no matter what. But that kind of thinking is just too soft hearted." Nami begins to protest but Robin raises a hand quickly, silencing the Navigator.
"Don't. This is good for her. She needs to hear it."
"And what's wrong with thinking like that?!" Vivi demands. "What's wrong with not wanting people to die?!"
"People die." She crosses the distance between them faster than any of them expected, and punched him hard enough to knock him flat on his back.
"Stop talking like that! That's exactly what we're trying to stop! The rebels, the Royal Army, even the innocent people of this kingdom, none of them have done anything wrong! So why?! Why do that have to pay for something that Crocodiles done?!" Luffy stands slowly, turns and punches Vivi back, knocking her to the ground.
"If you're so worried then why are you putting YOUR life in the line?!" It takes the Princess a few moments to get her wits about her, but when she finally does she stands and quickly tackles Luffy back to the ground, beginning a rather spirited assault from the full mount. Regardless, he doesn't seem phased by this in the slightest. "Even I can tell with a single glance what has to be done! Putting a single life on the line isn't going to change a thing!"
"Then what SHOULD I do?! What else do I have?!" Luffy catches her wrists, and with ease tosses her off of him.
"How about risking our lives, too?! We're friends, aren't we?!" That was the final straw for Vivi, as she breaks down crying. It takes several minutes but when she has finally cried herself out, Luffy demands Crocodile's location. They are going to be throwing themselves head first into the fire, and oddly enough it seems to sit just fine with everyone. Vivi pulls out the map, and explains that Crocodile is most likely holed up in a place called Rainbase, which is about a days travel north of their current position.
"Good," Zoro says, staring at the man. "I'm getting sick and tired of this round about travel."
"They're not just going to let us walk in through the front door," Robin explains, earning everyone's attention. "Rainbase is Crocodile's base of operations. He run's Baroque Work's from the Rain Dinners. He has eyes and ears all over the entire town. More over, it's a city filled with gamblers and Billions, all of whom would simply love to make a quick Beli or earn a promotion by turning us in."
"Well, what do you suggest then?" Vivi questions her, slowly standing. "If you have a better idea just spit it out already!"
"Got a plan, Robin?" Run asks, trying to stop the situation before it degenerates into another spat.
"Not a good one. We've already had a run in with Mr. 2...if he isn't already, Crocodile will very soon be aware of the fact that we're here. When that happens, nowhere in Rainbase is going to be safe. The city is filled with Billions. So, we'll have no choice but to fight our way to Crocodile."
"Guess we haven't got much of a choice then." With nothing more left to discuss they begain their journey across the scorching desert to Rainbase. Not much of anything is said between the group, and true to Vivi's word, it takes them nearly a whole day to reach the city. Rainbase is quite a sight to them, which they should have expected considering it is a city of casinos and gamblers. In the middle of the city, as if it's the crown jewel of the whole thing, is a giant casino with a gleaming golden crocodile on top.
"That's Rain Dinners," Robin tells them, motioning to the pyramid shaped casino. "Crocodile runs the whole of Baroque Works from there."
"Real subtle," Run says, observing the city. "Especially the crocodile."
"From here on in, we need to be extreamly careful," Zoro says. "If what Robin says is true, then they know our faces."
"It doesn't matter who we run into, I'll protect Nami, Vivi and Robin no matter what!" Sanji declares. "Nami! Vivi! Robin! Feel free to call me Prince!"
"How about a glass of water, Prince?" Run asks.
"Don't make me kick your ass, Red!"
"Prince! Water, please!" Usopp and Chopper groan in unison.
"Enough!" Zoro calls. "Just focus on keeping an eye out." Of course, everything he's said is completely ignored by Luffy who goes charging into the city screaming about water, and Usopp who goes chasing after the man, and leaving them standing far behind...
- - -
"Would you stop tormenting that thing?" Run tells Zoro, watching the camel snap at his hand for what has to be the tenth time. "You know it doesn't like men, and when it bites you, I'm gonna laugh." The swordsman pays him no heed, tapping away at the camel's forehead with a small branch. Since losing sight of Luffy and Usopp, the only thing they could do was find a semi-secluded spot to hunker down and wait for their return.
"Think we can trust them to take care of this?" Sanji asks, before taking a long drag from his cigarette.
"They can handle little errands just fine," Nami assures him, sitting in the shade of the tree beside Vivi. "Just have a little faith in them."
"I dunno," Zoro says. "If you ask me, I think they'll just come back with a bunch of trouble again." The camel snaps at his hand again, and again, missing by a small margin each time. "I'd be doing some stretches if I were you. No telling when we're gonna have to run again." Chopper wanders off, saying he has to use the toilet while they wait for Usopp and Luffy. Of course, as Zoro predicted, a chorus of shouting sounds in the distance, and all heads turn to find the two running from a group of Marines.
"Guys, the Navy is here!" Luffy exclaims, sprinting towards them with a pair of jugs under his arms.
"I see that!" Sanji barks back. "Why are you leading them in this direction?!" Everyone takes off running away from the Marines. Unfortunately, running from the Marines at a dead sprint down crowded streets isn't exactly a good way to stay unnoticed, and Robin immediately begins picking out Billions from the crowds they pass.
"This is bad," Robin tells them. "Baroque Works is onto us."
"We've got no choice then!" Luffy growls. "We'll just have to find Crocodile and settle things."
"There!" Robin points ahead of them at Raindinners. "That's where Crocodile is!"
"Let's split up!" exclaims Zoro. "We'll meet up outside there!" They all split off in different directions, running as fast as they can from the Marines. Run breaks off from the main street, and dashes down an alley as quickly as his legs will carry him.
"Come back here, red hair!" exclaims a small group of Marines behind him.
"Oh, c'mon, fellas!" Run shouts back at them. "Can't we talk it out?"
"You won't get away from us! Capture him! He's Straw-Hat's First Mate!"
"Aah, to think they'd get so worked up over a bounty!" He rounds another corner...and suddenly finds himself jerked down another alley, and quickly hidden away behind a large stack of crates and barrels. Robin is face to face with him, a finger pressed to her lips to indicate silence. It seems like an eternity before the Marines footsteps fade enough for them to both to release a collective sigh. "Whew. Talk about a close call. I owe you one, Robin."
"I'll add it to the count," Robin tells him with a smile. The red head leans out, peeking down the alley way both ways before stepping out with Robin on his heels. "We certainly seemed to have attracted a lot of attention."
"Yeah, seems we've really kicked the hornets nest. C'mon. The others are probably waiting for us."
"Hold on. Rather than rushing in and causing a scene, I have another idea..."
- - -
"There they go!!"
"Don't let 'em escape!" The streets are crawling with Marines are Millions, all of whom have it in for the Strawhat crew. The clack of geta on stone echos down the long alley as they flee from the Millions. While it would be simple enough to just beat them into submission, they've got no time to deal with the small-fry. Run glances briefly over his shoulder at the group of Millions and groans in response.
"Why are they so persistent?" complains Run, earning a laugh from Robin.
"Don't worry," Robin tells him. "We'll take a left up here, and--" Several Millions suddenly come spilling into the alley a head of them. "Or not." Rather than be deterred, Run instead rushes forward.
"There they are!!"
"Sea King's Bite!" Run exclaims, punching the man in the lead. He bowls through the group of Millions thanks to his momentum, knocking out a trio with a single punch before breaking out and cutting left out of the alley. Only a single man is left standing, stunned by the sudden attack. He quickly comes to his senses, however, when he hears footsteps and turns to face Robin with some confusion on his face.
"Manage-- Guggh!" His head his yanked backwards, his chin thrust skyward just in time for Robin to pass, smashing her palm into it as she goes.
"Seis Fleur: Clutch!" declares Robin, a distinct 'crack!' following as his neck snaps. Robin follows after the red head out of the alley, and down the street, weaving through the crowds of people rather easily. He's surprisingly quick on his feet when he has to be but regardless she catches up to him with little effort. When she does she grabs his shoulder, and the two slow down to a walk. "Alright...Raindinners is up ahead. Just follow my lead, alright?" Saying that, the very next moment the two of them find themselves coming to an abrupt halt behind a giant crowd of Millions.
"Oh...that's not good," Run says, staring at the group.
"I don't suppose you've got any good ideas, do you, Run?"
"I'm thinkin', I'm thinkin'."
"MY NAME IS MR. PRINCE!!!" bellows a familiar voice, as the Millions suddenly start being tossed aside. Running amok through the group of Millions appears to be none other than Chopper in his Heavy Point. The Millions don't stand a chance, and by the time he's finished he's completely crushed the whole group with no resistance. "It's...It's whatever I can handle. Whatever I can handle." He's left panting in the middle of the fallen Millions, unaware of their presence...at least until a hand pats him lightly on the back.
"Good job, Chopper," Run exclaims happily.
"Gaahah!" The doctor jumps and yelps as if he's seen a ghost before spinning around to face the two of them. "Wha...What the...?"
"Yes, very well done, doctor," Robin congratulates him, looking around at the fallen Millions. "You saved us quite a bit of trouble."
"R-Robin! Run!" Hearing running footsteps, both look past the reindeer and are surprised to find Sanji rapidly approaching.
"Robin~!" Sanji gushes, appearing at her side. "I was worried something happened to you!" He spares the red head only a single disinterested glance. "I see you're still alive."
"Nice to see you, too," Run says.
"Well, I suppose it's a good thing we've run into each other. With the two of you, things will be even easier."
"Easier...?"
- - -
"Come and get me! You stupid gator! Come on!" Nami exclaims, taunting the gator from inside the cage. Her fear seems to have fallen by the way side but given how desperate the situation is, it's more than understandable. With water gushing in, and no apparent way out.
"What's gotten into you?!" Usopp demands. "Don't antagonize that thing!"
"That's WHY I'm doing it! I'm trying to get it to bite the cage apart!" They all start yelling at the top of their lungs...well, everyone but Zoro and Smoker, both of whom remain silent. It snaps at the cage the next moment...but only succeeds into breaking all it's teeth.
"What?! It's no use!"
"What a tough cage!" exclaims Luffy, staring at the gator.
"Vivi! Please hurry!"
"Oi, you guys," Smoker begins, attracting their attention to the back of the cage. Rather than standing in the water like the rest of them, the man is sitting cross legged on one of the benches. "How much do you guys know about all of this? What is Crocodile after? Whatever he's up to can't be just a simple coup. It'll most likely be something that involves--"
"I don't care," Luffy tells him plainly. "I don't need any more of a reason to kick his ass than I've already got!" He suddenly looks down in a panic to find that the water has risen up to his thighs. "Aaaah! The water's gotten higher! I'm-I'm...starting to feel a little..." Usopp catches him before he collapses into the water.
"Damn it!" Zoro growls. "If only I could cut steel we'd be able to get outta here!"
"Why is everyone being so damn noisy at dinner time?" asks a voice familiar to them all, only moments before the gator is sent flying toward the ceiling. "Bad Manners Kick Course!!" The impact is so great that it sends the water rushing away from the two standing in front of the cage. The gator crashes down loudly behind them, sending the water rushing back. "Hey there. Been waiting long?"
"Yo, Luffy," Run offers in way of greeting. "Looks like you guys are in a bit of trouble."
"YEAAH!! THANK GOODNESS!!" Luffy and Usopp exclaim in unison. Luffy looks up towards the second floor of the room, where he finds not only Vivi but Robin standing at the edge of a broken set of stairs.
"Good job, Vivi!" Vivi flashes a thumbs up in return, everyone's attention is suddenly pulled to the center of the room where more of the gators begin gathering. "Aaaah! Sanji! Run! Hurry up! You need to beat them! One second strikes-- no, instant strikes!"
"Oh, looks like we're sandwiched," mutters Run, turning to face the gators slowly. "Aah, now that I think about it is gator edible, Sanji?"
"Yeah," Sanji grunts, taking a drag on his cigarette. "The tail is considered the best cut. We'll have to collect some before we head out. Now...come after us as much as you like. I'll beat some manners into every last one of you, if that's what it takes."
"Target the third one who's entered," Smoker tells them. "It's got the key in it's stomach." Sanji and Run make a move towards the gator in question, only to be stopped before they've even gotten close by none other than Robin herself.
"There's no need for that," Robin tells them. "You." She points a single finger at the gator. "Spit it up." All of them are unsure what exactly Robin is thinking to so calmly issue commands to such dangerous creatures...but are surprised when the reptile actually huffs a few times and finally spits up right in front of them. Instead of a key, however, a huge ball of some white substance lands right in front of them. "Just what in the world have you been eating?"
"Did it...really just spit up...on command?" Nami asks, staring at the white ball.
"Wax-Wax Ball...Release!" exclaims a muffled, if familiar voice, as the ball cracks like an egg to reveal an extremely dehydrated Mr. 3. The man seems to be completely oblivious to their presence, and instead dives face first into the water, drinking as much as he can as quickly as he can. "That damn Crocodile...he certainly tried hard to kill me but not hard enough!" His monologue is interrupted by him noticing a small key on a pile of rubble, which he promptly picks up. "What's this?"
"Give that here!" exclaims everyone from the cage. "Give us the key!"
"Give that to me, please," Run tells the man.
"Aaaah! You startled me!" Mr. 3 screams.
"Sorry about that but I really need that key." The red head extends a hand out towards him with a smile. "Time is kind of the essence here." Naturally, rather than handing over the key, the man turns and actually throws it back towards the gators. "Oh, fer-- why would you do that?!"
"If you want it then you're just gonna have to go find it. Although, either way, I won't be responsible if you--"
"That wasn't the real key," Robin tells them all, interrupting the man.
"Wasn't the real key?" Usopp echos. "But we all saw Crocodile throw the key into the pit with the gators." Robin stares silently at the crew's sniper for a moment before the man blinks in surprise. "Aaaah! He lied to us, didn't he! How dishonest can you get?!"
"If that isn't the real key then how are we going to get out?!" Nami asks frantically.
"Simple." Robin crosses her arms in front of her. "Dos Fleur." A pair of arms sprout from Mr. 3's back, fingers quickly threading together under his chin and yanking his head back sharply. "Now, Mr. 3...how about making a key for the door?"
"You...You can't...be serious!" grunts Mr. 3, straining against the arms pulling his head and neck back. A little extra strength in the arms, however, has him singing a different tune. After loosening her grip a bit, she allows him to walk to the cage, and using his Wax-Wax Fruit, open the door to the cage.
"Thank you, Mr. 3. Was that so difficult?"
"N-No." He sheepishly looks up at the woman, who still has her arms crossed. "M-May I--"
"Clutch!" A distinct 'snap!' sounds as his head his yanked back, and he collapses into the water. "We should get going. There's not much time left now."
"They're probably already heading to Alubarna," Nami says.
"But what about the...eh?" Vivi looks on in awe at the belly up gators several meters away from them, every last one of them beaten with ease by Luffy, Zoro and Run.
"Aaaaah! Aren't there any more?! That wasn't NEARLY enough!!" Luffy bellows from their position on one of the gators stomachs.
"Well, it wasn't as satisfying as I'd have hoped," Run agrees, scrubbing a palm through his red hair. "What a let down."
"Damn it! I can't go all out soaked in water like this!!" The next second, a deep rumble fills the room, and the walls begin to crumble. "Waaaaah! The walls are falling in! What are we gonna do?!" The windows shatter, and the walls break down as water comes flooding in. Even fighting against the swirling current, Run manages to grab hold of an otherwise helpless Robin. He'd have grabbed Luffy, too, if he hadn't seen Sanji swimming like mad for the surface, hauling their Captain the back of his shirt. Even so, Run and Robin are the first to break the surface of the water. Gasps for air escape the two, as the red head hauls them out of the lake and into the street. The sun is slowly beginning to set...had they really been down there that long?
"Thank goodness you're such a strong swimmer," Robin says, her strength slowly beginning to return.
"Yeah," agrees Run. "It's one of my favorite hobbies, actually." Run turns his attention to the surface of the water as the rest of the crew begins to surface one after another. Sanji tosses Luffy up onto the street like a freshly caught fish before hauling himself up out of the lake as well. "Hey, you still alive, Luffy?" Run stands and approaches his old friend. He crouches down beside him and lightly slaps him on the cheek with the back of his palm. "C'mon. Up an' at 'em, Luffy."
"Jeez, you guys sure bear some heavy burdens because of your abilities, huh," Sanji says, standing as well. Vivi, Nami and Usopp surface, with the girls dragging the apparently unconscious sniper out of the water with some difficulty. The final one to surface, and bringing with him a surface, is Zoro. The swordsman breaks the surface, sputtering and coughing as he drags Smoker out of the lake with him. "Oi, oi, what the hell are you doing, bringing the enemy with you?"
"Oh, shut it, cook!" Zoro retorts quickly. "I never intended to bring him. He was close to dying, ya know."
"Well, good job, Zoro," Run tells him. "We need to get going. He'll bounce back once he starts to dry off so--" Smoker, who has been hacking up a lung for a few moments, finally seems to get his strength back enough to attack Zoro.
"Roronoa!" exclaims Smoker, jabbing at him with his jitte although Zoro blocks it rather easily. "Why did you save my life?"
"I was just following my Captain's orders," Zoro tells him, knocking aside his jitte. "It was simply one of his whims. I don't need any kind of thanks...in fact, don't pay it any mind."
"Hmph...then you'd have no problem with me carrying out my duties here." Very suddenly, Luffy and Usopp both seem to finally come around. The two are quickly on their feet, shouting about moving on to Alubarna and even finding Crocodile. "...Go. This is the only time that I'm gonna let you off the hook. So go. Before I change my mind. The next time we meet, you're dead." The crew takes off, bound for Alubarna and following Vivi's directions while Smoker simply watches on, his Marines chasing after them. "Hmph. That woman...I wonder just what they're up to that she's running with them..."
- - -
"I don't suppose anyone has some kinda plan," Run says, sprinting with the group. "What I mean is, we're not planning on running all the way to Alubarna, are we?"
"Lashes!" exclaims a breathless Nami. "Where is Lashes?"
"Maybe this town has a stable or something?" Luffy offers. "We can steal some horses."
"Not to worry, everyone! Look up ahead!" Sanji says. In the distance, moving towards them at an incredible rate of speed is a...giant crab? And riding on it's back are none other than Chopper and the camel, Lashes.
"Oi! Everyone!" exclaims Chopper, waving to them as he steers the crab towards them. Vivi explains that it's a Moving Crab, and that they spend nearly their entire lives under the sands, so seeing one is incredibly rare. So much so that they're known as Phantom Crabs. "Lashes grew up around here so he has a lot of friends like this guy! Hurry! Get on, everyone!" Luffy is beside himself with amazement while they quickly board the crab. When everyone is on board, they take off.
"Dahahaha~! This is much better than walking!" Run tells them, falling back onto the shell and gazing up at the sky. "We should be there in no time at this rate!"
"Riding a crab," Robin says, sitting beside him. "I never would have imagined that." A scream suddenly cuts through the silence, and Run jolts up in time to see Vivi flying off the crab's back. "That hook...!"
"Chopper, stop!" bellows Zoro, and the crab comes to a sliding halt moments later.
"Vivi!" exclaims Luffy. "It's him! It's Crocodile!" He stretches out to grip to the hook and slingshot himself to Vivi. Without skipping a beat he tosses her straight back to the group where she's barely caught by Zoro before striking the hard shell of the crab. "You guys go on ahead! I'll take care of things here! Make sure you deliver Vivi back to her home! Make sure, now!"
"Aah! Fine!" Run shouts. "Chopper! Get us going! We're going to Alubarna!" Chopper nods firmly and snaps the reins teathered to the crab, sending them on their way again.
"What?! Are you really alright with this, Run?!" Usopp asks. "Leaving him behind like this...isn't that cold hearted?"
"We don't have much of a choice." Run turns to look at the sniper. "We've gotta get Vivi to Alubarna, so that's what we're going to do." They watch their Captain fading into the distance quickly, unable to do anything else. "Be safe, Luffy..."