A Thousand Treasures (One Piece)

Eighteen

The desert hills were kicked into clouds of dust. A large crab speeding over the dunes. "Hey! Guys!" Chopper stood on its back, hoof waving above his head. "Hop on board!"

"We get to ride it?!" Luffy shouted. "Woo-hoo!" His arms were flung towards its face, grasping its eyeball to haul him up.

"I ran into him just outside of town," he informed. "He's agreed to help us!"

"Mademoiselle." Sanji offered his hand. Placing hers in his palm, she stepped onto the crab's claw with Nami. Then was lifted to its back.

"Amazing!" Vivi grinned, "Moving Crabs are always submerged under the sand, so they're nearly phantom crabs!"

"Guys, hang on tight!" A snap of the reigns and the crab moved. "We're off!"

Illyria flopped down behind Zoro, leaning against his back. They had a fight ahead of them. A warzone to put it lightly. She hadn't been to one of those in over a year. They were fast paced and tense. Emotions, nerves, and adrenaline all ran high. A clouded mind posed just as much of a threat to allies as it did enemies. Nexus nuzzled into her lap and she pulled her close. Just a short rest. From here until Alubarna, it'd be smart to rest while she could. So as her eyelids fell heavy, she let them close.

"AAAAAHHHHH!" Illyria's eyes snapped open.

"Stop, Chopper!"

She was up. Though by the time she could take her first step, Luffy had already grabbed hold of the golden hook and threw Vivi back at them. His arm stuck through the hook, he shouted at them. "You guys go on ahead! I can handle this myself!"

Though, there were two silhouettes in the distance. Against one of them, the fight would be difficult enough, but against both? Her head gave a harsh shake. "Luffy-"

"It's fine!" He flopped headfirst into the ground. "Make sure you deliver Vivi back to her home! Make sure, now!"

Her jaw locked. No matter how he wanted to slice it. That was an order. "Go, Chopper!" Zoro shouted. "Keep going to Alubarna!"

"We're off!" Another snap of the reins and the crab took off.

"Luffy-san!"

"It's all right, Vivi. He'll be fine!" Nami stated, "I feel sorry for the other guys. After all, there isn't a single person that Luffy's gone after who has come out all right."

"Listen to me, Vivi. He will keep Crocodile under control. The moment that the rebel army started running, the time limit on this land was set. Once the royal army and the rebel army meet, this land, the Kingdom of Alabasta, will be gone. If you are the one and only hope for preventing that, then you have to survive, no matter what. No matter what might happen to any of us here, from now on!"

"B-but..."

"Vivi-chan, this is a fight that you started. You're the one who ran out of this land years ago, and challenged this unknown organization to battle. However, don't go thinking that you're fighting alone anymore."

Vivi stood at her side. "LUFFY-SAN! WE'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU IN ALUBARNA, OKAY?!"

"YEEEEEAAAAAH!"

Mixed eyes closed and took a calming breath. Luffy was trusting them to handle the rest. A warzone. To enter one of those she had to be rested and focused. So, she sat cross legged on the back of the crab. Her back straight and hands tucked into her lap with her fingertips pressing together. Rest. Focus. The world around her fell away. She focused on everything beneath her skin. From the movement of her muscles down to the blood in her veins.