Vivi refused, looking a little embarrassed.
However, under Nami's persistent and enthusiastic encouragement, she finally gave in and climbed up.
In the past, Vivi always rode quickly wherever she went. But after traveling such a long distance on foot, she couldn't help feeling sore and exhausted. Sitting on Eyelash—her loyal spot-billed camel—felt strange at first, but the relief was undeniable.
"Go, Eyelash!"
With Nami and Vivi now seated, Eyelash lifted his head proudly and sprinted across the scorching sands toward Yuba.
The desert stretched endlessly before them, a vast sea of gold and silence. Not a single plant could be seen, only dry wind and oppressive stillness. Despite Leo's use of his constant-temperature magic, walking such a long distance under the sun was still exhausting.
Especially for Luffy.
He pulled out a wooden stick he'd used before and trudged forward, dragging his feet one step at a time.
"Aaaahhh! I can't take it anymore! I want to ride a camel too!"
Unable to endure the heat and hunger any longer, Luffy tossed the stick away and sprinted toward Eyelash with reckless abandon.
"Ah! No, stop Luffy!"
Chopper panicked at the sight and shouted, "He's not in the right condition! If he jumps on, Lash is in danger!"
The next second—
Leo's figure flickered and appeared like a mirage, instantly pinning Luffy to the sand. With a smooth motion, he waved his hand, and a large water pouch materialized.
Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp!
Luffy snatched the water bag with trembling hands and downed several deep gulps before collapsing in satisfaction.
"Ahh… I'm alive!"
"Huh?" Luffy suddenly perked up. "Why is it so cool?!"
As if sensing the lingering chill from Leo's magic-infused hands, Luffy lunged forward and hugged him tightly.
"Ahhh! So cool~!"
"..."
Leo looked helplessly at the rest of the crew, who were gathering around with stunned expressions. He raised his hands as if to say, Don't look at me like that.
He hadn't meant to attract so much attention—it was just a reflex.
Eventually, he pried Luffy off, who was clinging to him like a starfish, and cast the same constant-temperature spell on the overcooked pirate.
"Well, you two tricked me together!"
"Hmph! ╭(╯^╰)╮"
Luffy pouted, sulking dramatically. He plopped down cross-legged, his back facing everyone, clearly expressing his disapproval.
The crew exchanged awkward glances. No one knew how to cheer Luffy up. Maybe they had gone a little too far this time.
Just when things were getting awkward, a mouthwatering aroma began drifting through the air—coming from Leo's direction.
Sizzle...
"Hey, since Luffy's mad…" Leo grinned, pulling out a large chunk of sizzling grilled meat. "We'll just share this among ourselves."
The smell wafted toward Luffy, who twitched involuntarily. His nose sniffed the air, and his body leaned ever so slightly toward the smell, but he resisted.
I won't be bought with barbecue!
Leo raised an eyebrow in surprise, then shrugged. "Alright then. Everyone gets a piece... except Luffy."
He passed slices of meat around to the crew, all while ignoring Luffy. The sizzling aroma intensified, and Luffy could feel himself breaking. His stomach growled. His mouth watered.
A few seconds later, he turned around and dashed toward them.
"Leave... some for me!"
The crew smiled but didn't eat. They simply held the meat in their hands and stared at him.
"Y-You guys…"
"Eat it!"
They tackled him joyfully, laughing as they stretched his mouth wide and stuffed the juicy barbecue inside.
"Woo woo woo~!!"
"Bwahahahaha!"
After some playful roughhousing and grilled meat therapy, Luffy forgot all about being tricked by Nami and the others.
The group resumed their journey toward Yuba, refreshed and in better spirits.
---
Time passed slowly in the endless desert. The sun gradually dipped below the horizon, replaced by a bright, silent moon that hung high in the sky.
Under its pale glow, the desert became eerily quiet. Only the occasional whispering wind disturbed the stillness.
Thanks to Leo's magic, the Straw Hat crew didn't suffer much from the nighttime cold or exhaustion. They continued moving forward until finally, on the horizon, the silhouette of a city appeared—Yuba.
Vivi's heart raced with hope.
After all the hardships, they had finally reached Yuba. But as they drew closer, the sight before them left Vivi stunned and speechless.
The city was in ruins.
Everywhere she looked, there was nothing but cracked earth, broken buildings, and an air of abandonment. No rebels. No oasis. No Velis.
"This place is so desolate…" Zoro muttered, his voice low. "It's no different from Elmar."
Sanji, cigarette dangling from his lips, scanned the area with furrowed brows. "Vivi… wasn't this place supposed to be an oasis?"
"Where's the water?" Luffy asked, sticking out his tongue. "I'm thirsty again…"
Before anyone could respond, a strange sound echoed in the distance.
They turned toward the noise and saw an old man under the moonlight, tirelessly digging in the sand with a shovel. His clothes were ragged, and his hat was coated with dust. He seemed determined to find water in this barren wasteland, trying to revive the once-prosperous Yuba.
"Wait!" Vivi gasped.
Hope surged through her chest as she rushed forward, calling out to the man.
"Excuse me! I heard there were rebels in this city—"
She froze mid-sentence.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"You… you're Uncle Doto!"
The old man turned around slowly.
"You're… Princess Vivi?!"
His voice cracked with emotion as he stepped closer. Tears welled up in his eyes. "You disappeared after the battle with Crocodile… I thought… I thought you were—"
"I'm fine," Vivi said, shaking her head as she fought back tears. "But… Uncle Doto, what happened here?"
The old man sighed and leaned heavily on his shovel.
And so, Doto began to explain.
---
Vivi's brief appearance during the conflict had temporarily halted the rebellion, but it hadn't been enough to change the country's fate. The drought that plagued Alabasta remained, and no real solution had been found.
After much investigation, the rebel army had no choice but to press forward toward Albana.
There was a growing sense that even Kosa, their leader, couldn't stop the tide, even if he wanted to. He needed to know whether the king truly cared about his people… or had already abandoned them.
The conditions the rebels proposed for a ceasefire were simple—almost too simple.
A public apology from the king of Alabasta.
And rain.
The former was possible—Vivi's father would have apologized a hundred times if it could stop the war.
But the latter?
That was impossible.
As long as Crocodile remained in power, manipulating the weather and stealing the rain, Alabasta's suffering would never end.
Most of the citizens, desperate and angry, left with the rebels.
Only Doto stayed behind.
Day after day, he dug in the parched land, clinging to the hope that water still existed here, and that one day, the king would return to save them.
That Alabasta could be restored to its former glory.
---
Tears streamed down Vivi's face as she listened.
She stared at Doto—now thin, gray-haired, and hunched. He had sacrificed everything for hope.
Clenching her fists, she dropped to the ground and pounded the dry earth beneath her.
"Damn you, Crocodile!!"
"I swear… I'll kill you!!"
Doto gently placed a hand on her shoulder and helped her to her feet.
"Vivi, I don't know why you've come back. But Kosa is already on his way to Albana. You must stop him."
"You're the only one who can."
"You've stopped them before. You can do it again."
Vivi wiped away her tears and looked into Doto's eyes.
"I will," she said firmly. "Kosa will listen to me. I know he will!"
She turned toward the desert horizon with determination burning in her chest.
This time, she wouldn't fail.
This time, she would save her country—no matter what it took.
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