"And that's how Luffy earned his first bounty," Tani recounted to Ace who was still piggy backing the sleeping captain. He gave a hearty laugh at the wild story.

"I knew the kid was destructive, but the whole building? Guy must've really pissed him off," Ace chuckled.

"He made our lovely Nami cry, honestly that Arlong guy deserved much worse..." Sanji included, his curly brow furrowing in anger at the memories of Nami's crying and bleeding form that day.

"You know you mean a lot to someone, if they're willing to take down a whole ass building for you," Tani concluded with a nod, Ace gave a nod in agreement.

"We all owe the idiot a lot," Nami added to the conversation, "He may cause a lot of trouble, but the lucky moron always seems to come out on top," she sigh with contentment. Turning to look at the sleeping rubber man.

"Oh look there's some rocks we can use for cover tonight," Vivi called out with her finger pointing towards the jagged rock cluster in the distance. The crew picked up the pace, exerting what little strength they had left and powering through the ache in their legs. Usopp practically passed out once they made it to the opening of the rocks, leaving Sanji to drag him the rest of the way.

"Tani have you been holding all those bags this entire time?" Sanji asked as he dragged Usopp past the drowsy girl. Tani looked at her back and found that yes she was indeed holding all of those bags still.

"Huh, would you look at that. Guess I was," she tiredly snickered, her eye lids felt heavy as the days adventures finally caught up with her. She let out a massive yawn, stretching her limbs out as far as she could before bringing them back in and falling limp with sleep.

...

"...ni..."

"..tani..."

"Wake up Tani..."

"Oi, Tani wake up,"

A poking to the sleepy girls cheeks and the calling of her name, broke the girl out of her well deserved rest. Her eyes lazily opened to a face full of Luffy. His wide obsidian eyes staring into her swampy green orbs. Tani groaned, rubbing her eyes and wiping away the drool that pooled out her mouth.

"I found this really cool thing!" he whisper shouted. Who would have thought Luffy had a volume setting lower than car horn.

"Can't it wait?" Tani drawled with a yawn. Luffy shook his head, his hand already clasping around her wrist. He moved, dragging the girl through the rough sand. "Hey! Luffy stop I'm tired," she whined. Luffy just kept walking.

The pair was just outside the rocky shelter, Tani woke up enough to get up off the sandy ground and dust herself off. She was going to find sand on her person for the next seven years...

"Look! Isn't it the coolest?" Luffy said while pointing with both his arms at a small crack in the rocks. Tani rubbed her eyes, shuffling over to take a look at the crack.

What her eyes found was the most bizarre thing! It was a small gem, well a cluster of small gems. What was odd about them was the strange glow of them. A swampy green and aqua colour that mixed within the gem like a pool of water trapped inside the coloured shells of the gems.

"They look like you," Luffy beamed, showing off all of his pearly whites. Tani was at a loss for words. Her eyes flicking from the small gems, back to Luffy who looked like he'd just found the greatest treasure ever. Tani's hand grazed over the smooth surface of the cluster, a smile lit up her cheeks as she looked back at Luffy with glittery eyes.

"They're awesome," she cheered quietly. Luffy scooted over to her side, their cheeks pressed against each other as they both pressed their faces close to the crack in the rock to get a closer look at the treasure they'd found. "Should we grab some?" Tani whispered to the captain.

"They're treasure, and we're pirates. We can take whatever we want," he decreed. So Tani shoved her hand into the rock and pulled at the base of the gem cluster. It was fairly loose so with a snap! A chunk of rock with the cluster all together in one piece was pulled out of the crack. The pairs eyes dazzled at the sight.

"Whadda we do with it?" the girl asked, tilting the rock in her hands to examine every angle of its beauty. Luffy's arm found itself comfortably resting over Tani's shoulders as usual.

"Dunno, keep it I guess," he said cluelessly. Tani squinted her eyes as she thought hard on what to do with them. Maybe she could ask Usopp to make some jewellery out of it, she'd never had any jewelry that was super special because she's always been broke.

"I've got an idea on what to do with it," she grinned. Luffy nodded and turned away, sitting down in the sand looking at the shimmering night sky. "...Are you taking any?" she questioned. Luffy let out a content sigh, peaceful.

Tani sat down beside him, looking up at the clear Arabian night... Well she thinks that's what it is, is this what it would look like for Aladdin? That would be cool... Maybe they could find a genie lamp! Now that would be awesome.

"You know... I'm going to miss seeing the sky like this..." Tani sighed. The sound of Luffy's vest ruffling as he turned to face her was the only indication she had that he was now staring at her. "We have heaps of clouds and smoke and stuff that just blocks all the stars where I live," she turned to look at the wide eyed expression on Luffy's face.

"You say that like you're not coming back?" he said, almost as if he was offended at the thought of it.

"Well, it's not like I know for sure that I'll ever come back. Hell a couple months ago I thought dimension hoping was only possible in sci-fi movies," Tani retorted. Luffy puffed his cheeks like a kid and crossed his arms.

"Then don't leave at all," he bit back, Tani narrowed her brows and crossed her arms too. She could play this game.

"What about my mum? I've left her all alone at home, what should I do about her?" Tani questioned, let's see him get around this one-

"Bring her here, if you can be here then she can too. See?" he responded with a proud grin. Like he'd just won this conversation.

"And how exactly do you think I can do that?" she responded with a smugness to her tone. "After all... If I could do that, then I wouldn't have a reason to be here on the crew," OK that was a bit harsh... But he was being dumb about it in the first place. Luffy narrowed his gaze, his irises shrank back in annoyance.

"What's that supposed to mean? Why wouldn't you be on the crew?" he sounded offended. His nose flared as his piercing gaze burned into her own. She felt a lump form in her throat at the intimidating stare.

"The only reason I joined was because you guys wanted to help me get home. If I have my mum then I'm home, so you and the rest of the crew wouldn't need-"

"Shut up!" Luffy cut her off with his fists grabbing at the collar of her cloak. Dragging her closer to his angered eyes. "I asked you to join because you're nakama, not because of your goal,"

Tani's breath caught in the back of her throat. She didn't know how to respond... Guess he did win this conversation. All she could do was turn her eyes away in shame. The grip on her cloak loosened, Luffy stood up tall and proud. His gaze never leaving Tani. He held out a hand for her to take, his serious demeanour was now replaced with a softer look.

"I can't be the pirate king without everyone on my crew," he smiled with that god damn smile. Tani looked up with a shiver, something had changed here. Something she didn't quite understand yet, but from this point she knew... She was certain of it.

"Promise you'll stay. Even if we're separated, promise you'll come back. Captain's orders,"

She grasped his hand tight, pulling herself to her feet to stand before him. This was it, she understood it all so clearly.

"I swear on my life. Future king of the pirates," she saluted. Earning the familiar "shishishi" laugh of her beloved captain.

...

"Woah! Where did you find those?" Usopp and Chopper surrounded Tani as she showed off the cluster. Luffy was pestering Sanji about breakfast, Zoro was still asleep and the girls were keeping to themselves. Ace kept giving Tani a knowing look, knowing what? She had no idea but she didn't let it get to her. Ace was a weird one... In a good way!

"Luffy found it last night, so I grabbed it and dunno what to do with it. Got any ideas?" She said, handing it to Usopp so he could get a better look. The sniper looked it over, pressing his finger against the greenish parts of the gem for whatever reason.

"Yeah, I can do something with this. Dunno what yet but I'll think of something," Usopp said, giving the girl a thumbs up. Which she returned with two thumbs up and a cheeky grin.

A sweet smelling meaty scent hit Tani's nose like a truck, it was a really strong type of smell. Like the kind she would smell during a Christmas dinner. This wouldn't have bothered her if it wasn't for the fact that they had no meat (thanks to Luffy) so that smell shouldn't have been possible.

"Meat!" Luffy squealed at the top of his lungs, lunging over Tani and landing in the sand behind her. His hands clasped over a hunk of meat that was just... Laying there?! A piece of meat that had a very obvious string attached to the end of the bone. The meat was yanked away from Luffy, but Luffy being Luffy just kept a hold and was now sliding across the sand holding onto the meat for dear life.

"Luffy!" many of the crews voices called. Tani could see him zooming away in the sand, so she did the first thing that came into mind. She fished out her yo-yo's from her pockets and with accuracy (thanks to her newly developed fishing skills) managed to hook the plastic disks around Luffy's ankle.

"Help me pull him in!" she shouted at the surprised on lookers, but as they moved to help her. Luffy kicked his leg up and sent the unprepared Tani tumbling forwards. Slamming into the sand, which shifted under her weight. She zoomed away from the crew, dragging behind Luffy. "Luffy let go!" Tani cried, coughing up the mouthful of sand she breathed in.

"No!" he replied, coughing a little as well. Tani let out a groan, why couldn't yo-yo's be retractable? Then she could just sit on Luffy rather than be dragging behind him.

"Jesus Christ Luffy it's just a chunk of meat! On a god damn hook! Are you that dumb? It's bait! Like when we use apple pieces for fish bait!" Tani cried out, spitting out the sand. Luffy turned back to look at her, as if he'd just noticed that she was being dragged along. She gives him an annoyed look, but he just ignores her and turns back to the meat.

Tani looks at the surrounding sands. How long was this string?! Who was on the other end? Would they kill them on sight or just let them go? Oh great now she was over thinking, leading to panic and fear. How peachy...

A towering greyish purple rock came into view. Though the top was too high up for her to see anyone on top... A pit formed in her stomach at the thought of going up so high if the fisherman was up there. Her panic took over and she began struggling to remove the strings attaching her to the yo-yo's on Luffy's ankles.

*Snap*

All of a sudden Tani stopped moving, her body sank into the sand from her momentum. Shaking off the sand that now covered her face... Luffy had somehow snapped the string that attached the meat to the fishing line. The hunk of meat already being shoved into his stretched out cheeks

"Oi! What are you youngsters doing down there?" an oldish man's voice called out. He certainly sounded no younger than 35, the dryness of his voice showing dehydration from the scorching heat. Tani used her hand to protect her eyes from the flaming ball of heat in the sky as she turned her head up to see a blob atop the rocks.

"Don't mind us!" she called, waving her whole free arm up at the man. The man waved back, though seemed to stumble slightly. Dropping something long on the surface of the rock. Tani paid no mind to it until...

"Shit! Run!" the man's hoarse voice shrieked in a panic. His form disappearing from Tani's curious eyes. Now that he'd left her vision, she now found herself staring at the dropping form of a small ball speeding towards the sandy ground that she and Luffy were currently standing on.

Tani had no time to process what the ball was, as she found her torso was now wrapped in Luffy's arm. The other was thrust towards the top of the rock... The very tall rock... The very very tall rock! Luffy turned to her, his eyes glimmering in a secret promise. Tani gave a nervous gulp, watching the hand grip around the cliff edge. Her entire body jerked upwards, Luffy's coiled arm squeezing around her tightly to assure her that she was in good hands... Or arms?

The speed Luffy had jet them upwards prevented the world from being anything more than a blur of warm yellows and the crystal clear blue of the sky. That didn't help the pressure building in Tani's stomach nor the black spots appearing in her vision as her brain threatened to shut down from the pure terror she felt. God she would never get over heights...

Then it all came to a halt. Tani found herself planting both feet on the ground, the arm around her unravelled leaving only a hand gripping around her waist. Her arm instinctively found itself wrapping around Luffy's shoulders, hooking over his neck. If she's going down then she sure as hell wouldn't be going alone! It's all his fault she's in this mess after all.

The pair found themselves staring at the shuddering form of an older man. He had sand stains all over his overalls and red shirt. His shaggy hair was covered with a hat akin to an army man's helmet. He kinda looked like a hill billy doctor eggman which would have caused Tani to laugh if she wasn't thinking about the certain death drop the loomed oh so close to her side. Her hooked arm tightened around Luffy's neck as sweat poured from her nervous pores.

"Sir-"

*Kaboom*

The base of the rock shook violently. Tani's already unstable footing wobbled, slipping backwards and dipping in Luffy's arm like a ball room dancer... If there was a 50ft tall drop under her! Her vision blacked out as her brain shut down at the sight of the golden waves far far beneath her.

...

"Ack!" Tani spat, her heart racing and head spinning as she launched forward. Her head smacking into the squishy back of someone, her entire body bobbed up and down which honestly made her want to hurl.

"You're awake!" Luffy's joyful voice cheered, a tightening around her waist let her now that Luffy was once again holding her. Where were they? "The old guy's taking us back to the crew," he grinned. Tani nodded slowly, her head and stomach needed time to settle down. It's too early for this...

The trio bounced along the sandy planes. The old guy explained that he was a bounty hunter by the name Scorpion, and that he wanted to hunt down and capture the infamous "Fire fist Ace".

"Wait you wanna take out Ace? Like the guy that can literally set himself on fire Ace? You know he's like... Worth a lot of money right?" Tani tried to reason. Honestly this guy had balls if he was gonna fight the guy that took out like what? Four or five Baroque works ships like it was another regular afternoon. "Are you sure? He'd fry you like a crispy strip," her voice laced with concern.

The man just gave a hearty laugh. Explaining his reasons for wanting to take out Ace, something about his little boys at home and proving that anyone can achieve anything if they put their minds to it. A solid moral you'd get from a Saturday morning cartoon, but this isn't some TV show now is it.

"I see the place! Hey guys!" Luffy shouted at the top of his rubber lungs, waving his whole arm at the small coloured blobs they were approaching. Tani looked over Scorpion's shoulder and waved (less violently) at her crew mates.

The bird that the trio were riding came to an abrupt stop, the momentum jerked Tani's face into Scorpions back again. Smacking a little too hard, if she didn't have a headache after this she would be coloured impressed.

"Alright, watch and be amazed," Scorpion stated with a hopeful grin. Luffy jumped down without a problem, Tani slipped and fell face first into the ground. Laughter entered her ears.

"How's it going Klutz?" a smug voice called from above her. She groaned and tilted her head from the sand to find Ace seated atop on of the rocks with a Cheshire grin that just screamed "please punch me in the face I'm too cocky for my own good"... Well that's how Tani interpreted it. The dark girl gave him a roll of her eyes, standing up and dusting herself off she turned back to Scorpion.

"Kick his ass Scorpion!" she cheered. Turning to see Ace giving her a playfully disapproved look, she just poked her tongue out and blew a raspberry at him. Turning away to stand beside Zoro, who looked at the soon to be battle ground with a hint of interest. "I reckon Scorpion will last about 5 minutes," Tani bet.

"I give him 2 minutes," Zoro huffed with amusement. Tani could hear the "cha-ching" from Nami's direction. The red head slithered her way over with a greedy glimmer reflecting off her eyes, as if they were filled with liquid gold.

"I heard you guys making bets," she grinned. Her arms snaking around the shoulders of both parties.

"Yeah, Zoro thinks Scorpion won't last any longer than 2 minutes. But yee of little faith shall meet thy maker!" Tani stated triumphantly. Zoro rolled his eyes and huffed.

"What does that even mean? It's obvious he won't last long, Ace is the second commander of the Whitebeard pirates of course he's gonna take out the old geezer in no time," Zoro retorted.

"Ladies ladies please, let's settle this to a bet then," Nami grinned, showing off her pearly whites. "loser has to treat the rest of the crew to dinner," she declared. Zoro sputtered and narrowed his eyes at the money hungry navigator.

"Why are we buying dinner for-" Zoro protested but a slim finger silenced him. Nami winked at him and tilted her head in the direction of the fight.

"Pleasure doing business with you ladies," Nami shut down Zoro and walked away to stand beside Vivi with that ever present glimmer of gold sparkling in her eyes. Tani turned back to watch the battle.

Scorpion set up this really big bazooka gun with a hose attaching it to a pack on his back. Ace was a good couple feet away, stretching his legs and arms. Tani decided it would be a good idea to get a picture because this looked really cool, like a big movie fight! So she whipped out the camera, positioned the two of them perfectly within frame.

3...

2...

1...

*Snap*

The camera captured the scene, and with that the fight began. Scorpion took aim and fired a net in the direction of Ace, which the fire man just set on fire as it passed through him. He gave a smirk and flicked the top of his hat as the net was set ablaze behind him, the flames on his skin flickered to life. Dancing towards the palms of his hands in the forms of little fire balls.

Zoro shoulder bumped Tani and gave her a smirk, she rolled her eyes and bumped back. Come on its been at least a minute since this started... OK maybe it's been 30 seconds, but Scorpion isn't out yet!

Scorpion switched dials on the side of his bazooka, the click echoed off the rocky terrain. He took aim again, pulling the trigger and releasing a spray of purplish foam from the mouth of the gun. Ace didn't even flinch, he side stepped the stream of purplish foam that splattered and sizzled next to him. Ace quirked an eyebrow at the sinking melting mess of sticky sand dissolving further into the ground.

"Heh, that kinda looks like the stuff from fire extinguishers," Tani snickered aloud. Ace nervously tensed at the mention. "Careful Ace, it might extinguish you!" she joked. Ace's face heated up (is that even possible if the guys made of heat?).

Ace didn't pay attention to the fight going on as he frowned at the dark skinned girl mocking him, and barely dodged the second shot of acidic foam directed for his torso. Ace shot some fire balls at scorpions direction, the man fumbled and knocked himself and the bazooka to the ground in a drop roll to avoid the fiery balls.

Scorpion recovered, setting the heavy weapon on his shoulder. Twisting the dial again to yet another setting, aiming with his finger pressed against the trigger.

"Dad stop!" a pair of young boys called, pushing past Sanji and Usopp. When did these kids get here?

"Chip? Dip? What are you kids doing out here?" scorpion gasped. His body turning to face the two scruffy looking boys running towards him.

*Click bang*

A familiar round ball shot out the gun, it's aim no longer on Ace. No now it was aiming right for a stray rock that towered above everyone that isn't Ace!

"Shit! That's a bomb!" Tani shrieked, grabbing Zoro's muscular arms and pulling on him to get away. The man followed with a fumble. Clearly not expecting the adrenaline pumped strength of the shorter woman.

The bomb made impact with the rock the two were previously leaning on, shards and chunks of rock exploded from the base. Raining over the small humans that scattered away from it.

For the third? Third time that day, Luffy looped his arm around not just Tani, but Zoro as well. Whipping them to his side with the rest of the crew. Zoro scolded the careless captain, who only sheepishly rubbed the back of his head and laughed. Tani found her gaze drawn to the forgotten bounty hunter and his children, huddling together in a tight hug. Unaware of the danger that was flying towards them. The father held his children close, the boys cried into his arms with relief and joy.

Ace flew backwards, landing in front of the reunited family. His arms lit up, similar to how they had when he created the fireballs. The flames wisped around his fingers, growing brighter by the millisecond. He gave a smirk and charged forward.

"Hiken!" he called out, throwing a punch in the air towards the massive rock that threatened to pancake the family. The flames that once adorned his fists, flew out and incinerated the rocks into nothing more than pebbles. Which harmlessly bounced off the father and children.

Ace flicked his hat and turned to face the crew, winking at them with that cocky smirk.

"Oh Tani~" Nami sang in a singsong voice, her shoulder rubbing against Tani's. "That battle sure wasn't long now was it?~"

"...Dammit!"

...

"So he didn't have the information you needed?" Sanji asked curiously to Ace. The flaming pirate shook his head.

"He had information, it just leads to Jaya, which is the next island over." he grinned, leaning into his pack and pulling out the familiar looking snail phone. He pulled out the mic part and held it to his mouth. "Trip you there?" he asked.

"What you want hothead?" a tired and very irritated voice called from the other side.

"Aw~ did I wake you up from your beauty nap?" Ace cooed. A groan followed by a yawn escaped the snails mouth.

"You'll need some beauty sleep when I'm done with you hot stuff," Trip grumbled. Ace chuckled. "Anyway flames for brains, what you want? Did you report to the old man?" Trip questioned, sounding a little more awake.

"I just missed Teach, my lead heard he's on Jaya. I'm heading over there now," Ace reported with a serious expression, that fiery flame in his eyes laced with revenge. "Meet up on Jaya when you can," Ace requested. Trip grumbled on the other end and hung up.

"Trip? Oi!" he yelled into the mic with mild irritation. "The nerves, I'm her commander and she hung up," he grumbled with his face in a pout.

Sanji pat him on the back, his expression conveying that he too has been through a similar situation.

"INCOMING BITCHES!" A new voice called out, a pair of legs wrapped around Ace's back and slammed him into the ground face first. A woman sat on his back, straddling him. Her head lifted, a messy tangled bun bounced atop her head as she revealed her resting bitch face to the crew. Her eyes scanned everyone, silently judging everyone. Then her face relaxed and she leaned back with a smirk that rivaled Ace's own.

"Well look at that, Ace brought along a bunch of rookie-" she paused when her eyes landed on the straw hat captain. Who was picking his nose because he couldn't give any less of a damn about this mystery woman that just randomly appeared outta this air... Tani can't really blame him, he's dealt with that before. "Holy shit, Ace is that the little bastard you call a brother? He's more of a dumb ass than I thought he would be," she giggled.

"Get your fat ass off my back," Ace groaned, sitting up. The girl rolled off and landed on the ground behind him. "And yeah that's my precious little brother, touch a hair on his head and I'll make you regret it," he said with absolute seriousness.

"Aye aye captain," she said with a mocking tone, lazily saluting.

"Luffy and everyone else, this is Trip. My most trusted pain in the ass. Trip this is Luffy's crew," Ace introduced. Some people waved, others just stared at the women who honestly couldn't give any less of a damn.

"Hey Shit lords, anyway Ace we gotta go before you lose that lead or whatever. It was nice to meet you I guess," Trip said. "Huh... Where did you get those?" She asked pointing at the bells attached to everyone's wrists or necks. Oh right!

"Me," Tani said waving her hand. Trip looked at her with a blink, like she hadn't noticed the girl at all. "Ace mentioned you being like me," the girl said nervously. Trip looked like she'd struck gold.

"Holy shit there's another one!" she said with the scariest grin Tani had ever witnessed on a human woman. The girl power walked over to Tani and wrapped her arm around her shoulders, Tani was pulled into the most over powered side hug she'd ever been in. Her face smooshed into Trip's exposed chest, the woman proceeded to ruffle Tani's hair.

"I thought I was the only pirate user out there, finally someone who isn't a total marine bitch," she said with relief.

Wait? The only pirate?

"You've met more?" Tani asked, lifting her head to stare at the woman. She chuckled.

"Of course, I've only met one though. He was a total dick weed," she drawled. Ace laughed from behind her.

"What did you nickname him? Vice admiral Tock-Tick Tiny-Dick?" Ace laughed heartily. Trip burst into laughter beside him.

"Yeah! That bastard really thought he could get his hands on this fine ass." Trip said dropping Tani and putting her hands on her hips. "Anyway you should be careful of that creep. He wouldn't shut up about "The power of the bells", like dude shut up," the woman warned in a nonchalant manner.

"Anyway, Trip we gotta go. We can't lose this lead," Ace mentioned. Trip punched him in the shoulder playfully.

"Give me a second, I haven't met anyway not insane that comes from earth," she barked. Turning back to Tani, "These guys don't even know what a movie is," she complained. Tani sighed with a thank you. "Oh, here take this," Trip said while handing the girl a slip of paper with a number on it. This seemed to trigger something in Ace.

"I have something for you Luffy," he pulled a small slip of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Luffy.

"What is it?" he asked curiously. Ace smiled.

"it'll help us find each other later... Unless you don't want it?" he answered. Luffy pulled the slip of paper closer.

"No I want it," Luffy stated. Ace ruffled his hair sweetly. Tani decided to pull out her camera and snap a shot. Trip gave a snicker.

"You still use that? I left mine on the Moby Dick," she said, pointing at the camera in Tani's hands. Tani had so many questions for this woman. Unfortunately...

"Hey hot stuff, I'm not getting any younger here," Trip groaned. "We have a traitor to catch," Ace flicked his hat one last time before grabbing the waiting girls hand. "Hey Tani,"

"Yes?"

"It was nice to meet someone else from home," she smiled the softest Tani had seen. It was unnerving. She turned back to Ace.

"Ready? Cool," she stood straight, Ace followed in her steps.

"Hop"

"Step"

"Jump!"

And with that the pair disappeared into the air. Leaving Luffy with his small piece of paper. Nami walked to his side and grabbed the paper. Turning to look at his hat and back at him.

"Can I have your hat for a moment?" she asked, fishing out some red string and a sewing needle from the bag on her shoulders. Luffy did as he was told and she sewed the paper into the inside of the ribbon around the treasured straw hat. Luffy plopped the hat back onto his head and gave a big smile.

"What did Trip give you?" Usopp asked, pointing at the slip of paper in Tani's hand. The girl looked at it and saw numbers. Usopp picked it up and examined it. "She left you a den den mushi number," Usopp commented, handing it back to the girl. Sanji got excited at the mention of girl and number. Tani decided to pocket the number so Sanji couldn't abuse the gift she was given. Luffy gave a cheer.

"Let's go," Luffy commanded, and with that the crew was off again. One less member in their little gang of travellers.

...

"I see it!" Vivi called out with cheer, pointing towards the small hit like buildings in the distance. Tani felt her heart explode with joy, finally somewhere that could have a dimension store! Water bottles here she comes!

"Let's go! Hurry up they have to have meat!" Luffy cheered, running as fast as his rubber legs could carry him. Tani and the others jogged behind him with hope glimmering in their eyes. "I see it! I see it!" Luffy said with elation.

That joy that they all felt faded. Luffy stood motionless at the entrance of the town, Vivi standing beside him (having dismounted eyelash). The blue haired princess clenched her fists in horror at the sight.

Abandoned... The whole town was dug out and empty. Massive pits and trenches were dug out all over the streets, the trees nothing but sticks. Tani pulled out her special bell and shook it... Nothing, not a chime could be heard. A grim look adorned the crews faces.

"Hello?" a man called, his head popping up from one of the ditches with a shovel in hand. Sweat from the days laborious digging glistened in the sunsets light. Vivi gasped as she stared at the man, recognition in her eyes.

"Toto?" she said barely above a whisper. The man gave her a tired smile that lit up his whole face.

"I knew you'd return princess Vivi," he said with certainty. Vivi felt her eyes well up with thick hot tears. She ran to Toto and hugged him tightly.

"What happened? Where's Koza? And the rebels?" she hiccuped through tears. Toto pat her back in comfort, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.

"That idiot son of mine took everyone to Nanohana, too many sand storms hit... All the water was dried up," Toto explained tiredly.

"... Hold the phone!" Tani called out, her hands up in the air, "Nanohana? The place we started?! You've got to be fu-"

"We made this journey for nothing?" Vivi sounded broken as she said this. All this walking for nothing...

Toto sighed and explained the horrible drought the town had suffered. How he still had hope, and would keep digging no matter how much sand covered his work. It was admirable, determination to fight on against the odds. Tani found herself drifting her eyes towards Luffy... Who was picking his nose again. Clearly bored with this whole shebang.

"You can all stay the night, the inn over there has enough beds for the all of you," he smiled, hands motioning towards the large hit structure that did indeed have beds. It looked like a high school camp cabin, like that bunk bed lined walls vibe. Tani shivered at the not so pleasant memories that surfaced.

"These are so comfy!" Usopp cried with joy, throwing himself into on of the beds. Zoro was already asleep in one of the beds because of course he was. Sanji was trying to share beds with Vivi (there were plenty of beds) and Luffy had vanished. Tani rolled onto a bed and found her hands magnetised towards a pillow. The plump weapon... Weapon!

The girl stood up, hands behind her back with a sickly sweet grin. She skipped towards Usopp, leaning over his laid back form.

"What's u-"

Wham!

The pillow slammed into his face, silencing him, Tani burst into laughter. Grabbing the pillow and running away, hiding behind the bed that Zoro was sleeping in. Usopp recovered, his face burning red. He grabbed his own pillow and took aim, Tani pulled a face, her fingers wiggling next to her ears as she poked out her tongue.

Usopp tossed the pillow, unfortunately for him his arm strength wasn't the best and it ended up whacking into Zoro.

The cabin became a war zone. Zoro had three pillow style, slapping pillows in the face of anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path. Usopp took to the second floor, tossing pillows from up there. Sanji was flip flopping from hitting all the men with pillows and taking all the blows for the women. Vivi was knocked out right away, Nami used Chopper as a shield. The reindeer held a pillow and would swing it wildly as Nami ran around the room hoping to hit someone. It was the most fun Tani had had since she arrived! Hell maybe ever! Though...

Tani found a way to slip out of the chaos, the cheerful laughter and wild cries of complaint faded as she wandered the empty streets of Yuba. Luffy was missing out on all the fun.

The sound of a shovel breaking ground could be heard. Tani wandered towards the sound, finding Toto digging into the sand. Even after digging all day the man was still going. He paused and turned to face the watching girl.

"Evening miss, out for a stroll?" he said kindly. Tani couldn't help but smile at him.

"Just looking for the captain, he wandered off and I'm worried he got lost or something," she waved. Toto gave a hearty laugh.

"The straw hat kid? He should be around here somewhere, digging up a storm that kid," Toto said happily. Tani quirked a brow, typical Luffy. The will power of the man must have inspired him. Tani pulled her bag over her shoulder, grabbing one of her bells. She needed some more now, she only had a couple left. Flipping it to Toto, the man caught it and examined it. Shaking it a couple times, the chime was music to the dark skinned girls ears.

"It's a token of friendship, take care of it," she said, turning away to look for Luffy.

She wandered for a couple minutes, finding Luffy asleep in a ditch outside the cabin. Tani slide down the very very deep hole to collect her awkwardly positioned captain (he looked like a baby). With her "masterful" skills, she positioned him onto her back. Similar to how Ace had the day before, Luffy curled around her tightly. Smothering his face into her back, her breath on instinct hitched. Her face a deep scarlet that was thankfully hidden by the darkness.

"Alright Luffy, time for bed," she whispered to herself. Climbing out of the hole and talking back into the cabin. Finding that the crew had created a pillow fort and was now asleep in it together. She grinned like a child on Christmas and slid into the fort, Luffy still clutching onto her back. Falling asleep soundly with her nakama.