(A/N: I'm skipping over the rest of the desert shenanigans because I don't want to write it all out. So I'm skipping to when the crew reaches Yuba and continuing from there! Sorry if that's not what y'all wanted but it's the only way around my writer's block.)

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Chapter Thirty-Seven:

" From Yuba to Rainbase "

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(ISAAC'S POV)

After traveling a few more days into the desert, we eventually parted ways with Ace since he had to get back to his own pirate business. Vivi also proceeded to explain her ties with the rebellion's leader, Koza, since they were childhood friends, we got separated a few times, and after much more agony and horrible desert experiences, we finally made it to Yuba! Only to find that it was in the midst of a sandstorm. When it died down we entered the city, and I immediately noticed it was deserted. "This is bad. It looks no different from that town Erumalu from before." Zoro said. "Vivi, I thought you said this was some kind of oasis?" Sanji asked. Vivi frowned, "It seems the oasis has disappeared. It's been swallowed up by all the sand..." 

We then heard the sound of a shovel hitting the ground and we looked down into a nearby hole to see a single man digging. "Are you travelers? You must be exhausted from your trek through the desert..." He said. "Sorry. This town is a bit dried up. But you're still free to rest here if you'd like. We may not have water, but there are plenty of inns in the town. It's our town's pride, after all." "Thank you, but we came because we heard the rebel army was in this town," Vivi explained. "What business do you have with the rebel army!?" The man snapped. 

He began throwing stuff at us shouting, "CURSE YOU! IF YOU'VE COME TO JOIN THE REBEL ARMY THEN YOU CAN GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM! If you're looking to join those fools, look elsewhere! They've already left town!"

"THEY'RE GONE!?" We all exclaimed. 

The man began explaining how the rebel army left due to all the sandstorms and the continuous drought. "The rebel army moved it's base to Katorea." Vivi's eyes grew wide with despair. "I'm guessing Katorea isn't very close?" I asked with a frown. "It's near Nanohana, back the way we came from." Vivi replied sadly. Eyelash the camel began speaking where Chopper translated that Eyelash was bringing rebel army supplies to Katorea. Sanji, Usopp, and Luffy began kicking Eyelash blaming him for our misfortune. "GUYS KICKING EYELASH ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS!" I scolded. "Guess this was all a waste of time." Zoro said. I looked over at Vivi, noticing the sad look on her face, I put a hand on her shoulder. "It's gonna be alright Vivi."

The man then noticed Vivi, seeming to recognize her.

"...Vivi? Did you say your name was Vivi?" He asked. Luffy began waving his hands around, "Hand on, old guy! She's definitely not the princess!" Zoro hit his head, "Nice one, Luffy!" He scolded. The man stepped closer, putting his hands on her shoulders, "Princess Vivi? Is it really you? You're alive! I can't believe it! Thank goodness!" He exclaimed. "Don't you recognize me Vivi? I suppose I look different, I did lose some weight, after all..." Vivi gasped, "Toto...Is it really you?" She asked. The man, Toto, began tearing up, "Yes, Vivi, it's me!" 

"Whatever it's worth, Vivi, I have faith in you and the king! He's a good, true man who would never betray his country! I know it!" He cried. Toto fell to his knees, sobbing. "This rebellion is ridiculous! A bunch of faithless fools! So what if our country hasn't seen a drop of rain in 3 years!? I will always have faith in his Majesty. Most of the country still does, in fact. I tried to stop them so many times...But they won't stop. The rebellion isn't ending. Their strength is at its limit too. They intend to settle things once and for all with this next attack. Their backs are against the wall and they're stuck in a corner. They're prepared for death!" Toto explained. "Please, Vivi! You have to stop those fools from tearing our country apart!

Vivi knelt down, looking Toto in the eyes, "We will. I promise."

After that Toto had us settled in at one of the now abandoned inns in Yuba. "Excellent work today, everybody! Now, let's hit the hay and regain our strength for tomorrow!" Usopp said before lying in his bed, "Nighty-night, you guys!" Zoro responded by throwing a pillow at Usopp, "Oh please, this whole trip you've been nothing but lazy!" He retorted. Usopp sat up, gritting his teeth, "Why you...QUIT COMPARING ME TO YOU AND THE OTHER SUPER-HUMAN FREAKS!" He shouted before throwing a pillow back at Zoro, hitting him in the face. "Now you've done it!" Usopp threw another pillow but this time at Chopper. "I think Blue Nose wins today's award for laziest talking animal in the desert!" "YOU TRY WALKING AROUND IN A FUR COAT!" Chopper shouted.

"Sanji, I think that's my bed." Vivi said. Sanji smiled, "I know. I thought you might have trouble sleeping alone tonight, Vivi-" 

SMACK!

"And the award for biggest perv goes to Sanji." Usopp said pointing in the blonde's direction with Chopper chuckling. "Oh, you've got some nerve, Sling-shot boy! I'm gonna shove that pillow so hard down your throat, you'll choke on it!" Sanji growled. "DO YOU GUYS NOT KNOW WHAT THE POINT OF A NAP IS!?" Nami shouted before getting hit with a pillow too. I sighed and went to try and break up the fight, "Guys, come on there's no need to-" 

SMACK!

I felt a pillow slide down my face and I glared at the boys who now were looking at me. Usopp spoke up nervously, "S-Sorry Iz, we didn't mean to-" I growled raising my hands, feeling the familiar tingling inside of me and my hands glowing pink. "You boys messed with the wrong guy...PINK PILLOW PULVERIZER! " I shouted as all the pillows on the ground floated up before repeatedly hitting them all. 

"STOP PLEASE WE'RE SORRY!" They all shouted.

"NOW STOP FUCKING AROUND AND GO TO SLEEP!" I yelled before the pillows fell to the ground and I got in my bed. "GOOD NIGHT!" 

(NO POV)

Long after departing from Yuba, as the crew was walking in the desert, Luffy sat underneath a small, leafless, tree. "Luffy? Is everything alright?" Vivi asked. "I quit," Luffy said, shocking everybody. "What does that mean Luffy?" Nami asked. "Come on, Luffy we don't have time to put up with every weird little mood you have! Let's go!" Usopp urged. "They're right, if we don't get to Katorea back the way we came, millions of Alabasta citizens are gonna clash and it'll get ugly real quick! So, c'mon let's go!" Sanji tried pulling Luffy up but to no avail. Luffy looked Vivi dead in the eyes, "Vivi! Right now, all I wanna do is kick Crocodile's ass, do you hear me!?" Vivi looked at him in surprise, "Even if we stop the rebellion, that won't stop Crocodile. Besides, we won't be able to accomplish anything in Katorea anyway. We're pirates, and everyone knows things are better when we aren't around." Luffy explained. 

Sanji put his hands on his hips, "You gotta admit, he's good at getting straight to the point when he wants to." 

"You want it to work out so that nobody dies in this fight. None of the citizens, none of us either. Right? We're going up against a Warlord of the Sea and a million of your own people on top of that. Yet you want everyone to stay safe and sound. You'll never win that way." Luffy said. Vivi looked down, clenching her fists. "Luffy! At least show some sympathy for Vivi!" Nami protested but Sanji stopped her, "Hold on."

"What's wrong with not wanting people to die!?" Vivi asked angrily. "Because people die, that's why," Luffy replied. In a fit of rage, Vivi slapped Luffy hard across the face. "Stop talking like that, I won't listen to it! Say that again and I'll really hurt you! That's the whole reason we're here! None of the people of Alabasta have done anything wrong! Why should any of them have to pay for it, when it's Crocodile's fault!?" Vivi shouted. Luffy stood up slowly before punching Vivi in the face. "SO YOU'RE SAYING IT'S ONLY ALRIGHT FOR YOU TO DIE!?" 

Usopp and Sanji shouted at Luffy, thinking he was taking things too far, but Vivi pinned Luffy down to the ground, repeatedly hitting him. "Just being in this country for one day, even I can tell!" "Tell what!?" "WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS MORE THAN ANYTHING! DO YOU THINK PUTTING YOUR SINGLE LIFE ON THE LINE IS ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING!?" Luffy shouted. "THEN WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BE PUTTING ON THE LINE LUFFY!?" Vivi was going to continue hitting him but he gripped her arms, "I don't have anything else to put on the line....There's only me..." She whimpered. Luffy pushed her off of him, "Then at least try putting all of our lives on the line together! Aren't we friends!?"

Vivi gasped, before beginning to cry. "Well? Aren't we friends?" Luffy asked in a less harsh tone. "Now you get it." Luffy sat up, patting the sand out of his hat before standing up. "Now tell me...Where can I find Crocodile!?" 

Everyone looked at Vivi, serious and determined. "Everyone...Luffy's right. I've made up my mind. Instead of going to Katorea, we're going to find Crocodile!" Isaac rested his chin in his hand, "Okay, but where is Crocodile?" He asked. Vivi pulled out a map, "Let's see...This is the capital city of Alubarna, where my father rules from. And the rebel army is currently in Katorea, planning to invade Alubarna." She started. "So we need to find Crocodile before they invade Alubarna," Sanji said. Vivi pointed to another part of the map, "This is where Crocodile is. Rainbase." She continued. "It's about a day's journey north of here." 

Once their destination was set the Straw Hats began their travel to Rainbase. Usopp and Luffy were suffering from the heat, but everyone else remained determined. Nami, Vivi, and Isaac still had the privilege of riding Eyelash the camel, and the two boys were complaining. "How come Isaac gets to ride Eyelash when he's a boy too!?" Luffy complained. Isaac grinned cheekily, "I guess I just have a special relationship with animals." He said. 

"Hey, Vivi. Does Rainbase have water?" Chopper asked. "Yes, there's no shortage there. It's a gambling town, almost completely isolated from the fighting." Nami beamed, "Oooh! Gambling?" Zoro shook his head, "No way Nami! We're not going there to gamble!" He protested. "I guess even Alabasta has its own carefree cities," Sanji said. 

As they continued, a city became clearer and clearer in their vision. "ALRIGHT! TIME TO KICK CROCODILE'S ASS!" Luffy cheered. "By the way, does Baroque Works know we're in this country?" Zoro asked. "Seems likely. We did run into Mr. 2 on our way here so they at least have the idea that we were heading to Alabasta." Nami replied. "Who cares about that?" Luffy asked. "They know what we look like, so we won't be able to do much of anything in Rainbase. We should lay low." Usopp suggested. "Why's that!?" Luffy argued. "Because if they spot us, Crocodile can deal with us in all kinds of ways," Usopp replied. "Assassination is their area of expertise," Zoro added.

"In any case, no matter who we run into, I'll be sure to protect the girls! I'm always happy to play Prince Charming!" Sanji chirped. "Smooth one," Zoro said, unamused. "SMOOTHER THAN YOU ZORO!" Sanji retorted. Zoro chuckled, smirking, "Oh, trust me, I'm definitely smoother than you Curly Brow." He said causing Sanji to glare at him intensely. "Why I oughta-" Luffy grew impatient, before raising his fists and shouting, "I'M GOING!" As he ran into the streets of Rainbase. Isaac groaned as Usopp chased after their captain, "Oh boy, here we go..." He turned to the others, "I'll go after them and we'll meet up after we hydrate." He said before running ahead.

Meanwhile in a cafe in Rainbase were Marines Smoker, Tashigi, and their newfound ally, Simeon, who had managed to escape his imprisonment by Amaryllis and Jasper while they were distracted. "Captain Smoker. Why do you think the Straw Hats will be here in Rainbase?" Tashigi asked. "Dunno. Call it a hunch." Smoker replied before looking in Simeon's direction, "You sure you want to help us capture these rookie pirates?" He asked. Simeon ran a hand through his dark curls, "It's my pleasure, Captain Smoker. Besides, the Sky-Boy was heading to this country to reunite with his crew, which is the same crew you happen to be after. And as you know, I'm a part of the WCSD, and with the Sky-Boy being a witch that's in my jurisdiction." He explained. Smoker rolled his eyes, 'Overconfident brat...' 

Unbeknownst to the 3 Marines, Luffy, Usopp, and Isaac had entered the cafe through the doors behind them. "Something stinks about this country...It's like something big is lurking in the shadows..." Smoker muttered under his breath. "So you really do believe there's some kind of connection between the criminal organization Baroque Works and Straw Hats?" Tashigi asked. Usopp and Luffy gulped down a barrel of water each and Isaac drank his own smaller mug of water. "All I know is that Straw Hat's out to get Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea." Smoker continued. The 3 Marines and the 3 pirates finally made eye contact with each other, blinking a few times before Usopp and Luffy did double spit-takes, the water they failed to swallow splashing into the 3 Marines' faces. 

Isaac, Usopp, and Luffy quickly ran out carrying barrels of water, "IT'S BEEN FUN BUT WE GOTTA SKIDADDLE!" Isaac shouted. "Dammit! Tashigi, gather the Marines! We're going after them!" Smoker ordered. A bunch of Marines began to give chase after the 3, "DID THOSE GUYS FROM LOGUETOWN REALLY FOLLOW US ALL THIS WAY!?" Isaac cried. "WHO CARES LET'S JUST RUN!" Usopp shouted back. The 3 soon caught up with the rest of their crew who also started running at the sight of the Marines. "Those idiots sure can run, I'll give them that!" Smoker growled. "Baroque Works is gonna spot us for sure if we keep running through the city like this!" Usopp shouted. With his keen eye Zoro noticed pictures of them being held by various people among the citizens of Rainbase, "I think it's a bit late for that Usopp!"

"Then let's head to wherever Crocodile is! How about it, Vivi?" Luffy said with a grin. Vivi nodded, pointing forward. "Do you see the building up ahead with the alligator on its roof? That's Raindinners, the casino that Crocodile runs!" "So that's where Crocodile is!?" Sanji turned his head to the Marines briefly before speaking, "I think it's best if we split up now!" He said. "Yeah, it's looking that way!" Zoro replied. "Alright then, see you guys later!" "Right!" They then separated into three groups; Nami, Sanji, and Usopp going right, Vivi, Zoro, and Isaac going left, and then Luffy going straight.

As Isaac, Zoro, and Vivi ran in their own direction, they were once again quickly surrounded by strangers. "Oh no! We're surrounded by Baroque Works' Millions!" Vivi exclaimed. Zoro smirked, "Well then I guess we're stuck between a rock and a hard place, huh? Vivi, Isaac, go on without me." He said. Isaac shook his head, drawing his sword "No way. I'm staying here." "Pinky, I said go with Vivi!" "And I said no!" 

"Relax you two! I'll be fine on my own, just keep each other safe, okay?" Vivi requested. Zoro and Isaac looked at her before nodding, "Right." They said in unison. "You be safe too, Vivi," Isaac added. Vivi then ran off in another direction, 'I hope those two will be okay!' She thought. Isaac and Zoro disarmed the Millions with ease, Zoro smiled at Isaac. "You're getting a lot better. Have you been training while we were separated?" He asked. Isaac grinned back at him, "Maybe a little." He replied. 

"RORONOA ZORO! We meet again!" Zoro flinched, turning to see Tashigi, his expression was one of nervousness. "I've been looking for you! What are you doing cutting down random civilians!?" Tashigi shouted. "Look I've got my own reasons for doing it, alright!? Besides, I've got absolutely zero desire whatsoever to fight you! We settled our dispute just fine in Loguetown!" Zoro retorted. "WE DID NOT! YOU HAD THE SKY-BOY FIGHT ME OFF IN YOUR PLACE!" Isaac was annoyed with Zoro's antics as he covered his face, "PUT THAT DAMN FACE AWAY, WILL YOU!?" He cried. Tashigi looked absolutely flabbergasted, "Seriously!? You're insulting me!? That's pathetic, even for you! I'll make you pay!" Isaac growled, "Look, Marine Lady if you want another ass-whooping then you can have one! I'll be glad to make it worse than Loguetown!" He barked. 

"Stepping up to my underclassmen, eh Sky-Boy?" Isaac was shocked to see Simeon appearing next to Tashigi. "YOU!? But I thought-" "That your fellow Devil's Retainers had caught me? Well, while they were distracted with you I escaped and then I was found by my fellow Marines who just so happened to lead me right to you! Too bad the Maledictive Swordsman and the Black Rose Witch aren't here to protect you this time." Simeon taunted. Isaac was about to say something only to be scooped up by Zoro who then ran off, "HEY GET BACK HERE!" Tashigi and Simeon shouted. 

"Zoro, what the hell!? I had it handled!" Isaac exclaimed. "I'll explain later! We've gotta go! Jeez, that woman is the one person I can't handle!" Isaac glared up at him, "Well, I'mma hold you to it then!"

They soon made their way back to the front of Crocodile's casino, Zoro kicking down several Millions in front of him and inadvertently saving Nami and Usopp. "Zoro! Izzie!" Usopp cried happily. "Wait a minute, wasn't Vivi supposed to be with you!?" Nami asked. "Yeah! Is she not here yet?" Isaac asked. "Not yet, but maybe she went inside already," Usopp suggested. "GUYS! WE HAVE TO RUN INSIDE NOW!" Shouted Luffy from behind them who was currently being chased by Smoker before sprinting towards the casino entrance. "We're right behind you!"

"I'M COMING FOR YOU CROCODILE!" 

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TO BE CONTINUED...