Lara's POV;
“CROCODILE!” both Lia and I turned around and saw a small shouting dust cloud coming our way. The cloud came nearer and then stopped directly in front of us. The dust was blown away by Lia and both of us could see a somewhat battle ready Luffy.
“Where is he? Where is the guy that made Vivi's country into such a mess?” While shouting this and looking around, even occasionally digging small holes, he never noticed us.
“Luffy you idiot, don't run off on your own. This is the Crocodile we are speaking about! He is one of the Seven Warlords” This new voice belongs to Nami. She was hiding behind Zoro while saying that. Ussop nodded in agreement, also hiding behind Zoro.
“Yes, haven't you seen the dust cloud or the big explosions? Something that can make such a thing is dangerous. What if it sets its eyes on me and I die?” He seems to still be the weak and cowardly Ussop.
“Lia! Lara! What are the two elven goddesses doing in a dusty and ugly desert? You two are more at home between lush green trees.” You have three guesses as to who said this. Sanji runs up to me, tried to grab my hand and got bitch slapped into the same trench I made with my block during the fight.
“As strong and as beautiful as always.” His body made a hart-hitting sound when he landed on the rock. I nodded in satisfaction and turned back to the others. Zoro was grinning, Ussop and Nami gapping, Vivi looked to be deeply anxious and Luffy was still searching under the sand for Crocodile.
“Hi guys, you've missed Crocodile. He left a few minutes ago. Probably on his way to Alubarna.” I said in greeting and with a wave.
“Lara, where is he? I have to beat this gator-idiot.” Luffy, who finally realised that Crocodile was no longer here was now asking me at such a speed that it was hard to understand him.
“Luffy, calm down first.” I may have said that, but my words had no effect. Luffy continued with his rambling about Crocodile and how he had to beat him because he is destroying Vivi's country and making her cry.
Mrs Chicken Wing handled the situation in the only correct way. She hit him with one of her wings. The hit of her was stronger than what a chicken had any right to and he got pushed face first into the ground.
“Boouuug bog bog!” Yes, Mrs Chicken Wing, tell him. This isn't the time to play around. Crocodile is on his way to Alubarna. Nojiko and Josef won't be able to stop him.
None of them said anything to the strange chicken as if something like this was normal. But then again, with Luffy as their captain. Poor guys.
“Good, now that you've calmed down we can talk. First, how do you intend to win against Crocodile?” My question was simple, yet not easy. In truth, if Crocodile was serious then Luffy had no chance of winning. A simple sandstorm would make even a wet Luffy dry and then he would have no means of attacking. And the guy has other means of attacking, as was shown in his fight against Lia. All this does not even include his poisonous hook.
“What do you mean by how? I beat him up.” Such a Luffy like answer. He truly is the idiot he is shown as.
“Yes, that would get you killed. Crocodile has eaten a Logia Fruit.” I told him with a shrug, but by the look on his face, he didn't get it.
“Weren't there three types of Devil Fruits?”, asked Nami, now no longer hiding behind Zoro.
“Yes, there are, some of you may have heard this, but I better explain it in more detail. The first type, the Paramecia-type is the Devil Fruit I, my sister and Luffy have eaten. It is the most common type and many say that it is the most useless type. Something that is up to debate. It allows the person who has eaten one to do things that are strange to most others.
Luffy's body has changed into rubber, I have control over vibrations and Lia can influence any type of pressure. Others are able to make you love them, or change your body into metal,”
“Like this drag queen, he could copy our faces and bodies”, interrupted Sanji. He has crawled out of the hole.
“ Most likely, their usefulness depends on the intelligence and instincts of their user. Luffy has still much to learn, but he has already achived much with a superficial seen useless fruit.” Luffy nodded proudly, not getting that I also said that he isn't strong and that his fruit is seen as useless.
“The next most common to find is the Zoan type. They change the person into an animal. Like a lion or a dog. But there are also Zoan fruits that change the person into a human. Sounds strange, but there are many types of humans. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Devil Fruit that would change you into a long-ear human.” They nodded along, probably making the connection between Chopper and his human fruit. Chopper, by the way, wasn't with them now. Must be fetching the giant crab.
“Sorry, but what are the differences between you and us?”, asked Ussop meekly, he hasn't come any closer to either me or Lia since his arrival. And was even still standing behind Zoro.
“We of the long-ear tribe have obviously longer ears but also a lither body build, can hear better and are agiler than the normal human. There are also people who have longer legs, double-jointed arms or even long noses.” They all were now staring at Ussop's nose.
“Hey! What are you looking at?”
Nami thankfully brought us back on track. “Nothing, anyway, Lara, you've said that there is a third type of Devil Fruit. That must be this Logia type, how are they so different from the other two?”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Yes, you should have seen at least one of them by now. Logia aren't so different from Paramecia types. They too can manipulate things or change their body.
The main factor is that they are immune to normal physical attacks. For example, a fire type Logia user can turn his body into flames and fly around. Or you try to hit him, yet his body changes into literal fire and you get burned. Simply put, they can make themselves intangible.
Logia user are generally seen as the strongest Devil Fruit user. No normal Marine or pirate can harm them. Captain Smoker of the Marines, if you have seen him, is a Logia user. The three Admirals of the Marines are too. As well as this Portgas D. Ace of the Whitebeard pirates.
Many of the strongest are Logia user. And so is Crocodile.” At the end of my explanation, many of them nodded. Ussop even made an aha sound.
“Eh, I don't get it, why can't I hit him?” Of course, their resident idiot does not understand. Well then, an explanation for the idiots.
“It's a mystery power that makes every attack you try miss.” This time everyone looked at me with a strange expression, but Luffy was nodding in understanding.
“Aha, so that's how it is. But then what can we do?” Before I could answer Nami had already hit him for being stupid. I'm not sure that hitting him will help, but why should I care.
“Crocodile has a Devil Fruit that lets him freely manipulate sand. He can also suck out the water of anything he touches. This makes a direct confrontation dangerous for anyone who isn't prepared. So it is of utmost importance to not get directly hit and to not let him touch you.
Or for those like Luffy. He no touchy touchy you and water makes the mystery power go away.” This time everyone nodded. Luffy even hit his hand and made a loud aha sound.
“So all I have to do is to get water on me before punching him?” He nonetheless asked to be sure.
“Yes, spray some water on your hand after each hit to make sure that you can punch his face in. If you're dry the mystery power is working again.”
“I'm impressed how easily she can explain this stuff to an idiot like Luffy”, praised Nami from the side. She had an expression of awe. Ussop was agreeing with her by nodding rapidly.
From the corner of my vision, I saw a dust cloud coming closer. “Guy's I found a transport!” It was Chopper the reindeer-human on a big crab. Seeing the reindeer in real life was strange. I never really liked reindeer. They are kinda ugly. Chopper doesn't look like a normal reindeer. First, he walks on two legs. He is short, his horns are not as big and look as if they are more accessories to his hat. Oh, and his nose is blue.
“Who're those two?”, he asked when we all finished climbing on the big crab.
Nami swiftly began to introduce us. “Those are Lara and Lia, I don't know who the chicken is. They are friends with us and also helping Vivi in beating Crocodile. We've found them just a moment ago. Come to think of it, why were you there?”
“I fought Crocodile, but he ran when it didn't go his way” stated Lia simply.
I ignored the stunned look of Ussop and Nami and focused on Chopper. He noticed and got all insecure. Fidgeting with his hooves and looking around as if he has done something.
“Oh, you haven't met Chopper have you?`He is our ship doctor. He is a reindeer that ate a Devil Fruit. After your explanation it must have been one of these Zoan fruits,” continued Nami after a short pause.
“N..nice to meet you. I'm Chopper” He said shyly.
“Bog,” clucked Mrs Chicken Wing from my shoulder. She had a haughty look in her eyes.
“What? I'm not a wimp. I'm strong I tell you!” protested Chopper loudly to whatever Mrs Chicken Wing has accused him of.
“Lara, who is this chicken?”, asked Nami, interested in our relationship with the hen.
“Boug, bog bog bouugg” Mrs Chicken Wing clucked so with a haughty beak.
“She says that this 'chicken' is the mighty Mrs Chicken Wing, glorious defender or the Shadow and wife of the Basilisk. Show some respect to your betters” translated Chopper. Who's the Basilisk? I have never heard of this name in One Piece.
“What did this chicken think she is?!” Nami began to rage and even waved her fist in anger.
“You might not fight with her. She is a strange hen and probably either the strongest member of my crew or the third strongest”, I warned. “I never managed to land a hit on her. Trust me, I would also rather eat her than having her sitting on my shoulder” I added.
“Boug! Bogbog booouuggg”, the end was sounding strangely proudly. “Exactly, listen to the Failed Hunter. Her and Supplier of Corn's puny attempts at hunting me never succeeded. I was personally trained by my husband.” Having Chopper is great. Now I can understand her perfectly and don't have to interpret everything. Even if she speaks as arrogantly and haughtily as she acts.
The Supplier of Corn might be Lia, but I want to be something else. Failed Hunter sounds not really cool, nor funny.
“Anyway, please ignore the chicken. She is something like our ship guard. More important is what we are now going to do. We need to reach Alubarna as quickly as possible,” threw Lia in. She looked a little miffed about Crocodiles hasty retreat.
“Hey, I will beat the gator-idiot” protested Luffy. He was promptly ignored.
“Lia, you had your chance, next time it's my turn.” Lia glared at me for a moment but agreed after giving her a quick kiss and a promise of her favourite bedtime activity.
“You two are acting as if Crocodile would be easy to beat”, mumbled Vivi from her side of the crab.
Up until now, she was only listening to us.
Lia answered her confidently. “It depends on the situation, but yes. Both of us are capable of beating Crocodile. We also don't need the water trick.”
“Says you, who's Haki wasn't strong enough to give him lasting damage.” My tone was teasingly, so she only gave me a playful nudge.
“This isn't the first time I have heard you speaking about Haki, what is it exactly?” Asked Zoro with a strong glint in his eyes. The desire to gain strength is strong in him.
“Nothing you are able to learn quickly. What Lia meant is the Armament Haki. It is a skill that allows someone to coat their body or weapon in something like an aura. It hardens the coated object and makes it even immune to Devil Fruit attacks.
Luffy, for example, doesn't feel it when someone hits him. This is why I do it with a slightly coated hand. The Armament will negate his rubber resistance and he will feel pain from my fist”, I explained.
“I don't get it”
“Another mystery skill that allows to make Crocodiles mystery skill useless and also makes my hits hurt you”, I said again to the resident idiot.
“Aha!”
“But how do you train in it?” Asked Zoro after a short silence of wonder over Luffy's stupidity.
“First you have to unlock it. You either get trained by a skilled user or fight a lot of hard battles, deadly battles.” At least that is what I believe was the requirement. Both in combination quickens the process.
“And don't ask us to teach you, we are already trying to train our crew in it. So far none of them has awakened it. I have the theory that people from outside of the Grand Line have a harder time in learning it. Both Lara and I only needed a day to gain some results. None of our crew has shown any signs of having unlocked Haki.
Josef is probably the closest to gaining some insight in Observation Haki. But he too is from the Grand Line. Other than me or Lara only Mrs Chicken Wing can use Haki”, said Lia before Sanji or Zoro could ask. Probably only Sanji would have asked. Zoro isn't the type to ask for training. Maybe an explanation, but not direct training.
“Bog”, added the hen on my shoulder. “Mrs Chicken Wing agrees, Haki training isn't something done quickly and needs a lot of time.” A wonder what Chopper can translate from a simply cluck.
“Hey guys, there is a river ahead”, informed Ussop suddenly from the front of the crab.
“I can see it as well, can this crab swim?” asked Sanji.
“Moving Crabs are desert creatures, they don't like large bodies of water” answered Vivi in the negative.
“Grichichi” Chopper, as dutiful as always, translated. “He said that he loves dancers and might gain some energy when he sees a beautiful lady dancing.” So we turned Nami around and let her wiggle around in front of the large eyes of the perverted crab.
“Why do I have to do this? Vivi, Lara and Lia are also beautiful.”
“Vivi is a princess and you have the bigger tits”, I answered matter of factly, while groping her chest from behind. The crab, as well as Sanji, liked this very much and increased his speed tremendously.
It stormed, without fear, forward and it even looked like it would be able to run on the water. Just that it didn't. The crab quickly lost it's speed and started to sink.
Both Lia and I hastily used Geppo to not get inside the water. I also grabbed Chopper. His fur was strangely soft. I might have to keep him for some cuddling.
Luffy had no one to save him and he sunk like an anchor. Sanji was needed to dive down and save him.
“We are flying!”, screamed Chopper in shock.
“Not really, but yes. But we have to get to the other side of the river, can you swim so far?” Said Lia while looking down at the wet Straw Hat pirates.
“That are fifty kilometres”, answered Vivi. Ussop was starting to make a fuss about the distance until a giant fish came up and tried to eat them all.
The fish got swiftly and suddenly beaten up by a group of sea lions with shells on their back. They were called Dugongs by the others.
With their help, we managed to get to the other side and could even sit on the defeated fish.
On the other shore, we were greeted by seven ducks. With them, we are able to quickly reach Alubarna. The strange camel, that was also on the crab when Chopper came transported Nami. Lia and I got the biggest duck and Luffy shared his with Chopper.
This might get interesting. But let's not take the fights away from the Straw Hats. They need this to grow as well. And their enemies are too weak, to begin with. Yosaku and Jonny would have been good now. Well, maybe we can still fight Crocodile, he should be more serious now, after his fight with Lia.