Arriving at the desert town, Sandy Claws, the crew breathes tirelessly in the gruesome desert heat.
"It's so hot…" Rainbow complained. "Why isn't there anymore snow?"
"I'm sorry." Twilight muttered. "I got too tired. I must have used up all of my magic."
"It's alright. Look! We're finally in a town!" Chopper exclaimed.
The place had many dry looking buildings. The griffons were wearing shawls to hide from the suns unforgiving rays. As they entered town, Chopper along with all the ponies fell down.
"O-Oi! What's wrong!?" Usopp asked.
"It's just too hot." Luffy sighed.
"I barely have the energy to get up from this icky sand." Rarity complained.
"I can't even think what to say about that." Applejack added.
"I think the heat is affecting them more than us since they have a coat of fur." Robin concluded.
"We'll just have to find a place to rest tonight then." Zoro suggested.
As they entered into town, the folk glared at them. Obviously, they were unwelcome. Gilda was carrying Rainbow and Applejack, Zoro was holding Twilight and Rarity, Usopp was holding Pinkie and Fluttershy, and Robin was embracing Luffy and Chopper.
Looking for a place to stay, they try to go to the buildings only to be blocked by griffons.
"Sorry, this place is closed." They claimed.
"But it says open right there." Usopp pointed out.
"This place… is closed"
Leaving that place, they go to another only to get the same treatment as last time.
"This place isn't for you, so why don't you just get a move on?" The griffon told them.
"Come on! We have the money!" Usopp shouted at them. "I think…"
"It's obvious why they're doing this." Zoro stated.
"They know we're criminals of this country." Robin explained. She pointed to the wall to reveal multiple issues of the recent scuffle in Griffora, revealing Luffy and his new accomplices attacking the Griffon Kingdom. They look around to see the many dirty looks the griffons were giving. Brushing on, they search for a place to stay.
It was finally night time, and the desert brushes an unforgiving cold wind across the desert. The group had no choice but to make shelter out of an old building. Only two of the decaying walls stood up. Nothing else was really there for them.
"I'm hungry!" Luffy complained.
"Me too! Where's the grub?" Rainbow added.
"I'm not one to be a glutton." Applejack stated. "But we haven't had something to eat in a while."
"We tried to buy some supplies, but those griffons won't listen to us." Usopp told them.
"Don't forget, we now have 4 fugitives in our group." Twilight informed everyone. "Luffy with a bounty of 500,000,000; Rainbow with a bounty of 350,000,000; Usopp with a bounty of 200,000,000; and Robin with a bounty of 280,000,000."
"Wow! That's a pretty good bounty you guys!" Luffy commended Robin and Usopp.
"It's not something to be proud of!" Twilight shouted before sighing.
"Let's focus on the main problem here." Gilda spoke. "We need to get to the next place, but we have no food, barely any water, and most of us can't survive in the desert without Twilight's powers."
"And no one's willing to give us any of that." Rarity added.
"If we don't find a way out of this town, we'll be stuck here."
"Can't we just take the stuff and leave the bits?" Rainbow suggested.
Everyone exchanged looks at the idea. Surprisingly, it wasn't a bad one.
"Yeah, we could." Twilight replied. "Huh, good idea Rainbow."
"We have plenty of bits, but we'll need somepony who can grab the supplies quickly while somepony else leaves it." Applejack thought. "But who…?"
Luffy, Rainbow, Pinkie, and Gilda merely smiled. They all got the idea immediately as they nodded.
A shopkeeper was screaming at his empty store. The griffons nearby came to see what was wrong.
"What happened!?" a griffon asked.
"My wares! My sleeping bags, maps, and tents! Somepony took them!" The shop keep informed the others.
"You were robbed!?"
"N-No, actually, they left the exact change." He showed off the bag of bits left behind.
"W… What's the problem then?"
Meanwhile over by the food stands, the produce and meat were disappearing, leaving behind a rainbow and a pile of bits on the stands. The griffons were freaking out on what was going on.
"What is this!?" They screamed.
"It's those ponies and freaks from earlier!" One accused. "They think they can get away with this!"
Over by the restaurant, Luffy and Pinkie were fleeing with pouches of food filling their cheeks, away from the chef throwing his fist at them.
"Hey! Come back here!" He shouted.
"Oh right!" Luffy realized. "Pinkie! We forgot something!"
The two stopped and turned to the chef and bowed saying, "Thanks for the meal."
"I don't care! You didn't pay!" The chef shouted as the two continued to run.
"Luffy! Pinkie!" Applejack rebuked. "We're supposed to pay them!"
As the group continued their operations, a certain group of griffons watch from afar. Commander Zerox had on a shoulder plating of steel, and his subordinates were armed with crossbows. The second in command was Vero, a griffon with a gauntlet having long sharp blades. They loom over the city as they commenced with their objectives.
Rainbow and Fluttershy were walking through town with saddle bags carrying the various supplies they had collected. Rainbow was looking back to Fluttershy with a thought in mind.
"So Fluttershy…" She began. "How does the Haoshoku Haki work anyways?"
"Huh? Oh… Well…" She pondered at the idea of it for a moment. "If I remember correctly, it would be the ability to conquer somepony else's willpower."
"Willpower?" she repeated.
"I haven't used it in a while… I mean, I know I've been training to use it, but now… I'm not so sure if I want to anymore."
"What!?" Rainbow yelped. "Why not!?"
"It's just… The ability to use Haki is so… scary…" She whimpered. "I… I just don't want to use it again on anypony ever again… my animals… Luffy…"
"Are you talking about the time when Discord messed with our heads?" Rainbow questioned.
Fluttershy nodded as she looked down shamefully. "It's just… I feel so awful about what I did. Instead of using Haki to make sure nopony can get hurt, I ended up doing the opposite. Honestly, I mostly wanted to do it so I can be a better caretaker to the animals, but…"
"Don't worry about it Flutters." Rainbow assured her with a pat on the shoulder. "You should keep working on it. I mean, Luffy did go out of his way to help, so might as well not let it go to waste. Am I right?"
"I guess so…" She sighs.
Suddenly, Fluttershy stops Rainbow and looks to the roof. An arrow shoots by, missing the two by an inch. The assailant was a Vero as he reloads his crossbow as he merely smiles at his targets.
"I didn't think the yellow one would notice me so quickly." He thought. "Heck, I didn't even think she'd act so calm about it."
"Wow, that Haki stuff sure is doing the trick on you." Rainbow stated.
Fluttershy was silent, making the two feel anxious. Could this pegasus actually be more of a threat then she looks?
She then looks down and places both her hooves on her head. "That was so scary!"
"ARE YOU SERIOUS!?" Rainbow and Vero exclaimed, as they were expecting more from her.
"Anyways." Rainbow turned to Vero, getting back on the subject on hoof. "Who the hay are you!?"
"I'm so glad you asked." Vero chuckled as he finishes up loading the crossbow. "I'm Vero, 2nd commander of the 5th assassination squad."
"A-A-Assassination!?" Fluttershy whimpered.
"5th?" Rainbow repeated. "What happened to the other four?"
"There still alive our organization of squads work like- DON'T INTERUPT ME!" Vero scolded as he pointed the crossbow at them. "Enough stalling! We've been ordered to turn you in Rainbow Dash! I recommend you give up. That way, I won't have to turn in a corpse to my king!"
"Oh, pfft, yeah, sure you are." Rainbow scoffed. "Next, you're gonna tell me that Twilight's gonna be an alicorn someday."
"Who's Twilight?" Vero asked. "Dah! Stop distracting me from my job!"
"It's your own dang fault!" Rainbow rebuked.
"Um… Mr. Vero? Would it be kind enough for you to let me and Rainbow go? We don't want to do any harm here in Sandy Claws."
"Well, when you put it that way- HECK NO! Stop trying to fool me!" Vero shouted.
"You're the fool here." Rainbow retorted.
"Enough of these running gags!" Vero growled as he showed off his bladed gauntlet. He jumps off and rushes forward to attack.
Rainbow jumps away from Vero in time while Fluttershy quickly hid from battle. Vero swung his blade around, pushing Rainbow into a corner. As he pierced it towards her, Rainbow ducked and ends up letting the blade stab into the wall. She then tackled Vero down forcing him down to the ground. Rainbow then rushed forward as she somersaulted in the air.
"Dynamo Dive!"
The kick of her hind leg lands a critical hit on Vero's back. He flinches to the agonizing pain before grabbing Rainbow's leg and throws her aside. He recovers and looks over to Fluttershy with an idea. He flies over to her before Rainbow was able to stand up in time.
"Fluttershy!" Rainbow called. "Look out!"
Fluttershy's eyes shrink as Vero came close. As he slashes at her, his blade was grabbed before the sword reached her eye. Gilda was holding on tightly to the sharp weapon, glaring at Vero.
"You!" Vero muttered before backing off. "Traitor!"
"You okay?" Gilda asked Fluttershy as she protected her from Vero.
"Y-Yes… Thank you Gilda." Fluttershy replied gratefully.
Gilda nodded and went back to the fight. Rainbow and Gilda were up against Vero, who was getting very frustrated.
"This won't do." He said before taking out a potion. "Looks like I'll need this."
He began to drink it before the others. Finishing up his chug, he throws the bottle to the side and his muscles began to expand.
"What did he drink?" Rainbow wondered.
"I don't know, but we better watch out." Gilda warned her.
"Wing Buster!"
Vero's wings extended and whipped both Rainbow and Gilda. He then went up with Rainbow in his grasp and then threw her down through a building by four stories. The colorful pegasus was coughing from the unexpected strength of Vero before realizing he was flying straight down to her with a blade ready to stab her. She gets out of the way in time before the attack punctured the ground and destroyed the streets. Astounded by the power, Rainbow and Gilda backed off from the deadly opponent.
"I don't know what he drank." Gilda said. "But whatever it was, it made him way too hard to handle like this."
"We might need our friends to help out." Rainbow admitted. "Gilda! You and Fluttershy go find the others while I distract this dude!"
"What!? Are you crazy!?" Gilda scolded. "After he just threw you down like that!?"
Vero swooped in and attempted to cut Rainbow and Gilda. Dodging in time, Rainbow yelled, "I'll be fine! Just hurry back with Twilight and the others!"
Gilda was hesitant at the idea, but complied. She escaped with Fluttershy as Rainbow took on Vero alone.
"Just need to buy them some time." Rainbow muttered.
Vero slashed the ground, causing the floor to be cut open. Rainbow soared out of the obstacle only to be slammed down by Vero who somehow flew up in time to catch her. Rainbow fell into the hold but managed to stop her fall as she placed her hooves on the walls, preventing further descent. Flying back up, Vero takes off his weapon and throws it at Rainbow, cutting her by the wing. She falls before getting caught by Vero.
"D¬-Dang it…" Rainbow cursed before fainting.
"You lose you sly pegasus." Vero said smugly.
Robin, Usopp, Applejack, Pinkie, and Chopper were escaping from the rain of arrows being fired by the griffons. The shower of the incoming deadly projectiles were piercing everything that was within range. The shops and houses were given no mercy as some were even demolished.
"What's with these arrows!?" Usopp screamed. "They're destroying the buildings!"
"Are they using Haki?" Robin wondered.
"I heard there are some magical materials that can only be found in the Griffon Kingdom." Applejack informed the others. "We have some for Big Mac's harness, so it wouldn't break."
"But they could break buildings!?" Chopper questioned.
Pinkie's tail started to twitch as she then told the others, "Follow me! I can take us somewhere safe!"
Using her Pinkie sense, she lead the group away from the hail of arrows. Every spot of safety was taken to avoid where most of the arrows would land. Eventually, after going from safe spot to safe spot, Pinkie manages to find the perfect place to take cover. The arrows continued to fall, but they couldn't reach through the rubble of the last building, acting like a barrier.
"Looks like we're finally safe." Usopp sighed in relief. "Good job Pinkie."
"That was so cool!" Chopper complimented her.
"Thanks!" Pinkie replied. "That's just my Pinkie sense. Or as Luffy called it, Kenbunshoku Haki."
"Interesting." Robin responded. "It seems that even ponies can have Haki as well."
"Pretty lucky that Pinkie, Rainbow, and Fluttershy has this, Haki stuff." Applejack stated with simple smile. "Otherwise, we might have not made it out of this."
"It doesn't look like they're stopping anytime soon." Usopp stated as he looked outside. "I sure hope Luffy and the others are doing okay."
Luffy was carrying the supplies with Twilight and Rarity nearby. As they walked along the empty road, Twilight looked around to notice something.
"Hey… Where's Zoro!?"
"Is he lost again?" Rarity wondered. "Honestly, these pirates need to get organized."
"You really think so?" Luffy laughed.
"Luffy, why don't you take it more seriously?" Twilight questioned.
Before he could respond, he noticed something. Throwing the bag to Rarity, he jumps into the air to bite an incoming arrow. The two unicorns were shocked as Luffy landed, snapping the thing in two.
"Who did that!?" Twilight exclaimed. "Show yourself!"
Zerox stepped out, dropping his crossbow. He revealed his presence before the three with a sinister grin. "Very impressive Pony D. Luffy. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Commander Zerox."
"He must have been sent to take Luffy and the others." Rarity hypothesized.
"Luffy! We better get out of here!" Twilight recommended.
"Hey Zero! If you're gonna attack my friends, you got another thing coming!"
"It's Zerox!" He scolded. "Learn the name well Straw Hat! I'll be the one who brings your head to the king!"
"Luffy!" Twilight called. Luffy merely went closer to the griffon.
"I'll handle him. You get out of here!" Luffy told the two. "And keep the food safe!"
"That's what your worried about?" Rarity retorted.
Zerox pulled out a pistol and shot it to Rarity. Luckily, it just shoots through the bag she was given by Luffy. It was enough of an example on what the weapon could do if it hits them.
"What is that!?" Twilight questioned.
"It's a gun." Luffy answered.
"The first ones in Equestria. A common weapon of the great sea. Simple to them, extraordinary to us." Zerox commented on the arsenal.
"You better go!" Luffy ordered the two.
"I'll stay with you!" Twilight said. "Rarity, you go find the others! We need to regroup as soon as possible!"
"What!? By myself!? With this heavy thing!?" Rarity whined.
Zerox shot another round, making the two take cover. Rarity then said, "Oh alright! Good luck you two!"
Rarity fled, leaving only Luffy and Twilight to face Zerox. The battle started with Zerox rapidly firing the pistol at Luffy. He smoothly leaned away from the path of each bullet. Zerox then took out a spear in an attempt to cut off Luffy's head. As he tried to, Luffy wrapped his hooves around the spear, preventing the attack from going any further. However, that's when Zerox's spear sprayed a gas.
"What the-!?" Luffy yelped. He couldn't block the gas as his hooves were wrapped around the spear.
"Sleeping Gas." Zerox informed him. "You'll fall to sleep in seconds. Not that you'll have long to live."
Zerox shot the pistol at Luffy, scaring Twilight a lot. The bullet however didn't pierce Luffy's body. Instead, it stretched his body before sending it back to Zerox, missing him by a spec.
"You can't do that to me anyways…" Luffy drowsily said. "Cause I'm… a rubber… pony…"
Luffy retracted his hooves from the spear and fell to a deep slumber. Zerox decides to stab Luffy instead with the spear. As he tried to however, Twilight levitated the sleeping boy away from the griffon. It was Twilight's turn to fight.
"Now it's my turn." She declared. "You better get ready."
"A unicorn huh?" Zerox chuckled. "I guess you must have some dangerous spells then."
Though she wasn't a fighter herself, she knew a spell or two to defend herself from foes like Zerox. She first lit her horn on fire and suddenly engulfed the area with embers. The battlefield of fire was set, and now Twilight was up against Zerox.
"I haven't fought a unicorn who uses attribute type magic in a while." Zerox claimed. "Is your specialty fire?"
Twilight's expression was blank. Attempting to trick her opponent to think she was a seasoned magic fighter, she knew she has not put much of a dent in her studies of this fighting style. I don't know much about using attribute magic, but I do know a few nifty tricks of them. I just need to play my cards right.
Twilight then manipulated the embers to make a gigantic pole of fire and swung it around. Zerox attempted to block it with his spear, only to feel the simmering heat of the metal reach his talons. In pain, he withdrew from the object and kept his distance.
"Not bad." Zerox commended Twilight before spinning his spear. The spinning soon created a vent of air blowing the fire away. Twilight was shocked as the embers began to thin out. "Judging how you couldn't keep the fire going from a little wind says a lot about your experience."
"Shoot!" Twilight cursed before Zerox came in close. Twilight quickly levitated the spear up, fumbling the commander. When he tripped over, Twilight blasted the floor with flames before jumping back. Zerox managed to survive it before pointing the pistol at Twilight and shooting. She got hit and dropped to the floor in pain of the bullet.
"Nice try, but now that I know you're an amateur at offensive magic, there's nothing you can do." Zerox laughed. "You're lucky. Did you know, it only takes one bullet to kill somepony? Though Straw Hat is immune, we can't really say the same about you, can we?"
Twilight was on the edge of her life. Either being killed right there and then, or captured and possibly even being sent to Talon's Hold. She however feared for the sake of Luffy, being powerless at this state. Using all of her energy, she teleported the two away from Zerox. He didn't expect this and also became angered.
"Cheap trick you scum." He sneered. "Don't think you've escaped the inevitable!"
Zoro looks around to see the town's oasis tourist spot. He looks around to see no one nearby. Grumbling to himself, he complains.
"Did they get lost again? Damn, they're hopeless."