Author's Note: This is a story that popped up into my brain awhile ago. I will attempt to post a chapter at least once a week, most likely during weekends, but one should not be surprised if I post more chapters up randomly during the week. I am not one to spurn muse whenever I should happen upon it. I will be worming an OC into the story, and I hope you will come to understand and enjoy her presence as I have. I have rated this story overall as 'Mature' but not all chapters will be so. As always, reviews are encouraged, as are suggestions and ideas!

Chapter rating: T- mild violence

Disclaimer: I have no claim to this beautiful world of pirates... only guilty of leaving behind a little something of mine.

The Runner

There was something hypnotic about the rolling thunderclouds that amassed miles above their fleeing heads. The way the coal-black tentacles of heavy moisture writhed through the humid, dark sky made the very heavens seem… alive. And like some great, enraged beast it opened its rain-drenched jaws and loosed a bolt of crackling fire, a bone-shaking roar following soon after. The only people crazy enough to be on the mud-churned streets in a storm like this were the homeless and those with a death wish.

Well, them and the StrawHat Pirates, that is.

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No one, save for perhaps Nami, could have guessed a small, tropical summer island named 'Sugar Town' could provide such a violently abrupt storm on such a massive scale. They certainly hadn't expected such a largely active marine presence on the island either. Earlier, the crew had left a sleeping swordsman and a humming skeleton onboard the Thousand Sunny as they went off in search of some much needed supplies. They'd landed on a rough side of the island, sharp, but relatively low cliffs leading to the small cove that sheltered Sunny. A short, rocky climb gave way to verdant jungle, the stifling air causing most of the pirates to shed a layer or two, much to Sanji's joy and Chopper's distaste.

What surprised the crew was just how well groomed the jungle paths were, distinct routes worn into the ground. Robin surmised that the island was –most likely- for tourists, a notion substantiated by the fact the woods seemed to have been combed of any large predators. After ransacking every fruit tree they came upon and -in Luffy's case- attempting to take a bite out of every animal they came across, the exploration and scavenging party decided to try and actively find the 'town' part of Sugar Town, hints of civilization present in the forested paths and the hand-carved signs.

Very soon after learning the island's name, the StrawHat's quickly came to the conclusion that landing on this particular chunk of land might not have been in their best interests. Sugar Town was indeed a vacation area, just as Robin had predicted. What the archeologist hadn't guessed, however, was that this particular retreat location was maintained exclusively for tenryuubito- World Nobles. And where there were Celestial Dragons, there were marines. Lots of them.

It was times like these the crew almost wished Luffy's hat wasn't so very iconic. They had –luckily- not run close enough to any World Nobles to allow for their captain to punch them square in the face, but the first group of marines they spotted recognized them instantly. One of the marines got an alarm activated with his den den mushi, and it was then the chase began. There were so very many of the military men packed on that small island. Much more than they could have anticipated. Even still, Luffy might have tried to fight them all off with a smile on his face if it hadn't been for Nami's prompting. She could sense the changing pressure, eyes catching the shifting light. The sky was darkening, quickly, and she didn't want to be anywhere near the island when the storm hit. Which meant running, rather than fighting…

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It took mere seconds for the torrential rain to soak the StrawHats to the bone, wet hair and cloth clinging to their straining bodies. The marines were close behind them, but began to lag as they pursued their targets into the jungle. Nami, hovering near the centre of the group, shouted loud enough to be heard over the rain and thunder.

"We have to hurry! We need to get Sunny into open sea before the wind picks up, or we are royally screwed!"

Chopper was a little grateful for the rain, seeing as it kept the marines from firing their rifles at their backs, any sort of gunpowder absolutely useless in this weather. Even if they did somehow manage it, their aim would most likely be atrocious. There were simply too many factors to take into account for a straight shot. The doctor, leaping at the rear of the group in Walk Point, was the only one that seemed to notice the figure that materialized at their flank. A bundle of hair and rags, the youngest StrawHat could only barely make out a vaguely feminine shape the runner possessed, the alleged female running a far distance to their left. She didn't seem aware of the group of pirates at her right, despite running in a similar direction. Instead, she kept glancing behind her at the marines that shouted and tromped behind them all.

The reindeer, nearly tripped over his own legs when he heard the sound of gunfire. 'How-!?' He yelped, surprised and horrified when the bullet whizzed past his shoulder, diving into the main group of wanted pirates. "Look out!" He cried belatedly into the rain, fiercely hoping it would miss his beloved nakama. Rather than miss, it did the next favorable thing, and sank right into the grinning Luffy's shoulder.

"Hup!" The captain stumbled forward, momentum of the bullet forcing him forward even quicker. He kept his balance at the cost of his aim, letting the bullet fly backwards, his crew ducking out of the way. With a rubbery sproing the ball of iron swiftly careened away from the fleeing pirates… and buried itself deep into the stranger female's hip.

Chopper watched, mortified, as the runner stumbled. The bullet might not have taken her down, but being unable to avoid running into a tree at top speed sure did. The right side of her body slammed into the unwavering trunk of a coconut tree, and she instantly crashed into the ground. The doctor shouted, instincts instantly drawing him to the wounded body. He simply couldn't leave a patient, especially not after what he saw. Definitely not when his crew was partially to blame.

"Chopper!" He heard Usopp shout as he shifted to Heavy Point, charging toward the fallen runner. The StrawHat heads were turning toward him.

"Keep going!" Chopper urged them as made his detour. He barely paused in his stride as he ducked down low, scooping the unconscious bundle of body, cloth and blood into his arms. He adjusted his course once more, and made a mad-dash toward the Sunny and the rest of his crew. He could feel the wind starting to whip at his fur, the stinging drops of rain flying faster than even errant bullets in this storm. He heard another shot in the distance, but couldn't see where the bullet had ended up. Hopefully nowhere near his nakama.

After all of Sunny's crew had managed to scramble on board, efficiency gave way to urgency, and Franky managed a hasty Coup de Burst away from the dreaded Sugar Town.

The storm continued to howl at their heels for another three hours.

Word Count: 1144
Muse Source: Fallen Leaves- Billy Talent

"In a crooked little town...
...they were lost, but never found."