Willoffire123: And we're back!

Zoro: We didn't go anywhere. It's only been a few hours since you uploaded the first chapter.

Willoffire123: That is true.

Zoro: You forgot to do the disclaimer last chapter.

Willoffire123: W-WHAT? YOU'RE RIGHT! SWORD BOY SAY DISCLAIMER NOW!

Zoro: Tch, fine. Willoffire123 doesn't own One Piece.

Willoffire123: Phew! I thought we were going to be arrested! Take it away Chopper!

Chopper: On with the chapter!

Zoro's POV

"Hey Usopp. You find anything yet?" I asked over the intercom.

"All I've found is that this place is called Paradise Island. None of these books say anything else about it," came the voice of Usopp over the intercom.

"Fine then. Trade places with Sanji," I ordered.

"What about you?" he asked, climbing down the stairs.

"I'm gonna go check on Luffy and Chopper," I told him, starting towards the infirmary. When I opened the door, the first thing my eyes fixed upon was Luffy. It wasn't a pretty sight. Luffy was breathing hard, tiny beads of sweat appearing on his flushed face. Chopper had bandaged all of his wounds, making Luffy look sort-of like a mummy. Only, his face wasn't all wrapped up. There was some sort of tube thing sticking out of Luffy's hand. Tracing my eyes along it, I could see that the tube lead to a stand thing with a bag of liquid on it, marked IV DRIP. Another tube was sticking out of Luffy's neck, and an oxygen mask was safely secured on his face. The steady beep of Chopper's life support machine told me not to worry too hard just yet.

"How is he?" I asked Chopper.

"He's doing worse," Chopper grimaced. "I just finished the second operation on him, his shattered ribs will hold for now. But now he's running a high fever due to his wounds. Will you help me?"

I nodded. "Tell me what to do."

"I need you to hold him down. I'm going to give him a new sedative. Luffy has a stronger reaction to medicines than normal humans do, so I don't know how he'll react to this. If he starts thrashing around, hold him fast until he's completely out of it," said Chopper, filling one of the syringes in his desk with a clear liquid.

"What will that do?" I asked, clamping my hands as gently as possible on Luffy's shoulders.

"This'll inject an army of special blood cells that will help him fight off the fever," said Chopper, turning to Luffy's bed.

Chopper stuck the needle of the syringe into a point on Luffy's neck. Luffy made no resistance as the blood cells drained into his body.

"He's so out of it that he can't resist anymore," I said in wonder.

Chopper nodded. "He's drifting further and further away from us. We have to get to Paradise Island. And fast," said Chopper, urgently.

"Hey Zoro! You might wanna see this!" came Sanji's voice over the intercom.

I shot a glance at Chopper.

"Go," he said, busying himself with changing Luffy's bandages. "I'll stay with Luffy."

I nodded. "Right." I rushed out onto the deck. The rest of the Strawhats were gathered on the starboard side of the deck. Judging by the fact that Usopp had left the wheel, we had stopped moving. But why?

"What's going on?" I demanded, walking over to join my friends. "Why did we drop anchor? You know we have to keep moving."

Nami pointed down at the sea below us. There, bobbing in the water next to the Thousand Sunny, was a small, yellow powerboat. Portgaz D. Ace stood in the boat, grinning up at us.

"Hey guys! What's up?"

Still Zoro's POV

"So Ace; what are you doing here?" I asked the minute he'd climbed on board.

"I was in the area when I spotted your ship," he said casually. "And man is it cool! Who made this thing?"

"I did," said Franky proudly.

"Sweet! You're the shipwright? Who taught you?" asked Ace, craning his neck.

"His name was Tom," said Franky.

"Oh, sorry to hear that. I'm sure he had a good run," said Ace sympathetically.

"Oh, right!" said Nami, looking at Robin and Franky. "You two probably don't know him. This is Portgaz D. Ace. Ace's the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, and Luffy's older brother."

"WH-WHAT! LUFFY HAS A BROTHER?" shouted Franky.

Robin smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ace."

"By the way," said Ace, plopping down on the tree swing. "Where's Luffy?"

Uh oh…how are we gonna break this to him?

I sighed. "Ace, you'd better follow me. Nami, you coming?"

Nami nodded. "Of course."

Ace stood up wearily. "Zoro, where's my little brother?"

I grimaced. "It's easier for me to show you. Follow us."

Nami and I lead Ace to the infirmary. I thought bringing Nami along would be a good idea since she seems to be the one most likely to calm Ace down before his rampage burns us all to a crisp.

"LUFFY!" shouted Ace, his eyes growing wide at the sight of his brother. "Who did this?" he said. I could hear his voice shaking with suppressed rage.

"We were attacked by a Marine Branch a couple of hours ago," I said. I got down on my knees in front of Ace. Nami and Chopper seemed to understand, so they did the same.

"Please, forgive us Ace!" shouted Nami. "We let our guard down, allowing the marines to ambush Luffy. He was badly outnumbered. But he stalled them so that we could get away. We let Luffy go through hell again; that's why he's in so much pain, and it's all our fault!"

"Please, forgive us!" all three of us said at once.

"Hey," said Ace. "What am I supposed to be forgiving you for again? You didn't do anything wrong. It's that Marine Branch that will burn to the ground," he said, an evil glint in his eye.

At that moment, we heard a groan from the bed. In an instant, Chopper was standing on his swivel chair next to Luffy's bed, clipboard in hand, and Ace knelt next to the bed, holding Luffy's non-broken hand in his own.

"A-ace…" mumbled Luffy, his voice; dry and raspy.

"I'm here, Luffy," said Ace.

With another groan, Luffy opened his eyes by a fraction.

"It is you," he said weakly. He jolted straight up in bed, as if he had been electrocuted. "My friends! We were attacked! If I don't find them soon they'll-GAAAAHHHHHH!" he screamed in pain, clutching at his stomach.

"Luffy!" said Chopper urgently. Ace and I pushed him back down onto the bed.

"Oh no, you're not going anywhere," said Ace sternly.

"B-but my friends might have been captured by the marines," Luffy protested.

Nami sat down on the side of his bed, ignoring the various splotches of dried blood.

"Sshh, it's okay Luffy. We're right here. See? Chopper, Zoro, and me, we're right here. We won't leave your side again," she said. "Zoro, Ace, stay with him. I'm going to get the others before he loses consciousness again."

"Of course," said Ace.

"Zoro, Chopper," said Luffy, panting hard. "What happened after I passed out?"

"You don't have to worry about that now, Luffy," said Chopper soothingly. "Look, all of your friends are here."

Sure enough, Usopp, Sanji, Robin, and Franky had come charging into the infirmary with Nami.

"Luffy! You're awake!" cried Usopp.

"Thank goodness! I'm so glad," said Robin, smiling.

"Super! Just super!" bawled Franky.

"You idiot," said Sanji.

"Everyone's okay…" Luffy rasped. Chopper pushed him down against his pillow when he tried to sit up again.

"You need your rest," Chopper ordered. "I have a sleeping pill if-"

"He's already asleep," said Robin. Sure enough, Luffy had once again lost consciousness.

IN THE KITCHEN

Nami's POV

"So that's the full story of what happened," I finished.

"Luffy needs medical attention," said Chopper. "The kind of medical attention that I can't give him. So we're heading for Paradise Island."

"Then we're in luck," said Ace. "Paradise Island is known for it's advanced culture. That includes medical skills and technology. Of course, I'll be coming with you."

Everyone immediately looked at Zoro.

"What?" he said.

"You're the captain! Remember?" I said, vein twitching.
"So? He'd come whether I said yes or no anyway. What right do I have to tell him he can't protect and save his little brothers life?" said Zoro.

"Thanks Zoro," said Ace.

"Alright then," said Zoro. "Sanji! Raise the anchor!"

"Why do I have to do it?" Sanji whined.

"Because you were the first person I saw," retorted Zoro.

"Just do it, Sanji. Quit being a wimp. With the Thousand Sunny, all you have to do to raise and lower the anchor is press a button," I said, thoroughly annoyed by this point.

"Anything for you! Nami, my darling!" he shouted. I threw my book at him, hitting him on the head.

"QUIET! LUFFY'S SLEEPING!" I roared.

"But you're making more noise than he was," said Zoro, watching the retreating cook's back.

"HUH? DID YOU SAY SOMETHING ZORO?" I said, turning on him.

Ace howled with laughter as I chased Zoro out of the kitchen.

*Luffy, * thought Ace, his thoughts drifting back to the frail boy. *Hang in there.*

Willoffire123: Yay! Ace's here!
Luffy: YAHOO! ACE'S HERE

(Willoffire123 goes to her emo corner)

Luffy: Eh? What's up?

Willoffire123: (bursts into tears) ACE! LUFFY!

Luffy: What's wrong with you?

Willoffire123: (leaps up with renewed fire in her eyes) don't worry Luffy! This is my fanfiction world! As long as I'm in charge, neither Ace, nor you will die!

Luffy: W-WHAT? I DON'T WANNA DIE! AAAAAHHHHH!

Ace: Calm down Luffy, she's just joking…right?

Willoffire123: (bursts into tears) ACE! I can't even look at you without seeing your death again!

Ace: W-WHAT? I DON'T WANNA DIE! AAAAAHHHHH!

Willoffire123: Uh oh, I've said too much. Until next time folks! Unless the magical fanfiction gods don't erase my existence first…