Smell
Though it was still dark out, Luffy managed to make an analysis of the islands form. It was a small island but its terrain was awkwardly stretching to the sky. Like it had been grabbed in its center and dragged upward, leaving an odd resemblance to a pear. However, the base of it was shaped like a half-moon, giving it a more welcoming appearance. Luffy couldn't make out the details, but the moonlight revealed all that was needed to throw him into a fit of glee.
"ROBIN, LOOK, IT LOOKS LIKE A PEAR! I'LL GO GET THE OTHERS!" he shouted excitedly.
"HEY GU…" he was cut off by a hand covering his mouth.
"Luffy, they need their sleep. Let's wait until we get a bit closer. For now, just get some rest. I'll wake you when the sun begins to rise" Robin assured.
Luffy's face showed some disappointment, then he grinned with contentment.
"Ok Robin" he replied, then he slipped silently back to the sleeping quarters. Though it was difficult for him to fall asleep that night, but this would be his last rest for a long time.
Zoro awoke to shouting on deck and growled. "Guess sleeps over then" he mumbled to no one in particular, then dragged himself out of bed. After getting changed, and cleaned best he could, he made his way to the kitchen, which had not been cleaned since the night before. Luffy was running about with excitement and pointing at the mountainous island as if the others couldn't see it. Ussop, Chopper, and Luffy were all playing a game between tag, and hide and go seek. Luffy had made his way up one of the sails and had wrapped himself around one of the masts.
"Common Luffy, that's not fair!" Ussop shouted as he attempted to chase the little reindeer around the ship. His wound, he claimed, was the only reason he had failed to catch them, and that, had be been in full health, they would have been out hours ago (they had been playing for quite some time). Chopper, who usually would have been struck in terror, went easy on the sharpshooter, fearing that he might re-open his wound.
Luffy laughed, then spotted Zoro below. He then uncoiled himself from the mast and dropped.
"GOODMORNING ZORO!" He shouted, then crash-landed onto Zoro's shoulders.
"AGG, LUFFY, GET OFF!" Zoro shouted. It was too early for this. He was actually seeing the sunrise, which meant he should still be in bed.
The young teen plopped down beside him and grinned "DID YOU SEE IT?"
"Huh?" Zoro turned to see the island and was surprised he hadn't seen it earlier. Yet, something about it gave him a feeling of dread. As if he had been there before, or had heard of it. Something about that mountain gave him the chills.
Zoro shrugged it off
"Of course I saw it Luffy. What do you think I am, blind?"
"TAG! YOURE IT LUFFY!" Ussop shouted with glee as he punched Luffy on his shoulder. The captain was taken off guard and bounced backwards.
"HEY, NO FAIR, I WAS DISTRACTED!" Luffy shouted back, then seemed to not even care what he had just said and dashed at Chopper who he had spotted sneaking into the Kitchen.
The crew hovered over Nami who tried her best to show each of them their positions on the map she had bought at the previous island. It showed the odd island from above and the village was on the other side which they had come from. Nami had already adjusted the sails and they would be heading in later that day.
"YAY" Luffy shouted out "So we're gonna' be docking soon?"
"Yes Luffy, in about half an hour the village will come into view" she replied.
"Good" Sanji stated "we can finally restock. I will need to do some major grocery shopping, and get some locks for the Merry Go."
"I hope they have some good maps of the next island that I can record and correct when we arrive" Nami stated
"I need to get some dynamite, I've been running low on it, and I need to have some for my experiments" Ussop added. At this Chopper pitched in.
"Ussop, you are in no condition to be shopping. You need to stay on the ship and rest!" he firmly stated, and no one would go against the doctors orders.
Ussop crossed his arm and frowned but didn't protest
"Can someone fetch some for me then? I would really appreciate it."
"I'll do it!" Luffy shouted out with a smile.
"No Luffy," Nami stated firmly "last time we let you shop at a port you walked in front of a marine without hesitation. The last thing we need is to get caught up in some battle. So YOU will be staying near the boat, not running around town"
Luffy surprisingly didn't argue. He just smiled
"Kay Nami"
"I'll fetch the dynamite for you Mr.Ussop" Robin volunteered "and I'd like to do some research on this island. I feel like I've heard about it somewhere."
"I'll go with you Robin!" Sanji practically sang to his beautiful crewmate.
Zoro shrugged "I really don't have a reason to go, but I kinda' want to check out the village. Does anyone want me to get anything?"
"Actually Zoro" Chopper pitched in "I don't feel to good, could you get this list of things for me?" The little reindeer handed him a rather long list of medical supplies. "You don't have to get all of them but I would appreciate it if you looked for me.
"You don't feel good?" Nami asked.
"Come to think of it, I feel a little weird myself" Luffy commented "but I don't feel too different, just… weird."
Robin put her hand on her head "I don't feel bad, just a bit odd."
Zoro cocked his eyebrow "…odd"
"DON'T WORRY ROBIN SWAN! IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I WILL BE THERE TO KEEP YOU SAFE!" Sanji actually sang this time. Robin looked over at him then looked back at Chopper worried.
"I wonder why Mr. Chopper is feeling worse than the rest of us?" Robin questioned aloud.
"That's something to discuss another time. We need to rush in and then rush out of here. Before we know it those marines will be on our tail again" Nami cut off the discussion. "Zoro, Robin, me and …Sanji, will be heading into town once I find a place to hide the Merry Go. Sound good?" The others nodded. "Good" she finished.
"I've studied the maps and I think I've found the perfect hiding place…"
Chopper hated not knowing what a sickness was. He wouldn't let this go without investigation, so he went immediately to his books. What were the symptoms and was there a cure?
After the Merry Go had been hidden, the four teens set off for the town Nami said was called "Sea City". Robin felt something inside of her jolt at the name. Something in the back of her head was telling her this was a bad idea. But they needed the supplies. She wouldn't risk starvation for a feeling she was having.
Luffy and Ussop waved goodbye to the small group. Once they had left Luffy jumped off the boat onto the hard ground below. "Man, I'm surprised that Nami fit the Merry Go through here! No one would ever suspect us here!" he shouted, then started running around in the small cave. "YEA, BUT SHE HAD TO CUT THE MAST IN HALF TO FIT IT IN HERE!" Ussop shouted. Luffy just laughed then started exploring in the cave. Ussop was glad for this, because Nami had known that Luffy would want to explore, so she found a place where Luffy couldn't get into trouble, but still be amused. The cave went on for about half a mile, and then wound up at a large room. The room would be filled with stalagmites and stalactites; he would enjoy himself in there, then come back and tell the rest of them what he had found. "Ok, see ya' Luffy" Ussop spoke back grinning, then looked around to see where Chopper had run off to. "Maybe he needs some assistance…" Ussop asked himself sensing the feelings of boredom creep over him.
Zoro's head popped out from behind a bolder then he was yanked back down by his ear.
"ARG, Nami, its not like anyone's lookin' over here anyways. Psh! Zoro grumbled.
"Hey Marimo, you're neon hair so bright anyone could see it from a mile away" Sanji defended.
"LOOK DARTBROWS, WE'RE GONNA BE WALKIN THROUGH THE DANG CITY ANYHOWS, SO WHATS THE POINT OF HIDING?" Zoro shouted back, resulting on a smack on the head from Nami.
"SHUT UP, both of you! The reason we're hiding is because there might be some patrols up, and we don't want to get caught."
"To late" Robin said cheerfully as they all looked up to see a man hovering over them. Sanji kicked Zoro "stupid". Zoro scowled.
"May I help you?" the man asked.
Nami blinked, then grinned "why, hello…um, actually, if you will, could you direct us towards a pharmacy around here?" covering up her surprise. She was somewhat shocked that the man hadn't recognized Zoro.
"Well, you can just follow me and I'll take you there" the man replied then motioned toward the town. The others looked at each other, shrugged, then followed the man. Zoro gave an odd look, he wasn't a trusting type.
Once they arrived at the town Sanji noticed many peculiar things. There were no elderly men or women in the city. No children either. The city contained mostly young men and a few women. He looked over to see Zoro scowling at everyone they passed. Apparently he had the same suspicion as Sanji. It was odd that the two agreed on something but they did.
This can't be good he thought to himself.
Robin and Nami made no appearance of suspicion, but they were all getting a feeling of dread.
"What do you mean Luffys not with them!... Well, it makes since that they wouldn't want him seen in public for a while; we can work with this. Carry on as planned."
Ussop found Chopper resting in bed digging into his research. He had books spread all across the mattress and had written out a couple pages of notes.
"How's it going Chopper?" Ussop questioned
"I'm worried" the reindeer bluntly responded "only the devil fruit users are affected by this atmosphere. This means that it has to do with sea stone, but we definitely weren't touching any at the time of weakness, but you would have to be touching a sea stone to be effected by it… unless" Chopper hesitated.
"But Chopper, you had a much stronger reaction to it than the others. I wonder why that would be." Ussop wondered aloud.
"Perhaps it's my sense of smell…" Chopper stated.
Ussop thought for a moment then added "But you can't smell sea stone can you?"
"Not in a solidified state, and though I've never heard of someone experimenting further with the metal, it is possible to work with. Perhaps somewhere on this island people are experimenting with it, and since my sense of smell is stronger than the others, I was hit harder" Chopper took a breath, finished writing some notes, then looked back up at Ussop. "I'm worried about the others" he whimpered. Ussop sat down beside the small animal and started rubbing his back "don't worry Chopper, Zoro's with them, along with Sanji and Nami. It would be pretty hard to take them down and I have faith that whatever happens, they'll see themselves through." Chopper sniffed back his tears and gave Ussop a confident smile. "Of course!" he declared crossing his arms.
To be continued…
Thanks to you who commented. I know it's taking a while to get interesting, but the next chapter should be. I will probably add to what time this is taking place in the series eventually. Good day…