Thank you to everybody who reviewed and PM'd with kind words. I'm sorry I couldn't reply to them all, but my internet has been down for a month and I haven't been able to access it at all in the last week and a half. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the last.

Also, to those that asked for the old fic, please remember that your email address does NOT show in a PM or review. If you want to fic, you'll have to write your email address in words, e.g. your email dash one one address at email provider dot com.

Onwards!

Toddler Troubles

Chapter 3: The Toddlers

A heavy silence hung in the air as three dripping figures emerged from the crystalline waters of the lake and crawled (one dragged) back onto the land. The crew's faces ranged from shock and horror to mild surprise and amusement. Nami was the first to speak as her eyes darted from one of her wet friends to the next and finally settled on her captain.

"L... Luffy?" she called, uncertainly.

Zoro, panting heavily from the swim (since when had pulling his air headed captain been so difficult anyways?), raised his head at the tone of urgency in Nami's voice.

"What?"

Emerald eyes widened at the unnaturally high pitch of the voice that left his throat. Sanji seemed to have noticed too as he raised his head and blinked his eyes blearily. Everything seemed so heavy and overwhelming. The blonde shook his head to clear it and stood dizzily.

"Oi, shitty-"

Sanji stopped abruptly as he heard his own voice and quickly moved his hands up to cover his mouth. Sea-blue eyes shot open in shock at his own squeaky voice and then he noticed the hands covering his head. In the space of three seconds, the Straw hat cook took in his own appearance, and then that of his two companions and promptly screamed like a little girl. Just as quick, he smothered the noise with tiny hands as his cheeks coloured deeply. By now Zoro had opened his eyes fully and just stared at his hands blankly as if they had sprouted a few extra fingers.

"What the hell?" he muttered.

Luffy groaned as his strength slowly returned to him and he sat up groggily. All eyes settled on their captain, and waited to see his reaction.

"Luffy," Nami whispered, "You're tiny." Then as an after-thought, "Please tell me, for some reason, you've gone gear third?"

"Eh?" Luffy noised, and then looked quizzically at Nami before looking at himself and then around him at his first mate and cook. His eyes widened and a mixture of shock and excitement crossed his face.

"Ehh? Zoro, Sanji!" he cried, "How did you learn how to go gear third?"

"Idiot!" Zoro roared and punched his captain over his rubbery head. "As if we could do that!"

"Is sacred magic," Golonzo spoke up suddenly, his expression apprehensive as he took in the crew's reactions to their mates changes. "This 'Chia Lalaki' – 'Spirit Lake'."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Sanji yelled, cheeks tinted pink at the sound of his own voice.

"'The Spirit Lake'." Robin repeated, "Otherwise known as the 'lake of Life', or perhaps 'The Fountain of Youth'?"

"You're kidding me," Nami muttered, as her jaw dropped open. "Please tell me this is only temporary. Robin-chan? It is, right?"

"I'm afraid I couldn't say. This lake, until now was considered myth." The dark haired woman answered, and though her words were serious, a flicker amusement shone in her eyes as they glanced at her pintsized crewmembers.

"Well?" Nami repeated, as she turned her attention to the native beside them. "Is this permanent?"

"They be back normal," Golonzo answered with a firm certainty in his voice, and Nami smiled in relief, "In many years."

Nami's smile immediately fell. "What?"

"They grow again." The native explained patiently. "I hold many years. Only honoured peoples use lake. My people not be happy when find out you use."

"I don't give a fuck whether your people are happy or not!" Sanji yelled, suddenly, and stood, clutching his oversized baby blue shirt to his body like a blanket to cover his nakedness. "I want my body back!"

"Sanji..." Usopp muttered. He didn't dare imagine how the prideful cook and swordsman were handling this change. Golonzo eyed the crew intensely, as though contemplating what he should say. Nami's final straw of patience fizzled up and she moved forward and grabbed the chief by his tribal necklace. His eyes widened at her strength as she pulled him around and slammed him against a tree. Franky blinked in surprise.

"Yo, sis?" he offered, and raised a hand tentatively. "I could've handled that?"

"Shut up, Franky," Nami hissed, her temper flared to full force. "Robin-chan?"

Robin didn't need to ask what Nami wanted as she smiled and crossed her arms over her breasts in her typical attack stance. "Diez Flur!"

Ten hands sprouted from the bark of the tree and trapped the native against it as Nami released him. Robin stepped forward and the two women stared Golonzo down like a trapped rabbit.

"Alright," Nami continued as she slammed her open palm into the rough bark beside the man's tanned head. "We tried to do this nicely, but you obviously don't understand Golonzo. We want our crew normal. Now."

Golonzo watched Nami warily, but seemed mostly unfazed by the sight of Robin's disembodied arms. "Your women are fierce." He finally spoke, and glanced to the men of the crew.

"Damn straight!" Luffy piped up. All three members of the monster trio were now standing, using their oversized clothes like blankets. From the looks of them, Zoro and Sanji couldn't be more than four years old and Luffy, barely half their size, couldn't be more than two years old.

"There is more lake." The native chief spoke finally. "This sacred lake natural, but many years ago, elders enchant one more."

"A man made fountain of youth... the reverse the effects of the natural one?" Robin asked curiously. "Interesting."

"You're not lying to us, right Golonzo?" Nami asked, a dangerous tone tinting her voice.

"Nobody want it," the native replied, "I not know where is. Is on smaller island."

"Bullshit." Franky spoke up. "Basically you wanna send us off to another island on a hunt for some man-made lake that you've never seen before?"

"You believe or not, not matter," Golonzo answered, "My tribe small, weak. Cannot fight. If I lie, you kill me."

"I believe you!" Luffy grinned, "And if you are lying, I'll just come back and kick your ass!"

The native's lips twitched upwards. He liked this boy. "It is a deal."

Nami looked between Luffy and Golonzo before she sighed heavily and waved her hand dismissively. "Okay Robin-chan, let him go. Looks like we're going on a wild goose chase after all."

"Maybe he's telling the truth?" Usopp asked hopefully.

"We should get back to the ship so that I can check you guys over." Chopper interjected. "I think Golonzo is telling the truth, but there could be side effects we don't know about..."

"Good idea," Usopp replied, "Besides there might be wild animals in these forests."

Nami sighed again and rubbed her temples. "Right," she muttered in frustration. "Franky, you and I will go with Golonzo back to the village to find out more about this 'sacred lake'. Robin-chan, if you could please make sure these idiots make it back to the ship safely?"

"Oi!" Usopp complained, "We're not idiots!"

"Of course," Robin interjected.

Zoro was the first to move. With his oversized shirt hanging over his body like a dress, he struggled to walk on the twig littered ground and tripped over the shirt three times before finally falling flat on his face. Luffy laughed boisterously and the pintsized Marimo glared heatedly at him.

"Shut up." He grumped.

"Here you go, Zoro," Chopper offered as he shifted into his walking point and lay down on the ground beside the tiny swordsman. "You always carry me when I have trouble, so now I can return the favour!"

Zoro hesitated only for a moment before he hoisted one leg over the reindeer and settled at Choppers neck. He grabbed a hold of the reindeers antlers as Chopper stood, to steady himself.

Sanji seemed to be in even more of a predicament as he struggled to roll up his long sleeves so that he could lift his extremely long shirt and walk. Robin chuckled, but refrained from offering to carry the little blonde – he still had his pride after all. She also didn't doubt he wouldn't take advantage of the chance to be close to certain assets of hers. She watched for a while longer though before finally resigning herself to the fact he wouldn't be going anywhere. He'd barely freed one arm in two minutes.

"Sanji-san?" she called, "Perhaps you wouldn't mind if I helped you?"

Sanji beamed and noodle, which sent the shirt flailing around like some kind of tentacle monster. "Robin-chwan~! You would do that for me?"

"It would be my pleasure." She replied, and scooped the little chef into her arms, making sure he was well covered before she settled him in.

Usopp by now had move to gather his shrunken crew members' clothes and was crouched beside the wet garments, as he gathered them carefully. After all, this water was sacred and magical – he didn't want to end up tiny like his crewmates.

Luffy watched the sharpshooter, and his eyes narrowed as he smirked predatorily. Stealthily, he crunched his way over leaves and twigs towards his long nosed friend and readied himself to pounce. Usopp of course heard him coming a mile away and waited for the inevitable thump against his back. Luffy finally pounced and locked his rubbery arms around his friend's neck.

"Piggyback!" he cheered. After all, if Zoro and Sanji were getting carried, he wanted to be too!

With their rides assigned, the crew parted and made their separate ways to their destinations. Luffy waved cheerfully at the retreating trio as his own group headed in their own way. Zoro sneered at Sanji as he snuggled up close to robin's chest, practically oozing love hearts.

"Sissy." He muttered.

"Ehh?" Sanji questioned, torn from his dream by Zoro's jibe. "What was that, swords-baby?"

"Hmph."

"Hush, Sanji-san." Robin scolded, and the blonde immediately settled down and began oozing love hearts again. Robin hoped Nami would be able to find something to reverse these effects, but until then she mused, it would be amusing to watch her extremely cute affected crew members and how they coped.

Quite a short chapter – a little under 2000 words, but I felt satisfied to leave it there. Next chapter out soon. Thank you to everybody reviewing.