Chapter 4 – An Island without Doctors? Adventure in a Nameless Land! Part 1
"Get out of here!" A man shouted, firing at Sanji's feet. Sanji was jerked backwards by a hand on his scarf and the bullet barely missed his right food, having been forced to stumble backwards. Sanji turned and saw Kaien holding onto his scarf. He nodded in thanks at the older man, and Kaien let go, stepping back from Sanji.
"Look out!" Usopp shouted, a bit too late. Sanji turned back to the men and his face darkened.
"That was a mistake." He growled. The man who fired the shock stumbled back in fear. As Sanji began to run at the man, Vivi called for him.
"Sanji, stop!" She grabbed him around the shoulders and held him back. A gun was pointed at the duo and a shot was fired. The loud sound exploded through the air, ringing in a long echo. Vivi fell sidewards. The crew looked on in horror as she hit the deck.
"Vivi!" Luffy screamed.
Vivi lay still on the ground, lying on her side with her long blue hair stretched out behind her. The man who had pulled the trigger looked stunned and took a step back. Luffy quickly turned and ran over to Vivi, worry spread on his face.
"Vivi!" He yelled. When Luffy saw that Vivi was lying completely still his face turned furious. He turned towards the men on the shore, his dark, angry expression enough to make a few of them step back. "Why, you!" He shouted at them. The shout seemed to have broken the men out of their stupor and they all cocked their guns again.
"Ready, aim!" One of the men shouted, and the others aimed their guns at the pirates. Each member of the crew tensed and got into a fighting stance, ready for an all-out brawl. Luffy growled angrily and ran towards the edge of the ship, intent on destroying those who hurt his friend. He and the others were immensely surprised when Vivi scrambled to her feet and wrapped her arms around him, stopping Luffy in the same manner she had stopped Sanji earlier on.
"Stop it!" She ordered. The others looked on in shock. "Fighting is not going to help anything! I'm fine Luffy, it only grazed my arm." She explained, still holding the captain back. Vivi slowly went to her hands and knees and looked at the leader of the men.
"It's alright, we won't land." She said, pressing her forehead to the ground in a bow. "But can you please get us a Doctor? Our friend is dying from a serious illness. I'm begging you! Please help us!" Vivi pleaded. Luffy gaped at her.
"Vivi…" He murmured.
"You are not fit to be the captain of this ship Luffy," Vivi criticized. "Not everything can be fixed by rushing to start a fight."
"But Vivi-" Luffy protested, halting when Kaien placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She is correct Luffy, as hard as it may be to admit. There are many times when a captain must think about his crew and of the possible consequences of his actions, and though it may seem cowardly," Kaien said. "Sometimes the best thing to do is to stand your ground, or even retreat. The only things fighting can absolutely guarantee are injuries."
Luffy was quiet, looking down at the ground. He saw a few drops of blood fall from Vivi's shoulder where the gash was visible.
"We can't get into a fight here. Think about Nami," she said, emphasising Kaien's previous point. "What would happen to her?" Luffy thought back to Nami, lying motionless in the bed below deck, struggling to take her every breath. Luffy turned back to the enemy, face emotionless.
"Yeah. Right. I'm sorry about that." He said quietly. Kaien let go of his shoulder and took a step back.
"Please help us," Luffy asked bending down to get on his knees. "Call a doctor." He asked. His head went to the floor in an imitation of Vivi and his precious hat fell from his head. "Our friend needs you." There was a silence as the men on the shoreline watched with varying expressions as two members of the pirate crew humbly went on their knees and begged for help. The leader of the men appraised the two on the floor, his gaze flickering for a moment over to the four men still standing and then back to the two on their knees.
"I'll show you to our village." He stated. Vivi's head lifted from the floor in surprise. "Follow me." He said and turned, walking away from the ship. The rest of the men looked at the pirates for a moment before following their leader. Vivi smiled and turned to Luffy, whose face was still pressed hard to the deck.
"See Luffy?" She asked. "Just ask politely." Luffy turned to face her, his cheek still pressed against the wood.
"Yeah," he agreed. "You're incredible Vivi." He praised. Vivi smiled at him again. The two climbed to their feet before Luffy went into captain mode, a rarity in itself.
"Vivi, go get some warm clothes on Nami. Sanji, pack some spare food and water; just in case." He ordered. The two quickly ran off to follow his orders. "Zoro and Usopp, you tie the ship up and get it settled." The two quickly went about their duties. That left Kaien and Luffy alone on the deck of the ship.
"Well done." Kaien complemented as he walked past the young captain. Luffy bent down and picked up his hat, replacing it on his head.
"I guess…" He said and was quiet for a moment. Kaien jumped from the ship to the shore, easily making the distance. Luffy looked up at the older male in seriousness.
"Is what you said true?" He asked. Kaien hummed in question. "Is it really better to run away?" Luffy elaborated. Kaien looked down at him with expressionless eyes.
"You have been asking yourself the wrong question. It's not: 'Is it better to run away'. The question you should be asking is this;" Kaien said. "What is more important to you? Your crew? Or your pride?" With those words Kaien turned and walked up along the snow, getting further from the ship. Luffy grinned at him.
"You really were a captain!" He exclaimed. Kaien turned back to him, a small smile on his face.
"You doubted me? How insulting."
Luffy laughed at him as the rest of the crew returned from their duties, Nami dressed in a warm checkered jacket, settled on Sanji's back.
"What's so funny?" Zoro asked, fixing up his swords into the correct position. Luffy turned and grinned at him.
"Captain stuff. Don't worry about it." And then proceeded to fling himself after Kaien who had begun to walk off. "Hurry up guys! Or we'll lose them!" He shouted. The crew groaned and quickly followed after their captain. By the time the Straw-Hat Pirates had caught up to the fighters, they were in the middle of a snowy plain, with snow covered pine trees scattered throughout. The huge line of people trudged up the hill, feet sinking into the thick snow. It was quiet, apart from the sound of wind and the squeak of snow being trodden on.
"There is one thing I feel I should warn you about," the leader of soldiers said. "The only doctor we actually have here is a witch." Behind him, Vivi, Luffy and Usopp looked at him in surprise, each bundled up tightly in warm clothing.
"A witch?" Usopp asked, pulling the hood further over his face. Just behind him was Kaien, walking casually in his tunic and vest.
"You've gotta be kidding me," Sanji moaned. He was leaning forward slightly. His hands held two ends of a sword that had been leant to him by one of the soldiers, and Nami was perched on the sword, leaning over Sanji's back with her arms hanging limply over his shoulder. "Everything about this island is messed up." Sanji complained. There was a momentary silence. "What do you call this weird place anyway?" Sanji asked. The leader turned his head to look at the chef. He huffed slightly before answering.
"Actually, this land still doesn't have a name." He confessed.
"An island without a name?" Vivi asked. "I didn't know that was possible…" There was another silence, which was broken by Usopp's fearful scream.
"Ah! A bear!" He screamed, and scrambled backwards towards Kaien, hiding behind the older man and clutching the back of his vest. Usopp didn't know why, but he'd always felt comfortable in the man's presence, even though they'd met only a few days ago. He had asked around and most of the crew felt the same way. Kaien was like an older brother that you could trust with your secrets and protection. Usopp didn't know why he felt that way, but that was just the sense he got.
"Hurry everyone!" He continued from behind Kaien. "Pretend to be dead!" He shouted before collapsing onto Kaien's back, causing the latter to stumble forward. Kaien turned around and looked down at the now floored Usopp with a frown. The leader of the group looked back at the duo for a moment before looking ahead to see a large, fluffy bear holding a pick-axe.
"A hiking bear." He explained. "It poses no threat. Don't forget to bow. It's proper manners." The man instructed before tilting his upper body towards the bear. Everyone behind him followed suit, including Kaien who was now carrying the 'dead' Usopp under his arm. The bear bowed to the group of men and women before continuing calmly on its way. As it went past. Usopp tilted his head up to look back.
"It's gone," he whispered to Kaien.
"Yeah." Kaien agreed, continuing to carry Usopp. Deciding he preferred this than walking, Usopp stayed silent and let Kaien haul him up the hill.
At the Going-Merry, Zoro sat on a crate on the deck of the Merry flexing his ankles.
"Nice, that's much better." He said, before laughing and clapping his feet together. Carue shivered under a blanket in front of him and quacked pathetically. "Now I can finally get back to some real training. I was getting sick of that modified training that I had to do with my stupid injury." Zoro said happily. "Besides, just watching the ship is boring as hell." He complained. He quickly stripped down to the waist and held his hands together in front of him.
"Maybe, some ice-water swimming will help me clear up my head a bit." He said. Carue was floored and the stupidity of the idea. He took a deep breath and looked up at the mountains.
"Those morons better hurry up and find a doctor."
The morons in question had finally made it to a cosy looking village, with pink brick houses.
"This is our village." The leader introduced. "Its name is Bighorn."
"Look at all the weird animals walking around everywhere." Luffy whispered to Usopp.
"Well yeah," Usopp responded. "This is snow country!"
"Look Nami, we've made it to a village with people." Sanji told the unconscious Nami. Vivi was behind him, keeping Nami steady on his back.
"Thanks for the help everyone," the leader told the rest of the men. Vivi turned in confusion. "If you're not a guard, you can return to your work." He told them.
"Are you completely certain that you'll be alright by yourself?" One question.
"They are pirates." Another added, glancing over towards the pirates with distrust.
"I believe these people mean us no harm," the leader placated. "That's my hunch anyway. You can trust me on that." He finished. The men began muttering amongst themselves. After some discussion, they decided to leave their leader with the pirates.
"Alright Dalton," they told the leader. "We'll leave them to you." One man said as the group began to disperse.
"Even so," another added. "Be careful Dalton." Dalton turned back to the pirates to see Vivi looking up at him in confusion.
"You mean those men weren't your lands security forces?" She asked the huge man.
"No," Dalton replied. "They're just ordinary citizens," He said as he started to walk away.
"Hey! Look over there Luffy!" Usopp shouted to the captain that was right next to him. "It's one of those hiking bears!" He shouted. Luffy turned around with a frown.
"Another one?" He groaned. In front of them was a large woman with a brown coat and red scarf.
"Hello Dalton, I heard pirates landed on the island. I hope everything's alright." The woman said, walking past the boys towards Dalton. The two pirates had immediately bowed as she headed towards them. Kaien walked up in front of the duo and crouched down, so he was eye level with them.
"Kaien," Luffy whined. "You have to bow! It's respectful." Kaien sighed.
"That's not a hiking bear. It's a woman. A human woman." He told them. Their jaws fell open.
"Seriously?" Usopp asked.
"Seriously. I suggest you straighten up before you embarrass yourselves further, or cause offense to that woman." He suggested. The two immediately straightened up, and then proceeded to stare, unabashed at the woman. Kaien sighed and walked away, giving up.
"Yes everything's fine," Dalton replied to the woman. "There's nothing to be worried about." The woman walked off, the two boys still staring after her. An old man walked past and smiled at Dalton.
"Just want you to know Dalton, I look forward to the election in two days. Everyone I've talked to says they're going to vote for you!" The man said enthusiastically. Dalton's face fell.
"I'm sure you're not serious about that. I'm just an ordinary citizen, that's all." Dalton protested. Vivi watched him with an intense expression.
"Come with me." Dalton said to the pirates, once he had stopped talking to the people. He led them to his house, and into a room with a bed.
"You can use that bed there. I'm going to warm the place up." Dalton said. Nami was quickly tucked into the bed by Vivi, while the Sanji in the middle of the room. Dalton took a big shield of his shoulder and rested it against the wall.
"I guess I should introduce myself," he said. "My name is Dalton. I'm the captain of the island's security squad." He said. "Please forgive our… less than friendly welcome." He apologized. He looked around the room before his eyes settled on Vivi.
"Excuse me, but may I ask you a question?" He asked. Vivi turned to him in confusion. "It's just that…" His eyes narrowed. "You look familiar to me for some reason." Vivi jerked and turned away.
"N-no! I just… I just have one of those faces I guess." She said, flustered. "Anyway," she said in an attempt to change the subject. Dalton saw right through her. "Can you tell us more about the doctor. Or witch, if that's what she is?" She asked. "Nami's fever is 107!" She exclaimed. Dalton's eyes widened in shock.
"How long has she had the fever?" Dalton asked urgently.
"It's been several days and it just keeps getting higher." Vivi answered sadly.
"I see…" Dalton murmured. "She'll likely die if it gets any worse."
"Yes, but we have no idea what the illness is, much less how to treat it. We don't know how to help her…" Vivi said quietly.
"We've got to find a doctor as soon as possible!" Sanji said loudly. "Any doctor will do! Where is this witch of yours?" He asked agitatedly. Dalton took a step forward.
"The witch? Do you see those mountains outside the window?" Dalton asked.
"Yeah," Sanji said. "I noticed them earlier." He turned to look out the window, only to see a giant, and badly made snowman blocking to view.
"Super-massive snowman!" Luffy shouted from outside. The snowman that Sanji could see belonged to Luffy.
"And the feared snow-beast; Snowzilla!" Usopp added, gesturing to his snow dinosaur. Just next to him, Kaien stood with his hands hanging by his side. He lifted one up and gestured to the snow creature at his side.
"Dragon." He said bluntly. Luffy and Usopp quickly crowded around it, making noises of appreciation. It was a very well sculptured dragon, looking extremely life-like.
"Whoa!" Shouted Luffy. "That's so cool!"
"It looks so lifelike!" Usopp exclaimed, circling the sculpture. "How did you know what a dragon looks like?" He asked. Kaien just shrugged, a small smile on his lips. They all jumped, Luffy and Usopp more than Kaien, when Sanji's furious voice exploded from the small house next to them.
"Get it here before I kill you!" He shouted forcefully. In their haste to get inside the house, Usopp and Luffy managed to completely decimate the snow-sculptures. Kaien walked in slowly at his own pace, ignoring the cooks fierce glare. Luffy and Usopp settled on the ground, warm cups in their frozen hands. Kaien was sitting against the door, leaning his head back comfortably.
"Those mountains are known as the Drum Rockies." Dalton continued from before. "Look closely. Can you see the castle on top of the tallest one in the middle?" He asked.
"Castle?" Usopp asked, somewhat sceptical.
"That castle has lost its king." Dalton said gravely.
"Yeah, I see it up there." Sanji said.
"What's so important about the castle?" Vivi asked.
"That castle is where our lands only doctor lives. Doctor Kureha. She's the one who people here call the witch." Dalton explained.
"What?" Usopp asked.
"Of all places, why does she have to live on top a mountain!? We need to call her here right now. Nami needs her help!" Sanji yelled in annoyance.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid there's no way to contact her." Dalton said somewhat sadly.
"You can't be serious!" Sanji shouted. "What kind of a doctor is she!?"
"Her skills as a doctor are quite impressive actually," Dalton said. "However she's an eccentric old woman. She's nearly one-hundred and forty years old now…" He mused.
"A hundred and forty? No wonder she doesn't get around much!" Sanji exclaimed.
"Oh, and one more thing…" Dalton said in an afterthought. "She likes pickled-plums."
"What happens when people here get sick or injured? Does she help them?" Vivi asked. Dalton turned from where he was gazing into the fire.
"She comes down from the mountain whenever she feels like it. She looks around for patients, she treats them and then before she leaves she takes whatever she wants from their houses as payment."
"She doesn't sound like a very nice lady." Usopp said grudgingly, sipping at his drink.
"She sounds like a pirate." Luffy pointed out.
"But how is a woman as old as she is, capable of getting down that mountain?" Vivi asked incredulously. Dalton frowned slightly.
"It's an odd rumour around here. Several villagers claim they've seen her at night, riding a sleigh of some kind through the sky. They see a silhouette when the moon is out. That's the reason she is thought to be a witch. There are others who say they've seen her with a strange creature. A creature that none of them recognise." He said. Usopp squeaked in fear, tensing up.
"I knew it! A snow monster! Where there's snow, there's got to be a snow monster! Oh, I knew there'd be one! Oh, no!" He cried frantically, thrashing around on the floor. Somehow none of the liquid in his half full cup fell out. The crew and Dalton ignored him.
"Doctor Kureha is the only doctor we have, but she's still a woman I would prefer to stay away from." Dalton warned. "All we can do is wait until the next time she decides to come down the mountain.
"Really?" Vivi asked.
"No! Dammit…" Sanji swore. "We can't wait here for that long. Nami is getting even worse as we speak." Sanji said, and then turned around to find Luffy bending over Nami, gently smacking her cheek and calling out her name.
"Luffy you idiot! What are you doing to her!?" Vivi, Sanji and Usopp shouted simultaneously. To all of their surprise, Nami's eyes slowly opened.
"Look she's awake!" Luffy cried. Luffy bent over her face and waited until she was looking at him. "Here's the thing. The only way to see the doctor is to climb the mountain. So we're going to have to climb the mountain." He stated casually.
"Are you crazy?" Sanji asked disbelievingly. "What about Nami? How do you expect to get her up there?"
"Easy," Luffy replied. "She'll ride on my back."
"That's only going to make her even more sick!" Vivi protested.
"What's the problem?" Luffy asked, seemingly oblivious. "I thought we needed to hurry?" He asked.
"We do," Vivi admitted. "But you'll never make it up there! Look at how steep and tall that thing is!" She exclaimed, pointing out the window, towards the mountain.
"I can do it…" Luffy muttered begrudgingly.
"Maybe you can, but climbing that thing would be way too hard on Nami!" Sanji added.
"Seriously Luffy, she has a really bad fever!" Usopp said. "It's so high that she's almost dying! Don't you understand that!?" Everyone went quiet and turned to Nami when she opened her mouth to speak. It took her a little while to work up the strength to talk, but she managed.
"I need to get over this thing, and quickly. We need to hurry," she panted. "For Vivi." She slowly slid her hand out from under the covers and held it towards Luffy. "Come on… Captain. Let's go." She said with a smile. Usopp, Sanji and Vivi stared at her completely stunned, while Kaien shook and head and smiled. Stubborn brats. Dalton looked down at the sick girl with mild worry and surprise, though it turned into a smile when Luffy grinned and gave Nami a solid hi-five.
"That's what I'm talking about Nami! Leave it to me!"
"Just great," Usopp complained. "Now our navigator is just as crazy as our captain!"
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Asked Vivi. "It'll take you a few hours to get there."
"Hey old guy!" Luffy called to Dalton. "Give us some meat for the road!" He just about ordered.
"Meat?" Dalton asked in confusion. The group of people packed some food water, got Nami in some warm clothes and walked outside.
"Right. I'm coming too." Sanji said seriously. He looked over his shoulder to see Kaien walk out of the house with a yawn, still without a jacket and join their little group. "You're coming too?" He asked. Kaien nodded. Sanji sighed and shrugged. Kaien was pretty strong, so he shouldn't slow them down.
'Remember Luffy," Usopp said, pointing a finger in Luffy's face. "You can't fall even once! Or Nami will die!"
"Not even once?" Luffy groaned.
"Hold still a second." Vivi said when Luffy moved. She was on her knees, tying Nami firmly to Luffy;' back. "I'm got to make sure that this is tight." She said, pulled harshly on the cloth being used. "Okay, you're all set." She said, standing up again. "I'm going to wait for you here. If I came with you guys I'd only get in the way." She turned to Kaien and frowned at him.
"Are you sure you don't want a jacket?" She asked worriedly. Kaien looked at her and shook his head. Vivi sighed. Beside them, Sanji was warmly bundled up with a big pack of supplies on his shoulders.
"Alright." Luffy said with a sense of finality. He looked over his shoulder at Nami. "Now you just hold on tight to me, 'kay Nami?" Luffy asked. Nami huffed weakly in reply.
"I guess you're set on going," Dalton said. The others looked at him in surprise. "I'm not going to try and stop you, but I'm at least going to ask you to go to the other side. That way you can avoid the laphans that are on this side." When he got blank looks from the pirates, he added an explanation. "They're large, carnivorous rabbits. You run into a pack of them, and you're as good as dead." Dalton cautioned.
"Really?" Asked Luffy. "We've got to get up there… We'll be just fine." He decided. "Right?" He asked Sanji and Kaien.
"Yeah," Sanji said. Kaien nodded.
"You can't be serious!" Dalton objected. "Do you know how easily those things can kill you?"
"Nah, we'll be alright." Luffy said. He braced himself and started running. "Hurry it up guys, before Nami dies!" He shouted back at them. Kaien immediately took off at a run, catching up with Luffy in no time. Sanji stood there for a moment angrily.
"Don't say stuff like that you idiot! Do you want to jinx us!?" He asked furiously. Luffy just gave a laugh.
"To the mountain!"
