SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 34 out, this is Chapter 35 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors, myself included, sustain on readers' reviews.

Pairings: Ace/Sasha, familial Luffy/Sasha, patriotic Law/Sasha (Might end up as a Law/Sasha pairing later if I end up killing Ace at Marineford and if reviewers don't mind the age gap)

Disclaimers: One Piece belongs to Oda Eiichirō-sensei. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except my OC.

Chapter 35: Arc 3: The Return of the Former King, Wapol!

"It's getting strong." Usopp noted as the snowstorm started getting heavier.

"Who in the world are you guys?" Dalton asked. "It's too reckless for just the 7 of you to travel the Grand Line without a doctor."

"We're pirates." Usopp argued. "That's why you guys pointed your guns at us, right? But its true that we do want a doctor. I was hoping to find someone like that on this island, but I didn't expect there was only one doctor, a witch living in that castle."

"It's a strange combination." Dalton admitted. "It seems that you guys are different from the pirates that we think of."

"Dalton-san!" Negikuma Maria called out. "I heard that you're looking for Dr. Kureha?"

"Yes, that's right." Dalton replied. "But the sick person has already..."

"I heard that she's in our neighboring town, Cocoaweed, right now." Maria cut him off.

"What?" the three Straw Hat pirates chorused in unison.

"Then they passed each other?" Usopp exclaimed.

"Seriously?" Sasha echoed.

"I'm sorry." Dalton apologized on the reindeer sled. "It was my mistake. Since I heard that the doctor came down the mountain yesterday, I thought she wouldn't come down for a while."

"Don't worry about it." Usopp assured. "It wasn't your fault. The issue here is Luffy and Sanji's abnormal physical strength. Even if we go after them in the snow mountain now, we probably won't be able to catch up with them. If the witch is in the town called Cocoaweed, we should ask her to go back to the castle immediately."

"Yes, you are right." Vivi agreed. "We have no other choice."

"Forgive us," Dalton stated. "Forgive this country that doesn't even have enough doctors. Let's hurry." he urged the reindeer on.

"Dalton-san," Sasha voiced. "Who are you, really? You don't look like a normal villager. And from the manner which you speak, you sound like a military personnel."

"I was a subordinate of the ex-king, Wapol." Dalton admitted. "I was the captain of this country's security squad since the previous king,. However, when the king died, and his son, Wapol became the king, this country changed."

"Then, those who became sick had no choice but to ask for Wapol's mercy in order to see the twenty MDs?" Usopp was shocked after Dalton recounted how Wapol decreed the exile of every single doctor of Drum Kingdom after keeping only twenty doctors for himself.

"Yes, and pay excessive medical fees." Dalton added.

"It's the same as ruling the country by taking the citizens' lives hostage." Vivi realized. "That's not governing... it's a crime."

Just as I thought... Dalton realized who Vivi was. There's no mistake.

"Dalton-san!" a bloodied guard stumbled into Stool's restaurant after one of the patrons informed them that Dr. Kureha was now headed to Gyasta.

"Aren't you supposed to stand watch today?" Dalton asked. "What's the matter?" he hurried over before the guard collapsed. "What's going on? How did you get injured so badly?"

"All the watchmen except me were killed." the guard reported. "Suddenly, a submarine sailboat appeared and they killed everyone."

"Who do you mean by 'they'?" Dalton pressed. "Calm down and explain."

"Dalton-san, help!" the guard pleaded. "We're not strong enough. If we don't do anything..."

"So, it's them." Dalton realized.

"It's Wapol!" the guard reported. "Wapol came back!"

I'll settle this... Dalton swore, taking off on his steed. I don't intend to bring about justice, since both you and I are both equally guilty. With that, he activated his Zoan-type Devil Fruit ability and morphing into a bison. Just wait, Wapol! Jumping off his horse, he galloped towards the coast.

"Hey, Vivi," Usopp started, the Straw Hat trio having taken the sled. "Are you sure this is the right direction to the Gyasta town where the witch is right now?"

"When you put it that way, I'm not very sure." Vivi admitted.

"We're in trouble if you aren't sure." Usopp pointed out.

"Vivi, give me the map." Sasha instructed. "Nami taught me a few things about map-reading. In any case," she looked up from the map. "There should be a sign for Gyasta on this route."

"Hm?" Usopp wondered halfway up the mountain when they heard a low rumbling noise.

"What's this rumbling?" Vivi inquired. "Usopp-san, could this be..." she realized.

"Avalanche?" Usopp stammered, the herd of Lapins having set off the avalanche to stop Luffy and Sanji. "We'll be fine!" he assured, the trio having abandoned the sled after freeing the reindeer. "Don't worry, the two of you."

"Do you think Luffy-san and the others..." Vivi wondered, right before the avalanche covered them. "Could they have been swallowed by this avalanche?"

SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.