Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece; that belongs to Eiichiro Oda.
A/N: Updated on the first! Whoo! But assessments are coming in, damn. Also, I'm going to try and seperate the point-of-views to make it clearer for you all.
WARNING: Gruesome mentions in the first part. Long(ish) chapter that won't be replicated for a while. Possible confusion about some parts.
Big thanks to UmberAurumDragon for being my beta reader, to everyone who Reviewed,Favorited andFollowed. Here's the chapter. I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 37: Incurable Disease
Zoro stared down his opponent, he tightened his grip on his sparring sword, he was about to step forward to attack his opponent when he felt Chopper try to wiggle his way out of his lap in the Dream. He quickly disarmed his opponent, walked outside, and sat against the wall, falling asleep instantly. When he awoke in the Dream he clutched tighter onto Chopper as he once again tried to squirm out of his arms.
Before he could ask Chopper what was wrong, a deep sense of dread filled him. Instinctively, he knew someone was feeling helpless about something, but who? And why?
A muffled scream reached his ears from downstairs and Chopper started to practically spasm in his arms. Pulling his baby brother close, he sat up and glanced around to see if anyone else was awake. But no one was. Silently thanking the fact no one else was awake, he hauled Chopper up to sit on his waist like he has seen Robin do multiple times and quietly snuck out of the room.
Initially he headed to the infirmary, but a second muffled scream changed that and he wandered down towards Franky's and Usopp's Workshop. Blood was splattered on the floor outside, leading off towards the infirmary, they didn't need to see to know Franky had woken up and was inside.
Zoro glanced down at Chopper. He really didn't want the kid to see what was behind that door. To see what Franky was doing in there that made him scream loud enough to hear him all the way from their bedroom. Robin was also undoubtedly in there, trying to help, because if there was one thing Zoro knew about his mother, was that she would not sit idly by and let them charge headfirst into danger if she could do something about it.
"Chopper-" he tried to whisper before the Reindeer-Human cut him off with a determined look that was probably supposed to be a glare. Cursing internally, he peeked through the small gap of the door and promptly covered Chopper's eyes without a thought.
There was so much blood. What looked to be flesh were dangling off the tabletop they were placed on. Solid pieces, covered in blood with little bits of white hidden underneath, were scattered across a metal pan. Franky's legs were pure skin. Nothing was inside and a cut down the side revealed that. Robin was crying, but she cut off Franky's lower legs and attached metal in their stead.
At that moment, Zoro didn't care about what Chopper wanted and sprinted away. He was not going to let Chopper see that. He ran into the bedroom, slammed open the door and flicked on the switch. Brook was instantly awake, while a few others were stirring.
"Franky- He and Robin- So much blood!" Zoro could barely gasp that much out while he held onto a squirming Chopper. Brook was out of the room in an instant, and when a drowsy Luffy tried to follow, Sanji just shook his head and held onto him tight.
Nami soon wandered into the room and fell back asleep as soon as she fell into Usopp's hammock, nearly waking him up.
"Zoro let go! I need to help Franky!" normally, Zoro would feel his resolve weaken when Chopper used puppy eyes on him (only weaken, never break), but it only grew stronger.
"I don't care; you will not go in there!" he growled out, sitting on the ground next to Jimbei's sleeping form.
"But Zoro-!" he pleaded, tears forming.
"I said no!" he probably sounded too harsh but he didn't care, "I'm not going to let you see what's in there." There was so much blood. "I don't care that you're a doctor, you're nine!" Stringy flesh dripped in chunks onto the blood covered floor. "You're still a baby, and I'm not letting you in there." Shards of bone, drenched in blood, sat innocently on top of the table. "You are my baby brother Chopper, and I won't let you see what is in there!" It's bad enough that he had heard Franky's screams.
Zoro felt himself get lifted from the floor and onto a familiar lap. Chopper broke down in his arms and stopped protesting. A straw hat and a flash of blonde hair alerted Zoro to Sanji's and Luffy's presence as they joined them on Jimbei's lap.
Zoro looked up at Jimbei with hopeful, but worried eyes, "Franky's going to be okay, right Jimbei?"
A reassuring smile, "He will be. You know how he is. He'll bounce back."
A confused frown, "I thought Luffy was the one who could bounce back?"
A small snicker, "It's a figure of speech Zoro."
A grumble, "I knew that Curly Brow..."
Smirking, "Sure you did Marimo."
A stare from Jimbei, "Zoro, Sanji, don't fight right now."
"Fine…" they both grumbled.
"Good, now be patient. We have a long night ahead of us." Jimbei mumbled as he stared down at his children. Hmph. 'His children', that's new. Since when did he start calling them that? Oh well, he's got time to think about it.
Just pull through Franky; he wouldn't be able to bear it if you really did die this time.
Dr Hiluluk sighed as he adjusted his son into a more comfortable position and pulled a blanket over the top of him. He knew better than to move the young reindeer-human, he had only done it once and Chopper was so disoriented that Hiluluk had tied him to his bed to prevent him from tripping over something.
A small whine caught his attention and he felt a pang of sadness as Chopper started crying in his sleep. Sometimes, he wondered what it would be like if the Dream didn't exist. Would Chopper want to be a doctor? Would he have ever eaten the Human-Human Fruit? Would he not fully realise what an incurable disease is?
"…let go… help Franky…" the words slipped past unknowing lips. He heard about what happened to Franky. Chopper never saw the need to hide who the members of family were from him and Kureha, after all, how else could he learn how to care for a skeleton, a fishman, and multiple Devil Fruit users, rubber man included. He never told Chopper, but the injuries he catalogued Sanji having before he starved where signs of many types of physical abuse. Sanji's reaction to the Blackness was actually moulded into the way it was through repetition and different scenarios.
Whoever Sanji's blood family is, they are all evil to the highest degree. Hiluluk is glad that the boy no longer lives with those bastards.
Briefly, he wandered how Franky was coming along. Being hit by a 'Sea Train' had done a lot of damage to the young man as he had read. He had been officially labelled as dead when he resisted arrest. Hiluluk had tried to give Chopper his newest cure all but he had declined, saying that it wouldn't really help now.
He knows Chopper just didn't want to risk Franky's delicate health if this cure all was a failure again. He needs to find a cure all for this country. The people were already getting better thanks to Chopper's hidden care, but the Government was getting sicker than ever before.
His fist tightened as he remembered the latest decree of Wapol, all monsters are to be brought to the king to be given to the World Government. It had been years since Jimbei had gone on a rage against the marine from Drum but with recent speculations and realisations, the World Government had selected a squad to find the 'Abominable Snowman' that is known to be close to Jimbei and check if he had access to the Dream.
The people of this country knew that the Abominable Snowman is currently the only doctor that is considered good and free. Blasphemy, Hiluluk didn't request money and he always gave his patients his latest cure all. He knew Kureha, the Old Hag, often stated that his patients were 'victims' and he should really leave it all to Chopper.
He wasn't going to stop, he needed to finish his cure all and treat the Government of this country. He couldn't back down now; he had been trying for thirty long years to perfect his cure all. He couldn't just stop.
A small groan alerted him to Chopper waking up again. He turned to see a tired human-reindeer wiping his eyes clear of tears and sleep.
"Dr Hiluluk, can you tell me the story of the Sakura Trees again? I want to believe Franky will get better."
Hiluluk smiled at his adorable son, "Sure Chopper. In a faraway land in the west, there was a great robber." And so he retold his son the story of a great robber with an incurable heart disease. He spoke of the mountain covered in Cherry Blossoms that had cured the man of his disease. He told Chopper how it was no miracle, it was medical science, and that there was no such thing as incurable diseases. He spoke of his conviction and how it was represented by his Jolly Roger.
"Yes! This flag rejects impossibilities! It's the symbol of faith! Now come on Chopper, we've got a patient in Robelu." He started to march out but he whirled around when he heard Chopper mumble that 'he's' the one who has a patient and that Hiluluk was just the guide. "If that's your attitude then you can stay here then! Disrespectful to your elders much, refer to them with the proper respect they deserve."
"Wait what?! I'm sorry uncle; I know you want to test your new 'cure all'! Sorry for being disrespectful." Chopper stared up at him with a reindeer version of puppy dog eyes.
"Huh? What do you mean Uncle? I thought that I'd at least be a second father to you." he was actually miffed about that. Come on, he'd taken care of the reindeer-human for the last eight years for them.
"Both Franky and Jimbei are my fathers, we're trying to narrow it down to one but it's hard. Mum isn't much help since she just laughs at us when we ask. Now come on, we've got a patient to take care of remember?" And with that, Chopper adopted his full reindeer form and sprinted out of their house.
Hiluluk huffed and raced out afterwards; if Chopper arrived first then he wouldn't be able to test his latest cure all! Oh, and he wouldn't be able to guide Chopper away from those that would sell him out.
Now he just needs to figure out how he's going to keep Chopper busy when he goes in to check how long he has left from the Old Hag. Not long, he knows, but it still needs to be long enough so he can finish his research and make Cherry Blossoms bloom here on Drum.
Maybe he can send him out to grab a rare ingredient for him? Nah, Chopper would never fall for it, and if he does, Robin wouldn't. Chopper's mother was too smart, damn it.
Robin spared a glance behind her shoulder and winced at the sight of the ship she had been travelling on covered in flames and falling to pieces. She was so close to finally getting into the Grand Line but the Marines had found her again.
Damn it, she needed to be there already. Franky is helpless at the moment and she can't help him, not to mention Brook is also there and is in need of some help. She winced when she caught sight of the Marine vessel that had destroyed her hope of getting into the Grand Line, time and time again.
The dog mast head clearly said who was in charge of the ship, if the large man wearing a dog's head on the top of his own didn't already.
Garp the Hero. Luffy's grandfather, Jimbei's friend, Sanji's saviour and now her hunter.
If it weren't for the fact that she knew he didn't want to hunt her down and it was Sengoku ordering him to do so, Robin would have probably hated the man instead of disliked him. She was thankful that Garp had saved Sanji and had let most of her children meet up all those years ago, but he was still hunting her and not allowing her to enter the Grand Line. She could have already met up with Chopper damn it!
A cannon ball smashed into the water behind her and sent water flying into the air. It also had the effect of causing a wave that sent her hurtling across the water and she found herself thanking Garp for letting her go.
Robin didn't want to feel in his debt so why is it that she feels like she should be?
Chopper knew it was foolhardy, he knew it was most likely a lost cause and he knew it was most likely a lie. But even with this knowledge he couldn't stop himself from asking his uncle if he could go out and search the island for some ingredients that might be useful for his cure all.
He knew something was up when Hiluluk looked a little relieved and granted his request, sending him off with supplies to last a week, even though Chopper could easily forage and take care of himself. He still is a reindeer after all.
In his first day of travel, he didn't find much, other than some flora that he collected despite the fact that they were quite common; he planned to ask Robin to help him plant in somewhere on the Sunny. He didn't know why he didn't think of this before so something good came out of this trip already. Then he remembered organic things usually couldn't cross over into the Dream.
On the first night, he was happy to notice some of the herbs actually transferred over. They were ones that shouldn't be eaten though he wondered if it were edible plants along with people and animals that couldn't transfer over.
He decided to test that theory later, first he needed to ask Robin if she could help him take care of them. Robin already cared for some flowers that she had found seeds of in the crow's nest, due to Brook not knowing how to care for the original batch that lived on the deck before they died. The fruit trees were easier, just water them occasionally, and the sentient seed plant creatures that the skeleton moved to the crow's nest were sentient enough to care for themselves for the most part. Just bring them the occasional offerings of water and meat and they're fine.
When Chopper asked Robin about it, she went and grabbed Nami and Usopp and brought the three of them together and declared that they were going to learn how to take care of plants. Nami because of her trees, himself because of the herbs he collected that actually transferred over, and Usopp because if he was going to look after an animal one day, robotic though it may be, he needs to be trusted to take care of something living.
Zoro still prevented him from seeing Franky and even though he had no interest in plants whatsoever, he followed him around all day making sure to not let him, Nami or Usopp go see Franky. Sanji was doing the same with Luffy by playing with him and letting him eat more than usual.
On the second day, Chopper ran into some trouble. He was walking through a forest in his reindeer form since it was easier, but had an encounter with a herd of reindeers that lived inside the forage, and it wasn't just any herd. No, it was Chopper's old herd.
Truth be told, he barely remembered them. But he could remember their scent, and the fact that they despised him for his blue nose. So when he was charged at by a stag with some scars on his face, he charged back and met the stag's antlers with his own.
A fight ensued and after bringing down his opponent, he was charged at again by another reindeer from the herd. He was forced to take his human form at a few points in the fights that kept on coming and he found himself promising he would thank Zoro and ask for some more training to get stronger. So next time he wouldn't have to run away during the fifth fight.
Chopper hadn't forgotten his promise to Luffy to be his doctor on his pirate crew. It's kind of hard to forget when Luffy spoke about becoming a pirate at least once a day and Usopp came up with stories of the adventures they could have. Usopp was always good at telling stories, and he only lied when telling them. Robin made sure that Usopp's very old habit of lying was quickly disapproved of.
Chopper didn't know why, but Sanji, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Luffy and he could never disobey any order Robin gave, they loved to make her feel happy, and could never find it in them to disappoint her. Usopp, Nami and Sanji seemed to know, but they would never tell them why. Not even Zoro, which always angered him.
On the second night, after getting patched up by Robin and being scolded over the fact that he didn't run away earlier so he could have been prevented from getting hurt in the first place. Afterwards, he went and thanked Zoro and nearly asked for a spar if it weren't for the fact that Robin stared at him in a way that made the words die in his throat.
Zoro seemed to catch onto what he was asking beforehand and while he told Chopper they couldn't spar, one reason being that he was injured and the other was easily conveyed by a glance at Robin, he could train with him a little and when he recovered the training would increase and they could spar in the mornings, along with Luffy and Sanji.
He was forced to promise that he wouldn't object to their sparing or falling asleep/waking up early. Truth be told again though, Chopper had seen the usefulness of sparing and knew he needed to get stronger, for both his promise to Luffy and to protect his family.
Because that's what they were to him, his family. While Brook acted a lot younger and also seemed it since his hair was still black, he was his grandfather. While he couldn't decide which was his father more, Jimbei and Franky both fulfilled the role. Sanji, Zoro, Usopp, and Luffy were all his big brothers. Nami was his only sister and Robin was his mother, no doubt about it. And his siblings all agreed with him.
Wait… Robin is their mother… Sanji, Nami and Usopp are the only ones who have or had mothers… Is that the reason why they can't disobey Robin, and want her to be happy and proud of them? This sudden realisation made Chopper switch into his reindeer form and charge right at Sanji and Usopp, who were entertaining Luffy at the moment.
Cue Usopp and Sanji running away while he raced after them, ignoring Luffy who had stayed put.
"Oi Chopper! Why are you chasing them?" Chopper spared a glance at Zoro before returning his attention to his two big brothers who didn't tell them why.
"Cause Sanji and Usopp wouldn't tell us the reason we felt that way about Robin was because she's our mum!" He yelled back and just before he could slam into Sanji, felt hands wrap around him and prevent him from chasing his brothers any further.
A chill spread down Chopper's spine and a sick feeling grew in his stomach as he turned to face Robin. He knew he had exactly ten seconds to give her a good reason for his actions, and not the one he gave Zoro because he knew she heard it.
"Umm, mum, it's just that-" he had hesitated to long and was cut off by his mother's scolding about aggravating injuries and causing more to both himself and his brothers, before being told to follow her and was forced to spend the rest of the day helping her do whatever she wanted for the rest of the day.
He was sure that Robin knew that her disappointment was enough punishment to make certain he would not do something like that for a long while.
On the third day, nothing interesting happened. But that night he began training with Zoro, and he knew that because his big brother didn't want to hurt him and also because of Sanji, he didn't get a training session that Zoro would usually do. He didn't have to watch Zoro or Sanji doing more than him to know he was doing less. Chopper hoped that he would at least get to Sanji's level soon. Seeing Zoro do more than the two of them combined ensured that.
On the fourth day, he fell down a cliff by accident and had met the Blackness for the first time.
He was only under for an hour but when he woke up he couldn't stop himself from hyperventilating and going to sleep to rush into Zoro's and Luffy's hammock. Snuggling in between them as he silently cried hoping one of them would wake up and tell him it was alright.
Luckily for him, Zoro had already laid down to have a nap and check up on how everyone was doing and was more than willing to carry him into Robin's and Nami's room. They slept next to Robin who, while she didn't wake, had shifted to hold both Zoro and him close by, much to Zoro's chagrin.
Chopper didn't actually fall asleep though, he risked it before just so he could see his family, but he was too terrified of the prospect of not being able to wake up again that he just lay down in between Zoro and Robin and entertained himself by trying to match his breathing with theirs and listening to their heart beats.
The sounds and the feelings were enough to keep him calm. He didn't know how he would react if he weren't able to see his family after an ordeal like that.
When the sun rose, he was awake to hear Zoro wake up and be prevented from leaving by Robin's vice like grip. Zoro just grumbled and pulled himself closer to Chopper and Robin. They were both awake to hear Nami wake up and hear her laugh at seeing Zoro's predicament. She had ran out and brought Usopp in with a camera and took a picture.
Directly afterwards, Chopper let his eyes open and saw an arm pluck the camera out of Usopp's hands and hand it to a now awake Robin who then proceeded to pull them into the dining room where Sanji kicked Zoro for not telling him that he wouldn't be able to spar that morning.
Chopper didn't know if it annoyed Zoro, he thinks it did, but he had latched onto Zoro's back and had refused to let go for the entire day, except when Zoro needed to go to the toilet and when he sat down to eat, then he would wait outside for the first and sit on his lap for the latter.
He managed to fall asleep when it became night in the Dream although he had to remain with Zoro while he slept.
On the fifth day, he saw an Amiudake mushroom across a gorge and was then ambushed by his old herd again. Backed up against a cliff, he had no choice but to stand and fight. He was already injured and by the end of the second fight he knew he couldn't last any more.
Someone help me please!
For the second time in a week, Zoro was forced to end another spar early before rushing out to fall asleep. He was met with the sight of blood again and he couldn't stop himself from shaking Chopper awake.
He wasn't thinking and when he saw Chopper trying to go to sleep again he wished he could protect Chopper and wake up wherever Chopper was.
A wave of fatigue fell over him and his body forced him to go to sleep. However, he didn't wake up back in the corridor of the Dojo; instead he woke up standing next to Chopper, with a ravine behind them, a herd of angry deer in front of them and the Wado Ichimonji in his hands.
Zoro cursed the fact that it was useless in this situation and even if it was, that it was only one sword. He wasn't all that good with one sword, what with him focusing on the two-sword style and his newly developed three-sword style.
Chopper was staring at him in shock and didn't notice the charging stag rushing towards them. Again, Zoro didn't think. He could only think about stopping that stag and preventing it from hitting Chopper. Forgetting that he was see-through and most likely unable to interact with anything if what Luffy and Nami had said about this spirit transfer was right; he drew his sword and held it out to block the charge.
Just before the stag reached him, Chopper had called out to him, he poured his will into his sword and focused on his desire to block.
The sword and his hand turned black and clashed with the stags antlers. The snow beneath the clash blew out of the way to reveal grass and Zoro felt a blast of wind hit him. The stag danced backwards and glared at him, he could see himself reflected in its eyes. Then it jumped when he had disappeared from its view.
The herd shifted uncomfortably and Zoro took the opportunity to grab Chopper by his antler and start dragging him away, he let go when Chopper started to run with him. A reindeer tried to follow but Chopper had turned around suddenly and ducked in between it's legs. Utilising his smaller size, he threw the larger being off balance from underneath by pushing into it's stomach and shoving it to the side.
Zoro felt no mercy as he filled his sword with the desire to slash.
Like before, the sword turned black momentarily and he used it to cut the side of the reindeer open. Chopper had frozen when he saw the sword slash but Zoro started to drag him away again.
They ended up running for quite a while and Zoro let Chopper take lead, he'll admit to not knowing where anything was on this island but he had a good reason, he had never been there before after all.
When they finally stopped, Chopper looked at him flabbergasted, "How are you-? Wait, do you realise what you've done? When you wake up you're going to get really sick!"
Zoro grunted and lightly smacked his panicked little brother. "I heard you ask for help; of course I would try to help. Getting sick afterwards doesn't matter so shut up already."
Chopper transformed into his hybrid form and Zoro picked up his crying brother and placed him on his hip. "Let's get you to that doctor you're staying with, now which way is he?"
The human-reindeer just turned and pointed in a direction, making sure to hit Zoro whenever he would try to wander in what he said was the wrong direction. Tch, if he didn't give the wrong directions then he wouldn't go in that direction. He doesn't care what his family says; his sense of direction was not shot after he hit puberty!
When Hiluluk heard a knocking on the door that afternoon, he swears that he did not scream like a girl when he saw Chopper floating in the air looking like he was holding onto someone and had just survived an encounter with a herd of angry reindeers.
He then found out that he did just survive an encounter with a herd of angry reindeers and felt happy at the fact that he managed to guess the reason behind his injuries with a glance, though he wasn't happy with the fact that his son had an encounter with the herd again.
After he took care of Chopper he went to address the invisible boy in the room. When he asked if it was possible to see the boy, he only got a glimpse of a green haired boy, maybe thirteen years old, with a black sword and white sheath in each hand.
"Sorry Zoro couldn't show himself longer. He doesn't have much control over the thing that lets him interact with things. But uncle, what is that doing? I've never seen it do that before." Chopper pointed in the direction of his efforts to grow Cherry Blossoms here on Drum.
"What?" and then he stared. A grin broke out on his face and he rushed over to it. "This is it! The reaction! I've waited thirty years for this!" He laughed and picked up his son, holding him aloft. "I've done it, Chopper! My work is a success! Now I can make Cherry Blossoms bloom in this land of snow!"
He put down Chopper and grabbed the product and his bag before rushing out the door, but before he left, he turned to face Chopper. "Chopper, I'm going out. But you must stay in bed. Right now you're in worse shape than I am! I'm off, Zoro take care of Chopper for me while I'm gone!"
Then he left, Chopper didn't hear but the twenty doctors had gotten sick recently and before he left to care for them, he needed to tell Kureha what to do in the case that it was a trap and he died. He only has a few days to live, he knows that, but before he takes care of that, he needs to see to his new patients.
When Robin landed on an island she hadn't come across yet, she was on guard. Taking care to do her best to sneak around the island she landed on, she noted that it seemed to be mostly deserted. The sole town on the east side of the island held the only inhabitants.
She knew better than to enter and so she made her way through the middle of the island and froze.
Just ahead of her, was probably the most beautiful scene she had ever seen. A mountain covered in nothing but blooming cherry blossoms. The story of a rich bandit with the incurable disease sprung to the forefront of her mind and she knew that this was the mountain he had found.
Instantly, the worry and stress she felt faded away and while she was still worried about Franky since Brook had forbidden anyone from entering the workshop while Franky finished 'modifying' himself. The kids and Chopper calling her 'mum' were the only good things that happened this last week. The bad things had just kept stacking up, including Chopper being stuck in the Blackness. A mild case of insomnia and major clinginess to Zoro seemed to be the only effects and she was thankful it wasn't worse.
Then again, Zoro was always worse on the inside. Could it be the same for Chopper?
She shook her head and dismissed the thought. She didn't want to think about it.
Robin stared curiously at the Cherry Blossom trees, were these really the ones Dr Hiluluk had encountered all that time ago? Maybe she should grab a branch and hand it to Chopper to give to Hiluluk. Even if they weren't it would still be a nice gesture and maybe she could grow some on the Sunny.
Hanakotoba said that Cherry Blossoms meant kind or gentle. If only she had some Habenaria Radiate then she would have sent them too. A flower that literally meant 'My thoughts will follow you into your dreams' would have been quite funny to give people who knew she was a Dreamer. She briefly wondered how Garp would react to it? Then again, that would be assuming he knew the meaning of the flower.
Smiling to herself, she went and after a couple of minutes, managed to uproot the smallest tree she could find. The fact that it was the same size and weight of Sanji made it possible for her to carry. After all, while they might try to deny it, Zoro and Sanji both do like it when she picks them up and carries them somewhere. If they were good for anything, it was building up muscles.
Resting against a tree, she swiftly went to sleep. It would be for the best if she transferred the tree over to the Dream, that way she wouldn't have to carry it for long. She'll also put a branch in Chopper's hand with a note asking if it was from the same tree Hiluluk spoke of.
Opening her eyes up on the Sunny, she was met with a face full of pink flowers and she was glad it actually transferred over. Chopper spoke about testing to see if it was merely inedible things and living creatures that couldn't transfer over and it seemed that cherry blossoms were off the list now.
Sitting up, she spared a glance at Nami and smiled when she saw there was a grin on her daughter's sleeping face. Lifting the tree, she slipped out of the room and wandered onto the deck. What she saw there was a nice surprise. Brook was out on deck, and so was Franky.
Though she had to admit, her brother looked a lot different. His eyes, hair colour, and what remained of his skin was the same, but the buzz cut, clearly robotic arms, red orb shoulders and metal legs were clear differences. But one thing was way different than before.
Robin nearly dropped the tree at the sight of her brother towering over their father. Franky who used to be just shorter than her, was now a few feet taller than the nine feet tall Brook.
When they both turned to look at her she was able to see that Franky had also changed his jaw and nose. She was willing to bet that the nose was actually a button for a cheap gimmick meant to distract the kids and Jimbei when they went to ask. Not that it would actually distract Jimbei but chances were that he'd be with the children when one asked.
"It's going to be quite an interesting morning, isn't it?" before either could open their mouths, Robin continued, "Oh well, at least the kids will be happy to see you again. I don't know if Brook told you dear brother, but Zoro, Luffy and Chopper sometimes call me 'mum' now. Sanji did once too recently."
She turned and walked up to where they had turned a part of the deck into a garden. Silently, she got to work on replanting the Cherry Blossoms while waiting for Franky to talk. As happy as she was to see him again, after nearly dying, 'repairing' his body, making them wait, and bringing those blueprints on board, she at least wanted an apology. And she knew that he knew that.
"Sorry Robin, I promise I'll do my super best to not let it happen again," she heard the heavy footsteps of her brother come towards her. "And not just for myself either, I won't let it happen to anyone else in our super family okay?"
Without looking, she sprouted a couple of hands to drag Franky next to her and pointed at the upturned soil. The command to help her was clear and she heard a sigh of relief behind her. She didn't need to look to see the relieved expression on Brook's bony face. (That make it more clear?)
A smile grew on her face. Skull Joke! If it was that amusing then maybe she should try to make one at breakfast. It would be amusing to see the reactions.
She snapped a branch off the tree and walked down into the male sleeping quarters. Before she entered, she spared a glance over her shoulder and was pleased to note that Brook and Franky had followed her.
"I think you might need a new hammock Franky, I'm sure the one you have currently is not strong enough to hold your new weight." She smiled over her shoulder.
He gave her two thumbs up and a big grin. "It'll hold Robin. I already super reinforced all the hammocks after Luffy, Sanji and Zoro broke them a few years ago."
Nodding, Robin turned and opened the door and smiled when she noticed Zoro sleeping with a bandaged Chopper on his chest. Walking over she slipped the branch into the younger one's hand and she was about to shake him awake as to let it transfer over when the branch disappeared.
She was about to walk away and check on the others when she noticed something. Chopper had more bandages on than he had before and Zoro had blood spattered over him. Their grip on each other was tight and for a split second, she wondered if they were doing what Luffy and Nami had done when Arlong had invaded Nami's home.
She never thought to give it a name. She had hoped it would never happen again. Luffy was really sick afterwards after all.
A skeletal hand rested on her shoulder. "Don't worry. Go and keep an eye on Nami, I'll come tell you if something happens."
Robin just nodded and walked away. Her mind not functioning as it was clouded with worry.
Please be safe you two.
Chopper stared up at Kureha, not processing what he had just been told. Hiluluk was due to die tomorrow. And he was currently rushing to an earlier death.
A hand rested itself on his shoulder. He turned to look up at Zoro who was staring down unwavering at him.
"Let's go stop the quack doctor from sacrificing himself, ok?"
Nodding blankly, he stood up then shock his head. Clearing his thoughts and focussing on the fact that he needed to save his uncle. He was about to transform into his reindeer form when he felt something, a branch judging by the texture, pressed into his hand.
Focussing on the object, he willed it to transfer to this body's hand and blinked when he saw a cherry blossom branch and a note.
Hello Chopper, could you hand this branch to Hiluluk please?
I found an island with a mountain covered in Cherry Blossoms here in the West Blue and was wondering if it could have been the mountain from his story? Thank you, and also you will be able to see Franky in the morning here. He's finally finished.
Robin.
A cure.
A cure was sitting in his hand.
Hiluluk's death was going to be postponed. Neither suicide nor incurable disease will be the cause. Sticking the branch in his mouth he transformed and opened the door. Staring at Zoro with meaning, his brother hopped onto his back and Chopper shot off faster than he had ever before. His injuries didn't hinder him or cause him pain as he sprinted into Bighorn and jumped onto the steel wire that allowed a person access to the mountain tops.
He will make it. He will save Hiluluk and he isn't alone. He has Zoro and Robin with him. Franky is also going to come out of the workshop tomorrow morning and he can't have anything overshadow it with misery.
"Chopper! Listen!" Zoro hissed, sword held firmly in his grip.
"-shot in the heart with a pistol? No. When he's stricken with a deadly disease? No." That was the Doctor's voice! He needs to go faster! He needs to get there NOW!
He goes even faster than before and he can feel a strain in his legs, but he ignores it.
"It's when he's forgotten!" NO! He's so close. Don't die yet Uncle!
"I may disappear but my dream will live on. And the ailing hearts of the people will be healed."
He leaps off the wire and onto the snowy plain. Hiluluk hasn't noticed him but some others have.
"Why the tears, Dalton?" Hiluluk asks the sole crying guard.
"What will become of this country?" Dalton asks back.
"Heh heh… Someone will continue my work." Hiluluk pours a cup of an unknown liquid. "Soon a monster will appear. He's my son. Don't hurt him."
He raised the cup and held it aloft and by now, everyone other than him had noticed Chopper. "HA! What a Life it-!"
A black blade shattered the cup and Hiluluk instinctively flinched away from it. Chopper felt Zoro slump against him and he knew his brother wouldn't last long.
He slipped Zoro off and changed into his human form. He took the Cherry Blossom branch out of his mouth and held it out to Hiluluk.
"Cherry Blossoms, uncle! From an island covered with them in the west blue! So don't die and live!"
"Wha-? Chopper, how? And who's this?" A finger pointed at Zoro.
A grunt. "I'm Chopper's brother, and our mum got that branch for you." A meaning stare directed at Hiluluk. "You can figure out the rest."
"The Dream…" It was barely a whisper but it sounded louder than that in this silent environment.
Chopper nodded at the statement and glared at Wapol and most of his men. This Dalton didn't seem that bad. But unfortunately, the others had also heard what the Doctor had said.
Wapol stared at them, realisation in his eyes. "You're the monster of the Dream. And that green haired kid… he's one too! Jimbei and Cutty Flam really had access to the Dream!" A step forwards and a sick grin.
"Guards! Catch the Dreamers! I'll go tell the World Government we have found the Dreamers on Drum." For a fat man, Wapol moved quickly. Chopper knew they couldn't stay.
He twirled around and turned back into his reindeer form. Zoro sat sweating and shivering on the ground and could barely keep a grip on his sword. Nudging his brother back onto his back, he ran between the legs of the doctor and caught the man on his back.
Running away, he leapt onto the wire and glanced back to notice one of the guards, Dalton, preventing the others from running after him. "Go! Neither of you can die. Live for the sake of this country! Please!"
A warm arm wrapped around Chopper's neck and he took it as the symbol to go. He needed to get away. Then he could care for Zoro.
Why is it that someone is always getting hurt now-a-days?
Coming up Next: Merry
I promise very little angst in the next chapter! Also, to all of you people who wanted Merry to be in the Dream, she always was going to be in there, she's just a lot younger than the rest. (Sunny's the exception)
Also, Post-timeskip Franky has replaced the old Franky. Sorry if you didn't like it.
Also, I had done all the review responses, but then my laptop shut down and they didn't save. So I had to do them again.
Responses to Reviews:(8)
Secret Wind: Really? That's a relief; I hoped it was still interesting. As for Carrot, if she does join I'm going to do a short and see the viewers responses, and I'll also do a poll. It would be cool to add her though, and other than the giants and long-limbed people I think they would have every species on their crew. Ha, that would be very interesting.
And you take care too!
demon. lvr: Things do take a while to come into effect, I don't know if the Canon is going to survive long if this keeps happening. As for Hody, he is the embodiment of Fishman Island's hate, and they all have a significant amount of hate gone from them because of Jimbei. So Jimbei is awesome! I'm beginning to like him because he's one of the easiest to write. I hoped you liked the moment at the end of the first part. It's a thanks for you (and Jimbei).
reydrago: Yeah, sorry about it. But here's this extra-long chapter as an apology. The reaction to the nipple lights will be in the next chapter. Taking a break from all the seriousness and having a lighter chapter.
As for Hody, he is the embodiment of Fishman Island's hate, and they all have a significant amount of hate gone from them because of Jimbei. And Otohime's awesome. One of my favourite female characters and I wish I could have made her sound cooler, I don't think I did her service.
dragonfire1237: Huh, that's a really good idea. I'll write a short for it when I get time, just know it's gonna take a while okay.
SoulAuron: Really? Damn I'm falling behind. Okay, when I get some free time I'm gonna catch up! If I find a really good reason to let Spandam live he might, but no matter what he's dead.
her wife: It's good to be back. You have won the vote! I hoped you liked the scene.
Mel72000: You're welcome. It was nice writing it. Thanks for reading!
PirateDragons121: And that's what happened.