Tell it to the Marines

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Chapter 52

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"This is bad, really bad."

He doesn't need Usopp to say that, Luffy already knows this is bad.

He's hunched over by the side of the sofa; everyone has piled into the men's quarters because it's the only room with a sofa in it though they could move the sofa to the kitchen in the future but not right now.

Because Riskua is on the sofa and Riskua is sick. Really sick. She's gone all red, not her hair because that's already red, but red in the face, like Ace used to do when he was a kid and got embarrassed over something.

But Riskua's not embarrassed at all, she doesn't even know she fell over on deck. Well, not really fell over, but swayed and then went flat, like a pancake but Sanji had been worried, and then Zoro had been worried and since Zoro was worried Luffy'd known it wasn't Sanji being strange but that something was wrong with Riskua.

Which is bad, like Usopp keeps saying. Because 'Skua's running a fever, (Not that Luffy knows how a fever can be run but that's what Nami said and Nami's the smartest one of them after 'Skua and 'Skua's not being very smart at all right now because she's sick) and it's a really bad fever.

Though Luffy doesn't know if a fever can be good, all he knows this is bad because Nami who's smart looks worried and even Zoro who's only two moods are determined and grumpy also looks worried.

Which means this probably past really bad now.

"She's gonna get better though, isn't she?!" Sanji wails, chewing thoughtlessly on a napkin and Luffy snaps to attention because that is a question he very much wants the answer too as well.

Nami is knelt by Riskua's side, pressing a wet cloth to her forehead, the one she'd had Luffy fetch.

Luffy hadn't even hesitated, trying to remember all that Riskua had done for Sabo whenever his big brother had gotten ill. Out of the three boys of ASLR, Sabo had always been the one who got sick. Ace said it was because of his noble blood and then Sabo'd sneeze on him, which always had the freckled boy freaking out because he didn't want to get sick either, which Luffy totally understands as being sick sucks.

But Riskua isn't even well enough to sneeze on him which is why Luffy knows this is bad.

"I don't get it, but given the island we were on… Who knows what kind of old diseases were lingering about there?" Why would diseases 'linger'?

Luffy's not entirely sure what 'linger' even means, but he knows that it's because of that Riskua is ill. She's not allowed to be ill, and now he's really worried. Sanji asked if she was gonna die-

"'Skua's gonna be okay though, right?!" Luffy demands, looking worriedly to Nami.

Nami who doesn't instantly agree and that's not good at all.

Ignoring the rest of the crew, Luffy clambers onto the sofa, shuffling himself and Riskua about until his sister is lying in his lap, her head resting against his chest and she's really, really warm.

"Luffy! Don't do that! What if you catch it too!"

"'Skua said our systems were different and the one time I got sick she didn't get it-" she'd gotten something else much later, he recalls, "-so I won't get this but we need a doctor because 'Skua's really not well!"

Her forehead is burning hot against his collarbone and Luffy doesn't like that one bit. She's not allowed to get sick like this ever again; he's really, really worried.

Slowly, his big sister peers up at him, her strange eyes failing to really focus on his face and her fingers clench in the material of his top.

When she opens her mouth though, it's not to tell him that she'll be okay like he hoped.

"We can't go to South Blue, Lu'." She's using Ace and Sabo's nickname, not Kinglet and he really wants to hear her say Kinglet now. That's her name for him, it's what she should be calling him because then he calls her 'Skua and they're both birds.

"We're going to Drum," Luffy says insistently, stroking his hand across her head like she'd done all the time with him whenever they hugged. It always felt nice when she did it with him and Luffy wants her to stroke his hair again, to tell him everything will be alright but Riskua can't because she's the one sick which means he needs to look after her instead.

"We can't go to South Blue," Riskua repeats and she's not listening to him, why isn't she listening to him? Her eyes look all funny and he doesn't like the angry red her cheeks are. 'Skua should only ever have red in her hair, not on her face like this. He really doesn't like it.

"If we go to South Blue then Ace'll die like his Dad did and Ace isn't allowed to die like that," 'Skua mumbles into his neck, trailing off at the end of her sentence and Luffy's brow crinkles in thought.

Ace's dad was the Pirate King and he died because he was caught and executed. That didn't happen in South Blue, that was in East Blue, they even went to see the town. Luffy knows, he'd stood on the platform, seen what the Pirate King saw before he died.

Then Buggy and his funny friends had attacked him and then lightning had blown up the platform which was no more. So what is Riskua saying?

"Luffy," his big sister suddenly says, hands tight in his shirt again as she pulls back, squinting but she's actually looking him in the eye this time.

Is Riskua well now? Is she all better?

"Luffy, Big Mom ate her mum so you have to be careful, Luffy, or you'll eat everyone too. Don't eat Ace or you'll end up on fire and then we'll all burn like Dawn."

He really doesn't like that reminder, he doesn't want to think about Dawn and the fire. No. Not nice, why is Riskua thinking bad thoughts? Who is 'Big Mom' anyway?!

"She's delusional," Nami finally concludes and Luffy's head snaps around to look at his navigator, recalling Zoro's friends and how she'd fixed them. Nami knows what this is, she can fix it!

"Nami! Nami, you need to fix 'Skua."

He's worried. Worried and scared and he doesn't know what to do.

The back of his eyes burn but he forces the sensation away; he won't cry, Ace doesn't like cry-babies and now Riskua's older than Ace was at that age so she won't like cry-babies either.

"Luffy, I'm not a doctor, I can't-"

"Drum Island is famous for its doctors!"

Luffy startles, more for the fact Sanji even interrupted Nami at all before the cook's words really register with him.

"Really?!" He shouts, wanting to leap up and force the Merry faster but he can't because 'Skua's ill and he doesn't want her to be alone.

"That's what Ri-flower said yesterday."

"Nami, get us to Drum as quickly as possible," Luffy insists, hugging Riskua a little closer.

She's really warm, too warm, and Luffy kicks the blanket off the both of them, pressing his hand to Riskua's cheek.

Usopp hands over another wet cloth, a really cold one that he'd just come back from the kitchen with and Luffy presses it to Riskua's forehead. She hisses in discomfort, one weak hand trying to bat it off but she soon gives up, just lying against him, still mumbling.

"…won't let the Mera Mera reform… he promised he wouldn't die and we won't let him… saved Sabo… can change things…"

Scowling, Luffy grabs hold of his ears, pulling them down and tying them in a knot beneath his chin, feeling like his mind is so worried it's gonna leak right out of them if he doesn't close them off or something.

'Skua said everyone needs a brain to function so he can't afford to lose his. She'll be really upset when she's well if he does.

"I'm going to go make some soup for Ri-flower," Sanji says quietly and even though Luffy's mouth floods with drool at the thought he can't eat Riskua's soup. Soup is for sick people and Riskua's sick so she needs it more than him.

Even… even if it's meat soup.

"Sanji!" Riskua suddenly calls, sitting up and slamming her head against his chin.

Luffy's ears slip free of the knot, flicking up to smack back into position but 'Skua doesn't even notice, instead grasping the hand Sanji holds out when she reaches for it.

"You're the kindest person I know and that's good. Judge is wrong."

His cook flinches back like 'Skua full out smacked him or something, his eyes wide and Luffy doesn't like that expression Sanji's face at all. He better not be getting sick too!

"No one else is allowed to get sick!" Luffy declares, hugging Riskua closer, tucking her head under his chin and rubbing her arms when she shivers. Shivers mean you're feeling cold but Riskua doesn't feel cold at all, she's really hot and why does nothing make sense anymore?!

"Sanji! Soup for 'Skua! Nami! Get us to Drum, use Zoro's muscles if you need to!"

Luffy turns to Vivi and Usopp, both of whom are looking really, really worried. "Usopp, make sure everything runs how Nami needs it to, and Vivi, I need you to get all the money we have together-"

"What?! Luffy, you can't-"

"All the money!" Luffy screams over Nami, meeting the furious and surprised gaze of his navigator.

Luffy likes Nami, really likes her but-

"Medicine costs money, Nami!" He remembers that much from when they were kids, remembers Riskua going to steal some from Sabo and for one of the bandits when they got really ill.

But this is the Grand Line and Luffy doesn't want to have to steal unless he has to because the people with the medicine might be strong. And while he'd defeat them all if he needs to that might take time and 'Skua keeps getting worse.

He won't risk it, he won't.

"We'll find the City of Gold, Nami," 'Skua promises in a whisper and Luffy throws one last stare at his navigator.

Money can be replaced, 'Skua can not.

Seeing the other pirate understands, Luffy returns his attention to his ill sister who needs him. He's not very smart, he doesn't know how to cure a sick person which is why he needs a doctor.

But he does know how to love, how to comfort his big sister.

Smoothing her hair down with one hand, Luffy rubs at her back with the other, hoping that'll be enough until they get to Drum.

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They've stopped.

The Merry isn't moving as fast as it was. Why has the Merry stopped?!

Luffy doesn't want to leave 'Skua's side, he really, really doesn't but they aren't moving and that's even worse than leaving Skua's side.

Begrudgingly and with rage burning in his stomach, hotter than the hottest chilli he's ever eaten, Luffy storms out of the men's room, heading for deck.

When he kicks open the hatch, Luffy finds a mass gathering of people, all people he doesn't recognise and they're holding up his ship, stopping him from getting to this Drum place where there's a doctor who can help 'Skua.

"Hmmm, this makes six people in tot-"

"Get the hell off my ship."

Luffy… Luffy's not sure what happens.

Only that everything seems to go still for a second, everything seems to stop.

The wind, the sea, the people. It all stops.

And then, then they all go down, funny white stuff bubbling up from their mouths but Luffy couldn't care less. He wants them off his ship now and he doesn't know what they've done to his crew but Nami and Sanji both don't look well and they're the only ones Luffy can see right now.

There's a funny guy with a metal jaw who's sweating like the big pig Ace'd caught years and years ago and he's holding Luffy's ship up. He's stopping them from getting to Drum.

Luffy kicks him, kicks him as hard as he possibly can in the face and even though sending him flying, sending him skipping across the ocean like a stone breaks part of the Merry's railings, Luffy really doesn't care right now. Not in the slightest.

"H-His majesty! Get up, get up! We have to go save him!"

One of the idiots who dared step on his ship snatches up another, leaping over the side and Luffy glowers after them, expression black.

"Zoro, get rid of them," Luffy orders, kicking one of the bodies that's littering the Merry.

"L-Luffy?! Wh-What the hell was that?!"

Blinking, Luffy turns to glance at Nami, Nami who looks really scared.

Looking back at all the guys on the deck, the one's Sanji and Zoro are starting to roll off into the ocean, Luffy frowns as a memory slowly pokes at his brain.

Back on Dawn, he remembers when Sabo's bastard dad cornered them. 'Skua had done something then, hadn't she? Those pirates had all been like this, all on the floor and all with that funny foam around their mouths.

Has he done the same thing?

"It's a mystery," Luffy concludes, promising himself he'll ask 'Skua about it because he doesn't want to give Nami the wrong answer. "How long till Drum, Nami?"

"Judging by how the needle's not so easily moved, I'd say another day."

Luffy nods, worrying his lip back and forth between his teeth.

With one last look to the guys Zoro and Sanji are throwing overboard, Luffy disappears back beneath deck. They're not his problem.

'Skua's more important right now.

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Pulling the second one of Riskua's arms through her bright yellow coat (the thick padded one, not the rain one, just as Nami had said), Luffy hefts his big sister up into his arms. Though, really, she's not the big one anymore, just the older one.

He can't remember when she stopped being bigger than him; she was when she left with Sabo, but now he's taller, if only by a little bit. Still, that little bit is enough. He's bigger now so he has to look after her like 'Skua did when they were younger because she was bigger.

It's nice to be the big one, but Luffy's well aware he's not capable right now. He can't cure stuff, he's not a doctor and he's not clever enough to learn. He got lost when 'Skua was explaining how being sick worked to Sabo and Ace when they were kids and he's not got much smarter since then.

But if he needs to fight someone to get Riskua a doctor, then that's what he'll do.

Pulling 'Skua's hat down until it's completely set on her head, the captain of the Strawhat Pirates quickly makes his way up onto deck, one hand tucked under 'Skua's legs and the other wrapped around her back, holding her close.

He's really upset to get on deck with the rest of the crew and find people pointing guns and swords at them.

He's even more upset when they shoot at Sanji.

He doesn't know what to do, doesn't know if he should put 'Skua down to punch them but if he puts 'Skua down they might shoot her and no Haki can help her with the fever, otherwise it already would have done.

"Please!" Vivi calls, her face worried, worried like how she gets when she speaks about her country, "please our friend is sick! She needs a doctor!"

Vivi kneels on the deck, her head bowed and it's like when Ace was learning manners from Makino. He remembers this, it pings a little in his head.

So Luffy stomps forwards, wrapping as much of himself around Riskua as possible to protect his sister from the bullets that won't hurt him, and he bows with Vivi as best he can.

"Please! My sister's really not well! We won't come into your town but we need a doctor!"

His eyes are burning again and Luffy feels like a failure. A big fat failure.

He can't look after 'Skua, 'Skua who he's known for so long so how is he supposed to look after his crew? He's a captain and he doesn't know how to help, hasn't got crew who can help and he can't provide for his sister.

Ace'd have been able to help her.

Sabo'd have been able to help her too, somehow.

His brothers are older and know so much more stuff than Luffy.

It's only as the wetness touches his cheek that Luffy realises he's crying. No no no, he can't start crying, pirates don't cry and Pirate Kings certainly don't cry.

But he's scared, he doesn't want to lose Riskua. He can't lose Riskua. They haven't even done half the Grand Line yet and she promised to see him become Pirate King, promised.

She can't see anything though because she's sleeping with this fever. And even though there's lots of snow around right now he doesn't want to play in it, no matter how white it is. Not until 'Skua is well again.

He won't play in it until she can make snowman Ace to fight his snowman Sabo again.

So, when the people with guns agree to let them on the island but warn the only doctor lives at the top of the mountain, Luffy doesn't hesitate.

He's never Geppo'ed such a distance before, but it's that or Riskua could die.

And he won't let his sister die.

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The first thing she sees upon waking up is Luffy's relieved face.

"'Skua!"

Before she even knows what's going on, Riskua has a lapful of little brother, of snotty, teary-eyed little brother who's rubbing all his nasty leaking mucus all over her cheek.

Still, it's an uncommonly warmer than normal reception and Riskua's coming up blank when she tries to figure out where she is. Or what happened before she fell asleep.

Or even what day it is.

"L-Luffy?"

Her throat feels scratchy, sore, like that one time they'd choked back a bit of Luffy's cooking before deciding to never leave him alone in the kitchen ever again. Hell, he'd eaten them out of house and home preparing their 'dinner'. It'd been a stupid idea on Sabo's part to let the brat cook for them.

Luffy warbles something into her neck, though they're words she can barely make any sense of.

'I thought you were gonna die'.

What?

"Lu, where-"

"Not Lu!" Luffy suddenly hisses venomously, drawing back to stare her hard in the eye, an iron to his expression that makes Riskua sit up and straighten. Her cheeks feel hot and not in the healthy embarrassed way they sometimes do.

She'd really not been prepared to wake up to a lapful of Luffy, not prepared in the slightest for him to wrap his rubbery limbs tight around her shoulders.

More than a bit miffed, Riskua runs her hands up and down Luffy's back, determined to ignore the way his chest judders, as if he's trying to hold back his emotions.

"Not Lu'. You can only call me Kinglet. Only you."

"Alright, Kinglet. Now tell me what's wrong. I promise I won't mention this to Ace and Sabo."

"You almost died," Luffy whimpers, drawing her in tight for a hug as Riskua inhales in shock. She gets a mouthful of Luffy's hair for her troubles, leaving her spitting it out even as she does her damn best to hug Luffy even closer to her.

"Almost died?" Riskua repeats over her little brother's shoulder, mind racing as she tries to come to terms with what she'd just heard.

"An airborne virus."

Snapping to attention at the unfamiliar voice, Riskua reaches for her daggers, only to find them painfully absent.

Luffy doesn't seem worried though so the redhead forcibly relaxes her posture, turning to look at the woman that has strutted into the room, followed by a small, furry creature.

Tony Tony Chopper.

"Been near Little Garden, have we?"

Peering up at the female, Riskua startles at the very old face attached to that exceptionally young body, doing her best not to stare. But it's such a painfully evident difference.

"I- yes, how did you know?"

Peeling Luffy off of her lap (or attempting to at the very least), Riskua turns herself on the bed until she can better see the duo of doctors, accepting Luffy's stubborn hug without so much as a flinch.

Chopper's black eyes are wide, staring out from behind the woman's legs, bright as he stares at Luffy's stretchy limbs. Luffy who- who stares right back.

"No, Luffy. He's intelligent."

Chopper isn't for eating, no matter how much drool Luffy is leaking onto her shoulder.

"But-"

"No."

"What you caught was a very specific virus, one you could have avoided by just being in the general vicinity of another creature living on the island that carries a similar strain of virus that inhibits the one you were so effected by."

Gathering a corner of the blanket she's been tucked in with, Riskua mops up the mass amount of drool Luffy has so lovingly slathered her with, doing her best to ignore the way his hungry eyes are still locked on Chopper, and the way Chopper stares fearfully back.

"'Skua!"

Flinching at the thunderous bellow in her ear, Riskua forcibly pushes Luffy away from her, watching him collapse back onto the bed, limbs snapping back in place with a sharp 'twang'.

"Not so loud, Luffy."

"Sorry. But Ace promised not to die, and you promised to make sure we all didn't die but you never said you wouldn't die. So now you need to promise." What the hell is he on about?

Riskua purses her lips, trying to recall those hazy childhood memories, back when they'd all being discussing their future. But that's ten years ago, and things are… foggy.

"Everyone dies, Kinglet."

"I know. But you gotta promise to not die until…" Luffy trails off, as if realising there's no boundary he can give that he likes. He'll still want her around after he becomes Pirate King, and that really warms Riskua up inside.

"I promise I'll do my best to stay alive," Riskua vows, ruffling Luffy's hair with a grin, her little brother copying the expression a moment later, though there's still a suspiciously watery sheen to his eyes.

"I could help you there; don't you want to know the secret to my eternal youth? I'm a hundred and thirty-nine years young!"

Riskua is more than a little irritated by the fact both she and Luffy tilt their head to a side at the exact same time, though thankfully her expression is just a deadpan compared to Luffy's total confusion.

"No thanks." They even speak at the same time. Perhaps this is getting a little bit out of hand.

"Anyway, both of you are on bedrest for the next few days. You to get that fever down," the woman who has yet to introduce herself snaps, pointing hard in Riskua's direction before she turns that dainty finger on Luffy, "and you for overstressing your legs."

"Overstress- Luffy! What did you do?!"

"I needed to get you up the mountain, so I Geppo'ed."

"Would've given me a heart attack if I weren't so young," the woman mutters, eyeing Luffy suspiciously, "I'd been about to come down anyway when this brat comes racing up, begging me to help you. I've never seen anything like him before; no normal human could have done that."

"I'm not a normal human," Luffy proudly proclaims, jamming his fingers between his lips and stretching his mouth out way past what it should go, "because I'm a rubberman!"

"Normal's overrated," Riskua agrees, pinching one side of Luffy's cheek and pulling out of even further, only to release and watch the force send Luffy tumbling to a side.

"Chopper, make sure they're well."

The little reindeer startles at the call, swiftly hiding himself behind the wall.

"I- Will do, Dr Kureha!"

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Riskua sits, perfectly docile as Chopper checks her over. Luffy must have been awake for a while because he'd crashed out the second Dr Kureha had left.

"Open your mouth, human."

Smiling a little at Chopper's bedside manner, Riskua does as she's told, sticking her tongue out upon request so the reindeer can inspect the back of her throat.

"You know," she says once the little doctor was done peering at her tonsils, "I met a crew with a talking polar bear on a few years ago."

Chopper startles slightly, peering at her suspiciously as he packs away the latest medical tool he'd been using. It's not exactly Riskua's area of expertise, she's got no idea what half those things are called, but she recalls seeing them upon the Polar Tang.

"You should still rest, the Doctor's medicine is effective but just because you don't feel the fever, doesn't mean the virus is gone… You're lying about the bear."

Jumping slightly as Chopper continues his sentence, Riskua plants her chin in her hand, elbow on her knee as she peers at the little doctor.

"Am I? There's a race of people known as the mink tribe in the New World; they're like fishmen but with animal features instead. Bepo, the bear I was talking about, is one of them, but he joined a pirate crew. My… friend's pirate crew. He's their navigator."

"Don't lie to me, stupid human! There's no way people would ever accept monsters onto their crew!"

Just like that, Chopper's bag is packed, a scowl on his face as he looks her over once more.

"Call me or Doctor Kureha if you feel yourself getting worse."

And then he's gone, disappearing out of the room and leaving Riskua grimacing. Well, that didn't go as well as she'd hoped.

Flicking a quick glance to Luffy, the redhead considers the bed she's found herself on, eyelids heavy.

Maybe just a quick nap would help.

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When Riskua wakes up, the warmth of Luffy's body is gone and the old woman, Doctor Kureha, is back.

"Wapol has returned, if you're interested in knowing what's going on. The rest of your friends have turned up too."

"I- I'm sorry? Should I know a Wapol?" She's forgotten far too much of this world because the name isn't even ringing a bell in Riskua's head when it probably should be. Still, if he's not registering then this guy's probably not a big problem.

"Probably not, given you were unconscious with fever. But your sweet little brother declared the 'Jaw-guy' tired stopping you from getting here, and that he didn't have time to really beat him up because he was in such a rush. That's what the boy said anyway."

"Heh, that does sound like Luffy," Riskua agrees, climbing out of bed and making her way to the window.

Outside, the grounds are a pristine white, glittering in the glare of the sun. Her eyes are drawn to the sky, to the clouds that circle around the horizon like a decorative trimming, separating the blue of the ocean from that of the sky. It's pretty, she thinks. Blue for the sky, white for the clouds, blue for the ocean, then white for the island. Like some kind of layered cake.

"Your captain wants to take Chopper with you."

Kureha's voice breaks Riskua from her admiration of the scenery, pulling her attention back into the room. She follows physically after a moment later, seating herself back upon the bed and considering the woman before her.

"That doesn't surprise me. Luffy's always wanted the weirdest crew he could put together. His wishlist currently includes a robot and a musician, though I wouldn't be too surprised if a Fishman is on it too."

Grinning, Riskua accepts the cup of steaming tea that the older woman offers to her, taking a quick sip. It's nowhere near as good as Sanji's stuff (will anything ever be?) but it does the job of warming her hands and her innards.

"I suppose, if you're taking Chopper, then I should tell you about him."

"No, you don't need to. I'll get to know him myself, and I'd rather not have that coloured by your words. If you'll forgive me for that."

Kureha laughs wickedly, an expression of delight upon her face.

"Perfect."

They sit in silence a bit long, the sound of a fight dying down outside. Riskua doesn't need to watch, she knows who's going to win. Instead, there's something else nagging at her.

"Do you know a doctor called Crocus?"

"That flower-headed whippersnapper?"

"Yeah… He's looking into something for me, to do with a friend's genetic disease. If you're looking for a challenge-"

"Nice try, girlie, but you're years too young to be trying that kind of manipulation on me."

Riskua hums, but she's pretty sure the other woman will still go along with it, if only out of curiosity.

.

"It's strange."

"Hmm?"

Hands stuffed into the pockets of her coats, Riskua bares with Sanji's relieved fawning graciously, smiling and wrapping her arms tight around Nami and then Vivi when both girls hug her.

She hugs Sanji tight too when he glances with a little longingly towards her. Because there's a look on his face she doesn't like in the slightest.

Delusions. Kureha and Chopper, both of them said the virus would have given her delusions. She could have said anything to any one of the Strawhats, sprouted facts that she shouldn't have, and from the discomfort she can sense form Sanji, she appears to have done just that. He's hiding it well though.

"Ri-flower! You're okay! Your glorious tan has returned, you're blooming once again!"

"Yeah," Riskua drawls slowly, working the strange words over in her brain, "and it's all thanks to Chopper's help."

They both turn to look at the reindeer pulling their sledge down the mountain, running ahead at top speed. She'd only heard half of the incident that got Chopper metaphorically on board, but it'd been enough to prove Luffy's charisma far outstrips her own.

"Yeah! Can you believe it, Chopper's a doctor too!" Luffy laughs, a proud smile on his face, one hand planted down on his hat and the other holding the broken lapels of his borrowed jacket shut.

Riskua smiles, huddling closer to the rest of the Strawhats, the whole lot of them stuffed tight into the sleigh.

Perhaps this is how the contents of Sanji's larder feels when he's had a chance to restock. It's pretty pleasant sensation, surrounded by this warm gathering of bodies; the only sad part is that Chopper's pulling the sleigh instead of warming them up with his nice thick fur.

It could be worse, Riskua supposes, it could be snowing.

Which, come to think of it, it hadn't done since she woke up. Is this winter island in the middle of summer? It'd explain the fact the temperature isn't hanging somewhere around the 'freeze your blood' kind of negative Fahrenheit.

It's been an eventful stop and Riskua's kind of disappointed she missed so much of it. She does know that Luffy picked a fight with a king, all because that king's actions had threatened her well-being. It's… nice to be cared about like that.

Having a captain isn't a bad thing at all, Riskua concludes, steadying herself with one hand on Zoro's solid form as they jump over some kind of snow bank, hitting the ground hard.

One hand sitting tight on her hat, Riskua chances a quick look around as they go careering down the long stretch of snow-smothered forest that stands between them and the Merry.

Only to meet a pair of very startled grey eyes.

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"Wait! We need to go back!"


Surprise, Chickadees! I have no idea where this motivation came from, but here! Have another chapter! (skipping over the fight scene because there's little change from canon here, other than Luffy flattening his opponent and I don't really think that's all that interesting to read about, correct me if I'm wrong?)

Also, that last scene was not suppose to happen. Ace wasn't suppose to reappear until the next chapter but he muscled his way in, as usual. So yeah, given how he waited around for Thatch to wake up, our favourite hot-head is behind schedule and this, early meet n' greet.

Enjoy!

Lots of love,

Tsume

xxx