Doctors
"That can't be," Vivi said.
"What in the world? How is it possible for there to be only one doctor in an entire country?" Sanji asked.
"Hey, Nami." Luffy slapped Nami on the cheek. "Can you hear me?"
"And just what do you think you're doing?!" Vivi, Usopp, and Sanji demand.
Nami opened her eyes.
"Ah, your awake. Listen, we can't get a doctor unless we go up a mountain. So we'll be hiking up," Luffy said.
"Are you crazy?! Just what are you trying to put Nami through?!" Sanji demanded.
"It's fine. I'll be carrying her," Luffy said.
"Even so, you're still going to exacerbate her condition," Vivi said.
"What the big deal? We got to get her to a doctor as quickly as possible, don't we?" Luffy asked.
"Yes, but it's impossible as it is right now! Just look at how tall that mountain is?!" Vivi points to the window.
"It's not like we have much choice," Cade said.
"Cade and I can climb it," Luffy said.
"Maybe you two can, but it's still too much of a burden on Nami!" Sanji said.
"Well, even if she falls there's only nice and comfy snow below," Luffy said.
"A normal person would die instantly if they fell from a mountain of that height!" Vivi said. "And you're not even dealing with a normal, healthy person here! She has a temperature of a hundred and seven! Do you understand how serious her situation is?!"
"Well, I might be able to push us up with my water manipulation," Cade said. "There's plenty of moisture here to work with."
Nami coughed and pulled out her hand. "I'll leave it to you two then."
"Great!" Luffy slapped her hand. "Leave it to us then!"
"Oh lord, our navigator's just as crazy as our captain!" Usopp said.
"Do you understand just how sick you are, Nami?" Vivi said.
"Mister, give me some meat!" Luffy said.
"Meat?" Dalton blinked.
"Nami, are you really fine with this? It make take over several hours to climb up," Vivi said.
"All right, I'll be coming along too!" Sanji said.
"Letting Nami fall even once could mean the end for her, got it?" Usopp said.
"What? Even once?" Luffy asked.
"You're being dramatic," Cade said. "Nami's not going to die from a small fall. Come on. Let's get going."
"Hold on. Let's tie Nami to whosoever carrying her." Vivi looked around. "Do we have rope?"
"I have some." Dalton left the room and came back with rope.
Vivi took it and tied Nami onto Luffy's back. "Stand still. I have to tie her tightly around you. That should do it. I'll stay behind here. I'd only drag you down if I came along."
"Me too!" Usopp said.
"All right! Hang on tight, Nami!" Luffy said.
"If you're serious about this, I won't stop you but you should at least climb up from the other side." Dalton jerked his thumb at the mountain. "The route to the top from here is full of lapins. They're violent and carnivorous rabbits. If you come across a pack of them, there will be no escaping alive."
"Rabbits? But we're in a hurry. I'm sure it'll be fine. Right?" Luffy looked at Cade and Sanji.
"Yeah." Sanji nods. "I'll kick any that gets in our way."
"They won't be a problem at all." Cade flexed her hands.
"Then let's go!" Luffy ran forward. "Before Nami dies!"
"Don't say that, you idiot!" Sanji screamed.
"See you later!" Cade waved to those staying behind as she ran to catch up with Luffy and Sanji.
...
Snow crunched under their feet. It had been already over an hour since they have left the town. The mountains didn't look any closer than before. Cade huffed. Why did this doctor have to live on top of a mountain?
"It's getting pretty cold with all this wind," Luffy said.
"Why are you wearing sandals in this weather? Just looking at them is making me feel cold," Sanji said.
"That just my police," Luffy said.
"You mean policy," Sanji said.
"Oh, is it?" Luffy asked. "In any case, did you know that people in snowy countries don't sleep?"
"And why is that?"
"Because they'll die if they do."
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
"It's true. That's what a guy once told me."
"Who? Usopp?"
"Nope, from a guy in a bar."
"You two." Cade sighed. "You're talking about absolutely nothing. But I guess it is passing time a bit quicker."
A baby bunny with sharp teeth leaped out at them. It missed, landing on their other side. Cade eyed the creature as it followed them. It leaped at them again. Missing again.
"Then why was there a bed in Dalton's home?"
"Ah, you're right! Then that must be when it's time for him to die."
"That's even more ridiculous! Well, let me ask you this. Did you know that the women of snowy countries all have beautiful smooth skin?"
"Why's that?"
"Isn't it obvious? You know how when it's cold, you rub your skin together? Well that's why. Having smooth white skin is the trademark of women in snowy countries."
A bark snapped. A tree fell over their path. They hop over it without pausing. Cade caught the small rabbit creature snarling at them. It knocked down a tree?
"Why white?"
"That's because the color of the snow seeps into their skin."
"You're pretty stupid, you know."
"You're the last person I want to hear that from! In any case, would you know it off already?!" Sanji kicked the baby rabbit when it charged at them again.
"What's up with that rabbit?" Luffy asked.
"Well, Dalton did say there were carnivore rabbits around here," Cade said. "That must be one of them. Didn't you notice it's sharp teeth? I think it wants to eat us."
"I did." Sanji leaned closer to Nami. "Hang in there, Nami. We'll get you to a doctor soon."
"The snow's real thick around here," Luffy said.
"It's hard to walk in." The snow reached halfway to Cade's knees. "My calves are screaming."
"Hey, Luffy, be more careful when running or Nami's body won't hold up," Sanji said. They pause to large rabbits lined in front of them, blocking their way. "What are these things? More of those things Dalton told us about?"
"They're white and big so they got to be polar bears," Luffy said.
"I don't think so," Cade said, eyeing their sharp teeth.
A rabbit jumped and slammed it paws down on the ground between them. The pirates leapt out of the way.
"What in the world?! How can it jump like that?!" Luffy asked.
"I guess it's expected of a snow creature, to be able to move this swiftly over thick snow," Sanji said. "We're at a disadvantage here. Luffy, don't lay a hand on any of them."
"Why not?" Luffy asked.
"You may be unaffected, but the impact of every blow you deliver or receive, will be transferred to Nami. So if that happens, she'll die for sure," Sanji said.
A lapin roared.
"Got it! I swear not to fight!" A lapin swiped its claws at Luffy. "Then what should I do?"
Cade kicked the lapin away from him. "Don't worry. I've got your back."
"Let Cade and me do the fighting." Sanji kicked away two lapins. "Just dodge for now! Dodge and run! But don't run too fast!"
"That's way too hard!"
"Flanchet Shoot!" The lapin barely goes flying. "Crap. It's hard to get any good kicks in with both feet stuck in the snow."
The lapins rushed for them all at once.
"We'll cover you so run to the forest!" Sanji said. "We have to shake them off somehow. If we were to seriously fight all of them, we'd be stuck here until the sun goes down!"
Luffy lifted a foot when a lapin charged him.
Sanji grabbed him. "Stop! I told you to leave it to me!"
"Sorry!"
"This is a matter of life and death!" Sanji kicked another one.
Cade gathered water in her palms. Shooting the water towards a tree she propelled herself towards a small group of lapins. She threw out her other hand, nailing them with a sharp stream of water.
"Hey Sanji, we can climb up from here!" Luffy called.
"All right. Go on ahead."
Luffy used a lapin to jump up to a cliff jutting out.
Cade and Sanji followed him. She glanced over her shoulder. "They're still after us!"
The lapins rushed after them before managing to get ahead of them.
"Just keep running all the way to the top!" Sanji said.
"The heck are they doing now?" Luffy asked when the lapins paused in front of them.
"They stopped chasing after us, but now they're up to something else." Sanji's eyebrows knitted.
The lapins jumped up and down.
"W-wait. It can't be. They couldn't possibly be trying to cause an avalanche!" Sanji said.
"We have to stop them!" Cade swirled her water, knocking the lapins away.
"Nice!" Sanji gave her a thumbs up.
Snow crunched behind them.
"Not more." Sanji turned.
"Wait! You've been disrespecting me to many times, you little brat!" Wapol and his two men came rushing towards them.
"Great. Those weirdos again," Cade said.
"Get out of our way," Luffy said.
"Are you dreaming?" Wapol laughed. "Why do I have to let you go? That thing you are carrying is about to die anyway."
"Why you little-"
Cade blasted them away with water, cutting Sanji off. "We don't have time for this. Let's go. We're almost to the base of the mountain."
"Cade! My darling angelfish! You are amazing!"
...
"Hey! We made it!" Luffy said. "Can you lift us now?"
"I'll try."
"You'll try?" Sanji asked.
"I've never lifted more than two people before. It might not work." Cade lifted her hands.
"What?!" Sanji screamed.
"It'll be fine. Even if I can get us halfway up we'll save a lot of time doing it this way." Cade held her palms down towards the ground. "Try not to move. And stay close."
Sanji and Luffy stepped closer to her.
Cade swirled her water. Slipping it under their feet she lifted them off the ground a couple inches. "So far so good."
...
Cade winched at the icy burn against her webbing. How long had she been doing this? How much farther. She looked up only to see gray clouds.
"Hm? You okay, Cade?" Sanji asked.
"Fine." Cade schooled her features. I can't stop now.
A few more minutes passed. Numbness settled into her hands. She winced. Her water faded. They plummeted.
"Cade!" Luffy cried.
"Got ya!" Sanji grabbed onto Cade then dug his hand into the rock. Holding her close to him he caught a glimpse of the ice on her hands. "Cade! You should have said something!"
"I'm f-"
"You are not fine!"
"What's wrong?" Luffy asked.
"Cade's hands are frozen with ice! We have to get up there! Now!"
"Right! Can you climb, Sanji?" Luffy asked over the howling winds.
"Yeah! I'll carry Cade!"
"Then let's go!"
Cade tried to protest but the cold closed in around her and her eyelids fell shut.
...
Cade opened her eyes to a stone ceiling and a warm blanket wrapped around her. Glass clinked close by. She rolled her head and spotted a small child with horns and a hat beside a table. She reached for the blanket and noticed her hands were restricted. She pulled them from under the blanket to find bandages wrapped around them. "What the heck?"
"Huh?" The creature turned towards her. "Oh, you're awake."
Cade turned to find it wasn't a child, but a deer of some kind. "You... what are you?"
"A reindeer," he said. "My name is Chopper."
"Chopper, huh? I'm Cade." Cade glanced around, spotting Nami at the other end of the bed she was on. "I was with two others. Both guys."
"They're in another room sleeping," Chopper said. "They'll be okay."
"Did you help us?" Cade asked.
Chopper nodded.
Cade parted her lips to say more but Nami woke up.
Chopper screamed with the navigator noticed him.
Well, that was an odd reaction. Cade blinked at Chopper. The small reindeer was tucked in the other doorway, eyes widened with fear. He's scared of Nami but not me?
Chopper quickly disappeared before an old woman with wavy hair took his place. "So you two are awake now, huh?"
"Let me guess… that reindeer ate a devil fruit," Cade said.
"Quick diagnosis there, girl," the woman said stepping over to Nami. She lifted the navigator's shirt. "You got bitten by a bug."
Cade spotted the red mark on Nami's stomach while the woman explained what it was.
"You'll need three more days of rest."
"Three days?" Nami said. "We can't stay here that long."
A ruckus came from the other room before Chopper came running back in with Luffy and Sanji hot on his hooves.
"What are you two doing?" Cade asked.
"I'm hungry!" Luffy said.
"I'm going to cook that reindeer!" Sanji said.
"What are you two doing up?" the woman asked.
"It's you. You're the doctor that helped us. Please come with us. I beg you," Luffy said. "Please, old lady!"
"Your name is Luffy, right?" the doctor said.
"Yes."
"You'd better watch who you're calling old!" She kicked Luffy. "I'm only a hundred and thirty nine years old! I'm still young!"
"Wow! What a strong kick for an old woman," Sanji said.
She kicked Sanji then sat down at the table. "You want me to become a pirate. That's ridiculous. I don't want to waste my time. Besides, I don't care about going to the ocean."
"It's okay if you don't care. Just come with us," Luffy said. "We can have adventures, old lady!"
"Didn't I just warn you to watch your mouth?"
Luffy and Sanji spot Chopper again. They ran after him.
"Nami, my love, please wait a second! I'll cook some reindeer soup for you!" Sanji yelled as he leaves the room.
"I don't want any soup. I only want some peace and quiet," Nami said.
"With this crew? Not going to happen," Cade said. A cold wind blew in along with snow. She got up and closed the door. "Why do they allow this place to be so cold?"
"You better be careful." Chopper looked carefully around the room. "Your hands need time to heal. Both of you need time to recover." He looked at Nami. "You still have casha bacteria in your body. You need another injection and more rest."
"Thanks," Nami said.
"Huh?" Chopper blinked.
"Thanks for taking care of us." Nami smiled.
"Shut up!" Chopper snapped then smiled and wiggled his body. "I don't want any gratitude from humans! You're still human!"
"He doesn't hide his emotions very well, does he?" Nami said.
Chopper moved closer to Nami and tapped her hand. "Are you really pirates?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Do you have a pirate's flag?"
"Yes. It's on our ship. Do you want to be a pirate?"
"Don't be stupid!" Chopper crashed into a bookshelf. "Who told you that?!"
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry." Nami smiled. "Anyway, do you want to come with us?"
"What?!"
"Just come and join us. How about that? If you come then I wouldn't have to stay here for three more days," Nami said.
"Don't be ridiculous! I'm a reindeer. How could I live with humans?" Chopper asked.
"I'm a fishman and still live with humans," Cade said.
Chopper stared at her for an intense moment. "Are you… aren't you two scared of me? I'm a reindeer, but I can talk and I can stand on two legs."
Nami chuckled. "You want us to be scared of you?"
"My nose is blue," Chopper said.
"I think it's a cute nose." Cade smiled.
"There you are!" Luffy and Sanji come running back into the room.
"Ah!" Chopper dashed away.
Kureha sighed and sat down. "I can't believe those kids. You're not a sweet little girl after all. While I'm not here you tried to tempt my reindeer away from me."
"Oh? Since when do I need permission to make a move on a man?" Nami asked.
Kureha laughed. "No. Just take him with you. But it's not going to be that easy. He has a wound inside his heart that even a doctor can't heal. When he was born, he was rejected by his own parents. Because of his blue nose he was forced to walk in the back of his herd. One day he ate the human human devil fruit. He was treated even more like an outsider and was forced to leave the herd. Lonely he searched for companionship among humans. But his form was not perfect. Why? It because of his blue nose. He was neither human nor a reindeer. However, there was one man. The only one that didn't see Chopper as a monster. His name was Doctor Hiriluk. He used to live here. He was just a fake doctor who gave Chopper his name and called him a son. But they didn't have a happily ever after ending. Hiriluk was going to die. Knowing this he ran Chopper off. But Chopper over heard the two of us talking. He went off in search of a mushroom he believed could cure any illness. In reality it was a poisonous mushroom."
"Chopper killed him?" Nami asked.
"No." She shook her head. "Hiriluk faced off against Wapol and his men. That's what killed him."
Chopper ran into the room. "Doctor! It's an emergency! Wapol is back!"
"Is that so?" Kurena left.
"You're not going?" Nami asked.
Cade looked at her hands. "They'll be fine. Besides I don't think I should fight right now. I might rip my webbing beyond repair. The others will be fine."
...
Cade stared up at the cloudy sky thinking about how Chopper was joining their crew. Or he was after he said goodbye to Kureha. After the crew defeated Wapol and his men, Chopper became less scared of the human pirates.
Suddenly, hooves came thundering towards them. Chopper was in his normal reindeer form and was pulling a sled. Behind him Kureha was throwing weapons at him. The crew piled into the sled and they were off.
Loud blasts made them stop. They turned back to see large pink clouds raining pink specks down on them.
Cade held out her bandaged hand. A cherry blossom landed in it. "A cherry blossom?"
Tears poured down Chopper's cheeks.
They stayed there for several minutes before Chopper started pulling the sled again. They loaded up the ship and were off, celebrating another crewmate as they headed for Alabasta.
