The Silence of the Singing Isle

Chapter III: Guardian Angel?

A/n: thanks for the continued feedback, even having one fan is giving me the momentum I need to finish the story.
Zoro was in heaven, that had to be it! Nothing earthly could smell as good as the scent that he gradually became aware of. Idly he wondered if he actually was in heaven, had he really lived his life well enough to warrant access into paradise?

"Oi, Marimo, wake up! Its chow time, baka!"

That explained it, he was in hell. If Sanji was here, it had to be hell. "Wait! Did you say food?"

"Yep, he did!" chimed Luffy, barely lifting his head from the bowl of gruel he had plunged it into.

Cracking open an eye, Zoro saw a sight that almost brought him to tears. In the middle of the deck of the merry go someone had set an enormous blackened cauldron of, apparently gruel, that was giving off the most wonderful odors Zoro had ever had the pleasure of smelling in his life. It seemed that he was the last to awaken, for all the others were already well into their first bowls of the stuff.

With a grunt he accepted a bowl from Sanji, who was the only crewmember with the leg strength to stand after their near death by starvation experience. This couldn't be real, it had to be another dream, and he knew that when… If… he woke up his stomach would be just as empty as it had been before. As he began to eat the savory gruel he realized that he didn't care.

"So…" Zoro said in between delicious mouthfuls. "Where'd you get the grub, ero-cook?"

"You wouldn't believe it. I just woke up and it was here."

"Huh… you didn't make it? No wonder it tastes so good."

"Why you!"

"Stop!" Decreed Chopper, slamming his spoon down hard on the table. "No fighting! Doctor's orders! Just eat, and recover, got it?"

"…Yes Chopper." The two said in unison. A shared glare between them promised that this fight was nowhere near over, merely delayed for a time.

"So, anyway… what happened?" Usopp asked, reaching towards the cauldron for another helping of the life giving food. "All I can remember is passing out, and then…"

Just as Usopp was about to launch into another of his countless tall tales something shiny on the horizon caught Nami's ever alert eyes. Snatching the telescopic goggles from off his head she made her way to the ships' railing on unsteady legs. As she placed the goggles over her eyes and focused them, he breath caught in her throat.

"Nami, what's you do that for?"

"…Island…"

"What?" The entire crew cried in disbelief.

"Land ho!" she cried, tears streaming from her eyes as she pointed off to the starboard of the ship. "We're saved…"

Overcome with relief, Nami would have collapsed on the deck had Sanji not made a valiant dash to her side, catching her as she began to fall. "Nami-chwan… you have to be more careful." Strained as his own legs were from their lack of food and sudden hard use, Sanji felt himself sinking to the deck. It was only with a supreme act of will that he began to escort her back to the table.

With an immense feeling of relief sweeping over the crew it wouldn't be long before idle curiosity got the better of them. Sure enough, it was Chopper who asked the first question.

"So… how long were we out?"

"Who knows?" Replied Luffy, with a shrug. "I don't remember anything, do you Zoro?"

"Not a damn thing." Grumped the swordsman.

"Sanji?"

"Huh uh…" Sanji said as he served up more portions for the ladies.

"Nami?"

"Nope." Answered Nami, accepting the bowl from her Sanji-kun.

"Usopp?"

"Well…" Usopp said "After you all passed out there was a giant storm that-"

"He doesn't!" Zoro interrupted

"Chopper?" Luffy asked, turning his attention away from the ship's liar.

In response the reindeer just shook his head.

"How about you, Robin?"

After a long pause, the archaeologist put down her spoon with hesitation. "…It's probably nothing Captain-san, but I think I remember seeing a cloaked figure here on the ship."

"A cloaked figure?" Nami asked in confusion.

"On our ship?" Cried Usopp.

In response Robin could only shrug, unsure. "I saw the figure leaning over Luffy… and when I blinked it was gone… I think it brought the food…"

"Wow, Luffy's got a guardian angel?" Usopp exclaimed, his eyes growing wide.

"Really? So cool!" Chopper said, his eyes taking on that particular glint of hero-worship he had from time to time.

"Who ever heard of a pirate captain with a guardian angel, baka?" Zoro retorted, munching his way through another bowl of gruel.

"I dunno, maybe it was a guardian angel!" Luffy said, his now characteristic grin that showed way too many teeth.

"Can we just forget the gardian angel, thing… whatever it was, and just get to the island already?" Nami asked, fully fed up with the pointless direction the conversation had taken.

"Hai, Nami-swan!" Sanji cried, and just like that, the Mugiwara crew was on their way to the now not-so-distant isle.

A/N: Ok, this chapter didn't quite end up as I wanted it to, but it's late, and I must sleep. Hey, I can always rewrite it...

R&R everybody!