Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.
Chapter 5: The Journey Home
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A dappled mixture of grey and white clouds obscured the early afternoon sun, and a cold breeze blew through the jungle of Mount Corvo, ruffling leaves and dislodging Luffy's hat from his head. It fell onto his back and hung there by the string that had been sewn into it.
Luffy had ended up going quite deep into the jungle to get the blue flower, but he knew the way back as he had explored this area before. It was actually around this area that Luffy had always lost sight of Ace when he would chase him every morning, so Luffy was especially familiar with the path back. He would always undertake it alone like a sad little pup with his tail between his legs, glum that he had failed to catch Ace.
But this time he wasn't coming back defeated, he had found what he had sought after.
He had won.
He just hoped that his sick body would hold out until he got the cure for Ace.
"I'm coming A…ce… 'm c…oming" he rasped.
His voice was giving up on him and it took great effort to speak, so Luffy decided he would remain silent for the rest of the return journey and focus on getting as much oxygen into his lungs as possible, since it was getting harder and harder to breathe.
Luffy wasn't sure how much time had passed while he had been in the jungle but he sensed that he needed to hurry so he started to run but soon found that the movement jarred his neck, sending sharp aching reverberations in his head.
Luffy settled for walking fast which was still difficult as his vision was blurred and he was dizzy so he would often trip on roots and other obstacles along the way. But still he did not give up.
Hours went by and Luffy steadily trailed his way through the jungle, his sluggish legs moving like clockwork. Luffy's consciousness was waning in and out and he mind was hazy but somehow, be it his immensely strong will or his compassion for Ace, he kept taking step after step, holding onto the Aoilander flower for dear life.
Luffy shivered as he walked, his body temperature in a state of confusion. He felt frozen as though soaked in the sea yet also felt stifled as though in a burning building, searing heat coursing through his veins. Luffy's teeth were chattering and his straw hat was becoming moist with sweat.
It was a miracle that Luffy did not encounter any other beasts in the jungle on his journey, for he was utterly defenceless in his current state and surely would have made easy prey as he slowly and shakily stumbled through the perilous landscape of Mount Corvo.
The only possible explanation for the lack of interference from the wildlife on Luffy's return journey was that it was after noon and the predators had already eaten. Whatever the reason, Luffy was grateful and carefully climbed up a slope and onto the long path that lead to the Mountain bandits hideout, his home.
'I'm nearly there' Luffy thought.
It took longer than normal for Luffy to reach the house as he frequently had to stop to avoid succumbing to the intense dizziness that was consuming him. The path ahead of him was warping and shifting in his vision and bright lights were blaring in his eyes causing his head to ache. But eventually Luffy's hand came to rest against the wooden door of Dadan's house.
Luffy wheezed as though he had run a marathon, his dreadfully pale face slick with sweat.
He pushed open the door and staggered to the room that he and Ace slept in. Luffy noticed that Dadan was not there but could tell that she had been tending Ace's fever recently as there was a cloth on Ace's forehead that was damp and cool.
Luffy knelt down by Ace's left side and, hands shaking, brought out the Aoilander flower. He had never made medicine before so he wasn't sure how to administer the cure. In the end Luffy picked off all the small petals and unceremoniously stuffed them into Ace's mouth. This was after all Luffy who was not known for his delicacy in grown up matters. He would have found a task like this hard enough a whole decade later, let alone as a seven year old kid!
Luffy noticed that Ace was having trouble swallowing the petals, so he looked around for some water to help wash them down his throat. Thankfully a water skin was lying by Ace's side, presumably left by Dadan so Luffy lifted it to Ace's lips, and he drank the whole contents of the skin, desperate for every last drop.
Luffy was relieved to see Ace's jaw gently moving, and his Adam's apple bobbing signalling that he had swallowed the petals.
Once Ace had completely swallowed the cure, he coughed briefly then fell asleep.
Luffy breathed out in relief.
He had got back. He had given Ace the cure. He could rest now.
Luffy found that he didn't even have the strength now to get up and crawl to the other side of the room where he normally slept.
His mouth felt so dry all of a sudden. When he was giving Ace the water he was reminded of the fact that he hadn't drunk anything all day and he was parched with thirst.
't's…kay… Ac…e n-needed it… more than m…e' Luffy reasoned.
He focused on more important matters such as breathing. He had to fight now for air and it was so painful every time. It still scared Luffy more to think what would happen if he didn't breathe so he strained as hard as he could and managed to take in some air.
...
But then he felt a tickle in his chest and paled as he knew a fit was coming and he didn't know if he could get through this one.
Luffy's eyes became wet with tears and his body quaked as the worst coughing fit hit him right in the chest.
He couldn't breathe.
Is this what dying feels like?
Luffy spluttered for air and could feel the familiar sensation of his vision blacking out.
Luffy spared one last glance at the boy he had saved before his consciousness abandoned him and he crumpled to the floor.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter - sorry it was a bit shorter than the previous ones...
HH :)