Thanks for your support! Here's a set of extra special drawings for the 25th chapter as thanks to you all! Check it out on RavenWingDark on imgur or h-t-t-p-s- :/ / imgur dot com /gallery/iTQZhtE
When Sunny woke up again, it was because the room had gotten noisy. Luffy and Sanji and Nami were all up. Sitting in their beds as least, Sanji and Luffy wrapped in bandages. Sunny jumped off Sanji's bed, slipping and tumbling clumsily onto his back, rocking a few times to get back up. Then he leapt into Luffy's bandaged arms from where he was sitting cross-legged on his bed. He leaped at his nose, trying to nip it, causing the boy to laugh harder.
After Sunny had convinced himself Luffy was well and truly there, he hopped the short gap to Nami's bed. He was being scooped up the moment he came into arms reach and held tightly to Nami's chest. Even though it was a little too tight and Nami's arms tremored slightly, it was a really good hug and he let himself go limp in her hold. "Sunny, thank you for looking out for me. Chopper told me what happened. I'm starting to think you're my guardian angel."
"I'm glad you're okay, Nami!"
"Nami, you're my angel~" Sanji cried out, standing to sway in affection before something cracked and Chopper appeared, shoving the cook back down in his large form with considerably less gentleness as the last few times. "Listen to your doctor, dammit!"
"Ah, Chopper, where is this Doctorine?"
Chipper sniffed gently.
"We were in town during the attack, treating a boy with a severe infection, and we were pulled into the chaos. She tried to stop some of the soldiers because they were trying to attack someone she was treating. And she got shot. That's why she's recuperating, she's having trouble moving around."
"Then who's been treating the townspeople?" Sanji asked. If this Doctor Kureha was badly hurt it really couldn't be her coming into the town and treating the sick and injured without leaving a trace. And then there was the fact that nothing was taken from the houses. If it were true and these two were the only doctors on the island…"It's been you, hasn't it? But why go in secret? Don't they know you're a doctor too?"
Chopper shook his head. "No, they think I'm just a reindeer, and I want to keep it that way, if they found out…I think they'd really hate me."
The room was quiet for a moment before Luffy spoke up, mind clearly on its own track.
"I got separated, in a pile of a lot of those bunnies and snow. I had to fight them off but I couldn't find you guys," Luffy said, picking his nose.
"I don't remember anything after the avalanche." Sanji frowned.
"I was with you and Nami. We were in a snowdrift for a while before Chopper found us. He took Nami safety." Sunny explained. "That was before Luffy found us."
"I know you're saying it was you, Nami-swan, and I out there but," Sanji shook his head helplessly, he only knew that from what he'd heard Chopper mention.
But Chopper's mouth was agape. He hadn't been focusing on the words but the tone and the energy was emitting. Once he'd opened himself up to it, it was like someone had rubbed away a spot a rusty mirror and he could see just a hint of reflection. It was, a feeling, a sensation, a scent, an instinct, or an aura. He didn't know if there was a word for it. It was being projected constantly but never noticed. An empathetic link he'd just brushed that Sunny was keenly attuned to.
Chopper diverted his gaze to the wall he was hiding in front of. "H-he's saying that you were out there and I came along. I th-think. And then Luffy came."
Three pairs of eyes turned their attention to him, surprised by his words rather than his sudden reappearance. Then Sunny nodded, with a look of surprise. "Yes! Exactly."
Chopper's heart sunk a little as the message was muddled again but Sunny's body language was clear enough.
"You heard him?" Sanji asked.
"I tried what you said. I listened to him instead of his words. It was...a really weak psychic link that's always there? Ah, but it's probably a stronger connection with all of you because you have bonds. It seems like it might be related."
"Hold on-you really understood me right there-like we were speaking the same language." Sunny started, jumping down off the bed inches from Chopper. It had been so long since someone had looked at him and completely comprehended him, even if the others occasionally picked up phrases or intent.
"Eeh? I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT!" Chopper dashed out the door, the sudden proximity startling him. Sunny went after him. Even Luffy grabbed his hat like he was going to follow before Sanji stopped him with a 'wait, Luffy.'
Sunny got in the hallway and the little doctor was out of sight, hooves clacking loudly on the stone floor. He didn't even need his tremor sense to know he'd taken a sharp left in the echoey corridor and pursued.
He followed a few more turns before he caught sight of the doctor, who turned around running, eyes bugging out as he saw his pursuer. "GAAH! HE'S GONNA GET ME! I'M SORRY!" He screeched in sheer panic.
Sunny's grin widened as he sped up too—he wasn't going to let this strange deer doctor who was as flighty as a starly get away so easily. His paws flew across the ground, he took a few turns so fast he was skimming walks on turns, even with his small stature, and the doctor was shrieking as the distance closed to five feet.
Sunny let out a squeak of laughter as he poured on speed just long enough bump Chopper and overtake him, turning back with his tongue sticking out at him as he rounded a corner.
Chopper's expression changed from terror to yet another type of panic as he tried to reorient himself to now being the pursuer. "Wait! You shouldn't run with your tongue out! You could hurt yourself!"
Chopper chased him through another hallway, bending around again in a way that even Sunny had almost lost track of where they were, and into a large room. Sunny rounded a pillar with Chopper close behind and to Chopper's alarm, he was being chased again. Chopper's shriek of surprise changed to laughter at the absurdity of the situation. He'd thought his life was on the line and now he was playing chase in the castle, the smaller creature was having fun. He'd never played chase with anyone before, not in the herd, not with Doctor Hiruluk or Doctorine. The castle for him had always been shelter, a place to learn, and comforting place despite the cold, but never somewhere to have fun. Sunny tagged him with the tip of his long nose and darted off again.
"Hehehahe…" He gasped for breath and slowed to a jog as Sunny did a few circles ahead of him to show off he was getting away. "Hehehoha…"
The strange shrew creature was making a funny noise too, losing down with a quiet huff-bark –like noise Chopper realized must be laughter.
"Hehehaha!" Chopper bent over gasping and laughing at the strange sound and the fact that they were playing tag during a coup. It wasn't funny-it was scary-but it was really funny in the moment. Sunny flopped over on his back, legs wiggling half-heartedly like he was still running as he laughed.
"'Y-you l-looked really scary when you were chasing me!" Chopper sniggered, falling onto his back as well.
"Sorry, when I see something move like that, I can't help it," Sunny said, finally laying still on his back to catch his breath. "This is a really big castle. That was all just one floor." Sunny looked over at Chopper. "Can you hear me?"
"I hear you, I really hear you!" Chopper giggled again, arms sprawled at his sides."I-I think I can. It's not exactly the same as other languages and I only understood part of it, but..you don't have a lot of people to talk to either, do you?"
Sunny shook his head.
"Yeah, me neither…" Chopper said. His hooves came up to but against each other nervously. "Would you…"
Sunny waited a moment, then stood up, shaking himself off. "What?"
"N-nevermind!"
Luffy fixed Sanji a looked split between compliant and questioning as Sanji stopped him from following after their smallest nakama. He frowned, clearly wanting to burn some the energy he had laying in bed for over a day but he fixed his attention on his cook. "Let's trust Sunny to handle this." Sanji said finally. He pulled a cigarette and his lighter out and reveled in sneaking his first smoke in over two days. Those two could both probably could use a conversation too, if that's in the cards, he thought. "Luffy, how did you find us after the avalanche anyway?" It was challenging to piece Sunny's account-through-Chopper and his own hazy memories.
Luffy's frown became exaggerated like he was thinking too hard, which almost made Sanji want to tell him to take it easy.
"Well, I was digging through the snow when I got a really bad headache that made the back of my eyes feel like they'd been kicked really hard. But then I heard, or felt, maybe, a really strong voice in my head. Then I felt really lonely like that's the only feeling I could feel at all. I just started moving in a direction until the voice stopped. And that's when I found all of you."
Luffy looked at Sanji, who was looking at him with a deadpan expression. "You had a headache…that led you to us."
"Yup," The frown disappeared and Luffy nodded his head energetically, his legs kicking. "A really weird one."
"Yeah, okay." Sanji said, laying back down. The captain had a feeling that led him to them? Could be count that up to being a weird Luffy thing, was it just a normal migraine, or was it something else? It was beyond him, he finally decided before he got a headache of his own. Not like much about Luffy was explicable anyway.
"We're not gonna let Whapol get away with this."
"Wait, am I remembering right. You said they gave you three days? What would mean—"
"They're returning today at dusk." A new voice, crackled and aged like withered hides came from around the corner. A tall woman with a large nose, long white hair and teenage dress leaned against the wall at the entrance of the room.
"Old lady!"
"Doctorine, you shouldn't be up—" Chopper rushed toward her, but she stopped him with a fierce glare.
"Don't think you can boss me around just because you're playing nurse to these pirates. You're 122 years too young to suggest anything to me."
Chopper gulped and backed away.
"Are you the one who treated us?
"Eh, Chopper did the heavy lifting, I'm just here to collect my dues. You're pirates, right? I hope you brought treasure."
Nami balked. "No way are you taking my hard-earned treasure!"
"That's not for you to decide, girl." She shot back. She had an incredible amount of life in her for someone so old but she was almost standing very stiffly, as if she was being careful in the way she moved. She really had to be injured, Sunny realized. She smelled strongly of poultice, which he realized must be covering up whatever strong smell of sickness she was giving off. "But you better hide when Whapol gets here, he won't be happy to see useless squatters in his castle."
"Doctorine! This is our…" Chopper's hooves clenched.
"Out with your words, Chopper, don't just leave them hanging," she reprimanded.
"-our home!" Chopper yelled. The words echoed in the room for a moment. Despite Doctorine's harsh words, he seemed more confident dealing with her than with the nicer Strawhats.
"It won't do much good with what we saw of Whapol's troops. He's picked up at least three other devil fruit users from what I saw. It's not worth the effort."
No one said anything for a long moment after that. Finally, Luffy stood up, adjusting his hat.
"Don't worry, we'll handle it. Sunny?" He looked down for confirmation from the creature curled up on his bed. The fire-type hopped down, igniting his back with a battle cry.
Even Dr. Kureha's lips quirked up in interest at that. She shared a meaningful glance with her apprentice. "Looks like your theory wasn't too far off." She said as she accepted the loose papers Chopper ran and offered her bringing her glasses down and flicking through them. "Hmm. Careful not to get killed, he may need me alive, but I'm sure he'll have no such reservations with you lot. I'll be dealing with this myself." She grinned dangerously as she crossed the room, holding her side slightly, grabbed a small purple vial and putting it into her pocket then she left the room.
"Doctorine tricked him into thinking he had a disease only she could cure to keep the townspeople safe. She's gonna give her the medicine but I don't know what the rest of her plan is."
"It doesn't matter, we're not gonna let him control this country anymore," Luffy said, nodding and walking to the door.
"Wait, Luffy." Nami half sat up from her bed, pulling her plaid yellow hook from the hook by the bed and holding it out to her captain,
Sanji's eyes turned to hearts. "Oh Nami, let me wear your coat, Luffy can wear mine—" But had crossed the room again and accepted the coat with a warm smile.
"Thanks, Nami!" And he was out the door. Sunny jumped onto Sanji's shoulder as they exited the room as well. It wasn't long until dusk. Sanji lit a cigarette and released a strained breath.
"That old doctor, what's she planning to do with Whapol? She's trying to protect the town isn't she, so whatever's in that vial isn't medicine," he said gravely. Sunny stiffened, looking Sanji in the eye.
A doctor's oath was to heal and not harm, but it seemed like she had been driven past that vow. "Does Chopper know?" He wondered.
"Hey wait for me!" Chopper said, trotting to catch up with them in walk point. The cook and junior lieutenant of fire stiffened again. "I'm going to help defend my home. But as a doctor I can't permit Sunny to fight in these conditions."
Sunny growled lightly in irritation before Chopper continued. "I know you're disagreeing with me and I don't know if I could stop you in the first place, but I think I have an idea."
Sunny shared a glance with Sanji before hopping off his shoulder and back to Chopper. Sanji nodded and hurried after Luffy.
"You won't able to fight long in this climate." Chopper began. Sunny knew this, he very much didn't want to go outside but until Zoro showed up and with Sanji injured, he knew Luffy needed any bit of help he could offer.
"But you have a plan, Chopper?"
King Whapol appeared with a new gondola created and stepped onto the top of the mountain with the massive, jester-like Chess and afro-wearing Kuromarimo. Glancing out the first-floor window (after jumping as high as he could in the air to do so) Sunny made out Luffy and Sanji coming out to meet them, passing Dr. Kureha, who seemed to be yelling at them.
"Are you ready?" Chopper asked as his hooves dexterously fiddled with tying off a string.
"Ready," Sunny returned, letting Chopper put the string around his neck, which had a key on it. Chopper nodded and ran further into the building. Sunny headed out the door, came beside Dr. Kureha like he was checking in on her, then pretended to notice the offenders for the first time and ham up being shocked.
"What, Chopper let you-" Dr. Kureha started but Sunny had already managed to make as much eye contact as a respectable cyndaquil would ever dare with the afro-ed enemy and turned to flee back into the castle.
"Hey, boss! That little thing has a key! Should I-?"
"Whatever Kuromarimo, just take care of the weaklings," Whapol interrupted. Kuromarimo grit his teeth and ran past Dr. Kureha.
Sunny darted through the castle, taking two rights and a left and a straightaway through a long hallway, following a strong smell and ducking sticky marimo balls as he went. Then ran into a large stone room, the sound of a bipedal feet clacking against the stone tile behind him. Once in the room, Sunny made a show of trying to catch his breath and looking around as if he were the one trapped.
Kuromarimo slowed entering the room, his stride changing into a swagger with a haughty smile on his face. Not quite far enough, Sunny thought, backing up further leading the man back into the cold room, top window panes long gone, exposing them partially to the freezing weather. Chopper had been right, this was much better than being outside. And it wouldn't be cold for long, either.
Sunny's back paw touched a slick tile. The fire-type readied himself and shot a blast of fire right behind him which quickly caught on the spilled lamp oil which had been poured liberally across the dark stone tiles, catching in a ring around the room and snaking in arcs through the room. In moments the chill was replaced by crackling fire taller than Sunny himself, Marimo caught in the middle in strip of safe ground.
Chopper, who had been hiding right behind the door gathered himself up and yelled "SUNNY-CHOPPER COMBO: BURNING LABYRINTH!" Then he slammed the heavy door shut and there was the sound of a bolt locking.
Sunny smiled grimly. As uncomfortable as Sunny was in the burning room, remembering the forest fire moments before the Big Displacement, it was obviously twice as uncomfortable for Kuromarimo, who was already beginning to sweat in his heavy coat.
He pulled two marimo into his hands. "What's happening?"
Sunny approached, moving silently through the fiery maze as the man tried to adjust to the bright fire in the dark room. When he was close enough, he charged through the last line of fire separating them, with a quick attack, curling up to slam into his stomach in a roll. Despite the sound of pain the man clapped down on Sunny's sides with his marimo-covered fists.
They slowed down people down, right? Sunny couldn't afford it-his speed was his only real defense. He lost momentum on his spin as his back picked up in flame as he jumped back, burning away the marimo. His fur was somewhat singed too, for his reckless charge through the fire. Knowing his only ability was easily negated by Sunny's fire didn't mean he was beaten. Still, Chopper's plan had almost made it impossible or him to lose if he was patient enough. Then they would be able to help Sanji and Luffy.
Whapol-didn't he eat people? Sunny winced internally at the thought even as he jumped away from Kuromarimo's reach. He followed the maze of fire's turns to the outer ring as Kuromarimo loses some of his namesake in the process. Sunny jumped in and out, carefully avoiding moving within the fire and only skimming it to dart behind Kuromarimo and shoot a spray of fiery bolts at his opponent, peppering holes in the man's coat and pants.
The man was getting desperate and started throwing marimo balls in every direction to try and catch Sunny but all it did was give more places for the fire to reach, fiery moss balls rolling and bumping into each other. Kuromarimo exhausted himself and his ability before Sunny did, in the end, that's all it came down to. Sunny charged at him one last time, knocking into him with his thick skull, and crumpling to the ground by the nearly-spent flames, afro smoldering and body covered in soot.
Sunny's skin felt sensitive like he had a sunburn himself but nothing that was worth worrying about. He chomped on the string around his neck and let the large bronze key drop into Kuromarimo's open hand as Chopper unlocked the door and pushed it open.
"That key opens the door to the dry food storage," Sunny said cheerily, "knock yourself out." And he was running back through the door by Chopper's side. His companion stopped him with an arm just as they reached the threshold of the castle.
Sunny looked at him with confusion and caution in equal measure. The reindeer's arm was tremoring and he was worrying his lip but his eyes were sharp. Sunny had to wonder why he was fighting with them. He was a doctor and a kid and while Sunny was young too, he had been born to fight. Fire was in his blood.
Chopper had accidentally eaten a devil fruit and been granted abilities, and couldn't show his true self in fear of judgment from the humans. And likely, his herd too. Sunny wasn't sure what he sleuth would have done if confronted by someone who looked more human than cyndaquil. Would they be able to trust them? Sunny felt like it was unlikely.
Chopper watched as the small, juvenile creature seemed lost in thought for a moment. He'd been throwing himself headlong into fights and risks since the doctor had met him. He'd never had a fr-an ally smaller than him. He had to ensure he didn't get hurt worse than he already was. It was Chopper's job as a doctor, and as his elder to make sure he didn't get back in the condition that he found him in again.
Finally, he spoke up, anchoring himself in his medical persona, "Without anyone keeping you warm, you'll have five minutes out there before hypothermia sets in again. Promise you'll go back in if you reach that limit, or there could be permanent repercussions."
The cyndaquil seemed to think about it for a moment before nodding and responding- "Cyyyyndaquil." Then he charged into the snow.
*It's like having a bad connection on a phone call with someone with a heavy accent who's standing too far from the phone but Chopper's putting in a valiant effort.
*A mysterious power has been introduced in this chapter, which we'll learn more about later on—theres a reason for it, but I'm keeping all of Sunny's abilities within the game's rules, with slight flavor changes.