North of Little Garden
The crew had been sailing for two hours and the excitement of their flight from from the sea king was only just starting to abate. "How we looking Nami?" Luffy yelled back to Nami from his spot on the figurehead.
Nami looked up from the eternal pose from her place at the helm. "We're on course, and if the weather keeps up like this we'll make good time."
Luffy frowned slightly when he looked at Nami properly as he took in her flushed cheeks, sweat soaked clothes and heavy breathing. "You ok Nami?"
Nami took a slow and deep breath as she wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Yeah I'm just a bit tired is all. I think I'm gonna lay down for a bit." With that said she waved over Gin and got him to take over at the helm as she made her way to her room. However as soon as she made it down from the top deck all her strength left heft her and she collapsed to the floor.
"Nami!" Luffy yelled getting the attention of the crew who were milling around on deck. Panicking slightly at seeing Nami collapse the way she did Luffy appeared by her side in a flash of lightning and took in her appearance. Up close she looked even worse than he thought as her sweat soaked clothes were clinging to her skin and with the colour of her cheeks it was obvious she had some kind of fever.
Wasting no time he scooped Nami into his arms in a bridal carry and made his way to her room. "Sanji! Nami's sick! Make her some soup or whatever it is people eat when they're sick!" Without even acknowledging Sanji's affirmative response Luffy continued on his way.
Worried for her new friend Vivi followed Luffy along with Alvida, who was following just in case Luffy had any orders for her and the crew.
In her room Luffy quickly stripped Nami of her wet clothes, the sight of which embarrassed Vivi causing her to turn round, and quickly got her in some nightclothes. Tucking her in bed Luffy's mind was working a mile a minute as he thought furiously for a way to help his friend.
It was as he was sat next to Nami on her bed and gently stroking her cheek with his thumb that the answer struck him, almost as if lightning had struck his brain. "Alvida, in my cabin there's an eternal pose for Drum Kingdom. Crocus said that island is supposed to be famous for it's doctors so get that eternal pose and change our heading."
"Aye aye captain." Alvida wasted no time in complying with Luffy's order and immediately left the room.
"No wait!" Despite yelling, or at least attempting to, Nami's voice was hoarse and obviously weakened. "In...in my desk, top draw."
Luffy didn't so much as move an inch as he continued gently stroking her cheek. Only now Luffy was also gazing into Nami's eyes now that she was awake.
Since Luffy was making no effort to move Vivi went over to Nami's desk to find whatever it was Nami was asking for. Vivi soon found the object in question was a newspaper and it only took a moment for the headline to sink in. "What! I...I can't believe it, over three hundred thousand royal soldiers have defected to the rebels. That'll shift the balance of power to seven hundred thousand rebels against just four hundred thousand royalists." Despair was written across Vivi's face as plain as day.
"Not...not just that but that newspaper is three days old. I didn't say anything sooner 'cause I didn't wanna worry you." After saying this Nami gave a hacking cough as she struggled to regain her breath. She the looked Luffy directly in the eye. "We can't afford any delays, we need to get to Alabaster as soon as possible."
Luffy just smiled slightly, "Nami I'm the captain so I decide where we go." After he said this Nami made to argue her point some more but Luffy cut her off. "Nami you're really ill and we don't have a real doctor to look after you." Luffy paused a moment and Nami once again made to argue but once again Luffy refused to let her speak. "Nami you're my navigator, a member of my crew, a part of our family. This means you come first before anything else." Seeing that this wasnt convincing Nami Luffy decided to change tactic. "Besides if you think about it it's in everyone's best intersest to make sure you're at one hundred percent."
Nami looked a little confused at this last statement so Luffy elaborated with a sligjt chuckle. "Sure we can follow a log pose, its not exactly rocket science, but none of the crew can navigate like you can. Without you navigating us to Alabaster the trip'll take three times longer."
It was at this point that Vivi decided to add her support to Luffy's plan of action. Waving the newspaper in the air she said, "This doesnt matter, what matters is making sure you're ok." This declaration caused Luffy's small smile to widen.
Looking into Luffy's eyes Nami also started to smile slightly. "Got it captain."
Luffy's hand moved from her cheek to her hand before he gave it a slight squeeze before he kissed her forehead and stood up to leave. "Just rest up." He then turned to Vivi, "Can you stay with her for me." At seeing Vivi nod then take the spot on the bed he had previously been occupying Luffy left to fill the crew in on the situation.
Once back on the deck he called Zoro over and instructed him to gather up the crew. When they were all assembled in front of him he began, "Nami's really sick so we're making a trip to Drum where all the best doctors are. Now I want us there as soon as possible so Usopp join Alvida at the helm so she can explain how to follow the eternal pose and steer. Gin, Johnny and Yozuku get some sleep now 'cause i want you lot to take the nightshift. If we sail constantly then hopefully we can be there as soon as possible. Usopp you'll be taking the morning shift at the helm."
"What about me captain? When's my turn at the helm?" Zoro asked with his arms folded. Everyone else present just looked at him as if he was stupid.
"Erm big bro Zoro you know you aint allowed anywhere near the helm. The last time we let you steer the ship you got us lost 'cause you followed a cloud instead of looking at a compass."
"Tch whatever, I'll just head up to the crows nest and keep an eye out for land." As Zoro was walking away he muttered under his breath, "Tch you make one or two lil mistakes navigating and people never let you forget it."
Luffy just rolled his eyes and shook his head slightly at Zoro's lack of direction. "Sanji when the food's ready take Nami and Vivi's food to Nami's room." As Sanji was walking away while puffing on a cigarette Luffy added, "And if you smoke round Nami while she's sick I'll ram that cigarette up your arse. You got me?"
That caused Sanji to quicken his pace back to the kitchen, flicking his cigarette over the side of the Merry as he did so. "You've all got your orders." With that said Luffy turned on his heel and headed back to his cabin. After all he didnt know how much Nami's treatment was going to cost so he needed to know exactly how much cash he had available.
It was several hours later and night had just began to fall when a knock at Luffy's door sounded. Luffy had been so lost in thought that the knock on the door had startled him somewhat. "Come in!" Luffy just smiled slightly when Alvida entered his cabin. "What's up Alvida?"
"Not much captain, just wanted to let you know my shift's ended and Gin's taking over at the helm." Alvida took in the sight of a tired Luffy who for the first time since she met him wasn't wearing his captain's coat.
Luffy smiled slightly once more before letting out a tired sigh and rubbing his eyes. Alvida at seeing this frowned then looked down at what Luffy had been examining. "Is this the ship's ledger?" At Luffy's nod she asked the question that was on every crew members mind, "Do you think we'll have enough to pay for treatment?"
Luffy gave a quick laugh, "I dont see why not. We've got about twenty million or so in cash then maybe fifteen to twenty million in treasure."
"That should be more than enough captain," as Alvida said this she dropped into a chair in front of the desk Luffy was sat at.
Luffy just gave a tired grin. "I know but just had to make sure we had enough to cover it. Besides takes my mind off what's going on."
"Mmmm true, I can only guess how hard it must be for you, I know the two of you are...close."
"Mmm, yeah we are but it doesn't matter how close me and Nami are I'd do the same for any member of the crew."
"I see," as Alvida said that she looked away in disappointment.
Luffy realised what Alvida was inferring and chuckled slightly. "I don't think you do," at this Alvida's head snapped up to look Luffy straight in the eye. "Yeah me and Nami are close but we're not a couple or anything. In fact I don't think I'll ever settle down."
Luffy leant back in his chair and gazed at the celing while he gathered his thoughts and attempted to put them into words. "Have I ever told you why I wanna be the pirate king?" He looked at Alvida to see her shake her head slightly looking confused. "It's 'cause pirates have freedom so as the pirate king I'll have the most freedom outta everyone. It's 'cause I want the most freedom outta everyone that I don't wanna be tied to down to just one person."
"You know, women have several words for men like you," said Alvida, a small smirk playing on her lips.
"Ha I can only imagine, Ace used to give me shit over it before he left on his adventure."
Alvida smiled slightly before she got up from her seat opposite Luffy. Believing she was about to leave Luffy closed his eyes and tilted his straw hat down so it covered his face. His attempt at relaxation was interrupted when he felt Alvida's small hands on his shoulders, her thumbs kneading his tired muscles.
"You're so tense captain."
Luffy could only make several unintelligible groans as Alvida worked out several days worth of tension from his shoulders. His groans became even louder when her hands moved to his neck and it took him several seconds to regain his senses. "Wait, wait you...ugh remember what I...ugh said about me not doing relationships...ugh and all that?"
Never stopping her ministrations Alvida bent slightly so her lips were next to Luffy's ear. "I'm a pirate too you know. Live life with no regrets and all that. And I don't much care what I do as long as I have fun doing it." Sensing things were heading exactly where she wanted them to she decided to up her game. "You're so tense and need to let loose captain." She then moved her lips so they were only a hair's breadth from his ear, hear breath tickling him and causing Luffy to shiver in excitement. "And just so you know I like it rough."
Luffy and Alvida woke up early the next morning in bed together. The sight of a naked Alvida in his bed got Luffy's blood pumping again and the two were quickly all over each other once more. Sadly for the two of them they were interrupted by Sanji walking in Luffy's cabin without knocking.
"Yo, breakfast is ready shitty captain." As soon as Sanji finished speaking he fully took in what was occurring in the room. He froze when his gaze fell upon Alvida bent over Luffy's desk with Luffy behind her with a fistful of her hair in his hand. The shock of Sanji walking in the room without knocking and catching them in this position had caused the both of them to freeze.
Luffy stared at Sanji, Alvida stared at Sanji and Sanji just kept his gaze firmly locked on Alvida's bare breasts. Seconds ticked by with none of the occupants of the room moving so much as an inch and it wasn't until Sanji's nose started bleeding that Luffy was shaken from his stupor. "Get out!" As he said that he lauched the nearest thing he could reach on his desk at Sanji. Sadly the object he threw was Alvida's bra that had been discarded thhe previous night.
When the bra hit Sanji in the face and did no damage whatsoever Sanji caught it before turning his gaze back onto Alvida's chest and slowly walking backwards out of the room.
"Tch funking pervert," said Luffy angrily. With the mood spoiled Luffy set about picking up his clothes that were strewn about his cabin and getting dressed. "C'mon might as well get some breakfast." Despite being disappointed Alvida agreed and quickly got dressed herself and the two made their way to the kitchen.
After a quick, yet satisfying breakfast, Luffy was sat in his special seat on the ship's figurehead observing the rest of the crew. Usopp was at the helm and doing a seemingly good job of keeping the ship on course despite it being his first time. The twins and Zoro were doing weight training with Zoro lifting four times what the twins were. 'Still at least they're putting in the effort to train' Luffy thought to himself.
Luffy knew Vivi and Sanji were keeping Nami company in her room while Alvida was busy attending to her quartermaster duties. One thing the entire crew had in common was the fact that everyone was now wrapped up warmly. Even Luffy had fastened his captain's coat instead of just having it draped across his shoulders like usual. This was due to the cold wind that had decended upon the Merry along with light snowfall.
Luffy had spoken briefly with Vivi about Drum Kingdom wanting her opinion on the island. He felt since she was a Grand Line native she may have information that they didn't. As it turned out she did know something useful about the island, since Drum is a winter island the colder the weather becomes the closer they are to the island. Judging by the weather they still had a ways to go but Luffy was hopeful they would make it by nightfall or early the next morning.
Luffy could only grin however as Zoro had just declared that the twins could take a five minte breather to rest up. The grin was due to the state the twins were in, they were both hanging off the guard rail and struggling to stand as they gulped down massive lungfulls of air.
Johnny however frowned and squinted his eyes as he looked out at the ocean. "Hey big bro Zoro! you ever seen someone stand on the sea?"
"What you on about? People can't stand...well would you look at that. That definitely aint something you see everyday."
Luffy turned his head to look at the sight Johnny seen. True to Johnny's word there was a man dressed like a king's jester stood on the waves. He frowned slightly in confusion as to how this possible before stretching out with his senses before his eyes widened as he felt hundreds of auras below the surface of the sea.
While Luffy had been utilising his haki to puzzle out the mystery of the man standing on the sea Zoro had been a rather stilted conversation with the man regarding the weather. By thr time Luffy had worked out the mystery behind the hundreds of voices below the waves it was to too late. Just as Luffy opened his mouth to warn his crew about the danger a huge ship, easily several times larger than the Merry, erupted from beneath the waves.
"Everyone get ready!" Luffy barked to his crew. Immediately Usopp left his station at the helm, ran to the central mast and grabbed a rope before kicking a nearby lever that sent him hurtling up to the crows nest at breakneck speed. The rest of the crew readied their weapons and after Luffy looked at Johnny and Yozuku then nodded at the door to the crew's quarters the two took up the guard at the rear.
The Strawhat pirates didn't have to wait long for the captain of the ship to make himself known as he jumped frown onto the deck of the Merry accompanied by several guards and a dozen soldiers. The unidentified captain was of average height but was almost as wide as he was tall, with purple spiky hair sticking out from underneath a white fur coat. However the man's main identifying feature was his massive metal jaw.
He took one look around the deck of the Merry, looking at each individual before casting his eye upwards to look at their Jolly Roger. "You sure you're pirates? Your crew's a little small ain't it?"
"Tch, quality over quantity fatso," was Luffy's curt response.
It was the fool dressed as a jester that responded to Luffy's comment. "Silence peasant! You are in the presence of King Wapol! The rightful king of Drum Kingdom an he who rules over the snow rockies."
The now identified king Wapol simply waved a hand over his shoulder lazily in a gesture to tell his subordinate to calm down. "We're after an eternal pose to Drum. Do you have one."
Luffy stared Wapol down giving him his best thousand yard glare. "No."
Wapol was visibly irritated by the fact that he wasn't getting what he wanted as he grit his teeth slightly. Seeking to calm his temper he took out a sword from his belt, an action that caused every Strawhats hand to grab their weapon. However instead of making a move to attack like the Strawhats had assumed he took a huge bite from the sword and began to eat it.
As one each and every Strawhat that saw this all had the exact same though and in perfect unison, 'what the fuck'. Only Alvida and Gin let their shock and disgust show however as they both flinched and grimaced and the sound of grinding metal and the thought of having to digest a sword.
As he was eating the sword Wapol looked around the ship once more before his eyes settled on Alvida. "In that case we'll just take you treasure and women then." As he said that his two subordinates began to move forwards towards Alvida Only to be stopped by Gin and Zoro.
In one fluid motion Zoro drew two of his swords and slashed the jester looking subordinate before spinning on his heel, bringing his sword up and decapitating his opponent.
The other subordinate was a grinning man with a long yelliw fur coat, a small beard and an afro. His fighting style seemed to revolve around what seemed to be hairy boxing gloves. As Zoro was dispatching his opponent Gin had dashed forwards and slammed one of his tonfas into the gut of his opponent, and as the man fell to his knees gasping for breath Gin raised both tonfas down onto the man's head completely caring in his enemies skull.
"Chess! Kuromarimo!" The death of, what Luffy believed to be, his two strongest fighters had terrified Wapol and he was now deeply regretting setting foot on this pirate ship. He turned to run back to his ship, fully prepared to sacrifice the few soldiers that had accompanied him if he had to, only to have Luffy appear in front of him in a flash of lightning.
Luffy headbutted Wapol with all the force he could muster and sent him smashing into the deck of the Merry. "Guys!" Luffy looked around at his crew briefly, "Go wild." That was the only instruction Luffy gave and all the he needed to give for the rest if the crew to dive into action. While Sanji smashed the skulls of the few soldiers on the deck of the Merry with his devastating kicks the rest of the Strawhats jumped aboard the enemy ship and began slaughtering any who opposed them.
They were aided from a distance by Usopp who had shouldered his rifle and was picking off enemy soldiers one at a time. The entire time Usopp was in the crows nest picking off enemy soldiers he was muttering his new mantra under his breath to steady his nerves. 'One shot, one kill. One kill, one shot.'
While this was happening Luffy stared down at Wapol in disdain. This lardarse had dared to come aboard his ship, without permission, make demands of him then threaten to take away one of his crew, one of his family. Luffy was determined to make him pay for the threats against Alvida. So with thar in mind he flipped Wapol over onto his back with his foot before sending a wave of lightning through Wapol to wake him up.
With a scream of pain Wapol came around and began to turn his head franticallyfrom side to side as he took in the sight of his dead subordinates and soldiers. Luffy scoffed derisively and sent another wave of lightning into Wapol through his foot that was still firmly planted on the mans chest. "That was two hundred volts." Again another wave of lightning was sent through Wapol, "Five hundred volts." Each time Luffy spoke he sent another wave of lightning through Wapol and told him the exact voltage and after each wave of lightning he steadily increased the voltage.
By the time Luffy had reached ten thousand volts Wapol was no longer aware of anything around him, his brain having been practically cooked inside his skull. He still reacted to the waves if lightning that were still being sent through him as his body spasmed and he made whatever noise of pain he was able to make as he had already screamed himself mute by this point. Luffy took one last at Wapol and seeing the blood coming from every orifice he sighed before picking Wapol up by the smoking metal plates that made up his outfit and throwing him over the side of thr Merry.
It was only ten minutes later when the Strawhats returned from the enemy ship with both Gin and Alvida carrying several large chests. "Captain, we've got a goodhaul here," said a grinning Gin, obviously in a good mood.
Luffy just smiled slightly and nodded. "Stick it down below in the vault, we'll get Nami to catalogue and value it when she's better." Gin just nodded and his captain's words and followed his order.
Zoro however didn't return to the Merry and simply standing on the guardrail of Wapol's ship. "Yo Captain! There's twenty guys up here who say they're doctors and have been held prisoner by Wapol."
Luffy looked up to his first mate with hope in his eyes, after all the sooner they get Nami medical attention the better. When he looked at Zoro he noticed at least twenty men and women all dressed in medical scrubs with face masks on. "What you waiting for? Bring 'em aboard."
Once Zoro had brought the doctors aboard Luffy then proceeded to tell them about Nami's condition and they happily agreed to take a look at her, all they asked was that the Strawhats take them home which was something Luffy happily agreed to do. After giving the order to sink Wapol's ship Luffy took the helm to continue the course to Drum Kingdom.
It was two hours later as Luffy was manning the helm that one of the doctors they had rescued approached him and cleared his throat to get Luffy's attention. "Excuse me," once he saw that he had Luffy's attention he continued, "We've all had a look at your friend and while we can determine she has a fever as a result of some form of insect bite we cannot fathom how to cure her. The disease is is simply unknown to us, however while we cannot cure her we can treat her and slow down the progression of the disease and alleviate some of her symptoms."
Hearing that the doctors were unable to ultimately help Nami Luffy grew seriously worried for his friend, after all these doctors were from the world renowned Drum Kingdom which was famous for it's doctors. All Luffy could think if they can't save Nami who the hell can.
Seeing the look of devastation on Luffy face the doctor decided to give him some hope, no matter how small that hope may be. "While we cannot treat her there may be someone in Drum Kingdom that can."
Hearing this Luffy's head snapped back up to the doctor and his eyes bore into the poor doctor. "Explain," was all he said and it was all he needed to say and so the doctor did. The doctor told him exactly how the twenty best doctors had been trapped by Wapol and forced to work solely for him as a way to extort his people for medical care. He also told him about one doctor called Kureha who refused point blank to have anything to do with Wapols laws and simply did her own thing. He also told Luffy how her skills as a doctor were so formidable that she was still alive at the age of one hundred and forty and that some of the locals even thought her treatments were magic and had thus labelled her a witch.
Hope once more blossomed in Luffy chest at hearing the doctors words and he grinned. "The pin on the eternal pose is completely steady so we should be with sight of the island pretty soon, head below deck and get warmed up if you want." The doctor dipped his head in acknowledgement and left Luffy at the helm by himself.
An hour later Usopp called down from the crows nest. "Land dead ahead captain!"
Luffy took out his spyglass to look at the island. "We'll be there in about five minutes, head below deck and get the crew and those doctors up here we need to move fast if we wanna save Nami."
Usopp wasted no time and nimbly jumped down from the crows nest and ran to gather up the crew.
Just as Luffy was pulling the ship into dock, a dock that was surrounded by cliffs on both sides, he sensed dozens of people hiding just over the ridge of the cliffs. As Gin dropped the anchor the dozens of presences that Luffy had just sensed jumped up from behind the ridges of the cliff and they all trained the rifles they were holding onto the ship.
It was a tall and braid chested man in a long green coat with metal pauldrons that stepped forward and addressed the Strawhats. "Weigh your anchor, turn around and leave." With the way in which the man gave the command Luffy was certain this man was a military commander for this island.
"Look we've got a sick crewmate and we just want to get her some treatment." As Luffy said that he gestured to Nami who was wrapped up in a thick winter coat and a blanket and strapped to Sanji's back.
"Yeah whatever! We've heard that before!" One of the men on the cliff shouted down with many of the other men voicing their own agreements.
"Turn around and leave, you won't be asked again." As the leader of the group said that every man on the cliff cooked their gun in preparation to fire.
"Look we rescued twenty doctors from some fatarse called Wapol and they said her best chance of survival is some doctor here called Kureha."
Hearing the mention of the twenty doctors many of the ambushers lowered their weapons slightly and the leader of the cliffside group looked down at the ship properly and examined everyone aboard. He then carefully considered his options and how to proceed, turning to one of the rescued doctors he asked "Is what he said true?"
One of the doctors stepped forwards and walked to the guardrail of the Merry before lowering his mask. "It's good to see you again Dalton," he said with a large smile. "It is indeed true that these people rescued us and killed Wapol. It is also true that they have a sick comrade that we cannot treat, and I do believe Kureha may their best chance."
Recognising the doctor Dolton took in his words and gave the order for everyone to lower their weapons, lowering his own as he did so. "You may dock your ship here, my home is nearby in the village of bighorn. Bring your sick friend and we'll get her outta the cold."
Within minutes the Strawhats had the ship docked and were walking alongside Dalton towards his home. Along the way the group passed an enormous grey bear, easily twelve foot tall, walking on two legs carrying a walking stick.
"Pay it no mind mind, it's just a hiking bear. Just make sure you bow to it, it's only good manners after all." As Dalton said that he offered the hiking bear a bow without even breaking his stride, this was an action that all the Strawhats emulated.
Before long Dolton had escorted the Strawhats and several of the doctors to the village of Bighorn and into his home. "Set her down there," as he said that Dalton pointed to a large sofa that would comfortably hold Nami. Turning to one of the doctors that had accompanied them he asked "So what's the situation with her?"
"We're not sure. Her fever is unlike anything we have seen before. Near as we can tell she's not contagious as nobody else has been infected but she's not responding to any of our treatments. All we have been able to do is slow the progress of her fever and just before we docked her temperature was spiking at one hundred and four degrees."
At hearing that Nami wasn't contagious Dalton was visibly relieved as a pandemic that the doctors of Drum couldn't cure could very well kill everyone on the island. The relief he had displayed quickly turned to horror at hearing how high her temperature had reached. "That's bad, if we don't get her help soon she might not make it through the night."
Luffy who had previously been silent simply sitting next to Nami's prone form on Daltons sofa suddenly spoke up. "Then where can we find this doctor Kureha?"
At this Dalton let out an audible sigh. "A year ago a small group of pirates attacked Drum Kingdom, which was the reason for your less than friendly reception at the docks. They quickly overpowered what military I was able to muster up to defend Drum and seeing this Wapol fled his castle atop the Drum Rockies and abandoned his kingdom. After he left Kuraha moved into it."
"So how do we get ahold of her then? Do you have her den den number or summet?" Was Luffy's follow up question.
Dalton gave a sad shake of his head. "I'm sorry but we have no way to contact her. She simply comes down the mountain when she feels like it, treats who she feels like treating then takes whatever she feels like in compensation for her work."
Sanji took a deep drag on his cigarette and let out a lungful of smoke. "Tch she sounds more like a pirate than a doctor."
Dalton let our a mirthless chuckle at hearing that. "You're not exactly wrong there, and you aren't the first to say it nor will you be the last." A moment of silence passed before Dalton spoke again. "The only way your friend her is gonna get treatment is if you take her to Kureha yourself."
It was Zoro this time that voiced the question on everyone's minds."And how exactly we gonna do that."
"Captain!" Alvida shouted suddenly excited. "You can get her up there you can turn into into lightning and just teleport her up there."
The Strawhats at hearing this all perked up, hope visible in their eyes, only to be disappointed when Luffy gave a sad shake of his head. "No can do, i dont actually teleport. I turn muself into lightning then ride along the electric currents in the air." As Luffy said this he made a rapid zig zag motion with his hand to show exactly he moved when he was in his lightning body. "And with the way Nami is I don't think she could handle that kinda movement."
"No she can't," a despondent Vivi agreed.
Everyone present in Dalton's living was silent for several moments as everyone though desperately for a way tonsafely get Nami to the top of the Drum Rockies.
"What about the cable cars?" Asked one of the doctors who, up until that moment had gone unnoticed by the rest of the group.
Dalton however shook his had sadly. "The pirates that attacked a year ago destroyed them all."
"Even Wapol's secret escape car?"
Once again Dalton shook his head at their suggestion. "No, the coward sabotaged it when he fled the kingdom."
"Sabotaged it how?"
"He removed the power unit and took it with him. After all, no power equalls no movement."
At hearing this Luffy had an idea form in his mind. "So it's just that it's got no power right? Well I can sort that out." As he said that he held up a hand that he proceeded to turn into lightning. The sight of this as well as his words caused the gathered crew to suddenly grin in triumph while Dalton scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"That should work lad." With that confirmation the crew of the Strawhat pirates began strapping Nami to Luffy's back while making sure to keep her covered so she would be warm on the trek to Kureha.
"I'll go with you captain," stated Sanji.
Luffy only nodded to this and turned to Dalton with a single eyebrow raised in query. Realising what Luffy was silently asking Dalton spoke, "About half a mile due east of this village, you need to look for a thick copse of fir trees."
"C'mon Sanji, times a wasting. Alvida while we're here i want you to make sure we're resupplied, Zoro i want you to keep a look out aboard the ship. The rest of you amise yourselves 'till we get back."
With that Sanji and Luffy began jogging towards the hidden cable car they had just been informed.
"Captain if there's any fighting to be done you gotta leave it to me." Understanding was clear on Luffy's face after all with the condition Nami was too much jostling could kill her.
The two made it to the hidden cable car quickly and Sanji unstrapped Nami so Luffy could power the car without disturbing her. It only took a few minutes before the car whirred to life and began the trek to the top of the Drum Rockies.
"Can't this shitty thing go any damn faster?" Sanji complained as he took out another cigarette to calm his nerves. It may have only been a few months since he began sailing with the Strawhats but he loved and cherished each and every one of them...even Zoro. So seeing a member of his new family in the condition Nami was currently in really shook Sanji to his core.
"Tch, probably but I reckon if I put any more juice into it the thing's just gonna overload." With that said silence once more decended on the cable car as Luffy concentrated on the voltage he was putting into the engine and Sanji stared out the window at the scenery deep in thought.
After what felt like an eternity, but in reality was only about half an hour they made it to the summit of the Drum Rockies. Forgoing having Nami strapped to his back once more Luffy simply picked her up in a princess carry. Without even needing to say a word Sanji immediately opened the door to the cable car and the duo jogged to the castle through the now steadily falling snow.
"Helloooooo!" Luffy shouted the open door to the castle only to get no response.
"Doesn't look like anyone's in captain. That Dalton guy did say she goes down the mountain whenever she feels like so she might be out. Get Nami in there outta the cold and I'll wait out here and keep an eye out for her."
Luffy nodded to Sanji and carefully made his way in the castle through the open door, being careful not to disturb the door as there was a bird's nest atop it. Straight ahead in the entryway was a flight of stairs and believing that the doors leading off from the entryway would be unused due to sub zero temperature he quickly made his way up several flights of stairs.
By the time Luffy got to the third floor the castle was noticeably warmer and so Luffy began searching for a room where it would look like a doctor would treat a patient. Several minutes and more than a dozen rooms later Luffy came upon a room with a bed and filled with medical equipment as well as dozens of jars lining the walls on shelves. The best bit about the room however was the roaring fire in the fireplace.
Wasting no time Luffy immediatly got Nami into the bed and tucked her under the covers. Just as he got her settled Nami seemed to come round slightly and her eyes found his, slowly her hand came out from under the covers and she grasped his hand. Luffy just smiled at this and laced his fingers through hers before placing a kiss on her forehead. That brief moment of lucidity soon passed and Nami once more passed out, only this time with a slight smile on her face.
As he waited for the doctor to show up Luffy stared at Nami as he occasionally brushed her sweat soaked hair from her face. In what seemed like the blink of an eye hours had passed and the door to the room Luffy and Nami were in burst open and in walked an elderly woman with a confident swagger.
It was what the women was wearing however that made Luffy do a double take as despite the fact the woman seemed to be in her seventies she was wearing clothes you would expect to see on someone a fraction of her age. She was wearing purple leather pants with a flame motif on one leg with an open purple leather jacket and a small pink top exposing far too much of her midriff as well as showing off her belly bitton piercing.
"Are you here chasing the secret to my eternal youth?" As the elderly woman said this she ran a hand through her waist length white hair and struck a pose a model would.
"Erm nooooo," Luffy drawled out.
"Are you sure I'm a hundred and thirty nine you know?" However after she had said this she noticed Nami and wasted no time in shoving Luffy off the bed and onto the floor to examine her new patient. Kureha spent a few seconds looking at Nami before she put a fingertip to Nami's forehead. "My, my a temperature of a hundred and four point two." She was about to continue examining her new patient when she remembered that Luffy was still in the room on the floor. "What're you still doing in here? I've got work to do so get out!"
Luffy wasted no time in escaping the room, he knew he could take her in a fight but that woman honestly scared the hell out of him. Luffy could feel Sanji's presence just two rooms further down the hall so decided to wait with him, only to stop in the doorway at the sight in front of him.
As Sanji was just sitting on a chair while puffing in a cigarette a small furry creature was carefully bandaging his fingers. The sound of Luffy opening the door caused Sanji to look up and the small furry creature to stop what he was doing to turn and look at Luffy.
"Yo captain, this here is Toni Toni Chopper. He's that crazy old broad's apprentice."
Hearing that the small creature was a doctor's apprentice Luffy looked more closely at it. It seemed to be some kind of childlike human and reindeer hybrid if the antlers on it's head were any indication. He also noticed that his appearance in the room had made the creature uncomfortable and thus wanted to set it at ease. With this in mind he give him a big grin the kind that never failed to make others smile when then saw it.
"Wow! You're a doctor? That's amazing! You know we need a doctor on our crew, you should totally come join us." Amazingly Luffy managed to get all of that out in a single breath, however the fact that he did seemed to unnerve the creature somewhat. Luffy then took a seat in a chair next to Sanji instead of looming over the creature.
"So what are you anyways? You know you kinda look like a reindeer you know." As he said this Luffy tilted his head slightly in thought and smiled to himself slightly.
The creature seemed to shrink in on itself even further at that as he resumed bandaging Sanji's fingers that now that Luffy was closer he could tell had mild frostbite. "I'm a reindeer that ate the human human fruit turning me into this." Chopper said shyly.
"That's so cool! Lucky it was you that ate it, could you imagine how shit it would be for a human to eat the human human fruit." Just thinking about a person eating that particular devil fruit caused Luffy to start chuckling, which in turn caused Sanji to start chuckling. The more Chopper thought about what Luffy had just said the more he found it funny and just a few moments after the Strawhats had started chuckling he did so as well.
With the mood lightened Luffy once more tried to get Chopper on his crew. "You know, I know a little bit about first aid myself and I can see you're a pro with those bandages."
This praise caused Chopper to start swaying from side to side in a happy dance. "Don't praise me you jerk!" Despite his words both Strawhats could see that he was ecstatic at the praise.
"I meant what I said you know, we could really do with a doctor on the crew and we came to Drum to recruit one." Luffy paused a moment to look Chopper in the eye. "I want that doctor to be you."
"I can't I'm a monster that can't be around humans," the little reindeer said sadly.
Luffy started giggling, giggling that he tried to hide behind a hand. While Luffy was attempting to get himself together after the giggle fit Sanji spoke up. "Tch, you know we've got a few monsters on the crew already." Chopper's head snapped up to look Sanji in the eye. "Caprain here can turn into lightning, our first mate can take on an entire island of bounty hunters single handed. The ships gunner i reckon can hit the wings of a fly from fifty feet."
"Let's not forget you Sanji, after all you're the only guy I know that can take Alvida's mace to the head with a smile." Luffy broke in with a grin.
"Basically everyone on the crew are monsters in their own way."
Chopper seemed to thinking about their words. "But I've got a blue nose." Despite that fact it was a statement the way Chopper spoke it sounded more like a question.
Luffy just let out a loud laugh. "That nose of yours is damn cute and it suits you." Once again Luffy gave Chopper a wide cheshire grin. "And hey if you sail with us you won't be the only devil fruit user on the ship, you'll be part of the exclusive devil fruit club population me you and Alvida."
Chopper speak right away, he simply thought over everything Luffy and Sanji had just said. All his life he had longed for acceptance which he only ever found in two places, his father then Doctorine after his father's death. "I need to go see if Doctorine needs my help." After saying that he quickly fled the room.
Luffy gave Sanji a smirk, "A thousand beli says I can get him to join the crew before we leave."
"Tch shitty captain, that's a suckers bet if there ever was one." Luffy could only laugh after all his crew knew him so well.
A few hours later Kureha walked into the room Sanji and Luffy were lounging in. "You're lucky you got that girl here when you did another day or so and she'd be dead."
Luffy was uncharacteristically serious. "So you know what's wrong with her?"
Kureha pulled a seat up to fire to join the two pirates and took a long drink from a hip flask that she had pulled from seemingly nowhere. "Yeah I know what's wrong with her. It's called the five day disease 'cause after five days the patient always dies. It's caused by a bite from the kestia, an insect the World Government wiped out over a century ago so god knows how she manged to be infected." Kureha then gave bot Sanji and Luffy a ling searching look. "You brats wouldn't have happened to have been playing around a prehistoric island or anything would you?"
"Yeah we just came from Little Garden," said Luffy with a wince.
"Tch, that'd do it alright. You're just lucky I already had the cure to the kestia bite." A predatory smile then graced Kureha's face, "Now let's talk payment."
Before Kureha could say anything else Luffy spoke up. "We've got every bit of treasure Wapol took with him when he fled this place including several keys which I'm guessing unlock some sorta treasure room door."
Kureha grinned widely, almost as widely as Luffy typically would. "Aye brat, that'll do alright. We'll what're you waiting for go get it!" Luffy still terrified of the old woman wasted no time in turning into lightning and getting away from her to retrieve what they had taken from Wapol's ship.
When Luffy handed over the treasure Kureha hugged it to her chest in a way that reminded Luffy and Sanji of Nami. "Pleasure doing business with you boys."
Kureha was just walking away to stash her newly aquired treasure when Luffy remembered what he wanted to speak to her about. "Oi grandma! I wanna talk to you about your assist-" that was as far as Luffy got before Kureha's fist came down on the tip of Luffy's head.
"Fist of love," Luffy sqeaked out from his position on the floor while Danji could only smile at the scene, after all the exact same thing had happened to him when he met Kureha and commented on her age.
"Brat I'm only a hundred and thirty none you know."
Luffy gingerly picked himself up from the floor, rubbing his head softly. Sanji had to grudgingly respect his captain as it had taken him a lot longer to pull himself up after one of the old bats punches. "I need a doctor on my crew and I like you assistant and I want him. You reckon he'll sail with us?"
Kureha let out a deep sigh and set the bags of treasure down before taking her seat once more. Following her lead both Strawhats took the seats they had been sat in earlier and from there Kureha gave a brief overview of Chopper's life. How he was an outcast with thr other reindeer due to his blue nose, then after he ate his devil fruit he wasn't accepted by neither human nor reindeer. She then went on to tell the pair about how a quack named Hireluk had taken Chopper in and treated him like his own son as well as the events that lead to the man's death.
"Chopper's got some deep wounds on his heart and he needs someone to help heal them." Kureha said sadly to which Luffy nodded somberly.
"That's why he should sail with us. The captain goes outta his way to make sure we're all looked after and that we treat each other like family. To be honest we're less of a crew and more of a family."
Kureha was silent for several minutes as she was deep in thought. "I'll speak to him but just so you know he's like a son to me so if you ever hurt him I'll make sure you're infected with the worst diseases imaginable and watch as you rot from the inside out. You got me!"
Instead of being alarmed this threat Luffy only grinned happily. "Now your friend has another three days of rest and recupperation."
"But we need to leave soon." Luffy interruped.
"Brat my patients only leave my care when they're cured or in a body bag you got that."
Sanji agreed that they needed to leave soon as they had to get to Alabaster as soon as possible and when saw Luffy was about to argue further he attenpted to play peace maker. "What about if Chopper joins the crew? Can't he take over her care while we sail." Sanji could see Kureha pause and instead of dismissing his idea out of hand like he thought she may do she seemed to be thinking about it. "Look we're sailing with princess Vivi of Alabaster and we need to get her home as soon as possible to stop a civil war that's about to kick off any day now."
"Fine but only if the brat agrees to go with you, if not she stays 'til I'm satified she's completely cured." Hearing this both Sanji and Luffy let out sighs of relief in perfect unison.
Just a few hours later Chopper walked into the room. "I just thought you might want to know your friend is responding to Doctorine's medicine. She's not woken up yet but her fever's broken."
Luffy grinned widely at the small reindeer. "That's awesome news! Cheers for letting us know." Just like every other time in the past Luffy's grin that had yet to fade was infectious and Chopper was returning it, albeit shyly. "You know what me and the rest of my crew has in common?" Luffy asked Chopper before seeing thr little reindeer shake his head. "We're all dreamers, each and everyone of us has a dream that we wanna see come true."
This caused Chopper to look down deep in thought as he thought back to last day with his father Hireluk and how he swore to one day find a cure to every disease in the world. Seeing this Luffy asked "You got a dream Chopper?"
Chopper nodded slightly before looking up at Luffy and smiling shyly at him. "Yeah I wanna make my father pround of me by finding a cure for every disease in the world."
"That's a nice dream," added Sanji while giving the reindeer a small smile. "Only problem is how you gonna make that dream come true if you stay on this island."
"You know Chopper it's my dream to be king of the pirates and to make that dream come true I've gotta sail all across the Grand Line. Along the way me and the crew are gonna see some incredible things, things you wouldn't possibly believe and I'm sure there's things out there that would make your medicines better. Or maybe even let you make new medicines for diseases you don't even know of yet. But like Sanji said you can't do that if you stay here and I'd really like it if you'd sail with us and join us on out adventures."
The sheer passion and sincerity Luffy had put into his speech had caused tears to start to fall from Chopper's eyes. Long ago he had realised deep down that to achieve his dream he would have to leave Drum Kingdom, but never in his wildest imagination would he have thought humans would be willing to take him with them. The tears of happiness soon escalated into Chopper bawling his little eyes out as he launched himself at Luffy who caught in his arms while laughing.
"Sail with me and we'll turn this world upside down!" Sanji was quick to offer his congratulations on joining the crew and gave Chopper a quick pat on the back. "Hey did that old bat tell you about the Nami?"
Chopper was confused and he cast his mind back over everything the Doctorine had said about her patient, however he was at a loss as to what his new captain was referring to. "She said she normally only let's people outta her clutches when they're better or when they're dead...bit creepy if you ask me." At saying this both Sanji and Luffy gave a full body shudder in perfect unison. "Buuttttt she also said that if you were to join up with us she'd let you take over Nami's care so we can leave when she wakes up."
Despite being excited about going on adventures with his new captain Chopper was still sad. After all while she was overly critical and a harsh taskmaster she was also the closest thing Chopper had ever had to a mother and he loved her dearly. "Well your Friend should be awake by morning so we can leave then. I'll just...I'll just go pack my things."
With that said Chopper jumped down from Luffy's arms to go pack all the belongings that he thought he'd need for life on the sea before going to say his goodbyes to Doctorine. However when he entered his bedroom he saw a backpack sitting by his bed, looking inside it he saw it was everything he thought he would need off the top of his head. 'She really does me better than I know myself,' Chopper thought to himself.
The next day Nami woke and Luffy informed her about everything that had happened since she passed out. She was suitably excited when Luffy told her about the king's treasure they had taken from Wapol's ship, only to be horrified and depressed when learned that the treasure was the price Luffy had paid for her treatment. He then told her that Sanji had gone back down the mountain to let the others know they were going to be leavibg today as well as the fact they had another crewmate.
Luffy then helped Nami to get dressed despite her protests that she was not an invalid and her claims that he just wanted a free look at her body. Once she was dressed with a thick winter fur coat on Luffy picked her up and gave her a piggyback out of the castle.
Just as they walked out of the front door, Luffy once more being careful to avoid disturbing the door and the birds nest, Chopper came running out of the castle holding his backpack and screaming. "Quick get in the sleigh!"
Luffy turned around only for him and Nami to pale at the sight of an angry Kureha running towards them brandishing a large steel axe. "You think you can just run away to play pirate do you brat?"
Luffy had a feeling he knew what was going on, his observation haki was getting to the point he could distinguish feelings and he wasn't picking up on any feelings of hurt or anger. With this in mind he knew that the old bat just didnt want to do a tearful goodbye so he grinned back at her before running to the sleigh that Chopper was starting to pull in his full reindeer form.
After jumping in the sleigh and sitting Nami down next to him he shouted to Chopper. "What you waiting for? Get us outta here, I don't want the old bat to get us!" After the old bat comment the axe Kureha had just been wielding was embedded in the sleigh next to Luffy's had after being hurled by Kureha. Luffy knew she was a little sensitive about her age just not that sensitive.
Chopper wasted no time and pulled the sleigh around the back of the castle where the descent down the Drum Rockies was not as steep.
Unseen to the fleeing trio Kureha pulled out a piece of paper from her back pocket. After she unfurled it she was looking at Luffy's bounty poster. 'Just like Gol. D Roger, all the carriers of the will of D are forces of nature.' After that thought she then began to cackle madly.
Depite the amount of time it took Sanji and Luffy to get to the summit of the Drum Rockies it only took Chopper twenty minutes to get to the village of Bighorn, then a further five to make it back to their ship.
Stepping onto the deck of the Merry Luffy called out to everyone. "Guys gather round I've got someone I want you to meet. Everyone this is Chopper and he's our new doctor." The reaction of the crew was varied, when Zoro and Gin introduced themselves the just gave him a small smile and a wave. Johnny and Yozuku were far more enthusiastic as thhey both ran forwards and shook Chopper's hands at the same time, seeing this Luffy could help but laugh to himself and think that evern though they're not actually twins you wouldn't know it to look at them.
The most comical of thhe introductions however was, by far, Alvida who upon seeing Chopper scooped him up into her her arms and began cuddling him while rubbing her face on his. "Soooo cute," was all she could squeal out for about a minute or so. This sight caused many of the crew to sweardrop as since they had met Alvida many of the crew had only ever seen the stern, harsh and almost stoic side to her so seeing her act this way was actually refreshing.
"So we setting sail captain?" Zoro questioned from his spot near the helm. The sight of Zoro anywhere near the helm caused Luffy to panic slightly as even he was sure that even while docked with anchor dropped Zoro would mange to get them lost.
"In a moment I just wanna do summet first." With that daid Luffy went into his cabin only to come out a moment later, turn into lightning and flash back to Bighorn in front of Dalton's house. After knocking Luffy waited a moment for Dalton to answer and he didn't have to wait long.
"Ah you're back, I take it the witch has cured your friend."
Luffy could only grin. "Yeah that she did alright. I see what everyone meant when they said she's more like a pirate than a doctor, but she's good at what does I'll give her that. Anyways I've recruited someone from this island onto my crew and I wanted to offer you the same thing I have for other places."
Dalton was curious, after all what could a pirate offer their island. "And just what's this offer of yours?"
Luffy reached inside his captain's coat and from one of the inner pockets he pulled out the object he had just retrieved from his cabin. "This here's my pirate flag. If you want you can fly it round the island to let other pirates know you're under my protection." This offer irritated Dalton and Luffy saw his nostrils flare in anger. "Look you said it yourself you were attacked a year ago by pirates and lets face it could happen again. Now I don't want scum attacking the homeland and birthplace of one of my crewmates."
This caused Dalton to pause and some of his arguments to die in his throat. Thinking rationally he knew this could help the island, but he still wasn't completely sold on the idea. "And just what we gotta do or pay for this protection of yours eh?"
"Nowt at all, like I said this is the homeland of one of my crew and I aint gonna let anyone trample over it. 'Sides I know you're not officially in charge of this place or awt like that but you care about everyone here and they respect you. Plus you did say yesterday that everyone was talking about electing you to be king to replace the fatarse."
Dalton thought long and hard for several minutes while weighing up the pros and cons of Luffy's proposition. "Fine, fine we'll fly your flag." Luffy smiled as he handed over his pirate flag before turning and beginning to leave. "Wait!" Dalton called to him to get his attention once more. "Who's this doctor you recruited, you never said."
After everything Chopper had said about how he gad been treated on this island Luffy didnt want to give his identity away so he kept his answer deliberately vague. "He's doctor Hireluk's son.'
Dalton's mind flashed to the moment of Hireluk's death and the creature he had seen mourning over the corpse of his father. He remembered thinking in that moment that the creature several people had seen in the past and called a monster was showing more humanity than his own king. With that memory in mind he just smiled at Luffy. "You take care of him you hear me!"
Luffy just grinned his cheshire gin and lazily waved his hand over his shoulder to show he'd heard him. Turning back into lightning he flashed back onto the deck of the Merry and gave the order to set sail for Alabaster. Just as the ship was pulling out of the dock the sound of cannonfire came from the Drum Rockies as it echoed down the island. Everyone on the ship turned to look at what had caused the noise only to gape as the snow that was falling was pink instead of white.
While the crew of the Strawhats could only be amazed at the sight of pink snow and smile at the sight that was unheard of, even on the Grand Line, Chopper began to cry as he realised Doctorine was fulfilling Hireluk's dream.
"Huh looks like sakura petals," Zoro commented as he let some of the pink snow fall onto his open palm and warched it melt.
The sight of the falling pink snow was the last sight the Strawhats had of Drum Kingdom as the sailed away to their next adventure.