Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. I only own my OC, Aurora.
Get ready everybody! It's time for Drum Island!
Chapter 27
Meanwhile, having departed Little Garden, the ship sails calmly along.
"Guys listen! One day! I swear! I'll visit Elbaf and the Village of Warriors!"
"Alright Usopp! We'll go for sure one day! To the home of those giants!"
"Aren't those two lively…" Nami watched Usopp and Luffy begin to dance and sing.
"El ~ Baf Baf ~ Eeehhhl ~ Baaaahhffffff ~ Where Ev'ryone is gigantic ~ 'Cause they're giants ~"
Curled up against the mast, Nami held a hand to her head. "I don't know about you guys, but I feel exhausted from all that earlier…" she held out the eternal pose. "Vivi… can you keep an eye on the log pose?"
Vivi took the offered pose, her and Carue staring intently at it.
Nami smiled. "With this, it looks like we can finally go to Alabasta. Well, that's only if there's no further trouble…"
"Yes… I have to return no matter what… after all… I finally found a way to save Alabasta…" Vivi appeared to be deep in thought. "I have to survive, and return to Alabasta…!"
"No need to strain yourself, Vivi." Sanji traipsed over to the duo. "Because I'll be by your side!" the cook held out a plate. "Now how would you like some petit fours as today's snack? For drinks, we have coffee or tea…"
"Sanji…"
Luffy and Usopp appeared over Sanji's shoulder, drooling heavily.
"Your shares are in the kitchen." The cook growled.
"WOOHOO!"
"2603…!" a voice grunted. "2604…!"
"Z-Zoro…" Aurora meekly said, having been watching the swordsman. After his little stunt earlier, the angel had wanted to keep an eye on him. I mean, he'd attempted to cut his own legs off. She just wanted to make sure the man would take it easy and rest. But obviously… that was not the case.
"If only I could have cut through that candlewax… then there wouldn't have been any trouble. Still weak." Zoro continued to swing the weights. "Must get… stronger… so I can even cut through iron…!"
"Zoro." Aurora laid a hand on the swordsman's sweaty shoulder, the man in question halting his workout. "Don't you think you should hold off on training? At least until your legs have healed more properly?" she pointedly looked at the bandaged appendages.
"I don't have time for that." He set down his weights with a heavy thud! "Those Baroque Works guys aren't messing around. I need to get stronger if I wanna stand a better chance against them." The swordsman looked the angel over. "You know… it wouldn't hurt if you did some training of your own."
Aurora blinked in surprise. "W-What…?"
"Here." He grabbed the angel's hand, wrapping it around the bar that held his weights. "Try this."
"W-Wait! Zoro!" she flailed, her arms unable to hold the impressive amount of weight.
Two strong hands wrapped around hers, a warm body sliding in close behind the angel. Zoro huffed, his breath tickling her ear. "You really are a weakling, aren't you?"
Aurora blushed. "W-Well, it's not like I've ever had a reason to worry about my strength. I didn't get into any fights until I met you guys."
The swordsman grunted in response, taking the weights out of the angel's hands. She breathed a sigh of relief, the excessive weight having put a strain on her arms. Zoro laid the equipment down, scrounging around nearby for something else. He came back over a minute later with a smaller set in hand.
"This should be a good starting place." He maneuvered behind Aurora once more, placing the weight in her hands. The angel blushed profusely when he moved in close. His hands came to rest over hers.
"Here. Move it like this." The swordsman showed her what to do, the weights swinging with ease.
Aurora tried to focus, she really did. But it was hard. The swordsman was pressed up against her back, his breath tickling her ear. No man had ever been this close to her before. She shied away from men in general. This whole experience… it was disconcerting, to say the least.
Aurora peered back at the swordsman. 'Certainly doesn't seem to be affecting him…'
Little did she know how wrong she was.
"EVERYONE!" Vivi's panicked voice rang out. "IT'S AN EMERGENCY!"
Zoro and Aurora halted their actions, the weight in mid-swing. The pause gave them a minute to register the position they were in. Zoro actually seemed flustered, a slight blush lighting his cheeks as he moved away, taking the weight with him. Aurora looked away, her face hot.
Vivi's cries broke the two out of their stupor. "NAMI'S FALLEN DOWN WITH AN EXTREMELY HIGH FEVER!"
"Iz Nabi gunna die!?" Sanji sobbed. "Well!? Iz she, Bibi!?"
The princess knelt next to the bed where Nami lay. "It must be from the climate change… the one obstacle that all sailers who enter Grand Line will crash into sooner or later is sickness caused by the abnormal climate…!" she explained. "No matter how famous or strong of a pirate you are, helplessly dying at the hands of such illnesses is a common occurrence here in Grand Line. Even the slightest symptoms can lead to death if ignored. Isn't there anyone on this ship with some medical knowledge?"
Luffy and Usopp pointed to the sick navigator.
Aurora laid a hand on the girl's forehead. "I wish I could use my powers to heal her, but I can't."
Luffy blinked. "But you've healed Zoro before."
"Yeah, and me!" Usopp chimed in.
"Yes, but those were physical wounds. I was able to see them, feel them… an illness is different." Aurora began to explain. "It's invisible to the naked eye and I can't pinpoint where it's taken root in the body."
"So if you can't see it or feel it…" Vivi realized where this was going.
"I can't heal it. My powers can only heal illnesses that try and take root in me. They'll destroy the virus upon entrance. But I can't do the same with others. It's one of the flaws my powers have."
"I'm sure she'll get better if she just eats some meat!" Luffy tried to think positive. "Right, Sanji!?"
"Well, I obviously plan on giving her nutritious meals that are easy enough to digest even for a sick person but… even all that only goes so far as to be called "nursing"… it may not actually cure her." The cook explained. "And in the first place, when it comes to preparing meals for Nami, Aurora and Vivi, I put in 100 times more effort than for the rest of you lot. I only use the freshest meats and vegetables to cook a perfectly balanced meal. The leftover scraps and ingredients on the verge of spoiling are then given to you…"
"What!" Usopp squawked.
"Even so, it still tastes great! Ahahaha!" Luffy laughed it off.
"In any case, as long as I'm the chef on this ship, there won't be any troubles related to malnutrition or such. So if someone is still sick, then that's because of a completely different illness. And unless I know what that is, I won't know what type of meal to prepare would be best either."
"Couldn't you just eat everything instead?" Luffy naively asked.
"Not having enough energy to even eat is what we call being sick in the first place, you idiot."
"F-Forty degrees!?" Vivi took the thermometer from Nami's mouth. "Her fever rose again!"
"There should be doctors in Alabasta, right?" Usopp asked. "Just how much longer until we get there, Vivi?"
"… I don't know but it'll definitely be more than a week!"
Luffy turned to his crewmates. "Is being sick really that painful?"
Sanji and Usopp cocked their heads. "Dunno, can't say I've ever been sick myself."
"Are you people even human!? Of course it's painful!"
"A 40 degree fever is dangerous." Aurora told the boys. "It's enough to put Nami's life at serious risk."
"GYAAAAAAAAAA!" that got a reaction.
"Will she die!?"
"Preez dun' die dabiiiiii!" (Please don't die, Nami!)
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"Stop making a fuss and shut up!" Vivi shrieked.
"We have to go find a doctor and save Nami right away!" Luffy was frantic.
"Yes, I know so just calm down or you might aggravate her condition further!" Vivi attempted to placate the pirates.
"… No."
"Nami!" Aurora breathed, turning back to the navigator.
"Yipee!" Luffy cheered. "She got better!"
Usopp slapped the boy upside the head. "No she didn't!"
Nami sat up, her face flushed and sweat dripping down her body. "There's a newspaper on top of my desk…"
Vivi went to where the navigator indicated, picking the newspaper up. "… Wha!?"
"What is it?" Luffy asked.
"Is it about Alabasta, Vivi?" Sanji joined in.
"That can't be… 300,000 soldiers of the royal armed forces switched sides to join the rebels!?" Vivi read. "Originally, the 600 thousand strong royal armed forces could contain the rebels who were only 400,000 strong… but now the situation is completely opposite!"
"With that, the situation in Alabasta has entered its most critical phase…" Nami wheezed. "And that was the paper from 3 days ago. Sorry for not showing it to you until now… I didn't want to worry you any further since we were already sailing as fast as we could." She turned to her captain. "Understand, Luffy?"
"Sounds like an emergency."
"That's right. I'm surprised I managed to get through to you so well."
"But if we don't get you to a doctor soon…" Usopp began to argue.
"It's fine." Nami got out of bed, ignoring Aurora's protests to lie back down. "That old thermometer's broken anyways. There's no way a person would have a fever of 40 degrees. I'm sure I just caught heatstroke or something. I'll get better just fine on my own without seeing a doctor…" she headed for the door. "In any case, we'll continue to head for Alabasta as planned for now. But thanks for worrying about me."
"Sure." Luffy replied. "So is she all better now…?"
"Of course not, she's only putting up a tough front." Usopp told the boy.
"If I can't stop this," Vivi spoke up once more. "Then it's all over for the kingdom of Alabasta! It'll be taken over by Crocodile!" she crumpled the newspaper in her hands. "It's not good enough to just return alive anymore… if I can't get back soon enough, then a million of my people will be killing each other for no good reason."
"There's a million people there!?"
"That's quite the burden."
"Vivi…" Aurora knelt down, prying the newspaper from the princess' grasp. "Don't worry. We'll help you fix this. I promise."
"Hey, all of you!" Zoro called from the deck. "We've got work to do, come out!"
The boys and Aurora came up from below deck, leaving Vivi alone.
"Take the helm and steer for south." Zoro ordered.
"What, I don't feel like taking orders from you."
"Just shut up and do it!" he told the cook. "Lower the sails so we can catch wind from portside."
"Got it!"
"What is it, Nami?" Sanji turned to the navigator. "The seas are calm and the weather looks clear to me."
"Wind." Was her reply. "I have a feeling… that there's going to be strong wind coming from ahead. Probably…"
Luffy went up to the orange-haired girl, laying his hand over her forehead. He pulled it back rapidly. "Hhhoooot! Hot! Hot! We really do need to land and take you to a doctor!"
"That's just my normal temperature! Now stop wasting time and get the ropes!"
"Nami, I really don't think you should be pushing yourself. Why don't you just go back to bed-"
"I'm fine, Aurora!"
"But I really think you oughta-"
"No!" Nami faced the boys. "Now everybody be quiet and turn the ship around already!"
The pirates did as they were told, not another word spoken about Nami's condition.
"I have a request to ask all of you."
Vivi had reappeared on deck, drawing the pirates' attention.
"I know that it's not my place to make such demands since you've already let me on this boat and all… but with the emerging crisis in my country, I want to go there as soon as possible. Not even a single moment can be spared anymore! That's why I ask for this ship to head for Alabasta at the fasteset speed!"
"Of course!" Nami shakily smiled. "Just like we promised!"
"… Thus, we need to find an island with a doctor immediately." The princess proclaimed. "We have to see to it that Nami gets better as fast as possible, and then head for Alabasta! That'll be the only way this ship can sail at the fastest speed, right!?"
"You bet!" Luffy agreed. "Can't get any faster than that!"
"You sure?" Usopp was skeptical. "Aren't you worried about the lives of a million Alabastans, being a princess and all?"
"Exactly! That's why we need to get Nami to a doctor as quickly as possible."
Sanji smirked. "Well, said, Vivi! I've fallen for you all over again!"
"… I like your guts…" Zoro complimented.
Aurora merely smiled.
"I'm sorry for making you worry, but please don't overexert yourself, Nami!"
"Sorry… Vivi…" the navigator panted. "But I think… I'm really…"
Aurora and Vivi caught the navigator when she began to collapse.
"AHH!" Luffy suddenly screamed. "WHAT IS THAAAT!?"
"It's… it's a cyclone!"
"Ah! Nami, hang in there!"
"It's huuuge!"
"Wait a minute…" Aurora breathed. "Isn't that where we were headed just a moment ago!?"
"If we had sailed straight, we'd have crashed right into it by now!"
"Talk about a close call!"
'Incredible…' Vivi thought. 'A cyclone on the Grand Line's said to be impossible to predict! This girl isn't just predicting the weather based on weather forecast theories… it's almost as if she's directly feeling the minute happenings of the climate itself!' She looked down at the girl in her arms. "I've never seen such a navigator…"
"Alright, let's hurry it up, guys! We'll keep heading south to find a doctor!"
"Right!"
Ignoring the needle pointing to Alabasta, the ship is now on the lookout for a doctor…
After 1 day…
"Vivi, what do we do!? Nami's fever isn't going down!" Sanji flailed.
"Sanji! Carue! You have to be quiet!" the princess scolded.
Aurora stood from where she'd been kneeling, attempting to shove the two out the door. "I think you've done enough for now. Vivi and I will take it from here."
Suddenly, the ship shook. The inhabitants of the room lost their balance. Vivi, Aurora and Carue fell to the floor. Sanji managed to remain upright, attempting to keep the bedridden Nami as still as possible.
"What's all this shaking!?"
"Hey, hang tight to the helm up there!" Sanji called. "If anything happens to Nami, I'll have your heads for it!"
The ship finally came to a standstill.
"Vivi, Aurora, I'll leave her with you for now!" Sanji told the girls, heading back above deck.
"Ok!"
The two girls kept a close eye on the navigator. All was quiet.
"I guess they took care of the problem." Aurora mused, glancing in the direction of the deck.
Vivi stiffened, the sound of multiple pops ringing through the air. "Gunshots!?"
The two shared a look. They dashed towards the door.
"Carue! Keep a close eye on Nami!"
"We'll be right back!"
The duck quacked in response.
The two women hurried up the stairs, bursting through the door. The scene they intruded upon was quite a sight. Numerous men were laid out on the deck, unconscious. The boys hovered over the bodies.
An overweight man stood nearby. He had dark violet hair and a cylinder-shaped jaw made up of tin plates. He was dressed in tin-plate armor, donned a hooded cape and wore thick brown gloves. He also wore a pair of purple and orange woolen shorts and a brown belt around his waist along with a pair of thick short boots.
The most disturbing sight though was that Luffy's arms were sticking out of his mouth… which meant the rest of Luffy's body was inside.
"Hm?" the man hummed. "What's this long thing hanging out?"
"Oh hey, Vivi. Aurora." Sanji greeted. "How's Nami doing?"
Aurora opened her mouth, but no words came out.
"She's… what's going on!?" Vivi was baffled.
"Hm… a tough one to chew through, aren't you…" the man grumbled, attempting to consume the remaining parts of Luffy.
"Why you…" Luffy's voice came from inside the man's mouth. His arms, which were stretched far back, came flying forward and slammed into the man. "GET OFF MY SHIP!"
The man was sent flying.
"You think if we dumped a bucket of water on her, her fever might go down?"
"Are you retarded!?" Sanji kicked his captain, Vivi joining in with a punch. "Damn it… the sun's already going down for the day, Vivi."
"Right… I guess we better drop the anchor for the night then."
"Yeah…" Aurora agreed. "Without Nami's navigational skills, sailing at night is too dangerous."
So, later that night, the ship had dropped anchor. It was late, everyone fast asleep, except for Sanji who was on watch. A figure shifted, sitting up. Nami looked around the room, seeing her crewmates asleep in various spots.
Vivi was sitting next to the bed, her head resting upon her folded arms. Aurora was just next to her, her back to the mattress and chin tucked into her chest. Usopp lounged against a nearby desk, Luffy laying not that far from him. The straw-hat boy's foot laid across the back of the sniper's neck. Zoro and Carue were across from them, the duck lying on its side with the swordsman using him as a pillow.
The scene made Nami smile, before she tucked herself back in.
"I still want to know what the hell all that was about…"
"Hm?" Sanji responded from the crow's nest.
"You know, those guys from yesterday." Usopp explained. "I mean, I've never even heard of a pirate called Wapol, but he had a ship that no mere no-name pirate could get!"
"Whatever." Sanji was past that. "Don't pay any mind to him anymore… just a bunch of idiots. Nothing more, nothing less. More importantly… don't you think it's been pretty cold every day for awhile now?"
"Yeah I guess now that you mention it." Usopp went about repairing the ship from Wapol's attack. "It's probably just another bizarre aspect to the Grand Line…"
"No, it's proof that we're close to an island." Vivi corrected. "Sanji, watch carefully for land on the horizon."
"Vivi?"
"There must be a "winter island" nearby." The princess revealed.
"Winter Island?"
"In terms of climate, the islands of Grand Line can be classified into 4 types. Summer island, spring island, autumn island and winter island. And each of these 4 islands generally have 4 seasons of their own. In short, in order to survie sailing across Grand Line, you should be able to endure all 16 types of seasons, from the summer of summer island all the way to the winter of winter island. Of course, there still are exceptions and unknown climates."
Usopp continued to hammer away. "I see… so the reason why Grand Line has such unpredictable climate, is due to being trapped between all these islands, each with their own distinct climate…"
"Exactly." Vivi nodded. "That's why climate stabilization signals the presence of an island nearby…!"
"You're right…" Sanji peered through the binoculars. "I can see land up ahead! LAND AHOY!"
"Land!?" Luffy was excited. "Nami, did you hear that! It's an island! Now we can get you all better!"
The boy waited for a response, but never got one. The navigator was out of it. Aurora and Zoro glanced at the boy, who hadn't yet moved. The swordsman sighed. "Just go outside and look…"
Luffy immediately darted out the door.
Aurora chuckled, getting up from where she'd been sitting. "Let's go check it out. Nami will be fine by herself for a few minutes."
The swordsman grunted in response, trailing after the angel.
"WHOAAAAAAAAA! IT'S AN ISLAND!" Luffy exuded childlike wonder. "It's so white! It must be snow! A snow island!"
"Luffy! Let me just say now that we can't afford to go on an adventure this time." Sanji warned the boy. "Once we get a doctor to treat Nami, we're leaving right away."
"Snow is fun…"
"He's off in his own world already…" Aurora sighed, knowing her captain hadn't heard a word the cook had said.
"Hold on a moment… is that island gonna be safe?" Usopp questioned. "If there's snow, couldn't there be snow monsters or something!? There might not even be any humans living on it! Oh no! My can't-enter-island-itis is acting up again!"
"Liar." Aurora called him out.
"Do you have to do that!?"
"I like snow cause it's white." Luffy was still lost in his own little world.
"Get ready to dock, guys."
The island was quite large and completely covered in snow. It had a series of drum shaped mountains decorating its landscape.
"Wow… just what are those mountains!" Sanji breathed.
"So much snow… I'm so happy…" Luffy was crying.
Usopp glared at their captain. "Aren't you cold wearing only that?"
"It's -10 degrees, cold enough for a bear to begin hibernating." Vivi supplied.
"Huh? Ah-" Luffy suddenly noticed the temperature. "Brrrrr!"
"Could you be any slower!?"
"A meltwater waterfall…" Vivi observed. "We should be able to dock our ship around here."
"So…?" Zoro popped up next to the princess. "Who's going to go look for a doctor?"
"Well first we should see if there are even any people on this island." Aurora pointed out, taking in the shoreline. She could've sworn she saw something move. But… maybe it was just an animal?
"I'll go!" Luffy volunteered.
"Me too!" Sanji joined in.
"Yes, go forth, my comrades!" Usopp pointedly didn't volunteer his services.
"Stop right there, pirates!"
People appeared on either side of the ship. They were all armed and didn't seem receptive to the crew's arrival.
"Hey, there're people."
"Uhh… judging from the mood, this doesn't look good…"
A man stepped forward. "You will turn around immediately and leave this island at once."
"Wait! We've come here for a doctor!" Luffy tried to explain.
"We have a sick person on board!" Vivi added.
"Those lies won't work on us, pirate-scum!"
"This is our country and we won't let no stinking pirates run amok on it!"
"Now pull your anchor back up and beat it! Or else we'll make you leave!"
"Whoo…" Sanji grimaced. "Talk about a bad first impression…"
"DON'T TALK BACK AT US!" they fired.
"Agh!" Sanji leapt out of the way.
"They opened fire!"
"Now you've done it…" the cook growled. "Why you…!"
Aurora and Vivi held the man back. "Sanji, no!"
A shot rang out. Vivi collapsed, having been struck instead of Sanji. Aurora fell to her knees beside the princess, checking on her.
"Vivi!" Luffy was outraged. "HOW DARE YOU!"
"Prepare to shoot!"
"No, wait!" the princess lunged at Luffy. "This isn't a problem you can solve by fighting! You don't have to worry about me, the bullet only grazed my arm!"
"ENOUGH!" Aurora spread her wings in warning, her eyes glowing brightly with power. "We promise not to set foot on your country… so please, just call a doctor over!"
"I beg of you!" Vivi went along. "Our friend is gravely ill and in much pain! Please help her!"
"Aurora… Vivi…" Luffy breathed.
The princess bowed. "You're failing to carry out your duties as ship captain, Luffy… recklessly fighting isn't always going to solve everything…"
"She's right." Aurora agreed, taking a spot next to the princess. "If you were to start a fight now, what would become of Nami?"
"Sorry!" Luffy apologized. "I was wrong!" He knelt into a bow next to the two women. "We only ask for a doctor. Please save our friend."
There was a long moment of silence. "… we'll lead you to our town. Follow me."
"See?" Vivi smiled. "They understood us."
"Yeah, you're amazing."
"I agree with Luffy on that."
The man from before, obviously the one in charge, turned back to the pirates. "Let me give you one warning beforehand… there is only one doctor in our country… and she happens to be a witch."
"Wha?"
"This country has no name as of yet."
"A nameless country?" Vivi was astounded. "Is that even possible?"
"Gyaaaaaaa!" Usopp shrieked. "It's a beaaaaaaaar! Everyone play dead!"
"It's just a hiking bear. It poses no danger but mind your hiking manners and don't forget to bow."
The pirates did as instructed before continuing to trek on through the snow. They soon came upon a town, bustling with life.
The snowing town, "Big Horn."
"This is… our town."
"They got some weird animals walking around." Luffy took it all in.
"A real snow country for sure!" Usopp chimed.
"Nami, it's a town!" the cook told the navigator he was carrying on his back. "We're finally at a town full of people!"
"Good work, everyone. Those that aren't on guard-duty can now return to their normal jobs."
"You sure you can handle all of 'em yourself, Dalton? They are pirates."
"They should pose no harm. Or at least, that's what my reliable gut instinct tells me…"
"… this country doesn't have any professional soldiers, does it?" Vivi asked the man.
"No, they're all normal civilians." Dalton answered. "For the time being, come to my house."
"Ah! Look Luffy!" Usopp whispered. "A hiking bear!"
"Another one!?"
Aurora hit the two over the head. "That's a woman!" she hissed.
"Dalton, I heard there were pirates. Is everything alright?" the large woman asked.
"Rest assured, everything is under control, madam."
"Dalton!" an older man called. "I'll be looking forward to the elections in two days. Everyone says they'll be voting for you."
"T-That's preposterous! I bear too many sins for such a position."
"You can use the bed over there. I'll go heat up the room right now…" he began removing his personal effects. "My apologies for the belated introduction… my name is Dalton and it's my job to guard this island. Please forgive our hostile welcome."
"It's fine." Aurora answered, she and Vivi making Nami comfortable in the bed.
"I'd like to ask you one thing…"
"Hm?" Vivi perked up.
"I get the feeling that I've seen you somewhere before…"
She stiffened. "Y-You must be imagining things. I'm sure we've never met before… more importantly, could you please tell us more about this witch?"
"A fever of… 42 degrees!?"
"Her fever's been rising steadily since 3 days ago…" Vivi told Dalton.
"If it rises any higher, she'll lose her life…" Dalton recognized the severity of the situation.
"Yes, but I'm afraid we don't know what the cause of her disease is, nor how to treat it…"
"It doesn't matter if this doctor's a witch or whatever as long as she can cure Nami!" Sanji complained. "So just where the hell is she!?"
"From the window… you should be able to see the mountains…"
"Yeah, you mean those extremely tall-" Sanji cut himself off, his view obstructed.
"Look at my Mr. Hyper-Snowman!"
"And my Snow-Zilla!"
"That's it! I'm kicking both your asses!" Sanji was done with the two boys.
Aurora merely sighed, watching as the cook stormed out and demolished the snow figures. "Please excuse our friends. They're… special."
"I… see." Dalton sweatdropped. "But they must not be all bad. Otherwise, why would an angel be among them?"
She stiffened. "I don't know what you mean."
"I think your wings pretty much spoke for themselves."
"Mr. Dorry and Mr. Brogy called you the same thing. Is it true?" Vivi seemed suspicious.
Thankfully, the boys chose that time to barge in. The conversation would have to wait.
"Those mountains are called the Drum Rockies. Perhaps you can see a castle at the top on the tallest mountain in the middle? Presently… it's a castle with no king…"
"Castle?"
"Ahh, nice and warm…"
"Yeah, I can see it alright…" Sanji peered out the window once more.
"So what about that castle…?"
"Dr. Kureha, the lone doctor in this entire country whom the people call a witch, lives in that very castle situated on the mountaintop."
"What!?"
"Of all the places she could be, she just has to be there…" Sanji grumbled. "Well, we better go call her right away then! This is an emergency."
"As much as I'd like to, there is no way to contact her." Dalton revealed.
"What!?" Sanji swiveled. "And she calls herself a doctor!? What's with this woman!?"
"Her skills as a doctor are undeniable, but she's a bit of a kook… and almost 140 years old at that, too."
"140!? And she's still alive!?"
"I can believe it." Aurora mumbled. Being an angel, her lifespan was nearly as long as that. As long as she didn't get killed, that is.
"Other than that… ah, that's right. She happens to like pickled plums." Dalton rambled on.
"Then what do the people of this country do when they're sick or injured!?" Vivi interrupted, trying to get back on track.
"Well, she comes down from the mountain whenever she feels like it, finds patients to treat and afterwards… she takes anything she wants from their homes as payment."
"That is one mean old hag." Usopp commented.
"She's basically a pirate!" Luffy added.
"How does this old granny even get down from the mountains…?" Vivi wanted to know.
"According to certain eyewitnesses, she supposedly rides down on a sleigh on moonlit nights… that is why people call her a witch…" Dalton answered. "Others have reportedly seen a most bizarre creature travelling along with her…"
"Gahhh!" Usopp flailed. "I knew it! I warned you guys! I told you guys about the snow monsters! I just knew there had to be witches and yetis lurking among the snowy mountain peaks! Ahhhh! Please, god! Don't let them find me!"
"Yes, although she's this country's only doctor, she's also someone who I'd prefer to have little to do with… in any case, I'm afraid the only thing you can do is wait until she comes down…"
"That can't be…" Vivi despaired.
Aurora bit her lip. "We don't have time to wait."
"What in the world… how the hell is it possible for there to be only one doctor in an entire country!?" Sanji huffed.
"Hey, Nami!" Luffy gently slapped the navigator. "Nami! Can you hear me?"
"And just what the hell do you think you're doing!?" the others turned on him.
"Mnn…" Nami moaned.
"Ah, you're up!" Luffy accomplished his goal. "Listen, we can't get a doctor unless we go up a mountain, so we'll be hiking up."
"Are you crazy!?" Sanji was incensed. "Just what are you trying to put Nami through!?"
"It's fine, I'll be carrying her."
"Even so, you're still going to exacerbate her condition!" Vivi tried to reason with the boy.
"What's the big deal? We gotta get her to a doctor as quickly as possible, don't we?"
"Yes, but it's impossible as it is right now! Just look at how tall that mountain is!"
"I can climb it."
"Maybe you can, but it's still too much of a burden on Nami!"
"Well… even if she falls, there's only nice and comfy snow below…"
"Luffy…" Aurora sighed. "Nami's not like you. She's just a normal person. A fall from that height would kill her. Besides, she's not healthy right now. Her temperature is 6 degrees above normal. We need you to understand how serious the situation is."
"… haha." Nami suddenly let out a small laugh.
"Nami…!"
"Nami!"
"… I'll leave it to you then, Luffy." She gave her approval.
He high-fived her. "Great! Just leave it to me!"
"Oh lord, our navigator's just as crazy as our captain!"
"Do you understand just how sick you are, Nami!?"
"Mister, gimme some meat!"
"Meat…?"
"Nami, are you really fine with this!? It may take over several hours to climb up."
"Alright, I'll be coming along too!" Sanji decided.
"Letting Nami fall even once could mean the end for her! Got it!?" Usopp emphasized.
"What!? Even once!?" Luffy seemed to finally understand the risks.
"… Maybe I should go too." Aurora said. If Luffy did happen to drop Nami, it'd be best if she were around. The angel would be able to fly and catch the navigator. Hopefully, that wouldn't happen though.
But… better safe than sorry.
"Hold on… stand still!" Vivi ordered, tightening the knot. "I have to tie her tightly around you…" The princess finished securing Nami to Luffy. "That should do. I'll stay behind here. I'd only drag you down if I came along."
"Me too!" Usopp chimed in.
"Alright! Hang on tight, Nami!"
"If you're serious about this, I won't stop you but you should at least climb up from the other side…" Dalton advised. "The route to the top from here is full of Lapins…! They're extremely violent and carnivorous rabbits… if you come across a pack of them, there'll be no escaping alive!"
"Rabbits? But we're in a hurry…" Luffy brushed the man's warning off. "I'm sure it'll be fine. Right?"
"Yeah." Sanji agreed. "I'll kick any that get in our way."
Aurora shifted. "I guess we're taking the dangerous route…"
The trio dashed off.
"Let's go, Sanji! Aurora! Before Nami dies!"
"Don't say that, you idiot!"
"It's getting pretty cold with all this wind…" Luffy mumbled.
"Why the hell are you wearing sandals in this weather?" Sanji berated. "Just looking at 'em is making me feel cold!"
"That's just my police!"
"I think you mean policy." Aurora corrected.
"GRRRR…"
"Oh is it?" Luffy shrugged. "In any case, did ya 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." Sanji snorted.
"It's true. That's what a guy once told me."
"GRRR!" a small rabbit appeared, lunging at Sanji. "RAAWWR!"
The cook jumped out of the way. "Who, Usopp?"
"Nope, from a guy in a bar."
"GRRR!" the rabbit recovered, lunging once more. "GRRRRR!"
Sanji dodged once more, ducking his head. The rabbit ended up biting a tree trunk.
"But, Luffy, if that was true then why would Dalton have a bed in his home?" Aurora pointed out, eyeing the rabbit warily.
"Ah! You're right! Then that must be when it's time for him to die…"
"That's even more ridiculous!"
The rabbit bit through the tree. It broke in half. The trunk fell towards the group, but they leapt out of the way in time.
"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 that obvious?" Sanji countered. "You know how when it's cold, your rub your skin together? Well, that's why. Having smooth white skin is the trademark of women in snowy countries."
"Why white?" Luffy asked, the trio still dodging the rabbit's attempts to attack them.
"RAWR!"
"That's because the color of the snow seeps inside their skin."
"You've gotta be kidding me…" Aurora mumbled, unable to believe they were having this conversation.
"You're pretty stupid, y'know."
"You're the last person I want to hear that from!" Sanji was irate. "In any case…" The cook came to a sudden halt, kicking the rabbit far away. "WOULD YOU FREAKIN' KNOCK IT OFF ALREADY!"
"What's up with that rabbit?"
"… Do I really need to remind you what we talked about before we left?"
"Uh…"
The angel sighed. "Never mind."
"Hang in there, Nami. We'll get you to a doctor soon."
"The snow's real thick 'round here." Luffy noticed.
"Hey, Luffy. Be more careful when running or Nami's body won't hold up."
"Sanji's right." Aurora agreed. "You need to be more gentle."
"Hm?" Luffy stopped, staring straight ahead.
Sanji followed his gaze. "The hell!?"
Large white creatures blocked their path.
"What are these things…?"
"They're white and big so they gotta be polar bears!"
Aurora scanned the creatures, taking note of the smaller one resting on one of the bigger one's shoulders. She paled. "Uh, guys? I think that rabbit we encountered earlier might've been a baby… and we just made its family very mad."
One of the rabbits made a beeline for them.
"It jumped!"
"Whoa!" the boys leapt out of the way, Aurora taking to the air. If they'd acted a second too late, the rabbit would've swiped their heads clean off.
"What in the world…" Sanji slid to a stop. "How can it jump like that!? It's like a gorilla!?"
"No, it's a polar bear!"
"No, it's a goddamn rabbit!"
"But didn't you just say it was a gorilla?"
"These are the "Lapins" that Dalton was talking about!" Aurora reiterated. "Look at all of them!"
"I guess it's expected of a snow creature to be able to move this swiftly over thick snow…" Sanji mused. "We're at a disadvantage here." The cook held out his arm. "Luffy! Don't lay a hand on any of them!"
"Why not?"
"You may be unaffected, but the impact of every blow you deliver or receive will be transferred over to Nami as well! So if that happens, she'll die for sure!"
"He's right." Aurora agreed. "You need to avoid getting involved in a fight with these things!"
"RAWWWR!"
"G-Got it… I swear not to fight!" Luffy promised.
"GRRRR!" the Lapin swiped at Luffy.
"What should I do!?"
"Just dodge for now!" Sanji answered. "Dodge, and run away!"
"But not too fast!" Aurora added.
"That's way too hard!"
"Flanchet…" the cook reared his leg back. "SHOOT!"
The kick made impact. The Lapin was knocked back.
"Damn it… hard to get any good kicks with both feet stuck in deep snow…"
The group of Lapin twitched, displeased at the assault on their pack mate. Suddenly, the entire group launched themselves at the pirates.
"They're coming all at once!"
"We'll cover you!" Aurora cried.
"Run to the forest!" Sanji directed the boy. "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!"
"Damn!"
"RAWWR!" a Lapin burst through the trees, aiming for Luffy and Nami.
"Ah!" Luffy got ready to attack.
Sanji grabbed the boy's foot. "Stop! We told you to leave them to us!"
"Sorry!"
Aurora blasted the Lapin away, quickly following the boys afterwards.
"This is a matter of life and death!" Sanji swiftly turned, kicking another Lapin away from them.
"Hey, Sanji! Aurora! We can climb up from here!"
"You two go! I'll hold them back!" Aurora flipped around, putting up a shield. It separated the Lapins from the pirates. Freeing up one hand, Aurora formed another shield, using it as a platform to launch the boys up the mountain. Once they'd touched ground, Aurora let the shields go and flew up after them.
The effort proved to be useless.
"They're still after us!" Sanji broke into a sprint once more, the Lapins having jumped up after them.
"Just keep running all the way to the top!"
"Wait!" Aurora came to a halt, glancing back at the rabbits. "They stopped chasing us…"
Indeed, the Lapins had given up their pursuit. But now… they were doing something else. The rabbits began hopping up and down in the snow. It was a rather strange sight to behold.
"The heck are they doing now?"
"They're up to something else…"
Off in the distance, there was a loud crackling sound. Sanji and Aurora's eyes widened, the two sharing a look.
"It can't be…"
"They couldn't possible be trying to…!?"
The ground began to tremble. The rabbits continued to hop.
"Those damn rabbits really did it…!" Sanji choked. "Please tell me I'm dreaming."
"What is it, Sanji?" Luffy was clueless.
"Start running! NOW!" Aurora ordered.
"Run? Run where?"
"Anywhere's fine!" the cook replied. "Just as long as it's far away from here! Because there's an avalanche headed right for us!"
The pirates began running, the avalanche creeping up on them quickly. Aurora flew overhead, attempting to look for a safe place to go. Between the avalanche and the Lapins, things weren't looking good.
"I swear the next time I see those rabbits, I will grill them with my own hands!"
"What are we gonna do? Sanji! Aurora!"
"How should I know!? Only thing I know is first, we must protect Nami. Second, third, fourth, or fifth, we must protect Nami with our lives!"
"I know, but how!?"
"The cliff!" Aurora called down to the boys. "Go for that cliff! It should be high enough ground to keep you safe!"
The two ran where the angel indicated.
"It's coming!"
"AAAH!"
Sanji and Luffy made the huge leap, coming to land on the cliff. Snow tumbled down the mountain, bypassing the cliff on either side. They were safe. At least… they thought they were.
"What!? We're not high enough!"
Aurora had misjudged. The cliff wasn't high enough to protect the boys and Nami from getting caught in the avalanche. Snow rapidly came down the mountainside, headed straight for the pirates. It was going to sweep them away!
"GET DOWN!" Aurora dropped onto the cliff, throwing her hands up. Yellow energy burst forth. A shield had formed around the group, courtesy of Aurora's holy powers.
She grunted, cracks beginning to form in the barrier she'd erected. "I… I don't know… how much longer… I can hold this!"
Luffy suddenly perked up. "I got an idea! Sanji, hold my hand!"
The cook eyed his captain warily, but did as he was instructed. A tree sailed along in the snow, Luffy watching it intently. Aurora glanced back at the boy, wondering what he had in mind.
"Aurora, hold onto Sanji!"
"What!?" her eyes widened. "But I'd have to let the shield down! If I do that, then-"
Luffy didn't listen, stretching his arm back. Realizing she'd get left behind unless she did as told, Aurora followed her captain's orders. As soon as she grabbed hold of the cook, Luffy's arm shot out, grabbing hold of the passing tree. The foursome landed on top.
"We're safe, but we are going down the mountain!" Luffy shouted.
"Are you kidding!? We've spent hours trying to climb this mountain! We were so close to the top!" Sanji berated the boy. "Can you find anyway to stop this!? Damn those rabbits! I swear I'll put them in the hot pot next time!"
They continued to surf down the mountain, the tree acting as their board. They'd managed to avoid being buried alive by the avalanche. But there was still one persistent problem remaining. The Lapins had reappeared, also using tree trunk as boards to surf upon the snow.
"Huh!?"
"What the…!?"
"GRR… GRR…" they growled.
"RUN!"
"What's with them, anyway!?"
Aurora took to the skies, attempting to blast the Lapin's away. They proved to be experts at surfing, dodging every energy bolt thrown their way. The angel found herself switching from offense to defense. The rabbits were determined to get them. She had to bob and weave, the Lapins swiping with their claws and trying to bite her wings. If she wasn't airborne, she became an easier target.
"AAAHHH!" she screamed, one of the rabbits having latched onto her right wing with its sharp teeth. A burst of power knocked it off, but not without having caused some damage. Aurora landed heavily on the tree trunk, somehow able to maneuver back to it. Blood dripped in rivets down her wing. Feathers had been shorn and muscle shredded. It would take a while for her powers to heal the wound.
She was flightless.
"GRR!"
"Aah!" Luffy cried out, having to jump to avoid a Lapin's claws.
"Hey!" Sanji ducked, narrowly avoiding having his head bit off. The cook got back up, the sight greeting him not a welcome one. "Look out!"
"It's a rock!" Aurora realized.
"We're gonna hit it!"
"But you're carrying Nami! It's gonna hurt her too!" Sanji shouted, swiftly standing. The cook grabbed his captain and the angel. He tossed them off the tree trunk.
"Eh?"
Sanji smirked. "A man should be gentle with a lady!"
Aurora's eyes widened in horror. Only too late did she realize what the cook had done. The tree slammed into the rock, breaking in half. The blonde-haired man went soaring.
"SANJI!"
"NO!"
Luffy hung onto the rock jutting from the ground, Nami dangling limply from his back. Aurora managed to land atop the rock. She crawled to the edge, grabbing hold of one of her captain's hands. Sanji bounced off a Lapin, landing in the snow pouring down the mountain. It rapidly consumed the man, dragging him under.
"YOU IDIOT!" Luffy screamed, stretching his arm to grab Sanji's hand. "WHO TOLD YOU TO DO THAT!?" He pulled back, but instead of the cook, he only got a hold of his glove. "AAAAAH!"
"Sanji!" the angel shrieked. If only the Lapin hadn't taken out her wing and grounded her…!
Luffy heaved himself up next to Aurora, lying Nami down. He covered the navigator with his coat and placed his hat atop her as well. "Are you ok, Nami? Just hang onto my hat for me. I'll be back!"
Aurora jerked. "Back? What do you-"
Luffy dove into the oncoming snow.
"… YOU IDIOT!"
The baby Lapin growled, frantically digging through the snow. A large paw stuck out, one of the adults trapped underneath. It had been buried in the avalanche. The rabbit continued to dig, but to no avail. It began to cry.
A hand reached out, easily pulling the Lapin from its icy tomb. It was Luffy. The straw-hat wearing boy had retied Nami to his back. An unconscious Sanji was tucked under one arm. Aurora trailed behind him, right wing hanging limply at her side. The once white feathers were stained red, the flesh ripped to shreds.
The baby Lapin was startled. Not a word was said. Luffy helped the parent break free, the baby instantly cuddling up afterwards. The Straw Hat captain trekked on, his angel companion not far behind. The Lapins merely watched them go.
"I will take you there." Luffy declared. "Don't die, both of you!"
"Look, Lord Wapol!" a voice rang out.
"Let's kill them!"
Aurora and Luffy were forced to stop. Three figures blocked their path.
"Wait! You've been disrespectful to me too many times, you little brat." Wapol growled.
"Get out of our way!"
"Are you dreaming? Hahahahahaha!" Wapol cackled. "Why do I have to let you go? Those things that you're carrying are about to die anyway. The other one isn't looking to good either."
Aurora glared.
Luffy paid no mind to Wapol, Kuromarimo or Chess. He turned his back on them, walking away. The angel followed after him. They didn't have time for this.
"Hey! Stop!" Wapol demanded, but to no avail. "I've come up with a new law. Write it, Chess."
"Yes, sir."
"Whoever turns his back on the king shall suffer death." He decreed. "Now, go and kill all of them whether they're weak or not!"
"Yes, my lord!"
"What the…?" Luffy was annoyed.
"IRON PUNCH!"
"Aaah!" Luffy bent back, barely managing to evade the attack. "Damn it!" He thought back to what Sanji had told him earlier. "Damn it! I can't fight them." The boy took off. "Stop following me!"
Curling her wing closer to her body, Aurora ran after her captain. Luffy was carrying precious cargo and couldn't afford to fight. She was injured and wouldn't be of much use in her condition.
"You can't escape from me, you cowards!"
Arrows were shot. Luffy jumped to avoid getting pierced. Aurora couldn't fly, but she was able to throw up a shield. The arrows bounced off of it.
"Winter Empire's Secret Technique: Hiding in the Snow."
The two pirates continued to run. Luffy snuck a glance behind them. "Where did they go?" He was baffled, still looking back. "This is weird. Did they give up?"
An open mouth suddenly appeared. Aurora saw it, quickening her pace. "Luffy! In front of you!"
Wapol clamped down, but came up with nothing. At the last second, Luffy had managed to jump out of the way. Two more figures appeared on either side of them, ready to strike.
"This is our fighting technique: Hiding in the Snow."
They went to move in. Luffy and Aurora screamed. All hope seemed lost.
Two Lapins emerged, no one having seen them due to blending in with the snow. They struck Wapol's men down, essentially protecting the pirates. Their actions shocked Luffy and Aurora. They shared a glance before turning back to the fight taking place.
"White bear."
"LAPIN!" Wapol was terrified.
Kuromarimo grit his teeth. "Are they protecting those brats?"
"That's impossible!" Chess cried. "Lapins have never liked humans!"
Luffy used the distraction to his advantage. The Straw Hat captain ran away once more, his angel companion not far behind. He glanced back at their saviors.
"Grr…" the Lapin flexed.
"Thank you for helping me!"
"Hey! Don't let him get away!" Wapol ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
More Lapins appeared on the horizon. They blocked Wapol's way.
"WHAT ARE THEY DOING?"
"Doctor… doctor…" Luffy panted. "Doctor… doctor… doctor…"
He and Aurora stopped, having made it to the Drum Rockies. The angel shivered. "I can't see the top…"
Luffy tightened the rope aroud his waist, chucking off his sandals. "We're close. Just hang in there, guys." He turned to the angel. "Get on my back."
"W-What? W-W-Why?" Aurora's teeth chattered, the cold having gotten to her.
"I'm climbing."
"While c-carrying the t-t-three of us? Luffy, that's i-i-insane." She protested. "L-Let me try f-flying." She raised her wing, hissing when pain lanced through it.
"Just get on. It'll be faster."
"B-But-"
"Aurora."
The angel let out a shaky sigh, doing as she was told. She gently laid herself over Nami, wrapping her arms around the boy's neck. Once he knew that she was secure, Luffy grabbed the back of Sanji's coat with his teeth and began to climb.
3 Hours Later…
Luffy continued to climb, slowly but steadily. Nami and Sanji were both still unconscious. Aurora fought to stay awake. The exhaustion was beginning to catch up with her, the adrenaline from earlier having worn off. The blood loss from her wound wasn't helping either.
"Ouch!" Luffy suddenly cried out, his fingers beginning to crack and bleed. The action caused him to drop Sanji, whom he'd been keeping hold of with his teeth. "Aaah! Sanji!" Luffy stretched his neck down, managing to grab ahold of the cook once more.
Once he was sure that the cook was secure, Luffy began the climb once more. His fingers continued to bleed, his arms straining with the effort.
"L-Luffy…" Aurora murmured, her eyes beginning to drift shut once more. Staying awake was becoming harder and harder.
Luffy finally reached the top, pulling the four of them over the edge. He fell to his knees, taking in the castle before them. Nami was still attached to his back, Sanji lying in the snow just to the side. Aurora had finally lost consciousness, sliding off the boy's back and collapsing next to Sanji.
"Finally, I'm here." Luffy breathed. "What a beautiful castle." His eyes began to droop, exhaustion taking over. "Doctor…" He collapsed.
The portion of mountain he resided on began to give. The snow tumbled over the edge. Luffy and Nami almost went with it. A hand reached out, grasping Luffy's.
They had been saved.
