I was literally flying though the air. There were so many things that I thought I was missing out on back home, and this was definitely one of them! I would travel this way all the time if I could! True, not being able to move while flying did put a slight damper on the experience, and not knowing where I was going to land was also not very fun… but otherwise, awesome!

A few hours later, the novelty had worn off, and Kiana decided to take a nap. She awoke later when as her body began to angle downward and she looked to see that she was approaching an island. That was the good news. The bad news was that everything was white, as in snow. Snow can be a good thing, but not now, and not to her. Snow meant cold, and Kiana wasn't tolerant of cold on a good day, let alone when dressed in a t-shirt, shorts and life jacket.

As she continued to sail closer to the island, she realized that it looked familiar in some way, though she didn't immediately figure out why. Obviously, she hadn't been here before, so it had to have been in One Piece at some point. A light bulb came on as she realized she would never be able to remember everything that she knew about the One Piece world.

I mean, I knew I was obsessed with it, but only with specific people! And who knows if those people would even be as I expected! Look at Kuma,for example. He was different than I had expected, and that smirk he gave me was totally out of left field, based on what I knew of him, she thought.

Growing ever closer to the island, but she wasn't descending as much as she thought at first. Perhaps I was going to flyon past this island, which would be great, honestly! She was now close enough that she could see villages spread out through the snow that blanketed everything. Okay, that's a pretty cool view, I must admit.

Then of course, when she looked up, she saw she was heading right for the mountainside. She yelled loudly for help, but no one even looked up. Landing in a large bank of snow… right on the edge of a cliff, she could not decide whether she had good luck or bad.

Kiana was sprawled on her stomach in the snow, and when she opened her eyes, she screamed as she could only see the large drop in front of her. She scooted away from the edge as quickly as felt safe, and just laid there panting. The cold hit her then, and she started shivering, as the cold seeped through her clothing down to her bones. If she didn't get moving and find warmth, she would soon be in BIG trouble.

She stood up slowly, rubbing her hands rapidly over her limbs in an attempt to warm them, and finally sticking her hands in under her armpits. She had heard somewhere that it was one of the warmest places on the human body, and while it seemed gross, she did not want to get frostbite. Losing fingers is not acceptable, she thought firmly.

She looked around and saw some type of huge castle-looking building about a mile away, so she took off walking in that direction. It was slow going, as she was so cold she wanted to just keel over, as well as trying to walk in knee deep snow with canvas sneakers on. Everything and everywhere was becoming numb, and when her eyelids started to droop, she began singing loudly to keep her mind awake.

She looked at her feet, concentrating on each step as she sang choruses of songs and commercial jingles, all while struggling to breathe in the frigid, thin air. Hearing a sound, she looked up, but couldn't focus enough to see who it was. It was definitely a person though, and she thought, I'm saved! and fell, rolling faster and faster through the snow, and everything went dark.

Kiana groaned as she became aware, and instantly started into a coughing fit that went on so long, she thought she may have lost a lung. As she was able to breathe again, she noticed a young man in front of her holding out a cup. She stared nervously, mainly because she didn't know him, but also because she had no idea where she was, or how she had gotten there.

"Drink some water, it will help ease your throat," he said, lifting her hand to grasp the cup, and then let it go once she had it.

"Th-ack," she began in gratitude, but started coughing again before she could finish the thought.

"Don't try to speak, you'll only aggravate your throat," he frowned at her as if disappointed in her. She nodded in thanks and sipped slowly at the water. Shivering, she realized that though she was much warmer than before, she was still chilled. She set the cup down on the bedside table and reached to pull the blanket in her lap back up around her. Seeing a sleeve covering her arm where there previously hadn't been one, she froze, then glared accusingly at her would-be rescuer.

"Oh!" He blushed as he realized why she was glaring. "No, I didn't, I mean I wouldn't! My neighbor, Judith, she helped you get into dry clothes, I swear it!" A sweat drop rolled down the side of his face as he tried to reassure her.

Mollified, Kiana nodded, and pulled the blanket up to her neck, though she couldn't quite get rid of her suspicious glare.

"I'm sorry," he added, hanging his head. "I'm trying to find a doctor, but I've been unsuccessful so far. There are so few left, and I know the king won't help." He brought his hand to his face and started massaging his temples. "I won't give up, but I'm hoping that perhaps between Judith and myself we can get you what you need to be well."

Her stony glare melted at his words, because it seemed he really was trying to help. She could feel the ache in her throat and knew that she probably was coming down with something. However, she was also sure she could live through it without a doctor. Her eyes drooped, and she nodded, unsure of why, and nestled back down onto the pillow, making a cocoon of sorts out of the blankets. He continued to speak , but she couldn't make out the words as she fell deeply asleep.

Waking, Kia looked around, but found herself alone, though she noticed there was a fire burning strong in the fireplace in the corner of the room. She still didn't feel well, but was no longer freezing, and felt she needed to at least thank her rescuer. She was certain she would have died, and felt guilty that she hadn't been more grateful at the time.

After looking all through the small cottage, she could find no trace of him, nor anyone else. So, she retreated back to the warmth of the bedroom, and climbed back into bed, deciding to stay awake until he returned. She reclined back against the headboard, deep in thought. She thought she was both lucky and unlucky in having the knowledge that she did. She could make some decisions that would hopefully let her avoid any serious injury or trouble, however, she could also inadvertently change the course of history, leading to some unspeakable tragedy.

Kiana wasn't known for being a doom and gloom type of person, but all she could think of was how badly she could mess things up for everyone here. My sisters may do the same, she thought, but they would have no knowledge that they were doing so.

She smirked as she thought of meeting Luffy and the others. If this was some sort of dream, I'd be the first in line to sign up as a Straw HatPirate, she thought. But, no matter how crazy as everything was, she knew it wasn't a dream and her sense of responsibility demanded that she couldn't do whatever she wanted. There may not be a happy ending here for her family, so they would have to make their own. My sisters would do all they could to be prepared for whatever we would face, and I would have to do the same, she decided.

She heard a door open and close, and footsteps coming towards her, and a small woman peered into the room, before she smiled and spoke.

"You're awake, that's a relief," she stated. "Zachary told me that you had woken earlier, but after all this time, I assumed you were merely delirious."

"A-A-All…" Kia tried to speak, though it came out as a croak. She tried clearing her throat, with limited success. She ended up whispering, as that was all she was capable of. "All this time?" she asked.

"Well yes," the woman answered. "Now don't you go straining yourself," she added with a frown. She came closer and put the back of her hand to Kia's forehead. "You've been asleep for nearly two days. Though it seems to have done you some good, as your temperature is down."

Kia's wide eyes met her chocolate colored ones, reeling at the thought that the nap she had taken was actually more than thirty hours of sleep. "Thank you," she whispered, "for taking care of me."

"You're welcome, though I'll be honest, I only did because Zachary begged," she placed her hand aside her mouth as if whispering a secret, she said mischievously, "pretty pathetically I might add." She straightened herself upright and continued. "Now then, my name is Judith, I live next door. What about you dear?"

Looking at Judith, with her kind smile, her dark hair pulled away from her face, and her winter clothes, she reminded Kia a little of her mom whenever the family went camping.

"Kiana," she hoarsely replied. "I got separated from my sisters and left here. I'm not sure where I am, or how I'll find…" breaking off, she looked away, because getting emotional would solve nothing, and she didn't want pity.

"Hmm, well that certainly explains things a bit." Judith sat on the bed at her side, and she straightened up at the serious look on her face. "You are currently in Robelli town, in the home of my neighbor, Zachary. He asked me to look in on you, as he went to try to find a doctor." She placed her hand on Kia's shoulder and leaned towards her. "I'm not sure if anything has happened, but he has been gone since yesterday, and I'm starting to worry."

"What could happen?" Kia croaked out softly. "Isn't the doctor nearby, in the town?" Judith's eyebrow cocked upwards as she scrutinized the girl in the bed.

"You are not from our island, are you Kiana?" Kia slowly shook her head no. "Ah, no wonder you almost froze to death," she said with a smile, and a hint of teasing in her voice. Her smile fell, and she continued on, "you see, our king has outlawed anyone practicing medicine except for the twenty doctors that serve him. In order to see one of them, we must go to the king, and beg for his assistance."

Without thought, Kia's mouth dropped slightly open. "Yes," Judith answered, thinking that the shock and horror was realization of what her words meant. "I'm afraid that Zachary may have gone to get help for you from the king, and since he hasn't returned yet, I worry that he will not return at all."

Kia's horror previously had been because she had finally understood why the island had looked so familiar, and now it was coupled with the thought that this stranger, Zachary, had brought himself harm for her sake. I must have been in pretty bad shape for him to think that I needed a doctor so badly that he would need to put his own life at risk, she thought.

"Oh no…" Kia whispered, closing her eyes tightly. I was in Drum Kingdom, with King Wapol as the reigning monarch, she thought. This… was bad.

Dalton opened his eyes as he heard commotion on the other side of the door. The dungeon door slammed open, and he saw some of the soldiers dragging in a man who looked unconscious. They opened the cell next to his, and laid the man onto the floor, then turned, locking the cell behind them. One soldier left the room, but the other, a man he considered a friend turned back to him.

"Dalton, why do you insist on doing this?" he asked. "Simply apologize to the king, and you can come back to us. We need our commander back."

Dalton simply looked at his friend, then shook his head. It was the same story, every few days. He knew however, that nothing with Wapol was ever simple. Wapol would not forgive and forget. He would make Dalton pay for choosing to go against his decree, in small vindictive ways. True, he was in the dungeon but Wapol did not want him dead, so he was cared for. Dalton was well liked among the soldiers, as well as the best option for commander of the king's forces. Wapol was trying to break him, make him dependent on the king. That was something that Dalton could not live with, so he preferred to continue living in the dungeon.

The guard, rejected again, turned and left the dungeon, climbing back up the stairs from where he had come. Dalton stood up and went over to the bars that separated him from the new man. He did not recognize him, so he must not be a soldier. That meant he was most likely a civilian. The thought boiled the blood in his veins. The king, the man who was supposed to care and protect his subjects was the most cruel and hurtful of all in the kingdom. There was little he could do now, he would have to wait and hope that this man was not seriously injured. He wouldn't know for sure until he woke and could tell him. He settled down onto the floor by the bars and thought, this was something he was well versed in; waiting and hoping.

Dalton opened his eyes again as he heard the soft moaning; the man was beginning to stir. He sat and waited until he could tell that he was conscious before speaking to him.

"Hello, my friend, how do you feel?" he asked gently, so as not to startle the man.

"um… alright I think," came the reply after a moment. Dalton smiled, this was good news.

"Is there anything I can get you?" he asked. "Perhaps a drink?" While this man was undoubtedly accused of some great crime and would receive the bare minimum in food and water, Dalton was luckier that his men constantly snuck him extra rations and gave him clean water every day. This was the first time however that someone was placed in a nearby cell, and Dalton was eager to hear any news about the kingdom.

"Yes, please" his voice croaked out. Dalton grabbed his water skin, and reached it through the bars towards the prostrate man. He sat up slowly and took the water bag, though after several attempts, he was unable to open it. Dalton reached his hand out again for the water skin and after taking it, opened it and passed it back carefully. The man nodded gratefully, sipping at the water.

"Slowly, or you'll choke," Dalton said. A moment later, the man did exactly that, coughing and spluttering as he tried to regain his breath. He panted, and finally calming himself, looked up to meet Dalton's gaze.

"You are Dalton, the commander of the guard, aren't you?" he asked.

"Well, not the commander any longer but yes, I am Dalton," he replied. "the guards here were once my fellow soldiers, so they have been accommodating. They also really enjoy their canasta games."

That is not something I really needed to know…the man thought."Well," he replied. "My name is Zachary, and I am from Robelli town."

"Ah!" Dalton grinned as he realized he could get the information he sought. "And how are things in Robelli, and the kingdom? I've been here for quite some time now, I've been concerned."

"It hasn't changed much since you were imprisoned Dalton," Zachary began. "There are no doctors left on the island besides the king's twenty M.D.s. There is little to no hope left in the towns or the people. The king claims anything he desires as his own and if anyone were to object, they and their entire family are banned from any medical treatment for the rest of their lives."

"What?" Dalton gasped. He knew it was bad, but this was even worse than he thought. Wapol, the most heinous of rulers, had somehow become even more awful. It was hard to believe, yet he knew Zachary spoke the truth. "How can he do this?" he spoke to himself.

"He regularly tells us, that it is his right as the king." Zachary answered, as though the question was posed to him. "He doesn't care about us, and we know it. We simply try to do whatever he says and beg for any medical needs we may have… so that we can survive. For now, that is all we can do."

Dalton hung his head. His shame was greater than he could bear. That he had ever stood with this vile man, protecting him, defending him! How could he ever atone for his actions?

"Dalton?" Zachary questioned, seeing his face. "Are you… alright?"

"No, not really, but it cannot be helped now." Dalton replied quietly. "So, Zachary, how then did you end up here?" Dalton listened as Zachary regaled him with his story, that sounded like a tall tale rather than fact. A young woman, appearing out of nowhere in the mountains, dressed as if she belonged on a summer island rather than a winter one? How he had gone to the king to beg for treatment for the girl, and been turned away as he had nothing to offer in exchange. How he had refused to leave, and finally been beaten and taken to the dungeon. That left only one question, "what happened to the girl then?" Dalton asked.

"I hope she is alright for now, my neighbor Judith said she would look in on her, help her if she could. I can only hope she will live."