Opening her eyes, Kia realized she was no longer buried in the snow. She may have been freezing, but she was alive. She could hear Vivi yelling at Usopp, and moved to get up. She made it up to her knees before the dizziness stopped her from standing upright.

"Vivi, stop hitting him, he'll be okay now," she said as she crawled over to them.

"Oh, Kiana! I'm so glad you're all right!"

After the dizziness passed, she looked around for her jacket and spotting the sleeve, unearthed it from the pile of snow it was buried in. She shook it out and put it on, though it was cold. She then helped Vivi pull Usopp to his feet, and the two of them checked him over.

"Thank you Kiana, truly," Vivi said, and Kia gave her a smile.

"Just Kia." She gave Usopp's arm a tug and started walking. "Come on, we'd better get going."

"Going?" Vivi asked. "To where? And do we even know where we are?"

Kia smiled, but before she could answer Usopp interrupted. "Wow, that was intense! And, my face feels puffy, like it's swollen."

Vivi and Kia shared a glance, her with a smile, and Vivi looking embarrassed. "Must be the cold, perhaps frostbite," Vivi said.

"Or maybe you landed face first?" Kia added. She shared a look with Vivi again and they smiled at each other. This would just be our secret.

We continued to walk, with Vivi and Usopp following me, when a large snow bank exploded outward startling us. Standing there, was a man dressed only in black pants with green hair, obviously freezing.

"Zoro!" the three of them cried, though Kia's exclamation was under her breath. He was so close, she couldn't help but stare, and missed the odd look that Vivi sent her way. Zoro looked almost as she pictured, though his hair was a little longer on top. She had thought that all the strength training was an exaggeration, but it looked like every single muscle he had was defined. He was most definitely cut, and she couldn't help but ogle him a little, though she tried to do so discreetly.

"Oh, hey Vivi… and Usopp?"

"Yeah."

His eyes turned hard as he turned to Kia. If I had to guess, I'd say they were gray, because at the moment they reminded me of steel.

"And who's this?"

"This is Kia," Vivi said. "She's helping us."

"Helping you wander around in the snow?" he said, unimpressed.

"You're one to talk," Kia replied sarcastically, taking off her jacket and holding it out. "Here take this."

"No thanks, I'm fine."

"You're half naked and shivering."

"No I'm not."

"Whatever."

"Fine."

Kia gave a fake smile, and putting her jacket back on said, "I hope you freeze then." Unexpectedly, he just looked at her, as if she were a riddle he was trying to solve. After a moment, she was unnerved and said, "What?"

"Nothing."

She rolled her eyes. Now I knew why Sanji was fighting with Zoro all the time, he can be super annoying, she thought.

"Let's get moving!" Vivi said cheerfully.

The four of them continued on towards Big Horn. It was the closest town to where they were, and Kia was feeling uneasy as she led them. I thought I had remembered all of the pertinent information about the Straw Hat's visit to the island, but I was wrong. How could I have forgotten about the avalanche? What else have I forgotten?

"Winter swimming?" she heard Usopp question Zoro. "You're stupid aren't you?"

"Just shut up and give me your coat," Zoro growled.

"No way."

"Your shoes?"

"Nope."

"Not even one?"

"You did this to yourself. Besides, Kia offered you a coat, and you refused."

"I can't take her jacket, then what would she have?" Kia smiled to herself. Maybe Zoro wasn't such a pain after all.

"Oh? But it's okay to take mine?" Usopp questioned.

"Yeah, so how about it?"

"Not a chance."

She interrupted their chat by turning and saying, "We made it!"

"Made it?" Vivi asked, "Is this Big Horn? Everything looks so different, the houses are practically covered."

Kia noticed the crowd of villagers squared off against a group of men that were all wearing the same thing, like a uniform… "Dalton!" she cried, and took off.

She ran for the people, Zoro keeping pace, with Vivi and Usopp trailing behind them. They reached the group, and Kia couldn't speak at first, as she panted. Zoro seemed hardly winded and asked, "What's going on here?"

"Dalton is buried in the snow," a man answered.

"Yeah, and we can't get to him because those guards are blocking us" another added.

"What?!"

Zoro gave Kia that same look again, and she glared at him in return.

"If you want him so badly," the guard in front mocked them, "you can always come and fight us all, ha ha!"

"You bet I will!" Kia strode forward, grabbing someone's rifle as she went. She headed straight for the guard who had mocked them. Before she could reach him, however, Zoro stopped her.

He muttered, "I got this," and ran straight for the mocking guard punching him in the face, knocking him out. He wasted no time, and everyone simply stared, as he stripped the man of everything but his pants and hat. "Ah! So warm!" he said happily.

Kia just stood there laughing as the remaining guards attacked Zoro, and he quickly defeated them, then berated them for not being enough of a challenge. The villagers went into motion, running forward to go look for Dalton. She joined them as well, saying "Thank you" to Zoro as she passed him.

It didn't take long to find him with all of the people looking, but Dalton was in really bad shape. He had been shot with arrows, and buried this whole time in snow. His pulse was very weak, and Kia wasn't sure what to do. She stopped anyone from pulling out the arrows, as she had heard that was wrong and could cause the person to bleed out.

A group of men dressed in lab coats approached and offered to help him. Several people including Usopp refused, saying they were the twenty MDs, and they were loyal to the king. There was no better option, and Dalton would die if she didn't accept, so Kia agreed. She could see the anger on a few faces, but ignored it. All she cared about was making sure another friend didn't die.

Vivi sat with Kia as she waited, trying to console her, but she just sat, unresponsive, watching the doctors scurry around. She tried to think, tried to remember what was coming. Originally, she had felt like she had some sort of gift, knowing how the story would go, but now she worried- she was forgetting too many things. She felt she could have prevented this, ALL of it. Every option that came into her head was looking better than how this ended.

Vivi suddenly grabbed her hand, and gave it a squeeze. "This isn't your fault Kia," she said quietly. Kia hung her head, unable to look at her. "Sometimes, even when you do your very best, bad things happen. But that doesn't mean that you stop trying."

"And if you don't do your best?" Kia asked, still berating herself.

"The men told me that Dalton stepped in front of the arrows, they weren't aimed for him, but for the villagers." She paused as Kia took that in. "Even if you had been here, could you have stopped him?"

Kia sat quietly, thinking. Even if he had known of the outcome, Dalton probably would still have stepped in front of the villagers. He was that type of person, wanting to help, wanting to protect.

"Thanks Vivi."

No matter who tried, Dalton could not be convinced to remain in bed. He refused to rest until Wapol was driven from the land, and the people were safe again. Usopp was moved by his determination, and offered to carry him up the mountain, and Zoro finally stepped in to help.

Kia stepped up to Usopp, and whispered that since it was his idea, she was still giving him hero points for it, even if Zoro was the one carrying it out- literally. He grinned, and jumped into a speech about Captain Usopp always having heroic ideas.

Someone called out about using the rope ways instead of trying to climb the mountain, and Kia wondered if the people from Symdal had been able to get it connected. They followed the man to the outskirts of Gyasta, and she felt like the world's biggest idiot as she looked at the rope. There was a single rope way connected between the top of the mountain, and Dr. Kureha's original home. If I had used my brain, instead of relying on my so called knowledge, I would have realized she needed one to come down to treat others, Kia yelled at herself.

Everyone there tried to board, and eventually Kia pushed a few people out and shut the door on them. They were angry, but the car couldn't handle the weight. As it was, it would take twice the normal time to reach the summit.

Vivi spent the time trying to keep Dalton calm, though it wasn't working. He was working himself up into a fit of rage thinking of Wapol, and the way he and the people were treated by the ex-king. He groaned in pain, and was coughing up blood. This rage seemed different, calculated, and Kia finally asked.

"Dalton? What are you planning?"

He pulled out several sticks of dynamite and everyone gasped. "Everyone take cover when we get there. Once I am inside, there will be explosions."

"No Dalton," Kia said firmly. He glared up at her, but she wasn't budging. "These people, they NEED YOU." She knelt down in front of him, and looked him in the eye. "I won't lose another friend, not when I can do something about it." She reached down and pulled the dynamite away, and threw it out of the rope way car.

Dalton looked stunned, then furious. "I would gladly give my life to end the reign of that evil man!" he yelled at her, which just made her own temper spike.

"And I would gladly give mine so that you don't have to!" She was sure more than Dalton's mouth hung open at that, but she didn't look. The car had arrived at the top, and she hopped over the side and ran up the stairs, hoping that Luffy had already beaten Wapol, so Dalton could rest. Although, she was wanting to see his fighting in action, she knew it would be better all around if Wapol was already gone.

"Kia, wait!" Usopp yelled behind her, and she could hear pounding footsteps of people behind her. She pushed the metal door open, and looked around the castle grounds. Zoro and Usopp exited behind her, and Usopp came over and grabbed her arm. "You can't just go running off like that!"

"RAAAHHH!"

The three of them looked up at the yell, and saw something falling towards them.

"Ah! Luffy!" Usopp screeched.

"Luffy!?" Zoro grimaced.

Kia stepped back, not wanting to be hit, but didn't make it out of the area of impact. She pushed up out of the snow, to see Usopp laying motionless, Zoro yelling, and Luffy laughing.

And… she stared. He looked normal enough, and I don't know what I was expecting- his skin to look rubbery? Although standing outside in the snow in sandals and shorts wasn't exactly what I would call normal.

Vivi walked out of the doorway, "Kia, you okay?"

"Yeah," she answered, looking at Vivi. She looked back to the guys, finding Luffy looking at her. She smiled at him, and he returned it.

"You look familiar," he said.

"You met her earlier in town, after we left the ship," Vivi told him.

"No, that's not it," he replied.

Kia didn't pay attention to what was going on around her now, because she had spotted Chopper, standing behind us "hiding" behind a tree. She couldn't help but grin, and she gave a small wave with her hand in front of her chest so that the others couldn't see, and wouldn't spot him.

Dalton fell to his knees behind her, and Kia spun around. Before she could help him, he spoke to Chopper, thanking him for never giving up, for helping the kingdom. The men from the rope way car came running out of the stairwell, and noticed Chopper as well. They all started talking about what he could be, and Usopp screamed "Monster!"

Dalton and Kia kept the men from shooting, but Chopper ran off, and Luffy chased after him. Feeling bad, Kia looked around, and noticed Dr. Kureha standing by the castle door, so she walked over to talk to her about helping Dalton. It didn't take long for Dr. Kureha to wrangle everyone inside, using intimidation and violence, of course. The men were terrified of her, and after seeing her kick Zoro in the head, so was Kia.

Helping Dalton into a bed and getting comfortable, Kia winced as she heard the doctor treating Sanji's hurt back in the next room. His screams were horrific enough, but the cracking sounds from his back were worse.

"Kiana."

She looked at Dalton, reaching over to help him as he tried to sit up. "You're going to be just fine Dalton, and so is this country," she said with a smile.

"And you, Kiana?"

Her smile vanished. "I'll be fine too." He rolled his eyes at her, with an unbelieving look. He reached over and took her hand.

"You'll never find them by staying here," he said softly. She could feel the stares of everyone in the room on her back, and felt exposed. "You don't belong with us Kiana, you know that."

If she had been thinking clearly, she would have understood what he was saying, but she had just been thinking about not wanting to talk about her family where all the villagers could hear. At his last words, she looked up in shock, and it broke the hold she had on her emotions, and her eyes filled.

"Yes, I'm well aware," she responded. "Don't worry, I'll leave as soon as I can." Standing, she quickly left the room, not stopping even when she heard several people scold Dalton before she turned the corner and started running away.

Wanting to be alone, Kia headed up another floor and then picked a random room and walked out to the balcony to look at the sky. Dr. Kureha will probably let me stay here, at least for a little while, she thought, depressed. She heard a shout, and looked down. Usopp was building a snowman, Zoro was just sitting there, and Luffy was shouting for Chopper to stop hiding and join his crew.

Kia smiled through her tears. I hadn't messed anything up too badly, the story was still progressing, so I should be happy, right?

She had always thought this story was so moving, so emotional. Seeing it here before her was even more so. Chopper stepped out of the trees, and argued as to why he couldn't go, why he didn't belong with the pirates. She no longer knew if she was crying for Chopper or herself, but the tears kept falling. I didn't belong, literally. I should be home, preparing for another year of college, not trying to learn to survive in a world gone mad. I wanted my home, my sisters… I wanted my life back.

"Shouldn't we go in and say goodbye?" Luffy asked.

"No, we should give Chopper time to say goodbye to Doctorine, they've been together six years and it will probably be hard on them both," Nami replied. "Besides, I'm not very happy with Dalton right now."

"Why not?" Usopp asked.

"Dalton told Kia that she didn't belong here, it was very strange," Vivi replied. "She got upset and ran out. Actually, I thought we may find her out here."

"He said that? I can't believe it, they seemed like good friends," Usopp said.

"Who's Kia?" Luffy asked, confused.

"The girl you met earlier," Usopp said. "With the brown hair? Helping Dalton?"

"Oh, right!"

"After everything she did… that's crazy!"

"What did she do?" Zoro asked.

Usopp began holding up his fingers as he recounted. "First she stopped the villagers from attacking the ship, she gave us that sword to hold Nami on Luffy's back -"

"She gave me meat!" Luffy added.

"That too. Then she and Dalton took us around looking for the doctor. She helped us, even when she wanted to go fight Wapol."

"She saved our lives when the avalanche hit," Vivi said.

"Yeah," Usopp sighed. "She helped save Dalton's life too. And then, she took away the dynamite he wanted to use to blow up Wapol and the castle."

Luffy made a "hmm" sound, and the others turned to look at him. "If she doesn't belong here, then she'll belong with us!"

Chopper headed back to the treatment rooms, pausing when he heard the men moving around downstairs. No matter, I gotta talk to Doctorine! He nearly bumped into a girl as he rushed up the stairs. She smiled at him, and he recognized her from before. She had smiled and waved to him, when everyone else was calling him a monster. And, she smelled familiar, so why couldn't he remember?

"Good luck Chopper" she said quietly. "I know you'll be happy as a pirate." With that, she continued on down the stairs without looking back.

Chopper was confused. How did she know? He walked on to the treatment room. He stopped just outside as he heard his name, and listened.

"That may be true, but it doesn't mean it's right," Doctorine said. "The girl obviously wants to go, you didn't have to make her feel unwanted."

"She was feeling guilty, that makes her stubborn. Believe me, I know. I had to give her a push. She'll never make her dream come true if she stays here," Dalton replied testily.

"She wants to become a doctor? She can do that here now."

"That's what she says," Dalton sighed. "And that may truly be part of it. But really? She wants to find her family. She was left here, alone and lost. She wants to be found."

Doctorine cackled. "So the girl wants to belong, and you tell her she doesn't? Seems wrong."

Chopper peeked inside the room. They must have been talking about the girl on the stairs.

"Kiana already belongs somewhere. She needs to leave to find where."

"Kiana..." Chopper mused, glad he had her name now.

"Chopper? Is that you? Where have you been all day?"

Chopper took a deep breath. "Doctorine, I have something to tell you."

Kia strode out the door resolutely, rope tied around her hips and carrying a length of chain in her arms. She smiled as she thought of running into the little reindeer. It had been nice to be able to see Chopper again before he left. He really was adorable, it would have only been better if I could have hugged him.

She could see the Straw Hats, waiting for Chopper to come out so they could get back to their ship. She ignored them, and hurried over to the rope way. She could hear Vivi calling her name, but she didn't stop. A long goodbye now would only make her feel worse.

She hurried down the stairs, and headed to the rope car. She knew she had to do this quickly, or else Luffy might be able to stop her. She had been thinking this through while up on the balcony, and this was the best plan she could devise.

She wanted to get back down to Big Horn, and get her things out of Dalton's before he came back. Dr. Kureha would probably keep him for another day at least, so she had time if she got down there. The problem was, the rope way car needed to stay up here, for the people at the castle. Without Chopper, they would have no other way down. Also, once Chopper was ready to go, the sleigh with six people would come rushing down the rope way.

With those two things in mind, Kia's plan became… a zip line. Normally, she loved zip lines, as they were either not that far off the ground, or had some sort of safety harness. This would be coming from the top of a mountain, at dusk, while it was snowing. The rope also worried her, as she didn't want what she was using to slide down to break or burn due to the friction, so when she had found the chain, she snatched it.

Kia had tied a makeshift harness around herself with the rope. Now the plan was to loop the chain through the harness, throw both ends over the rope way, hold onto the ends of the chain for dear life and slide down. Then as she neared the bottom, letting go of the chain, and falling a short distance into soft snow.

Well, that was the plan anyway, she thought nervously.