A/N: For some reason people are reading this, and liking this. I have no idea why. I still don't own One Piece, but I do own a one piece… Let's just get on with the story.

All According to the Original Plan

Chapter 1: Before Darkness Falls

Five Days Earlier…

Finished with his check-up of his very reckless and supremely lucky captain, Chopper removed the stethoscope from his ears and let out a sigh, "you don't know how lucky you are Luffy." His captain gave him a curious look as Chopper continued, "Based on the injuries that you sustained from your fight with Lucci you should be dead. Any other man would be dead, so as your doctor I am begging you please don't do anything strenuous for at least three days." A small smile spread across his face, "I should force you to stay in bed, but we all know that won't happen."

Luffy let a wide smile split his face and laughed loudly holding his stomach where Chopper had just finished a series of complex stitching. "Stop That!" Chopper scolded, "You'll pull your stitches." This caused Luffy to laugh louder and the rest of the rest of the crew to grin at their captain's antics, that was until he managed to pull a stitching. The laughter stopped as Luffy slowly registered the pain that flowed through his stomach, and let out a small panicked yell. Chopper merely sighted sticking him with a small dose of anesthetic and starting to redo the stitching. Chopper huffed, "honestly Luffy, what would you do without me?"

"Probably die," Robin chuckled lightly. "You're very important to all of us Dr. Chopper."

Nami grimaced slightly before looking to Robin. "That was very sweet of you Robin, but why did you have to start it off with such a grim statement."

Chopper on the other hand was blushing focusing more on Robin's praise of him. "Shut up! How dare you call me doctor!" He then stopped dancing and looked at Luffy whose eyes were starting to droop due to the effects of the anesthesia, "besides I need to redo his stitches stronger so he doesn't pull them out. Hopefully the drug will last long enough to do my work."

Robin and the rest of the crew nodded in understanding. "Then we shall get out of your fur and let you do your work," she spoke, and with that the crew walked out leaving the good doctor alone with his patient.

Usopp walked up and down the street right outside the hotel that the rest of his former crewmates were staying at. He knew that he was being stupid leaving the crew and fighting Luffy, helping save Robin from Enies Lobby showed him that the crew needed him and that they should be glad to have him make a triumphant return, of course he wouldn't make a big deal out of his return.

He would simply stroll into the room and act as though he never left. Why when Luffy would cry tears of happiness at his return Usopp would merely say, "I never left; there is no need to get so emotional." Board the boat that several hours earlier he overheard Franky say that he was building for the Straw Hats and continue on their journey.

After all, what was one fight between friends? Sure it had been over Merry which had been very important to him and they did leave on bad terms, but Usopp understood that as captain Luffy had to make hard decisions and maybe it wasn't entirely his fault, Usopp was a forgiving individual that could do just that for his best friend whether he apologized or not.

Usopp was brought out of his musings by a familiar voice, "So, how long do you think that idiot captain of ours is going to last before he does something strenuous and undoes all of Chopper's hard work?" That was Sanji.

Usopp dove into a nearby alleyway where he shushed a stray dog that started growling at him. He heard Zoro snorting, "Knowing him probably won't last until the end of the day."

Robin then spoke up, "Well I believe that he will last the whole three days."

Nami immediately looked up a catlike grin forming on her face. "If you want to make a bet I could loan you some money, of course interest will be charged at…"

"NOT INTERSTED!" The entire crew yelled. Even Sanji who adored Nami knew how she could be when it came to her and her treasure.

Usopp continued to watch the crew as they continued in dull conversation about what they were going to do with their time. He heard how Zoro was going to look for a new sword to replace the one that was destroyed. Sanji was thinking of going to the restaurant district due to rumors he had heard about there being a delicious spice that could only be found in Water 7 by another patron of the hotel. Robin and Nami decided to head to the City's massive library for books on temples of the Grand Line and underwater currents respectively.

Usopp smiled at the crew, they were so comfortable with each other, without him there… he shook his head from negative thoughts and looked down at the dog that had since stopped growling at him and was sniffing his knapsack curiously. Usopp removed his bag from his shoulder and knelt down, opening the bag he pulled out a bit of hardtack and handed it to the dog, which sniffed it and took a small nip at the biscuit. Usopp smiled at the dog, "and here I thought you were hungry." The dog seemed to gain more confidence opening its mouth wider biting down on the whole biscuit nearly taking Usopp's fingers with him. Growing bold the dog then began to nose its way into Usopp's bag that was left of the floor.

Usopp quickly snatched up the bag "Ah, we can't have you eating my ammo." The dog barked sharply in reply. Usopp flinched at the dog's change in personality "H-hey, stop that!" he commanded with his voice shaking. To his surprise the dog sat down and looked at him with a patient expression that begged "give me more food." Usopp felt himself sweating, this dog was starting to remind him of Luffy, he even looked like his captain with wide brown eyes and a dark brown shaggy coat that was stating to thin on the animals backside due to poor nutrition.

Usopp felt a new plan forming in his head, Luffy did love animals. He slung his bag over his shoulders and beckoned the dog to follow him "Come on fellow lets you and me get something to eat." The dog barked in reply and followed Usopp out of the alley and toward the shopping district.

Two Days Later…

"I can't believe how calm Luffy is being," Nami muttered in a low tone to Robin. Said captain was speaking to Sanji in an animated tone that much more subdued than his usual self. "At this rate I'm beginning to think that you regret taking me up on my offer which by the way still stands," a smile crossing her face.

Robin grinned in return, "I believe it has something to do with the cook informing captain quite vehemently that if he messed up Chopper's hard work he would make him eat vegetarian for a whole month." The smile dropped from her face, "I'm still not borrowing money from you."

Nami pouted slightly before continuing the amusing conversation. "Yeah, remember Luffy's face when Sanji explained to him what a vegetarian was. I think Sanji was closer to killing him with that than Rob Lucci was." Nami immediately froze and looked to Robin whose face had become somber, "I'm sorry Robin, I shouldn't have brought up unpleasant memories for you."

Much to her surprise a small smile spread across Robin's face. "Don't worry about it, the past is past and even though it's recent it doesn't bother me as much as you would think." Nami nodded in understanding before both she and Robin looked toward the arguing duo that was Sanji and Luffy.

"I'm telling you Sanji, it's a good idea." Luffy moaned in protest.

However Sanji was not taking any of Luffy's crap, even if he was the captain, he was the cook and knew a stupid idea when it came to food. He was all for experimentation but really chocolate covered fried tilapia with a pickle and peanut sauce. Where did he even come up with the idea? Sanji listened half-heartedly as Luffy began waving his arms up and down as he began explaining how when he was a kid he ate it off of a dare from his older brother Ace and ended up enjoying the taste.

"Just make him the dish you crappy cook. It sounds disgusting enough to be right up your alley," Zoro muttered.

"What was that? I believe the moss on your head is beginning to infect your brain," Sanji responded swinging a kick at Zoro's head which was blocked by one of his swords. Despite not liking Zoro very much he was actually somewhat grateful to have someone to vent his frustrations on. They all promised to take it easy on Luffy until his three days of healing were up, and much to their chargrin the captain seemed to understand this and was annoying the rest of the crew to his best ability.

Zoro smirked in return, also happy to have someone to vent his frustrations with, yesterday when looking at swords in the workshop of a famous blacksmith named Piandao, Luffy had unwittingly insulted the man by saying that his Gum Gum Hammer attack could forge better weapons and had gotten Zoro banned for life from the shop, which was a damned shame. The blacksmith had some nice swords, but perhaps it wasn't meant to be. Honestly Luffy could be a real idiot sometimes and needed to learn to keep his mouth shut.

As the swordsman and cook continued to trade blows, Nami sighed shaking her head. "Can't you two stop fighting for five minutes, besides Sanji I'm starting to get hungry," she finished with a coy smile.

"Ah, of course my dear Nami, what does your heart desire this fine evening?"

It was Robin who spoke, "Why not make that dish that Luffy was talking about? It sounds interesting."

"Of course, my lovely Robin, truly a woman of your class has the taste buds of an angel." Sanji swooned, dancing away to the kitchen.

Nami gave Robin an incredulous look. "Robin, why would you ask him to make such a disgusting thing?" Robin merely smiled and nodded her head toward Luffy who was looking at them with a look of absolute joy. "I see," Nami responded. "Robin you have the strangest ways of saying thank you."

"Sometimes it's the simple things that make us happiest."

That evening the crew had the strange dish of chocolate covered tilapia with a pickle and peanut sauce. Surprisingly enough it wasn't as bad as everyone thought it would be. Unsurprisingly Luffy wound up eating most of everyone's share.

Iceberg wiped sweat from his brow looking up at the sky. "It's starting to get dark," he muttered.

Franky snorted. "It's too early to start getting dark. Besides I want to finish this as soon as possible, we've got lamplight it should be enough." A grin crossed his face. "Ice, are you getting tired? Has the life of being the mayor of Water 7 dulled your skills as a shipwright?"

Iceberg merely hummed at Franky's teasing, and continued working. However as the sky grew darker and darker into a pitch black, mere minutes after their conversation, a heaviness fell across the place and they all fell asleep.