Chapter 4

One Piece © Oda

Pokemon © Nintendo, Game Freak

Blizzard © Me

"So, Zorua? What's your Mom really like?"

"Well, she looks a little like me, only bigger. Even bigger than you, Luffy!"

"Really?"

"Yeah! She's also really strong! Once, I saw her smash a rock with just one paw!"

"No way!"

"Yeah! But she can also be really scary, sometimes."

Luffy laughed.

"That kinda sounds like my Mom…and Nami!"

"I heard that."

Luffy was sitting on the Sunny's figurehead with Zorua in his arms, staring out into the starry night sky together and making small-talk after dinner. Everyone else was preparing for bed, except for Blizzard, who had watch, tonight.

It has been 5 days since the Straw Hats and Zorua escaped Vice-Admiral Moss, and they were continuing their voyage to bring Zorua home. They stopped by several islands along the way, hoping to find some information on Lostlorn Island, but so far, they haven't even got a clue. Sometimes, they would even get chased off for even mentioning it, having met some people that may've heard of the place but don't like speaking about it.

The Straw Hats and Zorua didn't seem to mind, though. They were really enjoying each other's company.

Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper found it very entertaining when Zorua used his Illusion ability to transform into the people and creatures he had seen. Sanji and Brook especially found it "entertaining" when the Tricky Fox Pokemon turned into either Nami or Robin. Nami, on the other hand, did not. She gave the Childish Trio and the two perverts each at least two bumps on their heads while Zorua was let off with a warning, to which the boys would complain "No fair!"

Blizzard, who was at first adamant at Zorua's presence, began to warm up to the Tricky Fox Pokemon and began to see him as the son he never had. Sometimes, when Luffy couldn't provide company, Zorua would go to the wolf-dog for it, instead, and Blizzard would allow it to a certain extent.

Whenever he wasn't up to his playful tricks, Nami and Robin found Zorua to be great company, as well. He always liked to sit in their laps whenever they were lounging. Of course, this earned Sanji and Brook's jealousy.

Speaking of Brook, Zorua also seemed to have an ear for music, for he would often be found sitting around the Straw Hat musician, listening to the tunes of his guitar or his violin and wagging his tail to the rhythm.

The little Pokemon seemed to have a lot of fun when it came to parties. He enjoyed Sanji's cooking and he learned how to dance with chopsticks in his nose (much to Nami's inner disgust and to the enjoyment of the Childish Trio.

In times of danger, such as a sea monster attack or a violent storm, Luffy would make Zorua stay inside and wait until he gave the all-clear.

However, in spite of these things, there was one thing about Zorua that Luffy found slightly disdaining.

"Luffy! Zorua!" Nami called. "Time for bed, you two!"

Luffy and Zorua groaned.

"Come on, Nami!" Luffy whined.

"Yeah! We're not…"

Zorua's telepathic sentence was interrupted with a yawn escaping from his mouth.

Luffy also let out a yawn.

Nami smirked.

"Okay, boys," she said. "Bed. Now."

Luffy and Zorua stepped down from the figurehead, heading for the men's quarters, but the former stopped to give the navigator a kiss on the cheek.

"See you in the morning, Nami," he said. "Sweet dreams."

"You, too," Nami said. "Goodnight, Luffy. Goodnight, Zorua."

"Goodnight, Nami," said Zorua before he followed Luffy into the men's quarters.

XXX

It was 2 in the morning. The Sunny was quiet, except for the sounds of snoring coming from the men's quarters…as well as the sound of a child sobbing.

While the guys were fast asleep, two were very much. Those two are Luffy and Zorua, the latter of whom was sitting by the lockers, letting out small sobs and tiny beads of tears falling from his eyes.

"Momma…!" the little one whimpered.

Luffy sighed. It had been like this ever since he first brought Zorua onto the ship with him. Every night, he would be kept awake by the sounds of the Pokemon's pining for his mother. At first, it didn't seem to bother him very much, but it appeared it was finally getting to the captain, judging by the dark circles under his eyes.

How the others could sleep through this was completely beyond him.

With another exasperated moan, Luffy jumped down from his bunk and walked up to Zorua, who was still crying.

"M…Momma…!"

Luffy knelt down and took Zorua into his arms.

"Zorua," he said. "I know you miss your mom…but, please, I'm begging you, you gotta go to sleep, now."

"I…I can't…!" Zorua said. "I…I can't sleep without my Momma…!"

Luffy sighed as he held the crying ball of fuzz closer.

At this point, he almost felt like crying, himself.

XXX

The next morning, Nami was sitting in one of the lounge chairs on the deck, sunning herself. She stretched her arms and let out a pleasured sound.

"Such a nice day," she commented. "If we keep heading through this course, we shouldn't have any problems, at all."

Just then, Zorua waddled up to the navigator.

"Hi, Nami," he greeted her.

"Hi, Zorua!" Nami greeted him back as she picked Zorua up and cuddled him. However, she stopped when she noticed that he didn't look very well. His eyes were half-lidded with sleepiness, and it appeared there were tear stains underneath them.

"Zorua, you look exhausted," Nami said. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I don't know about him, but I certainly am not."

Nami looked to her right and gasped.

There was Luffy, standing there, and he looked worse than Zorua! His face seemed to sag, his hair was messier than usual, his eyes were bloodshot, and they had dark circles underneath.

"Oh, my lord!" Nami cried as she put Zorua down on the deck, got up from the chair, and went up to her boyfriend. "Luffy, you look awful! What happened?"

Luffy looked at Zorua, who looked back at him with this guilty expression, and he sighed.

"Zorua, why don't you go find Blizzard or Chopper and go play or something?" the captain asked the Pokemon. "I need to talk to Nami about something."

"Okay, Luffy," said Zorua before he trotted off.

"What's wrong, Luffy?" Nami asked.

"I didn't wanna say it in front of Zorua," Luffy began, "but…he's been keeping me up all night! He misses his mom so much, he's crying about it! It's been like this ever since I brought him here! I'm surprised he didn't wake the others!"

"Really?" Nami asked. "You didn't seem to have a problem with it, before."

"Yeah, but now it's getting to me," said Luffy. "Nami, we need to get Zorua back home to his mom, and soon! It's not that I'm starting not to like him, anymore, it's just that…he's running me ragged."

"Well, Luffy," Nami began, "didn't you go through a similar when your mom and Ace died?"

Luffy eyes went wide, slightly.

It was true that when his mother died, he would cry himself to sleep for several nights. The same thing went when he was on Rusukaina with Rayleigh, when he would pine for Ace.

"Oh, Luffy," said Nami as she embraced him, comfortingly. "Everything will be okay. Maybe you should try and be Zorua's second mother or something for now."

"I can't be his mom," said Luffy. "I have balls."

"That's not what I meant, you moron," Nami said. "Do something that Zorua's mom would do when she tried to get him to sleep. Hold him, rock him, anything."

Luffy scratched his head, confused.

"Just try it, Luffy, okay?" Nami asked. "It's only until we get him home. Who knows? It could work."

Luffy looked over to the other side of deck and saw Zorua, sitting with Chopper, who was also concerned about his current state, seeing as how he was looking him over and looking into his eyes with a light.

"Oh, man, Zorua," said Luffy with a heavy sigh. "What am I gonna do with you?"

XXX

It was nighttime, once again, and the Straw Hats were getting ready for bed.

It was Usopp's turn to take up watch, tonight, while the others went to their rooms.

"Goodnight, guys," Luffy called.

"Goodnight," the others called back.

As the others climbed into their bunks, Zorua lied curled up in Blizzard's bed, snoozing next to the wolf-dog.

Luffy watched them as he climbed into his bunk, and then started to fall asleep. After a few minutes, the usual snoring commenced, and not long after that…so did the crying.

"M…Momma…!"

Luffy groaned as he looked over to see a tearful, shivering Zorua before he hopped down from his bunk and went over to him. Then, once again, he picked him up and held him in his arms.

"Oh, Zorua," he said. "I wish there was something I could to help you sleep, at least until we got you back home to your mom."

"I'm sorry, Luffy," Zorua whimpered. "But…I just can't help it. I haven't been away from home or my Momma for this long, before, and…I just miss her so much!"

"I know, Zorua," said Luffy. "I know what you're going through. At least you know that your mom's alive and waiting for you at home. My Mom…I don't really have one to go back home to."

Zorua looked up at Luffy with teary eyes and gasped.

"You don't have a Momma, anymore, Luffy?" he asked.

Luffy shook his head.

"No, I don't," he answered him.

"W…what happened to her?"

"She died. She got really sick one day and she died, and that was when I was six years old. We were really close, and sometimes, I dream about her, giving me lots of food to eat and hugs…but when I wake up, I start crying because I realize it was just a dream and that I'd never really see her again."

"Do you still miss your Momma, Luffy?"

"Yeah…I do. I miss my brothers, too."

"You had brothers?"

Luffy nodded again, but then he smiled.

"But…I'm okay, now," he said, "because I know that I still have people I care about around me…and so do you, Zorua."

Zorua smiled.

"You feel better?" Luffy asked.

"Yeah," answered Zorua.

"Okay," said Luffy. "Now…is there anything your mom would do for you to help you fall asleep at night?"

"Well," Zorua began, "Momma would always let me sleep in her fur."

"Sleep in her fur?" Luffy repeated, questioningly. "How?"

"Like this," Zorua said.

FWIP! He jumped out of Luffy's arms and the crawled under his shirt, his tiny paws scurrying along the raven-haired young man's back, make him giggle.

"Hey, Zorua!" Luffy said. "That tickles!"

A pause came.

Luffy realized that Zorua didn't respond.

"Zorua?" Luffy called to him. "Zorua, you okay?"

Inside Luffy's shirt, Zorua's eyelids began to droop, and he yawned.

"Yeah," he said. "It's not exactly like Momma's fur…but it feels almost as good."

Luffy felt the Tricky Fox Pokemon nuzzle his cheek against his skin, and it felt somewhat soothing. He let out a yawn of his own before he climbed back up into his bunk and tiredly flopped onto the mattress on his tummy. He looked inside his shirt to see Zorua, sound asleep. He could make out a tiny smile as he continued to snooze, making Luffy smile, himself, before he rested his head on the cool pillow.

"Finally," he muttered before he drifted into a long, well-deserved slumber with his little friend sleeping peacefully on his back.

XXX

Early the next morning, the air was filled with Brook's Wake-Up song…until Nami threw one of her shoes at his skull, silencing the singing skeleton.

"SHUT UP! IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THAT CRAP!"

It was only about an hour later until everybody decided to wake up on their own.

Luffy was the first. He stretched his limbs and let out a refreshed yawn.

"Oh, boy," he said. "I feel SO much better, today! Don't you, Zorua?"

No reply.

"Zorua?" Luffy repeated. "You awake, little buddy?"

Still no answer.

It was then Luffy realized that he didn't feel Zorua curled up under his shirt anymore.

"Where'd he go?" Luffy asked to no one in particular. "Zorua? Zorua!"

"What's wrong, Luffy?"

Luffy turned and saw Usopp sitting up, yawning.

"Usopp, have you seen Zorua?" Luffy asked.

"Zorua?" Usopp repeated. "No. I just woke up."

Luffy then looked over to Zorua's bunk, then stretched his head and arm down in front of the still snoozing swordsman.

"Hey, Zoro- ACK!" Luffy began before Zoro grabbed his captain by the throat and then pulled his face forward to meet his angry glare.

"Leave. Me. ALONE," Zoro growled through gritted teeth.

"I was only looking for Zorua…!" Luffy choked out.

"Well, I haven't seen the little fuzz-ball!" Zoro spat before he released his gagging captain.

Once Luffy caught his breath, he looked over to Blizzard, and then jumped down to approach him.

"Blizzard," Luffy called. "Wake up, buddy!"

Blizzard's eyes opened, and he sleepily looked over to Luffy.

"Hey, have you seen Zorua?" Luffy asked. "He was with me, last night, but now I can't find him."

Blizzard sat up on his haunches, as if to ask, "What do you mean you can't find him?"

"Well, I was just trying to help him feel better and go to sleep," said Luffy.

"I saw young Master Zorua."

Luffy turned and saw Brook enter, nursing the bump forming from his afro.

"You did?" Luffy asked. "Where is he, now?"

"I do believe he's standing near the figurehead, staring out to the open ocean," said Brook. "I tried to converse with the little lad, but he wouldn't respond to any of my words. He seemed rather…distant. It was almost like he was in some sort of trance."

Luffy seemed concerned. He ran outside and headed toward the figurehead, where Zorua was indeed sitting near, staring out to the horizon with eyes fixated.

"Hey, Zorua!" Luffy called as he approached him. "Are you okay?"

Zorua didn't answer him. Not even one sound was made.

As Luffy got close to Zorua, he looked at his face and raised an eyebrow in confusion. He waved his hand in front of Zorua, but his eyes didn't follow.

"Zorua?" Luffy called, again. "Hello~? Yo!"

Zorua still didn't respond.

Luffy seemed surprised, at first, but then he smirked.

"I know what'll get him to crack," he said before he turned away. "Hey, Zorua~!"

Luffy turned around, pulling his eyes lids down, stretching his tongue out, and making a funny sound.

Still no response!

Now Luffy was concerned.

"Uh," Luffy muttered before he turned and ran back to the other side of the deck. "Nami! Chopper! Guys! Come quick! There's something wrong with Zorua! I think he might be sick!"

XXX

A few minute later, Luffy brought everybody to the helm, where Zorua was still sitting.

"He just sits there, and he won't move," Luffy explained.

"That's odd," Nami said.

I hope the little guy's not sick, Blizzard thought.

Chopper climbed up onto the railing and stood next to the supposedly entranced Zorua. He clapped his hooves in his ears, waved one in front of his eyes, and even made a funny face, but still no reaction.

"That is weird," said the young doctor. "What could be wrong with him?"

"I don't know," said Luffy, "but I'm getting worried, and worrying makes me hungry!"

Rumble! Grumble! His stomach growled.

"See?" Luffy asked.

Nami carefully approached Zorua from behind, so as not to accidentally startle him into falling into the water below. If he did, Luffy would stupidly attempt to jump in after the Tricky Fox Pokemon, followed by Brook and Chopper, followed by Blizzard, Usopp, and Nami to save them.

"Zorua?" Nami called. "Are you okay, sweetie?"

The navigator didn't get an answer from him, but she did get a reaction. Zorua slowly craned his head to face her, and Nami couldn't help but feel rather disturbed by his creepy, transfixed stare.

As Nami backed away, she realized that Zorua wasn't trying to look at her. He was just looking out to the left, now.

"Okay, that's even weirder," Luffy commented.

"Why did he just turn his head like that?" asked Sanji.

"Wait a minute," Nami said. "I wonder…Franky!"

"Yeah?" Franky answered.

"Steer the ship hard to port!" Nami ordered.

"Why?"

"Just do it!"

Not wanting to be snapped at, again, Franky complied and began to steer the ship to the left. As this was done, Zorua's head turned and faced straight ahead, once more.

"Did you see that?" Usopp asked.

"He's staring dead ahead, again!" Luffy added.

"How is he doing that?" Chopper chimed in.

"Instinct," was Nami's answer.

Everyone looked at the navigator as she began to explain.

"Don't you see?" Nami inquired. "Zorua doesn't know it, but he's showing us which way to go, all based on instinct!"

"Like the South Bird," said Robin, "only Zorua isn't facing South."

"Exactly," Nami said. "All we have to do is watch Zorua and then watch his movements. Whatever direction he faces, we have to follow it."

"But for how long?" asked Zoro.

"Not too long, hopefully," Nami replied. "As long as Zorua doesn't end up pointing us into something dangerous, like a whirlpool or something."

And so, the Straw Hats continued to follow Zorua's instinctive directions. For a change of pace, they used the paddles to pick up speed, making sure not to go too fast. After making maybe about 20 turns left and right, Franky shut off the paddles and the Sunny started sailing straight ahead.

It was then that they saw it: an island shrouded in mist.

The crew gasped.

"That must be it!" Nami exclaimed.

"Lostlorn Island," Robin commented.

Luffy's mouth upturned into a wide grin.

"This is it!" he declared. "Zorua's home! We made it! Hey, Zorua, did you hear that? Zorua?"

Zorua was still stuck in a trance.

"Hey, Zorua!" Luffy called. "Wake up, little buddy! We're here!"

CLAP-CLAP-CLAP! Luffy clapped his hands in front of Zorua's face, thus snapping the Pokemon out of his trance.

"Huh?" Zorua said before he looked up at Luffy. "Luffy? What are you doing here? What am I doing here? What's going on?"

"Look, Zorua!" Luffy said as he pointed forward. "Up ahead! See it?"

Zorua looked to the misty island and gasped.

"We…we made it…!" he said. "This is it! Home! I'm home!"

Everyone smiled at Zorua's jumps of joy.

"I can't believe I'm home!" the little fuzz ball said. "All my friends…Momma…"

Luffy chuckled as he gently put a hand on the tuft of fur on his head.

"Don't worry, Zorua," he said. "You'll be seeing your mom, again, real soon, just like I promised."

Zorua smiled before he jumped into Luffy's arms and nuzzled his face, affectionately.

"Thank you, Luffy," said Zorua before he looked to the rest of the Straw Hats. "Thank you, everybody!"

"Don't go thanking us, yet, Zorua," said Nami. "We may've found your home, but now, we need to find your mom."

Luffy grinned.

"I know what that means~!" he said in singsong. "Hey, Sanji! Get some lunchboxes ready!"

"Right," said Sanji before he headed to the kitchen, taking a drag of his cigarette as he did.

Zorua turned to look back at Lostlorn Island, smiling hopefully.

"I'll be there soon, Momma," he said to himself. "Just wait a little longer."

TO BE CONTINUED…

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, people.

Review, please!