One Piece: Our Parting Meal
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard © Me
Summary- While exploring a winter island, Luffy and Chopper get separated from the others for days. Unable to find any food to sustain himself, Luffy starts to starve to death, and Chopper decides to make the ultimate sacrifice to help him. But is Luffy willing to let him? Luffy/Nami and Zoro/Robin. Post-timeskip.
"C'mon, guys! Let's go! C'mon, c'mon, C'MON!"
"We're coming, Luffy! Don't get your underwear in a twist. Good grief."
The Straw Hat Pirates have recently landed on an unexplored Winter Island in the New World, and Luffy, being…well, Luffy decided that it would be a good chance to go on a little "adventure". Nami didn't really see the harm as long as everyone stuck together.
Chopper was especially happy about exploring the island, since the snow always reminded him of Drum Island.
"This is really nice," Chopper said with a smile. "I just love snowy islands."
"Glad you're enjoying yourself, little buddy," Blizzard said, smiling as well.
"Hey, Nami, look at me!" Luffy called as he made a snow angel.
"I see you, honey," Nami said with a smile.
Usopp and Franky are nearby, making snowmen. Well, Franky is making a snowman. Usopp is busy making a snow beast with long fur and big long fangs.
Robin chuckled at their antics before she saw a sign nearby. It looked a little old, but the writing still appeared to be legible.
"What do you see, Robin?" Zoro asked.
"It looks like this island might be inhabited," said Robin. "Look at this sign."
The Straw Hats gathered around the sign.
"It says… 'Look out for avalanches on your way to Aurora Village'," said Robin.
"Avalanches?!" Usopp repeated in shock.
"Well, there are a lot of mountains," said Nami. "Of course there would be avalanches if the snow piled up on the peaks. We should keep a lookout for any avalanche zones on our way to this little village."
"I hope there's gonna be food there," Luffy said. "I'm getting kinda hungry."
"When are you not hungry?!" Usopp asked.
"Just let it go, Usopp," Nami said. "Let's just get going."
"Yeah!" Luffy said. "And we can have a big adventure along the way!"
With that, the Straw Hats trekked onward, following any signs that led to the village on the island. Along the way, they ran into a few problems, such as Zoro getting lost (several times), Usopp getting attacked by a raccoon after accidentally bumping into a tree where it made its den, Luffy stopping to lick an icicle and getting his tongue stuck (twice), and trying to traverse over a frozen lake while not trying to fall through the ice. It was a bit funny, but also a little embarrassing since they kept slipping and sliding around. Sanji and Zoro ended up bumping into each other and…well, let's just say that there was almost a "special moment" between the two.
Eventually, the crew ended up reaching an open trench in the path. They also found a sign there that read, "WARNING: AVALANCHE ZONE! Keep noises to minimum volume."
"We better be careful from here on out," Nami said softly. "Let's get going, and remember, no loud noises."
"Right," the others agreed softly.
With that, the Straw Hats began to walk through the pass…but as they did, no one noticed that Blizzard's tail had accidentally brushed itself against Luffy's face as he walked passed him. This caused a bit of an itch in Luffy's nose, and the captain tried sniffling to make it stop, but that just seemed to make it worse.
Ah…ah…aaah…AAAAAAAACHOOOOO~! Luffy let out a huge sneeze, and he heaved a sigh of relief.
"Bless me," Luffy said with a sniffle.
RRRMMMMMMMMMMMBB! Suddenly, the ground began to shake, and the Straw Hats looked up and saw that the snow that had piled up over the pass is beginning to fall…right on top of them.
"Uh…did I do that?" Luffy asked.
"What do you think, you idiot?!" Sanji questioned.
"RUN!" Nami shouted, and the Straw Hats did just that as a huge wave of snow came chasing after them. Their attempt was fruitless…for in a matter of moments, the entire crew is buried in snow. It felt almost like hours, but then…signs of life.
Nami pulled herself out of the snow, and she pulled an unconscious Usopp out by his nose not long after.
"Usopp!" Nami shouted. "Wake up, will you?!"
"Ugh…what happened?" Usopp groaned as his eyes opened.
Soon, Sanji and Zoro came out of the snow as well with no serious injury (not surprisingly), but they did feel quite sore.
"Unh…I hit my head on something," Zoro grumbled as he rubbed his head.
"Yeah," Sanji agreed. "MY HEAD!"
Zoro soon heard a muffled moan coming from beneath the snow, and he instantly recognized who it belonged to.
"Robin!" the swordsman cried as he began to dig through the snow until he found a gloved hand reaching out to him. Wasting no time, Zoro grabbed Robin's hand and pulled her out.
"Robin, are you okay?!" the swordsman asked. "Can you hear me?!"
Robin moaned as she rested her head against Zoro's chest.
"My ankle hurts," she said.
"I'll carry you," said Zoro. "Come on."
Robin nodded before she climbed up onto Zoro's back.
Just then, Blizzard came out of the snow, followed by Franky, and finally Brook.
"Ugh…" Franky groaned as he held his head. "Man, that hurt!"
"I'll say," Brook agreed. "Not just that, but I'm chilled to the bone! YOHOHOHOHO! Get it? Bone! Because of that avalanche being so cold and I'm made of bone!"
WHAK! Nami smacked Brook in the back of his skull, but then, she noticed that two people had not yet come out of the snow.
"Hey," Nami said. "Where are Luffy and Chopper?"
Everyone looked up in surprise when they realized this.
"Luffy?!" Zoro called.
"Hey, Chopper!" Usopp called. "Where are you?!"
Blizzard sniffed around, trying to find the scent of the two Straw Hats in question. He even dug holes in random spots, hoping to find Luffy and Chopper buried beneath, to no avail. The wolf-dog whined in anxiety, and soon Nami felt the same.
"I don't understand," Nami said. "Where are Luffy and Chopper?!"
"Maybe they died after being buried by the avalanche," Robin said.
"ROBIN!" Nami shouted. "THAT'S NOT HELPING!"
"Or," Sanji said calmly, "maybe they ran off in a different direction."
So this means they're lost, Blizzard thought. Dammit.
Nami lowered her head in both sadness and worry, but then Usopp placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It'll be okay, Nami," Usopp said. "I'm more than sure that Luffy will be okay, and I'm not really worried about Chopper as long he's got Luffy for protection."
"Thanks, Usopp," Nami said with a smile. "That does make me feel a little better."
It doesn't really make me feel better, Blizzard thought. I mean, yeah, I trust Luffy to protect Chopper but…I just have a bad feeling.
"Before we go off looking for our captain and doctor," Zoro said, "we should probably find the island's village first and make sure Robin gets some rest."
"You guys can go if you want," said Nami. "Blizzard, Usopp, Sanji, and I will go and find Luffy and Chopper."
"Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?" Franky asked.
"Nami will be all right," said Sanji. "After all, she's got me to protect her." He then grew hearts in his eyes. "Isn't that right, Nami~?"
Maybe I'm better off with Usopp, Nami thought, sweat-dropping.
"Be careful," Brook said. "If you do find Mister Luffy and Mister Chopper, then come and find us at the village."
"Will do," Usopp said. "You guys be careful on the way there…and don't let Zoro lead the way."
"Hey!" Zoro snapped.
"Good luck," Robin said, stilling holding onto Zoro.
"Thanks," Nami said. "We're gonna need it."
With that, the Straw Hats split into two groups: Nami led the search party while Franky led Zoro, Brook, and Robin to the village.
Luffy, Chopper, Nami thought. Please…be safe.
XXX
Luffy walked through the forest of bare trees, calling out the names of his crew one-by-one while Chopper followed behind him.
"HEY~!" Luffy shouted. "ZORO~! NAMI~! USOPP~! SANJI~! ROBIN~! FRANKY~! BLIZZARD~! BROOK~! WHERE ARE YOU GUYS~?!"
Chopper looked up at the sky, which has now taken on an orange-and-pink hue, and the sun has dipped halfway below the horizon. Even the snow began to lose its white glow and slowly turned into a light gray.
"Luffy," Chopper said. "It's getting late. We should probably find shelter for the night."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Luffy said. "If we stay out here, we're gonna freeze."
Luffy then spotted something nearby: a cave.
"C'mon, Chopper," said Luffy as he headed to the cave, and Chopper followed behind him.
Once inside, Chopper sat down on the floor and shivered.
"It's not really much better in here, is it?" Chopper asked.
"It's okay, Chopper," Luffy said. "We just need a fire, that's all. Wait here! I'll be right back!"
With that, Luffy walked out of the cave in search of some kindling, leaving Chopper to wait for him.
"Luffy!" Chopper called as the captain left. "Be careful, okay?"
Luffy chuckled and flashed a thumbs up before he continued to walk away, into the forest.
Chopper sat in the cave, waiting for the captain to return, but before long, the little reindeer began to grow weary. He let out a soft, long yawn, and his eyelids began to droop. He shook his head, trying hard to stay awake, but the more he tried, the sleepier he became, and soon, Chopper was out like a light.
XXX
Chopper's eyes fluttered open, and he yawned and scratched his chest. As he sat up, he soon noticed that he is still sitting alone in this cave. Also, there is no sign of a pile of embers. That's when he realized two things: daybreak had come…and Luffy is nowhere to be found.
"Where's Luffy?" Chopper asked as he looked around.
Chopper cautiously exited the cave, although he was a bit blinded by the light of the sun reflecting off of the snow. Once his eyes adjusted, he reopened them and took a look around.
"Luffy!" he called. "Where are you?!"
No answer.
"I guess he might've gotten lost," Chopper said. "I hope he's okay."
With that, Chopper shifted into his Walk Point form and trotted off in search of his captain.
"Luffy!" Chopper called out. "Where are you~?! Answer me!"
Chopper wandered into the forest, which Luffy had entered last night in search of firewood…unaware that he is being watched by a pair of hungry eyes.
XXX
"LUFFY~!" Chopper (still in Walk Point form) called out again at the top of his lungs as he walked through the snowy forest, but he still didn't get an answer. That's when he began to worry.
"Where could he be?" Chopper asked. "I hope he's not hurt. I mean, he doesn't get hurt too easily, but still…"
"Chopper?"
Chopper gasped when he heard that voice, and he looked up and saw Luffy, standing on a hill from afar.
"Luffy!" Chopper called. "There you are! Where were you? You didn't come back last!"
"Sorry, Chopper," Luffy apologized as he approached the reindeer. "I was out getting some firewood, but then out of nowhere, this huge white lion showed up and tried to eat me! I ran and fell into a hole, and I've been stuck in there until I pulled myself out this morning."
"Well, we should probably head back to the cave," said Chopper as he turned to leave, but as he did, GRRUUUUUUUUUMMBLE! A loud rumbling sound soon filled the air, startling him.
"What was that?!" Chopper asked.
"Uh…it's my tummy," Luffy answered, a hand on his stomach. "Sorry. I guess I haven't eaten in a while."
"Didn't you ask Sanji to pack you a boxed lunch?" Chopper asked.
"Well…" Luffy said before comical tears ran down his face, "I lost it in the avalanches, yesterday~!"
"Oh," Chopper said, sweat-dropping. "Come to think of it, I think I lost my lunchbox, too."
"Ah, man," Luffy moaned as he put a hand to his growling stomach. "I gotta eat something~!"
As Chopper turned to leave, he didn't noticed that Luffy is watching him. As the captain eyed the reindeer, he suddenly started drooling and licking his lips. That's when Chopper started to take notice of his captain's behavior.
"Uh…Luffy?" Chopper asked. "Are you okay? How come you're drooling?"
"What?" Luffy asked, still staring at Chopper and droplets of saliva trickling down his lips. At that moment, Chopper gasped in realization and slight disgust.
"You're thinking about eating me, aren't you?!" Chopper questioned.
"What?" Luffy asked, but then he gasped as well and proceeded to wipe the drool off his mouth with the sleeve of his coat.
"S-sorry, Chopper!" he said, frantically. "I…I guess I was so hungry I wasn't thinking straight! You know I'd never eat you, right?!"
"What about that banquet we had in Alabasta?" Chopper asked. "Remember? You inhaled all the food, and you almost swallowed me, too! Usopp had to pull me out of your mouth!"
(A/N: This happened in the eight movie, just for those who either don't know or don't remember.)
"I didn't do it on purpose, you know!" Luffy said.
"Sanji always did call me the 'Emergency Food Supply'," Chopper said, irreparably.
"He was only joking!" Luffy said. "You know he never meant it, right?"
"Sometimes, I wonder!" Chopper said.
"Chopper," Luffy said. "Look, no matter how hungry I get, I promise, I will NOT eat you. Okay?"
"…okay, I guess," Chopper said.
"Good," Luffy said. "I'm sure we're not gonna be out here long. The others are probably looking for us. We'll be found before we know it, and then I'll get to eat as much as I want!"
"I hope you're right," Chopper said, somewhat uneasy. "I'm not saying I doubt you, it's just-"
Grrrrrr…! Another growling sound is heard, and Chopper heaved an irritated sigh.
"Luffy, I heard you the first time, you know," he said.
"What do you mean?" Luffy asked, puzzled..
"Wasn't that your stomach growling just now?" asked Chopper.
"No," Luffy answered.
"Then…what was it?" Chopper asked, almost worriedly.
GRRAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWRR! A huge, powerful roar filled the air, forcing Luffy and Chopper to look up and see a huge lion, at least as big as Blizzard. His entire body, all the way from his large, flowing mane to his tail, is as white as the snow around him. The only things that aren't white are his amber eyes and the scar that ran down the right side of his muzzle.
"That's the lion I ran into last night!" Luffy exclaimed.
"He looks hungry!" Chopper cried.
"Run, Chopper! Get outta here!" Luffy shouted. "I'll take care of this guy!"
Chopper seemed hesitant at first, but when he saw the lion charging at him and Luffy, instinct took over and he turned and galloped away, screaming in fright.
"It's just you and me, now," Luffy said. "I tangled with you last night, and I know that my Conqueror's Haki won't work on you."
The lion roared fiercely as he attempted to slash Luffy with his claws, but Luffy jumped back to evade them.
"Gum Gum…BAZOOKA!" Luffy shouted.
WROING! POW! Luffy stretched both arms back and then hit the big cat in his throat, sending him backwards. The lion staggered to his feet and growled.
"I gotta admit, you're pretty tough for a lion," Luffy said. "The last time I fought a lion, he was a real pushover!"
"And I can see you're no ordinary human," said the lion. "I guess I could have a little bit of fun before I eat you…and that reindeer of yours."
"Sorry, but Chopper's not on the menu," Luffy said.
"Really?" the lion questioned with a devious smirk. "Then why did you act so hungry when you looked at him?"
"Shut up! That was nothing!" Luffy said.
"You almost think like a regular predator," said the lion. "Sooner or later, your instincts will take over. You can't fight them forever."
"Says you!" Luffy shouted. "I'll never eat Chopper! Ever!"
"We'll see about that," the lion said before he lunged at Luffy once again.
SWASH! The lion swiped his claws at Luffy, hitting him in the arm.
"GAH!" Luffy cried, clutching his arm in pain. "Dammit!"
He pulled his hand away from his arm and saw that the claws had ripped through the sleeve and left three fresh gashes on his arm and blood smeared on the palm of his mitten. Luffy looked at the lion, growling hatefully before he charged at the big cat, who charged back at him. The Straw Hat Captain pumped his blood through his body with his arms.
"Gum Gum…JET STAMP!"
BAM! Luffy stamped his foot into the lion's skull, sending him flying into a tree, but this time, the lion didn't get back up.
"Just as I thought," he said. "A pushover."
XXX
Luffy returned to the cave later that afternoon, and this time, he did manage to bring back some firewood. However, Chopper noticed the gashes on his arm left behind by the lion's claws and quickly dressed his wounds. After that was taken care of, Luffy got the fire started, and the cave soon warmed up.
"Ah, finally," Chopper said. "I was beginning to feel like a popsicle."
Luffy's stomach suddenly started growling again.
"Oh, yeah," Chopper said, sheepishly. "You're still hungry."
Luffy heaved a sigh.
"Maybe I should've brought that killed that lion earlier and brought him back with me for food," he said grimly.
"Why didn't you?" Chopper asked.
"I guess I wasn't thinking," Luffy said. "I was too busy trying to get back to you and make sure you'd be okay. Just gimme a minute to warm up, and then I'll go out and look for food later."
Chopper stared at Luffy for what felt like hours, but it is clear that he is worried for his captain. If Luffy went out again in search of food, he might get lost again…or run into that lion again. Also, Luffy had not eaten since yesterday morning's breakfast, and since he lost his lunchbox, that meant that captain is slowly but surely beginning to starve since he has a higher metabolism than the rest of the crew.
I hope the others find us, soon, Chopper thought, worryingly.
XXX
"LUFFY~!"
"CHOPPER~!"
Nami, Usopp, Sanji, and Blizzard are still on the search for Luffy and Chopper. So far, they haven't had much luck. Blizzard couldn't even track their scent, but they aren't about to give up just yet.
"LUFFY~!" Nami called. "CHOPPER~! WHERE ARE YOU GUYS~?! ANSWER US~!"
"LUFFY~!" Sanji shouted. "I GOT SOME MEAT FOR YOU~!"
No answer.
"Okay, now I'm worried," said Sanji. "He always comes running when I've got food…even when I lie about it."
AWWOOOOOOOOOO~! Blizzard howled loudly, trying to call Luffy and Chopper, but when he did not receive a reply, he whimpered worriedly, receiving a reassuring pet on the head from Nami.
"It'll be okay, Blizzard," she said. "We'll find them. I know we will."
"Yeah, but this island is pretty big," said Usopp. "It could take days to find them! Weeks, maybe!"
"Don't start going on about that kind of stuff, Usopp!" Sanji barked. "You'll make Nami fret about Luffy so much, her beautiful long hair will fall out! Besides, I only gave Luffy one lunchbox. That'll only sustain him for one day."
In that case, who knows how much longer Luffy will last? Blizzard thought. Given Luffy's appetite…it probably won't be very long.
~2 days later~
Luffy sat in the underbrush of bare shrubs, holding a rope in his hand. The rope itself had been slung over a high tree branch, and buried in the snow beneath it is a snare, where there is what looks like a white carrot in the middle.
Now to wait for the prey.
GRRUUUUUUUUMMBLE! Luffy's stomach growled in anticipation, and the captain put a hand on it.
"Shh~!" he whispered. "You're gonna scare our food away…!"
Just then, the captain hears the sound of rustling, and he looks up and sees a white rabbit, or, in Luffy's case…his breakfast.
The rabbit's nose twitched and its ears swiveled until it spotted carrot in the middle of the buried snare.
A waterfall of saliva escaped Luffy's lips, and he was prepared to pull on the rope, thus capturing the rabbit, but just when it appeared that he is about to have his first meal in two days…
"Luffy?!"
Luffy gasped, and the rabbit, now aware of his presence, soon hopped away, much to the hungry captain's aggravation.
"DAMMIT!" Luffy cursed, his hands over his eyes. He then turned and saw Chopper approaching him.
"Luffy, there you are!" Chopper said. "I didn't see you in the cave, so I knew you were out here, somewhere- uh…are you okay? You look kinda mad."
"I am mad!" Luffy barked. "Chopper, you scared my breakfast away! Do you know how long it's been since I ate anything?!"
Chopper shrank back in both surprise and a bit of sadness when Luffy snapped at him, and when the captain himself realized what he had done, he heaved a sigh and began to regain his composure.
"S-sorry, Chopper," he apologized. "It's just…we've been out here for a couple of days now and I haven't a thing, and when you're hungry, you can't help but be grumpy, you know?"
"Yeah, I understand," Chopper said. "It's okay, Luffy. I'm not mad at you."
Luffy smiled at this, but his smile is soon replaced with a look of discontent when his stomach roared again.
"I know, I know!" Luffy told his stomach. "You've told me about a hundred times, now!"
Chopper's stomach growled, as well, although not as loud as Luffy's, but the little reindeer, embarrassed of his own hunger, blushed.
"I guess we're both kinda hungry, huh?" Luffy asked, jokingly.
"Y-yeah," Chopper answered, sheepishly.
"Well, there's not really much we can do out here," said Luffy. "Let's head back to the cave and maybe try again, later."
"Okay," Chopper said.
With that, Luffy began to head back to their shelter with Chopper following behind him. Lately, Luffy had gotten so hungry, he started to drool every time he so much as looked at Chopper, but every time, he continued to resist the urge to eat him, so he made up this little rule as long as they are lost in this frozen wasteland: wherever Luffy goes, Chopper had to walk behind him so that the captain wouldn't get any urges. So far, it seemed to work.
Once they made it back, the first thing Luffy did was lie down in a bed of dry grass and leaves that he found around the forest, and the second thing he did, although it was rather difficult due to his empty stomach…is fall asleep. Since Luffy couldn't find much to eat, he felt that it was all he could do since he had gotten so tired.
Chopper, who is busy tending to the fire, watched as Luffy moaned in his sleep out of discomfort. The captain's stomach rumbling didn't seem to make it any better.
"So hungry…!" Luffy complained in his sleep.
Chopper heaved a sad, quiet sigh as he continued to tend to the fire. He wished that there was something he could do to help Luffy. Of course, Chopper himself was hungry, too, but since his appetite isn't as big as Luffy's, he knew that Luffy must be starving. It is only a matter of time until Luffy's body begins to eat away at its reserves in order to create energy.
Poor Luffy, Chopper thought. He looks so miserable. I wish the others would hurry up and find us so that Luffy could get something to eat. I know that if he even gets a little bite of meat, Luffy will get his strength back…I wish Blizzard was here. He could hunt down anything. A boar…a crocodile…he could even hunt down a lion!
Chopper then gasped.
"That's it!" he exclaimed, but he quickly covered his mouth when he heard Luffy stir, only to fall back to sleep again, much to the reindeer's relief.
"I'll go out and find that white lion," Chopper whispered to himself. "Then, I'll kill him and bring him back here for Luffy to eat!" He then looked over to Luffy, who is still sleeping.
"I better go now, while he's sleeping," the reindeer said, softly. "He could be asleep for a while, anyway."
With that, Chopper left the cave, leaving Luffy to rest.
XXX
Chopper, in Walk Point form, once again, trudged the deep snow, his eyes screwed shut to keep out the sharp snowflakes and his antlers pointed down against the strong wind.
"Of course I'd have to get caught up in a blizzard," Chopper grumbled. "What is wrong with my luck?!"
As Chopper continued to walk through the snow, he didn't notice that a familiar pair of amber eyes are watching him from behind. Suddenly, GRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWR! Chopper heard a roar over the wind, and turned to see the white lion lunging at him with his claws out.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Chopper screamed before he leapt away from the lion.
"Well, well," the lion said. "If it isn't my little reindeer friend."
Chopper, although shaken, glared at the lion with a serious expression.
"Your days are numbered, lion!" he exclaimed. "I'm gonna kill you and bring you back to my captain for food!"
"You mean that straw hat boy?" the lion questioned. "I'm surprised he hasn't eaten you, yet."
"Luffy would never eat me!" Chopper said.
"That's what he said," the lion said, "but I saw that look in his eyes that he gave you. The one where he drools and licks his lips at you."
"He can't help it!" Chopper said. "He hasn't eaten in two days!"
"All the more reason for him to eat you," the lion said. "He can't fight his urges forever."
"You're wrong!" Chopper shouted. "Luffy's strong! He can overcome anything, and as soon as I bring him back to you to eat, he'll get his strength back!"
"The hunter becoming the hunted?" the lion questioned. "Ridiculous. I bet you don't even have it in you!"
Chopper's eyes went wide, and his confidence suddenly waned. That's when he realized that he had never really killed anything before, let alone a lion.
"That's what I thought," the lion said with a smirk before he lunged at Chopper once again with a roar. The reindeer before he turned and ran away, but then he tripped on a rock and fell to the ground, headfirst. He tumbled away, shrinking back into his Brain Point form, until he ended up crashing into a tree. His eyes swirled in a daze.
The lion advanced toward Chopper, whose vision began to blur. The only thing he could hear before he blacked out is the sound of someone yelling alongside the roars.
XXX
Chopper's eyes fluttered open, and he groaned as he picked himself up off the ground. He then noticed that he is lying in the bed of leaves and grass that Luffy was lying on earlier today, and that's when he realized he is back in the cave.
"Glad to see you're up."
Chopper looked up and saw Luffy, sitting in front of the fire…covered in scratches and missing his hat.
"Luffy!" Chopper cried. "W-where'd you get all those wounds?!"
"Where do you think I got them?" Luffy asked. "I was fighting off that lion so that he wouldn't eat you."
"…where's your hat?" Chopper asked.
"I…I lost it," Luffy muttered, remorsefully. "The wind blew it away while I was carrying you back here."
"…I'm sorry, Luffy," Chopper said.
"You should be sorry!" Luffy snapped. "What the hell were you thinking, going out there anyway?! You knew that lion was out there!"
"But I wanted to find him!" Chopper argued.
"Why?!" Luffy asked angrily. "So that you could end up getting eaten?!"
"No!" Chopper retorted. "I was only trying to get you some food!"
Luffy's eyes went wide.
"You haven't eaten anything in two days, Luffy!" Chopper said tearfully. "That's why I went out there to look for the lion! So that you could have some food!"
Luffy chewed his lip and he looked down almost shamefully.
"…I'm sorry, Chopper," he said. "I didn't know."
"It's okay," Chopper said with a sniffle. "It's just…I'm really worried about you. Aside from Blizzard, you're my big brother, too…and I don't want anything to happen to you."
Luffy smiled before he pulled Chopper into a hug.
"…I love you, Chopper," he said.
"I love you, too, Luffy," Chopper said.
Luffy then looked outside the cave. The blizzard had stopped…but the sky has grown dark and littered with stars.
"It's too late to go out, now," Luffy said. "Maybe tomorrow, we can try looking for the others…and maybe some food, too."
Chopper nodded before he reached into his medical bag and began to bandage Luffy's wounds. Once that was taken care of, the two Straw Hats began to fall asleep from the warmth of the fire.
"By the way, Luffy," Chopper said. "What happened to the lion?"
"Uh…he fell off a cliff," Luffy answered.
"Oh," Chopper muttered grimly.
XXX
Meanwhile, with Nami's group, they too, had taken shelter inside a cave of their own. Unlike Luffy and Chopper, they seemed to have enough food to last them for a while. Sanji decided to save any leftovers for Luffy and Chopper once they found them.
Outside the cave, Nami sat there, calling Luffy's and Chopper's names, but she received no answer. She yelled so much that her throat felt began to feel raw and her voice grew hoarse. Blizzard sat beside her to keep her company as well as provide warmth.
"Shouldn't we stop her?" Usopp asked. "She's been at it ever since we set up camp."
"It's no use," said Sanji as he tended to the fire. "You know how Nami is, sometimes. It's better to just let her do what she wants to do."
Suddenly, WHOOOOOOOSH~! The wind blew hard, and it almost blew the fire out, as well as knocked Nami off her feet, but as quickly as it came, the wind stopped. Nami looked down at the ground and gasped, for there, lying in the snow…is Luffy's straw hat.
"Guys!" Nami called. "Look!"
Usopp and Sanji soon came outside, and they too were surprised to see Luffy's prized possession now in Nami's hand.
"How'd Luffy's hat end up here?!" Usopp questioned.
"He must've dropped it by accident and the wind carried it away," Nami said.
Blizzard looked up at the mountains, where the wind blew from, and the others soon followed his gaze.
"You think that Luffy and Chopper are up there?" Usopp asked.
"Only one way to find out," said Sanji. "For now…let's get some rest. We'll try again later."
Nami nodded her head in agreement before she looked down at her captain's hat, and she placed it on her crown for safekeeping.
~3 more days later~
Luffy sat back against the cave wall, looking outside over a pile of snow that had formed over the past few days, only to see the wind blowing snowflakes around harshly.
Luffy heaved a sigh in annoyance. This snowstorm has been going on since last night, and he and Chopper were forced to stay inside the cave until it subsided. What's worse, the fire had gone out, so now they had nothing else to keep them warm.
Chopper lied in the bed of dried foliage, sleepy and bored. He looked over to Luffy, and that's when he got a good long look at his captain's condition. Luffy's cheekbones, eye sockets, and his leg bones began to show and his coat and pants began to hang loosely on his body.
It's been five days since Luffy and Chopper had been…and still, Luffy had not eaten even a tiny morsel.
Chopper chewed his lip, trying to ignore Luffy's condition, but he was almost certain that if the captain went one more day without food…then that was it. The end.
Something had to be done.
That's when Chopper decided to speak.
"Um…I guess it's not gonna let up anytime soon, is it?" Chopper asked Luffy, who turned to look at him.
"I…I guess not," Luffy replied, grimly.
Suddenly, Luffy's eyes went wide as he stared at Chopper, who looked rather distant. The Straw Hat Captain felt saliva trickling from his mouth, and he licked his lips. However, he soon realized what he was just thinking and shook his head to erase the thought, but when he finished, he saw Chopper, looking up at him with a soft smile.
"Did I…just look delicious to you, Luffy?" the little reindeer asked.
"Huh?" Luffy muttered before he raised his hands. "N-no! It's not what you think! You don't look tasty at all! Really!"
"It's okay, Luffy," Chopper said, and Luffy put his hands down.
"…I'm sorry," the captain said, sorrowfully. "I didn't mean to, it's just-"
"Luffy, you haven't eaten a thing in days," said Chopper, "and I don't think you'll last much longer if you keep going like this. So…I want you to live long, Luffy…for the both of us."
"What?" Luffy asked. "Chopper, what are you saying?!"
"Luffy…I'm really happy I met you," said Chopper. "I'm happy I met Blizzard and the others, too. I consider it an honor…for you to be my captain."
"Gosh, Chopper," said Luffy. "I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to say anything," said Chopper. "Just…eat as much as you can…and go and find the others."
"But Chopper," Luffy began, "where am I gonna find something to eat all the way out here?"
"You don't have to find it," said Chopper. "It's right here…in front of you."
Luffy's eyes went wide in shock and horror. At first, he thought that maybe the cold and his hunger was making him delusional, but he soon realized that the doctor is dead serious.
Chopper…wanted Luffy to eat him.
"N…NO!" Luffy shouted. "Chopper, are you crazy?! How could I even think about eating you!"
GRROOOOOOOOOWWL! Luffy's stomach let out a huge growl, and Chopper chuckled, albeit mirthlessly.
"You see?" he asked.
"Ah!" Luffy yelped as he put his hands on his stomach. "Chopper, no!"
GRRUUUUUUUUMMBLE! His stomach growled, furiously, and he wrapped his arms around his abdomen in attempt to muffle the sound.
"Be quiet!" he shouted. "Stop growling!"
GUUUUUUURRRRRGLE!
"I said shut up, you damn stomach!" Luffy cursed.
RUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMBLE!
Luffy growled and pointed his fists against the cave floor, and Chopper watched as he struggled against his own hunger.
"Shut up! SHUT UP!" Luffy shouted as he ruffled his own hair in frustration. "Stop growling!"
GRROOOOOOOOWWL!
Luffy whimpered as tears began to form in his eyes.
"Dammit!" he cursed. "Why won't it stop?!"
"…oh, Luffy," Chopper muttered as a singly tear began to form in his eyes.
"It's not fair," Luffy said. "Oh, Chopper…WHY DID WE EVER GET LOST OUT HEEEEEEEERE~?!"
"WHY DID WE EVER GET LOST OUT HEEEEEEEERE~?!" his voice echoed out in the wind.
Luffy sobbed, his tears falling against his pale feet.
"Dammit…!" he cursed. "Chopper, how could you ask me do something like this?! I can't eat you! You're my little brother!"
"…what about your dream of becoming King of the Pirates?" Chopper asked. "Would you rather starve to death than not let it come to pass?!"
Luffy looked at Chopper and sniffled.
"…Luffy…I can't stand the thought of you dying before you accomplish your dream," Chopper said, sadly.
"…but Chopper," Luffy said, tearfully, "…if I do eat you…what will the others say? Blizzard would probably never forgive me!"
"You could just tell them and maybe they'll understand," said Chopper. "If not…well…I'm not really sure. Just…try and do this for me…okay?"
"…okay," Luffy said. "Maybe…I'll go outside and think this over a little."
"All right, but don't take too long," said Chopper.
Luffy nodded before he turned and ventured outside, leaving Chopper alone.
"…make it fast," he muttered before he closed his eyes.
Outside, the snowstorm had finally ended, and Luffy is walking away from the cave. He scoffed and kicked away at some snow.
"As if I could bring myself to eat Chopper," he said to himself before he looked down and picked up some snow.
"…if only we could eat some snow, instead," he said before he heaved a sigh and fell to his knees. "What am I gonna do? I won't last much longer, and I know Chopper hasn't eaten anything either, so he probably won't last much longer, either." He then looked up at the starry night sky.
"…I need a miracle," he whispered.
A pause came…but then…
"Luffy~!"
Luffy gasped upon his name being called by that familiar voice.
"Nami…?" he muttered before he got to his feet, and as soon as he turned around…he saw Nami, Usopp, and Sanji, all of them mounted on Blizzard's back.
"LUFFY~!" Nami cried before she jumped off Blizzard's back and ran to her captain.
"NAMI~!" Luffy cried before he ran to his navigator and embraced her.
"Oh, Luffy!" Nami sobbed as she hugged her beloved captain. "I was so worried about you! Oh, look at you! You almost look like a skeleton!"
"I'm okay, Nami," Luffy said, nonchalantly. "I'm just hungry. Oh, hey! You found my hat!"
Nami smiled before she put Luffy's hat back on his head.
SLUUUURP! Blizzard gave Luffy a big lick on his face, causing him to laugh.
"Good to see you, too, buddy!" Luffy said as he pet Blizzard on the head.
"Hey, Luffy," said Usopp. "Where's Chopper?"
Luffy gasped before he looked over to the cave.
"He's in there!" he said.
"I'll get him," Sanji said as he ran to the cave. He dug through the snow that had piled up at the entrance until he found Chopper inside.
"Hey, sleeping beauty!" Sanji called. "Rise and shine!"
"SANJI!" Chopper cried before he jumped into the cook's arms, laughing and crying at the same time, and Sanji couldn't help but chuckle as he pulled himself out of the cave, but as he did, they both suddenly heard Nami screaming Luffy's name.
"SANJI! LUFFY'S PASSED OUT!" Usopp cried.
"WHAT?!" Sanji questioned.
"Oh, no!" Chopper said. "Sanji, we gotta get Luffy some food! He hasn't eaten a thing in days!"
Sanji's eyes went wide, and he looked over to an unconscious Luffy, who is now being tended to by Nami and Usopp. Wasting no time, he helped the two get Luffy onto Blizzard's back, and once the others were on his back as well, the wolf-dog ran off, heading down the mountain and for the village.
~The next day~
"Ahh, I'm stuffed! Thanks for all the food, Sanji!"
"No problem, Luffy. Glad to see you're doing better."
Luffy sat at a table in an inn in Aurora Village, his stomach huge from eating so much of Sanji's meals.
"Finally, I thought he'd never stop," said Zoro as he took a sip of grog.
"Well what did you expect?" Sanji asked. "He didn't eat anything for five damn days, moss-head! Cut him some slack!"
"I'm still trying to get over the fact that Chopper was actually ready to sacrifice himself for Luffy!" Usopp said.
"Yeah, Chopper," Blizzard said. "What were you thinking?!"
"I just didn't want Luffy to die before his dream came true," Chopper said. "You guys would do the same thing…wouldn't you?"
The Straw Hats stared at Chopper in surprise, but then they each put on a look of seriousness.
"Of course we would," said Zoro.
"Whether he wants us to or not," Brook said. "We'd be ready to give up our lives for his sake, even though I'm already dead! YOHOHOHO!"
"…I know you guys are trying to look out for me, like I do for you," Luffy said, "but…I just hope it won't ever have to come to that."
"Hopefully, it won't," said Nami.
"And if it does…?" Chopper asked.
"…we should find some way to move on," said Robin, "but we will never forget the sacrifices made by our friends or replace them."
"But for now, let's not worry about it," Luffy said. "I'm just glad we're gonna be okay, Chopper."
"Me, too," said Chopper, who climbed over Luffy's belly and wrapped his arms around his neck in a hug, which Luffy happily returned.
BURRRRRRRRRRRP! Luffy suddenly let out a huge belch, which caused his stomach to shrink back to its regular size, much to everyone's surprise, but instead of being disgusted, they just laughed like it didn't even matter.
THE END
I've been working on this since LAST WEEK! I hope it was worth the effort.
Review, please!