I looked into the kitchen, "Carue, you can come out now."

Zoro and the duck hobbled out of the room. Carue warked and sat down next to the door. The swordsman rubbed his head.

I smiled, "Shame you passed out, you missed us getting eaten by another giant sea creature."

He glowered, obviously unhappy with me. I smiled.

A day passed with peaceful sailing. Well, almost peaceful.

"ZORO! SIT DOWN! YOU'LL BREAK YOUR STITCHES!"

"NO! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"

I balled my left hand into a fist, "I swear to god if you don't sit down right now-!"

"You'll what?" He sneered, "Drink me to death?"

I was ready to punch him in the face, but Sanji's foot beat me to it. The blow knocked Zoro back into Merry's wall. "It's not polite to insult a lady." The chef chastised.

The swordsman grit his teeth, "What lady? All I see are two pains in the ass."

Sanji kicked him again. I groaned, "I'm not asking you to stop training! All I'm asking is that you tone the training down while your stitches are still in!" I waved Sanji off to the kitchen, the cook complied.

He glared at me from the floor, rubbing a heel mark off of his face.

I bent down poking him on the forehead, "Honestly, for a swordsman you're not very careful about taking care of yourself." I smiled internally, knowing this next insult was a low blow, "I bet that's how you got the scar on your chest, by acting recklessly and throwing your life away."

His glare twisted into something I couldn't place, and I could tell he was fighting to not respond. I turned on my heel, leaving Zoro alone. And again there was peace for a few hours.

"Guys, listen up," Usopp said with a completely serious look on his face. "I will go to Elbaf some day! To the village of warriors!"

"Yeah! Great!" Luffy and Usopp locked arms and began dancing to a silly song of their own making. I looked down, Nami didn't seem to be fairing to well. Luffy and Usopp moved their dance to the railing of Merry as Carue ran around the deck.

"Where do they get so much energy?" Nami asked, slumped against the mast.

"I suppose it's just natural for them." I replied, walking over to her, "Are you OK? You don't look so good."

Nami smiled up at me, Fake. "I'm fine. Don't worry."

The song coming from Luffy and Usopp ended when they both almost fell off the ship, much to Carue's distress.

"I'm just..." She put a hand on her forehead, "With everything that's happened... I'm exhausted." She held up the Eternal Pose, "Vivi, Leanah... Could you watch this for me?"

The princess walked over from the railing and took it from the navigator. "Sure."

There was a moment when Vivi just stared at it, I'm almost sure she was seeing her home. Nami smiled at her, "You're on your way, You'll make it to Alabasta." Her smile turned into more of an odd smirk, "My rosy outlook is that we can make it there safely and without anymore surprises."

"Yes... I must return, it's my obligation! I am the person everyone in the kingdom is counting on!" She stared down at the deck, her grip on the Pose tightening, "I will return home... Alive."

We all stared at her, her determination was almost empowering, if not a little dangerous. She may end up pushing herself to much...

"You'll get home, but there's no need to push yourself so hard." Sanji said, coming out of the kitchen with a tray of food. "You've got me." He brought the tray around to us, "Here try these sweets, they'll help you relax, I've made some delicious tarts and your choice of coffee or tea."

Vivi smiled up at the chef, "Thank you."

The boys (Including Carue but sans Zoro and Sanji) hungrily stared at the tarts. Sanji glared at them, "Yours are in the kitchen. Now go."

And they were off, "They'll never change will they?" I asked.

"I doubt it." Came Nami's almost laughing reply. Then she looked down at the deck. I got a worried feeling, then thought of something.

I stood up, slowly walking to the upper deck, "Zoro! You better not be working yourself too hard! Your stitches might pop!"

"I DIDN'T NEED THE DAMN STITCHES IN THE FIRST PLACE!"

"Everything I know about medicine begs to differ!"

"You made me lose count, Dammit!"

I walked over to his little training spot, he was using a slightly smaller weight than he had been using the past few times I had caught him training, I considered that some small win, then retreated back to the lower deck, I wanted one of those tarts.

Somehow, in the less then two minutes I was gone, Nami seemed to have gotten worse. "Vivi..." She said weakly, "I'm sorry, but... I need to rest..."

The princess glanced back at her, "Alright. Don't worry, Nami, you go get some rest, I'll keep everything under control here."

I walked up to Nami, reaching out to help her, "Here, Let me help you."

She shook me away from her, "No... I'm fine." She got to her feet only to fall down again.

"Nami!" I shouted, dropping to my knees.

Vivi joined me by her side as she gently placed her hand against Nami's forehead. "She's burning up!" She shifted so she was on the balls of her feet, "Hey everyone! Come quick!"

The door to the kitchen opened, "Whash wrong, Vivi? Are you OK?" Luffy asked though a mouth full of food.

I stood up, "Nami's sick. She's got a high fever!"

"WHAT?" Sanji shouted pushing everyone else out of the door way, "NAMI'S SICK?!"

Everyone gathered around her, I stared at them, "Give her some space, will you?!" I shooed them back a bit, "We need to get her into bed." I looked at Usopp, "Get some towels, and cold water please." The sharp shooter nodded and dashed off, I looked at Vivi, "Help me get her into bed."

The princess nodded as we both carefully brought Nami to her feet and walked towards the girl's room. The we slowly laid her down in the bed covering her with blankets.

Sanji stood at her bedside, crying dramatically, and biting a handkerchief. Usopp and Luffy just stared at her, completely serious.

I frowned, "Right now she's just got a fever, she's not going to die." Not yet anyway... I looked at Vivi who was wringing out a towel to place on Nami's forehead.

"Yes. It's most likely just cold caused by the climate, completely normal." Vivi set the towel down, sitting back, "Sailors in the Grand Line aren't usually used to the strange weather and can become quite ill. There are tales of strong pirates who suddenly died, their immune systems were attacked by colds and fevers. Ignoring the symptoms can make even the slightest cold deadly."

Sanji wailed, "N- Nami!"

Vivi looked at us, "Isn't there anyone aboard this ship with even the slightest amount of medical experience?" Usopp and Luffy pointed to me and Nami. Vivi looked expectantly at me, I shrugged.

"I have no idea what we might be dealing with other than a cold." Kestia, My brain said, You're dealing with Kestia. You have to get her to an experienced doctor soon! "But I've got a feeling it's much more than just a cold."

Vivi sighed, looking down at our sick navigator.

"Well, when you're sick, eating lots of meat always helps!" Luffy turned to Sanji, "Right, Sanji?"

The chef managed to stop crying, "Meat is protein, and that does give the body energy to operate properly... I can cook some food's that'll boost her energy... But there's no guarantees, I'm not a doctor." He was genuinely broken up about Nami being ill. He looked at her, "Besides, if my cooking made a difference she'd never get sick. I put a hundred times more care into preparing her meals than I do for you losers... I serve Nami, Vivi, and Leanah fresh meat and vegetables to ensure a balanced diet, anything that's rotten or moldy.." He pointed at Usopp and Luffy, "Goes to you."

Usopp smacked Sanji's hand, "Jerk!"

Luffy shrugged, "Oh well, still tastes good to me." He laughed.

I licked my lips, "This really isn't your average cold or climate illness. A balanced diet wouldn't have stopped her from getting sick."

Sanji sighed, "My point was that as long as I'm the cook on this ship no one's going to feed Nami better in terms of nutrition. I can do anything in the kitchen. Still, I do know that there are specific foods for different kinds of illnesses, but I can't make that call, she needs to be diagnosed by a doctor who'll tell us how to help her."

"Just... feed her everything that we've got." Luffy said.

We all stared at him, Sanji's stare was more of a glare, "Shut up, she doesn't have the energy to eat. She's. Sick."

Vivi took Nami's temperature, "Ah! 104! This isn't good!"

"What?" I looked at the thermometer myself, "Oh dear..."

"There's bound to be doctors and nurses in Alabasta that came help... right?" Usopp asked.

"Even if there are... I started staring down at the floor.

"We're at least a week away..." Vivi said hopelessly.

"Kay, so she's sick. Maybe we're overreacting." Luffy said.

"I don't know, I've never been this sick." Usopp and Sanji said in unison.

I resisted the urge to hit them both on the head, "Of course we're not over reacting! With a temperature of 104, her body is fighting off a really bad infection!"

"Yeah, if we don't get her help soon it could be life threatening!" Vivi said.

Cue everyone freaking out. "AHHH YOU MEAN NAMI'S GONNA DIE!?"

"GUYS, SHUT UP!" I shouted, "Your yelling isn't going to help her!"

"WE HAVE TO FIND A DOCTOR FOR NAMI BEFORE SHE DEEEEEIIIIIIISSSS!" Luffy screamed.

I raised my fist to hit him, but was stopped by Vivi, "OK, calm down! You're only going to make her feel worse!"

"Listen..." Nami said weakly. Everyone shut up and looked at her, "I'm fine."

"Nami..." Vivi said worryingly.

"Yay! She's cuuurrred!"

I hit Luffy. "Shut it!"

Nami huffed, this was taking a lot of energy she probably didn't have, "Go to my desk... and open the second drawer... There's a newspaper in the bottom."

I blinked, "Nami... Are you sure?" I asked as Vivi stood up.

"Yes. Vivi needs to know." The princess stopped for just a moment, then continued to the desk, I turned, watching her open the drawer and fish out the paper. She slowly read the article that was showing.

"No..." She shivered, "That's not possible..."

"Huh? What's up? Something wrong?" Luffy asked.

"Is it about Alabasta? Tell us."

I shivered, recalling reading that article.

"According to this article, 300 thousand royal soldiers have defected to the Resistance!" She stared at the paper in horror, "Until now we've been embroiled in a cold war, with 600 thousand royal soldiers against 400 thousand rebels. With this, the balance has shifted."

"The uprising in Alabasta will seriously escalate now. Things will get ugly." Nami looked over at Vivi, "That paper you're looking at is three days old. I'm sorry I didn't say something, but I couldn't change our speed, so I didn't want to worry you. There's nothing anyone can do right now, you understand, Luffy?"

The captain looked like he was really thinking this through, "Things are bad and they're beyond our control?"

"You got that better than I had hoped." She smiled, looking weaker by the minute.

"Nami, look, ya need to see a doctor right away." Usopp said.

"You do." I confirmed.

"Hm. Nah, I'm fine. The thermometer's broken, I mean, who gets a temperature of 104?" She slid out of the bed, standing up. "It's probably just a mild case of sunstroke, there's nothing a doctor could do for me that time won't." She walked towards the stairs to the upper deck, "Besides we don't have time to hunt for one, we need to head straight for Alabasta," She turned back to us, "Thank you for your concern though."

She pulled on her shoes and walked outside. "Huh... She sure recovered fast."

I crossed by arms, "She didn't recover."

"Yeah," Usopp said, "She's faking."

"Now that this conflict has escalated... more blood will be shed throughout the kingdom! We're at war! If I don't put a stop to this insanity the entire kingdom of Alabasta will be doomed! Crocodile will move in and seize control!" Vivi crinkled the paper, smashing her head into it. "You're trying to get me home safely but there's no time! I need to get home as quickly as possible, if I don't get back in time a million innocent citizens will give their lives needlessly!"

"There's a mill-" I cloncked Luffy on the head.

"That's not really important right now." I said.

"What a horrible burden you have to carry." Sanji said, almost as if seeing Vivi in a new light. "I'm sorry."

I sat down beside her as she began crying, "You realize you're not in this alone, right?" I leaned slightly, trying to put myself in her line of sight, "The entire Straw Hat crew is behind you no matter what." I pat her back, then turned slightly to Sanji, "Sanji, I want you to keep an eye on Nami, OK?"

"Right." The chef left the room just before Zoro called down.

"Hey! Get your butts out here, right now!"

We all left to get to the deck, leaving Vivi alone in the room. "Huh?" Luffy asked, "What is it?"

"You know," Sanji said stubbornly, "I find it hard to get motivated when you're the one giving orders."

"Shut up, and get moving. Take the seat and catch the port side wind."

Sanji looked over at our navigator, "Nami, what up? It's a perfect day, the sun is shining, the waves are quiet."

"The wind." Came her reply.

"Wind?"

"There's a powerful wind," Luffy jumped up to the upper deck, "It's heading right this way," Nami turned around just as Luffy reached out to feel her forehead, "I think- Huh? Luffy?"

A moment passed before Luffy took his hand away, "Ah! Your head is on fire! You gotta stay in bed and we gotta get you a doctor!"

"Maybe you should mind your own business! This is my normal temperature, now quit being so stupid and pull the damn ropes!"

"Nami, I know you're acting brave for Vivi, but if you keep pushing your body won't have a chance to heal." Carue warked in agreement.

"Sanji's right! Nami, go lie down again." I begged, "Please!"

"I told you guys I'm fine! Let it go!" She grabbed the railing for support.

"Whoa!" Usopp said calmly, "Take it easy."

"Not another word, dammit! Hurry and move the ship!" The navigator shouted.

And that's where the argument ended. We all went to stations, pulling the sails in place and changing the direction of the ship. Luffy hopped onto his usual perch.

Vivi exited the room, "I have to ask you all a favor!" She stood at the railing, "As a passenger on your ship it's not my place to ask this, but I have no choice. My homeland is in jeopardy of being destroyed so I would really appreciate it if we could move even faster. Every minute I'm out here puts more of my people in danger of losing their lives. We need to head for Alabasta at full speed!"

Everyone was quiet for a moment, "Of course we will." Nami said, smiling, "Just like we promised."

Another silence. Everyone was looking at either Vivi or Nami, the princess we all wanted to get home, and the dangerously sick navigator we all wanted to get better.

Vivi smiled, "Alright then, it's settled, let's find an island with a doctor in it right away," Nami was shocked by this, "First thing's first, we need to hurry and get Nami healthy again, then we head for Alabasta." She glanced down at us, "After all, we need her at the helm if we intend to move at top speed!"

"Right! No one makes this ship move like Nami!" Luffy said.

Usopp gave Vivi an odd look, "Princess, just hold on. Won't finding a doctor for Nami take time the citizens of Alabasta just don't have?"

"That's right, so the sooner we can get a doctor for Nami, the sooner we can get to Alabasta!"

Sanji smiled, "Those are wise words, Vivi. You're beautiful and brilliant."

"The girl's got guts."

I nodded, "You'll make a great queen some day, Vivi."

Nami hobbled over to Vivi, "Thank you, Vivi." she slumped more.

Vivi moved to support her, "Don't overexert yourself anymore."

"I'm... I-.. I'm sorry... I may.. need to lie down." The navigator collapsed into the princess's arms.

"Nami!"

"AHHH! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" Luffy shouted pointing at what looked like a giant spinning cylinder.

"It's a cyclone!" Vivi exclaimed.

Luffy jumped on the mast, wrapping an arm around it, "IT'S HHUUUUUGGGEEE!"

"W- Wait! That's the same path we were on a moment ago!" Vivi shouted.

Sanji nodded, "Vivi's right, that's the exact same direction!"

"It would have been a direct hit if he had kept going straight! We'd be dead right now!"

"Well, thank god we listened to Nami!" I shouted, tightening my pony tail and taking off my bandana so the winds wouldn't blow it away.

Lightning shot down from the sky and hit a patch of water not far from where we would have been had we not turned. "Whoa! You see that?! Way too close! We barely missed it!" Luffy shouted again. A moment passed. Luffy looked down at us, "Alright! What are we waiting here for!? LET'S FIND NAMI A DOCTOR!"

The entire crew let out one simultaneous "Yeah!"

Author's Note:

We are approaching Drum Island. Seriously, it's like... next chapter or so. Drum Island is one of my favorites (I'm going to say that a lot so bear with me.) And not just because of Chopper or Ace's first "appearance" (flash backs are tricky you know), but because I generally like the story with Hiriluk and Kureha, plus it is the first place where attention is really brought to the Will of the D.

There are so many road blocks in the way of what I'm planning to do with this story, and by god I'm trying my hardest to either work around them or rewrite so I don't hit them. Any major problems are gonna hitch up my writing a bit, so chapters may be coming slower than they have been.

Your ever willing author,
Kari910