Phew, finally finished this one. Still not as quickly as I would like but since my muses are taking frequent breaks (I swear, they get lazier every week) I've had to wait for them to come back before putting final touches on anything. Sorry about the wait on this one.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece

Warnings: Brief, Mild Language.

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! It's always appreciated!

Nami wasn't in the study. Or the kitchen. Or the aquarium room. None of the crew I ran into along the way had seen her recently, either. The search took another twenty minutes, and now we were getting close to running out of time.

Finally, I went to Ussop's work station to ask him where the navigator might be hiding. I never made it to the bottom of the stairs, as Nami came bolting up toward me. "Nami!" I reached for her but missed as she skirted around me and took off toward the deck.

"Can't right now!" she squeaked. "Volcanoes!"

"That's what I came to tell you," I ran up the stairs after her. "I saw something around that island earlier." I followed her all the way to the wheel of the ship.

Nami pushed Sanji to one side and began turning it as hard as she could. She only managed to turn it three-quarters when the tide started fighting back. Giving it another futile tug, Nami changed tact. "Sanji, help me!" she shouted at the man she had knocked to the deck seconds before.

Sanji bounced to his feet with all the energy of a triathlon runner. "Yes, Nami!" he answered before taking the helm. "Where to?"

"Starboard full," Nami commanded before turning and shouting across the deck to the other cabins. "Everyone out here, now!"

I immediately dropped to my knees as the Sunny turned more sharply than I would have thought possible for a ship this size, not willing to fall over again. I looked up to watch Zoro, Ussop and Franky running across the foredeck toward us, their feet tilted and their bodies angled to accommodate the Sunny's motion. Show-offs.

Zoro and Franky ran past me to Nami, Ussop pausing just long to ask me why I was on the floor before following them without waiting for an answer. Not that I was really in the frame of mind to give one as I felt the deck beneath my fingers begin to tremble and knew we were nearly right on top of the underwater volcanoes.

Why an island with volcanoes? I thought frantically. Why not just a nice, normal island without anything trying it's damnedest to maim, drown or eat this crew?

Why? Because it was this crew.

The skeleton came bounding up the stairs next, swinging his cane and laughing as the first eruption broke through the surface of the water not far from the Sunny, sending waves of ocean crashing into the bow.

Nami began dishing out orders to move the ship, only half of which I even understood, and turned to where I was still crouched on the deck as the four men ran off again.

"Renna, get downstairs and stay in my room!" she shouted over the next explosion, this one just a little closer than the last. "If we get hit by an eruption you could go flying off the Sunny!"

"If one of those things hits us we'll all go flying off the Sunny!" I pointed out from where I was splayed across the flat wood. Still, being below deck was sounding like a pretty good idea at the moment. If only I could get there without rolling off the ship into the water…

Why did everything in this world have to be ten times more dangerous than in mine? I couldn't remember ever even hearing about an underwater volcano erupting so suddenly, or with so much force behind it. The least I could hope for was that it didn't release too much toxic gas or something as equally lethal.

"Which way, Nami dear?" Sanji asked as another eruption rocked the Sunny.

I didn't hear the navigator's reply as I was now tumbling along the deck toward the railing, banging my knee painfully against the boards. "Ack!"

"Renna!" Something huge and hairy grabbed me before I could spill over the side and pulled me back to safety. "Are you okay?"

I looked up at the now enormous doctor and had to keep from shrieking in his face, as I figured that might be considered quite rude. I had actually never seen Chopper's transformation first-hand. He really did look like a gorilla. I forced myself to recover from the shock as quickly as I could. "Yeah, thanks."

"Chopper, get her out of here!" Nami commanded, grabbing the railing around the wheel as the Sunny tipped wildly.

The doctor scooped me up and ran toward the stairs, keeping his footing surprisingly well for such a big person…animal…thing. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tried not to pull on his fur too much.

Chopper managed to get me down to the girls' room and walked inside, leaning against the doorframe and holding me up when the ship bucked suddenly, vibrating with the force of the eruptions. "Stay in here until someone comes to get you," he ordered before disappearing again, closing the door behind him.

I didn't remember the reindeer being quite so bossy before, although, I reasoned, I was the weakest person on this ship. It was probably just his healer's instincts kicking in, trying to protect the ones who couldn't protect themselves. I sat heavily on Robin's bed to avoid being thrown into the wall and listened to Sanji and Zoro shouting angrily at each other from the riggings. Not being able to see what was happening was much worse than I thought it would be and, while I had no desire to be tossed into the middle of an aquatic mine field, I had to try not to pace around the small room as I waited.

Another explosion, this one right next to the Sunny, rattled the walls with enough force to knock several books down from Robin's bookshelf and I scooted over to get out of their path as they bounced off the bed onto the floor. It occurred to me then that the crew probably spent a lot of time cleaning the cabins after any kind of major event, what with everything being tossed every which way when the ship lurched around like this.

After what seemed like forever but was probably only a few minutes the ride became much smoother and I let out the last breath I had been holding. Was it over? I waited a little longer, frozen on the edge of Robin's bed, listening as hard as I could for any sounds coming from outside the room.

A sharp rapping sounded at the door and I heard Zoro's voice a moment later, "Come on out. It's fine."

Practically flying from the bed I threw the door open to bolt outside, eager to check on the crew despite the fact that I already expected everyone to be alright. They were incredibly strong, after all. What I hadn't expected was for the swordsman to still be standing directly outside the door. I bounced off his broad chest with a startled 'Oomph' and tumbled back into the room, landing hard on my tailbone.

"Ow," I glared reproachfully up at him.

"What's the matter with you?" Zoro frowned at me. "Why are you so jumpy?"

I bit back an angry retort and got to my feet, brushing past him to run out onto the deck and calling for the navigator. "Nami!"

Zoro followed me up the stairs, still frowning as I reached the foredeck and spotted Nami standing next to Sanji and grinning widely at a job well done. She turned and waved to us as I jogged up to her, being as careful as I could not to slip on the wet deck.

"Looks like you made it through okay," Nami observed. "And we've arrived in one piece, too."

"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I was trying to find you earlier, I though I saw something in the water but I wasn't sure-"

"It's fine," Nami waved away my apology. "I was kind of expecting something like this anyway. There were rumors…" She trailed off, turning around to look out toward the front of the Sunny.

Following her gaze I noticed we were now fast approaching what looked like a small town at the edge of the island, surrounded by trees on three sides and ocean on the fourth. I felt the familiar apprehension beginning again as the island drew closer. The crew I could manage, but there were still far more dangerous things dotting the civilizations and forests alike in this world. I unconsciously moved closer to the navigator and she chuckled.

"Don't worry about it," she said. "Nothing we can't handle, you know that."

Yes, I did know they could handle it. But could I? Edging out a little further I watched as we sailed close enough to sight a working port and Nami gave directions for bringing the ship in to dock. I suspected her orders were more out of habit at this point, since the guys seemed to be more than used to doing that very thing. The girl had to keep up appearances, I though in mild amusement.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Ussop standing beside me, grinning.

"Ready?" he asked.

"No," I answered truthfully. "Not really."

Ussop laughed and drew away, calling over his shoulder as he descended the stairs behind Zoro, "I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think this island is too dangerous. We've seen far worse, anyway."

That really didn't make me feel any better, but I kept my worries to myself as the Sunny pulled into port and I got a better look at the sea-side town.

The buildings were mostly white or grey, stretching inland and spreading out along the coast in a very unobtrusive manner. A few merchants with carts dotted the dirty streets just past the docks, looking slightly bedraggled and completely silent. It was a little depressing, honestly.

I followed Nami down to the grassy middle deck and paused in surprise when she turned and pulled a folded piece of paper out of her pocket and held it out in front of me. "What's this?" I asked. I was pretty sure it was the same paper she had taken from the wall in the kitchen earlier.

"Directions," Nami explained. "I need you to take Zoro into the woods on the west side of the town."

"Can I leave him there?" I scoffed, taking the paper from her and looking it over. It was a map of the town and surrounding forest, lined with little roads and labels for just about everything. On the far left side was what looked like a small building, surrounded by tiny trees and labeled, 'Shogun'. I frowned thoughtfully. "Shogun?"

"It's the only name he goes by," Nami shrugged, pushing her long hair behind her shoulders. "Zoro can protect you if anything happens, but it'll take him three days to find the place on his own."

"Why do I have to take him?" I wondered out loud at the risk of sounding whiny and petulant. I was remembering the last time I had been sent onto an island with the swordsman. It had been interesting, to say the least.

"I would do it myself but I have to try to find a somewhat reliable map of the next island," Nami explained with a hint of sympathy. "Robin and Chopper are going to the bookstore, Ussop and Franky will be headed for the only armor and mechanic supply shop and Sanji is going to the market. Brook volunteered to stay and guard the Sunny, so that leaves you." She smiled encouragingly. "Really Renna, it's a good thing you're here or I'd have to send him by himself. With you around it will go much faster."

"Where's Luffy?" I asked. Nami pointed to the island and I sighed. I probably could have guessed that on my own. More than likely the captain had been off the ship before it was even fully docked.

I sighed again in defeat and tucked the paper into the pocket of my jeans. I knew the navigator was using flattery to make me more agreeable to her plan, and I also knew that if she was that desperate I would help her without too much complaint. I already owed them quite a bit after all, and was relieved she wasn't asking for money instead. "Alright," I said as neutrally as I could manage. "Where is he?"

I really, really didn't want to go. Not that I thought the swordsman was incapable of dealing with whatever we might run into, I just didn't want to run into anything in the first place. Why tempt fate? However, Ussop had said the island was relatively safe and I believed him. Then again, I corrected myself, Ussop was a liar.

I tried to stop the doubts floating around in my head and focused on Nami as she answered, "Behind you."

Turning, I watched Zoro walk up to us from the door of the men's sleeping quarters, scowling darkly. Obviously Nami had already told him of this plan of hers, I thought with a hint of mean-spirited satisfaction. Only the navigator, and the cook I supposed, could make Zoro look that irritated.

He stopped beside us, glaring at me with his one good eye and addressing Nami. "This had better be worth it, witch."

Nami looked like she wanted to kick him but controlled the urge in favor of getting everyone off the ship and where they needed to be. "Just do it," she snapped before turning away to walk over to Robin, Chopper, Franky and Ussop as the group moved toward the side of the Sunny. I could see Sanji already standing on the dock, waiting for the others.

I followed the swordsman to the railing and started toward the ladder with the rest of them when I felt him grab my arm to stop me. I looked over at him, curious. "What?"

"Nuh-uh," he shook his head a fraction. "I remember you and ladders. That'll take way too long. We're getting this over with."

I was about to ask him what the hell he meant by that when he crouched down in front of me and pulled me up onto his back piggy-back style, moving so fast I couldn't quite hold in a squeak of surprise. My knee knocked against the hilts of his katana, the same knee I had hit on the deck earlier, and I smacked him on the shoulder in irritation as he stood up again. "Finesse, cave man," I scolded. "Finesse."

Zoro ignored me and took a flying leap off the side of the Sunny to the dock below, making me forget about my knee completely as I clutched at him to keep from slipping. I squeaked again, this time in fear and irritation, and braced myself as we hit the wood of the dock and he let me slip back down to the ground. Looking over his shoulder briefly to see if I was following, Zoro started across the dock toward the town without a word.

Not having much choice in the matter if I didn't want to be left behind, I checked to make sure the paper was still safely in my pocket and followed behind him, glaring daggers at his back.

This was going to be a long trip.