PLEASE READ: My next update will be late. I shall not have access to a computer from an hour after I post this chapter to around about the 30th of April. So, I will upload my chapter when I get back or at the start of May. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I didn't want any of you to think that I had given up on this story. I promise you all that I shall be back.

Heat.

It was hot. Really hot.

Why was it so hot? Why was it so dark! Why couldn't I breathe...?

Suddenly I was snapped to attention as everything around me burned, my eyes snapping open. I was met by fire everywhere around me… What?

The others around me seemed to just be waking up as well; Nami and Vivi already launching themselves out of the fire with weapons at the ready.

I jumped after them, following them out of the fire as I heard both Nami and Vivi hit something. I landed next to Nami, my chest heaving from the quick, relieved breaths I was taking. God, it was good to be able to breathe again!

I quickly looked around and saw that Usopp was on the ground and Ms. Umbrella Chick was slumped over behind him.

"It's really hot. Didn't you have a better way to do it?" Nami chided Usopp. Ah, so Usopp got us out! Great!

"Stop complaining, you should thank me for saving your life," Usopp muttered as he stared at us.

"That's right, thanks!" Nami said as she held her staff in a battle ready position. The fire had burnt her top off so that she was now only in a short skirt and bra.

Vivi coughed from besides her, her pendulums spinning around on both her hands. Her shirt was burnt a bit, but not as bad as Nami's. "This is unbelievable, we're still alive!"

I let a loud bark out for Usopp, my tail wagging like a fan from happiness. I was so glad he had saved us! Looks like running isn't the only thing he's good at. Honestly though, most of fur was a bit singed at the ends and I think he had burnt my whiskers off! But altogether I wasn't in too bad shape. My leg was still sore again from my pulled muscles and it had a large cut through it, but it had stopped bleeding now.

"All the candles are melting," Mr. Booger's voice rang out causing all our heads to snap in his direction. He was holding out a gun in our direction as he talked, ready to fire at us. "You are some trouble makers. I can't lose anymore."

I tensed up my muscles, ready to spring into action but Usopp beat me.

"Take this!" He cried as he pulled back his sling shot. "KAYAKU BOSHI*!"

"Idiot!" Mr. Booger snapped as he stepped forward and caught the flying bullet in his mouth. "I have already shown you that gun powder can't do anything to me!"

"Did you eat that?" Usopp asked with a confident smirk on his face. I quickly slipped over to his side, trying to not put weight on my sore leg. I stood by his side, ready in case Mr. Booger tried to attack him.

Suddenly Mr. Booger got an odd look on his face like he was constipated.

"Sorry that I lied to you. That bullet is not made of gunpowder," Usopp explained as he slowly stood up. "It's a special kind of hot sauce that I made!"

"AGH!" Mr. Booger suddenly cried as he threw his head back, his hands wrapping around his throat. "Hot! Hot! HOT!"

"Hahaha!" Usopp laughed from besides me. "I knew how hot it was because I've tried that once!"

I don't think that is a good thing Usopp.

"You stupid pirates!" Mr. Booger cried out from his place kneeling over on the ground, still clutching at his throat. "I will explode myself along with you!"

With that said Mr. Booger launched himself at Usopp wrapping him arms around Usopp's shoulders and tackling him to the ground whilst crying, "You will be blown into tiny pieces!"

I needed to get Usopp away from him! Without another thought, I launched myself at the two whilst they were still falling in mid-air. I somewhat awkwardly latched onto the sleeve of Usopp's shirt, my body colliding with Mr. Booger. He let go and I managed to push him away slightly with my tackle, Usopp's shirt was still clutched between my teeth as we landed. Usopp and I landed on the ground as I let go out his shirt, stumbling to keep my balance. I quickly jumped back in front of Usopp to face off with Mr. Booger as he got to his feet again, his face murderous.

Suddenly a voice called from the fire, "Killing, evil…."

"YAKI ONI GIRI*!" Zoro cried as he came flying out of the fire, slashing at Mr. Booger and cutting him straight across his chest. Blood spurted from Mr. Booger's chest as he was engulfed with the flames from Zoro's swords. In slow motion he fell backwards as Zoro landed near us in a semi crouching position, the fire around his swords slowly extinguishing.

"Fire swords aren't that bad," He commented as put his swords away, back in their sheaths. A lot of his clothes were burnt in places, and there was blood still running from his legs.

Before I had a chance to flitter over to him and act like a mother hen again a large hand thumped on the ground as the giant began to push himself up.

"So? To be alive is the happiest ting in this world, right?" Zoro asked him.

"Gababa," Brogy laughed as he straightened himself into a sitting position. "You're right."

"Teacher…" Usopp mumbled as he stared at the giant.

"There are two more enemies?" Brogy asked us.

"OHHHHHHHHHH!" Brogy cried out, tears streaming out of his eyes like jets of water. "OHHH! OHHHHHH!"

His tears splashed around us all like torrential rain as the others all covered their ears. Me? Well, I didn't have hands. I just had my ears folded back against my skull, a grimace across my face. Everyone was back together now, all still alive thankfully. All the enemies had been taken care of as far as I knew.

"Even his crying is ear-splittingly energetic!" Nami gritted out.

"It's like looking at a waterfall!" Zoro pointed out, talking about the giant's tears.

"Hey! Look! You can see a rainbow behind him!" Luffy suddenly called out in awe.

"QUACK!" The duck quacked.

"My ears…" Vivi grimaced.

"I understand master!" Usopp sobbed out, tears streaming out of his eyes.

"UOHHHHHH!" Brogy continued to cry. "OHHHH!"

Suddenly the large giant that everyone had though dead sat up, clutching at his bleeding shoulder. Everyone's eyes bulged out of their heads as their jaws dropped. Mine included. When had he gotten here? He was here the whole time…?

"Seems I've passed out for a bit," Dorry grunted.

"Dorry!" Brogy exclaimed. "You're…?"

"Mr. Dorry!" Vivi called out thankfully.

"MISTER!" Luffy called out just as enthusiastically.

"It's most likely because of our weapons…." Dorry huffed out, hunching over slightly.

"The weapons!" Usopp questioned as he tried to dry his eyes. "Ah! That's right! Even Elbaf's weapons couldn't withstand all the stress of a duel that's been going on for a hundred years!"

"Unbelievable!" Luffy called out.

"GABABABA!" Brogy laughed as I watched on silently; glad to see that everything had worked out.

"It's a miracle!" Usopp exclaimed once he had finally stopped crying.

Brogy reached over and threw his arm around his friend, pulling him in for an enthusiastic hug. "Thank God you've survived, my dearest friend! Gababababa!"

"Don't hug me so much Brogy, you're hurting my wounds…" Dorry grunted out, although in a friendly way. "Gegyagyagya."

"A miracle? It's only expected… If anything, it's a miracle those weapons still look like weapons after 100 years of constant usage," Zoro pointed out. "No to mention the wielders themselves still wanting to fight after so long…"

"WHAT A SPLENDID DAY THIS IS!" Brogy cried out suddenly causing another grimace to cross my face. "LET US THANK THE GOD OF ELBAF!"

"Ha, are you that happy about finally landing a blow on me and making me pass out?" Dorry teased his friend.

"You know that's not the reason you big old fool!" Brogy cried out as he reached out to smack Dorry over the back of the head.

"OW!" He yelped. "Don't touch my wound. Gegyagyagya."

"Haha," I heard Nami laughing breathlessly along with the giants.

I jumped slightly, my head shooting up as suddenly the two giants were standing up and squaring off with each other.

"You wanna fight!" Snarled Brogy as he glared at his friend.

"I will knock you down this time!" Dorry yelled in reply as his clenched his fists.

"Hey! Why are you fighting again!" Nami screamed at them in anger as Luffy pissed himself laughing next to her. I sighed quietly, my tail giving a soft wag. I needed a nap, I was exhausted. Seems almost dying is more tiring than one might think.

"We want to thank you for saving our lives," Brogy told us. We were all sitting around now, Dorry with his wounds patched up. I was curled into a ball, my head tucked against my side. My back was pressed against the stone Zoro was sitting on. I could still see everyone from my position as they continued to talk. Where was Sanji? I haven't seen him this whole time….

"Gegyagyagya. We've completely forgot that we're still wanted by the government," Dorry laughed as his back rested up against a huge stone.

"Because of me, those people are coming to this island…" Vivi sighed, lowering her head. Nami strolled over to her, grabbing her cheek and pinching it. "Ouch!"

"Stop speaking nonsense," Nami scolded her.

"That's right Vivi. Why are you worrying about that?" Luffy asked her, resting on his side as he chewed a rice ball. Usopp and the duck sat behind him, also eating the rice balls. "Here, do you want some rice balls?"

"Where did you get that from…?" Nami hesitantly asked as she sweat dropped. I silently laughed to myself at how carefree these guys were acting already. We had almost been killed and now they are lazing around laughing. They're all insane. Me included I dare say.

"Let's have a rice ball party!" Luffy suddenly called out.

The others started to talk amongst themselves as I zoned out again. Where was Sanji? Should we be looking for him? What if he was hurt and lost somewhere? But how would I find him… I have no idea where he is on this huge island. It's not like I caught his scent anywhere either. Why hadn't the other noticed? How could I tell them…

"But we need one year to lock onto the frequency. That's no kidding," Zoro suddenly pointed out from besides me, causing me to grudgingly switch my attention back them. Maybe Sanji was already back at the boat.

"That's right, it's no joke at all," Nami agreed with him.

"Can't you do anything mister?" Luffy asked as he stood up and pointed at Dorry.

"Don't be silly. This is the only thing we can't control," Dorry answered him with a wave of his giant hands.

"WOW!" A loud voice suddenly called casing my head to snap up as Sanji ran into the clearing. "NAMI! VIVI! I'm so glad you are safe!"

That idiot looked completely fine! Why the hell had I been worrying about him!

"Hey! Sanji!" Luffy called out with a wave.

"He didn't do anything!" Usopp snarled. "How dare he come out!"

Sanji suddenly stopped dead, his eyes bulging as he looked at Dorry. "What's this! Are you Mr. Three!"

"How do you know about Mr. Three?" Nami questioned him.

Sanji turned around to answer her but his eyes turned into heart as he gaped at Nami's current coverings. "Nami! You're so sexy!"

Idiot, truly an idiot. With a sigh I dropped my head back against my side, curling into the ball even tighter. I sighed once more, my shoulders slowly relaxing. I was glad to see that everyone was okay after all. Geez, can these guys not go somewhere without causing any trouble?

"So… You were talking to Mr. Zero!" Vivi concluded after hearing Sanji's story.

"Yes, he thought I was Mr. Three," Sanji admitted.

"So… He believes that all of us are dead!" Vivi asked Sanji, leaning forward excitedly.

"That's what I told him," Sanji replied.

"Even though no one is trying to kill us, we still can't get off this island!" Usopp exclaimed in despair.

"Can't get out, what do you mean?" Sanji asked causing my head to lift up as he pulled something out of his pocket. "You have some business in this place? I just got this thing."

Everyone's jaw, including mine, dropped when we saw what he held in his hands. It was an Eternal Pose to Alabasta!

"Eh?" He said blinking as he saw our reactions. "What's wrong?"

"The Eternal Pose to Alabasta!" Usopp cried out as he jumped up.

"Great!" Nami joined in with his cry.

"Let's have a rice ball party!" Luffy added.

Vivi ran over and threw herself at Sanji, hugging him, "Thank you so much Sanji! I thought we couldn't get out!"

"Yo… You're welcome!" Sanji cried happily. "I didn't know that you would be so happy!"

"Finally we can get out here!" Luffy pointed out causing me to sigh yet again. That we could, but I didn't want to move. Blah. I slowly heaved myself back up to my feet, shaking out my slightly burnt fur.

"Let's hurry up and get out of here," Nami added.

"By the way…" Sanji suddenly added darkly as he pointed his thumb at Zoro. "Have you forgotten about our hunting competition?"

I twitched in annoyance, anger crossing my face at the mention of that fucking competition between them. That was the start of our problems and I hadn't got to nip them yet! They had just dumped me at the boat with Usopp and Nami!

"I will win for sure," Zoro snorted as he held out his arms. "I caught a very huge rhinoceros!"

I stalked forward angrily, making a beeline straight to Zoro since he started this damn thing. I lunged forward when I got near him, snapping my jaws in a warning nip on the side of his thigh.

"Hey!" Zoro yelped as he stepped back whilst glaring at me. "What the hell?"

Sanji snorted from beside him in amusement. Oh he finds this funny does he? Did he really forget what had happened last time? Well he will be next!

Before he had time to consider that I might bite him too, I had already nipped him in the same place I got Zoro.

"Oi!" He yelped as well as he cut off his laughter.

Now both of them men were looking at me angrily and I met their stares with a dark glare of my own. 'I am in a really bad mood,' I purred mentally. 'Do. Not. Fuck. With. Me!'

Before Sanji or Zoro could do anything we were interrupted by Luffy, "Then it's time to say goodbye! I wish both of you luck!"

"Oh! You must be in a hurry!" Brogy pointed out, smiling once again like when we first meet him.

"That's too bad, but we won't stop you," Dorry sighed. "I hope that you can save your country."

"Thank you," Vivi replied whilst smiling back at him.

"Look! My lizard is clearly bigger!" Sanji snarled as he shoved his face right in front of Zoro's.

'I… I will NOT bite them,' I mentally growled as I held my anger back on the verge. My tail was swishing back and forth behind me like a whip as I closed my eyes in anger. 'I shall not bite them.'

"Are your eyes just for show or something?" Zoro grunted in reply. "The bigger animal is my rhino."

Everyone was back at the ship now, Vivi and Usopp were conversing from their place at the bow of the ship. Luffy was leaning against the railing watching Zoro and Sanji who were standing atop two separate dinosaurs and arguing whose was bigger. Nami stood just outside of the main cabin and I was sitting next to her.

"Who cares," Luffy said to them. "They both look pretty tasty to me."

"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!" Zoro and Sanji snapped at the same time.

"How long are you two going to bicker?" Nami sighed as she asked them much more calmly than I would have. "We can't even carry that much meat. Just pack up as much as we need and let's go already. It's time to set sail!"

"As you wish Nami!" Sanji cooed and waved to her.

"Hey, Usopp. Mine's clearly bigger, right?" Zoro asked Usopp whilst pointing to his dinosaur.

'Must not bite… Must resist…' My face muscles twitched as I kept my eyes closed, concentrating on breathing.

"Huh? I couldn't care less," He replied to Zoro.

"Is a tie no good?" Vivi asked curiously.

"There's no tie in a contest!" Zoro snapped in reply to her questioning.

'Resist… Resist… Resistresistresist,' I mentally chanted to myself.

Sanji and Zoro had managed to stop arguing before I bit them both and we were now sailing back out of the river so we could reach open sea again. Most us were on the front deck to watch as we went. I was sitting by Vivi's side whilst I calmed down over Zoro and Sanji being idiots. Nami and Carue were by the mast and Usopp was outside the main cabin.

"Do you think we should have packed some more of that meat?" Luffy asked us.

"Don't be stupid. We don't even have enough space to preserve any more than this," Sanji pointed out to him.

"Are you trying to sink our ship?" Nami snarled.

"Ah! It's the giants!" Luffy suddenly called as he pointed forward. "They've come to see us off!"

Sure enough they were standing opposite end of the river opening, their backs to us as they faced the sea.

"The most important reason why all the little ones who come to this island," Brogy started to say as his cloak flapped in the wind.

"Do not reach the next island that lies straight ahead," Dorry added to his friend's sentence.

"What?" Nami asked in confusion at their sentence that made no sense.

"You all risked your lives so that our pride can remain untarnished," Dorry continued.

"Thus, in turn, no matter the foe…" Brogy called out us as we sailed up to them.

"We must not let your flag of pride be tarnished either!" Dorry cried out with conviction.

"Trust in us and sail straight ahead!" Brogy raised his voice as he gave us instructions. "No matter what happens, sail only straight ahead!"

"What're they..." Zoro mumbled.

"Got it!" Luffy called out to them. "Sail straight ahead!"

"Farewell," Usopp called out as we sailed past them and into the open sea.

"Let us meet again," Dorry told us as he held up his sword.

"One day in the future," Brogy finished for his friend, raising his own axe.

"LOOK! UP AHEAD!" Nami suddenly cried out causing all our attention to be taken of the giants and to our path ahead.

A large fin popped out of the water, a seemingly endless face coming up out of the waves. The eyes of the animal were bigger than the ship! Slowly its head fully rose out of the water revealing that it was a large goldfish-like creature.

"What is that thing!" Zoro called out.

"Is it a Sea King!" Sanji joined in his cry.

"GRAB THE HELM OR WE'RE GOING TO BE SWALLOWED ALIVE!" I heard Nami cry from behind us.

"What in the world… Is that a giant Goldfish!" Usopp stuttered. "Huh? Giant goldfish? I feel like I've heard that before…"

I stayed silent on the front deck as I stared in awe at the giant fish. The giants said to go straight… Right?

"Usopp!" Nami snapped at him. "Hurry!"

"I won't!" He replied. "We'll be going straight ahead! R-Right Luffy?"

"Yep," Luffy replied calmly. "You bet."

The giant fished opened up is mouth, ready to swallow the ship as we sailed straight at it. Luffy wasn't worried and I trusted the giants. I've learnt over time it's best to calm in these sorts of situations. At least when I'm with these guys anyway.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Nami snapped at Luffy. "This is completely different then getting swallowed by Laboon!"

"Yeah, yeah," Luffy waved off her worry. "Just pipe down already. Here, I'll even give you the last rice ball!"

"I don't need any rice balls! If we don't turn this ship around this instant we'll-" Nami started to shriek at him before she was cut off.

"Nami," Zoro's voice came from behind us near Nami. When had he moved? "Give it up already."

"Luffy! You sure those giants are trustworthy, right?" Sanji yelled out to Luffy as everyone else started to scatter around to get ready.

"Yup," Was Luffy simplistic reply as he nodded his head.

"Are you serious! We're really going to sail straight into that monster!" Vivi joined in with Nami's shrieking. Jeez, my ears were starting to hurt. They needed to chill.

I frowned and reached over to prod Vivi in the side of her leg with nose. She looked down at me, eyes wide. I sent her a look before shaking my head to try and get her to realize that freaking out would do nothing. Luffy had made up his mind.

"OH NO!" Nami cried out. "IT'S TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING NOW!"

"KYAAAA!" Nami screamed as the fish began to close its mouth and everything went dark.

"STRAIGHT AHEAD! STRAIGHT AHEAD!" Usopp chanted to himself in the dark.

"What're you screaming for! We've already been swallowed alive!" I heard Nami snap at him.

I silently watched straight ahead of the ship, mentally wishing for something to happen soon. I'd start freaking out with the others if something didn't happen soon.

"HAKOKU*!" Two really large voices called out as light suddenly exploded before all our eyes. I felt myself get thrown back to the decking as the ship was throw forward and out of a big hole that had been put in the fish.

"WOOOHOOO!" I heard Luffy's excited voice call out from the front. "WE'RE FLYING! DON'T TURN BACK NOW! FLY STRAIGHT AHEAD!"

I tried to scramble back to my feet as the wind rushed over us, my eyes squeezed closed from the rushing air currents. I could feel the ship flying under my paws as I finally straightened myself out. Gently I peeled my eyes open to see a wonderful view of blue ahead us. The sky and the sea mixed together on the horizon as the air rushed over my fur, ruffling it and my bandana. I stared on breathlessly at the beauty of such a terrifying thing.

"They cut… The ocean itself…" Usopp sobbed over the sound of the wind. "So this is… The power of Elbaf's warriors…! Absolutely stunning!"

I grunted as the boat slammed back down the water, my sore leg jolted roughly.

"NOW GO!" Two loud giant voices roared from behind us.

I felt my chest flutter from excitement at the adventure ahead of us and the adrenaline that was flowing through my veins. Those two giants helped out a heap, without them we wouldn't have gotten off that island.

I took a large breath in as I tilted my muzzle up to the sky, blue swimming in my vision once more. I gently closed my eyes as I slowly let a sound build up in my chest.

"ARROOOOOOOOOOO!" I howled back to our new friends in farewell; may we meet them again the future.

"EVERYONE!" I heard Vivi's voice call out in panic. "IT'S AN EMERGENCY!"

I lifted my head up in confusion as my brain slowly started up again. I had been napping before Vivi had screamed but the worry in her voice had me clambering to my feet and running towards the sound.

"NAMI'S COLLAPSED WITH AN EXTREMELY HIGH FEVER!"

"Iz Nabi gunna die!" Sanji sobbed as he chewed his handkerchief. "Well! Iz she Bibi?"

"It must be from the climate change…" Vivi mumbled from her place kneeling next to the bed Nami was tucked away in. "The one obstacle that all sailors who enter the Grand Line will crash into sooner or later is sickness caused by the abnormal climate! No matter how famous or strong of a pirate you are, helplessly dying at the hands of such illnesses is a common occurrence here in Grand Line."

A soft whine made its way out of my throat as I rested my head against the bed Nami was laying on. My body was sitting on the ground as I rested my head, my ears pressed flat back against my skull in worry. Behind Vivi and I stood Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp. Luffy was abnormally quiet, not that I could blame him. The duck, Carue, was sitting on a mat behind them.

"Even the slightest symptoms can lead to death if ignored," Vivi explained to us quietly as Nami panted for breath in her sleep. "Isn't there anyone on the ship with medical knowledge?"

"Oh I'm sure she'll get better if she just eats some meat!" Luffy declared as he turned his attention to Sanji. "Right, Sanji!"

"Well, I obviously plan on giving her nutritious meals that are easy enough to digest even for a sick person but…" Sanji said sadly. "Even all that only goes so far as to be called 'nursing'… It may not actually cure her. And in the first place, when it comes to preparing meals for Nami and Vivi, I put 100 times more effort then for the rest of you lot. I only use the freshest meats and vegetables to cook a perfectly balanced meal for them. The leftover scraps and ingredients on the verge of spoiling are then given to you…"

"What!" Usopp yelped.

"Even so, it still tastes great! Ahahaha!" Luffy laughed at Usopp's worry.

"In any case, as long as I'm the chef on this ship, there won't be any troubles related to malnutrition or such. So if someone is still sick, then that's because of a completely different illness. And unless I know what that is, I won't know what type of meal to prepare that would be best either," Sanji pointed out.

"Couldn't you just eat everything instead?" Luffy asked him dumbly.

"Not having enough energy to even eat is what we call being sick in the first place you idiot," Sanji deadpanned at his captains idiocy.

"F-Forty degrees!" Vivi yelped from besides me as she looked at the thermometer. "Her fever rose again!"

Another whine made its way out of my throat as I sat there listlessly watching her chest rise and fall.

"There should be doctors in Alabasta right?" Usopp asked her. "Just how much longer until we get there, Vivi?"

"I… Don't know," Vivi said weakly. "But it'll definitely be more than a week!"

"Is being sick really that painful?" Luffy suddenly asked causing my head to lift up and look in his direction in confusion. He didn't know what being sick was like?

"Dunno, can't say I've ever been sick myself," Both Sanji and Usopp admitted at the same time.

"ARE YOU PEOPLE EVEN HUMAN!" Vivi yelled at them, echoing my thoughts very well. Hell, I'd been sick before. It sucks. I felt really sorry for Nami; she didn't look well at all. I hated seeing people sick because it was one of those times I just couldn't do anything to help them. "Of course it's painful! A 40 degree fever almost never happens! In fact, it's enough to even put her life at serious risk!"

"GYAAA!" Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji all screamed at the same time, seeming to only just get how serious this was. I growled softly at them, they need to shut up! They were disturbing Nami.

"WILL SHE DIE!" Luffy demanded to know.

"PREEZ DUN' DIE DABI!" Sanji sobbed loudly.

"AAHHHH!" Usopp screamed as he clutched his head and ran around.

"STOP MAKING A FUSS AND SHUT UP!" Vivi snapped at them.

"WE HAVE TO GO FIND A DOCTOR AND SAVE NAMI RIGHT AWAY!" Luffy yelled out.

"Yes, I know!" Vivi snapped as she held out her hand at Luffy in a 'stop' position. "So just calm down or you might aggravate her condition further!"

"No…" Nami's voice came out softly causing my head to snap back to her.

"Hm! Nami!" Vivi yelped as Nami sat up in bed. I whined and paced nervously back and forth next to the side of the bed as I watched her carefully.

"YIPEE! SHE GOT BETTER!" Luffy celebrated.

"NO SHE DIDN'T!" Usopp snapped as he smacked Luffy over the back of the head.

"There's a newspaper. On top of my desk…" Nami said weekly as she wheezed.

Vivi got up and walked over to the other side of the room, pulling a newspaper out of the desk draw. After a few moments silence Vivi gasped loudly causing me to look at her in worry but I stayed by Nami's side.

"What is it!" Luffy called over to her.

"Is it about Alabasta Vivi?" Sanji questioned her.

"That can't be…" She said breathlessly. "300,000 soldiers of the royal armed forces switched sides to join the rebels! Originally, the 600,000 strong royal armed forces could contain the rebels who were only 400,000 strong… But now the situation is completely opposite!"

Shit, seemed like things were going downhill fast in Alabasta.

"With that, the situation in Alabasta has entered its most critical phase…" Nami pointed out softly. "And that was the paper from three days ago. Sorry for not showing it to you until now… I didn't want to worry you any further since we were already sailing as fast as we could. Understand Luffy?"

"Sound like an emergency," Luffy said.

"That's right. I'm surprised I managed to get through to you so well," With that said Nami pushed back the blankets and began to stand up, ignoring my warning growl of worry.

"But if we don't get you to a doctor soon…" Usopp trailed off.

"It's fine," She said as she straightened herself. I was half tempted to push her back onto the bed and pin her there, but I didn't want to hurt her. "That old thermometer is broken anyway. There's no way a person would have a fever of 40 degrees. I'm sure that I just caught heatstroke or something. I'll get better just fine on my own even without seeing a doctor."

She started walking towards the door, leaving everyone staring after her expect me. I was trotting nervously by her side, watching her in worry. I was watching for the slightest sign that she might collapse again.

"In any case, we'll continue to head for Alabasta as planned for now," Nami called back over her shoulder. "But thanks for worrying about me."

And with that said she walked out, closing the door behind her as I slipped quickly out as well. I looked up as I noticed Zoro sitting on the railing. Was he navigating…? Who the fuck left him in charge of that?

Nami quickly got into an argument with him over that as I watched on silently, more worried about Nami's condition than what she was arguing about.

"Clouds can move and change shape you know!" Nami retorted at him before groaning and clutching her head in her hands. "Uhh, my head hurts…"

I whined in worry and nudged my head against her leg to try and convince her to go back in lay down.

"That's why I told you to go get some rest while I take care of things," Zoro tch'ed at her.

"How can I when you can't even take care of the directions!" Nami snapped in reply before pain flittered over her face. "The atmosphere… Changed..."

"Huh?" Zoro grunted as I lift my nose up to smell the wind. The scent of salt water almost drowned out any other smells but for some reason the air almost smelt damp. The sky was clear other than a few clouds, but the air still smelt somewhat damp. Odd. "The weather's been clear all day."

"Just call everyone here, will you?" She requested with a sigh.

"HEY! All of you! We've got some work to do, come out!" Zoro shouted as he leant over the railing. The others all came running out from the door below us looking around to see what was going on. "Take the helm and steer for south."

"What? I don't feel like taking orders from you," Sanji snorted at Zoro's order. I felt my lip twitch in anger but I quickly shoved my irritation back down. They'd better not start crap now.

"Just shut up and do it!" Zoro snapped back. "Lower the sails so we can catch wind from the portside."

"Got it!" Usopp replied as they all ran off to do their different jobs.

Nami walked over to the side of the boat, looking over at the seas with me shadowing her every step.

"What is it, Nami?" Sanji called out to her from the lower deck. "The seas are calm and the weather looks clear to me."

"Wind," Nami replied somewhat lucidly. "I have a feeling… That there's going to be strong wind coming from ahead… Probably."

Suddenly Luffy appeared next to us as he reached over and put his hand on Nami's forehead.

"Huh?" Nami mumbled.

"Hhhhoooot! Hot! Hot!" Luffy yelped as he pulled back his hand and clutched it like it had been burnt. "We really need to land and take you to a doctor!"

"That's just my normal temperature!" Nami argued with him. "Now stop wasting time and get the ropes!"

"Nami," Sanji called out again. "I know this is for Vivi's sake and all, but you really shouldn't be pushing yourself too much…"

"I TOLD YOU I'M FINE!" Nami shrieked at him and I whined in worry again. If she got herself worked up it would only make her sicker.

"Nami! I think you oughta-" Usopp started to say as well but was cut off by Nami.

"Just be quiet and turn the ship around already!"

I sighed softly seeing that she was getting too worked up, so I reached up and snagged the bottom of her shorts in my teeth. Giving it a soft tug I got her attention causing her to look down at me. Her face was flushed red and her breath was coming out in short gasps. Her eyes were slightly unfocused and looked clouded.

I gave another tug, pulling her back from the front railing that looked over the lower deck. She didn't even bother resisting; I don't think she had the energy.

"Mamori…" She mumbled. I just gave one more tug before letting go and taking a few steps forward. She watched me tiredly and I jerked my head in the direction of the side railing. She grudgingly took a few steps forward before slumping against the railing when she was out of the site of the others. She let out a large sigh, tilting back her head to look over the sea.

Seeing that she was resting as much as I could get her to right now without a fight, I relaxed a little bit. I sat by her feet silently, watching her from the corner of my eye.

*Gunpowder Star

*Burning Demon Slash (also a pun on "grilled rice ball")

*Warrior Nation

Note: 40 degrees celsius is the equivalent of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The human body can withstand a temperature up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Any higher and there is a high risk of brain damage.