It's been over a year, wow... Sorry.
I'M ALIVE!
Yes I am sorry it has been so long. I dropped out of college, got a job, went back to college, still working and life has just been overly shitty. So I'm back, but things will be slow because of school and work. So I hope you enjoy this chapter. I love all of those who have alerted and reviewed, and those who have PM'd me thank you and I'm sorry again.
I've got about three other chapters after this written and working on the fourth.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece, Melody and the blessed stuff is my own.

Time on the Sea
Chapter Twenty-One

I could feel burning, hot flames were everywhere burning me as I came into consciousness, mind fuzzy I tried to sit up as the wax around me was melting but strong calluses hands picked me up from around my waist, through the harsh smoke I could smell the blade cleaner on his shirt, Zoro.
I managed to mumble a thanks as he carried me out of the flames, I was sure his legs were bleeding just as bad as mine were. The pain was jarring, and It hurt so much. I hated being weak, how did this always happen, even as a kid, someone was coming to my rescue be it Luffy, Ace or Sabo.
My eyes began to focus a bit better as the we got out of he smoke, I could see Nami and Vivi were alright, though slightly charred, and Nami was in her bikini top. I stifled a groan as Zoro laid me onto the grass. Taking a look at my legs made me want to barf and cry, not necessarily in they order. Vivi was fiddling around me I think that because of the shock I was having a hard time hearing what my two nakama were saying, all I could hear was ringing.
Then Usopp showed up with sticks and Vivi decided to straighten my legs and bind them, tight. It hurt like a bitch, and I was seeing black for more then a few seconds. I relaxed slightly, just wanting to pass out, but Zoro was yelling something. I giggled 'women need to stay awake and make me sandwiches, don't leave me alone with the egg head. The cook will be mad at me, run from the giant goldfish' I guessed was what he was talking about. Then everything went black.

I woke covered in sweat, laying in Nami's bed with the orange headed woman dabbing a cloth in a water bowl. I couldn't move my legs, that was bad but I could still feel them with the pain, that I took as a good sign "Nami" I croaked my throat was dry "how's it going'?" I asked with a smile, she jumped in her chair and scowled "Melody, your awake, that's good. Do you remember what happened?" She asked, I nodded and she helped me drink some water "how long have I been out?"
She frowned "about three days," and passed me the water glass. Taking a long gulp I looked down to see my legs bandaged, dry blood was soaked through the white cloths.
"your legs healed in the wrong position" she answered the unasked question "you've got an infection and a high fever as well" she didn't leave anything out "we are trying to find a doctor to treat you but we haven't seen an island in three days" she shook her head, exasperated "Luffy's been brooding"
I smirked "he broods when he's worried" I flinched as a twinge of pain flared "we're out of pain medication as well I'm afraid" I nodded "it's ok, it doesn't hurt that much" but my voice was strained, she could tell I was lying.
I spent the next three days battling the infection and going in and out of consciousness. I swear there were unicorns and leprechauns battling it out on my bed! I was cheering on the unicorns.
I really hated my fast healing abilities at that moment, my skin had sown up, trapping the infection inside my body and set my legs wrong. I still refused to look at them.
At times that I was in my right mind and Luffy visited me I would smile and tell him not to worry but we were both scared I would lose my legs. I don't know what I would do if that happened.
Then we reached an island. I could hear fighting outside, but stuck in bed I couldn't do anything. Then Nami came in, "we found an island Mel, we just need to find a doctor" she then began to help me into my winter gear, she with vivi's help wrapped my legs in a blanket, through the fever I was laughing, I looked like a mermaid!
"I'm hot" I wined when they finished but Nami chuckled "it's freezing outside you will thank me for this" I huffed. And Luffy came to carry me outside. I mumbled him name as he picked me up and fell asleep in his arms.
I woke up again in a warm bed, my legs were unwrapped from the blanket. A strange man was sitting with Nami and Vivi as the princess dabbed a cloth on my forehead "that is a really high fever!" the man exclaimed "she should be dead"
"That why we need a doctor" snapped Nami.
The man shook his head "the only doctor we have is the witch who lives on the top of the highest mountain, and there is no other way to get there than climb."
"A witch? Cool." I mumbled, Vivi bent over me "how are you feeling Melody?"
"Like a pretzel shoved into an oven" I sighed. Vivi gave me some water and I saw out the window that Luffy and Usopp were playing in the snow, a large mountain sat in the background.
"Get some more sleep Melody" urged Vivi "we will figure something out."
I ended up not falling asleep and watched through the window at everyone talking, Luffy had a frown upon his face.
When he came in to the room Luffy bound up to me "Mel, we are going to climb up the mountain to get you to the witch doctor"
I smiled "ok, I'm ready when you are" then came the painfulness of attaching me to Luffy's back, my legs were bent forcefully and I clung to my husband like a monkey, blanket and rope connected the two of us. Then Usopp stuck a big hat on my head. "All ready" Luffy said and we started off towards the mountain with Sanji to help out. I tried to doze but the running jolted my legs with every step. I held back groans so Luffy wouldn't know. Then I think I was hallucinating about huge rabbits attacking us, and a cute little guy with sharp teeth jumping at Sanji. I blacked out as I saw an avalanche roaring towards us.

There was no pain, which was what I first felt as I came awake. Amazed I opened my eyes to see a small ball of fur was changing the bandages on my legs. They were straight! They didn't hurt. "Hello" the small animal jumped and ran behind a table, that's when I noticed it was a little reindeer, wearing a hat. "Who are you?"
"Tony Tony Chopper" the little animal spoke quietly. "You can talk!" I screamed "Awesome, and you're so cute!"
Chopper squealed and blushed "shut up that doesn't make me happy you bastard"
"Your funny, Are you my doctor" I asked, and he nodded "Doctrine and I healed you. You're legs heal really fast. Doctrine had to keep cutting your legs open to reset them."
I nodded "yeah I do that" I looked around the room, it had a few tables with doctor stuff on them, and we were alone. "We're there others with me? Two guys?"
Chopper nodded "doctrine is healing them. You were in surgery for a long time"
I shrugged off the heavy blanket, the air was cold. I pulled my jacket closer around me and swung my legs over the side of the bed. They felt heavy, like they were asleep. Faint lines could be seen where they were cut, it was already healing.
"Stop! You shouldn't stand yet! They're not fully healed!" Chopper came running forward trying to keep me down, it was cute that the little guys was trying. I shrugged him off. "how can you talk anyway?"
"I ate the human human fruit" I nodded and smiled "cool, I ate the speed speed fruit"
"Really?!" I nodded and stupidly tried to stand.
My legs didn't like that and I collapsed into the arms of a much larger Chopper "you grew" I yelled, Chopper wasn't a mini reindeer anymore, but was like a tall hairy human, with a blue nose.
"Be careful" he set me onto the bed again, then a tall old woman with long grey hair entered the room, bringing a cold wind with her. She wore tight fitting clothes and sunglasses, she didn't look like a normal Doctor "You missy shouldn't even try to stand, you nearly lost your legs" she took a swig from a suspicious bottle, I didn't think it was juice.
I gave pout "I know I nearly lost them" and rubbed my legs. Chopper shrunk down and left the room.
"You had a pretty bad infection going on there, I managed to kill all the bacteria, it was a pain in my ass I had to keep cutting your legs open because every time I went in to straighten them. Your skin would begin to grow over."
I shrugged "it's a devil fruit gift" the doctor chuckled and pushed my head down onto the pillow "sleep"
And that I did.
When I woke up next it was too Luffy and Sanji chasing little Chopper around chanting "MEAT!"
They had barged into my room and Chopper hid under my blankets the two boys were completely covered in bandages, "Melody-chan! How is my precious feeling?" Sanji danced while Luffy grabbed me in a hug "you're ok"
"Of course I am" I smiled, he gave me a kiss on the cheek. While I pointed to the bandages in his fingers "what happened?"
"I carried you and Sanji up the mountain" he said nonchalantly. I sighed and shook my head "my strong captain. You are wonderful. Now stop tormenting Chopper" I hugged the reindeer tightly and Luffy pouted and wined "but Mel! Meat!"
"No, not Chopper he's special"
"I'm not special!" Roared the little reindeer "I'm a monster!" He wiggled out of my grasp and ran out the door. Doctrine came in after he left and kicked Sanji in the back, making him yell in pain and fall to the floor "you should be in bed! Your back isn't healed yet!" Sanji groaned and passed out.
"I'm gonna go find the tanuki" said Luffy and he ran off to find the little reindeer.
"Why does Chopper think he's a monster?" Doctrine shook her head "that kid has had a tough life, his herd threw him out after he ate that fruit, and a villages attacked him because of how he looked"
"That's awful" I frowned.
Doctrine nodded and took a swig of a bottle she had in her hand. "Now then, lets look at your legs."
She examined them closely, the scars had all disappeared and she tested my reflexes. they felt almost as good as new, although a bit weak.
"Looks good" she grinned "you're going to have to take it easy, start off slow! no running for at least a week!"
"Hai" I smiled. "Can I go now?"
The woman smiled "Of course not!" she frowned "I'm keeping an eye on you for at least three days!"
I groaned "Seriously?"
"Yes! Now, try and stand for me"
My feet touched the cold stone floor and I stood shakily for the doctor, my legs were weak, it was going to take many exercises to get them back to their regular strength. But I was able to make it around the room without falling on my butt before Doctrine had me back in the bed with instructions to bend my legs every few minutes then she left, dragging Sanji behind her.

Then I heard a commotion somewhere in the castle, unable to leave the bed I couldn't go investigate, that was until Luffy walked in "What's going on?" I asked
"Just a little fight, don't worry about it. have you seen a jacket?"
"Nothing big?"
"Nah, I can handle it" he started rummaging in closets and drawers. "You can use my jacket, I don't need it with all these blankets" I threw my black coat at him. he grinned "Awesome thanks, i'll be right back when i'm done"
"Alright" he left and I snuggled into the covers for a nap.