Hi everyone, been sick the past couple of days, really hate it, but here's the next chapter, I know I have most likely misspelled Wapol's name somewhere. any away enjoy the chapter, let me know if it fells a bit rushed, I just wanted this part over with and then on to Alabasta.

Enjoy !

i don't own One Piece. Melody and the blessed stuff is mine

Time on the Sea Chapter 22

I didn't actually have a nap, I just wanted to get out of this bed and castle. And the sounds of a cannon going off didn't help much for my patience.
Finally I had enough, I was getting out of the bed. Tightening the blanket around my shoulders I made my way out into the freezing hallway. I found out my room was on the second floor and leaned over the railing to see that the front doors were open, most of the ground floor was covered in snow and the sounds of fighting echoed through the empty castle.
"What the hell is happening?" In the middle of the entrance hall was a large tower with a winding staircase, standing at the bottom steps was a fat man with a metal mouth "Who the hell are you?" I exclaimed.
The man laughed "you must be a friend of that straw-hat boy"
"Yeah, i'm his wife", he grinned. I gave him a weird stare, and he started charging up the stairs.
"What the hell!" I yelled and ran, the fat man close behind.
I cursed my slowness and dogged by going down a set of stars, half fumbling half running. Unsurprisingly the man got caught between the two levels, stuck because of his fat.
He swore and then did something I never thought possible. He ate himself until only his metal mouth was left.
This part of him toppled down the stairs, I just stared, wide eyed. My legs were ready to give out when he popped back into existence, but not fat anymore, he was as skinny as a twig.
"Hahahaha! I lost some weight, time to die!" he jumped. I turned to run, accidentally going devil fruit speed and falling flat on my face as my legs gave out and the man landing on me with an oomph.
"OI!"
A rubber fist came into view hitting the man right in the face and into the far stone wall. Luffy had arrived. "why's he skinny now?" he mused "You alright Mel?"
"Yeah, thanks. Who's that?"
"The old King, I think" he scratched the back of his head, and I noticed my nice black jacket was covered in soot, and an entire sleeve was missing "What the hell did you do to my jacket!"
"Oh right, sorry. it was that guy" he grinned. "you're getting me a new one" I warned. Luffy just nodded.

As we talked the man got to his feet and stood in front of a large door "Inside here is all the weapons of the castle, once I eat them I will be unstoppable! I'm the only one who's got the key, right here!" he reached into his pocket, to come up with nothing.

...
I sighed, as the guy started sweating nervously "oops" he took off up the stairs screaming.
"Get back here you bastard!" Luffy chased after him. Leaving me on the ground.
"Really?" I sighed, and noticed a bronze key half covered in snow. "Oh, this must be the key he was looking for" I grinned and pocketed it.

By the time Luffy's fight was finished Doctorine had found Sanji and I trying to sneak out of the castle, twice. Everyone else and a bunch of villagers had arrived at the castle to help fight, but weren't needed.
Back in the recovery room Sanji was strapped to a table, the man who helped us when we arrived was having his wounds fixed, and Nami and Vivi were sitting beside my bed. Luffy was off chasing Chopper around the grounds.
"We can't stay any longer" argued Nami "We need to get to Alabasta as soon as possible."
"No, you will stay three more days" said Doctrine, she was adamant on making Sanji and I stay. She turned to the man who I learnt was named Dalton "do you have the weapon's room key?"
he shook his head "No, Wopal always kept it on him"
"you mean this key?" I dug through the blankets, producing the bronze key I [found, Nami smirked and took it "I'll give you this if you allow us to leave early"
"Sneaky woman" she grabbed the key "I'll take this as you're payment for the treatment, but as a doctor I can't allow you to leave. You men, help me out with something" she walked to the door "I have extra jackets in the closet over there, I'll be outside no one may leave!" The door shut behind her, leaving Vivi, Nami, Sanji, Dalton and I in the room.
"I'm taking that as a sign to leave" Nami grinned, and got a coat for me. "Come on Mel" she unstrapped Sanji and started dragging him out the door. Vivi and I followed.

We met up with Usopp and Zoro outside the castle doors "Time to go guys" called Nami
Then Luffy came running over, chasing Chopper still. "Come on, join my crew, become a pirate!"
"I'll like to, but I can't! I'm a reindeer! I have hoofs and horns and I have a blue nose! I'd Like to be a Pirate but I'm a monster!"
"Just shut up and Come with us!" Luffy roared into the night sky.
Chopper started to cry "O.K.!"

The tiny reindeer went back into the castle to get his bag and tell Doctrine that he was leaving as the boys and Nami backed up the sled that Chopper would be taking us down the mountain with.
Then he came running out, Doctrine at his tail throwing everything from pots and pans to weapons at the poor kid, chasing him out of the castle. "Hurry Hurry!" Luffy yelled, and everyone hopped into the sled, and we rushed down the ropes to the ground. beside us I could see that Doctrine had tears in her eyes as we left.

Luffy was wooping and screaming the entire ride down the mountain, it was kinda fun and the full moon illuminated the snow covered island for a great view.
Once on solid ground it began to snow, strange pink snow. Looking up at the mountain castle the snow clouds around has turned pink, making it look like a sakura tree, pink snow as the leaves falling in the night sky. Chopper was crying happily.
It was beautiful.

Once we had set sail, a party began in full swing to welcome Chopper to the crew. Drinks and food were passed around, once Nami woke Sanji up that is.
I sat on the stairs, massaging my legs while nursing a cup of grog, Chopper, Luffy and Usopp had put on a show with sticks in their noses and waving a basket around in the air. Zoro watched and laughed along while Sanji handed out snacks. Nami and Vivi were talking idly in their lawn chairs. It felt good to back on the ship with everyone.

A few days later my legs were feeling great, almost back to full health. and it was comforting to have my chain back around my waist. I had gotten used to it's weight, and it was easy to use. Great for knocking people out and trapping them.
I was out on the deck, wearing a black bikini top and cargo pants, Nami was looking over her maps, we were only a few more days from Alabasta and talking with Vivi about her country.
The bad news of the day was that Luffy, Chopper, Usopp, and Carue Vivi's duck friend had eaten the last of our supply of food.
Sanji was kicking Luffy around the deck, while the other accomplices were fishing off the deck. Zoro was up in the crow's nest, most likely napping.
I listened in on Vivi explaining that Crocodile was hailed as a hero in Alabasta for driving away the many pirates that land and terrorize villages.
"But isn't he a pirate?"
"He's a Shikubi, he works for the world Government, a group of the strongest pirates. the people's gratitude doesn't change that he 'helps' them"
"And they don't even know he is taking over?" asked Sanji, Vivi nodded sadly
"So i just have to beat him up" grinned Luffy, back up and around since Sanji's beating of him.
"Yes, first we stop the rebellion, then drive out Baroque works and Crocodile, then the country will be saved." Vivi went on the explain the top 10 men and women of the company and how the group works.
Zoro came down from the crow's nest, obviously been listing in. "So since he's starting his plan, the top officers will be all together.
"Perfect" our grins were large. It was time to kick some ass.