Two days after leaving Little Garden, Nami's condition remained dire, her fever unrelenting as she lay in bed. On the third day, around noon, the Merry spotted land. Snow fell steadily, and an island loomed ahead.
Zoro, perched in the crow's nest, lowered his telescope. The island was close enough to see clearly now. Breathing white clouds, he called down, "Oi, you lot! Island in sight!"
"What?! For real?!" Usopp shouted, relaying to Luffy inside. "Luffy! Island spotted!"
Luffy, keeping vigil over Nami with Silk in the women's cabin, barely helped beyond watching her sleep. Today, he sat quietly, but the news lit up his face. "Nami, you hear that? An island! We'll find a doctor! Wonder what it's like!" His leg bounced, barely containing his urge to rush out.
Silk smiled wryly. "Go check it out, Luffy. I've got this."
"Sweet!" Luffy bolted, slamming the door open and leaping onto the Merry's sheep figurehead. He perched cross-legged, gazing at the island—a silver expanse of snow, pierced by towering, stick-like mountains. Its desolate beauty captivated him. "Whoa! Snow island!"
"Oi, Luffy," Sanji snapped. "We're here for a doctor, not adventure. Nami's priority. You listening?"
"Snow's so white…" Luffy murmured, entranced.
"He's not listening," Sanji sighed.
Drum Island, a winter island, knew only cold and snow. The Grand Line's seasonal islands were unchanging, and Drum was a quintessential winter land. Snow dusted the Merry, hinting at deeper drifts ashore. Luffy grinned, itching to explore.
Usopp, bundled in winter gear, paled—not from cold but fear. "Hold up! Are we sure about this? It's a kingdom, so people are there, but what if they're not friendly? What if they're warrior tribes, luring sick folks into traps to wipe 'em out?!"
"No way," Sanji scoffed.
"How're you so sure? Been there?" Usopp shot back.
"Think logically. A medical kingdom wouldn't make more patients on purpose."
"They'd protect themselves! Even doctors want to live!"
"Bloodthirsty doctors? Doubt it," Sanji said.
"They exist somewhere! Maybe here!" Usopp insisted. "Or monsters hiding in the snow!"
"Now that's possible," Sanji conceded.
"Crap, my 'don't-land-on-islands' disease is acting up!"
"Good. Get it treated there," Sanji quipped.
As Usopp fretted, the Merry entered a river, seeking a landing spot. Vivi and Igaram, on deck, exchanged uneasy words. "Drum Kingdom… not fond memories," Igaram muttered.
"That was then," Vivi said. "It might be different now."
"I hope so. But people don't change easily. If they knew you were here, Vivi-sama…"
"Our goal's just a doctor. We avoid him, and it's fine."
Igaram's grim expression betrayed deep worry, mirrored by Vivi's fleeting sadness.
They scanned for a village. Trees lined the river, suggesting a nearby forest. Without signs of life, they pressed upstream. Usopp called to Luffy, still on the figurehead. "You're not cold in that vest?"
"Huh? …Cold!" Luffy yelped, finally noticing. He dashed for a red coat, returning as they found a suitable landing spot. The Merry anchored by a riverbank, ready for disembarking.
The crew gathered mid-deck. Not everyone needed to go—finding a doctor was key, but the island's safety was unknown. Kiri suggested a small group scout first. Usopp agreed, but Sanji argued, "Nami's been suffering three days. She's at her limit. Everyone able should search to speed this up."
"I get the rush," Kiri said, "but recklessness could doom us too."
"Listen, Kiri," Sanji growled. "If it saves Nami, I don't care if you all go down."
"You're the worst!" Usopp snapped. "Care about us a little!"
Kiri laughed. "That's Sanji for you."
Debate stalled, wasting time. Suddenly, a harsh voice cut through from the cliffs flanking the river. "That's far enough, pirates!"
"What?!" Usopp gasped.
Dozens of men aimed rifles from both cliffs, glaring with hostility. "Pirates" dripped with venom. Usopp clung to the mast, unable to hide fully, eyes darting. The quiet amplified the threat, tension thick as the rifles pointed down.
"They're not soldiers," Zoro noted. "Amateurs, by their grip."
"People, huh? Didn't even need to look," Kiri said.
"Not exactly welcoming," Usopp muttered.
"Pirates, leave now!" a large man bellowed, stepping forward. "Go back where you came from!"
Luffy and Vivi faced him. "We're here for a doctor," Luffy said.
"Our friend's sick," Vivi added. "Please, we need treatment—"
"No tricks!" a man shouted.
"Filthy pirates!"
"This is our island! No pirates set foot here!"
"Raise anchor or we blow your ship apart!"
Curses rained down, no room for dialogue. Sanji, unfazed but annoyed, muttered, "Wow, hated from the get-go."
"Shut up!" a man yelled, firing impulsively. The shot, poorly aimed, hit near Sanji's feet. The man flinched under Sanji's sharp glare.
"They shot?!" Usopp yelped.
"You bastard!" Sanji snarled, lunging. Vivi grabbed his arm. "Sanji-san, stop!"
Another shot rang out. Vivi collapsed, clutching her arm. The crew froze, stunned. Kiri whipped around, spotting smoke from the opposite cliff. His eyes burned with unmasked killing intent, a hardened paper blade ready to fly.
"Stop!" Vivi shouted, halting everyone. Kiri paused, blade still in hand. She sat up, pressing her grazed, bleeding arm. "I'm fine," she said as Igaram and Karoo rushed to her. "Don't fight. Violence won't help. Let me talk."
"They shot you!" Usopp roared at the men. "You hurt an unarmed woman! How're you better than pirates? What'd we do to you?!"
The men hesitated, rifles still raised but shaken. Vivi calmed Usopp. "Don't provoke them. It's a misunderstanding. They'll listen."
Kneeling, she bowed deeply, hands on the deck. "We won't land if you don't want. Just please, call a doctor. Our friend's gravely ill. Help us."
Her plea stunned both crews. Luffy, wide-eyed, watched her. "Vivi…"
"Calm down, Luffy-san," she said, head still low. "Fighting won't save Nami. Strength alone can't protect our nakama."
Her words hit hard. Luffy nodded, his anger fading. "Yeah, I was wrong." He knelt beside her, bowing too. "Please, call a doctor. Save our friend."
His hat fell, clunking on the deck. Silence fell. The men wavered, rifles lowering, their hostility fading into confusion. Their gazes turned to the large man, their leader.
After a pause, he spoke. "Fine. We'll allow you to land."
"D Dalton-san!" a man protested. "It could be a trap!"
"If we shoot them—unresisting, bowing—we're no better than pirates. Who here can pull that trigger?"
No one answered. The leader, Dalton, faced the crew. "Follow me to the village."
Vivi looked up, smiling at Luffy. "See? They understand."
"You're amazing," he grinned back.
The crisis eased, but concerns lingered. Igaram fussed over Vivi's wound. "We need to stop the bleeding, Vivi-sama."
"Do it," she said. "I know, don't worry."
As they headed inside, she chuckled. "Once, Pell hit me for trying to make fireworks for my birthday."
"I remember," Igaram said fondly.
"Guess I haven't grown much."
"Nonsense. You've grown remarkably. Your actions just now—your father would be proud."
Vivi smiled wistfully, homesickness tinging her pain as they entered the cabin.
Kiri, scanning the cliffs, sighed and turned to Luffy. "I'm staying on the ship."
"Why?" Luffy asked.
"I scared them," Kiri said, glancing at a trembling man. His earlier killing intent had left a mark. Staying back avoided further trouble, protecting Nami's chance at a doctor.
Luffy nodded. "Got it. Better that way?"
"Less provocation," Kiri said. "I'd make things worse."
"True," Luffy agreed.
"You're agreeing?!" Kiri laughed.
Zoro and Sanji shrugged, but Usopp looked uneasy. "You not coming makes me nervous."
"We've got Den Den Mushi," Kiri said. "Send info, and I'll figure things out."
"You were pretty murderous too, Sanji," Zoro teased.
"We gotta move," Sanji said. "Nami—bring her?"
Zoro pushed forward. "Idiot, how else do we get her treated?"
"Moron," Luffy echoed.
"Can't trust 'em, but yeah, Zoro's an idiot," Sanji grinned.
"Forgot how dumb you are, Zoro," Kiri added.
"Want me to slice you all?!" Zoro growled, hand on his sword.
Their bickering, oddly warm, filled the deck. The townsfolk watched, stunned by their casual camaraderie, some trembling, rifles forgotten. Dalton observed silently, taking it all in.
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