Bound for Alabasta and leaving Little Garden behind, everyone seems to be in high spirits...or rather, Usopp and Luffy are in high spirits. The two dance around on the deck, singing about giants and Elbaf as they do so. Karoo sprints back and forth across the deck clearly in as high a spirits as the other two. Zoro is busy working out by himself and near the bow of the ship Run is relaxing in a deck chair stretched out in the sun relaxing in the sun and doing little more than watching the clouds as they pass...of course, it isn't long before he feels like something is missing.
Run slowly scans the deck of the Merry...but there's no sign of Robin. In fact, he hasn't seen her since they left Little Garden. She missed lunch, dinner and even breakfast in the morning without so much as popping in to say hello. He could chalk it up to recovering after using Haki, since it does take a bit of a toll on the user, especially if it's been a while since one has used it or they're using it's advanced application. But he's sure she should have recovered by now. Of course, just barging into the women's room isn't an option, at least not if he doesn't want Nami beating him over the head with her staff, so he'll just have to ask Nami to check on her. As if anticipating this Nami suddenly appears from the lower deck, walking in his direction with the Eternal Pose in hand.
"Run, could you watch the compass for a moment?" Nami questions him, holding it out in offer. "You're the only one out here that I can rely on to keep an eye on it properly."
"Sure," Run agrees, taking the Eternal Pose. "Aah, while I've got you, have you spoken with Robin today? I didn't see her at breakfast."
"I spoke to her this morning and she said she wasn't feeling well. Maybe it's whatever that stuff you two keep doing that tired her out."
"Haki? I thought so to but...shouldn't take that long to recover."
"I'm fine," calls a familiar voice, attracting their attention. Robin climbs the stairs slowly, dressed in a dark hoodie and wearing a pair of fuzzy slippers. "I was just a bit fatigued." She approaches the two of them slowly, and takes a seat in a deck chair beside the red head.
"Nami~! Robin~! I've brought you sweets!" calls Sanji from the stairs to the deck, approaching quickly with a small tray of sweets in hand. "I put my heart and soul into making them absolutely delicious just for the two of you!" He places the small tray on the table beside her, showing off an assortment of small pastries. "There's also a choice of tea or coffee."
"Thank you, Mr. Cook." High on a kind word from Robin the man starts back towards the kitchen only to come to an abrupt halt and glance back at the red head.
"I left yours in the kitchen," Sanji tells him bluntly. "So don't even think of eating the sweets I've prepared for Robin and Nami!" With that he heads back down the stairs, leaving the three of them alone while Run sits up, looking at Robin carefully.
"What? Do I have something on my face?" Run's brow furrows slightly in response. Her breathing seems a bit heavy, she seems to be sweating heavily and her face is a bit flushed. There's definitely something wrong besides just being fatigued.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Run questions her, surprising her by suddenly reaching out and touching the back of his palm to her forehead. "Jeez, you're burning up, Robin!" She offers him a tired smile and gently brushes away his hand.
"I'm fine."
"You most certainly are not. C'mon. You need to lie down and rest." Run stands and holds his hand out in offer. After a moments consideration, Robin sighs softly and takes his hand.
"Alright, I suppose I could use a nap." She stands and surprises Run by suddenly falling forward right into his arms. "S-Sorry, I'm...suddenly feeling a bit dizzy. I...I don't..." Robin's words trail off as her knees buckle and Run catches her quickly before she can fall, lowering her carefully to the deck.
"Robin!" shouts Nami, kneeling beside the two. "Oi! Everyone! We need help up here...!"
----
"It's not particularly uncommon," Run tells them all, sitting on a chair at Robin's bed side. It didn't take much effort to get Robin off the deck, into the women's room and back into bed. The whole crew has gathered in the women's room around Robin's bed while Run tends to her. "Sickness brought about by the rapid weather swings on the Grand Line is fairly normal." The red head wrings out a rag and gently places it across her forehead. "In fact, there's countless stories of notorious pirates being brought down by an illness they contracted while sailing. Being careless in treatment can make things even more dangerous."
"Poor Robin!" cries Sanji, tears streaming down his face. "Why?! Why couldn't this have happened to you?"
"Thanks, casanova."
"Is there anyone on board who has any medical knowledge?" Vivi asks, watching as all heads turn to Nami in response.
"W-What?" Nami asks. "Hold on, I just know a little bit. I'm not a doctor."
"Eating meat makes sickness go away!" Luffy chirps, turning to look at Sanji with a big grin on his face. "You can cook up a bunch of meat for Robin!"
"Well...I can make some basic food meant for sick people," Sanji tells them all. "But that's more on the nursing side of things than treatment. There's no guarantee that it would actually make her get better. Besides, I normally put a hundred times more care into Nami, Robin and Vivi's meals than I do all of yours. I serve them fresh meat and vegetables for balanced nutrition, and give all the nearly spoiled stuff to you guys. But there are different times of meals for sick people. What does she need? What are her symptoms? I can't make that kind of call. I'm not a doctor after all."
"Then she can just eat it all!"
"Hate to interrupt," begins Run, looking at a thermometer in his hand. "But her fever has gone up again. It's reading forty degrees celsius. She needs a doctor right away."
"They'll be doctors in Alabasta, right?" Usopp asks. "How much longer will it take?"
"If we maintain our current heading, it'll take us about a week," Nami tells him.
"We can't wait that long," Run says. "Forty degrees is bad enough. If it goes up again...look, we need a doctor."
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news but we may not have the time," Nami says as she motions to the newspaper on the dresser across the room, which Vivi immediately retrieves. She reads aloud one of the articles which tells them all that a great number of the Alabasta Royal Guard have defected to the rebels side. "The paper itself is three days old...I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to worry." Robin groans softly and Run looks down at her as her eyes open.
"Then...we need to hurry up," Robin offers weakly.
"You're absolutely right," Run agrees, reaching down and gently cupping her cheek. "We need to hurry up and get you to a doctor. Alabasta can wait for a moment."
"Alabasta can wait?" echos Vivi, looking at the red head quickly. Run sighs heavily as he listens to the newspaper in her hands crumble. "How can you say that?! Those are my people! My country men are suffering because of-"
"I'm not unsympathetic, Vivi, really I'm not. However, we can't help them right now but we CAN help Robin by finding a doctor. But like Luffy, I have to look after everyone on the crew."
"Everyone? Or just Robin?" The room falls silent enough to hear a pin drop now as everyone on the crew looks between Run and then Vivi. The red head sighs heavily, slowly turning on his chair to face her calmly. While they'd never seen him fly off the handle, they had honestly expected more than just a smile from him in response to her prodding.
"I understand how you feel about Robin, Vivi. But we can't change what's already done, we can only change what's going to happen."
"How could you possibly understand how I feel?! You-"
"Enough, please," Robin says, interrupting Vivi and earning Run's attention when a cool hand suddenly lands on his own. "Luffy is the captain, and he's already set our course." After a moment Robin leans up slowly, removing the rag from her forehead and tossing her legs over the edge of the bed.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Luffy questions her.
"I'll be fine, Luffy. It's just a small fever." As Robin stands Run stands with her, and follows her out of the room and out onto the deck. Although she had assured them that she was feeling fine, it's clear for Run to see that she's moving on unsteady feet, and he stays close just in case he needs to catch her again. They reach the deck and she gently leans against the railing of the Merry. Several feet away Zoro sits besides the Eternal Pose, still lifting weights and staring at the horizon past the bow of the Merry.
"Robin-"
"I know." The woman leans against him and he wraps an arm around her waist. "We'll find a doctor in Alabasta, Run." The two fall into a silence for several moments before Robin sighs softly. "I'm sorry that Vivi-"
"Wasn't your fault," Run assures her. "She's just angry." The others slowly join them on deck, and almost immediately Nami begins yelling at Zoro for leading them off course. It turns out that the swordsman was following the same cloud he was watching.
"Clouds change shape and move, Zoro!" Nami yells at him. "Aah...the wind..."
"Feels good," murmurs Robin, turning her head up slightly.
"It's shifted. Oi! Everyone, come here!" Sanji is the first one to come running at Nami's command, and when the others gather around she immediately begins ordering them about. She tells them all that she senses an immense wind heading in their direction, and that they need to be ready. Not feeling exempt from the task at hand, Run helps as well, tying down what they have to getting the ship back on course. No sooner have they finished then Vivi finally makes an appearance on deck as well.
"Everyone, please, I have a request to make," calls Vivi earning their attention. "I know that I'm just a passenger on this ship, and it's not my place to ask but...my home country is in a terrible state right now, so we need to hurry ahead as quickly as possible! I don't want to waste even a single minute! I want us to head their as fast as the ship will carry us...so, in order for that to happen, lets find an island with a doctor right away!"
"Alright!" cheers Luffy. "Let's find a doctor and go full steam ahead!"
"Aaah! Look!" calls Usopp suddenly, attracting their attention to a huge cyclone off in the distance. They have just barely avoided running head first into it...if it weren't for Nami's navigational skills it could have been an absolute disaster.
"Let's go! We'll find an island on the way...!"
----
They need to find a doctor as soon as possible. Since setting their course to find a doctor, Robin's fever has been rising as steadily as the temperature has been falling and neither of them shows any sign of stopping. It's even started to snow, and to make matters worse they've yet to find a single island. Everyone on the crew has donned their winter clothing to keep warm as they plan to sail on through the snow storm and the on coming night. They can't waste a single minute in their search. Run sits at Robin's bedside along with Nami. They've sat in a relative silence for quite a while before Nami eventually sighs.
"How long have you known Robin?" Nami finally asks, earning his attention.
"Aah, longer than I've known Luffy," says Run. "About twelve years. She even sailed with us for two years before we landed in Foosha."
"And how long have the two of you been together?" Run arches a single brow in response. "Don't give me that look, idiot. The others may be completely dense but it's pretty obvious." The red head chuckles a bit in response.
"It's been almost four years." He sighs softly, looking down at her. "I stayed behind in Foosha with Luffy, and she would go out searching for...whatever it was that caught her attention at the time. Anyway, she had been gone for about a year and suddenly rolled back in when I was waiting tables and slingin' drinks at Party's Bar to help Makino."
"She would leave without you?"
"Well, I didn't exactly get a say in it, Nami. She's a grown woman...of course, I offered to go with her but she always turned me down." Robin softly coughs a few times, her brow furrowing before she returns to her relaxed state. The red head picks up the rag and dips it into the basin of cool water before wringing it out and returning it back to her forehead. "Anyway, she showed up as we were closing, and Makino left us alone so we could talk. I always like to hear about where Robin has been so she usually reads her notes for me over drinks. This time wasn't any different but...I dunno, I couldn't tell ya how it happened or what got into me...but I leaned in..."
"You kissed her."
"Yeah, I did." He pauses briefly, immediately deciding it best to omit that it was FAR more than just a kiss that followed after. "I expected her to slap my head off my shoulders, and I would most definitely have had it coming." Again the red head sighs. "But she didn't, and we've been together ever since that night." A smile suddenly appears on his face as he turns to look at her. "So, if you're wondering, I'm afraid I'm spoken for, Nami." She immediately responds by punching him in the top of the head, raising a small knot on it.
"Keep your mind out of the gutter, idiot. Money is all I need." No sooner has she finished speaking then the ship begins to violently pitch and roll, with Run doing his best to keep Robin safe in bed. "What the hell is going on out there?! Run! Go see what those idiots are doing! I'll take care of Robin!" The red head nods firmly in response, charging out of the room and out onto the deck. Run sighs heavily as he slowly scans his surroundings, reaching up to scratch the stubble on his jaw.
"Aah, what the hell?" complains Run, looking at the four men surrounding him with guns drawn.
"Six?" calls a fat man covered in tin plates. "There can't only be six of you on board this ship." Behind the man who appears to be the leader is the oddest ship that any of them have ever seen. "Well, whatever. It's not like it really matters. Instead, let me ask you folks something...we're looking for Drum Island, so you wouldn't happen to have a Log Pose, or Eternal Pose, would you?"
"Never heard of it, actually."
"Aaah, that's unfortunate."
"If that's all you wanted then get off my ship already!" Luffy yells at the man.
"Now, hold on a moment. I'm a little hungry, actually." The man immediately turns, and to their utter amazement takes a bite out of the Going Merry. Luffy doesn't even hesitate to launch himself at the man.
"Jeez, why didn't we do this from the beginning?" Zoro complains, cutting down a slew of pirates surrounding him. The pirates surrounding Run raise their weapons, fingers finding triggers only seconds before the four of them drop face first to the deck, foaming at the mouth.
"Temper, temper, fellas," Run tells them, stepping over the prone men calmly, and slowly descending towards the lower deck.
"Stop eating my ship!" Luffy screams, as the man turns and actually bite down on him, appearing to swallow him whole.
"Hmm, I don't like this one," the man says. "It's too tough and chewy." Though the man has swallowed Luffy, he hasn't swallowed their Captain's arms which are stretched out far behind him...and come barreling towards him in the middle of his chewing.
"I said...get off my ship!" bellows Luffy moments before the man is struck, freeing him and sending the man sailing off into the distance much to the amazement of the rival crew. They immediately abandon ship, running back to their own to chase after the man without a second thought. "That tin guy! I can't believe he would take a bite out of my ship!"
"He must have eaten a Devil Fruit, Luffy," Run says, approaching to have a closer look at the damaged railing. "Well...I'm no carpenter but I'll take a whack at it."
"No, I can do it," Usopp assures him, approaching the damaged side of the Going Merry.
"Fine by me. Many hands make light work, as they say..."
----
It's getting colder, and colder with no signs of stopping. It's a surprise that ice hasn't begun to form on the deck of the Merry, honestly. It's another night down, another night with no sign of an island, and thus no sign of a doctor for Robin...whose fever is still going up.
"That guy really took a bite outta the Merry," Run says, driving one nail after another and being careful not to smash a finger. "I thought Luffy's appetite was big." Between Usopp and himself it's going to take a whole day to fix the damage done by the tin man...they really need to find a proper shipwright.
"Does anyone else find it strange that everything seems to be so calm," Usopp questions, holding a plank in place for Run to drive a nail in. Despite being cold, the sky is completely clear and the sea is calm. "I guess strange weather like this is pretty calm on the Grand Line, huh?"
"Not necessarily," Vivi tells them, leaving the lounge. "It's more likely because we're getting close to an island." Vivi turns to look up at the crows nest which Sanji is currently occupying. "Sanji! Would you do me a favor and scan the horizon carefully? A winter island is near by, I'm almost sure of it."
"Winter island?" echos Run, glancing over his shoulder. "Think we're that- yeow!" Run drops the hammer as he smashes a finger, and begins rapidly shaking his hand while Usopp attempts unsuccessfully to stifle his laughter. "Aah, it's not funny! That really smarts!"
"Well, there are four basic types of islands to be found along the Grand Line. Summer, autumn, winter and spring, and each one has four seasons of it's own. So, there are actually a total of sixteen seasons to be experienced in traveling from island to island. From summer island summer to winter island winter and so on."
"So, every island is like that?"
"No, there are exceptions to these rules."
"That explains the rough seas, at least. With all these different islands, each one having it's own unique climate, it's only natural that it would affect the seas between them." Vivi nods in the affirmative, watching the red head begin stowing the tools back in the tool box.
"Exactly. That's why when the weather mellows out, it usually means that an island can be found near-by."
"Yeah...I see one!" Sanji calls, earning their attention. "Oi! I see an island ahead! We've finally found one!" Luffy comes bursting out onto the deck, and sprints right up to the figure head to seat himself on it. He appears to be on cloud nine, staring at the snow covered island.
"An island!" cheers Luffy. "Look at all the snow! It's a snow island, huh?! Wow, everything's all white!"
"Oi, we're not here for adventure, you know. We're here to find a doctor, and then we're moving on." Run approaches the bow of the ship to have a look at the island in the distance. It is completely covered in snow, and has a number of strange mountains that almost resemble large tree stumps.
"Aaah, I can't wait to get there! I love snow!"
"Luffy...how are you not cold right now?" Run questions his friend...who finally seem to realize how cold it is. He immediately runs to get a winter coat while the ship pushes on towards the island, eventually finding a small river that allows them to sail inland. Ahead of them, their path comes to an end at a small waterfall which dumps water from freshly melted snow into the river. "Looks like the end of the line."
"We should be able to set anchor here," Sanji says. "So...who's going doctor hunting?"
"I'm going," Run says quickly.
"Me, too!" chirps Luffy.
"I guess I'll come, too," Nami tells them.
"I will as well," Vivi adds.
"I'm coming, too!" Sanji tells them. "If Nami, and Robin and Vivi are going then I'm absolutely going!"
"Thats far enough, pirates!" calls a loud voice, attracting their attention to the banks of the river, and the people surrounding them completely on all side. Each one of them has a weapon in hand, and points it squarely at the crew gathered on deck. From those gathered, a large man wearing some kind of strange armor on his arms, steps forward.
"Attention, pirates," he calls, earning their attention. "You will leave this place at once! You are not welcome here!"
"We came to find a doctor!" Luffy retorts.
"Please! We have a sick person on board!" Vivi adds. The people don't seem to believe a single word out of their mouths.
"Man, they really hate us," mutters Sanji. "And we've only just met-" A gunshot sounds, and a round strikes the place Sanji was standing only moments ago. "You did not just do that!" Before he can charge the man, Vivi catches him, blocking his path. A second shot sounds...and Vivi tumbles to the deck much to the utter shock of everyone present.
"V...VIVI...!"
"You son of a-" The whole crew tenses, as the people raise their weapons. Looks like a fight is going to be unavoidable! Before Luffy can launch himself at the people, however, he's suddenly grabbed around the waist by none other than Vivi herself, the woman holding tight to him.
"Stop! Please!" Vivi begs, tightening her grip. "Fighting isn't going to solve anything! I'm fine! It was just a graze." She finally releases him, and surprise everyone by actually bowing to the people. "We understand! You don't want us to land here but please we need a doctor! Our friend is gravely ill! Her fever has been rising steadily for over two days!"
"Vivi..."
"Not everything can be solved by recklessly charging head-first into a fight. If you can't understand this, Luffy, then you aren't fit to be Captain of this ship. If you start a fight what is going to happen to Robin? Do you think these people will help us?" After several moments of consideration Luffy drops down, bowing the same as Vivi.
"I will lead you to the village," the armored man says. "Come with me..."
----
Snow crunches underfoot as they hike towards the village...a slow going task as a result of the deep snow and steep grade as Run carries Robin bridal style carefully. Zoro and Karoo have decided to stay behind on the ship to keep watch over it. Although, it might have just been because Zoro wants some more time to train and Karoo is cold. Which is understandable if you spend your entire life in a warm climate.
"I feel the need to warn you," begins Dalton. "The only doctor that we have on the island is a witch."
"A witch?" echos Run. "Well, we're not exactly in a position to bargain. But at least tell me this woman isn't some quack. She's not gonna try to feed Robin a broth of lizard tails, bat wings and cob webs, right?"
"No, in fact, she is an extraordinary doctor. However, she is rather temperamental."
"So, what's the name of this land?" Vivi asks.
"It doesn't have one."
"A nameless land? Is that normal?" Usopp begins panicking the next second, screaming about a huge bear that appears in the distance...walking on two legs in their direction with a pick-axe in hand. He immediately begins to play dead while Dalton explains that it's what's known as a 'Hiking Bear' and that it's only proper manners to bow to him as they pass which they all do. It takes them only a little longer to reach the village of 'Big Horn' which is alive with people and animals coming and going despite the cold weather.
"Looks pretty lively," says Run, scanning the village slowly. The large group slowly disperses until at last it's only the crew and Dalton left, who invites them to his home. Dalton offers the use of his bed to the crew, and Run quickly deposits Robin into it, covering her up carefully and shoving a thermometer under her tongue.
"You've heard my name but we haven't been properly introduced, yet," Dalton says. "My name is Dalton, I am the head of the security forces here. I apologize for our heavy-handed welcome but we couldn't be sure if you meant us any harm or not."
"Aah, it's no problem," Nami assures him, watching Run pull the thermometer from Robin's mouth.
"Well, I hate to interrupt but given the circumstances I'm more interested in hearing about this witch," Run tells them. "Robin's temperature has risen again. It's up to forty-two degrees celsius, now."
"F-Forty-two?" echos Dalton, staring at Robin. "If it goes up anymore then she'll certainly die!"
"Her fever has been rising steadily for several days now," Vivi says. "We need a doctor immediately. Any kind will do. So please point us to this witch if you would." Dalton points towards the window, or more accurately, the mountains in the distance. He tells them they're known as the Drum Rockies, at all the top of the tallest one is a king-less castle, where this lands only doctor, a woman by the name of Kureha, lives now.
"What kinda damn doctor is she, exactly?!" Sanji asks, looking at the mountains. "She isn't exactly in any condition to go mountain climbing, you know!"
"Isn't there some way to contact her?" adds Nami. "Some way to bring her down here?" Dalton tells them that there is no way to contact her, and that she only comes down from the mountain when she feels like it. She comes down, treats patients, and takes whatever she wants from their homes as payment...rather pirate-like in actions, it seems. Its do to this eccentric behavior, and her incredible age of 140 that she is called a witch. He tells them that as a doctor she is absolutely amazing but...she's still just an old hag in behavior.
"We haven't got a choice then," Run mutters, squating down at Robin's bedside. "Robin, I need you to wake up for a moment." Her eyes slowly open and she looks at the red head. "Listen, we've found a doctor...but we've got to climb a mountain to get there. I'm gonna carry you on my back, so no matter what all you need to do is hold on, alright?"
"Are you stupid?!" Sanji. "You can't climb that mountain with Robin on your back! What the hell are you thinking?!"
"Of course he can!" Luffy chirps. "We climbed Mt. Colubo all the time in Foosha! We'll take Robin all the way to the top in no time!"
"Are you two stupid?!" exclaim Nami and Vivi in unison.
"Maybe the two of you could make it up the mountain but Robin is sick, Luffy!" Nami tells at him. "She's in no shape to go mountain climbing especially not in this weather! Vivi! Usopp! You can't honestly think this is a good idea, too! Help me talk some sense into the two of them!"
"I...I'll...be fine," Robin weakly assures them. "I trust...Run...and Luffy. Nothing will...happen to me."
"Alright!" shouts Luffy, watching Run lift Robin from the bed with ease. "Let's not waste anymore time, then...we've got a mountain to climb...!"
----
"Just what in the hell is that guy made of, exactly?" Sanji mutters. The crunching of snow and their heavy breathing just barely registers over the howling of the wind as they charge up the mountain slope. The red head carries Robin on his back and but for a little bit of sweat beading on his brow he doesn't appear phased in the slightest by the steep grade, deep snow or added weight...no matter how light it may be.
"Oi, did you all know that no one in snowy countries sleeps?" Luffy says, attempting conversation over the howling wind.
"Aah, why is that?" Run asks, somewhat confused.
"Well, because if they did they go to sleep they'll die!"
"Where did you hear that from?"
"From some guy in Party's bar, of course!"
"Dahahahaha~! You've been talkin' with Old Man John, I see! So, then, why does Dalton have a bed in his place?" From out of the surrounding woods, a rabbit comes barreling towards them. It's simple enough to dodge, watching it embed itself in the snow as they continue running. "Whoa! You don't suppose that that was one of those Lapin's Dalton was talking about, do you?"
"Obviously, Dalton has it for when he decides to die!"
"Well, that dark quick, Luffy. I mean...I'm not gonna lie, that's kinda morbid." The same rabbit launches itself at them again, succeeding only in sinking it's fangs into the trunk of a near-by tree...which they then have to dodge. "Dahahaha~! Man, that guy is persistent!"
"Well, did you know that women in snowy countries all have silky smooth pale skin?" Sanji tells them.
"And why is that, exactly?"
"It's because when they're cold they rub it to generate heat! So, since they rub it all the time, it's become smooth! And of course it's pale because the falling snow dyes it that color!" Clearly Sanji has been talking with Old Man John, too. "And would you quit being so damn annoying?!" growls Sanji, seconds before kicking the same small rabbit like a kick ball, sending it sailing into the distance. They forge ahead through the snow-storm, though not for long before they suddenly find themselves confronted by a huge number of Lapin's...these all far larger than the small one that Sanji had sent flying.
"Wow! Look at all of 'em!" exclaims Luffy. "They look like polar-bears!"
"Well, I guess the little one went and got it's friends," Run says rather flippantly. "Must be the Lapin's that Dalton mentioned before."
"Run, you go on ahead," Sanji tells him. "No matter what don't stop moving, and absolutely don't get hit...I mean, you can get hit but don't let a single hair on Robin's head get hurt!"
"Alright, casanova, I'm countin' on ya. Operation Meat-Shield is a go." The next second one of them lowers itself to the ground and launches itself at them. They scatter, avoiding it's attack, and take off running through the forest. Weaving this way and that as they attempt to leave the Lapin's behind...though, it seems to be absolutely no avail as they quickly catch up with them. "Damn things are like blood hounds!"
"Go left! We'll keep running up the mountain!" Sanji tells them, kicking a Lapin that gets too close to them. They dash through the snow, a cliff face rapidly appearing in front of them. Of course, seeing a Lapin waiting for them at the bottom of it the red head smirks before jumping.
"Aah, 'scuse me!" shouts Run, using it's face as a spring-board to propel himself up the cliff face to the top. The others follow suit, landing beside the red head and charging up the mountain. It seems that they have no intention of backing down, or letting them give them the slip as they continue chasing...at least for some time. Then, as suddenly as they began chasing they seem to stop, disappearing entirely only to reappear in front of them. "What in the-" The Lapin's immediately begin jumping up and down.
"What are they doing?" Luffy asks, watching them bounce.
"Oh, there's no way."
"What is it?"
"They're trying to start an avalanche! No, no, no! C'mon, the fight is off, fellas! The fight is off!" The pounding of the Lapin's feet is quickly replaced by a loud rumbling, and behind them a huge wall of white begins racing down the slope towards them. "We should-"
"Run away!" exclaims Sanji, as they turn and begin running back down the mountain. "Those damn bunnies! I won't let 'em get away with this!"
"We need to get up somewhere high! There! The cliff!" Run points to a large rocky cliff standing out high above the snow, and they all make an immediate bee-line for it. "If we can get up high enough we should be able to avoid the worst of it!" They barely make it to the cliff in time...but it doesn't seem to be high enough. The snow bowls over the cliff, and Run immediately leaps as high as he can, sailing high above the sea of snow.
"I got you, Run!" Luffy shouts from below, suddenly stretching an arm out in his direction. Run grasps his hand and allows himself to be pulled down to land on a log, being careful not to jar Robin with the impact. "How's Robin?"
"She's doing fine for now!"
"Oi! Little help?!" exclaims a voice from ahead of them, attracting their attention to Sanji. "Luffy! A little-" Before he can even finish Luffy stretches his arm out and hauls him out of the snow back to the log. "You really saved my skin!"
"Yeah, but it looks like we've got bigger problems!" Luffy tells him. "We're not gonna get swallowed up by the snow but it looks like we're gonna end up riding this all the way back down the mountain!"
"Oh, hell, no! We've come too far for that now! We need to think of a way to stop!" As if to make things worse, the Lapins suddenly come racing down beside them, riding atop shattered trees the same as them. "Come on, give us a break!" Ahead of them, parting the snow rushing down the mountain is the absolute worst thing that the red head can imagine.
"Everyone! Rock!" Run calls, pointing towards it.
"Aaah! We're gonna crash!" Luffy panics. "What do we do?!"
"This!" exclaims Sanji, grasping the two of them tightly and tossing the three from the log. If not for Luffy without a doubt they'd have ended up swallowed in the avalanche but as it is it's only Sanji that does.
"What the hell?!"
"I did it...for Robin~!" The cook disappears beneath the snow with the splintered log. Luffy stretches an arm out after the cook but pulls back only a mitten.
"Aaaaah! Run! Take Robin and go on ahead, I'll catch up as soon as I find Sanji!" Without another word Luffy moves diving head first into the snow. Run nods in understanding and readjusts Robin on his back before continuing back up the steep slope. Half way up the slope the come across the cause of their predicament. Digging furiously in the snow at an exposed paw is a small Lapin which finally notices them when he's only a few steps away. It snarls and growls, trying it's best to be intimidating but not actually accomplishing anything.
Run approaches, suddenly aware of just how small the little Lapin is, barely reaching knee height to him. Without a word he reaches down towards it, and immediately it raises it's paws, attempting to shield itself from what it believes is an incoming attack...only for Run to grasp the larger paw it's attempting to dig out and yank out the Lapin with ease.
"It's yer lucky day, little fella," Run tells it. "Now, please stay outta my way." It seems to be far slower going up the mountain now. Having to climb back up the same part of the mountain again is demoralizing to say the least but they're making progress at least.
"There they are!" calls a voice from behind, seconds before a large furry hippo comes sprinting around them, and stops directly in their path. "Hold it! No one move!" Ridding on the hippo are three men one of whom they recognize as being the man that had attacked their ship before...what had name? His subordinates had called him 'Wapol', right?
"Forgive me for being rude but...I ain't really got time to screw around with ya. Stand aside, please."
"And why would I do that?!" He looks the unconscious Robin riding on Run's back and actually smirks. "It looks like your friend has one foot in the grave already." He completely ignores the man, and his companions, choosing to walk around him. "Don't you...oh! I just thought up a new law! All those that ignore the King shall be executed." He simply continue walking much to the irritation of Wapol. "Stop ignoring me! Kill them! Target that woman first!" The two men riding on the back of the hippo with Wapol immediately leap at his orders, closing in on the red head.
"I'll take the woman!"
"Then, I'll deal with red hair!" Run stops in his tracks immediately, and turns to face the two who slide to an immediate stop in the snow, staring up the slope at him. A very real chill crawls down their respective spines, as they meet his gaze.
"My patience is almost worn thin," warns Run, glaring down at the two. The snow surrounding the red head slowly begins to compress, the trees in the area groaning loudly as if pressed down by an invisible weight, and even the falling snow seems to avoid him entirely. "Whatever you're here for isn't worth your lives. Don't throw 'em away on this mountain side."
"Oi! Comin' in hot!" shouts a familiar voice, breaking the spell the men seem to have fallen under. They're all surprised by a pair of Lapin's that come running down the mountain and swat the lot of them away. Luffy leaps off of one of their backs, landing in the snow beside the red head with an unconscious Sanji strapped tightly to his back and a big grin on his face. "Sorry I'm late! But I found Sanji and these bears decided to help me up the mountain! Isn't that funny?"
"Did those Lapin's just help them?!" the afro'd man asks, pushing himself up from the snow.
"Impossible! Lapin's don't bond with Humans!" asserts the bow wielding man. "It's gotta be some kind of coincidence! That's all!" The Lapin's face Wapol and his men...and clinging to the back of one of the large rabbits is a rather small, familiar looking shape. The baby Lapin looks back at them, and actually flexes his arms.
"Dahahaha~! Alright!" Run says with a grin. "Looks like we'll leave 'em to you, little fella!" They turn and quickly continue up the slope. The wind howls in their ears, and the temperature continues to drop. The cold cuts through them, settling in their bones despite their warm clothing. It isn't long before they've reached the base of the mighty Drum Rockies. The jagged rock stretches into the grey sky further than any of them can even see. It's going to be straight climb up sheer rock wall with almost no place for hand holds.
"I can't even see the top," Luffy mutters, head turned skyward.
"Let's go. We've got a hell of a climb ahead of us." Run is the first one to start, finding a hand-hold in the jagged, frozen rock and beginning his ascent. The hours long climb is, in a word, 'agonizing' for all involved. The freezing cold, and howling wind show no signs of stopping, or even slowing. In fact, the higher they climb, the worse the weather is and the harder the climb becomes. "Just a bit...bit more, Robin," Run mumbles between gasps into the jagged face of the mountain. "Just hold on a...a little longer."
Aside from the weather the climb has been less than forgiving on his hands; each finger cut and bleeding from the sharp rocks. But it looks as if it's all going to be over soon! He can just barely make out the peak of the mountain! Just a bit further to go! One final push to the top! After hours of climbing, and everything before it's finally within reach!
"I can see the top!" Luffy cheers over the howling wind, climbing a bit quicker with Run following...and when they finally reach the top, it's with every last bit of strength that Run can muster that he hauls himself and Robin over the edge before dropping face first into the snow.
"We...made it, Luffy," Run huffs, actually grinning and slowly pushing himself up. He carefully deposits Robin into the snow beside him, bundled up as much as possible. Luffy shucks off Sanji in a far less gentle manner and manages to stand.
"Wait here! I'll go get the doctor!" He quickly goes sprinting off towards the grand entrance to the castle ahead of them while Run falls back on his ass. He turns his grey eyes up towards the equally grey sky, a small smile appearing on his face. Everything is going to be alright now. Mission accomplished. No sooner has he begun to relax, however, than the snow under them suddenly begins to shift and break apart. The snow they're sitting on must just be an over-hang! They're going to fall off the mountain!
"Oi, I found- Run! Look out!" The red head grasps Robin and Sanji quickly, and tosses the two of them towards the castle as hard as he can manage, nearly putting the two directly into Luffy's arms as the snow finally gives way...