Disclaimer: Eiichiro Oda owns One Piece

Recap in Chapter 52…

"Lead me to that stupid Strawhat immediately!" Kureha says before looking at the worried reindeer and looking at Nami once again. "Who knew he'd be the one that I would help later on…" She muttered under her breath, slightly cursing.

"T-then, let's go!" Nami turns, immediately jumping to her horse along with Sanji, who did the same thing. "We shouldn't waste any more time!"

"Chopper!" Kureha gestures to Chopper, immediately going towards her with a sleigh at his back, and who the hell knows how he did that in such a short span of time. "Let's go!"

His body hurts, his mind was like a puddle; he couldn't think straight. But he knows that his body was getting worse, much faster than when it was Nami who held the illness. At this rate, he might as well die. He was already feeling cold, and he knows that the next one will be the burn. And after that… Luffy groaned, panting as he tried to get rid of those thoughts. He still had lots of things to do, if he can't change those, then nothing will change at all. All he had done before this was just the start, he still has a long way to go. This stupid fever won't break him that easily, he's the future Pirate King, dammit! A little fever isn't as bad as thousands of cuts.

(Of course, a wiser side of his begs to differ. But he'll pay no mind to that for now.)

"Luffy-nii…" Those words sounded so weak, but he tried to focus on those words, at Vivi and Usopp. The least he can do is give reassurance. "You'll be fine, you're still going to be the future Pirate King, right? So hang on, Luffy-nii. I believe in you." Luffy smiled weakly, but it can only hold on for a while. He felt happiness, but it was short-lived as the coldness began to intensify. He gasped for air, furrowing his brows as his smile completely disappeared. "Ngh…!" As much as he did not want to trash around, it was too much for him to bear. His immunity, which was already too weak, became weaker. The illness will overtake him. That, he was sure of.

"O-Oi…!" He felt Usopp shift beside the bed, placing a hand on his forehead and it hurts. He turned his head to the side, trying to avoid physical contact as much as possible. When was the last time he got so sick to the point he reacted as much as this? Even when he had so many injuries and even a large damage, he had never acted like this. He cursed silently inside his head as his body shivered. Even when Usopp tried to cover his body with a warm blanket, he still felt cold. Too cold-

He coughed out blood, and Vivi could only wipe them away for her friend.

Vivi, on the other hand, could only hold on to faith that Luffy will definitely live. But as she felt Luffy getting worse by each second, she could only imagine a wilting flower; unable to be saved even when watered or taken care of. When she touched Luffy, he reacted as if her touch burned Luffy. Whens he spoke, her keen eyes saw the slight grimace Luffy tried to hide from her because of the oversensitivity his body was reacting. Vivi can do nothing, but hope.

He felt so useless.

"ALL THOSE WHO CAN FIGHT, GRAB YOUR WEAPONS AND HEAD FOR BIG HORN!"

Outside Dalton's house, the citizens were in their own problems. They stood prepared, with weapons, to protect their land from Wapol. Even with a strong defense, Wapol easily destroyed what they prepared. They were mere people, after all. They were no soldiers, nor trained to act like one. The least they can do was this.

"HURRY!"

The men raised their weapons, shouting words of encouragement. They knew they were in clear disadvantage, but they were already dead set. Running away will only be cowardly, and a shame. No good will come to it, nothing will they achieve by fleeing. They may live, but that will always be gossiped behind your back when known; already ruining your reputation and life the moment you chose to turn your back from those that expected to be saved.

It was a moment of life and death for them. They live if they live, they die if they die.

If Luffy was healthy and strong, he could have stopped this. This was what Luffy thought as he heard those faint noises outside as he struggled. He does not regret saving Nami-that, was something he willingly did wholeheartedly-but he regrets not being strong enough to provide any more help. If he had taken care of himself, had not gotten himself anemic, he would still be outside, still helping despite his failing health and not like this.

(Yet being anemic, was only a small price to see what the world had to offer to Luffy when he was still living, breathing only for his nakama's wishes. No matter how dull it may be, it was what he decided.)

"WAPOL HAS RETURNED, GRAB YOUR ARMS AND PREPARE TO FIGHT! FOLLOW AFTER DALTON!"

"TO BIG HORN!"

"IT'S TIME TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY!"

"TAKE ARMS AND HEAD FOR BIG HORN!"

Kureha, if possible, would have been pacing around in worry. That kid was a good child, very nice and kind. That boy, the moment he grinned at her, she knew that Luffy had already wormed inside her poor, old heart. They may have stayed for only a while, but it was enough for him to make everyone be attracted to him like a moth drawn to a flame.

He was like the Sun, so bright and a never-ending supply of light. However, inside, he was also burning. Kureha knew that the boy hid burdens, even only judging by how his eyes were-it was enough for someone as old as her to understand that he had gone through unimaginable pain. It was intense, so painful, that Kureha would have been fooled that he took a devil fruit to keep himself look so young. Luffy's bright persona made her almost forget about those thoughts, and she knew that he seldom did it on purpose.

What she did not know, was that Luffy was truly old.

"Dalton's place isn't that far. Chopper, hurry!" Kureha gritted her teeth, brows furrowed while Chopper even paced up faster, also worried that his nakama-his Captain!-may get worse to the point that… That… Even in his animal form, he shed some tears as the thought was too much for him to bear. Years had passed as he looked forward to meeting Luffy, he did not expect it would end up like this. Hearing his Captain and friend slowly dying, waiting for their help…

It was a reunion he did not think of. Rather, at all.

He imagined that Luffy would come saving them, with a bright grin on his face. He imagined that Luffy was fine and strong, meeting him as brightly as he did when they first met.

It did not come true.

"If he can handle it-and I hope he can-, we'll take him to Drum Castle. But if he can't, we'll help him to the point that he can take the pain to go to Drum Castle with us." Kureha gripped the sleigh tightly, hoping for the best.

"His health is already worst enough as it is. If he moves around…" Nami bit her lip and looked down with a crestfallen and hopeless look. Even someone who is not as knowledgeable in parts like this knows how bad it'll affect Luffy. Her Captain can hardly breathe normally, and his health would even worsen even as he just laid down the bed with a blanket.

Kureha clicked her tongue, knowing that they had to go faster or else…

Wapol, the damn bastard, looked around as his big mouth was crunching on a big piece of wood, its little pieces flying around. He stood proudly and arrogantly on top of Robson. As soon as he finished, his cocky words came out as if it was his second nature. "DELICIOUS!" Behind him, the houses were burned by Wapol's men, said people also in disgusting glee as they raised up their arms with the same happiness as Wapol. The poor people could do nothing but stand, protecting their loved ones-or themselves-from any wickedness Wapol can still inflict. With their homes burned, surrounded by Wapol's men, they could only hope for the best. "Listen well, my citizens! Everything that exists in this country is nothing but food for me! Kuromarimo! Tell the people why I'm so great!"

Kuromarimo, with a smirk, bowed his head down to Wapol. "The fact that you are King proves your greatness, Your Majesty." It had only increased Wapol's selfish ego. Had the villagers found the way to speak, they would have buried all of Wapol's men along with the said man with criticisms, or maybe something worse. Alas, if they spoke even one word, Wapol would order to cut off their heads.

"Ahhh… Nothing like a nice roasted house cooked to a well-done on a cold snowy day!"

When Wapol was done, Kuromarimo took it as the chance to kneel down, still smirking. "Now then… According to the reports, it seems the Strawhat Pirates have found Dr. Kureha and are now heading towards the Drum Castle." Or so, a villager told them.

Almost as if 'Strawhat' was a cursed word, he immediately snapped his head towards Kuromarimo with his teeth being gritted by himself and a deadly glare that appeared as soon as he had heard the pirate crew. "WHAT!? AND WHY IS THAT!?"

"It seems they're looking for that witch, Dr. Kureha. Apparently, she's made the castle her new home during Your Majesty's absence."

"WHAT!?" If it was possible, his rage was fueled more by hearing that news. The nerve of that old woman, living in his castle! He stood up, fists clenched. "THAT HAG IS LIVING IN MY CASTLE!?

Although, people knew he does not deserve to be the owner of that castle ever since he had acted so wrongly towards his supposed-to-be citizens. More so when he had turned his back on the people, leaving them helpless under Blackbeard's attack. Wapol had no right to be angry, the people thought with bitter rage.

"HOW LONG DOES THAT TRAITOROUS HAG INTEND TO MAKE A FOOL OUT OF ME! I'LL DEVOUR THAT HAG ALONG WITH THOSE PIRATES! MY SUBJECTS, PREPARE TO LEAVE FOR THE CASTLE AT ONCE!"

"THAT'S AS FAR AS YOU'LL GO!"

A swing of a spade, over-sized blade was what it only took to bring Wapol down. Wapol let out a pathetic cry as blood oozed from his cut, thrown away from Robson and to drop onto the cold, snowy soil.

Kuromarimo stood up, his smirk gone and brows furrowed as he looked at the man who dared to hurt the one who he served. "WHO'S THAT!?" The people let out a gasp, worry, and happiness as it was someone who they could trust. Worry, since this man was attacking recklessly. Happiness, since they had been given hope. These two were fighting inside the villager's heart, and their worry seems to only worsen when they knew he would die for his country.

Wapol thrashed around in pain, "GYAAA! I'VE BEEN CUT! I'M GOING TO DIE!"

"That's precisely why I came and I'd be glad if you did." That voice was what Wapol knew so well, and so did Wapol's men. He landed on the ground with a confident form, his face the same as it had always been.

"DALTON!"

"Luffy…" The Pirate King, Luffy, with wide eyes, looked at the source. His clothes were covered in blood, someone's blood. His face had been splattered by those same blood, and his hand…

It was buried in his chest.

Was this a new dream? A forgotten memory? It can't be the latter, he doesn't forget anything this important. Not since… Not since his family had… Gone away.

The man smiled, despite the fact that he was dying. It was simply happy and content, he was not angry. Luffy does not know who this person was. His face was blurry, but judging by those clothes, he was the Fleet Admiral. But who? Surely, he would have known who this person was. That voice, it seemed familiar, yet not at the same time. The voice was blurry, a cacophonous sound yet he can decipher what words he was saying. Was this a dream? It may as well be one, but it was too realistic to be a dream.

(He wants to remove his eyes, get rid of these feelings that bubbled so intensely inside him for some reason. He felt tears cascading down, his breath getting erratic as the man fell down to his knees. To his surprise, he followed and kneeled down as well.)

"No…!" Luffy knew it came out of him, voice so weak and broken. He was not in control of his body, as usual. His body started trembling, letting out small sobs. "No…! I'm sorry, t-this…" He felt it, he felt the man go cold at a tremendous rate. Was this truly a dream? He can feel, he can taste the bitterness, he can hear himself so clearly but not the man's voice.

The man was dying. And he was hurting because of it. Clearly, this man was important to him. But who?

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" Luffy kept repeating, hugging this man softly as if he would break. "I shouldn't have let it go, I shouldn't have let my emotions get ahead of me…!"

'It was just like the last time… When they died…!' These thoughts… Was Luffy's?

"You shouldn't have been hurt, y-you…!" Luffy felt a cold hand on his back, slightly making circles as if it was him who he needed comforting. It hurt him, his body going numb and the guilt had soon taken him.

"Thank you…"

"No, no…" Luffy sobbed, for the first time in a long time in his former timeline. That, he was sure of. He was in his former timeline, considering his clothes. The male leaned on him, losing strength as much as he was losing his life. The pain was too strong, his heart clenches tightly-

"… For everything… Luffy-san…"

And the hand fell down.

It felt like the Marineford War all over again.

"This was your fault, Strawhat."

Who…?

"You ran away again. From the past, from the guilt, from everything."

Ran away?

(His place turned dark, very dark. The body turned into ashes and disappeared. Everything felt cold again, but much worse.)

"Strawhat, Monkey D. Luffy, the Pirate King, the Captain of the Strawhat Pirates… You lost everything. You lost your nakama, your homeland, Shanks, and even him. You ran away when your nakamas died, and you ran away again."

No… He did not run away! What was this person saying!?

(The bad memories flashed in front of him, every each of them. Ace's death, his nakama's death… That man's death…)

"Look at how pitiful you are. The Pirate King? Hah! You're nothing but a coward, not even living yet breathing! You deserve a painful death, yet Gol D. Roger gave you a chance to start all over again, as he also did… You deserve none of it! You should have died with your nakama, you shouldn't have even decided to live to begin with!"

(He gasped, not being able to breathe anymore as his body burned. It hurts…)

"Carry the burden you should have carried! All those blood in your hands, the bodies underneath your feet… Your greediness caused you pain, your loss! Tell me, was getting One Piece worth it? In exchange for One Piece, you let people die and even your comrades? Surely, you were content. You were happy to have One Piece, to finally achieve your dream!"

No! Of course not! His nakama… They were priceless, a treasure much more important than One Piece and his life itself!

"Priceless, you say? Think, you hypocrite. Wasn't it you, who killed them? They died for you, and never achieved their dream in the process! Take responsibility, accept the fact that it was you who killed them!"

(His body was burning so badly… When it was first cold, his body went warm all of a sudden. As if death-)

"Strawhat… Even in this timeline, you will lose everything. And it will all be because of you."

NO!

"…Fy!"

"No? Don't fool yourself, Monkey D. Luffy! I already know your downfall. This is not a guess, Strawhat. This is a prediction, something that I know that will happen soon."

Don't lie! I-I came here to save everyone, get out of my head!

"You can't save everyone, Monkey D. Luffy. Even if you saved your nakama, your brother, and every person you dearly care for..."

GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

"… Up!"

"You can't even save yourself."

(Faintly, he hears Roger somewhere. Shouting with an anguished voice: "Luffy, don't let him get to you! You're stronger than this, you can defeat-"And a repeated chant of, "GO AWAY!")

Hands shaking, it was slowly raising up without his permission. He tried to fight, yet it was too strong. It raised up, up, up, until it reached his neck.

"If you can't save yourself, then you can't save anyone at all."

(He was being choked by his hands. It clawed, drawing blood until it pooled down the ground. He looked in horror as his lower body got covered by his blood, until it covered the whole ground. He was dying- He can't die yet, he still has to-!)

"I'll help you, Strawhat. Why don't you die right now?"

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s n a p

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"LUFFY!"

A scream left from Luffy's mouth as he threw his head in pain, eyes rolling to the back of his head as he felt each and every limb hurt in every way as possible. His body arched, trembling as he felt his life slipping away each and every second. It felt warm, too warm. He had felt dying for so long, yet all never had reached this point.

"Lock him down!"

Hearing those words made his primal instinct awaken. He felt cornered; a dangerous spot. He was going to be killed by these people. These people… He may not be able to see anymore, but his hearing was still there. He can still fight back, he can still kill-

As soon as he felt hands lock his parts down, he thrashed his body wildly. His mind screamed, Get away! Get away! As soon as his scream ended, he choked.

He could not speak. He could not see-

"This isn't good, he's losing his senses!" Kureha felt the others panic, but she was doing that best she was with the limited items she has. With Luffy thrashing around, it was becoming a harder task than it was originally.

"W-w-what will happen if he loses his senses?" Usopp asked before grimacing as Luffy was choking, almost as if he was running out of oxygen. His hands along with the two women were shaking as they could barely stop Luffy, and they were worse when Luffy shouted. It was as if there was a surge of vibration that surrounded the place for a second so strongly they felt their consciousness slip before coming back when Luffy choked. It was so strong, but faint? They could not describe the feeling, they could never think about it too much when Luffy was suffering in front of them.

"It means he's gradually dying!" Nami answered bitterly, tears already falling down her face as she bit down her sobs, trying to be strong for Luffy. Kureha, with furrowed brows, worked with precision and profession as she was trying to help Luffy, even for a while. Just enough to calm him down.

They weren't even inside the house yet when they heard Luffy's scream far away. That sound alone made them hurry up more than they can the last time. When they came in, Vivi and Usopp were there, trying to hold Luffy down as he was shouting words like, "No!" or, "Lies! Lies!" It was so painful to hear, anguished sounds that left Luffy will be forever engraved in their minds. Luffy was so strong, they almost forgot he also needed help. He only stopped for a second, almost as if dead, and he was not breathing. Then, he screamed. What happened next was what was happening right now.

Sanji grunted as Luffy's hand escaped from his grasp, and then got hit by the very same hand that helped him, the very same hand that was reached out to him, for a new path. He coughed out blood, "Damn Strawhat, letting himself get controlled by a stupid thing…" He struggled a bit before holding Luffy's arm again, not letting it go away anymore. He fears that, when Luffy wakes up and hears that he had given them too much damage, he'll burden it for the rest of his life. That is not endearing at all. "Oi, Shitty Captain!" He let out a small gasp as he felt his body almost got lifted by Luffy's single arm alone. However, he was able to regain his ground as soon as he noticed it. "You better not die just because of this!"

"Luffy-nii, please wake up!" Vivi pleads despite knowing Luffy cannot hear her. The sight of seeing Luffy like this made her think that it was all her fault for dragging the Strawhat Pirates into her problem-dragging her Luffy-nii. It was just like a breeze when Luffy was grinning at her, supporting her and teasing her. It passed by so fast, she already missed his platonic hugs even when she didn't need them. A long time ago, she told him to not spoil her so much. Right now, with Luffy on the brink of death, she regrets saying those words to him.

"Ack-!" Luffy curled his fingers into a fist, gritting his teeth, as he felt his soul having two minds; to live or to not. Right now, only Kureha can keep him alive-not that he was conscious enough to know that.

"DALTON!"

The said man, now in his Full-Bison Form, was struck with three green arrows. Thus, making him one of his legs kneel down. He wore a grave expression, face darkening and sweating as blood profusely oozed out from its place to the point it pooled down on the snowy land. The people who shouted with anguished voices stopped on their heels, knowing that those shots were meant to be taken by them, not Dalton.

Chess made a dark, smug smile as he lowered down his bow. "That soft heart of yours is your weakness, Dalton…" It was unfair, that not only did they have the upper-hand in experience and people, they also knew Dalton very well. He was in clear disadvantage, and Wapol with his crew made sure to use it to the fullest.

"MAHAHAHA! A MOST FITTING DEATH!"

Wapol laughed cruelly as Dalton fell down the ground. Even when he was kneeling, he still looked as brave as he was. It was what the people thought as they looked in horror, of seeing Dalton take the damage for them, no matter how stupid it was. Even the MD-20, the doctors that secretly despises Wapol, thought so. They had no choice but to help Wapol from his wounds, afraid that their heads would be cut off because of their foolish decision. As soon as the man was back on his feet, his mouth ran to no end. The MD-20 narrowed their eyes behind Wapol's back, their minds bitterly saying, 'All bark and no bite'. The MD-20 can only look as Dalton and the people-albeit, little confidence-tried to shoo away Wapol, who can only think of their words like trash. Just a while ago, Dalton easily defeated a number of opponents with one strike. But with people who he needed to protect, here he was, slowly losing blood on the land of his fatherland.

The people shouted Dalton's name again, but their worry only increased as the ground beneath them shook. Wapol and the others seem to have noticed as well, eyes widening slightly in realization. "What's that shaking? An earthquake?"

Oh, it was much, much more than that.

"EVERYONE GET AWAY FROM HERE!"

"IT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG ONE! THIS VILLAGE IS GONNA BE HIT…"

The trees, still quite far away from the village, were literally swept away like a piece of paper and the wind-

"BY AN AVALANCHE!"

"T-t-t-the ground is shaking!" Usopp shouted with a trembling voice, all of them staggering slightly from the vibration. "We're going to be in-"

"Shut up, Usopp!" Nami shouted back, still focusing on placing Luffy down. The man was unaware of his surroundings, but at least he was getting better. The least they need was to make Usopp shout some things that will make them worry and get side-tracked from helping Luffy. "Just focus on Luffy instead!" There was no need to panic, there was no trouble at all. It was just a small earthquake. That's right, it was nothing large-

The woman who they had just seen a while ago-the one that Usopp bowed to, they clearly remembered-barged in, sweating as she looked at them in worry. "What are you doing!?" When she was about to go away, she had seen a glimpse of color behind the window. She was brave enough to pause and warn them. "The avalanche-it's coming, and it's big! Run away before it gets to you!"

"An avalanche!?" Usopp hesitated, feeling Luffy's trembling and thrashing arm on his hold. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the woman who gave them one last look of worry and pity before going away. What a nice timing it had, making sure that Luffy is to be in danger, or worse… Dead.

"What should we do…!?" Nami's voice broke at the end, closing her eyes shut as she sobbed lightly. It was too much, all of it. These problems… Why were they piling up one by one the moment Luffy was in grave danger? Was it too much to ask that they want their Captain to be well soon?

The door was slammed open once again. But this time, it was a blessing.