The sun cast warm golden rays over the sea as the Going Merry drifted further from the Alabasta coast. The waves lapped gently at the hull, and the sea stretched endlessly ahead, its peaceful rhythm a stark contrast to the chaos they had just left behind. On the cliff above the harbor, Vivi remained, a silhouette against the receding city. Her cloak billowed gently in the wind, her hand pressed to her heart. Though her voice had long faded, her presence lingered in their thoughts.
Luffy stood at the railing, his straw hat casting a shadow over his eyes. He looked back for as long as he could until Alabasta was just a shape on the horizon. He didn't speak. None of them did.
"Goodbye, Vivi," Nami murmured from the deck, her voice barely above a whisper. Her fingers gripped the railing tightly, knuckles pale. She closed her eyes and let the sea breeze carry the last of her tears away.
No one spoke loudly. Even Luffy, who usually shouted with uncontainable energy, remained quiet. He sat near the mast with his hat low over his eyes, knees drawn up. The emotional weight of their farewell still settled over the crew like a gentle fog. The sound of the wind and the creak of the wood beneath their feet filled the silence.
Zoro leaned against the mast, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the sea. "She made the right choice," he said eventually, breaking the stillness.
Usopp, sitting beside a barrel, nodded slowly. "Yeah... she's stronger than most people I've met. Braver, too."
Sanji, standing near the galley door, exhaled smoke into the sea breeze. "I'll cook something warm. Maybe it'll lift our spirits."
The mention of food seemed to stir something in Luffy. He stood, stretched, and looked up at the clear sky. "We need to move forward. Let's find a doctor."
That brought a change. It was like a switch had been flipped.
Nami turned her attention to the maps, wiping her eyes quickly before anyone could see. "We'll need to head into colder waters soon. The next few islands are up north."
Usopp adjusted the sails with renewed focus. Zoro climbed to the lookout post, scanning the horizon. Sanji stepped into the kitchen, preparing soup with careful precision. The aroma of spices and broth soon drifted across the deck, warming the air.
The crew returned to motion, trying to wash away the ache of parting with the rhythm of the sea. They didn't speak of Vivi anymore—not because they had forgotten, but because she had become a part of them.
The Going Merry picked up speed, its sail catching the wind as they set a new course. The creak of the wood and snap of the ropes filled the air, familiar and comforting.
Luffy stood at the front of the ship again, hand on his hat. "We'll see her again," he said quietly. "Someday."
By the next evening, clouds had gathered once more. The warmth of the previous day faded beneath thick gray skies. The wind tugged at the sails with growing urgency, and the waves slapped the hull harder with every passing hour. A storm was building on the horizon.
The crew worked together to secure the ship. Zoro tightened the ropes with experienced hands while Sanji checked the supplies in the storage hold. Usopp scanned the sea through a spyglass, searching for signs of land.
The temperature dropped rapidly, and the damp wind cut through their coats. The sky was an iron gray, the sea swelling with choppy energy. Everything smelled of rain and salt and approaching cold.
Inside her cabin, Nami sat at her desk with a map spread before her. Her head throbbed. The lines blurred in front of her eyes. She pressed a hand to her forehead and tried to steady her breathing, but it came in ragged bursts. Her skin was pale with a sickly sheen of sweat, her fingertips trembling as she tried to mark their position.
She stood up, intending to call for help, but the room spun violently. Her vision dimmed, and her knees buckled. The map slid from her fingers, fluttering to the floor as she collapsed before reaching the door.
Footsteps pounded across the deck moments later. A loud crash of thunder rolled overhead.
"Nami?!" Luffy called, pushing the door open and rushing inside. His eyes widened when he saw her motionless on the floor.
He dropped to his knees beside her. "Nami! Wake up!"
Sanji appeared behind him, his usual calm gone. He knelt down, touching her forehead, then quickly checked her pulse. His jaw clenched.
"She's burning up. This is bad. Really bad."
Zoro entered moments later. "What happened?"
Luffy's fists trembled. "She's sick... We need a doctor."
Nami groaned faintly, her face flushed with fever.
Sanji stood. "We can't keep sailing like this. If we don't find help soon..."
Usopp appeared at the doorway, face pale. "The temperature's still dropping. There's a snowstorm ahead."
The wind howled outside, echoing the urgency of their crisis. The sea ahead grew rougher by the minute, but the Straw Hats' course was clear.
Find a doctor.
Whatever it took.
To be continued...
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