Cold... It's so cold. The thought repeated over and over in the frozen girls mind. Her limbs grew numb, she could barely stay conscious. Was she even conscious? Was she dreaming? Astral projecting? Maybe she was dead. Tani honestly didn't have the energy to even think at this point, all she knew was she was really, very, undoubtedly cold.

She thought she heard the muffled cries of people she knew calling her name, the voices were desperate and distressed.

I'm here! It's cold please help me! I'm stuck! Don't leave me! She cried in her mind, her voice frozen just like the rest of her body.

It was dark... So very dark and cold. Like a nightmare world where she was drowning. The crunching of the snow above her signalled that her nakama were near.

Please help me! I'm right here! Please! She couldn't even cry. The world dulled as her limbs had done moments ago, everything seemed so quiet... So very very quiet.

...

Her body bounced and swayed, her arms dangled limply in front of her eyes while she body shivered violently. Sandaled feet imprinted in the snow beneath her.

Tani tried to move her arms, turn her head, move anything! But her body ached so immensely that it wasn't worth the effort. She just blinked her eyes tiredly while her world went quiet once again.

...

Tani woke up again, finding herself suspended god knows how high. Her waist was plastered against a warm body, tied there by a red coat that was loosely knotted around her companions hips.

The sound of pained grunts and bells ringing caressed her ears in a dull way. The swaying made her dizzy.

"Uwahh?" Tani groaned softly, but it was enough to alert the man carrying her.

"Tani?" he called to her, loud and clear against the wind.

Luffy? He found her!

"La-" but the name died on her breath as a wave of nausea hit her. She held her mouth shut, leaning against Luffy's back and pressing deeper into it.

"Hold on Tani, almost there," Luffy promised. Tani nodded into his shoulder. Her eyelids heavy, sleep once again took over her.

...

Tani launched herself forward, her breathing was heavy and uneven. Tears rolled down her face as she choked on the air that flooded her lungs. A cold shiver ran up and down her spine, instinctively she pulled the blanket around her closer... Wait a blanket? She looked around at her surroundings. Grey stone walls lined with shelves upon shelves of bottles and jars, multiple white beds lined up with one another. It looked like a medieval hospital.

Tani grabbed her head as a killer headache knocked against her skull. Her hiss of pain echoed back at her, she was alone in the room. Letting out a sigh, she went to reach for her backpack, every muscle screamed in protest but she didn't care. If she was bed ridden, she was going to entertain herself. Half way down she heard the sound of a door being opened. The person entering must have been small because their foot steps sounded light.

A shadow that looked... Nonhuman? Danced across the wall. Tani froze on the spot. Watching the shadow get closer and closer. She sucked in a breath, ready to see what was coming towards her.

What she saw... Was not quite what she was expecting.

A raccoon? No It had antlers, and it wasn't ugly like a moose. It must be a deer. What on earth was a Disney's Rudolph the red... No wait that's a blue nose. So it's Rudolph the blue nosed reindeer.

The little guy wore a pink top hat with a white X in the centre. They looked about the height of a Tani's leg when standing straight. They had the fluffy appeal of a teddy bear that made her just wanna snuggle them so bad.

Rudolph didn't seem aware that she was awake yet, their breathing was heavy like they'd been running. Their hands were holding onto a wall, almost like they were hiding but the wrong way. Tani let out a small chuckle.

"I think you're meant to go the other way around," Tani pointed out. The deer squeaked and slowly moved until their body was covered and their head peaked out slightly. The door burst open and in came hurricane Luffy, bringing chaos and destruction in his path.

Luffy noticed Tani was awake. He stood in place while still running on the spot, his face lit up like Christmas lights.

"Tani! You're awake!" he yelled, Tani grabbed her head with a wince of pain. "Have you seen Chopper run through here?" Luffy asked. "He's this little deer monster than looks really cool but is small right now I think," he said quickly. Tani blinked to register the words.

"Chopper?" Tani questioned, her eyes landed on the widened eyes of the deer in question. "I haven't seen anyone by the name of Chopper, I only just woke up," she offered. Luffy let out a puffy pout. Chopper on the other hand, sighed with relief.

"Mind if I ask why you're looking for a deer by the name Chopper?" she asked, curious about this little deer. Luffy gave her his signature laugh.

"He's gonna be our new nakama," he declared... Well that was not what she expected. "He's a doctor! Can you believe that? How cool," Luffy justified with awe. Tani was just surprised to hear that he was the doctor.

"Wait so he's the doctor that lives on the mountain?" wasn't the doctors name Kureha? Tani rubbed her head as her headache came crashing back full force, "Ugh, last I remember, I was buried under 6ft of snow? I think? how did we get here?" she asked aloud. Luffy's grin dropped a bit.

"Yeah, Sanji and I dug you out of the snow and I carried you up the mountain," he informed, Tani's eyes noticed the bloodied bandages around his hands and feet. So she really was carried up here... How lame.

"Uhm, how are Nami and Sanji?" she moved away from the topic of her avalanche incident. "Could Dr Chopper fix her?" Luffy's mood lifted significantly.

"They're fine, Nami's all better now. Sanji and Nami are both talking to the old lady doctor right now," he answered. Old lady doctor?

"So the deer doctor isn't the doctor we were after?" she asked, Luffy looked confused.

"He lives with this old lady that looks young but has an old woman face," he explained, that didn't really explain the deer being a doctor. "I think he works for her, or with her? I dunno," he said. "But he helped make everyone better, look he even bandaged my hands and feet," he pointed at his feet and waved his hands. Tani felt guilt well up in her stomach, did she cause that?

"Guess I shouldn't have come along then, seems like I was only dead weight," she laughed at herself, guilt present in her tone. Luffy stopped smiling altogether.

"No you're not," he pouted. Tani laughed that bitter laugh again, turning to face her captain.

"Name one thing that I did through that whole trip that you couldn't have done without me," she challenged. Crossing her arms as if she'd already won the argument. Luffy paused, the gears in his head clicked away in thought.

"Does it matter? You came along, and I think its just fine that you did," he answered, looking proud of his answer. "Don't beat yourself up about it," he smiled. Tani felt awkward about the positivity.

"H-hey I think I saw Chopper run past the door, hurry and you might catch him," she lied with feigned excitement, Luffy took the bait and sprinted out the door while calling loudly. Tani sighed in defeat, her head being engulfed in the pillow she was using as a headrest. Once Luffy was completely out of sight, Tani whispered an "all clear," to Chopper.

Chopper looked calmer now, his features were large and plush like. He honest to god looked like a teddy bear from the stuffed toys section. He wandered cautiously closer to her bed, his face holding a level of nervousness and concern.

"How's your head?" he asked! He can talk? Tani was at a loss for words.

"I-uh oh um my... My head? Oh yeah my head haha well yes my head is indeed a head yes it is," she sputtered, getting nowhere she groaned at herself and slapped her cheeks. Refreshing her brain, "Sorry... My head feels like its been crushed by a tonne of freezing cold snow," she breathed. The deer nodded and proceeded to reach up to grab something off one of the shelves. He handed her a small ball with a pill like feel to it.

"Try this, it should help numb the pain a bit. The straw hat guy told us you were buried under snow for over 10 minutes, you're very lucky to be alive," the doctor said. Tani blinked before popping the small ball in her mouth, dry swallowing the pill like object. Hoping to just push that thought into the back of her mind.

"So your Chopper right?" Tani asked curiously. The deer halted in his movements for a second before resuming.

"It's Tony Tony Chopper actually," he answered shyly. "But most people call me Chopper," he added. Tani gave him a grin. He's too cute for words!

"Well Chopper, the name's Tanisha. My friends call me Tani," she held her hand out to shake. Chopper shakily put his hoof in her hand and shook. He was so... So small. Tani had to hold back the squeals of cuteness. "Uh, it would probably be a good idea to make a run for it. Luffy will probably come into this room again," she giggled, already feeling the effects of the medicine.

"Ah! You're right. He's been chasing me for the last hour," Chopper groaned. Tani chuckled.

"That's the captain for ya. Honestly once he's set his mind on something, there's no changing it," she sighed. Chopper wasn't impressed with that idea. Tani reached down to grab her bag, chopper ran over and held it up for her to make it easier to grab.

"Hey, do you like sweets? I wanna thank you for helping my nakama and I," she held out a candy she had from her snack haul. Chopper looked at it curiously, Tani unwrapped it and pushed it closer to him. He sniffed it before grabbing it and popping it in his mouth, squeaking in delight.

Chopper excused himself and left the room to help Dr Kureha. The women was watching over Nami and Sanji (who apparently hurt his back during the climb up) in another room. The relief of knowing Nami was alive and well, was a welcome feeling. However now that Chopper was gone, the room felt lonely. Being alone also left her with her thoughts... And they weren't pretty.

She felt awful for the damage she caused Luffy. The image of his bloodied bandages haunted her brain, shaking her head violently to throw the images into the abyss.

Why did she even bother coming along anyway? She was a nervous wreck at the mere thought of heights, what did she think she was going to do once they made it to the mountain? Walk back? Piggy back off Luffy? There's no way she would have climbed the mountain herself. She had no reason to go along with the fully capable Luffy and Sanji. Yet she decided to tag along anyway, and Luffy didn't mind at all. He even defended her choice when she brought it up.

Now that she thought about it, she would have been better off staying behind with Usopp and Vivi. She didn't help as much as she hoped to, but the thought of not helping Nami as much as she could... If felt like mum all over again.

Her cold body arriving home from a long shift at job number whatever. Her normally glowing black skin lost its luster and dulled with every harsh snow day. Winter that year was awful, the car broke down so mum had to catch the bus or walk to work... Tani clapped her cheeks. The memories scared her. The 911 call, the flashing lights and blaring sirens that followed, the picking up and rolling away of her mother's passed out body that was icy cold to the touch.

Tani felt the tears prickle her eyes. That's why she needed to help, Nami wasn't going to suffer the same way her mother had. She wasn't going to let anyone stay out in the cold while in such a prone state.

***

She really wanted to take a walk to clear her head-

"Chopper!" Luffy shouted cheerfully while the door to Tani's room burst open. A rush of cold wind from the force of Luffy's entrance, as well as the pair racing around the room. The Road runner style chase left the chilled girl feeling dizzy at the blur of Luffy's red and Chopper's pink and brown. "Join my crew!" Luffy demanded. The little doctor shrieked.

"Leave me alone! I don't wanna!" he cried. Slipping from Luffy grabby hands, Tani covered her eyes with her arm so she didn't need to watch. Maybe she should test her legs out and go for that walk.

Tani immediately regretted moving, the pins and needles that shot through her legs felt like TV static. She put pressure on each foot, bouncing them up and down until the fuzzing started to fade away.

Luffy and Chopper were too distracted chasing or being chased around, so it was easy for Tani to wrap a blanket around her shoulders and start walking out of the room unnoticed.

The hallway she found herself in was more like a massive, round indoor balcony with stairs that connected to a pillar in the middle of a bigger room. There were three levels, with Tani being on the second floor. She decided that her first course of action would be to find a spot that was much warmer to walk around in, because these socks aren't thick enough to fend off the cold from the cobblestone flooring.

She tiptoed around, using only her toes to walk around to avoid as much contact with the cold flooring as possible. When she heard some chatter in one of the doors.

"-He took his own life before the poison could kill him," an older ladies voice spoke solemnly. Tani pushed her ear against the door to hear better. "I've been taking care of the brat since then. We recently moved here once Wapol and his guard ran away," she said with venom at the mention of the previous king.

"Why did he flee?" Nami asked. She's awake! Tani opened the door and stood there with a wide grin on her face. There she spotted Sanji sitting on the end of Nami's bed, Nami was resting in a pair of yellow flannel pyjamas, and there was the old lady that had the body of a young woman in her 20s and the face of a witch.

She looked so cool!

"What the hell are you doing out of bed?" the old lady sneered, her gaze narrowing at Tani. The girl in question rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

"I wanted to go for a walk?" she answered. The lady dead pan stared at her. Tani waved her hands around, "My room got really loud because Luffy and Chopper were running around chasing each other," she explained. The murderous gaze of the lady that Tani was guessing was Kureha, lowered.

"That captain of yours is a real pain in the ass. I'm going to staple him to a board if he doesn't stop disturbing my patients." Kureha said with all seriousness. She stood up and walked over to Tani, "That doesn't excuse you for being up, go back to bed now or I'll chain you to a bed," she threatened. Tani felt herself sweat, turning around to walk back to her room. Not before turning around to wave at Nami and Sanji.

"I'm glad you're well again Nami!" Tani grinned. The red head smiled and waved back, Sanji waved as well. He was rather quiet the whole time, thinking about what the doctor had recounted.

Tani closed the door and found herself pausing for a moment, she pressed her head to the door again in the hopes of hearing Kureha sit down. Once the lady did indeed do so, Tani walked away from her room and continued to explore the castle. 

She found a big red carpet that lead to a throne room, with all the tapestries and cushioned chairs. Now how could a girl resist the urge to run over and sit on the throne? Answer! She couldn't.

She jogged over and threw her butt onto the comfortable throne, crossing her legs like all the rebel queens she'd seen on TV do. Ahh she felt so cool! Literally and figuratively.

"As my first decree, I elect that all poor people are given $1,000,000 every day during winter," she said in a posh voice. Waving a hand at her imaginary court, "I also declare that school is cancelled and everyone gets a pass," she declared in her royal tone. Snickering to herself as her voice echoed through the room.

"Tani, is that you?" Luffy's voice? Echoed back. Tani straightened her back and felt her cheeks flush. Oh my god he heard that... Maybe she could stay quiet and pretend she wasn't here.

*clap clap clap clap*

Luffy's sandals slapped their way towards her. The sound bouncing off the walls and hitting Tani in the ears. Oh my god this is so embarrassing. He's gonna think she's so lame! She thinks she super lame!

"Tani?" Luffy said as he appeared at the entrance of the throne room. Standing there with his arm at his side. He spotted her sitting on the throne, his eyes widening. "There you are! Chopper was worried about you going missing," he told her. Tani slid off the throne and messed around with her hands as Luffy walked closer.

"Sorry, I just wanted to go for a walk," she explained. Luffy was standing right in front of her, holding out his hand for her to take. She placed her gloved hand in his, the other was missing it's glove now that she thought about it. Wonder what happened there. "You and Chopper were so loud in my room that I couldn't think," she laughed to herself.

Luffy stared at the gloved hand in his own with distaste. He dropped it, much to Tani's confusion. What's wrong with her hand? Isn't that what he wanted-

He picked up her ungloved hand and with a satisfied hum, started walking Tani back to the room she needed to rest in. Tani trailed behind him with a trot, the straw hat captain seeming happy with himself.

"Where's Chopper gone?" Tani asked, trying to clear the silence away. Luffy shrugged.

"Dunno, he noticed you were gone and got all panicked about it." Luffy stated. Tugging at Tani's hand to hurry up. She sped up until she was walking along side Luffy.

"I should say sorry shouldn't I?" she sighed. Her breath coming out in a puff of frozen air. It was getting colder and colder as they approached the balcony area. Tani's gloved hand moved to start rubbing at her arms... Where was Luffy's coat?

"Aren't you cold without your coat?" Tani commented, pointing at Luffy's bare arms. The captain blinked at her, looked at his arms, then immediately started shivering at the sight of his bare skin.

"I lost it,"

"How do you lose a coat you were wearing?"

"Oh I was using it as a rope thing when I had to climb the mountain."

"... You're made of rubber... You are literally your own rope."

"I needed my arms and legs to climb,"

"But you just said you used the coat as a rope? For what?"

"To hold you up, so you wouldn't fall of me when I climbed up. It's like that sword and rope thing we did to Sanji so he wouldn't drop Nami,"

Oh...

"Well you can use my blanket if you wanna," Tani offered, already sliding the blanket off her shoulders. How it hadn't fallen off her shoulders as a miracle. It's like her shoulders had velcro on them or something.

Tani wrapped the blanket around Luffy's shoulders and continued walking beside him. He had a dumb look on his face, like he was thinking about something that Tani couldn't quite figure out.

"My-" Luffy started, but was cut short when the sound of a laugh that neither of the pair knew. A voice that blinked on familiar but sat in the tip of their tongues.

"My beautiful castle! What have they done to my beautiful castle!"

The colour drained from the girls face... Didn't Dalton mention that this castle belonged to... 

"Luffy," Tani whispered with alarm, "That sounds a lot like Wapol," she said fearfully. The wimpy kings voice still filling the castle.

Luffy wasted no time wrapping an arm around Tani's waist and hoisting her onto his shoulder, bolting down the hallway towards her room.

He bust open the door with his foot, spooking Chopper who was pacing around the room with worry in his cute features.

"Tani! You found her," Chopper sighed with relief, Luffy walked to the bed that had Tani's bag next to it and unceremoniously dumped her on the bed. She yelped as he grabbed the blanket from his shoulders and dumped it on top of her.

"Chopper, Wapol is back and I need to go kick his ass for biting Merry," Luffy declared. Turning to Tani with a smirk, he knew he was going to be fine.

"Tani, stay here," Luffy commanded. She chuckled, like she was going to leave her nice warm bed.

"You better come back in one piece, I won't forgive you if that ugly mug is the one to down the future pirate king," she stated smugly.

Chopper looked between where Luffy was standing, and where Tani sat. Luffy really did love his nakama... Maybe... Maybe he would... Chopper shook his head. There was no way.

"Oh Luffy," Tani added, taking off her coat and holding it out for Luffy to take. "So you don't get cold," she grinned sweetly. Luffy smiled and slipped it on.

"Thanks!" he snickered with a "shishishi". Luffy looked at the reindeer, "Let's go," he said. Walking towards the door to face Wapol. Tani looked at Chopper.

"Good luck out there Chopper," Tani gave him a soft smile. Chopper felt his cheek glow, his body did a little dance while he insulted her for wishing him luck. Earning a giggle from the girl. 

"Stay in bed," he ordered Tani. The girl giving him a mock salute before dramatically flopping onto the bed. Chopper approved and walked out the room, leaving the girl alone once again.

Time to listen to music! Because god only knows that Tani will start being a negative Nancy if she keeps thinking to herself. So with her headphones on, she started playing tunes to remind her of home.

...

When a loud crashing noise ripped the dark skinned girl from the music humming in her ears. She found herself face to face with the steel face and wild dark blue hair of Wapol.

What the fu-

"You're one of straw hats crew!" he barked, grinning deviously at her.

She shrieked as he charged towards her with his mouth wide open. Tani rolled out of the way, her legs were tangled with her blanket so she slammed into the hard stone ground. What the hell was he doing in here? Where's Luffy? she quickly pulled her legs from the blanket and held it in her hands, ready to use.

"Stay still!" Wapol commanded in an entitled manner. Tani clutched the blanket tight, her heart rate accelerated. His hungry eyes looked into her terrified ones. Remain calm, you can do this Tani. She encouraged herself, but her heart didn't believe her. Wapol laughed deeply, licking his lips and opening his mouth to take a bite at the downed girl. 

She let out a cry as she whipped the blanket up from around her, throwing it over Wapol. He flailed around as of he was caught in a net, he wobbled and shook the blanket around in an attempt to free himself.

Tani didn't have much time to run. Her bag was next to Wapol, so she couldn't grab it, and her yo-yo's were in her jacket which was with Luffy. She groaned and charged outside the door, her socked feet slamming into the stone floor as she bolted away as fast as her tired legs would carry her.

Wapol's angry shouts followed behind her as she made a dash for the stair way, tired whines escaped her throat as she ran as fast as she could from the enormous man chasing after her. Her legs hurt, the cold hurt, everything hurt! Where's Luffy? Was Nami and Sanji safe? What about Chopper?

The set of stairs appeared up ahead, and with her luck! They were slippery as all hell and with her socked feet being exposed to them. She slipped all the way up the stairs, scrapping her arms and knees as she bolted up the stairs. Her gasps and huffs bounced off the walls. The clapping of her feet against the stairs, the clanking of Wapol's shoes, Luffy's sandals-

Luffy's sandals? Well that's answers the Luffy question.

Without a word, an arm wrapped around the girls waist. Another arm  was sent flying passed her. 

"Gum gum rocket!" the blessed voice of Luffy called from behind her. Her feet lifted off the ground, tangled brown hair whipped behind her as Luffy slingshot them up the stairs. Tani closed her eyes, the blur of colours wasn't doing her fading headache any favours. 

"You ok?" Luffy's voice asked. Tani snickered.

"If you consider getting attacked by a large mouthed man with the same appetite as a humpback whale, while being defenseless as ok. Then yeah I'm totally ok," she joked. Luffy snickered with her. Slowing down at the top of the stairs. Luffy kept his hold of her while she steadied herself. His focus on the area surrounding them. The centre of the room had a canon looking weapon or something. Luffy slid Tani's jacket off and handed it back to her.

"Wait outside," he ordered, Tani pulled the jacket on, melting into the borrowed warmth. Tani turned to one of the open windows, swallowing the lump in her throat. Luffy put a hand on her shoulder. "You'll be ok," he grinned. Tani nervously nodded. 

She shuffled to the window closest to her and grabbed the window frame with shaky hands and slipped out of the room onto the roof. The harsh winter winds berated her weak little body with cold snow. Don't look down! Don't look down! Don't look- 

Her body froze as she stared at the long fall that awaited her if she slipped. Her hands gripped so hard that she felt like her veins would burst. Her breathing shifted from extremely fast, to nonexistent! Her vision zoomed in and out, a dizzy spell over coming her senses. Her grip didn't falter. She needed to stay there until Luffy gave her the all clear.

Focus on the battle.

Wapol's heavy breath echoed up the stairs as the fat man huffed from the run up. He laughed manically at the sight of the canon.

"It's over for you now straw brat!" Wapol declared. His heavy feet stomping towards the canon to start it up. Luffy didn't move, he stood close to the window that Tani was hiding behind. Ready to deflect anything fired her way.

But he knew that canon wouldn't fire. The birds nest in the barrel made sure of that. Wapol's angry cries when he realised this made it clear that he was aware of this fact also.

"What! It's blocked?!" Wapol shouted. Luffy's snickers were like music to Tani's ears. "Ugh! That doesn't matter, I'll just..." Wapol paused, followed by the sound of mechanical thingymabobs doing their mechanical thing. Tani didn't dare look, she needed to remain hidden... OK maybe just a peak.

She found herself faced with the sight of Luffy holding a birds nest full of eggs, as he stared angrily at the massive form of a mechanical Wapol, his body now incorporating the canon which he must have eaten. How did that even work?

Oh right devil fruits are bull shit and use major asspulls for the sake of plot. Great fun.

Luffy placed the nest down gently on the ground. The bird mother sitting on her eggs defensively. Now Luffy looked annoyed.

Wapol charged up an attack, aiming at Luffy who only stared at the weak king as if he was nothing more than dirt beneath the pirate kings feet.

*Bang!*

Tani closed her eyes, the sound of a wall being smashed in could be heard... On the other side of the tower? She peaked and noticed Luffy deflating. He didn't even care out his attack-

"Gum gum bowgun" Luffy announced,  before grabbing Wapol and shooting him up into the roof with one swift move. Tani smiled and snickered. Wapol groaned as he fell from the roof. The sound of Luffy's sandal's hitting the floor sounded like a death sentence, as he closed the gap between him and the bastard hippo king.

Wapol shuffled backwards. The sweet sound of the small bell around Luffy's neck jingled as he lifted Wapol by the collar of his clothes. The man whimpered pathetically.

"Please, don't hurt me. I'll do anything! You can... You can be the second king! Rule by my side," he cried. Luffy huffed at the man. 

"Nah," Luffy answered bluntly. Wapol whimpered, Luffy's arms shot out the window. Tani watched them whip passed her in awe. "Gum gum-"

"No wait! Please! Is it money you want? I'll give you-" Wapol begged. Tani mouthed the words as Luffy called out.

"bazooka!"

His arms flew by the girls head. Wapol cried as he was sent flying in the opposite direction, the wall he flew out of crumbling away. The shock waves felt familiar, a jolt of fear ran up the girls spine as her footing loosened. Slipping on the icy tiles of the roof. She let out a shriek. A strong hand grabbed her ungloved wrist before she fell further, the smiling face of Luffy greeted her now relieved one. 

"Let's get back inside," she spoke nervously, Luffy hauled her back into the room with him. She felt cold just looking at him in his vest and jorts. Slipping one arm out of the jacket, opening the jacket and clearing her throat to grab his attention towards the offer. Luffy accepted, slipping an arm into the free sleeve. The pair walked down the stairs together while sharing the jacket, Tani's cheeks having changed to a warmish red against chocolatey cheeks. 

...

Tani entered the now smashed up room to collect her belongings. Luffy was running around looking for Chopper, still hoping to recruit him. Luffy had some how gotten a jacket from Nami who totally didn't steal it. Which was great because now he wouldn't freeze to death on the climb down the mountain... She shivered at the thought of the climb down. She refused to ask Luffy to carry her down, he'd already done enough for her in the last couple however long. A long sigh left her throat. 

"There you are, brat," a new voice entered the room, Kureha sat by the messed up bed. Tani turned to be faced with the her vogue model body, and Halloween witch face. The women chugged a bottle of what looked like wine. "Thought you might have died or something,"

"Well I don't feel like I'm dying, so alive," she joked, the women didn't seem impressed. Tough crowd... "Thank you for helping my nakama get well again," she smiled. 

"Just doing my job," she took another swig of her drink. "Now I have a little job that I need you to do," she started. Tani paused in her movement.

"What's the job?" Tani responded. The women smirked.

"Keep an eye on Chopper for me will ya," she laughed. So Chopper was joining the crew. She smiled and nodded in affirmation. The doctor gave a sigh of relief. Tani pulled her bag in front of her and dug out a spare bell, handing it to the doctor.

"Here, it's not much but I think you'll appreciate having one," Tani told as she gave the doctor the bell. The women held the bell and shook it, hearing no noise. "It's a special bell, one that only I can hear. I like to think if them as silent reminders of the people I've met on my wild adventures," she explained. The doctor laughed. Tani turned away to head out of the room to meet with her crew that was waiting outside.

"What an odd bunch you lot are," she stated, Tani couldn't agree more, with a grin she was out the door.

With her coat on tight, she walked steadily out the snowy entrance of the castle into the open snowy yard. Luffy, Sanji and Nami were all standing there, staring at Chopper who was holding his hooves together sadly.

"I can't accept your request, but I'd be happy to see you guys visit again. I'll miss you all a lot and-" Chopper started.

"Shut up and join my crew already," Luffy laughed. Throwing his arms in the air with triumph. Chopper started sobbing.

"I will," he smiled, his features glowing brightly with elation. Tani, Nami and Sanji all looked among each other with that knowing look.

Chopper never stood a chance. Luckily they have a doctor on the crew now.

"I need to tell Doc, and pack my things," Chopper chirped. Shifting forms?! Woah he can do that? Tani had to shut her mouth before birds decided to use it as a nest.

"Let's get your stuff and go," Luffy said, walking towards the castle to help the deer that was now prancing on all fours towards the castle. He really looked like a reindeer now.

"So what were you lot up to when Wapol attacked?" Tani asked, filling in the silence.

"Stealing treasure from the bastard," Nami snickered, opening her coat to reveal brown bags of gold hanging from within. How the hell she did that? Tani didn't want to know.

"I was fighting these Wapol's goons. You know that guy that was floating on the water? Him and some guy with an Afro that was all sticky." Sanji shivered at the memory of his leg being set on fire because of take sticky hair balls, "At some point, Wapol ate them both and fused them together. So Chopper and I had to fight them together." Sanji said casually. Tani rubbed at her temple.

"God this world is a mess, I feel like some side character in a cartoon." she sighed tiredly. Sanji wrapped an arm around her shoulder, his other one grabbing Nami and pulling the girls in to his side.

"Well it's done now, I hope Vivi and Usopp are doing alright," Sanji exhaled.

As if on cue, the sound of chugging could be heard approaching the castle heights. The trio looked over at the approaching snow cart? Whatever those booths that are used at ski resorts are called.

A group of shadowy blobs left the cart when it docked on the edge of the mountain top, Sanji pulled the girls closer to his side. Though he winced at the pain in his back, Tani remembered Luffy mentioning Sanji's injury.

"Oi, I see them!" a voice that sounded very much like Usopp called out. "Oi! Guys its us!" a man with dark skin and fluffy black hair waved. It was Usopp!

"Usopp! Over here," Nami waved. The long nosed sniper ran as fast as his snow covered legs would carry him, followed by Vivi and her bouncy blue hair and... Was that Zoro?

"Zoro what are you doing here?" Tani asked when noticing the green haired swordsman running beside Usopp and Vivi.

"What's wrong with me being here huh?" he glared, though he looked happy to see everyone was alright. 

"Well whose guarding the ship?" Nami asked with her arms crossed. Zoro huffed. 

"The duck," he answered nonchalantly.

"You left Carue alone!?" Vivi seemed to finally realise. Glaring daggers at Zoro, who brushed her look off like it was nothing. 

"Well how about we get off this mountain, we have a country to save," Nami declared. 

"Hold on, we need to wait for Luffy and Chopper," Tani reminded, the others looked at the entrance to the castle. Waiting for the pair to arrive. 

What they didn't expect was Chopper shouting for them to run, while Luffy flew behind the rushing deer (who looked more like a deer than before) in a bobsled filled with baggage. The crew all shrieked in panic, dodging the speeding sled. A large knife and other sharp objects followed behind them as the doctor women screamed at Chopper. The straw hats ran towards the sled, Zoro and Sanji managed to get on. The boys helped the stragglers onto the sled. Once everyone was on Sanji shouted for them to go. 

Chopper jumped off the edge of the mountain. It felt like that scene from E.T with the bike, mixed with Santa flying his sleigh through the night sky. The full moon illuminated the white snow. It was a beautiful sight... Had they not been running away for a maniac throwing sharp weapons. 

The sled crashing into the ground, everyone bounced in their seats. Nobody was hurt though. Chopper raced down the mountain side, heading towards the ocean with a grim look. It didn't make sense... She wanted Chopper to leave, she had asked Tani to keep an eye on him for her... So why did she react that way? Second thoughts? Who knew. 

Boom! 

Everyone's eyes shot up to the sky. The explosion of canon fire rumbled the mountain. What they saw however...

Pink. A cloud of bright pink clouds filled the skies. The snow was stained the bright colour. Nami and Sanji seemed to gasp with acknowledgement of something that Tani did understand. The crew gasped in awe, while the silent sniffles of Chopper went unnoticed. Tears trailed down his face as he realised that the country was cured. A smile adorned his face as he ran faster and faster. Flakes of pink snow falling all around him. 

The straw hats boarded the Going Merry happily, well mostly happy. Zoro got socked in the jaw by Vivi when she found Usopp and Luffy fishing Carue out of the frozen ocean. The duck quacked with a shiver, Chopper nodded and spoke. 

"He said he dived in after Zoro because he was worried," Chopper said, Luffy and Tani gasped in awe. 

"You can talk to animals?!" Luffy gasped, his eyes twinkled. "that's awesome!" he cheered. 

"Everyone," Nami beckoned the crew over. A tray of drinks were held out to everyone. "to having a new nakama!" she declared. 

"To new nakama!" they cheered, clinking their drinks and chugging them. Chopper couldn't stop smiling as he watched his nakama joking around with chop sticks and dancing together. He was going to like it here.