A Dragon's Priorities (A SaboxKoala story)

Part 11: Chance

Sabo started spasming on the operation bed, causing Chopper to do everything in his power to keep his heart from exploding.

"HOW THE HELL DID HIS HEART START SO FAST?!" Chopper blurted. "IF IT KEEPS UP, HE'LL D-", but then he noticed that Sabo started calming, as did his heart rate.

1 hour later...

Chopper exited the operation bay, seeing the frowning, solemn faces of the crew, with Luffy turning back just to hide the tears, and Koala doing a bad job to hide them. As everyone turned to Chopper, he made an announcement about Sabo's status.

"Sabo..." he started with his head facing down. "He's alive, but..." he turned up to reveal a face that was at least 50% tears. "His heart struggled to take all the pressure from the bomb, and he's unconscious. I can't treat his burns, so..." He didn't need to continue much longer. Everyone could guess the outcome.

"He'll die within the next 48 hours in the condition he's in."

At this point Koala let out a loud cry, almost like Luffy after Ace died, and started bawling her eyes out. Chopper asked Sanji if it was okay for him to skip breakfast and get some rest, and Sanji allowed it. Robin stayed awake to comfort Koala.

"If you want to, you can visit him before then, and say your goodbyes."

The Sunny was as silent as the grave. Not even Brook was playing his violin. Luffy was going to lose his only brother. He'd already gone through this once. Why did it have to happen again?

But it was then he realized that they both gave their lives for him. Ace intercepted that magma fist not just to save his brother, but to make sure he became king of the pirates. And now Sabo had done the same. He slowly walked to the sick bay and saw Sabo covered in bandages, with one stretching from his shoulder across his chest.

"Dammit Sabo... WHY DID YOU DO THIS? I WANTED YOU TO LIVE! I WANTED TO SHARE STORIES WITH YOU ABOUT STUFF YOU DIDN'T SEE WHEN I WAS GONE! AND YOU GO AND JUMP INTO THE WATER WITH A BOMB!"

Luffy was yelling so loud that Franky, Zoro and Sanji had to pull him out. He accepted, though after much resistance. Koala was silent, and said nothing to anybody, not even Robin. She was only seen staring into space, even at meals. Though everyone was concerned about how she was going to react, Lilith and Robin just told everyone to leave her be for some time.

Finally, just after dinner, she stood up and walked out. As she opened the door, she turned to Chopper and asked if it was okay to visit Sabo, to which he nodded. She opened the door to the medical ward and took a seat next to Sabo's body, taking hold of his limp hand gently.

"I... I'm sorry. It should've been me taking that bomb. You shouldn't have tried to act as a hero, Sabo. You should've spent every moment with Luffy, enjoying how he was alive compared to Ace, and I should've understood your situation in Dressrosa. Sabo... please... just..." She took a moment to think about how she was just hoping out loud-

"Wake up."

Damn it. What was she thinking? It's not like hoping out loud would make it happen, she told herself, but then noticed that Sabo's burns were flying away like ash.

"Sabo?"

Then she felt his hand twitching, and realized that he'd woken up by sheer willpower. Oh god, he's actually alive. OH MY GOD. She covered her mouth in disbelief. There's no way, she thought to herself. I'm just seeing things.

"Koala?" came a raspy voice from a half-conscious Sabo.

"Y-Yeah?"

"Tell the others."

YAYY SABO'S ALIVE!!! IF YOU'RE WONDERING ABOUT LILITH, SHE WAS PART OF THE STRAW HAT CREW ON THEIR WAY TO ELBAF AFTER ALL THAT HAPPENED AT EGGHEAD. DROP A COMMENT ON YOUR THOUGHTS!