Guardian of the Destined (As You Wish)

Twenty: Plan in Action

The tactician scanned the land of Upper Yard once more. Robin, Nami, and Zoro were now heading back to the ship, where Chopper was. She herself was heading in the same direction, until an unfamiliar aura became known to her. It was a small presence, and if she had been anyone else, she would have ignored it, since it was pretty weak. But being who she was, she didn't ignore it and left to investigate.

She landed in a clearing beside another sea-cloud river, and looked around. the aura flickered around here...

She scanned again, and found the aura hidden withing the roots of a tree. Curious, she began to step towards it, until a familiar aura spiked, followed by a deafening high-pitched note and the tactician winced. "Chopper's in trouble... Zoro, Nami, and Robin should almost be there, but that's not good enough." She knew that at some point someone -- most likely one of the priests -- would be sent to the altar to get rid of anyone still there. Then she remembered a factor that she had almost forgotten and sighed in relief as Gan Fall's aura entered her range of Observation Haki. Gan Fall should be there any minute now, anyway.

The small figure of a child she hadn't found yet crawled out of the roots of a tree and watched her zoom away in awe.

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Chopper was terrified. He almost became shark chow, and then he finally recovered the hammer. Now this man is lighting the Merry on fire, somehow! He blew the whistle already, and let it fall against his chest. Hopefully the old guy would come soon! Or anyone!

Chopper tried desperately to protect the Merry and prevent the fires from spreading, but to no avail. Beat up and aching, he managed to dodge a few blows and not catch on fire. When the mast had caught aflame, he had no choice but to break it off, throwing it into the sea-clouds below.

All the while, the man gave a speech of sacrifice, and something about exceptions, which Chopper didn't pay much attention to to be honest. Who could blame the little guy, who was simply trying to survive and protect?

Chopper shut his eyes tight as the man aimed for a finishing blow, but then peeked out as there was a sound of metal against metal. Fully opening his eyes, he smiled in relief.

"Knight of the Sky!!"

"Chopper!"

Surprised, the little reindeer turned to see the straw hat crew present, calling out to him in worry.

"You guys!!" He began to tear up in relief, glad that his nakama were safe, and vice-versa. Gan-Fall defeated the priest further away and returned shorthly after.

The little reindeer pounced on the closest crew member: Zoro.

"Waaah! I was so scared! And he lit the Merry on fire, too! But-but, I had to break the mast--a-and..!"

Zoro managed to get Chopper off his face to breath and gently set the young doctor down. "Quiet, Chopper. You're fine, and what are you talking about? The mast is perfectly fine."

"I....what?"

His heard swerved to the side to look at the broken mast. Which was, in fact, in the same condition as before.

"H-how?"

"Anyway, now that we're all here, let's eat!" Luffy exclaimed.

"No! We have to save Sylvie-Chwan from thise Enel-guy first, you shitty rubber captain!"

"He can take care of herself, Sanji. She's super strong!"

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In the end, Luffy won out and they began having a bonfire much to Nami, Usopp, and Chopper's dismay. Their feast and partying attracted wolves which joined in the fun, and they all danced deep into the night. Unbeknowst to them, their tactician was with them after stealing a bowl of soup and sitting high in the trees, giggling at their antics. Her eyes though kept unconciously returning to the laughing captain.