Chapter 62 | Unexpected Meeting

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When you slid off the ship and placed your soles onto the surface of the ocean, a patch around your feet froze into a hard surface so you could walk over the water without any problems. You left unnoticed... or so you thought. While you were sprinting across the sea, one of the crew members just so happened to witness the unbelievable.

He immediately jumped to his feet but he could only watch as you disappeared into the distance. The next moment, he slammed the door open to the storage room and was enraged by the captain sleeping carelessly.

"Can you tell me what is going on?!" he grabbed Luffy's shirt and shouted.

"Wha- Zoro?" Luffy's half-lidded eyes threatened to fall shut again.

"Do not tell me you just let her go like that!"

"Who..."

"Ugh!" Zoro grumbled and let Luffy fall back onto the floor. He stormed out and gathered everyone around to tell them what had happened. A short silence followed his statement of you leaving the ship. Then Usopp questioned if he was joking, but the look on Zoro's face made them realise that he would never speak of you so lightly.

"Whatever the reason was, we need to get to Alabasta quickly," Nami said with a serious tone. "We'll catch up to her. I'm not just letting Y/N go without saying anything."

"How could... how could this happen?" Sanji sank to his knees, his voice wavering.

Nami rolled her eyes at how hopeless he acted. "Just a while ago I saw her with Luffy. Zoro did you talk to him yet?"

"The captain is sound asleep!"

"What? This is no time to sleep! I'll go get him," Usopp declared and Chopper swiftly followed him.


// Meanwhile...

Your legs carried you across the ocean without stopping. The ice beneath your feet appeared with every step you took and it felt so natural to you. This familiar feeling was the only aspect that calmed you down.

Doubts began to sprout in your mind and you wondered if you made the right decision. But you could not let your worries stop you now. You were determined to head to your goal and set an end to this search.

"We promise we will wait for you here."

The voice resonated in your head once again. But this time, you understood what it all meant. You remembered how long you have been longing to see them again.

The island was almost in reach and the Mist crept closer as well. It was always there in the corner of your eye. What an ominous sight, you thought as you tried to shake off this uneasiness you felt. The encounter with this mysterious grey fog was the beginning of your problems, but ironically you had to enter it again.

You could see the island more clearly now. With the details of the landscape, you painted a picture in your mind and disappeared from the surface of the sea. In the next second, you stood on land and looked upon the desert kingdom Alabasta. //


In the storage room, they indeed found Luffy still sleeping. Usopp composed himself for a moment, then shouted his captain's name at the top of his lungs.

"WAKE UP ALREADY!"

Finally, Luffy opened his eyes. He looked at Usopp confusedly and asked what he wanted.

"Y/N is gone!"

"What?!" He got up immediately. "Where did she go? I'll go find her!" He almost ran out the door but Usopp stopped him.

"Calm down! She went to Alabasta, we're going there right now!" Usopp explained. "Did she tell you anything while she was here?"

"Wait, I think I heard her saying something to me," Luffy answered. "Yes, she said there was somewhere she needed to go. She... remembers. Her memories are back!"

"You heard her say that and you didn't do anything?" Chopper asked perplexedly.

"I got so tired after eating the fish..."

"Fish?" Chopper's eyes widened. "Ah! You ate an ingredient for the anaesthetic I was preparing!"

"The what now?"

"These fish make you drowsy, I told you that this morning!" Chopper shook Luffy back and forth. "Did Y/N eat this too?!"

"Uh... I gave her a piece," he answered without looking into Chopper's eyes.

Hearing that, Chopper feared that you might drop down at any given moment but on the other hand, this might be the perfect chance to catch up to you.

"Nami! Y/N ate small amounts of the anaesthetic, we might be able to reach her," Chopper explained enthusiastically.

"Alright everyone, you heard what he said! Let's go to Alabasta!"

A blast of hot air engulfed you. Tiny droplets of water started to form on your forehead as you walked under the blazing sun. After a while, you were uncomfortably aware of how sticky your clothes felt on your skin. You had to admit that this climate made your body feel significantly heavier. Or maybe it was not the dry air that made your eyelids fall shut every so often?

Your footsteps got slower when you approached a desert town. Some locals turned their heads at you when you staggered down the street. The Mist was almost in reach. You could see it over those sandy hills. As you reached out your hand, your body sank to the ground. But before the impact, someone grabbed a hold of your wrist.

"Well, who do we have here?" The silver-haired marine stared down at you. "This feels familiar doesn't it?" he said with a tint of bitterness. But when he felt your body go limp, his face darkened.

"Hey, old guy! What did you do to that lady?"

Smoker pulled you into his arms to keep you from collapsing. He then took a glance at the guy who approached him so nonchalantly.

"Another handful of trouble..." Smoker huffed. "Now what does a commander of the Whitebeard Pirates want in this country?"

The 2nd division commander, Portgas D. Ace smirked mischievously. "You should answer a question first before asking another one! But if you really want to know, I'm on a search for my little brother."

"It's a shame that I can't arrest you myself, I'm busy with more important matters," Smoker said calmly while turning you away from Ace since he did not want him to recognise you.

"Glad you'll let me go," Ace responded. He raised an eyebrow at Smoker's suspicious movements. "Tell me... just who are you hiding behind your back?"

The marine grimaced as Ace peeked behind him. At first, Ace could not believe his own eyes. He rubbed them a few times, then finally believed that you were really there in front of him.

"Is that... ?"




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