The trek through the deep snow towards the village was a somber one. Zorro had stayed behind on the Going Merry with Karoo, citing the need to guard the ship and train. As the others filed off, he'd locked eyes with Mario.
"Your technique is interesting," Zorro had stated, his voice a low grumble. "The hardening of the muscles, and that air bullet... it gave me some inspiration for my own fighting style." A spark of intense focus burned in his single visible eye. "You go on ahead. I'll stay with the duck and train while you're away."
Mario had simply nodded. It was no surprise. Both Zorro and Sanji were once-in-a-generation talents, sponges for any knowledge that could make them stronger. He'd seen them already incorporating the principles of Soru into their footwork and the concept of concentrated force into their strikes during their shipboard spars.
He'd given them pointers—general concepts about efficiency and focus—but had carefully guarded the source: the CP0 training manual. That thing was a blueprint for creating government assassins, too dangerous to be fully unleashed. It was still a mystery how it ended up on Krieg's ship. Did the vain warlord even know the priceless, lethal secret stashed inside that antique desk? Mario pushed the thought away. The 'how' didn't matter; he was just profoundly grateful for the advantage.
Now, with Nami secured in a makeshift harness on his back, every step was a grim reminder of their urgency. He could feel the intense, dry heat of her fever radiating through the layers of clothing and into his own back. It was a dangerous, unnatural warmth that seemed to be consuming her from the inside out.
I need to speed things up… he thought, his mind racing.
She can't take much more of this. How long was it in the story? Two days? Three? Was it five days in the manga before the fever becomes fatal?
He cursed his own memory. The exact timeline was a blur, a detail he'd never thought he'd need to recall with such life-or-death precision. Crap, I can't remember!
The uncertainty twisted his gut into a tighter knot. Every wasted minute felt like a potential death sentence. He adjusted his grip on Nami, her limp form feeling frighteningly fragile, and quickened his pace, silently urging Dalton to move faster. The whimsical "witch" was no longer just a strange doctor; she was the only barrier standing between Nami and a clock that was ticking down far too fast. The small, grim procession—Usopp, Sanji, Vivi, Luffy, Mario carrying Nami, and their guide Dalton—trudged through the deep, silent snow. The only sounds were the crunch of their footsteps and Nami's ragged, feverish breathing.
"This kingdom... does not have a name," Dalton said, his voice heavy with a sorrow that seemed as deep as the snowdrifts.
Vivi, a princess raised on the history and pride of a thousand-year lineage, looked at him, aghast. "A kingdom without a name? Is that even possible?"
Before Dalton could answer, Usopp let out a blood-curdling shriek. "GIAAAAHHH! A BEAR!"
Lumbering towards them on two legs was a massive white bear, carrying a hiking staff. In any other circumstance, Mario would have burst out laughing at the sheer absurdity. It was so perfectly "Grand Line."
Dalton didn't even flinch.
"It's just a hiking bear. No danger. Don't forget to bow."
Almost instinctively, the entire group, even Luffy after a sharp nudge from Vivi, bowed respectfully to the creature. The bear gave a dignified nod in return and continued on its way, leaving a bewildered Luffy who was visibly fighting the urge to chase after it and investigate.
***
They finally arrived at a small, sturdy house in the village. The interior was warm, a stark and welcome contrast to the biting cold outside. Gently, Mario laid Nami down on a soft bed, her face still flushed and beaded with sweat. The relief of getting her out of the elements was immediate, but the fear for her health remained.
"I'm sorry for the late introduction," Dalton said, removing his thick coat and hanging it by the door. "My name is Dalton." He then turned his gaze to Vivi, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "One question... do I know you?"
Vivi's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she composed herself, a practiced mask of neutrality falling into place. "No... no, you must be mistaken," she said, her voice carefully even.
With the immediate crisis stabilized for a moment, the crew's dynamic reasserted itself. Drawn by the winter wonderland outside, Luffy and Usopp immediately dashed out the door, their shouts of joy and the sounds of a snowball fight soon echoing through the quiet village.
That left Mario and Sanji inside, a silent, shared vigil over their navigator. Sanji stood by the window, his usual levity gone, replaced by a tense worry as he watched the snow fall. Mario pulled a chair close to Nami's bedside, his gaze fixed on her, a silent promise in his eyes. Dalton finished checking Nami's temperature, his face grim.
"Forty-two degrees Celsius," he announced, the number hanging in the warm room like a death knell. "If it gets any higher... she will lose her life."
"I can't help her here," he continued, his voice heavy with helplessness. "Only one person can: Doctor Kureha. The... Witch."
"I don't care if she's a witch or a sorcerer or a sea demon!" Sanji snapped, his voice tight with a fear that manifested as anger. "We need to help Nami! Where is she?"
Dalton gestured toward the window. "If you look outside, you will see the steep mountains. They are called the Drum Rockies. On the highest peak, you can see a castle. That was the castle of our former king. Now, it is occupied by Dr. Kureha."
"Then we need to contact her, right now!" Sanji insisted.
"You can't," Dalton interrupted, his tone final. "There is no way."
Just then, Luffy and Usopp burst back inside, shaking snow from their clothes and making a beeline for the fire, clutching mugs of hot chocolate.
"Also," Dalton added, as if mentioning the weather, "she is... strange. And she is almost one hundred and forty years old."
"ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY?!" Usopp cried, spraying hot chocolate. "That's ooooold as heck!"
"Yup," Luffy said, sipping his cocoa calmly. "She's a witch."
"Our cable car has not worked for years," Dalton explained with a sigh. "And yet, she somehow manages to descend the mountain on a sledge, flying through the air as if by magic. That is why people call her a witch."
"So we need to hike up the mountain," Luffy stated, as if it were the most obvious solution in the world.
While the others debated, Mario was focused solely on Nami. He held her hand, his thumb gently stroking her burning skin. "Nami...." he called softly.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and with immense effort, her beautiful, glassy eyes opened, focusing on him. Her breathing was heavy and labored. Mario's heart ached, a physical pain in his chest seeing her so vibrant spirit reduced to this fever-wracked weakness.
"We need to hike up the mountain to reach the doctor," he whispered, his voice low and steady, meant only for her. "I promise you, nothing will happen. You will be well soon."
His declaration ignited the room.
"Are you insane?" Sanji yelled, whirling around.
"Look at the weather! There's no chance!" Usopp wailed, gesturing at the blizzard outside.
"What if something happens to Nami on the climb?!" Vivi added, her voice trembling.
"Well, I was thinking the same thing," Luffy said, finishing his cocoa.
"LUFFY!" everyone shouted in exasperated unison.
But Mario paid no attention to the bickering. His world had shrunk to the woman in the bed. Nami was still looking into his eyes, a faint, trusting light in her feverish gaze.
"I will protect you," Mario whispered, the vow leaving his lips before he could stop it. Driven by a surge of emotion he could no longer contain, he leaned forward and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her scorching forehead. His heart hammered wildly against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat of fear and affection.
Nami showed no surprise, no shock. Mario didn't know if she was even fully aware of what he had done. No one else in the chaotic room had noticed.
A weak, but genuine, smile touched her lips. "I trust you," she breathed, her voice barely audible. Then, with effort, she lifted her burning hand and gently placed it on his cheek. He didn't know if the heat was from the fever or from something else, but the touch seared itself into his soul.
"Enough!" Mario said, standing up abruptly, his resolve solidifying like ice.
"Luffy, Sanji! Let's go. We're taking Nami to Dr. Kureha. We can't wait another second."
The argument ceased. Luffy and Sanji looked at him, at the fierce determination in his eyes, and then at each other.
"Pfft. Of course," Sanji said, lighting a fresh cigarette, his own worry channeled into action.
"Let's go! No time to waste!" Luffy declared, his straw hat already firmly on his head.
The rescue mission was on.