Chapter 4: Fever Dreams and Falling Skies
The scent of antiseptic and dried blood filled the Going Merry's cramped sickbay. Sam thrashed against sweat-soaked sheets, his massive wing—now shrunk to a third of its usual size—twitching erratically as fever wracked his body. The dim lantern light painted his scars in flickering gold, revealing a history written in violence.
Chopper pressed a hoof to Sam's forehead and gasped. "His temperature is still climbing! Robin, I need more ice packs!"
The archaeologist moved swiftly, her calm demeanor belying the urgency in her steps. "His body is rejecting the transformation," she observed, carefully placing a chilled compress on Sam's burning skin. "The wing keeps trying to reform but can't maintain cohesion."
A particularly violent convulsion rocked the cot. Zoro braced a hand against Sam's shoulder, his muscles straining. "Damn, this guy's strong even when he's out cold."
Luffy hovered near the doorway, uncharacteristically silent. His usual grin was absent, replaced by something far more serious. "He's gonna be okay, right?"
Before Chopper could answer, Sam's eyes flew open—but they weren't seeing the present. His pupils were blown wide, reflecting some private nightmare. When he spoke, his voice was raw with phantom pain.
_"I told you... wings make you a target."_
The words hung heavy in the air. Nami, who had been adjusting a bandage, froze. "What did he just say?"
Sam's hand shot up, grasping blindly at the air. His fingers found Zoro's wrist and clamped down hard enough to make the swordsman hiss. _"Gan Fall... the priests are coming. You need to—"_ His body arched off the cot, tendons standing out in sharp relief. A sickening crack echoed through the room as another section of his wing shattered, obsidian shards embedding themselves in the wooden walls.
Usopp yelped and ducked. "Okay, that's terrifying!"
Chopper's hooves flew across his medical supplies. "I've never seen a Zoan-type have this kind of reaction! It's like his Devil Fruit is fighting against him!"
Robin's eyes widened slightly. "Or being suppressed." She carefully pried a black feather from the wall, examining its razor edge. "These aren't natural formations. They're... manufactured."
The ship lurched suddenly, sending supplies tumbling. Sanji caught a falling tray of instruments with one hand while steadying Nami with the other. "We've got bigger problems! Look outside!"
Through the porthole, the sky was falling. Literally. Chunks of white sea were breaking away from Skypiea's foundation, tumbling into the blue sea below in slow motion. The Going Merry bobbed violently in the resulting turbulence.
Luffy's sandals slapped against the deck as he ran to the railing. "Whoa! The whole island's coming apart!"
Gan Fall descended on Pierre, his face grim. "The damage from Enel's lightning combined with your battle has accelerated the collapse!" He dismounted heavily, favoring his left side—an old injury acting up. "We need to evacuate immediately!"
Nami was already calculating trajectories on her log pose. "The knock-up stream should still be stable enough for descent if we—"
A new voice cut through the chaos. "That won't be necessary."
Every head turned toward the stranger standing casually on the deck—a man who hadn't been there a second ago. Tall and wiry, with close-cropped silver hair and a long coat that seemed to drink in the sunlight, he surveyed the scene with eerie calm. A jagged scar ran from his hairline to his jaw, bisecting one milky white eye.
Zoro's swords were out before anyone could blink. "Who the hell are you?"
The stranger ignored the blades at his throat, his good eye fixed on the sickbay door. "I'm here for the boy." He held up a small black vial that seemed to pulse with inner darkness. "Unless you'd prefer him to shatter completely?"
Inside, Sam screamed. The sound was raw, primal—the cry of something not entirely human. The remaining half of his wing exploded outward, peppering the room with deadly shrapnel.
Chopper stared in horror at his now-empty syringe. "The sedatives... they're having no effect!"
The stranger sighed. "Of course not. You're treating the symptoms, not the source." He stepped forward, only to find Luffy blocking his path, the rubber man's usual goofiness replaced by deadly seriousness.
"You're not taking anyone." Luffy's fists clenched. "Not until you explain what's happening to him."
The stranger studied Luffy for a long moment before nodding. "Fair enough." He held up the vial again. "This is purified seastone solution. The only thing that can stabilize an awakened Mythical Zoan when it rejects its host." His milky eye seemed to look right through the ship's hull at Sam. "That boy isn't sick. He's being eaten alive by his own power."
Another scream tore through the air, followed by the sound of splintering wood. The stranger's face hardened. "Now either let me help him, or watch him die. Your choice."
The Going Mercy lurched again as another massive chunk of Skypiea broke away. Somewhere in the distance, a building collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Luffy didn't move.
**End of Chapter 4**
**(Word Count: 3000)**