Cocoyashi Village— After The Battle
Fuwako opened their eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling and the smell of anticeptics.
They couldn't remember passing out, or how had they ended up here.
Their eyes trailed down, finding their body wrapped in bandages, some of their feathers gone while others were charred at the ends. This makes Fuwako tense up.
Their feathers…their beautiful, prestine feathers that Nami works so hard to help them keep groomed…
They were ruined! Nami was gonna be so mad!
Before the dino-bird could keep spiraling, a voice woke them up.
"Oh, good, you're awake." Fuwako's head snapped towards the man with the cross hat. Doctor?
"Py-Pyu?"
—Where am I? What happened?
"I don't really understand but I'm guessing you wanna know what happened right? Well, you collapsed after fighting that monster, after every battle was done Zoro-san, went to you and picked you up before collapsing himself. Took a couple of us to bring you both here. Out of everyone that fought you two were the most injured." The man explains, Fuwako chirps in understanding and tilts their head, finding Zoro laid out on the bed next to theirs.
"Pyu!"
—I see! Thank you Mr. Doctor!
"You're quite lucky Fuwako-san, if that lightning bolt hadn't hit you when it did you'd be dead right now, thankfully the heat of it neutralize most of the poison." He says more seriously now, Fuwako stares unblinking.
Dead huh…
"Well, I'll let you rest." The doctor man stands and looks down at Fuwako. "Make sure you don't exert yourself for a few months or your stitches will come undone, make sure you get plenty of rest and eat well, and between us, keep an eye on Zoro-san, his injury is really harsh, and knowing that idiot he won't get any rest before it's healed." Fuwako stares at him for a few seconds before nodding.
"Py-Pyu!"
—Okay Doc, I'll keep an eye on him!
The old doctor nods and walks out. Fuwako sits on the bed looking around the room, it looked like an ordinary small village clinic. For which the dino-bird didn't bother taking in any of the details.
But their gaze lingerend on Zoro's unconscious form. The smell of fresh stitches lingered on his chest. The same smell that lingered on their own body.
Fuwako took a second to examine their body on a nearby mirror. Many stitches were on their skin, all placed exactly where they had been impaled.
"Pyu…" the bird huffs softly, a gentle breeze following.
—I got a ton of circle scars now…
Fuwako look out the window on top of Zoro's bed.
"Py…pyu…"
—I wonder…what's gonna happen now?
The clinic became a strange sort of nest.
Quiet… but full of life just beyond the door.
Fuwako dozed in and out for what felt like hours, always waking to the same soft sounds — the creak of floorboards, muffled cheers outside, the distant crash of ocean waves that meant they were still by the sea.
Every time they blinked awake, the first thing they checked was Zoro.
Still breathing.
Still alive.
Still stubbornly unconscious.
"Pyu…"
—You better not think of dying while I'm stuck here watching you, moss-head.
They scooted a little closer on the bed, staring at him with unblinking reptilian intensity. His chest rose and fell, slow but steady. The scent of iron, salt, and leather clung to him — the smell Fuwako associated with "fighter."
Between the two beds, a small table held plates, herbs, alcohol wipes, and a tiny waste bin full of feathers the doctor had cut away from Fuwako's injuries.
Whenever the bird caught sight of the discarded plumes, their crest feathers ruffled anxiously.
Their feathers were supposed to be perfect. Soft and glossy. Well-kept.
Like Nami liked them.
Nami…
Fuwako whimpered, a sound smaller than they meant.
The thought of her tears—the way she cried in the road—still made the storm rattle beneath their skin.
But now… there were no storms.
Only exhaustion.
Only waiting.
Only silence.
The door slid open again.
But not the doctor.
Instead — a familiar smell of cigarettes, spices, and expensive cologne.
Sanji peeked in, carrying a tray piled with steaming food.
"Well well, look who's awake," he whispered, smiling warmly as he stepped over to Fuwako's bedside. "Our little hero of the day."
He set the plate down— fish cooked in butter, perfectly deboned, garnished with fresh greens.
Fuwako's eyes widened. Their stomach rumbled.
"Go ahead," Sanji urged, "I made it extra soft so you wouldn't hurt yourself chewing."
The bird stared at him for a long second.
Then—
CHOMP–CHOMP–CHOMP
The tray was clean in seconds.
Sanji chuckled softly. "Thought so. You earned it."
Fuwako puffed up proudly… then shot a glance toward Zoro, as if daring Sanji to praise him instead.
"Oh don't worry, moss head's food will be waiting when he wakes up too."
His tone softened. "I'm glad you survived, featherball. You scared us out there."
Fuwako paused.
A little puff of wind rolled across the blanket— shy, uncertain.
"…pyu."
—Sorry.
Sanji ruffled a gentle hand over the feathers at their uninjured shoulder.
"Don't apologize for fighting for someone you care about."
He stood to leave— then smirked faintly.
"And hey— you made one hell of a mess out there. I'm impressed."
When the door closed, Fuwako stared at the empty plate.
Warm.
Safe.
Fed.
It almost didn't feel real.
Lantern light from the window cast gold across Zoro's sleeping form.
Fuwako tucked themselves against his side —not too close to the stitches, just within reach—and rested their head on his arm.
He smelled like blood and sweat and sea and swords.
A comforting smell.
A smell of crew.
"Pyuuuu…"
—You better wake up soon…You promised me another nap on deck…
Sleep claimed them before they realized it.
The next day.
Word of the Straw Hat crew spread fast.
Children peeked through the door to see the "lightning dragon bird"—Fuwako had no clue how that nickname came to be— that helped defeat the monster sharks. Adults brought flowers and handmade charms to hang near the beds.
Fuwako chirped thanks politely, though they didn't know who any of these people were.
Every few hours, Luffy burst in, loud and excited:
"Fuwako! Look! We got meat! We got a feast! Nami's super happy! Come celebrate!"
Fuwako fluffed up, squeaked angrily, and pointed with their beak at Zoro.
Someone had to stay.
Zoro wouldn't like waking up alone.
So Luffy eventually laughed, nodded, and sprinted back out to join the party, shouting about meat the whole way.
Zoro finally groaned.
Then cursed.
Then tried to sit up.
Fuwako body-tackled him immediately, pinning his shoulder with surprisingly strong talons.
"H-HEY! What the hell?!"
"PYU!"
—Doctor said no stupid moves! I'm watching you!
Zoro glared.
Fuwako glared back, unblinking.
"…Tch. Fine."
But he smirked.
A real smirk.
One that said: Thank you.
And: Good to have you back.
Fuwako pretended not to see it.
On the second day.
They were well enough to go outside — hobbling together into the sunlight.
The entire village erupted into cheers.
Children ran up, throwing flower petals. Villagers laughed, danced, cooked, hugged.
Even Genzo cracked a small smile when Fuwako hopped proudly across the plaza wearing a headband one of the kids made, with two little paper fins glued on like "mini-Arlong horns," a humorous mockery of the defeated tyrant.
Fuwako wore it proudly.
Zoro snorted at them.
They pecked his ankle.
All was right again.
When the celebrations finally quieted—four straight days of celebration had passed— the fourth night rolling in with the soft chirp of crickets and the soft snores of happy yet exhausted people, Fuwako lay perched on the roof of a house near the sea.
Bandages itched. Scars ached. Feathers were missing. Yet regrowing at surprising speeds.
But for the first time since Baratie…
…they felt calm.
Below in the plaza, Nami sat beside Nojiko, smiling—truly smiling—surrounded by laughter instead of fear.
"Pyu…"
—This time… this time we helped her win. And no one will make her cry ever again…
The moonlight shimmered over the waves.
Wind brushed gently over Fuwako's feathers, comforting, like a lullaby.
The storm inside them finally eased into sleep.
And the next morning…
The Going Merry would sail again.
Together.
TO BE CONTINUED…