Requested by xX-Yuri-Chan-Xx over on dA.

Change

Tears streamed down Chopper's face, leaving wet trails in his fur. He'd promised himself he wouldn't do this, wouldn't cry or act so young anymore.

Luffy had given his crew two years to get stronger. They weren't children anymore.

Except none of that mattered, because Luffy wasn't Luffy anymore, either. At least, not the Luffy that Chopper knew. Not the Luffy that Chopper would get stronger for. Would become a monster for.

So if this new Luffy wasn't going to save Robin, then Chopper would. Even if he cried and sniffled as he did.

And then suddenly Chopper's world was flipped upside down again, because there was Usopp, and Nami - another Nami?

"Usopp! Nami! Robin, she- and Luffy won't- and I-"

Chopper bit back his tears. They were hugging him, caressing him, telling him not to worry, that wasn't Luffy at all.

So Chopper swallowed his tears and smiled his manliest smile.

They weren't children anymore.

...

Luffy was the last to arrive, and when he did the whole crew was screaming and laughing and waving, and yet somehow felt calmer than they had in two years.

Usopp had been terrified. Terrified to come back to a beaten and broken Luffy, who'd lost his smile and his spark and everything that made him the man they loved.

One look at the captain's beaming face was enough to convince Usopp he'd been stupid to ever think that. Even the ugly scar on his chest was nothing compared to the glint in Luffy's big eyes that Usopp had missed like a physical pain.

Then Luffy threw out his arms and grabbed the whole crew, squishing them together and holding them tight.

They'd changed. They'd gotten bigger and stronger and older.

But now they were together, and the changes didn't matter half as much as what had stayed the same.

...

Luffy's rubbery arm was plastered against Chopper's back, holding him tightly between Franky's huge arm and Usopp's chest. Chopper nuzzled his face deeper into the tight embrace and smiled hugely.

Maybe they weren't children anymore.

But that didn't mean they had to change.

Not too much.