First written for the prompt "Language" at onepiece-300, this is a G-rated Chopper genfic of nearly 300 words. Concrit, as always, much appreciated.
Disclaimer: The characters and situations of One Piece were created and are owned by Eiichiro Oda. They are used here without permission for entertainment purposes only.
Title: A Gift To Pay Forward
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Before the fruit, he could speak to his own kind, though he only heard harsh words. He could talk to ptarmigans and crows, to lapahns and hiking bears. From afar, he heard humans talk, and could guess their meaning.
The fruit made the herd drive him away for good. But now, he realised as he ventured near the humans, he could speak to them in their language, form words they would understand.
They didn't listen. They screamed, threw stones, shot their guns at him. A talking monster was still a monster.
And then Doctor came, saw that he was bleeding, started to talk to him, yell at him: as if the monster was worth taking care of. Because Doctor always wanted to cure everyone.
He gave him a hat and a name, bandages and clothes, warmth and friendship. Doctor gave him everything. And eventually, Chopper dared to start talking again. Slowly he tried to get used to being talked to like a person; being listened to in return. He listened to Doctor's stories avidly, while Doctor's books teased him with hidden, awe-inspiring knowledge.
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Neither Doctor nor Doctorine ever told him he could be a bridge between humans and animals. Chopper discovered that on his own when he first came aboard the Going Merry, translating his new comrade Karoo's speech to his other comrades. It made him shiny and wobbly with even more unaccustomed happiness. He could be useful in this way, too.
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Chopper is no good at making language that doesn't reflect his thought and feelings - lying will never be one of his strengths. And some things remain too deep and private to put into words. But he also knows that language is a gift to be cherished. Like two friends talking together by the fireside, while the snowstorm rages outside.