Never again!
Luffy's going to recruit another member. Exciting, right? He and our favourite reindeer will kick some Wapol ass and save Drum. Now to the Author Note related stuff. You might know already, but when I notice something wrong, I edit it up. Just to let you know if you didn't already. Now people, I have an idea: How about you ask me questions and I'll answer them (no big spoilers)? Write it in the comments. If it has a positive outcome, I'll start next chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece
Chapter 12: The misunderstood someone
The Straw Hats sailed towards Drum. They were in a hurry and had a bad mood. Who wouldn't be if one of their nakama was deadly sick.
Drum was a Winter Island, an island where it's constantly winter. But not only the island itself is cold, the area around it is freezing cold too. Sometimes, the water around Drum freezes, just like this time, when the Straw Hats encountered said phenomenon. A clown-like man with green-blue-white clothing was standing on the ice. He had a bag of arrows strapped on his back, and proceded to shoot one of them in the air, its tip engulfed in fire.
"Listen listen, pirates, you are crossing the path of King Wapol. Your Majesty will come out and decide about your fate.", he declared, jumping on top of a huge pirate submarine which emerged from below the ice, surprising the Straw Hats greatly.
King Wapol, who was the captain of the pirate submarine, walked onto Going Merry with some of his many henchmen, who subsequently held everybody on deck at gunpoint. He was a short, overweight man with dark purple hair and a cylinder-shaped metal jaw. His clothing consisted of metal-plated armor and a hooded cape made out of White Walkie fur.
'Wapol you coward, I can not express how much I detest you, you cowardly, useless, shitty, terrible excuse of a ruler.', Luffy thought.
"Maaaaaahahahahaha! Are you really a pirate crew, you consist of only 4 people.", Wapol spoke up, chewing his meat on a sword.
"Yeah, problem with that?", the kid dressed in red asked, his voice defined by aggression.
One of Wapol's soldiers pressed his gun against the black-haired's forehead. "Silence! Nobody talks to Wapol-sama like that!", he snapped.
"Easy, easy.", the former king of Drum calmed his follower down. "I didn't come here to kill."
The glutton, who ate his sword after the meat due to his Baku Baku powers, turned to the strawhat. "Do you have an Eternal Pose to Drum? I'm in need of one.", he asked, licking metal particles off his metal snout.
"No, we don't have an Eternal Pose.", the 17-year-old answered, crossing his arms. His message was clear: Get the hell outta my ship!
"Maaaaahahahaha! If that's the case, then I'll take your ship and treasures.", the metal-man proclaimed.
"You won't take shit!"
The pirate captain was fuming. 'First he steps on our ship and holds us hostage, then he wants to take our ship and treasures? Heck no, I'm gonna teach him some manners.'
"What was that?", the purple-haired spat, ordering his men to load their rifles. "Uuh, I'm hungry.". His expression changed from angry obnoxious man to goofy big-eater. The ex-royal walked over to the railing and ripped out a big chunk of it with his humongous mouth.
"Hey, stop eating our ship!", the teen exclaimed, punching the soldiers around him.
"That's it! Open fire!", a higher ranking soldier yelled, shooting at the Straw Hat Pirates. To his misfortune, the power levels of their enemies were way stronger than their own. He and his fellow followers of Wapol were slashed, kicked, punched and shot to a bloody mess.
"Oi Wapol!", Luffy shouted, getting the cruel devil-fruit-user's attention. "Don't eat our ship. Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"
The king of the Bliking Pirates was sent flying, into the ocean to be exact. His subordinates were too frightened to attack the small crew in retaliation. A hairy black-haired man with an afro on his head, an afro on each of his hands, and three small afros on his beard, Kuromarimo, swore revenge on the pirates before ordering Wapol's army to rescue their king.
After that incident, the Straw Hats continued in their destination.
…
"We're there!", Usopp reported to his captain. "Luffy, we're at Drum Island."
Drum Island was a snowy, windy, and mountainous island where everything was cold. The weather there was so cold, not even Sakura trees could bloom. The Straw Hats wanted to get off in a small bay, but were halted by a big group of armed villagers, standing on Drum Island.
"Oi, what's the meaning of this?", the rubber man angrily exclaimed.
"This means you're not welcome, pirate scum. Now leave, before we take action against you.", one villager shouted.
"But we need a doctor! Our nakama is sick.", the sniper tried to explain.
"We won't fall for that trick again, return immediately!".
A shot came out of the villager's pistol and it barely missed Sanji. "Oi!". The latter was about to jump, but Vivi held him back. Flinching because of the cook's reaction, the man pulled the trigger another time due to reflex. Before the bullet could hit the princess, Luffy stepped in using 'Soru'. He was moving so fast, not even Usopp or Zoro were able to see him. It looked like he, the villager of Drum, missed and shot at the same spot again.
"Try that one more time and you'll die."
The people of Drum shivered first, then readied their guns. A battle was about to start until Vivi intervened. She kneeled down to the citizens of Drum, making them lower their weapons. "Okay, we will leave if you want, but please, save our nakama. She's extremely sick and can't be cured by us. We'll do whatever you want if you get us a doctor, I'm begging you."
The rest of the Straw Hats followed her example. "Please, get us a doctor. We won't do anything to you."
One man, appearing to be the leader of the crowd, decided to give in. "Fine, follow me. I'll lead you to our village."
Some of his fellow Drum Islanders questioned him. "Is that the right thing? They're pirates, Dalton, you know what those people did to us."
"I think it is the right thing. They are not like the ones we've faced. Besides, they need us, and I doubt that they'll betray us if one of them dies as a consequence.", the man called Dalton said. "By the way,", he turned to the pirates, "I'm Dalton."
On their way to the village, the Straw Hats had questions to ask. Their captain and their temporary member acted as the voice of the crew. "Dalton-san, what was with your hostility?", the bluenette asked, trailing behind Dalton. He was tall, had a muscular build, wore green clothes, and had a square-shaped face.
"We are acting hostile against pirates for a reason. A year ago, a pirate crew attacked our island and killed one third of the population.", he explained, turning his head towards the Alabastan.
"Oh, that's sad.", she murmured, looking down.
"But some people think it was a good thing.", the adult continued. "Because of that attack, our former cruel and cowardly king fled immediately without even thinking of fighting back. Our home has suffered horribly under Wapol."
"Wapol?", the son of Dragon repeated, getting Dalton's attention. "That fat metal man?"
"Yes, Drum's former king Wapol. Don't tell me you've met him."
"Ohh, we've met him.", the future pirate king told him. "He and his soldiers attacked our ship and asked us if we had and Eternal Pose to Drum Island. After we told him we didn't have one, he tried to eat our ship. Then I sent him flying into the ocean. He deserved that."
The people of Drum dropped their jaws. "You sent Wapol flying?!". Suddenly, their sympathy for the Straw Hat Pirates increased to a higher level.
Dalton clapped his hands. "An enemy of Wapol is a friend of mine. Sorry for our initial hostility, I'll make up for it by telling you the way to the island's only doctor, but I gotta tell you, she's a witch."
"A witch?", the Straw Hats asked.
"This sure is a weird country.", Sanji, who was carrying sick Nami, remarked.
To the pirates' surprise, a big walking bear came walking towards the group from ahead. "AAAAAH, a bear! Everyone, play dead!", Usopp screamed, dropping himself on the ground.
"Calm down.", the man in green reassured him. "That's a hiking bear, he's harmless. The only thing you have to do is to greet him, otherwise he'll be pissed off."
With that, everyone bowed before the tall light-grey bear except Usopp, who was lying on the ground pretending to be dead, secretly ashamed.
When the group arrived in Bighorn, the ways of the pirates and the citizens of Drum parted. "Keep an eye on the pirates and call us if you need us.", some villagers said to Dalton before going home.
"I guess they aren't the country's armed forces.", the princess spoke.
"No, they're civilians.", the square-faced man explained. "We are looking after ourselves since Wapol betrayed us.
"Oh, Dalton-kun. I'm looking forward to the election in two days. Everyone says, they're going to vote for you.", an elderly man stated, approaching the two.
"You shouldn't! Not for someone like me, I am a man of too many sins.". Dalton didn't want to become the new king. He had guilt feelings.
Vivi curiously looked at him. 'What did he do wrong? I don't understand…'
…
Some time later in Dalton's house, Nami was lying in his bed. "How bad is her condition?", he asked.
"Nami-san has a fever of 42°. It has been rising for a few days, and we still don't know how to treat it.", the blue-haired answered, concerning Dalton.
"If it rises higher, she'll surely die!"
"And that's why we need a doctor as fast as possible! So where is that witch you're talking about?", Sanji snapped at him.
Dalton decided to keep his calm. "You see that mountain?", he spoke, pointing at the window. "She lives in the castle on that mountain."
"And how do we get there?", the temporary pirate asked.
"W-well, uhh,", he stammered, "you either climb the mountain or fly there."
"What?!", the blond cook exclaimed. "How are we supposed to climb up there with a fragile deadly ill person, or better yet, fly?"
Luffy and Usopp were listening from outside the window. Previously, they explored the snowy village and ate a thing or two. The captain already had an idea on how to get to Dr. Kureha's castle.
"I must aplologize.", Dalton admitted. "I should've known you can't fly. But somehow, the witch Dr. Kureha can. Sometimes at night, people see her riding her sleigh pulled by a strange creature down and up her mountain in the air. It's crazy and I can't explain it."
"So if we can't go up there, can we summon her to us?", Vivi wanted to know.
"No, I'm afraid you can't.", the man in green told her, shaking his head. "Despite being the only doctor of our island, she only comes down of her own will."
"What kind of doctor is that?!", Sanji angrily called. 'If that witch is the reason Nami-san dies, I'm gonna kill her, woman or not!'
"Well, she'd no doubt a good doctor, but she's a strange old woman who has almost lived for 140 years.", he explained. "I don't know what's with her, she's very eccentric."
"Oh.", the Alabastan muttered, sadness and despair in her eyes. "Then there's low chance Nami-san will survive."
The strawhat finally entered the house. "Oi, don't say that!", he ordered, his upper face not visible due to the shadow of his straw hat. "I am going to get her to that castle."
"Have you lost it? Do you realize how cold it is outside? Nami-san could die!", the blond shouted at his captain, who shouted back.
"Nami WILL die if we wait. If you want to save her as much as I do, then come help me with carrying her to that doctor."
Sanji froze. He had a point. "Okay.", the leg fighter mumbled. "I'm coming with you."
His captain turned to Vivi and Usopp. "Vivi, Usopp, I want you to look for that doctor in another village. I mean, there has to be another village than just Bighorn."
Dalton confirmed this. "Yes, there are three other villages, Cocoa Weed, Gyasta and Robelle. Perhabs she's in one of those villages right now."
Luffy sighed. "Let's get going guys, we've got a nakama to save."
With that, the Straw Hats separated. "Beware, there are dangerous Lapahns in the mountains!", the square-faced man yelled after Luffy and Sanji. "I wish you success in saving your nakama!"
…
Zoro, who stayed back on Merry with Carue when the others left, went training into the woods. When he was walking on a road covered in snow after finishing his training, he encountered a sleigh pulled by a reindeer in which a very old woman was sitting. "Oi old lady, can you tell me how I get back to the coast?"
The old lady had a devilish grin on her face. "What did you call me?"
"Old lady, wh-", the green-haired answered, shrugging, before suddenly sent flying by a fist. "DON'T CALL ME OLD LADY, I'M STILL IN MY 130'S!"
He didn't know that this woman was very sensible when it came to her age, so unfortunately, he had to learn this the hard way. When the swordsman landed on a pillow of snow, he decided to kill time and get warm with another training session.
…
With Nami on the his back, Luffy made his way to Drum Castle with Sanji. They were talking about their favourite ginger and some woman-related stuff, while continiously bothered by a Lapahn child. The white rabbit with red eyes and razor-sharp teeth tried to bite the two (three), but the running duo effortlessly dodged the mammal and talked to each other at the same time. When Sanji finally had enough of it, he kicked the carnivore into a tree. "Piss off, or I'm going to make roasted hare legs out of you!"
30 seconds later, after the little killer-rabbit recovered, a pack of angry adult lapahns, each of them as big as an ice bear, blocked the way of the black-haired and blond with standing on top of a big cliff out of snow and ice. Their leader, who had a scar on his face, had his child hugging his back, still visible on his shoulder. The 17-year-old didn't know what to do. He'd put the life of his navigator in danger if he fought, even though he was much stronger than before.
"Sanji, what are we doing now, should we fight them?"
His cook lit up a cigarette. "No.", he declared with a stern voice. "Promise me not to fight, Luffy, we can't risk Nami-san's life."
"Understand.", the young pirate replied with the same tone. "You'll do the fighting."
"RAAAAAAAAH!". One lapahn attempted pouncing on the fighting cook, but the latter's reactions were a lot faster than a heavy biest's attack. "Flanchet Shoot!"
The attacking lapahn got kicked into the stomach. The blow was so hard, he, the lapahn, flew into another lapahn. Their leader was not happy about this. He ordered his fellow killer-rabbits to attack the Straw Hats, but the leg fighter kicked them right back to the Alpha-Lapahn with a combo of Black Leg Style attacks. Furious about their defeat, the polar-bear-sized rabbits started to jump up and down on their cliff.
"What are they doing, Sanji?", Luffy asked.
Sanji's eyes widened and his cigarette dropped out of his mouth. "T-they, t-they want to… Oh no! They want to trigger an avalanche!"
An avalanche was not what the teenager expected. If Nami was caught in an avalanche, she'd be killed by it. He had an idea on how to prevent his nakama's death, but wasn't sure if his fighting cook could keep up with him. "Sanji,", the boy spoke, "I want you to jump and kick in the air as fast and powerful and possible."
"And why should I do that?", the blond questioned, staring doubtfully at his captain.
"Training and get ourselves to safety.", the black-haired simply answered. "Look at me and do the same thing, understand? Geppo!"
The 17-year-old Rokushiki master basically walked into the air with big steps, expecting his nakama to do the same. Most other people would've failed with his, Sanji's state of progress, but the cook had one big advantage: his exceptional legs. He walked into the air next to his captain and trainer directly after the avalanche occured, who then complemented the leg master. "Hey Sanji, you're a natural! Now that you have mastered Geppo, Rankyaku training will begin soon."
"Heh!", the Vinsmoke let out, almost laughing. "Geppo sounds as shitty as Roronoa, I'll call it Sky Walk."
"Even better!", Luffy called, smiling widely. "Now we can get faster to the witch!"
…
5 minutes earlier:
Usopp and Vivi weren't happy. After they finally reached Cocoa Weed, they found out from a child that Dr. Kureha had already left after healing him. His father told them she left for Gyasta, another village. Wanting to help Nami, the two made their way back to the road they traveled on. About 4 minutes later, they reached the street sign leading to Gyasta.
"I hope we don't have to walk that far this time.", the black-haired muttered.
"I hope we FIND her this time.", the blue-haired retorted, giving her friend a tiny, yet meaningful slap. "You know what happens to Nami-san if she stays without treatment for another day. Walking should be your last worry."
A little later, they were hit by a small fraction of the original big avalanche. "AAAAAAAAAH!"
The Alabastan princess woke up after a small blackout. "Ahhhh, crap, that hurt!". She managed to stand up and to her shock, Usopp was gone! After focusing with her eyes, the girl discovered a long nose pointing out of a thick layer of snow. "Usopp-san!". She pushed away lots of snow off the liar's face and body, pulling him out of the white substance right after. "Usopp-san, wake up!"
"Ehhhhh, Vivi, don't wake me up… I'm on a field of flowers… I see Zoro swimming in the river…", he mumbled in his sleep to death.
Vivi slapped the hell out of the dying coward's face. He was talking stuff he'd see before dying. "Usopp-san, you're close to reaching the other world, wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! …"
Some time later, Usopp woke up – his face swollen up so much someone would think he got stung by 50000 bees. "Thank you Vivi for waking me up. Does my face look swollen?". She decided not to answer.
Just a few meters away, a green-haired man rose up from the snow. He was almost naked, his current clothing only consisted of his pants. "Uh, I was swimming in a river-"
"Zoro!"
"Zoro-san!"
The bluenette shook her head. "Why the fuck are you almost naked?"
"I went training in the woods, then I encountered an old hag who was too sensible about her age. She sent me flying after one hell of a punch into the place I am right now, then I decided to train again. Suddenly, an avalanche caught me off guard and buried me. Some time later I woke up from my dream and then I saw you guys.", the swordsman explained, his hands and cheeks red from the cold.
'Maybe Nami got sick from hanging around with dumb people.', the royal thought.
"Huh?". Zoro got a closer look at Usopp. The sometimes meat-headed mosshead noticed the sniper's swollen face and burst out in laughter. "WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!"
Together, the three returned to Bighorn to treat their injuries before heading to Gyasta, where they found a two groups of armed men glaring at each other and a bull man lying on the ground in the middle of them with three arrows in his chest. The 16-year-old girl recognized the bull man by his clothes. "D-dalton-san?"
…
20 minutes earlier:
A severly injured man covered in blood walked as fast as he could to Bighorn. His whole body was hurting and he was in need of help. Upon arrival, the brown-haired man looked for Dalton. "Dalton-san!"
Dalton noticed this and ran over to see the Drum Islander. "What happened to you, weren't you on guard?"
The man was panting heavily. "They- they killed everyone, everyone except me… Dalton-san! W-wapol is coming back!"
With that, he collapsed in Dalton's arms. The latter's eyes were wide open, as well as the eyes of the bystanders. Wapol was coming back to reclaim his throne and rule as a tyrant again. The worst nightmare of the people of Drum came true: Wapol was coming back.
"Everyone!", the bull man demanded for attention. "Get your weapons, we're gonna drive Wapol off our home once and for all!"
Every bystander ran home to get their weapons and inform others to get theirs too. Wapol coming back was serious business.
Shortly after, the gluttonous man set foot on Bighorn. "Maaaaahahahahaha! Your king is back!"
Dalton lifted his gaze towards his former king and transformed into his bison hybrid form. He received this power from the Ushi Ushi no mi, Model: Bison. "Wapol!"
The metal man and his loyal followers turned to Dalton. "Maaaahahahahaha! If that's not Dalton, my ex-servant.", he said, crazily laughing.
"Shut up!"
Dalton pulled out his spade and slashed at Wapol, giving him a big cut in his torso with lots of blood coming out. "AAAAAAH, I'M INJURED!", the ex-king screamed in pain.
"Call the Isshi-20 (20 best doctors of Drum)!", Chess ordered, holding his head with his hands, saddened about his master's injury.
The Isshi-20 did a quick surgery on Wapol, healing him almost instantly. The patient then snapped at his former loyal subordinate. "What was that for?!"
"You even ask?!", the bison hybrid furiously exclaimed. "You preserved the best 20 doctors of your kingdom entirely for yourself and either banished or killed almost every other doctor from Drum Island. Now we only have ONE doctor, and we were formerly known as the island with the best doctors. Not only that, when the Blackbeard Pirates attacked, you fled immediately without even TRYING to fight back. For that reason, you're the worst king imaginable, and I will do everything to kill you, even if it means death for me myself."
"MAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Wapol just laughed at the kind man's speech. "Yes, I preserved the 20 best doctors all for myself. If a simple peasant of a citizen becomes sick, he could ask me, the great Wapol, to help him or his family. Depending on my mood and the level of his submissiveness, I would send all of Isshi-20 to help him or his family. I did that so no one opposes my reign.", he told everyone.
This was the last straw. Dalton attempted to kill the obnoxious man after jumping at him, but the clown Chess stopped him by pointing his bow loaded with 3 arrows at a mob of angry armed civilians approaching the tyrant. "Dalton-san, we're going to help you!"
The bison man placed himself in front of the mob. "Don't! Why would you kill your own people?"
"Hahahahaha!", Chess unscrupulously laughed. "Your kindness was always your weakness, Dalton!"
He shot the arrows at Dalton, who fell on the ground after his chest got pierced by three sharp arrows.
"Maaaaahahahaha! That's what you deserve, Dalton!", the heartless ex-royal snickered. "Men, stay here and watch for dangerous individuals approaching. Chess, Kuromarimo and I will pay a visit to my old castle."
After laughing one more time, Wapol and his henchmen began walking to Drum Castle.
…
Present timeline:
"Dalton-san!"
Vivi didn't hesistate and raced to the injured. She noted the arrows in his chest. "Can anybody tell me what happened?", the caring princess shouted at the villagers.
"He isn't dead, but heavily injured. He protected us from Chess' arrows.", one man informed.
"Hahahahaha!", the currently highest ranked in-command of Wapol's battallion laughed. "You're nothing without Dalton! How pathetic!"
Before anyone could notice, Zoro punched him in the head and knocked him out. The reason for that was his coat. After putting on the coat, the swordsman sighed from euphoria. He was no longer feeling cold. "Ahhhhh, thanks for the coat, how warm!"
The remaining soldiers of Wapol's army got mad at this. "Kill him now!", they yelled at the same time, but were silenced by a few slashes to their bodies.
"Hah, what a bunch of weaklings!", the green-haired scoffed with his all-known mean-looking grin.
"Yaaaaaaaay, you saved us!", the townspeople exclaimed. After another hero-like action against their former evil king, the people of Drum, mostly from Bighorn, started liking the Straw Hats.
"Everyone, this isn't the right time to celebrate, we need to help Dalton-san!", the Alabastan interrupted, demanding for attention.
"You're right.", a bearded man spoke. "He needs medical support."
Everyone helped carrying the bull man into his home. His state was nowhere near as critical as Nami's, so he was able to be treated at home. 'Wapol, Chess, Kuromarimo… I'm going to make you pay, believe it!'
…
Two people were living inside Drum Castle, an old woman over the age of 130, who was the only doctor of Drum, Dr. Kureha, and a 15-year-old reindeer. The strange one of them was not the doctor who lived way longer than most humans would, the strange one was her apprentice, a reindeer who had eaten the Hito Hito no mi at a very young age, Tony Tony Chopper. He'd gained the ability to think and talk like a human. After the consumption of his Zoan devil fruit, he was deemed too "different" by his fellow reindeers and then disowned. Following this event, he has lived a sad life, until becoming an apprentice of the witch Dr. Kureha.
The reindeer-human hybrid posessed a good nose, which was colored blue. He was able to smell a person far away, even in snow. "Dr. Kureha, I'm smelling something ourside!", Chopper reported. His nature was nervous, yet energetic.
Kureha grunted. "Then go outside and tell me who it is."
Chopper sped outside. The devil fruit user was born fast, faster than a human. He still was, after becoming human-like. After looking down the mountain, where he smelled the humans, he stared at them in disbelief. The poor reindeer boy who had seen many horrible things, yet hadn't seen much of the world, saw, of all things, flying humans. He then proceeded to scream.
"Chopper, what is it?", the 139-year-old called after opening the door.
"I see humans… flying humans!"
Believing that her student had hallucinations, she rushed to Chopper. What he said wasn't wrong: two humans were walking in the air, which was like flying. "What?!"
Meanwhile, Luffy and Sanji saw two figures standing in front of their destination. An incredibly old lady and a toddler-sized reindeer-human hybrid with light brown fur wearing a pink hat and purpleish-maroon shorts. 'Chopper!'
"Oi!", the blond yelled. "Are you the witch doctor everyone's talking about?"
"Yes, that's me.", the witch confirmed. "What do you want from me?"
The Geppo/Sky Walk users were wheezing after their strenuous way to the castle. "Please, save my nakama. She's deadly sick!", the strawhat asked her.
"Yes!", Sanji begged, still wheezing. "Please save Nami-san, otherwise she'll die."
"Hmmmmmm.", Kureha thought out loud, her chin resting in her hand. "What do I get for it?"
"WHAAAAAT?! You witch, our nakama is dying and y-", the pirate cook furiously shouted, but the old woman cut him off.
"It was a joke, I accept. AND WHAT DID YOU CALL ME, BRAT?", she roared, kicking him off the mountain with her powerful legs. Luckily for him, the 19-year-old managed to control the situation and escaped death by falling, using Sky Walk.
Luffy sighed in relief. "So you are going to heal Nami?", he beamed, his eyes full of joy.
"You can count on it. Now come in, or else you'll get a cold.", the very old doctor spoke, changing her expression again. She was a champion in changing her expression in the middle of a sentence, just like Jesus Burgess was a wrestling champion.
…
Dr. Kureha was making tea for the fine visitors, while Chopper was treating the sick visitor. His teacher told him exactly how much of which medicine he must use.
After some time, when the navigator's temperature got enormously lower, she gained conciousness and needed some time to adjust her eyes. Once that finished, she saw a weird reindeer-like small human, a sight not even the (former) sanest person on Going Merry could explain. "Who or what are you?"
Chopper flinched at that. 'Oh no, she saw me! What should I do now? Hide maybe?'. Some more seconds passed until the cowardly reindeer screamed and hid behind the wall next to the door in the next room, slowly showing his small head.
"That's not really hiding.", the ginger said, frowning. "And what exactly are you?"
"Sh-shut up human!", the hybrid angrily shouted. "How's your temperature?". The brown-furred imitated his instructor's speaking habit quite well.
"It talked!"
"AAAAAAAAH!", Chopper screamed, before running into a store room, colliding with a shelf and causing a mess and making lots of noise. The human saw him as some kind of a monster, hearing him speak. This was what made the human Zoan go crazy.
"Don't make such noise, Chopper!". Kureha walked into the room where the ginger's bed was. She, the old woman herself, put the orange-haired into that bed so her extraordinary student could treat her. "Ah, you're awake. How fine."
Nami frowned again. "Who are you, old lady?", she asked, her cheeks red from fever.
The doctor drank a little out of her bottle of wine. "I am Doctor Kureha, call me Doctorine. AND I'M NOT AN OLD LADY, I'M IN MY BEST AGE!"
This time, she twitched. Drum's only doctor touched her forehead. "*Gulp gulp* 38,2°. Hmmm, that kid did a good job there.", the white-haired observed, drinking her alcohol. "Girl, could you pull up your shirt?"
Complying, the teen pulled up her shirt. She was shocked as she saw purple spots on her belly. "Aha, this was the cause.", mumbled. "It's a bite from Kestia, a venomous insect extinct for over 100 years. They still live in prehistoric islands though. Tell me, were you walking on one of those islands with a bra?"
The young girl turned red from shame. Her doctor observed this and smirked. "What's that? Seems like you're ashamed. Young people are so silly…"
"Doctorine", the patient asked. "What exactly is my disease?"
Kureha sat on the side of her bed. "This disease, my foolish little girl, is called the '5-day disease', a disease lasting for 5 days, even without treatment. It causes high fever over 40 degrees, abnormal pain and many other things you don't want to have. You should be lucky for getting treated, anybody would die in 5 days without treatment.", she told, making the 18-year-old sigh in relief.
"Thank you for saving me, Doctorine."
The old doctor just laughed. "Hahaha, good one! No, seriously, thank Chopper, he was the one who healed you, not me."
"So that tanuki's name is Chopper.", Nami murmured, trying to stand up. The old lady stopped her.
"Don't stand up now, kid, you need to fully recover before standing up.", the 139-year-old scolded the navigator. "If you need something, I'll bring it to you."
"It's fine…"
…
Dr. Kureha went back to the kitchen, opting to have a talk with the pirates. "Your friend is going to get well soon, a day or two more, and she'll be able to go with you."
"Witch doctor,", Luffy began, "can we take Chopper with us as our doctor?"
Upon hearing that question, she spat out her newly made tea. "Whaaat?! Take Chopper with you? No, impossible."
"Why not?", the pirate captain asked, refusing her refusal. "He's a good doctor, and Sanji and I like him already. So why can't he be our new nakama?"
The tall white-haired sighed. "Listen, I wouldn't mind if you take Chopper with you, but the thing is, it's virtually impossible.", she spoke in a calm yet serious tone.
"And why's that?", the 17-year-old further questioned.
"It's because he strongly dislikes humans.", the 'witch of Drum' explained. "When he was just a baby, he was ignored and treated badly by his reindeer tribe because of his blue nose. Things only got worse when he ate the Hito Hito no mi, and became human-like. After that, every single one of his tribe made it clear that they didn't want him and then those bloody animals disowned him. He had no friends as a reindeer, so he tried to become friends with humans. To his bad luck, immediately after he was sighted by humans, they called him a yeti, an abominable snowman, or even worse, a monster. He was hated by reindeers for having a blue nose and being human-like, and hated by humans for not being a human and a 'monster'. Poor little Chopper was hunted by humans until one day, when they severly injured him, almost killing the poor thing. An old friend of mine, Dr. Hiluluk, saw how bad Chopper's life was, so he took him in as his son, named him Tony Tony Chopper, and looked after his wounds. Together, they had fun, and Chopper finally had a friend. But there wasn't going to be a happy ending for them. Hiluluk suffered from terminal, incurable disease. He truly believed blossoms from the Sakura tree could heal every disease in the world, so he spent 30 years of his life on a Sakura blossom medicament, to heal everything and everybody. One day, when Chopper's wounds fully healed, he threw him out. His reason was, that he didn't want his adopted son to see him die. On one of our conversations, curious little Chopper secretly listened and found out the shocking truth. Believing that the skull on the Jolly Roger of Hiluluk was the symbol of healing everything, he, Chopper, made his way to find the Amiudake, a mushroom capable of killing a grown human in 12 hours. Hiluluk initially welcomed his son hostilly, but after hearing what his beloved son did for him, he broke out in tears. Wapol, who was king at the time, set a trap for the two remaining doctors not under him, me and Hiluluk. He was so gullible and stubborn, refusing to not treat anyone sick. He consumed a soup made out of Amiudake and told Chopper he was feeling well. Before leaving for Drum Castle, where that bastard called king lived prior to his escape, Hiluluk visited me one more time, telling me he had finally finished his all-curing medicine. Right before leaving, he asked me to fulfill his last two wishes: Taking care of Chopper and looking after his precious medicament. When it was too late, Chopper found out he poisoned his father, and even worse, his dad was going to die due to the trap Wapol set for him. He ran, ran for his father's life, but Hiluluk blew himself up in front of the king, dying. After that, Chopper was trying to kill Wapol. Luckily for him, Dalton, who changed after Hiluluk's speech and death, held him back, stating he'd die if he tried. For standing against his king, Dalton was thrown into prison and abused, until that coward fled. I took Chopper in as my apprentice, teaching him everything I knew as a doctor. Today, he can heal almost anything, but the question is, can you heal him? Poor Chopper still has scars in his heart, that can only be healed by friends. If you help him find a place in the world, you can take him with you."
Luffy's blood was boiling. In his previous life, he hadn't heard of his future doctor's backstory, but now, he was more than willing to help his future friend. "Yosh!", he exclaimed, slamming his fists on the table. "After hearing this sad story, I will definitely heal his scars in his heart. I'm going to take him into my crew, where he will be my nakama. On my ship, he will have friends, friends who deeply care for him. He will never feel lonely again! He saved my nakama's life, and I can only repay him by giving him a better life. Chopper is a great person, and I don't care if he's a human, reindeer, or whatever. He's a something, no, a somebody! Chopper, if you hear me, then be my friend!"
Meanwhile, in the store room next to the kitchen, a certain reindeer was crying his eyes out. In not even one minute, he has received more humanity than in his entire life. He walked back to the room where Nami was lying.
"Erm, excuse me?", the kind doctor nervously asked for attention.
"What is it?", the ginger asked.
"What do you think of me?"
Chopper was expecting something about "You're a monster", or "A talking reindeer, how bizarre", but to his surprise, the answer was extremely nice.
"I like you. You're a cute, lovable, nice, kind thing, who is the best doctor I've seen and saved my life. Thank you for that one, Chopper."
Secretly, Chopper was super happy on the inside, but continued with his questions concerning himself. "Do you think I'm a monster?"
"A monster? No way, how could someone as good and nice as you be a monster? That's ridiculous!", the human said, gently laughing. "Your blue nose is cute by the way."
After hearing her responding so good again, he blushed and danced like a freak, moving his limbs and body like an eel. "Don't think that makes me happy, you jerk, even if it does make me happy."
"Hahahahaha!", the pirate laughed, amused by the blue-nosed's nervousness. "Hey Chopper, do you want to go to the sea with us? You could be our doctor, and together with us, you would have lots of fun."
The mammal glared at her, his eyes looking like the ones of a puppy. He then proceeded to cry and run away.
"Huh, did I say something wrong?"
'I don't even know these people yet I want to be with them. They said so many good things about me and even offered me to become my friend. If only I had the guts to ask Doctor Kureha.', Chopper thought, running to the hallway.
…
When the reindeer with his good nose reached the hallway, he smelled something evil in the far. He knew this smell from 6 years ago, where his father died. Aware of the danger, he rushed to the kitchen to inform the others.
"Dr. Kureha!", the soon-to-be pirate doctor yelled, informing everyone inside. "I smell something bad… Wapol is here!"
…
"Grrrrrr!", the metal man grumbled. "First this damn avalanche and then those pesky lapahns! Can't one have a peaceful walk to his castle?"
The former captain of the Bliking Pirates had arrived in front of his former residence and beamed from happiness, until he discovered Hiluluk's flag on top of the highest tower. "Kureha!", the cruel purple-haired shouted. "I have been informed you moved into my palace during my absence, you witch! And not only that, you changed the flag of the Drum Kingdom with a pirate flag! This will have consequences for you!"
"I burned it.", the current owner of Drum Castle spoke. She came out of the castle after opening the door, along with a reindeer and two young men. "You do not deserve Drum Castle, brat. Your Drum Kingdom will never rise again."
Kuromarimo's eyes opened wide up, as if he was seeing Drum Castle burn or his king die. "King Wapol, look! The Straw Hats are also here."
"Huh?", Wapol loudly growled out, remembering him being sent flying by the strawhat. "Strawhat! You're also going to pay, I promise it!"
Luffy silently walked over to his enemy, making everyone freeze. He was sure looking threatening and imposing. In a flash, the boy's facial expression changed into that of an enraged warrior, and he punched the obnoxious ex-ruler in his face, sending him straight to the edge of the mountain. "Shut up already, asshole! You have no business here!"
"King Wapol!", his loyal followers exclaimed, running over to him. Their king received a bad bruise in his face.
"Grrrrrr, you're going to pay for what you did to his Excellency!", Chess called, angered by the 17-year-old's actions.
"Wait up Chess.", the afro man spoke. "Let me deal with them first."
"Eleki-Marimo!". He threw an afro from his hand at Sanji, who tried to kick it away. Just as the black-haired expected, his afro adhered onto the blond's leg.
"What the hell is this?", Sanji shouted in disbelief, trying to shake the hair-ball off. "Static electricity?"
"Correct.", Kuromarimo said, smirking wickedly. "My afros which I'm proud of don't come off that easily due to their static electricity."
"Take that off, it's disgusting!", the leg fighter continued to yell, desperately trying to shake it off.
The captain walked over to his cook, coated his arm in haki and removed the hair-ball from his suit. Chopper, who had never seen such thing, asked what it is. "Strawhat, why did your arm turn black?"
"This", Luffy explained, "is the power of a monster, a bigger monster than you ever were, although you never were one. And for the future, call me Luffy."
Chopper smiled at that. 'There are humans who are bigger monsters than me? I guess I'm not alone.'
"Hey Chopper.", Sanji spoke, getting the cute doctor's attention. "Look at what a monster can do. Mouton Shot!"
He flipped into the air and delivered a powerful kick to Wapol's hairy henchman's midsection, knocking him out.
"Kuromarino!", his clown partner yelled, getting furious about the attack. "That's it, no one kicks the king's men and gets away with it, perhabs a punishment with arrows can make you think straight. Checkmate!"
Chess lit his three arrows on fire and shot them at the blond, who dodged them like nothing and hit his opponent with 'Mouton Shot' again.
"Don't fight a cook of the sea, fool!"
At the same time, Wapol stood up again. He was beyond angry. "Grrrrr, I can't let you live any longer! Now that you made me really angry, I must show you my true Baku Baku powers. Wapol House!"
The devil fruit user slowly turned into a house with cannons. If someone eats the Baku Baku no mi, he or she is granted the power to eat anything except seastone. After eating things, the user can mutate his or her whole body or parts of it into the exact same thing. Wapol, when he was in Bighorn, ate a house and a cannon.
"Whoa!", Sanji exclaimed. "He turned into a house!"
"Yuck", said Luffy.
"When it comes to omnivores, he really takes the cake."
"Maaaaahahahaha!", the walking house laughed. "I'm not done yet. Baku Baku Factory!"
The tyrant picked up his henchmen who were screaming for their lives, and literally ate them. This was a disgusting thing to watch for everyone, seeing the terrible king even EAT his own people. After he was finished with the process, his door opened and a strange creature came out. "Chessmarimo, Drum's mightiest warrior, come out and crush your enemies!"
Wide-eyed, the defenders of Drum Castle gazed at the fusion of Chess and Kuromarino, now Chessmarimo. The fusion had 2 heads, 4 arms, and looked overall creepy. His new weapons were 4 axes, 4 hammers, Kuromarimo's afros and Chess' arrows. "Hahahahaha!". Chessmarimo's voice sounded like both component's voices combined.
"Chopper", the rubber man spoke. "Can you defeat this abomination?"
"Eeeeeeeeeeh?", the hybrid yelled, staring at his future captain in disbelief. "You want me to defeat that guy?"
"You know, I want to see your powers. Being a reindeer-human hybrid should make you powerful, don't you think so too?", the 17-year-old questioned, deliberately making the brown-furred feel confident in himself.
"You're right.", the young doctor said. "I'm going to defeat him with my Rumble Ball."
Firmly believing he could beat four-armed Chessmarimo, he swallowed a yellow sphere-shaped drug called Rumble Ball. "With that, I can beat him in 3 minutes."
"3 minutes?!", Wapol's product sneered. "How can such a small and weak thing like you beat me in three minutes? Don't make me laugh!"
Chopper smirked. "Oh, I'll show you small! Jumping Point!". He grew to the size of a tall human, over two meters. This form of his was human-like, so his antlers disappeared.
Chessmarimo laughed again. "So you're taller now? Still pathetic! Yukidoke no Ya Marimo!"
The fusion shot four burning arrows at the yeti-like hybrid in human-like state, but the hybrid effortlessly dodged them, due to his superior jumping power.
"Ha!", Two-head snickered. "If arrows can't kill you, then hammers will do the job. Dobikkuri Marimo, Quatro Hammer!"
"Arm Point!", Chopper exclaimed. He was still the same size as in Jumping Point, but his arm muscles increased in size and hardened. With these arms, he effortlessly destroyed Chessmarimo's hammers.
"Alright!", the 'Mightiest warrior of Drum' snarled, gritting his 64 teeth. "You've had enough fun, it's time to get serious! Dobikkuri Marimo, Quatro Axe!"
Wapol's creation pulled out his strongest weapons, four large red axes. His next attack would be deadly for normal people. "Happo Yukidaore!"
Chessmarimo charged at the young doctor, swinging his four axes wildly. The future pirate knew he couldn't win with aimlessly hitting his enemy, so he reverted back to Brain Point, to figure out the axe-wielder's weakness. "Scope!"
Chopper scanned his opponent with his superior intelligence, his good eyes and his hooves held like a scope. Once he found out his opponent's weakness was his chin, the reindeer transformed to Arm Point again, preparing for his final attack. "Kokutei Roseo!"
The combination of Clown and Afro Man was sent flying in the air after a devastating hit to Afro Man's chin. The hit was so hard, Chopper's hooves left an imprint looking like a Sakura petal.
After the defeat of his best 'man', Wapol finally lost his mind. "THAT WAS THE LAST STRAW, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU ALL!", the ex-king hysterically screamed, loading his cannons.
At the same time, Luffy's patience with Wapol was wearing thin. In his current life, the metal man was the nastiest, most annoying person he's met. Abruptly, the future pirate king activated his Armament haki and made sure to hurt the evil man as much as possible. "Gomu Gomu no Marunoko!"
The teen stretched his arms and grabbed Wapol, while he winded himself up like a bow gun. Then he kicked off from the ground and delivered the hated big-eater a haki headbutt, sending him flying to the place the strawhat sent him in his former life. 'Good riddance asshole, that was far less than you deserved for what you did to Chopper and your people.'
…
Dalton was watching everything from the Drum Ropeway. Sitting in his trolley, he witnessed little Chopper beating Chessmarimo, and Luffy finally removing Wapol from the island. The bison man now thought, that not every pirate was evil. Beside him, there were Vivi, Usopp, Zoro and some other villagers.
15 minutes ago:
After Zoro defeated Wapol's soldiers, the Isshi-20 wanted to treat the injured Zoan user, but the townspeople stopped them from doing so.
"You're Wapol's doctors!", they called, distrusting them. "You're traitors to our country, stay away from Dalton!"
"But people,", one of them calmed the crowd down, "we hated Wapol just like you."
"Yeah.", another man said. "We only joined him to improve our medical skills, so when he fell, we could heal our people."
"It's okay.", Dalton spoke, coughing heavily. "These people are not evil. They have suffered just as much as us, maybe even more. Please, accept them again."
"If Dalton says so.", the villagers muttered, leaving the doctors alone.
"Okay.", the oldest of the Isshi-20 declared. "Get Dalton-san to his house, we're going to operate him."
After the successful operation of the bull man, some villagers and the Straw Hats in Bighorn decided to go up the mountain with the Drum Ropeway.
…
When Dalton and the other arrived at Drum Castle, the devil fruit user immediately approached the captain, the cook and the reindeer. "Thank you very much, you saved our country.", he spoke, expressing his gratitude.
The villagers who came with Dalton, and Usopp, weren't so grateful. "It's the Abominable Snowman, the monster of Drum Island!", they shouted as they saw Chopper.
"AAAAAAH!", the latter screamed, running around some trees. He was saddened again by the humans not tolerating him.
Infuriated by the ungrateful people calling his soon-to-be nakama a monster, the black-haired distributed bumps to everyone calling him a monster. "Be quiet, idiots! He's not a goddamn monster, ever thought about how that poor thing must feel?"
Hearing the 17-year-old's words, Chopper looked at him from behind a tree. Only his head was visible. Also, Chopper got a closer look of Dalton's face. Despite not being in his bison form, the reindeer recognized him from 6 years earlier. He was the person who prevented him from unnecessarily getting killed by the man who was the reason his father died. Dalton also focused on Chopper's face. They hugged.
"So you've been fighting for 6 years.", Dalton remarked, tears in his eyes.
Flashback:
Angry Chopper in Heavy Point was running at Wapol, who laughed about his father's death. Before the king could take action against the reindeer wanting to kill him, Dalton stepped in. He pinned the sad and super infuriated Chopper on the floor and warned him.
"Sorry if he laughed about his death, but if you can't beat me, then you can't beat HIM. It would be too much of a shame if you died a dog's death, so return, and be strong."
After that speech, the sensible reindeer-human hybrid had more tears in the eye than the bison hybrid. He turned around, and never came back again while Wapol was reigning.
Flashback end
"And you are really stronger."
The crying Zoans were left alone for some time.
…
Following the events, the people of Drum threw a banquet for the Straw Hats, and Kureha had a big surprise for her apprentice. After Luffy finished eating countless boars, chicken, and even reindeer, which Chopper didn't mind since he hated Drum's ones, the pirate captain had a talk with the future king of the future Sakura Kingdom.
"What is going to happen with this island?", the 80 Million man asked.
Dalton looked down. "I didn't want to be king first, but now I realized this country needs change, lots of change. And even if I still didn't want to be king, the people would vote for me anyway.", he muttered.
"If you think this country needs change,", the strawhat spoke, "then be the one who changes things. You seem like a good man to me."
"Yeah.", Dalton laughed a bit. "And you don't seem like a bad pirate for me. Actually, most of the island thinks so after they learned about your and your crew's doings. Especially Bighorn's people"
"Speaking of pirates,", the man who'll defeat Crocodile began, "if you hang flags of my crew on your island, it would mean that this island is under my protection."
"Excuse me but that's not possible!", the man in green exclaimed. "Drum island is a member of the World Government, they would not allow that. Besides, why would you do that for us? You only know us for a day, and we weren't nice to you at the beginning."
"Because", he said in a calm tone, "this island is the birthplace of Chopper. I'm going to make him the doctor of my ship. And about the part with the World Government, don't worry, they won't care anyway. Look at all the islands belonging to the Yonko, and I don't even demand anything in return from you."
Dalton opened his mouth first, but gave in seconds later. That was a friendly offer of a man who actually did something good for them. "Fine, Drum's under your protection now."
Smiling, the future pirate king went back to the castle. 'Great, so now only one thing is missing.'
…
Inside, Luffy found Chopper and asked him the inevitable. "Chopper, do you want to join my crew and our adventures? We need a great doctor like you."
Moved to tears by this incredible offer, the reindeer remembered all the good things they did for him and said about him, so he accepted. "Yes yes yes! I want to join you and be your friend!"
"Yosh!", the 17-year-old cheerfully exclaimed. "So it's settled then. Welcome, Chopper, from now on, you're my doctor and nakama."
"But", his new nakama spoke in a low and sad voice, "I don't think Doctor Kureha will let me go that easily, same for that girl. She said she wants to keep her in bed for 2 more days."
"Aha.". Luffy nodded. "I'll tell you what, how about we sneak out?"
Chopper was excited about this idea. "Ohh, this sounds fun, I'm in!", he beamed with stars in his eyes.
"Okay, I'll tell the others, meet me at the main enterance.", the black-haired called, running away.
…
The rubber man gathered his crew at the castle's door, with their new doctor serving as a getaway vehicle. With Kureha being absent, helping the villagers set up her student's surprise, they had a good chance of getting away. But the old woman wasn't dumb, she figured the 'brats' would try to get away without saying anything, so she went after them, throwing sharp weapons at the pirates.
"Chopper!", she yelled, throwing an axe. "You're staying here, understand? I'm not allowing you to become a pirate, you're my son!"
"AAAAAAAAAH! RUN, CHOPPER!", the Straw Hats screamed, sitting in a sleigh pulled by Chopper in Walk Point, his natural reindeer form.
When they were too far away, the white-haired stopped throwing weapons at them. "Oh Chopper", she quietly and happily mumbled to herself. "You're growing up so fast."
Dalton approached her from behind, curious about the surprise. "Dr. Kureha,", he asked, "what exactly is the surprise?"
"Tz Tz", the old lady cackled. "You're going to see soon enough."
Despite her old age, Kureha had good eyesight. When she saw that the ship of the Straw Hats departed, she ordered the villagers to shoot out the surprise.
On all of Drum's mountains, several cannons were aimed at the sky. The surprise was inside. After the oldest person on the island gave the permission, the men shot the surprise in the sky. But what was the surprise? Sakura blossom powder, lots of Sakura blossom powder. Mixing with the snow, the entire Winter Island turned pink, and resembled a Sakura tree. This was Kureha's way of saying goodbye.
…
Meanwhile on Merry, the Straw Hats declared this as the most beautiful thing they have ever seen, especially Chopper, who broke out crying. Sakura blossoms were good memories of his deceased father, who made the reindeer cry, always.
His nakama, who hated to see one of them cry, tried to cheer him up. "You shouldn't cry.", Luffy spoke. "I'm sure he wants to see you happy and smiling right now, not sad and crying."
"Yeah.", Zoro reassured him. "I think this is a good memory where you should smile, like I do."
"I've heard your story and I was speechless.", Sanji began. "For your future I wish good memories outweigh bad ones."
"I haven't heard your story, but you talked about friends, right? From now on, you don't have to worry about two things: friends and friendship.", Nami promised him.
"Sorry for calling you a monster, that was dumb from me.", Usopp apologized. "Thinking about it, you're the coolest thing I've ever seen."
"Just like the others, I like you too, you adorable little thing.", Vivi told.
"Kwaa kwaa (Do you want to be my friend)?", Carue asked.
Chopper ceased to cry over Hiluluk's memories, but was now about to cry due to the friendly words of his nakama. It was too much for the emotional reindeer.
"THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, MY FRIENDS!"
"WELCOME, CHOPPER!"
Alabasta was forgotten for the night, everything that mattered was the party thrown in honor of the Straw Hat Pirates' new doctor.
Irony. Originally, I expected this chapter to be shorter, but boy, I needed 4 days for the longest chapter so far. Constructive criticism allowed. Rate and review if you like.