This is the 19th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
The Blue-Nosed Reindeer, Tony Tony Chopper
Winter Island, Castle
Few hours later, both Dr. Kureha and Chopper have taken the Straw Hat pirates inside of the castle to begin the treatment. She told the two that Ventus is unconscious because he used up too much magic to get up to the top of mountain which it was only three miles to climb up, but Sanji told her that he used wind magic to get them up there because it's quicker than climb up. However, his magic is at its limit and climb up the rest of the way.
Dr. Kureha knew that its smart of him to use magic, but reckless for using too much.
She also told them about Nami is on a brink of death because of the poisonous tick called Kestia, a parasite only thrives in jungles with high heat and humidity. Once she gets bit, it produces a typhus bacteria into her body and lay dormant for five days while causing severe pain, basically known as a 5-day disease: starts with high fever, severe infection, mild corditis, and arthritis. Once it progresses further, Nami will die which she's been infected for three days.
Although, she kept the antibiotic just in case because she heard about the Kestia had died out for only a century. Sanji explains that they've been into an island called Little Garden which it fits description about the jungle terrain, much to her surprise that the parasite still exists. He also told her that they run into trouble by the crime syndicate called Baroque Works, who sends out Mr. 3 and Ms. Goldenweek to find and kill Vivi and the Straw Hat pirates.
Both Dr. Kureha and Chopper understand their situation and the reason why Nami is exposed by the Kestia which it's mostly Ventus fault, but it was only an accident.
However, she told them they need to be checked out because Sanji and Luffy are on frostbite, mostly because the rubber captain's legs are freezing and wore the wrong pants and shoes. Sanji, his hands and feet are also bleeding from climbing up on the mountain. The only option for them is some hot water and casts.
Ventus groans as he woke up, remember what has happen to him.
'That's right, I was rendered unconscious and having my friends worried because of my selfishness. That's what I get for making them worried.' Ventus thought, cursed himself when he heard the noise that's coming from his room.
"Guess Dr. Kureha and Chopper saved Nami just in time." Ventus said out loud with a smile as he sat up.
"Ventus?" The voice of Chopper said to his name. Ventus turned his heard to a certain reindeer he's been friends with. Tears began to flow from his eyes, and he jumped on him. "VENTUS! You finally came back!"
Soon as Chopper jumped on him with the amount of force, Ventus hugged him.
"Ventus! I was so worried! I thought you'd never wake up!" Chopper cried.
"I'm sorry I worried you." Ventus apologizes with assurance. "I didn't have any options because we're in a hurry to get Nami to Dr. Kureha."
"Well, you don't have worry about it. The human girl is feeling a little better." Chopper told him. "Her temperature is going down a little and her body needs to recuperate for a few more days."
"I see." Ventus said. "What about Sanji and Luffy?"
"They're bandaged up from hand to feet because of the frostbite." The voice of Dr. Kureha explains as she revealed herself with a smirk. "One of them is very lucky he has mitts and shoes on, but the other, not so much because of the way he dressed like that for such a climb."
"I'm not surprised, he doesn't even think things through because of his idiocy." Ventus stated with a deadpan expression, causing Dr. Kureha to cackle a bit.
"Since you're up and awake, you happy?" Dr. Kureha asks. "The blonde boy filled me in of your adventures, that's quite something ever since you're away."
"Did he?" Ventus asks.
"Yes, he told me you've been a help to your crew and try to keep Luffy in line." Dr. Kureha told him. "Anyway, you're lucky that your metabolism rate is keeping your body temperature in check along with your dragon warmth. While it is a good idea using your wind magic to get yourself up there, but you still have long ways to go to master your magic."
Dr. Kureha is making some valid points about his magic that still needs work, but Ventus was able to put to use for battles while practice with them. She then drinks her pickled plums and spoke.
"So, since you're up, would you like to see them?" Dr. Kureha offers, earned a nod from the young Dragoon.
With that, both Dr. Kureha and Chopper lead Ventus out of the room, leading to where Nami is resting. Though, Chopp asked Ventus some questions: like why he has a bounty? why he's with those pirates? Ventus give him some answers which it surprises Chopper that Luffy is forcing him to join because he just fights Helmeppo in self-defense back at Shells Town, but the Straw Hat pirates asked them to join when he revealed his dark past to them. Also, he told him about the reason is because of killing Arlong, his entire crew, except Hachi, and destroyed the Arlong park back at Cocoyashi Village.
Chopper feel awed of his strength, amazed of the young Dragoon, but Dr. Kureha is impressed. However, she figured that Ventus must've used the Dragon Rage to fight against Arlong and the entire crew on his own.
"Where are Sanji and Luffy?" Ventus asks.
"They're sleeping in the next room." Dr. Kureha answered simply. "Very deeply."
Ventus can tell Sanji and Luffy were exhausted from all the running towards the Drum Rockies, trying not to get killed by Lapahns, running from the avalanche, fighting against Wapol and his men, and climbing up the mountain after the wind magic wore off.
Soon as they reach their destination, Dr. Kureha opens the door to see Nami resting on the bed. She sat up and saw Ventus next them.
"Ah, Ventus!" Nami called him with a smile.
"Nami." Ventus called her back when Dr. Kureha walk towards her.
"Your fever seems to have going down a little bit, that's good. You happy?" Dr. Kureha asks with a smirk, cackle a little as she placed her finger on Nami's forehead while drinking her wine.
"Who are you?" Nami asks.
"Yes, it's gone down several degrees, should be alright." Dr. Kureha said, turns to her. "I'm the only doctor around here, Dr. Kureha, but you can call me Doctrine, okay?"
"Oh, then that means we're on-"
"Looking for how I stay so young?" Dr. Kureha inquires, drinking her wine.
"No, that's not it." Nami answered, looking around at the castle.
"Anyway, yes, you're in the castle on the mountain." Dr. Kureha told her.
"In that case, there were two other people besides Ventus who showed up here with me, weren't there?" Nami questions.
"They're sleeping in the next room, Nami." Ventus told her, earned her attention. "They were exhausted from journeying up on the mountain."
"He's right, Ventus here have exhausted himself for using too much magic." Dr. Kureha added, turns to Chopper. "Oh, and Chopper, mind treating the boys?"
"Eh? But..."
"But what?" Dr. Kureha asks.
"I want to talk to Ventus a little more." Chopper answered.
"It's okay, we can talk later." Ventus assured the little reindeer. "Right now, my crews' lives are important."
Chopper understood as he ran to the other room to treat Sanji and Luffy.
"Anyway, the blonde boy filled me in about an island called Little Garden you're in few days ago. It seems you and the rest of your crew have run into some trouble with those Baroque Works." Dr. Kureha told her. "I was impressed you made it this far, but given the progress without any treatment, it would ease up for two more days."
"What do you mean?" Nami asks.
"She means you were bit by a poisonous tick called Kestia." Ventus points out. "I was on the right track about the bug bite, but I just don't know which bug that bite you."
"Well, now you know. Anyway, a Kestia is poisonous tick that only thrives in jungles with high heat and humidity, and it caused your sickness." Dr. Kureha informed, showing Nami's belly that's been infected. "When it bites you, it introduces a typhus bacteria into your body. These bacteria lay in dormant for five days causing severe pain: it causes a high fever, mild corditis, and arthritis, not pleasant. Given the infections progression in the infected area, I'd guess you've been infected for three days now. The pain you been feeling must've been terrible, but still it would've eased up in two more days without any treatment at all."
"It would've gone away in two days?" Nami asks curiously.
"Mm-hm, you wouldn't be feeling any pain whatsoever because you'd be dead." Dr. Kureha points out, making Nami feeling grimaced with her face pale. "This particular infection is known as the 5-day disease, I had heard that Kestia had died out over a hundred years ago, but I kept the antibiotic, just in case. What surprised me is that they told me about the Little Garden is still around for hundred years, meaning the Kestia is still around which it would explain the reason why you got bit in the first place. And it would explain why you were walking in the ancient jungle with your belly showing."
Nami then starts remembering about what Dr. Kureha is talking about, remembered about the Little Garden she and her crew were at a while ago along with her belly got bit which it would explain about her illness.
"Does this situation sound familiar at all? What a crazy girl you are then." Dr. Kureha stated as she then shoves Nami back in bed. "Now, stay in bed. The treatment for the disease isn't completely finished yet."
"Thank you so much, I'll be fine as long as my fever goes down. My body will take care of itself after that." Nami thanked her with assuring smile.
'Not a good idea.' Ventus thought.
"Well, aren't you an optimistic one. This disease normally takes a course of treatment ten days long to successfully cure, even with medicine as advance as mine are your body will still at least three days to recuperate. If you don't want to risk suffering and possibly death, get some rest girl." Dr. Kureha points out, making Nami's eyes widen as she sat up.
"I can't stay that long! We need to get Vivi home back to Alabasta-"
Before Nami can finish her explanation, Dr. Kureha drew out her scalpel and then lunge at her while placing the scalpel right next to her neck and grabbing her wrist.
"When the patient leaves this castle is because either cured or deceased." Dr. Kureha warned her with a sinister grin on her face, cackling a bit. "You aren't going anywhere girl; you better get used to it."
"If I were you, I'd do what she says." Ventus added, shivering down to his spine. "Trust me, I've learned the hard-way."
That thought really got Nami sacred when Dr. Kureha told her, decided to take up her word by stay in bed to rest up until she's completely cured.
While in the other room, Chopper is placing the bloodied bandages on the medical bowl as he carries it towards the sink. He can hear Luffy snoring from the bed while Sanji is sleeping quietly. He walked closer to Luffy, remembered how he first met him, Sanji, and Nami. He even remembered about the rumor about Ventus' return which it's true that the young Dragoon is finally back on this island and he's happy to see him, but worried that he passed out due to using too much magic for getting up to the mountain. Sanji already filled them in what happen to Nami and Ventus which Dr. Kureha and Chopper understood their situation, taking them inside of the castle and start the treatment.
When he finished remembering the recent events, Luffy is starting to wake up as he spoke.
"I'm hungry...So hungry..." Luffy groan, slowly opens his eye lids and turns his head to Chopper. "Need meat."
Soon as Chopper noticed Luffy is drooling, it got his face paled which it makes him hesitantly run back but stumbled against the bed from behind and tumbled his medical equipment.
"Venison stew should be simmer in a large pot for three hours until all the meat becomes tender." Sanji muttered in his sleep, making Chopper really scared when he noticed the smile on his face.
Chopper took a couple steps with dread, turns his head to Luffy when he sat up with hungry look on his face."
"Meat..." Luffy said, looking at Chopper when Sanji grab hold of the reindeer.
"Venison..." Sanji said with a goofy grin on his face.
Chopper shrieks as he quickly steps back, looking at the two with panic. Luffy's saliva is pouring out of his mouth like a waterfall, causing Chopper to scream with horror.
"SOMEBODY HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!?"
Soon as Ventus and Nami heard that scream, Chopper ran out of the room with Luffy and Sanji grabbing hold him. Luffy is about to take a bite out of the reindeer's arm, causing Chopper to panic while try to stop him.
"Hold on, Luffy, let me cook this guy up first!" Sanji suggests.
Just as Ventus was about to stop them, Luffy was the first to let go of the reindeer along with Sanji when they noticed Nami and Ventus are up.
"Ventus! Nami!" Luffy said, looking at them.
"Nami, dear! Ventus!" Sanji called them, approaching them.
'That was quick.' Ventus thought.
"You look like you're all better!" Luffy stated happily.
"Getting there, thanks." Nami told him.
"You really had us worried back there, Ventus! We thought you'd end up falling down to the ground." Sanji told the young Dragoon.
"Sorry, but you guys are needed more than I do." Ventus apologizes. "How else do you expect us to get up there with only Nami feeling sick, and you guys tied into a rope in case one of us are falling?"
He does make a valid point which Sanji and Luffy knew that he's right about it because of how much magic he uses. Sanji decided to change the subject.
"Anyway, I'll make some venison meat for you and Nami to speed up both of your recovery." Sanji said, decided to cook Chopper when the two saw a certain reindeer, who was taking a chance to sneak out of the room.
"COME BACK!" Luffy and Sanji shouts in unison, chasing after him.
"VENTUS! SAVE ME!" Chopper begged with a shout.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on Chopper!" Ventus warned them, chasing after the two, leaving Dr. Kureha and Nami alone.
Ventus was able to catch up to those two, who already caught up to the reindeer. He was about to grab hold of them when Chopper changed form, into a human form.
"I'M NOT FOOD FOR YOU, OKAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!?" Chopper yelled, had enough of those two as he knock their heads into the stone floor. Ventus stopped in his tracks, smiled to see him beat their senses.
After Chopper return to his original form, he approaches Ventus as he spoke.
"Ventus, is it true that you're a pirate?" Chopper asks. "The straw hat told us you are."
"You mean Luffy? Yeah, but not by choice when I first met him." Ventus answered. "It wasn't the idea at first, but it changed when I told them about my past."
Chopper can tell that he's telling the truth about him becoming a pirate which it is highly unheard of the young Dragoon.
"But why are you asking me about this?" Ventus questions, wondering why.
"Because if your crew were in that much danger, you wouldn't have to use your magic or climb all the way up here. You've just head straight to Gyasta and use the big rope to make your way to the castle. You were about to stop them when these two are about to eat me." Chopper explains, leaving Ventus filling guilty. "Also, you usually carry me in your arms when you're well and walking. Ventus, what happened to you?"
Ventus then exhaled deeply since the reindeer has the right to know.
"Ever since my last visit, due to my circumstance, I kept running from island to island." Ventus explains. "Not only that the dragons are after me, but my uncles are coming to find me and kill me after the King of Ishgard exiled them because of what they did to my parents. My people of Ishgard are guilty for they have done because of their outlandish lies."
Before Ventus could say anything else, Chopper suddenly hugged him with tears in his eyes.
"I don't care!" Chopper cried. "As long as I see you again, that's good enough for me!"
"Chopper..." Ventus said, but speechless.
He thought knowing that the young Dragoon didn't want anyone, including Chopper, get involved in his circumstances, which it would really break his heart after he left the island few months ago. But, he didn't seem to care about it. With tears threaten to come out of his eyes, Ventus hugged Chopper back and cried a little.
"Chopper, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Ventus apologizes.
"You don't have to be sorry, Ventus." Chopper said, looking at the young Dragoon. Ventus can tell that Chopper is happy to see him. "I'm just glad that you're alive."
Ventus couldn't but smile while crying which it takes a few minutes. After a while of crying, Ventus carried Chopper in his arms, taking him to where Nami is resting.
Few minutes ago, after Ventus went after Sanji and Luffy who's still goes after Chopper, Dr. Kureha spoke.
"I'm impressed, those guys are already up and moving." Dr. Kureha stated.
"Yeah, they are." Nami muttered, feeling annoyed of Sanji and Luffy's antics. "Can you tell me about this talking deer?"
"Figured you'd ask about him. His name is Chopper, he's just a reindeer with the blue nose, that's all." Dr. Kureha told her.
"But, normal reindeers don't talk." Nami points out, making a valid point.
"If he's different from ordinary reindeers in some way." Dr. Kureha stated.
"If he's different?" Nami inquires in confusion.
"If he's different, it's just because he ate a Human-Human fruit, that's all." Dr. Kureha points out simply.
"A Human-Human fruit. A Devil fruit, right?" Nami asks, figured it out.
"That's right, he's still a reindeer, but now he has the abilities of a human: like talking and walking around." Dr. Kureha explains. "And also, he's a doctor, I taught Chopper everything that I know about the field of medicine."
Winter Island
Meanwhile at the snowy hill, Wapol and his men were treading the snow. They're close to the Drum Rockies and about to climb up at the mountain as well. Chess, Kuromarimo, and Musshuru are furious of their humiliation when Ventus was able to beat them quickly, with a little help from Sanji. Even Wapol was angry for what Ventus did to his mouth.
"Wapol sir, that Straw Hat and his crew are up there somewhere." Chess informed him.
"Good, I'm getting a little hungry. I'll the rubber man for a snack." Wapol said, smirking. "And I'll eat that throne-stealer as a main course."
"Not if I get to kill him first!" Musshuru retorts. "He's mine to fight!"
Again, both Musshuru and Wapol are arguing about who gets Ventus first, causing Chess and Kuromarimo to stop them while play the peacemaker.
Winter Island, Castle
Meanwhile, Luffy and Sanji were able to recover from Chopper slamming them down to the floor when they went back at the room, eating some food. Ventus and Chopper were in the other, watching Luffy scarfing himself down with the food like there's no tomorrow. After they finished eating, Luffy slammed his hands on the table and spoke.
"You should me one of my crew! Please, old lady, we really need to have a doctor on board!" Luffy begged, making Ventus flinch.
'Uh-oh!' Ventus mentally exclaims, noticed Luffy made a big mistake.
"Luffy, you did tell me that's your name, isn't that right?" Dr. Kureha questions, pointing her finger at the rubber captain.
"Yeah." Luffy answered.
"And did you just call me, 'old lady'?" Dr. Kureha questions again.
"Yeah, right, that's what I said, old lady." Luffy answered as he got kick by Dr. Kureha.
"If I were, I'd be a little more careful of what I say!" Dr. Kureha shouts with a warned, sent Luffy flying as he crashed against the wall while she sat back on the chair. "I'm still well within my youthful 130s thank you."
"Geez, you're a tough old hag." Sanji muttered, but got beaten by Dr. Kureha, crashed against the wall face-first.
'For an old lady, she still got insane strength.' Ventus thought, but dare not to say that out land to end up getting beaten by her.
"Are you boys really asking me to become a pirate? Don't be ridiculous." Dr. Kureha refused when Sanji slowly lands on the stone floor. "That would be an incredible waste of my precious time. Besides, I have no interest in life on the sea."
Luffy manage to recover quickly as stood up with a grin on his face, along with his bloody nose.
"Those are all lame excuses! It's about adventure, old woman." Luffy said, pumping his fist with excitement.
It got Ventus sweat drop, makes him wonder how old that rubber captain is and what would happen if Dr. Kureha ever left the island. Because right now, Luffy is being selfish.
"Well, this one is a slow learner. Didn't I just tell you to watch what you say?" Dr. Kureha questions, pointing at him which Luffy just won't learn.
Until, Luffy and Sanji looked at the young Dragoon's way, noticing Chopper in my arms and the next thing they know, the chase is on, again. Only this time, Ventus is being chased.
"Run, Ventus! Run! Run! Run!" Chopper told him with a shout.
"What do you think I was doing?!" Ventus retorts with a shout.
"Wait, Ventus, stop!" Luffy demands when he and Sanji chase after him.
"Give us the deer so I can cook it for Nami!" Sanji demands.
"That's enough of that, idiots!" Dr. Kureha shouts as she got out of the chair, had enough of these two as she rushed inside of the armory.
Ventus somehow ran back to Nami's room, who's not getting some quiet time when she's trying to sleep because of the loud noise coming from these three. Ventus is not willing to give Chopper to them.
"One bite!" Luffy demands, running after him while Sanji running in a place near the bed Nami's on.
"In just a few minutes, I'm going to cook you a delicious reindeer dish you'll never forget." Sanji told her with a grin.
"I don't think so!" The voice of Dr. Kureha shouts when she came out of nowhere from the ceiling with two swords on her hands, lands on the ground. "I'll eat you guys first before I let that happen!"
"A SCARY HAG!?" Sanji and Luffy shouts with their faces pale, shark-like teeth, and budging eyes, now running away from Dr. Kureha and forgetting about Ventus and Chopper when they managed to slip inside of the other room.
"I'm glad that's over." Chopp said with a sigh of relief as they left the room.
"It won't be for long." Ventus told him, putting Chopper down. "At least Dr. Kureha is keeping those to morons occupied."
They suddenly felt a chilling wind blowing them slightly which Nami felt it, but not Ventus.
"Snow? But that shouldn't be inside of the castle." Nami muttered, shivering as she wraps herself in her arms. "It's freezing. I'll close the door."
"No! You need to stay in bed!" Chopper argued when she about to get out of bed. "After all, you still have a fever."
"I don't think so, it seems like it's pretty much gone now." Nami assured him.
"Nami, just because your fever is gone doesn't mean that you're all better." Ventus told her as Chopper head towards the door. "If you suddenly work your body again, then your fever will come back and the treatment will be all for nothing."
"Just as Ventus said. And besides, Doctrine's medicine works quickly to reduce the fever, but the bacteria from the Kestia will still remain inside your body for a little while longer." Chopper explains, agreeing to what Ventus told her as he closes the door. "So, just take your antibiotic shot and stay in bed."
"Thank you." Nami thanked him, earned his attention. "You're the one whose been taking care of me, aren't you?"
It became silent for a few seconds which the young Dragoon is assuming that Chopper is shy around humans. His assumption is correct when he gave his reply.
"YOU JUST SHUT UP! I DON'T NEED THANKS FROM YOU OR ANY OTHER LOWLIFE HUMAN!"
And with that, Chopper is showing that he's grateful for what Nami just said. He went back to denial and back to showing his gratitude.
'Still in denial I see, he hasn't changed a bit since the last time I came here.' Ventus mentally thought with a chuckle.
"He's not so good at hiding his emotions, is he?" Nami asks, facing him with her blank expression.
"Sure looks that way." Ventus answered simply with a sweat drop.
While outside of the room, both Sanji and Luffy are running from Dr. Kureha. However, the inside of the castle is filled with snow and it's all over.
"This castle is really strange, it's freezing and filled with snow." Sanji points out.
Luffy is a bit confused of what Sanji is telling him, but realized he's right as he wrapped himself in his arms.
"IT'S COLD IN HERE!" Luffy yelled with budging eyes, shivered.
"Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, are you Luffy?" Sanji asks with annoyance.
Sanji then stops as he look around the castle while Luffy is next to him.
"Look at this." Sanji suggests when they saw the castle filled with snow. "There's snow everywhere."
They then saw the doors that are frozen shut, not even used.
"And look, all the doors to the unused rooms are shut too." Sanji added as they scan the castle, wondering who let the doors open to get this place filled with snow.
Suddenly, Dr. Kureha manage to find them, leaping up at the upper floor with the variety of weapons on her back. It cause the two to run for it and Dr. Kureha chased after them.
"COME BACK HERE JUST A MOMENT, BOYS!" Dr. Kureha yelled at them as she throws weapons at them. "I SAID COME BACK HERE!"
"You should rethink this idea about asking the old hag to join our crew!" Sanji suggests when Luffy's head retracts. "A real doctor doesn't chase their patients around a freaky snow-filled castle trying to kill them!"
While back in the infirmary, Ventus couldn't help but chuckle a bit when he heard them thanks to the dragon hearing. Nami can tell that he's enjoying himself which she has to admit, it's funny to see Sanji and Luffy being chased by Dr. Kureha.
"Is it true that you guys are pirates?" Chopper inquires suspiciously.
"Yes." Nami answered.
"Really? Real pirates?" Chopp asks again.
"Real pirates." Nami answered again.
"So you have a flag with a skull on it?" Chopper asks again.
"Yes, it's on our ship." Ventus nods in confirm.
"So, you're really interested in pirates, huh?" Nami inquires.
"No! I'm not at all! You idiot!" Chopp denies, frantically steps back when he stumbled the bookshelves as few of the books are dropped on his head. "Shut up!"
Nami doesn't understand why Chopper is so freaked out about her question. She then put up a nervous smile and spoke.
"Alright, alright, now calm down." Nami assured him, leaving Chopper exhaled slowly. "But, one more thing, to you want to come with us?"
That got Chopper's jaw dropped with panic, showing his shark-like teeth. Ventus is also surprised that Nami is asking him to join the pirate crew, usually, Luffy asks someone to join his crew which he asked Dr. Kureha to join, but she declines because she doesn't have any interest on adventuring in the sea.
"You can come sail with us out on the ocean." Nami told him. "If you did, that would really help me out a lot, if we have a doctor on this ship, then I wouldn't have to stay in this place three more days, right? I think you'd have a good time if you can-"
"NO! THAT'S CRAZY! YOU REALIZE I'M A REINDEER! I DON'T BELONG ON THIS SHIP WITH A BUNCH OF HUMANS!" Chopper interrupts with a yell, showing his shark-like teeth. "I mean, just look at me, I'm a reindeer, but I walk on two legs and I talk and everything. Animals aren't supposed to be able to do that stuff."
"Uh, I know, but if you're trying to scare me off, it isn't working." Nami said with a smile.
"Nami, it's not as easy as you think." Ventus told her, earned her attention. "You don't know Chopper like I do. I had a fair share with him when it comes to being treated as an outcast."
Nami can tell by look on Ventus' face, he's telling the truth and she didn't know anything about Chopper being treated as an outcast. When she about to ask the young Dragoon, a certain rubber Captain and a chef manage to get in the infirmary.
"There you are, meat!" Luffy yelled when he saw Chopper.
"COME HERE!" Luffy and Sanji yelled in unison, causing Chopper to panic as he jumped to Ventus' arms and the chase is on, again. "COME BACK!"
Nami was now left alone which she didn't even get the chance to ask Ventus a question. Dr. Kureha went inside of the infirmary, exhausted from all the chasing.
"Those brats sure can run, can't they?" Dr. Kureha asks, sat down on a chair. Nami then covers herself up. "I don't like much of what you were doing there, girl. Trying to take my reindeer away from me without my permission."
"What? I need your permission to make a move on a man all of a sudden?" Nami rhetorically questions with a smile, causing Dr. Kureha to laugh with a cackle.
"No, I suppose you don't. If you want him away from me, go ahead, but I must warn you, it won't be as easy as you think." Dr. Kureha told her. "Like Ventus, Chopper has a scar on his heart, a deep one my medicine can't cure. From the moment he was born, everyone including his parents turn their backs on him."
It got Nami shocked when Dr. Kureha told her of Chopper's parents treated him badly.
"All because he was born with a blue nose. He was forced to walk at the back of the group, separated from the rest of the reindeer, even though he was just a helpless newborn." Dr. Kureha explains, remembered how the herd of reindeers treated Chopper. "Then one day, he ate a Devil fruit, and he became even more of an outcast than he had been before. The other reindeer pressure him to leave the herd, his blue nose already made him different, but now he wasn't like the ordinary reindeer at all. Still, he was lonely and wanted friends. So, he down to a village walking on two legs as humans do."
She even remembered Chopper went to a village where the people lived, but the people is forcing him to leave the village only because they saw him as monster.
"But even walking on two legs, he didn't look anything like the humans. And for some reason, his nose was still blue as well." Dr. Kureha continues. "He didn't know what was wrong, he couldn't understand why they reacted to his appearance was so much fear and anger. He'd gone to a village seeking friends, but they called him a monster and drove him away. He was no longer a reindeer, but he wasn't a human either, he was something in between. And so, he lived alone after that, caught between two worlds that wouldn't accept him. Now that you've heard his story, do you think you can heal the scar on his heart?"
With everything Dr. Kureha have told her, Nami doesn't know what to say or what to think. For all she knows was that Chopper is like Ventus, an outcast caught in between two worlds that wouldn't accept him. She even remembered what Ventus told him about his dark past back in Cocoyashi village which it's something similar to Chopper's, but much more.
While outside of the infirmary, both Sanji and Luffy stop chasing Ventus when they saw the doors are open which it would explain why the castle is freezing and filled with snow.
"Luffy, check out that door at the front entrance, it's wide open." Sanji told him, glancing at the door.
Luffy turns his head to the door, seeing that its open.
"No wonder it's so cold in here." Luffy muttered.
"Anyway, let's close it." Sanji suggests as he and Luffy walk towards the door. "With it open like that, there's not much difference between inside and outside of the castle."
"HEY! STOP IT! DON'T TOUCH THAT DOOR! GET AWAY!" Chopper yelled at them when he and Ventus saw them heading towards the door, causing the two to stop as they look at them.
"Never mind him, let's close it." Sanji told him. "And we're gonna freeze to death."
"That's a good point." Luffy agrees, ignored Chopper's warning.
"STOP! DIDN'T YOU GUYS HEAR WHAT I SAID?!" Chopper yelled with anger, turned into a human form while breaking the rails. Luffy panicked as he jumped out of the way, dodging the rails.
"What is with this guy?! What the hell is he so angry about?!" Luffy shouts as Chopper pants heavily with anger.
"Guys, you might want to look at this." Ventus told them when lands in the front entrance as Sanji and Luffy walk towards the young Dragoon. "Look up there."
When they look at the top of the door, they saw a bird's nest with baby birds. It was enough to convince the two as Chopper walks away.
"It's a bunch of baby snowbirds." Sanji said, realizes why Chopper is trying to stop them. "I see, if we close the door, they'd fall."
"So that's the reason their leaving it open." Luffy added.
"Yes, it would explain why Chopper is angry at you two for not taking his warning for granted." Ventus told them as he went back inside of the castle, heading towards the infirmary.
Until, both Sanji and Luffy are shivering in the cold as they hurry inside of the castle, but the rubber captain stops as he spoke.
"Hold up a sec." Luffy said.
"Yeah?" Sanji said, making Luffy yelp.
"That weird reindeer guy, wasn't he speaking earlier?" Luffy asks with his face pale.
"Not that you mention it, I remember him walking on two legs too." Sanji answered when Chopper turned to his original form, heading inside of the room.
"HE'S A MONSTER!" Sanji and Luffy shouts in unison with budging eyes and shark-like teeth.
Though, Chopper heard that shout which it was enough to walk away with sad expression. Ventus overheard their conversation as well, starting to feel disgust when they called a reindeer a monster and he's starting to lose respect for Luffy and Sanji because of it.
"Okay, let's get this straight, he walks upright and talks!"
"But not human!"
"Has fur!"
"He's little!"
"And becomes big!"
"CLEARLY A MONSTER!"
Chopper is now feeling even more hurt when these two called him a monster as he keeps on walking. Ventus is boiling with anger when they called his friend a monster again, really wants to kill them. However...
"What a cool guy! I bet he's really interesting!" Luffy exclaims with excitement, grinned. "Hey, wait! I know, he should join us!"
Luffy then made a decision, he wants Chopper to be a part of his crew.
That's it for the 19th chapter.