This is the 24th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
Wapol's Defeat! The Flag of Faith Flies Forever!
Winter Island, Castle
Inside of the infirmary, Nami wrapped herself in a blanket while rush towards the door, looking around since Dr. Kureha isn't here in the castle. However, she didn't know Wapol and Ventus are inside of the main room.
'We've got to get Vivi home, I've spent enough time resting. Doctrine doesn't seem to be around, so maybe I can slip away without her noticing.' Nami thought with a smile, came up with an idea as she opens the door which it got their attention. They noticed Nami is looking around, see if Dr. Kureha is around.
'Nami, what are you doing?! If Wapol sees you, you'll get yourself killed!' Ventus mentally shouts, leaving Wapol sneered.
"Great, looks like the coast is clear." Nami states as she was about to leave.
"Nami, get back inside!" Ventus shouts, earned her attention.
"Ventus? What's going on? Where are-"
Before she could ask, Wapol laughed which it got her attention with an evil smirk on his face.
"Wh-What the? Who's he?" Nami asks in confusion.
"That's what I'm trying to tell you! That's Wapol, he's the one causing trouble a while back." Ventus told her, leaving Nami shocked and now realized who he is.
"Well, well, another Straw Hat I presume." Wapol said.
"Nami, get back inside and stay there!" Ventus ordered. "Wapol will kill you if you don't!"
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Nami exclaims, agreeing to his idea as she went back inside and shut the door. Wapol then turns his head to the young Dragoon with furious look on his face.
"You let her away!? You're gonna pay for that!?" Wapol yelled at him, pointing his finger at him. "After I found out what happen to my castle, all I find is nothing but snow and it's all over in my Drum Kingdom!?"
"This castle is no longer yours, Wapol! Ever since you and your cronies left the island, I took on the Blackbeard pirates and helping the villagers defend themselves against the enemy pirates! You've already turned this island into a living Hell during your reign all these years! Things have changed ever since you left because of your cowardice!" Ventus retorts with anger. "This country has already enough misery as it is because of you! I'll make sure it won't happen again!"
"What's that?!" Wapol growled. "You know, you've been a pain in my ass since the day you humiliated me and my counsel for months, throne-stealer! And you became popular after beaten the Blackbeard pirates while having my subjects defied me! This is the last time you humiliated me, throne-stealer!"
"You're welcome to try!" Ventus shouts back, readied his lance. "But result remains the same since the pirates and thugs tried to kill me!"
Wapol growled at him with anger as he was about to charge after him.
"Concasse" The voice of Sanji leaps in the air and starts flipping over rapidly to gain speed, then delivers the heel down to Wapol's head. Wapol is stunned as he stumbles back a little while Sanji lands on the ground and Ventus leaps in midair.
"Sky Rave" Ventus descends down, impaling Wapol in the shoulder and then slams him down to the ground. He then lands next to Sanji. "Take it you manage to find us?"
"Yeah, you left some of the clues to get here." Sanji complies, turns to him. "It makes it easy for me to get here and help Nami. Speaking of, where is she?"
"She's still inside of the infirmary." Ventus told him. "She was trying to sneak out of the castle and failed to realize that Wapol and I are about to fight. So, she's still inside safely."
"Good, cuz' she doesn't need to move around or getting herself caught by that tin-plated bastard." Sanji said, smirked. "Now that I'm satisfied that Nami is safe and sound, we should go all out."
"You bastards...you defied this countries monarch for the last time..." Wapol groans angrily, pulls himself up and look at them. "YOU'LL PAY FOR YOU INSOLENCE!?"
"Yeah, and how are you going to do that? And in case you forgot, we're pirates." Sanji told him. "And if that doesn't get through that thick skull of yours, then we'll have to turn you into a big pile of junkyard."
"Thus, we never listen to a false Kings, like you." Ventus added, leaving Wapol growled of his insult.
"Oh yeah?! I'm still gonna eat you two up! Time for my Munch-Munch: Factory" Wapol swallows himself up while Sanji and Ventus watches in dread.
Nami opens then door, noticed Wapol is eating himself up until only his lower metallic jaw is left. He then bounces up and down to rearrange his bone structure.
"What the hell is he doing? Is he eating himself up and turns into a bucket?!" Sanji exclaims with his widen eyes, but Ventus can only glare at Wapol, knew what he's doing.
"He...turned into a bucket!?" Nami exclaims in confusion.
"Ah! My miraculous bone structure shaping technique is now complete." Wapol said with relief as he bounces up in the air, revealed his lean and tall form with a smirk on his face. "I'm Lean and Mean"
"Seriously? He's just all skinny, but he's still a bigger pig than Luffy." Sanji states with a sweat drop.
"WHAT'D YOU SAY?!" Wapol yelled with a tick mark on his head.
"Just don't let your guard down, Sanji." Ventus warned him, earned his attention. "He may not look like much, but his new form gives him to run faster and leaps higher. He used that form against me once, not that I'm surprised about it because of his personality remains the same but he was able to keep up with my agility."
"I see." Sanji said with an understanding, turns his head to Wapol. "This going to be a pain in the ass. Then again, you had your fair share against this walking trash can."
"Well this 'walking trash can' is hungry." Wapol states, leaps in mid air after the two.
"No you don't! Rising Drive" Ventus ascends upward, twirl his lance at Wapol and slams him up in the air. "Sanji, now!"
"Right! Brochette" Sanji runs after Wapol and jumps over the top of him, aims one leg directly downward towards him. He then drops downward while spinning like a drill to spear Wapol down to the ground, knocking him out.
"FOUND YOU!" The voice of Luffy yells, stretched his leg at Wapol and smack him against the wall. Luffy then walk towards them. "That's funny, wasn't this guy a big fatso earlier?"
"He's late as ever." Sanji muttered with annoyance. "Didn't he even pay attention to your clues?"
"Not really, he just gets himself lost, like he always does." Ventus answered, also annoyed. "All he cares is beating Wapol."
However, Nami narrowed her eyes, looking at Luffy's winter coat which one of the arm sleeve is torn and got her to scream with her jaws dropped. She then rushes down stairs, goes after Luffy and then bonked his head.
"So, do you mind telling why the coat I kindly bought for you is all torn up before I murder you?" Nami asks with an evil smirk on her face, placing her hand on his shoulder which it got Luffy's face paled. "Do you have any idea how much I paid for that thing?! 28,800 berries! That was after haggling!"
'Just how greedy can Nami get?' Ventus mentally questions with a sweat drop.
"Hey! Wait! I didn't do it! That loudmouth over there did! It's not my fault he shot a cannon at me!" Luffy protests, waved his hands in defense which it got Nami grinned.
"Okay. Then in that case, Luffy, I guess I can forgive you." Nami told him, turns away which it got Luffy confuse. "To be honest, I should've known that you would've never brought it back in good condition when lend you one. You can just pay me back at my usual 300% interest, which comes to, 100,000."
"AHHH! YOU SHOULD'VE SAID! I WOULD NEVER HAVE WORE IT THEN!?" Luffy yelled with panic, making Nami laugh a bit with a sinister grin. "Guys! Help me out here!"
"Sorry, you're on your own." Ventus told him.
"Yeah, don't want to be on the receiving end." Sanji added.
Until, Wapol recovers as he pulls himself back up and spoke.
"Hello!? I'm still here!" Wapol shouts, earned their attention.
"Geez, he's still here? He's a bigger pain in the ass than I thought." Sanji states with a scowl, annoyed.
"Oh, that's right, I still gotta kick your butt." Luffy said.
The Straw Hat pirates noticed Wapol is standing something behind him at the doors, he then points his finger at the door and spoke.
"I'll be the one doing the butt kicking! Behind me lies this castles arsenal, and I'm the only one who has the key to it! Inside these walls are some of the most fearsome weapons known to man! All I need to do is devour them, Straw Hats! Then, my Munch-Munch: Shock will make the part of my body and you'll be forced to face a living weapon the likes you've never seen! The four of you don't stand a chance!" Wapol declared with an evil smirk, laughing. "I hope you're ready to die, Straw Hats! Because I'm going-"
When Wapol was about to grab his key, he noticed something is missing and it got him shocked that he longer has the key to the arsenal room.
"Oh, you mean this key?" Ventus asks with a smirk, showing the key from his hands.
Now Wapol is in big trouble because of the key is now in the young Dragoons hands, but the tin-plated tyrant is still got tricks under his sleeve.
"This isn't over." Wapol states as he rushed towards the stairs, causing Ventus to sprout his wings and goes after him.
"Hey! He's getting away! Come back!" Luffy shouts, chasing after him.
"At least I've got another trump card!" Wapol shouts, running up the stairs while Luffy and Ventus pursues after him.
"So, this must the key to the arsenal he was yapping about." Nami muttered, looking at the key that Ventus have took which he gave it to her. "Geez, why couldn't it have been this key to this treasure vault? Aw man!"
"No use complaining about it." Sanji told her, lights his cigarette. "Besides, Dr. Kureha might wanted that key since Wapol took it with him years ago. So, it'll be a good idea to give to her when she and the reindeer gets back after the fight is over."
Nami then widen her eyes, didn't think of Sanji's suggestion which she probably thinks Ventus is making the same suggestion as she smiled, nod with an agreement to his suggestion.
Soon as Wapol got the hatch open, he reached the top of the castle which it also got covered in snow and he's really mad about it because the castle was left abandoned years ago after he and his group of followers left.
"The upper levels are full of snow too?! Trash my castle and defy my orders, will they?! They won't get away with this! Its time taught those insubordinates a lesson!" Wapol exclaims, heading towards the door and then opens it while walking towards the cloaked object. "A painful lesson! To do so, I'll use the ultimate weapon of the entire Drum Kingdom!"
He then pulled the cloak out, revealed a seven barreled cannon that has a crown and a figure that resembled a hippo.
"Devastatingly Lethal Tin Titan Royal Crown 7-Barreled Cannon" Wapol then laughs with a triumph smirk on his face, thinking he'll use the cannon to kill both Luffy and Ventus.
Soon as Luffy and Ventus made it up to the upper floor, they followed the trail Wapol left it earlier when they opened the door.
"Oh yeah?! Well, we've got you cornered!" Luffy shouts, earned his attention.
"On the contrary, rubber man, time to die!" Wapol declared, pulled the lever when the cannon is about to fire, but the steam came out and nothing happened.
'Figures, that cannon has been out of the cold for too long.' Ventus mentally thought with a sweat drop.
Wapol is shocked that the cannon isn't working so, he kept pulling the lever repeatedly to get it to fire, but shocked that the cannon isn't working at all. Ventus then sighed with annoyance.
"Piercing Talon" Ventus throws the lance at Wapol, impaled him in the shoulder and left him scream in pain.
"I'd rather finish it quick by killing him, but I'm already satisfied for killing Musshuru." Ventus said seriously. "Luffy, he's all yours."
"What? Why?" Luffy asks, confused.
"Death is too easy for him." Ventus told him simply. "And it's obvious that it won't be fair to have me finish him off. So, I'll let you do the honors in fighting Wapol this time since Sanji and I were able to beat him up before you came. For now, you'll have to fight Wapol and it's fair that a Captain fights a Captain, or in this case, false King."
"Oh, okay." Luffy replied, accepting his explanation.
When Luffy was about to fight against Wapol, he and Ventus noticed the turrets have a birds next inside along with the snowbirds. It got Wapol stunned when he saw the snowbirds inside of the cannon.
"Snowbirds, cool!" Luffy exclaims, remembered the snowbirds back at the main room when Chopper warned him about the door.
"That would explain why the cannon didn't work. Not only that it's been staying in the cold for too long, it's also filled with birds nest." Ventus states as he and Luffy burst with laughter.
"STOP IT! HOW DARE YOU LAUGH AT ME!? SHUT UP!" Wapol yelled at them, pulling the lance out of his shoulder and breaks it into two.
Winter Island
Somewhere in the outskirts of Gyasta, the Straw Hat pirates, Dalton, and the group of villagers are at the middle of the forest, looking for a ropeway that's connected to the castle. They were surprised that the ropeway is connected to Dr. Kureha's old home.
"I have to admit, I was skeptical when I heard about this ropeway to the castle. But here it is, just like the young man told us."
"This place looks familiar. Didn't it use to be Dr. Kureha's house?"
"It would explain about the rumors Dalton told us about. She uses the ropeway to get here when the patients are needed treatment and getting up to the castle." Anna states, pondered while putting two and two together about the rumor Dalton told them a while ago.
"Really? Well, that explains how Dr. Kureha and that reindeer get up there to here." Ivan said, surprised and impressed. "It's no easy feat to get that ropeway connected, let alone getting up there."
"No it isn't, and it's not easy to get up there by hands." Dalton agrees. "We'll have to get the tram installed and use it to get to the castle."
With that, they installed the tram by getting it connected to the ropeway and gets inside, but the tram can't handle that much weight. However, one of the villagers starts pedaling up towards the castle which he pedals slowly because it's overcrowded.
"Great view from this thing, huh?" Zoro said, admiring the view.
"It sure is." Anna agreed with confirm.
"Yeah, but isn't it just a teensiest bit overcrowded?" Usopp asks.
"We can't any you go up to that mountain alone, we'll alongside Dalton and our savior."
"Okay, I get it. But you're so overloaded, it'll take forever to get there." Usopp protests.
"It's no use complaining, they're insisting on coming with us to fight against Wapol." Shanise points out seriously.
"Yeah, you're right." Usopp reluctantly replied with a sigh of defeat, turns his head to the villager. "You! You've got to pedal faster!"
Vivi then looked at Dalton which he's got a very serious and anger on his face, thinking about Wapol. He even remembered six past years, got beaten by Wapol, held in prison, and getting beaten and battered by Kuromarimo and Chess.
'Who do you think you are, Dalton?! There's no medicine that can cure fools, you say?! Did you call me the King of Fool?! What, do you think you're some hero who speaks for the lowly subjects to my Kingdom?! Don't make me laugh! You're just a servant! A week in a cell will give you plenty of time to reflect on you mistake, there's nothing like prison that change your man's attitude! And just in case that doesn't work, I'm going to have that rebellious streak beaten out of you!'
'You're an excellent guard the citizen's trust. Don't be a fool, apologize to the King and show him respect, Dalton.'
'That dead Dr. Hiriluk was an idiot, I can't believe you fell for his nonsense! Risking your status and insulting the King! Have you lost your mind, Dalton?!'
'I'll grant you a full pardon, Dalton. All you have to do is get on your knees and say the following, 'I'm so sorry O' Great King Wapol, you always knew what's right for this country'.'
All the torment Dalton has been endured for all these years before being saved by the young Dragoon. He then clenched his fist tightly.
"To hell with status! TO HELL WITH THE KING!?" Dalton yelled with anger.
Winter Island, Castle
Meanwhile at the castle, Wapol then saw the adult snowbird at the top of the cannon, chirping at him.
"You dare mock me, too! Stupid bird! I'm the King of Drum!" Wapol declared as he was about to bite the snowbird, but stopped by Luffy when he grabbed his mouth.
"Yeah, so what?" Luffy said with a smirk. "It doesn't matter if you're a King or even if you're a God. It doesn't matter if you're someone who's great or someone who's not so great. I'm still gonna kick your lousy butt."
"It does matter, Straw Hat! Drum Kingdom is the member of the World Government!" Wapol states with a chuckle. "Don't you know what that means?! It means this is the capital offense because I'm the King!"
"Like I said, big mouth, it doesn't matter! King or no King, I'm taking you down." Luffy told him, not letting him go.
"Oh really?! Well, not if I...take you down first, Straw Hat!?" Wapol shouts, opens his mouth while tried to bite him which Luffy's fingers stretch and made it worse.
"That won't work." Luffy told him with a chuckle, holding Wapol's mouth.
"But this will! Munch-Munch: Shock: Tongue Cannon" Wapol's tongue turns into a cannon, aiming at Luffy and about to fire the cannonball.
"Dragonfire Dive" Ventus descends down towards Wapol, impaled him in the spine, causing it to crack and burned his metallic armor, causing him to scream in pain. Luffy was surprised that Ventus interfered, but only because Wapol was about to fire the cannon at the rubber Captain which it got him smiled a bit.
While outside of the castle, Chopper, Nami, Sanji, and Dr. Kureha can hear the loud screaming sound that was coming from the tower which they knew it was Wapol. They can tell that Ventus is through playing around since the fight got started. And from the sound of it, both Luffy and Ventus are working together to fight Wapol, winning.
"Sounds like Ventus probably did a number on Wapol." Sanji states.
"Sure does sound like it. And Ventus wasn't kidding about burning his tin-plated armor." Nami agrees with a nod. "Though, he probably overdid it."
"You think?" Sanji asks sarcastically.
"Well, I think he meant to overdid it. He does have a tendency to overkill like he did before." Dr. Kureha told them with a smirk. "With Wapols tin-plated armor, it wouldn't stand a chance against dragon's flame. And it'll melt his armor and merged his body with it. So, in about a month or two when his spine got shattered twice and his condition have gotten worse, Wapol will die and Ventus have guaranteed his win."
Both Sanji and Nami widen their eyes, shocked of Dr. Kureha's statement and her hope of Ventus' victory. Even though, Luffy would rather win on his own without Ventus' help, but since the young Dragoon helped, he'd rather have Wapol suffer and die.
Winter Island
While at the ropeway, the villagers are pedaling up to the castle as fast as they can which it's taking a while for them to get up there because the tram is overcrowded. Dalton then remembered his time as Captain of the Security Guard, explaining Kuromarimo and Chess about the government which they have a bit of disagreement.
'The Government should care about his country and his people. You mean you weren't joking? That's what you really think, Dalton? Please, a Government doesn't need to have a heart.'
'That's right, it just needs to control the people.'
He then remembered the 'Doctor Hunt' years ago because Wapol ordered his soldiers to find the doctors and forced them to leave while having the rest of the doctors to stay at the castle for himself.
"To hell with controlling the country..." Dalton growled with anger, clenching his fist rightly, but he remembered of Dr. Hiriluk's death.
'God, then none of them are sick.'
Dalton could never forget about the death of Dr. Hiriluk or his selfless act to save the 20 MDs which it was all a trick by Wapol.
"I better hope Ventus show him what happens to a country that doesn't have a heart!?" Dalton growled with anger, making Vivi gasp with shock and covered her mouth with her hand which it got Zoro, Shanise, Ivan, Usopp, and Anna's attention. "If not, then I'll show him what happens to a country that doesn't have a heart!"
Dalton then pulled something out of his tunic, pulled out the dynamites which it got them, except Zoro and Anna shocked.
"DYNAMITE!?" Usopp exclaims.
"Everyone listen, once we arrive, take cover because once I'm inside, they'll be explosions." Dalton told them.
However, both Anna and Shanise knocked him out by chopping the back of his neck as he collapses down. The villagers are wondering why did they knock Dalton out which it's understandable because what he was planning is noble but very foolish.
Winter Island, Castle
While back at the outside of the castle, Chopper is still watching up at the tower since the fight is about to be over.
"Chopper, are you worried about Ventus?" Dr. Kureha asks.
"No, Doctrine, not at all." Chopper answered. "Know why? Because they're pirates!"
It got Sanji and Nami smiled of his answered, looking at the tower and knew that Ventus and Luffy are winning the fight.
Inside of the castle, Wapol barely stood up because of his spine being cracked and his tin-plated being melted, merged with the arms which it was very painful for him to move his limbs. Also, Wapol is in a bloody mess and he's now furious.
"Damn you throne-stealer...you humiliated me for the past nine months...you shattered my spine not once, but twice!? And now...you've melted my armor..." Wapol growled with pure anger. "I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR DEFYING ME! ME! YOUR COUNTRY MONARCH!?"
Luffy then lands behind him with a big grin on his face.
"Sorry, but you're dealing with me, big mouth." Luffy told him from behind, grabs hold of him as he then twists his body vertically around his hips and grasping him with his feet.
"Gum-Gum: Bowgun" Luffy then rapidly untwisting himself, creating a snapback as he sends Wapol flying up, making his crash at the top of the tower.
Wapol then groans in pain, but noticed the pirate flag as he growled in frustration.
"Doctrine." Chopper said.
"It seems like it's finally over." Dr. Kureha states, smiled. "The long nightmare has reached its end."
"Its end." Chopper muttered.
Chopper then remembered of Dr. Hiriluk told him that the island is sick because the people and the King have suffered from a terrible sickness of the heart. Though, Dr. Hiriluk will end up saving this country with medical science, but always making it worse for the sick people which it got him and Chopper into a lot of trouble. He even remembered the good times with Dr. Hiriluk and formed a strong bond with the quack before his death.
Chopper then saw Ventus helping Luffy got up to the top of the tower.
"Thanks." Luffy thanked him, turns to Wapol. "I told you not to mess with that flag. Now I'm finally gonna kick your butt."
"Your reign ends here, Wapol. With everything you've done to your home, you'll suffer the same misery you've caused." Ventus added.
Wapol then screams, panicked when he saw Luffy stretches his arms back an extremely long distance. Wapol tried to stop Luffy for making an offer which the Straw Hat Captain won't accept and Ventus would never accept his offer either.
'Doctor.' Chopper mentally thought, thinking about Dr. Hiriluk.
"Gum-Gum-Gum-Gum: Bazooka" Luffy then hurls his arms forwards, striking Wapol and sent him flying.
"Doctor...This...This Kingdom...Drum Kingdom it's...It's about to fall." Chopper said, watching Wapol flew out of the sky and far away from the island.
After the fight is over, Dr. Kureha smiled along with Sanji and Nami, happy that Wapol's reign has reached to an end and the Winter Island can rest easily. Ventus and Luffy watch Wapol flew away from the island with a smile on their faces.
"Finally, it's over." Ventus muttered, satisfied of the victory.
"Yep." Luffy nods in confirm.
"So, the Drum Kingdom was ultimately defeated by the skull and crossbones." Dr. Kureha states, cackled a bit.
Soon as the tram finally made inside of the Drum Rockies, tram lands and the door opens which of course, Usopp got out first.
"Everybody, wait here! I'll brave whatever dangers lie ahead and let you know when it's safe!" Usopp ordered which was obviously a lie as Zoro, Shanise, Ivan, and Anna got out of the tram, walking up the stairs which Usopp rushed ahead of them. "I'm going first!"
Soon as the hatch opens up, the metal door lands down to the snowy ground and Zoro, Shanis, Anna, Ivan, and Usopp got out. However, Usopp is hiding from behind, much to their annoyance.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?!" Zoro exclaims, turns his head to Usopp.
"Uh, just watching your back." Usopp told him, lied again.
"Hiding behind is more like it, why'd you even coming if you're so scared?" Zoro questions, tried to push Usopp which it got Luffy and Ventus' attention.
Ventus then grabs hold of Luffy, takes flight down to the snowy ground. Anna turns her head, saw Ventus is holding Luffy while flying down.
"Guys, look!" Anna shouts, points her finger. It got their attention when they saw the two flew down. Vivi came up at the Drum Rockies, saw Ventus and Luffy lands down to the snowy ground. Luffy rushed towards them and spoke.
"Hey guys, how did you get up here?" Luffy asks.
"Whenever there's a towering peak in front of me, I get to climbing." Usopp lied with a laugh. "But let me tell you, scaling that mountain hand over hand was no picnic."
"We took a ropeway car to get up here." Anna told him, leaving Usopp in a slump.
"Nami and Sanji, are they alright?" Vivi asks, wondering if they're alright.
"Why don't you ask them yourself?" Ventus counter with a question.
"VIVI~! ANNA~! I'm so happy to see you both." Sanji shouts with a goofy smile on his face, gone goo-goo eyes when he rushed after them. He then rambles on and on of how happy to see them. Though, they sweat dropped when they saw Sanji have gone goo-goo eyes at Vivi and Anna.
"So, what happen? We saw Luffy's arms stretched very far, we can see it from up there." Shanise questions, turns her head to the young Dragoon.
"We got into some trouble with Wapol and his goons. We manage to beat them in the end, with a little help from Chopper." Ventus explains.
"Oh, okay." Zoro said, but Dalton widen his eyes with shock when he heard that Wapol and his group are defeated.
"You mean that person I saw flying through the air was actually Wapol?" Dalton asks, stunned. "You-You beat him?"
"Luffy got to beat him after I got his tin armor melted while shattered his spine. I get to kill Musshuru." Ventus told him.
"And these two henchmen, what happen to them?" Dalton questions again.
"Oh, both the reindeer and I beat them." Sanji answered, snapped out of his stupor.
"What?! Those two, a reindeer?" Dalton asks with his eyes widen.
"Yep, and I give him a helping hand." Sanji nods in confirm.
"Oh hey, Usopp!" Luffy called him, turns his head to the liar. "I've made a new friend and you've got to meet him! Get this, he's a reindeer!"
"Reindeer?" Usopp repeats in confusion, lift his goggles up.
"A reindeer?" Dalton also repeats, remembered a certain reindeer with a Devil fruit power.
They then heard a snow crunch as they turned their heads to Chopper hiding in the opposite side. Dalton then remembered the time when he stopped the enraged reindeer six years ago, apologizes to him for Dr. Hiriluk's death and Wapol made a mockery.
"Blue nose...you never gave up...did you?" Dalton asks, stunned when he sees Chopper. "You still kept fighting...believing in what this country could become..."
He then kneels down to his knees, bows to him.
"And now, thanks to you and Ventus...Drum Kingdom...it can finally be reborn..." Dalton said in teary eyes.
Chopper was surprised that Dalton even thanked him and the young Dragoon for saving the island. Ventus then smiled and give him a nod. Until, the villagers came out of the hatch and saw Chopper hiding.
"What?! What is that strange creature behind that tree?!"
"It almost like a reindeer!"
"No! You're wrong! It's a monster!"
"That's enough!" Ventus shouts at the villager with a glare. "Chopper is not a monster!"
"You're with that monster?!"
"But you're a human!"
Ventus then roars with his dragon voice, causing them to cover their ears to prevent the eardrums rupturing.
"I'm not any human, I am a half-breed between a human and a dragon! Chopper is still my friend!" Ventus shouts with his dragonic tone. "If you ever lay a finger on to him, you will answer to me! Unless if you change your opinion about him, truthfully!"
It got the villagers really scared because of his dragon traits which they'll have to think twice before doing something they'll end up regretting it. Usopp noticed Chopper which it got him to scream in panic.
"IT'S A YETI! SOMEBODY SHOOT HIM!" Usopp yelled, causing Chopper's face paled as he then runs around in panic. Luffy and Ventus then bonked his head very hard.
"YOU JERKFACE! HE'S NOT A YETI, YOU IDIOT! HE'S MY NEW FRIEND!?" Luffy yelled at him, showed his white eyes.
"That things your friend!?" Usopp exclaims shockingly.
"Thanks you, Chopper is scared and ran off!" Ventus berates him when Chopper came out of the trees, jumping into his arms. "I better get him inside so he'll calm down."
With that, Ventus then head towards inside of the castle with Chopper in his arms. Dr. Kureha and Dalton couldn't help but smile at the two, seeing how much closer they are and formed a strong bond to each other.
'Doctor, this is for the best, isn't it?' Chopper mentally questions with a smile on his face, watching the pirate flag flies.
That's it for the 24th chapter.