Hey everyone! Another week! Wow! And the weather is great where I am! Mid February and it's mid 70's low 80's here in weather! Never have we had a winter like this. I can't stop soaking up this sunlight. I've been working in the yard, pulling down dead trees and chopping them up, cutting away dead bushes, plants, and large grasses before they start to fully green. It makes me feel good to be able to do all this! J hopefully all of you are doing good as well!
This weeks story was for a chopper and carrot pairing made by HellsAngel. Name is very intriguing! I like it! Plus the pairing is a newer one to me and so it was nice to think of something for a mere fluff story. Thanks for requesting!
Next week is for a ZoroXRobin story (very popular couple) for Kurovox! I'll be working on your "Metal" idea you submitted. It was interesting and kinda favors on a slight curiosity and intrigue I have on the matter. Haha. Anyway, look forward to that!
Only four more stories now! X.x just wow. To think I've really made so many of these. It's been so great writing for all of you! I hope you all enjoy this weeks story~
The smell of the salty air was basically the same no matter where Carrot went. But the air was much fresher and saltier down so close to the sea. On Zou it was a heavier air, with more of a pungent, crisp after smell to it, but the ocean was so fresh. The wind was just as great down here, ruffling her fur gently with every gust. She felt bad for sneaking onto the Straw Hats ship, but she really wanted to view the world, even a little. They were returning to Zou after all, it wasn't like she was going far. But Carrot felt lonely without Wanda or Bariete around with her. Being around these lesser Mink's or "humans" as they called themselves, made her realize just how different the Mink's were compared to the rest of the world. But at least she had Chopper.
Carrot followed Chopper to his medical room, watching with curious eyes at the concoction he was mixing together to help for when one of them was injured. She remembered how amazed Tristan was by his abilities, but now that she was getting a first had look at him making the supplies and medicines he needed, it was much more amazing. Her eyes couldn't stop watching his nimble hands work on the concoction.
"Carrot! Where are you?" She heard Nami call out over the ship.
"Ah! Coming!" Carrot shouted out, making Chopper jump. He must have forgotten she was in there with him. She jumped off his small table in there, making her way out onto the deck where she leaped easily upwards into the air, landing next to Nami on the upper deck. "What do you need Nami?" She asked with a cheerful and excited twitch to her nose.
"Do you mind helping with the sails? Luffy's having some trouble." Nami pointed up towards the giant main mast where Luffy was hanging by, bouncing like a bungee rope, laughing hysterically in playfulness. Carrot smiled playfully herself, her nose flaring excitedly at the thought of bouncing with him, but she was more excited that Nami was asking her to help with something.
Carrot gave a huge nod, squatting down before pushing off the deck and launching herself up into the air towards the mast. She flew upwards, floating momentarily and giving her a great view of the wide sea before she drifted downwards and landed deftly on the mast. She looked down at Luffy, playfulness urging her to play with him, but she knew she needed to help Luffy. She tore herself from Luffy's fun and walked over to the ropes, untying them carefully and letting go to let them unfurl in the growing wind.
"Carrot! Come play!" Luffy shouted, urging the bunny girl to join him in the fun.
Carrot smiled and jumped off the mast, grabbing onto Luffy in a large hug. "Garchu!" She shouted, more of a habit from when she was being affectionate towards people. They flew downwards, and Carrot could feel the stretching of his skin beneath her arms and legs, straining as he stretched himself. Just as her stomach readjusted to the downward motion, they were flung upwards, leaping her stomach and heart out of her throat in gleeful fear. It was so much better than when she jumped into the air and flew.
"Luffy! Stop playing!" Nami nagged, scaring Luffy and causing him to let go suddenly as they were on their way down.
The sudden jostle from their secure hold knocked Carrot off of Luffy, flinging her to the deck and causing her to roll until she hit the wall. She gave a grunt and the breath was knocked out of her and the wall shook. Luffy rolled across the deck as well, screaming in fear as he neared the railing of the ship, heading on a course out towards the ocean. But used to this by now, Zoro was standing there, lifting his foot to stop the captain just before he crashed.
Carrot let out a groan as she rubbed the back of her head, feeling the throbbing on her head and shoulders from the sudden hit into the wall. The loud noise of her hitting the wall must have been heard inside because Chopper came running out to see what the commotion was.
"Oh no! Carrot! Are you okay?!" Chopper asked worriedly, flustered and eyes wide as he ran to her and jumped around her, looking her over quickly.
"Fine, just hit my head a bit." Carrot grumbled out, still trying to catch her breath. A slight headache was already pushing against the back of her eyes.
"It could be a concussion!" Chopper said worriedly, watching her press a hand to the back of her head. "Let's check it out."
"No, I'm…!" She stopped mid sentence and choked on a gasp as Chopper transformed into his more humanoid version. This shocked Carrot every time and left her speechless. To watch him change his appearance so many ways made Carrot speechless. How was she supposed to act? What was she supposed to say that would vocalize how amazed she felt from seeing this every time? And she couldn't ever stop her heart from skipping a beat whenever he changed into this form. He looked more Mink than human to Carrot, and it only made her want to snuggle up to him, yet the mere thought of doing so made her flustered and embarrassed. Again, why? She cuddled up to everyone after all. Why was Chopper any different?
Chopper easily lifted Carrot up in this form, carrying her inside while she was momentarily speechless. Carrot was slightly curled up in his arms, fiddling her fingers, not knowing what she should do with her hands. She was hoping her heart beat wasn't as audible as it was in her own ears. She felt like it was thumping on a speaker for everyone to hear. If her fur didn't cover her skin, she was sure her blush would be visible. She looked up at Chopper, seeing the broader jaw line in this form, and stern eyes that were normally so gentle and soft. Chopper glanced down at her and instantly her face felt hot and she turned away. She didn't understand why she did it, or why she was feeling this way. Could she really be sick?
"You feel a bit hot as well. Are you sick as well?" Chopper asked worriedly, setting her down carefully on the table she was at before. He put a hand to her forehead, and then down to her cheek, trying to feel the difference in temperature between his skin and hers.
"M-maybe." Carrot said, turning her head away from his eyesight. Why was she acting so weird?! It's Chopper! A friend! It made her frustrated with herself that she was acting this way against her will basically, but at the same time she felt self conscious when he looked at her.
"Let me make something that'll help with your head." He said, moving around to the back of her to take a look at her head where it hit the wall. There was a lump there, but nothing serious. But the strained look on Carrot's face made him think it was really hurting. He walked over to his desk, picking out ingredients before measuring them out into the pestle and holding the mortar in his hand waiting to mush and grind it all together.
Carrot looked over towards Chopper, watching him working once again. Though he was still in his larger form, it was as if Carrot could see the true form of his sitting there at his desk mixing ingredients together again. It was so much easier watching him than for him to look at her. She loved watching him and his focus on helping others, it was as if his hooves were magic.
"This should help," Chopper said, spinning around to face her with a prideful look on his face. He was holding a glass with a thick liquid that made Carrot scrunch her nose up in the bitter smelling substance. She leaned backwards the closer he got, the smell stronger and stronger as he got closer. An embarrassed blush crossed his cheeks, knowing the drink was not the most appealing in looks or smell. "I know it's smell is horrible, but it works really well!"
He looked so confident and kept urging the glass towards her, and the more he stood there looking at her expectantly, the more it seemed she couldn't say no to him. Carrot took in a deep breath of fresh air behind her before facing him again with a shy smile and taking the glass. She downed it in one gulp, eyes widening in surprise at the pleasantly sweet taste. She sniffed the glass again, regretting it instantly as the bitter smell flooded her sensitive sense.
"I'm so confused," She said, looking at the glass and remembering the sweet taste. She smacked her lips, tasting the left over that was sitting there. No she wasn't wrong, it was sweet like candy; yet the small was horrid.
Chopper gave a short laugh, rubbing the back of his head as he changed back into his smaller, original form. "Most people say that when they drink this. I'm still trying to work out the smell part. The fruit you make this out of is really sweet, but it has a natural odor to repel animals from eating it."
"I'd say it was doing a pretty good job. Yeck!" Carrot said, scrunching up her nose again and starring at the glass in disgust. She handed it back to Chopper, watching as he filled it with water and let it sit in the sink, probably to dilute the last of the concoction and the smell.
"You should be feeling better now." Chopper said, jumping onto the table next to her and putting his hoof up to her forehead, trying to feel if the heat from before had come down. Then he moved around her and felt the lump on her head that wasn't as large now. "I don't think it's a concussion. And that drink should have helped with any pain from the headache or bruised muscles."
Carrot suddenly remembered the ache she had before. She rolled her shoulders and then stretched her arms above her head, straining the muscles in her back, but still there was no ache. Then she stretched her neck and tilted her head back and forth. She touched the lump on the back of her head, and it was tender, but no longer was the headache pushing behind her eyes.
"It doesn't hurt anymore!" Carrot was so happy she jumped off the table lightning fast, startling Chopper and nearly knocking him over. She jumped up and down ecstatically, really testing how great her muscles felt now. "Thank you Chopper!" She jumped towards him, her arms wrapping around him happily in a tight hug of thanks. His hooves really were magic!
Chopper squeaked as he was pulled into Carrots chest, embarrassed that he was being treated like he was small again, was so close to a woman's chest, and was being praised all at the same time. He made some unintelligible noises in her arms, but nothing complete would come out, only making Carrot laugh and send the echo into him.
"Carrot has been following Chopper around a lot lately hasn't she?" Nami asked, watching as Carrot's nose flared and her whiskers twitched as she sat next to Chopper on the side of the ship. Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, and Brook somehow roped her into helping with fishing.
"Maybe she feels more comfortable around him. They are kind of in the same race after all." Robin suggested, peeking over her book at the anxious bunny girl who was glancing back and forth between her fishing pole and Chopper. "Or maybe she feels some kind of connection."
"What? Like kinship?" Nami asked, leaning backwards over the railing and feeling the sun on her skin. Her hair draped over the railing, blowing in the gentle wind and clearing her thoughts. She wasn't really worried about any of this, but she did feel a bit jealous over Carrot hanging around him. After all Carrot was all about Nami and being her friend in the beginning, and now she wanted to do nothing but follow Chopper around.
Robin hummed, a small knowing flicker in her eyes that said she was curious on where this might go and if the two innocent Mink's would figure it out at all. "Maybe so, maybe not." Nami didn't give her another glance, chalking it up to Robin's theorizing once more.
"Woah ho!" Chopper shouted, feeling a great tug on the line of his fishing rod. He was nearly jerked off the railing of the ship, but Carrot acted quickly and grabbed onto him, locking her legs on the railing. She hung onto Chopper tightly, pushing her feet on the railing and leaning her body nearly parallel with the deck as whatever was on the line pulled against both of them.
The line strained with a slight groaned, bending the fishing rod into an arch. The line however couldn't hold anymore and the strength Carrot was pulling backwards against it. They flew backwards, landing in a pile on the deck.
"So close!" Carrot whined, still hanging onto Chopper around his middle, while Chopper looked near tears at the broken line. He had tried so hard and nearly had it. It was disappointing to have it suddenly get away after that struggle. "Aw, it's okay Chopper. Next time you'll get an even bigger one! I think we just need to find a stronger rope!"
Carrot sat up into a seated position, letting Chopper sit with the side of his face turned into her, trying to force himself not to cry. For some reason Chopper felt oddly calm compared to before. Having Carrot console him like she was set him at ease, better than anything before. Chopper put a hoof to his forehead, feeling the heat creeping into his face for some odd reason. Maybe it was because he was so close to her again. He always seemed to get embarrassed when she was too close, or when he caught her watching him so intently. He shook his head, ignoring his temperature and deciding it was better not to think so much on it.
The Straw Hat crew must have been passing a winter island because snow began to fall faster and faster from the sky, coating their ship and chilling everyone to the bone. Carrot and Chopper however had little extra clothing on, their fur giving enough protection from the cold.
"Carrot!" Share your warmth!" Luffy complained, tackling himself into Carrot and wrapping his arms around her, trying to soak up the heat that she was keeping in. Luffy rubbed his cheek along hers, hoping some of that fur with friction would work faster.
"Oi! Don't hang onto her like that Luffy!" Chopper scolded, pointing an accusing hoof at his captain. Anger and irritation was evident on his face, and it was almost like sparks were flying out of him the more he stared at Luffy hanging onto her. Carrot let out a small giggle, wondering why seeing him like this, so made for her, made her so happy. Chopper was snapped out of his irritation by the laugh and coughed, trying to compose himself once more. "If you need someone." He coughed again before changing himself into the puff ball version.
Luffy's eyes sparkled in glee as he saw all the fur. Before Carrot could blink he was launching himself at Chopper and wrapping his arms around the furry ball. He sunk in and shouted in glee, happy for the instant warmth he received from his doctor. The shout of glee however got the attention of everyone else as well. One by one they crowded around Chopper, sinking into his fur and soaking up the warmth that he was emitting, but now Carrot was left out by herself, and the once pleased feeling she had in her gut turned into a hard, bitter lead ball that sunk in her stomach, making her chest feel like it was being pulled down as well.
Her lips puckered together, a pout slowly creeping onto her face. Carrot sprung from her seated position to a crouching one, wiggling her tail slightly before pushing from the ground and flinging her body onto Chopper and snuggling into his fur like everyone else. Carrot heard a sigh come from Chopper, one filled with surrender. This has happened one too many times he just gave in now.
The travel back to Zunesha after Big Momma and the Straw Hats fought was long, but a much needed one. They were all injured and tired, needed a while to recuperate if they were going to help Momonosuke. Even Sanji was back, and it seemed like though the Straw Hats were all injured in some way, they were happier than before.
Carrot pattered into the medical room, seeing Chopper at his usual place. Even as he was bandaged and injured, he still worked hard to create poultice's, medicines, and cure all's to help his friends. He didn't seem to notice Carrot had walked into the room, too focused on the work in front of him. He reached for something, and then regretted it as it stretched his muscles to the point it was harming wounds. Carrot walked over quickly, reaching for what he had tried to get before and handing it down to him.
"You're amazing. Even when you hurt too, you're more focused on them." Carrot said, sitting on his desk and looking at him with a tender smile. A small pink gathered around his nose, the only sign of his rising temperature at the praise. Carrot smiled even wider, and kicked her legs back and forth. "I think you should get some rest though."
"I'm almost done with this." Chopper argued, adding the ingredients and grinding them together. Carrot waited till he had done so, watching carefully as he poured the liquid medicine into a small bottle and capped it. He shook it a couple times before a satisfied sigh came out of him and he placed it on the rack where many others were sitting.
"Okay! All done! Now rest!" Carrot said, knowing he had to be way past exhaustion. But Chopper ignored her command, reaching for more ingredients. Carrot let out a dissatisfied grunt and leaped from the desk. Before Chopper could reach for the ingredients she snatched him up and pulled him from the desk. "No! You need to rest right now!"
"But! I'm not done making all the medicine!" He argued with her, grabbing onto her arms as she held him against her body, not willing to let him go.
"You can work on them again after you rest. What's the point of having a doctor on board if he's too tired and hurt to help?" Carrot told him sternly, walking over to the soft, small bed in the room. She sat down and crossed her legs, sitting him down in her lap and putting her chin on the top of his hat. Chopper stopped struggling when he realized she was right. He let out a deep sigh, giving in to her lock hold and slumping against her. It was obvious she wasn't going to let him go until he was asleep.
Chopper sat for a moment, letting out all his pent up stress in one sigh and feeling his muscles relax. His eyes drifted downward as if weights were sitting on them, giving him no option to stay awake. In no time at all he was drifting into the dream world, exhaustion and fatigue over taking him into a deep sleep his body desperately needed.
"Chopper?" Carrot whispered when she realized he had made no movement or sound for a little while. She peered around him, seeing him dead asleep against her. A proud smile broke her face and she gently lifted his hat from his head, careful not to tug or bump his antlers. But as the quiet sunk in around them Carrot felt her own body start to relax and the lead weights droop on her eyes. A big yawn escaped her. "It won't hurt to take a short nap."
She slipped sideways, arms still wrapped around Chopper until her head hit the pillow. Chopper's head carefully lolled onto the pillow itself.
A few hours later Chopper began to stir, feeling himself well rested now. He gave a yawn and stretched his arms, jerking them back to his body when they accidentally connected with something. He looked over and saw Carrot on her side, still peacefully dozing next to him. Her arms was draped over his stomach as he laid on his back. Chopper turned to his side, looking at Carrot and feeling the heat in his face rise. He brushed a little bit of the hair from her forehead, watching her nose twitch from whatever she was dreaming. It was comforting seeing Carrot so intent on helping him and taking care of him. Chopper didn't want to move from the spot in front of her. If he could just lay here all day he'd be fine with that.
"Morning," Carrot murmured, blinking her eyes open and staring at Chopper. She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes before remembering that it wasn't morning. "I guess I did fall asleep. I wonder how close we are to Zunesha."
"We're probably not that far." Chopper answered, sitting up himself and moving his limbs, realizing they were no longer as sore as before. The hard reality that once they made it back to Zunesha, they would have to part ways with Carrot. Chopper didn't like the thought; and an uneasy feeling swirled in his stomach. "Hey, Carrot. Why don't you join our crew?"
"Eh?" Her ears twitched at the offer, excitement and curiosity sparking within her eyes. "Join? Like…..sail the sea with all of you?"
"Mm," He said, not sure if his voice would cover up the nervousness he was feeling right then. "I mean….we'd have to ask Luffy, but I'm sure he'd let you! But, then you'd have to leave your friends…..But! You enjoyed being with us!" He didn't know why he was fumbling so much himself. He wanted her to stay with them…..with him….but he didn't want to take her from the people who were her friends and family. But they had all left their family right? "I want you to stay here." He mumbled, and her ears twitched again.
Bright red could be seen beneath her white fur and Chopper's own fur darkened at his own blush. Neither of them said anything for a few minutes, really letting it sink in.
"I want to stay here too…" Carrot finally muttered out, hands fidgeting in her lap. "As long as that's okay with you….."
"MM!" Chopper said happily, jumping up to a standing position and raising his arms up. Then he realized his excitement overload and coughed into his hooves, calming himself. "It was either that or we kidnap you." He teased, knowing they would do no such thing.
"I guess that means we're partners!" Carrot said with a smile, leaning forward as Chopper let out an 'eh?' in confusion. She rubbed her nose against his, not really sure what it meant, but her body was bringing her to do it. It felt natural and nice to do it, yet it left Chopper in utter shock as he stood there motionless with arms out to either side. But then he turned into melted butter and let out a embarrassed breath. Oh yeah, he was going to enjoy her being with them.