NOTICE! I do not own anything in this fanfiction, save for two characters, still to come.

"I just spoke with the constabulary," Chopper informed the family, "The pirates fled without a trace."

The family was taking refuge in an old hospital that Chopper used to work at. The hospital was currently empty, and the Kusakabes, Hogarth, and Chopper were in the waiting room.

"I'm sorry, everyone," Chopper said, "The old Kusakabe Inn burned to the ground."

Mei looked up at her sister. "What's gonna happen now, Satsuki?" she asked.

"...I don't know," Satsuki admitted, "I guess we're ... gonna have to stay here for a while."

Hogarth wanted to say something, but he decided to keep his mouth shut. Chopper decided to change the subject. "Well," he said, "that was a lot of trouble to give us over that little ball."

Hogarth then took out the ball.

"I know," Tatsuo said, "I've studied a lot of cultures as an archaeologist and anthropologist, and those markings on it are a mystery to me."

The boy pressed some of the buttons on the ball. Suddenly, the buttons pulled themselves in! His curiosity piqued, he started spinning the top part of the ball, then the right side...

"I can't understand it," Tatsuo continued, "It could take years for me to unlock its-- Hey!"

For suddenly, something strange started happening with the ball. The markings started to glow and suddenly, a graph-like pattern was projected around the group in the shape of a globe, and attached to the walls of holograms were green shapes littered with white words. Hogarth looked around and realized the giant hologram was supposed to look like an inside-out (or rather, outside-in) globe.

Chopper looked around in amazement. "I-It's a map!" he exclaimed, then pointed at a small piece of land off the coast of Asia. "Look! That's us! Japan!" He touched the island, and suddenly, a green line lead to a small, unfamiliar island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Chopper and Hogarth followed the line. "What's this?" Chopper wondered aloud, touching the island. When he did, some text appeared on the island. Hogarth's eyes widened as he read the text.

"'Treasure Island'?"

Chopper's eyes sparkled with amazement. "...Really...?"

"THAT'S TREASURE ISLAND!" Hogarth repeated, wild with excitement.

More text appeared, explaining the legendary island. "Gold Roger's trove?" Chopper asked, "The Loot of a Thousand Lands!? Hogarth, do you know what this means!?"

"It means," Hogarth answered, "that all that treasure's just a boat ride away!"

"And whoever brings it back," Chopper said, "will be a hero! He'll be able to experience--" Then the lights turned back on, startling Chopper.

"Guys, this is it!" Hogarth exclaimed to his family, "This is the answer to all our problems!"

"Wait a minute," Tatsuo protested, "There isn't any way--"

"Don't you remember? All those stories? Don't tell me you never heard them?"

"No, we've heard them," Yasuko answered, "but that's all they were! Stories!"

Hogarth slapped his forehead. These guys weren't getting it. "With that treasure, we could rebuild the inn a hundred times over!"

"But this is-- Oh, my," Yasuko stammered, "Tatsuo, how ridiculous is this?"

Tatsuo tried, but couldn't think of anything. "Uh, um, well-- Chopper?"

"...Um, it's ... totally preposterous," Chopper stammered, "It's dangerous sailing the seas alone."

"Thank you, Chopper," said Tatsuo, "for bringing some sense into this."

"That's why I'm going with you," Chopper said, opening his backpack.

The Kusakabes were bewildered! "Chopper!" they exclaimed.

"Sorry," Chopper said, "I guess Luffy's adventure-searching rubbed off on me!"

Hogarth smiled. It was great that his friend agreed with him!

"Let's see," Chopper said, "I'll use my life savings to pay for the mission! I'll hire a ship, a captain and a crew!"

"You're joking, I hope?" Yasuko asked.

"All my life, I've been waiting to show everyone what I'm made of, and now my chance is here!"

Yasuko sighed and Tatsuo slapped a hand over his eyes. They were losing control.

"Mom? Dad?"

The parents turned to their son, who said, "I know I keep screwing up, and I know ... (sigh) that I let you down. But this is my chance to make it up to you. I'm gonna set things right."

Yasuko and Tatsuo looked at each other. Their son really wanted to help! Chopper whispered, "Um, Mr. and Mrs. Kusakabe? Over here, please." He pulled the two aside. "Your daughter told me," he explained, "you've tried everything. This could be good for Hogarth. After all, there are worse cures than a few character-building months at sea."

Yasuko looked at Chopper suspiciously. "Are you saying this because it's the right thing, or because you really want to go?"

Chopper clapped his hooves together in a begging manner. "I really, really, really, really wanna go." Yasuko turned her head. Chopper gently went into Heavy Point, put a finger under her chin, and turned her head. "AND it's the right thing," he finished.

The parents turned to their son. Yasuko brushed some of Hogarth's hair from his face. "Hogarth... I don't want to lose you. You're my only son."

"And our only brother," Mei added.

Hogarth smiled and tenderly grabbed his mother's hand. "Mom, you won't. I'll make you all proud."

"Yay!" Chopper cheered, "Yosh! We better get ready now! Hogarth, soon we'll be off to the seaport!