Lounging on the deck of the Sunny, Nami's head shot up suddenly, and her gaze turned toward the skies. Next to her, Robin noticed the change in her demeanor and looked at her questioningly. There was a sudden chill to the air, a freshness that hadn't been there moments before, that had Nami moving from her comfortable seat and going into her room, returning shortly with a map in her hands. She spread it out before herself on the railing, her eyes shifting from the map in her hands toward the horizon and back. Robin had followed Nami and was now standing beside her, looking at the map over her shoulder.
"Is something the matter, Navigator?" Robin asked in an even tone as she looked at the map, recognizing the area and searching her mind for information that might be useful. By now, their movements had attracted the attention of the rest of the crew. Franky and Usopp were fishing but turned their heads to pay attention, both tensed and ready to drop their fishing poles at Nami's word. Luffy, who was playing with Chopper, paused once they noticed the change in the mood, and Luffy looked over at Zoro. Zoro was lying on the lawn, lightly dozing but attentive to the presence of his captain, just in case. He felt Luffy's stare and opened his eyes, their gazes locking before shifting to Nami. Sanji had stepped out to offer the ladies drinks but stopped beside them instead.
"What's up, Nami?" Luffy asked. There was a slight tension in the air, everyone ready to spring into action if necessary. The weather of the Grand Line had proven unpredictable and dangerous. They might have lost their lives due to sudden climate changes if it hadn't been for their exceptional navigator. Due to this, the entire crew, captain included, deferred to Nami when it came to navigating the rough seas around them.
"It looks like we're sailing into winter climate, guys," Nami said, looking up from her map. She looked relaxed but observant. "We'll want to change into warmer clothing and keep an eye out for icebergs. No signs of any storms so far," she concluded. With that, everyone confirmed their understanding in some way.
"I recall hearing some interesting stories about this part of the sea," Robin chimed in, getting the attention of Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp, just as she knew she would. "Something about a team of devil fruit users. Twins, I believe," she tapped her chin thoughtfully. Luffy bounced his way over closer to Robin, hugging Chopper in his arms. Both of their eyes were sparkling.
"Oooohh! Story! Story! Story!" Luffy chanted excitedly, making Robin giggle. She looked over the rest of her crew, seeing that she had their attention, each of them smiling fondly at their silly captain. Her gaze stayed on Zoro for a second longer, noticing the pure adoration in his eyes for their captain, before turning back to Luffy and Chopper.
"Twin devil fruit users! Wooow! What are they like? What abilities do they have?" Chopper asked curiously, barely containing his excitement.
Robin had walked back to her seat, elegantly perching herself on the edge in front of her audience. Nami had rolled up her map and left to return it. Sanji leaned on the railing, also listening with interest. By now, Franky and Usopp had reeled in their fishing lines and moved over to her, curious about the story as well. She smiled at them, giving Franky a softer smile when their eyes met, and he gave her an affectionate smile in return.
"Let's see... It's somewhat of a legend, so the validity of the stories has never been confirmed," Robin stated in a futile attempt to temper their excitement. "It is said that this pair travel far and wide, rewarding or punishing the good and the greedy, visiting towns and ships alike. One of them, described as a man dressed in red with white furs, is said to be able to give those deserving an item they want most or holds great significance. The other, a woman dressed in black, will produce and implement a fitting punishment for those who are wicked. They fly through the sky in a sleigh drawn by a single reindeer, appearing in the dead of night, quickly leaving their gifts and vanishing before anyone knows their presence. The only sign of their visit, other than the gifts they leave, is the sound of bells," Robin explains.
"A flying reindeer?!" Chopper exclaims, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Wait! So how do they know what people deserve?" Usopp asks.
"And how do they get the things?" Franky follows up. Luffy and Chopper nod vigorously, encouraging Robin to continue. Nami now stands next to Sanji, asking what she missed, and Sanji quietly catches her up on Robin's story.
"I'm not sure how they know who is deserving of what," Robin states. "But legend has it that they carry containers of different sizes, sometimes it's said that it's satchels or baskets, and extract the items from them. Something of note is that they are always described as being entirely empty before anything is pulled from within, and the size of the container always corresponds with the size of the item." There is a collective round of oohs and aahs from the ones in front of her. Sanji and Nami are smiling at their captive crew while Zoro is still in his spot, eyes closed but listening attentively.
"I want them to come to our ship! I want presents!" Luffy bounces up and down excitedly. He takes Chopper's hooves in his hands and starts bouncing in circles, both of them chanting, "Presents! Presents! Presents!"
"How do you call them to come here, Robin?" Chopper asks, a look of awe all over his face.
Robin chuckles and gives him a regretful smile. "I'm sorry, Chopper, Captain, but it's just a story. A legend that is well-known around this part of the sea. Other than the tales people have shared, there has never been any tangible evidence that they exist," Robin said regretfully, feeling a bit sad watching Luffy and Chopper deflate at her words. Both of them pout but soon go back to playing.
"I'm about to start preparing dinner," Sanji calls out. The crew nods, and they all return to what they were doing before.
After a satisfying dinner, the crew heads to bed, with Zoro taking the night watch. The night air has gotten considerably colder, confirming Nami's words earlier that afternoon. Zoro had to throw on a fluffy jacket to keep warm, rubbing his hands together and breathing into them to keep them warm, his hot breath showing as puffs of vapor in the air. He had settled himself in the crow's nest after doing a lap of the ship, sheltering himself from the bitter night wind. He had started to doze when he thought he heard the tinkle of bells. Zoro's eyes shoot open just in time to see Luffy peek his head into the crow's nest. He relaxes, standing to help his captain in.
"What are you doing up so late, captain?" Zoro asks, extending a hand to Luffy. He knows that Luffy doesn't need the assistance, but the urge to hold his captain's warm hand, even for a moment, is irresistible. By now, Zoro had come to terms with his impulses to be in contact with Luffy constantly and had categorized them as a part of daily life, but he hadn't given them a voice. He had accepted that the need came from something other than a sense of camaraderie and knew that he had feelings for his captain, but the risk of admitting it was too great. There was too much to lose.
Luffy clasped his hand tightly, holding it tightly as Zoro hauled him up and into his arms. Luffy's face and chest were pressed against Zoro's torso, Zoro's other hand drifting to Luffy's hip. Luffy closed his eyes involuntarily, feeling the warmth of his first mate and best friend, listening to the strong heartbeat in his chest, and enjoying the sensation of his firm grip before Zoro let go and took a step back. The shock of the cold air hit him suddenly, and Luffy almost pouted. Almost. Instead, he smiled at Zoro, not wanting to let his disappointment show. He wasn't entirely sure why he was disappointed, but it always seemed to happen with Zoro. Just like the butterflies he occasionally felt and the erratic heartbeat that happened sometimes. It was only ever with Zoro. No other crew member affected him like this, and he didn't know why.
"I couldn't sleep," Luffy grinned. " Robin's story was so exciting! I wanted to see if I could spot them!" he bounced over to the window, looking out into the night sky.
"It's just a story, Luffy—a legend, like Robin said. Don't think it's true," Zoro tried to explain. He didn't want to deflate his captain's obvious excitement, but he didn't want him to be sad when nothing happened.
There was a beat of heavy silence.
"No... It's real..." Luffy said quietly, his eyes fixed on the lawn of the ship. Zoro walked over to Luffy, concerned at his quiet tone and curious to see what he was looking at so intensely.
"I'll be damned..." Zoro whispered, his eyes growing wide. Below them, on the ship's lawn, was a large and luxurious sleigh. The exterior was white wood with plush red velvet seats on the inside. The trim was gold, as well as the intricate carvings on every surface. The reindeer pulling the sleigh was enormous and the most majestic creature Zoro had ever seen. It was as white as the carriage, nibbling lazily on the grass of the Sunny as its masters stood beside it. A man, looking no older than his mid-thirties, tall and large, stood petting the reindeer. His face was jovial and relaxed, reminding Zoro a bit of Luffy. His hair was bright white, as was his thick beard. His shoulders were broad, and from under the bright red-and-white fur-trimmed cloak he wore, Zoro could tell he was all muscle. A woman stood in front of him with the exact same face, though slightly shorter and slimmer. She was dressed in a black fur coat that dragged on the floor and had a dramatically fluffy collar, a snake whip wrapped around her slender waist. She was beautiful, with sharp features and long, dark hair. Zoro could have sworn that he saw hooves instead of feet as she stepped out from around the reindeer. She looked up at them then, a sly smile spreading on her lips. Zoro and Luffy jumped, watching her beckon them down with a wave of her slender finger, long black nails gleaming in the moonlight. The man looked up at them as well, smiling brightly and chuckling.
Zoro could feel Luffy begin to shudder with excitement beside him. Before he could move, Luffy had propelled himself down from the crow's nest and onto the lawn of the Sunny.
"Luffy!" Zoro called out, a second too late. "Damned idiot!" Zoro cursed at his captain for throwing himself into another potentially dangerous situation. He moved over to the intercom. "All hands on deck! All hands on deck!" He announced before dropping down and rushing to his captain's side. All at once, the rest of the crew quickly appeared, each in various states of dress and grogginess. The sounds of alarm and excitement died when they looked at their unexpected visitors. Sanji moved in front of Nami protectively, Usopp hiding behind him as well but not taking his eyes away from the duo. Robin picked Chopper up as Franky moved to shield them as well, just in case. As always, Luffy seemed to be the only one entirely unphased by the unusual situation.
"Are you guys the ones from Robin's story? The ones who bring presents?" Luffy asked excitedly. The man in red let out a loud laugh. It sounded like happiness and bells and magic.
"Monkey D. Luffy. We are, indeed, my boy!" The man in red lifted a gloved hand, placing it on Luffy's head and ruffling his hair. Zoro flicked his thumb, ready to unsheath his sword. "Roronoa Zoro, there is no need for hostility. We mean no harm- ah..." The man in red pauses and turns to his companion. "Do you have business with anyone present on this vessel, sister?" he asked.
The woman in black surveys the crew with cold, dark eyes, taking her time with each and every single member. The crew collectively shivered under her gaze, colder than any winter wind, immediately knowing she was dangerous. The woman in black gave a small smile. "No, brother. No one here is deserving of my gifts," she said with a pleased tone in her voice, which was smooth and razor-sharp. It was a voice that could promise pain and suffering.
"Wonderful!" The man in red exclaimed loudly and laughed merrily. "Then it is my gifts you shall receive! Sister! The small bag, if you please!" he called out. Everyone shuffled nervously, but there was now an excited and curious sensation in the air. "Straw Hat Pirates! Please, please, come closer! You all are an interesting bunch!" The man in red seemed only to be able to speak in a loud, boisterous voice, the smile never leaving his face.
"Excuse me, if I may ask," Robin spoke up. "How is it that you know us? We are well known, to be sure, but if the stories hold truth, your knowledge isn't based on hearsay." She looked at them curiously, as only Robin could, and the crew hummed their agreement.
"Ah, Nico Robin. You are an exceptional woman with a brilliant mind," The man in red mused. "You are correct; our knowledge is not based on rumors. Our gifts were born of devil fruits, just as all of yours," he motions to the devil fruit users of the crew. "We cannot pretend to know how, but we know of your good and ill deeds and whether you deserve a gift from me..." he cut off.
"Or from me," The woman in black continued. "Those who have done good for others and have kind hearts will receive a gift from my brother. Those who are wicked and cause harm will be presented with punishment," she concluded coldly.
"How do you know what each person gets?" Sanji asked gruffly, having lit a cigarette and letting the wind blow away the smoke.
"We do not know what you will receive until we hold it in our hands. We are able to manifest items from any container of any size," The woman in black states.
"It is as much of a surprise for us as it is for you," The man in red grins. "As soon as we manifest the gift, we know its significance to the recipient," he says, reaching into the small bag, no deeper than a bottle of wine. He smiles as his hand closes around an object. "For you, Nico Robin, I give you the sands of time," The man in red says as he pulls out an hourglass. It is as large as the bag, framed in wood with intricate patterns. Inside is a black cube, and as the sand fills the bottom half, it spins on its own, revealing an identical black cube on the other end. "This hourglass will record the passage of time of its own accord, so long as your quest and desire for knowledge continue to live," The man in red looks at her, his eyes full of meaning.
Robin steps forward, Chopper snuggling and hiding in her chest as she reaches for the hourglass with a third hand, unwilling to let go of Chopper. She studies it, her eyes wide and full of emotion. "They're poneglyps..." she whispers. She looks up at the man in red, blinking away tears. "Thank you," she says, barely audible. The man in red smiles and then shifts his gaze to Chopper.
"Doctor Tony Tony Chopper," He says softly and firmly. "Such an incredible mind and a kind heart. I'm afraid your gift is a bit... unorthodox." The man in red smiles softly and steps aside, allowing the reindeer to step forward. Chopper looks at him with wide eyes, seeming excited and apprehensive. The reindeer snorts and huffs in the air, and Chopper visibly relaxes. Robin lets him hop down, and he steps closer. The large reindeer touches his nose to Chopper's, causing the small reindeer to burst into tears.
"He-he said he wants to be friends," Chopper wails, rubbing his eyes and grinning. He hugs the reindeer's face, laughing openly. The reindeer lifts him up and places Chopper on his back, prancing with happiness. "I have a reindeer friend! His name is Tomo!" Chopper exclaims with laughter, hugging him tightly. The crew also starts to laugh, with a few sniffles here and there and Franky crying openly.
"That's so beautiful! No, I'm not crying! You're crying!" Franky yells loudly, inspiring a few chuckles from Robin and Sanji. The man in red chuckles as well, his eyes turning to Franky.
"Cutty Flam. Your skills are as incredible as your partner's mind beside you," He nods towards Robin. Franky visibly flusters but doesn't deny it, and neither does Robin, taking the opportunity to intertwine her fingers in his and squeeze a bit. The entire crew suddenly turns to them. Nami and Usopp are wide-eyed, and Sanji looking forlorn. Chopper giggles and looks like he knew all along. Zoro smiles at them, as does Luffy, though he also looks confused. The raucous laughter from the man in red turns their attention back to him. He reaches into his bag, slowly pulling out a piece of paper that looks old and water-damaged. "For you, a lost memory," the man in red stated, extending what seemed to be a photograph. Franky steps forward and gingerly takes it, fearing it will dissolve in his hand.
It was a photograph he thought was lost to the sea; Tom's face was the first he saw, a large, bright smile on his features. Next to Tom were himself and Iceburg, laughing hysterically at Yokozuna's antics. He suddenly remembered that moment, and a fresh stream of tears cascaded down his face, though this time, he covered his face with one hand, sobbing quietly. "I don't know how... but thank you," he muttered, lifting his head to look at the man in red with a huge grin. "Thank you so much!" Robin went to his side, rubbing his back tenderly and leading him away to sit on a bench.
"Wow..." Usopp whispered as he watched in awe. He felt nervous and apprehensive seeing how his crewmates had reacted so far. They all cried but were filled with nothing but joy. He jumped with an audible squeak as he heard his name called.
"Brave Warrior Usopp," the man in red calls with a smile. "Your dedication and love for every member of your crew are as admirable as your resolve," He reaches into the bag, which fills with something about as big as Robin's hourglass. "For you, a representation of what you have bravely fought to keep," the man in red says as he pulls out a small wooden ship.
"Merry..." Usopp says, taking the replica with shaky hands. It was exactly as he remembered, down to every single repair he had made, all the love and care he had put into the ship. Tears started clouding his eyes, but he blinked them away, noticing something. As he looked more closely, he saw little figurines on the ship. It was his crew! A tiny Luffy was on Merry's head, arms stretched high, a tiny Zoro leaning against the railing underneath him. A tiny Nami was tending to the tangerine trees, and a tiny Sanji, right outside the galley door, was smoking a cigarette. A tiny Robin and an even tinier Chopper in her arms were on the quarter-deck, looking out to sea. And in the crow's nest was a tiny version of himself and a tiny figure in white leaning against him. "Kaya... That's Kaya," He let out a choked laugh, unable to stop the tears streaming from his face. He now understood the words from the man in red. He nodded his head, unable to speak, but the gratitude in his eyes spoke volumes.
The man in red laughed, patting Usopp's shoulder firmly. "Keep fighting bravely, young warrior of the sea," he said. Usopp gave him a determined look and turned away, walking over to Franky and Robin. Luffy looked on with fascination and excitement, bouncing on his feet. "Patience, young captain," the man in red chuckled, his sister echoing his laugh.
"Okay!" Luffy grinned from ear to ear. "I'm just happy to see my crew so happy!" he beamed.
The man in red grinned back at him before turning to Nami. She stiffened but walked toward him just the same. "Nami, daughter of Bell-mère. You have much love to give and much that has been given to you in return," The man in red reaches into his bag, clenching something small in his hand. "For you, a reminder of those you love that will never leave you," he opens his hand to reveal a locket. It is round and bright gold, gleaming in the moonlight. Beautiful wavy designs cover the surface. Nami takes it, feeling the weight of it as it fits snuggly in the center of her palm. Opening the locket, she sees a picture of Nojiko and Bell-mère on one side, smiling brightly. On the other was a photo of Vivi, her features soft and kind, her long hair cascading on her shoulders. Nami traces a fingertip over Vivi's photo, looking at it wistfully.
"It's been so long since I've seen her face," Nami's voice is barely a whisper. She closes the locket and holds it tightly, bringing her hand to her chest. She looks up at the man in red, then at the woman in black, holding back her tears. "Is she okay?" she manages to choke out. They both nod but give no information. Nami smiles as a single tear trails down her cheek. "Thank you," she whispers, stepping away.
Sanji makes a move to comfort Nami but stops in his tracks when he hears his name. "Sanji, son of Zeff," the man in red announces. Sanji jerks, turning to face the man in red. He puts out his cigarette on the bottom of his shoe, trying to hide the pleased smirk on his face. He steps forward, shoving his hands in his pockets. The man in red looks at him intently as if trying to figure something out before turning to the sleigh. He returns the small bag and takes a considerably larger one, enough to fit a grown person. Sanji takes a step back while everyone else cranes their necks to see. "Your care for those less fortunate is admirable, as is your ambition in your search," The man in red reaches into the bag, and the crew watches in awe as it starts to fill; whatever is inside is very much alive and wriggling violently. "If you would be so kind to open the hatch to your aquarium," the man in red asks.
"Y-yeah," Sanji responds, moving quickly toward the hatch and prying it open. The man in red follows, turning the bag upside down and emptying an entire school of fish into the aquarium. Sanji stumbles back, his mouth hanging open.
"For you, young chef, the proof of what you seek," the man in red says with a laugh. "These fish can only be found in the All Blue. Keep them healthy and safe, and you will never be without sustenance for yourself, your crew, or any hungry soul to cross your path." The man in red goes to sit on the edge of the sleigh while Sanji runs inside to take a look for himself. The crew waits for Sanji's return with bated breath, their eyes not leaving the door. The woman in black moves to stand behind her brother, placing a delicate hand on his shoulder.
"Brother..." she mutters, but her eyes are glued to Luffy and Zoro. He follows her gaze, staring as well at the pair before them. The man in red smiles, nodding his understanding.
Sanji returns, bursting through the door like he was running a marathon. "It's not possible..." he mutters. "No... it's incredible!" He grins, laughter creeping into his voice. "Those fish... t-they have characteristics of species from every ocean. Something like that wouldn't be possible anywhere other than..." Sanji trails off, looking directly at the man in red before bursting into peals of laughter. "I can't thank you enough!" he shouts, determination setting into his handsome features.
The man in red grins, coming to stand once more. He extends his hand to the woman in black, and she takes it, going to stand beside him. They both turn to look at Zoro and Luffy. Immediately, Zoro is tense and ready to protect his captain. Luffy just bounces with unbridled excitement. "Is it our turn now?" Luffy asks happily.
"Monkey D. Luffy. Roronoa Zoro," The twins say in unison. Their voices reverberate throughout the ship, echoing across the sea. The wind dies down, and all sounds cease.
"Your dedication and devotion to your dreams, your mentors, and your crew have no equal other than each other," The man in red states. Zoro and Luffy glance at one another briefly, not wanting to take their eyes off the twins for too long.
"What you desire most has the potential to bring you great pain," the woman in black continues, "though it is not something that we can manifest." The man in red nods beside her. Luffy looks crestfallen, and Zoro pats him on the shoulder, trying to comfort him.
"However," The man in red declares, "we are able to guide you, at this moment, to what you yearn for," Luffy perks up, his eyes wide and shining, while Zoro stands apprehensively at his side. "After seeing the gifts bestowed to your crew, do you consent to the aid we will provide to receive yours?" the man in red asks. Luffy nods immediately, without a second thought.
"Yes! I wanna know what my present is! Zoro! Zoro! C'mon!" Luffy bounces and grabs Zoro's arm, pulling him forward.
"What say you, swordsman?" The woman in black asks. Zoro looked at her cautiously; she made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. This woman was dangerous, and her involvement was making him nervous. This wasn't like the others. Why weren't his and Luffy's separate? Why was pain mentioned? He didn't want his captain to hurt in any way. Zoro looked at Luffy, his broad smile crumbling his agitation. If it had to involve both of them, he would ensure that nothing ever hurt his captain. He stepped closer to Luffy, shadowing him protectively, nodding his consent to the twins.
"Wonderful," the twins said in unison. They stepped apart, as far as their reach would allow, while their hands were still linked. They raised their free hands simultaneously towards the captain and his swordsman, a soft light emanating from their palms and fingertips. What looked like sparkling snow, bright and shining in the moonlight, floated from their extended hands toward the pair, surrounding them in a light cover of snowflakes. Luffy extended his arms and looked in awe, giggling as if the snow tickled. Zoro also looked around in amazement, watching as the snow floated around him, each snowflake emitting a soft white light. Luffy felt peace, and looking over at Zoro, he could tell that his swordsman felt the same tranquility that he did. It was like nothing he had ever felt, but it still felt familiar. Luffy immediately knew it was something he sought and needed, only having small tastes of this sensation until now.
It seemed that Zoro came to the same realization at the same time that Luffy did, turning to look at each other, a look of desperation etched into their faces. There was a beat of stillness as the twins lowered and released their hands. Luffy reached out first, slowly lifting a hand to Zoro's face and unable to look away. Zoro broke the silence with his captain's name on his lips, tilting his head into Luffy's hand and wrapping his arms around Luffy's waist. Moving as one, their lips met as they tightly wrapped their arms around the other. Just as soon as they touched with all their feelings on display, it started to snow. Large fluffy snowflakes slowly blanketed the ship as the captain and his first make deepened their kiss, completely enthralled in each other. Their lips broke apart, but they continued to explore further, murmuring words of affection that should have been said long ago as the kisses spread to their faces, necks, and hands. They were in their own world, finding what they sought in each other.
A loud boom of laughter from the man in red shook everyone back to reality, the woman in black chuckling beside him. The Straw Hat crew suddenly laughed and cheered for their captain and first mate. Zoro and Luffy grinned at each other, then turned to their crew, joining the merriment. The sun's rays had started peeking on the horizon, turning the snowflakes into brilliant crystals floating from the sky.
"I'll prepare a feast!" Sanji exclaimed, receiving cheers from his crew. The atmosphere was light and contagious as everyone played in the snow and shared their gifts with each other. The twins smiled fondly at the scene before moving to their sleigh.
"You have to stay for the feast! Share a meal with us!" Luffy shouted and laughed, grabbing the man in red and the woman in black by the hand. They both looked startled but smiled just the same.
"I'm afraid we must be going, young captain," the man in red said, ruffling his hair.
"Please stay a little longer. For Chopper's sake, if nothing else," Nami cut in. They looked toward where Chopper and Tomo were playing in the snow, the young boy enjoying the feeling of winter from his home. The woman in black placed a hand on her brother's shoulder, and he let out a sigh. It had been quite some time since their beloved friend and companion had a moment like this, and the twins were reluctant to cut it short.
"Very well," The man in red said, smiling warmly.
Luffy cheered loudly, seconded by Franky and Usopp. "Sanji!" Luffy yelled, starting to run toward the galley. Suddenly, he stopped, turned on his heel, and leaped at Zoro, planting a long kiss on his lips. Zoro caught him effortlessly, returning the kiss before the laughter bubbling up from his chest caused them to break apart. Luffy scrambled over Zoro's shoulder and clung to his back like his namesake, Zoro laughing the entire time. Once he was settled, Luffy dramatically pointed to the galley. "I can't be apart from you anymore! Zoro, to Sanji!" Luffy declared, perched on Zoro's back as if he were riding him into battle.
"Aye, Captain!" Zoro responded through his laughter, unable to contain his joy. The rest of their crew and their unexpected guests laughed along as well, following the pair inside. The man in red paused next to Chopper and Tomo, petting his beloved friend. He withdrew the small bag from his pocket and reached into it.
"Doctor Chopper, Tomo would like for you to have this," the man in red said, handing him a bell. Chopper took it, listening to the sparkling jingle coming from it. Tomo snorted, and Chopper looked at his new friend, nodding.
"A symbol of our friendship," he echoed, holding the bell tightly.
"We will stay a while longer. Enjoy this time," the man in red said to both reindeer. Both nodded happily and returned to their merriment. The man in red looked up at his sister, who was waiting for him. She was a stark contrast against the bright white of the snow that now covered the entire ship. They fell into step together, continuing to follow the Straw Hat crew.
"Best part of the job?" The woman in black muses as a gentle smile forms on her lips.
"Absolutely," The man in red responds, a jolly grin spreading on his face as a rumble of laughter erupts from inside the ship.