The Going Merry sailed away from Drum Island, the pink sakura flakes still drifting in the air like a farewell from the island itself. On deck, Chopper sat near the railing, eyes locked onto the horizon, lost in thought.
"Oi, Chopper, what's up with you? Missing home already?" Usopp asked, nudging him with his elbow.
Before Chopper could respond, Luffy, in peak form, had already stuffed a pair of chopsticks up his nose and was making grotesque faces. "Check it out! I call this one the 'Rubber-nosed King!'"
Sanji exhaled a plume of smoke, shaking his head. "This idiot is your new family, Chopper. Congrats."
"You'll get used to it," Nami reassured the tiny reindeer, patting his head. "We're a bit much, but we grow on you."
"Like a fungus," Zoro added, before promptly dodging Nami's fist.
Just as Chopper hesitated to join in the fun, Raja made his grand entrance—because of course he did. With a flourish of his navy-blue coat, he leaped onto the barrel at the center of the deck.
"My dear comrades! Let us raise a toast to the newest member of our band of merry adventurers, the noble Dr. Tony Tony Chopper! May his tiny hooves bring doom upon our foes, and may his medical miracles keep us alive after Luffy inevitably tries to eat something explosive!"
Chopper, overwhelmed by the theatrical praise, turned beet red and flailed his little arms. "I-I'm not that amazing!"
Raja dramatically wiped a fake tear from his eye. "Oh, the modesty of a true hero! We must protect this cinnamon roll at all costs!"
Luffy raised his cup of juice. "TO CHOPPER!"
"TO CHOPPER!" the rest of the crew echoed, clanking their drinks together.
Chopper hesitated for a moment, then, for the first time in forever, felt warmth settle in his chest. He grabbed a pair of chopsticks and shoved them up his nose, attempting Luffy's trick.
The crew erupted in laughter.
Back on Drum Island, Kureha sipped her drink, watching the ocean. "That idiot reindeer actually left."
Dalton stood beside her, arms crossed. "It's what Hiriluk wanted for him."
Kureha smirked. "Yeah. That fool would be bawling his eyes out if he were here."
Dalton nodded before noticing something strange in the sky. "Wait… what is that?"
A massive banner unfurled from the sky, caught on the wind. In large, golden letters, it read:
"Dr. Chopper—The Legendary Hoofed Doctor—Now a Proud Member Straw Hat Crew!"
Dalton: "..."
Kureha: "..."
Kureha took a deep swig of her drink. "That damned chaotic idiot."
The Vivi and Karoo Saga
Vivi, still tending to Karoo, sighed. "I still can't believe you jumped into a frozen river."
Chopper, now fully immersed in his doctor role, examined Karoo carefully. "His feathers are frostbitten, but with rest, he'll be fine."
"Wait… you can talk to animals?" Nami asked, blinking.
Chopper gave a small nod. "Of course. Can't everyone?"
The crew: "NO."
Luffy gasped. "So does that mean Karoo's been talking behind our backs this whole time?!"
Raja dramatically pointed at Karoo. "Quick! Reveal your secrets, oh waddling enigma!"
Karoo, sweating: "Quack…?"
Chopper: "He says he respects all of you, but also thinks Zoro snores too loud."
Zoro: "You little—"
Just as the crew recovered from Karoo's brutal honesty, Chopper suddenly jumped in panic. "MY MEDICAL BAG!"
Raja gasped, clutching his chest as if struck by a dagger. "We left behind the sacred artifact of healing?! CURSE THIS FOOLISHNESS!"
"Relax," Nami sighed, fishing the bag out from the sleigh. "Kureha packed it for you."
Chopper stared at the bag, eyes wide. "She… she packed it for me?"
Raja dramatically wiped away an imaginary tear. "Proof of a mother's love. Chopper, you must carry this bag with pride! For in its depths lies not just medicine, but the weight of destiny itself!"
Sanji rolled his eyes. "Dramatic idiot."
Chopper, however, beamed, clutching the bag like a lifeline.
The next morning, as the crew admired the endless blue of the Grand Line, a sudden shadow loomed over them.
"GIANT BIRD!" Chopper screamed as the massive creature swooped down and snatched Luffy right off the deck.
"AHHHHHH!" Luffy yelled. "Oh, wait. This is kinda fun!"
Chopper panicked. "We have to do something! We have to—"
Zoro yawned. "Relax. If Luffy actually needs help, we'll know."
True to form, Luffy took matters into his own hands, twisting his body mid-air. "GOMU GOMU NO—PROPELLER!"
The bird squawked in terror as Luffy's spinning arms sent it hurtling to the ocean, where Sanji was already preparing a cooking fire.
Sanji: "Nice. Dinner's set."
Chopper stared in open-mouthed awe. "What kind of crew have I joined?!"
Raja patted his shoulder. "The kind where insanity is the only currency you need."
As the Straw Hats neared Arabasta, Vivi explained the gravity of their mission. The kingdom was on the brink of war, and Crocodile's Baroque Works was at the center of it all.
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "Then we'll just beat up Crocodile!"
Vivi sighed. "It's not that simple."
Raja dramatically flipped his cape. "It never is. But my dear princess, let it be known that where villains scheme, heroes (or in our case, chaotic idiots) shall rise!"
The crew collectively sighed.
The Going Merry sailed on, with a storm of chaos, adventure, and theatrical nonsense waiting ahead.