Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Tony Tony Chopper's life was anything but ordinary from the very start. Born with a distinctive blue nose, he always stood out among his reindeer peers. This uniqueness led to his isolation; he was constantly bullied and shunned by the others in his herd. For Chopper, life was a lonely journey, trailing behind his kind, feeling like an outcast, misunderstood and unaccepted.
His life took an even more dramatic turn when he accidentally consumed a Devil Fruit known as the Human-Human Fruit. This extraordinary event transformed him, blurring the lines between reindeer and human. This transformation only deepened his isolation. Now, he was rejected by both reindeer and humans. When reindeers saw him, they attacked viciously, and humans, perceiving him as a threat or a curiosity, aimed to hunt him down.
Confused and heartbroken, Chopper couldn't comprehend what he had done to deserve such treatment. From the moment of his birth, he had yearned for nothing more than companionship and friendship.
Then, his life was touched by an unlikely savior – a somewhat eccentric doctor named Hiriluk. Hiriluk took Chopper under his wing, treating him almost as a son. He was the one who gave him the name Tony Tony Chopper, acknowledging his unique identity. Under Hiriluk's care, Chopper found the affection and acceptance he had longed for.
Hiriluk had a dream to cure the ills of Drum Island, and though his methods were unconventional, his intentions were pure. Tragically, his life ended in pursuit of this noble cause, leaving Chopper heartbroken yet inspired. Hiriluk's final wish became Chopper's mission.
To honor Hiriluk and continue his legacy, Chopper sought to master the art of medicine. He apprenticed under Dr. Kureha, learning the skills necessary to become a proficient doctor. The castle they resided in was more than a home; it was a monument to Hiriluk, a place where his spirit and dreams were kept alive.
Atop the castle, proudly displayed, was Hiriluk's pirate flag – a symbol that held immense significance for Chopper. It was a reminder of Hiriluk's belief in exploration, adventure, and the pursuit of one's dreams. Hiriluk had instilled in Chopper the idea that the pirate flag represented a commitment to one's beliefs and aspirations.
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Kureha spent a whole hour narrating the poignant story of Chopper. Bai Ye, deeply moved, admitted that the tale was so touching that it almost brought him to tears. However, he jokingly hoped not to hear it again, given its emotional impact.
As for Luffy, well, he had his own unique way of participating in the conversation.
BOOM!
Bai Ye had to resort to using his golden fist to get Luffy's attention, gently reminding him, "Please listen carefully, Captain."
To Bai Ye's surprise, Luffy responded with a smile, full of confidence. "Well, I might have been a bit sleepy, but I got the gist of it," he said.
Standing up and adjusting his straw hat, Luffy looked decisively at Bai Ye and Kureha. His declaration was clear and straightforward: "I want Chopper to join my crew. I want him as a comrade on my ship!"
Kureha let out a hearty laugh. "You want to take that little one aboard, do you?" she asked. "Go ahead and try. But remember, the wounds in Chopper's heart, caused by years of pain, aren't easy to heal."
Undeterred, Luffy's eyes shone with determination. "I know that," he replied. "But I'll find a way to reach him."
With that, Luffy clapped his hands together and set off to find Chopper within the castle. Soon after, a loud crash echoed through the halls.
Bai Ye glanced at Kureha, a hint of apology in his eyes. "I'll make sure to compensate for any damages," he offered.
Kureha waved her hand dismissively, her laughter echoing in the room. "Ha! If that boy really manages to bring Chopper on board, he can smash the whole place up for all I care!" she exclaimed. Then, her tone turning slightly skeptical, she added, "But can that simple-minded Luffy really do it?"
Bai Ye nodded firmly, his expression reflecting unwavering confidence. "If anyone can do it, it's Luffy," he affirmed. "He has a way of reaching out to people that's uniquely his."
Shortly after, Luffy's energetic voice echoed from outside the castle, brimming with confidence and a sense of pride, "Be my comrade, Chopper!!"
Chopper, gasping for breath, responded with a mix of anger and disbelief, "Stop joking around, you jerk! Don't you dare touch Dr. Hiriluk's pirate flag! Are you threatening me by trying to destroy it?!" The flag represented a sacred memory for Chopper, his absolute limit; he couldn't bear the thought of it being disrespected.
Luffy, in his characteristic manner, had dragged Chopper outside and leaped up beside Hiriluk's Pirate Flag. Chopper, fearing the worst, shouted desperately, "Don't do this!!!!"
But Luffy, with unexpected seriousness, boomed, "This is a symbol of that man's faith! It can't be destroyed!!" Chopper was momentarily taken aback, unsure of Luffy's intentions.
With a mischievous grin, Luffy, clutching his straw hat, challenged Chopper, "You want to be a pirate, right?!" The confidence radiating from Luffy was almost tangible. "Don't you want to set sail and find your own crew?"
Chopper, dazed, pondered deeply. The desire to venture out to sea was undeniably strong in him, yet he doubted whether someone like him could...
His thoughts were interrupted as Luffy reached out, grabbing the fluttering pirate flag, and proclaimed, "This was his flag, not yours. With his passing, the pirate crew it symbolized ceased to exist."
Luffy's smile grew wider as he spoke, "You can't set sail under a flag that belongs to the past! So, come aboard my ship. Be my crewmate!"
For Chopper, these words were a long-awaited dream, yet they felt almost too good to be true. He looked up, eyes wide, at Luffy, who bore the same kind of smile as Hiriluk, and felt a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
At that moment, Luffy suddenly turned to Bai Ye, who had been quietly observing the unfolding drama. With a sense of urgency, Luffy asked, "Bai Ye! Did you bring it? Take it out."
Bai Ye, momentarily taken aback, quickly realized what Luffy was referring to. Feeling a little embarrassment for not having grasped Luffy's plan earlier, Bai Ye retrieved a special item with a flick of his wrist.
Chopper, who had been immersed in his own turmoil, glanced over and his eyes widened in shock at the sight of what Bai Ye held. Kureha, too, grasped Luffy's intentions upon seeing the item, and she instinctively took a large gulp of wine, her eyes fixed on the unfolding scene.
Xun Gua - WIND!
Bai Ye, acknowledging Luffy's request, harnessed the wind to send the item soaring towards Luffy. Luffy caught it deftly and with a beaming smile, he raised his hand high.
In that instant, a flag, grander and larger than Hiriluk's pirate flag, unfurled above the castle. The flag, with a skull wearing a straw hat at its center, captured Chopper's entire attention.
"This is my pirate flag, Chopper!!" Luffy shouted, his voice carrying far and wide in the blustering mountain wind. "My name is Monkey D. Luffy, and I will become the Pirate King! Join my ship as my partner, carry my flag, and let's embark on a grand adventure across the seas together!"
Luffy's proclamation echoed across the mountain, but Chopper was too overwhelmed with emotion to fully comprehend the words. Tears streamed down his face as years of pain, doubt, and longing poured out in a heart-wrenching cry.
"Can a monster like me really become a pirate?" Chopper sobbed, more to himself than anyone else. "I'm just a reindeer with horns, hooves, and a blue nose. I'm not human, but a monster! How can I be a pirate, your partner?"
In response, Luffy's voice rose above the howling wind, firm and unwavering: "Stop talking and just follow me!"
In that moment, as Chopper raised his head to face the fierce wind and snow, he saw something that he had never seen in his life – a glimmer of hope, a beacon of light shining brightly through his darkness. This was more than an invitation; it was a lifeline, a chance to embrace a future he had never dared to dream of.