The next day...
Nami's condition had stabilized.
With Chopper officially (sort of) joining the crew, it was time to set sail.
In the medical room, Chopper stood nervously before Dr. Kureha.
"Doctorine..." he mumbled, "I'm... going to be a pirate now. I'll miss you."
Dr. Kureha just snorted. "So, abandoning me for these pirates, huh?"
"N-no! I just—"
"Get lost! You were just some pet someone dumped on me anyway. Time to pay your boarding and tuition fees."
Chopper blinked. "I-I have 1,000 Berries in my piggy bank... but that's probably not enough~"
"Heh. Then I'll just take your antlers, hide, and meat instead. Die, you ungrateful brat!" Kureha grabbed a handful of scalpels and axes and started hurling them at Chopper.
Terrified, the little reindeer bolted downstairs.
…
By now, Ray, Luffy, and the others were gathered at the base of the castle.
"Nami-san, are you really okay now?" Sanji fawned, circling Nami and Vivi.
"I'm fine, Sanji. Thank you."
"Waah~ I'm in love!"
Nami's simple reply sent Sanji into a state of pure bliss, acting more like a puppy than Chouchou.
Nami didn't brush him off this time.
She'd felt everyone's worry while she was sick – even Ray's.
Though he pretended Chouchou was the one taking care of her, she'd noticed him quietly tucking her in or changing her fever towels.
(Her only regret? He still wouldn't let her touch his skin.)
Just then, Chopper came barreling out of the castle, screaming.
"Get on the sled! We're leaving!"
Seeing Chopper fleeing with Kureha in hot pursuit, everyone sprang into action.
(Well, Luffy just understood it was time to get on the sled.)
Luffy, Sanji, Usopp, and Vivi piled on.
Nami, however, looked over at Ray, who was getting ready to fly down with Chouchou.
"I want you to carry me down with your fluff," she demanded.
Ray just glanced at her.
His tail elongated, wrapping around Nami—
"Hehe, so comfy~ Are you this obedient because—GYAH!"
—and then promptly hurled her onto the sled from above.
"YOU JERK!" Nami shrieked. "I'M STILL A PATIENT! EVER HEARD OF CHIVALRY?!"
Luffy burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Nami, you sound just like Sanji now!"
BONK!
"Ow! Sorry, I take it back!"
Vivi just smiled. "It's nice... Everything's back to normal."
Sanji took a drag from his cigarette. "Yeah. And we've got emergency rations now."
Chopper, now in reindeer form pulling the sled: "Emergency rations? Who?"
"You!"
"WHAAAT?!"
"Run faster! If you're slower than Chouchou, we're eating you!"
"I REGRET THIS!"
"Regret now and we eat you now!"
Chopper: ψ(╥﹏╥)ψ
"Sanji," Nami warned, "scare Chopper again and I'll hit you."
"Sorry, Nami-san!"
…
By the time they got back to the ship, Ray was already there, resting.
Mikita and Gem immediately started fussing over him.
"Ray-sama, are you hungry?"
"Are you cold?"
"Want to warm up?"
"Valentine's already warmed up—you can use her as a heater!"
They were even more sycophantic than Chouchou.
Nami and Vivi watched, annoyed.
'Who does this prisoner think she is?' Nami was about to pull out her Clima-Tact—
But before she could, Ray knocked both of them flat.
"Too noisy."
Mikita and Gem just lay there, looking thrilled. ヽ(♡‿♡)ノ(☆▽☆): "Understood, Ray-sama! We'll be quiet!"
Nami's sense of crisis peaked.
She whispered to Sanji and Luffy, "Train Mikita to death today. Got it?"
Sanji was ecstatic. "Yes, Nami-swannn! I won't let Zoro steal Mikita's first.... training session."
"Huh? Speaking of, where is that Moss Head?"
Vivi also looked around. "And Karoo? My duck is missing!"
Just as everyone was getting puzzled, a giant Chouchou landed on the deck.
In his mouth were two popsicles: one human-shaped, one duck-shaped.
It was Zoro and Karoo, frozen solid.
Apparently, Zoro had gotten lost during his usual winter swim (idiot), climbed ashore shirtless, and eventually froze.
Karoo had jumped in to save him but ended up nearly drowning himself.
Since they were both still (barely) alive, Ray had Chouchou pick them up on the way back.
The crew just sighed and put the popsicles by the fire to thaw.
Then, the sky above the island turned a beautiful, glowing pink.
Snowflakes started falling, but they looked like cherry blossoms.
"Cherry Blossom Snow?"
"So beautiful..."
Chopper's eyes welled up. "Doctor... Doctorine... WAAAH~~"
At the bow, Ray watched Hiriluk's final "miracle"—the crazy pink dust he'd spent his life creating—and allowed himself a faint smile.
Hiriluk had no real medical skill, just the will to heal.
Was he better or worse than a skilled doctor who only cared about money? Hard to say.
But today, his "treatment" was nothing short of divine, warming the hearts of the people and healing the scars left by Wapol.
…
Up on Drum Peak...
Dr. Kureha and Dalton stood watching the ship leave.
"Are you really okay with letting him go?" Dalton asked.
"Sailing with the Will of D... it's the best life for Chopper."
"I meant... how do you feel?"
"Fool! Why would I be sad? He was just some reindeer someone left with me."
Tears blurred her vision.
"Go, you foolish son... Go write your legend!"
…
Back at the port...
The two popsicles had thawed but were still shivering violently.
Zoro, sniffling, eyed the little reindeer.
"He's the doctor? Weird little thing."
Chopper immediately hid behind Vivi.
"Y-you should wear more clothes... or you'll catch a cold," he stammered.
Zoro just burst out laughing. "Hey, Luffy! I approve of this doctor!"
Luffy grinned, adjusting his hat. "Shishishi! My ideal pirate crew is almost complete!"
"Now that Zoro and the duck are fine... SET SAIL, CREW!"
"YEAH!"
"Also, PARTY TIME! Welcome our new doctor!"
"YEAH!"
As the crew started feasting on deck, Ray casually swiped a bottle of sake from Zoro using his energy whip, ignoring the swordsman's protests.
He started thinking about their next move.
Alabasta.
He and Chouchou had Robin's scent; they could probably track Crocodile directly.
But Vivi would want to talk to the rebels first.
'Split up? Me and Luffy take Crocodile, the others go with Vivi? Hmm... something feels off. The situation in Alabasta might be different from what I remember.'
----------
Lions King my dude, please stop spamming review 😭