The Going Merry drifted under the pale sunlight, sails heavy with the slow wind. A rare, quiet moment on the ship as everyone was distracted with something. That was until the swordsman who was perched at the rail, dragging a huge dumbbell in the name of 'training,´interrupted. He paused mid-lift and glanced towards the resting waters, squinting at the horizon. Soon, something caught his attention.
Zoro: "Oi! There's an island up ahead."
Usopp was the first to look up, bringing out an eyeglass to take a closer look. He blinked and turned towards the upper deck.
Usopp: "Hey Nami! Didn't you say it would probably take another two days before we find land?"
Nami looked up from her map, frowning in confusion. "An island? That's weird, this early?" She took a breath and looked down at her log pose.
Nami: "!"
The needle didn't point toward the island. Instead, it pulled straight past it.
Nami glanced over and whispered,
Nami: "It doesn't point to it."
Usopp "? The log pose? Wait a minute! What do you mean it doesn't point to it?! "
She nodded, brows furrowing "the log pose did not react to it."
Robin set her book aside and shaded her eyes.
Robin: "Curious. If the Log Pose ignores it, it's likely because that island isn't part of its magnetic network.
Sanji came out of the kitchen with a tray of drinks in his hand, muttering as he leaned on the rail.
Sanji: "As sharp as ever, Robin-chwan…"
Luffy leaned over from his spot figurehead, eyes wide and gleaming.
Luffy: "Then it's a mystery island!"
He let out a laugh and jumped to the middle of the ship, everyone immediately knew what he wanted before he even spoke. Nami stomped down the stares annoyed.
Nami: "absolutely not! Any island isn't tracked by the log pose already screams danger! if we dock it'll change our current course!"
Luffy stock his tong out and adjusted his hat, it was obvious he hadn't been dissuaded any from what she said.
Luffy: "it'll be fineeee! What if there's treasure!"
Sanji: "if the navigator says it's trouble, we steer clear you idiot!"
Luffy: "but I'm the captain!"
Admist their arguing, Robin took the time to thoroughly examine the island from what she could currently see, curiosity obvious in her gleeming eyes.
Robin: "Look below the waves, just around the island."
Everyone paused and took a closer look at the island. Whirlpools surrounded every corner of the mysterious island with no gaps, leading for it to be hard to even steer to.
Chopper leaned over the railing, eyes wide, little hooves gripping the wood
Chopper: "They're huge! Those are whirlpools, right? How would we even get close?"
His ears drooped. The idea of sailing straight into one made his stomach twist.
Usopp nearly sagged in relief.
Usopp: "that means we can't! No scary island for adventure today!.. thank god.."
But Nami frowned, noticing something odd.
Nami: "And the island's moving. Look at the current—it's drifting east."
Chopper: "So it's a haunted floating island! Great.. ehh! No way I don't want to dock there!"
Zoro: "A moving island… sounds interesting ."
Nami: "interesting ?! We'll lose our lives!"
Luffy grinned wider.
Luffy: "Let's check it out! Captains orders-just weave through 'em!"
Usopp: "Are you crazy?! It'll wreck the Merry if we try to go through there! We'll drown before we even get close to docking!"
Luffy: "won't know if we don't try!! Nami! Set sail to that island!"
Nami let out a sigh, knowing it would be impossible to change her captains mind, but that sure as hell does not mean she wouldn't try!
Nami: "listen to me! Our ship-"
Before she could even finish her scolding, the air around the boat shifted- and sucked up to one singular point. There, a golden ring with warped insides formed. A collection of shocked- and excited- noises came from the crew, followed by loud streaks.
Usopp: "WAAAH! THE SKY'S RIPPING OPEN WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!"
A round, bell-like laugh rang out from the glow. A small inhuman hand reached out from the ring and touched its edge, then a face came out smiling, with a hint of worry, as its eyes darted around the boat.
Hoopa: "Hoopa's here! Here to borrow your doctor!"
Nami: "WHAT?!"
Luffy: "Whoa! A talking ring!"
Usopp: "That's not normal! That's so not normal!"
Hoopa giggled, and the ring expanded suddenly. It sniffed the air around before its face curved in disgust. "Weird smelling people here!" Its eyes soon laid on chopper who smelled of herbs and medicine, Hoopas eyes lit up quickly.
Hoopa: "found you! Come with me!"
Chopper: "Ehh?! M-me?!"
Before everyone's eyes, a large gold ring appeared under choppers feet. Everyone panicked , calling out to their crewmate as he shrieked. Zoro reacted instantly and unsheved his sword, aiming towards Hoopa.
Chopper: "Ehh?! M-me?!"
Zoro: "like hell he is!"
Hoopa only gave him a glance before its eyes glowed purple. Zoro lunged, blade piercing through the glow—but his body froze mid-swing. Invisible pressure pinned him in place, muscles straining.
Zoro: "the hell?!"
With a flick, Chopper vanished into the ring.
Sanji: "HEY! GIVE HIM BACK!"
Usopp: "IT ATE HIM!"
Luffy: "COOL!"
The ring shrank, hovering above the deck for a moment. Hoopa glanced around for anyone else who could be of use before it made eye contact with luffy, then, it floated into its ring and vanished.
Zoro stumbled forward, released, teeth clenched.
Zoro: "the hell was that?! I couldn't move!"
Sanji: "weak excuse moss head"
Robin: "it seams the little creature ate a devil fruit, teleportation through rings and psychic abilities.. fufu, how interesting."
Nami groaned as she whipped head their direction. Eyes furrowed, she complained
Nami: "is that really the point?! It just snatched choper!"
Usop hugged himself as he pulled out a random cross from who knows where, panicking and shaking.
Usopp: "We're cursed! We're cursed and Chopper's gone and—
Robin: "Calm down. Panic won't help."
Despite the chaos, Luffy's grin stayed firm.
Luffy: "Maybe it took him there! Let's go let's go! Off to explore!!"
Usopp turned to glare at him accusingly while waving his cross.
Usopp: "HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?! YOU JUST WANNA EXPLORE! ITS GOING TO COME BACK AND PICK US OFF ONE BY ONE UNTIL THERES NON OF US LEFT AND- "
Smack!
Nami appeared behind him with her arm held up her face full of fear and annoyance. "STOP SAYING CREEPY THINGS, YOUR SCARING ME"
Her anger turned to her captain as her hands fell on her hips.
Nami: "and you! Even if it took chopper there, how are we supposed to get there it's surrounded by WHIRLPOOLS in case you forgot!"
Luffy's grin didn't falter as he stared at her. "So? Your our navigator get us there!"
Nami blinked, before her face fell to calm with a sigh. Then she smirked.
Nami: "Whatever, Just give me a bit of time I'll get us there! There's no where I can't go!"
Usopp: "wait-wait a minute don't join his side ?!? What if it already ate chopper or something! We're walking straight into a trap!"
Sanji: "trap or not- it took our crewmate!"
Luffy laughed as he sat on the rails. Not an once of worry on his face. "Finally! Let's go explore! Chopper will be fine he's strong! Besides.."
He'd caught something in Hoopa's eyes — worry, not malice. "I'm sure it won't hurt chopper anyways ! It looks friendly."
The crew paused at their captains words, knowing he had a good sense of judgement on most individuals. Then- luffy turned to look back at his with excited eyes. "I'm gonna ask it to join our crew! It looked so cool!"
Nami: "….."
SMACK!
~~~
Chopper landed on the root with a grunt. He let out a quiet shrieking noise before he quickly forced himself up and whipped his head around to survey the area.
Chopper: "what the heck-! These roots are over grown! Why's everything so big?! Wait-"
Chopper paused, a shiver going through him as he remembered what just happened.
Chopper: "WAHHHH TAKE ME BACK RING MONSTER, I DON´T TASTE GOOD I SWEAR!"
He tumbled through brush and dirt, landing face-first in a mess of roots. His panic was interrupted by a splash of water to his face- literally. He blinked and looked up, the first thing he saw was the one who took him, next to it a small creature he had never sene before.
Behind them stood even stranger creatures — some dripping water, others glowing faintly in the dim light, with once having water dripping out its mouth that's the one who sprayed me then he inwardly complained
Chopper: "..? What- what the heck are you?!"
Vaporeon frowned, and glanced over at boundsweet with a nod. "Sweet-boundsweet!" She quickly responded. A nice fragrance filled choppers nose and he quickly calmed down.
A sweet scent wafted over Chopper, calming his trembling hooves before he even realized.
Chopper: "??? …Wha—what was that?
Hoopa grinned and approached the reindeer, pushing him towards the others.
Hoopa: "look! Hoopa brought doctor, he can help Nova!"
Chopper blinked and took in his surroundings once more, his second observation were that besides the one who sprayed him and the small pink creature in front of them, the rest seemed much more on guard especially the little brown fox and the humanoid dog.
Hatena impatiently called out to the others behind her, they shifted out the way giving chopper the view of a pale sickly girl in a long , dirty, ragged dress. His eyes widened as he ran forth
Chopper: "my god! What the heck happened to her!"
Choppers kindhearted nature kicked in as he first checked her pulse, and then her temperature. The pokemon behind him watched closely, some even calming once they saw how he reacted.
Lucario: "luc, Lucario."
It nudged hoopa on its side and quickly pointed to chopper. Hoopa huffed and muttered "hoopa isn't a translator.. Lucario can just speak with telepathy.."
Still, it floated over. Chopper turned, startled.
Chopper: "ah! Y-you! Uhm.. before you took mentioned 'borrowing our ships doctor' is she..?"
Hoopa nodded with a frown,
The Pokémon circled protectively. Despite his nerves, Chopper caught the fear in their faces—their worry was real.
Hoopa: "Hoopa and friends will give you fruit! or the shiny things they got from wrecked boats! Or even fish! Give anything if doctor helps Nova, please?"
Chopper: "!!!"
Chopper's eyes widened, then softened. He waved his hooves quickly.
Chopper: "I don't need anything! What kind of doctor would I be if I didn't help a sick child!"
The Pokémon's face lit up at his words as they let out pleased chips, back away just a bit to give chopper room to work. "Pri.. ina, prima" Primarina leaned in and let out a quiet cry, looking at hoopa to translate it for them.
Hoopa: "Prima says they will gather anything you need to help! Just need to specify!"
Chopper nodded in gratefulness that they would corporate, and quickly got to work.
Chopper Kneeled beside the girl again, tail flicking anxiously as he pressed his small hoof against her forehead.
Chopper: "She's burning up… too warm for someone lying still."
Her skin was hot, dry; sweat beaded on her temple but didn't cool her. He frowned, wiping it away with a damp cloth from his bag. Her breathing came quick, shallow
Chopper: "No fever… but her body's overheated. That's not sickness—it's heatstroke."
He checked her pulse next, small hoof pressed to her wrist. Weak and slow.
Chopper: "And dehydration… no surprise if she's been out here too long."
The Pokemon surrounding them watched in silent concern—Vaporeon's tail flicking anxiously, Boundsweets scent changing rapidly
He stopped, noticing the faint outline of ribs under her clothes. Her arms were slender—too slender. He frowned deeper.
Chopper: "She's… she's starving."
He glanced toward the nearby clearing where half-eaten berries and shells of cracked fruit lay scattered.
Chopper: "She's been eating, but this isn't enough."
He turned to the Pokémon, ears twitching.
Chopper: "Hey, what do you usually feed her?
The Pokémon exchanged looks. Lucario shuffled its paws, pointing to a basket of mostly raw fish
Lucario: "Luc?"
Raichu used psychic and lifted some berries in front of choppers view, its ears flickering excitedly with the thought of Nova getting better if they keep feeding her.
Hoopa: "Hoopa brings food! Lots of it! Berries and shiny fish from the river!"
Chopper blinked.
Chopper: "Just berries and fish? That's it?"
Hoopa brightened a little, proud.
Hoopa: "Yup! Hoopa's a good helper!"
Chopper's tone shifted, more firm now.
Chopper: "That's not enough! She needs more than that—salt, grains, real nutrition! You can't live off just fruit and raw fish, especially not in this heat!"
The Pokémon flinched back at his raised voice. Vaporeon's fins drooped, her tail flattening against the ground. Noibat quickly flew behind Honedge and Lucario.
Hoopa floated back slightly, its expression wavering.
Hoopa: "Hoopa tried… no other food near here. Forest doesn't make more, Hoopa and friends can't leave island.."
Chopper's eyes softened immediately, guilt washing over his frustration.
Chopper: "I… I'm sorry! I didn't mean to yell. "
He looked back down at Nova, brushing damp hair from her forehead.
Chopper: "You've all been doing your best. It's not your fault there's nothing else to eat here."
As chopper started to speak more, Nova silently shifted and let out a groan. The Pokémon's mood shifted as they quickly called out to her. Nova attemped to sit up before chopper quickly called down.
Chopper: "wait a minute! Don't move around to much!"
At its words, eevee quickly jumped onto her lap and attempted to push her back, seeing that his strength did nothing is huffed and glanced to Lucario with a pout. Lucario responded and gently pushed Nova to lay back down.
Her eyes fluttered open, hazy and confused, then landed on Chopper.
Nova: "Who…?"
Chopper smiled softly, ears twitching.
Chopper: "Hi there. Try not to move, okay? I'm Chopper, a doctor. I'm here to help you."
Nova blinked and smiled faintly.
Nova: "Hello, Mr. Doctor… I never met one before."
Chopper: "Never? Aren't there other people here?"
Hoopa: "Nuh uh! Only human here is Nova!"
Chopper's heart sank. He looked back down at her, worry deepening.
Chopper: "well, that explains it. Listen, you just needs more balanced meals, that's all. Real cooking. I'll go get my crewmate—our cook can make you something proper. That'll fix it."
Chopper glanced back at Hoopa
Chopper: "can you take me back to the ship, I'll have to bring my crewmate here and gather some more supplies."
Hoopa nodded after sparing a glance at nova.
Chopper: "Hang on a little longer, okay? I'll be right back."
He gave the Pokémon a small, reassuring smile before standing.
Chopper: "Take care of her while I'm gone. Keep her cool, make sure she drinks water. Got it?"
Raichu gave a firm nod, cheeks sparking faintly again. Vaporeon let out a soft chirp, tail curling protectively near Nova's side.
Chopper: "Hang on a little longer, okay? I'll be right back."
Nova: "understood Mr.doctor! I won't move, pinky promise!"
He turned toward Hoopa, who perked up immediately at his words. But before Hoopa could open one of its rings, a sharp sound split the quiet , the low, metallic shing of a blade.
Honedge floated from behind chopper, ribbon unsheathing its sword-like body. The crimson eye in its hilt glowed faintly as it drifted closer, interposing itself between Chopper and Hoopa.
Honedge: "Honnn…"
It expressed it disagreement, though chopper couldn't understand, he knew it didn't want other humans near Nova
Chopper froze.
Chopper: "H-hey, easy! I'm just going to get help, okay? She needs food—"
Lucario called out from beside Nova, silent and tall, the aura flickering faintly around his paws. His expression was calm but his stance wasn't, it was defensive, ready.
Lucario: "Lucar."
Chopper's fur stood on end at the tension.He backed up a step, hooves raised.
Chopper: "You don't understand! I'm not trying to hurt her! She'll get worse if I don't—"
Nova quickly pushed at Lucario's paw, momentarily making him pause and look at her with a sad look. She glanced over at honedge with a frown, it understood and moved out the way.
Nova: "he's trying to- to cough to help! Don't be rude!"
Hatena: "Hate… na!"
Her little voice trembled, but her glare was unwavering — protective and warning all at once.
Vaporeon suddenly stepped between them, fins flaring, but her stance wasn't aggressive; her eyes were pleading.The water-type hissed softly, giving Chopper a chance to speak.
Chopper took it. He held his hooves up higher, tail low, voice firm but gentle.
Chopper: "Listen! I'm a doctor —
I don't hurt people, I save them! You saw me! I helped her!"
Lucario's ears twitched, his aura flaring briefly as if searching for any trace of deceit. The air grew tense for several long seconds, finally, Lucario's eyes softened slightly.
Lucario: "Rio…"
Seeing Lucario's expression, Honedge quietly floated over and took its place beside nova, its eye closing again in acceptance.
Chopper let out a shaky breath, lowering his hooves slowly.
Chopper: "My crewmates are good people. They won't hurt her, I promise. They'll just help her get better. Please… trust me."
Nova hooded with a shaky breath. "I trust Mr. Doctor, I'll wait."
~~
Nami gritted her teeth, slamming her fist against the rail.
Nami: "That's the third time! The whirlpool just moved! I had a clean current lined up — and it slid right in front of us again!"
Usopp was clutching the mast like his life depended on it, eyes bulging.
Usopp: "I TOLD YOU! It was a bad idea do try and go to the island- we're all doomed!"
Zoro crossed his arms beside him, unimpressed.
Zoro: "Tch. It's just water."
Nami whipped around, veins popping on her forehead.
Nami: "Oh yeah?! Then you try steering through a sea that's literally chasing us!"
Robin looked out across the deck, gaze calm but sharp as ever. The ocean ahead writhed with shimmering swirls, deep blue spirals that pulsed faintly, almost rhythmically, like they were breathing.
Robin: "She's not wrong. The whirlpools… they're moving in patterns. Deliberate ones."
Sanji flicked his cigarette overboard and squinted at the horizon.
Sanji: "Deliberate, huh? So you're saying someone's controlling them?"
Robin: "Yes, it's likely it's one of the inhabitants of the island, maybe they all have abilities like the creature from before."
Nami groaned as she placed her hands on her faces
Nami: "that's not helping! How the hell am I supposed to get us there if the sea itself is blocking us?!"
Luffy: "mystery whirlpools?! That's so cool!"
Usopp: "No it's not! That's terrifying! We're gonna get swallowed whole! You are a devil fruit user, shouldn't you be more worried ?!"
A metallic hum rolled through the air. A golden ring opened above the deck.
Usopp screamed before it even finished forming.
Usopp: "NOT AGAIN—!"
Zoro drew half a blade, eyes narrowing.
Sanji: "If this is the thing that took Chopper—"
Light burst from the ring and two figures shot out — one small, one round.
Chopper: "WAAAAHHH—!"
Hoopa: "Hoopa and doctor are back!"
Hoopa caught Chopper before he could hit the ground, setting him down gently this time.
Hoopa: "Hurry, hurry doctor! We have little time?"
Luffy: "Chopper! You're back!"
Chopper wheezed, stumbling upright before he was snatched and spun around in the air by Luffy.
Luffy: "what was the ring thing like! What happened on the island? Are there monsters, treasure, I wanna go!"
Sanji: "WHAT HAPPENED IS BESIDES THE POINT YOU IDIOT."
Sanji glared at Hoopa who looked unbothered, staring at chopper and Luffy waiting for them o finish whatever they were doing.
Sanji: "what we should be worried about is the thing that took our doctor!"
Hoopa giggled as it spun its rings around on its horn. "You were suprised!"
Chopper wriggled out of Luffy's arms, panting.
Chopper: "L-Luffy! Stop spinning me! I'm gonna—" he wheezes "—throw up!"
Chopper wriggled out of Luffy's arms, panting. Then, he refocused. Chopper took his place in front of hoopa and stretched his arms out. "Wait!"
Chopper: "Hoopas not bad! ..I think? It just needed help! On the island, there's a sick girl hoopa called Nova. She needs a doctor, that's why it took me!"
Nani's eyes narrowed, not buying it at all.
Nami: "that makes no sense! Aren't there any doctors they can turn to without kidnapping them through a ring!?
Chopper: "that's the problem-! There aren't any other people there, it's only her and those.. the uh, creatures? The creatures protecting her, like Hoopa!"
Usopp: "there are more of those cursed things?! And you want to go BACK?! Are you crazy!"
Robin hummed, she approached hoopa with a curious look on her face. "Say Hoopa,"
Robin: "Are you the one creating those whirlpools?
Hoopa blinked and tilted his head at her. "Nuh uh! Those are made by Lugia to keep danger away from the island!"
Luffy's grin stretched wider.
Luffy: "Then we'll just ask it to let us through!"
Nami: "You can't ask the ocean to move, Luffy!"
Sanji: "Danger like… us?"
Hoopa nodded, smiling too cheerfully for comfort.
Hoopa: "Maybe~! If ships come close, whirlpools spin! If danger tries to land—whoosh!—washed away!"
Nami: "You're saying the island defends itself?"
Robin: "More specifically, the one called Lugia defends her."
Usopp: "So that means we can't go near it, right? The sea literally eats everything that gets close!"
Luffy: "But we gotta help her and Hoopa!"
Usopp:"It literally kidnapped Chopper just earlier?!"
Luffy: "Well she can't die! She's Hoopa's friend and I've already decided Hoopa is joining the crew!"
Sanji: "THAT´S NOT HAPPENING."
Chopper: "She needs food—real food! Water, medicine! I promised her I'd come back!"
The conviction in his voice silenced everyone. Even Nami's frustration faltered.
Robin folded her arms on a thoughtful manner.
Robin:"If Lugia reacts to perceived threats, we'd have to convince it we mean no harm."
Zoro: "How? Send a letter?"
Hoopa tilted its head again, watching their argument with visible amusement.
Nami sighed.
Nami: "If the whirlpools move on their own, then we can't sail through. The ship would be torn apart."
Sanji: "So what? We just stay out here and let her die?"
Nami hesitated — because she didn't have an answer.
That's when Hoopa giggled.
Hoopa: "Hoopa can help!"
Every head snapped toward it.
Zoro: "you can move the whirlpools?"
Its grin widened as a massive golden ring expanded above the Merry.
Hoopa: "Hoopa can't move the whirlpools, but Hoopa can move you!"
The deck shuddered as the golden light expanded, swallowing the Merry whole.