Hours after leaving Drum Island, night gave way to a new morning.
As usual, the crew's all-night revelry left them unfazed, their toughness a habit by now. Already awake, they bustled about the ship, each in their own world.
Nami, too, was up, sitting on her bed in the women's cabin.
Chopper stood on a chair beside her, checking her temperature. Examining the thermometer, he nodded with a smile.
"All good. Your fever's gone. You're in the clear," he said.
"Really? Finally back to normal!" Nami beamed.
"Don't push it, though. Relapse is possible if you're careless," Chopper warned.
"Got it. Thanks, Chopper."
Nami stretched her arms forward, grinning with relief. Free from bedrest, her joy was palpable.
Chopper, chuckling wryly, packed his medical tools into his rucksack with practiced efficiency. Lacking a proper storage space, he managed everything himself. Slinging the bag over his shoulder, he stood on the chair, his face brighter and more endearing than when they'd first met.
The thrill of setting sail seemed to light him up. The realization that he was a real pirate fueled his infectious smile. Nami, watching fondly, shared his enthusiasm despite her concern.
"Like Luffy, you're pretty tough, Nami. I thought it'd take longer for your fever to break," Chopper said.
"Am I? Don't lump me with him, though," Nami teased.
"Still, take it easy for a few days, okay?"
"Understood. I'm a good patient, so don't worry."
Nami's playful shrug drew a sigh from Chopper, who shook his head. "Luffy never listens, no matter how many times I tell him to rest…"
"That's just how he is. You'll have your hands full, but hang in there," Nami said.
"Yeah… you're right. I'm the ship's doctor now. I'll do my best!" Chopper clenched his tiny fists, his earnestness shining through.
His dedication was clear. Unlike some of his crewmates, he approached every task with seriousness—a trait likely born from finally finding companions. Whatever hardships he'd faced before, his eyes now sparkled with hope for the future.
"I'm heading to the deck. Zoro and Silk won't stay put either," Chopper said.
"That's how most of us are. It's gonna be a lot," Nami warned.
"I know… but that's okay. I'm having fun!" His voice bounced with excitement as he left the room.
As the door closed, Nami rose and headed to the closet. Shedding her pajamas, she chose slightly thicker clothes to pamper herself, then stepped onto the deck. The breeze hit her, and the sunlight on the Merry felt glorious after days confined.
Surveying the deck, she saw the usual chaos. Everyone did as they pleased—some rested, others played. Near the mainmast, Luffy and Silk sat chatting with Chopper. At the bow, Sanji, Usopp, Zoro, Kiri, and Karoo played cards in a circle. The lively hum wasn't loud, just joyful.
The kitchen door opened, and Vivi emerged with Igaram, both carrying trays of juice glasses. Spotting Nami, Vivi smiled warmly.
"Nami-san, feeling better?" she asked.
"Yup. Got Chopper's seal of approval," Nami replied.
"Nami's back!" Usopp cheered.
"Naaaami-swaaan!" Sanji swooned.
"Ready to eat meat again?" Luffy called.
"Look, I don't care about meat as much as you do," Nami shot back, smirking at the warm welcome. This was how it should be. She was tired of being a burden or cooped up alone. Being among her carefree crew felt right, especially after her absence.
Vivi laughed beside her, then held up the tray. "Everyone, want to take a break? We brought juice."
"Vivi-chan made it?!" Sanji gushed.
"Not for you," Igaram snapped.
"Sanji, your face is a mess," Usopp said.
"It always is," Zoro quipped.
"Shut up, you idiots! I don't need your commentary! Vivi-chwaaan, I'll gladly take some!" Sanji cried.
"I'll handle Sanji-san," Igaram said sternly.
"You again?!" Sanji groaned.
Igaram distributed juice to the card players with a scowl, while Vivi handed glasses to Nami, Luffy, Silk, and Chopper. No formal toast—just sips and thanks.
"This is awesome, Vivi. Thanks," Luffy said.
"It's nothing. I can't do much else," Vivi replied modestly.
"That's not true. You looking out for us helps a ton," Silk said, tipping her glass.
Vivi blushed. "That's… I'm glad if it's true."
"It is. You're one of us," Silk assured her.
Vivi's face brightened, warmed by the acceptance. She didn't argue.
Meanwhile, Chopper and Luffy moved to the railing, gazing at the ship cutting through the waves. For Chopper, it was his first voyage, his first ship. His eyes gleamed with wonder.
"Ships are so cool! How don't they sink?" Chopper asked.
"They're ships, duh," Luffy said.
"Do ships never sink?"
"Of course not! If they did, we couldn't be pirates!"
"Right!" Chopper nodded, satisfied.
Their carefree chat went uninterrupted, Luffy's half-baked explanation unchallenged. Chopper's joy was evident—his first time leaving Drum Island, everything was new. The clear sky, free of snow, felt refreshing.
He glanced from the sea to the sky. The cloudless blue captivated him, his curiosity boundless. He wanted a higher vantage point. Spotting the mainmast, he decided to climb.
"Luffy, can I go up the mast?" he asked.
"Go for it. You don't need my permission to explore the Merry," Luffy said.
"I'm climbing up!" Chopper handed his half-empty glass to Silk. "Hold this. I'll be careful!"
"You got it!" Silk said.
With a spring in his step, Chopper scaled the ropes, aiming for the crow's nest. The trio watched him go. The card players, half-focused on their game, noticed too.
"Chopper's loving it," Usopp said.
"He's never left his island. Everything's new," Zoro replied.
"Doubt," Kiri called.
"Damn it," Sanji cursed, collecting the cards.
Karoo played a card, and Usopp spoke again. "How old's Chopper, in human years?"
"No clue. Don't know any reindeer," Zoro said.
"He seems like a kid," Sanji added.
"Doubt," Kiri said.
"Tch—" Zoro grabbed the cards.
Kiri kept calling bluffs, reducing her hand. Usopp, annoyed, changed the subject. "Kiri, you're doubting everyone! And you're winning!"
"I'm good at this," Kiri said.
"You're a liar too. And Karoo's outplaying us…" Usopp muttered.
"Quack!" Karoo chirped.
"We're worse than a duck?" Sanji grumbled.
"This sucks," Zoro said.
Zoro and Sanji's hands grew, Usopp's stayed even, while Kiri and Karoo thrived. The game revealed their quirks—Kiri and Usopp's cunning, Zoro and Sanji's bad luck. Luffy, when he played, ignored rules entirely.
As they played, Chopper reached the crow's nest. The sky felt closer, yet still vast. He leaned forward, awestruck.
"Wow… the sky and sea are huge!" he marveled.
It was nothing like Drum Island. No land in sight, just endless ocean and sky. Hiruluk's words rang true: the sea was vast, humbling. Chopper understood why he'd been told to explore the world.
He was finally at sea.
Overjoyed, he looked up at the mainmast's peak. A black flag flapped in the wind, its straw-hat skull marking them as pirates—his pirates. A strange thrill washed over him, like a rebirth.
"Pirates, huh…" he murmured, his smile fading into a serious gaze.
He felt no fear, only curiosity and hope. He'd hone his doctoring skills as a pirate, aiming to become a cure-all—for Hiruluk, for his crew. His resolve strengthened.
Then, a shadow loomed. Something massive hovered above. Chopper looked up, spotting a giant bird—five meters long, with vibrant feathers and a crooked beak. A species he'd never seen. His jaw dropped, too stunned to speak.
The crew below noticed too, their shouts tinged with alarm.
"What the hell?! A huge bird?!" Usopp yelled.
"So cool!" Luffy exclaimed.
"What is that?! Is it attacking us?!" Nami cried.
Zoro and Sanji looked up, but Kiri stayed focused on the cards. "Big, huh."
"Could feed us for days. Maybe one with Luffy around," Sanji mused.
"King," Kiri said.
"Doubt," Zoro called.
"Crap," Kiri muttered, taking the cards.
"Focus, you idiots!" Usopp snapped.
"Quack?!" Karoo squawked.
Despite the threat, Chopper grinned, his adventurer's spirit ignited. He waved at the bird. "Hey! Where you going? Is there an island nearby?"
The bird glanced at him, lowering its altitude. Chopper kept waving, undeterred.
"Hey—" he started.
Suddenly, the bird's talons snatched him, lifting him effortlessly.
"GAAAH!" Chopper screamed.
"It's eating Chopper!" Usopp shouted.
"Chopper!" Nami cried.
Desperately, Chopper grabbed the pirate flag, but the bird's pull tore it from the mast. He was whisked away, the Merry shrinking below as the crew panicked.
No warning, no provocation—just a sudden abduction. Letting it go was too dangerous.
Luffy stretched his arm instantly, aiming for Chopper, not the bird. His goal was rescue. The card players sprang up, Kiri barking orders as Usopp grabbed his slingshot. The bird's size demanded teamwork, and they didn't hesitate.
"Chopper! What're you doing to my crew?!" Luffy roared.
"Usopp, snipe it!" Kiri ordered.
"Got it!" Usopp replied.
Luffy's arm shot out, but the bird dodged with a sudden twist. His hand grasped air, retracting uselessly.
Usopp, stunned, hadn't expected evasion. The bird's speed matched Luffy's. Aiming his slingshot at its wing—its weak point—he fired.
"Special Attack: Explosive Star!"
The bird spun, dodging the projectile with eerie precision. It evaded both attacks unscathed, flying faster than the Merry toward its destination.
Every move was dodged with minimal effort. Usopp gaped, shaken.
Kiri, sensing trouble, had crafted a paper bird. The only one able to fly, he prepared to pursue. "Luffy, let's chase it. We're too far to hit."
"Got it!" Luffy said.
"What's with that thing?! How's it dodging?!" Usopp yelled.
"It's not normal. Smarter than Luffy, maybe," Kiri said.
"Hey, that's rude!" Luffy protested.
"Less talking, more chasing!" Nami snapped.
Kiri's paper bird took flight, Luffy clinging to its back. They pursued, the Merry fading behind. The bird wasn't blazingly fast—its size slowed it—but catching up wasn't easy. Kiri's ability, though not built for speed, closed the gap slightly.
Luffy cracked his knuckles, ready to grab Chopper. "Hold on, Chopper! I'm coming!"
"Luffy! Help!" Chopper wailed.
Luffy's arm stretched again, but the bird swerved, dodging effortlessly. It seemed to anticipate attacks from blind spots. Luffy and Kiri grimaced.
"Damn it, dodged again!" Luffy cursed.
"No chance of hitting it like this," Kiri said. "Wait for an opening. Look."
"An island?" Luffy noticed.
"It's heading there. Maybe its nest. It'll slip up eventually."
"Got it."
They paused the aerial assault, focusing on pursuit. An island loomed ahead—the bird's destination. They'd strike when it landed or slowed. Speeding up, they narrowed the gap, but the bird maintained its lead. Chopper's screams echoed.
As they neared the island, the bird suddenly turned, facing them. Its calm eyes belied an aggressive intent. Luffy and Kiri tensed, reacting instantly.
"Luffy, intercept!" Kiri shouted.
"Gum-Gum Pistol!" Luffy's fist shot forward, aiming for the bird's face.
Still clutching Chopper, the bird spun, dodging. Luffy's arm whipped past as the bird charged, following the arm's path.
Kiri swung his arm, making the paper bird dive. Folding its wings, it vanished from the bird's sight. Luffy nearly fell, but Kiri grabbed his clothes, dodging the charge. Spotting Chopper, dizzy from the spins, they prepared to strike. They didn't need to defeat the bird—just save Chopper.
The bird's movements grew bolder, its speed daunting. Though less agile due to its size, a direct hit would be devastating. Kiri, handling evasion, couldn't relax for a second.
"It's reading us perfectly…" Kiri muttered.
"One more try!" Luffy growled.
"No use. It'll dodge. I'll distract it—you grab Chopper."
As they circled, maintaining distance, the paper bird jolted, struck from below. Both gaped, Kiri especially shocked. The impact felt like a cannon blast, tearing bits of paper and warping the bird's shape.
"What was that?!" Luffy yelled.
"An attack! But from where?!" Kiri replied.
Another jolt hit, something colliding from below. They couldn't block it, and the attacker matched their evasive moves perfectly. Each hit peeled more paper, threatening the bird's form.
The giant bird swooped again. Luffy, spotting it, shouted, "Kiri, watch out!"
"Hold on!" Kiri grabbed Luffy, dismantling the paper bird. Gathering the scattered sheets, he formed a shield. The bird's beak slammed into it, hardened to avoid piercing but unable to absorb the force. They were sent tumbling through the air.
The impact missed them directly, but reforming the paper bird was impossible. They plummeted, paper fluttering, toward the island's forest.
"Luffy! Kiri!" Chopper's anguished cry rang out.
Unable to save him, they couldn't regroup midair. They vanished into the trees, obscured from Chopper's view.
Helpless, Chopper was carried toward the island's center. The bird had a clear purpose.
Peering down, Chopper saw countless animals gathered around rocky cliffs. Were there people too? Before he could process it, the bird released him. With a scream, he plummeted toward the island.
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