At the midpoint of a white-rock mountain, a jagged circular clearing buzzed with activity. Animals gathered in a ring, their eyes fixed on the new "king" dressed in tattered, noble-like clothing Mobambie had provided. Chopper, visibly confused, looked down at his outfit—neither regal nor impressive.
The frayed pirate flag was draped around his neck like a cape. A crown sat awkwardly atop his pink hat, which he certainly didn't love.
"Why do I have to wear this…?" Chopper muttered.
"You're the new Animal King!" Mobambie said, beaming. "You've gotta dress the part."
His overly familiar tone puzzled Chopper, who had no clue what was happening. Tilting his head, he asked, "Animal King?"
"That's you! You were chosen by the Selector Bird to be this island's king, right?"
"The Selector Bird… you mean that giant bird from before?"
"Exactly! It's protected this island forever. The animal it chooses becomes our king. That means you're the new Animal King!"
"Animal King? No way, that's not me," Chopper said softly.
Shock rippled through Mobambie and the surrounding animals, their eyes wide.
"What do you mean, not you? You were chosen by the Selector Bird!" Mobambie pressed.
"I wasn't chosen. I was sailing with my crew when that bird grabbed me. I don't even know why I'm here. I'm no Animal King."
"Then—" Mobambie faltered.
"I'm a pirate," Chopper declared.
"A pirate?!" Mobambie gasped, stumbling back. The animals retreated, fear in their eyes.
Why were they so terrified? Confused again, Chopper tilted his head as Karasuke, the crow, shouted angrily, "You jerk! Pretending to be the Animal King as a pirate?! Don't mess with us!"
"What's wrong with everyone? Why are you so mad?" Chopper asked.
"Pirates aren't allowed here! Or humans! We thought you were the Animal King because the Selector Bird brought you. What are you planning?!" Karasuke demanded.
"Wait, I was brought here against my will. I'm not planning anything—"
"Liar, Chopper! You're not a pirate, right? You're the next Animal King! The Selector Bird wouldn't pick you otherwise. You're just confused," Mobambie pleaded.
"But I'm telling you—"
Their anger, tears, and assumptions overwhelmed Chopper, leaving him speechless. The animals' disappointment was palpable—they'd built up expectations without explanation, and now felt let down. It was rude, but Chopper grasped the situation: a misunderstanding. Still, he felt guilty.
Mobambie's shoulders slumped, his enthusiasm crushed. Having welcomed Chopper so warmly, his disappointment cut deeper, tugging at Chopper's heart. Still in the absurd outfit, Chopper asked, "If I'm not the Animal King, is that really such a big problem?"
"Yeah…" Mobambie said, voice low. "Our king died, so there's no one to protect the island. The Forest Guardians are trying, but they're struggling against the humans who came here."
"Why are humans a problem?"
"This is an animal kingdom. Humans have always been forbidden. They kill or eat our kind. Kirinlion used to drive them out, but…"
"So Kirinlion was the Animal King," Chopper said.
"Yeah… he was a kind king," Mobambie replied, looking down sadly.
The animals mirrored his grief, their reverence for Kirinlion clear. The heavy air spoke volumes. Death was never easy, and Chopper's own face grew somber.
"Are you really not the Animal King? Even though the Selector Bird chose you?" Mobambie asked.
"No, I'm not. I'm not lying. I'm a pirate, and I can't be your king," Chopper insisted.
"Why become a pirate? Why join them?!" Mobambie cried.
"You hate pirates…?" Chopper asked, sensing the boy's clenched fists and angry expression weren't aimed at him but at pirates in general.
Mobambie's gaze dropped, his voice trembling. "I hate pirates… They take what's precious, kill without care, thoughtless and cruel."
"Sure, some are like that, but not all of them," Chopper said.
"Chopper, you don't fit as a pirate. You're an animal who speaks human language. Stay here, live with us. Be our Animal King and protect us," Mobambie urged.
"I can't do that," Chopper replied.
"Please. Without a new Animal King, humans will ruin this island. Even now, outsiders are hurting our elders and friends."
Chopper's expression shifted at Mobambie's desperate plea.
"Hurting? What's happening on this island?" he asked.
"Humans from outside are controlling strange animals, attacking ours. They're insanely strong. Even the Forest Guardians can't stop them," Mobambie explained.
"I couldn't beat them either. I'm not that strong…" Chopper said.
"No way! You're the Animal King!" Mobambie insisted, clenching his fists, the animals nodding in agreement.
Chopper sensed something off. Their faith in the "Animal King" was intense—almost fanatical. They believed the king guaranteed victory and safety, a strange conviction that felt wrong. It wasn't mere devotion; it was a warped worldview.
A king alone didn't make a nation. Chopper, shaped by Dr. Kureha's teachings and his homeland's struggles, vaguely understood what a country should be. Their words didn't reflect love for their nation but echoed Wapol's selfish mindset.
Instinctively, Chopper stepped back, a chill of fear running through him.
Unaware of his unease, Mobambie stepped closer, smiling with unshakable certainty. "With you here, we'll be fine," his expression said, as if it were an absolute truth. The animals shared this reliance on the Animal King.
"Quit being a pirate and become our king. You're chosen, so you must be strong. You can drive them out, bring peace—"
"That's not right," Chopper interrupted.
Kind-hearted, he didn't want to hurt them, but he couldn't stay silent. "Chopper…?" Mobambie faltered.
"Here, take these back. I shouldn't have them," Chopper said, shedding the clothes and crown, placing them on the ground. The pirate flag around his neck—precious to his crew—stayed. He adjusted his hat, resolute.
Mobambie looked stunned, his voice shaking. "Why take them off? I prepared them to make you look like a king!"
"I told you, I'm not becoming a king."
"Why not?! You were chosen! You're qualified!"
"I didn't ask to be. I was kidnapped and told to be king. That's not how you choose one. You're wrong about this."
"We're not wrong! This is how the island's always been protected!" Mobambie protested.
"Then choose a king from your animals. I have to go back to my crew," Chopper said, turning to scan the vast island for the Merry. The sea was distant, the ship's location unclear.
Facing away, he spoke to Mobambie, unable to ignore his concern for these animals. "The king of my homeland was selfish, greedy, not fit to be called a king."
Mobambie blinked, caught off guard by the sudden topic, listening silently to Chopper's back.
"He banished doctors, hoarded medicine, mocked the suffering, and fled first when pirates attacked. The worst kind of person," Chopper continued.
"You've had it rough too, huh? But you won't face that here," Mobambie said.
"I always wished for a better king. But Doctorine said a good king alone doesn't make a good country."
"What do you mean? A good king makes a good country, right? When Kirinlion was king, we were happy. He drove off enemies, solved our problems. That's a happy country—"
"Is it really?" Chopper turned, meeting Mobambie's eyes earnestly. "I've always wondered what a king is, what a happy country is. Doctorine taught me: a good king isn't enough. Kind citizens alone aren't enough either. Only when king and people work hand in hand does a country become happy."
"King and people, hand in hand…?" Mobambie echoed.
"One side alone won't do. A king needs trustworthy comrades to do anything."
That was the answer Chopper had reached after years of reflection, shaped by his homeland's woes and Hiruluk's dreams of saving it. He'd asked Kureha countless questions, seeking his own truth.
Hearing their words, he felt certain: comrades were essential. Struggling alone wouldn't bring happiness—trustworthy allies did.
Chopper's eyes held no doubt, only resolve. Mobambie, meeting that gaze, faltered, stepping back as if afraid.
"I want to help, but my crew's worried. I have to go back. I can't be a king—I have precious pirate comrades," Chopper said.
"Ah…" Mobambie gasped.
Chopper walked away, feeling guilty for his harsh words but hoping they'd spark change. The island's people had to evolve for their nation to thrive. Hardening his heart, he resolved to leave it to them.
As he pondered how to descend the mountain, Mobambie's shout stopped him. "Wait… wait! We want to fix things too! We know we can't just rely on someone else!"
Chopper turned, seeing Mobambie glare at the ground. Despite his resolve to stay firm, his feet wouldn't move, fixed on the boy's anguished expression.
"We're powerless… Human weapons are too strong. So many friends have died or been taken. We don't know what to do. Kirinlion always saved us, but now he's gone…"
"Mobambie…" Chopper murmured.
"Without an Animal King, we couldn't survive here! The Animal King kept us alive! I don't know about other countries, but we need one!" Mobambie shouted, voice raw.
He rushed forward, grabbing Chopper's hand and pulling him in the opposite direction. "Come on!"
"Where are we going?!" Chopper asked.
"I want to show you something!"
Mobambie dragged him down the mountain into the forest, moving without hesitation. Chopper stayed silent, sensing the boy's urgency in his determined profile. Stopping him felt wrong.
They reached a dilapidated wreck—a small boat, barely intact, with a single roofed room. Inside, collapsed walls and scattered debris painted a grim picture. Long abandoned, it was a relic unfit for use.
"This…?" Chopper said.
"My ship," Mobambie replied. "I washed up on this island in it."
He stared at the wreck, speaking quietly. "I was sailing with my dad when pirates attacked one stormy night. They killed him. I was too scared to do anything."
"Pirates…?" Chopper echoed.
"Yeah…"
"I know I have to be stronger," Mobambie said, touching the scar on his chest—a mark from that night. The trauma of witnessing his father's death as a child wasn't easy to bear.
Chopper, knowing the pain of loss, furrowed his brow, unable to see it as someone else's problem. "I'm scared too… Fighting, dying, losing friends—it's terrifying. I don't want to fight if I can avoid it. This is my first time off my island, and everything's scary."
"You too, Chopper?" Mobambie asked.
"Yeah. But meeting Luffy and the others changed things," Chopper said, smiling gently. Mobambie's eyes widened. "Being scared doesn't change anything. But if you face it with courage, it's surprisingly fun. I was terrified at first, but now I'm glad I became a pirate."
"But pirates…"
"Not all are bad. Luffy's crew are good pirates."
"Good and bad pirates?" Mobambie asked skeptically.
"I don't know, but Luffy's crew is safe. They fight, sure, but they don't hurt people needlessly. They're kind."
"I see…" Mobambie trailed off, then looked up with intensity. "But you're an animal! Why stay with humans? This island's full of animals, some even rarer than you. We're your friends too, right? Quit being a pirate and live with us."
"I can't…" Chopper said, struggling to respond to Mobambie's fervent plea. His resolve was firm, but finding the right words was hard.
In that quiet moment, an eerie voice cut through. "Finally found it… his ship."
Chopper and Mobambie spun toward the forest, where a voice laced with malice echoed. Likely from beyond the trees, close but unseen. Bracing themselves, they scanned the woods warily.
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