"Shut up! Let's go!"
The ropeway climbed steadily toward Drum Rock.
The villagers aboard clutched their weapons, their faces grim with resolve as they stared—or rather, glared—at Drum Castle looming atop the peak.
Among them was Dalton, exhausted but standing on his own, his breath ragged.
"Dalton-san, we're almost there," a villager said.
"Yeah…" Dalton replied, swallowing words he couldn't bring himself to say.
Hide when we reach the castle.
He couldn't say it. Not to these people who had joined him, fully aware of the danger, driven by the same burning hatred for Wapol. If their resolve was united, how could he ask them to stay behind?
I'll protect them.
Abandoning the idea of sending them away, Dalton swore this to himself with fierce determination.
His eyes blazed with resolve, mirrored in the villagers' gazes. Not one among them was a coward who'd flee now. They were here for their country's future, united in their defiance of Wapol's tyranny. No one spoke, their silence a testament to their conviction.
The ropeway entered a gaping hole in Drum Rock, infiltrating the castle's interior. They reached the station.
The villagers disembarked, some lending a shoulder to the struggling Dalton as they prepared to charge. They ascended the stairs, opened the entrance, and emerged on the castle's flank, out of sight from the main gate. Unless guards were posted, they'd likely go unnoticed.
Cautiously, they climbed the steps and paused at the entrance. Dalton, their leader, would give the signal to attack. Noticing their expectant gazes, he nodded sharply.
A button was pressed, and the entrance slid open, revealing a snow-filled sky. The group surged forward.
They rushed into the snowy expanse, immediately raising their guns to scan for threats. Despite their inexperience, they moved as a unit, covering every direction.
But no one was there. No guards. No Wapol. No Mushul.
The villagers exchanged wary glances. Dalton, emerging moments later, shared their confusion. Why was it so quiet?
Were the enemies inside? Just then, something approached from the castle's rear.
"Someone's coming!" a villager shouted.
"It's not human!"
"Stop right there! What are you doing here?"
The villagers aimed their rifles in unison.
Startled by their presence, Chopper froze, his small frame trembling under their gaze. His bizarre appearance—neither fully animal nor human—shocked the villagers, just as their pointed guns terrified him.
"Hey, stop! Put the guns down—now!" Dalton yelled.
"Why, Dalton-san—"
"Just do it! He's not an enemy!"
A bad feeling gripped Dalton, alongside a flicker of recognition. He waved his arms, halting the villagers. None disobeyed. The rifles lowered, and the immediate threat passed, though the villagers remained on edge.
Chopper, breathing heavily from tension, stood rooted, staring at them.
Pushing through the crowd, Dalton stepped forward. He studied Chopper, his expression distinct from the others' fear.
He knew him.
Years ago, when Dr. Hiruluk died, this creature had appeared, tears streaming as he clenched his fists. Back then, Dalton, a guard captain, had confronted him to protect the king. They hadn't crossed paths since, but now, seeing him again, Dalton felt a stir of emotion.
"You're…" he began.
"There you are!" Luffy's voice boomed as he sprinted toward Chopper.
Chopper whipped around, focusing solely on Luffy.
"You again?! You're relentless!" Chopper shouted.
"You keep running, that's why!" Luffy shot back.
"I'm not joining your crew!"
"No way!"
"Huh?!"
"I've decided you're joining us!"
"That's absurd! I don't care!"
Chopper bolted, desperate to escape, pouring every ounce of strength into his flight. The villagers, their guns, everything else faded from his mind.
The villagers stood dumbfounded, watching the sudden chase unfold, unable to process what was happening.
"Wait! Join my crew!" Luffy yelled.
"Gahhh!" Chopper screamed.
"Hey—" Dalton started, reaching out.
"Huh? Oh, old man! What're you doing here?" Luffy skidded to a stop, kicking up snow, and grinned at Dalton.
Dalton, bewildered, asked cautiously, "You made it here safely? Your crew's okay?"
"Yeah, a doctor checked 'em out. That reindeer back there," Luffy said.
"Reindeer… right, he's the one from back then…" Dalton murmured.
"So, what're you guys doing here?" Luffy asked.
"Oh, right." Dalton snapped back to focus. "Have you seen Wapol or Mushul here?"
"Nope. Those guys—Annoying-Mouth and Mushroom? They're gone. I sent 'em flying."
The villagers erupted in murmurs. Their targets, Wapol and Mushul, weren't here? And Luffy had defeated them? It was hard to believe.
Dalton forced himself to stay calm, his mind racing. Was Luffy telling the truth? That's all he needed to know. Scanning the area, he saw no sign of Wapol or Mushul. Luffy and his crew seemed unbothered, free of any fear of danger. It might be true.
"Is it… really true? Wapol's threat is gone?" Dalton asked.
"Yup. I blasted 'em somewhere far off," Luffy said with a confident laugh.
Silence fell. Even the skeptics began to accept it. Then, a roar of cheers erupted. The villagers believed Luffy, their voices echoing with newfound freedom.
Luffy, not fully grasping their joy, grinned at the lively atmosphere. Dalton, however, didn't smile. Stunned, he processed the news. How had Luffy won? How were they unharmed? Words piled up, but one thought overpowered them all. Tears welled as he sank to his knees, bowing to Luffy.
"I'm sorry… and thank you. We'll never forget this," Dalton said, his gratitude carrying unspoken feelings for the one who'd just left—Chopper.
"Dalton-san…" a villager whispered.
"Drum will change. No—we'll make it change. With our own hands."
A few tears fell into the snow, sparking a fire in the villagers' hearts. They joined Dalton, bowing and shouting their thanks, the air alive with noise.
"Thanks, Straw Hat! We owe you!"
"We won't forget this!"
"Even if Wapol comes back, we won't let this happen again!"
"We'll protect our country!"
Luffy soaked in their joy, grinning like a kid, utterly pleased.
"Shishishi—oh, right! Gotta get Chopper to join. See ya, old man!" Luffy dashed off, chasing Chopper again.
"Hey—" Dalton called, but Luffy was gone. Perplexed, he watched him go, relieved the crisis had passed. His expression softened.
Then, Dr. Kureha appeared, addressing the cheering villagers. "Sorry to interrupt, but you're wasting your time. Wapol's gone, and so's his brother Mushul. That kid took 'em both out."
"Dr. Kureha, when did you—" Dalton started.
"Come on, let's get to work. Everyone, follow me," she said with a wicked grin.
The villagers, familiar with her demanding nature, complied despite their confusion.
Nearby, Luffy circled to the castle's front, scanning for Chopper. He'd lost him while talking to Dalton. Their speeds were similar, but once Chopper got away, he was hard to find.
"Damn it, where'd he go? Why won't he join?" Luffy muttered, frustrated.
"There you are!" a voice called.
"Luffy!" another shouted.
"Huh?" Luffy turned, beaming as Zoro, Usopp, and Nami emerged from the castle's front door, bundled in winter gear. Nami moved steadily, clearly recovering.
"Zoro! Usopp! Why're you guys here?" Luffy asked, thrilled.
"We followed after you passed out," Usopp said.
"Heard you got poisoned. You look fine, though," Zoro added.
"Chopper fixed me up," Luffy replied.
"You're moving that fast already? Nami's not even fully healed," Usopp said.
"Don't compare me to him. I'm the normal one," Nami huffed, pouting.
Zoro and Usopp chuckled, while Nami's expression betrayed her mock indignation. They could return to their ship now, but Luffy stopped them.
"Wait, guys. Chopper's still running."
"Still? Maybe your approach is the problem," Nami said.
"You're basically hunting him," Zoro added.
"He probably thinks he's emergency food," Usopp quipped.
"I'm not gonna eat him! …Okay, I thought about it a little," Luffy admitted.
"You what?! Stop that!" Usopp yelled.
"No wonder he's running," Nami sighed.
Zoro shrugged, smirking. "No idea what's going on, but if he's fleeing, convincing him won't be easy. Can you pull it off?"
"I will. You guys see that?" Luffy pointed to the castle's peak, where a Jolly Roger with cherry blossoms fluttered in the wind. "That's Chopper's flag. He knows what it means to be a pirate. He fought for it with his life. He's gotta want this."
"Sure, but he's still running. Sounds like wishful thinking," Usopp said.
"No way! He's a pirate!" Luffy insisted.
"Here we go again," Usopp muttered.
"He's not budging," Nami said, mock-praying.
The trio reacted differently—Usopp exasperated, Zoro amused, Nami theatrical—but all felt sympathy for Chopper.
Then Zoro noticed something and pointed subtly. Chopper stood in the open, no longer hiding, facing them with a calm, resolute expression.
Luffy grinned, but the others sensed tension. This wasn't the vibe of someone ready to join. It felt like a rejection.
As Luffy stepped forward, Chopper spoke quietly, his demeanor far from the panicked creature who'd fled moments ago.
"Chopper! Join my crew!" Luffy called.
"Don't you have any other pitch?" Usopp muttered.
"I can't go with you," Chopper said firmly.
"No way! It'll be fun!" Luffy pressed.
"That makes no sense!"
Luffy's relentless enthusiasm persisted, and Usopp interjected occasionally, but Chopper's expression didn't waver. Then, his face tightened, teeth clenched, and he raised his voice, trembling.
"I'm a reindeer! I've got horns, hooves… a blue nose! I'm not even human! I'm a monster! I can't be your friend! So… I came to say thank you!"
His words spilled out in a desperate shout, and he looked down, his voice softening, tinged with loneliness. "I'm grateful… for inviting me."
He looked up at Luffy, his forced smile barely holding back tears. The others saw it—a facade hiding his true feelings. No one called it out.
Luffy stared at him, unwavering.
"I'll stay here, but maybe someday, if you feel like it, come back—"
"Shut up!! Let's go!!!"
Luffy's shout cut through, his fist raised, voice echoing as if to shatter Chopper's doubts.
The trio smirked—it was cruder than their own recruitments, but they couldn't fault him. Chopper's reaction told them why.
Tears welled in his eyes, spilling over. He'd been torn—wanting to join but fearing he'd be a burden, a monster among humans. He'd hidden his longing to avoid rejection. But Luffy's words obliterated his hesitation.
Tears streamed down as Chopper raised a trembling arm, mirroring Luffy, and let out a raw, wordless cry.
"Ugh… ooooh!!!"
It wasn't coherent, but to those present, it was clear—a declaration of will. In that moment, a new crewmate was born.
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