"Hmm..."
Chopper's voice lowered even more, "From a very young age, I became neither like a reindeer nor like a human... Everyone said I was a monster. Later, when I learned how to read, I found out that I had accidentally eaten the legendary Devil Fruit, which turned me into this detestable form..."
So it was the Devil Fruit?
Robin finally understood. All along, she had been pondering whether this little reindeer was from the Fur Race and why on earth it had ended up here...
"To be accurate, it's the Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit."
Shano suddenly spoke up, "You've suffered a lot because of this fruit, haven't you?"
Chopper instinctively nodded.
"I can kind of guess the specific situation."
Shano crouched down, patting Chopper's head gently, "You were rejected by your herd when you were a reindeer, and driven away by humans when you became humanoid... This double loneliness must be painful, right?"
His warm and strong hand made Chopper unconsciously relax his tense body.
"But hey, little fellow."
Shano gazed into those moist big eyes, "This pain isn't the fruit's fault, nor yours. The fault lies in those narrow views, in the ignorant prejudices of this secluded Winter Island."
"You know? On the sea, Devil Fruits are treasured by countless people, a gift signifying you're a fortunate one favored by fate. So many are envious and jealous..."
He suddenly burst into laughter:
"Of course, although I don't know what effect a Human-Human Fruit has on an ordinary person, but anyway..."
He poked Chopper's forehead.
"Look at you now; if you were just an ordinary reindeer, would I say so much to you? Even if I did, you wouldn't understand, right? You can feel emotions, understand human feelings, even learn how to heal and pursue your dreams... Aren't these all gifts the fruit gave you?"
Chopper dumbly looked up, meeting Shano's smiling eyes.
— Those eyes had no pity, no false comfort, and no fear, only pure appreciation and sincerity.
Just like... just like when Dr. Hiluluk was still alive, the way he looked at him.
"Fortunate one favored by fate?"
Chopper softly repeated the phrase, lowered his head, and his hoof unconsciously rubbed the snowy ground, "I... me, such a monster... Do I really deserve such a description?"
"Why are you still seeing yourself as a monster, idiot!"
Shano pinched Chopper's cheeks, forcibly lifting his gaze: "When it comes down to it, you can just switch between being a human and a reindeer, that's all, what's the big deal!"
"If that makes you a monster, my ship is full of such monsters—ones that turn into smoke, flames, unleash thunder and lightning. And we just added one more, look..."
He turned his head.
Robin smiled slightly and raised her hand to activate her ability.
Suddenly, arms sprouted from behind her head and on her body, startling the little reindeer with a "Waaah!"
"A monster!!" Chopper hid behind Shano, fearfully eyeing Robin.
"I'm one too!"
An eerie laugh came from overhead, and Chopper, bewildered, looked up to find the once-kind-and-warm gentleman had somehow morphed into a four-meter-tall muscle-bound monster.
"...Uh, ah..."
Chopper's mouth fell open wide, his whole body shaking violently as if about to faint.
"Don't scare it too much," Robin reminded.
"Got it, got it."
Shano's voice suddenly returned to normal, and with a light pop, he instantly reverted to his original delicate, youthful form.
"See? It's all a trick~"
He cheerfully spread his hands, "Just a little trick of Life Return, so now do you feel your ability isn't that significant?"
Chopper stared blankly at the shape-shifting guy, his blue nose twitching, his eyes gradually reddening.
He turned to look at Robin—the elegant lady retracting her extra arms, giving him a gentle wink.
At that moment, a long-pent-up grievance suddenly broke through, and his tears fell like broken pearls.
"Sob... sob..."
The little reindeer's hoof clutched the medicine basket tightly, trembling uncontrollably.
He wanted to say something but could only let out intermittent sobs.
So... so he really wasn't a monster? Could it be that, apart from the two kind doctors, there were others willing to treat him so gently?
Shano crouched down, gently ruffling his furry head, "Why are you crying, little guy?"
With that touch, Chopper cried even harder, soaking the fur on his chest. Like a child who had finally found solace after years of grievances, he buried himself into Shano's embrace, smearing snot and tears on the other's clothes.
"Waaahhh—!!!"
He cried out loud, as if to release all the loneliness, fear, and unwillingness he had felt over the years. The feeling of being accepted was so warm, and the sweetness of being understood was so delightful...
Robin softly smiled beside them.
While Shano helplessly patted his back, "Hey, hey, you're getting snot all over me... alright, alright, I know you're happy..."
Hiluluk and Kureha hadn't done enough in this regard, look at how the little reindeer was wronged, not knowing to help it untie its knot sooner.
Though it seems there wasn't any other way.