Drum Island part 13
*Flashback, Atop the castle, Chopper looks at Hiriluk’s flag. Remembering his words about going out to sea someday to see the world.*
Chopper: Doctor…
*Flashback end, Luffy continues chasing Chopper.*
Chopper: Aaaaaaahhhh!
Luffy: Reindeer guy, don’t run away! Come be part of my crew! You know you want to!
*Dalton falls to his knees, still heavily injured.*
Vivi: Are you sure you’re going to be ok, Dalton
Dalton: Yes, I’m fine. Just feeling a little drained, that’s all. I’ll be fine after I’ve rested.
Kureha: Hey, you! Over there!
Zoro: Hm?
Villagers: Dr. Kureha!
Kureha: Yeah, it’s good to see you too. Now be useful and take the injured guy to the medical ward.
Zoro: Hey, I recognize her! You’re that damn old hag from before-
*Kureha kicks him in the head.*
Kureha: Well, get moving!
Villagers: Yes, ma’am!
Kureha: I suggest you hurry. Unless you want to be in the same kind of pain this man is.
*Nami, Sanji and Morbius hide from Kureha.*
Sanji: Nami, you really should stay and have your illness completely treated.
Nami: Be quiet! If I don’t escape from here now, we won’t be able to set sail for two more days. You know how worried Vivi is, we need to get her to Alabasta
Morbius: Nami is right, she looks well enough to handle the journey. And we definitely need to get Vivi home as soo-
Kureha: Quit all this grumbling and get back to the medical ward. Move it right now!
*Kureha kicks down the wall behind them.*
*As Zoro and Usopp are outside the castle, Kureha treats Sanji and Morbius of their injuries. Though leaving them in extreme pain.*
Morbius: You didn’t have to do that lady… I heal faster than a regular person…
Kureha: Just as I expected. Their injuries have gotten worse due to overexertion.
*She takes a drink of alcohol.*
Kureha: Much better. Surely you’d know where the key to the arsenal is. Isn’t that right?
Dalton: The arsenal? Why do you need to get in there?
Kureha: That’s really none of your business now, is it?
Dalton: Wapol always carried the key with him. To keep it secure he said. In which case the key was most likely blown into the sky with him.
Kureha: Oh really, is that so? Well that’s a shame.
Nami: Doctorine, think we can talk about our fee for treating our crew? Would you wave it? Oh can you go ahead and discharge me as well?
Kureha: Is that a joke? Cause you should know better than that, girly. For my medical fee, I will be taking all of the cargo and money you have on that ship of yours. And you will stay here and recover for two more days.
Vivi: Nami, she’s right, you know! You need to complete your treatment!
Nami: I’m fine, I don’t even feel like I’m gonna die anymore.
Vivi: That isn’t exactly a very conniving reason.
*Nami pulls out the arsenal room key that she lifted from Wapol.*
Nami: The key to the arsenal room. This is what you needed, yeah?
Dalton: How did you end up with that key?!
Kureha: If that is truly the real one, how’d you get a hold of it?
Nami: I stole it.
Kureha: You certainly got some guts trying to negotiate with me like this. You are a really frustrating young girl, you know. Ok. You don’t have to pay my doctor’s fee, but that’s as much as I’ll agree to.
*She takes the key from Nami.*
Kureha: As a doctor, I cannot let you leave in good conscience. Not for two days.
Nami: Wait a second! In that case we don’t have a deal! Give it back!
Kureha: Listen here, girl! I have to leave you alone here now and take care of a few things. If you look in the back room you might find a dresser with one of my coats in it and it’s not like I’m posting any guards on you. Also, the young men with the spinal fissures should be well enough to travel by now. But girl, don’t you even try and think to escape! You guys, come with me. I have some heavy lifting for you to do.
*Kureha and the villagers leave the medical ward.*
Nami: Did she really tell us to steal her coat, get Sanji and Morbius and sneak out?
Vivi: I think so. That’s what it sounded like to me.
*Later that night, Chopper sits on the roof of the castle after running away from Luffy for hours.*
Chopper: I sure have been running a really long time. Night came before I realized it. I don’t hear that rubber guy anymore. Looks like I finally shook him I guess. This is for the best. I just can’t leave this place, I just can’t…
*Chopper looks at the night sky and sees the moon is full.*
Chopper: Looks like a full moon tonight.
Luffy: Hey! Deer!
*Chopper sees Luffy yelling for him on the ground below.*
Chopper: I can’t believe it. Those guys are still looking for me?
Usopp: Come on, Luffy. Why don’t you just give it up? We’ve been tracking him forever and he still hasn’t shown up.
Zoro: He’s just not interested in becoming a pirate, you’re just gonna have to accept that.
Luffy: Nope, that’s not true! I want the reindeer to be a pirate with us!
Zoro: Just because you want something doesn’t mean it’s going to happen!
Chopper: *It’s not that I don’t want to go with them.*
*Chopper thinks about going with them but hesitates.*
Chopper: *I’m not going to go! I can’t go! I’m nothing like them. The humans.*
*Chopper climbs down the castle and meets up with Luffy, Zoro and Usopp.*
Luffy: Reindeer guy!
*Nami and Vivi drag Sanji and Morbius out of the castle. They then see Chopper outside with Luffy’s group.*
Nami: Tony?
Morbius: What’s he doing?
Luffy: Hey, you’re gonna come on our ship and be a pirate with us! Kay?!
Chopper: I can’t.
Luffy: Sure you can, Reindeer! It’s a whole lot of fun!
Usopp: That’s not a very good argument!
Chopper: I can’t… I’m not a human, I’m a reindeer! I have antlers and hooves, don’t you see?! I even have a blue nose!
*Nami remembers her earlier conversation with Kureha about Chopper.*
Chopper: Ok, maybe I do want to be a pirate. But I can’t ever be one of you, I’m not human! I’m a monster! I can’t be your friend and I can’t become a pirate on your ship! You see?! I’m just here to say… Thank you. I appreciate you asking me to join your ship. That was really nice, so thank you. I’m going to stay here for now. But if you wanted to, you can stop by here again.
Luffy: Shut up! Let’s go!!!
*Tears begin to fill Chopper’s eyes.*
Zoro: Most people don’t make friends by telling them to shut up…
*He then cries out in happiness that he finally has friends that don’t care if he is different.*
Usopp: Nami, how’re you feeling? Are you completely recovered from your illness already?
Nami: Sure am. I feel great!
Luffy: Hey, how about we say goodbye to the old doctor lady and that guy from the village.
Nami: Don’t be thoughtless, we need to leave Chopper with Doctorine for a while. He lived with her for six years, so we should let them say goodbye in peace. It’s gonna be sad for them both. Doctorine so tough in front of us, but deep down I really think she is a kind person.
Luffy: You sure?
Usopp: So, we’re just gonna leave without saying anything to her?
Nami: Yeah, that’s right. Once Chopper comes back, we’ll go straight down the mountain and set sail to Alabasta. Sounds good to you, right, Vivi?
Vivi: Yes, now that we have a doctor coming with us.
Luffy: Doctor? I thought we had Morbius? Even though he couldn’t cure Nami?
Morbius: Hey!
Usopp: Well in that case, I’ll go ahead and get the ropeway ready. Hey, Luffy! Give me a hand!
Luffy: I didn’t even know there was a ropeway! So cool!
*Inside the castle, all the villagers are transporting all the cannons from the arsenal room outside.*
Kureha: Now hurry up and get them out of here! Once they’re all outside the castle, line them up! You got that?!
Villager: Dr. Kureha. I don’t understand, what are we taking all these cannons out of the arsenal for?
Kureha: Just hurry up and get it done.
*She leaves the arsenal room and returns to the medical room. Where only Dalton is resting.*
Kureha: Well, look at that. It seems a couple of patients went missing.
Dalton: Yes, they all left. Directly disobeying your orders.
Kureha: Oh, I see. What am I going to do with them?
*She then takes a drink of alcohol. Chopper runs into the room.*
Chopper: Doctorine! Doctorine! I need to talk to you right now!
Kureha: Chopper, where have you been all day? Hurry up and get downstairs. You can help the men take the cannons outside.
Chopper: Please listen, Doctorine! I’m going to become a pirate! I’m leaving with the others right now!
Kureha: What’d you say?
Chopper: I’m going out to sea. I’m coming on board as the ship’s doctor. I’m gonna travel everywhere!
Kureha: Stop this foolishness, Chopper! Now listen, you know you’re my only assistant. I’m the one who taught you everything you know about medicine. Do you really feel no gratitude for what I’ve done?
Chopper: No, that’s isn’t true. I’m incredibly thankful to you, Doctorine. And I’ll always love this land. It’s where I met you and Doctor after all.
Kureha: Then you can just stay here. If you think you can find another home as nice as this one somewhere in the outside world, you’re sorely mistaken. Those pirates aren’t good for anything, Chopper. You’ll end up dead on some vagabond sword in no time.
Chopper: I can accept that.
Kureha: Don’t sound so sure of yourself. A reindeer going out to sea, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard of!
Chopper: Yeah, I am a reindeer! But still, I’m a man!
Kureha: You can talk tough for now. But you’re still my assistant, Chopper. If you want to leave, you’re gonna have to go through me first. Do you understand?!
Chopper: Doctorine-
*She throws an ax at the wall next to him.*
Chopper: Aaahh!
Kureha: You’re still afraid of your own shadow and you’re telling me you’re a man? Oh please, don’t make me laugh.
Chopper: But Doctorine, these pirates don’t you see? They like me.
Kureha: Quiet, you!
*She throws another ax at the wall next to Chopper. Kureha then begins gathering all the weapons in the room.*
Kureha: No, I’m not gonna let you leave me! You’re staying!
*Chopper gets scared and runs away.*
Kureha: Get back here, Chopper!
Chopper: Aaaaaahhhhh!
Villager 1: I wonder what all that noise is about?
Villager 2: Who cares. Whatever’s going on, we better hurry and get this stuff outside. If we aren’t careful, Dr. Kureha might start using us for target practice.
Villager 2: Don’t exaggerate.
Kureha: Come back! I won’t let you get away, Chopper!
*She starts throwing weapons everywhere trying to chase Chopper.*
Zoro: What’s going on? There’s a lot of noise coming from inside the castle.
Nami: How inconsiderate. Making all that noise when those two are trying to say goodbye. That’s just rude.
*Chopper pulls Kureha’s sleigh behind him while I. His reindeer form.*
Chopper: *I’m sorry, Doctorine. But I want to go outside and see the world beyond this island!*
Kureha: What could someone like you do on a pirate ship, Chopper?! Are you going to live some fantasy like that old quack?!
Chopper: *No, you’re wrong! It wasn’t a fantasy! Doctor’s research was finally completed before he died!*
*Zoro sees Chopper exiting the castle.*
Zoro: Oh, finally, here he comes.
*But he and everyone else sees him running away from Kureha.*
Nami: What's going on?! He’s being chased!
Morbius: What’s she chasing him around for?!
Usopp: Hey, we got the ropeway ready to go!
Chopper: Everyone, get on the sleigh! We’re gonna head down the mountain, hurry!
*She throws a mace that barely lands on three Straw Hats, frightening them.*
*In one of the nearby villages, the inhabitants see something in the sky.*
Villager 1: Hey, look at that! What the hell is that thing?!
Villager 2: That’s the witch’s sleigh!
*They see a sleigh being pulled by a mysterious creature in the sky. But in actuality, It’s Chopper pulling the sleigh down the ropeway with the Straw Hats riding it.*
*A group of villagers see a trail of tracks leading away from Kureha’s old tree house. After seeing Chopper pull the Straw Hats on the sleigh.*
Villager 1: What was that thing?
Villager 2: It looked like Dr. Kureha’s reindeer.
Villager 3: And those pirates were riding in the sleigh.
Villager 4: What’s going on up there anyway?
Villager 5: What happens to Wapol?
Villager 6: I hope Dalton’s ok.
*Choppee tows the Straw Hats through the snowy forest.*
Luffy: Hahahaha! That was fun! Hey, reindeer, can we do that again?
Nami: You idiot, we don’t have time for that!
Morbius: That was scary!
Usopp: I thought I was gonna die.
Sanji: Hey, where am I? What’s going on?
Vivi: Oh, Sanji! You’re awake! You ok?
*Dalton joins Kureha at the edge of the mountain.*
Dalton: You really think that was the best way to say goodbye?
Kureha: A pet I looked after is being taken care of by someone else now. That’s all. Besides, I don’t like… long goodbyes.
*Tears of sadness fill the doctor’s eyes. But she quickly wiped them away and hits Dalton on the chest.*
Kureha: Come on, we have work to do! We have to prepare a fitting send off!
Dalton: That hurt…
Chopper: *Doctor, it wasn’t a fantasy like she said, right? You finished your work. You accomplished your dream! Or was that all a lie too? Did you lie because you knew how sad it would be if you die without completing it? Is it possible for a man who raises a pirate flag? Please, doctor!*
*All the cannons are placed in order and aimed at the sky.*
Kureha: Alright, young men, are you ready?!
Villagers: Yes!
Kureha: Then fire!
*They fire the cannons into the sky.*
Dalton: Dr. Kureha, what’re you doing?!
Kureha: Just shut up and watch.
Villager: Dr. Kureha! All the cannons have been fired!
Kureha: Then light them up!
*The Straw Hats the mountain watch from afar.*
Luffy: Wow, cool.
Zoro: Yeah.
Nami: Wow.
Morbius: It’s so pretty.
Dalton: This is absolutely amazing!
Kureha: I still can’t understand what that idiot was thinking.
*Flashback*
Hiriluk: This is no ordinary red dust, Kureha. This dust is designed to attach itself to the white snowflakes as they come down from the sky. The while snow will then become a beautiful shade of pink for everyone to see!
*Flashback end. Chopper begins to cry.*
Chopper: Doctor… Doctorine…
*He cries out in both sadness and joy as the newly turned pink snow makes the mountain look like one giant sakura tree, raining cherry blossom petals.*
Kureha: Now have a safe trip, my stupid son…