Six years ago. Grand Line, Drum Kingdom, Drum Island.
That year, Chopper had just turned nine and was undergoing treatment under Dr. Hiriluk, while a certain stout winter melon with a bottomless appetite was still throwing his weight around on the king's throne.
Inside a tree house, warmed thoroughly by a roasting fire.
"Rainbow Mist? Traveling through time and space?" Dr. Kureha sat in a rocking chair, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest.
"To think that long-circulated story actually exists."
"The past and the future? Dreams and reality? Heh heh... Truly fascinating." As she spoke, Dr. Kureha let out a burst of eerie laughter, sounding like a night owl, which was exceptionally chilling.
"Looking at that little girl's expression just now, she seems to know the future me. I'm quite curious—what does the future me look like?" Muttering to herself, the eccentric witch gulped down a mouthful of her favorite plum wine, a mysterious gleam flickering in her eyes.
"Well, anyway, I'm sure I must still be in the prime of my youth! Hee hee hee..."
Cough, cough. Truly an old lady who refuses to accept her age...
Meanwhile.
In a world of ice and snow, two people and one reindeer trudged through the thick accumulation, moving slowly toward the town.
"Honestly, why did that black-hearted old lady say I could go back just by following you guys?" Nami, wrapped in a plush coat, rubbed her hands together, her cheeks flushed red from the cold.
"Now, now, young lady, you don't need to worry about that," Dr. Hiriluk said with a wide grin, walking beside her to offer comfort. "I've known her for many years. Although that witch is extremely greedy, she is actually a very kind person."
"She would never speak without a purpose."
Hearing this, the little Chopper silently following the quack doctor revealed a peculiar expression on his furry face. He really couldn't understand how a violent old lady who threw knives for no reason could be considered "kind."
Nami, however, nodded thoughtfully. After all, the woman was over one hundred and thirty years old and widely experienced; if she said so, there must be a reason.
"By the way, young lady, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Hiriluk, and I am a doctor."
"And this reindeer," Dr. Hiriluk pointed to his side and continued, "is named Tony Tony Chopper. He's a blue-nosed reindeer that can talk and transform."
"..." The little reindeer remained silent. He timidly looked up, only to be met with Nami's warm, smiling face.
(This human... she actually isn't afraid of me.) Chopper's expression changed slightly, and he quickly lowered his head, feeling a bit shy.
Watching the little reindeer's reaction, the orange-haired navigator's beautiful eyes curved into crescents. "My name is Nami. I'm a pirate."
"Pirate?!" Dr. Hiriluk and Chopper exclaimed in unison.
"That's amazing! I didn't expect you to be braving the Grand Line at such a young age!" Dr. Hiriluk looked full of admiration. He glanced at the Log Pose on Nami's wrist and asked, "Are you a navigator?"
"Mhm, yes. And aside from being a navigator, I have another profession—'Thief,'" Nami stuck out her tongue playfully. After all, the nickname "Cat Burglar" wasn't given for nothing.
"Oh? A thief? Come to think of it, before I became a doctor, I was also a 'Great Thief' with countless treasures..." At this point, the quack doctor closed his eyes and shook his head, clearly nostalgic about his days of banditry.
(Countless treasures??!!) Instantly seizing upon the key words, the navigator's eyes shot out two beams of avaricious light.
"Then where are those treasures of yours?"
"Those treasures... I remember hiding them on a deserted island. But so many years have passed, perhaps someone else has already dug them up. Ah ha ha ha."
"Hey, hey! Old man, explain clearly! Which deserted island? What are the specific coordinates?" Seeing Nami's urgent demeanor, it seemed she had completely thrown the matter of her time travel to the back of her mind.
Ignoring the two humans chatting fervently, the blue-nosed reindeer was silently pondering other things.
(Pirates, skull flags, the sea, adventure... Is that woman with the scent of oranges the kind of pirate the doctor spoke about before? She's a bit different from what I imagined...)
Just then, the keen-nosed little reindeer caught the scent of several dangerous presences.
???!!!
Chopper froze abruptly. He sniffed carefully, and the expression on his face instantly turned to one of pure terror.
"Doctor! Bad news! A group of Lapahns is charging this way!"
"ROAR!!!!"
Just as Chopper's voice fell, several roars erupted from the distance. Moments later, giant rabbits resembling white bears burst out from the nearby forest. Their movements were agile, walking on the thick snow as if it were flat ground. looking at their rows of sharp teeth, it was obvious that the diet of these fiendish rabbits did not exclude meat.
"What the hell are those things!!!" Nami, who had been comatose during her original arrival, was seeing these carnivorous rabbits for the first time and was instantly struck dumb with fright.
Dr. Hiriluk's face darkened with gloom. "Damn it! Today is just too unlucky. First the King's Guard, and now we run into Lapahns! Hey, young lady, don't just stand there—run!!!"
"Ahhh! I want to go home!" Nami wanted to cry but had no tears. She didn't hesitate to turn tail and sprint.
And so, amidst the swirling snow, two people and a deer fled frantically in front, trailed by a large pack of howling Drum Island specialties. The scene was exceptionally... "harmonious."
However, speaking of wanting to go home quickly, Nami wasn't the only one.
Ten years ago. East Blue, Goa Kingdom outskirts—Mt. Colubo.
At that time, the ASL brothers had just shared their cup of brotherhood. Big brother Ace was ten, second brother Sabo was ten, and little brother Luffy was seven.
The three little rascals were lodging at the mountain bandit Dadan's hideout. In exchange, the three brothers had to solve their own food supply issues. Because of this, the birds and beasts in the nearby jungle suffered terrible luck...
Today, however, the ASL brothers had encountered a very unique "prey."
On a very crudely made handcart lay several animals that had already passed out. At the very top of this pile of game was a blue-nosed reindeer, hog-tied with rough hemp rope.
Although Chopper had tried very hard to flee for his life earlier, under the relentless pursuit of those three "savages," he was still captured.
"Yaaah! Luffy! Let me go quickly! I'm Chopper! Tony Tony Chopper! I'm your partner, your ship doctor!" The little reindeer cried and shouted with all his might.
"Hey, Ace, Sabo, this guy says he's my ship doctor," little Luffy said to his two older brothers as he pushed the cart. "Let's let him go."
"Are you an idiot, Luffy? How could a raccoon dog know medicine?" Little Ace glanced at his foolish younger brother with a look that said 'iron cannot become steel.' "It's only saying that to try and escape."
However, Ace, who was clearly a little comedian back then, completely ignored one problem: normal raccoon dogs, aside from not knowing medicine, shouldn't be able to speak human language either!
"Oh, so that's it. This raccoon dog is too cunning!" Little Luffy nodded in deep agreement. Back then, he still listened to his brothers very well.
At this moment, Sabo pondered for a while and said, "However, I think it's better not to eat this raccoon dog."
"Eh? Why? It took us half the day to catch him," Little Ace picked his nose, greatly puzzled.
"Because a talking animal like this is too rare. I think he can definitely sell for a good price!" Regardless of the situation, Sabo had received some aristocratic education, so he possessed a bit of business sense.
"Compared to crocodile skin and the like, a talking raccoon dog is definitely worth more money!"
"Once we have enough Berries, we can buy a pirate ship!" Sabo grinned as he said this, the gap from his missing tooth looking very conspicuous.
"Hmm, that makes sense. Our secret base is also missing a lot of necessary supplies, and those things all require money..." Ace stroked his chin, silently calculating in his heart.
"..." Little Luffy remained silent, looking as if he would leave everything to his big brothers.
However, right at that moment, a certain blue-nosed reindeer, having reached the limit of his endurance, suddenly shouted to emphasize:
"Didn't I tell you?! I am a reindeer! A blue-nosed reindeer! Not a raccoon dog!!! Can't you see my antlers???"
(Reindeer???)
The ASL brothers froze simultaneously.
"Eh? If it really is a reindeer..."
Little Ace suddenly revealed a nostalgic expression. "I just remembered the roasted venison I ate in Center Street a few days ago. That taste, tsk tsk..."
"Roasted venison?" Luffy and Sabo paused at the same time, then recalled it slightly.
Tender and juicy deer meat, smooth yet chewy, with that fragrant, overflowing aroma... it was truly irresistible!
"It was so delicious!"
Wiping away non-existent drool, the ASL brothers looked at each other and nodded in unison:
"It's decided! Let's eat roasted venison today!"
Well, in the eyes of these three little gluttons, the food right in front of them was the most attractive thing after all.
(Ahhh!! Why did I have to run my mouth?! They clearly weren't planning to eat me!!!) The blue-nosed reindeer, who had courted death with his own abilities, nearly fainted from fright upon hearing this.
(If this is a nightmare, please let me wake up immediately!!!)
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