Chapter 144

(Author's note: You guys might have noticed that I've been letting out chapters more often during the past couple of days, and that's because I'm taking a break from my original. Anyway, this fanfic used to be a lot higher in the ranking before I started writing my original, so you guys can consider this as a trial period for me, and depending on how many power stones I end up with next week, I might increase the number of weekly chapters I release for this story; currently 3)

"Do you think... Do you think a monster like me could become a pirate too?" Chopper asked, his glare dissipating, only to be replaced by an expression that was a mixture of nervousness and hope.

"Do you think you're a monster?" I asked in an amused tone as I leaned on the door frame, looking down on Chopper, making him nod at me.

"You're no monster, little guy," I remarked after seeing him nod as I shook my head. "In the first place, what do you think a monster is?" I asked as I stepped back into the room, gesturing for him to follow me.

Chopper looked bewildered at my reply and ensuing question, but he still followed me inside and took a seat after I motioned for him to do so.

"Ahm, a monster is a creature that looks ugly and frightening..." Chopper said in a hesitant tone after setting down as he turned to look at the ground with a sad look.

"That's only one way to look at monsters, but we can go with that," I said with a chuckle as I shrugged my shoulders. "The way I see it, you're not ugly or frightening at all," I added with a shake of my head.

"So tell me, why do you think you're a monster?" I asked in a calm tone, crossing my hands in front of my chest, directly staring into Chopper's eyes as he raised his head.

"I... I have a blue nose, and I'm a talking reindeer..." Chopper said, looking away as he seemed unsure of the answer he gave me.

"Forget ugly or frightening. That isn't even remotely weird," I replied with a shake of my head. "I even have a crewmate who is like you," I added with a smirk.

"Like me...?" Chopper asked in a confused tone.

"Yup, he was just a normal gorilla, but he ate a devil fruit like the one you ate, and he turned into a humanoid gorilla," I replied with a nod. "In fact, his herd even abandoned him when he was still a cup, just like you," I added with a sigh, earning a surprised look from Chopper.

"But unlike you, Wilson is a real monster," I concluded with a chuckle, shaking my head.

"Is he ugly and frightening?" Chopper asked in a curious tone, seemingly imagining how Wilson would look.

"No, but he can be pretty scary if someone steals his booze, Rehaha," I replied with a laugh. "He's not that kind of monster," I added with a shrug.

"Different kind of monster?" Chopper asked in a confused tone. "There are different kinds of monsters?" he asked again, tilting his head to the side.

"Of course, there are the ugly, frightening monsters, and there are the ones who people call monsters because of the horrible things they do, like Wapol," I explained, raising two fingers with a smile.

"And then there are monsters like Wilson and me," I said with a broad, toothy smile. "We're monsters because we're badasses, who can do things very few people can do, like beating the crap out of Wapol and his subordinates without effort," I added, flexing my muscles.

"You're not ugly or frightening. You don't do horrible things, and you're not as strong as Wilson and me," I stated with a shrug. "So why do you think you're a monster?" I asked as I tilted my head to the side and paused.

"But... But my herd, they shunned me because of my blue nose," Chopper said with a sad expression, awkwardly touching his nose. "And the humans... they called me a monster and chased me away every time I tried to go into towns," he added with a pained expression.

"Whether it's humans or reindeers, they all shun those who are different. It's in their nature to do that," I said with a sigh. "They do it out of fear, ignorance, instinct, and most of all, their weakness," I explained while gesturing my hand to the side.

"Most humans are weak... They take what they have at face value, and they fear change," I explained as I paused to let my words sink in with Chopper.

"So humans fear and shun you because you are different. Because you are new, and they don't understand your intentions," I remarked while gesturing to the side.

"But in the end, it doesn't mean they're bad people because it's ignorance that moves them, not malice," I added with a sigh as I saw chopper nod. "Nor does it mean you're a monster as well," I concluded with a shake of my head.

"But Dr. Hiriluk never treated me the same way even when he first met me..." Chopper stated, seemingly still unconvinced.

"Well, Dr. Hiriluk is just as different from the town's people as you are, and he isn't ignorant," I said with a chuckle, shaking my head. "He didn't fear you because he was more knowledgeable than the town's people thanks to his time outside this island," I said with a smile.

"I'm sure he had seen countless things stranger than you, the same with me," I concluded with a nod of my head.

Chopper listened to my words and lowered his in thought, only raising it to look at me with a calm expression that left me confused as to whether I had managed to convince him or not.

"Are there really things weirder than me out in the sea?" Chopper asked after a second's pause, seemingly trying to change the subject.

"Of course, in fact, there is a place where you wouldn't stand out," I replied with a smile. "It's a giant elephant with an island on its back and a race of humanoid animals like you live there," I explained.

"A giant elephant island?" Chopper remarked with stars glittering in his eyes, and I nodded at him.

"What is this race called, and did they eat devil fruit like me?" he asked again in an excited tone.

"They are called the mink tribe, and no, they are born that way, but you look very similar to their race," I replied with a shrug. "And that's not even the weirdest thing out there in the sea..."

I then proceeded to tell Chopper, who was listening with rapt attention, about the many things we've come across as a crew, along with the many amazing things I remembered from the Straw Hats adventures until he fell asleep.

"Shame he's still a kid. I would have loved to have him along for the ride, but oh well..." I remarked with a sigh, shaking my head as I took off my long coat and covered Chopper with it.

"I guess Luffy can have his Doctor..." I concluded with a shrug as I took out my whisky bottle and exited the room, intending to have a drink while gazing at the stars.