As Stella's due date approached, everyone stayed by her side. The Drum Kingdom, battered by storms, was now buried under thick layers of snow. What had once been light flurries had escalated into a full-blown blizzard, blanketing the entire kingdom. Ritter stood atop the castle, hands in his pockets, blood mist swirling around him. He tilted his head to the sky, crimson eyes narrowing.
"Tch, this damned weather… don't let it freeze everything."
The blood mist surged like a massive shield, enveloping the entire castle. Snowflakes touched the mist and instantly melted, replaced by warm, humid air. Around the castle, the snow slowly receded, revealing grass long hidden and even a few stubborn wildflowers poking through. Life persisted, unbroken and resilient.
Ritter then manipulated the mist to part the clouds above the castle, letting sunlight pour down. Outside, the blizzard raged, but within the mist, it was warm and humid.
Moria crouched on the rooftop, watching the scene with a grin.
"Heh… Captain, your mist can even act as a greenhouse?"
"Anything else?" Ritter cast him a lazy glance. "Who said I'm your captain? I'm both impressive and handsome."
Moria: "…"
(He even brags about himself. As expected of you, Captain.)
Kureha pushed open the castle doors, a cigarette dangling from her lips, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad. Finally, no more trudging through snow every day. Ritter, kid, can you keep this up? I really like it."
"Of course, sister, no problem." Ritter waved his hand, spreading more mist, denser and of higher quality. Changing the weather was practically routine for a nature-type user.
It could only be described as effortless.
"Seems I've discovered the secret to eternal youth."
She turned and gestured to Stella.
"Miss, come out and soak up some sun. It's good for the baby."
Stella slowly stepped out, leaning on Kureha, while Tesoro followed closely behind, holding a blanket ready to drape over her. Laboon waddled at her feet, still wearing a sea-prism stone bracelet, carefully acting as her "living handrail."
"Tesoro, Laboon, I'm fine." Stella smiled wryly. "Kureha says moving around helps with labor."
Tesoro scratched his hair, forcing a dry laugh.
"I… I know, it's just…"
Ritter leapt from the rooftop, the blood mist softly cushioning his landing.
You might wonder why Ritter, who could fly, would let himself be gently lowered. Dear reader, this just looks cooler.
He patted Tesoro on the shoulder.
"All right, Tesoro, if you stay this nervous, Stella won't collapse, but you might scare yourself to death first."
Tesoro: "…"
(No argument there.)
As Ritter lectured Tesoro, he spread transparent mist across the ground, forming a stable platform for Stella without blocking her view of the flowers and grass.
Tesoro: "…"
(Still a cunning captain.)
"Hey! Look over there!"
Perona floated in the air, pointing excitedly. Following her gaze, everyone saw Doctor Hiruluk struggling through the melting mud, a tiny blue-nosed reindeer trailing behind him.
"Kureha! Look what I found in the forest, Tony Tony Chopper! A reindeer!" Hiruluk waved his arms, his grin bright enough to dispel any gloom.
"Huh?"
Hiruluk looked at the lively, green castle before him. Just as Kureha opened her mouth to scold him, she saw Hiruluk carrying Chopper, running back through the mist.
He stepped out, eyes scanning the raging storm outside as if confirming something, then smiled broadly.
"Kureha! Look! I found him in the forest, Tony Tony Chopper! He's a reindeer!"
As he stepped through the mist again, Hiruluk's smile vanished.
"An illusion… it must be an illusion."
When Hiruluk decided for the third time to escape the thick mist with Chopper, Kureha could no longer contain herself.
"Doctor Hiruluk, get inside! What are you doing? Are you crazy?"
She rushed forward and landed two solid punches, scaring little Chopper into standing at attention.
Chopper: "So scary!"
The tiny reindeer hid timidly behind Hiruluk's… face, or more accurately, his head, leaving only its round eyes, little head, and small body visible.
Enel mumbled,
"It didn't even block anything, you idiot."
Chopper seemed to suddenly understand something and crouched down.
"This is Chopper!" Hiruluk leapt like a carp, carrying the little reindeer high above the crowd.
"I found him in the forest! He ate the Human-Human Fruit, and now he's my assistant!"
He studied the group curiously. A small bandage clung to his nose, and one of Chopper's antlers was wrapped in gauze, giving him both a pitiful and adorable appearance.
(Ritter looked at Chopper's bandaged antlers and thought: If something like this can be healed, who could doubt the Pirate King's medicine?)
Chopper trembled as he was lifted high, his little hooves flailing.
"Wah… Doctor Hiruluk, put me down…"
Laboon's eyes sparkled, and he immediately waddled closer.
"Wow! A talking reindeer!"
Chopper gaped at Laboon.
"A… a talking whale?!"
The two little animals stared at each other in disbelief, creating a comical scene.
Hiruluk laughed heartily.
"See, Chopper? I wasn't lying. I really did see a talking whale. You're not a freak."
"So…" Ritter crouched down and tapped Chopper's blue nose. He wanted to do it now, before the moment passed. He remembered that Chopper's blue nose would eventually fade in the story. He wondered if it would happen in real life too.
"Did this happen because you ate a Devil Fruit?"
Chopper nodded nervously, his voice barely a whisper.
"Yes… everyone dislikes me. They say I'm a monster…"
Ritter raised an eyebrow. Blood mist condensed in his palm, shaping into a tiny reindeer, then transforming into a whale, a small dog, a kitten, and finally a cherry blossom.
"Monster?" He snorted. "Then I must be a super monster!"
Chopper stared at him, gradually brightening.
Hiruluk laughed and scooped up Chopper.
"See! I told you, you're not a monster! This is the greatest pirate at sea, and he thinks you're amazing!"
Tears welled in Chopper's eyes, his little hooves clutching Hiruluk's coat tightly.
"R-Really?"
Ritter stepped forward and patted Chopper's head.
"Of course! I have a good friend, and he's a talking skeleton!"
(Brook: "Yohohoho… even though I'm not here right now.")