Night fell over the castle, and inside, the atmosphere was lively and bustling.
The arrival of Doctor Hiruluk and Chopper had brought even more energy to the place. Stella sat by the fireplace, watching them play together, a soft smile on her face as she gently rested her hand on her growing belly.
Tesoro knelt beside her, carefully massaging her calves.
"Are you tired? Do you want to rest for a bit?"
Stella shook her head and whispered,
"Days like this… are really wonderful."
Ritter leaned against the window, blood mist curling around his fingertips, his gaze sweeping across everyone in the room Doctor Hiruluk laughing heartily, Chopper shy and slightly awkward, Perona and Laboon bubbling with excitement, Kureha looking helpless, and Tesoro nervously on edge.
"Hey, Tesoro," Ritter suddenly said.
Tesoro looked up.
"Hm?"
Ritter's lips twitched, the firelight reflecting off his crimson eyes.
"Are you ready to become a father?"
Tesoro froze for a moment, then his face lit up with a radiant smile.
"Of course!"
Outside, the blizzard still raged, but inside the castle, it felt like spring. Well, just kidding. Outside felt like spring too, somehow.
Ever since Chopper had arrived at the castle, Laboon had grown especially close to the little blue-nosed reindeer. Perhaps it was because they were both "outsiders," or maybe Laboon simply had a natural instinct to protect the vulnerable. Either way
"Laboon brother!"
Chopper stood timidly in front of Laboon, his tiny hooves nervously rubbing together, eyes glistening like a freshly cooked egg, as if he might burst into tears at any moment.
Ritter silently admired the greatness of the Pirate King once again.
Laboon tilted his head and gently tapped Chopper on the head with his fin.
"Woo? (What's wrong?)"
Chopper lowered his head, voice barely above a whisper.
"Am I… causing trouble for everyone? Kureha says my medicine never works, and Doctor Hiruluk's medicine is too… strange. Am I really… useless?"
Laboon blinked, then suddenly opened his fins wide and pulled Chopper into a warm embrace.
"Wow! (Impossible!)"
Laboon gently patted Chopper's back with his fins, as if trying to comfort him. Then, suddenly remembering something, he released Chopper and ran to the kitchen.
A few seconds later, he returned with a piece of meat held delicately in his fins and placed it in front of Chopper.
"Wow! (Eat!)"
Chopper stared at the meat in confusion.
"This… this is…?"
Laboon puffed out his chest proudly.
"Wow! (Bucky's special roast! The first time I tried it, I almost flew off, but it's really delicious!)"
Chopper carefully took a bite, and his eyes immediately lit up.
"Delicious!"
Laboon nodded in satisfaction, then pointed at himself and then at Chopper.
"Wow! (From now on, you're my little brother!)"
Chopper froze.
"Little… brother?"
Laboon grinned.
"Wow! (Yes! Brother Laboon will protect you! We're family.)"
Chopper's eyes welled with tears again.
Seeing this, Laboon panicked, his tail flailing helplessly in the air.
"Woo?! Woo?! (Huh? Why are you crying?!)"
He spun around in circles, then suddenly had a bright idea, remembering how Ritter often cheered up Perona by giving her candy.
With a whoosh, he flew to the kitchen, returning with a large jar of honey held in his fins, and slammed it down in front of Chopper.
"Woo! (Don't cry! Have something sweet!)"
Chopper sobbed, staring at the towering jar, tears streaking his cheeks.
"This… this is too much…"
Laboon tilted his head, thinking carefully, then cautiously dabbed a little honey on his fin and brought it to Chopper's mouth.
"Woo~ (Ah )"
Chopper's tears turned into laughter, and he obediently opened his mouth.
"Ah "
The honey was sweet, and his eyes sparkled again.
"Woo woo woo, it's so good!"
Laboon exhaled in relief, wagging his tail happily, but
"Bang!"
His tail accidentally knocked over a stack of firewood by the fireplace. Logs tumbled down, almost hitting the napping Kureha.
Kureha woke with a start, smacking Laboon on the head with a wine bottle.
"You little brat! Quiet!"
Laboon: "Woo… (holding head, feeling wronged)"
Chopper quickly stepped in to shield Laboon, lifting his little hooves.
"Kureha! It's my fault! Don't be mad at Brother Laboon!"
Kureha raised an eyebrow at the two little troublemakers, then suddenly smiled.
"All right, you two. Tonight, you're responsible for organizing all the herbs in the castle."
Laboon and Chopper: "…Woo?/Eh?!"
That night, amidst piles of herbs, the Laboon brothers and their little brother Chopper shared their first "exhausting yet heartwarming brotherly time."
Lately, Laboon noticed that Chopper lacked confidence. Why was that?
Suddenly, a light bulb appeared over Laboon's little head. In his mind, he imagined a few people:
Brook, confident. Shanks, confident. Bucky, confident. Captain Roger, confident. He himself, confident.
They all had one thing in common: hats.
With a flash of determination, Laboon ran back to the room, slinging a small satchel on his back and placing Chopper securely.
Laboon ran wildly through the streets, his little whale tail swinging rapidly. Chopper was lifted so high that his hooves left the ground, flying behind him like a kite.
Chopper, panicking: "Laboon brother! Where are we going?!"
Laboon, resolute: "Wow! (To buy a hat!)"
Because confident people all wear hats!
Ritter: ? ? ? ?
As Laboon and Chopper entered the small town, the bustling streets fell silent.
Merchants gaped, dropping their goods with a clatter.
Children cowered behind their parents. A few drunken vagrants even smashed their bottles, pointing and shouting:
"Monsters! A blue-nosed reindeer and a walking whale!"
Chopper froze, ears drooping, instinctively hiding behind Laboon.
"Laboon… maybe we should go back…"
Laboon sensed Chopper trembling. He looked down at his little brother, then back at the terrified humans, a flicker of anger in his eyes.
But he did not move. He gently patted Chopper's head with his fin.
"Woo! (Don't be afraid! Brother's here. Brother said he'd buy you a hat, and he will.)"
Then he continued forward, leading Chopper toward the hat shop.
The shopkeeper, a wrinkled old man, slammed the door shut as soon as he saw them, locking it from the inside.
"Get out! Monsters, don't cause trouble!"
Chopper's eyes brimmed with tears.
"I'm sorry… let's go back, Laboon brother…"
Laboon didn't move.
He stared at the tightly shut door, slowly raising his fin, and removed the sea-prism stone bracelet.