As everyone waited with Stella for the birth of her baby, and as the due date drew closer, the snowstorm that had been battering Drum Kingdom intensified. Before, it had only been light snow. But maybe the time had come. A blizzard now covered the entire kingdom. Rhett stood at the top of the castle, hands in his pockets, blood mist swirling around him. He looked up at the sky, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly.
"Tch. Damn weather... Don't let it get too cold."
The blood mist suddenly rose, forming a massive barrier that enveloped the entire castle. The snow melted as soon as it touched the mist, replaced by warm, humid air. The snow around the castle gradually disappeared, revealing the long-hidden grass. A few wildflowers stubbornly pushed their way through. This was what life force was for.
Then he directed the mist to part the clouds above the castle. Sunlight fell on the castle. Outside, a raging blizzard. Inside the mist, a warm, humid environment.
Moria crouched on the roof, watching this and clicking his tongue. "Kishishishi... Captain, your mist can be used as a greenhouse too?"
"What else?" Rhett glanced at him lazily. "I'm your captain, after all. Strong and handsome."
Moria: "..." (Leave it to the captain to praise himself. That's you, alright.)
Kureha walked out of the castle, a cigarette in her mouth, and nodded approvingly. "Not bad. I was getting tired of walking in the snow every day. Rhett brat, can you make this environment permanent? I really like it!" (Note: Kureha is older than Brook, so calling Rhett a "brat" is perfectly fine.)
"No problem at all, big sister." Rhett waved his hand and sent out more mist, of higher concentration and better quality. Was it really that strange for a Logia user to change the weather?
It could only be described as simple.
"Looks like I've found another secret to my eternal youth."
She turned and waved to Stella behind her. "Girl, come out and get some sun. It's good for the baby."
Stella held her lower back and walked out slowly. Tesoro followed nervously beside her, a blanket in his hand, ready to drape it over her at any moment. Laboon walked at her feet, still wearing its Seastone bracelet, carefully acting as her "living handrail."
"Tesoro, Laboon, I'm fine." Stella smiled helplessly. "Dr. Kureha said that moving around helps with the delivery."
Tesoro scratched his head and laughed dryly. "I-I know, it's just..."
Rhett leaped down from the roof. The blood mist gently caught him and lowered him safely to the ground.
You ask why Rhett needed the mist to catch him when he could fly? Because it looks cooler, baby.
He walked over and patted Tesoro on the shoulder. "Alright, Boss Tesoro. If you keep being this nervous, Stella won't be tired, but you'll have scared yourself to death first."
Tesoro: "..." (He couldn't argue.)
As he lectured Tesoro, Rhett was also covering the entire ground with transparent mist. It could catch Stella in an instant if she fell, but it didn't get in the way of seeing the flowers and grass.
Tesoro: "..." (You're not much better than me, Captain. Two-faced.)
"Hey — everyone, look!"
Perona floated in the air, pointing excitedly into the distance. Everyone followed her finger and saw Hiluluk walking toward them, his feet sinking into the wet, melting snow. Behind him followed a tiny blue-nosed reindeer.
"Kureha! Look what I found in the forest! Tony Tony Chopper! He's a reindeer!" Hiluluk waved his arms. His smile was so bright it could chase away any darkness.
"Huh?"
Hiluluk looked at the castle grounds, lush and green, full of life. Kureha was about to say something sharp when Hiluluk turned around and ran back into the mist, carrying Chopper.
He stepped out of the mist and looked at the storm raging outside. He confirmed something. Then he put on a big smile again.
"Kureha! Look! I found this in the forest! Tony Tony Chopper! He's a reindeer!"
When he passed through the mist again, Hiluluk's smile disappeared. "It's an illusion. It has to be an illusion."
When Hiluluk decided to run out of the mist for a third time with Chopper in his arms, Dr. Kureha finally lost her patience.
"Hiluluk. Get in here. What kind of crazy game are you playing?"
She ran up and punched him twice. Little Chopper snapped to attention.
Chopper: "This is so scary!!"
The little reindeer timidly hid behind Hiluluk's... face. Or rather, behind his head. Only his big round eyes peeked out. One small head. One small body.
Enel commented: "That's not hiding anything at all, you idiot."
Chopper seemed to just realize what was happening. He lay down too.
"This is Chopper!" Hiluluk had two big lumps on his head. But he was "fully revived." He did a kip-up and stood up. He scooped up the little reindeer and held him up for everyone to see. "I found him in the forest. He ate the Human-Human Fruit. He's my assistant now."
Chopper looked at everyone curiously. There was a small band-aid on his nose. A bandage was tied around one of his antlers. He looked pitiful and adorable.
Rhett: (Looking at Chopper's bandaged antler. "This thing can be healed even if it breaks off. Who says the medicine in One Piece isn't powerful?")
Chopper was suddenly lifted up high. He trembled with fear. His small hooves flailed. "Waa... Dr. Hiluluk, p-put me down..."
Laboon's eyes lit up. He immediately went over. "Wow! A talking reindeer!"
Chopper saw Laboon and froze. "A-A talking whale?!"
The two little animals stared at each other. The scene was ridiculous.
Hiluluk laughed out loud. "See, Chopper? I didn't lie to you. I really did see a talking whale. You're not a freak."
"So..." Rhett crouched down and poked Chopper's blue nose. Touch it now, because there wouldn't be another chance. Rhett remembered that in the later story, Chopper's blue nose would slowly fade away. He didn't know if that happened in real life.
"You became like this because you ate a Devil Fruit?"
Chopper nodded nervously. His voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz. "Mm... no one likes me. They call me a monster."
Rhett raised an eyebrow. The blood mist in his palm suddenly formed a tiny reindeer. Then it turned into a whale, a dog, a cat, and finally a cherry blossom.
"Monster?" He scoffed. "Then what does that make me? A super monster?"
Chopper stared at him blankly. His eyes slowly lit up.
Hiluluk laughed and wrapped his arm around Chopper. "See! I told you you're not a monster! This guy is the most powerful pirate on the seas, and he thinks you're super cool!"
Tears welled up in Chopper's eyes. His little hooves clutched Hiluluk's coat. "R-Really?"
Rhett stepped forward and patted Chopper's head. "Of course! I have a good friend who's a talking skeleton!"
(Brook: "Yohohoho... Although I'm not here right now.")