One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 93: The Legacy of a Quack Doctor

The howling wind was a constant companion atop the snowy peaks of Drum Island, carrying with it stories of hardship, resilience, and love. As the villagers and their heroes celebrated the downfall of Wapol, Chopper's gaze remained fixed on the fluttering pirate flag atop the castle. The flag was a reminder of freedom, of dreams, and of sacrifice—ideals that stirred memories buried deep within his heart.

"Chopper," Goku's voice cut through the din, his tone uncharacteristically soft. "If you're gonna make a decision, you should think about what the flag means. Think of it like this. Why did you put up a pirate flag?"

The reindeer's blue nose twitched, and his small hands clenched tightly at his sides. "My father…" he murmured, his voice barely audible. He closed his eyes, and the world around him faded, replaced by a flood of memories.

***

Chopper had once been an ordinary reindeer, born into a herd that roamed the snowy fields of Drum Island. But from the moment of his birth, his differences had set him apart. His fur was unusually soft, his nose an odd shade of blue, and he was smaller than the others. These quirks made him a target for ridicule, even among his own kind.

The cruelest twist of fate came when he consumed the Human-Human Fruit, a Devil Fruit that granted him human intelligence and the ability to transform. While it gave him the means to think, speak, and dream, it also deepened his isolation. His herd, terrified of his newfound abilities, cast him out, branding him a monster.

Alone and shunned, Chopper wandered the harsh, unforgiving snows of Drum Island. Starvation and frostbite seemed inevitable until he stumbled upon a tiny wooden hut nestled against the mountainside. It was there that he met him—Dr. Hiriluk, the quack doctor whose compassion burned brighter than any fire.

"Hey, you big blue-nosed freak!" Hiriluk's voice rang in Chopper's mind, its warmth undercut by its playful harshness. "What are you sulking for, huh? You're alive, aren't you? That's all that matters!"

Hiriluk had been an eccentric man with wild, unkempt hair and a voice that carried boundless enthusiasm. He wasn't a particularly good doctor; in fact, many of his "cures" were as likely to make a patient worse as they were to help. But his heart was pure, and his dream was simple yet profound: to cure the world of its metaphorical sickness.

Chopper remembered how he'd first growled and bared his teeth at the strange man, expecting rejection like he'd always known. But Hiriluk hadn't flinched. Instead, he'd thrown a steaming bowl of soup at the reindeer's feet.

"Eat up!" he'd barked. "Can't have you dying before you've even had a chance to figure out what you're gonna do with your life."

Those words had sparked something in Chopper, something no one else had ever given him—hope.

Hiriluk's hut became Chopper's sanctuary, a place where he learned not only about medicine but also about the value of dreams. Hiriluk's philosophies were as unorthodox as his medical practices, but they resonated deeply with the lonely reindeer.

"People call me a quack," Hiriluk had said once, gesturing dramatically toward the snow-covered horizon. "But so what? I've got a dream, Chopper! A dream to cure the hearts of people who've lost hope. And you know what? Dreams are contagious. So if you hang around me long enough, you'll catch one too."

Chopper had caught that dream, though he didn't understand it fully at first. Hiriluk's laughter, his boundless energy, and his unwavering belief in humanity became the foundations of Chopper's own ideals. For the first time in his life, he felt like he belonged.

But dreams, as beautiful as they are, often come with a cost.

The memory of Hiriluk's final days hit Chopper like a blow to the chest. The doctor had fallen ill, his body unable to withstand the harsh conditions of Drum Island and years of self-neglect. Yet, even as his health deteriorated, his spirit remained unbroken.

One night, coughing violently into a handkerchief stained red with blood, Hiriluk had called Chopper to his bedside. "Hey, Chopper," he'd wheezed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you know what a pirate flag means?"

Chopper had tilted his head, his young mind struggling to understand the question. "It's… it's a symbol of danger, isn't it?"

Hiriluk had chuckled, though the sound was weak. "Nah. It's a symbol of defiance. A pirate flag means that no matter how bad the odds are, no matter how scary the world might seem, you'll never give up. You'll keep fighting, right to the very end."

He'd paused, his fevered eyes meeting Chopper's. "That's what I want for you, Chopper. Don't let anyone tell you what you can or can't do. Live your life boldly, with your head held high. Promise me, okay?"

Chopper had promised, tears streaming down his blue nose as he clutched Hiriluk's trembling hand.

The day Hiriluk died was etched into Chopper's soul. The doctor, knowing his time was short, had set out on one final mission—to inspire the people of Drum Island. Standing before a crowd that jeered and mocked him, he'd declared his dream with the same fiery passion he'd always had.

"I'll cure this country!" he'd shouted, even as his body gave out. "Even if it kills me!"

And it had. Hiriluk's life had ended in an explosion of defiance, a final act of rebellion against the tyranny of Wapol and the hopelessness that had gripped Drum Island.

Chopper, hidden in the shadows, had watched it all. His grief was overwhelming, but so was his resolve. Hiriluk's dream would not die with him. Chopper would carry it forward, no matter the cost.

***

Back in the present, Chopper opened his eyes, tears glistening on his cheeks. Goku and Dalton watched him in silence, sensing the weight of the moment.

"You okay, Chopper?" Goku asked, his voice soft.

Chopper nodded slowly, his gaze shifting back to the pirate flag. "I promised him," he said, his voice trembling but firm. "I promised my father that I'd live my life boldly. I think… I think that means I have to leave this island."

Dalton placed a hand on Chopper's shoulder. "We'll be okay, Chopper. You've done more for us than we could have ever asked. If this is your path, you should follow it."

Goku grinned, clapping Chopper on the back. "That's the spirit! You're gonna love life on the sea. Trust me."

The pirate flag fluttered boldly in the wind, a beacon of hope and defiance. Chopper's decision had been made, and his adventure was about to begin.

[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers!]