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It was always hard losing a loved one.
You held Chopper close while he bawled as the Straw Hat Pirates sailed away from Drum Island. The beautiful send-off of cherry blossoms warmed the hearts of every member of the crew, especially Chopper’s. You could tell Chopper’s heart was both breaking and healing, knowing Hiriluk’s dream was finally realized.
When Chopper started sobbing, you couldn’t help yourself and quickly took him into your arms. Then his little hooves grasped your shirt, and you knew that letting him go wasn’t an option. You would fight to keep him in your arms. You would not let him go until he was ready. He could cry his little heart out in your arms without fear of you leaving him. You gave him all your support. Then Zoro wrapped his arms around the two of you while everyone else lent their supportive, silent presence to Chopper. Every single one of you stayed on deck to be with Chopper in his time of need. Every single one of you respected that Chopper needed to let out his grief. They were all there if he needed them, and they trusted you and Zoro to help your new crewmate.
A few tears escaped your eyes as Chopper wailed. You felt for him. Losing a parent was awful. It was even more so for Chopper because his father, Kureha, and Dalton to an extent, were the only ones who had treated Chopper well before you all came along.
You had lost your father a few years before you ended up joining the crew, and it still hurts to this day. You had already lost your mother a couple of years before that, and it was a harsh reality of life and death. Your grief kept compounding, but you had no choice but to move on with your life because that was what they wanted for you. They wouldn’t want you to give up on living well. Your loved ones would all die one day—it was a matter of how they passed that you tried to focus on now. Chopper’s father died doing what was right for his son and his country.
Seeing how much Chopper loved and missed him, you knew Hiriluk was a good man. The pain would never go away, but you would learn how to handle it easier as time passed. It was a painful lesson to learn. Watching as Chopper sobbed and wailed, it reminded you of that dark time in your life after having lost your family. You held him tighter, which reciprocated by your shirt being bunched in his hooves. You cradled Chopper to you. You weren’t going to let him go through this all alone. You refused to let him go through this alone when it was clear he wanted comfort from you.
Zoro leaned his head against yours, knowing what you were thinking as he saw the tears falling from your eyes. Everyone on the crew knew how much your father’s death had devastated you enough to make you go crazy for a while. You no longer had any family left. You hadn’t even gotten over your mother dying before your father died. You could still remember the loud wails and screams that tore themselves from your throat when your mother had died and then again when your father died. You remembered the heartbreak, and the lost feeling knowing that they were gone and not coming back. Even remembering the tears that seemed endless in the face of death. Then your crew came along, wild and bright, and showed you what freedom and joy looked like again. You've never been so thankful to have found people like them. As you looked at Chopper as he grieved, you did what you wished others had done for you—take him into your arms and lend your support to him as he mourned. You held Chopper close to you and did your best to show him that everyone was here with him. You all knew Chopper would be fine. He deserved to feel his grief and to let it out how he needed to be. It was okay to grieve. It was okay to not be okay at that moment. Everyone would always support each other. Chopper was the newest addition to the Straw Hat family, and the baby. You all would always be there and protect your own.
“Thank you,” Chopper said through his sniffles. He looked up at you with swollen eyes and snot dripping from his nose from crying so much.
“You’re part of the family now, and we take care of our own. That includes you,” you said gently. Zoro made a noise of agreement, as did the rest of the crew.
Chopper began sobbing again, but he held onto you tightly, not wanting to let go. “I’m a monster. Do you really want me?” His insecurities were coming back, even if he was already sailing away with all of you, but you were quick to shut them down faster than anyone else.
“We have a rubber boy as our captain. And he, Zoro, and Sanji fight like they’re monsters. Plus, you’re the cutest reindeer that I’ve ever seen. We definitely want you,” you said, tone dry when talking about the monster trio. You heard both Zoro and Sanji give a puff of laughter while Luffy simply laughed joyfully.
Chopper wiggled around in your arms, having stopped his sobbing. “Your nice words don’t affect me, you bastard!” he said nasally. Yet there was a happy smile on his face. You cooed at how cute he was, making him beam at you.
Zoro reached over and rubbed Chopper’s head for a moment before giving him a head pat. Chopper looked even happier than before. “Don’t worry about being a monster. You’re not one,” Zoro said as a way to comfort Chopper.
“Thank you again,” Chopper said to both of you, and then to the rest of the crew.
“Everyone is here for you, our new cute little crewmate. Now, I believe Luffy and Usopp were going to show you the chopstick thing that they’ve been doing recently,” you said, finally letting Chopper down, after having made sure he was steady on his hooves.
Chopper walked to Luffy and Usopp, excited to do something with his newfound family. He had friends and a family, and Chopper loved it. This was what he wanted, and he quietly swore to Hiriluk that he would live happily with his now pirate crew. He would proudly sail under their Jolly Roger flag like Hiriluk once flew under his own.
“Come on, Chopper! Let’s do the chopsticks up the nose, and we can even dance after!" Luffy exclaimed as Chopper reached him and Usopp. The three hurried below deck to start playing around.
“Let’s go before those idiots do damage to the cabin,” Nami said, but she smiled fondly at the thought of the three of them. Vivi and Sanji were also smiling.
So, the rest of you headed to the cabin with joy in your hearts. Everyone was glad that Chopper was with them, and they would take care of him as they would one another. All of you truly were a found family.
“He’ll be alright,” Zoro said to you. But you knew he was talking about you, too.
“Yeah. Eventually, we'll be alright, and we’ll be right there with him,” you said in return. “Now come on, they’re all already in the cabin.” You tugged at Zoro.
Zoro followed along behind you. He was content with how the crew was growing and that the crew reflected the happiness and laughter that came with being a part of the Straw Hat Pirates under Monkey D. Luffy. Chopper and you, along with the others, would be alright. Zoro swore he’d do his best to continue to be there for you all. He’d be the greatest swordsman one day, and that would be the day he knew that he could protect you should you need him to.