On to Alabasta:
-x-
The Straw Hats and their guests had stopped to gather their supplies and were now on board the Going Merry. Everyone was gathered on the rear deck and was staring in amazement at the island at the miracle Dr. Hiriluk had made possible as the Going Merry slowly drifted away from Drum Island. Even out at sea, pink snowflakes fell from the sky and landed on the ship.
"Whoooa!" Luffy gasped.
"Oooo!" Usopp cooed.
"It's beautiful!" Vivi exclaimed.
"Yeah," Nami agreed. Sanji stood in between the two women and silently smoked a cigarette.
"Like a bunch of cherry blossoms," Zoro commented.
"And in a land of snow," Mr. 5 added.
"It's a miracle," Ms. Valentine remarked.
Skish! Skish! Skish! Ms. Goldenweek was painting the pink-covered island on a canvas Usopp had lent her.
"..." Chopper sat on the railing of the rear deck and stared at his home and Dr. Hiriluk's dream come true, Y/N leaned against the railing next to him, silently offering his support.
"Hey, do you think Chopper's okay?" Usopp whispered to Nami. "He looks a little down."
"He'll be fine," Nami replied, "He's got Y/N with him. The rest of us should just leave him alone for now."
"It's an emotional time,"Sanji resolved, "he's going on his first journey as a man. It's a rite of passage."
"And he's leaving Drum Island behind for good," Vivi added, "It's been his home his entire life."
"I'm leaving them," Chopper said as he continued to stare off at his old home, his mind buzzing with memories of his life on the island. "Both Doctor and Doctorine. My adventure is finally starting. Right now, on this ship." Y/N reached over and patted him on the back reassuringly as the Going Merry sailed further and further away from the island.
A little bit later, the Straw Hats began to celebrate their adventure and their new Nakama.
"SHISHISHISHI!" Luffy laughed as he ran across the rear deck with a pair of chopsticks stuck up his nose and the other end wedged in his mouth. "WOOHOOO!"
"Heh heh!" Zoro chuckled as he, Sanji, and Chopper, "These cherry blossoms are like party decorations!"
"Wahahahahaha!" Sanji openly laughed.
"Hey, come on Chopper!" Usopp called out to the reindeer who was still sitting on the rear railing. "Snap out of it! You can't just sit there in a daze all night long, ya know!" The marksman grabbed Chopper and pulled him off of the railing then offered him a mug of grog, "Ya wanna a drink?"
WHAP! Sanji knocked Usopp aside as he threw his arm over Chopper's shoulders, "Come sing a song with us!" the drunk cook offered.
"Here!" Luffy called out as he offered a new pair of chopsticks to Chopper, "shove these chopsticks up your nose! Go on!" Chopper slipped away from the rowdy pirates, Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji were all clearly drunk while Luffy was being his normal rambunctious self. Y/N had disappeared and the three Baroque Works Agents were staring at the four pirates in surprise.
"Okay... I know they weren't this strange when we left Little Garden," Mr. 5 stated.
"Back then they were just happy to be alive," Ms. Valentine attempted to rationalize their behavior. "Now they're celebrating a new addition to their crew."
