Chapter 10: Monster
"What's that?" asked Chopper peering into the sky spotting Commander Sukini flying straight at him. "Some kind of bird?"
"None I've ever seen," replied Lemon. "It looks like it's coming right at us."
"I've got a bad feeling about this," commented Rocky sternly.
"Food!" Screeched Sukini as flew at Chopper and knocked him onto his back with surprising force. "You'll fill me up quite nicely!"
"What is this thing?" cried Chopper. "A mosquito?"
"Oh, don't tell me," growled Rocky. "Is that one of Big Mom's members?"
"Big Mom?" asked the Candyman. "I'd hate to see what's the mother of something that ugly."
"The one who's been forcing us to fill outrageous orders of sweets for her," explained Rocky.
"Oh, yeah, her," he recalled. "When she first came upon this island she practically devoured every last scrap of it on her own. Seeing such selfish gluttony, I couldn't bare to continue my work while such a pig would eat it all on her own."
"Is that why you really left so long ago?" asked Rocky.
"Or not," he continued. "Truth be told, I forget why I left and never came back."
"Then don't say something profound like that then!" snapped Rocky.
"A little help!" cried Chopper struggling with Sukini as he desperately tried to such all the blubber out of Choppers obese body.
"But if that guy is in Big Mom's crew," cried Lemon. "We'll all be done for if we try and cross him." Lemon desperately wanted to be adamant about that point, but seeing Chopper's helpless expression was something he couldn't ignore and he turned once more to his Sugar King persona. "However, even if that is true, a hero of justice will never turn his back on someone in need." Trembling fearfully, Lemon leapt at Sukini only to be swatted away.
"Nobody will get in the way of my meals," drooled Sukini. "Time to suck him dry!" Thrusting his needle-like mouth into Chopper's he started to suck out his blood and fill his empty belly.
"Get off him!" barked Rocky leaping up to force Sukini off, but all his attacks didn't make him budge or even pause from eating. "He's just skin and bones, but he's like a rock. Is that his haki?"
"There has to be a way to get to him," said Lemon. "But what do you do with a mosquito that you can't swat?"
"Wait," said Chopper getting an idea. "Get into my backpack and fine a yellow spray bottle and use that on him."
"Let's see here," said Lemon opening Chopper's backpack and rummaging through it. "You mean this thing?"
"Yeah!" answered Chopper. "Use it quickly! Spray it on him!"
Hastily climbing up Chopper's side, Lemon nervously approached Sukini. He trembled and shook as he extended and arm he aimed the spray bottle at him and sprayed it at him.
"Ugh, gah," groaned Sukini letting go of Chopper and flying away while covering his face. "That stinks! So repulsive!"
"Wh-what was in that bottle?" asked Lemon curiously.
"Essense of Marigolds," explained Chopper. "Mosquitos don't like the smell and avoid it."
"That was very lucky you had that with you," commented Lemon using the spray all over himself.
"Since mosquitos often carry diseases that can be transferred when they suck blood, the best protection is to simply keep them away," explained Chopper. "But I never thought I'd need to use it in a fight."
"I finally found such a big and satisfying meal," snapped Sukini. "Do you really think that I am going to let you ruin it for me?"
"It didn't last nearly as long as I had hoped," commented Chopper trying to get up. "I can't even get up yet and even if I could, what can I do against one of Big Mom's pirates. I don't even want to think what one of the Yonko will do if they find out about this."
"It's already too late at this point," stated Rocky. "We're well beyond the deadline and this guy is far too angry to be reasoned with now. So no matter what, we've got to fight just to survive. Think you can figure some way to defeat him while I fight him? I doubt I could finish him off myself, but my hard body should at least be able to protect me for a while anyway."
"Yeah, Rocky!" cheered Lemon. "Great plan!"
"You'll be helping me out too," he added. "Providing cover fire. We'll need to use all our might to ensure we can hold out as long as possible."
"Boo!" countered Lemon. "Bad plan! Terrible plan."
"Got to think of a plan," cried Chopper nervously as Rocky and Lemon tried their best to fight off Sukini. Despite their best efforts, it was clear from the start that they were outmatched. He was easily flying circles around them and if not for Rocky's jawbreaker-hard body, they wouldn't have lasted very long. "Oh, I can't think of anything. If Luffy was here he'd just beat the bad guy up and protect everyone. If Zoro was here he'd beat the bad guy and protect everyone. Most of my crew would be able to do that, but not me. I'm not strong enough to fight someone like this, not unless they are incredibly stupid at the same time."
"That can be a big problem," agreed the Candyman. "Looks like we're all doomed."
"Can't you do anything?" asked Chopper. "You were able to cure me."
"Maybe I shouldn't have done so before this guy showed up," he commented. "You certainly must have been something if you were able to survive Sweet Death and get here in one piece, uh, one big piece."
"I'm only strong when I lose control," admitted Chopper. "I become a monster who can't distinguish between friends and enemies."
"Hardly seems to be an issue when we've already got a monster attacking us," he pointed out. "What more could one more hurt."
"Ok then," gulped Chopper taking three rumble balls out. "When I eat these no telling how long I'll rampage." He tossed them into his maw and bit down on them, before swallowing them all at once. At once he felt the his body begin the change and grow as he started changing into his Monster Point form. His hooves transformed into fingers as his arms and legs extended. His fur grew longer, covering over his obese belly and his clothes clung to him tightly as they attempted to not rip. His horns extended and curved and his nose grew broader and longer in his face. As the transformation finished, Chopper let out a fierce roar.
"Ahh!" cried the Candyman. "Monster!"
"You're the one who told me to transform!" snapped Chopper. "Wait, I didn't lose consciousness." Chopper moved his arms and took a few steps, cautiously, but curiously. "I've never been able to control this form before, but now I can, but how?"
"Perhaps the cure for the Sweet Death had something to do with it," commented the Candyman. "It did manage to return you to your senses. Perhaps it had an effect on this form of yours too."
"Then I don't have to worry about losing control when I'm fighting like this," commented Chopper as he turned to see the fight with Sukini still in progress, but quickly coming to an end.
"You look far too sour for my taste," Sukini stated holding up Lemon close to his needle-like maw. "But the other one was completely solid. Nothing fluid to drink from him." He turned to Rocky, cracked and broken on the ground where he had been overwhelmed. "You'll do as a quick snack before I have my main course, that great, big, fat piece of venison."
"Who would have thought," wheezed Lemon. "That the great Sugar King would meet his end like this?"
"Stop with the dramatics," buzzed Sukini. "You'll spoil my appetite."
"You shouldn't eat my friends!" roared Chopper swatting Sukini away like he was swatting at a normal-sized mosquito.
"You've got even bigger," stated Sukini slightly surprised but even more delighted his main course was even more bountiful now. "And what makes you think you have the right to dictate my diet?"
"I am a doctor after all," Chopper explained more angry than he was afraid at the moment. "And if you don't leave now I can guarantee it will be detrimental to your health."
"A bold statement," admitted Sukini. "But Big Mom will never forgive anyone who upsets her. You should just submit yourself to being consumed by me and accept death at my hands than the nightmare of being devoured by her. Even compared to me, her appetite is truly beastly."
"I'm well aware of that," stated Chopper. "I know how dangerous it is to go against any of the Yonkou. It could cause a lot of trouble for both me and my friends."
"Good," buzzed Sukini taking aim for Chopper's fat gut eager to suck the life out of him till he was nothing but skin and bones. "Then just stay still and let me eat you!"
"I might just do that a while back," continued Chopper. "I probably wouldn't have had the strength to fight you anyway, but I've made a promise with my friends to meet back at that place in two years. I have been training so hard to get ready for that day. We are going into the new world together and I won't let anyone get in my way no matter what happens. I don't care if it does get Big Mom angry at us. Odds are we'd have to fight her anyway and Luffy would probably piss her off before long anyway!" Lifting his arm up he swung it at Sukini and slapped him away with all his might.
"He did it!" cried Lemon happily as he watched Sukini get sent off the island and far out of sight. "We're not going to die. Hi five!"
"My arm is over there," Rocky said. "And the other one is over there. Anyone care to help put me back together?"
"Don't you fret," laughed the Candyman picking up some of his pieces. "I can put you back together no sweat."
"Thank you," Rocky said gratefully, but mood changed quickly when he saw the Candyman put a chunk of his rocky candy body in his mouth and sucked on it. "Don't eat me!"
"Captain! Am I seeing things?" asked a marine about a ship.
"I can't believe it either," the captain replied. "If I'm not mistaken it's Picky Eater Sukini of the Big Mom Pirates. He's been an elusive one. He's often so skinny he can just slip through the bars of a jail cell or even out of handcuffs, but now he's practically been delivered to us like a gift from the heavens."
"Ugh, of all the ships to end up on," groaned Sukini suddenly realizing his transponder snail in his pocket was ringing. "It's Big Mom. Gotta report to her." Taking it out he answered it. "Hello, Big Mom?"
"Sukini, tell me, how is the shipment from Confectionaria going?" she asked sounding impatient. "You are past due for a report and I am losing my patience."
"Th-there has been a slight delay," he admitted. "I had a bit of trouble with some opponents and I've unfortunately been furthered delayed with some marines, but I'll hurry to get things fixed and make sure to punish those who have gone against us. I'll just need some reinforcements brought in if you can spare someone like Pekoms."
"If you are having trouble with such a simple task," she stated. "Then what good are you to me? Just the thought of my tea party being delayed is upsetting my appetite. If the marines want you, then so be it."
"What?" he cried fearfully. "But I am a commander of your team. Surely you wouldn't just abandon me just like that."
"I have a business proposition with the Vinsmoke Family," she explained. "An alliance with them will be far more beneficial than wasting time with you. All that is needed is to searching out a certain missing family member."
"Hey!" he cried. "You can't do this to me!" The snail call ended, but he continued to cry and scream out unaware as the marines put restraints on him and brought him into the brig.
"And there you go," said the Candyman to Rocky as he finished putting his back together at the coast of the island as the others were saying their goodbyes to Chopper.
"As expect of you," replied Rocky. "I'm all back together and you even made sure to replace the parts that were missing. Even now, nobody else has your skills for making candy."
"Well, I was the one who built this island after all," he bragged. "And I must say you all have done a lousy job taking care of the place in my absence."
"Well, you did just leave us on a whim," retorted Rocky trying his best not to forget his gratitude.
"Well, maybe I will have a whim to return and fix the place up," the Candyman said. "Probably long overdue for my magic touch."
"It'd be really appreciated," Rocky told him. "That's for certain."
"I wonder kinds of dangerous treats I should create this time," he pondered out loud. "Perhaps an infinite inflate marshmallow or chewing gum that makes your entire body go numb."
"Don't you dare!" snapped Rocky beating the Candyman over the head for suggesting such ideas. "There's no way we'd ever need dangerous things like that!"
"I suppose I'll just have to think up some other stuff to make then," replied the Candyman a bit of disappointment in his voice. "And I guess you'll want to keep a close eye on me too to ensure I don't get carried away. Perhaps we could give each other a few pointers while we're at it."
"Me, bake sweets with you," Rocky replied in awe. "I don't know what to say?"
"You can think of that later," the Candyman told him. "Your friend is about to leave. You don't want to miss your chance to see him off, now, do you?"
"Of course not," Rocky replied heading towards the ship.
"We're all stocked and ready to sail for Torino Kingdom to drop Chopper off," Lolli told everyone. "It shouldn't take us more than a few days, but it looks like we'll have more than enough time before Big Mom sends another ship over to collect her sweets."
"Won't she be mad though," Taffy pointed out. "We're still late. She might decide to eat us all. I'd rather eat myself that let her do it."
"From what we've gathered from Sukini's men, he was apprehended by the Navy and Big Mom has apparently put all the blame on him so we should be in the clear. None of them will say what happened here either since they owe us for saving them after Sukini sucked the life out of them."
"Hey guys," Churro whispered to Taffy and Lolli. "We got some pirates over there. Don't you think we ought to take care of them before they start causing trouble?"
"Just do me a favor and take your short term memory loss below deck for a while," sighed Lolli.
"What are you talking about?" asked Churro. "You'd think I'd remember if I had something as absurd as that." Nonetheless, Churro made his way below the deck of the ship.
"And knowing you had the strength within you all along," lied Lemon feeding Chopper more of his exaggerations. "I purposely held back my full strength to allow you to be the one to swat that pesky bug and save the day."
"Really?" exclaimed Chopper excitedly, his fat belly bouncing and jiggling.
"But of course," Lemon continued exuding false confidence. "And if needed I could have defeated him with ease at any moment too so there never was any real danger."
"You really are a great hero," declared Chopper starry-eyed.
"Are you still spouting all that nonsense," sighed Churro entering the room.
"That you remember," grumbled Lemon.
"We'll be leaving soon to bring Chopper back to Torino Kingdom," he informed them. "One thing though, who is Chopper, is he all ready to go, and why are we taking him there?"
"I'm Chopper," Chopper answered. "And I'm all packed with more than enough sweets from the island. At the start I was planning on getting medicinal ingredients, but this stuff is just as good."
"You sure you want to bring even more sweets with you?" asked Lemon. "You ended up really fat after your short time here."
"The Candyman told me I'd have to work off all the weight normally, but since I'm not under the influence of the Sweet Death anymore I shouldn't have to worry about going berserk and putting on a lot of weight all at once."
"That's a relief," commented Lemon. "I wouldn't want to be on the ship with you going after me again."
"We'll I better go make sure I say my goodbyes to everyone before we set sail," said Chopper waddling out of the room and towards the deck."
"Chopper!" called the Syrup sisters as they spotted Chopper appear on the deck. "It was fun to see you hear even if it was only for a short time."
"Yeah it was," he agreed waving to them.
"We're happy to have met you," Honey told him.
"No, we're sad to see him go," argued Maple.
"We're both happy to have met you and sad to see you go," they said together.
"Same to you too," sniffled Chopper getting a bit teary-eyed. "I only knew you all for a little while, but I will miss you. I'll miss everyone."
"At least you won't have to worry," ensured Rocky. "Everyone is okay and we've got nothing to worry about now. Nothing left for you to do now except continue on with your own adventures."
"I know that," replied Chopper drying his face. "Lolli, are we ready to set sail?"
"All set," she answered. "We're setting sail now. Taffy, drop the sail. The wind's in our favor."
"I'm on it," he replied getting to work on it with one arm while eating his other.
"Everyone," thought Chopper, thinking of the other Strawhat Pirates. "I think I've finally started to get stronger, if just a little bit. There is still a lot of time before we meet again so I'm going to try and get even stronger by then too. Hopefully, I'll be less round by then too." Chopper paused from his thoughts for a moment when his stomach rumbled and his sweet tooth started aching. "Well, maybe less round if I can't keep from eating all those treats." Waddling back down below deck, he entered his room and gazed at the tons of confectionaries he had stockpiled on board. "I know I should try and cut down, but maybe one wouldn't hurt..."
