Episode 90

"Hiluluk's Cherry Blossoms! Miracle of the Drum Rockies" is the 90th episode of the One Piece anime.

Short Summary
After Luffy finally convinces Chopper to join his crew, Chopper announces his intentions to join their crew to Dr. Kureha, who does not take it too well; but after Chopper escapes from the castle, she decides to give the whole Straw Hat crew a beautiful farewell gift.

Long Summary
Dr. Hiluluk swore in the past that he would somehow make cherry blossoms bloom in Drum Kingdom, a miracle he was certain would save the nation. Dr. Kureha had her doubts, but Hiluluk was certain the vision would save his people, just as he was convinced they had saved him.

In the present, Chopper is sitting atop the castle following the end of the Straw Hat Pirates' battle with Wapol, contemplating his time with Dr. Hiluluk, and thinking of his cherry blossom-emblazoned jolly roger. He also remembers how Hiluluk told him once that he needs to go out to sea, so he can see how relatively insignificant his personal issues truly are. He is soon found by Luffy, who resumes chasing Chopper to make him part of the crew.

Dr. Kureha rounds up the wounded, including Dalton, Sanji and Nami, and returns them to the infirmary. She deals roughly with Sanji's back, which he re-injured in the battle. She then asks Dalton for the key to the castle armory. Dalton says that Wapol would've had the key, and it likely went flying along with him. Nami speaks up, eager to negotiate terms of payment. She asks Kureha to waive payment and let her and Sanji go immediately. Kureha thinks Nami is crazy; she demands all treasure on the Going Merry, and that they remain for two more days to fully heal. Nami then reveals the key to the armory, which she swiped from Wapol during the battle. Kureha takes the key and waives payment. Though she officially says they have to remain, she tells Nami she has some coats in a closet. She also says Sanji's treatment is complete, permitting her to leave with him if she so chooses.

That evening, Chopper finally returns to the roof, thinking he gave Luffy the slip. He thinks it's for the best that he not join the Straw Hats. He then hears Luffy call out to him from below. Zoro and Usopp are convinced that Chopper does not want to go, but Chopper actually does. Chopper finally jumps down and confronts Luffy as Nami and Vivi drag Sanji out from the castle. Chopper tries to explain that he can never be on Luffy's crew because he is a monster, even though he really wants to be a pirate. As he invites Luffy to return some time, Luffy cries out to Chopper to shut up and come with him anyway. Chopper is moved to tears, finally having friends who do not care that he is different. The others smile—except Sanji, who is still unconscious, and Zoro, who thinks "shut up" isn't an invitation.

The Straw Hats give Chopper some time to say goodbye to Kureha while Usopp gets the Drum Ropeway ready. Kureha is in the armory, supervising the soldiers moving the cannons outside for some unknown reason. She returns to the infirmary, finding only Dalton there, who confirms that the others have left. Chopper finds her there, and tells her that he is leaving to become the doctor for the Straw Hat Pirates. She berates him, accusing him of having no gratitude for her training. Chopper says he is every bit a man as a reindeer. Kureha starts to throw her ornamental arms at him, saying he'll leave over her dead body. Chopper runs away, with Kureha giving chase through the armory.

As they run through the armory, Nami wonders about the commotion growing in the castle. Chopper goes to Walk Point and hitches into Kureha's sleigh. Kureha yells to him as he pulls out of the castle that he's following a crazy fantasy just like Hiluluk. Chopper thinks she's wrong, that Hiluluk completed his research before he died. He calls out to the Straw Hats to get into the sleigh, arriving right when Usopp finishes preparing the ropeway. The nearby villagers look into the sky finding an apparent flying reindeer. Really it's Chopper running down the ropeway with Kureha's sleigh, with the Straw Hats towing Luffy behind. Chopper contemplates happier times during his medical training as he runs away. Sanji comes to as they get to ground and run for the shoreline. Kureha watches from the top of the ropeway, and Dalton joins her. She says that her pet simply ran away. She simply doesn't like long, drawn-out, sad goodbyes. She tells Dalton to join her by the assembled cannons, so she can give Chopper a send-off.

Chopper thinks about Hiluluk, wondering if he really did complete his research, or was just lying to make Chopper feel better at the end of his life. A flashback shows Hiluluk explaining his research to Kureha. The guards at the top of Drum Rock fire the cannons, leaving the villagers to wonder if the battle is resuming. Chopper stops and watches as something incredible happens. Hiluluk explained that the dust he created would color the snow, turning it bright pink. Fired above Drum Rock, it makes the mountain look like a gigantic cherry tree, with the snow looking like falling cherry blossoms. Kureha still doesn't understand what Hiluluk was thinking. Upon seeing the fruition of his father figure's work, Chopper bursts into tears. Everyone else is moved as well.

Kureha bids Chopper one last farewell... "Now go, you foolish boy!"

Anime Notes

 * This was the final episode of the series to air on Fox. Although the series would continue to be dubbed by 4Kids up until the Rainbow Mist Arc, the remainder of the 4Kids dubbed episodes would air exclusively on Cartoon Network.
 * Chopper's eyecatcher was first seen in this episode, and his silhouetted figure joins the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates in the background thereafter.
 * Chopper reads the title of the next episode in the preview.

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Episodi 90