First try at a One Piece fic, I've only seen up until after the CP9 arc... WE'LL SEE HOW THIS GOES!
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"I've told you already boy, there ain't no cure for bad dreams."
"There has to be something wrong with me!"
"Nope, you a perfectly healthy twenty-nine year old man, sorry you came all this way for nothing."
"I just... It doesn't make sense, I've had this dream before. It always came back every few months and now it's happening damn near every night!"
"It could have something to do with that fruit of yours, ancient types aren't entirely understood by anyone..."
"Maybe, can you examine my blood? I'm happy to give a sample!"
"There's nothing I can do for you, now leave before I lose my temper."
"But I-"
"OUT!"
And thus ended another conversation with the islands doctor, it ended the same way the last three times I asked her and now it looked like I came all the way to Drum Island for nothing. I sighed heavily as I made my way out of the castle, stepping onto the lift and riding it back down to the village of Bighorn. Stuffing my hands deep into the pockets of my coat to ward off the cold during the trip and releasing a bit of flame from my nose for extra heat.
This was the third island I'd arrived at on the Grand Line, I came here just a month ago looking for doctors, after serving aboard a Marine ship. I was sick of the nightmares and the corrupt navy, so I deserted. Unfortunately that left me with a small bounty, when I was forced to burn my way out of there. I suppose what Kureha said might be true, being a zoan type always left me on the wrong side of normal when it came to medical problems.
"Oh well." I muttered as the lift reached ground near Bighorn. Looking up I saw the hulking form of Dalton near the controls.
"Nolan, back a little early today aren't you?" He asked casually.
I shrugged as I stepped down, looking up at him, "The old witch is stubborn, I think it best I get out of here before she loses her temper."
Dalton chuckled lightly, "She can be that way, but you don't need to leave town. We've got plenty of room and would welcome a helping a hand, you wouldn't have to worry about any bounty hunters here."
"Eh, my bounty isn't that big anyways." I shrugged with a smile, "But thanks for the offer, I think I'm gonna get out of here tomorrow."
"Well I wish you luck on your journey, and I hope you find out the meaning behind your dream." Dalton replied in a friendly tone. I hadn't known him for more than a few weeks, but the man was good. He took care of these people and they damn near idolized him.
After exchanging a few more goodbyes I started heading for the inn at Bighorn, the sun was setting and I needed a rest.
...
"Do you want me to show you?"
"Show me what?"
"The future... The future of your world..."
"You can see the future?"
"Everyone crying out in agony... Pleading for help... Escape from the tyrannical plans set in motion..."
"W-What's going on!?"
The world around us changes, the sky darkens, sun blocked out by smoke.
The sound of chatter turns to gunfire.
"I don't wanna see this!"
Everything is burning.
"MAKE IT STOP!"
Pain and suffering.
"PLEASE!"
"You are, all of you... Nothing but a bump in the road. A dying light in the darkest of nights." A hand reaches from the shadow, a figure crawling across the ground.
There is blood everywhere.
"You could have changed things... Maybe you still can."
He grabs something. Just a small shred of straw fabric.
"But the shadow is coming. And you are hopeless to stop it."
A gust of wind blows the article away. Into my field of view. I know what that is. I've seen it before!
"You better keep your hands off my hat!"
...
As usual, I awoke covered in sweat. My body tense and my breaths short, labored. Taking a moment to collect my thoughts I look towards the window, the sun was coming up over the horizon, and a light snow fell from the skies.
"I guess I'm up early today." I sighed and got to my feet, slipping on the coat over my black shirt and lacing up my boots. I guess the nightmares won't be stopping anytime soon, so I decided to get back to my ship and leave port. I'd need to stock up on supplies first, good thing I still had the money to pay for it, if the old lady had charged me for that visit yesterday I'd be broke.
I spent some time chatting at the inn and eating breakfast before taking my leave, the sun now clear in the skies but beset by more snow bearing clouds.
I was just stepping out of the inn when I heard shouting, it sounded like it was coming from the nearby shores. I was going to dismiss it before a sudden gunshot cracked through the cold winter air. Narrowing my eyes I made up my mind quickly, running as fast as I could towards the noise.
Is it possible the Navy came looking for me? I wondered while running through the streets, passing out of town a moment later while most of the older men, the women and the children ran in doors, Drum island is an independent state... Could this be a take over? Or maybe-
"PIRATES!"
"Well that answers that question I suppose." I rolled my eyes, moments later nearing the edges of the forest and the source of all the racket. Though I was forced to a sliding stop, nearly crashing into Dalton's wide frame as I stepped into the light. He was walking away from the cliff side, nearly a hundred of the guards and villagers were following him. Each one armed with a rifle of some kind or another.
Looking up at the towns leader I tried to figure out what was going on, "Dalton I heard there were pirates what's going on?!"
"Relax Nolan," The giant of a man answered with a dismissive wave, "Everything is under control the pirates are no threat, they simply need to see a doctor."
"A doctor?" I repeated confused, "So what they got a injured in a fight and want the old lady to patch her up?" I scoffed, a little bias towards pirates given the military service.
"No apparently one of their friends is sick, at least that's how they put it." He shrugged simply, "They'll be joining us shortly."
"You're bringing them into town?!" I exclaimed in shock, looking towards the edge of the coast as I saw four figures coming into view, the pirates I assumed.
One was lanky, long nosed looking guy with a cap and curly hair. The second being a young girl, pale skin and sky blue hair not exactly the kind of person I'd expect on a pirate crew unless she was a captive. The third was a tall man dressed in black, he had short, combed blonde hair. He was carrying someone on his back, another woman by the look of it so I figured she was the sick one. And the fourth person was a skinny, wide eyed young fellow wearing red coat, jean shorts and a pair of sandals. Atop his head was a fine straw hat.
Straw hat? I thought to myself as they casually walked by, catching up to Dalton to speak with him and apparently not noticing my stare. I couldn't help it, something about that straw hat was throwing a red flag up in my mind. I started catching up to them, realizing I was getting left behind in the snow. I intended to question the boy in the straw hat, try to figure out who he was.
But as I approached him, getting into hearing range of him and his fellow pirates I heard his voice. And it hit like a brick wall, the same voice I'd been hearing in my nightmares for so long. The same voice that rung out at the end of my late night terrors, the voice that shined like a candle in the darkness.
You better keep your hands off my hat!
Well I hope I've atleast peaked your interest. Sorry if I messed anything up regarding drum island, I haven't seen the arc in some time but I'm rewatching the series now so uh... Hopefully any mistakes can be rectified in time!
