Thanks for the early support guys :3 I'll try to keep you all happy lol
Now a side note before we begin, I'm sure you've all seen the Drum Island arc, and aside from Choppers backstory it was a little lackluster given that the enemy is such a little bitch. So I'm gonna be amping him up a bit :3 I hope you enjoy
I wasn't sure what to say, I could feel my breaths coming more rapidly. Was I hyperventilating? I felt dizzy, staggering slightly as a whirlwind of images flowed through my mind. Each one a reminder of my nightmares, the repetitious scenes making my head spin. I wasn't sure it would ever stop, my heart was pounding, my legs wobbling while one of my hands involuntarily gripped the side of my head.
"Nolan?"
It all came to a screeching halt as Dalton's voice brought me back to reality. Though the mental anguish had ceased I still felt a little nauseous, and my breathing labored. Was that a panic attack? I couldn't be sure, but I my breathing was so labored I felt like I'd just run a marathon.
"What's wrong with him?" The long nosed pirate questioned with a raised eyebrow, "Is he sick too?"
"If you're sick you better stay away from Nami!" The young man with blonde hair quickly added, getting between myself and the straw hat boy.
"I... I'm alright just... I didn't get much sleep last night I'm just tired." I lied through a fake smile. Dalton didn't appear convinced at all, in fact he appeared more concerned than confused, "Anyways uh... We should hurry up and get to town!"
. . .
I refrained from speaking to Straw Hat just yet, allowing him and his crew to speak with Dalton in private. I had my own thoughts to worry about anyways, like the nightmares that were now present in my reality. At least, in a small way. For now I'd have to leave it alone, with the way things were going they'd probably be going to Kureha anyways so I had plenty of time to speak with the so called Captain.
My attention was drawn to the door of Daltons home opening, and out stepped the Straw Hat and his crew. He still appeared to be carrying the one I gathered to be called Nami. I guess they weren't wasting any time getting her to the doctor. That either meant she was getting worse or she couldn't get any worse.
"Are you sure about this?" Dalton asked looking down at Straw Hat, "The ice on the lift wires could be cleared by mid day."
"We don't have time for that." The blonde huffed, a bit of smoke fuming from his mouth after he took a long drag from his cigarette, "Nami's fever is getting worse, if climbing that mountain is the only way to save her then so be it."
"Whoa whoa you're gonna climb the mountain?!" I exclaimed looking at the pirates with shock.
"Of course," The captain grinned eagerly, "No mountain is gonna stop us from getting Nami to the doctor."
I need get on this guys good side, to get information. I narrowed my eyes in thought for a moment before speaking up, "I could get you up there."
The Straw Hat titled his head confused, "How? You gonna carry us? You don't look that strong."
Sweatdropping a bit I chuckled, "Uh... Well I have devil fruit powers." Hopefully that will at least keep him interested, "I can fly."
"That's so cool!" The captain beamed with a childlike wonder, it was weird to say the least. As he seemingly totally forgot about his sick friend. Meanwhile the rest of his crew eyed me with suspicion.
"So what you flap your arms and lift off?" The long nosed one questioned before snickering slightly, "That's just ridiculous."
"Eh... Not exactly, I'm a Zoan Type." I explained with a shrug, "I can change between a human and beast form."
"Awesome!" Straw Hat was, once again, beaming like a child. Was he really their captain? "Show me show me show me show me show me!"
"Alright alright," I held up my hands to make him stop, "But not here, I wouldn't wanna scare the locals." I added with a little chuckle, imaging all the residence running in fear as I took to the skies.
"Then come this way." Dalton spoke up waving us towards the edge of town, towards a thick patch of pine trees to keep me out of sight no doubt. I'd spoken with Dalton some time ago about my abilities, and in turn I learned about his. We both agreed that me changing in public might make people nervous, ever since Blackbeard raided the Drum Kingdom everyone here was wary of outsiders.
A short walk later, we were all standing just beyond a few rows of pine trees outside of Bighorn Village.
"Alright I'll need a bit of room," I instructed while removing my jacket and shirt, handing it off to the blue haired girl, "Mind holding this? Else my wings will tear them apart."
"Uh... No problem." She smiled politely in response before taking a step back with the others.
"Okay, here we go." I started the change as usual, taking a deep breath and a few seconds to focus. My eyes closed while I activated the powers I had within, second nature to me at this point, "Ngh!" Teeth and fists clenching my body began to change, the air around me growing hot enough to melt the snow. Bones shifted and contorted, muscles moving and skin rippling.
It started with my legs, bones bending and toes merging together until I had two long, red scaled reptilian feet. Three toes with sharp claws on the end, and a single spike growing from the heal. My height had now already extended to eight feet.
Next came by torso, my usual abs and pecs being consumed under a thick hide of scales. Tough red scales over my back and shoulders, while smoother yellow scales covered my soft belly. Next came the tail, a thick spiky new appendage growing from the base of my spine and extending further by the second in proportion with the rest of me. To top it off a thin row of spines began to grow from the base of my skull down to the tip of my tail.
I was then forced down onto my hands as they too transformed into reptilian claws just as my feet had but with less muscle and more finger control. And as this occurred two massive wings sprouted from my shoulder blades, the edges of each wing like a razor sharp blade.
And finally my head began to change. It started with a splitting headache and a stretching neck, as two thick horns protruded from my skull, sticking straight forward with a slight curve. Meanwhile my face was getting longer, turning into more a snout than a mouth and nose. My teeth replaced with jagged fangs, eyes going from emerald green to golden yellow while my pupils morphed into reptilian slits and my tongue writhed in agony while changing into a thin snakelike forked piece.
What usually felt like minutes had happened in but a few seconds. And now I stood, lumbering nearly over the treeline as a dragon the size of a small house. I turned my long neck to peer down at the pirate crew who watched in awe, Dalton himself shocked by the transformation we had only spoken of. The long nosed young man hiding somewhere, I couldn't see him but his scent was easy enough to track.
"This... Is... AWESOME!" The captains voice exploded in my ear as he jumped up onto my back with his sick friend. Both being pulled by one long stretchy arm. I guess he also has devil fruit powers.
"Wait a straw hat and stretchy limbs? Where have a heard of that before?..."
"Hey don't just go jumping up like that with Nami on your back!" The blonde man shouted throwing a few fast kicks at his captain who stretched his neck to dodge, "We don't even know if this thing is safe!"
Internally smirking, I figured I might as well have a bit of fun. I got the blondes attention with a low, rumbling growl as I turned my head to face him, "I am not, a thing." My voice was heavily distorted in this form, turning my words to sound of low growls and guttural snarls, "And I am far safer than climbing three miles of shear rock." I was proud to see the angry blonde man pale as he looked into my eyes.
"Uh... Y-Yeah sure... I trust you." He stammered before slumping down between my wings with his captain.
"Good." I chuckled turning my attention to Dalton who seemed to not even flinch under my gaze, "Well I guess we'll be off, this should be a short trip." I assured while spreading my wings for take off. It felt good to stretch them out after the change.
"Right... Good luck up there and be careful Nolan, the skies of Drum Kingdom are harsh." He reminded me while stepping back urging the blue haired girl to do the same.
"Of course." I nodded before shooting a sideways glance at the pirates on my back, "Hang on, take off is always a bit rough!" I didn't really give them a chance to prepare, I felt like scaring them a little. So after a quick crouch, I rocketed off the ground and high into the air above Bighorn Village. The blonde screaming in terror while the captain laughed with excitement.
And he continued laughing as I circled the town and started off towards the mountain top that the witch Kureha resided on.
"I think I'm starting to like this guy." I thought as the Straw Hat began hammering me with questions about being a dragon. At the very least it wouldn't be a boring trip.
