"Take this you stupid rabbits... DRAGON FLARE!" As the fiery whisp of flames escaped my lips every bit of vapor I'd loosed into the air caught flame, enhancing the mighty torrent I unleashed tenfold.
And a second later the wall of flames met a wall of snow. Followed by the hissing of water being instantly evaporated into the air, creating a thick fog around us. I had no way of telling when the avalanche would stop, but I would keep the flames going as long as I could.
"I am not going to die here."
The words repeated over and over again in my head, the animal instinct granted by my Zoan type devil fruit demanding either fight or flight. And unfortunately I chose fight. Probably not the smartest decision, but trying to outrun an avalanche seemed like an even dumber idea.
"H-He's really stopping it..." Sanji muttered as he watched in shock along with his captain.
"Yeah! Go Nolan keep shooting fire show that stupid snow who's boss!" The energetic straw hat cheered me on.
I didn't want to believe it, but even as my throat began to go raw from minutes of exhaling flame, the avalanche was coming to a slow around us. The snow in front of me dissipating into nothing but steam and those damn rabbits nowhere to be found. My wave of flames began to die down slowly as the threat had vanished. Seconds later I dropped to my knees gasping for breath, a bit of blood running from my mouth.
"Whoa hey are you alright?" Sanji asked placing a hand on my shoulder.
My response didn't come until a few bloody coughs escaped my lips, splattering the snow, "I just... It's hard maintaining a flame so big for so long, I'm a bit out of practice." I chuckled nervously despite the pain and my own rasping voice, "We should... Keep moving."
"Right, we've gotta get Nami up that mountain." Sanji nodded his head, "Luffy, let's get moving, I don't see those rabbits anywhere so we might be in the clear."
"Yeah you're right, let's get moving." The captain nodded in response.
After taking a moment to regain my composure, the three of us started up the trail once more. Everything seemed to be clear now side from the fresh snow we were forced to walk through. My throat was killing me but the bleeding had stopped, though I doubted fire was going to be an option for some time now. It would be a real problem if those rabbits came after us again but we didn't see anymore of them.
That is until Luffy spotted the same little one from before. It was helplessly digging at the paw of another, larger Lapahn that was seemingly buried in the snow. A victim of their own attack it appeared. The little monster saw us and quickly stood between us and the exposed paw.
Sanji and myself walked around the little Lapahn, tired of the monsters. Luffy however, walked right up to the tiny Lapahn, causing it to cower in fear, before he grabbed the paw and with one fluid motion pulled the massive creature free of the snow. It looked down at him, its former prey, with confusion. The Straw Hats only response was a small nod and a grin before catching up to us.
I suppose leaving the little bastard alone without a parent was a bit cruel... I just hoped that they would actually exhibit some kind of gratitude for Luffy's kindness. Because we definitely couldn't fight off those monsters again, or rather we didn't have time to, not with Nami's worsening condition.
We were nearly at the base of the mountain, the wall of stone in sight when the sound of crushed snow came up quickly from behind. The three of us turned just in time to jump back as a large long legged snow hippo dashed between us and the base of the mountain. Sitting on it's back was a very round man with a body mostly made of iron plating. A man with a weird beard and aphro, and finally a jester dressed man carrying a bow and arrows.
"Who the hell..." I muttered, getting a bad feeling already.
"So looks like we finally caught you Straw Hat!" The apparent loud mouthed leader spoke up suddenly, "You thought you could escape me? The mighty King Wapol!?"
"Wapol..." My fists clenched tightly, Dalton had told me all about this tyrannical prick during my stay at Bighorn. The corrupt and oppressive king bringing back plenty of bad memories from my own home.
"Hey it's that fat guy I beat up before." Luffy blinked obliviously.
"I AM NOT FAT I'M THE KING!" The tin man exploded furiously.
"How dare you insult our illustrious leader!" Kuromarimo growled readying into his boxers stance.
"I don't care who you are chubs," Sanji scoffed lighting another cigarette, "We've gotta see the doctor on the mountain so either get out of the way or get stomped."
"HAHAHA You!? Stomp me?" The king laughed harshly, "I'll show you who's getting stomped!"
The attack came quick, I barely had time to move as Wapol's giant mouth opened revealing a cannon hidden inside. Dalton's explanation of the tyrants devil fruit powers ringing in my head as the three of us jumped out of the way, narrowly avoiding the cannon ball he fired.
"Chess! Kuromarimo! Attack the straw hat!" Wapol ordered with a laugh, seeing that the captain was carrying Nami and would have a hard time defending himself, "New Rule in Drum Kingdom! No ignoring the King and she's ignoring me the most by being unconscious!"
"On it boss!" Chess smirked and fired three arrows at Luffy who was hesitant to make another fast move with Nami on his back.
Sanji and I however, had no problem intercepting both of the attackers. The chef engaging Kuromarimo with a series of speedy kicks that the boxer barely dodged while I got between Luffy and the arrows, incinerating them with a burst of flame. Reducing the wooden projectiles to nothing but ash in the snow and stinging my injured throat.
"Dammit we do not have time for these idiots!" Sanji growled while dodging Kuromarimo's jabs, "Nolan do you think you can fly yet?"
"I think so," I nodded in response while keeping an eye on the bowman, "The membrane should be healed by now."
"What are you thinking Sanji?" Luffy asked confused.
"Look we need to get Nami to the doctor and we won't be able to fly with these morons shooting at us." The chef explained, "I'll keep them busy, Nolan you get Luffy and Nami up that mountain."
He wants to stay behind? I didn't exactly think these three would be challenging opponents but could the Straw Hat's chef really take them all on? Or was he just buying time... Either way, I knew he was right I'd never make it off the ground with these guys attacking us.
"Are you sure about this?" I asked with a grim tone.
"Nolan, I want you to promise me you'll get her to the doctor safely."
The tone in his voice, I'd heard it a lot during my days in the Navy. Usually just before we engaged in battle, a lot of men telling me the final words for their families or friends, just in case they never made it back. Because with my abilities I was the one who could survive anything a bunch of pirates could throw at us. Men I knew for years put a lot of faith into me... But these two, pirates I used to hunt, were putting faith in someone they'd only met a few hours ago.
I didn't plan on letting them down.
"I promise." Was all I replied with, nodding my head slowly before taking my massive dragon form in a matter of seconds. Wapol and his henchmen stepping back in shock at the sudden change while Luffy hopped on my back with his sick friend.
"You better not die Sanji!" Luffy shouted as I spread my wings, "Or I'm gonna kick your ass!"
"They're about to take off!" Wapol shouted shaking his initial shock, "Chess stop them!"
"Not today!" Sanji interrupted the Kings order with a boot to the face, sending him crashing into the mountain wall before he began to spin. Assaulting both Chess and Kuromarimo with a barrage of kicks, "GO NOLAN!"
With one mighty flap from my sore wings, we were airborne. I circled back to make some room for myself before ascending against the mountainside, "Hang on Luffy this is gonna be a quick ride!" I called out while picking up speed through our vertical ascent. The straw hat hanging onto my shoulders and using his body to pin Nami to my back.
The harsh winds beat against my face and sore wings as we flew, the three mile ascent getting easier by the second. Though my wings were only recently healed, the razor edges of the bone cut through the wind with ease and reduced resistance.
At this rate we'd be at the top in no time. And then hopefully I could fly back down to the bottom and help Sanji. It had only been minutes since we'd left him behind, but I had a bad feeling neither of us knew the full extent of Wapol's Munch Munch powers.
Straw Hat's warning to the chef rang in my head and I couldn't help but let out a low rumbling chuckle, "Yeah chef, you better not die down there."
The next chapter will be the end of Wapol, so it's gonna be a long one with mostly action :3
