Drum Island: A Mentor's Pupils
Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece.
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"I can honestly say, I never thought I'd see you on this island, of all places,"
Kirsty grinned nervously and rubbed the back of her neck, "To tell ya the truth, Doctorine, I never thought I'd come here either...but hey, here I am,"
She looked across the table, at a much older woman who wore a pair of purple pants, a shirt that was cut so low, her belly was showing, and a short purple jacket over it. Her blonde hair flowed behind her while two pairs of glasses rested on her head: a pair of normal, round glasses, and a pair of sunglasses.
The older woman frowned slightly, "But still, you're here...and yet," she pointed to a nearby room where Nami lay resting, "You're traveling with a little girl who's on the verge of death, and you did nothing to save her? Did I waste those years teaching you?"
Kirsty sighed and rubbed her eyes, "Long story short, she got sick, I was forbidden by my captain to help her, and here we are,"
"Captain?"
"Mhm," Kirsty nodded, "Believe it or not, Dr K, I'm a pirate!"
Dr Kureha lowered her bottle of umesha and stared at her for the longest time.
"Freak like you couldn't make it as a doctor, so you're a pirate...," she sighed and shook her head, "Guess I did waste my time after all,"
Kirsty's jaw dropped, "I didn't fail as a doctor! I was asked to join because I am a doctor! I looked after the village when you left for a long time, and everyone always came to me for help! I healed them, I took care of them...," she shook her head quickly, "I gave them another chance at life!"
"Oh?" Kureha raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, "Didja do that with, or without your freakish power of the Devil Fruit?"
"Both, but still, I helped people, Doctorine!" Kirsty snapped, "I did what we are supposed to do, and you're givin' me crap about it, ya old hag!"
It took Kirsty three seconds to realize what she had just said. Unfortunately, it was two seconds too late. Dr Kureha shot up from her seat and roundhouse-kicked the young doctor into a nearby closet.
"Baka!" Kureha glared at Kirsty as she picked herself up, "I'm not an old hag, you know! I'm still in my young, too young 130's!"
Kirsty rubbed her cheek, "Sheesh, I forgot how strong you are...haven't felt something like that in a long time," she muttered.
Kureha snorted a bit, "You shouldn't have forgotten what happens when people lie and say that I'm an old hag. Remember what happened when you and your sister first met me?"
"How could I forget?"
-Flashback-
"LOOK OUT!" A voice screamed from behind them, but before Kirsty could get a chance to do anything, Kyra suddenly crashed into her back, making them both fly forward towards the person in front of them, but before they could do anymore damage, both twins were suddenly kicked hard, landing back a little away from where they were moments before.
"Ouch! That hurt!" Kirsty moaned, rubbing the place where she got hit.
"I can't believe she actually kicked us!" Kyra replied.
"Hehehe," a laugh came which made both girls look up to see a tall older woman standing over them, raising her sunglasses as she looked at them both. "That's what you get you little brats."
"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL US YOU OLD HAG?" Kyra stood up at yelled as the woman immediately shot a glare down at her.
-///-
"What did Kyra do now?"
"Why do you always assume it's me?!" Kyra yelled as she waved her arms and legs around, kicking and punching while still in the woman's grasp.
"Some manner is what she needs," the woman replied before letting go of the twins, leaving Kirsty to land on her feet, and Kyra to land on her face, as she was being so reckless.
"Well…thank you for bringing them back," the man said before he knelt down to the young twins size. "Now what did I tell you two about running in the docks?"
"You're right, I'm sorry, father," Kirsty apologized as Kyra was too busy rubbing her bruised face.
"At least one of them has it," the woman replied as she watch on, as the man now known as their father, looked over at his other daughter.
"Kyra?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry,"
-End flashback-
"Truth be told, I think that was one of the best days of my life," Kirsty said quietly, voice cracking a little, "If I hadn't met you, I never would've learned how to be a doctor, and if we hadn't met you, you probably wouldn't have saved us from drowning that one time,"
Kureha grinned slightly and shrugged, "You and your baka sister just had to eat strange fruit, didn't ya? You were given the ability to heal yourself, and others and your sister...well," she shrugged again, "Could walk straight through solid walls...I can't believe how many times she annoyed me and she got away from me because I was slowed down by buildings,"
Kirsty chuckled, "I remember those days...it was before...," she trailed off and looked away.
"...you still have the scar?"
"Yeah,"
Her mentor sighed, "Guess it needs more time," she muttered, cracking her neck, "You should be grateful, at least to have only a scar,"
Kirsty raised an eyebrow, "Waddya mean?"
I guess she doesn't really remember... Kureha waved her off and grabbed her bottle of umeshu again, "Nothin', just the ramblings of a drunk,"
"Well, yeah, but-,"
Once again, Kirsty was kicked hard across the room. She collided with the wall and stayed there for a few moments, before sliding down the stone and peeling off, falling to the ground, her face smashed up.
"Ow...,"
"I'm not a drunk, baka, that was an expression!"
"..."
"What?"
"...I don't think I'll ever get you figured out, Doctorine,"
Dr Kureha snickered and put down her umeshu, "Well, while you're figuring me out, I want to show you something very interesting...,"
"Oh sure, just lemme snap my nose back into place...,"
SNAP!
"There we go...ow...,"
-----
The castle ontop of the Drum Mountain was something that Kirsty never thought she'd see. The inside was huge, and it had many levels, with many more doors. However, the strange thing was the entire interior of the castle was freezing cold and thick snow covered the rails and floor, icicles hanging on the ceiling and ledges.
"How in the world can you not freeze to death at night?" Kirsty shivered, rubbing her arms. Even though she still wore her coat and gloves, she was still pretty cold.
Kureha looked at her, surprised, "Freeze? Why, because it's just a little bit chilly?"
Kirsty facefaulted, "Nevermind...what is it you want to show me?"
"This," Kureha opened a door and stepped inside, Kirsty following behind her.
Devon lay quietly on his stomach on a large mattress, snoring as a thick blanket covered him. Nearby, his jacket with the mountain painted on it was draped across a chair, his swords laying in front of it.
Kureha walked over to Devon and gripped the blanket, "First off...why in the hell did he go out wearing little protection against the cold climate of this island?"
She's wondering about warm protection while she's letting her belly show? Kirsty asked herself.
"Oi oi...I'm talking to you!"
"Sorry," Kirsty shook her head, "I don't know why he only wore the jacket and shirt, Doctorine...he didn't seem to mind the weather much at first but...,"
Kureha rolled her eyes, "Baka...at least he could've put on a thicker coat,"
"Ha, good luck getting him to do that," Kirsty glanced at the jacket nearby, "He never lets that out of his sight. Must be very precious to him to wear instead of a coat,"
"Again, I say, baka," Kureha nodded to the sleeping swordsman, "Ready for this?"
"Ready as I'll ever be,"
Kureha quickly pulled away the covers and Kirsty immediately saw a large guaze bandage taped to Devon's back, right over the middle area between his shoulder blades. Kirsty whistled and leaned in, staring at the scars that covered the rest of Devon's back.
"He's been through a lot...," she realized, running her fingers along the scarred skin tissue, "I can't imagine what his brother must have,"
"Brother?"
"Yeah, a kid named Austin," Kirsty explained, "The two of them have been orphans since they were little...,"
"Now, why does that sound familiar?" Kureha cracked.
Kirsty was about to make a comeback, when she noticed something. A twitching underneath the bandage caught her eye.
"The hell is that?"
"That's what I wanted to show you. I found another bandage like this on his back when he was treated, but I thought I'd show you after I apply a new bandage," Kureha reached down and began to peel away the tape around the bandage, "This is something...,"
Kirsty waited as her mentor slowly removed the bandage. Half-way done, her eyes caught sight of something that made her jaw drop. There, underneath the bandage, was a pair of small wings.
"What the hell...," Kirsty gently prodded the wings, which twitched at her touch, "They're real!"
"Mhm," Kureha nodded, "Never seen that, have ya?"
Kirsty slowly shook her head before turning her gaze to her sleeping nakama, "Devon...what the hell are you, and where the hell are you from?"
-----
"Find them yet?!"
"No!"
"Keep looking!"
Herman hated the freezing snow he was shoveling away, but he had to bear through it. Somewhere, underneath the avalanched area of snow, was his captain, the young man who gave him a chance at his dreams.
Dusty, Aro, DJ, Chizuru, Niri and Austin helped out too. Dusty and Aro were trying to find Axe and Dalton too, but things weren't go so well with them. Even though their hearts were in the right place, their teamwork wasn't.
"Aro! Stop shoveling that over here!" she snapped, "I'm tryin' to dig!"
The panther Zoan kept flinging her snow at the fox Zoan, "So am I!"
"Go find a different spot!"
"You go find a different spot!"
"Make me!"
"Bring it!"
Shidyk shook his head and scratched his head, "Bakas...,"
"Tell me about it," Zolo muttered, arms folded across his chest as he watched the civilians and others dig for the two missing men.
"FOUND THEM!"
Niri dropped the snow she was holding and dashed over to where a small crowd was gathering. She pushed some of the men away and stared in horror at what she saw. Axe lay still, draped over Dalton's chest, his arms spread outward and his bandage torn away.
"Looks like he tried to protect the big guy from the avalanche...,"
Niri turned and nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Shidyk standing right behind her. She was about to snap at him when...
"Aw man...I dreamt I was in a maze, heading straight for a tall mountain while an old man and his wolf watched me...,"
The female sniper turned to see Axe rising to his feet, holding his side with one hand and scratching his head.
Niri glared at him and stomped over, fists clenched, her face turning red. Axe looked down at her, trying to keep his balance, "Wha-?"
"BAKA!" she screamed, pulling out her shotgun (which had been modified with the help of some fine tools, and a metal container). Everyone around them, except Shidyk, bolted for cover as she pointed the barrels straight at Axe's face at close range.
BOOM BOOM!
A small cloud of smoke covered Axe's face, blocking it from view. The captain coughed as the smoke faded away, chunks of iron stuck in his face and smears of gunpowder on his flesh.
"What was that for?"
"For making me worry like that, baka!"
Axe cringed a little at Niri's words, "Okay, sorry...just trying to help a guy out. Which, by the way, I don't think it worked," he muttered, turning to look down at Dalton as some villagers looked the large man over.
"Why?"
"Cuz I think Dalton's dead,"
-----
Kirsty sat in a large chair by Nami's bed, rubbing her eyes. Today was one of the most rough, yet interesting days of her life as a pirate. She survived an avalanche, climbed a mountain, met up with her old mentor, and now...
She turned her head and watched as a small, brown furry creature in a red hat and maroon pants, tried his very best to hide from her. However, instead of hiding behind the corner with his head sticking out, it was the other way around. She could see him very clearly, and part of his frightened face was hidden.
"His name is Chopper...and he's just an ordinary reindeer," Dr K's words echoed in her skull, "With only one difference. He ate the Hito Hito no Mi...,"
The small reindeer and Kirsty stared at each other for a long while, or so it seemed, looking each other over. Besides walking on hind legs, wearing pants and hat, the deer looked normal...except for the blue nose.
"Chopper...,"
The reindeer jumped, shaking in his legs as he stared Kirsty down.
Kirsty smiled a bit and slowly moved halfway to him before sitting down on the floor, arms ontop of her knees.
"Chopper, my name is Kirsty...Kirsty Chambers. I'm from the East Blue, outside the Grand Line, and I know Doctorine from a long time ago. She took me in and raised me...she taught me how to fight and how to be a good doctor, just like her," she said quietly as she held out her hand, "It's very nice to meet you. She told me that you helped out my friends when we arrived, and for that, I thank you,"
"SHUT UP! I DON'T NEED GRATITUDE FROM A HUMAN!"
Kirsty's eyes widened a bit, taken back by the sudden shout the reindeer had just made. What made things even more interesting, the reindeer's mood went from angry shouting, to a strange little dance with a goofy look on his face.
"DON'T MESS WITH ME!" Chopper screamed reverting back and forth from his serious face to his goofy dance, "Asshole. Don't mess with me jerk! It won't work, I mean it!"
Kirsty slowly turned her head around and saw that Nami was watching the two of them exchange 'pleasantries'. Nami had a similar look on Kirsty's face as Chopper did his little dancing ritual of insults.
"The type that can't hide his feelings, huh?" Nami asked quietly.
"Seems like it...," Kirsty replied in the same tone of voice.
-Meanwhile...-
Devon let out an angry growl as he pulled his jacket over his bare back, feeling his exposed wings press against the material, "Great, now I gotta explain this...how the hell am I gonna do that?! 'Oh, these? I dunno, I was born with them but I dunno what the hell they're for!'...yeah, that'll go over really well,"
He stepped out of the room, swords in his hands and immediately he was assaulted by a blast of freezing wind.
"Shit...," he quickly tied his blades to his side and tucked his hands into his jacket pockets, looking around, "What the hell? I thought castles were supposed to be warm, not frozen on the inside,"
Devon shivered as he walked around the walkways, looking around and taking in the sights until he saw what was causing the cold weather to blast through the castle. The main door, which was a giant, solid wooden door, was wide open.
"Who the hell keeps a door open in a place like this?" he muttered, walking over to the door and checking the area around it, "If I close this, the place should be warm in like an hour or something...,"
As he began to press his body weight against the door, Devon heard something over the howling wind. It sounded like a high-pitched chirping sound. He stopped pushing and looked up, backing away from the door until he saw the source. There, on the very top of the door, was the reason why it couldn't be shut.
It was a nest of birds with very light colored feathers, either pink or white. Most of them looked like babies while one or two looked like adults.
"So, that is your home?" Devon whispered. He bowed his head, "Forgive me...I will not disturb your home, or destroy your family, my friends,"
With that said, he exited the castle and took a look out at the area around him. The only things that were on the mountaintop besides the castle, was an area of thick trees, and a square structure near the edge.
Looks like those giant rabbit freaks can't make their way up here... he thought with a grin as he turned back and walked to the door, Just as well...I'd just make big fat lucky charms outta their feet! At least now, we can get Nami to feelin' better, than make our way back to Alabasta. Kind of a shame though... he reached down and thumbed his Water Moon blade, I was kinda hopin' for a little action. Didn't get much on Little Garden, but oh well, guess I can wait awhile longer.
As he made his way back, he sensed something...that didn't feel right. Quickly pulling out both katanas, Devon spun around, only to watch as three huge arrows flew through the air and struck him hard in the torso, sending him flying back to the door and pinning him there, the arrows peircing bone, flesh, and wood.
Devon yelped in pain as his swords fell to the snow covered ground, "Dammit...next time, I'll just stay inside...,"
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Kilnorc: Okay, this didn't come out exactly like I had planned, but I hope it's good nonetheless. Well, first off, lemme just say I apologize for the lack of Kirsty being told stuff about Chopper...that'll come soon, I promise, as well as some touching moments. Also, a major clue to Devon's heritage is revealed, which explains a bit, huh? I know some of my fans have pretty much suspected that...but now it is confirmed!
Wapol: Get out of my castle!
Chopper: I'm not letting you get one foot inside this castle, Wapol!
Kirsty: Same here! You'll have to go through us all!
Devon: What in the name of Odin...a dragon?!
On the next chapter of Desert Storm...
Drum Island: Hidden Powers Unleashed!
Chopper: Doctorine, he called me nakama...and she called me...little brother...
