livinganime14: Exactly! I think it shouldn't be too hard to just write in the summary that it's discontinued or on hiatus.

Imperatia: There's one author who has only a handful of stories out of hundreds that are finished and she updates yearly. I'm not gonna say who it is, but it's quite irritating.


So, a little epilogue left after this one. Then it's over. T_T I just binged a TV show on Netflix called "Containment" and it made me cry on almost every episode. I recommend it if you like outbreak shows/movies. Though it did make me have a zombie dream, even though the show isn't about zombies. Online school is supposed to start tomorrow morning but my teacher still hasn't emailed. And I was able to post two oneshots! I can NEVER do short stories! One of them is a pairing I've never done: Shanks x Makino. Please go check it out! Anyways, enjoy~


Luffy didn't get to say goodbye to anyone from Fishman Island, not that he would especially wish to. He was kept unconscious, on a gurney that was brought to the Moby Dick from the palace. The guards bowed to him on his way, even if he didn't see it or know it was happening. Sabo was holding onto Luffy's limp hand as Marco and Izo lead the gurney.

Ace was carrying a thick bag of treasures for Luffy, the shells broken from when he'd fallen on top of them after getting hurt. Instead, in the bag was beautiful, one of a kind treasures and sea shells. It was the least the kingdom could do for the dragon who saved their queen.

Otohime had been honest with the kingdom and told them what Luffy really was. No one hated him for it, and Sabo and Ace hoped they would see dragons differently now that one saved their queen from death. Luffy didn't do it for that, he saved his brothers, but it would be a nice side effect, given what had happened to him afterwards.

Luffy was transported to the infirmary, Thatch taking the treasure and putting it in the boys' room. It wouldn't be theirs much longer, and Sabo could tell some of the commanders were going to miss them. He didn't address it, and Ace didn't notice it. When the ship was pushed back into the sea, there was a swarm of huge dragons waiting, just outside of the view of those in the bubble island.

No one protested, and trusted them, as a dragon grabbed onto the floatation device at the front of the ship, and swam as fast as it could to the surface. While the descent took five hours, the rise only took twenty minutes as the huge and fast dragon raced them to surface.

Ace was in the infirmary with Luffy while Sabo stayed out on deck to see what was going to happen next. He trusted Ace to handle Luffy, who was still asleep anyways. They were trying to make it so Luffy didn't have any stimuli that might affect his body. Whiskey had told Sabo that something had changed in his blood work, and keeping him asleep would probably be best. She and Tami had been irritated they were unable to help care for him, but there wasn't anything either of them could have done to make it any better.

"What is that?" Sabo asked, pointing to the surface that had multiple dark circles above them. "Whitebeard, what are those circles?" The captain had a deep frown on.

"Those are ships, with sea stone bottoms. They are marine ships, but I don't think they will cause us a problem," the captain replied as he, Sabo and everyone on deck watched dragons race froward and obliterate the marine ships, attacking them ferociously until the water was full of debris and some blood.

The main dragon bringing them up easily cleared away the debris with a flick of its beautiful and long tail, and soon the ship was back into open air, everyone holding onto the railing as water sloshed over the sides of the ship. Sabo stumbled to the side but Whitebeard steadied him with a hand.

"Thanks," Sabo said. Whitebeard nodded.

"Why don't you go inside, Sabo? I think it would be safer for you to be inside. The New World is nothing compared to Paradise. These seas will kill you if you aren't ready. We should be at the island in less than two days," Whitebeard informed. "And with the dragons' help, even less." Sabo nodded and hurried inside, passing pirates running around the place frantically, and it made Sabo worry.

Was the New World really so bad? He hurried to the infirmary, where Ace was sitting on the bed next to Luffy's head. "We're here. Whitebeard says it'll take two days at the most to get there. How is Luffy doing?" When Ace looked worried up to Sabo, the blonde grew uneasy.

"I think he's having bad dreams," Ace said, not responding to Sabo's first statements. Sabo hurried over, and asked what his brother meant. "He keeps mumbling things and twitching, but he'd heavily medicated." Ace put his fingers to his lips in worry. "It's gonna be a long two days."

Sabo pulled the doctor's chair up next to the bed and sat down, gently touching Luffy's cheek. He was muttering under his breath, though the brothers couldn't understand what he was saying. And Luffy didn't usually talk when he wanted to, so who was he trying to talk to? In his dreams? They hoped his dreams weren't too bad, and thought they were doing the right thing with keeping him asleep.

Both of them were silent for much of the day, holding Luffy's hands gently or caressing his face lovingly, wanting him to know they were there for him and that the journey was nearly over. He just had to hang on for a couple more days, and then things would be right again.

Ace found himself talking to Luffy in a soft voice, saying things like, "You can fly again and catch us some birds. Remember when you would catch birds in the trees when learning to fly?" He said kind things, bringing up good memories, even if Luffy was unable to hear them. They felt good to say, and Sabo enjoyed hearing them as well. So it was a self-motivator for both of them to think of better days. Days they were going to return to.

Commanders came in periodically to check on the boys, as they now mostly ignored everyone that wasn't in the infirmary with them. The teens didn't even leave the infirmary to use the bathroom, but used the nurse's bathrooms. Even if they didn't give them permission to, which they did, the teens would use them anyway. They weren't going anywhere too far from Luffy. Not while he was injured and extremely vulnerable in case anyone wanted to off him in his sleep.

Luffy was given nutrients through the IV, and was kept completely dead to the world as he laid still in bed. Things felt boring for the brothers when Luffy wasn't awake. They were unusually quiet with each other when he was like this. They didn't want him to miss anything important, so they stayed silent. The room was too quiet, but they couldn't bring themselves to talk.

An hour before dinner, Luffy started muttering again, but when Ace got closer, he could understand what Luffy was saying. "N...no more hoo...hoomin," he mumbled, and turned his head restlessly. Ace put his hand on Luffy's deformed one, and said, "Not much longer, Lu."

The words didn't reach the dragon as he started twitching. Suddenly, his eyes flew open, showing the unnerving solid blue eyes and slitted black pupils. "NO MORE HOOMIN!" he screamed at the top of his lungs and the small horns that protracted from his dragon forehead and followed down his long neck started to come out of his still human forehead, tearing the skin and causing blood to dribble down his face.

"Luffy! Luffy, stop!" Ace shouted, trying to hold him down as he thrashed, ripping the IVs out of his arms. "LUFFY! NURSE! Nurse, help!"

Sabo sprinted off to get help, and came back with Izo and Whiskey, Tami waking up from a scheduled nap to try and subdue Luffy. He thrashed around, screaming the same words while also screaming in pain.

"Damn it!" Whiskey swore as she tried to inject an extremely strong sedative into Luffy's arm, but he wouldn't be still and wasn't with them at the moment, even if he was awake. Finally, the thick needled went into his skin, and she injected the entire syringe, stilling Luffy.

Ace was crying into Sabo's chest, who was hugging him. Again, Ace and Sabo could do nothing to help. What horrible brothers, unable to help at all. Whiskey made sure to come in and keep him more sedated. No dragons came this time, which worried the brothers.

Tami disinfected the bloody area where the horns had come through his hair and forehead skin. There were clumps of black hair now on the bed stand from where the horns had come from. They were an unhealthy looking yellow, not the bright white they usually were. Luffy was trying to break the curse himself but was just making things worse.

Morale was low for the brothers and the commanders who cared about the dragon. He was a mess, and the ship didn't even stop for the night, even though it was dangerous, because Luffy was getting worse. He was sweating profusely now, and his hands shook every now and then, but he didn't wake up.

-x-

They reached the island the next morning, after not stopping the ship overnight had saved them a lot of time. They were unscheduled to land, so people were surprised that they had come, but were happy about it. They owned the island, and were good people, so the citizens were always glad to see them.

Marco and Izo ran to Robin's house, ignoring those inviting them to have a drink at the bar, or to come and try some of their new food. But the two just sprinted to the edge of the city, where the witch lived. Both of the commanders were frightened that Robin would be unable to do anything.

The phoenix knocked on her door with shaking hands. It wasn't too early, so Robin should be awake by then and they wouldn't have disturbed her sleep. She opened the door and looked at them in curious surprise.

"Hello, commanders. I wasn't expecting to see you anytime soon. How can I help you?" Robin asked pleasantly, like she couldn't see their nervousness. Izo licked his lips before replying.

"We've sailed here to come to you. Can you break other witches curses?" the crossdresser asked nervously. Robin looked surprised.

"Yes, I can. Has one fo your crew been cursed?" she questioned. Probably thinking whoever they were were stupid to curse pirates like the Whitebeards. Izo shook his head, but Marco was the one to answer. So, Robin could do it, but did it mean she would? Did she not like dragons? They'd never really talked about that with her before.

"A dragon is on our ship. He was cursed into a human body and we want to change him back. He's very ill right now, as he's been trying to break the curse himself and has left his body deformed. We need him changed back as soon as possible," Marco explained. Robin's eyes grew wide.

She turned to the side and pulled a coat on before telling them to lead her there. "He could die by trying to break the curse himself. I'll fix him, don't worry," the witch said confidently. Marco almost had tears in his eyes, but he didn't let them show or fall. Luffy would be fixed! Finally, finally, he would be happy again. Be himself, not in the form of his most hated enemy.

When they reached the ship, running, they found Ace and Sabo with Luffy's body sleeping on the grass, waiting for the witch to be brought. Robin's eyes widened when she saw the state of the dragon. She looked incredibly sad with it. How hard this boy had been fighting to break the curse, endangering his life by doing so.

"You have kept him asleep? That was a good choice," Robn commented. She crouched in front of Luffy, and gave his brothers a kind smile. "I'm here to help him. Why don't we take him someplace more secluded?" She didn't like people watching her work, but she would let these teens be there for their brother.

-x-

The moment Luffy was unhooked from the sedative, he woke up, and was frightened and confused about where he was. "We're here, Luffy. It's almost over," Ace said as Luffy was in his arms. Sabo was looking hopeful, and feeling so excited as Robin seemed confident she could fix Luffy.

Luffy was a bit loopy, and didn't seem to be able to register what Ace had said, he brought a hand to his forehead, but Sabo caught it gently and lowered it back down. "Don't touch it, Lu, it might hurt," the blonde said kindly. Luffy nodded, and relaxed back in Ace's arms.

Suddenly, Ace was feeling sad. He wanted Luffy to be a dragon again, but he would never speak again or be held in Ace's arms. He missed dragon Luffy, but he knew both he and Sabo would also miss human Luffy.

"Set him down over there," Robin said, and pointed to a grassy area in a clearing surrounded by trees. None of the Whitebeards had tried to follow. When Luffy was set down, fully awake and laying down on his stomach like Robin said, small and medium sized dragons peeked through the gaps in the trees. Robin didn't seem concerned, and neither did any of the brothers.

Luffy was looking nervous, but hopeful. "Luf Ace an' Sabo," Luffy said, the last words he would say as a human.

"We love you more," Sabo said, and he was holding Ace's hand tightly. Robin held out her hands, and it took only a few seconds for it to work, a sound like an explosion was made, but not painfully loud, and then Luffy's messed up human body began to warp in an almost disturbing way, but there was no blood and no pained screams.

His body grew in size, with bones looking like they were snapped and reformed into stronger and more angular limbs. His hair disappeared as his face elongated into a snout, healthy looking horns sprouting from his thick skin, now turning shimmery blue in all areas. Toes elongated and sharpened into pointy claws, his hands back to being long and jagged fingers with small thumbs.

A long tail sprouted from his lower spine and stretched out, little flaps at the end. Wings exploded out of his back and stretched into the air, wide and beautiful. It only happened in about the span of thirty seconds before it was still, and Luffy was back in dragon form. He was back to what he really was.

Luffy let loose a glass shattering roar that caused birds to fly from the trees, and other dragons roared, too, from the trees. Right after that, Luffy flapped his wings twice and soared into the air with ease, like it hadn't been many weeks since he last flew. He flew high into the air and flew around the circumference of the island, and then landed with a heavy thud in front of his brothers.

Ace and Sabo both had tears in their eyes, as Luffy was back to his old self, true self, and was exuding happiness. Ace and Sabo hugged him around his thick neck. It was weird, to be smaller than him again. "This is gonna be hard to get used to again," Sabo said against Luffy's thick skin. Luffy rested his chin on Sabo's head, and sat on his back legs to wrap his arms around his brothers.

Robin was watching with a smile on her face. Ace turned to her and got out of Luffy's arms to bow to her. "Thank you!" Sabo bowed, too. But Luffy didn't, and gave her a nod in thanks.

"It was quite easy, since Luffy already broke some of the curse himself. Though, I recommend to never try again. You could have died," Robin explained. Luffy nodded, though he had wanted to be a dragon again so badly he couldn't wait anymore. Especially with that strange nightmare he was stuck in for the longest time. With Mama and his siblings afraid of the human Luffy.

"I specialize in spells in the human body, do you want me to give you the skill to speak even in dragon form?" Robin offered. She was surprised when Luffy shook his head. Ace and Sabo weren't surprised, though. "Really? Why not?"

"He doesn't want to be any part human, even if speaking is convenient sometimes," Sabo said, expecting the answer once Robin asked the question. "He's been human long enough, and doesn't want any part of him to still be. Right?" The blue dragon nodded. "Besides, we've been fine for ten years with him unable to speak."

Robin smiled in understanding. "Then I am glad I was able to help. Do you mind if I ask what got him cursed in the first place?"

"He ate the witch's horse, not knowing it was domesticated," Ace supplied, back to being against Luffy. He turned to his brother and looked at the eyes that had been scary in his human form, but were beautiful in his dragon body. Luffy knew they would both have trouble with it at first, but he was happier like this, and knew his brothers wanted him to be happy. And how they didn't need to feel like they had to take care of him and weren't worth it if they were unable to.

"Why don't we go show the Whitebeard's your real form? And thank them," Sabo suggested. Luffy nodded and crouched down so Ace and Sabo could climb on. It had been over two months since the last time they flew, so getting situated was difficult at first, but they held on just fine when Luffy launched off of the ground with powerful and muscular legs, flying down to the shore, where the Whitebeards were all waiting quietly.

-x-

The crew waited nervously while no noise was made on the hill where the brothers and witch were. What if something went wrong? What if it was actually impossible for Luffy to change back at all, and would be deformed the rest of his life? Marco tapped his foot in agitation and nerves, while Izo stood still and watched the hill. Thatch was poking his toe in the grass, pouting and was going to miss the boys, even the cranky one.

When there was a huge crack noise and bright light, those on the ground and not waiting in the ship flinched, but wore grins when they heard a loud roar. But, of course, it could be any of the dragons that had appeared to go and watch.

Though, there was no denying that Luffy was back to normal when Ace and Sabo were riding on a gorgeous blue dragon. It was shorter than Pops was, but length wise, the tail might make him longer. Marco was amazed when Luffy landed in front of them with a thud, with all of the pirates outside cheering.

Luffy was very clearly not a water dragon, as none of his feet were webbed and had no fins on his tail like most of the water dragons he had seen had. Whitebeard bowed deeply, and the other pirates followed. It finally made sense to bow to Luffy as he was a dragon now. Not a cranky human child. Ace and Sabo slid off of him, and he tucked his large wings against his body.

The sense of danger that Marco had gotten at the beginning had easily quadrupled. He didn't think that Luffy would attack any of them, but his phoenix still knew that he was a dragon that could be dangerous, not that he would be. Marco wanted to pet him, but had a feeling Luffy wouldn't appreciate it, so he resisted.

"Luffy, you're so pretty," Thatch gushed. Luffy gave a sort of squawk noise, and Marco realized that he couldn't speak anymore.

"Couldn't Robin make it so he can still talk?" Izo wondered after Luffy didn't reply in words. Ace and Sabo shook their heads.

"She could, but Luffy doesn't want that. He's sick of all things human, and that includes the ability to speak," Sabo explained. The rest of the crew understood, though Marco knew no one would want to give up speech if they could choose to.

"So, what's next for you three?" Whitebeard asked curiously. "You sure you don't want to stick around?"

Ace rubbed his hand down Luffy's neck. "We wanna be free. We're not staying on your crew," he said with a soft smile at Luffy. "Besides, I doubt Luffy would want to stay in one place now that he has his wings back. We'll find another home, probably back in Paradise, like Luffy's mama would want."

"How will you find your way back?" Marco asked. Luffy gave him an unimpressed look, somehow able to show emotions on his dragon face.

"Luffy's a dragon again, he has senses better than any human, and better instincts, too. Plus, he can now communicate with dragons again, and can just ask for directions," Sabo replied. "Luffy why don't you show them your powers? You haven't used them in awhile, not counting the nightmare on Fishman Island." Luffy nodded and turned the ground beneath the pirates to ice, all of them slipping and sliding on their butts.

Luffy chuffed out laughter, with Ace chuckled and Sabo smiling. They had both jumped on Luffy's back while he stood perfectly fine on the ice. "Ace, why don't you go get our stuff?" Sabo asked, and Ace nodded and hurried inside to get their things. The crew was surprised.

"You're leaving already?" Thatch whined. Luffy nodded his head decisively, and Sabo and Ace didn't seem to have a problem with that. "You don't even want one last meal?" Luffy made a huffing noise, so Sabo replied, "How about one to go?"

Thatch nodded and ran inside to get them something to go. It was left overs from breakfast that everyone except the brothers had had, and Thatch brought out a massive chunk of sea king meat for Luffy to eat raw, finally truly raw, instead of just slightly cooked. When the food was brought out, it was in two lunch boxes that they didn't mind getting rid of, and Ace came out with the bag of treasures Luffy had been given after he saved Queen Otohime, and a sack with Ace and Sabo's new clothes in it.

Luffy immediately tore into the meat he was given, his strong jaws and sharp teeth ripping it apart easily. Izo had gone inside after Thatch, and had a backpack ready with things the brothers would need to survive until they found a new home island. It had a lighter, some matches, a water purifier, a normal compass and a spare Paradise log pose. "Here, I wouldn't feel right if we didn't give you some help."

"You've given us more than enough help, but thank you," Sabo said. The three brothers were in a better mood than any of the pirates had ever seen with them on the ship. Sabo looked inside the bag while Ace downed his food. Sabo kept his packed up for later. When Luffy sniffed the treasure bag curiously, Ace dumped it on the ground, showing all of the valuables and shiny objects. They could fetch a pretty penny if they ever needed the money, but until then, they were Luffy's treasures. Marco was surprised when the dragon ate all of it. But then he remembered in the book that most dragons kept their valuables in a pocket beneath the stomach.

Marco wished he could stay with Luffy like this awhile longer, but the dragon was itching to leave, truly showing the pirates that he would never be domesticated. Even after over a month of being treated well (mostly) and fed and housed, Luffy was still a wild dragon. An apex predator that had no business living on a human ship.

"We'll see you again some day," Ace said once the backpack was securely on his back, and Sabo was sitting behind him. The two fit snugly on Luffy, obviously having been used to flying on him as they were leaned back just slightly in a deliberate way. "And we can't thank you enough."

"We look forward to meeting again," Marco said with a sad smile. "Thanks for the adventure." Whitebeard was grinning widely, and Thatch was crying, a tissue under his nose. The other commanders looked a bit bittersweet, but were clearly glad to Marco's eyes. Things would go back to normal, no more dragons.

Ace pat Luffy's neck, and he launched into the sky, both Ace and Sabo holding on with their legs clamped tightly around Luffy's sides. "Goodbye!" Sabo called, his voice fading the higher Luffy climbed. Luffy let out a loud roar and flew away, back the way they had come.

Marco would miss them, but was glad he got to have the incredibly unique experience that the three had brought. And he was happy for Luffy, very much. He did believe they would see the brothers again one day, and would look forward to then.

For now, well, they would have a party celebrating the success of their mission and the freedom of the disadvantaged kids they had brought from one side of the world to the other.