Coyote Versus Dragon?

As much as Mikoto hated to accept help from someone like Abel, he decided the dried-out man was right. Running was his best option. He sped forward, rushing about. He wasted little time in putting distance between him and the monster that was flying straight towards him. The dragon's bottom jaw hit the ground, scraping the earth free and sending up a cloud of dust that engulfed the area. Mikoto didn't stop to make sure Abel or the beast was fine. He kept running. He heard a sound behind him that he couldn't quite place, however, something told him that looking back would be a bad idea. The area around him burst into light, the darkened skies of the late hours were disappearing and as the smell of burning dirt filled Mikoto's nostrils he immediately understood what happened.

He transformed into his faster and smaller coyote form and dashed to the side as quickly as his feet could carry him, even with the increase in speed he didn't fully dodge the burning ball. His tail got singed from the roaring flames and that only propelled Mikoto on behind a tree. He had to remember that he was facing off against a dragon and not just a terrifyingly huge flying lizard. It could breathe fire and singe his body. Actually based on the size of the fire ball that just whizzed past Mikoto, he guessed it was more likely that the dragon could incinerate his body with a single blast. He turned back around and looked at the dragon…he wished he didn't.

The dragon was coming careening for him. Its massive jaw was dragging against the ground as it zoomed towards Mikoto. Mikoto transformed back into his hybrid form he was ready for it. He was going to go at full blast, starting now. He rushed towards the dragon at full speed. A head-to-head battle would serve Mikoto better. The dragon didn't care it seemed, the glowing red heat of its fire was visible in its gaping maw. It just flew towards Mikoto ready to crunch his bone and gobble them up. The thought didn't seem to bother Mikoto as he didn't slow down, if anything he took things up a gear and accelerated again. He rushed towards the monster, the monster roared loudly and drew closer to Mikoto. His jaws flashed down on top of Mikoto, devouring him in a hungry manner. The captain had disappeared into the fearsome belly of the beast.

Or had he? "Afterimage!" shouted Mikoto as his real body became visible above the dragon. He rotated around and brought his leg screeching down, "Leg Whip!" His leg smashed into the back of the dragon, smashing the scales. Mikoto was thrown aside by the recoil that shot up his leg. He quickly caught himself landing on his feet like he should, but he couldn't believe it. The monster's scales were as hard as solid stone. He looked over and noticed something weird…the dragon was stone. Itsblackluster had disappeared and had turned back to the earthen gray color it had been during the rain. Mikoto picked his leg up and looked at it questioningly. What the heck just happened?"

"I've see you have met Cain," said the old man from before as he appeared besides a tree. "This is the beast, Cain. Abel, the mummy had risen up from the slums and found this dragon. Originally they had been good friends from what Abel had told me…however, Cain became tainted and turned on his master, viciously, slaughtering his former friends and crew mates. It's a sad story, but it is also true." Mikoto looked over at the dragon as itsblackluster spread back over its body, its stony body reverted to its previous leather-like form. The dragon turned its head around and roared loudly as soon as it locked eyes with Mikoto.

"It ate the Guuzou-Guuzou no mi*," muttered the old man. "A fruit that allows it to turn its entire body into solid stone at will. Combine that with the mythical strength and speed of a dragon and you've got Cain." Mikoto looked back over at Cain. The dragon had planted its feet and looked questioningly at the half-coyote half-human hybrid. Mikoto supposed while Cain's ability to turn to solid stone surprised him, chances are Mikoto's disappearing act from Cain's mouth had returned the favor. Neither one of them knew all of the tricks the other had possessed. Mikoto tightened his grip, his furry knuckles turning bright white from the stress. A dragon, huh? Seems like a great practice buddy. He felt ashamed that he couldn't have him join his crew…it would've been awesome!

The dragon blew through the air as it sent its massive body towards Mikoto once more. Mikoto was a little worried as he watched the massive beast quickly cover the ground that was between them. Could he even hurt the beast if as soon as Mikoto struck out against it turned itself back to stone? Mikoto supposed he only really had once choice. Mikoto lifted his hand up and took aim at the beast right between the eyes. The beast screeched forth its mouth wide open in another attempt to swallow Mikoto whole. Mikoto dashed forward and leapt up at the last second, sending his more agile body into the air above the dragon. He tightened his fist and twisted it down, "Rapid-Fire x 15!" The dragon's scales once more turned to stone the instant before Mikoto's fist swung down and dug into the monster's hide. He pumped his fist quickly, delivering 15 blows that all melded into one final hammering strike. Mikoto jumped off of the dragon and quickly landed on the ground. He turned to look at what kind of damage his punch had done. The dragon stopped and lifted its head up high. No sign of a broken skull or even a dent was obvious on the massive beast. Mikoto wasn't discouraged despite the fact that he couldn't feel his arm. A sharp pain shooting up it was obviously weighing on his mind after all the Rapid-Fire still had its draw-backs even if it didn't anything.

The dragon turned to face its attacker. It went up onto its hind legs and looked at its enemy, a ferocious growl forming on its face. Suddenly it threw its head back and roared. The dreadfully loud sound filled the air. The beast turned its head to the side and its narrow eyes caught track of Mikoto. Fire started to spark from the beast's lips; it tilted its head down and locked onto Mikoto. The beast's head shot forward and sent a roaring ball of flame forward. Mikoto supposed if short-distance fighting wasn't working, perhaps long-range was better. Only problem was Mikoto lacked a long-distance move…oh, well…he supposed he'd just have to go for it! He sped forward, racing towards the fire ball! He dodged to the side at the last instant, but he didn't lose any momentum, the instant his feet touched the ground he continued his race for the beast.

Mikoto quickly closed the distance between them and was once more in front of the dragon. He was immediately taken back by the size of the beast. He had forgotten how big the beast was. Mikoto looked all the way up the monster's body and was amazed by its size. Before the beast was on all fours, but now…now that the beast was sitting on his hind legs Mikoto was amazed by the size. He was three…no, four…possibly even five stories tall. Mikoto felt a pit form in his stomach. He wasn't all too fond of facing off against a beast whose little toe was the same size as him. That moment of hesitation proved to bring more trouble than Mikoto needed. The beast twisted around, bringing its body into the air and snapping its long wire-like tail forward. The tail smashed forward into Mikoto's torso. Mikoto remembered this pain from last night…it burned into side and he gritted from the pain as he was flung back.

The pressure right in front of the dragon was unreal. It was on a whole other level than Abel or even Trevor. The force was immense it was punishing just to stand in front of it, it was the pressure of a wild animal on the prowl for food. Mikoto caught himself, landing on his two feet and felt the recoil shoot up it. He flinched at first, breathing heavily as he tried to clear his head, but he didn't get a moment of rest. He felt a mass of heat growing close to him again, even if he couldn't look up and see it. He felt it, the massive burning ball of fire. Mikoto dashed off to the side as quickly as he could. The ground where he was standing was turned to ashes. The trees didn't even stay standing. Mikoto took a deep breath and decided…he would have to dive in there again. He didn't have a choice. The beast probably wasn't about to let him run away…and his pride definitely wasn't going to.

Mikoto steeled himself. He took up his stance. He knew he had done pretty stupid stuff before, but now? Now it was him pitting a coyote against a dragon. Even Mikoto's damaged common sense could tell him that was like pitting a water pistol against a cannon. Mikoto didn't mind it. He tended to do better when he did something stupid…at least according to his crew, Mikoto didn't think he ever did anything stupid. Mikoto bolted forward, speeding towards the dragon. He took it up another notch. It was obvious that he wasn't going fast enough for now. He needed to take it up another notch, up another gear. He didn't have any time to waste; he needed to go so fast he didn't have any time to second guess himself! He would go for it. His right fist was still useless due to his earlier failed Rapid-Fire, but he still had his left fist. He would go for it. Mikoto rushed forward for Cain.

Cain bellowed out a roar that tore through the air as if accepting Mikoto's challenge. It planted its feet and readied itself for the moment of impact. Its tail flapped up and down, ready to intersect Mikoto at the very last second if need be. It was the final showdown between the two predators of land and the sky. They were going to go all out for this moment.

Cain went first. Several quick bursts of fire from his mouth, each one screeched down and at Mikoto. Mikoto's body zigged and zagged to the side. Mikoto's speed was far superior to Cain's. Cain's bulky body didn't help him keep up with the much smaller and more agile Mikoto. Mikoto burst through, clearing the first set of obstacles Cain had set-up for him. That just meant that more were on the way.

Cain's next shot was with his tail, it snaked forward zooming in at Mikoto. Mikoto smiled and leaned in more, Cain's tail was quicker than his body and his fire. It was the only thing that stood a chance against Mikoto's body, however, even that proved futile. "After-Image!" Mikoto shouted just as the tail smashed through his body revealing a fake pirate for all to see. Mikoto didn't mind his fake being smashed, instead he turned his attention upwards at the towering bulk in front of him.

(-With Abel-)

Abel was clenching his side as he made his way through the destroyed forest. He was injured something horribly, but that didn't mean much to him. His ultimate goal, the beast he had just spent half of his life hunting down was about to be defeated…he froze for a second when he came to a small clearing and turned his head back. He could still see the beast standing there. He remembered that when he first got him he wasn't that big. When Cain first escaped he wasn't that big. He was three meters long, maybe four with his tail taken into account. Now as Abel looked at him he was faced with an amazing sight. He couldn't believe the monster's size. It was breath-taking.

"That's a big beast, isn't it?" asked the old man as he came into sight.

"What's it to you, Gravekeeper?" growled Abel as he brushed past him. "That beast means nothing to you, neither do I! Ever since we've arrived on this island you've wanted us gone. You've tried again and again to force us both out and off of this island. Face it, he's about to lose and with his lost…brings my goal to an end."

"I'm amazed that the kid not only managed to beat you, but he's now going head-to-head with the beast." The old man nodded forward to the dragon. Abel scoffed. "I know…he was just lucky, it was his fate and not yours. Both may be true. I think…I think we've both been on this island too long. We've got bad eyes now. Neither one of us could see that that kid was that good. We both mistook him for someone weak. I think that is our greatest folly, yet. Only one person on this island still has good eyes, apparently."

Abel stopped and looked behind him. "She told me when she first got here that I would lose eventually. That I wasn't going to be king of this island forever. I shrugged her off; I didn't care about being king of this island. I had bigger dreams…but I think what she said still rings true. I'll never be king again."

"What was your dream before you came to this island?" asked Gravekeeper as he turned his attention away from the fight and to Abel, giving him his full undivided attention.

Abel paused for a second, kicking up some dirt as he stopped his two feet. He looked back behind him and at the fight going on behind him. He smiled for a second and then frowned. "Something stupid and foolish." The Gravekeeper frowned and shook his head. He turned back around and returned to watching the fight between the coyote and dragon. He wanted to say 'Maybe that was why you were beaten' the difference in conviction between the two of them were great. Earlier when he fought the kid in his house, he heard words he hadn't heard anyone spout in a long time.

"I'm going to be King of the Pirates!"

He thought back to the man who visited the island years ago. The man who erected the small tombstone dedicated to a man called 'Red-Haired' Shanks. Even now he chuckled at the thought. The man who arrived looked so foolish and yet he still declared those words very proudly. At what age do you stop having such grand dreams?

(-With Mikoto and Cain-)

Viola watched the fight unfold from her space between the trees. She had remained unnoticed for now and she wasn't planning on making her presence known, for now she'd just settle with watching the fight. She felt the utmost amazement as she watched the kid rush around like he did. She believed in fate. She believed that it was this kid's fate that he prevailed against Abel and that the outcome of this match, too would be decided by fate, but still she felt riveted to the spot.

The kid rushed. He charged across the ground and towards the magnificent dragon that stood, towering above him. Mikoto suddenly changed direction, he didn't run left or right. He went up. He dug his foot into the dragon's big toe and started to race up the monster, putting all of his momentum and strength behind him as he covered the distance to the sky. The dragon twisted around, straightening its next out and looking down its belly at the hasty kid. Another flame began to roar to life in its fearsome maw. Suddenly the flame ripped free, screeching down the beast's belly towards Mikoto. Viola remained fixated on the spot, she knew that the fight would end any moment now. If Mikoto was forced back again it was debatable whether or not he would be able to close the distance again. He needed to defeat the beast in the next instant…or it would be all for naught. She found herself hoping on behalf of Mikoto that his fate would be the winning one. The beast was strong, but for a long time she had seen the shadow of defeat hanging over him.

The fire was still screeching down to Mikoto. Mikoto smirked, leaping off of the dragon's chest and twisting his body around. "Let's go!" Mikoto shouted as he watched the flame blast down past his feet before snapping his gaze upwards and at the beast. "Geppou!" Mikoto recalled his fight back at the URA against Ko. He used Geppou as well as Soru, Mikoto had better legs than him. So it stood to reason that Mikoto could use it as well. As a result traveling up the beast's massive bulk would be easy. "Let's GO!" shouted Mikoto louded as he began pumping his legs quickly downwards, forming multiple quick thrusts…that did absolutely nothing. Mikoto flailed for a few precious moments before plummeting to the ground like a rock. He knew he should've tested out the new skill before trying to use it in a battle, oh, well…live and learn.

Viola's face immediately twisted itself into something that was mix of her trying to hold back an upcoming chuckle and her own disbelief at the kid's stupidity. Even Cain had an obvious look of disbelief and utter disappointment in his foe on his face.

The Future Pirate King and Riddle King!

Guuzou-Guzzou no mi = Statue-Statue Fruit

Before I do anything else I have an apology to make. Viola from this chapter and previous chapters is the work of Cotton Candy Luver Chopper! Not me. I apologize a million times over, I completely forgot to give credit where credit is due! I apologize!

Anyways, onto the story where I (Hopefully) did not make any mistake! Yeah, did you guys expect Mikoto to sudden and miraculously learn a new technique during a fight? Hah, you should know better by now this is Saga of the Infinity Pirates! Where the main characters get screwed over nine out of ten times!