Straw Hat: Rise of the Dragon Slayer

Friend?

The heat of the flames were comforting, but guilt filled my heart as my dark eyes gazed at the burning building. Smoked scaled far into the sky, the embers from the burning wood creaked slightly. "Should we go after Franky?" I heard the blonde say, standing not too far away from me. I turned my head slightly to look at the sea. "No...Franky might still be out of town using your money" My voice was steady and soft, the sea breeze brushes my hair against my skin gently. Turning my back to the see to look at the five, Chopper was tending to Usopp's injuries now. I walked over and bend down to grab my bag; I slung it over my head and let the sling rest on my shoulder. "Okay, I'm done!" The little doctor announced and began to pack up his equipment back into his bag. "I need someone to help lift him" Everyone except for Luffy helped, he seemed to be lost in thought about something. "We're just wasting time here. Let's go back. Nami is alone on the ship, and Robin is nowhere to be found. The ship itself is breaking down too" The blonde added in, I stood there unsure what to say. From the sounds of it, they were going through a lot as a crew. "Hey! Luffy!" The blonde yelled out to Luffy to get his attention. But Luffy didn't move his head at all.

"The ship..." Luffy's voice carried in the wind a little, his voice was serious. "I've decided...It's time to say goodbye to the Going Merry!" I lowered my head a little, there were many men who took a ship for granted. There weren't many who appreciated a ship, but those who did....Found it very difficult to part ways from it. I knelt down next to Chopper and gave him a small smile. I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, he was frowning and I could see the sadness in his eyes. "Seems like you've got a strong bond with one another." I stood back up as Chopper gave me a small smile to me. This crew reminded me of a certain pirate crew I met only a few years ago. Their captain was an interesting one.

The others walked over towards us, I turned my attention over to them. "Let me know if you guys need any help, I'll gladly help out in any way" The three men gave me an appreciative smile. Though the blonde was more of a flirty smile then the others. "With all the help you've give us. Why don't you come back to our ship?" Luffy tilted his head back with a smile towards me. "Besides I can tell you've got an injury" Luffy pointed out as if I was dumb, I rubbed the back of my head with my good hand sheepishly. Chopper began to freak out not even realizing my arm was bandaged.

"Hahah....Sure" We all began to walk back, Zoro carried Usopp as we walked down the stone paths of the canals. "So your name is Cole? Isn't that a guy's name" Luffy stated with a dumbfound look, I shrugged a little unfazed by his statement. "Hey! Cole is a beautiful name dumbass!" The blonde hit Luffy in the head scolding him. "It's alright, it happened to be the only name I could remember" There was a few moments of silence as the men stared at me dumbly. "How can you forget your own name?" I frowned and lowered my head in embarrassment at Luffy's question. "I..." I was hesitant on telling these guys about my past, but considering they saw me use my magic a little. I guess it would be okay. "I have no memories before I washed ashore here six years ago" My voice was quiet, the only noise heard from the group was our footsteps. The guys held surprised looks at me. "I only remember my ability and the name Cole. Nothing else. Ice-berg, the Mayor and owner of Galley-La found me, and took me in" I continued on and explained most of my life to the four. "You have amnesia" Chopper stated, I looked at him with a sad smile. "I would assume so; I have had some snippets of memories. But none of it made any sense to me" My voice was sad as I kept my head straight. We walked down closer to the main docks of Water seven. However, I was led by Chopper and the group passed the docks to a small part of land.

I blinked in surprised at the ship. It was a Caravel ship with a sheep's head. How the hell did they managed to sail this ship this far into the grandline?! This crew gets more interesting the more I get to know them. When we boarded the ship, we saw Nami rushing over to us concerned. "Is Usopp okay!?" Her voice was filled with worry seeing Chopper grab Usopp in a large form from Zoro. "He will be fine, I finished treating and addressing his wounds before moving him" Chopper said calmly to reassure Nami while carrying him to a nearby door. Nami sighed in relief and lifted her head seeing me. "Cole?" She looked confused as I waved at her slightly. "Why are you here? Don't take it the wrong way, but shouldn't you be back at Galley-La?" I rubbed the back of my head nervously at her question, Chopper had come back onto the deck as everyone looked at me. "well...You see, I am technically on medical leave" My voice suddenly became quiet as everyone began to panic at my confession. "So you helped us even though you were injured! How stupid could you possibly be!?" She began to lecture me, I sat on the wooden deck pouting. I tried to cross my arms only to wince at my right arm, Chopper rushed over to me to look at my arm. He slowly began to unravel my bandage, I tried to pull my arm away as the pain grew. "You guys are acting just like those damn shipwrights" I pouted once more as Chopper started to lecture me, he suddenly gasped seeing my arm fully.

"Chopper? What's wrong?" Nami's voice rang out on the ship as she peered over his head to look at my arm. Her eyes widen in shock, I tilted my head down to see my arm covered in red and purple spots. "Its...Its Broken, how are you even able to move your arm!?" Chopper lifted his head up at me in horror. I stayed quiet and turned my head away. Chopper stood up and ran back into a room, I watched the little doctor carry a few things in his arm. He sat down next to my arm and began to point some ointment on. He then wrapped my arm up gently in a bandaged, afterwards he had me put a sling on. "Now, you can't move your arm. It needs to heal properly or else there will be permanent damage to it" He warned, all I could do was nod to him.

"So, how can you use those flames of yours? You were able to swim in water, so you can't be a devil fruit user" The Blonde asked with a curious expression towards me, he leaned against the rails of the ship. Lighting a cigarette as he looked at me. "Well, first I would like to know your name. Or else it'll be curly brow" Zoro snickered a little seeing the dumbfound look on the blonde's face. The male twirled around suddenly with hearts in his eyes, he spun towards me with a giddy smile. "I'm Sanji, Beautiful" He knelt to me and grabs my left hand gently. Lifting it up and kissed my hand. I couldn't help by scrunch my nose up at his actions. Pulling my hand away and scooted slightly away from him. "I have the ability to summon flames using Magic" My voice was steady and quiet, my heart raced as I kept my head low. "It's called Dragon Slayer magic......It is where you are taught by a dragon, and I apparently have the element of Fire." I explained to me and slowly stood up; Chopper stood up as well with a concerned look seeing me struggle. "Not...many are aware of my ability, so it is just best to keep it a secret as well" I looked around seeing them all nod their heads. I sighed in relief knowing I could trust them with this secret. "I've never heard of Dragon Slayer magic" Nami crossed her arms while giving me a curious look. I nodded sadly. "I've asked a few who have traveled the world, and they have never recognized the symbol I have on my back or the magic" My shoulder slumped a little saddened as I shared more information. "Symbol?" Chopper's head perked up at me. I turned my back to them and pulled my shirt up a little to show the symbol on my back. "What the hell is that suppose to be?" Zoro asked. I pulled my shirt back down and turned to look at them. "I don't know, it looks something mythical I guess. It has wings" I shrugged to him, I was just as clueless. "Never mind me, I'm glad that Usopp is okay now. And I'd like to be able to help you guys financially if you need it for a new ship" I smiled at them kindly as I offered them help, they were taken back by my offer. I stood near the railing of the ship. Admiring the sea as the sun began to set. What felt like a few minutes of silence, Nami looked at me with a curious look. "Have you thought about leaving Water Seven?" I lifted my head up to look at the dark sky, Chopper had left to go back to the infirmary to check on Usopp. "I have....but I can't. Not yet at least" My voice was quiet, I have long to leave Water Seven. I have been hoping to maybe have my memories back. To understand who I am, but I don't want to leave the only person who has believed in me. Who has taken care of me for the past six years.

I don't want him to think that he meant nothing to me, Dad had done so much for me. That I....I frowned and looked at my hands. I don't want to leave and accidently lose my memories again, I don't want to cause that pain for Dad. "What's keeping you here?" Zoro asked with a hint of interest in his eyes. "Someone who I hold dear to me, someone I owe" I kept it short, I know I trusted them with my magic. But I hold Dad dear to me, and it didn't feel right. Fast footsteps approached echoing the deck, everyone turned to look at Chopper who was running towards us. His face filled with relief. "Hey!—Usopp is Awake!" The little doctor cheered up, I smiled a little at him. "Really!?" That's great!!" Luffy jumped up and down sharing the same happiness as the blue-nose reindeer. I watched with some amusement seeing Luffy stretch his arms up to the second level railing, and launched himself up to the second floor. I stayed stand on the deck as everyone followed Luffy up the stairs to see Usopp. "Cole?" I titled my head to see Nami looking at me with a concerned look. "You okay?" I gave her a smile and nodded. "Yeah, I just don't want to intrude on your crew."

"You're not intruding, without you they wouldn't have found Usopp." I looked at Nami unsure and slowly stood back up from the deck. "Yeah, you've helped us out a lot! So we're friends now!" Luffy shouted at me from the second floor, he surprised me by his statement. I lifted my head up feeling warm from his words. I felt oddly happy being called a friend.