Straw Hat: Rise of the Dragon Slayer

The Unknown

As soon as Luffy and Zoro fell asleep, I left the three there and headed to the shipyards. Walking down the dimly lit pathway near the canals was soothing. It felt good talking to those three about my childhood. It was quite fun reminiscing my memories about Natsu with them. I found a few things about those two as well, that Luffy has an older brother named Ace. Who has a fire devil fruit, and is a pirate too. A notorious one too. Luffy has an interesting family for sure.

Zoro mentioned how he first met Luffy and how he joined the crew. My shoes softly echoes as I reached the shipyard, my home away.... From home. The smell of wood filled the air as I walked past large wood piles and large unfinished ships. Reaching my shack I sighed softly while entering, I glanced to the wall of wanted posters I've kept. All ranging from ones who are dead and ones who are alive. Many were well known notorious pirates like Red Haired Shanks, Marco the Pheonix, Whitebeard, Kaido, many from the Charolette family. Since I didn't know much I tried my best to keep my knowledge about the world up to date, after not recognizing Shanks right away. I figured to be on the safe route, I'd try to remember most of the notorious pirates, especially anyone with interesting weapon choices.

I looked down at an empty blueprint and suddenly got an idea. Something that will remind me of Natsu. I began to work on the outfit of design, this felt right. After an hour, I looked down at the blueprint and nodded. I felt my heart squeeze at the idea of wearing something like this, I'd never think that I'd want to.

Rubbing my forehead tiredly, it had been late into the night already the stars high above shining brightly in the sky. So here I was contemplating on what I should take if I decide to go..... In the moment the Idea of saying Yes to Luffy felt good. But now, the idea just gets harder and harder. Leaning back into my chair I lift my arm up without thinking to reach for something above me.

Click

"Damn it" Curses left my mouth as the brace locked up from me not thinking. Leaving my right arm in a straight upward position, my muscle began to strain from the brace being locked. I grabbed a flat head that was on my desk to try and loosen the gears. With a few struggles and a couple turns on the screws I tried to loosen it, but nothing happens. I threw the screwdriver aggressively against the wall, I stood up staring at the brace with anger. Grabbing the brace with my left arm, I was ready to burn the stupid thing off. "You stupid-" A shadow appears at the entrance of the shack. "Don't mind me, Luffy sent us all out for a search party to find you" He tilts his head and yawns tightly. I grumbled at him and looked away.

"Well you can see I don't need it" He raised an eyebrow and glanced at the locked up brace. "Chopper should be here soon with the others, since they were going to look here" I turned slightly and sat down." "Yeah and where were you suppose to search?" I asked with a hint of amusement but Zoro didn't seem impressed by my question. "That doesn't matter now, what matters was I found you first" He grumbled and walked over to a wall filled with old and new blueprints I made but never actually made the final products. Some were weapons that Dad would never approve to be built. Footsteps approached, I watched the curtain move to see three figures come in. Chopper spotted me and the brace, he giggles slightly at me. "How'd you lock up your brace already?" He carefully began to take the brace off my arm, I winced and tried to keep my pain from being known to everyone. My left hand flexed as the brace slides off my right arm, the sudden loss of support made my arm droop. Without the brace I couldn't lift my arm up higher than my hip.

"What's going on Cole?" I looked down to the floor at Nami's question, the four in the room with me was Sanji, Chopper, Nami and Zoro. I assume Luffy went a different way besides these guys. "I owe Dad a lot for keeping me under his wing, for protecting me. I just.... I'm torn, he wants to help Luffy get a ship as soon as possible. But that means less time for me to be with him till I sail off with you guys..." I trailed off, silence filled the air.