8 Storm

Alva panicked as he felt water fill his lungs.

Reaching out toward the light above he sunk deeper into the black depths.

His consciousness began to fade.

His body grew cold and still as his heart stopped beating.

Alva was prepared to succumb to the darkness once more.

Before Alvas eyes could shut.

CRACK!! BZZZZ

The sky and the sea flashed purple.

Alva's vision flashed a blinding white.

"Alva.."

He saw his mother in the light for a millisecond.

Electricity scattered in all directions an arc hitting Alva's left shoulder.

Millions of volts assaulted his body the current passed through him.

His nervous system went haywire his heart restarted beating, then felt like it was going to burst.

His blood vessels ruptured, his skin was searing all the muscles he had were twitching.

Alva's spirit erupted, his eyes turned red, the dangerous aura returned. Energy filled all of his cells.

They began to regenerate rapidly—the bodies natural healing process was kicked into overdrive. The gashes on Alva's hands filled in, the dry cracked and sunburnt skin shed replaced by a new darker layer.

The burnt flesh quickly healed leaving white scar tissue in its place.

His muscles were broken down and replaced by thicker denser muscle fibers.

Alva's skeleton grew more extensive and denser the bones were stronger than before.

His entire body morphed, a thicker more powerful version replacing it.

Alva had never felt pain of this caliber as if his nerves were all torn.

He blacked out his vision turning red.

Hearing the sound of a lightning strike near the ship Garp ran out onto the top deck worried, assaulted by sharp rain and strong wind as the storm raged.

What Garp saw at the end of the ship shocked him. In the short intervals of light given off by the flashes of lightning in the sky, Garp was able to discern a silhouette standing on the railing of the stern.

The form fell froward Garp rushed and caught him.

Alva had blood-shot unfocused eyes.

Without a shred of fat on his body, he looked malnourished, fragile—his ribs were visible.

His hair changed color and grew out and his fingernails where longer. The skin on his fingertips was torn and bloody.

The most surprising change was his height he grew slightly over five inches taller.

"What happened?" Garp carried Alva to the ships doctor as fast as he could.

___________________________________________________________________________

Three days passed.

"Doctor, have you learned anything about his condition?" Francis said.

"Well, sir from the test I've conducted It appears that after he was struck by lightning.

A phenomenon accrued causing the cells in his body to replicate unnaturally fast healing his organs. Which quite possibly saved his life. Based on the scarring on his body, the shock reached his heart; which should have killed him. Frankly, it's a miracle that he is alive," Dr.Cross said.

"This accelerated repair did not come without side effects, however. From what I can figure Alva has lost anywhere from twenty to twenty-five years from his lifespan."

"I see," Francis said

"His cells have returned to a normal state, and his growth has stopped."

"Considering his age his new size is extraordinary, to be 3'7(109.3cm) and 60lb(27kg) he is already larger than some five-year-olds at twelve months old..."

Alva awoke to discover he was in the infirmary. He could hear a woman and his father speaking in the room next door. Throwing off the blanket covering him, Alva stood in front of a mirror. He had regained his healthy appearance, looking better than before. His hair now reached below his ears with white ends.

He ran his hand over the Lichtenberg pattern scar left by the lightning.

The scar started on his left lateral deltoid extended down his left arm stopping at the elbow, and over the shoulder across his chest toward his heart and up the side of his neck slightly

The white scar is contrasting with his beige skin, looking almost like a tattoo.

"Badass," Alva said.

While technically disfigurement Alva decided to wear it like a badge of honor, proof he had survived. The scar had a certain charm to it, as no two would ever be the same.

Alva was starving the IV he was on keeping him alive and hydrated but did nothing to satiate his hunger.

After a bath and the most significant meal, he had ever eaten Alva slept for twenty hours.

The ship arrived in Briss at the crack of dawn. The suns rays broke between the Skyfang mountain range. Creating a picturesque scene. Alva watched the sunrise from the deck.

"It is quite the view right?" Dr.Ross said approaching Alva.

"I've never seen anything as beautiful," Alva said. Looking at the mountains towering into the sky he felt peace.

"How are you feeling kid," Dr.Ross said.

"Never better doc."

"Doc?" She shot him a questioning glance.

"I'm doing great, thank you, ma'am," Alva said, nodding slightly.

"Hey kid, I'm not old enough for ma'am you know!"

"Eh...Excuse me, what should I call you?"

"Dr.Ross or big sis is fine." She said looking a bit annoyed

"What's your first name?"

"Angellica," she said.

The pair stood there admiring the view for a while.

"Are you going to cut your hair short again?"

"Nah, I've never had long hair before—I like it," Alva said.

"Even though the ends turned white?"

"Yeah, it's a gift from my mother after all."

She looked at him like he was crazy.

The ship docked at the harbor. Full of people merchants, fishermen and ferrymen all busy with their morning task.

"I got to go find the old man," Alva said. "Thanks, Angie, bye."

Alva smiled to Angellica showing his bright white teeth.

With a quick wink, he rushed off.

She chuckled as Alva ran into the distance.

Angie thought that with his facial features. A strong jaw, perfect nose and flawless skin. Paired with his unique eyes and smooth black hair that had white highlights; Alva had a charming and exotic look.

She knows he wil be quite the looker when he's older. Tall dark and handsome, she lamented the fact that she had missed the future lady-killers strike range by just ten years.

____________________________________________________________________

Alva found Garp and Francis speaking on the pier.

"Garp sir," Alva said.

"Ah, Alva you're looking better. You were on death's door," Garp said

"About the test, I know..."

"—You Pass." Garp had a broad smile.

"But I didn't make it to the Clam Belt?"

"You never needed to, It was to test your resolve, you could have come out after the first night, and you would have passed," Garp said, "After you looked so determined, I got curious to see if you could make it."

"I ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF YOU, YOU BASTARD! YOU STUPID OLD MAN.."

Alva grabbed the nearest sharp object that looked like it could cause damage and lunged at Garp's throat, being restrained by Francis. If looks could kill Garp's head would roll.

"BWAHAHAHA, Your training starts tomorrow be up at 5:00 am," Garp said while walking away, ignoring Alva's barrage of insults.