A/N: One Piece does not belong to me and never will. Sad, I know.

The rain that poured down into the square didn't persuade the crowds to leave. The rain simply added to the mood, attracting even more people. What would've been a simple pirate's execution turned out to be a spectator's event. There were only a few older people in the crowd that shook their heads at the pirate standing at the bottom of the platform in the rain; many had even known her throughout their lives. She stood calmly, as if the fact that she would die that day didn't matter to her. The platform had been constructed in a little under an hour, put up in a hurry for the woman that was dangerous enough to be killed in an open execution, a warning to all others of her kind.

The town was her home at one point, before she ran away at the tender age of 10. It had been 9 years since then and those who remembered her mourned, but still shouted for the act to be hurried up; they had come to watch the killing of a pirate.

Nine solemn figures shrouded in cloaks stood in the middle of the crowd. The cloaks were not misplaced, for as I had said before, it was raining. Nothing was unusual there. They were quiet throughout this loud festival, wanting nothing more than to disappear, but they had a duty to perform and they would fulfill their mission.

A great cheer rose up as the woman was moved toward the steps, pushed up them. And so began the long climb, the cheering steadily increasing into a roaring, echoing blare. Guards stood at the top and the commander who had captured her stood with them, basking in the glory of the crowd, waiting patiently to give the order for her death. She showed nothing as she continued walking, the nine cloaked figures moving toward the front of the crowd steadily, separating and rejoining periodically. The commander grinned, happy to know that he would most likely be promoted because of this woman's capture. He could not know the events that would conspire against him in only a few short minutes.

Upon reaching the top, the woman halted, gazing out at the cheering crowd below her silently. She had known some of these people, but it was of no matter; it's not like someone would care about the death of a pirate like her. She had accepted this fate and was content to live the rest of her short life, happy knowing that she had once had friends, a mismatched family that had cared about her. She told herself she was glad not to see them here, for they would only see her death. She didn't want to cause them pain and sincerely hoped for their happiness, not even caring about herself. The commander smirked in triumph; she was resigned to her fate, which made this all the more easier.

"YOU ARE ALL HERE TODAY TO WITNESS THE DEATH OF THE PIRATE, OLYMPIA D. SAGE. A FORMER MEMBER OF THE STRAW HAT PIRATES, SHE HAS BEEN BROUGHT HERE TODAY TO ATONE FOR HER SINS AGAINST THE WORLD AND ITS PEOPLE. HAVE YOU ANY LAST WORDS?" the commander bellowed, turning to look at the woman standing behind him a ways. She raised her eyes to his face and he refused to wince at the bright crimson that swirled there. "ANY LAST WORDS, PIRATE?" the woman turned away from him to face the crowd all was silent as they strained to hear her words, for, undoubtedly she would have some.

"Is this the price for freedom? Death?" she murmured. The commander frowned, eyeing one of his subordinates and then jerking his head toward the woman. The subordinate complied, bringing over the speaker transponder snail. He held it in-front of the woman's mouth. She glared at the man and he backed away, regardless of the glares from his own leader. The woman gazed out at the crowd. They were beginning to become restless. "I don't blame you. You're just doing your job... but I've never killed. I know you've killed before, so shouldn't you be standing here, while I give to order to carry out the death?" the woman questioned him. His eye twitched and his mouth formed a thin line.

"Insolent, little… Bring her down!" he ordered and then guards obeyed, pushing the woman to her knees and shifting their naginatas in their hands, placing them toward her neck easily. The commander smirked, gazing out at the crowd growing excited. "YOU'RE ABOUT TO WITNESS HISTORY!" he called and the elders who knew the girl looked away, the crowd holding their breath.

"LONG LIVE THE STRAW HAT PIRATES! THEIR LEGACY WILL LIVE ON EVEN AFTER MY DEATH, I PROMISE YOU!" she yelled, the sound echoing over the silent square. The commander gave the order for the weapons to drop.

"SAGE!" a single voice screamed. The guards looked away as their own weapons embedded themselves into the girl's body, blood seeping from the wounds. She didn't make a sound, only smiled out at the crowd, the mob rather shocked that she could still smile.

"You fools… You've just set a chain of events into motion…" she said clearly. The guards stopped, blinking down at her before removing their weapons easily. She looked up at the sky, the clouds parting to show the sun that shined a single ray down onto her upturned face, her skin glowing. Her smile was soft as the platform shook. "Bury me under the sky if I die, let me walk this earth with you if I live," she murmured. The guards were confused; was she talking to them?

"…You aren't dying today, Sage. I never leave my friends behind." A voice growled and the guards froze, not even wanting to turn around. "Chopper, see what you can do here before we move her back to the ship." A confident voice answered the first.

"Sure. We're gonna have to move these… people."

"No problem. Consider them gone." And the guards promptly disappeared down the steps. Sage lowered her eyes from the sun as she felt a hand press against her back before it pushed hard, sending her over the side of the platform. She made no sound and the crowd watched silently as she fell from the sky, her hair spreading out under her and whipping around. The ray of sun stayed trained on her as she fell.

"SAGE! NOO!"

Well…. This has got to be just about the most depressing thing I've ever written… oh well. Just had to get this out. I'm contemplating whether or not I should continue this or just leave it one chapter. Tell me what you think? I like happy endings, but I don't know if I should do one for this.