Hello!

Welcome to my newest creation! That has sadly been in the works for over a year...

Anyway, I shall try to update as frequently as life will allow me. And bare in mind that this is my first actual Fanfiction. I am a spelling nerd, so if you catch something wrong, or anything wrong in general, please tell me. Constructive criticism makes this thing better :)

Now, Read, Review and Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER - I DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, OWN ONE PIECE. IF I DID, WELL, A CERTAIN BROTHER WOULD NOT HAVE DIED.

Ocean Soul

Chapter 1 – Boy with the Straw Hat

A ship was docked on a small uncharted island; a pirate ship actually. The captain of the vessel was currently inspecting how well the crewmen were doing their jobs. The captain ran a finger along the bulwark, and was not pleased with what she saw.

"Why is there dust on my bulwark?"

These words chilled the blood of all those cleaning the ship and one of them immediately stammered out, "A thousand pardons Lady Alvida! I-I thought I'd cleaned every inch of this ship! I'll clean everything all over again! Please!"

The captain, Lady Alvida, turned menacingly toward the man. "Please what?"

"Please, not the iron mace! I-I don't wanna die!" His pleas went unheeded as Lady Alvida smashed him upside the head, sending the man flying across the deck. Hopefully not, but probably dead. Sigh, another one? Jeez…

"Coby!" Alvida called, "Who is the most beautiful throughout all the seas?"

Coby chuckled nervously and gave the reply that everyone gave if they valued their lives, "Why you are… Lady Alvida! No one compares to you!"

"Correct! Which is why I will not tolerate ANYTHING dirty! The ship I sail in must be as beautiful and clean as I am. Understood?"

Alvida turned to Coby and threatened, "Remember Coby, were it not for you immense knowledge of the seas, I would have fed you to the sharks a long time ago! But don't push your luck!"

Truer words were never spoken. Anyone could tell that Coby was definitely not pirate material. A short pink-haired kid with round frame glasses, he was currently sitting on the deck and trembling like a Chihuahua. "Y-Yes... That's very kind of you," he replied quaveringly.

"Other than that, you're worthless! Here, shine my shoes!" she yelled as she kicked him.

"Y-Yes Lady Alvida! Right away!"

Lady Alvida returned to 'ordering' her crew. "I don't want to see even one speck of dust on this ship!"

"Aye aye!"

"That's enough for now! You piece of garbage!" She barked as she kicked the boy again.

Coby chuckled desperately, "I-I'm so sorry!"

"If you've got time to grovel, then you've got time to scrub the toilets!" the Captain bellowed.

"Eh-heh, right away milady."

I had watched the whole thing from my perch atop the galley. I could see the pink haired boy hold back sobs as he walked my way. I grinned as I thought of a way to cheer the depressed boy up.

I waited until he had passed me and jumped the 10 feet to the ground right behind him, making a light 'THUMP'. "You okay kid?"

He yelped as he spun around and let out a sigh of relief when he saw me. "Azure!"

"Come on; let me take care of that cut. Then we can go patrol the shoreline." I said as I led him to a barrel on deck. He sat atop it as I fish out my first aid kit from my cargo pants. I love these pants. They have a gazillion pockets and I can keep just about everything you could need in them.

After quickly bandaging him up, we headed off to shore. This poor kid had been on the Miss Love Duck for two year now, I'm sure he's thankful that he actually has a friend on the ship. I mean, I've only been here for about six months and that's only because I lost a bet.

"Hey Azure," Coby called out as pulled me front my head. "What do you think that is?"

I looked over to where he was facing. There seemed to be something brown floating on the surface.

"Looks like a barrel," I said squinting a bit. "Maybe a passing ship lost some booze. That storm the other day was a nasty one."

"We should wait for it to get closer before we get it," he said cautiously. I just grinned.

"If we do that, then a current might snag it," I said as I started to take off my black shin-high combat boots. "Don't worry Coby, you stay here and keep watch while I get it."

"B-but Az—" I cut him off with a cocked eyebrow. "Fine, just be careful?"

"Naturally," I smirked over my shoulder.

I carefully waded through the water until it was mid-thigh but the barrel was still too far away. I looked behind to see I was quite a ways away from shore and Coby wouldn't be able to see what I'm doing. I placed my left palm on the surface of the water and felt, more then saw, the markings on my body start to glow faintly. Thankfully, I never did take off my long sleeve button-up… While still on the surface, I gently swept my hand towards me. The water reacted by gently pulling the barrel to me. From shore it would simply look as if the current got stronger and brought it to me.

I pulled the drum onto my shoulder before I released the hold I had on the water, making the glow stop. Afterwards, I made my way to shore.

"Here we go," I said placing it on the sand. "One rum barrel… and a set of soaked clothes…"

Coby chuckled as I pouted. "You should have waited Azure."

I stuck out my tongue. I don't care if it was childish! "Fine. How 'bout you take this to the storage house while I go change? Then we can go snag some apples before dinner."

"Okay," he smiled shyly. I grinned again before grabbing my boots and making my way to the ship.

Down the stairs, left turn then a right. I opened the door to my cupboard/bedroom. Alvida had originally had me bunk with the rest of the crew, which are ALL male by the way. Not that I have a problem with bunking with guys, but some of them are drunk perverts… Anyway, after some convincing, I talked her into letting use a storage cupboard that wasn't being used. It was a small win for me.

Going through the few clothes that I had, I striped out of my soaked ones and pulled on some clean, warm ones. Some navy blue cargo pants, to which I quickly filled the many pockets, a light blue tank top, a black button-up shirt that I left open, pulled on my black boots and a black fingerless glove on my right hand. I checked my mirror before I left.

I ran my fingers through my wavy shoulder-length cerulean blue hair, my sea-foam green eyes searching for anything out of place. Once deemed decent, I grabbed my black and teal stripped bandana and shoved it in a pocket before I finally left my room.

As I made my way to the upper deck, sounds of a loud commotion made it to my ears. Fearing the worst for the pink haired boy, I ran above deck, only to duck as a large mass flew overhead. I looked over in the direction of where the thing came from but all I saw was a gawking Coby and a boy no older than me talking to the crew. He was tall (well, taller than me -_-") and thin; wearing a red vest, cut-off jean shorts, sandals and a straw hat atop his short messy black hair.

"Give Coby a dinghy," he ordered. "He's going to join the Marines."

"Y-yes sir!" one of them stuttered fearfully.

I cocked an eyebrow. Why were they so scared of him? And where was Alvida? Surely she didn't tolerate this.

I turned away from both boys only to have my eyes widen. Lying against the rail, unconscious, was the lady captain herself.

"Oi, Coby?" I called to the boy.

"Azure!"

I turned towards the two boys. "Mind telling me what I missed?"

Coby opened his mouth to explain, but was interrupted when a crew member came to tell them that the boat was ready and filled with provisions. Well that was fast… I sighed.

"I suppose it can't be helped. Well, I guess this is good bye Coby," I smiled. "If it means anything, I think you'll make one hell of a Marine."

He blushed briefly then gave a confused look. "But I wanted you to come with us."

My eyes softened. He sounded so… deflated. "What do you think would happen, Coby? Once you get to the base and you friend goes off, what about me?

I wouldn't have anywhere to go. I can't join the Marines because I have a bounty and I have a goal that forces me to be a pirate. So the best thing for me to do is stay here"

"What's your goal?" the guy asked. I almost jumped. I had forgotten that he as there… and that I still don't know his name.

"I'm looking for something," I replied vaguely. "Something that most would find completely useless. But to me, it's the most valuable thing in the world."

"Hmmmm… okay!" He grinned am=n impossibly large smile. Anymore and his face would split in half.

"By the way, name's Magali Azure." I said as I slipped my hands into my pockets. "Hopefully, we'll meet again on the seas."

"I'm Monkey D. Luffy and I'm going to be King of the Pirates."

Blink… Blink…

"You're insane."

"And you're coming with us," He grinned.

I'm sorry, I think I misheard.

"What?" I gave him a deadpanned look.

"I decided that you're coming with us."

…He can't possibly think that I'm just going to just up and leave. I mean, sure— did he just agree to being insane or did he not catch that… Looking at him I'd say the latter.

"Please Azure," the pink-haired boy pleaded. "You're always complaining that you hate it here, now's your chance to leave. What have you got to lose?"

In all honesty, he was right. It's rather obvious I won't get far with Alvida, not only that, she's a bitch. I need to move on and find a way to the Grand Line. I sighed and crossed my arms. "I have one condition," I said seriously. "My loyalty is to the ocean before all else. If, for any reason, it or my goal is endangered, I'm leaving."

"Gotcha," Luffy grinned, but I don't really think he got it.

"So you're coming?" asked an enthused Coby.

I nodded. "Give me two minutes."

And with that, I ran off to my quarters. I grabbed the navy blue messenger bag from under my table and started packing necessities: clothes, a map of the East Blue, a couple thousand Berries, a book or two, the black blanket from my hammock and a small portable air tank. Making sure I had everything, I went to the night table and opened the drawer. I carefully pulled out the black, book-sized box.

It was a simple black wooden box with a lock. There wasn't much detail on it; just simple blue waves etched along the sides and a crescent moon carved on the lid in the same pale blue. It contained my treasure, something my mother left me.

I quickly tucked it into my bag and ran out of the room, not looking back. Quickly glancing about the deck, Luffy and Coby were nowhere in sight. So I headed to the scaffold and jumped off the bulwark, landing in the middle of the small boat…and the two boys.

"Hi."

I chuckled as Coby was getting over a heart attack and Luffy was grinning like a fool.

"So, where are we headed?" I asked as I placed my bag by the mast.

"The nearest Marine base," said Luffy as he moved to sit on the figurehead.

I nodded and got comfortable. I got the feeling that I was in for one hell of a fantastical adventure.

As mentioned, I shall update as soon as I can. Hopefully, I can post these on Sundays. But no promises though.

Reviews might make it go faster... *hint, hint*

See ya!

Silver