Prologue
"Mama, tell me again mama how amazing papa is!" The little girl ran circles around her mother as she flung laundry onto the line.
Her mother smiled. "Your father went out as a young man to become a Marine. And he quickly proved how strong he was and how wonderful leader of his own fleet. One day your papa saved me from miscreants who meant to hurt me and it was love at first sight. But he was called away after you were born and since had been unable to come home for long periods of time. Being in such high demand."
"And he is brave! Strong and True! Like a real Marine!" The little child sung happily and she looked into the sky with glee.
Her mother laughed. "Indeed. Your own father has battled giant sea monsters and terrifying Devil powered humans. You are the proud daughter of a very special man. Even you can be strong like him."
The little girl laughed and began to battle evils around her mother in a bid to protect her, little white locks flying around. They returned to their little house by the sea. A beautiful blue and white two story right where the men dock and return to their homes or go to taverns. Right where a sweet little girl and her mother can greet their beloved father and husband when he returns. The little girl slipped from the house with a fishing pole.
"Be back before dinner!" Her mother called.
"I will!" The little girl called back and ran for the docks to fish. Her white locks waving behind her wildly. Blue eyes fixed on her favorite spot.
She settled down and baited her hook before she threw her line in and looked out to the ocean. She dreamed of her father coming home soon. She would love to hear of his adventures. They would be exciting and wonderful. She fell asleep in the sun with the wind gently blowing her while hair around. After a while she woke up to a tug on the line. She fought with it for a second and then she pulled it up. It was a strange looking fruit. The yellow coating was bumpy and there was one green leaf attached to the branch. That was interesting it was a bit small for a fruit about the size of her palm. Maybe it tasted good. Right then her stomach rumbled. It was a while to dinner. She might as well eat it.
She opened her mouth and popped the fruit in. She began to chew it. The yellow shell broke easily and soon she was chomping down on the soft and juicy insides. She chewed for a moment before she stopped. Her eyes grew huge. It tasted horrible. She choked on it and some of it went down her throat. She gagged and tried to spit it out but it ended up sliding down her throat as if it had a life of its own.
"Bleh! Blehhheh!" She choked. She couldn't spit it out. She sadly swallowed it.
"Ahahahaha! Look at you little Mari. It looks like you swallowed a devil fruit." A little old man was laughing from his position at the head of the dock. "You might want to check what you have."
"A…A devil fruit? What?" The little girl looked at her hands with wide blue eyes and almost cried. She was…a dangerous person now? The ones her father chased?
"Now now. What is with that look little lady? Devil fruits are not all that bad. Perhaps you could even help your papa little one." The old man told her almost sweating because she looked like she was going to start screaming. She looked at him shocked now. Help papa?
"Could I really?" she gave him hopeful sky bright eyes.
He smiled. "Sure you can. Your papa works with some of the best devil fruit bearers. Remember your uncle has them too? You figure out what you have little one and you can tell your papa when he comes back."
Mari cheered and left the dock to tell her mother.
"Mama! Mama!" Her white tresses flew around her and her azure blue eyes fairly sparkled with glee.