Author's Note:

This work has been in progress for MONTHS. I kept reworking and reworking it until finally I deemed it alright to write, and I quite enjoy it's outcome. But I am so damn shy about posting things about my own Fan Characters. It's rather embarrassing to make them openly. But a good friend of mine convinced me to go one and do what I enjoy and write them out. And I did.

A few points about the story you should know:

- This is set around 25 years before the current One Piece story line in Water 7. I will not use any cannon characters unless I deem them worthy. It's my story, I do what I want.

- It's told from one of the many characters I have created for it: Ibis Barrel.

And that's it for the beginning, most of it's pretty basic for an introductory chapter. I do hope you like it!

Ibis

Chapter 1: Vasco Tasman

I'd always liked feathers, they were my thing. Always had been. That's why I was angry when I saw this Pirate Captain wearing one as he kicked his way into my café.

With about half a dozen of his men following him, he pulled back a chair with his foot and whistled for some service. I glared at his crew from the crack in the kitchen door. Serve them or get robbed. The choice was obvious, but he was going to scare all my costumers away and most likely rob me anyway. Not that they'd run now. They were frozen in their seats, as if this Captain's vision was based on movement. But it didn't matter, this time tomorrow, they'd clear out of this café and I'd have one more shop closed down in Water 7. Thanks to pirates, our city was drowning in it's own fears and poverty.

"We getting' any real service any time soon?" Said one of the men with a bandana, rolling a coin on his fingers. "If I have to watch Chyuk here eat another packet of sugar, I'm going to flip something."

"Why don't you just look away then, Tight Eyes? I'm starving." Said a thick man with bracelets up his arms, his head perfectly shaved.

"Now, boys." The Captain chuckled. "We ought to keep our voices low if we want to hear what the special is."

"Miss Barrel." Someone from the kitchen whispered behind me. "You need to go take their orders, before they-"

"I'm going! Hand me some straws."

"Alright, I'll send someone out the back to get some help."

"Don't bother, I don't want them to get hostile."

"But what if th-"

"The straws, Lucette!"

Taking a sharp intake of breath, the little kitchen aid handed me about seventy-eight straws from the can before scurrying off to the back. I tightened my apron and slowly opened the door.

"Welcome to the Quail's Nest, I'm…" I bit my lip, I didn't want to give my first name or last name. First was safest. "I'm Ibis. Anything I can start you off with? Water or a cof-"

One man let out a hoot of laughter. "Like we'd want water! That's all we see!"

I bared my teeth behind closed lips. "Fine…no water. Coffee or wine?"

"If we have any more sugar left." Laughed the coined one again, nudging the sugar eater as the other men roared with laughter.

"Okay…that's seven coffees and a couple of bottles of wine?"

"Eh, Captain. This lady didn't ask you want you wanted directly." Chyuk rapped his knuckles on the Captain's shoulder. "Whaddya say, Captian Tasman? We tell her what's right?"

I heard some shuffles in the kitchen and my face felt cold. Swaying on spot, my nervous eyes darted to the Captain. Which, to my shock, shook his head and merely put his feet up on the table and leaned back. I could see his face now. Maybe two years my senior and tanned he was actually quite handsome. But his looks didn't make me any less nervous, I chewed on the inside of my mouth as he studied me and his crewmate.

"Ah, she's alright." He put his hand on his knee. "You'd think after all the raids in this town, she'd get how to talk to Pirates."

His crew clapped and laughed as I marched away into the kitchen. Lucette dashed up to me, balancing mugs in her hands, you could tell she had been crying. "Miss! I thought they were going to do something back there!"

"I'm fine. We got any fresh coffee?" I put a hand on the counter to steady myself.

"I believe so…I'll go ask Joe if he'd done that this mornin'." And she trotted off, picking up any mug she could see and muttering in nerves.

Heaving a sigh, I combed over the menu as to what they might order. In my head pulsed the nerve of the men outside as I heard dishes break and costumers let out little shrieks. Of course I knew how to talk to them, didn't mean I had too…ooooh. My nose crinkled up and my lips drew into a disgusted sneer, I just needed those men out of my café and to get myself out of Water 7. Not only me, but my sister as well. Sighing out of my sneer, I flicked the menu from my hand and waited for Lucette to come dashing back up.

"No warm coffee, ma'am. All stone cold!" She bit her lip. "Got a pot boilin', but it'll be bit before! Oh! What'll we do if they don't like waiting!"

"We get out, obviously. Or just make them wait." I threw the straws on the counter. "Let me go tell them before they bash in the windows."

Pushing the door open with my back, I looked out to see the Pirates had now began to stand up and read the signs on the walls and look over the counter.

"Eh, Boss, they've had lost of celebrities come up in here…" A snaggletooth Pirate called as he scratched his head in front of a poster of a woman and her signature across her large bust.

"Ahem." I started as I approached the table. "Captain, sir?"

He looked up from under his large hat. "Yes, little lady?"

"Your coffee will be out after it's done brewing. This shouldn't be an inconvenience?"

"It isn't. And you got a pretty tongue on you, missy. You sound well read." He pulled of his hat and threw it on the table. I eyed with a visage of antagonism it as it knocked over my salt.

"I'd like to think so." I raised a shoulder and put a hand on my hip. "I take it the rest of crew doesn't mind waiting?"

"Not at all."

"Thank you." I turned on heel and was halfway to the door before the Captain shouted.

"Now, now! Come on back here." He held up his hand and beckoned me with two fingers. "I want you to join us for a second."

"I…" All his men looked at me, the costumers dropped their conversations and forks. Lucette squealed from the back. "I…have to get in the back for…uh…"

"Nonsense! Sit down!" He snapped for a member to pull up a seat. "The costumer is always right! And got get that squealing friend of yours, I'm sure she'd love to join us!" The men laughed again as I backed to the door and cracked it open.

"Lucette…Lucette you heard them."

She let out a dry sob. "No! Miss Barrel, please…"

"Come on! They won't do anything! Joe has enough sense to get help!" I yelled in a whisper. "Let's go…oh, for heaven's sake! Get a hold of your self!" But it was futile to try an compose her, she was practically rolled over like an armadillo when I pried her from the kitchen doorway.

She followed me back to the table where another seat hand been drawn. We sat down, Lucette was hunched forward in fear, her hands wringing in front of her chest. I felt a sharp pain in my chest from where my breath came in bursts. The Captain looked over both of us.

"What's this little one's name? Sure is a pretty one…" He pointed a tip of his boot at Lucette who squealed again and cowered.

"Lu…Lu…" She trembled.

"Lulu? Your name is Lulu?" He smirked, Chyuk combed his gaze over her.

"N-no…sir…it's L-Lucette Vie."

"Vie?" Breathed Tight Eyes. "You got a brother on the seas?"

"A…a Marine…Captain…" Her eyes swam with tears. "But…he's-"

"Ran into that guy…I think." He nodded with a wicked grin. "Yup. He and his entire fleet out on the West Blue."

Lucette seem to be ready to erupt into tears, Captain Tasman took notice.

"Quick worrying her, Tight Eyes." He brandished a hand. "We didn't do anything to your brother."

"Not b-brother…my fiancé." She had a flash of relief before cowering again, I put a hand on her back.

"Ah…then we owe you an apology for what we did to him." Tasman said, bouncing his foot, sprinkling dirt on the tablecloth. Lucette's eyes almost popped out of her head and I sputtered.

"But…but…" She started and put her face into her hands.

"You said you didn't do anything to him!" I shouted. "Don't trouble her like that!"

Tasman put up his hands. "Calm down…Ibis, was it? I didn't say we killed him, we just roughed him up and took their possessions. And…well…let me tell you a little something," He laid his head back and rolled his tongue over his lips a bit before going on. "I remember everything I steal. It's a gift you see, tells me I was just born to be a Pirate. I can remember almost any detail from it too. Just a knack."

"He ain't kiddin'!" Chyuk called and the men bleated their own opinions. The costumers tried not to look engrossed on the conversation, but were failing.

"So?" I asked harshly.

"Pushy…women are always so damn pushy…" He sighed. "So, I roughed up her lover," He pointed a thumb to Lucette who squeaked in shock of being addressed. "And took his stuff. And from what I recollect, and I'm not incorrect, I think I took the ring he was bringing for her."

Lucette let out a gasp and I scoffed. "You took a…ring?"

"Eh, he screamed about it for a while and pleaded." He shrugged. "How should I know it was really for his broad? Those World Government people are usually liars as it is."

"Still! It's…you shouldn't have…it's just disgusting!" I drew my bottom lip down in repugnance.

"You've got a lot of opinions. But I'll have you know that I like what I do, so just give it up."

"No one else does." I sputtered. "So…why not just leave Water 7 and piracy?"

He laughed. "I don't do this for other's approval, Miss Ibis."

"You must do it for something."

"Thrill of the game." He brought a fist to his forehead. "And just to have my name around. Not an outlandish dream, I think." He swept his fingers from his face and looked at me.

"People spit on any Pirate's name. It's a fact." I pointed at him while welling up some spit in my mouth and spat it on the floor next to me. "Enjoy your fame, because it's on my floor!"

Tasman swung his feet off the table and stood up with his teeth bared. I rose up with him and disregarded Lucette try to coax me to sit back in my seat. The Pirates were jeering and cackling around the shop, some trying to provoke their Captain with "You going to let a little girl talk big?" and "She spat! I can't believe she fucking spat!" Lucette was backing down in her seat saying that she didn't care if the ring was taken, and other such things to try and get us to stop. Costumers were staring into their glasses, plates or at us with their lower jaw hanging slack. As we stared at each other, Tasman started to thumb what appeared to be a gun handle in his belt.

"I'll have you know, my full name is Vasco Tasman. For next time." He said under his breath. "Anything else?"

"Your coffee is bound to be ready." And with that I turned away and dashed to the kitchen quickly, because I was about to burst into embarrassing tears. Hoots and hollers followed me as well as Lucette, who was receiving the worst of the calls due to her looks.

"Are you insane?" She whispered as we made our way to the coffee maker. "You're only seventeen! And a girl! Don't go acting so tough to Pirates!"

I slammed a mug on the counter. "They took your ring, Lu! Your ring! How could I have just sat there and not said a word knowing that somewhere Vie is probably sick with sadness that your ring was taken by…by…pirates!" Another mug forced down, a bit on the bottom chipped off. "You know he's probably torn up about it! He really, really loves you!"

Lucette picked up the mugs, one in each hand. "I know that, Ibis! You don't think it upsets me? But you can't go around standing up to people like that! You're going to get yourself killed!"

"It's your fiancé, Lu! The man you love!"

"What about your sister?" She shook her arms up and down. "You can put you or her at risk like you just did!"

Curling my upper lip, I turned back to the machine and began to pour. We sat in silence until we had to go deliver the drinks. I with three cups and Lucette with four, we made our way to the table. We were shocked to see that only three of them remained in the café. "Go on back, Lucette." She looked me over and retreated to the kitchen.

"Coffee." I sat them down, the Tasman looked at it. "Your wine will com-"

"Did you spit in it?"

"Very funny. Drink it and leave."

"Here." He threw some cash on the table. "I don't want the coffee anymore, come one you two. Let's leave Miss Ibis to clean up our mess."

And with that, he stood up with force enough to send his chair toppling over. His men raked their arms across the table and sent bottles of condiments and powder things tinkling to the hardwood floors. The cream table cloth became splotchy with coffee and other syrups, the winkles were pooled with the mess. Costumers watched in awe as chairs were heaved over, the table was wrecked and all while the Captain stood there. Before I could check my situation, my face pulled up in preparation to cry. Tasman took a single napkin from the dispenser and held it up.

"You can use this to clean my name up from your floor." It fluttered down on top of the mess, soaking instantly. "Have a wonderful day." He recapped his feathered hat and marched towards door.

After the bell tinkled and the costumers went back into their uneasy conversations, I felt it alright to cry a bit. Lucette dashed out and put an arm over my shoulder.

"Ibis…"

"I hate pirates." I bent down and started to pick up the mess. "I really, really loathe pirates."

A/N:

Lucette is an annoying character, but damn do I love her and Claude's relationship.

Hope you enjoyed chapter one, I've already started the next chapter.

Thanks for reading!

- Emily

Coming Soon:

Chapter Two: The Apology Letter