The West Blue Sea dazzled as beams of sunlight bounced off of the ocean water; an ocean breeze swept by, rustling a young boy's trimmed red hair.
"Wow, five years." He thought.
Five years had indeed passed since he last came back here. He was 12 now, old enough to make his own decisions; as if there were anyone else to help him to. For five long years, he had been alone, fending for himself, teaching himself the rules of life. The forest's dangers had kept him alert and alive throughout this time and he appreciated it very much. These days, he loved to stay near the cliff; it was a kind of relief for him. When he's near it, it makes him feel safe, like a fortress. As he stood on the rocky, rough cliff, his mind left him as he stared out at the open sea. His mind replayed everything that had happened to him that veryday, five years ago. His eyebrows twitched as he recalled his villages raze. He could still see the fire that destroyed his house and the rest of his family with it.
He had just arrived back from the forest picking out the fresh coconuts for dinner, when he saw the flames engulfing the house.
"Shanks, run!" his brother had yelled so fiercely. Shanks dropped the coconuts.
"Dragon! NO!" he bellowed as he sprinted into the flames.
Shanks gasped as he was startled back to the present. He was sure he saw a faint black reflection along the water. He squinted into the open sea, but didn't see anything. Relieved, he lay down staring up into the seemingly infinite sky join with the infinite water of thesea, and once again, the memories flowed.
Shanks had dragged his brother's broken body out of the house on a blanket.
"Here, at least I could save this, Shanks." Dragon whispered softly. Unwrapping his sheared arms, he revealed a simple straw hat.
"Happy Birthday, brother." Dragon whispered again gently nestling it onto Shank's head. Shanks had tears pouring out of his eyes, he was about to wipe them away when Dragon held his arm firmly.
"It's ok to cry sometimes Shanks, don't be afraid to." Dragon whispered, forcing a grin.
"Be strong Shanks, live and be a great man. Live out your to life to the fullest and- do me a favor and take care of yourself." Dragon could barely get the words out of his throat. He touched Shank's cheek.
"Who Dragon, WHO DID THIS! Who-Who- would do this-" Shanks first yelled, them whimpered. Dragon slowly lifted his charred hand and drew 3 consecutive circles and an "x" across them.
As the two brothers looked into each other's eyes, Dragon's hand dropped, and his body, limp. Shanks didn't want to see more and was snapped out of his flash back, shuddering and shaking. He collapsed to the ground and his eyes slammed shut.
Shanks sniffed the air as his eyes blinked open. The ocean breeze had helped him come to. Lying down on the sea worn rocks, he looked far out into the ocean, longing, that one day, he could sail on them. He didn't know when or why the thought of becoming a pirate occurred to him. Perhaps it was the idea of total freedom, his desire for vengeance, or maybe his love of swimming. He didn't know what drove his thoughts that way, but he knew, at whatever the cost, he would become one. Little could he imagine what he would become, even more so, the cost of it all.