~X~
Once Upon a Time…
Before the golden age of pirates…
There was a man who met a woman as wild as the sea itself..
His name, was Silvers Rayleigh.
~X~
It had been a very humid night on a small island in the East Blue. No one really knew the island's name. But it was truly tiny, only inhabited around one hundred people and had become a common stop for travelers. Pirates or Marine alike.
It had a small harbor, where you could easily dock your ship unnoticed. No marine base existed on that island. All houses were made out of tropical wood, all roads muddy cobblestone. Many taverns and brothels existed, many restaurants and shops dedicated for sailors. A small trading market where you could buy and sell pretty much anything, from cattle to exotic fabrics and jewelry to weapons or mysterious fruits. The island itself had a large and thick jungle surrounding the town, that was built in a large cove.
The island had a sort of it's own magic, it didn't matter where you came from or where your affiliation were, no one picked a fight in that small port town. It was a sort of neutral zone, some said it was because of location itself that caused this, since the island were mere kilometers from being in the calm belt.
But alas, it was in this peaceful port town that a pirate met a particular woman. He and his captain and had walked into a bar to order some drinks. They had been hit with a powerful storm before coming to that island, and wanted to take a break from life itself. Scanning the bar you could spot one or two really drunk, low ranked marines. Several barmaids trying to earn that extra tips, and otherwise calm or jolly people being more modest.
"Say Captain?"
"Hmm"
"Do you see that woman over there?"
"Where?"
Rayleigh pointed to a woman in the far corner of the bar. She was alone and sipped on some red wine. She was a sight to behold to say the least, a goddess around mortals. At Least according to him. His captain laughed at his companion's smitten state and pushed him toward the woman, making the man feel utterly vulnerable. He was old, yes, but finding a warm bed outside of his ship was hard for him. He was a bit rusty with his 'wooing women' skills.
He walked up to her empty table and rather awkwardly sat down. She smiled a very gentle smile, but was rather flirty when she started to talk with him.
Their conversation lasted all night, talking and talking about everything from the sea, to adventure to the night sky to legends. She asked him if he believed in fate, he said yes.
That night they had walked along the long shore of the island, holding hands and looking at each other from time to time like true lovebirds. He realised how she was wild and unpredictable, and at the same time had a sort of calming grace about her, as well as a big heart and a wise mind. She was as changeable and whimsical as the sea itself, and exemplified the deepest charity and brilliance of a any woman's mercurial nature. She laughed loud and proud at some of his jokes and listened carefully when the suspense became too much. Soon they sat down and listened to the calm waves that crashed onto the sand, a warm and faint breeze made the clouds disappear, making the moon's loving glow light up their surroundings. They locked eyes, and kissed.
That kiss turned into pure bliss, euphoria and other verbs to describe love making between human beings. The act that some say are sacred, other say is a pass of time to let out some steam.
When Rayleigh would the next day return to his ship, many of the crew would say that the woman who had caught the eye of their first mate must've costed him a lot of gold. When in reality it was not an exchange like that at all. Although by modern terms it would referred to nothing more than as a one-night stand. Deep down he knew that love at first sight didn't really exist, and that alcohol had a larger part of the evening before than he originally thought.
As they sailed away none of them noticed that same woman, standing on the same shore as yesterday, looking out over the waters wishing them a safe journey to whatever mythical or adventurous place they were heading.
~X~
Months later
It was a stormy night, the worst one that the small island had ever encountered before. Brutal wind flying right through the poorly built wooden houses and rain as sharp as ice poured down on the barely covered roofs.
A woman, surrounded by other women of her community, were screaming and grunting and cursing and huffing. She cursed the man she had experienced euphoria with, she cursed the pirate that would any minute now become a father without even knowing it. She had sent a letter weeks ago, though now it seemed impossible for him to even get close to her.
The gods must've wanted him gone, wanted him away from this child that was causing her a lot of pain.
"Where is she?!" The woman heard his voice, it had been a long time but she remembered still. He was there, in her home. A very small piece of her distress flowed away with the cold biting wind.
"She is in there! Hurry!" Madame Juliette shouted and carried another broken bowl of somewhat warm water to the panting woman's bedside. She was as beautiful as Rayleigh remembers, even though he didn't love her, he would still be by her side. Her hair was stuck to the nape of her neck, and her brown tattered dress was all but trashed from the labour.
"Rayleigh?" Her voice was tiny and out of breath, all she wanted to do was rest, but the occasion didn't let her.
"I am here.. I am here by your side my love"
"This is your fault!" She grunted and tried to take deep breaths to calm herself down a bit.
"I am sorry" He said, speaking only the truth. He never wished for this to happen, but it did. So now he would suck it up and be a man about it.
She screamed once again, in the process taking his firm and sweaty hand subconsciously. He was nervous, excited and very horribly nervous.
"Very good! Once more! Once more!" The midwife roared, obviously stressed by all the people and the storm outside.
"I can't!"
"Yes you can! Push my love, one more time"
She did, and the world went completely still for a second. A mere second, a tiny piece of time, but in that moment the storm outside didn't exist, the many women and one man in the little shack of a house held their breaths. A loud cry could be heard, only that noise existed for a second.
It was over, the heavy storm continued and the women in the shack started to cheer in happiness.
And so, Silvers Lily was born.
~X~
A/N: This is my first One Piece fanfic, please review, also if someone can figure out if Silvers is indeed his last name that would be great. On the wiki, everyone's last names is written first, which should mean that Rayleigh is his first name, but I've heard people say that Rayleigh is his last name only that everyone calls him that anyways. Would be ever greatful if someone helped me with this.
