Suzuki Reika, a high school girl, never had a fabulous life. Her father disappeared from home when a few years ago leaving them all his debts. Her mother never liked her and often she thought of putting her in an orphanage. And there was her brilliant sister who always exceled in everything she did. So Reika was never truly loved by somebody.
She choose to become rebellious. She knew that no matter how much she tried she couldn't raise to her older sister's skills. So she gave up and walked on another path. But that path wasn't anymore lightened…
"Hey Reika! Are you coming to the party tonight? Everybody is going there." One of her classmates, Ami, said.
"Yeah… Takeshi said he'll take me there." Reika said as she packed the few notebooks she had.
"Oh! I remember seeing Takeshi with a girl yesterday. They seemed very close. Aren't you worried?" Another girl said.
"No… I'm aware of his habits. But… if I say anything I'm afraid he will throw me too. Sorry girls! I have to go now! See you tonight!" Reika said and ran on the door. She was very aware of her boyfriend's habits. But at the same time she was too scared of being pushed if she'd say anything. So she choose to ignore these.
"Oi, Reika!" a voice called her while she ran on the stairs. She turned and saw Takeshi. "Why the hurry? Are you ok?" he asked.
"I'm ok. I just got bored and decided to skip the last hours." Reika said.
"If it's that so, why don't we go and play a little. I'm bored too…" he said and kissed her. She returned it but soon she got back a little.
"Sorry but not now." She said with a weak smile. Takeshi frowned a little but soon he gave her a smirk.
"Then let's take our time tonight after the party." He said.
"Sure. After the party…" she whispered and then left. But she didn't even know where she should go. Her mother was at home so she couldn't go there. She could stay in the park for a little. Her sister had a course about something so she won't be home until 9. She could go back home after 7. Her mother was going to work then.
After a time spend in the park she finally headed home. As expected, nobody was there.
"I'm hungry…" she said as she prepared a cup of instant noodles. She never cooked well. Next she took a bath, watched the TV a little and went to her room to prepare for the party. She had to leave before 8. She didn't want to see her perfect sister.
After she curled her black hair and she put a make up on, she changed in a set of clothes more fit for a night party at a club. And with a few more accessories she was ready to leave. But right when she was putting her shoes on at the entrance her sister appeared behind her back.
"Are you leaving at some kind of party again?" Rei, her sister asked.
"I didn't hear you entering, Onee-chan." Reika said without looking in her face.
"Do what you want. I should thank you instead. You always let mother's expectations fall on me." Rei said with a smirk. Then Reika turned and faced her sister.
"If you want to thank me, you'd be able to do so by leaving me alone." She said. Rei frowned but turned to the kitchen.
"Trash will always be trash." She said before leaving the hall. Reika was visibly affected by her sister's words. Not that she didn't expect her to say something like that. But she just wished this to not happen.
"I should leave by now…" Reika said and left. It took her an hour to reach the destination. Ami was waiting her with three other girls. She saw Takeshi there too.
"Hey, Reika! You came." He said after he saw her.
"Didn't I promise you?" Reika replied with a fiery look.
"You're so nice, Reika-chan…" Takeshi replied and kissed her.
"Are you two done there? We need to enter." a boy from Takeshi's class, Daichi, asked.
"Shut up, Dai. It's not like you don't do things like that with Aoi too." Takeshi replied.
"Well, at least we're taking a room." Daichi said and put an arm around Aoi's shoulders.
"Come one, let's enter." Ami said and they all entered. Aoi had an invitation and so they could enter.
"Tonight let's have fun!" Reika shouted and the others cheered.
"Yay! Reika's pumped up!" another guy, Hiro, shouted and they all laughed. All the night they had fun dancing, drinking, playing poker and things. Takeshi got so drunk that he almost stood on his feets. But that didn't stop him to play with other women. It was almost 3 when he came to Reika while holding another woman's hand.
"Reika-chan~! I'm leaving ok…? We'll play together another time…" he said and left. Reika just smiled sadly.
"Reika… let's drink another tequila!" Ami shouted too drunk too.
"You know what, Ami… I think I'm going back home. I feel a little dizzy alright? See you tomorrow at school!" Reika said and took her bag while running out on the back door. She felt dizzy but she still was aware of her surroundings.
"I really should go home…" she lastly said before walking further thought the back alley. But what she didn't know… these were going to be her last steps. Just a moment passed and a sharp pain traveled all over her body. But especially an area… her heart…
She saw a shadow… a silhouette running away. Her eyes began to become blurry. And she fell on the ground. She looked at her hands, covered with blood.
"I'm… dying…?" she whispered to herself in shock. Why? Was that punishment? Punishment for the kind of life she had until now? Suddenly she felt cold. Very cold. Was that the death who was chaining her? Somehow she found the power to open her eyes once again. Never did she notice, but the sky, the moon, the stars… they were beautiful. They were all looking at her. The only ones who knew she was dying.
She never was religious, but I guess that's what people with regrets do on their deathbed. To ask God… for forgiveness… for a second chance…
'Please… If there really is a God… let me atone for my sins… Let me… live again!' she thought for the last time. "Please…" she murmured and closed her eyes.
It was darkness. Everything around her was darkness… She tried to move but she was chained. Did that mean she was going to hell…? And then… a warm light appeared before her.
"I'll grand you your wish… but nothing will be the same as before… You'll get a new life, a new name… Are you alright with that?" a voice echoed from the light. Reika was looking at it shocked. She… she could live again…? For real? And without realizing she answered. An answer from deep within her heart. "Yes…"
"Then so shall be… Welcome your new life… But the price is your very soul… You won't be able to leave the Earth ever… Or should I say… the sea?" the voice said again and seemed to be amused. What did that God store for her…?
Suddenly she heard a cry… but soon she realized that she was the one crying. Why? She didn't know…
"Hush, Serena… It's alright. We're almost there…" a woman voice said. Serena? Was that woman talking to her? Why did she call her Serena? Wait… That God did say she will get a new name. Well… She liked it. But did it fit her? Then she realized she couldn't move. And she was in that woman's hands. She was holding her. But the newly named Serena couldn't see anything. Just a faint silhouette. But she seemed a beautiful woman… and kind too.
"See… we're almost there. That's where you're going to grow, my sweetheart. This wonderful island… Hoshiyume Island. Your new home…" she said and held me tighter. Somehow… she felt safe in her hands… she felt… loved… But then… Serena felt like the wind blew too much. She realized she wasn't on ground anymore. She was… flying. The woman who was holding her was flying. But somehow… she liked this sensation. It felt so good. Even in that small baby body she now had. That's right… she was reborn… as a baby.
She then felt like landing. The woman stopped flying and landed on ground. But the hurry didn't stop. Because the woman began now to run. Where did she run to? And why? All these questions ran thought Serena's head.
"Come! Hurry!" another voice shouted and the sound of a door opening was heard.
"I'm sorry I have to do that. I just have no choice…" the woman said.
"Are you really sure about that? You are her mother…" the other woman said. So the one holding her was her mother?
"I know… But I can't let her become targeted too. I don't want her to be the daughter of a criminal. That's why… I trust you with my daughter's life. Please Elyssa… protect her!" she said and handed the little baby to her friend. But what did she mean by criminal?
"I will, Rosalya. I will protect her. Like you protected me back then." Elyssa said and held Serena with such love. It felt like she was her own daughter.
"Thank you Elyssa. I really thank you. I'm sorry to burden you with this, but I have no choice. If the Marines find her, she'll be in prison… Just a few remained from our crew… And I think I'll be caught too soon. That's why… I want her to have someone there… I want her to be happy…" Rosalya said.
"You don't have to worry about her. I'll take good care of the little one. But her name… What's her name?" Elyssa asked as she looked at Serena.
"Serena… Amaris. Daughter of Sun and serene as the Moon. To bring joy like sun and light like the moon in night. The Stars themselves will be hers one day… I'm sure of it." Rosalya said and bended to her daughter. "I hope you'll understand why I did that one day. But until then… please be good. And learn as much as you can. Cause I know… someday you will met some people too. And you will give the next Pirate King the keys of the door. You… my and his daughter… Farewell… Serena…" Rosalya said and kissed her cute daughter on the forehead as a small light formed.
"I'll miss you, Rosalya. You always took care of me… And you taught me magic…" Elyssa said.
"I know. I gave you every bit of knowledge I had. Please give this child these as well. Because her fate is already too tied by the magic. She has such a great power within her. And when I'll die… my Mystica will pass onto this child. I'm willing to give her everything… because I know… she deserves it." Rosalya said with tears in her eyes. Elyssa put the little girl into a crib prepared for her and then took her friend in a hug.
'Ok… this is weird. Where the hell did I come? It's like I'm in another world. Or I am? Ah… I guess that would be my new life from now on… But I hate being stuck in this body! I can't talk, I can't move and I barely see anything! This is so boring… That woman… Rosalya… she's my new mother? She seems so nice and kind. Can she truly be a criminal? And she's leaving her here for my sake? I don't know what to say… But… I felt so good in her arms… I never felt the feeling of love… This was my first time… But… but… I don't want it to end! I want her to hold me more! I want her… to be my mother!' the little Serena thought and without realizing she began to cry again.
"Serena…" Elyssa whispered as she began to cry too.
"I need to go… They will find you if I stay too much on this island… I lost Delilah last week in an attempt to escape already… " Rosalya said and headed to the door. "Goodbye… Elyssa… Serena… I'll miss you." She said and left. Elyssa looked a little as she flew again in the sky and went ahead to have Marines lost her track.
"I'll miss you too… Rosa-chan…" Elyssa said and then went to the little Serena who was still crying. She took her in her arms and held her dearly. "Listen, little one… I'm Elyssa. I'll take care of you from now on… Your mother asked me to help you learn everything you need. So that's what I'll do… I'll turn you into a wonderful lady… and someday you will open the gates of the door of One Piece for your Captain. I'm sure you will…" Elyssa explained as the little Serena looked like she wanted to say something too. Just then Elyssa observed the power in her eyes. She didn't look like a newborn baby. She looked like she knew what life was about. Or at least… another life…
Two years later…
Two years passed since the little Serena came in this world. Her mother from this world… that night when she came to this house… everything seemed like a dream. She often forget about this. And she acted like a normal 2 years child. But she knew she wasn't. She learned about this world. About the things it contained… But Elyssa wouldn't teach her more like she wanted. She knew about the seas of the world a little. And she learned about this island. But Elyssa said she will have to grow up a little more every time she asked about something she wasn't supposed to know.
Her appearance was different from her last life. Her black hair was now light brown. And her eyes were now green. Yet she could say she looked more cute than before. And she could say she will become quite a fine lady in the future.
Elyssa became worried sometimes… Little Serena used to have nightmares and to call in her sleep names she didn't know. Sometimes she was using words she didn't even knew she could use. But she was so happy and cheerful almost every time. Elyssa's house became lighter since the little girl came in. Exactly like her name, she was the sun of this house.
Serena decided to forget about her last life. She found this world of dreams. She found someone to love her. She was happy here. She was friend with the children of the village she would often go down the hill to play with them. Everybody welcomed her and she often ate with them. Everything was perfect. But she was just 2, and she had to learn much more. She decided to bring joy instead of sorrow. Because one thing she remembered from that night. 'To bring joy like sun and light like the moon in night.' That was her name, Serena Amaris. But everybody was used to calling her Rena. It was more simple.
Three years later…
Serena began learning about magic, but Elyssa said she couldn't use any magic until she would convert her spirit in a weapon. But it was finally time for her to turn her feelings from within her heart and her very spirit into a weapon which would serve her whole life. She began by meditating. If she wanted to archive something so priceless, she had to be focused. To have her mind clear. Then she began to convert her power in an object. At the beginning it was a small stone. But whit each night passing her stone began to turn into a beautiful golden star shaped trinket. In each corner it had a colored gemstone. She never went anywhere without it. But for a week almost she had a high fever because of it. It was something normal for children when they learned to make their weapon first.
Elyssa found that she was an elemental sorceress. It was expected from her origins, not that she ever told Rena the truth. What the little girl knew is that she was abandoned by her parents and that Elyssa took her in. Serena accepted it since she didn't remember anything else than the meaning of her name. But she didn't hate her mother or father. For the simply reason she didn't know them. But with each day Rena became awesome at magic. She was helping everybody whit her magic. But for some reason she was getting in trouble as well…
Serena had found a pleasure for adventures. Going explore thought the forest, getting into mud fights with the other children or going to treasure hunt were a few of the things she did in her free time. But Elyssa was always carling and was scolding her very rare. But they were both happy to be together. Thought Elyssa was often wondering about her friend. Where was she…?
Eight years later…
It was a dark day on Hoshiyume Island. Their mage, Elyssa, died at the hands of an illness. Many people gathered at her grave. The sky itself was crying over it. But the worse of everybody… Serena. At just 13 years, she lost her mentor, her mother-like figure. Her eyes were red of crying but now not even a tear will get out. In a black dress and black shoes she was standing before the grave ahead of her.
"We're sorry for your loss. Come to us whenever you want…" someone from the village said and one by one they all left. Just Rena stayed. She kneel down and prayed for her mentor. And before leaving she put a flower down… a white lily… Elyssa's favorite.
"Thank you… for everything… and thank you… for loving me…" Serena said and smiled. She knew Elyssa wouldn't want to see her like that.
I hope you liked it. It's my first fanfic. And I would like to see what you think about it. So please review, minna!