Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece. I do own the OCs and the places. Any resemblance to One Piece characters, weapons, or events were strictly unintentional, though might be quite similar.

Speaking of events, this NON-CANONICAL (in case you missed that) work takes place several decades after the Mugiwaras. Bear with me here.

Life as a pirate was proving harder than expected. It was one thing to think of starting a completely new career as a pirate; it was another to actually do so. Her head swam as she tried to remember all of the nautical terms and functions she had memorized so she could survive as a pirate. This was not what was causing her trouble. At least, it wasn't causing her trouble at the moment. What was stumping her was how she was going to proceed.

Gathering a crew was an obvious first step. That was why she was docked at an island. Well, her ship was beached on an island. It was an empty beach that obviously didn't have a lot of foot traffic, but it was still a beach. It was the only way she was going to approach an island. Although she had money to dock, and she hadn't committed any crimes that the public would be informed of, she didn't want to leave her ship both undefended and easy to find. That was definitely a downside of being alone. But that was the decision she had made, to start over from scratch. She was going to be a pirate and that was that.

She exited her quarters and leaned on the railing overlooking the main deck. Her white cowboy hat kept the sun out of her eyes as she scanned the ship for signs of life. She didn't see any, and she didn't think that she would find any if she searched the rest of the ship. Her father had only given her enough men to get her to an island of his choosing, one near the junction between the Red Line and the Calm Belt. Of course, this was only for convenience's sake. She had no intention of venturing outside of West Blue before she had a sizeable crew that she could depend on.

Not at all disappointed that the men had left her to her own devices, she vaulted over the railing and landed on the main deck. She entered the galley that rested below her room and circumnavigated the mizzenmast to access the kitchen. A bowl of apples rested on the counter, undoubtedly a parting gift from one of her relatives. Plucking an apple up and rubbing it on her dark orange T-shirt, she took a bite and entered the sunlight once more. She always loved the first bite out of a nice, crisp apple, and eating an apple now seemed like a perfect way to start her new life.

After checking over the side to see that the water was shallow enough to land in, she leapt overboard in one fluid motion. The reunion with the ground was softened by the water and sand beneath her feet and she was able to walk immediately afterwards with no adverse feelings other than the stiffness of wet blue jeans. She checked her weapons - two knives up her sleeves, two knives tucked into her bright red cowboy boots, a pair of pistols securely strapped into their holsters - as she walked away from her ship. It wouldn't do if she were surprised and she couldn't respond appropriately.

After walking for a bit, the beginnings of civilization started to appear here and there. Small shacks grew out of the most random places, bits of trash were discarded everywhere, and people occasionally wove their way through the mess. Her naturally enhanced senses picked up bits of conversation, peculiar smells, and visible details, and she paid attention to them all. Her paranoia wouldn't let her be caught unaware, even on an island with a peaceful reputation. She was no stranger to reputations that turned out to be false.

Eventually, a large wall loomed into view, blocking out what lay behind it. Two massive gates barred the entrance to outsiders with what looked like a tollbooth in front of them. She halted and frowned, reflexively moving out of the way of the man immediately behind her. She watched as the grimy fellow staggered past the tollbooth without so much as a look from the tollbooth operator. The beginning pirate knew she shouldn't expect such an easy entry. After all, she was carrying weapons, and she would have to surrender them.

Casting her hazel eyes about, she finally saw a possible solution. Heading some ways off the path and glancing about to make sure nobody was watching, she selected a rock and lifted it up. Loosening all six of her weapons, she stashed them beneath the rock and settled it back down. She had no real attachment to her weapons, but they were hers and she didn't want to lose them. In the unlikely event they were stolen, she had a few backups, but she would rather keep those backups as backups and not have to replace anything. Satisfied, she went back to the entrance and approached the tollbooth.

"Hello!" said the woman inside the small structure. "Welcome to Alamentia. You must be lost or have nowhere to go, my dear. I am Sister Elizabeth and I hope you enjoy your stay here." Glancing uncertainly at Sister Elizabeth, the pirate took a step towards the gates. Sister Elizabeth stared at her expectantly, waiting for her to go through. Satisfied that her abandonment of weapons was sufficient, she continued on through.

She had not gone two steps into the town when a voice called out to her in a whisper. "Psst! You there!" The pirate looked around. She saw a hand beckoning her from an alley and decided to investigate. She trusted her reflexes and the peacefulness of the town to get her out of any trouble that might appear. She ventured into the mouth of the alleyway and saw that same hand gesturing from behind a trash can. She briefly considered ignoring the person, but someone who obviously didn't want to be seen was someone worth investigating. Even on this island, shady dealings were bound to produce at least some useful results. With that in mind, she walked around the waste disposal unit and reacted instinctively when the person lunged at her.

When she realized that the woman she was holding in a fierce headlock probably needed air, she loosened her grip ever so slightly. "Who are you?"

The woman twisted to look up at her from her trapped position. "You've got to get me out of here! You have no idea the torture they put me through!"

Closing her eyes and inhaling deeply, the pirate quickly assayed her would-be attacker. The smells of paint and incense clung most strongly to the nun's robes, but the faint, unmistakable odors of tobacco and alcohol were unexpected. Her heartbeat was rapid, but her breath wasn't ragged or uneven. She wasn't terribly afraid. This woman was interesting.

The pirate released her victim and looked her up and down. She wore the black and white habit of a nun, but her robes were cut in places, making them appear more like a sleeveless shirt and long pants. Her robes were also splashed with various bright colors, probably using some sort of paint. The nun was half a head taller than the slim pirate, and her milky skin contrasted with the pirate's amber tone. Upon deciding the nun was no threat to her, the pirate offered a gloved hand to help the other woman to her feet. "What kind of torture?"

The other woman was about to open her mouth when a shrill voice cut through the air. "Lyn Mojigata! You get back here this instant!" The voice paused for a moment, then quieted down considerably. "And do bring your friend with you. We simply must meet her."

The pirate looked around in surprise. She couldn't see anybody near her or watching them, and she couldn't smell anyone close enough to speak so clearly. Where was that voice coming from? This mystery didn't please her in the least. She was even more surprised to see Lyn acting as if the disembodied voice were totally fine. The nun was focused on dusting herself off and smoothing her pitch black hair. "Great. Now they want to meet you. What are you, a merchant? Soldier?" She leaned in closer. "Pirate?"

Her response was a non-committal shrug. "Something like that."

"Well come on," Lyn said, stepping out of the alley and back into the bright sunlight. "I'm Lyn Mojigata, by the way."

The pirate waited for a moment, considering the pros and cons of using her real name. "Cassandra," she said at last.

"Any more to your name?" Lyn asked as she ducked under a ladder being carried by a rather large man.

"Captain." It was a bit presumptuous, but now was as good a time as any to start getting used to her title. "See that you use it all."

Lyn gave a conspiratorial grin. "Oh, so that's how it is. Well then, Captain Cassandra, is this your first visit to Alamentia?"

Cassandra saw no harm in admitting the truth. "Yes."

"Okay, so Alamentia is a peaceful island," Lyn began explaining. "The towns are all protected by walls to keep outsiders out and are run by monasteries and convents. This particular town is run by the convent that I happen to be a part of."

The pirate raised an eyebrow. "You're a nun."

"Don't look like one, do I?" Lyn chirped as she twirled about, showing off her artistic choice of clothing. "Right now, I'm not a full sister, but I'm getting there. Anyway, back to what I was saying, the nuns run this town pretty well. We're all spiritually adept, so we can stop most crimes before they start. Those who actually commit crimes are punished quite severely."

"That reminds me," Cassandra interrupted. "You mentioned you were being tortured. Care to elaborate?"

\\'/.\\'/.\\'/.\\'/.\\

"Lyn Mojigata, this is the 3rd time this week you've run off without telling anybody," an old nun said tiredly. Lyn leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms defiantly. Cassandra closed her eyes, thinking back on the day's events.

After dragging Cassandra halfway across the expansive city and taking three hours to do so, they had arrived at another set of black and gold gates, smaller than the ones ringing the city and no less impressive. Mysteriously, the gates had opened by themselves, but Lyn seemed used to the occurrence and simply walked through. Nuns were everywhere, walking back and forth in their black and white robes. The older ones had been eyeing Lyn disapprovingly. The younger ones looked upon her with a mixture of respect and cautiousness, as if Lyn were some fearsome war hero. Lyn had strolled among them, chatting animatedly to Cassandra, but ignoring everybody else.

They entered an enormous nunnery through a large set of double doors. They had not taken three steps before a strict-looking woman had stormed up to them, ranting at Lyn, who had started yelling back just as loudly. Cassandra had paid strict attention to what they were saying, which was mostly composed of the sister's complaints that Lyn was an unruly child and Lyn's arguments that they were suffocating her. The argument had continued as the trio made their way through the nunnery into an ordinary-looking room. An old woman was sitting in a wooden chair behind a desk, studying a large tome through a pair of thick eyeglasses. All three women had sat down without a single change of pace.

Cassandra was snapped back to the present as the strict-looking woman slammed her hand down onto the desk. "Listen to her when she's talking to you, Novice!"

"Calm down, Sister Jirana," the old woman sighed, her voice sounding as frail as ancient parchment left out in the sun. She placed her elbows on the desk and meshed her fingers, putting her forehead on her hands. "Lyn…" She raised her head and stared directly at the woman in question. "Why do you do this to us? No matter what we do, from kindness to tough love, doesn't even affect your behavior in the slightest. Why?"

Lyn shifted uncomfortably in her seat, remaining silent. Sister Jirana slammed her hand down again, causing Lyn and Cassandra to start slightly. "Listen! Or else!"

The novice whipped around and started shouting, "Or else what? What can you do to me that you haven't already?"

Sister Jirana's mouth became a thin line across her face, her expression one of rage. "Don't push your luck, Novice," she sneered.

Lyn shot up, knocking her chair to the floor. "Just try it, Sister."

"Enough," the old nun said. She slowly pushed back her chair and stood up. "As you mentioned, we can't do anything to you we haven't already. Please guide Novice Mojigata to our prayer room, Sister."

Cassandra didn't miss the look that the ancient sister gave Sister Jirana. Sister Jirana grinned victoriously and seized Lyn about the arm, forcibly dragging her out of the room. The remaining nun sighed and slowly sat back down, pulling her chair towards the deck. "And you, miss? Who are you?"

"Cassandra, sister," Cassandra responded, choosing to omit the fact that she was trying to be a pirate captain.

"I am Abbess Atiqua," the old sister said, nodding slowly. "Yes…"

Cassandra raised an eyebrow as the sister seemed to nod off. She sat patiently, waiting for the abbess to resume. When she didn't, Cassandra cleared her throat loudly. The abbess remained immobile for a moment, then seemed to snap awake. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "It was just a thief…"

This reminded the pirate captain about something Lyn had mentioned previously. "Novice Mojigata used the term 'spiritually adept.' Can you explain what that means"

Abbess Atiqua nodded slowly. "I see she has been speaking of our sacred art of soul removal. Trouble yourself not with such information. Simply enjoy your visit here." The loud ringing of a pair of bells interrupted her conversation. The elderly woman nodded again. "How apt. Would you like to join us for lunch?"

Cassandra bowed her head slightly. "I would be delighted to."

\\'/.\\'/.\\'/.\\'/.\\

Methodically spooning soup into her mouth, Cassandra looked around the dining hall. Ornate frescoes covered the lofty walls, depicting ancient angels saving masses of people from dark demons. Simple wooden tables sat in neat rows, with thin benches on either side. Unlit lanterns littered the walls and ceiling; the sunlight streaming through wide arched windows near the ceiling was enough to fill the room with light. Nuns and novices, ranging from little girls to elderly ladies, ate in near silence. Conversations were being held in low voices, but Cassandra could hear that they were talking about her.

The pirate turned to the abbess seated beside her to try a new tactic. "Tell me, Sister, what does it take to become a nun?"

Abbess Atiqua slowly turned to her. "Oh… so you wish to become a woman of peace. Has Novice Mojigata not deterred you from our way of life?"

"This place is interesting," Cassandra lied smoothly. "The novice seems unruly and unrepresentative of the overall population here."

The ancient woman gave a brittle smile. "A wise observation. I must warn you: it is not easy to become part of our order. First, you must cleanse your body. Then, you must cleanse your mind. Finally, you must cleanse your soul. Cleansing your body is fairly easy, cleansing your mind is fairly hard. But truly cleansing your soul… this is an endeavor which lasts a lifetime."

"I see. Might I learn more?"

"Come here, child." The abbess suddenly leaned in. Cassandra tried to jerk backwards, but something invisible prevented her from even budging from her seat. Abbess Atiqua cupped Cassandra's cheek and closed her eyes. The fact that the room had gone completely silent wasn't lost upon Cassandra. The elder remained in this position for quite some time; indeed, nobody in the room moved at all. After far too long a time for Cassandra's liking, the abbess withdrew, opening her eyes and staring at her with a fiery vigor that hadn't been there before.

"Child, it seems you have a problem," she began. "Your body… it has a devil hiding inside." All of the nuns gasped. "Your mind is too blinded by doubt, cynicism, and skepticism. But your soul… your soul has been irreparably stained by the souls of others." Everybody gasped again. "All of our souls are pure, and we can achieve enlightenment. But you… you have slain others in cold blood. You are far too dangerous to let wander the streets of this city. I am sorry, young one, to have to tell you this, but you will be confined for the rest of your visit. We will pray for your soul, may it rest in peace."

Cassandra felt invisible arms hoist her up and frog-march her through the center of the room. Cassandra tried in vain to struggle, but quickly gave up, settling for letting her invisible captors lead her. She was led through hallway after hallway, a dizzying maze which seemed to go on forever. She memorized every twist and turn, creating a mental map of the abbey. Nuns, both young and old, stared at her, shocked. She kept her face impassive, not willing to show her fear and irritation.

After a few hours of marching, or so it seemed, she was finally led to a thick metal door. The door opened seemingly of its own accord, and she was hurled through, tumbling over the rush-covered floor. She lay still for a moment, breathing shallowly. Eventually, she was able to push herself to a crawling position, then to a sitting position against the wall. She looked around. A single candle lay in the middle of the room. An enormous bookshelf covered one of the walls. The red sandstone-brick wall next to that one was bare, save for a window with opaque yellow glass, which gave the room an unearthly air. The third wall was blank and the fourth sported the massive metal door through which she had come. She sighed and put her head back, mentally cursing at herself for being so foolish. She should never have discarded her weapons.

She looked around and her eyes fell upon the pile of rags in the corner. She got up and slowly walked over to it. She tried to pull on one of the rags to form a makeshift bed, but the rag seemed to be weighed down by something. She pulled harder and, to her surprise, the rags moved on their own. A pair of electric blue eyes gazed up at her, causing her to pause. The rags moved further, exposing a wide grin and disheveled black hair.

"Hey, Captain Cassandra!" Lyn said jovially. "How nice of you to come!"

And so begins the journey through the world Oda so masterfully created. I can only hope my story entertains you all as much as it entertains me.