This was the life I knew.
Weaving in and out of the crowds, I couldn't help the itch to take whatever was in someone's pocket.
I suppose it stemmed from my childhood.
About ten years ago, I was found by sisters, Mary Ann and Anne Marie. These ladies... led at questionable lifestyle. But at the time, I never questioned it.
They saved me.
Mary Ann was a bubble gum pink haired woman with a temper and was the manager of the brothel her and her sister owned. She had deadly fist and even deadlier kicks.
Anne Marie was the quiet pale, pink haired sister, who managed the meat shop next door that her husband owned and would cook for the working girls.
Neither of them 'worked' like the girls they managed and they would not tolerate the pirates, who were the usual customers, harassing the girls in anyway. Anne Marie's husband, hugest man I've ever seen, made sure that every customer knew to treat the girls nicely. Otherwise, they would find themselves in the meat shop.
When they found me, Anne Marie immediately took me home with her and cleaned me up. Then on, she became my mom and Mary Ann my extremely protective aunt. Anne Marie's husband, Jack, gave me my name.
Snow.
It was a simple name, but I wasn't sure if I liked it. But what could I do? I couldn't remember my actual name. It's all because of that stupid scar... at least I think that's the reason?
It was frustrating when the other kids would pick on me for it. Mary Ann didn't want the pirates to get any funny ideas about the kid who hangs by the meat shop and brothel. She had me wear my hair choppy, short, and stuffed under a newspaper boy cap. I would always wear baggy boy clothes and smudges of mud on my face. My scar that was in the middle of my forehead and ended a little bit above my eyebrows stood out against my pale skin that somehow wouldn't tan. The kids would pick on me for that too.
I only found peace when I would go through the busy streets of Clover Island.
Due to my size, I found it easy to just pluck people's wallets and items when they weren't looking.
At first, I would do it only when I was really bored. But then, one day I got a bag from some pirate. Upon looking inside, I was amazed at the treasure inside. There were gold coins, but what really caught my attention was the small purple stone. Holding it up to the sun, it glitter and reflected the rays in a way I've never seen before.
That was the day I became obsessed with jewels. The precious stones were hard to come by and fewer and fewer pirates would have them. I was never satisfied when I got a bag full of gold, but no gem.
No ruby.
No sapphire.
No emerald.
It became a sort of disease to find the most beautiful jewel. But as time moved on, I got taller and started to look more like a girl. Still, I would spend my time, sitting on the roofs of the town, watching for someone to waltz by.
Mary Ann wanted me to find a job and was surprisingly okay with me stealing.
"The pirates probably stole it in the first place," she told me. She promised not to tell Anne Marie if I gave her some of my profits. I gave her everything I stole (about six years worth of stuff) expect for my gems. She was surprised and asked me if it was okay for her to really take everything. I said it was fine, she was my aunt after all. With that, she had the brothel fixed up and the meat shops roof fixed. When Anne Marie asked where she got the money, she replied that she had a very generous customer left his bag of gold.
Just as long as Anne Marie didn't find out, I kept stealing.
One day though, I really wished I had control over the compulsive act.
I was sitting by the docks, in my usual baggy clothing to hide my girlish figure.
Sometimes, I wish I was a boy. I thought as I watched a ship slowly make it's way in. Lately, I've been getting gusty and actually going on the ships to steal.
Pirates began to pile off, taking the bait of the perfectly placed courtesans and the much welcoming bar. Once I thought they were all gone, I climbed onto the ship, and made my way down into the depths. I've become familiar that most basic pirate ships shared the same fame working. Upon opening the storage, I searched for any sign of a treasure chest. I didn't find one, so I made my way to the captains room. At first, I didn't think I was going to find anything, but then I saw a small chest sticking out from underneath the bed. Snatching it up, that feeling I got before looking in a chest, rumbled through my stomach. Opening the chest, I blinked rapidly, trying to understand what my eyes were seeing.
"A fruit?" It was a strange looking fruit with swirls on it. It was a icy blue and the leaves on it looked really weird. Like they were... crystals.
Crystals...
Like... a gem.
I don't know what took over me, but I started to eat it. Blinking, I realized that I actually ate this strange fruit from a random pirate ship. I heard someone coming, so taking to the window, I swung down and held onto the windowsill. I tried to reach the chain that was hanging off the ship. Once I grabbed it, I found myself plummeting towards the water. Opening my eyes, I found my feet inches from the waters surface. Sighing in relief, I was about to climb up the chain when I saw a man staring at me from the window. He started yelling and I lost my grip on the chain.
Slipping into the ocean, I found my limbs had become stones and I began to sink fast. I couldn't move.
Was I going to die?
Was it all going to end here?
But...
I didn't even know who I was.
another One Piece story... ahh don't be mad! Technically one of the stories is actually a drabble, not a real story.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOO
I was wondering, should this be an Ace story? Please review to tell me stuff... please.
Don't worry! My Luffy story will still be on par with updates with this one... if anyone likes this one.