I'm finally back with my first work in years. Most of the time, I've been posting to AO3, but I thought a few of my loyal followers here would be happy to have a treat on this site as well. I'm back with a story for One Piece. Those of you who asked about Hotaru after "Fallen Flames" will be happy to know she does in fact make a cameo appearance later in this fic. I hope you all enjoy the new story.
It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
"Nii-chan! A festival! A festival! Let's go to the festival!"
"Just thirty minutes, Lamie. There's a patient in right now."
A young Trafalgar Law pored over his textbook, his father at his side to guide him through the care of the patient currently visiting. Across the table from him, another girl was leaning on her elbows with a happy smile on her lips. She reached across and pointed to a line on the page.
"It says it right here, Law-Nii," she said matter-of-factly. "Now can we go? Lamie's getting anxious." Law swatted her hand away and glanced up at the girl who resembled him in so many ways. Where Lamie had very much taken after their mother with fair hair and a round face, the girl across the table resembled him and their father with shoulder-length dark hair, a more angular facial structure and astute yellow eyes. Like all children in Flevance, her naturally tanned skin bore pale patches on her skin. The most noticeable of those patches spread across her hands.
"Quit reading over my shoulder, Roma," Law protested. "I want to learn myself."
"I'm not over your shoulder. I'm reading upside-down." The girl only a year younger than Law stuck out her tongue and winked at her older brother. "Give the patient that stuff to soothe his stomach, and the ointment Papa made will make the spots smaller. Just like they did for us!"
By the time Law finished with the patient their father had allowed him to treat, Lamie was all but bouncing off the walls of the hospital wing, pulling on Roma's hand.
"Nee-chan, let's go," the youngest of the Trafalgar family urged. "Before everyone goes away." Roma smiled softly and glanced over her shoulder to where Law was finally preparing to leave with their father and mother.
"Nobody's going to leave the festival, Lamie. It's still early," Roma answered with a grin. "But Law-Nii better hurry up before we leave him behind again!"
"You better not!" Law called after them as his two younger sisters ran off ahead.
Once outside, it took all of Roma's attention to make sure Lamie didn't run off and lose herself in the crowd of people who were milling about the city. Lanterns hung in strings across lampposts while the scents of freshly cooked food wafted through the air. Law easily caught up with his sisters while their parents followed behind at a leisurely pace, chuckling at their children's antics. Lamie led the way with a wide grin and bright eyes as she pointed at everything she wanted to eat, play, or buy. Roma held the middle ground, holding Lamie's free hand to keep the youngest from disappearing from sight. Every so often, she'd glance back behind her to ensure Law hadn't fallen too far behind. Ever the serious boy, Law followed behind his two sisters so he could watch over them. After all, he was the oldest and felt it his duty to ensure they stayed safe, even if their parents were not so much as ten feet behind them. But even he couldn't help smiling from all the sights and sounds of the festival that surrounded him. Lamie's grin had always been infectious.
The country of Flevance had always been something from a fairy tail for as long as its inhabitants had known. The landscape was completely white, thanks to a special ore that could be found beneath the soil, and it often reminded Roma of snow, though she'd never seen it before in her life. That ore, Amber Lead, had led to the prosperity of their country, which allowed for the city in which they lived to have extravagant festivals to celebrate the various holidays on their calendar. Unbeknownst to the citizens of Flevance, Amber Lead was also the cause of their primary illness that caused the pale spots that adorned their skin. It was an illness that deeply concerned the two Trafalgar doctors in the city, though their children were generally unaware. Law, Roma and Lamie all knew they were born with an illness, though only Law and Roma knew the disorder would kill them before they finished puberty. The concern only ever fleetingly crossed their minds because they believed their father would surely find a cure. That was what good doctors did, and their father was the best doctor in Flevance.
"Let's go on that ride!" Lamie exclaimed, pointing to the Ferris wheel that stood proudly in the center of the festival. The three children quickly piled onto the ride while their parents waited down below.
"It's so pretty. Right, Law-Nii?" Roma asked when they were about halfway up to the top of the ride. The eldest gave her a grin and nodded. Roma planted herself firmly in the seat, even as she stared at the scenery outside their pod on the ride. "I want to explore the world one day." Her voice was soft and dream-like.
"You just said you like Flevance," Law pointed out. Lamie remained ignorant of their discussion, instead focusing intently on trying to wave to their parents below.
"I do like Flevance. But if our city is so pretty, then think of how beautiful the rest of the world will be too. I want to go all around the world and see everything. And I'll be the best doctor in the world. I'll study and become even better than Papa."
"Not if I become the best doctor in the world before you." Law's tone held a friendly challenge, leading Roma to beam brightly.
"You're on, Law-Nii! Just don't expect me to hold back because you're my brother." The pair shook hands to close the deal just as the ride came to a halt with them at the top. Lamie oohed and ahhed at how high they were, and her two older siblings laughed together at both her and the agreement they'd made.
"I want to go to this festival every year!" Lamie exclaimed as she bounced in her seat, causing the gondola to sway back and forth with her motions.
"Don't rock the pod!" Roma chastised.
"If Mother and Father say we can, then we'll do it again next year," Law answered at the same time, which only made the pod rock more as Lamie squealed and kicked her legs in excitement. When the ride finally ended and the three siblings were safely on the ground, Lamie ran to their parents and begged them to be able to go to the festival every year.
"We aren't even done with tonight," their mother answered with a fond chuckle. "You should enjoy this one first before you plan for the next one."
"Who was it that rocked the gondola up there?" their father asked jovially. "You look a little shaken, Roma."
"I'm fine!" the middle child insisted, even as her hands continued to shake slightly. "But Lamie was the one shaking the ride. She wouldn't stop bouncing."
"Lamie, you know to listen to your sister."
"But Nii-chan said we could come back to the festival next year if you say it's okay. So please can we come again?" Lamie was bouncing on the balls of her feet with her little hands clasped together pleadingly. Their mother smiled softly, glanced at her husband, and nodded.
"Of course we can come back next year." Lamie cheered again while Law and Roma grinned at their parents. Roma turned to her brother with a mischievous grin.
"Careful, Law-Nii, or this time next year I'm going to leave you in my dust on the way to be the best doctor ever," she taunted. Law nudged her with his elbow, a lopsided smile on his lips.
"In your dreams, Roma!"