Hey everyone, it's me...I haven't made a fic in forever, but I've recently been inspired to do one again. I made a One Piece fic before, but it's lack of popularity resulted in it being cut short. So now I'm trying again. This time, I'm spicing things up by letting people submit OCs. The form will be at the bottom. So without further ado, I present to you my fanfic. Enjoy!
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Life...what is life? The "goal" of life, what is it? Is it really just to keep things moving along? Or is it working towards some greater cause? Those who "live" their lives and go on to do great things...are they different? Were they "placed" here for a special cause? A single existence...Gold Roger, Whitebeard, Monkey D. Luffy, Portgas D. Ace...they "influence" the lives of millions of other people. They "advance" the way of thinking, the way some people live. But once these people's lives are set in stone, "new" faces appear. These "new" faces change the world in even greater ways, ways that not even the legends before them could have foreseen. The "progress" of life, the natural "order" of life...they are never-ending, expanding more and more as time goes by. And as time goes by...these "new" legends are born...
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~Bergman City, Inseglet Island, North Blue, 25 years after the death of the Second Pirate King~
"Come on, come all!" Cheered a man as he raised his arms in the air, catching people's attention by standing on a small platform. The mans dressed almost like a circus carney, with a top hat, red jacket and darker red pants. He let out another jubilant yell. "Come see one of the greatest acts in the world, the great Leonardo Troupe! Led by me, the great Leonardo!" He hollered, putting an emphasis on his own name. The man's yelling and screaming was catching the attention of several passerby's on the street.
"What's this guy hollering about?" Whispered one observer to the other.
"Dunno. Some kinda traveling troupe or something." The other observer whispered back. "I've never heard of them before though."
The man on the stage, Leonardo, began to speak in his loud, booming voice again. "So you all wanna see something amazing, do ya!" He pointed one of his hands towards a large covered wagon that was behind him. "Inside there, is some of the most world-class talent and most amazing things in the world! For instance...The great juggler woman, Ida!"
On cue, from the tent emerged a beautiful, blonde-haired woman dressed in a silken dress appeared, and from behind her produced 10 small red balls, and then began juggling them with the utmost of ease. The crowd observers began to look on in amazement of both her skill and her looks. Some clapped and whistled towards the fine young woman, and some began to throw money.
"And who could not forget," Leonardo continued with the introductions. "The great magician, Poppe!" From the tent emerged a balding, middle aged man dressed in a purple robe and a long purple hat. He began to clap his hands together and chant a silent prayer, and then suddenly, from what seemed to be from thin air, produced a bouquet of roses. The audience again cheered and tossed some spare change towards the man.
"And last, most definitely not least," Said Leonardo, his loud voice toning down to small whisper to build the excitement of the crowd, "The Leonardo Troupe's main act, the famed "Dragon Boy", Van Drake!"
From the tent emerged a person significantly younger then the other two performers, looking to be about seventeen years of age. He was dressed more casually as well, wearing a black jacket over a white shirt, with somewhat loose pants. He had short, black hair, and had slightly dark skin. Around his neck he had some sort of necklace, the pendant of it being in the shape of an anchor.
The crowd stared at the boy with some sort of befuddlement. He did not look any different from any other boy in the city, why was the man called Leonardo hailing him as the "Dragon Boy"?
The stared back at the silenced crowd, wearing a cool expression on his face. Then he put his hand to his mouth as if he was about to blow a kiss...
And amazed the crowd as he blew flames out from his mouth.
The silent crowd suddenly erupted in cheers and applause at this incredibly and unbelievable the boy had just preformed. The crowd threw more money towards the boy, more than the last 2 performers combined. The boy, still silent, smiled faintly and took a bow.
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Marvelous show today, everyone, simply marvelous!" Said Leonardo as he entered the traveling wagon of the troupe. The three performers, Drake, Ida, and Poppe were sitting town at a small table, enjoying themselves to a meal of bread and soup. "I just finished counting, the money we've made today totals 200,000 Beli! Quite hefty for this job, I must say!
"It's all thanks to Drake-chan here." Said Ida cutely, eyeing Drake. "Everyone loves to see the 'Dragon Boy', don't they?"
Drake did not respond, he simply kept eating.
"I'll say," Said Leonardo. "We're lucky to find someone like you kid. You having the 'Devil Fruit' ability and all...what is that one called again?"
Drake glanced towards Leonardo. "The Ryuu Ryuu Fruit." He answered nonchalantly.
"Ah yes, of course. You really are a "Dragon Boy", aren't you? Though you're getting older now, aren't you? I might start calling you "Dragon Man" soon..."
"By the way," Said Poppe. "Did I tell you all about what I saw yesterday?" Though Poppe's onstage magic were just tricks, he claimed that he actually could see these 'visions' of otherworldly beings. Though as he was the only one who claimed this, no one ever knew if he was being truthful or not. Nonetheless, they were always pretty amusing to hear.
"No Poppe, what did you see? Asked Ida curiously, always eager to hear of whatever it was Poppe had to say.
"Well, when I was getting the firewood the other day, I saw something large flying over the trees. I couldn't quite exactly see what it was over the trees, but it looked oh so majestic...soaring free amongst the skies. I couldn't help but admire it..."
Drake had suddenly perked up to this story. "You couldn't find out what it was?" He asked in between bites of bread. Poppe shook his head. Drake, for an instant, wore a serious expression on his face, but it quickly broke into a grin. "Well, if you can't describe it, how do you expect anyone to believe you?" He asked with a chuckle.
"Bah, don't believe me if you will, but I know what I saw!" Protested Poppe, as he went back to eating his meal. Ida chuckled at the old man's stubbornness.
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"Ida, Poppe" Whispered Drake. Night had fallen, and the group had fallen asleep. He could hear Leonardo's loud snoring coming from the front of the wagon.
"Of course we are." Whispered Whispered Ida back. "Who the hell can sleep on this floor?"
"I'll say, " Grumbled Poppe as he struggled to get comfortable on the barren floor. "That Leonardo, always taking up all the blankets... Anyway, what's on your mind boy?"
"Nothin' much." Murmured Drake, looking up at the ceiling of the covered wagon. "I just... can't sleep is all."
"Che, who can?" Said Ida, looking for an excuse to complain. "These floors are as hard as anything out there..."
"No it's nothing like that." Protested Drake, though that was certainly true. "It's just that..." He was carefully picking out his next words. "Is this really all I'm going to be doing in this life? Living in a wagon, just giving out performances..."
"Now now, no need to get so philosophical." Said Ida. "Listen, I know you don't remember much from this time, but when Poppe and I found you, you were just a little boy cast aside to the streets, most likely because of that Devil Fruit you have. Since then you've become a part of our little family here, raised like any other boy. If we hadn't picked you up people would probably be throwing rocks at you instead of money and you wouldn't have a roof over your head. Just be thankful of what you have."
"I know that." Said Drake back. "But...I want to be something greater. No, it's like I feel as if I have to. 'Something' is calling me...."
"Well then, what is it?" Asked Ida. "What would you rather be doing than this?"
"I dunno, something great." Pondered Drake. "Something legendary, something wonderful. Something like...becoming the next pirate king."
He had no idea how those were the words that came out of his mouth. But as soon as they had, he felt they were the exact correct words to say. He suddenly felt a wave of inspiration coming over him. Something had been calling at him before, and he never knew what. But in that instant, he knew. This was exactly what he wanted to do.
Ida, if not for not wanting to wake Leonardo up, would've jolted upright. "Hold on. You do know what you're saying, right?" She stared at the boy in disbelief. "Life as a pirate? Dancing with death at every turn? Getting your ass chased by the government? Are you saying that's what you want to do?"
Drake still wasn't sure himself. But thinking about living his life that way brought a rush of excitement to his head. "Yeah..." He said. "Yeah, that's exactly what I wanna do."
Ida continued to look at him like he was crazy. "Well, if that's what you wanna do, you better forget about it for now. Leonardo would never let you walk away from the troupe like that. You're his big money maker. And you know how he gets when things don't go his way."
Drake knew. Leonardo, at most times was an okay guy, but when you tried to argue with him, he'd turn into the devil. He wold spare no one, not a man, woman, or child would be safe from his wrath.
"I'll think of something." Said Drake. "I'll be a pirate one day. Just you guys wait." With that, he turned around and tried to go to sleep.
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"Alrighty! Wakey wakey, everyone, time to get to work!" Drake awoke to the sound of Leonardo's familiar voice. "We'll have a quick breakfast, and then we're off to preform!" The members of the troupe groggily awoke from their hard surface sleeping areas and headed towards the small table in the front of the wagon, were some fruits and cereal had been prepared.
"We've got another performance today!" Said Leonardo cheerily as the groggy performers began to slowly eat their food. "Business is catching up! Soon, we'll be gaining a reputation around these parts, and I bet in no time places in the Grand Line will be begging to have us perform for them!" He looked towards Drake. "And it's all thanks to you 'Dragon Boy' . As long as we have you, Leonardo's Troupe will reign supreme in the entertainment world!"
Drake looked back at Leonardo. This looked like a good time to say it. "Yeah, about that." He said casually. "I was thinking, I kinda wanna leave this 'troupe' business."
Ida put a hand to her head. Big mistake, kid.
Leonardo's expression suddenly changed. A familiar look of hatred and rage filled his face. "What...did..you...say?" He asked, almost unable to speak.
Drake, undaunted, looked at him right in the eye. "I said I kinda feel like leaving."
In what seemed like an instant, Leonardo had flung across the table, violently knocking it over, as Ida and Poppe just barely escaped it from hitting them. Drake found on the ground, himself unable to breath, Leonardo's hand wrapped tightly around his neck. "Listen here boy," Hissed Leonardo, with a murderous look on his face. "You're my one ticket out of this hellhole of an island, got that? Do you know how much I'd be destroyed if you were to leave? I wouldn't be anybody, got that? As long as you are with me, you're never leaving, you got that?!" He ripped his hand from Drake's neck, fuming. Drake, felt his neck as he slowly got up, feeling a little lucky to be alive. He looked at Ida and Poppe. They gave him a 'we told you so' look back. Looks like my dream will have to wait...He thought.
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"And last, most definitely not least," Said Leonardo, giving his usual routine "The Leonardo Troupe's main act, the famed "Dragon Boy", Van Drake!" D
Drake heard the familiar crowd roar as he appeared from the tent. He walked rather downtrodden, more so than usual, as he turned the face the crowd. He got ready to preform, putting his hand to his mouth...
Suddenly, he began to feel faint. His eyes began to lose focus as he found himself losing balance and falling to the ground. What's happening? He thought. Before he could figure that out, he had fallen to the ground, unconscious.
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"Wh-where am I?" Drake looked around. Darkness surrounded him everywhere. What had happened? One moment he had been ready to preform. Now he was in some, cold dark area. Suddenly, he had the impression someone was watching him. It made the hairs on his back stand up straight. "Who's there?" He asked, spinning around to see if anyone was behind him. There wasn't.
"He he he," A dark cold voice suddenly whispered. Drake looked around frantically for the source. He couldn't find it. "You want to know who I am?"
Suddenly Drake noticed someone in the distance. The person was sitting down on a lone wooden chair, their entire body covered by a black robe. Their face was casting downwards to the ground and concealed by a black hood, so Drake could not see his face.
"W-who are you?" Asked Drake. He could not see any of the person's body, but he felt a distinct aura of fear coming from the figure.
"I go by many names," Spoke the figure. "'Fate', 'Destiny'...but most just call me..." He raised his head, revealing his face to Drake. "...Death."
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"...Drake, Drake, wake up!" Yelled Ida as she hit the side of his head. Drake groggily began to come to, much to the relief of Ida and Poppe.
"What happened?" Asked Drake softly. He instantly remembered his dream. What was that all about? He thought.
"You passed out. You had a huge fever. Looks like it's subsiding now though." Said Ida, as she felt Drake's forehead again.
Drake slowly got up and felt his forehead. He realized he had a headache. "Where's Leonardo?" He asked casually.
Suddenly Ida and Poppe's expressions grew sullen. "When you passed out..." Spoke Ida, finding the words difficult to say. "Some deranged guy ran at Leonardo and chased him into the forest and..."
"And killed him." Finished Poppe. "He is dead."
"...Dead?" Drake found the words almost unable to register. Just like that...he was dead? "Does that mean..."
"Yeah," Said Ida, with tears beginning to appear in her eyes. "You're free to go if you want."
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Drake gazed in the distance. He saw his raft, which he had crafted in secret over the past year. Something that just yesterday felt like it could never happen was happening. He was about to set off and begin his life as a pirate.
"I put a map in your coat pocket." Said Ida, running over a list of things. "And I've made you some strawberries. This'll last you for a while. We're also giving you a million beli to start you off with." She presented him with a basket in which the strawberries were contained along with the money. Drake took both, before embracing both Ida and Poppe.
"Thanks you two. I promise I won't forget you guys." With that, Drake began to walk towards his raft, ready to embark on adventures unknown.
"Ida," Whispered Poppe. "I didn't want to tell Drake because he went through a lot yesterday, but I 'saw' something yesterday."
"Really, what?" Whispered Ida back in a sarcastic tone.
"When that crazed man was chasing Leonardo into the woods," Spoke Poppe. "I saw it. There was 'another' person chasing after him. A figure, concealed all in black. The figure of 'death'..."
Ida rolled her eyes. "You and your visions." She said.
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So there you have it. Not alot of action, but that'll heat up, I promise. Anyway, here's the character form:
Name: Tell me the person's name (duh)
Age: Your character's age
Abilities: Any fighting powers this person may have.
Personality: Give me the traits and charecteristics of your character. Try to be specific so I don't screw up your characters.
Appearance: What your character looks like. Again, try to be specific.
Background: A little backstory of your character.
Dream: What is this person's goal?