Oh my, Here I am writing my first story and posting it up even.

I'm dedicating this to everyone who has ever posted a story on any site. I had always had a respect for the bravery to face potential ridicule and still post their story regardless of what may come.

This story will contain oc characters, graphic depictions of violence, blood, possibly gore, swearing, at times rather creative swearing, suggestive themes, boyxboy romance/lovin', drinking, and my general randomized weirdness. To be on the safe side since this is my first story, rating may go up, in fact it will probably be best to assume it will.

extra notes:

bairn= baby, could be of any age.

clan= large/whole family group. parents, children, aunts, uncles, etc...

Melisandra= origin- Spain- strength, determination

Nikki= origin- Japan- two trees (also a slightly altered form in England- Nikkie= victory)

Wakiza= origin- Germany- desperate warrior

Blaz= origin- Germany- unwavering protector

Tarak= origin- India- protector

Tacari= origin- Africa- worrier

Takuya= origin- Japan- pathfinder

Eason= origin- Ireland- protector, great one

Edel= origin- Germany- brave, noble

Naois= origin- Ireland- mythical warrior

Name meanings are accurate to the best of my knowledge. If I left a word/name out or if you are unsure of something please bring it to my attention. Just because it makes since in my head doesn't mean everyone else has the same road map. In fact wandering around in my head without a map is a bad idea, you may just get stomped on by the tyrannosaurus that happened by.

Oh yes one final thing before we get started. I don't own One Piece. I do sadly own all my mistakes but on the upside I guess I own my o/c characters.

Chapter 1 Prolog

A black cloud of smoke and ash billowed up into the night sky with a vengeance, blocking the stars for miles around. Flashes of lightning danced amidst the cloud. An eerie red glow was illuminating the top of the mountain from whence the chilling sight was taking place.

Another tremendous blast issued forth from the mountain, the sound hit more like a physical force then any level of sound had a right to. Large chunks of rock went flying across the landscape. The ground began to quake violently, it sounded like the island was tearing and ripping itself apart. There seemed to be little reason to doubt it was.

Amidst the turbulent landscape a woman ran. A small baby, wrapped up snugly against the smoke was cradled in her right arm. Her left arm was busy holding tight two older children as they clung on to her as best they could. Strapped to her back appeared to be a large, mostly empty barrel.

Her feet barley seemed to touch the ground and yet she moved at an astonishing speed. Weaving through trees, somehow able to see them in the dark and smoke. Keeping her footing despite the ground doing it's best to dislodge her. One could suspect she might not be human or some sort of devil fruit user. The fluffy tail she has wrapped around her two older children indicates the former.

I will make it to the beach. Nikki thought to herself over and over.I will, there is no room for 'might' or 'maybe' or even 'hope'. I will make it. Her bairn's safety, their lives depended on getting to the beach. That left no place for failure. Her thoughts continued to race, almost as fast as her footsteps to just a few hours ago. Was it really just a short while ago this all began, it seemed like she had been running for ages...

~flashback to 4 hours ago~

Nikki sighed happily as she sat down and propped her feet up, tail flicking back and forth lazily. Her hand rubbed gently across her swollen belly. She had finally gotten her eleven year old, rambunctious twins off to bed. Being were-nekos they had energy and curiosity to spare. Not that she couldn't understand their excitement.

Nikki had finally convinced her two mates Wakiza and Blaz to take their three eldest boys, Tarak, Tacari, and Takuya and go out on a hunting trip. It would be their last opportunity before the birth in about a month. They were due back tomorrow and would no doubt tell the boys of their adventure.

Well, convinced may not be the right word. She loved her mates dearly but they were getting on her last pregnancy fueled nerve. Nikki swore if they asked her just one more time if she was ok or shouldn't she be lying down or something else along that line she would snap. She wasn't sure if it would be considered assisted suicide or self inflicted murder.

Everything was going fine within the little house near the base of the mountain, at least until Nikki gasped and clutched at her stomach. The first wave of labor pains began to wash over her. Worry filtered through Nikki, she had a month and some days until she was due. This shouldn't be happening yet but, another wash of pain stated that yes, this was happening and you my dear will just have to handle it.

Right. I can deal with this, this is doable. She'd already done it twice after all .Nikki thought as the first set of contractions hit. After a set of triplets and twins she should be able to do this on her own. Nikki could have called out to the others in the area. Her siblings or any clan member would have come running but even stronger, ancient instincts kept her from doing so. After all everything else in the area would hear as well.

Nikki settled herself on the floor and waited for the time to start pushing. Her tail was twitching anxiously and her ears were flicking back and forth.My, what a surprise this will be for everyone. She thought. Things could be worse after all. As far as she and everyone else could tell, the bairn was healthy. Yes one, very unusual for her kind but not unheard of.

Midway through the birth the seemingly peaceful mountain began to wake and make it's presence felt. Faint tremors, steadily growing stronger began to be felt. At first Nikki didn't pay much attention to this as she had other more pressing matters to attend.

Nearing the end of the birth it could no longer be ignored. The tremors have grown steadily more noticeable to the extent where Nikki could hear faint rustling coming from the boys room. It would not be long before they would fully wake and seek her out.

Nikki bit down on a groan as she pushed yet again. She had hoped for them not to wake until after the birth.

Still, perhaps it's the best. She thought, as the noise from the other room got louder. I'm not sure what's going on out there. Nothing good, that was for sure. I've heard of earthquakes and this seems like it could be one of them. Wasn't there something about getting to higher ground and keeping away from the ocean. Nikki mused as she listened for further noise.

A faint memory stirred from when she was a child listing to her grandfather tell stories.Volcanoes. But we have lived here for hundreds maybe thousands of years and there has never been any volcanic activity. Ah, then again wouldn't that be all the more reason for one to erupt. If that's what's going on then we're precisely in the wrong location. Nikki thought hurriedly.A plan, I really needed a plan. Of all the times my mates decided to listen to me. Her thoughts were interrupted by a door opening and a patter of feet.

They were down the hall and into the room in one quick rush. Ears flat against their heads and tails puffed out, entwined tightly together in an attempt to comfort. "MA!" They blurted out in unison. Wide brilliant green eyes stared into her cobalt blue ones.

Questions from both fired off like dual pistols, with no easy way to tell whom said what. "Ma, what's going on!?" "Why is the ground moving?" "Why are you sitting on the floor?" "Is the ground sick?" "When is it gonna stop?" "Will Pappas be home soon?" "Why are you sitting funny?" "Is it going to be okay?" "What about our brothers?" "I want Pappas!" "I want our brothers!" "I want them both!" "Maaa?!" They finally concluded in unison.

Only a mother of considerable prowess could sort out the cacophony her boys were making. Nikki smiled kindly at them, desperately keeping her worry and exhaustion from them. "Your youngest sibling got tired of waiting and has decided to join us a little early."

It should have been impossible for their cat eyes to widen any further. They were torn between excitement over being older brothers and worry about why the ground was acting weird.

"Eason, Edel, why don't you two have a look out the back window and tell me know what you see," Nikki told her sons. She could tell the final push was coming and wanted to distract them. Nikki also need to know what was happening out there.

They raced over to the window, the bamboo blinds clattered as they were shoved aside.

They studied the view the window offered them. "There looks like, I think smoke coming out the mountain." Eason trailed off, puzzled.

"Why would the mountain have smoke?" Eddel questioned.

A loud cry from their newly born sister was their current answer.

"we will need to head down to the beach then. Come say hello to your sister and then go get dressed, your good winter clothes and boots." There was an undercurrent of worry in their mothers voice that kept them from questioning her.

They walked quietly over to Nikki, peering curiously at the little bundle she wrapped up in a blanket. The little girl had quieted down and appeared to be sleeping.

"So tiny." Edel whispered.

"Is she okay?" The elder twin asked, already worried for his new little sister.

"Yes she's fine, all her little fingers and toes accounted for." Nikki was going to encourage them to go and ready themselves when the newborn chose this moment to open her eyes for the first time. Brilliant, luminous violet eyes blinked at them. Never before had Nikki seen eyes like these, she had heard of them and wondered if the stories were true. My what a strong one she will be if they are.

Nikki hated to break up such an important clan moment but they needed to leave. The tremors were almost a consistently happening now. Who knew how much longer they could safely linger. "Hurry now, go get ready. I need to prepare some things as well." Nikki was already standing up and moving towards the kitchen.

"Ma, what's going on?" Edel asked.

Oh how she wished they had not asked. Nikki didn't want to frighten them but she would not lie to them. "It's a volcano that's going to erupt. No, I didn't know the mountain was a volcano. No one did, until now." There stared at her wide-eyed before coming to their senses and raced off to dress.

There was a hammering on the door. "Nikki!" A familiar male voice called out. Nikki rushed to let her brother, Naois in. He took one look at her then the baby, asking "Are you two alright? Where's the boys? We need to leave."

Even now Nikki had to smile. Naois was always quick on the uptake and never one to waste time on pointless questions.

"We're both fine. Eason and Edel are getting ready. Since you're here could you get an empty barrel from the cellar. Then you'll need to be getting back to your own mates and bairns." Nikki had enough time to think about a plan.

It wasn't a plan she liked much, not offering her bairns much of a chance. The barrels she had downstairs would be large enough to hold her bairns and some supplies for them. It was however a better plan than staying on the island. Nikki would have to stay behind. That thought did not pain her as much as sending them out alone into the world did.

Naois wore an unreadable yet hard expression when he asked "a barrel, what are you planning with that?"

Nikki sighed. So much for always on the ball. "We don't exactly have a boat now do we. The bay is on the other side on the mountain. We'd never make it. I need to see my bairns to safety or at least comparative safety." Nikki could tell he was about to interrupt with an unhelpful statement and plunged on. "You have seen better than I what is going on. You can feel as well as I things are very wrong. Do you really think that this is going to be a nice wake up call!"

To his credit he merely stared at her for a brief moment, then quickly headed for the cellar steps. Nikki meanwhile has rushed for the kitchen to gather food, water and milk.

Eason and Edel were out of their room and headed in their mothers direction, the bedroom door banging loudly against the wall. For once Nikki didn't call them on their bad manners.

Naois was up the steps in an instant, barrel under one arm and a length of rope in the other. He knew there was no point in arguing, simply gave the boys and Nikki a hug and a kiss on the brow of his new niece. Before anyone could respond he was heading out the door. No point in making things harder then it already was.

"There's my good lads. Go fetch your favorite blankets and pillows now. Such brave boy's you are being," Nikki told them. She could tell her words had the desired effect. They were down the hall in an instant.

Nikki quickly packed what she had gathered, adding two hunting knives, some medical supplies and nappies. She could only hope it would be enough, could only hope her mates and eldest son's would be alright. They were at least on the side of the mountain. Opposite the harbor but there was a chance. Nakki Ignored her inner doubt as best she could.

Eason and Edel were back out of their room with their arms full. They had even thought to bring a stuffed penguin. It had been what they were planing to give their new little sibling. Nikki added the items to the barrels contents. She had to hand the baby to Eason as she Strapped the barrel to her back.

In a minute they were outside, Nikki ran, determined to make sure her bairns had a chance.

~end flashback~

Finally, just as Nikki began to think she might have to drag herself to her destination the tree's thinned out. Sand that seemed to shimmer under the lightnings influence, and glimpses of an inky ocean could be seen.

As her feet hit sand Nikki finally had to come to terms with the inevitable. She was going to have to send her little ones alone into an uncertain future. It was better than the certain future of remaining here. Still no mother is ready for goodbye, not like this. They were nearly out of time but she felt there was room for one last hug, some encouragement. No amount of time would be enough to convey everything she wanted.

Nikki keeled on the sand and laid her newborn on her lap, releasing the grip on the twins. She undid the rope freeing herself from the barrel and brought her sons close to her.

"You look after each other and your sister now you hear. Try to do your best. Remember what your Pappas, older brothers and I taught you." It took every ounce of strength Nikki had left not to start crying. Nakki couldn't even get a purr out to try and comfort them. Her boys were perhaps now only realizing the gravity of the situation. They had started crying. Her daughter well, she had not really stopped since leaving the house. It looked like she would now that everyone had stopped moving.

"What about you ma?" Her sons cried in unison, it looked like they were going to cry all the harder. Tears were already trailing down their cheeks and falling onto their sisters blanket.

Nikki was by no means a weak women. You don't do things like outrun a volcanoes wrath shortly after giving birth if you are. Strong though she was Nikki could not, just couldn't bring herself to utter the truth.

"I'll just have to find another way, I'll be alright and so will your Pappas and brothers." Nikki ran a finger lightly down her daughters cheek. The volcano roared it's menace accompanied by an ear shattering cracking noise. The newborn started crying as the others looked back to the volcano. The smoke itself seemed to be red now, almost glowing with the lightning around it.

Nikki locked down at her daughter again "Melisandra will be a good name. A good strong name to help you through hard times. Quickly now into the barrel." It was after all traditional to name the newly born after the birth. No picking out names beforehand. Her sons quickly complied and she handed them Melisandra.

Nikki pushed the lid in place, checked to make sure the cork was out to allow for air and pushed the barrel to the surf. She waded out up to her waist and watched the barrel as it was carried further out to sea. When she could no longer fool herself into believing the barrel was still within sight Nikki turned and headed back to shore. She hoped the ocean would look kindly on her bairns and not drag them down to its deep unrelenting depths.

In the distance around her she could see other clan members along the beach doing the same as her. Nikki started to head in their direction to offer and gain what comfort could be gotten.

A sonic boom sounded, the volcano seemed to blast itself apart. Chunks the size of a whale catapulted into the air. A great roaring cloud moved down the mountainside faster than anything could hope to outrun. Destroying everything in its terrible crusade across the landscape.

Against all the odds and certainly defying all logic when you consider everything that can happen to a helpless barrel on the vast ocean, it managed to find its way to another beach.

End of prolog