The first Chapter of the newly redone Time on the Sea, everything revealed here, I've actually had planned since the original first chapter came out if you can believe me.
Welcome new readers and welcome those who have stuck around this long! Thanks for reading, I don't own anything.
This Chapter comes to 8547 words, and is probably the longest of the entire story.
Happy Reading, please review and let me know how it is :)
Blessed by the Sea
Chapter 1: A New beginning
Father said that I wasn't safe with him anymore, I was sad to leave the crew, my family. Because Father is one of the strongest pirates in the world but I really didn't understand why I had to go.
So here I was backpack filled with supplies and waiting for none other than the Marine hero Monkey D. Garp to arrive and pick me up. I sat patiently on a small Grand Line island beach, while Fossa, Father's 13th division commander was hiding in the tree line behind me. Father and his ship were docked on the other side of the island hiding from view, no matter the island, I was glad that I wasn't fully alone.
An hour passed and I was getting reckless, couldn't this marine be on time. A sharp whistle came from the forest and I looked up towards the sea that was the signal. I could see a ship in the distance, its white sails had the marine logo.
I sighed, this was it. Another hour passes before a small dingy landed on the beach with three men manning the boat, the largest stepped out onto the sand.
"You must be Melody" he smiled kindly. He had a large build and greying hair "I am Monkey D Garp but you can call me Grandpa"
Another whistle sounded and I stood, that meant I was ok to go.
"Hi"
"Do you have all of your things with you?" he held out his hand.
"Yes" I took it and he helped me into the small dingy. Two other no marines were at the oars ready to depart.
"It'll be a few days before we reach the island, so there's lots of time to get to know each other. You'll meet my other grandsons, Luffy's about your age, while Ace is a few years older." Garp started chatting as the dingy shoved off. I turned back to the island and caught a glance of Fossa waving from the trees, I smiled at him and waved.
"Who are you waving too?" asked one of the rowing marines. Garp cast him a sharp look, and the poor man shivered and apologized before focusing on rowing and Garp continued talking about his other grandsons.
Once on board the large marine battleship I looked around in awe, I had only ever been on the Moby Dick and it was vastly different. Marines in crisp white uniforms ran around shouting and saluting, Garp took my hand again and led me below deck.
"This will be your room tonight, buy tomorrow we will be in the East Blue and the day after we will arrive at Dawn Island."
"Ok Mr. Garp" I took a seat on the bolted down bed, it was quite comfy for a ship bed, and with father I had a hammock with multiple blankets and pillows.
"I said to call me grandpa"
"Ok gramps" I smirked.
"Good, there's some fight in you, as expected as Newgate's daughter" he laughed, hands on his hips. "Now, since we can't have you going around with your father or even mother's last names, and since you are under my protection. You're my granddaughter, any qualms to the last name …?"
I took a few minutes to think about it, as Gramps just laughed and continued talking about random things.
"Ok"
"Good! Get settled, I'll be back in an hour, with some lunch!" Gramps laughed loudly again. This wasn't going to be a relaxing trip.
Nope, not a relaxing trip. A very boring one. I was confined to the room, not allowed to leave the cabin. And every time I asked, Gramps would just stick his tongue out at me and said because he said so. I would return the gesture and get a punch to the head.
Morning couldn't have come quick enough, Gramps was waking me before the sun rose handing me some fruit as he readied a boat to take us to Dawn Island. Instead of his regular marine uniform he was now dressed is a large flower patterned shirt and beige khaki shorts. All he needed to complete his look was socks and sandals I mused.
Gramps gathered me in his arms from the small cabin, my pack in his other hand "keep your face in" he said
And I followed.
My last look of the large marine ship was from a small dingy as Gramps rowed towards the small island. "Why did I have to do that?" I asked when we were far enough from the ship.
Gramps sighed "As much as I trust my sailors, there are always some that answer to a higher up. And it's best that the amount of people who know who you are and where I'm dropping you off is kept to a minimum."
The rest of the ride was quiet and when the dock came into view, there was a small gathering of people to greet us. A nice looking lady with dark hair had a boy standing in front of her, her hands were on his shoulders, keeping him in place.
The boy had messy black hair that poked out from under a yellow straw hat that had a red ribbon around it. He stood out to me, as the only kid that was waiting for us, with a loose t-shirt and cargo shorts, then it hit me. This must be Luffy, one of gramp's grandsons that he always talked about. He looked about my age.
"Mayor! Makino!" Nice to see you again" Gramps grinned and tied the boat up "Luffy, look at how you've grown!" He hoped on to the deck and took my hand to help me out of the boat.
"You've brought another kid home?" asked an old man who had a large hat, the man Gramps addressed as Mayor.
"Yes, this is Melody"
"Hello" I bowed.
"Hi" Luffy smiled and waved wildly at me.
"Luffy! Don't I get an excited greeting?" Garp ran forward and smacked him upside the head.
Surprisingly his head was sent forward, stretched and hit the dock with a smack.
I stared wide eyed, Gramps just knocked the kid's head off!
A single heartbeat passed, as some of the villagers sighed.
"ow ow ow ow!" Luffy's head snapped back into place and he rubbed his now red face "Gramps! That hurt!"
"LUFFY!" gramps raged "what happen to you!"
"I ate a devil fruit!" the kid laughed. And my heart calmed, ok that makes sense then.
"WHO LET YOU EAT A DEVIL FRUIT!" he turned to the mayor who backed away "wasn't me"
"Sorry grandpa, it was an accident." He continued rubbing his head.
"And where did you get that hat?! It looks a lot like that red-haired bastards…" he lifted him up by the hat.
"Hey!" the kid yelled "Shanks gave me his hat! I'm gonna be the Pirate King!"
"That damn pirate, filling your head with things, you are going to be a respectable marine, all of you!" Gramps turned to me.
"No way" I shook my head "I'm gonna be a pirate too"
"Not you too!" he gave me a smart smack and turned back to Luffy "He probably gave you that fruit too! I'm gonna ring his neck!"
"No, grandpa! He saved my life! Don't bad mouth Shanks!" Gramps scooped Luffy over his shoulder, then did the same to me. "The both of you will be proper marines! Now I'm taking you to your new home"
"Wait, Garp-san" Makino the dark haired lady tried to speak up but Gramps cut her off.
"I'm not taking them far, just up the mountain an old friend has agreed to take them in, besides my other grandson is up there too"
"Makino! I don't wanna go!"
"I'm sure you can come visit Luffy, you too Melody" the kind lady called after us as Gramps marched off into the village. Luffy was flailing and wining as the group of villagers quickly disappeared over a hill.
Laying over Gramps' shoulder was not a comfortable place to be as he hiked through the think forest, though it was a somewhat smooth ride I could feel my stomach bruising with the hours that passed by. Luffy had long stopped wining loudly and only a few mumblings about hunger every few minutes remained. That and his stomach was rumbling loudly.
I watched the trees pass by trying to remember the route back to the shore but it wasn't like Gramps was following a path. Through the think forest floor he was hoping over fallen trees and large roots. The sun was high in the sky now and I was tired of being silent, Gramps said he had another grandson…
"Hey Gramps?"
"Yes Melody?"
"Who's the other kid? Ace was it? Are we going to be living with him?"
"Yeah, he's a few years older than the two of you and he has been living the Dandan for a while now"
"Oh, ok" silence continued before I turned to look at Luffy who was flopped over Gramps' other shoulder, his hat hanging lazily. "Hey Luffy," the boy looked up
"I'm Melody" I stuck my hand out and we shook hands behind Gramps' neck. "What devil fruit did you eat?" I asked, curious.
Gramps started to grumble but didn't stop our conversation.
"The Gumu-Gumu no mi. I'm a rubber man now!" he stretched his cheeks out to impossible lengths, he looked silly and I laughed. "That's so cool!"
Gramps only grumbled some more.
What seemed like another hour passed as I chatted with Luffy about just random things; the villagers and Makino's cooking mostly. He didn't bring up Shanks just in case Gramps got angry again.
"Here we are" Gramps said suddenly and the forest ended as he walked into a large clearing. There was large wooden hut structure made of cloth and wood, almost like a tent sat in the middle of the clearing, a fire pit in the front with a pike roasting what looked like a large pig. A small man with a turban was sitting beside the fire, looking after the food.
"Food!" Luffy noticed it first, he tried to run down to it but Gramps grabbed the back of his shirt to keep him in place.
"Dandan!" Gramps yelled out. And the man jumped up, he looked like he might have been sleeping. "G-Garp…."
"Where's Dandan?"
"I-I'll get her" the man stuttered and nearly ran full out into the hut. Not long after a large woman with curly red hair, and a smoke in-between her lips walked out.
"Garp! What are you doing here?" then he noticed Luffy and I in his arms. "Oh no! I'm already looking after one of your brats, I'm not taking in two more!"
Suddenly I found myself in the dirt, gramps had dropped me, but help Luffy in his hands, as he was still trying to get free and attack the roasted pig. He was now arguing with Dandan, I didn't pay much attention, just looking around the clearing. So this was going to be my new home for a while.
"This is Melody and Luffy" I heard Garp introduce us. Luffy was quiet now and hanging loosely in Gramps' grip. He waved "hi"
I bowed "nice to meet you" the woman, Dandan wasn't fighting it now and signed heavily"
"Where is Ace? ACE COME SEE YOUR GRANDFATHER!" Gramps suddenly yelled, dropping Luffy in the process.
The boy became a puddle on the group before snapping back to normal, and I giggled, it looked funny. I stepped to his side. "How old are you anyway?" he asked
Gramps was now marching around the clearing yelling Ace's name.
"Six, almost seven though" I answered, smiling proudly.
"Ha" Luffy laughed "I'm older, I'm seven. You look like you're five!"
"Hey! I can't help that I'm small! I punched him.
"Ha! Doesn't hurt" he grinned and I scowled and pinched him grinning as he hopped up and down holding his cheek "ow!"
"There you are ACE!" I turned back to the clearing, Gramps had stopped stomping around and was now grinning, a boy had entered the clearing he was taller than both Luffy and me had a worn red shirt and black shorts covered in dirt, a bandage was over his nose covering a few of the many freckles that covered his cheeks and nose. His hair was dark and stuck up in different directions, it was messier than Luffy's I noticed.
"What do you want old man?" he didn't seem happy that gramps was here, not that I could blame him.
Gramps punched him. "That's no way to greet your grandfather!"
"Ow!" he growled, holding the now large bump that has formed.
"I want you to meet Luffy and Melody, they will be living here from now on" he grinned and motioned to the two of us, which I waved in response and Luffy said hi enthusiastically.
"I leave them in your hands. Be good kids. I'll see you later!" suddenly Gramps was gone, back into the forest
"By Grandpa!" Luffy said.
Dandan sighed and Ace just grunted "At least he didn't take me training this time…"
Luffy heard and shuddered "I know! It's awful"
Ace huffed and disappeared into the forest.
Luffy and I exchanged a confused look. I shrugged.
"Well, you might as well come in" Dandan sighed, "Dinner'll be ready in a bit"
"Yay! Food!" Luffy jumped up and down.
Dandan turned out to be the leader of a group of mountain bandits, she showed us; mostly me as Luffy wasn't paying attention, around the hut. 5 rooms made up the large structure; kitchen, bathroom, Dandan's bedroom, and two large open rooms where everyone hangs out and sleeps. Dinner was still cooking so Luffy and I sat outside, the bandits were interesting but I didn't want to hang out with them.
"Your hair is cool" Luffy said suddenly, the two of us were at the edge of the forest, sitting underneath one of the large trees.
I picked at the loose blonde hair, it was shimmering blue. I'd have to find my hair tie later. "Yeah, it does that in the sun." I said
"Why?"
"I donno, always has though"
Luffy laughed "its mystery hair"
"I guess go" I laughed as well.
"Do you want to join my pirate crew?"
"Aren't we too young?" I asked
"Right now, yeah. But when we're older!" Luffy's eyes were shinning, I remembered, he told gramps that he was going to be the Pirate King, and at that moment I knew he was going to make it or die trying.
"Ok, sure"
"Yahoo!" he jumped up and down "you'll be my first mate!"
I hummed "ok, yeah I could do that" and grinned.
Weeks passed since I left the Moby Dick and my father. Living with Luffy, Dandan, the other mountain bandits and the few times that Ace was around, it wasn't bad. I was pretty much left with Luffy to do what we wanted, but because Luffy ended up eating all of the food for the bandit's dinner that first day we arrived. So from then on we had to hunt and catch our own food, the bandits would help cook and season it but otherwise we were left alone.
"Melody!" Luffy came barrelling into the room, Straw Hat hanging around his neck. "Come on, I just saw ace leave again"
With nothing interesting to do in the mountains Luffy had decided to try and figure out where it was ace disappeared to for days at a time. I didn't mind, it was our daily adventure. "Did he go the same way as yesterday?"
"Yep!"
"Well, come on. Maybe we'll catch him today!" Luffy and I darted into the large bushy forest. Ace was fast I hopped we hadn't lost him yet.
"This way" Luffy grinned as we turned off the path "shush" he motioned beyond a large bush.
I moved a leaf out of the way and saw Ace standing there with another boy. "Who's that?"
Luffy shrugged.
"How are the brats?" asked the mystery boy, he had blond hair nearly covered with a blue top hat and a well-worn blue coat. He was missing one of his front tooth.
"Insane!" Ace sighed and leaned against a tree trunk "the cry baby and the baby keep trying to follow me around!"
"I'm not a baby" I huffed quietly
"I'm not a cry baby!" Luffy also huffed, but didn't lower his voice and suddenly the two older boys charged at our hiding place.
Ace quickly had Luffy in his hold while blond boy stopped when we met eyes. "It's a girl. Girls can't be hit…."
Ace looked at him wide eyed. While I smirked "Whoever taught you that is wrong" I pulled back and punched, making him fly back into the clearing. Ace then looked wide eyed at me "Hey!" while Luffy had stars in his eyes.
"What? You want one too?"
He shook his head.
"Ace…" the blond was sitting in the clearing rubbing his cheek "girls are scary."
"Shut up" I grumbled.
Ace still had Luffy in his grip "What are you doing, following me anyway?"
"There's nothing else to do!" the straw hat wearing boy whined "and you're cool"
Ace grumbled "well don't"
"No" Luffy said stubbornly.
I watched as the blond boy stood again and paled "Hey…. How much of our conversation did you hear?"
Confused I just shrugged, only how much they were complaining about us. "I just got here"
"I didn't hear anything about your stash of treasure…" Luffy whistled nervously and was sweating.
"Luffy!" I snapped, the idiot can't lie.
A dark look came over Ace, "We'll have to kill them…"
"No one can know" the blond agreed.
"Hey, hey I don't know anything!" I backpedaled, these guys looked scary right now.
"Mel! Don't leave me!" Luffy cried fighting to get free.
"A captain is supposed to keep his crew safe not get them killed" I screamed back, the blond was slowly heading in my direction.
"It's not like you are weak though!" Luffy yelled back.
I skirted around the blond, getting free of the bush. "One step closer and you'll get more than last time" I warned
"Sorry kid" he was about to pounce when a loud growl stopped everyone in their tracks, Ace and the boy paled while Luffy stopped fighting to get free.
"Damn it" Ace swore and dropped Luffy who cried "What was that?!"
"Did it follow us, Sabo?"
The blond, named Sabo shrugged "I donno, I thought we lost it yesterday!"
Out from the tree line across the clearing a large tiger towered over us, its growl was low and almost like a mad purr.
"Run!" I yelled, which stirred the frozen four of us, we took off into the forest, jumping over roots and fallen trees. The growling tiger was close behind.
"Duck!" Sabo turned to me while in the air, a metal pipe was in his hands, ready to swing.
I jumped over a tree log and hid under it, the tiger soared right over me and right into the waiting metal. But that only made it angrier. While it shook the hit off I ran past and caught up with the others. "Up ahead!" Luffy pointed, there were two tree trunks leaning against each other, creating a small opening. One by one we jumped though, just as Luffy made it through the tiger followed, and got its head stuck. It hissed and spat wildly, trying to get free.
Luffy laughed "Stay here kitty" he pet it atop the head. It really didn't like that and the tree shook dangerously.
We ran, terrified again.
By the time we broke the tree line we were all laughing. The view opened up to the ocean, open sand and beach stretched right around as far as you could see. The first time I've seen the vast ocean in weeks. It hit me that this has been the longest time that I've spent on dry land. My heart ached, I wanted to be on the sea again, feel the spray of the ocean across my cheeks, and feel the freedom.
"What's with you?" Ace snapped me out of my thinking.
"I've missed the ocean a lot."
"Did you sail?" asked Sabo he had a longing look in his eyes and I grinned.
"Yeah, all my life. This is actually the longest amount of time I've stayed on dry land"
"Why?" asked Luffy
"We'll my father is a pretty famous pirate, he told me I had to leave because it wasn't safe anymore."
"Really?!" Luffy gasped. "Who?"
"I'm not allowed to tell"
Ace was now looking at me funny too, while Luffy sighed and pouted. I shrugged at them "but I got to meet you three, you're funny"
"I'm heading back" Ace said suddenly.
"Ace, ok" Sabo turned to follow him into the woods.
"Wait up!" Luffy yelled and the two of us started after the older boys. They were still quick to move through the growth, even though Luffy and I were painting from the run from the tiger. They weren't too far away, Luffy was yelling at them to slow down.
"Don't follow us!" Ace yelled back, back to his original personality, even though he was laughing with us only minutes ago.
Luffy stopped and pouted, I stopped at his side and took his hand "Come on" he grinned and we continued following them.
We only got two steps forward when a hand clamped down on my arm, Sabo's coat just disappeared behind some bushes.
"Stop right there kid" A large adult with a worn vest and brown pants towered over me.
"Let me go!" I demanded and twisted my body to give him a solid kick where the sun don't shine. But he caught my foot and lifted me right into the air. Luffy was ripped from my hand as another man started struggling with him.
"You're coming with us"
Darkness surrounded me as the man roughly stuffed me into a large sack, I could hear Luffy yelling for Sabo and Ace. I punched and kicked inside the sack as the man threw me over his shoulder. "Ace! Sabo!" I joined in the yelling.
Suddenly I landed hard on the root filled ground, the wind knocked out of my lungs.
"Quiet down now"
I struggled for breath as I was picked up once again and another man threatened to drop me again if Luffy didn't shut up. My Straw Hat captain instantly went quiet, I didn't know what worried me most.
The two men carried us for a long time, both were huffing and complaining about Ace and Sabo the whole way. As we slowed down I heard a door creak open, then shut behind us. I was roughly dug out of the sack and had my hands tied behind my back tightly. Looking around we were inside a small wooden shack, a bunch of men filled the small space, the scent of sweat, dirt and alcohol was strong and awful.
I could only watch as Luffy was bound and hung from the ceiling.
My feet were free so I tried to dart out between the men's legs but was roughly shoved back onto my butt and a man secured me to a pole.
"Let us go!" Luffy yelled as he swung back and forth.
"Maybe I will" a long haired blond man stepped forward, he had a single hooped earing and a sword at his hip. "But I need some information first.
I scowled at him, he had to be a pirate, or maybe a bandit.
"Where did those two brats hide the treasure they stole from us, my captain is not a happy man"
"I donno" Luffy lied, poorly.
The man punched him and Luffy laughed "that didn't hurt" his rubber body was coming in handy.
"So… a devil fruit user…" he pinched Luffy's cheeks and stretched "rubber" he mused "no matter, as a pirate I've encountered many of you" he grinned evilly.
I paled as he turned back to the other pirates and grabbed a spike club one of the men was holding. "If you won't tell me, I'll have to beat it out of you"
I watched, horrified as the pirate started hitting Luffy, blood sprayed across my shirt as I cried "Stop it! Stop it!"
He turned to me "Do you know where the gold is girl?" the bloody club was dripping,
"Stop hurting my friend! I wouldn't tell you even if I did know!"
He bent down to me, a bloodied hand grabbed my chin warm and sticky it ran down my shirt.
"It's too bad I can't hurt you, I was told from my men that you're the daughter of some big pirate. I wonder who?" he grinned and my gaze hardened.
"Well, not that it matters, a pretty girl like you will get me a lot of beli"
"Don't you touch her!" Luffy yelled tiredly.
"Don't worry, I won't but I'm sure her new master will, the slave business is quite booming lately" he laughed darkly as Luffy and I paled. My heart started racing "Don't tell him anything Luffy, we don't sell out friends!"
"Ok" Luffy started to cry and my heart didn't stop. I was sure I was going to become a slave at that moment, my body was shaking.
"You little shit!" the pirate swung, catching Luffy in the middle. "I've had enough of this" he tossed the club and unsheathed his sword. "It's time to die!"
Everything happened so fast, I screamed for Luffy just as Sabo and Ace break into the hut, they take down the blond pirate and his crew mates, Ace quickly cuts Luffy down as Sabo untied my hands. The four of us quickly escaped the hut as the pirates yelled and tripped over themselves after us. We ran out into what looked like a junk yard, and disappeared into the treeline.
Once we were safely into the woods and far from the pirates and junk yard Luffy started to cry and my shakes hasn't stopped. Sabo dug out some bandages from one of his pockets and started to take care of Luffy's wounds. "Do you wanna die!" he yelled as he did so. "Now Bluejam's never gonna leave us alone."
"That was scary! I fowt I was gonna die and that Mel was gonna be taken away!" Luffy cried.
I took a seat on a tree root, and hugged my knees to my chest. "he was gonna make me a slave…."
"Not now, you're here now, away from them" Ace stepped forwards
"Thanks…" I gave him a shaky smile.
Luffy continued bawling.
"Shut up! How long are you going to cry for any way? I hate weaklings and cry-babies" Ace did a one eighty and yells.
Luffy sniffles and tries to hold his tears "shank you… for saving me…." Sabo finishes with his wounds and turns to Ace's the boy had a few scraps from the tussle as well. "Goddamn it" Ace grumbles
"Hey, hey" Sabo smacks his raging friend. "They are just thanking us"
"I don't get it! Why didn't you crack? Those men were criminals! There were about to kill you!"
"But…. If I told them, we wouldn't be friends anymore!" Luffy argues
"Friends don't sell out friends" I joined in.
"But I'd still be better than dying wouldn't it?!" Why do you want to be friends with me anyway?" Ace points at the two of us accusingly "Do you know how much shit the two of you put me though!"
Luffy stands, a bit shakily "but we have no one else to rely on!"
I nod.
"I can't go back to Fuchsia Village, Mel can't see her family. Maybe forever!"
Over the months it has really been only Luffy and I, the bandits seemed to ignore us, and I opened up to him, enough ….except for dad's identity…
"If we didn't chase you… then we'd be alone and… that hurts, more than these" he motioned to his bandages.
"What about your parents?" Ace askes, stunned.
"Grampa's all I got"
"I probably won't ever see my father again"
"So… you want me around?" Ace asked quietly.
"yep" Luffy and I answered together.
"You want me to life….?"
"Of course!" Luffy yelled
Ace starts scratching his head, a nervous tick I noticed as time went on, it shifted the bandages that covered his head. "But… I hate spoiled brats like you, y'know."
Luffy jumps closer to ACE "I'm not a spoiled brat! I'm Strong! I'm gonna be the King of the Pirates!"
"Strong? Pirate King….you cry like a girl!"
"Hey!" I crossed my arms across my chest. "Girls are stronger than we look!"
Sabo laughed "that's true, come, on, let's go"
Months passed and Sabo moved into the bandit's hut, we caused even more trouble for Dandan each day. We trained to get stronger, explored and we took trips down to Fuchsia Village visiting the Mayor and Makino the bar maid that made a very good apple pie.
Ace and Sabo explained about the Grey Terminal and Goa Kingdom towering above.
Luffy, Sabo, Ace and I were walking through Fuchsia Village on our way to Makino's bar, the kind lady had gotten us new clothes and the boys had their manners lesson. Ace had asked Makino to teach them, I'm not sure why but it was something to do a few times a week.
"Good afternoon" The four of us greeted Makino when we entered the bar.
"Hello everyone" the dark haired lady smiled "sit down, food will be ready soon, also here." She placed a bag on the bar top "The clothes I picked up, let me know if anything is too small or big"
"Thank you very much" Ace bowed, they had gone over those last week.
"It's no trouble Ace-kun"
"Food please, Makino!" Luffy cheered, as he hopped up onto his usual bar stool. Straw Hat firmly on his head.
Lunch was as good as ever. The boys and I helped with the dishes, in payment for the lessons. Makino took the boys out to a fallen tree for their lesson. I usually only joined in when Makino decided to go through world history or math, but the otherwise I sat on the beach, enjoying the sun and sounds of the waves.
The ocean was always calming.
I returned to the bar sometime later, the boys had just finished up their lesson and when Luffy noticed me walking up he started running "Mel! Guess what we learned about today!" he jumped up and down "marriage, and relationships and birthdays!"
"Why birthdays?"
"Because Makino says its important day to remember" Luffy grinned.
"So when's your birthday?" I asked.
"May 5th! Ace's January 1st and Sabo is March 20th"
"Oh, so we missed both yours and Sabo's"
"Yah, that's ok though cause we didn't know it was important" Luffy grins "When's your birthday?"
I hummed, "Actually I think it's pretty soon. July 31st"
Luffy gasped "Ace! Sabo! Mel's birthday is soon!"
The two boys who were sitting at the bar with Makino turned around "really?" asked Sabo.
"July 31st!"
"Oh, that's only next week" Makino hummed "We'll have a party!"
"Oh, thank you very much Makino" I blushed, at least it wouldn't be my first birthday alone "thanks guys"
Sabo grinned while Ace sighed "now we've only got a week to find you a birthday present!"
"You don't have too…"
"No!" Luffy cut in "Makino said that people get presents on their birthdays!"
"Ok" I smiled.
I know the boys are keeping something from me, they've been sneaky and quiet for days. With just two days until my birthday, I knew it was something to do with my present. I couldn't wait to see what it was.
We has just returned to the bandit hideout after a training session when Ace, who was leading the way suddenly stopped. "Gramps is here…"
"Ace!" the booming voice of Gramps cut through the forest.
"It's too late to run" wined Luffy as we exited the tree line to see Gramps, standing there with his hands on his hips. Same as months ago when he dropped Luffy and I here. Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts.
"Luffy and Melody! Come say hi to you grandfather"
"Hi Gramps" I waved.
"Hi Grandpa" Luffy said quietly. Ace just scoffed which earned him a wack over the head "Respect your grandfather!"
"Ow! That hurt!"
"My fist of love is only a true showing of my feelings!" Gramps huffed and then noticed Sabo, who was hanging back about to escape back into the forest.
"And who's this?"
Sabo stopped "I'm Sabo"
"Sabo, come over here, you can be my grandchild too" Gramps grinned wildly, and Sabo paled having heard horror stories from Ace and Luffy. He took the decision to run for it but was caught and wacked over the head. Gramps then gathered each of us into his arms in a hug, even Luffy was uncomfortably crushed.
Once free Ace grumbled "What are you doing here?"
"It accurd to me that Melody had never had a true training trip with me!" He laughed "the two of us are going to go camping for the weekend!"
Shocked I couldn't say anything until Luffy yelled "You can't, it's Mel's birthday soon! And you'll kill her!"
"Then it's the perfect birthday present! I would never kill my grandchildren, Luffy!" he wacked him "All of my training is so that you all will become upstanding marines!"
"I'm gonna be a pirate!" Yelled Luffy.
That only started up another argument about Shanks, Luffy had shared that story with how he got his hat months ago.
"Is he always like this?" asked Sabo
Ace nodded "yep and welcome to the family, you're stuck with him too now"
Sabo groaned.
"Come on Melody!" Gramps scooped me up under his arm
"But gramps Makino is holding a party and everything for me!" I argued, and struggled to get free.
"That'll just have to wait!" he marched off as Luffy, Ace and Sabo were yelling behind us.
I huffed, disappointed throughout the whole hike. Deeper and deeper into the mountains. Even I didn't recognize anything around us after months of exploring. Finally we arrived, Gramps stopped in front of a large cave.
"We'll stay here tonight, but it looks like there is something inside. Take care of it will you?"
"Wha?" Suddenly Gramps just threw me into the opening. I rolled as I hit the stone, spinning right into something large and furry.
A heart beat passed as my eyes adjusted to the dark. A growl made my chest rumble, towering above me was a large bear
Metal clinked and a pole rolled into my back. I grabbed it and jumped out of the way just as the large animal swiped a paw with sharp claws, missing by just inches.
"Oh my god!" I slid under the bear's legs as it went for another swipe. "Gramps!"
If he did hear my yells, he did nothing about it.
"Fine, come and get me!"
The bear roared and charged. I jumped up, it sailed under me and I landed on its back. A few good hits to the back of the head had the bear down and out.
Gramps then made his entrance, clapping happily "Good Job Melody, that'll be perfect for dinner"
I groaned and slipped onto the stone ground, my heart still beating fast in my chest.
"You're stronger than last I saw you. Good" he dragged the bear outside and began skinning it.
"Go grab some wood for the fire"
I huffed but obediently went out.
And I ended up having to fight a group of crazy monkeys that didn't like me being in their territory. It was already dark out when I returned bruised, bloody and tired with an armful of wood only to see Gramps sitting in front of a raging fire which with mouth-watering bear meat slowly roasting.
"That was an ok time" he grinned as I dropped the wood at his feet.
"Gramps!" I roared, about to attack him uselessly but he wacked me up the head and I landed harshly in the dirt.
"Be respectful!"
Immediately I mumbled "Yes Sir"
"Hey, I'm your grandfather now, this is to make you strong, and you know just how strong you have to be to survive out there." He was sat back down by the fire "It's my job to make sure you are ready"
"Yes, Gramps" I knew that, I know just how hard the grand line is, the new world even more….
"Now, get over here and eat your dinner"
I sat up and shuffled over beside him. Gramps passed me a stick of the roasted meat which I dug into immediately, soon after I fell asleep listing to Gramps stories and adventures.
He couldn't believe that it was this time already, never had Garp ever witnessed an uncontrolled Blessed before, and White beard was adamant that she never found out, if she knew now, at such a young age. She wouldn't be able to control it, and it would do more harm than good to both her, and the sea.
Melody was peacefully sleeping just inside the cave having made a bed out of loose grass and leaves from the edge of the forest floor, she had learned a lot these past months… He watched her carefully waiting for the first sign to start, the Fever, than the hallucinations, the pull of the sea would try to take her, than the real power would kick in. According to Whitebeard it would be the hardest part of the day. Garp didn't know he was in for.
It was just after midnight that the fever started, Garp kept to Melody's side, cool water and a wash cloth were her only relief. Hours later, nearing 4am and the sun started to rise, it was like she was trapped in a nightmare. Garp thanked the gods as he held her down that she would never remember anything of the next 24 hour.
Her real birthday was filled with the blessed power of the sea. No one truly understands why it happens other than the highest of officials of the World Government, but they hunted the Blessed Women ruthlessly. To keep it a secret, hide something that even Garp didn't know.
Daylight hit the cave opening when Melody first tried to leave the cave. Her eyes had turned a clear blue, open and unseeing. Garp was forced to restrain her inside, keeping a tight hold on the rope.
That was how the 2 ten year olds and one 7 year old found them.
"Gramps! What are you doing?!" Luffy yelled.
"What's wrong with Mel?" Ace's tone was dark and what Garp could tell, Protective. He felt a swell of pride for his Grandsons, Sabo his newest was just staring wide-eyed.
"You shouldn't be here!" Garp yelled. He couldn't do much else as he had a good grip on the surprisingly strong girl, her strength was growing by the minute.
"Answer Us!" Ace demanded, Luffy was close to crying.
Garp didn't have much of a choice as the 4th stage set in. High winds gathered around Melody, her hair and eyes began glowing brightly.
"I'll explain later, we have to keep her away from the water!" Garp was yelling above the winds. The 3 boys nodded, seriously and got to work.
Garp couldn't believe how well the three worked together, in no time the ropes around her were secured and tied down. Melody hadn't made a sound. Each of them tried to talk some sense into her but their words wouldn't, couldn't get through to her.
The wind kicked up harder as the day wore on, the four of them successfully kept her in the cave. Night came and the wind died down, though her eyes stayed blue the glowing had died down. She wasn't trying to get away so Garp placed her back on her grass bedding. Soon the fever would return and the day would be over.
Garp turned to his waiting grandsons, he'd have to explain now, so he did. As best he could.
"So Mel doesn't have control" Sabo asked.
"No, she can't until she's older and strong enough to support that power" Garp Explained.
"And she won't remember anything?" Luffy was sitting at her side, wiping her forehead.
"No she won't, her father explained it to me. The government must never find out that she is the blessed." He said seriously, and glanced at Ace "it could be as bad or even worse that your position"
Luffy and Sabo were confused, but knew to not ask about Ace's past, he would tell them in time.
"Ok, we'll keep her safe!" Luffy declared "I'm her captain it's my job!"
"Anyway, wouldn't it be bad if you disappeared from the marines every year at this time…" mused Sabo.
"That's why you're the smart grandson" Garp laughed "so I'll have to intrust her to you three…" he sighed
"Now get some sleep, all of you!"
"Yes, Gramps" they replied and the three boys got comfy beside Melody. Each having decided to protect the girl. Ace went to bed thinking maybe he's found a family.
I woke up more rested that I had ever been. First I noticed that ace, Luffy and Sabo were lying around me. My cuts, bruises were dull now, and nothing hurt. I couldn't see Gramps anywhere, so I shook Ace's shoulder "Hey, Ace... where's the monster? Is he gone?"
"Wha… Mel! Do you mean gramps?"
"Yeah"
Now Sabo was slowly waking up. "He left, you've been out for a full day"
"Melody!" Luffy cried, now wide away and grinning "you're awake!"
"Wha. How long have I been out? I didn't think I was that tired…"
"Don't worry about it" Ace said. So I shrugged "ok, I'm feeling great right now!"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Luffy jumped, knocking me back onto the grass sleep mat. Ace and Sabo joined in.
"Thanks guys" I grinned.
"Come on! Ace, Sabo Can we show her now?!"
"Show me what?" now I was curious.
"Come on!" Luffy took my hand.
"Later we're gonna go to makino's and have a big party, there's gonna be cake, and meat!"
I grinned and chatted with Luffy as we trucked back down the mountain, with no sign of the crazed monkeys, which I was thankful for. We made it to the Bandit's hide out, but instead of stopping, Ace and Sabo led the wat into the woods to a large tree, where a treehouse sat at the top. It was a few meters into the woods from the hideout.
"Did you guys build this?" I asked, amazed.
"Yep!" Sabo grinned "this is our house now, we don't have to rely on Dandan"
"It's so cool! Come on, come on!" Luffy led the way up and showed me around the round platform and lookout tower.
"It's Awesome!" I was grinning widely.
"Isn't it!"
"We did ok" Ace smiled.
"Let's go to Makino's now! It's lunch time!" Luffy was rearing to go again.
"After, we'll give you your present" Sabo grinned.
"You got me more? Guys, this is awesome enough"
"Of course" Ace said "Come on, we'll race you to Makino's"
"Last one there's a chicken!" Cried Sabo as he and Ace took off.
"No fair!" Luffy yelled "Come on Mel!"
I managed to pull ahead of Luffy only for him to slingshot himself into the wall of Makino's bar, winning the race.
"You cheater!" Roared Ace.
Luffy just laughed.
Once inside I could see many of the bandits, Dandan, old man mayor and villagers were all here to celebrate. A large cake sat on the bar top and everyone sang as I walked in.
The party went on for hours. The boys and I fought over the cake and food but it was the most fun I've had in a while.
"Thanks so much guys" I grabbed them in a hug. Ace was groaning trying to get away. "Don't fight the love!"
"Now you're sounding like Gramps!" Luffy screamed.
When the party died down I had a new bag of clothes from Makino and the mayor had gotten me a black hairband with a white flower on it. Dandan and the bandits collected blankets for all of use to use in the new tree house.
We returned to our new home as the sun had set, "Now! For your present!" Luffy grinned and raced inside.
Ace disappeared past a curtain that led to the look out and came back with a small chest, I didn't see it when Luffy showed me around earlier in the day.
"We swiped it from some noble in the town a while ago" Explained Sabo.
I took the chest carefully and put it in my lap.
"Well, open it!" Demanded Ace.
Sitting on a puff of silver cloth, maybe silk was a fruit the size of my head. It was yellow and had a pattered grove going around it. "Oh guys! This is a devil fruit!"
Luffy Grimaced "They taste bad…"
I took the fruit into my hands and noticed the note.
Speed Speed Fruit
Type: Paramecia
Only known ability is giving the user extreme speed.
At the bottom in loopy script was a note that I couldn't read, and judging by the boy's looks they couldn't either.
"This is awesome!" I screamed and tackled the boys "Thank you so much!"
"Well, are you going to eat it?" asked Sabo
I nodded "Yeah, here goes nothing" Luffy looked away, looking a little green. And I took a large bite and gagged.
The taste was indescribable, the worst thing in the world.
"See, it's gross!" Luffy looked even greener.
I nodded, but kept chewing, each bite was worse than the last but eventually it was finished.
"BLAGH!" I dry heaved "That was horrible!"
"Do you feel any different?" asked Ace
I took a few seconds to think "not really… my hearts racing though"
"Maybe you can move fast now, try running" Suggested Sabo.
I stood and was planning to do a short sprint to the other side of the fort. Except I ended up going right through the fort wall and landed roughly on the forest floor.
I sat there, stunned. That was fast!"
"Mel!"
"Melody!" the boys yelled down
"Are you ok?"
I grinned and ran up the tree, though my newly made hole and slammed right into Luffy. We fell onto a heap on the floor. "Yep, I'm gonna have to practice stopping…" I helped Luffy to his feet, while brushing off the bits of wood and twigs that stuck to my hair and clothes.
"Now we're gonna need to fix the wall!" Ace yelled.
"Oops, sorry: I grinned sheepishly and everyone burst out laughing.
I woke up the next morning feeling so hungry and tired, I had turned into a big eater like Luffy. Ace was already up, I looked out over the look out, he had breakfast cooking down below over a small fire.
"Ace!" I yelled down "Is breakfast ready? I'm hungry!" I tried to walk down to him but still moved too fast and knocked him over. Everything seemed like a blur when I ran.
"Hey!" he frowned as he picked himself up.
"Sorry"
"Come here and eat" he handed me some food on a stick, which I greedily munched down, not really caring what was on it, a meat of some sort.
"Sabo's gone out to grab some sake"
"Why?" I asked, finishing off my third stick already.
"Because the three of us boys have decided to become brothers. You know, since we're living together and all"
"Oh…. What about me?" I wondered, in the back of my mind if they were going to kick me out, I was a girl after all.
"Well, you're not a boy and from what I know there's no pirate way for you to become a brother… but Makino had said that the best way to get a sister into the family is to be married in"
"Hmm… yeah, that makes sense. So, who should I marry, I can't marry all of you"
"Well, Sabo and I thought that, me, the eldest would be better"
"But I promised to be Luffy's first mate. How can I be married to you if we're on different crews?"
Ace blinked. "Oh, right… Then Luffy is best" he nodded, and put on some more meat. I had finished off all the cooked bits.
I sat beside the fire, tummy nice and full. Not really trusting myself to move around just yet. "So, how does someone get married?"
Ace was sputtering, trying to explain when Luffy suddenly shot out of the tree house, I hadn't noticed him in there when I woke up.
"Morning Mel! You slept a long time again!"
"I was tired" I huffed "going fast tires me out quickly…"
Luffy nodded "you're going to have to train more now"
Ace turned to him "I just filled Mel in on what's gonna happen once Sabo gets back, and since she's gonna be part of your crew, its best if she marries you"
"YATTA!" Luffy jumped "See, I told you I was best!"
"So it's Luffy?" Sabo arrived, a large bottle of what must be Sake in his arms.
"Yep!" I grinned "Then you too will be my big brothers!"
Sabo turned to Ace who shrugged "they already promised to be pirates together"
"That makes sense" Sabo said as he placed the sake down and poured three glasses. Ace left the food to cook and everyone sat around the cups.
"We might set out as pirates independently. But our brotherhood will always be with us" Ace said
"Woo!" Luffy cheered.
"Where ever you are, whatever you do, we'll always be bonded together" Ace picked up his cup "From now on, we're brothers!"
They clinked their cups together and downed the clear drink.
The three of them immediately started coughing and I laughed.
"That burns" wined Sabo
Luffy spat and spit "Yucky"
Ace just held it in, coughing only slightly.
"I'm gonna be the King of the Pirates" Luffy crowed to the heavens.
"I'm gonna sail the sea, and be free!" Sabo joined in.
"I'm gonna be known worldwide and show that I live!" Ace grinned.
"Now it's my turn!" I jumped up and down "I'm gonna have a grand adventure, and conquer the seas with Luffy! Now how do we marry?"
Then Sabo blushed "Well, Makino said you have to declare yourselves and kiss"
"Ok" Luffy and I said together, what was wrong with that?
Sabo groaned "it can't be that easy"
"from here on you two will be bonded, you promise to watch each other's backs and stay together" Ace crossed his arms
"Yes!" we said together.
"Ok, now kiss"
I leaned forward and kissed Luffy's cheek like I've seen others do back with father's crew. And he did the same to mine.
Sabo sighed "I guess that works"
"yahoo!" Luffy cheered.
