Chapter 2 – Tylias! The Boy At Sea!

As Tylias lay helplessly on the ground, Loopy standing above him, he couldn't help but look into Largey's eyes. Just then, memories flashed wildly for the both of them. They both knew how it all started between them. They both knew that they were more than just friends.

[FLASHBACK – 16 Years Ago – Somewhere on East Blue]

The roaring waves from the ocean splashed up against the ship, pushing it slightly into a different direction.

The rain pelted on the sailors too, making their journey back to Loosha Village that more difficult.

"Sir – The waves are pushing us, we have to get out of here!" one of the sailors called out.

"NO!" Largey said, slashing at the air with his hand. "I saw a basket just now!"

Each of their yells was drowned out by the high wind that continued to roar.

"But sir – "

"I said wait, god damn it!" the captain bellowed, cutting off the sailor from speaking.

His sailor hat blew away and into the ocean, before he tried to grab on to it. His hat was important to him as a fisherman, but something else was out there that was more important: A child.

The ocean splashed again on one side of the ship that completely drenched the dedicated captain from head to toe.

"THERE!" he yelled and pointed out. The other sailors ran over to his side to see a small basket drifting out and being pushed by the waves.

The sailors gathered a large net and threw it out as hard as they could. In this weather, throwing nets and ropes is harder than it of wither the child was alive; the captain did nothing but stare in shock. The water splashing is what cut him out of his trance as he jumped into action. He picked up one of the many nets and threw it. His throw had more power than the other sailors due to his sheer strength and determination.

The net successfully wrapped itself around the basket like a protective blanket. Although this was an unorthodox method, none of them could afford to drift closer or dive into the ocean.

They all pulled and pulled until the basket was right up against the ship. The net pulled the basket up and Largey held tightly onto the basket.

As he suspected, there was a baby in the basket that was crying its eyes out.

"Shh!" Largey smiled, looking at the baby, "I'm here. We've got you"

The sailors, after noticing the captain had the baby, jumped to immediate action to get back to Loosha Village. The journey back was rough but fortunately there were no major casualties.

The ship set anchor on the port of Loosha Village. On the boat wasn't just a child but a whole load of fish and even a treasure chest.

"So who does the baby belong to?" one of the sailors stupidly asked, looking down on the baby.

Largey shrugged as he held tightly on to the basket. "His parents might be dead. If he was just drifting at sea, then that would be the only logical conclusion"

The baby began to roll around in his small basket to reveal a note. This surprised Largey but it didn't stop him from snatching it then proceeding to read it.

"Hello. My name is Tylias. Please look after me"

"It has no signature" the sailor pointed out.

"Well I guess I have to look after this little squirt" the captain smiled after closely observing the note.

This shocked the sailor, almost so that his little hat fell off, "C-C-Captain?!"

Largey simply laughed and walked off the ship and into his pub.

His pub was small with very few tables and stools. The counter wasn't polished and almost seemed dusty.

"This'll be your new home, Tylias"

With that, the baby burst out in a giggle and attempted to grab Largey's nose with his small paw-like hands. Within a few minutes of only knowing this baby, he had touched the rough-and-tough sailors' heart. Their fates were sealed.

[YEARS LATER – LARGEY'S PUB]

Tylias, now an 8 year-old, was running around the pub with a toy sword. He slashed and swung at the tables as if they were his foes.

"Gar! I have you now!" the boy playfully yelled, hacking away at legs of every table.

Some of the customers were watching and laughing. To see such a bright and playful boy made them cheerful.

Largey was also watching from behind the counter.

"That boy" he smiled.

More customers began to pour in. This is how Fridays usually are. The residents of Loosha Village get off work at that time and like to rest at the pub with a mug of beer in hand.

Tylias snuck in between people's legs and managed to reach the kitchen area unnoticed.

"Finally, I'm in the kitchen. Now to find that treasure!" the young boy declared.

The kitchen area was how a kitchen would usually look, with its pots, pans, and cutlery all in one dirty heap. There were also boxes full of rum and sacks of fish that sat neatly away in the corner. But what Tylias was really looking for was the treasure chest that Largey kept away secretly. In the corner of his little beady eyes, he always saw his father walk into the kitchen with piles of gold and silver.

"Now if I were a fisherman, where would I keep my treasure?" the young adventurer pondered aloud.

He scanned the room with his eyes and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. No secret passage way or door. Just stacks of boxes and sacks.

"WAIT! THAT'S IT!" he thought to himself.

He walked up to the sack that was bigger than he ever was and proceeded to climb. The lumps of fish made it easy to do this and he successfully reached the top.

When he got to the top, his feet were squashing the precious dead fish.

"Ew, feels weird" Tylias gagged.

But alas, nothing would stop him from reaching that treasure chest. He dug his hands deep into the sack. All he could feel were slimy and scaly fish. He pulled his hands out and stuck his head in. Of course, all he saw were fish but something caught his eyes. At the very bottom rested a small wooden box. The box had gold plating and glistened beautifully despite its condition.

His eyes brightened, he felt like cheering, but couldn't. He pushed his hands through and grabbed hold of the box. Due to the weight, he felt like he was sinking at the bottom.

"This is disgusting!" he gagged again as he slowly fell to the bottom.

Now he was in a predicament. The fish were piling on top of him; the light from above grew thinner until he was in complete, slimy, scaly darkness.

Nothing was more important than getting what was inside that box, but he felt like he was getting slowly crushed. He unsheathed the toy sword and slashed at the sack. It didn't do much but it made a small cut. The cut was just deep enough to reveal some light, however.

Tylias then smiled menacingly, "Salvation!"

He pushed his tiny fingers through the cut and proceeded to tear the sack open. The fish tumbled out like a mountain crumbling and Tylias slid out with the box in hand.

With no hesitation, and knowing that his dad would rush in to the kitchen at any moment, he opened the box to reveal a shiny blue fruit.

He gave a simple look of disappointment before disregarding it as some food.

"Well I am kind of hungry" he smiled sinisterly.

He picked up the fruit and began to take bites out of it.

During his meal, he couldn't help but notice the strange pattern on the fruit. It was unheard of and even though he absolutely hated the sight of fruit, he couldn't help but stare at it. This was quickly interrupted by the foul taste as he continued to eat. It tasted like a chilli pepper. The spice and heat was incredible, but Tylias wasn't going to let this fruit get the better of him.

He chowed down and proceeded to eat the final piece.

(*SLAM*)

The kitchen door swung open.

Tylias was terrified to see his father, big and scary, looking down on him.

"I thought you'd be in here!" he stated.

The boy smiled innocently as his father noticed the torn sack of fish and the box opened.

"TYLIAS! PLEASE TELL ME YOU DIDN'T…" he yelled, rushing toward the empty box.

He inspected the box closely and saw it was empty. He then rushed to check out the sack to see if the fruit was there but to his shock - it was gone.

"It's okay. The fruit didn't go to waste. I ate it!" Tylias smiled, giving a thumbs-up. "Although, I wish you had actual treasure"

Largey picked up the boy to see his lips were covered in blue ink.

"Tylias… do you know what you just ate?!" he said, his eyes growing wide in horror.

"Yeah!" he laughed in response, "It was some weird fruit. It tasted funny"

Largey began to furiously shake the boy like a ragdoll.

"You idiot! That was my treasure! It meant everything to me!" he yelled. He dropped Tylias to the ground and fell to his knees.

Only now did the young boy grasp the situation. "That… was your treasure?"

"YES!" Largey yelled in response, still furious with his son. "Those fruits are rare and are said to give you powers. I was going to sell it for millions of beli and buy a proper home, but I guess I can't now!"

Tylias dropped his toy sword and shielded his eyes. He broke down and began to cry.

"I-I'm sorry… I-I didn't know it meant that much to you!" the boy choked out, sniffing and wiping his face.

"Please… Please forgive me, father"

Largey remained unresponsive for a few seconds, with his back turned on his own son as he kneeled in despair. That fruit was his only chance… His only chance…

Largey then grinned and shrugged. "It's okay"

"Huh?" the crying boy said, raising his head up to see his father looking at him.

"You're my son. So YOU'RE the greatest treasure I have" his father smiled.

His smiling didn't stop Tylias from weeping.

"But you said it meant everything to you!" Tylias shouted, continuing to cry as tears streamed down his face.

"Not everything, Tylias. I have you, don't I?" Largey responded again. "Please, stop crying. Besides I also have another treasure chest with actual gold and silver!

Largey removed the boxes of Rum out of the way to reveal a small trap door. He opened it and inside sat an actual treasure chest. He opened it up and they both took a look inside. The contents inside glistened with beauty. They shined in to their eyes and sparkled like diamond. The gold could light up an entire room due to how bright it was. There were all sorts of gold inside like rings, necklaces and even a small crown.

"This is my savings. When you're a fisherman like me, you tend to find these things drifting around. Pirates can sometimes be careless" he told him. "So when you do become a pirate, make sure to protect the things you hold dear"

He finally stopped crying and wiped away the last shed of tear. His eyes were puffy and his cheeks were pure red like a strawberry. As his father looked down on him, with that stupid grin, Tylias couldn't help but smile back.

AN: Thanks for reading! And of course, One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda.