Chapter 3 Start

Alex carried his sister through the enemy infested, destroyed town, watching, avoiding any enemies that might be able to see him and might try to kill him and his sister. He ran when he could, but most of the time he was sneaking in the cover of shadows, trying to keep his sister quiet so they wouldn't be detected. As they got to the edge of the town Alex started to sprint, trying to get away from the enemy as fast as possible. The town was like most, on an island of average size, and there was no way to get on, or off without a boat, and even with this knowledge Alex was heading towards the other side of the island, away from the dock. Alex ran as fast as he could but after a couple minutes he was exhausted. He was only 7 and was carrying his 3 year old sister along with him. He pushed himself on, lungs burning and legs feeling like they were about to give out on him, but after a while his destination came into sight, a lone cabin near the water, it belonged to a fisherman, who was now deceased, It was a small cabin and would most likely not be searched because it was far from town, and it drew almost no attention. Alex carried his sister the last small distance to the cabin turned the knob, opening the door, and he carried her him, before realizing she was asleep.

"Glad one of us can sleep." Alex muttered as she placed her on the mattress of the bed and covered her. Alex sat as far back in the cabin as possible and held his gun in his hand ready if anyone came in. As he sat there his mind was reeling. Why had the navy attacked his town? Why did they kill his dad, a respected navy captain? Were he and his sister the only survivors? Alex turned to his sister sleeping peacefully and realized she would have to grow up with no parents, and that set off the uncontrollable tears that Alex felt going down his face once again.

Alex sat there for a while and before he knew it the sun was up and sunlight was coming in through the single window in the house. No one had tried to enter the house and Alex was thankful for that since his father's gun could only hold 6 bullets at a time, and since he used one he only had 5 left. He heard a small whine and turned to the bed to see his sister open her eyes. She sat up and looked at him. Alex looked back and held her gaze.

"It's just me and you now...mom and dad are gone." Alex said looking down.

"Where?" She asked.

"They're...don't worry about it, okay?" Alex said, offering a small smile.

She nodded "Hungry..." She said

Alex knew that was going to happen soon. If they were going to have to stay here for an extended amount of time, they needed food and water.

"Okay...you wait here and I'll go find us something to eat, sound good?"

She nodded and laid back down.

Alex went to the door and opened it, hoping their enemies had left "Remember, don't leave this building, I'll be back soon." Alex closed the door and went back towards the town, paying attention to everything that moved so he wouldn't be caught off guard, as he approached his town he could see smoke rising into the sky. His legs felt weak under him, but he forced himself to walk on and as he town came into view he felt his chest tighten. Many of the houses were burned to the ground. No navy officers were in his sights and he ran through the town until he got to his house and as relieved it wasn't one of the ones that was burned to the ground. He walked in and forgot for a moment that the bodies of his parents weren't moved and he saw them as soon as he walked in. He turned away and went to focus on the task at hand. He searched through the fridge and cupboards trying to find some stuff that he could carry and would last him and his sister a while. He found a backpack and made sure it was empty before putting a box of crackers, a few water bottles and a few small jars of nuts into it before closing it and making the trek back to the cabin he left his sister in. He was still careful, making sure no navy officers were around as he made his way back, and didn't feel the least bit safe until he entered the cabin again. His sister was still on the bed when he came and and she turned to him when he entered. He placed the bag down and took the food and water out. He opened a bag of crackers and handed them to her and he leaned against the wall, not hungry at the moment. He looked at his sister and made a vow to himself. He couldn't save his parents, but he would do anything he needed to do to protect his sister, and if anyone endangered her, he would kill them without a moment's hesitation, no matter who they were, friend or foe, his sister took priority over all others. That night he didn't sleep again but he was more in the shadows and more to the side, so he was less visible. He sat there silently and just as the sun was rising he heard a click. That was the click of a door being opened! He held his gun in his hands and watched as a red haired man came in. The man looked around and saw Alex's sister on the bed.

"A kid?" He walked towards her and Alex's gun clicked, catching the attention of the man, who turned to find a gun aimed at his head.

"Get away from her."

Alex awoke suddenly and found himself staring at a wood ceiling. He sat up, only to feel a sharp pain in his chest, but only from the bullet wound this time. He took note of how his body was bandaged, and not tied or handcuffed.

"That dream...it continued from the nightmare...why?" Alex paused "Where am I?" He muttered. He looked around and realized this was, more or less, an infirmary. He tried to stand, but collapsed as soon as he put any weight on them, He grabbed the bed and pulled himself back onto it and sat down. Just then the door opened and Alex instinctively reached for his gun, which he found was gone, along with his sword. The straw hat wearer and green haired male, with three swords on his back walk in, and Alex sits there, watching them.

"You're awake." The green haired man said.

Alex recognizes him immediately "Zoro, a very well known pirate hunter." His eyes went to the man beside him "And you...I don't really know who you are."

"I'm Luffy, the future King Of Pirates!"

"Why is Zoro hanging around with a pirate?" He asked looking at Zoro.

"I'm no longer a pirate hunter. How about explaining who you are?"

"Give me my gun and sword back." Alex demanded.

"Why would we do that?" Zoro asked him "So you can try and fight us."

Alex got to his feet, able to stand now "It wasn't a question. Hand over my gun and sword now!" He shouted at him. He heard voices from behind the two man and noticed others came behind them, but ignored them, as he was focused on Zoro.

"We're not giving your weapons back until we know you're not a threat!" Zoro shouted. Luffy turned and talked to an orange haired human and she handed him two things.

"Catch!" Luffy turned and threw the two items at Alex and he reacted quickly, catching one in his right hand and one in his left, realizing what they were as soon as his hands touched them, his weapons.

"Are you an idiot?!" Zoro shouted at Luffy "We don't even know who this kid is! He could be a threat!" Alex placed his sword and gun in his belt.

"I'm not going to attack you. If it weren't for all of you I would have died." Alex said sitting back down "Anyway..." Alex reached into his pocket and threw a balled up piece of paper at them "That's not in the best condition, so be careful." All of the members looked it over and then nodded.

"You killed Navy officers?" The orange haired woman asked.

"Yes. That is why I'm a wanted man."

"Does that mean you want to be the King Of Pirates too?" Luffy asked.

"I have no interest in the One Piece. My goal has nothing to do with that. Who's the Captain of this boat?"

"I am." Luffy said

"Luffy." He said his name "Zoro...I have those two names, but can you tell me your other crew members names?"

"We don't need him to introduce us!" The orange haired human stepped forward "I'm Nami, the navigator of this ship."

A blonde haired male with a cigarette in this mouth came next "The name's Sanji, I'm the cook."

"I'm Usopp, The sniper!"

A Dark haired girl stayed in her spot "Robin, Archaeologist of the Straw Hats." The last member, a small Reindeer/human hybrid came to the front of the group.

"I'm Chopper, the Doctor."

Alex repeated the name in his mind until he remembered them "You already know who I am. But I'm Alex."

"Alex, if you don't mind me asking, why do you carry a gun that looks very valuable?" Nami asked, eyeing the gun.

"My sword and gun have more then just money value to them. I have them how they are so I won't forget their value and so they won't break or rust."

"But what if someone tries to take it to-" She started to ask.

"Then they will die. There are three things I value in this world, and my sword and gun are far beneath the other one."

"What's the last thing? Your life?" Zoro asked

"Meat?" Luffy asked.

"My life is meaningless." Alex said ignoring Luffy's comment "My life is only needed to complete my goal and to protect the most precious thing in this world. The thing I value most is something I will not say. I have my reasons."

They seemed to agree since they stopped asking him questions.

"Alex...I have some bad news for you though..." Chopper started. The rest of the crew knew what was about to be said.

Alex noticed the serious vibe in the room "I'm not going to like this, am I?"

Chopper shook his head "Have you had chest pains before, like how you grabbed your chest and collapsed on our ship?"

Alex nodded "Yes...why?"

"This isn't easy to say...it's a rare disease that slowly damages the body...I don't know how long you've had it...but with the state your body is in...you don't have much longer to live...you have a year at most."

Alex was shocked, but allowed none of it to show on his face "I see..."

"We might be able to create a cure though, you never know."

Alex ignored him and turned to Luffy "Can I ask you to do something for me?"

"Depends, what is it?"

"Since I no longer have a boat I can't get somewhere...can you take me to the island Green Mount?"

"Where is that?" Luffy asked, turning to Nami.

"It's about an hour sail from here. It has a huge grassy hill the size of a mountain in the middle of it...other then that there's not much there except maybe a town or something."

"Can you bring me there?" Alex repeated his question.

"We don't have time for-" Zoro started.

"Onwards to Green Mount!" Luffy shouted.

"Idiot." Both Sanji and Zoro said at the same time.

Alex sat on the deck and remained silent, taking in what he had been told. A year...that's how long he would live, if he was lucky, his life could end before that, and the pain in his chest might keep hindering him until his body finally gives in and stops. He had to complete his goal before that happened, he had to, there was no other choice. Once the ship got to Green Mount Alex jumped from the railing to the ground, there wasn't a dock on this island. Alex waited as they anchored the ship and came off the ship and onto the island. Alex turned to face them.

"So you're staying for a bit? Fine. There's a village near the base of the mountain, it's about the same size as an average one, but not many people come to this island and when they do they never travel that close to the mountain." His tone turned hard "Let me make one thing clear. If you do anything that endangers the village, your lifes are forfeit." Alex started to walk.

Chapter 3 End