Silver Rose
Chapter 3
- - - x - - -
Now that you left me mama, am I all alone?
My cousins, aunts, and uncles don't know anything, should I tell them the truth?
I don't want them to suffer like me.
Where are you mama?
Are you waiting for me to come find you?
I call for you but you don't answer.
Are you mad that I left you behind?
You told me to run so I did.
I ran far, far away.
From those bad men,
From my fears,
From you.
"Hey, look!" On a bright and sunny morning many people were bustling around the village's outdoor market. Some big holiday was coming up soon, and the villagers were hurrying to buy all the last minute supplies. On a long wooden bench near a local vendor's cart sat a familiar red headed girl. She was hugging her knees with her head dipped low. You couldn't see her face but her long red hair could be spotted miles away, and a young passerby had done just that. Urgently tugging on his mother's sleeve he pointed at the little girl. "Mama, isn't that the girl who's mo—" He started but was cut off by his mother.
"Hush, Will! You are not allowed to talk about that!" The mother smacked the boy's hand, and pulled him along.
Even though it had been nearly a year since the incident involving Velvet and her mother some villagers still talked about it. Although they felt bad about it they were a little suspicious on what exactly happened to them that night that left little Velvet shaking on the Mayor's doorsteps. Velvet barely speaks about the incident, and the most they got out of her was "…big scary men," and "mama in pain, please help her" The look she gave them while spilling those few words was enough to strike something in everyone's heart. Her eyes, which displayed fear and pain, were wide as saucers, and her face was completely pale. After trying a few more times to get her to spill, but failing, everyone decided to drop it. Velvet would tell them when she was ready, and now was not the time.
"Velvet, c'mere!" Velvet recognized the voice of her grandfather and hopped off the bench, wandering over to the merchant cart. Ever since her mother died Velvet had been staying with her grandfather. It was a lot of fun but rather lonely at times. Her grandfather was a merchant; his job is to sail off on his boat every once and a while to go to the neighboring islands to collect and trade herbs, fish, vegetables, and other goods. He would also pick up some tips and cultures from the other islands and teach them to her. He once went to an island southeast from theirs and the people there taught her grandfather some healing tips. They taught him how to identify poisonous and nonpoisonous fruits, plants, and animals; how to heal shallow wounds; how to cure some illnesses and many other things in turn for food or rare goods. Once he learned all these things he would pass it down to Velvet who was always eager to learn. Despite her age Velvet knew a lot already. "Velvet I'm going to need you to guard the cart for a moment, don't let anyone steal anything and don't give anything away!" With that her grandfather rushed off to the nearest bathroom with his hands clutching his pants.
Velvet stood there on her grandfather's stool patiently, whistling some random tune to herself when a group of boys each around her age, maybe a little older approached the cart.
"Hey shorty!" One of them said.
"Nice cart you got here," Another smirked at her.
"Is it yours?" Velvet nodded briefly, still not saying a word.
"Givin' us the silent treatment, eh?"
"Alright listen brat, we won't hurt you we just want some things for free, got it?" The one in the middle stated, it seemed he was the unannounced leader within the group. Velvet glared down at the boy, and shook her head once. One of the other two boys scoffed, she didn't know which one it was, she was too busy glaring at the one in the middle.
"Fine, I'll guess we'll have to go the hard way, grab her!" All three boys jumped at the same time. One lunged at Velvet's throat while the other two at the cart. The one who lunged for her throat got her foot in his face but managed to knock her off the stool she was standing on. The boy was fazed for only a moment before he quickly got to his feet, and tackled the smaller girl to the ground, getting her in a headlock in a second. Velvet's eyes widen and she reached behind her, flailing her arms in every possible direction, hoping to hit the boy.
"Heh, not so tough now eh?" The boy spat behind her. Velvet frowned, and bent her lower leg back letting her ankle collide with the boy's sensitive place. He instantly let her go, and she dropped to the floor gasping for breath.
"Kakaru, let's go! We've got everything!" The two others shouted at the boy lying next to her. He stumbled to his feet, and took off after his friends.
"Stop!" Velvet cried out hoarsely. But, just before the three thieves could turn the corner Velvet's grandfather took one hard swing, and got each right across the head. It was no doubt they saw stars before passing out.
"Velvet, you ok?" Her uncle called out to her. She nodded quickly, smiling at him.
On the way home that afternoon Velvet's grandfather asked her for the umpteenth time if she was ok. She giggled, and shook her head once more.
"I still can't believe you managed to stand up to those boys, tussle with one, and make it out unscathed." He looked at her in mock bewilderment. She giggled again, and bumped his arm with her shoulder.
"Maybe, I can… nah too dangerous," Her grandfather shook his head at his own thought.
"What is it?" Velvet asked.
"No, nothing. It's much too dangerous at your age,"
"Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, te—" Velvet was now jumping up and down on her toes.
"Fine, fine, perhaps it's time to teach you how to fight," He paused for a moment. "Maybe even how to use a sword, we don't want what happened today to happen again, do we?" Velvet gasped and stared at her grandfather with wide eyes. She had seen all the males in her family practicing at the dojo on their island various times. She would always follow them, dreaming when it would be her time to learn how to master a sword.
"Eeep! When can we start? How 'bout now! Yeah, let's do it right now!" She dropped the bags she was carrying, and skipped around her grandfather with joy.
Her grandfather chuckled softly, shaking his head at the young girl. "Not now little one, maybe later. I'm very tired, and it is getting late but I promise you I'll teach you how to use a sword soon,"
- - - x - - -
"Keep your shoulders straight! Don't jut your chin out so far. Whoa, watch that sword!" Velvet's grandfather had kept his promise. After that day, he had started teaching Velvet how to use a sword, and always kept her in good shape. He never went too easy on her because she was his niece or even because she was a girl, which Velvet liked. She trained early in the morning until late at night some days. But it was all worth it because she knew one day all that training would be off. What she didn't know was that day was sooner than she thought.
Velvet was currently in one of her training sessions but was once again lost in thought, which she happened to do a lot – it was one of her weaknesses, and her grandfather managed to narrowly miss her side with his sword. Velvet snapped out of her thoughts, and returned the attack with one of her own. "Daydreaming again?" Her grandfather furrowed his eyebrows, and Velvet just shrugged.
They continued going back and forth until the sun started to set, and finally they decided it was time for a break. They set up a large picnic basket near the edge of their training field which happened to overlook the sea, and sat down, digging into their meat sandwiches quickly. Placing the crust back on her plate Velvet burped loudly, and sighed contently. It's not that she didn't have any manners it's just that she felt a bit more comfortable around her grandfather, and with the sea just below her feet. Velvet had loved the sea ever since she was little when her mom used to take her to similar places around the island overlooking the sea. She used to tell her that the sea was a place full of adventures just waiting to be gone on, and somewhere out there were two men out there that would both play a major part in her life later on. One of them would love her, and the other would be in love with her. The latter would only happen if she played her cards right though.
Velvet's mother would also tell her about a red headed man much like her. Who loved adventure, happiness, and the joy in others. He was a bit of a fool at times but good-natured and friendly nonetheless. Her mother told her he had beautiful straight red hair just like hers. Not wild, and curly like her mother's. He could bring out the best in others, and could make you believe in him like no other in a blink of an eye. His name is Shanks.
"Don't forget that name, alright?" Her mother had told her with a proud look in her eye.
Snapping out of her memories, Velvet looked out onto the water and a small smile threatened to form on her lips.
"Hey grandpa…"
"Yes, child?"
"I'm going to become a pirate someday," She stated, still looking out at the sea now with a huge smile on her face. She could already imagine her crew of close friends that she would make exploring the world, and all the gold and treasure they would acquire.
That statement threw her grandfather through a loop. He stared at her as if she had three heads.
"W-what are you talking about?" He asked bewildered.
"I'm going to become a pirate one day. I'll join a crew, and explore the seven seas. Ya' know, pirate stuff." She stated as a-matter-of-factly.
Velvet heard he grandfather sigh, and looked at him. He knew her attraction towards adventure, and the ocean seemed familiar. Her father was the same way when he was younger. Yes, he knew that this child was Shanks', he probably wasn't the only one. The resemblance in personality and hair was unmistakable.
"I figured you would say that one day, little one."
Well now is when the real plot starts! Woo, I'm getting excited!
Anyway, I hoped you liked this chapter, the next one will feature some very very verrry important people.
I am currently looking for beta readers, so if any of you are interested please email me!Much Love,
VP
