Neliel Von Schweetz: Actually, it's a play on words. Tresa actually didn't murder her whole town. Vincente is actually- ok. I need to shut up and let you read the damn chapter.
Twelve Years Ago; Tresa's Shocking Tale and the cunning of Manasus Vincente
Twelve Years Ago:
Seven year old Tresa sat on the pond's edge, splashing her feether feet playfully in the water's edge. Her little brother was standing on the edge, dipping his fishing pole into the water. Tresa sighed. She knew he was going to fall in any minute.
"Hey, hey, Tresa!" He shouted, excitedly. "I-I think I've got one!"
He struggled with pulling up his fishing pole. It was bent at an odd angle and Tresa could just see it about to break.
"Waagghh!" He wailed as it snapped and he flew into the water. Tresa giggled as she watched her brother struggle to get out of the water. She dived in and pulled him out by the scruff of his shirt. He gasped as he panted on the banks of the pond.
"Thanks." He breathed.
She pulled herself up beside him. "Let's go home, stupid."
He giggled and laughed by her side as they walked home together, bumping shoulders. Once they appeared in the doorway, her mother was setting dinner, sweeping her long, chestnut brown hair over her ear.
"Oh, you two, you're just in time," She looked up. "Did you fall in, again?"
Her little brother grinned and squealed as her mother stooped down and tickled him.
"Clean yourself up before your father comes home." She said. He trotted to his room and Tresa followed her mother, setting dishes on the table. Soon afterward, her father brushed through the doorway, sweeping a tired hand through his brown locks.
"Hey baby," He wrapped his arm around his wife's waist and kissed her, gently.
"How was it?" She whispered in his ear. Tresa pretended like she didn't hear anything, but in reality, she knew what her mother was talking about. "Did the Government give you any trouble?"
Her father shook his head. "Theres been reports of a couple of the greenies leaking some stuff to them, but we've got it under control."
Her mother sighed. "When will it be done? I'm worried for you."
"Soon." Was the reply and he kissed her forehead.
He turned to Tresa and picked her up. "How's my girl doing?"
Tresa grinned. "Davin fell in the pond again."
"Again?" Her father asked, with a smile.
She nodded eagerly.
Her little brother appeared around the corner of the door and they all sat down for dinner. Tresa and Davin scooped the food quickly into their mouths and ran outside to watched the fireflies.
"Don't stay out too long!" Her mother called after them.
"Alright!" Tresa waved back.
Davin and Tresa sat in the long grass, watching the small, yellow bulbs float in the air.
"I'm going to go back." Davin stumbled to his feet. "I'm tired."
"But we just got here." Tresa sighed. "Fine. Tell mom I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Ok." He grumbled, rubbing his eyes.
Tresa stared at the beautiful fireflies, the ones she watched over for such a long time. A rustle in the grass prompted her to turn and stare at the tall man with the shoulder length black hair.
"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" He said.
"Yeah." Tresa replied and relaxed. He must've been one of the newbies that her father was talking about, because Tresa didn't recognize him.
"Do you know the effect of the project that your father is doing?" He asked after a long pause. She smiled.
"Yup!"
"What is he doing?" Tresa thought that the men must be testing her, so she tried to reply with her best answer.
"Dad is working on a project," She started. "At first he was working for the World Government, but then he realized it was too powerful to give to them, so he cut off all ties and moved here!"
"And what is he creating?" He asked.
"Clones!" She replied cheerfully.
The man stood up. "Thank you." He walked away.
Tresa watched him walk away, confused. The man seemed to be acting strangely. He had pushed her so much to tell him her father's information...maybe he wasn't a greenie then?
Tresa stood up. That man was starting to scare her. She ran back to the neighborhood, seeing a red glow in the distance. There was no way that the sun was rising, was there? Tresa ran as fast as her small legs could carry her.
She skidded to a stop. Her eyes widened at the scene in front of her. Red flames licking the buildings, screams and cries of children and people, swords clashing, death cries of men. The whole town was being destroyed. Her breath started shaking and she ran into the inferno.
Take a right, take a left, past the candy store-
She stopped in front of her house. Small knobby knees hit the ground. Hot tears poured out of her eyes. Tresa watched as the home she knew, the people she loved, were destroyed in a blazing firestorm. "Mom...Dad...Davin..."
"This was your fault," A man's voice said. "You caused this."
"Me?" She turned to the same man who had talked to her in the field. "I killed all these people?"
The man gravely nodded. "You did this."
And suddenly, his tone changed to a smirking, mocking one. "And your pitiful excuse for a father destroyed the formula as his dying act, while your mother pleaded not to hurt you and your brother, to take her instead."
Tresa's eyes burned with anger. "Don't talk about my parents that way!"
She rushed at the man, punching his hard legs, barely inflicting any pain. The man snorted. "Weak."
He waved his arm. "I want this kid taken to my ship."
"Hai, Manassus-san!" A marine came and scooped a struggling Tresa. One of Manassus's colleges walked to him. "Vincente. Isn't this going a little too far?"
Vincente Manassus shook his head. "They need to learn what happens when you deny the Government."
"This girl," Vincente spat, after recounting her story. "Is a threat to everyone. She is the spawn of evil. She must be destroyed."
Rico stared at Tresa's now sobbing, shaking form. She rocked on her heels in fetal position, holding her hands over her ears.
"She murdered her whole town." Vincente drew out each word.
As he said that, Tresa cried out, as if hearing those words pained her. Rico glared at Vincente. "You liar."
"You say something?" He laughed.
"You took advantage of the fact that she was a kid," Rico growled. "LIAR!"
"Katto Katto no Flap!"
He lifted up his arms into the air, bursting out of his bonds. Locke did a somersault and landed, crouched onto the ground like a big cat ready to pounce, his gray eyes dancing, excited for the fight. Rico stood in front of Vincente, his eyes cast in shadow.
"You were a Devil Fruit User?" Vincente muttered.
Rico tightened the bandana on his head. "You made me mad." He said, quietly. "You hurt our nakama."
Vincente watched the younger man warily.
"If anyone hurts my nakama," Rico raised his head, his golden eyes dark with anger. "They're gonna have to go through me!"
Rico makes the inevitable move to save Tresa! Vincente reveals his slippery power, and Rico slips up! Locke shows his extreme strength against the marines as he protects Tresa!
Protect her! Fight Back For Tresa! Navy Officer Manassus Vincente Vs Sterling D. Rico!