Okay since a we get into Robin's past and then the rest of the crew's past is revisited. I see this as a good point to show Saria's Past with Mihawk. Enjoy :) oh and reviews are welcomed.
Who am I..? Where am I..?
It was hard to keep my eyes open and I kept repeating that same phrase over and over again in my head. My body wouldn't move from exhaustion and hunger. The only thing keeping me sane was the soft rocking motion of the waves under the piece of driftwood. I kept fading in and out of consciousness but my mind was still blank even after rest.
As time passed on, I barely noticed. I only knew it had passed when an island began to come into view. As I got closer to the island I could see a blurry figure on the shore. The figure must have seen me floating since he got into his own boat and rowed towards me.
By the time the figure reached me I could feel myself losing consciousness once again. I only saw a man with black short hair, sideburns, a short beard, and mustache, but what burned into my head was the man's piercing yellow eyes.
I woke up to the sound of an even, constant beeping sound. I no longer smelled the scent of salt water or felt the gentle rocking of the waves. That man must have saved me after I blacked out.
"Who is she?" I heard a high pitch voice ask.
"I don't know." I heard a lower voice respond.
"How did she get here? Where did you find her? Do you-"
"Enough with the questions!" The lower voice snapped in aggravation.
My eyes fluttered open but I quickly shut them from the bright light in the room. I tried again and this time I had to squint my eyes long enough for my eyes to adjust.
"Hey she's awake." The high pitch voice spoke up.
My eyes finally adjusted and I could see a girl a couple years older than me wearing a pink frilly dress and had pink curly hair. The man I recognized to be the one who saved me.
"Nice to see you're finally awake." The man spoke up first.
"Hey," I jumped as the girl startled me by suddenly getting into my face, "What's your name? My names Perona!" She asked energetically.
I just stared at her and blinked multiple times.
Perona tilted her head, "Can you talk?" She asked.
I slowly nodded my head but I pointed to my throat hoping they get the message that it was too dry to talk. Thankfully the man got the message and got up and poured a glass of water that was on the table beside me.
"I figured you'd be thirsty after being shipwrecked." The man stated simply and gave me the glass.
Once the glass was in my hands I quickly gulped down the nice cool liquid that refreshed my dry throat. I licked my lips before taking in a breath and opening my mouth.
"I don't know who I am." I said quietly and apparently quiet enough to where Perona couldn't hear me.
"What'd she say?" Perona asked looking at the man.
"She said she doesn't know who she is. It seems she has amnesia." The man stated and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Perona asked, her head following the man's movements.
"We don't know how long she's been shipwrecked and it will take time for her to recover from her amnesia. We need to let her rest." The man advised.
"Awe, why can't I stay with her?" Perona pouted.
The man just simply glared at Perona and she immediately obeyed.
"Alright, fine. No need to glare." Perona huffed and walked out of the room.
Perona exited the room while the man stayed for a while and looked at me.
"If you need anything just call my name. It's Dracule Mihawk." Mihawk advised.
A small smile made its way on my face and I nodded my head, "Thank you, Mihawk." I said as I closed my eyes.
"You're welcome." I couldn't see it but I could hear the warmth in that one sentence before the sound of the lights being turned off the door closing.
Weeks Later
I shyly poked my head past the wall to see Mihawk sitting in his usual chair reading a book. Over the past few weeks I grew closer to Mihawk but I was discovering how scary Perona could be. I also discovered my name to be Satsuma Saria, I'm four years old and I was born on the Grand Line but that's all I could remember.
"You need something Saria?" I jumped slightly hearing Mihawk speak. How he knew I was there was beyond me.
"Perona was trying to play doctor again." I explained softly.
Mihawk let out an exasperated sigh and closed his book and set it on the side table.
"You can't always run away and find me every time this happens." Mihawk scolded and stood up from his chair.
"But I don't know how to fight and Perona does. She always pins me to the ground and I can't fight her off." I whimpered.
I lowered my eyes to the ground and rubbed my arm where Perona had jabbed a needle in my arm for a "shot". I then heard deep, heavy footsteps come towards me and I felt a hand on my head. I looked up and saw Mihawk kneeling down to my level and giving me a small smile that a father would give to their child.
"Well then Saria, I believe it's time you learn how to fight." Mihawk stated.
My eyes widen in excitement and my mouth formed into a grin, "You mean, you're gonna teach me how to fight!?" I asked excitedly.
"A form of fighting: sword fighting." Mihawk corrected me.
"Thanks Mihawk!" I shrieked happily and wrapped my arms around his neck in a hug.
Mihawk froze at the sudden contact but he soon loosened up and wrapped his arms around my small frame to return the hug.
"You're welcome, Saria." He said softly.
4 Years Later
I panted as I held the wooden sword in my hands and kept my eyes focused on Mihawk. The past four years have been nothing but brutal training but it has changed me for the better. I'm no longer the shy, weak girl Mihawk saved from a piece of driftwood. I'm now a proud swordsman in training and according to Mihawk, I'm a fast learner.
"Do it again Saria but this time no holding back." Mihawk stated sternly and coldly.
I let out a smirk, "If you say so!" I yelled and dashed in a zigzag pattern before swinging the wooden sword downwards on Mihawk's own wooden sword.
Just like before Mihawk easily blocked my attack and counteracted it but this time I was prepared. I quickly gained by my balance back and swung the wooden sword and this time I managed to hit Mihawk's leg.
I smirked in triumph at finally being able to hit him after so many tries. That's how our training sessions went; it didn't end until I got one attack in. That may sound easy but it ends up taking almost eight hours to even hit him!
"Well done, this is the third time you've hit me with in only an hour." Mihawk praised and sent me a proud smirk/smile.
Over the four years we got a lot closer and Mihawk became a father figure for me and he would treat me like his daughter. When I was younger I accidently called him dad and I thought he'd blow up on me but he surprised me instead. He simply smiled a little and ruffled my hair and muttered something under his breath that he thought I didn't catch…but I did and those words have been stuck in my head since. He said "I wish I were".
"What can I say, I've been practicing." I said shrugging with a confident smile on my face.
"Sariiiiiiiii!" I flinched hearing Perona call me by the pet name she gave me.
"Oh no." I muttered fearfully and quickly climbed up the tree nearby.
Thanks to the training I easily climbed up to the third highest branch and just when Perona showed up.
"Mihawk, where's Sari?" Perona asked Mihawk.
"You just missed her. We finished our training early." Mihawk stated simply and sent me a wink up in the tree without letting Perona see.
I let out a grateful smile at my adopted father/sword master. I could always count on him.
"Hmph, and I wanted to watch her train." Perona pouted and stormed away.
Once she was completely gone I jumped down from the branch.
"I see you still haven't gotten over your fear of Perona." Mihawk stated with amusement in his voice.
"Or needles…don't forget about needles." I reminded him and shivered at the thought of the tiny metal pointy objects.
Mihawk let out a laugh, "Of course, I haven't forgotten about that fear." Mihawk's laughter died down and he suddenly became serious.
"Something wrong?" I asked curiously.
"Saria, you remember what I told you about the Seven Warlords of the Sea?" I nodded my head. I remembered Mihawk mentioning that at dinner one time.
"Yeah, they're seven dangerous pirates that the government has hired to keep other pirates in control." I answered.
Mihawk nodded his head, "Do you know why I had you train harder today than I've ever done before?" I shook my head at that.
"No, I thought you were just stepping it up a bit. I needed to get three hits within a four hour limit." I stated.
"Yes, and you exceeded my expectations. Three hits in one hour, which was all I needed to know that you could handle something like this." I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.
"Like what?" I asked.
"Saria, the World Government has asked me to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and if I am to accept they will give me the title "The World's Greatest Swordsman"." Mihawk explained.
"That's awesome! I mean besides working for the government part but the title! That is so cool!" I yelled excitedly.
Mihawk chuckled slightly, "Yes I suppose that is "cool" but there's more to it. With my becoming of a warlord it means I'll have to constantly patrol the Grand Line and I'm afraid the Grand Line is too dangerous for you still. So it means I can't take you with me and I won't be able to watch over you as much." My joy was instantly deflated into sadness.
"Wait…so what happens to me?" I asked solemnly.
"There's a marine to come and pick you up today. He volunteered for the position and was willing to take you." I gulped and I could feel my eyes start to water.
"Then why have me train today if I'm leaving?" I asked with my voice cracking.
"I wanted to make sure you were ready for this." Mihawk stated and walked over to his things and pulled out a sword with a black wrapped hilt, golden pommel and guard, and a black and gold plated scabbard.
"For what?" I asked eyeing the sword.
"Satsuma Saria," Mihawk spoke up seriously suddenly, "As your master I'd like to announce you as an official Master Swordsman. As a reward for you I give you, your first sword: Kurogane." My eyes had stars in them the moment Mihawk unsheathed the sword to reveal a black sword!
Mihawk handed Kurogane in my hands and all I could was stare at the beautiful craftsmanship of it. I felt Mihawk place his hand on my shoulder causing me to look up.
"The ship should be at the shore, we should go." Mihawk advised.
"Will I ever see you again?" I asked hopefully.
Mihawk couldn't help but smile at that question, "I'm sure you will." I let out a grin and nodded my head.
We made our way towards the sandy beach and about halfway out of the forest I could see a marine warship ahead with a dog as its figure head. Mihawk's personality changed once again into the stern, cold one everyone knew. He only showed the warm and loving side to me only.
"Dracule Mihawk, it's been a while." I stopped next to Mihawk seeing a tan old man with gray hair and goatee and not to mention he was in good shape for his age.
"It has, Monkey D. Garp." Mihawk stated with no emotion.
"Is this the kid?" Garp asked looking down at me.
His gaze was intimidating but not as intimidating at Mihawk's when he got serious. I held my ground and stared at Garp in the eyes.
"This is Satsuma Saria, my former student." I felt a slight pain in my chest hearing the word "former" and "student" in the same sentence.
Garp let out a grin, "Well then she'll make one hell of a marine with that sword experience behind her." Wait what!? Marine!? I want to be a pirate, just like Mihawk!
"Well Saria, I should inform you that I've had official papers filled out." Garp stated and pulled out a piece of paper from his coat.
"It says here that you are officially adopted into the Monkey D. family. So for now on you may call me Grandpa." Garp stated.
He showed me the paper and I could read my new legal name on the paper that read, "Monkey D. Saria" on the front.
"Whoa! Who said I wanted to be adopted, si-ow!" I yelled and held my head where Garp just hit me.
"What was that for!?" I yelled comically at him.
"I told you to call me Grandpa, not sir!" Garp yelled.
"Why would I-" I stopped midsentence seeing Garp getting angry.
I sighed and slumped my shoulders in defeat, "Yes, Grandpa." I muttered.
"That's more like that. Now I will warn you, you're the only girl in the family so you better toughen up." Garp warned and started to head back to the ship.
I felt Mihawk nudge me to the ship. I gave a small smile to Mihawk which he returned and then I ran after my new Grandfather onboard the ship. Once on board I turned back around and waved goodbye to Mihawk as the ship started to set sail. Mihawk returned the wave and sent me a wink which I returned as well.
Once Mihawk was out of seeing range I turned to Grandpa.
"So Grandpa, who else is the in family?" I asked out of curiosity.
Grandpa let out a grin, "I'm glad you asked kiddo. You have two brothers named Ace and Luffy. Ace is older than you by two years and Luffy is a year younger than you. They can get pretty rough so you'll have to tough it out with them." Grandpa advised.
"I can handle that." I said confidently.
Grandpa burst out into laughter and smacked my back causing me to lean forward from the force.
"Already spoken like a true member of the family!" Grandpa stated while still laughing.
I let out a sheepish smile; maybe being part of this family wouldn't be that bad. Who knows, I may come to really love my two adopted brothers.
Hope you guys liked it because I had a lot of fun writing it! Later on when it gets to showing Luffy's past with Ace and Sabo you'll get to see the continuation of this story. Stay tune for the next chapter: "We Are Your Friends!"