When I washed ashore on this lonely island, the first thing I really missed was the warmth of family waiting at my bedside.
I've been in situations like this before.
Whether it be surfing accidents, that time I got a really bad fever and had to be hospitalized, or when I was in a crash. Everytime I woke up to my mother, or sister, or father waiting at my side, sure it was to surely berate me yet again for my carelessness but at least they were there and their presence was enough to warm me.
Here the sun was shining and the island was beautiful, but it was a suffocating warmth.
The sun was drying my mouth as I stared up with half shut eyes and my arms felt like they were spasming from over work.
How did I end up here?
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I was having a day like any other.
Class was a bit rough, the kids were significantly more boisterous than usual, but nothing too out of the ordinary. Once their parents came to pick them all up, and me having to remind Kevin yet again to please pick up his child on time. There is only so long one could wait before they worry for the parents well-being and two hours after pick-up is far too long.
After that I went to get a pick-me up from Sen-hei's.
He always made the best tea.
Leaving the waiter, a rather unfalteringly upbeat woman, a large tip and headed home to wash myself and get my equipment for the beach. I was going to catch myself dinner and then head home, when I arrived though the beautiful day had turned gray and the surf looked as if it were raring to drag someone.
I was going to turn around.
I remember that.
Head home and eat something quick and head to bed or read a book.
Then I heard something, splashing, but not like the one usually created by the waves crashing, and then a shout before nothing.
Against all odds though and like an idiot I headed to the water, calling it in to the watch before diving into the water. Do not do this you moronic youngsters, especially when there's a red flag out. Though, I like a moron, did it anyway because I may have heard a person drowning, it's stupid and I should have left it to the professionals.
Though, the girl who was under the waves would have died.
I was lucky because it didn't take long to find her.
I was lucky because when I broke the surface there was someone there all ready to drag her out.
I was unlucky because like every other time there was an emergency going on I got dragged down. Maybe it was a sinkhole, maybe the currents turned out to be stronger than I could handle either way though, I was dragged underneath.
As I hit something, and lost my breath, I couldn't help but be thankful that at least both of us weren't going to die.
Still though, I wish I could live too.
I wanted to live and play with my kids again.
I wanted to live, and travel again.
I wanted to live and finish my stories.
My stories.
Ah, I wanna live.
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'I wanna see my family again… I hadn't visited them for a long while…'
It was pathetic just lying there waiting for the surf to get high and drag me back out, but in the end I didn't do that. I got up, and moved to the shade and listened, and then I moved and walked wandering this island hoping to whatever deity pulled me out that there was fresh water, because you can't do shit while dehydrated.
Can't be alive without water, maybe if it rains, but still.
The island was not very big, but it was rather picturesque a place some rich brat would keep as a place to hide away at. Small enough that no one would know it was there, but big enough that you could have a decent place to stay.
Then I could hear it.
My savior.
"Thank goodness water…"
I would say that it was in the middle of the island,a smallish waterfall leading into a reservoir of almost crystal clear water. It was lovely, and crisp tasting, it felt like a cold shower after a day at the beach washing away the salt of the ocean.
Dunking my head into the water was glorious and simple.
Finally, I could think.
"I'll have to wait until someone reaches me, clearly someone saw me get dragged down, and until they find my body washed ashore they'll probably send search parties… hopefully."
His lips pressed hard enough together that they were painted white with worry, but in the end he took in a deep breath. Shoulders relaxing, and he looked down, his eyes widening, and a gasp quickly escaping lips that weren't his.
The reflection in the water wasn't his.
This wasn't his.
Who is this?
This wasn't his body.
A voice though reached him.
It was like the tinkling sound of running water, but with the deep timbre of the waves crashing against cliffs. Imposing, but beautiful.
"Listen to me closely, listen."
From the crystal water, was a-
Well it was something, like a wave taking the shape of what they believed was human, but not quite understanding, mesmerizing and disconcerting.
It's hand, I think it was it's hand, reached for my fa- not my face, where did my face go- he flinched, but stayed still. The finger touched and it still felt splendid, cold and refreshing.
"Listen to me, I'm sorry… I'm sorry my child, you weren't meant to die on that day… You weren't meant to die, but you did, oh my child I will weep, but not now no, not now."
The- what was it, where am I, am I dead, did I die- voice spoke as if it were infinitely sad, cooing and curling around vowels.
"What do you- Did I die?"
Tears were welling in his eyes, he didn't even notice as they ran down his face, this water spirit, god, this being seemed to be crying with him, they wiped his tears absorbing them into their own being.
"Listen to me, my dear child. You have died, died too early, died too late, died at the wrong time, saved the wrong person. Taking the place and changing what had been written even as a mistake is punishable, is terrible, is unquestionably horrible."
Their voice stuttered, as if they needed to take breath, shuttering even though they did not breathe. They sounded sad and this, this he could deal with. He could focus on this on someone else, because even here, even now he was a kind person and helping a weeping being no matter the apparent power of them, always took precedent.
Focus.
"Woah, hey it's fine. Please don't weep for me, it's fine right… I died yes, but it wasn't your fault. It was my own, there was nothing anyone could have done, crying won't change anything."
They gave a tremulous smile, seeming more human, but still they looked as if they were weighed down and weary.
"You are always a kind child, listen to me. You should not have died, it is why you are here. This world which did not have you before, which will not have you after, will have you now. My compatriots, siblings as you would call them, are like barely tempered iron, still hot and red, ready to burn you."
His eyes widened, lips being bitten strong enough to bleed, "Why?!"
"Because they care very little, but for their own machinations, because they are callous, because they are ruled by ego and desire. They can be kind and lovely, but you my child, you were at the wrong place at the wrong time, saved the wrong person."
His breaths came in quickly, he was going to hyperventilate.
A slap echoed on the quiet island.
"Focus! Listen to me, I have, but little time now," reaching out again soothing the red print on his face, she reached for his chest and took hold of his heart and he felt as if all his confusion, sadness, anger, his memories of family and warmth, his old life, was covered by a layer of muffling water, "your old life will be a hindrance, you cannot weep for it, you will die again and this time I will not be able to save you."
It was as if everything that he was experiencing, his life was suppressed as if it were a distant, but fond memory. It felt cold. Felt lonely, but calm.
"Listen to me my child, son of the sea, and calm waters. You will live, and you will not die, dying now would damn your soul to torment and later complete obliteration from existence. You will live, and you will do all you wished to do, and when it is time to die, when it is safe, and the red hot steel of my brethren has cooled and they are more merciful. You can die."
From the depths of the reservoir came a spear, they set it down near the man, whose eye looked dull, but understanding, and they wept because this child was so beautiful and kind, their child so lovely…
"This is my last gift to you, a spear blessed and unbreakable name them wisely and listen to that which surrounds you it will undoubtedly make you strong and kinder."
They were gone, a soft touch to the cheek of the man before them.
So lovely, finally he was as beautiful as his kindness.
Their child.
Left behind was a man, who though could not feel the utter heartbreak of what he once felt, knew that he was sad.
A single tear escaped his eye.
Lifting a hand to wipe it, the finger held the tear delicately, "Ara, my heart aches..."
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Though they spoke of the callousness and selfishness of their brethren with disapproval, they were not much better.
He had lost his life, his memories and feelings unfairly dampened so that he could not even work through them, because even they would be painful, heart achingly so. They were his feelings, his emotions and no one had the right to take that from him, not even this being powerful enough to ignore death and grant life and body.
His body was gone, he looked different, he felt different, he was being dramatic, then again no one could lightly say that they had died and were liked enough by what he could only suppose was some kind of god or high spirit. He should be thankful.
He felt alone.
Either way though, all he could do now was stay alive, and hopefully leave this island, 'A different world… what kind of place have I landed in?'
Picking up the spear the only thing left to him, he went to work.
'Look at me now. I knew those survivalist classes would come in handy, doesn't matter if I only went in order to hopelessly pine after the instructor… yeah.'
6 Months Later
The world of One Piece is wild.
Sea kings, corrupt marines, wild weather, the flora and fauna, pirates.
Things like this were a surprise for our isolated protagonist, when he had started out on this little island he was lucky enough to be picked up by a merchant ship only a couple of months after being abandoned there. He was stick thin, but lucky, it seemed that luck was one of those things left by them.
Either way he was lucky that trading season had begun again.
Lucky that the captain had decided to take a different route.
Lucky.
He had always hated luck, but he was thankful.
When he was left at the next dock he thanked the captain with tears in his eyes, the man waved it off with a slight grin and continued on with his day a red blush coloring his cheeks as the boy he had saved walked off.
"Ah little birdie is leaving us, he was a pretty thing wasn't he captain, told good stories too! Wish he could've stayed!"
The man had simply grumbled at his first mate, and continued smoking his pipe. He was a rather cool looking man with a stern face and a missing eye, a gnarly scar crawling all along the left of his face.
"Too pretty to stay with anyone, and he has no interest in trade. He would have gotten bored, birds like that would rather peck their own eyes out than be trapped."
The first mate gave a sly grin, "Eeeeh~, captain sure is poetic and sad about the pretty bird leaving eh~. Don't worry we'll leave you alone to mourn- ack!"
The cool man gave the slight looking first mate a punch to the head, a tick mark on his forehead.
"Shut up! You shitty bastard!"
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Back to our protagonist.
As he walked through the town people stopped to look at the man, the woman blushed and stared before quickly averting their eyes, and even men couldn't help, but follow the man's form as he made his way to the tavern.
His feet were covered in thin slippers, but walked through the room unafraid of broken glass or sticky unknown substances.
"Excuse me-"
A man interrupted the boy's voice, "Hey Molly gimme three of Glommers finest and two Pints yeah!"
A nervous girl gave the man a weak smile though it seemed less that she was intimidated, and more that it was just her personality.
"O-okay just a moment!"
"Molly four more pints!"
"Molly six shots yeah!"
The girl seemed as if she was about to pass out from the overload of orders, when like a bell ringing, the sound of glasses being set down was heard.
"Here you go sir, six shots, you said you wanted three Glommers and two pints yes?"
"Y-yeah!"
The boy gave a kind smile and the man seemed to have steam coming from his ears as he gave the boy a wandering look, before being startled out of it by the boy asking him to lead to his table.
Looking back he gave the harried woman a calming smile that made even her relax, "Mind taking care of those four pints boss lady?"
It was a teasing, but kind tone that made her immediately jump into motion an embarrassed pink covering her freckled cheeks.
Still she gave a small thankful smile, "Aye!"
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Breathing a sigh of relief Molly couldn't help, but be thankful that the day was over.
As she sat behind the bar, feet sore and still she had to clean the bar, wash the dishes, re-order, re-stock…
It was too much work for one person.
It was at times like this that she missed her mother the most.
"Hey there, Miss Molly?"
The boy peeked behind the counter at the woman sitting on the ground, knees up to her chest and sitting on what had to be spilled ale of some kind. The woman looked up quickly, curly hair bouncing at the quick neck cracking motion.
"Y-YES!"
He jumped a bit at the woman's loud yell, but gave a slightly confused and embarrassed smile, Molly gave a smile back small and trembling. Rubbing the back of his head the boy spoke again.
"Miss Molly I finished cleaning the tables and floors, and well I was wondering if I-"
"O-OH! You didn't have to do that, I mean- you don't even work- I mean I'm thankful! But, like- it's my responsibility, it's never usually this busy, but it's trading season and Tululu is an important stop to the trade here in the North Blue! What I mean is- Thank You, I'm so sorry for wasting time talking so much, Thank you very much!"
He gave placating hand motions to the rapidly bowing woman, repeating that it was his choice and that it was fine.
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"So I was wondering, Miss Molly, why you were working alone here. The place isn't terribly big, but it's still a lot to handle by one's self?"
He gave a small thank you at the tea placed in front of him, they had both migrated to the living quarters above. Molly sat down heavily in front of him, she played with her hands twisting them into painful looking shapes, before a warm darkly tan hand was placed on top of hers.
"Hey are you alright Miss Molly?"
He gave such an earnest look that all she could do was take in a surprised breath, before letting out a dry sob.
"I-I'm not alright…"
Her previous loud and nervous stutters were a sharp contrast to the current whisper, the boy misplaced as he was and unknowing of the girl's plight sat and held the girl as she cried.
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"Hmm… so that's the story?"
"Yeah…"
"Your mother is kind of flighty isn't she."
"Yeah…"
"She really left you in charge of the bar right after you turned 16 too, man… that's kind of a shit move. What an irritating woman."
He took a sip of tea as the girl seemed glum at the boy's accurate if not angering assessment of her mother. He stirred the remaining tea in his cup and held up a hand stopping Molly from getting up for more.
"It seems though that I am in luck, if you would have me I need work and have some experience working in a bar. If you'll have me I wouldn't mind working here for the time being at least until you can find a rhythm, and a more permanent workforce-"
The boy was tackled by the woman, stumbling a bit as he held the bawling woman patting her back as she thanked him and accepted the boy's proposal. Smiling in achievement of getting his first job in One Piece world, he asked if he could stay here for the night.
The girl nodded a bit surprised, but quickly and easily let the man stay in her old room.
"You see before I got here I was abandoned on a deserted island and was recently picked up by a rather kind merchant named Sinbad. He gave me a bit of money to at least last me long enough to stay at an inn, but well this is about it, I don't have much of my own- oh except."
The boy rushed out of the room making a wait motion with his hand as he ran out.
Coming back up the stairs Molly couldn't help but realize that his steps were so light they barely made a sound. The boy was carrying a long pole maybe, she couldn't tell it was wrapped up but it was long, taller than him and the boy was rather tall.
"This was a gift from the people who abandoned me on the island. Do you mind if I keep it here?"
Blinking in surprise, "O-of course! But, do you really want to keep something given to you by the people who marooned you on that island?"
He gave a slight shrug and a kind smile, "It's fine, I'm alive, no need to get too angry about something that couldn't be helped."
Giving an unsure look, she nodded, "Right here, you can stay here for as long as you like- Oh- OH! I DIDN'T EVEN ASK YOU YOUR NAME!"
Wincing at the girl's shrill voice, he calmed her again by unclasping her hands from her hair, "It's fine. This one is on me. I never introduced myself, hello there I'm Lo'lo, Sinbad of the Mother Pearl named me after he found me. I couldn't remember my name, and he apparently has a bad naming sense."
Giving a bow, Molly matched it, "Nice to meet you L-lo'lo, I'm Molly Talalak current owner and boss of Terra Tavern, please to make your acquaintance!"
Thus the journey has begun.
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Lo'lo current body's age: 17
4 Years before Canon
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Hello this is your author speaking, I'd like to say thank you for reading this story especially if you're reading this since it means you finished the entire thing.
*party popper explodes in my face causing world war three ME V. PP*
Congratulations and thank you very much for reading, I got the idea of writing this after I designed a really pretty looking guy and wanted to use him in a story, and also I just started reading One Piece from the beginning again I have a lot of time on my hands what with the world burning around us might as well make something right. I will be posting character designs for name characters on my deviantart. Link should be in my bio.
Thank you again, comments, and reviews are much welcomed.