Family
"It can't be." Cade rubbed her eyes and looked again. Sure enough her brother was standing right there. He was taller, three heads taller than she was, with stout body though not as big as their dad's. "Kale?"
"Ah, so you two know each other?"
Cade pulled her eyes to a man standing beside her brother. He wore a smirk and a suit. She lifted her fists. "Are you part of CP9?"
He chuckled. "You could say that. I am Rice. And you already know Kale, apparently."
"What are you doing with my brother?!"
"Nothing. He's here of his own free will."
"He is not!" Cade looked at her brother. "Come on, Kale. Let's get out of here."
Kale didn't move.
"Kale?" Cade took a step close. Her hand shot to her mouth at the lifeless look in his eyes. "What happened to you?"
Rice chuckled. "Nothing. He's just a member of the navy now. And he's a very good soldier. We're here on a special mission. If Kale does good on this assignment he'll officially become a member of CP9. Fishmen are amazing. They have such sturdy bodies. Perfect for the dangerous missions of CP9."
Cade growled and rushed forward. How dare they use her brother as a weapon?! She pulled back her fist, ready to plant it in Rice's face. But her brother stepped in the way and blocked her punch with his own. Pain vibrated through her hand and up her arm. Dang! That hurt! How strong has he gotten? That didn't feel like a full powered punch. "Kale, snap out of it! It's me! Cade! Cascade!"
"Kill her," Rice said.
Kale grabbed her wrist. Spinning her around he tossed her into the building.
Air rushed from Cade's lungs. Her vision blurred but she still saw her brother charging at her. She leapt out of the way before he could punch her again. His fist collided with the wall. Cracks snaked up several feet up the wall a pieces fell to the ground.
Crap! This isn't good. I can't fight him. What did they do? He's totally out of it. Cade continued to leap and dodge her brother's attacks. Swirling her water she slammed it into him. Kale lifted his arm, splitting the water twister into two as it flowed past him. And he's very strong. I'm not sure I can win against him, not that I want to fight him in the first place. I can't. Though he's not using his water attacks. I wonder why. "Kale, you have to snap out of it! It's me! Your sister! Don't you remember me?"
Kale paused, a small flick of light appeared in his eyes.
So he is still there. Cade looked around. I have to get him to remember. Her eyes landed on the ocean. That has to help. She dashed for it and dove in. Glancing behind her she found her brother following. "Kale, it's okay. You don't have to fight. I know you remember me."
Kale swung a fist but it was slower than before.
Cade reached into her pouch and pulled out her mother's necklace and opened it. "Look. It's us. We were with Mom. Remember Mom? She did everything she could to protect us. I'm sorry I couldn't save you back then. But I never stopped trying to get you back. I've been sailing the seas in hopes of finding you."
Tears swelled in Kale's eyes.
"You do remember, don't you?" Cade swam close.
Kale's eyes dropped to the necklace. "I... I remember. My sister. Cascade."
"That's right." Cade placed the necklace around his neck. "Remember. I'm here now. You're going to be okay."
"No." Kale gripped the shell. "Can't. Slave. Fight."
"No. No, you're not a slave. I'll free you. You-" Cade eyes landed on burn marks on his neck. Rage filled her. "I see. They tortured you into submission, didn't they?"
Kale nodded. "Have to fight. Have to kill you."
"Blast them!" Cade turned towards the surface. She shot up to the surface. Launching into the air she brought her fist down on Rice's face. His face boned shattered under her attack. Teeth and blood flew from his mouth. "Don't ever touch my brother again! You pathetic navy scum!"
Rice crumbled to the ground.
Kale crawled back on the island.
"Morons." Cade grabbed his wrist. "Come on. We have to meet up with my crew."
"Your crew?" Kale asked.
"It's a long story. We can talk after we get out of here."
"I can't. They wont let me."
"They won't have a choice," Cade said, voice filled with determination. "I'll slaughter each and everyone who tries to stop me."
...
By the time Cade and Kale reached the bridge leading to the gates of justice most of her crew had already arrived. They were waiting for Luffy to defeat Lucci on a ship they had stolen from the navy and shocked that Cade had found her brother. Unable to sit still Cade went to the bridge to watch Luffy's fight.
"Who is that guy fighting Lucci?" Kale asked.
"It's Luffy, my adopted brother."
"Brother?"
Cade nodded. "He was helping me look for you."
Several navy battle ships surrounded them. The marines charged into battle. The pirates charged back, determined not to lose their friend again.
Cade batted away several marines but paused upon hearing Usopp calling out for Luffy and challenging Lucci to fight. "Shut up, Usopp! Are you crazy?!"
Marines converged on Cade again. She kicked and punched with her water until Luffy screamed out.
"Robin!" Luffy called. "We're going back to the sea together!"
"He did it!" Usopp said. "He actually defeated Rob Lucci!"
"Yeah." Cade nodded. Her smile faded when she noticed Luffy couldn't move. She rushed over to him with Kale close behind and knelt beside Luffy. She opened her mouth to ask him if he was okay but paused when someone called for them. "What was that?"
"You heard it too?" Luffy asked.
"I didn't hear anything," Kale said.
"Jump into the ocean!" Usopp screamed.
Cade grabbed Luffy and jumped. She guided them down to the ship and noticed no one was on the ship but them. "That's odd."
The crew got on. Chopper cried about missing the Merry and how much he loved the ship.
"Who sailed Merry here?" Nami asked.
"Never mind that for now! Let's get out of here!" Cade said as she pushed the ship along side the navy vessels. The crew rushed around the ship, blocking and shooting back cannons that were fired at them.
Suddenly the waters began to swirl. The massive gates closed. The navy ships rammed into each other.
"Talk about luck," Usopp said.
"Not so much," Sanji said. "I closed the gates for us. Now let's get away from here. Cade, full speed ahead!"
"You got it!"
The bombs and gun fire silenced as they sailed farther and farther away from the burning island.
Cade exhaled and walked over to Kale. "You okay?"
"They're going to kill me for desertion," Kale said.
"No, they won't. They'll never touch you again," Cade said.
"So you finally found your brother." Sanji walked over.
"Yeah. Apparently he ended up with the navy. They were forcing him to be a weapon for them," Cade said then introduced her crewmates to her brother. "By the way, why didn't you use your water manipulations against me?"
"I never told anyone about that ability," Kale said.
"Smart move," Robin said.
Suddenly a large ship of Galley La sailed towards them.
The deck to Merry's figure head snapped.
"Ice Pops! You've got to help Merry! She's in trouble!" Luffy got on his hands and knees. "She's our friend that has traveled with us all this time! And she saved us now!"
"I've done all I can for her. It's time to let her rest," Iceberg said. "It's a miracle that this ship has come this far. I've been a shipwright for many years yet I've never seen such an amazing ship. It lived a very admirable life."
"I understand," Luffy said.
Standing in small boats the crew faced Merry. Cade guided Luffy over to Merry.
"Merry, the bottom of the sea is dark and lonely," Luffy said holding a torch. "We'll see you off here. Maybe it's for the best that Usopp isn't here. There's no way he can endure this. Thank you for carrying us all this time, Merry."
Snow fell as the ship burned.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to carry you just a little bit farther. I'm sorry I wanted to go on more adventures with you." Merry's voice entered the crew's minds.
"We're the ones who have to apologize, Merry! I'm not good at navigating, and I crashed you onto an iceberg. I even ripped the sail sometimes. Zoro and Sanji are idiots, so they broke many things, too! Usopp always tried to fix you, but he wasn't any good. We're sorry!"
"But I was happy. Thank you for taking good care of me until now. I was really, really happy."
Cade adverted her eyes from Merry. Sadness had clouded her chest though she thought it stupid. It was silly to get emotional over a ship. Yet it was happening. Tears swelled in her eyes. She brushed them away before they could fall.
...
Cade watched as her brother continued to cower in the corner of the room like a child. Wherever she went he followed, even with the large party Luffy had thrown. She could tell he was still fighting himself internally. And it didn't help that their grandpa appeared. Kale tried to leave with Garp, apologizing multiple times for disobeying and leaving the navy. But Cade wouldn't let him. And when she explained to Garp who Kale was, the older man agreed for him to stay with his sister.
Cade sighed. It was going to be a long road to get Kale to be his own person again. She had no idea how to help him. All she could do was stay close and make sure he didn't try and take off on her.
"Is he going to be okay?" Nami asked.
"I don't know." Cade sighed. "I have no idea how to deal with this."
"Perhaps someone on Fishman Island will," Robin said.
Cade looked at the woman.
"There are several fishmen who have deal with similar situations like Kale has. They might be able to council him," Robin said.
"And how am I going to find someone like that?"
"We'll be heading to Fishman Island at some point in time," Robin said.
"Really?"
Robin nodded. "It's the way we have to go to get into the New World."
"That place Coby mentioned," Cade mumbled. "I hope they can help."
"Try not to worry," Chopper said. "We'll do all we can to help him adjust to being free."
"Thanks guys." Cade smiled. Her eyes fell onto Kale. He kept staring at the picture inside the necklace that remained around his neck. "For now it seems our mother's necklace is keeping him calm."
"He'll be fine." Luffy grinned.
"It's not that easy, Luffy," Cade said. "Kale's been through some tough brainwashing and control."
"It's going to be a long road of healing for him," Sanji said.
"Leave him alone for now," Zoro said.
"I know all that. But I know he'll be fine," Luffy insisted.
"And how do you know that?" Cade lifted an eyebrow.
"Because you're his sister." Luffy's grin brightened. "If anyone can get him through this it's you. Grandpa even said that."
Cade exhaled. She wasn't so sure. But she was willing to do anything for Kale.
"And we're here with you." Sanji smiled. "No one's going to separate you two again."
Cade looked at each member of her crew then back to her brother. Kale was looking at them, watching. She smiled. Yeah. We're his best chance. But maybe it would be best if when we reach Fishman Island to have Kale stay there instead of sail with us.
