No regrets by BibliophileAnya
Charlotte Praline and Prim were born as twins not triplets. Though really who knew Big Mom had a gluten free phase? Being named after Pearl millet was something I never imagined would ever happen to me. At least it's not as atrocious as my other siblings names. I am Charlotte Pearl this is the log of my adventures. Being a different species is not as easy as Ariel makes it out to be though in my case it's the reverse situation. And I sure as hell don't need to be a D to make changes. The ripples that form in the sea reach far and wide; after all the sea is vast. What do you mean it's a moot point since I married a D?!
Prologue
The first gulp of icy lake water felt like the breath of life. - J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)
I died.
How?
I drowned. And no matter what I won't elaborate the whys and hows . It was horrible enough as it was.
I never thought I would speak of dying in the context of was. Because you know, I would have been already dead so how would I even speak in any sort of tense. I wouldn't , would I?
In my last life I was well read . I did die in my late twenties after all. So I did know a lot about different religious lore. And yes, reincarnation was one of them. My thoughts regarding the phenomena were that it must have been nice, in a philosophical point of view. Wistful but I felt no loss nonetheless.
Death is traumatic.
My birth I think even more so.
I was actually stuck in a sort of mindless haze. The few bouts of special senses were touch, something big curled around me and something grasping me and feelings, sensations.
When I was being born all I felt was that I was choking ; like I was drowning all over again, dying gasping and then…
Apparently I nearly died. Sometimes I wonder if it would have been better. But then I feel terrified thinking of being born in an unknown world. At least I got a semblance of order in my chaotic new life, knowing what I did about what was assumed as a fictional world.
I was born as Charlotte Pearl.
Why Pearl? Apparently Big Mom thought of going gluten free by eating substances made by Pearl millet right after my birth as the youngest of triplets; my elders being Praline and Prim. That's not including the legit tons of siblings that were before me and were coming after me.
What did you think? I was spared by the unholy naming sense of Charlotte Linlin? Hardy har.
And no that gluten free phase didn't even last for a week, before her infamous hunger pangs hit. That's why a lot of my elder siblings are irritated by me. Excluding Kata Nii and Brûlée nee, they are just that amazing. Later on I think I won over quite a few of them though.
What? I was like sticky mochi? Kata nii that is a really a bad analogy. I am sweet like it?! What! No, I am not blushing, stop it Ace!
I was the 22nd daughter and 48th child of The Yonko Big Mom. I bumped up all my upcoming siblings by one by my unprecedented birth.
I mean Charlotte Prim, a half human and half octopus mermaid and Charlotte Praline a half human and half hammerhead shark mermaid were supposed to be twins and the 20th and 21st daughters respectively.
How the genetics work in this world I will never understand but I will get to the root of it! And yes I do support Big Moms dream of all species living equally. The rest of her thoughts, are you kidding me? Or were you as psychotic as her in your last life? If so then you should have definitely been in the prison or at least the asylum.
You didn't think I was born a normal human though, did you? I was born as the half human (was Mama even considered even human?) and half red lionfish mermaid, youngest of the triplets of the set where Big Mom had by a fishman.
Or was it merfolk? And yes those are two different species which propagate and intermix in ways I don't know, but I will find out, rest assured.
Being an entirely different species is weird as fuck. Pardon my language but I won't deny. We will be recounting all the incidences of it after all. Additionally I was gorgeous, not to toot my own horn but it was the truth. But then again disregarding the varied palette so were both of my sisters. And half of my siblings. The rest weren't pretty in the conventional sense but had unique enough features.
We are getting sidetracked. And no that's not my sibling complex talking Ace, you are the last person I want to hear it from!
Have you ever seen a lionfish? If not, Google it. How lucky are you to have the convenience called Google.
I really need to stop lamenting...
My entire colour theme if you can call it that was red and gold and all the shades in between. And by all I mean as much as you can imagine or human eye can see. Or inhuman, I am not a speciest.
I had pale skin, red hair, caramel eyes and have you ever seen a lionfish? Red one? My tail was completely covered with different shades of red, reddish orange, caramel, gold. You can see how my colour palette varied along with it my fins and tail…
Trust me it took a long while to get comfortable enough to gush. It didn't help that it took 15 years of my life to develop legs.
If you recall Granny Kokoro said she could turn into human after 30. Me being a half breed reduced the time in half, though the same couldn't be said about Praline and Prim.
And if you are going to ask, how a lionfish? I will ask you back how hammerhead shark and octopus.
Maybe it has something to do with will, willpower is a real power in this world. Maybe I was afraid enough to get an offence mechanism?
What am I talking about? Do you know what else are Red Lionfish known for?
The red ones are especially venomous. Their spines being a focal point. Imagine suddenly growing poisonous spines when your danger reflex kicks in. Thank goodness that I was immune, same couldn't be said about my poor siblings though.
I know no number of apologies would reduce the pain you had to suffer Brulee nee, Praline, Prim. And I know you grumbled about it to Brulee nee, Kata nii. Your tough guy attitude doesn't work on me. Melodramatic nutcases the lot of them. But well it comes in the territory of being born as a Charlotte.
Huh? I am the same? Ace dear if I wasn't the same you wouldn't have been standing beside me would you, now? Luffy stop laughing at your older brother. Sabo, Marco you too! Kata nii, Law don't think I didn't see your smirks. Brats the lot of them.
But honestly Marineford was the scariest incident in my life, be it this or my last. The desperation, the sheer panic, the chaos; I was never more close to a breakdown than then. But then again I had learned to compartmentalise. Funnily enough I was no good at it last time; here I didn't have any other option.
Considering my hidden goal of a coup d'état against Big Mom, I had plenty of guts. I had made an impact for sure but it wasn't until the hurricane Luffy hit Totto land the cracks were vividly visible.
Hancock love isn't a hurricane, Luffy is. Love is a - okay its a hurricane too. Damn D's.
Originally I had planned on staying far away from the mess, getting strong enough to protect myself and then done. Three things happened.
First the most important I got attached. Stupidly attached to my siblings, well a few of them and remember by a few I mean in accordance to the ratio of the number of kids Charlotte Linlin has. What about her? Who the hell cares about that old hag?
Second I was not one to watch from the side-lines. I wasn't ever that sort of person. I was a quintessential Slytherin make no mistake, but the one that plots and plans and well acts. Subtlety is thy name though. I would find out as soon as a D comes in all my subtle schemes fall like a stack of dominos.
Third blame it on bloody Gol D. Roger. No I am not a secret World Government supporter. That bloody man bamboozled into my life, and fanned my rebellious flames and soon went and offed himself.
Then came in Ace. And that was the end of it. I don't need any more words. Though he will grumble about coming after his biological father.
I said biological father Ace, stop interrupting me.
I assure you that's not how this log goes. It's merely an introductory portion I wrote ages after our adventures ended. Who would have thought I would live that long? I surely didn't. Well our adventures didn't really ever end, but worst of the storms that the world faced were over.
Shyarly stop pouting over the ripples my birth caused. What do you mean I caused? I told you I tried to stay away! Hah? I didn't need to be a D to cause chaos? Well I married one so that point is moot. Ace I can see that stupid grin on your face.
So where were we? Yeah that's not how this Log goes... It is a log recording all my adventures in this world with added tidbits from my loved ones later on. In my old world it would have made a pretty darn amazing novel, if I do say so myself. If only there weren't the copyright issues...
Don't worry there wouldn't be anymore annoying commentary unless you want to read the section I call 'That's enough from the Peanut Gallery'. And yes there was a humongous trademark and copyright on each side of the term. Make note. Eh if it was trademarked already in my old world, it sure as hell isn't in this new one!
The last note I want to make is-
I can proudly say now, I lived with no regrets. I had a crazy, fascinating and unsettling second life, but this time I made sure to live it to the fullest! Bring about the change you wish for. Change is you!
-Portgas D. Pearl.
Authors Note:
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece or the link or image of the fishtail... Err mermaid tail?(Remove the spaces please)
Link mermaid tail: youtu. be/ IdAsSJkTj6E
Sorry for not updating my other works. But I am currently completely obsessed by One Piece; again. Happy Birthday to Monkey D. Luffy the future King of Pirates.
We are still stuck in lockdown but everyone please follow the rules and stay safe! I tried to get some writing done but the atmosphere is making me feel strangely listless, so I am taking solace in fictional worlds again.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones, reach out and help whoever you can. Stay healthy and that means your mental health is important too!
-Anya