Disclaimer: This story served the purpose of pure non-profit entertainment. One Piece belongs to Eichiiro Oda and MGE belonged to Kenkou Cross. Enjoy!
Chapter 1: Welcome to the Pirate World!
...
Kingdom of Lescatie.
...
"Elt~! Elt~! Look!"
The young boy Elt heard a girl calling out for her, across the fields of flowers. A girl with short blue hair ran over to him, raising her garland as she expressed her proud smile.
"I did it!" The girl cheered with joy. "Haha! Do you think it's beautiful?"
"Oh? That looks great, Mary!" Elt smiled back with a thumbs up as he called out her nickname. "You're getting quite good at this!"
Mary, otherwise known as Wilmarina, felt overjoyed as a red blush expanded through her cheeks. The young girl thought she had accomplished in her life after making a garland. Mistakes after mistakes, over and over. She learned a small secret from Elt to make a perfect garland with the right clovers which can be found across the garden of her family's manor. When the sun had set over the horizon, the two children heard the servants of the manor calling over them.
Elt spots his father and mother waiting for them.
"Mom! Dad! We're coming!" Elt called back and then turn around to Wilmarina. "Come Mary! Looks like dinner is waiting."
Wilmarina felt her heart fall while making a pained expression. Attending dinner would mean hearing senseless talks about her father, the Matriarch of the Noscrim Family, the Priest of Lescatie, who is currently one of the most powerful nobles all across the kingdom. She even heard that not even the king himself would go up against his decision to turn Lescatie into a bulwark to fend off monsters and boost the military efforts which give the rise of Heroes to take duty to protect the nation and its citizens.
For Wilmarina, she didn't heed mind and all she cared for in her world was the boy she deeply admired.
"Well... looks like father will boast again." Wilmarina sighed while looking down, casting a gloomy expression. "He always talks about Heroes and all... but isn't there something that will make me happy? I'm also worried as well..."
"... What are you worried about, Mary?" Elt raised a question until realisation struck him. He too was aware of the nasty rumours. "Oh... you mean that. D-Don't worry Mary! P-Perhaps Master Noscrim has his reasons."
Wilmarina couldn't believe he just tell her as if nothing would happen. But deep within her, she was very well aware of her father will one day kick Elt and his family away from the manor. Rumours had circulated around her family and the servants that Elt's father had been committing adultery with her mother. Other states his family were embezzled with their funds.
But nevertheless, she knew his father wasn't a bad person. Elt respected his parents greatly more than her, and she wished to have a family like his. Unfortunately, her father wouldn't heed this and preferred to live a lavish lifestyle while looking upon others, even distinguished noble families, like bumbling commoners. There was also one rumour someone talked out that one day, she will end up with Elt to raise the ranks.
And hearing the words of her father, he told that it was the last straw.
Wilmarina couldn't stop the pain aching within her heart. She doesn't want Elt to separate from her family and he was the only friend with whom they grew up together. While walking out of the garden, Elt noticed Wilmarina was tearing up as if something bad has happened to her.
"Mary? Are you alright?"
"No... *sniff* I'm fine." Wilmarina wipes her tears away. "I-... I don't want to see you go away from us..."
"... Here." Elt then pulls out a handkerchief. "It'll wipe away."
"Huh?... Th-thanks." Wilmarina blushed while looking away from him. "You are... aware of this, right?"
"... Yeah, but don't worry. We'll endure it!" The young girl raised her brow in surprise to hear his confidence. "Someday, we'll meet each other again! That's a promise!"
"... A promise?" Wilmarina widened her eyes. "A promise... I see, then take this."
Wilmarina then pulls out her handkerchief from her pocket and gave it over to Elt. Unlike Elt's handkerchief, which was plain and white. Her handkerchief was of elegance with frills.
"We'll make an exchange!" Wilmarina said. "Until the day, we'll see each other again!"
"... Right!" Elt smiled as he nods, accepting her offer. "We'll see each other again, Mary."
...
The next day, Wilmarina stood by her parent's side. Watching Elt and his family walking out from the gates of the manor. His parents had grim looks on their faces, not knowing what awaits them, a life outside of the Noscrim manor. Filled with nothing but poverty and despair.
"Like rats they are... It's good to see them gone." Wilmarina raised her brow while looking up at her father in concern and fear. "Without them, those nonsensical rumours are the least of my problems."
His words hurt his daughter even more. Wilmarina swore she will never forget the promise they'd made. As soon as her new life in the manor shifted, things changed when the church pointed out her potential to become a new Hero of Lescatie.
From that day when her status of being a new hero became public. Soon, her chance to reunite with Elt became dim.
'I wished one day... I would see you again. But duty for the Chief God has bounded unto me.'
...
... Lescatie, 10 years later...
...
"What's this?" Wilmarina curiously picked up a strange device from the table. "Mimil, can you explain what this is?"
"Well, miners from the North-West Region found it by accident and hand it over to us after an investigation by the Knights of the Ice Flower." The young prodigy explained while summoning her magic hologram and scanning the statistics of the device. "It's of unknown. According to my research, that thing has been there for at least over a thousand years old."
"Huh, then this thing predates the current Demon Lord." Wilmarina raised her chin in curiosity while inspecting the strange cube with weird symbols etched into it and feeling the strange energy emitting from within. "I wonder what this device held some unknown power? Perhaps it posed as a secret weapon to defeat the monsters?"
"I'm not so sure. Energy readings state this thing has unknown powers that are stored within." Mimil explained while giving out a tiring sigh. "It doesn't feel like mana... and it gives me the creeps if it turns out to be otherworldly. I'd better not touch it."
"Perhaps I can look into the library outside of Salvarision to see if there are any records about this thing." Wilmarina then placed the cube within her bag and began leaving the research room. "I'll come back tomorrow to see whatever this thing has!"
"W-Wait! You can't just simply grab it and walk away!" Mimil yelled in shock while calling over to the Hero, yet she already left the research room. "H-Hey! Be careful with that thing!"
...
"Hah~!... The same day as usual..." A soldier groaned with a tiring expression. "Guard duty must've been tiring at least."
Elt grabbed his helmet and pushed it upwards to wipe off his sweat from the sun's heat while standing under broad daylight. The market plaza around Noscrim Boulevard is filled with bustling activities where merchants come in and trade goods while adventurers and travellers searched for nearby taverns to satiate their thirst after their long days of travel.
"I wonder if Sasha is okay..." Elt muttered while feeling worried for the former Hero who's been taking care of the children within her orphanage. "She must've been tired from hard work. I should've told her to take some rest."
While patrolling the plaza, Elt felt stressed while traversing through the crowd until one person bumped into him, which caused Elt to fall back into his rear and groaned in pain.
"Ow~! Watch it!" Elt grits his teeth while standing up, groaning in pain. "You know this place is crowded-...!?"
As if it was just yesterday. Elt couldn't believe the second time he just met someone unusual. Wilmarina Noscrim, the Chosen Hero of Lescatie. It has been a couple of days since he had met her during his graduation from military training, just that she's giving him a medal instead of being happy to meet each other again. He became a full-time soldier and Elt has a couple of weeks left after the higher-ups approved him to join the Order of the Holy Knights in order to meet his childhood friend once more.
But he didn't know he would meet her again at this point.
"Ah-AH! S-Sorry for being rude!" Elt apologised quickly and helped Wilmarina to stand on her feet. "I-I didn't know you were here!"
"Th-That's fine!" Wilmarina accepted his apology while dusting off her skirts. "I apologise for being brash, I'm in a hurry-... Elt?"
"Uh... hey! It's been a long time!" Elt greeted her with a nervous smile. "So... uh, how're you doing lately?"
"I'm fine... I guess." Wilmarina responded while sharing the same expression as his with a blush on her cheeks. "I didn't expect to bump into you. Then again, it's nice that we have a reunion, Elt... perhaps we'll meet each other for some time."
"You don't want to have some small talks after we've been separated for so long?" Elt asked and Wilmarina tilts her head sideways. "I see. I guess your duty as a hero must've been always your chief priority."
"Indeed. We have a lot of things to do in our duty to protect this kingdom from monsters." Wilmarina explained and gave out a sad sigh. "Unfortunately, a hero with noble blood such as I, shouldn't be slacking around like this. I'm sorry."
Elt understood her reasons as Wilmarina began walking away until he noticed a cubed object slipped off from her bag and fell into the ground. The soldier came to pick it up, yet little did he know the cube emitted particles of energy and glowed. Wilmarina sensed something was wrong and spun around to see Elt picking up the mysterious cube.
"Uh, hey! You drop this! But... this thing's glowing."
"Elt! Drop that! It's dangerous!"
Elt reeled back in shock from her warning and decides to drop it, but it was too late. The cube then shines in a blue flash for a moment, which forced the nearby civilians in the surrounding area to cover their eyes or be dazed by the shining light. Once it died down, the last signs of the soldier and the Hero of Lescatie, vanished from the face of Lescatie.
...
... Unknown...
...
"Ugh...! Wh-what happened?"
Elt felt his head shaking once he comes into his senses after waking up from that flash. To his confusion, once he scanned his surroundings, he finds himself under the shadows of trees and grass everywhere. To his shock, he remembers touching the strange object that turns out to be a magical artefact that would cause danger if it weren't for his reckless curiosity.
"Damnit! Where am I!?" Elt looked around as he firmly gripped the handle of his sword. 'Of all places... why would she bring something that would pose a danger to anyone!?'
"Hello!? Is there anyone!?" Elt called out as he traversed the forest. "Mary!? Are you here!?"
While calling out for someone, Elt realised one thing that came into mind. He shouldn't have recklessly called out for someone in unknown territory. Likewise, if his instructor, like Merse, would be here, she would've smacked his head for not being careful.
"Right... this isn't Lescatie, but a different place." He muttered. "I need to find my way out... but...!?"
Once he turned his face around, he caught something unusual. It is a large silhouette coming his way. Upon looking closer, he spots red eyes flashing under the shadows, which made him gulp and his skin crawled. The gigantic creature rushed forth and Elt's only instinct was to roll away before the monster would've crushed him into a bloody paste.
"W-Wh-What was that!?" Elt looks up to see the creature was enormous. It has thicker skin with shades of pink and its head resembles that of a hippopotamus with a rhino horn. "Oh... this doesn't look good."
The young soldier felt his feet shaking and began to run away. The Hippo Rhino caught his attention and raised its horn, pointing towards Elt for intruding on its territory and charged forth.
"OH CRAP! HEELP!" Elt cried out for help in vain until the monstrous giant caught up to him. "IS SOMEBODY HERE?!"
Once the Hippo Rhino reached the intruder, a flash of ice blocked its view and a huge gash of blood sprung into the air. Elt felt his rear hit the ground and looks up to see the Hero of Lescatie drawing her sword. After seconds passed, the giant creature fell to its death.
"Are you alright?" Elt then looks up to Wilmarina. "Thank goodness I saved you in a nick of time."
"M-Mary, where are we!?" The young soldier stuttered as he quickly stood up back to his feet. "What is this place?"
"Good question... that's what I want to know," Wilmarina said as she crossed her arms and gave out a tiring sigh. "I've been scouting this entire area for a while... until I heard your voice."
"Are we in the Forests of Lescatie?" Elt questioned while looking around in wonder and curiously staring at some palm trees. "The trees here are... different."
Wilmarina tilts her head sidewards. "No, but... something like that didn't exist somewhere in the countryside."
Elt looked back to the dead Hippo Rhino and then back to the Heroine. "You mean... we're in a different place?"
"If your assumption is correct... this means we're in a foreign place," Wilmarina said in a grim tone. "Therefore... the magic from that device must've had sent us somewhere else, probably far away from Lescatie."
"N-No way! Then that means we're trapped here with monsters like that!?" Elt spoke dreadfully while pointing at the dead corpse of the Hippo Rhino. "That... can't be."
"... If you want to survive, then stick with me," Wilmarina said while spotting several enormous creatures roaming around the forests. "The more we stay here, the chances we get the risk of being overrun by monsters."
"Oh... got it!" Elt nods while bringing up a salute. "Then count me in! With you here around, we'll definitely survive! You're a hero, right?"
Wilmarina felt flattered by his words and turned her gaze away from him as her cheeks blushed to see him smile.
"W-Well... I don't mind." Wilmarina hid her smile. "Let's find some help to get out of this place."
...
"A few days passed while exploring these uncharted lands... as soon we got on the higher ground to get a better view, we found ourselves stranded on an island in the midst of an unknown ocean."
"N-No way..." Wilmarina dropped her jaws in pure shock once they reached on top of the mountain. As she observed the surrounding lands from an eagle's view. They found themselves on an island surrounded by oceans. "We're trapped..."
For Elt, this will mean no hope for them to return home. "Darn... then how will we get back home...?"
"Although I and Elt can build a raft... we do not know where we can direct ourselves to set sail. We don't have a compass or a map. Chances of trying to get back home will be risky."
"Elt... I'm worried about everyone back home..." Elt looks up to see Wilmarina curling up while hugging her knees. "What will father and the king think of this while I'm not there?"
"... I don't know... But we can pray for the Chief God to ensure for their safety." Elt said while poking some burnt charcoal back into the bonfire. "I hope Sasha will be alright and Merse won't get mad at me for disappearing from duty."
Elt chuckled at his last part while Wilmarina made a small smile. "I'm sure Mimil will scold me as well for not being careful to handle that artefact... Now it's gone."
"I see..." Elt then turns his gaze to the ocean until he spots a familiar silhouette cruising above the sea waters. "Hey... look at that! A ship!"
A single word made hope into his heart. Knowing that their luck would've brought them back home. Wilmarina felt overjoyed as Elt stood up from their campsite and ran over to the beaches while waving over, calling out to ship for help.
"HEY! OVER HERE! HELP US! WE'RE STRANDED HERE FOR DAYS!"
...
"... hmm? Oh, looks like there's a bunch of kids on this uninhabited island." Above the mast of the ship, a sailor spotted the pair through his binoculars. "I'd better call the captain."
...
...
"Ah, welcome aboard the cruise ship Mary Anne. It's unfortunate you both spent your days stuck on that island." The captain greeted the two while tipping his hat. "Don't worry, we'll bring you to the safest island and call the Marines to contact your relatives."
"Thank you! We thought staying long enough on that island, we'll be a goner!" Elt thanked the captain while shaking his hands in relief. "Thank the Chief God we're saved!"
"It is fortunate that a ship would come this day." Wilmarina smiled. "I hope we'll reach Lescatie in no time."
"Captain, there's a whirlpool ahead." One sailor informed the captain with a salute. "Our helmsman should steer for an alternate course."
"Hah~ I see, didn't expect a whirlpool should appear this month." The Captain nods while tipping his hat. "Give these two kids a room to stay. The next island is just only two days ahead."
"Aye, captain!"
...
"Alright, this is all we can provide you shelter." A sailor opened the door, revealing a room which had a simple bed, a sink and a small door leading to a bathroom. "Sadly, this is reserved for stowaways or people who were stranded out in the seas. All the other rooms on the upper decks were reserved for wealthy passengers only."
"It's fine! As long as you treated us well." Wilmarina smiled. "We appreciate your captain's hospitality. I'll notify the kingdom about your efforts for helping a lost Hero."
"You're a hero?... Hah~ Youngsters these days." The crewman tilts his head around before letting out a sigh, chuckling to himself. "Seems like you're one of those who admired Garp, The Hero of the Marines... Ah, it brought me back to my times as a marine."
"Hero Garp? Marines?" Both Wilmarina and Elt raised their brows while the Heroine lifts her chin in wonder. 'Huh... odd, never heard of them.'
"Alright, take your time to rest while our captain is having fun around with the passengers." As the crewman waved his hand as he was about to leave the room and noticed a whistle rang across the ship. "Huh?... What's going on-"
"ATTENTION TO ALL HANDS ON DECK! PIRATE SHIP SIGHTED!"
The sailor felt sweat run down his cheeks and ran upstairs to support his crew to fend off the sea raiders from the upper deck. Wilmarina and Elt heard the commotion and panicked screams of both sailors and passengers alike until they heard loud explosions stemming from outside, causing the entire ship to quake. The Hero of Lescatie drew her sword and ran out of the room.
"Wait, Mary! I'll help you as well!"
"No! Elt, It's too dangerous for you!" Wilmarina said, causing him to stand back. "You just graduated from the Barracks back then. I'll be the only one who fights, just to be sure everyone's safe here."
"B-But isn't that my purpose as a soldier!?" Elt talked back in disbelief. "I want to fight too!"
"I know... but we don't know what kind of enemies we're up against and you don't have a weapon since you lost it back on that island." Wilmarina reasoned. "Pirates can't handle a Hero like me... and they can be tricky at one point. You might get hurt... so stay here."
"M-Mary, wait!" Elt tried to call out for her, yet Wilmarina dashed to the upper deck, leaving him speechless. "... Damnit Wilmarina, don't die out there."
Once the Hero left him behind, a wooden barrel rolled down the stairs and Elt stood dumbfounded once the large object steered its course and crashed into the ship's kitchen. Elt sneaked over to inspect the damage that it caused and saw the barrel just laying over a pile of broken chairs, including the table, being smashed into pieces.
"Aw man, what a wreck."
"E-E-Excuse me?" Elt then heard a voice and spun around in caution. It appears to be a short young boy with pink hair and glasses. "Ah! Please don't be scared! I-I-I'm not here to hurt you!"
"Hurt you...? Are you..." Elt then furrowed his brows while making a fighting stance, raising his arms. "Are you one of those Pirates?"
"N-No! I-I didn't intend to be a pirate in the first place!" The young boy waved his hand in surrender, displaying his cowardly demeanour. "I was caught up to them and they forced me to work for Alvida!"
"I see. In your eyes, you don't look serious." Elt then lowered his stance in relief. "I guess you're in luck to find a safer place here."
"S-Safer place!? This ship is doomed!" The youngster cried out in panic. "It's been already taken over by pirates!"
...
"There she is!"
"Get her!"
Wilmarina finds herself surrounded by pirates from every corner. After they had looted all the valuables from the cruise ship and its crew being thrown off into the waters. However, they had one obstacle left standing in their way: a girl with extraordinary abilities.
"Open fire!"
The pirates fire their rifles against the hero of Lescatie. Wilmarina used her agility to dodge the projectiles until she was caught under an ambush by another group of pirates behind her. She blocked their blades all at once and blew them off-board from the ship with her wind spell.
"Well Well Well... looks you aren't any ordinary human." Wilmarina heard someone calling out. She spun around and saw an obese woman carrying a large iron mace. The Heroine felt a sweat through her cheeks to see the individual pirate handling that much weight like a feather and only a person with a Hero status can do that. "Are you perhaps a Devil Fruits User? You possess an ability like no ordinary human can pull off."
'Devil?... Is she calling me that!?' Wilmarina grits her teeth in rage. This is the first time hearing from a person comparing her to a simple Devil. "I'm not a Devil, you pig! I'm a Hero!"
The pirates backed off in fear once they saw their captain, making a devilish smile and gripped her spiked mace as her knuckles cracked in sheer anger for calling her an insult.
"Pig, huh... Well then... Looks like I got another one to smash into bits with that pretty face of yours." Then the Pirate captain lifts her Mace, pointing out towards Wilmarina. "I'll let you know how I, Alvida, shall teach you why I am the most beautiful pirate all across the seas!"
...
"Hey! Someone's here!"
Elt heard a bunch of armed men entering the lower deck of the ship while the youngster gasped in horror that they'd been found out.
"Looks like we got another one. But he wears armour."
"Stand back!" Elt pushed the youngster aside to safety and raised his fist. "I won't let you hurt him!"
The young soldier tried to hit one pirate, yet one man with blonde hair simply dodged his attack and responded by kicking Elt against the gut. Smashing him into the kitchen.
"Heh! Now you aren't tough, are ya' lad? Hahaha!" Elt grits his teeth to repress the sheer pain before he was brought down with a stomp over his back, causing him to stay down. The blonde pirate smiled deviously. "Looks like we got another guy who'll work with us!"
"Yo! Coby, looks like this one is still full of booze!" The youngster, now named Coby, turned his attention to one of the raiding Pirates who called out for him. "Bring it over to our ship!"
"Nah! Let's celebrate. At least the Marines aren't here to kick our asses yet!"
One obese pirate came over to the barrel with an axe in his hand. "Now let's open up! I'm havin' a knack for booze!"
Once he brought down the axe, the barrel lid suddenly opens itself in a blast. A boy with a red sleeveless shirt and a straw hat yawned with his mouth wide open as his right fist accidentally punched one pirate, who was trying to hack the lid open. Coby and Elt felt their jaws drop in surprise. For Elt, he didn't know there was a person inside the barrel for the entire time.
"Aaahhh~! Man, what a good nap!" The boy with the straw hat rubbed his eyes and looked around to see the knocked-out pirate on the floor. Then noticed the other pirates as well, who were stunned. "Huh?... who the hell are you guys?"
"NO! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?"
"... That guy's gonna catch a cold if you leave him sleeping on the floor, you know?" The straw hat boy didn't mind their questions while leaving the barrel.
"YOU DID THAT!" Both pirates cried out in unison.
"Oi! Oi! Are you toying with us!?" One pirate threatened him while pointing his sword. "We're pirates here and you're just going to scuff us off like that!?"
"Man, I'm hungry." The strawhat boy then looks over to Coby and Elt. Both were still shaken in incredulity to see him not reacting to their threats. "Hey, You guys got some food here?"
"LISTEN WHEN PEOPLE WERE TALKING!"
"YOU DAMN KID! DIE!"
Elt and Coby reeled back in horror as the pirates drew their weapons to kill him. But the straw hat boy didn't flinch and simply turns around, and in one flash, a pair of blades hit the wooden ceilings. Leaving the pirates stunned in shock to see their weapons were broken in halves. In silence, the Knight of Lescatie dropped his jaws as he witnessed the impossible.
'How could an ordinary civilian do that?!'
"... What's the big deal with you guys?" The straw hat questioned, being dumbfounded
One Pirate stuttered out. "Wh-Wh-Who are you!?"
"Oh me? I'm Luffy." The strawhat boy introduced himself with a toothy smile. "Monkey D. Luffy. Nice to meetcha!"
...
Chapter 1: Ends.