Coco: Hey, everyone, I'm back with another chapter. Updates probably won't be coming as fast as they were before. I was on vacation and had plenty of free time to write. Well, I call it vacation, but I didn't go anywhere XD But today is my first day back to work, so I won't have as much time to write. I'm going to try and work on my other stories this time around, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to drop this one all together for a while. You just won't be getting like ten chapters in a week.
Now, shall we get started?
Wren looked away from where she was helping Usopp patch Zenny's roof when she sensed someone coming. She looked down seeing that Zoro had finally returned. He's been gone most of the day looking for food. Knowing him he had probably gotten lost and that's what took him so long.
"You guys are still doing chores?" Zoro asked in disbelief.
"Yeah," Luffy said.
Usopp, who took another board from Wren, turned around with an unhappy look on his face.
"That old guy's been working us too death all day," Usopp said. "He's never letting up!"
He was ready to call it quits. He understands they did give him quite a fright, but all this work was a bit much.
"Yeah, we're all worn out," Nami said.
"And hungry too," Luffy added as he slumped to the ground.
Though he perked when Zoro dropped the bag, he was carrying to reveal everything he's managed to gather today that was edible. Luffy cheered while hurryingly grabbing from the bag as Zoro asked everyone to gather around. Wren didn't have to be asked twice as she was very much over these chores. Especially since the iron nails were really starting to burn her fingers.
"What's up, Zoro?" Nami asked after everyone was sitting together.
"While I was out there looking for food, I stumbled across something odd," Zoro told them. "A pirate ship…up in the mountains."
Wren's brow quirked since that was a very odd place to put a pirate ship. Unless it was left over from hundreds of years ago and this island had been underwater then.
"A pirate ship?" Luffy repeated as he ate.
"I know it sounds crazy, but there's one up there." Zoro said. "I know what I saw."
"Oh, you must mean grumpy old man Zenny's ship!" The púca said as he popped up in front of Zoro.
The man gasped in shock and nearly fell off the stump he was sitting on because he hadn't noticed the púca before now.
"Who the heck are you?" Zoro asked.
The púca, who was holding some of the fruit Zoro brought back, gave the swordsman a friendly smile.
"Hello, human." The púca greeted. "I am the recently named Usa-chan! It is a name given to me by Big sis Nami. It's nice to meet you!"
Zoro sweat-dropped at the name the púca claimed to be his while giving the navigator of their crew a what-the-hell-look. Nami, who was smiling at the now named Usa-chan, didn't seem to notice his look, or she just decided to ignore it. Knowing her, it was probably the latter.
"Nice to meet you too, I guess." Zoro said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Usa-chan smiled at him even wider before taking a bite of the fruit he had taken from the pile. As he munched, Usopp continued their conversation.
"Why did that miserable coot build a pirate ship?" Usopp asked as he looked to Sanji.
"How should I know?" Sanji retorted.
Wren couldn't think of a reason for it. If he was building it near the sea, she'd say he planned to sail away. The goats did say he was trapped here for 20 years. However, he built the ship in the mountains, so she doubted he was planning an escape from this place.
"Heh, I think I might know why, and we're in luck if I'm right," Nami said.
Her crewmates gave her a curious look as they wondered what Nami was thinking.
"Anyway, let's check it out," Nami said then smiled at their little friend. "Usa-chan, you know where it is, right? Can you lead the way?"
The púca jumped up to his feet while nodding his head to Nami whose hand he took into his own.
"Sure, it's this way, Big sis Nami." He said pointing.
He started showing Nami the way as Wren and the others got up to follow after them.
"Should we get Chopper before we leave?" Wren wondered aloud.
"I think Doctor-san wanted to give Zenny-san a checkup soon." Robin told the younger girl. "He'd most likely stay behind even if we did ask him."
Wren hummed supposing that was true as the two women followed after the others side by side.
"Hey, wait, it's farther than it looks!" Zoro warned them.
"It wasn't that far," Luffy said as they easily reached the ship in a few short minutes.
Zoro looked off to the side not believing the ship was way closer than he thought. Havel looked up at the swordsman.
"You were probably lost and walking and circles for hours, which is probably why it seemed so far away to you," Havel snickered.
"Shut it, Cat!" Zoro retorted.
Havel just continued snickering as Usa-chan tugged Nami up the hill and closer to the unfinished pirate ship.
"It seems kind of creepy if you ask me," Sanji said.
"Like sighting a ghost ship on a dark night." Robin agreed.
Usopp, who was hiding behind Wren, whimpered as he held onto her arm tightly.
"Robin, don't say that," Usopp begged.
He then flinched when small little lights appeared and started flying around the ship.
"Ah, the devas have made an appearance," Wren said.
"The what?" Luffy asked.
"Are they vengeful spirits from the dead?!" Usopp asked while shaking Wren.
The halfling made the sniper release her as she didn't feel like being throttled.
"No, devas are small fae that many mistake for fireflies due to their size and the fact their bodies let out a luminescent light." Havel told Usopp.
Usopp relaxed when hearing that as one of the devas landed on the end of his nose. He looked closing while seeing what looked like a small person within the glowing light. A person with pointed ears and youthful, childish features. The devas smiled at Usopp while waving before it flew off. Robin smiled at the sight while holding out her finger, so that one may land on it.
"What a beautiful sight," she said.
Nami, who climbed onto the ship with Usa-chan, had to agree. The others soon followed the navigator as they wanted to get a closer look at the ship as well. As they investigated it, the devas hung around and would follow them from time to time.
"He used lumber from the local trees." Robin said.
"Looks like he stopped building halfway through." Usopp commented.
"The old guy did all this by himself," Sanji said while sounding mildly impressed.
He then grunted when he was ran into by Usa-chan who was running around and having fun.
"Hey, be careful, kid." Sanji said with a frown.
"Right, sorry, Big bro Sanji," Usa-chan said with a beaming smile.
Sanji sighed losing some of the irritation on his face as he shooed the young fae on to get back to his fun. The púca continued running around as Nami came from the inside of the ship.
"Well, it doesn't look like it's here," Nami said.
Wren, who picked up their púca friend to rest against her hip, tilted her head curiously. She had no idea what Nami was looking for, but she seemed disappointed it wasn't here.
"What's not here, Nami?" Luffy asked.
"The treasure," Nami replied nonchalantly.
"What treasure?" Her crewmates asked in unison.
"The one that old man has." Nami said. "He's not just a hermit, I'm sure of it."
She then turned to point at her crewmates as her other hand came to rest on her hip.
"If I'm right, he's a former pirate!" Nami said.
"A pirate?" Her crewmates repeated. "Him?"
Wren didn't see that old man as the pirating type. Though she knows a certain old man who likes the letter g and doesn't look like a pirate either.
"His ship was probably smashed to piece by those reefs we saw, and he was the only survivor." Nami theorized. "He's been building this ship to get off the island but since he's alone it taken years to complete it."
"Hey, if he really is a pirate, why does he dislike them so much?" Usopp questioned. "That just doesn't make any sense."
"It does if he's only acting like that to keep us from finding the treasure he's hidden somewhere," Nami countered.
Usopp frowned because it still didn't seem plausible to him. He couldn't see that old man as a pirate.
"I knew there was something shady about that old guy right from the start." Nami said. "What confirmed it for me was the furniture I saw back in his hut. He had some pretty valuable things for a poor hermit."
Wren had to admit that Nami had a point. She noticed it earlier too…how the old man had a lot of nice furniture. Furniture that would have cost quite the pretty penny to buy.
"You're beautiful and astute." Sanji complimented Nami.
"Get real, guys." Usopp said. "There's no way that old dude could be a pirate. Come on, he fainted."
"You should respect the elderly, Usopp," Wren said ominously. "They can be quite formidable."
—FLASHBACK—
Wren stood off to the side sweat-dropping as she looked at all the bodies piled on the floor. All of them men who had been foolish enough to come to the palace and either ask for her or Baby 5's hand in marriage. Doflamingo had not been pleased with all the marriage proposals and asked Lao G to handle them.
It hadn't taken him long to deal with all the men. They fell quickly to the power of his Jio-Ken, and to be honest, Wren was a bit disturbed at how easily he handled them. He even destroyed part of the courtyard in that fight. She supposes she came to assist him for no reason.
"You whippersnappers never stood a chance against the superior power that old age has given me!" Lao G said as he stood in his lower back pain stance. "No one understands pain like the elderly. That is power of Jio-Ken!"
Wren blinked as Lao G, who was still hunched over with his arms held out in front of him, was looking at her instead of her enemies.
"Grandfather Lao G," Wren began. "The men who you were fighting are behind you."
She pointed behind the shaking elderly man as some of their subordinates were already clearing away the riffraff.
"Huh?" Lao G asked as he cupped his hand to his ear.
Wren decided not to repeat herself as she moved to his side to help him back inside.
"Why don't we go back inside the castle?" She coaxed gently. "You deserve some rest and relaxation after taking care of us like that."
"What was that?" Lao G asked as he let her guide him towards the palace.
Though before they could get far, one of the men he knocked down surprisingly got back up.
"Don't think I'm done for yet, old man!" He shouted. "I will make Corazon-chan my wi—!"
"Kata Kori!" Lao G shouted as he hit the young man in the shoulder.
The hit was enough to send him flying into the fountain, which cracked from the impact. As the man fell into water in the fountain, Lao G, who cracked his back into place, struck his signature G-pose.
"Now stay on the "g"round!" Lao G said. "There's the G!"
—END OF FLASHBACK—
It was that day that Lao G reminded her, old age could be truly powerful. Usopp looked at her in confusion since he had no idea what she was talking about.
"That geezer Zeff is one tough old bastard that's for sure," Sanji said as he lit one of his cigarettes.
"Yeah, but this guy isn't Zeff." Usopp pointed out. "He's way too frail to be a pirate."
"I didn't say he was a pirate now," Nami retorted. "I said I bet he was a long time ago. Why else would he build this ship?"
She gestured to the unfinished ship they were standing on. Wren supposed Nami had good points. However, there were holes in her theory.
"There's a dense forest ahead with no paths," Robin said. "Plus, there's a steep cliff to the rear. If he's going to build a boat to escape, why do it all the way up here in the mountains?"
"I had been thinking the same earlier," Wren said.
The boys turned to Nami simultaneous with curious looks, which had the navigator shifting uncomfortably.
"Yeah, how come, Nami?" They asked her.
"Uh, um, I don't know," She admitted with a pout.
"In any case, let's head back down the mountain," Wren said. "We can continue this conversation back at Zenny-san's place."
Wren sat with the others with the púca snuggled up to her on her lap as he was sleeping peacefully. Sanji was giving the small fae a look of jealousy as the little guy was completely nice and comfortable against his darling Wren's bosom.
"Damn brat," He grumbled.
Havel snorted at the cook's grumbling as Sanji continued to sulk while everyone else discussed their next step.
"I think we should get off this island right now," Usopp said. "Working us too death was bad enough, but that weird ship is the last straw."
"I'm staying here," Luffy said.
Usopp and Sanji looked surprised by Luffy's decision as they turned to their captain in question.
"But why?" Usopp asked.
"Because I'm hungry!" Luffy said as he fell back to the ground. "That stuff that Zoro brought back barely filled me up, duh!"
Zoro and Nami's eyes widened as his words brought their attention to the sack that had once been filled with food. They ran over to check on the sack to see it was indeed completely empty. Zoro let out a growl of frustration as he grabbed Luffy and started to throttle him.
"You!" Zoro growled. "Do you know how long it took me to find that stuff, you greedy pig?!"
As he continued to shout at Luffy, Sanji suggested they at least go back to the Going Merry to get a proper sleep. Wren wouldn't argue with that. She would pick a bed to sleep in over the ground any day. The others got up to leave but paused when Chopper finally came out of Zenny's hut.
"Oh, Chopper, we're heading back to the ship," Nami told the reindeer.
"I'm staying here by the old man's side." Chopper said. "I'm a doctor. I can't just abandon one of my patients.
"Uh, he's gotten better, right?" Usopp asked. "If you keep helping him, there will be no end to it."
Chopper slowly shook his head before looking up with a somber expression on his face.
"Actually, the end will be soon," Chopper told the crew.
"What do you mean, Chopper?" Zoro asked.
Though he was pretty sure he had a fairly good idea of what the tiny doctor meant.
"It's his heart," Chopper said. "We thought it stopped because Zoro scared him, but that's not the case at all. It stopped because he's sick."
"So, when you say end," Nami began. "You mean…?"
She trailed off unable to complete her question, but Chopper knew what she was asking all the same.
"No doubt about it," Chopper said. "My prognosis is that he only has three days left."
As the others gasped in surprise, Wren, who adjusted her hold on the still sleeping púca, hummed.
"That's unfortunate," she commented casually.
"Indeed," Havel said with a nod.
"Can't you show more sympathy than that, you two?!" Nami snapped at them.
"Our apologies," the two said in unison.
Their tones didn't change much if any though, which had Nami growling at them.
"Luffy, can we stay until his time is over?" Chopper begged of Luffy.
"Sure, Chopper." Luffy said with a grin. "Guys, let's make his last few days the best he's ever had!"
Wren hummed to herself as she sat in a clearing within the woods. Havel wasn't far off as he basked in the sun shining down on them and enjoyed the gentle breeze caused by the sylph. Several of the fae were around her as well as she was gathering some plants and herbs to take with them for when they leave. She was serious when she said she needed to get back to her magical studies, and while they were still on this island, she might as well collect supplies she can use. With the help of the neighbors, she was finding a lot of useful bits and pieces.
It's been three days since Chopper gave his prognosis, and Zenny was still alive and kicking. Not that Wren was saying that's a bad thing. However, they couldn't stay here forever and keep doing chores for him. Sanji has cooked for him every day. They've worked on the ship in the mountains for him that he claims to be his coffin and continued caring for his goats and other responsibilities.
During their stay, the fae, who were getting used to their presence, were coming out more and more. Helping with chores. Playing with and entertaining the pirates who were also getting used to them in return. It put Wren at peace when seeing her crewmates getting along so well with the neighbors. Gave her a little hope for humanity.
Though she has to question her crewmates' ability to name things. With every new neighbor who joins in on chores, her crewmates come up with names for them to tell them apart. The fae don't seem to mind the names. They consider the names given to them as gifts and fae do like gifts. Speaking of the unusually named, Wren could see Usa-chan was back from wherever he had run off to.
"Misce, the Knockers found you some crystals and other minerals." Usa-chan said as he ran up with the items in his arms.
Wren looked over the different crystals and rocks. They would be very useful.
"I will have to get them something in return as a thank you," Wren said as she held out her basket, so Usa-chan could deposit the load into it.
Usa-chan nodded as he put the items carefully on the herbs and other plants so not to crush them. Wren then looked up as the sylph flew by while dropping more flowers into her basket. Though she also felt something drop on top of her head, which had her reaching up to feel a crown of flowers. She felt a sense of nostalgia that was both sad and happy. She hasn't worn something like this since she was a little girl on Era.
"Beautiful flowers for our darling bird." The sylph said as she and her sisters flew off.
Wren waved after them before deciding it was probably time to start heading back to the others. Sanji would probably be starting dinner soon, which means Luffy's group, who were gathering ingredients, would probably be back as well. She stood up while turning to Havel.
"Havel, it's time to head back." Wren told him.
Havel reluctantly moved from his comfortable position to follow after his mage. Usa-chan came along as well as he jogged slightly in front of the halfling and older fae with a laugh leaving between his lips. Wren watched him go with the same peace she's been feeling recently washing over her.
'I never let myself really enjoy Magus like this,' Wren thought as she continued down the path. 'Spending time with my neighbors, enjoying nature. After all, I am half-fae. Being in an atmosphere such as this…it feels like being home.'
It didn't take much longer to reach Zenny's house. Though when she arrived, she was greeted by a grinning captain.
"Wren, welcome back!" Luffy said. "You missed it!"
Wren's brow quirked in question as she was sitting her basket down on Zenny's porch.
"Nami lost the Going Merry to the old man in a bet, but Robin got it back!" Luffy said. "And now we're going to have a party to celebrate getting Merry back!"
Wren blinked as she turned to give Nami a look. Said navigator scratched the back of her head.
"Yeah, I know," Nami said. "I really messed up. If it wasn't for Robin, we would have been here forever."
"Well, as long as you learned your lesson." Wren said.
Nami sadly nodded her head before returning to working with Robin to fold Zenny's laundry. Some aerials were bringing them laundry from the line as others were putting away what they already folded.
"Thank you, Windy-chan," Nami said to one of them as they brought over more clothes.
'That name…' Wren thought shaking her head as she was dividing up the things she brought back.
She put the crystals and the minerals to the side for later as Usopp and Luffy were playing games with some gnomes. Luffy laughed as one of them created sparks with their magic to entertain the young captain.
"You really do some crazy stuff, Bushy Beard Man." Luffy said as he continued to laugh.
"Not as much as McBeard-san," Usopp said with his own laugh.
He said that about the other gnome, who tripped over his own feet, as Wren's brow twitched from where she sat by herself.
'Those names are even worse,' Wren thought as she tried to focus on her task. 'Though not as bad as the name Boss Wolfheim that Zoro gave the hound that's been following him around. The hound isn't a wolf fae.'
She looked over at said pair as they were snoozing underneath one of the trees by the house together. She's noticed that a lot of fae seemed to like the swordsman as some aerials and púca have joined in the nap after gravitating towards the swordsman. She remembers the aerials on Magus really liked Zoro as well. And Havel, who was currently with Chopper inside the hut, seemed to gravitate towards Zoro too. Or Sanji.
'Though that might be because he loves Sanji's cooking so much,' Wren thought.
Wren looked over at said cook as she remembers she collected a few things for him. Wren pulled said things from her gatherings to take over to Sanji who was prepping dinner. He wasn't the only one working on it either as some brownies had come from the forest to help out. The little creatures were washing the vegetables for the Straw Hat cook and smiled up at Wren as she approached.
"Welcome back, Misce." The two greeted her.
"Yes, welcome back, Wren-chan." Sanji added with a goofy smile. "You are a vision with those flowers in your hair, my dear~ Like an angel."
Wren just blinked at him in return before placing some of the things she picked in front of the cook.
"I collected some herbs you can use as seasoning for tonight's meal." Wren said.
"Ah, thank you, Wren-chan." Sanji said as he inspected the herbs. "We can use these for the fish, right, Bolete, Aleppo?"
The two brownies nodded their heads as Wren gave Sanji a deadpanned look.
'Again with the odd names,' Wren thought before shaking her head and speaking aloud, "Sanji, do you think there will be enough for the fae to join us? I wish to repay them for everything they've done for us. If not, I can collect more supplies."
Sanji smiled at Wren once more for her kindness. Bolete and Aleppo sharing his smile as they looked to the halfling.
"We should have plenty, Wren sweet." Sanji assured her. "As long as you don't mind sharing, old man."
He looked to Zenny as the man was petting a few of his goats and giving them grass. Usa-chan was helping him feed the goats and smiled up at the old man who patted him on the head.
"I don't mind at all," Zenny said. "It's like Wren said, these sweet little creatures have done a lot for us. To think I've been living amongst them this whole time without even knowing."
"Then it's settled!" Luffy pipped up. "Tonight, we party with the fae!"
The others voiced their agreement as Wren sat down beside Sanji to help Bolete and Aleppo with the vegetables.
'I feel like I've made the right decision to join the Straw Hats,' Wren thought feeling relaxed. 'I haven't felt this at peace in a very, very long time.'
Coco: And that's the end of this chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. Now, I have one of the character profiles ready for you all to check out. It's Wren's, of course, and if you guys like it and want more, I'll do some for all the ocs I've created. Even the minor ones if you liked.
Name: Magier B. Wren
Age: 19
D.O.B: October 8th
*She shares her birthday with Pierre, Doberman, and Hatcha
Origin: North Blue (Era Island)
*There are similar islands of mages in the other three Blues. There is Millennium Island in the South, Eon Island in the West, and Centuris Island in the East. All islands had once been one community of mages that called Magus Island in the Grand Line their home until migrating to the Four Blues after an unknown event. Though separated into four different seas the islands are appointed governors who answer to a higher authority that rules all four islands. All islands are connected through magical portals, which makes travel easy and allows the four different mage communities to live united despite the distance. It is still unknown why they spread out in such a way. The four islands also represent the four major elements said to make all things. North (Water), East (Earth), South (Fire), and West (Air).
*Era Island is under the protection of a pirate crew who has yet to be named in the story. Though they are formidable enough that Doflamingo would not willingly go against them. It's unknown if this protection extends to the other three islands.
*Wren's commander Caballero (Sorbet) is of mage blood but is unknown if he came from one of the four islands. However, it is hinted that he and Wren are of some kind of relation.
Height: 166cm (5'5")
Race: Half-Fae/Half-Mage (human)
*Her fae side is of the Banshee Clan, which is why most of her attacks are scream-based. Like how one can cover their weapons with their own haki, Wren tends to use her Banshee abilities through her sword by coating it with her fae magic. Though as half mage, Wren has the ability to perform a wide range of magical abilities that Banshee alone could not perform.
Wren is not the only halfling in existence and while it is made to see like a rare occurrence, it isn't as rare as some think. Halflings just tend to pick the solitary life with as little interaction as possible with the outside world. Hence why it's rare to come across one. Wren being one of the few who choose to live alongside humans.
Affiliation(s): Donquixote Family/Pirates (former), Dressrosa (Former), Underworld (former...ish), Straw Hat Pirates (crew), Heart Pirates (allies), the Chessboard
Weapon: Rapier
*Wren's rapier is made of steel with silver and leather used for the hilt and handguard. It's carried in a simple black holster as black goes with everything and Wren doesn't like things to clash.
Family: Magier B. Starling-ancestor (deceased), Cain-ancestor, Magier B. Vladimir-father, Magier B. Aibell-mother (deceased), unnamed paternal aunt, unnamed cousins, Havel-familiar
*The women born into the Magier Family are typically named after a bird. More especially a type of songbird. The men are not. It's unknown if it's a family tradition or this family simply likes birds.
Trivia: (just some little tidbits about Wren)
*Wren's favorite tea is Earl Grey.
*Her favorite color is black.
*Wren is also vegetarian. A lifestyle she picked up at an early age. She has thought about going vegan. However, her love for dairy prevents her from doing so.
*Wren has a soft spot for things that are cute to the point she sometimes lets her guard down and behaves how she normally wouldn't. Like, how she pouted when she was told she couldn't bring one of the Kung Fu Dugongs with her during their journey in Alabasta.
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Well, that's it for now. I hope you liked the chapter and Wren's profile. If you're interested in learning more just let me know. I'm hoping to do something similar to this with all the characters. Maybe even leave information about Era Island and her counterparts in the other Blues and even the lifestyle of the mages-their government and whatnot.
Now, until next time everyone. Stay safe out there and keep being your beautiful selves!
