Ch. 6- The First Tragedy
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Kovar, and Monkey D. Star © Me
As the memory faded to black, the Straw Hats took that moment to reflect on what they had witnessed.
"Man," Sanji said. "I know Luffy said his mother was kind, but...now that sold it."
"Star was so wonderful," Nami replied. "Reminds me of Bellemere."
"And it looks like she had a love for the sea and freedom, as well," Usopp added. "In fact, she sparked the flame for his dream!"
"And she always believed that Luffy was destined for greatness," Robin said. "All parents expect great things from their children, but Star expected Luffy to be the greatest of all."
"But she didn't enforce her expectations too much," Zoro spoke. "She gave Luffy all the love, support, and faith that any parent or guardian should give their kid."
"I'm not gonna cry...!" Franky whimpered. "I'm not gonna cry, dammit!"
"Hey, guys, look!" Aika exclaimed. "Something's happening!"
As the memory shifted, the Straw Hats saw Luffy back in his house again...but something seemed to be wrong. Instead of running and jumping about with his usual enthusiasm, he was lying in bed, and even more worrisome was the fact that his forehead had a damp cloth over it while his face seemed pale with an usual red flush, and his breath was coming out raspy and weak. The boy coughed before he gritted his teeth, as if he were in pain.
"W-what's happening?!" Blizzard questioned.
"Big Brother's sick!" cried Aika.
"What do you think he might have, Chopper?" asked Nami.
"It looks like he has a virus," Chopper answered. "Judging by the way he's breathing and his fever, I'd say it's attacking his lungs."
"Where's Star?" Robin asked. "She should be tending to Luffy, right now!"
"Oh, wait! Here she is!" Brook exclaimed as Star appeared in the memory, taking off the cloth on her son's forehead, dipping it in a water basin, then wringing it out before she put it back on Luffy's head.
"Mommy...!" Luffy whispered.
"Shh~!" Star soothed as she gently pet her son's head. "It'll be okay, Luffy...hopefully."
"I don't understand," Sanji said. "Luffy seemed so healthy, earlier. What the hell happened?!"
"If I didn't know better," Usopp began, "I'd say that Garp must've left him in the forest, again."
"And as a result, he got sick," Robin added.
"Wow," Aika said. "I'm sure glad Mister Garp's not my Grandpa."
The Straw Hats' eyes went wide before they glanced at each other, nervously.
"Uhh...yeah," Zoro muttered. "Right."
"He's not your grandpa at all," Nami added before giving a forced chuckle.
"What's with those looks?" Kumi asked.
"Don't worry about it," Blizzard answered. "Just watch the memory."
Star paced back and forth, running her hands through her hair before she glanced back at Luffy, who tossed and turned on the bed uncomfortable. The sight was more than enough to get the Straw Hats on the verge of tears. Seeing the boy who would later become their captain so vulnerable like this...it broke their hearts, and it especially broke his mother's heart. She seemed so helpless, not knowing what to do...but then, Star gasped silently and her eyes went wide, as if an idea had struck.
"What's she doing?" Nami asked before Star went out of the room, and after a while, she came back wearing a shawl over her head.
"I'll be back, Luffy," Star whispered. "I promise."
"M...Mommy..." Luffy muttered as his mother gently stroked the top of his head before she walked out the room, and the Straw Hats could hear her going down the stairs to the front door, which opened and then slammed shut. Chopper looked out the window and gasped upon seeing her walking through the snow...heading towards a mountain.
"W-where is she going?!" Chopper questioned. "Luffy's sick! She can't just leave him alone! We gotta follow her!"
"We can't Chopper," Blizzard said. "This is Luffy's memory. He probably doesn't even know where his mother went." He then looked over at Luffy, then went over and tried to nuzzle him in a comforting manner, only to stop himself when he remembered that he couldn't.
"If Star left," Robin began, "she must have good reason. She loves to Luffy just up and abandon."
"We'll just have to wait and see," Sanji said as he lit up a cigarette and puffed out some smoke.
"Sanji!" Nami exclaimed. "Luffy's sick! You can't smoke here!"
"It's a memory," Sanji replied. "I'm not gonna make Luffy feel worse."
"...Right," Nami realized. "Man, I feel stupid."
"I understand," Sanji answered as the memory faded to black, but they could still hear Luffy's raspy breathing, signifying that he was just sleeping. The Straw Hats stood by, waiting for Star to return...then, all of a sudden, the Straw Hats heard the sound of a door opening and shutting, which caused Luffy to awaken. As he looked up, his vision seemed blurry for a moment, but once it cleared...the Straw Hats gasped at the sight that laid before them: Star was leaning against the doorway...her skin blue, her teeth chattering, and she had various cuts all over her. No...more like claw marks.
In her hand...was a little flower.
"Holy crap!" Franky cursed. "What the hell was she doing?!"
"My god, she looks nearly frozen!" Sanji cried.
"W-what's that in her hand?" Aika queried as she pointed at the flower, and upon noticing it, Chopper gasped in disbelief.
"Unbelievable!" Chopper exclaimed. "That flower is a rare medicinal plant! If you boil it in a broth and drink it, you'll feel good as new in no time! It only grows in the winter!"
"My word," Brook whispered. "Look at her...she must have gone through quite a lot to get that plant!"
"She's covered in scratch marks," Nami said, looking Star over, "and it looks like she's almost frostbitten."
"...Mommy...?" Luffy asked before he coughed, then attempted to sit up, only for Star to gently ease him back down onto the mattress. "Mommy...you feel cold..."
"It's...g-g-going to be all right now...Luffy," Star smiled with her teeth chattering. "Mommy will make you...all b-b-b-better..."
Luffy smiled at this before he fell asleep, once again, and though everything went dark, he could Star footsteps recede, albeit slowly and staggering. Not long after, he and the Straw Hats heard the door open.
"Hi, Star, I just thought I'd come and...oh, my good lord, what happened to you?!"
"That sounds like Miss Makino," said Aika.
"Sounds like she came at a good time," Nami added.
"H-hang on!" Makino exclaimed. "I'll start a fire! W-what are you doing with that flower...?"
As the memory began to fade, Makino and Star's speech became a bit garbled, but the group could barely make out these words that Luffy's mother managed to speak.
"...F-F-Flower...boil it...or...Luffy dies..."
The Straw Hats gaped upon hearing this.
"My god...!" Usopp whispered.
"Was Mister Luffy so sick that he was going to perish?" Brook asked.
"Must've been," Zoro answered.
"Star risked her life," Nami began, "just so she could save Luffy's."
"Just goes to show you just how much she loves her son," Sanji added, with Blizzard nodding in agreement.
The memory shifted again, once more showing Luffy inside his house, only now, he was in the drawing room, playing with his toy boat again.
"Captain Luffy sails again!" he exclaimed as he pretended to "sail" the boat on the blue rug, making splashing sounds as he did. "Wow, these seas look rough! Be careful, men! We could for a...TIDAL WAVE!" On that, he tossed the boat into the air, then caught it in his hands. "Shishishi!"
The Straw Hats smiled as they watched Luffy play.
"Looks like he made it," Sanji said.
"Yeah," Nami smiled. "I don't understand...Luffy looked like he had a pretty good childhood to me."
"...Hold on a second," Zoro said. "Where's Star?"
"...Hey, come to think of it, where is she?" asked Usopp.
Soon enough, Star entered the house, carrying bags of groceries.
"I'm back, Luffy~!" Star called.
"Mommy!" Luffy exclaimed as he ran to greet her, jumping into her arms and wrapping his arms around her neck in a hug, which she returned.
"Hi, sweetie," Star smiled as she put Luffy down. "Come on, I'll go get lunch started."
"Okay!" Luffy nodded. "I'm hungry!"
"Yeah, Luffy's definitely feeling better now," Nami said.
Blizzard, however, seemed to have his ears pinned down against his head, which Aika and Kumi noticed.
"What's wrong, Blizzard?" asked Kumi.
"I've got a really bad feeling," Blizzard answered, and as soon as he said this, Star began to give a hard cough, which caused Luffy to look up at her in concern.
"What's wrong, Mommy?" Luffy asked.
"Oh, it's nothing, Luffy," said Star. "Just a cough."
"Oh," Luffy muttered. "Okay."
"Listen, Luffy," Star started, "after I cook you lunch, I promised Makino I would go to the doctor for this cough I have. I'm sure it's nothing, but Makino's making a fuss about it, so..."
"But...you promised me you'd play with me after lunch," Luffy said. "Can't you wait until after we play, then go to the doctor?"
"Well...I..." Star started, only for her soon to look up at her with these cute, wet, puppy-dog eyes, and she sighed as she felt herself weaken. "Oh, all right. I'll play with you after lunch, and then I'll go to the doctor, okay?"
"Yay!" Luffy cheered as he and his mother headed into the kitchen. The Straw Hats couldn't help but look a bit worried, though, as they kept watching.
"That cough sounds pretty bad," said Chopper. "She should've seen the doctor right away...so why didn't she?"
"Because to her, Luffy's more important," Sanji said. "Even more than her own health."
"...I just realized something," Robin said as she looked at Nami. "Nami...didn't Luffy tell you his mother died on his 6th birthday?"
"Y-yeah," Nami answered. "Why?"
"...Look at the calendar," the archaeologist told Nami, who glanced over at the calendar at the wall...and then she gasped upon seeing the date: May 2nd...and Luffy's birthday was only 3 days away.
"...Oh, no," she whispered. "No, no, no! This can't be it!"
"...Holy crap," Zoro cursed, actually sounding horrified.
After Luffy and Star had eaten their beef stew (the latter eating more than his mother), the two were outside in the backyard, playing catch with a ball.
"Catch, Luffy!" Star called as she tossed the ball to Luffy, who caught it in his hands. "Good job! Now toss it back to me!"
"Okay, Mommy!" Luffy answered as he tossed the ball back to his mother, who managed to catch it in her hands.
"Okay, I'm gonna throw it again," Star said. "Ready?"
"Yeah!" answered Luffy as his mother threw the ball again, but she threw it just a bit too high, causing it to sail over his head and into the bushes behind him.
"Oops!" Luffy said as he went after the bal. "I'll get it, Mommy!"
It didn't take him too long to find the ball, but as Luffy turned to face Star...he gasped when she saw her going into a harsh coughing fit.
"M-Mommy?" asked Luffy. "What's wrong?!"
Star continued while the Straw Hats watched in growing concern. As Star pulled her hand away from her mouth, she gasped as she tried to catch her breath...but then, out of nowhere, she just collapsed, her face flushed red and her breathing raspy and hoarse.
"Mommy!" Luffy cried as he ran to his mother's side, shaking her in the hopes that she would stand. "Mommy, are you okay?! Say something!"
"...G...get...get...Makino...!" Star said, barely able to get her voice out.
"O-okay!" Luffy answered as he ran back inside the house, and when he did, he heard the sound of the door open and close.
"Star? Luffy? Are you here?"
"Makino!" Luffy cried as he ran to the front door, and sure enough, there was Makino, who had entered the house.
"Luffy?" asked Makino. "What's wrong? Where's your mother?"
"Mommy needs help, Makino!" Luffy urged as he tugged on her arm. "Hurry!"
"What?!" Makino questioned before she and Luffy ran out to the back, where they found Star struggling to stand. "Oh, no! Star!" She then went to help her to her feet. "Are you all right?! Can you move?!"
"Mommy...!" Luffy whimpered.
"Hang on," Makino said as she began to help Star. "We'll get you to the doctor, just hang in there! Come on, Luffy, let's go!"
"O-okay," Luffy whimpered as he followed them out.
"Oh, man..." Usopp said. "This isn't gonna be good."
"She should've seen the doctor beforehand!" Chopper cried. "Why didn't she do that, first?!"
"Like I said," Sanji began, "Luffy is more important to her than her own well-being."
"But...but still...!" Chopper stammered.
"Let it go, Chopper," Nami answered. "Even if we really could talk to her...there's no way we could convince her to go. I guess we know where Luffy got his stubbornness from."
The memory shifted, revealing Luffy sitting inside a waiting room, looking at a nearby door.
"Luffy's mother must be behind there," Robin said. "The doctor must be giving her an examination, right now."
"We already know what she has," Chopper said. "Pneumonia...but back then, we didn't know how she got it."
"It must've been from when she went into those mountains," Zoro theorized. "She wasn't really properly clothed for the trip. A thin coat and a shawl? No wonder she got sick."
"Zoro!" Robin chided.
"What?" Zoro asked. "It's the truth!"
"Poor Miss Star," Aika said, sadly.
"And poor Luffy, too," Nami added as she looked at Luffy, whose expression was a mix of sadness and confusion. Seeing him like this made the navigator so desperately want to hug him, but she knew that no matter how much she wanted to, she would only end up phasing through the saddened Luffy. Instead, all she could do was watch, along with the others.
At that moment, Makino and an old man came out of the door.
"What are we going to tell him, Mayor?" whispered Makino. By the sound of her voice and the tear stains on her cheeks, it looked like she had just gotten through crying.
"Just tell the boy to go see his mother, like she asked," the old man, Mayor Woop Slap, whispsered back before he glanced over at Luffy, who blinked at them. Makino sighed before she put on a forced smile as she approached Luffy.
"Hi, Luffy," she said.
"Is...is Mommy okay?" asked Luffy.
"Well...she's fine for now," Makino answered. "Do you wanna go and see her?"
Luffy glanced down, as if unsure, before he looked up at the woman and nodded his head before he got down and went through the door, where he found his mother, lying in a cot. Star was looking out the window, her expression seeming blank. She didn't even seem to notice her son walk in, even as he tried to climb onto the bed. However, when he began to struggle, she finally took notice of him and helped him up on to the mattress.
"Hi, Luffy," Star said, her voice soft and weak.
"Hi, Mommy," Luffy said as he looked away from her.
"Are you okay?" asked Star.
"...I...I don't know," Luffy answered, causing Star to gently pull him into her arms. "...Mommy, what's going on? How come Makino and the mayor looked so sad?"
"...You could tell, couldn't you?" Star asked, and Luffy nodded his head, and the Straw Hats could only watch sadly as she heaved a sigh. "Luffy...listen. This...this isn't going to be easy for me to say."
"What's wrong, Mommy?" Luffy asked.
"...Well, Luffy..." Star said as she chewed her lip. "I...I'm..."
Usopp and Nami were trying their damnedest not to cry...but Aika was already sobbing in Robin's arms while Kumi whined sadly.
"...Luffy," Star said with as much courage as she possibly could, "Mommy is...dying, sweetie."
"...Dying?" Luffy repeated. "What do you mean?"
"Well, Luffy," Star began, "it's like...I'm gonna fall asleep."
"Oh!" Luffy realized. "Well, that's okay, I guess. When you will wake up?"
"...That's...that's the problem," Star replied. "Luffy...when somebody dies...they don't wake up, again."
Luffy's eyes went wide in shock.
"They...they don't...?" he asked. "Ever?"
"...No, Luffy," Star said, sadly. "Never again."
"...Ahh, dammit...!" Franky sobbed as he tried to wipe his eyes, but the tears kept falling, and Brook wasn't too far off. Blizzard seemed to remain stoic, but he actually wanted to let out an anguished howl for Star, while Chopper was hiding his face in the wolf's fur on his stomach, unable to contain his sadness much longer.
The only ones who seemed to remain stoic were Zoro and Sanji, the latter smoking his cigarette.
"...But...but...what about me becoming the King of the Pirates?" Luffy asked.
"I'm sorry, Luffy," Star answered. "I'm afraid...I won't be around to see you do that."
"Well...will you still be here for my birthday, at least?" asked Luffy...but Star didn't answer him, and that seemed to make him angry. "Y-you will, right, Mommy?!"
"I...I'm sorry, Luffy...!" Star whispered as tears formed in her eyes...and soon after, Luffy's eyes began to well up, too.
"But...but that's not fair!" he cried, angrily. "Why did this have to happen to you?! Gimme one good reason why!"
"...Because," Star began, "it just happens...and there's nothing anyone can do...!"
A pause...but then Luffy sniffled before he began to break down, and at that moment, Star pulled him into a tight hug, both of them crying their hearts out. However, Star's sobs suddenly turned into another coughing fit, which caused Luffy to gasp.
"Mommy!" he cried while Star kept coughing, and at that moment, the doctor rushed into the room.
"Star!" he cried. "It's all right! Just relax!"
"I...I'm sorry...!" Star rasped.
"...This wouldn't have happened," Chopper began, "if she had only gone to the doctor, sooner."
"...She's too far gone, now," Sanji said. "There's nothing can be done."
"Oh, my god...!" Nami whispered as tears fell from her eyes. Her chest felt heavy and it hurt to the point where it felt like she couldn't even breathe. It was like watching Bellemere's death all over again.
"Quite tragic, isn't it?"
The Straw Hats gasped and turned to see Kovar, who glared at them.
"I wonder how this woman must've felt," Kovar began, "knowing she had such a selfish son."
"You...!" Nami hissed, angrily.
"Enjoying the show, Straw Hats?" Kovar asked with a wicked grin. "Behold...his first loss."
The memory shifted...and it showed Star, lying in bed. However, she looked so much worse. Her skin was pale and her face was dripping with sweat. Her eyes looked sunken in, too.
It was at that moment the Straw Hats could tell...this was it.
Luffy entered the room with Makino and the doctor.
"...Go on, lad," the doctor said.
"...Mm-hmm," Luffy nodded as he slowly approached his mother, crawling up onto the bed and sitting at her side. Star opened her eyes and, despite her current condition, smiled at her son.
"...Happy birthday, Luffy..." she whispered, hoarsely, and it was more than enough to break the Straw Hats' hearts.
"Dammit all..." Sanji cursed.
"That poor woman," Zoro whispered as he looked away.
"...Hi, Mommy..." Luffy murmured, trying his hardest not to cry.
"...I've got something for you," Star said as she held up...a golden locket. Luffy took it in his hands and opened it, revealing a picture of his mother inside, beaming happily at the camera. "Whenever you feel alone...just open that up and look at the stars at night...and I'll be there."
"...Really, Mommy?" asked Luffy. "You promise?"
"I promise," Star smiled, which caused Luffy to smile back at her. "Now...you be good, do you understand? Makino's going to be looking after you, from now on. That means you have to do what she says. I know it's not the same as being with me...but you love Makino, right? And she loves you, too."
"I know," Luffy answered, "but...I'm still gonna miss you, Mommy."
"Oh, Luffy," Star said as she gently stroked her son's cheek, which caused him to hold her hand. "I'll miss you, too."
"Miss Star...!" Aika sobbed as she watched.
"Be strong, okay?" Star asked. "I'll always be watching over you, Luffy...remember...I...I love you...!"
"...I love you, too, Mommy," Luffy answered...and then...Star heaved a soft sigh as she closed her eyes, a peaceful smile on her face. Luffy smiled, too, at first...until he realized his mother's hand had gone cold, and she wasn't breathing either.
"M...Mommy?" Luffy asked, but she didn't answer. "M-Mommy? W-what's wrong? Why won't you answer me?!" He then started to shake her. "Mommy! Mommy! Wake up!"
By now, Makino had broken down in tears while the doctor lowered his head while the Straw Hats all gaped. Not long after...the harsh reality hit Luffy.
His mother was gone.
"MOMMY~!" he howled before he fell upon Star's chest, sobbing as he hid his face in her bosom, knowing now that he would never feel the warmth of her loving embraces again, would never feel her tender kisses on his cheeks and forehead, again, and would never hear her contagious laughter again.
The woman who had ignited his love for the sea and freedom...had lost her fire.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Fire Within!
Garp: Your mother's gone now, Luffy, and that means you listen to me! You're gonna be a Marine and you're gonna like it!
Luffy: *has tears falling from his eyes* I hate you, Grandpa...I wish Mom were here instead of you!
Garp: I think Luffy will be glad to know I'm gonna be gone for a year.
Makino: Who are you?
Shanks: Permit me to introduce myself, miss. I am Red Haired Shanks.
Next time: Enter Shanks
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