Warning!!! This story is not for the faint of heart. Rated M for violence, major character death, extreme gore, mental breakdowns, abuse, slavery, drug addition, drug use, and brainwashing. Vivid descriptions of torture will also be present. You have been warned.
Without furthur ado, onto the story!
When he came to, everything burned. Everything ached. Every single cell of his body felt like it was being dipped into the fiery bowels of hell, and beaten with a metal rod. His wrists were numb, and weighed down by shackles, the metal whispering cryptic rhymes into his ears. The boy's stomach was starting to digest itself from being neglected for so long, making it hurt to even think about food. What happened to make him feel this way was a mystery, one Luffy was too tired to figure out.
Luffy urged, coughing up blood. The crimson liquid was thick, and filled with clumps that stuck to his chin. The boy opened his eyes, feeling dried up tears crusted around the edges of his vision. He looked around slowly, trying to get a grasp on his surroundings, though he quickly learned it was useless.
The world around him was blurry, smeared around, and twisted in strange ways that made everything look like some form of abstract art. The rubber boy tried to move, to see if he could find someone to tell him what was going on, but that was deemed impossible as well. As soon as he shifted his head, pain shot up from his spine, making the already bilious world go spinning. His body was lead. Stiff, cold, and unbending; rendering him immobilized.
Luffy couldn't resist the void that tugged him under.
He woke up with a strangled gasp. Hunger ripped and tore apart his insides, making Luffy shrink into himself, which caused even more pain to erupt from his stomach. The child could only open and close his mouth, unable to voice his agony. The chains wrapped around his wrists felt heavier, and were making his splintered hands a sickly purple. How long he had been there, Luffy couldn't tell, and he couldn't find it in himself to care. Bandages were loosely wrapped around his middle, soaked red and peeling away.
The room wasn't as blurry as before, the seven year-old could make out the wood planks he was lying on, and a few feet past, but nothing more. His breathing was ragged, uneven, and he already felt sleep pulling him back under. The promises of numbness let the boy fall back into darkness.
A repeated, uncomfortable sensation woke Luffy up. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't pleasant either. When the child opened his eyes, it took him a moment to register what he was seeing. Nothing was warped anymore, no spinning, no twisting, no bleariness. Luffy would've yelled in delight if it wasn't for the fact that his nerves were still shrieking, crying, yelling. Burning alive underneath his skin. That, and the person staring at him, who was poking his cheek with a meter long stick.
"Good, it's alive." The figure grunted, their voice deep and grisly, despite their youthful appearance. All Luffy could do was keep his eyes open, and that was already proven to be a challenge. The whispering had only gotten louder, telling him to close his eyes, to go to sleep, and it was almost painful to ignore the mysterious voice. It was similar to the one he always heard when he fell into the ocean, but at the same time, the voices couldn't be more distinct from one another.
The ocean's voice was always soothing, relaxing, and enchanting. It made Luffy's body freeze, with a calming weight pressing onto his boy. It made him forget about the worries, the danger, the dark cloaked figure, and the field of flowers. It made the yelling of fear, the begging of reason, and the cheering of hope all disappear. Leaving him empty, yet complete. He wouldn't mind if he simply went to sleep, and never woke up. He wouldn't mind if he drowned, since he simply couldn't find any reason to care. He couldn't find it in himself to even lift a finger, or wiggle a toe. He simply sank, until somebody went in after him.
The voice from the shackles was soft, barely a whisper, which slowly grew over time. It's tone was demanding, it's words cryptic. It never made Luffy forget, never made every ounce of will, every spark of fight, seep out from his soul in a matter of moments. This voice felt trapped, felt somber, felt an emptiness which nothing could fill. It was as chained as the shackles it was made of, longing for something more, but Luffy didn't know what that was. It made him sad, it made him weak. Hearing the songs and rhymes of the caged voice, it made him want to go to sleep, and never wake up. Not because he didn't have any worries, or any fears, or any will to live. He just fell into a pit of sorrow and abandon. And the boy couldn't use the strength he had to pull himself back out.
Luffy was snapped back into reality by another poke on the cheek, which he gave a small groan to in response. Stick Guy seemed to be pleased with the boy's answer, and tossed him a hunk of bread, and a half a glass of water. He exited the room without another word, leaving the seven year-old alone once again.
Food. That was something Luffy hadn't had since… he couldn't exactly remember. But that didn't matter now, since there was food only a few feet away from his grasp. Luffy's vision faded in and out as he got onto his hands and knees, his form already trembling under the pressure. The slight rocking of the room made the boy stumble, and fall flat on his chest.
White. That was all he could see for a good few seconds. His stomach felt like it would burst at seams, screaming as it was torn apart by the pressure of the fall. The moment was fleeting, but it brought tears to the boy's eyes. He didn't yell out, instead he stayed on the floor, eyes wide, mouth agape. It was like he forgot how to speak, how to breathe, how to function. Every nerve was on fire, burning alive and praying to their gods to cease the pain, cease the suffering.
Luffy passed out before he could eat.
He felt a lot better when he woke up again. The eruptions of unbelievable pain had slowed down to a manageable, continuous ache. Luffy had opted to stay lying on the floor, not willing to risk what happened last time. Wiggling was the new way of walking for the raven, and that's how he managed to cross the few feet between him and his food. The journey was a hard one, filled with many breaks and grunts of determination, but he made it with no casualties.
The bread was so stale it was as hard as rock, but to Luffy, it was like a slice of heaven. He hadn't had bread before, the only reason he'd ever even heard of the stuff was because Sabo used to tell stories about it. Whenever he, Ace and Sabo ventured to High Town, they always got ramen, so the two ravens hadn't had any other kinds of noble food. Sure, he may have lived with Makino for a while, but the paramecia only really ate fruit and meat while with her. He could only assume the food was bread, and he also assumed it was supposed to be hard, crumbly, and covered with green spots.
When Luffy was finished with the small lump of food, he moved on to the water. It had a grey film covering the top, and it wasn't clear, like the water from the river was. It was tinted brown, and had many black flakes floating around inside of it. The rubber boy didn't pay attention to any of that though, he just guzzled down the liquid, and stuck his tongue out after he swallowed. It reminded the rubber man of when he drank dark water from a small swamp when he was younger, after Garp threw him into a strange jungle for a few days.
Even after all the struggle Luffy endured to reach his reward, he was left unsatisfied. He was used to chomping down on any animal he and his brothers could get their hands on. From boars to crocodiles, and fish to bears, Luffy ate whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. This half a glass of stale water and a bit of bread wouldn't be able to sustain someone with such a large appetite. But of course, Luffy wasn't thinking about what would happen if he stayed on a diet like that. He just laid on the floor, and let out a groan. Thinking about what he would've been eating if he wasn't in this stupid room.
All real pirates sing.
Shanks and his crew sang all the time when they were in the Partys Bar, never stopping until they were all dead to the world. Luffy wanted to have festivities like that when he was a pirate. With all his nakama, juice in hand, singing until their faces went red, their joy being heard from miles away. No worries in the world, no sorrow in their hearts. Just them, their crew, and the open ocean.
Right now, though, the atmosphere was far from joyous. The yelling was loud and sharp, the harsh sound ringing in Luffy's ears. Three voices were shrieking, reeking havoc on the outside world. Slamming of hands, throwing of projectiles, and stomping of feet could be heard islands away. It made the seven year-old want to help, to stop the fighting, stop the screaming, stop the anger… They were all just hungry. That was it. They all needed a good piece of meat, then they'd be fine! Shanks told him some fights just aren't worth it. Wasn't this one of those situations? Did they know that it wasn't worth it?
All the child really knew was that he wanted the angry noises to stop. He wanted everyone to be happy. Even if he didn't know who these mystery people were. The man who gave him bread seemed nice, so they probably all were! And Luffy didn't want to hear nice people being mad. So he did the only thing he could at that moment. He sucked in a big breath, and began to hum.
He Hummed anything which came into his mind. The vibrations tickled his sore, cracked lips, but he kept going. He kept humming until he didn't even know he was there anymore. Didn't know who he was anymore. It started off as a quiet humming. Random notes meshing together in unpleasant tones and uncoordinated rhythms. Luffy didn't know anything about how to make a song, but he had a lot of time on his hands.
Flats, sharps, pianissimo, mezzo forte, diminuendo, and crescendo. Luffy didn't know any terms, any notes, any phrases or instruments. But he did know that the humming helped, it chased away the anger, the fear, the thoughts. It replaced his worries and doubts with distractions and entertainment. He felt the crawling time pick up to a walk, then break into a run. He was so caught up in his own world he didn't hear the churning waves, didn't listen to the yelling out on deck, didn't pay attention to the gunshots or see the blood seeping into his room. The rubber boy just stayed where he was on the floor, and hummed until he couldn't anymore.
"Now, you're going to be quiet. You're going to say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing. You don't exist. Not anymore. Not while you're in this village, you hear me?" Luffy didn't like these people. They were bad. His first judgement couldn't have been farther from the truth. He wanted to fight them, to beat up the bad men, to make them disappear. But all he really did was silently nod, and look at anything but Mr. Meat Man…
The man in question was on the floor next to Luffy, lead between his blank eyes. Blood pooled in the closet the child was kept in, already drying up, and forming curdled lumps. Apparently, the man had steered the boat off course, and crashed it into a reef. Now there was a crack in the keel and a hole in the hull. Water was rushing in fast, showing no mercy for the four passengers left on the ship. The boat was as good as sunk now, but they were also about to land on an island. One with large cliffs and thick forests. Not as thick as the ones on Dawn Island, but it reminded Luffy of home.
Home. Luffy wondered what they were doing there. How much time had passed. He hadn't been outside since that day, and had no way to keep track of how many hours he was trapped in that room. He had been fed just enough to stop his body from failing completely, and the wound on his stomach had finally healed. The white, round tissue left a marbled lump just above his belly button. It was weird, to heal so slowly, and for scars to be left in their place. He hadn't been able to stretch the whole time either, and the voice was always there, in the back of his head, whispering.
A harsh yank on his chain got Luffy to snap out of his thoughts. He had been doing that more lately, since he couldn't satisfy his own curiosity anymore. "You still here, brat?" The woman spat, tugging on his chains yet again.
This caused Luffy's face to go red, steam pouring from his nose. "I'm not a brat, old hag!" Another pull, even harder than before. It sent the paramecia straight into the deck, a loud thud accompanying his fall.
"Want to say that again, slave?" Her voice was filled with venom, and she ground her boot into the back of the seven year-old's head. "A good slave never talks back to it's masters." With that said, she took her foot off of the boy's head, wiping her shoe on the floorboards.
Another person strode up to Luffy, grasping a second chain, the one connected to his right hand, and pulled him to his feet. "Yeah, slave. We let you keep that ugly hat, didn't we? You should be grateful we didn't burn the thing." They chuckled, yanking on the chains yet again.
Luffy didn't like them pulling on him, not at all. He especially didn't like them making fun of Ace's hat. "Shut up you bastard! That's my brother's hat! And I promised myself that I'd get it so he could cover up his gross hair and we would all match!" The boy pulled back against the two people holding his shackles, trying to pry them out of their hands. He failed, but he did succeed in getting a kick to the gut, making the boy stumble, but not fall.
"What did you say, slave?" The third figure asked, gripping the chains that were connected to his neck, and lifting him up off the ground. Luffy could feel the air being ripped away from his lungs, the metal on his neck pressing into his airway, making the boy gag and heave. "Say one more thing, and we won't be as gracious to just shoot you in the gut."
He dropped Luffy back onto the deck, and turned to the other two. "You know the story if they ask, right?" They nodded, earning a cruel smile from the unspoken leader. Then, he turned to Luffy, and crouched down to his level. "Scream and cry all you like, vermin. No one will come to save you."
And so the boy did. All the way through town, he let out shrieks and choked sobs, pulling on his restraints and begging for his brother. He gained the attention of the people in the village, but they all said nothing. They avoided eye contact, shuffled away, and whispered among themselves. Why weren't they helping? Wasn't it obvious that he needed help? Did they not know? Or did they simply not care?
"ACE! WHERE'S ACE! WHERE'S HOME! I WANT TO GO HOME!" Luffy pulled against the bad people, new found energy coursing through his veins. The three figures who were dragging him though the village said nothing, and kept pulling the child along. No matter how much he fought, how much he bit, scratched, struggled and strained; it was futile. He was weak, much too weak. All he did was rely on his brothers to help him get out of every mess, every bit of trouble. It was pathetic of him to call for his brother, and jiji, but he had too.
Because they were coming.
Ace saved him from countless monsters, gangs, nobles, and even Bluejam! And before he met Ace, Gramps always made sure he was getting stronger, but never let him die. Right now, he was too weak to take on these bastards alone. So he vowed that when he was saved, he would train even harder to be king!
That didn't stop the raven from fighting against the trio all the way to the other side of the island. It also didn't stop him screaming insults at them, tripping them, shoving them, and giving one a nasty bruise on his ankle, and biting another so hard he heard a crunch. It didn't stop him from smiling when they dragged him to the new ship, it didn't stop him from scowling at them when they tied him to the mast. And it certainly didn't stop him from staying completely silent as they began to rip out his fingernails, one by one, as punishment.
He had cried. A lot. Silently, he had let the tears rush down his face as he stared at his hands, still dumbstruck by what had happened. Luffy wasn't able to pry his eyes away from the bandages on the ends of his fingers. They said that they didn't want him to die from infection or anything, but that a slave needed to know its place. Why called him slave, he didn't know. His name was Luffy, not slave.
The wrappings weren't as soaked as the ones on his stomach had been, but they unsettled him a lot more. Maybe because he hadn't felt any of the pain, but the images were engraved into his mind with a chisel and mallet. They smiled and tears flowed down his unresponsive face, but were disappointed that he didn't scream. His eyes gushed out water in rivers, even if he felt nothing until hours later.
But he kept telling himself, while he was alone, in a small, dark room that if he could survive Bluejam, he could survive anything. Soon, it would all be over, and he'd be back with his brother, feasting on their favourites, laughing it all off as though it had never happened in the first place. Soon, it'll just be another adventure, one they'd talk about once they were great pirates.
All he had to do was wait.
The humming he had become fond of had turned into lyrics after a while. Before long, he had a whole song made up which he could sing whenever he wanted. It started off as a few lines about people being idiots, but it transformed into a song about the blues. Though it still called them stupid and annoying, it was a fun little song which only he knew. Hopefully Ace would like it as well, maybe they could sing it together on hunts! Luffy loved to fill the silence on their hunts, so it would be a great distraction. He really missed hunting with his big brother. He really missed everything, even the smelly bandits! One thing was for sure, he was ready to go home.
But apparently he pissed off some sort of higher power, since it had been another nine days before he was let out of the new, smaller room they had crammed him in. The only way he could tell it had been nine days, was because Stick Guy gave him some sort of half-rotten substance and a bit of stale water every day. At least, he thought it was every day, he wasn't sure, but it was the best thing he had to go off of.
Nine meals, and no Ace. No Garp. No Dadan, or bandits. How long had it been again? Surely they noticed. Hopefully they found his treasure… he'd been trying really hard not to think about it. Ace's hat was a comfort, at least. It helped ease the guilt he felt. He never broke promises, but all he could do was wait and see if Shanks's hat was okay.
"Come, slave." Luffy stood still, a glare on his face. He didn't like these people, and he didn't like that word. It made him feel uneasy, a sense of foreboding growing in the back of his mind. For some reason, he thought he would be seeing a lot more of that word than he would like.
A harsh yank on his chains and Luffy stumbled forward, face slamming into the deck. He would've gotten up, but a sharp object was placed in between his shoulder blades, drawing a small amount of blood. The man above him laughed. A terrifying laugh which promised harm to those on the receiving end. "Soon you'll know your place brat. Just because you're a 'D' doesn't mean you're unbreakable." He released the child, and pulled him up by his binds. "Now, then. You and I are taking a little walk. The others will join us as soon as the transaction is complete." He sneered, and pulled the seven year-old along like some pet.
They made it into town. It was quite large, larger than the small village and The Market combined. Luffy would've run off to do any and all of the fun things that caught his eye, but the young, deep-voiced man had a tight hold on his bonds. And he knew that he wouldn't get away with what he did in the sleepy town here. Maybe because these people would care? No, the raven knew from experience no one cared about you except your family. That's why you kept them close in Grey Terminal, who knows who's lurking behind those trash heaps.
He found the reason pretty quickly. Marines. Lots of them. They were the upholders of justice, weren't they? Obviously what was happening to him couldn't have been 'justice approved' so that was probably why he had to keep quiet. It was also quite crowded, with sweaty bodies squirming past one another to go about their own business. So if he ended up running off now… it would be harder to catch him.
When the idea of escape entered his mind, he knew he had to wait until the bad man's attention was taken off of him so he could make a break for it. He had one shot, and he couldn't waste it.
So when a large pillar of fire erupted from the center of town, he ran.
Today was a strange day for Tashigi. It started off normal enough, with her pushing work aside to go and get her sword, Meito Shigure. She hadn't seen the sword in over a week, and it was quite upsetting. No other sword felt right in her hands, especially the ones the marines provided.
Sure, she was the youngest officer there, just turning fourteen and still inexperienced with real world battles. But that didn't mean she was a bad swordsman, though. She had been training so hard and for so long. And sure, she was only enlisted so early for special reasons, but she was an officer all the same. An officer that would save all the high-class swords from those criminals who had no right to wield them.
So, of course, when she saw Wado Ichimonji in the hands of a child, she freaked out. He was no older than ten! How, how did this green-haired kid get a hold of such a masterpiece?! That question was never answered, as he left with both arms and two free, high-quality swords. Tashigi was baffled by how strong his will was. He could even tell a sword was cursed just by holding it! Who was this kid? Would she ever see him again?
Her thoughts were interrupted when a giant ball of flames was sent into the sky, creating no smoke, but melting concrete and metal alike. The crackling of the very, very red flames was loud, sounding angry, even though fire had no emotions. It was like the element was yelling at everyone and everything around it. Like it was alive.
Tashigi thought it might've been an explosion caused by an accident, but was proved wrong when she saw Smoker, and yet another child in the middle of a fight. The boy looked like a demon, enveloped in flames, grey eyes murderous as he locked onto her lieutenant. He had dark hair, many freckles, and… was that a cut on his arm? She was too far away to see the details, but there was a long, jagged gash imprinted on the boy's arm. Kids don't just get wounds like that. No doubt it would scar over, a nasty one at that. Just who the hell were these kids, and where were they all coming from?
The fight was vicious to say the least. If Smoker hadn't been able to dodge the kid's attacks, he would've been dead. Every time, the raven-haired boy aimed for a vital area on the older's body. Be it the neck, temple, or his heart, he gave it his all, trying to kill Smoker in broad daylight. It was obvious their skill levels were far apart, and the only reason the logia hadn't killed the kid already was, well, because he was a kid.
Smoker had managed to sweep the kid's legs, letting him fall to the ground with a thump. Her lieutenant was going in to restrain him, when more fire burst from his skin, buying the kid time to get up and lunge forward, teeth bared like a wild animal. The heat was unbearable, even eight buildings down she was sweating from the flames that were destroying everything in sight. If this didn't end soon, there wouldn't be an island left to stand on.
That was when the most peculiar thing happened, even with all the weirdness which already occured. A small projectile launched itself at the bluenette, causing her to tumble to the ground, glasses flying off her face. Before she could attack, or even find her spectacles, Tashigi heard a choked sob come from the object. It clutched her shirt, and let out a wail, almost drowned out by yet another explosion a little ways down the street. She held the thing, lending some support, not knowing what else to do.
"Are you bad too?" A timid voice asked after the crying had died down. It made her heart break at the sound. It was not only a child, who had crashed into her with such fear, and desperation, but also their voice. It sounded so… broken. Like it was hanging onto such little hope. Hope which was slipping away.
Tashigi felt a small hand gently touch her cheek, and press her glasses back onto her face. The world, which was just a bunch of blurry shapes smooshed together, quickly became a battlefield once again. This gave the teen a chance to look at the distressed child, and when she did, she wished she hadn't.
Big, watery brown eyes looked up at her, pupils blown wide, and very unfocused. Fear was etched into every part of the boy, from shaking limbs to the small whimpers dying in his throat. He was clad in bloody rags which exposed most of his chest, and the extensive bruises that covered it. The child had a busted lip, collapsed eye socket, and bandages covering his fingers. Tashigi could easily count his ribs, and see his bones through the skin. The scars on his face looked semi-new, with one cut under his left eye, and a crooked line, which stretched from the left side of his brow to his right nostril. Then there was the other scar… it looked a lot newer than the other two, and had the resemblance of a bullet.
Whoever this kid was, he needed help.
Her help.
She gave the kid a big, warm smile. "I'm not bad, and I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to help, I promise." Tashigi held him close, trying to comfort the obviously distressed child, rubbing circles on his back. It seemed to help, if only a little. The kid looked like he had been through hell, and it made Tashigi so angry. He was too young. "So, what's your name? Mine is Tashigi." This grabbed the child's attention, and he looked up at the teen, and wiped his running nose.
"Lu-Luffy… " The raven told her, his voice cracking as he did so.
Tashigi kept the kindest smile she could on her face, trying hard not to make the kid freak out. "What a lovely name. If I may ask, Luffy, what's got you so upset?"
It took a moment for the child to answer, the tips of his ears turning red from thinking for so long. "Th-The bad men… Th-They… They… I… I wanna go home!" He seemed to be struggling with his words, eyes were glossed over and hazy looking. The boy kept clenching and unclenching his hands, tuning in and out of reality. That's when Tashigi saw something she didn't notice before. Tiny little marks were scattered across the raven's throat, some newer than others.
This boy had been drugged.
Kidnapping seemed to be the only answer she got when she looked through the reasons why someone would go as far to drug a child. She couldn't get wrapped up in the details just yet, though. First, she needed to get him some medical attention. At least, she thought so. They didn't really teach her what to do in a situation like this, and there were no superiors who were around to help her.
"Home? Do you remember where that is?" The swordsman asked as she slowly scooped up the child. She wanted to keep him from zoning out if she could help it, and maybe get some information in the process. It seemed he didn't even notice that he was being picked up, and shook his head into the crook of her neck.
"No… No, no! I need… I-I… Ace!" He cried out, his voice so small and muffled she could barely hear him. Tears soaked Tashigi's uniform, but she didn't mind in the slightest. This was her first time dealing with something so delicate, and she tried her hardest not to let her nerves win. So when someone grabbed her shoulder, the teen turned around immediately, and pulled out Shigure with her free hand. Her cold glare turned into a look of relief, however, when the girl saw that it was actually three marines, not kidnappers.
They looked quite odd, but Tashigi didn't pay attention to any of that, and instead went right to asking for help. "Thank goodness you're here! Could you help me with bringing this child back to the base? I'm afraid of what might happen if someone actually did kidnap him, and might try to attack." She talked to them as though they knew the whole situation, but they didn't seem to mind.
The adult marines shook their heads, with one of them speaking up. An older woman with black hair and grey eyes. "I don't think that will be necessary." The young officer was about to object to this, when the woman continued. "You see, we were actually in the middle of taking this poor child to his rightful place, when an eruption of fire caught us all off guard. We lost track of the sla- kid, and have been looking around the whole town for him. So, if you don't mind, we'd like to take him off your hands so we can return him." She said, her voice holding no emotion, and her face completely serious.
Tashigi let out a sigh of relief, glad to know that Luffy would be in good hands, and made to hand him off to the other marines. But as soon as she did, the raven's grip tightened, and he began to scream. "NO! PLEASE NO! I WON'T GO BACK! DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME BACK!" A flurry of limbs and violent thrashing caused the bluenette to try and calm him down. Telling him that he was safe now, that the marines were here to help. All it really ended up doing was make him more freaked out and lash out.
Luffy's eyes began to droop when a mystery serum was injected into his neck, and he became a lot easier to manage after that. Tashigi handed him over, not even questioning their methods for neutralizing the child. If anything, she was glad. Glad that the boy would be getting the help he needed, and that he wouldn't be in any more pain. It broke her heart to see him in such a condition, and now, all she can hope is that he'll be safe and warm with his parents in no time.
When the marines were almost out of sight, Tashigi called to them one last time. One of the three turned around, expression as stoic as before. "Sorry, but I just had to ask. What branch are you all from? I haven't seen you in Loguetown before!" She called out, eager for an answer. But when they did, they had an unsettling smile on their thin lips.
"Branch 16."
By the time Luffy came to, he was in what looked like an alley, but it was hard to tell with his blurred vision. Memories flew by in distant flashes, reminding him of what happened. The explosion. The fear. The safety. The pain. The torturous pain he had felt when the first nice person he had met since this happened, handed him back over to the bad men. Did she know? Was she bad too? He didn't want to think about it. Freedom had been within his grasp, right at the tips of his bandaged fingers, and was ripped away within mere moments. And now, in the hands of the heartless, bad people in front of him, who knew how he was going to be punished.
Everything came into focus faster than before, and the rubber man realized that he was surrounded by the trio who kidnapped him so long ago. Water spilled from his puffy eyes, though he didn't really notice that he was crying. That happened a lot now. He would feel so… Detached. Like the world was hundreds of thousands of miles away, and he was only a spectator in his own life. Pain didn't feel like pain anymore. It was muted, and numb. Sometimes he couldn't even tell that he was the one getting hurt until he was shoved back into his own body, then he would feel it. And it wasn't pleasant in the slightest.
One of the kidnappers came closer, and crouched down to Luffy's eye level. He couldn't move, even with his instincts screaming to get away from the slimy man. "You know, brat, you're not even worth the money anymore. We've been so nice, giving you the rotting food from our precious stores. We could've just let you starve, bleed out, or overdose on those drugs we have to give ya."
The corrupt man spoke, his voice becoming even more menacing than it already was, making the boy feel sick. "All we did was rip out your nails, when we could've done much, much worse. If you hadn't been specifically picked for the deal, I would've done way worse, but you're special, aren't you? You and your brothers, taking town beasts the size of houses on a daily basis. And that neat little trick of yours, which makes you more valuable.
"But they never said you needed a hat, did they? So why don't I just…" An impossibly large, greasy grin spread across the man's oily face, revealing black, rotting teeth. He reached for the orange hat on Luffy's back, and snatched it away, getting black smudges on it with his grimy, meaty fingers. The devil's fruit eater gaped at him, unable to voice his absolute shock, and unbridled anger flowing throughout his blood vessels.
A small, raspy sound escaped his lips, one filled with absolute dread, something a seven year-old child should not have. "Give. It. Back." Desperation was clear, and the tears kept running down the boy's cheeks, despite his emotionless face. The vile man smirked, and kept twirling the cowboy hat around his pointer finger, the strip of leather attached to it flinging around wildly as it spun.
"Now, why should I do that? You've been nothing short of a nuisance, with too much willpower and a loud mouth. You want your hat, and your freedom, and your life. But everyone has to make sacrifices, you can't be greedy now, can you?" He lectured the small boy, practically wagging his finger in front of his face. Saying his words in a tone a mother would use on a child, who stole a few cookies from the pantry.
Drugs, which had invaded his mind up to that moment, suddenly cleared away. Luffy hadn't felt this awake, this control, in what felt like a lifetime. So, of course, when he actually saw Ace's hat in the hands of the bad man, he felt fear, and fury boiling underneath his beaten skin more clearly. "That's Ace's hat. I promised I'd give it to him!" Even if his older brother never heard the promise, never knew about the hat, he wouldn't, couldn't break a promise. And that hat was the last thing in this world keeping the boy sane. If he lost it…
He didn't want to think about that.
His eyes were zoned in on the spinning hat, consuming every detail it had as it kept going round the man's pudgy fingers. It was still so bright, so vibrant, and a harsh contrast to all the grey he could never escape. The grey that leached away all the colours in everything, except the hat.
Luffy was so transfixed on the item, he almost missed the man's next words. "Well, you're gonna give up something, slave." He spat, a scowl crossing his hideous features. "Because a worthless piece of garbage like you deserves nothing. You're so privileged, you should've been grateful, but you never listened. So now, you have a choice." The hat stopped spinning, and he clutched it in his filthy hand, staining the clean fabric.
"It's either the hat, or your arm."
That, to Luffy, was a simple question, with a simple answer. He thought about Shanks, as soon as the words escaped the man's mouth. He thought about what his idol said, right after he chased The Lord of The Coast away with one mean look. What he said right after he lost his left arm.
Don't cry, Luffy. It's just an arm, I have another one. I'm just glad you're alright.
Right now, Luffy only had one hat, and two arms, and even if it cost him an arm and a leg, he would pay the price. If it cost ten whole years of his life, he would trade it without a single complaint. This hat was a promise, just like Shank's hat. Even if Shanks hated him now, for breaking his promise and losing the hat, he still had Ace. He still had one more chance…
Lifting up his right arm, he held it out to the putrid man in front of him. His expression indifferent, with tears wordlessly trailing down his flushed face. Luffy was beaten, bruised, and all alone. But that didn't matter, because he was never truly alone. As long as he had his brothers, his orange hat, his promise, he had something to keep him going. So when he said the three words, he said them with defiance, clarity, and freedom.
"Take my arm."
A truly horrific, bloodcurdling scream was heard not long after.
She didn't like it here.
Not one bit. It was cold, dark, and lonely. She was stuck in a small cage with a few rags to sleep on, and spoiled rations to eat. Who knew how long she had been there, or if she was ever getting out. She learned that she had to be quiet, or else they would come. And that they were scary. That they were bad. That they hurt her and the other people in cages just like her. They stole her, and all the people here. Which meant that they wanted something from them. What they wanted, she had no clue.
The small girl had taken to feeding the many mice that had made their homes on the unknown ship. They had taken a liking to her quickly, allowing her to stroke them as they nibbled on her food. She didn't have much of an appetite anymore anyways. The little rodents reminded her of her home. Seagulls calling from above, their white and grey bodies stark against the pristine blue. Cliffs of green, and waters everlasting, all so clear, so pure, so alive. She loved to explore her home island, it was her favorite thing to do.
By the time she was eight she had started to identify the plants on her home land, along with the wildlife and ecosystems they held. She had even written down some of the abnormalities on her island when she was eleven. Like the East Blue fish and a square stone embedded into a cliff face with strange symbols carved into it.
She always wondered how those fish had gotten to her island. There were the Calm Belts and the Grand Line to cross, so how did East Blue carp come all the way to the South Blue? She never figured it out, because the same day she found the fish, she found the boat.
It was a small ship, poorly made and already rotting away. The blank sails were terribly torn, and from far away, it looked to be abandoned. Which, of course, piqued the girl's curiosity. She didn't stop to think that it may be a trap. She didn't stop and turn back when she heard people coming. She didn't hide as they came aboard. And of course, when she realized she was in danger, it was too late.
She was shoved into a small closet and had a needle shoved into one of her carotid arteries. Everything was a blur after that. She was given an injection every now and again. The strange drug sometimes made her hallucinate, feel detached from this world, or even make her angry for no apparent reason. She was almost always high on the drug they gave her, so much so that she forgot what it felt like to be completely sober.
The journey felt quick in her mind, and once she was forcefully pulled out of that closet, that's when reality hit her. She wasn't at home anymore. This place was forgien to her, and it made her furious. So much so that she began to kick and scream and bite and scratch. The little girl fought even as she was dragged through the unfamiliar place. Even as the chains on her body cut off circulation. Even as she was shoved into a tiny cage and left to rot.
Her will to fight had left her not long after that, and the new people kept pumping the same unknown serum through her bloodstream. For some reason, she began to crave it. The waits for the injection were taking too long, and the moments when it was in full effect were not long enough. The feeling of detachment and numbness started to feel nice, but the crippling anxiety and blanks in her memories she could do without. She could barely speak sometimes, with hallucinations and distorted images becoming a normal experience.
That's why, when she saw a small boy with an orange cowboy hat and one arm, she thought it was just the drug talking. But when he never went away, even after her high was over, she grew curious. He was young, way too young for a place like this. Sloppy bandages covered his stump, already started to turn a sickly red, and it made her frown. That was obviously a new wound, so who the hell amputated this kid? Was he sick? Or was it because of them?
He had dirty black hair, and dark, distant eyes. Though it was hard to tell with all the mud, grime, and other things already covering him. The rags he wore were torn and bloody, doing nothing to keep him warm. That's when she noticed he was shaking terribly, probably from shock. He clutched his orange hat close to his chest, and openly sobbed, in a room filled with strangers.
Of course, who wouldn't be afraid in a place like this? She was afraid almost all the time, wondering when her last day would arrive, and how close it truly was. She was afraid of the thoughts that crept into her mind, telling her that she'll never escape. That she'll be condemned to perish in this very cell, alone. That she'll never see her family again. Never feel the sun again. Never feel truly happy again.
For some reason, for the first time in a long time, the small girl was compelled to talk. She couldn't say why, all she knew was that she needed to cheer this kid up. He didn't look right, crying like that. "Hey…" The brunette's voice was dry, and she felt her vocal chords ache when she spoke. But she continued, determined, to help. "Hey you, above me." That got the kid's attention, and he stopped crying to look down at her. "What's your name?"
The boy sniffled, and for a moment the girl thought he wouldn't speak. But she was proven wrong. "L-Luffy." He managed to stutter out, his voice small, and uncertain. "What's yo-your name?"
"Koala. It's nice to meet you, Luffy."
Over the next few days, Koala grew very attached to her new neighbor. They talked nonstop, and learned a lot about one another. She learned that Luffy was from Dawn Island, in the East Blue. He lived in the mountains with his two brothers and some bandits. Apparently, Luffy was also made out of rubber, which Koala was very skeptical of. No one could be made of rubber! But the more he talked about it, the more she believed him.
Koala told Luffy about her home, family, and the lovely landscape she grew up with. It made her miss the place she cherished so much, and the freedom that had been ripped away. But with Luffy in the cage above her, that pang of loneliness was a little more bearable.
The jabs had been spread out a lot more, now that the number of people in cages had tripled in amount. They now had to distribute the drug accordingly, so it would last. They only had one die of overdose, and that was only because the child had been given an adult dosage. Everyone looked away, and stayed silent, as the kid slowly died in front of them. Sometimes, in the darkest of hours, when nothing was heard but the muffled waves and distant gulls, Koala wished she was that kid.
It was clear to the eleven year-old that they didn't want anyone to die, but they also needed the chained people to be addicted to this mystery drug. Koala hated to admit it, but she was pretty sure everyone was. Why did the bad men need it that way? No one knew. The questions and unknowns just kept piling up, and the brunette was sure that none of them would get answered for a long time.
Luffy's arm, surprisingly enough, didn't get infected, and it started healing nicely. He did get a transfusion, which didn't give him blood poisoning, luckily. Whatever star the little raven was born under, was not one she would wish upon anyone. He had cried a lot, and was in an unbearable amount of pain. Koala tried to soothe him with distractions, by telling him stories or getting him to play games. It helped, if only a little.
Two months went by, at least by their estimate. The duo had marked a nick into the bottom of Koala's cage every time they got food, which seemed to be once every day. Because in the bad men's words 'Children are only half of a person, so they get half of the amount of food adults get.' Of course, Luffy and Koala were the smallest and youngest, meaning they were 'a third' of a person.
In that passage of time, more and more people were crammed into the tiny cages. It didn't matter about their age, height, weight, or species. And most of the older people who were there seemed to know what was going on. It just raised even more questions. What was going to happen to them?
Nothing had really been going on, just the usual. They had been as harsh as always. Refusing to feed anyone they didn't want to, hurting those who spoke back, punishing those who did nothing at all. Luffy was punished a lot. Not because he did anything wrong, at least Koala didn't think he was doing anything wrong. Though she had a theory that they didn't like his eyes, and how vacant, empty, and emotionless they were. Even the eleven year-old was unsettled by his eyes from time to time, whenever he grew distant, and eerily quiet. That was apparently excuse enough to beat a starving, bleeding child.
So, of course, when he was getting taken out of his cage and knocked to the floor, she didn't expect anyone to stop it. She didn't expect them to be turned into stone. And she certainly didn't expect a person in chains to be the one to do it.
The person in question was only a little older than Koala herself. With long black hair, and eyes filled with scorn for everything around her. She was wearing a long piece of sullied white cloth, adorned with many holes and markings. The biggest hole was on her back, between her shoulder blades, where a red brand stood out on her pale, bruised skin.
Moments of glory always last for so long in books. The hero always stands tall after defeating the big bad guy at the end. Everyone cheers for the hero, and they throw a celebration, oblivious to the hurt that they were subjected to, and the state of ruin their homes were in. Everything is suddenly okay, and the dark fog is lifted. No one is suffering anymore, no one is hurting anymore. The hero saved them all, and nothing else matters.
But this wasn't a story.
Blood. There was a lot of blood when the girl's head was slammed into the wall. It was so immediate that there was no time to blink. She screamed bloody murder when they grabbed a whip, and bound her so she couldn't move. The metal dug into her flesh, bringing tears to the poor girl's eyes. Every time the whip came down upon her trembling form, a loud crack echoed throughout the room. No one spoke as the torturous hours crawled by. And when they were finally satisfied with their work, they dragged the girl away from her spot on the soaking floor, and threw her into the cage on Koala's right hand side. Luffy was also placed back into his cage, thankfully unconscious from the first strike.
Koala was left alone, in crippling silence for what felt like an eternity.
Her hope was gone. Right when they took her two sisters away, she knew she didn't have any fight left. She was the only one who got sold again, for being too aggressive and hard to control. Hancock hadn't seen her precious siblings in what felt like years, and time didn't seem to help in any way to close up the many wounds left in her heart. So when she saw a small boy being pushed into the floor of a slave ship, head crushed underneath a diry boot, she couldn't just stand there and watch.
Seven years as a slave hadn't dulled her anger, resentment, or burning passion. All it did was make those feelings stronger. So strong that when she saw that boy, she had to fight back. The slavers here didn't know she ate a devil's fruit, so she was still able to use her power. One pout and flick of the hair was all it took for the sick bastard to have those thoughts about her. At least it made him easy to subdue.
Of course, she expected the punishment which came. But it had been a while since they used a whip, especially one with such a sharp edge. They usually settled for more creative ways, since she got into so much trouble. But this pain was a lot harsher, and the teen couldn't help but scream.
Her head was spinning by the time she was thrown into a cage. One on the bottom row, with a small girl to her left. The boy she tried to protect was in a cage above the quivering brunette. Hopefully they would all get along, she really did miss talking to people.
"What's a slave?" The question caught Hancock off guard. It had been a full week since she was transferred to this slave ship, and the trio had hit it off pretty well. Even if they had only known each other for a short amount of time, the teenager had already felt so comfortable with them. Excited to talk to them. Happy to spend time with them. Glad they were there.
So, of course, when Luffy asked that question, she was shocked to say the least. He didn't know? How long had he even been here? Did he have the brand yet? A pit formed in her stomach, dread creeping around in the back of her mind. Who knew if they would be able to survive the wrath of the Celestial Dragons. The paramecia could see the heated metal pressing into their backs. Their shrill pleas, begging to make the pain stop. Their hollow eyes filled with nothing but pain. Chains and explosive collars covering their bodies. Rotting away in cold, dirty cells, forgotten by the world. Hancock pushed the thoughts away. She wasn't going to think about that, because it wouldn't happen. It just couldn't.
The girl pulled herself back to reality by her tether, slowly climbing the wilting rope, hands bleeding and burning from the effort. The drop was endless. Darkness swallowing up the bottom, creating a void of trauma and unbearable memories. If she slipped even once, the girl knew she would fall to the murky depths below, never to return.
Hancock took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "They didn't tell you?" The fruit user questioned, their voice seeming normal, but it trembled slightly at the thought of explaining what a slave was to such an innocent soul.
He shook his head. "No, that's just what they called me whenever they dragged me around. I didn't like it… " Luffy hugged his orange hat with his remaining arm, sniffling slightly at what seemed to be unpleasant memories.
Well, she wasn't getting out of this very fun conversation now, was she? Hancock couldn't lie, or refuse to tell them, because that would be cruel, and they had a right to know. "A slave is… " The girl's words died on the tip of her tongue, and it only made the raven even more curious. Koala was looking at her as well, looking at her expectantly, wanting an answer.
"A slave is someone who has lost their freedom, and is marked as less than human. They are used as objects, nothing more than a source of entertainment and amusement for the higher powers. Once taken, no one can reverse the mark, you're owned by the ones who bought you, and live to serve their every whims." The teen took in a shaky breath, and continued. "We are slaves, on a slave ship. Everyone in the cages are. We're all going to be sold in Sabaody Archipelago, where we will be sent off to the highest bidder."
Her two cellmates looked at her as though she had told them the world was ending. And in a sense, it was, for them. She felt awful for telling them their inevitable fates, but it was better than keeping the truth from them. They would've found out sooner or later anyways.
"But… I promised… " Luffy's voice was so small as he curled into himself, clutching the cowboy hat even tighter. "We were all supposed to be free, and live life without regrets… " The boy wiped his eyes with his left hand, but only succeeded in smearing the tears all over his face. "I wanna go home! I miss my brothers, and Jiji, and Makino, and the mayor, and even the smelly bandits. I miss everything… So why can't I just go home?"
Koala wasn't doing any better. Her face was pale, eyes glossed over, distant. When she said something, there was nothing but fear in her voice. "Y-You mean… We're ne-never going home? W-we can-can't see… see our fam-families… ever again?"
"I don't know… " And that was the truth. Hancock had no idea if they were ever going to be free again. She was surprised that she was still alive, shocked that they hadn't killed her for her behavior. Who knew if they would ever see their loved ones again. Who knew if they would ever be free again. Who knew if they would ever even see the sun again? All they could do for now was hope they weren't killed before they had a chance.
They didn't think they would get out of that awful ship so soon. But now cages were being opened, and new chains were being put on. The trio were carelessly thrown from their cells, the bad people not caring about injuries or sleeping limbs. Heavy, cold metal was clamped around their necks, with bolts protruding from the front, and a thick chain trailing out, reaching the floor. They got new shackles on their wrists as well, (or wrist, in Luffy's case) with them being cleaner, darker, and weighed them down even more. Hancock informed them that they were explosive collars, and if they tried to run, or take them off without a key, it was suicide.
She also said, to keep their heads down while they walked to the Auction House, where they would be sold. They didn't get it at first, but soon found out that the ones who gawked at the breathtaking sight, were punished. Koala still tried to see the land surrounding her through the corner of her eyes, feeling a need to know what was out there.
She felt the lush, emerald grass that was too soft against her feet. She saw the whimsical bubbles rising high into the sky, reflecting the sun against their gleaming surfaces. She heard the birds twittering in impossibly large trees, and the wind trailing through the forest at a leisurely pace. She smelt the earth, the scent strong in her nose, as though it had rained not too long ago. With all of these feelings, she wanted to run into the forest, and never return. A grim reminder of why she was truly here.
Luffy was in the same predicament, wanting to run off into the gargantuan trees with his brothers, and hunt boar until dark. He wanted to see the ocean from the cliff he made the promise on. He wanted to go back to the ASL base, and pretend this never happened. He wanted to see Ace and Sabo, telling him to hurry up as they made their way to Grey Terminal. The urge to explore suddenly disappeared, replaced with the hideous face of truth, and what was to come.
Hancock had been here countless times, so it was nothing new. But before, she had her sisters, now she was alone. Everything seemed dull to her now, even if it was the most sunlight she'd have for a few months, maybe years. The mark on her back, purposely exposed to tell the world she was 'subhuman' burned her skin. She felt the brand so clearly, and it made her feel sick. All the teen could really do was think that one day, she would be free, and see her sisters again.
District One, and the Auction House, were in sight, making even more dread fill all of their stomachs. They passed three small towns on the way there, and no one came to help, to save them, to tell them it would all be okay. There was none of that, only people looking the other way, and getting their children to come back inside. Luffy and Koala were devastated, frustrated, and above all, confused as to why they weren't helping. Hancock, on the other hand, was indifferent, knowing there was no use to hope for the useless adults to help. Adults only made things worse in her eyes.
Once they were inside, they were pushed into a big cage, with lots of people inside. They were all sporting the same chains, but only a few were like Hancock, with their backs exposed and brand out for all to see. It was silent as they waited on hard, filthy benches. Some people in glamorous suits and stuck up faces came to look them over, deeming them of 'good quality.' Luffy and Hancock were the center of attention, being children with devil's fruit abilities.
Lights and loud noises were heard in the background, hard to hear through the dense walls. Apparently, the auction was starting. One by one, people disappeared behind grand doors, being dragged along by the snooty men from earlier. The auction got louder as time progressed, and the trio heard the announcer in the next room yelling prices, one after another. Koala was trembling, becoming more terrified every time someone else was dragged away, knowing that they might be next. Luffy wasn't much better, flinching every time he heard the word 'sold!' Knowing that someone's freedom was just taken away.
Then, the time they had dreaded since they stepped into the building, came. The three of them, along with a few others, were taken to the stage. Bright lights burned their eyes, and the noise made their ears ring. There was a person with a microphone yelling, and waving around their arms. People in fancy clothing were packed into rows upon rows of seats, little paddles with numbers in their hands. It only got louder as they were pulled onto the stage, and shoved to the back while others were taken to the front.
They watched in horror as innocent, scared people were talked about like objects for your home, or toys to play with until they broke. A lot of the younger ones openly sobbed, falling to their knees as they were taken to their new 'masters.' It was too much to take in all at once, so when one of them was yanked to the front, all the other two could do was stare in shock.
Hancock openly glared at them all, but they didn't take notice. All they could see was a beautiful teenager for the taking. A nice piece of art for their homes. Now that she was shoved into the spotlight, Koala could see all of the scars adorning her pale form. She was deathly thin, with burn marks, deep cuts, and bits of dried wax all over her body. None of them were on her face, only the parts of her body which could easily be covered, but weren't.
"One million!"
"One and a half million!"
"Four million!"
The price kept climbing higher and higher, people throwing away fortunes like pocket change. Despite this, the thirteen year-old kept the scowl, glowering at anyone she could spot through the bright lights. Even in chains, she was intimidating, but that only made the crowd want her more.
"Ten million!"
"Fifteen million!"
"Thirty million!"
"SOLD! For thirty million to the man in the red gown!" Koala just continued to stare, as her friend was taken off the stage, to the stuck up, hideous man, in a vibrant dress covered in jewels. All the other two could do was watch, as their friend was given to the man, who now had a twisted smirk on his face.
Koala was pulled up to the front next, and it took everything inside of her not to scream. They talked about her for a while, saying what she would be good for, like a person trying to sell a toaster in a store. The numbers started off small, and gradually got higher, making the brunette feel nauseous.
She kept her eyes glued to the ground, her legs firm on the floor. Everything began to spin when her price reached over a million, making people more eager for the 'prize.' Years could have gone by, and Koala would not have noticed, and when the final count of two million was made, she wanted to cry. The word which finalized her fate rang throughout the building, with some people letting out huffs of disappointment, while one let out a yell of glee. She was taken off the stage, and she decided to look up at the person who now held her life in their hands. Koala let out a small, faint sob.
It was a Celestial Dragon.
What now? Luffy didn't know. His only two friends were gone, sold, enslaved. He barely even noticed the person pulling him to the front, too shocked to do anything about it. Sounds were distorted, muffled, and sounded like gibberish in his ears. Lights which burned his eyes did nothing to make him close them, even if he wouldn't be able to see later on. Numbers, yelling, cheering, it was all the same, and Luffy wanted it all to go away.
He thought back to the simpler times, when he was running through the trees with his brothers, always behind, never quite catching up. The sounds of exotic animals filled his ears, and the feeling of twigs and rocks underneath his feet was the best thing in this world. And for a moment, one fleeting moment, he was back home. His brothers were right in front of him. Sabo was smiling, while Ace was scowling, telling the youngest to hurry up. He was about to run up to them, saying how much he missed them, that he was so scared and sad and lonely without them there. But as soon as he tried, they were gone. Morphing into the crowd he was placed in front of, the announcer only a few feet away, brilliant, artificial light glaring down at him.
The boy felt all of the euphoria, relief, and excitement leave his body as quickly as it came. And as he regained awareness of his surroundings, he heard that one word, the word which changed his whole life. Signifying that, now, his freedom was taken away.
"SOLD!"
That was a heavy chapter! At least Luffy met Koala and Hancock. Though there are quite a few tweaks from canon, seeing as Koala wasn't freed by Fisher Tiger, and Hancock is six years younger. But I felt like making Hancock thirteen so deal with my whims! Also, Tashigi is fourteen instead of nine, but I felt like that was too young to make her a marine. Even though you can only enlist in the marines once your seventeen, Tashigi enlisted under special circumstances. Those circumstances? I guess you'll find out later!Thank you so much for over two hundred views! I'm baffled this story got that much attention, and I'm super thankful that people actually took time out of their day to read my story!Please remember that I'm only human and make mistakes! Please let me know if there are any typos or sentences that sound weird! Also feel free to leave reviews, I love to hear all you opinions! Have a splendid day!
