Hello Friends! Shout out to WyrdFyre for edititng!
Warnings at end of chapter.
SABAODY
"Hey Ace, I need to go talk to a coater about taking care of our ship. Would you mind coming with me?" Ari asked as we walked out of Sabaody Park.
"Sure. Where are they?" I asked.
"His wife runs a little bar and general store hybrid over on grove 15. If he isn't there then his wife should be."
"Sounds good, let's- Wait! I need to get some of those Graman things!"
"Don't worry, there are plenty of Graman stalls all over this island." She said before leading the way out of the amusement park.
"Ok, I know I was excited about the Graman things, but these Grasen things are really good!" I said while munching on a few of the rice crackers.
"You look so much like Garp right now. He used to make me come down here to pick up a shit ton of boxes for him." She said with a smirk.
Why the hell is she bringing him up so suddenly?
"Ari! Why would you compare me to that shitty geezer? I thought we were friends!"
"Maybe because you are currently stuffing your face with as much of his favorite food as possible?"
These are his favorite? Huh, never knew that…
But oh well, they're good so who cares.
"Eh, whatever. I should have bought more. This isn't going to be enough to fill me up." I said before biting down on another.
"You are so difficult." She said with a chuckle, a hair flip, and an eye roll.
Well that was sexy.
"Yea, you keep saying that, yet you keep sticking around." I said with a smirk.
"Well what can I say? Maybe I like a challenge."
While we were walking I looked around and realized that we had come to an area that was far different than the amusement park area we had just been in. Rather than being surrounded by cheerful food stalls and bright signs, now there were only decrepit buildings. We were also the only people walking around.
Geez this place is almost like Grey Terminal, just without all the thugs.
I was about to ask Ari what the deal was with this place when I noticed that we were being watched by several pairs of eyes. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that rather than being followed by bounty hunters we were being watched by a group of cautious children.
If those kids are out here then it can only mean that they don't have anywhere else to go...
"Hey come over here." I called out to them. They were hesitant to come out of hiding, but once one of the braver ones did, the rest followed. About 10 kids started to walk forward hesitantly, I noticed that they all looked to be around 6 years old. Their clothes hung in tatters and their little faces were smeared with grime.
Now this place reminds me of the Terminal.
"Here, take these." I said, handing out my remaining Gasen boxes. The kids smiled and said thank you, before quickly grabbing them and scampering back into the ruined buildings. Once they got closer to their hiding spot, I noticed another dozen or so even younger kids peeking out to meet them.
Ari watched as I handed out the boxes, waiting till they were back in their hidey hole to say, "I thought you were still hungry."
"Nah, I just realized I'm full."
"You big softy." She said, elbowing me softly in the side.
"Yea I know. But why are there so many kids out here Air? Shouldn't someone be doing something about them? I get that some kids will always end up on the streets but that many?"
She shrugged and said, "This is just how Sabaody is. Pirates and sailors come through here, stay a few days, and then leave without caring about what they leave behind. It's gotten worse since I left, but it's always been a problem. I was one of the lucky ones that had a home to go back to, even if it was pretty shitty. Most of these kids will be sold into slavery before they hit 10 years old. Those that aren't will probably become slavers themselves or turn to bounty hunting."
"And the Marines just don't give a damn." I said with a snarl.
Why would they right? All they care about is ruining peoples lives.
"They used to. That program I was a part of? The one that let me live in Marineford and be trained by Garp? It was created for kids like them. So they could have a chance at life beyond one in chains or a shallow grave. But because of… what happened… it wasn't safe to have young kids on base anymore and they had to shut it down."
"You say that like you almost like the Marines."
She shrugged again and said, "I have a lot of friends who are Marines if that is what you mean. But even if I didn't I wouldn't hate the Marines as a whole. The flag a person chooses to live by doesn't mean shit. Everyone is capable of the same amount of evil. A piece of cloth doesn't mean anything." She paused to look around before continuing, "But regardless, we're almost to where we're heading."
"Right." I said as we kept walking. "So, what is this place again?"
"It's a shop run by the parents of an old friend of mine."
"One of your Marine friends?"
"We went to school together and he happens to be a Marine now so I suppose. But his parents have always been very kind to me."
"Right." I said.
I should probably at least try to be polite if Ari likes these people. But I doubt they are anything other than assholes if they live here and leave those kids to fend for themselves...
As we kept walking, we came up to a small building that was bit run down and covered in vines. But the sign reading "Smoke Shop" was still readable from its place on the front. Ari walked up to the door and opened it while calling out, "Hey Mama Kemmy you home?"
From inside heard the voice of an old woman call out, "Is that my baby Adne?"
Ariadne ran over and gently hugged a short woman who looked to be in her 80's. She was shorter than Ari, with an endless amount of wrinkles and long snow white hair pulled back into a messy braid.
Well, she doesn't look like an ass at least...
"Oh let me look at you." The old woman said, pulling back from the hug and putting her hands on Ari's face. "You are getting more beautiful by the day, baby girl. And you're so tall! When did that happen? But you got even thinner than the last time you were here! You look like a twig! Do you even eat anymore?"
Ari huffed and said, "Of course I eat. I've just been traveling and training a lot."
"Don't remind me! I outta put you over my knee for making me wait this long to see you again! Seriously Ariadne I've only seen you once in the last 7 years!"
"I know, I know, I'm sorry. I've been… busy."
Ari apologizing? MY Ari? Who the hell is this lady?
The old woman shook a knobby finger in Ari's face and said, "Don't say another word. We both know why you had to leave and that it wasn't your fault! I'm just happy that I get to see you again at all."
"Thanks," Ari said while looking down and blushing. "Oh right! This is Ace! He's my captain."
Oh, she's talking about me!
I walked up to the woman before bowing quickly and saying, "It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am, my name is Portgas D. Ace but please call me Ace."
The woman grabbed me by the cheeks with her extremely wrinkled and frail hands before staring intensely at me for a minute. Then once she had finished making her judgment, she smiled and said, "Oh you'll do just fine. But don't you bother with that ma'am nonsense, you call me Mama Kemmy just like everyone else 'round here."
"Oh- ok. Will do…" I said awkwardly.
"Mama Kemmy, do you know where Papa Smog is? We were hoping to get our ship coated." Ari said from her spot at the bar where she had made herself quite comfortable.
"Oh he's around and he should be back before too long. But don't you worry about that now. Are you kiddos hungry? I'll make some lunch." Mama Kemmy said while slowly making her way behind the bar.
Yes, food! I'm starving! Maybe this lady isn't too bad...
Ari took off her jacket and settled in a bit more as she said, "Hey Mama Kemmy, we ran into a bunch of kids on the way here and there seemed to be a lot more than usual. Did something happen? There must have been at least 30 of them all clumped together."
"Yes, terrible business that. One of the brothels over on grove 10 decided that there were too many mouths to feed and so they just threw all of those sweet babies out on the street. I try and take care of as many as I can, but there are just too many these days." She said in a weary voice.
So she does try to help those kids...
"Right, and with the school shut down you aren't getting any help either."
"No I'm not." Mama Kemmy said angrily, "While the Marines didn't do much for us out here, I'm just thankful that they helped to get you and Smokey on a better path. Even if you were torn away from it."
Ari smiled weakly and said, "Speaking of, how's Smoker doing? It's hard for me to find news about him."
"Oh he's doing good from what I can tell. He's even worse than you about keeping in touch! But last I heard he had been promoted to Ensign and sent out to the East Blue."
"He was in the East? I was just there and I never saw him."
"Adne, honey, the East Blue is a big place." Mama Kemmy said with a warm exasperation slipping into her tone, similar to that of a parent repeating something for the millionth time to their child.
"Yes, I know. But-" Ari said in an annoyed tone before being cut off.
"Watch that cheek of yours baby girl. Don't you go thinking you're too old for me to put over my knee now." She said while pointing her spoon at Ari.
Ari paled and quickly said, "I apologize, Mama Kemmy."
Ok, what the hell is going on with Ari being this respectful?
"Thank you. Now, enough talk. Eat up." She said, putting two big bowls of chunky stew in front of us. It smelled mildly putrid and obviously had a lot of meat in it.
Ari recoiled at the sight of it and immediately started whining, "But Mama Kemmyyyyyy! There's meat in this!"
"Oh hush you." The old woman snapped. "You need to put some meat on those bones of yours. I swear a strong breeze would be enough to snap you in half."
"But you know I don't like meat!"
And this has got to be the grossest smelling and looking stew I have ever seen. But hey food is food right?
I picked up my spoon and took a bite, hoping that it would taste better than it smelled. And had to struggle to not spit it out.
Ok, how the hell did this woman make meat taste this bad?
"Well now, that's just too bad. Eat it. And don't you let me catch you leaving even a drop of that stew behind baby girl!"
Ari just sighed heavily before eating the tiniest spoonful of stew possible with a sour expression on her face. Mama Kemmy just smiled and nodded at her before walking away into the pantry behind the bar.
"Well she seems… nice." I said in between bites.
Ok yea, this stuff is gross. But at least there's plenty of meat in it? Even if it does taste like it's been sitting on the forest floor for a few months.
Ari looked almost ready to cry from the horrible stew, but she kept eating it regardless. Eventually she said, "She is. Her and her husband are basically the grandparents of all of the kids in the lawless area. She's very… forceful in her generosity."
"Yea I can see that. But hey she gave us food so I'm not mad." As I said that Mama Kemmy walked back in and plopped down a thick slice of bread into Ari's bowl.
"NO! I hate bread!" Ari immediately screeched when she saw what had been put in her bowl.
Since when does she hate bread? Actually come to think of it I don't think I've ever seen her eat any bread? Or meat for that matter...
Mama Kemmy looked Ari dead in the eye and said, "Ariadne so help me girl! Eat it! Your stomach is flatter than this countertop! You need to plump up or you'll waste away!"
"It's called being in shape! I have to fight a lot so I can't be 'plump'."
"Fine, fine, no need to get testy baby girl. And while that's all well and good, I'm not letting you walk out of here looking like you haven't seen a good meal in your entire life. So eat." She said, planting herself infront of Ari with her hands on her widehips.
"Alright, alright, no need to get testy. I'm eating see?" She said before taking a bite quite dramatically and then fighting to not gag on the stew.
Wait… is this where she gets that "testy" thing she likes to say all the time?
"I swear, I just don't know what's gotten into you girls." Mama Kemmy said while shaking her head.
"Which girls?" Ari asked.
"All of you class S girls. You, Sera, Domi, Sadi, Gion, and Hina all act like eating is such a chore. All of you look like twigs these days."
Ooh now we're getting into the drama. This is entertaining enough for me to not even care about how shitty this stew is.
"Have you heard from them lately? I've seen Sera a few times but that's it." Ari asked in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
"I haven't heard much, because apparently you kiddos are all too good for your Mama Kemmy these days. But as far as I know they are all still in the Marines. Sadi and Domino just got sent to Impel Down though. The poor dears."
"Why were they sent there?"
"Heaven only knows what those fools up top were thinking, sending those sweet little things down there."
"Well Sadi certainly deserves it-" Ari interjected before being cut off by the old woman's sharp glare.
So that's what people mean when they say "if looks could kill"
"Adne. Manners. You don't need to talk mean about someone who isn't here."
"She hates me! And honestly the feeling is more than mutual. But all I was saying was that I'm sure Impel Down is a perfect fit for her."
Whatever Mama Kemmy was about to say was interrupted by the sound of my spoon hitting the bottom of my bowl. I looked down to see that it was empty.
When did I finish it?
"Oh Ace, I'm so sorry hun! I just got so caught up in talking to this one that I forgot all about you!" She said before looking down at my bowl. "Oh you're done. I'll get you some more. A growing boy like you needs to keep his strength up after all. Adne, I'll get you some more as well."
"Please don't!"
Ari's protests were cut short by the sound of the door banging open and a deep voice cutting through the air.
"Kemuri, are you force feeding the kids again?" A voice came from the doorway. I looked over to see a tall, older man with white hair and a gruff face.
Now who the hell is this dude? Geez he's intimidating...
"I am not force feeding anyone! I am just trying to keep this baby girl from wasting away! Look at her, she's all skin and bones!" Mama Kemmy said while pointing at Ari.
The old man turned to look at Ari before scoffing and saying, "Been a while since you were here Adne."
Ari didn't turn to look at the man and just said, "Believe it or not, I'm aware of that Papa Smog."
He chuckled and said, "Well it's just good that you found your way back home. Better late than never right? But I take it you aren't here to stay."
Wait so he's actually nice? This dude looks like he would crush me just for breathing wrong.
"No, I'm not. I was hoping that you would coat our ship so we could get to Fishman island."
"Obviously. I'm not letting you sail out of here with anyone else's coating on your ship."
"Great! It should be docked nearby. I told the boys to dock it here." Ari said, jumping up from her seat and pulling with her.
The man walked over to the bar and took a seat. He took out a cigar and lit it before saying, "Right I'll get started on it in the morning, and have it done in three days."
"Lovely. I'll have Skull keep the crew out of your way and he'll have your money."
He grunted as he took a puff off his cigar.
"Right, well we should be on our way. It was great getting to see you guys again!" Ari said while pulling me towards the door.
"Wait Adne you didn't finish your stew! And you didn't touch your bread!" Mama Kemmy said when she noticed Ari slowly backing towards the door.
"Run!" She shouted before darting out of the bar.
Oh shit- guess we're running!
"Thanks for the food!" I called out behind me as Mama Kemmy hobbled out to the doorway to keep yelling at Ari.
Once we couldn't hear Mama Kemmy's voice anymore we stopped running.
"Well that was fun." I said while panting.
Why does she have to be so damn fast?
"Yea she's great. But fuck me that woman does not know how to cook."
"I have no idea how she messed up meat that badly. Even I can cook meat better than her and I was raised in a jungle!"
Hell Luffy probably could have done better than that woman...
"I know but she tries." Ari said. "Or at least I think she does. But who knows maybe that is her method of population control around here."
We both burst out laughing at tha. "Ok so what do we do now? Skull was whining about us keeping a low profile so what should we do for the next few days?"
Ari grabbed the string to my hat and started dragging me behind her, "Come on I'll show you all the best parts of Sabaody."
Warnings:
No chapter warnings apply