Treasures Of The Line
Chapter 2
After spending the entire previous day with Lolly and Ajiya at the hot springs, Sylvia slept soundly for the night.
As the first rays of sunlight shone through her window, Sylvia awoke and stretched slowly. For the first time in her life, She had slept soundly in a warm, soft bed. After stretching, Sylvia looked around her room and saw a small stack of clothes on her desk. After walking over to the desk and unfolding them, Sylvia sighed happily. The clothes were a set of what appeared to be custom made clothes. There was a neatly folded ankle length dark red coat, A black, Short top with red floral patterns on them with a matching skirt, A set of black stockings and a pair of black, Knee high, Lace up boots.
After getting dressed into her new outfit, Sylvia opened the door of her room and sighed as a delicious aroma filled her senses, Making her stomach growl softly. After sighing hungrily, Sylvia walked downstairs and in to the kitchen where she found Hancock putting a plate of food on to the table next to a tall glass of the fruit drink that Cookie had made for Sylvia on the ship. As Sylvia sat down, Hancock spoke softly.
" Good morning sweetheart. How are you feeling? " Hancock smiled sweetly as Sylvia swallowed the mouthful of food she had in her mouth and sighed happily.
" I... I can't even begin to say how happy or how grateful I am. I can't even begin to thank you for everything you have done for me. " Sylvia stood up and moved quickly to Hancock before hugging her lovingly. " I love you mother. "
Hancock wrapped her arms around Sylvia and hugged her tenderly before speaking softly. " I love you to sweetheart. After you finish your breakfast, Would you like to walk through the village with me? After that I was thinking of taking you to the training arena so we can start training you. "
" Training? For what? " Sylvia looked toward Hancock as she giggled softly.
" You can't become a warrior if you don't train sweety. " Hancock smiled brightly before sitting down and speaking in a low voice. " I also want to see something. You said you were trapped in crystals. I have my suspicions that you now have a Devil Fruit power just as I and my two sisters do. I will tell you however that the village believes my sisters and I were cursed after killing a Gorgon. If you do talk about our powers, Please remember that. " Hancock smiled as Sylvia nodded obediently. " Good girl. Now, Eat up. You will need your strength today. "
After eating breakfast, Hancock and Sylvia walked through the village slowly as Sylvia took a closer look at the architecture of the buildings and stopped to smell various flowers. After about an hour of walking through the village, Sylvia and Hancock walked to the arena where Marigold and Sandersonia were waiting for them. As they walked down the steps in to the arena, Marigold spoke calmly.
" So this is our new niece. Pleasure to meet you. " Marigold smiled brightly as Sandersonia spoke.
" Keeping you to herself last night was enough of a wait. Nice to meet you little one. " Sandersonia smiled brightly before Hancock spoke with a bashful look on her face.
" I am perfectly entitled to keep her to myself! She is my daughter! " Hancock sneered irritably at her two sisters as they giggled happily. After a moment, Hancock sighed softly before speaking to Sylvia." Now before we start teaching you to be a warrior, I would very much like to see your powers if possible. "
" Powers?! " Marigold had a look of shock on her face before Sandersonia spoke.
" She is just like us... Did you eat the fruit by choice Sylvia? " Sandersonia spoke softly but with concern in her voice before Sylvia answered.
" I was hungry and I didn't know what it was exactly. It just looked like a piece of fruit. " Sylvia looked at the ground sheepishly as Sandersonia and Marigold both looked toward Hancock as she spoke.
" It is alright. We will help you to learn your powers. If anyone asks how you got them, Tell them that you ate a piece of fruit from a sacred shrine and were cursed as penance for your trespassing. It will be easier than explaining Devil Fruit. " Hancock smiled as Sylvia nodded silently before Hancock continued. " Now then, You said pink crystals covered your body in that cave. I want you to concentrate on those crystals. Focus on them and think about making them appear again. "
Sylvia nodded before closing her eyes and concentrating as much as she could on the sight of the crystals in the cave and the crystals that were growing out of her body. The harder she concentrated, The clearer the picture in her mind became. After several minutes, A tingling sensation rippled along her body as she opened her eyes.
Sylvia gasped as she looked down at her hands before Hancock, Marigold and Sandersonia's jaws dropped slowly. Sylvia's skin was covered by a thin layer of pink crystal. Her elbows had a crystal at the end that curved into a fine point and her shoulder had small crystal clusters on them. Her hair was crystallised into long dreadlocks and clinked softly as she moved her head. As Sylvia spoke, The pink crystals seemed to bend and flex as if they were flesh and not solid gemstone.
" This... This feels so weird... " Sylvia moved her arms and stretched slowly, Trying to get used to the feeling of being covered in crystal. After a moment, Hancock spoke with a mix of fear and caution in her voice.
" D... Devil Fruit's Bane... I thought this power was a myth... " Hancock breathed slowly as she watched in shock as the layer of crystal covering Sylvia's skin glistened and sparkled in the sunlight.
After a moment, Sylvia stretched slowly and Hancock gasped as two pieces of crystal fell off Sylvia's shoulders and hit the ground before trembling and shifting in to two perfect copies of Sylvia that mirrored her movement perfectly. Sylvia giggled softly before beginning to make silly poses and movements and laughing happily as the two crystal clones copied her.
As Sylvia continued playing happily with the two crystal clones, Hancock looked on with fear in her eyes as Marigold spoke softly. " This is... This is amazing. The things her power will be capable of... "
" Are unprecedented. This power has not been seen in hundreds of years. I have only heard of it in legends and myths. To see it with my own eyes... " Sandersonia spoke calmly before Hancock sighed and spoke.
" I wonder... " Hancock stood in silent thought for a moment before Marigold spoke.
" You care to share or? " Marigold smirked as looked at with amusement on her face.
" I was just thinking... You remember that Marine Admiral that came here a couple of weeks ago threatening to destroy the island if we don't agree to join them? " Hancock paused for a moment as Marigold and Sandersonia nodded quietly. " Well... If we didn't have a way to defend the island against the Marine Fleet we would have to agree. But if Sylvia can learn to use her power to make a wall of crystal around the island? What if the Marines had no way to get to the island without our approval? "
" That... Actually might work... " Marigold spoke calmly and looked toward Sylvia as the crystal clones shattered an Sylvia sighed disappointingly before trying to remake them repeatedly with no success.
" That is of course after Sylvia learns how to use her power other than turning herself pink and sparkly. We are going to need some serious training if she is going to be ready before the Marines come back. " Sandersonia spoke with concern before looking at Sylvia with worry in her eyes. " We shouldn't push her too far though. "
" Her power is not only unpredictable but there are no documents or records of it other than the rumours and myths we heard during our time with the World Government. We have nothing to go on. No way to know what will happen. " Hancock spoke cautiously as Sylvia started playing with her hair.
" Exactly! We have no idea what she might be capable of nor do we even know how to teach her to use her power! Where do we even start? " Marigold spoke impatiently and huffed loudly as Hancock sighed softly.
" We teach her to be one of us. A warrior. We will work on her power as we go. We know how we learned to use it so we can teach her what we know. If nothing else it might at least help her figure it out. " Hancock spoke calmly and smiled as Sandersonia and Marigold nodded before turning back to watch as Sylvia continued playing with her hair.
After a few minutes, Sylvia's skin returned to normal and the crystals receded into her skin. As Sylvia ran over to Hancock, She smiled and spoke softly. " That was so cool! I was pink and when I stretched, My crystals made more of me! Did you see it Mother? " Sylvia giggled happily as Hancock picked her up and held her gently.
" I saw it sweety. It was amazing. But now we need to start your training. " Hancock smiled as Sylvia giggled and nodded happily.
As Sylvia followed the instructions given to her by Hancock, Marigold and Sandersonia observed and pointed out incorrect movements or techniques. After a few hours of training, Hancock carried Sylvia home as she slept soundly in her arms. On the way home, Ajiya ran over and spoke to Hancock.
" Sylvia started her training today right? " Ajiya smiled brightly as Hancock nodded but looked toward her with confusion as a sad look fell over Hancock's face. " What is wrong Captain? "
" Sylvia... Sylvia is cursed. As I and my sisters are. She got her curse in a different circumstance but she is just like us. " Hancock walked away silently as a look of shock slowly appeared on Ajiya's face.
The Next Day
Sylvia yawned softly and stretched out before getting dressed and walking downstairs to the kitchen as the aroma of breakfast floated through the house. As Sylvia sat down at the table, Hancock spoke softly. " Good morning sweety. After breakfast we are going to get straight in to training. We will practise accessing your powers today. "
Sylvia yawned and nodded sleepily but smiled as Hancock kissed her forehead gently. After breakfast, Sylvia slowly woke up full as she walked to the arena with Hancock. As they walked, Hancock noticed Ajiya following them out of the corner of her eye. As they entered the arena, Sylvia ran over to Marigold and Sandersonia happily and smiled as they both tousled her hair gently.
" Alright kiddo. Do you remember how it felt when you used your power yesterday? " Marigold spoke softly and paused as Sylvia nodded. " Okay. We are going to do the again but today we will... Try something new. " Marigold looked toward Hancock with concern on her face before Hancock nodded silently and walked up the stairs of the arena before sitting on her snake as if it were a chair.
" First... Access your power. " Sandersonia spoke calmly before Sylvia closed her eyes and focused as she had done the day before. After a moment, The tingling sensation rippled along her body as pink crystal covered her skin. After a moment, Sylvia opened her eyes and looked up at Marigold and Sandersonia with a bright smile.
" Good girl. Now... " Marigold paused before looking up at Hancock who merely nodded in silence. "... You don't belong here. You should leave. "
" Marigold... What... " Sylvia stepped toward Marigold who pushed her away forcefully.
" Leave. No one wants you here. " Marigold spoke with malice in her voice as tears welled up in Sylvia's eyes.
" But... But I don't understand... You said I was one of you... " Sylvia cried softly as Sandersonia picked her up the collar of her shirt and threw her aside.
" We lied. Leave. " Sandersonia had a look of guilt and disgust on her face as Sylvia cried loudly before sitting on her knees.
" I thought that finally someone truly wanted me. I thought that I finally had a home. Somewhere I belong. But it was just my imagination. " Sylvia looked down at her hands as anger and hate filled her senses. After a moment, Sylvia threw her head back and screamed loudly as a wave of energy pulsed out of her. The ground in the centre of the arena glowed brightly before erupting into crystal formations, Throwing Marigold and Sandersonia off the arena in to the small moat that surrounded it. As Hancock looked on in shock, Ajiya ran down the stairs and made her way through the varying crystal formations until she was within a few feet of Sylvia.
Ajiya cried as she saw Sylvia surrounded by a dome of crystal and could hear her crying heavily. As she tapped on the crystal, Sylvia looked toward her as tears rolled down her crystal covered cheeks before crystallising as they fell through the air, Falling to the ground with small clinking sounds. After a moment, The wall in front of Ajiya receded and she quickly moved to Sylvia's side and wrapped her arms around her before speaking softly.
" They didn't mean that Sylvia. We all want you here. " Ajiya spoke soothingly as Sylvia cried in her arms.
" Then why did they say it?! Why upset me like this?! " Sylvia pushed away from Ajiya gently but Ajiya held her tightly as she spoke.
" Because they needed to see your reaction. They needed to see what would happen so they could figure out how to help you. They do want you here and they do love you. " Ajiya stroked Sylvia's hair gently as Sylvia sobbed.
As Sandersonia and Marigold climbed out of the moat, The crystal formations slowly receded back toward Sylvia. After a few moments, All that was left was the dome around Sylvia and Ajiya. Marigold and Sandersonia looked through the small hole in the dome and fell to their knees as Hancock ran down the stairs and ran to Sylvia as the dome slowly receded. As she knelt beside Sylvia, Sylvia looked up at her with pain and sadness filling her eyes.
" Tell me you weren't lying... Tell me that Ajiya was right. That I am only upset because you wanted a reaction. Tell me that I belong here... Please... " Sylvia cried heavily as her skin returned to normal and Hancock picked her up and hugged her tightly.
" Of course you belong here darling. I love you with all of my heart and so do Sandersonia and Marigold. Yes we needed a reaction and saying those horrible things was the fastest way to get one. We love you so much sweetheart and we do want you here. You do belong here. I am so sorry that we had to upset you. " Hancock sighed softly as Sylvia put her arms around her and cried heavily as Marigold and Sandersonia walked over and knelt beside them.
" We really didn't mean what we said. We all love and want you here. " Marigold spoke tenderly as she ran her hand down Sylvia's cheek gently.
" We are sorry we upset you so much sweety. " Sandersonia spoke soothingly and ran her fingers through Sylvia's hair lovingly.
" You can't say things like that to me... It hurt so much. You just can't... " Sylvia sobbed softly as Hancock held her gently. " I can't take it... "
" We know. And it hurt so much having to say it. I almost cried just thinking I had to. " Marigold's lip trembled as she spoke shakily.
" We really didn't want to say these things sweety. But it was the only way to force a reaction... Now we know how to help you. Now we know how to train you to control your wonderful power. " Sandersonia kissed Sylvia's head gently as Sylvia took a deep breathe and spoke softly.
" Just promise me you won't say it ever again. " Sylvia looked up at Marigold and Sandersonia with a pleading look as they both smiled.
" Never again sweetheart. " Marigold smiled as Sandersonia spoke.
" We promise. We would rather die than say those things ever again. " Sandersonia spoke soothingly before Sylvia hugged them both tenderly as they put their arms around her gently.
" I love you all so much. I just can't take that again. " Sylvia sobbed softly as Ajiya walked up behind her and put her arms around Sylvia gently as she blushed lightly.
" You won't have to. We are all here for you Sylvia. We all love you so much more than you know. " Ajiya smiled and blushed slightly brighter as Sylvia breathed out slowly and relaxed in Ajiya's arms.
After a few moments, Ajiya stepped back as Hancock spoke softly. " It seems cruel to ask... But... Do you want to keep training or would you like to spend some time with Ajiya and relax for a few hours? " Hancock spoke calmly as Sylvia looked toward Ajiya, Who had a look of longing and hope on her face as Sylvia turned back to Hancock.
" I need some time Mother. I am going to go to the hot springs with Ajiya and... Calm down a bit. I am... I am hurting right now. I need some time. " Sylvia looked away sadly as Hancock nodded and Ajiya took Sylvia's hand and walked out of the arena. Once Sylvia and Ajiya left, Sandersonia and Marigold rounded on Hancock with looks of anger and frustration.
" I can't believe you made us do that! " Marigold spoke forcefully and with a tone of voice that made Hancock step back slightly.
" Don't you ever ask us to do something that heartless again! " Sandersonia mirrored Marigold's tone before the two of them walked out of the arena, Leaving Hancock to think about her decision as tears formed in her eyes.
The Hot springs
" You know they didn't mean it right? " Ajiya spoke calmly as she put her arms around Sylvia again.
" That doesn't make it hurt less. And it certainly doesn't make it okay. " Sylvia spoke sadly as she pulled away from Ajiya and sat down in the water with her arms resting on the side of the hot spring.
" No it doesn't. But they had a good reason. Yes it was hurtful but... " Ajiya stopped as Sylvia turned and faced her with tears flowing down her cheeks.
" Please... Just stop Ajiya. " Sylvia turned away again with pain and sadness in her eyes as Ajiya's eyes filled with tears. After a moment, Ajiya pulled Sylvia away from the edge of the hot spring and held her tightly.
" Ajiya please... " Sylvia spoke sadly but fell silent as Ajiya shook her head.
" I'm not letting you go. I'm never letting you go. " Ajiya spoke sadly and sobbed softly as Sylvia tried to pull away.
" Ajiya... " Sylvia's lip trembled as she kept trying to pull away.
" No. " Ajiya held tighter as Sylvia seemed to melt in her arms.
" Ajiya... " Sylvia bit her lip softly before putting her arms around Ajiya and hugging her tightly. " Thank you. "
" Sylvia... I... " Ajiya blushed brightly as she moved backward slightly and bit her lip. " I... "
" Oh for the love of... Will you just say it?! " Lolly stepped in to the water as Ajiya blushed brightly and turned away.
" Say what? " Sylvia looked toward Lolly with confusion on her face before Ajiya tugged her arm gently, Making Sylvia turn and face her again.
" I... I... " Ajiya bit her lip nervously before shaking her head, Kissing Sylvia's cheek lightly, Wading to the edge of the spring, Wrapping a towel around herself and running off.
" Well it isn't all the way there but it's a start. " Lolly smiled and sat in the hot water before sighing contently.
" Ajiya... What... Wait... " Sylvia tried to speak but was lost for words as her cheeks flushed red.
" Please tell me you are not that oblivious. " Lolly smirked playfully before sighing as Sylvia looked toward her with confusion on her face. " I get it though. We are still kids. That being said we are still human. Ajiya loves you Sylvia. More than the rest of us and differently to the rest of us. Don't get me wrong, We all love you but for Ajiya... It is so much more. " Lolly spoke softly as Sylvia fell backward in shock and floated in the water for a moment gazing up at the sky before sitting up and speaking softly.
" But... I don't know what love is. Except for how much I love mother but... Is what Ajiya feels different to that? " Sylvia looked nervously toward Lolly who simply smiled and nodded before speaking.
" Given your past, It isn't surprising that you don't know what love actually is. I still don't understand fully and mom has told me about it before. But Ajiya feels something for you that the rest of us don't. " Lolly giggled softly before tilting her head toward a nearby bush that Ajiya was hiding behind. " Stop hiding. "
Ajiya gasped loudly before blushing and stepping out from behind the bush, Dropping her towel and stepping back in to the water. As she waded toward Sylvia, Ajiya spoke nervously.
" Sylvia... I... " Ajiya gasped as Sylvia pulled her forward and kissed her squarely on the lips tenderly. As she stepped back, Sylvia turned to Lolly.
" Did... Did I do that right? It felt right. " Sylvia giggled softly and blushed brightly as Lolly giggled.
" Perfect Sylvia. Well played. " Lolly giggled happily as Ajiya stood frozen in place with a look of shock on her face as Sylvia waded over and sat next to Lolly, giggling between themselves.
After several minutes, Ajiya snapped out of the trance she was in and looked toward Sylvia.
" Sylvia... You... " Ajiya put her fingers on her lips softly as she blushed brighter and brighter before sighing loudly and falling backward into the water.
" Oh my god I killed her! Was my kiss really that bad?! " Sylvia stood up quickly and began to panic as Lolly laughed loudly.
" You didn't kill her Sylvia. Ajiya has been dreaming about that since you met her. It's all she talks about when you aren't around. " Lolly smirked as Ajiya sat up and sighed happily.
" Ajiya... I don't honestly understand what I am feeling but saying this feels right. I love you. A lot. But... " Sylvia blushed nervously as Ajiya looked toward her slowly. " But we are still young. And I have never been in love before... For obvious reasons... Can... Can we take this slow? "
" Of course we can! I'm just happy that you feel the same way I do... But we can take this as slow as you need to until you feel comfortable. " Ajiya waded over to Sylvia and pulled her into a very tender hug as Sylvia blushed and spoke softly.
" Thank you Ajiya. Uhm... I... I can still kiss you even if we take it slow... Right? I..." Sylvia blushed brightly as she continued. " I really enjoyed my first kiss... "
Ajiya blushed brightly and stepped back nervously as she giggled softly. " Best first kiss I could ask for. Of course you can still kiss me if we take things slow. I would really like that. "
" Can... Can I kiss you now? " Sylvia smiled nervously as she stepped closer to Ajiya.
" Yes... Yes please. " Ajiya stepped closer and put her arms around Sylvia's waist as she leaned forward slowly.
Sylvia smiled nervously as she leaned forward and pressed her lips against Ajiya's gently. Sylvia sighed softly into the kiss as Ajiya's touch electrified her senses. After a moment, Sylvia broke the kiss and sighed as she blushed brightly. " Wow... "
" Very wow... " Ajiya hugged Sylvia lovingly once more before taking Sylvia's hand and lacing her fingers with Sylvia's. As they sat down, Lolly giggled happily.
" That... That was really cute. I am sorry if I spoiled the moment a little. " Lolly smiled as Ajiya shook her head.
" It's okay Lolly. I wasn't exactly making progress on my own. Thank you for pushing me a bit. " Ajiya smiled and giggled happily as she pulled Sylvia into her arms gently. " But it is perfect now. "
Sylvia sighed happily before closing her eyes and relaxing completely in Ajiya's arms.
After about an hour, Sylvia got out of the hot spring and dried off, Got dressed and walked home. Along the way, Sylvia saw Marigold and Sandersonia walking toward her. As she passed them, They waved to her but Sylvia simply looked away sadly as she walked past without a word.
Marigold sighed softly as she watched Sylvia walk away. " We deserve this. "
" We should never have said those things to her. Even to get a reaction... " Sandersonia spoke sadly before Marigold spoke softly.
" We should talk to her about it. We certainly don't deserve forgiveness but... Maybe we can at least... I don't know... At least patch things a little. " Marigold sighed softly as she followed Sylvia in silence. After a moment, Sandersonia sighed sadly and followed.
As Sylvia sat down in the kitchen and Sighed heavily, She heard the front door open. After a moment, Marigold and Sandersonia walked in to the kitchen as Sandersonia spoke calmly.
" Sylvia... Can we speak to you? " Sandersonia looked toward Sylvia with a hopeful look but sighed softly as Sylvia turned away. " I guess we will leave then... "
" How could you say those things to me. ME. You KNOW how much pain I have endured and you threw it at me like everything I have experienced since Mother found me has been a lie. I... I don't know if I can forgive you for this... " Sylvia sighed sadly but gasped softly as Sandersonia picked her up and hugged her lovingly.
" Marigold and I love you so much sweetheart. You are such an amazing girl and so very special to us. We didn't mean what we said and it hurt us as much to say it as it hurt you to hear it. We won't ask you for forgiveness. We just want you to know that we do truly love you very dearly and we do truly want you here. This is your home. We are your family. And even though you might hate us for what we did, We will never stop loving you or wanting you here. " Sandersonia held Sylvia for what felt like hours as Sylvia quickly descended into tears and spoke as much as she could through heavy sobs.
" I... I just... I love you all so much... And it broke my heart to hear the people I love... I just can't... " Sylvia cried heavily as Sandersonia handed her to Marigold gently, Who took her and hugged her lovingly.
" It is okay to be mad at us sweety. But we need you to know that we adore you and we love you so much. We are so very, Very sorry for what we did and we will never, Ever say anything like that ever again. " Marigold spoke sadly as she held Sylvia.
After a few moments, Hancock spoke. " And in all fairness, It was my idea. "
Sylvia stopped crying for a moment and looked toward Hancock with shock on her face. " Mother... Why... "
Hancock bit her lip but broke down in to tears and fell to her knees as she spoke softly. " I am so sorry sweety. I just... I didn't know how to help you and I made the wrong decision and... I am so sorry... " Hancock sobbed loudly as Marigold put Sylvia down.
After a moment of Sylvia processing what Hancock said, Sylvia ran to Hancock and tackled her lovingly. As they fell backwards to the floor, Sylvia spoke sadly. " I love you so much Mother. More than I can say and I am so glad you asked me to be your daughter. But don't you dare ever do something like this again. EVER. "
" Never sweetheart. It was a stupid decision and I wish I could take it back. I truly do. But I would rather die than hurt you again. " Hancock hugged Sylvia tightly and kissed her head gently as Sandersonia and Marigold sat down beside them and put their arms around Hancock and Sylvia.
After about half an hour of hugging it out, Sylvia spoke softly. " I love you all too much to hate any of you for this. I forgive you. But this is the last time we will ever discuss my past or say anything that reopens those scars. I just can't take that. Promise me. Promise me on your lives that you will never do it again. " Sylvia looked up at Hancock, Marigold and Sandersonia with a mix of pain, Love and anger in her eyes before all three of them spoke in unison.
" On our lives, We vow to you that this will never happen again. "
Sylvia nodded and smiled slightly before leaning into Hancock as she put her arms around Sylvia. After a moment, Hancock spoke soothingly.
" I love you sweety and I think we have put you through far too much. Training can wait. We need to earn your trust again before we can ask you to train. Take all the time you need to let the scars close again. Find any one of us when you feel ready. " Hancock kissed Sylvia's head gently before letting her go and watching her walk out of the front door before breaking down again.
Wounds thought closed for good are reopened.
Can Sylvia move past this unfortunate event and learn to use her powers?
Read on to find out!
Read and Review