Author's note: Hey guys, here's the next chapter.
Let me know what you think,or if you have any suggestions.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy.
I'll always be there
Chapter 2 : Scars - Ace's promise
It was summer in the East Blue, Ace, Luffy and Rade had left the cottage eirly to make the short treck to mount colubo where they had planed to hunt for somthing for dinner that night.
Rdae bounced along eagerly behind her brothers, the past weeks since she had arrived she had spent close to the cottage, so she was exited to venture further into the island. After walking for around half an hour they stopped for a break as Rade had started to fall behind, perching on some bolders that overlooked a small stream that ran between the trees, the stream was hoast to ment bright coloured fish Rade knelt down at the edge of the water gently placing her hand in the cool liquad, the fish where sceptical at first but soom became curious and swam around her hand brushing agiansted her fingers,she watched them drawn in by their bright colours.
With a splash Luffy fell into the water disterbing the water and scattering the fish, "HELP, HELP, I CAN'T SWIM" Luffy gasped splashing around in the shallow water, "Just stand up, ideot" Ace grumbled. "hey look i can stand up in this" luffy said having totaly ignored Ace, the water barley came up to his knees and ace shot him an annoyed look that he cast aside casualy.
~~~~~~~X~~~~~~~
"IM GONNA BE KING OF THE PIRATES" Luffy crowed, throwing his hands in the air, the children had almost made it to the top of the mounain, Luffy had spotted a rock that was shaped like a ship and was currently stand in top of it, "Like hell you are Luffy, Because im gonna be the knig" Ace stated confidently pressing his thumb aginst his chest gesturing to himself proudly, pushing Luffy off the rock.
"You two are funny" Rade giggled madly
"Funny huh?" Ace said teasingly "I'll show you funny" he said tackling Luffy to the ground, grabing his arms and wrapping them around his body several times before tieing them around his waist, Rade erupted in another fit of laughter clutching at her belly "s-st-op ac-ey" she gasped out between laughing fits, Ace smiled at the childish nickname "Acey", as Luffy struggled to untie his arms, Ace smiled triumphantly.
It took 10 minuits in total for Rade to stop laughing and Luffy to untie his arms and for the whole time Ace had watched greatful for their copmany however the feeling was short lived because once Luffy had freed himself he stompped towards ace "you bastard" he grumbled irratated, he pounced on ace bringing them both to the ground, "get off, Luffy" Ace complained pushing him away, the brothers focous on their brawl drew their attention away from Rade who, had caught sight of a bright coloured butterfly in the trees.
Walking past her brothers, Rade passed through a small opening in the trees, she began to follow the butterfly down a narrow path, as she walked she let her hands slide across the surface of the ferns and flowers that lined the edge of the narrow path she seemed to be following, the small buterfly flutterd past her face she stared in awe of the bright colours that decorated its wings, it began to flutter off the path and , without noticing, Rade hade walked into the trees. She lost sight of the butterfly but when she turned around to head back to her brothers she found herself compleatly lost, the buterfly reapeard landing on a rock in a small opening, Rade aproched it slowly kneeling down infront of the rock to closly inspect the bug.
Rade herd a low menacing growle, she had a bad feeling, she didnt have much experince with animals but she knew the noise, did not come from the butterfly, and was not friendly, turning around Rade came face to face with a mouth of sharp yellow teeth, she could feel the creatures hot beath on her face, its eyes where black and its fur was a brown and dirty, the mucles on its body rippled with every step it took, its claws leaving sharp inprints in the ground.
Rade could feel her heart beating, the creature strode fowards, teeth on display,cold eyes fixed on her. She backed away quickly in an attempt to escape, what she now identifyed as a bear, her foot fell on a stick thats cracked loudly under her weigth, with the noise the bear lunged fowards claws outstreched, Rade felt someting rip through her leg causing her horrible and she could feel her paulse in her leg, she let out a sharp scream before she hit her head on the hard ground, falling unconcious.
"Get off me Luffy" Ace grumbled still trying to pry Luffy of him,"no until you apoligize" Luffy grumbbled, Ace had hold of luffys cheek and arm and in return Lufft was holding both of Ace's arms, they both struggled however eventually Ace managed to climb on top of Luffy pinning him to the ground until he admited defeat. Ace stood up dusting himself off and glancing around for their sister, "Luffy did you see where Rade went", Luffy stood up shaking his head, but as Ace was about to speak again they herd a scream.
Ace felt his heart sink as he realised who the scream belonged to, him and luffy sprinted in the direction the voice had come from, they ran down the path, through the trees and into the clearing to see Rade lying motionless on the ground the huge bear looming over her. Ace acted quickly attacking the monster,he landed a solid kick between its eyes "get him ace" Luffy cheered, and another under its jaw, it staggred back shocked by the boy and fled.
Ace joined Luffy beside Rade and inspected her injuries, from what he could she she had three large gashes on her left leg caused by the creatures claws he asumed, she was unconcious and her leg was bleeding severely, Ace scooped her up in his arms and carryed her quickly towards the village Luffy following closly behind.
Ace felt sick at the sight of the cuts on Rade's leg, his stomach churned with guilt and he fought back frustrated tears, he hadnt been paying attention, Rade had only been there a few weeks and she didn't know all the dangers the island held, he was ment to protect her, make sure she was safe, but he had let her get hurt ,badly, and now if she survived, she would be badly scared, "I'm sorry,I'm so sorry" he mumbled to Rade, still running.
It took the three kids around 15 miunits to get back, Ace and Luffy had practly sprinted the entire way, as Rade had lost already alot of blood, Luffy nocked on the door of the cottage vigerously. The door swung open revaling ,Magra "what happened" the man asked worried but kindly as he caught sight of the pale Rade in Ace's arms.
Ace and Luffy rushed inside still holding Rade "we where in the foreest hunting then, she walked off and a while lather we found her like this" Ace rushed to explain and magra nodded slowly placing a hand on aces shoulder, squezing it softly attempting to calm the boy. "Just lay her down here" Magra gestured to a bench that acted as an operating table, placing her on the table Ace saw just how seroius her injurues where, she had three long deep gashes from the creatures claws that had ripped through skin and mucle, she was pale due to the lack of blood, Ace noticed the amount of blood he had on his own clothes.
"Is she gonna be ok" Luffy asked franticly following Magra as he collected supplies from around the room. "Shes lost alot of blood, but she wants to live so i'm sure she will be fine" Magra said calmly, attempting to settle Luffy down but Ace could hear the doubt in his voice, Luffy nodded glancing at his little sister lyeing motionless, the bottem her light blue dress now soaked in blood and her usaly soft black hair matted with dryed blood and dirt. Magra worked quickly washing out the deep wounds and sewing them once they where clean, both brothers watched with worried expresions, the thought of loosing her, even after the short time they had spent togther, was sickining.
Once Magra had finished sewing and bandaging Rades leg he placed her in a her bed so she could rest while she was recovering, he turned to Luffy and Ace a relaved and calm look on his face "she will be ok, the wound has stopped bleeding and her heart rate and breathing are staedy", his expression dropped slightly "but the cuts on her leg will leave large scars that won't heal" ace dropped his head slightly guilt washing over him.
~~~~~~~X~~~~~~~
Rade woke up just as night fell, she opend her eyes to see Luffy curled up asleep in his bed and Ace watching her intently, relife flooding his expresion when he saw her awake. Rade moved her leg causing a sharp stabbing sensation which made her cry out in pain, Ace winced in pitty and guilt and he fought back the tear rolling down his cheek, "i'm ok acey" Rade smiled reasuring him but he shook his head dismissing her attempts to comfot him, "No your not, you are hurt and you will be scared your whole life because i didn't protect you" the tears ran down his cheeks freely now. "I promise..." he said trying to compose himself, and grabbing a knife from a his pocket and flipping it open "I promise, on my own blood..." he cut his hand "... that i will protect you with my life" he placed the hand on his chest leaving a bloody mark on his shirt, rade gasped shocked by his vow.
"Acey..." her voice trailed off and she pulled him into a tight hug "...thank you.." she wisperd, sobbing with tears of gratitude.
When they fianlly pulled away from the hug Rade noticed the black bags under aces eyes "you should sleep Acey you look really tired" , Ace nodded, Rade could be very mature for a 6 year old. "yeah your right" he agreed slumping onto the the bed next to Luffy and closing his eyes letting his body relax, it was only seconds later she herd his breathing slow down as he fell asleep. Rade smiled at the sight of her brothers, her best friends, the people she was closest to in the world and the peacful look on their sleeping faces, before she could think anymore her heavy eyes had closed and she fell asleep.
