The Lost Children: A One Piece Story
This is the story of two children.
Born, not in the traditional sense, but out of love.
Love from two young Marines who were forced apart by circumstances
Now, it is time for these lost children to be reunited with their parents
But the journey will be far more complicated than anyone could ever imagine.
Chapter 1: Parent's Whereabouts
"Nana! Nana!"
Magdalena looked up from the book she was reading to look at the three-year-old blonde girl running towards her. "What is the matter, Norah?" She asked.
"Felix fell in the swamp again." The young girl known as Norah said.
Magdalena sighed as she put down her book and followed Norah to a nearby pond. "Were you two out catching fireflies again?"
Norah nodded. "Felix was trying to catch one on the edge of that big tree and he fell in the swamp."
"Just like your father." Magdalena smiled.
They finally reached the swamp and saw a small redhead boy sitting in the middle of the swamp, crying. Magdalena slowly descended down the swamp and held her hand out.
"Felix, are you hurt?" The boy shook his head. "Take my hand, child."
Felix nodded and reached for Magdalena's hand. The old woman pulled the boy up from the swamp and cradled him in her arms as he cried.
"Calm down, my giant baby." Magdalena soothed. "You're all right."
"I ripped my pants, Nana." Felix sniffed.
"It's okay, Felix. Abigail will patch them up. You're unharmed, that's what matters."
"Mother! What happened?!"
Magdalena turned around to see her son, Jean-Baptiste, standing next to Norah. He was looking on in concern.
"Oh, Jean-Baptiste, you're here!" She beamed. "Felix fell in the swamp again."
"He is his father's son." Jean-Baptiste mused, making his way to the swamp to retrieve the boy. He took Felix from Magdalena's arms and helped his mother out of the murky pond. "Mama, you have to be careful! You should've called Abigail for help."
"She's making dinner, I'm not going to bother her." Magdalena objected.
"What's she making, Nana?" Norah asked, excitedly.
"She's making your favorite, Sea King Gumbo! And dried plum cake for dessert."
Felix's reddish-brown eyes lit up. "Yay! I love dried plum cake!" He cheered.
"Eww! Dried plums are gross!" Norah sneered.
"No, they're not!" Felix protested.
"Yes, they are!" Norah argued.
"No, they're not!"
"Yes, they are!"
"No, they're not!"
"Alright, that's enough out of both of you!" Magdalena chided, halting their squabble. "Abigail also made some beignets with chocolate sauce for you, Norah."
"Yay!"
Jean-Baptiste shook his head and laughed. "I don't know who Norah takes after more, Bell-mere or Rosinante." He said.
"Norah has Bell-mere's personality even though she's the spitting image of Rosinante." Magdalena explained. "Felix is the opposite of his sister. He may look like Bell-mere but he's Rosinante through and through."
"Speaking of which, it's almost the end of the month, Mama. Have you located their current whereabouts yet?"
"Tsuru told me that Bell-mere went back home to Cocoyashi Village after her last mission on Oykot Kingdom."
"What about Rosinante?"
"Sengoku still won't tell me his whereabouts." Magdalena shook her head in pensive thought. "I may have to find another tactic to locate Rosinante."
"Well, I hope you can think of something soon." Jean-Baptiste said worriedly. "The twins turned 3 last week but I already see the energy draining from you."
"Stop fretting over me, son." Magdalena admonished. "I'm fine. You don't think I planned for this? I wouldn't have used my power to bring forth twins if I didn't think about the consequences and repercussions."
"I know, but I'm your son. I still worry about you."
Magdalena smiled and kissed Jean-Baptiste on his cheek. "I am very fortunate to have a son like you. Let's head back in the house before Abigail searches for us herself."
Garp returned to Navy HQ after a routine check-up in the East Blue. He entered his office and was in the middle of sitting down on his recliner, enjoying his favorite rice crackers and tea when his Observation Haki went on high alert. He felt a familiar yet intimidating presence sitting on his couch.
"You always knew how to make an entrance, don't ya, Mags?"
"I often try."
"Want some rice crackers?"
"No, but I'll take some Green Tea and those scones Sengoku always eats."
After serving Magdalena some strawberry scones and Green Tea, Garp sat in his recliner, eating his crackers. "So, what do I owe the honor of this visit/break-in?"
"Now Garp, isn't that any way to treat your former lover?" Magdalena pouted.
"We only made out once." Garp objected.
"Several times, actually. Each one more memorable than the last."
Garp rolled his eyes. "Why are you here, Magdalena?"
"I need to know where Rosinante is." Magdalena said bluntly.
"He's in the North Blue on an assignment." Garp replied.
"Let me rephrase my inquiry then: Where in the North Blue is Rosinante?"
Garp rubbed his temples, sighing deeply. "That information is classified, Magdalena. I can't tell you."
"Don't give me that bureaucratic bullshit, Garp!" Magdalena snapped. "I used to be a Marine too."
"Then you know the meaning of classified information!"
"Damn it, Garp! Just tell me where Rosinante is!"
Garp was about to retort when he noticed something that shook him to his core.
"Y-your nose is bleeding." He shuddered.
Magdalena's eyes grew wide with fear as she quickly took a napkin and held it up to her nose to stop the bleeding. "Ugh, this is so embarrassing." She muffled. "I haven't been feeling well lately. Sorry."
"You never get sick. You got the best immune system known to man." Garp opposed.
Magdalena shrugged. "Well, it's a first time for everything."
"Come on, Mags. What's really going on? The only time I've seen you look this bad was when you first used your Devil Fruit power all those years ago."
There was a moment of awkward silence. But it was in that lack of response, Garp figured out why Magdalena was insistent on knowing Rosinante's location.
"Magdalena, what did you do?" He asked gravely.
The older woman sighed in resignation. "I gave Rosinante and Bell-mere twin children." She confessed. "But they already left before I could introduce the kids to them."
"WHAT?!" Garp exclaimed.
"Oh, don't be such a drama king."
"Mags, why..why…. why would you do something stupid like that?!"
"So, making babies for deserving couples who can't make their own is stupid?" Magdalena countered.
"You know what I mean." Garp sighed. "Contrary to popular belief, you're no spring chicken. Using your power already takes a lot out of you and you used it twice?"
"I didn't use my power twice. I used my power once with twice the amount of energy."
"You saying like there's a difference."
"Is there not?"
Garp groaned very loudly. (Why did he even bother?) "Where are the twins now?"
"Abigail took them to work with her. They just turned 3 last week."
"They're three-years-old?! No wonder your nose is bleeding, Magdalena. They're sucking all the life out of ya."
"Which is why I need to take the twins to their parents." Magdalena explained. "So, I need to know Rosinante's location. You don't have to give the details of his mission, just give me an island."
Garp leaned back in his chair. This situation wasn't very ideal, but he understood Magdalena's intentions. She loved both Rosinante and Bell-mere like her own children. She gave them something they thought was impossible to achieve: a chance to have children of their own. Although neither of them will admit it, both Garp and Magdalena had a soft spot for Rosinante. They both felt that he deserved every good thing in this world. So, against his better judgment (and mostly due to empathy), Garp decided to tell Magdalena what he could.
"So, Rosinante has been MIA for almost six months." He revealed.
"Oh Gods!" Magdalena exclaimed. "Did he get hurt?"
"Nah, nothing too drastic like that." Garp replied. "He told Sengoku that he was going to take some time off of his mission for 'personal reasons.'"
"What personal reasons?"
"Senny didn't tell me but I have a theory." Magdalena nodded for Garp to continue. "Almost three years ago, Roci met a ten-year-old boy from Flevance."
"The White Town? I thought there weren't any survivors?"
"Probably got overlooked. From what I heard, Rosinante took a liking to the kid. Threw him off of a building on their first meeting."
"Your idea of showing affection is entirely different from any sane person's idea of showing affection, Garp." Magdalena grimaced.
"Eh, to each their own, I guess." Garp shrugged. "Anyway, we've been getting reports about several hospitals in the North Blue getting burned to the ground. Witnesses said that they saw a 9ft tall giant wearing a black feathered coat and carrying a small boy exit every hospital that got torched."
"You think it was Rosinante?"
"Kid's got a pretty nasty temper when it comes to people he loves getting wronged in any kind of way."
"Oh, believe me. I know." A small smile came across Magdalena's face as she recalled the time Rosinante rescued her from that pirate crew. (whose name we will not mention because it's for the birds) "You think he was trying to save the boy?"
"If he is, it'll be a futile attempt. White Lead Disease is fatal. That kid has a month tops. Two if he's lucky. Unless…"
"Unless what?" Magdalena coaxed.
"What do you know about the Op-Op Fruit?" Garp asked.
Magdalena paused to ponder Garp's question. She's heard about this Paramecia-type Devil Fruit. Whoever ate that fruit could operate and cure any ailment. If they had extensive knowledge of the human anatomy, the possibilities were endless. It was every doctor's dream. If Rosinante was going through all of this trouble to save a dying child's life and was all out of options, the Op-Op Devil Fruit would be his last resort. And Magdalena knew that her sweet, giant child will go through hell and back to get the fruit for that boy.
"Not much but I heard it's every doctor's dream." She replied. "And every villain's dream too."
"Well, Sengoku and Tsuru are staging an operation to retrieve the Devil Fruit." Garp explained. "A notorious pirate crew from the North Blue wants a hold of it too. And poor Roci is stuck in the middle with a brat."
"What is it are you implying, Garpy?"
"You were the expert tactician, Mags. You tell me."
There was a moment of silence. Then, as if a light bulb suddenly lit up, Magdalena chuckled lightly.
"I better get going. The dinner rush at the Watering Hole will begin shortly." Magdalena rose up from the couch, gathered her things and headed for the door. She turned to Garp before saying this: "When you figure out the location of the Op-Op Fruit, let me know."
"You think that Rosinante will intercept that Devil Fruit?" Garp asked, slyly.
"That's what I would do. Take the direct route for the gold. Rosinante is smart, he's going to steal the fruit before the Navy and the Pirates do. Classic tactical move."
"Damn, girl. You're scarier than Tsuru."
"I better be. I'm the one who taught Tsuru everything she knows."
Garp laughed. "Be careful out there, Mags. Say hi to the kids for me."
"Will do. And if you ever talk to Dragon again, tell him to call me. I don't like hearing from another source that he has a kid now."
"You know that's gonna be difficult considering that my son is the World Government's most wanted criminal."
"You'll find a way, Garp." Magdalena reassured. "You always do. Now, how about a kiss for old time's sake?"
Garp smiled as he walked over to Magdalena. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss to his former girlfriend's lips. "Don't die on me, you old bat." He chided softly.
"Of course not, someone's gotta supply you with rare-flavored rice crackers." Magdalena teased. She began to leave when Garp called her name again.
"The twins. What are their names?"
"Felix and Norah. And Felix inherited Roci's clumsiness."
Garp laughed. "That makes me feel better."
Magdalena smiled as she left Garp's office, feeling ten times lighter than she ever felt in three years.
Later that evening, Magdalena, Jean-Baptiste and Abigail sat down in the living room to have a family meeting regarding Felix and Norah.
"Are the twins asleep?" Magdalena asked.
Abigail nodded. "I just put them to bed."
"Good." Magdalena exhaled deeply. "I went to see Garp today to ask him where Rosinante is."
"Did he tell you?" Jean-Baptiste asked.
"Not directly but he had an interesting theory that I'm going to test out."
"Nana, you're getting sicker by the minute." Abigail objected. "You don't have the luxury of testing out a theory."
"At this point, I have no other options. But I know at least where Bell-mere is, so I can bring Felix to her."
"You're going to take Felix to live with Bell-mere?" Jean-Baptiste said. "I thought you would take Norah to live with her."
"That was my original thought, but Tsuru told me that Bell-mere adopted two girls she rescued in Okyot Kingdom. Having her son with her will be a great balance."
"Besides, Papa, I don't think Felix will fare well living with his equally clumsy father." Abigail laughed.
"Abigail!" Magdalena scolded.
"Come on, Nana. You know, I'm right."
"Yeah, but still."
"So, you're going to Cocoyashi Village and drop Felix off there. It's safe to assume you're going to drop Norah off to wherever Rosinante is."
"Assuming Garp gives you the right location." Jean-Baptiste remarked.
"Garp will give me the right island, Jean. Don't discredit the man." Magdalena defended.
"Garp is a loose cannon who literally throws cannonballs." Jean-Baptiste argued. "Forgive me if my confidence isn't solid, Mother."
Magdalena rolled her eyes. "You never did like Garp, son. I don't know why, he's just a soft teddy bear."
Abigail laughed while Jean-Baptiste grimaced. "You have a really weird taste in men, Mama." He lamented.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, sweetie."
"I wasn't…" Jean-Baptiste shook his head. "Never mind."
"Anyway, Tsuru gave me an eternal log pose to Cocoyashi Village." Magdalena said. "It will take me four days to get there if the conditions are favorable. Hopefully, Garp will give me Rosinante's location by the time I arrive."
Jean-Baptiste nodded. "We'll have to get the twins ready and close the restaurant for a while, but we should be ready to set sail…"
"I'm going alone." Magdalena decided.
"What?!" Abigail exclaimed.
"Mama, you're in no condition to travel anywhere by yourself." Jean-Baptiste argued.
"Have you two forgotten that I traveled the seas for a living?" Magdalena snapped. "I can handle myself. Besides, I created this mess. It's up to me to fix it."
"But Mama…"
"This is not up for discussion, Jean-Baptiste. The twins' belongings are already packed and the ship is stocked. I leave at first light. Mind the restaurant while I'm gone."
Before anyone could retort, Magdalena left the living room and headed upstairs to her room. Jean-Baptiste sighed deeply.
"Damn woman is as stubborn as a mule." He cursed.
"You're the same way, Papa." Abigail remarked.
"Yes, I know."
"I'll go with Nana. You can watch the restaurant."
Jean-Baptiste looked at his daughter in question. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, my bags are already packed and loaded on the ship."
"Your grandmother will throw you overboard when she finds out you stowed away."
"No, she won't. Nana always had a soft spot for me." Abigail laughed.
"Do we have to leave here Uncle Jean?" Felix whined.
"I wanna stay with you, Nana and Abby!" Norah cried.
Jean-Baptiste smiled sadly as he helped Felix put on his sweater, which he somehow got himself stuck trying to put it over his head. "Your parents are eager to see you. Don't you wanna meet them?"
"But that means we'll never see you guys again!" Felix said.
"Never say never, Felix."
"But why can't we stay with Nana?" Norah asked. "She doesn't love us anymore?"
"Don't ever say that again. Don't even think it!" Jean-Baptiste admonished firmly. "Your grandmother loves you both more than life itself. But she's getting old and is unable to take care of you. Abigail and I will have to assist her."
There was a long pause. The twins looked at each other as if they were having a mental conversation. Then the oldest twin spoke up.
"What if our parents won't accept us?" Felix asked. "What will happen then?"
"Bell-mere and Rosinante are two of the most loving people I know." Jean-Baptiste assured. "Not only will they accept you, but they will also love you unconditionally. You have no reason to doubt that. Just promise me you will be good people."
"What if we become pirates?" Norah asked.
"That's a little farfetched, Norah." Felix said.
"No, it's not!" Norah argued.
"Yes, it is!" Felix countered.
"No, it's not!"
"Yes, it is!"
Jean-Baptiste laughed loudly, effectively stopping yet another colorful sibling debate. "There are some pirate crews that are good. As long as you do right by others, it doesn't matter to me if you become a pirate or not."
"Then, I promise." Norah declared.
"Me too!" Felix added.
"Good. Now, give your Uncle Jean a hug."
Felix and Norah rushed up to the middle-aged man, tackling him into a bone-crushing hug. "Don't give your parents too much grief, Norah." Jean-Baptiste said. "And Felix be careful. Try not to have so many clumsy accidents."
"Yes, Uncle Jean." The twins promised.
Magdalena was putting some extra food supplies on the ship when she spotted her son walking up to the dock with Felix and Norah following not far behind. Felix tripped on his feet and fell on a crate. His sister sighed and helped him up.
"Watch where you're going, you klutz." She chided.
"Shut up, Norah." Felix pouted.
Magdalena shook her head and laughed. "How'd they take the news?" She asked Jean-Baptiste.
"As expected, they weren't happy about it." Jean-Baptiste replied. "But they're very adaptable, they'll be okay."
"Of course, they're adaptable. Their parents are the most resilient people I know." Magdalena smiled.
"I still think that you should let me come with you, Mama."
"I'll be fine, Jean. Don't worry about me so much. Just make sure the restaurant is there in one piece when I get back."
"Sure thing."
Magdalena nodded and came over to take the twins away from Jean-Baptiste.
"Come on, you two. It's time to go!" She announced. "Say goodbye to your uncle."
"Bye, Uncle Jean!" Felix said.
"We love you!" Norah added.
Jean-Baptiste choked back his tears as he gave the twin children he spent three years with a loving hug. "Remember our promise, you two. I love you both so much." He cried.
The kids held Jean-Baptiste for a little while longer before letting go and running to Magdalena.
"You and Abigail be safe. I'll see you in a month or two." Magdalena said.
Jean-Baptiste watched as Magdalena hoisted up the anchor and drew the sails. The quaint ship sailed away out of sight, headed to the East Blue.
"Be careful, Mama." He said quietly.
Magdalena examined the eternal log pose to Cocoyashi Village. If her calculations were correct, she should arrive in four days; five at the latest if the weather decided not to cooperate. She just hoped that her health will be stable enough to bring the kids home to their parents. Magdalena couldn't break down now, not when she was so close to reuniting the twins with their parents after three years.
"Food's Ready!"
Magdalena's eyes grew wide as she watched Felix and Norah rush happily to Abigail, giving the twins a hug.
"Abigail?! What are you doing here?!" Magdalena exclaimed.
"What does it look like?" Abigail mused. "I'm making breakfast."
Magdalena gave her granddaughter a death glare which only made the young girl laugh. "You're not gonna throw me overboard, are you?"