Chapter 1
While the outside seemed early, and dissonant with the darkness, some light seemed to flood in at a nonchalant pace. Even so, it was difficult to supercede. Usopp tossed and turned in bed, beside Kaya, as he coughed a bit. The tobacco in his lungs was settling for the time being. Usopp rubbed his eyes, stumbling out of bed, as he went outside. He glanced around, seeing the brightness of the coming day. He sighed a bit, taking a deep breath. "Time for a cigarette", he decided, as he came outside, sitting on his porch. He smoked his cigarette, lighting the tip of it, softly, and with poise, as the flame seemed to illuminate his face. Usopp brought it to his lips, while the ends seemed to glow. Blowing out smoke, he watched the imminence of smoke surround him in its capacity. "Oh lord". He thought to himself, smoking profusely.
A little girl with blonde hair, , and wide, blue eyes came outside. Usopp saw her, putting his cigarette down. "Hey, Samus". He said, gently with kindness. Samus sniffled as she came to him. "Good to see you, today". "I'm so happy to see you, baby". "You look so beautiful, honey". Usopp said, gently with softness. Samus looked as if she was about to cry. "What happened, baby?". Usopp asked, kindly with gentle softness. "I had a nightmare". Samus said, sadly as she sniffled. "You had a nightmare?". "oh…I'm sorry baby". Usopp said, softly in a gentle whisper. "I'm very sorry you had a nightmare…let's talk about what happened, maybe we can fix it together". Usopp's voice was gentle, and sympathetic. Samus glanced up at Usopp, as her eyes seemed to well up with tears. "Shh, it's ok". "It's ok, now". "I'm here to protect you". Usopp promised with softness to his voice. Samus nodded, as tears streamed down her cheek. "Can we talk about what happened?". Usopp asked, gently with softness to his voice.
"Well, I was at home with my parents…I was a girl, when Ridley attacked". Samus said, with sadness and an amount of purity to her voice. "My mom and dad died…they weren't asleep". "Ridley attacked". . "Mom-my and dad-dy dead"."Ridley was dangerous". "The thunder was scary". "I woke up and cried".Samus continued. Usopp nodded, kindly as he stroked Samus's face, gently. "I understand". Usopp said, gently. "I used to have nightmares when my mom passed away as well". "I know it's hard right now, but I promise you, things do get better as time goes on". "Life becomes better for both of us as time gives us a chance to forgive". "We can forgive anything that happens, sweetie". "Nothing will hurt us as time goes on". "I promise you".
Usopp gently stroked Samus's tearful cheek as she sniffled. "I love you, sweetie". "Forgive what happens…you'll feel better that way". Usopp said, gently, with softness. "Ok. Samus said, as she sniffled. The "Going Merry" seemed to rock a bit, feeling the waves of the previous storm. "I remember meeting you when you were a year old, and born to your parents". "You were so protective, and intelligent…you had such immense wisdom and strength". "I knew you would change the world". Usopp said, kindly. "I looked into your blue eyes, and knew I had met a hero". "I just can't believe that we were separated for this long". "I needed you…and you needed me in a way we couldn't explain after all these years". "But we're back together, and you are my symbol of strength". "My heroine". "My knightess in shining armor".
"Let's give hugs, Samus". Usopp said, gently as he wrapped Samus in a warm hug, as she held her sippy cup close. Samus sniffled, feeling the warmth of Usopp's hugs, and his wet kiss from the tobacco ash. "You survived everything possible…and you lived to tell us your story….you are my heroine…my incredible savior". Usopp said, kindly as he kissed Samus's cheek, with gentleness. Samus felt the stubble from Usopp's shaven face as she felt a kiss. The wind seemed to billow around them, as the salt filled the air. Samus walked away after receiving a kiss, singing to herself as she wandered the deck. "Stay close, baby". "I wish for us to be safe". Usopp said, kindly as he continued smoking his cigarette.
Samus sang to herself, as the notes, and bars poured from her voice, in a wise, sapiential echo. Usopp noticed this, becoming happier himself. "Samus…come see me, sweetie". Usopp said, gently. Samus came to Usopp, seeing him hold her hands. "Your songs are so beautiful, they've moved me to tears". "I am so in awe of your voice". "You truly are wonderful". Usopp said, kindly. "I love hearing you sing a song in the morning, or say a prayer". "You have such a gift…the gift of strength".
"Thank you". Samus said. "I've often been told I could sing". "I never pursued it".
"You should". "You sound so wise when you attain it". "You can do anything". Usopp said, gently. Usopp nuzzled Samus, kindly, giving her Eskimo kisses, giving her affection. They both laughed, and played, as Samus smiled. Usopp kissed her nose, gently. Samus laughed and played, drinking from her sippy cup, as Kaya, with her negligee, came outside.
"Good morning, baby". "There she is…my baby girl, and best friend". "My knightess in shining armor". Kaya said, kindly as she wrapped Samus in a blanket, picking her up in her arms. "How are you, honey?". Kaya asked, kindly. "I'm fine". Samus said. "It's so good to see you, mm, did you have a nice night?". Kaya asked, gently. "I did". Samus said. "That's really good". "I know the thunder was scary last night, but I'm happy we were ok". "We survived, and we were so brave". "I know we'll be ok". Kaya said, gently, with kind, softness. "We will". Samus said, laying her head down on Kaya's chest. "Need more milk?". "Or some sleep medicine?". Kaya asked, gently. "No, I'm ok". Samus said, as she and Kaya laughed.
"I think today might be harder, because the storm is supposed to move inland". "But we'll try our best to be safe". Kaya said, kindly. "I hope". Samus said. Kaya smiled a gentle smile, kissing Samus's cheek. "The storm might miss us by a shot, but if we hunker underground, we might have more of a chance to survive". Usopp mentioned. "We'll just put up the safety sail, and ride the waves". "It's not too bad….one would think". Kaya ,mentioned after Usopp. "Perhaps…but it's best to play it safe". Usopp said. Usopp looked up at Samus, as Samus became nervous, shivering in her state of trauma. Tears streamed down Samus's cheek, as she held her sippy cup close to her. "No, no…no…no…no". Samus said, in a state of traumatized hurt. "Shh, it's ok, baby". "It's ok…your guardian angel's here". "She's got you…she loves you". "Don't be scared". Kaya whispered, kindly with gentle softness as she held Samus close to her chest. Samus seemed to burrow her head in, crying. Usopp looked up with concern, as Kaya provided some weight for Samus. "She's having a flashback". Usopp mentioned, softly as he glanced up at a crying Samus. "She is, but she'll be ok". "We'll give her some medicine….medicine seems to help with trauma, and flashbacks". "That, and a weighted blanket". Kaya said, gently as she held Samus close. "Would you like for Doraemon blanket to come?". Kaya asked, kindly as she kissed Samus's cheeks, gently. "Fuzzy warm?". Kaya asked, gently.
Samus nodded, as she wiped her tears. "Let's go get fuzzy warm…and we'll get some more milk while we're in there". "I'd say it's easier to do both, as we're a bit slow right now". "The storm hasn't come yet". Kaya said, gently. Samus nodded, as she glanced at Kaya, while they went inside. Kaya went into the mess hall, or the ship's kitchen, taking out some almond milk. Samus waited, while Kaya poured some almond milk into her cup. As she did, a man with a round cap on, it was like a small Buddhist temple on his head, and some garb, with a wrinkly face came outside. "Hello, Kaya". He said, pleasantly, as he got some coffee. Magu, was his name.
"Hello". Kaya said, with some apprehension, as she picked up the small blanket for Samus. "We're just getting some almond milk". "Is everything alright?". Kaya asked. "I was wondering the same about my Samus". "If indeed she was alright". Magu said, kindly. "I know Samus has been through quite a bit". "I was wondering if there was a way to help her". Magu feigned kindness as he smiled a weaselly, kind smile to Samus. "Do you give her medication, so she'll have less nightmares, or act out less?". Magu asked. "Sometimes…we give her cannabis to help with her sleep, and with her flashbacks". Kaya replied. "I know she's been having a hard time recently". "I know Samus needs a family right now to help her with easing into civilian life after battle". "We've been providing for her….if that's an ok response".
Magu nodded, as he chuckled a bit. "Samus needs medication to ease her trauma". Magu said, with slime behind his voice. "With medication she'll be able to find the support she needs". "We all do know she is incapable of anything in terms of reasoning or thought". "Of anything in the terms of Intelligence Quotient level".
"She might be…but we tend to have hope". Kaya said, with apprehension, as she backed away. "There's a low chance of hope for anyone who's been traumatized". "What she needs is beyond the scale of the normal household". "She needs to be in a group home". Magu said, with slime behind his voice.
"Perchance…but if you'll excuse us…we'll be outside". Kaya said, as she carried Samus outside. Samus seemed to be disturbed by what Magu had said, as she laid her head down. Magu glanced outside, as he snickered to himself. Kaya went outside, seeing Usopp as he kept smoking. "Samus looks relaxed as of now". Usopp said, lowering his cigarette. "She is…but she seems exhausted". Kaya said. "I know the storm last night kept her awake".
"It would keep me awake, too, if I was riding it out and fearing it". Usopp said, blowing out smoke. "Can I see her for a second?". Usopp asked. Kaya gave Samus to Usopp, as he held her, strong enough to hold her. "The best bounty hunter in the galaxy, eh?". "She's got quite a look to her". Usopp said, gently. "How are you, baby girl?". "Got your milk, and your blanket". Samus nodded. Usopp smiled as he kissed Samus's cheeks, gently. "You're so amazing". Usopp said, gently. "That's why you're so loved". Usopp laughed, as Samus closed her eyes, laying her head down. "You're loved by your best friends". Usopp said, kindly. Samus had felt a wave of drowsiness come over her incoherent, throbbing head. It was as if everything had been thrown off balance, and she was expecting another disaster.
"Tired, honey?". Usopp asked, kindly. Samus nodded, with closed eyes. "That's ok". "It is about to storm anyways, so it'd be smart to head in". "I hear thunder from across the way as well". Usopp said, gently. Samus had gone to sleep, laying her head down on Usopp's chest, sleepily. Usopp put out his cigarette, as the flesh pink sky was overridden with clouds. Thunder boomed across the sea as well. Usopp threw the ashtray aside, carrying Samus into the bedroom, where one of the beds were. Her room, decorated with a picture of her parents, and warm blankets on the bed. Usopp put Samus down, as he tucked her into bed. He put the covers over her, kindly. "Sweet dreams…love you". Usopp whispered, gently, as he kissed Samus's cheeks, kindly. Samus slept for a long while, well into an approximate 7 hours.
As the masts were raised, and the ship seemed to bob back and forth with the storm, Usopp took out some old food he would cook alongside Kaya. "she seemed really exhausted this morning". Kaya said. "She did…and she was coherent when she woke up…she was singing, she was praying…I think the effects of last night caught up with her, and she just felt the exhaustion come to her". "I feel so bad for her….I just hope nothing's wrong". Usopp said. "I feel bad for her, too". "I feel terrible that she's experiencing all this trauma". "I wish to help her…I truly do….but I just don't know if medicine is what we use". Kaya said. "She needs a natural additive…such as therapy…or a breathing exercise".
Usopp nodded. "She needs something". "Even if it's meeting with someone twice a week". "She would benefit from it". Usopp said, as he glanced around. "Poor Samus….she's been through a lot".
They sat on the comforts of the ship, reading, doing chemistry, or practicing other things. Usopp and Kaya talked most of the time….as well as the day looked like night, and there was darkness, inside the ship as well. Usopp glanced outside through the windows, seeing the large waves, hearing the thunder, as he sighed a deep, emotional sigh. It seemed outside was corrupt in its own measure.
Samus, as drowsy and tired as she was, felt a stroke over her cheek, looking up. She saw Usopp in his tiredness, and his age. "Hey, honey". "Sorry to wake you…but it's time to take medicine, ok?". Usopp said, softly with gentleness. Samus nodded as she woke up, walking with Usopp outside to the ship's kitchen. "Cannabis?". Samus asked. "Yes, just a bit, then we can go back to sleep". "We were sleeping too, when we remembered". Usopp said, gently. "Ok". Samus said, as she glanced up at Usopp. Her blue eyes looked to be pleading, innocent, and laden with bags underneath as they seemed to be wide. She had gotten little to no sleep. "Here's some medicine…let's drink it, and it'll be ok". Usopp said, gently with softness. Samus nodded, as she drank some of her oil, from the medicine cup. Usopp smiled a kind smile, stroking Samus's face with gentleness. "I love you so much". Usopp said, gently, as he comforted Samus. "Thank you". Samus said. Usopp bent down, giving Samus a warm hug, before she went off to bed. Usopp's smile was apparent, as he watched Samus go to her room, climbing into her bed. His expression changed, as he saw Samus begin to rock back and forth on her knees, as she did after losing her parents when she was 3. Samus rocked back and forth, gazing up at the ceiling, as if to self-stimulate.
Usopp sighed a deep sigh, as he watched Samus self-stimulate. Usopp came to her room, as Samus quickly stopped after being seen. "Do you need a hug?". Usopp asked, gently with kind softness. "Kind of…I do that when intrusive thoughts come…and I have a flashback". "Because I don't remember being hugged when I was with the Chozo, I kind of hug myself, and take care of myself". Samus said. "It helps with my PTSD".
"A hug helps anyone who's been through it, anyone who's been traumatized". Usopp said, gently. "That is true…maybe it would help".
"Let's try it, baby". Usopp said, gently with kindness, as he hugged Samus, kissing both of her cheeks. Samus hugged Usopp as well, feeling his strong arms, hold her. It was a warm hug, set with kisses on the cheek. Samus felt love, hope, and faith as she hugged Usopp. Usopp hugged her as well, kissing her cheeks. As Samus felt love, she felt Usopp tuck her in the blankets. "Sleep well, sweet dreams, baby". "I love you". Usopp said, kindly. "I love you, too". Samus replied, as she fell asleep, while feeling one last kiss from Usopp on the cheek. This was continued well into nighttime, as she slept for a long while. The cannabis had put her to sleep.