Updated: 10/20/16
[+] equals end of song in story.
Chapter 2: Storm
Liara awakened to blazing rays piercing through her eyelids and stinging her irises. Her brows lowered themselves as she leisurely opened her eyes, only to promptly turn away as the unforgiving sun temporarily blinded her. She raised an arm up and used her hand to provide just enough shade so she could get her vision back and take a moment to verify her surroundings.
She didn't have too much of an idea as to where she was currently at, only that she was drifting around somewhere on the Grand Line, which was luckily currently serene without a pirate ship in sight. The atmosphere was a lovely shade of azure that perfectly mirrored the water, and only a few clouds graced the celestial sphere. When she'd fallen asleep hours before, the heavens had been splattered by a magnificent display of stars and a sliver of ivory moon. She'd allowed the gentle rocking of her vessel to disperse what remained of her nerves and lull her into a pleasant sleep.
When she'd retired home that prior afternoon, she had wasted no time in carrying out her plan. She promptly headed straight for her room and commenced packing, her palms moistened with perspiration as she shoved her belongings into a duffel bag. Guilt and anxiety relentlessly churned her stomach to the point where she felt like she was going to vomit.
What she was about to do would absolutely destroy her parents, and that was something she would have to live with for the rest of her life.
Running away from home wasn't something she felt comfortable doing. Of course, she'd always envisioned herself disembarking on her own excursion, but she'd also presumed that her parents would've given her their blessing in doing so. Now that she recognized their disapproval, she conceived that she had no choice but to abscond. If she succumbed to her parents' wishes and remained sheltered on the isle for the rest of her life, she'd be absolutely miserable. For 22 years she'd lived with her parents and attentively carried out all they'd required of her. She was a sharp woman who had aced all her tests at school, and she'd obediently stayed behind while the few friends she did have moved on with their lives.
Her parents should've understood how she felt. Both of them had come from separate islands to fulfill their dreams of joining the Marines, yet they were denying Liara the same opportunity. She understood that she didn't really have any experience when it came to navigating on the ocean, but she'd learn. She was a meager girl who held no significance to pirates or Marines. All she wanted to do was discover the mystic isle, and even if it wasn't genuine she would at least have the satisfaction of knowing that she had followed her heart and tried to find it. Her gut told her it was authentic though, and that made her more determined than ever to face her fears and leave.
Her parents had awkwardly bid her good night, and Liara pretended that everything was okay as she shoved her traveling bag beneath her bed and smiled. Once she heard her father's boisterous snoring she gathered her courage and grabbed her belongings, which merely consisted of a pair of hiking boots, two other outfits, a set of pajamas, five pairs of undergarments, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, a hair brush, toothbrush, and two books that contained the most details about Fantasia's myth. She then slipped into her parents' room and left a note on her mother's bedside table before she sadly regarded their slumbering forms and tiptoed out of the house.
She proceeded to use the money she'd saved up over the last several years to purchase a vessel from a kind boat merchant she'd spoken to after leaving the docks earlier that day. He'd graciously let her procure the craft so late into the night, and even provided her a discount once he heard her story. His wife had been wonderful enough to provide Liara with a satchel that contained two day's worth of food, and both were present to greet her and give her some advice on operating the device before wishing her a hearty good luck as they watched her depart.
Leaning over the edge of the boat, she stuck her hand into the frigid water and propped her chin on the back of her other hand. She'd be lying if she claimed she wasn't frightened, however, she couldn't deny the rush of excitement that flowed through her blood, or the broad smile that would appear on her face when she thought of her destination, and how after all those years of dreaming she was finally on her way to making her dreams come true. "I only hope I can make it there okay," she thought to herself while gnawing on her bottom lip.
[One Piece Strong World- Cyclone]
Within seconds the tranquil setting hazardly transformed.
The sky that had been a beautiful cobalt only seconds before was now concealed beneath an outbreak of murky ashen clouds. A chill elevated up Liara's spine as the water rocked back and forth with a growth of raging waves that lapped relentlessly against the sides of her boat. Thunder deafeningly roared in her ears as a bolt of lightning zapped the water only a few feet in front of her. Her eyes widened as panic set in, but she knew that now was not the time to be apprehensive. Her fingers stiffened around a thick rope as she secured the main sail in place, only to topple forward when a harsh wind abruptly jerked the boat. She tumbled back with a startled cry when the vessel lurched again, her skull painfully smacking against the timber flooring and bringing about a brief moment of disorientation.
A radiant flash of torrid illumination temporarily blinded her before she gathered her senses and noticed that the vessel's mast was on fire. Grey smoke curled itself off the raging flames that hastily devoured the sail and filled the air with an unbearable heat. Cornered and without any other option, she briskly grabbed her bag with shaking arms and enforced herself over the railing into the bleak sea.
Her nostrils burned from salt water as she floated in a brisk abyss of darkness and isolation. Her body quivered with each heartbeat and her lungs already ached for air. She painfully tightened her hold on the duffel bag as she kicked with all her might against the ocean's forceful current until she broke through the surface. She gasped for breath and coughed out water while using her available hand to wipe away stinging droplets from her vision. As her eyes rapidly scanned the area, she discerned a chunk of debris from her craft drifting nearby, its edges charred from the flames. Although her muscles burned with protest, she compelled herself to swim over to the object and climb on top of it, her bag falling next to her with a thump. She exhaustively observed the boat she had owned for not even a day, the blazing heat crackling and hurting her eyes. She passed out as pain swept over her forehead and exhaustion consumed her.
[+]
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"Look! An island!"
Usopp and Chopper rushed forward from their fishing posts the moment Luffy's ecstatic yell was heeded, their faces glowing with elation.
"Where?! Where!?" they both questioned in unison as they careened over the Thousand Sunny's front railing, their heads moving quickly from left to right in an attempt to spot what Luffy had identified. Their captain only snorted with amusement, nearly toppling off an adjacent railing as he placed his hands on his stomach and snickered.
POW!
An irked Nami scowled at her rubbery captain with a raised fist. "You idiot! Don't waste our time by yelling out pointless crap like that!" She settled her hands over her hips and disapprovingly glared, as she had been in the middle of completing her newest map when Luffy's cry scared the crap out of her and almost caused her to spill ink over the parchment she'd spent the past three hours working on. The fact that he had been joking was what ticked her off the most.
Luffy rubbed the swelling bump on the back of his head and pouted. "I was just practicing for when we do see a new island-"
"You are going to get everybody all riled up over nothing, and then I get distracted from my work because you decide to be stupid. Honestly, you haven't changed the slightest after two years."
"Not true!" Luffy argued as he lurched off the railing and onto the deck. "I'm much stronger now!" As if trying to demonstrate his point, he held up his arm and flexed his muscles proudly with a grin on his face. "See?"
Nami merely waved her hand back and forth in front of her unimpressed face. "Big whoop. You're still a moron."
Chopper and Usopp chuckled as they nodded in agreement, and even Brook joined in as he sauntered over, his bony fingers expertly strumming the strings of his guitar. "Now, now Nami-san. Let's all sing, shall we?"
"Look! A girl!"
SMACK!
"Luffy! Stop it!"
Luffy shook his double-lumped head as he gestured over to the left side of the ship. "No, there is actually a girl out there. Look!"
Chopper dashed towards the direction Luffy was pointing, and poked his head out from underneath the railing. "There really is a girl! She's unconscious and looks like she needs help!" the small doctor squeaked out.
Nami briskly strode over and gasped when she saw a comatose woman on a piece of wood. She was soaking wet and ghastly pale.
"Usopp, go tell everybody on the ship what is going on. We need to get her on here and make sure she's ok." Without a second thought, the long-nosed hummed in acknowledgement before departing to carry out his instructions.. Nami glimpsed over at Luffy expectantly, knowing full well that he understood what to do. As if confirming his Navigator's thoughts, he elongated his arms and grabbed onto the floating debris so he could pull it closer to the ship before he hurdled down onto the jagged chunk of wood. Carefully, he enveloped the strange girl in one of his arms and hoisted her bag over his other shoulder. He extended his free hand towards the ship's railing and vaulted them both onto the verdant deck.
As Luffy lowered her to the floor, Sanji twirled out of the kitchen with hearts in his eyes. "Oh, where is this lovely princess?" he cooed in a love-struck voice, heart-shaped smoke puffing out of his cigarette while Robin pursued him, curious as to what was going on. Franky emerged from below deck and kicked the slumbering Swordsman as he passed by. Zoro grunted and opened his good eye, wondering what all the commotion was about. He yawned as he forced himself to stand up and shuffled over to where everybody was gathered.
"Do ya think she's dead?" Luffy asked, earning a glare from both Sanji and Nami.
Brook crouched, his long legs nearly poking Chopper in the process. He set his guitar down and placed two fingers over the woman's wrist for a moment before he shook his head. "Oh no, she most certainly is not. Trust a dead man on that one! Yohohoho!"
"It might be best if we get her changed and into bed," Robin suggested, her cerulean eyes scrutinizing the girl's face. "I think she is just tired, but I also don't know how long she's been floating out there. Depending on the circumstances she was in, she could very well have a cold." The Archaeologist flashed Franky a courteous smile. "Mr. Shipwright, could you please carry her down to my and Nami's bedroom?"
Franky grinned. "Yosh! Sure thing!" He bent down and scooped the stranger up before he trailed after Nami and Robin.
"Aw, I wanted to be the Prince Charming," Sanji dramatically whined.
Zoro snorted. "You wish, stupid love-cook."
As the two proceeded to argue, Luffy upsurged himself onto the ship's prow and recommenced analyzing for a new island as if nothing had happened. Chopper descended down to his doctor's office to gather the tools needed for examination, and Usopp resumed fishing. Brook remained in the same spot, a low hum escaping his mouth.
"Ah, this seems like inspirational material for a song!" Pleased with his idea, the skeleton wandered away, strumming notes on his guitar as he waited for their guest to wake up.