Chapter 10:

Giant Waves

The second sea slug said "GO!" Brandy ran as fast as she could to the edge of the cliff, took a deep breath, and promptly dove into the wave. She swam as fast as she could against the powerful rush of water. The surge was strong, but she was stronger. She just barely made it to the base of the wave before it could crash into the deadly spikes, but still she kept swimming. Finally, she saw the dark bottom of the buoy. Certain that it was right in front of her, she came up for air and smacked the buoy victoriously. She had beaten sea slug's time! She was just about to tell said slug this, but there was one problem… she wasn't there… nor was the lighthouse... So actually there were a few problems; the island had turned around and the buoy wasn't a buoy.

It was some guy's face.

"GAHHH!"

Usopp was awakened by a slap in the face. He woke up with such a start that he fell out of bed and into the ocean.

…The ocean? What the hell?!

Panicking, Usopp found the surface and frantically looked around for Sunny. Ocean…ocean …casket… woman… ocean… giant wave… ocean…There was nothing but ocea-! … Wait.

Casket? Woman? Giant wave?

GIANT WAVE!

"GAHHH!" Usopp screamed. Then everything went black.

One thing Usopp hates is the feeling of the violent spasms you get when seawater ejects itself from your lungs, especially after losing consciousness. It was a pretty similar feeling to the one he was having now. Chopper and Brook hate it too, even though Brook doesn't even have any lun-BROOK! CHOPPER! HIS NAKAMA! Usopp's eyes snapped opened and he tried to sit up, but instead found himself in a vicious coughing fit. As his coughing subsided, he took in his surroundings. He saw the short length of sand he had been washed-up on, the steep cliff that hovered over him, a woman with long, blond hair, but none of his nakama. Panic started to set in as horrible scenarios began running through his head. 'Did Sunny somehow sink?' 'Were they attacked?' 'Where are his nakama?' 'Are they safe?' 'Di-did anyone drown?' Usopp shook his head trying to rid himself of any more nightmarish thoughts and remember what had happened, but everything was a blur. Why couldn't he remember?

Having completely forgotten he wasn't alone on the shore, he was startled out of his thoughts, when the woman spoke to him.

"Your alive," she stated, sparing him only a glance before going back to wringing out her hair. "Good for you."

The woman, who looked to be around forty years old, was wearing black tights, slim laced-up, white boots, and a blue sports-bra. There was a large scar that that ran across her lower stomach, as well as one on her back. Her left ear was missing.

"Who-who are you?" he asked.

"That depends on who's asking," she told him coolly.

"Uh…"

"What's your name?"

"I-I'm Usopp," he stammered.

She froze, then sharply turned around and looked at him, Usopp shivered. She had this fearless look about her that made Usopp feel like she was sizing him up, and could attack at any moment. Usopp wanted to look away, but was too afraid to incase she actually did attack. Several terrifying seconds ticked by as the stared at each other.

"My name's Brandy," she said, going back to wringing out her hair. Usopp let out a sigh of relief. "You're a pirate."

"Yeah," Usopp asked, "How did you know?"

She grinned. "I could tell by the looks of your coffin."

"Co-coffin?" Usopp looked around. There was, in fact, a casket with a missing lid further up shore. "I-I'm dead?"

She shrugged. "That or whoever, or whatever killed you did a really shitty job."

He scrambled over to examine the coffin. It was made out of beautifully stained wood. Carved into the side was an image of a long-nosed man with a slingshot (oh that must be him) standing victoriously. At his feet were images of enemies he had defeated both in real-life and made up. There was Perona, the ghost girl, OZ, the giant terrifying monster, and that guy with the messed-up face he shot down from the Tower of Justice. There were Seakings, marines, and pirates. He was also on the other side of the coffin... and so were his nakama. Brook and Franky were playing music, which Chopper, Luffy, and Usopp were dancing to. Sanji and Nami were cheering them on, and Zoro and Robin were clanking glasses. They were all laughing. It was beautiful.

Usopp wiped tears from him eyes. It warmed his heart just to see how much effort Franky had put into it. There was something inside…his weapons (yes!), his bounty poster, bag, and … the Strawhats' flag… there was also a bottle with rolled pieces of paper inside -eight of them…each from one of his nakama. Usopp's heart sank. They were a little wet. Regardless, Usopp carefully stuffed everything into his bag.

"I've got to find them," he said to himself, quickly getting to his feet.

"I wouldn't just take off if I were you. This island is like a maze. It's easy to get lost," Brandy told him. "I'll guide you."

"Really?!" Usopp said hopefully. Then he added hesitantly, "Why? -Not that I'm not grateful, but-"

She shrugged, "Maybe this is your lucky day?" She looked at the coffin then grinned at him. "Or maybe this is how I show respect for the dead?"

Usopp laughed nervously.

"We better hurry before the storm picks up," She started jogging down the shore. Usopp pulled the coffin further up the shore and secured it behind some rocks. He would come back for it later. It was too beautiful to leave behind.

"Oi, wait up!" he yelled, running after her.

After many hours of wandering the island in the rain, Usopp and Brandy finally decided to wait out the storm in a bar they came across. Brandy ordered them each a drink. Then, after taking a sip from hers, she said, "So tell me about your family."

"My-my family? Ok, well when I was really little my dad set out to sea to become a great pirate like he always dreamed. That's why I'm out here- to become a brave warrior of the seas, just like him!"

"And what does your mother think about all this?"

"Er- well, she died a long time ago," Usopp said sadly.

Brandy stared at him for a moment. "Sounds like you're proud of your father, though."

"Of course I am! My dad had the courage to sail out into the world's most dangerous ocean, facing unbelievable perils and terrifying monsters to follow his dream!" Usopp said proudly. Apparently, he seemed to have inspired himself, and continued, "Why it reminds me of the time I had to single handedly fight the Terrible Gargoyle of Juggling Island in order to rescue my 8,000 followers!"

"Really?" Brandy immediately regretted saying. For this subtle encouragement set him off on this epic story about golden magic slingshots and impossible physical feats (even by Grand Line standards). Brandy ordered another drink and politely tuned him out.

Many drinks later Brandy found that she had suddenly gotten the urge to talk.

"And then the Whomping Wallabies cried 'Oh great Captain Usopp, please spare us!' and because I am a mercif-"

"I have a story for you," she said abruptly.

Usopp was taken aback. "Um, okay?"

"A long time ago there was a young woman named Brianna. Her whole life she had nobody and her sole reason to get up in the morning was so that she could go out onto the ice and skate. Skating… it made her feel free, like she was flying. It was during moments like these that she would dream of the thing she wanted more than anything in the world: a family of her own."

Usopp watched as Brandy circled the rim of the glass with her finger and smiled. She continued, "Then one day she met a lonely pariah, a blacksmith, and fell in love with him. They were married in secret and soon she gave birth to a little boy. The three of them lived together happily for eight short years."

She was rocking the glass back and forth, now. And she wasn't smiling anymore.

"Then one horrible day her husband was murdered, leaving her to raise their child alone, and the family she had always dreamed of having was broken."

"Who killed him?" Usopp couldn't hep but ask.

Brianna stopped rocking the glass. "No one knows," she said. "The Marines certainly didn't care about his murder; in fact they thought it was good for the community that he was dead!"

Brandy slammed her fist onto the table. The glass of beer nearly tipped over. The frighten people drinking in the corner cowered at the sudden violent sound.

She furious woman continued. "And the revolting community couldn't agree more. No one but her and her son had mourned him…" She sighed. "Distraught by her husband's sudden death, the woman was lonely, and vulnerable. So, when a charming man came into her life, she fell for his sweet talk and kindness. Her son hated this man, …but that didn't stop her from doing something unforgivable."

Brandy paused deep in thought.

Usopp was now immersed in the story. "What did she do?" he asked.

Brandy glanced at him. "She brought him into their home, to let him live with them… That's when everything turned to hell. He became cruel and abusive.

Usopp didn't like where this story was going, but still he listened.

"They would fight constantly. At first it was only with words. Then he began to use his fists. Brianna would fight back. She was not one to just stand there and be beaten. But he was stronger."

Usopp really didn't like this story.

"Whenever this happened her beloved son would stand-up until to the bastard, and try fight him, but a little boy was no match for a monster like him."

Usopp want to say something. He wanted to stop this story, but he couldn't. In fact, after seeing the look on her face, he was too terrified to even make a sound.

Brandy's hands turned into fists as she continued. "Then one night it was really bad…He turned more violent than she had ever imagined. Blood was spilt, bones were broken. She tried her best to make sure every punch he threw hit her."

"Why?" Usopp asked without thinking.

"Because if it didn't hit her it would hit her son. That boy was so stubborn! He never ran away or stayed in his room like she told him to…Then the bastard told her to follow him outside. The moment she did, he slammed the door -shut right in her son's face… and locked him inside. When she felt the tip of his dagger against her back and he told her to walk, she knew this night was going to be someone's last."

Usopp was captivated and terrified. He hoped with all his heart this dark tale had a happy ending.

Brandy continued. "Once they reached the cliff by sea, that…inconceivable bastard drew his sword and slashed her back open to 'teach her a lesson'. He cut off her ear for not listening, and though she tried to fight back unarmed, he was too strong. He finally ended the fight by stabbing her in the stomach and throwing her in the ocean to drown."

Usopp noticed as Brandy unconsciously felt the large scar on her stomach. He finally realized something that sent a chill through him.

This was her story.

"Some sailors pulled her from the water, and miraculously she was still alive. But she was weak… so weak… she could only keep her eyes open long enough to see a large pillar of black smoke rising in the distance… where her home was… where her son was. With her last bit of strength she begged them to save her child."

Brandy had a blank look in her eyes as she finished her horrible story. "The sailors where there when she woke up…a week later…They had searched and searched for her son, but they could not find him…in the village… not in the ashes. He was just…gone…. and it was her fault."

Brandy's eyes were so full of emotion, that for a moment he though she might cry. Usopp wanted to comfort her some how, but she was also really scary. Maybe it was best just to stay quiet.

"By then she was ready to die… and she tried to. But someone changed her mind and gave her a reason to live."

She became very quiet. Usopp stared at her expectantly.

"And?" he finally asked. Brandy looked at him. "What happened to her son? What was her reason to live?"

"She didn't know what happened to her son," Brandy told him. "Her reason to live was to find the answer."

Well there you go ladies and gentlemen! He's back. Still lots of wiggle room for unique villain ideas. If you have one speak up! I'd love to hear it. I have all the epic moments written down, now all i have to do is write in between them. (which is usually the hardest part for me).

Note: I will remaster this story once it is finished. You know, fix all the sentence structures, edit bits of the story to make it compatible with the manga… etc.

Thank you guy so much for sticking with me throughout the years. I know that the following chapters will definitely be worth the wait!