Hiya. Been a while. A long while. Slowest update yet.
...I'm sorry ;A; I really didn't mean to take so long, I was just having a lot of fun with my new fics and kept putting this off... But I finished both this chapter and the latest chapter of Reverse along with the next chapter of Divide that I haven't posted yet (wrote 3 chapters today. Yup. New record.) so I assure you I'm not slacking! And the next update won't be so slow!
Keep in mind that this chapter is not Ace's memories. This is all from his mother's perspective, okay? Warning: it's filled with sappy cheese e_e
Disclaimer: You know this after half a year of me saying it, so...
Child held securely in her arms, the slave ran. She ignored the flames leaping into the sky behind her, the screams of its victims as they dashed out of the hole in the wall, and continued putting space between her and the prison she resided in for the past five years.
Her lip quivered as she looked straight ahead, eyes glossing over as she breathed in fresh air for the first time in so long. Dirt ran between her scarred toes as each foot slapped against the ground, feeling far more real than the stone she usually treaded. It was amazing, being free. She couldn't be happier.
A small cough met her ears and she glanced down at her son, tightening her grip on the boy as she smiled through her tears.
See that? It's the sky.
That man who freed them from her chains—whoever he was—probably didn't realize just how amazing of an action that was. He was a hero. Being a slave could be compared to the pain of death. She'd seen others bite their tongues in an attempt to relieve themselves of the torture. She'd contemplated it, too, once upon a time, but her boy needed her. Death would only lead him to suffer more. But that didn't matter, not now. Because of that man—that wonderful stranger—her son could taste freedom.
The blonde was brought out of her bliss when she heard heavy steps from behind her. Immediately she ducked behind a stack of crates, peeking out just enough to see her pursuers. She recognized the uniforms they wore as guards for the nobles. They were looking for the escapees, no doubt, meaning that the island was no longer safe. Staying wasn't an option. If they were caught they'd either return to that hellish life or be punished by death—whichever Master saw fit. She couldn't let that happen after being saved, especially not to her boy.
Off in the distance she spotted the docks. Brows furrowed, she knew what she had to do. It wasn't going to be easy but there was no other choice. The hardest part was going to be escaping unnoticed whilst holding her child, but she would manage. She had to. There was no other option.
The man ran about the area but luckily didn't do a thorough search and left after catching a few of the slaves who hadn't bothered to hide. She turned away as they were beaten and dragged across the path, biting her lip to keep herself calm and focused. If she wasn't careful, that would be them.
When the area was clear of her pursuers, she made a mad-dash for the docks, hopping into the first sturdy ship she found, hoping it had at least some provisions. It was a small, one-man boat with a fridge, table, bed and bathroom and nothing more, but it would suffice… she hoped. So, placing her son in the cabin, she rushed to prepare to disembark.
Several minutes later, they were adrift. She released and uneasy breath as she watched the island get smaller and smaller, legs collapsing beneath her. New worries welled within her chest. Would they be okay? While the fridge had some provisions, she wasn't sure how long it would take to reach land. Was there enough? Even if there wasn't, would it matter? They didn't have a lot pose and she was unfamiliar with treading the waters of the new world. Staying on that island was a death wish, but leaving wasn't much better. Still, it was the only choice she had.
Taking a deep, calming breath, the blonde picked herself off the floor and headed into the cabin, closing the door behind her. She smiled at the confused look her son gave her, crouching down next to him and running her fingers through his greasy, unkempt hair.
She could worry all day, but it wouldn't change anything. For the time, maybe bathing the boy was best. While she was washed regularly so she would be fit to please her master, Ace rarely received any such treatment. He could die, for all they cared.
When the child saw her thoughtful expression, he tilted his head.
Her smile returned and she lifted him into her arms.
It'll be alright now.
The boy squirmed as he was placed carefully in the water, grabbing hold of his mother's arm as tight as he could, refusing to let go. She sighed but wasn't upset, knowing that it was a very new experience for him. All he ever knew was the inside of that cell; everything else was foreign. It was natural to feel scared, but that didn't make the sight any less heart wrenching. She'd grown up normally, with a family, treated as a human, but he had not. She couldn't imagine what it felt like, being thrown into a situation so unlike the norm.
The blonde could feel his tiny hands tremble as they held her and her breathing hitched. She longed to tell him that it was okay—that the water wasn't going to hurt him and that he would feel better after bathing—but her voice was no longer there. So, instead, the woman dipped a cloth in the bath water and moved it along his skin, ridding it of layers of filth and dead skin. The boy startled at the motion but soon relaxed, looking to his mother inquisitively.
She smiled, moving it across his back as his grip on her arm loosened. Then she grabbed a cup and, shielding the child's eyes with her free hand, poured the water over his hair. It careened down his neck and back, taking with it years of dirt.
The action startled him and he reached for her once more, hugging her hand close to his chest.
Huffing, she realized that it would likely be a while before he got used to that, but she didn't mind.
It was proof that they escaped.
Her son's eyes lit up when she placed a plate of food in front of him. It was as balanced a meal she could manage with what was in the fridge. He looked to her with large eyes, as if asking for permission, and she nodded, watching as he tried out the assortment of new tastes. After getting cleaned up, he looked a lot better than before. She never realized how pale his skin was until then. In fact, it was only once they were out of the darkness that she realized what colour his eyes were—gray.
She took slow, savouring bites as she picked at her meal, wondering it was all too good to be true. She hadn't had a proper dinner in a long, long time. The tastes were nostalgic, enough to make her forget about her aching, battered body and enjoy herself.
That moment—her first true meal with her boy—would forever remain one of her fondest memories.
She gasped as she felt the blow to her stomach impact, falling limp as the air left her lungs. The man caught her before she felt, snorting triumphantly as he hauled her over his shoulder. Her lips trembled as she was carried away, no strength left to fight with. Pirates… damn it!
Forcing herself to stay conscious, she turned her head to see the man who held her son, grabbing him will little regard as he whimpered and reached for his mother as she was taken from the cabin.
Please… please don't hurt him… Do whatever you want to me, but… please. He's only four.
Unable to fight it any longer, she felt her consciousness fade, marking the end of the third week out at sea with her boy.
As wakefulness returned to her, she heard four sets of footsteps and laughter all around.
"A slave," one stated after grabbing her arm and pulling it into the air, likely spotting the brand on her shoulder, "perfect."
Images of a scant few hours ago raced through her mind and her eyes shot open, frantically searching the room for her son. Some of the crew was standing there, gawking at her with lewd expressions as their eyes traced her figure. Blood running cold, she shook her head. No… no, no, please no! Not again…
She was brought from her silent panic when she spotted a small figure past the pirates, bruised and battered and sobbing quietly in the corner.
All hope vanished at that point and she was left to resign herself to whatever they wanted to do to her. So long as it kept him safe, she would comply. And just like that, her slavery returned.
Holding her son tight in her arms, she stumbled as she was prodded off the ship. Several months passed since she was brought aboard and it seemed they finally grew bored with her. Being as damaged as the blonde was, she didn't hold their interest. They decided that, rather than kill her, they would drop her off at the nearest island—how courteous of them. Either way spelled death, really, so what did it matter?
Apparently she was taking too long. The first mate groaned and shoved her down the ramp, sending her tumbling to the shore, body landing in the shallow of the water. Her captors didn't waste time in leaving as she hurried to turn over, pulling the boy out from under the water's surface. He coughed and fought for air before looking down at the woman with concern.
She didn't want to move. Her body was so tired, so weak, beginning to shut down. But as she stared up at her son's face she pushed herself up from beneath the water, forcing her arms past their limit as she dragged herself further onto land. The boy followed her, coming to stop beside her as she fell onto the sand. Breaths shallow and weak, she was starting to feel dizzy. There was no time for that, though. It didn't matter that she was beginning to shut down; she couldn't just lay down, die and leave her son all alone, could she? He needed to stay safe—protected. How could someone so young hope to survive there? No, she refused to die.
The woman turned to him, eyes glossed over with exhaustion, and smiled. It was a small, meek curve of her lips but she hoped to reassure him. She wouldn't leave him just yet. She gestured him over and he complied, plopped down beside her.
Raising a shaky arm to his cheek, she stared fondly at the boy. He looked so worried and confused. It wasn't like she could say anything to settle his fears. Even if she could, she'd be lying.
Her strength failed and her soft caressing cease as her tired limb fell back to the earth, but she couldn't rest. Forcing herself into a sitting position, she ripped her dress and wrapped the cloth around her leg. Hopefully it would stop the bleeding. She winced as the action disturbed her wound, but quickly forced a smile when she felt her son's hand on her knee. Big, sad eyes stared up at her, silently asking her if she was already. Patting him on the head reassuringly, she thought of her next course of action.
She twisted around and studied the various items the pirates threw down before they left. Did leaving them with those things make what they did alright? Not at all, but they probably thought it did. No matter—she would use them and hopefully they would help keep the pair alive. Perhaps one day someone would come to take them off the island. Until then she had to wait.
The blonde grabbed a chest placed at her side, opening it curiously. Within it were some knives, soaked from their fall into the shallows. That was a start.
Noticing her boy's confusion, she thought for a moment. Unable to walk properly with her injury she thought of the perfect task for him. grabbing hold of a nearby piece of driftwood, she pointed to it and a similar item on the beach, smiling when he nodded and ran to begin collecting the items. Her boy was smart, figuring out what she wanted. They would be able to make a fire with that, hopefully.
Sighing as she watched the child move about the beach, filling his arms with whatever he could find, she wondered just how they were going to survive this time.
Resting against a tree, she closed her eyes. She could feel herself slipping—her life draining away each day. The blood loss from her leg made her lose focus. It wasn't healing, either, because of the infection. She didn't need a doctor to tell her it was serous. The surrounding area was bright red and the scab—or lack thereof—was a pussy, leaking mess. It stung constantly and days earlier she found herself unable to stand without help from her son.
Her son—that boy—was really something. She smiled as she thought to the past few weeks they spent on that island. Teaching him everything she could without words was hard, but not impossible. He was accustomed to communicating without words so he caught on quick. His mother was proud. While she hated that he had to live that sort of lifestyle, fending for himself, she was happy he was able to. It meant that when she was gone, he would live.
Ah, he still didn't know about herbs. She would have to teach him that before she left, too…
"Mm."
Eyes opening to the familiar voice, she was met with the boy's beaming face as he held up a sharpened stick, piercing the bodies of three fish. She smiled and ruffled his hair, dragging herself over to the campfire to prepare the meal.
Five years old and he could already hunt. Was she supposed to be happy or sad about that?
As she prepared the fish, she wondered about some of the things she saw him do being abandoned on that island. He was strong—could lift three times his body weight. How was that logically possible? A normal child wouldn't be able to do it, but it was inconceivable for one who lived in a cell most of his life. His instincts and reflexes were astounding as well… Maybe he would be alright once she was gone.
Her lips quivered and hands stilled as that thought echoed in her head. How much longer did they have? How many days? Hours? Minutes?
The woman felt her eyes gloss over but forced the tears back. She should be happy. He didn't need her anymore.
She was slipping again—this time for good. She knew that. The girl wasn't naïve—could tell when she was dying. Turning to her son, she smiled and gestured him near, unable to move from that spoke. When he arrived beside her, she raised a trembling hand to brush against his cheek, only then noting her pallid complexion. I must look terrible.
Running her nails through his hair, her palm gathered his warmth. It was funny how, even then, his presence brought her comfort. She stared at his face, taking in every detail as she wanted to fully see him before she died. It was nice to see colour in his cheeks again, and that his face wasn't as gaunt as it was before. Tiny freckles danced across his cheeks from spending so much time out in the sun. It made her smile because, just one year ago, he had never known the sky.
Looking over his worried features, she couldn't help but think that he was beginning to resemble someone else, but she wasn't sure who. He didn't really look like her or his… his father, so…
That man was a pirate, wasn't he? But then how did she know him? She wasn't…
Ah, Gol D. Ace. That's right—he kind of resembled the Pirate King's son. Funny how that worked out. She recalled watching the broadcast of Marineford back when the war occurred, not long before she was captured and made a slave. When he died, she cried. She didn't know the pirate—wasn't even aware of him until Sengoku began his execution—but it bothered her that they wanted him dead not because of the crimes he committed but because of who his father was.
…Would her son be subjected to that? His father was a noble, but he was also…
She didn't want that. He wasn't like his father.
As she thought more, looking into those large, gray irises, she realized she never gave him a name. Her breath hitched and eyes went wide. She never named her own son. With all that happened, it didn't seem to matter. But as she laid there, her vision starting to fade, she wanted to give him one. Her time was dwindling, though.
Swallowing, she decided. Ace.
Her son would be called Ace, after the Pirate King's son.
Smiling at the boy but unable to voice her decision, she gestured him closer yet again and pulled him to her chest, wrapping him in a weak embrace. The blonde felt her son snuggled deeper into her hold and an overwhelming calm washed over her.
She ghosted over his arm with her fingers, rubbing smooth circles into his skin as she held him to her, allowing him to rest his head in the crook of her shoulder.
You got to see the sky, Ace. Isn't it great? Her lip quivered.
I'm going to go away soon, but don't be sad. You'll be okay, I promise. And even… Her sight faded and she tried her best to keep calm, closing her eyes to wash the fear from her mind. Even if it's hard, things will get better. You'll be alone for a while. I'm sorry. Mommy can't hold on any longer. But… She took a deep breath. One day someone else will come along. They'll protect you and keep you safe, alright? And they'll love you.
She hadn't the strength to hold back her tears.
No one is born alone, Ace.
The pace she was moving her wrist slowed.
I love you.
Her arm went limp, still wrapped around him.
Ace shifted and got more comfortable. He glanced at the woman's face curiously, large eyes watching her worn, unmoving features. Then he closed them again, drifting off into the perfect silence around him. With not a sound made, he fell asleep.
A/N: Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, people :D So yeah. There ya go. Ace's past, in a nutshell. Sabo's Story Part 2 will go into further detail though. But it'll be a while before I post that. Hope it wasn't confusing - I kept a lot of stuff implied. And if there are lots of mistakes then I'm sorry - didn't proof read it before posting. Also, there will be some more of Ace's past next chapter - the fun starts then muahaha. Again sorry for the delay. I'm ashamed u_u Blame my friends. I usually work on this story on Fridays and them jerks keep coming to my house to bother me :P
To my lovelies~
Guest: That would be awesome! :D
buslimpan: Glad you enjoyed ^^ Yes, it will be, but it won't before a while since I just posted this chapter in her perspective.
azab: Glad you like!
jam klaoo: Me too :/
MehMe: Same XD I'm thinking of adding that to part 2 of the bonus, so probably. As for the name: you now know! :D Luckily I'm back to updating Skip regularly ^^
person: The fourth Yonko is actually going to come up next arc so don't worry, you'll find out ^^
Bluebird42: And now here's the flashback chapter :D
Son Goshen: Exactly. Kind of sad, isn't it? Yep! It's main use is fleshing out his past in more detail and giving input from an outside perspective. I think it works well, at least :) Nope, did not fair well at all u_u I feel bad for giving him a tough past... but now he has Luffy!
yukiko hyuga-chan: Really happy to hear that ^^ I will!
Kitsune Foxfire: Hehe good, then my goal is complete! I couldn't resist adding Thatch. I just love the guy so much. That'll be touched upon again in part 2 ;)
Guest (2): The bonus takes place like right before he becomes the pirate king :)
MysteriousEyez: Which is why I wrote it :D Nope, he doesn't remember. Which is sad, but, well, he barely recalls being a slave at all. It's actually Ace's mom's POV XD
sakura240: Hehe and I'm not going to let up. I'll lead you guys into a false sense of security and then everything will go to hell again :P Here's an update~
Death's BlackOut: Sorry, I didn't intend to make anyone cry ^^; You're welcome! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, as well!
Neko-VongolaPrimo: Alright, I look forward to them then ^^
spoons-are-evil: You'll have to figure that out on your own :P The main problem with her going mute was that Ace didn't learn how to speak. Lol Sabo grew on me, too.
LostFairyMantic: Really happy your enjoying!
(There you go! Now both of my slow stories have been updated! TAKE THAT, LIFE! Ahem. Moving on, please drop a review to tell me what you think and I'll be back with another one real soon. I think I stole that line from someone... Mark Crilley! That's it! ...Damn. Adieu~)