Flashback: 17 years ago
"Mommy! Daddy!" I screamed out, running towards them. "Guess what day it is!" Mother laughed. Father laughed and picked me up, swing me around.
"Is it..my birthday?!" I laughed and shook my head.
"Guess again! Guess again!" I cheered.
"Is it...your mother's birthday?" I shook my head again, giggling. "Then...could it be your birthday?" I laughed and clapped my hands.
"Yeah! It is!"
"Do you know what that means?" I looked at Father curiously.
"What does it mean?"
"It mean..Birthday attack!" I laughed as Father tickled me. "How old are you turning?"
"Six!" I held out one of my hands, and two other fingers.
"Is that really six?" Mother asked me. "Or do you just want another candle?" She smiled at me, and I giggled.
"Candles!"
"Alright, alright. I'll give you another candle. Don't worry Jade." Mother placed another candle on the cake, and Father lit the candles with a lighter.
"Why don't you use your superpower, Dad?" I asked him curiously. Father laughed.
"Well, if I did, you wouldn't have a cake! My lava would melt down everything, including your cake." Father poked my cheek, and I giggle. "What's your wish, Jade?" Father asked me. I giggled and opened my mouth to speak, but Mother cut in.
"Now, Sakazuki, if she tells you her wish, it won't come true!" I nodded.
"Yeah Daddy!" Father back up, holding up his hands in peace.
"Alright, alright. Make a wish, Jade!" I nodded, and sucked in a breath. I closed my eyes, and thought back on my life. My eyes opened, and I knew what I wanted for my wish. 'I wish this would last forever.' I thought, and blew out all the candles with on breath.
"What was your wish?" Father asked me curiously. I giggled again.
"I can't tell you, Daddy!"
1 year later
"Hey pumpkin, today's your birthday!" Father asked me. I smiled.
"Yup, Daddy" I cheerfully said.
"Well, Mommy's buying ingredients for a cake right now!" I grinned at Father.
"Really?! Is it gonna be vanilla? She knows I hate chocolate, right!?" Father laughed, and tousled my hair.
"Of course, sweetheart. But I wanna give you something." He handed me a ring. I looked at it in wonder. The ring was beautiful. The band was silver, and there was a snake with blood red eyes coiling around it.
"It's so pretty." I breathed out.
"Wow, you really think so kiddo? Anyways, I gave your mother this ring to symbolize our marriage. Your mother has a superstition where snakes are good. They bring good luck with them, and symbolize love and happiness." I peered at him curiously.
"What's sym-o-lize?" I sounded out the word, trying to understand. Father laughed again, and place his hand on top of my head.
"Don't worry about it kiddo. For now, this ring is really special to your mother and I, and I talked to your mother, and she agreed to let you have it." My eyes widened.
"I get to keep it!?" Father laughed and nodded.
"Yup. It's your birthday present from us. I hugged Father tightly.
"Thank you." I held the ring tight in one hand, eyes shinning.
"I'm home!" The door slammed as Mother came home.
"Mother! Thank you!" I tackled her into a hug, and she fell back into the door.
"Wha..?" Mother asked, confused. Father laughed and hugged us both. As I was squished between Father's rough, yet soft embrace, and Mother's warm and welcoming hug, I never wanted to let go..
1 year later
"Mom, come on! Why can't we go today?" I complained. Mother smiled, and gently said, "Well, the ship we were suppose to be on left already. And the next ship to Sabaody Archipelago leaves in 10 minutes. We don't have enough time, honey. I'm sorry, but we need to leave tomorrow." I sighed, and kicked up my feet as I lazily twirled my mother's ring around my finger. I grinned at it, remembering how I got it again.
"Sorry, Mother. I tried to get up early, and I did! But.." I pouted, and looked down. "I feel asleep again…" Mother laughed. "I did want to move! I swear!"
"It's alright, Jade. You tried, and it's ok that you didn't wake up. You tried your best. Oh! And, when your father calls, I'm gonna tell him we're not on the ship. I don't want him to worry, though." Mother sighed.
"It'll be alright! Dad will know!" I said cheerfully. "By the way, Mother, can I go to the shops? I wanna get something before we leave." Mother sighed, and handed me a few beri.
"Alright, Jade. But, be back in an hour. I have a bad feeling about today." I nodded, my face beaming.
"Don't worry! I'll be back in less the time!" I sprinted off, running through the streets, dodging people left and right. I saw what I wanted to get Mother and Father yesterday, and I hoped it would still be there. I skid to a stop as I neared the shop. "Mister Shopkeeper!" I called out. The man turned around, and smiled at me.
"Ah, yes Jade? Do you want the pendant that you were looking at yesterday?" My head bobbed up and down. "Well, it's 40 beri. Do you have that?" I handed the shopkeeper the bundle of beri my mother had given me. He counted out the money carefully, and smiled at me again."You're 60 beri extra. Do you want to buy something else?" I glanced at what else the shopkeeper had. He had..A hat! Father would love that hat, it might have been black, but he always told me he wanted a hat to cover his head. It fit perfectly with Mother's gift. Mother's pendent was red, with a dog breathing out fire. Father could do that! I think? But I didn't' worry about that. Mother would be happy, it'd be like Father was always watching her!
"That hat!" I declared. The shopkeeper turned around, and took the hat off the rack.
"Alright. Here." He handed the hat to me, and I clutched it in my hand. "Do you want a bag?" I shook my head. "Actually, I want to give you something." My eyes peered at him curiously. Give me something? What was he going to give me? He turned around, fiddled around in the cash register, then pulled out a pair of silver cuffs. "I have a bad feeling about today, and I think you'll need these more than me." My eyes widened in wonder. They were so shiny, and I could see my reflection in them. "Hold out your hands." The shopkeeper ordered. I did as he told, and he placed the cuffs over my hands and onto my wrist. I touched the metal gently. It was vibrating, as if...it was alive. I shook my head. I couldn't' wear these. Mother would ask where I got these, and I didn't' pay for them. I couldn't take it! I tried to pull the cuffs off, but they wouldn't' budge. I pulled harder and harder, until my entire wrist was red.
"Why won't' they come off?" I asked the shopkeeper angrily. "Why won't they come off?!" The shopkeeper shook his head.
"They will never come off. Don't worry, you'll need these today." I ignored his words, and kept pulling.
"Take them off!" My voice was shrill, and I was desperate. "TAKE THEM OFF!" I looked for the shopkeeper, but he had ran into the crowd. "Where are you?! TAKE THEM OFF!" I clutched the pendent and hat tighter in my fist. I couldn't risk a pickpocket stealing them. Suddenly, I heard a voice echoing throughout the island.
"ATTENTION! EVERYONE, REPORT TO THE DOCKS. WE ARE EVACUATING THIS ISLAND. AFTER ALL THE PEOPLE ARE IN SHIPS, WE WILL BOMB THIS ISLAND. IF YOU SEE ANY SCHOLARS, DO NOT LET THEM GET INTO A BOAT. THEY ARE TRAITORS TO THE WORLD GOVERNMENT." I looked up at the sky. Traitors? All I heard, was that we were suppose to go to the docks. But I couldn't go without Mother! I pushed and ran through the crowd, looking for Mother. They wouldn't actually bomb Ohara, would they? I pushed my way back towards my house. I saw marine guards holding down Mother. My eyes widened and I crept closer to them, spying.
"I can't leave until I find my daughter!" She demanded towards the guards.
"Sorry, ma'am, but we're under orders to have civilians brought on a ship immediately. We'll bring your daughter onto a ship after." Mother stopped resisting.
"You swear?" The marines nodded. Mother glared at them, but let herself be taken away. The marines watched Mother leave and laughed.
"Did she actually think we'd find a little brat?" One remarked to the other once Mother left. "Like we'd spend time trying to find a child. This island's gonna go down in flames. It's not like we're not going to die. We want to live too." The marines laughed and left the house. I glared at them, but followed the path Mother had taken. As I crept along the buildings, I saw that everyone was being evacuated. Some women were screaming, babies were crying, but worst of all, in the streets ahead, someone had found a scholer. The scholar stood there, cowering as a marine advanced on him. Finally, the marine shot him dead. My eyes took it all in. I stood shocked. 'They just killed...someone." I thought to myself. 'The marines...The good guys...Just killed someone.' I shook it off, and continued following Mother. The marines were good, Father said so. Father was part of the marines. Father wouldn't harm Mother or me. As I followed them to the port, they shoved Mother roughly onto a ship.
"Where is my daughter?" She demanded.
"She'll probably come in on the next boat. Don't worry, we'll make sure she gets to you." Mother opened her mouth to argue, but the ship had already started moving. She stumbled, trying not to fall. As the ship left, I ran up to the marine.
"Mister Marine!" I shouted out. "I want to get on that ship! Mother's there!" The marine chuckled, and shoved me back.
"Nope, sorry kid. You're too late. All the evacuation ships left. You can't get on the Marine ships." I shook my head, defiant in my decision.
"No! I'm going with Mother!" I shouted out. But I didn't' realize that the marine had already left, and was sailing away. "NO! TAKE ME WITH YOU! MOTHER!" I wailed out. "MOTHER! NO! DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!" Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw the ships sailing away. Suddenly, a missile came from a marine ship. I followed it's descent with my eyes, until I realized it was going to hit the ship Mother was in. "NO!" I screamed out. "MOTHER! NO!" The ship blew up, rubble flying everywhere. I clutched the pendent I was going to give her harder. "Mother…" I whispered brokenly. I harden my resolve, and turned towards the marine ship that had fired the missile. Even from here, I could make out shouting.
"WHY DID YOU JUST DESTROY THAT SHIP!?" An angry voice yelled.
"There could have been a scholar on there. Even if only one scholar escapes, that means that the mission failed."
"You go to extreme measures, Akainu." My ears perked up. Akainu? That was Father's code name...Suddenly, missiles exploded from various marine ships, all headed for this island. I screamed, and covered my face. The missiles exploded, and fire raged all over the island. I screamed again, and ran towards our house. But I was too late. The house was on fire, and I watched through teary eyes as the last of the house burned away. "No.." I whispered. I ran towards the center of the city, where Mother and Father and I used to take walks, and laugh at the birds. It was on fire too, and the birds were gone. I ran to my school, where Mother or Father would walk me everyday too. It was on fire, and the fire overpowered me. I fell to my knees, and cried. My world, was gone. Everything that happened in my whole life, was gone. Burned to a crisp. I clutched the pendent harder, and stood shakily to my feet. I ran again. I had to check something. But as I ran, I fell and tripped over a piece of debris. "NO!" I shouted out, my hand reaching for it. But it was too late. The pendent fell into the fire, and I watched as it melted. "NO!" The last thing...that was of any value to me. I screamed, fell to my knees again. I didn't care about the heat, the flames. I screamed again, a gutted cry echoing over what was once my home. The fire burned hotter, and hotter, and it slowly crept towards me, wanting to pull me into an embrace. I let it. I didn't care anymore. But just as the fire was about to consume me, my cuffs glowed. I looked at them with wide eyes as they sucked in all the fire. The fire vanished inside them, like water in a drain. I touched the cuffs. It was hot, but not a blistering hot. Hot..like a comfortable hot. Like….Father's heat. I shook my head. No, I wasn't going to think about him. He killed Mother, and would have killed me. I needed to get back at him. I looked at my cuffs curiously. Could they pour out fire since they absorbed them? I focused on the cuffs, and sure enough, fire trickled out. I grinned. If I could absorb fire, that means...that I could also absorb Father's powers. By now, most of the fire had gone out, and Ohara was a barren landscape of black ash. I could already plan it out in my mind. I could find Father again, and make him pay. He would pay. He would pay dearly. I looked down at my hands, and was surprised to find that I was still clutching the hat. I released my hand, and the hat fell to the ground. I picked it up and looked at it. It was just a black hat, but it held so much meaning. I took the hat and placed it firmly on my head. It would serve as a reminder, of what happened here. It would remind me of my goal in this world. To make my father pay.
***Line Break***
It wasn't that bad on Ohara now. I lived in a little hut that had managed to remain standing. Of course, there wasn't any food, and that was bad, but I could bear for now. I didn't need food for a few more weeks. Hopefully. Of course, it now that my stomach decided to be hungry. I held it as it grumbled, pleading with me for food. I sighed, and ventured out. I walked back to wear I had bought the pendant, and found a little box. I picked it up curiously, and looked at it. It was just a wooden box, and I opened it and found a fruit. I furrowed my eyebrows. Was this a trap? As I opened the box, a sheet of paper fluttered to the ground. I picked it up curiously.
To whomever opens this box:
This is a Devil Fruit. This Devil Fruit will give you the power to control the wind, but eating this Devil Fruit will result in you not being able to swim. I know that this Devil Fruit will be important to whomever picks it up, and I would like that person to eat it. I know it's you, Jade. Eat this Devil Fruit, and you will be able to finally make your Father pay. But before you eat it, finish reading this letter. Today at sundown, your father will come in a small boat. He will realize that he killed you and his family, and destroy this island. You must absorb his power and escape before he does so. His power is strong, and will help you in your life. Next, there is a small boat tied to a small dock at the other end of the island. You can use that to escape, just remember not to touch the sea water. It will drain your energy and kill you.
From,
The Shopkeeper
I finished reading the letter and exhaled. The shopkeeper was correct before, I did need the cuffs. I don't think he was lying in this letter. I took the fruit from the box, and shoved it into my mouth. I chewed furiously and swallowed. Then I almost puked. The fruit tasted disgusting! Suddenly, I felt weird. As if, something had changed. I held out my hands and blew. Nothing happened. I sighed. I would really need to practice that. At least I had about 4 more hours to do that.
True to his word, Father showed up around sundown. I was watching as he docked his ship, and stepped onto shore. I had exchanged my clothes for something else, and I left my clothes ripped and torn near where our old house use to be. I also placed a marine cap not to far from where where the shirt was, and...my mother's ring. I didn't want to give it up, but...I clenched my fists. I had too. I found a place where I could watch what was going on, but not where Father could find me. When Father arrived, he called my name, but I stayed where I was. Then, Father saw the trap. He ran to where our old house was, a hand out, calling my name again and again.
"NO! JADE!" He cried out. He clutched the marine hat, holding it to his chest. As the shopkeeper had said, Father's fist covered in lava and he punched the ground. The cobblestone cracked, and I absorbed the bits and pieces that came my way. 'I'll never use it.' I promised myself. 'I'm just doing what the shopkeeper told me to do.' I ran from Father as lava erupted through the ground. It oozed through the streets, and I dodged it the best I could. I ran towards the other side of the island, ignoring all the lava and earthquakes that happened because of Father. He deserved this. He deserved to think that I was dead. I quickly unhooked the boat as the earthquakes grew violent. I sailed off, looking back. The island was turning into a volcano, and lava flew everywhere. I glanced at my once home, and the person who was causing all this destruction to it. It was still my Father. He was still the villain.
BOOM! Long chapter right there! Oh god, this one was a monster to write. 3,000 words...But I have to make it up to you cause the chapters before were so short...