Chapter 2- Pariah
The following is a fan-made work of fiction. Certain original characters made by myself will be claimed under my ownership. However, I do not, nor will I ever claim to own One Piece.
One Piece © Eiichiro Oda
Wonderland Island, William Henley, Prairie Flora, Talbot Alice, Gammon Smith, Bunsen Jack, and Ashley © HatOnFire/Me
The wind grew to a cool breeze, complementing the springtime island with a normal day.
High in the giant sequoia tree that towered Wonderland Island and balancing himself on the redwood branches was Luffy, exploring it from the bottom to the top. He had almost reached the top at the rate he was going.
"I wish the wind would pick up," He talked to himself, "I could feel it when I get up there."
For now, he sat down on the branch, letting his legs hang above new heights.
"It's nice up here…" He smiled, reflecting on his experiences. "It feels like my problems are beneath me. If only I didn't have to think about them…"
He changed positions, resting on the branch as the leaves blocked the sun's rays.
"Well, I've gotta do it sometime…" The captain sighed, "Letting some of them go is all I can do to prove I'm done with the way they treat me… right?"
Uncertainty and second-guessing became synonymous to him, and he wasn't sure how to handle it. How could Luffy know what to do when he isn't like the traditional sailor's captain? For all he knew, it would take days before he could work up the nerve or come up with another idea…
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Meanwhile, over at the lighthouse, Alice was looking through some of the cabinets, making sure nothing else was out of place. As for Henley, he was looking at his notes, checking to see if a piece of paper was taken.
"Nothing," He spoke, setting a pile down on a table. "They didn't take my notes, but they could've taken pictures. When you can, see if anyone has purchased a Visual Transponder Snail in town."
"If the guy was being careful, he may've planned all this," Alice pointed out, "It wouldn't do me any good to check around without someone asking questions."
"That's true…" Henley sighed, "And we still don't know why they targeted Flora in the first place."
"Can we avoid talking about that now?" The tall blonde closed the cabinet doors gently, "You just got back."
"Alright, let's change the subject," Henley proceeded with his inquiry, "Why are you wearing one of Flora's tops?"
"I asked her if I could wear it and she let me," Alice shrugged, "Why?"
"It's a little small for you, isn't it?" Henley wondered aloud as he internally mused, 'And could you understand her through humming?'
"It's gonna be small for her, too," The tall blonde took the purple blouse off, revealing a pink tube top to contrast her blue shorts. "Being stuck in here for eight months? She'll have grown a little extra, if you know what I'm saying."
"Be nice, now."
"Hey, it just means there's more fun for the both of us."
'Us?' The redhead cocked one eyebrow up, 'Oh, let it go already, Alice.'
"We'll either get her back into shape or turn her into a punching bag!" Alice playfully grinned, deriding whatever thought Henley had.
"Um, I'm not open to helping her train until she's fully cured," Henley objected, "Don't encourage her until then, okay?"
[BGM: (Let's) Escape One Piece OST]
"Relax, Henley!" Alice flashed him a peace sign after putting on her black fingerless gloves, "We were doing fine on our own!"
"I guess we all can rest a little easier."
"By the way, how are you feeling?"
"I got back the memories I lost," Henley answered, "So that's good, I guess."
"I see…" Alice thoughtfully nodded, "Well, how'd you come back?"
"Pirates helped me, but I still can't believe it," Henley scratched his head, coming to terms with it.
"Really?" Alice was surprised, "But you hated pirates. You started going back to hating them since…"
Henley's eyes visually reeked of pain, signaling Alice to cut herself off.
"Well, it's like I've said…" The hybrid leaned on the table, "There's no such thing as a good pirate. Even so… The ones I met weren't like the ones we battled… too much."
"Too much?"
"No big deal," Henley dismissed the times he battled all of them at once and when Zoro held a katana to his throat, "We don't have a problem now, but perhaps you should give them a wide berth…"
"But you know I find pirates interesting. I want to meet them."
"You sure?"
"I want to see who helped you," Alice assured him, heading for the stairs. "And we can take some precautions so you can sleep at night."
"Okay," Henley followed her, descending to the lighthouse's bottom floor. As soon as they got downstairs and opened the door, he showed her the ship of the pirates who helped him. "Here we are."
"Oh…" Alice looked incredibly astonished, so much that her eyes shined like stares and started squealing in delight. "OMIGOD IT'S THE STRAW HAT PIRATES' SHIP OMIGOD!"
"I will never understand what you see in pirates…" Henley covered his face with a hand, hoping no one was around to watch this.
"That lion figurehead is so cute!" Alice exclaimed.
"Yeah, it's a lion," The hybrid dully confirmed.
"You're not ruining this for me!" The tall blonde was too enthralled to be disturbed by whatever her friend said, "I'm staring at THE ship of the newest, toughest and most badass pirates ever seen!"
"Oh, so you heard of them… Wait, where are you going?!"
"I'm gonna check the ship out!" She ran straight up the railing with an ecstatic grin on her face.
"Don't!" Henley pleaded, following her up. "They're not fond of unwelcome guests!"
"Green grass on a ship!" Alice fell on the grass and began to roll on it, "It's so real, too!"
"Get off the grass, Alice!"
"The anchors look like lion paws!" She gasped, "And the helm's wheel is so detailed!"
"Here's an idea. Let's get off the ship before Zoro decides to kill me again."
"Zoro tried to kill you?! Awesome!" Alice excitedly claimed, glossing over a glaring point.
"I love how well you took it…" Henley felt a sweatdrop coming on as he whispered.
"The crow's nest!" Alice climbed the ropes of the ship up to the nest, "With a loudspeaker!"
"I will tie you up and carry you off the ship if I have to!" Henley shouted.
"Kinky…" As Alice was walking on the mast's arm, she accidentally lost her footing, beginning to fall. "Whoops!"
"Alice!" Henley jumped up and caught her, landing on his feet. "Are you okay?"
The girl nodded, being let down.
"What the hell's going on here?!" Zoro bellowed, exiting the aquarium with Usopp and Franky, while Sanji came up from the kitchen with Chopper and Brook.
"Eeee~!" Alice looked even more elated than before, so much that Henley swore she was sparkling like an angel.
"Should we arm ourselves?" Franky questioned, watching Alice dash up to them with the speed of a cheetah.
"It's really you!" She cheered, grabbing Zoro's right arm and feeling his biceps. "Pirate Hunter Zoro with his three swords!"
"Let go of me, woman!" The swordsman pulled away with an annoyed glare.
"Cyborg Franky with his huge muscles and iron skin!" Alice admired the large man while holding one of his huge forearms, "I want an autograph!"
"O-Oh, is that all?" Franky beamed, feeling flattered.
"Aw, it's a wittle waindeer~!" Now the blonde fangirl has moved on to Chopper, picking him up and scrunching his cheeks while making a cutesy face. "So cute!"
"T-This doesn't make me feel good, you bitch!" Chopper may have denied the praise, but his eyes were sparkling and his furry face was starting to get a little hot.
"You don't address a lady like that, Chopper!" Sanji scolded him, taking him from Alice and foisting him onto Zoro, who shot him a dirty look. He then turned to her with hearts in his eyes. "Not with those abs~!"
"Kill me now," Henley came close to developing a migraine as the swordsman reflexively grabbed Shusui, for some reason or another.
"Wow, you're Sanji!" Alice looked at the cook's face, feeling his cheek now. "I never would've noticed you had plastic surgery without your poster!"
"Hi, I'm Usopp, nice to meet you!" Usopp took Alice's hand and shook it while Sanji collapsed on the ground in tears, slamming his fist on the grass, much to Zoro's amusement. "Would you like an autograph from the great captain?"
"I'd love an autograph from Monkey D. Luffy!" Alice smiled, "What about Sniper King?"
"He was filling in for me," Usopp stretched the truth a little.
"Oh, I see," Alice understood, "Still, I wish I could've shaken hands with Sniper King instead of a loser."
"Ack!" Usopp clutched where his heart was, dropping to the green deck. "My feelings…"
"Who the hell is this?!" Alice exclaimed, finally noticing Brook right there. "A living skeleton?! Awesome!"
"Good day, milady," Brook lifted his hat up in greetings before predictably asking, "Could you show me your panties?"
"Yes!"
"No!" The other men shouted, with Henley shooting a stream of cobwebs from his hands to distract Alice from fulfilling the musician's request.
"Bad skeleton!" The hybrid also sprayed Brook with webs for good measure.
"I wasn't gonna show this pervert my panties, Henley!" Alice ripped off the cobweb attached to her face, "Not unless he showed me his!"
"My word!" Brook gasped, shaking the webs on him off. "How vulgar!"
"You're the vulgar one!" The guys replied in unison once more.
"What's going on?!" Nami yelled, going up to the crew with Robin. "I'm trying to add the island to the map!"
"It looks like we have new visitor," Robin stepped down to the deck, reading Alice's body language. "And she's a fan."
"Oh, Nico Robin…!" Alice wanted to shake her hand, but she wasn't so confident in that. "I-It's great to meet you."
"Likewise," Robin held it out in good faith, "What's your name?"
"Alice," The blonde answered, finally at ease. "Talbot Alice. My mother founded this island several years ago."
"Interesting," Robin smiled and parted hands with her, "I imagine the town is nice."
"It's called Bradyville, named after my dad."
"So, you're pretty significant to Wonderland Island, huh?" Nami interjected.
"That's right," Alice confirmed, "Nami, right? You're a thief, right?"
"Yes?" Nami responded with a little hesitation.
"I dated a thief once," Alice recalled with a straight face, "Broke my heart and shattered it to pieces. So I don't like people like you."
"O-Okay…" Nami took that in stride, having no other way to answer to that.
"I like her already," Zoro cracked with an evil smirk.
"Is that all it takes for you to take a liking to someone?" Robin pondered aloud, only adding to the tension that had subsided between the two.
"Don't hold anything against her," Henley asked Nami, "She hates thieves for what they represent to her and for what one did to her. It's not you."
'Though I'm not fond of them, myself…' The hybrid added in private, 'In fact, I almost count as one…'
"I'm used to being an outsider," The navigator dispelled his worries, "It's fine."
"Well, sorry for intruding," Alice apologized, "But you pirates were just too cool to ignore."
"We could tell," Chopper rubbed his cheeks with his hooves, "Sorry about reacting the way we did."
"Hey, Alice?" Henley prepared to make a suggestion, "If they want to go to town, could you guide them? They could use it."
"Ah, good idea," Alice liked the notion, "Clue them in on the laws of the island and keep a low profile, right?"
"Speaking of low profile, you should go," Henley glanced back to the green trees and shrubs, "If you mother starts asking, it won't be long before I'm found out. And I'd like my neck free of nooses."
"As long as you make sure Flora gets better."
When Henley returned to the lighthouse, Alice took along the members who wanted to go into town. Thus, they had a short hike to Bradytown along the beachside of the island.
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It had been over twenty minutes since Alice and four Straw Hats walked from the beach. They made good time and hitched a ride in a stagecoach, which makes its rounds around this area to drop off people wanting to go to the beach and vice versa. These particular stagecoaches are pulled by horses or large roosters to give people a lift for a fee.
The town was bustling like usual for the locals. Some people had jobs to do, some people were having lunch breaks at bars and dives, a few children were playing on the sides of the streets.
"This town really likes to mix up some buildings to give it that 'Wonderland Island' feel," Alice explained, "That why there's a big fusion of beliefs, cultures, and ideas."
"Why's the island called Wonderland?" Usopp asked.
"Because it's what a paradise is," Alice simply replied, "I should know. Mom let me name it."
"So you're mother rules the island?" Robin wished to confirm that as a fact.
"Not exactly," Alice shook her head, "She created the town for people to stay at, but she's only the founder and she lives away from town. Now, she used to be the mayor for a year, but she never got back into the job. So, my uncle's taking the role."
"Uncle?" Franky repeated.
"Maybe we'll see him today, but he's been busy," The fit blonde thought aloud, stopping at a saloon.
"Hey, Alice!" A tall man with dark brown hair and tanned skin called out, waving at her. He wore a green dress shirt with white and black circles and black buttons, as well as blue pants with black shoes.
GAMMON SMITH. SIMPLE BRADYTOWN CITIZEN.
"Hi there, Smith!" Alice waved, "How's it going?"
"Just another day of hanging around here," Smith replied, "At least 'til the next odd job. Who are they?"
"We're passing through," Robin spoke before their guide could say anything, "If I can ask, do you know how long until the Log Pose resets?"
"Oh, you got here recently?" Smith smiled at the archaeologist, "Well, the Log Pose resets in four days."
'That short, huh?' Usopp thought, his heart sinking once again with dread. 'Means it'll be over with quicker than we thought…'
"Go inside, guys," Alice jabbed her thumb at the swinging doors, seeing two men having a nasty argument boil into a shoving match. "I've got something to do."
The four Straw Hats decided to follow Gammon inside, seeing Alice handling herself by clonking the two of them on the head.
"You can get plenty of drinks and good eats here," Smith stated, "You won't find a better spot to take a load off. Name's Gammon Smith, by the way."
"Thank you," Franky told him, taking a seat.
"And don't worry, even pets are welcome, at least right here," Smith sincerely added.
"I'm not a pet, jackass!" Chopper took offense to that anyway.
"The raccoon dog can talk?!" Smith exclaimed.
"I'm not!" The poor reindeer pouted.
"Don't be down, Chopper," Usopp pleaded, "I'll get you some cotton candy later. Um, spare some berries, Robin?"
"You didn't bring any money with you?" Robin queried, "Why?"
"In case Nami asked to borrow money from me," He sheepishly answered, "I would've handed her some counterfeit berries."
"What happened to Luffy's orders to stay out of trouble?!" Franky scolded him.
"Usopp…" Chopper was unimpressed, blowing air out of his nostrils like an ox.
"Unbelievable," Robin couldn't stand to look at the liar at the moment.
"Nico Robin?" One man questioned, recognizing her face. "And some of the Straw Hat Pirates. What's your kind doing here?"
That man was a little rotund, wearing a turquoise dress shirt with blue stripes and white buttons and a yellow-gray pair of pants that comes with a black belt and silver buckle. He wore brown shoes, his skin tone was fair, his face was only a little round with a cleft chin, a mole was under his left eye next to his nose, and his hair was fairly short and light brown.
BUNSEN JACK. ADOPTED BROTHER OF GAMMON SMITH.
"Hey, Jack!" Smith tried to greet him, but he got ignored.
"I said, what are you doing here?" Jack growled, "Scoping out the town, figuring out what you're gonna pillage and burn?"
AND S-CLASS HARDASS.
"We're not here to cause trouble," Franky tried to assure him in hopes of mitigating a scene, "We don't even know you people."
"Not cause trouble?" Jack spat, "Tell that to the brave men who lost their lives at Enies Lobby."
"E-Enies Lobby?" Usopp stammered, never expecting that location to pop up.
There wasn't anyone in the Grand Line who doesn't know about the destruction of Enies Lobby. It never happened at the Straw Hat Pirates' hands, but it's generally agreed by some that it wouldn't have happened if the Straw Hats didn't infiltrate the place. And the term generally agreed is used loosely.
"You… had friends on Enies Lobby?" Chopper pondered innocently.
"Even if some of them weren't my friends," The large man sighed, "I'd be proud to call them brothers-in-arms."
"We had nothing to do with the destruction, if it helps," Usopp tried soothing the pain he felt, knowing and seeing some casualties from the Buster Call.
"It doesn't," Jack glowered at the smaller young man, "And you really expect me to believe you?"
"Come now, Jack!" Smith took a swig of his drink, maintaining his cheery disposition. "There's not much you can do, being permanently discharged and all."
"Don't remind me!" Jack shook Smith's had off of him when he tried resting it on his shoulder, "I hate it when you do!"
"Hey, I know what you can do!" Smith suggested, "Just pretend they aren't here and they'll be gone soon!"
"What's to stop me from calling the Marines on them?"
Robin wasn't sure what else to do but prepare for a fight, realizing that they can't talk down a man devoted to his cause.
"I don't know, how about the fact that you're a failure?" Smith replied with a cocked eyebrow, "The Marines blacklisted you for a reason: you done screwed up."
"Shut the hell up…!" Jack's nerves were hit, "You're not a Marine. You have no right to talk about that!"
"Just know your place like a good little brother, ex-Marine," Smith smiled while continuing acting passive-aggressively, "The Marines didn't listen to you when you tried calling them on that half-human kid, so why would they listen to you now?"
"I hate you."
"You too, fatass," Smith's nasty side was more subtle now, "Now go drink it off."
Jack never liked to be told what to do, but he listened anyway because he wanted a distraction from his 'brother.'
"Sorry about him," The man with the green shirt and spots returned to acting chummy, "He's just bitter. I kinda wished my parents never adopted him."
"What a thing to say about a brother," Franky controlled himself, in spite of wishing to punch the guy's face in.
"He's not really my brother, so don't pity him. I never do."
"Well, thank you for stepping in," Robin spoke, "I doubt we would've stayed cordial otherwise."
"He has a reason to be angry," Smith raised his hands and tilted them sideways, "Bunsen Jack, the 'Powerhouse,' used to be a respected soldier. He rose up to being an Ensign, but a little fiasco got him kicked out, and it wasn't really his fault."
"Then why call him a screwup?" Usopp wondered.
"Because I can," Smith simply chuckled, "It's just boys being boys."
"I heard something about a half-human kid he tried tattling on," Chopper noticed, "Is he talking about…?"
"William Henley," Smith nodded, shaking his head. "A little guy with a dangerous mind and killer reflexes."
"I saw him holding Flora's body after he poisoned her," Jack snarled, clenching his teeth and cup. "He killed her and took her body with her, probably to do something terrible. He's no different from pirate scum."
"But we're not like that!" Chopper retorted, "We pirates are just going on adventures!"
"Pirates don't travel for adventure," Jack opposed that with his own rhetoric, "They only live for the thrill of life and death, the lust for gold, and the love of power. I've seen pirates like that and even some untouchable people like that. William Henley is no exception."
"Why do you assume he did what you say he did?" Robin felt the need to ask.
"Anyone who saw that scene would think the same thing," The round ex-Marine hissed, "He's a predator and this bounty proves it."
He pulled out a wanted poster of the young man, who was fourteen at the time the picture was taken.
"The 'Swift Disease,' as they called him," Jack continued, "Released several prisoners from a prison labor camp. Several Marines were killed, including a wealthy family with the World Government. It was such a mess that the Marines were forced to bombard the place so they couldn't escape."
"And you think systematic destruction justified all that?" The cyborg questioned.
"Maybe, maybe not," Jack settled down, "But because of that incident, the Marines were forced to let go of some personnel involved with that incident, as penance for failure. It really sucks."
"You hate him for that?" Chopper asked to confirm.
"I couldn't do anything without any authority. I told everyone that he couldn't be trusted, and I was right. His activities of thwarting pirates was just an act. He fooled everyone."
Robin studied his facial expression to see how genuine his feelings were. His poker face was well maintained, but his eyes looked sad, for some reason or another.
"It doesn't matter," Jack got his drink refilled by the bartender, "He's a menace to this whole island, if not the Grand Line! What say everyone in this bar?!"
"Damn straight!" Lots of men cheered, raising their glasses and laughing like hyenas.
"And if he comes back, we'll send him off with his tail between his legs!" Jack drank his cup, slamming it on the bar table. "I expect nothing less than justice to fall down on him!"
"With that attitude, he makes for a typical Marine," Franky whispered to Usopp amid the like-minded roars.
"Better not to say that to his face," The long-nosed man murmured.
"I wonder which of those two brothers is worse," Chopper sighed, "I can't relate to either one with how awful they sound."
"Hey, just so you know," Jack called to the Straw Hats for the last time, "It's better that you stay away from the coast line to the east. That's where that little monster makes his prowls and I wouldn't put it past him to lay some nasty traps."
"You're concerned for our safety?" Franky almost laughed at the contradiction in his character.
"I'm giving you advice," Jack rolled his eyes, "So do what you want with it. I don't like digging graves for strangers."
"From now on," Robin turned back to her crewmates, "We only go into town if we need to. These people are liable to take matters into their own hands at the first sight of trouble."
"So, we're leaving this place?" Usopp questioned, getting verification from everyone else. "Good. I've lost my appetite."
With that consensus made, the four of them left the bar, not one turning back.
"Hey, there are some good deals to be made at the store!" Gammon tried following them, "I can show you some cheap prices!"
"We'll see them on our way out," Usopp waved without turning his head.
"If you want, I-!"
"Thank you, but we'll be fine on our own," Robin asserted, shutting him down.
"Oh, okay!" Gammon laughed, "Just watch out for half-bred humans like William Henley!"
"Finally," Franky brushed his hair with one of his hands, "I was gonna lose it back there."
"Hate lives in many towns," The woman with dark hair sighed, "Whether you're in the West Blue or Grand Line, it's a bitter pill to swallow."
"That guy protected this island only to be betrayed by the people for something he didn't do," Usopp whistled, "That's rough."
'At least Henley has friends of his age to help him cope,' The doctor mused, 'It's better than what I dealt with back on Drum Island…'
"Hey, guys!" Alice ran over to them, "Sorry about that. Want to see more of our humble town?"
"About that…" Before Franky could elaborate, Robin replied to that.
"Yes, please," She told.
"Smith's a good guy, you know," Alice smiled, "So's Jack. He may not show it often, but he means well."
"You know he was a Marine?" Usopp wondered.
"Yeah, he used to be one," Alice shrugged, "But not anymore. Doesn't make him a bad guy."
"No, of course not," Robin said what their guide wanted to hear, stopping everyone else from disagreeing with her.
"But what about the things he says about Henley?" Chopper interjected, "Don't they bother you?"
"They're just opinions," Alice's sweet smile was starting to bug the other Straw Hats, "And opinions are words. So, how about we check out the town square?"
"Okay," Franky's expression showed that he was a little unsettled with how Alice was okay with the slander her friend was getting, but he didn't want to push her.
Everyone continued the tour of the town without any trouble, but questions started piling up about this place. They hoped that there wouldn't be any problems as long as they were there…
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Meanwhile, on the giant red tree, sleeping on a branch…
"Ngh…" Luffy moaned, shaking his head. He came close to falling off, but he controlled himself pretty well.
At the moment, his nap made him dream of something: a memory of what he thought he went through…
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"Let me go, Ashley!" A young Luffy begged, a fresh bruise on his right cheek continuing to sting. "You don't want to do this!"
"Well, if you just kept to yourself like a good boy, I wouldn't be getting ready to kill you!"
A young woman was taking a thirteen year old Luffy by the neck up to a cliff, planning on disposing of the young kid.
She wore a checkered dress shirt that was dark green, with brown pants that had suspenders and brown shoes. Her hair was short and orange, and her eyes were gray. With Luffy, she carried a double-bladed axe and a large bag filled with silver and gold coins.
"How could you do that?" Luffy sniffled, "How could you?"
"Let my brother go, Ashley!" A teenaged Ace called out, wearing a light yellow shirt that was unbuttoned with black shorts and an orange elbow guard.
"Oh, Ace," Ashley sighed, "Now I have to kill you, too."
"I'm sorry for what happened to your parents, Ashley," Ace sympathized with her, "But killing Luffy won't solve anything!"
"Sure it will," The orangette rolled her apathetic eyes, dropping Luffy and stepping on his stomach to keep him from running.
"Please don't blame him for Gramps being in the Marines!" Ace requested, "It's not even their fault they killed your parents!"
"I know. How do you think they came to Dawn Island?"
"W-What?"
"Ace…" Luffy whimpered, "She called the Marines on her parents… She had them killed…"
His older brother clenched his fist and snarled from hearing that.
"Is it true?" He asked.
"You heard him," Ashley replied with a grin, resting her axe on her right shoulder and sneering at the young boy. One look at her eyes, and the brothers realized how deranged she truly was.
"You had your own parents killed?!" Ace was furious. All the sadness he felt for her was replaced with flaming anger and contempt.
"It was all for the treasure her parents got when they were pirates," Luffy explained, "But you would've inherited some of it, wouldn't you?!"
"My so-called parents wouldn't have given me a single berry!" Ashley hissed, "They wanted to give up everything they stole, and for what?! Penance for getting a kid orphaned several years ago? Fulfilling a promise to a dead man?"
"I knew you and your parents had problems, but to kill them over greed?!" Ace growled, "You're horrible!"
"They were always so controlling, you know," Ashley mentioned, "They never wanted me to be a pirate, to join you. The money would make better use of my future. It's mine, so I deserve it!"
"I hate people like you!" Ace ran for her, grabbing her axe before she could split Luffy's head open. "Killing because you think you deserve to take something that isn't yours!"
"Don't you want to be a pirate, Ace?" The woman sneered, "They take what they want regardless of who's in their way! That's exactly what being a pirate is about!"
"Not to me…" Luffy's brother kicked her in the stomach to force her back, simultaneously getting her off of Luffy.
Ashley charged at him with the axe while he pulled out a dagger to block her blade. They clashed with metal while trading punches and kicks, though after a few seconds of going back and forth, she held the axe in the opposite manner, jabbing the wooden end into Ace's gut, swiftly lifting it into his chin, and finally, changing positions and swinging its broadside across his face.
"GAH!" Ace grunted, landing on green grass. He was fortunate, at least, that his face wasn't cut or scarred.
"Gum-Gum Pistol!" Luffy stretched his arm out with a clenched fist, hitting Ashley's left cheek. She flinched, yet she stood as if nothing happened.
"Wanna try that again?" She wickedly smirked, looking only slightly different from Nami's devious expressions.
"Get away from my brother…" Luffy warned, "I don't want to fight you."
"Oh, so you want to protect him?" Ashley snorted, "Well, considering your record of living brothers and no friends, I respect that."
"Don't talk about Sabo!" Luffy elongated one of his legs, only for it to be caught. Ashley tugged and almost sent him over the cliff. He managed to pull himself up to the edge once he grabbed it, but there was still the matter of a crazy woman with an axe.
"Gum-Gum Keep Away!" He stretched his arms, knowing he had to get her away from Ace while he was trying to get up. He clutched the bag filled with berries and brought it to him.
"Give it to me, damn you!" Ashley shrieked, dashing with murderous intent. She held her weapon to her left, bringing it to her right to maim him, but he held the bag up, causing the coins and paper money to pour out.
"Go fish for it!" Luffy defiantly threw the rest of it behind him, letting gravity do its work to pull it into the deep blue.
"NO!" Ashley roared, wildly swinging the axe in all directions and forcing him on the move. "You're dead, you little bastard!"
Unfortunately for Luffy, his arms and legs were grazed by the sharp blades, and he felt pain trying to back up. Ashley kicked him down promptly after she found an opening.
"AGH!" He yelped, pressing his feet against the ground to move away from her.
"Luffy!" Ace finally got up, seeing his brother attacked.
"Say goodbye," Ashley raised her weapon up to deal a mortal blow, leaning in to pull it down.
"Gum-Gum Volcano!" Getting an idea from a villager's stories on a volcano that destroyed his home, Luffy brought his legs up once Ashley attacked, bashing her stomach and sending her flying in one go.
"AAHHH!" Ashley yelled as the momentum carried her over the cliffside, quickly thinking of jabbing her axe into the rocks, saving herself from falling.
"Ashley, grab my hand!" Luffy ordered, "Let me pull you up!"
"Why should I?" The orangette inquired, "You'll just tell everyone what I did! I'll be hunted down with no home to go back to."
"Then leave and never come back," Luffy suggested, "I'm allowing you that much because you and Ace were friends."
"A courtesy?" Ashley briefly pondered, knowing that there was nothing else left. But there was one more thing she could do… "Pull me up, please."
"Leave the axe in the rock," The young boy told, stretching his arm for her. "You won't be needing it."
"Yeah, I don't," Ashley agreed, taking the future pirate's hand and allowing him to pull her up.
'I'll just use my dagger to silence you both!' She thought while covertly pulling a small knife from her right boot, 'Sorry, but I can't let anyone put out a premature bounty on me, being a daughter of a pirate.'
"Careful, Luffy," Ace whispered, holding his dagger while using a free hand to help his brother.
"I can't climb up!" Ashley lied, "Help me!"
Luffy believed her, getting closer to the edge, but Ace saw through her ploy.
"Get away, Luffy!" He pulled the naive boy away in time before Ashley could swipe the blade across his throat. In retaliation, Ace stabbed her in the shoulder and kicked her off the cliff.
"ACCCCCCEEEEEE!" Ashley screamed, making her descent to what would be her watery grave.
"S-She tricked me…" Luffy murmured, "I-I believed her…"
"How could you do something so stupid?" Ace held his head down, eyes covered by the bangs of his hair.
"I'm sorry, Ace," Luffy sniffled as tears left his eyes.
"Luffy, you didn't do anything wrong," Ace reassured him, having been referring to that woman. "I can't believe Ashley would do something so evil to her parents."
The older brother looked to his sworn sibling, seeing him shake badly.
"Luffy," He told, "Some people do bad things because they want something they feel they won't ever get the normal way. They'll want money or gold, power and fame, revenge, or even someone they desire. You'll meet people like that when you become a pirate someday, and if a friend turns out like… Ashley… handle that how you see fit."
"A-Ace…" Luffy looked away, wanting to stop himself from crying.
"It's okay, little brother," Ace sincerely put a hand on his shoulder, beginning to shed tears of his own. "Men shouldn't cry, but they can."
It was a hard lesson these two brothers had to learn from this experience, but necessary in hindsight. The potential for betrayal exists in anyone, even in those who are called friends.
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In terms of actions, the memory proceeded differently from how Luffy remembered it. In his defense, he was not sound at that one time.
"Ace…" Luffy awakened from his slumber, sitting up on the branch. Thoughts crossed his mind and changed whatever perceptions he had.
"I never did have feelings for Ashley. And she was more… evil…"
The captain became troubled, looking back on his past. He wasn't sure if his recollections where right or not, but there was one person it all came back to.
"Henley…" Luffy groaned as though he was expecting this, "I guess your drink did more than just make me depressed."
He dropped out of the large tree and landed on one of its large roots, ready to head back to the lighthouse. All he could do until he got there was run and hope it wasn't going to start even more problems…
TO BE CONTINUED…
