Disclaimer!: I DO NOT OWN ONE PIECE! I own my OC(s), and that's just it, we are on a fanfiction site/ story site.
Time for the chapter!
~ If I ever lose my way, can I trust that you will help guide me back? ~
[ Location: Celestial Plane ; Specific Name: Margaret's Cottage ; One Piece World Clock: 09/08/XXXX]
The two individuals, having waved to the new Child as she made her way past the threshold, decided to hold a drink.
A drink before the storm.
The both of them, knowing what was in store for that Child, what the previous Childs' have faced, each and every one facing a fate worse…..and worse….and worse than the other.
The Fates, other Gods, among other certain individuals, had decided to peer into what was happening while her friends were still mourning her loss.
Peered into what had happened to the previous Child, the 12th Child, and how he died in the arms of his brother.
Peered into the new Child's future.
Her UNCERTAIN and MADDENING future.
"I must ask, why didn't you properly introduce yourself to her?", Margaret twirled her drink, both her and Steven sitting at the dining room table.
The laptop, set out in front of them, streaming live coverage of the current Child, the 12th, fighting the Marines.
His demise drawing nearer.
"We Gods don't need ta introduce ourselves properly ta mere mortals, much less ta someone who'll probably die before she turns 18."
"But you don't know that, at least, not yet. We don't know that yet."
"I didn't want this responsibility in the first place," Steven scoffed, "to think I would be this unlucky and getta lass that looks so uninteresting….tch."
He takes a sip of beer.
Margaret thought, as she looked at the monitor, choosing the right words to counter, "Then why let her hug you?"
"I can at least be respectful enough, she doesn't have long."
"BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT."
"Itsa always the same. Met with some unfortunate tragedy. Some horrible accident. Even the ones that lived a 'good' life, end up havin' something horrible happen. Out of all the Gods pulling straws, I'd be burdened with the responsibility of being her handler."
He takes another sip.
The room became silent, as they watched the screen. The 12th was laughing, swinging his blade as he bested Marine after Marine.
Using his gifts, his powers, he gained the upper hand as his body grew weaker.
Then, two Marines came out of nowhere.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING RYUZAKI?!", one of the Marines shouted, coating his fist with Armament Haki.
The other Marine, slowly turning gold.
"What does it look like I'm doing, GARP! What does it look like I'm doing, my dear, younger, BROTHER! I'm going to die fighting!"
A maniacal gleam in his black eyes, his high ponytail of black and silver hair swaying in the wind, his blue kimono looking disheveled and bloodied in the midst of the chaos.
Around them the whole Marine base was trying to fight against this.
One.
Beloved.
Child.
Steven takes another sip of his beer, while Margaret is on the edge of her seat.
"NOT IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT, RYUZAKI!"
"Come at me," he smirked, "if you dare."
"Senny," Garp glanced at his fellow Marine, "I'll handle this."
The other Marine nodded, backing down.
Immediately turning off his powers, Ryuzaki started the exchange.
Both using Armament and Observation, what felt like an eternity of exchanging blows lasted for 20 minutes.
Both left worse for wear.
One life ending.
The other continuing.
"You…..damn, Garp, when did you get that…..strong?", "Ryuzaki chuckled, nearly gasping for air as he put his sword away.
"Your….not that bad, yourself….dumbass-elder-brother." Garp spits out that last part.
"JE, JE, JE, JE, JE, JE," Ryuzaki laughed.
Laughing while falling down.
The laughter, soon turning into needy gasps for air.
Garp looks over, seeing blood coming out of his elder brother's mouth.
"Ryu….RYUZAKI?!," Garp scrambles over to where Ryuzaki is, the elder finding it hard to breathe.
Steven takes another sip, Margaret begins to get misty eyed as she sees what unfolds.
"STUPID, WHY ARE YOU SO STUPID!," Garp shakes him, trying to carry the gigantic man, "LIKE HELL YOU'RE DYING TODAY!"
"But Garp…...it's time." Ryuzaki looked at him, the same look that he would use to tuck in his rambunctious younger brother at night.
The same look that he used when he was telling the truth.
That one and only look.
"No…nononononononono…this…but….you promised…YOU PROMISED!", he reasoned, as more buildings came crashing down due to a force unknown.
Ryuzaki sighed, more blood flowing out now, as he looks up to his younger brother.
Holding back tears, Ryuzaki speaks, "Garp, despite our different paths in life, I'm sorry that I wasn't able to…..live the rest of my life….near you….That I was a bit shitty at times"
Garp gruffed in confirmation, still trying to find some way to stop the inevitable.
Ryuzaki laughed some more, spilling more blood from his mouth.
"Stop….STOP TALKING. WE'LL FIND A WAY TO FIX YOU, THIS…..DAMNIT TENKA."
"That's my name….don't wear it out…..", he chuckled some more.
Steven sits back in his chair sipping his beer, Margaret excusing herself briefly to go fetch the kleenexes'.
"Garp," Ryuzaki taps weakly on his younger brother's arm, "please…protect her….please…treat her as one of your own."
"Who….Tenka, who," Garp holds his older brother in a position to carry him gently.
Finally moving.
"The…the next Beloved Child… the 13th…..you'll love her…how I envy that I'll…never get…meet her….", Tenka gasped out.
Garp nearly dropped the elder, gaping at him.
"It's…it's a she…", his eyes widening.
Processing.
Planning.
"Garp…..remember….what I asked….long ago….", Tenka snaps him out of it.
"Which..which one?"
"What…will you choose….Garp…..," Tenka's breathing becomes erratic, "your…..justice….or your…fami….cough…cough….cough."
"Stop talking, stop talking, we're…. DAMNIT", Garp hurries along, the other Marine right behind him as they see the remnants of the Med-Bay.
"Sorry….at least…I made sure…that no one was…..in there….."
Garp turned different shades of red and purple as he looked to the elder.
Holding the elder tighter.
"WHY?"
Steven takes another sip, Margaret has tears streaming down her face as she blows her nose with a tissue.
"Sorry….I'm sorry….Ahhh….Garp…I really….don't….want…to…g cough, cough, cough-sniff..", Tenka sheds a tear.
"NOnononononononononono..Tenka…Big Brother Tenka…..Tenka…hold on. HOLD ON."
"MEDIC! MEDIC! SENNY", he looks to the other Marine, and then to the elder frantically, " WHAT, WHAT CAN I? DAMNINT TENKA!"
"I love…you…"
One life ends…..
And another begins….
"TEEENNNNNNKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
[ Location: Earth 00413 ; Specific Name: Chang Estate ; World Clock: 11 /30/20XX]
Lizzie, in front of a tomb.
The family tomb.
The one where they decided that it was best….for their loved one to rest.
"I think… I think she would like it….Lizzie.", Terry came up behind her, nearly hovering.
Lizzie stared blankly at the tomb.
Eyes never wavering.
Standing put.
Holding an umbrella, wearing a black dress and a mourning hat, the veil hiding her face.
But they all know that she has been crying the most.
"Lizzie….," Terry reaches out to her.
Soon met with multiple knives, one specifically to his throat.
"Mis. Chang wishes not to be disturbed Sir. Johnson," her butler, among others of her elite team, came out, "may I please escort you to somewhere else for the time being?"
Terry takes one glance at Lizzie, before nodding his head.
The team stands down, vanishing.
Terry is lead down the path by the butler, Mr. Jeffords, back to the main estate.
Back to where the rest of his friends, nay, his family is.
Terry is back in the living room, saying thank you to Mr. Jeffords.
SHATTER - SHATTER - SHATTER
"JERRY! STOP BREAKING THINGS!", Melly briskly walked past Terry, as Terry took in the sight once more.
Jules, on the couch, laying down and cuddling Astrid's favorite stuffed animal, a teddy bear.
Dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep.
But who doesn't have dark circles during this time of mourning?
Jerry, having broken a vase with Astrid's favorite colors on it, and Melly, reprimanding him for breaking it.
Steven takes a sip of his beer, while Margaret tries to compose herself.
It's at times like this, where people fully note what is lost.
It's at times like this, where the holes in one's heart will mend only with time.
It's at times like this, where they must come together, not only for her sake, but for all of their sakes.
The fragility of life, as she used to say…
"Guys…I went to go see Lizzie and Astrid," Terry started out.
Jules shuffled in his spot on the couch, while Jerry and Melly looked at him.
"She still….refuses to see anyone…she still wants to be alone even after it's been 5 days from the funeral", Terry looked down to his hands.
"Babe….," Jerry went towards Terry, grasping his hands, "we all….everyone needs…a bit more…."
"We all need more time…cough-sniff….cough-sniff," Jules finished, holding the teddy bear tighter.
"It's gonna be…we'll all be…we will be….sniff, hic..hic-up.", Melly starts to cry again, falling down to the floor.
Both Terry and Jerry look at each other, a silent agreement as they both help Melly up and sit her on the couch.
One decides to get more tissues.
The other getting chocolate.
The room is filled with silence, as they sit on their emotions.
Embracing each other's company.
Remembering their loved one, stewing on what needs to be done….
"I now know what we must do."
Everyone scrambles up from where they are as Lizzie enters the room, hat and veil no longer on her head.
Her eyes, too, are puffy, and the dark circles are well-defined on her face.
"Lizzie.." / "Lizabeth."/ "Liz." / "Honey….."
"The person who…who did the deed…he has been caught.", Lizzie looked at each one of them.
"Wa….really?", Jules said softly.
"Yes."
"How…all the cameras were….", Jerry rubbed his eyes to get rid of his tears.
"Never underestimate our combined family's power…", Lizzie flicked a little ball of dust from her dress.
"So….the question is….do we let the proper authorities handle this…or….", Lizzie trailed off.
They all looked at each other.
Some looked angry, filled with bloodlust and rage….
Others…looking pensive and passive.
"What….cough-sniff…would Astrid want us to do?," Jules brought up, Teddy Bear in hand.
They all sighed as they looked at the bear.
All negative emotion melting away.
"She would probably say -", Jules started.
"-something along the lines of -, " Jerry continued.
"-do the right thing-", Melly continued.
"-do what you believe is best -. " Terry continued.
"- I'll do my best to support you, just do what's right.", Lizzie finished.
Steven sipped some more from his beer, looking annoyed when he finished the one. He gets up to get another, as Margaret looked at them all with a gentle fondness.
"I believe we have our answer….", Melly smiled.
"Indeed.", Lizzie stated, a closed eyed smile as she signaled for her team to do what needs to be done.
The story of this family of friends, once six now turned five, will have their time to shine again.
To be together again….
To be whole again….in another life….
[ Location: One Piece World ; Specific Name: Marineford ; World Clock: 09 /08/XXXX]
"Oh dear….oh dear….to think that you would die with a smile on your face…."
A man? A figure, shrouded in black, the hood of his cloak hiding his face as he looks at the 12th Beloved Child, Ryuzaki Tenka.
The figure sighs.
"To think that I would be saddled with the hard work, just for the next Beloved Child. You better sing my praises in Valhalla or wherever you end up," the figure flicks off a speck of dust from the dead-man's head.
"These are rather unsavory conditions to hold you. Why, heavens, would your brother let you be set here….", the figure ponders.
The room, in question, was rather bleak.
"Well, I'll perform one last magic trick for you, since you considered me as someone to look up to."
The room, slowly but surely, was filled with flowers. From where, no-one knows.
"I'll see you in a different place, ne~, Tenka?", the figure disappeared, heading down the corridor to retrieve a certain item.
A certain sword.
Steven sips his second can of beer, confused, as Margaret looks on with amazement on what is currently unfolding.
A God is honoring a Beloved Child's last wish.
"Why is he even doing that?", Steven looks to Margaret, still puzzled as he takes another sip.
"Who knows," she smiles, "maybe you'll find out at a later date."
Her eyes twinkled at him, as he refocused his attention to the screen before them.
The God on the screen, making it to the office of a certain individual, uses a bit of magic to sense if anyone is in there.
Once noting the coast is clear, he strides on in, grabbing the 12th's sword, and making his way out of the facility.
No one notices him passing by.
No one acknowledges him.
No one senses him, Observation Haki or not.
The last thing that can be heard…well…is…..
"WHO STOLE BIG-BROTHER-TENKA'S SWORD!?"
And a loud-
[BANG]
"Margaret."
"Yes Steven?"
He takes another sip of his beer.
"Did you tell her what powers she was getting from her staff?"
They both take a sip.
"AHHHHHHH, Sugar Honey Iced TEA!"
Taking that last sip as Margaret scrambles to write in a worn down journal, Steven looks on.
Wondering what Astrid's future holds….
What his future will hold with her in it…..
And what fate awaits the lot of them as they will navigate the world….
[ Location: New World; On the Sea; October, 10th - Astrid: 1 month old ]
"BUGGY!"
Shanks shouted at Buggy, wide-eyed from down below.
The whole crew, in fact, was looking at both the Captain and cabin-boy wide-eyed from the events that had unfolded.
Where the cabin-boy, one Buggy-the-Clown, holding onto dear life, one Guerra D. Astrid, while being held by the ankles upside down by one Gol D. Roger up above in the crows nest, while the Captain's feet are barely keeping all of them up as he, too, is upside down.
To make matters worse, they did exactly what Rayleigh had told them not to do.
Bring Astrid up to the crows nest.
"DON'T LET GO OF ASTRID!"
Crocus, under his breath as he rubbed his face, "we've only had her for two days..we've only had her for two days…we've only had her for two days…"
While the rest of the crew was springing to action.
One part of the crew decided to make a makeshift pillow-blanket-safe-to-drop-spot.
Another part of the crew was climbing the ropes and mast to get Astrid and Buggy out of trouble and to get their Captain back on his feet.
Another part of the crew was keeping the ship on course, as one does on a pirate ship.
And, lastly, another part was on standby for any medical attention that any of the perpetrators or rescuers needed after this whole fiasco.
The legendary pirate crew, all coming together to ensure the safety of a baby and one of the youngest of their crew.
If you weren't there, no one would believe you.
Probably.
Rayleigh, looking on from his position from behind the steering wheel, which, if he weren't there, would have smacked his Captain silly by now, managed to get out from his vein nearly popping, "JUST YOU WAIT ROGER!"
Which had nearly caused him to lose his hold on Buggy….
…and…caused Buggy to lose his grip on Astrid…
Causing her to fall.
"WE GOT HER!" / "I GOT HER" / "ASTRID!"
WAHHHHHHHHHHHH
The little baby was luckily caught by multiple hands in the make-shift safe space, crying due to the rushing wind from the fall.
Crisis averted…
…For now….
X0x0x0x0
Preview for Next Time:
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~ "Astrid!" Buggy looked back and forth. "DON'T SAY THAT!" ~
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A/N: Welp, would anyone believe that I wrote this in one day and decided…ehhh…might as well publish it. Anywho, things are gonna be gettin busy soon…
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!
Tying up some loose ends….
Peace, with a Fist of Love,
~DH
Edited Jan 6. 2022 - P.S. I noticed I did the date wrong...so...ye