• The Vanishing Kuja •
Silvers Rayleigh is a coating mechanic from Sabaody Archipelago. He was sailing back home on his small sail boat after visiting a friend from a nearby island. He then. comes across what it appears to be a shipwreck. He then spots a orange haired teenage girl lying on top of a floating plank. She slowly lift her head up and looked at the direction where Rayleigh is.
Rayleigh sailed his boat towards the girl and pulled her onto his boat. He immediately give her a towel and some food and water. Rayleigh took a look at the girl, she was quite small and slim, has headband and necklace that are made out of pink flowers, and was wearing rags. Rayleigh then asked the girl some questions involving her and the shipwreck.
The girl reveal her name to be Marigold, she explain that she is a Kuja tribe member from Amazon Lily, the all female island. She was out sailing the seas with her sisters, and fellow tribe members until they were caught into a terrible storm, their ship got flipped over and destroyed by a huge tide. She was the only one who survived.
Rayleigh then asked Marigold when did this incident happen. She said that it happen a few days ago. Rayleigh found that strange since there was no storm near Sabaody Archipelago few days ago. The last time Sabaody Archipelago had a terrible storm was 13 years ago.
Marigold then ask Rayleigh if she could borrow a boat once they reached the nearest island, she was planning to return to Amazon Lily.
Rayleigh then promised Marigold that he will take her there. Rayleigh reveal to Marigold that he has a friend who is a Kuja member and is currently living in Amazon Lily and that'll he will sneak her there since men are forbidden. Marigold was very delighted to hear that. With all that, Rayleigh sailed his boat to Amazon Lily.
Amazon Lily is located in the Calm Belt, which are filled with huge sea animals called Sea Kings.
Before Rayleigh could reach the Calm Belt, Rayleigh told Marigold to get inside one of his barrels that were on his boat. When she asked why, he explained that he'll swim and then dive all the way to Amazon Lily. He then told her not worry about the Sea Kings and he knows how to deal with them. Marigold agreed and went inside one of the barrel. Before Rayleigh could put the lid on, Marigold thank Rayleigh for taking her home and that she was very grateful. Rayleigh smiled and said you bet to Marigold, then he closes the barrel. Rayleigh tied a rope to the barrel with Marigold inside and carried it on to his back, and then jumps into the sea from his boat.
When Rayleigh was getting closer to the shores of the Amazon Lily, he fended off several Sea Kings that were swimming towards him.
Rayleigh successfully made it on land, and walked straight into the forest making sure he isn't spotted by any Kuja members who are on the lookout, while still carrying the barrel on his back.
After a few minutes of walking Rayleigh reached the outskirts of the Kuja village which is located inside a mountain. On the side of the mountain is a small cottage, which is the home of Gloriosa, Rayleigh's Kuja friend, who goes by Elder Nyon by her tribe.
Rayleigh climbed his way to Elder Nyon's cottage, and made himself aware to her when he got there. Elder Nyon was surprised to see Rayleigh on Amazon Lily and asked Rayleigh what's he doing here on Amazon Lily.
Rayleigh told Elder Nyon that he found a Kuja girl named Marigold out in the sea near Sabaody Archipelago, who survive a shipwreck, and that he was returning her home. Rayleigh then call out to Marigold to come out of the barrel. There was no response Rayleigh then call out her name again, once again there was no response. Rayleigh continue to call out to Marigold a few more times, until he decides to open the barrel to let her out. When he open the barrel Marigold was gone, all that's inside the barrel are her flower necklace and headband.
Rayleigh turn to Elder Nyon that he swear there was a girl in the barrel. Elder Nyon then asked Rayleigh what did the girl look like. Rayleigh give her the description of the Kuja girl and that her name is Marigold.
For a moment there was silent. Elder Nyon explain to Rayleigh that Amazon Lily used to have a young Kuja girl name Marigold and her appearance fits Rayleigh's description, but died 13 years ago, when her and her friends when out sailing far from Amazon Lily. They got caught in a terrible storm near Sabaody Archipelago. Their boat got flipped over by a large tide and drown.
Elder Nyon secretly took Rayleigh to the graves of the Kuja girls that died in that terrible storm. Among the tombstones one of them had Marigold's name on it. Rayleigh walked up to Marigold's grave and decides to placed her flower necklace and headband around it.