Fate Whispered to the warrior 'You cannot withstand the storm' and the warrior whispers back 'I am the storm'...
Dawnya crouched at the edge on the building like a statue watching the streets below, keeping her ears peeled for the commotion that would most likely have Luffy at the centre. It had taken her over 30 minutes to calm herself to be a functioning human being – she was still tense. But the winds had calmed down around her.
And the onslaught of memories had stopped for the time being.
She knew she would be better. Eventually.
she would either recovery or break – her mind drifted back; someone had once described it like an inflection. You either recover and get stronger from it or you break and be a dead man walking.
It would take a while she knew as the road for recovery was bumpy but worth it in the end. Even if she had to fight, crawl her way out of the darkening deep pit her past wanted to drag her into.
She would not be overcome by the dark inflection in her mind.
She didn't want to pull others into the pit with her.
She didn't want to show others how broken she truly was.
And who knows – they could be the same as those who previously tore her down.
She blinked turning her head sideways, on the wind the whisper and noises from a few streets' overs, a large crash – the shouting of men. She pondered a moment before letting a sigh escape her mask contraptions– its filters fluttered in the breeze her breath had called before turning towards the chaos.
That is most likely were the captain of the strange ship had disappeared to and already causing trouble.
Though she hasn't known him for long, he did seem like the type.
Staying up high, she jumped building to building. Hair fluttered out behind her as she, seemingly flew between buildings towards the growing commotion. Sky blue hues narrow at the sight of Luffy running away from a smoking man?
Must be a devil fruit she mused before following the crowd of marines and Luffy form the rooftops – she'd rather not get involved just yet. Thought it appears she didn't need too...
As a large fume of smoke headed straight for the straw-hat captain, there was a sudden appearance of fire. She paused in her steps her brow scrunching in thought.
He... Just helped Luffy escape. Hmm, she contracted moving her hand from her side in a forward motion toward the fire man, just as she did so a gust of wind stormed towards the flames, making them grow wildering eating away at the smoke from the marine.
Ace eyes widen as he felt his flames grow in the sudden wind, completely eating away at the marine captain smoke. Smoker eyes also widening in surprise at the action. Ace paused in though, that didn't seem natural. Quickly dark hues look about the street for someone, anyone who didn't seem right... them! His hues flickered to the rooftops, a female with a sword. Facing his direction with the sun between her making him unable to properly she, her features.
He watched as she paused before turning away, disappearing off the rooftop.
Ace turned back to the marine – no doubt he would meet her at some point in the future.
Dawnya glance forward spotting the rest of the straw hats, the group looking like locals their clothing matching those around them. She runs and jumps standing on the building next to the pausing group keeping out of sight of the marines. She didn't want them to know she was here just yet.
"Why is he helping us?" questioned usopp, while Luffy stared back in disbelief.
"Ace..."
Was the fire man called ace? How did Luffy know him?
"You never change Luffy" the man smirked at his younger brother.
"Ace... its ace!" Luffy grinned. "You ate a devil fruit?"
"Yeah, the Mera fruit!" ace grinned, ignoring the growing number of marine soldiers gathering behind a frowning smoker. Ace blinked before turning back, "Anyway, Luffy we can't talk like this! I'll catch up with you guys later! You guys run for it! I keep these guys busy!" the older man called parts of his body any ready on fire who the devil fruit he had eaten.
"Wait, what about Dawnya?!" questioned Nami, taking a quick headcount.
"Don't worry I'm sure she fine! She can meet us by the ship" Luffy grinned, glancing in the direction of the shadow that had been following him.
She watched the running group as Luffy exclaimed that ace was his older brother – blue hues flickering towards the fire man. Just as he helped the crew- she'll help him.
Though the fire and smoke are often equally matched that day had strange winds running though port that caused the fire to really grow.
"Dawnya!" chopper called being the first one to spot the female step aboard the ship. "We were so worried you had gotten lost!" the small reindeer exclaimed, "we were debating on sending Sanji to go and find you"
"I was..." she paused thinking of the right word, "delayed due to the marines" not a lie but not the whole truth. It was an improvement.
"I'm glad you're here, we have gotten you some stuff to protect your skin while we dress the dessert." Nami commented holding a pile of clothes and a set of shoes sat on top out.
"Where's the duck?" Dawnya questioned not taking the pile of clothing, her eyes flickering about the crew.
"He's on an important mission" Vivi said before gesturing to the clothes. "You should put those on before we head off.
"I'm fine it what I have on" she declined eyeing the clothes with distrust.
"you're going to burn in the dessert and you need shoes. I surprising your feet aren't burning." Nami stated with a no argument tone thrusting the clothes into the swordswomen's arms.
Dawnya hues flickered from the clothes to an expected Nami. She didn't want to wear the received clothing. She didn't want to covered head to toe it was suffocating. And shoes... don't get her started on shoe.
"I have to" she started slowly, "have to decline." Dawnya stated firmly, not backing down. "Thank you for the offer but I will not be wearing these. I will be fine"
Nami opened her mouth to argue but stopped, staring at the women; taking in the sight of her eyes, before her intensively. Sighing in defeat the ginger pirate nodded. "Fine, but I will be packing these just in case you change your mind alright?"
Nami took the clothing back, "and don't blame me if you get burnt"
Dawnya nodded before moving to the trail of the boat, letting the sea breeze carness her face that wasn't covered by the mask. It felt good, felt good to be able to say no out loud and not be punish for going against them or just saying no.
Her eyes curled slightly, the only sign that she was in fact smiling under the mask. Be it a small one.
She turned back towards the commotion as Luffy explained that the man, the man made with fire was Luffy older brother.
"Well, I'm not surprised that you have a brother, but what's he doing on the grand line?" asked zoro gesturing to the sea around them.
"He's a pirate. He after the one piece too!" grinned Luffy sitting crossed legged on the railing. "Ace is three years older than me. He left the island three years earlier"
"Imagine that, two brothers who both ate the devils' fruit" Sanji commented around his cigarette.
"Yeah, I couldn't believe it either!" Luffy laughed. Explaining how he was never able to defeat his older brother and how much of a sore loser he had been. Luffy let out a laugh, "but now I can beat him!"
Dawnya made no comment, she could tell the man was strong and if Luffy couldn't beat him when he had no power. How could Luffy beat him with now? Rubber against fire... not the best combination.
Light blue hues flickered towards the sea behind the captain, noticing something odd in the patterns of the sea. Like an extra current riding the surface. "Who can you beat?" the voice echoed, as a shadow knocked Luffy from his perk on the railing.
She couldn't help herself, taking a step backwards before jumping to the upper deck. Watching from up high as ace introduced himself to the crew, something she wasn't part of. And thanking them for looking after his younger brother.
"Wont the navy be coming after us?"
"Nope! I dealt with it. Though" aces eyes flickered to the dark-haired female. "I did have a bit of help. Oh, here!" ace threw something to his younger brother.
Dawnya watched as Luffy looked at it with confusion. "I want you to have that"
"A piece of paper?" Dawnya muttered in confusion at the sight – Luffy mirrored her thoughts as he also looked at the item in confusion.
The older brother informed him of its significant, of the Vivire card that would always bring them together again. Of his current reason for traveling – hunting for a pirate named black beard before jumping back towards his smaller fire powered boat. Dawnya watched along with the rest of the crew seeing how fire fist ace got his name's sake. Sending a giant fist of flames into the five ships of the barque works.
Five ships destroyed in a flash.
She watched with wide eyes at the blazing flames. So strong...
One day she hoped to be as strong if not stronger than the second commander of the whitebeard pirates.
One day. Stronger to defeat the demons.
To be continued...