It has been fifty-seven years since the execution of the Second Pirate King, Monkey D. Luffy, and he has left a legacy in his wake so great that some say he was more legendary than the First King, Gol D. Rogers. But like the last Pirate King, at his execution, he told the world that he had again hidden the One Piece for the world to find. Many saying it was the start of the next Age of Piracy, but then, war broke out among two families: The Monkey family and the Cobra family. After four decades of bloodshed, the war finally subsided. And nineteen years later, a member of the Cobra family set out on a quest to obtain the One Piece, his name is Cobra D. Red. P.S. I wonder how many people actually read this paragraph every time.
How Did I Get Here? Miles' Mulling
Intro: /Ob3ul4QL22U
Ship cresting over another wave, the Defiance sledded down the back of it, cutting across the ocean. The storm had died down just enough so that they could look out and see clearly over the horizon. Henry, looking under and past the sail, could see Red staring out at the sea. Standing at the prow, Red squinted into the distance, both trying to see better and to keep the water out. Unfortunately for him, it didn't work so well for the latter. Cutting through the water like it had, the ship tossed up sea foam, most of which got pushed to the side. But some got tossed on deck, and a little bit into Red's eyes.
"Augh! It's in my eyes!" Red yelled, grabbing his eyes to try and lessen the pain. Leaning back from the sudden sting, Red fell back as the ship pitched once more, causing him to start rolling on the deck. Seeing her captain rolling around on the deck like a puppy, Rana sighed, shaking her head. Turning to Bede, she had a quizzical and worried look on her face. "Do you think Miles is alright?" Acknowledging the question, Bede looked forward again and past Red at the sea ahead. A look of concern was painted on his face, "I hope so."
-With Miles-
Of course, Miles was not doing alright. He had been knocked on the head from behind, whipped over a hundred times on the deck of a storm-tossed ship, and then basically dragged into the territory of his former and hated crew. Being cleaned off was nice, but then he was stabbed in the ribs and kicked while he was down. After that, he was literally dragged and dumped in a cold, damp cell where he now sat, wondering what his life had been like to lead up to now. Sitting there, he looked out the window of his cell, his wound roughly bandaged by a torn-off pants leg.
Breathing in the musty air, he couldn't help but feel tired, the effects of the day finally taking their toll. Slowly lying down on the sandy ground, he closed his eyes as he tried to get sleep. As his mind finally got to rest, his dreams for some reason turned to his past, despite it being a time he never wanted to return to. But his brain beckoned, and he was an unwilling follower as he began to trace his roots.
-Five Years Ago-
"Kid, you must be crazy if you want to join up with us!" said a younger Bartholomew Jim. Jim had a full head of wavy hair, and he was leaner, too. He was obviously someone not to be trifled with and had the strength to back it up. But that didn't stop a younger Miles from giving him a cold stair, obviously not in the mood. The cloaked person, looking no different because of their hidden figure, leaned forward, a smile poking through the shadows. "C'mon boss. Why don't we give this kid a shot? See what he's made of, ya know?"
Scratching his unshaven jaw, the boss thought for a second. Dropping his hand to the armrest, he waved the other in the air and sighed, saying, "If you say so, Addison." Turning to a door behind him, Jim shouted, "Butch! Get the hell out here and fight this kid!" Seeing this, Miles turned to the door, gripping the katana on his back in preparation. Walking from the doorway, a slightly muscular man marched out. But he was obviously trying to get bigger, as indicated by the dumbbell he was still curling. He had sandy blonde hair, and a goatee-mustache combo. Looking down at the kid, he smirked, obviously amused with this attempt. Setting, down the dumbbell, he flexed his arms one more time, and got into a stance.
"You sure about this kid?" he said, cracking his knuckles. Nodding curtly, Miles gripped his sword even tighter, nearly shouting, "Yes." Smiling even wider now, Butch leaped forward in a blur of motion, shouting, "Hope you're ready!" and he threw a punch, planning on knocking his lights out. But he hadn't taken in account for Miles' smaller body, as Miles had leaped into the air, pulling out his sword as he went. Looking up, there was nothing Butch could do as Miles brought the back of his sword down right between his eyes. Staggering for a second, Butch tried to stay standing, but his eyes finally rolled back into his head as he fell to the floor.
The room was instantly in an uproar, two of the men lifted Miles onto their shoulders, hoisting him above everyone else while they laughed at Butch's demise. Standing up from his seat, Bartholomew was clapping and had a beaming smile on his face, "Kid, if you want to join my crew, then you got it! What's your name?" Thinking for a moment, Miles looked back at him and shook his head, "I don't have a name. Before I was on my own, though, I was told that my family name is Buredo." Chuckling, the captain shook his head in wonder, saying, "Whatever, Buredo. Why did you want to join my crew again?" Again, Miles thought for a moment, finally saying, "I've heard people like you are the ones who can change the modern era, I want to be able to play a part in that change with my sword." Laughing loudly again, Jim grabbed Miles' arm, and raising it above his head, he shouted, "Let's all welcome our new crewmember, Buredo!" And with an uproarious cheer, Buredo was welcomed onto the crew.
-One Year Later-
"Damn. You have to admit, that kid is good."
The Twin Sword Pirates were standing on the deck of an enemy vessel, which was partially engulfed in flames. Scores of men lay on the deck in some stage of unconsciousness, either facedown and motionless or face-up and breathing heavily. Standing in the center of the deck was Miles, who at the time was known only by his family name, Buredo. Sheathing the katana back in its sheath, Buredo had no need of wiping it down, he hadn't cut down a single person on the enemy vessel.
Shaking their head as they walked behind him, the crewmember turned to his buddy, saying, "Taking on nearly an entire ship by himself is impressive, and he's just a kid!" Hearing footsteps behind them, they turned to see their captain walk up to them, smiling at their remarks. "Well, you know boys, I have been training him in my spare time. Ya know, give him a few pointers on what to do." Staring incredulously at their captain, they couldn't believe their ears. But the smile on Jim's face turned to a scowl as he stared at Buredo's back. "Gonna have to get rid of that nasty habit of leaving the victims alive, though," he said as he stomped on an enemy's neck, breaking it.
Looking up, he glanced at Buredo again, whispering to the men, "Just in case he has some of that youthful righteousness, wait till he's back on the ship, then kill and dump the rest." Nodding the two picked up the barrel they had been carrying and brought it back over to their ship. Finally, the ship had been emptied, of both cargo and people, with Buredo being none the wiser. As the ships drifted away from each other, Buredo turned over in his bunk, catching the scent of smoke. Thinking it was just the cooks preparing another meal, he closed his eyes and settled in for another voyage home.
The enemy ship burned for hours. It burned until all the sails and rigging were gone, sending soot and ash flying into the night. It burned until there was too much damage to the hull, and it caved in on itself, causing it to sink with the rest of its crew. All the while, Buredo slept, thinking they had left the crew there with just enough supplies to get to the next port.
-Two Years Later-
"Why did you do that!" Buredo shouted, gripping the sword at his waist. He was now sixteen years old, and had shot up in height. He was now just as tall as the captain was when he first met him and could wear the katana he had properly at his side. Now he had a tight grip on it, preparing to slice down one of his own crewmembers who had just drove a knife in an enemy's heart. The victim in question had already been unconscious, and Miles, now allowed to stay on the ship after his work, had watched in shock as the pirate stabbed the defenseless man.
As he rushed towards him, Buredo was grabbed from behind and slammed on the deck, breaking his nose in the process. Struggling to turn his head, he looked at the massive form of Butch holding him down. Like Buredo, Butch had made his own gains in the past three years. Obviously embarrassed to be taken down by a kid, he worked tirelessly until he was finally the enormous brute he was and still is. Now that brute was holding Buredo down, not letting him move an inch.
Hearing another set of footsteps approach, Buredo turned his head again, smearing the deck in his blood. Looking up, he saw the captain crouch down in front of him, with a smile on his face. Even angrier than before, Buredo shouted at Jim, "I thought you people just defeated your enemy! Why do you kill them!?" Shaking his head, as if Buredo was a stupid child, Jim answered, "Because that is how we defeat our enemy. You can't expect to get far on these seas if you can't take a life." Hearing this, Buredo struggled to get up, but Butch just pressed down harder on him, squeezing the breath out of him.
Scowling, Jim stood up straight to look down on him, nearly shouting, "You think you're being merciful leaving these men out here, with barely any food left to live? If you think we're monsters, then look in a mirror one day Buredo, you'll see something you won't like." Turning to Addison, he barked out an order that Buredo could barely hear as Butch began squeezing his head. But soon, he realized what the order must have been. Stepping away from him, Butch and another burly pirate grabbed him by the arms and dragged him to their ship. Tossing him in the middle of the deck, they grabbed chains and attached him to the ship, preventing him from moving.
Walking towards them, Addison spoke in a carrying voice, "The Captain says that fifty lashes are due to those who talk out of terms, and whatever the Captain says, goes." Hearing this, Butch chuckled, grabbing a coiled up rope and walked behind Buredo. Smiling, he muttered, "I've been wanting to do this since the kid showed up." And with that he began the punishment. Screaming in pain, Buredo felt each individual whipping tear into his skin, as Butch used his strength to lay the hurt into him. As the makeshift whip came up for another stroke, he could feel droplets of some liquid splatter his back, and he had a feeling it wasn't oil.
It didn't stop even when fifty lashes had been given and only stopped when they had reached the complex. Releasing him from the chains, he fell to the deck, nearly unconscious from the pain. Picking him up by his arms, Butch slung him across his wide shoulders, carrying him until they had entered the plaza, finally dumping him outside the mansion as Butch, Addison, and Jim entered. The rest of the crew walked by, some shaking their heads, others spitting on him, but Buredo didn't acknowledge these things; the pain wouldn't allow him to.
Waking up in the middle of the night, Buredo looked around, wondering what happened. But as soon as he moved, the pain raced up his back again, causing him to nearly scream. Without thinking, Buredo stood up, ignoring the pain, and went to the canal that lead to the ocean. Reaching it, he looked behind him and at the dark mansion, bidding it a good riddance. Walking along the edge of the canal, Buredo didn't have a thought other than getting the hell away. Finally, he reached where the longboats were docked, but unfortunately, someone was waiting.
"Trying to flee I see," the cloaked figure said, obviously amused by his attempt. Grabbing the katana that had been left on his waist, he pulled it out and pointed it at Addison. "Don't try and stop me, Addison!" Laughing, Addison hopped down from the prow of the longboat, causing it to rock in the calm canal. "What do you mean by, 'Try'? Look at you, you're trembling! I bet a gentle breeze could knock you down as you are," but then the smile appeared in the shadows again, "But I'm not here to stop you, I'm here to give you a warning.
"You might think running away from your problems is for the best, but it's really not. If you leave now, the next time we find you, we'll probably kill you. So why don't you sit tight and wait for the captain to die. I have no interest in being the captain, so you could probably take over the role easily. So why don't you-" But before he could speak anymore, Buredo shouted out, "Shut up! I don't want to be your dumb captain, I'd rather be as far away from this crew as possible! And if I do have to face you guys again one day, then I'll get stronger! Strong enough so that I can take care of you myself!" Hearing this, Addison simply stood to the side as Buredo marched past him and clambered into a longboat. Rowing away, Buredo didn't even turn to look back as he left behind that place.
-Two Years Later-
Miles spent the better part of those two years roaming the seas, leaving each port behind without a worry. That was, until his boat broke. The longboat he had stolen had not been meant for long distance traveling. It had been meant for just sailing out to greet a ship that wished to land on an island. Now he was stuck on an island, that island which happened to be only a couple miles from where his future captain was stranded. On said island, which was named Toroa, he had made some friends out of the street peddlers and urchins and had gone on some misadventures with them. They were the ones who gave him the name Miles, because he was the fastest of the bunch by a long shot. Overall, they had been good friends.
When Red showed up, he was at first surprised by someone's belief in honor and even more when said person turned out to be a pirate. His only experience with pirates had left a sour taste in his mouth and he had never thought he'd ever sail with one again, and so loyally, too. Originally, he had hoped to leave Red behind a couple islands back. He had no interest in searching for the One Piece and he had only wanted to leave the island. He knew he was drawing attention and didn't want another run in with the Twin Sabers, so he took the chance and was planning on ditching him. But something about Red made him unable to leave, like the universe had decided to tie his fate to Red's. And he was happy about it.
Now he sat in the cell, looking once again out the window. And he was hoping against all hope that the captain he had thought to abandon like the last one would save him.
