Siren:
There came a day when Siren felt a mighty thrum deep within her soul. It was as though a piece of a puzzle had suddenly presented itself to her.
This sudden feeling came on a sunny day, right after a heavy downpour, when all the plants stretched mightily toward the warm sun.
Far up in the canopy, there grew a peculiar fruit. Another one, indeed.
Just the memory of the previous peculiar fruit sent a shiver of revulsion through Siren. The oily, bitter tang still lingered on her tastebuds, even though more than two years had passed since she had bitten into her own fruit.
Devil Fruit- The Voice of All Things supplied helpfully.They're called Devil Fruits.
She climbed and crawled upward, carefully but unafraid. The leaves, vines, and even the branches would help her up if she wanted, but it was good exercise to try on her own.
As Siren carefully climbed toward the peculiar fruit, a strange sound drifted through the air. At first, it seemed like the wind weaving through the trees, but there was something... more. Voices. Faint, carried on the breeze, like echoes. She paused, listening intently, her heart quickening.
From her perch high in the canopy, she scanned the horizon. The glimmering sea beyond the dense jungle stretched endlessly. But then, there it was-movement. A dark shape cut through the sparkling waves, growing larger as it approached. A ship.
It wasn't like the small fishing boats she'd occasionally seen in the distance. This one was massive, its sails towering high, emblazoned with a symbol she couldn't quite make out from her vantage point. Her instincts prickled, unsure whether this was a threat or something else entirely. But she felt the same deep thrum in her chest, the same pull, urging her not to hide, but to watch.
The ship dropped anchor just beyond the shoreline, and small boats began to ferry people toward the beach. Even from a distance, she could see their confident strides and the way they moved with purpose. Whoever they were, they weren't ordinary travelers.
As the newcomers ventured into the jungle, Siren retreated to the shadows, watching silently. The sound of their laughter and chatter grew louder as they explored, their voices cutting through the rustling of leaves. One of them-a boy with fiery blond hair and a calm, commanding presence-seemed particularly curious. He wandered away from the others, his eyes scanning the trees as if drawn by an unseen force.
Siren remained hidden, unsure what to make of him. But then, as he moved closer, she felt that same inexplicable connection, the same puzzle piece clicking into place. It was as though the forest itself whispered his name to her: Marco.
Siren didn't know why, but she knew this boy, this stranger, was important to the future of the world.
...
Marco:
The jungle felt alive-more so than any other place they had ever seen. Leaves whispered secrets to the wind, vines shifted as if in silent communication, and animals moved in harmonious patterns, their eyes watching the newcomers with quiet curiosity. Marco darted forward, his youthful energy bubbling with excitement.
"Oi, Marco! Slow down!" Jozu's deep voice carried through the dense foliage, steady and commanding. The hulking man lumbered after the boy, his massive frame effortlessly pushing aside branches. "You're not exploring this island on your own. Pops would kill me if anything happened to you."
"But, Jozu!" Marco turned, his bright blue eyes wide with wonder. "This place is... different. It feels alive, like it's breathing. Don't you feel it?"
Jozu paused, frowning as he scanned the jungle around them. The air was heavy, charged with an energy he couldn't quite name. "Yeah, I feel it," he muttered. "And I don't like it."
Further behind them, two other members of Whitebeard's crew fanned out. Vista, the calm and sharp-eyed swordsman, leaned casually against a tree trunk, his hand resting on the hilt of one of his blades. Thatch, ever the optimist, knelt down to inspect a cluster of unusual flowers, their petals faintly shimmering in the sunlight.
"Whatever this place is," Thatch said with a grin, "it's beautiful. But I wouldn't eat anything growing here. Looks... suspicious."
Marco ignored them, his attention caught by something further ahead. "Come on!" he called out, darting into a clearing.
At the center of the clearing stood a tree unlike any they had ever seen. It towered high above the jungle canopy, its branches stretching wide like a protective embrace. The bark shimmered faintly in the light, as though the tree itself were alive with energy. Its roots twisted deep into the earth, massive and ancient, pulsating faintly as if carrying the heartbeat of the island.
"Whoa," Marco whispered, his breath catching. "This tree... it's amazing."
Jozu stepped into the clearing, his eyes narrowing as he studied the colossal tree. "Stay back," he warned, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. "I don't trust it."
But Marco was already moving closer, drawn toward the tree as if by an invisible force. He stopped at the base of its trunk, his small hand brushing against the bark. "It's not dangerous," he said softly, as though he understood something the others didn't. "It's... alive."
From high above, a voice drifted down, light and airy, yet filled with an unearthly calm. "Of course it's alive."
All heads turned upward. There, perched on a low-hanging branch, was a young girl. Her fiery red hair glimmered like flames in the sunlight, and her forest-green eyes shimmered with an ancient wisdom far beyond her years. She cradled a peculiar fruit in her small hands, its surface marked with swirling patterns. Her piercing gaze locked onto Marco's, and she tilted her head curiously.
"You," she said, her voice almost a whisper but carrying enough weight to silence the clearing. "You're like me."
Marco blinked, startled. "What do you mean?"
The girl's gaze softened, a faint smile gracing her lips. "You feel it too, don't you? The thrum. The connection."
"Who are you?" Jozu asked, his tone firm but not unkind. The jungle around them seemed to hold its breath, waiting for her response.
"I'm Siren," she said simply. "And this is my home."
The jungle reacted to her words: the tree's leaves rustled as if sighing in relief, flowers bloomed in bursts of vibrant color, and animals crept closer from the shadows, their eyes reflecting an almost human understanding. Vines coiled protectively around the tree, the clearing coming alive in her presence.
Vista exchanged a glance with Thatch. "This is no ordinary island," he murmured.
"Or kid," Thatch added, his grin replaced with a serious expression.
Siren's gaze drifted back to Marco, and she leaned forward slightly, still holding the peculiar fruit. "You're good," she said simply, her voice warm yet unwavering. "All of you are. I can see it."
Marco frowned, confused. "See what?"
Siren touched her chest, just above her heart. "Your light," she said. "Your soul. It's strong. Bright. That's how I know."
For a moment, silence fell over the clearing. Then Jozu spoke, his voice low but firm. "You're coming with us."
Siren tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "Maybe," she said softly. "If this one asks me." Her gaze locked onto Marco's, and something passed between them-an understanding neither of them fully grasped but couldn't deny.
Marco's heart thudded in his chest. He didn't know why, but he felt it too. She belonged with them. And he was going to make sure of it.
...
Siren:
The clearing hummed with a strange energy, almost as if the island itself was holding its breath. Marco stood in the center, transfixed by Siren, the fiery-haired girl perched on a low branch of the massive tree. Her forest-green eyes seemed to pierce through him, and for reasons he couldn't explain, he felt a connection-a bond he didn't understand but couldn't deny.
"You're meant to leave this place," Marco said, the words slipping from his mouth as if they weren't his own.
Siren tilted her head, her red hair catching the sunlight. A faint smile curved her lips, though her eyes reflected a deep sadness. "I know," she said softly, her gaze shifting to the great tree and the jungle around her. "My time here is over."
Jozu crossed his arms, his sharp eyes locked on the girl. "Convenient timing," he muttered. "And we're supposed to believe this is all just destiny?"
"It's not just destiny," Siren replied, calm and unwavering. "It's The Voice of All Things. It's been calling me, urging me forward. Telling me my place isn't here anymore."
Jozu's brow furrowed. "The Voice of All Things?" His voice carried skepticism, but Vista, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow.
"She's not lying," Vista said, his tone measured. "There's stories about it. Rare, but some people can hear... everything. The world itself."
"That doesn't make this less suspicious," Thatch chimed in, leaning against a tree with his usual easygoing air. "We just happen to stumble on this jungle girl who hears voices and wants to come with us? Sounds like a trap."
"It's not a trap," Marco said firmly, stepping between Siren and his crewmates. "I can feel it too. The island, the tree, even the animals-it's all alive. It's connected to her."
"She's a stranger, Marco," Jozu shot back. "And this island's not exactly normal. We can't just-"
"I'm not a stranger," Siren interrupted gently. "Not to him."
Her gaze shifted to Marco, softening. "You feel it, don't you? The connection. You're like me."
Marco blinked, startled by her words but unable to deny them. He nodded slowly.
The clearing fell silent, the tension broken only when Siren held out the peculiar fruit she'd been cradling. Its swirling patterns seemed to shimmer faintly in the light.
"This is for you," she said, her voice quiet but firm.
Marco stared at the fruit, confusion flickering across his face. "What?"
"It's a Devil Fruit," Jozu said sharply, his suspicion deepening. "And you're just handing it over to him? Why?"
Siren's expression didn't waver. "Because it's his. The island grew it for him. It's been waiting."
Thatch frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. "She's not wrong. The thingdoeslook fresh. But Devil Fruits come with a price, kid. You sure you're ready to pay it?"
"It's not a curse for him," Siren said, her voice soft but unwavering. "It's destiny."
Vista stepped closer, his gaze narrowing as he studied both the fruit and the girl. "You seem awfully sure about that."
"I am," Siren replied simply. "Because The Voice of All Things told me. He'll need this power for what's coming."
Marco hesitated, glancing at his crewmates. Jozu's expression was hard, his distrust evident. Vista looked skeptical but thoughtful, while Thatch seemed more curious than concerned.
"You don't have to trust me," Siren said, addressing the group as a whole. "But trust the world. It knows where we're meant to be."
After a long moment, Marco reached out and took the fruit. The moment his fingers brushed its surface, the jungle seemed to sigh-a gentle breeze rustling through the leaves, the air growing lighter.
"Well, that's not creepy at all," Thatch muttered, crossing his arms.
Jozu grunted. "Fine. Say she's telling the truth. What now?"
"I go with you," Siren said without hesitation. "My place isn't here anymore. The island knows it. So do I."
"And Pops is just going to let you waltz onto the ship?" Jozu asked, his tone skeptical.
"He'll know," Siren said, her voice calm and certain. "When he sees me, he'll know I belong."
"Sure," Thatch said, rolling his eyes. "Because Pops always takes in mysterious jungle kids who hear voices."
Marco stepped closer to Siren, standing protectively beside her. "She's not lying," he said firmly. "She belongs with us."
Jozu sighed heavily, shaking his head. "Alright, kid. But if this goes sideways, it's on you."
Siren glanced back at the great tree one last time, her fingers brushing the bark in a silent farewell. "Thank you," she whispered.
The jungle seemed to stir in response-leaves rustling, animals calling softly, and the air shimmering faintly with unseen energy.
As the crew began their trek back to the ship, Marco walked beside Siren, the Devil Fruit clutched tightly in his hands. "Why does this feel like we've met before?" he asked quietly.
Siren glanced at him, her green eyes glowing with a quiet knowing. "Because maybe we have," she said softly.
And together, they stepped out of the jungle, leaving behind the only home Siren had ever known-and heading toward a future neither could yet imagine.