A first fanfiction of mine which will attempt to tackle the backstory of an allegiance-less antagonist of a major arc in One Piece, Enel. A man who has no connections to the great factions of the sea below him or knows of their existence. Not a pirate, marine, revolutionary, or a bounty hunter. Only a man with his dream he holds dear and a code of rules he set for himself.
This is a tale of a young man who grew up among warriors and monks. One who would keep his dream close to his heart and the means to that dream around him everyday. The most naturally talented and gifted warrior his island had produced in recent centuries. One who was born a mortal and believed himself to become a god in time. The origins of the most fearsome and tyrannical leader the skies would come to know. A man who would be blessed with powers that could be considered godlike. Once a boy, then a man, and finally...a "god".
This is the story of Enel.
(Note: This story begins roughly 39 years ago from the canon story as with the timeskip jump that was 2 years, Enel is now 39 from his 37 years old when he was introduced.)
Should I ever use the term "BBD", it is a reference to "Before Birka's Destruction" 6 years before the straw hat pirates arrive at Skypiea and 8 years before the current timeline as of now.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. One Piece Belongs to Eiichiro Oda.
The breeze was calm, the waves gentle. The sky was great and boundless, as was the sea. The sun showed but did not blaze.
Entle walked by the sea shore of Birka, near his village. He felt a calm and confident sentiment overtake him. He looked over his shoulder, his sack of sealed fish to be cooked for his village and his wife. He'd caught a good amount of game today, though the other local fishermen hadn't arrived so what was the usual amount was lessened.
But to catch as much as he did was an excellent day's work for just a single man. 'Even without the help of a Vassal too,' he thought.
As he trudged back to the village, he passed by their local lookout post designed to keep watch of the fishermen and trespassers. It had a functioning lamp dial which kept light on for the evening shifts. Even if Shandian or pirate attacks were unlikely to occur. The monks on the outskirts of Birka simply abided by the old commandments set by the Council & Holy Elder in the city. The younger generations believed them to be archaic and unnecessary but followed them regardless. Their monk had told them as much as he had taught Entle as a child. The old man had been the peace keeper of their village for decades.
"History must be respected for it has a habit of biting us in the back when we least expect it", he'd often say. But he figured the old monk said it more so to lament his inner disappointment at the declining beliefs as time went on since his own time.
'Though we've survived till' now, I don't think a little halt in the spiritual will shatter our resolve,' he thought. 'Heh, although the "great geezer" has yet to lead us astray'.
Walking down the old path back to his village gave him a sense of nostalgia for when he would pass by these weary cloud tracks. "Or maybe this is a sense of foreboding…mantra has sometimes interrupted our thoughts in pivotal struggles and excitements in our lives'."
When he was nearing the village, he said to himself, 'Or this is just nostalgia from my youth comparing my soon to be life now that I'm…'. As he passed the village warrior guarding the gate who gave him a nod knowing who he was as he carried his large sack on his back, he saw her approaching. A smile spread on his face.
'My soon to be life as a father,' he thought very gratefully to himself and to his wife. As they closed the distance and embraced the other he felt her wings ruffle slightly at the warm hug.
"Still can't keep those feathers standing still, ey?," he said after their hug. She rolled her eyes but walked beside him with a light smile as they returned to their house.
"Entle, you know that's the one quirk of mine you'll never lose interest in".
"Besides your ears too, don't ya forget," he added.
As they passed by the local scavengers selling odd findings from the cloud sea he chuckled, gazing down at her large stomach that had grown for nearly nine months. His smile only grew more warmly.
"You know, it's almost time to welcome our child to this world and I still can't believe I'll get to be a father. Ever since my father left my mother and I, my mother always held to the belief that fatherhood was the one thing I would do my very best at. And I did too. Just not the fact that the most talented and beautiful maiden in Birka would choose my simple fishing self to be beside her and her baby."
Entle looked to her as Khel blushed but replied, "Well, you know that expectations were always a bore since I was the fairest of maidens as you say…".
"Well lying is a sin of course so I am merely stating the good and honest truth" he replied. She continued, "But as I was saying, expectations were always there considering my mantra potential. My emotion sensing was believed to be a good omen, something to be mixed with a Birkan Warrior's natural potential to create strong progeny. But since my village collapsed and most moved to the city, I wanted to stay by the outskirts, it's all I've ever known."
"Agreed" he said. "Couldn't imagine living anywhere but here. Familial, it feels like." She nodded.
"Yes, it is. When I found this coastal village, hidden by the shores and cliffs, I knew my calling was to this place. To settle down and to, well…". She looked up to him. "To have a life of love and simple pleasures. A life well lived. City dwellers wouldn't understand".
"Hai", he finished.
Their home was a single story house with only basic necessities. A kitchen, bedroom, living quarter, small storage room, and a simple bathroom. They even had a small pond on their property to hold some fish to be prepared for consumption at a later date. It hadn't been easy to acquire but Entle had been loved and respected by his home town of Sigtuna before Khel had arrived and settled there.
She had been drawn to him ever since she first encountered his courage & bravery against a Sky Shark, a particularly nasty situation for one little fisherman. She paused to recall those exact moments. "How exactly did it go again?," she asked herself.
He'd safely gotten his fellow fishermen away and ordered the nearby scavengers to alert their Vassal to come take down the aggressive Shark. He had dodged and weaved the monster's attacks and bites as he was still on his boat to get his fellow fishers to the shore.
'Good use of mantra, if only at a beginner's level' she thought. But as he began to tire, he suddenly jumped forward, just barely missing a bite that would have taken his arm off, instead scraping his wings. He dived into the sea clouds and the shark turned after its lunge in the waters to finally kill and eat him. 'Oh my deary me, he's finished,' she bit her lip anxiously with dread.
But a sudden force connected with the shark, sending it further away. She seemed shocked when noticed that a new figure had entered the fight. "A Birkan Warrior. Judging by his attire and strength & speed," she said only to herself. The movements a bit too quick to see but with her mantra she could make it out. Axe dials cut into the beast and the vassal eventually prevailed. When she saw the shark had been bested and was now being pulled to land, she once again saw the little fisherman removing his gear and being cheered for his actions as he smiled with a scratch at the back of his head.
"How very interesting, and clever. Didn't think he'd live." She began to walk away from the scene and hoped this village would be able to house her and keep her safe.
Once she was midway, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw it was the odd fisherman from before. "Hey, I uh…er…noticed you back there. You were watching me right?" he said.
"I was yes, that sort of thing doesn't usually happen. So I took notice. Thought you'd die of course."
"Ah…I see. Well…here I am. I take it I've surpassed your expectations?"
"Of course, I just said as much."
He took a nervous look and continued walking. "Sorry, I sound out of my depth here, don't I?"
She raised her eyebrow and replied, "Yes, yes you do my friend."
"Right…well I only came to talk. You have mantra right? Since you can probably feel my sense of unease."
She nodded with a smirk building on her face. "I think it's pretty obvious. But yes, I can also sense it with my mantra."
He nodded in understanding. "You must have strong mantra then, to be able to sense emotions. The 'great geezer' at my village once told me it's a step above simple precognition."
"Indeed it is. Though I don't have much use for it even if my potential is greater than others. Sounds contradictory but I'm not a warrior at heart." She was reminded of the clashes between two Birkan Vassals near her old village grounds. 'That, and with the use of those dials, I'd be out of my depth,' she thought.
They reached the village soon enough and she'd decided to follow him as she didn't know how the town functioned, though already knowing it was a coastal village considering the abundance of fishermen and scavengers. 'Some servants here and there. Seems like a humble little village. Now this is the kind of place I'd love to stay at.' She smiled and thought to herself with satisfaction. 'But where to actually stay within this place?'
She stopped and looked for the young man she'd spoken with prior and waited for him to finish trading and selling his fish he'd caught to some local residents. After he'd finished and began to walk away she caught up with him and asked, "Hey, I never caught your name back there, may I ask what it is?"
He seemed joyous to see her again and gestured with his hand for her to follow him down the path he was walking on.
"Yes, introductions. I must apologize if it slipped my mind before. My name is Entle, son of Enr…" He stopped himself before continuing. "Sorry, son of Aenta. Always lived with my mom since my father departed from us."
Khel stopped for a moment before acknowledging that. "I'm sorry to hear that. I did not mean to tear up old scars."
He blinked before snorting and giving a light laugh. "It's no worry. I've come to accept it and my place in our home here in Sigtuna. Besides, she did a fine job raising me, if I do say so myself."
'Sigtuna huh, so that's this outskirt's name.' She thought for a moment before continuing. "My name is Khel. Daughter of Khas and Denel. My village was a fair distance from here, near the city in fact, just a small town. Ever since the industrialization took place, many villages near or far outside the city have closed up. Most find the city more appealing or simply more opportune. My parents reluctantly left to guide our people there. I decided to stay near the edges. It's homely to me."
"Well I would agree about the opportunity part, but there's nothing quite like the peaceful village side over on this side of the country," he said as they neared a house. "Before you go, courtesy dictates I give a moment in my home. I'd like to talk some more."
"Oh?"
"If you'll indulge of course, no rush here," he added with a hopeful smile and extended hand to her. She thought for a moment before ultimately taking his hand and deciding to accompany him.
Khel didn't think she'd ever seen such an illuminating and bright smile before in her life.
'What good memories I have. Truly, I cherish them and my dear,' she thought to herself with a calm smile as they arrived at their home. Entle immediately moved her to their lounge and told her to make herself feel comfortable as he prepared his game he'd caught for dinner.
As she relaxed in her position, Entle was busy preparing their meal for the evening.
'Got to make sure this meat is cooked properly. And nicely seared to perfection for us both.' He thought as he chopped the fish meat into nice slices to be seasoned with their local spices and to be seared over their grill above a fire. 'It's not much to work with but we make due with it,' he added.
When he was finished he prepared to leave their house to collect their spices from the local merchants. "Khel, pumpkin spices are required. I'll return once I've collected them!" he shouted before leaving for the time being. She nodded just before he left in understanding.
'Pumpkin spices are rare nowadays as the Holy Elder's of Birka haven't found an inclination to do trade with Skypiea's gods over the past two centuries' he said in his mind. 'But our independent traders are free to do so with the odd Skypieans who'll trade with us too so it balances out. Although they have to deal with extols. I wonder how our traders exchange their goods to extols for the average Skypiean trader. Ah well, they can secure the pumpkin spices, an exclusive good from Skypiea, so that's all that matters in the end.'
As Entle passed by the local townsfolk he heard talk of the yearly Vassal rotation approaching, the event in which Birka's Vassals would switch from village to village to oversee them across the island.
They worked hand in hand with the monks of the village but only for matters concerning the village's wellbeing. Otherwise the warriors usually did as they pleased, coexisting with the people, helping the village in fishing depending if they were a coastal outskirt, or transporting criminals to the city for divine judgement by the Council and Holy Elder. Or just training their mantra and honing their skills.
'Hadn't even kept a watch on that,' he thought. When he arrived at their local trade center, a fairly small one with only a couple of merchants, he browsed the selection but he was looking for a certain someone.
"Entle, look here man!" A shout alerted him and he immediately walked over to this merchant. He cracked a grin.
"Sahatori!"
They exchanged a handshake then tried for a strength grip, however neither budged. After a minute they let out a chuckle and pat each other's back in a well meaning hug, as if it had been too long since they'd seen each other.
In truth, they hadn't.
"So?..."
"So…"
They stared at each other as they walked down the long path their villagers used to reach the homes farther down the path. Then, they smirked.
"How was your trade route this time around Sahatori?" asked Entle with his hands linked behind his back.
Sahatori thought for a moment. Entle wondered if there was more to his trip this time than previous ventures searching for goods, treasures, and trinkets.
"It was…mostly uneventful. Passed by Skypiea to make the usual rounds. Unfortunately my boat's dial broke down. Guess I should've gotten that old thing fixed."
"Yes, you should've friend. I warned you it could happen any day now." He paused. "But if it broke down, how'd you get back home?," he asked. "I heard a breath dial zoom in near the shores. That's why I was looking for you by the seller's market," Entle explained.
"Hmm. Yeah it did break down, ON MY WAY THERE!" He shouts as he massages his forehead. "Thankfully it was near Angel Beach. Got lucky enough to use that last breaths of energy to make it there.
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Some brat actually helped me fix it and even gave me some Conaches as a parting gift. Apparently he's learning to fix wavers and stuff. Some kind of engineer over there." Sahatori smiled as if he realized how truly lucky he'd been.
"That was very fortuitous indeed. Say, what was his name? I'd love to remember a chap who was so helpful."
"Ah…Pagaya, I think it was. He was a nice brat. Even began to apologize for not fixing it after he told me it'd take 15 minutes or so and gave me the Conaches as an apology. Told him to keep'em. Obviously, but he seemed so genuine that I relented. And…," he gave Entle a knowing look. "Who can refuse some good old pumpkin juice?"
Entle laughed and nodded. "Hai, no one can after all."
"So I took them and my boat to the other side of Angel Island to get the usual goods. Eventually decided to return but it was nightfall and I didn't realize…"
He stopped and Entle looked at him confused.
Sahatori continued. "I got a little too close to the Shandians Hidden Cloud Village."
"You…why would you leave at nightfall? You could have taken up a lodge on Lovely Street or somewhere on the island," Entle replied as he thought, 'This man…sometimes he perplexes me…'
He sighed. "The White Berets were enforcing the hours to local sellers before it got too dark. It sounded odd but I just followed their rules. But when I left the sun was already down."
"I'm guessing this is where trouble began?"
"Yup. Some guys got up close and personal and were about to pick a fight. I nearly used my Axe Dial on'em, my mantra was screaming for me to evade them." He clenched his fist for a moment before letting out a breath and relaxing. "But the commotion those jerks made brought their Elder's attention over to us and he was nice enough to ask me bugger off for both parties' sake."
Entle smiled. 'Once again, his escapades astound me, but I'm glad he made it back. I'd have made a stand against them, probably would have ended poorly.'
Sahatori looked beside him and narrowed his eyes with a snort. "Know what you're thinking there. You'd have tried to stop them and gotten your bucket kicked."
Entle shrugged.
"But things ended on a high note, believe it or not," Sahatori said as he cracked a smile.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I was about to leave when one tribe member stopped me and asked if I had anything good."
Entle raised an eyebrow. "That…is surprising. They usually keep to themselves."
"Exactly, I thought so too but he said since I wasn't Skypiean, he'd trade with me, for better or worse. And got some neat items too. Look here…"
Sahatori brought out a pair of Yellow goggles…glasses? Entle couldn't tell but let him continue.
"Apparently, they use them to hunt for fish and sharks below the cloud waves. Didn't believe him till I tried them myself."
"That is quite useful to hunt game at night," he replied.
"Yes, but I don't hunt or fish. Not my style. For now I'll just store them at home. Maybe I'll give'em to my kids or something."
Entle chuckled. "I suppose you could if you ever do have children, it looks like a nice gift."
"Mhmm," he hummed in agreement. "So, speaking about kids, how's the family doing, Entle? Got caught up talking about my trip with ya, I forgot to ask," Sahatori said to him as they neared their respective homes.
"Oh, it's simply incredible! I have…uhm…well…" Entle tried the words out in his mind but wondered how to get them out.
"You got a what? Speak up mate, you're tongue twisting yourself there," Sahatori replied confused.
"..." Entle thought for a moment before nodding with an accepting gaze. "I'm going to be a father soon."
"..." Sahatori looked with a raised brow. "Err…friend. I know that, hehe. You told me before I left for my journey round the Emperor Cloud. Is there something more?"
"Ah yes there is! You see, Khel is nearly due for our child's birth. Very much so!" Entle stated with a proud look on his face.
"Hmmm…" Sahatori simply hummed. "The best news indeed. Got nothing but the best wishes for ya. Really, it feels good to hear your good news man. I'm glad for ya," he said with a thumbs up and a light smirk.
"Thank you, Sahatori. For this occasion before my dear gives birth I wanted to cook a delicious meal with a delectable pumpkin spice that we so enjoy".
"Huh?" Sahatori stopped in his tracks. He looked to Entle then pinched the bridge of his nose with his eyes shut and groaned. "Really? Ya gotta tell me these things mate. Or else I would've given you a portion for free!
"Well I still want to help a fellow neighbor out with his duties. You toil rigorously just to find the goods you trade and sell and I would've felt bad, especially with how long your trip was this time around." Before Sahatori could reply, Entle stopped him with a raised hand. "You know me, Sahatori. It's just how I am. But I'm grateful I could catch up with you since our last conversation. Really, I mean it."
Sahatori exhaled loudly before reluctantly nodding. "I…I guess. It wouldn't be Entle after all. And hey, good seeing you friend. Hope to talk to ya and your wife another time. Got to go now," he finished with a wave as they diverged paths.
"You as well Sahatori, stay safe." He replied with a friendly wave as well. 'Well, I have the spices now, time to make the meal for Khel and I,' he said to himself.
She could sense him approaching from a distance and felt another voice near him before the other parted ways. 'It feels familiar,' she thought. She slowly got up and unlocked the door for him to enter. Khel then sat back down on their couch.
When the door opened, Entle seemed perplexed. "I thought I'd closed the door properly before I left," he said as he closed the door behind him, with his goods in tow.
She smiled. "You did but I sensed you nearing me and decided to open the door slightly."
He smiled. "Thank you, Khel. And I've brought our special ingredient. Guess," he said with a mischievous smirk.
She rolled her eyes. "Yes dear, pumpkin spice. A favorite of mine of course."
His smirk grew larger. "And?..."
She narrowed her eyes. He took out an odd blue pumpkin like fruit but it obviously wasn't one. She looked lost for a moment before she realized and her smile grew ten times larger. And then squealed in delight.
"OH MY! ENTLE…Is it really…A Conache?!" She exclaimed before getting up in a rush and trapping Entle in a bear hug. Or, as close as a bear hug that she could manage. He seemed startled and said, "Khel! Please be careful, you must be cautious in your delicate state now!" She blinked before realizing that he was indeed right and flushed a deep red in embarrassment. She let him go before moving to their dining room and excitingly taking a seat.
He laughed a hard laugh before taking his goods out on the table and preparing them for their dinner. "Yes indeed my dear, I was just as surprised when Sahatori showed me them and I knew they'd be perfect to bring home. Seeing as how you love Conache juice, I figured this would be the perfect dinner for today. Wouldn't you agree?" She smiled and nodded in agreement. "I do indeed agree, dear."
He took out all he needed to finish their meal and she stayed to take in the wonderful aroma of his cooking and waited until he'd finished their dinner.
When he finished their meals, he set their plates and drinks and sat next to each other before silently praying and giving thanks to their meals. "We give our thanks to you, O Holy Ansgar, and we ask that you bless our meal with peace for our family," they said quietly. They finished and began to eat, Entle spoke of his meeting with Sahatori, and Khel of her appreciation for Conache and the pumpkin spice with shared laughs.
They had prepared to sleep after their delicious dinner he'd made and they'd gotten ready for bed. He wasn't trying to stay up late but he felt a sense of uneasiness, like his sixth sense was alerting him to something that hadn't happened yet. He didn't know where to place it but it was for that gnawing feeling in his mind that couldn't sleep.
'Its as if my mantra is trying to tell me something, but can't quite put it in proper language, at least, for my mind to comprehend.' He turned on his side of their bed and tried to fall asleep.
'Come on, it's best I fall asleep now before it is too late. Think of my following responsibilities tomorrow. I'll be too groggy to actually do much in the morning. It'll delay my schedule…,' he gave a light yawn. 'Hmm…Yes, I would be too tired for my duties tomorrow. Think of fishing, Khel, the trades…,' he sighed and felt himself dozing off.
"!" Khel was startled awake by jolt, one that felt jarring but subsided. She collected herself for a few moments before looking to Entle to see if it was him who'd startled her by accident. He shifted a little but remained asleep.
From the view on the window, it was still dark out. The stars shining high in the sky. 'It's still night time, Khel,' she said to herself. She pondered for a brief moment until she let out a deep breath. She shook her head and sighed before relaxing on the bed. Closing her eyes, she rested her head on her pillow, still how had it adjusted to her sleeping form before she woke up suddenly. She finally headed back to sleep.
…
"ARGHH!" She grunted loudly and gripped the sheets hard. She began to breathe heavily as she felt a powerful pain in her stomach area. She then nearly jumped when she was assaulted by another pain, this time shouting and waking Entle up immediately. He sat up and looked at her.
"Khel, what's wro-"
"AHHHH!" Her face contorted in pain and she began to take deep breaths before letting out another cry and she felt the pain increase. Tears formed in her eyes which were scrunched tight and they rushed down her cheeks from the pain. She then felt another stab in her stomach and yelled, "ENTLE! PLEASE HELP ME! THEY'RE HERE!"
Author's Notes
That wraps up the first chapter. More so an introduction to Birka and how things are run and the life there, at least from Entle and Khel's perspective. Since we don't get much information canonically in the story, just its location, some people from there, and a legend. I have some info I've theorized and solidified for this story about how it works and can make sense canonically for the readers who really pay attention to detail.
In case you haven't noticed, their names are a creative liberty, characters I'm making up that aren't canon obviously.
-Entle, Enel's father.
-Khel, Enel's mother.
I played around for possible names for his parents as I prefer Eneru's official romanization, Enel. Short, sweet, and simple. A simple name for a simple tyrant. So thinking up names from a short name like Enel wasn't easy but I think these work.
I absolutely plan to continue this story as I've been working hard on it and how I want it to go so don't expect this to die any time soon or sooner. I'd feel too disgusted with myself to simply let this story die a sad and apathetic death due to my own laziness so expect another chapter. I can't make promises when I'll release the next part but this story will absolutely not die off. My apologies for any incorrect punctuation or grammar, I do my best. So I'll see you all next chapter.
Something else I realized only when I finished the first chapter. I thought to myself, why not just include this at the end.
Small tidbit: Since there's no way Birka, let alone Skypiea would have a way to use regular months like January through December in real life and in the One Piece world's sea calendar, I'm going to say the Shandians brought the calendar that the blue sea uses [Age of the Sea Circle/Kaienreki] up to the sky islands. Either it would be referred to as the Shandian Calendar or the same Kaienreki/Sea Circle Calendar through pirates who would pop up every once in a while in Skypiea and Birka who would use that same Calendar obviously and legitimize it.
If Mont Blanc Noland brought the pumpkins to Jaya, I can say he brought the Sea Calendar as he literally used a logbook during his travel on the Grand Line.
Just for the sake of simplicity as Enel was born on May 6th. Year wise, I'll decide if they remember to use years. Enel's exact birth date using the Age of the Sea Circle calendar would be May 6th, 1485. I doubt Oda would put too much thought into the logistics of this and he'd probably do the same thing so I'll just use the Kaienreki for the sake of simplicity.
This will come into play in the next chapter obviously. I just wanted a short explanation I could give to you, the readers for this.