Oriana jumped onto the archipelago. "Grove twenty-nine..." she murmured as she spotted the number on the tree. It wasn't hard to figure out how the 'island' worked. She followed a map, that she found on the ground, but then a group of people blocked her path.
"I never thought we'd meet the famous daughter of Whitebeard here," one of them remarked.
Others began to surround her. Oriana sighed, as if dealing with them was a chore, then decided to simply walk past them. "Oi, don't ignore us!" one of them shouted as they rushed in front of her again, swords in hand.
Oriana kept walking, crossing her arms as she did. With a stretch of her arms, a gust of wind slashed through them, sending them scattering. She glanced back at her map. "Okay, I need to get to another island..." she whispered to herself.
The journey took longer than expected due to bounty hunters standing in her way, but eventually, she found the bar on top of a hill. "Shakky's Rip-Off Bar?" she read aloud. It sounded... interesting.
Oriana stepped inside and spotted an older woman with a bob cut standing behind the counter. "Welcome. What will it be?" the woman asked. "Something refreshing to drink and anything to eat," Oriana replied as she sat at the counter, while Shadow coiled herself beside her.
"Alright. By the way, do you know how my husband is doing these days?" Shakky suddenly asked. "He's fine. Still training my brother. I'm here because I need information," Winter Blaze said, leaning forward. Shakky placed a drink in front of her and lit a cigarette. "What kind of information, Winter-chan?" she asked, relaxing back.
"So, you do know who I am. Good." Oriana took a sip of her drink before continuing. "I need to find the remnants of my pirate crew. I know they lost to Blackbeard, but no one knows what happened to them afterward. Have you heard anything?"
Shakky exhaled a stream of smoke. "I've heard rumors that the division commanders escaped from Pirate Island, including Marco. As far as I know, none of them were captured," she said.
"Pirate Island?" Oriana repeated, confused.
"It's Blackbeard's island in the New World. It's called Beehive."
Winter Blaze looked down, frustration settling in. Blackbeard had risen to the rank of Emperor of the Sea after stealing her father's Devil Fruit. He had betrayed them time and time again, yet it only seemed to elevate him higher. She felt some relief knowing her crew had escaped, but it wasn't much comfort. Everything Shakky told her was just rumors, but then again, rumors were her best and only shot.
"Where do I need to go?" she asked.
Oriana exited the bar, disappointed. Shakky didn't have much information about her crew beyond the commanders protecting their old territories before the Payback War. "I need to get to the New World. I'll figure out the rest when I get there," she told her snake.
As Oriana descended the stairs, a man ran past her and into the Rip-Off Bar. "The bounty hunters have found the Straw Hat Pirates' ship! They want to take it and sell it!" he shouted as he burst inside. Oriana immediately turned to him. "Where's the ship?"
The man eyed her suspiciously. "Who are you? What do you want with the young master's ship?" Before Oriana could respond, Shakky stepped to the door. "It's in Grove Thirty-Two," she said. Oriana nodded, pulling out her map. Once she figured out the route, she took off running toward her brother's ship. 'Who was their young master?' she wondered, but the thought vanished from her mind when she spotted something unusual.
People were riding... flying fish?
Oriana saw an octopus Fish-Man holding back the men alongside a tall blond biker. Annoyance flared within her at their very presence, and she let that fire consume the greedy dogs. Flames erupted, engulfing the bounty hunters as they screamed in agony.
"You're Winter Blaze! What are you doing here?" one of the men shouted after witnessing his comrades suffer. She didn't bother answering. Instead, she took them down without hesitation. When the bounty hunters were finally defeated, Oriana turned her gaze toward the colorful ship bearing her brother's mark. A small smile tugged at her lips.
"It's just like them," she murmured, recalling her short journey with the crew. They weren't many in number, but their cheerfulness was more than enough to fill any space. Oriana leaped onto the ship, landing on the railing as she took in her surroundings. This ship looked far better than their last.
"Oi! What are you doing up there?" a voice interrupted her thoughts.
She ignored them.
'This must be the ship Franky built for them,' she thought.
Shadow slithered closer to her face.
"Yeah, we'll see their ship again when they come back!" Oriana said before jumping down to the grove. She asked someone for directions to the Red Line, and once she had them, she rushed off the archipelago.
Upon reaching the massive continent, Oriana found the same rock formation as last time and pried it open, revealing a self-made passage that would take her back to the New World. She ventured deep inside, sealing the entrance behind her before igniting a flame in her palm to light the way.
She wasn't sure how long she had been traveling, but in this darkness, it felt like days. With no sunlight to determine the time, it was impossible to tell. What she did know was that their food supply was depleting faster than expected.
When Oriana finally emerged on the other side, she took a deep breath, staring out at the vast, calm sea before her. The last time she had taken this path to the New World, her father had been alive, and her crew had been whole. That time was now nothing more than a distant, untouchable memory.
As she contemplated her next move, she noticed a ship in the distance. At first, she paid it little mind, just another vessel on the open sea. But as it drew closer, her heart pounded in her chest.
Then, she saw the symbol on its sails.
A Marine warship.
Rage surged through her, a deep fury she had been suppressing for too long. The memories crashed into her like a tidal wave; Marineford, the battle, the loss of her father. The Marines had stood there, watching as everything she loved was torn away.
Her fists clenched, nails digging into her palms as her entire body tensed. Flashes of the past filled her mind, her crew, their pain, the betrayal. The sight of that warship reignited everything she had tried to bury.
She could feel the fire inside her, roaring to be unleashed.
To burn everything in her path.
Shadow sensed her anger and coiled around her wrist, its cool body grounding her. Its flame-like eyes met hers, silently urging her to stay in control. But it was so hard to resist the overwhelming urge to burn that ship to ashes, to make the Marines pay for everything they had done.
Her gaze remained locked on the warship as it sailed closer, completely unaware of the danger lurking above. Crossing paths with the Marines again had always been inevitable. These were the people who had caused her so much pain, and now, they were right in front of her.
Without a second thought, Oriana leaped from the towering Red Line, her body cutting through the air as she plummeted toward the Marine vessel below. Rage surged through her, igniting every nerve in her body. With a swift motion, she summoned the seawater around her, shaping it into a swirling force of destruction. The water bent at her command, a weapon forged from her fury.
As she descended, the spiraling torrent gained momentum, its intensity matching the fire burning inside her. She didn't care who was aboard. Marines were Marines, they were all guilty in her eyes. The memories of her father, her crew, and the pain she had endured fueled her, blocking out any hesitation.
With a fierce cry, she unleashed the water, sending it crashing into the warship with the force of a tidal wave. The ship groaned under the impact, wood splintering and cracking as the hull gave way. The force of the water was merciless, tearing the vessel apart, sending it sinking beneath the waves in a matter of moments.
Oriana landed effortlessly on the surface of the sea, standing atop the water as her chest rose and fell with adrenaline. She didn't look back at the wreckage. It didn't matter who had been aboard, their fate had been sealed the moment they sailed under the Marine flag. They were all part of the same system that had stolen everything from her.
She had no idea where she was going. She just kept moving forward, her body driven by instinct alone. The frustration of not knowing gnawed at her, but she refused to stop. She had to keep going. She had to find her family.
As she stood over the restless ocean, the wreckage of the warship smoldering in the distance, the wind picked up, swirling around her like a whisper of something unseen. Oriana inhaled deeply, letting the sea breeze wash over her, but it did little to soothe the storm raging inside her.
Her mind raced, images of the Marineford War, the crew's defeat, the shattered promise of revenge. She clenched her fists again, nails digging into her palms as she fought to contain the emotions threatening to consume her.
The ocean stretched endlessly before her, vast and uncharted. Despite her fury, a part of her felt lost, adrift in a world where nothing was certain anymore. The fire that had fueled her all these years still burned, hotter than ever, but for the first time, it lacked direction.
She knew she had to find her crew. But where?
Marco. The commanders. Her crew. Her family.
Where were they now?
Shadow sensed her turmoil and flicked her tongue, a gentle reminder of her presence. Oriana glanced down at the white snake, her ever-loyal companion. She stroked Shadow's smooth scales absentmindedly, her mind still a whirlwind of emotions. The snake had been with her through everything, her training on Amazon Lily, the long days of isolation, and now this journey back to the New World. In many ways, Shadow had become her anchor, the one thing that kept her grounded in moments like this.
"Where do we go now, Shadow?" Oriana muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
The snake flicked her tongue again, as if to say, Wherever you need to go.
Oriana turned her gaze to the horizon, eyes hardening with determination. She couldn't afford to dwell on her uncertainty. She had to keep moving forward, even if she didn't know exactly where she was headed. One thing was certain. She wouldn't stop until she found her crew and made Blackbeard pay for what he had done.
With that resolve burning inside her, Oriana stepped forward, her feet skimming the surface of the water as she moved across the waves. The sea, ever-changing and unpredictable, was her path now. It would lead her to the answers she sought, one way or another.
-x-
Days blurred into an endless stretch of open water and quiet nights beneath the stars. Oriana traveled without rest. She crossed paths with merchant ships and fishing boats, but none had the answers she sought. The world was vast, and tracking down the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates felt like chasing a ghost, an impossible pursuit through the shifting tides.
At night, she lay on the deck of whatever ship she had sneaked onto, staring up at the sky. The stars were a comforting constant, a reminder that even in chaos, some things never changed. But as the days slipped away, restlessness took root. Every moment without finding her crew felt like another betrayal, another reminder that they had gone to war while she had not been there to fight alongside them. It hurt. It hurt so bad that she felt it would be easier to rip out her heart just to make the pain go away
The snake's warmth was a small comfort in the cold lonely nights, but it could not quiet the storm. Her mind raced, haunted by the same headlines. The Payback War, Blackbeard's rise to power, the fall of Marco and the commanders. And always, the same question nagging at her.
Where was Winter Blaze?
Oriana finally let the tears come. She had held them back for so long, refusing to show any weakness in front of the amazons... again. But the weight of everything, the man responsible for her father's death and her crew's defeat, which had led to her own disappearance after the war, pressed down on her. Silent tears streaked her face, mixed with the salt from the ocean spray.
Shadow, sensing her distress, slithered up to nuzzle against her cheek. The snake's gentle touch was a quiet reassurance, a reminder that she was not entirely alone. But even Shadow's presence could not stop the flood of emotions that had been building inside her for so long.
The questions echoed louder with each passing day. Oriana wanted to scream, to tell the world she had not given up, that she was still here, still fighting. But deep down, doubt clawed at her. She had vanished after Marineford, slipping into the shadows while the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates fought on. Now, with the Payback War behind them, whispers about her had begun to circulate again.
'Had her father's death broken her?'
'Had she been too weak to keep fighting?'
Oriana clenched her fists determined. Let them wonder. Let them doubt her.
Because soon, they would all know the answer. The true daughter of Whitebeard would still carry on.
By the next morning, Oriana spotted a massive ship in the distance, but she couldn't make out its Jolly Roger. Without hesitation, she slipped into the water, resurfacing only after the ship began attacking. Deciding not to engage, she turned her attention to an island not too far away and made her way toward it.
The island had a bustling city by the harbor, but instead of heading straight into the center, she quietly made her way around to the side before stepping onto land. Keeping her head down, she blended into the crowd as people went about their day, busy with their usual routines.
Oriana had no idea where she was, but before she could figure it out, her stomach growled. Almost as if fate had led her there, a restaurant appeared in front of her. Without hesitation, she stepped inside, choosing a dark corner away from the other patrons. When the waiter arrived, she placed her order and waited in silence.
Once her food arrived, she shared it with Shadow flicking her tongue happily at the scent of the meal.
At first, Oriana barely noticed the gradual emptiness of the restaurant. But as more people left, a rowdy group suddenly entered, their loud conversation filling the space. She tried to ignore them until something they said caught her attention.
"Have you heard? Akainu is the new fleet admiral," one of them said.
"He and Aokiji fought on an island for ten days. In the end, Akainu won and became the leader of the Navy. He even moved Marine Headquarters to the start of the New World," the same man continued.
Oriana could believe that Akainu had forced his way to the top. That scumbag had almost killed his friend at the end of their battle.
"After his defeat, Aokiji quit the Navy, and there are rumors that he joined the Blackbeard Pirates," one of the men continued. "I don't want to run into those people unprepared. When is Joker going to deliver the weapons?"
Oriana listened carefully. 'Aokiji joined a pirate crew? Who is Joker?' she wondered.
Suddenly, the man behind the counter approached the group and whispered something to them. They nodded in understanding before slipping behind the bar counter. Oriana waited a moment, ensuring no one was watching her, before silently following them to the back room.
Winter Blaze moved toward the door and used her Haki to scan the area. Sensing no one nearby, she quietly opened a door at the end of the hall, revealing a staircase. Voices echoed off stone walls below.
At the bottom, she found herself in a hidden cave beneath the restaurant. Crates and barrels were stacked along the walls. Peeking around the corner, she spotted the group huddled together, speaking in hushed but urgent tones.
"The ship should be here any moment," one of them said as they stepped out of the cave, facing the open sea.
Oriana didn't know why she was there. Whatever was happening had nothing to do with her. And yet something about the way they spoke about Akainu and Joker caught her attention. She leaned against the cold cave wall, listening to their every word.
Her hands curled into fists. She had told herself she wouldn't get distracted. She was only passing through, keeping a low profile. Yet here she was, eavesdropping on shady dealings in a dark cave.
She knew it was none of her business, that she was just curious. But deep down, she understood it was more than that.
Akainu was one of the people responsible for taking everything from her. And now, he was the Fleet Admiral, commanding the very Navy that had destroyed her family.
As for Joker, he might have the information she needed to find her crew.
Shadow looked up at her, flame-like eyes glowing softly in the dim light, as if sensing her inner conflict. Oriana exhaled slowly. "I'm not getting involved," she whispered, more to herself than to Shadow. "I'm just staying informed."
But even she didn't believe her own words.
Oriana watched as a submarine surfaced in the secluded cove. A symbol she did recognize was painted along the submarine, making her narrow her eyes in suspicion.
She narrowed her eyes, her curiosity growing as the men she had followed approached the submarine, exchanging gold for crates of sealed containers marked with an unfamiliar emblem 'SMILE'.
Just as the deal was finalized, a chilling, mocking laugh echoed through the cove. Oriana's eyes focused on a figure descended from above, seemingly floating on air. It was the Heavenly Demon, his signature grin plastered on his face as he manipulated invisible strings to lower himself.
He landed effortlessly beside the crates, his pink feathered coat fluttering behind him. "Looks like business is booming," he cackled, his voice dripping with amusement. The men bowed respectfully, clearly intimidated by his presence.
Oriana watched from her hiding spot. She expected weapons; guns, explosives, the usual tools of war, but something about those sealed containers felt different. The men seemed just as eager to receive them as the weapons, their hands lingering over the strange cargo.
Doflamingo inspected the crates, casually kicking one open to reveal rows of rifles and explosives. His grin widened. "With these you'll be ruling your little corner of the New World in no time," he taunted, his laughter echoing through the cove.
One of the men hesitated before speaking. "And the other shipment?" he asked cautiously, glancing at the sealed containers.
Doflamingo smirked, tapping his foot against one of the metal boxes. "Ah, these… now these are something special. A gift for those who dream of power but don't have the luck to claim a real Devil Fruit." He chuckled darkly. "Kaido's army is growing, and I don't mind making a bigger profit along the way."
Oriana frowned. Devil Fruit? What did he mean? She had never heard of a way to grant people Devil Fruit powers without actually eating one. Was that even possible? She studied the containers more closely, but from her hiding spot, she couldn't make out what was inside and accidentally made them aware of her presence.
Doflamingo's laughter suddenly stopped. He tilted his head slightly as if sensing something. His grin widened, his sharp eyes scanning the cliffs above.
"Well, well. Looks like we have an uninvited guest," he said, his voice laced with eerie amusement. The men around him tensed, glancing around nervously.
Before Oriana could react, Doflamingo's fingers twitched, and thin, nearly invisible threads shot through the air toward her hiding spot. She had time to leap away as the rock behind her was sliced apart, crumbling into rubble.
Oriana landed gracefully, flames flickering around her fists as she locked eyes with him. There was no point in hiding now. "You're Joker, huh?" she called down, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.
Doflamingo chuckled, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. "Tell me, what's the daughter of Whitebeard doing here?"
Oriana kept her stance firm, never looking away. "I could ask you the same thing. What's a Warlord of the Sea doing selling weapons and… whatever those things are?" She nodded toward the sealed container.
Doflamingo's laughter rang through the cavern. "Curious little flame, aren't you?" He gestured toward the submarine packed with crates. "Business, of course. The world is changing, and there's power in chaos. Those who arm themselves first get to shape the future."
Oriana's eyes narrowed. "Weapons are one thing, but those… those SMILE things. What are they?"
Doflamingo smirked. He nudged one of the sealed containers with his boot. "You really don't know?"
Oriana clenched her jaw. She hated admitting ignorance, especially to someone like him.
His grin widened. "Oh, you'll find out soon enough." He studied her, flickering in his gaze. "You're lost, aren't you? Most likely drifting around by yourself, looking for your former crew. I could give you a purpose. How about you join me, instead?"
Oriana crossed her arms. "I don't need anything from you."
Doflamingo chuckled. "Suit yourself." He turned as if to leave but then paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Interesting… so your accursed tribe still lives."
Oriana froze, eyes widening. "What are you talking about?"
He chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Oh? You mean you don't know? Whitebeard really did keep you in the dark, huh? Or maybe he didn't know himself." He faced her fully, his expression almost pitying. "Your people… their history… the power in your blood… you're walking around clueless, aren't you?"
Oriana's heart pounded, unease swirling within her. "What do you know?"
"Come with me, and I'll tell you," Doflamingo said.
Oriana's fists clenched at her sides, her eyes flickering dangerously. "And if I say no?"
Doflamingo smirked, his fingers twitching ever so slightly. The nearly invisible strings around him shimmered in the dim light. "Then you'll walk away with nothing… except more questions eating away at you." He tilted his head, studying her like a predator sizing up its prey. "But let's be honest, Winter Blaze. You're too curious to walk away now."
Oriana hated that he was right.
Her mind raced. Whitebeard had never mentioned anything about her tribe being accursed. As far as she knew, her mother had been the last survivor before their tribe was wiped out by a Buster Call. But the way Doflamingo spoke, the certainty in his voice… it rattled something deep inside her.
She took a slow breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "And if I go with you, what then?"
Doflamingo grinned. "Then I'll tell you the truth."
Oriana narrowed her eyes. She didn't trust him, not for a second. But she could spent years searching for answers about herself, the power that burned within her. If there was even a sliver of truth to what he was saying… could she afford to walk away?
Shadow, sensing her hesitation, slithered up her arm, placed itself around her shoulders. The snake's eyes locked onto Doflamingo, unblinking and wary.
Finally, Oriana exhaled sharply. "Fine. I'll hear what you have to say."
Doflamingo chuckled, pleased. "Good choice. Then let's take a little trip, shall we?"