~Queen Of The Sea~
1
And So, She Took To The Sea…~
"Daddy– Waaaait~ Pleeeease~! Take me with you again~!"
The small girl cried her poor little heart out. Reaching out her tiny hands to the red haired man who left her behind to return to the sea…
"I'm sorry Rheddii…but from here on out it's just too dangerous for you to stay with me." he said to her, "You're better off here…at least for now." he said to her, a twinge of a chuckle in his throat, "But I know you well, you brat…" he grinned, "You take after me…" he sighed, "One of these days you'll take to the sea…a little older…a little wiser…and a whole lot stronger…" he smiled, "When that day comes…you'll seek me out. So I'm not worried about a thing…I know you'll find me again." he grinned, "Be a good girl, Rheddii…until next we meet."
Xxx
Rheddii's eyes slowly came open to greet the gleaming sun.
Her red hair feathered around in the sea breeze as she rested back against her folded arms as a pillow up in the highest point she could reach in the tree that once held her close quarters…
With three of her brothers, and dearest friends.
That dream again, huh…?
She thought to herself as she stretched out and sat uo, glancing out at the sea.
Not that long ago…
The last of my brothers set out to see too…
Didn't he?
She heaved a heavy sigh.
Jeez…
Every man in my life seems to have a rotten habit of leaving me behind…
She clicked her tongue and a crooked smirk curved her lip.
"Suppose it's about that time for me to do the same…" she said to herself with a soft hum.
"But first…I better gather up some supplies…after all~ I'm almost out of paint~" she smirked.
Xxx
All was sound and quiet in the sleepy little Windmill town of Foosha Village.
"Well with that blasted little welp off to play Pirate now things will probably be peaceful around her for once…" The mayor grumped.
Makino couldn't help but giggle.
"Things will sure be quiet around here with Luffy gone won't it?" she hummed, "I sure hope he'll do well out there…"
"That brat is a worthless pirate…" the old man grumbled, "No way will he be fine…his trouble will catch up to him– you wait and see!"
"Still though…Rheddii must be awfully lonely now that Luffy is gone…" Makino sighed as she re-organized the bottles behind the bar, "Poor dear…I wonder what she's up to now…"
"Ahh right…Rheddii…" The mayor sighed, blowing smoke from a pipe, "You mean that little red-haired welp that Fool hardy Shanks left behind on us to take responsibility for…" he grumbled.
"Come now~" Makino chuckled, "Her father only did what he thought was best for her safety–"
"If you can't take the responsibility of being a parent then you shouldn't become one!" the old man huffed, holding his silence for a while, "...Well I suppose I shouldn't say things like that…" he grumbled out, "After all…it's not like Rheddii asked to be born…let alone to a father who's also a stinkin'pirate…" he sighed, "...I just hope the girl grows up to turn out better than he did…some day."
Makino giggled and served the Mayor another drink.
Meanwhile as the one sided trash talk continued inside the bar, Rheddii was outside–
Leaving her mark on the wall.
The Queen Of The Sea Reigned Here~
That was her tag.
Her calling card.
Her father was a famous name among pirates all across the sea–
So she never left her name…
But she left her mark…
"And I'll continue to do so~ on every island I set foot on~" she beamed, swiping the sweat on her brow away with a smudge of paint as she snickered.
"Hah? What's this now?"
"Uh-Oh– time to cut this short~" She smirks and prepared to make a run for it
"What the…What's this?" The old man shifted his glasses a bit in order to read the inscription left behind on the side of the bar in wet paint…
"Eh? The Queen of The Sea…?" her grumbled, shouting after her, "YOU DAMN BRAT~!" He called after her, "You get over here and clean this vandalism up RIGHT NOW!"
She could be heard snickering behind a cheeky grin as she dashed on ahead towards the dock…
Where she had a get away boat stocked and roped and waiting for her arrival–
"Just wanted to leave my parting gift~" She grinned as she took a leap of faith, "For this is my farewell~" she declared, "Since you took care of me all this time…just wanted to leave behind something to remember me by~"
"Remember you? Are you leaving too, Rheddii?" Makino called out. Curiosity in her tone as she rushed onto the scene to see what was happening.
The Mayor had taken off out of the bar like a bat out of hell– and the curious bar keep couldn't help but wonder why–
When she took pursuit however, she came across a nostalgic and familiar scene–
A rambunctious little red head, running wild out of trouble–
That she had likely caused herself, no doubt–
Watching from the pier she could tell…
This was the last time this old bit would play out in their lovely little Foosha Village…
And she couldn't help but feel nostalgic…and a little sad.
For Makino knew…
This was farewell for Rheddii too.
And so the last piece has begin falling in place…
Onto the path set out for her–
By her alone.
She hummed.
The young red head landed with a loud clomp of her boots onto the deck of a socked away boat she had packed and loaded, ready for her great escape.
She swiftly and cleverly released the rope that was holding her boat in place, allowing the waves to catch on and begin her journey–
She grinned and turned abruptly–
Slipping away to the sea just before she could be reprimanded and took in a deep breath–
Both hands cupped around her mouth as she called out–
"MY NAME– IS RHEDDII STEADII~!" she called out to the land and sea–
And the island that she was left behind on…
That she soon grew up to call home…
And now slowly faded away into the distance while the waves carried her…
She grinned and screamed out loud and proud–
"AND I'M A PIRAAAAAAAAAAATE~!" she beamed, shifting her gaze toward the sky…
"And even more than that…" she hummed, as she slowly lowered her heart shaped goggles that normally held back her bangs…now resting over her eyes, she peers through rose-tinted lenses.
"...ALL HAIL THE QUEEN OF THE SEA~!" she grins.
"Rotten brat…just like her father…" The mayor muttered as he watched the little boat sale away, blinking back the tears stinging his eyes while he sniffles.
"...They all turned out to be rotten pirates!"
"Good luck, Rheddii~" Makino hummed as she tucked back the hair caught onto the ocean wind, "Wherever your journey may take you…!"
To be Continued