Chapter Text
━━━━━
Blue stretched all around—both above and below—broken only by the blanket of moss that lay atop the giant grey rock.
The sun had shifted position log ago, and your once sharp eyes turned vacant the longer you stared at the monochrome horizon. Your spine bent from the weight of your small backpack—one that didn't hold many things to begin with.
A shallow sigh escaped you as you leaned back—palms laying flat on the soft cushioning below. "Soon..."
You scoured the horizon for any sight of a ship—those ships your grandfather had told you to steer clear of. But not now. You needed to leave. There was nothing for you on the island—there hasn't been anything for a long time.
You turned around, thinking you'd spot a ship of any kind.
Nothing.
You stayed like so—staring at the horizon behind you—hoping to entice a feeling other than boredom by looking at the exact same sight, only at a different angle.
Your ears perked.
A sound came deep from within.
Water exploded out of the ground—spraying the remains over the mossy surface, and you.
You craned your neck back towards the front—finding yourself staring at the giant Sea King.
The beast stared you down—it's long striped body slithering in a craned way, emitting a deep growl as it's jagged teeth glinted in the sun.
A sigh escaped you. "Came here to challenge me one last time?" You stood up—dusting your clothes.
The beast only growled louder.
"It's unfortunate," you said, "because it seems..." Your fist clenched—your posture changed.
The creatured roared. It yanked forward—shooting straight for you—it's razor teeth itching to impale you.
Your eyes met the King's. "You're in the way!"
The creature was just short of you when it's face crashed with your fist.
It's body shook in place before the Sea King collapsed next to you—it's defeated form slumping on the rockface before slowly slipping away and sinking into the water below.
Your knuckles shone against the midday sun, and you quickly wiped the slimy coating against your pants. "I just washed those..." As you glanced towards the serpent's sinking body, you noticed—in the distance—a faint silhouette.
Your lungs filled with air and your eyes widened.
A ship.
It wasn't long before you began waving your hands—jumping up and down in hopes of gaining it's attention.
Though it was far.
The ship sailed from one side to the other—with no indication of changing course.
You tried your best—you shouted and waved more frantically than ever, hoping to get their attention as there was no tell when another one might appear.
Slowly, your arms grew tired and your voice quieted—not becuase you couldn't do it, but because it seemed to late. The ship had almost disappeared—sailing to the opposite side from where it had come from.
Your brows creased—your jaw clenched—and you looked away. "Dammit!"
You spent days preparing—days scouting for ships—days knocking out Sea Kings which only provided a moment of satisfaction amidst the relentless hours of boredom.
"I'll try again..." You stared at the imprint amidst the moss. "I'll come back tomorrow, and then–"
Something sounded in the distance—a sound which you've never heard before.
You whipped around—and your eyes widened. A smile stretched on your face, that of joy and disbelief—because the ship had turned around, and was making it's way towards you.
━━━
Around the same time, in a village somewhere within the East Blue, a boy set out to fulfill a promise—one he'd spent years preparing for.
He rowed amidst the calm sea, equipped with nothing but a barrel of food and the clothes on his back. "The weather sure is nice today," he noted.
A low rumble sounded behind him before the water rippled open—stirring the sea below. He held onto his straw hat and looked at the giant Sea King—it's piercing red eyes staring menacingly at him.
"I've been waiting for you, sea monster!" The boy grinned. "This is your lucky day—I'll show you what I've learned in the past 10 years!"
The Sea King opened it's jaw—preparing to devour the said boy.
The boy wound his arm. "Gomu Gomu no... PISTOL!!" His fist smashed into the beast—arm stretching futher than it should have.
The monster flew back—it's body wriggling in the air before crashing back into the water—showing no will to fight back.
The boy smiled to himself. "How'd that taste, stupid fish?"
The water gradually steadied as the monster sunk below it—followed by the boy's satisfied chuckles.
"I'll have to find some friends first," the boy spoke to himself—staring out into the sea. "I hope I can find at least 10, no... 11 people!! And then I'll make a flag."
He envisioned all of it—never dropping his grin.
"Alright, let's go! I'll become The King of the Pirates!!"
━━━━━
Two separate adventures had begun—though neither were aware that their paths would soon cross.