Post by Blushing z0ro on Feb 17, 2018 14:59:17 GMT -5
It was a day like any others, or at least it should have been. Leonard was simply lounging in his cabin leaving the crew to do most of the work, that is was a captain should do right? With insight perhaps having been on deck could have made a difference, but idle thoughts won’t change the past. Everyone were just doing their things, the first mate was cooking, Hiroto doing an inventory of her medicines, Hikaru was smoking and Brandon doing… whatever it is penguins do in their spare time. The gentle breeze of the current summer climate made the air just right for naps, would it have still all happened had it been in the cold of winter? Once again, questioning the past won’t help, so stop doing it.
Of course there were more in the crew than those above, a bunch of former bandits were one deck as well, but these were simply in for the ride, over their heads, taken in by the big words of a fool of captain that thought too highly of his ability to keep people alive.
The smell of the food, Leonard still remembers that. The sweet and fragrant flavour of an onion soup mixed with the salt in the air brushing against his dreams, tearing him away from them and back into reality, the rumbling of his empty stomach proving the “Young Lion” was alive. Is he alive now? Is this living? Who knows.
“Oooooooooy!!! Capt’n! Chow time.” the first mate's familiar voice was what truly pulled Leo out of his dreams. A wide yawn, scratching of the head and rubbing of the neck later, Leonard stood up and began to walk towards to origin of the hunger inducing smells. One of the good thing about being on a ship is certainly that you never have to walk far to get anything, one of the bad ones is certainly that you cannot run away; or make people run away.
A few steps out of the door of the captain’s cabin, a few down the stairs leading to the main deck of the Dawnbringer and finally a final few into the kitchen. Everyone was sitting around the table, already being rowdy and cheery. Leonard could not help that smile that crept up his lips at the sight. What a rag tag bunch, no two looked alike, just a big lot of good natured people that got swept up by the biggest idiot of them all; that captain that was just standing there in the doorway, almost forgetting his hunger simply at the sight of his friends.
The staring was interrupted as a stray loaf of bread flew directly at Leo’s face. Years of sword training were put to great use through the use of sharpened reflexes to catch the flying baked good. “Don’t just stand there Leonard, sit down and eat.” said Hikaru whom had stood up to throw the bread in the first place. “Careful buddy, the first mate won’t appreciate it if you throw food arou- *munch* munch*.” Was all that was replied before thorough bread consumption began.
“You shouldn’t speak while you eat Leo, it’s not polite.” Hiroto was always the mother hen for the whole crew, fix them up when they get hurt and most importantly remind them when they are all being dumb. However no reprimand would remove the bread crumb covered smile from Leonard’s face, as he sat down on ne of the bench lining the table. Right between Hiroto and Brandon, a bowl of soup waiting for him. Life really was good.
Looking down to his right Leonard took in the sight of the odd little penguin, whom had to actually stand on the bench to be able to see the top of the table. Of course onion soup was not part of the water fowl’s diet. Like any self respecting penguin Brandon had a full meal of fish, with an extra side dish of more fish. Luckily these were fresh enough that their smell did not overpower the perfume of the freshly baked breads and the aroma of the soup.
First sip; yes, it was good; perfect blend of the savoury broth with the somewhat tangy sweetness of onions. “Hmmmmmm. You really are getting good at the whole cooking thing, buddy, next thing you know you’ll be a world renowned chef!” Of course the scrawny cook had no reply beyond a grunt. He would open up one day, Leonard was sure of that, maybe one day he would even stop feeling the need to have his trusty dagger with him at absolutely all times including his sleep.
It’s not like it is odd to carry a trinket, most people do; in fact most in the crew did. Leonard of course use to have his old bandana, but sadly that got lost in Nuevo Romano, some days he wondered how Renaud and the other would feel knowing he lost it, but the stray thought usually left him quick as it came. Now Hiroto’s own trinket was more interesting, a little gold locket she occasionally held when looking at the horizon when she believed no one was looking. Perhaps one day that secret would be known, but for now a secret it would remain. Leonard did not know if Hikaru really had a particular attachment to his lighter, but on a couple occasions he did seem perturbed when not immediately finding it in his pocket. As for Brandon… well he was impossible to separate from his blue and yellow polka dot neckerchief, but Leonard had come to accept that mystery would probably never be solved. That is unless penguins learn to talk any time soon.
The former members of the Rock Dragon Bandits probably did have their own little trinkets and good luck charms, but they were certainly not known to anyone but themselves. These men signed up to crew because Leonard inspired them to try and see more of the world than their barren island of the North Blue and while the fact they would open up and become true members of the crew was an inevitability to the young captain; for now, they still tended to stick together and viewed the other members as untouchable senior officers meant to be obeyed but not befriended.
Everyone was there though, sharing the simple but delicious meal prepared by the chef. If everyone could be equals around the dinner table, surely everyone could be equals as if one big family at every turn of the journey ahead. Like the journey itself though, it would have be done one step at a time, with everyone together… everyone? Yes everyone was there, then that meant. “Guys… is anyone actually checking where we’re going right now?” Blank stares in the direction of Leonard was the only reply. “Maybe I was supposed to tell someone to do that?” the Young Lion added somewhat sheepishly after which Hiroto promptly added a ferm “Yes you were.” whilst sipping her soup. Jackson of the former bandits spoke up next, the teenager probably tried to ease any tension that might be brewing; not that there truly were any; he had simply not yet learned to read the other crew members yet. “It’s not a big deal is it? What are we going to run into in the middle of the ocean?”
Some people say that idley speaking can bring the very misfortune spoken of upon yourself, perhaps that is what happened then? Perhaps it was fate? Or perhaps finally, just bad luck. Everyone stopped as they felt the ship lurch, they had hit something, a rock perhaps or at sea king at worst. Everyone left their food on the table and got up in a hurry to make their way to the deck to see what damage might have been incurred from the small impact. The sight they beheld was not what anyone could have expected.
An entire ship; nearly twice the size of the Dawnbringer; had scraped the side of the smaller ship. The large galeon was painted white with many a gilded decoration across it’s wide deck. The flag Leonard did not recognize, it was definitely pirate, but the purple cross behind the skull meant nothing to still somewhat inexperienced captain. Hopefully this would not be too much of a problem but… Leonard simply had a very bad feeling about this whole situation.
“Oh man! What were the damn odds?” exclaimed Jackson referring to his earlier statement. Low was the answer, very low in fact, but in truth odds meant nothing in the Grand Line. That simple fact might be what really makes it the most dangerous of all the seas.
“Do you think we should check if anyone is hurt?” Asked Hiroto ever caring to a fault. “I don’t think anyone on a ship that big would have even really felt hitting us.” Replied Hikaru whom had started to nonchalantly smoke as soon as they had all left the kitchen. He was a shipwright after all, so if anyone did know such a thing it would be him. The first mate was the next to raise is voice with a concern that Leonard already had firmly in his find. “If they didn’t feel it why did they stop then?”
Everyone stayed quiet for a few seconds, perhaps to try and think of a good explanation. Imaginably they all had the same foreboding feeling that their leader had and were trying to push it a far corner of their mind by using rationality. Regardless of what they were thinking or wanting to do it was all cut short by the sound of a step upon a ship’s deck. Their own ship’s.
Seemingly out of nowhere a figured now stood upon the bridge of the Dawnbringer. Slicked back blonde hair like a crown on a haughty king’s head, a cream white three piece suit with golden buttons called back to the colour scheme of galeon from which the stranger must have come from. A voice that carried power and authority, cold and unforgiving echoed, piercing eyes that saw not humans but only insects to be crushed giving the words only greater might. “How dare you fools put a scratch on my vessel?”
Leonard could not move, there was something about that man made every fiber of his body want to run away, but his conscious mind wanted him to step forward, confront the intruder. Yet the conflict only resulted in an inability to do anything. How long did all just stood there, thinking, evaluating, not running away? However long it was it was Hikaru, in the end, who moved first. Almost casual in his approach of the golden haired man, but with a wary tension visible in his back and shoulders he raised his arm to touch the other man, perhaps to create some sort of a rapport or simply to shake the man’s hand, regardless that was a mistake.
“We’re really sorry about that, but there is no need to overreact your ship is just fi-” Not even letting the gunslinger finish his sentence; the blond man grabbed Hikaru’s outstretched arm to stop him from reaching out to him. “Do not touch me, mongrel.” A look of surprise and shock took over Hikaru. Did Leonard shout at his crewmate to get back? It feels he should have at least. Something terrible was about to happen.
The next moment Hikaru’s knees buckled under him, the young man screamed as if in terrible pain, the only thing preventing him from fully falling to the ground being his arm still held in the grasp of the other man. The arm… the sleeve of the black suit had started to to turn to dust as if decayed by years of mistreatment; and the arm itself; the skin had a sickly pallor to it, veins bulged out and had an almost black appearance to them against the white of the skin.
“Overreacting? Do not worry that is not what I am doing. I am merely staving off boredom.” That is what he was doing? Bringing people to their knees through agonizing pain was a way to stave off boredom? Leonard needed to think rushing in would just cause more problems hopefully the others would think the same.
That ludicrous hope was shattered in less than a second as the shape of the first mate turned and shifted next to Leonard. The scrawny chef began to bulk and get much bigger, skin turning to bright orange scales, spiky bone plates proturberating from his back. With a mad roar the Dinosaur-man charged at the intruder. This time the captain did shout, telling his first mate to stop, but no avail. “DINO!!!! PUNCH!!!” The First Mate shout at the top of his lung as his gauntleted right fist went right for the man in white’s face.
Then suddenly,the first mate was the one on the floor. What had happened? The huge Ancient Zoan user was lying on his back convulsing, similar black veins as Hikaru’s were forming a visible pattern of the chef’s circulatory system across his chest. The other man had not ven move had he? He was still standing there holding the shipwright’s arm, which was looking worse and worse, the skin began to crack and the flesh to atrophy. Was this a Devil’s Fruit ability? Surely it had to be.
Devil Fruits, not that long ago Leonard feared such abilities, so alien, so beyond comprehension, but no more. Not only several of his crew had eaten Devil Fruits, but he had too, and not just any type, but what his grandfather had told was the strongest type. “ Paramecia and Zoan can be dealt with some brains and skills, but run into a Logia? Just run boy.” Well he was the Logia, the power of the Sumi Sumi no Mi was his. “EVERYONE STAY BACK!” One final order before battle.
“FUNKA! [[Eruption]]” Leo turned his legs into a column of swirling coal dust, his black boots and trousers disappearing and joining the particles, and used it to propulse himself towards his enemy, that was what the man ahead was, not just a intruder, but an enemy. So what if he made flesh sick? Leo was not made of flesh and blood anymore, he was charcoal. Dashing as fast he could with the help of his powers the “Young Lion” held out his right hand producing and coalescing the coal into a sharp spear, before hurling it at the target. “Kokuyou! [[Black Spear]]” The scream echoed over the calm waves of the ocean as the attack flew across the air between the two men; but the blond man barely had to move his body sideways to completely avoid the sharpened black javelin that was coming at him.
The projectile simply missed its intended target crashing on the side of the large white galeon, leaving no more than a black smudge on the vessel. Not even turning his head to look at Leonard, the monster of a man spoke once more. “You dare put a stain upon my vessel? You lowlife!?” Anger now swelled the blonde man’s voice and with a swift swing of a strong right arm, hurled Hikaru at Leonard.
The captain had no choice but to stop his advance to catch his friend, otherwise the shipwright would have ended up in the waters starboard of the Dawnbringer, a death sentence for a Devil Fruit user like the gunslinging ant-man. With a grunt, Leo interposed himself stopping Hikaru’s flight and letting his power go laid him on the wooden deck.
Without even the time to look up at his opponent, or to get his power back in full function, Leo felt the hand of the man grasping his face as if the hand of death itself. Pain began to surge across the face of the “Young Lion”, as if a mix of acid burning his skin and poison pulsing through his veins; what was that power? The first reflex of the suffering Leonard was yet another mistake, reaching for a weapon he had left in his cabin. Would I have ever left my sword behind before eating a Devil Fruit? A simple question that could not help but be asked in the moment. The second reflex should have been the right one, your enemy has hold of you so get away, and yet, as the Logia user tried to turn into coal to move out of the assailant’s reach; nothing. His power was not working, no that wasn’t right, he could still feel the ability within him, he could generate and control coal still, but his body would not change; as if the man he was facing had taken grasp of his form so tightly not even Leo’s innate power could take it away from him.
Before the Coal-man could even attempt anything else another source of pain blurred his mind. His stomach felt crushed under a massive weight, barely managing to look down through the fingers of the hand holding his face, Leo saw the right fist of the blonde destroyer burying itself in his gut, not only that but he could see his shirt seemingly dissolve as well as his skin palen and crack around the impact and the veins blacken and swoll. With those effects came even more pain, as if his inside were burning with the fires of hell itself.
The assailant let go of Leo as the force of his punch send the half broken young man skipping across the wooden planks of the deck like a pebble across still water, only stopping just short of the rest of his crewmates whom he had told to stay back. “Leo!!” “Oreo!!” “Cap’n!!!” A bunch of muddled screams and shouts of concern swarmed his ears but the pain across his face and in his gut would not let him make sense of any of it. Run, he wanted to tell them, swim if you have to, just get away, but the words would not form. The pain just kept becoming more intense, kept spreading, it took everything he had just to remain conscious.
A cacophonous laugh broke through everything else. The man whom in only seconds had brought three of the most wanted men in the North Blue to the brink of death was laughing his head off about the whole thing. “HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Just blame your bad luck mongrels! This is the Grand Line, running into one such as I only brought your end sooner rather than later, but this would have been your fate all along. Yours… and your little ship. Everything rots in the end.” Leonard used all his focus and energy to simply turn his head to look at the man, bent down, as if to bow, but his right arm stretched below him as if to touch the deck of the Dawnbringer and as his hand made contact, uttered a single word Leonard would never forget. “Corruption.” The wood around the man’s hand began to darken as if having aged and decayed decades without maintenance, but in seconds. The blackness quickly spread to the rest of the ship, the vessel almost seemed to groan in pain as the wood creaked and cracked, bent and warped and finally snapped.
The Dawnbringer bent and caved in inwards as it began to capsize. Chaos and confusion all around. Get to the lifeboats Leo wanted to shout, just leave me I’m dead weight, but no words would escape his lips, all that did was a violent bloody cough. Despite the cough, despite the pain, despite sensation his face getting burned off from the inside, Leo could not stop staring at the man who had caused it all as he casually stepped back onto his ship, making the jump with a single hop. Someone else was on the galleon's deck, a woman dressed like.. a nurse? The two people in white exchanged a few inaudible words before the woman pointed at Leonard, did she notice he was still conscious?
Whatever it was, it made the blonde man angry as he turned and look at “Young Lion”. A few more words at the woman who promptly opened a bag for the haughty bringer of death. “A final present for you. You persistent Mongrel.” The blonde man reached inside the open bag of the nurse and threw something onto the deck of the rotting Dawnbringer. Some sort of metal cylinder? The item rolled gently ever closer to Leonard’s face. Were the others gone already? Were they still running about the deck in a panic? The young man did not know, all he did know was that when the cylinder stopped it’s roll, stopping a few feet away from the captain’s face as single words was written in elegant kanji upon the metal. “Explosive” With one final feeling of true dread and horror the “Young Lion”’s vision flashed white and the sound of an explosion took over everything else.
What followed were intermittent moments of consciousness. Pain, so much pain. Darkness, all encompassing. Cold, as if trying to freeze his bones, only matched by the burning in his flesh. No air, was he underwater? That would explain the inability to move, or perhaps that is just what death is, all encompassing darkness and cold taking you away once and for all. One last strange sensation before everything goes away, as if being carried away. Strange who would have though the arm of death taking you away would feel so solid… so real? Could it be real?
All that existed was pain, that searing pain all throughout a broken body. The sheel of the person once known as Leonard LeClerc knew nothing but pain, searing all the way to the bones, nothing else existed. The distant dreams of a family, of friends and of adventures were all gone, eaten away by the pain. Even his name had been devoured by the monster called pain. Only brief moments of existence knowing only agonizing pain before being brought back to nothingness by the sweet release sleep; or was it death? Still trying desperately to claim it’s prize. Time makes everything better they say; but not for this. Time went by, every agonizing moment of life knowing only pain, but time only made these moments longer. Why? Why does every time this broken thing wakes up must it stay awake longer, feeling more pain. Go back to sleep. Go back to sleep you fool. Die and be done with it. Or else you might start to remember.
How long did this sick cycle go on? The husk could not know. Too long is all it would have said. Let me die it would have asked if it could. I failed. I failed them. It was all because of me that they… who were they? Don’t remember, just sleep, just die. Else more pain will come.
Light, why is there light? Light means life, there should be nothing in death. Pain, why is there pain? Pain means life. Light and pain means you are alive you fool. You are alive, alive and alone.
Every agonizing moment of life became longer and longer. The light changed everytime, become more, shapes, colours. Close your eyes, if you see you will remember and you have to live with it.
That buzzing, what is it? It’s almost like… sound. You can hear, you fool. You can hear because you are alive. Maybe you should not listen. Stay deaf and forget. Forget? Forget what? You cannot forget if you cannot remember.
Light, sound and pain. That is all there was to living, sleep was better, death was better. But time makes everything better they say. Time made it all last longer, why did the pai have to last longer. But one day, the pain was not all there was.
A bed, Leonard was on a bed. Leonard… that was his name. An idiot who got people who relied on him killed. Yet he lived. He survived… surviving cannot be called living. Opening his eyes the young man’s vision was blurry, barely making sense of what he could see. The pain he felt all over his body made his eyes water. I need to move. He thought. Moving will let him feel his body. He tried, he tried his very best, but he barely managed to raise his back an inch off of the mattress before they pain became too much again. The effort left him winded and coughing.
Noise, to his right there was noise. Someone heard him, who could it be? This wasn’t the Dawnbringer, that was gone, but his sight was to blurred to make sense of where he was. Would the person coming be friendly? They had to be no? Whoever kept him alive wouldn’t have done it just to kill him again right? The shattered young pirate then remembered the one who did this to him. No maybe HE would, you’re going to find out soon anyway.
What was he even hearing anyway? Everything was so muffled, everything was so blurry. With great effort, Leo turned his head to his left, where the sound came from. Something was there, something black; no, not black, white. It was both whatever it was it was.. Jumping and making strange sounds. “....O… o… e…. Ru….”
“B….. Bra….. Brandon…” Leonard struggled to say. Could it be? His vision was still so blurred. But the shape stopped moving. Except it did not the top moved still… up and down… nodding. Something akin to a smile formed on the bandaged face of the young man. That’s why it was so hard to move, not just pain, but bandages everywhere, only his eyes and mouth where not covered with bandages. The shape next Leo’s bed definitely nodded furiously. Brandon was alive, at least someone else survived. You can’t die then can’t you? You have to live, not for your sake, that doesn’t matter, but for his. No, not only his, others might alive and even if they are not it’s your job to carry on for them is it not. So live you fool. LIVE.
Tears flooded Leonard’s eyes. So tired… the urge to sleep came again. Yet one thing kept him awake, the need to say one more thing. “Brandon… I… I’m so… sorry…” More vigorous flailing followed, more noise. Different noises. Someone else in the room. However all that was left of Leonard’s mind disappeared in a coughing fit and pain, so much pain… and finally sleep.
Time’s arrow kept on going, how long Leo did not know, but eventually his eyes opened again and there was… less pain. A cough came with the first deep breath, immediately followed by a shout next to him. “OREO!!!!!” The bedridden young man turned his head to finally see a familiar penguin standing next to the bed. Beady black eyes looking wet as if full of tears. “OREO!!! OREO!!! ORUUUU!!! ORUUUUU! ORURURU!!!” The little waterfowl almost roared as it lurched itself at the mummy like pirate, twisting it’s own body like paper and wrapping himself like more bandages whilst crying. Was Brandon always so heavy? It did hurt to have that weight thrust upon his broken body, but Leo did not want it gone. This was the weight and pain of a precious life.
A young woman’s voice interrupted the moment. “Now now, get off of him little guy. You are going to open his wounds.” Seemingly remembering they were not alone Brandon jumped off of Leonard and onto the stool had been standing on earlier. Another figure came into Leo’s field of vision, a young woman, maybe in her early twenties, with lilac hair in a bun. “Your little friend refused to be separated from you, didn’t leave the room once in the weeks you were out. Slept and ate right there on that stool.” The woman had a gentle tone in her voice as she spoke, patting the top of Brandon’s head. “You had us really worried, it’s a miracle you survived your wounds and infections.” Survived, that’s right he survived, so maybe others did. “Th- *cough* *cough* the… others?” Leonard asked, struggling to get any word out.
The young woman just looked at Leo, clear sadness and compassion in her eyes. Brandon made a croaking sound and tears flowed down his feathers. No words could express what the captain in him felt in that moment. His body tensed as sorrow, pain and anger all mixed. He tried to clench his teeth not to scream but to no avail. He screamed, a wail of sorrow for his friends. Tears flowed and the crying continued, the young woman said nothing, simply stood there in silence as if to pray for those her patient had lost. Eventually, Leonard could cry no more and fell back asleep.
Several more days followed, the “Young Lion” did not speak when he woke, every moment was spent in quiet remembrance. However silence is heavy, and a man can only carry so much. So one day as the same woman who had come everyday to care for him was changing his IV, he finally spoke again. “What’s your name.” It was asked simply, almost casually, not even while looking at her, but just blankly staring at the ceiling. Similarly she did not stop what she was doing to carry on her part of the conversation. “Melia.”
Melia then continued her work for a while, but perhaps Leonard was feeling talkative at that point, so he asked more. “Where am I?” Same deadpan delivery, as if unable to put life back into his voice. “Finally ready to ask about your situation huh? I was wondering if you had lost the will to live.” Putting down dirty bandages in a bag she turned to face him. “You are on the Wyvern, a submarine. All the crew here is part of the Revolutionary Army, including myself.” That certainly came as a shock to Leonard, enough so to cause him to have a coughing fit, thus waking up Brandon whom had been napping so far. “Revolutionaries? Why *cough* cough* *cough* ..why did you rescue us?” That was the crux of the matter was it not? Why would anyone, especially passing members of the Revolutionary Army rescue a pair of no good pirates? “I don’t know. Our mission was to follow the one who sank your ship. But father has a thing for rescuing the helpless. I guess you were just lucky.” With that said she gathered the bag of old dirty bandages and walked out of the room.
Luck, that’s all it came down to. Could it truly have been called luck though? Was it luck to have run into a monster that sank your ship for the hell of it? How can luck be a part of such misfortune?
More days followed, Leonard tried to ask about where they were headed, but Melia would no reply, so eventually he stopped asking. One day however someone else walked into the room. A tall burly fishman with dark blue skin and long whiskers, a Catfishman? “My daughter told me ya had recovered enough to chat, Leonard LeClerc.” Daughter? Who was the is man talking about about, and how did he know Leo’s name? Then it clicked, Melia had said it was her father that had been the one to rescue him and Brandon, could she have been talk about this fishman? But the lilac haired woman did not look like a fishman or a mermaid. Come to think of it she never asked for the pirate’s name either, so how? It all became clear in seconds as the “Young Lion” glanced at the papers in the fishman’s hands, a bunch of bounty posters.
“You’re the one who rescued us.” This was not a question, but a statement. The burly fishman looked into the bedridden young man’s eyes as if trying to see something beyond them searching almost. “I wasn’t really planning on it, as your ship sank I decided to go for a swim, see if anything could be salvaged. That’s when I saw your little buddy here, sinking like a stone so I grabbed him. But despite the being a Devil Fruit user in water he struggled, kept pointing further down, so I took a look a saw ya sinking further. Despite drowning himself that bird knew exactly where ya were and would not go without you. So I grabbed ya both and brought ya to the Wyvern.” An extended silence followed, Leo almost forgot about the fishman and just looked and the penguin, looked and smiled. “Thank you buddy.” “ORU!” A strong reply, back straight with a flipper like wing salute. A lot of fish would have to be given for this.
This time looking at the fishman, trying to return his piercing gaze despite his current state, Leonard tried to get information Melia would not give him. “If possible I’d like to know where we’re going.” Start small, don’t push too far or you might get shut out, Revolutionaries liked their privacy. “Hmmm, we’re heading to small uncharted island in the southern Calm Belt. We have an outpost with a small village there. Ya’ll finish your convalescence there. Then ya can go your way.” On his way… where was that? What was he supposed to do now? Where was he supposed to go. Leonard was not expecting these thoughts to creep in. They simply stunned him, almost right back into shock. “Seems ya still need some time to yarself, I’ll send Melia to check up on ya. Oh and the name is Barnz by the way in case ya want something from me.” With that the Fishman waked out and once again left Leonard to his thoughts.
How many more days followed? Leonard wasn’t sure, but he was certain of one thing, he needed to get out of that bed. It was long, it was painful, but eventually he managed. Brandon running around and panicking was certainly not helping matters, but what really did not help was when the waterfowl decided to stop panicking and wrap himself around the human to tie back down on the bed, whilst squawking at him furiously as if to tell him to keep resting. So much for that. Next plan, get up when the bird is asleep. Plan B did not come to fruition either, for in a bout of uncharacteristic insight, Brandon decided that the best place to sleep now was on Leonard’s stomach, where he would not be able to get up without waking his avian friend. Well played Brandon.
In the following days Leonard repeatedly asked for a chance to get up for a walk or at least to lose the bandages but Melia, whom by her comments about his recovery was definitely a doctor and not just a field medic or nurse, never failed to remind him that ”Most of the front of your body was covered in deep wounds, not only that but the ones over your stomach and face were severely infected AND you lost enough blood to kill you twice over. So no mister, for the I don’t know how many times this week, you will stay in bed and be happy I managed to save your life and your pretty face.” It was with a huff that she gathered her medical tools and used bandages and began to make for the door. However, in a glimpse of his old “normal” self Leonard could not help but add “So you think I’m pretty?” The lilac haired doctor stopped in her tracks and turn towards him looking less than amused at the quip. “Idiot.” Was all she added before stepping out.
Yet more days passed, and finally change. One morning a stretcher was brought into the room. Melia was accompanied a few strong looking men and was dressed slightly differently, whilst she normally wore black trousers and jumper with a lab coat, she had swapped them for a summer dress and a cardigan. “I take it we’re going somewhere?” Piped up Leonard, almost incapable of holding back a smile. Finally, out of this damn room. “Yes, we’re about to make land and will move you to a room in the island. Can’t have you use up resources of the Wyvern anymore.” The turning to the men she brought with her, put him on the stretcher, don’t be gentle, but don’t open his wounds.” She then simply walked out the room looking pleased with herself.
Some excessive manhandling later, Leonard was being wheeled down a cramped corridor, which the young man could only assume was the central passage of the submarine, with Brandon prompted at the end of the stretcher standing almost like the figure of prow of the Dawnbringer. Going down that metal pipe lined passageway, Leo noticed many a different person, fishmen and humans hurrying to their various tasks. Eventually he was brought to a large sealed door where Melia and Barnz along with a few others waited. “Finish surfacing and get ready to open the hatch!” Shouted Barnz, immediately followed by a some “Yes sir!” Leo felt almost like he was being thrown up for second before coming back down, similar to the sensation of coming out of water after a swim he supposed, only much stronger. Swimming, he barely remembered how that felt, he would probably never feel it again. Well that was the price you paid for the power of a Devil.
A loud hissing sound resonated around the metal door, not unlike the sound of a kettle boiling water. It was hard for Leonard to see exactly what was going on from his lying down point of view and the penguin blocking the little sight he had ahead of himself. One thing was unmistakable however, after the hissing stopped and the sound grinding metal and gears; there was wind, fresh air filled with the sent of the sea and that of nearby land and trees. How long had it been since the young pirate had felt that? He could make out the sweetness of flowers in air, a spring island or perhaps a mild summer one.
Next thing he knew Leonard was being wheeled towards the source of the wind and as he stared at the ceiling of the submarine, a light brighter than he remembered existing filled his vision. Sunlight, the sun shining bright high above an azure blue sky. The voice and cheers of people could be heard, mostly women and children as far as he could make out. Home, these Revolutionaries had made it home. How odd, that despite all that had happened to him these past weeks Leo had not had a single thought of home, of his grandfather’s lessons or his mother’s cooking. Maybe, just maybe, that was not home to him anymore. Home was where you made it, with the people you loved. His ship was his home, and it was gone.
Melia and Barnz could be seen from the corner of a still adjusting to the sunlight vision, the catfishman picked up a young human girl, maybe ten years old with the same lilac hair as Melia. Sisters Leonard supposed. They seemed happy. Happy, that was another thing the idiot captain the world had dubbed the Young Lion had not felt in ages. Did he remember how?
Barnz and his “daughters” approached Leonard and Brandon whom at that point had just been left there waiting on the stretcher. “AH! Penguin!!!” A tiny voice shouted with glee. “Can I pet it big sis? Dad?” The two replied with a chuckle before the gruff voice of the fishman added “I think that’s up to the penguin, Celia.” Getting ever closer with the girl in his arms, Barnz bent over slightly to put her on the level of the confused looking bird. “Hey mister penguin, can I pet you?” Brandon seemed somewhat taken aback by the situation. The sheer joy of the little girl warmed something in Leo’s heart, something that had felt dead ever since he’d woken up in that bed. “It’s okay Brandon, let the girl pet you.” A slightly confused “Kuo?” came from Brandon as he looked at his captain but then a look of understanding in the animal’s beady eyes came about, perhaps from seeing a gentle smile on the human’s face, one not warped by sadness. Brandon just bent his head slightly forward towards the girl who held out her hand and joyfully petted the little penguin. That might have been the happiest Leo had ever seen someone as the girl continued to pet Brandon and exclamate how soft he was.
After the penguin petting was done the two pirates were wheeled into another room in a small wooden building in the village that revolutionaries had built on this small island. Hey, at least this time there was a window! Granted at the angle Leonard was from said window his view limited to the corner of a house and a bit of blue sky. How long would the “Young Lion” have to stay confined to a bed? Regardless what any doctor might say, Leo had had enough. “Tomorrow, tomorrow I’m getting out of this bed.”
Leonard barely slept that night, thoughts of what laid ahead kept his mind to busy. What would he do now? Simply sitting around all day feeling sorry for himself would not do; that was not who he was, he was a fighter, an adventurer and to some he had been a leader. He simply had to keep moving forward. An old saying his grandfather used to say kept on coming back to him during the night. “Some say the first step is the most difficult one. But the most important step anyone can take, is the next one. Always the next, always moving forward.” These words never rang more true than now. The “Young Lion” had already taken his first step a long time ago, now what was most important was to continue on ahead.
Eventually the faint rays of the rising sun began to poke through the window, giving the room a faint blue gray glow as the red rising sun had yet to even truly show itself over the horizon. A red sun shining its light on the path ahead, it was that symbol Leo focused on. Only the sound of the sheets rippling could be heard as Leonard pushed himself up. Heavens, everything still hurt, bones felt like stone grinding, every muscle fiber felt stiff yet lacking any real strength but the worst of was the feeling of a deep burning sensation around the left side of his gut. This was where the man in white had punched him. Whatever this wound was, it was not healing anywhere near as quick as the rest of his body and the twinge of pain across his face told him it was likely the same up there.
Still, like a true lion, the young man pushed on. Grinding teeth and holding back grunts were but a small price to finally be free of that damn bed. Then finally, Leonard LeClerc was standing up. How strange it felt to support oneself again, to feel the weight of his one body unto itself. Never before had he felt so heavy. The most difficult is the first, but the most important is the next. He was up, but now it was time to walk. A deep breath, as if trying to take in all the air of the world, then a step. The wood creaked slightly at the shifting of weight upon its surface. Faint, but not enough for the keen ears of Brandon who was sleeping only a few feet away to not pick up. “...oru?” The penguin slowly blinked away the drowsiness and looked toward the source of the sound. “ORU!?” Immediately jumping to his feet the water fowl seemed ready to once again bind his captain to the bed like he did before. However this time Leo spoke up. “It’s okay Brandon. I need to do this.”
With determination, Leonard walked straight ahead toward the door of the room. He had not really bothered to look at the rest of the building he was in while coming in, it was hard to do while just staring at the ceiling, so the sight of a homely living room somewhat took him by surprise as he opened the door. A simple family home, a set of stairs led up, likely to bedrooms. The ground floor room Leo had been in was likely only used for guests or perhaps patient of this was Melia’s house. Taking a long look at the furnitures a simple picture frame on a cabinet caught the injured pirate’s attention. One step at a time; each heavier than the previous one but in an odd way, easier; Leo made his way across the living room towards the picture frame. A family picture, Barnz stood with both Melia and Celia in his arms lifting them easily. They really were family, well what was so odd about a fishman adopting two human women? However what really shocked Leonard was not so much the picture but what he saw over it. By playing with the light, his own reflection could be seen on the frame’s glass. A mummy, that was really the only way to describe what he saw. Bandaged from head to toe, only a few strands of black hair poking out from the top of his head and his eyes betrayed that the body underneath still lived. Had he ever been so thin? His body seemed to have simply melted away in the past weeks. How long would it take to recover? The “Young Lion” once told himself that on the seas, to stop improving was to die, but how does one even think of improving when simply getting back what was lost looks beyond possible?
“So ya can walk now.” The gruff voice of the fishman took Leo by surprise, twisting somewhat too fast to turn and face his savior Leo almost lost his balance, only managing to catch himself on the cabinet at the last second. “Well walk-ish I guess.” Corrected the fishman. “Lying in bed really isn’t my thing. So I think at that point I’ve done enough of it for a lifetime.” Barnz actually smiled at the comment. “Hmph. If Melia sees ya walking around like that she’ll probably tie ya up to the bed. She doesn’t like when her patients seem to do their darndest to kill themselves after she saved them. ‘Er words not mine.” Leo took a few steps towards the catfishman, not for any reason beyond the feeling that if he were to stop moving any longer his legs would actually give out. “Well if it comes to that, I don’t think I’ll have much trouble getting out of restrains.” Lifting his right hand to his eyes Leonard attempted something he had not tried once since the incident. Feeling every cell in his body becoming an individual separate entity, the white bandaged hand turned black as night and crumbled into swirling dust. That feeling at least he had not lost. That power he had not lost. He would be able to get back to his old strength, and this power would help him compensate.
“Aaaaah. An ability user, I suspected from how the way ya sank without even moving, but your injuries were bad enough I wasn’t sure if they weren’t simply the cause.” Reforming his hand Leonard lowered his arm. “I don’t think I have really thanked you yet for all you’ve done. You did not have to save Brandon, or me. But you went through all of this effort to keep me alive while just about anyone would have simply given up on me. So… thank you.” Barnz took a few steps to nearby shelf, plucked a bottle from it and uncorked it with a single movement of his webbed thumb. After taking three long swig from the container he held out the bottle towards Leo. “I have something to show ya, but ya’ll want a drink first.” With apprehension and confusion Leo took the bottle and took one long drink. It burned as it went down but it was not a painful burn like the one in his side or face, but a sweet burn, like the fire of life itself “Lead the way.” Answered the young man, with a slight tinge of fear in his voice that could not be hidden.
It took longer than Leo would have liked to follow the fishman, the weight of his injuries making every step a mountain to climb of its own. Eventually however, the two men managed to make their way into a small dusty room, from various boxes, chests and crates piled in there Leo suspected a storage room of some kind. Yet one chest caught his eyes; obviously not having been in the storage room for every long from the lack of dust upon it. In front of the chest itself an almost six foot long and not very wide bundle of cloth lied. It was at that point that the pirate captain began to really fear what might be inside. “From of the look of ya, I reckon you can guess what’s in there. I’ll leave ya to it.”
Leonard knelt in front of the chest and bundle, his legs just could not bare standing anymore. But was it really the injuries that made his knees weak? With a deep breath the “Young Lion” first unwrapped the bundle of cloth. As expected inside was a just short of six foot long scabbard of black lacquered wood topped with a golden tsuba and azure blue wrapped handle of Leo’s sword. A named sword and likely the most valuable thing the young man had ever owned, yet he never see, to take much mind of the value, it was simply his sword, and it was the swordsman that made the blade, not the other way around. Like his grandfather often said, the cheapest of blades was worth more in the hands of a master than the greatest craft of a master in the hands of an amateur. Yet the beauty of such a fine blade had to be admired no? Why had he never taken the time to do so before? Ame no Hanegiri, Feather Cutter of Rain, the very name was poetry, a blade to be beholden. Why did I leave you behind that day? Would I ever have done so before eating a devil fruit? Have I become too complacent in the invincibility of a Logia? Why bother even asking, of course he had, otherwise all of which happened would not have.
It was nice having the sword back, but that was not the real reason why Leo had been brought here, at least not the only one. Pushing the sheathed blade to his left, Leo slightly dragged himself forward to more easily open the chest. The lid felt heavy, heavier than it should have even with the injuries, perhaps he simply did not want to open it? True anguish gripped his stomach at what be inside, but he simply had to open it. If not for his sake, for theirs. The chest opened with a long creak, and inside was Leo hoped, feared and more. The first thing that he saw was the glimmer of a simple steel dagger, one a chef angry at the world took everywhere. Then there was a silver zippo lighter a certain shipwright never went without. And finally there was a golden locket a golden locket a gentle doctor always held to her heart when she thought no one was looking. Underneath those were various article of clothing, charts, books, logs and various bits and bobs, but Leo didn’t care for those. There even was a chunk of wood, a single piece of ship upon which the name had been carved and decorated before placed above the door to Leo’s cabin.
Nothing could hold back the tears, the young man knelt in front of the chest, tears flowing and cries of sorrow escaping his sore throat. His forehead had hit the floor out of sheet exhaustion, leaving him in a position one might take of apology. And apologize he did, barely squeezing out the words between the cries and tears. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry everyone! I failed! I failed you all! I wish it had been me! If I could trade myself for you all I would! I am so so sorry!” he just stayed there, between mourning and prayer in front of the relics of his lost crew. Time just did not exist in that moment, everything was still, just him and his failings. Then the world suddenly started to move again, as Leo felt something soft touching his back. “Oreo…” Brandon the penguin had placed his flipper like wing on the swordsman’s back as if to pat him in comfort. “I’m so sorry Brandon. It’s my fault. If I hadn’t dragged everyone along with my big mouth, you would all be okay. They would be okay.” Leo once again tried to hold back his tears but they simply wouldn’t stop, not while looking at his last remaining crewmate. “Oruuuuuu…” Even the bird seemed at loss for words as it lowered its head. “What right did I have to make such claims? Catch up to the legends? Becoming even greater? Roger died not his crew! Whitebeard died for his crew!!! That’s what a captain does! Not the other way around damn it!!!” Anger swoll inside Leo, almost burning away the pain and sorrow, his began to punch the ground.
“Is that what ya think great men do kid?” The voice of the fishman snapped Leo out of his anger and made him turn around to the open doorway of the dusty little room. Beyond it in the living room stood the Barnz, and beyond him melia in her sleeping gown carrying a drowsy yet somewhat afraid looking Celia. “Is that what you think made them great? Dying?” The tone of the fishman betrayed a tinge of anger. “That’s how legends are born no? When great men die.” Replied Leo not trying to hide irritation. What right did this fishman have to tell him off now of all times. “Your wrong, dead wrong. Lemme tell ya something, I wasn’t there at war, but I’ve spoken to some that were. And what made Old Man Whitebeard a monster, or legend, whatever you want to call it wasn’t how he died, but how he lived. A man’s death is only a reflection of his life.” Anger, pain, sorrow all mixed in Leonard, but now a tinge of confusion was thrown in, perhaps even hope. Why would someone hope anything out of this situation was beyond understanding, but a part of the young man wanted to hear it, wanted to find something to cling on and use to climb out of this hole he would himself in. “Here’s what I’ve been told. As ya know Whitebeard’s last word were that One Piece was real, and that sparked this new era we’re in, so on that part you were technically right, the final act of legend of the old man was dying. That’s right, Whitebeard passed away, but although he died, his body didn’t collapse. And the way he mowed down enemies with wounds all over his body… was certainly monstrous. The number of sword wounds he received in that war was indeed two-hundred and sixty-seven. The number of gun wounds: one-hundred and fifty-two. And he was shot by cannons forty-six times! And yet… on his proud back… or in his entire life as a pirate, there was not a single scar he got while retreating!”
Leonard was left with a gaping jaw; could a single man really take so much? Hundreds upon hundreds of wounds, never stopping. Not once had he retreated, not once he had been defeated, not once did he turn his back to his foe. To think some kid from the blues dared to speak of reaching the height that this legend grasped… and yet. In his mind’s eye, Leonard could see it, the proud back of the man who rocked the world. It was not by wallowing in sadness that he got to where he was, was it? You keep on going, the next step is always the most important, never stop, never give up, keep fighting, keep getting back up. You haven’t lost when you’ve been beaten down, even to a inch of your life, you have truly lost when you give up and stay down. So now, there was only one thing to do. Stand up.
Mustering every last bit of strength left on his broken body, Leonard LeClerc stood up. To those who saw him in that time however, it was not the fact the young man could still stand that shook their hearts, but the eyes of the man. Sadness and pain were still there, but deeper, much deeper, all that truly shone through the surface in that moment was pure determination. A certain commander from a certain country in the North Blue saw these eyes once and dubbed the boy he was then a lion. What would he call the man that was now standing in the little storage room. “How long?” The voice of the “Young Lion” did not shake anymore. Looking confused it was Barnz that spoke up first. “How long for what?” Then, Leonard focused his gaze on Melia. “How long until I’ve recovered?” The young doctor seemed taken aback by the question more so than the situation itself. “I… I mean… I’m not sure. It could take months, perhaps more than a year to properly recover from such grievous injuries. Most of your bones were broken, you had shrapnel embedded in over two thirds of the front of your body and don’t get me started on the infections of the wounds in your sade and over your face. You should be dead and buried, it’s a miracle you are alive, let alone walking. As a physician I cannot acc-” “One year.” Leonard cut off the woman, he did not need a lecture about a safe recovery. He needed to recover and take back what he lost. Once again facing Barnz, Leo stood to his full height trying to hold the gaze of the catfishman. “I apologize for having imposed on you. I also apologize in advance for continuing to do so for the coming year. I will absolutely make it back to you, no matter what. But right now, I need your help.” It was then that Leonard went back to his knees, this time on purpose, and bowed low on the ground in front of the revolutionary. “Please help me some more! I need time to recover and help with training! I will not give up or complain, I will keep on going until my heart stop! So please, help me!”
The fishman seemed even more taken aback than his daughter was moment earlier, but a smile quickly took over the thick lipped face, whipping away the slack jawed shock. “Sakakakakaka… ya really are an odd one kid. Very well! I’ll help ya! We’ll get ya back on your feet in no time, but be careful, cuz when ya will be good to go, Imma beat ya into something your own mother won’t recognize, and we’ll do so everyday for a year! Don’t think your Logia tricks will work on me either! You have a lot to learn still. So, ya’re sure ya wanna do that, Small Fry?”
His face still on the wooden floor, Leonard smiled, truly smiled for the first time in weeks. “I would expect no less… sir!”
And so it was in a dusty storage room, in small wooden house lost in the calm belt that one of the most defining moments of a life happened. Although his body had been broken, he stood up. Although his will had been shattered, he walked. And despite countless injuries taken in against an overwhelming opponent, on the back of a boy who dreamed of adventures, not a single wound stained his pride!