Chapter 1: Below Deck
East Blue, On a Pirate Ship
Below deck, a teenage boy around the age of 15 lay on the wooden floor, wincing as his friend bandaged his injuries.
His deep purple hair, slicked back yet slightly tousled, allowed a few strands to fall casually across his forehead, leaving a clear path in the middle.
The room was dim, with light seeping through the small windows, casting beams that illuminated the dust swirling in the air.
"Why do you keep standing up for them?" asked the pink-haired boy beside him, his voice tinged with worry. "You're lucky they didn't kill you this time!"
The purple-haired boy, Finn, winced as he adjusted his position, but his eyes burned with resolve. "If I don't, who will? Isn't it your dream to join the Marines like me, Koby?"
Koby hesitated before nodding, uncertainty clouding his features. Finn's gaze hardened. "Then we have to stand up for what's right. For our justice!"
Suddenly, heavy stomps echoed from above, shaking the ceiling and sending dust cascading down. A loud voice roared, "Hey! Keep it quiet down there, dammit!"
The boys flinched, shielding their eyes from the falling dust. Finn clenched his fists, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "These damn pirates… They're getting cocky because they captured some slaves and sunk a Marine ship. I swear I'll make them pay!"
"Quiet, Finn!" Koby whispered urgently. "They'll kill us for sure!"
Realizing his outburst, Finn muttered an apology and lay back down, staring at the ceiling. 'I've been on this damn pirate ship for as long as I can remember. If only I could get one chance to change my fate, just one...'
…
Later that night, after completing their chores, Finn and Koby were back below deck, preparing their makeshift beds.
They wished each other a goodnight, and after a while, a pirate came to check on them, ensuring they were asleep. Once the coast was clear, the boys quietly got up, exchanging a determined glance—they both knew what came next.
They dropped to the ground and began doing pushups, pushing themselves until their arms trembled and refused to move.
Next, they switched to sit-ups, continuing until their abs burned and they could barely breathe.
They then did other workouts before collapsing on the floor. Koby gasped, "Huff… Huff… I'm supposed to be older, but you're stronger than me."
Finn, also struggling to catch his breath, thought, 'Even though Koby is one year older than me, I'm stronger because I've been training every day.'
He sat up, staring at his bandaged hands, 'I thought my body wouldn't handle the workout along with the chores. But as I started, it was like my body answered, growing stronger and recovering faster.'
Finn glanced at Koby and said, "It's because I've been training longer than you."
Koby hadn't known Finn was training until he began noticing Finn's "crazy" routine.
With a determined look, Finn moved some barrels aside, revealing dried blood and dents in the wall behind them.
'I started this training because I have no weapon. If I'm going to fight Captain Alvida and her crew, I need to toughen up,' Finn thought, gritting his teeth. 'This crazy training hurts like hell, but if it changes my fate, I'll do it!'
Timing his punch with the ship's creaking, Finn launched his fist at an undented spot on the wall.
Pain shot through his hand, but he continued, striking again and again, ignoring the blood seeping through his bandages.
The thought of defeating the Alvida Pirates and taking down the strongest pirates fueled him, pushing him to keep going despite the agony.
After a short break, Finn was about to start again when Koby patted him on the back. "What happened?" Finn whispered.
Koby's eyes shone with excitement. "I finally finished it!"
Finn turned to see a wooden, self-made boat. His eyes widened in disbelief. "No way! You actually did it!" he whispered, a grin spreading across his face.
They exchanged a high-five, Finn inspecting the boat with admiration. "Wow, Koby! This is really well-made!"
Koby smiled at the praise. "Thanks… I think we can set sail tomorrow. The ship's recently restocked on supplies, so we can steal some without anyone noticing."
Finn's heart pounded with anticipation. 'Finally! Finally, I get the chance to change my fate!'
Koby went to bed, but Finn stayed up a little longer, training his fists until exhaustion claimed him.
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mrhakiman
mrhakiman Hey guys, I would appreciate any feedback on the story, I am open to all!
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