章 3: The Sea Reader
"Thank you both for everything." Aria turned to Sasha and Kaya. "But I should get going."
"Already?" Disappointment clouded Kaya's features. "You've barely arrived."
"Places to be, people to see, you know how it is." Aria walked to the window, scanning the busy street.
"Wait!" Kaya's shoes clicked against the wooden floor as she rushed to the counter. She pulled out a small leather pouch, coins clinking inside. "Take this. You'll need supplies."
"I can't accept-"
"Please." Kaya pressed the pouch into her hands. "Consider it an investment in another good story."
Aria secured the pouch to her belt. "Stay safe, Kaya. And keep believing in those stories."
Aria stepped out into the morning sunlight, adjusting to the weight of her new clothes. Her fingers brushed against the pouch of coins, thoughts drifting to her immediate future.
The Grand Line. Aria's stomach churned at the thought. Where Sea Kings are the least of your problems. Her fingers traced the edge of the pouch.
The Straw Hats will be heading there soon.
The street bustled with morning activity - vendors setting up stalls, children running errands, townspeople going about their day. She watched them, struck by how ordinary it all seemed. But everything's going to change. I know too much to just stand by.
Alabasta doesn't have to suffer. Ace doesn't have to die. And the truth about Ohara - maybe it doesn't have to stay buried. Her heart raced at the possibilities.
But charging in blind would be suicide. First step - master this fruit. Can't help anyone if I'm dead.
"First step - master this fruit. Can't help anyone if I'm dead."
"Right, a plan. Find a boat, sail to the most dangerous sea in the world." Aria snorted. "Minor detail - I have zero sailing experience. None. Zip."
"Can't exactly sail alone." And I really don't want to end up as fish food. The thought of navigating the treacherous waters solo made her head hurt. "Need a crew. Or at least someone who knows which end of the boat goes forward."
She walked down the street, observing the people around her with newfound awareness. The energy signatures grew clearer with each passing hour.
"So I can see their strength."
Her mind drifted to yesterday's restaurant confrontation. The drunk's power had called to her before she'd touched him - his signature pulsing brighter than the others. Raw physical strength, unmistakable now that she understood what she was seeing.
"Copying or stealing?" The drunk's power had definitely diminished after she touched him. "Not copying - his strength dropped too much for that. More like draining or transferring."
The pale blue energy she'd pulled from him hadn't replicated - it had moved, shifting from one vessel to another. "A one-way transfer then. I take, they lose."
"What about Devil Fruit users though?" The thought sparked new possibilities. "Would their powers show up differently?"
She pictured the abilities she knew were coming - Luffy's rubber body, Ace's flames, Smoker's smoke form. Each unique, each devastating in its own way.
Her power didn't manifest any visible changes or elemental transformation. Just the ability to see and steal strength. But if she encountered someone with a Devil Fruit...
"Wonder if I could steal those too." Aria pushed off the wall. "Or would that make me explode? Because that would really ruin my day."
A group of children darted past, pale blue signatures flickering. Everyone's baseline strength looked identical, varying only in intensity.
The scent of spices drew her attention to a nearby market stall. Dried goods lined the wooden shelves in neat rows, their earthy colors rich in the morning light.
Can't sail without supplies. She approached the stall, "What foods would you recommend for someone sailing?"
The vendor's weathered face brightened. His eyes crinkled at the corners. "Ah, setting sail? Dried fish keeps well. Rice, beans, hardtack - staples of any proper voyage."
"I'll take some of each." Aria counted out coins from her pouch. "What about fresh water storage?"
"Barrels down by the docks. Old Matsuda sells the best ones." The vendor wrapped her purchases in brown paper, his movements practiced and efficient. "Though if you're planning to sail, you might want to talk to Captain Gale first."
Aria paused in collecting her packages. "Captain Gale?"
"Retired navigator. Teaches the basics to newcomers." The vendor gestured toward the harbor, visible between the buildings. "Small blue house near the lighthouse. Can't miss it."
A teacher could be useful. "Thanks for the tip." Aria gathered her supplies, adjusting the weight in her arms.
She walked through the winding streets toward the harbor. The crowd thinned as she left the market district, replaced by the occasional dock worker or sailor.
Fishing boats bobbed in their moorings. Larger merchant vessels loomed behind them, their masts reaching toward the cloudless sky. Dockhands shouted orders, their voices mixing with creaking wood and flapping canvas.
The lighthouse rose before her, its white tower stark against the blue morning sky. Besides it sat a small house, its faded blue paint peeling in the sea air.
"First sailing lessons." Aria shifted her pack, feeling the weight of her purchases. "Then a boat. Then a crew. Simple three-step plan." Her lips curved into a slight smile. "What could possibly go wrong?"
At least the first step's right in front of me. She took a deep breath and walked toward the blue house.
The blue house's door creaked as Aria knocked. Paint peeled from the wooden frame, revealing years of salt exposure.
Heavy footsteps thumped inside. The door yanked open. An elderly man with sun-leathered skin filled the doorway. Deep wrinkles framed cold eyes that cut through her.
Not exactly the friendly teacher type.
"Captain Gale?"
"Former Captain." His fingers gripped the doorframe, "What do you want?"
"I need to learn sailing basics. The vendor at the market recommended you."
Gale snorted. "Old Tanaka needs to mind his business." His gaze dropped to her supplies. Another fool dreaming of adventure?"
"I need to learn-"
"No." Gale's voice cracked like a whip. "I don't teach anymore."
"Please, I-"
"The last idiots I taught died in the Grand Line." Gale's knuckles whitened on the door. "Their bodies were never found."
"I understand the risks."
"You understand nothing." Disgust twisted Gale's features. "Go home, girl. The sea's taken enough dreamers."
The door slammed shut. Wood rattled in the frame.
Well, that went well.
"Charming." Aria stared at the peeling blue paint. Her fingers curled into fists. "Good thing I excel at being annoying."
She settled onto the worn steps, wood creaking beneath her weight. The harbor breeze carried salt and seaweed scents. Ships swayed at their moorings, ropes groaning against wood.
"I'm not leaving." Her words carried over the harbor sounds. "Though a cushion would've been nice."
The sun climbed higher. One hour passed, then two. Sweat trickled down her neck.
Her knuckles rapped against the door again. The hollow sound echoed inside. No footsteps answered.
Silent treatment, huh?
Minutes stretched into an hour. The sun climbed higher, baking the wooden steps where she sat. Ships creaked at their moorings. Seabirds wheeled overhead.
"He won't answer."
Aria turned. A fisherman paused beside the steps, nets slung over his shoulder. Salt crusted his clothes. "Thanks for stating the obvious."
"You're wasting your time."
"I need to learn from him."
"Give it up, girl." He adjusted his nets. "Find another teacher."
"I can't."
His boots thumped against wooden planks as he trudged toward the fishing boats. Aria watched him disappear into the crowd of dock workers and sailors.
She shifted on the hard steps, legs protesting from hours of sitting. The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly. Sweat trickled down her neck.
"At least I'm getting a tan while my dignity slowly dies."
This isn't working. Time for Plan B.
Her gaze drifted to the merchant ships lining the harbor. Crews loaded cargo, captains barked orders, and sailors scurried about their duties.
"Guess there's no point waiting around here anymore today." Aria pushed herself to her feet, brushing dust from her pants. Her muscles ached in protest. "Skip the lessons. Find a ship first."
Maybe I'll have better luck convincing someone to hire me. Can't be harder than dealing with grumpy ex-captains.
She cast one last glance at Gale's stubbornly closed door. "Thanks for nothing, old man."
The docks beckoned, alive with activity. Somewhere among those ships was her ticket to the Grand Line. She just had to find it.
Time to see who's hiring. Even if I start as a deck hand, it's better than sitting here collecting splinters.
Before her, the bustling harbor stretched out like a forest of masts and billowing sails, the ships swaying gently in the salt-tinged breeze. Dock workers shouted to each other as they loaded and unloaded cargo, their voices carried on the wind.
Aria paused, considering her options. Her gaze fell on a small, run-down building near the water's edge. The sign above the door read "Brigg's Shipwright Services" in peeling paint.
Making a split-second decision, she altered her course and approached the shop. A small bell chimed overhead as she pushed open the door, announcing her presence. The interior was cluttered but cozy, the walls lined with shelves full of tools and nautical equipment.
"Looking to buy?" The shipwright barely glanced up from his ledger.
"Yes. Something small, sturdy enough for the Grand Line."
The pencil clattered against wood. "The Grand Line?" He leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "You're either brave or foolish. Who's your navigator?"
"Still working on that part."
"You mean you can't sail?" His laugh filled the small shop.
"I'll learn."
"From who? Gale?" The humor drained from his face. "Everyone knows that story."
"What story?"
The shipwright settled back, wood creaking beneath his weight. "Gale wasn't just any captain. Twenty years exploring the Grand Line. Charted passages no one else dared attempt. They called him 'Sea Reader' - could read the weather like it spoke to him directly."
"Let me guess - this story doesn't have a happy ending."
"Trained dozens of navigators. Best in the East Blue." His voice softened. "Including his son, Rowan. That boy had his father's gift. Could feel the sea's moods."
He pulled out a yellowed newspaper, edges frayed with age. The headline stood bold: "Sea Reader Gale Voss Charts New Grand Line Route."
"This was his last triumph. He and Rowan mapped a safer trade route through the Calm Belt." His finger tapped the photo - Gale and a young man grinning beside a complex chart. "A month later, Rowan took his own crew to establish the route."
"And never returned." The words tasted bitter.
"Gale went mad searching. Abandoned his mapping work. Spent a fortune on rescue ships." The shipwright's eyes grew distant. "When he finally came back, something in him had broken."
"Those routes weren't at fault."
"Try telling him that." He turned back to his ledger.
"About that boat-"
"No." His pencil scratched against paper. "Not without proper training. I won't have another death on my conscience."
"What's with this town and their collective need to protect me from myself?" Aria dropped her coin pouch on the counter with a heavy thunk.
"Not when it buys a death sentence." He pushed the pouch back, metal coins clinking.
"It's just a boat!"
"Policy." Pages rustled as he turned to a new entry. "No sale without proper certification. Marine regulations."
"Since when do shipwrights care about-"
The shop door burst open. A dock worker stumbled in, face pale with panic.
"Pirates!" The dock worker burst through the door, bell jangling wildly. Sweat streamed down his face. "At Gale's house!"
The shipwright shot to his feet. "What?"
"Four of them." The worker clutched the doorframe, chest heaving. "Broke down his door. Demanding his maps of the Calm Belt route."
Aria's blood ran cold. The house she'd left minutes ago.
"Someone get the Marines!" The shipwright reached under his counter.
"Station's empty." The worker shook his head. "They're all out on patrol."
"Of course they are." Aria muttered, "When you actually need them."
Her supplies sat forgotten on the counter as she bolted through the door. Her feet pounded against the dock boards, retracing her steps to the blue house.
Four energy signatures pulsed ahead - pale blue, ordinary humans. No Devil Fruit users. Good.
She could work with that.
Shouts echoed from Gale's house. Glass shattered. A chair crashed through a window, spraying splinters across the steps where she'd sat hours before.
"The maps, old man!" A rough voice bellowed. "Where are they?"
Aria crept along the house's wall. The pirates had left the broken door wide open.
"Everything's gone." Gale's voice carried a hollow emptiness. "I burned them all."
"Liar!" Something else smashed inside. "The Calm Belt route made you famous. You wouldn't destroy it."
Need to see what I'm dealing with. Aria peered around the doorframe. Charts and maps littered the floor like fallen leaves. Four pirates tore through cabinets and shelves, their movements frantic. Gale stood in the center, shoulders slumped, watching his life's work scatter.
The largest pirate held Gale by his collar. "Last chance, old man."
"The maps are worthless." Gale's voice rasped. "Every crew that followed them died."
The largest pirate grabbed Gale's collar, lifting him off his feet. "Last chance, old man."
"The maps are worthless." Gale's voice rasped. His feet dangled above the floor. "Every crew that followed them died."
"That's because they weren't good enough." The pirate shook him like a rag doll. "Our captain's different. He's got a Devil Fruit that-"
Time to test this power properly. Aria flexed her fingers, eyeing the largest pirate's bright blue signature.
"Hey!" Aria stepped through the doorway. "Let him go."
The pirates turned. Four pairs of eyes fixed on her, momentarily startled by her boldness.
"Get lost, girl." The leader sneered, fingers tightening on Gale's collar. "This doesn't concern you."
"You know," Aria's fingers flexed, "I've heard that twice today. Still not taking the hint."
The other three pirates spread out, trying to flank her. The smallest one kept fidgeting with something in his pocket. The middle one - she mentally labeled him 'Patch' for his eye patch - gripped a curved blade. The third, a bulky man with a shaved head, cracked his knuckles.
Her gaze swept the room, marking each pirate's position. "I said, let him go. My customer service voice only works once."
The small pirate pulled his knife, lunging forward. Aria caught his wrist, feeling his pulse racing beneath her fingers. "Really? A knife? How original."
His pale blue signature pulsed beneath her grip. She focused, watching ribbons of energy flow from his arm into her fingers. The blue light streamed like water finding new channels, filling her with warmth. It responds to touch. But how much can I take?
"What-" His words slurred as strength drained from his limbs. "Can't move..."
The blue light dimmed in his body. His fingers trembled, losing their grip. The knife clattered against wooden boards. His legs gave way, sending him to his knees.
So I can drain them completely if I hold on long enough. Aria filed that information away for later use.
Patch and the bald pirate exchanged nervous glances, stepping back from their fallen companion.
"Yeah, that tends to happen." Aria flexed her fingers, watching the last traces of blue light settle beneath her skin. Time to see how much stronger I can get.
"Who are you?" The leader shoved Gale aside.
"Just someone who hates bullies." A grin spread across her face. "Thanks for volunteering as practice dummies."
"Kill her!"
"Why do they always say that?" Aria sighed. "Not very creative with the battle cries, are you?"
Patch and the bald pirate charged together. The bald one threw a wild haymaker while Patch slashed with his curved blade. Aria ducked under the punch, her enhanced reflexes making their movements seem sluggish.
"Too slow!" Her palm struck the bald man's chest. Contact. Now pull.
Azure energy flooded into her system. The bald man's eyes widened, mouth opening in a silent 'oh'. His legs buckled beneath him. Pivoting on her heel, Aria swept her leg in a low arc. Her foot connected with Patch's ankles, knocking him off balance.He stumbled backward, crashing into the shelf. Whoa. Getting harder to hold back.
It seems like I'm getting stronger with each one.
Wood creaked behind her. Aria spun toward the sound. The leader swung a chair at her head. She ducked, the wood splintering against the wall where she'd stood. His momentum left him off balance.
"Stand still!" The leader snarled, stumbling forward.
"Make me." Two quick steps brought her within range. Her fist crashed into his jaw, enhanced strength sending him flying backward. He collided with Patch, who'd just regained his footing. They crashed to the ground in a tangle of limbs.
Silence descended. Four pirates lay groaning amid the wreckage of Wei's home.
Aria turned to the old navigator. "Are you alright?"
"Get out." Gale's voice trembled with rage.
"What?"
"GET OUT!" He pointed at the broken door. "NOW!"
Aria stepped back, stunned by the venom in his voice. "Saved your life and your maps. But sure, I'm the bad guy."
"Can't even get a thank you," she muttered, turning away from the mess of maps and unconscious pirates.
She paused, glancing at the groaning men on the floor. With a grunt, she grabbed two by their collars. "Not like I had other plans today anyway."
"What are you doing?" Gale demanded.
"Taking out your trash." She returned for the other two. "Someone needs to hand them over to the Marines."
The pirates' heads bumped against each step. "Sorry boys, budget transport service."
At the doorway, she turned back. "I'm coming back tomorrow, you know. Might want to work on your hospitality."
The only response was the sound of paper being gathered from the floor.
Aria dragged the pirates down the steps, their heads bumping against each wooden board.
"Worth it," she muttered, starting the long walk to the Marine station. "Though this probably isn't what people mean by 'taking out the garbage.'"
One pirate stirred, mumbling something incoherent. "Shush. You lost speaking privileges when you decided to redecorate Gale's house."
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Amrokq
Amrokq Thanks for reading!╰(▔∀▔)╯
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