Chương 40: Remember
Marnia listened intently, her eyes never leaving Leo's face as he continued to speak, but she pouts her cheeks a little, and complained with those enormous eyes of hers, "I can't believe you only told me now that you have three other brothers. That is so mean, of course you have to let me meet them. Maybe you can introduce me earlier. Are they still on the island? How old are they now?"
That question stumped Leo for a second (in reality, it stumped me for a bit, I kind of wrote the entire story without leaving thoughts to the timeline), as he thought for a bit, before saying, "Yeah they should all still be on the island, and I think Ace, and Sabo should be 15 this year. While Luffy… he should be 12 this year." Leo had a small smile on the corner of his face that the darkness hid away.
Marnia pouts her cheeks a little before adding, "I can't believe you never told me about this until now."
Leo simply smiled, as he continues to speak, "Well one day, as we were going about our training, we suddenly found ourselves in a bit of a situation. A strange pirate crew we had never even heard of had come to the island, and they were causing havoc everywhere they went. I still remembered how my three younger brothers, with their unwavering determination and passion for adventure, decided that they would confront the pirates and protect their village."
As Leo described the events that unfolded, Marnia could almost see the scene playing out before her eyes: the brave young boys, filled with courage and conviction, fearlessly facing the dangerous pirates. "I was mostly on the side, watching as they fought with everything they had, everything that I had taught them during our training, also relying on their wits, their skills, and the strength of friendship," Leo said, his voice filled with pride and admiration. When thinking back to that memory, he felt proud to have been part of such a special brotherhood.
"In the end, I watched as they defeated the pirates and save their island. And although it was a hard-fought battle for the three of them, I applauded them from the side and helped them when the situation got a little tough, the experience brought us even closer together, yet sadly for Luffy's grandpa, their dreams of becoming the greatest pirates in the world only grew stronger. Watching them fight for their friends, their families, and their dreams... it was a sight I'll never forget."
Marnia's eyes were wide with wonder and admiration as she listened to Leo's story. She could feel the depth of the friendship he shared with Luffy, Ace, and Sabo, and it moved her deeply. "Thank you for sharing that story with me, Leo," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "It's amazing to think that you've experienced such incredible adventures and met such inspiring people."
Leo looked down at Marnia, his eyes reflecting the moonlight as he smiled softly. "I'm grateful for the adventures I've had, even if the journey is still beginning, as well as the people I've met along the way to reach here standing by your side. And now, I'm even more grateful to have you, a very special person to me, by my side as we continue this journey together."
As the night wore on, with the twinkling of a million stars undescribable by any standards, and the waves continued to crash against the shore, Leo and Marnia stood together, their hearts full of the love and friendship they find themselves slowly sharing.
Marnia couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the prospect of meeting Leo's brothers and being a part of the incredible bond they shared, and she wondered to herself how Luffy, Sabo, and Ace looked like, beyond the description that Leo have told her. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with determination and affection, then with a soft whisper she says to him, "Leo, promise me that one day we'll visit that island together, so I can meet Luffy, Ace, and Sabo. I want to be a part of your family and share in the amazing adventures you've had."
Leo met her gaze, his own eyes reflecting the same determination and love that shone in Marnia's. He reached out his hand and gently took her hand in his, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze as he says to her, "I promise, Marnia. One day, we'll go back to that island, and you'll meet them. Together, we'll continue to explore this vast world, forging new friendships and discovering new wonders." Hand in hand, Leo and Marnia stood on the edge of the cliff with the expand of the ocean in front of them, their hearts intertwined as they gazed at the horizon, with Marnia slowly imagining of the adventures they would share and the memories they would create together.
....
As daybreak's early light pierced the heavens, the snow slowly vanished, replaced by a tender layer of dew on the grass. Leo and Marnia, brimming with excitement, concluded it was prime time to lay bare their vision to the family.
Gathering everyone close to the residual warmth from last night's fire, Leo dove in. "Dimitri, Anna, and as well as everyone that is here, yesterday I heard how you have all shared your dreams and aspirations with us. And I deeply remember how all of you spoke of wanting to be stronger, of wanting to protect your the ones that are dear to you in this family, and of not wanting to go hungry again like you did before. Marnia and I have thought about this yesterday, and we have a small proposal for you."
The family listened intently, curiosity shining in their eyes. Marnia continued, "Our goal is to empower you. Beyond food and shelter, we'll arm you with the know-how to navigate life's challenges. So we want to share with everyone that is here our experiences and skills to survive in this kind of life, so that together, you can all one day build a better life for the future."
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