Chương 1: Let me tell you a story
"Oh come on that's gotta be utter bullshit old man. When did you become such a blaggard, I wonder?"
"Shiver me timbers! Arrgh, ye scurvy dog! How dare you call me a blaggard?! Do ye think, you're tough enough to take on the likes o' me?"
Loud and noisy was the pirate infested bar where captain Dandelion and his crew of scallywags gathered for a celebration. Jonny, a young giant of a man, standing an impressive 3 metres tall, looked down on Ricky, who kept spouting unbelievable fairy tales. Ever since he was shanghaied a few weeks ago this was the first time he doubted one of Ricky's tales.
"Then what else should I call you? Telling me some bullocks about some boy, who lived all by himself on an uninhabited island? And since he was 8 on top of that? I mean if it was 'just' that I could have somehow believed you since I, myself saw plenty of strange things in those last few weeks we sailed together, but my friend! How can I trust your words about beasts, as tall as our ship and ferocious like sea kings, being toyed with by said boy?!"
His words and doubt were reasonable since such stories would hardly be taken seriously even on the Grand Line much less in South Blue. Yet Ricky, nonetheless, saw it as a challenge and provocation.
"Bring it on then! I'll... *hiccup* I'll knock your block off! Ye'll be beggin' for mercy, ye bilge rat! I'll... *burp* I'll show ye who's boss, ye landlubber!"
"AHAHAHAHAH!"
Funny and hilarious was their verbal battle to their mates drinking with them tonight. Each and every one of them had sailed with Ricky for years and therefor they knew that despite his small stature he packed quite a punch with those bronze muscles of his.
Just as they knew about his short temper after having a few drinks too many. To fight with him no one dared, but watching the dwarf beat the shit out of pirates much taller than himself was a welcomed form of entertainment for them. Too bad that tonight their captain had yet to drink and therefor was sober enough to stop his right-hand man.
"That's enough Ricky. Ye planning on killing our new recruit? Who ye think will be swabbing our deck if ye do?"
"Captain Dandelion!"
The man, who just returned while holding what's most important for a good pirate feast, was loudly greeted and not only for the meat and drinks he brought. To his crew, Julian Alfred Dandelion is a friend, an inspiration and someone who picked up their wasted and shameful selves after society abandoned each and every single one of them.
He was of average height with an average stature, had blue eyes and brown hair. On his hips were 2 swords, a long and thin rapier and a somewhat thick short sword about as long as his forearm was.
"Yung one, listen. Every word Ricky just told you is true."
"But captain, why haven't I ever heard of him then? Someone like that has to be among the most infamous-!"
Surprised by such a ridiculous statement, Jonny wanted to express his doubt, but his lips were caught in between captain Dandelion's fingers before he could utter another word. All the members around them suddenly quieted down, shifted on their seat or leaned forward. They noticed from his tone and posture that captain Dandelion wanted to retell 'this' story again.
Yet no one minded listening to him a few more times. On the contrary everybody eagerly waited for this in anticipation because they could proudly boast that their captain was the best storyteller in all of South Blue if not in the whole world.
"Alright lad I'll give ye captain Dandelion's honest opinion."
So, he begun to speak with his metallic and hoarse voice befitting a seasoned sailor. Strangely enough no sooner he spoke the ideal atmosphere for a pirate story was created, with everybody eager to listen.
"Ye ask me if a boy, as unique and monstrous as Ricky described can really exist? Aye! I met him myself not even half a decade ago. Amongst all scoundrels, soldiers, marines and 'gentlemen of luck' I have seen in my life, 'he' ranks amongst the most clever, most cunning and most dangerous ones! A 16 years old lad who never left his island before we met him…"
The captain suddenly, grabbed a glass bottle of rum, uncorked it in a swift and well-practiced motion to wet his throat with the 'pirates' nectar' before a satisfied burp was heard. His eyes shifted between his men who eagerly listened, openly encouraging him to continue.
"There was once a time when I though myself the deadliest scourge in all of South Blue... but this boy..."
He paused again. Spoke in a lower voice. Had every man lean forward to better catch his words.
"But this boy is a bloody demon. The incarnation of a devil even. I've seen him being chewed out by a sea king twice the size of our ship, yet he didn't suffer a single wound. Cannon balls were fired but forget hurting him, they couldn't even make him flinch! Surprise attacks were useless as if he could see everything around him at once! These two eyes of mine witnessed him clear Djikstra's fleet like it was nothing! Fighting like a devil, dressed as a man, and as mysterious as a ghost. 'Who are ye?', 'Where are ye from?', 'How are ye so strong?'. Numerous times I wanted to ask these questions o' mine but dared not to. Dared not to meddle in his private affairs despite being o so curious for nearly a whole year!"
Every word Dandelion spoke drew a picture in Jonny's mind. A picture of a young devil, gruesome and brutal yet cunning enough to stay hidden, mostly unknown to everyone else. There was cold sweat above his brows and an even colder shiver running down his spine. Barely controlling his thoughts, as to not let them run wild, took most of his focus yet one question still lingered in his mind.
'How can there be such a monster out there?'
"Yung one."
Dandelion suddenly addressed him directly.
"Ye may not believe everything I said. Neither would I had I not seen everything for myself. 'He' might not be well known to the world or infamous as ye said but remember what old me is about to tell ye. If yer life means something to ye, never cross Kenway D. Sol."
Captain Dandelion advised and warned with good intentions but his worry will proof trivial for in the not so distant future the whole world shall know 'him' as one of the most infamous and most dangerous water robbers to have ever sailed the seas.
-------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile far away from captain Dandelion and his scallywags.
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a beautiful golden hue above a certain island. It was known as Venomous Sabre Fang Park, for all you could find on this island was a lush forest, home to many kinds of animals, each having large and poisonous sabre fangs.
Apart from usual predators like wolfs, snakes, bears and so on, even boars, deer and birds like owls had them. This was no place where normal people could live a long life, therefor no people ever settled on this island. Though that doesn't mean no one ever lived there.
Carried by a soft breeze, a weathered but sturdy sailing boat cut through the waves with its sole sail billowing in the evening winds. A young man could be spotted standing on the helm, his dark eyes fixed on Venomous Sabre Fang Park and if one focused and took a closer look at him, he or she would notice a glint of anticipation and nostalgia within them.
Black hair, wild and impossible to tame by it's looks, reached below his chin, framing the face of a handsome young man around 20 years of age. Well defined muscles adorned an athletic body of slightly more than 190cm height. Dark themed clothes most untypical for any kingdom in all of South Blue clothed him from neck to toe.
As the boat drew closer, the air around this particular young man grew thicker with anticipation. He remembered the smell of soft muddy ground mixed with that of a salty sea breeze. Remembered all sorts of cries and roars from birds and what else that hellish forest sheltered. His hands tightened on the wooden tiller until his knuckles turned white and a piece of wood got torn off but it didn't bother him.
"Finally, I am back!"
He returned to where he lived before setting sail for the first time. To where he lived before meeting captain Dandelion and everyone else for the first time. To where he had lived ever since his parents passed away.
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