One Piece - The First Mate

On a deserted island with a tropical climate, a cliff was above a beautiful meadow overlooking the sea. On top of the cliff, we find a 4-year-old boy sitting peacefully with a big book in his hands. The boy has an untamed black hair and Blood Red eyes, he was muttering while reading his book while occasionally looking at the ocean deep in thought.

After a while of peaceful time where only the sounds of the ocean waves crashing on the shore accompanied by occasional breeze along with chirping of insects in the meadow a soft call came from behind the boy.

??: "Jason, where are you!! Come back inside now. It's time for lunch."

The young boy named Jason smiled genuinely showing the love he has for the woman who made the call while picking up his books and replied.

Jason: "Coming Mom."

With that, Jason started running through the path in the meadow to reach a small house from where the wonderful smell of food wafted out.

Greeting Jason near the front door was a beautiful woman with straight black hair and eyes who was smiling tenderly towards her son. She looked a bit pale indicating her declining health to an experienced eye of a doctor but still seeing the smiling expression would give anyone a sense of happiness.

Jason's Mom: "So what were you doing Jason, did you go to the cliffside again? Did I not tell you its dangerous without me there right? You could have slipped into the ocean below." You can hear genuine worry and concern in her voice.

Jason: "Eh, but it's okay right, I just like looking at the water while reading."

Jason's Mom: "We will talk later, for now, let's have lunch"

With that, the pair retired inside the house and started eating lunch. Jason was trying to read the book while eating which was not possible due to his small stature, but he still made do as he was quite hungry as well.

Jason's Mom: "So, what are you reading this time?" She was smiling towards her bookworm son. She was quite proud of her boy who is really curious about everything.

Jason was always reading anything he could get his hands on. His Mother has a large collection of books from her travels which Jason practically read every one of them. But there was not a single subject of concentration for the young boy. One day he may read about various species in the world and the next day a book about weather.

Jason looked up to her and replied excitedly: "I am reading a book about ancient warriors and their adventures."

Just as the family of two were enjoying their lunch and the peaceful time, a knock was heard on the door. Jason's Mom immediately tensed on hearing it and paled after a moment. Without hesitating, she started picking up Jason and going towards the inside of the house quietly.

Jason was confused about what was happening but looking at his mom's scary expression he had the maturity to understand that he had to stay silent. Both made it inside as the front door of the house was blown apart and 2 men wearing a mask came inside as if they were ghosts.

Jason's Mom seriously while shielding him: "So they sent you guys this time?"

Masked Man1: "Kaiser D Emily, It would be In your best interest if you do not resist now. We know you are injured and don't have enough time left. Elder Stars want to talk to you, so you are to follow us."

Jason's Mom, Emily: "So the old fart sent you!! I can guess what he is after. Tell them to F**K Off as I am not coming there."

Emily while talking to them started moving towards a hidden basement in the back room, Jason was scared seeing the strange men dressed in suits with a mask on. But he still caught on some information like how his mother is seriously injured and Elder Stars.

Emily seeing them become alert has got out of Jason's grip when suddenly she attacked both of the men. All Jason could make out blurred outlines when suddenly his mother was back to his side with blood running over her white dress.

Jason anxiously made his way towards her when one of the men suddenly appeared before him a hit him hard on the head. He could vaguely make out his mother shouting his name before blacking out.

The next time he woke up was hanging tied to the ceiling with a rope. He looked around and spotted the other three with his mother tied to a chair and getting beat up.

He loudly cried while calling his mother when one of the men came towards him and punched him on the stomach. Jason emptied his lunch and was in great pain to even take breaths while all he can see are white spots.

Suddenly they heard a sound which stopped both the agents and one of the agents took out a snail-like being attached to a string which was making the noise.

Masked Man 1: "Sire, this is Agent Kettle speaking."

?? : "Have you checked the intel?"

Masked Man 1: "Yes Sir, we have located the target and she is currently apprehended. We also found a small boy aged below 5 who claims to be her son."

??: "Dammit, Emily you bitch, so you procreated with that man after all."

Emily: "You old geezer, you five are just a bunch of cowards and demons, you don't get to decide my life."

??: "You still are as unruly as ever. Even with our relationship, there is only so much I can do. I know about your injury, it was a foolish mistake to follow that man.

Agents, bring her alive and as for the boy, you can kill him"

Emily: "Damn geezer, I won't allow that. Even if I am injured, do you really think these two guys could actually win against me if I go all out."

The other side was quiet for a while and finally said ??: "Agents, you have your orders."

The Masked Men: "As Sire says!!"

Suddenly Emily shouted roughly while she got back out of her confines, But if one observed she is only with one hand. She roughly attacked both the agents towards the meadow and away from Jason where an epic fight to death has started.

<a few hours later, the same day>

Jason regained consciousness sometime near midnight. He was no longer bound to the ropes but still hurting. He started looking around in the dark when suddenly a bloody hand grabbed him from behind.

Jason started loudly crying when he saw his mother bloodied without an arm and a pool of blood they were standing on. They were on top of a small boat in the ocean.

Emily while heaving for breath: "Jason, Stop crying and listen to me carefully."

Jason stopped to listen quietly

Emily: "Jason, I don't have much time left. I am sorry I can no longer look after you. Now, I have killed those two guys who captured us but you need to be careful of the world government from now on. I know you are too young but I need you to be strong and do some things I have listed in a letter. It is inside this bag. It also has two books which I need you to memorize and burn them. I have one last request for you."

Here she took a deep breath and looked straight at Jason and said: "No Matter What, become strong and always be free." With that, she lost all strength and with a small push fell down into the ocean with a smile.

Jason was shocked still since his mother started talking but finally loudly cried after seeing his mother fall down into the ocean while clutching his bag.

In a dark night of the ocean, a boy just 4 years old cried himself to sleep while clutching the last things from his mother while the waves took him towards his destiny.

--- TBC