Chapter 10: A False Death, A New Beginning

The wind howled through the trees of the mountain as Garp stood in front of Thorfinn, his gaze unyielding, his voice heavy with conviction.

"Thorfinn," Garp began, "The time has come. Sabo... he's left the island. He's heading out to sea."

Thorfinn's heart dropped at the words. Sabo, their fiery and fearless brother, had been planning this for weeks, but to hear it aloud hit him harder than he expected. He had known that Sabo wanted to leave—wanted to make his own mark on the world—but the reality of it shook him to his core.

"I... I know," Thorfinn said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "But he's still so young. Can we really let him go?"

"Sometimes, you don't have a choice. He has his own path to walk," Garp replied, placing a hand on Thorfinn's shoulder. "But you've got your own journey ahead of you, too. There's only so much we can protect you from."

A quiet rage simmered inside Thorfinn. He understood the need for Sabo to leave—to grow stronger, to find his own way—but the thought of losing him like this... it was almost too much. However, it also brought a realization: the world was growing increasingly dangerous, and Thorfinn's own path was more uncertain than ever.

But as the night went on, a plan began to form in his mind. A plan that would give him the freedom to fight for what he believed in without putting his family at risk.

Days passed, and the weight of Sabo's departure hung over the island like a storm cloud. Thorfinn couldn't ignore the growing unease, not when he felt eyes watching him from the shadows. The marines were becoming more active in the region, drawn by the whispers of strange events surrounding the island. Thorfinn's Lunarian heritage made him a target—one that Garp was no longer able to shield.

One night, under the cover of darkness, Thorfinn made his decision.

He had gathered his belongings and set them alight, creating a fire so intense it would scorch the earth. He had practiced with his Earth Devil Fruit, crafting the perfect illusion of destruction, making it look as though he had perished in the flames. His wings flickered into existence briefly, just long enough to leave a scorched mark on the trees nearby. His heart pounded as he lay hidden in the underbrush, watching the fire burn. He needed to disappear—to slip away from the prying eyes of the world.

Once the island was convinced he was gone, Thorfinn began his journey.

The sea was vast, its dark depths full of mystery and danger. Thorfinn knew he could no longer stay on the island—too many people were watching, and too many knew his secret. So, he set sail in a small ship he had "borrowed" from a nearby village, leaving behind the place he had called home. His path was uncertain, but his goal was clear: to forge his own destiny.

For weeks, he sailed, surviving on his wits and the skills he had honed in his time on the island. It wasn't long before the storm clouds rolled in, and Thorfinn found himself pulled toward an unfamiliar island—a place of legend and myth, Skypiea.

As his small ship was carried toward the island by the powerful currents, Thorfinn's heart raced with excitement. This was it. His chance to build something of his own, away from the shadows of his family's name.

Skypiea was a world unlike any Thorfinn had ever seen. Its floating islands, high above the sea, were a testament to the strange and wonderful nature of the world. But the island was far from peaceful. Skypiea was divided, its people oppressed and fighting for survival beneath the rule of the self-proclaimed God, Enel.

Thorfinn's arrival was not met with open arms. He was an outsider, a stranger in a land of sky-faring people, and he quickly learned that the ruling power was one of oppression and fear. The Skypieans had lived in terror for too long, controlled by Enel's divine reign and the overwhelming power he wielded.

But Thorfinn saw something in the people's eyes—something that reminded him of his brothers, his past. They were strong, even in their suffering. They had potential.

"I'm here to help you," Thorfinn spoke to the leader of the Skypiean resistance, a woman named Kamakiri. Her initial mistrust softened as she listened to his words.

"You're not like the others who've come," Kamakiri said, her voice guarded but curious. "You want to fight against Enel?"

Thorfinn nodded, his eyes burning with determination. "I'm not just going to fight. I'm going to free you. This land deserves better than a tyrant in the sky."

For weeks, Thorfinn worked to unite the scattered Skypieans, forging alliances with the different tribes on the islands. He used his powers to defend them, his mastery of his Earth abilities allowing him to bend the terrain to his will. He created safe havens for those who opposed Enel, and slowly, a rebellion began to take shape. His strength, leadership, and unwavering resolve drew others to him—some of whom had been living in fear for years.

It was then that Thorfinn realized his true power wasn't in his Lunarian heritage or his Devil Fruit abilities. It was in his ability to inspire and unite others, to bring hope to those who had forgotten what it was like to fight for something greater than themselves.

Once Skypiea was united, Thorfinn knew that it was time to move on. He had accomplished what he set out to do—he had liberated Skypiea, but the seas were vast, and his journey was far from over. He had a world to change.

His next goal was clear: he would need a crew. And for that, he needed someone like Trafalgar D. Law.

Thorfinn's reputation had already begun to spread, and it wasn't long before he received word of a boy—wild, dangerous, and full of ambition—who might be a perfect fit for his cause. Trafalgar D. Law was a pirate, a man with a sharp mind and a stronger will. A man who, like Thorfinn, wanted to reshape the world.

And so, Thorfinn set sail once again, the winds guiding him toward Law's location. It was time to recruit the boy who would help him carry out his vision—a crew of powerful individuals who would stand against the tyranny of the world.