From Blood to Ashes

Chapter 2: The Celestial Dragons

Author's Note: WARNING!!! Contains graphic content ahead! There are themes of rape and violence. If you are disturbed or triggered by these themes, I'll provide a heads-up and an ending note so you can skip them. *Brings out a box of fruit snacks* With that said, have a fruit snack! They make everything better.

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When Garp and Tessa arrived on the battleship, that was the first time she saw him. Vice Admiral Borsalino, or Kizaru. He looked old, with wrinkles all over his face. He smiled and waved at her as she stepped onto the deck of the warship. He kneeled down to her, to make him seem less scary to her as he chuckled, "Hey there, little lady. I hear you're the one we're after. Is that right?" Tessa looked from Kizaru to Garp as he nodded, so she looked back at Kizaru and nodded, "Yes sir..." Borsalino chuckled as he stood up. "Alright, little one, come with me. We can't let one of my colleagues see you... He's not the kindest towards people like you." Tessa looks up at him, trying really hard to not look scared, or that she wants to curl up in a ball and cry. No... I have to stay strong... for them, she thought, images of her brother and her friends flashing in her mind as she whimpers. She swallows the tears and fear as the vice admiral brings her to a special room that Garp prepared for her.

When they arrive at the room, he brings her in and has her sit down. "Is there anything I can do?" he asked her. Tessa's eyes light up, "Let me go!" The man chuckled as he shook his head, "Sorry little lady, but I can't do that... How about this," He gave her a music transponder snail. When Tessa took the snail, it started to play a song that was made from a group in the South Blue. This was Kid's favorite song. Tessa smiled bright as she clutched onto the snail and hugged it. The vice admiral chuckled, "I've heard that this song is very popular in this sea right now, have you heard of it?" When Tessa nods the man chuckles again as he walked towards the doorway, "I'll be back with dinner in a bit, alright, little lady?" With that he walked out of the special room, leaving the girl alone for the first time in her young life. As the snail played the special song, the tears started to flow as thoughts of her friends and deceased mother start to surface.

Isabella...Reginald...Kid...Killer...Doruya...mama... The thoughts were too much as she started to sob uncontrollably, finally able to grieve her losses. She went from having everything, to having nothing. A free spirit turned into a slave. Oh, how she hated the World Government for doing this. The sadness, the anger, and the weight of it all crashing down on her tiny body. This little girl was experiencing Hell for the first time. Garp... Kizaru... The Celestial Dragons... I'm sorry, Uncle Rayleigh, but I can't hold it in anymore. She thought as she sobbed uncontrollably. Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door. Tessa stopped and wiped all of the tears and snot off of her face as Garp walked in with a snack for her. "I know, little one. I know your scared and sad. So here..." He handed her a box of Killer's favorite snacks, she almost burst into tears again at the sight of the candies. "From what I've heard, this is the popular snack in this area...And I know that a lot of people like chocolate candies, so..." She nodded and waited until he walked out before clutching the box to her chest along with the snail and started bawling. These marines have no idea what they're doing to her.

She cried until she passed out from exhaustion, still softly crying in her sleep as she dreamt about the only family she had. When she woke up, Borsalino knocked on the door before coming into the room with food. A bowl of curry udon noodles. Doruya... Kid... she flinched as she remembered Kid's outburst when Victoria dumped her meal all over him. Why do these marines keep bringing me things to remind me of my friends, she thought as he set the bowl down in front of her, smiling. "Eat up! Wouldn't want you to waste away into nothing!" He says as he continues to smile. That stupid smile. "Thank you for the meal," she says quietly as she took the bowl and start eating. After he left with her empty bowl, she lays down again and goes back to sleep.