Despite always being raised with the dream of being a Marine, Calli's dream dies after a life changing event when she's fourteen. However, not being a Marine doesn't mean Calli isn't destined for life at sea.
DRAPETOMANIA
(n.) An intense desire to r...
"What's going on, Helmeppo?" I asked my brother as he rushed into my bedroom, locking the door behind him.
"Dad's home," he said. I smiled, happy to hear of my father's return after he'd been gone so long with his fellow Marines. "He's a Captain now."
"A Marine Captain?" I questioned. My brother nodded, my smile growing wider. But he didn't return the expression. Instead, he shook his head profusely.
"But mum's not home," he said.
"She will be soon," I said, "Maybe she's just-"
"She's dead, Calli!" Helmeppo yelled, causing me to completely freeze, "She's dead, and dad's downstairs going absolutely crazy! He- His arm..."
"What about his arm? Tell me you're joking, Helmeppo, mum's not-"
"It's an axe! His arm is gone, it's been replaced with this huge axe!"
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My dad had been promoted to Captain of the 153rd branch of the Marines after he successfully defeated Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates, but not without a fight. Despite gaining a title, he lost both his arm and his wife, my mother.
Since then, he became cruel, and cold. He'd never been the most loving father, but this was a new low. His corruption crushed my dreams of becoming a Marine. Not that I'd be allowed to, anyway. He'd never let me. I'll never forget what he told me just a week after my mother's death.
"It's you women," he yelled, smacking me across the face.
"Don't hit her!" My brother protested, but dad ignored him. Helmeppo knew he couldn't get involved, he'd just get his ass kicked again.
"You women, you're unfit to be Marines."
"But dad," I cried, "I've always wanted to be a Marine. I've trained, I'm strong!"
"Nonsense. I don't know what kind of foolishness possessed me to allow you training in the first place, but it ends today. You'll never be a Marine. You'll stay in Shells Town, and cook or something."
I'd tried to convince myself that it was his way of protecting me, but I soon realised the truth: my father had lost his mind.
So, for a while, it was just Helmeppo and I. He was three years older than me, so not that far in age. We did everything together. We'd go shopping together, we'd cook and eat together. He even taught me how to braid my hair. I'm not sure where he'd learnt it from, but I appreciated it. My long braid became my signature hairstyle.
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TWO YEARS AGO
Despite my father refusing to train me, I'd convinced one of the other Marines to give me private lessons, allowing me to build up my strength. I figured if I couldn't become a Marine in my father's branch, I'd set sail when I was old enough and find another branch to become a part of: a new family.
However, our lessons weren't as private as I thought. We were in the basement and, as he was teaching me how to perfect my punches, my father walked in. We had no time to explain ourselves, it was instantly obvious what we were doing.
"What have I told you, Cadet?" My father bellowed, backhanding him across the face, "She is not to be trained!"
"I'm sorry, Captain," the Marine begged, but it was too late. He was already being dragged out by the others, and I never saw him again. As for me, I got locked in the basement.
I wasn't sure how long it was. It couldn't have been more than a few days, but it felt like centuries locked down there. It was dark, cold, and I had no food.
Except one thing.
One thing that kept catching my eye.
One thing that I knew I couldn't eat.
But I was so hungry. Starving, even. If I didn't eat soon I'd for sure die, and I didn't know how long I had left down here. So I ate it.
The fruit was pear-shaped, but also looked fluffy. It was white with a blue stem. Just liked I'd heard, it tasted disgusting, but in that moment I didn't care. Food was food.
I'd never liked the idea of devil fruits. I used to see powers as cheating, as unfair. But that didn't matter anymore. I couldn't be a Marine, so it not like I was gonna get into any battles that I could have an advantage in, anyway.
A few days later, my father finally came to get me, surprised I wasn't dead. I was fed by my brother, who stayed by my side until the effects of being trapped so long worn off and I was back to my old self.
I never used the powers of the devil fruit for a year, until I felt I really needed to. Little did I know, using that power was what destroyed my relationship with the last person I had in my life.
