From Ninja to Pirate

10

Farewell words too often part
And cleave with sorrow to aching hearts.
With a final wave, all disappears
Beneath the hush of silent tears

Why can't sorrow be so kind
As to hide away and stay confined?
And leave us only thoughts of bliss,
Of joyful things to reminisce.

So focus not on sorrows, born
Where happy times are now forlorn,
But instead on joy and merriment
And delight all felt without relent.

And with all the love to fill our hearts,
Sorrow and pain then soon departs.
And although goodbyes are bittersweet.
We can no longer feel incomplete.

-Gregory K

As Sabo walked away, Natsuki felt her subconscious seemingly yelling at her to go after him, but she honoured his wish to go alone, to convince his own father to let him go, to live freely, as he was even prepared to ask his father to disown him.

Natsuki looked at the ground, admitting her lack of strength, and accepting her brothers' powerlessness's. They need to train. Train even more than they were doing before.

She knocked out the last of the pirates, who seemed to have been payed even more money by the noble to attack them once more, letting loose all of her fury on them.

Meanwhile, Sabo and his 'father' where at the highland checkpoint, in the kingdom of Goa, where there were men who acted as marines on land, so police officers if you will.

"I can't say it. It wasn't Ace, Luffy or Natsuki's fault."

"Why can't you speak the truth!?" His father yelled. "Did they threaten you!?"

"They're not like that!" Sabo yelled back with greater force.

"If you have a criminal record, it will affect on the reputation of your family. You won't be able to enter highland." The officer said calmly. You got a lot of people like this near highland, a place only nobles could enter. Most were stuck up, filthy rich people with ten inch poles up their holes, but it was his job to ignore it.

He even wanted to praise the young boy he was questioning for standing up to his father, who was being a complete ass-hat.

"Those three forced you to go along with their crimes. Isn't that right Sabo?" His father insisted.

Sabo still looked down; he didn't want to betray his family like this. Besides, the 'crimes' his father spoke of, were acts of saving. Yeah, they stole some food, but that was because there were starving people in the lowland, whilst people like his father in the highland had enough food to eat for the rest of his life, all in his pantry!

"Sabo, your three trash friends are with the pirates now. I hold their lives in my hand. If you really care about them, you'll choose your words carefully." His father whispered into his ear. Surely the pirates weren't strong enough? Though being apart from his sister and brothers, allowed doubt to seep in. "You're a smart boy. I know you can come up with the right answer very quickly."

"I only came with you so that I could cut all ties with you! What matter does it have for you to bring me back!!?? It certainly shouldn't affect my brothers and sister!!" Sabo yelled at his father with all his might, holding his father's collar tightly, with whitened knuckles.

"Dear me, I'm so unfortunate. My son is a fool. You do understand, don't you?" The filthy man said, handing the officer a thick pile of notes, bribing him with the berries.

"Well..."

"I think you've suffered enough already. Don't worry, I'll handle the paperwork." Sabo's father pressed, and the man of 'justice' took the money and let the two pass through the gates.

They hadn't walked a few minutes before they arrived in front of a giant mansion, with cream white walls and tall windows, decorations on the pillars and bright colours on the chimneys standing tall.

"Go on. You haven't set foot inside for a while, but this is your home." His father said in a snotty tone. "Wait, you're filthy. Get cleaned in the yard first. Then go to the bath."

"Welcome back young master." A bruised servant girl greeted, and Sabo vowed to get the girl some food. She was as thin as a stick! He smiled softly, though it didn't reach his eyes.

"Thank heaven! Sabo! You're back! Oh my, what's that terrible smell?" A high, cracked voice asked from the hallway. He recognised it as his mother's voice. He slowly turned around to see his mother holding the hand of another boy, who had a rather long, lumpy nose.

"Pleased to meet you big brother! My name is Stelly! I'm eight years old. I've heard a lot about you." The boy said with a wide, sickening, fake grin so unnatural to Stelly's face, it nearly made Sabo gag. The boy was a year younger than Luffy, yet he seemed even more stupid than Luffy at the time!

Sabo was then taken to his room, to which Stelly followed, and the said boy jumped onto his 'older brother's bed and began to peel off his mask.

"I heard you're stupid! Ha! Father and mother have been saying it behind your back. But you surely do have some rotten luck! If you had stayed there, you would've been burnt to the crisp with those pieces of trash!" He smugly stated.

"What did you just say!?"

"Hey! W-wha-what are you doing you piece of trash! You stink! Get away from me!" Stelly stammered as Sabo stood up, raging in on him, gradually getting closer.

"What did you say! Tell me everything!" After a few more threats, which weren't that empty, and a few beans spilled, Sabo released all his anger on the boy.

"THEY'RE GOING TO SET FIRE TO GREY TERMINAL!?"

"That's right. Of course you wouldn't know. You weren't here. It was decided months ago. Did you know the inspection team of the world government is making its rounds in the East Blue? They'll arrive at the kingdom of Goa in three days. It's causing a huge hubbub. The world aristocrats, the Celestial Dragons are on that ship. The royal families wan to curry their favour by burning this nation's trash." Stelly continued to explain, not knowing that he was basically telling their entire plan to someone who may be able to save all the people Stelly called 'trash'

"Once trash mountain is gone, Goa will be perfectly clean!"

"What are you talking about!? How is that even possible!? A lot of people live there! They'll lose their homes! They make their living off that mountain!"

"Let go! Didn't you hear me!?" Stelly yelled, finally escaping from the grip of his so-called trash brother. "They're going to burn! This country's trash! All of it!"

"Even the people?" Sabo realised, and took all his belongings, including the pipe which was confiscated, which had been smuggled away by Kate, the servant girl.

"Please save my family! They live on the trash mountain! We have nowhere else to go!" She said desperately, and Sabo made the promise, even if he was unsure if it was going to be kept.

He jumped out of his room window, landing on the ground three stories beneath him, and began to run to the Grey terminal. If he couldn't warn them, no one could make it.