Crumbling Worlds (A Charlotte Cracker x OC story)

Prologue: A New Dawn

Calm days at sea were a rare thing, especially in a place as crazy and unpredictable as the New World. With the weather often shifting on a whim, and sunny days turning into catastrophically stormy ones within mere moments, it was nice to have a quiet morning for once.

The sun had only just begun to emerge at the horizon, but her light was already enveloping the blue sea in an orange veil. Temperatures were on the rise, indicating that it would get warmer again today. All in all everything was pointing towards a good day to have some fun and be productive.

In the middle of the vast sea, a considerably small ship was just weighing anchor to leave harbor, and the people on board were scurrying around in an early frenzy. Although the day had only just begun, everyone on deck was already busy with preparing the ship for departure from the unusual island it was docked at.

The thick wood that was seperating the upper from the lower deck slightly dampened the volume of their loud noises, but didn't manage to blend them out completely. In other words, anyone that was hoping to sleep in today was definitely up for a rude awakening.

Ignoring all the noise from above, a pair of blue eyes curiously gazed out of a small window and searched around the vast sea, looking for something interesting to focus on. Although... the water itself was already fascinating enough. Because unlike the rest of the ocean, here it wasn't just 'blue'- it was shimmering in a bright shade of aquamarine, almost leaning towards green. And not only was the color unusual, but if you'd believe the stories of the locals, then it's even supposed to taste different. Sweet melon juice- that's what this part of the sea is supposedly made of.

Sounds unbelievable, doesn't it?

Well, if it wasn't for the fact that the island this ship was docked at mostly consisted of buildings and furniture made out of nuts, you might have a point there.

But this wasn't just 'any' island, nor was this just 'any' part of the New World- this was Tottoland. A country created and ruled over by one of the most fearsome pirates to ever sail the seas, Big Mom. And this one specific island was just a small part of the large kingdom the ship was currently sailing around.

With a quiet yawn the person with the blue eyes tore her gaze from the window and instead leaned back in her chair to listen to the hustel and bustle upstairs.

„We're terribly sorry to see you leave already, good sir!" 

The first first voice she managed to make out belonged to one of the small 'Chess Soldiers' that inhabited and patrolled Tottoland.

„Well my daughter still has to think everything through, especially after what happened. Not to mention that there is still a lot ahead of us!" this time the voice belonged to her father, which was easily recognizable by its louder and deeper tone.

„Oh, certainly! We shall be waiting for your eventual return, then! ...And hopefully the young Miss won't fall into peanutbutter next time, ahaha!"

„Hohoho, I'm positive! Like I said, she'll take down notes and then decide which place would be the most appropriate and fitting to move to!"

The young woman gulped at that. Her gaze instinctively wandered down to the open notebook lying on her desk, a guilty frown now on her face.

Nuts Island

Pros: -I don't have a nut allergy

Cons: -the air smells kinda nutty

-slippy sidewalks. Appearantly it can rain peanutbutter sometimes...? Watch out for large puddles!

...That was all that was written on the page. She and her family spend two solid days on this island, but not once did she bother documenting anything of value like she was supposed to. Perhaps she forgot. Or perhaps tripping into a sinkhole just a few minutes after arriving at the island, and getting completely covered in peanutbutter, caused her priorities to change a bit. After all, it took her hours to feel clean again, and even then the nutty smell left on her skin and clothes continously managed to distract her from what she was actually meant to focus on.