Private/Closed One Piece: New Dynasty [AU]

[Gamefreak1996]

The sound of rattling chains, leather against the cobblestone, and the howling wind were the only things that broke the deafening silence over Loguetown that day. At the square, men, women, and children watched with awe and fear as a legendary figure was led to the execution platform. Any man would show some sign of distress in a situation this man was in, or at least remain stoic in the face of death. But this man... he smiled. A wide grin was spread on his face. As he was led up the stairs, there was no sign of regret or remorse for the life he had led. He had been the freest man of them all; the Pirate King. Gold Roger sat down once he reached the top of the platform, his guards securing his shackles to the floor. He couldn't run even if he wanted to.

"Alright, let's get this over with." he chuckled, the executioners approaching him with their blades sharpened and at the ready. This would surely be the perfect warning to any aspiring pirates in the world, that even the most infamous among them would be caught and face the justice of the World Government. Alas... fate had other plans.

"Tell us where it is!!" A voice shouted from among the crowd. He was no one special, just an everyday citizen amidst hundreds of others. But his request would be the catalyst to the flames. "You found it, didn't you?! The Fabled Treasure!" The guards urged the man to stay quiet, but soon, others joined in on the request, the crowd chanting for him to tell them. Roger grinned.

"My treasure? I've left it all in one place!" The pirate shouted, "All you have to do to make it yours is to find it!!"

As those words left his lips, the blades fell, and a legend was removed from the world. But his final words sparked a new age. The Great Pirate Era had begun.

[25 years later...]

The sun was barely up as Thordrick Asbjorn made his rounds on the small ship he called home. A large, rotund man with beefy arms, Asbjorn took great pride in the vessels he sailed on and wanted to make sure this one was always in top-notch condition. The waves gently rocked the deck of the ship as he checked every section of hull, every grain of the mast, and even the sails to make sure none had holes in them. Then, satisfied with his findings, he made his way back down below deck to the barracks. His hammock sagged lower than the others due to his weight (he was happy to have chosen a bottom bunk, and the wood posts supporting it had swirls and runic inscriptions carved on them. His own personal touch to remind him of home. Reaching under the hammock, he pulled a large warhammer out, then turned to his captain.

"Oi, Mox. C'mon, time to get up." he muttered, prodding the boy's head with the handle of his weapon.

 

[=Nightshade=]

A white silhouette darted between fruit stands and tents that smoked with the aromas of toasting spices. Silvery hair obscured delicate features wrought with distress as the panicked girl raced through the streets, unnaturally swift for her lack of visible muscle. Civilians shouted after her in annoyance as she shoved through the small groups up and about at the early hour. Finally the porcelain skinned figure ducked into an abandoned alley and shrank against a wall, shoulders and chest heaving with breaths that weren’t drawn.

Seven hiked up the rough burlap shirt she wore, pulling it back onto her shoulder. Her trembling shudders slowed, then ceased. She had seen humans in such turmoil as she was in now, and knew that most humans would likely cry. But Seven had not been created with tear ducts, and lacked the capacity to breathe. Her shivering came more from spending so long trying to emulate humans to feel like she fit in than an actual physical reaction to stress.

The terror in her core was real, though. Seven’s escape from her master had been hasty at best, suicide at worst. She was lucky that she hadn’t been captured and terminated already; there were probably forces on the way as she stood in the dark shadow of the alley. She had to collect her wits and gather supplies, then keep moving from island to island. With any luck, the fact that she had cut out her tracking device and dropped it somewhere in the East Blue on a wide detour from the island would slow down any potential pursuers, but that was only buying time, not guaranteeing her safety.

Seven pushed off the wall of the alley, hands still half-consciously trembling, intending to purchase supplies, before realizing that in her initial panic, she had not taken any berries with her. She cursed softly before hooking her thumbs in her belt loops, a human gesture, and slipping out of the alleyway. Maybe she didn’t have money, but she could still make herself scarce… her next move was far less clear than a game of chess would be, and her thoughts were still in a haze of conflicting emotion— programmed servitude, the desire to protect, anger, fear… Seven walked slower now, unsure of her path. She wandered the streets, eyes tracking movement and heat subconsciously as she walked an ambling path, going nowhere.

(OOC: lmao long post ig enjoy)

 

[DemonicHoneyBun]

Moxi groaned as thordrick hit his head. "Mmmm, what time is it? It's way to early yo wake me up Thordrick." He said as he got our of his bed and yawned loudly as he adjusted his eyes as he looked around. "Okay, what's up? What's the situation? Are we being attacked by the navy?" He asked as he rubbed his eyes.

 

[Gamefreak1996]

"No, if it was that serious, I'd be yelling at ya to move yer lazy hide topside. We're about to arrive at Vermilion Isle, though. It'll be comin' into view in a few minutes." Thordrick replied with a chuckle as he put the hammer into the harness on his back. "As for the situation, the ship's in top shape, weather seems nominal, and the current smooth. No enemy ships on the horizon." He then made his way above deck, making a quick detour to the cargo hold to grab an apple for breakfast.

As he bit into the fruit, he leaned against the rail by the helm and looked out before the bow of their small ship, the Timberwolf. It was a small knarr, a cargo ship from his homeland that he treasured dearly. It had belonged to his father, one Thordrick Rollo of the North Blue's Maelstrom Pirate Fleet. After his father's disappearance, he 'stole' (it technically belonged to his family) the knarr to look for him. It was precious to him, a part of his father's legacy, so he treated every plank and timber as if it was worth its weight in gold.

Along the way, he met Mox. He smiled at the memory. The boy was a year younger than him but was determined and energetic. When he offered Asbjorn a chance to be a pirate crew, he didn't turn it down, and the two dueled for the title of captain, with Moxie managing to overpower him. And so, he was now the First Mate and shipwright of the TImberwolf, though despite their positions, they seemed to behave more like equals than anything.

Soon enough, Vermillion Isle came into view. "Ah, I can smell the rum from here." he muttered as he thought about getting a good drink once they reached the shore. They had plenty of mead, his favorite, but Thordrick was looking for a new taste today. Walking over to the helm, he began to steer the ship into port. They weren't flying a pirate flag, so no one'd know they were pirates. Much as he enjoyed a good fight, and really wanted to sock it to the Marines of the World Government, it was probably for the best.