Pacifista

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

"Eh, that's it?" Lina muttered in bafflement as Chester so easily brushed aside the change in plans over some alcohol.

Standing up, Lina said, "I didn't really have a direction in mind. I've never sailed on a boat before, I just opened the sails." Lina stared for a moment, before realizing that they were well out of sight of Melonberry, which might be important for navigation. Lina mumbled, "Um, you can find out where were are from, like, the sun, or something. Right?"

Oh wait, the sun moved. Staring for a moment, Lina started to sweat before squeaking out a nervous laugh.

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

Despite herself, Lina couldn't help but smile a bit at Chester's words. Steeling herself, she stood to her feet, bracing, before taking a long gulp. She heard descriptions, but it still couldn't prepare her as the liquid burned down her throat. Swallowing, her eyes began to water as she coughed, before she cried, "I'M GOING TO BE A PIRATE!"

Those nearby got a bit quiet, a few throwing looks Lina's way. As she retreated back to her seat, one of the older men near the windmill laughed, "Hitting the sauce too hard there?"

Blushing, Lina put aside the drink, certain that the taste would linger for a while. Wondering how late it was, she muttered, "I need to get to bed. Lino too...where'd she..."

Turning back to Chester, she saw the man passed out, back on the wooden dock. "Already!?" Her muscles ached prematurely as she imagined having to drag him and Reno back home...but maybe she didn't have too.

---

Shuffling...shuffling...

From the couch of his home, Reno cracked open one of his eyes. He moved to get up, but he groaned in pain, his wounds keeping him down.

After a moment, he heard Lina ask, "Reno? You're up?"

"Looks like it," he croaked, lying back down. Noticing that it was still dark, he wondered, "What time is it?"

Lina giggled, "It's getting close to dawn." Going over to his side, she began, "I think you were right: it's probably best to get out of here as soon as we can. Not that I could sleep..."

"Hng?"

Lina chortled proudly, "I found that ship the Azure Company was going to put Chester on and stuffed him there last night. We're going to take it and let Boss Cerulean come to us. I mean, it's Azure Company property, but you're a member so..."

Reno brought a hand to his head, muttering, "Yeah, good thinking. As long as Chester-"

"What's goin' on?" came a small groggy voice.

Feeling a pang in his chest, Reno forced himself up through the ache. Lino stood by the hall to her room in her nightclothes, rubbing her eyes. There was a case of luggage by the door, no doubt filled with Lina's belongings. Spotting them, Lino stared for a moment, before asking, "Are you leaving?"

Lina swallowed, before nodding. "I'm going with Chester. We-" Lina stopped as Lino's face tightened. Her eyes began to water. Lina flailed her arms a bit, but the words to comfort her didn't seem to come.

"You were gonna leave?"

"Well, Boss Cerulea-"

"You were gonna leave without saying goodbye?"

Words caught in her throat, Lina ran over to Lino, pulling her sister into a hug. "Of course I'm not going to leave without saying goodbye!" she said, eyes teary. Clutching her older sister, Lino only cried harder. As she started to calm down, Lina said, "Chester's a pirate, but he's a good person. That's why things are going to get better here, even though we'll be gone. But we'll be back one day. Soon!"

Lino sniffled, "Will it be tomorrow?"

Lina laughed, "It'll be before you even know it."

After a few more teary goodbyes, Lino was finally hushed to bed. Grabbing his crutch, Reno asked, "Do you have everything?"

Wiping her eyes, Lina nodded. "I put some of the leftovers on the boat with Chester. And I've got plenty of Melonberries, seeds included. You should probably stay home though."

Reno shook his head, and Lina didn't argue further. In the quiet night, the calm after the storm, the two made their way through the town, starlight keeping them along.

Clutching the handle of her luggage a bit tighter, Lina said, "I feel like I'm running. You'll still be here with the Azure Company, Lino's going to be growing up..."

Reno was quiet for a moment, before he began, "Six years ago..." Lina swallowed as they reached the touchy subject, but he continued, "When the pirates descend, mom took you two. She shouldn't have died, but she did. Bad luck and a stray bullet. Thankfully Suan was there, even if his foot was hurt." Lina blinked: she hadn't heard every detail...

"Dad fought though, like most of the militia, but Tatin, Chin, Irvin, me...we ran away. I was your age. That's old enough, but I still ran and hid."

Looking up to Lina, he finished, "That night, I ran away. From now on, we'll only run forwards."

Swelling with pride, Lina gave a wide smile.

---

Standing at the dock by a small, blue sailed boat, the eastern seas began to glow with the slightest bit of daylight. Loading on her luggage, Lina went back to Reno, before gingerly pulling him into a hug. In his usual stone faced mood, he didn't exactly help her, but she got one off anyway.

"Slow motion hug," she said.

Reno snorted, and soon the two were trying to hold back laughter, lest they wake Chester. When was the last time the two shared a laugh? As Reno's wounds started to hurt, Lina let go, before boarding the boat. Minutes later, the sail was unfurled and a gentle breeze took them into the ocean. Lina waved until she couldn't see Reno any more, then a bit longer just to be sure.

Just before the sun itself became visible, she saw the island she left, where everyone she'd ever known had been, and felt so small, but the ocean forwards was so very vast and full of possibility.

Meanwhile, Chester was still passed out in the cabin like a lump.

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

Glancing at the bottle, Lina was hesitant, ignoring it for a bit. Instead, she began, "Are you still going on about Cerulean? I mean, the longer you stay here, the better chance those Azure guys will find a loophole. Besides, why make it easier for him? Oh who am I kidding." If she could talk him out of it, they wouldn't still be discussing it now.

Looking over the sea, she was quiet for a moment, before beginning, "I know you already told me what being a pirate is like, but...I'm not sure if I'll be ready. I can fight, I guess, and you can leave the food to me, but I've never been off the island before."

Casually, she moved to take a sip of rum, but the odor kept her back. Instead, she continued, "After the attack, Reno started training me, but since then I...guess I've never really thought for myself. I'm not sure I see what Reno does. Maybe he knows more about me than I do."

After a moment, she clutched her bottle, mumbling, "Or not enough..."

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

Reno glared from under the bandages around his forehead, growling, "Hush."

"Let's just go already!" Lina cheered, moving them along. The crowd seemed to follow, everyone working their way past the docks to the cape. The windmill was lit, making the picnic tables loaded with food hard to miss. Kids played in the ocean's shallows, adults traded drinks and stories under the windmill. In all the bustle, Reno, Lina, Lino, and Chester found themselves at a table shrouded in blue, a number of faces present such as Momo, Chrome, Nav'ey, Gin, Kin, and Seido. Though there was some blatant reluctance on both sides (and bandages), seats were taken and drinks shared. In particular, Reno, Chester, and Momo had a ceremonial drink from the same bottle of rice wine, cementing their status as Azure Company members, honorary or not.

The night wore on and the volume only seemed to increase That shadow of fear and worry had been cast off, so the islanders were in full celebratory fervor, catching clueless foreigners up in their revelry. The only downers were the Azure Company, 99% of which were a bit to wounded, but a few drinks loosened them up, most of them passing out, pain numbed.

Looking over to Reno, head on the table as he passed out, Lina moved his arms underneath his head. Looking around, she spotted Lino playing around in the water, but she had something else in mind. Her eyes scanned the ruckus, out for a certain man.

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

At Chester's proclamation, Lina gave a frown. What had she gotten into?

---

In the wake of Chester's rampage, the medical staff of Melonberry Island was rather busy between the wounded, which included Reno and Lina. Luckily, Lina was a quick fix, so she was able to return to the town and get things up as the day began. The dock became bustling with regular traders, annual visitors, and new faces alike mingling with the townsfolk. It was no massive event, but there were easily thousands of visitors.

When it came to what little of the Azure company could stand, however bandaged it was, they were at work behind the scenes. They made deals with locals behind doors, selling them back the hijacked sugar at a much more reasonable margin. Others donned civilian clothes, usually sporting some shade of blue, and patrolled about with weapons, keeping their territory secure in place of the nonexistent militia and police.

Lina and Lino spent much of the day at work selling their wares, and only after a good long rest did Reno join them, though he walked on a crutch, and was practically more bandage than man.

Sold out of their punch, their money till was as full as they'd hoped, and considering Reno's new employment, they were going to be a bit better off. As they packed up for the day, that wasn't the only thing on Lina's mind. With her gone, there'd be less expenses.

With her gone... Looking out to the ocean, her heart began to race again, so easily. It was hard to believe.

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

Lina a Reno's side, as he struggled to stand she helped him to his feet, letting him lean on her. However, Reno had a sour look, stating, "No."

Lina blinked. "Eh? But..."

"You somehow got out of danger, but he still endangered you and Lino. The two of you could have been killed."

Lina stated, "They tried to capture us and I fought them off! We were fine! And Lino's with Suan now, so they're safe."

"That's still not the kind of person I want calling the shots when it comes to our home!" Lina wasn't happy, but she didn't have a retort either. Giving Lina a somber look, he noted, "You...never used to argue with me before."

Lina looked to him, before saying, "Well, I never thought you were wrong before..."

Reno turned to Chester for a moment, then he pushed Lina away, standing on his own, though he was clearly straining. Standing as tall as he could, he began to walk back to the Azure compound, Lina following after him.

After a few minutes of Reno bleeding his way in, refusing outside help, he reentered Momo's chamber as those less wounded were starting to regain their bearings. Among them were Momo, who visibly flinched upon spotting Chester and Reno, and among the grunts there were a few foreigners, along with some islanders who'd been dragged into the fold. They had tried to recruit Reno those months ago, but he had refused them, and had earned their ire ever since.

"Now you want to talk," Momo grumbled, patting a wet rag over her swollen face.

"I want to talk," Reno said. Breathing heavily, he reached down, snatching the black coat off of one of Momo's Lieutenants, throwing it over his shoulders. "Let me join the Azure Company."

"Wh-what!?" Lina gaped.

Reno insisted, "Chester's plan isn't going to solve anything. He's not going to stay here to fight for us the rest of his life, and I'm not strong enough. Even if he beats Cerulean, there's still three other Companies. They play dirty: they'll find some way to win. What then? Even if they're all beaten, how long until another group comes along that I can't beat?"

Lina's face was stern, and she gripped her sword, but Reno silenced her, stating, "I beat the man you had outside. I'm not in good shape but I'm the one standing. I'm at least the level of your lieutenants."

Momo droned, "I suppose I can't argue that." Reno was silent as she pondered for a moment. Momo sighed, "You'll be lobbying for better business practices on our end, won't you? Cerulean won't be happy, but I'm in no position to refuse your offer to join. It's just a shame all your islanders were so weak. Maybe you'd have had more say."

Reno flinched, before saying, "Six years ago...we were the ones who ran, because we were weak. That's why we lived when all our friends, older brothers, fathers..." Standing it bit taller, he said, "But I'm not like that anymore. Never again."

Turning, he had a sharp intake of breath as he looked to Chester, stating, "And I'm making you an honorary member of the Azure Company."

...

"WHAT!?" Lina, Momo, and the Azure Company cried simultaneously.

Reno stated, "And until someone representing the Azure Company beats you, I officially represent Melonberry Island's interests within the Azure Company. No more sugar monopolies, no more forced recruitment." Momo gnashed her teeth, but there was not a word of protest from her lips.

Lina was clearly a bit bewildered. Looking down at her sword, she said, "Then what...am I supposed to do?" Glaring at Reno, she demanded, "Let me join too!"

Shaking his head, Reno began, "You're not joining the Azure Company. You're above that. You're above me. Yesterday was the first time I saw you smile in six years. That's my fault."

Raising a finger, he jabbed it at Chester, remarking, "What kinda pirate do you think you can be without a crew? Lina's better in a fight than I am, and she's a damn good cook to boot."

"Eh? Eh!?" Lina gasped.

"Don't you mess it up," Reno sputtered, before his feet finally gave way, and he crashed to his knees.

While Lina sank to his side, Momo raised her hand. "Get him some medical treatment, along with everyone else." She sighed, "He's one of us, after all."

While the voices of those celebrating were few, cheers from the islanders once oppressed rang out through the building.

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

Teeth bared, Reno charged out of the compound. It didn't take long for the ten or so men outside to become aware of his presence, and move for him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a crow swooping down into the village, far out of his range. Snarling, he let loose his pistols, aiming at anyone with a firearm. As a few blade wielders moved in, Reno flipped one of his guns, swooping in and smashing a thug in the face. As he felt a dagger enter his arm, but he aimed his pistol and fired. His charge was stopped, but he wasn't going to stop for anything if he could help it.

---

Streaking over the buildings, as the crow flew, its keen eyes picked up on it's target: a man named Cho. Swooping down, it landed on the ground, but on the road spotted with blood and the fallen bodies of three wounded Azure Company members, none were fit enough to take the order off his leg.

---

Fallen to his knees, pistols hung in his limp hands, half a dozen goons still stood in varying degrees of health. The one who'd led them to the building before returning outside, sporting a beard, slung his machete over his black coat, muttering, "Dumb kid. Don't know when to quit. You couldn't even touch me either. Heh, you'd think I was Clear."

Reno spat blood, growling, "You had help."

Clear shrugged, before raising his machete.

"Reno!?" came a cry from the entry gate. Clear stepped to look, and Reno saw Lina. She was without her usually wide brimmed hat, and her dark pink dress had a spattering of blood near the hem, as did her sandals. She had her sword drawn, and it too was marred in blood. As she took in the scene, her heavy breathing slowed, as she bared her teeth. Her cool, emerald eyes flashed with a fire that sent chills down Reno's spine. A scar he had on his torso seemed to throb as he recognized that expression, unseen on his sister's face in years.

Clicking his tongue, Clear drew his pistol and fired. There was a spark as Lina's blade intercepted. Eyes widened, Reno watched as she began to streak forwards.

Two men, one with a pair of axes and the other with a cutlass, made at her. Lina's feet skittered, sending her to the side so that the man with the cutlass couldn't get past the axe wielder. As he raised his weapons, Lina stabbed low, piercing his thigh before coming in, raising her hand and smashing her hilt into her face. The cutlass wielder moved to strike as his ally fell, but three puncture wounds appeared in his chest before he could follow through.

As Lina made to move on, Clear was already in motion, bearing down at her, his huge machete raised. As he slung it down, she sidestepped, before elbowing him in the face, bloodying his nose. Reno's jaw dropped, but as he noticed movement, he called, "Lina!"

Lina's expression snapped back to normal just as a gunshot rang out, a bullet cutting into her side. She grimaced in pain, stumbling back as a hand clutched at her side. It was only a graze, but it was still deep enough to bleed. One of the remaining thugs pushed a spear forwards as he charged, but Lina grunted forwards, slipping away from the spear and thrusting in, her blade stabbing low but angled high, piercing up through the assailant's arm. As he recoiled, dropping his weapon, another gunshot rang out, then another. Reno's pistol slipped from his grasp at the recoil, but two men fell, one with a bullet in his chest and another with a bullet in his pistol arm.

Finally, Clear had his machete poised at Lina once again. Letting go over her wound, Lina grimaced as she held her sword in two hands. While he raised his weapon, she lunged forward, stabbing low. Clear danced back, letting her stab into the packed dirt. As she stepped forwards at him, he finally aimed another downwards strike. Gritting her teeth, she dug her knees into the dirt, thrusting her blade into his hands. The heavy weapon continued to descend, but she twisted her hilt, holding it from beneath, allowing the hilt to catch the machete. The force was still strong: Lina's hands could only just resist the sword's descent, and the blade dug into her shoulder, but stopped before going to far in, as beneath her feet, the ground she'd weakened had sunk under the weight distributed by her knees, absorbing some of the force blow.

Wide eyed, Clear lifted his machete, sliding his hands off of Lina's sword, but his weapon slipped from his bloodied grasp. As he held his pierced hands out wide, he gawked, "H-huh?" Lina stood, blade flashing across his chest, Clear falling to the ground in defeat.

Those still conscious watched in awe as Lina sheathed her blade, catching her breath. Her hands were tightened roughly at her sides, shoulders shaking. Reno felt a bittersweet taste: the sister he'd trained for six years had far exceed his expectations, but at what cost?

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

Fresh pipe in hand, Lady Momo's eyes were narrowed as Chester so casually entered. From her spot on her knees, she said, "You must be Chester. And Reno..." A faux smile creeping on to her chubby face, she cooed, "Has your little sister gotten any bigger?"

Reno snorted, refusing to sit on his knees as Momo so casually did. Looking up at the two men, Momo began, "So, let's cut to the chase. As I see it, you want to beat up Boss Cerulean, while you want the Azure Company off the island. I'm afraid neither of those things are going to happen. Cerulean's no pushover, even for someone like you, if what I've heard is true. And even if we are beaten, we're not just going to leave."

Reno cleared his throat loudly, before stating, "Unless one of you is beaten after a deal is struck. You're all about 'might makes right', aren't you? If Chester really is stronger than Cerulea-"

"Our rules only apply within our ranks, silly boy. Besides, might is more than just strength. I'm the most powerful person on the island, but I'm not it's strongest fighter, fufufu." Tapping out her pipe, she filtered in soem fresh tobacco before stating, "Besides, I'm done negotiating with you. All previous attempts have failed, after all. The two of you will be publicly executed for standing against the Azure Company. Chester for your regular, unprovoked assaults on Azure Company members and Reno for your blatant theft of our wares and aiding and abetting Chester." Reno flinched, and Momo giggled, "You're the only one who knows enough to steal that much of our product."

However, the two armed men didn't make a move to capture Reno or Chester. Even as Reno pulled one of his pistols and aimed it at Momo. Clearly caught off guard, Reno hesistated.

Taking a long drag from her pipe, Momo exhaled, before stating, "I wouldn't do that if I were you. If either of you struggle, then my men elsewhere in the building will send out a crow. That crow will reach some of my men in the field, who will kill your younger sisters." Reno had a sharp intake of breath, his pistol quavering, as Momo stuck her pipe back into her mouth.

One Piece: Revolution(Closed)

Marxo be like:

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

Slapping a palm to his forehead, Reno growled, "Cerulean's not here yet you idiot."

Within the group of stunned men near the compound entrance, the one with a smoking rifle barrel was smacked by another, who shouted, "Why the hell did you shoot him!?"

"I panicked! Did you hear what he did to Chrome? Chrome!"

"Just shut up and go get Momo!"

As the messenger scampered away, the most experienced looking of the group waved as he turned to the building. "Lady Momo isn't going to want to see you outside." While most men went back to their posts, eyes warily on Reno and Chester, a few headed to the smaller, complete building, leaving the other one be.

As Chester and Reno made their way along. En route, Reno asked, "Chester...what are you going to do?"

"You haven't killed any of these guys. I'm not asking you too, but even if you beat Cerulean, then what? He'll just leave us alone? How long until some other pirate or mafia group comes along? Are you going to stay here forever?" Reno studied Chester, before stating, "I couldn't imagine it."