Chapter One: Lost at Sea

The waters of the North Blue were calm, a perfect time to be out at sea. A young teenage girl and her parents, who were Pirates, decided to head out and start their own voyage as a family. To set sail and go on an adventure.

"All looks good on this side! How does everything look from up there first mate Zara?!"

The girl's father called up to the crow's nest. Lefévre Zara looked down from the lookout post, her long blue hair swayed in the wind, her dark blue eyes sparkled like the sea and the sun danced off her pale skin.

"Everything seems to be in order fath... er, I mean Captain!" Zara jumped down from the crow's nest, grabbed the sail line, slid down to the deck of the ship, the Blue Rose, and landed

in front of her mother and father, Lefévre Léo and Leféver Raven.

"Where are we heading Captain?" Zara asked her father as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Where ever the sea may take us! That's the best voyage of all. Not knowing where the great waters may take us!" Léo gestured out at the ocean. "Now, go and check the supplies down in the cargo hole for me, first mate Zara."

"Aye, aye Captain!!" Zara saluted her father and rushed off to check their supplies down in the cargo hold.

Léo and Raven looked onward, proud that their daughter was so excited about starting her first voyage. Ever since Zara was a little girl all she would do was ask her parents if she could go on a voyage with them on the Blue Rose. To go on a great adventure, and when the time came, Zara could barely keep herself together.

It had been a few months since Zara and her parents had set off on their adventure. Picking up a few new crew members along the way since the original crew had long been disbanded many years before. Each crew member had their own special purpose on the crew. From a doctor to a weapons specialist, everyone earned their place among the crew.

Everyone showed great respect for Zara's father, their captain, and Zara saw the crew as her family. There was one crew member who was about her age that she was really close to. His name was Shô and his was an assistant to their weapons specialist, Bora. The two grew extremely close to each other and many of the crew members notice and would often tease the two about it.

"You two should just give it up and start dating." Bora teased Shô as he watched Zara talking with her father.

"Yeah right. The Captain would never allow that Bora. Zara is too special for her to be interested in someone like me."

"I wouldn't so sure about that Shô" Bora pointed over towards Zara.

Shô looked to see where Bora was pointing and saw that Zara had quickly turned her gaze away for Bora and Shô with her face slight blushed.

"I have feeling that you may be special to Zara as well."

Just then a voice came calling down from the Crow's Nest.

"Captain! There's a ship up ahead. It seems to be another pirate ship!"

Léo looked through his telescope to see the flag of the approaching ship and what he saw was the flag of a ship he didn't want to see.

"Blackbeard! Everyone, ready the guns and hold for my order. I know this ship and the captain isn't friendly!"

Everyone quickly rushed to their stations, Zara included. She rushed to the Crow's Nest to get a better look at the ship that was making its way towards them. She saw the Jolly Roger with the telescope that sat in the Crow's Nest and saw the Caption of the ship as well.

"This is the Pirate father was always talking about. He said Blackbeard is dangerous and cruel. What are we going to do?" Zara talked to herself out loud. Her hands started to shack slightly when she looked the Blackbeard Crew. They all looked so scary.

"Don't be afraid Zara. The Captain will know what to do." Zara turned to see Shô climbing into the Crow's Nest.

"You think so Shô? But from what Father has said about Blackbeard, he's really scary." Zara gripped onto her weapon as she spoke to Shô.

"I'm one hundred percent sure Zara. There's no way your father is going to let Blackbeard bully him."

Down below, Blackbeard made his way onto the Blue Rose, with many of his crew members following right behind him.

"Well... well, if it isn't Lefévre Léo and Raven. It's been a long time." Blackbeard snickered as he approached Léo and Raven.

"Indeed, it has been Teach. What business do you have here? Intruding on my ship like this." Léo stood strong against an old "friend" that he knew from long ago.

"Can't old friends just chitchat after such a long time? Haven't seen you since you and Raven left Whitebeard's crew."

Léo continued to glare down at his old acquaintance. He had changed since their younger days on the Whitebeard crew.

"What's with that face Léo? Anyway, I hear you have a little brat now. Where is it?"

"Leave Teach!! You come here on my ship with members of your crew to try and intimidate us? Then you ask about my child like it's nothing. I will not have it Teach, I heard about what you did, and I know they're after you for it. Now go, before you cross a line you can't come back from." Léo's sudden tough guy speech caught Teach and members of Léo's crew off guard.

"Woah, I've never seen this side of you. It's a little scary. But..." Teach suddenly raised his gun and pointed it at Léo. "You'll be in the way for future events. You just need to go ahead and die already."

Before anything could be done, a gunshot rang out, but it didn't hit it's intended target. Raven had stepped in to protect her husband. The bullet ripped through the young women's body dropping dead to the floor. Her blue hair shadowed her face as blood started to spill from her body.

"Raven!!" Léo rushed to his wife's side, holding her body in his arms.

"Zehahahahahaha!!! I knew she was loyal to you Léo, but this... she was a good wife to you!"

Léo's heart was filled with an increasing amount of anger and worry. Anger for what Teach had done to his wife and worry for Zara. She had just witnessed the murder of her mother. Léo looked up at the Crows Neat to see Zara's horrified face. Her own gun pointed straight down at Teach.

"Zara, don't do it. The Captain hasn't given an order yet. Zara are you listening?" Shô spoke to Zara calmly after seeing the look in her eyes. Her hands were shacking with anger.

"He shot her Shô. He shot my mother and is laughing about it. Why shouldn't I shoot him for what he's done!" Zara's finger was inches away from pulling the trigger.

"If you do that Zara, you risk the safety of the rest of the crew. Please, just wait for the Captain's orders."

"I-I don't know if I can Shô. He took my mother away from, from us." Tears started to stream down Zara's pale skin. Her dark blue eyes suddenly started to turn a puffy red. Shô went to wrap his arms around her when she suddenly stood up and jumped straight down from the Crow's Nest.

Zara rushed to her mother and father, tears still streaming from her eyes. When Teach saw the young girl he couldn't help but be happy.

"This must be her, right Léo?" Teach started to reach out his hand when Léo suddenly snapped his fingers. Everyone on the Blue Rose crew lifted their weapons and pointed them at Teach and slowly Léo placed Raven's body down on the deck, a hand rested softly on Zara's head as she continued to cry, a darkness too coated itself over Léo's face.

"Do you have any idea what you've done Teach? Do you have any idea who you just killed? When she finds out about this--"

"Who do you think sent me you idiot?! But she really only wanted you dead, not her."

Léo suddenly reached up and grabbed Teach by the collar of his shirt.

"That woman is nothing more than a coward if she can't even come here herself. Bora!! Léo called over to his blacksmith.

"Yes sir?"

"See to it that Captain Teach and his crew return to their ship."

"Aye Captain."

Léo released Teach's shirt and turned to return to his wife and daughter. The fact that this happened out of nowhere was still a surprise to Léo. It was like Teach knew where they were. Like someone told Teach. Did he have a traitor among his crew?

"By the way Teach, how did you know where to find us?" Léo turned to see that Blackbeard and his crew weren't making their way off his ship. Standing there, holding a gun to his face, was someone Léo considered to be his friend.

"I believe this answers your question. Zehahahahahahahahah!!!!"

"Bora?" Léo questioned in a sad tone.

"I'm sorry sir, but Miss Zara needs to come with us. She would like to have her."

"You too Bora?! Who did she take from you Bora? What does she have on you to make you do this?" Léo was once again filled with anger and worry. If Bora betrayed him, how many others on his crew were on Bora's side?

"Once again sir, I'm sorry but you misunderstand. She has nothing on me. I joined her on my own will."

"Bora... I don't understand. Raven, Zara and I... we see all of you as family. How could you do this? Not to just me, Raven or Zara, but everyone who looked up to you. What about Shô?!"

Shô had finally made his way down from the Crow's Nest. Just like everyone else, he was equally surprised. He saw Bora as a father since he lost his own family.

"Master? Why?"

"Sorry Shô. I have no choice."

"You're wrong! You always have choices! You chose to betray us!! How... how could you? After all this time, you've been lying to us, you've been lying to me!" Tears started to form in the young boy's eyes. A boy who no one ever saw cry before. "So, tell me Bora, once you got your hands on Zara, what would happen then?"

"She'll be going to one of the Yonkos."

"A Yonko? I see... in that case, I definitely can't let you take Zara," in one quick movement Shô suddenly had a sword in his hand. The blade that usually stayed on the boy's side was now being pointed at his old mentor.

"Shô... put it away. There's no need for anyone else to get hurt." Bora spoke calmly to his former apprentice, like nothing was going on.

"With this sword, I promise to protect the ones I love. The ones I see to be most precious to me than anything in this world. Even if it means giving my own life to see that they survive. Do you remember that oath Bora? The oath you made me take before I became your apprentice?"

"I do. It's an oath that makes a great weapons master."

"Then I stand by that oath today. I won't let you take Zara."

Everyone in the Blue Rose smiled at Shô's string statement. There wasn't a single person who didn't feel the same. Seeing Bora betray them like this was a shock but hearing that the reason was to hand Zara over to a Yonko was even more shocking.

"That was well said Shô," Léo turned and stood next to Shô. A strong boy suddenly becoming a man. "Listen up, all of you. I know this is a shock to us all, put I need you all to be strong for me once more for the upcoming battle. Zara can't leave this ship with Teach or any of his crew members. At all cost, protect Zara!"

"Aye Captain!!!"

All the members of the Blue Rose Crew said at once. There was no other person but Bora who had turned against them. Swords were clashing, and gunfire rang out. Every member of the Blue Rose crew was fighting hard to keep Zara safe from Blackbeard and Bora. They weren't going to let them touch her.

"Why? Why is this happening? We're a family, and families aren't supposed to act this way. Please... please stop this fighting!" Zara held her head in her hands, trying to block out all the fighting. Through the cracks of her fingers Zara saw her mother's body. Blood was everywhere and the look on her face looked sad. A look that broke Zara's heart.

"Mother...why did this have to happen? Why did Bora betray us like this?"

As Zara asked these questions she felt someone grab her arm. Looking up with tear filled eyes she saw a face that she didn't know. It was a member of the Blackbeard crew, dragging her away. Finally, she realized what was going on.

"Let go!! Let go of me!!!" Zara started to scream and yell. She reached out to grab anything she could. Reaching out in one last attempt, Zara got her hands on something.

"I said... let me go!!" She swung her hand back around and slash the one who was pulling her away on the face.

"You little brat. You cut my face you little bitch." The Blackbeard Pirate was just about to pick Zara up and carry her back to his ship when the man suddenly stopped and fell to the ground. Standing behind him was Shô with his sword in his hand and blood on his face.

"Zara! Are you alright!?"

"Shô? Why is this happening? Why did Bora betray us?" Tears were running down her face as she looked up at Shô.

"I don't know Zara, but I need you to get out of here. Come with me, quickly!" Shô grabbed a hold of Zara's arm and pulled her away to a lifeboat that hadn't be destroyed.

"Shô, what are you doing?"

"Protecting you. I promised that I would. You have to live Zara. You will do great things, but you have to live." Shô re-sheathed his sword and handed it to Zara.

"Shô?"

"Keep it Zara, some piece of me will always be with you, no matter where you go and whatever happens to me, I'll always be with you."Shô gently kissed Zara on the forehead before cutting the line to the lifeboat with a sword he found.

"Shô!!!"

As he watched Zara's lifeboat starting to drift away tears started to fill his eyes. That could've been his chance to tell her. To tell her everything. How he felt about her and that he's had these feeling for a long time, but this was alright too. As long as she was safe.

Suddenly, there was a sharp pain coming from Shô's back. He could feel a hot, wetness staring to go down his back. When he turned around Shô saw Bora with a pistol in his hand, smoke still coming off of it.

"You shouldn't have done that Shô. She will find Zara, and when that day comes no one will be able to stop her."

"Y-you're wrong Bora. Zara will escape from her, and she'll do marvelous things." Shô suddenly dropped to his knees from the loss of blood.

"Well, looks like you won't be around to see if that's true." Bora pulled back the hammer of his pistol and pointed it at Shô once more. "I really am sorry kid." Bora was just about to pull the trigger when his pistol was knocked out of his hand.

"You might want to rethink that statement Bora, because Shô will be around to see Zara do marvelous things." Léo stepped in between Bora and Shô.

"You should be ashamed of yourself Bora. Shooting a kid in the back, only a coward does something like that." Léo glared at his so called former friend. This was someone he trusted, he was someone Raven trusted, the entire crew trusted him. Blood was dripping from Léo's arm and there were cuts all over his face.

"None of this had to happen Léo. All you had to do was hand over Zara, that was all. Raven didn't have to die, Shô wouldn't have to die, you and everyone on this ship wouldn't have to die."

"You and I both know that's a load of crap Bora. I know her well, Raven told me all about her when we first met. If she would get her hands on Zara, she wouldn't let the rest of us live. Shô, you deed well protecting Zara. Are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine Captain. It just hurts... my back..."

"It'll be alright Shô. Just hang in there."

"Don't give the kid false hope Léo. It'll only make it harder for him when the time comes for him to die." There was a slight smile on Bora's face as he spoke of Shô's death, like he was proud of it.

"Don't sound so proud of yourself Bora. Smiling about a kids death. Only a sick person would do something like that. Shô, get to a lifeboat now."

"But Captain.."

"Quickly Shô! There needs to be someone from this crew left alive. To find Zara and protect her."

Suddenly the Blue Rose started to shack. A giant crack formed it's way straight down the middle of the ship. The masses started to collapse, and all members of the Blackbeard crew started to make their way back to their ship.

"Bora, get your ass on the ship. If you die, she'll kill me for sure!" Teach yelled to Bora. He was hesitant, but Bora made his way back to the Blackbeard ship. Leaving Léo and Shô a bit shocked.

"Bora! "Léo called out before he could get too far.

"What?"

"Was any of it true. Was any of the time you spent with us true?"

Bora looked to Léo and the to Shô. The words Bora spoke broke them to their very core.

"No, none of it was true." Bora turned back around and started making his way back to the ship.

The rest of the Blue Rose crew gathered around their Captain and their injured crew mate. The crew's doctor quickly started to look over Shô's back.

"Captain, we need to get out of here. There are still some lifeboats left and sir," the crew's doctor, Stacey, pointed to another crew member, Brisk. He was holding Raven in his arms. "She's still alive sir. Lady Raven is still alive."

"Raven!?!? She still lives?" Léo's heart went from being broken by betrayal to overwhelming joy to hear that his wife was still with him.

"Everyone get to a lifeboat and be careful with Raven and Shô. We'll be heading to the closest island for some assistance."

"Aye aye Captain!!!"

Stacey carefully helped Shô to a lifeboat while Brisk carried Raven to the same lifeboat. Léo watched as his ship started to go up in flames and started to sink into the water. Tears started to fill the Captain's eyes. The Blue Rose wasn't just a ship, she was a crew member.

"Good bye, old girl. You were a great friend to us all. "Léo then looked out to the sea to see that he could no longer see Zara's lifeboat. it was nowhere to be seen. "I hope your safe Zara. Please, someone, find and protect my daughter."

Huddled down in the bottom of her lifeboat, Zara curled up into a little ball. Still holding onto the sword that Shô had given her. Tears were streaming down her face, wishing to see her crew again. To see her mother, father and Shô, and for Bora to be their friend once again.

"Why? Why did this have to happen? I thought Bora was our friend, and now... everyone's gone, and I'm alone." Tears continued to go down her face as she thought about her crew. If there was even the slightest chance of any of the crew surviving the attack, she hoped they were alright.

"I don't want to be alone."

With one last breath Zara closed her eyes and went to sleep. Still holding tightly onto Shô's sword. The hot sun rained down on the girl's pale skin, causing it to turn red and start to blister. She had no food and no water. It would only take a few days before her body would give out on her and she would die. If that would happen, she would be with her crew. She would be with her mother and father, she would be with Shô. She really wouldn't mind if she died if it meant being with them.

That day quickly turned into night and the hot summer skies suddenly turned cold. The only thing that kept her warm was a small blanket that just so happened to be in the lifeboat. This continued for two more days before she would finally be rescued from the heated days and the cold nights.

The sea was calm on this day, but the heat was worse the ever. Zara's pale white skin was now a blistering red, and her once moist pink lips were now dry and cracked. There was a dry lump in her throat that she's been trying to get rid of for days and an aching pain in her stomach from the lack of food crippled her into a ball.

"It hurts. It hurts so much. I never knew being this hungry could hurt so much." When another shooting pain went up Zara's stomach she suddenly heard a faint echo in the distance.

"Voices?! If there's voices that means there's a ship. I can finally get some help." Carefully Zara sat up. Fighting through the hunger pains and the burning feeling of her blistering skin. When she looked out towards the horizon she did in fact see a ship coming her way. Tears of happiness flooded her eyes, and it burned her face as they made their way down her cheeks. Zara opened her mouth to try and call out to the ship, but her throat was too dry for the words to call out. All she could do was hope that those aboard would see her, or she would be hit by the ship.

Aboard the ship, the crew was having fun. This crew was the raising trouble makers for the World Government, the Straw Hat Crew, led by Monkey D. Luffy, also known as Straw Hat Luffy. They're making their way through the Grand Line to help Princess Vivi of Alabasta return to her kingdom. Luffy was sitting on the lambs head of the Going Mary, taking a nap in the summer heat, Nami, the crews navigate, didn't look too well, but stood at the helm anyway. Zoro was taking a nap on the deck of the Going Mary after his work out, Sanji, their cook, was in the kitchen making something cool for everyone, Gol D. Erika was in the girl's room doing something no one knew what, Usopp, the snipper, was working on a new batch of pellets for his slingshot, and Vivi was at the helm, making sure the Going Mary was heading in the direction Nami had set.

"It's a good thing the weather is looking good. We'll make it to Alabasta in no time." Vivi wiped the sweat from her forehead just as Sanji came up the stairs with the crews cool treats.

"Here you go Vivi! I made it special just for you!" Sanji sang with hearts in his eyes.

"Thank you Sanji." Vivi took the cool treat from the blond chef with a smile.

"Hey Sanji, can I have one of those too." Usopp called up from the deck.

"NO! These are only for Vivi, Erika, and Nami! If you want something go and make it yourself!" Sanji suddenly snapped at the long nosed snipper.

"Geez, you're always a pain with all your damn noise. Will you shut the hell up. Ero-cook." Zoro yawned slightly as he woke up from Sanji's yelling.

"You shut the hell up Moss-Head!" Sanji snapped at Zoro as he made his way to Nami to give her, her cool treat.

"Nami, are you feeling alright?" Vivi noticed Nami's sickly look.

"I-I'm fine. Just a little---" Nami suddenly noticed a lone lifeboat drifting in the distance. She took the telescope that they kept by the helm to take a look, and that's when she noticed there was a body inside the boat.

"Th-there's someone in that lifeboat. They could be in trouble." Nami pointed out the lifeboat to Vivi as she also took a look.

"You're right. We should help them. Hey, Luffy, wake up!!" Vivi yelled at the Straw Hat Captain with no success of waking him up.

"What's going on, and what's up with all the noise?" Gol D. Erika suddenly appeared from the girl's room.

"There's a lifeboat out there and there's someone on board. We're trying to wake Luffy so he can pull the boat in." Vivi explained as she pointed out the lifeboat and then to a sleeping Luffy.

"I got this," Erika had a devious smile on her face as she took a deep breath. "HEY LUFFY! Sanji said the meat is going to go bad soon! We're going to have to get rid of it if Sanji can't use it all up in time!!"

Luffy suddenly shot up, falling off the lamb's head and landing on his own with a loud thud.

"There, he's up." Erika said with a smile as she took one of the cool treats form Sanji's tray.

Everyone else laughed as Luffy started to ask about the meat situation. Asking if it was really true what Erika had said. Forcing her to explain that it wasn't true. Vivi pointed out the lifeboat and said that there was someone inside. With a good stretch of his rubber arm, Luffy grabbed a hold of the lifeboat and pulled it towards the Going Mary. Everyone looked down over the railing, down into the lifeboat to see a withered, sunburned and very scared Zara. Her eyes were open, but she couldn't move duo to her body being so weak.

"Hey, you down there, are you alright?!" Luffy yelled down to the lifeboat.

"H-help...m-me, please..." Zara's words stammered. Looking up at the Straw Hats with desperate eyes.

Luffy was about to jump down to the lifeboat when Sanji stopped him.

"What Luffy, you stay up here and hold the boat steady. I'll go down and get her."

Luffy nodded and allowed his cook to jump down into the lifeboat to get the lost girl. When Sanji got down to the lifeboat he saw just how ad Zara really was. Her skin was blistered and red from the sun, her body looked like it was eating itself from the inside and the girl's hair looked like it was going dull.

"Hey, everything is going to be alright. You're safe now." Sanji carefully picked Zara up from the lifeboat along with the sword Shô had given her. There was no way in hell she was going to lose this sword, it was precious to her. The only thing she had left from her past.

"Luffy, grab a hold of us and pull us up!! She needs to get out of the sun right now! She's in pretty bad shape here!"

Luffy took his had he was using to hold the lifeboat and quickly wrapped it around Sanji and Zara. When they made it to the deck of the ship everyone saw what Sanji was talking about. Zara really was in bad shape. Sanji took Zara to the girl's room and placed her on one of the beds, pulling the sheets back so they weren't touching her skin.

"Erika, can you get me a wet towel. We need to cool her down as soon as possible." Sanji asked.

"Right away." Erika quickly went to get what Sanji had asked for.

Sanji continued to look after Zara, everyone was wondering who she was and what made her get into this condition.

"They're gone..." Zara suddenly spoke, surprising everyone.

"Who's gone?" Luffy asked.

"They're all gone. My crew...mother.... father.... even Shô. To protect me.... they all died. Why? Why did they have to do that?" Tears started to fall from her eyes, stinging her sunburned cheeks. She was finally able to really cry for them. After not being able to cry for so long, she was finally able to, and she was safe for the time being. The only question is.... for how long, and can these people keep her safe?