***Amaya's POV***
A few seasons had passed and now it was winter. Life was rather normal. I would join the boys for sparring everyday. Then later when they went hunting I would start to build my aircraft. I have finally started on the full size version, but it will take me a while to finish it.
In other news I started to learn swordplay. I'd found a broke sword handle with half a blade one day in Gray Terminal while I was searching for building materials.
I'd realized that I've never really used a weapon, but I wanted more options in the future. I would encounter lots of people on my travels, and most of them had weapons. An added bonus would be sparring with Zoro one day. Who knows maybe we could become sparring partners if I'm hanging out with Luffy's crew.
I was working on the frame of the aircraft while singing, when they returned back to the base with dinner. Luffy complained that his first kill was stolen by the huge tiger of the forest.
I tried my best to comfort him, so I said that I would make dinner. He always enjoyed the spices I added to it for extra flavor. Even after distracting him with food, he was mad at the stupid tiger as he put it.
Sabo told me about Luffy almost falling off the rope bridge, and how he and Ace had to save him. Luffy grinned at the story while Ace just called him stupid.
After food, we all headed to bed since the boys had had a rough day. Our beds were placed on the floor that created a plus sign. All of our heads were together in the middle as our legs formed the arms of the plus.
The boys stretched as I laid down on my bed pad. Luffy laid down and started to laugh after pulling his blanket over his face. After a minute, he moved the blanket and spoke.
"I've decided. Ace! Sabo! Ama! You guys gotta come aboard my ship! Okay? Say yes!"
"That's so sudden." Sabo comments.
"We decided to leave it to the future." Ace reminds them.
"What brought this on, Luffy?" I asked, curious about why it popped in his head.
"I was thinking about how great it was earlier today with Ace and Sabo! It would be an adventure everyday! And it was fun to tell you about it when we got back! Your food is also yummy!"
"I gotta agree with Luffy there. It has improved quite a bit since we met." Sabo complimented.
"It's not half bad." Ace added in looking away.
I blushed at the compliments. Cooking had been something I was wanting to improve. I could bake great after learning Miss Pestal, but I've been having to experiment with actual cooking.
"T-thanks." I said quietly.
"But wouldn't it be fun all together!?" Luffy went back to his topic. "You'll need my help right?"
"Don't you mean that you'll need our help?" Sabo mentions.
"No! I'll help you guys!" Luffy protests.
"You guys are welcome to come aboard my ship." Ace says, rolling onto his stomach to look at the rest of us.
"'No, mine!'" Both Sabo and Luffy yell.
"Then, this is not gonna work. Huh, Amaya?"
I laughed at them. "You're not wrong. You all want to lead."
"Then how about this! Whoever beats the tiger get's to be captain!"
I sighed, as I just remembered this part of the story. I laid back down and got under my blanket.
"That's a good idea!" Ace and Sabo agreed with Luffy's idea.
***Morning***
That morning the boys went fishing to get bait for the tiger. I shook my head at them before spending the day training with my broken sword and working on my aircraft.
Later when they came back they mentioned running into an old man who scared off a huge bear without touching it. He was a former pirate captain.
A man with haki here on the island. The sooner I learn it the better I think, so I asked Sabo if he could take me to meet him tomorrow.
Sabo said that he was really a loser who hammer away at random things in Gray Terminal, so I started to second guess myself on meeting him. Maybe I could find some way to force myself to activate haki. I need to learn armament haki in case I have encounters with logia types.
Ace seemed upset about hearing about the old man and went up to bed.
"Is he okay?" I asked Sabo after he left.
"Heh, the old man mentioned fighting Roger in the past and losing. He's been on edge since."
"Why would that matter?" Luffy asked before taking a huge bite of meat.
"Well Roger is Ace's father, but for some reason Ace doesn't like him."
"What!!!!?!?" Luffy shouted only to be shushed by both of us.
"Anyways just don't talk to Ace about him or he'll kill you." Sabo told Luffy.
"Huh? Why? That's his dad." Luffy questioned.
"So what?" Sabo questioned back in a darker tone, shocking Luffy.
"Luffy, not everyone has good relationships with their parents." I reminded him before the look of remembrance crossed his face about Sabo and his folks.
"Right, sorry." He said.
"I know you have questions you want to ask him about, Roger just don't." Sabo ordered.
"I won't! Don't worry!" Luffy grinned.
We went up to the treehouse after the meal. We saw Ace staring out the window when we entered.
"Yo Ace! We're back!" Sabo started, clearly trying to be as casual as possible.
"Hey Ace! I didn't know Gold Roger was your father!" Luffy stated just as normally.
Sabo froze with a panicked expression on his face, and Ace clearly stiffened too.
Sabo grabbed Luffy's shirt collar, shaking him. "Luffy, you idiot! I told you not to mention it!"
"Luffy!" Ace called.
"Yeah."
"Who told you that?" He questioned not looking away from the window but now looking down.
Sabo started to have sweat pouring down his face.
"Sabo told me!" Luffy explained. "Hey, what was Roger like?"
"Luffy, I told you not to ask!"
"What I'm asking casually!"
Sabo and Luffy started bickering before Ace hit them both over the head.
"Don't ever mention that name when I'm around!" Ace yelled at the two.
I sighed at the scene, knowing that it would be a bit before they settled down. I climbed the rope that led to the watchpost.
Once I reached the top, Chi jumped down from my shoulder to stand on the ledge. I overlooked the ocean part of the view, watching how the moon rays reflected in the ever moving water.
Parents, huh? I thought. It's been awhile since I thought of mine. I was lucky compared to Ace and Sabo. They loved me so much that they sacrificed what little time they could have used to escape to get me to safety.
I was blessed even if they were killed in front of me. Over time I learned that my father was the leader of the island that was destroyed. That island's name was Arocana, which specialized in building aircrafts. The only island that knew how.
I'd also learned that my mother was an important figure before leaving to marry my father. I don't know what made her important, but the journal made it sound like a big deal she joined.
I found out some interesting things about Arocana too. It was connected to a couple of other islands all throughout the seas. It was located in the calm belt similar to Amazon Lily, which is why they learned how to build aircrafts in the first place.
I shook my head to clear it. First things first. I need to learn haki, continue sword training, and finish building my aircraft before I can learn more about my island and its connections.
Sighing at how late it had gotten, I climbed back down towards the main building. When I entered, many things were thrown all over the place. I appreciated that my things were left untouched.
They had all passed out on top of their mats, despite the random objects surrounding them on the floor. I did a quick clean up around them, so they wouldn't ram into it in their sleep.
After that I walked over to Ace. I was worried about him, since I knew his father was always a sore subject. I ruffled his hair then pulled his blanket up on him. "Goodnight, Portagas."
I should call him that on occasion. It would help show him that he's his own person and not his father. With that I crawled in bed and went to sleep.
"Goodnight, Chi." I yawned.
"Chi," She sleepily replied.
_______________________________________________________________________
Hope you enjoyed learning a little more about the new island. The chapters around their childhood are starting to come to an end. Until Next Time...
World_Imaginer