One Piece : Brotherhood

Flevance, North Blue

Within the heart of the White Town, a grand hospital stood, its towering structure resembling an oversized townhouse. The white hue that coated its walls, like all the other buildings in Flevance, was due to the infamous Amber Lead.

Iron-wrought gates lined the perimeter, serving as the fencing walls that separated this place of healing from the rest of the city. Though rumors were spreading, none cared about it and simply called it a hoax. However, some of those who worked within the mines knew the truth about the deadly substance that was slowly poisoning them.

Despite the town's grim fate, the hospital still bustled, functioning not only as a sanctuary for the sick but also as an academy for promising young medical students eager to learn the mysteries of medicine.

Inside the hospital's sterile walls, a man and a woman worked feverishly in one of the private labs. The man, wearing a pair of round spectacles and sporting short black hair, focused intently on a microscope, his brow furrowed as he analyzed a blood sample.

He carefully added a few drops of catalyst to the slide, waiting for any kind of reaction. His hands trembled slightly, betraying the anxiety he kept hidden under his calm demeanor. The sample he was testing belonged to his precious daughter, Lami.

Standing beside him, the woman – his wife – anxiously watched him work, her fingers clenching the hem of her white coat. Her face was etched with worry, her heart pounding in her chest as she awaited the man's verdict. She wanted to believe their children were safe, that their youth had somehow shielded them from the dreadful Amber Lead Syndrome that had already ravaged their own bodies.

"Well?" she asked softly, though her voice trembled. "Is she... is she safe?"

The man let out a deep breath, feeling the briefest moment of relief. The blood sample showed no initial signs of Amber Lead contamination. He wanted to believe they had been spared. Just as hope flickered in his chest, the blood reacted violently with the catalyst.

His heart sank like a stone. His eyes widened in horror as he watched the color of the blood change before his eyes, the unmistakable sign of the syndrome appearing in his daughter's sample.

The woman, noticing the shift in her husband's expression, felt her stomach twist in knots. "What's happening? Why aren't you saying anything? You're scaring me!" she urged, grabbing his arm.

He turned slowly, eyes clouded with grief, looking past her to the glass window where his children, Law and Lami, played in the garden outside. Their laughter echoed faintly through the halls, oblivious to the cruel fate that had already been written for them.

"They're…" he began, his voice breaking. He couldn't find the words. How could he tell her? How could he tell her that their children—their sweet, innocent children—were already cursed with the same disease that was killing them both? His hands shook as he placed them on the table, trying to steady himself.

"Lance…" the woman pleaded, her voice breaking as she searched his face for any hint of hope.

"Please, just tell me! What's wrong with them? Are they...?"

The man shook his head slowly, his gaze dropping to the floor. "It's... it's in their blood," he whispered, each word feeling like a death sentence. "Lami has it. They both do."

Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart seemed to stop. "No... no, that can't be true," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Panic welled up in her chest, suffocating her as the weight of his words began to sink in.

"You must be mistaken! Test it again! Do it again!" she demanded, her voice rising as she grabbed the samples from the table.

In a desperate frenzy, she shoved the man aside and peered into the microscope herself. Her fingers fumbled as she adjusted the lenses, her heart hammering wildly in her chest. When she saw the results for herself, the world seemed to tilt around her.

There it was, clear as day—the same reaction that had confirmed the disease in her and her husband was now present in their children's blood.

"No... no, no, no, no!" she cried, her voice cracking with anguish. Her legs gave out beneath her as she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

"This can't be! This isn't happening!" she screamed, grabbing the blood samples and hurling them against the wall. Glass shattered around her as the samples splintered, but she didn't care.

Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her chest, gasping for air. "Why?!" she wailed, her sobs echoing in the cold, sterile room. "Why my children?! They're just children! What did they do to deserve this?!"

The man knelt beside her, his own face a mask of despair as he placed a trembling hand on her shoulder. But there were no words he could offer. No comfort, no solution. They were helpless in the face of this slow, creeping death that had already taken everything from them.

In the small garden outside the hospital, Law and Lami played with a few other children, their laughter ringing through the air. The sun hung low in the sky, casting soft rays of light over the whitewashed town. For a brief moment, it was peaceful, a rare tranquility amidst the crumbling reality of Flevance.

But then, the sound of heavy boots crunching against the stone pathway shattered the calm. Law's ears perked up, his instincts sharper than the others'. The rhythmic pounding of boots filled the air, and the half-dozen children stopped their games, their smiles vanishing as panic flickered in their eyes.

A swarm of soldiers, more than a hundred strong, stormed past the garden, their gleaming weapons clutched tightly in their hands. They wore the distinct uniforms of the Flevance royal army, and their faces were hard, determined, and unyielding.

Patients and pedestrians who were walking along the pathway were shoved aside as the soldiers barreled forward, their mission clear.

One of the soldiers, a captain with a grizzled beard and piercing eyes, grabbed a man by the collar and yanked him forward, thrusting two wanted posters in front of his face. "You!" the captain barked, his voice rough with authority.

"Do you know these people? Have you seen them? Tell me where they are!" His voice was a mix of anger and urgency, the type that brooked no refusal.

The man stammered, too frightened to respond coherently as the captain's patience wore thin. Meanwhile, several other soldiers had begun to form a tight perimeter around the hospital, cutting off all exits.

The iron-wrought gates at the front entrance clanged shut with a resounding echo, trapping everyone inside. More soldiers filed into the hospital itself, their boots echoing through the hallways as they began searching every room with military precision. The air grew thick with tension as the royal army left no stone unturned in their relentless pursuit.

At the edge of the garden, Law and Lami stood frozen, their innocent game forgotten. Law's sharp eyes caught sight of the posters in the captain's hands—the images of a man and a woman, their parents. His heart sank, a cold dread washing over him. Lami, ever the curious one, opened her mouth to speak, her soft voice barely a whisper, "Law, those are—"

But Law was quicker. His hand shot out, covering Lami's mouth in a swift, but gentle, motion. His wide, fearful eyes met hers, silently pleading for her to stay quiet. He felt her tremble against him, but he couldn't let her speak. He couldn't let the soldiers hear.

Slowly, he began to pull her backward, careful not to make a sound as they edged closer to the hospital walls. His small hand gripped her tightly, willing her to stay calm even as fear pulsed through his own veins.

Lami's eyes were wide with confusion, but she trusted her brother and followed his lead. Together, they moved like shadows, blending into the chaos unfolding around them. The soldiers continued their search, unaware of the two young children quietly slipping away toward the back of the hospital, their parents' images still clutched in the captain's hands.

As they neared the building, Law's heart pounded against his chest. He didn't understand all of what was happening, but he knew enough: the soldiers were looking for their parents. And if they found them... no, he couldn't think about that. His mind raced, thoughts tumbling over each other as he tried to figure out what to do next.

"In there... they're in there!" The man blurted out under the captain's piercing gaze, fear overriding any sense of loyalty. His voice trembled, his face pale. He wanted no part of the chaos brewing, no part of the doom swirling around those two people.

The captain's lips curled into a satisfied sneer, about to signal his men to move, when suddenly another voice cut through the tension.

It was an aging man in a white coat, his wrinkled face and slow, deliberate movements revealing years of service to Flevance as a doctor. "Why are you looking for them?" His question came calmly, but there was an undercurrent of defiance in his tone.

"Dean...?" The man, still in the captain's grip, gasped in shock, recognizing the old man.

The doctor didn't acknowledge the plea. His eyes were fixed on the captain, demanding an answer.

"They are criminals," the captain began, his voice booming with self-righteous fervor. "They've been conducting forbidden experiments and spreading false rumors to incite panic within the city. We've been charged by the king to bring these traitors to justice!"

A murmur rippled through the crowd, hushed whispers and gasps filling the air as bystanders exchanged nervous glances.

"Criminals...? But they were just doctors... weren't they?"

"Could it be true? But... they've been helping the sick for years..."

"I don't know... it's the King's word against theirs. Who are we to question it?"

Suspicion lingered on every face, the seeds of doubt already taking root. The idea that the couple might be criminals caused an uneasy shift in the atmosphere. Even though many had once trusted them, the presence of armed soldiers and the sheer force of the royal army made them reconsider what they thought they knew.

The old doctor, the Dean, however, wasn't convinced. His grizzled eyes bore into the captain as he took a step forward. "They're doctors," he said firmly.

"Their only duty is to save lives, and they've been doing just that for as long as I've known them. I raised them in this very hospital—taught them everything I knew. I vouch for them!"

The captain's expression tightened, but before he could respond, the old man took another bold step forward. His eyes narrowed, filled with suspicion and anger. "And don't think for a moment we don't know about the Amber—"

"Bang!"

The gunshot echoed like thunder through the street, freezing everyone in their tracks. The old doctor staggered back, eyes wide with shock, and collapsed onto the cold stone pavement, a pool of blood slowly spreading beneath him. His white coat, once a symbol of life, now soaked in the color of death.

A stunned silence fell over the crowd.

A man in a black suit, wearing dark glasses and carrying an air of authority, calmly stepped forward, his gun still smoking from the barrel. The Cipher Pol agent's cold gaze scanned the crowd as if daring anyone to speak.

"Stop wasting time," he ordered. His voice was calm, but the chill in his words sent shivers through those watching. "Find them. Don't let them escape. Anyone who stands in your way—mark them as criminals and remove them."

The soldiers snapped into action, their fear of the Cipher Pol agent palpable as they flooded into the hospital, now with a darker purpose.

A few other Cipher Pol agents followed, their eyes scanning the perimeter for anyone who might resist. The bystanders, who had moments earlier been ready to riot in defense of the old doctor, now stood frozen, their courage vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

"They killed the Dean..."

"We can't do anything... Not with the Marines here..."

"Just go back. It's not our fight. It's too dangerous."

The once simmering anger and outrage died down, replaced with fearful retreat. The presence of not only the Kingdom's soldiers but also hundreds of Marines surrounding the hospital drained the fight from the onlookers.

Some began to shuffle away, heads bowed, as if they'd never even known the old man who lay dead at their feet. Others muttered their regrets under their breath, yet none dared step forward. The selfishness of self-preservation ruled over any sense of justice.

Inside the hospital, amidst the chaos, Law dragged Lami through the hallways, his small hands gripping hers tightly. He navigated the labyrinthine hospital with practiced ease, weaving through back corridors and hidden stairwells that only a child who had grown up in the building would know.

The shouts and footsteps of soldiers echoed through the halls, growing closer, but Law was always two steps ahead, his heart racing but his mind sharp.

Lami's breath was coming in short, fearful gasps. "Law... Law, where are we going?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Shh," Law hissed, glancing over his shoulder. He was scared, too, but he couldn't let Lami see it. He had to be strong, for her. "We're going to find Mom and Dad. Just... stay quiet, okay?"

Lami nodded, clinging to her brother as they crept through the dimly lit corridors. Soldiers burst into rooms nearby, searching for any sign of their targets. Law could hear them shouting orders, overturning beds, and ransacking supply closets in their frenzy. But Law knew this place like the back of his hand, and he stayed one step ahead.

"Mom… Dad…" Law's small voice broke through the silence as he cautiously pushed open the side door to the lab, Lami close behind him. His heart raced in his chest, but when he saw the scene inside, it made him freeze.

The once pristine and meticulously organized lab, which his parents took such pride in, was now a chaotic mess. Papers were scattered everywhere, shelves had been knocked over, and glass equipment lay shattered across the floor.

His mother sat hunched, tears streaming down her face as his father, Lance, gently wrapped a bandage around her arms, which were cut by the glass she had smashed in her grief.

"Mom… Mom!" Lami's soft voice turned into a panicked cry, her little body trembling as she saw the blood on her mother's arms. Tears welled up in her eyes as she clung to her brother, the weight of the situation too much for her to bear.

Lance and his wife quickly looked up, startled, realizing their children had returned. For a moment, their grief-stricken expressions faltered, and they scrambled to put on a brave face. Their faces softened with forced smiles, trying to shield their children from the harsh reality.

"Oh, sweetheart, it's nothing," Lami's mother said, brushing away her tears and forcing a smile.

"Just a little accident. We were being clumsy with our experiments, that's all. Don't worry."

But the blood, the broken glass, and the tension in the air betrayed their words.

"Weren't you both playing outside in the garden?" Lance asked, his voice strained as he tried to steady himself, looking at his children as if their innocence could somehow hold everything together.

Law, despite being only five years old, was sharp beyond his years. His eyes, wide with urgency, flicked between his parents. He swallowed hard, gripping Lami's hand tighter. "Mom… Dad… We need to leave. Now. Soldiers—soldiers are looking for you." His voice trembled, but there was an unshakable seriousness behind it.

Lance froze, the words piercing through the momentary calm. His wife's hands, still trembling, clutched her dress as her face drained of color. "What do you mean, soldiers?" she whispered, her eyes wide.

"They have your pictures," Law said quickly, trying to make them understand. "They're here, at the hospital. They've surrounded the building, and they're asking people where you are. We need to go."

The weight of his words hit Lance like a tidal wave. The suspicions and whispers about Amber Lead, the rumors they'd tried to dispel by spreading the truth—it was all catching up to them. Their relentless research and efforts to raise awareness had finally drawn the Kingdom's ire.

He had known it was a risk, but the thought of it catching up with his family had always seemed distant—until now.

Lami, still clutching her mother's skirt, whimpered, "They… they had your pictures, Daddy…" Her voice cracked with fear as she burrowed into her mother's legs, trying to find comfort.

Lance didn't need any more convincing. His heart thudded in his chest as reality set in. "We need to leave. Now." His voice was hoarse, the gravity of the situation sinking in. He quickly scooped Law into his arms, his eyes darting around the lab as if it held the solution to their impossible dilemma.

But before they could make a move, a loud bang echoed through the room as the lab door was kicked open with brutal force. The door slammed against the wall, and several figures stepped inside, their shadows stretching long across the debris-covered floor.

Lance and his wife's hearts stopped.

Standing in the doorway were soldiers, their faces hard, weapons drawn. Behind them, Cipher Pol agents loomed, their presence chilling, like the embodiment of death itself.

One agent, dressed in a pristine black suit, adjusted his gloves with eerie calmness as his cold eyes scanned the room. His gaze settled on the family, cornered in their own sanctuary.

"Found them," the agent muttered, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. His voice carried the same finality as a death sentence.

Lance instinctively stepped in front of his family, shielding them as best he could, though he knew there was no escape. His wife clutched Lami tighter, holding back her sobs as fear overtook her.

Law stared at the soldiers, wide-eyed, his young mind racing. He knew what was happening, but the weight of it—of his parents being hunted like criminals—was something even his sharp mind couldn't fully comprehend.

"Please..." Lance's wife whispered, her voice barely audible, her grip on Lami tightening as tears spilled down her face.

The agent stepped forward, pulling out a document. "By order of the World Government," he began, his voice cold and detached, "you are under arrest for crimes against the Kingdom. You've spread dangerous misinformation and have endangered the lives of the people of Flevance. You will face judgment for your actions."

Lance's hands clenched into fists, his voice trembling with rage. "We were only trying to save lives! The truth about Amber Lead—!"

The agent raised a hand, cutting him off. "The only truth here is that you've caused panic. And for that, you will pay the price. You should have thought about things before challenging the World Government."

The Cipher Pol agent's cold gaze shifted as he gestured for one of the soldiers to move in and capture the family. The soldier obeyed without hesitation, taking a step forward. But just as his hand reached out, his body was flung violently to the side. He crashed into the wall with a sickening crunch, his form crumpling to the floor, lifeless.

A sudden, icy tension filled the air.

"Since when did the World Government start dictating terms in North Blue, and especially to someone under the protection of the Donquixote Family…?"

The voice was smooth yet chilling, carrying a weight that made the room freeze. It echoed with a casual menace, but the underlying threat was undeniable. Everyone's gaze snapped toward the source of the voice, and there she was.

Sitting leisurely on the windowsill, a slender woman lounged as if she had all the time in the world. Her presence was impossible to ignore—a towering figure of at least three meters, her long legs crossed elegantly, a delicate but expertly carved smoking pipe balanced between her fingers. Smoke curled lazily around her face, obscuring her features only slightly, but not enough to hide her striking beauty.

Her skin was smooth, flawless, and glowing with an ethereal quality, accentuated by the dim light filtering through the window. Her features were sharp, almost aristocratic, with high cheekbones and full lips that curved into a smile—a smile that held no warmth.

Her eyes, however, were another matter entirely. Dark and cold, they glinted with an unsettling edge, as if staring into them meant glimpsing the abyss. She was beautiful, yes, but it was the kind of beauty that made you feel as though death itself had taken form.

Her attire was as bold as her demeanor. A revealing, sleeveless top clung to her figure, exposing her well-toned midriff. One shoulder was left bare, the smooth skin adorned with a large tattoo—the unmistakable symbol of the Donquixote Family.

The mark stood out proudly, declaring her allegiance for all to see. A long, flowing coat hung loosely over her other shoulder, adding to her already intimidating aura.

The agent's face twitched with unease, though he tried to mask it. His instincts screamed at him that this woman was no ordinary opponent, and the way she had appeared—completely unnoticed—made his skin crawl. He took a cautious step forward, but the confidence he'd displayed moments ago seemed to waver.

"You… Who are you?" He demanded, his voice tinged with a mix of uncertainty and authority.

The woman took a slow drag from her smoking pipe, exhaling a thin plume of smoke that swirled in the air, filling the room with a faint, sweet scent. She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. Those cold, predatory eyes remained locked on the Cipher Pol agent, as if sizing him up, already seeing through him.

"Me?" she purred, her tone light, mocking even. "Just someone making sure you and your little friends don't overstep your bounds." Her gaze flicked to the fallen soldier with disdain, then back to the agent. "You seem to have forgotten where you are, government dog."

The agent's fists clenched. He wasn't used to being challenged like this, especially not by someone so brazen. "You dare interfere with a Cipher Pol operation? This is a matter of justice—these criminals are—"

"Criminals?" she interrupted, her smile widening as she uncrossed her legs and gracefully stood, her imposing height becoming even more apparent. Her presence filled the room, casting a shadow over the scene. "You call them criminals, but from where I'm standing, it looks like you're the ones causing trouble in my territory."

She stepped forward, each movement fluid and deliberate, her eyes never leaving the agent's face. The closer she got, the more his nerves began to fray. Despite her calm demeanor, there was something feral about her, something dangerous simmering just beneath the surface.

"And you know what happens to people who cause trouble for the Donquixote Family," she added, her voice now carrying an unmistakable edge.

The agent swallowed, his bravado fading. He was trained to deal with dangerous individuals, but this woman… she wasn't just another pirate or rebel. She moved like a predator, her confidence unnerving, her smile a thin veil over something much darker.

"You don't understand who you're dealing with," the agent finally spat, trying to reclaim control of the situation. "We are Cipher Pol! We answer directly to the World Government, and we won't hesitate to—"

"World Government?" she laughed, the sound low and menacing. She stopped just inches from him, towering over his smaller frame. The smile on her lips faded, replaced by a look of cold contempt. "I don't care who you answer to. Here, in North Blue, the only name that matters is Donquixote."

Without warning, she lashed out. Her hand moved like lightning, striking the agent across the face with a force that sent him stumbling backward. He barely managed to catch himself, his hand flying to his cheek, where a dark bruise was already forming. His eyes widened in shock—he hadn't even seen her move.

"And you're in my territory now," she whispered, her voice dripping with menace.

The remaining soldiers in the room hesitated, fear gripping them as they looked between their fallen comrade and the terrifying woman who now stood at the heart of the room, radiating power. None of them dared to make a move.

Even the people outside, who had initially been curious, now whispered nervously among themselves, stepping back as the reality of who had arrived began to sink in.

Lance and his family, still huddled together, could only watch in stunned silence. The woman had saved them—for now. But it was clear that this was no rescue. She had her own motives, her own agenda, and they were caught in the middle of something far bigger than they had ever imagined.

*****

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