Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I woke up quite early in the morning. The pond was dark still. It was as surprising to me as to Praline and Prim who were watching me intently.

I refrained from letting out a squeak in response as their eyes narrowed.

"That's good. We thought you would have slept more." Prim said softly.

Alarm bells started ringing in my head and bone tired drowsiness vanished as I became alert.

"She needs to sleep more, but before that, start taking Pearl, right now." Praline rebuked Prim and glared at me.

Praline was genuinely angry. She usually was a very jolly person so it was astonishing. Her deep blue eyes seemed tempestuous, like a dreary ocean before a hurricane. Prim wasn't any better with that dangerously soft voice and her usual pale blue eyes looking like chips of hardened ice.

I gently sat up and almost lost my balance as the aches in my damaged body flared.

I was instantly supported by a plum tentacle but their expressions didn't waver even though I felt their countenance softening.

I opened my mouth hesitantly before closing it.

That was all they needed, Prim erupted, voice almost a hiss, "What were you thinking?"

Praline laughed coldly, "Oh she wasn't. When does she ever?"

I flinched.

Praline continued in that same mocking tone, "Disappearing off every night with the enemy pirates, was it a wonder they kidnapped you? Out of all of us I expected you to be the least gullible!"

Prim nodded face tight, "We almost revealed everything to Brulee nee when she told us what happened. Those injuries you have do you realise how life threatening they could have been? Those pirates had the mercy to treat you but it was because of them you got hurt in the first place, despite Perospero nii being at fault.

I felt a chill run down my spine at the first sentence.

This was derailing fast.

I took a deep breath before I blurted, "They didn't kidnap me I was a willing hostage. I was perfectly safe, it was Perospero nii who trussed me up like an offering to Mama, and it was because of Mama I got the injuries she slapped me from his arms into the ocean. It was due to Flounder and Roger Pirates that I am alive."

They looked stricken as they spoke in united whisper, "Mama attacked you?"

I was puzzled, "You didn't know that?"

"Of course not! You weren't injured when Brulee nee saw you in their grasp; she came to check on us immediately after." Praline murmured all anger deflating.

Prim's tentacles were digging deeper in the fluffy water bed, "We overheard Katakuri nii, he was furious at Perospero nii, so we thought you might have gotten hurt because he couldn't protect you…"

"Because there was no way Katakuri nii would let you get hurt in his presence, so it was likely that he handed over the responsibility to someone else who failed. " Praline interrupted.

"But we assumed everything wrong." Prim murmured.

If I was a baseball person I would have screamed 'Safe'. As I wasn't, I merely withheld my sigh of relief.

They both wore deep looks of contemplation. I felt bad making them worry over all this when they were mere toddlers but this world was cruel, if I could equip them with better analytical skills, due to my antics, so be it.

Prim and Praline looked at my weary form and nodded in unision.

"Okay, you need to sleep. We will wake you in the mid-afternoon, you need to eat after all." Praline said reassuringly.

Prim grimaced, "Better feed you before the others start the interrogation."

My eyes were already drooping but before I could doze of I mumbled, "We also need to prepare, the three of us will be visiting Fishman Island within a year."

As I drifted I could hear Praline exclaim, "You cannot just go to sleep like that! What do you mean? Pearl? Pearl!"

Prim sounded long suffering as she sighed, "Leave it be. I am pretty sure she does it for the kicks."

I felt a smile tug across my lips as I was swept into dreamland.

The next I came to was once again due to a pumpkin face close to me.

I squealed, heart thundering. Halloween was nowhere near, wait was it even celebrated here? Supernatural?

"Oh, it's you Kato. Sorry your older sister was being silly." I heaved a sigh of relief as Kato squawked and was taken to the surface by an amused Prim.

Praline grinned, "Sha-sha-sha. Serves you right. Now talk."

She was sure impatient.

I deadpanned, "I am hungry. Besides I do not want to repeat, wait for Prim."

She pouted, "It's going to take long then, come on let's go."

I cocked my head, "Where?"

"On the surface of course. Everyone is waiting." She rolled her eyes as she gently held me and brought me up.

My eyes widened as I saw the troop of siblings waiting for me.

Prim had a tentacle wrapped along Kato, Galette and Poirre who were struggling to reach me.

Melise had tears of relief in her doe eyes and even Dacquoise looked happy, sunglasses glinting.

Smoothie had a calm smile on her face as Cinnamon and Citron were serving platters of food to my siblings who mostly left it uneaten in their apparent eagerness to meet me.

I could feel my heart swell up.

"All of you are here?" I whispered voice thick with emotion.

Cinnamon rolled her dark eyes as Citron huffed, orange hair swishing, "I can see what you meant Smoothie."

"I know right?" Smoothie asked mildly.

It was as if a dam broke.

Shy Melise of all people cried out, "Idiot younger sister what were you thinking?"

Dacquoise sassed, "She wasn't apparently." Ah there was the snark.

Kato nodded fiercely, "Pearl-nee you dummy."

Galette and Poirre sniffled, "We were so worried."

"I am sorry." I said overwhelmed.

"Damn right, you are." Praline nodded righteously.

I protested, "It wasn't entirely my fault!"

At that there was a momentary silence before the normally cheery Citron spoke.

She had always been so adorable, chubby and soft like a soft toy but the way her eyes glinted made me do a double take.

Citron scowled, "Yeah we know. Rest assured Perospero nii is getting his due."

Smoothie's eyes glinted coldly and the other looked in complete agreement.

I stared wide eyed.

Prim smacked the back of my head with one of her tentacles speaking fondly, "She is overwhelmed, that idiot. Let her eat, first."

As I sat surrounded by these little kids I felt warm. The same warmth that Roger and the others filled me with. Even though my siblings didn't know the real me, even if they were bound by their loyalty to our tyrant of an Ovum donor, they cared.

I etched this moment in my memory. Here sitting amidst them, sharing food with the chatter of my close younger siblings reminded me again, of what I need to do.

I looked nervously at Smoothie, "You have questions?"

She sighed softly, "No. Katakuri nii and Brûlée nee explained most of it."

I don't think this will be the last time when Katakuri and Brûlée made my life easier.

The others shook their heads fiercely. I wanted to laugh at the mimicry of bobble head dolls they were doing and so I did.

Their eyes softened and everybody burst into laughter.

It felt good.

I heard an amused voice from the mirror nearby, "Not that it isn't good seeing my younger siblings so cheery, Katakuri nii san wants Pearl."

Brûlée and Custard came through wearing smiles and the others greeted them cheerfully.

"We will come with." Praline spoke in a voice that left no room for refusal and Prim nodded.

Kato protested and the others looked the same but it was Smoothie who interrupted, "Citron, Cinnamon will you please take the others with you?"

Citron and Cinnamon turned offended at her but her next words stopped them in their tracks.

Smoothie said wryly, "You need to check on Snack and the others."

The scowls that came across the others faces had me blinking bewildered.

Melise grimaced, "Smoothie nee is right, Citron nee, Cinnamon nee."

Nobody looked surprised at the assertive stance my doe of a sister was showing.

What had changed in a span of few days?

Apparently a lot.

Dacquoise huffed, "He is so not tasty for a Snack."

Galette and Poirre giggled but even their cheery demeanour was lost.

"About that. Peropero nii might be with them." Custard grimaced.

"All the more reason for us to go then." Citron murmured and they almost looked read to form a platoon and march.

"Katakuri nii? Flounder!" I gasped. How could I forget?

"Flounder?" Praline and Prim spoke and the others echoed looking curious.

"Yeah he is fine." Custard laughed.

I almost trembled in relief. My reaction did not go unnoticed.

Smoothie's eyes were sharp, "That little bird with Katakuri nii?"

I cannot believe she remembered him, with everything that was going on, she still didn't leave any of the details. Sweet Commander material all right.

The others whined as I mumbled a bye and with single minded focus headed towards the mirror almost dragging Brûlée with me. Smoothie came and stood and grabbed Brûlée's free hand.

Praline and Prim sighed sympathetically, "She does that."

A chorus of groans of 'We know' had them grinning.

Custard chuckled as she grabbed Praline and Prim and Brûlée hefted me up and I felt the weird sensation of entering the mirror dimension once again.

I caught glimpse of a casually talking Cracker and Katakuri as soon as I entered.

Before I could say anything I was hit full force by a feathery bullet to my chest.

Coughing in surprise I looked down as I heard a muffled, "Raion!"

It was a distinctive sound, of a young male child.

My eyes welled up and I hugged back Flounder tightly.

"So this if Flounder?" Praline asked scrutinizing. Prim stared a barely noticeable blush on her cheeks.

Oh what is this? Prim is fond of small, cute avians? I will file that away for later, I thought amused.

Smoothie looked at him seriously, "I heard you helped our sister. Thank you for that."

Flounder cocked his head, "You need not thank me. Raion is my human."

Cracker muttered, "Mermaid actually."

Custard whipped him on his head, "Semantics don't worry Flounder!"

Brûlée huffed in amusement, "Besides we need every help to keep this one out of trouble."

I pointed at myself innocently.

Flounder chirped, "It's a tall task, but don't worry I am capable."

I looked at him betrayed.

Katakuri looked very amused as I pouted at him, "Kata nii they are being mean to me!"

He turned away not saying anything but sent a look to the others which had them grumbling.

Praline sighed, "Well we knew whose side Katakuri nii was going to take." Prim nodded solemnly before rounding up on me, "You were saying something before you drifted off."

Praline's eyes sharpened, "Yes! Something about going to Fishman Island! Or did we mishear?"

Before I could respond Katakuri responded, "It's true. Pearl convinced Mama to let her go to Fishman Island."

Everyone was looking at me wide-eyed.

I clutched Flounder to me nervously, he nudged his beak reassuringly.

I took a deep breath, "I was weak. I do not want to be a burden; I want to protect you all. I do not want to be in that situation ever again. "

I do not want myself or my siblings at the mercy of Big Mom, I thought grimly.

My elder siblings had all softened before Cracker spoke solemnly, "You know that we will never let you go through that Pearl right?"

It was surprising, his usual joking behaviour nowhere to be found. He was taking everything so seriously and not using his usual nickname for me.

I eyed him determinedly, "I am well aware but I do not want you guys to go through something similar either."

Custard came and brought me in a hug, "No one of us will." She whispered thickly.

Katakuri promised, "We will begin our training soon."

Smoothie asked, "Katakuri nii san will you be training her?"

Katakuri looked at her, "To my best efforts but I won't be able to do it often."

Cracker responded, "We all will pitch in, don't worry."

"Thank you!" I exclaimed near tears once again. I was still overwhelmed by their affection for me. Roger was right, I had a new chance, a new adventure.

"Now, there is no need to cry Pearl. We are family, we will always support you." Brûlée replaced Custard in hugging me.

I wonder how long will you support me when you realise my true intentions, I thought morosely.

Praline said sternly, "We are coming too." And Prim continued, "We will be training too."

I nodded, "I never had a doubt."

They looked immensely pleased.

I remember that day fondly, when my will firmed.

It had been a month since then. Flounder had acclimatised very well and was a favourite of many of my siblings but he took to Kato the most aside from Praline and Prim.

Flounder was also very smart, realising he had to keep mum in a lot of aspects understanding I had many secrets, many that I probably won't ever divulge to him.

When I mentioned this to him he had replied sardonically, "Raion, you underestimate yourself and me. We puffins are very patient creatures and I won't ever pry. I will wait. You are my human after all."

I squeezed him in a tight hug in which he had settled into calmly.

Cracker yelled, "Concentrate!"

I snapped out of my thoughts trying to actively evade a miniature biscuit soldier.

I took a hit on the face and was showered with biscuit crumbs.

Cracker and Katakuri had devised pretty unique ways for training us younger siblings.

The end results were always us getting showered in crumbles of biscuits or sticky mochi. It was good that I loved water and no longer had hydrophobia.

I sighed trying to dust off myself.

As of now we had focused only in defensive tactics.

A good defense is the best offence apparently.

Katakuri declared, "I think that's enough."

Praline and Prim looked ready to start dozing beside a resting Smoothie.

Custard and Brûlée were fussing over them and I could feel Smoothie's awkwardness from here.

My body ached fiercely.

On the other hand I don't think I had ever been this acrobatic. Considering I had to incorporate my frigging tail in my fighting style I often jumped and pirouetted away. Besides it isn't as if my fins were as strong as human legs when it came to attacks.

I had a long way to go, I thought sighing.

Katakuri leaned down ruffling my hair, "Don't worry you will get there, we have barely begun."

Cracker grinned, "You will be a tough opponent little menace, just you wait."

I cracked a smile as their efforts of cheering me up worked.

Time went by in a slugging pace. Amidst training and entertaining my siblings I didn't have much time left for overthinking.

I still don't know the extent of what went on with Snack and the others but even this early on I could see that lines have been demarcated and sides have been formed.

Whilst they avoided showing this in front of the older siblings the resentment increased when they found out that our older siblings especially Katakuri and Cracker were pitching in to help me fight.

It had been almost two months since the incident when Smoothie sat down beside me as usual to read the newspaper.

The headlines made my eyes widen. I felt a wistful feeling flow through me.

So Roger and Whitebeard pirates had clashed. The fight lasted for three days and three nights. Those monsters, I thought fondly but I felt the undercurrent of worry for Roger's health.

That means Oden had joined Roger huh?

I wonder if I could have met him if I would have taken Roger's offer.

I shook my head to dissuade similar thoughts.

"Pearl?" Smoothie questioned. Her voice was calm as usual but I could make out the worry in her eyes.

"It's nothing. You needn't worry." I assured.

"If you say so." She said.

We both looked at each other nervously recalling a similar last incident that caused Big Mom's rampage due to the news.

I could see Brûlée coming out of a nearby mirror and she spoke, "The rest are doing damage control aided by Streusen. Don't worry Mama won't have a Kuiwazurai again ."

"On a cheerful note, it seems that something that those pirates did, caused Fishman Island to become easier to enter, so you might get an earlier chance to visit there, Pearl." Custard came out of the mirror behind her.

I supressed my smile, 'Roger…'

It had been a few months since then Mama had started seeing another man, this time from the long armed tribe.

I was currently with my elder brother Noisette as another one of my brother's Moscato fluttered around my injured form.

I had strained myself overtaxing my body.

Both Cracker and Katakuri had been called in immediately as an emergency. I was too tired to ponder why.

Noisette and Moscato were pretty close being the 15th and 16th sons' respectively especially since Moscato was the triplet brother and had two sisters.

To think I haven't met quite a few of my siblings still.

Moscato was very gentle, I remembered him distantly from a scene. He had tried to protect the civilians amidst Big Mom's rampage. It already endeared him to me. He was a gentleman through and through. I also adored his dual coloured pompadour. He rocked the pink and blue combination and it was all natural. I remember giggling a storm about it with Praline and Prim.

Mash and Cornstarch his two full-blooded sisters on the other hand were ambivalent towards me. They were much like Hache and Eifilee in that regard, they didn't really care much for the hype I had created since my birth, I thought wryly.

Mozart and Marnier on the other hand were a pair of twin older sisters whom I found very unique.

Mozart was gentle and Marnier was a fierce spitfire.

Mozart loved to entertain the younger ones; she had dark maroon hair, portioned in two braids that resembled a jester's hat, strangely enough and bright purple eyes. She was a teenager but was very mature for her age.

Marnier had a huge pink, maroon and purple afro. She always had a smirk on her face and allowed all her younger sibling to tug her poofy hair.

Marnier and Angel got along very well just like Custard and Mozart did. They had similar temperaments.

Marnier though was crude whilst Angel was frostily polite and over formal. Angel got along with me well enough but I could read enough of her body language to know she had reservations about me. Honestly if I didn't know any better I would think Marnier and Angel were the twins along with Custard and Mozart. They certainly very close enough for that.

I had dozed off. My exhaustion taking it's toll.

It was the next day I woke very early. I understood why, after all I could never sleep well when someone was focused on me. Katakuri had said it was due to my latent Observation Haki. I had an anxious Praline and Prim hovering around my waterbed as Flounder fluttered around, holding his breath.

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I mumbled sleepily, "What's wrong?"

Praline and Prim exchanged a glance before Praline took a huge breath before she spoke bluntly, "Yesterday was an emergency because Mama had another Kuiwazurai."

I was wide awake by now.

I let out a troubled sigh, "What was it about? Honestly, it has become a yearly tradition by now."

Flounder fluttered close to me and rested himself in my lap. I instinctively clutched him closer.

Praline opened her mouth before closing it again with clear hesitation, "Flounder was very keen on visiting you."

She seemed like she wanted to say more but then she looked at Prim, "You say it."

Prim replied softly, "Gol D. Roger was declared the Pirate King."

There wasn't an ounce of sleep in my eyes, anymore.

They still hadn't told me anything further but they didn't need to.

I let out a shuttering breath, "And the crew?"

Praline spoke reluctantly, "They disbanded."

I was trying hard to compose myself. Prim and Praline shared a look before they surrounded me in a loose hug.

Prim said gently, "We know Pearl, you didn't tell us everything entirely. But we are your sisters, we shared a womb together."

Praline cut in, "What she is saying that we understand that they were close to you. We don't know how or why, neither we care. Just know that we will always be there."

That did it. I hiccupped before I felt the salty taste of tears mix in the water around us. These weren't the silent tears of partition that I shed after Roger Pirates departed nor were they similar to the breakdown I had with Katakuri.

I was trembling. I was feeling the acute sense of loss. For I knew what came after, it was the start of the beginning of the end.

It won't be long when Roger will…

It is hard to think that there will be a time when he wouldn't be adventuring out in the sea.

It was difficult thinking of the demise of the man who had literally given me a new lease in life.

It was after being reborn into this world that I realised the significance of a pirate crew. Big Mom didn't have the traditional crew, we were blood family but I knew being crewmates, sailing under the same flag wasn't something to be taken lightly. It was a commitment as strong as marriage to those who honoured it.

For Roger to disband that tight knit crew… If I didn't know about the actual circumstances I would have refused to believe it.

But I knew and I couldn't do anything except for mourn for the 'could have been'.

I did not forget the silent oath in Roger's eyes, when he invited me to his crew. He was all but declaring it to his nakama that in different circumstances I would have been one of them. That I was one of them, regardless.

That sort of bond doesn't fade away. And despite the miniscule amount of time we spent together, the impact wasn't any less.

I felt a hollow sensation of loss; I couldn't imagine how the full-fledged Roger Pirates would have felt. Those who sailed along him since ages, Rayleigh his partner, Shanks who looked up to Roger as his own father, the others. If I started thinking of each member I would burst out crying.

Praline, Prim and Flounder stayed for as long as they could. Flounder stayed till he ran out of air and he headed up to the surface.

"Please go with him." I remarked sadly.

"If you will, give me a while to compose myself. Tell the others I overslept." I finished.

With a last hug and reluctant nod Prim and Praline went up.

A while later Flounder came in again like a bullet smashing into my chest and I curled around him in comfort.

He never left me though, he went up for air and came back down despite the discomfort it was causing him and I was never more grateful.

The dusk had settled, it would be a new dawn soon.

That's enough from the peanut gallery

"Imagining a tiny you train is a very cute image, if I do say so myself." Sabo teased lightly.

I laughed lightly.

Ace cracked a smile but his demeanour was still serious.

The others had an inkling as to why but as they had only read excerpts they could not understand why the mood had turned solemn all of a sudden.

Law made a disturbed face, "Seriously even by this world's standards Big Mom's reproduction rate is beyond clinical science."

That started of a chorus of agreement and smattered conversation.

I looked at Law gratefully, he smirked in return.

For all his act, he was a big softie and more often than naught as keen as my close brothers in figuring out my mood.

Well it was to be expected, I had known him for as long as I did Ace, a smidgen longer than that, in fact.

Attention successfully diverted I let out an almost sigh of relief.

Prim and Praline surrounded me as Prim pulled me in a hug.

"You know I wished that I knew why you cared so much about your kidnappers, but now its obvious." Praline said gently.
Ace looked mildly surprised as Prim said coolly, "What? Do you think that she wouldn't share everything with us?"

Praline grinned menacingly, "We were here first after all."

I could see Katakuri"s amused eyes on us as Ace cringed.

"Wait. What is Halloween?" Robin asked eyes narrowing. "Don't think that I forgot that you promised to explain a term from your old world." She added sharply.

I sighed before lecturing, " Halloween or Hallowe'en had many names. It was a contraction of Hallows' Even or Hallows' Evening, also known as All Hallows' Eve or All Saints' Eve, it was a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed."

Her eyes shone with interest and I braced myself for her inquisitive questions.

I raised a hand interrupting her barrage, "The Halloween pumpkin was hollowed out and cut in order to create a grimacing face and was lit from the inside with a small candle. The carved Halloween pumpkin celebrated the memory of lost souls."

"That's why I reacted the way I did, I mean Kato..." I trailed off.

"Looks like a humanified pumpkin?" Praline finished mischievouly and I winced at Kato's squawk of outrage.

And therein started a flurry of unending questions.