Chapter 2

Oriana left her home island three days after her mother's death without informing anyone in the village. Her former neighbors showed no concern for her departure, and frankly, she wasn't preoccupied with them either.

On the pirate ship, worries mounted for both Oriana and Whitebeard. Oriana secluded herself in her room, spending her days sketching her mother's face and her nights grieving in solitude, unbeknownst to the crew.

Whitebeard, once a constant presence among his crew, now withdrew, spending more time alone in his quarters and resorting to alcohol to numb his pain. His anguish over the loss of the woman he never knew weighed heavily on him for the past six days.

On the seventh night, as Whitebeard fetched another bottle of alcohol from his hidden stash, he overheard crying emanating from Oriana's room. Leaning against the wall, he listened intently, struck by the realization that his daughter had been silently grieving without his knowledge.

Feeling like a failure as a father, Whitebeard recognized his oversight in not noticing Oriana's suffering earlier. Determined to offer her solace, he resolved to let her know that she didn't have to endure her grief alone.

After sobering himself up with water in the kitchen, Whitebeard approached Oriana's door and gently knocked, calling out to her. Receiving no response, he entered her room, finding her lying on the bed with her back turned to him, illuminated by a soft bedside light.

He heard her breathing heavily through her stuffy nose and sat down on the floor next to her bed.

"Oriana, I'm sorry I didn't see your pain," her father began, but she remained silent, not acknowledging him. "I know it's hard right now, and I know that you miss her, but if there's anything I can do to make it even a little better – let me know," he said sincerely.

Finally, she looked at him with teary eyes, which only intensified his feelings of guilt. "I-I want mama," she sobbed. "I know, treasure. I know," he reassured her, placing a comforting hand on her back. Whitebeard gently rubbed her back as she slowly drifted off to sleep, still crying.

He made a vow then and there to be better.

The next day arrived swiftly. The crew was surprised to see their captain up at 8 o'clock in the morning. Whitebeard prepared something for Oriana to eat and made his way to her room. After knocking on the door a few times, he entered once more.

She was still asleep, allowing him to observe her. Her face was dry, her clothes disheveled, and her hair tousled in every direction. Whitebeard gently shook her awake, and she groggily looked at him. "It's time to get up, Oriana," he urged, but she merely rolled over.

Sighing, Whitebeard fetched a bowl of water, a toothbrush, clothes he had taken from her home, and a hair comb. Patiently, he waited for her to rouse from her slumber, and when she finally did, he offered her the plate of food.

Oriana accepted the food without a word. Whitebeard attempted to comb her hair, but it ended up tangled in a mess of frizz. She then noticed the other items he had brought and proceeded to change her clothes.

"Let me help you brush your teeth," he offered, and Oriana complied, allowing him to take care of the task. Though it was a struggle for Whitebeard, he managed to do a decent job. After helping her wash her face and rinse her mouth, she looked considerably better than she had the past week.

"Let's go outside for a bit," Whitebeard suggested, but Oriana declined, opting to draw on the floor instead. As he observed her sketching her mother's face, he realized she was finding her own way to cope. He sat beside her, telling stories now and then, until it was time for her to go to bed.

This routine continued for the next couple of weeks.

One day, while Oriana was in her room as usual, the ship suddenly shook violently. She was thrown to the side, hitting her head. After briefly holding her head in pain, she got up and hurried out of her room, finding her way to the deck without realizing it.

Upon reaching the deck, she saw the pirates standing still, and she couldn't understand what was happening. Confused and anxious, Oriana began to back away, accidentally bumping into a tall blond man. "Hi there," he greeted with a smile. "Where's my daddy?" she asked desperately.

"Oh, you're bleeding," the man observed. Oriana touched her head and felt something wet. When she looked at her hand, she saw red blood. "I'll help you clean that up," the man offered, gathering the necessary tools to tend to her small wound. Though hesitant, Oriana followed him nonetheless.

The two went over to the middle of the deck. Oriana observed the blond guy carefully as he helped her, thinking to herself that he seemed nice. He smiled a bit, probably sensing her stare. "I'm Marco. What's your name?" he asked. "Oriana," she replied softly.

"Well, Oriana, that's all," he said as he stood up and handed her a mirror to inspect her wound. Oriana didn't quite know what to look for; all she could see was the band-aid. "Where's daddy?" she suddenly asked.

"Let me take you to him," Marco replied.

He led her to the middle of the deck where a huge throne-like chair stood, but the captain was nowhere to be seen. Confused, Oriana looked around before turning to Marco. "Where's my daddy?" she asked again. Marco simply pointed to the front of the ship.

There, the captain stood tall with a weapon in his hand. Oriana couldn't see what was happening, but she could hear a cacophony of voices from that direction. Suddenly, there was a loud noise, and a black ball-like object flew toward the ship.

Whitebeard deflected the cannonball with his weapon, but it exploded nonetheless.

"Daddy!" Oriana exclaimed, ready to run to him, but Marco stopped her. "It's alright. Pops is just fine," he reassured her. Oriana looked at him, then back at her father. As the smoke cleared, she saw that indeed, the captain was okay.

He lowered his weapon as a small circle formed around his blade, firing it at the sea. The air cracked, and a powerful wind blew the enemies away. Whitebeard turned around and descended to the deck, his crew cheering him on.

Feeling something at his leg, Whitebeard looked down to see his daughter clinging to him.

Oriana's eyes widened in surprise. She didn't know what had come over her. Shyly, she looked up at her father, who was smiling down at her. He lifted her onto his lap as he sat down. "I'm glad that you finally joined us out here, Oriana," he commented, and the girl blushed slightly.

"I thought the ship was going to break," she mumbled. "Don't worry, treasure. You're safe here," Whitebeard reassured her with a soft gaze. "Yeah, Oriana-chan. This ship's strong, and so are we. We're going to show you the world," a man with a long ponytail said before striking a pose.

"You can count on all of us. We won't lose to anyone," another crew member with a bandana and dreadlocks chimed in confidently. Each member had some comforting words for her, and Oriana found herself smiling as she looked around.

"We are the Whitebeard pirates. If you fight one of us, you fight all of us," Marco declared proudly. "Me too?" Oriana turned and asked her father.

"That's right, Oriana. You're one of us now," her father replied, patting her head.

Their words warmed her heart, and for the first time in weeks, Oriana laughed brightly.

A couple of days passed since the incident. After finishing breakfast that her father had brought, Oriana decided it was time for her first solo adventure. She wanted to see the endless ocean and capture it in her drawings, just as she had done back home.

Opening the door cautiously, Oriana peered both ways before following the sounds.

She emerged onto the deck, greeted by the bright sunlight that momentarily blinded her. Unaware, she almost collided with some burly crew members who hadn't noticed her presence. A hand swiftly pulled her back from danger.

"You have to be more careful, little one. We don't want you to get hurt," the tall blond guy from the day before said with a smile. His name escaped Oriana's mind for the moment, but it didn't matter much.

Her attention was elsewhere. Oriana felt the great wind from the ocean, a sensation she always admired. Slowly, she approached the rail to catch a better glimpse, but her height hindered her view.

"Let me help you, little one," he offered, lifting her to sit on the rail beside him. Her eyes widened with wonder, ignoring his words as she savored the salty breeze, reminiscent of home.

Observing her childlike fascination, Marco chuckled. "Everyone's working down here. How about I take you to the crow's nest, yoi?" he suggested, pointing upward to a basket-like structure atop the mast.

It took her a moment to process, but she nodded eagerly. "Well, since you're too small to climb the ropes, how about I fly us up there?" Marco proposed.

Oriana looked perplexed, wondering how he intended to accomplish that. Her curiosity piqued as Marco stretched out his arms, conjuring beautiful blue and golden flames resembling wings. Entranced, she reached out to touch them, and Marco's eyes softened at her touch.

Her presence was an unexpected surprise to all. Being Whitebeard's biological daughter, she already held a special place among the crew. Learning of her hardships only fueled their desire to protect her further. She was unquestionably welcomed here.

As Oriana gingerly touched the flames, Marco patiently waited. When she withdrew her hand, he turned his back to her. "Jump up and hold on," he instructed.

The girl hesitated for a moment before following his direction, leaping onto his back. And with that, Marco took off.

Initially terrifying, the experience soon turned exhilarating for Oriana as she relaxed, realizing the freedom of flight. She held onto Marco, feeling fortunate to soar anywhere he desired.

Marco flew her around the ship several times, granting her a thrilling experience. They even skimmed close to the water, tantalizingly within reach.

Upon reaching the crow's nest, Oriana momentarily lamented that the journey had ended so soon. Yet, her disappointment quickly dissipated as she beheld the breathtaking world surrounding them. No matter how far they traveled, the horizon always seemed just out of reach.

This was the adventure she had always yearned for – her dream come true.

Opening her sketchbook to a blank page, Oriana began drawing. As time passed, her artwork took shape, earning praise from Marco.

"That's great, little one. Who would have thought that such a small girl had this much talent, yoi?" he commended, ruffling her hair affectionately.

Beaming with pride, Oriana showed him her finished work. However, before she could finish speaking, a tickle in her nose caused her to sneeze – a common occurrence. What wasn't normal, though, was the burst of fire that followed, accidentally singeing Marco's hand in the process, startling them both.

Clutching his wrist in pain, Marco assured her, "Yeah, perfectly fine. See, nothing." He showed her his unharmed hand as the flames dissipated. Tears welled in Oriana's eyes as she sobbed, feeling overwhelmed by the unexpected event.

"I-I don't know… what that was," she stammered, her distress evident. Marco's heart ached at the sight of her distress, realizing she had finally begun to open up to them.

He might not have known her for long, but they had all been concerned about her for the past month. In this unforgiving world, her innocent eyes had captured their hearts, and surely, as she grew older, she would learn to wield that charm to her advantage.

Marco was certain of it.

Seeing her so upset, he attempted to comfort her with a hug, but Oriana, worried about causing him more harm, pushed him away. "I don't want to hurt you again," she managed to say, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"There's no way you can hurt me, yoi," Marco reassured her, pulling her into a comforting embrace.

"What's going on?" Oriana asked, seeking answers amidst her confusion and distress.

"Don't worry, maybe you ate a devil fruit," Marco suggested, attempting to ease her concerns. But her lack of understanding prompted him to explain further.

Taking her hand, Marco showed her his flame-covered hand. "You see these flames? I have them because I ate a magical fruit that grants powers," he explained patiently. "And you may have eaten one too."

"Ate one?" Oriana echoed, seeking clarification.

"Yeah, that fruit prevents me from swimming and weakens me in seawater. So, let's try this," Marco began to explain his idea, but Oriana interrupted, expressing her love for the water.

"You have fire powers now! Isn't that awesome? You can be as strong as a dragon," Marco tried to encourage her. Oriana's excitement grew as she imagined herself as powerful as a dragon, roaring with newfound vigor.

Eager to share her discovery with her father, Oriana insisted on telling him. Marco agreed, and carefully descended from the crow's nest with Oriana in his arms.

Upon reaching the deck, Oriana spotted her father and dashed toward him. "Daddy, look what I can do!" she exclaimed.

Whitebeard smiled proudly, pleased to see his youngest interacting with the crew. "What's that, treasure?" he inquired.

Excitedly, Oriana attempted to induce another sneeze, and to everyone's amazement, she produced a burst of fire. "Did you see that, daddy?" she asked, beaming with pride.

"Yeah, I saw. That was impressive, Oriana," Whitebeard affirmed, before explaining that her powers were a gift from her mother's side of the family.

"Mama... had these powers too?" Oriana stuttered, taken aback.

"Yeah, now they're a gift from your mother," Whitebeard confirmed, offering a comforting smile and patting her head.

With newfound determination, Oriana looked up at her father. "With these powers, can I be strong like you, daddy?"

Whitebeard's gaze softened. "No. I want you to be stronger than me," he declared without hesitation.

"I can do that?" she asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Of course you can. You're my daughter!" Whitebeard affirmed, filling her with determination. "I will, daddy! Just you wait," Oriana declared, ready to rise to the challenge.

"Alright, but right now, you're a hundred years too early for that," Whitebeard teased, prompting Oriana's determined response.

As she bounded off, the crew cheered her on, believing in her potential. Unbeknownst to Oriana, their laughter followed her, but she remained blissfully unaware as she pondered how to harness her newfound powers.

-x-

It had been a week since her small discovery, and Oriana still had no idea how to control her newfound ability. Determined to figure it out, she spent a lot of time on the deck, growing closer to the pirates with each passing day. However, despite her efforts, she couldn't seem to summon her fire.

Exhausted and frustrated, she wandered over to her father, a pout on her lips. "It's not working, daddy," she lamented. Whitebeard offered her a comforting smile. "Don't rush it, treasure. Let it take its course," he advised. Oriana turned her head to the side. "How long will that take?" she inquired. "You have to find your own way to make use of it," her father replied with a smile.

Suddenly, the sky darkened, and the waves grew rough, signaling an incoming storm. As the crew scrambled to prepare, Whitebeard instructed Oriana to stay put while he assisted his crew. Oriana watched as chaos unfolded around her, the ship shaking violently from side to side.

Just as they narrowly avoided colliding with a cliff, someone shoved the ship to the left, causing Oriana to lose her balance and nearly fall overboard. But before she could hit the cold water, Marco grabbed her hand, preventing her from falling. "Are you alright, little one?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

Tears welled up in Oriana's eyes, but she managed to nod. Marco helped her back onto the ship, teasing her gently as he did so. Oriana clung to him, finding solace in his presence.

As the ship was pulled forward by a strong current, Oriana noticed a large octopus with a white cloth around its head climbing onto the ship. The octopus began banging its head, causing a peculiar sound that summoned giant koi fish to swim alongside the ship.

Fascinated, Oriana approached the rail, but Marco lifted her onto his hip to keep her safe. She watched in awe as the ship followed the stream to a magnificent waterfall, the water crystal clear and teeming with life.

As the koi fish swam up the waterfall, the crew realized they could use them to ascend as well. With the captain's approval, they embarked on an unusual journey, riding the fish up the waterfall.

At the top, they celebrated their success, but their joy was short-lived as they were suddenly caught in a massive whirlpool, dragging the ship down into its depths.

-x-

Oriana woke up coughing, feeling her father's comforting hand on her back. "Are you alright, treasure?" Whitebeard asked, concern etched on his face. After a few more coughs, Oriana nodded as her father handed her some water, providing instant relief.

As they surveyed their surroundings, Whitebeard remarked on the unusual sight of finding an island surrounded by ocean after climbing a waterfall. Oriana noticed a small house in the distance and a beach leading to a lush green forest.

Concerned about their ship, which lay on its side, Oriana's father reassured her that they would repair it. A crew member mentioned that the repairs would take a week, and the cargo was mostly water-damaged. They needed supplies and food, prompting Oriana to surprise herself by volunteering to go along.

Marco also expressed his willingness to join the expedition, which was met with a mix of surprise and approval. Whitey Bay cautioned them about not knowing what they needed, but eventually agreed to let them accompany her.

Before they could depart, a sense of urgency swept over the crew as a man with black hair approached, his swords drawn. He introduced himself as Kozuki Oden, demanding to board their ship. A confrontation ensued between him and Whitebeard, culminating in a brief clash of forces before Whitebeard emerged victorious.

Despite Oden's plea to join them on their journey, Whitebeard remained unmoved. Oriana observed the exchange, noticing a strange sensation in the air. As she sneezed, she found herself airborne, only to be caught by Oden.

Impressed by her sneeze, Oden offered to help gather supplies for the ship's repair. Oriana, sensing something special about him, impulsively followed him as he ran into the island, disregarding the crew's protests.

As they journeyed together, Oriana inquired about the island, learning that it was Wano, the land of samurai. Curious, she asked about samurai, and Oden explained their role as strong warriors who protect their people.

As they walked, Oriana couldn't help but admire the beauty of the country, particularly its lush green farms. She remarked on its beauty, eliciting a smile from Oden as he carried her the rest of the way.