One Piece: Gold And Fire

It was another one of those boring days since he came to this world, more like reborn here.

Ragna sat on the edge of the wooden dock, his small legs swinging over the side. Regretting choosing to not show his future knowledge and develop some damn good entertainment item from his last world.

The salty sea breeze brushed against his face as he watched the other children gather around the candy vendor. Their eyes sparkled with excitement as they exchanged coins for colorful sweets.

'More like sugar in prettier colours. Maybe as a child I would have envied them but nah, now I find myself fortunate that I could avoid those sugar filled trap when my body haven't been affected. Now know I that they are not good for me.'

Ragna's stomach growled softly, but he ignored it.

'Well, my mind knows that, my body still hasn't there yet in terms of maturity...'

He never asked for candy. He knew his mother didn't have money to buy it. There were poor AF, that fate really stick with him even in another life.

God is good...

From a short distance, his mother watched him with sad eyes. She pursed her lips looking at her son looking at the vendor with sad eyes.

Little did she know that Ragna couldn't care less about the candy, he was just bored.

She had tried everything, including taking on extra work, but it was never enough. There are very limited ways to earn money in Lost Island, anyway.

And not many people would give hard labour to a woman.

Only after showcasing how strong she was, unnaturally so for her frame that she could get the job but that too wasn't that well in pays.

That night, as they sat together in their small home, she suddenly broke down. Tears spilt from her eyes, and she covered her face with her hands.

"Sorry, mama is poor baby. I would love to give you anything you want, but ...," she sobbed.

"I can't even buy you a simple piece of candy…" it wasn't a full-blown cry, worst it was a self pitying one. There was something strange in her tears like she felt so much restricted. Like someone tied her up, she was bound.

'Huh ?' Of course Ragna had no idea where that came from. At one point he was happily chopping down on the meat her mom catch from the jungle and the next he saw her mother crying.

'What candy ?'

Ragna didn't understand her, especially when her voice started to distort due to sobbing, However, being a pseudo-adult here, he just can't sit back and see a woman cry. Hell there wasn't much age gap between her current mother and when he died. She might be only few years old than him. So, maybe calling her a beautiful girl wouldn't be wrong either.

Shaking his head, his little hands reached out and gently held hers.

"Mom, don't try. Don't know what's you talking but I hardly believe there is anything worthwhile to bring tears to your face..." he said softly, his innocent voice filled with warmth. "Don't worry, I'll bring you candy when I get some money later on..." He said, though he felt that he completely mistook the reason she was crying.

'I know girl's like sweet but crying over candy at this age ?'

His mother looked at him with teary eyes. "Idiot, where's your high intelligence when you need it." She smack him on head.

Ragna shook his head and grumbling but still smiled. He puffed out his tiny chest, determination shining in his eyes. "One day, I'll become really rich!" This time for sure he can't help but mutter to himself , "Then I'll buy you all the candy you want..!"

His mother let out a shaky laugh, wiping her tears. "Oh, Ragna…"

"Brat..." A tick mark from on her head, now feeling embarrassed that he really think that she was trying becuase of candy. Shaking her head she just sigh and for the first time in a long while, she felt that maybe she wasn't as restricted as she thought, she was free to dream having a good life.

She was free to love her son and enjoy this life.

Ragna on the other hand, determined his heart after saying those lines, this wasn't the first time he was saying those lines, he said this to himself before, he failed.

But this time, he will make sure he gonna make it. Becuase this time it's not just about him, it was also about his mother and her happiness.

'And then suddenly his perspective changed, from seeing her mother from crying to smiling he went seeing all the hard he work did to earn so much money, even though he wasn't actually running behind money, only for all that money for to be to stolen by that orange hair thief.

----

"Fucking Gold Digger..." Ragna woke up with a jolt, looking completely stunt as his breath was ragged and there was salt taste in his mouth. Felt his entire body was weighing down like he was wearing Master Roshi's turtle shield.

However, there was no extremely fuckable chick stealing his money and ship. No even a hint of orange anywhere.

"Excuse me, is this how you thank someone for saving your life ?" And than he heard someone saying this... this was a girl. Only now that he started to observe his surroundings.

His body ached all over, and his head felt heavy. The salty scent of the ocean filled his nose, but something was different. The ground beneath him wasn't wood—it was soft, like sand.

As his vision cleared, he noticed someone standing over him. A girl with short blue hair and slightly dark skin was glaring at him with narrowed eyes, arms crossed. She didn't say a word, just stared at him as if she was waiting for something.

Only now that he realized what he just said upon waking up and an embarrassed smile spread across his face.

'Great... that has to be the first thing I say out loud...'

Ragna groaned and pushed himself up, wincing at the pain. His body was covered in bandages. That's when it hit him—what had happened before.

He remembered fighting Krieg. He remembered Nami sailing away with his ship and his money. He remembered throwing everything he had at Krieg, barely managing to defeat him. And after that… darkness.

He went out like he hit his existence threatening 9th post nut clarity...

His gaze shifted back to the girl. It didn't take long for him to realize—she was the one who had saved him.

"A...Ahm Sorry. I didn't mean that. I just hmmm. I wasn't talking to you. Sorry" he said, his voice raspy.

The girl scoffed. "You better, You were half-dead you know, lying on the shore like a log. If I left you there, I wonder if that was better than some digger, digging out your gold.... "

Clearly she was taking a jab at him. He didn't reply to that, it was his fault, he agree on that much.

Ragna sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Guess I owe you one."

She rolled her eyes. "Come on, I'm already late because of you. For now come to my house, I'll replace those bandages I did in hurry and put some real ointment on those wound, not just fill them up with sand...."

'She did what...!' Ragna looked at her with strange expression.

But right now this was the best option for him, he had no money or nowhere to go, and he was injuired. So going with her might be the best option for him.

"Okay, hmm thank you again..."

"Yes yes..., I'm great. I know. Now follow me. You can move right..." She said, though still her walking speed was slow, mostly giving him time to get his balance and not to push himself again.

While following her, Ragna didn't talk anything or neither the girl said a thing. They just kept on walking without making any sound.

Seeing her asking no questions, Ragna decided to check out few other things he had to.

'System...'

[Welcome Host]

'hmm'

"Are you sentient ?'

[Partially yes. I can give some predetermined answers to you. Though some answers and information could cost money to buy...]

'Again money...' Ragna's eye twitched.

[Yes, there is no free lunch in this world after all]

'So this thing even jab at me.' Sigh.

"Tell me what you can do"...

"What..." The blue hair hair hearing the boy muttering something to him, turn back only to found the boy stumble.

"Ah nothing nothing. I was just talking with myself. Why are we join in the town by just a long way ?" Ragna asked in hurried to change the topic.

"Ahmm, there is a reason. Don't bother about it. Just make sure you are following me and not wandering about." Said the girl again and kept on moving.

'Sigh, that was close. Maybe limit to talking with the system in my mind.'

[I too will advice that Host.]

'Can you stop interfering until I don't call for you please...' Ragna said, a little annoyed the system was reading his mind.

[Sure thanks]

'Finally, silence. Sigh.

Maybe I should asked for her name back then. Now asking would be a little embarrassing. Ah, so annoying.

Okay, tell me what you can do ?'

'...'

'Oi, system.'

[Ah, you talking to me ?]

'Yes yes, that line was for you, tell me what you can do.' Ragna calm himself and asked again. Maybe he was this irritable before he was hungry as fuck right now.

[Many things, would you like to see a list of those things ?]

'Ah, yes sure.'

xxx

[Word Count: 1600]

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