Fidel D. Marx
-Five Months Later-
"Phew, things have at least gotten a bit easier." Fidel would say as he stood over a Man twice his size. He was panting but not that much. His Willpower was on full display as he had pushed his body passed it's limits. The only thing noticeable about him was his hair had grown longer. The amount of time that has transpired was five whole months, starting from the time he first arrived on Jaya Island. He'd grab the weapon of the goliath, it being a iron club, and he'd raise it high into the air. With gravity and momentum on his side he'd jump back, and slam the end of the club on the skull of the Man. Ending his life and truly putting a end to their bout. He'd push the club away and walk toward the back of the body, gripping the corpses leg. Slowly but surely he'd begin to drag the body back into town. He went to the spot he usually would drop off those he defeated. This has been a common thing and many had come to see Fidel return with a x amount of corpses. Every week he did this.
An onlooker, who was sitting at a table, outside would comment on Fidel dropping the body in the middle of the road and heading back into the woods.
"It used to be that people went to see Bill so they could go and find the Legend Shoda. But, some time ago they have been going after that Kid. No, that Monster. No one even knows his name ...but when you see a kid with a shitty pompadour. You'll know that is him. Some even say he has killed Shoda and took his place up there." he'd sip from his drink as he'd turn away from the corpse and to the person that sat in front of him.
"But, enough of that. You looking for a group to head up with your crew? To eh...Eh, Skypiea? Well, I could Hmm? You lookin' in the direction that Kid went. You want to ask him to join you? Nah, don't bother. He doesn't talk to anyone when he comes down." Who this Man was speaking to, at this moment, was no importance to anyone. Nor does his impact come into this story, well at this moment.
Fidel continued his journey back to Shoda's place. A path had been created that lead right to Shoda's place. Due to Fidel dragging bodies through the same path. No one went up this past everyday though. The day the came was the same each week, around the same time. Why? This was due to Bill. Even though the path to Shoda's home was no longer hidden and anyone at this point could go there they still went to Bill. As he bought the building right next to the path. And using his influence and beli him, along with those he hired, patrolled the area. Not allowing anyone to go up there unless they pay a toll and unless it was the assigned date. Those that got passed Bill though, as some did, would never return. No one knows why they don't return but know that if they did get up there the chance of them even being brought back as a corpse would not happen. If they were to fail in their hunt.
"Phew, finally." Fidel would say as he was still exhausted. He didn't see Shoda's place yet. All he could do was smell the a familiar aroma that filled this area; which allowed him to know he was close to being to his home. Well it wasn't his home home but he had been staying there this entire time. Soon though, around ten minutes, he finally see Shoda's place. And see that Shoda was outside near a fire with not just fish but other food that he had cooking over the fire.
"Oi, Shoda! You need to me do anything?" Shoda would poke the fire a few times before turning his attention over to Fidel.
"No, come and sit down. The food is almost finished. I know a few fish are.""Yah sure Old Man? Did you have your tea today? I know we ran out of the stuff you put in it! I can go look for some in the forest if you need! I know your back be hurtin'! I know! And who would I be to not help the elderly!?! I may look like a bad guy, but I got a little good in my heart! But you betta let me know now...Or I ain't getting yah shit till t'morrow. Soooo, what is it go-" Fidel would stop talking as he'd feel a sharp pain his his face. A rock would then slowly slid down his face and land at his feet.
"AHHH!""SHUT THE HELL UP AND SIT DOWN!" Shoda would bark as Fidel yelled and held his face. He'd shake his head as Fidel made his way over and sat down across from Shoda. The Boy's nose was bleeding but Fidel seened to plug them up with some loose cloth he had.
"Yah didn't have to throw shit." Fidel would mumble as he'd reach out and grab one of the fish. When he first arrived to Jaya he wasn't a fan of fish. But, with this being the only thing Shoda cooked he got used to the taste.
"What have you learned so far?""Huh? A lot I guess.""Walk me through it. Month by month. What did you learn." "Ugh, story time at dinner? Lame....Don't yah want to know how I beat that last guy?""This is part of your training, so speak you brat.""Okay, Okay. So.....month one was well boring and I went through hell. Only thing that happened was that I met you....BUT MONTH TWO! LET ME TELL YOU, MASTER!"-Month II-
The weather had gotten worse compared to the one prior. Where as the first month there was rain it was only brief and light showers. But, this month it was the opposite. It rained everyday nonstop. There is only one day that there was only the sun in the sky, and that is the day this story starts.
"OI, Shoda! Why am I helping you gather herbs?" Fidel would say as he held a basket full of a variety of things. He wasn't picking anything but just holding it for Shoda, who was the one picking. There already being a few herbs and vegetables within the basket.
"Pay attention, boy. I can not always walk into town, even with a disguise. And the same may be said to you in the future. So, hunting and gathering your own food might happen. Like look here. These mushrooms are extremely poisonous. You won't die from eating them but even I wouldn't be able to stay awake for long after ingesting these. Three days you'd be out. You'd be aware of everything but your body will not listen to anything you say. So, you need to watch out for things like this. " Shoda would tell Fidel.
"How would I know? Taste everything and wait and see what it does?" "No, No, that is dumb. I have a book at my home you can read. It is a herbs and other vegetation book that has pictures and also descriptions of different herbs that can be found on many Islands. Won it in a game before I started secluding myself up in the woods." Shoda would say as he'd skip over the mushrooms and grab something else that was near it.
"Phew, I was going to say. If there aren't any pictures I wouldn't be able to help. I can't even read." Shoda would stop after placing what he had in the basket. He'd just look at Fidel, a bit taken back. The son of the Most Dangerous Man within the world can't read, it was shameful. He knew Fidel had run away at a young age to become a Pirate; but he did not expect the boy to be such a stereotype. He already didn't clean himself a lot. He didn't have any discipline. He didn't know when to keep his mouth shut. And now Shoda is finding out the boy doesn't know how to read. Shoda would just shake his head in disappointment. If this boy was going to learn under him he'd need to change a few things.
"Did you Parents never teach you how to read?"
"Yeah, I mean they tried. My Mom taught me A LOT of things and said my Dad was supposed to teach me how to read. But, he didn't do shit. And when she started to do it....I already made my mind to run away. And she was never got the chance to do it. " Fidel would tell Shoda.
"Well that has to change as you need to read. So, when you are fighting those people that come here you will be doing just that. " "Nah, fuck that. Reading doesn't equate to strength. Even I know that."
"Oh? And how so?"
"Well....I can't say why b-" "You will thank me later.""Ugh, I guess." Fidel would bend and allow himself to be taught how to read; he didn't have anything to lose anyway. And if Shoda felt this would benefit him he'd have to at least give it a try. Two hours would pass. And they'd return back to the house with the basket full of a multitude of things. Only herbs that Fidel could actually say the name were simple things. Carrots, Beets, Radish, and Mint. He knew this because Issho had always sent him to go get these items from the market whenever they stopped at a Island.
Shoda and Fidel st outside once they arrived back to the house. Shoda had brought the book out and placed it in front of Fidel; while he would sort the herb and vegetable he had picked. he had two baskets. They were smaller than the large one that held them all and would be used to separate them. Taking a small break he'd look up at the sky.
" Damn....I storm is going to come soon." Shoda would say as he looked away and went back to what he was doing.
"Hmm??" Fidel would look up at the sky. Back and forth he looked but didn't see a cloud in sight. He was confused as to what the hell it was Shoda was talking about. It looked like a good day that could only get better. There were a couple of clouds, maybe two, in the sky but they weren't storm clouds. He didn't question it though as he'd go back to trying to figure out what the hell was being said in this book. He had started to just look at the pictures as he couldn't read, and started to feel like shit because of it. After three hours he gave up. Finally, he'd swallow his pride and just say it.
"Master I can't.....I-I can read one word of this....Help me." For the first time after meeting Shoda the sound of defeat was within his voice.
Shoda would chuckle as this is what he wanted. For Fidel to just ask for help. He already assumed the boy might try and do it on his own after being told to learn to read. And he knew that the boy wouldn't be able to do such a thing. Shoda felt Fidel wasn't someone that knew how to ask for help. A stubborn boy that needed to first learn how to ask for help before he could learn anything else from Shoda. Teaching him how to read was just a bonus honestly. And for the rest of the month learning to read took up most of the month. And due to the heavy storm that plagued the Island fighting wasn't really done. Except once. On the day that the weather was at its worse. When the winds felt as if they would send entire buildings into the air. And as if the sea was preparing to swallow the entire Island.