Chapter Text
On an island on the Grand Line, housed in a quaint village, tucked away from the shore, Whitebeard’s crew had just finished dealing with some beginner pirates who were tearing the small village apart. Whitebeard sighed.
“They never learn... All this bloodshed, these innocent people… they should have their lives…” he sighed. “Come, my sons, let’s go… whoever is left will come back.” He said.
“Right pops.” His crew said.
A young Taikomochin followed the crew before hearing a noise. “Wait.” He said, causing everyone to turn to face him. “Shh..” he said before listening to the sound again.
“Izo, what is it?” Whitebeard said.
The young man listened carefully. “It sounds like a baby…” a blonde man said.
“Ahhh, leave it, someone will get it…” a black-haired man with a few teeth missing said as he continued walking.
“It could be days before someone, if anyone, comes back for that child, Teach!” The blonde said, seeing Izo’s worried face. Whitebeard paused, catching his son’s face as well.
“Find the child.” Whitebeard finally said. The crew listened, trying to hear where exactly the crying came from.
The taikomochin walked towards a house that was now reduced to rubble, and saw a woman’s body, curled up and clutching a crying baby. “Pops!” He called. Whitebeard walked over to the taikomochin, who gently took the baby from the mother’s arms. “Shes dead.” The blonde said sadly. Izo held the baby close and backed away so they didn’t see their mother’s body. “Should we bury the mother?” the blonde asked.
Whitebeard saw his son with the baby, never seeing this side of him before. “Yes, bury the mother, Marco, and bring the baby aboard, Izo,” Whitebeard said. The young man looked up.
“Yes, pops…” Izo said, following with the baby.
“What are we going to do with them?” Izo asked.
“I’m not sure, but we’re getting them out of here that’s for damn sure…” Whitebeard said. Izo took the baby aboard and gently caressed the baby’s face, earning happy babbles from the baby. “We should find out if it’s a boy or a girl,” Whitebeard said. Izo nodded and took the baby to clean them up.
A while later, Izo returned to Whitebeard, holding the now clean infant wrapped in a silk sheet. “Pops, it’s a girl,” Izo said.
“Let me see her,” Whitebeard said. Izo gently handed the baby to Whitebeard. Whitebeard smiled at the baby girl.
“What are we going to do with her, pops?” Marco asked. Whitebeard thought for a moment. “She has no family now, it’s quite sad,” Marco said. Whitebeard nodded and continued to look at the little girl.
“Let’s just get some rest, there will be an answer for us on it tomorrow,” Whitebeard said, smiling down at the baby, gently handing her back to Izo.
The next morning was full of excitement over the tiny baby, most of the normal hardened men of the sea becoming big teddy bears when they held the little girl.
Izo walked over to Whitebeard. “My son...” he said before putting down what he was doing to take the baby. Whitebeard smiled at the sight of the baby girl with big, wide eyes staring up at him, and saw Izo hovering. “Well… do you have anything to say or are you just going stare at me?” He asked.
“Pops, I don’t want to just leave her in the next village on the next island, I physically cannot do that…” Izo said. “I took care of my sister when I was a child… so I know a bit about girls… quite a bit,” Izo said.
“Son, are you suggesting we keep this child?” Whitebeard asked.
Izo nodded, “She has no family… we could be her family…” Izo said, looking up at him as he held the baby.
Whitebeard smiled, seeing Izo. “My son, you’ve got a heart in there after all,” Whitebeard said. Izo chuckled, and Marco stared at them.
“Well, if she’s to grow up as one of us, she will need a name,” Vista said.
“I always said if I had a daughter of my own, I’d want to use the name Calliope,” Whitebeard said. Izo held his arms out for the little girl. Whitebeard handed the baby to Izo.
“Calliope..” Izo said softly, smiling as the baby girl cooed.
“Izo, if we keep this child, you have to be the main person to make sure she’s safe,” Whitebeard said.
“Of course, I thought of her as mine since I found her.. If anyone tries to hurt her, I’d…” Izo said, shaking slightly with rage at the thought.
“Then it looks like I have a granddaughter instead of a daughter.” Whitebeard smiled.
17 years later
A woman was tied to a chair, a bag being pulled off her head. The redhead shook her head and blew a strand of hair out of her face. “You’ll make a fine pet for us,” a man said. The woman rolled her eyes.
“Look, whatever you think you’re about to accomplish, I would stop now.” She said. The men laughed, and the woman shrugged. “I’m serious, if you let me walk out of here, you’ll probably live...” she said.
“Who’s coming to get you? Your daddy?” One of the pirates laughed.
“Uh, duh… My dad will totally be here soon and my uncles too… possibly my grandpa if he’s up to it…” she said, flicking a hidden blade out from her sleeve.
“Well, your dad and uncles don’t scare me,” he said.
“Too bad because you’ll be shitting bricks once they come in here,” she said, cutting the ropes slowly, buying her time. “My papa isn’t one to mess with, though.” She said. “Seeing as how he’s also a pirate.” She said.
“Your dad’s a pirate?” One asked.
“Yup! So are all my uncles.” She said, still cutting the ropes slowly with the blade.
“Your threats don’t scare me, woman.” The captain said.
“Okay.” She said before feeling the rope fall away. The sound of gunfire pulled the captain’s attention away, along with his crew.
“What the-“ he started before one of his crew flew through the door.
There stood four men of Whitebeard’s crew.
The pirates who abducted the woman were now staring at a man in a chef's coat with a pompadour, a blonde man with devil fruit powers resembling a phoenix, a man with a black curly mustache, and in the middle of them was a Taikomochin; wielding two pistols.
“Whitebeard’s 16th division commander??” One asked.
“Thats his 4th division commander!” Another yelled, looking at the man in the chefs coat.
“Marco the phoenix?” Another asked.
“And Vista, the 5th division commander?” Another asked, immediately being taken down thanks to the woman who broke free and grabbed her pistol, shooting one in the back.
“Oh yeah, I might’ve forgotten to mention that, Whitebeard is my grandfather.” The woman laughed, quickly pulling her other pistol from her holster. Whitebeard’s men rushed the other pirates, taking them out one by one, and the woman found herself back to back with Izo.
“Calliope, are you okay?” Izo asked.
“Yes papa! I’m fine!” She said.
“Good, on your right,” Izo said before they parted. The woman continued to fire rounds, taking out anyone in her way. “Marco, bring down that beam!” Izo said. The blonde quickly jumped into action, using his devil fruit to fly up and pull it down, landing on some men.
“Thatch! You got one at three o'clock!” Marco said. The man in the chef's coat turned around and quickly took care of the pirate running up, hitting him with a cast-iron.
“Vista, I need a boost!” Calliope said, running. The man with the curly black mustache quickly dropped to his knee, and Calliope jumped onto his back and launched herself into the air and right back into the fight on the other side, lighting up the area with gunfire. After a moment, the fighting stopped, bringing the four men and woman back together.
“Good job, Spitfire!” Marco said, hugging the woman. “We were worried when you didn’t come back to the ship!”
“I was on my way back..” Calliope said.
“Are you hungry? I have dinner waiting.” Thatch said.
“Hell yeah, I am!” She said.
“You’re lucky Thatch stopped him. Teach nearly ate it!” Vista said.
“I would have killed him.” She said Izo smiled fondly at his daughter.
“So what happened?” He asked, wrapping an arm around her.
“I don’t really know, one minute I was petting all the street dogs, then the next I had a bag over my head…” the woman shrugged.
“The dogs again? Izo, we’re gonna have to get her one.” Marco laughed. Izo rolled his eyes.
“Please???” She asked.
“I’ve said no a million times. It’s still no.” Izo said.
They headed back to the ship, eating and then heading to bed.
The next morning, Izo stretched, patting Marco’s side, and got up, pulling on his clothes and heading to the top deck. Stopping only a moment when his daughter met him in the hallway. They walked out to the deck, and Izo headed to the galley to get their tea. Calliope was standing on the side of the ship, holding onto one of the ropes so she could easily get down. Izo walked from the galley with two cups and a teapot.
“Calliope, come now!” Izo called.
“Oh yes!” She said before jumping down and running to Izo. Callie took the teapot and poured tea for Izo, Marco, and then herself. The trio sipped on the tea, and Izo smiled, taking in the young woman’s beauty.
“It will be 18 years tomorrow since you came into our lives, Callie,” Izo said, smiling at her.
“I know, it’s exciting!” Callie said, smiling as she sipped her tea. “Papa,” she said, looking at the older man.
“Yes, my Kaida?” He asked.
“Do you really consider me your daughter even though I’m not really yours?” Callie asked.
Izo smiled fondly, looking at her. “I do my Kaida..” he said. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious, is all… You never talk about it. I’ve always just called you papa, and you never complained...” she said.
Izo nodded, “You are my daughter, it doesn’t matter that my blood doesn’t run in your veins.” Izo said, caressing her cheek.
“So it’s alright if I say I’m the daughter of Izo the samurai?” Callie asked, “Once I get a bounty, I will need something on my posters, and I figured that would be best.” Marco smiled, having heard this before, and told her to go ahead and ask him. Izo’s lip trembled slightly before he regained his composure.
“Is that what you wish to do, my Kaida?” He asked.
“Yes papa, I would...” Callie said. Izo smiled widely with pride and set his tea down before pulling Callie into his arms, squeezing her tightly.
“I love you, my Kaida…” Izo said.
“I love you too papa..” Callie said, hugging him back just as tight.
“Papa, are we going to the next island to pick up ammunition?” Callie asked.
“Yes.. and a few birthday gifts as well..” Izo said, smiling. “Don’t forget to get your allowance from us once we dock yoi; that will be money so you can get whatever you want,” Marco said.
“You got it!” Callie said with a smile.
That next morning, the crew left the ship for the next island, laughing and heading into restock supplies for the armory, kitchen, and other necessities; also picking up a gift or two for their youngest crew member’s birthday.
Aboard a smaller ship, the captain was getting ready for the day.
“Captain! Captain!” One of his crew called.
“Yeah, Deuce?” He asked, walking out of his quarters.
“See for yourself,” Deuce said. The captain looked across and saw the Moby Dick. “Well, we didn’t have to go far after fighting Jinbe,” Deuce said. “So Ace, what's the plan?” He asked the captain.
“We will go after them tonight,” Ace said.
Izo watched as his daughter shared a bit of her food with a small dog, smiling at her. “You’ve gotta ask pops to get her one,” Marco said.
“Pops said yes when she was seven,” Izo admitted.
“Iz… you haven’t…” Marco said.
“I know… but this is why,” Izo said, pointing at how the dog followed her. “That’s what I’ve been waiting for,” Izo said, smiling.
“That’s the dog you’re bringing her yoi?” Marco said.
“Can you help me with this? For your girl?” Izo asked.
“You know it yoi..” Marco said, walking over and getting the dog who was patiently waiting for Callie to come out of a store.
Callie came out of the store and saw the dog had disappeared. She sighed and tucked into the food she planned to share with it.
“Calliope!” Izo called, seeing her looking for the dog. “Come along now, let’s go get you some clothes,” Izo said, smiling at his daughter.
“Coming papa…” Callie said, sighing softly because her new friend had run off.
“Something wrong, Kaida?” He asked.
“No papa…” she lied.
“Come on, let’s go!” He smiled.
Ace went ashore and scoped out around the Moby Dick before buttoning his shirt fully to walk into the town, keeping his head down as he looked. Ace noted specific members he recognized and saw that Whitebeard wasn’t among them. Ace returned to his ship and talked to his crew.
Later aboard the Moby Dick:
“Grandpa, who was that?” Callie asked, seeing the fishman leave.
“An old friend… giving us a warning,” Whitebeard said.
“A warning?” Callie asked.
“Don’t worry, my dear, I’ll take care of it if it becomes a real issue,” Whitebeard said.
“My Kaida,” Izo called.
“Yes papa,” Callie said before turning around and seeing Izo.
“Your friend came looking for you,” he said, the happy pup barking at Callie. Callie’s face lit up seeing Izo holding the dog from earlier.
“PAPA!” She squealed, running over. The crew smiled, seeing the girl who grew up with them finally getting the one thing she begged for since she was a child. Callie took the dog, who barked happily in her arms. Callie looked up to smile at her father before the dog jumped out of her arms, taking off to the side of the ship. Callie followed the dog and saw a group of men running towards the ship. “Who are they?” She asked.
Whitebeard stood up and looked. “Calliope,” Whitebeard said. “Take your pup and put him below deck…” he said. Callie did as she was told and ran back up, pistol in hand.
“Calliope, don’t,” Izo said,
“Come on, papa!” She groaned.
“Let her go, Izo yoi...” Marco said.
“Come on, she’s eighteen years old now, let her engage, she’s been itching to.” Teach said.
Izo looked at Callie and sighed. “Ready your pistols.” He said much to his daughter’s delight.
Whitebeard stood on the helm of his ship. “So I heard one of you boys has made it your life’s mission to see me dead. Wanna fight? I’m here to grant your wish.” Whitebeard said. The crew followed and stood around both sides of Whitebeard. “One of me is enough for all of you,” Whitebeard said. Whitebeard jumped ashore, and it knocked the small crew back because of the impact.
“FLAME FENCE!” Ace yelled, separating himself from his crew.
“Captain!” “Captain Ace! What are you doing?!” Deuce called out.
“Get out of here! Run now!” Ace yelled.
“Captain, no!” Saber yelled.
“A devil fruit…” Callie said.
“What’s the matter? Don’t tell you’re getting cold feet?” Whitebeard asked, approaching the man on the ground.
“My crew’s not trying to kill you, that’s all me. YOU LET THEM GO!” Ace yelled.
Whitebeard chuckled slightly, “Giving ME orders, you cocky punk?” Whitebeard said. Ace charged at Whitebeard, who slashed him, bringing him to the ground.
Ace was dazed from the injury. “So this is what he’s made of, my father’s greatest rival.. I won’t lose!” Ace yelled, trying to pull himself up.
Whitebeard chuckled, “You got some fight left. Look, I’m not gonna kill you today, alright?” He said. Ace looked up at Whitebeard. “You’re too valuable to die in a place like this. Run wild with us and our flag will be yours…” Whitebeard said.
“Does this mean I don’t get to kick ass?” Callie asked Marco, who snickered slightly.
“Shhh,” Izo said.
Whitebeard knelt down and offered his hand to Ace. “And I will call you my son,” Whitebeard said.
Ace grimaced, “SCREW YOU, YOU OLD FART!” He yelled. With that, Whitebeard knocked Ace out.
“Come on, get his crew. “No blood tonight,” He said, taking Ace aboard the Moby Dick, “Get the ship too.”
Callie jumped ship first, followed by Izo and the rest, quickly taking care of the smaller band of pirates. After the crew brought the others aboard and tied the ship to theirs, they set off.
“Calliope, can you go check on the young man in the storeroom? He needs a blanket.” Whitebeard said.
“Yes, grandpa,” Callie said before heading to where they had extra bedding and grabbing a blanket. Callie walked into the storeroom, where an extra bed was put in the storage. Callie saw the man on the bed and threw the blanket over him. She looked at him, and her curiosity grew. He looked around her age, and he was already commanding a crew. Callie started to inch closer, gently moving some of his hair behind his ear. She stared at him but was startled by Izo calling for her. Callie gently tucked the man in who didn’t wake and left the store room, going to her father and then to bed for the night. Her 18th birthday was definitely one to remember.