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howlingday · 16 days ago

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Why I love One Piece

An essay made at the request of @superbkryptoniteavenue

One Piece is an anime about pirates at first glance. I first found the series when I was in the third grade. When I started watching the anime, I couldn't get enough of it. Years later, I'm still watching it, and I'm finding new things to love about it. Okay, the first paragraph is filled out, now let's get to some One Piece. Now come aboard and bring along all your hopes and dreams.

When I first found One Piece, it was a manga sitting in my school library. Nowadays, I usually start a new series from either the first episode or the first volume. However, One Piece was different in that I started from Volume 3, when Luffy, our main protagonist, meets his future navigator, Nami. The volume also introduced the first major threat Luffy and his crew faced off against; The Buggy Pirates. However, the one scene that I love more than any other in this manga was something that showed me how different Luffy was from the other pirates.

Before getting into that, let me give you a basic run-down of One Piece, and I mean VERY basic, because getting any deeper can be as troublesome as diving for treasure. First, the setting of One Piece is a world that is best described as one big ocean with islands dotting here and there. The world is in what's referred to as The Great Pirate Era, starting from when Gold Roger, the most famous pirate, was executed and with his dying words, declared that he left a treasure to be found, sparking the era. Whoever finds this treasure becomes the King of the Pirates, which is the end goal of our main protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, who is a rubberman with the powers of rubber, which he gained after eating the Gum-Gum Fruit, a Devil Fruit.

I'll save you the long list from there, but it all makes sense as you go along. Anyways, the part that made me understand what kind of pirate Luffy is happened in the first volume I read, where there's a dog guarding a pet store for his dead master. A pirate with a giant lion attacks it and burns it to the ground. Luffy hunts down the pirate, easily overpowers the lion, then knocks out the pirate. He then comes back to the dog, handing him what's left of the pet store; a box of dog food. It's for this reason, among others, that Luffy is my favorite protagonist.

If I could find more One Piece, I wanted to get it. Bear in mind, this was back in the day when anime was only on the internet if you were lucky enough to find it. Especially if you were living outside of Japan and the USA. So when I found the anime, I hopped into as much as I could. I remember finding a website of just One Piece, and I binge-watched it for about a week. Ever since, it's been one binge-watch after the other.

East Blue, Baroque Works, Skypeia, Enies Lobby, Thriller Bark, Saobody Archipelago- I'd seen them all and I loved everything each one of them brought! Thus far, the best arc is Enies Lobby, since I felt like everyone was fighting as hard as they could and has probably some of the best, most tear-jerking moments in the entire series. Not to say the other arcs don't have their moments, but this was the one that cemented One Piece in my heart. Heck, I'll sometimes go back and rewatch the scenes because they're so good!

I find it funny, actually, how a series about such a simple character has developed into this huge world with its own intrigues and deeper lore. And it can all be pretty much summed up as, "And then Luffy happened." There's a secret shadow plot involving the World Government; there's a pirate running around stealing other people's powers; there's a talking skeleton, a giant dragon, and a living cartoon character as a god! It's all so awesome!

So, why do I love One Piece? Well... I love it because it's fun! I love it because it brings up interesting questions! I love it because it makes me laugh with joy, clench my fists in rage, and wipe my eyes for... reasons. I won't say it's perfect because it does have its flaws, but that won't stop me from enjoying Luffy and his crew making these short pit-stops that devolve into colossal battles that reshape the islands, if not the entire ocean itself!

So... Yeah. That's why I love One Piece.

#one piece #my thoughts #my ramble #my essay #first essay I've made on this site #here we go

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alterchaos · 13 days ago

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LEAVES IN THE WIND

(cw: death, blood, body horror [without blood])

Fall arrives in the cosmos...

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: A SEED OF HOPE

NEXT CHAPTER: THE SHINING ROAD

Peace…

That was all the golden, sparkling hedgehog felt as he approached the watery planet entangled by the roots of his enemy. Soon, he would join him, the final hope against the coming destruction. He was afraid. Of course he was. He was about to give up the freedom he coveted so much…

But it was worth it…

It was all worth it if it meant their safety.

Besides…

What kind of worth could a life like his possibly hold…

When his hands would harm those he swore to protect…

When his existence brought nothing but the pain and tears he witnessed as he left…

No…

He didn’t want them to feel that kind of pain anymore…

He didn’t want them to worry anymore…

All because of him…

All because of what he’d done…

What he’d become…

…

In the end…

Sonic closed his eyes and raised his hands towards his mouth.

His hopeless, childish dreams had shattered, revealing nothing but the remnants of a deadly monster.

“Goodbye…everyone…”

He hesitated, releasing a few more tears before steeling himself.

He opened his mouth wide…

Tilted his head back…

And then…

SLAM!

“-!!?!?”

Sonic’s eyes flew wide as a figure knocked into him, causing his hands to fumble the seed just before his lips. In that single instant, a hand swooped in from the side, grasping it firm. He looked to the unexpected figure in shock.

“C-Cosmo!?”

The seedrian gritted her teeth, blinking a few tears from her eyes.

“I’m sorry about this, Sonic.”

With that, she balled her right hand into a fist, uppercutting the hedgehog in the gut with surprising force, knocking the wind and sense from him.

“Cosmo…W-What are…y-you…”

“This isn’t your fight…It never was…”

“C-C…os…m-mo…”

Sonic fell silent, floating limp in the endless expanse of space as a result of her sudden attack. She nudged him towards the Blue Typhoon, smiling tearfully as he floated away from her.

“Goodbye, Sonic…”

With that, the girl made of petals and leaves dove head-first into the core of the watery planet, weaving between Dark Oak’s roots until she could find a comfortable resting place. She looked down at the seed in her hand, its reflection bouncing off the red gem along her collar as a few petals flew from her ears.

“Please let this work…”

Cosmo took in a few, final deep breaths…

In…

And out…

In…

And out…

And in…

And finally…

Out…

She gave a silent goodbye to the breaths she would no longer take…

To the strides she would no longer make…

To the future she now chose to forsake…

For the heartache left in her wake…

She tilted her head back, bringing her hands to her mouth.

She swallowed it.

…

And then…

“NNGH!!!”

Cosmo clutched her chest as she felt the effects quickly take hold, wave after wave of wild energy emanating from the germinating seed. She gasped for air as she gazed upon her hands, her fingertips already elongating and splitting into branches.

“G-Good…N-Now…Now to just…”

She coughed a few times, a few loose leaves flying from her mouth as she fought to retain control. Strands of auburn bark began creeping from beneath her missing eye as well as her nose and the corners of her mouth. They threatened to consume her gem as roots spread from her feet.

It was now or never.

“H-Here…g-goe…”

Her voice began to creak as she lifted her stiff arm, bringing her jagged, branchy hand down hard into the gem.

“KYAAAAAAA!!!!”

SHATTER!

With the combined power of the seed, branches and roots erupted from the gem, instantly consuming the girl in their wake. They took hold of every inch of the planet, trapping Dark Oak in her entanglement as she blossomed upwards beyond the stratosphere.

Everyone aboard the Blue Typhoon watched in horror as the transformation continued.

“SONIIIIIIIIIIIC!!!!!” The girl continued to pound her bloodied fists tiredly against the glass, “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”

“Eve…No more…” Her older brother slid his hands around hers, holding her trembling figure back, “It’s over now…There’s nothing we can do…” She released a couple more cries in anguish before she relented, turning sharply and burying her face in her brother’s chest.

“Th-This…hic…This is all my fault…sniff sob…I-I…hic…I-I didn’t meant to-”

“Shhhh…Hey, don’t say that…Don’t say that…” He held her tight as she continued to release a steady stream of muffled sobs, “None of this is your fault…” He held back a few tears as he recalled his failed attempt at a conversation with him before, a guilty expression crossing his features, “Trust me…It isn’t your fault…”

“S-Sonic…”

The hero’s little brother remained on his hands and knees, trembling with each audible sob.

“M-My own brother…”

“Tails…”

The emerald guardian simply stood there, unable to find the words as Amy broke down sobbing next to him. He turned, looking back out towards the watery planet with regretful eyes.

Then he saw it.

“Wait…is that…?”

A flickering, golden light floating towards them…

“It is! EVERYONE LOOK!!! IT’S SONIC!!!”

The young fox ran to the bloodied window next to his brother’s fading words, the young girl joining him after stumbling a bit in her excitement.

“SONIIIIIC!!!!!”

“QUICK!!! SOMEONE GRAB HIM!!!”

“WAIT!!! HE DOESN’T HAVE ANY OF THAT WEIRD BRANCHY STUFF ON HIM DOES HE!!?”

“WHO CARES!!! THAT'S MY BROTHER!!!”

“WAIT TAILS!!!”

The young fox had already disappeared. In mere moments, he flew out before them, grasping his brother tight in his arms. Everyone waited a moment with baited breath before Tails looked at them, shooting a thumbs up with a joyful smile.

“HE’S ALIVE!!!!!”

“SONIC’S ALIVE!!!!”

“CHAO CHAOCHAOCHAOOOO!!!!”

The echidna flew out next, unable to contain his joy any longer as he held his little brother, hugging him tight. Everyone watched as Sonic woke up, tears of joy springing from their eyes.

Then he spoke.

Everyone watched as Tails listened intently, his smile faltering as a look of confusion and, finally, horror washed over him. He cried out as his ears pinned to the back of his head, turning to look at the tree-covered planet in despair.

“Huh…I wonder what happened…”

“Guys…look…”

Everyone followed the girl’s gaze to the new tree that had blossomed atop the planet.

“A…cherry blossom tree…?”

“Wait! Where’s-!?”

Tails flew back inside the Blue Typhoon in a panic, Knuckles reaching out behind him as Sonic hung his head low.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!”

Tails nearly crashed into his control panel, frantically hitting every button in hopes of some kind of answer.

“Tails? What’s-”

“IT’S COSMO!!!! SHE- SHE TOOK THE SEED AND-!!!!” He buried his face in his hands, sobbing loudly.

Everyone’s eyes grew wet.

“Oh no…”

“Miss Cosmo…”

beep

“H-Hey…cough cough…can-bzzrt…can anyone…hrk-zzt…h-hear m-me…bzz-cough”

Tails’s eyes flew wide with a sudden gasp.

“C-Cosmo…?”

“L…bzztL-Listen to me…T-Tails…I-zzrt…cough hnngh…I-I don’t have much-bzzz…cough…t-time…l-left-zzt”

The sounds of creaking wood flooded the small speaker as Tails held it close.

“Th-That…sniff…Th-That’s okay…hic sniff…J-Just…Just stay on the line okay…We’re coming for you so…hic…so hang tight-”

“T-zzrt…ails…P-Please…l-list-bzzt…to me…cough aagh…bzzrt”

“C-Cosmo…” The young fox was unable to quell the flood of tears from his eyes.

“I-I…hrk-bzzt cough cough…I-I w-want you…to-cough bzzrt…to f-fire at…m-me…zzrt”

Tails’s entire world shattered in that instant.

“W-What? What do you mean…hic…f-fire at you? sniff hic…C-Cosmo-”

“P-Ple…creeeak gasp…bzzt-cough…P-Please…b-before I-I…cough-zzrt cough…I-I don’t…gasp…don’t want to…aagh cough creeeak…l-lose…m-mysel-zzrt”

The young fox gritted his fangs, “I-I…sniff hic…I can’t-”

“P-Pleas…creeeaakk bzzt…t’s the o-only way to…cough hngh…t-to s-stop…crreeeaakk…a-ark…Oak…aagh cough…”

Tails buried his face in his hands.

“I…I-I know i-it was…cough…s-selfish of m-me t-bzzt…creeeakk…t-to call like this…creeakk…b-but I…cough nngh…I-I didn’t want t-to be a-cough bzzt…a-alone…bzzt…”

“No…hic…No it isn’t selfish…sniff sob…I-I’m not going anywhere…hic…S-See? I’m here, Cosmo…sniff…W-We all are. Y-You…You don’t have to face this alone…”

“T-Tai-bzzzt…I-I’m…s-scared…creeeaaakk cough…”

“sniff hic…Then why…w-why did you-”

“B-Becaus-cough creeeaakk…B-Because I…w-was more…a-afraid…creeeakk…a-fraid…th-that I would…bzzt cough…l-lose…a-all of you…bzzt…M-My friends…creeakk bzzt…M-My…p-precious…friends-cough hrk…”

Everyone was sobbing.

“Live…l-live a-and be-creeeaaakk bzzt…h-happ-y…cough…I…m-may be gone…creeeaakkk…b-but I…w-will always…bzzt-cough cough…e-every…on-creeeaakk…”

“C-Cosmo…”

“T-Tai-bzzt…s?”

“Y-Yeah…hic…I’m here, Cosmo…”

“creeeaakk cough hrk…C-Can…Can we b-be…bzzt-lone…cough…”

Tails buried his face in his hands once more as he spoke in a low, shaky voice, “...Can you all give us a minute?”

Though not wishing to leave their friend, everyone filed out of the flight deck one by one. Some offered a final word of goodbye, expressing their joy in having the seedrian in their lives…however limited her time may have been. After a few moments, only the captain remained, the lights around him dimmed so he could take in the light of her petals without the bloodied window’s glare. He sat there, silently, his thumb hovering above the bright red button. One click and the battered power canon would fire its final ray. One click and there would be nothing left of her.

One click and it would all be over.

“I…”

He trembled as he gazed upon her sweet petals in the distance.

BA-BUMP!

BA-

“I CAN’T DO IT!!!”

clack

“…sniff hic…”

“bzzzt-ails…”

“NO COSMO!!!! I PROMISED!!!!”

SLAM!

“I PROMISED AS CAPTAIN THAT EVERYONE WOULD RETURN HOME SAFELY AND THAT INCLUDES YOU!!!!!”

“T-Tail-creeeeakkk…”

“T-There…sniff hic…THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY!!!! I’M NOT GIVING UP!!!! M-MAYBE WE CAN-”

“bzzt-t’s…cough…o-oka-”

“NO IT’S NOT OKAY!!!! I-I-!!!”

plip

“I-I…”

plip

“T-Tai-creeeaaaakkkk…I-I…w-wil-bzzzrrt creeeeeaaakkk…lways be with you…bzzzt…”

plip

“...I-I know…”

plip

“T-Tai-bzzzzrtzzz creeeeaakk…Th-Thank…creeaakko-ou bzzzrt”

“...sniff hic…”

plip

“I-I…l…l-lo-creeeeaaak-zzzrtkrrshhhhhhhh…”

beep

plip

“Cosmo…”

plip

“I-I…”

plip

click

VREEEEEEEEEE

SHOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

“I love you too…”

BOOOOM!

CHAPTER END

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