Disclaimer: I don't own The One Piece Characters, but I do own Ruby and her sisters.

The East Blue Saga

Arc 1: Chapters 0-2: The Ruby Arc

Chapter 0: Ruby's past

Date: August 26th, 2002

Location: SHIELD HQ, Top Secret Location

She felt like she rose from a deep, dark sea, coming back to her body. She slowly opened her eyes. Her nose burnt as she peered around a small room, taking in everything.

A strange machine beeped off to her left, a box had moving images just like the…she blinked. Just like what? She sneezed, her eyes snapping shut and her body curled forwarded. She leant back. Her right index figure rubbed her nose. She looked around, again. Where was she, anywhere? Nothing in this room looked familiar. She stretched the side of her head. She felt something wrapped around her head. Maybe mommy put it there for some reason.

She pulled off the strange clothes pin thing off her finger before she reached over and pulled the white thing off her upper left arm. She swung her legs over the bed before she hopped down. Something pulled at her chest. She looked own her gown and found four little white squares. She reached down. She whimpered as she slowly pulled the first one off.

'Just like a bandage,' she thought, 'Easier to be quick,' as she jerked the last three off.

She walked toward the door, but she felt a sharp pain in her lower left arm. She glanced down and spotted a needle sticking out of her arm. She grabbed it and pulled it out of her arm. She noticed blood start run down her arm.

"Uh-oh," she muttered. She looked around and saw paper towels on the counter by the sink. She reached up and grabbed a couple. She placed it against her boo-boo. She held her cup hand there. Her eyes drifted around the room, "Mommy won't be upset, now," she said, softly.

Her orbs landed on a pretty green ribbon on a flower vase. She grabbed the ribbon with her free hand before she wrapped it around the paper towels, holding them in place.

Now, she could go play. She grinned, brightly. She walked to the door, looking for the door handle. The door slid open by itself. She went starry-eyed, whispered, "So cool!"

She stepped into the hallway and choose to go down the left hallway. She wonder where her sisters were hiding at. A frown briefly crossed her lips. Her sisters were playing hide-and-seek without her. She grinned, brightly. She was gonna get them. She giggled as she ran down the hallway.

Ten minutes later, she had no clue where she was at. A loud siren blarred to life. She let a small scream, slapping her hands over her ears to block the annoying sound. Red lights flashed through the hallway. She whimpered, sacred. Where was her mommy and daddy?

She turned around, looking for her mommy and daddy. Maybe they were with her sisters. She sniffed. Didn't daddy say once she had to be strong for her younger sisters because she was the oldest? She nodded to herself. Mommy and daddy, maybe, protecting her sisters from the flashing red monster. She had to find them and help mommy and daddy protect her sisters.

She ran down the halls, looking for a hint of her mommy, daddy, or sisters. Her ears rang with the screams of the monster, but she heard the rhythmic thudding of footsteps. She paled. Her eyes darted around. There! A door! She could hide in there until the monster past. She flew over to the door and pulled on the door handle. The door inched back. She slipped a hand between the door and the frame. She pushed on the door and squeezed her body between the frame and the door. She placed her hands on the door, slowly, closing the door.

She waited for the monster to past the door. She held the side of her head up to the door, trying to listen. She heard the door handle move. She gasped. Her blue orbs widen with fear. The Monster! It found her!

She backed up, away from the door. She bit her lower lips to keep from whimpering, loudly. She wanted her daddy. Her daddy would protect her from the monster.

The door opened. She squeezed her eyes shut. She crunched down in a little ball. Her arms over her head. She didn't want to see the monster. It couldn't hurt her if she couldn't see it, right?

A soft giggle rang through the air. She paused. She peered through one eye to look at the doorway. She blinked, opening both eyes. A woman with red, curly hair stood there.

She raised her head. She heard the woman say something she didn't understand. She uncurled from her ball and slowly stepped toward the woman. Was this woman her mother?

They had some hair color. Plus, this woman seemed familiar.

"MOMMY!" She launched her tiny frame into the woman, "I was sacred, mommy," She cried, rubbing her face in her mommy's chest, "don't leave me, again, mommy."

~Natasha~

"Agent Romanoff," Nick Fury called out before the infamous Black Widow could leave his office, "I need you to join on the search party," she looked confused, "Our little Jane Doe finally woke up and ran off to god knows where."

"I'm surprised that our princess is up and moving after a three month coma," Natasha Romanoff replied, "But I'll see what I can do to help."

The Black Widow walked to the Jane Doe's room, planning to get some clues when she spotted the red head girl opening up a door and disappear into a closet. A moment later, a squad of SHIELD agents came thudding through. One of the agents stopped by her and asked, "Agent Romonoff, have you seen a little girl came through her?"

"No," she replied. The agent nodded and hurried away. Natasha shook her head. She would be recommending to someone to double the shealth training. She walked calmly to the closet door and slowly turned the door knob. She opened the closet door, standing behind the door. She half expected to be attacked. She peered around the door.

The girl shook in fear, hiding her head under her arms. Natasha giggled at the image. The girl looked up and stood up. Natasha said, "Hey little one, what are you doing in here?"

"Ka-san!" the girl cried out and threw herself at Natasha, repeating the word.

A few minutes later, the Black Widow told the short story at Fury.

He grinned at her, responded, "Ka-san meaning in Japanese mom, mother, mommy. Welcome to motherhood." He told her cheerfully, "Take care of our Jane Doe." Fury stood up and called out "Have fun" before he left the room, leaving the girl and Natasha alone.

Date: December 17, 2009

Time: 10:30 pm

Location: New York – a random Street

Ruby Romanoff walked on the sidewalk, heading home. Her head bopped to the music she listened to, ignoring the world around her. She didn't hear the screeching tires. She did see the black figures swarm around her. She opened her mouth to scream. A cold hand covered her mouth. Ruby felt sharp pain in the side of her neck. Darkness carried her away.

Date: Unknown

Time: Unknown

Location: A Small Room, unknown

Ruby's head throbbed. She stared into the darkness. The only sound echoed in the room was the sound of her breathing. She shifted, uncomfortable. She gasped. Fire like pain erupted in her hips, lower back, and upper thighs. Her eyes watered. A tear slipped down her dirty cheek.

Where was her mother? Ruby never wanted her mother more. She remembered the last conversation they had.

"Why I can't go the basketball game? All of my friends will be there and we already made plans," Ruby argued.

"I said no, Ruby," Natasha glared at the teen, "I don't you want to go. I have to be out of town for a couple days."

"I hate you, Natasha," Ruby whispered, "I want my real parents."

** The sound of the door slamming shut echoed in Ruby's head. She curled up on the floor. She whispered, "I'm sorry, mama," she fought tears, "Please forgive me, mama." She closed her eyes, trying to image someone saving her from this nightmare.

Location: The Moby Dick

Marco woke, rubbing his eyes or he tried to. He opened his eyes and stared down at his body. Angry trills escaped his break as he realized what happen. It was his mating season – for the next two long fucking weeks.

Someone pounded on his door and Thatch called out, "Hey, Marco, are you awake?"

Marco buried his head under his wing. This time of year was also known as Pick on Marco Season.

Thatch opened the door and commented, "I guess we will have to find you a lady bird so Pops can have birdy grandkids."

Marco lifted his head and glared at the cook. The entire crew was aware of the fact Marco was extremely testy during his mating season. Thatch shouldn't look so surprise when Marco launched off the bed at the 4th division commander.

~Ruby~

Her blue orbs snapped open when she heard the door open and shut. Her rapist stepped into the room, blending in with the darkness. Ruby glared at him. He stepped forward.

"Where is Natasha Romanoff?" he questioned. It was the same question, every fucking time he stepped into the room.

"I have no clue," she repeated her answer, "Even if I knew where the woman was at, I wouldn't tell you, asshole." She felt his displeased gaze behind his mask.

Her rapist growled. He reached down for one of her legs. Ruby felt his hand wrap around her left ankle. He dragged her toward him.

Not again! No! Ruby had enough. She felt something snap deep within her mind.

Light pooled into the room behind the injuried teen. A soft breeze carrying the scent of the ocean filled the room. Ruby turned her head. The man stopped, looking in that direction.

The red head forced her right leg up close to her rear, her hands curled on the rim of whatever it was behind her, and she jerked her leg out of her rapist gasp. She pushed backwards as the man tried to grab her again. Ruby fell backwards into thin air with a mile-wide grin. She would take anything over being raped again. She flipped the man off as she started to drift downward.

Ruby lend back, spreading her arms out. She viewed the pretty blue, cloudless sky in the first time in what felt like forever. She took a deep breath, inhaling the salty air, closing her eyes. She felt her greasy red hair fly about her head. She opened her eyes. Her grin disappeared.

Her rapist jumped out of the black hole after her. A mental arm extended out. She knew he glared at her from behind his blacken goggles and face mask.

Ruby cursed, softly. She twisted in the air. She snapped her legs together. She pinned her arms to her sides. She faced downward. Her eyes widen.

There was a crystal blue ocean for miles around. It sparkled in the sunlight like a dozen diamonds, except for one spot. Ruby couldn't make it out. As she got closer, she noticed it was a ship.

~Marco~

Marco let out a sigh as he fought the urge to maul some of the people he was forced to call siblings. Pops wouldn't do anything. He found it as amusing as the rest of the family did that Marco had transformed for his mating season. He sat highest point on the tallest mast. He cocked his head, hearing something…was that screaming?

His keen eye sight darted over the deck. Who the hell was screaming? Where they under attack? If they were, he would be able to work off some stress. He hoped they were under attack. He didn't see any enemy ships nearby. The screaming got closer. He glanced up. He blinked twice to make sure he was not seeing things.

A red head cute teen fell toward the ship with a man dressed in black clothes and he had a mental arm.

That had to be the strangest thing the Phoenix had seen in a long time since the crew traveled through Paradise. One time, a rotten ship fell on top of them while they were heading to Jaya.

~Ruby~

She couldn't help the scream that escaped her as she neared the ship's sails. She could have sworn there was a huge blue bird sitting on one of the masts, but she fell too fast to really see it. She reached out and grabbed one of the sails, trying to slow her fall.

There was a loud squawk as Ruby grabbed onto something, but it gave away. She brought her left hand up into her sight. Yup, there was a blue bird, nearby. She held a blue feather in her hand. She reached out again and grabbed the sail. She felt her body turn in the air and slammed into the sail.

Her rapist flew by and straight into the deck with a crashing boom. Ruby hoped he had died a painful death.

She held onto the sail as tight as she could. She heard a loud rip and glanced at her hands. Her fingers dug through the sail. She slid down toward the deck with a small squeak. She felt her feet hit something and she let out a sigh of relief.

She saw a flash of blue out of the corner of her eye and she turned her head. The huge blue bird floated a few feet away, watching her. She blinked at it. Was that a phoenix?

"Beautiful," she breathed. The bird cooed softly.

There was a loud commotion from the deck. Ruby looked down and cursed a blue streak as she noticed the rapist stepped out of the hole. The bird let out a laughing sound. She glared at the bird and commented, "It's not funny. I can't believe he's still alive. Damn him. I can't take anymore. I rather die." The bird cocked its head to the side. "I think you are a phoenix, if I am right." Ruby's eyes darted downward. She didn't see the bird look at her. "I wish I could be a bird," she whispered, wishfully, "At least, I could get away from that raping monster."

The phoenix let out a series of angry trills. Ruby stared at it wide eyed. The phoenix flew close to her, turned around, and stared at her before it motion to climb on. She blinked at it. She reached out her left arm and wrapped it around the base of the Phoenix's neck before she wrapped her other arm and grabbed her left wrist within her right hand. She shifted her body weight onto the phoenix.

The Phoenix shot forwarded. Ruby ducked her head down, almost burying her face into the bird's back. She felt the bird slow down and she glanced up, spotting a huge man with a black bandana covering his blond hair and a white mustache under his nose. She paled. She looked around. She saw men, half dressed and armed. They looked at her and her rapist with curiosity looks on their faces.

The phoenix drifted to the deck before it did a quick motion and Ruby hung from its neck. She whimpered, not wanting to let go. She felt her feet touched the deck.

Ruby heard some shuffle forward after a moment. She stepped closer to the bird and tighten her gasp on her arms. She bit her lower lip. She felt a pair of hands grab her shoulders. She flinched. Her eyes darted over her shoulder to see a woman wearing thick make-up and a flowery kimono. The woman gently pulled the teen away from the bird.

Ruby noticed one important thing after the phoenix shot toward her rapist. The woman with the flowery kimono was flat chested and when she spoke to Ruby, she had a deep voice. Ruby stared in horror. It was a man dressed as a woman. Her blue orbs rolled up into her head and she fell backwards as darkness swept her away.

Date: May 09, 2012

Time: 1:45 pm

Location: Downtown New York City, New York

Ruby Romanoff stared at the huge portal in the sky above Stark Tower in New York. She was 17 years old and she knew she might not live to see another sunrise. Why? Two reasons. One, a Norse God known as Loki decided to throw a huge fit because he figured out he was adopted. The second reason, aliens – real, fucking aliens – flew out of the portal and started to invade Earth.

Ruby sighed. Today was already a long day and now, it was going to get even longer. She moved away from the viewport and strapped herself into a seat. She noticed the World War II hero, Captain America stood, holding a bar above his head.

After she saw the huge creature known as the Hulk grabbed Iron Man from mid-air, Ruby panted as she looked around at the destruction. New York was not ready for something like this…alien invasion. She lent against a car. She heard Captain America through her earpiece, "Red Widow, you still with us?"

"Yeah, Cap," Ruby replied back, "I'm still here."

"Meet us back at Stark Tower," Captain America ordered.

"Yes, sir," Ruby said. She limped toward the tower. Her body ached as she made the track toward Stark Tower. She really wanted to punch Loki, now.

Date: August 20, 2015

Time: 9:45am

Location: Upper New York State, college campus

Ruby muttered a curse as she shoved the things she needed for the day into her bag. She was running late. She had overslept by two hours. Usually, she was already on campus by 8 and studied in the library before she went to her first class. Now, her first class was in 15 minutes. She grabbed her hair brush, grabbed her Ipod (it was her second one in 7 years. She somehow lost her first one while she was held and raped by a man known as the Winter Soldier), and forced her feet into her combat boots she wore out of habit, now. She slammed the dorm front door behind her as she dashed out. She slipped her arms through the straps of her book bag. She reached the bottom of the stairs and cursed as she realized she forgot her shinai. She doubled back and reached into her closet, grabbing the bamboo stick. She jumped over the stairs and landed in a crunch. She pushed up and headed to campus.

Ruby reached the main street. She glanced in both directions before she started across. She heard screeching tires. She glanced over at her right and saw a Semi trying to stop. How the hell did she missed that? She felt something surge through her.

By the time the semi stopped, Ruby Romanoff was gone, leaving nothing behind, except for her hair brush.

~Ruby's Story~

I hope you enjoy this first chapter of the edited version of Ruby's Story. The last version was so damn shitty I can't believe I had written that. I started to read over some of the chapters because the last version I was writing a few dozen flashbacks for Chapter 30 when I realized the plot hole the size of the United States. I knew I could do better. So, here is the prologue of Ruby's Story.

Please tell me what you think.