The Path To The Top

On a small island in the North Blue, in a cathedral near the beach, there are many children of various races. However, today is a special day because it is shipment day, the day when the world government sends food and supplies to the cathedral to take care of the children. But today seems strange; it is not the usual ship arriving. It is smaller, more like a boat than a Marine ship. When the boat reaches the beach, the mother goes to see what is inside.

Mother: "My God! What poor little ones."

Says the mother, seeing that inside the boat are two babies, one similar to a humanized animal—in other words, a mink.

Mother: "A mink? In the North Blue? How rare, I'll make good money with him, but the other one..."

The other baby is different; he is similar to a common human, if you disregard the abnormal number of arms—four, to be exact—and he being a little larger than a common baby, and a pair of horns.

Mother: "How interesting. I think I can make a lot of money with him, pihihihihi."

At the end of her thought, the Mother sees another ship on the horizon. This time, it is the ship everyone was waiting for—the Marine supply ship.

Mother: "It looks like they have arrived, children?"

Children: "Yes, Mother!"

Mother: "Can you help me take these little ones inside?"

Children: "Okay!"

While the children take the babies to the cathedral, the Mother stays on the beach and receives the sailors.

Mother: "Hello, officers. What brings you here today?"

Officer(1): "Cut the small talk, old lady. You know why we're here."

Mother: "I'm sorry, officer. I must have forgotten... I think it must be my age."

Officer(2): "Please, Mother, don't apologize. My colleague was rude."

The second officer gives a pat on his colleague and says:

Officer(2): "Come on, man, apologize."

Officer(1): "Ahh~ I'm sorry, Mother Irene. The journey wasn't the best; on the way, we had to deal with some annoying pirates."

Upon hearing this, the mother gives a small laugh and says:

Mother: "It's okay, dear. That happens here all the time too, pihihihi."

Officer(2): "What do you mean, Mother Irene?"

Mother: "You know how these pirates are; they think they can come here and mess with my children."

Officer(2): "And how do you deal with them?"

Mother: "It's quite obvious, dear."

Upon finishing her sentence, the mother's body begins to grow and change. Where a friendly old lady once stood, there is now a creature resembling a human bat. Seeing this, most of the sailors fall where they stand, except for the two officers who were speaking with the mother—they are merely surprised.

Officers: "So you are a Devil Fruit user?"

Mother: "Yes, officers. I am the user of the Batto Batto no Mi and now I am a bat woman."

Officer(2): "You know... even after all this time in the Marines, I'm still not used to these Devil Fruit users..."

Officer(1): "And I don't think we ever will be."

Seeing the officers' discomfort, the mother decides to return to her human form.

Mother: "It's okay, officers. It was hard for me to get used to these abilities too."

After the mother and the Marines finish unloading the ship and storing the supplies in a warehouse near the cathedral, the mother returns to the cathedral to check on the children.

Mother: "Children... I'm back!!!!!"

Children: "Mother!!!!"

Mother: "So, how are the little ones?"

Fish-man child: "Well, Mother, I think they are fine. They seem quite cheerful."

Mother: "That's good, Tristan, but where are they?"

Tristan, pointing to a door: "They are in the dormitory now."

Mother: "Thank you, Tristan... Ah, Tristan, can you take care of them a bit longer? I have some matters to attend to; apparently, some families want to adopt some of the children."

Tristan: "Okay, Mother. Anything else?"

Mother: "No, dear, that's all."

After this, Tristan returns to the dormitory and the mother heads to the office. Upon arriving, as if by magic, the Den Den Mushi begins to ring in her office.

Den Den Mushi: "*ca-cha YOU OLD HAG!! HOW DA-"

Upon hearing the shout, the mother quickly hangs up the Den Den Mushi. After a few seconds, it starts ringing again. This time, she answers first.

Mother: "Listen here, young man, if you shout at me again, I will make sure you never buy another slave in the North Blue. Understood?"

Den Den Mushi: "...."

Mother: "Are you not going to answer me?"

Den Den Mushi: "Sorry, Mother."

Mother: "Apology accepted. I hope this mistake does not happen again, understood dear?"

Den Den Mushi: "Yes, Mother."

Mother: "So, why were you so irritated?"

Den Den Mushi: "Ah, that... I have been calling you for more than two hours."

Mother: "So, that's it. But it's your fault; don't you know what day it is today?"

Den Den Mushi: "I don't know... Wednesday?"

Mother: "No, idiot, today is shipment day. You've been buying from me for who knows how long and still don't know my schedule?"

Den Den Mushi: "Ohhh... true."

Mother: "So, let's get to business. What do you want today?"

Den Den Mushi: "Well, what's on the menu today, Mother Irene?"

Mother: "Well, I have some new products, but you'll have to wait a while to get them."

Den Den Mushi: "Oh, interesting. What are their age and race?"

Mother: "Both are not even a year old yet, and as for their race, one is a mink..."

Den Den Mushi: "Less than a year... complicated, but for a mink... it's worth waiting a few years. And what about the other one, Mother Irene?"

Mother: "Ahh, how do I put this? I don't know..."

Den Den Mushi: "What do you mean?"

Mother: "I have never seen anything like him. He looks like a normal human, but he is strangely bigger than a normal child, but not to the level of a giant, with a pair of horns and four arms."

Den Den Mushi: "Strange, a race even you don't recognize, and you've been in this business for what, sixty years?"

Mother: "Ahh~ you're sweet... It may not seem like it, but I've been in this profession for over 100 years..."

Den Den Mushi: "What!!!!? *Sigh* I know this will sound rude, but how old are you, Mother?"

Mother: "Ahh~ dear, I am only 120 years old, still in the prime of life."

Den Den Mushi: "Okay... Forget it. Let's get back to business."

Mother: "So, do you want the little ones?"

Den Den Mushi: "Well, considering their age, I think it's better not to take them now, but could you keep them for me?"

Mother: "Depends on how much you are willing to pay for them."

Den Den Mushi: "1 million, 700 thousand for the mink and 300 thousand for the four-armed kid."

Mother: "Well, if no one offers a higher price by the time they are 5 years old, they're yours."

Den Den Mushi: "Okay, is there anyone else available for sale?"

Mother: "Of course there is."

... After a few hours of negotiations, Mother Irene can be seen leaving her office with a happy expression, heading toward the cathedral's dormitory. Upon reaching the dormitory door, she opens the doorknob and sees something interesting: the two babies she had taken in that morning were standing there in front of her.

Mother: "How interesting. I was sure they were not even a year old, but they are already walking."

While the mother was lost in thought, the two boys who were standing there ran behind Tristan.

Mirage: "Tristan, who is this old lady?"

Tristan: "Mirage!!!! Don't call Mother Irene that way!!"

Damian: "Yeah, Mira, no matter how old someone is, you can't say that to their face, *whispering* say it behind their back."

Tristan: "True... Damian!!! That's rude!!"

Damian: "Eh, why?"

Tristan: "Well.... Eh... Ahh..."

Damian: "See, I'm not wrong."

Tristan: "Anyway, you two should go apologize to Mother Irene."

Dami and Mira: "Okay, Tristan."

The mother, who saw all this from afar, just smiled at the two.

Mother: "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Mirage and Damian: "Yes, Mother Irene. Sorry for calling you old."

Mother: "Apology accepted... What's your name, little wolf?"

Mirage: "Mirage."

Mother: "What a beautiful name, little wolf. And you, little one?"

Damian: "My name is Damian."

Mother: "Look at that, both of you have adorable names! Tristan!!?"

Tristan: "Yes, Mother?"

Mother: "Did you choose their names?"

Tristan: "No, Mother. When I was taking off their blankets, I noticed a paper on them with their names written on it."

Mother: "I see, but I'm a bit impressed. They can't be even a year old, but they are already walking and talking. That's impressive."

Tristan: "Well, when I saw them walking around the moment I turned to look for some clothes that fit them, I was surprised to see them running and talking around, especially Damian, since it's quite normal for minks to develop quickly, but I don't even know what race Damian is."

Mother: "Indeed, I can't say what his race is either."

Damian: "Hey!!! What's so interesting about knowing my race?"

Mother: "It's nothing, dear, just curiosity."

After a brief conversation with the little ones, the mother continues to talk and play with the children until it's time to sleep.

Mother: "Well, little ones, I think it's time to go to bed... good night and see you tomorrow, children."

Children: "Good night, Mother."

After the mother bids the children good night, she leaves the dormitory and turns off the lights. While all the children are sleeping, you can see, in the darkness, two children opening their eyes and smiling.

To be continued.