Episode 1: “Flames, Wings, and Roots”

Series Title: The Rogue Star

Episode 1: “Flames, Wings, and Roots”

The sun blazed high in the sky, golden rays pouring over the grassy hills where three boys were chasing each other, laughing, yelling, and tumbling in the dirt. One of them, with messy black hair and a scar under his left eye, darted behind a rock.

Kai: “You’ll never catch me, Ace!”

Ace (grinning): “You wish! You’re too slow!”

Sabo (laughing): “Slow? He outran you five times today already!”

The three of them – Kai, Ace, and Sabo – weren’t bound by blood, but they were brothers in every way that counted. Life wasn’t easy, but moments like this made it worth it.

Suddenly, a booming voice shattered the peaceful moment.

???: “ACE! KAI! OVER HERE! TRAINING TIME!”

The boys froze. Sabo’s face dropped.

Ace (groaning): “Ugh… it’s him again.”

A tall, gruff man with a thick white beard, stern eyes, and a Marine coat slung over one shoulder stood nearby. This was their grandfather – Vice Admiral Garros, a legendary Marine officer.

Garros (arms crossed): “No more running around like wild dogs. If you two ever want to become real men, you’ll train. Now.”

He stomped over and hoisted Kai and Ace by the collars of their shirts, one in each arm.

Kai (struggling): “W-Wait! What about Sabo?!”

Garros: “He’s too soft. Let him watch if he wants to.”

Sabo watched, his fists clenched. Alone. Again.

But as the other two were dragged off, something caught Sabo’s eye – a broken metal pipe lying by the tree. He walked over, picked it up, and stared at it. Then, with quiet fury, he began striking the tree.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal against bark echoed through the woods.

Meanwhile, Garros had Kai and Ace running laps, doing pushups, and practicing combat forms.

Garros: “You boys could be legends. You’ve got the blood for it – even if it ain’t mine. Now drop and give me fifty!”

Ace (panting): “Why do you care so much about Marines?!”

Garros (stern): “Because only the strong survive in this world. The World Government keeps the peace. You’ll thank me someday.”

Kai: “I don’t want to be a Marine. I want to be free.”

Garros ignored him and barked more commands.

Back at the house, a woman stepped outside, eyes fierce with worry. Her name was Amara, the boys’ adoptive mother. She had flowing black hair and a serene but powerful presence. She sensed trouble.

Amara: “Garros! WHAT do you think you’re doing?!”

Garros (turning): “Training them. They’ll never reach their potential with you babying them.”

Amara’s eyes glowed. She raised her hands and activated her Flower-Flower Devil Fruit power. Thick roots burst from the ground like vines, wrapping around Garros’s arms and legs, pinning him to the spot.

Garros: “Tch—still using your cursed fruit powers, huh?”

Amara (furious): “You don’t get to force them. They are not yours to control!”

She marched over and pulled Kai and Ace away, dragging them toward the house.

Kai (worried): “Wait—where’s Sabo?”

Amara’s heart skipped a beat.

Amara: “...Sabo?!”

She turned, eyes scanning the woods. Then another voice came from behind her.

???: “I’ll find him.”

A tall, lean man stepped forward. His name was Rek, a close family friend and a Devil Fruit user himself. Without another word, his body shimmered and morphed into a majestic giant bird – a hawk.

With a cry, Rek launched into the sky.

From above, Rek scanned the trees. It didn’t take long.

Down below, he spotted a small figure—Sabo—swinging a pipe over and over against a tree, face streaked with sweat and frustration.

Rek (thinking): He’s got the fire too… maybe more than the others.

With a flap of his massive wings, Rek swooped down and shifted into a powerful eagle, grabbing Sabo gently with his talons and lifting him into the air.

Sabo (shouting): “HEY! Let me go!!”

Rek (in eagle voice): “Calm down, kid. We’re taking you home.”

Back at the house, Amara hugged Sabo tightly as soon as Rek landed and shifted back into his human form.

Amara (softly): “I’m sorry… I should’ve protected you too.”

Sabo (quietly): “I don’t need protecting… I’ll get strong too. My way.”

Garros, still wrapped in roots, just smirked.

Garros: “You’ll thank me one day. All of you.”

Kai stood beside his brothers, eyes fierce.

Kai: “No, old man. We’ll carve our own path… and no one’s gonna stop us.”

[TO BE CONTINUED]

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