Chapter 3

2 years old

If anything, Big Mom spared no expenses in the early childhood department…which was a good thing. The Whole Cake Chateau was filled with everything a pre-school and baby center would need.

I, of course, was nearly always stuck with my twin sister Pudding who had come to develop a sort of dependence on me. Even this early, there were nurses and people who looked at her third eye in disgust; even as a baby, she felt that and she turned to her only sense of safety…me. Of course, the other siblings were pretty nice as well (not brother Perospero though) but I was the one that was always there for her.

Third Person POV

The first child of Big Mom, Peros, was greatly devoted to his mother while the strongest of the Charlotte children Katakuri was overly loyal. Just like how these two were known for their qualities, it was undeniable that Syrup, one of the youngest daughters of Big Mom, was the one with the most trusted among the siblings and Mother.

As much as anyone could tell, Syrup did not tell lies. While many thought it was from her virtue, Katakuri knew that it was just because his little sister didn’t give a flying fuck about what anyone thought. Whatever they asked of her, she told them what she thought straight to the face...of course this had exceptions as well.

She didn’t lie in front of Mama, but she simply chose not to speak at all. She only agreed, no matter what mama demanded of her. Her only words were…

Syrup: Yes Mama

But what made her trusted by both mama and the other children was not her virtue of truth but rather her overwhelming strength. Everyone knew that she was going to be powerful as shown by her potential and her progress speed, yet it was different seeing it first hand.

While her twin sister, Pudding, was still playing with toys, Syrup was went out to collect the payments and tribute from all over the New World. She was sent to deal with those who did not comply with Big Mom’s demands or failed to meet their quota. Due to her unanimous agreement no matter what Mama said, she was always to first to run into situations even the older siblings would sometimes hesitate at.

After invading the lands of other Emperors’ (namely Shanks’), she would come back heavily wounded and close to death...as a little girl who haven’t even had her 10th birthday yet. Her ship barely intact with all of her chess & biscuit soldiers already destroyed, she collapsed the moment she set foot on Totta Land. The mission? Successful. Despite this, the moment she was awake, she was already halfway to reporting to mama covered head to toe in bandages. On less risky missions, her first stop before anything would still be the Chateau to report her success.

Success, success, success. Never a single moment of hesitation of accepting Mama's orders, taking a life, and reporting back.

Because of her devotion which seemed to match Peros’, because of her unwavering loyalty which mired Katakuri’s; Syrup was the one and only daughter Big Mom truly trusted. Her one tool which would never fail her.

While this was what everyone thought of her…not many really knew that Syrup just didn’t care. She went on these missions to grow stronger…so that one day she could escape the shadow of Big Mom and enjoy a life of her own.

POV Syrup

People around me said that I don’t really have a life. Of course that wasn’t from big brother or Brûlée but rather from my other siblings who were deathly jealous of me. Even brother Snack who began to fear that I would one day take his position as a Sweet Commander.

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The truth was, I already knew I would. It was the only natural way up the ladder in Big Mom’s army. Snack was undoubtedly the weakest one of the Sweet Commanders and would soon be defeated by a certain passing Supernova.

Actually, I felt pretty confident in my ability to defeat Snack and I am currently 10 years old with no Devil Fruit powers. That was how much I looked down upon a Sweet Commander and he knew it.

Perhaps it was because of that attitude of mine that I didn’t have much friends inside the family. Really, the only people I associated myself with was my big bro and teacher Katakuri. Big sister Brûlée, my twin sister Pudding and Lola and Chiffon. Lola was a special case. I just happened to fall in love with her (as a sister) because of how she was. She was always so bright and optimistic. Always so positive and cheering me up whenever I started to feel just a slight bit guilty about killing some people.

Me: Do you really have to go~?

Lola: You know I need to Syrup

She hugged me tight and I hugged her back. I knew I needed to keep this a secret from Mama and I appreciated her telling me all this. After all, if Mama knew...then this would be nothing less than a catastrophe.

Me: Mama will kill you...she might kill us sis Chiffon by accident as well!

Lola: Oh Syrup~ *pet* *pet* It’ll all be fine. We’re all family after all. Even Mama will understand.

I wanted to cry at those words. I knew sis Lola would never truly understand Mama. Whether that is because she lived under a rock, or chose to ignore what Mama was doing right in front of her eyes, I would not know.

*sigh*

Inwardly, I was already regretting this for I knew exactly how Mama would react. A contract marriage with a Giant Prince of Elbaf, one of Big Mom’s dreams. Lola running away would mean that Big Mom would, yet again, fail to have a giant in her crew. It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t tempted to forcefully keep Lola here, but I knew what had to happen.

Me: I don’t understand, but I’m happy for you.

She looked as if she was about to cry as I said those words.

Me: You’re causing us a lot of pain, don’t misunderstand. We’ll need to clean up after Mama for you but...but...you’re going to be free right?

Freedom. One of the things that drove the people of this world. People became pirates to be free of who they were. Sons of all kind joining under the banner of Whitebeard to roam freely under his name. Others looking for freedom from the tyrannical rule of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.

Lola...Lola would be looking for freedom away from her mother. To find freedom in love and to marry who she wants to. Quite something that would be obvious in my world, but this was mama’s world. What she said was law and the only way to escape it was by leaving her crew...illegally.

Honestly, that was what I planed to do with my life as well. I loved my brothers and sisters (a few of them) too much to leave like Lola, but deep inside I knew I wouldn’t last long here either. I might not show it but I hated following orders for Big Mom. Slowly but surely I was getting tired of burning down islands for Mama. Perhaps it was some sort of inherited will, or perhaps it was just my desire to explore but I wanted to step out of Mama’s shadows as well. Of course, that was not now though.

Not like sis Lola. She would be free...but also not at the same time. If Mama ever heard of where sis would go or be, I was sure she would send out one of us to hunt her down. She would be chased again and again all across the GrandLine and even into the Blues if that was what it took for Mama to rein in her rage. She would be free from the crew, but she would never be free of us as an enemy. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that sis would be trapped in Moria's shadows for years. Enough time for Mama's men to lose track and for her to slowly lose her interest.

If I were to leave...Mama must never know what happened. Worse, I wasn't just one of her non-combatants or a child high on the list of 'Marry Off'. I was one of her 'most valuable tools'. I knew what that meant...if I was left on my own accord, it wouldn't be chess soldiers after me. It would be the whole fucking fleet. The main one.

Me: Sis, make sure you contact us somehow. And stay safe!

Lola: Jeez little sis, you worry too much. I’ll be fine, hmm? *hug*

Me: I’m going to sleep so Mama can’t call on me when she finds out you’ve left. Make sure to exit her lands in the direction of Paradise. You know security is up for the arrival of the Prince of Elbaf

Lola: I know. *pet* I’ll see you again little sis.

I knew what would happen, but I decided to let her go anyway.

To say that Mama was mad would be an understatement. Multiple Islands were completely destroyed and I couldn’t even begin to count the civilian casualties as they tried to stay away from Big Mom’s rampage.

This was way worse than her food tantrums. During one of those we could at least get or cook the food she wants and feed it to her. Such a tantrum was one in which we had a solution to end...but this?

LinLin: GIVE ME LOLA~~~!!!

*CRASH* *SIZZLE*

There was no solution. Big Mom was always slow with her children’s whereabouts... especially regarding the ones who had no talent in combat, like Lola. If my expectations were correct, she would have already made it to Fishman Island and beyond Mama’s control. For the first time in my life, we had to wait out Mama’s tantrums and try to keep the damage to a minimum.

I say minimum but the damage was astronomical. If the Marines invaded us now, then there was actually a solid chance that they might succeed in taking over Totta Land. There was not a Sweet Commander who was not hurt in some way. Only I was fine (I’m not a Sweet Commander yet) as I simply gave Mama the cold shoulder and stayed off the island where she was and moved to the next before she came. I knew that she wouldn’t remember anything in her rage and this wouldn’t impact my image at all, so I didn’t mind. It wasn’t like I could stop Mama or anything anyway...nobody stops Mama when she’s in her rage. Only she could stop herself.

Later on when Mama regained her mind, Lola was labeled as a traitor to the crew and was ordered to be captured on sight.

LinLin: That little bitch! Do does she think fed her and raised her??!! The best and most carefully planned Political Marriage in history and she...She runs away??!!!!

Run away sis. Run away and find your true love. Don’t come back...because if you do…Mother will force me to kill you.