All right, crew! New orders from your Captain! We protect the village and stop these pirates here!"
Coby nodded at the words, preparing himself mentally for the battle. Nami gripped her baton tighter, nervousness increasing as the ship drew closer. Zoro's smirk grew at the thought of another battle, maybe he could try to use Armament Haki like his Captain.
"Luffy! Stay back! I want to fight against them!", Zoro called out to his Captain. Luffy frowned a little, before stepping back and looking at the teen who had positioned himself at the top of cliff.
"Aren't you going to fight?", Luffy asked perplexed. On the cliff, Usopp smiled nervously.
"Hehe... I am a sniper, you see...", Usopp said quietly, as he showed his slingshot. Luffy's eyes lit up seeing that, but furrowed his brows, something nagging him.
"Can you support my nakama from there?", Luffy asked as he pointed towards Zoro, Nami and Coby. Usopp nodded nervously, picking a projectile from his sling bag, and readying his slingshot to fire. Luffy's eyes widened as he sensed something quirky about the projectile the teen was about to use. 'He certainly is an odd guy. This is going to get interesting. I can't wait to what this guy is capable of', Luffy thought with a smirk. Coby shifted a bit seeing the Zoro-smirk on his Captain's face.
'What is sencho thinking? That smirk is giving me chills', Coby thought as the ship finally docked on the small beach. He clenched his fists, his first fight as a real pirate was about to start. He froze when a hand landed on his shoulder. Coby turned to see Luffy, with a grin on his face.
"Relax Coby. I know you're nervous, it can be nerve-racking when you're about to enter a fight to death for the first time. Nervousness will only hinder you, Coby. I know how strong you are!", Luffy said ruffling Coby's hair. Tears welled up in the pink-haired teen's eyes, the words sending a wave of calmness and warmth through him. Coby gave a nod, before turning to the pirates which were coming down from the ship one after another.
A quick scan and they estimated the pirates to be at least thirty in strength of numbers. Luffy and the others made no move as the pirates started making their way up the slope which led to the forest and then the village. Nami was in a similar state as Coby, but more composed since she had been in such situations before. All Nami could was trust the former Pirate Hunter and her temporary Captain.
Zoro narrowed his eyes at the pair which was leading the pirates, his eyes drawn to the cat-like claw blades they were wearing. 'The way they walk, it almost like a cat. It would be safe to say that their fighting style may resemble cats a lot. Now that you mention it, their Jolly Roger is also like a cat', Zoro thought holding two of his swords down in a stance.
"Did Jango-sencho or Kuro-sencho recruit more pirates?", the one with green hair asked pointing to the four pirates on the slope.
"They maybe here to greet us", the other male responded turning to the four with a wide smile. "Can you go and tell Kuro-sencho that the Black Cat Pirates have arrived?"
Luffy furrowed his brows. "I am sorry, but we don't know any Kuro or Jango. I am a pirate, Monkey D. Luffy. And this village is under my protection!", Luffy proclaimed causing Usopp and Nami to look at him with wide eyes. Coby's lips twitched upward, while Zoro's smirked widened. The pair was glad to work under such a Captain.
"Are we free to cut them up?", Zoro asked with a dangerous glint in his eyes. Needless to say, the Black Cats collectively to a step back. Coby shifted uneasily, feeling like an odd man out in a crew with two, for the lack of words, monsters. But Coby was satisfied seeing the pirates gulp in fear seeing Zoro's blood thirsty grin.
Luffy gave a single nod, letting the hell break loose. Zoro ran forward holding both of his swords over his back, before jumping into a small group on the left flank. "Taka Nami", Zoro called out as a powerful gust of wind emanated from the two swords, knocking the group of six over their feet. That seemed to snap the other Black Cats out of their stupor as all of them rushed towards either Zoro, Coby, Nami or Luffy.
Nami locked her bo staff with two pirates who had attacked her with their swords. The relief in the form of Coby who kicked one of the guys sideways in the hip, causing the attacker buckle forwards at the sudden pain. Nami grinned bringing up her foot and kicking the man in his face, making the other attacker growl in anger at the pink-haired teen.
"You damn brat!", the second guy snarled as he turned to Coby with his sword raised, completely forgetting about Nami. Coby gave a nervous grin to his current attacker, only for the man to get knocked out when Nami hit the man in his head with her staff.
"Don't take your eyes off your opponent in battle!", Nami said in a jovial voice at the downed man. They then turn to screamed of terror which had emanated from downhill, where Zoro was doing his work.
"Nitōryū : Nanajuni Pound Ho!", the swordsman called out moving his swords in horizontal circular arc, sending two air projectiles which exploded after coming in contact with the Black Cats, putting another half a dozen of the pirates out of commission.
Up the cliff, Usopp was watching with a jaw drop at the chaos the swordsman was creating. He mentally noted that the green-haired man had taken down twelve of the pirates in the same time the other pair had taken down two. He watched as the Captain of the small pirate crew casually side-stepped a relatively powerful swing before burying his fist in the side of the man's neck and knocking him out. He stiffened when he noticed that one of the pirates had sneaked out from the fray and was about to attack the unsuspecting pair of the pink-haired boy and the orange-haired girl. He pulled the projectile in his slingshot back with the elastic launcher. He quickly took an aim, letting it loose just in time before the attacker to harm the duo.
Coby and Nami yelped in shock, when they heard a small explosion just over their heads, and turning just in time to see their would-be killer fall with burnt hair and a black face. They snapped their heads to the sniper in wonder, who grinned sheepishly at the sudden attention he was getting. Coby gave a thumbs up, before turning around and taking on another of the pirates who had made their way to him and Nami.
Luffy casually sidestepped another swing before burying his fist into the man's stomach, knocking him out. He lazily looked across the slope, Coby and Nami had taken down five of the pirates, two with some help from Usopp, who had been hurtling gunpowder pellets at the pirates. Zoro had been like a cannon let loose, and had taken out at least twenty of the pirates by the time the former trio had dealt with five. He had knocked out the remaining three, leaving only the two leaders who were gaping at the destruction around them in pure horror.
"Wha... What just happened Buchi?", the green-haired pirate asked in shock seeing that they were the only two people standing.
"I don't know Sham", Buchi responded. "What should we do?"
"Captain Jango would be annoyed if we don't come, and Captain Kuro might kill us if he comes to know that we failed the plan", Sham replied.
"I was thinking why you were taking so long", a cool voice came from the forest, to reveal a tall man dressed in an elegant black suit while the other was in flamboyant clothes. The man in the black suit pushed his glasses up on his nose. "This explains it".
Usopp, Zoro, Nami and Coby snapped their head in shock, wondering who the newcomer was(expect Usopp, he knew from the voice). Luffy turned much more lazily, already having sensed the pair with his Oberservation Haki a long time ago. Luffy stayed quiet as he waited for the pair to say something more.
"The whole lot of you pirates is useless. Getting beaten by kids. Has this what the Black Cats have fallen to?", the man sneered, making Luffy narrow his eyes. Sham and Buchi's eyes twitched in anger at being called 'useless'.
"Let see who is useless then. You have spent the last three years in this peaceful village. There's no way you can beat us", Sham stated in fury, rushing to attack the suit-wearing man along with Buchi. Luffy narrowed his eyes as the suit wearing man disappeared just before the pair could hit, reappearing behind with blades to their necks.
"See who has gotten weak. What should I do with you? Killing you is an option, but if you kill that swordsman, I will think about letting you live. You have five minutes", the man threatened in a cold voice, Luffy's temper rising at the words. This man was threatening to kill his own nakama?!
The pair nodded fearfully before setting their sights on Zoro. The man in question pulled out his Wado Ichimonji, placing it in his mouth. Zoro knew it was going to get messy if he didn't keep his guard up. Coby and Nami backpedaled at the power the newcomer was radiating. Of course, it was nowhere near Luffy, but powerful for the pair all the same.
Luffy just glanced at Usopp, who seemed to be on edge at the newcomers' presence. "If you are the Captain of these pirates, then you are our enemy. This village is under our protection", Luffy remarked as he walked forward, placing himself between the newcomers and the pair of Nami and Coby. The said duo relaxed seeing their Captain cover for them.
"Who might you be?", the man asked with a sneer. Luffy was unfazed, gazing at the man with blatant dislike.
"When asking a question, you should introduce yourself first", Luffy responded nonchalantly, earning a bewildered stare from Usopp. Luffy glanced at Zoro who had been parrying all the attacks from the pair, but was clearly getting winded down because of the synergy of the attackers. Yet, it seemed that the green-haired swordsman had an upper hand, as he had diverting the attacks in such ways that his two attackers had to balance themselves before going in to attack again.
Contrary to Luffy's slight grin, the suit wearing man had a furious face. Even he could see that his pirates were losing on a two-vs-one odds. "What are you doing you fools?! It just one measly swordsman! Get that head, and show that you are stronger than their Captain!", the man shouted in anger. "Jango!"
The man accompanying him, nodded before taking out disk like objects and swinging them like a hypnotic pendulum. "Nyaban Brothers! On my count you will be stronger than that swordsman! 1..., 2...", Jango said as he swung his pendulum, while Zoro's opponents looked at Jango with confused and amused stares. "Jang-!", the man was cut off when a explosive projectile hit him in the face, leaving him with burnt hair and a black face. The distraction caused by the hypnotist was enough for Zoro to get in the decisive blow.
"Santōryū : Oni Giri!", Zoro called out driving his arms is two diagonal arcs, leaving deep, but not fatal, cuts in his attackers torsos. The suited man narrowed his eyes as the pair fell, all while the green-haired supposed-Captain was smirking.
"I am sorry to disappoint you, whatever-your-name-is. Zoro is my first-mate", Luffy remarked garnering the attention of the furious Kuro.
Kuro suddenly grinned rather devilishly. "I have offer to make for you newbies. You and your lackeys attack the village, and I will give you half of the fortune which I am going to make", he offered making Luffy scowl. Behind him, Coby and Nami instinctively took a step back, knowing that Luffy didn't like Kuro's words and idea.
"Sorry, but if you have a hearing problem", Luffy started as he walked a few steps forward, ignoring the choking noise Usopp made in the background, he stared into the man's eyes, "This village is under our protection. Usopp is my friend, and any friend of his is my friend too. And another thing, my nakama aren't my lackeys, keep that in mind!", Luffy snarled in anger, cocking his fist back and planting it in Kuro's stomach.
The man bent forwards in pain, not expecting the punch to hit this hard. He closed his eyes seeing a fist sail towards his face, pain emanating throughout his whole body as he crashed into and through the trees behind him. The kid was strong, Kuro would admit that. Stronger than the wannabe pirates who had started sailing the seas in search of Roger's treasure.
He walked out of the forest again, holding a hand on his stomach, the area still hurting from the first punch. He narrowed his eyes at the straw-hatted teen, before looking up and spotting the boy who had been a pain in his arse ever since he had set foot on this island. "I should've known", he remarked coming out of the forest, discarding his broken glasses. "You would be involved in this somehow", Kuro stated narrowing his eyes at Usopp.
A shuffle of hasty feet made everyone look behind Kuro, where a blonde-haired woman fell on her knees, gasping for air. Kuro narrowed his eyes, of all the things to happen! He smirked seeing that Usopp had come next to Kaya in less than a span of five seconds, helping the girl to sit upright as she eased her breathing.
"Khaladore! Stop this madness! I will give you anything you want! Just leave them alone please!", the girl pleaded as Usopp took a defensive stance in front of the girl.
"It seems Merry told you everything after I failed to kill him. It does not matter now. I will dispose of this wannabe pirate crew, before taking all of your wealth", Kuro stated as he turned to Luffy. "You are an annoyance to me and my plan. I will dispose of you and your crew with this", he said as he started jumping sideways in short intervals.
"Captain K-Kuro! P-Please!"
"Anything but that!"
"Spare us Captain!"
Luffy narrowed his eyes at the desperate pleas, before noticing how others were looking around wildly and searching for Kuro. Realization dawned on Luffy, Observation Haki was doing him wonders again. He took a step closer to Nami and Coby behind him, while a few sword marks appeared on a stone and ground beside one of the Black Cat Pirates, before a scream came from another as he was cut.
Zoro felt something tingling through his body, barely raising his swords to stop the force which rammed into them. He stumbled as the force disappeared as quickly as it came, before another Black Cat fell prey to the attack. He smirked as Luffy suddenly leaned a bit forward just after Coby took Nami and dived at the ground. 'I know Luffy used Haki to dodge the attack. But it seems Coby did the same from Luffy's smirk! Damn!', Zoro thought as Luffy suddenly brought back his elbow backwards.
Kuro could do nothing as he was sent flying a few feet by a powerful elbow jab from the black-haired teen. Everybody else except Zoro, Coby and Nami looked at him in shock, that he was able to land a hit on Kuro while he was using that technique. He glared at the teen furiously, who had popped out of nowhere and was ruining his plans.
Luffy walked a few steps forward, before he realized something and turned towards Usopp. "Hey! You are Yasopp's son, aren't you?!", he asked with a wide grin, making Usopp nod dumbfoundedly.
"Wait! How do you know my father's name?!", Usopp asked bewildered. Luffy's grin widened.
"I met him a few years ago! He is on Shanks' ship! The sharpshooter of the Red-Haired Pirates!", Luffy said giddily. Kuro, Nami and Coby went white as sheet. Of course, they knew who Red-Haired Pirates and Shanks were! Usopp also knew who Shanks was, but he didn't know his father was on his ship!
"Tou-chan is on a Yonko's ship?!"
Luffy grinned a nod, before turning to Kuro and morphing his expression into a vicious glare. "You are the kind of people I hate the most! A great pirate Captain never hurts his nakama!", Luffy said coldly blackening his arms with Armament Haki. "Gomu Gomu no Gatling!", he called out as he repeated punched Kuro in the cliffside at a rapid speed.
Nami and Coby prayed for the poor soul who had managed to piss of their Captain, while Usopp and Kaya watched at the bruised and bloody form of an unconscious Kuro with open mouths. Zoro quietly sheathed his katana, giving a final glare at the conscious Black Cat pirates.
"Sencho, I think you went too far", Coby muttered seeing the battered body of the Black Cats Captain. Luffy's eyes darted between Coby and Kuro's unconscious body, and shook his head.
"He reminded me of a bastard whom I don't like", Luffy responded before walking towards Usopp and Kaya, his face shadowed by his hat. Nami shifted uneasily knowing that the last time she had seen that was before Luffy had sent all of Buggy's body parts flying. Zoro rose an uninterested brow as he stood alongside Coby, mentally complementing his Captain's art.
Usopp glanced back at Kaya, before taking out his slingshot and aiming at Luffy. "Stay back! I am warning you!"
Luffy ignored the warning, his eyes still hidden by the hat, and no expression on his face. Usopp took the leap of faith, and released the projectile, which Luffy dodged easily and came to a stop before a scared Usopp and a trembling Kaya.
"Join my crew!"
"EHHHHHH?!"
Luffy giggled at a joke from Usopp, his mouth full of meat. Across him, Zoro took a swig from his bottle, shaking his head with a smirk. Nami and Coby smiled, without eating or drinking like their Captain or first-mate. After the conclusion of battle, Usopp had helped Kaya return home and tend to Merry, while the crew went through the small village and bought the supplies they needed.
"Still, when Luffy-sencho walked up to Usopp-san, I thought he was going to hit him!", Coby remarked before taking a bite of the meat which he and Nami had cooked. (The others were hapless when it came to cooking). Nami nodded at that, and had almost written off Luffy as insane.
"Was I that scary?", Luffy asked perplexed, earning four deadpan stares.
"Yes"
"Usopp what have you decided?", Coby asked, interested if the long-nosed teen was going to be their new crewmate. Usopp opened his mouth to speak something before closing it and opening it again.
"The offer is tempting for a great Captain like me, but I need to think on that", Usopp responded as Coby nodded in wonder. What made the teen think twice about such an offer, Coby wondered. Perhaps the blonde haired woman?
"Well, its late at night. You should go and rest Usopp", Luffy remarked once they had finished their dinner. His eyes flitted to the three children whom he, Zoro, Nami and Coby had pranked in the afternoon. It had been hilarious to see that their faces after saying that they had eaten Usopp.(They wanted to forget the waterworks and drama which followed thereafter before Usopp returned from Kaya's mansion). He smiled gently at the trio, who grinned back nervously. Yeah, very bad first impression.
After bidding their good byes, Usopp went off to drop the kids one by one while the four booked in at a nearby inn. Zoro, Luffy and Coby shared a room while Nami got her own. Coby caught up with the exhaustion, falling asleep the moment he touch the mattress. Zoro leaned his swords on a wall, Luffy doing the same to Amayori.
"What are you thinking?", Zoro asked as he laid on the mattress, his eyes trained on Luffy.
"Nami is stubborn", Luffy responded making Zoro furrow his brows.
"If you are talking about the witch's cunningness, then yes", Zoro replied with a grunt. Luffy giggled hearing his first-mate.
"I know she had her sights somewhere else earlier. Don't worry about that", Luffy said with a mischievous glint. Zoro snorted, mumbling something along the line of 'of course, you know!'
Luffy jerked awake, his hand instantly reaching for Amayori. He relaxed a he felt his straw on his head, before releasing a shuddering sigh. Even if it had been five years since he had left that place, the painful and dark memories had been engraved into his psyche, haunting him every night. He knew that he hadn't been sleeping because of them, but he didn't have the guts to face another one of the faces, which had been killed by his hands. Or see over and over his father's sacrificing himself so that he could live.
Luffy shook his head, before setting in Amayori in his belt, and walking out to have a walk in the calm night breeze. The moonless sky made it even more compelling, to see the stars. He stiffened when he heard a whimper, and a familiar feeling of desperation washed over him and his Haki. He changed his direction, and walked towards Nami's door. From his Haki he did know that Nami was awake, so he gently knocked on the door.
Nami jumped at the sudden knock on her door, not expecting someone to come so late in the night. She wiped away a few stray tears, before walking over and opening the door. She was surprised to see Luffy looking at her with a slight tilt of his head, as if he was trying to piece together some puzzle.
"Luffy, why are you-?!", Nami was cut off when Luffy pulled her out of the room. Nami struggled to get out of the strong, yet gentle, grip all while glaring at the teen. She yanked her hand away when Luffy let it go after exiting the inn.
"The sky is amazing tonight, isn't it?", Luffy asked, making Nami forget to yell at the boy for dragging her out. Hearing the words, Nami looked up. Luffy was right. The night sky was filled with countless stars, with occasional purple and green from nebulae painted across. Nami hadn't ever seen such a beautiful sky. "You long to see the free sky".
It wasn't a question, it was a statement. One which Nami knew was painfully true. She wanted to be from the clutches of Arlong. She wanted her village to be free from Arlong. But that wasn't possible, because she didn't have the hundred million berries which Arlong had demanded. And she didn't know how to reply to Luffy's statement. She turned to look at Luffy's face, a small smile on his lips, yet pain in his eyes.
"I have been there, you know. That desperation, the stubbornness, pain, longing and all that. I have been there", Luffy remarked bringing up a hand to touch the left side of his neck. "I don't know what your goals are for joining us, but if you need help, ask me. Ask us. You're my nakama. We'll do anything we can help. Being lonely is more painful than getting hurt", Luffy said before hugging Nami lightly and startling the girl. The said girl froze at the sudden touch before returning the hug.
Nami brought her knees close to her as she sat down, the cold breeze biting at her skin. Luffy on the other hand, laid on his back, continuously looking at the sky. "Luffy, why do you always look at the stars? Even on the boat, you were always looking at the stars", Nami asked making the boy beside her smile.
"Back on my island, the woman who raised me till I was seven said that when someone dies, they become the stars and always watch over us. They always guide and protect us", Luffy answered. "So every night, I talk with my brother Sabo and Tou-chan. I tell them what happened that day, and what are plans are for the tomorrow. It helps... feel them close you know".
Nami looked at the teen sadly, before looking the sky with a smile. 'Are you watching over me right now, Bell-Mère?", Nami thought as an illusion of the woman whom she could call her mother appeared with a smile.
'I will always watch over you, Nami', the illusion responded before disappearing. The smile spread over Nami's face, the dark thoughts about Arlong going back into a corner in her mind.
"She was right, Luffy. They do watch over us", Nami remarked making Luffy giggle.
"Shishishi! Makino is always right!"
"You said you wanted to become the King of Pirates. After you after Gold Roger's treasure too?", Nami asked as Luffy thought for a moment before nodding.
"You can say that, but being the King of Pirates also means being the freest person in the world!", the teen answered with a huge grin. "And its Gol D. Roger"
"What?"
"Gol D. Roger is his real name", Luffy explained making Nami frown.
"Then why does the Navy call him Gold and Gol D.?", Nami asked. "Are you related to him? Even you have a D. in your name?"
"There are reasons with the D. name. I don't know about the history the D's share, but Tou-chan knew. He said it was written at Laugh Tale. I only know two other people with a D. in their name. And no I am not related to Roger. But from what I heard from Tou-chan, Roger was very funny! He said that it was often his First-mate who chose destinations, because Roger would always end up in death's jaws because of his thirst for adventure", Luffy said with a grin. Nami chucked at the words, having a feeling that the navigator and Zoro were going to have same problems with Luffy.
"He sounds like a fun person unlike how the Navy says", Nami remarked not missing the flash of anger in Luffy's eyes. She knew from Coby's tale that Luffy hated the Marines, but nobody knew why. "You know you are an enigma, Luffy. People usually hate pirates and Roger, you hate Marines and like Roger".
Luffy gave a sad smile at the words. "I have seen the Navy at its worst, Nami. Pirates have much more morals than the Navy", the teen stated in a low voice.
"You know, I haven't seen you sleep more than a couple of hours. You are up before any of us everyday", Nami spoke us a specks of sunlight made themselves known at the horizon, creating the twilight. Luffy sighed but this say anything. He didn't want others to know about his nightmares. "You get nightmares too, don't you?"
Luffy gave a mental groan as the table turned. He didn't want this discussion. Never if he had his opinion. "You should go back to sleep, Nami. Its almost morning", Luffy responded as he stood up and held a hand out for Nami. The girl said nothing, knowing that Luffy had blatantly dodged the question. Her temporary Captain's past wasn't her business.
After returning to her room, she slipped under the blankets wondering if she could ever be free from Arlong. However, something which Luffy had said was stuck in her mind.
'Being lonely is more painful than getting hurt.
Coby yawned as he walked out of the inn, the nice sleep doing favors for his body. His Captain had decided to rest there for another day, since they had been at sea for the entirety of the past week, except the few hours at Orange Town. Luffy had decided to make a stay for two days before leaving. (Coby knew it was to pester Usopp to join them). Later that decision was in vain, as Usopp had come the next day, affirming that he wanted to come onboard with them to the Grand Line.
So, Coby knew they needed to leave the island today. Checking at the time, he knew that they were two hours or so before they set off. With that mind, he walked towards the small and only market square, intent on buying a few weapons for himself. He spotted a small weapons shop beside the local blacksmith, who was selling hunting knives primarily.
"What can I get for you, young man?", the shopkeeper asked politely. Coby gave a small smile, before his eyes searched for any swords.
"Do you have any swords, sir?", Coby asked pointing to the racks of hunting knives. The man laughed heartily.
"We do have swords, but the hunters here prefer hunting knives since they are easier to handle while dealing with animals", the man responded as he turned around to walk inside and bring the swords for Coby to see.
"I think he wants wooden training swords", a familiar voice remarked from behind Coby. Coby wheeled around in shock, spotting Zoro yawning and eyes still droopy. "I prefer you first learn to handle dummy swords unless you want to cut up yourself", Zoro added making Coby frown. "I know how you feel Coby. Luffy is strong in comparison to both of us. If you want to get as strong as him, there aren't going to be any shortcuts".
Coby was silent for a moment before he nodded. He knew Zoro was right. They needed to reach Luffy's level of strength if they wanted to help him, but takign shortcuts wasn't the way. "Wooden training swords please", Coby amended as the shopkeeper smirked and went back in. A few moments later, Zoro had the wooden swords in his hands, checking their balance with practice swings. A nod from the swordsman had finally got Coby two weapons. (Coby could use them as bludgeons incase the situation called for it).
"COBY! ZORO!", a voice shouted their names from up the street, making the pair turn their heads to their caller. Coby's face lit up spotting Usopp waving his hand from the cross-road intersection. "Do you know where Luffy is?", Usopp asked as he walked over to them.
"He should be with Nami deciding our destination and course", Zoro answered.
"Kaya wanted to actually give a present to you guys after you helped defend the village", the lond-nosed teen remarked with a grin.
Coby and Zoro looked at each other, before shrugging. "You should go and check at the beach then. They were planning to get all things ready starting morning", Coby stated.
Usopp nodded a thanks. "If they are there then they may already know about the gift", he said with visible deflation. The pair across him again shared a look again before shrugging.
"Well, we are done here. Coby need a few swords for practice", Zoro said jerking a thumb to the short kid. Usopp hummed at the words.
"We should be going then. The sooner we set sail, the faster we can get to the Grand Line"
Somewhere in the New World...
The flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates, Moby Dick
The Strongest Man in the World, Edward Newgate, or commonly known as 'Whitebeard', narrowed his eyes at the four people across him. Three conscious and one conscious. He didn't miss the worried glances which they shot towards his youngest son, nor the flash of anger directed at nothing. He felt his others sons beside him think feel the same confusion he was experiencing.
"What happened?", he asked his eyes darting between Ace and Thacth's girlfriend. (He would never admit that he gave his son a proud thumbs up after spotting the woman boarding Moby Dick).
"We had a traitor among us", Marco gritted out, the fury barely suppressed in his eyes. A vein popped in Whitebeard forehead.
Yes, he trusted Macro with his life. But suggesting that there was traitor on the Moby Dick, wasn't something which Whitebeard had ever expected to hear from his First-mate ever in his life. He let loose some of his Haoshoku Haki, targeting the trio across him. He didn't show any sign of indication when girl buckled on her knees, Thatch immediately kneeling down and helping her even her breathing. What surprised him, was it hadn't affected his sons even in the slightest. 'Haoshoku Haki depends on one's will being stronger than the others. The girl did buckle under my Haki, yet the two of them stand undeterred'. "Do you dare to say those words again, Marco?"
The surprise was evident in everyone's eyes. Whitebeard had always called Marco as his 'son' and never by his name, unless they were all together and he had to specifically mention the man. So his cold tone was shocking to everybody present. The surprise soon vanished from Marco's and Thatch's faces, their faces settinig into stone.
"Teach almost sold out Thatch and Cressida to the Navy. If it wasn't for Ace overheard that rat, Thatch, Cressida and uh... their child would be dead by now", Marco stated as silence hung heavy in the room. Everybody except Whitebeard was exchanging glances amongst themselves. "That bastard even gloated about returning to the Moby Dick and framing Thatch for the shit he was going to cause".
As everybody had expected, a fist shot out and hit thin air, but Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit showed the rested of his anger. Screams were heard from overboard, as a tsunami was created in the direction he had just punched. Marco met Whitebeard's stare unflinchingly.
"He isn't lying, Whitebeard-san", a small voice caused the towering man to look at the girl being helped up by Thatch. "If it wasn't for Marco-san and Ace-san, Thatch-kun and I would have been dead by now. And even..", the woman trailed of, her hand lightly resting on her stomach. Whitebeard didn't miss the flash of anger in the woman's eyes in the last part.
Whitebeard had seen that anger in his life before. And he had vowed and prayed that he would never be on the opposing end of that anger. He shivered as a memory from his past stirred up, the single incident which had caused him nightmares to this day.
"And why is Ace like that?", Whitebeard asked. He knew Ace had narcolepsy, but right now his Haki resembled unconsciousness. Everybody watched as the trio gave a concerned glance towards their unconscious brother.
"We also came across the Celestial Dragon when we were in Sabaody", Marco started a gloom spreading in the room. Everybody knew about the slaves, and what the Celestial Dragon made the slaves do for them. "Ace recognized the mark from somewhere", he added slowly, some of the Division Commanders gasping in shock. "He went delirious after we said what we knew about the slaves", there was nervousness in the room at those words.
"What do you mean by delirious, brother?", a fish-man asked craning his head sideways.
Thatch and Marco exchanged an uneasy glance, creating more dark atmosphere to the room. "You're scaring us now, Marco, Thatch", another voice called out, this time from a burly man.
"He was talking about ...", Marco stressed flailing his around himself, not knowing how to word it. Yet, everyone understood what the man wanted to say. "All I know is that his younger brother was taken by them and was there for five years".
A horrified gasp escaped collectively from everyone. Marco looked at Ace with sadness. "I know how I would feel if someone here was taken by them. I don't know how Ace will cope up with this, but... He is going to need out help. A lot of it". Everybody nodded wordlessly.
"Jozu, Namur, contact our sources in East Blue. Find out about Ace's brother. The brother of any of my sons is equivalent to my son. And I will never forgive anyone who hurts my sons".