To be a Pirate 3

"Okay, now that's just cruel," Marvelous' made the others' heads jerk up from their food when he walked in with Ahim, "how could you start diner without me?"

"I didn't cook it!" Doc held up his hands when he was glared at, and Gai shook his head, not wanting to see a hungry Marvelous angry.

"I did," Stephanie stepped out the kitchen and set a plate of rolls on the table, "and they certainly seem to agree with my taste." She gave him a smirk that was almost identical to his own, and he scowled, sitting down and ripping into a chicken leg bitterly.

"This is amazing, Stephanie-san," Ahim commented as she ate her own plate.

"Yeah, I know," the fourteen year old sure seemed to be over her shyness, "so…what've you been doing all this time, Marvey?"

"I…" he thrust him spoon into his mouth to avoid conversation.

"Marvelous-san doesn't really like to talk about what happened," Gai explained to her, and he yelped when he got a sharp kick in the shin.

"Shaddup," he spoke through some mashed potatoes and glared at the redhead.

"Ow…" he complained, and the youngest laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Watch your temper," she punched him playfully in the shoulder, "I don't think beating up your friends is going to keep them around."

"We're used to it," Luka rolled her eyes and smiled at her a bit, "you're feisty…I like it."

"Yeah well," when everyone was done eating, the young teenager quickly cleaned up the table and flopped back in Marvelous' chair, much to his displeasure, "so, Marvey. Let's talk about what's now."

"Or," he settled for standing in front of her, "how about you tell me how you got away from that ZangyZakk?"

"I told you before…I made this," she pulled out her key again, "I was there for a long time, buddy. They were trying to force me to be a soldier so I went along with it…but it was part of my plan."

"NO!" a Scormin tried to strike her in the face, but she flipped him and kicked his gut, like she did to anyone who tried to touch her. She'd always kept the feistiness…the king liked it, even if she wouldn't listen most of time.

She at least got most jobs done.

"This thing is so annoying…" she put her hands on the electric collar that was on her neck, "well, I think it's about time for me to leave."

"Their trust in me is what made it easier to escape," she told them, "and it was pretty simple to switch the controls at base to get that collar off. They can't find me…usually. When they do I can take care of them by myself…and this thing just appeared when I was overwhelmed." She threw the key up and caught it, shrugging.

Joe had certainly been silenced by this, as well as Marvelous. Luka and Doc looked at each other with half amazed, half shocked faces, and Ahim bowed to her a little as Gai scrambled to the teenager's feet.

"That's amazing!" he broke the still silence, "I…I've never heard of anything like that!"

"Course you haven't," she stretched out, like this was casual conversation, "I'm a special Super Sentai. Besides, it's not like you've heard of flying pirate ship before or the greatest treasure in the universe."

"Stephanie, you do I didn't mean to put you through that," Marvelous' body was rigged, and guilt lined his face.

"It's fine, Marvelous," she rose and put a hand on his shoulder, "I told you before I could take care of myself. Is that enough proof for you?"

"I don't want you in danger again," he rubbed his temples and went up the crows nest, leaving the others to stare after him and her to sigh.

"He still thinks I'm a kid," she flopped back on the chair.

"Marvelous-san.." Ahim started him, but Luka stopped her and shook her head. She knew what he was like to lose the one you cared about most…and how much it hurt.

XXXXXX

The Pirate Captain's eyes were tired and reflected deep thought as he stood up there alone, leaning against the rim. He'd missed her so much…he'd worried for her so much. He felt so guilty about what had happened with the ZangyZakk…he shouldn't have let her get hurt. He cared about her too much for that to happen…at least he thought.

"You know you're not alone," Luka's voice spoke in his ear, and he didn't even glance at her.

"I should have stopped them. She shouldn't have been put through all that," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes and groaning, "I should have been there. And she would have met AkaRed…and she'd be your captain."

"But it happened," she leaned against the rim beside him, "I've figured out you just can't change the past. But you can make the future a lot better."

He pulled out his Gokai Ranger key, and she went quiet. She wanted to protest, to tell him there was no way he could ever even consider giving up being captain. But she could connect to his pain more than either of them would admit. When she lost Fai…she was considering death and letting Caine take over with the kids. But she had to stay strong…for those poor kids. She could only hope he'd done the same for the crew. But even so…she could meet him halfway with reason.

"Let her be a Pirate first," she told him, patting his shoulder, "then maybe she can be a Captain."

"Captain Stephanie," he mumbled, sliding the key back into his pocket, "I still think that sounds better than Captain Marvelous."

XXXXXX

"Wow…" Gai looked in fanboy heaven as he listened to Stephanie tell of her adventures with the ZangyZakk and how it was when she was with Marvelous.

"You're really strong…" Doc was listening with awe as well beside Ahim on the couch.

"Stephie," the Pirate Captain spoke to her, "what do you say about being a Pirate?"

"I say…" she raised an eyebrow, "I can take care of myself." And with that, she headed for the ropes, leaving the entire crew to stare after her with looks of shock on their faces.

And on Marvelous'…

A look of anger.

XXXXXX

Author Note: Oh no. Doesn't look like Stephanie passing on being part of his crew isn't goin go over well with Marvey-chan…