Ahem. Well. It's been a while, hasn't it? Yes. Yes it has. I'm so sorry, I don't know what happened. For whatever reason I just logged out one day and never came back. I have no excuse for it either. Nothing came up or anything, and it's not like I couldn't log in. I'm so sorry. *kowtows* All I can do is humbly ask for your forgiveness. I'll see if I can get myself into writing this again.

Please bare with me though, it's been so long that I don't quite remember exactly how I wanted this story to go. I remember how I want it to end, but getting there is the real issue. Let's all pray that I'll have a stroke of inspiration to get the creative juices flowing!

Again, I'm sorry it's been so long. I hope you guys are still interested in reading this.

But enough of that, let's get into the next chapter!

"So, those guys belong to the Celestial Dragons." The man with the mark on his chest crossed his arms, regarding me closely. I could barely focus on his words as a single thought plowed through my mind repeatedly. Whitebeard Pirates. Whitebeard Pirates saved me. Why?! "The question is; What do they want with you? You don't seem all that special."

I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat, grimacing slightly at the ache I felt when I did so. I would not recommend being choked into unconsciousness. Just saying. "Er...I don't really know..." I said. I stumbled to my feet, using the wall behind me as support. "Well, thanks for saving me and all—" I swallowed again, hoping to ease the burning sensation in my throat when I spoke. But, like before, it only ached when I did so. "But I should get going. Sorry for the trouble..." I took a few unsteady steps down the alley way, only to nearly stumble when my vision started swimming. I brought a had up to my face as if that would help, but I only felt a sting when I touched my temple. That must be from when that Collector hit me.

"Whoa, hang on there..." The boy with the orange hat hopped off of the crate and stood in front of me. "You don't look so good. And when we fought those guys, we kinda drew a bunch of attention, so..." he trailed off, letting me draw my own conclusions.

Of course, if it was known that Whitebeard Pirates were around then marines would surely show up. I know for a fact that marines are required to memorize wanted posters of people that the Celestial dragons are looking for. Curses! I don't have anywhere to hide. And I certainly won't running anywhere today, with my body being exhausted and all.

"Hey, the old man wouldn't mind if we had one of the nurses take a look at her, right?"

"I don't think it'll be a problem. Besides it would be a waste if she got herself captured after we went through the trouble of saving her."

"H-hang on a second!" I protested. "I didn't say I needed your help!" As I said it, though, my head decided to throb twice as badly.

"You don't have to say it. It's pretty obvious that you do." said the geisha man, Izo. I managed a displeased glare before the boy with the orange hat gently took hold of my shoulder and started guiding me the opposite direction I had wanted to go. "Now, let's go, Miss Winslow D Safiya."

Uh-oh. He figured it out. Though, to be fair, there were quite a few wanted posters with my face on them hung all around Sabaody Archipelago. It doesn't exactly take a genius to see them. I looked at the boy holding my arm, and then at the other two men just as they turned and stared walking presumably towards their ship. It doesn't appear that I much choice in the matter.

I guess I'll just have to go with them for now.

I quietly accepted the ice pack that the nurse gave me for the small lump on the side of my head. You know, I really wasn't expecting pirates to be this hospitable. They're always painted as violent criminals, and I've seen some of the rowdier ones for myself. But this group seemed...nice. That doesn't necessarily mean I can trust them though. I'd rather not get mixed up with pirates if I could help it, no matter how well they treat me.

I'm sitting of the deck of the Moby Dick, watching as the crew continued stocking up on supplies. Even with marines patrolling the nearby town, they were able to go about their business without any altercation. I guess there's a good reason for that. I wouldn't want to get on Whitebeard's bad side either.

Speaking of the legendary man, he was sitting sprawled out in his giant seat, a bottle of sake in hand with some of his crew joking about trivial things. Relaxed, at ease, with no worries of any sort. He barely paid me any mind, save for offering me some food and drink when I arrived. I politely declined, since I was neither hungry nor in the mood to get drunk.

"You don't have to be so tense." I nearly jumped out of my own skin when I heard the voice behind me. I turned my head in time to see none other than Fire Fist Ace seat himself on the stairs next to me. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

"Er...It's alright..." I said. I wasn't sure what else to say, so I simply fell silent.

The pirate beside me fidgeted for a second, then said, "Seriously though, we're not going to hurt you."

"I gathered that much." I motioned towards the ice pack in my hand. This and the aspirin the nurse let me take earlier were proof enough that they wouldn't harm me.

"Then what's the problem?"

"I'm just...I'm used to avoiding people of note. Not...mingling with them." I replied.

"So you like keeping a low profile?" he asked. I nod in response. "It's because of the Dragons, right? Do you know what they want you for?"

I hesitated for a second, a fact that didn't go unnoticed. "I do know." I said. "However, I would rather not talk about it, if that's alright with you."

Ace lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "It's fine. I was just curious." he replied. The conversation trailed off into silence. "Well...I'm kinda hungry, so...Catch ya later." That's when he stood up and left me to my own thoughts.

I sighed. I did relax somewhat, but the situation at hand weighed heavily on my mind. Thanks to my run-in with the Collectors, it's extremely likely that people will be keeping an eye out for me from now on. I was rescued this time, but that was a miracle in itself. I doubt it will happen again.

I'll have to leave Sabaody Archipelago. Somehow I managed to avoid capture for six years despite this place being so close to a marine base. I always knew my luck would run dry eventually. Now, how am I going to leave? I don't exactly have any means of transportation.

Then again, I am already on a ship... Ugh, I'd hate to be indebted to pirates. But these ones don't seem so bad...

Ah, what the hell.

I stood up and headed towards the intimidatingly large captain of this ship. I cleared my throat, successfully drawing his attention, along with some of his crew-mates. Luckily, I'm not very prone to stage fright. "I really hate to be a bother, Mister Whitebeard, but...Would it be possible for me to hitch a ride?" I ask.

"Hm?" The old man regarded me. "Anywhere in particular you need to go?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Anywhere is fine as long as it's not Sabaody." I replied. "I'll only be in trouble if I stay..."

"Well..." Whitebeard scratched his chin. "We can drop you off next time we make port. You guys don't have a problem with that, right?" His subordinates all responded with "Nope" or "Not at all" or some other variant of the phrase. "Well, that's that then."

"Thank you!" I reply with a small bow. I allowed a small wave of relief to fill me for the moment. For right now, I'm safe and I'll be headed to new place people hopefully won't recognize me. I can worry about repaying Whitebeard's kindness a little later.