Author's note: A few more changes in this chapter. Slight change to character description, and I've merged part of the next chapter into this one. I'm hoping to have longer and fewer chapters in this new version. If you've already read the story before, I would recommend reading this chapter over.
Two hours had passed while the crew was out. Usopp and Franky had already returned to the ship with their supplies. Both ignored the sleeping swordsman when they climbed aboard. Robin, after buying a few books, had returned and decided to wait on deck for the rest of the crew to arrive while she read one of her new books. Brooke had only left briefly, afraid that he might frighten the townspeople. Apparently, the town had seen odd things before, so paid no mind to a talking skeleton. Sanji and Chopper both returned, climbing aboard to find the swordsman sleeping.
"Looks like the shitty swordsman slept the whole time," Sanji remarked, "how is he supposed to watch the ship if he isn't even awake?" As Sanji set his supplies down, the crew heard a commotion coming from the town.
"Hurry up and set sail!" Nami yelled. She and Luffy were running at the ship, with hundreds of marines close behind them.
At that moment, the merchants and townspeople came running straight into the path of the marines with clubs, torches, and anything else they could find to serve as weapons. Chopper ran to pull up the anchor, while the rest hurried to set sail. With the
last two safely on board, they set off at full speed away from the island.
"I thought you said we didn't need to worry about any marines, Nami," Luffy said innocently.
"I said they don't stop at this island often, I didn't say that they NEVER stop at this island! Did you forget about the bounty on your head?" Nami yelled.
"Oh yeah," he replied, with his signature grin. Nami opened her mouth to reprimand her captain further when Zoro sat up.
"Did I miss anything?" he asked groggily.
"You were sleeping when you were supposed to be watching the ship?" she shouted. Large, green eyes watched the whole scene from the shadows around the corner. The little girl quietly slipped back below deck.
"Did everyone at least get what they needed?" Nami asked.
"I believe so. Everyone else had already returned when you showed up," Robin replied.
"Okay, where was I..." Nami began as she went back to scolding the captain and first mate.
Robin headed for a quieter place to read while Nami blew off some steam. She headed down to the library. She paused at the door when she heard what sounded like somebody rummaging through her books. She silently opened the door to see a very young girl looking through some of her history books. The girl had soft brown hair that fell just past her shoulders and was wearing what looked to be nothing more than dirty rags. Her back was turned to Robin and she hadn't heard her enter the room. She looked about two years old.
"Have you found something interesting?" Robin asked coolly. The little girl instantly dropped the book and whirled around to face Robin. Her green eyes had become bigger (although it didn't seem possible that they could get any bigger) when she saw that she had been caught on the pirate ship. Robin smiled softly, but her smile just seemed to frighten the little one even more. The young girl quickly ran past Robin and made a break for the edge of the ship, unaware that they were no longer at the island. Sanji was busy in the galley and Zoro had gone back to sleep after Nami had threatened to triple his debt if he ever slept on watch again. Everyone else was on the deck and watched in astonishment as a toddler ran past all of them, climbed up on the railing, and jumped off the ship.
Everyone jumped up and ran to the edge of the ship. Looking down, they saw the toddler struggling in a pair of arms. Robin calmly walked over and pulled the girl back onto the ship, setting her on the floor.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. As young as you are, I don't think you would be able to swim very well," She said smiling.
"I'll take my chances with the seakings," the little girl retorted.
"Where did you come from?" Nami asked sweetly. The little girl gave her a mischievous smirk.
"As old as you are, I think you would know where babies come from by now," she said. Nami's jaw dropped in shock.
"She meant where are your parents. They must be worried about you," Robin replied. The young girl glared at her.
"They're dead and dead people don't care what happens to me. Bet you feel like a real bitch now, bringing up the fact that I'm an orphan," the little girl barked. Her face was serious and cold. She started to look around, taking in her surroundings for the first time. Her eyes suddenly fell on Brooke. Her face paled and she ran to get as far away from the skeleton as possible. She didn't dare look behind her to see if anyone was following.