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Chapter 7 - Do not leave me!

"I claim this island as Whitebeard territory. Anyone setting a foot on this island, claiming it to be theirs to do whatever they please with, will answer to me or my commanders."

A roar of cheers spread under the uprising sun, coloring the sky with an orange glow. As long as the flag of the strongest pirate since the late Gol D. Roger swayed on this island. No other scum would dare to try and take advantage of Foodvalten or its inhabitants.

The ship was once again on sea level and in the morning, the crew would set out again. Mey had been looked after and now had a bandaid on her forehead. It was astonishing how she had not been more hurt from being thrown into the ground like that.

"It didn't hurt one bit" she said proudly sitting on the ground in front of Rea who was sat on a stone.

"I must say, you were rather brave" Rea grinned and knocked Mey lightly on the head.

"OW .. owowow" Mey said and put her hands on her head "why'd you do that for?"

"Sorry, firefly" Rea said a bit confused. How had that hurt her when getting slammed into the ground had not?

"The more she grows, the more she will worry us" Charlie murmured to Marco. Marco didn't answer. He had his eyes on Oyajii who was deep in a conversation with the tribe Shaman, Doc.

"Edward, it would be dangerous for her to keep up this voyage. Let her stay here, let her be safe on dry land where she can play in the woods and have horses…"

"I am going to stop you right there, Doc. Nothing's changed, so what if she glows in the dark?"

"But she …"

"She is my daughter. The title of sons and daughters do not come to me easily. Once they are my children, they stay that way".

"And as your daughter, would you not want her to be safe? You saw the way those pirates looked at her. They'd go for anything shiny, living or dead. She'd be better off here where she can ride horses, run around in the forest and just be a normal child"

Whitebeard went silent. He knew this Shaman might be right. This island was protected now and she could build a life here in peace. But the feeling of leaving her behind. Would he bring her with them for her sake, or for his own?

A lump of dread formed in Mey's belly, overhearing what Whitebeard and the Shaman was discussing. Leaving her behind? Not again!

"You would take care of her if..." Edward started asking Doc.

"Oh yes, oh she will be happy here…"

"I didn't say…" Whitebeard started. This was the first time in his life he had been unsure of what to do.

"Don't leave me" a tiny but firm voice next to him said. The giant man and Doc looked down on the subject of the conversation who had walked up to them and apparently had heard things.

"Oh my dear we are not deciding anything here. I simply put out the facts to your captain here…"

"Pops" the five year old said, not taking any notice of Doc, never letting go of Edward's gaze with her own. He almost felt like smiling. She had called him Pops just like her older brothers and it sounded so peculiar in her little mouth. He could not bring himself to smile though. The soft panic that burned in the child's eyes did not let him do so. She was terrified of getting left behind. He closed his eyes and grinned a little.

"Guess we will have to stop talking about you over your head like this. You're a big girl now". He put a large hand on her head. It ached a little bit but she didn't care. She still didn't leave his eyes, staring up at him from under his palm. She would not look away until she was completely certain he wouldn't leave her. He sighed and leaned down towards her, moving his palm to her side.

"Now listen here, you are my daughter and on Moby Dick you shall remain until you and only you decide to take the leap out into the unknown world beyond the ship". She nodded in agreement and so did he.

Doc sighed.

"Well, I suppose there is no parting you" he chuckled. "But mark my words dearest Edward, she does have a gift that is yet to be completely discovered. I suggest keeping the marks well hidden from the outside world until you fully know what it is that they do".

"All I know is that she shines, and that is all I need to know, gararara" Whitebeard laughed and Doc lifted his beer mug, defeated.

"Here's to saving my sister's life"

"Kampai" clonk

Thatch and Marco were sat on the ground and had found two bottles of rum they now drank away at.

"Here's to living freely on the sea!" Marco yelled and they clonked their bottles together again. "Your turn!"

"Eeehh..."

"Oh come on there are literally a million things to cheer for!"

"Eehhh here's to freakin' good rum?" clonk

"Here's to your lousy imagination!" clonk

"Here's to your hairstyle!" clonk

"And here's to your hairschtyle!" clonk

They downed the rum after each clonk. Marco was faster and lifted his bottle once more.

"YOI and here's to my new nakama!" Thatch stopped in mid air.

"Wait what?"

"I ain't letting this good of a drinking partner stay behind, mate!" Marco slurred and started drinking again. Thatch pondered about it for a moment and then smiled.

"Well, cheers to that!"

"What about me?" said a voice from behind the boys. They turned slightly and saw Rea standing there with a hand on her hip. Marco's tongue suddenly felt twice as big.

"What about you Rea? You also wanna come?" Thatch was surprised.

"Can't let my friend leave without me, eh" she winked at Thatch and looked at Marco.

"Well?"

"Are you sure?" Thatch said before Marco could press out a word.

"Ah well, I'm pretty much done with my education and it's time I went out to see the world. I just thought I'd seize the moment. Now, Marco can I?" she turned to him again.

"Better answer her before she changes her mind…" Thatch hissed but when Marco still was unable to get words past his swollen tongue, Thatch grabbed him by his neck and rocked him violently back and forth so that he made a very uncharming nod. Rea had to choke down a laugh, raised her thumb and left.

Now ... what the hell have I done..?

Rea pressed herself behind a tree and couldn't control her shakes of excitement. She was so stupid and she laughed at it, her hands on her face. She had just happened to walk past the guys when they had talked about Thatch becoming a part of their crew. Without thinking she had invited herself too. It was nothing more than a lame effort to get the attention from that Marco guy. But at the same time she had never felt so alive as she had when her life had been most in danger last night. She was going with this ship and that's that. A shriek of joy escaped her lips.

The next morning came and it was time to set sail once again. Mey stood on the railing waving with both her arms to the people of Foodvalten. They had made two new crew mates and she couldn't be happier. Oyajii had promised never to leave her and she felt certain he would never break that promise.

Rea and Thatch stood side by side, seeing the island get smaller and smaller.

"You sure about this? Being a pirate is not a dance on flowers"

"I know. I think" Rea whispered "I've always dreamed of a life on the ocean, and I figure if a five year old can do it, so can I, I'm ten years her senior for crying out loud".

"Wow, look out…" Thatch said sarcastically and Rea punched him on the arm.

"Shut up!"

Whitebeard had decided before either Thatch and Rea that he had wanted them in his crew. They had potential. He looked at his five year old who still stood waving, even though there was no way the islanders could still see her now.

Marco made his way over to Whitebeard and stood beside him, very nervous and full of guilt.

"Oi, Pops"...

"Hmm?"

"Look I - I am so sorry about what happened to Mey, I should never have let her get hurt …"

"Son"

Marco went silent, gaze stuck on the floor.

"She is all our responsibility. Do not blame yourself. She has made it clear she wants to stay as much as we want her here. Her life is not a safe one, but we will protect her as much as we possibly can. But she will need to become stronger."

Marco nodded. He understood.

Mey's arms ached when she turned to go find something to eat. She didn't get too far. Marco was standing behind her, arms crossed.

"You had me worried sick you know…"

Mey scoffed.

"Yeah yeah…" she dismissed annoyingly and went to walk around him but he took a hold of her lower arm and sat down.

"Listen, you were very brave and I'm proud of you, but..."

"Whaaat? Marc I'm hungry!"

"You're gonna need some training, buddy, and I'm gonna make sure you'll get it"

"OOhhhwwwwwww!"


Until next time xxx