Hey Guys, so I just wanted to let you know that I really struggled with this chapter. I'm not sure that I'm entirely happy with it either, so I'd really appreciate it, if at the end of reading you could take a few seconds to let me know what you thought.

Otherwise happy reading!

The thud of footfalls penetrated the silence of the forest as Newgate hastily led his remaining son's through the forest.

Izo and Vista ran at their father's heels, keeping up with his long strides.

Namur and Jozu followed slightly further behind, neither being able to quite keep up with the rapid pace their Captain was setting.

Newgate kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, dodging trees left and right, almost instinctively.

His chest constricted uncomfortably as his thoughts went to his troublesome brats.

He was angry.

Frustrated.

Scared.

They had been gone for hours.

There was no telling how much trouble the three could be in by now.

A cold rage was burning in his chest.

He was so, so angry.

He should have known better then to let his three youngest children wander off on their own. Hell, he should have known the second Thatch had asked him.

His son's words ringing in his ears.

"Hey Pops, can me 'n Marco go into town and have a look around? Maybe pick up some supplies?"

Supplies his ass.

That brat couldn't have gone to pick up supplies without getting in trouble on an island WITHOUT any marines.

And what had he said?

"Be careful."

Be careful!

Thatch would have practically seen that as an invitation. Damn it, if someone had said the same to him, he would have taken it as an invitation as well!

He couldn't believe his own stupidity.

Even with Marco going with him, he'd made a mistake.

Marco may not attract trouble or actively seek it out as Thatch did, but he was just as willing to throw himself into trouble once it had started (usually by Thatch).

And to think that Haruta had gone with them...

He wasn't ignorant enough to think that Haruta was an innocent bystander just caught up in the boy's scheming in this.

She too would have gone in willing – whether or not she had either of the boy's permission.

There was no limit to the danger they could be in now.

But for all his anger none of it was directed at them.

His frustration, his fear, certainly.

But his anger was only for himself... and for any marines that even so much as touched his family.

If anything happened to any of them, he'd never forgive himself.

Hoping for the best (and unwilling to think of the worst) Newgate came to a stop at the tall, spiked iron-bar fence that marked the edge of the Marine base.

None of those thoughts would help the situation.

Grabbing the two bars in front of him, he ripped them apart, stepping through the newly made hole.

The others quickly followed him through, flanking him on either side. Jozu and Izo stood on his right side, as Vista and Namur came to stand on his left.

Vista arched a single eyebrow as he scanned the seemingly empty base.

"What's the plan Oyaji?"

"Find the others. We tear this place apart until we do."

BANG!

The crack of a gunshot spurred the rescue team into a rush of movement towards the sound.

Pops' fear increased tenfold.

Please don't let us be too late.

"Thatch?"

"Yeah, Marco?"

"Pop's totally gave us permission when he said 'be careful', right?"

"Uh…"

BANG!

"Omph!"

Marco fell to his knees as a bullet pierced his shoulder, his hand reaching up to clutch at the entry point, concealing his healing flames.

"Hold fire! I didn't order anyone to fire!"

He could feel Haruta shaking behind him as she clenched onto his shirt.

Tilting his head down so the marine's couldn't see his mouth, he whispered to her frantically.

"Haruta I'm fine, but I need you to let go of me."

Hesitantly, Haruta's fingers uncurled, releasing Marco from her hold.

The four fugitives stayed otherwise silent as the base's commander postured like a peacock, sprouting off nonsense that Thatch neither wanted to, nor could be bothered to listen to.

"...And so! Under my supreme leadership! Commander Lawrence You shall all be sentenced to– "

CRASH!

The building to their left collapsed.

The dust cleared, revealing five imposing figures.

Edward Newgate stood at his full height as he addressed his children.

"My sons, you started without us."

Vista and Izo raised their weapons.

Jozu's diamond form took over his right arm.

Namur gave a wide grin, exposing his razor-like teeth.

Commander Lawrence startled backwards.

"Who–?!"

Marco charged at the stunned marines.

Kicking off the Commander's chest, Marco launched himself into the air, confident that Thatch and Blenheim would have Haruta covered.

"No way!"

"A phoenix!"

"Devil fruit users!"

"What are you waiting for?! Fire!"

"All I ask is that in future, you actually tell me if you want to raid a marine base."

"Yes Pops."

Marco, Thatch and Haruta hung their heads at the scolding.

They hadn't meant to disappoint the man that had become their father.

Kneeling down on one knee, Newgate pulled the three into his arms.

Once he released them, he gave them his broad grin. After all, he hadn't really been angry with them.

He received three tentative smiles in return, that grew when he finished speaking to them.

"I ask this, so that next time, you don't leave the rest of us behind."

This time he received a much brighter, "Yes Pops".

"Now what did you find hmm?"

"Ah, well firstly, that's Blenheim. We found him in the cells. He's a shipwright."

Marco waved Blenheim over from where he'd been sitting with Jozu.

Introductions had been a secondary concern to more pressing matter such as getting off the island.

"Blenheim, this is Pops."

"Nice to meet you."

"Guarara! Indeed."

"So you'll do it?"

Vista nodded in acquisition to Marco's request, twirling his moustache between his fingers.

"Of course Marco."

"Excellent."

"Oi Haruta! Come here a moment."

Izo scowled as Haruta quickly abandoned their nail painting session in favour of going to Marco. Haruta could act and grow to be as tough as she liked, but there was no way Izo was going to let her grow up without at least some activities girls her age should be interested in.

Now if only he could convince her to grow her hair longer...

"What's up Marco?"

"There was something I found in the base for you."

Confusion contorted her features.

Something for her?

But they'd shown everything to Pops already.

"For me?"

"For you. It's in the bag."

Marco tilted his head towards the nondescript bag leaning against the railing.

Walking over to it, Haruta paused before she opened it, her eyes flicking suspiciously between Vista and Marco. She couldn't see Thatch, but that didn't mean he was lurking around waiting for the punch line.

Jozu, Namur and Blenheim were also nearby, but they didn't seem to be paying enough attention to be in on any type of pranks. She also didn't know Blenheim well enough to know if he would even play pranks.

He could be like Jozu though.

Someone you would never expect to take part in such things, only to find yourself spluttering after you got dumped from his shoulders and into the water. So sneaky!

"Am I going to lose my hair?"

Marco snorted at the –he felt– unjustified suspicion.

He was nowhere near as bad as Thatch. Or Pops.

"Just open it."

Carefully opening the bag, Haruta reached into the bag, her hand retracting violently as Marco's growing smile spooked her.

Rolling his eyes at her caution, he taunted her into action.

"Just open it, scaredy cat."

Haruta didn't reply, maturely sticking out her tongue instead.

However, she did stick her hand back in the bag pulling out the contents inside.

Her eyes went wide as she looked to Marco for confirmation.

Was she really?

"You start training with Vista tomorrow, first thing after breakfast. I'll be there to supervise your sword lessons."

Haruta let out a squeal of delight as she jumped into Marco's arms.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Marco you're the best!"

Izo arched an eyebrow at the scene, commenting in mock hurt.

"What? But I thought I was your favourite brother."

"Sorry Izo. You can be my favourite tomorrow."

Tilting her head in thought, Haruta corrected herself.

"Actually, it might be Vista's turn tomorrow. You can be the day after."

Izo pretended to huff in disgust at having to wait the extra day.

"Fine, but we are painting our toenails together to make up for it."

"We're not lost yoi."

Thatch ducked under an oncoming spider web strung across the trees they were sailing through, only to back into a sheer curtain of moss like substance.

Flailing around the deck in an attempt to shake off the slimly covering, Thatch eventually came to a stop as he managed to fling it off him.

"Oh yeah? Then where are we?"

Jozu growled under his breath as Thatch's slime hit him on his chest. Vista sniggered until said slime found itself splattered across his top hat. Grin dropping, he pinched the substance off his hat between his thumb and forefinger. His grin returned as he spied Namur's exposed back.

Namur startled as he felt something impact with his back, twisting his head back and forth, the Fishman tried to glance at his back.

"What was that?"

Catching Vista and Jozu's smirking forms, Namur's hands desperately scratched at his back.

"Izo? What was it? Get it off!"

The kimono wearing man looked affronted at the very mention of having to touch whatever – that – was. However Haruta quickly came to the rescue.

"Don't worry Namur, I've got it."

Peeling it off his back, Haruta squished it between her hands, uncaring of its slimy nature.

A wicked grin pulled at her lips as she pulled her arm back aiming at the frustrated navigator.

Marco didn't notice or didn't acknowledge the slime ball that sailed over his head as he slumped forward to look more closely at the maps that were laid out in front of him.

Blenheim did notice as it stuck to the wall of the ship he'd been resting against. Picking it up, he grimaced slightly before chucking it overboard, sufficiently ending the game of 'pass the slime'.

Marco meanwhile ran his hands through his hair.

He didn't understand.

He knew where they were. THEY were exactly where they were meant to be. It was this swamp that wasn't supposed to be here. The maps said nothing about this swampy marshland that they were sailing through.

Marco didn't bother to reply to Thatch, instead answering to Pops, who had seated himself nearby when they had entered the swampland.

"We're not lost."

Newgate's amber eyes met his son's own, reading the desperation to be right hidden in the depth.

The fear.

Not of rejection, but of disappointing him.

Marco didn't know if he could handle disappointing his father again so soon after their last debacle. In fact he never wanted to see his father disappointed with him again.

"I know."

The boat lurched as it made contact with something under the water.

"What was that?!"

"Namur!"

"What? Forget it! I'm not going in there! Look at that water! It's disgusting!"

Two horns rose from the murky depths, followed by a head, and an angry voice.

"Oi! Who are you calling 'disgusting'!"

As always thank you to everyone who has faved/followed/reviewed 'Strays'. It means a lot to me.

Till next time x