A fair sized chapter but not too big
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I do not own One Piece - that is property of Eiichiro Oda

Chapter 11: Practice Makes Perfect

Smoker groaned looking at the comatose women in the base's hospital wing. The much anticipated arrival yesterday was chaotic with both Admirals greeting each other since both were normally cool as cucumbers but they had no idea what to do in regards to their charge. However despite wanting to help out, they both had been given assignments that would pull both of them far away from Rogue Town and Andrea for a long time. They had agreed on one thing: until she wakes up, they had to avoid informing Admiral Akainu or Vice-Admiral Garp as their reactions would not be pretty. By extension, this meant not informing the Fleet Admiral as he would likely inform them. Smoker sighed and yelled at Tashigi to watch over her while he went to go grab a meal.

-Inside Andrea's head-

She had seen a flash of different things but she did not know how long ago. Time felt so irrelevant wherever she was. Before this area, she had been in a forest filled with unusual animals and before that, drinking sake with Admiral Akainu which struck her unusual as she disliked sake. She shivered at the sudden cold. Last time she felt such a chill was when Kuzan saved her a long time ago. Opening her eyes, she winced at the intense pain as well as the stark white light around her. She was standing on the figurehead of the ship surrounded by bright blue water. Wait this reminds me of Borsalino's ship. Where is he? Looking around, she was shocked to see absolutely nothing but the water and the figurehead. She felt nothing around her at all and touched her forehead with her right hand to attempt to alleviate the pain. What the? Her hand or more specifically her palm was bloody with her scar throbbing.

"All because of you joining the Marines, you'll stay this way forever: just a damaged weapon. The ironic thing is, you claim you're doing the right thing for the right reasons but what are you really loyal to, daughter of Roger?" A hooded figure appeared in front of her, floating in the air above the ocean.

Andrea looked on in confusion as he saw an unusual light coming out from under the man's hood on the left side of his face. "You feel familiar to me. Why is that?" Her heart started feeling the pain that had originated from her palm and shoot through her arm so fast it was like Kizaru through the air when he would fight. "Where am I?"

The man shook his head as he did he did, the light around them went out. "You are so weak that I doubt you could protect yourself let alone your brother or even my son." Her eyes widened as he floated closer and she could see an unusual tattoo glow on the man's face. The stern expression mocked her and he floated away. "If you really are that insulted, get your ass in gear and do something about it. Disgrace to the Will of D. is all you seem to be."

She scoffed and although her first steps were tentative, she started running after the figure that had been so rude to her.

-Hospital Wing, Marine Base in Rogue Town-

Andrea's eyes snapped open as she took in the dark room. In the corner was a woman sitting with her back to her, polishing a blade. Huh, is that who was supposed to train me? Shouldn't she notice me wake up? Rising slowly, she saw that she was wearing a plain, white dress that was rather modest and went down to her knees. Stepping slowly and quietly, Andy opened the door knob and felt a compulsion to leave out the exit.

Her steps started shaky but after a moment, her steps quickened that it took a moment for her to realize that she was barefoot yet she did not feel any ache in her feet. It did not take long for her to be in the town square, specifically in front of the execution platform. Placing her right hand on the wood of the platform, she felt more pain in her hand but held on tightly then glanced around. "So you actually moved? Amazing." The hooded figure, missing the glow from the face but nonetheless still imposing, stood on top of the platform. "Now that you are here, what are you going to do about it?"

Andrea frowned and tried to reach for her knife when she realized that in her haste, she had not grabbed that or the gun that Garp had given her. Oh shit, what now? "Leading a revolution here sir? This town of beginnings and endings could prove to close the chapter on you."

Laughing grimly, he jumped downwards and before she could jump back, his hand closed over her throat so tightly that she could feel her own sluggish pulse. "So my little niece, shall I erase your shame from the family?"

-Hospital Wing-

Tashigi ran out of sword polish and was going to dash to her private room for a moment to grab something but the empty bed caught her attention, making her heart jump into her throat. "Oh no! Smoker-san won't be happy to hear this," she stammered while dashing away hurriedly.

-Back at the Execution Platform-

Spots were appearing before her chocolate eyes as she felt her life slip away, her hands weakly grasping onto the man's arm while her legs still felt drained from the dash. She spat, with great effort, at his face and tightened the grip on her right arm. "I'm a poor big sister if I can't protect my family. You, Monkey D. Dragon are a piss poor father and aren't my family. I am more of a sister to Luffy-kun than you are a father to him."

From her palm, he felt an intense chill take his arm. Looking down, he saw her smirk at him as he was losing feeling fast with that part of his body. Before he could strike her, he felt a presence rushing quickly, likely with the aid of a Devil Fruit. Tossing her down like a rag doll, he turned away from her in disgust. "To be an agent of the World Government as a Marine, you sicken me. You have a great ability and to allow yourself to become a pawn for the doing of those vile people I will not allow. To think my father allowed you in the company of those despicable Marines, I loathe being your uncle. You taint your blood more than your father could have. In the world I'm going to build, there is no room for your hypocritical, ideological crap."

The pain in her throat was nothing compared to the relief she felt at the rush of smoke and the following footsteps of a young woman. Looking up, she saw Monkey D. Dragon no longer standing before her. She smiled grimly as the woman began to fret over the red marks on her neck but before the man she knew was Smoker could berate her, she held her hand up. "It's urgent. I need to use a Den Den Mushi."

Smoker frowned as he took in the brunette's condition. Her palm was bloody and the scar which had healed, looked like it had frostbite. He saw cracked feet and her throat still bore the handprint of an unknown, at least to him, assailant. "Calling one of your Admiral pals isn't a priority. Maybe when you woke up, they would have been happy but this isn't the time."

Shaking her head persistently, she knew she had to explain as the man's serious look told her so. "This supersedes them. It's really important. You can sit in on the damn call if you're that worried." Tashigi gave Smoker an odd look as they knew they were going to train the girl but to think she really was ordering them around…

"Sir… maybe in her shock, just using it will help?" Tashigi suggested with determination.

Andrea scoffed and blew in irritation at her hair. Of course the chick who is too absorbed in her damn sword will think I'm so emotionally scarred. Like she'd know a damn thing about me seeing as she didn't sense me leaving the room. "Whatever. Take me to the damn snail or at least bring me mine. Same difference to me."

-An hour later-

Andrea did not appreciate being forced to wait until the medic had patched up her palm and put an ointment on her feet but going through the fuss and not being able to use the base's Den Den Mushi was too irritating for her to take. Finding out she was in a coma for a week had annoyed her enough, seeing her stuff being handled by unfamiliar people was plan agitating but being denied something she specifically said was important was the line for her. When her personal Baby Den Den Mushi was brought to her, she thanked the Marine who did so while glaring at Smoker and Tashigi while dialing a number that Garp had ingrained into her. The familiar, imposing voice heard gave all the Marines within hearing distance a heart attack.

"This is the Fleet Admiral's office. Who are you and how do you have my private number?"

Tashigi whispered to Smoker but Andrea was able to hear it and smirked. "Not even the Admirals have that number Smoker-san."

"Good morning Sengoku-san. Been a few years since I dialed this number. Was actually worried I'd misdial or Gramps gave me the wrong one." The stares she received at Sengoku's affirming laugh made her feel very smug. "Anyway, we got a situation you need to know about. I know I just woke from a coma but…"

"What do you mean you were in a coma? Being up to date with your condition is very important considering your future role." Andrea snorted and looked at the two Marines with disdain.

"Surely you were informed of why I'm being trained with the Admirals as my handler," she addressed them in a tone that a school teacher would take with a child. "Although my fighting skills are below par, my name as well as this unusual scar make me someone that would be of advantage to the Marines. Thanks to the lack of action, something bad could have happened. Nonetheless, this wasn't the point of the call. Since I'm going to be a Marine or an agent of them, whatever. It's my duty to inform the Fleet Admiral that there is a mole in Marineford."

There was a moment of silence as everyone took in exactly what that meant. "I'll ignore the fact I was uninformed about your coma. I hope everyone realizes the gravity of the situation. Is there anything else Andrea-chan you feel you should add?"

Sighing due to the lack of feeling in her right palm, her gaze hardened. "Monkey D. Dragon has been spotted in Rogue Town."

-On the Going Merry, a week later-

Luffy and Usopp were having a merry time together talking about pirate crews but particularly, Shanks's crew. Nami was busy organizing her little area for maps while Zoro was napping in the crow's nest. That adventure had gone over well. Kaya's generosity really gave the Straw Hats exactly what they needed in terms of a humble ship. Taking a bite of some meat that had been brought with them, Luffy pulled out his Baby Den Den Mushi and thought about how to tell his big sister that he had a new ship and a new crewmate. Despite her dislike for liars normally, he felt that Usopp would be an exception. To his pleasure, Andrea picked up right away. "Hey big sis!"

"Luffy-kun, you caught me in the middle of my training. What's up?" Zoro woke up and noticed her voice was wheezy as if she was breathing hard and he glanced from up top of the crew's nest down at Nami who apparently noticed the same but they had been told she was not a pirate or even liked fighting. Luffy's enthusiasm however stopped him from knowing as he had news for her.

"I got a new ship and we got a new crewmate. Remember on Shanks's crew, the sharpshooter Yasopp? It's his son, Usopp! I want to introduce him to you. Usopp, this is my sister Andy!" She laughed but after a minute, started coughing violently. "Oi, what's wrong with you?"

"Oh it's nothing, silly. Just drank some juice and it didn't go down my throat properly," she giggled but even Usopp did not buy the lie as he glanced over to Zoro and Nami. Their looks confirmed his thoughts. "I'm really glad to hear you are doing well and hello Usopp-kun."

"You should get your cough checked Andy-san but it is nice to meet you. If I was there with my medical knowledge, I could get you cured up in an instant!" Andrea sighed her amusement.

"Looks like your merry little crew is just to get more and more exciting. Anything specific happen?"

"Well that Kuro dude supposedly was executed but he obviously wasn't." Nami looked at the crew, wondering what else to add to what she said. It'd be nice to be able to pass this information on wouldn't it Andy-chan?"

"You are right about that Nami-san," Andy murmured with amusement. "I'll get someone on that right away. Now you sneaky lil pirates behave now ok? Luffy-kun, I'll talk later. Got to finish my training session." *Click*

-Rogue Town Marine base-

"Andy-san, you should have let the medic patch you up while you were in that call!" Tashigi scolded. Andrea's left side was bleeding heavily because she had attempted to parry Tashigi's sword attack by using her dagger with her left hand but was shocked as well as annoyed at the lack of strength she had in her less dominate arm.

"In a real fight Tashigi-san, I won't have a medic on standby waiting to babysit. We're continuing," she scoffed and after holding the rather deep cut for a moment, she charged but with a specific change in mind. She did not approach head-on but rather, slanted to reduce exposure to the blade while leading with her dagger. Smoker looked on in approval at her attitude.

"We don't want you to be a liability after all." She nodded as she dodged Tashigi's first slash, slashed downwards with her dagger to keep the sword downwards to make her unable to retaliate s easily, twisted her body suddenly, planted her right foot solidly on the ground, then thrust out with her right elbow into Tashigi's ribs. To Andrea's satisfaction, there was a slight crunch. "Interesting tactic. Tashigi, watch your guard. Just because an opponent is injured doesn't mean they are down for the count. Andy, such reckless tactics won't always work if your opponent has more than one weapon or body armor. We'll work on your hand-to-hand fighting later. Take this time to polish up your bladework." Both women nodded and charged each other again.