Chapter 14

I would like to dedicate this chapter to the first three people who commented on the last chapter – seriously, I love you, if you ever need a place to live I'll welcome you with open arms.

I do not own One Piece, it's Oda-sensei's, but I do own the OC's such as Marty, Beth and Charlene (and Rory and Martha and Rose and Silver Jack and POLO (Fox8299 – POLO!))

Thank you to everybody who has reviewed, keep them coming! XX

. . .

Marty's eyes snapped open to stare up at the dark ceiling. She sat up, slowly looking around the room in confusion; it was the one she shared with Beth and Cake, except she was the only occupant. Where was everyone? Also what time was it? She raised her hand drowsily to her head then started to panic as she realised her hat was missing. Her gaze flicked around the room urgently without managing to find her straw hat. Marty pushed herself to her feet slowly, thinking.

I gave it to Ace, she realised, ooh if he's lost it there was gonna be trouble. Marty moved towards the doorway, pushing it open to reveal a dark silent hallway. Marty glanced around, frowning, before moving to the door to the room next to theirs. Marty knocked tentatively, before slowly pushing the door open. Ace's room was as dark and empty as her own. Marty stepped backwards, allowing the door to swing shut.

Marty glance around, where was everyone? And after that whole spiel about her not being allowed to wander off on her own. Marty paused, then looked upwards listening hard. She stood there for a few seconds before setting of down the dark hallway. The closer she got to the deck the louder the sounds became.

… Singing?

Marty paused in front of the door that led onto the deck, hand resting on the door knob. Did all this racket mean they had escaped the storm? It didn't sound like panicking. Marty's hand tightened around the door knob as she twisted it and pulled backwards.

Marty blinked, surprised at the scene revealed through the open doorway. It was night-time, the moon and stars hung majestically in the sky, brighter than she had ever seen them before. Lanterns had been suspended at random intervals around the deck, bathing the ship in a warm, almost mysterious light.

There was singing.

And what Marty assumed was dancing.

And food.

And a never ending supply of booze.

Marty grinned as a pirate slammed into the wall beside her, singing off tune in a cheery voice.

"Gonna t' bring bink's sake *hic* lettin' seabird on a way *hic* sun… 's in a sky *hic*," the man slurred making Marty giggle, "on our….*hic* home… YOHOHOHO YOHOHO*HIC*HO," he yelled abandoning the verses to dive into the chorus. The man stumbled to his feet and began staggering in the direction of the wine cask. Marty laughed outright and began making her way through the drunken mass.

. . .

"I am NOT drinking!" Charlene said again as Beth pushed the mug towards her.

"Aw come on Cake! You're no fun sober!" Beth giggled tipsily. Cake looked at the older girl with a haughty expression.

"Ladies do NOT drink!"

"Pirate ladies do."

"I'm not a pirate!"

"You're on a pirate ship ain't cha, when in Skypiea, do as the Skypeians (Fox8299 – Okay I'm gonna be nit-picky and point out that you spelt Skypiea two different ways, the first with 'ie' and the second with 'ei', I don't know which one is right so you'll have to change it yourself.) do….."

"I'm not here by choice you know!"

"So you'd rather be on the slaver's ship?"

Marco smiled at the squabbling girls, watching in amusement as Beth downed her… what fourteenth mug of sake?

"Remind me not to challenge Pixie to a drinking contest," said Ace a little awed.

"I can't believe she is even conscious let alone speaking coherently," Marco agreed.

"Marty would drink with me if she was here!" Charlene had one hand on Beth's forehead, the other wrapped around her wrist as she physically tried to shove the insistent girl away from her.

"That girl is madder than a bag of gerbils, with about as much manners, of course she would drink with you. Speaking of which," Charlene turned her head towards Marco, still keeping an eye on her tipsy roommate, "Is it really ok to leave Marty alone in our room? What if she wakes up and goes- WAH!" Charlene slipped slightly, and with nothing holding her upright, Beth fell forwards. The two girls crashed to the deck, Beth landing on top of Charlene, spilling her sake over the both of them.

"She brings up a good point," said Ace as if nothing had happened, Charlene pushed Beth off her and began screaming about the state of her clothes while onlookers laughed. Ace glanced down at the straw hat attached to one of his belt loops by its ribbons. "Should we send someone down to watch her?"

"Watch her do what? Sleep?" Marco said incredulously, "The girl's exhausted, she probably won't wake up for at least another couple of hours." Ace looked unconvinced.

"Name me one time that girl has done what we thought she would do?" Marco blinked, and then turned to Polo and Rory who were setting up a betting pool on the outcome of the girls' fight.

"Can one of you go check that Marty is safely out cold?" The two young men looked at their commander scandalised. (Fox8299 – I can just imagine it in their heads 'Oh my God, he wants one of us to check on a girl!? While she's sleeping!?' Like it's such a big deal…)

"I'll do it," Marco blinked at Charlene surprised as she got to her feet and began stalking away from Beth who was still laughing, "I need to change my clothes anyway."

"We'll have a drink when you come back," Beth called after her happily.

"Go dunk you head in a barrel you drunken harpy," Charlene said crankily, Beth sighed as she staggered to her feet.

"I wish Marty were awake," Beth said cheerfully, strolling over to the commanders as Rory collected his winnings, "I bet she's a good drinker" Marco studied the girl with a wry look on his face, while Ace snorted.

"Just what we need, first you blow up half our sake supplies, then you do your very best to drink the other half, thank god we reach Billion's tomorrow," Marco frowned as Beth's smile faded at Ace's words. Marco leant against the ships rail watching the girl.

"What are you planning to do?" Beth glanced at him, but didn't need to ask what he meant.

"…I'm not sure, the others… Cake is determined to jump ship at the first sight of land. I think Marty wants to stay but…" Beth crossed her arms frowning, "It's the weirdest thing, I may not have known Cake personally, but I've seen her on the island before." Ace raised an eyebrow as he took another swig of his drink.

"Unfortunate? Yes. Weird? Not so much. Billion's is a small island right? You're bound to know most people." Beth nodded distractedly.

"That's just it, before she was thrown into the cage with us, I honestly can't recall seeing Marty on the island before." Marco and Ace glance at each other before returning their attention to Beth.

"Well then were the hell did she come from?" Ace asked confused, Beth shrugged, "you haven't asked her?"

"It never came up." Marco glanced over at a huddle of especially loud crew mates who appeared to be playing strip poker. The games weren't lasting too long. Many of the men forgot, in their alcohol addled states, that they were at a severe disadvantage due to the fact their attire consisted of pants.

"Does she have family on the island?" Ace asked.

"…She mentioned someone called … Darner? Or Deirdre?" Beth said tilting her head to the side.

"What about you?" Marco asked turning his attention away from the growing nudist colony, "You mentioned your father before."

"Mmm," Beth said, "He runs a weapons store with my three brothers." Ace whistled.

"Three brothers? How does your mum cope?"

"She doesn't," Beth said calmly, Ace frowned confused, "What about you? Any family?" Beth was surprised when Marco suddenly groaned.

"Oh here we go…"

"I have a little brother," Ace said enthusiastically.

"Oh? Where is he now?" Ace grinned proudly.

"He's a pirate too, in fact, he just got his bounty recently, he-,"

"I hate to interrupt but," Ace's annoyed look at being cut off changed to confusion as he turned to see Charlene standing behind him. She had a resigned look on her face and, most surprisingly, was still wearing he sake soaked clothes from before. Marco felt something akin to dread.

"… She's gone, isn't she." Charlene looked at him dully as Ace swore.

"If she's wrecked something else I'm gonna-." Ace cut off again as a loud cheer rose up from the group playing strip poker. (Fox8299 – Oh God…)

"About time!"

"Whoo! Take it all off!" Ace glanced at the rowdy group.

"She might have joined the party," Beth reasoned, casting her eyes across the crowd. Marco shook his head.

"Unfortunately we can't assume that," Marco said frowning, Ace's eyes were still fixed on the crowd around the poker players. The nurse's only ever played poker for money, so who..? "Polo, Rory we could use your help-"

"No, we'll be fine," Ace interrupted, setting off toward the noise.

"Wha-? Ace, wait!" Marco said following his friend, Beth and Charlene glanced at Polo and Rory who both looked confused. Then as one the four hurried after the commanders.

Marty grinned as she… upgraded her cards. Losing her shirt had turned out to be rather helpful, the pirates seemed to be focusing less and less on her hands. (Fox8299 – Oh dear lord. *shakes head*

"So boys," Marty said cheerfully, spreading her cards out, "Any one beat a Royal flush?"

"Again?!"

"Aw man, these are my favourite shorts."

"Come on sis, take pity on me?"

"Yeah, these are my last pair of clean underwear." Marty grinned at the men exclamations of disappointment.

"You know the drill," Marty said holding out her arm, "Hand them over-"

"What… do you think you're doing?"

"Eh?" Marty glance up to see Ace watching her with an incredulous expression, Beth peered over his shoulder curiously.

"So the spontaneous nudist colony is your doing?" Beth said conversationally.

Ace eyes flicked from the mound of shorts, shirts, and other various assortments of clothing to the girl sitting beside it. Purple was wearing the same shorts as that afternoon but now, with the absence of her shirt, was clad in only a strapless black bra.

"Marty," Charlene shrieked scandalised as she appeared on the other side of Ace, "Where on earth is your shirt."

"Ummm.." Said the girl, glancing at the other poker players.

"Here," said one of the men, holding up her black singlet. Marty turned back to the blond girl grinning.

"There it is." Ace rose an eyebrow, he could almost see the steam coming out of Princess's ears.

"It's not decent!" Cake finally shrieked. Marco chuckled impressed.

"I see you've made some new friends," he said, his eyes flicked to Polo and Rory who were both blushing.

"Hai!" Marty said happily, "I've also got some new clothes." There were growls of discontent from the surrounding crew mates.

"Come on Commander! Win our clothes back for us!' (Fox8299 – Do it!)

"Yeah! Come on Ace, you can take her."

"Ha?" Ace said startled, he glanced at Purple who was looking up at him curiously.

Marty grinned.

"Yeah, come on Ace, you can take me." Ace frowned.

"You guy's lost your own clothes, why would I want to risk my own to get them back?"

"To get her naked!" One man yelled to enthusiastic cheering. Marty laughed along, before turning to Ace to notice her hat for the first time.

"Hey! That's mine!" Marty cried, leaning forward onto one hand to point at the hat with the other. Ace glanced at the mound of clothes next to her with a raised eyebrow.

"How 'bout Ace gives you your hat, and you give the nice pirates back their clothes," Marco broke in with a smile, "You can still play poker, just with your own clothes."

"Wait, WHAT!?" Ace objected,

"Deal," Marty said grinning, she pushed the mound of clothes to the side.

"Don't I get a say in this?" Ace objected, but was reasonably drowned out by the men attempting to get their clothes back.

"Don't lose Marty!" Beth cheered as the crowd clamed slightly, "Send him to bed in only his hat."

"Hey now," Ace objected.

"As if, I'll be taking his hat too, speaking of which," Marty held out her hand, "Hat please." Ace glared at her.

"Hold up, give me one good reason to play strip poker with a she devil like you," Marty tilted her head to the side and smiled.

"Cluck cluck," Ace blinked taken aback as the crowd around them made 'oooh'ing noises. Ace eyes narrowed. He pulled the hat free of his belt loop and chucked it at her.

"Wah!" Marty said surprised, catching the hat with her face. She grabbed it and moved it to her head to see Ace Drop into a seated position across from her.

"Marco, deal," Ace said calmly, Marty smiled at him peacefully as Marco threw around the cards. Ace shifted dropping his gaze to his cards, thankful for a reason not to stare at the girl. Ace grinned inwardly at his hand, this was going to be easy.

"Ah, Ace?" Ace glanced at Rory who was watching the game apprehensively, "I should probably mention…"

"Show us your cards Cowboy," Marty interrupted grinning, Ace flicked his gaze to Rory before returning his gaze to his cards.

"Two pair," Ace said smugly, there were noises of appreciation from the surrounding crowd. Marty put her hand to her cheek, eye's wide.

"Oh no," Marty said worriedly before suddenly grinning and dropping her cards to the deck, "Straight, seven high, off with your boots," She said laughing at Ace's indignant expression. Rory sighed.

"Yeah, she cheats."

. . .

… so the strip poker is going to continue into the next chapter… and also for those who wonder about the time frame in which this fic is set, the is a small clue in the chapter for those interested.

Anyway, it's been fun, if you're interested make sure to check out my new fanfic, it's called Blue.

xx