Chapter 21

So the link in the last chap didn't show up –whoops

LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY MISTAKES

montezumax. tumblr tagged/marty – all aboard to see shitty doodles

I don't own one piece.

/

"Teach," Ace growled getting to his feet, "Explain yourself," Teach met his glare.

"Your insane protégé attacked me," Teach snarled, Ace glanced at him as he approached the hole Marty had disappeared into.

"Purple attacked you," Ace repeated quietly, "Why?" He peered into the store room which usually was opened from other side of the ship. The damn girl had blasted her way through the room to that very door. She was conscious again, with some very confused crew members helping her to her feet. One of the men glance around and, spotting Ace, waved.

"Does this belong to you commander?" Called Polo. Ace groaned and Jack stumbled up to stare through the ships new window.

"Is she well?" Jack hollered back grinning as Ace muttered about certain women who are better off out cold. Polo turned as Marty said something they didn't quite make out. He nodded before turning back to the two men and yelling.

"She says the wall was Ace's fault!" Ace snorted moving away from the wall, leaving Jack to sort out the idiot's brain damage. As if she had a brain to damage.

Ace stood in front of his friend with his arms crossed, waiting.

"As I said, the brat attacked me," Teach spat, "dammed if I know why."

"She's an idiot with more power than what good for her, but she generally has a reason for the damned bloody stupid things she does," Ace shook his head. After a moment he held out his hand to help Teach to his feet, "though it's generally boredom. Seriously though, did you insult her dog or..?" Teach blinked before grabbing Ace's hand pulling himself to his feet.

"Wasn't aware she had one," Teach said grinning. He brushed imaginary dust from his pants glancing over his shoulder at the dent in the wall. "Whatever it was trust me I won't be tryin' it again."

"That beginning said Teach, choking her was…" Ace paused frowning, "You shouldn't… you could have broken her neck."

"Sorry Ace," Teach said after a moment, "I was just trying to get her unconscious so she would stop trying to kill me." Ace sighed, uncrossing his arms to rub an arm over his face.

"There are easier ways to subdue a person," Jack said quietly from behind Ace causing him to turn. Jack was now leaning against the wall watching the conversation as the Purple disaster herself stood in the walls new opening. Polo was wandering along behind her yelling "There's nothing to see here" and "Just some improvised construction underway," and for some reason "Yeah add it to the list."

"Someone of her power, subduing her wasn't an option," Teach snapped, snapping up an arm to point at Marty "You saw the mess she caused when Ace intervened." Ace flicked his eyes over the Purple menace who stared back with a blank level expression. For someone who had just recently busted through a wall she didn't look any worse for wear. Though her lack of defence for her action s annoyed Ace for some reason

"He has a point," Ace held up a hand as Jack began protesting, "that being said, this," Ace gestured at the devastation around them, "Will not happened again." Teach nodded in a placating way.

"Absolutely- ,"

"I wouldn't bet on it," Marty murmured, Ace whipped around to see her examining Teach, reminding Ace of a hawk about to attack a very large, dangerous dog. A tiny, annoying, baby, purple hawk.

"Excuse me?" Ace snapped, "If you have a problem, you come see me and Marco, you don't attack crew members." Marty blinked flicking her gaze back to Ace, brow furrowed.

"Attack?..."Marty's expression cleared, "Ah, yeah sure." Ace felt like throwing one of the wooden boards now littering the floor at her but, seeing as it directly contradicted his last statement, refrained. Damned responsibilities.

"Teach… go, I'll deal with this," Ace said flicking his hand at the Man.

"Right…" Marty continued to stare as Marshall D. Teach made his way down the hallway. Suddenly she smiled brightly raising her arm in a wave.

"Great talk Teach, we have to do this again," Teach stiffened slightly at her cheerful tone but didn't turn around, "See you soon," Marty said quietly dropping her arm. She pitched forward suddenly as Ace cuffed her round the head.

"The hell did I just say!" Marty shrugged rubbing her head, "For the god's sake, Polo take her to her room and by your life don't let her leave." Ace threatened turning away; preparing himself for the explanation he was going to give Pop when Marty's hand snaked out to grab his wrist. Ace raised an eyebrow.

"What."

"… You believe him," Marty said quietly.

"Believe who? Teach?" Ace said confused, "About what?" Marty continued to frown at him but released his wrist.

"That I did this."

"You're telling me you didn't blow a hole in the wall," Ace said sarcastically, Marty snorted turning her head away.

"No, that I did. Ah well, back to my cell right?

"You're lucky I don't put you back in a cage," Ace retorted. He glanced at her neck which was red from abuse. Ace reached out and tipped Marty's chin up for a better look.

"He didn't break anything important?"

"He got in a few good hits but I overall I won the fight," Marty said batting away Ace's hand

"How do you fit all that stupid in one person?" Ace snorted rolling his eyes before resuming his path to Pops quarters.

Jack watched Marty as Ace rounded the corner, she looked happy enough on the outside but she seemed… off.

"Marty?" Jack said quietly.

"Mmmm?"

"You didn't attack Teach," Marty glanced at her friend. It was a statement not a question.

"What are you talking about she just said-," Polo started.

"No," Marty said cutting across her friend, "No I didn't." Polo stared confused.

"You gonna tell me why you let Ace think you did?" Marty laughed.

"He wasn't going to believe me over someone who's actually his friend."

"He may yet surprise you."

"Mmm, it's my job to surprise him, I shan't like our rolls to be switched," Marty turned her attention to Polo, "Haven't you got a room to drag me to?" Jack put a hand on Marty's shoulder.

"Whatever you set yourself out to do, be careful," Jack warned, "Don't hesitate to ask me for help." Marty smiled up at the man and nodded, then glanced down her expression going dark.

"Just, don't trust Teach, don't ask me why," Marty interrupted as Jack opened his mouth, "I can't explain in a way that makes sense but don't… don't turn your back on him." Jack patted her on the head before making his way back into Marty's new addition to the ship to help with damage control.

"Does that go for me too?" Polo asked curiously as they began the march back to the girl's rooms, "Do you need help?" Marty laughed.

"Do you trust me?"

"Absolutely not."

"Good call, listen anyway?"

"Why not."

"Don't go near Teach, not ever. If you see him doing something… off, find me immediately," Marty sighed rubbing her thought, "So what's the list?"

"List?"

"Before you were talking about adding something to a list?"

"Oh, the list of items, people, and or things you've destroyed since coming on board."

"Sweet, I have a list."

"Yeah, yours ain't nothing compared to Ace's though."

"… I have to try harder."

"Please don't."

/

Beth and Cake were marched back into their room to find Marty soundly beating Polo at poker.

"How much do you owe her now?" Beth asked as Marco shut the door behind him on his way out.

"More than he has," Marty said cheerfully rearranging her cards. Cake stalked up to her snatching the cards out of her hands.

"You got into another fight?" Cake snapped holding them out of her reach, Marty blinked.

"How?..."

"Jack told us when we got dragged along behind Marco to find out what the noise was," Beth said calmly sitting down on the bed.

"What did he say?"

"That you got into it with teach, and that we would have to ask either Ace or you for details," Beth said smiling as she saw Polo's dismal hand, "Did you win?" Cake stamped her foot.

"That isn't-,"

"I finished the fight so technically yes," Marty snatched her cards out of Cake's hand to lay them flat, "Oh hot damn, look at that hand." Polo groaned flinging his cards off to the side as he collapsed backwards, "I now own your ass and the clothes it wears." Marty said smugly. Cake looked insulted at the choice of language but didn't comment as she sat next to Beth.

"So," Beth leaned forwards as all eyes in the room turned to her, "do we have a plan?" Polo squawked as he shot upright.

"NO. No plans, no. Marco will kill me, NO PLANS oh god he would string up my bones…" Marty smirked at Polo amused as he trailed off into detailed descriptions as his own torture.

"Before that," Marty turned back to Beth serious, "Billions cove, is it really the main trading point for devil fruits?" Beth and Cake stared at her.

"What?... Yes, yes it is. It'd be the biggest and most well-known anyway; we also are the island in charge of classifying known devil fruits."

"My Father, who is the Mayor, his assistant oversees the Market personally," Cake said primly as Beth rolled her eyes upwards, asking for patience.

"Anyway how don't you know that," Beth asked frowning.

"You didn't tell me."

"… You should have already known if you live there," Marty dismissed the comment with a wave of her hand.

"It explains how I found a devil fruit on a random beach I suppose," Marty said thoughtfully.

"I guess," Beth shrugged, "sometimes when a new shipment comes in some go missing or get tossed overboard during fights." Marty nodded as if that explained everything.

"Right, so the island was attacked for the Fruits?" Beth and Cake glance at each other.

"I suppose, but attacking the island isn't easy, a lot of people in important positions are fruit users," Beth said slowly.

"Even my dad's assistant has got fruits powers," added Cake. Beth watched her friend think.

"Alright then the why is irrelevant, we need to get there now," Marty decided the other girls nodded in agreement as Polo broke his rambles.

"NO goddamit listen to me," Polo roared slamming his hand down in front of him, "You can't go off by yourself! It's dangerous!" Marty s hand snapped out to grab him by the collar of his shirt, wrenching him forward till their faces were inches apart, meeting Polo's glare with one of her own.

"No," Marty parroted quietly, "You need to listen to us. This isn't a game. This is important. There are people we care about on the island who need us with them now." Polo snorted.

"You guys aren't as strong as Whitebeards crew as a whole, hell together you would be hard pressed going up against a commander. It's safer to wait-."

"It isn't about safer, it isn't about how strong we are," Marty had let go of his shirt, but Polo still remain where he was, "On that island is where we need to be right now, regardless of whether or not we make a difference, and to hell with the consequences." He shook his head.

"You could die," Marty laughed.

"Oh Polo you're a pirate, don't tell me there isn't anything you would be willing to risk your life for?" Polo frowned visibly wavering.

"Polo," Cake said quietly causing the pair to turn there gazes on her, "Please, it's our families. Please help us." Polo blinked then sighed.

"Alright," Polo sighed, "I'm going to be hung up by my ankles for this but, Alright – whoa!" Polo spluttered as Cake tackled him backwards in a hug. Marty blinked as they flew past before turning to Beth.

"So the Plan," Beth asked

"Yes the Plan."

"… Do you have one?"

"Not at all you?"

"Bugger."

"Well," Polo said slightly muffled under layers of Cake, "I don't have any ideas for anything once we're on the island, but I may be able to get us there."

"Cake let the Man up," Marty laughed as they sat up, "well then Polo? How about that dastardly plan?

/

"They really should start locking the door," Marty said, pulling it open, feeling a sense of de ja vu. She looked over her shoulder, "are you coming or not?"

"Try and leave me behind," said The Cake stiffly, Beth grinned pushing herself to her feet.

"Lead on," and after checking to see it was empty, they slipped out into the hallway. Polo sighed following them out.

"If Ace or Marco asks I had nothing to do with this and you kidnapped me," He said sullenly shutting the door behind them.

/

"She's good for you Ace," Whitebeard chuckled, "you're finally seeing what it's like to be on the receiving end of the stick."

"Good for me my ass, she's a force of destruction," Muttered Ace glancing at Marco for support. Marco just shrugged.

"To be fair you've done more damage than the three of them ever will."

"I have not!"

"… The incident with the maps?"

"Ok technically…"

"And the 20 tables we had to replace?"

"If Chef hadn't been chasing me…"

"Don't get me started on that time near that flower selling island."

"In my defence none of you needed a haircut for a while."

"You agree with their invitation into the crew?" Whitebeard asked smiling at his son's. Marco considered the question before nodding.

"Once Marty gets a hold on her powers, yes, I enjoy having them around," Marco said as Ace raised his eyebrows before snorting.

"He enjoys having Pixie sleep in his bed" Marco's eyes narrowed.

"Bring that up again and you can watch me tell Marty all about the time you stole Izo's Make up and-."

"ALRIGHT, I'm sorry!"

/

So I have the rest of the storyline mapped out now : ) I'll be dropping random hints about whats really going on and how Marty ended up where she was.

Also the fact that a lot of the people who were reviewing this fiction when I first started writing it still comment make me want to cry – hey if any of you need a home you can come live with me!

Lizziecat's – love your work – you, you I'm gonna marry.