Thank you to all the ducklings who reviewed last chapter and a big thank you to all the ducklings who have followed/favorited the story thus far!
BatmanSwim2016- Waahhhh I knowwwww, I'm awful... *hangs my head* Someday there will be happy times! I'm not entirely sure when that will be though... *hides*
awannabewriter4years- Thank you so much for the review duckling~ :) I agree, I more than anything want to know what happened to the Whitebeards during the 2 years, but with the way the manga is going right now it will probably be quite some time before we find out anything. If they ever show back up in the series that is. *sighs*
sam-free15- Good luck guessing what I'm thinking, because most of the time I have a hard time determining just what's going through my crazy mind! LOL Thank you so much duckling! :D *hugs you tight*
OnePieceDoesExist- I'm far too mean to Felicity! I don't know what it is, it isn't like I enjoy seeing her suffer or anything... *shifty eyes* I'm definitely NOT a sadist... Hehe thank you duckie! :D *huggles* And yes! Omigosh I was so surprised with the ending after the credits too, but excited at the same time!
Cinnamon-Fudg3- XD Yessss, feel the excitement duckling! Let it completely take you over mwahahahaha!
belladu57- Thank you very much, I'm glad you think the story is good and I hope you continue to enjoy future chapters! :D
Guest: Pharoah999- Marco vs Doflamingo would have happened, but unfortunately circumstances made me unable to write out the big fight. :( And thank you! I'm glad you liked that part with Johanna, I enjoyed writing it out and I can try to put in more of those kinds of scenes. Don't you worry, Marco will do his best to save his woman! ;) Thank you so much duckling!
adventurehungry- Bahahahaha Bakainu, I love it! XD With Dofy, I decided that I really wanted to bring someone into the story that most of you ducklings wouldn't expect so I'm glad I was able to give that surprise. ^_^ And you'll see both Marco's and Felicity's responses, they may surprise you and then again they may not hehehe...
So I'm not a very happy camper. I accidentally deleted this entire chapter from my docs on this site and had to re-type every God-blessed word. I literally began to cry when I realized I had accidentally deleted the wrong doc because I had more than half the chapter typed out already when this happened.
I'm sorry if this version is nowhere near as good as other chapters in the story. I tried to type out everything once again but I couldn't remember everything as I had originally typed it, so I fear that the quality of this chapter isn't that good.
Chapter 25
Felicity's eyes were wide as saucers at what the Shichibukai towering over her had just told her.
"You... You know where Temperance is?"
Doflamingo's grin never faltered. "I believe that's what I just said, isn't it?"
Ignoring the sarcasm, Felicity instead focused on the man's words. He claimed to know where Temperance was exactly and he was also claiming that he was able to take Felicity to her sister if she so wanted.
This was it! This was her way to finding her little sister and making sure Temperance was safe! But then her more sensible side kicked in and she silently berated herself for getting excited. After all, the man was a Shichibukai, he could very well be tricking her for whatever reason he had.
"Fufufu, I have to say that you have one of the worst poker faces I've ever seen. I can read every single emotion you're feeling right now, and I'm going to take a wild guess and say that you're not sure whether or not you can trust me?"
Brown eyes narrowed slightly as she gave a curt nod. "Well, would you trust you if it were you in this position?"
"Smart girl! Of course I wouldn't trust myself!"
Of course not, she thought bitterly to herself. He was just dangling a carrot in front of her face, having no intention whatsoever to take her to Temperance.
"I can now see that you doubt I'd keep my word, and were it anyone else, I would more than likely do as I please. However, you and your family interest me, and just to see how your loved ones would react, I'm very willing to help you find your beloved sister."
Her heart began to hammer against her chest as she once again felt a small sliver of hope bloom within her, only to have it completely destroyed by the blonde's next statement.
"For a price. But then again I'm sure you were aware that nothing in this world worth having is free."
Willing herself not to curse out loud, Felicity swallowed, never taking her eyes off the sunglass-wearing male. "And what would that be?" Feeling Doflamingo cup her face in his large hand, she shivered and watched helplessly as he leaned his face in closer to her own.
"Leave the Whitebeard crew behind and join my family."
Marco knew in his gut that something was off, what that was exactly he couldn't tell. He knew damn well that a Shichibukai was somewhere in the vicinity, but none of the pieces of garbage the crew had been fighting were willing to say where he was. They didn't even want to give the name of the Shichibukai that had been sent after them.
It just didn't make sense, they were all right there! So where the hell was the Shichibukai at?
"Marco!"
The blonde turned to find Haruta running straight for him, skidding to a halt right before he collided straight into Marco. "Marco, do you know where Felicity is?!"
A brow slowly arched at the way Haruta asked and a hand lifted itself, thumb jerking over his shoulder to indicate that she was on the ship. "She's on the ship with a few of our men."
The younger boy's eyes widened into saucers and his hands instantly grabbed onto the front of Marco's coat, shaking the taller man. "We have to get to her now! We just found out that she's the target of this attack! They meant to distract us, to keep us away from her so that others in their group could pick her off more easily!"
Wait...
"We have to get to her now, Marco! If we don't..."
Marco's eyes slowly narrowed.
"Then we could lose her for good!"
That was all he needed to hear. "Tell the others to finish things here, I'm going back to the ship!" And without even waiting for a response, Marco turned and immediately changed forms, flapping blue flamed wings as fast as he possibly could.
The only thoughts running through his mind were reminders of that damned vision Rhea had told him about, one in which he was clinging to Felicity's body as her heart stopped beating. Seeing just who had Felicity in his grasp made a fear unlike any other cut through Marco. He knew instantly that Akainu had sent the Shichibukai in order to retrieve his daughter, and Marco would be damned before he ever let that happen.
"FELICITY!" Marco flew straight for Doflamingo, a taloned foot kicking out and striking against the much larger man's arm that was lifted up as a defense against Marco's attack.
"Fufufu, so the knight in shining armor finally comes to save the damsel in distress!"
"You're damn right I came for her yoi! She is mine!" Marco hissed through clenched teeth as he dropped to his feet, landing directly in front of Felicity in an attempt to shield her from Doflamingo.
"Touching," the larger man began, lifting his hand to ready his strings should they be necessary. "But I'm afraid you really have no reason to fear, I'm not here to take your precious whore back to her oh so loving father."
Marco grit his teeth, taking a step forward as his voice lowered to a deathly low tone. "What did you just call her yoi?" The commander's movements were stopped by a pair of small arms wound tightly around his waist.
"Don't do it, Marco! Don't get yourself hurt because of me!"
The words that came out of his mouth next were ones that he so desperately wished he could take back. "What were you thinking?!" He turned and towered over Felicity, watching as doe-like eyes widened at this reaction.
"M-Marco?"
"I told you to stay put in my quarters, and now you've put yourself into all kinds of danger!"
Marco watched still as those soft chocolate eyes narrowed slowly, Felicity curling her fingers into fists before beating them against his chest. "You're seriously mad about the fact I left your quarters when we have bigger things to worry about right at this moment?!"
"You're damn right I am yoi! What if I hadn't made it here in time?!"
"But you obviously did!"
The heated argument was soon interrupted by laughter, the pair both whipping their heads to Doflamingo who began to slowly clap. "Well, this is proving to be quite the show!"
It was in that moment that Marco froze as realization slowly kicked in. What was he doing? Once again, he was allowing his fears to take over and as a result, he was upsetting Felicity even more than she probably already was. His gaze slowly softened, not wanting to be the cause of anymore of Felicity's tears. Never again.
"Marco-"
"I'm sorry," he bit out before giving the curly-haired woman a slow, sad smile. "You were right all along yoi." At the blank look on Felicity's face, he chuckled and his hands gently cradled her face in the palms of his hands. "I should have let you stay with me, fight at my side, and I'm such a damn fool for allowing you to be caught up in all this."
Marco expected Felicity to give a biting retort and tell him that he was in for it later that night and they should start to kick some ass now, but seeing Felicity's eyes well in tears, Marco's own lids widened a fraction. "Felicity, what are you-"
His words were cut off as Felicity threw her arms around his shoulders, clutching tightly to him with her nails biting into his skin through his coat.
"I choose you," she whispered, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "I may be the worst person in the world for it, but I... I've decided that I can't give you up for anything. I don't want to live my life without you in it."
What the hell was she babbling about? Slowly his arms wound around her waist and before he could ask what she meant by her words, the first division commander heard a dark chuckle directly behind them.
"Is that your final answer, my dear?" Doflamingo stared at the pair with his trademark grin in place, hands in his pockets. "Another opportunity like this won't come for you, you know."
Marco's arms tightened as he felt Felicity nod her head.
"I'm aware of the choice that I'm making..."
"Fufufu, then maybe you're not as dedicated a sister as I first assumed you to be. If that's the case, I'll just be on my way."
Marco's eyes narrowed as he turned and watched the feathered back of Doflamingo's ridiculous coat.
"Oh, by the way," Doflamingo's steps stopped and he craned his head back to chuckle. "This means that I'll be forced to tell your father that there's no hope for you. More than likely he won't ever be able to forgive you."
Felicity gave a bitter laugh. "So it'll be just like my life normally was before I managed to get away? I'll take my chances."
The Shichibukai leered down at the two, focusing on Marco this time. "Take care of the little spitfire now Phoenix. After all, it's not everyday that a woman is willing to give up finding her only sister in order to stay with the man she loves."
Give up finding her sister?
Turning his attention to Felicity, he found her gnawing on her bottom lip, refusing to meet his gaze. "What is he talking about yoi?" The only response he received was a shake of her head and his brow furrowed out of frustration.
"Fufufu, I made an offer to take her to her sister, but in exchange she would have to leave you and your crew behind. Obviously she's made her choice, and I suppose blood isn't thicker than water."
Half-lidded eyes widened a fraction at the revelation and Felicity immediately pushed herself away from Marco, turning on her heel and running away from the blonde commander.
"Felicity!" he called out after her, finding his feet frozen in place and unable to move forward after her.
Was that what she had meant when she said that she chose him? Did he really mean so much to her, that she was willing to give up any hopes of being reunited with the family she so loved?
"If you're done causing so much shit for us," Marco turned to face the Shichibukai once again. "Then you can leave yoi."
The larger man held an arm up to indicate that he was indeed leaving soon. "I get it, I can tell when I'm not wanted. But this won't be the last time your woman hears from me. I've decided that both she and her sister are intriguing, to say the least."
"Get. Out." Marco hissed through clenched teeth, watching as the Shichibukai barked out a laugh and flew off using his strings. Every part of him wanted nothing more than to run after Felicity, but something told him to let the curly-haired woman be on her own for the time being.
He could at least give her that much, considering what she had just given up.
Felicity had spent the majority of that night silently letting the tears fall into her pillow. Temperance would surely hate her if she knew that she had chosen a man over her own flesh and blood, right? Or would her younger sister not care at all that she had chosen a life with Marco and the Whitebeards, especially considering that Temperance herself had left with no warning to Felicity?
Maybe Temperance didn't care all that much about her older sister and had only cared about her own freedom... These were the thoughts that plagued Felicity's mind all night long and needless to say, she had gotten hardly any sleep as a result of these thoughts.
When she managed to finally doze off, she awoke a few hours later to find Izo had already left his quarters for the day. Groaning, she rubbed her eyes and finally got out of bed to begin her daily routine, not giving a damn how terrible she may have looked right then with hair flying in all directions and dark circles under her eyes.
Fuck everything, was her current way of thinking at that moment.
She supposed she should try to find Marco to make sure he was alright after everything that had happened the previous day, even when all she really wanted to do was go back to sleep and never wake up.
Curiously though, Felicity found that many of the crew members all had their faces buried in newspapers and whenever she would walk by, they would all stop and stare at her before whispering amongst themselves. She had to admit that that was a bit odd, even by pirate standards, and as she made her way into the dining hall, things got even stranger...
The moment she stepped into the large hall, all eyes moved to her and the room went deathly silent. Alright, now this was ridiculous.
Her eyes scanned the room and she finally found Izo, stomping over to the cross-dresser with her arms crossed. "What the hell is going on? Ever since I got up this morning, it's like everyone has lost their damn mind! And another thing-"
"Duckling! Don't tell me you haven't heard the news?!"
Felicity blinked once, then twice at the question posed to her. "What news?" she slowly began, a sense of dread filling her very being. What she didn't expect was to have Izo shove a piece of paper into her face.
"This has been all over the newspapers today! Those pesky reporters must have gotten right on this right after the big fight with Doflamingo's boys yesterday!"
Alright, this had to be something big for Izo to not even comment on her dreadful appearance. Just whose wanted poster was this?
Felicity froze as she stared down at the wanted poster with, not just anyone's face, but her own face and name. The picture that had been used was one that she didn't recall being taken of her; her eyes were shifted to one side as though she were looking at something out of the corner of her eyes, one hand was running through her curls and the other rested at her side.
WANTED
DEAD OR ALIVE
BLACK SWAN FELICITY
20,000,000
All eyes in the room turned to Felicity, who in turn could do nothing but stare at the poster in complete bewilderment.
Ah, but it wasn't just the Whitebeards that had seen the news that morning...
All Vice-Admiral Barker had wanted when he went into work that morning was to enjoy a large cup of coffee and maybe torment his underlings for a bit. It seemed that Fate wasn't about to let the Vice-Admiral have his way though...
The older man sat down at his desk, reaching for his coffee and the latest newspaper when he noted a curious thing...
"Hm? ...WHAT IN SEVEN HELLS IS THIS?!" His coffee spewed from his mouth, nearly scalding one of his subordinates in the process.
No... It couldn't be! Not his precious Felicity! The paper he held in his hands was soon crumpled as he tore the damn thing to pieces. He couldn't accept this! Barker had thought that by leaving Felicity with the Whitebeard Pirates that she could keep herself out of the watchful eye of the Navy, but it seemed that that wasn't to be.
"Damn you, Sakazuki!" he hissed through grit teeth. "Someday, I'll murder you with my own bare hands for what you've done!"
But first, he needed to change into a suit that had no coffee stains on it. ...and he probably should check up on the poor young man he had nearly burned to death with his coffee.
Eh, who was he kidding? Let the poor kid keep the burn marks, he could say that he had received them in the line of duty.
"Yo, Tyr!"
Said brunette frowned and turned on his barstool to find Shanks grinning like the fool he was, waving a piece of paper around with his hand. "C'mere and see what your girl's gotten herself into!"
Wait, his girl? Tyr's eyes narrowed slightly, knowing damn well he didn't have a girl, and Shanks knew this as well. "Give me that," he muttered under his breath, snatching the poster out of Shanks' hand and stopping upon seeing just whose face was on the wanted poster.
No way... "'Black Swan Felicity'?" Lips slowly curved upwards into a full grin, unable to help himself the longer he stared at the poster. "Looks like Felicity's going to find plenty of adventure where she's at after all." And Tyr couldn't wait to see just what she would do with her newfound notoriety.
A pair of grey eyes read over the front page of the latest newspaper, a brow slowly arching on its own as he read a certain headline.
Now this was interesting. "I just read a most peculiar thing," he called out to his assistant who stood nearby.
"You think a great deal of things are peculiar, but it doesn't always mean that they are."
The pirate chuckled lowly, reaching out and tugging on his lovely assistant's hand in an effort to bring her closer. "Ah, but I think you'll find this bit of news most interesting, my dear."
Hearing a soft sigh, the pirate captain continued to read the bold letters on the front of the paper. "FLEET ADMIRAL'S DAUGHTER TURNS PIRATE." A slow grin made its way across his face as he felt the woman on his lap stiffen before reading what the article entailed.
"Many would think that being the daughter of a well-known Marine hero would make said daughter keep far away from such criminals as the Whitebeard Pirates, but not in this instance. Felicity, the older daughter of Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, has recently been discovered allying herself to the Whitebeards. Just what their plans are, no one has any idea, but the Navy and World Government both agree that no good can come of it and have now labeled the young woman as a wanted criminal. The Fleet Admiral could not be reached to give his thoughts on this latest piece of news."
The woman in his lap squirmed, keeping quiet while her captain read the article to her until finally she couldn't keep silent any longer. "Oh Law... Does it really say that Felicity is no longer with him?"
"I believe that's what I just read aloud to you." His grin widened at the look of pure joy that quickly settled across the girl's heart-shaped face. "And now that you know she's alright, and not suffering as you originally believed her to be when you first left, what will you do with this information... Temperance?"
The white-haired girl let out a weak laugh, wiping away at any happy tears that threatened to fall. "I-I don't even know, Law. I'm just so happy now! To finally hear for myself that she's escaped as well... It's all so unbelievable!"
She quickly stood to her feet, beginning to pace the room they were both in. "Just think, Law! If I could find Lissy again, oh that would be the most amazing thing ever! I could finally tell her everything that happened the day we were separated and everything that's happened to me since then!"
"Don't get too excited, Temperance. You know we still have many plans of our own that we need to make happen first," the Supernova paused upon seeing the crestfallen look on the girl's face. "But, if we achieve everything we've planned out so far, then I don't see why we couldn't try to find your sister sometime in the future."
The girl launched herself at the pirate, grinning at the grunt he gave upon catching her in his arms. "Then I suppose we have to make your plans come to fruition even faster, don't we? How many pirate hearts are we lacking now?"
Trafalgar Law's grin darkened as he wrapped both slender arms around Temperance. "Eager to help me gather what I need, are you? A girl after my own heart."
"I know, I know, I've been a shitty friend for not visiting as much as I probably should." A tall, slender man stood in front of a grave where one of his old friends was buried. "But I've got some big news that I thought you should hear about, though you may have already heard about it all."
Kneeling down and sitting cross-legged, the man reached for the bag that had recently been on his back, grabbing a newspaper and bottle of alcohol. Laying the paper in front of the headstone, he popped the top off the bottle and took a long swig of the liquor, feeling the familiar burn against the back of his throat.
"You'd be proud," the man began after a moment of silence. "Your Lissy's causing quite the ruckus among high-ranking officials. Who'd have ever thought that the daughter of the Navy Fleet Admiral would have ever chosen the life of a troublemaker? Then again, maybe that old adage of 'like mother, like daughter' really is true."
Releasing a heavy sigh, he pulled his sunglasses off and took note of the name on the headstone. "But that's just the thing, Sakazuki's not the same man we once both knew. Everything's gone to shit ever since you passed, Johanna... Both Lissy and Tempy ran from him the first chance they got so that should tell you just how bad thing's have really gotten."
He paused, taking another long drink from the bottle before continuing. "I think now that I'm no longer a Marine, I'll try and check up on the girls myself. I am their 'uncle' after all, and what are uncles for if not to ensure their family, blood-related or not, is alright?"
But first, he decided that a nap was in order.
Felicity continued to stare at the poster she held in her hands. Fingers were shaking as she gripped onto the paper as tightly as she possibly could, unable to tear her gaze away from her own face.
She knew she should be feeling anger, or fear, or frustration, something! So then why, why was the only she felt... Relief?
It wasn't right, she shouldn't be feeling happy that she had her own bounty now, that she was considered a criminal, but Felicity was without a doubt happy, even if she couldn't find the words to voice her feelings right then. By accepting her new title, was she giving up any and all hope of ever being reunited with Temperance?
Feeling the paper being tugged out of her grasp, Felicity's head whipped up to Marco staring down at her with his usual half-lidded gaze. Gently, the blonde took the poster out of Felicity's hands and stared hard at it.
Finally after a few moments of tense silence, the first division commander turned his focus onto Felicity herself and slowly smiled. "Interesting nickname. Not sure where they came up with it, but I think 'Black Swan' suits you yoi."
"Th-That's..." She knew damn well where the nickname had come from, but wasn't ready to admit the truth just yet.
Marco, ignoring the shock that settled across Felicity's face, slid an arm around the petite woman's shoulders and tugged her closer to his side before turning them both to face the rest of the crew. "You all know what this means! Tonight we celebrate Felicity getting her first bounty yoi!"
Brown eyes blinked at the uproar from the crew, unsure how to take the response. It seemed that they were all...
"They're really proud of you and for you."
Turning her head up, Felicity was met Marco's soft smile and felt herself leaning against his form. "But why? It's not like I've done anything worthwhile while I've been here. I've been more a burden than anything else," she mumbled under her breath.
Marco chuckled. "Is that how you really see yourself? Because we see you as one of us, no matter what you may say or think."
Her brow furrowed and Felicity frowned. It couldn't be that easy, there was no way that they could just accept her as a fellow criminal just like that. "But..."
"I know we're not your sister," Marco slowly began. "But we'd like to be your family too. If you'd let us be, that is yoi." And with that, Marco extended his hand to Felicity, waiting to see if she would allow him to lead her, to put her trust into him and the other members of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Staring hard at the hand Marco offered, Felicity began to think... Had she made the wrong choice in choosing to stay here with Marco and the others?
No, as Felicity stared up into those dark, half-lidded eyes of Marco's and placed her hand in his, she realized that there was truly no other place she would rather be than with Marco and the Whitebeard Pirates.
This was her family now, all the family she would ever need.
Next chapter will show Izo being Izo. Just what does that mean? Well, I'm sure your bright minds can just imagine what kind of shenanigans that could entail. I'm fairly certain that Felicity will be close to committing homicide by the end of the chapter. *snickers*
Yay for Lissy getting her first bounty! And yay for Tempy finally showing up!
Ugh this was probably one of the worst chapters that I have written so far for the story, and it's far shorter than what I originally wanted. I had a fight scene between Dofy and Marco originally but since I lost everything the first time around I got mad and left it out this time. So I apologize if it seems like my writing is getting worse because that's how it seems to me. I feel that my writing is getting worse rather than better so that's frustrating me quite a bit too.
I think something that would cheer me up is an amazing figure of Marco in his Phoenix form that I saw for sale on ebay. Yup, I'm convinced if I had both Ace and Marco sitting on my dresser for me to see every time I go into my bedroom, my life would be complete. Soooo, *nudge nudge* if any of you super special awesome people would like to get this for me out of the goodness of your little duckie hearts... *bats my eyes innocently*
LOL Kidding, kidding, but I may just bite the bullet and buy the figure for myself anyway because come on! It's Marco in his sexy Phoenix form! *hearts in my eyes*