I got my book cover for The Wardens of Strar! I hoping to reveal it next Tuesday on The Warden of Strar facebook page if anyone is interesting in seeing it :)


(Omega AU)

Ace was a wild, feral pup. That was something most of the Whitebeards learned quickly during the kid's stay on the Moby Dick. Once again Ace was pinned to the deck by Pops, snarling and hissing. Teach snorted, even as Ace started gnawing Pops' hand.

"How many times has that kid bitten the old man now?" Teach grinned.

"I'm losing track," Thatch admitted, leaning against the railing. "The poor pup's so confused. And he barely eats! I can't lure him into the kitchen no matter what I do. All I can do is let him steal food and fish using Vista's fishing rod."

"I miss my fishing rod..." Vista sighed longingly.

Marco snorted. He'd get over it. Feeding the pup was much more urgent.

"Guararara, you're a hundred years too early to bite me, pup!" Pops teased.

Marco sighed, because no, apparently Ace was not 'a hundred years too early', not when Ace's teeth latched round Pops' hand, who yelped. Marco allowed Pops' suffer for a bit before walking over. He grasped the sensitive part of any pup's neck, forcing Ace to release Pops' hand, Ace who instantly became docile.

It was usually Omega's who used that technique on their pups, others normally wouldn't think of it, but Marco was hundreds of years old. He had seen thousands of Omega's grabbing their unruly children this way.

"Ace, don't bite him yoi." Marco smirked. "You don't know where he's been."

"Rude," Pops huffed.

"And you'll probably get drunk from just inhaling his blood," Marco scolded, glaring at Pops who slowly released Ace, patting his youngest son's back.

Ace was still relaxed in his grasp, content. Marco released his neck, ruffling the kid's hair who instantly became alert and swatted at his hand.

"What did you just do?" Ace scowled, covering his neck.

Marco smiled. "It's a technique Omegas use to calm their unruly children. I've seen hundreds of them do it, and practised it myself plenty of times yoi"

"Guararararara, Marco's the mother of the ship-" Pops began, but Marco jabbed his ribs, earning a curse.

"I'm also your doctor," Marco said sweetly. "Who can put who knows what in your medication."

Pops grimaced.

"I don't care about any of this!" Ace spat. "I want to know what you did to my crew. You fought last night."

Marco ignored Thatch's muttering of 'wasn't really much of a fight'.

"We left them tied up on the Black Moby," Marco said. "Once they calm down we'll let them loose, but they've been trying to attack our guys for hours now yoi."

"Then let me go to them." Ace scowled.

Pops shook his head. "Sorry, son. But you're staying with us on the Moby Dick."

"I'm not your son, and I never will be!"

Marco sighed. The two were fighting again, or well, more like Pops was play fighting. He wouldn't risk injuring a pup after all, nor go against the pirate code.

The pup was in safe hands. But now it was time to deal with the rest of the Spade pirates. Marco turned away and headed towards the railing.

"You off already?" Thatch blinked.

"Going to handle our new guests yoi." Marco nodded. "Keep an eye on the pup, and try get him to eat something, alright?"

"Aye, aye, Commander!" Thatch grinned, saluting him.

Marco rolled his eyes and took off.

.::.

Marco stepped before the bound forms of the Spade pirates. Masked Deuce glared up at him, eyes burning with tears, but Marco ignored them and leaned against the railing. Only the Omegas injures had been treated, the crew had left the Betas and Alphas to suffer their discomfort. Izo stood at their side, having been on guard duty for the past few hours. Izo did not look impressed, actually he looked annoyed.

The lynx was sat beside his crew, licking his paws clean. Thatch had fallen in love with the 'kitty' instantly and before the 'fight' even began, more like a beat down really, Thatch had lured the lynx away with hundreds of fish. Marco hadn't been surprised.

Nor had any of their other siblings.

No, they simply got on with beating up the Spades and dragging them aboard the Black Moby. The Piece of Spadille was now sailing behind them, under the care of Atmos and his Division. They had learned very quickly that the Spadille had a klabautermann, and the little lady was not happy with them.

At all.

It took Fossa, their own shipwright, and the Moby Dick, to sooth her into sailing under Atmos' command instead of trying to chuck them overboard. The girl cursed them out, but went to sulking once the Moby Dick soothed her.

Oddly enough, they reminded him of Pops and Ace.

"Now that you lot have calmed down yoi," Marco began. "You better start listening. Ace is going to become our little brother and join the Whitebeard pirates. We allowed your lot to leave, but you kept chasing us. So now you have two choices. We dump you on an island without your ship, or you stay on our ship and we'll put you to work for eating our food and using our beds, as the pirate code decrees. Pops has said you may join us whenever you wish and become one of his own, and take our mark upon your back. But it's your decision."

"Not like Ace has a decision though, does he?" Banshee, the female Omega, snarled.

Izo huffed. "How long did you guys really think you could keep this up for? Ace is a pup, and your crew is trying to sail into New World, the domain of the Emperors. A crew who are capable of handling Paradise, sure, but not the big stages. Not when you're forced to rely on your Captain's strength alone. Kaido would have beaten you all bloody and forced Ace into his crew, while Big Mom would have murdered him or married him off to one of her kids when Ace presents."

"You should be happy it was us," Izo continued, his voice hard. "Because Kaido would have shown no mercy."

Marco nudged Izo's shoulder, who quickly composed himself, face going carefully blank.

"We get it," Deuce hissed. "And while we will not join you, we will do as the code decrees."

"Good yoi." Marco smirked, gesturing for Aliter and Postre who were chasing each other around the mast. "Oi, guys, untie them."

Aliter tripped, crashing straight into Postre who yelped as they both went down. Marco sighed, rolling his eyes at the Omegas antics. Aliter, who apparently wasn't bothered getting up after tripping, crawled their way and untied to Spade pirates. Postre however just laid there groaning.

"Commander Marco," Postre whined.

"Yeah?" Marco smiled, approaching him.

"Aliter tried to assassinate me. Chuck him overboard."

"But then Namur or one of his swimming division will have to fish him out." Marco teased, kneeling down to ruffle his brother's hair.

"The swimming division likes water. They'd love it. They could play ball with Aliter and chuck him about."

Marco snorted, but pulled the Omega up to his feet. Alister and Izo were pretty much finished untying the Spades, so Marco returned his attention to them once more.

"Alright yoi," Marco mused, pointing at Deuce, Kotastu and Saber. "You lot with me on the Moby Dick. Kotatsu will be helping Thatch. Saber, you will be cleaning, and Deuce, you will be working in my division with the nurses. Izo will sort out the rest of you over here-"

"Nope." Izo smirked. "Curiel will be. My shift is over in five minutes."

Marco rolled his eyes. "Fine. Whatever. Also, Spade pirates, I trust that you know that attacking or harming any of the Whitebeard pirates or the ship will result in punishments, yes?"

He heard several grumbled confirmations.

"Good. Then let's play nice yoi."