The rock under her paws was cool and wet, the sea was crashing around the lion, splattering her clothes with droplets of salt water. Alex's fur was soon drenched, but that was alright, at least she had escaped from the Yonko's ship. This was so much better, she grinned smugly and shifted back, standing up right. While the rock was small, jagged and led no where, but the girl was chuckling, tossing a leering glare in Whitebeard's direction.

She stuck her tongue out "Nahahaha! I got away!" She bounced on the slimy stone surface, which almost caused the kid to slip into the ocean, she immediately straightened, coughing a little, trying to pretend that did not happen. In response the man gave her a half-lidded look, from where Alex stood, she could almost make out a bemused smirk. That definitely bugged her more then it should have, the familiar angry gut wrenching irritation came out in her voice as she shouted "Sail away!"

"You're stuck in the middle of the ocean on a tiny rock, I'm hardly going to listen to a foolish brat like you." The Yonko said dripping with sharp pointed snark, he was watching the kid through a lazy bored glare, it made Alex bristle and despite having gotten away from the man, her fear started to surface again anyway, she tried to hide it under an angry retort "Go away dumb old geezer!"

He gave the kid a raised eyebrow, shrugging indifferently. Alex noticed a couple of people had started surrounding the man, there was one in particular she recognised. He had blonde spiked up hair, his eyes were lazy and tired, as if he had been up all night. That was undoubtedly Marco the Phoenix, she often saw his bounty poster lumped in with Whitebeard's, that would make sense since he was supposedly his first mate or something. Though the guy was much younger then she expected, maybe in his 20's, the bounty poster had made him look much older.

A much louder man came along, shouting angrily about something, he seemed to be wearing a chef outfit, he had long brown hair pushed up into a extravagant hairdo. Alex didn't recognise him, though he was probably the ship's cook, it's not like he would be in a situation to get a bounty poster, right? He was probably mad because she'd stolen the kitchen food.

Oh well, I was on a rock in the middle of the ocean, what was he gonna do, jump over here and smack me with a frying pan? She sniggered at that thought, the very idea of a pompadour man in a fight was hilarious to kid. To be fair he could probably knock someone out with just the hair gel alone, he had caked it on so much.

"HEY YOU! YOU STOLE MY FOOD OUT OF MY BLOODY FRIDGE!" The pompadour man roared, he was leaning over the railing, trying to get as close to the girl as possible, all the while waving his arms around in a rage.

Alex stuck her tongue out, eye full of mockery, she was staring at his stupid hairdo bouncing up and down, kind of like how a bird would flap its wings. She burst out laughing, she couldn't take this guy seriously. This only seemed to make him madder, so mad in fact that he tried to climb onto the railing, he was dragged off by a guy? Girl? Some person in a kimono, the pompadour man was quickly shut down by the person, they clearly did not take anyone's nonsense.

This actually made the kid shut up. She came to the realisation that maybe she should keep her mouth shut, these guys were pirates and not just any pirates, this was a Yonko's crew.

Where's my stupid self-preservation? Alexandra shrunk putting her guard up once more. That stupid old man had gotten her all worked up, she had to remember to use her brain, she had to be smart about this. Just because Alex was off the ship, didn't mean they weren't dangerous, she was still very much in range to be blown up with a canon ball or even skewered by a well aimed spear.

She remembered Whitebeard had lobbed his weapon straight at Sengoku's chest...

Good thing the stupid old geezer was more interested in fighting him. Wow... he really could kill me from her without even trying. Well, that was a horrifying thought. The girl had a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead, her face twisted in a tight line.

"What should we do with the kid, yoi?" Alex heard Marco ask, she glared in his direction, it made her back sweat. She was seriously thinking over her decisions, maybe if she'd stayed on top of that crane things would have been better after all. Why did I have to open my big mouth? Why do things always come out of my gob without my brain telling them to? This is going to get me killed one day!

Alex was slowly starting to imitate the rock she was standing on, still and dense, with sharp pointed edges all in the wrong places, like her brain. At least rocks couldn't talk...

Please just sail away! Just leave me alone! Can't they just leave me on my rock? Maybe a cruise ship will pass by here and they can rescue me... or at least have some different pirates come along. Anyone is better then these guys. Anyone is better than him...

Alex panicked thoughts were back, she was wishing she could take back what she had said, though the girl wouldn't say she regretted her decision to jump ship. After all she was away from that man!

The kid would rather die on a rock in the middle of the ocean all alone, then be anywhere near him. That was one thing that wouldn't change. Alex hated him, she would rather die here, then die at his hands, just as those people had once said.

She would prove them wrong! She would die on her own terms, even if she never found her papi and mother, she would die trying to find them, not being killed by this man.

In fact she would sooner jump into the sea and drown. At least the sea had always been a good friend to her, before the devil fruit the girl would spend countless hours swimming, the thought almost seemed comforting.

But Alex would rather live if she was being honest, the young girl just wanted to see her papi and mother again. That's all she wanted, after that she didn't care what happened to her.

She was watching the ship with a wary eye, the girl could hear the pirates talking, they had turned their backs to her, it made her skin crawl with fear.

What are they gonna do? Couldn't they just make a decision already? If they're not going to kill me, then why aren't they leaving?

The ship was drifting slowly; however, it didn't seem to moving away from the girl on the rock. It was still within jumping distance, Alex could quite easily leap back over there, no problem.

"Are we really doing this, yoi?" The wind carried over the low hushed voice of Marco, his tone sounded aspirated, from what Alexendra could see he had his arms crossed and his head lowered in a heart felt sigh.

The kimono person was shaking their head, they also had look of wariness in their body language. They sent the kid a glance, it was unreadable "This is like Oden sama all over again... Father, why do you insist on doing this? He's a child."

"At least you're not tied up this time Izo, yoi" Marco snorted, he lent over backwards to give the kimono person a lazy grin.

"He was tied up? Why?" This time it was the pompadour man that spoke, he was giving Marco and Izo a dubious gaze, he was frowning at them. Why did they sound so normal? They were talking about killing someone, right?! And they were joking around! Alex could feel her face dripping with sweat or was it the sea water splashing up at her? Either way she was slowly starting to shake and her breaths were coming out quicker in a fearful panic.

She was pale, small and hunched over, hardly visible against the vast expanse of sea behind her. She was drenched, her green worn and hole ridden shirt cling to her skin, making it more obvious that she was all ribs and bones.

"I tried to save Oden sama... Father wasn't being very nice! Actually, Marco you weren't very nice to me either!" Izo spat, smacking Marco on the arm, he scowled in retaliation, however he didn't hit him back, only snapping at him with a "I saved your ass! You would have drowned under that waterfall or been eaten by one of those huge carp, Yoi"

"How big were those carp!?" Pompadour man jumped in; he was suddenly looking very interested.

The little girl was shaking violently now, her fists were balled up, claws digging into her palms. Would they stop talking! Could they just get on with it! Alex wanted to know if she was going to die or not, pirates were cruel, making her suffer! That's what they always did, they made people suffer and suffer and suffer, all for their sick twisted amusement!

Alex gritted her teeth together, her long sharp incisors poking out of her lips, all the fear and adrenaline rushing around was turning into a rage inside her chest. She didn't care anymore, she just wanted to end this! If they were going to do something, then she wasn't going be ignored until they decided to kill her, she was going to make them suffer like she was! At the top of her lungs in the rudest possible manner, Alex yelled "Oi! Palm tree, baguette head and old lady! You're all really dumb! And stupid! And-! And go away! Dumb old geezer looks like a banana tree! Leave me alone!"

All four of them turned on the rude little kid on the rock, they had a mixture of reactions, ranging from amused to angry. Pompadour man burst into fit of cackles, wheezing into himself, he started stumbling over himself as he lost all composure.

"Palm tree? I've never been called a palm tree before, yoi" Marco didn't even seem offended, only mildly puzzled if that, a light frown on his face.

Pompadour man staggered over to the railing, still chuckling, lent over the edge of the ship, looked me dead in the eye and in a matter-of-fact way said "No! No, kid... he's a pineapple. He's a bloody pineapple! But to be fair PALM TREE WORKS TOO!" The last part ended in a loud wheezing laugh, as he once again had a melt down.

Whitebeard's shoulders were shaking, his back to her, Alex came to the terrifying conclusion that she had enraged a man who could create earthquakes on somebody's face, then the Izo guy went crazy. "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME YOU LITTLE BRAT! ONE I AM A MAN; TWO I AM NOT OLD AND THREE! THREE... I don't know what three is, but I'm mad! You're such a rude little snot! I dare you to come over here and say that!"

Izo jumped onto the barrier, he had rolled up his sleeves and looked about ready to throw down, though before anything happened, he was grabbed from both sides by Marco and Pompadour man, dragging him off. He was screeching like some demented kimono wearing demon "Izo calm down!" Pompadour man tried to reason, all he got in return was a kick in the shin from Izo's angry flailing.

Marco sighed turning his eyes on Whitebeard. "Do something instead of laughing your ass off, yoi!" The Yonko turned, he was still shaking, but it wasn't because he was trembling with anger. The biggest snarkiest grin on his face. He wasn't angry he was laughing. Alex was petrified...

What is going on? Why is he laughing!? He should be outraged with what I just called him. Maybe he laughs when he's angry?

He turned his gaze on the kimono man, the older blond wandered over to the struggling trio and grabbed Izo around the waist, lifting him up as if he weighed nothing at all and shoved him under his arm. The cross-dresser continued screeching, he was kicking and swearing. This only seemed to make Whitebeard snigger more "Izo! He's a little idiot, he's just trying to piss y'off."

The pirate captain's eyes slid down to me, Alex's back was cold, her body shook in terror. She was ready for whatever fate awaited her "Weigh anchor!" is all the Yonko announced. Her eye grew wide, she couldn't understand, for a moment she was confused.

They're not going to kill me? They're weighing anchor...

They were weighing anchor! They were staying here!? He was staying here!

"Go away!" The yell was out of her mouth before she could even register thinking it, it was full of so much anger, it made her throat hurt.

And with that statement Whitebeard spun on his heel and left without another word. Leaving Marco and pompadour man alone with a mortified Alex, they exchanged some tired gazes, focusing their attention back on the kid.

"Just because I laughed at that palm tree thing, doesn't mean I'm not mad about you stealing the food! I'm watching you kid" The brunet said narrowing his eyes, he made a two fingered gesture for watching you, then he turned around muttering grumpily about having to cook more food and disappeared out of sight.

Marco simply groaned, giving the girl a wary look. "If you wanna get off that rock at any point, we've got a perfectly good ship for you to jump onto... anyway see ya later kid, yoi." With that final thing said, Marco headed out of sight, leaving Alex sitting on a rock, in the middle of the ocean all on her own.

She let out a shuddering sigh of relief and fell on her butt, all the stress making her head hurt.

I'm alive...

Though now she was plain weirded out, what purpose did they have for doing this?

Why not just kill me and get on with it, rather then- well, doing whatever this is? It made Alex's brain wurr, she rubbed her eye in frustration.

Can't they leave me alone!

The time ticked by slowly, she stared up at the sky as the sun rose, brightening up the world around me. Alex huffed as she sat crossed legged with her arms folded, her knee jumping up and down with impatience. The girl face was pulled down in a irritated grimace, she grinded her jaws together.

Will they leave already!!

A couple of pirates came to gawk at Alex, she angrily shouted at them to go away, this didn't do anything. They only ignored the kid, continuing to stare on in amusement. And annoyingly this carried on throughout the day, pirates coming and going, some either watched without word, while others would try to talk to the frustrated girl. All the while she was getting more and more riled up.

The sun was high, beating down on her with hot burning force. The blonde could feel her back on fire, it was getting surprisingly painful, but she refused to let that show to these dumb pirates. She was thirsty, her eye was raw from lack of sleep and Alex's body ached. Yet, the girl kept a straight face, no way was she going to show how much this was bothering her, that's what they wanted, they wanted to see her suffer and she was not going to give them the satisfaction. Safe to say Alex didn't do a good job, with the red face and the tight line dug into her mouth, she oozed aggravation.

After a while she stuffed some of the food she had stolen from the kitchen into her gob, hoping that it would help with the thirst, all it did was scratch her dry throat. She sucked it up and continued to eat.

Pompadour man came back to find Alex eating, demanding to know where she had gotten the food, all the smug kid did was stuff it into her mouth and smirk at him.

At least that seemed to irritate the man, she was somewhat satisfied. Though after a moment the brunet sighed, he didn't seem all that angry over it after all, once again wandering off. It left Alex in an even worse mood.

Her mood didn't improve either, soon seagulls were circling above, then to her utter annoyance they started dive bombing her, pecking and clawing at her arms, they were after the food stashed up her sleeves. Alex tried to smack them away, yelling "GET OFF YOU DUMB BIRDS! I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING!"

Why do all birds hate me! At least these aren't chickens...

Finally Alex lashed out as a lion, her claws slashing and her sharp carnivorous jaws snapping. She let out a loud roar, this sent the birds scattering in all directions, they had gotten the message, don't mess with the lion girl! When that ordeal was over with Alexandra noticed some pirates laughing at her, she gave them a growl and snarled "WHAT YOU LOOKIN' AT!"

Of course they couldn't understand her, the lion form was incapable of speech, all it sounded like to them was a bunch of snarls. They just continued to gap, still chuckling away. She could feel my face getting redder from embarrassment, she stamped her front paws, roared at them with sharp anger animalistic noises.

"Hey kid why don't you come over here! You won't get beaten up by seagulls anymore!" One man shouted down to the angry lion cub, he was wearing a bandanna and had long dreadlocks that fell over his face as he laughed.

"Like I believe that!" Alex retorted, not like it actually mattered, they still had no idea what she was saying. Sure seagulls wouldn't attack her, but they would instead. She would prefer dumb seagulls over stupid mean pirates any day.

"Seriously, come on y'can't stay there all day." Came a second man, he was tall, really tall, with a long braid behind his head. He had his arms resting on the barrier with a lazy grin on his face, he gestured with his thumb pointing towards the ship.

"Go away already!" Alex snapped uselessly, frustrated at this situation wasn't even close to how she felt. Squeezing eye shut. Hopelessness dragging at her heart, it almost hurt, she just hated this. She hated everything about this!

Her eye stung, it burned, but before the tears could fall Alex sucked in a shaking breath, only focusing on her unsteady air intake, she could feel her heart twisting and squeezing painfully behind her rib cage. She refused to cry! Alex did not cry! She wasn't a baby! Only babies cried, the kid was a warrior like papi! Like a warrior from Elbaf, giants were strong, she was half-giant, so that meant she had to be strong, just like the giants in papi's stories. Alexandra told herself that over and over, until she was sure she wasn't going to cry.

Warriors don't cry!

Alex opened her eye to see that the pirates were gone, she let out sigh of relief, sitting down heavily on the rock catching her tail, making the girl remember that she was still a lion, she looked down at her paws turning them over quietly, she shifted back to normal, watching her arms shrink and the fur retreat. I don't think I was ever going to get used to seeing that.

Alex wished she could still swim, not only for this current situation but also because she genuinely missed being able to. It had been such a big part of who the blonde was, which made everything so much worse, it was a constant reminder that things were not the way they used to be. There was no papi, just Alex and only her...

The little girl hadn't felt so lonely in such a long time, mostly because Alex never stopped long enough to think about it. She was always thinking about her next meal or where she was going to sleep next, checking around see if there were any marine bases she could break into and even which island Alexandra wanted to go to next. There was so much for her to think about normally but now... there was literally nothing she could do; the kid was stuck.

I have no where to go, it was the end of the line for me.

Soon the sun was setting, Alex had literally spent a whole day sat on a rock. She had to admit not what she would usually do, but it's not like she could do anything else. The girl was stuck, she was out of options and the stupid pirates were still here. Even if they left, what then? It's not like she could swim, the only hope Alexandra had was for a random ship to pass her by and even then, what if they didn't help. She came to conclusion that she was probably going to die on the rock, she was so frustrated and angry about it, why did this have to happen?

It's just one mistake after another! Is that all my life is? Am I just a big stupid mistake?

Her shoulders sagged; gripping the rock tightly until her knuckles went white, making the scars on her knuckles much more prominent. The girl grit her sharp teeth, letting out a growl, once again her eye stung, did any of this even matter anymore?

"Are you going to sit there all-night brat?" Alex jumped at the sound of a deep voice, her gaze fixing on the big imposing figure of Whitebeard, he was leaning against the railing, aspiration in his golden eyes. She felt her arms prickle and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end, once again the fear started up, she hid it under an snide response "That's right! I'm staying here until you leave!"

He paused, his shoulders dropping a little in a sigh "Then what? You can't swim."

Alex regarded the man coldly, refusing to answer. What could she say? The pale sickly girl turned her back on him, perching on her rock, her legs were stiff from being crouched there all day, but she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that. In fact, Alex was too tired even bother, in her blurry blue eye the world looked fuzzy, all she wanted to do was sleep. But again, she was sat on a cold wet rock in the middle of the ocean, there was no way that was happening.

"Suit yourself" she could hear several people talking to the Yonko, they were speaking in hushed tones, probably in an effort to not let her over hear them. To be fair they were doing a pretty good job, mostly it was because she was too tired to register what they were saying, it all sounded like a bunch of mumbling in her ears. The only thing she did make out was Whitebeard's rough voice over the others saying "He's a kid, he won't sit there all night. Once it gets dark he'll crack an-" his voice faded into the background as he walked away, listening as his heavy footsteps grew distant.

Well that just made her even more determined to stay on her rock, no way was she going back on the ship after he had said something so ominous. She never had any intention to anyway, however after that...

Alex slapped her cheeks loudly forcing herself into full wakefulness, she was alert, there was no way she was giving up. The kid shook off the negative thoughts in her head. Suck it up. I'm not dying here! I'm going to live out of spite if I had to, I am not going to lose to him!

Magnhild Alexandra didn't just give up, she'd been in much worse predicaments then thing!

I should be ashamed of myself. How can I ever face mother and papi again, if I just gave up on everything, they'd be ashamed to even call me their family! She nodded snorting, frown etched into her brow and concentration dead set into her mind.

She was going to get through this no matter what! Taking in a deep determined gasp of air, she sat up proudly.

I'm not giving up! I going to it prove to that stupid old man!