"Oh good girl good girl up, up! We haven't held a baby for a long time!" Merrily, Roger gushes giddily holding the baby gurgling girl up and down with bright blue hair.
"Yeah it brings back memories." Merrily, Rayleigh agrees as he holds the black-haired boy with the top knot.
"I remember when Ann was just a little babe in my arms, she wouldn't stop smiling, the doctor thought someone was wrong with her considering her gumless mouth!" Merrily, Roger chuckles lifting the baby up and down.
"Oi papa!" Angry, Ann glares glowers at her father from the side, scowling, a braid with flowers tied to her perky pink locks with faint tints of blonde glaring glowering at her father fuming.
"I remember her teeth practically on everything even that pirate hat of yours!" Rayleigh joins in.
"Uncle Rayleigh you traitor!" Angrily, Ann yells at the beaming blonde.
"Oh how I miss those days you used to be so innocent Ann now look at you." Roger whines while the girl in question's hue twitches tense, Shanks sits by her side perched upon a nearby barrel with Buggy by Ann's side on her other side scowling at the babies being held up.
"Oi what's wrong with getting stronger?!" Scowling, said girl glowers placing her hands on her hip.
"I wish Ann was a baby again fussing over her and playing was so much fun back then now she never plays with me anymore." Roger grumbles eyeing the pink haired girl glaring at Roger.
"That's cause I'm a pirate now papa I'm a grown up." Proudly, the young Ann grins giddily.
"Oh ho is that so?" Smirking, Roger raises a brow bemused by his little girl.
"Yeah!" Ann scowls, hands on her hips.
"Then since you're a grown up why don't you look after Momosuke for us?" Rayleigh smirks setting the boy down.
"Eh? As if I'd wat to be held back by that weakling I already have Buggy as a weight I don't need another anchor!" Angrily, Ann glares glowers down at the boy wabbling over to her reaching ot to her.
"Oh here we go boo!" Roger beams brightly returning to hoisting Hiyori up and down once more.
"Tch…can't believe we're stuck babysitting…" Grumbling, Ann glares at the boy by her side tugging at her side smiling.
"Peekaboo! Peekaboo!" Smiling, Roger and Rayleigh continue playing with Hiyori now.
"You had to open your big mouth…" Buggy grumbles glaring at Ann as Shanks plays with Momo refusing to leave her side.
"Eh how is this my fault!? Eh…? O-Oi get off!" Angrily, Ann attempts to pry him off but…
"Aw Momosuke likes you!" Toki giggles gleefully.
"I like Ann! I like Ann she's pretty!" Momosuke merrily beams brightly at the pink haired girl.
"Pretty? You call that pretty?" Pompously, Buggy bellows boisterously hands on hips.
"I'm prettier than you clown face!" Fuming, Ann roars at Buggy.
"What's wrong with clowns!?" Cross, Buggy barks back at Ann.
"They're creepy!" Ann accuses.
"Not as creepy as your smile!" Buggy points at Ann.
"What was that!?" Angrily, Ann snarls scowling slamming her temple against his.
"You heard me!" Buggy slams his head against hers, his beanie bashing into hers.
"GRRR!" Growling, the two seethe snarl at one another angrily.
"What the!?" Shanks suddenly cries out taking the two aback as they look up at Shanks still perched upon the barrel shaking quivering quaking.
"Something's in here!" Shanks says scared.
"Then got off it idiot!" Incensed, Ann yells at the startled redhead.
"ARGH!" Buggy screams suddenly leaping towards Ann snatching said glaring girl.
"SHANKS! OI GET OFF ME!" Mad, Ann's furrowed features of worry swiftly shift to anger at the scaredy cat of a clown clinging to her alongside the top knot wailing boy.
"Captain Roger! We have a stowaway!" Shanks screams leaping off as just then a claw shoots out from the barrel.
"QUICK KILL IT! KILL IT WITH FIRE!" Fiercely, Ann pushes both boys behind her drawing out her blade.
"Oden-sama!" To everyone's surprise a giant cat and dog leap out of the teeny tiny barrel.
"Dogstorm! Cat Viper! Why are you here!?" Oden recognises the minks.
"We enjoy hanging out with Oden-sama more than anything." The cat minx exclaims.
"White-Kichi-chan must be mad by now! I know this wasn't the plan but can they stay too?" Oden turns to the crew hopeful however the sharp slam of a fist hitting the wall swiftly shuts the smiling Oden up.
"I think you have the wrong idea…Oden captain is only using you for your knowledge. Understood?" Gaban growls glaring at Oden.
"Hey have you gotten money Shanks!?" Buggy asks as the pirates dock Mocktown, Jaya.
"Yeah let's go buy food!" Shanks smiles.
"Maybe if we're lucky we might have some spare for something sweet!" Smiling, Ann adds as the group go around shopping.
"Is food always on your mind?" Shanks smirks at Ann.
"Hey nothing wrong with treating yourself now and again." Ann argues.
"Says fatty!" Baggy pokes his tongue out.
"You want me to throw you in the water?" Ann roars raising her voice at Buggy.
"N-No mam!" Meekly, Buggy squeaks slightly.
"Then let's get going!" Shanks smiles taking both their hands heading off to shop…
"Potatoes and…burdock I'll take these." Oden takes the pack of sticks and sack of potatoes.
"Oi where's my money!? Mister!?" The merchant roars at the fleeting figure of Oden.
"Next radishes!" Resolved, Oden rushes over to find the next ingredient.
"Thief hey wait!" The merchant accuses as it perks the intrigue of three familiar faces.
"Thief?" Taken aback, Ann turns towards the commotion, Gaban standing over the children.
"He's stealing form an ordinary citizen!" Buggy gasps.
"…Did no one give him the talk on how things run outside Wano?" Ann furrows her brow holding the basket of apples in her hands with the boys holding their respective sacks.
"Doesn't look like it, captain's gonna kill him…" Shanks sighs.
"That fool! Oden don't mess with ordinary people!" Gaban roars chasing after the grown man.
"I need more ingredients." Oden continues on with his task, the group chasing after him.
"Ingredients?" Ann perks up.
"For what?" Shanks scowls.
"Egg! Konnyaku! Chikuwa! Beef tendon!" Oden lists off handily.
"THIEF!" The merchant accuses chasing after Oden through the group of people all over.
"Hey I said you must pay money to ordinary people!" Gaban roars.
"Couldn't we just go back to the owner and pay for it?" Ann whines.
"The more he's stealing I don't think we'll catch up to all of them!" Shanks answers.
"WHEN DID HE GET A CHICKEN!?" Confused, Ann arches a brow by the chicken flapping its wing in distress.
"I wanna cook super delicious oden for you guys!" Oden reveals.
"Oden is food!?" Shanks says surprised.
"I don't wanna eat people especially someone as hairy as you!" Horrified, Ann screeches scared.
"Yeah it's the most delicious meal in the land of Wano!" Oblivious, Oden gushes.
"Wait…did we eat people over at Wano!?" Alarmed, Ann panics perturbed.
"Course not idiot!" Buggy yells at Ann.
"There he is! Kill him!" Roaring, the sharp sound of gun shells piercing the air echo as Oden turns on his heel deflecting said shells with his blades.
"You've got some nerve!" One of the men from the mad mob growls glaring, some smirking sadistically as they surround the group armed and ready.
"What!? Is this town lawless!?" Buggy panics.
"Looks like it." Ann grins giddily.
"Don't get that glint in your eye!" Buggy panics spotting said glint anywhere…
"Gaban they're…" Shanks turns to the axe wielder.
"Yeah they don't look like ordinary people." Gaban grins arming himself as just then the windows surrounding the group break, glass shattering comes crashing own as gunfire echoes.
"This looks like fun! Eh? Oi asshole those were my apples asshole!" Ann smirks smugly only to falter from her apples being torn to pieces by bullets making her seethe dropping the basket and arming herself with her blades.
"Argue with them after!" Shanks snatches her arm dragging her to cover for safety while Buggy and Gaban go the way alleyway all except one…
"ODEN!" Alarmed, Ann and Shanks cry out.
"Run Oden!" Gaban joins in noting the lack of pin upon the grenade tossed before his feet.
"Oden!" Shanks and Ann scream as it goes off right in front of him, smoke spewing out into the open air.
"He took it fall on!" Buggy gawks.
"I'MMA KILL THEM!" Angrily, Ann seethes snarls as Shanks holds her back brow furrowed.
"ODEN…!" Amazed, the others gawk at the man stepping forward out of the smokescreen smirking.
"Oden you…!" Buggy gushes giddily at the smirking samurai.
"He's alive!" Amazed, Shanks smiles grabbing Ann as the girl squeaks smiling, the tow happily hugging one another twirling.
"You ain't human are ya!?" Animated, Ann gushes giddily as she side hugs Shanks happily hugging her back.
"Wow! Gaban they're not ordinary people right?" Shanks smirks as he looks up at Gaban.
"No they're not." Gavan takes out his axe.
"We can play then right? It's self defence after all!" Excitedly, a familiar giddy glint gleams in her heated hues as Ann looks up at Gaban grinning.
"That it is princess that it is. Oden." Gaban confirms as he then turns to the samurai smirking.
"Okay. I haven't gotten kelp yet…" Oden draws out both blades.
"Kelp!?" Shanks says surprised.
"I can make good broth out of it." Oden reveals chicken still on his head.
"Why not use seaweed?" Ann quirks her head to the side.
"You're so strange." Shanks smiles.
"Gee who cares! Get them!" Gaban roars as the group nod rushing forward taking care of the group…
"It smells so good!" Giddily, Shanks, Buggy and Ann chorus cheerily, their noses sniffling the air around the heated huge pot before them on Roger's ship.
"Okay I think it's ready…" Smiling, Roger reaches for the pot lid.
"And you're sure we can eat this?" Tense, Ann falters briefly brow furrowed.
"It isn't people Ann." Amused, Rayleigh smirks softly setting his hand down on her shoulders.
"Then why name your son after a food?" Flabbergasted, Ann quirks her head to the side.
"It's the culture of Wano Ann!" Crocus calls out to her.
"Oooh…!" Ann draws out her hues widening when it finally clicks as just then Oden finally lifts the lid.
"This is the land of Wano's…most delicious meal! All right everyone dig in! How is it? is it delicious!?" Oden asks as he removes said lid the others gushing over the food inside as they all take a piece as Oden asks earnestly.
"SO DELICIOUS!" The pirates of Roger's crew cry in awe blushing from the beautiful broth and food beofre them.
"I didn't know that oden is so good!" One of Roger's crew, a fishmen remarks.
"It's the perfect drinking food." Rayleigh agrees as he softly sips his tiny cup.
"Good so you like it!" Oden beams brightly.
"It's too hoot!" Cat Viper complains.
"You're tongue's too sensitive!" The dog by his side says to him.
"Guys let's have a big welcome party for our new members!" Roger roars raising the pint in his hand.
"YEAH!" The crew cheers.
"Oden!" Roger drapes his arm over Oden.
"Roger!" Oden beams brightly back at the tipsy pirate captain.
"Let's party all night!" One of the roger crew call out.
"Yeah!" The group of pirates agree animatedly.
"Oden!" Smiling, Shanks, Buggy and Ann call out, cheering chorusing as the group soon join in cheering celebrating as everyone gets their drinks, sitting searing around the samurai smiling as he begins performing, dancing for the cheering crowd of perky pirates.
"Oh radish ganmo! Chikwa and eggs! One two three go ahead and eat! Oden wouldn't be oden…if it wasn't boiled!"
"Urgh…" Ann holds her head brow furrowed from the strange gritting grainy texture teasingly touching the side of her head. Astonished, Ann blinks befuddled by it, what was…? Ann furrows her brow by the murky memory washing away being interrupted by the soft sound of snoring turning to see Kuzan his head nuzzled into her chest confusing her as she eyes the teasing trail of sand leading out of the room making her sigh, seems she had a meeting to tend to…
"I'm glad you could join me…Portgas."
Quietly, Ann stares scowling at the crocked Crocodile sat upon the high mighty throne that was at the end of the dining table, the fierce flames of the candle bar exposing only a side of his face, the cigarette between his lips providing only another aspect of light, showcasing his crocked features.
"Yes well with the sand slap to the face I think I got the hint." Huffing, Ann places her hand to her hip, glaring at the man sat upon his throne while she eyes his golden glistening hook shining against the fierce flames of the candles.
"Then let's get down to business you can read this right?" Crocodile leans forward suddenly showing something upon the table, a familiar piece of paper.
"…Pardon?" Alarmed, Ann's hues widen when seeing said familiar symbols, her head aching quivering quaking from the text below.
"Read it." Coldly, Crocodile orders.
"I can't read a Poneglyphs." Ann scoffs shaking her head at the fool holding the side of her head.
"Oh so you know what it is." Cockily, Crocodile points out.
"…" Ann's hues narrow at the man.
"I'll never forget that day you know? The king of pirate's execution so many faces smiling at the sight of the old fool facing his demise some shed tears sure but you…your reaction is one I've never forgotten." Firmly, Crocodile confesses to the glaring glowering Ann
"…How so?" Snippily, she scowls crossing her arms over her chest cross.
"It was of a crying child trying with all her heart to smile to be happy to be pleased with the death of the king of pirates that bright broad grin you gave during that even when it ended at that with the rain that soon came after…I knew there was more to it than that." Truthfully, Crocodile explains as he slowly stands, Ann's hues only narrowing further from his words.
"I was Roger's apprentice that's all." Aloofly, Ann reminds him, that was how tose they fought saw her, no one knew, Roger made sure of that.
"Just like Buggy the clown." Crocodile sneers.
"Oh you know him?" Ann arches a brow by the mention.
"Know him? He owes me I'm sure you could pay on his behalf." Crookedly, Crocodile smirks smugly at the thought.
"And why would I do that?" Tense, Ann scoff scowling at the thought.
"Because you're friends with him are you not?" Crocodile smirks smugly at Ann.
"…I heard Roger had a gift an old gift, one that a rare few had, he could hear the Poneglyphs." Crocodile snarls slamming said hook down on the table below impaling the snowy sheet draped over the table as Ann arches a bored brow by the pathetic act of intimidation.
"…It's not what you think." Tiredly, Ann sighs furrowing her brow at him.
"Isn't it?" Crocodile challenges.
"….I know of its importance but that's it I can't decipher the message." Ann attempts to explain to him.
"You're messing with me." Crocodile growls glaring arising from his throne.
"Why would I do that?" Ann pinches the bridge of her nose.
"…" Crocodile glares at Ann.
"What do you hope to do with the Poneglyph?" Ann demands from Crocodile brow furrowed.
"What do you think?" Tense, Crocodile glares back.
"…You won't find it." Ann answers.
"Won't I now?" Crocodile scowls.
"Someone like you…will never find it." Resolved, Ann states the fact firmly.
"…Little bra-" Cross, Crocodile growls, his body shifting, sand spewing out as he lunges at her however as his tall towering wave of the sandy shore comes crashing down at the bored blondish pink haired girl he soon stops, scarlet splattering on the ground below, staining her scarlet shoulders…
"I take it we're done here." Coolly, Ann removes her hand, the sleek steelish silver hue fading from her fist as she flexes her fingertips, waving her hand, removing the crimson coating staining her hand.
"Let me explain something to you Crocodile we both know I could have killed you if I had wanted but I chose not to because my higher ups still have means of using you as you have use of them. You keep to yourself and your secrets and I'll keep to myself and my business." Briskly, Ann asserts stating the fact firmly.
"You really are going to keep lying to yourself aren't you?" Heaving, Crocodile coughs crimson scarlet splattering the floor below as he holds his slumped state.
"…Excuse you." Ann arches a brow down at the slumped state below embedded into he cracked crater of the wall before her.
"You may be a marine but I can see it." Croakily, Crocodile smirks smugly.
"See what?" Ann furrows her brow down at the fool below.
"The bloodlust….only a pirate has that level of bloodlust." Bemused, Crocodile states the fact firmly making Ann scowl, about to open her mouth when suddenly she feels a familiar icy chill crawl down her spine seeing the ice spread out…
"Ann ain't pirate scum." Surprised, Ann turns on her heel easily breaking form the ice encasing the room, trapping Crocodile to the wall where she turns to the frowning sleepyhead. How much had he heard?! Alarmed, Ann scowls at him.
"…Kuzan!" Crocodile spits salvia scowling at the man calmly sauntering in.
"Thank you for hosting this fine evening but we'll be leaving." Politely, Kuzan stands by Ann's side scowling down at the battered beaten mess of Crocodile below.
"I'm sure you will." Crocodile sneers back.
"Kuzan…!" Astonished, Ann's hues widen when next she knew she was dragged out of Crocodile's place…
"What the hell were you thinking with meeting up with that scumbag?" Scowling, Kuzan demands from Ann as the two stand side by side, the ice cold breeze brushing through her hair making her shudder slightly not helped by the ice cool hands upon her shoulders by the scowling Kuzan.
"The sand slap to the face sorta told me to." Tiredly, Ann shrugs ignoring the shy shudder coursing down her shaking spine.
"What?" Kuzan furrows his brow by her words.
"Why are you so angry?" Astonished, Ann demands taken aback at his tense tone.
"He could have twisted your mind!" Kuzan argues as Ann takes note of his hand being encased in ice spreading further.
"You think I'm that easily tricked." Ann pries his hand off brushing stray strands of ice coating her shoulder to the side.
"He's a pirate a scumbag." Annoyed, Aokiji argues.
"…Did you mean what you said?" Scowling, she demands from Kuzan.
"About him being a scumbag? Of course I do." Kuzan deadpans.
"I mean before about your form of justice…" Ann furrows her brow at Kuzan.
"Burning justice?" Kuzan furrows his brow by the mention of his justice.
"You think that truly is the way." Apprehensive, Ann asks brow furrowed.
"Of course it is." Kuzan scoffs.
"…I see." Solemnly, Ann bows her head ignoring the disappointment gnawing away at her.
"Why do you ask?" Aokiji furrows his brow down at her.
"…I just thought…maybe you could leave a cube of ice for the people?" Hopeful, she asks as she clutches her arm anguished.
"Why would I do that to these idiots?" Aokiji scoffs.
"Because they are suffering." Scowling, she argues.
"If they're suffering so much maybe they should pray for Crocodile then!?" Tiredly, Aokiji huffs.
"…Desperation can make you do some silly things. They can't help it." Ann argues.
"You're actually defending these people? They aren't your problem." Pointedly, Aokiji argues brow furrowed from the anguished Ann making him grimace from the strange sense of pain that hits him from her face.
"You mean the people that are suffering day by day in this scorching weather with water that is becoming more sea water than an actual drinkable water? That have to face sandstorm after sandstorm beast after beast scavenge food day after day?" Disgusted, Ann scowls glaring at Aokiji taking him aback.
"…If they have complaints they can talk to their so called angel." Annoyed, Aokiji glares to the side scowling.
"…Kuzan you have the power to help them." Tentatively, Ann reminds him.
"Help the enemy?" Aokiji scowls.
"…That's how you see it?" Sadly, Ann furrows her brow at him.
"How else am I meant to see it?" Aokiji scowls.
"These people are human, they are just like you and me they could be me and you in another life. They feel, they have dreams, they have wants, they are struggling, scared even…with how expensive water is becoming there are probably those who haven't had even a sip of water while withering away in some alleyway alone and desperate." Determined, Ann explains to Aokiji grimacing from her words, from the sharp sting delivered by her words.
"They should get a job then if they have all day." Aokiji grumbles glaring to the side.
"…You think they have the energy to do that if they are struggling so?" Scowling, she points to a nearby alleyway where his hues widen when seeing the children sleeping slumped against the wall, holding one another clinging as his hues widen when watching Ann remove her coat, draping it over the two shaking quivering quaking children clinging to one another.
"What do you expect me to do?" Kuzan steps forward furrowing his brow at the back of Ann as she looks over at the children, a sad smile upon her lips brushing her fingertips through their hair before taking out some currency placing it down in the pocket of her jacket.
"Kuzan you have the power to help innocent people don't you want to do that? Why withhold such a gift that could help so many" Mystifed, she asks as she turns to face him still crouched down looking up at him brow furrowed.
"Who says these people are innocent?" He sneers scowling at the children.
"I do if they are so desperate for aid they'd rely on someone like Crocodile doesn't that just show how the marines who are meant to keep people safe who are meant to protect them from people like Crocodile have failed them? Everyone has their reasons for doing what they do, what we could see as an act of selfishness could be a act of selflessness for another." Ann explains to Aokiji, his hues softening slightly while watching Ann tend to the children.
"…" Silently, he stares furrowing his brow by the strange sensation in his chest watching her tend to the children before standing up.
"Goodnight Kuzan." Smoothly, she dismisses him, heading to bed while he looks down at his hand, steam soon pouring out of it…
"Wealth fame, power…the man who attained everything…the king of pirates Gold Roger!"
"Hahah! It's Gol. D. Roger! But being called the king of the pirates isn't so bad, that makes you the princess of pirates eh Ann?" Roger corrects Rayleigh amused at the paper Rayleigh reads as the crew sail upon the washing waves of the sea smiling as he turns to his pretty princess perched upon the railing of said ship, a ruby red bandanna coiled around her head letting loose her long locks of pink, a stray braid of pink dangling down to the side of her long locks of blonde and pink.
"Eh?" Said girl wearing a ruby red long coat similar to her father's furrows her brow by the title.
"Please her being royalty as if that grease monkey knows a lick about it!" Buggy sneers.
"This coming from the creepy clown!" Cross, Ann leaps down from the railing, glaring glowering at the red nosed clown.
"Clowns aren't creepy!" Buggy barks back at her.
"Yes they are! Creeep!" Ann pokes her tongue out at him.
"Psychoo!" Buggy makes funny faces back at her
"Alright you two cool it." Rayleigh intervenes separating the two.
"He started it!" Ann accuses pointing to the clown.
"Well we're ending it." Crocus takes out his harpoons alarming the two.
"EEP!" Buggy suddenly lurches over, clinging to the done Ann.
"Now I understand why the world government wants to cover up your name like that." Rayleigh smirks at Roger.
"They don't know anything hahah!" Roger roars reeling his head back bellowing boisterously at the fact.
"But because of your fame, everyone's coming to get you Roger!" Oden hollers as just then…
"Take down Roger!"
"Find Roger!"
"Plunder his treasure!"
"Gold Roger has everything!"
"Looking back it has all been miraculous with such a limited life expectantly I can't believe I made it this far. I have nothing but gratitude for you guys!" Roger stands before his crew, the sun setting behind him as he sits before his crew on the barrel holding the hand of the pink haired girl by his side, her head bowed down, knowing what was to come as she feels her hand in his, his hand bulker, bigger than hers as he holds it squeezing it softly, his hues briefly meeting her own before returning his focus to the crew, complimenting them.
"Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa! Why are you speaking formally like that!? Damn you captain!" Blushing, the crew call out Gaban leading it blushing brightly alongside the compliments crew.
"Don't make me blush you fool!" Fiercely, Crocus yells at him.
"Fool!" Another angry voice from the crew call out.
"Then I'll just say it…" Roger stands, squeezing Ann's hand.
"Come on I'm ready!" Roaring, the crew call out.
"…The Roger Pirates are disbanded!" Roger roars as soon as he does the dam breaks and everyone's eyes freely fall from the warriors of the sea.
"Shanks…" Softly, Ann reaches out, calling out to the silently sobbing Shanks holding his hat, the tears freely falling as Ann reaches out taking his hand in hers. His hues meet her own, both of their watery hues meeting understanding clearly as day as they squeeze each others hand, the tears freely falling from them both…
"That voice…I guess it's telling the truth someone will be born and that person will surpass us…We cane too early…" Roger sighs sadly as the ship continues on, the children supposedly asleep as the rest of the ship converse amongst one another or so they thought as a certain pink haired girl sits slumped against the wall listening in…
"The One piece huh? I wonder who will find it." Rayleigh ponders out loud.
"Heh Ann of course." Confidently, Roger asserts as Ann's hues widen when hearing his words.
"You sound so confident." Rayleigh remarks.
"She's gonna do something great maybe not the one piece but she'll do something I just know it she will be in history heck maybe my son will or even grandkid will!" Cheekily, Roger cheers as Ann grits grinds her teeth together tense at the inevitable to come, she wasn't ready, she wasn't, she didn't…didn't wat him to go…! He couldn't leave her! Not yet…not now!
"Grandkid!?" Crocus calls out.
"Son you don't have one yet!?" Rayleigh joins in.
"I'm gonna have one in the future!" Firmly, Roger asserts.
"Hahahaha! All right let's drink sail towards somewhere where's no navy we'll disembark there! But take it slow would ya? I want Ann to have a nice sleep!" Smiling, Roger asks his crew as he raises his pint placing his finger to his lips as he whispers his request to them unaware of the girl's tears freely falling.
"Father first eh Roger?" Rayleigh remarks amused.
"That girl…with what time I have left I want to spend with her and Rouge because I know…she is going to go through hell when I'm gone. So for that I want to make my last few days on this earth perfect for her…" Roger smiles sadly down taking a seat as he stares sadly down at his pint below brow furrowed, his grip tightening around his cup.
"Roger…" Rayleigh whispers softly staring at his old friend still smiling despite it all.
"I know I haven't been the best father I've made some mistakes now and again but bringing her on this trip has been the best decision I've made…" Resolved, Roger revealed to his cruel smiling sadly.
"Captain…" Gaban whispers.
"She'll pull through. I know she will." Resolute, Roger states the fact firmly.
"How so?" Crocus places his hand to his hip.
"Because she's the princess of the pirate king! She'll survive just you wait and see after all Sharyl did say I would be getting grandkids someday!" Smiling, Roger roars raising his pint towards the starry sky above as the tears freely fall from the sobbing wreck of the little girl.
"Captain!" Crying, the touched crew join him, cheering.
"Papa…" Weakly, Ann whimpers, the tears freely falling like a waterfall almost as she sobs her heart out at the sad truth that was awaiting her and her father on the mainland.
"Hmm…" Ann groans holding her head as she sits in the Inn room she had booked for herself after the fiasco that was last night. She furrows her brow, holding her head pained when hearing what sounds like a cheering crowd confusing her. Ann arises from her bed, frowning assuming its another Crocodile celebration only to falter peering out of the room where she stares stunned at the people below seeing people using buckets to break the ice from the huge ice cube, taking all they could get as Aokiji makes some ice cubes for the people, some even waiting for the searing sun above as each droplet is relished by the people.
"You…did this?" Taken aback, Ann watches the merry marines gushing over their commander while helping break the ice for the people of Arabasta.
"…" Silently, Aokiji continues forming ice as Ann furrows her brow by half of his face turning to ice alarming her however he remains silent despite it all.
"That's sweet of you…thank you." Ann gently takes his hand, his hues widening when seeing her unfazed by the brittle ice as she pulls him down gently pecking his cheek taking him aback as she smirks seeing his heated cheeks, swearing she saw steam as the ice coating his cheeks melted away as she leaves him to it, noting a familiar fog loving person talking to a kid.
"In a few years that'll be you and Hina Smokey." Smirking, Ann calls out as she brushes by him.
"It's Smoker!" Smoker yells only to falter from the sharp sob of the crying child.
"Now look at what you did. I'm just saying Smokey." Smirking, she winks at him.
"It could be yours soon enough too!" Smoker scowls back at her as she simply scoffs shaking her head at the man the two are referring to awkwardly returning to distributing ice.
"Hilarious. Still we can't stay for long Croc won't be having this and Aokiji will be at his limit soon enough." Ann frets furrowing her brow by his firing form, seeing the ice encasing him, she told him to help sure but not to this extent…
"That guy's been around women after women never have I seen him react like that to a woman…" Smoker says making her furrow her brow by his words.
"Welp guess that's just how things are come on let's get back to HQ." Ann tells him.
"Right." Smoker stands going to get the troops as Ann fetched Kuzan, the group soon leaving Arabasta and returning to HQ…
"Ann! Is it true?" Rosinante rushes over to her side startling her as said blonde fumbles falling flat on his face before her.
"What is?" Unfazed, Ann helps her clutz of a friend up brow furrowing.
"There's a betting pool on Anzan!" Rosi reveals excitedly perplexing Ann.
"…An what?" Ann arches a brow baffled by the word what the heck was an anzan?
"Anzan?" Rosi repeats as if it were an actual word baffling Ann.
"You having a aneurysm?" Ann blurts out lost.
"No!" Rosi snaps scowling at his friend.
"He isn't wrong I've put some money on it." The two turn towards Bell.
"Money on what?!" Annoyed, Ann demands done with the two.
"You two getting together." Bell shrugs stating the face.
"Who's getting together?" Ann asks lost.
"You and Kuzan." Ros shrugs earning a groan from Ann head in her hands.
"We went on ONE mission and how is this all spreading so fast!?" Fuming, Ann angrily slams her furious fist down on the desk below not batting an eye to the crack created from said strike.
"Marines love gossiping Ann." Bemused, Bell shrugs.
"You're shitting me…" Ann plops herself down in her seat head in her hands, she was a vice admiral, something like this was ridiculous…she would never be taken seriously if this kept happening not to mention the fangirls that would come rip her to shreds she had seen how terrifying women could be she had heard how scary they could be and she wanted none of that she wanted to lay low that all was she wanted, lay low live the rest of her life normal as her father had wanted.
"Why would I lie about this?" Bell scoffs shaking her head at her friend's furrowed frown looking like she was having a headache.
"This is all bullshit!" Booming, Ann suddenly stands seething scowling.
"What are you going to do?" Rosi raises a brow by Ann's anger.
"Fix this!" Tense, Ann strides towards the office door swiftly sliding it open almost snapping it alarming a fair few as next they knew she stormed off to who knows where…
Loudly, the clatter of knives and forks echo ringing metal on metal as Ann makes her way inside, immediately finding the man she sought, glaring, glowering at the man.
"Kuzan!" Angrily, Ann scowls down at the fool before her conversing with other marines.
"…Ah Ann." Lazily, Kuzan looks up at her.
"A-Ann san!" Lovestruck, the marines gush over the glaring girl.
"What the hell are you doing?" Scowling, she slams her hand down on the table below.
"Good morning to you to." Lazily, he shrugs at her.
"It's lunch and get back to flirting!" Firmly, she snaps taking the marines aback watching on.
"…Pardon?" Perplexed, the man himself is equally as lost.
"You heard me!" Ann orders.
"I thought you wanted me to focus on my work." Kuzan reminds her.
"What I want are you for you fangirls to stop glaring at my back, yeah I can see you, that's a shit place to hide!" Hollering, she roars glaring at the scowling crew.
"…You want me to go back to flirting?" Kuzan raises a brow baffled by her words.
"Yes! For some odd reason, morons are thinking we're dating!" Ann scowls taking the marines aback.
"Well I do find you psychically attractive." Unapologetic, Kuzan admits.
"And you think I find you?" Ann scoffs stunning a fair few.
"Don't think I haven't seen your stare?" Smirking, Kuzan continues unfazed.
"You mean glare." Swiftly, she corrects him.
"I meant what I said." Smirking, he shrugs.
"And I meant what I said." Scowling, Ann hisses back.
"I'll talk to the girls." Kuzan sighs.
"Good." Ann swiftly slams her hands down done with the fool before her as she then goes off, Rosi joining her for lunch as before she knew it, it had ended, and she was now heading towards the troops she would be teaching…
"Gion raise that blade higher, Doll watch that footwork! Isuka nice hit however focus more on parrying then showing off your nailing attack!" Ann calls out to the girls hearing the rushing roar of blades clashing, hearing the metal ringing. She leans against the pillar perplexed on why she had to help with this session, she wasn't one normally train the troops unless it was punishment…was this for her fight with her gramps, speaking of…
"…I didn't know you were back." The munching sound of chewing crunching behind her makes her look towards the older man by her side happily enjoying his rice crackers.
"…Ah gramps welcome back how was your mission?" Casually, Ann asks him.
"Took longer than I thought it would…how's the handler?" Gramps asks amused as Ann simply stares ahead.
"…Eh." Aloofly, she shrugs.
"Just eh? From what I heard he's all over you, you even gave him a peck on the cheek!" Cross, he accuses.
"Here we go…" Ann rolls her eyes exasperated; she didn't know how word got out about it but it was just a peck on the cheek what's the harm in that? When she was a kid, she would do the same to Shanks and Buggy to mess with them it was funny…!
"Why do you even care about that sorta thing?" Tiredly, Ann pinches the bridge of her nose too tired to deal with that sorta slack, she did it months ago, months, she hadn't even spoken to Kuzan since it happened, it was nothing really they were both flirty people well she did it to tease he did it to actually score…she assumed from the line of woman waiting for him most of the time…
Well I may become a great grandad soon…" Smirking, Garp begins but stops when noting the debris come crashing down brushing against his shoulder.
"I will end you old man." Murderously, Ann snarls, her fist fiercely forming the crater behind the two.
"You nearly ruined my cracker! Still weird to think it's been months since that…I heard Sengoku removed your handler." Garp remarks brushing the debris off his food furrowing his brow.
"Yep." Ann smirks slightly pleased by it all.
"And you're not sad?" Garp raises a brow.
"Why would I be? I can focus on my work." Ann deadpans quirking her head to the side.
"Is work you ever think about?" Garp grumbles.
"It's what I should be thinking about." Ann asserts. All she did was a peck of the cheek trying to lead someone with powerful abilities to not become a certain magma psycho boy they already had one they didn't need another…
"But are you?" Garp raises a brow befuddled Ann.
"Course I am." Ann scowls at her grandfather.
"I'm never going to get grandkids." Garp slumps his shoulders sadly as Ann's hue twitches tiredly.
"Would you let that go already?" Annoyed, Ann scowls at the pouting marine hero.
"From what I've heard you two have been quite around each other more." Garp remarks.
"If you mean him just popping up sleeping nearby then sure or him sleeping and just falling on me the sure." Snippily, Ann huffs, she had to admit a part of her was wondering if he was a secret handler or something, instead of going back to his work, he seems to linger around her when he conveniently bumps into her despite her staying glued to her office. Him coming up with terrible excuse after terrible excuse of lies of how he got here but with his simple stare it could be take as the truth despite how bad the lies were…
"Say wanna get some green tea and biscuits together?" Garp offers oblivious to her hues narrow noting the faint figure with navy blue locks longingly looking on at the training.
"…" Silently, she stares at the girl watching on sadly.
"Oi don't ignore your grandpa!" Garp yells but it falls to deaf ears.
"You know my answer." Annoyed, Ann scowls at her old man.
"Come on…" Garp whines.
"How about later? Right now I got to focus on the girls besides I got a ton of paperwork to do." Dreading it, Ann holds her head at the thought, brow furrowing from the sharp sting of her head aching.
"Sounds good to me." Garp smirks slightly before leaving her to it as class is continues, her hues remaining warily on the girl…
"Good work together guys I hope to see that level of focus next week." Ann calls out dismissing the class as the group disperse cleaning up their practice area as Ann turns to leave, heading back to her office to give her report when…
"Um excuse me Vice Admiral Portgas…" Shyly, a voice calls out as Ann turns towards the redhead or well brunette, Ann could never really decide….
What is it Isuka?" Ann crosses her arms over her chest, Isuka was a good student of hers not great with haki yet but she was getting there…
Captain…can I ask you something?" Isuka asks Ann brow furrowing.
You just did what but go ahead." Ann shrugs gesturing for Isuka to continue.
"Is there anything you pay particular attention to on the battlefield? Stuff you make sure not to mess up? I don't want to make any major mistakes again... So I've been thinking about how I can improve. But it's trickier than I thought! I was hoping you could give me some direction." Isuka questions Ann.
"Nothing I can think of! Sometimes you just gotta mess up!" Ann shrugs her shoulders.
"Huh? Really? Nothing at all?" Astonished, Isuka blinks baffled.
"Nah. No matter how much you prepare, you're always gonna make mistakes. All you can do is quit worrying and try your best!" Beaming, Ann smiles at Isuka.
"Hm. I guess that does sound like something you'd say. But I'm not sure how much use it is to me." Miserably, Isuka bows her head at the thought.
"That's too bad. It's a great way to live. You worry about messing up, and all that worry makes you nervous, right? So being nervous on the battlefield is the reason you make mistakes you'd never make in training!" Confidently, Ann tells her.
"Well, yes. People's lives are on the line! If I mess up, they might actually die! When I think that my failures might put everyone in danger, I..." Isuka begins brow furrowing worried.
"Ugh! You gotta quit doubting yourself! It's not helping! You're obsessing about failures that haven't even happened! What's the point in that? Sometimes you're gonna mess up no matter how hard you train. That's life!" Ann sighs shaking her head at her.
"So what you're saying is, I should stop being afraid of failure, and just try my hardest on the battlefield, like I do in training..." Isuka furrows her brow by Ann's words.
"Was I not clear on that? You just gotta deal with your mistakes when you make 'em!" Ann asserts.
"That really is just like you, vice admiral. I'm starting to feel stupid for worrying so much. You're so strong and confident. I really like that about you!" Isuka compliments Ann.
"Stop with the compliments it's weird…" Shyly, Ann scratches the back of her neck not used to such praise earning a giggle from Isuka.
"OK, I'm going to try following your example from now on! It's time I stopped moping around here and put everything I've got into training!" Animatedly, Isuka beams brightly at him.
"That's the spirit!" Smiling, Ann clasps her shoulders as Isuka leaves dead set on becoming the best marine she could become.
"So you and vice admiral Kuzan…" Bemused, Bell winks at the annoyed Ann as the two wander through the hallway of HQ, her holding her paperwork while Ann holds another stack of her work, softly sipping her canned coffee.
"Don't Bell just don't." Drained, Ann sighs softly, exhaustion etched into that single sigh, she didn't get what the big deal was…it's not like they were anything, it was just a peck he flirted with her constantly and no one made a thing about it but when she decided to dish back now it's a huge thing…
"Look he's a good but he's a playboy you don't want to be involved with a guy like that." Concerned, Bell warns her.
"Involved? How so?" Softly, she asks as her hues look over towards the training grounds, rookies from the looks of it, her hues noting a familiar head of hair.
"You know…" Bell trails off oblivious to the clearly uninterested Ann eyeing the glasses girl, panting sweat sliding down her tense temple while the rookie men simply smile unfazed.
"…I really don't." Ann stops in her tracks turning to fully focus on the girl, seemingly in a world of her won as the group separate into sparring partners.
"Then explain the peck on the cheek?" Cheekily, Bell demands.
"It was a way to teach him." Dismissively, she waves Bell off, it was innocent at best, it didn't mean anything simply a reward to stop the icy fool from going down the path of magma…of supposed burning justice…
"Oh I'm sure you taught him plenty." Playfully, she winks earning an exasperated eyeroll from Ann.
"Get your head out of the gutter I meant with this justice crap." Curtly, Ann deadpans scowling seeing the girl's blade shake, quiver quaking noting her furrowed frown focusing on said sword what was she trying to do?
"Careful with your words Ann." Bell tries to warn her however the girl doesn't even bat an eye to Bell brow furrowed firmly focused on the girl, glaring down at the blade gritting grinding her teeth tense when….
"I know…just ticks me off people thinking like that…." Tiredly, Ann huffs.
"Look you've seen him around the place with those girls…" Bell's brow furrows from her face.
"You trying to insult me?" Ann asks as she leans against the side of the pillar.
"Insult you?" Bell quirks her head to the side.
"Bell I don't know what you're implying frankly I don't think I want to." Truthfully, Ann admits.
"Look you're a big girl now…I get you wanting to try things and I will admit Kuzan is quite cute, heck he hasn't been talking to the girls since you two came back but I just don't want…" Bell attempts to worriedly warn her however…
"Have you thought about what I want?" Ann curtly cuts Bell off.
"About what you want?" Bell raises a brow befuddled.
"Yeah like none of this I want none of whatever the heck you're implying." Ann admits.
"Oh…seriously?" Surprised, Bell exclaims.
"Yes seriously. The peck was just that. I thought you'd understand." Bluntly, Ann deadpans.
"I do understand that but is that what you're telling yourself?" Bell smirks slightly astonishing Ann.
"What do you mean?" Mystifed, Ann's hues narrow.
"Well normally you give us questions to think over when trying to teach you've never done anything psychical like that before." Bell reminds Ann.
"Some students require different methods of madness." Ann shrugs sheepishly eyeing the girl.
"You keep telling yourself that boss." Bell smirks waving her off turning to go on ahead as Ann turns to argue only then to falter, her hues widening when feeling her hue suddenly shine ruby red as next she knew…the girl on the training ground's blade shined black briefly alarming her as with that simple struggle attempt at coating, she fell forward aiming towards the blade about to strike her down. Ann lunges forward swiftly snatching the girl, pulling her out of harm's way.
"…Eh?" All eyes fall towards the top as Ann holds the young girl's arm, the girl's glasses falling flat to the ground as next she knew she was taking the girl to the med bay…
Quietly, Ann sits by the bedside of the young girl, quietly reading the book before her, her hues narrowing reading page after page, in a world of her own, her nose twitching squirming form the sickly stench of bleach hanging heavily in the air as she continues reading, ignoring the shy shuffle of footsteps and croaked cough of other patients lying in the med bed as the medical staff try to go about their day dutifully tending to their patients…
"Urgh…" Ann hears the low groan below as the girl opens her hues, blurrily looking up at the ceiling above as she slaps her hands down on the counter, trying to find the glasses, Ann assumes as she silently slides them over for the girl to take.
"That was certainly risking trying to use armament haki like that…" Ann breaks the still silence between both of them turning the page in her book, her hues glued to the book below not even batting an eye to the startled girl below once she slides her lenses on, waiting for a moment to adjust her vision but gawking gaping at the woman before her.
"Y-You're…" In awe, the girl gawks gapes at one of her many marine heroes by her bedside, she couldn't believe it was she dreaming? Was she dead!? Fear struck Tashigi at the thought gawking gaping at the hero by her side silently reading the book below.
"Forcing haki out like that does more harm than good…" Ann continues reading as she turns the page.
"I…" Tashigi grimaces from her words swearing she felt the sharp sting of an arrow impale her side from her words.
"Did you want your opponent's head that bad?" Befuddled, Ann quirks her head to the side startling Tashigi.
"O-Of course not!" Tashigi answers anxiously.
"Then why try something to risky?" Ann queries swiftly slamming said book shut.
"It's training." Tashigi answers as Ann furrows her brow by her words.
"Kid there's a reason haki is a specialised training route especially for someone of your ranking." Bluntly, Ann tells the girl how it is, not everyone could use haki, forcing it out like that was dangerous…
"…" Silently, the girl bows her head as Ann eyes the girl below trying to get a read on her, she seemed to mean well…
"Either way you've probably pushed back your haki awakening from that." Tiredly, Ann considers calmly, pushing herself to such a limit…
"A-Are you serious?" Scared, Tashigi grabs the ends of her duvet worriedly fidgeting fiddling with it.
"Who knows?" Aloofly, Ann shrugs she didn't know, Haki was a strange thing…
"Who knows? Why would you say that?" Terrified, Tashigi shakes shivers by the slight smirk upon the amused Ann.
"Maybe as punishment for trying something so risky?" Ann offers bemused by the terrified scared swordswoman.
"I…I'm sorry." Shyly, she bows her head guilt gnawing away at her for bothering the elite marine.
"…Forget it just don't try something so risky again. I saw you watching my class." Calmly, she waves the girl off.
"I…I wanted to get in it but…I wasn't good enough." Anguished, Tashigi bows her head.
"So you spied…" She concludes calmly.
"I just…to be taught by the great proud petal of the marines was a dream of mine…" Tashigi admits, she had heard of the woman's tales form saving thousands from pirates from slaying them with such speed, such precision…she just had to learn from her!
"…A dream?" Ann arches a brow befuddled by her words.
"I…I've always watched you, you're a role model for countless female marines, one of the rare few female admirals and I just…" Truthfully, Tashigi reveals to her.
"All good things take time…" Tentatively, Ann arises from her seat sighing.
"…" Tashigi bows her head pained, having heard those words time and time again but hearing it from her just…
"If you want to get stronger…talk to me." Ann eyes the girl glaring down at her furious fists shaking quivering quaking.
"H-Huh?" The girl jolts up from her words.
"You have drive your haki isn't strong sure but if you really want to make it in the marines I'd be willing to help." Honestly, Ann admits she could see the girl was determined, who knows what other sorta o trouble she would get into from it.
"Thank you…thank you so much!" The girl bows her head as Ann simply nods back before leaving her to rest.
"Ah Smokey isn't it a bit late for you to come here?" Ann asks as she waves her hand about, dismissing the smoke spewing out from the crunched cigar in his tense teeth.
"…You saved Tashigi." Scowling, the man leans against the stone snow white wall glaring glowering at her.
"So that's the girl's name…Oh ho I hope Hina doesn't know." Cheekily, Ann attempts to tease him however…
"Quit screwing around!" Angrily, he draws out his sea stone weapon slamming it into the wall between them forming a cracked crater as pieces of stone freely fall to the ground.
"Geez as grumpy as always…" Amused, Ann smirks slightly, was she like this? Geez she didn't think she was that childish…
"…" Silently, Smoker glares.
"…guessing she's your student." Smirking, Ann assumes.
"Yeah that idiot is." Grumpily, Smoker slowly lowers his weapon taking it out of the wall.
"…She means well." Ann attempts to offer comforting words to Smoker but…
"You said so yourself she could have hurt herself. She's an idiot." Smoker states the fact firmly making Ann sigh.
"If not controlled properly perhaps...Haki is a difficult thing to explain." Fairly, Ann plays devil's advocate.
"…Clearly." Curtly, Smoker slides his baton of sorts strapping it back against his back.
"She'll be fine the doc's looking out for her." Honestly, Ann assures the scowling Smoker.
"…Did you mean what you said…?" Smoker demands from her, crossing his arms over his chest cross.
"Hm?" Ann arches a brow by his furrowed frown.
"About training her…" Smoker snaps scowling.
"Oh is someone feeling threatened?" Teasingly, Ann smirks.
"Just answer me!" Mad, Smoker scowls at her.
"And if I am?" Ann asks arching a brow bemused by his challenge.
"…Thanks." Smoker bows his head.
"Eh?" Ann blurts out.
"Tashigi's she's a good kid." Smoker sighs sadly.
"I can see that…just as I can see you clearly care for her." Ann places a hand to her hip.
"She's an airhead oblivious as a brick almost to your degree." Deadpanned, Smoker lists off.
"I'm not oblivious." Ann argues annoyed.
"Aren't you?" Smoker smirks slightly before smoke spews in the face of the astonished Ann coughing spewing smoke from her face fuming furrowing her brow at the ass.
"Oi Smoker!" Scowling, Ann furrows her brow by Smoker not quite sure what to make of the man heading off as she simply sighs heading off returning to her respective task at hand.
Quietly, the soft shining light of the lamp on the desk stands tall before the tired dishevelled blonde staring sombrely down upon the papers littered about the desk. Her brow furrowed as she stares at the papers, her weary browns twitching slightly. She pinches the bridge of her nose, ignoring the sharp sting to her blurry vision. She had to focus, she had to, she had to…
The soft sound of footsteps hitting the wooden floor below echo throughout the hallways of HQ at night, his hues narrow noting the shy stream of light emitting from a familiar office. Curiosity gets the best of the vice admiral peering in, furrowing his brow by the soft snoring seeing the blonde's head having hit the desk, her hues closed in a world of her own as he approaches. He softly sighs at the mess of pinkish blonde wavy locks below him, similar to waves almost as he couldn't help but stare softly down at her noting the ethereal light peering in, making her look unreal almost as he then looks over at the documents below.
Quietly, he drapes his navy bluish black jacket over her, noting her leaning into it, nuzzling into it as Kuzan couldn't help but notice how much bigger the jacket was on her, a part of him happy to see it. He leans in lightly blowing the lamp by her side off as he then gently removed the paperwork from her, hoisting her up bridal style towards the sofa. He softly sets her down using his jacket as a blanket for her almost as she curls into a ball. Kuzan smirks slightly at the sight shaking his head before returning to her desk looking over at the necessary paperwork to complete, letting the marine rest for the night…
*So what do you think of Kuzan and Ann now? Or of Ann's dynamic with the roger pirates?*