"So Ryoga, what do you make of our new orders?" Brandy and his second-in-command were sitting across from eachother, a chess board on the table between them. Several pieces had already been eliminated. Reaching out, he moved a bishop across and took one of Ryoga's knights.
"You said they told you that they needed extra security for the Mermen Reservations, right? No matter what species they are, it's our duty to protect them, as Marines." Moving one of his Rooks forward, Ryoga seized a Pawn in retaliation.
"Heh, if only that were true, Ryoga." Slashing a knight down, Brandy took his subordinate's other Rook. Ryoga blinked. "What do you mean, sir?" Moving his Knight out, he took a Rook and waited for his captain's answer. "Well, I've recently been hearing some rumors about the way the captain of the marine base on that island does things. All I'm saying is, keep your eyes and ears open while we're there.
"Of course, sir!" Brandy nodded and smiled. "That's a good boy." He moved his other Knight out and took a Bishop. Ryoga moved his Queen out. "That's check, sir."
"Oh, not bad. Checkmate." He stood up and left the room, leaving Ryoga staring at the board. "How does he do it? He acts like a drunkard, but when he does things like this..." He grinned. "That's why he's my master!"
One Piece: The Skull Pirates
Chapter Eight: Farewell, Rose Island! The Skull Pirate's fourth.
Jack whistled. "Huh...I guess there were a few more of them than we thought." Mary nodded. "Yes. How many do you think are here, Monsieur Ossements?" Raising a hand, the captain began to count the number of women currently pointing guns in their direction. "Let's see. One, two, three..." He trailed off as he counted the rest in his hand. "Forty. That's a nice round number."
He turned to his companion. "Think you can handle this, Mary? Wide attacks aren't really my strong suit." The petite girl smiled. "Of course. Remember who you're talking to." Inhaling, she extended her hands. "Rose Rose no..." Adianne's subordinates lifted their rifles and fired at the girl. "Sorry, but incase you've forgotten, she's not the only one here! Skull Skull no Buckler!" His right arm changing into a shield, Jack threw himself into the path of the bullets, the projectiles deflecting off his hard body.
"Thank you, Monsieur Ossements. Now, as I was saying; Rose Rose no Dansant Parterre!" (Dancing Flower-bed) Both her arms changing into thorny vines, both of Mary's limbs shot out downwards, smashing through the floor. Tunneling underneath the women, they slammed upward into the crowd, immediately whipping around, scattering the guards into the walls, pillars, and floor of the room.
Jack whistled as Mary retracted her limbs. "That'll teach them not to mess with you." The petite girl smiled. "Naturally, Monsieur Ossements." They both looked up as they heard clapping coming from the back of the room.
Leaning back in her throne, Adianne applauded the two. "Very impressive. That the two of you could break in here alone is indeed impressive." Jack shrugged. "Of course. Remember that you're dealing with Jack Bones." Adianne scowled at him. "Don't flatter yourself. If it weren't for following Mary, you wouldn't have gotten past the front door."
Jack cracked his knuckles and snarled. "Sure, you talk big now. But incase you can't tell, we're both Devil's Fruit users, and you're out of bodyguards." Adianne smiled. "And once again, you prove yourself to be an idiot. I'm afraid I have one more. Charm Charm no Servant." Leaping out from behind the throne came Martin, snapping into a flying kick at Jack. Putting out his hands, Jack grabbed hold of the boy's leg and threw him over his shoulder.
Easily landing on his feet, the hypnotized boy charged back towards the captain. Jack looked to Mary. "Okay, so what's the etiquette here?" Mary stared. "You break his bones, I break yours. Is that simple enough for you?" Jack gulped. "Uh, yes ma'am." Turning, he ran at Martin, putting out his arm and clotheslining the boy out the door and into the hallway.
Adianne turned to regard Mary. "Now that your pet monkey is gone, we can talk rationally. Now then Mary, exactly why did you burst into my home like this?" The petite girl smiled and shrugged. "Oh, it's nothing important...but when you and your crew came to this island, you took something precious of mine, and I would like it back."
"Oh, really? And what might this precious thing of yours be, Mary?" The petite girl gestured back to the door. "Why, it's your hypnotized bodyguard, Martin, the boy I love. Now, please return him to me, Adianne." The woman frowned. "Well, while I am sympathetic to you as a fellow woman...I didn't become a great pirate by giving things back. So I am afraid your request is denied."
"Well, that is a problem. Or, it would be...if I had been asking." Mary flicked out her wrist, sending a thorn vine out at Adianne. Swiftly leaping out of her chair, Adianne glowered as the attack cut the back of the throne in half. "I liked that chair, Mary." Unstrapping her whip from her side, she snapped it out towards her opponent.
Mary cried out as the spiky weapon bit into her side. "D-damn you! Broche Foutter!" Laughing mockingly, Adianne spun out of the way. "Ah, you Paramecia types are so delightfully predictable!" The petite girl gave a cry as the whip struck her again, stumbling against one of the pillars. "Tch, she's better than I thought. Obviously I can't end this just with force. Fine."
Jumping forward, Mary turned and slung a vine at the pillar, the appendage wrapping around the column and going taut. "Pilier..." Leaping up, she glided around the column as the vine unwinded itself. On the other side, she released her grip, letting the momentum carry her straight toward Adianne. Sighing, the woman sidestepped and snapped out her whip. "Oh, please. I thought you were smarter than this, Mary."
"Who said I wasn't?" Mary called. Snapping out a second whip, she wrapped it around a pillar on the opposite side of the room. The added grip changed Mary's path, causing the whip to shoot harmlessly over her shoulder. Releasing her grip, Mary landed right next to Adianne. "Glissent Broche Fouetter!" (Pillar Glide Thorn Whip)
Adianne screamed as the vine slammed into her stomache, sending her tumbling over to land on her back. Mary smiled. "I would step it up a bit, Adianne; if you want to keep up with me, that is."
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Jack sighed as Martin charged at him for the fifth time. Grabbing him by the shoulders, he threw him back down the hallway. Landing easily, Martin ran at him again. "Come on, cut it out. I feel like a bully." The boy gritted his teeth at the pirate. "I won't forgive anyone who tried to hurt Miss Adianne!" Ducking under a choppy combo, Jack shoved him back down the corridor. "I don't know if you noticed, but your 'Dear Adianne' is kind of, well...a pirate."
"How dare you call Miss Adianne a criminal! I'll make you pay for that!" Seizing a vase off a nearby table, Martin threw it at Jack's head. Not blinking as it shattered over his head, Jack scratched his skull. "Are you sure there's not some other girl you should be obsessing over? Like that one that was with me?"
"I'm not interested in any woman that's with you, pirate! If she calls you a comrade, then she must be a worthless, heartless, BI-" He stopped talking as Jack grabbed his fists in a crushing grip, stopping his charge. "...I don't give a crap if you are hypnotized, brat. Nobody talks about a lady like that in front of me!"
Still holding onto him, he angled his head to point at Martin's face. "Doku Doku no Cannonball!" Martin let out a yell of pain as Jack's head spun into him hard. Reconnecting his skull, Jack let go, letting the boy slump to the floor. (Doku means "skull". I decided to change Jack's attack chants to fit this. Sorry if this bothers anyone.)
Dusting his hands off, Jack stepped over Martin's prone body and started back to the room. "I'll go give Mary a hand. If she hasn't already torn Adianne apart, that is."
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Mary had not. The fight had now turned into a stalemate. Both opponents were smart and agile enough to dodge each other's whip attacks, and it seemed like the two were an equal match. "Hmph, I must admit Adianne; I didn't expect you to put up this much of a fight. However, I'm afraid you're not going to defeat me! Broche Foutter!"
Sneering, Adianne slung out her whip as well. The result of this clash was both whips being tangled up in eachother. Grimacing, Mary tugged in an attempt to free her limb, but to no avail. Adianne smiled. "How unfortunate for you, with your arm tangled up like that. You know, when I heard of your Devil Fruit ability, a question came to my mind. What would happen if someone were to...do this?"
Smiling, Adianne removed a large dagger from beneath her dress. Mary inhaled sharply. "Ah, I see my theory was correct. Those vines of yours might be powerful, but they can still be cut just as easily as skin. So..." Twisting the dagger around, she slammed it deep into Mary's vine arm. Adianne smile widened as blood began to escape from the wound. The cruel woman then began to slowly rotate the blade, deepening the wound. But despite the obvious pain she was in, Mary simply gritted her teeth, refusing to cry out.
Adianne's smile vanished as she saw this. "Hmph, if you won't cry out, then what's the point?" Removing the dagger and releasing her whip, she lunged forward and kicked her opponent in the stomach, sending her sliding across the floor.
Mary began to slowly get up. "It's...not over...yet." Wincing, she clutched her arm, which was now sporting a bloody gash along most of it's length. "I can't back down or run away. This...is battle for amour." Slowly, Adianne's features shifted into a cruel glare. "Love? Hehehehe...HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Wiping a tear from her eye, she looked back to Mary. "Oh, sorry. It's just that you said that with such a serious face that...oh haha, there it is again."
Tilting her head, Mary reached up momentarily and adjusted her beret. "Adianne...if you were trying to rile me up by saying something so ignorant, I'm afraid it won't work. After all, it's really only natural that you'd say such things about love; after all, the only way you can keep a man is with that Devil's Fruit of yours."
Adianne's eyes narrowed. "In just a moment I'm going to make you regret saying that." Mary smirked. "Then try it." Snarling in utter rage, Adianne slashed her whip. "I'M GOING TO SHUT THAT MOUTH OF YOURS UP!" Springing her legs, Mary leaped lightly out of the way of the attack, the whip easily shooting past where she had stood seconds ago. "A whip only has so much length, Adianne!"
The cruel woman's smile deepened. "Oh, really?" Twisting the handle of the rope, she depressed a hidden switch. "Kakuhan Enchou!" (Whip Extension) Mary gasped as the whip suddenly doubled in length, circling around and locking around her legs. "Wha-AH!" Losing her balance, she fell to the floor. Laughing, Adianne jerked her whip to the right, slamming Mary into a pillar. Not even giving her opponent a chance to recover, she flicked her whip in the other direction, sending Mary to collide with the opposite column. "More, More! Let me hear your crescendo of agony!"
Sighing, Adianne began to approach, licking the blade of her knife. "Now then, I believe that playtime is over." Mary lifted her head, chin held high. "If I'm going to die here...alright. At least...I tried to get you back, Martin..."
"Doku Doku no Cannonball!"
Adianne quickly sidestepped as Jack's head shot past, arcing in a boomerang effect to reconnect to it's owner's neck. Straightening it, Jack sighed. "Geez. I leave for a few minutes, and you can't handle one crazy woman? I guess I misjudged you, Mary." Stooping, he dropped a large bulk to the floor. Adianne's eyes bugged out when she was what it was.
"Y-you terrible man! How could you do that to my Martin!?" Jack shrugged, then grinned. "I'm a pirate. It's sort of in the job description. And by the way, he's not yours." He jerked a thumb over at Mary. "He belongs to her. And we'll be taking him back now. You have a problem with that?"
Adianne's glare deepened. "As a matter of fact, I do." Tugging on her whip, she pulled Mary up next to her, quickly putting a knife to the girl's throat. "Come one step closer, and I'll slit her throat!"
Jack frowned. "A hostage situation, huh? Well, I figured you'd try something like this, so..." Jack held up his hands. Or rather, didn't. His hands ended at the wrists. Adianne had time to register this before she was grabbed from behind, her whip torn from her hands as her wrists were tied together, a large weight clamping down on them. Looking behind her, she gasped as she saw Jack's hands, now changed into circular rings, holding them in place.
Jack grinned. "Doku Doku no Tekase." (Handcuffs) Pulling herself free from the whip, Mary walked over to stand next to Jack. "Thank you again, Monsieur Ossements. That's three times you've helped me." Jack shrugged. "No big deal. Now then..." They both turned to face Adianne.
Changing back to normal, Jack's hands leaped to the floor, running back to their owner and reconnecting. Snarling, Adianne retrieved her whip. "Don't come near me!" Quickly, she snapped it out. Snorting, Jack stuck out his hand and grabbed it, completely stopping it's momentum. Tugging, he tore the weapon out of her hand, throwing it over into the corner.
Smiling, Mary pulled her hands back. "Rose Rose no..." Both her arms changing into vines, Mary shot them out towards Adianne. The cruel woman gasped as both of them wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly. "T-this can't be happening..." Smirking, Mary began to turn in a pirouette, lifting Adianne off the ground, and rotating her in a circle. "I'm afraid it is! Now, take this! Tourbillon!" (Whirlwind)
Picking up speed, the spin reached the apex of it's momentum. "And...NOW! Deux..." Mary released her grip, the momentum beginning to carry her higher into the air. However, Mary wasn't done yet. Snapping her vines out, she slammed them both into Adianne. "Cingler!" (Two Whips) The impact increased Adianne's momentum, throwing her higher into the air. "You're not getting off that easily!" Roaring, Jack charged forwards. "Doku Doku no..." Throwing his arms forward, both limbs shot out, changing into a boomerang shape before slamming into Adianne's gut. "AND..." Hopping into the air, Jack's head began to spin rapidly before it shot out too. Flying through the air, the projectile hit Adianne in the face with the force of a cannon. "Skull and Crossbones!"
Jack's remaining body parts, his torso and legs, deconnected and flew up to him. Reforming his body, Jack grinned. "I've been wanting to do this all day!" Smile widening, he clasped his fists. "Doku Doku no..." Bulging, his hands changed form into a massive sledgehammer. Slowly he pulled it back, before thrusting it into Adianne's gut. "HAMMER!"
Landing, Jack dusted off his hands as the momentum carried Adianne into her own throne, crushing it and smashing a hole in the floor. He grinned as he heard her hit the floor below. "Typical feminist; they can talk tough, but they just can't back it up." Turning, Jack then walked over to Mary. "Now then..." Reaching up to his arm, Jack tore a strip off his sleeve. Gently grasping Mary's wounded arm, he wrapped it around the cut as a makeshift bandage. Throughout this, Mary simply stared.
Tieing it tightly, Jack nodded. "Okay, you should be fine now." Staring at the bandage, Mary nodded. "Thank you...Jack." Saying nothing, Jack returned the nod. A rising groan caught their attention. Immediately, Mary's face bloomed into a wide smile. "Martin!" Quickly she ran back to where the boy was rising.
As Mary kneeled down next to him, Martin slowly blinked as he noticed her. "M-miss Mary...where are we? I have a bad headache...what happened?" Mary seemed to consider this for a few moments. "...Oh, you walked into a door while we were in the Mansion and fell unconscious. I've been waiting for you to wake up all this time." Slowly Martin nodded before moving his hand over to cover his nose. "I walked into a door...yes, that must be why nose is broken...
"Jack..." Mary shifted her gaze to look at the door as it slowly swung closed. From behind it came the sound of rapidly retreating footsteps.
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"Stairs...so many bloody stairs...reminds me of home." Using his cricket bat as an impromptu walking stick, Gerald stopped on yet another landing and caught his breath. After Frank had treated their injuries, they'd started up the stairs toward Jack and Mary. They'd encountered a few of Adianne's crew, but about half of them were disoriented and confused-he surmised these were the hypnotized women from the island-and the other half ran at the site of them. He turned to regard Frank, who was doing worse than he was, mostly because he was still patching himself up from a first aid kit he'd pulled from somewhere. "If you're tired Gerald, I could carry you and jump up to the next floor." The shinobi offered.
Gerald snorted. "I think not. I put up with it last time because it was urgent, but I'd rather not be carried by a man if I can still walk fine, thank you very much." Frank shrugged. "I just thought I'd ask." They both looked up as Jack came running down the stairs, quickly passing them. He tossed his head over his shoulder and called back, "Oi, Gerald, Frank, we're done here! Steal every bit of food that isn't nailed down and get back to the ship!"
Frank saluted. "We're on it, Jack!" Before Gerald could put up a fight, Frank grabbed him and flipped him over his shoulder, then turned and quickly followed their captain.
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A few minutes later, outside in the town...
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At a bakery in the middle of town, the owner and a passersby turned to look at the hilltop mansion. "Sounds like theirs some commotion at the mansion." The owner remarked. "Yeah. With any luck, someone assassinated that witch Adianne." The owner nodded. "Yeah, tell me about it. H-hey, what's that?" He pointed up the street, where a small whirlwind was gathering, spinning around the trash left in the gutters.
"Now what the hell..." Before either of them could step forward to investigate it, they were grabbed by the shoulders and slammed into eachother headfirst. Slowly they tumbled to the ground. Frank offered an apologetic nod to the two. "Sorry about this. I assure you, your baked goods will be going to a good cause...I suppose."
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Meanwhile, at the Grocer...
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Hefting a sack of vegetables over his shoulder, Gerald called back, "It's alright if I take these without paying for them, right?" The owner of the shop couldn't answer, mostly because he was unconscious with a growing lump on his head. "That's about what I thought." He began to whistle as he left the building. "I will admit, being a pirate is much more simple."
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Also Meanwhile, at the Butcher Shop...
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Jack sighed, adjusting his tricone hat as he exited the meat shop. "Honestly, the guy didn't have to go at me with a butcher knife. It's just meat..." Throwing the sack of food over his shoulder, he ran off towards the docks.
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"What the hell do you mean no!?"
Martin's Mother shrugged. "You heard me. I don't want you marrying my son." Mary pointed a finger into the old woman's face. "I saved his life." The old lady nodded. "Yes, you did, and I'm grateful, and so I'll tolerate you being around him, but marriage is something else entirely."
"You, you can't do this!" The old woman managed a wrinkled smirk. "I'm his mother; I'd say I have a say in who my son marries." Mary began to seeth. "I love him." Martin's Mother made a "Pfffft" noise. "Guivre! Corneille! CATIN!" The old lady just looked amused. "Like I said, I can't even understand your insults. The fact is, I don't want you marrying Martin, and that's that."
Mary clenched her fists until the knuckles cracked. "I don't intend to lose Martin...to anyone, especially not you."
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Earlier, in the underground passageway...
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"By the way, Monsieur Ossements, once you leave here, where will you go?" Jack shrugged offhandedly. "Well, I guess I'll get a few more people on my crew, and then head for the Grand Line." Mary went goggle-eyed. "That dangerous place? Are you Torve? You'll be killed!" Jack shrugged again. "Maybe. But maybe we won't. And I'll say this; I'd rather die young being a pirate than grow old under someone else's rules."
Mary blinked momentarily, before smiling coyly. "You know...you are an interesting man, Monsieur Ossements." Jack shrugged a third time. "Who the hell said I wasn't?"
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Mary slowly lifted her eyes to look the old woman in the eye. "Old woman...I will make you a wager." Martin's Mother cocked an eyebrow. "What?" Mary leaned back in her chair before continuing. "As you know, I am a pirate, and a strong one at that. Both of us think that we can treat the man we love better than the other. But you are wrong. My wager is thusly; if I can sail through all of the Grand Line, and return here with proof of this...then will you allow me to marry Martin?"
The old woman lifted her hand to adjust her spectacles before responding. "You would...go through that hell of a sea just to marry my son?" Mary nodded. "Yes, I would." Her voice showed no hesitation at all. "Then do it." Getting up, Martin's Mother left the room. Mary smiled. "I'm not doing it just because you tell me to...but fine...old woman."
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Martin watched Mary pack with an intense expression of worry on his face. "Are you completely sure about this, Miss Mary? The Grand Line is dangerous!" Mary nodded. "Yes, extremely." Martin persisted. "You could be killed!" Mary nodded once more. "Yes, quite possibly." Martin began to flail his arms in the air. "Aren't you worried at all!?" Mary shrugged. "Not especially."
"But...wouldn't it just be better to marry someone else?" Mary looked up at him, eyes alight. "No." Martin looked down towards the floor. "But...I don't want you to die because of me...Miss Mary...because...I love you." Tears began to well in the young boy's eyes. Reaching under his chin, Mary gently raised his face to meet hers. "Don't worry, Martin. I won't die. After all, didn't we promise to always meet again...in the gardens on this island?"
Martin broke down into tears. "Yes...yes, Miss Mary!" Smiling, she leaned forward and kissed him.
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Gerald ascended the stairs from the galley and dusted his hands off. "Right, it's all stored away. Shall we set off, Jack? Jack?" Leaning up against the railing of the ship, Jack shook his head. "No. Not yet." Gerald tweaked his moustache. "What are you talking about?"
The skull pirate chuckled. "Well, if I know anything about women, it's that they get really ticked off when you leave without them." He called over his shoulder. "Hey Frank, is she coming?" Suddenly appearing next to Gerald and causing him to recoil in shock, the shinobi nodded. "Yes captain, she should be here in less than a minute."
True to the shinobi's instincts, a few moments later a thorn vine wrapped around the ship's railing as Mary roped herself aboard. "I was wondering when you were gonna show up." Jack said casually. Mary shrugged. "I had to pack." Jack pointed to Gerald. "Okay, now we can leave. Gerald, you handle the steering. Frank, get back up to the crow's nest."
"Yes, captain." The shinobi replied before running back up the pole. "If I may ask captain, what are you going to do?" Gerald glowered. Jack stopped at the door to the cabins. "I'm going to bed. It's nearly five in the morning, for pete's sake." Entering, he slammed the door behind him.
As the sails caught the wind and the Flying Skull began to ease itself out of the harbor, Mary was surprised to see Martin run out from the street. Dashing out to the end of the pier, he raised his hands to his mouth and yelled:
"Miss Mary...BON VOYAGE!
To be continued...
Caught in a storm, the Flying Skull nearly capsizes, but is saved thanks to Jack's quick thinking and navigating skill. The Skull Pirates then find themselves on Newport Island, home to a sizable Marine Base, and a Reservation of Trout Mermen. The crew soon finds, however, that they aren't the real criminals here.
Next time, Newport Island! The Mermen Reservations and Big Brother Drake.
Malchior the Draco - I can assure you, unlike the Straw Hat girls, Mary - as well as another female member I have planned - are not nearly useless in a fight.
Luda59 - If there is ever a situation where darts and bowling balls could be useful, then yeah. And Star Wars...I was going for Naruto-esque.
The Dude of Doom - Get your mind out of the gutter, boy!
The next arc is one I'm particularly proud of. Look forward to it!