Chapter 32
Running on an hour of sleep KAMPAI!(this is uni folks)
HAPPY BELATED EASTER
SORRY ITS TAKEN ME SO LONG TO UPDATE – ALL THE UNI ASSIGNMENTS
THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING- YOU GUYS ARE MY FAVOURITES
/
Beth had forgotten how much Marty could eat when she was hungry. Seriously though how much could one girl pack into her stomach. That was SUPPOSED to be injured.
"Don't forget to breathe," Beth said dropping her chin onto her palm. Cake shook her head disgusted.
"Just be happy she hasn't swallowed a fork yet," Amber muttered walking past the table, a bucket of hot water in her arms. Beth raised her eyebrows.
"She's done that before?"
"Try explaining it to an ER nurse, more to the point should we be worried about him?" Amber asked nodding her head toward Ace who had face planted into his food and was now snoring. Marco leant back in his chair grinning.
"I'm surprised he's gone this long without a narcolepsy attack, must have been the stress Marty was dumping on him," Marco said cheerfully, and swiping a pen from the middle of the table to begin doodling on what was exposed of Ace's cheek. Amber raised an eyebrow before hefting the bucket onto her hip continuing on her way to Donna's bedside. Beth shook her head.
"You'd think she would be more protective of the object of her affections," Beth glanced towards Marty as her friend began swearing, "did you just bite your fork?"
"Keep in mind I'm training to be a doctor not a dentist," Amber said absently as she began changing Donna's bandages. Marty prodded her front tooth gingerly.
"S'not broken."
"Got one up on your brain then," Cake said calmly pushing her plate away.
"You gonna eat that or?"
"No, please Marty, add my leftovers to your kill streak."
"Cheers!" Marty said adding the plate to her collection, "Any way what's this about Amber having an object for affections?" Cake shared a confused glance with Beth.
"I figured the way Amber had been hanging of Ace she would stop him getting his pretty face drawn on," Beth said slowly. Marty blinked, her expression clearing as she speared more food onto her fork.
"Oh, right… wait since when is Ace's face pretty?" Marty asked, Beth shook her head unable to follow her friends thought train.
"Are you sure she hasn't got brain damage?" Marco asked Amber without looking away from his 'art work.'
"How on earth do you expect me to determine that?"
"Point taken," Marco glanced up before whipping the pen away from Ace's face to hide behind his back as a tall thin man entered the room. Glancing bemused towards the corner where Edgar was tied up and gagged, his eyes moved to take in the general chaos. Before he could comment on the mess a second, younger man appeared behind him to peer curiously over his shoulder.
"Does your friend want a shovel Beth?" He asked cheerfully, before his eyes landed on Ace, "and a pillow? Is he dead?"
"Not yet," Beth said pushing her chair away from the table to stand as a blurred shape hurtled between the first man's legs.
"BETH!" Marty paused as child hurled itself into Beth's arms, "YOU'RE BACK!"
"AHH!" Marty dropped her fork. She leant back in her chair pointing with her now free arm, "It's a mini version of Beth!" Mini-Beth swivelled its head around to glare at the girl.
"Boy version though," Cake pointed out, nodding her head towards the Man, "Did you sort out your shop Sir?"
"I'm a man!" Mini-Beth protested.
"Mostly, we can salvage the majority of the weapons," Beth's dad replied, pulling his eyes away from Beth to smile at Cake.
"Call him David," Beth said re-adjusting her arms, "Sir makes him sound old and noble. Where'd you find these two?" Marty glanced towards Ace, decided attempting to steal his plate would be too much trouble, and began gathering up her own.
"Good to see you too Beth, bout time you got back from the pirate shi. Once we were let out of the mansion, me and Ozzie headed home," the younger man lent over his father's shoulder to wave at the room at large, "I'm Brad by the way." Marty glanced in his direction before pushing her own chair back.
"Pleasure," Cake said, as her eyes flicked to Marty, "what are you actually finished now?"
"Beth, your whole family is you at different ages," Marty pointed out, hefting the plate upwards before dropping them back to the table with a wince. Amber glanced over with a frown.
"Your injured Marty, make the Brat wash up."
"Your face is injured," Marty retorted panting slightly with pain.
"And why does the kid have to wash up he didn't eat anything," Cake pointed out. Marty stared at her friend, "What?"
"Nothing," Marty said cutting off Amber, hefting the plates up only to had them lifted delicately out of her arms by Brad.
"You want to wash or dry," He asked with a chuckle, Marty looked between her empty arms and the dishes.
"Wash?" Marty answered, to which Brad plonked the dishes in the sink before heading off to find a cloth. Marty turned to Beth, "Can I keep him?" Beth rolled her eyes returning her attention to Ozzie, "What? He does housework."
"Did you get 'em pirates with your guns Beth?!" Ozzie asked excitedly, illustrating his point with a finger pistol.
"I didn't have my guns Oz-"
"How'd you get back? Did you com-ant-deer their ship?"
"No we let them keep it-"
"Are they your crew? You're the captain right?" Ozzie surveyed Marty and Cake before dismissing them to stare in awe towards Marco, who was innocently placing a pen back on the table, and Jack, who was fast asleep against the wall.
"Er..."
"He's HUGE – is he your first mate?"
"Any sign of Michael?" Beth said with a sigh, glancing towards her father as Ozzie continued firing off questions. David shook his head, a worried frown passing over his face.
"We left a note at the house in case he heads back there," Brad said, fishing a tea-towel out of a draw before shutting it with a bang.
"Michael's your other brother?" Marco asked, Cake looked from him to Beth.
"Blimey how many do you have?" Beth frowned.
"Three; one older, two younger! It's not unusual to have siblings you know." Cake laughed.
"Hands up those who are single kids?"
"Yo," Marty splashed bubbly water over Brad as her hand flew up to join Marco, Cake, Amber, and Polo's.
"All the single ladies," Amber muttered drawing an odd look from Polo, who had been roped into playing 'nurse.'
"Jacks got nada too, although Ace never shuts up about his brother," Marco volunteered, smiling apologetically towards Beth.
"First kid was so perfect, parents couldn't top it so they didn't try," Cake said smugly.
"Ouch," Brad said, Marty laughed.
"That so isn't the reason," Marty flicked bubbles towards Cake, "They were probably so terrified of the first they vied off sex for ever more." Cake let out a scandalised gasp.
"I really didn't need that imagery Marty," Beth protested.
"What's sex?" Ozzie asked leaning around Beth to stare at Marty. Marty froze mid laugh.
"Oh crap I forgot about the tiny human," Brad flicked her ear.
"Language girl," Brad said chuckling, Marty stared at him confused.
"You say that to me with the way your lil sister speaks?"
"Beth wouldn't, she's an angel!" Marty shook her head staring forlornly towards Beth who glared at her.
"The cage changed you," Marty said sadly, Beth looked pointedly towards Cake who in turn looked over her shoulder confused.
"What?" Cake said turning to face them.
"…Argument is reasonable, all is forgiven," Marty said turning back to the dishes.
"What's your first mates name?" Ozzie demander, prodding Beth shoulders.
"Wh- Jack? He isn't my first mate Oz."
"Why not he's the coolest, and he has a beard?" Beth shrugged helplessly, "Who is then?" Marty threw her hand up again, ignoring the jolt of pain down her side.
"Oi."
"I volunteer," Marty called as Brad wiped dish water from his face bemusedly.
"Her?"
"Marty s'not my first mate," Beth snapped before blinking, "um-"
"Oi – why not," Marty demanded as Beth blushed.
"I should think not, she looks weak," Ozzie agreed leaning around Beth to eye ball Marty, "Can you even fight? Or use a gun or a sword?" Marty tipped her head to the side.
"I guess not..."
"Then what makes you think Beth would want someone who couldn't fight for a first Mate?" Marty scratched her head before laughing.
"Squirts got a point."
"What about that guy," Ozzie said pointing to Marco who grinned.
"He's already someone else's first mate," Beth muttered.
"Speaking of that guy, Beth, you going to introduce your crew or are we sticking with pronouns?" Brad asked smiling at Marty as she handed him the last plate.
"Oh sure sorry, Marty you know," Beth said with a shrug.
"Holla."
"Silver jack is the one drooling on the wall. The blonde with blood on her face you should know. Cake's dad is the mayor."
"For Skypiea's sake my name is Charlene."
"Give it up already Cake. Ambers the black witch up the back – she's training to be a doctor so Doctor Willis left her in charge of Donna while he's doing house calls around the village. She's a psycho though – Brad you are not allowed near her."
"I'm not interested in any guys who are mirror images of your ugly face Cabbage Patch."
"Polo's the man on the other side of Donna playing nurse."
"…."
"No comment? Ok cool, the one asleep in his food is Ace, and the one who drew all over his face is Marco."
"Oi- tattle tale!"
"And the dude wrapped in rope over in the corner is Edgar- he was the one who had everyone gather in the Mayor's ballroom."
"Him I know – he was after some Devil Fruit right? The guy snoring into his food, Ace? He's the one who landed on him right?"
"Right."
"You go missing for over two weeks, and then fall through the ceiling of the Mayors house without warning," Brad said with a grin, as Beth looked guilty.
"Yeah sorry about that-"
"You didn't ask to be kidnapped," Marty objected, giving Brad a look, "How'd you like-."
"Marco, you wouldn't happen to be Marco the Phoenix would you?" Beth's dad asked suddenly, everyone turned to stare at David where he was leaning against the wall. Marco's eyebrow lifted as his expression became careful.
"I suppose I would."
"Which would make the man asleep in his food fire fist Ace?" Beth lowered a confused Ozzie to the floor.
"Dad-"
"You mean the first and second division commanders of Whitebeards ship?" Brad asked startled, sounding slightly awed, "They are legends! Why are they here?!" Marty snorted.
"Yeah those titles sound all scary and mighty until you realise Ace is snoring into his steak while Marco draws flowers and, is that a bunny?" Marty asked impressed. Marco glanced shamefaced towards David.
"Can we move past that please."
"You're not exactly how I would have imagined you," David said evenly.
"You thought he'd be taller right?" Marty said cheerfully.
"Marty please stop sassing my dad. Dad they aren't bad even though they are pirates-"
"I know."
"They are actually – wait what," Beth frowned, "… What do you mean you know," David met Beth's frown with a grin.
"I listen to the same rumours you do Beth. You can be both a pirate and a good man."
"That right, doesn't whitebeard chuck his flag on certain island so they don't get ravaged by other pirate crews?" Marty interject as she limped around to Marcos side of the table. She swiped the pen from the middle of the table and started giving the bunny heads Marco had drawn bodies.
"That's right," David agrees, "dozens of islands in both halves of the grand line rely on his protection."
"How did you know that?" Cake asked. David blinked.
"What? Well-"
"No not you, Marty, she not- it's a long story – point is how do you know information like that?" Cake said with a wave of her hand. Marty tipped her head to the side, her face completely blank as she started drawing rainbows.
"…Hello Marty?" Beth said. Brad leaned forward slightly.
"Did you break her?" He asked, Marco wiggled his fingers in from of her face. Marty blinked, before pushing his hand away with a frown.
"I spent the past week on whitebeards ship, I talk to people other than you lot in his crew."
"You did?" Marco said glancing around the room checking who was there.
"I took excursions at random intervals," Marty insisted, then frowned, "and destroyed multiple walls."
"Oh that's right," Marco said with a frown, "Stop doing that."
"Talking to people?"
"Yes, you aren't allowed anywhere on the ship without an escort."
"Escort?" Marty said with a grin glancing towards Beth. Beth raised her eyebrows with a smirk.
"Babysitter may be a better word, and Beth and Charlene do not count," Marco said leaning on his hand. Marty shrugged as she began giving Ace giant eyelashes and a third eyebrow.
"I feel like this is an excuse for you to spend more time with Beth – ow!" Marty exclaimed as Marco whipped the plate out from under Aces face and whacked her on the head with it. Food splatted over Marty and Ace as Amber called grumpily from the back.
"She's injured!"
"Wazzat – waz happn," Ace jolted upright, glancing around confused. Marty dropped down to the floor out of sight and began crawling away under the table before Ace could see her, "Whad she break this time."
"Dreaming about Marty Ace?" Beth asked resigned. Ace rubbed his face, looking slightly confused when his hand came away with food on it.
"Not a good dream," Ace muttered scrubbing his face grumpily.
"So you have good dreams about me then Ace?" Marty said slyly popping up from under the other side of the table, Ace glared.
"Waste of time Ace, dream about me instead," Amber called cheerfully from Donna bedside. Brad threw his slightly damp tea-towel in Ace's direction. It hit him in the face, causing him to glare blearily in Brads direction when it fell, before double-taking confused.
"Beth? Were you always a man?" Ace looked around confused, eyes landing on Ozzie, "And a child? Marco am I still asleep?"
"Calm down Cowboy, those are Beth's brothers," Marty said shaking her head, as she pushed herself to her feet with a groan.
"Beth has brothers?"
"Hi I'm Ozzie, do you always sleep in your food?" Ozzie went onto tiptoes to lean on the table in order to peer at Ace. Ace swiped the tea towel over his face looking bemused. Marty noticed his random wiping hadn't dislodged the drawing. Pen must be permanent, "Are you Beth first Mate?"
"No, why would Beth have a first mate?" Ace said staring at Ozzie, "She's generally Purple's sidekick anyway." Ozzie frowned.
"No she isn't- why would she be that useless girls sidekick, she can't even fight!" Ace raised an eyebrow.
"Hasn't stopped her so far." David cleared his throat.
"I would like to return to some points you were making earlier before you got side-tracked," David requested calmly.
"Which ones?" Marco asked edging his way around the table, obviously having reached the same conclusions as Marty about the pen.
"Firstly, I assume from your bantering that my daughter and her friends were rescued onto Whitebeards ship, however I am confused why such high ranking officers as yourself are with them now. As well as the current location of your ship," David said eyes flicking to Ace.
"Whitebeard wanted to recruit more females to the crew to keep on of our female commanders happy. We were supposed to help them around the ship a bit and give them some training. We got assigned to them full time when everyone realised they were too powerful and destructive for normal crewmembers to keep in check," Marco said eyes flicking to Marty who grinned as she lowered herself into a vacant chair. She was hiding it well, but Marco had a good eye. Marty was having trouble just moving around the room and was getting steadily whiter. In Marcos opinion, she should have been tied to the bed next to Donna.
"And here I was thinking you followed us around cause you liked us," Beth said cheerfully, Watching Marty out of the corner of her eye.
"That too, but you still broke things," Marco said as Marty yawned, "As for Whitebeard, the crew and ship should be upon the island with the hour if weather conditions hold."
"Fine," David said crossing his arms, "I would also like to know what you mean by being recruited into the Whitebeard pirates."
"Ah," Marco said nervously glancing towards Beth, "Well that's- what is that?" The room turned as a door slammed open somewhere in the how and footsteps race towards them. Marty supposed she should have expected it by now when a fifteen-sixteen year old male version of Beth hurtled into the room. He came to a screeching stop head whipping around the room to focus between Brad and his Father.
"There's a pirate ship coming into the Bay!" The Boy exclaimed hurriedly.
"Yeah we know, it's a good pirate ship Micky," Beth said soothingly holding up her hands soothingly. "Micky" stared at her astonished.
"Beth! When?- Wait that's not all theres also a massive Sea-king in the harbour that can talk!"
"…Ah," Beth said after moment of silence.
"We forgot about Fee Fee."
/
hi yes – I am NOT deleting my story anytime in the near future – but it was a heads up that I might – IF I did - for reasons that are my own, dictated by circumstances surrounding me that no one really has the right to go off at me for- but IF I did – I have a AO3 account that I would send out to all my followers and reviewers and continue updating from there.
also I have big plans for the next chapter- back to causing chaos MWHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
hehehehehehehehehe
LET ME KNOW IF THERES ANY TERRIBLE TERRIBLE SPELLLING MISTAKES :p
