Wrinkles and Diapers
Chapter 10: All Aboard the Yellow Submarine!
Captain Very Good was not feeling very good. They had arrived at Primavera Island and immediately disembarked to battle with the Heart Pirates in the harbor. The battle had driven off the sailors in the harbor, so that only the pirates and marines were fighting there. The pirates were putting up quite the fight, and though the marines had captured the pirates' vessel at first, they had been driven off when a hee-hawing, high kicking polar bear in an orange jumpsuit came flying in. Beside him, his ensign let out a girlish squeal.
He glared at her.
She coughed, "Ahem, sorry Sir. I don't know what came over me." Oh my gosh that is the cutest-
Captain Very Good was slowly losing his patience. He struck his sword at an approaching pirate. He and his ensign were able to fare pretty well, but things were not looking good for everyone else.
His men were being pushed back, and everything only went downhill when their captain finally came.
Trafalgar Law was walking leisurely down the steps to the harbor. An ever present smile on his face. Very Good gritted his teeth in annoyance. It was obvious from the pirate's demeanor that he wasn't taking this very seriously. Well, he'd show hi-
"Room."
Instantly, a light blue spherical space surrounded everyone in the harbor.
The Marine Captain's eyes widened. "Everyone, get out of the circle!" Marines tried to jump out of the way, but it was too late. Everything happened so fast. He was backed up against the water and could only get out if he escaped towards town across the battlefield.
Law drew his nodachi and swiftly disembodied several limbs from marines crying in anguish. Limbs flew everywhere in an organized disorder as Law moved his hands, a sadistic smirk on his face. He was itching for some bloodshed.
"Shambles." The disembodied limbs pieced together to form grotesque figures. Cries of anguish from the marines filled the battlefield.
"Aghh-! You've got my leg on your head!"
"What! How the hell can you tell?"
"That's my pink sock on my foot!"
"Why the hell do you-"
Then, in an instant, Law transported himself through the circle, switching places with transfigured marines scattered around in the sphere to get from the one end to the other until he switched places with the surprised ensign next to Very Good. It was all so fast, Very Good didn't even have time to blink. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.
"Trafalgar Law." Captain Very Good growled. The nodachi blade hovered near his throat. He gulped. His subordinates cried out in surprise.
"Captain Berry Good!"
The marine captain resisted the urge to correct them.
"Tell me, Mr. Marine..."
"That's Captain Very Good to you." He spat. Law paid him no mind.
"Mr. Good. Have you heard of the children's nursery rhyme 'Humpty Dumpty'?"
"What-!"
The pirate grinned, "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall..." He gripped his nodachi tighter, preparing to behead the marine captain.
The marine could not wait any longer. He smirked. "Jokes on you Trafalgar; this is for underestimating your opponent!" He burst into several different balls, each hovering around the mildly surprised pirate.
"I ate the Berry Berry no mi, there's no way your devil fruit can affect me. I'll just turn into smaller balls!"
Law smirked. "I'm not sure your balls can get any smaller," he said as he picked up a rock.
Berry Good cursed him angrily. His round body parts moved rapidly in the air and homed in on Law for a collision. His round arms holding swords to slash at the pirate and his round feet aiming to knock the captain out. Shachi and Penguin appeared by Law's side to kick and punch the body parts away.
Law was calm. "Humpty Dumpty had a great fall," he said. He threw the rock into the sea, and just before it touched the water, "Switch."
In a second, Captain Berry Good found his head face to face with the seawater.
"You can do this Letha!" The florist cried, huffing and puffing as she ran down the hill, her bones cracking and her joints cracking. She was too old for this running, but she had to make it to the docks. There was no telling how far Jewelry Bonney had gone by now. She could be islands away, but the florist knew she would run into the pirate sooner or later. The island route ended at Sabaody. Letha just needed a ship to take her there. She hoped a merchant ship wouldn't mind having her aboard.
She was passing by all the shops in town, her aunt's cafe, the mayor's house, and soon she could see the ships in the harbor. The grin on her face displayed her exhilaration. This would be the first time she left by herself. She could smell the ocean!
Letha began to slow to a stop, breathing hard, just as she reached the shipyard. Then she stopped cold in her tracks. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
In front of her lay a chilling sight: groaning marines lay across the stone, disfigured and strange looking. The ones still up were being handled by boiler suited men. Furthest away, she could see that orange clad polar bear standing on a yellow submarine with his arms cross, looking slightly triumphant. But what really caught her attention was that man, that horrible, horrible man with the spotted hat standing near the marine ship, wiping his bloodied sword with a marine's ragged clothes. His two crewmates were standing by his side, peering over at two marines drenched in water near the dock, as if they couldn't decide whether to push them back in or kill them after they caught their breath.
How could she have forgotten about the Heart pirates so quickly? She had been so eager to leave, she forgot all about them. She quickly dove out of sight.
"Captain are you alright?" The ensign coughed, serving as a crutch for Very Good, after rescuing her captain from drowning. "I think we should retreat for now. Call for back up, I've already asked for Captain Hina."
The captain marine coughed out sea water, shivering from the cold and trying to regain what was left of his dignity. "What! I don't need that female's help! No, I'm finishing this myself. I want his head!"
"You should take heed of your subordinate's advice Mr. Good." Law suggested as he turned his back to walk towards the town before he stopped for a moment. Then he made a signal to Penguin, a smirk on his lips.
He spied a small grey mouse hiding behind some crates. "However, we should really be leaving now, seeing as how you're no longer able to play capture the pirates anymore." He flicked his head towards the ship, signaling his men to board. "But just in case you decide to follow us..."
Out of no where Penguin picked up Letha none too gently and hauled her over his shoulder. She shrieked in surprise.
"We will be taking this grey mouse as a hostage."
Letha struggled in Penguin's grasps.
"Let me go! Let me go you no good pirate!" She flailed none to calmly, her gray skirts getting in Penguin's face.
"Geez, lady! Stop moving!"
"Release her pirate! She has nothing to do with this!" Very Good yelled. "She is an innocent bystander!"
Law smiled. "I'm afraid I can't do that."
They boarded the submarine. The marine moved in after, but Law stopped them with his next words. "If you follow us, I'll be sure to send her head to you. Giftwrapped." On the submarine, Bepo got excited at the idea of wrapping presents.
On the other hand, Letha stopped struggling, paling at the thought of her grey little head tied up with a blood red ribbon.
"We won't let this slide, Trafalgar Law!" Captain Very Good growled. "Don't worry Ma'am. We will do everything in our power to rescue you!" Yet he knew there was nothing he could do for now, not without endangering her further.
He watched grimly as the pirates set sail for the next island. Hopefully they would simply drop her off at the next island. Though somehow he doubted that.
"Captain, what now?" The ensign asked, worry biting at her lip.
"We file a kidnapping report for the old lady and send it out to the others. Alert her family. Next, we have to check on that girl that may have been reportedly harmed. I fear we may even be too late."
"Roger!" She saluted, before turning to send a report status to their superiors.
"Bring the injured to the medical bay." Law ordered once they had entered the submarine and descended below sea level. There was enormous activity from the pirates, all of which shuffling through the cramped submarine passageways. Letha struggled the entire way to what looked like a long dining hall.
Penguin brought the old lady to Law.
"Captain, what shall I do with this?" He hefted the old coot on his shoulder for a more comfortable position.
"Her! And you let me down, I am not an object to be manhandled!" Letha growled. "Let me down this instant, you rude boy! Where are your manners!"
Penguin made a face. "I'm a pirate, I don't have manners." Letha beat her fists against his back. They felt more like tickles to him.
"Hello again Ms. Rosemary. You look a little pale." Law smiled. "Are you perhaps seasick?"
Letha tried to turn her head around to face him, but couldn't. "You just kidnapped me and threatened to lob my head off!" She was beyond indignant.
Law signaled for her to be let down and Penguin let out a sigh of relief before he dropped her like a sack of potatoes. Hitting the dirty floors, she groaned from the gravity splat.
She cursed and struggled to stand up, but Law grabbed her arm and flung her none too gently into a seat at the long table in the room.
"Look here, Ms. Rosemary." Law leaned in close, eyes glinting dangerously, "So long as you are on my ship, you will obey all my orders."
The florist was reminded of her dangerous position, but managed to stammer out, "I-I didn't ask to be taken on this ship!"
"You wanted payment for the herbs right? I'm giving it to you," Law smirked at the confused expression on Letha's face.
"What?"
Law stood up straight and righted his hat. "A safe passage to the next island." He elaborated, "I'm sure a vacation from your duties is satisfactory payment." Letha couldn't say a word from shock, but she was beginning to regret her decision of leaving her home.
Law began to leave for the infirmary, but turned to Penguin before he reached the doorway.
"Penguin, take Ms. Rosemary to her quarters." He gave Penguin a knowing look, "The one next to the kitchen."
The marines stormed into Smithy's Florist to search the house for any signs of the owner. They tore down doors and even stomped on the flowers in the garden out back. In the flurry, Letha's note for her aunt fell from it's place on the counter and floated into a nearby trash bin.
"Stop! We don't need all of you to search for my niece!" Wisteria cried. "You'll just make a mess of things!" Magnolia is going to freak, she thought nervously. She also did not want to explain the underground greenhouse to outsiders. Only the islanders and select others knew about it.
Captain Very Good grunted. "Damn it woman, time is of the essence! She could be lying on the floor bleeding to death!"
"Please, just- just send your soldiers looking in the forests and around the cliffs. She spends her time around there often. Let me and Peter Willis search the house."
The marine captain opened his mouth to argue, but the ensign placed a hand on her captain to stop him. "Captain, we're wasting time arguing. Let's look around outside the house."
"Fine! Fine." He barked, "Men, outside!" The marines filed out and Aunt Wisteria heaved a sigh of relief before she turned to her future nephew.
"Peter, go look upstairs for Letha. I'll be down in the basement."
He nodded and scrambled up the stairs to look for his beloved fiance.
Aunt Wisteria hurried down the stairs and entered the control room of the underground facility. She quickly turned on the monitors and flicked through the video feeds. She even flicked the switch for the PA system and spoke into the den den mushi speaker.
"Letha! Letha? Are you there? If you are, move closer to a den den mushi!" Yet not a single trace of movement. All was still except for the sounds of the water system running. Wisteria bit her lip and tried again. "Letha? Are you here?" But only the echoes of her question answered back.
She wasn't here.
Wisteria noticed Letha's lab coat and goggles in the corner.
She would have taken those with her even if she was in a hurry to escape the pirates into the greenhouse.
Wisteria turned off the monitors and PA system to rush back up the stairs. There, she met with Peter in the parlor.
"She's not upstairs or in the gardens out back, Aunt." Peter cried, anxiety and guilt eating away at him. "If I had just run into the shop earlier when the pirates and Letha were still there-!"
"Nonsense, you wouldn't have made it out alive." Wisteria said, but worry creased her brow. Just then the marine captain and his ensign came back.
"No sign of your niece. She's nowhere on the island either, we checked." The ensign reported.
"She's not here either," Wisteria began to sob, clutching Peter Willis' arm.
Captain Very Good looked very grim indeed. "If she's not here, the only logical conclusion that remains is that she is not on this island."
Peter looked alarmed, "Then what does that mean- did those pirates take her?"
Very Good sighed. "It's possible, unless she left herself."
"No, Letha wouldn't leave the shop willingly." Wisteria said, drying her tears. Letha was too dedicated to her mother's will.
"Then the Heart Pirates have taken her captive."
Peter and Aunt Wisteria paled. "No!"
"It's the only possible conclusion," Very Good turned to his subordinate. "What's the next island on route, ensign?"
"That would be Ayatsuri Island, sir."
Very Good shook his head, "Mercy, we better hope the pirates decide to take her with them to the island after."
"Why is that?" Wisteria asked, she wasn't familiar with the islands around her own. "Surely it is better to be stranded on that island than stuck with those horrid pirates any longer?"
But Very Good shook his head again, "Ayatsuri Island is cursed. Not even us marines want anything to do with it." He sighed, "I'm sorry ma'am, we'll have to leave to give chase. Perhaps there's still time to catch them before the next island." He signaled his men to return to their ship.
"Wait!" Peter followed after them. "Wait- I-I want to come with you!" He cried with a wavering voice.
The marine captain stopped on the trail and scoffed at him. "You? You'll only be a hindrance."
"Please!" Peter said, but this time with more conviction. This time his shoulders stayed squared. "That's my fiance! I have to go!" For once in his life, Peter knew this was the right decision. He was scared stiff. He had never left his island before, but this he knew he had to do. "I want to go save my fiance, and I don't care if I have to face Trafalgar Law himself!"
A slow grin found itself on Very Good's expression. He admired the pluck of the brat. He snorted. "Fine. Get your things, chore boy."
No flowers today friends! Here's another chapter just for you, before I get too busy with classes. Don't forget to tell me what you think about it!
