Setting Up, Suiting Up

Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece

Austin, surrounded by the other kids and his two animal nakama, stood in front of one of the many tables of the building, a large, crude map laid out in front of him. He had seen many maps of islands and some buildings plenty of times before coming here, so he had a fair idea of how to interpret the layout of the building. Those pirates would be coming, they'd be coming soon with the intent of who-knows-what to the children, and he wasn't about to let that happen, especially on Christmas Eve. The young half-Shandian looked at the map, grateful that he learned skills such as map-reading and some strategy from both Chizuru and Niri.

"What the hell are you looking for, kid?" Scotty asked him, looking over the boy's shoulder, "Why'd you ask for this, I don't understand?"

"Because, we're not going to run, we're going to fight,"

"Yeah, I got that idea when you first said that, but how is this gonna help us fight them?"

"When they come, they will be on your turf and that gives you home field advantage. You all know the building and surrounding area better than those guys and myself, so what we're gonna do is lay some traps to greet them,"

"Booty traps?"

"Booby traps,"

"That's what I said!" (1)

"Yes, we're going to lay out some booby traps. Pingu, Sora and myself will be on the front lines and I know you all are wanting to put the hurt on those pirates, but I don't see any of you putting up a decent fight to save your lives, so you need to hide while this goes down," Austin scanned the map, "Is there a room you can lock, or a basement of some kind? Hell, an attic, even? I can't tell here,"

Scotty looked at the map, tapped a part on the paper and pointed to the floor a short distance away, a large, worn out rug covering a piece of the floor, "Basement's there,"

"Good. How big is it?"

"Big enough for everyone else to hide in there,"

"That's great. Defendable?"

"I think they can barricade themselves in until it's safe," Scotty scratched his chin, "You and I should be able to hold them off,"

Austin glanced at him, "Say what?"

"You heard me," Scotty flashed a grin, "We're in this together, Blood Fist. You know I hate pirates, and I may not like the idea of working alongside one, and I may be close to pissing my pants with the idea of going up against a group of them, but with Nicholas out of the game, I'm responsible for all of these kids," he jerked a thumb to the children, "I have to protect them, and if I have to risk my life to do it, then so be it,"

The cabin boy looked at Scotty for a long time, then smiled a little, "Right...well, in that case, welcome aboard, Scott,"

"Gee, being welcomed into a defense plan by a pirate brat. This is gonna be the best Christmas ever!"

"Shut up and let's start working, eh? Now, any idea where we should start...?"

The day carried on as the entire kid population of the island went all around with supplies for the traps that were plotted and planned out on the maps. The kids were good workers, Austin had to admit, and they were all careful about not setting any of them off. They might just get through this yet, he thought as he looked at all the kids, To think they were all scared out of their minds, but now they're going at it non-stop to give a nice welcoming party for those guys.

A light tugging at his pant leg made him look down to see Sora, the Sky Fox's jaws clamped around his clothing. He bent down and pet the blue animal, "What's up, Sora? Something wrong?"

Sora let go of his leg and trotted to one of the back rooms, looking back at Austin as if to say he wanted the boy to follow him.

"Alright, what's going on?" the cabin-boy sighed, "I'm not doing anything bad to Pingu, and don't think I haven't seen the look you give him, Sora, it's just like what Big Brother does to Macleod!"

The Sky Fox scratched at the door as Austin came closer, so the cabin boy pushed hard on the door. No surprise that it wasn't locked, so he just walked inside. When he got inside, he saw a very large, comfortable bed, an old desk and countless sheets of paper. The bed was larger than the others he had seen in the building, and he could guess who slept in it.

"Guess this is Nicholas' bedroom," he murmured, looking around, "Sora, why'd you bring me here?"

A soft honking sound made him turn to see Pingu waddling through a pile of papers, holding a rolled up document of some kind in his flippers.

He groaned, "Guys, it's one thing to go through our nakama's stuff on the ship, it's totally different when you go through the stuff of a guy who saved us from freezing out there!"

"Just wait until he sees this!" Pingu hopped out of the pile of papers and tossed him the document, "This will blow his mind!"

"At least you're not going on that Nicholas is Santa Claus," Sora rolled his eyes.

Pingu glared at him, "He is!"

"Whatever,"

While the two animals bickered once again, Austin unfurled the paper Pingu gave him and scanned it. What he thought to be a document was really a bounty poster, much like his own, but it was considerably older. Despite this fact, however, he recognized Nicholas easily right before he saw the bounty on his head.

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
Pirate Saint Nicholas
Reward: 55,000,000 Beli

Holy crap, he's a pirate! Austin's eyes widened, Not only that, he's a pirate...saint? Reminds me of that guy Azu told us about that day he painted Herman green! (2) he tilted his head, If he's called a Saint, why would they want him dead?

"Hey, Blood Fist, where are you?" Scotty yelled from outside.

Shit, he can't see this! No telling what he'd do if he found out about the old guy! Austin quickly tucked the poster away into one of his pockets before picking up the animals and heading outside.

"Sorry, these two got lost, went looking for 'em, but I got 'em! How goes it?"

The planning and setting up took all day, all night and even most of the day on Christmas Eve. As the sun began to set, Scotty took it upon himself to stand watch upstairs with the telescope while Austin overlooked the final touches and prepared for the fight ahead. Taking one of the coats from the closet, Austin felt warmer outside than he had since he arrived. Silently, he pulled his Dial Gloves over his bare hands, not only keeping them warm but arming himself.

"Blood Fist!" Scotty's voice from above made him look up to the second floor, "Austin!"

"What is it, Scotty?! You see anything?"

"Yeah! They're coming!"

"How long until they get here?"

"Five minutes at least!"

Austin nodded and turned to the other children, who were making their way into the basement through the trapdoor, "Go on, get in! You get in, you stay quiet and you stay there until Scotty or myself says it's all clear, alright?"

As soon as they were all inside, Austin and Pingu shut the trapdoor and covered it with the carpet.

"If you wanna keep something precious safe, hide it in plain view," Pingu honked, dusting his flippers off, "Swear, this kid's a decent thinker. Too bad our captain isn't like him,"

"It's one thing for pirates to mess with kids...," Austin pulled his gloves on snugly, making sure they stayed on before reaching for his special Hover-Board, "But no one...I mean no one messes with kids on Christmas!"

"Right on, kid, let's go kick their ass!"

Kilnorc: Alright, it looks like the Christmas Eve battle is about to begin! What traps have been laid and what comedy is in store for you readers? Stay tuned to find out!

(1) A reference/quote to one of my all-time favorite movies, The Goonies! -hums Goonies "R" Good Enough- Yeah, I'm a nerd, xD but who isn't? Rock on, everybody!

(2) A reference to my Saint Patrick's Day fanfic, Luck of the Drunk.