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Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece!

Kilnorc: Hope ya'll had a good Christmas, I know I did! Gonna try and finish this before New Year's since I wasn't able to for Christmas itself. Oh well, better than waiting a whole year for a holiday fic, right? Hehehe...ahem, okay. Back to the fic.

"What the hell happened to you two?!"

"What happened to you, Boss?"

"Yeah, why are you dressed like a chicken?"

Billy Bob blew random feathers from his mouth, "Why the hell is one of you covered from head to toe in paint and the other one walking around in burnt clothes!?"

Billy, who was covered in various paint from an avalanche of the colors wiped his face, smearing more of it, "The frickin' kids rigged the entire place, Boss!"

Bob, whose clothes now matched his burnt scalp, cracked his neck loudly, "Even the bathrooms...try putting a flaming head out in a toilet filled with something flammable!"

"That must've been the blast I heard earlier," Billy Bob murmured, "Figured it'd be a trap, but I didn't think it'd be one like that. These kids are smarter than I anticipated," he rubbed his chin, "Maybe we shouldn't kill these kids. You know, it is Christmas Eve, maybe we should do something generous and 'invite' them to our crew?"

"Like hell, pirate!"

"Yeah, asshole, as if we would! I already belong to one!"

The three invading pirates turned and looked up to see both Austin and Scotty on the top level, looking down on them, both of them looking smug at their progress.

Billy Bob blew feathers out of his face again, "Alright, kids, funtime's over. How's about you two come down here, show us where the fatman's loot is, and we might just let you join our crew,"

Scotty hawked a loogie that landed smack dab in the middle of Billy Bob's feather-covered forehead, "Again, I say like hell, shortstuff!"

"Yeah, I'm with him," Austin fiddled with his gloves as the angry chicken-like pirate wiped away the loogie, "Besides, like I said, I'm already part of a pirate crew,"

"Oh yeah? What crew is that, punk?"

Austin shot him a knowing look and grinned, "Ever hear of the Axe-Head Pirates?"

Both Billy and Bob let out a gasp and backed away, "SAY WHAT?!"

Billy Bob scoffed, "Please, like some runt like you could be a part of that famous crew? I'm surprised you didn't say you were part of the Straw Hat Pirates,"

"Oh, I'm not part of that crew, but I know them well," Austin said casually, shrugging a little, "I may be young, but I know my way around a fight, shorty. Normally, I'd go down there, kneel down and look you straight in the eye, curse you out before I kicked your ass, but since it's Christmas Eve, and since I've learned there are different ways of dealing with creeps like you, I'm willing to let you walk out of here and get back to your ship while you three are still in one piece,"

Bob chuckled, "He said one piece...like Rogers treasure! That's funny!"

Billy couldn't help but grin after a few moments, "Yeah, man, you're right! That is funny,"

Billy Bob rolled his eyes, "Don't make me come up there and kill you both!"

"Kill us both?" Austin leapt over the railing and landed on his feet directly in front of the midget, hardly wincing at all at the impact he made, "Dude, you couldn't kill a penguin and your goons over there couldn't even lay a finger on a fox. You really think you have a chance at hurting one of us?"

"Just watch me!" Billy Bob reached for his pistol, which was also covered in glue and feathers, but before he could grab it, Austin held up one of his Dial gloves right in front of his face.

"Don't. Even. Try. Shorty,"

"Ooooh, what're you gonna do, bitchslap me with-?"

"IMPACT!"

The next thing everyone saw, Billy Bob was thrown back by an invisible force and sent flying through one of the nearby windows and into the cold night beyond.

Bob and Billy stared in horror at what they had just witnessed, both of their jaws laying on the floor and their eyes wide as plates.

Austin lowered his hand, "Merry Christmas, asshole...,"

Later that night, Nicholas returned after recovering and 'persuading' the rest of the B Pirates to behave and follow his orders. When he returned, all of the children ran and tackled him into a mighty hug...all except for Scotty. When he was able to stand, Nicholas wandered over to him.

"Aren't you happy to see me, Scotty?" he asked softly.

"It's not that...I'm...we're all happy to see you, Nicholas, it's just...just that...,"

"Just what, lad?"

Scotty went quiet and held up the bounty poster Austin gave to him, "...you're a pirate...,"

Nicholas looked at the poster, sighed and took a knee, planting a hand on the boy's shoulder, "I was a pirate, Scotty. I was, as in I'm not anymore. I'm sorry, but I couldn't tell you or any of the other kids because you would've run and without help, you wouldn't survive out there. I lied to protect you all and to keep you safe,"

Sounds like a certain rock baka I know... Austin thought, mind drifting to his nakama and his heart becoming heavy, Wonder how they're all doing right now?

"As a pirate, I stole gold and treasure, but I never...ever...took a life. Not even one of my enemy. I did steal from people, yes, but only those who were greedy and had more than enough to spare. I gave what I could to those less fortunate and to the children, I bought them toys with some of the money,"

"So what, you're a pirate version of Santa Claus?"

Nicholas chuckled, "I do seem to resemble him, don't I?"

Scotty smiled and threw himself at Nicholas, his arms wrapping around the old man tightly.

The fat old man patted him on the back and noticed Austin nearby, especially the look on his face.

"As for you, my young, courageous friend...I have a gift for you,"

"Why don't you stay, Austin?"

"Yeah, stay with us, Austin!"

"You can stay and play with us!"

"You can protect us!"

They wanted me to stay so badly...why? I'm a pirate and most of them have issues with pirates, so why did they ask me to stay? Sure, I protected them and their home when Nicholas wasn't able to, but still... Austin sighed and looked at the large, anchored galleon in the distance as Nicholas guided the ship that formerly belonged to the B Pirates towards the galleon (with help from the newly reformed B Pirates). He didn't know what the chances were of it before, but it turned out the B Pirates had seen the ship in nearby waters recently and knew where to go when they found out the small boy was a part of that particular pirate crew.

When it came close enough, Nicholas, Bob and Billy threw a large rope over to the other ship, latching on it before sliding a large plank board across for safe passage. Nicholas turned to Austin and gave him one final hug before putting him on the board, Pingu and Sora following shortly after.

"I don't know how you managed to come across our island, my young friend, but I thank you for that with all of my heart. If it wasn't for you, Scotty and the others would've been in big trouble. Not only that, but they would've gotten our treasure, too,"

Austin frowned, "You guys have treasure? I thought you were-?"

"There's more than one form of treasure besides gold and jewels," Nicholas cut him off, "Treasure is many things: family, friends, love...whatever you make of it. Speaking of family, I do believe that yours is worried sick for you, so why don't you go on home, eh?"

"Thanks, Nicholas, I really appreciate it," Austin looked down at Pingu and Sora, "We all do,"

Nicholas smiled behind his beard, "No problem at all, lad. Merry Christmas,"

"Merry Christmas to you too, Nicholas,"

So yeah, that's the story of our holiday adventure. I connected with those kids because we're all apart of the same group: orphans. Orphans who've lost their family to trouble in this world. I feel sorry for them, but then again, I shouldn't. They don't have their blood relatives, but they do have family. They have family in each other, and in Nicholas, just like I have family in my big brother, and our nakama...even if some of them ARE pretty damn annoying! Well...let's see what happens next, hm?

The galley door opened and the entire group of remaining Axe-Heads, who were having a late, quiet dinner, all looked up to see Austin, Pingu and Sora standing in the doorway. Not even a second passed when they shot up from their seats at the table and rushed at their missing nakama. The three of them were all hugged by their nakama, some of them hugged them more tightly (for example, Kirsty and Devon hugging Austin and Niri hugging both Sora and Pingu).

"Where the hell have you three been?! You gotta tell us everything that happened to you!" Devon demanded, a large grin plastered on his face, "Are you okay? You guys feeling good, you're not hurt or anything?!"

Pingu, Sora and Austin couldn't help but share identical smiles.

December 25th, Christmas Day

"...and then, out of nowhere, the three of them just show up in the middle of the night! It was like a frickin' Christmas miracle!"

Rayo and Shidyk raised eyebrows as Dusty finished her story of the past few days.

"It's the honest to God truth! You gotta believe me!"

Rayo and Shidyk shared glances.

"I think I'm gonna go find Axe, see if he wants a meat-eating contest,"

"I'm gonna go find Kagura...,"

"Oh c'mon!"

The Christmas Party that the Axe-Heads were planning for the last few days had finally started. Rayo, Shidyk and their nakama showed up, as did Endo and his own crew, and even Straw Hat Luffy and his crew showed up for the party. Arisa even showed up and kissed Azu underneath the mistletoe (for traditional purposes she insisted before stomping off, her face red as a Santa hat). When it came to presents, everyone got something great from their friends and they all had a great time with their newly received gifts.

When Austin was walking back to the galley, he noticed an envelope sticking out of the galley door. The enveloped had his, Pingu's and Sora's name on it. Signaling the animals over, Austin pulled the envelope out, ripped it open and began to read the note.

Dear boys,

Merry Christmas! I want to thank you for helping out with the children last night. I want you to know that they're all doing just fine and are going to have a great Christmas, thanks to you and all the work you put in. You three have been very good this year, though I would like to see less rivalry between Sora and Pingu over spots on Niri's bed and less pranks played on Dusty, Austin. Other than that, I'm afraid I don't know what to get you all this year, so I hope that the feeling of happiness you received with the news of the boys and girls is good enough.

Your friend,

Santa Claus."

Austin smiled as he finished reading the letter quietly and handed the note to Pingu before walking off, Nicholas...play the fat man, hm? Nice touch.

"You do know that Nicholas just dropped by and stuck this in the door, right?" Sora asked, yawning a little, "Told you he wasn't Santa Claus,"

"Oh yeah, wise-guy?" Pingu jiggled the letter in front of the fox, "Then how the hell did he know about our competition for our spots on Niri's bed and how did he know that Austin pulls pranks on Dusty? Neither one of us told him, so how could he know?"

Sora became quiet.

"Haha...told ya!"

On another part of the boat, Axe was standing alone near the railing, looking out at the ocean in front of him. He sensed someone behind him, but he didn't turn around...he knew who it was.

"I'm surprised you're here. Come to try and kill us again, Kairi? Toby?"

The Moon Beast and the Blood Countess stood right behind Axe, both of them wrapped up in warm winter clothing.

"Neither of us will try, Axe, that's our gift to you," Kairi said quietly, her red bangs blowing in the winter wind, "Do you have one for us?"

"Of course, I do," Axe sipped his hot chocolate, "My gift to the both of you is that you're still around until I find out what to do with the both of you,"

Kairi smirked and shook her head, "You've become soft, Captain,"

"And you've become lost, First and Second Mate,"

The three of them stood there for a few moments.

"Merry Christmas, Axe,"

"Merry Christmas, you guys,"

With that, his former nakama were gone. Niri rounded the corner and walked up to Axe, having a plate of party food in her hands.

"What're you up to?" she asked, handing him the plate, "I heard voices?"

"Just talking to myself," Axe took the plate, "I've finally gone crazy, Niri-chan!"

"Finally gone crazy? Axe, you've been crazy from the day we met!"

Axe laughed a little and pulled Niri into a hug, "Merry Christmas, Niri Zolaro,"

"Merry Christmas, Samuel D. Axe,"

Kilnorc: I know this doesn't exactly live up to my full potential, but I ran out of time and I wanted to get this done when I could. Sorry folks, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway. Woot, only a day late!