Hello! Sorry I've been taking so long, but I'm not gonna go one about that. Anyways!
Questions to be answered: MaryMarina, first of all thank you for your review and compliments. Really helped with me getting this chapter done. Now, yes there is a pairing, and I'm gonna be really mean and not telling! (It's not Luffy, though), and your question is not out of line at all! You're welcome to ask any questions!
Trich: First things first, thank you for your wonderful words. Now don't forget that Alex, and to a point Ronan, is playing a very different game to the rest of the One Piece world. She's out to change things, events, and that will make enemies. The question is, who will be her enemies? For the time being, what she's done is small, like dropping pebbles in a pond. But soon she's gonna have to make her defining move, her fist big act, that will define what side she's on. Sooner or later, she's gonna have to drop a big rock in that pond, and change things indefinitely, for better or worse.
Akayuki Novak: Probably not. :)
The next day I found myself standing in the backyard of the Day Care with several cans of paint and paint brushes at my feet, waiting for the kids to finish their lunch. I had spent most of the morning trying to figure out a goodbye gift for the kids, and I believe I've figured out something that should be fun for everyone.
"Well, you seem chipper" Ronan commented from his spot on the fence. I glanced at him, and noted he had his entire crew with him. The twenty men lounged about, obviously waiting for the kids to come outside and see their surprise.
"Gee, what gave me away?" I drawled with a raised brow and a smirk, which quickly grew into a full blown smile when the kids began rushing out into the backyard with Amelia herding some of the younger kids out the door.
"G'day everyone!" I called, causing everyone to turn in my direction and stare at me in surprise. Amelia smiled and the kids cheered and swarmed me with a unanimous yell of 'auntie', cheering and calling and making a general ruckus. Putting my fingers to my lips, I whistled long and loud and the kids immediately stopped and waited patiently. I smiled down at them, and knelt so I was at eye-level with most of them.
"Hey kids" I said softly, looking at every one of them before continuing "You know how you asked why I was called Traveller?" at their nods, I took a breath "Well, it's time I start doing that again. I'm going to continue travelling, tomorrow" I said, my voice kind but resolute. The kids all immediately began to protest and even Amelia looked unhappy with the prospect of me leaving.
I sighed but let them have their say for a while before a whistled again, smiling when they stopped to listen again. Standing up, I looked to Amelia and gave a pointed look to the plain brick wall of the Day Care, who gave a knowing smile and nodded before moving to stand next to me.
"However, I'm not gonna leave without giving you all something to remember me by" and with a flourish, jumped over the kids with a twist and flip and landed by the wall with the cans of brightly coloured pain and the pile of paintbrushes. With a smug grin at their 'ah's and 'ooh's I presented to them the activity everyone would be doing today. Besides, the wall looked rather dull, so why not liven it up a little?
"Come on kiddies! And adults" I added with a grin to the Marines "Grab a paintbrush! Let's make this a fun day!" and like that, paintbrushes were grabbed, pain cans were opened and chaos ensued. The kids immediately began making stick figures, flowers, and all sorts of weird and wonderful, not to mention colourful, creations. The Marines made ships and clouds, since they were higher, laughing and playing with the kids. I myself, not being much of an artist but I like to think I'm decent, started making constellations of the stars and doing rainbows. Ronan was particularly nice and made the Southern Cross for me, and he was a pretty good artist it seemed.
I jumped when I felt something cold on my cheek for a second, and turned to see a grinning Ronan, a paintbrush dipped in blue in his hand. Putting a hand to my affected cheek, I pulled back and saw a matching blue on my fingertips.
"Oi!" I yelled, trying to be scolding and serious, but the grin that sprung on my lips just completely ruined it. So with a war cry of vengeance, I attacked the fellow redhead with my purple paint. The other Marines saw, and rose to defend their captain, only for Amelia to swoop in from behind and get them all with some green paint. The kids followed suit, and what had been a relatively peaceful session in paintwork dove into a battle of colours. Some abandoned their brushes, instead dunking their hands in the paint and attacking all who ventured near, while others flicked paint with deadly accuracy, though some just went with the 'spray and pray' method, but whose going to judge?
There was screaming and laughing, many kids dogpiled some of the Marines, covering them in multi-coloured wounds, and everyone went and gained up on me, so I was no better in that regard, but I got my revenge. Getting a nice pink streak in various people's hair, including Ronan's and most of the Marines, and Amelia had a nice handprint of orange on her back.
It was a good long while before we calmed down enough to see what our shenanigans had done. Most of the artwork was covered, but no one could really care with the amount of fun we had. The kids simply went about 'fixing' their work, everyone at this point having forgone paintbrushes and simply used their hands. Amelia came up with the idea for everyone to put a single handprint up on the high-end of the wall, and so the Marines, Amelia and I lifted kids up so they could put a handprint on the wall. The kids insisted we put ours on too, to which we did. I put an orange and maroon handprint besides Amelia's violet and red one and the Marines, in typical Marine fashion, put blue and white handprints around them, Ronan being the only different one, and put a red one besides mine.
"Home colours" he muttered, and I couldn't help but smile at the thought. Red, white and blue, Colours of the British Flag, and the Australian Flag, it was like a little piece of home.
"We should get pictures!" Amelia chimed in, a little giddy it seems from all the fun, and the kids cheered along with the Marines. I laughed and nodded, and Ronan just sighed in mock exasperation. The young brunette dashed inside before reappearing barely a moment later; apparently giddiness makes people fast, with a camera and stand. Huh, I didn't know they had camera's like that here. Go figure.
With a deft, experience hand, Amelia set the camera up and put in on timer. During that time, the kids were organised to stand or sit at the front while the adults, and myself, stood at the back in front of the wall. A space left for Amelia so she could run back without having to worry about tripping or anything.
The first picture was the organised proper one, everyone facing the camera and smiling. The next one, as the kids proclaimed they had to have more than one picture, was very silly. Someone had somehow, in the twenty seconds it took to prep the next picture, had managed to put Ronan's hair into two low pigtails. One of the larger Marines even managed to sweep him up in a bridal-hold right before the camera took the picture, and with the pink streak in his hair it truly was priceless. The Marines were all in states of silly faces and weird poses, many of the kids having mounted a surprise attack on them so there was surprise and even a little bit of terror mixed in. And finally, many of the kids had taken to using Amelia and I as trees, climbing up us like giant squirrels and clinging to our limbs. I had to grab a hold of one kid as he climbed over the back of my shoulder before he toppled over. The resulting picture was hilarious, and definitely required copies.
The next one was a bit more organised. Sure, the kids were still a bit rambunctious, but as most of the adults were holding one or two in their arms or on their shoulders and some were clinging to legs, we still managed to get a rather good shot. Everyone smiling and laughing, and Ronan had freed his hair. I was holding a little girl with her face streaked with markings that looked more like war paint, the same boy that nearly toppled over my shoulder was clinging to me like a koala, his head peaking over my shoulder with the biggest grin, and an older boy hugging my waist and giving the camera a victory sign.
Putting the kids down after the final picture, the kids were herded back into the Day Care for lunch. Nobody even bothered to get the kids to clean themselves, plus the adults, and me, were just as messy as the kids. So, with no small amount of enthusiasm, we joined the kids for lunch. It was possibly the loudest meal I've ever had.
And I loved every second of it.
It wasn't until late afternoon that I managed to leave the Day Care, though they insisted they go to the docks to say goodbye. I had sighed but relented under the force of so many puppy-eyed looks. Damn my weakness for cute things. But on the plus side, we all got to take a bath together at the public baths. The Marines had to bathe in a separate area, though, but a few of the older boys joined them. It took a surprisingly short amount of time to get everyone cleaned up, though Amelia had laughingly said that they didn't like bath time. I guess no kid would want to spend so much time bathing when there was fun to be had.
As we passed the main residential area I stopped by the Main Hall to grab my pack, which quickly lead to the kids telling everyone I was leaving today, which meant that there had to be a celebration, which meant that I couldn't leave until after the celebration and that of course meant waiting. However, due to the organisation of the townsfolk and the Navy men, by the time it became dark the party was ready to begin. And as such, toasts were made and thanks were given. Then the music started up and ale was passed around. I soon found myself lost amongst the dancing and talking and laughing, the playing and story-telling. I didn't eat or drink much, despite how much everyone was pushing I do, to the point I suspect they were trying to get me drunk so I couldn't leave, but I was high off the laughter and the music.
"May I cut in?" I blinked and turned to see Ronan, out of his uniform for once, offering his hand in an invitation to dance. I smiled up at my latest dance partner, who relinquished my hands and stepped away with a nod and a grin, before taking the redheads hand. After a tug and spin, I was in his arms and moving to the lively beat.
"Why am I not surprised you can dance?" I laughed as I twirled again, my feet jumping with the beat and body moving in time with Ronan's.
"I'm a swordsman, a lot of our styles are based off dances" he replied easily, taking my waist to launch us into another series of faced paced steps. It was a common folkdance that every island seemed to know. But it was lively and fun and drew more laughs than some of the conversations the non-dancers were having.
"Really, is that so? How come I've never seen a blade on you?" I asked cheekily, holding onto his shoulders as he lifted me by my waist, doing a half-turn before settling me down again.
"One of my men carry it for me, gives me the advantage of surprise" he smirked down at me and I rolled my eyes. Obviously he wasn't exactly humble, if the conversations we've had before are any indication, but I couldn't hold back my grin as we weaved through the other dancers in a simple pattern.
The music ended with a large boom from the drum, and we parted to bow to each other, though women were meant to curtsy but considering I'm not wearing a dress I don't see why I should bother, and walked into the crowd smiling and breathing a little heavier. We headed to the tables laden with food, and took a plate each.
We ate and talked, laughing and even danced a few more times, everyone would stop by at least once and join our conversations. Though the Marines were the ones that came by the most often, and the kids kept pulling me away to dance with them or tell them stories. By the end of my tenth dance, several hours after the party began, the celebrations began to die down and it became calmer. The music became slower, and I looked around to find, finally, that there was now a lapse in attention. Sneaking off to the side, I picked up my bag and retreated to the shadows of the alleys. Looking back, I couldn't help but smile as everyone had fun amongst the firelight. Walking down to the docks, avoiding the main road and going mostly by rooftop or back alleys, I looked out at the expanse of ocean.
I couldn't just leave, could I? Looking back at the light that glowed from the main square, the view of people dancing hidden by buildings and rubble, and then back to the ocean before me, I knew that just vanishing like this would be to cruel to the kindly people. So, I ripped out a page from my journal and wrote out a little thank you note, admittedly short but heartfelt all the same. I set it on one of the docks support beams and placed a rock on to keep it from flying away with the wind. There, now I won't have any regret over my sneaking away.
With a nod to myself, and a small smile that I refuse to call wistful directed to the town, I turned to the ocean and shot away in a small explosion of wind. Going as far as I could before hitting the water again, hoping nobody would notice. I didn't look back; I kept to my path, and continued on my way to Alabasta.
I never noticed the sad eyes following my departure.
Good? Bad? It's shorter than normal, admittedly, so sorry about that. Let me know your opinion, and don't be afraid to ask questions!
R&R and a good day/night/morning/arvo to all!
*mutters* I can't believe you've stuck with me for so long.