Chapter 6
~Moby Dick~
Marco sighed happily as he exited his bathroom while drying his hair with a towel, heading to his bed where he laid down a new set of clothes that he'll wear for the first time after months of captivity, and changed his clothes. It was something he needed, despite the daily bath and preening he had together with Luffy (cue a small blush appearing on his cheeks) for days. Pirate he might be, he likes to keep his hygiene clean thank you very much. Hearing noises at the upper deck, he snorted, thinking that his siblings probably started the party without him. After all, he had demanded to bath before starting the party or telling them what had happened to him the previous months.
While they understand him (and this gave Thatch and his chef enough time to cook for the feast as they didn't expect him to appear in the middle of nowhere), their desire for liquor is a lot stronger, makes him wonder if they had been drinking when he was gone. Huh… maybe he should check on that, especially if his Pops had drunk more than he should be.
Slipping on his new purple shirt, Marco went towards his door, an eyebrow already arching when he felt some people standing in front of it. He sighs, exasperated but with a hint of fondness, he shakes his head before opening the door where he saw his brothers, specifically, Ace, Sabo, Vista, Izo, and Thatch, who let his division do the cooking, standing in front of it. They didn't even bother to hide their sighs of relief upon seeing him opening and walking out of his room, then stand right in front of them, that him coming back wasn't an illusion their mind had conjured, or worse, that he suddenly disappeared or kidnapped without them noticing.
This made Marco smile as it means that they were worried about him, how much his family truly cared about him, and how much they missed him. Of course, this made his mind think about that certain Rear Admiral that he sometimes couldn't remove from his mind when he thinks about his family, especially her last message for him.
"Finally! We've been waiting for you to finish your bath since forever~!" Thatch whine, teasing, while Izo rolls his eyes as the rest smirked.
"Shut it, you big oaf," Izo grumbled, as Marco smirk and said.
"You know… I can go back inside and stay there forever as you said." He teased, snickering at the dramatic paling and reaction Thatch showed him, even going as far as clutching the part of his cloth where his heart is, gasping.
"You won't dare!"
"Try me…"
"Ladies, ladies…" Sabo then butted in, snickering as he raised his hands, trying to appease them. "You are both flowers of beauty –"
"Of course, I am!"
"— But Oyaji is outside the deck, waiting to hear your story Marco… and the rest of our siblings had already opened the barrels of beer, so let's go~" The blond-haired pirate continued, ignoring Thatch, who had jokingly butted in during his statement, and Marco's slight glare. Ace, Izo, and Vista snickered at Marco's expression about being called beautiful… or is it the 'ladies'' word? He did start glaring at Sabo when he mentioned it. Marco sighed as he and his ship-brothers walked in the hallway leading to the deck, smiling at Ace when he bumps his shoulder to his. This made Ace smiled back, and Marco had to blink when suddenly his image overlapped with an image of Luffy smiling for a second before the Second Division Commander went back to look ahead and began to talk to Sabo, who was walking in front of him.
When they arrive at the deck, Marcon inhaled deeply and watch as his ship siblings partied as the sun went down, smiling lazily. His siblings, upon seeing him, cheered like they did when he first stepped on the Moby Dick, some even clapped his shoulders and back when he passed them, following the group that was waiting for him in front of his door, heading towards their Pops.
"I hope your brothers aren't being too much, my son," Whitebeard said, holding a huge tankard of sake, though it was obvious he wasn't drinking anything from it as it was still full, as well as the barrels beside him. Well, except for one barrel but it's half full.
"It's fine, yoi," Marco said, sitting at one of the tiered seats near his captain, smiling at him as his eyes are on the crew. Ace and Sabo were already seen grabbing meat after meat and putting it to their plate, Izo and Vista were sitting across Marco, while Thatch was a seat down from Marco's, said Chef had to lean back just to look over their newly found brother. Marco merely gave him a lazy grin, knowing that his adopted siblings kept glancing at him from the corner of their eyes despite the party they are having, it also didn't escape his notice that while they are drinking, it was less strong than before his forced absence. Looks like nobody will have a hangover by the next morning. "They'll get over it soon."
Whitebeard hummed, twirling his tankard before slowly taking a sip, his yellow eyes not leaving the slouched form of his First Son, who seemed fine, healed, and relaxed despite being separate from them for months. There's also the unknown story of what Marco had experienced when he was away from, to which he hopes it was nothing bad, for he won't forgive himself, and that Teach, bastardtraitor! , for letting it happen to Marco, and Whitebeard knew that the rest of his sons and daughters felt the same. The stories they heard of Ace and Sabo's baby sister didn't always lift their mood, especially when the older brothers didn't want to talk about her since it would also make them worry (Whitebeard knew it had something to do with a promise of sailing away from their home island at a certain age) and the lack of information about said sister also didn't help to ease their worries.
It wasn't long before Ace and Sabo went back to their group, sitting at the same tiered seat Thatch is on, the raven-haired pirate gave Marco a plate of meat and vegetables, the mythical zoan devil fruit user's eyes narrowed at the sight of pineapple on his plate (pretty sure there's a hidden joke), but didn't say anything, because when Ace gave you a plate of food? Well, it just meant how stressed and worried he is. The Whitebeards don't know where he got this attitude or even the thought that food could always lift their worries or whatever it is they're feeling, but heck it works! Well, sometimes at least… Sabo seems to know though, as he had this knowing glint in his eyes whenever Ace did that. The Blond-haired pirate also did this, but he mostly saw his worries or stress by either showing affection or beating the shit out of their training dummies or whoever poor soul that crosses his path during that time.
Marco merely sighed and eat his meal, humming at the taste, it's Thatch cooking alright. While Sanji's not a bad cook, heck, the blond was amazing! But it doesn't beat the taste of a brother's cooking… well if they became family then perhaps Sanji's cooking would probably level Thatch's. Marco blinked, shocked, though he still manages to put up the lazy façade (he knew his Pops saw the shock on his face and perhaps, maybe, Izo), did he just think of having the G6 Marines as a family? Hmm… he's fine with Luffy (he pretty much ignored his phoenix screeching minemineMINE in his mind, he's been doing that plenty of times during his stay in the marine base) he's not so sure about the others (he also ignored how his human mind kept on saying jealousjealousJEALOUS!)
"Marco," Whitebeard called out softly, snapping Marco from his thoughts and looked at his Pops, whose eyes were on him, with a glint of concern were found in them. The First Mate smiled and put down his plate, with was half-empty… huh, he didn't realize that he was eating absentmindedly, and focused on his Oyaji and Siblings.
"Right, you probably want to know what happens to me, yoi." He started.
"Dying to know!" Thatch blurted out, before hissing when Izo throws his fan towards his forehead.
"Shut up, Thatch." The cross-dresser stated, glaring slightly at the chef, who pouted and sulk. The crew snickered and then their eyes went back to Marco, who was smiling gently at the scene, before he leaned back at the seat behind him, his elbows bent and laid down above it.
"To put it simply… I've been caged in the hands of Tenryuubito for five months, yoi… give or take a couple of days…" At that, they all hissed in anger, while their Oyaji's eyes narrowed. They never thought of searching or spying in Mariejois, because other than the fact that it's near Marineford, they didn't bother to think that a Tenryuubito could have imprisoned him, they were nowhere even near the area when Teach betrayed them! Marco remained quiet for a few moments, while he didn't want to let his Family shimmer in guilt and anger towards themselves, he had no choice but to let them process such information, he was also deciding whether to mention to them about Luffy and her marines or not… He will surely have to tell Pops as he is his Captain, but he's not sure about his siblings. After a while, he then decided to skim the story of who saves him and just tell his Pops the truth, but not the name of his savior. He wants to hold on to that information for as long as he can… well, shit… he's starting to have an obsession with keeping information about the G6 Marines, especially Luffy's, a secret all to himself…
"I'm not sure whether they knew about me being a devil fruit user, 'cuz they merely change the cage I was in into a bigger, seastone cage, and the nail that was lodge into me wasn't removed." Marco sighed, rubbing his side where the said nail would have been if it was still there. "Been fighting the infection since then, given meals and water enough for me to live but nothing more, yoi."
"Damn Celestial Dragons," Ace growled, while Sabo narrowed his eyes in anger.
"How did you escape?" Thatch asked, turning in his seat to look clearly at Marco, who sighed and shakes his head.
"Honestly, yoi… I don't know how I managed to escape."
"WHAT?!" His answer, of course, shocked his foster siblings, because… well… this is MARCO, the oldest son of Whitebeard, the First Mate, and First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates! MARCO! His name should be enough explanation for anyone who knew him. Their Captain, however, had his eyes narrowed, feeling something weird about his son's answer.
"How can you not know?!" Haruta asked, stepping closer towards Marco, who tilts his head up and looked at the black sky.
"Because I didn't escape on my own, yoi. Someone helped me and I still don't know how they manage to do so."
It was silent for a while as they all tried to process the information. Someone helped their brother escape… but the question is who.
"Do you know who?" Sabo asked, tilting his head to the side. Marco shakes his head, both to tell Sabo 'No', and to remove the image of Luffy overlapping his brothers' faces, again. Geez, why did the Two-Second Division Commanders remind him too much of her? Luckily, it didn't seem to be always, or else, it'll be weird for the Phoenix to always see Luffy's face overlapping theirs. The image just overlaps whenever they did something that reminds him of her.
"I don't even know what their status is in that place, yoi." He grumbled, annoyed at not being able to found out why Luffy was there. For Oda's sake, he just wants to know why she was in a place that's crawling with evil beings when she was an angel in the eyes of her crew and citizens? Everyone sighed in disappointment at that, they hope their brother knew something about his savior so that they could pay back their debt. Because whether that person knew or not, the moment they save one of theirs, the Whitebeard Pirates will be eternally grateful and would gladly help them, even if it means killing for them. Speaking of killing…
"Do you know the Tenryuubito who caught you, son?" Whitebeard asked, putting the identity of Marco's savior at the back of his mind, eyes glinting darkly. Marco chuckled, glad that he was present at the first meeting so that he could answer his Pop's question.
"I do. He's called Saint Jason… and his island is 500 miles away, East Side on a Marine Base called G5, yoi."
"G5? Isn't that Vice-Admiral Smoker's base?" Sabo asked, turning to Haruta, who nodded.
"It is and as far as I know, he cared nothing about Celestial Dragons." They all smirked and looked at their Captain, whose eyes were complementing something, but based on his smirk, everyone knew that they would be attacking this vile creature.
"Well… we need your brother to rest first and recover before we do something about… him." His statement gain multiple groans, especially the First Division Members before they complied.
"Well… I'll go research about him." The Twelveth Division Commander stated, before turning to walk, Izo following suit.
"I'll accompany you, might get more dirt about his bastard if the two of us work together." They then wave their hands, signaling for them to continue the party without them, to which the rest of their brothers cheered, some shouting about sending some beer and food after an hour. Marco shakes his head at the informants of their crew, before blinking and looked at Whitebeard, who took a sip from his tankard.
"Pops, did you tell our allies that I'm back, yoi?" He asked, said Captain swallowed his drink before looking at him.
"No, I haven't. I plan to but not now... especially when we just got you back." If Marco didn't know any better, he would say that his Captain is pouting… sulking… at the thought of their alliance taking him away temporarily from the ship just to bond with him but since the Great Edward Newgate never pouts… (who is he kidding, his Pops would pout if there's a liquor ban for three days!) then he must have mistaken it.
"Then… how about we visit Fishman island, yoi? That way… Our allies can't get to us soon and you guys can ensure yourself that I'm here and real." Marco suggested, hinted, glancing at his siblings from the corner of his eyes, smirking lazily when some of their eyes met his. "You obviously have no plan of letting me out of your sight soon…"
"Gurarararara! Of course!" Whitebeard laughed, while he knew his son wouldn't leave, he's just being paranoid father, who just regain his lost son back. Besides, vacation and visiting a few friends would help a lot. "We'll inform our navigators tomorrow. For now, let's continue the party of your return, Marco!"
"KAMPAI!"
"BANZAI!"
Said Pirate merely shakes his head at their antics before sighing and stood up, changing his spot for the vacant area beside his Pop's chair, and sat down. The Whitebeard Pirates watched with keens eyes as their brother slowly leaned against the chair and close his eyes, slowly falling asleep.
"Is he…" Ace asked, biting his lip, worried about Marco, but Whitebeard merely shakes his head and said.
"Your brother is fine, Ace. He just needs to rest and to feel safe."
"Okay…" Ace nodded before he and Sabo stood up, immediately going to the rails and began to whisper with each other. Thatch blinks at them before looking at Marco, then at his Captain.
"Since Marco's back… am I right to assume that the reason those two are whispering is about their sister?" Whitebeard sighed at the question while the rest of the present commanders, that haven't joined the party yet, looked at him. They glance at Marco, who was sleeping rather peacefully before their eyes went back to their Old man.
"I fear so… those two have a huge sister complex that they sometimes asked me advice and/or thoughts on what could be happening to their baby sister every two hours." He grinned at the brothers' back, which suddenly shudders, amused at every conversation the three of them had when it regards to Luffy.
"Pffft! Sister Complex… hahahahahaha!" Thatch laughs, while Ace and Sabo turned to look at them as the chef didn't even bother to lower his voice.
"WE don't have a sister complex!" Ace shouted, while Sabo merely looked at the chef, blankly, though his blue eyes held a hint of disbelief. They all snickered as Ace slowly became flustered when he wasn't backed up by his 'twin'. Whitebeard sipped from his tankard, as his left hand lowered to the side, slightly touching Marco's head, grinning as Ace got teased. For the first time in months, Whitebeard felt happy and relieved. His family was finally complete… Well, no. They are not yet complete as he can't ignore, and will surely not stop, the images his mind had created. An image where a young raven haired girl is running around the deck, swinging around the masts and sails, being chase by her worried older brothers, or sitting down beside a blond-haired pineapple pirate or beside him, smiling at the stories that were spoken. Maybe they should start searching for the girl to make it come true? Hmmm…
~An hour later~
Marco slowly opens his eyes, blinking when he saw his ship's brothers and sisters partying meters away from him. Glancing at the side, he notices that he leaning on the side of the throne-like chair of his Captain and said Captain was watching them with amusement, sipping his drink once in a while. He slowly stood up and walked away from his previous spot and headed towards the port side of the ship, making sure that he was away from the party and shrouded in the darkness. He then leans over the railings, and sighed quietly, while looking over the direction where he knew… or at least had an idea where Luffy's base is. The First Division Commander didn't know why he was acting like this, but he knows for sure that he misses Luffy's presence, and perhaps, the insanity of her crew.
Whitebeard glance in the direction where he knew his son is, making sure that he really is there and that he's not a dream or that he won't disappear any minute as they partied. A few minutes had passed of merely watching Marco slumped over the rails while looking at the sea and the sky, did the Strongest Man in the World stood up and headed to the direction where his son is. Whitebeard wondered what's wrong with his eldest, but at least with him close he would stop being paranoid about Marco disappearing (something that is recurring in his mind… damn it.) so that's one thing to worry about.
"Pops…" Marco called out softly when he felt his Father figure mere feet away from him, not even bothering to look at him as he eyed the sea.
"My Son," Whitebeard said as he stopped right beside him, also shrouded in darkness, facing the same direction Marco is facing. He stood there for a while before Marco sighed and moved away from the railings and went to lean against the wall that leads to the inners' parts of the ship. Whitebeard watched him move from the corner of his eyes, and once Marco settled, did he sat down too, crossed legged, leaning against the railings.
"Will the party be over soon, yoi?"
"Gurarararara! Of course not, your siblings will party through the night if it's possible! Gurarararara!" Whitebeard laughed, grinning at his son, who was shaking his head with mirth.
"Of course…" Marco smirks and looked at the Giant Human with him. "I kinda miss this pace… and the knowledge that my sanity will still intact by the end of everything, yoi."
"Hmm?" Whitebeard hummed, confused about what his son is talking about. Said son chuckled as he recalled the Marine Crew who saved him.
"Yeah… I may have left out who saved me yoi… I don't want the others to know but I was… rescued by a female Marine, specifically, a Rear Admiral."
"A Rear Admiral?" Whitebeard straightens, wondering why would a marine be in the Mariejois or, more specifically, why they saved his son.
"Yeah… I dunno what the Rear Admiral is doing there, or, as I said earlier, her status there … but she found me in the mansion of the Saint who caged me. When her warm brown eyes meet mine, I feel like she was saying a promise… through her eyes, she manages to send me a message that she would help me, she would free me, yoi. And she did. She fed me after days of starvation, and then removed me from the cage a night before she and I left the Mariejois, hiding me with her things when we left the place, and even going as far as letting her doctor heal me in their base."
"In their base? And none of the crew members reported it?" Whitebeard asked, mentally browsing the names of the Female Rear Admirals of the Navy, but the only name that he could remember is Rear Admiral 'Black Cage' Hina.
"None… and… she's sweet, Pops…" Marco hunched up, folding his knees upwards, and then leans his arms on them, hands hanging down on the free spaces, while a fond expression began to form on his face. Whitebeard had to blink multiple times when he saw that, never before did Marco had that sort of expression directed to any woman or man he knew that isn't his adopted siblings. This makes him wonder what kind of woman was this Rear Admiral.
"She treated me gently, despite not knowing if I was just an exotic bird or a human, a pirate, who's a devil fruit user, yoi. She just… cared." Marco closes his eyes, remembering the way Luffy cared for him, touched him, and talked to him… her warm brown eyes... "I've been with her for nearly two weeks, but she talked to me like I was a person, not a bird that I appeared to be. Every time she called her chefs for meals, she made sure I had one too, yoi. And it's not because she saw me and remember she's not the only one inside her office but because, according to her, I also need my strength, that I need to eat. Whenever I was alone in her room, sleeping or just lazying around, and she's working in her office, she would come and get me and the two of us would have eaten our meals at the table of her office, where carts filled with meals are already there, on some occasion her crew would join us. But dinner, yoi, is always taken in the cafeteria with the rest of her crew."
"And if she's not working, she would make sure that I'm within arm's length, or cradling me like a cat, yoi. Carrying me like that everywhere she went, and that's the only thing she did during the following three days after they removed the seastone from me. She and her doctor gave me a therapy session for my wings, making sure to catch me whenever I fall or to stop me from overstraining my muscles, yoi. Gently massaging them when they're tense… touching me when I longed to be touched and needed affection. She acted like she knew I was touched starved and like she knew how to handle an injured bird without any prompting from her doctor or me, yoi. She also made me laughed when I'm missing you guys… playing pranks with and to her crew just to lift the mood."
Whitebeard listened, his mouth turning into a grin that slowly widens the longer his son talked. Never before did Marco talked like this… and never before did he talked about a person with him, his Oyaji, like this.
'Looks like I need to prepare for another kidnapping and a wedding soon, gurarararara!' He thought, as Marco lowered his knees and looked up at the sky.
"Then… there's her version of justice. It was nothing like the admirals… well, there's a hint of Aokiji's justice… but she believed the term of 'Not all Marines are good, just as not all Pirates are bad', it was like she's on the gray area between the black and white. Seeing things that are hidden by the World Government, sees the truth, knew the secrets that were kept from the world, she wasn't blind like the others. Of course, I didn't see her handle those things, yoi, but the way her crew reported to her and tell stories to each other made me realize what her justice is. And when she deemed me okay to leave earlier this day, yoi, I accidentally revealed who I am." Whitebeard leaned forward, his elbow leaning on his knee as his son's eyes closed.
"She merely sighed while her whole marine crew, who were watching me leave, merely ignored me and talked to each other like nothing happen, yoi. Like they didn't have any orders of capturing pirates or if they did, then the fact that they were willing to ignore it. It was like their loyalty is to their Rear Admiral and not to the World Government, and if their Rear Admiral did nothing, ordered nothing, then they are willing to overlook it, yoi." At that Marco sighed, opening his eyes to continue looking at the sea, hoping nothing bad will happen to them, especially to Luffy, for letting him go. While he spends the most time with Luffy, he also interacted with her crew as he's always cradled her arms or, three days after his surgery, perch on her shoulders, so he grew a bit fond of them… just a tiny bit.
"She gave me a nickname, calling me Birdie-san since we met, something her crew called me too, yoi." Whitebeard had to hold back a snicker upon seeing the indignant frown that appeared on Marco's face when he said the name. "She then informed me on where to find you, giving me a satchel bag filled with food and water, and… said to me 'It was fun having you around, we hope you'll visit us sometimes, Birdie-san… But the next time we meet… Marco the Phoenix, we're enemies.' And I'm pretty sure there's a message behind that statement, yoi. Her crew was just smiling at me warmly at her first statement, and I am not used to that! And they simply agreed at the last one, nodding before they left and then I followed their actions, yoi."
"I'm sensing a but somewhere in that statement…" Whitebeard snickered as Marco blinked before a pink hue appeared on his face.
"She… kissed my forehead before I could leave…" 'Or even process the last message she whispered to me, yoi.'
"She sounds wonderful, son." Whitebeard smirked, his eyes glinting with knowledge, amusement, and desire (he very much encourage his mind imagining little feet running around the deck and calls of 'Grandpops!') looks like he will have more new members in his family. "Gurarararara."
"She's more than that… she's very lovely, yoi." Marco smiled, and not just a lazy smile, but a full-blown, genuine smile.
"Gurararara! Should I plan the wedding, son?" Whitebeard joke but with a slight hint of seriousness.
"Yes, yoi. Probably soon…" The First Mate answered too quickly due to reflex and without even a single thought. When he registered what he just said, his eyes widen, and slapped his face with his hand as his father laughs delightfully. "Shit…"
"Gurararara! I will tell the others, after our revenge from that Saint, to get ready and plan a way to kidnap a female marine without any problems, gurararara!"
"Don't kidnap her, Pops!"
"But you're smitten with her and what kind of a Father am I to deny my son the love of his life?" Newgate laughed loudly and more as his first son's face color turn into a tomato and grumbled. He was having the time of his life and imagining little grandchildren running on board that he forgot to ask the name of the Rear Admiral, not that Marco would tell him, especially after knowing that his father would kidnap his Luffy. He would like to hunt for her and gain her attention before letting his family kidnap her, and with the knowledge of her liking to be a pirate… well, maybe it won't take long for her to be a part of the crew if they kidnap her. Still, he needs to make sure his Oyaji won't speak this to anyone, especially to Thatch and Izo… hmm… the threat of banning alcoholic liquor should probably work (it always does).
~Ace and Sabo~
The two-Second Division Commanders sighed and yawned as they left the party and headed towards the door that leads to the hallway of the commander's quarters. They were tired but they couldn't remove the happy feeling they had whenever they thought about the return of one of their favorite brother. Now, they just have to worry about their baby sister, find some information about her, and probably stalk her to figure out what had happened to her. They were passing through the door when they heard their adoptive Father laughed, which made them paused, looked at the port side, and blinks upon seeing the silhouette form of Whitebeard before deciding to listen for a while.
"Gurararara! I will tell the others, after our revenge from that Saint, to get ready and plan a way to kidnap a female marine without any problems, gurararara!"
"Don't kidnap her, Pops, yoi!"
Whatever was said after that was lost to the brothers as they both looked at each other, blinking in astonishment.
"Did Pops just…"
"Said something about kidnapping a female marine with Marco? Yeah, he did…" Sabo sighed, as Ace shakes his head before putting his head on his palm. They then both continued on their way, not wanting to hear more of their Oyaji's antics.
"Did we all drunk too much?" The freckled pirate asks his blond brother, who merely blinked and tilted his head to the side.
"I don't think so… maybe Pops is…"
"Right… let's just forget that he said something about kidnapping a female marine with the Birdie. " Ace said, spotting the door that leads to the room he shared with Sabo, who nodded his head in agreement.
"Yeah… let's do that… something about kidnapping reminds me of us getting kidnap by Pops which in turn makes me imagine Luffy getting kidnap by Pops, followed by her… usual mischief."
"So… case close?" Ace opened the door to their room, turning to Sabo, who nodded determinedly.
"Case closed…" Ace closed the door and locked it before going to his bed found on one side of the room, while Sabo went to the other. They then drop down to the bed and were soon knock out, and when morning comes, they truly forgot about the kidnapping talk Marco and Whitebeard had… which they will either soon regret or approve of it… probably a bit of both.
~Three days later, G6 Base~
Luffy sighed as laid down her pen that she's been using for hours on her table, before arching her body from the chair and yawned, sleepily. She then moves the papers that she was signing to the pile on her left, her pen inside the tops drawer, before she crossed her arms over her desk and laid her head down on top of them. She turned her head to the right, facing the window that her Operation Team Leaders had renovated. Luffy smiled, remembering Zoro's and the others' reaction when they first saw Luffy's Office. Which was, at first, a two windows room, each one is stationed in the east and west, just enough to give her a natural light.
Seeing the room they immediately wrecked (destroyed) the wall on the north, which was the wall that her desk was facing, creating a huge hole, much to her shock and the Vendetta Marina. And they didn't stop there, oh no! It just started there. When Luffy, who was already a Rear Admiral for 5 months by that time and was living on the island for nearly twice that amount (slave rescuing started a month after Luffy started living there), had just finished scolding them for wrecking a part of the base, she then left for a mission given to her by the Fleet Admiral.
She took with her the Vendetta Marina and the Marines, who are used to the weather of the New World, leaving the lower ranking marines and her future Operation Team Leaders behind (Zoro grumbled about being left behind, but when Luffy merely gave them a sweet, sweet smile and said 'Punishment…' he shut up, and looked like a kicked puppy, together with the other Operation Team Leaders … excluding Sanji, he just turned into a puddle) … which was a big mistake on her part, even though Fleet Admiral, her Sensei, her Gramps, and the Five Elders were totally fine with it (they didn't even know that her shipwright added some secret passageways on the whole base… no, on the whole ISLAND and they are better off not knowing).
Robin, somehow, had managed to get a blueprint copy of the entire base building, she then gave it to Franky, who immediately created a new and upgraded one. The Cyborg then requested for Gin and Nami to buy some supplies he needed from the nearby islands, which was 3000 miles away, taking Sanji, Zoro, and a quarter of the remaining lower-ranking marines with them. When they got back with the supplies, Ussop and Chopper were already working on the designs Franky told them to make, while Zoro, Sanji, and Gin were guided by their Shipwright on what to destroy and where (He mostly stayed behind Zoro, making sure he didn't destroy the wrong one or get lost).
The other lower-ranking marines help with what they could, Brook was playing music in the background, which helped them keep their energy and happiness. When Luffy came back, two weeks later, she froze. The base, which was used to be a four-floor bricked base with only a few windows to provide sunlight that was shaped like a Victorian House, suddenly had turned into a REAL Victorian House with huge windows and balconies on each wall, some walls even have multiple windows that were only a couple of feet apart. Oh… better not forget that they also added some floors and height on the walls. ("You renovated the base…" "Not my suppperrrr work but it'll do for now…" "FOR NOW?! YOU FREAKING RENOVATED THE WHOLE BASE FOR ODA'S SAKE!")
For some reason that is beyond Luffy's comprehension, Franky had decided to increase the height of the walls that even Whitebeard could wall around the whole building without slightly bending his knees or tilting his head. He also added some four extra floors, each floor is dedicated to certain things, but the 7th floor, especially the tower-like form in the side of the base which had the biggest space on the floor, is dedicated to Luffy only, explaining why she had her office, bedroom, and bathroom in the same area and still had enough space for any room she wanted to add.
Luffy thinks her crew is spoiling her and if asked they would not deny it, they'll be proud to say it, in fact. Sure they also occupy the 7th floor as the quarters, but those who sleep there are the Vendetta Marina and the Operation Team Leader. The other Marines occupy the 6th floor, 3 to 4 people sharing a room but still big enough for them to live on and will not quarrel about the space (it's one of the things the lower ranking marines like them and Luffy).
Now the 8th floor, which is supposedly the roof, is actually a landing pad of sort. When a person is looking at the base on the ground, they would only see the Gable and Valler Roof on the whole base building, except for the tower which is an A-Frame Roof (which is Luffy's attic #1). But from the above, the middle point of the roof created a huge landing pad, with a 50/50 possibility that the Standard Marine Ship can be put there.
Luffy admitted to fainting on seeing the landing pad… her building, which used occupies 2 acres, suddenly gains 3 more, now had a landing pad… while it's for her and Chopper to use… she didn't want the whole building to be this big. And they did this in a matter of two weeks, she could only imagine what could they have done if she was gone for three, or worse, a month.
(She's pretty much ignoring her crew's suggestion on adding expanding the base, or at least the training ground. While Luffy likes to fight with others, just like when she was a kid, she had learned early on that destroying things or buildings, has punishment. A really harsh punishment. Instead, she, jokingly, told them to create houses for their civilians… imagine her shock when they did so. Even going as far as asking the former slaves how they want their houses to be.)
Upon seeing the very noticeable changes of the base, and the very proud look of the marines and civilians (she still didn't know how they manage to rope the former slaves to help them because she knew her crew, they won't force the slaves, said people even looked rather happy at her), she turned to the crew that was with her during this whole… renovation, silently asking for help.
But seeing their awestruck, surprise, and a little bit pale faces (they knew there will be consequences), Luffy turned back to looked at the front and decided… that nope she'll be sleeping this away. She is not doing this or touching this topic… ever… (Unfortunately for her, when she woke up two hours after she fainted, she had to touch that topic… she had to… damn it).
In the end, she did praise her crew and the civilians, making everybody happy. Or as happy as they could be in the base. Luffy slightly perked up when she saw some seagulls flew through her window before smiling and closed her eyes, feeling safe.
~Flashback~
~Marineford 3 years and 2 months ago~
Luffy glared at her wrist, biting her lips as she was lead with two marines soldiers on each of her sides, guns strapped across their chest. She's been staying in Marineford for nearly 8 months and her experience in this place is anything but fun and adventure. She already met the Elders, the Fleet Admiral, and the Three Admirals during her first week in this place. The first time she met the former two, they confessed what they truly want from her, her devil fruit, one of the reasons why they were letting her live. The very reason they willingly overlooked her lineage as the Daughter of Dragon.
And now that she has full control over her Devil Fruit (not like she didn't have control over it before), with an additional weapon and hand-to-hand training, it was time for the next part, the next reason for her being alive, to begin. Or so that's what they say, she is currently walking down to the hidden building posted behind the main base of Marineford, deep in the forest, glaring at her wrist, as the guards beside her focused on the path or her.
Luffy exhaled softly, bracing herself on what was about to come to her, and mentally added this to her schedule. Since she has mastered her Devil Fruit, she had to start training her haki, mastering them together with her weapon and hand to hand. She blinked before mentally adding sea stone training resistance on that list, while it wasn't mentioned by her Sensei, Luffy can suggest it to him and have him approved it.
"Halt." One of the Marine guards said, blocking Luffy's path by putting an arm across her. This made the young teenage girl look up and saw a simple wooden cabin and when they opened the door, it was bare. Not a single piece of furniture and it seems that it hasn't been used for months. Though Luffy narrowed her keen eyes, the door that was direct across her looks new. No signs of dust or any kind. They then went towards it, the guard on her right pressing something on the wall, which then lifted and showing a hand scanner. Meanwhile, the guard on her left opened the door, revealing nothing, and when the former guard presses his hand on the scanner, the floor in front of her slides to the right revealing metal stairs and walls.
Luffy exhaled softly before taking a step forward the stairs and walk down, her escort following behind her. It was when she reached the bottom of the stairs that she saw other people, doctors, lining in front of her, wearing lab coats. The raven-haired girl looked around and merely saw metal hallways around her. One of the doctors walks towards her and lifted her chin.
"So this is the one…" He mumbled, tilting Luffy's head left and right. Said girl gritted her teeth and pulled away from the grip as the doctor grinned. "She looks cute…"
"She's still in puberty?" He asked glancing at the guards, who nodded.
"She seems to be a slow bloomer." One of them answered as the doctor clapped his hands.
"Marvelous! If she did had that devil fruit, and she's still in puberty… she's perfect for it!" He gleefully stated.
"Then we will tell the Fleet Admiral and Elder this." They both bowed and turned around to leave, but not before handing something to the doctor and then saying something to Luffy to secure her to stay and behave.
"Remember…" They started. "Do what the orders were given to you and we will leave them alone. It's their lives or your freedom." Not waiting for any reply, the guards left. Luffy glance at them over her shoulder before looking at the people in front of her, who looked excited. She released a soft, shaky breath as the doctor who was talking to the guards, grabs her shoulder rather tightly.
"Shall we begin, milady?"
~End of Flashback~
Luffy snapped her eyes open and calmly looked around while still laying on her table, absorbing and assessing her environment. When her mind finally registered where she is, she relaxed but a few minutes later silent tears run down from her eyes and to the table. Biting her lips softly as she couldn't remove the feeling of terror that she had just by dreaming a memory where she experienced hell.
"Ace… Sabo…" She quietly whispered as she looked at the ocean. "Shanks… Birdie-san… Tou...…"
~Same day, Moby Dick~
Marco sighed as he watched his brothers and sisters running around the deck, preparing to submerge and head towards Fishman Island. Visiting Fishman island was something they were excited about as it's the only place they didn't visit frequently, though the Mermaids is probably the one thing that pushes his brothers to work faster. Shaking his head, Marco looked in the direction where he knew or at least had an idea where Luffy's base is located at.
He sighed softly once more and then turned to head to the amphitheater where his Captain is 'sulking' with Ace and Sabo chattering at his side.
"Hey, Marco!" Ace greeted, grinning at him. The First Division Commander gave him a lazy smirk, before crossing his arms and looked at his Captain, who was glaring, pouting really, at him. He merely arches an eyebrow in amusement while the Second Division Commanders kept looking at him and their Captain back and forth.
"Ohhhh…" Sabo snickered, finally noticing that his Pops is missing something. His tankard.
"Ahhhh… Marco is back and Pops got his beer confiscated." Ace laughed as his Captain turn his glared at Sabo and then at him before heading back to Marco, who had a smug aura around him.
"Cheeky Brat." He grumbled as one of his nurses went towards him to input his IV back.
"And that Cheeky Brat help with your health, Pops." She commented, making him pursed his lips. "Maybe Marco should blackmail you often?" She hinted, looking at the First Mate, who snickered.
"Oh, I didn't just blackmail Pops, yoi. I did hide his barrels of beer and wine, and should he ever attempt to do something…" Marco's eyes glinted at this as he jerks his thumb over his shoulder. "That's two barrels overboard, multiplying by three in every attempt until none is left and liquor is banned from this ship forever."
…
…
.
"WHAT THE FUCK!?"
"YOU WOULDN'T?!"
"POPS DON'T YOU DARE DO SOMETHING!"
"WE'RE PIRATES! WE NEED IT LIKE WATER, DAMN IT!"
"WE NEED IT TO LIVE! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS, YOU DAMN PINEAPPLE!"
"I'm adding your hair gel to that mix, Thatch," Marco said, his eyebrow ticking at Thatch's comment, who released a shrieked that is completely manly… Shut up, it's manly! Whitebeard glared at his First Mate, who merely grinned and began to think of ways to punish the crew, who keeps shouting at him as they all heard his declaration. Though, most of them were glaring at their Captain, who finally relented and sighed.
"Fine, brat," Whitebeard stated, as the images of little feet running around the deck dispersed. Marco nodded satisfied, before turning around to glare at his protesting brothers.
"Maybe I should also ban you from drinking for a month too, yoi…" He trailed as his brother froze before finishing their tasked faster than they did earlier. He sighed and hoped that maybe he will have a few of his answers about his Marine on Fishman Island.
~Four hours later, Entrance of Fishman Island~
The Pirates smiled when they were about to reach Fishman Island, before blinking in shock when they saw a human talking to the Guard Fishman on the gate, calmly and happily. The Whitebeards, unconsciously, tensed when the said human patted the Fishman guard on the shoulders as two more humans and at least five of Namur's kin appeared.
"Are… are those humans… mingling with FISHMEN?" Thatched whispered to Namur, who blinked in shock. Whitebeard and Marco merely narrowed their eyes, filled with suspicion. The first to notice them was one of the humans, who blinked multiple times before paling and pointed in their direction which made all of the Fishmen and Merfolk to turned and look. The rest of the human paled in recognition before shaking their heads, face-palming and then they slowly turned, walking away soon after. The Fishmen snickered as another Merman arrived and talked to them, and when his kin pointed in their direction, he followed it, blinking multiple times before laughing, and then went to the control panel that allows them to access the gate. Soon after, the Whitebeard Pirates had passed through the first and second bubble.
"Whitebeard-sama! It's been a while since we last saw you! I hope you are well." One of the Fishmen said as they went to the side of the railings, while one of the Merman is writing something on his pad, the rest were either doing their task or dialing the den-den mushi, probably to tell the Royal Family of their arrival. Whitebeard smirked as he stands near the rails.
"Ah yes… My children wanted a break from the New World, Namur missed his hometown, so here we are." He told them before his eyes went in the direction of the humans, who were walking away while speaking to a den-den mushi, one Fishman meets crossed path with them, and one human high-fived with him, before they went back to their ways. "I also need to speak to your King…" He added softly, his eyes narrowing. The group he was talking to blink before following the direction he was looking at. When they saw who he was aiming that look for they blinked once before immediately turning to look at him saying.
"Oh… Oh! You don't have to worry about them."
"Yeah, we're fine with them."
"You're…" Namur started as he stands beside his Captain, arms crossed in his chest. "Vouching for them?"
"Uhh… yeah…"
"Why?" Thatch asked, as his hand went to the hilt of his sword, eyes on the humans, who went further and further away. He, as the rest of his siblings had, thought they were probably threatening Namur's kin, something they are more than willing to dispose of.
"Ummm…" The Fishmen and Merfolk looked at each other, before shrugging their shoulders and sighed. "I think it would be better for Neptune-sama to answer that. He can tell you the whole story."
Whitebeard nodded in agreement as they prepared their ship to head to the mainland. His commanders were still eyeing the humans, and this was noticed by Namur's kin, who sighed and decided to say.
"We just have some sort of request…" Hearing hums from them, he continued. "Don't harm, or be mean, to the humans on the island." Everybody's head snapped to look at him as he smiled widely and said.
"There are our friends after all!"
…
…
…
.
"We already informed the royal palace of your arrival. Please wait for the Princes to arrive at the Port of the Island." The Merman said, breaking the silence, and they all waved as the Pirates continued in their way before returning to their task.
"Namur… did we hear wrong?" Ace asked, looking at his Fellow Commander, who keeps on looking at the Entrance then at the Island, and back again.
"I don't know…" Namur hesitantly answered, tilting his head to the side.
"Let's not jump into assumptions immediately yoi. The commanders will come with me and Pops, the rest of you have fun but behave and do what the Fishman at the gate said. We don't know what will happen if we did something bad to their… friends… yoi." Marco scowled, not believing that some humans manage to be friends with Namur's kin. It's not that he had a problem with it or even think that the Fishman or Merfolk are some people that they should not be some people to befriend with, he had a Fishman for an Adoptive Brother for Oda's sake. It's the humans he had a hard time thinking they could be friends with Namur's kin. Humans above the sea surface still have a hard time accepting things that are different, and then suddenly some human is living on this island and is being friendly with the people living here? Huh, something smells fishy here (pun unintended).
Whitebeard nodded his head, agreeing with Marco, as his children grumbled before they focused on landing at the Port. As they grew closer, they saw some Merfolk and Fishmen waving at them. There were also children but they were running around and having fun. Marco's eyes immediately snapped to the side when he saw some movement, lowering his eyes lids when he saw a human talking to the children and patting their head before heading towards the fish-taxi where there's a group of humans also sitting at and then they were leaving.
"Pops…" Marco whispered as his Captain went to stand beside him.
"Relax Marco. As you said, we should not assume."
"Hmmm…" They then anchored at the port and were immediately greeted by the people living on the island. While the lower ranking Pirates were taking it well and didn't check the area, their Captain and Commanders did, even going as far as checking the condition of the people there. The kids immediately surround Namur asking for stories and some even went as far as climbing up the Commander's body. It wasn't long before the Fishmen and Merfolk looked up and pointed at the sky where they all saw the caravan of the Royal Family.
"Whitebeard-sama!" Fukaboshi shouted, as the caravan stopped above them, he and his brothers standing on the head of the flounder. "It's been a while."
"Prince Fukaboshi…" Whitebeard nods his head at the sight of the princes. "Yes, my sons wanted a break from the New World, and Namur misses his hometown, so we decided to visit."
"Plus, we got Marco back!" One of the Pirates chirped, making the citizens of Fishman Island blink, including the Princes.
"We're glad that you decided to visit us, mi-fa-so-la-ti-do~" Ryuboshi chanted.
"But what's this about getting Marco-sama back, ooohhh, mambo?" Manboshi asked. Whitebeard grinned as he ruffled Marco's hair, saying.
"Gurararara! Why don't I tell you about Marco at your Palace? As it's a story that I'm sure your Father and Jimbei would also like to hear." Said Commander gave his Pops the stinky eye when he saw his eyes glinting in amusement. The Brothers blinked before nodding.
"Of course. Father is already preparing a feast when he heard of your arrival and Jimbei is already at the Palace, so we can immediately go there." Fukaboshi stated.
"Ahh… Onii-sama…" Manboshi then started to whisper at his older brother, who had hummed before blinking at whatever it was that he whispered and nodded when he was done.
"Will all of you be coming with us?" He asked.
"No, Your Highness. It'll be only me and my commanders." Whitebeard answered as Fukaboshi nods.
"Then we would like to request for you men to—"
Purupurupuru~
Everyone's attention went to the Caravan, where, deep inside it, was a den-den mushi ringing. The oldest Prince didn't look back at the pirates, as he immediately went and answered it without a thought.
"Hello?"
"…"
"Is that so…"
"…"
"Alright, I understand. I will tell this to My Father."
"…"
*Ga-cha!*
"Onii-sama?" Ryuboshi asked as Fukaboshi went back to their side.
"It's fine." He merely stated, as he then gestured for Whitebeard and his commander to come up and ride in the Flounder. "Please come, My Father is waiting."
"Behave, yoi," Marco whispered, ordered, to the Pirates they were leaving behind, who merely nodded and they went on their separate ways. "If you behave, you can drink from Pops precious stash of Sake."
"ALRIGHT!"
"YAY!"
"Brat!" Whitebeard snarled as Marco stood beside him once they were on the Caravan.
"Tell them about her and I will let them have all of it, yoi," The blond-haired pirate grinned as his Captain grumbled while the rest of the commanders tilt their head in confusion. The commanders shrugged at each other before they went and further inside and talk to each other in quiet voices.
~Ryugu Palace~
"MY OLD FRIEND!" Neptune yelled, as he and Jimbei stood at the entrance of the Palace while Edward and his sons walk towards them surrounded by bubbles, except for Namur, who was walking outside of it. Whitebeard can't blame him, the 8th Division Commander probably missed the water of his home.
"Thank you for having us, despite not telling you, My Friend," Whitebeard said as he nods his head towards Neptune, who merely laughs before his attention went to Jimbei, who was smirking at him.
"Pops." The Whale Shark Fishman greeted, making him grinned as he greeted back and hinted.
"Jimbei. I hope the Marines and the World Government have been treating you well."
"Hahahaha! Don't worry Pops, I can take care of myself." Jimbei assured, but then Neptune laughed.
"HO HO HO! Sure Jimbei can take care of himself, but I'm pretty sure they couldn't do anything to him because of them being around him-Jamon! HO HO HO!"
"Well… I won't deny that your Majesty."
"Them?" Sabo asked, tilting his head to the side. Both men turned to look at him, but Neptune's attention went towards his son, who had swum up and began to whispered something to him.
"Yes, them. They pretty much made sure my crew and I are treated properly." Jimbei answered, with a hint of fondness. That fondness made Marco's narrow his eyes as his thought went back to the painting that he saw in Luffy's room.
'Could they be talking about Luffy and her crew, yoi?' He thought to himself, as he gripped his chin with his index and thumb finger. As he was about to blurt out the secret he wants to keep to himself (damn curiosity, why couldn't he be just patient for a while like he was before he found her), Neptune spoke.
"I see… Well, if that what they wished and were told to, then we will respect it-Jamon."
"Neptune-sama?" Jimbei asked as their attention went to the king, who looked at Jimbei and said.
"They want to avoid conflict and thus they will be staying away from the palace and the island for a while." He then sighed in disheartened. "Shirahoshi would be disappointed-Jamon."
"I see…" Feeling out of the loop, or as if they were not there, Namur immediately latches to a topic they just spoke off. Something that he remembered a little too late, something that was supposedly taboo.
"Speaking of, how is Princess Shirahoshi?" The Whitebeard tense slightly as the Royal Family's attention went towards them, including the guards. Then the Minister of the Right answered the question with happiness and delight.
"The Princess is doing well! She's enjoying her freedom as much as she can!" Right said, making the Pirates blink as the last time they knew about the Princess she was still stuck in the tower.
"Uhhh… Please elaborate, I think we're missing something…" Thatch requested, making them laugh.
"I think this is something to tell over a feast-Jamon!" The king delightfully said, and Whitebeard grinned as he casually said, with a slight hint of... well… bloodthirst.
"That would be wonderful, I would like to know the things going around the island, like the humans lurking around, gurarararara."
"Please don't hurt them! They're our friends!" An unfamiliar, yet somehow(?) familiar, female voice butted in as a huge pink-haired mermaid swim towards them.
"Shirahoshi/Shirahoshi-sama!" They all exclaimed, excluding Whitebeard and his sons, who just saw the Mermaid Princess for the first time in after nearly a decade.
"What are you doing here?" Fukaboshi asked as he swam towards his younger sister.
"I'm sorry Fukaboshi-onii-sama, but I swimming around the corner when I heard voices and I thought it was them…" The Mermaid confessed, looking guilty before it changing it into determination. "But when I heard about Whitebeard-sama mentioning about the humans on the island, I felt the need to protect them, they are our friends after all!"
"I think this is all a misunderstanding, yoi," Marco said, taking a step forward, gathering their attention. "We were simply worried about you and your people. We've been neglecting on contacting you for two years, nearly three, and thus we feel responsible should something bad happen and we weren't there to protect or help you, yoi. Especially, when we promised to do so." Whitebeard nodded in agreement, feeling proud of what Marco had said and for his quick thinking because, from the looks of it, his other sons are still processing this information.
"I agree with Marco, Princess," Jimbei said as he took a few steps closer to the said princess. "We haven't updated them with the things that had happened a year ago, something that is also a mistake on our part. But once we tell them everything, I'm sure everything will be clear up."
"Oh, I apologize for jumping to a conclusion!" Shirahoshi bowed, as Neptune laughed.
"HO HO HO! Don't worry about it Shirahoshi." He then gestured inside the palace. "Now then, why don't we go to the dining hall-Jamon? We have plenty of stories to share." Whitebeard grinned and nodded, but before he could take a step forward, Shirahoshi asked.
"Will they be there with us?"
"I'm sorry, my daughter. But they will not be-Jamon…" Marco narrowed his eyes suspiciously when the Princess seemingly wilted.
'If what I saw nearly three weeks ago is true, then Luffy and her crew had a good relationship with the people here, yoi.' He thought, tilting his head to the side. 'But… does this mean… or is it possible that those humans we saw are members of Luffy's crew? But how?'
"Wait…" Thatch blurted out and Marco braced himself for whatever he will add. "The Princess is outside the tower?! Since when?! WHY?! AND HOOOOOOOOOW?!"
…
…
.
"I'm so sorry!"
"HO HO HO HO HO!"
"Ahahahhahaha!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"Thatch… you shriek like a girl." Sabo winced, clearing his ear out as Ace shake his head as if to remove the noise.
"I do not! THAT WAS A MANLY SHRIEK SABO!"
"Gurararara!"
"Yoi…" This will be a long day…
~During the Feast~
Everyone was chatting with each other, except for Ace and Sabo, who were both literally stuffing their mouth full. The King and Princes were talking with each other, quietly, unbothered by how the brother ate since it was not the first time they saw them eat like that. Shirahoshi on the other hand was watching them with slight fascination as she went and leaned closer to them, making Ace and Sabo leaned back from the table a bit and sweats drop.
"Gurararara, is there something fascinating with my Division Commanders, Your Highness?" Whitebeard asked. The said Princess blinked and recoiled back as if she was shocked and blush.
"I'm sorry! I never saw other people eat—"
"HO HO HO HO!" Neptune suddenly laughs, interrupting Shirahoshi and gathering their attention. Said King was laughing loudly with his sons, who were snickering, before realizing the eyes on them which made them cough and flustered.
"I apologize-Jamon… my sons just told me something."
"Gurararara, don't worry about it, Neptune," Whitebeard reassured before suddenly becoming grim. "Though I would like to apologize for not being in contact with you for nearly 3 years…" He then released a sigh, which made his children grow somber while the Royal Family, Ministers, and Jimbei frown, with a slight confusion on Shirahoshi's part.
"This might be an excuse for us, but we actually planned to visit you here 6 months ago, if it weren't for a certain… bastard…" The Non-Whitebeard pirates blinked in shock upon seeing the Captain's glare and spatting the word bastard. After that, the story, the betrayal, and what happened the following months, poured out of Whitebeard's mouth. From the time Marco caught Teach in the act, to Marco's imprisonment and their search for 5 months, until Marco's returned 3 days ago.
"So that's what one of your members meant about getting Marco-sama back," Fukaboshi mumbled as he put a thumb and index under his chin.
"Birdie here won't be leaving our line of sight for at least 3 months if we have a say on it." Thatch grumbled the rest of the Commanders nodded, while the Captain merely grinned as Marco thumped his head on the table.
"That's entirely impossible, yoi." He mumbled as Izo looked at him with a stinky eye and look which is basically saying 'Try us'.
"Still… to think that Teach is a traitor…" Jimbei sneered, hating the man for betraying Whitebeard, and even went as far as to kill a brother, despite said brother surviving the attack.
"Are there any updates from him-Jamon?" Neptune asked as his grip on his trident tighten, suddenly remembering what happened a year ago.
"Unfortunately, none. It seems that he's laying low. We already contact our allies and Red-Haired Shanks, so we want you to be careful or avoid him as much as possible should he try to dock on this island." The Huge Human Captain said, making them nods their head.
"Don't worry, I'm sure we'll be safe and fine from him mi-fa-so-la-ti-do~" Ryuboshi chanted as Manboshi added.
"That's true~ we had extra protection other than our soldiers… oooooh, mambo!"
"Ohh?" Ace and Sabo hummed, acting like twins as they tilt their heads to the side in unison.
"Do tell, my friend." Whitebeard gestured as Jimbei sighed.
"Unfortunately, like you, Pops, we also experience betrayal… a year ago." He stated this made the Whitebeards straighten as betrayal in Fishman island or between their kin is unheard of. "Hody Jones and his crew betrayed us."
"Hody?!" Namur screamed. "He used to be an Elite Soldier of the Royal Family!"
"Did you catch him?" Vista asked, suddenly itching for a fight. Looks like hearing someone betraying their friends or allies made him bloodthirsty, a sign that the things Teach did do to them were still fresh.
"What happened, yoi?" Marco asked, 100% invested in this story as he got a feeling that this is about Luffy.
"We catch him yes." The Minister of the Left answered. "And like Mister Marco, we also had help from a third party…"
"Yes… a third party who was only there because they want to ask something." The Right said as Neptune laughed.
"Ask something?" Haruta questioned.
"Hear this, My Old Friend…" Neptune started slowly. "My Family and I… can attend in the next Revelry that will happen two years from now-Jamon."
…
…
.
"WHAT?!"
"How did that happen?" Namur asked slamming his webbed hands on the table as Whitebeard blinked.
"Oh! It's all because of the Tricksting Maiden!" Shirahoshi chirped, even going as far as clapping her hands delightfully.
"TRICKSTING MAIDEN?!" Marco had to rub his forehead to remove the headache that he felt filling up as his ship siblings screeched at the Princess, who suddenly had watery eyes, before looking at Jimbei, who watched everything with amusement.
"Jimbei…" Marco started, the Fishman merely hummed as he looked at the blond-haired commander, who was giving him the blank face he could manage at the moment. "Please tell me the whole story before I kill my brothers, yoi."
"HAHAHAHAHA! Of course, Marco-san…" Jimbei said as he looked at the King, who was winking at him. Whitebeard's attention was also on Jimbei as he slowly started.
"I think… I should begin on their sudden arrival…"
TBC
A/N: So... I don't know if this is the chapter you all wanted but well... as you can see I suck at reunions and stuff. So this chapter was supposed to be so long but I cut it in half because the amount of words is surpassing chapter 5 and I don't think you guys can bear to read at least 50k words... at least I don't. A continuation of this chapter will be in Chapter 7, please treat it as a flashback despite the format, and whatever plan I have for Chapter 7 will be move on 8.
A/N: I know there are readers here who want Marco to reveal Luffy, but I'm working on a scene that will make her brother's berserk but Marco can survive... hopefully.
Status:
Chapter 7: Editing 30%
Chapter 8: Outline 20%
Reviews:
Jasmine (Guest Dec. 5): Oh don't worry Marco will see Luffy and they will all find out why they want her badly... though... I'm more concerned about what the Whitebeards will do... It's something that excites me~ hahaha. Thanks for the review~
ejjanesoco: Hi! So here's chapter 6, I hope you didn't wait that long... who am I kidding I adopted after a month... anyway, I hope you have fun and you liked this chapter! Thanks for the review~
iyulia juuzou: Oh my god... I'm sorry! I didn't want to make you cry.. *wipes your tears* I sure hope those are tears of happiness. Thanks for the review~!
SerenaDragneel: Oh, thank you! I never really expect that chapter to be great... heck I didn't even expect it to be that long... I am now watching the length of the chapters I'm making to avoid posting chapters that are more than 25k words... I feel like I'm creating my 'Never Again' Story... and if you think you got an idea of what they put in Luffy's food right? Well... I am willing to receive your answer in my inbox, I don't want the others to know what's in the food... There will be a surprise if you got it right~ As for Marco, he will definitely come back for Luffy, his Phoenix side will be piss at him if he didn't. Thank you for your wishes and review~ Stay safe and healthy!
sousie: Yes he is! Hahaha, Thank you for the review!
amanohikaru: Awww thank you! We indeed need more MaLu in the fandom, it's such an interesting ship! And thank you for answering my question, I've read Korazan's fic and they are amazing! I hope he uploads more MaLu. And your English is great, hope this update is as soon as you hope, hahaha! Thanks for the review!
H3llion: Yes he is! He's back but I doubt Marco will be able to connect it, while he is smart... he'll be uh... distracted... that he will have a hard time making a connection hahaha. Thanks for the review!
Louve3: Thank you for loving this story! and Thanks for the review~ ^_^
Akakuro dan Bbbfang: Awww it's fine if it's a late review ^_^ what matter is that you left a review and that encourages me to write hahahaha. Thanks for the review and loving this story!
A/N: Last A/N! Last Chapter I've asked about stories or fics where Luffy is older than Ace and Sabo regardless of Gender. Well... It's because I plan to create a new fic of an older Fem!Luffy! The ships are either MaLu, LawLu, or MaLuLaw, there will be a poll for this, but this will be put on hold, because I've read a story in AO3, titled the Admiral that is up for Adoption and I want to adopt it...That's all guys! Just a heads up!