Author's Notes: Ra, ra, ra! This clip is being dedicated to Yadah, our newest supporter, but I must also stop posting my clips now. I have reached the 52 mark, but I won't be gone forever! I look forward to working on legitimate episodes with Nesi and Ace's time together, and I'm excited to be able to write a story about the privateers in fuller detail. I do think Oda tried to make the Seven Warlords a reference to the privateers. It just didn't translate that well to me. No worries! :-D We'll create something of interest in the meantime. It should be fun and emotional like before!

I couldn't decide on which clip to use as a closer, and I'm still not totally convinced that this is the perfect one, but it'll serve as a good checkpoint for me.

~... Respectable Enemy ...~

The storm was going to be a nasty one. It made no sense to push their luck. Nesi guided the ship to mainland for now to dock along the shore but had no more worries about enemies stumbling upon her vessel. Not with a storm that strong on the horizon! Hopefully, Ace made it back to Whitebeard okay. She wasn't going to be visiting them anymore now that she was on her independent course. Every now and then, a friendly privateer might visit her to check on her. Pierre, Zymen, and Amaro were probably the most worried about her status since her dismissal, and they typically spoke to her in secret about current affairs. It beat the news anyway. Nesi didn't particularly care about the news unless it focused on political affairs and/or war efforts. Zymen was the main one still involved with mainland wars, so her information on that came from him. Pargo leaked some information about the privateering work. Apparently, Redbeard has been bidding high on taking over Nesi's former duties. How humorous! Her arch-nemesis, of all people, thought he could run her wing just as good as - if not better than - she could. Ha!

However, he wasn't the only person to surprise her. In fact, Nesi was probably the most surprised by Dracule Mihawk's visit. As emotionally constipated as the man was, he found the time to gift her with simple things if he had the time. This time, he gave her a dark-leafed houseplant. She loved it! It's amazing how much simpler life was when she was just starting out. Before, she didn't even know who Dracule was. Now, they drop off gifts to each other should they ever cross. It's not often and they seem to mutually forget that the other exists - well, at least Nesi admitted to forgetting once or twice due to the prolonged absence - but they hustle to find their misplaced gifts when they do remember. They don't speak much beyond her asking how his life has been since they first formally met, but Dracule does stay for about an hour or so for lunch or dinner before departing to some undisclosed location. Last time was no different. He relayed some information about her former comrades, accepted her invite to dinner and dessert, spoke about a book he finished, and departed when it was time to change course for the night. He did one unusual thing that Nesi kept in her memory bank, but his visits normally consisted of at least one unusual thing. He gave her a compliment. Nothing spectacular, just that her ship suited her.

See? Surprising. Hopefully, the great swordsman made his own way out of this blasted storm. Finding a secluded place to dock, Nesi parked the ship close to shore and started lowering the sails and anchor. Her small band of "crewmates" were supposed to find shelter in town, but Aosera and Bandag refused to leave the shore without her and were waiting for her. They boarded the ship with heavy thuds and started helping with closing things up.

"You're not wanted criminals here. Why didn't you search for an inn or tavern?" Nesi asked.

"Like it or not, captain, we're pirates and so are you by extension, association..., or default. Whichever you want to stick with," Aosera replied with a grin. "We go where the captain goes. Plus, you got the food."

"Of friggin course! Thanks a lot, guys!" Nesi complained, putting a hand to her forehead. "Well, help me board the windows. Ship's locked between some stone. Shouldn't move much. I... hate that I'm suggesting this, but we should probably find a cave. That really just left my mouth!"

"How do you feel about an underwater cave?" Aosera asked.

"How d'ye feel about drowning?" Nesi asked, eyes widening incredulously.

"This is what happens when you're on the run. Options get limited," Bandag tried to lecture. "Why can't we stay on the ship?"

"I mean... we can. It's sturdy enough. I just would rather not," Nesi said, tying up the sails. "It's not necessary anyway. I saw an old lighthouse a short walking distance up. We can clean it up and use it. And, it's on higher ground. No wet feet!"

"You're so frou-frou!" Aosera joked, boarding up the captain's cabin windows first.

Work was fairly steady with the two men there to aid her. All valuables and doors were locked away before supplies were taken off the ship. The lighthouse was pretty old, and it actually was a windmill. The pirates made the most of it, however. They boarded up any openings, set up a firepit, and got to work on making bedding. This was actually a very lucky find! They inspected the area for any potential stowaways, but the windmill hadn't been used in decades and anyone who did try to live there had to have left ages ago. What was there to come back to? Nesi decided to step out for just a moment to let the other "crewmates" know where she was just in case they needed her for something. Once she returned, Baragon ran to his pet bed and dinner resumed like usual as though the three were just sitting around in the ship's kitchen.

"You know. I keep calling you frou-frou, but I'm the one who's spoiled. I miss my bed!" Bandag complained with a laugh.

"A-ha! So those extra cots did come in handy!" Nesi cheered brightly, pointing a fork at the man.

"Shut up! You're lucky you even have the room to fit everyone on that ship!" Bandag argued. "You really built that whole ship on your own, though, captain? It's huge for one person!"

"It's the ship I always wanted to build with my parents. I wanted it just right for a crew of twelve people and six guests!" Nesi replied.

"I don't know. That sounds like a good number for a regular pirate crew. You should think about it, captain. You've got a rep we don't know much about," Aosera tried to convince.

"That rep was as a privateer, not a pirate. I was just a deckhand when I was a pirate like you. Soon as I changed jobs, I guess that's when people started to notice me."

"Including Fire Fist?" Bandag asked, eyes twinkling with a knowing look.

"He's the one who recruited me to be a deckhand, but... I owe him my career," Nesi replied honestly.

"Squaw!"

"Oh yeah. He helped me find Baragon, too!" Nesi cheered, smiling brightly. "Feels like I've known you longer than him, doesn't it? We've been together for so long, huh, my rosy? Y'know, we probably should've scoped the place for other pirate crews. Would've been the smart thing to do."

"Meh. I doubt they would've had anything worthwhile. You're the only one with all of the good stuff," Aosera said.

"That's why a scope would've been good," Nesi suggested. "The storm's supposed to be pretty bad, though. Baragon doesn't usually get antsy like this unless it's really rough out there. Hopefully, no one's sailing out in that weather. It's a nasty death wish."

"Can't outrun it, cap?" Bandag asked, lifting up one of Nesi's weather devices.

"Nah. Too wide. Wanna learn how to use that?" Nesi asked, nodding to it. The man replied with a nod of his own and watched Nesi explain the device's use. Knocking interrupted her just as she was explaining how the wind current readings get picked up. She leaned on the wall for a moment, careful to distance herself from the door in case it flung open, and answered, "Aye?"

"You shouldn't talk to strangers like that," a familiar voice said from the other side.

"Aye. I'll mind my tongue. Good day to you," Nesi responded, motioning to leave.

"Why are you here, Llandala?" the voice asked with a trace of amusement underneath the threatening coldness.

"Just shelter from the rainstorm," Nesi replied in a professional but friendly tone. This time, she did move from the door. "Enjoy your night."

"You put your crew in danger when you make them walk around with your mark, y'know. Someone could threaten their lives for information on where to find you. Your bounty is probably pretty high now. It's not like you to make such a rookie mistake."

"You know me so well," Nesi scoffed, waiting to hear screams for help. That's the only way she'd know if the man on the other side was bluffing or not. "Actually, no, you don't. I don't have a mark."

"The mark on this door and the mark on your ship match. I know it's you, Llandala."

"Did you take what you needed then?" Nesi asked, folding her arms. He's bluffing. The sails were down, and the ship was locked down. In fact, the ship wasn't far from the cliff where the windmill was. She would've heard someone boarding her ship. "I guess my vessel would be a small prize for a pirate."

"I intend to. I was just curious to know if it was really you or not. You're seriously going to just give up your ship so easily?"

"Nothing of value is on it. If you just want a toy to play with, consider it my gift to you... emperor," Nesi said with narrowed eyes.

"Emperor?" Aosera questioned. He was silenced by Nesi's hand lifting up.

"Your crew trust you to protect and to lead them. You'll throw away everything they own to save your own skin?"

"I'm not exactly pirate material, remember? That's what you told me," Nesi said. "I'm calling your bluff anyway. I don't have a wearable mark for anyone associated with me to carry. As for a crew, well..., they're more like family and friends than workers. They just call me captain because I own a waterfront motel. I haven't done anything to warrant such a title. I wouldn't last very long as a captain anyway. Once we run out of food, it's mutiny."

"We would never!" Aosera replied with outrage. "And you are our captain! Who's talking from behind the door anyway?"

"An old enemy. Out of respect, I'll leave his name a mystery," Nesi replied, walking towards the men to measure off a certain amount of the rations. When she was satisfied with the amount of food and drink, she propped open a small window on the side, pushed what she had on a board for the visitor to take, and returned to her spot. "My gift to you... emperor."

"Oh?"

"I honor my enemies whether they appreciate the gesture or not. If you truly know me, you know how I am with things like that," Nesi said. Thunder lightly roared. "You can go back to your cave now. I'm fine."

"How long have you been on the run?"

"I like to think of it as being on vacation. I did a lot while on duty!" Nesi replied with a bright smile. "I'm taking a lesson from all of you now. This is my voyage to enjoy."

The door finally opened. Nesi didn't turn to look at the man, but Aosera and Bandag visibly flinched and gasped when the emperor came into their hideout. Red-haired Shanks? He was as intimidating as his pictures... to the boys. Nesi knew better and merely smirked. She showed no fear towards him. When Bandag looked at Nesi's calm disposition, he sat down slowly and tried to remain calm himself.

"So. Does this mean you're going after the One Piece yourself?" Shanks asked, removing his hood.

"That's not the voyage I'm on. Your precious treasure is safe from me," Nesi answered briefly, eating a bread chip. "If you're leaving me with a warning, it's unnecessary."

"Why'd you become a pirate if treasure isn't your end goal?" Shanks asked.

"I'm not a pirate... I'm a privateer," Nesi answered with a soft smile. "If the One Piece or your infinity cruise is all you want out of life, that's your curse. It was never what I wanted for mine and neither was it my father's curse. It took people from many different walks of life, a couple of wars, some boring-as-hell dinner parties, and moments when I had to look at my heroes as my enemies to realize that I'm not just some floor scrubber! I am a defender of the countries! I don't care who thinks they deserve a spot on the throne. The harsh reality is no one is worthy of the throne because anyone can be manipulated into serving the one percent or die trying to change them. What we were striving for was to serve the people without the precious one percent, and we do! On my route, I saw every village and town I served in. I reunited with soldiers I fought beside, I buried friends and rivals I wished could've lived longer, I helped comrades who should've exiled me like the rest build city-states independent from the World Government. The start of my journey was the start of a history lesson the way it was for my father. For as long as pirates have existed, so did the privateers. When the country was in danger, its leaders, who loved and served the people above all, called us to protect it. That is in my blood! If the pirate of pirates is what I must be, I'll be damned before I let you tell me otherwise! I don't see why anyone would listen to a man who denied his own king's favor."

"Watch it, kid!" Shanks spat.

"You made your choice in being my enemy, uncle," Nesi said, standing firm against the emperor. "I'm not going to let you hurt my friends just to get a useless point across."

"You and your captain are a lot alike. Brash and reckless," Shanks remarked.

"Oh, you haven't heard then? He's with Whitebeard now," Nesi informed, earning a raised brow.

"You're on a mission for Whitebeard then?" Shanks questioned.

"You're a bit out of the loop, aren't you?" Nesi joked, erasing her seriousness for a moment in favor of a smirk. "I refused to join Whitebeard. He would've been a detriment to my goals, and he wound up being the reason I was dismissed from active duty altogether. You should see Redbeard's face right now! Brother is pacing like an animal! Anyways, Whitebeard only tolerated me because of Ace, not because he liked me. I never pretended to understand what Ace was going through emotionally, but I agreed to be by his side until the last breath or until we fall off the edge of the Earth. That time came. I did the same for you, uncle. I agreed to learn what I could from you because I didn't realize how scarce it was for you to accept an apprentice or even new crewmates. I never took anything you gave me for granted. 'Til the ends of the Earth, I will follow my captain. We met our end. I served you as best I could the same way I served Firefist Ace. I am eternally humbled and grateful that anyone would elect me to be a leader when all I've done was serve under someone in my short career."

"... You made a terrible apprentice then. Didn't you learn the most important part of being a pirate? You should be celebrating right now!" Shanks said with a wide smile. When Aosera and Bandag rushed to their feet to defend Nesi, his expression softened up. "You made rank as a pirate. Your crew is small but it's there. Guess it's only appropriate that I bless your ship and crew. So, what's your new name, Captain Llandala?"

"Huh?" Nesi questioned. "The hell are you talking about?"

"Captain! Are you out here?" Sister Leola called.

"Oh no! The storm!" Nesi said in a panic. "Why aren't you at the inns? And why aren't you in your cave?"

"Yeah, see, we're occupying one of the inns here," Shanks replied. "Sorry about that. A cold cave didn't seem like a good idea. You spoiled us!"

"Whaddaya mean I spoiled you!? I didn't spoil anyone!" Nesi argued.

"Squaw!"

"Don't you 'squaw' me, mister!"