The Marine

Chapter 1

Dermont D. Blake was a Marine. She started her training by her adopted Grandpa, Monkey D. Garp when she was 15. At 17, she was a Commander. She went up the ranks quickly in the past couple of years, but her Gramps was a mad man. If it wasn't for her dream, she probably would see herself as a pirate just to get away from that crazy old man. She wanted to protect people that couldn't protect themselves. Even if her siblings wanted to become pirates, she didn't care about that. They would always be her family, but piracy wasn't for her. Protecting the innocent and those that couldn't fight for themselves were. She knew Luffy and Ace could take care of themselves.

It was early. About six in the morning, but she knew she had to leave soon. Dressed in black pants, marine boots and a button down shirt, the Marine Captain coat over her shoulders, Blake walked down the hall, keeping her senses out for Gramps. Blake was about 5'8'', had short brown hair and blue eyes. Garp won't listen to her when she tells him she's too old for that "Fist of Love". His training was hell. She had a position where she had a small unit she was in charge of.

"Commander Blake!" Blake could already sense the someone coming by her Observation. Gramps started training her in it last year. That was not a fun training exercise.

She turned, seeing a regular cadet. He saluted. Blake tilted her head, waving her hand. She didn't really care about the formality. "Yeah?"

"Vice Admiral Garp is looking for you!"

Blake froze, her grin twitching. "Yeah? Uh, where is he?" It's been two years since he took part in her Marine training, but he was still too insane to deal with.

The Marine looked like he knew what she was thinking. "By the Docks, Commander!"

Blake groaned, rolling her neck and straightening her Marine coat, the sleeves hanging down behind her. There was no use running from him. "Alright, thanks."

Blake walked away and headed toward the docks of the Marine base on the island. The island is on the Grand Line, but not too far from the Capes that opened toward the Grand Line. She was either here, another Marine Base, out in the open sea or Marineford HQ. She walked down to the docks and closed her eyes for a second, looking for a specific Voice. Blake squinted, before grinning when she found the one she was looking for. Blake had a feeling Garp was going to send her into some mess. She walked forward and saw who she was looking for. "Rosque!"

It was a man, with black shoulder length hair, tan skin and grey eyes. He wore the Marine coat over a suit. She's known him since she was recruited when she was 15. He smiled back. "If it isn't Commander Blake?"

Blake nodded. "Yeah, well Gramps wants me for something, so I might need the Lieutenant Commander to take over the crew." He gave her a look of pity. He knew how bad Garp could be.

Rosque frowned. "Shouldn't you call him by his title when your here?"

She snickered. "How many times have we had this conversation? Last time I called him Garp, his "Fist of Love" almost broke my head."

Rosque grimaced. "Try to survive."

Blake laughed, slapping him on the shoulder. "Yeah, see you later."

He winced, rubbing his shoulder and sending her a look. She chuckled. "What? I didn't even us Haki." She was still training on her Armament Haki, but she loved to mess with him. Something he knew very well. She never used it on him due to unpredictability of her skill with it right now.

"I can't stand you. Don't get into any trouble."

"We'll see!" She laughed again. Rosque was used to keeping her out of trouble from her impulsive behavior. It didn't always work. With Garp, there was no chance. Maybe Bogard can keep them in check.

Blake called when she saw the tall head of short silver hair. "Yo, Gramps!"

He turned with a wide grin, the corner of his eyes crinkling and distorting his scar around his eye. "You took too long, brat!"

Blake shrugged, hands in her pockets. "Was talkin' to Ros. We going somewhere."

Garp nodded, munching on a doughnut. He's been up for 5 days trying to beat a doughnut record. Blake has been avoiding him due to his temper being worse with no sleep. "Yeah, come on. To the East Blue." Blake frowned, Luffy turned 17 about a few weeks ago. She knew he set sail as a pirate. "Dawn Island?"

Garp laughed. "Well, we should check on your brother! Have him become a Marine, even if he wanted to wait longer than you did. Bah, whatever! 17 is still a good age."

Blake felt sweat running down the back of her neck. If Garp knew she was aware of when Luffy would leave, he would kill her. She wasn't going to rat her little brother out before he even set sail. "Sure, Gramps. Let's go." He laughed loudly, getting on the ship.

Blake gulped. Even as a Commander of her own crew, her Grandpa still scared her.

"C'mon brat! Let's go see your brother!"

She was so dead!

Blake could feel herself sweating more as they arrived at Dawn Island. The other men walked around and followed the normal docking procedure. "Hey, Gramps?"

He was eating another doughnut, dog helmet over his head. "Yeah?" That reminded Blake, she was getting hungry.

"I'm gonna go see Makino. I'll met you at Dadan's." She didn't want to be there to break the news and she missed Makino. She was like a gentle mom to her. Dadan was more rough around the edges, but still cared in her own way.

Garp looked confused, eating a doughnut. He had to have eaten at least 50 on this trip alone. "You don't want to see your brother?"

Blake sent him an easy grin. "Nah, I'll see him later."

She hopped down and walked down the street in her full Marine uniform. She probably could've taken off the coat, but she knew Makino liked seeing it. It didn't matter if she was a Marine and Luffy and Ace were pirates, she was proud of all of them. She waved at a couple of people walking by who recognized her. She only had eyes for the Party Bar. She opened the doors and grinned at the green haired barmaid. "Makino! You miss me?!" Blake winced. That was Garp's volume.

Makino's face brightened when she saw her. "Blake! You're here! Does that mean Garp-san-"

Blake made a face. "Yeah, sorry. You know how he is."

Makino frowned lightly. "But Luffy-" She stopped talking. Blake's smile widened. Makino was very considerate. She didn't want Luffy to get caught, but knowing she's a Marine, she didn't want to put her in a hard place.

Blake laughed, rubbing the back of her head. "Yeah, I know he's not here. After all, he's 17."

Makino's smile softened, coming out from behind the counter. It was early, so the place was empty. Blake beamed at her, lifting her into a strong hug, Makino's feet leaving the ground. "I sure missed you, Makino! It's been a year!" She let her go as she realized she was squeezing her too much.

Makino squeezed her shoulders gently. "You've gotten so strong. You're a Commander now?"

Blake smirked. "Yep. Just got promoted six months ago." Blake blinked and suddenly asked. "Hey, Makino. You have any food?"

Makino looked at her and then a smile appeared, giggling in amusement a second later. Blake shrugged. "What? I'm hungry! You know me."

Makino went to say something, but Blake stiffened, her mouth dropping and her widening with horror. She hissed. "Makino! Get behind the bar!" She recognized the familiar horrified look on Blake's face and ducked quickly behind the bar. Blake turned on her heel, getting ready for the mess coming her way.

"BLAKE, YOU BRAT! YOU NEVER SAID LUFFY LEFT!"

Blake gulped. Her Observation was going crazy. She shouted. "I DIDN'T KNOW!"

"DON"T LIE, YOU BRAT! FIST OF LOVE!"

Even her Observation couldn't save her from the fist to her skull. A couple of seconds of warning didn't help her. A crash came from the wall and Blake yelped in pain, slamming into a table and feeling it break under her. Garp was standing over her, a dark glare over his face. Blake snapped, getting to her feet. "You shitty old man! I am a Commander. Do you think its time to stop hitting me?"

She rolled to the right as he went to hit her again. She knew he would go to hit her. "I told you, brat! You can be the Fleet Admiral, you still can't escape the Fist of Love!"

She groaned. "Look, I wasn't going to be able to stop Luffy. You know him."

Garp sighed, looking annoyed, but knowing she was right. "Bah, whatever. I'll just have to get the brat."

A small cough hit the room and they both turned at the same time to see Makino looked at them. Garp grinned at her. "Hey, Makino. How're you doing?"

She gave a gentle frown. "Garp-san. I'm glad to see you...but my wall is destroyed again."

Garp gave a sheepish grin. "Sorry about that, Makino. It's my foolish grandchild's fault. She'll fix it."

Blake glared at him. "Why should I do that?! You broke the wall!"

He pulled her up by her Marine jacket, the lapels balled in his large fists and shook her. "Your the one who lied about Luffy!"

"I didn't lie! I just didn't tell you he left-ow, stop hitting me!"

"Stop being a brat!"

Black stuck on her tongue. "You shitty old man!"

"Why you-"

"Excuse me..."

They both turned at the same time and tilted their heads. "Yes?"

"Can someone fix the wall, please. It might rain soon."

Blake was shook again. "Brat."

She shrugged away from him with a roll of her eyes. "I'm goin', Gramps. I wasn't gonna leave Makino to deal with that because you don't know how to use doors."

He growled. "Blake-"

"Garp-san. it's been a long time. How are you doing?"

Blake smirked, but got the stuff to fix the wall. All the stuff was in the closet, the same as last time. This happened a lot. Garp was talking to Makino.

When Blake fixed the wall, a Marine came in through the door and saluted. "Sir! Ma'am!"

They both looked over. "Yeah?"

The Marine looked at them. Garp was eating another doughnut. Blake had a hammer in her hand, hammering wood with a nail to fix the wall. The Marine felt sweat run down his neck. Seriously, why was he on a unit with his crazy superiors? He could just imagine what happened. Vice Admiral Garp broke the wall and forced Commander Blake to fix it, which she probably argued about.

The Marine ignored these thoughts. He had news to give. "Marine Vessel of Shellstown requires your assistance with an ex-Marine Captain, who was arrested!"

Blake made a face. "Aw, I didn't get to see bye to the hag and the others or eat."

Garp said with a laugh. "Ah, duties calls. Back to the ship."

Blake shrugged. "That's tru-Gramps don't fall asleep!"

Garp snorted awake. "Shut up, brat. I was just resting."

Blake reached in her pocket. "I had a feeling I wouldn't have time. Makino can you give this to Dadan when you have time?"

Makino sent her a smile. "Sure, I would love to." Makino hugged her. "Please be safe."

Blake laughed, grinning. "I'll do my best for you."

She remembered when she first set out at 15 to be a Marine with Garp. When Ace found out, he about lost his mind. Not because she was becoming a Marine, but because of how young she was leaving Dawn Island. She met up with him when he was still a Spade Pirate.

She knew he was in the New World now as a Whitebeard Pirate. She didn't care, as long as Ace was happy. As he said, they were still siblings no matter where they were or what they did. Even when they are on opposite sides, Ace was still that overprotective big brother, which could get embarrassing at times. She was a Marine Commander, probably a Captain soon, she could take care of herself.

They went back to the ship, headed to Shellstown.