The Marine's Roger Chapter 34: Playing Pirates, an one piece fanfic

Quietly, the washing waves of the sea softly silently rock the small ship of sorts that was Ann's as she ties it to the dock, dutifully focusing on it before taking out from the compartment, a bag of sorts. She hoped they liked what she brought. Ann's grip tightens around the clothes in her hands feeling her thumb brush against the bag before heading towards a familiar mountain however her hues widen when noting a certain pair before her, on the same pathway.

"Well, well didn't think I'd bump into you two…" A familiar pink haired woman smirks smugly at the two.

"Ann!" Merrily, Makino turns to beam brightly at the blonde.

"You sure you should be here?" The crotchety old man by Makin's side scowls at Ann.

"Hello to you too mayor. So…how are things?" Ann acknowledges the man before turning to Makino, the three heading up towards the house up in the mountains.

"Alright…" Meekly, Makino glances to the side.

"Alright?! Alright!? That guy keeps coming around your bar!" The mad mayor waves his staff about.

"Oh ho does Maki have a admirer?" Amused, Ann lightly elbows her side.

"Your admirer actually." Annoyed, the mayor huffs.

"Huh?" Astonished, Ann blurts out.

"I've been asked about you..." Makino reveals.

"…Urgh of bloody course you have. That guy…he's a real nat." Annoyed, Ann grumbles glaring to the side scowling.

"He seemed concerned." Makino argues brow furrowing from the man with the shades speaking so forlornly, so…longingly, so sadly, the range of emotions Makino couldn't eve pinpoint one despite the cold cool demeanour he kept.

"Seemed is the word to focus on." Snippily, Ann scoffs.

"What do you mean?" Mystified, Makino arches a brow by her words.

"It's just a façade that's all it ever is with the marines." Ann assumes aloofly.

"And we should take the word of a troublesome pirate?" Pointedly, the mayor scowls.

"You take the word of my neglectful grandfather often?" Ann argues.

"Your grandfather is a marine hero!" The may waggles his staff about as Ann simply sighs swiftly avoiding said strike after strike from said staff.

"So I keep hearing…" Huffing, Ann mutters hands on her hips simply staring ahead unfazed by the mad mayor's attempt at hitting her with said stick swiftly avoid each and very strike still.

"I thought you were on the grand line with Shanks." Makino points out.

"Oh I was but I decided to come visit." Ann answers.

"You make crossing the grand line sound so easy…" The mayor scoffs.

"Eh you learn a few tricks on the sea." Smirking, Ann exclaims.

"Hmm…" The mayor hums.

"It's just I can't look after them anymore! Yes, I'm gonna kick them out! Forget about the agreement with Garp!" The trio perk up at the raised voice of Dadan angrily announcing it as the three make it to the top.

"And what about our agreement Dadan?" Aloofly, Ann asks, hand on her hip seeing said bandit flinch from her cold curt tone shyly shaking turning her head to look at Ann's sweet sickly smile.

"EEEEP! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I don't know what made me say it!" Scared, Dadan bows before the woman on her hands and knees, bandit either side of her.

"Excuse me. I heard that Luffy is here." Politely, Makino steps in.

"Makino! Ann!" Luffy's voice reaches the two as said straw hat boy rushes over to the two beaming brightly happily hugging the two.

"I see you've kept the straw hat well." Smiling, Ann plops her hand on Luffy's hat.

"Yeah is Shanks here?" Hopeful, he asks looking up at her.

"I'm afraid not." Ann exclaims.

"Aww…" Disappointed, Luffy exclaims.

"Come on didn't you say you'd meet again with a nakama of your own." Ann reminds Luffy his hues widening when hearing her words.

"Oh yeah!" Luffy realizes beaming brightly.

"Luffy! You look great!" Makino offers optimistically.

"It's been months so we came here to see how you're doing." The mayor steps in.

"Hey, mayor!" Luffy greets him.

"Don't tell gramps though kay?" Cheekily, Ann places her forefinger to her lips winking at Luffy.

"Okay!" Luffy nods his head smiling.

"So you're really living with the bandits..." The mayor's hues narrow at the shack.

"You got a problem?" Dadan growls crossing her arms over her chest cross.

"Yes, a big one! You're a bandit!" The mad mayor begins but…

"Don't give me attitude! What?! People from the Windmill Village are all annoying?!" Agitated, Dadan roars raising her voice to the mayor.

"I have some presents for you! I assume that old fart wouldn't think about these things... Here!" Happily, Ann reveals the bag.

"New clothes!" Luffy hasps seeing said fabrics.

"Oh, great! I'm glad that you like them. Maki's agreed to help out if they don't fit." Relieved, Ann admits as Makino nods her head confirming it.

"Indeed I'll adjust the length so... I need you guys, too. Okay?" Smiling, Makino exclaims turning to the doorway where Sabo and Ace are, Ace shyly hiding leaning against a wall while Sabo…

"Oi… hey!" Ace hisses harshly at the smiling Sabo rushing over to the two.

"Hey Sabo been taking care of Ace I hope?" Ann warmly welcomes the blushing boy.

"Y-Yeah!" Smiling, Sabo smiles staring at his fidgeting fingertips.

"Thanks for looking after Luffy too I know they can be a pain but they means well." Ann smiles turning to see Luffy being measured by Makino and Ace watching on from afar.

"I can hear you, you know?" Ace hollers huffing.

"Oh I know now come on Mr too cool for anything, there's no need to try act all cool." Cheekily, Ann hollers calling out to the blushing boy bemused by his huffiness.

"W-Who said I was?!" Agitated, Ace scowls at the amused Ann.

"Aw are you blushing?" Bemused, Ann quirks her head to the side smirking.

"DIE!" Ace roars.

"You're blushing!" Ann continues teasing the red-faced Ace.

"SHUT IT!" Ace roars raising his voice to her however..

"Aw are you mad?" Mischievously, Ann asks unfazed.

"Stop teasing me!" Mad, Ace slams his foot down on the ground below, pouting.

"I'm the older sibling it's my job besides you're just so cute when you're mad." Mischievously, Ann smirks softly poking his temple with her forefinger.

"Shut up! I'll kill you!" Ace roars.

"I'm sure." Smirking, Ann chuckles hand on her hip.

"I heard that Ace-kun was mischievous but you seem like a good boy." Makino approaches as she kneels down to the bare chested boy, measuring the clothes.

"N-No, I'm not..." Ace grumbles glaring to the side his heated features flaring fiercely.

"Awww are you blushing Ace?" Amused, Ann hollers from the side smirking while the children chuckle by her side.

"He's so shy!" Sabo snickers.

"Ann's right! You're blushing, Ace!" Luffy laughs.

"You jerks!" Angry, Ace glares at the trio.

"Oh hey, you can't move!" Makino exclaims.

"So Sabo how's fighting coming along you guys still at fifty fifty?" Ann asks Luffy.

"Yeaaah Ace is in the lead but I'll catch up!" Sabo smiles, his crimson cheeks burning brightly.

"I'm sure you will and Luffy are your fists just like pistols yeah?" Smiling, Ann turns to Luffy.

"Yeah watch gum no gum pistol!" Luffy reels his fist back bashing into Dadan coming out of the hut roaring.

"Luffy!" She screeches but it falls to deaf ears.

"Hey that went straighter than last I saw you're getting there must be all the practice you've put in." Ann smirks smugly, patting Luffy's hat oblivious to the pouting Sabo watching on.

"Yeah!" Luffy cheers.

"Stop being nice it's weird!" Annoyed, Ace calls out scowling at Ann.

"Aw is Ace jealousy?" Ann smirks smugly at Ace.

"A-As if!" Ace scowls at his sister's teasing tone.

"The blush says otherwise." Ann argues as she points to said crimson cheeks on the blushing boy.

"Stop talking!" Ace roars as before long the group are heading inside…

"I hope you like it!" Makino smiles softly at the bandits around the table, plates with gourmet food on display.

"Yummy!" Luffy gushes over said food below.

"Meals should be good on the ship." Smiling, Sabo adds.

"I'm gonna get the best cook first thing when I go out to sea!" Smiling, Luffy declares.

"I'm gonna become a pirate before you do so just forget it!" Ace barks back.

"That's not fair! I'm gonna become a pirate first!" Luffy insists.

"Hate to break it to you guys but I sorta beat you all on all fronts." Amused, Ann points out to the three.

"No fair Ann you had a head start!" Luffy whines.

"Yeah!" Ace agrees annoyed.

"Sorry for being born before you short stacks." Smirking, Ann chuckles shaking her head at the three.

"We're not short stacks!" Annoyed, Luffy argues.

"Yeah one day when we're older and are pirates we'll tower over you!" Smiling, Sabo points out.

"Then you'll be sorry!" Smugly, Ace declares.

"I'm sure." Smirking, she chuckles oblivious to the sound of footsteps approaching…

"You're still saying a crap like that?!" The air around them turns cold as ice as Ann felt her heart drop turning to the smugly smirking man with the Hawaiian shirt…

"…Crap." Ann couldn't help but blurt out, her heart dropping as the yonko's right hand is met by the marine hero…

"Can't you both understand that you must become Navy soldiers?!" Scowling, Garp growls, glaring glowering down at the bonked heads of the children.

"Dadan!" Garp growls turning to Dadan.

"Yes, Garp-san...?" Dadan turns to the marine however…

"Why should I get hit, too?" Dadan roars holding her head a bump protruding out of her head alongside the crying children trying to handle their own respective bumps.

"You're not educating the brats well!" Garp growls glaring at Dadan.

"He's Garp? He's Ace and Luffy's grandfather?" Sabo says shocked, having been spared from said hits however…

"Squirt, you mentioned about going out to sea, too..." Garp growls turning to Sabo.

That doesn't last long.

"Sabo hide." Ann hisses to the boy but…

"He's not a "Squirt" - he's Sabo! We exchanged a cup of sake and pledged to become pirates!" Luffy rushes over standing in front of Sabo protectively.

"You shouldn't have said that Luffy." Face flat on the floor, Ace groans bump protruding out of his head.

"Wait you guys actually did that?" Taken aback, Ann asks surprised.

"Yep!" Ace beams brightly proudly.

"Of course you did." Ann sighs dreading the hit to come…

"Who told you…Ann!" Angrily, Garp growls glaring down at the blonde.

"…You now just noticed me?" Mystifed, Ann gawks gapes at Garp.

"Oh, that means now there are fools who want me to give them a real workout! You can't get away!" Garp smirks smugly cracking his knuckles.

"Oh boy..." Ann grimaces dreading the hits to come as before she knew it, her hues flared fierily before dodging said fist of love, the other boys however…not so lucky.

"You must be happy, Luffy. You may have an older sister but now you have older brothers too. Makino smiles softly as she and the mayor leave the bandit base, the moon shining shimmering down upon her as she hears the boys screaming as they are chased down by the man giving them a hell of a time as Ann watches on from the bandit based relieved for her reflexes and future sight.

"This old man is like a monster…" Mortified, Sabo says shaken, splayed out on the ground below.

"That's it for today! I'm gonna be harsher tomorrow! You can't drop dead yet!" Garp smirks smugly sauntering back over to the bandit hideout leaving the battered beaten bruised boys alone in the jungle.

"…Don't you think you were a bi-Argh!" Ann furrows her brow before being bonked on the head as she screeched cradling her head.

"The hell are you doing here? You want to get caught!?" Cross, Garp growls at the thrashing woman hissing harshly holding her head a bump poking out.

"Long time no see to you too old man was the haki necessary?!" Annoyed, Ann hisses harshly holding her head.

"Was you coming here necessary?" Garp barks back.

"You mean making sure my brother is actually alive then yeah." Snippily, she scowls.

"You doubt my judgment!?" Garp roars.

"ME?! Doubting the judgment of an old man that hasn't even visited this kids once I have the grand line as an excuse!" Enraged, Ann barks back before being bonked once more.

"You little…you put Luffy on the pirate path didn't you?" Garp growls glaring at the woman holding her head hissing.

"He put himself on that path respect his choices old man!" Mad, Ann yells at her ass of a grandfather.

"Akoji's been looking for ya…" Garp remarks making Ann grimace briefly by his words.

"So I've heard mind telling him to buzz off he's being a real nat!" Annoyed, Ann's hues narrow scowling at the thought of that pain in the head ignoring the bustling brewing emotions within her.

"He's concerned." Garp crosses his arms over his chest.

"Why be concerned over a marine traitor?" Tense, Ann glares to the side.

"You know why…at least tell me this…Elegia what happened?" Gently, Garp sighs softly at Ann furrowing his brow at her.

"…You read what happened." Ann tenses up looking away.

"Ann." Garp furrows his brow at Ann.

"My captain doesn't wish to speak of it so neither shall I." Ann asserts stating the fact firmly.

"That's how it's going to be?" Garp sighs sadly at Ann.

"That's how it's going to be." Bluntly, Ann asserts stating the fact firmly.

"S-So scary…" Terrified, the bandits watch the two converse anxiously as sweat slides down their tense temple watching the aloof Ann leant against the wall deal with the marine hero.

"A yonko's right hand and a marine vice admiral…what kind of monsters have we brought into our home!?" Horrified, Dogra couldn't help but ponder perturbed.

"If nothing is done, the old man will kill us tomorrow!" Sabo states scared.

"Even if we survive, he'll keep doing it until we give up our dream!" Ace adds anxious.

"I don't wanna die!" Luffy cries.

"We only have one choice. It's time to make up our minds, brothers!" Sabo states the fact firmly to two both nodding their head knowing what had to be done…

"We will stand on our feet." What should we do about this?" Dadan queries to Garb showing said note to him however…

"How smart-alecky of them." Garp shoves his finger into his ear reading the note left by the boys.

"How could you not care?!" Cross, Dadan demands.

"It's pretty easy for him." Aloofly, Ann remarks.

"What's that meant to mean?" Mad, Garp growls terrifying the bandits but Ann simply stares.

"You know what it means." Ann crosses her arms over her chest.

"Garp! They're infamous even downtown! Anyone will try to kill them on sight if they aren't sheltered by us!" Dadan reminds him however…

"My vacation is over! You gotta shape them into full-fledged Navy men by the time I come back!" Garp orders Dadan.

"Are you gonna leave everything to me again?!" Angry, Dadan growls glaring at Garp.

"Huh?" Garp glares at Dadan.

"Take care!" Immediately, the bandits wave him off watching him take off.

"Does that answer your question?" Ann sighs staring at the fleeting figure of Garp going off leaving them to it.

"How can a bandit raise a Navy soldier?! That geezer doesn't know what he's saying!" Scowling, Dadan complains cross.

"Easy, easy, boss." Magra tries to calm Dadan down.

"So you are worrying about those kids after all." Dubiously, Dogra smirks smugly at Dadan.

"Who cares?! Come to think of it, this is good for us. They left voluntarily!" Dadan roars as Ann sighs standing up from her slouched from, the bottle in her hand she softly sets down.

"…I'll go look for them." Tiredly, Ann sighs softly swiping said letter from Dadan.

"Eh?!" Dadan blurts out the bandit turning to her, remembering Ann's presence.

"Someone has to be the responsible one…" Ann grumbles glaring ahead.

"Oh, I'm glad! We got away successfully! They're not coming - Dadan and the others." Sabo smiles as the boys stop running.

"It's true that "the devil's children have the devil's luck"! He's the devil's son!

"I can tell that she feels happy now because her troubles have gone away!" Ace agrees as he adjusts the strap of his packed belongings.

"Oh no! It's pouring! Let's stay here and hide from the rain." Luffy gasps as the boys rush towards the opening of a nearby tree trunk hiding below it unaware of a certain figure tracking them down.

"Geez…you guys…" Ann sighs finally finding the trio of the boys having heard the soft snores escaping from the trio. She couldn't help the soft smile of fondness from forming upon her lips while watching the trio cuddle into each other, she slides her coat off her, draping it over them, smiling softly seeing Ace and co cuddle into the fabric. Ann glances to the side, hearing the soft sound of rain freely falling, swearing she could see even for a brief moment another trio of apprentice pirates, Buggy with his finger up Shanks nose, Shanks with his arms around the detached torso of Buggy and Ann stuck between both of these idiots, having switched her torso to Buggy's own without him knowing…

Ann chuckles shaking her head at the trio before turning towards the rushing rainfall of water keeping lookout for the night…

Casually, Ann sits down on the stray strands of green below watching the fierce flames feast upon the meat slowly but surely cooking with time, the scent of said seasoned meat reaches out to the trio teasingly touching their sniffing noses until…

"Morning…" Casually, Ann greets the sleepy Sabo rubbing his hue, his hues widening when seeing the blonde before him.

"A-Ann!" Alarmed, he jolts up.

"Relax I won't squeal. Care for some breakfast?" Briskly, she assures Sabo.

"Ah… thanks!" Thankful, Sabo smiles taking a piece.

"Why are you here?" Annoyed, Ace grumbles glaring at the shining sun shining down upon them before making his way over taking a piece.

"Good morning to you too brother dearest." Dubiously, Ann greets her brother bored.

"W-We're not going back!" Ace glares at Ann.

"Y-Yeah we don't want to die!" Luffy says scared.

"Die…? Ah you mean gramps…" Ann catches on.

"Yeah…" Sabo nods his head.

"Relax like I said I'm not brining you back." Ann assures them.

"You're not?" Astonished, Ace's hues widen when hearing her words.

"Nah I'm curious to see how long you last." Bluntly, Ann admits.

"You think we can't!?" Cross, Ace glares.

"This is what we'll do." Sabo steps in showing a piece of paper to Ann arching a brow by it.

"…Interesting blueprints you got there." Tense, Ann attempts to cheer the boy up from his so called schematic.

"It's for our base we can't sleep outside forever you know? So we'll make a secret base right here." Happily, Sabo reveals.

"Smart move." Ann gives him that.

"A secret base? That's so cool!" Luffy gushes.

"Where are we gonna get all the materials?" Ace asks Sabo.

"We've got more than enough down there." Sabo smiles looking towards gray terminal not far from them.

"Well you guys have fun building that." Tiredly, Ann takes out her book leaning back against the tree trunk.

"Aren't you going to help?" Ace arches a brow bored.

"I could or I could nap." Amused, Ann leans back bemused by his sharp scowl.

"If you don't help you're not allowed in our base." Ace tries to threatens the amused Ann.

"Oh the horror." Haughty, Ann opens the book bemused.

"Yeah no girls allowed!" Luffy joins in.

"Fine by me." Aloofly, Ann begins to read.

"Ann!" Ace whines.

"You wanted to stand on your own two feet." Ann doesn't bat an eye to the trio.

"Fine be that way we don't need you!" Ace turns on his heel huffing as the three go off to start building their secret base.

"Shit!" Loudly, Ace curses holding his had.

"Language." Ann calls out.

"You try dealing with this…" Tense, Ace holds his wrist glaring down at…

"Splinter?" Sighing, Ann arches a bored brow.

"N-No!" Bashfully, Ace looks away.

"Come here." Ann sighs softly shutting her book.

"Tch….I could handle this myself." Meekly, Ace grumbles going over.

"I'm sure." Smoothly, she deals with said splinter with the teasers in her back pocket before watching him continue building.

"Ann!" Luffy whines while holding his throbbing thumb.

"It's alright." Ann sighs softly, patting the straw hat boy the tears freely falling from the cry baby.

"Awesome looks exactly like the design!" Luffy gushes giddily as the boys finish their base, Ann eyes the flag of ASL.

"Great work if I say so myself! What's wrong, Ace?" Sabo takes note of the thoughtful looking Ace.

"This is a hideout so we gotta set up some traps!" Ace points out.

"Okay, I'll think about it!" Sabo gives him that.

"Luffy, there's a tailwind! Set the sails!"

"Okay!"

"Advance to the treasure! An enemy off the bow and starboard side!"

"It's Bluejam's ship! Prepare for action!"

"They've started shooting! Take evasive action! Luffy, hard aport!"

"Yeah, I got it!"

"No! You have to say "steady" at times like this!"

"Oh, that's right."

"Luffy, hard aport! Hard aport!"

"Steady!"

"Let's fight hand-to-hand! Lay aboard!"

"Wait for them to come aboard!"

Amused, Ann looks up watching as the children play in their secret base in a world of their own as Ann shakes her head amused at the antics of youth, at the naivety of them she supposed as she watches on only then to take note of the setting sun. Sighing, she stands going to get food for the three for the night…

When they're sleeping, they look like ordinary kids. Oh no, they'll catch a cold. Dadan smiles softly sweetly at the trio of children, reaching for a blanket to drape over them unaware of the trap triggered…

Ann should tell her…she should. Internally, Ann knew that buuut…

The heavy mallet bashes into Dadan's stomach throwing her back making her come crashing down to the ground below.

"A trap just went off!" Alarmed, Ace

"Someone tried to invade already?!

"Oh? Maybe it was just a malfunction." Sabo considers.

"Well, we made it in hurry so it could happen." Ace considers calmly, the two returning to bed unaware of the fuming Dadan and amused Ann smirking snickering behind her book.

"Hey Dadan." Ann calls out to the woman on her back fuming fury freely flowing through her.

"Ann!? How long have you been there?" Alarmed, Dadan demands from the yonko's right hand.

"Long enough to wait for you to fall into the trap." Teasingly, Ann answers as she turns a page.

"You cheeky little-" Dadan begins but…

"Relax the kid's are under my watch they'll be fine." Firmly, Ann assures Dadan as she reads her book.

"…Thanks." Dadan bows her head to the woman.

"Eh don't mention it, about time I took responsibility for the short stacks." Simply, she shrugs brushing it off as Dadan's hues soften slightly at the blonde above.

"You do remember you were a kid when it all went down, no one would expect you to care for Ace at your age." Awkwardly, Dadan tell the blonde beofre her, a still silence hanging heavily in the air between both of them…

"…Night Dadan." Ann returns to her book calmly turning a page.

"…Night." Dadan bows her head heading back to the bandit's base leaving the kids under the careful care of Ann as the starry sky shines down upon the people of Fuchsia village…

"He's here!" Sabo gasps as they all huddle together trying to find their meat for the day, it had been a number of months since Ann had left them to it and here, they were out hunting however their last meal was swiftly snatched away by a certain tiger…

"Is that the tiger?" Luffy asks as he peers over the bush.

"What?! It's a bear!" Alarmed, Sabo says shocked.

"That's not what we expected! Go away!" Ace scowls trying to wave the bear that had in a way saved Luffy prior away.

"Shoo! Shoo!" Both boys joins in but…

"Wait, it seems like he's as strong as the tiger. We can't beat the tiger if we can't beat him." Sabo points out.

"I see! So he's perfect for practice." Pleased, Ace's grip tightens on the pipe as the trio rush towards the bear but…

"Oh no! He's not cooling off! He's gonna kill us!" Sabo cries out alarmed as the bear towers over them as just then before they would meet their demise.

"W-Who is it?!" Ace asks astonished at the old robed man suddenly approaching the bear.

"He better run!" Luffy adds.

"That old man! That's Naguri from Gray Terminal! Run! He's coming to you!" Sabo recognises the old man standing before the bear before the snowy sheet of the winter.

"What're you doing, old man?! You know that you don't belong here! Go back to the forest now!" Sabo screams trying to stop the man but his hues alongside the boys soon widen when with one look, the bear turns and leaves.

"Cool! It's like that time before!" Luffy recognises in awe as next the boys knew while the snow freely fell from the soaring shy of winter, they were all huddled together beofre the fierce flames of the campfire.

"What?! You were a pirate and a captain, Naguri?!" Luffy says shocked as the fish is cooked for the group, Ace standing while Luffy and Sabo sit either side of the old man.

"Yes, indeed." Naguri confirms calmly.

"I knew it! Only a pirate captain could do that!" Luffy proclaims proudly.

"That"?" Sabo furrows his brow befuddled.

"You made the big bear turn away just by staring at him like Shanks and Ann! You're cool, old man!" Merrily, Luffy gushes as Ace's hues narrow.

"You think so?" Shyly, said old man smiles.

"I can't believe that Naguri was a pirate because... He's always collecting junk, hammering away at them all day long, making weird stuff, and getting teased by the people at the Gray Terminal and by Bluejam's crew. He looked pathetic." Sabo admits.

"You know nothing, Sabo! That's how pirates are!" Luffy proclaims proudly.

"You don't know anything, either! What do you know about pirates?!" Sabo disputes.

"I know pirates! Shanks and Ann don't do needless killing!" Luffy dictates.

"Shanks and Ann again..." Sabo sighs.

"Hey, it's cooked. -Ow, ow, ow...!-Ouch!" Luffy smiles reaching for it but hisses back by the fierce flames.

"Oh, you got more than me!" Luffy whines when seeing said shares.

"You got to pay attention. Have some, Naguri. You helped us." Sabo offers some food to the old man.

"Oh, thank you." Naguri smiles taking it.

"So, what is a pirate captain doing in a place like this?" Sabo ponders puzzled.

"How could you ask me that?" Naguri exclaims.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to." Sabo assures him.

"No, I'll tell you. Do you guys know Gold Roger?" Naguri asks as Ace's hues narrow.

"Roger? I know him! He was the King of the Pirates!" Luffy recognises oblivious to Ace's stern scowl.

"We challenged Roger, the King of the Pirates, to a fight!" Naguri waves his cane cheerily in the air.

"Really?!" Luffy gasps.

"But we lost the fight and split up. And everything just went downhill after that and I ended up like this. That's basically what happened." Sadly, said cane lowers.

"But you fought with the King of the Pirates, right? That's cool!" Luffy gushes giddily.

"No." Naguri answers.

"No?" Sabo and Luffy look lost by his answer.

"It wasn't exactly him we fought…" Feebly, Naguri looks to the side solemnly.

"Who did you fight then?" Sabo probes perplexed.

"A member of his crew, proclaiming she could do it." Naguri sighs softly at the murky memory of the cocky child.

"…She?" Ace's grip tightens around his pipe.

"She was powerful, she knew skills far beyond anyone's years for some child she wiped out our entire crew." Naguri tells the children.

"No way!" Sabo says shocked alongside Luffy.

"We were no match for her. We got beat badly." Bluntly, Naguri sighs softly.

"Oh really? Even you were no match…" Sabo begins but…

"It was just one single member at that." Naguri repeats.

"But why did she do that?" Sabo furrows his brow befuddled.

"Maybe to prove herself to the crew? Who knows? All I know was that child was powerful, powerful enough to take care of an army." Awestruck, Naguri confesses furrowing his brow by the murky memory of it all, his arrogance at the thought of a child couldn't harm them, he was terrified at the sheer strength of her as had many more who managed to survive her as he had heard over the years…

"Wow! I really want to fight her!" Luffy gushes in awe at the thought of fighting her.

"The only reason she did so well was her teamwork with another." Naguri smiles softly smoking through his pipe.

"I thought you said she defeated you alone." Annoyed, Ace's hues narrow at the old man.

"Oh she did the main fighting, she had another with her, a floating head of sorts screaming at her where to go and where to dodge, that teamwork was superb surprising considering how heated the two were with spitting insults at one another." Amused, Naguri chuckles coyly at the murky memory of it all, the floating blue haired head strapped to the side of her sash screaming insult after insult at her as she bashed the handle of her blade into his face…accidently time and time again as the two practically destroyed Naguri and his crew.

"Really!?" Sabo says shocked unaware of Ace's furrowed frown, twitching from Naguri's words.

"Their teamwork was in perfect coordination! It was our honor to fight with them." Truthfully, Naguri admits.

"I see! I still have a long way to go to become a pirate." Luffy bows his head.

"Are you interested in pirates?" Intrigued, Naguri queries.

"I'm gonna become one!" Luffy beams brightly.

"Become a pirate?" Perplexed, Naguri exclaims.

"Yes, a pirate! Oh yeah, old pirate man, could you give me some tips?! I want to get stronger! I have to become a captain to lead Ace and Sabo!" Smiling, Luffy tells Naguri.

"A captain?" Confused, Naguri perks up at the title.

"Hey, say yes! You're a pirate master!" Luffy insists.

"Okay!" Lost, Naguri agrees.

"Okay?!" Sabo says shocked.

"Yeah! Then, let's start from tomorrow! Where did Ace go?!" Innocently, Luffy asks after shaking Naguri's hand happy to learn off him only then to falter furrowing his brow by the lack of a certain freckled face boy.

"Yeah, about that..." Tense, Sabo glances to the side, not quite sure how to fill Luffy in…

"What?! The King of the Pirates is his father?!" Flabbergasted, Luffy does a double take reeling back baffled by the news, staring shocked at Sabo attempting to process the news Sabo had secretly given to the stunned straw hat wearing boy baffled by the news.

"Yeah. But you can't tell anybody." Strictly, Sabo tells Luffy brow furrowed.

"Wait does that make Ann…?" Brow furrowed, Luffy beings but…

"Yeah it does." Sabo curtly cuts Luffy off.

"She never told me." Meekly, Luffy bows his head at the thought, his hands reaching out to his straw hat taking hold of it, squeezing it.

"Everyone has a thing or two that they can't talk about." Ann tells Luffy furrowing her brow by her words, ignoring the bustling emotions swelling within her.

"She probably doesn't like talking about it either…" Sabo says oblivious to the furrowed frown of Luffy when recalling her words while listening to Sabo's confusion clear on his furrowed features, why wouldn't they want to talk about it? Being the son or daughter of the pirate king sounded amazing!

"Oh…" Luffy lets loose, he guess it was Ace and Ann's business but even then…

"Don't mention it to Ace. He's gonna kill you." Severely, Sabo snaps Luffy out of his thoughts.

"Why?" Luffy furrows his brow befuddled by Sabo's statement.

"I don't know why but he doesn't like Roger for sure." Sabo says stating the fact firmly to them.

"But that's his father, right?" Luffy argues brow furrowed.

"So what?" Sabo scowls defensively taking Luffy aback until…

"I'm sorry for both of you but I was all by myself even if I had parents!" Sabo's words soon reach into Luffy's head.

"Oh yeah. Your parents... Children don't always get along with their parents. But, what a shame! He's the King of the Pirates!" Luffy clocks on, brow furrowed from the fact before sighing, to be the son or daughter of the king of pirates…it sounded amazing!

"I can understand that you wanna ask him about Roger but just don't, okay?" Sabo sighs at Luffy as the two begin heading back to their secret base.

"Uh-huh! I got it!" Luffy smiles.

"And... you too, Naguri!" Sternly, Sabo tells Naguri as the two begin to head off.

"Okay, I got it. But I can't believe that that boy is Roger's son...still he does look familiar." Frowning, Naguri gives Sabo that, the boy did look familiar perhaps it was the freckles, he furrows his brow by a familiar freckles face from the past swords in either hand about to face his entire crew…

"There he is. Hey, just act casually." Sabo hisses as both boys return to base.

"Yeah." Luffy nods climbing up.

"Don't mention..." Sabo repeats but…

"-I know! Don't worry!" Luffy cuts Sabo off.

"Oh, Ace! I didn't know that you were home!" Sabo smiles greeting Ace as he simply stares down at nothing looking out at who kows what with a grim grave look on his furrowed features.

"Oh, Ace! I didn't know that your father was Roger!" Luffy blurts out as Sabo stares shocked stunned at Luffy.

"I knew he'd say it! You idiot, Luffy! I told you to not to mention it!" Incensed, Sabo snaps scowling slamming his hand over Luffy's mouth mortified.

"Luffy!" Ace coldly curtly calls out.

"Yeah?" Luffy smiles.

"Who told you that?" Tense, Ace demands from Luffy.

"Sabo told me! Hey Ace, what was Roger like?!" Luffy asks.

"No! How stupid are you? Don't just say it casually!" Cross, Sabo scowls at Luffy.

"Let me go! I am acting casually." Luffy fails from Sabo's hold.

"Ouch!" Both boys cry out from the harsh hit dealt by the angry Ace.

"Don't you ever mention that name when I'm around!" Angrily, Ace roars raising his voice to the two holding their heads bumps protruding out.

"Why did you hit me?!" Mystifed, Sabo scowls at Ace.

"Don't be mean - just tell me!" Luffy whines.

"Give people a chance to explain first!" Sabo exclaims.

"Shut up!" Ace snaps.

"Tell us about him! You're so mean!" Luffy complains.

"He's right! You can't have a secret from your brothers!" Sabo agrees.

"Shut up!" Ace snaps.

"You seem fine with Ann!" Luffy argues as Ace seemingly snaps from his words.

"Don't you dare compare Ann to him!" Angrily, Ace snarls shouting at the two, two lumps forming on the two boy's head as Ace looms over them, bonk after bonk piling up forming a small tower of hurt muscle.

"H-Huh?" Both Sabo and Luffy blink baffled, doing a double take at Ace's words.

"I don't care about my brothers! I have my sister that's all I need!" Agitated, Ace roars raising his voice to his so-called brothers.

"Roger, Roger, Roger! Ace's father is the King of the Pirates!" Luffy continues chanting taunting Ace almost as he seethes chasing after Luffy around the base.

"Shut up! Don't provoke him!" Scared, Sabo hisses harshly at Luffy but…

"When you get down to it, it's your fault for being a bigmouth!" Angrily, Ace roars reeling his fist back bonking Sabo's head too.

"Ouch!"

"Alright, I'm counting on you." The snail states to Bluejam within his hideout.

"Yes, I'll leave no stone unturned." Bluejam leans back against his seat smirking at the snail before him, Bluejam is rather tall man with short hair on the top of his head, that is fashioned in a striped manner, while the hair flows down long and unkempt down his sides. It seems half of his molars were missing in an alternating pattern, and he wears a traditional captain's jacket over a white shirt, he places the responder back into the snail smiling at his men standing before him.

"You know what you should do." Bluejam turns to him flailing the gun lazily in his hand.

"We'll get to it!" His lackeys promise bowing their heads.

"Yeah, but if you find him, don't do anything yet." Strictly, Bluejam orders.

"What?" His lackeys do a double take at the request.

"Can't you see? We have to make his father feel indebted to us. The longer he worries, the more he'll appreciate us when we find Sabo." Smirking, Bluejam tells his men smirking smugly at the plan.

"I see…" The lackey blurts out the other too catching onto the scheme.

"Until the time comes, don't do anything - just monitor him." Bluejam orders both his men nodding their heads in understanding, knowing what had to be done.

"Why do you always do that?! You always attack so openly!" Sabo scowls as he and Ace storm off from another attempt at ending the tiger leading to failure…

"Shut up! What about you?! That was horrible!" Ace barks back brow furrowed at Sabo scowling.

"Let's put some poisonous mushrooms in the bait tomorrow. Oh, wait a minute. He's big but still a member of the cat family... That means catnip might work, huh?" Sabo considers calmly.