Glaring, the mohawk male enters the cafeteria, feeling all eyes glaring glowering at him however he remains unfazed as he enters, glaring back, eager to accept the challenge form his fellow men in white.
"Hey newbie! Why did you wreck havoc earlier?" One of the older marines with the marine symbol tattoo growls, waving his dagger about as he sits scowling at the mohawk man.
"If you don't care about your colleagues go away!" One of the female marines sneer crossing her arms over her chest.
"Yeah go away!" Another angry voice hollers leaning against the cafeteria counter.
"Hey we're talking to you!" One of the male marines holler but…
"…" He ignores them.
"What an insolent ass." Angrily, another curses cross.
"Don't push your luck newbie!" One of them rushes at the mohawk male but…
"Ouch!" The marine is quickly thrown back by said swift strike.
"You okay? That bastard!" One of the marines rush over to the punched marine.
"Such a kid…" A redhead huffs watching on from above annoyed.
"Do you still wanna fight?" A shadow soon towers over the mohawk male.
"…Bring it on!" The mohawk males accepts the challenge from the braided male towering over him however…
Okay. But before that…!" He smiles rushing at the glaring All-Hunt Grount where…
"Oh I missed you All-Hunt Grount!" He happily hugs the mohawk male known as All-Hunt Grount.
"Shut that leg of me Bonham!" All-Hunt Grount growls glaring up at the braided beaming man.
"Calm down or I'll break your bones!" Bemused, Bonham chuckles.
"Hey Zappa's here too right? Where is he?" All-Hunt Grount assumes annoyed.
"He's over there." Bonham points to Zappa on his knee before the redhead.
"Isuka my love my life my…!" Zappa begins but…
"Die." Isuka snaps swiftly shutting Zappa down.
"I-I love a confident woman…" Zappa flails feebly whimpering weakly curling in on himself.
"Annoying…" Isuka tuts tiredly kicking Zappa off her leg leaving the mess to it.
"It's so good-I could eat this forever! Especially this candy! It's as good as meat. I want hundreds of them!" Luffy gushes giddily over the food the thanful people of fishmen had handed to him.
"I-I'm afraid we are running out of that one." The mermaid admits anxiously.
"We can bring other things if you want!" Another anixus mermaid throuws in.
"All right!" Luffy smiles tiwling the plate in his hand.
"Let me ask you, Luffy. What do you know about the state of the world now?" Jinbei asks as he holds his sake cup for the mermaid to pour into.
"Huh? What are you asking all of a sudden?" Luffy queries.
"Looks like you know nothing. You're out of the loop-that's not good." Jinbei tuts.
"Yeah?" Luffy exclaims.
"Here's the food!" The mermaid comes back with some food.
"Let's go somewhere else to talk." Jinbei sets his sake cup down.
"Okay. One sec. I'll take a light snack.! Luffy picks up the plate the mermaids had handed him as he follows Jinbei to who knows where…
"Waah…" Zappa continues crying curling in on the curry in his hand, the tears freely falling onto the curry.
"As soon as he got here he started proposing to every single woman here but he got turned down by the very last one so now he has his eyes glued on Isuka." Bonham explains to All-Hunt Grount.
"Nailing huh…" All-Hunt Grount glares at the fleeting figure of the redhead taking a seat.
"Yeah been here for a while. Hey it's been a while since we last met! We have a lot of catching up to do! We three will have a good time together again!" Bonham beams brightly guiding All-Hunt Grount over to the table.
"As long as you stay out of my way…I mean let me go!" All-Hunt Grount growls helpless as he is taken towards a table…
"Oh, you guys are here too!" Luffy perks up at the sight of the sleeping Zoro and others.
"I drank too much! I'm trying to sober up!" Nami admits.
"I ate too much!" The bloated Usopp adds.
"Sanji Mermaid-ed too much." Chopper fans the lovestruck Sanji.
"It's like heaven! The Mermaid Island!" Sanji smiles while Jinbei sighs soon filling Luffy in…
"What?! Akainu and Aokiji had a big fight?!" Luffy says shocked by the news.
"That's what I thought. You didn't even know about that, did you?" Jinbei assumes.
"I didn't hear about anything during my training." Luffy confirms.
"Ann's so strict…no doubt she told Rayleigh not to tell you…" Jinbei assumes.
"I knew about it! I knew!" Chopper cheers.
"Are you serious?!" Usopp says surprised Luffy didn't know.
"Right after the war years ago, Fleet Admiral Sengoku resigned. Sengoku recommended Aokiji to be his successor since he was very popular among his own men but a lot of people at the highest level favoured Akainu and so he became a major contender. Normally, Aokiji doesn't show his passion but that day something shone far brighter in his eye, a fire no one had ever seen from him. Most assumed it was due to his hated of the idea of Akainu becoming a Fleet Admiral but the intensity he had that day…for a reason like that doesn't add up. Either way, they stood against each other and the first-ever feud between the Admirals...erupted into a battle on an island somewhere. Like the saying "dead men tell no tales," whoever lost had to withdraw his candidacy. The winner would lead the Navy. As all the world now knows, their deadly struggle lasted for days. They were comparable in their strength but it came to an end. Akainu won! Sakazuki is the new Fleet Admiral." Jinbei explains to Luffy, chewing down on his meat as Jinbei thinks of the two admirals alongside the rest of the straw hats.
"Akainu!" Luffy grimaces clutching his scarred chest.
"Did Aokiji die?" Luff pries.
"They were both severely wounded and though Akainu is pitiless, he showed mercy to his former comrade who couldn't even stand. But Aokiji refused to work for Akainu so he left the Navy." Jinbei reveals.
"He's not a Navy soldier now, is he?" Luffy assumes.
"No, he is not. I wonder where he is and what he is thinking now. It was a big loss for the Government, too." Jinbei couldn't help but wonder when thinking of the ice man.
"Of course. The Admirals were the Navy's greatest powers." Usopp adds.
"But what the Government did to cover their loss...gave the Navy unexpected power." Jinbei sighs soon enough filling the rest in on Blackbeard…
"Did you hear about Hibiscus?" All-Hunt Grount soon stops from the murmuring group of marines.
"You mean about Hibiscus being here?" Another marine murmurs.
"Eh?" All-Hunt Grount turns to the gossiping group of marines.
"Seriously? Vice admiral Ann!" Amazed, a hopeful marine merrily smiles.
"Yeah!" Another adds as All-Hunt Grount growls, blood boiling, bubbling, burning by their brightly beaming faces.
"Why are you so happy?" All-Hunt Grount growls slamming his fist into the table around the marines breaking it.
"H-Huh?" The meek marines stutter scared slightly all eyes falling on them.
"Oi All-Hunt Grount!" Bonham calls out but it falls to deaf ears.
"Hibiscus being here…why are you so happy talking about that traitor?" Tense, All-Hunt Grount growls grabbing hold of one of the marines collars.
"That…vice admiral Ann…!" Anxiously, the meek marine tries to argue but…
"…The marine traitor is a traitor!" All-Hunt Grount roars raising his voice scaring the marine.
"Yeah she's a demon!" Another angry voice throws in.
"The child of a devil!" Another adds.
"She should never have been born!" Another marine swears.
"That demon child was meant to have died how can you talk so happily about that thing?" All-Hunt Grount demands unaware of the furrowed frown of Isuka glaring glowering down at the people below.
"T-T-That…" The meek marine looks over at the other marines meekly bowing their head in silence scared to say anything else.
"She's here isn't she?" All-Hunt Grount growls glaring at them.
"W-Well that's what the rumour says." Shyly, the marine begins but…
"What rumour?" All-Hunt Grount grunts glaring.
"S-She was attending a wedding when…" The meek marine tries to explain but…
"When!?" All-Hunt Grount snarls scowling.
"A raptor swooped down…" The meek marine whimpers.
"…A raptor?" Bonham surprised speaks up from behind bellowing befuddled.
"Yeah no one expected it." The marine adds.
"Some believe it to be the right hand of the king of beasts!" Another voice throws in from the group.
"Yeah he has that fruit." Another adds eagerly.
"Not to mention the king of beast's obsession with Hibiscus. Another throws in.
"Yeah everyone knows he's been trying to make her his mistress or one of them at least." A marine gossips.
"Hibiscus…!" All-Hunt Grount growls glares seethes shakes from the thought, releasing the marine.
"All-Hunt Grount come on let's just calm down and enjoy some curry." Bonham tries to take All-Hunt Grount away.
"Calm down and enjoy some curry!? It's thanks to that whore that Kuzan-san left!" All-Hunt Grount argues angrily pushing Bonham back brow furrowed fuming all eyes on the two, some scoffing.
"That…" Bonham begins but…
"Please! Kuzan left cause he lost!" Angrily, a marine roars.
"What was that!?" All-Hunt Grount growls at the marine.
"He couldn't take Akainu winning what a sore loser!" Another arrogant marine sneers.
"Kuzan-san is a good man he saw Akainu for the monster he is!" All-Hunt Grount growls glaring at them.
"Akainu-san is no…!" A marine begins but…
"All-Hunt Grount come on…" Bonham takes All-Hunt Grount to a table.
"It's all her fault Kuzan-san was led astray!" Grount argues angrily as he takes a seat seething scowling while Bonham slides a plate over for him to eat as Zappa continues crying in his curry.
"All-Hunt Grount would you quit it?" The crisp click of heels echoes, the redhead standing over them.
"Quit it?" All-Hunt Grount growls glaring up at the redhead.
"Speaking such nonsense, causing fights and just being a nuisance. Quit it." Irritated, the redhead commands cross.
"You want to fight?" All-Hunt Grount growls glaring.
"I'm not even going to acknowledge that with an answer. All-Hunt Grount in the marines we rely on each other trust each other causing fights isn't going to help anyone." The redhead sneers at All-Hunt Grount.
"As if I need anyone's help." Haughty, All-Hunt Grount scoffs.
"Urgh you're such a brat!" Fed up, the redhead storms off.
"So beautiful…Isuka…!" Zappa teary-eyed calls out reaching out to her however…
"Don't even think about it!" Incensed, Isuka's ice cold glare swiftly shuts him down.
"Eeep." Zappa goes back to crying on his curry.
"Ignore her, she was trained by Hibiscus of course she's going to be loyal to her mentor." Bachan advises.
"The same mentor who turned her back on the marines, what a hypocrite…" Haughtily, All-Hunt Grount sneers.
"Only a beauty like Hibiscus who train someone as beautiful as Isuka." Zappa says softly in awe almost at the other boys roll their eyes.
"Give up Zappa that girl will bend to no one." Bonham advises Zappa.
"Isuka…" Zappa whimpers weakly.
"I swear I'll have Hibiscus head…!" All-Hunt Grount growls before digging into his food feasting down on the curry below, swearing it…
"…Ann…" Softly, Isuka whispers weakly, pain pouring out of her tentative tone taking off anguished as she thinks about her mentor as men in brown suits approach the table with the growling glaring All-Hunt Grount…
"You can't do this!" Tense, Isuka rushes into the office.
"Hm?" Humming, the vice admiral looks up at her.
"This much just for the execution of one pirate? It's excessive." Isuka scowls at the Vice Admiral.
"Are you questioning marine orders?" The Vice Admiral scowls at Isuka.
"I just…" Isuka begins bowing her head anguished, guilt gnawing away, conflict clear on her furrowed features.
"Nialing…we know you are well acquainted with fire fist but the fleet admiral's command word is law are you questioning it?" The Vice Admiral demands from Isuka.
"I just…I don't think we should do this much for one pirate…" Isuka sighs sadly.
"I'm sure the fleet admiral has his reasons." The Vice Admiral states.
"But…" Isuka begins but…
"Enough Isuka don't be envious over Blackbeard finally getting your catch." The Vice Admiral sneers.
"My catch that isn't…!" Isuka tries to explain but…
"You're dismissed!" The Vice Admiral cuts her off.
"But…" Isuka tries to argue angrily but…
"I said you're dismissed." The Vice Admiral dictates.
"But I'm not done…!" Incensed, Isuka screams.
"You are." The Vice Admiral asserts.
"W-What are you…? Let go of me! Let me go!" Isuka flailed about as she was dragged away…
Isuka furrows her brow pained by the murky memory of her helplessness, she did nothing when this happened, she just turned her back as it was all revealed and yet…she felt nothing. Nothing of the reveal, nothing of the truth behind her mentor's departure, nothing of the true lineage behind both of them, nothing but anguished, but guilt but shame she had felt for what had happened, for what she had turned her back on, her heart having breaking broken by the loss…
Isuka didn't know how to feel after that day, it didn't feel real, none of it felt real, her silent scream towards Ace as he was impaled by Akainu, her attempt at keeping away, her hatred of being there for every single second, her horror of watching her fellow marines turn to monsters, cutting down pirates pleading for their lives…she could barely stomach it even now. She thought…she thought her mentor would come, sweep in and save Ace, it would all be over that's what she thought would happen, what she told herself would happen as she stood on that very battlefield, frozen by fear from the sight of Ace long gone from the field with her mentor making a return to the battlefield.
Isuka could remember her heart dropping, thinking it was all over, her mentor would slay her on the spot seeing so many marines be crushed, be shocked, be terrified by the fallen figure of Akainu by one look alone from her mentor to many of her countrymen falling with pirates alike from the brief aftermath of said shock, she herself could feel herself on the verge of collapsing too if not for the faint feeble flicker of willpower within her, holding her up, keeping her at bay. She remembered her ears ringing when her mentor revealed the torturous truth of the hunt of her mother and brother of her mentor breaking their current fleet admiral to her practically destroying the ruined remains of pride the marines had once held as she held her baby brother in her arms, long gone from the world while she took him to the ship, setting off, leaving the marines to pick up the rumbled remains of pride the marines once held…
She wanted to approach her mentor, cry, beg plead for her forgiveness, plead to see her shake Ace awake but broke for in that moment she just…she just couldn't. Her legs were broken, her heart was broken, everything was broken even the broken voice of hers as she screamed, shouted, screeched for them all to shut up…
She could feel fear from the sheer sight of her old mentor, a look in her eye, a glint she had never seen before, it…it scared her, it…also amazed her. Seeing her mentor with ease grab the attention of the entire battlefield, everyone halting as if frozen by time she commanded the room with such authority, such fear, such intensity, it scared Isuka, seeing such fury, such heat…such hatred…in her mentor's eyes normally so calm, cool casual now nothing than what remembered. Was it all a mask? Was it all a ploy? Was it all a lie?
This persona she had made for Isuka and the rest…she recalled a fair few of her fellow marines outrage at it, some deeming her to be lying, pleading praying begging for it not to be true while others condemned her, Isuka recalled Doll's disgust towards the woman who had taught her so much. Isuka wished she could feel the same but…she couldn't, she couldn't bring herself too, she remembered shaking, some of the marines by her side even fainting from where she stood from the presence of the woman alone, that had singlehandedly beaten the single most powerful admiral of the marines with ease…
Isuka could remember the infighting, even now the arguments were strong some horrified by the lengths used to hunt Roger down others approving of it, two factions had formed that day, two factors fighting for their respective leader to take the position of fleet admiral. Only a fair few had remained neutral to it, numb almost as they stood there to scared too shy to fearful to make their stance public. She remembered many of the higher ups trying to bring Kuzan down…trying to use his connection with the pirate king in an attempt to bring down the admiral from the accusations of improper workplace relationship to some even deeming him a traitor. Isuka could see it though she supposed she felt like she could understand the admiral almost as he had thrown himself into work, hunting down the remnants of pirates, icing one after another, reluctantly returning.
Isuka remembered the air turning ice cold as the man bravely walked through the hall, ice coating his side seemingly challenging anyone in his path to question him, to ask him as many marines had quickly fled fearful of angering the admiral, a part of Isuka still stunned she had seen such a side from the normally calm composed admiral, normally in a world of his own. Still he was still his old self even in a world of his own fury those oblivious to his hidden rage had bowed apologising and he still spoke to them, acting casually as if nothing had happened…
Isuka knew though…many of the marines murmured amongst themselves, some of the female marines throwing themselves at him however to their surprise he barked at them, ordering them to leave, such rage to get the ice-cold admiral so mad was a feat in itself. Isuka called those foolish female marines idiots for trying something so reckless, she supposed the y thought they could try with him being in such a desperate state still she couldn't help but feel disgusted by her fellow marines for trying that.
Isuka could see it, many of the marines had noticed the broken bottles of sherry, some newer bottles quickly replacing the older now emptier bottles that had rarely been touched beofre now drowned by the ice man. She had sported the torn shreds of a wanted poster, noting the crumbled up piece of paper in the bin being in the bin some days and hidden didn't know how to feel or how to process it all, still she couldn't remember her wandering eye upon Kuzan curiosity getting the best of her how he was handling all this, the woman he had been so close to, he had thought he knew had been the child of the devil, the child of the pirate king…
"To think our vice admiral was the child of that demon!"
"It does explain her strength…remember that time she beat that sea king!"
"Yeah she saved us, maybe she isn't.."
"She betrayed us and is the child of the devil!"
"To think all those poor children had to die for her…? Was it worth it?"
"Of course it was, it's not our fault she messed with the documents it's her fault those children died to protect her brother!"
"I say karma finally bit that traitor on her…" The marine begins but…
Isuka could remember the air turning as cold as ice, many of the men turning stone cold, dread hitting them hard from the tall towering figure that was admiral Aokiji…
Isuka slams her hand over trying to muffle the sniffling sob trying to break through, she thought…she thought she got over it by now, those two years…she thought…and yet the small sniffle soon escaped the lips of Isuka…
"Did you plan it Garp!? He destroyed one whole ship!" Shouting the bearded snail snaps at Garp merrily munching on his cracker.
"That's not good." Garp greedily munches on another as he answers the cross call.
"You think it's not your problem?! Aren't you his instructor!?" Incensed, the bearded snail reminds Garp.
"All-Hunt Grount requested the transfer take good care of him." Garp tells him.
"Vice Admiral Garp…" The boy with familiar pink locks and a green banana asks Garp.
"Hm?" He looks up at the boy with blue glasses.
"All-Hunt Grount was transferred to Vice Admiral Prodi?" The pink haired boy asks.
"Yeah." Garp confirms.
"Why did he want to go to such a remote place? What is he thinking?" Coby couldn't help but wonder while Garp goes back enjoying his crackers.
"What is my life right now? Ann couldn't help but wonder while feeling her ears burn. The brisk breeze brush through her short roots of pink, looking done drained bored even as the claw clamps around her. She could hear the faint whistle of the wind while looking down at the washing waves of the sea below, she could drop down now…though swimming in the middle of nowhere would be a pain, it'd be best for her to do it when she sees an island…one will surely pop up, if her estimation was correct.
"Silence you will come to Wano and be Kaido's mistress!" King roars, his flame burning brightly behind his back.
"Do I even get a say in this?" Tiredly, Ann exhales exasperation etched into her tired tone, was this the ninth or tenth time the bastard's done this? Ann had lost track…
"What do you think?" King sneers scowls down at the just done Ann.
"What I'm thinking is how that would even work!" Ann barks back.
"You're disgusting!" The raptor roars at her.
"I'm not the guy in the BDSM suit!" She snips back.
"I will drop you." King threatens, grip tightening tensing on Ann and yet…
"Drop me then coward!" Cross, Ann angrily yells at the raptor holding her up high in the soaring sky above challenging the lone raptor before biting down on his claw, making him screech swiftly dropping her down upon the sea floor below, the sharp slap of her body hitting the water below, a small geyser shooting out as Ann quickly makes her escape from the king of beasts right hand, heading to the nearest island to her.
"Damn that old bastard! Hey why did you want to be transferred here!?" Prodi growls glaring at the mohawk boy in question on his knees, two suited men in brown standing either side of All-Hunt Grount.
"I heard Hibiscus is somewhere near here right? I'll bring her down!" All-Hunt Grount growls swearing it.
"Hibiscus? You're so naïve! That monster would chew you out and spit you out in a second! All Hunt All-Hunt Grount you're just 17 years old but you're a naval captain!? What are the people at HQ thinking?! Plus you used to be in Kuzan's unit we have two soldiers with the same back All-Hunt Grount here. Do you know them?" Prodi assumes annoyed.
"Maybe." All-Hunt Grount glares to the side.
"How could Kuzan leave such a good for nothing brat behind!? Well he's worthless too since he left the navy after losing in the power struggle! We only hear bad rumours about him these days! Like him trying to follow that whore Hibiscus like a lost puppy! What a fool it was obvious he was used!" Prodi sneers scowling unaware of the growling All-Hunt Grount.
"That's a lie!" All-Hunt Grount growls.
"Hm?" Humming, he raises a befuddled brow.
"Don't talk bad about Aokiji-san! As if Aokiji-san would fall for Hibiscus! It's all lies!" All-Hunt Grount glares growls at Prodi.
"Yeah? Well either way you'd better be careful not to become like him. Hey I'll assign him to duty soon let him rest a while!" Prodi dismisses All-Hunt Grount.
"Yes sir!" The men in brown suits take All-Hunt Grount out of the office.
"Right…I'm far enough from that weirdo I'll just take a marine ship and…" Ann stamps her heel into the sandy shores of the island before her, water dripping down her drenched soaked state scowling staring ahead as she rubs her fingertips through her hair tousling trying to dry off what she could as she surfaced from the washing waves of the sea front making her way on the island, oblivious to the three approaching figures on their daily patrol until…
"Hibiscus!" Growling, All-Hunt Grount rushes at Ann, his eyes expanding when he trips, his head firmly falling into Ann's heel.
"Oh you got to be…! Urgh I think I got dumbass on my shoe…" Repulsed, Ann grimaces at the face found beneath her heel reeling it back baffled by the mohawk male below.
"A-Am I seeing her in a vision!?" In awe, the man below stares stunned at the grumbling girl.
"Why is she here?" All-Hunt Grount seethes snarls scowling at the back of the pink blonde, the source of all his mentor's problems…the source of the people talking badly about his mentor, labelling him a traitor, a sore loser and much worse while All-Hunt Grount' blood boil, bubbles, burn if he hadn't met her, if he had just continued on with his life maybe he wouldn't have left, maybe he wouldn't have fought Akainu maybe he wouldn't have lost so much…
"All-Hunt Grount wait…!" Bonham calls out but it falls to deaf ears.
"This is the chance of a lifetime I won't blow it!" All-Hunt Grount growls about to strike but…
"Cool your jets. Zappas right there. What's the matter Zappa?" Bonham calls out to him pulling All-Hunt Grount back.
"You…" Zappa slowly stands staring in awe at the annoyed Ann before rushing towards her.
"Huh? Hey! Heard of personal space much?" Ann leaps back from the heart faced man in her face, his nostrils flaring frighting almost alarming Ann at the sight.
"You're Hibiscus Ann Of the red haired pirates aren't you?" Zappa asks awestruck.
"No I just look exactly like her." Dryly, Ann deadpans.
"You can't fool me!" Zappa swoons smiling.
"…I wasn't- Hey your uniform… don't tell me I'm on marine headquarters land urgh just my luck…" Ann groans, getting ready to knock him out when…
"I've been gazing at…your wanted poster night and day!" Ann does another double take towards the flirtatious poster of hers thrown in her way.
"The hell!? What is wrong with you!?" Ann slaps said poster out of his hand.
"And now you're in front of me!" Merrily, Zappa swoons smiling.
"What's with that face?" Frankly, Ann couldn't help but ask astonished at such a repulsive face.
"Oh my beautiful amore!" Animatedly, he twirls about astonishing Ann.
"Your what?!" Ann repulsed recoils back baffled by the situation she found herself in as he raised his blade to her however his blade soon met another…
"Isuka?!" All-Hunt Grount growls glaring at her.
"…Vice admiral…" Isuka greets her.
"What are you doing Nailing?" The braided man demands from her.
"Isuka…?" Astonished, Ann stares stunned at the redhead rushing into battle blocking the hit sent her way.
"I…I'm sorry vice admiral I…when I heard you were around I had to find you and…" Isuka tries to explain turning to face her after throwing Zappa back.
"Isuka…" Ann softens sadly at her however…
"Vice Admiral I…" Isuka begins bowing her head however…
"ISUKA!" All-Hunt Grount growls as she is swiftly thrown back by All-Hunt Grount's fierce fist.
"Urgh…" Isuka grimaces from the sandy shores she is dragged across.
"Isuka…!" Ann rushes over to the redhead, helping her up.
"Why…why are you getting in the way!? Why are you defending that thing?" All-Hunt Grount growls at Isuka.
"That thing has a name!" Annoyed, Ann snaps scowling helping Isuka up.
"Shut up traitor!" All-Hunt Grount growls at her.
"All-Hunt Grount…" Isuka squirms wincing.
"She's a traitor she betrayed Kuzan-san!" All-Hunt Grount reminds Isuka.
"Betrayed? Okay kiddo seems you got things the wrong way round." Amused, Ann chuckles letting Isuka steady herself.
"On the contrary I have everything the right way around!" All-Hunt Grount growls raising his fist but…
"Okay then explain? I'd love to hear this so called argument of yours?" Swiftly, she catches his fist flabbergasting the boys before throwing All-Hunt Grount aside amused almost as she looms over the boy beneath her feet.
"You…if Kuzan-san hadn't met you he wouldn't have left he wouldn't have…!" All-Hunt Grount growls up at her.
"Hold the snail…so the spinless ass deciding to fight Akainu is somehow my fault?" Amused, Ann hollowly heckles haughty.
"It is! And Kuzan-san isn't spineless he's-" All-Hunt Grount begins but is swiftly muffled by the sand shore below courtesy of the harsh heel to his head.
"You're right. He isn't spineless. Fortunately for him, he made himself a spine of ice to make up for his lack of a real spine." Sickly sweetly, she smiles down at the boy below.
"You…!" All-Hunt Grount growls as she swiftly shuts him up by pushing his head back into the sandy shores below.
"Oh this should be good, tell me little one how in that little deluded head of yours how that idiot's actions are my fault…?" Amused, Ann with her hands in her pockets, scoops All-Hunt Grount's chin from the sand using the top of her heel, forcing his head up from the sand smirking sadistically down at the battered bloodied bruised boy bemused.
"If he hadn't fallen for your wild ways, he wouldn't have had his position questioned, he wouldn't have had his…!" All-Hunt Grount growls spitting sand at the unamused Ann.
"Are you done?" Disgusted, Ann eyes the mess of All-Hunt Grount below beneath her.
"…Excuse you?" All-Hunt Grount growls grunts grinds his teeth together tense towards the amused Amm.
"What that coward did has nothing to do with me." Ann steps back, brushing the boy back.
"…What did you say?!" Startled, All-Hunt Grount stands stunned.
"You heard what I said. That spineless coward was probably pressured into fighting Akainu, if you told that lowly dog to sit he'd sit if you told him to stay he'd stay hell if you told him to jump he'd jump off a bloody bridge probably do us all a favour if he did." Honestly, Ann explains to the group.
"You…! He fought for your sake!" Seething, All-Hunt Grount rushes at Ann however…
"He fought for his own sake." Smoothly, she spins out of the way of All-Hunt Grount's furious fist.
"Huh?" All-Hunt Grount gawks gapes at her.
"He fought to make himself feel better." Bluntly, Ann deadpans.
"What did you say!?" Scowling, All-Hunt Grount growls going for another hit however…
"You heard what I said he fought to deflect the blame of his crime, to avoid responsibility for Marineford, to make himself feel better than the other admirals as if he isn't soaked with blood of so many." Poisonously, Ann sneers scowling spinning away from another hit, furrowing her brow by the thought of the bloodied body of her baby brother, blood boiling, bubbling, burning.
"…You…!" All-Hunt Grount growls glaring at the unfazed Ann as Isuka stands between the three boys, blade in hand ready to take the trio on.
"All I wanted from that fool was for him to leave me alone." Ann states the fact firmly flabbergasting the group by said singular request. Grount stares stunned shocked at the resolved look in the woman's eye, even he could see the truth in her eyes however it only made Grout's blood boil bubble burn further fury freely flow through him…if that was the case…then why…? Why fight Akainu?
"Ann san!" Smiling swooning, Zappa having ignored it all rushes towards Ann astonishing All-Hunt Grount snapping out of it when watching Zappa go for another swift strike.
"Vice Admiral San!" Worried, Isuka calls out stunned by Zappa's swift speed but…
"Hey were you dropped as a kid or something? Urgh you're disgusting…!" Disgusted, Ann avoids another strike of his blades.
"Ann-san!" Isuka calls out worriedly when watching her dodge each and every strike with ease.
"Forget that we're a Navy Soldier and a pirate and marry me amore!?" Awestruck, Zappa zips around the place, heart eyes throbbing towards the repulsed annoyed Ann avoiding each and every swipe of the blade baffled by the weirdo before her, having no clue what to do or how to deal with the weirdo.
"You're disgusting!" Isuka glares trying to intercept but is thrown back quickly caught by Bonham, held in his hold despite her flailing about.
"Yeah…sorry but no thanks thought about that once did not end well…" Ann grimaces briefly by the thought trying to keep things light-hearted having no clue what to make of the fool twirling about the place.
"You've clearly been hurt let me loosen up your closed heart with my lonely heart!" Zappa wraps his arms around Ann's leg alarming astonishing her horrifying her even.
"KING! WHERE ARE YOU!? TAKE ME BACK I'LL MARRY KAIDO I'LL MARRY ONE OF BIG MOM'S INCEST KIDS JUST GET ME AWAY FROM THIS CREEP!" Ann roars hollers calling out to the high heavens begging for the raptor to swoop down and save her from whatever that thing was.
"Accept my love Baciami!" Zappa swoons smiling calling out to her.
"How about you accept my fist!?" Fuming, Ann reels her furious fist back.
"Urgh…" Zappa cries out after being swiftly struck in the gut falling to his knees heaving.
"Wow he was more accepting that I thought…" Amazed, Ann looks down at her fist.
"Hibiscus!" All-Hunt Grount growls glaring at the woman, leaping up in the air reeling his fist back to strike.
"Now that headache to deal with…" Annoyed, Ann grumbles turning to face the boy darting down at her.
"Hibiscus! I will kick your ass." He snarls about to strike but…
"Or not…" Ann easily steps to the side avoiding said strike staring down at the mohawk man hitting the sandy shore below hate head face first in the gritty grain below.
"Let me take care of her!" The man with braids rushes in only to gasp as Isuka quickly strikes throwing Bonham into the sandy shores below.
"Right…welp that solves that." Ann pleased clasps her hands together.
"Ann san I know a ship you can have." Isuka offers.
"I like the sound of that, well you guys I'd say it was nice meeting you but we all know that's be a lie soo…you do you if you'll excuse us." Ann excuses herself, Isuka following but…
"Hibiscus Ann…" Zappa grunts grimacing holding his stomach squirming shakily standing surprising Ann.
"Huh? You're still breathing?" Brow furrowed, Ann eyes Zappa disappointed almost.
"You got to be kidding me." Isuka draws out her blade.
"If I can beat her then she will be mine!" Zappa rushes at Ann.
"…If that isn't a red flag I don't know what is…" Ann mutters.
"Let me handle him mam." Isuka offers but…
"Hey when did I say I belonged to anyone assholes!" Angrily, she snaps blanking Isuka out.
"I LOVE PRETTY GIRLS WHO KNOW WHAT THEY WANT!" Zappa blushes brightly lunging at her.
"…Okay please can someone clarify if he was dropped as a kid or is just…that way cause I can't tell!" Ann requests dodging each and every strike sent her way.
"I don't know mam." Isuka admits.
"Hibiscus I'll take you down!" All-Hunt Grount goes after her again.
"You really shouldn't announce your intentions if you want to win kid." Ann sighs slapping her hand over the back of Mohawk's head, slamming her knee into his face, blood spurting spilling out of his broken busted nose.
"…KID!? I'll kill you!" All-Hunt Grount growls bloodied battered beaten.
"Did you not hear me the first time?" Tiredly, Ann sighs swiftly tripping him up making him fall for her to knee his gut, scarlet spewing out of his mouth mortified.
"Dammit! Dammit! Damn yo-Argh!" All-Hunt Grount stumbles back holding his chest squirming grimacing writhing.
"Welp that was uneventful. Isuka if you would…." Ann turns to Isuka.
"Of course." Isuka nods.
"Isuka you'd turn your back on the marines!" All-Hunt Grount growls at her heaving on the floor.
"I owe my mentor a lot would you not do the same for your mentor!?" Isuka barks making All-Hunt Grount go quiet from his words while…
"Damn! How pathetic All-Hunt Grount, let me fight!" Bonham grabs hold of Ann's ankle making her scowl down at the hand below.
"Can't I just leave? I really can't be bothered to play right now kids." Ann tiredly tuts turning to look down at the braided boy beneath her feet.
"I'm sorry about this mam." Isuka sighs sadly about to end the braided boy beneath her mentor's feet when…
"Breath Qigong the first step! Reinforcing adios! Finger pistol!" Bonham shifts into his form going to strike as he throws Ann into the air.
"Guess that's a no then." Tiredly, Ann sighs spinning in the air as she swiftly snatches him by said finger pistol throwing him into the forest side of the beach.
"H-How?" Bonham stutters shocked stunned stuck in the forest.
"So fast! As nimble as a swan!" Zappa gushes giddily from the sand.
"Have you seen a swan?" Ann sweatdrops.
"Flying finger pistol sting! I'm a master of the six powers!" Bonham rushes out of the trees rushing towards Ann.
"Okay I'm getting bored here." Huffing, Ann avoids each and every strike with ease until…
"Let me handle this mam!" Isuka releases a fluffy of her nailing technique taking him out.
"Nice work Isuka…" Ann praises her.
"Thank you mam." Modestly, she bows her head to Ann angering the boys.
"So…are we done here?" Ann asks looking down at the shaken mess on his knees beneath her before she turns to leave.
"I should hope so." Isuka admits as the two turn to leave but…
"Running is all you can do?" All-Hunt Grount grunts growls shakily standing.
"I mean…I could do more but…" Ann begins but…
"Iron body!" All-Hunt Grount rushes at her however…
"That requires effo-eh?!" Swiftly, she skids underneath the stunned All-Hunt Grount beneath his legs as soon as she does she is greeted by flowers to the face flabbergasting her as she swiftly sneezes.
"A present for you." Zappa proudly presents them to her.
"…I thought I knocked you out…" Ann sweatdrops shocked to see him still standing.
"Nothing will stop me when it comes to our love yu pretty and cute young lady!" Zappa coos creeping Ann out.
"…That…urgh you're giving me way too many Kizaru vibes could you stop?" Ann ask uncomfrtbale, furrowing her brow at Zappa.
"Hibiscus Ann…what a lovely name!" Zappa swoons smiling still depiste the ufrroed frown of Ann.
"Do you hear yourself? Urgh forget it see ya weirdo!" Ann dips out of there, Isuka following just done.
"She gave me a pet name! Wait…if I can beat her maybe she'll respect me yes I understand if I arrest her but have a so called change of heart and free her she'll see me as her knight in shining armour and Ah-!" Animatedly, Zappa gushes giddily beaming brightly in a world of his own when thinking of the two together, him as her knight she his princess.
"Yeah. No." His friends and Ann include swiftly shut sad dream down, the boys not even stopping Ann's swift chop to the back of his head knocking him out as he eats the gritty grains below.
"This should help you escape." Isuka gestures to the boats before them.
"Yeah…you know you'll be punished for this." Ann couldn't help but eye Isuka.
"…I know." Isuka bows her head, a still silence falling between both student and mentor.
Quietly, Ann looks over at the boats on offer, she could steal a marine vessel would make the sea kings not a problem but that'd be too obvious, she'd practically paint a target on her back and with king as well with his flames, she didn't want to risk that then again taking a smaller boat would be easy to navigate to dodge his flames, she would also be least likely to be caught…
"Thanks again for this Isuka." Ann gives her that.
"I'm simply trying to redeem myself. Perhaps I'm no better than Aokiji-san…" Sadly, Isuka considers making Ann frown.
"Please don't compare yourself to such scum." Ann ruffles Isuka's head.
"Huh?" Isuka blurts out.
"Least you have some standards when it comes to your choice of company." Bitterly, Ann sneers scowling.
"Hm? What do you mean?" Isuka blinks befuddled.
"You know what I mean." Ann snaps sharply severely making Isuka grimace.
"Vice admiral…helping you like this…just to make myself feel better for what I did to you…for letting Ace down, for letting you down…" Isuka sniffles softly, the tears threatening to fall from her.
"Isuka…please stop calling me vice admiral." Ann turns away pained.
"What? WHY!?" Isuka frowns flabbergasted.
"That person, the person that mentored you…I'm not that person anymore." Ann admits.
"But you're a good person you…!" Earnestly, Isuka argues but…
"…I'm really not." Ann hardens herself as much as she appreciated Isuka's aid this is where it had to end for both their sakes.
"But…" Isuka begins but…
"Please Isuka I am grateful for your aid but this is where it must end between us. I am no longer Portgas D. Ann. That woman died in Ohara." Honestly, Ann tells Isuka.
"Then…who are you?" Isuka couldn't help but ask.
"The child of the devil of course. Gol D. Ann." Ann bows her head, hand over her heart.
"…Ann…" Isuka sniffles sadly.
"I'm grateful for your aid truly and your lingering faith in scum like me but…I'm not the person you thought I was…I'm sorry." Ann bows her head guilt gnawing away at her for using the girl's earnest nature this long.
"No I 'm sorry! If I had…If I just…!" Isuka tries to explain but her voice cracks breaks before Ann.
"If you had done what?" Ann asks astonishing Isuka.
"Hm?" Isuka stops sniffling surprised by the question.
"Do you honestly believed you could have saved him?" Ann arches a baffled brow.
"I…I'd like to think I could have tried." Timidly, Isuka admits.
"…Isuka even if you had tried…no one can change fate." Ann tells Isuka.
"…Fate?" Isuka whispers.
"We each have a destined role to play and my brother…as painful as it is to admit had fulfilled his, we must respect his decision even if you think of these what ifs, what happened, happened, what's done is done. Ace is dead. He isn't coming back." Bluntly, Ann tells Isuka.
"Vice Admiral…" Isuka whimpers weakly.
"Told you not to call me that. Still even in your position at the time you couldn't have done anything to stop what was to come." Ann steps forward towards the boat.
"But I could have I could have…!" Isuka goes to argue but…
"Isuka what have I told you about what ifs…" Ann tuts tiredly.
"…" Isuka goes quiet.
"Isuka you've grown into a fine marine, the fact you're questioning the marines brings some semblance of hope to me, hope of change at the least." Ann sighs getting ready to set off.
"How can you forgive me but not Kuzan-san mam?" Isuka couldn't help but.
"…Because you are you, the man I…that man is not the man I knew nor am I the woman he knew." Ann sighs sadly.
"What do you mean?" Isuka couldn't help but query.
"…you're willing to bear the burden of what happened." Ann sighs sadly at Isuka.
"Huh?" Isuka blurts out.
"You're willing to bear the responsibility of Marineford, you know it was wrong and you still take responsibility for it even if you weren't there even if you weren't in a high enough power to stop it the fact that you're willing to acknowledge the marines messed up, the marines made a mistake or at the least, the marines have their flaws…that's something not many people can do…that's something not even an admiral can do." Ann explains to Isuka brow furrowed from the thought of a certain someone at a familiar grave, flowers in his hands, her hearts eyes glistening glowering glaring at the man.
"Ann…I still failed you, I failed both you and Ace I'm so…" Isuka argues seemingly snap Ann out of it.
"Don't." Ann warns sharply, brushing a stray tear aside at the wave of disappointment hitting her from the murky memory.
"Huh?" Isuka blurts out.
"I've heard sorry far too many times." Tiredly, Ann exhales exasperated.
"But…" Isuka begins but…
"Like I said it is what is it but the fact you're questioning the marines is a small step towards them becoming better." Ann tells Isuka.
"Ann-san…" Isuka whispers weakly watching her step towards the boats but…
"Hibiscus…" Ann jolts up at the familiar sickening sweet voice of…
"Zappa." Isuka draws out her blade glaring. Scowling, she turns to the waste of space frowning from his knelt down form, a singular rose proposed in his face making her scowl sharply.
"Isuka my darling!" Zappa coos.
"Urgh would you just stop!" Scowling, she slaps said rose away releasing numerous swift strikes towards the smiling Zappa zip zapping out of each and every nailing strike.
"…yeeeeah too many Kizaru vibes on that weirdo…" Ann eyes the mess, feeling the second hand embarrassment hitting her hard, pitying her horrified student before turning towards the ships, firmly focused on leaving.
"That bastard!" All-Hunt Grount growls rushing towards the docks Bonham behind him about to lunge at Ann but…
"Outta my way All-Hunt Grount I'll beat her!" Bonham holds All-Hunt Grount back once more.
"Hibiscus Ann!" Bonham rushes at her.
"I'll do it stay out of it Bonham!" Zappa lunges forward.
"What-how!?" Astonished, Isuka gasps at Zappa shooting past her.
"What did you say?!" Bonham says stunned.
"Hibiscus Ann hit me more! Please! Please! I love a woman in charge!" Lovestruck, Zappa pleads to the mortified Ann.
"What is wrong with you!?" Ann gawks gapes at Zappa, once again dodging each and every strike sent her way.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on my mentor!" Mad, Isuka rushes at Zappa.
"Isuka could you be…jealous?" Hopeful, he asks the roaring redhead attempting to nail him down.
"Stop you fool!" Bonham calls out rushing at Ann.
"You don't know me enough to call me a fool." Ann avoids his hit.
"How about a rat then?" Bonham growls glaring going for another hit however…
"Still don't know me enough to call me that either." Ann unfazed finds herself on his fist flabbergasting Bonham but not Ann looking drained done even with the kids.
"Even if you're feared as the Yonko's right hand and daughter of the pirate king you act dumb when it counts All-Hunt Grount she's just like you!" Bonham smirks slightly batting Ann back as she leaps off, drawing as much distance as she can from the three, she wasn't in the mood to play but she knew knocking them out with conquerors would just bring in more fleas for her to bat aside. She just wanted off this island that's all, was that so hard to ask?
"Yet again don't know me enough to say that also wouldn't really call this dumb just sick of shit is what I'd call it." Ann clarifies for the children candidly.
"What?! Are you saying that I'm a dumbass?!" All-Hunt Grount growls.
"…I didn't say that but I won't deny it either." Buchin admits.
"…Welp there ignoring me might as well make use of that." Ann decides turning her back to the bickering two trying to make her escape but…
"Oh my dear Hibiscus give me another punch pretty please." Blushing, Zappa pops out of nowhere clinging to her leg.
"HOW ARE YOU ESCAPING ME!?" Mad, Isuka seethes shakes.
"Oh god…he's one of those…Repulsed, she glares glowers down at him.
"Hibiscus!" Zappa wails but…
"Nope." She swiftly kicks him away, throwing him aback as a pair of debris manages to get in her eyes.
"She winked! She looks like a goodness!" Zappa swoons smiling just as Isuka goes to strike him, oblivious to Ann rubbing her eye from said singular piece of sand.
"Go Vice Admiral!" Isuka calls out as Ann nods making her escape.
"Damn! Let's chase her!" Buchin decides as they go to do just that.
"Hibiscus!" All-Hunt Grount growls, fist raised roaring at her.
"Urgh that guy doesn't give up." Ann complains avoiding another firm fist throwing her way.
"Hibiscus love me!" Zappa swoons striking time and time again.
"COME BACK HERE!" Roaring, Isuka chases after Zappa fuming.
"Neither does that guy…" Annoyed, Ann thinks to herself.
"Breath Qigong- the second step reducing, now you can't see me!" Bonham rushes at her in his second thinner form but…
"Yeah I wouldn't say that." She swiftly kicks him into the ground burying him from said single kick.
"Bonham!" All-Hunt Grount and Zappa call out.
"Like I said, ciao." Ann salutes swiftly taking off.
"Love slashing!" Zappa goes to strike at her manging to use said slash to cut her off from her path.
"Urgh…" Ann groans grimaces at the voice.
"I can't let you go my Hibiscus!" Zappa dictates determined.
"You really can and since when was I yours!?" Annoyed, Ann barks brow furrows at Zappa, swiftly kicking him aback as he blushes brightly by said strike.
"Welp that solv-" Ann dusts her hands off heading towards the ships when…
"I love how dominating you are Hibiscus!" Happily, Zappa gushes to Ann taking her aback at how quickly he recovered proposing to her.
"Stop making things weird dude!" Angrily, Ann barks down at Zappa.
"Hibiscus will you be my wife?" He proposes getting on his knee for Ann astonishing her.
"HELL NO." Ann barks back brow furrowed fuming.
"Even if you say no I know you love me!" Zappa squeals smiling.
"And I know you need to grow up and think about what women want!" Isuka roars raising her blade down at Zappa, throwing him to the sandy shores.
"Argh! An awakening of love it's like heaven!" Zappa gushes giddily on the sand floor.
"Leave this weirdo to me Ann-san!" Isuka calls out.
"Gladly." Ann brushes past the weirdo.
"Wait!" Bloodied, battered, beaten, Zappa calls out.
"Damn you're persistent…you're like a cockroach." Ann couldn't help but compare eyeing the hand around her ankle.
"Please let me join you." Zappa pleads.
"Say what?!" Ann, Isuka, All-Hunt Grount and Bonham say stunned shocked.
"Let us roam the seas together as husband and wife by taking you down I'll prove why you should let me be your husband! Burning blow!" Zappa goes for another of his signature moves but…
"Yep real Kizaru vibes." Ann sighs swiftly slamming her foot into his hand, releasing him.
"Nailing…!" Isuka strikes at the man on the sandy shores while Ann leaves the two to it.
"Hibiscus!" All-Hunt Grount rushes at her…again.
"Oh for…" Ann rolls her eyes.
"My name is All Hunt All-Hunt Grount." All-Hunt Grount introduces himself slamming his metallic gauntlet into the sandy shore.
"That…what kind of name is that?" Ann couldn't help but ask as she throws herself back sliding against the sand, trying to build distance.
"A name you'd better remember!" All-Hunt Grount points at her.
"…I really won't." Ann admits annoyed.
"Oh you will cause your journey ends here because I've never lost to anyone!" All-Hunt Grount smirks smugly slamming his fist into his inner palm.
"So annoying." Ann rubs the side of her head tousling her short loose locks of pink before giving All-Hunt Grount a simple singular punch throwing him back.
"Damn! H-Her punch is heavier than before…it's just like Garp-san's!" All-Hunt Grount is quickly thrown back by said swift fist.
"Listen to me kids I got a certain dinosaur on my tail, and I'd rather not have civilians get hurt on my watch." Ann attempts to reason with him.
"Cilvains we're marines!" Offended, Grout growls.
"Civllins marines either way you lot get in the way so if you'd just leave so I can get on a boat then we'll be fine." Ann dismisses.
"All-Hunt Grount!" His friends call out to the struggling boy trying to get up but can't find the will to.
"Can I go now?" Ann asks as she looks around.
"ARGHHH!" Grout growls slamming his fist to the All-Hunt Grount
"…Guess not." Ann eyes the gorilla fist.
"ARRRGHHHHH!" Grout continues yelling.
"How long are you going to scream for?" Unfazed, Ann asks eyeing for any incoming marines.
"PIRATES…AND THE FOUR EMPEORER I'LL BRING THEM ALL DOWN!" Grount growls resolved.
"Cute but…you won't be the one to bring them down." Determined, Ann asserts astonishing the marines when seeing such dark eyes as next Grout knew she had her hand to his throat, his gorilla arm couldn't even reach as she before that swift broke his gorilla arm.
"All-Hunt Grount!" His friends call out concerned for their friend being lifted up towards the washing waves of the sea, calmly carefully casually even as Grout struggles squirms unable to not anything but flail like a fish almost as tears begin forming in his eyes.
"I'm afraid I already have someone filling that role…read a book or find something else to do kid." Ann then tosses the boy aside as he had slammed his eyes shut preparing to drown but to his and his friend's surprise, he's spared.
"Huh?" He stares stunned at Ann as just then a sharp spotlight shines down upon her pinning her down along with a whole army of marines aiming their guns at her.
"Hibiscus Ann…I can't let you past through here marine traitor." Piot smirks smugly down at her from the higher cliffs of the island.
"Oh so you notice me but not the velociraptor in the sky!?" Snippily, she points up but…
"Have you ever imagined how many people are living in fear and terror…from your barbaric acts?!" Piot paces back and forth blanking her out.
"And you're ignoring me…" Ann sighs crossing her arms over her chest.
"All for your selfish dreams despite the misery you cause you guys call it an adventure! And as Navy soldiers we can't let you off!" He continues on regardless.
"How long had you had that little speech stored?" Ann couldn't help but ask amused as he simply freezes flinches from the question.
"You…you'll regret coming to this island Hibiscus! Otherwise I'll be demoted!" He roars taking out his canon of sorts.
"So you're doing it for your own benefit...ah there's the marines I remember!" Amused, Ann chuckles coyly as they all aim at her.
"If HQ finds out that we were messed with by you in particular I'll be reassigned with my retirement at hand! If I get demoted my pension will be cute significantly my well funded retirement plan will be ruined!" Prodi panics perturbed.
"And those are the real issues we face in this society, slavery nah, celestial dragon nah, racism between fishmen and humans nah to name a few, nothing compared to the problems you're facing there guy." Sarcastically, Hibiscus mocks.
"That's how fine tuned justice is and now I'll take your life!" Prodi proclaims firing his blast at her.
"I was being sarcastic! Urgh it's cute you lot think you can beat me…you think just cause your gun's bigger you're better, overcompensating much?" Ann snaps swiftly dodging the blast before dodging the rest, mocking them all.
"You…vixen!" Prodi growls glaring grip tightening tensing on his canon.
"Hibiscus is what I preferred to be called I'm afraid." Amused, she kicks one of the canons thrown her way back at the group of marines blasting a few back.
"I know! I used to fight your grandfather with this often!" Prodi sneers.
"I don't…oh you think he's my…yeah we're not related." Ann assures amused almost as she suddenly stops to correct that.
"That's right when we were young it was evenly matched against with his fists!" But he continues on regardless.
"…How are you both ignoring and listening to me at the same time?" Taken aback, Ann couldn't help but wonder.
"I fought Garp with this haki filled ammo! Do you want a taste of it?!" Prodi threatens.
"What I want is off this island!" Irritated, Ann snaps scowling.
"That's not gonna happen!" The marines aim but…
"So annoying." Ann tuts tiredly as with one flick of her eye, the wave of haki knocks them all out.
"Ann!" Isuka calls out rushing over to her side.
"Is the boat ready Isuka?" Ann asks.
"Yes!" Isuka nods.
"Good, time to get off this headache of an island." Ann ruffles her locks following Isuka towards the boat.
"Its silent…that demon must have dealt with them, All-Hunt Grount wake up and get up on your feet already! Let's go before she steals a marine ship!" Bonham weakened, winded, wounded tries to get All-Hunt Grount up but…
"I'm not going." All-Hunt Grount battered bloodied beaten bruised refuses on the sandy floor.
"What's wrong? Hibiscus is waiting for me!" Zappa frets.
"I'm useless. Too weak! I'm too weak!" All-Hunt Grount grimaces anguished at the firm fact of the matter, shaking almost anxious to face the woman.
"All-Hunt Grount…you fool! What's wrong with you!? I thought you were better than this. No matter who you were up against you always took a stand! Have you lost the guts!? Well!? It's no use. Let's go." Bonham scowls seeing All-Hunt Grount remaining shaking, scared almost to face her.
"Bonham has got the Breath Qigong. I've got these swords. You've got your left arm. Have you forgotten what the admiral taught us!?" Zappa adds frowning at All-Hunt Grount.
"What the admiral taught us…?" All-Hunt Grount whispers weakly.
"Bonham! Zappa!" Isuka growls getting out her blade.
"Get out of the way Isuka." Bonham orders.
"My lady do as my friend says!" Zappa agrees drawing out his blades, both being bloodied, battered and bruised.
"…Really? You two really want to do this?" Tiredly, Ann arches a bored brow.
"Hibiscus!" Bonham rushes at her.
"It's a return match!" Zappa does too.
"You guys just gonna keep screaming?" Sighing, she raises a bored brow at the two.
"Nailing!" Isuka swiftly strikes them both down.
"…Okay then." Pleased, Ann clasps her hands together at the sight, now that that was sorted she could finally get on a boat and get out of this mess of an island. King fortunately for her seemed to have given up by now, no doubt being near a marine HQ had him a bit on edge too, she assumed.
"Admiral…Aokiji-san…." All-Hunt Grount sniffles softly at the thought of the man.
"ARGHHHHH!" The young boy cloaked screams scared by the monstrous ape like hand causing chaos amongst the ruined remains of his home island.
"What the hell let's stop by for a bit…oh?" Aokiji on his bike in the sea spots said destroyed island, going over to the ruined remains, looking around the ruined wreckage, spotting no life except for one, a bunded up cloaked figure sat on the floor sniffling.
"Oh so…I guess you did this, didn't you boy? Well you can't undo what you did…hm? Oh no." Aokiji takes a seat staring out at the wreckage until noting the monstrous arm towering over him.
"AHHHHH! STOP! I DON'T WANT THIS ARM CUT IT OFF! CUT IT OFF! CUT IT OFF!" The young All-Hunt Grount screams scared as Aokiji avoids the hand with ease as Aokiji quickly freezes it over…
"Admiral wait a minute why should I be on stand by again!? I can fight! I've been working harder than anyone else to become a full fledged solider!" A older All-Hunt Grount tells admiral Aokiji as he looks out at the sea, a grim grave look on his furrowed features, the trio had spotted said heavy look.
"Well um…what can I say? You're still a fledgling and not ready yet." Aokiji dismisses the trio.
"I can even control this arm now! So…Damn!" All-Hunt Grount curses when he tries to show his metallic arm off but it malfunctions.
"Well that's what I'm talking about I don't want it to go out of control in the middle of a battle. Once you set out to sea in the future you'll face relentless outlaws. Let me ask you if you encounter nemeses like that what will you do?" Aokiji asks him as All-Hunt Grount couldn't help but note the heavy look on his fatigued features, he normally looked tired but this was another new level, almost as if it were a look of dread for what was to come.
"…!" The group go quiet.
"Anyway there's no need to rush. You'll see someday. Well good luck." Aokiji leaves them to it.
"I see…so this is what Aokiji-san was talking about." All-Hunt Grount gets up.
"Welp that was uneventful. Nice work Isuka." Ann brushes the dirt off her hands.
"Thank you mam." Isuka bows her head.
"Spare the formalities would ya? Now back to the shi-" Smiling, Ann turns to said ship but….
"Hibiscus!" All-Hunt Grount growls rushing out of nowhere.
"OH COME ON!" Aggravated, Ann snaps scowling fed up.
"I'll handle him!" Isuka rushes at All-Hunt Grount, blade in hand however…
"Isuka!" Ann calls out as she is thrown aside.
"I'm not gonna let you get away!" All-Hunt Grount swears seething.
"Why not!?" Ann dodges his tackle.
"Because maybe Aokiji san will come back if he sees I brought you in!" All-Hunt Grount reasons.
"What?!" Astonished, Ann does a double take.
"You're the reason he left!" All-Hunt Grount blames.
"What that dumbass does has nothing to do with me!" Ann snaps scowling.
"He cared for you!" All-Hunt Grount argues.
"He cared for someone who never existed, that's his problem not mine now if you'll excuse me…" Ann tries to turn back to the ship but…
"All-Hunt Grount you finally came!" Bonham and Zappa perk up at the sight of him.
"Oh come on!" Ann tugs at her hair just done, she didn't want to kill these kids but holding back so much was killing her.
"Bonham Zappa leave the rest to me!" All-Hunt Grount tells them.
"Why can't you just leave me alone!? I didn't want this fight I just want a mode of transport that's all and have that moron of a velociraptor follow me. I was doing you guys a favour!" Fuming, Ann snaps seethes shakes at the trio tired.
"Hibiscus fight me!" All-Hunt Grount demands from her.
"Urgh…" Ann slumps her shoulders releasing a strained sound of stress.
"I will take you down with my left arm!" He swears it.
"…You're not going to give are you?" Ann sighs facepalming.
"I have to thank you Hibiscus you woke me up! Hibiscus I'll never forgive you!" He tells her before screaming.
"And there we go with the screaming…and the ape arm…OKAY that's new." Ann does a double take towards the arm.
"All-Hunt Grount! He finally did it!" His friends beam brightly proud of him controlling said arm.
"So if I deal with you, you'll leave me alone?" Ann's eyes darken briefly scaring Zappa and Bonham.
"Yeah!" All-Hunt Grount growls.
"Right then." Ann cracks her head from side to side, the boys flinching from the crisp crunch of bone.
"Come at me." She accepts the challenge doing a come hither motion.
"Here we g-argh!" All-Hunt Grount gasps as with ease she catches the fist, hitting him with a singular fist of her own as with said single strike, scarlet spews out of his mouth falling to his knees.
"We're done here now right?" Ann eyes the shaking legs of All-Hunt Grount barely standing scared almost at the volume of blood bellowing out of him.
"H-How…?" He stutters scared scarlet soaked.
"You're good for a marine how's that?" Ann offers aloofly as she turns back to the boat.
"T-That…" Grount's legs buckle falling to the sandy shore below once more.
"Welp a deal's a deal oh by the way if you see my piece of shit of a gramps give him this from me he'll know what it means." Ann gives the boys the middle finger.
"Urgh…" All-Hunt Grount coughs crimson finally falling.
"See ya Isuka. Take care of yourself." Ann salutes taking off on her boat.
"Now do you understand?" All-Hunt Grount gurgling turns to look up at Isuka's ice cold glare.
"… Even in that final punch…she held back." Grunt grimaces his insides bleeding.
"You never stood a chance…none of us did. It was better to help her than have the whole island be destroyed." Isuka eyes the velociraptor rushing at the boat, Isuka worriedly watching on before catching All-Hunt Grount as he falls into the dark depths of his subconscious…
"The Pirate King's dead!"
"All hail the marines!"
"Burn in hell Roger!"
The marines roar raising their respective glasses clicking their respective brews beaming brightly by the anniversary of the pirate king's demise. The marines dance about in the bar beaming brightly by the loss of the pirate king, some slurring, some spilling some of their beer, some simply in a world of their own high off the buzz in the air as they enjoy the joyous day.
Zappa one-sidedly talks to Isuka, swooning smiling but Isuka doesn't even bat an eye to him, Bonham happily enjoys a drinking contest with a younger All-Hunt Grount, devouring his booze before being chugged under the table by a booming Bonham laughing. All-Hunt Grount grunts grumbles shakily standing up, ruby red tinting his cheeks spotting some girls gossiping going over to the lone figure at the bar that is Aokiji, the only silent marine in the bar, the marines had of course invited him but he had remined seated silently sipping his sherry wine.
All-Hunt Grount spots the girls going over to his side, trying to flirt with him however to All-Hunt Grount's surprise he doesn't bat an eye to the girls clinging to his side or at the least trying to but as they flirted with the admiral, the admiral to All-Hunt Grount's surprise didn't bat an eye to the girls simply staring down at his sherry wine, softy sipping it staring ahead as the bored girls whine growing bored of the admiral's dejection leaving him to it as All-Hunt Grount couldn't help but approach his mentor.
"Kuzan-san…" All-Hunt Grount makes his way over to his mentor.
"Hm?" He hums glancing over at All-Hunt Grount.
"Those girls…" All-Hunt Grount begins baffled, his mentor would have been happy to flirt with them, take one or two to some room, to have some fun and yet…
"Say did you hear?" Grount perks up at two partially buzzed boozed up marines.
"Hear what?"
"About Akainu-san's proposal of being Fleet Admiral!"
"Proposal?"
"Yeah he promised if he became fleet admiral he'd bring back Hibiscus head and hang it on Marineford as a warning to other pirates!"
"No!"
"Yeah he'd have her executed live to show the whole world the Roger Line was dead, something about finishing what Sengoku should have done!"
"He's so hardcore!"
"Yeah isn't he amazing!"
"Hibiscus deserves it for what she put the marines through!"
"Yeah all those kids wouldn't have died if that demon just told the truth!"
"The world would be a better place without that demon's bloodline!"
"…" Grount notes the sudden drop in the air as well as the sherry wine within the glass clenched in Kuzan's hand turning frosty startling Grount.
"You're still thinking of her…even now?" All-Hunt Grount couldn't help but ask astonished amazed even by the still silence he is met by speaking a thousand words for All-Hunt Grount alone as the two continue drinking…
"Grount! Hey Grount!" All-Hunt Grount stirs slightly from the call of his name finding himself in the med bay.
"Oh he's wakin up!" Zappa smiles.
"All-Hunt Grount!" Bonham calls out.
"You guys…where's Hibiscus?" All-Hunt Grount grimaces from the bright blaring lights above.
"Before we knew it she was gone." Bonham sighs sadly.
"Damn! Hehehahahahaha! As I thought the woman of the right hand of the red haired pirates and vice admiral was something else." All-Hunt Grount cackles beaming brightly in the sand smiling.
"She was as expected of such a beaty!" Zappa gushes giddily.
"Heh you can see why the admiral had such a thing for her." Bemused, Bonham smirks slightly.
"Wait he did!? What have I done!? Crushing on my mentor's partner how horrifying! But she's so beautiful of course my amazing mentor would fall for such a goddess!" Zappa freaks out horrified.
"We'll catch Hibiscus next time for sure!" All-Hunt Grount swears it.
"Of course!" Both boys nod determined to do just that.
Quietly, the brisk breeze brushes through the pale pink hair of Ann, silently staring out at the sea, towards the washing waves of the east, her hand softly ghosting over her stomach brow furrowing from the thought of it all.
"Thinking about him again, are we?" Smirking, Shanks comes up to Ann silently staring out at the washing waves of the sea, the brisk breeze of sea salt wafting in the air, the pair detecting it within the air as they stand staring out at the sea.
"…We're terrible." Sighing, Ann exhales exhausted, too tired to deal with her moron of a brother brow furrowed fatigued from it all anguished almost.
"…We're doing what's best for them." He reminds her.
"…I know…still makes me wonder…" Bitterly, Ann closes her eyes, a grim grave look upon her furrowed features from the thought of it all.
"What about?" Shanks probes gently.
"If he'll hate me." Ann smiles sadly recalling a younger boy she once sat by glaring out at the open sea.
"He could never hate you." Saddened, Shanks eyes soften sadly at the back of the aloof Ann.
"Couldn't he? I really am my father's daughter after all." Anguished, Ann smiles sadly strained, brushing past Shanks heading inside turning his back to the sea, a still silence falling between both of them, the tense air around them.
"I wonder what Luffy's doing right now." Makino couldn't help but wonder while holding the baby boy in her hands, the boy boy sleeping peacefully in Makino's arms as she looks out to sea.
"Here you are! Makino!" An old man approaches Makino.
"Mayor-san!" Makino smiles at the mayor.
"I've been looking for you." He waves his cane about newspaper in hand.
"Is something wrong?" Makino couldn't help but ask.
"That fool is in the newspaper again! Here look! This is a huge deal!" The mayor waves the paper about the place perking the interest of the baby in her arms.
"Luffy!" Makino stares surprised by the paper below before perking up at the fussing baby below.
"It's alright Ace it's okay..." Makino calmly calms the crying child in her arms down.
"Honestly…that girl…she has some nerve…Makino why are you smiling!?" The mayor grumbles glaring at Makino softly smiling at the now sleeping soundly little boy abruptly sleeping with a snot bubble shrinking and growing with each breath of the baby bundle's own in a world of its own.
"Because I'm touched." Makino admits as she smiles softly down at the baby below her.
"…Touched?" The mayor furrows his brow at Makino's soft smile down at the baby bundle.
"For her to give me her most precious treasure…is a great deal." Makino smiles softly down at the snoring child in her arms, snot bubble growing and shrinking. Her brown eyes are unable not to see the familiar freckled face of Ace…
*So...got to ask what did you think of this chapter? Of Ann and Kuzan? Of Ann and Isuka? Of Ann dealing with Kuzan's students? Heck of Ann's secret treasure at the end? How do you think a certain someone would react? Would love to know your thoughts/theories on that ending!