Chapter 46
“Come on girl, don’t be like that.” Wynn whistled lowly at the girl in front of him, she looks like a living clown do, dressed in a Cerulean colored leotard that had White ruffles at the hips, one her right leg red and white striped hip length sock, and in her right a pink and red thigh high sock, and on top of the socks she has yellow ankle socks in with yellow ruffles on the socks. In his right foot she has on a yellow platform heel and on her left foot. She has a blue platform heel. Her platform heels are 8 inches tall so taking her from probably 4 ‘11 to 5 ‘7. She has on short red puff sleeves that aren’t attached to anything, fingerless, red and black striped gloves that go all the way to the puff sleeves, a small ruff around her neck, with a yellow bow tied around the ruff and the yellow bow has a blue sapphire gem right in the middle. How long curly hair is held up into two pigtails by two yellow ribbons tied into bows. And of course, really really really really really cute clown make up.
And she was holding something that he raised his eyebrow at. It looked like a human mixed with a Mink, it? He was tiny, like she was holding him with one arm tiny, he had tan skin, grayish-white-light brown fur around his head and neck like a lion's mane, wolf ears, sharp teeth, and a shaggy little wolf tail. The creature's golden brown eyes looked at him with innocence and curiosity, wagging its tail. It was a peculiar sight, but Wynn had seen weirder things in his short time as a Marine.
“Hey, isn’t this one of the kids on the Roger pirate?” Howard asked tentatively, “didn’t our higher up say not to fuck the kids of the Roger Pirates?” He took a step back, his hand hovering over the handle of his sword.
“Come on, Howard,” Miller nudged him with his elbow. “I’m sure the king of the Pirates won’t miss a little thing like this for too long, we can have our fun and then she can go back to playing with the big boys.”
And that had the little Human? Mink? thing-boy demeanor instantly changing. He started growling snapping and barring his teeth at the marines.
James raised an eyebrow at the Human? Mink? thing-boy, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, well, looks like someone's found themselves a little protector," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. The creature, named Mohji, only grew more agitated, his growls turning into fierce snarls.
“Why don’t you come with us for a little while, and we can show you a good time, Hmm?” Wynn leered at the clown-like girl, his intentions anything but innocent.
The girl, Buggy, watched the 4 Marines with a neutral express. They have been following her and Mhoji for the past hour, maybe an hour and a half and now they have cornered her up against some building. She opened her mouth, but then paused, seemingly deciding not to, before taking a deep breath and screeching at the top of her lungs. “DADDY! THERE’S SOME MARINES TRYING TO TOUCH AND PERV ON ME! ASKING HE TO COME WITH THEM! SAYING YOU WON’T MISS ME OR CARE IF I WENT MISSING!”
Her voice pierced through the air like a siren, causing the Marines to stumble back a step, covering their ears. It was a sound that could wake the dead, or in their case, summon the Pirate King. Before they could react further, a deep, booming laugh echoed through the streets, sending shivers down their spines. They turned to see the legendary Gol D. Roger, his presence commanding and unmistakable, as he practically appeared out of thin air from the throng of people around.
"Buggy, my little star," Roger said, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he looked at the girl. "What's all the commotion about?" He glanced over at the four Marines, his gaze sharp and assessing. They stood tall and straight, trying to maintain their dignity despite their fear.
Buggy unabashedly pointed at the 4 marines, and said very, very loudly, getting everyone’s attention in the vicinity if somehow she already had it from that screech. “Them! They’re saying that they want to show me a… ‘good time’, and that you won’t care if I go missing.”
Roger’s smile never faltered, but his eyes grew a bit colder as he looked over at the marines. "Is that so?" He took a step closer, his hand resting comfortably on the handle of his sword. The marines swallowed hard, realizing that they might have just bitten off more than they could chew.
Howard was the first to recover, trying to explain their innocent intentions. "Sir, we didn't mean any harm! We were just playing around!" But his voice cracked under the pressure of Roger's gaze, and he knew it was a futile attempt.
Miller and James looked at each other, then back at Roger, sweat beading on their foreheads. They had heard the whispers about the legendary pirate captain's fierce protectiveness over his crew. They had always thought it was just sailor's tales, but now they weren't so sure.
“Buggy, Little princess. Why don’t you and Mhoji go off and find Shanksy-boy, and Rails, huh? I think I need to have a little chat with these… boys, about respect and manners.” Roger’s smile was as warm as ever, but there was a glint in his eye that spoke volumes of his displeasure.
Buggy stuck her tongue out at the marines before scurrying off down the street, Mhoji still in her arm, Roger’s eyes never leaving the group of marines. They watched her go, the sound of her platform heels clicking against the cobblestone path as she disappeared into the crowd. "Alright, why don’t you four tell me what you wanted with my daughter?” He didn’t raise his voice, but the authority in his tone was unmistakable.
The marines looked at each other nervously, but none of them spoke up. Roger’s legendary status and the fact that they had just made an enemy of the Pirate King was setting in. They knew they were in for it.
"Well?" Roger prompted, his patience wearing thin. "I'm waiting."
Wynn, the one who had been eyeing Buggy the most, stepped forward, trying to play it cool. "Cap'n Roger, sir, we didn't mean any harm. We just... well, she's so pretty, you see, and we just wanted to, uh, invite her to join us for a drink." He stumbled over his words, his cheeks flushing under the intense scrutiny.
Roger's expression didn't change, but the air grew colder. "So, you thought you could just whisk away my daughter without asking?" The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken threat.
Miller, trying to salvage the situation, stuttered out, "N-no, sir, we didn't know she was your daughter!"
"Did you now?" Roger's smile remained, but the edge to his voice grew sharper. "And what makes you think that you have the right to lay a finger on any member of my crew?"
Wynn took another step back, his hand tightening around his sword hilt. "S-sir, we didn't know she was part of your crew either. We're just rookie marines, we didn't mean to disrespect you or the little miss."
"Rookies, huh?" Roger's smile grew wider, but it was far from comforting. "Well, I'll let you four in on a little secret. This 'little miss' is more than just a member of my crew. She's something special. Something that none of you would dare lay your hands on, even if you had the power to face me." He took a step closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over the trembling marines.
James, trying to regain some of his bravado, spat out, "We're not afraid of some girl, old man!"
“Oh, you don’t have to be afraid of her. But, you do need to be oh so terrified of me.” Roger’s voice was smooth as velvet, yet the words sent a chill down the Marines’ spines. His hand slid off his sword handle, and the air grew so thick with tension, it felt like it could be cut with a knife.
Howard swallowed hard, his eyes darting between Roger and the retreating figure of the girl they had underestimated. "We-we're sorry, Captain. We didn't know she was important to you."
Roger leaned down a bit to tower over them even more. “I thought there was a rule? Rumor? Saying? Whatever you wanna call it in the marines. That you don’t fuck with the children of the Roger Pirates. Didn’t you get the memo?” He tapped his head with a finger, the jolly roger on his hat bobbing slightly. “Especially the one who looks like a doll clown.”
The four Marines looked at each other, their hearts racing. They had heard the whispers, but never truly believed that the Pirate King would care so much about a child. But here they were, standing before the man himself, and he was clearly not amused.
"Wynn, Howard, Miller, James," Roger recited their names as if he had known them for years, his eyes still as cold as the sea. "I suggest you forget this ever happened. And if you ever lay your hands on any member of my crew again, I promise you won't be leaving with your limbs attached."
The marines gulped collectively, the reality of their situation finally sinking in. They had just threatened the daughter of the Pirate King, and they knew better than to mess with a pirate's family. They nodded hastily, eager to escape the wrath that was sure to follow.
Roger’s eyes sweep over them, his eyes lingering on the little dog mask embroidered on the pockets of the uniforms, and his smile grows wider. “Oh, so you’re the students of ol Garp, huh?” He asked, leaning even closer. “Tell me, is he on the Island too?”
The four marines looked at each other before Howard spoke up, “Yeah, he’s here.”
Roger hummed, straightening up. “And, where may he be?”
The Marines exchanged glances, their fear not quite dissipating. Howard spoke up again, his voice a bit steadier now. “He’s at the beach beside his ship.”
Roger’s smile somehow grew wider, as he snatched the marines by the back of their scrubs over their uniform, to in each hand as he walks down the streets towards the beach, dragging them along. “OH, GARP, DARLING, I NEED TO SPEAK WITH YOU!” Roger called out dramatically, the echo of his powerful voice resonating through the bustling streets of the island.
The marines struggled in his grip, but Roger’s strength was unyielding. His eyes never left the horizon as he marched towards the beach, where Garp's ship could be seen docked in the distance. The crowd parted for them, pretending to mind their own business, but very, very, obviously eavesdropping.
"Let go of me!" Wynn protested, trying to free himself, but it was like trying to pull away from an iron vice.
“GARP!” Roger called out dramatically again, his voice carrying over the waves to the beach. “I’ve got a little present for ya!” The marines could feel their hearts in their throats as the legendary pirate dragged them along.
On the beach, the marines spotted Garp, his tall figure unmistakable even from a distance. He was speaking with some locals, but his attention snapped to Roger’s voice. The crowd grew tense as the two men locked eyes, and Garp’s expression shifted from one of casual amusement to a glower as he recognized the marines in Roger’s grasp.
“Roger.” Garp granted, “May I ask what you’re doing with my students?” He took a step closer, his arms crossed over his broad chest, his stern gaze unwavering as he took in the terrified state of the young marines.
Rogers sighed dramatically, before in one swift movement he tossed to the form marines into the ocean like a couple of ragdoll’s, flailing as their bodies colliding with water with a loud splash. “Well, your students thought Is was a good idea to corner my daughter and try to whisk her away to show her a… ‘good time’, telling her I wouldn’t care if she went missing.”
Garp’s expression grew stormy as he watched the marines struggle to stay afloat. “Is that so?” He strode into the water, his boots splashing the waves as he approached the floundering young men. His eyes narrowed as he reached down to grab them by their collars, hauling them out of the ocean with ease.
Water dripped from their uniforms as Garp brought them closer to shore, their faces pale and their eyes wide with fear. “What did I tell you about respect, Wynn? And the rest of you?” Garp’s tone was low and menacing, a stark contrast to the jovial atmosphere of the beach.
The rookies spluttered, trying to catch their breath. “We’re sorry, Vice admiral Garp! We didn’t know she was Captain Roger’s daughter!” Howard managed to choke out, his voice trembling.
Garp’s grip tightened on their collars, lifting them up so they had to look into his stern eyes. “Ignorance is no excuse for disrespecting the crew of the Pirate King, especially a child!” He shook them slightly, as if to drive the point home. “Now, apologize to Captain Roger and promise never to lay a hand on any member of the Roger Pirates again!”
The marines nodded frantically, their eyes wide with fear. “We’re sorry, Captain Roger! We didn’t know she was your daughter, and we swear we’ll never do it again!”
Roger’s smile didn’t falter as he watched Garp discipline them. “That’s good to know, lads. But let this be a lesson to all of you. In the world of piracy, family is everything. Cross me, and you’ll find yourself facing the wrath of the entire Roger Pirates crew.”
Garp’s grip on the marines’ collars tightened. “Is that understood?”
They nodded fervently, their eyes never leaving the ground. “Yes, sir. We understand completely,” Miller mumbled, his voice trembling.
Roger released the marines, watching them fall to their knees in the sand. Garp let out a grunt and released them as well, his gaze stern. "Now, go on. Get out of my sight before I decide to give you a taste of what it's like to mess with the Roger Pirates."
The rookies scrambled to their feet and took off at a run, not daring to look back. Once they were out of earshot, Roger turned to Garp, his smile fading into a more serious expression. "Thanks for backing me up, old friend. I don't want any trouble with the marines just yet."
Garp grunted, waving off the thanks. "Those kids are going to have a lot to learn, especially if they want to survive in your world, Roger."
Roger chuckled, the sound carrying over the crashing waves. "They'll learn soon enough. Now, tell me, what brings you to this little slice of paradise?" He leaned back on his ship, arms crossed, his gaze never leaving Garp's stern face.