Entranced

by Gym2243

Summary:

Enslaved for her Trance-Trance Fruit powers, Alexia—stage name Calypso—is rescued by the Heart Pirates. Proving her strength and loyalty, she earns her place among the crew. As their adventures unfold, an unexpected romance blossoms between her and the enigmatic Trafalgar Law.

Chapter 1: Meeting: Part 1

The island was a welcoming sight. Tucked away between treacherous waters just beyond Reverse Mountain, it became a temporary refuge for travelers and pirates—a quick stop for their log poses to set before continuing their adventures. After weeks of submersion, the Heart Pirates, aboard their submarine, the Polar Tang, were about to get some much-needed fresh air and restock their minimal supplies. 

 

“I almost forgot what land looked like,” Penguin pressed his face against one of the portholes when the vessel ascended to the ocean’s surface. “Think we can stay for a day or two?”

 

“Or five?” Shachi mirrored the man beside him. “I hope there’s a bar.”

 

“We aren’t stopping for a vacation. We dock, restock, potentially eat at whatever establishment looks presentable, and then leave,” the deep voice of the Heart Pirate’s captain stated, approaching his crew. “Do you understand?”

 

“Yes, Captain,” Penguin and Shachi’s heads dropped, their foreheads knocking against the foggy glass. 

 

“Bepo, keep an eye on those two,” Trafalgar Law crossed his arms over his chest, looking at his first mate. “I’ll meet up with you once I’ve gathered the necessary medical supplies.”

 

“Aye, aye, Captain,” the talking polar bear saluted him.

+++++

Levinstown was nothing special. By Grand Line standards, anyway. The small, rundown village was similar to every other port visit the Heart Pirates passed from North Blue to the Grand Line. A bit of a disappointment honestly, but the warmer weather was a nice change.

 

Despite the drab appearance of the town, the citizens of Levinstown were nothing but welcoming and helpful, lending a hand in checking off Law's medical supply list. Every vendor made sure to give him the best supplies at the best price as well as show him the way to the next item with ease. The kind assistance (something Law made sure to be extra cautious with because no one could be that nice, let alone an entire town. Especially to a pirate) helped the captain complete business much quicker than anticipated. Perhaps he and the rest of the Heart Pirates would be able to set out sooner than even Law expected. 

 

After dropping the supplies off at the submarine (Law would organize everything once they’d left), he made his way back to the center of town to the only bar in the place. Another strange characteristic of the island, but who was Law to judge? He and the rest of his crew would be gone by sundown anyway. 

 

Last Call was not what Law expected. The bar’s exterior was what some might call rustic while others would call it a dump. Law would call it dilapidated. Broken shutters, shattered windows, missing shingles, and a desperate need for a paint job were what greeted any patron who dared enter the establishment.

Inside, however, was another story. Booths lined three of the four walls and tables were scattered all over the center of the room. A large bar lined the entire back wall where bartenders were running back and forth, trying to get all of the rowdy customers overcrowding the poor workers. To the right of the bar was a small stage-like platform. A lone stool and microphone stand sat in the middle of the spotlight in the center of it. 

 

“Can I help ya, Lad?” an old, balding man approached the Heart Pirate’s captain. He had large, red cheeks and a bulging stomach that hung over his stained, black pants.

 

Charming. 

 

“Looking for my crew,” Law's gray eyes scanned the room. The all-too-familiar drunken laughter captured his attention immediately. “Found them.”

 

“Enjoy! You came on the right night. The beautiful Calypso will be gracing us with her presence. The most elegant voice in all the Grand Line!”

 

A singer. That would explain the large group of people. Law thought to himself, heading towards the large, plush booth his men occupied just off the right side of the stage. 

 

“Captian!” Shachi shouted much too loudly for Law’s liking. “We weren’t sure if you were going to make it or not.”

 

“The people who work here say we couldn’t have come on a better night,” Penguin added, sliding Law a large stein full of beer. “The voice of an angel that looks like a goddess. I can't wait to see her."

 

“Think she’ll be as gorgeous as they say?” Shachi questioned, waving over one of the waitresses to order some food now that everyone was there. 

 

“Does it matter if she is? We aren’t here for a show. As soon as we’re done eating we are back on the sub,” Law stared at each of his subordinates. 

 

“Aw, man,” Penguin and Shachi muttered.

 

“Captain is right,” Bepo spoke up. “You can’t expect to stay on every island for an extended period when we make port.”

 

“Thank you, Bepo.”

 

“Even if some of the island appears to be pretty fun,” Bepo added in a much lower voice, glancing over at the neighboring booths and tables whose patrons were heavily drinking and having a good time. 

 

Before Law could reply, the lights in the bar dimmed, and the largest light source became the spotlight pointing at the stage. A bulky man stepped forward, waving to the large crowd. Law knew something was off with the man right away. From the freshly-pressed suit, newly polished shoes, and gaudy gold jewelry on each of the man’s fingers; the man stood out like a sore thumb. Compared to everyone and everything else on the island, Stageman was way too put together and it rubbed Law the wrong way. 

 

“Good evening, people of Levinstown!”

 

Great, he even has the voice of a scumbag.

 

“-you are all in for a big treat tonight. After a few weeks off for some much-needed rest, our beautiful Calypso is back!” Law could have sworn the building shook due to the number of cheers, screams, and drunken catcalls erupting from every direction. 

“Without further adieu,” Stageman stepped towards the side of the stage, his arm stretched out wide. “Levinstown's goddess, Calypso!”

 

The audience roared for a second time, and Law couldn’t help but look at the stage out of pure curiosity. 

 

The woman, Calypso, was striking. Her beauty was undeniable even in the dimly lit room. There was no denying it. Nothing about the woman was out of place. From her tightly curled blonde hair, cherry red lips, and a red dress that fit her body like a second skin, she was a vision. A beacon of light in the rundown bar. 

Yet another thing Law found very strange. 

 

“Oh, sweet Mother Mary,” Penguin and Shachi gaped in awe. 

 

“Calm down,” Law sipped his drink. 

 

“She is rather pretty, Captain,” Bepo admitted. 

 

As she moved towards the center of the stage, Stageman leaned in and pressed a kiss on her cheek. A gesture meant to appear affectionate, but Law’s sharp eyes caught the way she flinched. It was barely noticeable, a slight tension in her shoulders, a quickening of her breath, but it was enough to set off alarms in his mind. 

 

Law’s gaze sharpened, his senses narrowing in on the woman. Something was wrong. 

 

A slow, sultry melody began to fill the room and the remaining buzz of the audience died down instantly. Law straightened up in his seat, he didn’t know why, but he needed to watch her, to listen. Calypso raised her head as she started to sing, her striking purple eyes staring directly into his. Almost as if she was looking directly into his soul.

 

“Captain, I’m going to marry this woman,” Shachi spoke, his jaw falling to the floor. 

 

“Not if I marry her first!” Penguin countered. 

 

“For fuck’s sake, pull yourselves together,” Law glared at the two idiots hypnotized by the woman’s raw talent. A talent even he couldn’t deny. 

 

He felt the static in the air, a subtle thrumming that tickled the edge of his mind and over his skin. It was as if the atmosphere had shifted, growing thicker and heavier with each note that left Calypso’s lips. Law watched his crew, just like the other patrons in the pub, begin to fall victim to the song, their eyes glazing over, turning into lovestruck zombies. 

 

Thankfully, the waitress, unaffected by the siren’s song, came by with their meals. Pulling away from the woman in the spotlight, Law turned to eat. The sooner he and his men were fed, the sooner they could leave, but could he leave?

 

As he dug into his onigiri and grilled fish, Law kept an eye on his crew and the crowd. Every one of them sat frozen in place. Eyes wide, pupils dilated, and faces flushed. They weren’t leaving any time soon. 

+++++

The final lyrics came to a close. Calypso stood, gave a simple bow then went off the stage. No, she wouldn’t be done after one song. A drink break perhaps. Some downtime before she would come out and sing again. A chance to rest her sensual voice- 

 

Whoa, where the hell did that come from?

 

“Amazing! Absolutely amazing. Don’t you think so, Captain?”

 

“Hmm,” Law turned his attention from the stage back to his men, who stared back at him with confusion.“She’s talented. I’ll give you that.”

 

“Talented is putting it lightly,” Penguin replied, stuffing his face. “Where’s your meal, Captain?”

 

“I ate it all while you idiots were ogling the poor woman,” Law thanked a passing waitress as she handed him a new drink. 

 

“We weren’t ogling!” Penguin and Shachi shouted. 

 

“You were drooling, Shachi.”

 

The redhead swatted his cheek, whipping away any evidence, “Was not!”

 

"Whatever you say,” Law leaned back against the booth, throwing an arm over the backrest. “Just eat so we can leave. I have a bad feeling about this place.”

 

“What do you mean, Captain?” Bepo asked, tilting his head to the side.

 

“None of you can feel the shift in the room?” he asked, only to be met with more curious glances. “The air isn’t heavier to you?”

 

“No,” Shachi scratched his head. “Are you feeling all right, Captain? Do you need some air or something?”

 

“Forget it,” Law waved him off. “Just eat.”

 

If only his plan had gone as easy as it did in his head. 

 

Barely five minutes later, the clicking of Calypso’s high heels returned along with the hoots and hollers of the now out-of-control crowd. All eyes were transfixed on Calypso once again as another melody, a more upbeat one this time, bounced around the room. All around the captain, silverware fell onto the tables with loud clinks. The men were zombies once more. 

 

This woman has to have a power of some kind. A Devil Fruit user? A witch maybe?  

 

But if that was the case, why was Law unaffected by her?

 

Two songs quickly turned into three which turned into four, and before Law could do anything about it, the Heart Pirates had sat through Calypso's entire performance. The air in the room is now suffocating.

A piano had been rolled onto the stage, and a powerful melody began to play. 

Sweet love, sweet love, trapped , in your love
I’ve opened up, unsure I can trust
My heart and I, we’re buried in dust
Free me, Free us

 

You’re all I need, when I’m holding you tight
If you walk away, I will suffer tonight

 

I found a man I can trust
And, boy, I believe in us
I am terrified to love for the first time
Can’t you see that I’m bound by chains?
I finally found my way
I am bound to you
I am bound to you

Her haunting eyes were locked onto Law’s. The words were a plea, a cry for help that echoed in the depths of his mind. The words pounded in his skull, so much so it made the captain wince.


How was she doing this?

 

“Lovely as always, my dear,” Stageman went to his place beside her once the piano keys fell silent. 

 

“Aw, I can’t believe it’s over already,” Penguin pouted, resting his chin on his hands. “She’s something else.”

 

“Back to the Polar Tang, Captain?” Bepo asked when the rest of the remaining plates were taken away. 

 

“Yes, I-” Law rose to his feet, preparing to exit the pub with his crew when he felt the familiar static pull beckoning him to look back at the stage. Those piercing, orchid eyes screamed at him, ‘ Look at me!’  

 

Law knitted his eyebrows. What was she doing?

 

Stageman grabbed one of Calypso’s arms (a bit too roughly in Law’s opinion) and led her off stage. As she turned her head to the side, the blonde stared directly at him and winked. 

 

“Did you see that?” Penguin exclaimed. 

 

“Someone likes you, Captain,” Shachi laughed, nudging the man’s shoulder. 

 

But Law wasn’t listening. His focus was on her retreating form. The way her free arm swung behind her back, holding her palm out for him to see. This stomach turned when Calypso tucked her thumb in and bent her remaining four fingers over it. 

 

“Captain,” Bepo gasped, catching the signal the blonde was sending them. 

 

“Let’s go,” Law ordered, the rest of the men following after him without complaint.

+++++

He knew it. He fucking knew something was wrong. 

 

“What do you think we’re going to find when we rescue her?” Bepo whispered, the small band of Heart Pirates silently trailing Stageman and Calypso. 

 

“Nothing good,” Law answered, his gray eyes peeled on the man leading the woman away from Last Call and up a cobblestone path into the surrounding forest.

 

“I knew that guy was bad news,” Shachi said. 

 

“The second he started talking, I knew he was an asshole,” Penguin agreed. “So, Captain, what’s the plan?”

 

“Knock everyone out and help her escape. If anyone else needs help getting out, help them, too,” Law explained, a brick building appearing in the distance. “Make this as quick, easy, and bloodless as possible. No killing anyone. Just incapacitate. We’re behind schedule enough as it is.”

 

“The Log Pose set hours ago, Captain,” Bepo reminded him. 

 

“Regardless,” Law said. “Quick as possible.”

 

“Aye aye, Captain!”

 

Two men handling large guns met Stageman and Calypso with a smile at the front door of the building. A brief conversation occurred between the three men before the door opened and Calypso was pushed roughly inside. 

 

“Armed guards?” Penguin scratched his temple. “What could the non-nefarious reason be for needing armed guards?”

 

“Don’t worry, Calypso. Your Knight-in-Shining-Armor is here to save you,” Shachi puffed out his chest from his hiding place behind a tree. 

 

“Would you be serious for once in your life?” Law shot back, peering at the top-floor windows. All the lights were out except for the last one on the left side of the building. “That one.”

 

“This is going to be a piece of cake,” Penguin grinned. 

 

Penguin was right. Getting into the secluded building and taking out the few men standing guard and Stageman was a piece of cake. Embarrassingly so as a matter of fact. Law stalked towards the only occupied room on the top floor. Bepo, Penguin, and Shachi quickly kicked the other doors open, but the other rooms remained empty and dark. 

 

“Here we come, Goddess Calypso,” Shachi sang once they approached the remaining door. 

 

“I am going to cut your head off when we get back to the submarine,” Law huffed, kicking the door off its hinges. 

 

“Thank fuck!”

 

“Excuse me?”

Chapter 2: Meeting: Part 2

"You put on quite the show tonight, Calypso," Ronnie threw the blonde woman onto the tiny bed in her equally tiny room. His toothy grin sent shivers of disgust down her spine. "You made me a lot of Berry this evening."

"I am so happy for you," Calypso rolled her eyes.

Ronnie chuckled before taking his leave, locking the door behind him.

"Fucking bastard," Calypso huffed, rising to her feet.

As pretty as it was, the red dress went first. Just like the other "gifts" from Ronnie, she never kept them long. Anything the sleezebag gave her, she quickly dumped in the trash. The heels went second, tossed into the closet with all of the other ridiculous pairs he'd given her to "impress" the crowd.

Calypso quickly slipped into a comfortable pair of shorts, a plain black shirt, and much more comfortable shoes. The best feeling after being paraded around like a prized horse, forced to sing for men and women for her "manager" to make a quick Berry.

"At least this will be the last time," she said, pulling a large stack of World Economy News from her nightstand. Piled high at the top were the latest bounties. The smile of one Monkey D. Luffy topped the stack, the most recent pirate to make a splash worldwide. Calypso fanned through them, passing overScratchman Apoo, X Drake, and Eustass Kidd before beaming at one Trafalgar D. Law. "I had a feeling it was going to be you, Mr. Surgeon of Death."

The building shook and her eyes widened in surprise. The Heart Pirates worked fast. Leaving the papers on the small nightstand, Calypso slid open the closet door, grabbing the emergency duffle bag she kept hidden for that precise moment. The men cried in anguish from down below. A smirk appeared on her painted lips. Served those mother fuckers right.

"This is it, old girl," Calypso grinned at her reflection in the cracked mirror above the vanity. "The day you've been waiting for has finally come."

"Here we come, Goddess Calypso!"

I am going to cut your head off when we get back to the submarine."

Calypso couldn't help but laugh right as the door burst open, "Thank fuck!"

"Excuse me?"

He's a lot taller in person. She thought, staring down the captain of the Heart Pirates. Standing behind him was an adorable, fluffy, white polar bear, a man with Penguin stitched across his hat, and a man with red hair. And a tall drink of water, too.

"You took everyone out downstairs, I presume," she hoisted the duffle bag over her shoulder. "Thanks for being quick about it."

"You knew we were coming to get you?" Penguin Hat tilted his head to the side, eyeing her curiously.

"Of course," she said. "I sent you the signal, didn't I? Thanks again for picking up on it, by the way. You wouldn't believe how many pirate crews couldn't figure it out. Your reputation proceeds you, Captain Trafalgar Law."

"You know me?" he asked.

"You know him?" the other Heart Pirates chorused.

Calypso couldn't help but chuckle, grabbing the pile of discarded newspapers. "Keeping up with the World Economic News is the only excitement I get around this shithole. Quite a few pirates are making names for themselves. Oh, you didn't happen to see a safe in Ronnie's office when you knocked him unconscious or killed him, did you?"

"The man who brought you here?" Law asked her. She nodded her head in affirmation. "He didn't make it that far, I'm afraid."

"I think he's at the bottom of the stairs," the one with red hair said.

"Ha!" Calypso tossed her head back, letting out a quick laugh. "Well, if that's the case, I need to make a quick pitstop and collect my babies."

"Your babies?" Penguin Hat and the redhead exclaimed in horror, hands flying to their cheeks. "You have children?"

"Damn, there goes my chance."

"You two are funny," Calypso grinned at the pair. "They're my guns. Ronnie's kept them in the safe since I've been here. I would like to have them back."

"I'll get them," Law said. "You three take her back to the sub."

"She's coming with us, Captain?" the talking polar bear asked.

He's so cute! I want to pet him. I bet he's super soft.

"I need to assess her injuries," he stated.

"Injuries," Penguin Hat quickly looked at Calypso from head to toe. "She looks perfectly fine to me."

"Very astute of you, Captain Trafalgar," Calypso couldn't help but smirk. "Gentlemen, if you'd please."

"Follow me, Goddess Calypso!" the redhead beamed, bowing low to the floor like the gentleman he most definitely was. "I will lead the way."

"Is he always like this?" Calypso whispered to the polar bear.

"Most of the time, yes," he answered.

"See you back at the Tang, Captain," Penguin Hat waved, following his crewmates and Calypso through the bedroom door.

+++++

Calypso was giddy for the first time in what felt like forever. She followed the Heart Pirates through the forest, passed the now-empty town of Levinstown, and down to the docks where a yellow submarine waiting for them.

How very unconventional.

"We can wait in the galley until Captain comes back," the talking polar bear told her. "Are you hungry, Miss Calypso? I'm sure we have something in the kitchen."

"That is very sweet of you, but I am fine right now," she smiled at the polar bear, following him into the submarine, down a few sets of stairs, and into a large galley. "Now this is quite impressive."

"Thank you, miss," an older gentleman pushed himself through the swinging double doors on the other side of the room. His grey mustache matched his greying hair, which he had tied in a ponytail. "Captain's bleeding heart, again, boys?"

"Oh, yeah. The Captain always wears his heart on his sleeve," Penguin Hat snickered. "Miss Calypso, this is our cook, Olly. Olly, this is Miss Calypso. We just rescued her from her creepy manager who was keeping her as a singing slave."

"Pretty much," Calypso shrugged. "And you three are?"

"I'm Bepo," the polar bear smiled.

"I'm Penguin, and this is Shachi," Penguin Hat pointed to himself and the redhead. "Welcome to our humble abode, Goddess Calypso."

"You can cool it with the Goddess Calypso stuff. I'm nowhere near that special," she said. "But thanks, it's nice to put names to the faces of the men who rescued me."

"How long were you-"

Without a sound, Trafalgar Law appeared beside her with a bag in his hand, dropping it in front of her. A small thank you escaped her lips before she rummaged through it, pulling out two pistols. Both were in desperate need of some tender, love, and care.

"Your weapons plus a few more things that could be useful. Anything to report, Olly?"

"Nothing but silence, Captain," the man answered.

"Very good," Law said. "Calypso-ya, if you would follow me."

With a slight pout, the blonde woman placed her guns back on the table and slowly got to her feet.

"Captain, I think you're seeing things," Penguin said. "Calypso is perfect just the way she is."

"As sweet as your compliments are, I am also far from perfect," Calypso grabbed the blonde hair tight against her scalp, pulling the bright blonde wig off her head. Long, dark red hair fell in ringlets down her back. "You can't always trust what you see on the surface."

"You're not a real blonde?!?!?" Shachi and Penguin shouted in dismay.

"'Fraid not, boys," she answered. "Stage performer, remember. You wouldn't believe the amount of makeup I go through in a week."

"I feel lied to," Shachi desperately sank to the floor. "Next thing you'll say is your chest isn't real either."

"Oh, those are definitely real," Calypso winked, following the captain out of the galley. "Those are some interesting crew members you have, Captain Trafalgar."

"That's one way of putting it," he answered gesturing her towards the medical bay.

"Wow." 

The submarine continued to impress. The medical bay was spotless and organized to a level she had never seen. 

Someone's a little obsessive, isn't he?

"On the table, if you please," Law instructed. 

"Buy me dinner first, Captain," Calypso joked, hopping onto the cold surface.

"Just following standard protocol, Miss Calypso-ya," Law couldn't help but smirk.

"I bet you say that to all the pretty girls," she smiled, fiddling around with her wrists. "Um, this might be easier with all the makeup off. You guys were pretty fast. I didn't have a chance to rinse it off."

"You weren't joking bout that, were you?" he gestured to the door along the back wall. "There's a small washroom through there. I'll be here when you're ready."

+++++

"I never expected a submarine to have such nice water pressure," Calypso stated, exiting the washroom a few moments later.

Law spun around from his seat. Just as he expected, bruises, abrasions, and lacerations marred her once healthy-looking skin. All of which were in various stages of healing. The closer she came, the worse they got. If Law were a betting man, he would have wagered she had her fair share of broken bones as well. But what threw him off guard wasn't the almost healed black eye, handprint marks around her neck, or the small stab wounds on her arm.

It was the tattoos.

"Ronnie hated them," Calypso reclaimed the spot on the table, noticing the captain glancing at the ink on her skin. "Demanded I cover them up whenever he was around. I disobeyed a lot at the beginning, but after a while, I stopped fighting it. I'm glad I don't have to do that anymore either."

"They're beautiful."

Since when do you think anything is beautiful?

"Thank you," she smiled, turning both wrists over to show him. A small 'warrior' in an elegant script was on her right wrist while the left had an array of what looked like swirls and flowers of some kind. "Warrior is for my father. He was a Marine, along with my mother. He used to call me a warrior when I was little whenever I showed courage or faced something scary. It reminds me to be strong, even when things are tough. This one, on the other hand, appeared after I ate the Trace-Trace Devil Fruit. It's similar to the magic that comes from my fingers when I use its power."

"The Trance-Trance Fruit?" Law asked, his brows raised in interest. "That's what made the people in the bar turn into zombies."

"Very good, Captain," Calypso nodded. "I can give you that rundown later if you wish."

"In due time," Law said.

"These," Calypso continued with her tattoos, pointing to the tiny stars dusted across her collarbone. "Are for my mother. We used to stargaze together, dreaming of the future and what it might bring. It's my way of keeping her close to me, even though she passed away many years ago."

Lastly, she pulled the hem of her shorts up to reveal a cluster of colored wildflowers on her thigh. "These represent life, growth, and the beauty that can come from pain. They're a reminder to keep going, no matter how difficult life gets. They're also really pretty and I had to get them when I saw the tattoo artist doing it on someone else."

For the first time in a long time, Law didn't know what to say. Who was this woman he and his crew just so happened to stumble across? A woman who'd been held captive by a piece of shit man using her Devil Fruit power for his own gain, who should have been the furthest thing from bubbly, outgoing, and talkative while he tended to her injuries.

What a strange woman.

"Let's get you patched up," he said, finally breaking the silence.

Calypso sat patiently on the table, the adrenaline from the evening started to wear off and her injuries started to ache. The medicine she swiped from the house that morning was long out of her system now.

"Should I ask?" he started with the newer lacerations on her cheeks, arms, and legs. Now and then Calypso would flinch or hiss at the fresh stitches he put in.

"Ronnie doesn't like rebellious women," she kept her eyes on him, watching his skilled hands go to work. "You heard him before I started, about my few weeks of "time off" for some much-needed rest."

"Right," Law nodded, tying off the final stitch on her thigh. "I'm assuming there was no resting involved."

"Nope," she said. "There were nine other girls in that hellhole with me. Three weeks ago, I was able to bust them out. Ronnie had a field day with me when he realized what I'd done."

"You helped them escape." he turned to the bruises next. They were everywhere. The worst of which was around her neck and right eye. "Knowing something like this would happen."

"I'd do it again in a heartbeat," Calypso stated proudly. "They were new and had no idea what they were getting into."

"So those other rooms belonged to the girls you rescued?" he asked.

"Yes," she nodded. "During one of Ronnie's "parties," I was able to sneak the newer girls out very easily. They weren't chipped yet-"

"Chipped?" Law's brows knitted together.

"Ronnie's insurance policy. It's why I wasn't able to leave," she explained. "I'm no Surgeon of Death, but I was able to get their chips out, and as soon as they were in the clear, they were gone."

"But you stayed."

"I had no choice," Calypso sighed, moving the damp hair away from her neck. "But if you'd be a doll and take mine out, I would greatly appreciate it."

Law didn't need to be told twice.

It was a tiny thing. The chip lodged in the side of Calypso's neck. Law gritted his teeth, staring at it in the palm of his hand. The tiniest of lights blinked up at him. A tracker, that's why she couldn't run away.

"Thank you," she sighed deeply. "You are very skilled in what you do, Captain Trafalgar. Didn't feel a thing. It's a bit funny, a pirate and a doctor. Those two career paths don't usually see eye-to-eye." 

"Law is fine," he dropped the device onto the table. "Just because I am a pirate, doesn't mean I won't help those who need it. Especially those who are being held captive by an evil bastard."

"I appreciate that," Calypso slammed her fist over it, the chip breaking into multiple pieces. "That felt good."

"Looks like you're free now," Law tossed his bloodied gloves into the waste basket. "Where do you plan on going?"

"If you could drop me off at the next island, I will be out of your hair," she answered.

"You don't have any family you could go to?"

"Nope," she shook her head. "I was an only child. My parents were only children, so it's just me. But I'll figure it out. I've held you and your crew up long enough. I'm sure you have plenty of piratey things on your to-do list."

"I see," Law leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his chest. "Dropping you off at the next island shouldn't be a problem, but if you're on my ship you need to pull your weight until then."

"Easy," she nodded.

"Good," he said. "Olly probably made you something to eat in the kitchen-"

"Yay!" Calypso jumped off the table, beelining it towards the kitchen. "I'm starving."

A strange woman indeed.

Notes:

The first couple of chapters will be ones that would technically be connected, to get the introductions out of the way. Once those chapters are completed, I will post the one-shots/multi-shots that could happen anywhere along the timeline.

Chapter 3: The Trance-Trance Fruit

Notes:

Take a seat. This chapter is a long one.

Olly had a gift. A wonderful, masterful gift.

The mouth-watering aroma hit Calypso the second she reentered the galley. Olly, Shachi, Bepo, and Penguin were still at the table, chatting quietly amongst themselves, but what grabbed her attention was the plate of steaming food at the end of the table.

"Bless you, Olly," she dug into the meal immediately.

Calypso couldn't remember the last time she had such a delicious meal. A simple chicken breast seasoned to perfection with roasted vegetables- carrots, peppers, and asparagus. Tears welled up in her eyes. Years of nothing but rice, stale bread, and an egg every three days made her realize just how special something as simple as a well-cooked meal was.

The four Heart Pirates sat in silence, waiting for Calypso to finish eating. Shachi and Penguin shared a look. Had she been starved while being held captive? It surely seemed that way.

"Olly," Calypso placed the fork on the empty plate. "I think I love you. That was the best meal I've ever had."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Miss Calypso," Olly smiled kindly, taking the dirty dishes back into the kitchen.

"I can tell you have a lot of questions by the looks on your faces, " Calypso rested her elbows on the table. "Have at it. I'm an open book."

The galley was quiet. Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin glanced at one another, waiting to see who would be the brave one and ask one of the hundreds of questions that filled their heads..

"How long were you on that island?" Bepo asked first.

Initially, the three of them were much too curious about her supposed injuries Law was steadfast on treating, but when she came back after a decent while in the medical bay, well; there was no need to ask those questions anymore.

"Four years," she answered simply.

"That long?" the trio's eyes widened in surprise. "Why didn't you try to escape?"

"I couldn't," Calypso reached for her two pistols still on the table. She missed her weapons. When she got to the next island, she needed to get a lot of gun oil and ammunition. "Ronnie had a tracker in me."

"In you?" Bepo gasped.

"Yeah," Calypso sighed, tapping the bandage on her neck. "Thankfully, your captain was able to get the little fucker out. He's pretty good. Not going to lie."

"How long have you had those tattoos?" Penguin asked next. Leave it to Penguin to change topics, trying to lift the mood. 

"I got these after my parents died," she gestured to the multiple tattoos that were visible on her skin then held up the wrist with intricate swirling patterns. "This appeared after I ate the Trance-Trance fruit."

"The Trance-Trance friut?" Shachi tilted his head to the side.

"That's what turned you all into mindless zombies at the pub," Law entered the galley, heading straight to the coffee machine.

"You're drinking coffee this late at night?" Calypso asked, glancing at the clock hanging on the wall.

"The captain doesn't sleep much," Penguin explained.

"That's not a healthy habit," she said, taking in the dark circles underneath the captain's eyes.

"Too many important things to do," Law answered.

"And how pray tell, would you complete those important things when you're exhausted from lack of sleep?" Calypso asked.

Law simply shrugged. Bepo, Shachi, and Pengiun's eyes widened briefly. No one questioned their captain.....ever.

"So, if you have the power of the Trance-Trance fruit," Shachi spoke after a moment of silence. "You can put people into trances, but what else can you do? Do you always have to sing to use it?"

"I don't always have to sing," Calypso shook her head. "But my power works better if I do. A simple word or a flick of the wrist works just fine. It's like hypnosis. I can make people see things that aren't there, I can control their cations if their mind's weak enough, and I can make people feel things; heighten sensations you could call it. I haven't had much practice pushing the limits, but I have a feeling there is a lot more these powers can do."

"That's a powerful one, Calypso," Penguin whistled. "Could you show us?"

"Show you?" she asked.

"Yeah," Shachi nodded. "Show us something that's not there."

"Only if the man in charge says it's ok," Calypso turned her attention back to Law. "I don't like using it unless I have to, and this is your domain. I'm just a guest until the next island comes along."

"Come on, Captain," Shachi grinned. "Just a little bit. It can't hurt."

"Just don't break my ship," Law answered, sipping his coffee.

"Yes!" Penguin and Shachi cheered.

"I don't know about this," Bepo mumbled.

"You'll be ok, Bepo. I promise," Calypso smiled, her purple magic swirling around her fingers. "Why would I want to hurt the ones who gave me my freedom back?"

Law placed the coffee mug on the counter, crossed his arms, and waited out of pure curiosity. This woman was so strange, but at the same time -

"Whoa!" Shachi and Penguin shouted. "This is crazy!"

Law knitted his eyebrows. He felt the familiar static in the room. The one he felt back in Levinstown. This time, however, there was the smallest bit of pressure pushing against his skull, but nothing physically changed. He was still in the galley, watching his childish subordinates and Calypso while they sat at the table.

"Captain, are you seeing this?" Penguin's now stormy, purple eyes stared back at him.

No, he most definitely was not "seeing this".

"Your mind is too strong to be played by these simple tricks," Calypso told Law, her eyes still focused on the trio in front of her. "You don't let your guard down for anything, do you?"

"I can't afford to," he replied. "What are you showing them?"

"A tropical paradise," she smiled. "Surrounded by clear ocean waters and white sandy beaches."

"It's so real!" Bepo reached out to grab something in the air above their heads.

"And they'll continue to see this until you stop?" Law asked.

"Correct," the purple haze disappeared instantly. Shachi and Penguin groaned as the beach faded away. The Polar Tang's galley surrounded them once again.

"That was something else," Bepo whispered.

"Hmm," Law thought aloud. "That does seem pretty handy."

"What else can you make people see?" Penguin was itching for more.

"I can make people see their dreams, their biggest fears, nightmares, anything really."

"Nightmares? No, thanks. I'm around Penguin and Bepo enough as it is already," Shachi waved his hand in the air.

"Hey!"

Calypso laughed. Their banter was refreshing.

"Anyway," Shachi continued. "That is a really cool power you have, Calypso. I'd say it's even cooler than the captain's."

"I wouldn't go that far," she said. "And Calypso is just my stage name. My real name is Alexia."

"Alexia," Shachi rubbed his chin. "Another fake out, huh? I thought you said no more of those."

"It's been a long time since I've told anyone my real name," she couldn't help but laugh. "It feels good. Last fake out, I promise. For real this time. So, how long have you been on the Grand Line?"

"Not that long at all," Bepo answered, scratching his head.

"Just got here, come to think of it," Penguin added. "Met that guy at Reverse Mountain. He explained the log pose thing to us and we were on our way. Your island was the first one we came to."

"Lucky me," Alexia beamed.

"You said you tried getting other crews to get you out of Levinstown," Olly returned to the galley. "Who?"

"There was that Jewelry Bonney girl," Alexia answered. "But I quickly realized that was going to be a waste of time. A short while after that, Bege came in, but he was too focused on his meal to even look at the stage. Then, the most recent one before you lovely men showed up, there was Eustass Kid."

"Kid?" Law frowned, not missing the clear disgust in her voice when bringing up the reckless pirate captain's name.

"Not a fan?" Penguin snickered.

"If I ever see that prick again, it will be way too soon," Alexia groaned. "He picked up I was giving him signals, all right. But the idiot thought I was hitting on him."

"Ew," Shachi scrunched up his nose.

"Ew, indeed," she shook her head. "After the show, Kid came backstage. Ronnie didn't take too kindly to someone moving in on his property."

"Technically speaking though, he could have gotten you out," Penguin pointed out.

"Technically, you are correct, but going with Kid would have been a new hell in itself," she shuttered at the thought. "No tact and very handsy, that one. I wanted freedom, not to be subjected to.....that."

"So, you'd rather stay in a singing prison than hitch a ride with Eustass Kid?" Olly asked. "That's saying something."

Law scowled. He'd heard of Eustass "Captain" Kid. The man was loud, reckless, and bombastic. Not to mention stubborn and arrogant. Someone, if Law could help it, he didn't want to come into contact with unless necessary. If ever at all.

"100%," Alexia nodded. "Kid is a creepy asshole, and I never want to see him again. His chances of being on the next island are very slim, so I should be in the clear."

"Bepo, when you're done here, show Alexia-ya to the empty room by yours," Law refilled his coffee, turning to make his leave. "You'll stay in that room until we dock again."

"Aye, aye, Captain!"

"Thank you, Law."

+++++

Alexia's gaze was fixed on the vast, glittering night sky. The cold air from the ocean brushed against her face. After a few more questions from Penguin, Shachi, and Bepo, Alexia followed the kind polar bear down the narrow passageways, to the empty room she would call her home for the next day or so. The room was simple, but it would do. 

She should have settled down for the night, knowing full well the following day or two was going to be busy. She had to pull her weight while being a guest, after all. But her mind wouldn't calm down, so stargazing off the back deck it was. Alexia couldn't remember the last time she'd been able to enjoy the stars in the calm of night. For a while, it was just her and the stars, but after a good half hour, heavy footsteps approached from behind her.

Wow, he really doesn't sleep.

Law came up and stood beside her, the quiet hum of the submarine beneath them barely perceptible against the gentle lapping of the waves.

"You should be sleeping," he said, staring off into the inky blackness of the ocean, his usual composed, unreadable expression firmly planted on his face.

"I could say the same thing to you," she teased. "Taking a break?"

"A small one," Law answered, his hands stuffed into his sweatshirt pockets.

"I see," Alexia said. "I do want to thank you again. I owe you. All of you."

"You don't owe us anything," Law said, his voice low but clear. "It's what we do."

Alexia couldn't help but smile. "You might see it that way, but you saved my life. That means something to me, even if it's just another day for you."

She turned to fully face him, studying the so-called "Surgeon of Death." The coldness of his demeanor, the sharp lines of his tattoos barely visible in the moonlight—they told the story of a man who had seen and survived much. He wasn't quite how Alexia pictured him to be after reading about the Heart Pirates' many escapades in the newspaper. But at the very same time, he was exactly what she pictured him to be.

"I was ready to give up," she said. "In Levinstown. If this attempt hadn't worked out, I was ready to go out swinging."

"It wasn't your time to die. Not yet," Law's eyes shifted slightly, meeting hers for the briefest moment. "You don't seem like the person to give up so easily. You would have found a way."

He was probably right.

Alexia's fingers trailed over the cold metal of the railing as she tilted her head back to study the sky. Beside her, Law stood in silence. He was a man of calculation and precision, but tonight he felt strangely off-balance around her. There was something about Alexia he couldn't quite figure out. She carried herself with a calm resilience, but there was an enigma lurking beneath the surface—a complexity he couldn't place. She had been through something, that much was obvious, but there was more to her than just survival.

"You're quiet," Alexia said suddenly, her voice cutting through the night air.

"I don't usually make small talk."

"Neither do I. But sometimes it's nice to just... talk. About something that doesn't feel so heavy," Alexia smiled.

For a moment, Law said nothing, simply observing her as the quiet sound of the sea accompanied their conversation. It was rare for him to engage in simple chatter, but something about the stillness of the night, and her presence, made it less bothersome than usual.

"You know," she began after a pause. "My mother used to tell me stories about the stars. She loved the night sky. Every time we were out at sea, she'd point to them and give me these little lessons, trying to teach me how to navigate by the stars alone."

Law's gaze drifted up, following her line of sight. "What did she teach you?"

"That one," Alexia pointed to a bright cluster above them, "is the Sea King's Belt. Sailors used it for centuries to find their way home. If you follow the line it makes, it'll always point you south."

Law narrowed his eyes, studying the stars she indicated. He had heard of it, of course, but hearing it spoken aloud, in the quiet of the night, made it feel more significant.

"And over there," she continued, pointing to a different set of stars, "that's the Twin Serpents. They always twist around each other like they're in a never-ending chase. It's said that if you can find them, you'll never lose your way."

Her voice had softened as if she were repeating something precious from memory. For a moment, Law could see her as a child, sitting beside her mother under the stars, absorbing these lessons with wide-eyed curiosity.

"Your mother taught you a lot about the stars then?" Law asked, the question slipping out before he could think to stop it. He wasn't usually one to pry, but the way she spoke about it, he couldn't help himself.

"She did," Alexia nodded. "She was the navigator in our family and for her Marine's command. She guided us through every storm."

Law tilted his head slightly, considering her words before asking what was on his mind. "How did they pass?" His voice was low, cautious but direct. "If you don't mind me asking."

"A standard Marine mission gone wrong," she answered. "Mom and Dad were part of an escort detail for some high-ranking officer. Pirates ambushed the ship. They were outnumbered, outgunned. It happens. Being a Marine comes with those risks. I was old enough to understand that. They knew it, too. It was their time, I guess."

Law's eyes flickered, recognizing the stark pragmatism in her words. He had heard it before, in himself and others. It was a way of coping, of moving on without getting crushed under the weight of grief.

"She'd like this," Alexia said suddenly, her gaze softening. "The open sea, the stars so clear. It's strange, but it feels like she's still here, watching with me. Although, she'd have something to say about me being on a pirate crew's submarine. Probably would give me an earful of how reckless I'm being. Sorry. Didn't mean to get all sentimental on you."

"It's fine."

"You're not so bad, Captain. Stoic, sure, but not bad," She gave him a sideways glance, studying him for a moment before she smiled again—this time, softer, more genuine.

"You should get some rest," Law huffed a quiet breath through his nose, something close to amusement flickering in his eyes.

"Yeah... maybe in a little while," Alexia chuckled lightly, leaning back on the railing, her face back up towards the sky.

For a moment, neither of them moved, both content to stand together in the silence, the stars above them a quiet witness to their unspoken understanding.

Law shifted his weight slightly, his eyes still on the stars but his attention fully on her now. He had observed Alexia enough to know that she wasn't like most people he encountered. She didn't fill the silence with needless chatter, nor did she seem intimidated by his presence or authority. There was something raw, unfiltered, about her that he couldn't quite ignore. Before he could stop himself, the question slipped out.

"Are you always like this?" His tone was curious, almost challenging.

"What, brutally honest, blunt, and say whatever's on my mind?" Alexia glanced over at him, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

Law raised an eyebrow but didn't respond, letting the question hang in the air between them.

"Yes. It makes life easier than tiptoeing around everything, don't you think?" She laughed softly, a genuine sound that seemed out of place against the stillness of the night.

Law stayed silent. He wasn't used to people being so straightforward with him—at least, not without some underlying agenda. Most would either try to flatter him or shy away from any real conversation, intimidated by his reputation or his cold demeanor. But Alexia? She didn't seem to care about any of that.

"Most people prefer a little distance," he said finally. "They don't get too close unless they're looking for something."

Alexia shrugged, resting her arms on the railing and leaning forward slightly. "Maybe, but I've found that dancing around the truth doesn't get anyone anywhere. It's just a waste of time."

"You don't ask many questions, though," Law's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued by her words. 

"I don't need to. People usually tell you what you want to know if you just give them space."

That caught him off guard. She wasn't prying, and yet she had a way of pulling people in. Law had spent so much of his life being guarded, keeping people at arm's length, that it was almost unsettling to meet someone who didn't push but didn't retreat either.

"Is that why you haven't asked me anything?" he asked, testing her.

Alexia turned her head slightly, catching his gaze with an easy smile. "I could ask. You probably wouldn't answer."

"Try me."

She didn't take the bait though.

"No need. If you want to tell me something, you will. I'd rather earn people's trust over time. That way, the truth comes naturally and respect is earned." Her eyes softened a bit. "If I pry, people might lie or just shut down. There's no point in forcing something that doesn't come freely."

Law's eyes lingered on her longer this time, considering her words. There was wisdom in what she said, a patience that most didn't have. Trust, to him, had always been something that had to be earned through action, not words. Yet here she was, standing next to him, offering something more subtle—trust through silence, through not pushing. It was almost infuriating how disarming she could be.

"Most people wouldn't see it that way," he said.

"I'm not most people." Alexia smiled, her voice was soft but firm.

Ain't that the truth?

There was a brief pause, the quiet between them heavy but not uncomfortable. Law found himself wanting to continue the conversation, to dig deeper, but Alexia wasn't giving him the satisfaction. She was there, present, but she wasn't going to ask the questions he half-wanted her to ask. She wasn't going to pry into his past, his motives, or his scars. She was just... there.

It was unsettling in a way that Law hadn't anticipated.

"You're a strange woman," he muttered, half to himself.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Alexia let out another laugh, not offended in the slightest.

Law didn't respond, but there was something almost amused in the way his eyes flickered toward her. He wasn't used to this—a conversation where nothing was being asked of him, no demands, no expectations. It was just... talking. But he could feel it. She was digging in her own way, subtly getting under his skin without him realizing it.

And yet, she held back. She didn't ask the questions he expected her to, the ones that would have led to him shutting her out.

"I could lie to you, you know," Law said suddenly, testing her again.

"You could," Alexia agreed easily, "but why would you? If we're honest with each other from the start, there's no need for lies."

Law's gaze shifted, something unreadable passing through his eyes. It was rare for him to feel so... unsettled.

"Trust is fragile," he said quietly, almost to himself.

"It can be," she replied. "But once it's earned, it's stronger than anything. It's worth waiting for, in my opinion."

Law stared at her for a moment, trying to gauge whether she was serious or if this was some kind of game. But her expression remained open, genuine. She wasn't like most people. There was no angle here, no manipulation. She was offering him something most wouldn't even think to offer—patience.

"You're an odd one," Law muttered again, shaking his head slightly.

Alexia just smiled, resting her chin on her hand, her attention solely on him. "I hear that a lot."

Law stood in silence, his arms crossed as he leaned against the railing, watching Alexia out of the corner of his eye. There was something about her that unsettled him, made him feel off-balance, and yet he found himself oddly drawn to it. He didn't like how easily she slipped past his usual defenses, how her presence seemed to force him to question things he usually ignored, and at the same time, he did like it. That was the part that bothered him the most.

He clenched his jaw, trying to focus on the cold night air against his skin rather than the conflicting thoughts stirring in his mind. She was an anomaly, but one he couldn't quite push away.

Not that it mattered.

She would be gone soon enough. The next island wasn't far off, and by then, Alexia would be on her way to whatever path she decided to take. He didn't have any reason to care, didn't have any business getting involved. But still, a small part of him didn't like the idea of her leaving. He needed to figure her out, to put the strange Alexia-shaped puzzle together.

"I wish you and your crew luck," she said. "The Grand Line is no joke, but I have a feeling you'll be just fine."

Her words hung in the air, a soft acknowledgment of the dangers ahead. It wasn't fear or worry that colored her voice—it was confidence. Somehow, she believed in him and his crew, even though she barely knew them. 

Law didn't respond right away, unsure of how to react to her strange sense of optimism. Instead, he glanced over at her again, studying her profile as she stared out at the horizon. Her calm demeanor, the quiet certainty in her voice—it was a sharp contrast to the uncertainty he could feel radiating from her.

"What do you think you'll do?" he asked.

Alexia sighed softly, resting her chin in her hand as she gazed out at the sea. "I don't know yet," she admitted. "This is the first time in years I get to make decisions for myself."

Her words were light, but there was a depth of meaning beneath them. He could sense it—the weight of her past, the chains she had been bound by for so long. Now, she was free, truly free, and that kind of freedom was daunting.

"I might stay on the next island, or maybe hop on a ship and go somewhere else," she continued, her voice thoughtful. "There's a whole world out there, and for the first time, I get to decide where I want to go."

Law's grip tightened slightly on the railing. He didn't want her to go. The thought struck him harder than he expected, and he hated the way it gnawed at him. He wasn't one to care about others' comings and goings. People passed through his life all the time—some stayed, some didn't. It was part of the deal. But with Alexia, there was a nagging feeling he couldn't shake, something that told him he wasn't ready for her to disappear from his life just yet.

He wouldn't tell her that, of course. Instead, he kept his expression neutral, his tone cool. 

"The Grand Line isn't kind to people who wander without a plan."

Alexia chuckled softly, turning to look at him with a playful glint in her eye. "Maybe not, but I've made it this far, haven't I? I think I'll manage. Who knows, maybe our paths will cross again sometime. I do have a certain skill set that might be able to get you out of trouble."

He couldn't deny it: her powers were no joke. In battle, her abilities could disorient entire groups, leaving them vulnerable. Even outside of combat, the fruit's potential was far-reaching. Information, deception, influence—her skill set was versatile, dangerous, and, if used correctly, invaluable.

"Your Trance-Trance fruit is powerful," he admitted. "Useful, in more ways than one."

"Glad you think so," Alexia replied with a grin, crossing her arms. "I've had plenty of time to practice it.....well, sort of."

"You could be an asset," Law said slowly. "To anyone who knew how to use your abilities properly."

"Is that your way of saying I should stick around?"

Law didn't answer. He could feel her watching him, waiting for a response, but as much as he wanted to say yes, he held himself back. He had a mission. Attachments were dangerous. And yet, part of him couldn't help but see the potential. She would be a valuable ally—if she chose to stay.

But it wasn't just about her powers. There was something else, something more subtle that drew him in. Her honesty, her directness, the way she didn't ask for anything but gave more than she took. It was rare, and it was something he found himself unwilling to let go of so easily.

"I don't make those kinds of decisions for people."

"Of course you don't."

She shifted her weight, turning back to the stars. For a moment, the silence between them felt heavier, as if something unspoken had passed. Then, with a softer smile, she spoke again.

"Whatever happens, Law... I've got a feeling I'll see you again. The sea's strange like that. It brings people together when they least expect it."

"Maybe."

Alexia smiled, catching the subtle shift in his voice, but she didn't press him further. Instead, she leaned back against the railing, the wind catching her hair as she took in the night one last time.

"Well," she said softly, almost to herself, "whatever happens, good luck to you, Captain. You and your crew. I looked forward to seeing you pop up in the World Economic News again."

"I'll leave you to your stargazing," he said, giving one final glance toward the stars before stepping back from the railing, his boots quiet on the deck. "I have some more work to do."

"You always have work to do," Alexia teased, her voice light and playful.

He paused for a moment, glancing over his shoulder at her, and though his expression didn't change, her words lingered. She was right—more than she knew. The weight of responsibility was constant for him. There was always something to handle, some plan to perfect, a crew to keep safe. He couldn't afford to stop, not even for a night.

"Get some sleep," he said, the command coming out more like an afterthought.

"Good night, Captain," she replied, watching as he disappeared into the shadows of the ship.

As the sound of his footsteps faded, Alexia was alone on the deck once again, the night sky spread out like a vast, infinite map above her. A soft breeze tugged at her hair, carrying with it the scent of salt and sea. She inhaled deeply, letting the fresh air fill her lungs as she turned back to the stars.

A quiet sigh escaped her lips, the weight of the past few hours settling in. It was strange—she had only been aboard the Polar Tang for a short while, but already, the ship and its crew had made an impression on her.

Her new chapter was starting. She had escaped Levinstown and found freedom again. The moment she had stepped onto the Polar Tang, she had felt like her old life—the one she thought she wanted to leave behind—was truly over. She had spent so long dreaming of her release, of having the chance to make her own choices again. And now, finally, that moment had come. She was free.

But at the same time... she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of longing.

Shachi and Penguin. Their banter had filled the air with a kind of carefree energy that was infectious. She had laughed more in the last few hours than she had in years, their constant back-and-forth a welcome distraction from her thoughts.

Bepo. She could still see the big, fluffy bear's concerned face, always eager to help, always full of kindness. Something was endearing about him, an innocence that didn't seem to belong in a pirate's world. But it made the ship feel... warmer.

Olly. The smell of his cooking still lingered in her memory, and she knew she would miss the way he brought the crew together over meals, his passion for food lighting up even the darkest days.

And then there was Law.

Alexia felt a small shiver run through her as her thoughts drifted to the captain. He was a puzzle she couldn't quite figure out. His cold, calculating exterior seemed unshakable, yet there was something beneath the surface, something that intrigued her. She couldn't place it, but she could feel it—the way he kept his distance, not out of cruelty but out of necessity. He had a plan, always thinking five steps ahead, and he didn't let anyone see the whole picture. There had been moments, brief flickers, where his mask slipped just enough for her to catch a glimpse of something else. Something more human. He was guarded, yes, but not unreachable. And that made him all the more intriguing.

Alexia's brow furrowed slightly as she stared at the stars. She had thought she knew exactly what she wanted when she was finally free. She had spent so long locked in survival mode that the idea of being on her own again had seemed like paradise.

But now, after spending just a few hours aboard the Polar Tang, she wasn't so sure.

A soft chuckle escaped her, though it was tinged with uncertainty. She hadn't expected to feel this way—to be drawn to the crew, to feel connected to a group of pirates she barely knew.

She leaned against the railing, tilting her head back to the sky, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"Mom, Dad... I thought I knew what I wanted when I was set free, but now I'm not so sure." She glanced up at the constellations her mother had once taught her to follow, hoping they might offer some kind of answer. "What should I do?"

The stars, of course, didn't answer. They blinked down at her, distant and indifferent like they had been for centuries, watching countless souls wander beneath them.

Alexia sighed again, feeling the weight of uncertainty press down on her. She could stay on the next island, and start fresh like she had planned. Or she could find another ship and sail to the farthest reaches of the world. There were endless possibilities, but the idea of leaving the Polar Tang, of leaving them—it gnawed at her.

It wasn't just about survival anymore. It wasn't just about freedom. There was something more here, something she couldn't name but could feel pulling her in. And it scared her a little, this unexpected attachment she was forming to a group of strangers—pirates, no less.

A small, wry smile tugged at her lips. "The sea's strange like that," she murmured to herself, echoing her earlier words to Law. "Brings people together in ways you don't expect."

The sound of the waves lapping against the hull of the ship filled the quiet as Alexia stood there, her heart torn between the freedom she had always dreamed of and the new bonds she never saw coming.

One way or another, she would have to make a choice soon. But for now, she just let the stars keep her company, their distant light a reminder that the path ahead, whatever it was, was still hers to choose.

 

Notes:

Decisions decisions, what is Alexia going to do?

 

I cannot begin to tell you how many ideas I have brewing when it comes to these two characters.
These two are so fun to write!

Chapter 4: Morning Laughter and Maps

Alexia was an early riser and had been for years now. She caught a small school of fish swimming by from the bed along the far wall. The submarine's outside lights illuminated their silver scales.

"This is so cool," she whispered, slipping out from under the warm sheets.

After a quick change into a simple pair of black pants and a red shirt and a brief stop at the small washroom across the hall, Alexia ventured out in search of the galley. At least, she hoped that was the direction she was going. The Polar Tang was huge, and she didn't get a proper tour of the submarine. Not that there was any need for it, she'd be gone soon enough. Eventually, after following her nose, Alexia found Olly, who was already hard at work, preparing breakfast for a group of rowdy pirates.

"It smells great in here," Alexia exclaimed, taking in the savory aroma of bacon cooking from the oven.

"Good morning, Alexia," Olly smiled kindly at her. "Sleep all right?"

"As good as someone who's never slept on a submarine before could. It wasn't so bad," she gestured to the coffee pot on the counter. "May I?"

"Have at it," he said, making his way back into the kitchen. "We always have coffee brewing here."

Alexia wasn't surprised. Not with a captain who was up at all hours of the night.

For a good while, she sat by herself. The sound of pots and pans moving around in the kitchen, new smells wafting through the air. Whatever Olly was making, it smelled delicious. If it was as half as good as it smelled, she was in for a real treat.

"Do you need any help?" she asked the cook when he came back into the galley for a cup of coffee of his own.

"I'm fine," the older man sat down across from her. "Everything's ready for when the crew wakes up, but thank you for offering."

" 'Course," she said. "It must be something, having to cook for a group of rambunctious pirates all the time by yourself."

"There's never a dull moment, that's for damn sure," he laughed.

Alexia enjoyed Olly's company. He was more relaxed and easy-going than some of the other Heart Pirates. Something she needed to be surrounded by first thing in the morning before the caffeine kicked in. How exactly the cook found his way onto a pirate crew with jokesters like Shachi and Penguin, she'd never know, but the calm demeanor of the man was something she'd take in before leaving.

A little while later, the galley door opened. Both Olly and Alexia paused their conversation, watching the captain make his way to the coffee pot without a single glance or a word. He'd been up all night Alexia guessed, judging by the darker rings underneath his eyes.

"The usual routine," Olly told her. "Any luck with the research, Captain?"

Law didn't say anything, just held up a hand as if to say 'Hold on.', and downed the coffee in one gulp. Alexia snickered in amusement. She understood the sentiment.

"Yes, Olly," he finally spoke. "I managed to find some rather interesting connections."

"Glad to hear your all-nighter wasn't a waste this time around," Olly chuckled.

"And how was your stargazing, Alexia-ya?" Law turned to ask her.

"It was lovely, thank you," she answered, holding her mug up in a mock salute.

"Good. It looks like the next island is roughly a day and a half away."

"That's not too bad," the excitement of the next adventure buzzed through the woman's veins. Or was that the coffee?

"Think you can handle that long with our crazy crew?" Olly asked.

"I am looking forward to it to tell you the truth," Alexia smiled. "I can use a little bit of crazy. It does make me wonder how such different personalities can mix so well in a space like this. The two of you are much more reserved than say, Penguin and Shaci are. From what I've been able to see, anyway."

"Penguin and Shachi act like children most of the time-"

"Hey now, Captain!" the duo in question bounded into the galley. "There will be no slander this early in the morning."

"We like to think of it as we balance these two out," Penguin told Alexia with a grin, sliding into the seat beside her, and gesturing to Law and Olly.

"Yeah, we have to keep the two on their toes at all times. It would be so boring here if we didn't," Shachi added.

"I think you just made his point for him, Shachi," Alexia laughed.

"Details," he waved her off with a chuckle.

Not long after, Bepo made his way into the galley, giving Olly the green light to bring out the mouth-watering breakfast keeping warm in the kitchen. Alexia watched the Heart Pirates take their seats and immediately dig into the large breakfast spread of bacon, eggs, toast, fruit, and a heaping pile of golden brown pancakes.

"Don't be shy. There's enough here to feed a small army," Olly encouraged.

"It all looks so good," she said. "I don't know where to start."

"Olly makes the best pancakes," Bepo told her with a smile.

"The bacon's always cooked to perfection," Penguin added.

A little bit of everything it was.

 

 

+++++

 

 

Breakfast on the Polar Tang was an experience. While Alexia quietly ate through the delicious meal, her eyes moved between Shachi and Penguin. The pair already resumed the antics she noticed yesterday. Olly, who was quietly observing them with a small smile on his face and a shake of the head. Bepo was excitedly digging into his breakfast, saying nothing until everything on his plate was gone. Lastly Law, at the head of the table, has a similar look on his face as Olly and a second cup of coffee now in his hands.

"So, Alexia," Shachi said, his mouth full of bacon and eggs. "How was your first night on our lovely submarine?"

"It was very nice, Shachi, thank you," she answered. "Waking up to a school of fish was way more enjoyable than the shouting and banging on my door at the asscrack of dawn."

"Is that right?" Penguin tilted his head to the side. "That doesn't sound pleasant at all."

"No kidding," Alexia sipped her coffee. "It's nice waking up on my terms for once."

"And yet, you still got up before them," Olly pointed his fork at Bepo, Penguin, and Shachi.

"I'm an early riser."

"Oh, you're one of those people," Shachi rolled his eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean, Shachi?" Olly asked.

"You know exactly what I mean, old man," Shachi answered. "Morning people. Gross."

"Does this happen every morning?" Alexia quirked a brow at Law.

"More or less," he answered. "You learn to tune it out after a while."

It was endearing in a way, the morning banter that went back and forth between the small pirate crew as they enjoyed breakfast and prepared for their daily tasks around the Polar Tang.

"So, Captain, what's the plan here? Do we get to show Alexia around the ship?" Penguin asked once the plates were emptied and taken to the kitchen to be cleaned. "Let her be a grease monkey for the day?"

"I know you're dying for a tour of the engine room," Shachi added with a laugh.

"No," Law answered simply. "With only 32 hours, give or take, I'm using her knowledge of the Grand Line to our benefit."

"And here I thought you kept me around because of my wit and charming personality," Alexia teased.

"Don't forget you're good looks," Shachi added with a wink.

"That was a given, Shachi," she smiled.

"Keeping you on my ship was a mistake," Law muttered a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Don't say such ridiculous things, Captain," Alexia laughed. "You're going to be begging me to stay before this day is over."

 

 

+++++

 

 

The navigation room was immaculate. Maps hung on the walls. Completed with precise detail were the East Blue, North Blue, South Blue, and West Blue. But it was the map Alexia spotted spread out on the table, however, that drew her in. The Grand Line map was nearly blank, save for Reverse Mountain and a few other islands. (One of which was Levinstown.) Her knowledge was going to be useful after all.

"I might be a little rusty, but I'm sure I can help you fill some of this out," she smiled. "Penguin mentioned you were informed about Log Poses yesterday, too."

"It was a very brief conversation," Law told her. "The Log Pose points to an island through the magnetic field it creates. Each island has a unique time to set the Log Pose before you can move on to the next one."

"Pretty much," Alexia nodded. "Log Poses are the only way to navigate these waters. Each island gives off a unique magnetic field. Once you've docked, the Log Pose locks onto the next island, but the time it takes to reset can vary greatly. Some islands require only a few hours. While others can take days, weeks, or even longer. My mother once told me there's an island that takes 100 years for your Log Pose to set."

"100 years?" Bepo's eyes widened.

"We don't have the luxury of waiting that long," Law stated firmly.

"Exactly. You are completely at your Log Pose's mercy," Alexia continued. "You just have to hope and pray you don't end up on one of the islands that has a long rest time. There are, however, Eternal Poses."

"What do those do?" Bepo leaned forward, eager for more.

"Eternal Poses are Log Poses locked onto a specific island. No matter where you are, the Eternal Pose will point you to it. For example, if I had an Eternal Pose to Levinstown and I was in the middle of the Grand Line hundreds of miles away with an island right in front of me, the Eternal Pose would still point to Levinstown."

"Useful," Law nodded his head. "But also comes with risks."

"Very. If you have a specific island in mind you are dying to get to an Eternal Pose would be a fantastic asset," Alexia shook her head. "But you are correct with the risks. If you have an Eternal Pose, you could miss opportunities, unknown routes, and necessary supplies."

"Thank you, Alexia," Bepo smiled wide at her, his short, stumpy tail wiggling back and forth in excitement. "That was much more helpful than what the old man told us."

"What else can you tell us?" Law asked arms crossed over his chest.

"The weather here is unpredictable," she answered. "Unless you can sense the weather, which who can, you have to be ready for the weather to change at any moment. One second it's bright, sunny, and hot, but then the next second, you're in the middle of a hurricane."

"It's a good thing we can dive underwater," Law replied.

"That is definitely an advantage for you," Alexia nodded her head in agreement. "But it's not just weather. Each island has its own climate as well. Some islands are beautiful with warm climates, while others are covered in snow-capped mountain peaks at all times. It's smart to have clothes for every possibility."

"Wow," Bepo's eyes widened in surprise. "We didn't know any of that. Thank you, Alexia."

"You're welcome," she smiled. "As for this map of yours....."

Alexia stepped in between them, her fingers running over the incomplete map spread across the table, biting her lip as doubt flickered in her mind. She desperately wanted to help them, but the Grand Line was always changing, and her memory was slightly faded from her years in Levinstown. The thought of one wrong piece of information made her heart pound.

Until Alexia remembered something stuffed inside her emergency duffle bag.

Mom's Journal.

"Wow, I'm a fucking idiot," she smacked her forehead. "Hold on, I have something that can help."

Both Law and Bepo watched Alexia rush out of the room with curiosity. When she returned there was a worn, leather journal in her hands that looked like it had seen better days.

"This," she flipped it open in the center of the table, detailed drawings covered its pages. "Is my Mom's old Marine Journal. She kept note of everything in here."

Law and Bepo leaned forward, their eyes scanning the sketches and notes with interest. Alexia wasn't lying. As she flipped through the pages, maps, animals, plants, landmarks, and anything else her mother thought useful was in the book.

"This is very thorough," Law commented, his fingers tracing over coordinates and map legends. Your mother was very precise."

"Reverse Mountain through to the Red Line and beyond," she beamed. "Most of it is in here. It would be my honor to help you complete your map with this and give you all the other information that will help your adventures. I do caution you, however, the Grand Line is always changing. Some of these islands could no longer exist."

"It's better than what we currently have," Bepo said. "Alexia, this is amazing!"

"I am happy to help. Shall we, gentlemen?"

Together, the trio began filling in the large map on the table. Alexia traced the route from Reverse Mountain to Alabasta, noting the key landmarks along the way. Jaya's placement was carefully marked, along with an apparent mythical sky island. She also warned them of the danger lurking around the Florian Triangle further along the map as they went.

Each island and each route was filled in with the help of Alexia's mother's journal. The trio worked in focused silence, and the map slowly came to life with each line representing a path forward, each island its challenge to concur. Finally, what felt like hours later, the map was more or less complete. As much as it could be anyway.

Alexia stepped back, letting out a long breath, and admired their work. She felt lighter, the weight of uncertainly lifted from her shoulders.

"Thank you," Law said, turning his head to the side, the tiniest smile forming on his face.

"You're very welcome," she replied. 

Notes:

I'll tell you what, the plot bunny has been going hard on these two. I have a good 15/20 mini-stories planned out for them. We will see if all of them eventually get posted.

Thank you for the kudos!

Chapter 5: A Heart Pirate

“I can’t believe you’re leaving us already,” Penguin leaned against the deck’s railing. “You just got here.”


“The Tang’s been way more fun with you around,” Shachi said. “That’s for damn sure. Think we can convince Captain to let you stay until the next island?”

“As fun as that would be, he’s been gracious enough to let me stay this long,” Alexia rested her chin in the palm of her hand, watching the island come closer with every passing moment.

“The worst he’ll say is no,” Bepo added from Penguin’s side, his ears twitching at the birds squawking overhead. “I don’t think he would. You’ve been a huge help to us, Alexia.”

“I’m happy to have been able to assist, Bepo,” she smiled at the three men she’d grown close to in a short amount of time. 

As the Polar Tang neared its destination, Alexia stared at the approaching shore. The crew had become her friends. More than that, really. They had started to feel like family. A crazy, chaotic family. Something she hadn’t had in a long time. 

Was it a Stockholm syndrome-like thing? Latching onto the first group of people outside of Levinstown?

No, not possible.

“I guess this is it,” Alexia said, her duffle bag over her shoulder and the small sack of smuggled items in hand. “It’s been fun.”

“Doesn’t have to be goodbye forever,” Penguin said, a hopeful tone in his voice. “Our paths might cross again.”

“I hope so,” she said softly, her eyes flicking toward Law, who was leaning against the opposite railing. He hadn’t said a word since joining them.

"Can I buy you guys a drink? You know, as a final thank you?" Alexia turned to the crew as the submarine moored to the pier in the bustling port town. "Your Log Pose has to set anyway. It’ll probably take a few hours before you can leave.”

Shachi and Penguin’s eyes lit up immediately. Free booze? Who was going to say no to such an offer?

"Sounds like a great idea to me!”

“I’m in!”

"Come on, Captain. One drink won’t hurt. Think of it as a final hoorah before Alexia leaves.”

“Please,” Bepo added for good measure. 

Law’s eyes flicked over to Penguin, then to Alexia, who was watching him with an amused smile. He knew the crew wouldn’t let this go easily. They had grown attached to Alexia in a way that made her departure feel more significant than it should have been.

“Fine,” Law sighed. “But only one.”

“Yes!” Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo shouted in unison, already moving to follow Alexia off the submarine.

The crew and Alexia made their way through the crowded streets. The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air, and it wasn’t long before Alexia spotted a lively tavern just off the main road, its doors wide open, inviting them in.

“This looks perfect,” she said, leading the way inside.

The pub was filled with sailors and locals, the atmosphere lively. As they entered, Shachi and Penguin immediately made their way to an empty table near the bar with Olly, Bepo, and Law following closely behind.

“One drink, as promised,” Alexia joined them a few minutes later with a tray of steins filled to the brim. “Thank you again, Captain. For everything.”

“You’re welcome.”

 

+++++

"I’m going to miss you guys," Alexia smiled, taking in the camaraderie one last time. “Thanks for helping me get back on my feet.”

“We’ll miss you, too,” Bepo said quietly, his ears drooping slightly.

Her eyes landed on Law again. He met her gaze, and for a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his expression.

Ask me to stay, damn it!

“Take care of yourself,” Law said. “Someone told me the Grand Line’s unpredictable.”

“Sounds like a smart individual,” she snorted, finishing her beer. “I look forward to reading all about your latest shenanigans in the World Economic News soon.”

Ugh. Men.

With that, she rose from the table and made her way to the door, the crew watching as she left the tavern and stepped out into the bright afternoon sun. The streets bustled with life around her. For a moment, Alexia stood still, taking a deep breath as she prepared to start her new chapter.

The Heart Pirates lingered inside. The Log Pose had a good hour to go before it set, and the mood had lightened, but the inevitability of departure still hung in the air. Law sat at the table, his eyes scanning the pub while Shachi and Penguin exchanged glances. 

Subtlety was not their strong suit. 

“Captain, yesterday we noticed the engine room could use some parts. A couple of things need replacing and we should have some spares for emergencies. We should probably grab them before we leave, just to be safe," Shachi said, glancing at Penguin who nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, you know, we don’t want to run into trouble out on the sea, right? Just an hour—tops. We'll head to the marketplace, grab what we need, and meet you guys back on the Polar Tang,” Penguin finished. 

Law knew exactly what they were up to. He took a slow swig of his drink, setting the glass down with a deliberate thud. 

“Fine, but then we’re leaving. No more stalling. We’ve wasted enough time already.”

“Yes, Captain!” they shouted in unison, darting toward the door with comical speed.

“They’re not fooling anyone,” Bepo said.

“Not in the slightest,” Olly shook his head in agreement.

Law rested an elbow on the table. He knew his crew well. They were loyal but tended to let their emotions guide their actions. He can't exactly blame them, though. Alexia had made an impression on all of them, and as much as he kept his feelings locked away, even he wasn’t entirely immune to her presence either.

 

+++++

 

The first thing Alexia did as she made her way through the marketplace was throw all of the clothing from her duffle bag into the trash. The action was freeing, so very freeing. The "life" (a word she used lightly) Alexia lived back in Levinstown was gone. It was time to begin again, but what to do first?

Immediately, her eyes landed on a large shoe merchant.

Perfect.

Alexia let out a loud sigh of relief. Her current sneakers were at the end of their ropes, and her feet were screaming. She wasted no time in finding an appealing pair of purple and black hightops near the back of the massive booth, as well as, a plain white pair. (It was always good to have options.) As soon as Berry changed hands, the old pair joined everything else in the garbage. 

“All right,” she surveyed the area. “Next up, clothes.”

What Alexia originally thought would take her hours to accomplish took only a fraction of the time with everything a woman starting over could need. 

“I’m going to need a bigger bag,” she muttered to herself when she quickly realized her duffle was not going to be able to withstand the shirts piling up in her arms. 

After about an hour of meandering through the vendors, Alexia was more than satisfied with her purchases. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to get her on her feet: shirts, jeans, shorts, pants, a few swimsuits, a handful of dresses, some undergarments, socks, and a sleek black leather jacket. Why not spoil herself a little with the money Law had stolen from Ronnie’s safe? It wasn’t like the monster was going to use any of it.

“Not too shabby,” she smiled, making her way through the crowded street toward her second destination, the gunsmith. 

+++++

Alexia heard the unmistakable sound of a fist hitting flesh, followed by some painful groans. Following the sounds closely, she saw Shachi and Penguin, or at least, what was left of them. The duo were on the ground, bloodied and bruised, barely conscious while a group of pirate hunters circled them like vultures in one of the narrow alleyways just beyond the market.

 

“This is the best the Heart Pirates have to offer? Pathetic,” One of the hunters, a brute of a man with jagged scars running down his forearms, lifted Shachi by the collar, spitting at him with malice.

 

Shachi’s head lolled to the side, blood trickling from his mouth as his body hung limp in the man’s hands. Penguin wasn’t faring much better—his back was against the wall, eyes half-lidded, and breathing shallow.

 

What are they doing here, and how the hell did they get into this mess?

 

“Keep walking, girl. This doesn’t concern you.” The man holding Shachi spoke when he spotted her moving toward them. The two other hunters turned to look at her. Their expressions darkened with twisted smiles. Probably assuming Alexia would also be an easy target.

“It kind of does,” She locked eyes with him. Her eyes pulsed with a purple fury and the familiar swirling magic danced between her fingers. “Drop him.”

 

Her words were a command wrapped in silk, and though the hunter’s eyes burned with defiance, his hand began to tremble. His grip on Shachi loosened, letting him slump to the ground beside Penguin. 

 

“All of you. Move back,” Alexia stepped forward, her voice weaving into their minds.

 

The hunters’ bodies jerked, their muscles twitching in rebellion, but they couldn’t resist. They staggered back, confusion and panic flashing across their faces. One of them, a smaller man with a wiry frame, shook his head violently, trying to escape the trance.

 

“What the hell is this?” he spat.

 

The third tried to resist, too, but it was no use. The woman’s mind slipped, drowning in the haze Alexia had created. 

 

“Leave,” Alexia demanded. “Forget everything that happened in this alley.”

 

The hunter’s eyes glazed over. They stumbled, tripping over themselves as they turned and fled, their once-predatory gazes replaced by blank obedience. When the last hunter disappeared into the depths of the alley, she released her hold on their minds. 

 

Super convenient, but damn that’s exhausting. I need to work on that.

 

“Lex…?” Penguin rasped. 

 

“Nicknames already, huh? You guys must really like me,” She gave him a faint smile, crouching down by their battered bodies. 

 

“What… happened…?” Shachi groaned.

 

“Looks to me like you two got caught in a fight. You’re supposed to be back on the Polar Tang. How did you end up here?”

 

“We were out getting parts for the engine room,” Penguin started. 

 

“We did need them,” Shachi added with a hiss, gripping his injured arm. “It wasn’t just a ploy to try and get you to join us.”

 

“Uh huh,” Alexia nodded slowly. “And these pirate hunters just so happened to spot you while shopping?”

 

“Yeah, we don’t exactly blend in.”

 

“At least we had the decency to get away from innocent civilians.”

 

“We’re nice like that,” Penguin moaned.

 

“We… had them right where we wanted them,” Shachi grinned weakly, blood staining his teeth. 

 

“Right. If by ‘right where you wanted them’, you mean getting your faces beaten in, then sure,” Alexia shook her head at their stupidity. Two against three wasn’t the best idea.

 

“We knew you’d come through for us.” 

 

“Next time,” she helped them both to their feet, supporting most of their weight as they limped out of the alleyway together. “Try not to almost die without me, all right?”

 

She glanced between their messed-up faces, both clinging to consciousness. The Polar Tang was docked a fair distance away. Alexia couldn’t carry them that far, and she knew they weren’t walking to the docks on their own. 

 

“I know I promised I wouldn’t use my powers on you unless you gave me the ok,” Alexia said. “But I need to get you back to the Polar Tang, and there’s no way I can carry your unconscious bodies the whole way there.”

 

She took a deep breath. Her voice slipped into their minds like a cool stream, soft, insistent, and impossible to resist.

 

“Walk.”

 

Guiding the pair through the winding streets, the bustling crowds parted unconsciously, giving them space as if they could sense something was amiss. Eventually, the trio came to the docks. Bepo’s unmistakable form was easy to spot on the deck. He spotted Alexia, Shachi, and Penguin as they approached, his eyes widening in surprise.

 

“Alexia,” Bepo called out, looking between his crewmembers. “What happened?”

 

“These two idiots got into a fight with some pirate hunters,” she said, directing the tranced duo toward the mink. 

 

“Are they… okay?” 

 

“I had to persuade them to walk. They were in no condition to make it here on their own. The big man might want to check them out.”

 

“I’ll be right back,” Bepo nodded, rushing into the submarine.

 

It wasn’t long before Law appeared. His usual calm expression was tinged with curiosity as he took in the sight of Penguin and Shachi standing eerily still with unfocused eyes.

 

“What did they get themselves into this time?” Law asked. He stepped closer, his sharp gaze flicking from Shachi to Penguin and then settling on Alexia.

 

“They were getting their asses handed to them by a trio of pirate hunters. I got there in the end and took care of it.” She gestured to the two pirates. “They weren’t in much shape to walk, so I… encouraged them a bit.”

 

“You put them in a trance?”

 

“I didn’t have a choice. They were barely conscious. I figured you wouldn’t want to scrape them off the ground. So, technically, you should be thanking me.”

 

“I swear, those two find trouble wherever they go,” Law sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose with two fingers. “Bring them to the medical bay.”

 

Penguin and Shachi’s movements were slow and mechanical, their bodies obeying her commands without resistance as she guided them through the familiar, narrow halls of the Polar Tang. Law walked ahead, his footsteps purposeful as he led them into the medical bay. Alexia carefully guided Shachi and Penguin onto the beds, positioning them so they lay flat. Once they were settled, Law quickly moved to assess their injuries. Shachi had bruises blooming across his face and chest, along with a deep cut on his forearm. Penguin’s lip was split open, and a gash on his leg had soaked through his pants. Both were in bad shape, but fortunately, none of the injuries appeared to be fatal.

 

“You’re keeping them under?”

 

“It’ll be easier this way. For them and you,” Alexia told him.

 

“Make sure they don’t move.”

 

“I’ve got it under control,” she grinned, giving Law a thumbs up. 

 

With an eye roll, Law got to work. Starting with Shach, he pulled out a needle and thread, swiftly stitching up the cut on his arm with quick, precise movements. The room was quiet save for the soft clink of instruments and the steady hum of the ship. Alexia remained nearby, her focus split between keeping Shachi and Penguin under her control and watching the captain do his work. Shachi didn’t so much as twitch under the trance, his face slack as Law cleaned and bandaged his injuries.

 

Once finished with Shachi’s arm, he moved on to Penguin, applying antiseptic to the deep gash on his leg. The injury was worse than it had initially appeared, and Alexia winced slightly as Law stitched it up, his gloved hands working with amazing speed. 

 

“Thanks for bringing them here.” His voice broke through the silence. “And for stepping in when they needed it.”

 

“They would’ve been in much worse shape if I hadn’t. Consider us even,” Alexia leaned against the counter, crossing her arms as she observed.

 

After a while, Law finally stepped back, peeling off his bloodstained gloves and tossing them into a nearby bin. He exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he looked over his handiwork. Both Shachi and Penguin were bandaged up, their injuries treated, and now all they needed was rest.

 

“They’ll be alright, thanks to you.”

 

“Thanks to me? You’re the one who did all the hard work,” Alexia raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

 

“You stepped in when you didn’t need to,” Law shook his head, crossing his arms as he leaned against the edge of one of the beds.

 

“I couldn’t just leave them,” she said softly. “They’re your crew.”

 

“They’re my family,” Law replied. “ A pain in my ass, but family nonetheless.”

 

Alexia nodded in understanding, her orchid eyes scanning over Shachi and Penguin’s bandaged bodies. The quiet of the medical bay was shattered almost immediately.

 

“Ahhh! Shit!” Shachi exclaimed. His face twisted in agony, a thin sheen of sweat forming on his forehead.

 

“W-What the hell happened…?” Penguin’s voice was hoarse as he blinked up at the harsh overhead lights. He groaned again, his hand gingerly reaching down to his bandaged leg. “Oh god… everything hurts.”

 

“Welcome back, boys.”

 

“How did we get here?” Penguin blinked, then looked over at Shachi, his confusion growing.

 

“Oh, right… the pirate hunters,” Shachi, still clutching his side, groaned again before glancing at Alexia.

 

“You two were getting your asses handed to you.”

 

“Oh yeah… I remember now… there were like… five of them, right?” Penguin winced, rubbing his head as the memories slowly returned. 

 

“Three.”

 

“Well… thanks for the save, I guess.”

 

“Wait… if you found us, then… you fought them off?” Penguin looked at Alexia, his brow furrowing as he tried to put the pieces together. 

 

“I had to. Otherwise, I’d be explaining to your captain why he was down two crew members,” Alexia answered.

 

“Yeah, no. That wouldn’t go over well,” Shachi shook his head.

 

“No, no it wouldn’t,” Law’s voice sounded through the room. Penguin and Shachi turned their heads, hissing loudly in the process, to see him wiping down and sanitizing the used medical equipment.

 

“Hey, Captain,” Shachi forced a pained smile. “How long have you been there?”

 

Alexia let out a snicker, hearing what sounded like an “idiots” from the man before finishing up at the sink. 

 

“You two rest up, all right,” she gave them both a small smile before exiting the medical bay.

 

“Thanks, Lex. We owe you one.”

+++++

“I would have expected you to be back in town by now,” Law approached her on the deck.

“I should be,” Alexia said, her elbows resting on the railing. “There’s just something about this submarine that’s hard to walk away from.”

Law knew the feeling well.  He joined her, looking out at the calm waters.

“Your Devil Fruit,” he spoke after a while. “It’s impressive.”

“Thank you?” Alexia tilted her head to the side, quirking an eyebrow at him. 

“With time and training, who knows what you’d be capable of.”

“Is there a point you’re trying to make, Trafalgar, or are you just going to keep inflating my ego?” she teased.

“The crew’s going to miss you.”

“Are they?” 

“Don’t act like you didn’t notice when we docked today,” Law said.

“I didn’t,” Alexia smirked. “Keep going. This is clearly difficult for you.”

“I’m glad my discomfort pleases you,” he rolled his eyes. “I guess, what I’m trying to get at, is- you don’t have to go.”

“I don’t?”

“Don’t play coy.”

“Sorry. Please continue.”

“You’ve shown me in the last few days that you’re adaptable, fit in with my crew, can handle yourself when facing conflict, and not completely useless.”

“Wow, you really know how to make a woman feel special.”

“Alexia-”

“Just ask me to stay already. This is getting painful.”

“Really? Maybe I take back everything I just said,” he challenged. 

“Too late!” Alexia grinned. “I’ve locked it into memory.”

“I regret this already,” Law sighed loudly. “Alexia, will you join my crew?”

“I’d be honored, Captain Grumpy Pants!”

“Yeah, no. There will be none of that.”

“Fine. We can brainstorm later.”

“Absolutely not.”

A few hours later, once the initial excitement of Alexia becoming the newest member of the crew died down, though barely, dinner was well underway with Penguin and Shachi (despite being pulverized a few hours ago) were back to their usual comedic selves. However, this time, Alexia added fuel to the duo’s fire. 

 

“Olly,” Law said to the cook, who began cleaning up some of the empty plates. “I think I just made the worst decision of my life.”

 

“I don’t think that’s true, Captain,” the man chuckled. 

 

“Are you sure?” the man gestured to the loud trio on the far end of the table. 

 

“100%” Olly nodded. “I think Alexia’s exactly what this crew needs.”

 

“Not a fan of how I’ve been running things?” Law asked with a raised brow.

 

“You know that’s not what I mean,” Olly answered. “I’m just saying, in my humble opinion, we need to liven this place up a bit more.”

 

“The Polar Tang isn’t a cruise ship. It doesn’t need to be ‘lively.’”


“Give it time, Captain. You’ll see what I mean.”

Chapter 6: The Weakest Link

There was no easing into the pirate life. No finding her niche, no falling into a routine gradually, or anything of that nature. Day one, it was straight to business. 

Breakfast was nearing its end in the galley where Alexia sat between Bepo and Shachi. Her eyes narrowed at Penguin while chewing on the last bit of bacon as he finished regaling the tale of how they traveled from North Blue, up Reverse Mountain, and into the Grand Line. Just as she was about to question one of the many outlandish statements in his story, the door opened. Law strolled in with a large, leather-bound volume in his hand then proceeded to drop it on the table right in front of Alexia, causing the plates, silverware, and cups to rattle.

“Good morning to you, too,” Alexia said, her fingers trailing over the peeling letters on the cover of the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. “What’s this?”

“Your first order as a Heart Pirate,” he replied bluntly, making his way to the coffee machine. Probably his third or fourth of the day, already. “Right now, you are the weakest member of my crew. That needs to change.”

“Excuse me? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Compared to everyone else in this room, it’s no contest,” Law gestured to the others sitting around the table. “There’s plenty of potential in you, but it’s buried under years of captivity. If you want to pull your weight around here, you need to catch up. Quickly.”

“I’m flattered by your faith in my potential, but did you ever consider leading with a compliment? Maybe a pep talk?” Alexia smirked. “Might motivate me to work harder.”

“I’m not here to coddle you. I’m here to make sure you don’t get yourself—or worse, someone else—killed.”

“Don’t take it personally. He says this kind of stuff to all of us,” Shachi told her. 

“Yeah,” Penguin added, grinning. “But it’s funnier when it’s not aimed at me.”

Alexia flipped through the pages filled with Devil Fruits. Hand-painted drawings with detailed descriptions of types, powers, and potential awakenings filled every worn, yellowed page. 

“You need to read up on your Devil Fruit, practice your abilities, reacquaint yourself with your firearms, brush up on your hand-to-hand, and rebuild your endurance. Bepo had to carry you to your room last night because your body was exhausted after using your powers when helping Penguin and Shachi,” Law explained. “That is unacceptable. I can’t have you collapsing during a skirmish with Marines or another pirate crew.”

“So, that’s how I got back to my room,” Alexia turned and smiled at Bepo. “Thank you. I was wondering how I got back.”

“You’re welcome,” the mink blushed. 

“Five years in captivity doesn’t go away overnight. You’re weak, you’re underweight, and your endurance is terrible,” Law continued.

“Wow, tell me how you really feel,” she commented, stopping at the purple Trance-Trance Fruit. “You sound like a drill instructor.”

“I am the captain of this crew,” he replied, unbothered. “My job is to make sure you don’t become a liability. You have two weeks to show progress. I’m going to test you. If you don’t pass, you’re gone.”

“Gone as in... gone?” Alexia asked. “I just got here!”

“Gone as in no longer a member of the Heart Pirates,” he clarified. “Penguin, Bepo, and Shachi will help you with hand-to-hand combat and physical training. Olly will reintroduce you to firearms, and I’ll oversee your Devil Fruit progress. Olly, I want her on extra high-protein, high-calorie, and nutrient-dense meals. I don’t need a walking skeleton on my crew.”

“Got it.”

“Well, aren’t I just spoiled?” Alexia replied. “Question.”

“Answer.”

“Do I have permission to write and make notes in this book?” Alexia asked.

“If it helps you improve, I don’t care what you do,” Law turned toward the door, making his leave to do whatever it was he did during the day. “You’ve got two weeks. Don’t waste it.”

“Talk about tough love. Does he ever loosen up, or is this just... him?” Alexia shook her head and turned to her crewmates.

“You get used to it,” Shachi shrugged. “You’re going to mess with him the entire time aren’t you?”

“Oh, absolutely,” Alexia said, slamming the book shut with determination. “If I have homework, I might as well enjoy it. And if the captain’s going to play dictator, he’d better be ready for some pushback.”

+++++

Alexia was by no means going to let two weeks slip by. She was stubborn, determined, and unwilling to be the weak link in a crew that gave her a chance. Of course, she would take everything Law said seriously. She’d throw herself into training, push her limits, and prove her worth, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to push his buttons along the way.

How could she not? The man practically invited it with his stern demeanor and deadpan delivery. If she had to endure his drill instructor routine, he was going to endure her wit.

Once breakfast concluded, she made a beeline for the library aboard the Polar Tang. The library was compact but well-stocked, with books on everything from navigation, medicine, combat strategies, nautical engineering, and everything in between. It was clear Law kept this place running as tightly as the rest of his ship.

She liked that.

Sliding into a leather chair in the corner of the room, Alexia opened the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia and began to read.

Name:

Trance-Trance Fruit

Type:

Paramecia

Appearance:

The Trance-Trance Fruit, a peach-shaped fruit, is covered in hypnotic spiral patterns of multiple purple hues. Its surface gives off a faint, shimmering glow that almost seems to pulse like a heartbeat.

Primary Ability:

The Trance-Trance Fruit grants its user the power to manipulate minds and consciousness, inducing trances and altering mental and emotional states. The user becomes a master of psychological influence, capable of affecting both individuals and groups in a variety of ways. However, mastery of the fruit’s abilities requires immense mental focus and creativity.

Powers include, but are not limited to:

Hypnotic Control

The user can induce a trance-like state in their targets. Once hypnotized, the target becomes highly suggestible, allowing the user to issue commands ranging from simple to complex.

• Range: Direct visual or auditory connection.
  
• Limitations: Strong-willed individuals, particularly those with Haki, may resist. Distraction or interruption can also break the trance.
  
  

Emotional Manipulation

The user can amplify, suppress, or entirely alter a target’s emotions. By focusing on one or more individuals, the user can instill a variety of emotions, such as overwhelming fear, joy, or rage.

• Uses: Tactical disruption of enemies, inspiring loyalty, or inciting chaos.
  
• Resistance: Emotional manipulation is less effective on individuals with high mental discipline or emotional control.

Sensation Manipulation

The user can alter or intensify a target’s physical sensations, such as inducing phantom pain or dulling actual pain.

• Uses: Interrogation, disabling opponents, or aiding allies in enduring injuries.
  
• Limitations: Effects end if the trance is broken.
  
  

Mass Influence

The user can extend their powers to affect dozens or even hundreds of targets simultaneously, inducing trances or manipulating emotions across a battlefield.

• Drawback: Large-scale influence requires immense mental stamina, especially when dealing with resistant individuals.

Hallucination Induction

The user can create vivid, personalized hallucinations within a target’s mind. These hallucinations are entirely tailored to the target’s fears or desires.

• Uses: Tormenting enemies, creating diversions, or manipulating decisions.
  
• Weaknesses: Strong Haki users can discern the hallucinations as false.

Trance Traps

The user can plant mental triggers in a target’s subconscious that activate under specific conditions. These triggers can compel actions, induce trances, or create confusion.

• Uses: Espionage, sabotage, or as insurance in dangerous encounters.
  
• Weaknesses: Triggers can be neutralized if discovered or the trance is broken.

Mind-Linking

The user can create a two-way telepathic connection with one or more individuals, enabling instant communication of thoughts and emotions. Multiple participants can be linked for synchronized teamwork.

• Limitations: Maintaining a mind link over multiple individuals requires significant focus and stamina.
  
• Risks: Conflicting thoughts or emotions can destabilize the connection.

Dreamwalking/Memorywalking

The user can enter the subconscious mind of an individual, exploring their dreams or memories. Within this space, the user can interact with the environment, extract information, or subtly influence the target’s thoughts and emotions.

• Uses: Extracting hidden information, delivering psychological attacks, or aiding allies in overcoming mental barriers.
  
• Limitations: The user’s physical body is vulnerable. Prolonged use may also strain the user’s mind.

Mental Healing

The user can enter the mind of an ally or target to ease emotional trauma, suppress harmful memories, or bolster mental stability.

• Uses: Psychological therapy, morale-boosting, and eliminating negative influences.
  
• Drawback: Healing requires deep mental focus.

Reality-Twist Zone (Awakening)

An advanced, awakened ability that allows the user to warp the environment within a defined zone, blending illusions with physical reality. Targets perceive and experience the altered reality as though it were tangible.

• Potential: Create environments that hinder enemies or bolster allies, such as a battlefield filled with shifting hazards or phantom reinforcements.
  
• Drawbacks: Maintaining the zone drains stamina rapidly, and strong-willed individuals may resist its effects.

 

The Role of Meditation

Meditation is essential for mastering the Trance-Trance Fruit. The user’s abilities rely heavily on mental discipline, focus, and creativity, all of which can be refined through meditative practices. By meditating, the user can:

 

• Strengthen focus for precision-based abilities like Sensory Manipulation or Hallucination Induction.
  
• Build mental stamina to sustain large-scale abilities like Mass Influence or Reality-Twist Zone.
• Increased awareness of others’ emotions and subconscious states, aiding in Dreamwalking or Shared Consciousness.
• Train to resist mental strain and recover from overuse of abilities.

 

Singing: A Hypothetical Enhancement

If the user possesses musical talent, singing can exponentially increase the lethality and effectiveness of the Trance-Trance Fruit. The rhythmic and emotional nature of music makes it an ideal conduit for trance-inducing abilities. 

 

• Range and Spread: Sound carries farther, allowing the user to affect larger groups at greater distances.
  
• Emotional Amplification: Music stirs emotions deeply, making abilities like Emotional Manipulation more potent.
• Anchoring Illusions: Melodies tied to specific illusions make them harder to resist, as targets associate the sound with the visual.
• Hypnotic Power: Repetitive rhythms or haunting tunes enhance Hypnotic Control by embedding commands into the melody.
• Mass Synchronization: Singing can unify targets under Shared Consciousness or Mind-Linking, synchronizing thoughts and actions seamlessly.

 

Using music, the user could turn a battlefield into a symphony of chaos, with enemies succumbing to trances and allies emboldened by inspiring melodies.

+++++

Alexia leaned back in the chair, her mind spinning with possibilities. This wasn’t just a Devil Fruit—it was a force to be reckoned with. Could she do all of these things with enough practice? 

“Two weeks, huh?” she murmured.

Challenge accepted, but which power to try first?

The logical answer was none, and to work her endurance, especially if she wanted to extend their range or maintain control during a high-stakes fight. Her abilities were mentally and physically demanding. Her stamina had to improve, which meant meditation. Something Alexia never really thought about or practiced before, not that she ever had the chance to. Nevertheless, meditation made sense, and if it helped strengthen her greatest asset; Alexia couldn’t afford not to do it. 

Her thoughts were cut short by the sound of the library door slamming open. Alexia’s head snapped up to see Shachi standing in the doorway.

“Alright, Bookworm,” he declared, leaning against the doorframe. “Time to get moving. We’re getting a baseline for your hand-to-hand skills and physical conditioning.”

“You can’t give me five more minutes?” Alexia asked. “I’m on a roll here.”

“Nope,” Shachi replied, his grin widening. “Captain said now, and I’m not going to argue with him.”

The training room aboard the Polar Tang wasn’t what Alexia initially thought it would be. Despite the somewhat limited space, there was plenty of equipment for a multitude of needs. A pair of pull-up bars attached to the wall, a treadmill, adjustable free weights, a few machines, a punching bag suspended from the low ceiling, and some test dummies to practice with, completed with a padded floor as she joined Bepo and Penguin in the center of the room. 

And that was only what Alexia could see. There was a door along the far wall where she guessed other equipment that wasn’t in use was stored. The door beside it, on the other hand, was throwing her off. What was in there?

“All right,” Shachi cracked his knuckles, stepping in front of her. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

“Do I get to warm up first?” Alexia asked.

“Nope.”

“Can I just lay down and call it a day instead?” Alexia asked.

“Not a chance. Let’s go.”

It was bad.

Not catastrophic, but bad. Shachi was quick, his movements sharp and precise with years of experience. He dodged her strikes easily, tapping her arms and ribs with soft hits that left Alexia frustrated. She tried to follow his movements, but it was like chasing smoke. Every time she thought she had him, he was gone.

“Come on, Alexia,” he teased, dodging another swing. “I’ve seen snails go faster than you.”

After a few agonizingly long minutes, Penguin swapped with Shachi. He was equally nimble, but she managed to land a jab on his shoulder, earning an approving nod.

“Not bad,” he said, sidestepping her next punch. “You’ve got potential. Somewhere in there.”

“I’m flattered,” she muttered, narrowly dodging his counterstrike.

When Bepo’s turn came, Alexia quickly realized the mink’s sheer size didn’t slow him down in the slightest. He was fast, strong, and gentle in his approach, focusing on guiding her rather than overwhelming her. She landed a couple of light hits, but breaking through his defenses felt like trying to punch through a steel door.

“Good effort,” Bepo said encouragingly, blocking her effortlessly. “You’ve got a lot of heart, Alexia. That counts for something.”

When the sparring session ended, followed by a few tests of strength and conditioning, Alexia flopped onto the mat, her hair sticking to her forehead. Every muscle in her body ached.

“You’re not bad for someone who’s been out of the game for a few years. You’ve got instincts. They’re just... buried,” Shachi plopped down beside her, handing her a bottle of water.

“Buried under years of garbage, but yeah, they’re in there somewhere. At least, I hope they are,” Alexia accepted the water gratefully, taking a long gulp. “Ok, who’s ready to push me even harder tomorrow?”

“Now that’s the spirit, bookworm,” Penguin grinned, helping Alexia to her feet, slinging an arm over her shoulder. 

+++++

Lunch was a welcome reprieve after the morning’s training session. Alexia all but collapsed into her seat in the galley, her muscles protesting every movement with sharp, persistent aches. Despite the pain in her muscles, a sense of determination burned in her chest. She wasn’t just going to meet Law’s expectations—she was going to surpass them no matter how painful it was.

The lively chatter of the crew filled the room. Shachi and Penguin, of course, wasted no time telling Olly how rough her round of sparring went. Even Bepo joined in, though his version of events was far kinder. His gentler retelling earned him a mock glare from Shachi.

“You’re ruining the narrative, Bepo!”

“No, Bepo,” Alexia snickered. “Keep going. You make it seem like I wasn’t as awful as I was.”

“You weren’t awful ,” Bepo told her in earnest.

“Lex needs a new category for the performance she put on in the training room,” Penguin laughed. 

“Careful, Penguin. You’ll get to be my Guinea Pig when I test out some new powers,” Alexia smiled sweetly at him. 

“I’d be delighted,” the man took a large swig from his glass before changing the subject on her entirely. “You know, I’ve been dying to ask this for a while. How come you’re so happy and trying to crack jokes with everyone? If I was playing dancing monkey for years, I’d be miserable.”

“Penguin!” Bepo cried out. “You can’t just ask Alexia something like that so bluntly!”

“Blunt is my middle name, Bepo. You know that.”

“You don’t have a middle name, you dumbass,” Shachi rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, well, Lex didn’t know that now, did she?”

“It’s not that big of a deal,” Alexia shrugged. “I appreciate the bluntness, honestly. To answer your question. I would have to say I’ve been this way since I was a kid. It’s also a coping mechanism, I guess, from the nightmare Ronnie put us through. I wanted to keep the other girls’ spirits up. If I could get a smile here or a laugh there, I knew it wasn’t the end of the world. Neither did they.”

“Other girls? You mean-”

“I assumed you figured that out when you picked me up from The Compound, Penguin,” Alexia took a few bites of the turkey and avocado wrap Olly made specifically for her. “Captain told me you checked all of the other rooms before barreling into mine.”

“But they were empty,” Bepo said. 

“Correct,” she smiled. “I got all of them out. Took some time, but we figured it out.”

“Ronnie must have been so happy,” Shachi remarked. 

“That’s putting it lightly,” Alexia shook her head. “But it all worked out in the end. We gained our freedom back, and Ronnie can’t hurt anyone else. Olly, I got the dishes.”

“That would be greatly appreciated,” the man grinned. “I have to set up the training room anyway. Join me when you’re finished.”

“Enjoy the break while you can,” Penguin said, handing her his empty plate. “Olly doesn’t go easy. He’s like our weapons expert.”

“Good. I look forward to it.” 

+++++

The Polar Tang continued to amaze. As Alexia stepped foot into the training room for the second time that day, she couldn’t find Olly anywhere. The second door along the far wall, however, was open. 

Of all the things, a special weapons training area was not what she expected to be on the other side of the door.

“Wow,” her eyes widened at the space. Guns, swords, daggers, knives, and every other weapon Alexia could think of lined the wall. A dry-fire practice zone was prepared for her, complete with a multi-colored target. Her pistols, cleaned and rearing to go, rested on the counter. 

“Pretty cool in here, huh?” Olly walked in a few moments later. 

“What doesn’t this submarine have?” Alexia genuinely wanted to know.

“Bigger bathrooms,” Olly laughed, tying his long hair back as he joined her at the counter. “You’d think the Tang could handle it, but no.”

“They’re not that bad,” Alexia commented, running her fingers over the shiny metal of the gun. “What’s the plan?”

“We’ll start with the basics—your stance, your grip, loading, how you aim. Then if that’s decent, we can move on to firing. Sound good?”

“Works for me.”

Muscle memory was a wonderful thing. 

Alexia coasted through Olly’s first few tasks with ease. Loading her weapons and quickly getting herself into a proper position to take a shot at her target surprised him. 

“Well,” he said. “We don’t need to waste time with that, do we? Show me what you’ve got.”

Alexia lined up her first shot, the pistol steady in her hand. The target moved across the practice zone. She squeezed the trigger and the shot rang out as the bullet struck dead center. Immediately, the target moved. Alexia shifted her stance and fired again. 

Bullseye.

“How long’s it been since you fired these?” Olly let out a low whistle as he watched her fire multiple times. 

“Ages,” Alexia replied, her focus unwavering as she hit two more targets in rapid succession. “Ronnie took them the second I signed my life away. They’ve been locked in his safe ever since.” She adjusted her grip and hit another target with pinpoint accuracy. “God, that’s so satisfying.”

“You’re not going to need as much time on this as I thought. It’s like you’ve never stopped practicing,” Olly chuckled.

Switching to her second pistol, Alexia continued her barrage on the moving target. Her shots rang out in quick succession, each one finding its mark. Pivoting smoothly, she hit it without hesitation, her movements as fluid as if they were choreographed.

“Damn, kid. That’s some pretty impressive stuff right there.”

“Like riding a bike,” Alexia placed the pistols back on the counter, blowing an imaginary wisp of smoke off her finger. 

“I’m going to have to tell the captain you’re ahead of the curve on this one. Don’t let it go to your head, though.”

+++++

The long first day was nearing its end, and Alexia felt great. Sore as hell, but great. 

Despite her body’s exhaustion, adrenaline pulsed through Alexia’s veins. Sleep wasn’t coming any time soon, no matter how much she tried. Alexia sighed, running a hand through her hair. Might as well burn off the excess energy with another training session.

The training room was completely silent when she stepped inside for the third time. A peaceful contrast from earlier in the day. She rolled her shoulders, ignoring the aches of her muscles, and made her way toward the equipment. For the next half hour, Alexia pushed herself through a simple circuit of pull-ups, sprints, thirty seconds with with the punching bag, planks, and wall sits. It wasn’t much now, but it was a start. 

Once finished, Alexia dropped to the mats and crossed her legs. Letting her breathing slow, she closed her eyes and let her mind clear, focusing on the rhythm of her breathing. She wasn’t sure how long she had been sitting there when a quiet sound—soft, deliberate footsteps—broke her concentration.

“It’s rude to walk in on someone without announcing yourself,” Alexia said without opening her eyes.

“Aren’t you supposed to be focusing?” came Law’s familiar, dry tone.

“I am,” she shot back, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Haven’t seen you all day.”

“I’ve been busy making sure this ship doesn’t fall apart,” The soft sound of his boots against the mat signaled his approach. “Surprised you’re still up at this hour. I was sure you’d be passed out in your bunk by now.”

“Couldn’t sleep,” she admitted. “Figured I’d burn off some energy instead of tossing and turning all night long.”

“How’s that working out for you?”

“Pretty good until someone rudely interrupted me,” Alexia said, opening her eyes.

“Just think of it as some more practice,” he retorted, crossing his arms over his chest. “What are you working on?”

“The lovely gift you bestowed upon me this morning mentioned the usefulness of meditation, and how it will benefit me in learning to control, harness, and use my Devil Fruit. Not my usual cup of tea, but it can’t hurt.”

“I’m glad to see you taking your homework seriously.”

“Thanks, Teach,” Alexia gave him a mock salute and smiled. “I have to say, you weren’t wrong about the potential. The abilities in the book, it never would have crossed my mind to try some of them.”

“Something to work towards,” Law said. “Olly mentioned your decent ability in firing your weapons. I want a demonstration.”

“Now?”

“Yes, now.”

Wordlessly, she rose to her feet and followed him back into the weapons room. Law quickly grabbed her pistols from their spot along the wall with the other weapons, checked to make sure they weren’t loaded and set them back on the counter.

“Show me.”

Alexia didn’t hesitate. Loading the pistols with quick efficiency, she stepped into position and aimed at the fresh target before her. 

Instinct took over.

Law stood quietly behind her, arms crossed and expression unreadable, as always, while he watched.

“Not bad,” he remarked once she finished the exhibition.

“That’s high praise coming from you.”

“Don’t let it go to your head,” he said. “You missed five shots, and you’re still the same person who could barely throw a punch this morning.”

“Harsh.”

“Let’s see if you’ve learned anything from this morning. You’re getting a second lesson,” Law continued, stepping out of the room and onto the sparring mats. 

“From you?” Alexia asked, raising an eyebrow, quickly joining him in the middle of the room.

“Try not to embarrass yourself,” he replied, motioning for her to take her stance. 

Unlike her earlier sparring sessions, this one was very enlightening. Still grueling but quicker, Law’s movements were sharp, precise, and deliberate, exploiting every weakness in her form with ruthless efficiency. Alexia wanted to laugh at how ridiculous she probably looked, but at least he was giving her valuable feedback.

“Too slow on your pivot,” he said after sidestepping her punch. “Plant your feet before you swing, or you’ll lose balance.”

“Good. Keep your weight centered,” When she adjusted, landing a hit against his shoulder, he nodded.

By the time they finished, Alexia was drenched in sweat, barely able to stand, and completely exhausted.

“You know,” she said between labored breaths while lying on the mats. “for a guy who’s supposed to be an ice block, you’re not half bad.”

“Don’t get used to it,” Law said, tossing her a towel. “Two weeks, Alexia. Don’t waste it.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” As he walked out, she wiped her face and watched him leave.

Law didn’t even break a sweat.

Notes:

Don't you love it when you're writing a chapter and you write so much the chapter evolves into two, possibly three, more chapters? Well, that's what happened here. Not that that's a bad thing.

Originally, I had Britney Spears' Stronger, on repeat while writing this one, but since it's much longer now, the song doesn't apply until the next chapter and the one after. A Rocky-esque training montage if you will.

Something to look forward to.

I hope everyone enjoys this one as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Chapter 7: The Test

Summary:

Time for Alexia to prove herself.

Will she succeed, or will she fall flat on her ass?

*Alexa, play Stronger by Britney Spears*

Alexia was going to punch the stupid smirk off of Shachi's stupid face. 

What was with all these men and smirking, anyway?

"Which way are you going, Lex?" Shachi asked, bouncing on his toes. "I bet it's going to be right. You always break right."

"No, that's just the false sense of security she's created in your mind," Penguin countered, standing beside Shachi, his arms raised and ready. "She's shifting to the left. Thinks she can throw us off."

"Why don't you come at me and find out?" Alexia challenged.

"It's a trap," Shachi said.

"Definitely a trap," Penguin agreed.

They jumped, regardless.

The first day proved the toughest, and Alexia vowed she would never again experience such weakness. After the baseline test, Penguin, Shachi, and Bepo guided her through intense training sessions that challenged her endurance, strength, and adaptability. She ran drills until her legs felt pleasantly wobbly, sparred until her arms had a warm burn, and consistently pushed her body to test her limits each day.

Penguin hit the mat first, his smug grin wiped clean as Alexia feigned a right hook and swept his legs out from under him with a perfectly timed spin.

"All right, all right. Damn," he groaned, lying flat on his back. "We've created a monster."

Weapons training with Olly wasn't as thrilling after the first day, but that didn't stop the man from keeping their sessions as interesting as possible. Time trials, tossing targets, and the inclusion of obnoxious distractions — Shachi spouting nonsense in Alexia's ear and/or making loud noises— were a fun change. Alexia looked forward to what the cook cooked up for her after lunch every day. (Pun intended.)

After dinner, Alexia returned to the training room for solo practice. Once her body tired out, she focused on her mind. Meditation, it turned out, wasn't as bad as she originally thought.

Sitting cross-legged on the sparring mats, Alexia closed her eyes and steadied her breathing. At first, quieting her thoughts was a hell of a challenge, but as the days passed, she gradually surrendered to a calm state of relaxation. Once she figured it out, clearing her mind was as simple as switching off the light.

The training room door would open after forty minutes of silence.

At the same time.

Every evening.

Without fail.

A creature of habit, her broody captain was.

Late-night training was Alexia's favorite part of her routine. Not that she would tell Law to his face. While most of the crew slept or kept Watch, she and the captain returned to the mats. Law never gave her an inch. He moved sharply, always keeping her on her toes with sudden, calculated attacks.

"You're overly predictable," he remarked, dodging one of her punches. "You need to catch your opponent off guard."

"How exactly?"

"In any way you can," Law dodged her second punch. "You're a pirate now. You don't have to follow any rules."

"So, an excuse to do whatever I want?" Alexia went for a leg swipe.

It didn't work.

"I wouldn't say whatever you want," Law replied, landing an easy blow against her back. "But you don't have to follow any moral system like the Marines do. That's what I'm saying."

"Mom and Dad are rolling in their graves right now." Alexia laughed, taking a step back to breathe. "On a more serious note, why learn hand-to-hand anyway? We have Devil Fruits and we have weapons."

"Both are valuable, but what happens when you lose your guns?"

"Devil Fruit."

Duh.

"Sure," he shrugged. "However, sometimes it's quicker to end a fight with a quick punch to the face to get out of certain situations. Why waste energy when a right hook can solve the problem?"

"What happened to 'do no harm,' Doc?"

"Some situations call for it."

"Or you just want an excuse to punch someone in the face."

"That too."

Once a few sparring rounds with constructive criticism– heavy on the criticism – were over, the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia was thrown her way.

"What are we focusing on today?"

"Emotional manipulation."

"You've done that the last two days. It's time to move on."

"How am I supposed to get better if I don't practice?" Alexia asked. "I know I can do more. I made Penguin cry at breakfast, and Shachi boasted around the submarine all afternoon–"

".....that was your doing. I should have known."

"Anyway. Their minds are too easy to break into. You, on the other hand, are a challenge."

"You're wasting my time again."

"And yet, you're still coming back every night," she replied. "Please, just one more go, and then I'll pick something new tomorrow."

"I don't know why I put up with you," Law sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I think it's because you like me but don't want to admit it out loud."

"Definitely not," he rolled his eyes, but the tiniest upturn of his lips proved Alexia otherwise. "Fine. One more night of emotions. Then a new tactic tomorrow."

 

 

+++++

 

 

The test finally arrived.

This was it – Alexia's chance to prove to her crew and captain that the past two weeks hadn't been a waste. Standing at the edge of the sparring mats, she strapped her unloaded pistols into their holsters and tucked a small dagger underneath her shirt and against her ribcage. Alexia cast a glance to her left – and immediately rolled her eyes.

Penguin and Shachi lounged comfortably on the mat, a massive bowl of popcorn nestled between them. Shachi shoveled a handful into his mouth, chewing obnoxiously, while Penguin shot her an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

"You brought popcorn?" Alexia deadpanned.

"How could we not? An event such as this calls for it."

"We're rooting for you... mostly," Penguin grinned. "I give you five minutes before Captain's got you on your back."

"Five minutes?" Alexia crossed her arms.

"Lex is right," Shachi jumped in. "Five is way too generous. I say two."

"Wow, thanks for having so much faith in me."

"Don't let them get to you, Lex. You've gotten a lot better in two weeks," Bepo smiled at her.

"Don't give her a confidence boost, Bepo," Shachi threw a kernel at the mink's nose. "This is the captain we're talking about. She's got no chance."

"Ignore them, Alexia," Olly rolled his eyes. "They have a wager going on."

"Of course they do."

Alexia refused to allow anyone to irritate her. Losing focus now would only give Law an advantage, and he certainly didn't need one.

When Alexia stepped onto the mat, she straightened, concentrating on the man himself.

"Ready?"

"Always."

 

 

+++++

 

 

Two weeks of extra night sessions paid off. Alexia wasn't nearly as good as him, but she could hold her own. At the very least, she got the Peanut Gallery to forgo their giant bucket of popcorn and stare at the fight happening before them.

"Holy shit, dude," Shachi punched Penguin in the shoulder. "Are you seeing this?"

"I am literally sitting beside you."

"I know, but still!"

"Looks like you lost your bet, Shachi," Olly chuckled, watching (and very impressed) at what was unfolding in the center of the room. "You need to have more faith in your crew."

"I don't think anyone would have expected Lex to move like this after her shitty showing on day one," Shachi countered.

"Well, I am glad Alexia proved you wrong," Bepo grinned.

Alexia kept her eyes trained on Law's quick jabs and footwork. No, she knew she couldn't beat the captain, but at the very least, she could keep up and possibly get some hits, if she got lucky.

All you need to show is progress...fuck that. I'm getting him down even if it kills me.

Three minutes.

Four minutes.

Five minutes.

They kept going.

The Peanut Gallery couldn't believe it. Well, Penguin and Shachi couldn't believe it. Olly and Bepo were beyond entertained.

With every passing minute, Law would change disciplines. Just to keep Alexia on her toes, or mess with her head. Most likely both.

The first switch was to test the improvement of her Devil Fruit. Had she practiced enough to break through the captain's all but impenetrable force that was his mind? No, obviously not. Alexia would have to practice for weeks, months; possibly years to crack open that vault. Nonetheless, she gave it her best shot.

The Peanut Gallery, on the other hand, felt the brunt of her mind games. In one moment, the quad was sitting on the mats, and in another, they stood at the top of an icy mountain peak. Their hearts beat rapidly in their chests, palms sweated profusely, and legs shook as they stared at the thousand-foot drop below.

Luckily, the mind games didn't last long.

After a poor attempt at getting Law to succumb to her trance, he would switch back to hand-to-hand combat.

Eventually, Alexia spotted an opening. Whether or not it was purposeful, it didn't matter. Law overextended on a strike, and she took advantage, locking his arm and sweeping his legs. Before he could counter, she pinned him to the mat. Unholstering one of the pistols, she aimed the gun squarely at his chest.

Victory.

"Looks like I win, Captain," She beamed triumphantly.

Law's smirk suggested differently.

"Always keep your opponent on their toes," he said smoothly, activating 'Room' with a flick of his fingers. In an instant, 'Shambles' switched their positions, and her pistol was now in his hand, aimed at her as she lay flat on her back.

"You cheated."

"Pirate," he said, leveling the gun. "How are you getting yourself out of this?"

An element of surprise. Isn't that what you said, Grumpy?

Alexia didn't hesitate. Her fingers darted beneath her shirt, finding the hilt of the dagger strapped along her ribcage. In one sharp motion, she drew the blade and twisted her torso, forcing Law to shift his weight slightly—a small but crucial opening.

Seizing the moment, she thrust her free hand upward, slamming the heel of her palm against his wrist. The pistol jolted from his grip, clattering across the mat. She hooked her leg around his, yanking him off balance. Instead of falling outright, he twisted to counter, but she was faster for once. Using her momentum, she drove her shoulder into his chest, toppling him backward. The impact sent a dull thud through the mat, but Alexia didn't let up.

Before he could recover, she was on top of him, straddling his torso with a firm grip. The dagger was already at his throat, its cool edge resting just against his skin. Her breath came fast, but her hands were steady.

Law lay beneath her, golden eyes flickering with amusement.

"There it is," he murmured, his voice filled with genuine approval.

Alexia blinked, her grip on the dagger loosening slightly.

"A significant amount of progress in two weeks," he added, his smirk returning. "You pass."

Exhaling, she pushed herself off him, sheathing the dagger before offering her hand. Law took it without hesitation, letting her pull him up.

"You've come a long way."

"Thanks," Alexia replied.

"Don't let it get to your head," Law said. "There's still plenty of room for improvement. But for just two weeks? You've surpassed my expectations."

"Oh, quit being such an ass."

"Where's the fun in that?"

 

 

+++++

 

 

The outside lights of the submarine illuminated the inky, black depths well enough to spot the sea life moseying beyond the porthole. Schools of fish, the outline of Sea Kings in the distance— it was nice.

Calming.

Alexia should have been curled up in her bed asleep. There was no need to stay up late at present. Safe to say, she created a habit in two short weeks. With a sigh, she leaned against the wall and smiled at the tiny fish swimming up to her.

"I was sure you would have used your first free night to catch up on your sleep."

"Pot, meet kettle," Alexia snickered. "Care to join me?"

"I have work to do," Heavy footsteps approached, stopping behind her.

"Sure you do," Alexia rolled her eyes. "I would have thought that no longer having late nights with me would have freed up your schedule."

"My schedule is never freed up."

Alexia tilted her head to the side, taking in Law's usual stoic demeanor: arms crossed firmly over his chest and gaze set forward on the sea life.

"You need to relax, Captain," she said. "Let loose. Have some fun."

"I have plenty of fun," he insisted.

"Reading medical journals and planning future Marine raids isn't fun," Alexia replied. "Let your hair down now and then. Sing a shanty with us in the common area."

"No, thank you."

"You'd probably enjoy yourself for once in your life."

"Highly doubtful," Law said.

"You know what I think?" Alexia spun around to face Law fully. "I think you purposefully keep away from anything remotely enjoyable because you know you'd have so much sticking fun, you wouldn't know what to do with yourself."

"Is that right?" he asked.

"One hundred percent," she teased. "Don't worry, Captain. I'll break you down eventually. I'm the crew's morale booster, after all."

"Who gave you that title?"

"Me. Just now," Alexia laughed. "Mark my words, Grumpy Pants. I'll get you to have fun AND get you to eat bread. I still can't get over that, by the way. What is wrong with you?"

"Good luck with that," he turned and walked away.

"I plan on it," she grinned, her attention going back to the ocean's depths. 

Notes:

Why must fight scenes be so hard to write?
I must have written and deleted this chapter at least three times.

Either way, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Chapter 8: The Siren

Summary:

Alexia puts her training to good use.

The mission was straightforward. 

Infiltrate the Marine surveillance base, find any information about this person called Joker and something called SMILEs , and get out. Alexia had no idea what either of those two things meant, but that didn’t matter. The objective was the objective, and she was finally going to put her training to good use. 

She wasn’t nervous. It was more excitement bubbling underneath her skin. 

This intel was important. The way Law debriefed them in the navigation room made that point crystal clear. One wrong move and the mission would come crashing down, and the intelligence would be lost. 

“Can’t have that,” she said when the meeting was over. 

They rehearsed every step, but no one—not even Law—had anticipated the tripwire buried deep within the base’s security system.

“Shit!” Penguin shouted.

The crew froze just outside the back entrance, their cover blown before they’d even crossed the threshold. A tactical retreat was the only logical move now, but Alexia didn’t miss the way Law’s jaw tightened.

He didn’t have to say it—she knew. 

They needed this intel. 

He needed it.

“Shachi, Penguin, regroup with Bepo,” Law barked, his voice sharp and authoritative. “We fall back and think of a new plan.”

The crew began to pull back, but Alexia lingered, her eyes fixed forward. The information they needed was right there, just beyond the heavy metal doors.

“I’ll get it,” she proclaimed. “Get in, get out; I’ll meet you all back on the Tang.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Law’s head snapped toward her, his eyes narrowing.

“Yeah, Lex,” Shachi chimed in. “No offense, but this isn’t—”

“Fifteen minutes,” Alexia interrupted. “You need this information. I can get it.”

“Alexia—” Law’s voice cut off sharply as he stepped in front of her.

“Fifteen minutes,” Alexia repeated. “If I’m not back, you get me out.”

The silence between them stretched. Law’s jaw tightened further as he stared her down, but Alexia didn’t flinch.

“Fine, 15 minutes.”

Alexia nodded once, a determined grin tugging at her lips as she turned and darted toward the back entrance.

+++++

The halls were eerily quiet. Which was strange, with the alarms blaring in her ears. Surely, the base would have been swarming with Marines by now in attempts to find out who or what caused the tripwire.

The few Marines who crossed her path were no trouble at all. Her eyes glowed faintly as her Trance-Trance Fruit activated, and her voice dripped with hypnotic charm.

“Turn around,” she commanded, her words sliding into their minds like silk. “There’s nothing to see here.”

The Marines stiffened, their eyes glazing over before pivoting without a second thought, marching away as if she’d never been there.

Too easy.

“Go check the west corridor,” she murmured to a pair of guards blocking the hallway leading to the main surveillance room. They nodded dumbly and wandered off without hesitation.

With a smug grin, Alexia pressed forward, her steps light and deliberate as she approached the door.

She paused. 

Through the narrow crack, she saw them–twenty Marines standing in rigid formation, rifles steady. Two Commanders paced near the rear.  

So that’s where they all went. 

“All right,” Alexia muttered, rolling her shoulders. “Showtime.”

The door opened with a small hiss, and Alexia stepped inside.

Every head snapped toward her. 

“Target acquired!” the first Commander shouted. 

“Take her down!” exclaimed the second. 

Alexia lifted a hand, and purple swirls of magic danced around her fingertips. She smiled. 

“Stand down!” she demanded.

The subordinates didn’t stand a chance. One by one, the men faltered, lowering their weapons as their eyes slowly gazed over before dropping their rifles to the floor completely. 

“What the hell?” One Commander with a rather impressive mustache yelled. His eyes widened as he watched his men succumb to a mere two words. 

“Wow,” Alexia laughed. “Looks like you need to work on your mental toughness training, lads. That was way too easy.”

“A sorceress,” the second Commander sneered, unsheathing his sword. “What have you done to them?”

“Not quite.”

The Commanders moved. One charged straight at her, the blade of his sword gleaming under the room’s lights. The other sprinted wide and lunged with a brutal right hook.

She ducked beneath the blade, the sword narrowly missing her ear. She caught the punch mid-swing– barely– and twisted, dropping to one knee as she yanked the Commander off balance and sent him sprawling. 

Those sparring sessions paid off. 

“Nice try,” Alexia said. “Solid effort.”

The Commander raised his sword again, letting out a low growl as he charged for her a second time.

Time to up the ante.

“I sing from cliffs where moonlight weeps,
To call the ones who crave their sleep…”

Her voice unfurled through the room like a rising tide. Not loud, but deep. Soft, honey-laced with something the Commanders couldn’t name.

The swirling magic in her hands brightened, then unraveled into the air, twisting into long, thin tendrils that danced like candle smoke. Around the Commanders, it didn’t drift; it moved. 

“Your eyes grow heavy with my tune,
A lullaby beneath the moon…”

He faltered mid-step, his sword beginning to tremble in his hands. The tendrils reached for him, brushing against his temples. His eyes glazed over just like the others.

“No!” The Mustache Man tried to make another swing for her but froze in panic as the magic moved toward him, too. Weaving through the room like a viper ready to strike. 

“No chains, no cage, no call–
Just warmth and waves…”

He dropped to his knees, submitting just like the rest.

“ … and one soft fall.”

The glow around Alexia’s fingers faded slightly. The only sound remaining was the alarms still blaring throughout the building. But in that room lay twenty Marines and two Commanders, all slouched, collapsed, or swaying under her trance. 

“Not too shabby, if I do say so myself,” She pulled a black Den Den Mushi from her pocket, stepping up to the main computer along the back wall. Quickly, she plugged it into the main port and began searching Joker, SMILES, and anything else that looked interesting.

+++++

The Heart Pirates stood waiting just beyond the trees by the shoreline. Bepo paced back and forth along the rocky beach, his paws wringing together in a rhythm that mirrored the anxious thumping of his heart. 

“What’s taking her so long? She said 15 minutes. It’s been 12!”

“Relax, Bepo,” Shachi drawled, sitting on a fallen tree trunk. “She’s probably just messing with their heads, showing off and having some fun.”

“Or she’s made it worse and tripped another alarm,” Penguin snorted, leaning back against one of the large boulders clustered by the lapping waves.

“Ten Berries says she came back without a scratch.”

“You’re on,” Penguin countered. “I say she comes back limping.”

“Can the both of you not do this?!” Bepo snapped, his fur bristling as he turned on them. “This isn’t a game! She could be hurt or in danger or–”

“Gotta pass the time somehow,” Shachi interrupted with a shrug. 

“Double or nothing. She’s already caused a small explosion.”

“Penguin!” Bepo howled, his ears flattening. “You’re not helping!”

“I’d wager she’s making fools of them as we speak,” Olly said. 

“Not you, too!” Bepo groaned, throwing his paws up in exasperation.

“Relax. She’s got this,” Olly chuckled. 

Law stood apart from the commotion, his arms crossed and eyes fixed on the treeline. The base was visible from just above the swaying treetops.

“She’s got three minutes left,” he said, his voice calm. Law’s jaw tightened ever so slightly as the seconds ticked by.

He wasn’t moving until she came back or he stepped in.

“She’ll be back,” Olly stated firmly. 

The bickering halted as movement stirred in the trees. 

“Is that her?” Bepo asked, his voice filled with a mix of hope and worry.

“Looks like it,” Shachi replied, squinting. “Though, she’s walking a bit too smug for someone who just infiltrated a surveillance base.”

Alexia strode toward them with the confidence of someone who had just pulled off a near-impossible task without breaking a sweat. Her eyes glinted in the pale light, her expression the picture of calm.

“Miss me?” she called, her voice light and teasing.

“I’m so glad you’re okay!” Bepo exclaimed, his voice thick with relief, as he lifted her off the ground like she weighed nothing, holding her in a bone-crushing embrace.

“Bepo—can’t—breathe!” Alexia managed, her voice muffled against his fur.

“Oh! Sorry!” Bepo immediately released her, stepping back with an apologetic grin. 

“Called it,” Shachi said smugly, nudging Penguin. “Not a scratch.”

“She looks a little winded,” Penguin countered, his eyes narrowing playfully as Alexia brushed herself off. “That counts as a win for me.”

“Does not.”

“Does too.”

“Does—”

“Shut up, both of you,” Law interrupted sharply, stepping forward.

The pair instantly fell silent, though their grins didn’t fade.

Law’s gaze swept over Alexia quickly but thoroughly, checking for any sign of injury. There was nothing, of course, but that didn’t stop him from narrowing his eyes slightly. 

“You were cutting it close,” he said, his tone curt but lacking its usual bite.

“Close is still on time, Captain,” Alexia replied, her grin unfazed.

“I’m just saying,” Shachi said. “She just pulled off a solo infiltration and came back looking like she just went through a casual stroll on the beach.”

“Lex, did you bring us anything?” Penguin asked. “A souvenir? Some Marine snacks?”

Alexia’s smirk widened as she reached into her pocket and pulled out the Black Den Den Mushi. She tossed it toward Law, who caught it effortlessly.

“Just a little something that’s going to make our captain very happy,” she said, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction. “It’s all in there. Told you I could do it.”

Law turned the Den Den Mushi between his fingers. They got it. Well, Alexia got it. But still, the information he needed for the next steps of his plan was right there in his hands. 

“Good job, Alexia.”

“Hold the snail,” she held up her hands at the compliment. “Penguin, document this moment. The captain just said I did a good job.”

“This day will now be remembered as the day Captain said something nice,” Penguin proclaimed. 

“Are you done?” Law deadpanned.

“Not even a little,” Alexia answered. “I need to relish this moment.”

 

 

+++++

 

 

By the time the sun rose, the Polar Tang was long gone and the Marine base far behind. The crew had settled into their usual morning routine, breakfast in the galley well underway. The smell of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and the lively hum of conversation bounced off the walls.

The peace was shattered when Bepo barreled inside, practically vibrating with excitement. He clutched the latest edition of the World Economic News in his paw.

“You have to see this!” he exclaimed, waving the paper around like a trophy.

The crew turned as one, intrigued by the mink’s enthusiasm. Bepo slammed the paper onto the table, smoothing it out to reveal the front page.

In bold, capital letters, the headline read:

  THE SIREN STRIKES!

Beneath it was Alexia’s first bounty poster, her image captured in a dramatic, intimidating pose. Her glowing eyes were set in a cold, confident glare, her magic swirling faintly around her fingertips. 

“First bounty,” Bepo announced proudly. “5,000,000 Berries!”

“How did they even get this picture?” Alexia asked as she leaned over the table. 

“No one knows,” Olly replied, shaking his head as he sipped his coffee. “But they always get our good side.”

“I don’t know which is better: the nickname or the photo. Look at you! All intimidating and badass!” Shachi leaned in, grinning from ear to ear as he studied the image. 

“Please, don’t inflate her ego,” Law’s voice cut through the noise as he joined them.

“Aw, come on, Captain. Even you have to admit I look good,” Alexia snatched the paper from the table and held it in front of his face.

“It’s fine.”

“Fine?” Alexia gasped, clutching her chest in mock offense. “I’m practically radiating cool on this page, and all you’ve got is ‘fine’?”

“Decent. How’s that?” Law replied.

"You are the worst," she shook her head.

“This is amazing! You’re officially one of us now, Alexia!” Bepo cheered. 

“Finally,” Penguin added with a smirk. “Now we can blame her the next time Marines try to hunt us down.”

“Oh, sure,” Alexia shot back, rolling her eyes. “Because I’m the reason we’re wanted criminals.”

“You did rack up a pretty solid first bounty,” Shachi grinned, nudging her shoulder. “And ‘The Siren’ is intimidating enough.”

“Yeah, but it’s not, like, scary scary , ” Shachi countered. “It’s more… elegant, you know?”

“Is elegant bad?” Bepo asked, his head tilting thoughtfully as he mulled it over. “I think it suits her. It’s mysterious.”

“You would say that,” Shachi said. “But we need nicknames that make the Marines quake in their over-polished boots.”

“Watch your back, Captain. I’ll catch up to you in no time,” Alexia smirked.

“You’ve got a long way to go,” Law commented, his voice laced with dry amusement. 

 

Chapter 9: An Unintended Serenade

Summary:

Bonding through caffeine, songs, and banter.

The soft echo of footsteps against the metal flooring was the only sound as Alexia made her way through the quiet passageways of the Polar Tang. Her skin was still warm from the quick shower, the post-workout high thrummed in her limbs, and her muscles were loose and warm. Her sweater hung comfortably off one shoulder, sleep shorts riding high on toned thighs, and her light green socks decorated in tiny smiling sushi rolls, complete with sewn-on googly eyes that wobbled as she walked.

She entered the galley and started filling two coffee mugs to the brim. Alexia spotted the open World Economic News on the table—perfect reading material for the long night to come. Slipping the newspaper under her arm and with the coffees in hand, Alexia slipped out of the galley as quickly as she entered and headed toward the navigation room.

Inside, the light was low, lit by soft, glowing screens.

Law stood in the center of the room, surrounded by clutter that looked chaotic until you knew how his brain worked. Diagrams, charts, coded sheets, and a few unsettlingly detailed images that belonged in a black-market archive. (Her last mission's spoils.) His sleeves were rolled, his coat gone, and his eyes narrowed. The usual power stance of the stoic captain at all hours of the day.

"I come bearing a gift," Alexia announced. "Figured you needed a coffee fix."

Law's gaze flicked up, taking in her still-damp hair and the ridiculous socks she had on her feet. He took the mug from her outstretched hand just before Alexia hopped up onto the edge of the table, crossed her legs, and let the googly eyes on her feet wiggle.

"Find anything useful?" she asked, sipping her coffee.

"Not really," Law answered. "More reaffirming what I already know."

"Confirmation is still a win in my book," Alexia replied with a shrug.

"I'm only halfway through," Law continued, taking a sip from the steaming mug. The caffeine must've hit—he blinked, like it smacked him straight in the brain. Then he glanced down, and his gaze caught on her socks. "You have sushi on your feet."

"With googly eyes!" Alexia's eyes lit up. She held out her legs like he might've missed the most important detail.

"You are a child."

"I'm older than you."

"I rest my case," He took another long drink.

"Well," Alexia said, sliding off the table. "I'm off to the control room for Watch. If you need more caffeine, you'll have to get your own, I'm afraid."

"I thought Shachi was on tonight?"

"I lost a bet," she sighed dramatically.

"That's your fault."

"It is," she agreed. "But I don't mind. It's just monitoring and making sure nothing tries to kill us in our sleep. I'm going to read through the paper. Want me to keep my eyes out for anything?"

"Whatever is out of the ordinary," Law answered.

"Helpful, Captain. Real specific. You're lucky you're cute," She rolled her eyes. "If you need a break from digging through encrypted files, you know where to find me."

The door shut behind her, leaving Law standing in the low glow of the navigation room. He stared down at the documents in front of him, but didn't see a single word.

Alexia had been on the Polar Tang for a little over a month now, but her impact was impossible to ignore. She filled the silence without suffocating it. Knew when to talk and when to shut up. Stepped in without being told. She treated him the same way she treated everyone else. Which, oddly, was worse. She didn't push. Didn't fawn. Didn't tiptoe around his title. She cracked jokes at his expense and called him out when he was being a bastard.

Law rubbed the back of his neck, eyes dragging back over the intel fanned out over the table. Trying to focus, trying to get back to where his mind had been before she walked in and derailed it with googly eyes and unsolicited competence.

 

 

+++++

 

 

Alexia sat sprawled like royalty, one leg hooked over the other, and her feet perched on the edge of the console. The World Economic News opened across her lap.

"Congratulations, Marine Class 845!" she read aloud. "Aww. Look at them. So full of hope and loyalty."

She paused, eyes catching on a smaller headline buried at the bottom of the page: 'Marines Still Trying to Recover Stolen Data.'

"That's long gone now," she chuckled.

The door hissed open from the back of the room.

"That was fast. Words starting to blend together?"

"Yes," Law stepped inside, claiming the chair beside her. A fresh mug of coffee was cradled in one hand, and the other gestured toward the console. "I also have to make sure you don't break anything. Feet off."

Alexia blinked slowly. Then turned to look at him with a grin. Without saying a word, she gracefully uncrossed her legs, leaned back in the chair, and very deliberately swung her legs around and dropped them right into his lap.

"Better?"

Law paused mid-sip and looked at her. Wordlessly, he reached down and shoved her feet aside.

She let out a laugh, pulling her legs in and tucking them beneath her like a smug little pretzel, and spun her chair lazily with one hand.

"God, you're no fun," Alexia flipped the newspaper to the next page.

'Marines Thwart Black Market Deal Near Sabaody Archipelago.'

"Oh, this might be of some interest."

"Look at you," he said, taking the paper from her hands. "Not a complete waste of space, after all."

"Love you, too, Captain," Alexia rolled her eyes, reaching into the waistband of her shorts and pulled out a small notebook. The pages were wrinkled, the cover beaten with age, but the binding held firm. Flipping it open, she started to write.

Law didn't realize he was staring until she shifted, the light hit her face, and her brows furrowed in that way she got when she thought too hard.

"What are you doing?" he asked automatically.

"Writing," she answered without looking up. "What does it look like? Oh, was that a rhetorical question?"

"How do you even read that?"

"Excuse me, Mr. 'If-One-Thing-Moves-A-Millimeter-Out-Of-Place-In-My-Med-Bay-I-Will-End-You'," "You have your organized chaos, and I have mine. Don't come for my system just because it's not labeled in a code only you can understand."

He scanned the pages as she flipped through them. Somehow, it was even worse up close. Words were written upside down, backwards, and diagonally? How the hell did that even work?

One of the pages had a bold title scrawled in blue ink:

Love Songs

Next:

Cheesy Love Songs

A third:

Real Love Songs

"You have categories?"

"Of course. I'm not a heathen." She replied. "I have Angst, Soul, Party, Adult Party—which is exactly what it sounds like—Dance, Awesome Duets, Boy Band Material, Fuck My Life, and...."

She flipped another few pages ahead.

DO. NOT. RUIN. THESE!!!

"Every few weeks, Ronnie wanted new material. This journal is where I wrote everything that came to mind, but these were the ones I couldn't give him. Too personal. Too honest. If I sang them, it would lose the spark. Everything I sang while being enslaved turned sour. I vowed to save the best ones for myself."

"What's the difference between Love Songs, Cheesy Love Songs, and Real Love Songs?" The question slipped out before Law's brain could comprehend what he was doing.

"Oh," she said, fingers flipping back to the beginning of the notebook. "You're curious. That's dangerous, Captain."

"I'm not curious."

"Mm-hmm, and I'm a nun."

The corner of his mouth twitched upward.

"Exactly what you'd expect," Alexia started to explain the method to her madness. "Love Songs—those are your stereotypical butterflies-in-the-stomach kind of songs. You know. The 'I like you, I love you, let's move in together, you take the left side of the bed, I'll take the right, and we'll both remember to do the dishes,' kind of love."

Then, softly, without warning, she began to sing.

"I don't know, but I think I may be

Falling for you, dropping so quickly

Maybe I should keep this to myself

Waiting until I know you better

I am tryin' not to tell you, but I want to

I'm scared of what you'll say

So I'm hidin' what I'm feelin'

But I'm tired of holdin' this inside my head

I've been spending all my time just thinkin' 'bout you

I don't know what to do, I think I'm falling for you..."

Her voice was warm and smooth. It slipped into the air as naturally as breathing. The kind of voice that didn't ask for attention but got it anyway.

"Cheesy Love Songs," she continued, flipping forward, gesturing to the pages with doodles of hearts, smiley faces, and yes– pieces of cheese– added to the margins. "Are the big guns. The over-the-top, ridiculous crowd-pleasers. Rhyming desire with fire and pretending it's never been done before."

Alexia launched into another song without warning. This one was more upbeat than the previous one had been.

"Oh, when you walk by every night

Talking sweet and looking fine

I get kinda hectic inside

Mmm, baby, I'm so into you

Darling, if you only knew

All the things that flow through my mind

But it's just a sweet, sweet fantasy, baby

When I close my eyes

You come and you take me..."

"And then you get to the Real Love Songs," she jumped a few more pages again. Fewer doodles, less chaos, more structure. "These are the ones that give you goosebumps. The ones that might even hurt a little to sing. Usually about someone special, who means the world to you."

The third song wasn't like the others. This one was in a league all its own, like it held a special place in her soul.

"Somewhere I heard that love's a game

Somebody told me that it's painful and it's hollow

That there's a reason it's called "falling" in love

Oh, I don't know if I can say

Whether a broken heart can break

I never bought it

Cause with you, I don't feel like I'm falling

In a world that's upside down

It's flipped around, it feels like flying

Flying in love

In love with you

Oh, where we go

No others do

I can't control

The way we move

But we're flying now

Flying in love..."

"But those are just my interpretations, of course. Anyway," she said, closing the notebook with a flick of her fingers, "not that you'd know anything about love songs."

"Bold of you to assume," Law retorted.

"Oh?" she leaned in a little, her chin resting in her palm. "Are we about to uncover a secret stash of emotionally tortured sea shanties buried somewhere in the Captain's Quarters? Do you sing in the shower, Captain? 'My Heart Will Go On', perhaps?"

"Careful, Alexia. I can reassign you to Watch every night for the rest of the month."

"You can, but we both know you won't."

 

 

+++++

 

 

Law should have left.

The navigation room was still cluttered with maps, scattered intel, and red-circled phrases that hinted at half-truths buried beneath bureaucratic mud. There was work to do. Always. Work he didn't trust anyone else to handle.

Yet, he stayed.

Alexia flipped the notebook open again, muttering something about 'motivation striking at the most random times' and flipped to a newer section:

Sea Shanties - But Fun!

Law didn't do this.

He didn't sit around, linger, and make small talk. He deliberately kept his distance.

The crew respected him for it and followed orders.

"You're staring, Captain."

She didn't even look up from the page.

"I'm thinking," Law replied.

"Right," she snorted, "Thinking while staring directly at my face. The classic zoning-out face. Very intimidating. Super intense."

"I wasn't staring at your face."

"My chest, then," she glanced up with a devilish grin. "Should I be flattered or concerned? You don't seem like a boob man."

Law blinked.

He hadn't been ready for that response.

"You're a problem," he muttered.

"I'm your problem," her eyes gleamed with victory.

"I am getting close to following through with my Night Watch threat."

"Good god, man," Alexia said. "I'm just trying to get you to laugh. Relax."

Law shook his head, but there was the faintest upward tug at the corner of his mouth again. Enough to make her eyes narrow suspiciously, like she'd just spotted a crack in a long-unmoved statue.

Ok, that's a start.

She knew she was getting to him, but she wouldn't press. Not yet. Instead, Alexia paused, finishing one last line and underlining it twice before closing the notebook gently for the second time.

"I have a question, if you don't mind."

"Depends on what you want to ask. What is it?" he asked cautiously.

"The intel," she started. "This Joker guy. There are hundreds—hell, thousands—of black market dealers, smugglers, power-hungry middlemen, and petty kingpins. Why focus on this one specifically?"

Law held her gaze, but remained quiet.

Alexia knew the moment the question fell from her lips, it had been the wrong move. A twitch in his jaw. A shift in his eyes. Not looking at her, but past her. To a corner of the room that held nothing but shadow and escape.

Way to go, Lex. You ruined the moment.

"I'm sorry. I—"

"History," Law said.

She blinked.

"If Joker is who I believe him to be," he stated. "We have history."

"You don't need to say anything else," Alexia held up a hand immediately, letting him know there was no need to continue. "I just wanted to know what made this asshole the biggest one. You don't need to say anything else unless you want to."

There it was again. The most frustrating part about her. No pushing, no prodding, no trying to claw answers out of people who'd wrapped their pasts in iron and silence. She gave him the time, the space, and the choice.

"I have to get back to work," Law rose to his feet.

"Right," she replied, with the smallest of nods. "Thank you. For answering my question."

He moved toward the door, almost out of the room, before her voice sounded once more.

"Hey, Captain?"

Law stopped and looked back over his shoulder.

"Yes?

"Thanks for staying," she said. "Even if you didn't mean to."

"I meant to."

And then he left.

Notes:

Don't you love when a chapter just takes over and becomes something it wasn't supposed to?
That was this one, but I will not complain about it.
Our couple needed some bonding time.

Question: What songs, not necessarily love songs, give you goosebumps when you listen to them?

 

Songs:
Fallin' For You - Colbie Caillat
Fantasy - Mariah Carey
Flying in Love - Sabrina Jordan

Chapter 10: A New Mission and a Close Call

“Ok, we have meat, produce, and spices,” Alexia crossed the items off of the list with a flick of her wrist as the cool wind of the island blustered through the crowded marketplace. “All that’s left are the ingredients for baked goods.”

 

“Right down there looks like a good spot,” Olly spotted the sign swinging in the wind. Maybelle’s Bakery . “Quaint. I like it.”

 

“Bepo navigated us to a quaint island,” Alexia replied, folding the paper and placing it in the back pocket of her pants, and pulling her jacket around her midsection with the freshly embroidered Heart Pirate Jolly Roger stretched slightly over her back. 

 

She was officially official now. 

 

“Could do without the chill, though.”

 

“This is nothing compared to the North Blue,” Olly chuckled deeply, pushing the door open for her. A tiny bell chimed from overhead. “I’m almost tempted to put on swim trunks.”

 

“Well, excuse me,” Alexia rolled her eyes. “Not all of us are acclimated to this kind of weather.”

 

“Weren’t you the one who told us about the drastic weather changes on the Grand Line?” Olly asked, grabbing tins of sugar, flour, baking soda, and baking powder and stuffing them into his canvas bag. 

 

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy said weather changes,” Alexia countered, eyeing the freshly made sweets in the display cases by the register. “Give me sunshine and heat every day.”

 

“That’s fair,” Olly acknowledged, adding cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt into the bag. (A few more spices wouldn’t hurt.) “I wonder if I can get larger quantities and have these delivered to the sub at the dock. This will last us maybe a week if I stretch it out.”

 

“All the more reason to stop at another port,” Alexia smiled. “A summer one, so we can tan.” 

 

“Good morning,” an elderly woman entered, joining them from the back room, presumably the kitchen, where something delicious was baking in the oven. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

 

“I need six of these chocolate chip cookies, three sugar cookies, that cookies n’ cream cupcake, and two slices of spice cake,” Alexia pointed at each one like a child in a candy store. “Do you make all of these yourself?”

 

“I do,” the woman, Maybelle, Alexia presumed, beamed widely. “Visiting our lovely spring town on this beautiful day?”

 

“Yes, Ma’am,” Olly replied. “It’s lovely here.”

 

“You should see our flower festival,” Maybelle said, packaging the desserts into boxes and handing them to Alexia from the other side of the counter. “Now, that is a gorgeous sight.”

 

“Olly, I will never be eating your cookies again,” Alexia slid her Berries across the glass countertop before taking a bite of the first sugar cookie. “These are divine.”

 

“Thank you, my dear,” Maybelle smiled. 

 

“You wouldn’t happen to sell any of this in larger quantities, would you?” Olly asked, holding up a small bag of flour.

 

“Not here,” Maybelle replied. “But back in the marketplace, there’s a vendor who does. Goes by the name of Vance. Tell him May sent you. He’ll get you everything you need.”

 

“Appreciate it,” Olly nodded, paying for his small haul and following Alexia back out into the street. “Are you going to hoard all that like a chipmunk, or are you going to share?”

 

“You should have gotten your own,” Alexia turned sharply when he reached for a chocolate chip cookie. “These are mine.”

 

“And to think, I was going to let you help me make dessert tonight,” Olly said as the pair made their way back to the marketplace. “Now, I think I’m just going to ban you from my kitchen indefinitely.”

 

“You wouldn’t dare.”



“Try me,” Olly challenged with a smirk.

 

“You’re such an ass,” Alexia shook her head, but smiled regardless, breaking off a piece of one of the chocolate chip cookies and stuffing it into the man’s mouth. “Here.”

“Wow,” Olly chewed thoroughly. “Those are good.”

 

“Right?” Alexia spotted the bulk stand, just beyond the cabbage merchant. “How much do you think we need?”



“More than we can carry ourselves, but I’m sure we can get some muscle.”

 

Vance hooked them up. Whatever deal he and Maybelle had going on, it worked in Olly and Alexia’s favor. Instead of a week’s worth of ingredients, they now had roughly a month’s worth (if they needed to stretch out that long), all without breaking their budget. 

 

“Hey, Olly?” Alexia asked once the crates were dropped off onto the Polar Tang and the pair began putting the food away.

 

“Yeah?”

 

“What’s the deal with the captain’s ‘No Bread’ Policy? Is it strictly bread, or does it include all things with yeast and/or flour that make people feel joy? Wait, is that why he’s grumpy all the time?”

 

Olly let out a deep chuckle, stashing the meat away in the freezer.

 

“I can tell you, but where’s the fun in that?”

 

“I have a plan,” she said. “But I need some intel. I don’t want to waste time making something the bastard won’t touch.”

 

“You’re going to get the captain to eat bread?” Olly asked, raising a brow.

 

“Eventually,” she answered. “I’m going to start small. Cookies, brownies, a tart, but if it’s only a ‘No Bread Only’ sort of deal, then those will be too easy and technically a waste of time.”

 

“Unless Captain figures out what you’re trying to do and plays you.”

 

“I feel like that was going to happen regardless,” Alexia shrugged. “It’ll be more fun that way.”

 

“Well, you can give it a shot,” Olly said. “Myself and the rest of the crew will surely enjoy the epic failure your plan will turn out to be.”

 

“Love you, too, Old Man.”

 

+++++

The Drunken Clam wasn’t anything special. A standard tavern for locals, passers-by, Marines, and the occasional pirate or two. Thankfully, no one paid the Heart Pirates any mind when they entered after a successful restocking day. Food, medical supplies, gear, and anything extra that might come in handy. All were loaded onto the Polar Tang, ready to submerge and go underway once again. 

 

“Yes! Finally, some real food!” Penguin slid into the back booth. “No offense, Olly.”

 

“Plenty of offense taken,” he immediately waved down one of the waitresses. “I don’t serve you slop, you know. As far as I am concerned, I’m the best cook from the North.”

 

“No, but there’s nothing I enjoy more than eating local cuisine during Restock Day. Gives you a break and whatnot,” Penguin clarified.

 

“Quality save, Penguin,” Alexia snorted.

 

In no time at all, mugs were filled to the brim and plates covered the table. Everything from grilled fish to chicken wraps to salmon to steak.

 

“Lex, I think your steak is still mooing,” Shachi pointed a fork toward her plate.

 

“That’s just the extra flavor,” she replied. “Really adds to the meal.”

 

“At least you could have the cook cook the meat,” Penguin added. “That’s an illness waiting to happen.”

 

“Don’t knock it till you try it, boys,” Alexia smiled, stuffing her face with another glorious bite of medium-rare sirloin.

 

The tavern started filling up as the afternoon bled into the evening. While the Heart Pirates continued their mini feast, shenanigans and playful banter at the back table, they failed to notice the subtle glances and hushed whispers from the neighboring tables.

“Think that’s her?” one mustached man with a mean scar over his left eye muttered to the man beside him. 

 

“Most definitely,” his table mate nodded. “And the one beside her, he’s supposed to be even worse.”

 

“Think anyone’s alerted the Marines yet?” Scarface asked.

 

“Probably.”

 

Eventually, eyes lingered a fraction of a second too long, and hushed conversations became anything but. 

 

“You’d think they’d at least try,” Alexia rolled her eyes, downing the rest of the ale in her mug.

 

“Must not be used to pirates sitting calmly while eating a meal,” Olly commented. 

 

“The people at the market were nice,” Bepo said. 

 

“Keep your eyes sharp,” Law said. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

 

He wasn’t wrong. The air had thickened with tension over the last hour, and with every new set of eyes glancing their way and a mutter of “alerting the Marines”, it was only a matter of time before…


CRASH!


The wooden door smacked loudly against the tavern wall as Alexia and the rest of the crew, a base commander followed by half a dozen subordinates, entered the building, quickly surrounding the interior perimeter.

“Apologies for the interruption, folks,” the base commander sauntered into the building, his boots clicking with every step he took. “I’ve been alerted by many concerned citizens of a band of pirates making noise as of late.”

 

“I didn’t think we were that loud when we were getting supplies,” Shachi leaned toward the center of the table. “Were we?”

 

“I think he just means in general,” Bepo stated. 

 

“Oh.”

 

“My Marines and I will be out of your hair momentarily,” he continued, stopping directly in front of their booth. His hand immediately rested on the hilt of his sword. “As soon as we take out the trash.”

 

“Trash? That’s just rude,” Alexia scoffed. “We just helped stimulate this adorable island’s economy, good sir.”


“Alexia,” Law sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Do not engage.”

 

“Look, all I’m saying is we haven’t done anything wrong,” she said, looking over at the six surrounding Marines flanking the base commander’s flanks. “Just think of us as simple merchants. We’ve purchased our goods, and now you’ll let us go on our merry way.”

 

“Yes, you would like that, wouldn’t you?” he asked . “Miss Siren, is it not?”

 

“So my bounty says.”

 

“How would it look if I let a criminal go free?”

 

“I think criminal’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you?” Alexia asked. 

 

“Ask the Marines you stole precious intelligence from,” he sneered.

 

“I hope someone got in trouble for that,” she smiled. “Brig time or court-martial, I’d say. That was way too easy to steal.”

 

“How would it look if I let the worst of you lowly pirates walk away?” his eyes zeroed in on Law, who remained cool, calm, and collected. “My superiors would have my head.”

 

“That sounds like a you problem, mate,” Alexia commented. 

 

“Now,” the base commander stood taller. “We can do this the easy way, where you surrender and follow me to our base. Or we can do this the hard way.”

 

The tavern grew silent. The patrons waited to see who would make the first move. There was no way the up-and-coming pirate crew would willingly turn themselves in, nor would the Marines leave without a fight of some kind.


“Captain?” Bepo asked, eyes full of caution. 

 

“Everything’s packed and ready on the Polar Tang?” Law looked around the table, and everyone nodded in the affirmative.


“Tick tock, Captain,” the base commander chuckled, his fingers tapping his sword. “What’s it going to be?”

 

“The second we’re clear, make a run for the sub,” he whispered.


“Sweet, we get to experience the voodoo magic!” Alexia’s eyes glistened in excitement. 

 

“Not the time, Alexia,” Law rolled his eyes. 

 

The patrons in the tavern, as well as some Marines, gasped as an illuminating blue orb surrounded their table. In the blink of an eye, the table of pirates disappeared, and the light was gone. 

 

“The hard way it is,” the base commander smirked. “Just as I expected.”

+++++

 

“That wasn’t as cool as I thought it would be,” Alexia dusted off her coat as they appeared directly outside the tavern. “I would have expected some internal, fuzzy, ‘my body feels like it’s being sucked into the void’ kind of feeling.”

“Apologies,” Law drawled. “I’ll work on it for the next time I need to get us out of a building in a rush.”

 

“Thanks, Captain. I appreciate it.”

 

“Um, guys,” Bepo tapped them both on the shoulder. “As refreshing as the banter is, we have a problem.”

 

“What?” They spun around in tandem to spot Bepo’s concern.

 

Dozens of Marines stood at the ready, prepared to do whatever their base commander ordered. All of them lined the streets, blocked off the road, and surrounded the Drunken Clam as if they knew the Heart Pirates would attempt to escape.

 

“So, he knew we were going to choose the hard way,” Penguin said. “Figures.”

 

“Plan B?” Alexia asked. 

 

“Make a run for the Tang and fight anyone who gets in our way?” Olly offered. “Captain?”

 

“It’s as good a plan as any.”

“You can’t voodoo magic us out of here?” Alexia asked.

“Just get ready to run,” Law replied, unsheathing Kikoku. “The second we all make it back to the submarine, we’re out of here. Got it?”

“Got it!” 

 

The tavern door slammed open for the second time, the base commander and his subordinates already with their weapons at the ready, standing amongst the rest of the unit.

“You picked the fun way,” the man grinned. “Men, get them! By any means necessary.”

+++++

“Damn it,” Alexia muttered the moment the large blockade of Marines started running. “I knew I should have finished my steak.”

“Priorities, Lex,” Penguin pulled her arm. “Let’s go!”

 

Of all the ways to come face-to-face with the Marines again, this was not how Alexia imagined it. A skirmish at sea? Naturally. Raiding another base for intel, supplies, or Berry? Sure. Running through a crowded street after being interrupted mid-meal? Wasn’t very high on the list, but she knew better now.

 

“How far are the docks from here?” Shachi asked as they sprinted, dodged, and punched their way through the chaos.

 

“Too far,” Olly answered, hopping over a stack of crates by one of the merchants. (Spry for an old guy, Olly was.) “From now on, we'll pick a place to eat close to the submarine for a quick escape.”

 

“Seconded,” Alexia agreed, pulling the dagger from the sheath strapped along her forearm. “You guys go, I’ll cover you.”

 

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Penguin bolted up the street with Olly and Shachi running right behind him. 

 

“How noble of you, pirate,” one of the Marines grinned, raising his sword. “Letting your crew get away while you fight. Too bad it won’t matter in the end. You’ll all be coming with us. Dead or alive.”

 

“You done?”

 

“How dare-”

“No,” Alexia shook her head. “That’s enough monologuing from you.”

 

The overly ambitious, low-ranking grunt’s eyes widened as her power swirled from the palm of her hand. It shot toward him, wrapping around his body in snake-like coils as one wisp of vibrant, purple smoke pierced his head. Immediately, the sword dropped to the ground, and the Marine stood, eyes glazed over. 

 

A puppet ready to be told its next set of instructions. 

 

“Much better,” Alexia smiled. “Now to help out-”

“Lex, duck!”

 

Bepo swung at the oncoming duo of saber-wielding Marines. The pair of them didn’t stand a chance against a mink. The two Marines flew through the air, landing with a loud crack against one of the brick buildings on the opposite side of the street. 

 

“Thanks, Bepo.”

 

“Where are the others?” he asked. 

 

“Running to the sub,” she answered, upholstering her pistols, preparing for the next wave of idiot grunts who most likely just graduated from Boot camp. “Should be able to get back and have everything ready for us when we get there. Where’s the captain, anyway?”

 

“Back there,” Bepo pointed over his shoulder just as a chorus of horrified screams filled the air.

 

“That fits,” Alexia laughed. “You make a break for it, and I’ll go see if he needs a hand.”

 

“You sure?”

 

“We need our navigator to steer us away from this place and toward the next island, don’t we?”

“That is true,” Bepo nodded. “Ok, make sure to keep the damage to a minimum.”

 

“No promises,” she grinned, running straight toward the shouting, gunshots, and clang of steel blades hitting steel blades.

 

“Looks like you need a hand, Grumpy,” she announced, sweeping the feet out from underneath one of the twelve Marines tag-teaming her captain, followed by a punch to the head, knocking the man unconscious.

 

“I’ve got it handled, thanks,” he commented, taking out three more.

 

“Uh huh.”

 

“Where are the others?” Law asked. 

 

“Getting the Tang ready to leave,” Alexia answered as another group arrived from around the corner of the Drunken Clam. “Holy shit, how many Marines are stationed here?”

 

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, sweetheart,” yet another duel-wielding swordsman zeroed in, both blades raised for attack. “We’ll finish this in no time, and you’ll be right where you belong. Behind bars.”

 

The Marines really love their swords, don't they?

 

“Does Boot camp have a class dedicated to monologuing while fighting?” she asked, side-stepping the much-too-confident man who missed her by more than a few inches. “Because you guys are talking way too much. Or is that a trait your higher up passed down to all his subordinates?”

 

“Our base commander is the most feared man in all the Grand Line,” the man bared his teeth.

 

“Well, that is a statistically false statement. I could easily name 20 people more feared,” Alexia replied. “Besides, I think it’s time for you and your friends to head back to Base.”

 

“Why the hell would we-”

Talks-Too-Much froze as did the four other grunts standing nearby. The familiar, unfocused gaze appeared on their faces. Legs, already acting on the command, moved down the street toward where the Marines’ base was located.

 

“Good,” Alexia spun on her heel, scanning the road. “Now to—oh, shit.”

 

Law was surrounded at the far end of the cobblestone street, naturally, but it was the movement from the shadows that caught her eye.

 

The base commander, that sneaky bastard, was going in for the ambush. With a devilish grin and sword raised for the final blow, the man snuck up from behind as the other Marines kept Law distracted.

 

Not on my watch, you piece of shit.

 

The logical thing to do would have been to take the sneaky fucker out herself using her powers, her pistols, or her hidden dagger. Naturally, Alexia did none of those things. Instead, she zeroed in on her distracted captain and sprinted right at him. Her timing couldn’t have been better. Just as the base commander’s blade was about to strike, she collided with Law’s midsection, sending them both crashing into the darkened alleyway.

 

“That worked better than I planned,” Alexia let out a satisfied huff.

 

“What the hell was that?”

 

“A simple thank you would suffice,” she crossed her arms, pride filling her chest before deflating at the sight and realization of where they were.

 

Or rather… how they were.

 

Oh well, that happened.

 

Under normal circumstances, a sparring session in the training room, for example, Alexia would have been all over the fact that she was currently straddling him and joked about it a few times before rolling out and starting their next match. However, before she could even utter a single syllable, the look of complete and utter irritation flashed across her captain’s golden eyes. 

 

We’ll just keep this to ourselves, for now.

 

“I repeat myself,” he said, voice low. “What the hell was that?”

 

“Me saving your ass from becoming a shish kebab,” she shot back. “You were about two seconds away from being sliced in half.”

 

“I had everything under control.”

 

“Not from where I was standing.”

 

His brows lifted slightly, as if amused despite himself. She was still on his hips. His hands had gone to her waist at some point.

 

“Alexia.”

 

Her eyes flared wide just as the echo of footfalls pounded toward the alley entrance.

 

Without a word, she slammed both hands against his chest, pushing him flat against the cobblestones as she drew both pistols in a fluid motion.

 

“Stay down,” she said with a smirk. “I got this.”

 

“You are ridiculous,” he muttered, but didn’t move. 

 

“You say that like it’s a bad thing, but I know you say it with love,” she smiled just as the base commander strolled into the alleyway, stepping over his two crying baby subordinates. “About time you got here. Your underlings aren’t much of a fight, I’m afraid.”

 

“Well, isn’t this sweet?” he smirked. “Sorry to interrupt your private moment.”

“Very rude of you, by the way. You couldn’t have waited ten minutes?”

 

“All right, enough of this,” Law rolled out from underneath her with ease, dusting himself off as he rose to stare down the cocky son-of-a-bitch. “We have places to be.”

 

“I don’t know,” Alexia said. “I’m starting to get used to this place.”

 

“Not now.”

 

“Bold of you to assume taking me down would be so easy,” the base commander chuckled.

“I mean, we did take out all the others,” Alexia shrugged. “I’d say our chances are pretty high.”

 

He lunged. Steel flashed as he tore forward, sword raised, eyes locked on Law first.

 

Law sidestepped with practiced calm, pivoting just enough to let the blade slice air beside his coat. With the same fluid motion, he drew Kikoku, the blade gleaming pale and deadly, and spun on his heel.

 

CLANG.

 

Their swords co llided in a shriek of metal, the impact sending sparks across the alley. The commander snarled and pushed forward with brute strength, but Law was already adjusting. Precise. Controlled. A sharp knee to the man’s gut broke his balance; a swift pivot behind him sealed his fate.

 

In one smooth, ruthless movement, Law slammed the commander backward into the cobblestones, Kikoku pressed firm against his throat.

 

“Still feeling confident?” he said coolly, not winded in the slightest. “That was almost too easy.”

 

The commander wheezed, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. “Bastard.”

 

“That’s not very nice,” Law replied.

 

“You know, I’m slightly embarrassed for you,” Alexia crouched down beside the man. “At least your subordinates lasted longer than ten seconds. Some of them.”

 

“You want the final blow?” Law asked.

 

“Aw, really? How sweet of you,” she beamed. 

 

Her fingertips brushed against his temple. The glow of her Trance-Trance Fruit shimmered like violet mist, causing the man’s eyes to glaze over.

 

“You never saw us here on this island,” she whispered. “You and your Marines have never fought the Heart Pirates, and you definitely won’t follow us when we leave this island. Do you understand?”

 

The man blinked and nodded.

 

“Look at that, you are useful,” Law commented, pulling Kikoku away from the commander.

 

“What a compliment,” Alexia rolled her eyes.

 

The commander’s eyes fluttered shut. His breathing evened out. And just like his subordinates, he sank into unconsciousness.

 

“Reckless, but clean. Now we can leave.”

 

Alexia rolled her eyes. “You’re welcome.”

 

“That’s not what I said.”

 

“But that’s what you meant.”

 

Law sighed and turned toward the far end of the alley, coat flaring behind him. Alexia fell into step at his side, her stride easy and self-assured.

 

Alexia grinned. “Admit it, that was fun.”

 

“No.”

 

“Captain.”

 

“It wasn’t the worst.”

 

Alexia would take that as a win.

Notes:

I'm alive!

Sorry for the delay, life has been crazy the last couple of weeks.
Luckily, I am solely focusing on this story for the foreseeable future. With a few short stories in what is now my own 'Multiverse' of Alexia/Law stories.

Keep an eye out for a fun Halloween story in the fall!

Chapter 11: Cinnamon Rolls

Summary:

Mission: No Bread is a go.

Round One - Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

 

Law's boots clicked against the metal floor of the vacant hallway. It was late, and he had been focused on deciphering the intel (still) and lost track of time. Again. He needed a break, and a fresh cup of coffee in the galley sounded like the perfect solution.

What he wasn't expecting were the increasingly loud and boisterous voices coming from the common area. As Law turned the corner, he found Bepo and Olly occupying the couch along the wall, Penguin and Shachi were standing in the middle of the room, looking utterly absurd as they tried and failed to dance or something along those lines. Then there was Alexia. Lounging on top of the coffee table with her legs crossed, leaning back on her hands, and tossing her head back in laughter at the duo's four left feet, and just to the side of her, a fresh plate of chocolate chip cookies.

"You two look ridiculous," Alexia wiped a tear from her eye.

"Hey, now," Penguin placed his hands on his hips. "You've got to give us more than ten minutes to put our moves together."

"Yeah," Shachi nodded in agreement. "Besides, we have to do something with your super catchy song."

"It's your fault for picking something from the Boy Band section," she stated.

"We couldn't not pick something from that section," Shachi snagged a cookie from the top of the pile. "Hey, Captain!"

"What are you doing?" Law asked, looking between the small group. "Shouldn't you be in bed? Bepo, you're supposed to be on Watch."

"Not for another twenty minutes," Bepo replied in earnest.

Law's gaze flickered to the small clock hanging on the wall. It wasn't as late as he originally thought. The curse of reading over files for hours and losing track of time. He then zeroed in on Alexia, still sitting there without a care in the world, taking a cookie for herself.

"This is all your doing, I assume."

"You make it seem like I'm doing something malicious," she said. "All I'm doing is being the crew's morale booster. I even made cookies. Want one?"

"You missed it, Captain! Lex was showing us her book and sang a few of the sea shanties she's been working on," Bepo beamed. "They're so good!"

"A work-in-progress, but thank you, Bepo," she smiled. "I'm glad you like them."

"So, you are being a distraction?" Law stated as he continued on his way toward the other side of the room, closer to his destination in the form of caffeine.

"Oh, Captain, if I were being a distraction, you'd know it," she teased. "Or would you?"

He paused at the doorway, turning slowly, just looking over his shoulder at her saccharine grin.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Law asked.

"Call me crazy, but I have a feeling a showgirl could walk right up to you topless, and you'd still have that deadpanned look on your face," she answered.

Shachi and Penguin both let out loud snorts, Olly covered up a smile, and Bepo covered his mouth with both paws as if Alexia had just said the most scandalous things imaginable.

"This might be the best thing I've seen all year," Penguin nudged Shachi with his shoulder.

"I think we should test that theory, quite honestly," Shachi snickered.

"Shhh!"

"I don't have time for this," Law turned sharply and continued towards the galley after a tense few moments of complete silence.

The group of five watched their captain leave before Alexia burst into a short fit of giggles.

"I rest my case," she said.

"I thought he was going to kill you there for a second," Olly chuckled. "Failed the first round, by the way."

"But he thought about it," Alexia countered. "I saw that linger."

"You have a plan for round two?" Shachi asked.

"Of course I do."

 

 

Round Two - Focaccia

 

 

The final thwacks against the training room's dummy faded as Alexia concluded her last set. Wiping the sweat on her forehead, she reached for the water bottle and guzzled it down in seconds.

"Great match today, Fred," she tapped the dummy with her foot. "Captain doesn't pay you nearly enough to put up with all our pent-up rage."

"You would be talking to an inanimate object."

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

"Nice to see you, too, Captain Grumpy Pants," Alexia watched him stalk to the other side of the padded floor, toward the storage locker that held extra equipment and accessories. From her vantage point, Alexia watched him grab some hand wraps. "Are you ok?"

"Fine," he answered shortly, wrapping them quickly around his knuckles and wrists in a manner that Alexia could tell everything was not fine.

The cause of his frustration had to be that damned intel from the Marine base. Weeks of pouring countless hours of his time, energy, and sanity, only to come up empty-handed at every turn, must have been pissing him off to no end.

No wonder he's stressed.

Under normal circumstances, she would have kept her nose out of it. Technically, it was none of her business, and prying would get her nowhere. Plus, it would piss off her captain even more. Yet as Alexia watched him punch the bag, each strike tight, forceful, and strained, his face twisted in a grimace, she knew she had to do something.

"All right, Ideo, you need to take a breather for a minute," Alexia took the chance, standing behind the bag. "What is the deal with you today?"

"I already told you...."

"You're fine, I know," she rolled her eyes. "Clearly, you are not fine. Normally, I would hold my tongue and let it go, but I can tell something is eating at you. So spill, you'll feel better."

If looks could kill, she would have been dead right then and there. The golden glare from beneath sweaty bangs was quite intimidating. It was a very ‘When Hell Freezes Over’ kind of stare, but Alexia wasn’t going to give in. Not this time.

"Fine then. Spar with me."

She didn't think he would give in so quickly to her request, but before Alexia could prepare herself, Law jumped. 

Luckily for her, after picking up a thing or two during her initiation into becoming a Heart Pirate and a few spars here and there, she was able to pick up on some of her captain's tells. She knew that when he got frustrated enough, he'd focus too much on attacking and not enough on guarding his left side.

Law's stance was sharp, golden eyes locked on Alexia as he snapped forward with a quick jab. She dipped low, the punch slicing the air just above her head, and swept her leg outward toward his left side in a blur of motion.

He anticipated it, of course, pivoting his weight and parrying the sweep with a subtle shift, his foot skimming against hers. However, the adjustment shifted too much of his weight onto his back leg, causing him to adopt a less stable stance.

Perfect.

She feinted another strike at his left leg, baiting his reaction. The moment he braced for it, she snapped her sweep low and fast against his back leg instead.

Caught off guard, Law's footing slipped. His weight folded in the wrong direction, momentum carrying him down hard until he landed flat on his ass with a grunt. Before he could recover, Alexia was already on him.

"Got you," she smirked in satisfaction. "You really need to work on covering your left side when you're pissed. You leave it wide open."

"This day just keeps getting better and better," he groaned.

"You know," Alexia continued. "This seems oddly familiar."

"Can you not?" he said, throwing an arm over his face. "I am not in the mood today."

"Ok," she let out a deep sigh, rolling off of him and onto the padded mat beside the man who looked like a sprawled, defeated starfish. "Who pissed in your coffee this morning? You are extra broody today, and I am worried about you."

"Nothing you have to concern yourself with," Law muttered, though for the briefest moment, his chest stuttered at her words.

This is getting me nowhere.

With an aggravated huff, Alexia let him lie there and reached for her bag, where the last piece of garlic rosemary focaccia from the night before waited for her. At the sound of plastic unwrapping, Law dropped his arm, turning his head to the side to witness the audacity of the woman eating something in his training room.

"You know better than to bring food in here," he said. "Let alone that monstrosity."

"You don't want a bite then?" Alexia ripped off a small piece and handed it out as if it were a peace offering.

"I know what you're doing," Law said, looking back up to the ceiling. "The cookies, the bread, it's not going to work."

"The cookies almost worked," Alexia replied. "I knew the focaccia would be a long shot, but I had to try. Now be a dear, Captain. What ails you? Let me help."

She sat there and waited, eating away at the final bites of the perfectly crispy bread. Would he tell her? Alexia didn't think so, but she was going to sit there and wait just in case

"I am stuck."

"Stuck with what?" she asked.

"The information you grabbed from the base," Law continued, his gaze not leaving the ceiling. "I've looked over everything at least five times, and there is nothing I can find that I didn't already know. I know something is in there. I can feel it, but for some damned reason, I'm coming up empty-handed."

"Is that all?" Alexia giggled, earning another glare from the captain. "Why didn't you just say so instead of walking around the submarine like you're a bomb about to go off?"

"I'm so glad you can take joy in my suffering."

"Oh, please," she scoffed. "I would never do such a thing."

"Could have fooled me."

"Anyway," she tapped his foot with her own. "Can I help?"

"You want to help?" Law asked, eyeing her skeptically.

"Sure. A fresh set of eyes might do some good," Alexia replied. "I might not know the details, but I can at least look for patterns or anomalies."

"You really want to read over Marine notes, shipping information, and bureaucratic nonsense for secret codes and potential black market dealings?"

"If it will help ease your burden, absolutely."

Why was she like this?

Alexia was the most frustrating, relentless, unpredictable, and stubborn-to-the-bone person, impossible to reason with at times. And yet, she was also the most fearless, determined, brilliant in her own way, patient, kind, magnetic…

"Fine," he said. "Everything's in my room. Good luck."

"That's it?"

"What, you want instructions?" he asked.

"No," she shook her head, rising to her feet. "I won't let you down, Captain."

 

 

+++++

 

 

Alexia wasn't quite sure what to expect when she entered the captain's quarters. Would the room be just as clean and organized as the Medical Bay, or would it be one of those spaces that was a whirlwind of clutter and disarray? Everyone needed a space like that, didn't they? Surely, even the infamous Surgeon of Death wasn't as clean-cut and orderly in every state of his life.

"I stand corrected," she commented, stepping inside.

The captain's quarters were almost as spotless as the Med Bay, save for the stray sweatshirt thrown on the bed, and the tsunami of notes scattered all over the desk on the far right wall.

"Oh, boy."

Circled words (some tripled), underlined sections, and notes in the margins; it was almost impossible to see where the original intel started and commentary began. No wonder Law was frustrated; nothing made sense anymore with all that chicken scratch annotating every inch of the paper.

"All right, Lex," she muttered to herself, gathering the endless pages scattered across the captain's desk. "Let's get down to business."

 

 

+++++

 

 

The door of the Medical Bay opened. Alexia stepped inside to find both Penguin and Shachi at the table, boiler suits hanging halfway off, arms stretched out over their thighs, palms turned upward. Their fingers were scorched with heavy burns, and smaller marks climbed their arms, shoulders, and faces.

"Seems like the two of you had another failed experiment in the engine room. You guys ok?"

"This is nothing," Penguin hissed when Law applied a liberal amount of ointment on his hands. "Motherfucker! Warn me next time!"

"You turn into even more of a pansy when I warn you," Law replied, eyeing Alexia as she joined them. "I didn't expect to see you so soon."

"I would have been here quicker, but someone made it difficult to read the original material," Alexia countered. "Regardless, I think I have something for you."

Law paused ever so slightly as he wrapped Shachi and Penguin's hands. There was no way Alexia found something after only a few hours. But the way she clutched the stack of papers to her chest, as if she had uncovered the secret of the One Piece itself, her stance bouncing and her smirk impossible to hide, there had to be.

"You two are fine," Law told the two clowns. "Don't use your hands unless necessary for an hour. You were lucky this time."

"We're always lucky, Captain," Shachi beamed, hopping off the table.

"And one of these days, your luck is going to run out," Law muttered, tossing the pair of gloves into the trash bin.

"Their record is rather impressive," Alexia commented once the door closed, leaving the two of them alone.

"Don't encourage their nonsense," Law sighed, leaning against the counter. "Lay it on me. What were you able to find that I missed?"

"All right," she fanned out all of her notes onto the countertop. "Now, just to get it out in the open, this could be nothing because I don't know what you already know, but I think there's potential."

"Go on."

"OK," Alexia flipped to one of the Supply and Ammunition ledgers. "This section here goes through what any normal person would think is a standard supply list, purchase receipt, and total assets count. But, if you look at the name of the location where this transaction took place, it's abnormal."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, hiding his slight intrigue.

"See here," she pointed to the Location of Transaction at the top of the paper. "It says Zone Zero."

"What does that mean?"

"To any grunt, it means nothing," a smile broke onto her face, knowing she did, in fact, find something her dear captain had missed. "Some location where a ship docked, picked up supplies, and headed back out to sea again."

"And to someone who isn't a grunt?"

"To anyone in the know, to be more specific," Alexia said, looking up at him with a spark in her eyes. "Knows that Zone Zero is not a real trade port."

"How can it not be a real port if Marines have a transaction receipt?"

"Zone Zero isn't an official trading port," she explained. "It's a secret supply port for those who are dealing in shady and illegal things. Black Market, if you will."

"You know this how exactly?" Law narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Because I have insider information," the worn leather journal plopped on top of the counter, where Alexia flipped directly to a page near the middle. "What do you know about Sabaody Archipelago, Captain?"

"An island made completely of mangrove trees," Law answered, skimming over the delicate cursive left by Alexia's mother, along with the rough sketches etched into the margins. "Seventy-nine trees in all, but divided into different areas. From the lawless, to tourist traps, shipping areas, and some Marine bases, if I recall correctly."

"Very good."

"How does Sabaody connect?"

"So many questions. One, it's a cheap play off of the mangrove locations by using zero when there isn't an actual zero," she flipped the page. "Then from my Momma Bear's own words:"

Mel and I have been stuck in this hellhole far too long. If I have to see one more Celestial Dragon riding a human like an animal, or dragging some poor woman off the street, I’ll throw myself into the ocean.

At least we caught the tail end of a conversation while patrolling near the HAH  (the Human Auction House). One of the new owners, loud as could be, was on his Den Den Mushi talking to someone called “Joker.” We’ve heard that name more than once since being stationed here, but we still don’t know who it is.

Maybe Mel and I will swing by this so-called “Zone Zero” (wherever the hell that is) and see why it matters so much to the Auction House and this Joker person. Mel swears it’s Black Market business, goods, and likely more of those poor souls destined for the block in that godforsaken place.

Either way, it’s something worth keeping an eye on. I just hope this assignment ends soon so we can finally go home. I miss our sweet baby girl more than words.

—Alora

Alexia closed the journal and let the entry stew for a few beats of silence. Something must have struck a chord because the look of revelation on Law's face was clear.

"Like I said, I don't know everything you do, but with the buzz words catching my attention, I had to show you."

"I'm glad you did," he answered, his hand hovering over her mother's journal. "May I..."

"Knock yourself out," she smiled, watching him pile her notes together with the journal on top. "I take it I was able to help in some capacity?"

Law paused just before the doorway to look over his shoulder.

"You were," he answered. "Nice work, Lex."

"Happy to help, Captain."

Luckily, he left in a hurry, because Alexia’s cheeks burned the shade of a ripe tomato, and there was no way she could have faced him like that.

 

 

Round Three - Cinnamon Rolls

 

 

The ocean's depths were quiet. Peaceful. A school of fish sometimes drifted past the outside lights. Alexia hardly noticed. She had a cinnamon roll the size of her face, still warm from the oven, in her lap, and that took priority over deep-sea creature watching. She only realized she wasn’t alone when a deliberate sigh and the sound of an eye roll she couldn’t see but certainly heard broke her trance.

"Good evening to you, too," she laughed. "Was that an I need another break sigh, or a Fuck this, I can't take it anymore sigh?"

"It's actually a Thank fuck, I'm finally done, sigh."

"Wow," Alexia smirked. "I didn't know you were capable of such a thing. Proud of you. Honestly."

"I'm sure you are," Law leaned against the curve of the porthole. "Your findings, followed by the journal, held a plethora of information that was enough to keep me satisfied with everything I was able to put together."

"And now you're free to take a break?"

"Thanks to you."

Calm down, you damn butterflies!

"You're welcome," she smiled softly. "I'm glad. Now you can relax until the next job pops into your brain. An hour tops, maybe."

"Sounds about right," he affirmed, watching the next small group of fish float by. "Is it all right if I-"

"Keep it," Alexia waved a hand before cutting into her cinnamon roll for another bite. "It's doing more for you than it is for me at the moment, anyway. Be careful, though, my mom and dad were a rather affectionate couple."

"Yes, I am well aware," Law scratched his temple. "I now, unfortunately, know all the best rendezvous points on Sabaody."

"Mom would write that down," Alexia laughed with a shake of the head. "Nothing gets the blood pumping like black market dealings and debauchery."

"Please, no more," he shook his head in protest. "I know way more than I ever needed to know about two people I will never meet."

"They would have liked you," Alexia commented. "Even if you're a pirate."

"You seem very certain about that."

"I am," she grinned. "My parents were excellent judges of character, regardless of social standing or occupational choices."

"I will take that as a compliment then."

"As you should," she caught the flicker toward her prized cinnamon roll. "Want a bite?"

"If I do, will you stop this ridiculous campaign of yours?" Law took the plate from her and sat on the opposite side of the bench. "This isn't bread either, by the way."

"Yes, I know it's not bread, but the dough is made similarly," Alexia countered. "I will stop my mission to get you to eat one of the many sources of happiness and joy. However, I will call it a success after you pop a piece in your mouth."

"You are a ridiculous woman," he sighed, cutting off a small piece and studying it for a brief moment before taking a bite.

"Thank you," Alexia beamed, averting her attention back to the darkened sea.

Success, indeed.

"Since I was so helpful, do I get to know what some of this top-secret information is about?" Alexia asked as a silhouette of a baby Sea King floated by in the distance.

"In due time," came the usual deadpanned answer. "You've earned that much, at the very least."

"Wow, thanks," she drawled, tilting her head to the side and eyes widening in shock. "Oh my God, you heathen!"

"Hey!"

"I offered you a bite. Singular!" Alexia snatched her now-empty plate back. "You ate my entire cinnamon roll!"

"It was good," Law shrugged, as if it weren't a big deal. That Mr. No-Bread downed her dessert as if it were his last meal.

"You're not fooling me, Captain," Alexia narrowed her eyes. "The no bread thing is all a front for your secret sweet tooth."

"You couldn't be further from the truth, Alexia."

"No way. I found out your secret. The infamous Trafalgar Law has a soft spot for sweets."

"Nope."

"Yup, and you can't convince me otherwise. I know what I saw."

"Delusional," Law shook his head.

"At the very least, you could have gone to the kitchen to get your own," she said. "I have two dozen cooling right now, but no, you had to steal mine. All my hard work, hours of slaving away in the kitchen, only to get a measly three bites before someone stole it from me."

"Laying it on a bit thick, don't you think?"

"I am a performer through and through, Captain," Alexia beamed. "Thought it was pretty good, but the sentiment still stands. I was looking forward to eating that roll all day."

"Give me the damn plate," Law said, rolling his eyes while getting to his feet. "Let me right my wrongs and please the princess of this ship."

"I'm so glad you see things my way. What a true gentleman you are."

"Uh-huh."

 

 

 

 

In the Control Room......

 

 

 

 

"You'd better have a good reason for waking me up," Olly entered the control room with a loud yawn. "I have to be up in four hours for breakfast prep."

"Just shut up and get over here," Shachi hissed, waving the man to the monitors where he, Penguin, and Bepo were huddled together.

"I swear to God," Olly muttered, hovering just over Shachi's shoulder. "Well, I'll be damned."

"Right," Shachi grinned as though he'd just struck gold. "So far, we've gotten three chuckles, four giggles from Lex, and two smiles from the captain."

"Actual smiles," Penguin tossed in for clarity. "I swear, Lex was blushing."

"Is that right?" Olly focused his eyes on the screen. "And she got him to eat a cinnamon roll. Looks like her mission was successful. In a way."

"This isn't the first one, Olly," Penguin stated. "She started with one, then shared it. Captain went back to the kitchen, where he brought back two more, and then Lex went back after those were done and got the next round."

"At this rate, there won't be any left for us," Shachi pouted.

"I see," Olly scratched his chin, turning his head at the sound of some poorly hidden sniffles. "Bepo, are you all right?"

"I'm fine," he said, rubbing his nose.

"You don't sound fine," Shachi commented, eyes never leaving the screen. "There we go! That's three smiles."

"Pay me," Penguin held out his hand. "You said we wouldn't get any."

"Yeah, yeah," Shachi reached into his pocket and slapped a 1,000 Berry into Penguin's chest. "You're lucky I don't mind being wrong about it."

"I'm just so happy he's happy," Bepo whispered with another sniffle.

"Me, too, Bepo," Olly patted him on the shoulder, eyes glancing down at the hand-drawn papers on the desk. "You made bingo cards?"

"Had to pass the time somehow," Shachi shrugged. "Night Watch just drags on, you know."

"You really put 'Kiss' on there?" Olly asked. "A little fast, don't you think?"

"No," they both answered together. "They're bonding over baked goods. It's inevitable."

"Menaces, both of you," Olly rubbed his temples.

"I take that as a compliment, thank you very much," Shachi smiled. "It's only a matter of time, if you ask me."

"I smell a wager coming on," Penguin smirked.

"Guys, can we not do this?" Bepo asked. "We can't bet on... personal matters."

"Oh, we are definitely betting on personal matters," Penguin replied. "I say two weeks. Tops."

"One month," Shachi countered.

"A month?" Penguin asked. "Seriously?"

"Captain's not one to open up about anything," Shachi pointed at the monitor where Alexia was covering her mouth in another fit of giggles. "But if we've got this going on now, it'll be slow. Call it a hunch."

"Two months," Olly said. "It'll be one of those they almost get to it, but something will get in the way."

"Olly!" Bepo exclaimed. "You can't!"

"Why not?" he shrugged. "It's all in good fun."

"I guess," Bepo scratched his ears. "Do you think they know we're watching them? I feel bad. This is an invasion of privacy."

As if on cue, the pair at the porthole turned in unison, stared straight into the camera, and flipped them off.

"Ok, that's kind of creepy," Penguin commented. "But very in character."

"Yeah, they know," Olly chuckled.

"I change my wager," Shachi shook his head. "One week. Final answer."

"Oh my God, you guys!" Bepo shouted.

"They click, Bepo," Olly smiled at the sight of the two on the monitor. "It's only natural."

"You did say she was good for the crew," Penguin added.

"I did, indeed."

Notes:

Anyone else in the mood for some cinnamon rolls?
I do!
And now we have the crew making bets.
Who's going to be right?

Next up, Eustass Kid makes an unfortunate appearance.

Notes:

I've officially joined Team Law.
This is going to be so much fun.
Any ideas for future chapters are always appreciated!

I have one question for all the expert One Piece fans out there: When did each Heart Pirate join the crew? We see Penguin, Shachi, Bepo, and Law in Sabaody. Jean Bart joins after that. But what about Ikkaku, Uni, Clione, and Hakugan? We don't see them until Zou. Is it just assumed they get picked up during the two-year time skip?

I ask just so I can be as accurate as possible. Thanks!

 

Song: Bound to You - Christina Aguilera