The Unknown Pirate

Ch. 20

(Annabelle's POV)

I woke up in the infirmary, Luffy was laying at the foot of the bed, drool rolling out of his half open mouth. I get up and sneak off the bed, without disturbing him. He curls up and starts to snore. I head to the door when I bump into someone. "It's just me," Ace said. I turn to face him. "Oh, hey Ace I was just about to find you," I said. "What'd you need?" he asked, walking from the room. I follow after him. "I was wondering what happen after I passed out?" I asked. "We carried you back to the ship and took you to the infirmary, where we cleaned the wound," he said. "What about the bullet?" I asked. "It was just a flesh wound, nothing serious," he said. "Okay, how did Luffy and them find me?" I asked. "I called him up and told him to get his sorry ass down here and apologize for being an baka," he said, clenching his glowing fists. I set a hand on his arm calming him down. "Thank you, Ace," I said, kissing his forehead. His face was a slight pink color. "It was nothing, I just wanted to help my little brother. "ANNABELLE-SWAN!" Sanji yelled, grabbing me in a hug. "Its good to see you again too, Sanji. The food here was good, but not as good as your cooking," I said, when he set me down. "Don't tell him that his head is big enough as it is," Zoro said, slinging an arm over my shoulders. "What was that Moss head," Sanji yelled, pulling me away from Zoro. "You heard what I said, love cook," Zoro yelled back. Arms formed around my waist and pulled me away from Sanji. "Robin! Nami! I missed you guys!" I said hugging them. "We missed you to Annabelle," Nami said. "Excuse me, miss Annabelle, may I see your panties?" Brook asked. Sanji and Zoro hit Brook on the back of the head." Damn pervert," they said together." You're one to talk, shitty cook," Zoro said. Sanji and Zoro started fighting again. "Annabelle I missed you soooo much," Chopper cried, jumping in my arms. "Chopper, I missed you too," I said, holding him tighter. "It wasn't the same without you. Luffy refused to leave his room, he barely ate. I had to force him to eat more," Chopper said. "This is all my fault," I said, crying into his soft fur. "No, its not. Ace told me about your nightmares, if it's anyone's fault, it's Luffy's," Chopper said. "No, it's my fault, I should of done something," I said. "No, chopper is right, it's my fault, you did nothing wrong. I didn't let you go fulfill your dream. I wanted to keep you locked up like a clipped bird," Luffy said coming up behind me. Chopper jumped out of my arms. I turned to face Luffy. His face look skinnier, I could see his sunk in eyes and his cheek bones poking out. "You looked terrible," I said, barely touching his face. He laid his head in my hand. "I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't stop thinking about you, but it took Ace calling me and yell some sense into me," he said, staring at my eyes. "Ace told me about the nightmares you had, about me leaving and turning my back on you and I want you to know that I would never do that to you. You know why? Because I love you, Annabelle," he said. I gasped in surprise. "I love you too, Luffy," I said. He grabbed me up his arms and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. "Super!!" Franky yelled." Franky!" I yelled, slipping out of Luffy's arms and run up to him. "How you been, kid?" he asked, sitting me on his shoulder. "Could of been better," I said. "How is the weather up there?" Ussop asked, peering up at me. "Ussop!" I yell down at him. "I missed you guys so much," I said, as my eyes started to water again. Luffy pulled me from Franky's shoulder and everyone hugged me. "I hate to break up the love fest, but the food is ready," Marco said. Luffy's hands shot out of the hug and wrapped around a support beam and he shot up, once he got his feet under him, he took off towards the dining hall. I laughed and followed in behind him with Chopper in my arms.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The dining hall was full of cheerful laughter and wonderful food (Sanji had went to the kitchen and helped cook). Whitebeard or Dad, stood up and tapped on his glass. Everyone kept talking. "Oi, shut the hell up, you annoying loud lot," Dad yelled. Everyone went quiet, the only sound came from a spoon clattering against the floor. "That's better, I would like to propose a toast to my wonderful daughter, Annabelle," he said raising his large glass of rum. "here, here," everyone yelled raising their glasses. The night was full of dancing, food, and drinking. I finally break away from the crowd and sat down next to Ace. "what are doing all alone over here," I asked. "just enjoying the quite night," Ace said, leaning back against the wall. I sat back against the wall, enjoying the silent company. When all of sudden a loud boom could be heard then smoke arose from the side of the ship. people ran towards the side of the ship to see what struck the ship. "Zehahaha," a man laughed rising on the ship. "Blackbeard!!" Ace yelled. "oh hello commander," Blackbeard said. "you don't have the right to call me that," Ace said. "oh so cold," he said in a mocking tone. "and who might this be," he said, looking dead at me. "she has nothing to do with this," Ace said, pushing me behind him. "go get Luffy and Whitebeard," he whispered to me. I nodded and took of running. "let's settle this, right now!" Ace yelled. I shoved my way thru the crowd and found Luffy talking to Whitebeard. "come quick both you, some guy named Blackbeard is stirring up trouble and Ace is about to fight him!" I yelled, gasping for air. They stood up and walked over to the crowd and the crowd broke apart for them. Blackbeard had a hand around Ace's neck. "Zehahaha, Its good to see you again Captain," he said, tighting his hand when he said captain. Ace was blood and beaten. he was trying to claw at his hand. "let him go, Teach," Whitebeard said, holding his spear in hand. Blackbeard threw Ace to the side and faced Whitebeard. I run over to Ace and check for a pulse. "his pulse is faint. where is chopper?" I asked, feeling panic. "its okay Annabelle. I know my time is up," Ace said, spitting up blood. "don't say things like that. we are going to save you," Luffy said, with tears running down his face. "is okay Luffy I figured out my purpose in life. it was to help Annabelle and now she has you to help her," he said softly. "you can't do this Ace!" Luffy yelled. "my only regret was not being able to see you reach you goal and become king of the pirates," Ace said, closing his eyes, a small smile graced his face. I feel for his pulse again. "he's dead," I said, choking back a sob. tears were streaming down my face. Luffy wrapped me into his arms. "Blackbeard is dead," Whitebeard said, kneeling down next to us. I was clinging on to Luffy soaking his vest with my tears......