Newbie's Skill

Thirty-Three

As Ace promised, he stayed a few days before he disappeared to continue tracking Blackbeard. That day, I almost had another panic attack. Marco comforted me and refused to leave me as I was on my own. I felt so weak. So vulnerable.

"Shh," Marco hushed. "I'm right here. I won't leave you," he promised. He eventually was able to calm me down enough to take outside to see Pops. Izo stood nearby with Haruta and Jozu. Haruta came over to me and Marco, and he embraced me.

"You're safe with us," he promised. We sat near Pops' chair, and that was enough to calm me down.

"He's not trembling as bad anymore," Marco reported to our Old Man. I heard Pops grunt a little.

"Ace mentioned that something like this happened in Alabasta as well," Pops grumbled. "He's had things to distract him, but now that he's had time to settle down and get accostumed to it, his mind doesn't have a million things scaring him. Now all he has is that haunting fear."

"He hasn't told me what starts it," Marco sighed. I heard something crack against the ground, and I froze. Oh, no...please not now. I can't do this again.

"What the hell was that?" Marco snapped to the other guys.

"It was the rope, Commander," someone replied. "We'll get the water cleaned up off the deck," he promised.

"Geez. What a noise." When Marco turned to me, he tensed. My eyes were wide, and I knew my absolute terror showed through my eyes. "Ash?" He gripped my shoulder and shook me. "Ashlo!" The sounds of the whip cracking flooded my ears again. My body shook, and the voices began to become distant.

I was back in my cell. The wretched smell of dead mice flooded my nostrils. It was my big brother's turn to whip me. Tears ran down my cheeks silently. I was chained up for my beating. My bottom lip quivered. The chains were made out of sea prism stone in order to prevent me from using my devil fruit. I swallowed thickly, closing my eyes and awaiting my punishment. Instead, I felt a warm, gentle hand on my cheek. My eyes snapped open, bringing me back into reality when I was tugged into a huge chest.

"Pops?" I asked quietly.

"Hush, my son." Silent tears rolled down my cheeks. I buried my head in his chest. I was just a baby to them. I couldn't care less anymore. I wanted something warm. A spark of hope that everything was going to be all right flooded my chest.

"They'll be after me," I muttered. "I know they will."

"You let us worry about that," he said. "You just stay out of harm's way for the time being."

"Did Ace give you his vivre card?" Marco questioned. I nodded in Pops' chest. "That's a plus. I made one for you." I looked over my shoulder as he handed me a sheet of paper. "I gave Ace a piece already, and Pops has a piece, too. So do I." I took it, looking over it. He handed me two more slips. "They're named. One is Pops, the other is mine. If we somehow ever get separated, they'll lead us back together. They'll reunite us."

"Thanks, Marco."

"Don't lose them," Izo chuckled.