The Puppet Master [One Piece]

Acceptance

~Shanks POV~

                 We docked at an uninhabited island to stock up on some fresh water and what other supplies we could find. The crew and I decided it was the ideal location for a bash and rolled out the barrels of sake to take to the island. Echo seemed hesitant about leaving the ship and getting into one of the small fishing boats to row to shore.

                “What’s wrong, Echo-chan?” A group of rookies who liked to think of themselves as her own personal fan-club chorused as Echo stood atop the deck looking down at the small fishing boat anxiously.

                “Nothing. I think I’ll stay here and guard the ship.” She said quietly and started to retreat.

                “Guard the ship, from what?” Yassop laughed.

                “Pirates.” She said dismissively.

                “We are pirates.” Yassop teased her.

                “Ok, then marines.”

                “No one needs to guard the ship.” I chuckled, “Come on.”

                “I don’t want to.” She growled.

                “Well if you don’t want to go ashore in a boat you could always swim.” The rookies swooned. They were all picturing her in some ridiculously skimpy bikini.

                “No.” Echo said shortly and turned to head back into the main cabin.

                “You can’t stay on the ship by yourself.” I called after her.

                “I’ll go get her!” One of the rookies volunteered too cheerfully.

                “I think I’ll go.” Benn chuckled and quickly scaled the rope ladder.

                Yassop laughed as he heard Echo squeal from above and I could only assume she refused to go and Benn ended up taking her by force. In a matter of seconds Benn reappeared atop the ledge of the ship with a kicking and screaming Echo thrown over his shoulder.

                “No! No! No! No! Put me down!” Echo flailed in an attempt to get free.

                “It’ll get lonely on the ship by yourself.” I called up to her in an attempt to reassure the terrified girl. Why was she so scared?

                Seeing that it would be impossible to climb down the ladder with the flailing girl, Benn jumped from the ledge. Echo let out an ear piercing banshee like shriek and looked on the verge of panic as Benn landed swiftly in the small fishing boat.

                “Pretty sure she just broke the sound barrier.” Yassop grumbled rubbing his ears in a measly attempt to stop the painful ringing.

                “LET ME GO!” Echo snapped angrily.

                Before anyone could do or say anything a colossal black streak shot through the water towards our small gathering of fishing boats. The giant black serpent beast prepared to rear its ugly head disrupting the still water and causing our boats to rock unsteadily in the sudden waves.

                “LINDA! STOP!” Echo panicked as our small fishing boat nearly capsized.

                The giant serpent beast submerged once more and the water stilled.