With different eyes

The Island of the Wild Marco's

Lucia's POV

We have been sailing through the sea for a few days when the call that everyone has been waiting for comes from above: Land in sight! I rush to the railing, closely followed by Ace, who is looking at the island as enthusiastically as I am. "What kind of island is this?" I ask Ace, staring at the island. "I have no idea!" says Ace enthusiastically. "It's an uninhabited island with mostly birds!" I hear Marco say. "So we're visiting your home!" I say laughing. " And for that, you have to come with me and help!" says Marco. "I'm not allowed to carry heavy things though!" I say. "But I can keep an eye on you and that's worth a lot!" says Marco. "And meanwhile Ace torches the Moby!" I remark. "For one thing, Father is still here and for another: Do you really think Ace can be separated from you? I won't even try," Marco says to me. I look at Ace who is staring excitedly at the island. "Um?" I say. Honestly, I think Ace is the first to go when we get close enough to the island. Ace fidgets and Marco's hand moves to his chain. He grabs onto it and holds Ace tightly. "Think about your pregnant girlfriend!" says Marco. "Hey, don't use me as an excuse!" I complain, grumbling. We are already close to the beach when Marco starts sniffing. "Are you all right?" I ask sceptically. Marco shakes his head and says, "Yeah yeah!" I take a deep breath.

There is actually a good smell wafting over. Nice and flowery and like fruit. Yeah, I know right, being pregnant has turned me into half a sniffer dog. "You Ace stay on the Moby!" says Marco sternly. "What?" the latter asks, horrified. He immediately reaches for me and pulls me to him. He almost strangles himself because Marco won't let go of his chain. I feel Ace's chin on the top of my head. "I'm not leaving her alone!" remarks Ace and the pressure against my back tightens. Marco wants to say something but shakes his head. "Then come with me!" says Marco, but I see a small movement of his head. It looks like his head has twitched towards the island. "What are we actually going to do on the island?" I ask. "Gathering supplies!" mumbles Marco. "Cannibal!" I say, playfully horrified. Marco looks at me incomprehensibly. Really? Bird? The joke is not so unfamiliar after all. Somehow Marco is off the track. I detach myself from Ace, who grumbles discontentedly. "Marco look at me please," I say suspiciously. He looks at me. "Ok you really are Marco!" I say. Said growls and smacks me on the head. Or rather he tries to, because Ace Haki training has done some good. He deflects the blow. Ace grins proudly but gets a head butt from Marco. The latter suddenly looks much less annoyed. I roll my eyes, who would have thought it. Punching Ace is Marco's relaxation method! He must have copied it from Garp.

"My sons!" starts Whitebeard. "Hey!" I complain. "And daughter!" laughs Whitebeard. "The first division is going ashore!" "And Lucia!" adds Marco. "Why do I always have to go, anyway?" I complain. "Because despite being a disaster, you bring a lot of knowledge!" says Marco. Was that a compliment? I beam at Marco. "Thank you!" I say proudly. Marco grins and ruffles my hair. "And me?" asks Ace curiously. "You're coming with us because you can't be separated from Lucia without causing a huge drama!" laughs Marco. I laugh out as Ace looks offended. Taking Ace's hand and placing it on my belly, he beams like a toddler again.

Marco winks at me and gives the order to move. I'm really amazed at how orderly it is. I look at Marco, although it's not surprising with the control freak. But the control freak doesn't seem to be all there after all. His eyes look a little glassy. I walk up to Marco and put my hand to his forehead. "You're not hot!" I say to Marco. He looks at me confused. "Why would I have a fever? I am a phoenix, I heal myself!" Marco replies to me. "Somehow you don't look quite healthy!" I say. "If you say so!" says Marco. There's a huge colourful parrot in front of me. Marco is already forgotten at this point and I want to go to the bird. At once I run towards the parrot, which flies off, screeching. I sit down on the sand and look sad.

Ace comes up to me and pulls me back up. "I want to pet one!" I say sadly. "They're wild animals, it won't work!" Ace says to me. "But I want to!" "In case of need, you can pet Marco!" Ace comforts me, whispering so that Marco doesn't hear him. I smile! In my opinion, it's enough that Marco is a cuddly toy. "How are you going to get him to do that?" I ask Ace in a whisper, while Marco watches us suspiciously from a distance. He must think we're going to do something stupid. "In an emergency, we'll just get him drunk!" says Ace laughing. "What are you doing back there?" asks Marco sceptically. "Nothing!" say Ace and I at the same time. "Why don't I believe you!" replies Marco. I shrug my shoulders. "Can we go?" asks Marco and everyone agrees. We walk into the jungle, where I of course, nice as everyone is, walk in the middle. I would say that I feel like I'm being watched, but honestly: every one of the men is watching me. If there's a branch, there's already a hand to help me over. If it cracks in the bushes, I have a back wall in front of me. Have they ever heard the term overprotection?