The Tinkerer [One Piece FanFic]

Chapter Five

~Maddox’s POV~

                After narrowly avoiding a tidal wave caused by a group of pesky sea monkeys, we finally docked at Long Ring Long Land. Luffy, Usopp and Chopper jumped ship as soon as we reached land and went to explore the vast stretching grassy slopes and the sky scraping trees. Luffy decided it was necessary to steal Cog and take him with them. I hoped he had finally given up the notion that my mechanical rooster was food, but I wasn’t sure that was ever going to happen. The others were lounging around the ship inspecting the island from afar to wait for the three morons (as Nami so kindly referred to them) to return.

                Robin seemed to be lost in thought as she stood near the hull looking out into the fog behind the ship. She was by far the quietest of the crew and was always keeping to herself to read. I approached her quietly not wanting to startle her.

                “Is something wrong, Robin-chan?” I asked her curiously.

                Her beautiful oceanic blue eyes widened for the briefest of moments in surprise by what I had called her and I immediately regretted it.

                “Ah! Sorry! I just thought that’s what everyone called you!” I quickly amended with a squeak.

                She smiled softly and placed a gentle hand atop my head, much like I always imagined my mother would do when I was upset, if she’d been around long enough. “It’s alright, Maddie.” Her smile was warm and affectionate and immediately made me think of the mother I’d never had. “Usually the cook is the only one who calls me that, but you may if you like.”

                Zoro, Nami and Sanji decided to head to shore to stretch and get accustomed to being on dry land for a bit. I watched with a smile as Sanji and Zoro began bickering about something and Nami clobbered both of them over the head to get them to shut up. Sanji swooned and Zoro barked at her angrily for hitting him.

                “Maddie-chan, Robin-chan?!” Sanji called from the shore after recovering from Nami’s attack.

                “Coming!” I called back with a laugh as Nami scolded him for rushing us. Once again I turned to Robin, “Was something bothering you?”

                “I just thought I saw something in the fog.” She shrugged as we made our way towards the shore with Oswyn in toe.

                Robin gracefully leapt to shore and just as I was about to follow after her, I heard what sounded like two cannons being fired. Two giant mechanical paws connected to massive chains hit the ground on either side of the ship blocking The Going Merry from making any kind of escape. The impact of the blast caused a disturbance in the water and The Going Merry rocked unsteadily in the waves causing me to lose my footing.

                I fell with a yelp toward the water but stopped short as Oswyn caught me by the back of my copper colored suspenders.

                “MADDIE-CHAN!” Sanji panicked as I dangled over the edge of the ship.

                “I’m okay.” I giggled as Oswyn lifted me with ease and dropped me safely on the deck beside him. “Nice save, Oz.” I hugged my mechanical horse around the neck and smiled softly as he nuzzled me back affectionately.

                “What do they want?” Nami asked annoyed as she looked at the colossal ship behind me.

                Slowly I turned to inspect the enemy ship. It was huge! There was a massive ivory fox figurehead staring back at me that looked to be about half the size of our small vessel. There were at least three decks, all lined with people wearing strange black eye masks and what looked like black fox ears. Their main sail was a little too flashy and exclaimed FOXY PIRATES. Their jolly roger had an odd grinning what I assumed was a fox, with crossbones behind it and a weird salami like nose with the word FOXY printed around it in the same odd salami red as the fox’s nose.