Devil's Luck Pirates

Not Steve's body hits the floor with a soft and bloody thump. A cut from his right shoulder, all the way across his chest and abdomen, letting out copious amounts of blood. It's impressive how Ragnar didn't split this small boy in two. He looks down at the boy on the floor while returning to his human form. That creepy smile was still on his face.

The giant octopus, now with its master gone, reverts into its small and cute form. It comes over to Not Steve's body, letting out a sad whimper. It then promptly scuttles away into the darkness. Ragnar didn't even notice it.

Meanwhile, Pearl and Atom come over to an unconscious William still on the floor. Pearl takes some wrappings from her captain's bag and patches him up the best she can.

-Do you think he'll be alright? – Atom asks – The guy took quite a beating… – He comments while looking around the prison wing. The walls, ceiling, and floor are all wrecked. With most of the cells and their inhabitants completely decimated.

-CHAHAHA He'll be fine. – Ragnar gleefully says – He's been through worse.

Atom thinks for a moment. What could be worse than a giant octopus slamming you against stone walls? The only thing that comes to his mind is a pink, fire-breathing dragon.

-And besides, he also has a Devil Fruit! – Ragnar adds, resting his ax on his shoulder.

-I don't think that's how it works… – Atom ponders upon the barbarian's statement until he hears a painful groan coming from William. After some not-so-gentle shakes and slaps from Pearl, he finally managed to wake up.

-…Did we win? – William inquires with his eyes half-open – If the answer is no I don't wanna hear it.

Pearl beams him with a smile and nods her head. She then helps him get back on his feet – Take it easy – she says – I can only do so much with bandages.

-Yeah. I noticed it – William responds, putting a hand on his side. He can count himself lucky if the only things broken are his ribs considering how that creature treated him like a ragdoll.

William slowly walks towards Not Steve's body. The enormous gash lets him know immediately who had the honor of taking him down. He picks up the blue calling card that Not Steve found in the cell where his target was supposed to be. William gives it a quick study, then pockets it without giving it much thought. For now.

While he is there, William also notices something dangling from Not Steve's neck. It's a necklace, in the form of a candle made from some material other than wax, as candles usually are, with the number two inscribed on it. He also puts it in his bag for later. Maybe it is worth something to someone.

Having finished his looting, William turns to the rest of his crew.

-So, how's the prince? Is he dead? – He asks, looking over Pearl's shoulder who, in contrast, tenses up. As if she suddenly remembered that the clothes were still on the line as it started to rain. She rushes towards the cell where Jasper is.

He is now up on his feet. With his hands on his cheeks as if he were trying to snap out of a trance.

-Brother! – Pearl reassures him. She takes this moment to remove the chains binding his hands – Everything is ok now.

-So this is the guy we're supposed to save? – Ragnar asks while picking his nose. Atom quickly jabs his elbow on him.

-Mind your words, dude. The guy is royalty and probably won't pay us if we piss him off.

William has also come over to the group now surrounding Jasper. All waiting for some kind of response from him.

Jasper slaps his face a couple of times. He suddenly opens his eyes, now with their bright pink color restored, just like Pearl's.

-My friends! – He shouts full of vigor – I am so sorry for the way I was acting before. It is shameful for a Prince like me to act so defeated!

It's like he's a completely different person now. Even his hair recovered its color a little bit – And my sister! – He puts his arms on her shoulders – Oh, how I've missed you! Not a night has gone by where I haven't wiped a tear for your unknown destiny!

Pearl had no time to react to this sudden change in attitude when she found herself in the middle of a warm embrace. She hugs him back and the two stay like this for a couple of seconds.

-It's good to have you back, brother… – She lets out, a tear running down her face.

-We have no time to lose. – Jasper announces, letting go of Pearl – You said Duros is here with you, no? We must go together to the castle and overthrow our father once and for all!

Pearl is left without words for a moment, her eyes darting back to William.

*AHEM* The captain clears his throat as Jasper turns to him – Hi Jasper. Good to see you're full of energy now – He adjusts his hat and extends his hand towards the prince – I'm William Emanon. Captain of this merry crew. Well, half a crew. The rest is somewhere else.

-Captain, you say? – Jasper gives him a firm handshake – Pirates, I presume? No matter, any friend of Duros and my sister is a friend of mine!

-CHAHAHA! I like this guy! – Ragnar chuckled as he shook hands with Jasper – The name's Ragnar and I'm a bear.

-Oh you sure are my friend! – Jasper remarked while turning towards Atom.

-H-h-h-howdy! – Atom struggles with his words, looking quite nervous as Jasper takes his hand and gives it a firm shake.

-He's not actually part of the crew. – William mockingly says – Mostly along for the ride.

-Now, as much as I would love to listen to your fabulous stories of adventure through the blue seas, I fear we have a king to depose! – Jasper declares to William.

-If everything went according to plan, Duros and Verona should have taken care of the pirates attacking the port – Pear comments.

-Other pirates? – Jasper inqueres.

-Yeah… they are here mostly to pillage and enslave the people – William explains – Oh, and the Marines are mostly on the side of your tyrannical father. So they also might be a hassle.

-Hmm… if that's the case, I should go to the castle posthaste. Deal with my father while the Navy is preoccupied with the pirates.

-Verona and Duros should be waiting for us at the port still. – Ragnar adds.

-For as much as I'd like to reunite with my friend Duros, I'm afraid it will have to wait a little longer. I need to be in the castle.

The air of indecision is starting to set in. Having to divide the group even further is not ideal, but it has to be done.

-I'll take you to the castle. – Pearl proclaimed. Jasper meets her determined expression with uncertainty. He sacrificed so much to keep his sister out of that place.

-Are you certain? – He questioned solemnly.

-I'm the only one who can take you there as soon as possible. So let's stop wasting our time and let's go. – She declares. A bit of annoyance in her voice. Maybe it's the classic younger sibling being annoyed at the overprotective older sibling. Or maybe it's something else.

-Great! – William jumps in – We have a plan! So let's get out of this place. Not Steve's body is starting to stink.

The group then makes its way out of the prison the same way they got in. Atom tries to brag about how he was the one that got them inside but unfortunately stumbles on his words once again. Managing only to take a few laughs out of William.

They meet back up with the prisoners they freed when they got inside. They managed to secure the prison thanks to the pitiful garrison the Marines left there. Also, many of them were ex-knights who rebelled alongside Jasper many years ago and others who tried to resist the cruel king. Jasper reconnects with his old comrades, telling them to secure the prison while he and his new allies take care of the king.

They make it to the front of the prison, thanks to the now-opened gates. In front of them is the peninsula that serves as a pathway to the rest of the island.

-Sister, you said you're the only one who could take me to the castle as soon as possible – Jasper comments – How are you pretending to do that exactly?

Pearl lets out a faint smile as she stretches her wings from her cloak. She takes to the air, picking Jasper by the arms with her hands.

-Oho! – Jasper gleefully says as Pearl lifts him in the air without much effort – Luckily I'm not afraid of heights!

William, Ragnar, and Atom begin to run, trying to keep pace with them.

-Just go on ahead! – William shouts – We'll meet you at the castle where I hope a big reward will be waiting for us!

-HAHAHA! It sure will my dear William! – Jasper laughed.

Pearl ascends steadily to make it past the walls of the city until she notices a figure walking towards the prison. Someone very tall and wearing a Navy coat. She had no time to alert the others before a white spear zooms past her face, almost hitting her. This makes her lose balance, deciding to descend back to the ground.

Her landing wasn't any gracious. They practically plummeted to the ground, kicking up a dust cloud. Pearl has some experience with flying, but not much of doing it while carrying another person. William and the rest run towards her, having witnessed the sudden attack from below.

-Are you guys ok?! – William asks concerned.

-Yeah. – Pearl affirms dusting herself off while coughing.

-Better than what we will be in a moment. – Jasper adds, looking towards their assailant.

A tall and burly man, almost three meters in height, slowly makes his way towards them. His Navy coat makes a nice contrast with his fine dark suit and a large skull of some type of animal with horns adorns his head. With deep, sunken eyes, a rectangular head, a wide nose, and a grizzled beard. The tall man stops a few meters from the crew.

Without saying a word, the man takes out a carton of milk from his coat, pops it open, and proceeds to chug it menacingly. Without ever taking his eyes out of the group.

The crew stands there in fear of the imposing man blocking their path. Atom, Pearl, and Jasper in particular.

-Oh shit… – Atom lets out.

The man, having finished his carton of milk, crushes it with his hand. The residual milk dripped from it, soaking his hand.

-YOU SCUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! – The man shouts with a booming voice, shaking the ground beneath them.

-I'm going to make a wild guess… – William quivered – And say that's that Marrow guy we've been hearing about.

Captain Arthur "Marrow". Lieutenant Hubris superior, son of the old man Cranstin, and strongest man in the South Blue now stands in front of them. And Ragnar couldn't be more happy.

-CHAHAHA!!!!! I've been waiting for this! – He declares, reading his ax and assuming his hybrid form once again. Ragnar was about to pounce on the Navy Captain right when William stepped in front of him.

-WAIT WAIT WAIT! – He says in a panic. Trying to hold back his crewmate only to be dragged a couple of steps with him. Lucky for him, Ragnar decided to stop and listen – Look, I know you want to duke it out with this guy, but just stop and think for a second!

Ragnar looks at him rather annoyed.

-We're all banged up thanks to that octopus and the other Marines we fought back there. Duros and Verona are waiting for us and could be in actual danger right now. Also, Pearl and Jasper need to get to the castle before that Valve guy who, lest we forget, you also have a score to set with, and a more important one at that, in my opinion. So, we can't afford to lose time or our lives fighting this guy now.

William's rant manages to bring Ragnar out of his fight-or-fight mentality.

-Then just leave me behind and you guys go on ahead! I can take him. – Ragnar rebutts.

-I'm not saying you can't take him. – William corrects – But think about it: you defeat him. Hurray! But it will certainly not be an easy fight. So, what if you're too messed up to fight Valve later, huh? Not only that, he could also slip out before you can get to him.

It takes a moment for Ragnar to consider this. Time that Marrow doesn't seem to mind waiting. But in the end, Ragnar decides to follow the voice of reason and listens to his Captain. He goes back to normal and puts his ax down.

William, letting out a huge sigh of relief, starts to think of a way to get past this guy. Luckily, the answer simply comes to him.

-William. – Atom says putting a hand on his shoulder – I don't know how much help I can be, but… I can stall him.

William looks at him. Fear is clearly painted on his face with sweat coming down his forehead.

Were it a week ago, William would have happily thrown Atom at Marrow without a second thought. But now... he doesn't want to. All the time they spent together, knowing each other, fighting alongside one another. It was as if he was just yet another member of the crew. Even if William would never say it out loud.

-I'm the only one who has already fulfilled his purpose on this mission. And now I'm mostly on for the ride, right? – Atom adds. Making William feel really bad for what he said.

The two stare at each other for a second. William can see the determination behind the fear in Atom's eyes.

-GAH! – After a frustrated scream, William holds Atom by the shoulders – Atom, you son of a bitch! Do not die, you hear me?! I do not want to go back to your sister and tell her that she's all alone now! I don't need that kind of emotional baggage!

Atom flares a confident smile to him.

-Don't worry, cowboy. Atom never dies…

William gives him a quick hug. The kind of hug a brother gives to another right before they part ways.

-Alright guys. On my signal. – William steels himself, adjusting his bicorn hat and taking out his pistol – Pearl, as soon as you see an opening take Jasper to the castle.

-Aye, Captain. – She responds.

Atom lights a new cigarette and puffs out a big cloud of smoke. He then takes out six dynamite sticks, holding them between his fingers.

The plan is simple. Atom just needs to distract Marrow long enough for Pearl and Jasper to fly over him towards the castle while William and Ragnar turn left along the beach towards the harbor where Verona and Duros are waiting for them. After that, it's all a matter of blowing him up hard enough so Atom can slip by him.

William takes a deep breath, and fires towards Marrow. Signaling them to advance.

The group starts to run nonstop towards the Navy Captain. William's bullet just bounces off the man's skull atop his head. But it's enough to put William in his sights.

Marrow lifts his hand and small, white spikes start to come out of it. But his hand is abruptly engulfed in a fiery explosion. He doesn't even wince from the pain of having his hand blown up. Mostly because it wasn't, demonstrating how tough this guy actually is.

-YEEHOW!!!! – Atom lets out excitedly as another explosive hits Marrow's face and yet another blows up on his chest, singeing his nice suit. The group is now two or three meters away from Marrow, with Atom at the front. Marrow sets his sights on him, moving his arm back as if he were to throw a punch, but a spike made out of bone comes out from between his knuckles. Atom reacts quickly and throws his remaining dynamites at Marrow's feet, kicking up a dust cloud, obscuring the Marine's vision for a moment.

Pearl takes this chance to take Jasper back into the sky, flying right above the Navy Captain. He sees this, takes out the spike from his hand using his other hand, and prepares to throw it towards Pearl. At this angle, he could hit either of them with enough force and precision to take them out. However, Atom throws a second volley of bombs on the Captain's back.

-I'm right here, big guy! – He taunts Marrow with a cheeky smile, lighting two bombs, one on each hand, with his cigarette. At this point, the dust cloud already dissipated. And Marrow glimpses William and Ragnar running towards the harbor.

Captain Marrow growls in anger. Fine, he thinks. Let's take care of this pest first. He throws the bone spear in his hand at Atom, who manages to dodge it right in time while throwing the two bombs in his hands at the towering figure.

-YOU BETTER NOT DIE, YOU HEAR ME?! – William screams from the distance – YOU STILL OWE ME A PUNCH, REMEMBER!? His voice sounded almost as if he was crying. Atom can't know for sure. They are already far apart.

Atom doesn't let up. He needs to keep this guy here for as long as possible so Pearl and Jasper can disappear inside the city, and William and Ragnar can reach the rest of their crew. Atom advances towards Marrow. He brings out a strip made of several smaller bombs from inside his purple jacket. He throws one end of the strip over the Marine's head as Marrow manifests another bone spike from his knuckles and jabs it toward Atom. The latter manages to slide between the Captain's legs right in time, only his purple cowboy hat being ripped open. At the same time, he lights the other end of the explosive strip and attaches it to Marrow's leg.

The explosives go off point-blank all over the Captain's body. From his inner thigh, up his back, over his shoulders, and down his torso.

Atom stands there for a moment, waiting to see if it managed to do anything against that imposing figure.

But all it managed to do was irritate him.

Marrow turns towards Atom, his already unpleasant face further distorted by anger. He stretches out his arm, with his open hand pointing towards Atom.

-BONE BULLETS! – Marrow declares with his deep and intimidating voice. Several small spikes shoot out of his hand like a Gatling gun. Atom tries to duck out of the way, but many of the "bullets" penetrate his left leg and arm. The next thing he sees is the Captain enveloping his entire arm with bone, creating a gruesome spear. The man slowly comes toward him to finish the job but Atom rolls past the Captain, avoiding the attack.

SHANK

Or so he thought.

The bone spear ran through Atom's back with little effort. It appears that Marrow was expecting that kind of dodge and simply struck where his opponent would end up.

Marrow, wanting to revel in his victory, lifts him in the air. The spear impaled through Atom's chest. Not exactly through his heart, but there is no coming back from this.

Either by coincidence or sheer spite, Marrow held his prey towards William and Ragnar. As if he was presenting his handiwork to them. The two pirates are pretty far already. Atom feels a little bit of pride knowing he managed to complete the second mission he was entrusted with. However, they are still close enough to see what happened if one of them turned back.

And again, either by coincidence or bad luck, William looked back.

He saw it. Plain as day. Atom can't see his face thanks to the distance and his vision slowly going dark. He summons enough strength to lift one of his arms and points a finger gun to where he thinks William is.

-Yee…haw…

And with that, his body goes limp. The still-lit cigarette falls to the ground. A small tail of smoke rising into the sky.