A/N: So this is a super long chapter and I'm not all that happy with it. Lots of canon.

Thanks for the reviews and for following/favoriting!

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Broken Bonds and Puffing Toms

Rowan stared at the blood on the ground with a sinking feeling in her gut.

"Didn't Nami say that Usopp is somewhere around here?" Sanji snapped with frustration from behind her.

"Usopp!" Chopper hollered in his desperate search for their sharpshooter.

"Are you sure that we're at the right place?" Zolo's voice echoed from his spot on the back of one of the yagara bulls, the little water horse creatures everyone used to get around Water Seven.

"Like you're the one to talk! Shut up!"

"All of you be quite," Rowan ordered while bending down and running her fingers through the blood. She had no doubt it was Usopp's. But with this much blood the boy shouldn't have been able too—

Rowan cried out as Luffy's body crashed into her and sent them both into the channel.

She almost let him drown.

Sanji was snarling at Luffy was he helped Rowan pull Luffy's gagging body from the water,

"What were you doing you idiot?" Rowan hadn't been able to push Luffy up onto the ledge and stop him from drowning at the same time.

"I tried to fly down like the shipwright guy and find Usopp!" Luffy hacked only succeeding in confusing Rowan more. Luffy jumped to his feet while Rowan tried to ring water out of her clothes. "Ah! That's right! Usopp disappeared! He was kidnapped along with the money—"

"Rowan and Nami already told us! Come on! We're going to their place now."

"Follow the blood," Rowan barked, irritation and fear of Usopp's disappearance making her easily agitated and prickly. Especially after Luffy threw her into a channel. Those things were nasty.

"Did he feel responsible and go to the Franky place alone?" Zolo snarled as they all took off in the right direction.

It didn't take them long to get out of the city.

And it didn't take them long to find Usopp's beaten and bloody body.

"Is he still breathing Chopper?"

The reindeer, in Heavy Point, knelt down.

"He's alive, no problem. He'll be okay. Even though he lost consciousness."

Rowan's eyes were glued to the blood and tear stained cheeks of her friend.

"Wait here a little bit, Usopp," Luffy told his sharpshooter and placing his hat on top his friend's bloody chest. Rowan made the hard move of pulling her eyes away from the gentle rise and fall of Usopp's chest and turned them on the crazily designed house in front of them that was alive with the sounds of celebration.

Luffy's knuckles cracked as Zolo pulled on his bandana and Sanji lit up a new cigarette.

They didn't need to open the door.

It was opened for them by a giant of a man.

That didn't mean Luffy didn't make an entrance.

In fact, knocking the man out in a single punch and shattering the front wall with his body made a bigger entrance than just knocking the door in.

The party came to a stuttering halt.

"You—you're Strawhat Luffy!" one of the Franky members shouted as he and the others gathered around, grabbing weapons and adorning armor.

"Are you here for the money? Look how many people we have! And you only brought five! Four little guys and one girly!" one of them laughed, the group acting like hyenas with their laughter. They thought they were safe in numbers.

And they were terribly wrong.

"I'll teach you a lesson and then turn in your heads for the bounty money!"

"So you're that softy long-nose's captain?" the biggest of them jeered while stepping forward. Luffy broke their line and met the man head on. "You must have a death wish to break in here with that level of strength! I'll give you a free hit, shortie!"

"Gum-Gum Gattling Gun!"

Rowan heard Luffy's fist slam again and again against the massive man's body armor. The Franky Family's laughter rose.

"Not even a cannon can scratch that super armor! I'm going to laugh to death!"

"Parrot," Rowan commented drily, feeling no joy at watching Luffy copy one of her best moves (or at least refusing to acknowledge the small spark of flattery that fluttered in her chest). Because the second his first attack was done, turning the armor into something brittle, Luffy used his next move,

"Bazooka!" and sent the man and his now destroyed armor flying.

"M-my god!"

"Le-le-let's talk this out peacefully! Like gentlemen—fire!"

Zolo flew forward and cut through the large number of cannonballs they shot at them and the cannons.

"This is bad! These people aren't normal!"

Rowan stepped forward and reached into a pocket. Their armor only protected the important organs in their middle. Their heads were wide open along with valuable limbs.

The three little beads Rowan pulled out were tossed at the back of their group where they exploded on impact and decimated the rear guard.

"They have bombs!"

Rowan pulled out a single brass knuckle and slipped it over her fingers. The metal was cool and comforting in her hand, the exact opposite of the blood curdling rage storming in her stomach.

"All you want is the money, right? The 200 million we got from that Pinocchio guy?" one of the few remaining men shouted. "The truth is that money isn't here anymore! Our boss, Franky, already took it and went shopping! He's probably on his way to the sea train! We have no idea where he's going either! No matter how much havoc you wreck you can't get your money ba—"

Rowan felt smug satisfaction roll through her stomach as Luffy's fist broke the man's jaw.

"You yap too much," Sanji said in a causal tone that held the weight of death behind it. "It's not just about the money anymore."

"That's right. You ticked us off," Zolo agreed while his swords clacked in his hands as he shifted them.

"Ya pissed us off in da worse possible way," Rowan established.

"We're going to pulverize you," Luffy explained in his monotone way. The only real clue to those with no sense of danger that Luffy was very, very angry.

There was nothing left of the Franky House but a pile of rubble when they were done.

Rowan made sure of that with a few well-placed bombs; not that it was really needed after the monster trio were done.

"Should we go after Franky?" Sanji questioned after lighting up a new cigarette. Rowan bummed one off of him and let him light it for her.

"Where would we go?" Zolo countered.

"Damn it. Those small fries really didn't know where the money was and we can only take care of Franky after he's finished shopping."

"What now? Do we wait here? I don't think he'll be back any time soon."

Rowan looked up to Luffy who stood at the top of the rubble pile.

"Okay! I'm done! Come help me lift him!" Chopper called from Usopp's side.

"We're just wasting our time here. Let's go back. Nami is alone on the ship and Robin is nowhere to be found." Rowan perked up at that, the first time she was hearing of Robin's disappearance. "The ship itself is break down too—Luffy!"

"The ship…" Luffy's voice echoed down to them, still holding an edge of monotone that had Rowan tensing ever so slightly. "I've decided."

"And what have you decided, Captain?" Rowan prompted.

"It's time to say goodbye to Merry Go."

The second Usopp woke up it was madness. Startled by being on Merry Go and finding out they had defeated the Franky Family while simultaneously losing 200 of their 300 million beri, Usopp was a bit of a wreck emotionally. Physically he was also a wreck, covered head to toe in bandages that Chopper had expertly placed.

"Usopp, you need to rest!" Chopper squeaked as Usopp sobbed against Zolo's leg. With some caroling they had the sharpshooter back on his cot in the lounge.

"…so in the end we still don't have the money…" he mopped with gritted teeth and hung head.

"We don't know yet," Luffy laughed, happily sitting on the bench. "We're waiting for Franky to come back. Even if he doesn't, we still have 100 million. Don't worry about it!"

"You're lucky that you're still alive," Sanji sighed.

"Lucky? We lost—" Rowan slammed her one elbow into Nami's side and the woman blushed while looking ashamed. Rowan knew Nami didn't mean to make Usopp feel worse but losing that much money hung on her a lot more than the others. Side effect after living with Arlong for so long.

"I'm so sorry," Usopp apologized. "So can we fix Merry Go with a 100 million? We came a long way to get to this high class shipyard. We need to make the ship even stronger for us to conquer the sailing beyond this."

"Nope! Usopp, I've decided to change ships! Merry Go helped us a lot but its sailing days will end right here," Luffy chirped with a smile that didn't necessarily reach his eyes.

Usopp's entire body froze.

Luffy, oblivious, turned to the table and the catalogue Rowan had placed there.

"Let's talk about which ship to buy. Most of the second-hand ships that we can buy with the 100 million are bigger than ours."

"Hold on, hold on!" Usopp cried out, his voice breaking. "Don't joke around! It's not funny at all! Do we not have enough money to repair the ship anymore? Because I lost the 200 million? We just don't have enough money, right?"

Rowan started to step forward, noting the rising panic in Usopp's voice.

"Since the world class shipyard probably charges world-class prices—"

"No, that's not it!" Luffy shouted, trying to be heard over Usopp's raised voice.

"Then what is it? Tell me! Don't worry about hurting my feelings!"

"I don't! It has nothing to do with the money!"

"Then why are you saying such nonsense like changing ships?"

Rowan's gut twisted as the two males fought, doing her best to shove away memories that flooded to the forefront of her mind.

"Stop yelling you two. Sit down and talk calmly," Zolo barked but it was no use.

"Calm? How can I be calm after hearing such stupid things?"

"We only decided on this because we have no other choice!" Nami called out.

"You should calm down and listen instead of yelling!" Luffy bellowed. Sanji scrambled forward with Chopper, the two trying to restrain the snarling boys.

"Usopp, you shouldn't do any intense movement in your currently condition!" Chopper squeaked.

"Stop talking stupid! Tell me what's wrong!"

"Merry is going to die!"

The silence was louder than cannon fire.

Luffy broke the silence with a huff as he straightened his hat.

"No one can fix it no matter what," the boy went on to explain as Sanji let him go. "I would never make that decision otherwise!"

"But this ship! It took us all the way here, didn't it?" Usopp snapped.

"Yeah, but now it's only a matter of time before it sinks!"

Usopp seemed too drawn in on himself, staring at Luffy before glancing off to the side with a frown.

"What are you talking about…Luffy?"

"I'm not kidding. It's the truth! The shipwright guy said we won't get to the next island with this ship no matter what."

"Ah…he said you can't get to the next island…do you always listen to strangers and trust everything they say?"

"Usopp," Rowan started to interrupt but was cut off by Usopp bellowing at the top of his lungs,

"Just because a few carpenters say it can't be saved, it's going to die? It came all this way with us, be it giant waves or deadly sea battles! The ship is a friend that came through it all with us! Yet you're going to leave it here to die! This ship is just a tool to you. Isn't it? Luffy?"

Chopper rushed forward as Usopp began to cough fiercely.

"Usopp, stop! You need to rest!"

The look of fury on Usopp's face told them all how he managed through the pain.

Luffy wasn't fazed.

"What would you know? There's no shipwright on this ship. That's why we needed them to take a look for us."

"Big deal!" Usopp stumbled to his shaking feet despite Chopper's attempts to get him to sit back down. "We don't need them! I'll fix it like I always have! It's decided then! Everyone give me a hand! Rowan, we have enough supplies right? No, we need to buy wood first! Time to get busy!"

"You're not a shipwright Usopp!" Luffy suddenly thundered. Rowan saw how white the boy's knuckles were as he gripped the bench he sat on.

"Luffy!"

"Yeah, but so what? And so what if they are? It's not their ship! They don't give a damn! They're just bull-shitting us. I don't believe them! We'll fix our own ship! I'll never give up on this ship! Are you all idiots? Do you listen to those shipwrights like dogs? The Strawhats I know—" Usopp managed to get to his feet and stumble harshly into Luffy who he gripped with white knuckles. "—wouldn't give in to a marketing scheme! They would believe in Merry Go's strength and fortitude! Stop bluffing, damn brat! Don't say 'I've decided' like you're a real captain!"

"Usopp!" Rowan barked, finally finding her tongue, her voice like the crack of a rifle.

But Usopp wasn't listening.

"I've misjudged you, Luffy!"

"Stop, Usopp! Luffy didn't—"

"Shut up, Nami!" Luffy snapped, getting up off the bench and meeting Usopp head on. "I've made my decision! I won't change it no matter what you say! We're changing ships, and we're going to say goodbye to Merry Go right here!"

"Bullshit! I won't allow that!"

"Calm down! Stop yelling at each other!"

"Listen, Luffy! Not everyone can ruthlessly move forward in cold blood like you! I can't leave behind a wounded comrade and I won't!"

"That's stupid! Ships and people are two different things!"

"They're the same! Merry Go is alive! You probably wanted a new ship since the start! You're just too careless about leaving Merry Go!"

Luffy launched himself at Usopp, knocking them both to the ground. It was only Zolo's interference that stopped the others from pulling them apart.

"Don't talk like you know everything, bastard! You're not the only one who cares about Merry!"

"If you care, you won't change ships!"

"Fine! If you don't like my decision then just leave!"

"Luffy!"

"Idiot!" Sanji made it past Zolo and lashed out with a kick, knocking Luffy off of Usopp. "Luffy, what are you thinking? Calm down and watch what you say!" the chef roared. Luffy plucked himself up off the ground slowly.

"Sorry…I didn't mean…"

"No. That's fine, Luffy! Since that's what you really feel!"

"What did you say?"

"Leaving behind the crewmates that are useless to you one by one, so you can keep moving forward! If you want to leave this ship behind, then leave me behind too!"

"Usopp, you're not serious!" Sanji barked.

"No, I am! I've thought about it…I knew…that I would never be able to catch up to any of you—" Usopp stumbled back to his feet a second time. "As of today, I am nothing more than a bad baggage boy who can't hold on to cash. In the future, I will probably get you into even more troubles. There's no doubt that you don't want a useless crew member like me! Luffy, your goal is to become the Pirate King but I don't necessarily want to go that far. If you think back to when I joined you I only came because you invited me. The fate that brought us together is only so strong. Since we don't have the same goals, we should go our separate ways!"

Usopp walked out of the lounge, the others hot on his heels.

"Usopp! Where are you going?"

"I go where I want to go. I quit." Rowan watched silently beside Zolo as the others all began to beg Usopp to come back. "I can't go on with you anymore. I won't cause you trouble anymore. But the ship belongs to the captain. So fight me. If I win, I'm taking Merry Go."

Usopp spun on his heel, feet on solid land, and stared straight at Luffy.

"Monkey D. Luffy! I challenge you to a duel! Tonight at 10! I'll come back here! We will duel for the right to Merry Go! After that fight, everything is over between us!"

Rowan watched Nami storm from Luffy's side and out of the boy's room. She had tried to convince Luffy to stop the fight, to settle things with Usopp, but the boy wasn't having any of it.

Luffy, nestled in a hammock, had his hat cocked over his eyes shielding his sight from everyone. Rowan stared at the boy, his body lax and appearing uncaring.

"To do what must be done can be a heavy thing." Luffy didn't flinch at Rowan's voice. The only sign he was alive was the slowly rise and fall of his chest. "My da use to tell us that when we were children, me and my brothers."

Luffy didn't respond. Rowan watched him for a while longer.

"I feel like you know but I also feel like I need to say this. Usopp isn't fighting you for Merry Go…not really." Rowan titled her head to the side and eyes gazing off to the far wall. "His pride and self-confidence have been tarnished. And he didn't have that much to being with despite our journey together. It had been growing but…" Rowan dropped her eyes to the floor. They desperately searched for something to hold on to.

Surprisingly the boys' room wasn't that messy.

"Your next actions will either make him stronger…or destroy him completely."

"I know."

Rowan looked up.

"Good."

Rowan turned around, ready to leave Luffy to his thoughts but was stopped by Luffy saying her name. His voice was soft, almost too soft for her to hear. When she turned around to acknowledge him she could just make out his eyes underneath his hat. His lip was a firm line, teeth clamped down hard enough to cause a muscle to twitch.

Unsure, but unable to just walk away with Luffy's face looking as it did, Rowan walked over to the boy and placed her hand on his head. Luffy made no motion that he noticed her change or her contact.

"We trust you Luffy," Rowan told the silent room. "You're our captain."

With a gentle squeeze, Rowan let her hand drop and turned away.

The moon was half full, Rowan noticed as thick clouds rolled across the sky.

Usopp walked towards them, his body coming in and out of view, occasionally illuminated by the moonlight.

"Don't come down, all of you!" Luffy ordered from his spot on the peninsula. Arms crossed over his chest, Luffy turned to Usopp. "You look determined but I hope you don't regret your decision later. This is what you wanted!"

"Stop pretending and just come get me! I came prepared! I'll beat you!"

"Can't we stop them? Usopp is hurt really bad," Chopper whined. Zolo, eyes on their captain, said without a hint of mercy,

"Go inside if you can't watch." Chopper bite hit lip but turned his eyes back to the two.

"I have 8000 followers waiting for my signal! Surrender now if you don't want to die!"

"8000?"

"…maybe you should go inside."

"I'm pretty sure you're just lying, Usopp!"

"Then eat Usopp Spell! Gigantic razor blades between each and every tooth inside your mouth!" Chopper screamed causing Zolo to snap,

"Go inside already!"

Usopp was able to keep Luffy running for quite a while. He fought smart. None of them were stronger than Luffy physically besides perhaps Zolo. And Usopp knew that. So he fought with the one thing he had over Luffy. His brains. The young man even went as far as to use gas and make a massive explosion that rocked the sea and sent spray up on Merry Go. Rowan's eyes flashed to the figurehead before pausing there.

'It looks like Merry Go…is crying,' she thought absent mindedly, her teeth biting through her bottom lip.

Luffy landed his first blow on Usopp…ending the fight.

"It's decided then," Zolo's voice said, echoing in her ears.

"There's no way that you'll win!" Luffy screamed on his knees in front of the defeated Usopp. Nami's sobs sounded loud.

"I can't take this," she hiccupped into her hands.

Luffy plopped his straw hat back on to his head. He turned his back on Usopp and walked away. "Do whatever you want with Merry Go. We'll get a new ship and we'll go on to the seas ahead. Goodbye Usopp. It's…been fun."

Zolo turned his back on the battlefield.

Chopper tried to throw himself over the railing and get to Usopp. Sanji caught him before he made it to the railing.

"Why? He was in pieces to start with and he got beaten up again—"

"This is not just a fight or a game!" Sanji barked. Chopper let out a scream and turned into Heavy Point.

"So what! I'm the doctor! Let me at least look at his wounds!"

Sanji threw himself on top of Chopper and snarled, "He lost a duel and was then pitied! Think about how he must feel right now! Think about how this kind of kindness pains the loser!" Chopper choked out a sob but stopped wrestling against Sanji. "He entered this fight knowing that this might happen!"

"Heavy…!"

Rowan's already fragile heart broke in two at Luffy's voice. The tears she was holding back fell down her cheeks in silent trails.

Zolo's voice cut through their sobs with the same sharpness as his blades.

"That's what a captain is! Don't hesitate. If you can't be decisive, who can we believe in?" Zolo's presence beside her disappeared but not before his weight leaned against her for a second. "Let's clear the ship. We can't return here ever again."

Rowan watched Luffy sob on land, his teeth gritted against the pain of his heart.

"But we don't have a place to go—"

"I know where we can go," she told them all, voice hollow. Luffy looked up and Rowan's heart broke all over again. The sorrow in his eyes tore at Rowan but she remained standing where she was. She couldn't go to him…not yet…not yet.

"I know where we can go," she told him once more, knowing she would do what she desperately didn't want if only to take some of the stress of his shoulders.

The house was just like the others surrounding it. Made of the blue brick with a red tiled roof. It was two stories and there were lights shining through windows on both levels.

"Is this your contact's house?" Nami questioned as she and the others approached the front door. Rowan, stomach twisting, said,

"Sorta."

And before she could second guess herself she knocked.

The door opened a minute later as if the person on the other side had been waiting.

Trixie stood in front of them, still in her day clothes despite the late hour.

"Rowan!" she gasped before her eyes settled on those behind her. Her surprised expression turned into a frown in the span of a heartbeat. "What's going on?"

"My crew. We've become homeless as it were," Rowan explained without really looking at the woman. "I was—"

"Come in, come in!" Trixie ordered, shooing them all into her living room. The others followed orders, their things tossed over their shoulders and leaving the tangerine grove outside. "I didn't know you were sailing. I thought you were still with—but that doesn't matter. Have you eaten? I don't have much—but I do have a spare room and a couch. The chair isn't that bad either. I can put a blanket out for your pet—"

"I'm not a pet!" Trixie's brown eyes about popped out of her head.

"It talks!"

"Trixie, these are the Strawhat Pirates," Rowan began as the others stood around awkwardly in the cozy living room. Rowan did her best not to look around but the sense of warmth and home radiated from every inch. "Nami, Sanji, Tony Tony Chopper, Roronoa Zolo and, our captain, Monkey D. Luffy."

Trixie looked them all over, gaze hard for a moment, before she finished on the captain and gave a node.

"Welcome to my home."

"Thank you for letting us stay," Nami chimed in. The orangette's eyes continued to bounce between Rowan and Trixie. "Umm…how did you met Rowan?" she questioned, trying for polite conversation. Trixie's eyes flashed to Rowan and said woman squared her shoulders and closed her eyes.

"Strawhats, this is Trixie of Water Seven, shipwright of Dock One of the Galley-La Company…and Consort to Clodagh Fiachra." Rowan took another breath before opening her eyes. "She's my mother."

The second of silence before the screams was like an eye of a hurricane. The others' jaws dropped and eyes popped, unable to hide their shock. Rowan withstood their screams with her hand clenched tight.

She was too tired to deal with them. Not at the moment. Their questions washed over her with the feeling of nails burning across bare flesh.

"Let's get you all settled in," Trixie said, cutting through the shocked cries. "You can ask more questions tomorrow. For now, it's late."

Rowan glanced at her mother, surprised that the woman was doing something useful. Trixie didn't return her look, instead going to a cupboard and pulling out blankets.

Rowan found Luffy sitting on the roof. With his legs pulled into his chest, the boy's eyes stared off in the direction of the peninsula. Mindful of the curved roof, Rowan sat down beside him. Her drape fluttered out behind her while her loin cloth settled in between her legs.

The two sat in silence, the only noise being the city around them and the ever present sound of water running from the massive fountain.

"A captain must be strong for his crew," Rowan said, breaking the silence while looking out at the sea. She had a good view of it. "He is the rock, the keel, the sun. The center of a crew's universe. Without the captain the crew is nothing but comets rocketing through space."

Rowan reached out and wrapped her arm around Luffy's hunched shoulders.

"But pull a rubber band to tight and it'll snap."

Luffy's shoulders began to quake.

Rowan pulled him in to her side as tightly as she could.

And Rowan did the only think Mihawk had ever been able to do for her. She sat beside her captain and let the boy weep until he was so tired he feel asleep against her. She didn't tell him it would be alright. She didn't give words of comfort. They would be lies. And Rowan didn't want to lie to Luffy. Not about something has important as losing a shipmate.

Rowan didn't move, choosing instead to let Luffy sleep his heartache away, protected under her arm.

She remained where she was even when Zolo came up and sat at the other end of the roof near the chimney.

She allowed Nami to put the blanket around them before snuggling in herself on Rowan's bad side. Rowan never missed her arm more than that moment.

Chopper came up next and settled in Rowan's lap where she plopped her chin on top his pink top hat.

Sanji showed up in the morning after Nami had disappeared back downstairs. Chopper remained in Rowan's lap and Luffy kept his head on her shoulder even when he woke up.

"Where've you been?" Rowan asked quietly, not wanting to break the silence but not sure she wanted Sanji snooping through her mother's things.

"I went back and kept watch at the peninsula. I thought maybe Robin-san would come back. Wonder where she went without saying a word…" Sanji sighed, blowing out a film of smoke. "I think I'll search around the streets today. If anything happens, we can regroup here. Trixie-sama already left for work but said that we're more than welcome to stay here."

"I'll go search to!" Chopper chimed up sleepily from Rowan's lap. There was no more discussion about searching because at that moment the roof's door was thrown open.

"Luffy!" Nami shouted while scurried towards them. "Big news, guys! Everyone in the city is talking about it! Luffy, last night, Iceberg-sama was shot!"

Rowan would have leapt to her feet if it wasn't for Chopper and Luffy. Thankfully Luffy lifted his head and Chopper scrambled from his spot.

"Ice-ossan was?"

"Yeah, he was shot. He's unconscious right now."

"What is that again Nami-chan?"

"The guy who took care of us the other day at the shipyard. He's the president of the company and mayor of Water Seven."

"Whoa! He sounds like a real important guy."

"It's said to be the greatest catastrophe to ever happen to this city."

"That guy…he's respected by so many people."

"I'm going to go visit him," Rowan said while standing up.

"Huh? Why?"

"Iceberg-san's mother's boss but they're also close friends. They grew up together. And as the only Clodagh here, it would be rude for me not to."

"I'll go with you," Luffy stated. Rowan looked to the boy and the heavy shadows under his eyes.

"No, you stay here Luffy."

"But—"

"They're not going to let some unknown pirate go up to their mayor after he's been shot. Trust me. I'll be back soon."

Rowan was able to enter Galley-La's main office easily if only because her mother was already there and greeted her at the front door.

"Come on. Iceberg-sama asked to see you," Trixie said while leading her through the massive building. She led her to the top floor and a massive pair of doors.

Rowan entered the room but it was apparently the wrong timing because the second she stepped foot inside she was the target of several glares. The room was filled with shipwrights from yesterday and Kalifa. Iceberg was nestled in a giant bed with plush looking blankets and pillows plucked from clouds. But there wasn't a friendly face amongst them.

Paulie, the blond male that had something against women's flesh, actually threw himself to his feet.

"You! How dare you—"

"Paulie? What's going on?" Trixie demanded. Paulie thrusted a finger in Rowan's direction and shouted,

"The Strawhats are the ones who tried to assassinate Iceberg-sama!" The look of stunned surprise was identically on Rowan and Trixie's faces. The look of fury that followed was all Rowan though.

"Watch your tongue before I cut it out," Rowan growled, her teeth flashing as her lip pulled back in a snarl. Her fierce expression faltered slightly when Iceberg struggled to sit up. Paulie looked torn between helping Iceberg and refusing to let her out of his sight.

With some help from Kalifa, Iceberg was propped up on a giant pillow so he could met her head on. The man was pale and in obvious pain. If it weren't for the circumstance she had been met with upon entering the room she'd have felt bad for the guy.

"I saw Nico Robin with a large masked man last night. They shot me."

Now it was Rowan's turn to go pale and her eyes flashed open wide before she was able to collect herself.

Rowan closed her eyes.

Breathing in deep through her nose she let out said breath slowly.

And let her rage churn to a boiling point inside her.

She had been wrong.

'No…don't jump to conclusions…a ruler does not deal in assumptions and opinions but facts and evidence.'

But Iceberg had been shot by Robin.

But how did he know what Robin look like?

"How do you know it was Nico Robin?" Rowan questioned, keeping her eyes closed and holding her rage back as it bayed like a bloodhound, begging to be released.

"I've made it my business to know about her," Iceberg answered.

"Why?"

"I can't say."

A sharp jerk of her anger trying to get free. Rowan clamped her imaginary fingers down around it.

'Soon…soon.'

"What you proclaim is troublesome."

"Rowan?" Trixie asked, her normally pleasant voice sounding like nails on a chalkboard to her daughter now. But that was probably just Rowan's normal bias against the woman. The redhead took another deep breath before opening her eyes and meeting Iceberg head on with a gaze that could freeze the sun.

"I have declared 'Demon Child' Nico Robin a Friend of Clodagh. By saying she has tried to assassinate you, you have placed that claim at my feet."

"Enough of this shit! It's obvious you Strawhats are trying to get back at us for saying your ship was condemned!" Paulie shouted. The flash of rage Rowan sent towards him had Paulie taking a step back and reaching for his ropes.

"My captain is not that petty," Rowan stated with her eyes narrowed to slits.

"It wasn't the Strawhats sir," Trixie cut in, taking a step further into the room. Iceberg looked to one of his best shipwrights. His breathing was a bit labored. "They were at my house last night though…"

Rowan sighed and went to cross her arms over her chest. She paused halfway through the motion and plopped her hand on her hip. Head hung slightly Rowan admitted,

"We haven't seen Robin since early yesterday."

"So you sent your assassin after—"

"Robin is her own person," Rowan snapped, the submissive body language gone in a heartbeat as she bared her teeth at Paulie again. "She makes her own decisions. If she came here last night it was not at our captain's orders. Not because you did your job. In fact it was decided that we would be getting another ship."

Rowan had to focus hard on not flinching at the memories of Luffy and Usopp fighting each other. Or Luffy's tears. Or Chopper's. Or Nami's.

"However, as she is a Friend of Clodagh, she is my responsibility." Rowan had to take another deep breath to steel herself. When she was sure she could speak without snarling, Rowan stated clearly, "Iceberg-san of Water Seven, Mayor of the City of Water and Leader of Galley-La, I, Clodagh Rowan, daughter of Fiachra, Queen of Dublin Isle, Captain of the Cardinal and Commanding Officer of the Strongest Army, ask for you to let me deal with 'Demon Child' Nico Robin, Friend of Clodagh."

"Yeah right! So you guys can regroup and steal a ship only to vanish into the night? I don't think so!"

"Your continued insults against the Clodagh honor are beginning to get tiresome."

Iceberg's narrow eyes popped open a little bit as he heard the underlying threat in Rowan's voice.

"Enough Paulie," he told his friend while folding his hands in his lap. When Rowan was looking back to him Iceberg said, "I will have your word that Nico Robin will be dealt with appropriately."

Rowan ducked head to him.

"I will see to it that you are there for my judgement." The other shipwrights in the room didn't seemed pleased in the least bit.

None of them had a chance to get another word in for in that moment the doors to Iceberg's room were thrown open and a loud voice thundered,

"Hey! Something bad's happened!"

"You're too loud Tileston!" the shipwrights all roared.

"Mind your manners! Be quiet!"

"Iceberg-sama! You're awake, that's great!" the giant of a man howled only to get beat out of the room by Paulie.

"Be quiet, dammit! Iceberg-sama is still injured!"

"My bad!" the giant's voice boomed from outside the door. "By the way, bad news!"

"Talk over there. Don't come any closer!"

"Right now at Dock One! The Strawhat pirate that was there yesterday is fighting Franky and they're breaking everything in the shipyard!"

"Strawhat?" Hattori hooted for Lucci.

"Stop them from doing any more damage…and arrest Strawhat Luffy."

"What?"

"Clodagh Rowan, until you can prove the Strawhats are innocent…they will be held in our jails."

Rowan's head snapped so hard in Iceberg's direction she about took her own head off. Rowan was barely holding on to her rage now and she only just managed to bite out the word,

"What?" instead of flying at Iceberg and finishing the job.

"I trust the name Clodagh but I don't know you. And I don't know your crew. It was said that the royal line of Fiachra was all wiped out except for his middle child Conor. For all I know you're lying about who you really are."

"You know what happens to those who dare use the name Clodagh without permission," Rowan rumbled lowly, everything about her a threat. She watched the shipwrights leave the room with masks of steel. Her fist clenched harshly at her side.

"Tonight is Aqua Lagoon. There are only two trains leaving this island today. It will be impossible for Robin to leave if she's still here. You have until Aqua Lagoon to bring Robin forth and clear the name of your crew. And prove to me that you are a woman of honor."

"Iceberg! This is Rowan! I would know my own daughter—"

"A daughter you haven't seen in 10 years, Trixie," Iceberg cut in as Kalifa stood beside him, fixing her glasses. For some reason Rowan had a flashback to 'Black Cat' Kuro. "I have little doubt Rowan is who she says she is. There are few dumb enough to bring the wrath of an entire island down on their heads. But I stand by my words. Bring Nico Robin to me and I will let your crew go—"

"If you think you'll be able to catch them, then go ahead and send your shipwrights to their defeat. I won't be to blame for you needlessly making a nuisance of yourselves," Rowan interrupted. "But fine. I'll bring you Robin."

And Rowan stormed out of the room with eher fist clenched at her side. Others threw themselves out of her way until Kalifa ordered a group of them to follow her. Rowan scoffed but said nothing more.

'You better have a good reason for all this, Robin.'

Aqua Lagoon was damn near on the island. The winds had kicked up astronomically. There was no moon with the cloud coverage. And there was a distinct feel to the air that had ever hair on the back of Rowan's neck on point. Rain was seeping into her eyes and stinging the parts of her that were bare flesh.

But none of that stopped Rowan from sneaking into the secret room under the bridge.

She'd been looking for Robin. While she wasn't afraid of her crew getting captured there were a lot of unanswered questions and the crew was stuck on the island until they got a new boat. So Rowan had to clear their name or they were stuck forever.

But she hadn't been able to find Robin.

Instead, she had found a blue haired man scantily clad with two women as equally undressed, helping Usopp with Merry Go.

Not wanting to be spotted but unable to leave until Rowan was sure he was safe, the woman snuck her way into the rotting ceiling of the building they entered, nestled above a little room. It was there she found out the man was actually Franky of the Franky Family.

And he was as ridiculous as the rest of the boys on her crew.

"I bet you hate us for taking your money and causing you guys to fight," Franky sighed from a couch with the two women while Usopp hammered away at Merry Go.

"It was inevitable. I don't blame anyone."

"Ah, well said! By the way about the two million I spent all of it!" Franky declared loudly while striking a pose. The women were his backup posers.

"Don't make me come over there!" Usopp warned.

"That's no good. You showed me your manliness! So now I can't stay angry even though you completely destroyed my home, Franky House, and beat up most of my crew—how dare you do such a thing! You ass!"

"Big bro!"

"Calm down!"

Franky listened to the women and plopped back down on his couch.

Rowan was unable to stop her face from deadpanning.

Ridiculous, the whole lot of them.

"So about that," Franky huffed with a cup of tea, "Let's just call it even. In any phase, let's talk about what to do now."

'It's 'in any case'."

"It's 'in any case' big bro."

"What do you plan to do now? If you have nowhere to go I'll take you in! Become my follower! I like you!"

"No way! I won't become one of your ship-dismantlers! Even though I'm separated from my crew, I'm still a pirate at heart!"

"Ah!" Franky sobbed while pulling a guitar from behind the couch and strumming a tune. "Please listen to 'Pirate Valor'…"

"Big bro!"

"Stop making fun of me!"

'Luffy…would love this guy,' Rowan realized with a silent snort. If they had met in difference circumstances, the two would have gotten along like rice and seaweed. Realizing there was no danger to Usopp, Rowan began to get up, only half listening to the group below talk about Water Seven and how the island was indebted to the sea train due to its always rising sea level.

"Our current well-being is all due to the invention of the sea train which never would've happened if it hadn't been for the work of the great shipwright, Tom!"

Rowan smiled. She knew of Tom. The shipwright that not only built the Oro Jackson, ship of Gold Roger, but, ironically enough, the Cardinal. A gift to her father from her grandfather when he had come of age.

"—then one day, I'll return to my home in East Blue!" Rowan froze in her escape. "Though I haven't exactly gone around the world I've been in the Grand Line! So that should be enough for a triumphant return!"

Fear quaked in Rowan's stomach. Usopp couldn't leave on Merry Go. If he did he'd die and she'd be at fault and—

"No. You won't make it. It's too far." Rowan scrambled as quietly but as quickly as she could back to the hole in the ceiling she'd been looking through. Franky was on his feet and walking towards Usopp. "When I brought the ship here, I checked it out. There's no hope for the ship. Galley-La's evaluation is corrected. It's my professional recommendation as a dismantler that you put it to rest."

"What are you talking about?" Usopp shouted, his hand going for his slingshot.

"Let me take it apart for you."

"What's that supposed to mean, jackass? Stay away!" Rowan couldn't agree more with Usopp. Merry Go was at her end yes but she deserved more than having a stranger dismantler her willy-nilly.

"I'm saying that I'll help you dismantle that ship."

"Shut up! I'm not gonna let you do it! Merry Go is my ship!"

Rowan was seconds away from throwing herself down and beating the ever loving snot out of Franky herself but stopped when the blue haired man said,

"No. It's not a ship anymore! I asked you earlier 'what're you gonna do once you fix this ship?' If you were gonna throw your life away along with the ship then I couldn't have cared less. But you said that you wanted to get back to your home in East Blue. That's why I'm stopping you, kid. That ship ain't even gonna get to the next island. 'I will carry you from this land to that land'. Ships are born with that wish in mind. When a ship can no longer carry people to the next island—"

Franky jumped up and grabbed part of Merry Go's side…

"—it's not a ship anymore!"

…and ripped it off.

"Stop!" Usopp screamed before firing his slingshot and a firestar. It was a direct hit but all it did was throw him back.

"If you don't understand!" Franky shouted, hitting Usopp into the air. "Then you'd better see it—" With one powerful downswing of his massive hands, Franky shot Usopp into the water. "—see for yourself!"

Rowan was half way out the hole in the ceiling, frothing at the mouth, when Usopp clamored out of the water. Limping, the boy grabbed hold of the piece of Merry Go Franky had torn off and began the hard process of nailing her back together.

Regret and sorrow filled Rowan's stomach like a bad piece of rotten meat.

"I'm sorry Merry, I'll fix you in just a minute!" Usopp grunted, straining under the wood's weight. "I'll fix you! Again! And again!"

"Cut it out already, long nose! You saw the bottom of the ship, right? The keel is broken, the outside plates are misaligned and the ribs are in pieces! It could collapse with each wave that hits it! Do you think that the repairs of some amateur would—"

Usopp hammer smashed into the nail box sending the little pieces scattering.

"Shut up already! I don't want you telling me that! I'll kick your ass if you don't shut up you hooligan bastard!"

Watch Usopp's face Rowan's heart tore itself in two for the second time within twenty four hours as tears cascaded down his cheeks. "I knew all of that already. I knew that Merry Go could not travel anymore!"

'Why Usopp? Why did you have to be so stupid?' Rowan screamed internally as the sharpshooter landed on his hands and knees.

"I actually knew all of that! When I'd heard the results of the evaluation I decided that it wasn't just my imagination back then. I thought it was a dream at first. I didn't think there could be such a thing but…one night, I heard the sounds of hammering from the empty ship. The fog was really thick, but someone was definitely there. I never found out who, but the next day, the ship was repaired in a very poor fashion. It was all so strange but, I remember this one phrase. I don't know if it was just my imagination. Or maybe he really did say it. 'It's alright. I'll carry all of you for a little while longer.' I know it sounds so freaking stupid but I—I think that it was the incarnation of Merry Go!"

Rowan's hand flew up to her mouth to hold in her gasp, her green eyes blown wide.

"The ship was probably already at its limit and wanted to warn us about it. You probably think I'm crazy. I don't care if you don't believe me—"

"No need for that," Franky said from the couch. "He looked like a sailor holding a hammer, didn't he?"

"Huh? How did you know…?"

"Cause kid, you probably saw a Klabautermann." Rowan leaned as close to the hole as she could get without being seen.

"Klabar-what?"

"Klabautermann. A legend told among seafarers. It's a fairy that dwells on ships that are well cared for. It's basically an incarnation of the ship. It holds a hammer and wears a sailor's raincoat. When the ship's in danger it runs throughout the ship, warning everyone about it. It's said to help the sailors in bigger ways sometimes. Seriously though, this is the first time I've heard about it directly."

Franky smiled.

"The more loved the ship is the more gratitude it has for the farers. This ship probably wanted to get you guys to the 'other side' no matter what. This ship must have been really happy to have met a crew it wanted to carry so much, it even took on a human form."

"…Merry…" Usopp whispered while turning his head to the figurehead. "The guy who talked to me…really was you, Merry."

"This is amazing! So you knew the limits of the ship and still had that big fight with your friends."

"It's not like that," Usopp huffed.

"Men are so clumsy!"

"They're stupid!"

Rowan couldn't agree more with the women.

The conversation was halted when someone rang a door bell.

"Someone's here; probably Zanbai and the others. What's he doing here all the way from the 'sea side'?"

"Really, he usually uses the front door at the top."

"Maybe he brought the Strawhat with him?"

Franky jerked when one of the women mentioned Luffy and let out a yelp,

"Oh yeah! I forgot that we were using you as bait to lure out the Strawhat!"

"They won't come, we're not friends anymore."

And wasn't that a blade to the heart?

"I already told you that."

The bell rang again.

"Why isn't he coming in?"

"Alright, alright, we're coming!" Rowan's eyes followed the women as they sauntered off.

"…hey kid, you should go back to your friends," Franky suggested over another ring of the bell.

"I can't do that now. I fought with the captain and the problem with the ship hasn't been resolved yet."

"It's been resolved! If you know that the ship can't go on, the problem is already solved! Leave it with me. I'll take care of it however you like. Think about it! I was just thinking of what's best for you when I went to destroy the ship—"

"Don't butt in! This is my problem!"

"Yeah and I'm saying I'll solve the problem for you. Be glad! Don't you get it? This is troubling for the ship too! The ship liked you enough to show you its human form. The day it sinks with you onboard it's never gonna die, y'know? It's not gonna go to heaven!"

"So if you had a friend who was dying you'd tell him 'it's okay, you can die now?'"

"You're changing the subject!"

"I'm not! This is the subject!"

The yellow twin came flying back, skidding across the ground and right in front of Franky.

"Who did—"

"Sorry to interrupt but the girls wouldn't let us in," Kalifa's voice echoed up to Rowan. Rowan strained to see what was going on but the hole wasn't big enough to see the entire room. Franky flew forward and vanished from her sight. The sound of metal hitting flesh echoed in the room.

"Blue? No—what're you doing dressed like that?" There was the sound of struggling before Franky's voice snarled, "Cheeky, aren't we—who do you think I am? Who do you think you're selling a fight too? You're kinda different today. You're usually the slow bartender!"

"Stop it, Blueno!"

Franky came flying back into Rowan's sight.

"What good is it if you kill him now? Idiot," a voice Rowan didn't recognize snapped.

"Sorry…"

"Hey! Aren't you, like, strong? Aren't they the guys from the shipyard—? What is—" Usopp stuttered out as Franky clamored back to his feet.

'Shipyard?'

"Why am I getting beat up by the Galley-La pigeon boy, Blueno, the secretary and even the monkey? What kind of group is this? You all look so serious. Thanks a lot for acting so super—look what you did to my little sisters. They're not even ready to wed yet. How did you find out about this place? This is my secret hideout!"

"I don't care about little things like that. I'll explain briefly so listen: our lives in the city are all fake. We're actually spies for the World Government."

Rowan felt her gut hit her toes.

"You probably know the meaning of that and the reason we're here. Franky, we already know everything. Don't play dumb with us. It'll only result in further impatience. Your real name is Cutty Flam. The other disciple of Tom who was said to have died 8 years ago!"

"…I dunno how you found out but good for you. So how's that idiot Iceberg doing?"

"He's dead."

'Iceberg…? He's—'

"From Tom to Iceberg, and Iceberg to you, it was passed on. It's finally check mate for our long search. Now, Franky, give us the blueprint of the world's worst battle ship 'Ancient Weapon Pluto'!"

Franky didn't move.

"Are you deaf? I said give it to us Cutty Flam."

"I ain't givin' you nothin'!"

Franky's arm flew from his body, somehow remaining attached to his forearm with a chain.

Rowan didn't see him but she heard him move. Busting her fist down on the ground below her, Rowan allowed gravity to pull her through the ceiling and get her to the ground. She dropped in front of Franky and caught the open palm headed for the bluette's head.

She felt the attack in her bones. The force sent her flying into Franky's hard chest and sent them both soaring backwards. Rowan's one arm screamed as she and Franky busted through a wall and ended up sprawled over one another. It took Rowan a solid minute to regain the ability to breath. It was enough time for the speaker to step into her vision.

And she definitely hadn't been expecting who it was that walked up to stand in front of her.

Lucci with Hattori on his shoulder.

"Clodagh Rowan. I knew you'd appear eventually. Your crew had the same annoying habit."

"Had?" Rowan parroted while clamoring to her feet.

"Yes. They're dead now too or at least soon will be. As soon as Aqua Lagoon appears."

A high pitched whine ruptured in Rowan's ears blocking out everything else. Even her vision went black as she fell to her knees. The noise grew in pitch with each pump of her heart.

She couldn't breathe.

Lucci passed by her along with Kalifa, Kaku and a massive man with hair like a bull's horns. She didn't notice the rest of them, to busy trying to restart her brain.

"R-Rowan?" Usopp's voice cut through the high pitched whine that threatened to destroy her eardrums. Rowan blinked once, hard, and stared at the terrified looking Usopp.

'Not all of them,' her brain supplied. 'Not all are dead.' Her eyes flashed to Usopp and Merry Go.

"Don't give me that crap! Tom-san wasn't a criminal!" Franky's voice bellowed from behind. She kept her eyes forward while her brain slugged through something starting to resemble a plan. "How dare you talk like you know anything!"

Someone lashed out and sent Franky flying past her. His arms were pinned to his sides with what liked to be a thorned whip.

"Criminals should well know the path they follow."

Usopp was pulling out his slingshot.

She'd felt Lucci's attack.

The boy wouldn't stand a chance.

None of them did.

'Luffy…' Rowan almost fell back into a daze at the thought that her smiling brother was gone.

But there was one more she could protect. One more person she could get out alive.

And this time…she would succeed.

Rowan threw herself forward and grabbed hold of the whip containing Franky. Planting a foot she whirled and used momentum to launch Franky right into Usopp. The two let out squawks as they hit and flew backwards into the channel before them.

'Please Merry," Rowan whispered while running as fast as she possibly could. 'If you can hear me…save them…one last time.' Rowan's hand grasped the lever and pulled. The doors opened wide revealing the howling storm outside. The water instantly flew out of the open doors taking a gagging Usopp and Franky with it along with Merry Go.

Rowan didn't watch them go instead turning back to the wide eyed World Government Agents.

"Rowan!" Usopp screamed as he flew out the door.

"You—" Lucci started but Rowan didn't let him finish.

"Why does the World Government keeps breaking my things?" Rowan questioned over the howling winds. She pulled the lever a second time and shut the doors. One more thing they would have to get through before they got to her friend. It was just a shame she hadn't been able to throw the two women out as well. But they appeared unconscious and hopefully would remain so until this was over.

Rowan tilted her head slightly to the side, feeling a bit unsettled.

But she couldn't falter.

Not right now.

Not when so much depended on her standing strong.

'I can't believe they're dead. Luffy won't die. None of them will.'

"Tell me Agent of the World Government…do your leaders even care about our agreement anymore?"

'Luffy is strong. Zolo is strong. Nami is strong. Chopper is strong. Sanji is strong.'

"The deal struck by our forefathers so long ago? To do no harm to one another?"

'Usopp will be alright. He has Franky and his own will.'

"Because I have this feeling, and tell me if I'm wrong, that all the crap we've been going through since we got here is because of you."

'They are not dead.'

"I find it too coincidental that right after we meet Aokiji, that Robin goes and disappears on us."

'They are not dead.'

"Is he behind all this? Or did he not relay what I said back to you lot?"

'They are NOT dead.'

"Because if he did tell you what I had done, and you still threaten us like this, then we are going to have a problem."

'They are not dead.'

"You know…Trixie was always a wonderful woman."

Rowan's thoughts clamored to a halt like a screeching disk. Her eyes zeroed in on Lucci as the man started to walk forward.

"Always helpful to us younger generation. Always made sure we ate plenty and didn't get ahead of ourselves. She always acted like Kaku was killing himself whenever he jumped from buildings. And she doted on Kalifa. She even made myself lunch more than once. Gave Hattori seeds and made sure I was giving him plenty of calcium."

Lucci's head tilted to the side as his dark eyes bore fiercely into Rowan.

"It would be such a shame to have to send her to Imperal Down. But it would be easy. She did, after all, fraternize with a pirate and give birth to a pirate."

Silence rang between Rowan and Lucci.

It was shattered by Rowan throwing her head back and laughing. And laughing. And laughing. It was loud and mocking and it made her sides hurt something fierce. Tears dripped out of her closed eyes as a stitch formed in her stomach.

"What's so funny?" Lucci questioned, somehow sounding bored and demanding all at once. Rowan was able to pull herself together and wiped away her tears with a thumb.

"This!" she chuckled, almost choking on the sound. "All this shit. By the Kings of Old, I was right."

"Right about what?"

"I'm not good at this." Lucci's frown deepened and his eyes narrowed. Rowan motioned to the air around them and couldn't stop another peril of stuffy giggles from passing her lips. "I make such a shitty queen," she explained before throwing her head back and laughing again. "I—I'm trying so hard!" she crowed with tears running down her face. "I'm trying so hard to think like a queen! Protect this, protect that, do this and do that. I'm trying to be just like my da! He made such a great king after all."

Rowan was unaware of the look Kaku and Blueno shared as they watched Rowan basically lose her mind. Pulling herself up from her doubled over position Rowan wiped away more tears and gave one more insane chuckle.

"But I was never raised to be a queen, you know? That was my brother. Fuck, Conor got more attention in that then I did because he was the spare. And with two brothers between me and the throne I knew I was never going to get it. Didn't want it either. But here I am, the only one still alive with a crown on my head and all these people that need me. Mother, my crew, my people. All of them depend on my keeping a level head and keeping the peace my ancestors worked hard at to achieve."

Rowan let her barely contained rage pour from her tattered and worn soul and pour from her it did. Only Lucci didn't flinch under the hot wave of wrath that flowed freely from Rowan's every pore. Her eyes, dark with her fury, burned into the ice that was Lucci.

"And all I can think about is burning the World Government to the ground."

It was almost hilarious to watch the agents tense.

Just as quickly as it came Rowan's rage was gone, shoved deep, deep down into the chasm of her soul where she kept had been keeping it locked away for the past eleven years.

Just because she wanted to watch every last bit of the World Government go up in flames…didn't mean that she had the power or the ability to make that happen.

For now, she had to focus on saving her mother and giving Usopp enough time to make an escape. If Luffy and the others were…dead, she could never face them or her ancestors if she let those two die for her own selfish gain.

"What do you want?" she demanded from Lucci.

The man's dark eyes bore into Rowan, feeling like ice chips pressed harshly into her too hot skin. When Lucci strutted forward, he didn't seem at all phased by Rowan's posturing.

"You are to surrender and give yourself over to the World Government and present yourself to our leader. Or we will take out all our frustrations out on Trixie. And I assure you there are many…frustrations. Thanks to your meddling, you've lost us our only lead to our ultimate goal. Quite a few years of hard work gone like water down a drain."

Rowan made a show of rolling her eyes.

"Geez, that breaks my heart. It really does," she scoffed. Lucci's hand reached out and his warm fingers grazed beneath Rowan's chin tilting her head up just a little. He leaned down, eyes cold and hiding as much fury as the howling storm outside.

"No, but I assure you, by the end of this I will have broken every bone in your body." Rowan leaned in closer to Lucci so that they were practically nose to nose. She rolled her injured shoulder and let an abhorrent smirk slick across her face.

"Good thing I'm missing a few then."

Lucci smiled.

And there was nothing pleasant about it.

"We have to help her," Usopp gagged, watching as the strange shipwright turned agents left Franky's secret hide out. Franky, who had been lying beside him and choking up water, struggled to his massive hands and knobby knees.

The redheaded woman who'd just saved his skin, Rowan, wasn't being held by chains or led by force, but she was completely surrounded by the black clad agents.

"We can't—we can't just—gods, why did she help me?"

"Friends don't abandon friends. You said so yourself," Franky spat out the last bit of water in his lungs. His wounds burned with salt water but at least the damn whip was off him. "Come on, long nose. We don't have much time left."

They took her to Puffing Tom.

Stuck between the agents with Lucci leading the way, Rowan followed behind the long haired man with her head raised with pride and back ramrod straight. They walked down a line of World Government members who all saluted the agents. One of them came forward and placed a long jacket over Lucci's shoulders. She wasn't sure why except perhaps for dramatic effect. It most certainly wasn't because of the screaming winds and dropping temperatures, of which there was plenty.

"This isn't a game. Brace yourselves," Lucci ordered those around Rowan. "All hands board the train!"

The agents and marines jumped to do as commanded.

Rowan was led on to the train and into a private car. Rowan noticed that Hattori now had his own jacket. She would have found it adorable if he wasn't Lucci's pet.

"After you," Lucci told Rowan, motioning to one of the seats. Rowan eyed it with something more than contempt but sat down none the less. Lucci sat right next to her. His jacket filled up with little room there was between them, warming her chilled side.

It was a good thing Rowan was used to ships and rough seas because Puffing Tom jerked and rocked with the rising waves, despite having not left the station.

"Our mission is a failure," Kalifa sighed from her position behind them and to the left.

"That fall wouldn't have killed Cutty Flam," Lucci cut her off. "And we do not return empty handed."

Rowan observed Lucci out of the corner of her eye. She really wished she hadn't her lost her arm if only to have something besides her side between her and the man.

"Lucci-san," an agent greeted as he entered their cart. "We will be departing a little early. Is anything wrong—"

"No, let's leave."

"Understood."

"For five years I've lived on this island. I don't regret leaving this place."

Rowan felt the jerk as the steam engines dug in and the train took off. She glanced out the window despite Water Seven being on the other side. The only sign Rowan got that Puffing Tom was moving was the passing sea out the window. The train rode the waves with ease, only rolling her stomach slightly. Soon she didn't even notice that.

"Welcome back gentlemen and lady," the government agent that Rowan had seen harassing Iceberg at the shipyard, greeted as he entered their cart. He stood at the front where all of them could see him. "This maybe the most well protected train I've had the pleasure of riding. Each car has its own representative. Naming off the government officials in order, starting with the seventh and final car, the box of CP6 Jerry. As you progress, their power grows. 40 sailors in the fifth car under the command of a captain from Marine Headquarters, former royal knight T-Bone. Next up, in the fourth car, also head of the waiters on this voyage, the grappler of CP7, Wanze. And then, in the third car, CP9's newcomer, Mr. Nero is awaiting orders. This is just a basic escort mission and we're not expecting any attacks. However, to be on the safe side we brought enough combat strength to handle anything.

"I realize your original mission has failed but, in spectacular fashion, you still turned it into a victory for the World Government."

Rowan kept her face blank as the man turned his sneering face on her.

"We lost our last hold on the Clodagh but with their rightful queen in our hands we will be unstoppable. And this one won't be as useless as Conor!"

Rowan's rage flew forth like opening a door on an enclosed fire. The agent went as white as a sheet and stumbled backwards.

It took everything in Rowan not to spit out the words coating her tongue but she managed it…barely. Turning her head she looked out the window again.

"A…anyways!" the agent stuttered out. Rowan hoped he pissed his pants. "We—we shouldn't have to worry about anything on our trip to Enies Lobby!"

The man fled the room.

"Such a cruel woman," Lucci smirked beside her, arms crossed over his stomach in a relaxed position.

"Worms like that have no right to speak of my family," Rowan snapped, unable to hide her anger despite her best efforts.

"But he spoke of your brother did he not? The younger one. The one who killed your father and brother to get into good standing with the Government? The one that sent you into exile as a child? Why become angry on his behalf?"

Rowan turned and found Lucci staring at her with a mask of stone.

He must have really though her stupid to fall into such an obvious trap.

Smiling, which really came off more of a barring of teeth, Rowan answered,

"His very name pisses me off. Kind of like your presence," and turned back to her window.

Lucci snorted. How he made such an undignified noise sound proper was a trick Rowan applauded.

Puffing Tom chugged along its tracks. Only the occasional coo from Hattori broke the silence.

The silence clawed at Rowan's frayed nerves more than any gunfire or explosion could.

Agitated, and look for a fight, Rowan looked away from her window and turned to look at Lucci's shoulder and the bird perched there.

"How are you not covered in bird shit?"

Rowan smirked internally at Lucci's eye twitch. It was subtitle but most definitely there.

"Hattori has better manners than some idiotic bird," he answered.

"Bullshit. Oh wait, no that would be him wouldn't it," Rowan chirped and looked back at Blueno. The massive man narrowed his eyes at her.

"You are surprisingly obnoxious," Kaku said from the other side of the car.

"Oh? Do my questions annoy you? How rude of me. I suppose I'll just have to change them. Tell me Kaku, do you enjoy working for pompous fools with no skill and no power besides what they think they have in their delusional world of grandeur?"

Kaku let out a pained sigh. A pout crossed his lips as he looked to Lucci.

"Can we not tape her mouth shut?"

"Or you could just jump off the train."

"Enough," Lucci snapped. Rowan rolled her eyes and looked back out her window.

When she began to tap her nail against the glass she reveled in the obvious irritation from the others. It eased some of her own frustration.

"We have a problem," the agent from the shipyard declared as he stormed into the cart. "There are intruders on this train." Rowan perked up and something like hope blossoming in her chest. Said hope was wrapped in fear, ready to be choked out, but there nonetheless.

"Intruders, you say?"

"Y-yes! That seems to be the case!"

"'In route boarding' is impossible on the Puffing Tom. If there are intruders they must've come aboard before we left. I'm amazed."

"I agree sir, they have no honor!"

Rowan's snort was painful.

"But by the same token 'in route departure' is also impossible. Both criminals and intruders are certainly still riding this train. Calm down and search for them."

"Yes sir!" The man fled the cart a second time.

"Don't feel hope, Clodagh Rowan," Lucci rumbled beside her. Rowan glanced up at him to find him smirking while looking straight ahead. "Our mission is now to deliver you and Nico Robin to Enies Lobby and that's exactly what we're going to do."

Rowan raised a thick brow.

"Robin? She's on this train?"

"That's right. In the car directly in front of us."

Rowan eyed the door but Lucci's dark chuckle had her looking back at him.

"If you'd like to play a game of cat and mouse by all means…get up." Rowan's eyes narrowed dangerously but Lucci just continued smirking at the front of the car. The look of…perhaps it could be called optimism, twinkled in his eyes. No, more like anticipation. That's what reflected out of his dark eyes. That and bloodlust. He wanted her to challenge him, give him something to do as they waited for more information on their intruders. And Rowan knew she wouldn't be the cat in whatever little game he was hoping to play. But…

"I'm no mouse," Rowan rumbled lowly. Lucci just smirked wider. Rowan snorted and went to cross her arms over her chest but settled on crossing her legs. She made sure it wasn't in a way that made any part of her closer to Lucci than it already was.

"We have a report!" an agent cried as he entered the car a short while later. "The intruders have disconnected the last two cars! With our men still on them!"

"The last two cars? How could you let that happen?" Kalifa demanded while standing up and fixing her glasses.

"I'm truly sorry but even Captain T-Bone, one of our primary fighters, got trapped in the disconnected cars!"

"What's the situation on the cars that're still intact?"

"As of now there are five cars still with us—"

"By the Kings, a government official that can count," Rowan fake gasped.

Rowan stiffened as Lucci's placed a hand on her knee. It did no damage, didn't even apply pressure, but a threat was clearly being made. She wasn't sure how she knew but Rowan was aware that if she opened her mouth one more time…there would be consequences.

Strangely enough she didn't care.

In fact, a little voice in the back of her head told her to keep going.

Usopp's face flashing through her mind was the only thing that kept her mouth shut.

"All the soldiers are down. The only ones left are Wanze in the fourth car and Nero in the third car. And you all here!"

"It sounds like the attackers are fairly strong; however, we have no need to fear for we have what they want right here. Aside from that, nothing else matters," Lucci stated causing the agent to wilt.

"Have you identified the intruders?" Kalifa questioned.

"Yes, there is a blond haired male in a suit, a long nosed man wearing a lame mask and who we believe to be Franky, so a total of three attackers." Everyone in the car perked up at this information.

'Sanji and Usopp?' Rowan wondered. 'But why is Franky with them?'

"I told you he would survive. But even I certainly didn't think Cutty Flam would willingly expose himself to us a second time. This is perfect," Lucci told the others.

"The other two are most likely Strawhats. Their goal is to take back Nico Robin and Clodagh Rowan. Franky must be helping them out for some reason."

"Lucci, should I go check on Nico Robin?"

"There's no need," he answered Blueno. Rowan bared her teeth in a fierce snarl as Lucci began to stroke her knee. She was going to get up, if only to try and put distance between them, but Lucci threw his arm around her shoulders before she could even begin. It was like trying to move against a steel beam. Rowan's stomach tightened with apprehension. She was strong, probably one of the strongest on her crew physically outside of Luffy and Zolo. But she had spent the past four years running not focusing on getting stronger. Lucci…Lucci felt like someone who had never run a day in his life.

"Just focus on apprehending Franky. They want to get their friends back. But that will never happen."

"Get yer arm off me, scum," Rowan snarled. Lucci, smirk still solidly in place and taunting Rowan to rip it off, leaned in even closer.

"What's wrong? Do I make you uncomfortable?"

"Your presence is an insult and you're more worthless than the shit my childhood horse crapped out. You have no right to touch me." Rowan pulled out her haughtiness look; the one Zolo had dubbed 'prince-ass' look. "A government dog like yourself doesn't even warrant my attention."

"And yet I have it," Lucci hummed. Rowan about jumped out of her skin when something pricked against the side of her face. It felt like someone's nails but sharper by far. If it wasn't for the heat radiating off Lucci's hand Rowan would have thought he'd just put needles against her cheek. Lucci turned to face her as fully as he could without either of them getting up. "Never call me a dog again. Or I'll skin the flesh off your pretty face."

Rowan opened her mouth, prepared to spit out a retort, but never got the chance. That was because a body flew in through the back of their car, destroying the rear in its wake.

Rowan only had time to blink before another body fell in through the ceiling.

"It's become so noisy all of a sudden," Kalifa sighed as she and the others got to their feet. Rowan turned her head and looked to the back of the car. She was instantly standing when she spotted Sanji.

"Are all of the escorting marines down?" Blueno huffed.

"Not like we expected much of them to begin with," Kaku shrugged. Rowan was blocked in from exiting the seat by Lucci who hadn't moved beside standing up and turning around.

"So these people are the ones who kidnapped Robin-san and—Rowan-dono! I'm here to rescue you!" Sanji cried out with hearts in his eyes and even getting down on one knee with an open hand. Rowan smiled at her friend's actions despite the sick feeling in her stomach.

"Hello Sanji," she greeted in turn.

"Who's he?" Lucci questioned as the second body that had come in from the ceiling started to get up.

"Koji said he's a new member of CP9. He knows how to use four of the forms." The man pushed himself up to his feet while coughing up blood and insults.

"You're dead!" he snarled. "I'm a combat genius! I'm going to kill you!" Rowan jerked as Lucci moved not having expected the man to leave her side. Lucci came up behind the still cursing CP9 agent. "Hey, new guy." 'New guy' looked back with a level of surprise.

"Ah, you must be Rob Lucci. I forgot to say hi. Just give me a moment. I'll kill him immediately."

"You're supposed to capture Franky alive but you let your emotions get the better of you. Forget it. You have three seconds to run for your life."

"Huh?"

Rowan's instincts screamed at her as something cold and bloodthirsty filled the car.

"3."

"Run for my life? From who?"

"2."

"Hey! Are you kidding me? D-don't do it!"

"1."

"Soru!" The new guy disappeared in a flash but he didn't make it far. Lucci also disappeared before reappearing with his finger slamming into the back of the new guy's neck, the digit disappearing into his flesh.

"You half-assed worthless trash. And you call yourself a member of CP9. You have to master all six forms before you can claim to be a superman, brat." The new guy's body slammed into the ground where it began to bleed profusely. "Kalifa, on the report put 'the new guy was too weak. He was worthless.'"

"Understood."

"These are the agents of justice?"

"They're way more evil than us," Franky agreed with Sanji while posturing strangely.

"What are you…forget it, I don't need to ask. Judging by how you opened the door, I know what kind of people you are."

"Ah, please excuse my manners," Sanji remarked, always the gentlemen. Rowan stepped out of her seat not liking Lucci's eyes being on Sanji. She didn't get more than a foot before Kaku was putting himself between her and the aisle. She glowered up at the slightly taller man.

"If you're here for Nico Robin, give up now. Her problem is beyond your understanding. There are some people in the world who are better off dead, since they were born only to bring misfortune upon the world. For example, there exists a sleeping demon capable of destroying the world. If there were someone with the ability to wake that demon, even if she were only eight-year-old we should still eliminate her for the sake of the people in this world."

Rowan couldn't really see Lucci around Kaku but she still let out a powerful scoff. Sanji echoed her thoughts with,

"And your point is?"

"What I've told you is exactly what Nico Robin original crime was. Now she's a criminal with a much deeper history but, before all of that, she'd already sinned by her very existence! Only her death can bring the safety and happiness to others. She has no choice but to accept her fate. She should have died 20 years ago but now, before it's too late, she must die for the sake of the world."

"Bullshit! Shut the hell up!"

Rowan saw Sanji's leg lash out and heard it hit against Lucci.

"But it'll probably take the government a few years to harvest all of Nico Robin's knowledge and experience. And then, after that, the woman will die in whatever horrible manner—"

"In your dreams!"

"Wait! Robin! Don't go in there!" Rowan's head spun on her neck as the door behind her opened and revealed Robin and a mask-wearing Usopp.

"Robin-san!" Sanji greeted with as much enthusiasm as he had her. "I'm so glad! Are you okay? Did they do anything to you? I'll take care of these guys right away and then we'll run away together!"

Usopp continued to bemoan about the difficulty of getting into her room but Robin wasn't paying any attention.

In a whirl of limbs extending from his body at the command of Robin's ability, Usopp was sent flying overheard and away from said woman.

"Robin-san! What are you doing?" Sanji snapped, barely curbing his aggravation as it zeroed in on a woman.

"It seems that words are meaningless to you people."

Lucci's laugh had shivers running down Rowan's spine.

"Franky! Cut the third car loose!" Usopp ordered, voice muffled behind his mask.

"Why?"

"To get away!"

"Get away?"

"Don't let Franky escape a second time!" Kaku ordered Blueno.

"Rowan! Get ready!" Said woman cocked an eyebrow but shrugged and braced herself.

"Did you already forget about your mother?" Kaku snapped at her, round eyes narrowed. Rowan's smirk stretched from ear to ear.

"Did you already forget you're not near her anymore?"

"Sogeking: Smoke Star!"

Rowan's eyes about popped out of her head when the smoke star was thrown to the ground and filled the car instantaneously.

"Nico Robin is coming with us!" Usopp's voice echoed through the room. Rowan fled the way Usopp's voice echoed from and prayed she didn't run into a chair. That would be embarrassing.

Lucci's sharp claws dug into the base of Rowan's neck, just below the golden clasp around her throat.

"I don't think so."

"I do," Rowan snarled, her one hand grabbing his wrist and pulling forward.

The smoke was clearing, allowing Rowan to see that Kalifa had caught the escaping third car with her spiked whips. Rowan's eyes narrowed on her but she didn't stop her motion of flinging Lucci over her shoulder and slamming his back into the ground. When Lucci was in the air Rowan lashed out with a leg and caught Kalifa in the side, launching her off her feet. The woman yelped as she sent flying, the force of the detached train car pulling her forward.

But Blueno caught Kalifa and pulled her and the detached cars with the others in them right back.

"Dammit," Rowan chuffed, trying to ignore the tickle of blood running down her neck from Lucci's claws.

"I think it's time we reminded you of who's in charge," Lucci said while catching himself before his back hit the ground. Rowan turned blazing eyes on him but before her mind could register what was happening she was sent sailing through the air. The air rushed from her lungs when her back hit the other end of the car. She didn't bust through the wall but it did cave in under the force.

"Rowan!" someone shouted but Rowan's head was ringing and she couldn't figure out who had shouted.

"Apparently the life of your mother doesn't mean that much to you. Such a shame. Kalifa, in the report—"

Rowan stumbled to her feet and flung herself at Lucci. Her fist sailed forward but Lucci didn't make a move to stop it.

"Tekkai." Rowan's fist met Lucci's chin but the man didn't even flinch. An attack that normally broke a man's jaw, if not his neck, didn't even cause the man to twitch. Rowan, on the other hand, swore she actually broke her hand. Fighting through the pain she swung her leg up and caught Lucci in the throat. Again the man showed no sign of pain or even having been hit, but Rowan felt like she'd hit a brick wall…only the brick wall would have crumbled.

"What the fu—"

"My turn? Good. Shigan."

Rowan's eyes went wide as Lucci's finger literally stabbed into her with more precision than a bullet. With her jaw hanging slack she stared at Lucci's finger sticking out of her chest. She could feel it move inside her with each breath, the appendage so close to piercing her lung.

"That the best you got?" she taunted despite the pain flooding from that area. Rowan smirked into Lucci's blank face. "If you hadn't noticed the scars, you're going to have to come up with something more original than stabbing me."

Rowan stepped back, Lucci's finger leaving her body, and brought her fist down at her side.

"Phantom Punch!"

"Tekkai."

Rowan's fist landed dead center of Lucci's chest and after a pause Lucci was sent skidding backwards.

"Here's your chance!"

Rowan dashed forward as Franky literally attacked Kaku and Blueno with a piece of wood from the other car.

"Franky! Rowan-dono!"

Rowan threw as many attacks as she possibly could and Lucci was now bringing up his own arms up to block and moved his body to dodge.

"Enough of this," Lucci actually growled before coming up with his leg and, "Rankyaku," slamming it into Rowan's unguarded side.

It felt like her ribs caved in and met the other side's ribs. Rowan was sent flying through the air, crashing into the side of the car where she broke windows with the force before crumbling to the ground. Unable to breath Rowan could only lay there and pray her lungs hadn't collapsed.

"Put her in chains," Lucci ordered. Rowan almost cried out when Kalifa and Kaku came over and lifted her up. "Cutty Flam, why are you helping those guys?"

"I can't stand it! Standing by while she keeps doing this and her comrades won't leave without her!"

"Who, exactly, are you talking about?" Franky only smirked before getting to his feet and bellowing back to the other car,

"Don't worry about me you guys! I've got a plan! When you meet up with the Strawhats get back to town somehow!"

"We can't leave without Rowan!"

"I'll take care of her!"

"Wait! I'm not trying to escape!" Robin's voice echoed over the howling winds. Rowan saw through her squinting eyes that Blueno was gone. In his place was a weird hole.

'Damn.'

"He didn't disappear. It's his devil fruit ability. He's able to make gateways through the walls of the atmosphere. The Doa-Doa Fruit's true worth lies in more than just the 'air doors'. Right now, he's retrieving Nico Robin."

"Franky." Squinty black eyes looked to Rowan who smirked. "Duck."

With strength she barely had, Rowan grabbed hold of the flimsy material covering Kalifa's chest and threw the woman at Franky's head. Before Kaku could react Rowan was slamming her shoulder into his gut and threw them both to the ground.

'Quickly. Before he can use his technique.'

Rowan's fist slammed into Kaku's face but not before he was able to use this damn technique. That didn't mean the man's teeth didn't rattle in his skull from the force of her attack. Snarling, Rowan threw another punch and watched the floor underneath his head dent. She was about to throw another one when Kalifa's thorn coated whip wrapped around her tighter than a squid. Rowan was pulled off Kaku, the thrones digging in deep, and sent crashing into another wall with a flick of Kalifa's wrist.

"I am getting tired of you throwing me around," Kalifa huffed while fixing her glasses with her other hand.

"Then gain some weight," Rowan snapped right back and planted her feet. Her arm twisted into the whip, ignoring how the thrones cut so deeply and freely. With a roar Rowan twisted and sent Kalifa flying for a third time. Jerking her hand towards her stomach Rowan stopped the woman's trajectory and pulled down. The whip snapped at her command, not as smooth as Kalifa's own, but Kalifa's body slammed into Kaku's who was getting up off the ground.

Rowan dropped the whip and turned back to Lucci. Standing next to him was Blueno and Robin.

"Well damn," she sighed, coming up out of her battle stance and glowering at the woman. "Seriously? You couldn't have run away with them? You? Miss-assassin-gets-away-from-everything-to-the-point-you've-been-escaping-the-world-government-for-how-many-years?"

"I've told you once, I've told you a million times, I'm not running away."

"First time I've heard of this," Rowan snorted. Her snort turned into a cry as Kaku returned her body slam with one of his own, both of them ending up on the ground again. They wrestled for a solid minute before Blueno came over to help along with Kalifa. The next thing Rowan knew she had a solid piece of metal around her middle, keeping her arm pinned there by a chain with links as thick as her wrist.

She, Robin and Franky were all tossed into the front car. When the agents left, Rowan flopped down in the seat in front of Robin and proceeded to get blood all over the cushion.

"Hey, hey, they said you helped kill him. Is it true?" Franky was instantly demanding from Robin. "Is Iceberg dead?"

"…no. He's alive."

"For real?"

"…yes. That's what he said." Rowan felt a tight knot in her stomach she hadn't realized was there ease up. At least that was something.

"So Iceberg's still hanging in there. He told me that he might die but…I knew he wouldn't go out so easily," Franky sighed with relief clear.

"It's very likely that CP9 intended to kill him. You should keep quiet about this for his sake. And you." Rowan cocked an eyebrow up at Robin as the woman had the audacity to glare at her. "You shouldn't fight them anymore. Or they really will kill your mother."

Rowan snorted.

"If you think my mother isn't on the first ship out of Water Seven after this, you're mistaken. She's perfectly aware of the dangers of who she is and who she associated with. She knew the dangers all too well. Why you think she's still consort and not queen?"

Rowan did her best to hide the bitter tone of her words. The woman had provided her family with a house when they had none. She should try to be a bit more…kind.

But then, that was perhaps the only good thing she'd done in ten years for Rowan, so she was incline to hold on to her distaste.

"So I get why we're here. I have the blueprints of the weapon and you have the power to awaken it. Then, the government has acquired both keys to the ancient weapon. The day of Armageddon, when this weapon finally emerges is the day when the Age of Pirates will end. Then the World Government will use its power to change the world to its liking. My master sacrificed his own life to keep the blueprints of this dangerous weapon out of the wrong hands, and from endangering the world. It's not enough for me to escape now. I have to get you back to the Strawhats."

"That's impossible. If I go back to them, I'll just put them in danger."

Rowan's eyes bore into Robin.

She still didn't like the woman that much. Not after what she had helped Crocodile do to Vivi. But…she had fought against Eneru. She had fought to the death with her crew on Skypiea. Had helped save a nation.

And Luffy trusted her.

But hearing the woman parrot her own thoughts that had plagued her for a decade had something like pity and guilt mixing in her gut.

"You're the only one who's in danger," Franky said before Rowan could find her tongue. "They say your very existence is a crime. But, no matter what kind of weapon you hold, that, alone, is never a crime! It's never a crime just to exist!"

Rowan spared Franky a glance.

Really if the man wasn't the reason Usopp was no longer part of her crew she could find herself really liking the man.

"But what I don't get is why you're here, girl."

Rowan cocked an eyebrow up at Franky as the man turned his angular eyes on her. Rowan pushed out her bottom lip in thought.

"Answer me first," she said. "Why were you helping my crew?"

"You didn't know me and yet you helped me back at my secret hideout. I couldn't let long nose go off after you by himself."

Rowan's lips jerked up into a smile.

"Thank you for that." Franky gave her a massive smile. Yes, she really could see herself liking this man quite easily. Such a shame he was a massive douche.

"Your turn to answer." Rowan lost her smile and let out a sigh. She sunk further into her chair, almost slumping. She eyed her pants which were ruined from the blood stains and fresh blood still soaking into them.

"I am Clodagh Rowan, daughter of Fiachra."

"What?" Rowan jerked at Franky's loud voice and watched warily as the man stared at her with an unhinged jaw. "That means—that would make you—that can't be! That would make you Trixie's daughter!"

"Trixie is my mother, yes."

"Holy shit! I had no idea! I can't believe it! There's no way—but I guess you do look like that red headed pirate!" Rowan cocked her head to the side in confusion.

"You knew my da?"

"Did I know your—of course I knew him! Asshole threw me into the ocean when I accidentally scratched his ship with a cannon!" Rowan wanted to snap at the insult but couldn't stop the snort of laughter. "Hell I knew you when you were in your mom's stomach!" Both Rowan and Franky flinched. "God's I'm old…" he moped suddenly, head hanging on his shoulders as he sobbed dramatically.

It didn't take long for Franky to get out of his funk though before he was smiling brightly at Rowan.

"Hey! This makes me like your uncle!"

"No."

"Oh come on! I remember you when you were still in diapers! Barely big enough to fill my hand!"

"Shut up!" Rowan yipped, her face turning a brilliant shade of red.

She hadn't had anyone talk about her as a child since she'd left Mihawk. It was a strange and horrifically embarrassing experience. Franky just laughed at her expense.

Said laughter came to a grinding halt though and Franky was suddenly looking at her with wide eyes filled with sorrow and pity.

"I heard…I'm sorry about your family."

Rowan's embarrassment was swallowed by an old heartache. It was strange because Rowan hadn't ever met someone who had known and liked her father but hadn't been there ten years ago.

"I remember Dennis…and Conor. When your dad would visit he'd bring them sometimes or they'd be with him when they brought your mom back to Water Seven. They were good kids…" Franky's words trailed off and his eyes fell to the floor. "I don't…when I heard what he did, I couldn't…Even Tom was shocked. Said something was wrong with the whole thing."

Rowan saw the mourning in Franky's eyes and felt something in her break. But she couldn't tell him the truth. Not only did she barely know him but they were in a World Government sanctioned car. Who knew how many den-den mushis they had hidden away listening in on their conversations?

But letting Conor's name continue to be sullied…now chafed worse than wet socks in new boots on a ten mile hike.

"You're right," Rowan told him. Franky looked up with confusion. Rowan's face was cold as she stared past Franky with a long yard stare. "I have a lot of questions and whoever is in charge of the most secret group in the World Government…they're going to tell me everything I want to know."