I stood on the deck of the Going Merry, knife drawn, with William on my shoulder. I ruffled his feathers to calm him down. "It's ok buddy, we've got this." I could hear the shouting of the men aboard those ships, a mix of panic and dread. These poor soldiers were about to give their lives for a government that saw them as little more than numbers on a blank page. The Marines will have fallen so low. I thought.
"PIRATE SHIP DEAD AHEAD!" Was all that was coming from the ship in front of us.
The leading commander on the deck of the ship said nothing as his men scrambled to get the cannons loaded and pointed at the Going Merry. He turned to his men finally. "You call a ship a pirate ship with one person on board?"
"But, sir, there's got to be more on the ship than just the one standing on deck. I rumors are to be believed, that person is none other than the Shadow Kat herself. She can take down a whole fleet of ships by herself and not get caught." Said a frightened Marine.
Another one nodded. "They say she walks in the shadows and has demon blood. Other rumors go on the say that she sold her soul and heart to a demon."
I was soon joined by Luffy and Zoro. "About time you boys showed up. I was getting a little bored."
Luffy saw the ship, and his face darkened. "Marines."
I nodded. "Yep, and they seem to be scared shitless. Poor fools. The Marines used to be a part of the Military that men and women wanted to join to make something of themselves. To bring honor and glory. Now it's become nothing but a shadow of its former self."
Zoro's hand went to his swords. "If it's a fight they want, then it's a fight they'll get."
"Not right away. We have to see why they're here in the first place. Just by hearing the voices of the men on board, I can sense just how scared they are. Something is driving the ship to be in the part of the sea, and it's not greed or money." I looked at both Luffy and Zoro were itching for a fight. Both their faces changed. "DAMMIT ZORO! WHY CAN'T YOU STOP BEING SO IMPULSIVE FOR JUST ONE SECOND? WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU? WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO TELL OUR KID? THAT HIS OR HER FATHER DIED LIKE A CRAZY PERSON?"
Zoro looked at Luffy who just gave a nod. Sajni and the others joined us on the deck and also spotted the Marine ship. "What the hell are they doing here?"
Nami ran over to me. "Hey, are you ok? What happened?"
Hot tears of anger and fear filled my eyes along with all the pain that I had endured all these years. "No, I can't stand by and watch the man I love get himself killed while I do nothing. I am an assassin of the Order, and it is our mission to hunt down and kill all Marine ships."
Before Nami could say anything, I was gone from the ship with William as my eyes above.
Zoro looked at Luffy. "Come on, we have to make sure that Pretty Kitty doesn't kill herself."
Nami shook her head. "No, Zoro. This is her fight. She's doing this not for herself but for you. She doesn't care if she dies or not."
Zoro stared at her. "And you just let her go. ARE YOU INSANE? I'M NOT STANDING AROUND DOING NOTHING!" I looked at Luffy. "Are you gonna do something about this?"
Luffy nodded. "Provide backup."
On the Marine ship, there was chaos. Men shouted. "DAMMIT! SMOKE BOMBS! I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING IN THE MESS!" One by one, they started falling like flies. "WHERE THE HELL IS SHE COMING FROM?!
Once the smoke finally cleared, all that was left on the ship was the leading commander himself, who had his back against the mast in fear. "Please, demoness, I'll do anything you'll ask, just let me live."
I held my knife to his throat. "Why would I let a coward like you live? Do you see what has become of your other ships? Do you hear the screams of the dying men on those ships? Because I do. Because the others will be here soon. You and your men were right to fear the Order."
Out of the afternoon mist, the Marine ships that the rest of the assassins had confiscated arrived. A battle soon erupted between the Order and the other ships.
Back on the Going Merry, Zoro and the others watched. He smiled. So, this is what you were planning, Pretty Kitty. You had the Marine ships wait for your signal. He looked at Luffy. "Are you sure you want to provide backup? I think it's safe to say that Pretty Kitty and the assassins have this covered."
"Zoro, just because Kat took out the Marine soldiers on the main ship doesn't mean that their leading commander might not be dangerous."
Zoro nodded, and with that, he and Luffy sprang over to the main ship.