Chapter 9 Hero of the Marines

Waking up with the sun shining on my face, I could hear sounds of construction going on. Stretching my body, I was relieved that it wasn't too badly damaged, thanks to my devil fruit I can regenerate my strength rapidly now more than ever. I was just slightly sore after the beating I had from yesterday.

Sarah who was by my side as I woke up asked in very quickly, " Mister angel, are you awake now?"

Seeing her worried face I couldn't help but feel a little sad for having her worried, " It's okay now sarah. What about that old man. Is he still here?"

Sarah's face brightened up and said, " Yeah, Grandpa is out fixing the houses with his people."

Nodded my head, I picked her up as I walked outside, and saw several of the marines with wooden planks hammering and repairing the houses. Looking around for a few more minutes I could spot Garp talking with Warner, catching up on some things and just talking about what has been going on the past few years that they haven't seen each other.

As they saw me approach, Garp stood up and stood about a head shoulder shorter than me, but still his aura didn't give off anything less than what I felt before I faced him.

Garp: " Boy. You are quite strong for your age. By any chance do you have any thoughts about joining the marines and continuing to train under me."

Hearing his words, I couldn't help but think about his offer.

" Before I answer, can I ask if you know a man name Gan Fall in skypiea?"

Garp gave it a thought before saying, " Is he the man I met in Skypiea with a weird purple horse?"

Laughing as I heard his question, " Yeah, that's him. Even though I was in a different part of Skypiea, I met him briefly when he had some troubles, and we became friends. Before I came down to this land, I asked him if he had anywhere for me to start on my journey here. I was a soldier for my kingdom before coming down here."

Garp grabbed his beard as he begins pondering. " We can really use your type of strength against the growing pirates that wonder the seas. Of course, the pirates that you have faced so far are basically nameless pirates, who only create havoc wherever they go. If you follow me, you can truly help those in need. We have numbers but it'll take time for them to grow."

Hearing his words, I look around just a bit more as I saw how comfortable the people of this island is in the presence of these marines and the presence of Garp. Although his aura is a strong one, it is also quite gentle and having a taste of his unpredictable tendency I was honestly, having trouble whether it is right to follow this man before me. However, I can tell that he is a good and upright man.

However, following this man will indeed be better than having a stagnant path of just wondering the seas with nothing to do. Might as well follow this man who fought for his people and showed care for the innocent bystanders beside him, although reckless as he did.

" Sure, I'll join you. But like before, if I see any corrupt officers like I did before, I will fight against them if they show their fangs onto the innocent bystanders."

Garp started to laugh boisterously, as he liked my answer. " Good, tell me more about yourself as we finish up repairing this town."

Even though he was the main cause of destruction, I couldn't help but rethink about my decision. However, it was quite enjoyable then a strict and biased person.

About a day later, everything was repaired, I stood on the harbor as I looked at the ship that I would be staying in for now. The ship was vastly larger than the average ship and had a dog shaped head with a bone it its mouth. Honestly, it was quite cute and funny for it to hold one of the strongest marines in the world.

Sarah now holding some kind of angel fingurine, looked at me with a sad face, " Mister angel... will you be back to protect us again, if something like this happens?"

Holding in a laugh, I smiled as I rubbed her head, knelt down and replied, " Of course. All you need to do is give us a call. I will be leaving now, I'm going to travel the world and help people like you who have no one else to call. But, you just need to give us one call and I will be there, wherever I am in the world, I'll come back and help you."

Stifling her tears, she quickly jumped and grabbed onto my neck giving me a big hug, as I in return gave a tight hug back, reassuring her of her troubles.

I turn to Warner and the other citizens who watched with a smile, " Thank you for everything. I'll be sure to return the favor someday."

Waner shook his head and replied, " No it is us who should thank you, for driving away those pirates and protecting us in place of what the marines should." Giving his last look at Garp who smiled briefly before rubbing his head.

The previous marine captain was already tied up and locked in a cell in Garp's ship.

Garp, " Alright let's set off now."

I nodded at his command as I put Sarah down and flew up and landed on the ship.

" I'll be going now. Just one call and I'll be back to help, no matter when or where!"

Just like that we set off and departed with a joyous cheers and calls from the people from the island.

While we were setting off, I saw in the far distance the pirates who still lingered on the sea nearby this island and the islands nearby. I flew up high into the air as I looked at this bottom feeders once again I held out my right hand as an energy orb soon appeared. Now that I am not on land, I don't need to worry about any destruction I might cause to the area. With a slight throw, the orb of energy swiftly left my hand and soon impacted the pirate ship that exploded into pieces, causing the ship to break down and the pirates on the ship were left to their own devices in the sea. However, I knew that they could not be left alone just like this, with a slight wave, I gathered them and brough them to the ship.

When they saw me, they looked nothing but terrified at my powers and didn't immediately step up to fight but cowered in sight.

They were swiftly unarmed and led to the jail holdings underneath the deck. That was the last gift that I could give to the islanders around here. From here on out, I will be joining the big leagues.

.... Or so I thought.

It's already been three weeks since I left the island and joined the marines. Thanks to some kind of sponsorship from Garp and my strength that I displayed; I was immediately promoted to captain. It was through this, I learned more about him and his influence that he gained from fighting renowned pirates from the days of the pirate king age. From the navy headquarters I was assigned to marine group that belonged to a high-ranking marine officer, vice-admiral Draw. He seems to have possess a high hatred towards pirates. I have been told to shadow him as a captain as rankings higher, one has to do more than possess strong combat abilities. Besides me, there was another marine who stood out, but she was of the lowest rank. She was an ensign and called Isuka. She was like me, who possess a strong feeling to protect the innocents from danger. 

It was this day that we received a report to handle a newly emerged pirate called Portgas. D. Ace. His pirate crew called themselves the Spade Pirates and their captain was called Portgas. D. Ace who possessed a devil fruit power; mera mera no mi fruit, also known as the logia devil fruit, that gives the eater the ability to control fire and have a body made up of fire.

He was a powerful pirate despite just starting out as an infamous pirate, and my mission was to either bring him to be taken or accept the position to become a shichibukai, a pirate that is in an alliance with the world government and help them control the tide of the pirates.

We were nearing a harbor to dock as we received sightings of Ace in this part of the island, so we docked and begun are searching of this pirate.

As we docked the ship, we noticed a ship with its own unique jolly roger, being a skull with flames on its head and a red spade in the background. 

" Spread out and began to gather information and look for Portgas D. Ace." 

It didn't take long before I head of news of Portgas D. Ace's whereabouts. It turns out, he was just eating at a diner, and I soon followed my men to his location. 

He was just sitting down at a diner and shoving food in his mouth with not a care in the world.

Honestly, how carefree this guy was. With a bounty on his head, he is still acting like he is a free man.

I spoke to the Ensign Isuka, " Send a message to Vice-Admiral Draw that we have located Portgas D. Ace." 

I soon enter the diner with multiple marines surrounding the diner and approached him as I sat down next to him.

" Portgas D. Ace. A bit of carefree that you are, coming to Saobody and eating peacefully like this."

Ace with his reddish orange cowboy hat immediately smiled as he slowed down eating. " What am I not even allowed to eat in peace?"

Small flames began to appear on his body he was getting ready to fight. My aura growing to as I also got ready to fight.