Chapter 12: Raising Flag!

"Fly me to the moon~! Leeet meee play amongst the stars~!" Markus sang joyfully (awfully) as he danced with his crew. They all swayed with him even though they were always confused by Markus's choice of songs they couldn't say they weren't fun. He brought life to any party.

"Encore! Encore!" Harlen shouted while drinking some sake. Anderson helped bring food out with Rebecca as they both helped cheer Markus on.

"In other words~, please be true. In other words~, in other words~, I love you~~!" Markus panted but kept laughing in joy. He was having the time of his life with his crew every day being more fun than the last. He had already decided that the only thing that could make it better was more crew mates! "Onward my magnificent wooden water steed! Let's find more crew mates!"

The other laughed at Markus's antics but all gathered in a circle on deck to eat lunch. They laughed with each other and shared various outlandish stories completely oblivious to the outside world.

"This man is completely incapable?!! How dare some filthy insect compare itself with US?! Daddy! I want this man dead!!" Various complaints like this plagued Mariejois as more and more people learned of Markus's deeds unrest followed. Celestial Dragons were becoming uneasy, a little nervous and though they wouldn't admit it, a little scared of what he would do.

"He only just got the largest first bounty in the Blue and you want to raise it?! This will cause unrest in the seas!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku sighed at the marines complaining.

"We have too! The World Nobles are issuing complaint after complaint about us not catching this man! He even took out another Marine Captain! It's already been done. This is his new bounty." The Fleet Admiral slapped a few bounty posters on the table.

"BWAHAHAHAHA! The seas always find a way to stay interesting!" A large man laughed loudly while stuffing crackers into his face.

"That they do." An older woman nodded surprisingly agreeing with Garp 'The Hero.'

"MAMAMAMAMAMA!! How interesting! This kid really isn't giving up! I can't wait to see if he can make it in the Grandline!" 

"Pops! Another paper about that Celestial pirate in the South!" An ordinary looking man ran across a large ship waving a newspaper around.

"GURARARA!! Let me see that!" The large giant looking man took the newspaper and read it quickly before laughing again, "Gurararararar! This kid really is interesting! I wonder if I can take him as a son?"

"WORORORORO!! This kid took down an interesting beast! I wonder if he'll ever be able to take me down?"

"I truly hope you don't disappoint me. I'm very interested in where you're going in the future and what your ambition is." 

"Wubba Lub dub dub!! I don't even know what that means!" Markus downed a thing of sake and started dancing with Rebecca and Harlen while Anderson took his turn this meal to clean up. While Anderson was cleaning he noticed a seagull land on the railing and looked at him with its head tilted.

Anderson walked up and handed a few belly over before taking a newspaper. He waved kindly to the bird as it flew off before he finished cleaning and took a seat to read. He was quickly surprised when not only was his Captain on the front page but four pieces of paper fell to the ground. Anderson quickly picked them up and read everything before he ran to his crew.

"Captain! Captain!" Markus sobered up some and looked at Anderson seriously seeing him holding the papers.

"Whatcha got there?" Markus tilted his head as Anderson handed over the newspaper.

"Criminal "Blashmemer" Markus strikes again ruthlessly attacking Marines unprovoked blah blah defamation blah blah slander nothing interesting." Markus threw the newspaper aside, not even bothered before and looked down at the four pieces of paper in his hand. His face quickly morphed to a huge smile. "Ha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! This is magnificent! They even got my good side!"

"Blasphemer" Markus

Dead or Alive

100,000,000 Berri

"Dead-Man" Harlen

Dead or Alive

85,000,000 Berri

"Fisherman" Anderson

Dead or Alive

60,000,000 Berri

"Celestial Cook" Rebecca

Dead or Alive

30,000,000 Berri

"How is this good?! They got my bad side?!!" Rebecca grabbed her bounty and yelled seeing a downward angle picture that still made her look beautiful yet she was livid. "Can't those shitty photographers do anything right?!"

"275 million? That's quite a lot for just four people, captain." Anderson held his own poster looking slightly worried. 

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! No need to worry Andy! We're all pretty strong! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Come on! Let's have a party!" So they did. For another two days and nights they partied on their ship before running out of alcohol. 

The day after partying they spent some more time training. The three guys made progress in Haki while Rebecca was starting to actually dodge Anderson's attacks if not very well. Markus assumed she would unlock Observation after one or two good battles though she was struggling with Armament.

Markus was currently slashing his sword 20,000 times while Harlen stood opposite tanking each slash with Armament and Tekkai. Rebecca was currently sunbathing having finished her shooting practice a few minutes earlier. Anderson, having also finished his own shooting practice, was currently fishing off the port side of the ship. 

Markus suddenly stopped mid slash making Harlen confused.

"EVERYONE!!!" Harlen flinched while Anderson and Rebecca jumped before all turning to Markus.

"WHAT??!" Markus raised his hand and pointed at their flag or rather lack of.

"We need to make a flag and name our ship! Do any of you know how to draw?" Anderson backed away while Rebecca shook her head. Harlen stood there for a few seconds before noticing they were all looking at him.

"Uhmm I don't know?" Markus smiled and took a black flag and some paint from… somewhere and handed it to Harlen. Harlen was hesitant at first but decided to follow Markus's instructions. He was about to start when Markus started explaining the flag and Harlen swallowed. "Are… are you sure?"

Markus smiled and nodded, "Like a heart attack!" 

Harlen shook his head to think before nodding. He put a brush to canvas and started. Once finished he looked at his finished work with a meaningful gaze. Everyone was impressed with his art skills but were quickly stunned seeing the finished work.

It was a human skull with swords for cross bones and an upside down dragon hoove background. It was a direct ripoff of the World Nobles symbol.

Markus raised the flag with a smile and patted the ship's mast.

"I dub thee! 'The Sailing Dragon!'" 

[Ship name 'The Sailing Dragon' Registered! 

[Pirate Crew:

Celestial Dragon Pirates - E

Captain - Markus Lv. 82

Vice-Captain - Harlen Lv. 71

Navigator - Anderson Lv. 60

Chef - Rebecca Lv. 49

Ship - The Sailing Dragon Lv. 1

Increases all stats of crew members by 2%! 

Increase Crew rank by recruiting members and reaching higher levels!

D-Rank Requirement:

0/4 Crew Members Level 100/ 5/100 Crew Members!]

[Ship:

[The Sailing Dragon - Level: 1

A simple caravel that houses the newby, yet powerful, Celestial Dragon pirates!]

Markus was flabbergasted seeing his ship get added as a crew member before smiling widely and hugging his ship mast much to the chagrin and confusion of his crew. Markus gave his ship a kiss before walking away towards the figure head while his crew became even more confused.

The crew went about the rest of their day like normal with sightseeing and training mixed together. They pushed themselves as much as they could on their ship that Markus made sure was spotless. He had even written up a schedule on who cleans what and when.

They worked together for another week training and cleaning before Anderson spotted something in the distance.

"Hey!! There's some ships coming Starboard!!" Everyone but Markus walked over to the railing of the ship to get a better look while Markus simply turned on the figurehead to face the incoming ships. "Captain! It looks like a pirate ship! What do you want us to do?"

"Hmm… is there an island nearby?" Anderson hurriedly opened a map before pointing seemingly randomly into the sea. "So we're here… and… yeah! There should be an island about two to six hours straight ahead!"

"Then let's cut them off and stock up on supplies!" Anderson nodded and directed the ship to keep heading towards the island but as time went on 'The Sailing Dragon' slowly drifted in front of the other pirates ship. As they got closer Markus had them turn the ship and aim the cannons. As soon as their ship turned though the enemy pirates lowered their sails and raised their own cannons.

Markus smiled and grabbed his sword before raising his hand. HIs crew waited patiently before his hand dropped and four cannons were fired. Two from each side. 

Markus was already moving and quickly seemed to disappear before utilizing Geppo to stand in front of his ship above the water. Markus slashed wide with his sword quickly slicing both cannonballs targeting his ship in half. He landed on the railing and watched as his own cannonballs crashed into the enemy ship tearing part of the upper deck apart.

Markus tilted his head dodging a bullet before raising his sword and gently guiding three more into the ocean. Markus heard more cannon fire and guns from both sides but he continued playing defense keeping his ship and crew safe while they rained hellfire down on the enemy.

Within minutes the ship was starting to sink so Markus took a deep breath and jumped into the water. Almost as fast as a fishman Markus sped up reaching the ship quickly. While boarding he noticed Harlen had followed so he left Harlen to deal with the remaining pirates while he transferred anything he could steal to his ship.

Even when Harlen finished off the last pirate they spent almost an hour looting the ship, sadly only getting more than half before the ship sank. Currently the two were drying off on their ship as Anderson took stock of everything they took.

"CAPTAIN!! CAPTAIN!!" Anderson came running over holding a box half his size. "You aren't going to believe this!" 

Anderson threw the chest open and Markus was stunned. Sitting in the chest full of gold and jewels at the top were two distinctive fruits. A purple apple with red swirls and an orange pear with black swirls and a stem that looked like a bird's beak. Markus swallowed and looked at the two fruits seriously.

"For pirates to find not one but two fruits and not eat them? Cap'n what does this mean?" Markus shut the chest and locked it.

"They were probably to sell but since they are both here makes me think the person buying doesn't know what they are since if they were valuable they wouldn't have trusted some shitty South Blue pirates. Until we can find some sort of Devil Fruit Encyclopedia we don't know what these two are."

Anderson took the chest away while Markus considered what exactly to do. He assumed the fruits were acquired naturally and meant to be sold on the black market; he just didn't know if someone actually was waiting or not.

After securing the fruits below deck they continued sailing until they reached the island they saw on the map. Helium Island. A natural canopy of trees surrounded the entire island that actually produced high amounts of Helium. It was also the island before Strong Arm island. The Island leading to the grandline.

Markus smiled seeing the island and couldn't contain his excitement so he took a swim. He sped up and quickly landed on the island before he started inspecting a tree. He put his mouth up to a hole that was blowing air and inhaled. When he turned to face his annoyed crew that had landed and followed after Markus he started laughing in a high pitched voice.

"*Squeaky voice* Check it out! I sound like a chipmunk! Hahahahahaha!" Markus was about to take another hit of Helium when Harlen hit him over the head.

"You dumbass! Don't just inhale strange gasses!!" Markus rubbed his head sheepishly while chuckling.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I won't do it again! But you should try it! It's so much fun!" Harlen rubbed his aching forehead.

"As funny as it sounds I'm not that stupid so let's go find a crewmate or something?" Harlen knew exactly what to ask and soon Markus was jumping up with a laugh.

"Why didn't you start with that! Let's go!!" Markus started marching just for a fishing hook to catch his shirt and pull him back.

"That's the ship. The village should be this way, captain." Anderson sighed but kept a smile seeing Markus walk towards the way he pointed like he wasn't just going the wrong way. 

While walking Markus eventually slowed down before smiling in a way that, even though they couldn't see his face, his crew became scared. They all looked around frantically confused as to why their captain had become a demon before they all noticed something unnatural. Their captain was gone.

2500~ Words