Iceburg.

Come next morning, we got up early, and got dressed for the day while I packed up all our things neatly.

Walking out in the early morning, watching the sun still rising in the east, on the seaside horizon, I stretched, and groaned happily.

"You sound like an old man already." Paige laughed, handing me a cup of coffee, and sat down on the wall of the orchard beside me.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She asked.

"Yup." I said, as we sunk into a comfortable silence.

"You know that's where you're supposed to say, 'Not as much as you, baby!' and put your arm around me or something." She joked in a thick eastern european accent.

"What sort of dime novels are you reading? That sounds incredibly cringe inducing!" I laughed.

She smiled.

"It does, doesn't it? But all my friends.... previous friends." She said, biting her lip.

Ah right. They must have turned on her after that kangaroo court trial.

"Well they liked it. Like those shows, Instant Match and Love Island?" She said.

"I have literally never watched any of those things." I replied.

"You're lucky. I had to sit through hours of dumb will they, won't they nonsense. And those egregious sound effects everytime drama happens! Like dudun! They make it sound like a life or death thing, but it's just the guy breathing before he answers the girl's confession." She giggled, her feathers twitching happily in the sea breeze.

There was another brief silence before Paige broke it again.

"We're just going to leave those girls aren't we?" She asked, finally.

"Unfortunately, yes. There are thousands of cases like them in this world. We can't save everyone. I mean I can, but it would take weeks. And I'm not some bleeding heart idealist.

Saving them won't make a difference in the grand scheme of things. It's a pointless effort." I explained.

"Not to them." Paige said, " It would make a world of difference to the girls. I know you can't save everyone, but can't we at least save the girls, the ones in front of our eyes?"

I sighed.

"Paige....." I looked at her, the morning sun reflecting in those big brown orbs of hers, and turned away.

I sighed again.

"We are on a vacation Paige. Don't drag excess weight into it." I said, finishing my coffee.

"I see..." She muttered, eyes downcast.

It felt ...wrong...to see her like this.

I don't know why, but....

Shit.

I took a breath, and placed the cup on the wall beside me.

"Fine. If they ask for my help, I will help them. But just this once. And only because I don't want you ruining the vacation by sulking about it all day. So don't get any ideas." I relented.

Paige swiveled her head, looking at me incredulous and her eyes lit up under the sun, a big smile spread across her face.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" She said, pulling me into a hug.

"Yeah....." I said, patting her back.

"You lovebirds are already at it this early huh?" Tattletale teased as she walked out with our bags, dumping them onto the floor outside.

"Jealous~" I teased back, with a smug grin.

"Yeah Lisa, you seem mighty jealous right now!" Paige added.

Tattletale rolled her eyes, and returned back in, while Clockblocker walked out with his own bag.

"So where to next, boss?" He asked.

"Today, we drop off Arlong's head with the Marines at Loguetown, cash in that bounty and then head for Sabaody Archipelago to catch a boat down under." I said.

"The mermaid kingdom?" He asked.

"Yeah."

"Why can't we just use your portal gun?" Paige asked, confused.

"Because I don't know the kingdom's exact coordinates. And do you really want to risk jumping into a misguided portal 10000 leagues under the sea?"

Clockblocker paled.

"No. You're right. The pressure would turn us into fish food." He nodded.

"There we go. So we go to Sabaody, ride some bubbles, have some fun, and then book a ride to our destination. Or, if we can get the coordinates for the kingdom, even better. You guys ready?" I asked.

"Yeah. Just finished checking. We didn't leave anything behind." Tattletale said, walking out with Star and Riley, both still sleepy.

"Papa..." Star lazily called out, and walked over to me.

I wiped the sand from his eyes, and picked him up in my arms before opening a portal below the bags, sending them back to the ship.

"Okay then. Let's get going!" I said, when Paige tugged at my sleeves.

I looked at her and followed her eyes to see Nami hiding behind one of the orange trees, twiddling her thumbs.

"You planned this didn't you?" I asked.

"What are you talking about? Plan....hehehehe no~" Paige looked away nervous.

I shook my head, and smiled.

"Well she hasn't asked yet. So we're leaving."

"Oh!" Paige realized, shooting Nami a glance.

I stood up, opening a portal.

"Time to go." I said, taking great pleasure in Nami's increased fidgeting.

I took a step forward and Nami's face went aghast, and she jumped up, running over.

"Wa-wait! Please take me with you!" She shouted, before her leg caught on an exposed root and she face planted into the dirt.

"Heh!" I chuckled.

Cute!

Nami got back up with Paige's help and walked back up to me.

"Please take me with you! I want to join your crew. I can draw maps....and..and navigate!" Nami said.

"But I don't have a crew." I said.

Nami looked between me and the rest, quizzically.

"You're bounty hunters?" She said, hesitant.

"Nope. Just catching a bounty this once." I shot her down.

"Uuuun!" She made a dejected noise, tearing up.

Paige gave me a dirty look, and pouted.

It was very funny.

"Hahahahaha!" I broke out laughing, as everyone looked on at me wierdly.

"Okay then." I patted my thighs, and kneeled down to Nami's level.

"Nami. Do you want my help?" I asked, lifting her head by the chin.

"...yes..." Nami muttered, embarrassed.

"It's nothing embarassing. Asking for help that is. It's completely rational to do so, especially when you can't do something yourself." I said, patting her head.

"Then you'll take me with you?!" Nami perked up, hope blooming in her eyes.

"Nope." I shot her down.

"UuuuuN!" She teared up again, much to my amusement.

"Hehehe..." I chuckled.

Just then Nojiko stormed out, standing between me and Nami.

"Don't bully her!" She cried.

I looked at the two girls, shaking in fear, when Star tugged at my shirt.

"Papa.....Can we help them? Please?" He asked, giving me the puppy eyes.

Damn. Star has been infected with do-gooder's disease!

I'll have to cure that affliction soon after we leave worm, or else it might become a problem later on.

But for now, I didn't mind helping.

It's not like it's any effort to me.

Besides, I felt pity for them too.

Maybe I'm not as cold as I like to think huh?

I chuckled.

"Sheesh. Fine. Enough teasing. Nami. I won't take you with me. But I will help you." I said.

Nami looked back up, snot running down her face.

"Really?" She asked.

Nojiko looked at Nami confused.

"Yup." I replied, "You too Nojiko. Come on."

"Wait! You'll just help us? Just like that?" Nojiko asked, ever skeptical.

"Yup." I said simply, opening up a portal.

"Clockblocker. Tats. Riley. Take Arlong's head and cash it in for the bounty.

If they ask where you're from, just say you're from Goa kingdom. And Tats? Don't even think about absconding with the money!" I ordered, throwing Arlong's head to Clockblocker.

He fumbled and caught it with both hands, stumbling into the portal.

Tattletale looked at me for a moment, conflicted.

"You're really going to help them, right?" She asked, concerned.

"Yes! Am I really that untrustworthy?

Seriously. The one time I try to do good, everyone starts to doubt me." I huffed annoyed.

Tattletale smiled, genuinely for the first time.

"Well if you tried doing good a lot more...." She said, trailing off as she jumped into the portal.

"I think you're a very good person." Paige said wrapping her arms around my neck from behind, planting a kiss on my cheeks.

"Yeah yeah." I dismissed her words and closed the portal and opened up another one, this time to Water Seven.

"Let's go. To your better life." I said.

"But our orchard!" Nojiko protested.

I picked off an orange from the tree beside me, and threw it to her.

"That has seeds, yes? Plant it somewhere when you're settle again. The orchard can follow you, but this opportunity to leave your old life behind comes only once or twice a lifetime."

"And our clothes?" Nami asked.

"I'll buy you new ones. Now come." I said, walking into the portal.

We emerged into the office of the Galley La offices, and found ourselves held at .....hammerpoint?

"You know that hammer will do nothing to me, right?" I said to the teenage boy glaring at me.

"Yeah? Why don't we find out?" He said, raising it high and brought it swinging down on me, only for it to crack by the handle and slam into his own head.

"Owowow!" He cried, falling onto his butt, as Nami and Star burst out laughing.

I smiled.

"Told you." I said.

"Go on then, kill me! But I won't spare you a rotten cent!" He cried out.

I raised an eyebrow, amused.

"I'm not here to kill you. I'm looking for a guy named Iceburg." I said.

"You're looking at him. What do you want?" The teen boy said, getting back to his feet, eyeing me warily.

"You're Iceburg? I expected more..." I muttered.

I suppose he is Iceburg. This was seven years before the story began after all. He was still a teen boy, probably just starting out with his company.

An idea sparked in my mind.

"You looking for funding?" I asked.

"Yeah. What's it to you assassin?" He asked.

"For the last time, I'm not an assassin!" I said.

"You're not with the mob?" He asked, finally taking in the kids around me.

"No. And I can get you your funds. On one condition."

"Go on." Iceburg said, relaxing.

"You take care of these two." I pointed at Nami and Nojiko.

"This one want to learn cartography." I rubbed Nami's head, "And this one just wants to grow oranges or something. Whatever she wants to do, you help her do it."

Iceburg nodded.

"That's reasonable. And the funds?"

"That depends on you."

I smiled and opened up a portal over his desk as molten gold poured down onto it, completely engulfing it, lighting it on fire from the heat.

I closed the portal, and opened up another one, this one sending a torrent of water over the gold, dousing the fire.

I turned back to Iceburg and found him looking at the gold, eyes bugged out.

Hehehehe...now that's a look I like.

"So what do you say?" I asked.

"I-i-i....D-deal! You've got a deal!" He cried, grabbing my hand thankfully.

"And I'll pay it back. All of it. One day for sure." He said, his eyes shining with resolve.

"No need. Just take care of these girls. Treat them like family. They've suffered a lot. Give them a good life." I said.

Iceburg looked down at the girls and noticed the beat up and dirty clothes.

He nodded, his eyes turning kind.

"You got it!" He said.

"Alright." I said, turning to the girls.

"Nami, Nojiko, take care of each other. And behave yourselves. Don't give Iceburg here a hard time, okay?"

"You won't stay?" Nami asked, grabbing my coat.

"No. I have work to do. But Iceburg will take care of you. He'll buy you all the clothes you like. And you'll be able to eat as much as you want." I said, kneeling down, caressing her head.

"Can I see you again?" She asked.

"Yes. When we grow up, we will pay you back! So....can we see you again." Nojiko added.

"Maybe. We'll see." I lied.

I was never going to see them again, in all likelihood. But I didn't want to hurt their feelings.

I may not be a good person, but I don't intend to lose my humanity in the search for power. Not yet at least.

"But for now, this is good bye."

I gave Iceburg a look.

He understood and moved behind the girls, as they gave me and Paige one final hug, and Nami planted a kiss on Star's cheek, sending a tomato red blush up his cheeks as he snuggled into my chest.

I got back up, and opened another portal, as Paige waved them goodbye.

And with that, we left them to their new life.

_____________________

Nami and Nojiko get a new life. Iceburg gets funding and the family he's always craved.

Only good things tend for the three from now on.

Meanwhile, MC does his one good deed fo the year and gets back to the vacation. Next time, Sabaody!

And the Celestial Dragon purge.

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www.patr-eon.com/goldenfingers