The Grand Line was calm. Waves sparkled under the sun. Fish swam in the clear water.
A pirate ship sailed slowly. Its skull flag flapped. On deck, pirates sang and laughed.
A lookout shouted from the crow's nest. "Marines are coming!"
The ship went quiet.
"What? Already?" a pirate asked.
Krog grabbed a spyglass. His black beard twitched as he frowned.
Ten miles away, a Marine warship sped closer. Its sail showed a seagull with a scale in its mouth. The seagull grew larger fast.
Pirates hated Marines in the Grand Line. Krog had robbed a merchant ship three days ago. This warship had chased him since.
Anger boiled in Krog. He raised his hairy arms. Veins bulged on his forehead.
"Crew, a Marine ship is ahead! We will take it! Show them the One-Eyed Pirates are no cowards!"
Krog stood on a barrel. He drew his curved sword, raised it high, and roared.
"Steer closer! Load the cannons! Get ready to fight!"
The crew cheered wildly. They grabbed swords and guns.
On the Marine ship, a black-haired girl walked to the bow. She spoke to a pink-haired girl in a white and blue sailor suit. Round sunglasses hung on her face.
"Lieutenant Karina, the pirates plan to fight back," the black-haired girl said.
Karina smiled. Her pink hair danced in the wind. "Even a cornered rat bites."
She lay on a beach chair, sipped a drink, and waved. "Xiangquan, catch them all."
"Yes!" Xiangquan sighed, then ran to the deck to give orders.
Boom! Cannons fired. Smoke filled the air. The One-Eyed Pirates' ship shook.
Soon, the ships were close. Marines in uniforms stormed the pirate deck. Swords clashed. Blood sprayed. Shouts and gunfire mixed.
A cannon hit the mast. The sail crashed down. Barrels of wine broke, spilling purple liquid.
Fighters fell. Blood and wine mixed on the deck. The noise was deafening.
In the ship's kitchen, pots and pans slid off tables as the ship rocked.
"Tch, what a mess," Nobita muttered. He hid under a sink, peeking at the door. His eyes sparkled with curiosity.
* I will meet Marines again, * he thought.
Nobita grabbed ketchup from the floor. He mixed it into a bowl of noodles. "Hope it is not Karina. She is scary."
Footsteps clattered on the stairs. A short-nosed pirate with a pistol burst in. "Nobita, get up! Marines are on board!"
No answer.
The pirate cursed, kicked a table, and yanked Nobita from under the sink. "Take this knife. Fight!"
Nobita shook his head. He pushed the knife away. "I wash dishes. I do not kill."
Blood stained the pirate's face. Corpses thumped above. He was desperate.
"Sit, eat noodles, then fight," Nobita said, holding up the bowl.
"You!" The pirate swung a fist at Nobita's face.
The pirate screamed, clutching his hand. "It hurts!"
Nobita shrugged. "I did not tell you to hit me."
The pirate glared, cursing. "You are useless!"
He ran to the stairs. Nobita's eyes narrowed. He threw a kitchen knife. It hit the pirate's back. The man fell.
"I hate pushy people," Nobita said, his face smeared with ketchup and noodles.
Two young Marines rushed in. "A pirate!" one shouted, charging.
Nobita raised one hand. The other fumbled in his pocket. "Wait, do not hit! Look at this!"
"Shut up, pirate!" The Marine punched Nobita's face.
Nobita flew back, crashing into a table. The Marine screamed, as if slapped by air. He stumbled, dazed.
"What was that?" the Marine asked, staring at Nobita.
Nobita groaned, rubbing his swollen cheek. Noodles fell, showing his pale skin. He held up a paper. "It is me."
The Marine grabbed the paper. It was a wanted poster. Nobita grinned awkwardly, his mouth pulled by slender hands. Pink hair peeked behind him.
The name read: Nobita Nobi.
No bounty amount. Just a warning from Karina, Marine lieutenant of the Grand Line's 170-175 sector: Stay away from this person!
The Marine gritted his teeth, raised a fist, then stopped. "You again? Get lost. Do not let me see you."
He left, rubbing his face.
Nobita sighed. He washed his face, stuck the poster on his chest, and walked to the deck.
Pirates and Marines parted as he passed. One Marine swung a sword but saw the poster and walked away.
Nobita ignored the chaos. He leaned on the ship's rail, staring at the sea.
* Where is Doraemon? Did he not cross with me? *