"Does the name Nightfall Pirates have some special meaning?" Annie frowned, puzzled. "I can't figure out what it has to do with you."
"Zehahaha! I can't say, Annie. You'll understand one day. By then, the whole sea will know my name." Teach only laughed, letting her curiosity simmer.
"Alright then, what about your ship? That shouldn't need any special meaning, right?" Annie leaned in, eyes bright with interest.
Teach tilted his head. "Hmm, any ideas? It's still early, but no harm in deciding now. Zehahaha!"
Annie propped her chin with one hand, thinking hard, her gaze drifting to the ceiling. Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
"It should match your crew's name! Something dark, mysterious. Like 'Fallen Angel' or 'Lucifer's Call.' Or, like the Roger Pirates' ship, the Oro Jackson...maybe 'Twilight Black.' Or like Whitebeard's Moby Dick, based on its appearance. But…" she paused, "…I don't know what your ship will look like yet."
Teach chuckled, nodding. "Those aren't bad at all. I'll keep them in mind."
He squinted at her. "Say, Annie, why so many questions? Do you want to sail too?"
Annie smirked. "Sail with you? Hmph! I'm afraid you wouldn't dare keep me." She stared at him, chin raised, radiating confidence.
"Zehahaha! My little princess, who'd dare stop you? Tell me their names, I'll settle it for you. On my ship, no one will touch you." Teach's booming laugh filled the shop. He tore a cherry pie in half with one bite, then devoured the rest in another.
"Please," Annie corrected, puffing out her chest proudly, "call me Queen!"
"Zehahaha! Very well, my Queen." Teach dipped his head in mock respect, eyes twinkling.
Annie's lips curved, secretly pleased. She leaned closer, covering her mouth with one hand, and whispered, "My father is a Marine."
Teach raised a brow. "So what? Just a Marine."
"He's a Vice Admiral."
"Pfft—cough, cough!" Teach nearly spat his tea across the table. He jerked his head aside just in time, spraying the glass window instead. "What did you just say?!"
Annie laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. "What's wrong, Teach? Are you scared?"
Teach wiped the glass with a napkin, scowling but the glint in his eyes betrayed his amusement. "Scared? Zehahaha! Impossible. He's just a Vice Admiral. But…" his grin sharpened, "…snatching away a Vice Admiral's daughter for my crew? Now that's an idea."
"Then why do you think I live here instead of Marine Headquarters?" Annie asked, crossing her arms.
Teach's tone grew darker. "Because it would be dangerous if pirates knew who you were. Vice Admiral Anthony must be your father then; as he is stationed on Seth Island, if I recall, must have made plenty of enemies. Anyone who hated him would love to use you as bait… or worse." His eyes gleamed. "But if he doesn't even trust Marine Headquarters, now that is interesting."
"What do you mean?" Annie tilted her head.
Teach leaned back. "It ties to an old incident. You've heard of Admiral Zephyr, right? Years ago, his wife was murdered by pirates inside Marine territory. Afterward, he resigned, became just an instructor. Zehahaha—an Admiral's wife killed under the Marines' watch! Laughable. That alone proves there are cracks in their walls."
Annie's eyes widened. "The Marines… like that?"
Teach smirked. "Doves, Hawks, Neutrals… endless factions, endless schemes. Even parasites among them. I've seen Vice Admirals making shady deals with pirates. But your father…" He nodded. "Anthony must be the strong kind. He wouldn't have lasted in the New World otherwise."
Hearing her father praised, Annie's chest swelled with pride.
"Anyway," she said, grinning, "if I joined your crew, aren't you afraid Dad would teach you a lesson?"
"Zehahaha! Annie, if you dare to come, I'll dare to take you. And if your dad shows up, I'll just beat him down." Teach leaned closer, his grin sharp as ever. "But if you're weak, you can't board my ship."
"Hmph! I'm not weak. My dad trained me himself...he says I have talent! If you're weaker than me in the future, then you can join my crew. I'll decide the ship, the flag, everything!" Annie's eyes sparkled as she laughed.
"It's a deal." Teach extended his hand. "I'll make my name on these seas. When I return, don't break your promise."
Annie slapped her small hand into his, grinning. "Deal!"
"Teach," she said after a pause, "are you free this afternoon?"
"Hmm? What's the plan?"
"Good! Then come play with me!" Annie bounced to her feet, excitement bubbling over. "Wait here, I'll change."
She dashed upstairs. By the time she returned, her blue headscarf was gone. Her long brown hair was tied back, and she wore a black skull-print shirt and white pants.
Fresh, cool, lively.
"Mom, I'm going out to play!" she shouted.
"Be back early," her mother called, stepping out with a warm smile. She bowed politely to Teach. "Annie can be lively. Please, look after her."
"Mom! Don't embarrass me like that!" Annie pouted, face flushing red.
"Zehahaha! Don't worry. Annie's a delight," Teach laughed, paying for the pies with extra Berries.
Her mother noticed the amount but said nothing, only ruffling Annie's hair. "Stay safe. Don't run wild."
"Yes, Mom!" Annie beamed.
"Teach, let's go!" She dashed outside, and Teach followed with a grin, almost like a proud father.
But waiting outside the shop was a dozen teenagers, standing in formation. The leader was a boy with the sharp features of the Snake-Neck Tribe, though his neck was shorter, clearly mixed-blood.
"Boss Mobius!" one of the boys cried. "Big Sister Annie's coming out!"
"Annie's Guard, prepare!" Mobius barked.
The boys lined up, bowed in unison, and shouted,
"Welcome, Big Sister Annie!"
Teach burst into laughter. "Zehahaha! Now this is interesting."
Annie, meanwhile, slapped her forehead. "These idiots… I told you not to follow me everywhere."
She sighed and turned to Teach. "They're all orphans and delinquents from the island. I beat them up once when they tried to rob people, and since then they won't leave me alone. So now they call themselves my 'Guard.'"
Teach's grin widened.
"Still, since they started, trouble around the shop has gone down. If pirates or thugs make a scene, they rush over and thrash them. Business has actually gotten better."
One of the boys wiped his eyes. "Big Sister Annie is the best. She fed us, taught us to work. We'll dedicate our lives to her."
Mobius stepped forward, voice shaking with emotion. "I tried to protect everyone, but I was too weak. Annie saved me, saved us all. Without her, we'd have died long ago."
The other boys shouted his name, their loyalty burning like fire.
And so, the 'Annie's Guard' stood proudly before Teach, proof of Annie's strange pull—even in the New World.