KNOCK KNOCK.

The sudden noise woke up Whitebeard, who was quite annoyed by the interruption. "Captain? It's me, Brice." His voice was muffled behind the door.

"Come in."

The door swung open to reveal Brice, with a worried expression on his face. In his hand was a small piece of paper.

"We've got serious trouble, Captain. A couple of our allies got shipwrecked in the storm. Captains Molly and Delap tried to navigate through, but messed up. They're stuck on a formation of rocks a few miles West of Meridian Island."

He handed over the paper to Whitebeard. The insignia of the Gerard Pirates, which was a wolf head on a black and red shield, confirmed it's authenticity.

"The Meridian Island...that's not far from here." Whitebeard muttered, thinking hard.

He would have preferred to go straight to Tournesol, but now they had to make this detour.

He handed the paper back to Brice. "Give this to Leonardo and tell him we're going South. Tournesol will have to wait." With a nod, Brice shuffled out of the room.

Great. Now the trip only got extended. He thought, and slumped back into bed to try and get some shut-eye.

Outside, the weather remained ominous, but for the first time in a week, the rain had finally stopped. It was little help against the roaring winds and the dangerously large waves crashing into the hull, but it was something.

"Alright, then. Are we all clear on what to do?" Captain Cotton brought her hands together, eager to get started.

On the main deck of the Cotton Pirates' ship, the three leaders of the Jackie Pirates stood in front of Cotton, preparing to face off against her.

Jackie opened his mouth to ask something from her. "Well, Miss Cotto-"

"No need to be formal. We're training partners now. Call me Sue." She said, absentmindedly adjusting her long black skirt.

He tried again. "Alright, Sue. Are you sure this is what you want? All three of us against you? And without a sword?"

She stared at Jackie for a moment, and laughed.

"No. I don't use swords anyway!" She said, raising her right arm and flexing her bicep.

Eddie scratched his head, unsure what to make of it. She wasn't all too muscular, so she was most likely proficient in Advanced Ley. But even so, attacking a woman with their weapons seemed extreme.

As they waited for her to say something, she cracked her neck and smoothened out her dress. "Alright, come at me."

No stance taken, no fists raised. She simply stood there, arms crossed across her chest.

Oh well.

In a flash, the three of them split up, Jackie attacking from the middle while Elma and Eddie flanked her from the sides.

Without hesitation, Jackie swung his sword straight at her head, only to meet thin air.

Huh?

"I'm impressed!" Her voice came directly under his extended arm, and her fist hit his jaw before he could even look down. "I thought you'd hesitate at least a little bit!"

As he fell backwards, Elma and Eddie tried to corner her, with Elma swinging the chainwhip through the air to limit the space for Cotton.

CLANK. In one swift motion, Cotton snatched the blade mid-air and grabbed the chain.

"What an unsightly chainwhip. You really wave something this big around with just your physical strength?" She asked, casually holding it above her head.

Don't forget about me! Eddie thought as he thrust his scalpel forward, aiming for a clean cut across her neck.

Without warning, something hard rammed into his ribcage, knocking the wind out of him. As his eyes lowered, he saw Cotton pulling back her elbow as she turned around.

Behind her, Elma was just inches away from reaching her. "So..."

"...SLOPPY!" Cotton cried as she yanked Eddie by the neck of his white coat, and singlehandedly swung him at Elma. The two collided, and fell to the floor.

She looked over them, eyes showing her disappointment.

Elma is strong, but lacks patience and awareness. The doctor is quick and agile, but lacks any real strength. And...

"I'm not done with you yet." As expected, Jackie rose from the ground once again, sword in hand.

This one has both their qualities, with a touch of arrogant persistence.

With a charming smile, she brushed aside her black hair and strode forward confidently.

"You three lack a lot, but you also make up for each other's weaknesses. It's refreshing, to fight someone capable in battle." Jackie understood she was complimenting them.

He didn't want a compliment.

That punch to the jaw felt like a hit from an iron bar. Her Advanced Ley is extremely well refined.

He couldn't even sense any Ley at all from her. This was completely different from fighting against Leonardo.

"What's with the look?" She asked, and it suddenly occurred to Jackie that she was only inches away from his face.

What? When? How-

He could only stand there in shock as she plucked a single hair resting on his nose. "Why do you think so much when fighting?" She asked, examining the blonde strand.

Jackie blinked, unsure how to answer a question he'd never been asked before.

"Hmm, such beautiful blue eyes filled with thoughts and plans and ideas. Would it kill you to make those transparent eyes black?" She asked, bringing her face close enough for Jackie to see her own raven eyes.

Speechless, Jackie simply took a step back from her.

"You know, kind of like her." Cotton said cheerfully, pointing back at the imposing figure of Elma behind her.

You damn BITCH!

Placing every single ounce of strength she had into her shoulder and forearm, she brought her fist down on Cotton's back.

BANG.

The sound of the contact was akin to a small explosion, and strong enough to send a wave of pain down Elma's arm.

Despite the ferocity of the blow, Cotton stood there as though nothing had happened. And not just that, but she actually looked positively delighted.

With that same smile on her face, she twirled around gracefully and kicked Elma in the waist, once more sending her sprawling to the floor.

"Did you see?" She suddenly asked Jackie, with her back to him. "Her eyes."

He certainly did, and it wasn't the first time. But now Jackie somewhat understood why. Elma's brown eyes...they had darkened just before delivering that blow.

As though she had erased everything in her mind and memory and used all she had for the attack.

Bubbly as ever, Cotton brought her hands together again. "Alright, then. I've seen enough. Elma, you did really well. Eddie, Jackie, you've got training to do." She said, practically shoving Elma away.

With hands on hips, she began circling Eddie and Jackie, observing them like a predator examining its prey.

"Jackie. Indecisive, eyes filled with thoughts that cannot be executed by your body quickly enough."

"Eddie. Quick, agile, and intelligent. Making smart decisions when fighting. But ultimately, not physically strong enough to impress."

She paused, and pointed at Eddie. "I'm afraid I probably can't help you."

Eddie stared at her, confused. "S-Sorry, what?"

She raised her hand and lowered it back forcefully to point at him again. "I said, I can't train you. You don't have the kind of eyes I believe I can change."

Jackie opened his mouth. "But we both have the same-"

"SILENCE! My decision is final." Cotton yelled, and rapidly moved towards Eddie.

Despite being a bit shorter, she had a presence that completely overwhelmed the anxious Eddie.

Looking up at him, she gazed deep into his eyes, her stare piercing through Eddie like a bullet.

After a moment, she smiled and walked away. "I see. Hmm, I'm a genius as usual." She muttered to herself, drawing the side-eye from the two behind her.

"You will go to the Captain Caine and request him to help you in training." She said, pointing at the ship to the port side of the Ivory.

Remembering the middle-aged man with the wide brimmed hat, Eddie was quick to agree.

For once, he preferred not train with a woman.

"It's a real shame, but I suppose I'll have to accept your decision." He said with a convincing sigh.

Son of a-

Eddie smacked Jackie's shoulder. "Good luck, Captain. I'm sure you can handle things here." Jackie could've sworn he was smiling when he left the deck, climbing downstairs to join Elma.

He had no time to dwell on anything.

"Alright, kid! Now that that's sorted out, I'm gonna be getting you into top shape. I've heard plenty from Borris already, so you don't need to worry."

Actually, that might be enough reason to be worried.

He looked up to find her face pushed right upto his own again. Startled, he practically leapt away from her onto the deck.

Thoroughly enjoying this, Cotton laughed. "Well first, you need to learn how Ley works, huh?" She asked, tugging him back to his feet.

Jackie shook his head, his heart still pounding in his chest. "Not really. I somewhat understand how Basic Ley works."

She sighed. "Well that's not enough, is it? You need to fully understand what it means to use Advanced Ley, and the concept of your Ley when the world itself is surrounded by it." She raised her hand in front of her and formed a fist.

Out of nowhere, Jackie felt a sudden burst of Ley emitting from her arm.

He could only describe it as a sort of thin string encircling her arm. It wasn't exactly that, but that was what felt closest to correct.

"Hmm, so you can sense it. You've clearly improved." She said, sounding rather cheerful now.

Jackie shrugged. "I can when I'm calm and not focusing on anything else. It's still troublesome to sense it when fighting."

Cotton grinned.

"Then let's fight to the death! If you die, you die. If you survive, you live to train another day." She said, and turned towards Jackie with her fists raised.

Oh no. I'm gonna die.