Speech! Speech! Speech!

Shanks sighed and sat down with droopy eyes. "I didn't know you were that strong, Dragon."

Alex smiled. "He didn't used to be. His fruit helped a lot."

Shanks looked confused. "What's a little storm going to do? We sail through them all the time."

Alex smirked. "Do you have any idea how much kinetic energy is produced by a storm? If you could reduce the size of one and shrink it down to the size of your fist." Alex whistled. "Ka-boom."

Dragon laughed and nodded. "Exactly. That's the exact reason I chose this fruit."

Shanks still looked a little confused.

Alex scratched the back of his neck while thinking of a better way to explain it. "Hmmm. Well, all you really need to know is that it's strong. Like, really strong. Just imagine that the power of an entire storm hits anyone he punches."

Shanks nodded his head. "Basically, he punches super strong, right?"

Alex sighed and nodded. "Well… yeah."

Shanks laughed. "Cool!"

Alex looked in the direction Jack flew off too. "So, is he coming back?"

Dragon laughed. "He's at the bottom of the ocean right now. And seeing as he is a devil fruit user…"

"Dead." Shanks said with a smile. "This is why devil fruits suck."

Alex chuckled. "So, since we won…"

Dragon finished his sentence. "It's time to party."

Shanks and Alex smiled and stood up. Alex tossed both Dragon and Shanks a healing potion as he drank one himself.

The three led the kids from the destroyed shelter to the marines base. When they got there it was practically empty, because so many of the marines had fled from the battle.

Of the people who remained Alex only recognized four. Sarah, Maya, April and Buggy were all resting in the tent after fighting with the pirates.

The trio left the kids in the safety of the marine base before heading out to the pirates ship and looting it.

They found a bunch of money, gold and booze. Lugh stored it all and they head back to the marine base in high spirits.

When they arrived the mood was good. The marines were all happy to still be alive and proud of themselves for winning the battle.

Everyone left had their eyes follow the three MVP's of the fight as they seemed to command an air of respect. The marine's felt like something had changed with the two boys beside Dragon but couldn't put their finger on it. Just that they carried themselves with a newfound confidence and pride.

Alex smiled at the collective group of eyes that followed him everywhere. He reached into Lugh and grabbed a barrel of alcohol.

He pulled it out and hoisted it into the air. "The pirates are gone!"

The marines cheered and began to hug one another as their victory sank in.

Shanks smiled and stepped in front of Alex. "Now, it's time to celebrate!!"

"Let's celebrate!" The marines echoed.

Alex laughed and Lugh spit out a few barrels of booze for everyone to share. Everyone grabbed a drink and started to laugh while emptying their mugs.

After a few minutes, Sarah stood up on the table. "Everyone!"

The group quieted down and looked at her.

Sarah smiled. "Let's have a toast, to the people who saved us all today. The three that led us to victory and the best marines on this island! To, Dragon, Shanks, and Alex!!"

The crowd exploded with applause and agreement.

"To the three marine heroes!" Someone in the crowd called out.

Alex, Shanks and Dragon smiled and clanked their drinks together before taking a sip.

"Speech!" Someone shouted.

More people joined in. "Speech! Speech! Speech!"

Alex and Shanks laughed and shoved Dragon forward, putting him in a difficult position. Dragon sighed. He slammed his drink on the table and everyone started to simmer down.

"First, I would like to acknowledge Alex and Shanks. They took down more pirates than I could count and even took a stand against the enemy commander, injuring him and making it possible for me to take him out." Dragon's voice boomed as he commanded the air around him.

The marines once again applauded the duo.

Dragon stood up and continued. "I'd also like to congratulate them on getting even stronger today." The marines looked around confused as Alex and Shanks smiled. Dragon didn't let the speculation carry on as he spoke up again. "Also, I would like to acknowledge each and every marine in this room right now. You have proven to be true marines, who don't back down when faced with bleak odds. You are all marines who have proven to embody true justice. A justice that protects the people and punishes evil. A justice that questions each and every action that you take and either deems it right or wrong. A justice that will stand up to evil because it is the right thing to do and not because it is the easy thing to do. You are ALL true marines!"

Cheers erupted from the makeshift base that were loud enough to wake anyone trying to sleep.

Dragon smiled and continued. Speaking over the crowd. "Even when our commander abandoned his post and fled, even when your fellow soldiers, your comrades, friends, and closest allies left you to die at the hands of pirates. Not one of you ran away! You refused to buckle under the pressure. You refused to allow the shadow of evil to taint your light, you stayed true to your roots and faced off against evil! Without you, it would have been impossible to beat the pirates! So be proud! And never stray from your righteous path! Even when you have commanders who flee in the face of evil, or yield and take the easy way out! Never forget today! Never forget the smiles of the villagers that you protected! The lives you saved! And the changes you made in the world! Just like today, when our commanding officer left us to die, rise up from despair. Never forget that the duty of a marine is to protect the people! And no matter what, never stray from the path of a true marine!!!"

The children who had been brought back smiled and laughed. All the marines in the building etched the scene into their memories as they cheered even louder than before.

"To true marines!!" Alex shouted with his drink in the air.

"TO TRUE MARINES!!!" Everyone screamed together.