"Everyone, welcome to the Black Market!" Shanks announced as soon as the ship landed on a port of an unknown island.

"Wowzers!!!" Teddy gasped and jumped off the galleon.

The Black Market, as it was written on the sign in big black letters, was famous as the world's dangerous shopping district. Everything sold there was either to criminals or lunatics.

"We're shopping in the Black Market..." Teddy muttered in disbelief.

"Pretty cool, right!?" Araina screamed at her ear excitedly.

The House Captains formed their students into groups and gave them their school allowance before sending them off. "Meet at the ships by sundown!" Teddy heard Whitebeard's voice call out to his students like a thundering roar as they ran off to explore.

Meanwhile her group consisted of Araina, Law, Luffy, Leo, and Zoro. Luffy and Araina, being the most hyperactive ones in the group, were running around and being their usual loud selves. Leo giggled and kept an eye on them like a mother would to her children; while Law constantly kept scolding the two to act more mature in public.

Teddy smiled, her group was pretty fun. But with Zoro in the lead, she couldn't help but worry if they were going in the right direction.

When they climbed a steep hill a little ways off town, she heard Luffy laugh. "Oi, Zoro, isn't that the bookstore over there?" Luffy asked, pointing at an enormous store on the other side of the island.

Everyone remained silent and sweat dropped.

"I knew we were going the wrong way..." Law sighed in exasperation and started walking back downhill. Zoro tsk-ed at him and followed everyone back as Law lead them back to town.

They reached the store, which was big as a three-story mansion, and headed inside. Rows of dusty books lined the shelves that reach the ceiling. Numerous clerks wearing blue robes and name tags traveled around via rolling ladder.

One of the female clerks came up to them wearing a sweet smile. "How can I help you?" She said.

"We're students at Grand Line University. We'd like to purchase some books." Leo said and handed the clerk a list of needed books for their first year.

"Sure, I'll take care of it! Please wait a moment while I get everything." The clerk smiled before zooming off.

Teddy took a look around the store. Some of the other students were there buying their books as well. Others, more likely, were out to buy their other materials first.

She examined the genres and titles of books on the lower section of the library. To her surprise, she found some under the categories of murder and homicide. "Do people really buy these kind of things?" Marie asked quietly, standing next to her.

"Didn't you know about these books? I mean, you're an old student, right?" She asked the timid female.

Marie shook her head and pouted childishly. "I'm always bullied by Kid so I could never really relax and look around..." She admitted shamefully. Kid stood not too far away from them, casting quick glances at Marie's direction when she wasn't looking. A faint pink hue colored his cheeks whenever he looked at her.

Teddy noticed and smiled at him unknowingly. He quickly looked away and scoffed, embarrassed that he got found out.

"Well then," She said, patting the small girl's head in adoration. "Looks like you don't have to worry about him anymore, Marie. Kid hasn't started a fight ever since we came back from that crazy hellhole."

She smiled, despite her uneasiness upon mentioning the experience. That detention had to be one of Teddy's biggest fears now. Seeing how strong the ordeal guardian could harm Luffy and Kid, no doubt that there will be stronger opponents in the near future.

"I should really try not to get in trouble again..." She mumbled to herself dejectedly.

BOOM!

A loud explosion made everyone yell in surprise.

Smoke clouded the streets and some pieces of debris came crashing through the windows.

"What the hell was that!?" She screamed and looked around for her group. Marie began to panic as another explosion sounded right across the store.

BOOM!!

The blast of the detonation sent large chunks of cement walls and broken furniture into the bookshop. Teddy hugged Marie out of reflex to protect the small girl from harm. Zoro sliced the rubble that came his way, protecting the rest of his group.

"Teddy-chan! Are you okay!?" Araina gasped. She had used her DF powers to suspend any remaining wreckage, saving nearly half the civilians inside the building.

"Yeah..." Teddy sighed and let go of Marie, frowning at the large hole left in the wall.

A gang of strange-looking men stood out in the streets with malevolent grins on their faces. The blue-skinned man at the front, whom she assumed was the leader, had an odd saw-edged blade. He glared at the presence of people and, in return, they gave him fearful expressions.

"Guess we got another group of loonies this year too." Zoro commented boredly and sheathed his katana. Luffy laughed, earning a hard hit on the head by Law.

"Well this is known for being the most dangerous marketplace in the entire world," Leo said with a halfhearted smile.