[A/N PLEASE READ!
IDK how many people will read this, but I've got some good news and some bad news.
1. Good news, I gave in and went back to chapter 16 and deleted when you said Zoro gave 'big brother' vibes. So many people were disappointed I just couldn't XD
2. Bad news, I won't be able to access my computer for like, 20 days, and when I do, I won't have a chapter ready to post, so I won't be able to post for a while.
Back to the story.
(a little bit of Love for Nami in this chapter as well ;)]
Duval's face contorted, giving us an unflattering wink as his group dropped us odd on the Island Rayleigh told us, "Well, see ya! Feel free to call us again anytime! We'll be at your beck and call until you safely set sail for Fishman island!"
"Okay! Thanks, you guys!" Luffy cheerfully responded, almost as if we didn't just run from a hoard of marines and an admiral was technically after us.
I kept glancing over my shoulder, watching for anything suspicious. I probably looked like a wreck, because Nami put her hand on my shoulder and gave me a pitiful look.
"Hey, (N/N), are you alright?" She used my shoulder to turn me to her and put her hands on my face, cupping it in her hands, "You look nervous. You know you can talk to me, right? We're the same age..."
She seemed almost sad, and I felt bad, so I put my hands on hers, surprising her slightly. I gave her a big toothy smile, a sense of fear still on my face, "I'm just fine. Thank you, Nami!"
She paused, staring at me for a second before turning around fast, putting her own hands on her face. I couldn't see her face, but she was mumbling something, hunched over. I went to talk to her before she turned around to me with a broad stance, hands on her hips, emitting confidence... through a very red face.
"Th-That pep-talk costs 100,000 berries! So y-you better pay up!" She barked at me, pushing a finger into my forehead, but avoiding eye contact.
"What?! I didn't even ask for it!" I barked back, now not as nervous.
"Too bad!" She hummed as she walked with Robin, our crew walking away.
I sighed a sigh of annoyance before turning to my right and left, watching my surroundings. I didn't see any marines or admirals, though I did see a swordsman walking in the wrong direction. I heaved another similar sigh and ran up to him. Despite his complaints, I helped him back to the building out crew was heading to while holding his hand.
We walked up to the group standing outside the door to a bar holding hands and as soon as Robin smirked at me, I dropped it, my face heating up. Zoro seemed oblivious, thank god, but I just tried to focus in on the conversation happening.
"Oi, Shaky! I'm back!" Rayleigh yelled, Hatchan still on his back.
"Oh, welcome back, Ray-san. That was sooner than I expected." A woman's voice said from inside, opening to reveal a laid-back looking woman with a short black bob and a cigarette in her hand. She turned to Luffy, "I'm impressed you managed to find him, Monkey-chan."
'M-Monkey-chan?!'
"Ol' Hatchi's been seriously hurt. We need to get him into a bed." Rayleigh said, a slightly grim expression on his face. The lady, who I assume is Shakky, showed immediate distress and said she would get a bed ready. I was standing in between Robin and Rayleigh, in front of the door as I saw Luffy look at Rayleigh.
"Oh, you said you had something to tell me, old guy..." Luffy asked. Rayleigh just looked at him, probably thinking about something before walking inside, making a big build up towards what he was going to say, which- "EH?! ON THE PIRATE KING'S SHIP?!"
"Yes. I'm Silvers Rayleigh, The ship's vice captain. Nice to meet you." Rayleigh poured himself a glass as we were all inside the bar, Hatchi resting safely.
"Vice captain?!" {Sanji, Nami, Franky]
Usopp spit his drink, shocking me. Even so, I giggled slightly. I knew he looked familiar, and no wonder he said that about my dad. My dad and him were good friends. I met Rayleigh when I was very young, young enough to almost forget. He probably spit his drink out at the stage in shock of how much I've grown. I'm shocked he recognized me.
I was sitting at the Bar next to Rayleigh, who was next to Brook. Cammie, Pappagu, and Chopper were with Hatchi on a makeshift bed on one of the bar's tables, and the rest of the crew minus Zoro was on a curved couch next to the bar. Zoro was sitting opposite the room to the crew, on the other side at a table.
Oh... and Luffy was raiding the fridge...
"You didn't tell them, Hatchan?" [Shakky]
"Well, we just needed the coating for the ship, so..." [Hatchan]
"Oh? You didn't realize it?" [Robin]
"Oh! I know his name so well!" [Usopp, crying]
"It's in so many books!" [Nami, also crying]
"It's definitely a name everyone hears at least once..." [Sanji]
"Gold Roger... I seem to vaguely recall a rookie named that a long time ago, but I'm not sure..." [Brook]
"R-Rookie?! H-How old are you?!" [(Y/N)]
"Rude!" [Brook]
"How do such a big-shot and an octopus know each other?" [Zoro]
"Hatchi rescued me over 20 years ago, when I was stranded in the sea." [Rayleigh]
"He saved his life. He was still a child at the time, though." [Shakky]
"Hatchi and I remained close after that, until he joined the Sun Pirates." [Rayleigh]
"You mean Arlong, right?" [Luffy, stuffing his face]
'Arlong?'
"Still... Even though Gold Roger was executed 22 years ago, you didn't get your head chopped off for being vice captain? The navy caught the entire crew, didn't it?" [Sanji]
'Oh boy... On one hand, my dad could be dead, but on the other, Rayleigh is alive, and my dad is strong. Why wouldn't my dad be alive?'
The room got tense after that, with a brief moment of silence before I noticed Rayleigh smile.
"We weren't caught." [Rayleigh]
That gave everyone a little shock. Even me.
"Roger turned himself in." [Rayleigh]
THAT gave everyone an even BIGGER shock. I was stunned to silence, as were a lot of my crewmembers as I just stared at Rayleigh.
"The government might've made it sound like they had caught him as a way to show it's power, though." [Rayleigh]
"The King of the Pirates turned himself in?! Why?!" [Nami]
There was another silence. Not as tense as the last one, but full of anxiety and anticipation. Shakky smiled with her eyes closed as Rayleigh smiled with her.
"Because we saw an end to our journey." [Rayleigh]
"About four years before the day of his public execution, Roger caught a fatal illness. Not even Roger could avoid the suffering that this terminal, incurable disease brought. But, there was one man to cure the ease of his suffering: a man at the Twin Capes named Crocus, who was the most respected lighthouse keeper and doctor in the sea. We asked for his help and brought him on as ship doctor for our last voyage." [Rayleigh]
'Oh, Crocus. I think that was the guy that gave the Straw hats the first Logpose... He takes care of Laboon!'
"Finally, three years later, while managing to escape death, Roger achieved what was said to be impossible: He conquered the Grand Line." [Rayleigh]
Rayleigh looked up and made eye contact with Luffy, who was still raiding the fridge, but Luffy didn't break the contact. In fact, he looked almost nervous.
"C-C-C-C-Crocus-san?! At the Twin Capes?! Oh, that brings back memories!" [Brook]
"Huh?! That old guy wasn't there for 50 years straight?! He was a member of the pirate king's crew...?" [Usopp, slightly offended]
"So, he was a pirate for almost three years then?" [Nami]
"The fact that you've met him must mean that he's still doing well! Crocus agreed to come aboard because there was a certain group of pirates he wanted to look for." [Rayleigh]
"Brook! It was you guys he set out to find, no doubt about it!" [Usopp]
"C-Crocus-san...! You even went to such lengths..." [Brook]
"He was only a crew member for three years, but he was unquestionably one of us!" Rayleigh looked at his drink, "At this age, it'd be great to see him again."
Sanji put his cigarette out, "So, what happened after he conquered the sea?"
Rayleigh stayed silent before averting his gaze from anyone, "That's where it all began. The world started calling Roger, "King of the Pirates." He hadn't been the King of the Pirates the entire time before of anything," He paused, pouting his drink, "Titles hold no meaning for a man about to die. But Roger was overjoyed. He loved doing everything in a flashy way. Whether is was celebrating or fighting... He even seemed to enjoy thinking about a plan for the future, even though he wouldn't be a part of it."
I could feel slight tears in the corners of my eyes. That's very noble, and it reminds me of something Luffy would do. I could also hear a slight bit of pain in his voice, even though he was smiling.
"Eventually, as per captain's orders, the crew was secretly disbanded. One by one, everyone discreetly left," Rayleigh glanced at me for a brief moment, before looking back as his drink, "As comrades, we all risked out lives together, But I know almost nothing about where they ae or what they're doing."
I felt a little of my hope go down.
'I was planning on asking him about my dad. Well even if he doesn't know where he is now, I'm sure he knows at least how he was then.'
"They, about a year after we disbanded, Roger turned himself in and got arrested. It was then announced that he would be publicly executed. It was announced the execution would happen in Logue town, the place Roger was born in the East Blue."
The mood of the room seemed to get slightly grimmer by the second "The entire world's attention was on the Pirate King's execution. I didn't attend it. The final words he said went like this:" Rayleigh's head fell, his hand still holding his drink.
"I'm not going to die, partner..."
"The world government and the Navy must've been shocked. With only one last remark from Roger, the public execution meant to serve as an example to other pirates instead became an opening ceremony of the Great Pirate Era! In his last few seconds, he changed the dim flame of his life to a hellfire that spread across the world!" [Rayleigh]
'That must've been the flashy ending Roger was hoping for! Talk about changing fate...' I thought to myself, smiling slightly.
"I've never laughed as much as I did that night. Nor have I ever cried as much...
...or drank as much as I did on that night...
...Our captain lived one hell of a life!" Rayleigh finished, and left us all in stunned, comfortable silence.
Luffy seemed ecstatic, on the edge of his seat as he sat in front of the open fridge.
"It's like we just heard something incredible!" Nami said breathlessly, "It's almost like a different story, hearing it from someone who was there!..."
"The it's almost as it Roger created the Great Pirate Era on Purpose!" Usopp said nervously.
"That... we still can't say." Rayleigh responded with a smile.
'D-Does that mean he knows and just won't tell us, or he doesn't know...'
"Roger is dead. Only the people living now can create this Era." Rayleigh finally lifted his head and turned to the crew, lifting up his bottle, almost as a toast, "I'm certain there are people who inherited something from Roger on that day in town square."
'Right. A lot of big names must've been there. Roger's friends, enemies, and maybe my dad...'
"You're good friend, Shanks, must've been one of them!" Rayleigh looked to Luffy as Luffy raised a brow.
"Eh? You know Shanks, old man?" Luffy asked his face full.
"Have you also heard of a guy named Buggy?" [Rayleigh]
"Buggy..." [Nami, Zoro]
"The two of them were apprentices on our ship." [Rayleigh]
"Eh?! Shank's was on the Pirate King's ship?!" [Luffy]
"What? He didn't tell you about that? I ran into him on these islands about 10 years ago, and he'd lost his trademark straw hat, along with his left arm." [Rayleigh]
"H-His arm?!..." [(Y/N)]
Luffy covered his mouth, shocked, like he was trying to hide something.
"When I asked him what happened, he cheerfully spoke about you." [Rayleigh]
Luffy got quiet and finished his food while Raleigh relived an old memory of Shanks to us. Apparently, Luffy said something similar to what Roger said, and Shanks sort of 'deemed him worthy'. Rayleigh has wanted to meet Luffy ever since.
Luffy chucked, a large smile plastered on his face, as he pulled the edges of his straw hat down over his face, as he mumbled, "Shanks!"
'He looks like a teenager with a crush... I've never seen Luffy act this way!...'
"I'm afraid I can't, in good mind, babble on about things Shank's hasn't told you. In any case, you've done well to come this far! I'm sure he's eagerly waiting for you in the New World!" [Rayleigh]
"Really? Do you think so?! I can't wait to see him too!" [Luffy]
Rayleigh turned to me, and I felt my heart squeeze from nervousness, "Ands I'm sure your father is waiting for you as well!" Rayleigh gave the biggest smile so far.
...
"Oh, I didn't-" [(Y/N)]
"EH?!" [Straw Hats]
I got dizzy as Luffy shook me around, "OI, (Y/N), WHAT DOES HE MEAN 'YOUR DAD'?!"
"(Y/N), You're dad is alive?!" [Nami]
"WHAT?! (Y/N) HAS A DAD?!" [Usopp, Chopper]
I shoved Luffy off of me and stood up, turning to all of my crew, "I didn't feel it necessary to tell you. The only one who knows is Robin," I pointed at her as she got betrayed looks from the rest of the crew, "But, my dad is Waylen (L/N). He was on Roger's crew."
Luffy hopped the counter and wrapped himself sound my torso, "Wow! Someone on my crew is related to someone of Roger's!" He was practically giggling. I shoved him off of he as he just stood next to me, his arms wrapped around my arm more times than I could count.
I felt some people about to ask questions, so I decided to change the topis, "Now then, let's get down to business. Rayleigh, we wanted out ship coated, remember?"
He stood up and faced me, "Oh, that's right. I should get back to y real work anyway." Rayleigh said it's free of cost and the crew seemed excited, thankfully taking he attention off of my dad.
"I don't know why, but he's doing it for free!" [Usopp]
"We appreciate it! You're one generous guy!" [Sanji]
"It sounds like we just saved tons of money!" [Nami]
"Rayleigh-san. I have a question! What exactly is the "Will of D"? Roger's name was engraved in ancient writing on a Ponyglyph (Y/N) and I saw on Sky island. How is he able to use that writing?! Do you people know what happened to the world during the Blank century that happened over 900 years ago?!" [Robin]
"Yes. We know. We learned the entirety of history. But, Miss. You musn't be hasty. Continue to move forward one step at a time on your own ship. We– and Ohara– might have hurried a bit too much. Even if I told you everything about history right here, you still wouldn't be able to do anything as you are right now. Once you've taken the time to see the world, it's possible that you'll be led to a different answer than we were. But, if you still insist on hearing it, I can tell you everything about this world right now." [Rayleigh]
"No, I'll pass. I'll continue on my journey." [Robin]
"It will all come into sight someday. I'm sorry for what happened to your homeland of Ohara. However, Roger didn't decipher that writing! We're pirates. We don't have the intellectual of a genius like Clover from the School of Ohara. He heard the voice of the universe, that's all!" [Rayleigh]
"Woah, are you sure, Robin?! Are you sure you didn't just pass up an incredible chance?! U-Um, old guy! There's one more thing I wanna ask! The legendary great treasure, the One piece! Is it really–" [Usopp]
"USOPP!" [Luffy]
Luffy let go of my arm and leapt onto the counter, scaring Usopp so bad he fell down.
"I don't wanna know where the treasure is! I don't wanna know i the treasure exists or not! We've all put out lives on the line and set off to sea, even though we don't know anything! I'd rather give up on being a pirate than have the old guy tell us stuff now! I won't go on a boring adventure!" [Luffy]
Usopp seemed as it it clicked, and stood up, sweating.
"S-S-Sorry! I knew that! But it just slipped from my mouth... I-I don't wanna know either! Oh, I forgot! I have the "I'll die if I learn anything about the One Piece" disease! Hold on, old guy! Don't say anything!" [Usopp]
'It's almost like he's trying to convince himself more than Luffy...'
Rayleigh was talking to Luffy and I got tapped on the shoulder by Shakky, and she pulled me towards the back area of the bar, not without the glance of a suspicious swordsman.
We walked into a small, almost Supply closet looking room, with a small lightbulb with a string attached. She turned on the light and shut the door behind us. She leaned against the door and looked at me, putting her cigarette out, "So, you're crew didn't know about your father?"
She asked me so suddenly, I got nervous, "W-Well, yeah... I didn't see any reason for them to know..."
She smiled at me, "Would you like to know a little about your dad?"
"Y-Yes please!"
She smiled kindly and went to a shelf in the room, shuffling though books and papers, until she appeared on a burnt orange one, covered end to end in dust. She blew it off, causing me to cough, and she handed it to me.
I glanced at the book as she rested her hand on the Doorknob, "You're father was a good man, a handsome one at that. He'd never let a crewmember go alone, and always took precautions whenever something was going to happen. Knowing Roger for only a week before joining his crew, your father left nothing to chance, and planned for everything." She looked at me, "From what I've heard, you're the same way."
I smiled bashfully, a tint of pink on my cheeks, "S-Sort of... Sometimes i get in the heat of the moment, and it's difficult for me to keep my cool and think of a new plan."
"It takes time." She looked to the wall, where if the wall wasn't there, she'd be looking at Rayleigh, "Rayleigh left out a key point in his story. When Roger was executed, our Father was with Rayleigh, and cried, laughed, and drank more than before. They reminisce and thought about the good days. That book was something left by your father, as he aimed for you to somehow get a hold of it. It's been here for about 10 years, unmoving."
I swallowed had as looked at the book.
"I'll let you keep it, and read a little now." She said as she left, and I caught the glance of a confused Brook and Zoro.
The door had shut and I was now alone, looking at the book in my hands. It was a plain torn leather cover, but there was only one thing on it, in the bottom corner of the cover.
'Property of Waylen (L/N)'
I turned to the first page and saw a date, before slamming it shut at the realization.
"T-This... this is my dad's diary!" I whispered to myself, "I wish I could read it al now, but let's just read the first entry and rejoin the crew..."
"This first entry is from 15 years ago, I think I was three..." I mumbled to myself.
~~~In the Book~~~
(Date): I was in my shop, building log poses along with tinkering with some ship designs. My daughter was sitting with me, though too young to cause a ruckus, was simply resting in a chair, examining the shop.
When the bell on the door rang, I turned my attention to the group who walked inside.
My daughter glanced over to the three men, and when the main man saw her, he smiled, his crew now walking past her to the counter.
The first man was a rather tall and well build, with messy black hair and classic mustache. He was wearing a red cape with gold epaulettes and had a unbuttoned pink shirt on. His pants were a darker yellow, and he had brown boots, but the most noticeable thing about the man was the large golden sword handle on his waist.
After seeing that, I got on my guard. It was clear this man was a pirate, and the two with him must've been on his crew.
The next man was older than the main man, having slick back blonde hair and a small goatee, in a purple robe with a green cloth at his waist, also holding up a sword. The man had thin glasses with a scar over his right eye, permanently holding it shut. He had light purple pants on and the same brown boots as the first man.
The last man was drastically different from the other two. He was an unproportionate Fish man, with a round yellow top, with a fluffy white beard and small blue shirt, to tiny legs, with brown pants and jet black shoes. The only thing that stuck out about him was a red tattoo of a sun on his arm.
I crossed my arms as the walked up to the counter. I figured these men aren't looking for trouble, as I sensed no violence in their auras. But, they were pirates, so I decided to activate Observation Haki, and I could tell they noticed immediately, meaning they're strong, as they stopped halfway across the store.
"My, my, my!" The man in red said, and the man in purple chuckled.
They walked up to the counter as the man in red spoke, "I never expected a shopkeeper to know Haki! That's some skill!" He bellowed a laugh and made it to the counter, leaning on it, as I sat back in my stool.
"Well, bein' a navigator for the damned marines has it's perks." I said, rubbing my fingers as a sign for money, and the man in red laughed again.
"Hey, you should join my crew!"
I was struck. Me? Be a pirate? Never. Not with my daughter here.
I glanced at my daughter, which didn't go unnoticed by the man in purple, as he followed my eyes to the girl sitting in the corner.
I had quit my job as a marine Navigator for my daughter, as I fell in love with a woman through the Marine's connections. Though, the love didn't last long once my daughter was born.
Serenity wanted a boy to carry on her 'legacy' and inheritance, and took it out on our daughter, which is what caused most of the arguments to start.
The man in purple walked over to the little girl and kneeled in front of her as she got off her chair.
"What's you're name?" He asked with a kind voice, giving his hand to shake, setting me slightly at ease.
My daughter got nervous and warily took his hand with both of hers, going up and down.
"(Y/N)..." She said so quietly I almost didn't hear. She has never made many friends, as she's too shy. The only friend she has is Princess Vivi and some of the maids in the royal palace here in Alabasta.
"That's a gorgeous name. So, is this your dad?" The man asked her, and she nodded, holding her book close.
She has always been smart, after all, she's almost four and reading books, novels, and anything she can get her hands on on her own.
That's how she met Princess Vivi in the first place.
She nodded and I called her over.
She went in the back as I told her to get some tea, and once she left, I asked the men if they needed anything specific.
"So, what can I do for you?" [Waylen]
"We need a worthy man." [Purple man]
"Oh?" [Waylen]
"Yes. A Navigator." [Red man]
And that's where the journey began.
~~~Out of book~~~
I shut the book, absolutely star struck!
'This really is my dad! And I was right, I really did meet Roger, Rayleigh, and Tom as a kid! The only upsetting part about this is that this confirms my mother being the Celestial Dragon, Lady Serenity (L/N). But, why did she leave to marry a pirate, and more importantly, why did she leave me?!'
I put the book into my backpack and sight, recomposing myself before opening the door inward, seeing a skeleton and a moss-head fall through, as if they were leaning on the door.
They looked up at me with nervous faces, but I just sighed and walks over them, probably making the more nervous.
We all walked outside, and I felt the same hand from earlier rest on my shoulder. Shakky handed me something, and I gasped.
"A vivre card?" I said aloud as Usopp and Nami leaned over my shoulders to see as well.
"Since I happen to be a bit notorious myself, I think I'll move it from Grove #41 to somewhere else before I start on it. I need three days to complete the coating."
"It takes three whole days?!" [Luffy]
"You're life depends on this work. It's the fastest I can go." [Rayleigh]
"I guess it's three days of wilderness survival until then! Yo ho ho ho! How frightening!" [Brook]
"Sundown in three days, let's say. I don't know what grove I'll be in, so wherever the Vivre card lands you, I'll be there finishing the coating and waiting for you." [Rayleigh]
"Luffy-chin, (Y/N)-chin, Everyone... Thank you so much!" [Cammie]
"Yeah! Thanks so much!" [Pappagu]
"I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble! I can't thank you guys enough! We'll show you the way to Fishman Island, so don't worry about a thing! Watch out for the Navy for the next three days!" [Hatchan]
"Hatchi! Get plenty of bed rest!" [Choppr]
"Let's meet again in Three days. We'll see you off." [Shakky]
"Se you later, lady! Shishishi! We're up against an admiral! Let's make sure none of us get killed!" [Luffy]
"Don't say unlucky things like that!" [Usopp]
I ripped the vivre card and gave everyone a piece, giving Zoro a hard stare as I handed him his, which made him snarl at me.
"Three days, huh..." [Franky]
"Alright! Let's go–
–To the amusement park!" [Luffy]
"Oi!" [Everyone]