The wind blew briskly on the high seas in the East Blue extenuating the flowing Navy flag as the militarized vessel parked next to a small ship sporting a black flag with a skull and crossbones painted across the fabric.
Navy boots stomped their way across the long boarding planks raiding the helpless ship full of pirates. The wind pick up again causing a whistling sound to engulf the vessels, as the Navy surrounded the surrendering pirates who began falling to their knees begging for mercy.
The sun beat down furiously on the vessels as the pirate captain began sweating profusely fearing what the world military had in store for his crew.
"What'd ya steal this time longneck?" The navy captain asked glancing around the deck for the reported missing cargo.
Longneck shuddered as the Navy soldiers began searching his ship, threatening to tear it apart and flip it upside down to find the precious stolen cargo.
"I swear, we don't have what your looking for." Longneck shouted at the Navy captain. The soldiers continued thrashing miscellaneous items, tossing them into the halls and onto the deck nearly hitting his crew.
"Lies!" The navy captain yelled backhanding longneck across the face leaving a red mark.
"Please I beg of you, we were framed, it's your job to find the real—" the captain was silenced by the navy commander's boot stuck to his face.
The navy captain held a disgusted look on his face, "I don't need pirate scum telling me what my job description is, I know exactly how to carry out justice to trash like you!" He spat kicking the pirate captain down.
His crew gasped in horror trying to break free of the handcuffs to no avail. They watched helplessly as their captain nicknamed 'longneck' was beaten mercilessly by the Navy captain. Even some of the Navy men began to flinch and rub their necks from the brutality of the beating.
A newly recruited soldier ran up to the vice captain as he emerged from the kitchen with a large burlap sack slung over his shoulder—the smell of freshly cooked meat reeked the ship; he'd stolen the pirates' breakfast.
"Damn a shame they didn't have any treasure, must've been good people." The young man muttered to himself disappointed he didn't collect any loot before glancing around the ship's deck.
The vice captain noticed his superior still kicking the downed man as he begged for mercy. The youthful tall man with unruly spiky black hair scratched his head in annoyance, leisurely striding toward his superior bypassing soldiers and captured pirates alike. The curls of his raven hair reflected an orange tint, his hazel brown eyes brimed with confidence as his strong grip caught the superior's fist before it could reach its helpless target.
Everyone aboard the ship shared a collective gasp seeing the young vice captain directly appose his superior's authority.
The Navy superior gritted his teeth in anger as the younger man released the hold on his fist. "Vice captain...what is the meaning of—"
"They don't have it. Longneck here is telling the truth." The young vice captain spoke pulling out a large chicken leg, chomping on it causing everyone on deck to sweat drop from the uncertainty of the situation.
"He hasn't received enough punishment not until I deem—"
The young man gorging himself interrupted his superior once more holding up the burlap sack full of cook assorted meats in the air. "That's enough captain, we got what we came for...at least I did. Alright boys let's head home—we got ourselves breakfast, lunch, and dinner!"
Cheers erupted from the navy personnel as they sped across the deck of pirate ship crossing the laid about planks reaching their vessel in no time, leaving behind a bewildered group of pirates.
The captain followed his second in command onto the ship reluctantly, wanting nothing more than to than to give the carefree subordinate an earful.
"Hey! When I give an order you follow—"
The vice captain threw the older man a large piece of ham in his face shutting him up, before walking toward the front of the ship.
"I don't want this!" The vice captain was too far away to hear and not interested enough to care as the crew trailed his strides. "I'll report your ass you hear me you arrogant little shit!" The captain roughly bit into his ham before heading toward his cabin to report back to base.
The vice captain stood at the front of the ship as his crew mates crowded around the oversized bag searching for their ideal meal.
The navy shipwright approached the vice captain as the young man continued to eat watching over the open seas.
"Where are we going navigator?" The shipwright asked snatching a half stack of ribs from the open bag before turning toward the young man who was busy checking his log pose.
"We are heading back to base, it shouldn't be too hard to get there, just retrace the original course we used to get here; shouldn't take more than a few hours, the winds are blowin and the seas a flowin." The navigator said showing his toothy grin.
"Man your navigation skills cease to amaze me, I've been on a lot of ships and never seen someone with as sharp wits in navigation as you." The shipwright beamed flashing his own smile.
"Tch, what can I say? Runs in my blood I guess." The vice captain shrugged turning back toward the sea, his white coat hung loosely off his shoulders flowing with the wind. Despite his natural tendency at in early age to pursue navigation, Something else ran through his blood; seeking adventure and freedom—the sea would always provide that for him, he wished he had more freedom in the navy; the young man at that moment made a decision that would change his destiny forever.
—
"Monkey D. Edward! How the hell are ya?" The old navy regional supervisor asked shaking the young man's hand as he took a seat.
"Not bad geezer, yourself?" Edward said placing his feet on the desk, the old man didn't mind, it was far from the first time that happened.
"Good my boy, it's same ol' same ol'." The gray bearded man said pulling out a file with Edward's name on it.
"I couldn't imagine being stuck in this office all day, sheesh must be boring as hell." Edward stated dangling a toothpick in his mouth and placing his hands behind his head leaning farther back in the chair, standing it on the hind legs.
The old man smiled pulling some papers from his file out. "Well I've had my share of adventures," he paused nervously before continuing, " I had many battles with your fath—"
Edward abruptly held his hand up silencing the man's words. "Sorry geezer but save the small talk, what am I here for?" He was just being formal, the young man knew exactly what he was in for.
The navy supervisor shifted nervously before answering getting right to the point. "Your captain reported you for insubordination, disobeying a direct order—you defended pirates that were suspects in the pillaging of the local villages in the area."
Edward removed his feet from the desk, placing the chair fully on the ground, before sitting up straight to address the situation. "I simply defended innocent people that were misidentified and framed; Pirates or not, our captain had it coming—he's a sick bastard that one."
"I don't disagree with you, however you still have to respect higher authority, you of all people should know that." The old man spoke glancing at the papers for a moment before returning his attention to the late Pirate King and Queen's only son.
"I did the right thing, that'll get me through the day." He said folding his arms. "Anything else?"
The supervisor let out an audible sigh reading off his early list of accomplishments in his time with the Navy. "At the academy you graduated top three in your class, mastered navigation, astrology, and cartography by age fifteen. You're one of the best young fighters in the Navy, also carrying the will of the Whitebeard Clan as the owner of the Gura Gura no Mi fruit, and Fleet Admiral Coby seeks to promote you to admiral soon, you'll be relocated to the Newly reformed Marineford." The old geezer wheezed as he finished reading off the list.
"Didn't know the head honchos were such fans of my work, so it's official then? I really am the one of the best fighters in the Navy, didn't think I could impress myself anymore than I already have." Edward smirked the arrogance lacing his tone.
"So you understand right? You have to straighten up, you're going to receive the promotion to admiral sooner than later, it shouldn't be too much longer Edward." The geezer adjudged his glasses trying to study the expression of the vice captain.
"You know that sounds all well and good, but I don't want to pursue some predetermined destiny that the Navy superiors and the fleet admiral have mapped out for me, I'll forge my own path from here on out." Edward exclaimed suddenly standing from the chair forcefully pushing it back.
"WHHHHAAAAT! W-what are you saying Edward!" The old man bellowed his eyes popping out of his sockets from surprise.
"Sorry geezer but would you mind tellin the fleet admiral, he probably won't be home for awhile." Edward said tossing his vice captain coat onto the bewildered supervisor's face, the man hadn't budged an inch.
"WAAAIT! Just what the hell are you going to do?" The supervisor bellowed snatching the coat off his face glaring at the younger man.
Edward scratched his raven hair sheepishly. "I'm not sure haven't given it much thought...maybe I'll sell pineapples on some island." He said with a signature grin.
The elder supervisor was bleeding from his head slightly after falling over on the ground from Edward's statement. He recovered quickly as he heard the doorknob turn signaling he was truly leaving.
"Edward!"
"What's is it?"
The old man hid his expression of disapproval and disappointment remaining calm. "Why are you leaving the Navy, you are one of the most prominent rookies in our existence, why give up such a bright future? Most would kill to be in your situation."
Edward turned back slightly to look directly at the supervisor. "If I stay here in the Navy, I'll always be trying to live out someone else's ambitions, I simply want to experience freedom—something I'll never obtain here." He said leaving the room suddenly.
The old man slumped back in his chair. Somehow he could see this coming, ever since the day Edward arrived at the academy. A son of the late pirate rulers would never feel accepted or fulfilled, no matter if he became Fleet Admiral himself.
Quickly the supervisor snatched the transponder snail dialing the Navy headquarters.
"Yeah it's me...this is important!...I need to speak the fleet admiral...dammit I won't hold this important...his son's leaving the Navy!" He shouted into the snail furiously.
"WHAAAAT?!" The snail screamed loudly knocking the old man from his chair onto the floor once again.
—
It didn't take Edward too long to reach his house located in an upscale residence on the outskirts of the island. He pulled out his house key opening the door to a spicy savory fragrance as his mouth started drooling.
"Eddie! Your finally home!" A sweet voice sang crushing him in a bear hug.
"Hey mom." Edward smiled at the use of his nickname she loved calling him, wrapping her in a tight embrace. "Too tight." He wheezed, a second later she released him as he slumped to the floor.
Rebecca placed her hands on her hips glaring at the young man she considered a son. "You didn't call for a week, I was worried sick." She scolded.
Edward stood up stretching his back as it cracked. "I'm sorry mom, we were really busy. I had to focus on a lot of responsibilities this time around, sorry I worried you." He said pulling her in a one arm hug.
"It's alright son, just call me once next time, let me know you're okay, I can't help but worry." Rebecca smiled warmly taking a step back to see the strong man they'd raised—he looked more and more like the spitting image of his father each passing day.
Edward began drooling as the alluring aroma of sliced meat began filling his vernacular. "Smells good mom, I'm starved I can't wait to—"
Rebecca quickly snatched his ear roughly. "You dare try and waltz into my kitchen after not bothering to bathe?" She growled dragging him toward the staircase.
"Ah come on mom it's been a long day." He whined with a dog puppy face trying to no avail to release her death grip.
Rebecca was having none of it in her household. "Monkey D. Edward." He knew his mom was dead serious if she was using his full name. "Bathe this instant or you won't step foot in the kitchen, got it?!" She snapped releasing his ear.
"Alright, alright I'm going." Edward stated heading up the staircase to his room before showering. He made sure to clean well before emerging from the bathroom making sure to wash the filth of his latest venture off.
The ex-vice captain entered his neatly organized room examining all the framed photos and certificates from his accomplishments. The trophies and medals he received from his remarkable feats all decorated his shelves and walls.
Edward picked up the large framed photo of his graduating class as they all posed earnestly, ready to begin the new phases of their life as a Navy soldier, protecting the innocents from all harm in the world. What he witnessed earlier that morning hadn't been what he signed up for—he felt disillusioned from the experience.
Sighing audibly he placed the picture back down on his desk heading downstairs to grub, pushing the thoughts from his head.
Rebecca grinned seeing her newly cleaned son take his seat immediately gorging in the food she made.
"Slow down or I might have to do the Heimlich Maneuver again." Rebecca said playfully before digging into her own modestly portioned plate.
Edward gulped down his glass of water pounding his chest as the food forced its way down. "That was one time." He smirked.
The two began discussing their week catching up on what had been going on. Edward just finished recounting the story from earlier about his superior mercilessly beating and harassing an innocent crew.
"That captain Kerr!" Rebecca growled collecting some empty plates on the table taking them to the sink. "I never liked him, I told your dad not to assign you to him, he's a very despicable man."
"I don't disagree mom, but he is knowledgeable about Navy history and tactics I won't deny that." He said bringing his last plate to his mom's waiting arms.
Edward sat back down as his mom continued telling him about her quiet week—she sounded content with her housewife duties, happy to shop and tend to her gardens.
Growing up his dad Coby wasn't around often because of his duty, sometimes he would arrive to an empty house. However his mom was almost always there greeting him with a smile and asking him how his day was—it truly brought a smile to his face. She made his house feel like a real home, he couldn't have been more grateful.
The pair were interrupted by a series of light knocks on the door, breaking them from their conversation.
"I wonder who that could be at this time?" Rebecca frowned slightly worrying for her husband's safety. Her greatest fear for him was Navy personnel arriving telling them something happened to him.
Opening the door she gasped softly as the man on her mind Fleet Admiral Coby embraces his wife firmly. She hugged him back nuzzling into his neck.
"I thought you weren't supposed to be back for another week?" Rebecca asked her arms still wrapped around his neck.
Coby smiled placing a kiss on her lips. "I missed my family, I thought I'd come home early."
Edward froze in his seat hearing his dad's voice. The pair entered the kitchen smiling towards their son.
"Dad" Edward hugged the man who raised him before taking his seat once again.
"Hello son." He said a small smile graced his expression; Edward was no fool, he could see the slightly dejected look in his eyes.
"What is this about Eddie?" He asked calmly placing his Navy resignation papers in front of his son.
"Eddie!" Rebecca gasped taking the unoccupied seat next to her son. "You resigned from the Navy? Why?" She asked placing a hand on his upper back.
Edward shifted in his seat straightening up to answer his parents who were patiently waiting. "I decided on it this morning, Captain Kerr reported me for insubordination; I stopped his assault of an innocent pirate crew's captain— I couldn't stomach my duty after that."
Rebecca smiled warmly grasping her son's arm in relief. "My boy's coming home, I've never been so happy."
Edward could only half smile at his mom's accepting position, she would be in his corner no matter what he decided to do, except sell pineapples; his dad was a completely different story, a scowl accompanied his features.
"Son you could've requested a transfer or at least told me, I would've had it handled." Coby said finally taking his seat on the other side of Edward.
Edward shook his head, "I don't want special treatment, I already have enough as it is." He stated evenly sipping from his water glass.
"Eddie resigning with such a bright future isn't the solution; the reason I came back is to announce your training to replace Admiral Fujitora in few months." Coby said causing his son to look at him in shock.
"I didn't think it would happen this soon..." Edward said mostly to himself before looking to the man that raised him. "I can't go back, whats done is done—besides I'll never be free if I stayed there, I don't want to live someone else's life following orders, I want more—"
Coby stood up slamming his hands on the table and standing from his seat surprising his family. "Dammit Edward, you worked too damn hard to just throw everything away, what the hell are you going to do now that could be more fulfilling than being the youngest admiral in the history of the Navy."
Rebecca looked back and forth between the two most important men in her life feeling torn as they glared at one another, the tension in the room mounting. "Coby, he's already made up his mind, let it go I'm sure we can—"
"Outside Edward." Coby commanded using his fleet admiral voice.
"Coby—" Rebecca tried to get her husband's attention before he abruptly left the kitchen heading for the backyard. She hated seeing the two like this, rarely had they disagreed or fought over anything—in her eyes they were best friends.
"Don't worry mom, I really did it this time, it will be fine." Edward said showing his signature smile before he left the room swiftly. Rebecca couldn't help return his smile reminding her of the late Pirate King.
Edward knew this was going to be his dad's reaction, it was just a matter of time before he found out, wether it was now or in the coming weeks. The ex-vice captain closed slider door after stepping out onto the back porch.
"Over here." The Fleet Admiral called lighting a cigar with pristine navy lighter.
As Edward neared the opposite chair he caught a beer can that was quickly thrown his way. Wordlessly he cracked it open taking a seat across from Coby.
"Cigar?" He asked holding one out for his son to take; he never offered one to him before, even on his eighteen birthday.
"Yeah." Edward nodded taking the cigar in his mouth before Coby lit Edward's as well. The two stayed in silence for about a minute as they puffed away.
"Well now that you've had your first cigar, I suppose you're a man now, well almost." Coby stated smirking. The man would be lying if he said he hadn't seen this day coming. This man was the offspring of the two most infamous pirates in recent history, but he would always be their son.
He supposed the only reason Edward joined the Navy was because he idolized the fleet commander growing up, wanting to be just like him. It nearly brought a tear to his heart remembering Eddie at the age of three running from behind Rebecca's dress to hug him after he came back from a dangerous mission yelling "papa, papa." Now looking at his son now, he knew those days were long gone.
"I didn't mean to disappoint you and mom, I just felt like my path was already set—"
Coby held up his hand to silence his son. "You don't need to explain to me son, I knew this day would come to be honest. Though we raised you, we aren't your birth parents..." Edward interrupted him before he could go any further.
"Don't say that! You'll always be my parents, I don't care where I came from, your my dad and mom is my mom." Edward said taking a large gulps from his beverage.
"I know and you'll always be our son. But your birth parents were pirates, the last king and queen at that—surely you understand it's in your blood to pursue a life of freedom. It still begs the question though, what do you want to do?" Coby asked puffing from his cigar, awaiting his son's answer.
"The only thing that comes to mind is freedom, roaming the sea without a care in the world. Other than that—" Edward folded his arms inhaling his cigar. "I want to be known as the strongest fighter in the world, Navy, pirate, unaffiliated it doesn't matter I'm going to beat em all." He smirked finishing his can before crushing it.
A small smile formed on Coby's features. "Well it's a start, and as much as I disagree with your decision, you're your own man now, it's time to make grown up decisions. So I took the liberty, and invited your uncle to introduce you to your cousin and she'll help you start your little venture." Coby spoke guzzling his own beverage greedily.
"What are you going on about? I don't have any cousins or uncles!" Edward shouted not understand exactly what his dad was telling him.
"True, they're not technically your uncle or cousin, but they considered themselves family to your birth parents. They said they'll be hear at mid day tomorrow so be ready at the docks." Coby said smirking seeing the confused and bewildered expression on his son's face—he truly was the spitting image of the man he idolized despite being sworn enemies by affiliation.
"Tch, they ain't my family, I'd rather go at it alone, but if they're already on their way then I got no choice." Edward said still smoking the pristine stogie.
"Your real uncle Sabo, the brother of your birth father wanted me to give you this if the day ever came you wanted out." Coby said reaching beneath his feet to hand him an unfamiliar telltale hat.
"What the hell is this?" Edward spoke examining the brown hat with a sad pinned button and a happy one. Flashy red pearls tightened around the hat's upper brim extenuating its appearance, as the drawstring hung loosely with a horn skull emblem near the bottom connecting the strings.
"Damn bandits have no respect for the dead. They tried robbing your eldest uncle's grave alongside with his captain Whitebeard's; so your uncle Sabo gave this to me for safe keeping, now its yours— it's a part of your lineage." Coby stated pulling out another canned beer before cracking it open quickly gulping from the beverage.
"Why would he give this to me?" Edward asked placing the hat on his head. The only thing he remembered about Sabo was a letter from him and his real grandfather who ran previously ran the revolutionary army now leading the reformed World Government. The letter congratulated him on joining the academy along with a treasure chest.
Expecting loot all he got was a mysterious looking fruit with a note—'Whitebeard Clan's will, carry it with an honor my grandson.' Edward remembered becoming disgusted wanting to tear the letter to shreds and sell the devil fruit contained in the box. After some convincing from his dad he took it reluctantly, immediately embracing the effects it had on his body—it was truly a remarkable power, the strength to take one the world; just how he wanted it. However his uncle and grandfather would get no thanks from him, in all their years they'd never once came to see him personally, he figured he wasn't important enough to them—but he was grateful for the mythical fruit.
Coby nearly spit his drink out seeing the spitting image of Edward's true father and uncle in one body. "I can't answer that, that's for you to find out, go and see him or don't—either way, starting tomorrow you'll be free." The pink haired fleet admiral smirked earning one back from his son.
"I appreciate it dad, I might as well get some sleep since I it will be awhile before I do again." Edward yawned stretching before heading toward the back slider door.
"Your damn right about that."
"Eddie!" Coby shouted causing the young man to turn around and face him. "You know your mom and I will always be proud of you, no matter what."
Edward showed his signature grin all too similar to his father—the apple really didn't fall far from the tree. "Thanks dad, that means everything." He spoke before disappearing in the house.
Coby leaned back smoking another cigar before heading inside awhile later to eat dinner. The fleet admiral tiredly made his way upstairs after finishing his reports and dinner. Coby couldn't help but worry about the young man he raised since his birth and his ambition for freedom. Based on his reports the current pirate generation was getting even stronger than ever; one of numerous reports he skimmed through already had Marshal D. Teach's, a.k.a, Blackbeard's son of only twenty one years of age obtained a bounty of four-hundred thousand beli.
Coby halted his stride stopping after climbing the stairs noticing his son's light turn off. A satisfied sigh escaped him as he continued entering his bedroom, plopping on the soft bed—it was much more comfortable than the one at headquarters, especially with his wife by his side.
"Are you still awake honey? You should go to bed." He stated knowing she couldn't sleep without talking to him.
Rebecca ignored his comment resting her hands on him. "I can't stop thinking about what Eddie said today. A part of me wants
him to stay close to home, but I accepted he's becoming his own man now." It was only a matter of time the couple figured their son would follow in the footsteps of his birth parents—they just hoped he would remember everything they taught him over the years.
Coby pulled his wife close, "I know, I'll miss him too, but we knew this day could possibly come. Every navy soldier in his situation would've accepted the admiral position rather than go at it alone in the world—"
"But he's not really a Navy soldier, is he?" She asked rhetorically looking up to her husband. "You know he only joined because he idolized you growing up, if you were a shipwright, he would've done that to make you proud."
He sighed before kissing her forehead thanking her for saying those kind words that drove him forward through life. "I suppose it's in his blood to become like his mother and father. He will always be our son but we aren't his birth parents, in the end it's good he's doing this—he'll truly find out his origins, he needs to learn the truth for himself." Coby spoke holding his wife tightly.
"I'm so happy you agreed, I wasn't sure if you would let him go, I know how much having him in headquarters meant to you." Rebecca said placing a soft kiss on his cheek.
"It was important but not as important as your guys' happiness. I would gladly give up where I'm at to make my family happy at any cost, to see your smile." He said brushing the stray hairs from her face. Coby has learned that directly from the Pirate King himself; his greatest enemy yet the greatest man that ever lived in his mind.
Rebecca couldn't have been happier with her husband's willingness to allow their son the freedom to pursue his own destiny.
"Goodnight dear." She said with a satisfied smile placing a kiss on his cheek before attempting to drift to sleep.
"No goodnight kiss?"
"Not until you wash that cigar and beer from your mouth." Rebecca scolded glaring at her husband before falling asleep. Coby grumbled to himself heading into their adjacent master bathroom.
—
Edward scarfed the rest of his breakfast meeting his parents at the front porch of the property—He hugged both his parents tightly, "you'll always be my parents, no matter what." Edward said before standing on the ground in the front yard.
"Make us proud son! I packed all your favorites, don't forget to call once in awhile!" Rebecca shouted waving to her only boy.
"Of course mom!"
"Eddie! Stay out of trouble or I'm going to have to stop you." Coby yelled wrapping his arm around his wife.
"Now where's the fun in that pops?! But I look forward to it." Edward smirked before powering up his Gura Gura powers shifting the ground beneath his feet.
"See you guys!" The earth beneath his feet shot up a few meters into the sky launching him into the sky as his laugh echoed through the air.
"Always the show-off." Coby smirked as the watched their son fly off toward the shore.
Rebecca playfully elbowed her husband before they shared a content smile seeing their son disappear into the horizon.
The couple walked into the house knowing it would be long while before he came back to his home. They walked up the staircase many times to open his door to find their son snoring away with drool pouring out his mouth.
Rebecca opened her son's room to find it spotless as usual. The medals, trophies, and framed photos all left untouched. Coby sat next to his wife on the bed as she clutched the photo of the three of them on Edward's graduation day. The trio's smile gleamed as he had his arms tightly wrapped around them.
Rebecca finally let the tears fall on the photo. The feelings of letting their only son walk out the door finally setting in. She would miss greatly seeing his signature grin as she made his favorite assortment of meats along with his favorite orange juice.
"We really let him go..." she spoke sadly holding onto the picture frame tightly.
"He'll be alright, we raised him with a good head on his shoulders, you know I'll do all I can to look after him." Coby spoke reassuringly soothing his wife by rubbing small circles on her back.
"I know, I know." She said almost inaudibly placing her head on his shoulder. Soon after they exited the room taking one last look around.
Coby grabbed a small note laying on the dresser addressed to them. 'I'll always be the good person you both raised me to be—much love, your son Eddie.' The couple shared a smile as Coby tucked the note in his pocket. They retreated to their room not long after; falling asleep, holding each other for comfort dreaming a young boy waking them up saying he had a bad dream. Rebecca would smile warmly placing him in between them for reassurance. The couple had never slept better when their young son slept peacefully between them. How they dearly wished he would come barging through the front door yelling he was home— however both knew it would be a long time before that day came.
—
Edward groaned clutching his hat with both hands impatiently. His pops told him last night at midday his uncle and cousin would be meeting up with him—the pair were thirty minutes late. "What the hell happened, did they get lost or something." Edward muttered watching the sea for any incoming boats.
A voice broke him from his thoughts as Edward leaned against a nearby building.
"Oi! You know where the local tavern is?!" The voice shouted causing him to peak an eye open from under his hat.
The tall green haired man with a scar over his right eye folded his arms awaiting his response.
"You must not be from around here, it's back in town that way." Edward said pointing with his thumb back towards the town. Edward examined the man for a moment under his hat. He'd never seen him around before and three swords that hung on his left side was peculiar; he'd never seen a three sword style swordsman, the practice was considered immensely powerful but outdated and dangerous.
"Which way? I'm not very good with directions?" The man asked again scratching his head in confusion.
Edward crossed his arms before yawning. "Look man go ask someone else, I'm waiting for someone and they're already running late."
"So it is you." Zoro said taking a sake bottle out of his shirt starting to gulp loudly.
Edward shoved the telltale hat off his head resting it on its string. "So you're my so called uncle then?" Edward rhetorically asked standing up straight to address the swordsman.
Zoro gave a half hearted tch, "Ya and your my snot nosed nephew huh?" The swordsman stated drinking from his bottle. His eye widened slightly seeing Edward for the first time. He was without a doubt the reincarnation of his father. They were about the same age when he encountered Edward's father for the first time.
Everything looked identical despite the rubbery appearance and his taller, heavier build from being raised in the Navy. However the one difference that didn't resemble his father's was his eyes—he definitely had his mother's brown eyes. Zoro had to quickly look away for a split second to regain his composure seeing the spawn of his dearest friends he met first, before the straw hat crew was officially established.
"Well good to meet ya then." The signature smile passed down through his family gleamed towards the swordsman; something he hadn't seen in nearly twenty years. "Monkey D. Edward."
Zoro shifted uncomfortably slightly before firmly shaking the young man's hand. The power emitted from his nephew impressed the swordsman—the kid was still raw and untested but being thrown into the fire of the Grand Line would certainly change that.
"Roronora Zoro." The swordsman said smirking. "So aren't you going to ask how I know your father?"
"Yeah he said he's encountered you over the years a few times..." Edward stated missing Zoro's point completely.
"I mean your real father, the one that has his blood running through your veins." Zoro countered. His statement changed the outward demeanor of Edward quickly.
"Far as I'm concerned, he ain't my father. I don't know him; I don't care to know about a man I'll never meet and that didn't bother to stay alive for him to see me grow up. So I'll pass on your history lesson Zoro." Edward stated placing his hands in his pockets. He truly had no desire to know of his birth parents origins, they didn't mean much to him.
Zoro's expression grew angry and sullen all of a sudden. "You little brat, your father was one of the greatest men I've ever known, and you bad mouth your old man. You should be thankful to him, he put you on this earth."
"Tch, like I said alright; I don't know him nor care anything about his legacy. He may have been a great man to you, but to me he'll always be a no show." Edward spoke pulling a small bottle out of his black vest that hung tightly on his torso; gulping the beverage quickly.
"Arrogant little punk, you may look like the spitting image of your father but you have your mother's temperament and attitude!" Zoro exclaimed taking a step forward as Edward did the same.
Electricity filled the air as the combatants radiated their powerful auras toward one another. Edward could feel he was over matched but he'd never back down from anyone, even if it meant death.
"There you are dad! Did you get lost again bugging strangers for directions?" A voice behind Zoro broke the two from their impending battle.
"Oi that was one time!" Zoro shouted changing his tone earning a bewildered look from the younger man. "Come meet your cousin." He said calmly turning to face Edward once again.
"Nice to meet you, Roronora Kuina." The green haired woman with red glasses smiled toward Edward widely.
Edward sweat dropped at her overtly friendly attitude, something in his gut told him it wouldn't last; his instincts were hardly ever wrong. "Monkey D. Edward, nice to meet ya cousin."
Kuina shared his mood examining her so- called cousin as he placed his hat on his head. "So you're him huh, the son of the last Pirate King and Queen." She said adjusting her glasses to get a better look.
"Whatever you say, now can we get going? We're running out of daylight to sail and the winds aren't picking up yet." Edward exclaimed examining his log pose.
"Hey that's a new world log pose!" Kuina said excitement dripping from her tone as she examined the navigational tool. "What's the difference between a standard one and this one?" Kuina asked.
Edward scratched the back his head ruffling his raven black hair. "You really don't know," he signed before answering, "It's a requirement for navigating the New World because the standard Log Pose is not good enough for the New World, due to the fact that some islands change, or completely hide their magnetic fields at random, which could leave a crew stranded if they have a standard log pose. To navigate safely through the New World, a navigator needs to have a log pose with three needles. Each needle represents a different island, and the stability of the needle reflects the stability of the island's magnetic field." Edward spoke exhaling loudly hunching over from his overtly academic response.
The father and daughter swordsman duo could only stare in amazement at his intellectual answer.
Kuina was impressed. "Well I'm glad to know I have a trusted navigator on board." She said evenly, folding her arms.
"Oh great so your not only arrogant but a nerd also." Zoro stated matter o' factly causing Edward to lose his cool.
"What'd ya say swordsman?! I'll show you whose a nerd!" He bellowed being held back by Kuina.
Zoro smirked seeing Edward argue with Kuina about letting him go to confront the swordsman about his comments. A small smile formed on his face. Edward may have had his mother's attitude, eyes, and temperament but he was also gifted with her knowledge—especially regarding navigation. Zoro thanked the heavens his daughter wouldn't travel with someone who had his former captain's brain. However, If he had the willpower and half the heart of his father, this kid may end up being special.
"Well I'm going to the tavern to get more sake, you kids have fun, Kuina I'll see you soon." He said before his daughter crashed into his back hugging him from behind. Zoro embraced his only daughter tightly.
"Tell mom I said hi, I'll see you soon papa." Kuina smiled hugging her dad tighter.
A loud obnoxious yawn broke them from their goodbye. "Are you guys done?" Edward yawned again, "really, are you guys done?"
The swordsman duo deadpanned at Edward before turning back to each other. "I'll be sure this idiot doesn't get killed on our first day at sea." Kuina said walking to stand next to Edward as he turned his attention to Zoro.
"I'll keep her safe, you got nothin to worry about pops."
Zoro's laugh loudly bellowed out scaring a few passing people away. "If anything she'll be keeping you safe, see you guys around." Zoro waved heading off into the town.
"You're going the wrong way Zoro! Taverns that way!" Edward shouted angrily at swordsman's lack of awareness.
"Shut up! I know where I'm going Edward!" Zoro snapped back as the two began to approach each other reigniting their feud.
Kuina smacked Edward in the back of the head halting his stride and leaving a large bump. "Ow, what the hell was that for?!"
"Because your an idiot if you think you can beat my father, he's one of the greatest swordsman to ever live." She stated proudly pulling on his shoulders. "Now lets go before he really kills you."
"Fine, lets move." Edward said pulling her by the hand.
Zoro watched the pair go with a smirk. He couldn't help reminisce about the first time he met Luffy and his skepticism of the young boy who eagerly attempted to get him to join his one man crew. A smile came over his face after meeting Edward, the kid was arrogant and a bit of a smart ass, but that would serve him well in this harsh world.
"Best of luck to ya kids, I'll see ya soon." He spoke to himself before heading down the street. 'Wait...which way did Edward say the tavern was?'
Zoro sighed loudly as he became lost, old habits never died.
"Soo... do you have a ship somewhere?" Kuina asked curiously.
Edward leisurely walked with his hands behind his head peaking an eye open at the woman. Even if she was a year older than him, she acted a lot younger. He was good at reading people, he assumed she lived a sheltered life up to this point.
The ex vice captain smirked, "nope."
"No?! What the hell do you mean no?" She said stepping in front of Edward stopping him in his tracks.
"Isn't it obvious." Edward's hat covered his eyes hiding his expression. "We're going to steal a ship." He said his eyes emerging and a smile forming on his features.
Their official venture into the Grand Line had begun.