Chapter 344: Gold Roger's First Mate

Law and Kid were having problems as someone who looked like Kuma showed up…

But they're not important to the story right now… but it was something important going on in the background.

Meanwhile the Straw Hats made to back to Shakky's rip off bar.

With the Rosey Life riders giving their goodbyes and a promise.

"See you later! Call me whenever you want. We can help you until you set sail for Fishman Island." Duval said with one of his winks.

"It is possible to fix his face a different way so he doesn't wink like that." Said Ino.

"If I do he might end up ugly again." Said Sanji, "And as much I hate him, we all don't want that."

"Good point." Said Ino with a sweat drop.

"But you really should stop winking." Sanji added to Duval.

And soon enough the Rosey Life Riders left.

"We need to get him in there." said Rayleigh.

They climbed up the stairs to get there.

"Hey! Ray! You're back early." Said Shakky.

"Get a bed ready, Hatchan's got hurt." Said Rayleigh.

"Oh no what happened." Said Shakky.

"It's a long story…" sighed Nami.

"It's going to be okay Hatchi," said Shakky.

And so they dropped about who Rayleigh was…

"WHAT YOU SAILED WITH GOLD ROGER!" yelled Luffy in shock.

"That's so insane." Said Naruto.

"What a tweest!" said Kyubi.

"Yeah, I was the first mate, Silvers Rayleigh." Said Rayleigh.

"Their first mate!" yelled most of the crew, as Usopp ended up doing a spit take in shock.

"You didn't tell them Hatchan?" asked Shakky.

"No I thought it would just in the way of them getting their ship coated." Said Hatchan.

"Oh it wasn't obvious." Said Robin.

"I heard the name so many times!" yelled Usopp in shock.

"He's mentioned in so many books." Said Nami.

"I didn't think he was alive." Said Sakura.

"I didn't either." Said Sasuke.

"Yeah but I'm sure everyone heard the name at least once." Said Sanji.

"I believe I heard of a rookie back in the day named Gold Roger." Said Brook.

"I think you should count though because you stranded for 50 years." Said Isaribi with a sweat drop.

"How is someone like you friends with the octopus?" asked Zoro.

"He saved my life 20 years when I got lost at sea." Said Rayleigh.

"It's true, but Hatchi was still a kid back then." Said Shakky.

"But we lost contact after he joined the Sun Pirates." Said Rayleigh.

"Don't you mean Arlong?" asked Nami.

Rayleigh didn't answer that as it was more complicated than they knew.

"Gold Roger was executed 22 years ago." Said Sanji, "Wouldn't that mean they did the same to his first mate. Did the marines captured his entire crew."

"We didn't get captured Roger turned himself in." said Rayleigh, "To show off their power, the World Government claimed that they captured him."

"The pirate king turned himself in?" asked Nami.

"Why?" asked Kiba.

"He knew our travels were ending." Said Rayleigh.

He took a breath.

"Four years before his execution, he was afflicted with a terminal illness. It was an illness that no one could treat. Roger was in a lot of pain. But Crocus the lighthouse keeper who was also one of the best doctors around was able to lessen the pain. We begged him to join in our journey. And three years later while prolonging Rogers life, we were able to do the impossible, and conquered the whole Grand Line." Explained Rayleigh.

"Crocus!" cried Brook, "From the twin capes? That brings back so many memories!"

"But wasn't' he at the cape 50 years ago? He was a member of the pirate king's crew?" asked Usopp.

"He was a ship's doctor years ago… and it had to be after Brook's crew left since he joined the crew to find out what happened to them." Said Sakura.

"That's right he was looking for certain pirate. He really did care for that whale of his." Said Rayleigh.

This just made Brook even more.

"He was only our crewmate for three years but he really did become one of us. I would like to see him at least one last time." Rayleigh.

"So what happened after you conquered the ocean?" asked Sanji.

"After that the entire world started to call him the pirate king. But he wasn't always the pirate king. Titles are meaningless to a dying man. He loved doing flashy things. Whether in battle or banquet. It looked like he had a plan but in reality he had no future. But he seemed to be enjoying himself. One day the captain gave the final order to the Roger Pirates. To disband and everyone went their seprated ways. WE all risked our lives for one another. But I couldn't say where most of them are today. And about a year after we disbanded Roger turned himself in and was arrested and it was announced he publicly executed in Loguetown the town he was born in. On that day young pirates who are now infamous the world over lined up to watch. Or that's what I heard anyways… The whole world watched the pirate king get executed." Said Rayleigh, "I didn't go… but these were the last words to me."

"I won't die, partner."

"The world government and marines were surprised. Though a public execution was intended to serve as an example of how pirates would be punished. That last statement from Roger ended up creating the golden age of pirates instead." Said Rayleigh still reminiscing.

The crew all looked at him, almost all of them knew his last words.

"Those last few second the last of his flame of life turned into a bonfire that lit the world over." Laughed Rayleigh, "There wasn't a day that I laughed as much, cried and much or got drunk as much. Our captain lived a wonderful life."

"Amazing!" said Nami, "It's so different from hearing it from someone who was there."

"IT was like Roger intentionally started the golden age of pirate." Said Usopp.

"About that… Roger is dead. And the ones who create the times are always living in the present. Though I do know those who were that day got something special." Said Rayleigh.

"It's true. Smoker was there that day and it was clear it affected him." Said Hinata.

"Wait… how did you not know that he turned himself in?" asked Kiba.

"I don't know any secrets from the base." Said Hinata.

"Seriously you believe that lie?" asked Naruto glaring at Kiba.

"You know a person you two know well was there that day." Said Raleigh. "Shanks was one of them."

"You know Shanks!" yelled Luffy.

"Really?" asked Naruto.

"Also you're from the eat blue… I'm sure you know Buggy." Said Rayleigh.

"Buggy…" grumbled Nami, Sakura, Zoro and Sasuke.

"Both of them were apprentices on our ship." Said Rayleigh.

"Really!" yelled Naruto and Luffy.

"Oh wow!" said Hinata.

"You know him too?" asked Rayleigh.

"I do… though not as much as Luffy and Naruto." Said Hinata.

"It was about 10 years ago." Said Rayleigh, "He came in with his trade mark hat, Clone Unser Headband he kept even though he could never be one and his arm gone." Said Rayleigh, "When I asked them about them he told me with the biggest smile on his face"

"Rayleigh, there was a kid in the east blue saying the same things that the captain said all those years ago."

The crew were amazed by all this.

But what none of them knew at that very moment, Kizaru at arrived at the archipelago…

And although they were safe for the time being, things were going to go to hell very soon.

Next Time: They talk more to Rayleigh. And not only that but come up with plans to lay low for the next few days while ship is coated. Will they work? Find out next time!