The time is the Great Pirate Era. Countless pirates fight desperately for the One Piece, the great treasure left behind by Gold Roger, King of the Pirates. Monkey D. Luffy, a boy whose body turned to rubber after he ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, also takes to the sea to become the next King of the Pirates. As Luffy and his friends overcome numerous adventures, the World Government is less and less able to ignore their existence. The crew, on its way to the New World, will speed along the Grand Line again today! The Straw Hat crew landed on the Sabaody Archipelago to search for a ship coating craftsman to help them reach Fish-Man Island.
During the adventure, Camie, a mermaid who was with them, was kidnapped. After determining her location, Nami and company attempted to win her in an auction. All the way from Fish-Man Island, the mermaid Camie!
"Camie! They're selling Camie now!" Hachi panics.
"Alright! We're gonna get her back! We have million here!" Nami gets out her number.
"However, Nami's plan failed in an unforeseen manner.
"I'll buy it for million Berries!" The celestial dragon dictates.
"So suddenly?! We don't have that much!" Nami panics.
"We can't let this happen! We can't let our friend get bought and taken away like this!" Chopper worries.
Just then...
"Luffy!" Sanji gasps when the captain rushes down the stairs.
"Luffy-chin!" The mermaid within calls out to the boy.
"Camie! We've been looking everywhere! What a relief!" Luffy beams brightly at the sight of the collar Camie.
"Hold on, Straw Hat! What are you doing?!" Hachi exposes his other hands trying to hold Luffy back.
Hachi tried to hold Luffy back as he went to rescue Camie, but...
"He's a fish-man!" The crowd reels back repulsed by the sheer sight of him as the sharp sound of gunfire echoes through the halls of the auction house.
Hachi was then gun down by a Celestial Dragon!
"Don't... Don't be mad...You promised not to defy the Celestial Dragons, even if you saw someone get shot...!" Wheezing, Hachi hold Luffy's arm as he bleeds out on the floor making Luffy grimace pained at the sight of the suffering Hachi.
"You lousy fish, still blabbering on even though I shot you! You annoy me!" The celestial dragon readies his gun again for another shot only then to frown when Luffy gets in the way.
"What's with that look, you?! You guys'll get in huge trouble too!" The celestial dragon glares at Luffy who silently glares back before slowly but surely making his way up the steps towards the celestial dragon.
"Straw Hat-ya...?" The lean man with the black and yellow hoodie looks up with one eye closed up at Luffy slowly approaching the celestial dragon.
"Is he serious?!" The redhead says shocked seeing him approach as he stands with his respective crew.
"You annoy me, too!" He fires his gun but Luffy dodges each and every one of them reeling his fist back and…bashing the cheek of the celestial dragon into the wall, cracking it breaking it even.
"S-Saint Charloss..." The knights call out to the bloodied battered beaten dragon knocked out smoke spewing out with debris.
"C-Charlos!" His father calls out as both the redhead pirate and polar.
"Sorry, guys. Punching this guy means a navy admiral is gonna come here with a warship..." Luffy apologises to his crew.
"I missed my chance to cut him down because you beat him up first." Zoro tuts sheathing oe of his blade.
"Hachi! Hang on!" Nami rushes over to the wounded fishman's side.
"You're all in big trouble now...!" Hachi frets fearful for them.
"We can't help it! That's just how Luffy is!" Nami smiles.
"Alright, then..." Sanji smirks lighting his cigarette.
"Guess that makes it clear what we gotta do now." Frankie exclaims.
"I think the key to Camie's collar is probably somewhere backstage! I need to tend to Hachi's injury! You get the key!" Chopper tells Franky.
"Guys...!" Hachi and the starfish whimper tears freely falling.
"Charloss...! Brother Charloss! Not even Father has ever struck you!" The female celestial cries out.
"Curse you! How dare you, a commoner, lay a hand on my son!" The father fires his gun at Luffy.
"Th-They've made the Celestial Dragons mad! Run! Get outside! Leave! Quick! Quit pushing!" The fearful civilians try to escape terrified of facing the dragons wrath.
"I'll teach you what happens when you assault us, the descendants of this world's Creators!" The celestial dragon continues shooting at Luffy.
"Hell if we care, you bastard!" Sanji disarms the man.
"How dare you strike Saint Roswald!" The knights rush in.
"Joue! Concasser! Go, Franky! Free Camie-chan!" Sanji takes care of the knights.
"Alright! Super leave it to me!" Franky goes to get the key.
"Guards! Get them! Seize the pirates!" The celestial dragons order as the guards go to do just that or try to…
"What a ruckus. Sounds like something's happened..." The giant chained huffs his shadow hiding the smaller person besides him.
"All out...Well, then..." The old man sighs when he tries to sip his flaks but gets nothing.
"Old man..." The giant eyes the old man.
"Only a fool would protect a lousy fish!" The guards glare at Luffy and co.
"Gum-Gum...Whip!" Luffy strikes the knights down with his leg.
"Gotcha!" A knight with many others goes to grab Zoro but…
"Tatsu..." He easily cuts them all down.
"...Maki! Strong Right! ...And Fresh fire! Outta the way, outta the way!" Franky roars rushing past them with his fire breath.
"Such violence!" The dragon watches the chaos ensue.
"Stay away!" Nami shrieks when she trips falling down the stairs with the knights after her as they think they got her until…
"Watch out for thunderclouds! Thunderbolt Tempo! So sorry!" Smirking, she winks when striking the knights down.
"You intend to defy us to the very end, do you?!" The dragon growls glaring at the crew causing chaos.
"Camie isn't for sale!" Luffy roars.
"Call for a navy admiral and a warship! Let them see who's boss!" The dragon orders his aid.
"When are we gonna get there?!" Usopp whines.
"Soon! We're in Grove 1 now!" The guy assures Usopp as he drives Usopp over.
"Straw Hat, the busty girl, the young master, the swordsman, the panties guy, and the reindeer have already arrived!" The guy on the radio reports to the two.
"Huh? That means the only ones who are late are Robin, Brook...and me?! Oh! How could this happen to the great Usopp-sama?! Hurry! Go!" Usopp realizes.
"Quit thrashing around! That's dangerous!" The driver grunts as Usopp tries to take control but…
"Come on! Faster! Go!" Usopp orders.
"Oh, what a beautiful sky! Wait, huh?! Whew, I owe you one..." Screaming, he cries out as he falls out if not for the hands sprouting out saving him.
"You know better than to jump off early!" The driver catches Usopp.
"You're the one who shook me off!" Usopp berates.
"You were going too fast. Bye." Robin smiles.
"We'll be going on ahead!" Brook adds as he and Robin on their respective transport go on ahead.
"Wait for me, guys!" Usopp cries chasing after them.
"A pirate struck a Celestial Dragon! Navy Headquarters is going to send a warship now!" The people of the auction house flee frightened as marines line up outside the house, cocoon balls aimed and ready to strike said pirates down.
"Justice." The man outside the auction house stands wearing his coat of the kanji justice.
"I can't believe this! I should have just paid for my slave and left!" The noble holds his bag of money grumbling before bumping into someone his hues widening when his bag is suddenly snatches from him.
"It would be a waste to use that to buy someone. I think I'll use it in a more productive way instead." Happily, the old man takes the money.
"There's no end to 'em." Luffy scowls back to back with Sanji.
"That's for sure! I'm gonna wear down my heels at this rate!" Sanji huffs.
"Duck!" Zoro calls out as both men do for Zoro to slash at the upcoming nights.
"Are you trying to kill us?!" Luffy and Sanji shout.
"I did warn you." Zoro sighs as said slice hits Cami's water cage, opening the top for her.
"We couldn't hear you!" Both Luffy and Sanji snap at Zoro.
"Camie!" Hachi calls out to her.
"Hachi!" Camie cries out.
"Are you okay?! They didn't do anything bad to you, did they?!" Hachi worries.
"I'm fine! But you've been hurt!" Concerned, Camie worries.
"Don't worry! Who do you take me for?! I'm Hachi, the Takoyaki seller! Just hang on a little longer! Wait right there!" Hachi promises.
"Yeah! Hachi! Everyone!" Camie beams brightly at her friends.
"Just like the rumors said..." The long blonde haired helmet wearing male by the redhead's side says.
"Yeah. He's one crazy bastard." The redhead agrees.
"Straw Hat-ya Luffy...A million Berry bounty, huh..." The one wearing yellow and black smirks slightly.
"An uproar is already underway. There's a flood of people at the entrance." Robin points out.
"Our only choice is to jump into the fray! Just crash into it, if you would!" Brook reasons.
"Understood!" The fish biker agrees.
"Huh?! I-I need to prepare myself first!" Usopp cries.
"Here we go!" Robin exclaims as the fish drivers dive down.
"My "can't go to auction houses" disease...!" Usopp winces weakly but it falls to deaf ears as they all come crashing in.
"More flying fish!" The crowd below cry out.
"Thank you!" Robin drops down.
"Take care!" The biker tells her.
"Cien Fleurs! Wing!" Hands sprout out from her back forming wings allowing her to descend down.
"Alright! Good luck!" The driver tells Brook.
"Off I go!" Brook joins Robin.
"Clutch!" With ease, Robin soars down, cracking the necks of those before her with ease as she descends down.
"I just cracked my back...!" Brook grimaces as he trips and falls.
"Brook." Chopper sweat drops handing him some milk.
"Oh, that's right! Milk heals me since I'm nothing but bones! I'm nothing but bones and bones! Viva calcium! Now, then! Pardon my late entrance!" Brook takes out his cane blade.
"Damn pirate!" A knight grabs Robin's shoulder however…
"Clutch!" Hands sprout out breaking the knight's neck.
"Damn! Guard the mermaid at all costs! 500 million! She sold for millions! Exterminate them at once!" The auctioneers arms himself with a gun.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, folks! There's nothing to fear now that Usopp-sama is here! The hero is always the last to make an entrance! I am the headliner here, after all! S-So high up! Since I'm here, maybe I'll just fret for a little longer!" Usopp frets from above as the crew below cause chaos until…
"Get going already!" The fish rider pushes him down.
"I actually would've preferred to do it at my own pace!" Usopp cries tears in his eyes as he comes crashing down into the chaos.
"I'll punish these cretins by stuffing and preserving the women and making the men slaves and starving them!" Charlos father swears it until…
"Father!" The female dragon cries out as Usopp comes crashing down on him knocking him out.
"Oww, oww...! Wait, that didn't hurt that much... Sorry, mister!" Usopp apologises as he too joins the fray.
"S-Saint Roswald, too?! You just repeated your crime, pirate!" The knights glare at the straw hats.
"Usopp! Robin! Brook! Looks like everyone's here!" Luffy perks up at the sight of them.
"Luffy! Where's Camie?!" Usopp asks Luffy.
"Over there! We'll run away as soon as the bomb around her neck is off!" Luffy tells Usopp.
"We have to hurry before the warship and admiral get here!" Nami adds.
"Eh?!" Usopp freaks out.
"The navy's already here, Straw Hat-ya." The man wearing black and yellow calls out to him.
"Who're you? What's with that bear?" Luffy peers over his shoulder spotting said male.
"They've had the place surrounded before the auctions even began. Navy Headquarters has a post on this archipelago, you see." The man tells Luffy.
"Please leave the area immediately! It's all right! We're here!" The marines assure the auctioneers.
"How's it look inside?!" One of the marines pry.
"We've finished evacuating the patrons! The three Celestial Dragons are still inside!" They report.
"Bring them out at once! You damn pirates! Don't think you'll get out of here unhurt!" The vice admiral orders.
"I dunno who they wanted to catch, but I doubt they expected anyone would beat up the Celestial Dragons. Heheh, that was an interesting show you gave, Straw Hat-ya crew." The man wearing a yellow hoodie, with black sleeves and black hood tells Luffy.
"You must be Trafalgar Law. Luffy. He's a pirate." Robin identifies.
"Huh?! The bear, too?" Luffy says surprised.
"And the man over there...Eustass Captain Kid." Robin identifies.
"Eh?! That's the one with a higher bounty than Luffy-san?!" Brook gasps.
"This is unforgivable! In which case, I'll kill this mermaid that they're after! The million Berries!" The female dragon takes out a gun aiming it at the scared Camie.
"P-P-Please wait, Saint Shalria! That item hasn't been paid for yet! Please wait, Saint Shalria! Saint Shalria!" The disco man begs but…
"Be quiet you inferior human! All right, fish! This is the end, once and for all!" She turns to aim her gun at him firing at him before turning to aim her gun back at Camie once and for all.
"Crap! Camie-chan's in trouble!" Sanji curses.
"Quit your squirming!" The dragon roars.
"Damn...!" Usopp readies his slingshot.
"Now you die!" She smirks smugly.
"Camie!" Hachi cries out.
"Oh no! We can't stop her in time!" Nami gasps.
"S-Saint Shalria!" The knights cry out when suddenly a pulse of some sort hits making her fall flat to the ground unconscious as before they knew it, the wall with the smile on it was torn to shreds where coming out is…
"See, Mr. Giant? The place is in a real uproar. Haven't seen this much chaos since Hibiscus came over…" Rayleigh chuckles coyly at the memory of many slaves being freed by the displeased woman all because the item she was looking for wasn't there…
"I'd say the auction's over. I've stolen some money now, so guess I'll head back to the gambling houses..." The old man decides.
"You're one disagreeable old man. You were only here to get some money?" The giant eyes the old man below him.
"I was hoping for a chance to steal from whoever bought me too...But I guess it wasn't meant to be. Oh, right. I'm all out. First thing is more alcohol. Think about it. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want an old man like me for a slave. Oh? Looks like we've garnered some attention..." The old man bursts out laughing as Law in the back brow furrows at the old man, the only link he had left of finding her…
Quietly, the crips click of heels echoes across the frail flicking feeble fibres of grass, gently tickling her heel or at the least attempting to if not for the shield that was the material of her shoes. She sees the people dancing, chatting conversing cheerily amongst themselves making her smile softly slightly at the sight seeing the elderly pirates of the old era enjoy themselves.
"Nah she tops she has to there's no way she wouldn't..." Ann arches a brow by the voice of Yassop.
"She is sort of a control freak…" Limejuice considers.
"But wouldn't that mean she'd want a break have someone take the reigns?" Shanks argues.
"No way not Ann." Yasopp scoffs.
"No way me what?" Ann arches a brow bemused by the boys sat around the fire sipping their drinks dubiously conversing amongst themselves.
"Oh Ann uh…" Nervously, sweat slides down the tense temple of Yassop.
"Oh what's wrong Yassop? Cat got your tongue or are you saying something you shouldn't?" Smirking, a glint gleam in the eyes of the amused Ann leaning in as the dreadlocks man reel his head back by the sheer suaveness coming from the confident woman.
"Well…" Yassop draws out anxiously dread hitting him hard when noting the tired threatening tone creeping through spotting it a smile away being the sniper that he is.
"The hell you morons talking about?" Annoyed, Ann leans back hands on hips eyeing her moron of a group of friends and brothers.
"If I cut off my leg and swing it at you. Would I be hitting you or kicking you?" Shanks asks Ann astonishing her. She arches a brow baffled by both the question and his hope to think that would actually work, baffled that he thought it would…
"You'd be mentally scarring me more than anything." Ann answers aloofly, hand grip tightening around her waist, brow furrowed not quite sure what to really say to that hypothetical question or well situation he had proposed to her, how long had he been thinking of that? Knowing him probably for a long while…
"That so…" Softly, Shanks hums considering the train of thought.
"Yeah now stop lying speak!" Sternly, she snaps snatching Shanks by his cheek pinching it making him cry out as she crouches down, glaring down at the writhing mess of Shanks flailing about…
"Yep definitely. That just confirms it." Yassop nods his head alongside a fair few others of the senior offices of the Red Haired Pirates.
"Aw come on it confirms nothing!" Shanks whines while Ann messes with his face tugging at his face frowning.
"Comfrims what?" Annoyed, Ann's hues narrow at the crowd of senior officers squirming scared of the woman's wrath.
"You topping." Bluntly, Shanks comes clean.
"Of course I do." Ann scoffs shoving Shanks back, taking a seat as Limejuice hands her some booze.
"She's so honest…" The boys sweat drops at her bluntness.
"Liar." Shanks smirks slightly.
"What was that?" Tense, Ann's hues narrow at the smirking Shanks.
"You heard me, I know you. You act like you have everything under control and you may like it but I could see you want to let the reigns go from time to time!" Teasingly, Shanks smirks smugly winking at the frowning Ann.
"…I can't believe we're having this conversation." Ann scoffs scowling.
"Tell me I'm wrong!" Shanks challenges.
"You're wrong." Bluntly, Ann deadpans.
"Not that blunt geez…" Shanks shrinks down whining.
"…where did this even conversation come from?" Ann arches a brow baffled by the topic proposed.
"Well funny enough we were talking about how pretty you looked when you were an oiran." Shanks smiles.
"You mean when you wanted inside info on Kaidou…?" Ann recalls brow furrowed fatigued from the murky memory of that hellish time…
"Yeah!" Shanks smiles.
"Urgh…" Ann makes quite the face frowning fatigued from the memory alone.
"You okay?" Hongou takes note of her repulsed face.
"Just memories." Ann slides her hand over her face fatigued from the murky memory of the mountains upon mountains of makeup, the restrictive garb that was her kimono, the hairpins and crap in her hair, the constant talking too…urgh, Ann could feel the urge to go to bed just from the memory alone.
"What's wrong? You got to drink and talk party too." Shanks argues.
"I didn't have to wear all that crap and all all cutesy and crap." Curtly, Ann deadpans disgusted at all the prep she had to go through not to mention constantly smiling at that, with those guys arms around her, the urge to rip them off is still fresh in her mind…
"You mean the complete opposite of who you were." Benn speaks up from the group smirking slightly seeing Ann's repulsed face.
"It was so tiring I thought the marines was tiring but this was something else. Honestly I just wanted to go to bed most of the time and get that clown makeup of me not to mention the crap I had to sprout urgh I shudder from the memory…" Ann crosses her arms over her chest at the miserable memory remembering faintly the shy sting of guilt gnawing away at her when she had to entertain a customer while thinking about him…at least with him she could look like shit he wouldn't care, he wouldn't have her talk constantly, those small silent moments of just cuddling…Ann furrows her brow by the memory, sighing sadly at the feeling of longing….of wanting to be in his arms as Ann couldn't help but sigh at the complicated feelings from that torture…
"Come on you got to admit you looked pretty." Yassop smiles at Ann.
"Pretty enough for Kaidou to want you." Limejuice throws in.
"Urgh don't remind me of that jackass next I see him I'll give make him pay!" Ann threatens, hating how Shanks had to come in and strike him down, the next she'd see him, he'd be screaming for her to stop…
"Still its pretty scary how easy you were to act and lie like that!" Yassop admits amused.
"When I want something I'll get it by any means." Mischievously, Ann winks.
"Scary!" The boys couldn't help but smile at Ann's playfulness.
"I'm just saying how it is." Amused, Ann smiles softly sipping her drink.
"As are we heck I heard people comparing you to Komurasaki!" Roux throws in.
"Huh…that right…" Ann scoffs.
"Heheh I bet a certain admiral would have loved to see your oiran." Smirking, Shanks winks at the brightly blushing Ann.
"DIE!" Angrily, Ann reels her fist bashing it into the snickering Shank's side smiling still alongside his top officers as they watch both left hand and Yonko squabble...like the siblings that they are.
"On the Pirate King's ship?!" Shocked, Luffy gawks gapes at the news as he stuffs his face full of the food within Shakki's fridge. The group having escapes and gone back to Shakki's shack to lay low for a while after all that.
"Yes. I'm Silvers Rayleigh, the ship's vice-captain. Nice to meet you." Silver smiles as he pours himself a glass.
"Vice-captain?!" The crew gawk at the news.
"You didn't tell them, Hatchan?" Shakki turns to the wounded octopus.
"We only needed his help with the coating, so..." Hatchan reasons.
"Oh? You didn't realize it?" Robin hums.
"I know his name so well!" Usopp sobs.
"It's in so many books!" Nami cries.
"It's definitely a name everyone hears at least once..." Sanji adds.
"Gold Roger...I seem to vaguely recall a rookie named that long ago, but I'm not sure..." Brook mutters as he eats some rice.
"How do such a big-shot and an octopus know each other?" Zoro pries perplexed.
"Hachi rescued me over years ago, when I was stranded in the sea." Silvers answers.
"He saved his life. He was still a child at the time, though." Shakki soon joins in.
"Hachi and I remained close after that, until he joined the Sun Pirates." Silvers sips his drink.
"You mean Arlong, right?" Luffy assumes but…
"Still...even though Gold Roger was executed years ago, you didn't get your head chopped off for being vice-captain? The navy caught the entire crew, didn't it?" Sanji lights his cigarette confused.
"We weren't caught. Roger turned himself in. The government might've made it sound like they had caught him as a way to show its power, though." Silvers admits to the crew.
"The King of the Pirates turned himself in?! Why?!" Nami says shocked.
"Because we saw an end to our journey. 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 with the skill to ease 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 final voyage. Finally, three years later, while managing to escape death, Roger achieved what was said to be impossible: he conquered the Grand Line." Rayleigh explains to the crew behind him, holding his glass.
"C-C-Crocus-san?! At the Twin Capes?! Oh, that brings back memories!" Brook cries.
"Huh?! That old guy wasn't there for years straight?! He was a member of the Pirate King's crew?!" Usopp says shocked.
"Come to think of it, he did mention being a ship's doctor for a few years! So he was a pirate for those three years, then?!" Nami recollects.
"The fact that you've met him must mean he's still doing well! Crocus agreed to come aboard because there was a certain group of pirates he wanted to look for." Rayleigh tells them.
"Brook! It was you guys he set out to find, no doubt about it!" Usopp realises.
"Crocus-san...! You even went to such lengths...!" Brook whimpers weakly.
"He was only a crewmember for three years, but he was unquestionably one of us! At this age now, it'd be great to see him again..." Silvers smiles sadly at the thought.
"So, what happened after he conquered the sea?" Sanji queries.
"That's when it all began. The world started calling Roger "King of the Pirates." He hadn't been King of the Pirates the entire time before or anything. Titles hold no meaning for a man about to die. But Roger was overjoyed. He loved doing everything in a flashy way... Whether it was celebrating or fighting…He even seemed to enjoy thinking out a plan for the future, even though he wouldn't be a part of it…" Rayleigh's hues soften sadly recalling a particular case long ago…
"Join the marines…why do I have to join such scum!?" Snarling, the angry girl glares glowers up at the pirate king.
"Ann!" Rayleigh furrows his brow at the young glaring girl, glowering at her father with such hate with such anger with so much pain…
"I hate them! Why!? Why can't I join Shanks crew? Make my own crew? Hide with Rayleigh? Hide with mom!? Why!? Why do I have to go with that man!?" Miserably, the young girl with long wave pinkish hair of blonde begs beseeches the man tugging at his trousers, the tears freely falling from her sobbing state.
"Ann this is the final order of your captain!" Roger roars down making the young girl flinch from his words.
"And what about my father? What would he say to his daughter working with such scum!? I hate them! I hate you!" The young girl glares glowers up at the man above, the tears freely falling from her yell before turning on her heel storming off.
"..." Silently, he watches the young girl tearfully take off.
"She doesn't mean it." The young Rayleigh whispers to Roger silently staring at her fleeting form flinching from the sharp slam of the door.
"…I know...still doesn't mean it doesn't hurt…" Roger sighs sadly watching the crying child rush off, to sob her heart out at the inevitable reality that would come crashing down upon her.
"Eventually, as per captain's orders, the Roger Pirates were secretly disbanded. One by one, everyone discretely left." Rayleigh pours himself another glass to down smiling sadly at the glass below thinking back to his crew, each one of them going their separate ways, the three apprentices the three siblings separating to go their respective pathways, one wearing a straw hat the other crying his heart out running while the other had the hand of Garp guiding her towards a path she wanted no part in…
"As comrades, we all risked our lives together, but I know almost nothing about where they are or what they're doing now. Then, about a year after we disbanded, Roger turned himself in and was arrested. It was then announced that he would be publicly executed in Loguetown, the East Blue town he was born in. I hear that many of the young faces in the town square that day went on to make names for themselves on the high seas today. The world focused its attention on the Pirate King's execution. I didn't attend it. The final words he said went like this..." Rayleigh closes his hues at the murky memory of it all of Roger downing his bottle by his side back to Rayleigh leant against him.
"I'm not going to die, partner..." Roger smiles setting his glass down as he heads towards the window while Rayleigh has his back to him drinking his glass.
"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 the opening ceremony of the Great Pirate Age!" Rayleigh reasons thinking of that ceremony of so many familiar faces in the crowd watching on as the king of the pirates was to be executed, tears freely flowing from each of the apprentices of Roger…
"My treasure? If you want it, you can have it! Find it! I left everything this world has to offer there!" He roars as the blades come crashing down on him.
"In his last few seconds, he changed the dim flame of his life into a hellfire that spread across the world! I've never laughed as much as I did on 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 concludes said story smiling sadly down at his glass of booze.
"It's like we just heard something incredible! It's almost like a different story, hearing it from someone who was there!" Namie says in awe.
"Then it's almost as if Roger created this Great Pirate Era on purpose!" Usopp exclaims.
"That... we still can't say. Roger is dead. Only the people living now can create this era. I'm certain there are people who inherited something from Roger on that day in the town square. Your good friend, Shanks, is probably one of them." Silvers smiles sipping the bottle.
"Eh? You know Shanks, old guy?" Luffy perks up at the name.
"Have you also heard of the East Blue pirate known as Buggy?" Rayleigh questions the crew.
"Buggy..." Nami and Zoro scowl at the nagging name.
"Those two were apprentices on our ship." Rayleigh reveals.
"Eh?! Shanks was on the Pirate King's ship?!" Luffy says shocked.
"What? He didn't tell you about that? I ran into them again on these islands years ago, and he'd lost his trademark straw hat, along with his left arm. When I asked what had happened, he cheerfully spoke about you." Rayleigh says surprised.
"It was a real shock, Rayleigh-san! There was a kid in East Blue who said the same thing Captain Roger did. Those same words of our captain!" Cheerily, Shanks smiles holding his cut arm as he tells Rayleigh this.
"And so this idiot decided to lose his arm." Ann huffs pointing at the moron.
"And I'd do it all again." Shanks smiles still.
"Hence why I have to keep an eye on him in case he loses another, Drac's already pouty about it." Ann drapes her arm around Shanks.
"Only cause you won't duel him either." Shanks argues.
"That's cause it's way too much hassle…" Huffing, Ann argues as the two bicker amongst themselves, Rayleigh smiling softly while watching the squabbling siblings soon head on their boat, heading to the grand line…
"And I've wanted to meet you- Monkey D. Luffy- ever since." Rayleigh admits to the young boy stuffing his face full of food.
"Shanks!" Luffy smiles tugging his straw hat down.
"I'm afraid I can't, in good mind, babble on about things Shanks 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 reassures him.
"Really?! Do you think so?! I can't wait to see him, too!" Luffy smiles beaming brightly.
"Now, then. Let's get down to business. You wanted your ship coated, is that right?" Rayleigh recalls standing up.
"That reminds me, coating costs a lot of money..." Hachi begins but…
"No, that's all right, Hachi. I can't take money from friends of yours." Rayleigh refuses.
"That's a relief. Thank you, Rayleigh." Hachi smiles.
"I dunno why, but he's doing it for free!" Usopp cheers.
"We appreciate it! You're one generous guy!" Sanji smiles.
"It sounds like we just saved a ton of money!" Nami adds amazed as Robin herself has her head down brow furrowed thinking about it all her hands forming fists shaking quivering quaking when thinking of the fierce flames of Ohara, the glisten gold writing on Sky Island…of it all…
"Rayleigh-san. I have a question! What exactly is the "Will of D"? Roger's name was engraved in ancient writing on Poneglyph I saw on a sky island. How was he able to use that writing?! "I made it here. I will guide this text to the ends of the earth." "Pirate Gol D. Roger" Do you people know what happened to the world during the Blank Century that began years ago?!" Robin stands scowling, shaking as she demands the truth from the old man.
"Nico Robin I assume… Ann told me a lot about you." Amused, Rayleigh turns to the woman.
"…Ann?" Robin perks up at the name.
"Or would you recognise her as the hibiscus of the sea? She told me about you…for what it's worth Ohara did not deserve what the marines did… she always felt guilty for leaving you as she did… Rayleigh smiles sadly at the thought of her…
"Ann…" Robin whispers weakly.
"That girl…she's always been hard on herself…still it's a shame she never told me how beautiful of a woman you are." Rayleigh smirks slightly.
"She probably didn't want a pervert like you hitting on her." Shakki smirks slightly at her husband.
"No doubt about it." Rayleigh chuckles coyly already hearing the lecture she would give not to mention the blunt bonk to the top of his throbbing head if he tried anything…
"Eh you know Ann too?" Luffy perks up at the name.
"You could say that, tell me something is Ann still playing around with people?" Rayleigh asks amused as he thinks back to a certain cyclist…
"Eh?" Luffy furrows his brow by her words.
"Never mind. And as for your question Nico Robin. Yes. We know. We learned the entirety of history. But, Miss. You mustn'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 now. Once you've taken the time to see the world, it's possible 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 smirks softly shaking his head, a glint of fondness clear in his hues at the thought of the little hibiscus before turning to give that offer to Robin but…
"No, I'll pass. I'll continue my journey. It will all come into sight someday." Robin decides.
"I'm sorry for what happened to your homeland of Ohara. However, Roger didn't decipher that writing! We're pirates. We can't possibly match the intellect of geniuses like Clover and the scholars of Ohara. He heard the voice of all things, that's all." Rayleigh answers astonishing Robin when hearing his words…
"Date someone who will drag you outside at 3am to look at the stars." Smiling, Shanks slurs as Ann exits out of her room raising a brow by her captain's choice of works considering the rest of the 12 hours in a day he's hungover, she couldn't help but questions his words.
"If anyone, and I mean anyone, wakes me up at 3am to go look at the damn sky they will be removed indefinitely from my life. Now what are you doing?" Ann announces herself to the group joining them.
"Is this whiskey or perfume?" Shanks asks as he hands her a bottle.
Unfazed, Ann chugs the bottle.
"It's perfume. Now what are you guys doing this time?" Ann lies straight faced the crew catching on Shanks not so much as he looks concerned alarmed almost at the unfazed Ann as Hongou hands her another bottle to swig from.
"We're thinking of playing never have I ever…" Benn fills her in.
"Course you are…wait you're playing?" Ann arches a brow taken aback at Benn's participation.
"Eh." He shrugs making Ann nod, nothing was really going on, it couldn't hurt either way they were all going to have a hangover the next day.
"Right let's start this, never have I ever had a friend with benefits." Shanks smirks smugly at the annoyed Ann.
"…You did that on purpose." Ann grumbles going for a swig of her drink.
"No idea what you're talking about…" Amused, Shanks smirks smugly.
"Sure just as I'm sure that never have I ever had a threesome!" Teasingly, Ann counters cooly back bemused.
"Fine you got me there! Never have I ever…slept with someone twice my age." Arrogantly, Shanks smirks smugly, some of the men chug their drinks but Ann…simply smirks.
"I wouldn't say he's twice my age." Amused, Ann argues swirling the bottle in her hand.
"Ten years is pretty big." Shanks grumbles.
"I'm not ten and I'm an adult just as he is." Aloofly, Ann shrugs.
"Okay then…never have I ever said "I love you" to someone." Smirking, Shanks throws in as a fair few down their glasses.
"Whoa we weren't that serious." Ann scoffs seeing Shanks expectant look.
"Never?" Sadly, Shanks hues soften sadly at Ann.
"…Just a bit of fun is all..." Anguished, Ann smiles strained, they couldn't be how could she say that to the person she had been lying to, had kept so much from had…
"Hmm…" Shanks makes a small sad sound of sorts.
"Could you stop trying to aim ones at me p-" Ann sighs however…
"Never have I ever done it in an admiral's office!" Shanks smirks seeing the straight faced Ann's ice cold glare, a still silence between both of them until…
"…I hate you." Ann mutters miserably as she downs the bottle baffling the crew.
"OH my god!" Shanks and the others burst out laughing while Ann groans head in hands.
"Okay last one…never have I ever fallen in love with someone at first sight." Smirking, Yasopp giddily joins in.
"…You're right I haven't." Ann smirks smugly at the sniper.
"Eh you serious?" Yasopp says shocked.
"Course not if you're referring to him, the first sight I had of him was flirting with some bar maid." Ann admits.
"Oh…" The top officers share a look.
"Yeeeah…" Ann draws out.
"Okay then what about Marco?" Shanks challenges.
"Shanks!" Ann glares lightly at the smirking Shanks.
"Wait you had a crush on Marco?" Yasopp perks up at the news.
"Sttooop it was a long time ago…" Annoyed, Ann groans.
"Is that why you always ask him to join us?" Bemused, Benn queries.
"I mean…yeah but it's sort of just a joke now you know? Urgh look I was a kid on the seas and he just sort…stood out to me." Miserably, Ann attempts to defend herself, head in hands horrified at her childish crush.
"Just stood out?" Hongou raises a brow by her wording while Ann simply sighs at the murky memory of how it all began…
"Oi Ann what you doing?" Buggy makes his way over to Ann as she crouches down, tending to the flowers below beaming brightly.
"Making a flower crown." Casually, she answers amused as she handles the flowers below.
"Why?" Buggy's brow furrows down at Ann.
"Cause I like these flowers they'll look nice on my hat." Happily, she smiles showing said new hat off however…
"Urgh you're so weird!" Buggy calls out.
"…What?" Ann furrows her brow befuddled.
"Just the other day you were fighting people and now you're just making some flower crown! That's so weird creepy!" Buggy points at the astonished Ann.
"Well I mean…what's wrong with that?" Anxiously, Ann's grip tightens around the flower crown.
"Everything you're a pirate you're meant to be tough there's no time for flower crowns!" Buggy snaps slamming the bottom of his foot onto the flowers.
"H-Hey!" Ann cries out pained to see such flowers crushed.
"Oi, oi what's going on here?" Marco makes his way over to the two.
"M-Marco!" Buggy squeaks scared seeing said male before him.
"What are you doing Ann? Say these flowers look real cute fitting for a cutie like you." Merrily, Marco kneels down compliments her.
"E-Eh?" Astonished, Ann's eyes expand when hearing his words, a rush of red hitting her cheeks alarming Buggy to see said sight.
"Cute? She's creepy! She was just fighting you guys the other day and now you call her cute?" Bemused, Buggy scoffs smirking pointing at the furrowed frown of Ann amused at her pained pout.
"Yeah, she was awesome heh I bet when you're older Ann you're going to be a real heartbreaker!" Surprised, both blinks befuddled by Marco's words while he winks at the brightly blushing girl.
"R-Really?" The young Ann blushes brightly by the thought oblivious to the sharp scowl of Buggy, brow furrowed a strange sense of protectiveness rushing over him as next he knew…
"Captain!" Buggy rushes over to the only man who could stop whatever this was…
"How about we make a flower crown together?" Marco suggests smiling down at Ann sniffling brushing the tear to the side.
"O-Okay!" Ann beams brightly happy as soon enough she and Marco were doing just that…
"Ann I heard you were making flower crowns!" Cheerily, Roger rushes over, eager to be given another flower crown, a ritual of sorts between both father and daughter but…
"H-Here Marco." Roger soon stops, his hues widening blinking befuddled at the sight of his blushing little girl holding a flower chain to him.
"Eh?" Roger soon stops staring stunned at the scene playing out before him.
"For you…" The young Ann blushes brightly showing said flower chain to him.
"Aw thanks Ann that's really sweet of you!" Merrily, Marco accepts said flower crown crouching down for the young girl to put it on him as the whitebeard pirate smile softly at the rather cute sight Roger on the other hand however…
"AAANN!" Angrily, Roger roars raising his voice startling a fair few of both the whitebeard pirates but not Whitebeard.
"Seems that daughter of yours will be one of my own soon enough Roger! Gurararara!" Whitebeard bursts out laughing when Roger rushes at his daughter dragging her away from Marco, madly glaring at the mystified Marco.
"Hm? Oh papa…" Oblivious to the worried Maroc distancing himself from the two, Ann looks up at her father hugging her as before she knew it she was on the ship, placed upon a barrel befuddled by the smirking smugly Buggy and lost Shanks, sending a quick glare to Buggy when seeing his smug smirk.
"W-Where's my flower crown?" The pirate king sinks to his knees, hands on her shoulders whimpering weakly while Shanks stands by Roger's side looking just as lost as Ann while Buggy smirks smugly, eager to hear the lecture to come to hear Ann be told off.
"Eh?" Ann blurts out freezing from the question.
"I heard you were making flower crowns…" He hints at their tradition when coming to a new plan.
"I was." Ann confirms confused by her father's soft sniffle.
"T-Then where's mine?" Meekly, he queries.
"I didn't make you one." Bluntly, Ann answers as an arrow impaled into Roger's rejected side startling him.
"E-Eh?" Roger squeaks slightly turning to stare scowl seeing Marco conversing with the others, a flower crown on him horrifying Roger.
"Annn…" Roger's hues narrow glaring glowering at Whitebeard's son.
"…hm?" Humming, Ann looks up at her father from the barrel she was placed upon.
"…as your father I forbid it!" Incensed, Roger roars.
"Forbid what?" Ann quirks her head to the side.
"You and him, you being in a relationship you can never kiss another boy not until you're 50!" Roger dictates.
"Eh…why?!" Ann astonished asks baffled by the age required.
"Cause he's old, way too old for you! He's six years older!" Roger stresses.
"So…you're ten years older than mama." Ann argues.
"E-Eep!" Roger squeaks slightly when hearing his words.
"She's got your there Roger…" Rayleigh smirks slightly at the scene playing out.
"T-That's different!" Roger disputes.
"How so?" Ann quirks her head to the side.
"Me and your mother are adults." Roger coughs awkwardly.
"Why can't I be one?" Ann furrows her brow.
"When you're older and can make your decisions can you decide but until you're fifty that's not happening!" Roger roars.
"But papa now that you said I can't have him I sorta want him more." Bluntly, Ann admits astonishing the men on the ship.
"SHE'S WAY TOO BLUNT!" The men on board bellow baffled by her poker face.
"She's your kid alright Roger!" Gaban smirks slightly.
"Yeah her having Rouge's poker face doesn't help! She's going to be breaking hearts no doubt about it in the future!" Rayleigh adds amused.
"ARGHH! What happened to my sweet innocent little hibiscus?!" Roger cries tears freely falling sobbing his heart out.
"Eh..? Papa?" Perplexed, Ann quirks her head to the side.
"You can't say such things you're still a young girl! You're still papa's daughter he refuses to let you!" Roger roars at his daughter.
"But that only makes me want to more now!" Ann whines.
"That's an order!" Roger barks back.
"Papa's no fun!" Ann huffs plopping down on the barrel.
"Oi Ann! Papa loves you very much that's why he's saying these things!" Roger tells her.
"Yeah listen to the captain Ann!" Buggy smirks smugly.
"Mmmm…Nah." Unfazed, she lets out shocking everyone else at her nonchalant response, leaving them to it, wandering off.
"O-Oi Ann!" Roger roars but it falls to deaf ears as the girl skips off over to Whitebeard horrifying Roger, falling flat to his knees when watching the blushing blonde try to talk to Marco, stuttering stammering as the surprisingly patient Marco listens smiling at the little girl oblivious to the rejected Roger watching on…
"She's the princess of the pirate king alright." Amused, Rayleigh smiles patting Roger's back attempting to cheer his friend up through this time…
"Well I mean he was just super nice to me you know?" Present day Ann answers as she shrugs the memory off, the group still around the fire enjoying their drinking…
"He was nice to everyone." Shanks scoffs watching Ann set her drink down.
"Hey when you're my age and have only you and Buggy as frame of references for boys you take what you can get." Ann places her hands behind her head.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Shanks hues narrow.
"Look it was just a childhood crush okay? It's faded now." Ann dismisses.
"What attracted you to him?" Hongou couldn't help but wonder.
"I don't know mini me was weird okay? He just stood out like I said…" Ann trails off.
"You mean when you fought, you should have seen her when we were kids she had no clue how to talk to him she would blush and stutters and stammer." Smirking, Shanks throws in.
"Shanks!" Ann glares lightly at the ass.
"The only times she was confident was when they were fighting each other." Shanks snickers slightly bemused by the memory.
"Urgh fighting was the only thing that I was confident in okay? I didn't know how to talk to people especially outside the crew." Ann groans embarrassed.
"To think our little Hibiscus flower could be as delicate as her namesake." Bemused, Benn smirks slightly spewing smoke from his lips.
"Oh go to hell!" Ann huffs as she and the rest burst out laughing enjoying their drinking game…
"Urgh….oi Ann think we can wake Hongou up to wipe up some of that hangover cure of his…" Shanks grunts groans, his head aching quivering quaking as he makes his way out of his room eyeing the silently still figure of Ann, hands clasping the shaking shivering shuddering papers in her hand.
"…Ann?" Shank holding his head furrows his brow by his friend's silence slowly joining his side, his hues widening when seeing her face full dread hitting her hard.
"W-What's wrong?" Shanks glimpses down at the paper peering over, his heart dropping at the title of Fire Fist's execution.
"Ann…" Shanks worriedly watches his friend furrowing his brow not quite sure what to really say.
"I should have been there…I should have stopped him…I should have…I'll never forgive them." Ann snarls seethes swearing it.
"Hey we won't let it happen." Shanks swears.
"No matter what I won't…I'll never forgive them!" Tense, Ann snarls seethes storming back into her room, slamming said door determined to do what had to be done as before anyone else knew it, Shanks and Ann both were both barking orders, forcing their men to wake up, dishing orders to their men to move, their hangover quickly forgotten when hearing the news as the red haired pirate set off dead set on getting to Marineford…
So got to ask what did you think of this chapter? Of Ann's past? Of her dynamic with her father? Would love to know your thoughts especially with what's to come...merry Christmas by the way, hope you enjoy this chapter as a gift!