The next day, Cliff woke up feeling with a smile. A smile which soon faded as he got lost in his thoughts. He thought of his grandfathers' stories. He thought of what he witnessed the day before. He thought of that man laugh, his entire carefree demeanour as if he wasn't walking to his death but was instead sitting and drinking with his crewmates. He thought of how he smiled when asked for his treasure and with a laugh told everyone to look for it. But one thing still bugged Cliff. That final smile that reeked of satisfaction right before being pierced by spears. That's what bugged Cliff. Why was he satisfied? But no matter, some things fell into place for Cliff with that small thinking time he had. If the boredom he experienced on his grandfather's ship was standard for a marine then he wanted no part of it. He did not want to follow commands and protocols just to sail the seas. He did not want to be told where to sail when he had a perfectly good mind to decide himself.

Cliff shook his head, 'Where did that come from?... perhaps, yesterday really put things into perspective. If he can laugh while walking to his death, then perhaps I can do so too… plus I really do not want to wear those white uniforms that marines have. Wearing white day in and day out…'

It was then that Cassy woke up. Seeing her reminded Cliff of what bugged him about Roger's last smile, so he asked her about it. hearing his question Cassy fell into thought and didn't speak until they were halfway through breakfast.

"I got it, Cliff!" She suddenly spoke enthusiastically with food still in her mouth spraying out all over Cliff.

Cliff's right eye twitched as he grabbed a napkin from the side to clean himself off before looking at his companion straight in the eye. "First of all, do not speak while eating! I thought Aunt Sara beat that into both of us." He grumbled the last part. "Now what have you got that's got you bouncing in your seat?" he questioned.

"The answer to your question from this morning." She replied and seeing him snap his head towards her and giving her his full attention, she continued, "What he said will drive people to become pirates by the thousands. Everyone will want his treasure and since he didn't specify what his treasure was, everyone will have different ideas all of which will be what they want. The seas will be swarmed with pirates as they attempt to get to his treasure. That's why you saw that satisfaction. He inspired a lot of people to set out to sea, to seek freedom and his treasure."

By the time she finished she saw him look down and fall into contemplation and seeing him like this she let him be and continued looking around the town they were in.

Cliff was really quiet that day, always lost in thought. The same was the case for the next few days. He really seemed to be thinking about something and Cassy though curious didn't really question him much.

TIME SKIP 1 MONTH~

They had been back on their island for a few days now. Vice Admiral Calloway (Cliff's Grandfather) let them spend a few days in Loguetown before setting sail back to their island.

Today Cliff woke up with a large smile having decided something. He did have a determined look to him as got up and he sought out Cassy. He found her in the diner like always did every day.

"Hey!" he called out to her as he sat down next to her.

She looked up at him with a smile but that smile was suddenly replaced with a puzzled look. "Something's changed about you."

She said with certainty as Cliff let a small laugh loose, "Knew I couldn't hide it from you."

"Hide? What are yo-"

"Shh! I'll tell you later! Let's finish breakfast first, okay?"

She nodded and started shoving food in her gullet as Cliff did the same on his side. It seemed like both of them were really eager for what Cliff was hiding. Cliff to share and Cassy to know.

After breakfast, Cassy started walking to go to their usual haunt, a clearing in the forest but Cliff took hold of her hand and started running in the opposite direction. Towards the sea he ran, taking with him Cassy.

He stopped on the shore just short of the water so as to avoid getting wet. Cassy looked at him only his back visible having freed herself halfway to their destination and having run a step or two behind the rest of the way. He turned to her and said, "Do you remember the stories I told you?"

"The ones your grandfather told you and you repeated to me? Yeah, I do. Not like I can forget them." (Cassy)

"Wanna experience them for real?"

"Huh?" Was her intelligent response.

"I know you want to see other islands, explore them and have an adventure."

"How? How do you know that?" (Cassy)

"I've always known. The way you perked up when I told you those stories. The way your eyes shone when I told you about different islands grandpa told me about. The way you explored this island in its entirety with me. The way you accompanied me on our 'little adventures' into the forest. The way you explored Loguetown. It was always clear. That is why I ask. Do you want to experience those stories for real? Do you want to explore islands all over the world and have adventures with me?"

As Cliff spoke Cassy remembered those moments. How she would listen attentively to Cliff as he recounted his grandfather's tales. How she happily explored their island alongside him. How she eagerly explored Loguetown. And not to forget their 'little adventures'. It all came to Cassy as she looked directly into Cliff's eyes. She thought of what he was asking her. And an answer bloomed within her. She wanted to do all that. Yes! she wanted to explore the world. Yes! She wanted to experience those stories for real.

"Do you want to have an adventure with me? One that spans the entire world? One that turns this world upside down?!"

He got increasingly louder as he finished, looking at her for an answer, she saw hope in his eyes. Hope that she said yes. That hope would have helped her make a decision had she not done so already. But she had already made a decision. And without thinking she spoke her answer in a whisper first then getting louder and louder.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! YES! YES! YEEESSS!"

By the time last yes had been spoken, Cliff had hugged her tight and said, "Then we will have one. An adventure spanning the entire world."

She though chuckled and said, "You just talked me into becoming the First-Mate in your Pirate Crew didn't you, Captain Cliff."

She stated more than asked as she pushed him back a little and looked into his eyes. Amber Brown met Green. For a few seconds everything was quiet then both started laughing.

"Rahahahahahahahahahaha/Hehehehehehehehehehehe…"

And a few minutes later, as their laughter died down she asked him, "Why?"

"I could give you a multitude of reasons as for why I do not want to join the marines but I have feeling that isn't going to satisfy you." Seeing her nod he continued, "When he spoke those words, he had a smile. Something in me wants to have such a smile. To go and have a life so fulfilling that mere mentions of it brings forth a smile. To lead a crew and sail wherever we wish to sail and have adventures. Something in me wants that and I'm more than willing to go for it. Even on grandpa's ship, being on the sea was exhilarating. I want to feel that again. I want to experience those stories too. But more than that I want to be free like him. That's my dream. To live as freely as possible and have a grand adventure."

"So, you want to become the King of Pirates? Because he's the freest of them all."

"Heh, is that so? Then I'll do that. I'll become the King of Pirates!"