2 weeks before his 16th birthday, he got a message of his grandfather returning to the village in a few days wanting to take Cliff with him out to sea for the first time to show him something.

Knowing his grandfather would probably not wait much before setting out again, Cliff started planning to fulfil the words he gave to Cassy when in the clinic. He found her having breakfast at the diner. He sat down next to her and ordered breakfast. They had a quiet breakfast until-

"Its time, isn't it?" she asked.

"Yes." came his answer.

Soon both were in the forest going deeper into it.

"Are you sure you can do it? That you can defeat the tiger?" she asked.

"I am. I will defeat the tiger…. With your help if I need it!"

"Good. Make sure to ask for help if needed."

"Do you really have to test me like this? You know I wouldn't forget about what I said that day." He asked exasperated.

"Just had to make sure!" she said in a happy, sweet voice.

Some time later, they came to where they first encountered the tiger. The place where Cliff got his scars. They looked around bit couldn't find any trace of the tiger. Both then looked at each other for a moment, nodded and moved forward, deeper into the forest.

It took them 4 days to completely search the deepest part of the forest, sometimes having to fight some strong animals to get through some areas. On the fourth day, they found what they were looking for.

The tiger sat looking at them with narrow eyes.

Cliff moved forward. "Remember me?"

The tiger just looked at them and got into an aggressive posture seeing those he remembered sparing a few years ago.

"We're here to avenge my defeat. This time I do not speak empty words when I say we will defeat you." Cliff's voice sounded out.

Seeing the challenge made not by a weakling but one who can hold his own against himself, the tiger responded by growling and getting ready to pounce on them.

Cliff and the tiger made eye contact for a few seconds, before they moved as one. Both moved too fast to see for those not used to this speed.

Cliff had unsheathed his sword and blocked the claws aimed at him. Deflecting them to the side he tried to get a cut on the tiger by slicing towards it. The tiger avoids the slice by jumping back. Both immediately close the distance again, blocking/ dodging the others attack while trying to get one attack of their own to hit. This went on with attacks coming at different angles. It was only by a lucky shot that Cliff managed to get a hit on the tiger. His blade sliced into the left shoulder of the tiger as he did a diagonal top-left to bottom-right slice. After first blood was claimed, the fight got even fiercer with the tiger suddenly increasing his speed and Cliff struggling to keep up. For 2 minutes, Cliff was clawed at from different angles, with him doing all he could to keep up just to be able to dodge enough that none of the attacks went to deep. He kept on accumulating scratches. When the 2 minutes ended, the tiger stopped its attacks panting. Cliff looked at it and seeing it panting with exhaustion, attacked it to not let it recover. The tiger couldn't move that fast now and could barely avoid deep cuts from the sword swung at him. 2 minutes in it saw an opening and attacked getting Cliff's sword arm in his jaws. Clamping down with all his strength he made sure to have a vice grip on the arm. Cliff's right arm below his elbow was now bleeding due to the sharp teeth digging into it. Cliff tried to hit the tiger with his other limbs. Punches, kicks and knees hitting the tiger made it retreat, leaving Cliff wounded. His right arm now bleeding from deep puncture wounds, Cliff sheathed his sword with his left hand and looked to the exhausted tiger. Both locked eyes and growls sounded out. (Yes, Cliff growled!) Cliff wound up his left arm for a punch while the tiger got into a stance ready to attack.

As one both moved sounding their war cries.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

"ROOOAAAAAAARRRRRRR!"

They collided one last time before all went silent as their war cries reverberated in the forest.

One man stood their panting with an exhausted tiger laying down at his feet.

Cliff had dodged the claws with a hairs' breadth and punched straight at the head with all he had.

Seeing that the tiger fell, Cliff lifted his non wounded arm and let out a cheer, "YYYYEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHH". He then looked back to Cassy with a smile.

She walked towards him with a smile.

"Congratulations!" she said.

"Thanks! Now, I think we need to return to the village. I need to have my arm bandaged and my other wounds checked."

She nodded and they turned around walking away from the tiger back to the village. The tiger they left behind was dumbfounded. He was so sure of his death after being defeated, but he was spared. It looks like they returned a favour. He spared Cliff that day as he could very easily have killed Cliff instead of giving him deep cuts and today Cliff let him live despite defeating him.

…

…

…

Back at the village, Cliff and Cassy had just left the clinic after having Cliff bandaged and checked. All his wounds except the bite on the right arm were relatively shallow and would heal in a day or two but his wounded arm was a little deeper and would need bandages and gauze to heal, though they weren't deep enough to scar.

…

…

…

That night, he dreamed it again. But this time, he was laughing with all his might and had one person accompanying him. They were laughing too.

He woke up the next morning rather happy.

He went to the diner to and ordered breakfast waiting for Cassy. Sometime later she entered the diner. Seeing him, she made a beeline for the counter where he sat and ordered her breakfast.

"Had a good night?" she asked seeing his smile.

"Yeah!" he said, his smile widening.

"So, what do we do now?"

"Now? We wait for grandpa to come. He said he wanted to take me to sea. I'll get him to take you along too!"

"Really! You're only 16 and you get to go to sea?"

Seeing her excitement, he laughed out loud. "Don't forget you're going too."

"Really? But I thou-"

Just out of their earshot and line of sight, within the bar, sat Sara. She finished her drink and looked at the two kids.

"So, he's been captured, huh? But he sure made it big. You were right Captain, the man made it big… I just wish you were here to see it… *sigh* Anyway, if the old man was to comeback to here in South Blue all the way from Marineford just to take his grandson to sea, it'll be to take the boy to see the execution… trying to get him to join the marines, heh? You better be careful, old man, it can and will backfire on you…" she whispered, her voice just enough that no one could hear her and with her face hidden behind a newspaper, no one would know she said something either…