POV~ CLIFF
It's been 10 days since we set sail from our island. A peaceful little island like ours is called Trickster Island apparently. Nobody knows why our islands called that. I only found out about it cause grandpas' got maps of the entire south blue that I found in his ship. And for some reason our village just calls itself Trickster Village too. No imagination on that one. Not that I can claim to come up with better names. Cassy has pointed out plenty of times that I'm lacking imagination.
Oh, and it was so easy to convince grandpa to let Cassy come with us wherever he's taking me. So far, she's been so excited and jumping around that she's the only thing keeping boredom away in this ship. It's just so boring and serious here. There isn't any goddamn parties or songs or any kind of fun on this ship like grandpa described those sailors to have. I'm pretty sure by now that it's only the pirates that actually have fun while sailing.
…
…
…
We're fast approaching Reverse Mountain and it's been just 15 days since we set sail. Well, that would have been unbelievable if we had to take the pirate way and go around Centaurea Island or Baterilla Island. But we're on a marine ship, so we can just go through the route between Briss Kingdom and Centaurea Island.
…
…
…
POV CHANGE~
As the ship approaches Reverse Mountain, one could see Cliff and Cassy standing on the bow of the ship and looking towards the towering mountain in front of them with visible awe. their eyes turned to stars and their jaws hit the ship. The Vice-Admiral standing just behind them let loose a laugh seeing them like this, "Hyahyahyahyahyahyahyahyahya."
Then as the ship started to ascend the mountain, the 2 adolescents looked around slack-jawed. Cliff got more and more excited as the clouds descended on them and much like his grandfather let loose a laugh matching the formers intensity, "Rahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah."
Cassy just couldn't snap out of her awe to do anything so she just stood there dumbfounded but awed.
Eventually they reached the summit. Above the clouds, 5 waterways met. 4 from each of the 4 main directions joining together as the 5th fell in between the one they came up and the one just to their right. Staying up there was like a dream for the 2 adolescents but that eventually fell off as the ship moved towards the one on their right ignoring the one that led to the Grand-Line. As their descent started so did the laughs from the grandfather/grandson duo, "Hyahyahyahyahyahya/Rahahahahahahahahahahah…"
Cliff had never felt so excited and was probably on an adrenaline high from that first time experience. This time though Cassy got out of her stupor and looked towards Cliff. Seeing him laugh like this she let loose a small smile before looking towards the rapidly nearing ocean.
They entered the East Blue with a splash as the entire ships crew was blasted with water. As Reverse Mountain faded behind them, so did the Laughs from our grandfather/grandson duo. As Cliff came of the adrenaline high, he walked to the stern of the ship. looking towards the rapidly shrinking view of the majestic mountain that they just ascended and descended he made a silent promise to one day do this once more just without his grandfather behind him.
…
…
…
Loguetown was surprisingly crowded and the Vice-Admiral seemed proud of it. Cliff was frustrated since not once during this entire journey has his grandfather told him the purpose of this trip, just that it is a surprise. Still being on a entirely different island was a new experience for both Cliff and Cassy, much less a different Blue Sea. The culture here was surprisingly similar to their island but they could point out things that were different. Not much of a surprise really, since it was a mish-mash of cultures due to being visited by thousands that are either going to the Grand-Line or coming from it.
Cliff and Cassy were led to the local marine base for the night by a beaming Vice-Admiral who seemed to know his way around here like the back of his hand. The marine base here was crowded too with marine after marine running around. Even if they weren't allowed to stray much by the older man, Cliff and Cassy seemed to look around the base with curious eyes. Not much awe was present since the base wasn't exactly big, just the standard marine base with 4 buildings, the Base Administrative, the Barracks, the Cell Holdings and Leisure buildings as explained by the Vice-Admiral.
…
The next morning both Cliff and Cassy were awoken by the older man who led them to the town square where they saw a platform set up.
Cliff couldn't help but ask, "What's the platform for? An execution or something?"
"Yes" was the answer he received. His face showed disbelief but upon seeing the serious look in his grandfathers' eyes, he opened his mouth to ask a question but Cassy beat him to it, "Who?"
"The Pirate King, Gold Roger!"
Hearing that both adolescents looked towards the old man in disbelief. They were about to question some more when a hush fell over the crowd. Then a single sound came followed by another and another and another. It was the sound of chains being dragged on the pavement. Cliff ran towards the barricade and looked to opposite direction of the platform. Multiple figures came in view. 2 marines carrying flags bearing the symbol of the Marines, 4 marines bearing spears and in between them all a man walked proudly with his head held high.
The man wore a red captains coat with yellow epaulettes, thick black hair and his curved black moustache. Heads turned to follow him as he walked, as if his mere presence warranted attention. The sound of rattling chains was forgotten as everyone seemed to be in awe of him.
He ascended the stairs to the assembled platform and sat down as if awaiting execution. His face showed no fear, if anything it showed a smile. He sat there taking in the crowd assembled with a smile.
Cliff was amazed and so was Cassy. He sat their awaiting his death with a smile!
And then someone spoke, "Oi! King of Pirates! Where did you hide all the treasure you found? You got it, didn't you? The Legendary Treasure! That Great Treasure! The One Piece!" His voice carried all the way to the back of the crowd and hearing this Cliff perked up even further if possible.
As the crowd awaited his answer, he began laughing! He then said those legendary words everyone was waiting for, everyone hanging onto his every word.
"My treasures? If you want it, you can have it! Find it! I left everything this world has to offer there!"
His voice carried to the back of the crowd with ease. Many a breath hitched before the spears were lowered and blood was spilt. Someone in the crowd let loose a cheer and the next moment the entire town square was filled with deafening cheers.
Cliff and Cassy looked towards each other with a look of awe and disbelief. Looking back to the older man accompanying them, they saw him having a dumbfounded look but as funny as it was laughter just wouldn't come to them. What they just witnessed and heard, brought with it so much awe and disbelief no other emotion seemed capable of butting in their heads for now.
POV~ CLIFF
'He died with a smile huh? Just like grandpa's stories… pirates seem to be having fun out their on the sea if they can smile and laugh like that moments before their death… I wonder if I can do that too…'
POV~CHANGE
That night sleep came late for both Cliff and Cassy. Both talked deep into the night about what they witnessed. But when sleep did come, with it came a dream. A dream Cliff was now familiar with.
He found himself Laughing and drinking out on the sea. A ship beneath his feet bobbing on the waves. Behind him came another voice. It was laughing too and it was familiar. He turned towards it. He could now see their face… that was familiar too. In less than a second, he identified it as Cassy's. She came up next to him and asked, "Where to next, Captain?"
He was confused by this until he felt himself turn back to the sea. He saw himself wearing a black captains coat. He felt himself grin and said, "Surprise me!" with this he let loose a laugh, "Rahahahahahahahahahahah…"
Several more voices joined him. He could identify any of them but he heard the one he did say, "As you wish, Captain!"