Yamato strode through the hallways of the Moby Dick, her heart aching with every footstep. She had gone there to offer peace. She had gone to apologize, to express her sorrow, her shame at Oden's fate.
But for Izou, Oden's own retainer, to react like that? To call her the spawn of a…monster?
She gritted her teeth, as all the bad memories came back. All those years on Onigashima, being mocked for acting like Oden, for rebelling against Kaido. She hadn't cared. She hadn't let it get her down. She hadn't given up on her conviction.
But now…"
"Yamato!" Izuku hurried up beside her and grabbed her hand. "Don't listen to him, he doesn't know what he's talking about."
She paused, and glanced down at him. His eyes were so gentle.
"Izuku. He's from Wano. He's Oden's Retainer, he-"
"I don't care," Izuku snapped back, jaw clenched, eyes suddenly hard. "He can't say those things about you."
Yamato pulled her hand from his, and strode onward, climbing the stairs up to the deck. The skies overhead were clear, the men and few women going about their business. She leant on the railing, staring out at the roiling waves.
"But he's right, you know," replied Yamato. She instinctively touched her horns. "Fa-Kaido, he would tell me the stories on how the Oni and people of Wano hated each other. How humanity and our kind could never get along."
"He's lying." Izuku urged.
"No. " She sighed, looking at the reflection below, almost seeing the many scrolls and images her father had shown her. "Kaido was many things to me… but never a liar." She took a sharp breath. "There wasn't a point in that."
"He's wrong!" pleaded Izuku. "He's just trying to hurt you."
"And Bakugo? Didn't he hurt you?"
Izuku clamped his jaw shut, and Yamato wished she hadn't said it. "I'm sorry." Yamato hugged her arms as she rested her elbows on the railing.
"No no, it's okay." Izuku sighed. "Just…the way Izou looked at you. Nobody gave me that look for being Quirkless. The only time was when I came back to UA."
He trailed off, and leant on the gunwhale, looking out over the sea. Below them, the water splashed against the hull, and the timbers groaned as the Moby Dick rolled from wave to wave.
"I hate that he said that." Izuku's fists clenched, and Yamato saw fire in his eyes. "I remember how that felt, to be treated like that. "
Yamato felt a little better for it. But Izuku didn't know Wano the way she did; and neither of them knew it the way Izou did. Wano had been his home, as it had never been to her. Who were either of them to say that he was wrong?
What would Oden have done? If someone verbally tore into someone dear to him, like Toki or Kin'emon… he likely would have sent them flying with a kick. Or with a swing of his swords.
But if that someone was someone close to someone Oden cherished… would Oden have followed through?
"Ah, there you are." Yamato turned, and saw Thatch strolling up, wearing his usual soft smile. "Getting some fresh air?"
"Mostly," Izuku replied. "Commander Thatch, I apologize if I spoke out of turn down there."
"Dude, why are you apologizing? Remember what Pops said a while back?" Thatch smirked as Izuku flinched. "I'm teasing you. Trust me, you did nothing wrong. And Yamato?" He stepped up to her, and patted her on the arm. "Don't let what Izou said get to you. He's being an ass and still up in his feelings." He sighed. "Thought I knew him better."
Yamato felt her heart clench. Had she driven a wedge between Izou and Thatch now? Was she taking away his friends?
"I just…"
"He needs a little more time….and maybe a kick to the head or two, I'll consider putting something in his dinner later," Thatch murmured, looking up to the sky. "People grieve in different ways. We're all wired differently. Just one big living soup bun with different ingredients and seasonings."
"Soup bun?" Izuku asked, and Thatch smirked.
"Think about it." Thatch held out his hand. "A soup is a liquid broth with meat and other components. And the skin keeps all that saucy goodness inside." He gave a cheeky grin. "The ocean is a soup too if you think about it."
Izuku and Yamato blinked, and Thatch smirked.
"What makes a soup?" Thatch asked, and both of them looked at each other.
"Well clearly water for broth…" Izuku mused. "Oh! And vegetables. And meat from animals or seafood."
"And I like my soup with some salt too and-" Yamato's jaw clacked shut as her eyes widened. "The ocean is a soup." She put it together.
"The ocean is a soup." Izuku added.
"And so are people." Thatch snapped his finger. "So, I talked to Izou and tore him a new one." He sighed. "Hopefully he got it through his head that his behavior down there was unacceptable." He looked at Yamato with kind eyes. "Don't let what he said to him get to you. That wasn't the real Izou I know." He frowned and looked away. " He'll come around."
Yamato frowned. "I know I only wanted to make peace. I… I know how he feels. I hate Kaido too. I want to free Wano too!"
"I'm sure deep down he understands that," Thatch replied with a sigh. "Just give him space. He won't come to you unless he's ready."
"Ready to apologize for what he said? Or unless he accepts Yamato for who she is?" Izuku asked sternly.
"Both, if he knows what's good for him" Thatch murmured. "Anyways, we're en-route to a little island we know well." He grinned. "A little break for us."
"We are? Where are we going?" Izuku asked.
"One of the major territories. Pops has business there. But while there we can get some well deserved R&R." Thatch looked out to sea and Yamato followed his gaze. "It's the island where all our allies go to for ship repairs and maintenance. It's our own little Water 7."
He smirked. Yamato perked up, as she recognized the name.
"Really?" she asked. Oden had mentioned Water 7 a few times! It was where Roger's ship was created! "I never knew! Oden never mentioned Whitebeard having his own shipyard!"
"We got it made…about ten years ago now," explained Thatch. "We needed a place to get our ships fixed. It's quite dear to us. And you can see it…just…over…there." He pointed to the horizon. Yamato and Izuku looked where he was pointing, and there it was; the curve of an island, many miles away, just coming into view.
"The Shipyard of the Whitebeard Pirates, the Island of Melville," Thatch declared. "Time to shop and relax." He patted both of their backs. "I'm going to double check what ingredients I'll need. You two take care." He winked, and he strolled off.
"Thanks Commander," Izuku called after him. Yamato looked out towards the island, as it drew ever closer.
But still she couldn't forget his words
"As far as I'm concerned, you are that monster's spawn and nothing else!"
She frowned, as his words echoed in her mind. And in her mind's eye, she saw her father looming over her; eyes full of hate and pain.
"Even if you leave this island, you will never be free! The world will hate you, fear you, and will hunt you down; as the World Government did long ago to our kind. They will never love you, no one will."
Why did the words haunt her like this?
"I am free," Yamato uttered to herself. "I am free."
She rubbed the bases of her horns.
"I am free."
Stroking them.
"I am free."
(X)
It had once been a simple hamlet; a little rest stop for Newgate, when he first started as a pirate. Those few in the know back in Sphinx were given sanctuary there, to start over.
It was also one of the few places Xebec didn't know about; when he came to him that day, all those years ago.
He would not soon forget that day; when he paid for Newgate's drinks and asked to talk. One thing led to another, and it ended with his hand around that monster's neck. And then he spoke.
"If I don't walk out of this bar in five minutes and you're not in my crew, Sphinx dies."
He couldn't risk it. Within minutes he was a member of the Rocks Pirates, and spent his days battling to the death under Xebec's cruel eye; day after day, year after year. As much as he loathed Kaido and disliked Linlin, they all agreed that they could share a drink, then piss on Xebec's watery grave.
Newgate sighed as the Moby Dick came into port, pushing the bad memories aside as he took in the view. Melville had grown a lot over the years. The small hamlet was now a bustling city, full of shipwrights and their families, and entrepreneurs looking for their next big break. Melville wasn't quite on the same level as Water 7, but it was a shipyard to be proud of.
Not to mention a nice rest stop. Berries are berries, after all.
Whitebeard glanced along the dock.. There was McGuy's ship. The young'un must have stopped for supplies.
"Yahooo!" Yamato yelled as she jumped over the railing onto the dock. "Hey Pops! I'm gonna go exploring!" She waved happily, and Whitebeard couldn't help but smile; glad to see her regain her spark.
"Just don't make a fuss alright?" he called out, as he strode down the ramp. He could see the dockers looking his way, whispering to each other.
"Okay!" Yamato called back.
"Wait up Yamato!" called out Izuku as he flew over the railing. As he touched down, Newgate noticed his new outfit. White pants, dark green shirt, sash, shoes, and the gold chain around his neck. He felt a twinge of nostalgia, as he remembered his own first time in a big port.
"You two don't know much of Melville," he said as he joined them. "Perhaps you would like a guide?"
"Well, one couldn't hurt," Izuku mused, as he stretched his arms. Then he faltered, as he saw how much attention he was drawing.
"Relax." Newgate smiled. "When you're walking with Yamato and another of my crew, they'll know you're one of us. You may get a little mobbed, considering who you got it from. Be prepared to tell stories Izuku."
He ruffled Izuku's hair, making him pout and Yamato giggle, then turned back to his crew.
"Anyone have a minute to show these two squirts around town? Melville's a big place."
"No worries Pops I got it!" Haruta chimed.
"Oh, hey Haruta!" Izuku perked up as the brown-haired boy jogged up to them, smiling.
"Come on, I'll show ya the best spots to eat! There's this one place called Ishmail's that has the BEST broiled lobster!" Haruta grinned. Yamato's eyes were alight.
"What are we waiting for! Let's go!" she yelled, running into town as Haruta and Izuku gasped.
"Hey not that way! It's in the wharf, not in town!" Haruta called out, chasing after her.
"See ya Pops!" Izuku called out, then ran after him. Newgate smiled, chuckling to himself as he made his way down the pier. All around, people waved and called out to him.
"Hey Pops!"
"Good day."
"Good sailings?"
"Naturally."
"Was that Deku just now? THE Deku? He was on your ship right?"
"He's my son." Newgate answered plainly. Whispering erupted around him, but he can see the smiles on their faces. Someone who could trick and cross Kaido, and do battle against his officers, was worth having around.
"I'll go manage the stocking up," Marco said, joining him. "You gonna talk to your old friend?"
"Why else? Otherwise I'd be drinking my grog and getting some sunshine" Newgate replied. "Besides, the sooner you get this done the sooner you can call Chris and Patricia. I imagine they miss you."
"Well I did talk to them last night before bed." Marco scratched his cheek a little. "She's quizzing him hard on math."
"Well, call them again. You never know, you might have a chance to give your boy pointers on homework." Marco chuckled a bit.
"That is true. Maybe I'll find some books too for him to read as well. Can never go wrong with some history books."
"Just don't get the Rommel Editions." Newgate mused. "The author has an agenda."
"You read them Pops?"
"Even I get bored, get the Prodence and Deut editions, if you want my recommendation."
"Prodence or Deut… I'll see if they have them." Marco turned his head. "Okay, gonna handle the supplies. See ya soon Pops."
"Mmm." Newgate nodded, and soon his children began dispersing into town; ready to enjoy the food, buy and sell, and generally pour some of their pirate treasure into the local economy.
He made his way to the shipyard's main office building. Dockers gave him a wide berth as he passed, some of them calling him Pops; to which he nodded back. He reached the main door, and knocked. A mousy-looking woman poked her head out, and let out a squeak.
"M-Mr. Whitebeard sir! W-What a surprise!"
"Good day. Is that old fossil awake?" Newgate asked.
"Umm, l-lemme see if Mr. Derby is in." The woman retreated back inside, and Newgate took a look around the shipyard. It was near-full, with ships of all shapes and sizes, and in varying conditions. Some were getting a light tune-up, others were being overhauled; with shell holes and scorched planks to hint at the reason.
Yes, what he had in mind could only be built here. Water 7 was too far away, and too close to Marineford.
The door opened, and Newgate marched into the main lobby.
"Newgate!" the gravelly voice of an old man drew his attention. Newgate smirked and knelt down, offering his wrist to the voice's owner. It was a portly old man, with a balding head and eyes hidden behind wide, thick glasses.
"Derby, it's been a while." Newgate said, as the old man took his wrist. "Have a minute to talk?"
"A minute? I got hours and my door's always open to you. Come, my office is big enough for ya ya fat lummox." Derby smirked as he waddled over to his office, Newgate following after. Thankfully the doorway was large enough.
"You're one to talk about fat." Newgate dryly commented. "Hasn't your wife been trying to feed you grilled fish instead of fried?"
"Paaah" Derby remarked as they entered his office. It was dominated by a wide desk, before which sat a massive chair; made just for him. "Better to live heartily and happily, than healthily and heinously. Had to clear up the fried fish before Hurricane Haley comes on through here."
He waddled around his desk and sat down. Newgate sat in his chair, the whole room creaking under his weight.
"So old friend, what can I do for you?"
Newgate looked out the window, taking in the vast array of ships; all flying his Jolly Roger. They were fine ships, one and all; good for anything the New World or the Blue oceans could throw at them. And they all had fine captains; his sons and daughters.
But he did not need fine ships.
"Derby." He turned to face his old friend. "I need a fleet."
For a moment, Derby stared at him; as if he did not understand.
"A fleet? Ya gone daft? You got one right outside." He jerked his thumb to the window.
"Of Moby Dick class dreadnaughts."
The old man's jaw clacked shut. He looked as though he was about to have a heart attack.
"You mean… you ain't satisfied with one of my girls? You want more?"
"Correct. Better armed and capable of ferrying men into war." Newgate frowned and Derby took in a sharp breath. He reached under his desk, grabbing a flash and taking a swig.
"So… who is it then?" he asked.
"Kaido. I'll need ships to counter his armada, and enough space to liberate the slaves within his fortress within Wano. The Moby Dick has the guns and the hull to withstand his fleet's punishment, but I know full well the rest of my allies can't."
Derby took another swig, a longer one this time. "And you want this in secret too, don't you?"
"I can't let Kaido or the Government or anyone else outside of your people know of this. How long will it take?"
Derby opened his mouth to protest. But the look in Newgate's eyes made it clear he wasn't going to budge.
"One ship, built in secrecy and with the funds needed to get the right supplies to build the Dick a pod? Well…" Derby got out a pen, grabbed a notepad and began to write, muttering to himself. He knew shipbuilding like few others; better, perhaps, than his own children's birthdays.
"Four months each if we pull hard. Five if we do it normally. And this is under secrecy and using my workshop. Then we need secure docks to keep these girls hidden. That's another month per ship to hide."
"Five to six months per ship?" Newgate felt his gut twist. Water 7 could do the job in a few weeks.
But the Government and the other Emperors would know about it before they were finished laying the keel. Kaido was a violent drunk, but he wasn't stupid. The moment he got word of it, he would expand his own fleet; to the point where even a fleet of Moby Dicks wouldn't be able to breach it. The Marines would doubletime to counter, as would Big Mom.
He shuddered as he envisaged it. An arms race, spreading across the New World, and beyond it. Kaido and Big Mom would have to up their raids to pay for it all, and the Government would have to increase Reverie fees to fund the Marines. More piracy, more taxes, more unrest. A world on the brink of utter chaos.
"How many do you need?" Derby asked, giving him a dubious look. Newgate took a deep breath.
"Can you give me five in twenty months?" he asked.
Derby immediately took another long swig. He looked like he'd just aged another five years.
"You're asking my people to pull all nighters for two years. My people are good, but we're not Water 7. We're human."
"Kaido's army is growing by the week. Time isn't on our side, Derby. If we don't stop him, he will get bold enough to attack any place in the world. Not even Melville or Sphinx will be safe."
Derby rubbed his forehead. "Shit… I can give you four in twenty months, and I'm liable to lose half my workers to quitting due to the time crunch while doing it." He raised his hand. "This is to ensure secrecy, Newgate. We get our fair share of enemy ships patrolling outside of Melville's waters. Some even brave the nearby Calm Belt to do it."
"Five in twenty three months?" Newgate asked. Derby sighed harshly.
"Five in twenty-four. I can push some days for all-nighters but… I'll need extra labor and extra money. I might be able to get some shipwrights from Water 7, but no guarantees. Or maybe I can call in a favor from Iceberg but getting his people to come here would be a pain in the ass."
Newgate took a deep breath. Water 7 was close to Marineford, which was close to Saobody. Which in turn…
"I may know a friend who could help bring some over, with the right money and leverage. Four in twenty months I can accept, but I would prefer five in that twenty-four range."
"If we get some help from Water 7, you'll get your expedite but I doubt it still. Those guys were loud as they come, and this is a job meant for the downlow." Derby looked out of the window.
"You're going to war with Kaido. Newgate, if you do this… the world will never be the same."
"With what's at stake, I'll bear that responsibility."
"Hmm. " The old man mused. "What's gotten you so eager to make a change before we're all dead in the ground," he asked, taking yet another swig.
"Hmmm…"
Newgate glanced out of the window. There, as if on cue, was Haruta; guiding Izuku and Yamato through the shipyard. Yamato was chattering up a storm, eyes bright, Izuku's head on a swivel, as Haruto showed them the ins and outs of a working shipyard.
Oden had been like that; always wide-eyed, open-minded, eager to learn new things. And Toki too; calm and reserved, but somehow noticing everything.
Izuku's gold chain flickered in the sunlight, and Newgate smiled.
"Does a father need a reason to defend his children?"
"Well said ole friend." Derby grinned, and offered the flask. Newgate took the flask and drank from it; his throat burning as the liquor ran down it.
He had seen the world burn; back when his world had been Sphinx. He had seen family and friends killed before his eyes; and others suffer the same fate. Derby, Logan, and countless more. They had all lost something in those dark days.
But not this time. He would not allow the world to burn as Sphinx had done; not for the World Government's greed, or Kaido's vile ambitions.
Not while he, Edward Newgate, the Pirate Emperor Whitebeard, had the power to stop it.
And here we are. Big thanks to Juubi-K , IKnowNothing and WildJoker000 as usual.
Little breather as we are back to our duo with some introspection and a little bump with Yamato stepping on a sore spot for Izuku. We're in a Melville 'mini-arc' of sorts so we will be hanging here for another chapter or so. Given how Newgate is an Emperor I figured he would have a Shipyard like Island under his control. After all, going under the Red Line to fishman island for maintenance at Water 7 would be a hassle and a half. Better to build one in our neck of the woods. I would think all the other Emperors have a similar philosophy in mind.
And yeah, Newgate needs a strong and capable fleet to infiltrate and attack Onigashima. Calling on his allies would just be a jumble fuck going through the Sea of Spires and then up the falls. Attacking Marineford, despite the currents and its position, is FAR more managable and easier to attack. Its just bum-fuck loaded with some of the strongest people in the world and countless Navy Warships.
I'd like to make an informational post of Navy warships, their names and designations given how they seem to have differing sizes and differences. Lemme know if you wanna see it.
Anyways going to finish up a chapter for BDC and FFESS before I get to the next HOTNW. Hope you all enjoy this one.