The four of us ate grilled meat and drank—Crocus with his liquor, Ellie with cola, Benson with water, me with anything that burned going down.
"Old man, this is Ellie," I said, tipping my cup toward her. "She's our ship's doctor. Don't let her age fool you—her talent's the real deal. I came for your medical guidance, heh."
Ellie flushed scarlet at being praised in front of a legend.
Crocus laughed. "Knew it. You didn't hike up here just to share a drink. So—what are you trading for my techniques?"
"A piece of information."
His brows lifted. "Information worth that much? My medicine's top tier."
"Brook isn't dead. Or rather—he died and came back."
Crocus's eyes sharpened. "How do you know Brook? At your age you shouldn't even have met him. And what do you mean, 'died and came back'?"
"It's complicated, and I can't tell you how I know. But it's true. He died—then returned thanks to the Revive-Revive Fruit. He's a walking skeleton now, and he still wants to honor his promise to Laboon. As for where he is… I can't say. When the time comes, he'll come here."
Crocus exhaled, something old and heavy loosening in his face. "All right, boy. You wouldn't toy with an old man's heart." He pushed himself up. "I'll give this young lady my medical notes."
"Thank you, sir!" Ellie blurted, eyes shining.
"Hahaha! No thanks needed. It's a good feeling to have a successor."
We ate and drank into evening. Before turning in, Crocus brought out a thick, weathered notebook and pressed it into Ellie's hands. "Read first. Ask questions tomorrow. I'm old—I'm sleeping."
"Thank you, Doctor Crocus!" Ellie hugged the book like a treasure.
Three days we lingered by the lighthouse—long enough for Ellie to pester Crocus with every question. He praised her talent more than once. Worth the detour.
"Goodbye, old man," I called as we cast off. "When we return from the South Blue, drinks are on me!"
"I'll hold you to it!" he shouted back.
"Goodbye, Doctor Crocus!"
"Goodbye!" Benson echoed.
Once we dropped into the South Blue, there was no waiting on Log Pose magnetism. Aside from topping off food and water along the way, we could head straight for Baterilla.
"Benson, first we resupply at the nearest island," I said. "Then it's a straight shot to Baterilla."
"Aye, Captain."
By afternoon we reached our first South Blue port, paid the harbor fee, and hauled the important gear to an inn. Roger hadn't surrendered yet; the Great Pirate Era hadn't begun; the streets were quiet. For now, anyway.
We booked rooms. Dinner—whatever the innkeeper had handy. Early to bed. Tomorrow: supplies.
At dawn we checked out, ate, and hit the market. By noon, the hold was full again. We pushed on toward Baterilla. A few pirate crews crossed our path—small fry with bounties in the low millions. Good practice for Benson, and their heads bought us pocket money at the nearest Marine outposts. This voyage was running at a tidy profit.
A month and a half later, our destination finally crested the horizon: Baterilla.
We docked, took our packs and a chest of treasure, and headed inland. Rouge's house should be up the back mountain.
I closed my eyes and spread my Observation Haki. A powerful aura burned in the trees behind the villa.
Gol D. Roger.
My jaw tightened. Bastard. At least I had time to change my sister's fate.
"Ellie," I asked as we walked, "how's that vitality-boosting medicine coming?"
"I've got a workable theory. If I can test it, I'm confident I can make it," she said.
That was why we'd stopped at the lighthouse—I'd nudged Ellie and Crocus to hash out a life-strengthening formula. The medicine was for Rouge.
I'd considered spiriting her away, but we'd be tracked. The World Government would sniff out our Calm Belt island and bring ruin down on our town. Rouge would never agree to that.
Half an hour later we reached a tidy villa at the foot of the back mountain. Roger stood in the doorway. No sign of Rouge.
I set down my pack. "Benson, Ellie—wait here. I've got something to say to the bearded one."
"Understood, Captain."
"Okay, Karl-nii."
Roger laughed. "Wahaha! Little brother, have we met? I feel a lot of hostility, but no malice."
"You want to know why?" I turned into the trees. "Walk."
We stopped deep in the forest.
"When did you arrive?" I asked, voice flat.
"Wahaha—months ago. And yes, I can feel your hostility—without malice. Tell me why."
"Fight me first."
My blade flashed; he drew in the same breath. Dozens of cuts rang out in the green. One heavy stroke from him drove me back ten meters.
My arms went numb. Still a long gap to the peak of this world.
I shifted into human-beast form, horns flaring, cloud-fire curling around my limbs. My right hand sent a flying slash screaming at him; my left fist followed an instant later. Roger shattered the slash and flowed in. Steel crashed against steel. For half an hour we traded blows. I couldn't land a decisive hit.
Fine. Full power.
"Wave-Cleaving—Sky Rend!"
"Divine Departure!"
His strike smashed through mine and hurled me tumbling. I hit the ground, coughed blood, and pushed up on shaky feet. Roger was breathing hard, too—sickness gnawing at his strength. On a good day he'd have batted my technique aside.
I steadied my breath, sheathed my sword, and turned back toward the house, leaving a trail of gouged earth behind.
"Hey! Little brother! You still haven't told me why!"
I ignored him. It was time to see Rouge.
Back at the door, Ellie and Benson stared at me, worried. I waved them off. "I'm fine. Let's go. The person I came for is inside."
Roger didn't try to stop us. He'd felt the same thing I had—no malice.
I pushed the door open and stepped into the room I'd seen a thousand times in my head. Rouge stood within—my sister, who had always looked after me when we were small. Warmth hit me like a tide.
"Sis… it's Karl. I finally found you." Tears blurred my sight.
Rouge stared, stunned, searching my face. A long heartbeat, then recognition bloomed and she flew into my arms.
"Karl? My little brother—uu…!" She clung to me and sobbed; I held on and cried with her.
After a while we eased apart. Rouge led me to a chair, wiping her eyes, and called over her shoulder, "Roger—go hunting. I'm making a feast for my brother tonight!"
"Wahaha! On it!" Roger scratched his head, sheepish, and trotted toward the back mountain.
"Karl," Rouge said, questions tumbling out as she tugged me inside, "how did you find me? It's so far from the Grand Line—how did you cross the Calm Belt? Does Mom know you're here? And—"
"One thing at a time." I glanced at the door. "First—introductions. These two are people I saved from a pirate crew in the Grand Line. The boy is Benson, the girl is Ellie. Guys—this is my sister, Portgas D. Rouge."
"Hello, Sister Rouge!"
"Hi, Sister Rouge. Wow—you're so pretty!" Ellie darted in for a quick hug that made Rouge laugh.
"You must be exhausted," Rouge said, smiling. "Let me get you settled."
"Thank you, Sister Rouge!"
"Thank you!"
"It's no trouble—I haven't had a house this lively in ages." She turned to me. "Karl, your room is the first door on the left upstairs. Drop your things—I'll show these two their rooms."
"Got it."
I'd barely set my pack down when Roger's voice boomed from outside. "Rouge, I'm back! Come see—this Sea King is decent, wahaha!"
Rouge peeked out and brightened. "Thank you. Dress it, and I'll cook."
I stepped up beside them, face blank, and muttered, "Hmph. The stench of love." Then I grabbed the Sea King, hauled the best cuts to the table, and said, "Sis, I've got this. You shouldn't be in the kitchen—oil smoke isn't good for the baby. I cook Sea King dishes all the time. Mom says mine are delicious."
Rouge blinked. "Eh? Thank you… but—how did you know I was pregnant? I didn't tell you. Did Roger—?"
I shot Roger a look, drew Xintinghou, sliced off the choicest portions, and carried them to the kitchen.
Roger chuckled. "Wahaha! Rouge, his Observation Haki is something fierce."
"What's Observation Haki?"
"It's… a special sense. Karl's can read the flow of life around him—very sharp."
"I see. Then finish trimming the rest and go help him," Rouge said, amused. "He's still mad at you."
"Right, right—coming."
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