I stood on the shore and watched Roger's skiff shrink into the horizon, feelings knotted tight. I used to think his last words—what kicked off the Great Pirate Era—threw the seas into senseless chaos. But once you've looked the evil of this world in the eye, you realize "normal measures" won't save it. Sometimes you burn the boats and carve a path out of death.
And the evil of pirates still doesn't hold a candle to the evil of the Celestial Dragons.
The four of us walked home in silence. We all knew Rouge's heart was heavy. I flicked a glance at Ellie.
"Um, Sister Rouge," Ellie piped up, bright on purpose, "when do you think the baby will be born? Can I be her aunt when she's here? Hee-hee!"
At the word baby, Rouge's eyes softened. She rubbed her belly. "All right… but it's a while yet. Only three months now."
"What about names? Have you decided?"
"Roger already chose. If it's a boy—Ace. If it's a girl—Ann."
"Ace and Ann? So pretty!"
They drifted into baby-talk, and Rouge's mood eased.
Ace, I thought. The freckled, stubborn kid who broke every fan's heart… And in my last life, I remember a line that Rouge gave birth to twins—the other a girl the Revolutionary Army took in, called Ann. If it is twins, we'll bring the girl home to Tiger Roar Island too. With Ace drawing all the attention, who'd guess Ann is Roger's daughter?
Yes. That's the plan. Train.
"Sis, I'm heading to the shore to practice. I'll come back early and cook. Stay out of the kitchen, okay?"
"I know, I know—go on," Rouge smiled. She understood why I worried; Roger's departure had left a hollow, but the baby—and purpose—gave her anchor.
"Benson, with me. From today, I'm training you."
"Yes, Captain!" He lit up. Training under me let him loosen up—under the Pirate King, the straight-arrow kid went stiff as a board.
Days settled into a steady rhythm.
Then, in August, the world lurched: Roger was captured.
A storm ripped across the seas. The Navy announced the execution would take place next month in the East Blue—Loguetown. People gaped. A man who'd won everything… caught?
New World — Whitebeard Pirates
"Pops! Bad news—big news!" Pineapple-headed Marco waved a paper from the News Coo, breathless.
"Gurararara… Marco, what is it? Breathe. We're the Whitebeard Pirates." Whitebeard's presence pressed like a mountain.
"It's Roger—he's been captured! The paper says they'll execute him next month in Loguetown!"
Whitebeard didn't flinch. Roger had visited recently; he knew how and why.
Few knew they'd met. Fewer knew what was said.
A floating island — Shiki the Golden Lion
Shiki stared at the headline, rage boiling. The man who'd beaten him—caught by those Navy cowards? And Shiki hadn't had his rematch yet! With the helm jammed into his skull twisting his thoughts, he took to the sky.
Marineford shattered under his assault. Half the base lay in ruins before Sengoku and Garp brought him down. The Golden Lion went to Impel Down.
Another shockwave. Pirates finished? The Pirate King captured; the Golden Lion caged.
Totto Land — Big Mom Pirates
"Mamamamamama! That idiot Shiki, flying straight at Marine HQ! And Roger too… Well, that's two fewer rivals. Mamamamama—!" Her Conqueror's Haki rolled like thunder.
Baterilla
Even expecting it didn't blunt the sting. I squeezed Rouge's hand so she could feel I was there, so she'd know she wasn't alone.
"I'm okay, Karl," she murmured. "Roger told me long ago. I'm prepared. I'm the Pirate King's woman. I don't break that easily."
"Then tell me what you want to eat," I said. "If I can make it, I'll make it."
…
Marine HQ — Detention
Two grizzled men sat facing each other—one in the cell, one outside.
"Roger. Any last words?" Garp asked.
"Garp… can I trust you?" Roger met his eyes, seeing straight through to the man inside.
Garp said nothing. He didn't need to.
"Garp, I have a child," Roger said at last. "Only four months along. Help me."
"Impossible. You know the World Government won't allow your bloodline to live."
"That's why it has to be you," Roger said. "The child hasn't done anything. Whatever sins are mine aren't his."
Garp didn't answer—just stood and left. Roger smiled. He'd understood.
Loguetown filled to bursting. A red nose and a redhead sat in a hidden spot.
"Hey, Shanks… the captain's gonna be executed. What do we do?" asked Buggy, latent Conqueror's coiled in his gut.
"It's the captain's choice," Shanks said quietly. "We can't stop it."
All across town, hungry young wolves gathered: Donquixote Doflamingo. Dracule Mihawk. Gecko Moria. Sir Crocodile. Each with a dream that sharpened like a blade.
September came. The square below the scaffold turned to a sea of heads. Sengoku and Garp stood guard beside the platform.
Chains clinked. Roger climbed, knelt, bowed by the weight of the moment.
Silence.
"Hey! Pirate King!" a forgettable face shouted. "Where'd you hide the treasure—the legendary One Piece?"
Eyes snapped to Roger.
"Hu—hahahaha!"
"Silence!" the executioners barked.
"Want my treasure?" Roger roared. "Go find it! I left everything in that place!"
Blades pierced his chest.
The square erupted. The whole world heard his last words. Sails snapped full everywhere as the Great Pirate Era began. For One Piece, the ambitious swarmed the seas. Blood and thunder followed.
Baterilla
It was our signal, too.
"Ellie—how's the medicine?"
"Karl-nii, I tested on the forest monkeys yesterday. There's progress—but no human trials yet."
"Start human trials tomorrow. I'll build you a lab deep in the back mountain, then bring you scum-of-the-earth pirates from offshore to use as subjects."
"Okay!"
Pangaea Castle — Holy Land
The Five Elders sifted a CP dossier.
"Cipher Pol reports Roger spent significant time on Baterilla—South Blue. Likely left a child there," said Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, Warrior God of Science & Defense.
"He must be eliminated. That sinful bloodline cannot remain," said the bald elder with the long white 'stache—Saint Topman Warcury, Warrior God of Legal Affairs.
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
Marine HQ received orders to assist CP.
In the briefing room, Fleet Admiral Kong folded his arms. "Because of Roger's damned last words, more and more turn pirate. We're short-handed. I've requested expansion, but that takes time. Tsuru, your plan?"
"Temporarily ease off the New World," said Vice Admiral Tsuru, the strategist. "Focus on the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line. Push as many pirates as possible into the New World and let them tear each other apart. Buy the Navy time."
"Do it," Kong nodded. "One more thing. Before turning himself in, Roger visited Whitebeard. No one knows what was said. The Government wants eyes on Whitebeard. Sengoku, Garp—you'll go. No contact. Just watch."
"Yes, sir."
"Karp? You with us?" Kong asked, catching Garp's distant look.
"Oh—yeah. Don't worry, Fleet Admiral. I'll back up Sengoku just fine. Hahahaha." Looks like I can't get to Baterilla yet, Garp thought.
Baterilla
Time to move before the Navy arrived. I wanted to make a run to Water 7.
"Ellie, draw up your equipment list. I'll source everything you need. Benson, double the drills. When we come back, we'll be running operations at sea."
A new era had begun. For us, too. The end of one chapter—
and the beginning of the next.
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