"Waaah—waaah—waaah!"
Ann's cry split the cabin. Rouge hurried inside.
"Karl, milk—quick. She's hungry."
"On it." I grabbed a bottle and headed for the makeshift "dairy" on deck—several leopard mothers we'd caught on an island along the way. Sorry, ladies; you're our princess's pantry for now.
"Here, Sis."
Ann latched on and quieted immediately. Her little face had finally filled out—ridiculously cute.
"Mom and Dad are going to melt when they see their granddaughter," Rouge said, smiling.
"I can't wait either. How long until Reverse Mountain, Karl?"
"About a month, give or take. We've been stopping a lot. Once we hit the Grand Line it gets easier—I've got a permanent pose to Water 7, so we won't waste time charging Log Poses."
"Captain! Pirate ship ahead, closing fast!"
"I'm coming. Sis, stay in the cabin with Ann."
"Be careful."
I stepped onto the deck and sized up the target—twenty-some men. Fourth crew we'd run into in South Blue. The new era had pulled a lot of people out to sea.
"Benson, they're yours."
"Aye, Captain."
"Hu-hahaha! Close in, boys!" the enemy captain whooped. "Only three brats and a woman! Whoever drops the two guys first gets the woman!"
A cheer went up.
Ellie flinched and tucked behind me. I tousled her hair. "Don't be scared. They're barely above street thugs. Your brother's got this."
"Okay…"
"Benson—no mercy. Be quick."
Before their grapples even hit our rails, Benson vaulted over and started reaping. Ten minutes later nobody was standing. He came back with 2.3 million beli in purses—good habit. I flicked a flying slash; their ship split and began to sink.
"Benson," I said, "open every fight in Armament. You've just awakened it—South Blue riffraff are perfect practice. Remember, in this world Haki is the strongest power."
"Got it, Captain."
"Captain," Ellie said, cheeks puffed, "can I learn swordsmanship too? I feel useless."
"You're not a sword type. There are lots of ways to fight. Poison, for example—that's basically easy mode for you. But you still need to train your body; strong physique is how Haki awakens."
Ellie's eyes lit up. "I knew it! I'll start right now!"
…Right. This girl's future "vibes" might get… interesting. Still, power is power—whatever keeps her safe.
"Benson, go wash up. I'll mind the helm."
"Okay, Captain."
Rouge came up with Ann and sank into a lounge chair. "Karl… do you think he did the right thing?"
"Hard to judge in one line. The Great Pirate Era drew countless people to sea—but most of them were getting crushed at home anyway. Nobles bled them dry for generations. The World Government's eight hundred years taught people not to resist. That's wrong. When the era opened, folks discovered they could choose freedom—and some learned to push back against exploitation. Maybe that's the only way this world changes.
"As for Roger—history can argue right or wrong later. He only opened a door. What we make of it is on us. We just do our part."
"You're right. I just hate the thought of so many dying."
"It's their choice. And it's not on you."
"…Mm. Here, hold Ann a while? I'm wiped. She fussed all night."
"Come here, little troublemaker." I took Ann and leaned close until she giggled. "No more midnight parties, okay? Eat well, sleep well, grow fast."
I watched the glittering sea with her warm weight in my arms. This ocean is beautiful—and merciless. If you want freedom out here, you earn it.
West Blue, a back-alley island
"Don't let her escape!"
"Damn Devil's Child! You three go right—the rest with me!"
In a narrow wedge of shade, Robin held her breath until the boots thundered past. West Blue crawled with syndicates; people here were sharper, crueler. Fall behind and you die. She couldn't die—not yet. Ohara's hopes burned on her back. She had to reach the Grand Line, no matter what it cost.
"Karl-nii, look at my new poisons!" Ellie burst into the galley later, eyes sparkling. "This one knocks people into hallucinations just by smelling it. This one makes you explode if you eat it. This one causes seven orifices bleeding on ingestion. And this—"
I stared as she kept producing bottles from… everywhere. A tiny little demon-internist. She'd made an arsenal in an afternoon.
"Uh… Ellie, are these safe to carry around? I mean for us. I don't want anyone on board accidentally keeling over."
"They're safe! See this vial? One pill makes you immune to the whole set. Even Ann can take it."
"Then give me one. And Ann." I wasn't about to bet my life on clean hands and good luck. Even monsters can be poisoned.
We cruised South Blue for a while, breaking enough pirate crews that the Navy started to notice us. Even with Benson doing all the fighting, Rouge and I risked exposure. Time to lie low.
We picked Torino Kingdom—Giant Bird Island. (Chopper once got pawed here by Kuma, if the future behaves.) The place had medical texts Ellie could devour. The locals were wary, but after some "friendly negotiation," they agreed to host us—on the condition we help fend off the giant birds. I can't speak "beast" like a certain reindeer, so we went with the direct approach.
Once they got used to us, the islanders were open-hearted. When we asked to study their medical scrolls, they agreed immediately.
"Ellie, gorge on their herbology while we're here. Benson, with me—time to hammer your Observation."
Two months slipped by. Ellie soaked up every scrap of knowledge and stepped into being a real doctor. Benson sharpened; his Haki was cleaner, his senses steadier.
"Tomorrow we move," I said one evening. "The Navy's eyes should have slid past us by now."
"Okay," Rouge said. "They're simple here… nice. It's been relaxing."
"Yeah. A life like this isn't bad."
We said our goodbyes the next morning and sailed away under a forest of wingbeats. After resupplying on a tiny market isle, we pointed the bow at Reverse Mountain.
"Karl-nii, are we close?"
"Half a day."
"Yay! We'll see Kurokas again. He's going to be shocked by my progress—hee-hee!"
"Hah. The student surpasses the master—I like it."
"Karl, who's Kurokas?" Rouge asked.
"Roger's ship doctor. Roger only survived the Grand Line because Kurokas kept him patched."
"I'd love to meet him."
"This afternoon—you'll see. He guards the lighthouse at Reverse Mountain."
We reached the mountain by dusk and rode the current up. The summit launched us into the Grand Line, where shattered hulls bobbed everywhere—souvenirs from novice pirates with East Blue boats.
"Kurokas, old man! Long time!"
"Kurokas-sensei, we're back!"
"Haha! Karl-lad, Dr. Ellie, and young Benson—welcome!"
"It's been a while," I grinned. "Let me introduce my sister: Portgas D. Rouge. And this little one is Gol D. Ann."
"Oh?" Kurokas's brows rose. "Roger's child?"
"Yes," Rouge said, bowing slightly. "I'm Rouge—Roger's wife. It's an honor to meet you."
"Ha! That rascal actually married… and left a legacy. Hard to believe." He held out his arms. "May I?"
"Of course."
He took Ann and chuckled, all crags and warmth.
"Benson," I called, "break out the good bottles. Tonight, we drink!"
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/FicHaven786