"Aaah...I'm so excited to see aunty Shakky and uncle Rayleigh," Run says with a grin. Robin giggles a bit in response as they walk towards the long staircase in the distance. The two of them have traveled to grove thirteen through the many lawless areas to see the two of them. They'd parted ways almost immediately after leaving the Sunny with the promise that they would meet back there after visiting Hatchan's coating mechanic, and the mechanic that he and Robin knew, Rayleigh.
"It's been over ten years," Robin adds, staring up at the bar. "But it seems like nothing has changed at all."
"I told ya! Once Shakky gave up being a pirate and put down roots, her moving days were done. It's Rayleigh we need to worry about." They approach the large staircase, briefly pausing at the bottom of it and staring up at the bar in the distance. They'd walked these stairs with Shanks all those years ago...and now they're finally walking them on their own.
"Surround them! Quickly!" shouts a loud voice. Men suddenly surround the two of them, weapons held at the ready they turn to face the group gathered. "Yeah, that's them! 'Red' Run and 'Devil Child' Nico Robin of the Straw Hat Pirates! That's 380,000,000 for the two of them! We really hit the big time here, fellas!"
"Dahahaha~! Man, aren't we popular these days?"
"Mm, it would seem so," Robin agrees, dropping her bag and slowly crossing her arms. "I suppose we should take care of it before they follow us further." The red head reaches up to rub the back of his neck for a moment before finally sighing.
"Aah, I hate jumping right to a fight sometimes but..." The men confronting them suddenly begin to drop, collapsing face first to the ground while foaming at the mouth. "...I guess it's better this way." Robin bends to pick up her bag as the last of the bounty hunters strikes the ground. "Can't have them causing trouble at Shakky's place, after all! I wonder if they'll recognize us now." She giggles as they begin to slowly climb the steps up towards Shakky's Bar.
"Well, it would be strange if she didn't." It's a short climb to the top, and when they've finally reached it they find themselves confronted by a dark haired woman, one arm crossed and the other raised with a cigarette gently held between index and middle finger.
"My, my," Shakky sighs. "I wondered who it might be throwing their weight around like that. I felt your Haoshoku all the way up here..." Robin giggles while Run raises a hand to sheepishly scratch the back of his neck. "Well? Are you two just going to stand there, or do you have something to say to me?" Robin and Run briefly exchange glances before both both smiling.
"We're back, Shakky," Robin and Run say in unison.
"Welcome back...now, let's go inside. I'm sure you two have had a long journey, and I'm curious to hear about the crew you've been sailing with." Shakky turns towards her bar, and both follow after her. It's been so long but even so it doesn't look like a single thing has changed since they said goodbye all those years ago. They take a seat as the bar, and quickly find themselves with drinks set before them. A glass of wine for Robin, and a glass of whiskey for Run...and both immediately begin to regale her with tales of their journey across Paradise. It's been a...wild ride to say the least. It takes them the better part of half an hour to give her the shortened version but when they're done, their drinks have been refilled several times. "My, it sounds like you two have had quite the journey."
"Aah...it's been fun," Run says, lifting his glass and emptying it in a single gulp. "But...well, we..."
"We were hoping that Rayleigh might be around," Robin finishes, holding her wine glass by the stem. "As much as it's a social visit, we're also in need of a coating mechanic."
"I see," Shakky says, topping off the red head's glass. "Well, I hate to disappoint you but unfortunately Rayleigh isn't in right now. In fact, it's been quite a while since I last saw him."
"Dahahahaha~! Really? What's the old codger gotten himself into now?" Run asks with a grin.
"Aah, who's to say? Wherever he is, I'm sure he's fine, though." Shakky steps the bottle in her head down on the bar top. "Oh! That's right. Ray has been very interested in what you've been doing. Especially after your crew invaded Enies Lobby. He's been worried out of his mind, actually. So have Shanks and Uta." She reaches down and produces a small stack of letters all bound up by a rubberband. "In fact, they've been writing you quite frequently. Since I couldn't trust they would actually find their way to you, I haven't been forwarding them." He reaches out, taking them from her and stares at the stack for moment before setting them down on the bar top.
"Should I read all of them...or just ask for the summary, aunty?"
"My, it sounds like you're accusing me of snooping through your mail, little red." He arches a single crimson brow and she smiles softly. "Well, since you put it that way...Shanks hopes that you're doing well, and taking care of yourself and Robin properly. Uta...well, Uta is still very insistent that you give up being a pirate, and come join her in the New World. She..." Shakky glances in Robin's direction, who seems to be intently staring at the dark wine in her glass. "...had some more choice words but I think they're better left unsaid."
"I'm sure," Robin says, her voice possessing a rather icy edge to it. She feels someone grasp her free hand and glances side long at the red head just in time for him to press a gentle kiss to her lips.
"Oh, my. How daring you've become, Run." Run pulls back and grins at her.
"Don't let her bother you," Run tells her. "She--"
"Aah, that reminds me! Shanks also said to practice safe sex." Both immediately look in her direction. "Seems he not quite ready to be a grandfather, yet." Robin and Run briefly exchange glances before looking back at Shakky once again.
"Ju...Just how old does dad think he was when I was born? Talk about the pot callin' the kettle black." The door to the bar is suddenly thrown open, and all three look towards it immediately as a trio of men stomp in only to stop at the entrance.
"Oi, oi, what kinda run down place is this?" complains the man in front, looking around. "Oi, woman, bring us some drinks!"
"Sorry, we're closed at the moment," Shakky responds immediately.
"Aah, sorry, fellas," Run begins, picking up the bottle of whiskey and turning in their direction with a grin on his face. "That's partly our fault. It's a bit of a reunion but I'd hate for you come all this way just to go back empty handed so--" He holds the bottle out in their direction. "--have a drink on me. For your troubles." One of the men immediately strides forward, and smashes the bottle in his hand, showering him with whiskey.
"What?! You think we're push-overs?!" demands the man. "Do you have any idea who we are?!"
"Dahahahahaha~! I guess the drink really IS on me, huh?" He turns on the bar stool once again, facing Shakky with a smile. "I don't suppose I could trouble you for a bar towel, Shakky? Can't walk around smelling like a brewery all day, after all." There's a soft 'click!' and Run feels something press against the back of his head.
"You must have lost your mind, red hair! You think you can turn your back on us?! You want me to--"
"Well...'Put your life on the line'," Run says, doing his best to imitate Shanks voice.
"H-Huh?"
"That's not meant for threatening people...since you've drawn it, you should put your life on the line."
"Aah, just don't make a mess, Run." The red head is a blur before their eyes, as the man suddenly feels something close around his wrist like a vice, and his arm is jerked aside. Run leans back and snaps his head forward, smashing their foreheads together. A soft grunt issues from the man as he tumbles backwards, striking the ground and lying motionless.
"Wh-What the hell?!" shouts one of the two remaining men. "He...wait a minute! I recognize him! Isn't he...!"
- - -
"Huh?" grunts Pappug, staring up at the sign over the bar. "Are you sure this is the right place, Hatchan? It really sounds like they're gonna rip you off!" Hatchan has taken them all the way to Grove Thirteen to meet his coating mechanic, and after a few fights with some bounty-hunters, it seems they've arrived. "I mean, what kinda name is 'Shakky's Rip-Off Bar'?" Chopper walks towards the door, carrying Keimi on his shoulder.
"Is the craftsman a violent person, by any chance?" wonders Chopper. Hatchan assures them all that they're nice people, and he's known them all since he was a child. Luffy wonders why they're going into a bar if they're looking for a coating mechanic running towards the door with Hatchan. Hatchan pushes open the door, announcing his presence. Hatchan pauses in the middle of the doorway, staring in. Chopper and Luffy lean around him to take a peek, and cock their heads in confusion. "Run?" The red head is holding a beaten, bloody blond haired pirate by the front of his shirt while two others lie unconscious around him.
"I'm sorry," calls a female voice. "We're currently closed."
"Red hair? Nico Robin?" grunts Hatchan, attracting Robin's and Run's attention. "What are you two doing here?"
"Huh? Aah, Hatchan, what are you doing here?" Run asks, dropping the pirate to the ground with a grin. "I thought you were going to find a coating...aah, I see what happened now."
"Is that Hatchan?" questions Shakky. "My, long time no see!" She leans slightly over the bar to smile at the Fishman as he enters, still looking at the red head. "How long as it been? Ten years?"
"Y-Yeah," stutters Hatchan. "It's good to see you again!"
"Go ahead and have a seat. I was just in the middle of something so I'll be right with you." They walk over to have a seat while Run tosses out the first, then the second and then the third pirate as if none of them weight anything at all. Afterwards, Run sits at the bar slowly wiping himself off with a bar towel while Shakky takes a seat to catch up with Hatchan and Keimi. As if it's the most natural thing in the world, Brook and Luffy help themselves to whatever they want out of her refrigerator.
"Luffy, Brook, what are you doing?!" screams Chopper. "She's gonna rip you off!"
"It's fine," laughs Shakky, standing and walking over to the fridge for a moment before returning. "Here. I have something for you, too." She offers Chopper some cotton candy, which he gladly takes from her. "Now, that'll be one-hundred thousand Beli, please." Chopper looks like he's on the very of tears seconds later.
"Aah, aunty," Run begins, tossing the towel onto bar top. Shakky giggles in response, and crouches to gently pat his head.
"Sorry, sorry. You were so nervous that I couldn't resist. I could never charge friends of Robin and Run."
"Aunty?" echo Luffy and Brook, looking at the red head.
"Oi, lady, how do you know Run?" Luffy questions her.
"You're Monkey, right," Shakky says, not really asking him. "I met Robin and Run when they came passed through here with Shanks. But...that's been over a decade ago now. As for how I know you, I keep up on current events. Everyone is talking about you besides that. But I had no idea that you added a skeleton to the crew, or that skeletons could even move and talk."
"Oh, forgive me," Brook says. "I am the dead and skeletonized Brook. Please to meet you."
"Nice to meet you. Oh. Look how much you've dropped." Shakky reaches forward and picks a piece of rice off his face before eating it. Brook seems to fall in love immediately, somehow blushing bright enough to turn his bones red.
"Ohhh! What a delightful person your aunty is, Run! Tell me, what color are your panties?"
"Oh. Let me think...today they're--" Run plugs his ears before she can finish. It's really not an image he needs in his head. Brook's 'nose' somehow gushes the blood that he doesn't have and Run finally removes his fingers from his ears. When Luffy and Brook have finished eating, they sit at the bar beside Run. "You know, you have the same name as someone in the Navy named Garp, Monkey."
"Aah, yeah," agrees Luffy. "He's my grandpa."
"Really? Garp once chased me long ago."
"How come?"
"Shakky used to be a pirate," Hatchan tells them.
"I washed my hands of it forty-years ago, though," Shakky says. "These days I just have fun cheering you rookies on."
"Anyway, Shakky--"
"I know what you're going to ask, Hatchan. You're here to get their ship coated by Rayleigh, right? Run already told me you were taking them to a coating mechanic. Like I told him, I haven't seen Rayleigh in quite a while. Knowing him, he's probably shacked up with some girls somewhere so I'm not really worried about his well being. He was a pirate, and old habits die hard, as they say."
"Aah, I guess we don't really have a choice," sighs Run. "Looks like we'll have to track him down. Any idea where we might find him?"
"I'd try groves one through twenty-nine, Run. Ah. I remember that he's particularly fond of Sabaody Park." Luffy, Brook, Chopper and Keimi are raring to go to the amusement park...but whether they're really interested in looking for him or enjoying the rides is besides the point. "But, you should be careful. According to my information, including you and your crew, Monkey, they are twelve people here in Sabaody with a bounty that exceeds one-hundred million Beli."
"Over one-hundred million?" echos Chopper.
"Yes. Excluding Monkey, Roronoa and Run, that leaves nine more. It's not every day that so many of the worlds rookies show up at once. Especially Kid, Luffy, Run, Hawkins, Drake, Law...these are the names that consistently showed up in the newspapers. In terms of bounty, you and Run share second place, Monkey."
"There are people worth more than Luffy and Run?!" Shakky goes on to list off the names of all these 'rookies' gathered on Sabaody, naming each one and their bounty.
"With so many rookies gathered here, things are going to get hectic in the New World. Also, the reason that Kidd's bounty is so high compared to either of yours...he's been responsible for a number of cases involving serious harm to civilians. Not very charming, is he?"
"I'm just trying to have fun," laughs Luffy. "Aah...but I'm worried about that old guy if he's in such a rough part of town."
"Relax, relax!" Run assures him. "Rayleigh can more than handle himself, Luffy..."
- - -
With no other course of action left, they excuse themselves from Shakky's bar, and gather out front to go looking for Silvers. Shakky sends them all off with a warning to not make any trouble. While the Navy won't go out of it's way to come looking for them, it won't ignore them either if they make a ruckus. While nearly everyone else is intent on going to look for him at the amusement park, Run decides to go poke around in the gambling dens while Robin handles the bars. He heads for the nearest town in the lawless area, which isn't that difficult to find, surprisingly.
As he's nearing it, however, a series of gunshots sounds and the red head sighs heavily. Even if it's a 'law-less' area, can't people at least exercise some self control? He enters the town proper, walking down the main street towards a gathering of people...one of which he recognizes. Zoro sits cross-legged in the street, smeared in something red...which he seems to be licking off himself. A woman stands in front of him, hands on her hips and shouting at him.
"Just what the hell were you thinking?!" demands the woman. "Were you trying to attract an admiral to this place?! Don't get us caught up in your trouble!"
"Zoro!" Run calls, approaching him with a grin. "Dahahahaha~! What in the hell are you covered in? Is that...is that tomato juice?"
"Oh, shut up," retorts Zoro. "Give me a hand." Run reaches out and helps Zoro stand with ease. "What are you doing here? Didn't you go with the others to find a...mechanic or whatever it is?" Run looks at his now red smeared hand for a moment before suddenly reaching out again and wiping his palm on Zoro's shirt. "Don't wipe it on me, jackass! I've got enough on me!"
"Aah, well, there's been a tiny little complication."
"Damn it, are either of you even listening to me?!" bellows the woman, attracting their attention once again. "I'm talking to you two dumbasses! Is there something wrong with your heads?!" The red head stares down at the woman, who cranes her neck up to glare at him with hands on her hips for a moment before looking at Zoro once again.
"A-Anyway, why are you all smeared in tomato juice? I mean, I enjoy a bloody mary as much as anyone but--"
"It's not from drinking," Zoro tells him. "I was gonna cut this weird guy with a bubble on his head for shooting at me but that woman tackled me before I could."
"'Weird guy with a bubble'?" echos Run before suddenly snapping his fingers with a grin. "Ohh! Dahahahaha~! You mean a Celestial Dragon! Boy, that would've been interesting to see!"
"Damn it! Are you two a pair of idiots or what?!" demands the woman. "'Interesting'?! Don't you realize that attacking a Dragon will--"
"Bring a Navy Admiral running here? Of course! But...so what? We make our choices, and we push forward from there." He surprises everyone around by actually reaching out and patting her on the head with a grin. "One foot after the next and chips fall where they may, that's the only way to live as a pirate in my opinion." If the woman was agitated before then she's all but boiling over now, quickly smacking his hand away with a scowl on her face.
"You...You...I swear there's something wrong with your heads! Isn't it common knowledge not to cause trouble for others?! You--"
"Oi, Run," calls Zoro, interrupting the woman and earning the red head's attention. The swordsman stands with someone slung over his shoulder. "I don't suppose you know which way it is to the hospital, do you? This guy has been shot."
"Aah, not a clue, actually," Run tells him. "But I'm sure we could get directions." Several of the people around them quickly motion the two of them in a direction, and they head that way. Thankfully it's a short jaunt to the hospital where they turn the man over to the doctors...but not before they investigate whether the man is wearing a collar. After scaring him a little to make sure they understand he's a person and not an object, the two of them leave the hospital.
"I already hate this damn place."
"Agreed. But, unfortunately, we're not going to be leaving any time soon without getting the Sunny coated. Which brings me back to why I'm here. Seems the coating mechanic that we're after has up and vanished. He's a regular at gambling dens and bars so I'm out trying to find him. Give me a hand?"
"Since we don't really have a choice, sure. We'll split up."
"Good idea." Run motions down the path ahead of him. "I'll head that way, and we'll meet back here when-- wait a second." The red head pauses for a moment as if processing what Zoro has just said...and finally realizes that the probability of Zoro ACTUALLY managing to find his way back are almost zero. "On second thought, we'll..." The words die in his throat as he turns back in Zoro's direction, finding the swordsman completely gone. "...aah, hell." The red head quickly wanders in the direction he believes that Zoro might have gone in, scanning high and low for the swordsman. "Aah, how many times, Zoro?"
"Red? Oi, Red!" Run stops and quickly turns around, finding Zoro approaching in his direction. The two of them haven't moved more than fifty meters from the hospital and yet...Zoro seems to have managed to circle around behind him. "What are you doing? I thought you we were looking for that coating guy? Why are you--"
"Zoro! Run! We gotta get to Grove One!" screams a familiar voice, drawing their attention to none other than Luffy riding on a Flying Fish in their direction. He passes by them, and suddenly stretches both arms out and grabs tightly to both men.
"Wait, wait, wait!" shouts Run. "Luffy, hold--" Both are suddenly yanked hard into the sky, sling-shotting through the air to land on the back of the Flying Fish. Luffy doesn't explain a thing to them, only yells at the man driving to go faster and faster still until finally a building appears in the distance.
"Go! Crash through it! We've got to get in there!" They all hang on tight as they go crashing through the doors of the building, and smash into the ground to a chorus of screams.
"Dahahahahaha~! Wow!" The red head slowly pushes himself up, tossing aside pieces of the shattered door with a grin on his face. Luffy and Zoro do much the same, easily freeing themselves from the debris of the crash as they stand. "Talk about a wild ride!"
"S-Sorry, I was just doing as I was told," says the rider.
"Why are you in such a hurry to get back to the Sunny?" Zoro questions him, stepping away from the crashed fish. "Actually...where are we?" The room is crowded with people, and center stage is none other than Keimi trapped inside a large glass bubble. Standing several feet away is even the rest of the crew.
"Keimi!" shouts Luffy, looking towards the stage. "Keimi! Hold on! I'm coming!" He goes sprinting down the stairs without a second thought, ignoring Hatchi who goes chasing after him. The Fishman grabs him, attempting to stop him but doing little in the way of actually slowing him. He's actually forced to use all his arms to physically slow down Luffy...which unfortunately outs him as a Fishmen to everyone present. Everyone present expresses immediately disgust with him, even throwing things at him. Still, Luffy presses on, intent on freeing Keimi...at least until a gunshot echos through the room. All eyes turn to Hatchan, who collapses onto the stairs, bleeding heavily. "Hatchan!"
Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat's immediately focus on the fat, celebrating man standing on the stairs. He seems SO proud of himself for having shot someone in their back. Luffy growls and starts back up the stairs slowly, glaring fiercely at the fat man at least until Hatchan catches his arm as he starts to pass.
"W-Wait...Straw Hat!" demands Hatchan. "You...You promised not to defy the Celestial Dragons no matter what! This...This is my p...punishment. I was a pirate...I d-did horrible things...this is exactly...what I deserve! I just wanted to make it all up...to Nami! But...But I screwed up! I'm always causing trouble! I'm...I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
"You lousy fish!" screeches the fat man. "You're still blabbering even after I shot you! You annoy me!" He points the gun at Hatchan again, and Luffy steps between them. "What's with that look, you?!" Luffy moves towards him quickly. "You annoy me, too!" He fires at Luffy, who simply turns his shoulder to avoid his poor aim, and punches him so hard in the face that he smashes through several rows of seats before coming to a stop.
"Sorry, guys," chirps Luffy. "Punching that guy means that a Navy admiral is gonna be on the way."
"Dahahahaha~! Good show!" laughs Run, grinning down at him. "C'mon! Let's grab the key to Keimi's collar and get while the gettin' is good! We--"
"Curse you!" shouts a voice from the lower stands, as a man dressed similar to the fat man stands. "How dare you, a commoner, lay a hand on my son!" The man immediately pulls a gun...and suddenly slumps forward, foaming at the mouth while his gun clatters to the ground. A young woman stands now as well, and meets the same fate. A trio of guards rapidly rush up the stairs while the people in the room begin to scramble for the exit, doing everything in their power to avoid being associated with the people who would assault a Celestial Dragon.
"Aah, I'll leave 'em to you guys!" Run grins as he dashes forward, and suddenly leaps up, planting his foot firmly into the face of one of the approaching men. "Hah! 'Scuse me, fellas!" He leaps the distance with ease, landing on the stage with a soft grunt. "Alright!" The red head grasps the hilt of his cutlass. "Let's have you outta--"
"Get 'im!" He's suddenly bum rushed, nearly tackled off his feet by a group of men. Astonishment and confusion appear on his face in equal measure as he takes a brief step backwards, nearly his entire person being surrounded and bound up by arms.
"Wow. Security's pretty tight here." The men holding tight to him suddenly drop face first to the stage, and he brushes himself off briefly before grinning once again. "Now, as I was saying. Let's have you outta there." There's a brief flash of light off the edge of his cutlass moments before the globe suddenly splits, the top half dropping off and shattering on the stage. "Now! Let's--" The ceiling of the building suddenly bursts open, and Run glances skywards as a Flying Fish comes through, and a familiar figure quickly drops in his direction. With a grin he reaches out and catches the woman as she very neatly drops into his arms. "Aah, fancy meeting you here, Nico Robin." Two more follows after her, quickly depositing Brook and then Usopp into the thick of the fight.
"Mm," Robin hums, slowly crossing her arms. "Clutch!" A loud 'crack!' sounds behind him and he briefly glances over his shoulder as a pair of men strike the stage. "I see that you've been busy." Hearing rapidly sprinting footsteps, Robin glances in their direction quickly only to watch them suddenly face plant into the stage and slowly slide to a stop.
"Something like that. We need to deal with the small fry before an admiral shows up."
"Hate to burst your bubble, red hair-ya," begins a voice from the stands. "But the Marines have already surrounded the place. They probably did it before you even caused any trouble...the Navy has a post on this archipelago, after all."
"Who are you?" Luffy questions the man. "And who is that bear?""
"I dunno who they planned to catch but I doubt even they imagined that you would beat up a Celestial Dragon. That was quite an interesting show you gave me, Straw Hat-ya crew."
"So you must be Trafalgar Law," asserts Robin. "He's a pirate, Luffy. And the man up there..." They follow Robin's line of sight to a man standing near the entrance. "...he's Eustass 'Captain' Kid." The red headed man stares down at them with a confident grin. There's a loud 'boom!' behind Robin and Run and both immediately glance in the direction as an old man and a giant slowly force their way through the wall and out onto the stage. "Is that...?"
"Dahahahaha~! Rayleigh!" laughs Run, attracting their attention. "Man, what are the odds of bumping into YOU here, uncle?"
"Run?" questions Rayleigh, staring at him in surprise before grinning. "Run! I was curious as to who threw off that burst of Haki! Turns out it was you, huh? Oh, and if it isn't Nico Robin, too!" Rayleigh laughs as he approaches the two of them. "What are you two doing here? Wait...don't tell me. You're getting ready to cross into the New World?" Rayleigh turns his attention to the remaining guards in the room. "Well, let's clear the room first. We--" The remaining guards in the room all suddenly drop to the ground and Rayleigh laughs again. "Well, well! Looks like your Haki has gotten even stronger...I guess that's the difference between--"
"Someone with talent and someone who's TALENTED," Run finishes. "I know, I know."
"Rayleigh!" shouts Hatchan, attracting his attention.
"Oh, and Hachi, too!" calls Rayleigh. "Hm? Oi, how did you get that wound?! Wait...nevermind, I think I understand what's going on." Rayleigh finally turns his attention to Luffy, a smirk appearing on his face. "You know...I'd say that straw hat suits a dauntless man well. I've been waiting to meet you, Monkey D. Luffy. I've been dying to talk to the man little Run would agree to sail under." Rayleigh turns his attention to Keimi. "But first...I guess I should take care of that collar." He approaches the mermaid girl calmly. "I'm going to take off your collar now, alright, girl? Don't move."
"H-Hold on! I'll go get the keys!" Franky shouts, disappearing quickly. "Don't touch it, geezer!" Rayleigh ignores him...and quick as a flash, has the collar and cuffs off of Keimi. The resulting explosion, however, drawns Franky back, now holding a key ring. "Oi! What happened?!"
"There you are. You're free again." Rayleigh glances over his shoulder at Franky. "You. Carry her." He drops off the stage, and begins walking up the stairs. Rayleigh looks at the other pirates in the room, smiling lightly. "You lot must be quite strong to have withstood that with no problem...or most of you anyway, heh-heh."
"I never expected to meet such a big-shot," muses Kid. "The 'Dark King' Silvers Rayleigh...what's a legendary man doing around here?"
"Hmph. Around these parts I'm simply Ray, a coating mechanic. Don't go using that other name so freely, youngster. I'm just an old soldier trying to live in peace and quiet." He walks to Hatchan's side, and checks on him to make sure he's going to be alright...and also remind him that he warned him not to walk around without a disguise.
"So, old guy," begins Luffy. "What's this about wanting to meet me?"
"Let's put that aside for now. We should get out of here first." Seconds later, a loud voice echos from outside demanding that they release the Celestial Dragons and turn themselves over to the Navy. They're warned that an admiral is on the way at this very moment. With that in mind, Kidd takes it upon himself to go on ahead. He tells them he's going to help them out as well by clearing a path for escape. Naturally, Luffy and Law aren't going to sit idly by and allow him to do what he wants, so they go as well.
"We...should probably follow them," Run tells them. "We'll all break through at once."
"Got it." Rayleigh lifts Hatchan up onto his back with ease. "We'll meet back at Shakky's in Grove Thirteen if we get separated." With that decided, they head for the entrance immediately, following after Luffy. Outside, more Marines than they can count have gathered. "Well, well, things have certainly gotten lively! Think you can take care of all of them?"
"Aaah, I dunno. Never tried to knock out so many people...I've only really relied on it when necessary...or really angry."
"I guess we'll just have to do it the old fashioned way, then." They charge into the marine forces, battering their way through in an attempt to make their escape. The Marines fall in waves before the crew and what seemed to be endless forces soon has to be bolstered with a call for reinforcements. They just haven't got the time to deal with this man Marines! Not when they've got an admiral closing in on their position! Luckily enough, it seems the Flying Fish Riders aren't ready to call things square with the Straw Hat's just yet! They make a timely arrival, calling for them to hop on so they can make their escape...
- - -
"Eeeehhhh?!" screams Luffy, rattling the windows of Shakky's bar. "Really?! Really?! Are you really him?!" Rayleigh laughs as he pours himself another drink. Apparently the news of being Gol D. Rogers former First Mate is quite a shock to their Captain and the crew...well, maybe it'd be a shock to anyone if they didn't know. Besides Run, Robin is the only other one who doesn't seem surprised. Shakky giggles lightly, leaning against the bar to look over at Hatchan.
"You never told them, Hatchan?" Shakky questions him.
"We only needed help coating the ship," Hatchan tells her. "I didn't think it mattered."
"There's something I don't get," speaks Sanji, attracting their attention. "Gold Roger's crew was captured over twenty years ago...wasn't your head supposed to be on the chopping block next to his?" Rayleigh actually laughs in response.
"The Navy didn't capture us," Rayleigh tells them. "Not even a single one. Roger turned himself in. The government lied through it's teeth in an attempt to show it's strength. But the fact of the matter is that most of the old crew is still around."
"Roger turned himself in?" echos Nami. "Why? What for?"
"Because we saw the end of our journey. Roger was sick. There is no cure for what he had...and it was slowly killing him. But, as luck would have it, we encountered a doctor with the skill to ease Roger's suffering. A man we met at Twin Capes, a man named Crocus. We asked him for help, and he accompanied us on what would be our final journey. Three years later, Roger achieved what was thought to be impossible...he conquered the Grand Line! Aaah, at this age, I would love to see him again. He may have only sailed with us for a short time, but he was one of us."
"So, what happened after he conquered the seas?" Sanji questions him.
"That's when it began. The world dubbed him the 'King of the Pirates'. He hadn't been king of anything the entire time before that. Titles hold no meaning for a man about to die but...Roger was overjoyed. He lived his life in a flashy way...whether it was fighting or celebrating...he even loved to plan for the future, although he knew he wouldn't be a part of it. Eventually, per our Captain's orders, the Roger Pirates were secretly disbanded. One by one, we all left...we risked our lives for each other but I've no idea where the others are or how they're doing. About a year after that, Roger was 'captured' and executed in Loguetown."
A silence falls over the bar as Rayleigh sighs heavily. He picks up his glass, and then knocks it back in one smooth motion. Rayleigh surprises them, when he reaches for the bottle and follows it up with another long drink from the bottle.
"Aaah," sighs Rayleigh. "Roger is dead but...there are still some who have inherited something from Roger. Shanks was most definitely one of them...and Buggy, too. You've all met Buggy, right?" Everyone groans a little in response. "Well, he and Shanks were apprentices on the ship all those years ago."
"Eh?! Shanks was on the Pirate King's ship?!" bellows Luffy. "Why didn't you or Shanks tell me, Run?!
"Oh? You never told him?"
"Dahahahaha~! I thought you must have known!" Run laughs. "After all, where else would dad get Roger's hat at?"
"Well, I bumped into him again about ten years ago, now. He'd lost his straw-hat and his left arm...but when I asked him what happened, he cheerfully spoke about you. I've wanted to meet you ever since, Monkey D. Luffy." Luffy yanks his hat down over his eyes, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm sure he eagerly awaiting your arrival...all three of you, in the New World."
"Aah, I can't wait to see him again!" laughs Luffy.
"Well, then! It's about time we get down to business!" Rayleigh stands from the bar and turns to face all of them. "I've got a job to return to, after all. You wanted your ship coated, right?"
"That reminds me," begins Hatchan. "Coating costs a lot of money--"
"Don't worry about it. There's no way I can accept money from your friends, and my nephew!" Nami is naturally over-joyed to not have to pay for the coating. Rayleigh starts walking towards the door when Robin quickly stands, and calls out to stop him. "Hm?"
"Rayleigh, I have a question," Robin begins. "What is the 'Will of D'? Roger's name was engraved in ancient writing on a Poneglyph I examined on Sky Island. How was he able to use that writing? Do you people know what happened during the Void Century?"
"Yeah...we know." Robin stares in shocked silence. "We learned it all. The entirety of history." Robin has barely opened her mouth before Rayleigh holds a palm up, silencing her. "Now, now, Robin. There's no need to be so hasty. Continue on your own path, one step at a time. We, ourselves, might have been too hasty in learning it. Even if I were to tell you everything right here and now, you wouldn't be able to do anything with it as you are. It's also possible that after traveling on your own, you may arrive at an entirely different conclusion from us. But if you insist on knowing it...I will tell you everything here and now."
"No. On second thought, I believe I'll continue my journey."
"And YOU?" Rayleigh looks at the red head. "Not the least bit curious, Run? You used to follow me around asking me so many questions."
"Aah, I used to think that maybe one day I would ask what One Piece really was," Run says with a grin. "Once I got bored of sailing the Grand Line, I mean. Of course that was before I met Luffy. So, I'll have to pass."
""It'll all work out in the end, so don't worry."
"O-Oi! Are you two sure?!" shouts Usopp. "This is such a rare chance! Oi, old guy! I've gotta know! One Piece, is it--"
"USOPP!!" bellows Luffy, jumping up onto the bar. "I don't want to know where the treasure is! I don't want to know if something is actually there! We've put our lives on the line and set out to sea even though we don't know anything! I'd rather quit being a pirate right now than have everything spoiled! I won't go on a boring adventure!" Usopp panics quickly, apologizing and telling Rayleigh not to answer him.
"Are you sure you can do it?" Rayleigh questions him. "The Grand Line is a beast all it's own. Can you rule that mighty sea?"
"Haha! I'm not gonna rule a thing! It's the free-est person on the sea that King of the Pirates...!"