Somewhere in the Sky
"Shihahaha! Good, good! A native hunting competition, is it? I wondered why the World Government was acting so silent despite our recent rampages," Shiki bellowed with mad laughter upon receiving the latest intel about the World Government's plan to revive their infamous sport in the South Blue.
However, what even Shiki did not realize was how easily the information about such an event was spreading. The Elders had discreetly leaked the news, intending to involve multiple parties in the chaos. They aimed to rid themselves of any World Noble who entertained even the slightest thoughts of betrayal.
The Elders needed to maintain the World Government's image. Allowing pirates to kill World Nobles would challenge their authority, so they involved the Marines to eventually pin the blame on them for failing to protect the nobles who would perish.
"Captain, this might well be a trap," Shiki's right-hand man commented. As someone from the Rocks era, he was aware of the triennial competition exclusive to the World Nobles. With the way everything was progressing, his instincts screamed that it was a trap, though he wasn't sure for whom.
"Shihahaha, so what if it's a trap? Don't you think this is the best chance to reestablish the Golden Lion Pirates as the overlords of the New World once again? Whitebeard has been alone on his throne for quite some time. It's time I give him some company," Shiki bellowed cruelly. He never considered Charlotte Linlin on the same level as Whitebeard. The only pirate he believed could challenge him was the strongest man in the world.
Shiki turned his gaze towards his new first mate, who seemed hesitant about something. "What exactly happened in God Valley? Tell me, Captain, is Xebec truly dead?" Jack couldn't help but ask. The fate of Xebec had always remained a mystery to the pirates of his era. As someone who could rule the entire New World with an iron fist, it was rumored that Xebec was indeed alive somewhere, just biding his time.
"Rocks D. Xebec!" Shiki whispered the name with venom. "If he hadn't fallen in God Valley, I myself would have tried to take him down with my own hands." His eyes showed a complex mix of emotions. Despite his pride, there was a fear etched into his very soul—a feeling that no other being could evoke in him.
"Xebec was no mere human!" Shiki struggled to put it into words as memories of the past flashed by. Even his first meeting with Xebec was vivid in his mind. Xebec ruled with absolute strength.
"Maybe only a single man out there can truly answer your question, Jack. Roger is no more, and Garp is perhaps the last living man who truly knows about the fate of Xebec," Shiki spoke thoughtfully.
"Do you think he still lives?" John couldn't help but ask. Although Roger conquered the seas, he couldn't truly rule the New World, but Xebec did. He was someone who blatantly challenged the World Government and managed to shake their very core.
"I hope he is. Roger and Garp deprived me of the chance to end Xebec with my own hands. So I hope he is alive somewhere," Shiki said seriously, his eyes blazing with a challenge. If Xebec was truly alive, he would challenge him, even if it cost him his life.
"So did the brat share any other information regarding the hunt?" Shiki composed himself and questioned John. The information they had received was only rumors, but the solid intelligence came from the younger brother of Donquixote, who Shiki was waiting to mature and grow up completely. Maybe, just maybe, he would find another worthy adversary in the future.
"Yes, Captain! It's going to be in Sorbet Kingdom in South Blue, and it was also mentioned that your former crew members are planning to make an appearance," he added.
"Newgate?..." Shiki asked, intrigued, but John shook his head. "I'm not sure about Whitebeard, but it seems like Kaido and Linlin are on the move. Linlin expects us to make an appearance at such a grand event," he chuckled. "As for Kaido, I think the brat is making a play for the position of Emperor. After his loss in Wano, his reputation took quite a beating. This would be a good place to regain it."
"Shihahaha! This is going to be epic. I wonder how that brat was able to gather all this information and deliver the message to us while our base is moving all around the world. He sure is an interesting fellow," Shiki mused, impressed by the Donquixote family's resourcefulness in gathering intelligence.
"Prepare our entire fleet. We are going to pay a visit to South Blue. Let's turn this into a hunt for the World Nobles. Let the world understand that it is time for a change," Shiki commanded, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The crew moved with purpose, the air buzzing with a sense of impending chaos. As the Golden Lion Pirates prepared for their journey, the seas themselves seemed to hold their breath, awaiting the storm that was about to be unleashed.
It was not just Shiki; Ross had spread the information to various parties who might want to exploit this event. Even forces hostile to the Donquixote Pirates were discreetly informed about the hunting competition.
Though it was the Elders who started the fire, Rosinante added fuel, turning it into a blazing inferno. He even added rumors about the prizes of the hunt being three very special fruits: a mythical Zoan fruit, the Logia-type Yami Yami no Mi, and the ultimate Paramecia-type fruit, the Ope Ope no Mi.
This was all that was needed to stir the world into setting its sights on the Sorbet Kingdom.
***********
Meanwhile, on the Moby Dick, a heated conversation was happening on deck.
"They sure are going all out this time, but is the intel solid? After all, it came from an unknown source," Jozu asked. The entire crew had gathered to discuss the news regarding the hunting event.
Whitebeard sat on his throne with a nonchalant attitude, content as long as the so-called World Nobles didn't bother him or his children. He was curiously observing his sons argue and comment about the event.
However, one particular figure in the group caught Whitebeard's attention. Teach was staring into the report with a glint in his eyes. He rarely showed himself. If someone were to ask who was the most lowkey in the Whitebeard crew, it would be Teach.
Since the day Teach joined, Newgate has kept an eye on him because of an initial unease. But after years, that had eased a lot. Today, however, Teach had come to participate in the discussion, which may as well be the first time, and something in the report had caught his usually subdued attention.
What Whitebeard didn't know was the internal turmoil Teach was currently experiencing. His mind blazed with a thousand curses upon seeing that the fruit he had been seeking was going to be offered as a prize in the competition.
"Fuck! If it's really the Yami Yami no mi, then I will have to get my hands on it somehow," he thought internally, his fist clenched.
Marco, noticing Teach's unusual focus, asked, "Teach, what's got you so interested in this report?"
Teach, snapping out of his thoughts, replied, "Oh, nothing much. I was just curious about the fruits being offered. If the intelligence is true, those fruits could shift the balance of power in the world."
Vista, standing nearby, scoffed, "It's not like you to care about devil fruits, Teach. What's really on your mind?"
Teach forced a grin, hiding his true feelings. "Just thinking that if those fruits fall into the wrong hands, it could spell trouble for everyone, including us."
Whitebeard, sensing something amiss, leaned forward. "Teach, if there's something you need to share, now's the time."
Teach hesitated, then said, "I just think it's worth considering whether we should go after those fruits ourselves. Better in our hands than anyone else's, right?"
Marco nodded. "You might have a point. If we don't move, others surely will. It could be a chance to keep those dangerous powers out of the wrong hands. What do you think, pops?" He turned his attention to Whitebeard.
"Gurarara! Since when did the Whitebeard Pirates worry about devil fruits? If anyone wants to challenge us, let them come. There's no point in throwing ourselves into this mess," Whitebeard added, his voice booming with authority. He had no allure toward the so-called devil fruits.
The crew shared a simple rule: whoever found a devil fruit could consume it or pass it on to others. Even Whitebeard wouldn't interfere with that decision.
Teach's jaw tightened in anger, but he maintained a naive, smiling facade. He knew that with Whitebeard showing no interest, the only way to make the Whitebeard Pirates move was if the so-called sons of Whitebeard collectively asked their captain to go after the devil fruits. His mind raced for options, and he decided to take a gamble.
"Forget about it, Teach. If it's a devil fruit you want, the next time I come across one, I'll give it to you." Thatch, recently appointed as the fourth division's vice commander, comforted Teach by tapping him on the shoulder.
"But...but I have heard rumors about the Ope Ope no Mi. I just thought if we could get that fruit, one of us could help Pops live eternally," Teach added, dropping a huge bomb in the midst of the conversation. Even Crocodile, leisurely smoking his cigar, choked in surprise.
Whitebeard's gaze sharpened at Teach's words. The secret of the Ope Ope no Mi was not known to many; it was a closely guarded secret by the World Government. But Teach, who had researched most of the devil fruits in the world, was aware of the secret and used it to leverage the interests of the division heads. The entire crew hissed in shock at the revelation of the Ope Ope no Mi.
Marco shot up from the barrel he was sitting on and grabbed Teach's shoulders. "Teach, what did you just say?" His eyes glinted because, as the ship's doctor, Marco had detected signs of internal damage within Whitebeard. Though it wasn't prominent now, within a decade or two, it would start hindering Pops and might even be fatal.
"Yes, Marco. I read about it a long time ago. There's another name for the Ope Ope no Mi; it's called the Ultimate Devil Fruit. Once someone awakens it, they have the ability to grant a single person eternal life in exchange for their own. I thought maybe if we could find it, I could consume it and sacrifice myself to help Pops gain eternal life," Teach added, his eyes moistened with feigned emotion.
"Enough!" Whitebeard's voice roared across the deck. Sacrificing one of his sons' lives to gain immortality was something he would never consider. He was already aware of the rumors surrounding the Ope Ope no Mi but never wanted to live eternally. He wanted a peaceful life and to die when his time came.
Though Whitebeard did not want it, the rest of the crew thought differently. They were moved by how Teach was willing to give up his life to grant their pops immortality. Even if it was a mere rumor, they understood how much Teach must have cared to make such an offer.
"Pops, we need to reconsider," Marco stepped up. He always wanted to find a way to help Whitebeard. Despite his efforts to restrict Whitebeard's activities as the ship's doctor, Pops never listened and did as he wished. Marco was sure that if this continued, Pops' health would deteriorate sooner or later.
Crocodile, observing the situation, asked the crucial question everyone had missed. "So, how did you come by such information? As far as I'm aware, you joined the crew when you were young. If you really cared about Whitebeard, you should have mentioned it way earlier," he questioned, taking a deep drag of his cigar.
Teach turned to Crocodile with a goofy smile, awkwardly scratching his head. "Ah, I forgot. Only after seeing the fruit's name did I recall what I had once learned as a child," he added, making an excuse. The others in the crew didn't bother much because they knew how clumsy and absent-minded Teach could be. But Crocodile was not convinced; he knew there was something off about this man.
"Someday, I'll rip your head off, you sand bastard," Teach fumed internally. But luckily, Jozu intervened before Crocodile could press forth with more queries.
"It doesn't matter how Teach became aware of this matter. But what if it's true? What if it can really do what Teach said? Pops, we cannot let other powers get their hands on this fruit," Jozu added. He wanted to get the fruit for their pops, and many in the crew would be willing to sacrifice their lives if it could grant Whitebeard eternal life.
Whitebeard sat in silence for a moment, contemplating the situation. His crew's loyalty and love for him were evident, but he couldn't let them risk their lives for something he didn't even desire. Yet, the potential threat of such powerful fruits falling into the wrong hands couldn't be ignored.
Marco knew that to move Whitebeard into action, he would have to emphasize the interests of Whitebeard's beloved sons. Later, once they found the fruit, they could have Teach or someone willing to exchange their lives consume the fruit without Pops' knowledge, It was better to ask for forgiveness than to seek permission.
"Pops, think about it," Marco began, his voice calm but persuasive. "If the fruit can really grant eternal life, it must be special. What if one of us in the future ends up meeting a gruesome fate and the only way to save us is with the Ope Ope no Mi? Although I don't have much information about the fruit, the last known user was said to be a miracle doctor. It might help save our crew from a crisis in the future."
Thatch nodded in agreement, his face serious. "Marco's right, Pops. We've faced countless dangers out there. Having the Ope Ope no Mi could be our ace in the hole. Even if we don't use it for eternal life, it could save one of us in a dire situation."
Young Vista, twirling his mustache thoughtfully, added, "We're strong, Pops!, but the seas are unpredictable. We've all seen things that defy logic. Having a fruit with such potential could be a game-changer, not just for us but for the balance of power in the world."
Jozu, crossing his massive arms, spoke up. "It's not just about the fruit's power, Pops. If we let this opportunity slip, it could fall into the wrong hands. Imagine what someone like Shiki, Kaido, or Big Mom could do with such power. We have a responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen, especially if that comes back and bites us later."
Crocodile, though still skeptical of Teach, saw the strategic advantage. "Even if it's a gamble, it's a risk worth taking. You're not just protecting yourselves; you're protecting the crew from another tyrant rising with this power and causing mayhem."
Whitebeard listened to his sons, his expression contemplative. His initial resistance wavered as he saw the genuine concern and strategic reasoning in their eyes.
In the background, Teach's internal thoughts raced with satisfaction. "Perfect," he mused, keeping his face a mask of hopeful innocence. "They're doing exactly what I need. Once we get to Sorbet Kingdom, I'll just need to bide my time, let them find the fruit, and then... the Yami Yami no Mi will be mine."
Izou chimed in, his voice steady but earnest. "Pops, you've always taught us to be prepared for anything. This is just another way of ensuring we're ready for whatever comes our way."
Marco finally hit the nail while the iron was hot. "We've faced impossible odds before, and we've always come out on top because you have always shielded us from the front. This may be our opportunity to create a powerhouse within our ranks that could save us in a time of crisis. We need the fruit pops at least for the sake of the crew."
Whitebeard finally sighed, a deep, resonant sound that carried the weight of his decades of experience and love for his crew. "Very well. We'll head to the Sorbet Kingdom, but remember, this isn't just about the fruit. It's about protecting our family and ensuring that we have something to rely on in the future."
The crew erupted in cheers, their spirits high with determination. Teach, amidst the celebration, silently reveled in his success. "The stage is set," he thought, his eyes glinting with hidden ambition. "Now, all I need to do is play my part and wait for the right moment," he thought, turning to Whitebeard with a wide smile plastered on his face.
*********
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