The air in Shakky's bar was lighthearted as laughter and chatter filled the room. William leaned back, a slight smirk on his face as he watched Rayleigh and Shakky swap stories. Robin was skiming through her notes, Hancock was stealing glances at William, and Sandersonia and Marigold were enjoying their food. Rayleigh, eyes sharp but warm, looked over the young adventurers and chuckled softly.
Rayleigh took a deep sip of his drink and set his cup down with a heavy sigh, grabbing their attention. "An other legend left the sea; let me tell you more about him, the golden lion shiki." he said, looking at each of them in turn. The room fell silent as everyone turned to listen.
Rayleigh began, his voice dipping into a more serious tone as he recounted, "fifteen years ago, two years before we reached Laugh Tale, Shiki learned that Roger had located an ancient weapon." He paused, watching as the mention of Roger brought a spark to everyone's gaze.
"Seeing an opportunity, Shiki went to Roger, proposing they join forces. With his massive fleet and Roger's knowledge of that weapon, Shiki believed they could take over the world. He wanted Roger as his right hand." Rayleigh's smile was tinged with nostalgia as he went on. "But Roger refused. Said that there was no point in being a pirate if he couldn't live freely, on his own terms."
Robin leaned forward, intrigued. "And that was it? Shiki just backed down?" she asked.
Rayleigh chuckled. "Not a chance. That Golden Lion was stubborn. We clashed at what will be known later as Edd War, and both sides went at it with everything we had. But as fate would have it, a storm hit during our fight, and Shiki's fleet took the brunt of it." He paused, his eyes distant. "Half of Shiki's fleet was destroyed, and worse yet, he ended up with a steering wheel lodged in his head."
The girls' eyes widened in surprise, and Sandersonia whispered, "So that's why he had that strange wheel…"
Rayleigh nodded. "It nearly killed him, but somehow, he survived and even came to respect Roger. But when he heard that Roger had been captured, Shiki couldn't believe it. He stormed into Marineford alone. He fought his way through, demanding to see Roger."
Rayleigh's gaze grew intense, his voice almost reverent. "Sengoku was there. Garp, too. They told him Roger would be executed in Loguetown and that was meant to break the hearts of all pirates. Shiki was furious, saying it was an insult that Roger would die in the weakest sea. And then… the battle that followed destroyed half of Marineford. Shiki lost that day and was thrown into Impel Down."
Everyone listened in stunned silence, envisioning the fierce battle and the Golden Lion's indomitable spirit. William looked down, his respect for Shiki growing. Even in defeat, Shiki had shown an iron will.
"And that wasn't the end for him," Rayleigh continued. "Impel Down couldn't hold him. He was the first prisoner to escape, hacking off his own legs to break free. He replaced them with his swords, and then he vanished."
Hancock frowned. "To escape from Impel Down like that… he must have been relentless."
William nodded, feeling an odd kinship with the Golden Lion. Shiki had fought to be free, no matter the cost. It was the kind of spirit he could admire.
"Shiki was a madman, but he was also a man of vision," Rayleigh concluded. "And in the end, he didn't get to fulfill it. You've honored him just by giving him a fight worth remembering."
Rayleigh's story settled over them like a heavy blanket, a reminder of the lives that had fought and died in the pursuit of freedom.
William reached into his dimension, retrieving the fruits he had set near Shiki. He looked through them until he found the newly formed Demon Fruit, its swirling patterns unmistakably unique. He turned to Marigold with a grin. "As promised, Marie. The Fuwa Fuwa no Mi."
Marigold's eyes widened, and she took the fruit with a reverence she couldn't hide. She looked at William with gratitude, and he placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice full of confidence. "Now, you've got to master it. Our future kingdom depends on your strength."
Marigold nodded with determination, biting into the fruit and feeling its strange power surge through her. She closed her eyes, focusing, and opened her hand. The table next to her floated a few inches off the ground, and she gasped, realizing the incredible power at her fingertips.
"Not bad," William teased. "With practice, you'll be moving mountains in no time." He patted her shoulder and turned back to Rayleigh. "Rayleigh, Shiki deserves a final resting place," he said, his voice firm but respectful.
Rayleigh nodded, leading them out of the bar and into the quiet backyard. With care, they dug a modest grave, and William laid Shiki's swords alongside him. There was something humbling about it—a final resting place for one of the sea's great legends, watched over by those who respected his strength, even if they had been on opposite sides.
As he looked down at the simple grave, William's thoughts drifted back to the battle they'd had, the fierce determination Shiki had shown despite knowing he couldn't win. "Good fight, old lion," he murmured softly.
Hancock stood by his side, placing a hand on his arm in quiet support. Sandersonia and Marigold, inspired by William's respect for Shiki, stood solemnly as well, while Robin clasped her hands together, honoring the legend in her own way.
Rayleigh and Shakky exchanged glances. There was a sadness in Rayleigh's eyes as he looked down at Shiki's resting place. "Farewell, old friend…" he muttered under his breath.
As the sun set, casting a golden glow through the bar's windows, Shakky poured drinks for everyone, raising her glass. "To the Golden Lion," she said. "And to new legends."
They raised their glasses, toasting the past, present, and future.
William leaned back, feeling the warmth of camaraderie and the fire of ambition burning within him. "Let's make some history of our own," he declared, a sly grin lighting up his face.
The others nodded, each feeling that same drive and excitement for the road ahead. They may have paid their respects to a legend of the past, but now it was time to forge their own legend—a legend that, one day, the world would remember.
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