Once the crew got away, they made it to the Rip-off Bar.

"Oi, Shakky!" Rayleigh called. "We're back!"

The door opened to reveal the owner herself, a relatively slim and tall woman with short black hair, with two tufts pointing upwards. A pink revealing singlet with a spider printed upon in over which she wore a black jacket with matching black pants. "Oh, Ray San! Welcome back! That was fast. I'm really impressed that you guys found him."

"Shakky, Hachi is badly injured, so we've got to get him to the bed fast," Yukiko commented.

"What?" Shakky looked perturbed for a moment. "Never mind, I'll get a bed ready for him."

Luffy then snapped up. "Oh, yeah, Ossan, just now you said that you had something to say to me...?"

Rayleigh just smiled in reply.
------------

"EEEEHHH!" Luffy yelled later once the entire crew was in the bar. "ON THE PIRATE KING'S SHIP?"

"Yeah," Rayleigh poured himself a shot of rum. "I was the Vice-captain. I'm Silvers Rayleigh. Nice to meet you."

"Vice-Captain?" most of the crew echoed as Usopp did a spit-take.

"You didn't tell them, Hacchan?" Shakky asked Hachi.

"We only needed him to coat the ship...besides, I didnt want to cause a commotion. " Hachi wheezed.

"Oh, you didn't notice?" Robin commented.

"I totally know that name!" Usopp cried.

"It's written down in so many books..." Nami half-cried.

"That's definitely a name everyone's heard of at least once..." Sanji mumbled.

"Gold Roger?" Brook mumbled. "I recall hearing of a rookie by that name, but that was over 30 years ago...."

"How does that octopus know a big shot like you?" Zoro asked.

"Well, Hachi helped me once when I was stranded at sea over twenty years ago," Rayleigh answered.

"He saved his life," Shakky commented. "He still just a kid at that time."

"Hachi and I used to get along pretty well before he joined the Sun Pirates," Rayleigh explained.

"Arlong's crew, right?" Luffy commented as he raided the fridge of the Rip-Off Bar.

Sanji lit a cigarette. "But... if Gold Roger was executed twenty-two years ago, how come you, the vice-captain, is still alive? Your crew was captured by the Navy, right?"

"Erm, sorry to interrupt..." Yukiko started. "But Gold Roger... who is he?"

The resulting silence was one of disbelief for a few moments.

"Ah, right, he's not known in your world and you dropped from the sky," Nami commented, finally understanding. "Wealth, fame, power... the man who had everything, the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, or Gold Roger. At his execution twenty-two years ago, his last words sent the world out to the seas, thus creating the Grand Age of Pirates we're in today."

Yukiko nodded in understanding as Rayleigh continued.

"We weren't captured," Rayleigh finally answered after a long while. "Roger surrendered to them."

"EEEHHH?"

"I suppose the Government claimed that they'd 'captured' him, to show their power," Rayleigh continued.

"The Pirate King surrendered?" Nami asked. "Why?"

The glass was set down with a thunk. "He could see the end of our journey.
About four years before he was executed... Roger caught an incurable disease."

"Eh?"

"It was a unique disease no doctor could cure or destabilise," Rayleigh continued. "Even Roger suffered from it, but... But one man, the most well-known doctor of his time... A man called Crocus of the Twin Capes, had the skill to ease his suffering."

Brook nearly dropped his chopsticks at that announcement.

"We asked him for help, and he joined us as the ship's doctor for our last journey," Rayleigh sighed. "And then, for three years, while holding off Roger's disease... we did what was said was impossible, we conquered the Grand Line."

"C- C- Crocus San?" Brook stuttered. "From the Twin Capes... oh, how nostalgic!"

"Eh?" Usopp yelled. "I thought that old man had been at those capes for fifty years!"

"He was part of the Pirate King's crew?" Yukiko asked amazed.

"Come to think of it, he said that he'd been a ship's doctor for a while," Nami commented. "So he was a pirate for those three years?"

"If you met him, then that means that he's still well," Rayleigh answered. "Crocus only had one condition... that we let him look for a certain pirate crew whom he wanted to find."

"Hey Brook!" Usopp exclaimed. "That must mean he went off to sea to look for you guys!"

"So Crocus San even did something like that for us?" the skeleton was crying as Yukiko gave him a tissue.

"He was only a crew member for three years... but he was, without a doubt, our nakama." Rayleigh commented. "At my age, I would really like to meet him again."

"So, what happened after you conquered the sea?" Sanji stubbed out the cigarette butt.

"After that..." Rayleigh sighed. "Roger became known all over the world as the Pirate King. It's not like he'd been called the Pirate King all along." he poured himself another measure. "Titles like that didn't mean much for a man on the verge of death... but, Roger was proud of it. He was a man who loved doing everything in grand style... be it celebrations or battles... even though he knew he wouldn't live much longer, he seemed to enjoy himself... However, at the captain's orders, the Roger Pirates disbanded. We all went our separate ways, and one after another, everyone disappeared. I have no idea what our comrades whom we risked our lives with are now, nor what they are doing. Or if any are still alive."

He was looking into the measure of rum, recalling days long gone as he told his tale.

"Then, one year after the crew dissolved... Roger turned himself in and was arrested. Oddly, he requested that he would be executed in the town he was born in... Loguetown in East Blue. I hear that on that day... countless pirates who are famous today... were gathered in the square. The Pirate King's execution was the centre of attention for the world."

There was a beat of pause. "I didn't go. These were the last words he said to me... I'm not gonna die, partner. "

Rayleigh smiled. "I'm sure both the World Government and the Navy were surprised... they had intended for the execution to be a warning to all the pirates who saw it... But Roger's last words raised the curtains on the Great Pirate Era!"

My treasure? If you want them, they're yours! Look for them! I left it all at that place.

"Just a few seconds before the flame of his life went out, it flickered... and he turned it into a blazing flare that covered the entire world!" Rayleigh nostalgically recalled. "I've never laughed as hard as I did that night. I've never cried as much as I did that night... Nor have I ever drunk as much as I did that night. He led a marvelous life as my captain!"

Shivers were literally crawling on Luffy's skin as Rayleigh's story ended.

"Seems like we just heard quite the story..." Nami gasped. "It sounds like a completely different story coming from someone who was involved..."

"It sounds as if Roger intended to start this pirate era!" Yukiko said in amazement.

"I can't say anything for sure about that," Rayleigh answered. "Roger died. The ones creating the current era are the ones who live in it right now. I'm sure there were a lot of people who received something from Roger in the square that day. Shanks, whom you know well, was one of them."

"Pops, you know Shanks?" Luffy spoke around a mouthful of food.

"If you're from East Blue, then maybe you know a pirate named Buggy as well?" Rayleigh asked.

Nami and Zoro frowned simultaneously. "Buggy!"

"Those two were cabin boys aboard our ship."

"EH?" Luffy spat out a bit of food. "SHANKS WAS ON THE PIRATE KING'S SHIP?"

"Hmm?" Rayleigh looked at him. "What, he didn't tell you? It was about ten years ago... I encountered him by chance on this island... he'd lost his trademark straw hat and his left arm."

Luffy closed his mouth with both hands at that.

"When I asked him why, he excitedly started telling me about you," Rayleigh continued.

Luffy quickly swallowed all his food.

"Ever since then, Monkey D. Luffy..." Rayleigh continued. "I've wanted to meet you someday."

Luffy pulled the straw hat low over his eyes. "Shanks...!"

Yukiko smiled. Shanks was a very important person in Luffy's life. It's nice to hear that Shanks spoke highly of him.

"If Shanks hadn't told me all those things about you, I wouldn't have told you any of this either," Rayleigh stated. "Anyway, you did well to make it this far. He must be awaiting your arrival in the New World."

"Really?" Luffy grinned. "Yeah, he must be! I wanna see him again, too!"

Then Rayleigh looked over at Yukiko. "And Beast Master, a few months ago, I've been hearing from Shanks about you. He's never met you personally but he wishes to meet you too. Now I can see why."

"WHAT?!" Yukiko said shocked but startled. "Oh, man, winning the Pokémon Coronation World Series was tough enough..." She said nervously.

"Don't worry, he's gonna love ya! How could he not?" Luffy said hugging her before giving his girl a kiss.

Rayleigh watched their little chat with a smile as he chuckled a bit.

'These two...it's like seeing Roger and Rouge alive again...I just hope they don't meet the same fate...' He thought.

Rayleigh smiled as he began to stand. "Well, the situation is like this, so... I was supposed to coat your ship, right? I suppose I'd better get to work, then."

"Nyuu," Hachi began "Come to think of it, ship-coating costs a lot of money..."

"No, it's fine, Hachi. I won't take any money from your friends."

"That's good. Thank you, Rayleigh."

Usopp and Nami exclaimed in glee. "I don't really get it, but it's great that he'll do it for free!"

"Thanks for that!" Sanji grinned. "You're really generous!"

"Seems like we're going to save quite a bit!" Nami exclaimed.

Robin stood up. "Rayleigh San..."

"Hmm?"

"I have a question." Robin met the Dark King eye for eye. "Exactly what is the 'Will of D.'? On the Poneglyph I saw on Sky Island... Roger's name was engraved with the ancient language. How did he know those letters? Do you people know what happened during the Void Century nine hundred years ago?"

The very air itself seemed to change as he answered. "Yeah. We know. We learned the entire history. However, miss... don't be hasty. Please push forward with your ship, one step at a time. Perhaps we, as well as Ohara, were too impatient. If I were to tell you the entire history here and now, it would take the excitement out of your research. After you've taken your time to see the world... the conclusion you'll reach might be different from what we found. If you still want to hear it, then I'll tell you everything about the world now."

There was a brief internal debate flashing in her eyes before she decided. "No, don't tell me. I'll continue on the journey."

"You'll see it all eventually," Rayleigh promised. "It's too bad about what happened to your homeland, Ohara. But Roger couldn't actually read those letters. We were pirates. We couldn't possibly compare to the genius Clover, or the other Oharans' intelligence. He... could hear the 'voice of all things'. That's all there is."

"Oi, are you sure, Robin?" Usopp exclaimed. "Didn't you just let a great chance slip away? Oi, Ossan! I wanna ask something too! The legendary treasure, One Piece... is it really-"

"USOPP!" Luffy's yell was so sudden that the sniper actually collapsed.

"I don't wanna hear where the treasure is!" Luffy retorted. "I don't even wanna hear if there IS a treasure or not! I dunno anything about it, but everyone sets off to sea to find it for themselves! If Pops were to tell us anything here, then I'll quit on becoming Pirate King! If we're going to have a boring adventure like that, then I would rather die!"

"Uh, I got it!" Usopp panicked. "I got it! Sorry, I just got carried away! I don;t wanna hear anything either! Oh yeah! I've got the 'I'll die if I hear anything about One Piece' disease! So don't you dare say anything, Ossan!"

Shakky chuckled lightly.

"Although in our journey, we came across some interesting murals..." Rayleigh said.

"Murals?" Franky asked.

"Yeah. They looked to be over a thousand years old, and they depicted creatures never heard of before. Three of them looked very similar to the Titans that helped you at Enies Lobby." Rayleigh smiled.

"Wait, you mean Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza? There were murals of them?!" Yukiko asked.

"We had one member in our crew that could read the writing of the murals. They were known as Creator of the Ocean, Contenantal Creator, and Sovereign of the Sky. As if people of the time described them as gods."

The crew was surprised.

There was evidence of Pokémon being in this world.

Robin in particular remembered seeing other murals. One on Sky Island depicted Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres. And the one in Alabasta depicted the Forces of Nature.

If what Rayleigh is saying is true, there is more to the history of world than she thought.

"Can you do it?" Rayleigh pronounced. "The Grand Line far exceeds anything that you can imagine. The enemies will be strong too. Can you conquer such a terrifying sea?"

There was a moment when Luffy and Rayleigh looked at each other, as if testing their resolve.

"I don't wanna conquer anything!" Luffy grinned. "It;s just that the person with the most freedom on the sea is the Pirate King!"

Whatever that answer meant, Rayleigh seemed pleased. "I see."

Shakky smiled. "I'm really a big fan of yours, Monkey Chan."

"The ship is in Grove 41, right?" Rayleigh asked. "I'll be going there. What about you? The admiral is still coming to this island, you know."

"Oh, right," Yukiko realised. "The commodore was talking about an Admiral Kizaru coming."

"We'll just cause trouble if we stay here..." Nami considered. "So, let's go somewhere... and shop!"

"Are you out of your mind?" Usopp squawked. "We're being chased, so we have to stay hidden!"

"She's right," Franky argued. "If we stay together, people will probably come after us. In order to get off more smoothly, it'd be better for us to split up in town."

"Then, we'll just randomly split up into groups and gather up there when he's done, right?" Zoro pointed out.

"Talking about gathering up like it's a plan..." Sanji growled. "Whose mouth did that come from?"

Yukiko sighed as this was going on.
---------------
It was supposed to be simple.

They would have to survive for three days while the coating was being done.

However,

They did not expect for Kuma to appear.

As Yukiko decided to stay at Shakky's, she now faced the man himself.

But for some reason, he did not feel like a threat now.

"Beast Master. Don't worry. I didn't kill your crew nor your loved one. I had to get them away. Besides, they are not ready for the New World." Kuma said.

"......Why tell me this?"

"......I'm a member of the Revolutionary Army, but I don't have much time.......not as myself. Listen carefully. Ace. Fire Fist Ace.

He has been captured by Blackbeard.

And he's going to be executed in three days."

What.... ?

"Why him?!"

"Portgas was his mother's name, but his father.........

Was Gol D. Roger."

Yukiko was shocked.

Ace........he was the son of the Pirate King?! They are gonna execute him just because of his blood link to him?!

At that, a rage fell upon Yukiko, as he Pokémon felt the same.

These Marines.

They are no people of justice.

They are a bunch of lap dogs that don't ask questions or voice their opinions. That's all they are. A bunch of puppets for the Celestial Dragons.

No wonder Dragon opposes the Government.

...........

"Where did you send Luffy and where is Ace going to be executed?"

"I sent him to Amazon Lily, the legendary Island of Women. Ace will be executed at MarineFord. It's not too far. I can send you over to Marineford or somewhere nearby." Kuma said.

"Send me to.........."
--------
Cliffhanger!

We'll get into the next part soon!

I'll do a vote

Should Yukiko be sent to:

Amazon Lily?

Island near Marineford?

Let me know! Voting will be finalized by the end of Monday!

Plz comment