The Vice Captain of the WhiteBeard Pirates

We had finally reached Water 7, Whitebeard had commissioned Tom; the owner of Tom's Workshop and the maker of the Oro Jackson, to make four huge ships for him. This order had been placed long before I joined his crew. Matter of fact, he had placed it when he had risen to the position of Cadre within the Rocks pirates; showing how long it had taken Tom to make these four ships. However, the production of these ships mattered little to me because I had just received some rather mind-blowing news. 

Roger had contacted us via den den mushi, informing us that he had managed to defeat and kill Rocks D. Xebec right before he could escape. However, the more concerning news was the fact that one of the Five Elders of the World Government; namely Saint Jaygarcia Saturn had made appearance along with the reinforcments that the marine had brought. This was rather concerning news because it was rare to see them active in the outside world. They would have normally just order the marines around in their little get-together meeting place in MarieJoise. Moreover, in the anime, Saturn would have already been on the island when the incident went down. Although I hadn't noticed it previously, the plot had changed. I could only hope that this change wouldn't be so drastic in the future.

Anyway, Roger went on to talk about the treasures he had managed to find while leaving the scene. One of them being a red headed child, I instantly assumed that would be Shanks; a future Emperor of the Sea. Other than that, the remnants of the Rocks Pirates seemed to have scattered the moment they heard that marine reinforcements had arrived. My brain started thinking, remembering what they did before they left the island. Judging from the way the young Kuma's hands were when we brought them to the ship, it appears he had already ate the same devil fruit he had in the Anime; which would be the Paw-Paw fruit. If that assumption was right, then that would mean that Charollette had given Kaido the Fish-Fish fruit model: Azure Dragon. John and Shiki and the rest of the cadres of the crew seemed to escape as well. 

Meanwhile, the Elder would command the marines to perform a buster call on the island. It would seem that they had already planned to begin the coverup for this mess, moreover, they would later plan on erasing Rock's name off of history. However, I contemplated the efficiency of this as he had already left one of his names as my surname. Only time would tell whether their efforts would work on not. Roger soon hung up the call and Whitebeard ordered the pirates to move to the ship-wright docks to get the ships. The ships were gigantic, each ship had a white whale design on board just like the anime. Moreover, they were designed to accomodate Whitebeard's massive figure; unlike the boat that we had sailed to over to Water 7. Although the ship was huge, it made Whitebeard uncomfortable to move within. Always making him bend his head to enter the deck or his room within the ship.

The crew looked on in utter admiration at the design of the ships. Whitebeard smiled as he slowly made his way to the first ship, Stussy and I soon followed as we entered the first ship with him. He then sat on the large seat that had been made just for him before ordering someone to come with A large sake bowl and wine, followed by numerous others for the rest of the crew. His expression, that was once of joy and excitement, changed to that of a serious expression. When the things that he requested finally arrived, he stood up and in a large voice announced, "My children, I hearby announce the formation of the Whitebeard Pirates!!! We shall be a family and rule the sea!! For those who wish to continue on as my children. Raise your cups and drink with me!!!!" The crew immediately erupted with cheers and wasted no time downing the sake that was filled in their cups. Stussy and I downed it as well, marco and some other younger ones as well even though he was a little to young for it.

A drinking ceremony soon turned into a party throughout the entirety of Water 7. Alcohal was plenty along with food. Some musicians from within the city came to the ship-wrighting docks and started playing some music. Soon more people started to come in until it was a party that it was at the moment. Sitting at the back of the ship I could see a drunk Marco and Jozu going at it at arm wrestling with a bunch of people watching. It seems bets were made before hand adding more excitement to the competition. 

Alone, I continued to watch as Whitebeard and the rest of the crew drink and make merry. Also, I saw a couple of men and women step out hand in hand as they snuck to a nearby hallway for a few rounds of love making. In the distance, I could see Stussy talking to a group of women while laughing with them. She seemed to be having a great time with the celebration. I heard footsteps come up behind me. I didn't need to use Observation Haki to tell that it was our new captain, Whitebeard. 

All smiles he patted my head as he asked, "Why are you doing in the back of the ship alone like this? It's supposed to be a celebration!" I promptly replied, "I....got a bit...tired" The following events had left me with little or no time to get my naps in like I used to back in the island. Moreover, as time passed I had begun to need less and less sleep. I assumed it was because I had finally submitted Ghidora to my will, and as a result, let me access to the full control of my devil fruit as well as my body. However, that didn't mean that I wouldn't suffer from physical, spiritual and mental fatigue; and as I was, I suffered from all three. 

Whitebeard looked down on the celebrating pirates and civilians. His smiling expression remained the same as he continued all the way till he ended up looking at me. "All these children, have a lot of potential in the future. It will be your responsibility just as it is mine to protect and nurture them. Could you do that for me?" He looked at me with eyes that flashed with a father's love. It appears that Pops actually took us as his adopted sons. Moreover, the fact that this pirate crew was young wasn't a lie either. Aside from the grown men within the pirate crew, we had a certain number of pre-teens, teenagers and young adults within the pirate crew. Their strength needed a lot of improvement, but it wasn't so bad that they would be defeated by the common man. Although I was a teenager as well, I had managed to build my strength since I was reincarnated here. It was my only way of survival, I had no choice. 

Looking back at Pops, I could only lift my normally aloof lips in a soft smile before agreeing to his request. After all, what kind of son would I be if I didn't obey what my father would tell me?