Several months had passed since Kanata and her crew bid farewell to the Roger Pirates at Fullalead.
Across the New World, the movement against the Golden Lion was intensifying. Following the massive blow dealt by Kanata and Roger, the pirate world had sensed a crack in Shiki's absolute dominance. With the Great Admiral's attention diverted by internal restructuring and rival raids, Kanata's fleet was able to sail toward the edge of the world with relative ease.
They crossed through seas that defied all reason. On an island where lava erupted in constant geysers, Kanata smothered the fire beneath a blanket of eternal frost. On an island where lightning rained from the sky without pause, they navigated through the storm using strange umbrellas purchased from a local crone.
They braved impossible currents and navigated weather patterns that broke the spirits of lesser men. Finally, the needle of the Log Pose pointed toward the last island on the charted path.
It was an island of silence.
After breaking through a gauntlet of violent gales, mountainous waves, and torrential rain, they made landfall on a small, unassuming stretch of earth. Very few people in history knew the name of this place, and even fewer had ever set foot upon its shores.
Its name was Lodestar Island.
The chaotic weather of the surrounding sea vanished the moment they stepped onto the beach, replaced by a strangely calm, clear sky.
"There's nothing here," George noted, looking around.
"It's small," Kanata added, extending her Observation Haki. "No signs of human life. In fact, there aren't even any animals—just a few insects."
The exploration took less than half a day. They found only one thing of note: a single stone monument standing in the center of the island.
"I thought it was a Poneglyph at first," Scotch said, leaning in to inspect the stone, "but it's different."
"The script isn't the ancient language," George noted. "We can actually read this."
Kanata stood before the stone. Unlike the indestructible monoliths scattered across the world, this monument was made of ordinary stone, likely placed here long after the original Poneglyphs were carved. It was an informational guide—a legacy left behind to help those who sought the truth.
The crew's scholars were in a frenzy, scribbling notes with a feverish intensity. Though they weren't archeologists, the sheer historical weight of the site was enough to captivate anyone with a thirst for knowledge.
Kanata finished reading the inscription and let out a soft sigh. "It confirms what I already suspected. There is one final island beyond this one. And to reach it, we need to gather four Road Poneglyphs."
Normally, this island was where a pirate was supposed to learn the existence of the Poneglyphs and the hidden path to the end of the world. But Kanata had already bypassed that step. She hadn't come to Lodestar for information; she had come to mark a milestone in her journey.
"We'll camp here tonight," Kanata ordered. "Prepare the site. We'll decide our next move in the morning."
***
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the Log Pose remained stationary. It would never point to another island; this was the official end of its reach.
The island was a natural fortress, isolated by the most violent weather in the New World. Perhaps the creators of the monument had calculated that the terrain itself was protection enough for the secrets they left behind.
Kanata sat by the campfire on the beach, staring into the flames. Dragon sat down beside her, a bottle of ale in his hand.
"What's the plan from here?" Dragon asked. "You've reached Lodestar. Are you going to hunt down the last Road Poneglyph and head for the Final Island?"
"No," Kanata replied. "I'll keep an eye out for information, but the Final Island is a secondary priority now."
"I see."
"The journey doesn't end just because we reached the end of the map," she continued. "This was just the prologue. From here on, I need to focus on the organization. A pirate who only loots has no future. Once there's nothing left to take, you simply wither away."
She looked at Dragon, her red eyes reflecting the firelight. "I'm going to use Fullalead as a base. We'll establish a maritime network and focus on pirate hunting. It's a dark reputation, but in this sea, infamy is a currency you can spend."
The world was already full of fools trying to make a name for themselves by challenging her. She would simply continue to crush them and absorb their resources.
Dragon listened to her vision, his expression turning solemn. He looked out toward the dark ocean.
"And you?" Kanata asked, already knowing the answer. "What will you do?"
"I'm leaving the ship," Dragon said. "I joined you to earn your trust, and while I enjoyed our time—the battles and the drinks—I have my own path to walk. If I stay any longer, I'm afraid I'll lose sight of my original purpose."
Kanata let out a small laugh. "You think you've earned my trust, then?"
"If I hadn't," Dragon smiled, "you would never have let me guard your back."
"I'm going to bring revolution to this world," Dragon declared. "When the time comes... will you help me?"
"A foolish question. Call me when you need me, and I'll be there."
Kanata respected him. She had spent enough time on the same deck to understand the core of his conviction. She had no love for the world the Celestial Dragons had built; if it burned, she wouldn't shed a tear.
"I'll hold you to that," Dragon said. "For now, I need to build the foundation of my own organization."
"We're both going to be busy, then. Where do you want to be dropped off?"
"The East Blue," Dragon replied.
It was his home sea. He intended to take his first steps toward revolution from the very place he was born. He had been active long before meeting Kanata, and he intended to reunite with his old contacts—including the "Okama King," Emporio Ivankov, who had briefly sailed with them.
With the bounty placed on his head after the Golden Lion incident, Dragon was now a criminal in the eyes of the law, but he didn't seem bothered. He was a man of destiny.
"We'll need to plan a route," Kanata said.
To get to the East Blue safely, they would need to cross the Calm Belt into the West Blue, enter the Grand Line again, and cross the Calm Belt once more. They could have gone through Fish-Man Island back to Paradise, but they lacked a reliable ship-coater in the New World. The Calm Belt, despite the Sea Kings, was a more predictable risk for a crew of their strength.
"Give my regards to Ivankov," Kanata said.
"I will."
Kanata took a long drink of ale and looked at the flag fluttering on the mast. "I suppose it's time we chose a name for our crew."
"So, you're finally embracing the title of 'Pirate'?" Dragon asked.
"There's no other choice. The world already calls me a villain. I might as well give them a name to fear. It makes managing our interests easier if we have a formal identity."
"Do you have any ideas?"
Kanata shook her head, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Naming things isn't my specialty."
Dragon looked at the sky. The last rays of the sun were vanishing, leaving the horizon in a deep, beautiful purple.
"A crew that moves to end the era of the Celestial Dragons," Dragon mused. "A force that changes a world in its twilight... How about The Twilight Pirates?"
Kanata repeated the name softly. "The Twilight Pirates. It has a certain ring to it."
"Then let's drink to the birth of the Twilight Pirates," Dragon said, raising his cup.
The two clinked their glasses together under the stars. On that night, at the very edge of the New World, a legend was born.
***
The journey followed Dragon's request. They crossed the Calm Belt into the West Blue and navigated back through the Twin Capes. Along the way, they clashed with rogue Navy patrols and rival pirates, their name growing more infamous with every victory.
They stopped at the Twin Capes, where Kanata reunited with Crocus. She told him about a ghost ship she had sighted in the Florian Triangle, and spent the night watching Skura and Crocus trade medical theories until dawn.
They spent a year traversing Paradise before returning to the New World. They passed through Fish-Man Island, but Fisher Tiger was away on one of his adventures. Kanata spent a few days training a much-stronger Jinbe before heading back into the fray of the New World.
The landscape of the sea had shifted in their absence.
Big Mom was expanding her territory at a rapid pace. Shiki had finished reorganizing his fleet and was moving with renewed aggression. Roger had taken up residence in Wano for an extended stay, while Whitebeard had returned from the West Blue to reclaim his place among the New World's elite.
Six years remained before the dawn of the Great Pirate Era.
Recognized by the World Government as a "Great Power," the Twilight Pirates established their seat of influence at Fullalead, their numbers swelling as they became a force that even the Emperors could no longer ignore.
***
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