In a quiet corner of the Oro Jackson, Buggy carefully pulled out the treasure he had kept hidden for so long—a Devil Fruit.
Clutching it tightly, he muttered under his breath:
"The crew's broke… The captain can't keep us afloat forever. If the Roger Pirates disband, I'll sell this fruit and start my own crew!"
Just then, Shanks appeared behind him without a sound.
"Oi, Buggy! What're you hiding?"
Buggy jolted like a startled rabbit. In his panic, he shoved the fruit into his mouth to conceal it—only for it to slip down his throat whole.
His eyes bulged in horror. A strange power surged through his body.
And just like that, Buggy became the unwilling user of the Chop-Chop Fruit.
From that moment forward, his glare at Shanks was filled with loathing. In his heart, he swore he'd never forgive the red-haired idiot who'd "forced" this on him.
Days passed at sea. Supplies ran dry. The great Roger Pirates, feared across the Grand Line, found themselves gnawing on scraps.
They resorted to hunting Sea Kings, carving up the enormous beasts for meat. But even those monsters couldn't satisfy the crew's endless hunger.
"This won't work, Captain!" the helmsman, Scopper Gaban, cried weakly, his arms trembling as he clung to the wheel. "At this rate, we'll starve before we make landfall!"
Roger rubbed his chin with a puzzled frown. "Strange… Not a single pirate ship with a bounty has crossed our path in days."
Rayleigh sighed, rolling his eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. Who in their right mind would get within sight of the Oro Jackson? The moment they see our flag, they run the other way."
"Er…" Roger froze, face flushing red, then white. His sheepish expression earned a wave of laughter from the hungry crew.
"Captain," Shiro cut in, calm and sharp-eyed, "we're close to the Sabaody Archipelago. Why don't we get to a port first, then figure out supplies?"
Roger's eyes lit up. "Of course! Shakky's bar! Rayleigh's old flame will take care of us, wahahaha!"
"Wait—what?!" Shiro perked up, instantly turning into a gossip hound. He pressed close to Roger with a grin. "Hold on, Rayleigh's got a lover? Tell me everything!"
Roger leaned down, cupping a hand around Shiro's ear, his grin mischievous. "Back before you joined, Rayleigh promised her he'd come back once our voyage was done…"
"Cut it out!" Rayleigh snapped, face burning crimson. "Shakky and I are just friends!"
"Friends, eh? Don't play dumb, Rayleigh!" Roger roared, his voice carrying across the deck. "I heard you with my own ears!"
"You were eavesdropping?!" Rayleigh's eyes narrowed, fury blazing. His sword was in hand in an instant.
Roger staggered back, hands raised. "It was an accident! My Observation Haki slipped out, I swear!"
"You bastard! I'll kill you!"
The vice-captain chased the captain across the deck, sword flashing. The crew roared with laughter, while Shiro only facepalmed.
"A vice-captain trying to cut down his own captain… Only on this ship."
As night fell, the Oro Jackson sliced through the glowing waters, the lighthouse of Sabaody coming into view.
Roger, Rayleigh, Gaban, and Shiro disembarked quietly to avoid attention. Shiro walked a step behind, hand resting on his sword hilt, eyes scanning their surroundings with wary precision.
They passed through dense groves until the trees opened to reveal Grove 13. Moonlight spilled through the canopy, dappling the ground in silver.
At the base of a massive mangrove, its roots twined together to form the foundation of a curious building. A creaking sign swung in the breeze:
"Shakky's Rip-Off Bar."
Pushing open the wooden door, they were greeted by a haze of tobacco smoke and the warm scent of alcohol.
Behind the bar leaned a tall, short-haired woman in a leather jacket, cigarette smoldering between her fingers. The golden light played across her striking features, her every movement radiating the confidence of a woman who knew her worth.
"Long time no see, Shakky!"
Roger's booming laugh filled the room. He grabbed a bottle of rum from the counter, bit out the cork, and guzzled deeply. Amber liquid spilled down his chin, soaking his shirt.
After weeks without a drop, the captain's throat worked greedily, every gulp a sound of pure satisfaction.
Finally, he lowered the bottle, wiping his mouth. His eyes flicked toward Shakky—and even the future Pirate King found himself momentarily stunned.
"You're Roger," Shakky said at last, her voice trembling. The cigarette slipped from her fingers, falling to the floor.
Her gaze shifted past him, and when her eyes fell on Rayleigh, she froze as if struck by lightning.
"Shakky…"
Rayleigh rubbed the back of his head, ears burning red. Each step he took toward her was weighted with sixteen years of silence.
Tears welled in Shakky's eyes. She rushed forward, flinging her arms around him.
"You heartless man," she cried, voice breaking. "Sixteen years, not a single letter. Do you know how long I've been waiting?"
Her tears stained his shirt, and for once, the normally unflappable Dark King could only stand there, overcome with guilt and emotion.
T/N: If you would like to read up to 20 chapters ahead for all my works, check out my P@treon: patreon.com/GhidorahWriter
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