"So... now you can finally tell us who you really are, right, kid?"
The deck was still buzzing with a party, but the moment Rayleigh said that, every mug and skewer froze midair. All eyes slid toward Ozz, who was wolfing down food like a man trying to refill an empty ocean.
He had already steadied his breathing and tucked the emotions away. Now he just ate and let his strength climb back to full. Feeling everyone's stare, he shrugged and glanced at Roger and Rayleigh, whose eyes were sharper than the rest.
"Even if I keep my mouth shut, you can probably guess a little," he said.
The Roger Pirates all scrunched up their faces and thought hard. Fighters, the lot of them. Not a clue surfaced. So, as one, they turned to Roger... who turned to Rayleigh.
If brains were rations, Rayleigh had a full pantry, Jaba had a solid lunch, and Roger... came to the buffet without a plate.
Rayleigh rubbed his chin, thought a moment, then decided to take a bold stab.
"Ozz, your identity is "
"I got it!"
Every head snapped to Roger. He stepped in front of Rayleigh with a flourish, hand up to silence him.
Having his grand reveal hijacked, Rayleigh choked on the words and could only glare. "Since you know, say it," he sighed, folding his arms.
Roger grinned, pinched his chin, and shut his eyes like a detective about to unmask the culprit.
Everyone leaned in. Even Ozz paused with his fruit juice mid-sip, amused and curious what nonsense would come out this time.
"Rrrrr..."
Roger's jaw sagged. A snot bubble inflated and deflated.
"..."
He fell asleep.
"Pffft."
Ozz had just taken a drink. It sprayed.
Rayleigh's vein marks popped in bunches. Bandages or not, he drew his blade on the spot. The crew scrambled to hold him back.
"Let me go. You blockhead captain!"
The deck dissolved into chaos, cheerful and loud.
"Hahaha..."
Ozz nursed his juice and watched them bicker, warmth rising unbidden in his chest. Before he knew it, his eyes were wet.
"I thought I'd never see this again... It's good. It's so good to see everyone together."
He knew this wasn't the exact crew he had lived with. Even so, for one stubborn, shining instant, the captain he'd lost was alive, the crew unscattered, the Oro Jackson roaring with laughter.
He wiped the mist from his eyes, lips quirking, and waded into the scuffle to play peacemaker.
"Easy, easy. He's the captain. You are not going to win that one..."
Roger's bubble popped as someone flicked it. He rubbed his eyes and blinked at the squall on deck.
"Huh? What are you all doing?"
"You lousy captain! We were waiting on your big revelation and you nodded off!"
Jaba had Roger by the collar, shaking him like a prayer flag.
Roger only flashed a big, foolish grin. "Hahaha, really? I fell asleep?"
A while later, they managed to sit again. Roger cleared his throat.
"Right. You can use my Divine Departure. Your marksmanship outstrips Betam's. You've got Sanbell's fishman karate in your fists. Black hair. An Ace that is exactly like mine. And you know us way too well..."
The answer was begging to be said. Ozz's smile tugged higher.
"That's right "
"You're our number one fan! You stalked us with some weird power and copied everything!"
"...Eh?"
Ozz froze mid-sentence, face blanking out.
Thwack.
Rayleigh finally snapped and hammered a knot onto Roger's skull. Smoke practically puffed from the lump.
"Enough clowning. Use your head. He's your son!"
"Huh?"
Ozz turned to stone. Roger, though, lit up like a bonfire at night. He smacked a fist into an open palm, eyes huge, the picture of epiphany.
"So that's it! But why Ozz? Shouldn't it be Ace? The sound is close, sure, but "
Veins pulsed on Ozz's forehead. He opened his mouth to say something, then stopped. His gaze slid past them and out to sea.
"Hey, Ozz," Roger called, "Rayleigh's right, isn't he? You really are my... What are you looking at?"
Seeing Ozz go quiet and look outward, the veterans also shifted their senses. Red light glinted in more than one eye. Observation swept the horizon.
"So that's how it is," Rayleigh murmured. "We've got company."
They had left Aquaria Star Isle behind and drifted through the New World. And now a storm was walking toward them.
Clouds crushed down. In the roiling black, faces seemed to leer and laugh. Thunderheads scraped themselves raw. Spears of lightning smashed the sea. Waves piled high, and the Oro Jackson pitched like a leaf in a gutter.
On the dark line of the horizon, massive warships were drawing in, one after another.
Ozz recognized the marks stamped bold across those hulls. His mouth curled with real interest.
"The Rocks Pirates, huh?"
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The tides are shifting, and secrets linger in the dark... Step into the shadows early on P@treon, where the next chapter awaits before the world sees it.
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