Sea Circle Calendar Year 1497
Months rolled by like waves — relentless, unpredictable, unstoppable. The Roger Pirates pressed deeper into the Grand Line, chasing down the remaining Road Poneglyphs. Each island brought new discoveries, whispers of the past, and danger at every turn.
Roger laughed louder with every new discovery, his voice masking the pain behind his coughs. Only his crew — and Crocus — knew the truth. But to the world, Gol D. Roger was unstoppable.
That illusion would soon be tested.
The Grand Line churned beneath a dark sky as the Oro Jackson sailed through uneasy waters. Ada leaned on the rail, eyes sharp as the wind pressed against her cloak. The air was heavy — too still, too quiet.
"Something's wrong," she murmured.
From the crow's nest, a lookout shouted, "Captain! Huge fleet approaching! It's—"
Before he could finish, the horizon turned gold.
Hundreds of ships, sails gleaming under the faint light, surrounded them like a wall of lions. At the head of the armada was a massive galleon wreathed in banners of gold — and laughter that cut across the wind.
And standing atop the grandest ship of all, his laughter echoing across the waves—
"ROGER!!!"
The Golden Lion. Shiki.
"Shiki…" Roger said, eyes narrowing as his grin grew. "Heh, I wondered when you'd crawl out from the shadows."
Ada's gaze hardened. She knew that laugh. That voice. The past itself was bearing down on them.
Shiki stood at the prow of his ship, swords glinting where his legs once were, his golden mane wild in the stormy air. "Still alive, eh, Roger? You're one tough bastard."
Roger spread his arms wide. "You expected otherwise?"
Shiki's grin faltered slightly — only to twist into something colder when his gaze fell on Ada. "Well, well… Nyx D. Ada. It's been a while."
Ada's eyes narrowed at the sight of him. "…Shiki."
Shiki's gaze snapped toward her, and for the first time his grin faltered. "Heh. Nyx D. Ada." His voice dripped nostalgia and venom. "Didn't think I'd see you standing beside Roger. You've really picked your sides, haven't you?"
Ada met his gaze, unflinching. "At least I picked them for the right reasons."
"Hah!" Shiki barked. "The 'right reasons'? Don't play saint with me. You and I both know you were born for chaos. I offered you the world once, Ada. Together we could've taken it."
Roger chuckled, amused. "She said the same thing to me when she joined."
Ada shot him a sharp glare. "Don't make me regret it, captain."
Roger only laughed harder.
Roger called out, "Enough talk, Shiki. What do you want?"
Shiki's voice rose as the wind whipped around him. "What I've always wanted. Join me, Roger. Become my right-hand man. Together we can crush the Navy. The World Government is terrified of what we know — about the ancient weapons, about the true history. You have the knowledge. I have the power. Let's take the world."
Roger's expression sharpened, but his smile didn't fade. "The world, huh? Sorry — not interested."
Shiki's laughter died. "What?"
Roger's tone stayed even. "I don't care about ruling. Being a pirate is doing what you want."
"You'll die chasing dreams, fool," Shiki spat.
"Maybe," Roger said, turning his head slightly. "But I'll die free."
"CAPTAIN! THEY'RE PREPARING TO FIRE!"
The lookout's cry tore through the tense air. Buggy froze, face pale. "Ahhh! Not good! Not good! That's Shiki's fleet! We'll die!"
Shanks laughed. "You're always saying that!"
"I mean it this time!" Buggy snapped. "That's a sea of ships! Even Crocus can't patch us up from that!"
Buggy turned toward the ship's doctor desperately. "Crocus! Tell the Captain he's not feeling well! We can't fight like this!"
Crocus didn't even glance up from his work. "He's perfectly healthy."
Buggy's eyes bulged. "HE'S COUGHING UP BLOOD!"
"Healthy enough to crush an army," Crocus said calmly, tightening his gloves.
Rayleigh smirked, drawing his sword. "Looks like the kid's out of luck again."
————-
At Marineford, reports flooded in —
Vice Admirals scrambled across the strategy room, carrying reports dripping wet with rain.
"Vice Admiral! Massive pirate confrontation near Edd Sea! Confirmed identities. Roger Pirates and Flying Pirates!"
"Fleet Admiral Kong! The Flying Pirates and the Roger Pirates have engaged at Edd Sea!"
Sengoku's eyes widened. "Those two together? The sea's going to explode."
"Roger and Shiki?! Those two are clashing?!"
Garp leaned back in his chair, cracking a grin. "Heh-heh-heh! Those idiots never change."
Sengoku shot him a glare. "Garp! This isn't funny! If Roger and Shiki clash, half the New World will sink!"
Garp crossed his arms. "Maybe. But I'd pay to see their faces when the sea decides who's boss."
Kong growled. "Mobilize observation fleets! If they survive this, we'll crush whoever remains!"
"Sir!"
Garp just laughed, eyes glinting. "Heh… Roger… You better not die before I get to punch you again."
"Mobilize observation ships immediately! If either side wins, the balance of the seas could collapse!"
Admirals debated, some wanting to intervene, others insisting they watch and wait. The name Gol D. Roger still commanded awe — and fear.
————-
Back on the raging seas, the first cannon fired.
The battle began.
Flames and thunder swallowed the horizon. The Oro Jackson darted between colossal ships, its crew a blur of chaos and skill. Shanks and Buggy fired cannons; Gaban cut through boarding parties; Ada's voice rang out clear and commanding — every motion precise, her Observation Haki guiding them through the storm.
"Hard to port! Break their line before they circle us!"
Shiki's voice roared over the chaos. "Roger! You'll regret this!"
Roger stood tall at the helm, laughter booming even as cannon fire shook the deck. "Maybe — but not today!"
Shiki's expression darkened. "Then you'll die chasing your dreams."
Ada stepped forward beside Roger. "Funny — I remember you saying that to Rocks before getting beaten up by him."
Shiki's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Careful, girl."
Ada smirked. "Or what? You'll cut my legs off too?"
The crew behind Roger erupted in laughter. Even Rayleigh cracked a smile.
Shiki snarled. "You'll regret crossing me again, Ada!"
Roger raised his sword, grinning. "You'll have to get through me first!"
"FIRE!!!"
Cannon fire thundered. The sea erupted.
The Oro Jackson surged forward like a beast through flame, weaving through Shiki's fleet. Cannonballs screamed past, splitting masts and shredding sails.
"Shanks! Starboard!" Rayleigh barked.
"On it!" Shanks yelled, lighting a fuse with his teeth. "Let's make it flashy!"
Buggy, trembling behind a cannon, shouted, "NO FLASH! WE DON'T NEED FLASH! WE NEED TO RUN!"
"Shut up and load, you coward!" Shanks yelled.
Crocus held onto the mast, shouting over the wind. "We can't outrun them all!"
Ada, her voice calm amid the chaos: "Then we don't. We cut through."
Roger roared with laughter. "That's my line, Ada!"
Lightning struck the sea, splitting the storm in half — and the ocean itself turned against them.
The heavens broke open. A storm unlike any other descended upon the battlefield — a typhoon of impossible force, tearing masts and snapping hulls in half.
"CAPTAIN! IT'S A MAELSTROM!" Shouted Gaban.
Roger stood at the bow, laughing against the wind. "The sea's on our side today!"
Waves rose like mountains. Ships collided and shattered. The storm swallowed half of Shiki's fleet in an instant.
"Impossible!" one of Shiki's men screamed. "The sea itself—!"
It was as if the heavens themselves decided to intervene.
Waves the size of mountains rose and crashed between the fleets.
Shiki's ships splintered like toys. The ocean swallowed them whole.
"Captain!!" one of Shiki's men screamed. "We're losing ships by the dozens!"
Shiki gritted his teeth, fighting to stay upright as debris flew. "No! I'll kill him—!"
A sudden crack of wood — his ship was struck by lightning, and the impact sent a steering wheel crashing into his skull.
Blood ran down his face, his grin distorted in fury and disbelief.
"ROGERRRRR!!!"
But the sea silenced him.
A blinding flash, a crash of thunder — and the Golden Lion's ship splintered against the waves.
When the storm finally calmed, silence blanketed the battlefield.
Half of Shiki's armada was gone. His own flagship was wrecked, a massive steering wheel buried in his skull. The survivors whispered in fear — not of the storm, but of the men who survived it.
——————
As dawn broke, the sea was littered with debris and broken masts. Smoke rose like ghosts from the ruins of Shiki's armada.
Buggy collapsed on the deck, trembling. "We're alive… we actually lived…"
Shanks leaned back against the mast, grinning through exhaustion. "Told you, Buggy. Luck's got a name — and it's Captain Roger."
Ada stood at the bow, drenched, her hair whipping in the wind. "We shouldn't have survived that."
Roger, leaning on the helm, smiled faintly. "We didn't survive it, Ada. We were chosen by it."
Rayleigh chuckled softly. "Heh. The sea's got a strange sense of humor."
Buggy peeked over the rail, trembling. "Chosen or not… I'm never fighting that guy again!"
Shanks grinned. "You say that every time."
Crocus wiped rain from his brow, glancing at his captain's blood-stained hand. "You're pushing yourself too far, Roger."
Roger smiled, eyes distant. "It's fine. We've still got one last stop before the end."
"You knew the storm was coming," she said quietly.
He shrugged. "Maybe the sea likes me."
Ada's lips twitched. "Or it just hates him more."
They both laughed, the sound carried away by the morning breeze.
The wind howled — carrying away the wreckage, the dead, and the roar of legends.
The Battle of Edd War was over.
And the world had no idea what destiny had just survived the storm.