65 Farewell

Luffy handed her the papers in his hands as he said excitedly.

"Shaya your new bounties have been released!"

Ace nodded as he continued.

"You're all worth so much! They're calling you the kings of the rookies. But the shitty World News lied and blamed you for the fire!"

Shaya let out a little chuckle and said

"That's a paper written by the World Government, they have to do everything possible to make us look bad."

Sabo didn't say anything as he was only half paying attention to their conversation as he kept looking over towards the unconscious Orion.

Shaya looked at Sabo with a smile as she ruffled his hair and asked.

"Do you know why Ori tried so hard to save you?"

Sabo shook his head as he looked up at the silver haired beauty in front of him waiting for her to continue.

"Whilst you were training you impressed him with your talent, and when he found out that you were planning on setting out to sea he was going to invite you to join us."

Sabo looked at her in shock as he registered what she said.

"He wanted me…

To join the Heavenly Demon Pirates?!"

He wasn't the only one who was shocked by this revelation, Ace and Luffy were also surprised.

Ace was the first one to recover from the shock. He looked at Sabo deeply and said.

"Sabo you should go with them!"

Sabo turned to Ace, startled by his words.

"Ace…"

"You can't stay here as your parents would always try and bring you back, but you're too young to set sail on your own. You've found a strong and reliable captain who's willing to lay down his life to protect you, this is your chance to make something of yourself in the future. Don't waste it."

"But…"

Knowing what he was going to say Ace cut him off.

"Do you remember our vows when we swore brotherhood? "When we become pirates, we may not be together on the same ship, but or bonds will keep us connected as brothers", so even if you join the Heavenly Demon Pirates now, you will still be our brother!"

Not wanting to feel left out Luffy nodded with a grin as he added.

"What he said haha!"

Sabo looked at his brothers with tears in his eyes.

"Ace… Luffy… Thank you!"

It was another 2 days before Ori finally regained consciousness and when he did the first thing he saw was Ace, Luffy and Sabo sparring against Shaya. Well it was more like Shaya savagely beating on the trio.

He looked over to the side and saw Roman sitting under the glare of the sun cross legged with his eyes closed.

[Roman seems to have benefitted quite a bit from the fight against Akainu… To think he's already broken through to the A+ rank.]

Seeing that everyone was safe and sound Ori felt relieved. Even though he remembered Dragon and his crew forcing Akainu to retreat, anything could've happened after he lost consciousness.

Shaya seemed to feel Ori wake up as she called an end to the sparring.

Sabo was the first of the trio to notice Orion sitting up looking at them. He darted towards him in an attempt to give him a giant hug. Only instead of hugging him, he phased straight through him crashing into the ground behind him.

"What were you trying to do? Crashing into me moving that fast could've killed me!"

Sabo didn't respond as he knelt down with his head pressed to the floor.

"Thank you for saving me!"

Ori smiled lightly as he raised his hand and flicked his middle finger forward creating a burst of wind knocking Sabo on his back.

"Kneeling before someone isn't something you should do lightly!"

Sabo got back on to his knees as he asked.

"I know!"

Ori looked at the kneeling boy in front of him with a gentle smile, as he was about to say something Sabo proceeded to ask

"Please take me out to sea with you as a member of your crew!"

Ori was slightly surprised as he looked towards Shaya and Roman who smiled. As soon as he saw their smile he knew that his intention of inviting Sabo had been outed. He turned back to Sabo and replied.

"No!"

As he said that everyone present was shocked, including Roman and Shaya. Before anyone could say anything Ori continued.

"I wanted to be the one to ask!"

Shaya and Roman looked helplessly at Ori as they cursed him under their breath.

"Idiot!"

Shaya took Ace and Luffy by the shoulders leading them away.

"C'mon boys lets leave that helpless fool alone!"

Roman didn't say anything, but he followed behind them.

Sabo was now sat awkwardly not knowing what to do or say in this situation. Orion sighed as he said.

"You saw the strength of the man we fought before…

Our fights won't get any easier from now on…

If you were to join us you'd have to get a lot stronger and quickly to survive, as I can't always protect you…

Are you still sure you want to join us?!"

Sabo's eyes shone with excitement and resolve as he nodded without hesitation. Seeing his reaction Ori smiled happily.

"Haha. Then as the captain of the Heavenly Demon Pirates, I hereby invite you to join us on our journey to become the true king of the pirates!"

Sabo felt his blood boil in excitement as he nodded emphatically.

"I accept!"

It had been a week since Sabo became the 4th Heavenly Demon and Orion had finally fully recovered, and the crew was supposed to be setting sail for Paradise the next morning.

Ace was sat on a cliff alone looking out to sea in a daze. He didn't even notice Orion walking up behind him, who made absolutely no effort to hide his presence.

"Boo!"

"Wah!"

Ace jumped forward in fright ending up falling off the cliff into the sea beneath.

"You bastard, why did you do that?!"

Ori shrugged as he replied.

"I'm pretty sure Rome told you to stay alert at all times!"

"Shut up and help me out of here!"

"No can do, I'm a devil fruit user. So no swimming for this guy!"

"I meant use your devil fruit to help me!"

"What's the magic word?"

"Please!"

"Haha it'd be my pleasure."

As he said that, Ace felt a gentle breeze lift him back up to the top of the cliff. When he got back on solid ground, Ace glared at Orion who smiled lazily in return. He didn't dare to say or do anything as he knew he'd only end up back in the water.

Ace snorted as he turned back to the sea and sat on the ground, choosing not to do anything to provoke the reoccurring headache that was now behind him. Seeing that Ace was trying to ignore him, Orion smiled lightly before taking a seat beside him and lying back lazily with his hands behind his head.

They sat in silence for a few minutes until Ace turned to the youth beside him and asked.

"Why didn't you invite me or Luffy to join you?!"

Orion didn't even turn to him as he answered his question with another.

"Did you want to join us?"

"That's not what I meant!"

Ori smiled as he replied.

"Sabo's different from you and Luffy. Sabo's the type that can learn from the guidance of others…"

Ace glared at Ori as he asked angrily.

"What's that supposed to mean!"

Ori shrugged as he replied lazily.

"You and Luffy are both to stubborn to appreciate the guidance of others. You need to experience life for yourself and make your own mistakes otherwise you'll never learn."

"Isn't that a part of being a real man? To be strong willed enough to follow your own path in life?"

Ori looked at Ace before closing his eyes and shrugging.

"Maybe…"

They both stayed there in silence for another hour until Ori flipped to his feet and dusted himself off.

"One day you're going to set out to sea and experience everything that life has to offer. Just remember that part of being a man is knowing when to walk away, and that sometimes walking away isn't the same as running away in fear."

After saying that he walked back towards where Roman and the others were. Before he left he stopped and said.

"I can't speak for all fathers in the world, but I personally have never met a father who was willing to make a selfish decision that wasn't in the best interest of their child…

Even if the child can't see it at the time!"

As he said that, Orion walked off without turning back.

Ace on the other hand stared in the direction that Ori disappeared, with tears streaming from his eyes. He had no idea why he was crying but Orion's words had managed to strike a nerve.

The next morning Ori and the other Heavenly Demon's boarded the small ship and prepared to set sail with Ace and Luffy waving them off.

Sabo looked back at his brothers on the docks whilst trying to hold back the tears in his eyes.

"Take care of yourselves, I'll see you after you set sail."

Ace raised his arms as if he was showing off his muscles as he replied.

"Make sure to get strong otherwise you'll get left behind after we finish our training!"

Sabo nodded as he replied.

"Definitely!"

Ace turned his focus towards Orion and waved his little fists menacingly.

"Take care of our brother or I'll beat the crap out of you personally!"

Luffy imitated Ace as he waved his tiny fist in the air.

Orion flicked his middle finger sending a burst of wind knocking them both over.

"Try learning to stay on your feet without falling first!"

Ace flipped to his feet as he glared at Ori.

"Just wait, I'll definitely surpass you!"

"Haha I'm waiting!"

Luffy and Ace watched as the ship sailed off into the distance before turning around to begin the training programme that Orion and the others left them.

Back on the ship Sabo looked at Ori as he asked.

"So where are we heading next?!"

Orion looked to the west with a smile as he replied.

"Next stop, Paradise!"