128 Like Father Like Son
"Ori…
You're still injured, where are you going?!"
As Shaya finished explaining what happened, Ori who had sat patiently listening started putting on his clothes and getting ready as if to leave. Shaya didn't know where he planned on going, but the thing that shocked her the most was the expression on his face, or the lack there of.
Ori's face was void of any emotion and Shaya who had spent the longest amount of time with him second only to Roman had never seen him like this.
"Ori, you…"
"I'm going to the New World!"
When she heard that, her body trembled. How could she as his sister not understand what he wanted to do, but she needed to ask anyway, she needed to hear him say it.
"What do you intend on doing when you get there?"
Ori who had just strapped his sword to his waste, turned back to her and replied with a light indifference.
"Kill Kaido and bring Roman back!"
Shaya could understand how Roman felt, when she first heard the news, she too felt an urge to go to the New World and bring her brother back throwing all caution to the wind. But ultimately she remembered how weak she was in comparison to the enemy she'd need to face. If she felt like that after spending half her life with Roman, she could only imagine how Ori felt after spending his whole life with Roman.
"If you really want to head to the New World and start a full blown war with Kaido, then I'll support you 100 percent, but just remember it's not just our lives you'll be risking…
Sabo, Silk, Benji and even Malia. They all chose to follow you because they believed in you, believed that you would defy all odds and become the next King of the Pirates. If you start a war with Kaido right now, you'll likely be marching them to their deaths…
Is that really the type of Captain you want to be?!"
Ori who had his arm stretched out to open the door felt as if he was struck by lightning. He couldn't bring himself to open the door as he rested his hand on the doorknob.
After remaining in that position for a good 30 seconds he twisted the door knob and walked out.
"Ori?"
Ori didn't turn his head to look at his sister as his voice which had turned raspy due to the stress sounded.
"I need some time."
Hearing his gravelly voice, Shaya felt a searing pain in her heart. She clenched her fist and followed him down stairs.
She could see that every step was a challenge for her young Captain. His struggle walking wasn't due to his physical injuries, but the emotional ones left by Roman's disappearing.
Sabo and the others who were still downstairs noticed Ori walking towards them.
"Ori you're fina…"
Before the young blonde could finish, he saw the look on his captain's face. He had seen a myriad of his Captain's expression's, from excited, to sad, to worried and even anger, but this was a first.
There were tears streaming down his face non-stop, his eyes had lost their usual lustre and his face seemed to have aged severely.
"Ori…"
Each one of them understood that Ori must've found out about Roman's disappearance, they all wanted to comfort him but knew there was nothing they could say or do for him right now.
Ori didn't even glance in their direction, he seemed to be in his own world making his way to the exit of the inn one step at a time.
Sabo wanted to follow Ori out when he felt an arm on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Shaya shaking her head.
"He needs some time alone."
They all watched the hunched back of Ori disappear as he left. After he had left their line of sight Shaya, who was now the highest ranking member of the Heavenly Demon's turned to face her crew mates.
"I don't know what Ori will end up deciding to want to do next. But whatever it is, we need to get stronger FAST!
From now until the day we leave, all of you just need to focus on your individual training. Leave Ori and the other matters to me."
Silk who was still looking at the door Ori just departed from said.
"Will Ori be alright?"
The scarlet eyed archer turned glanced at the door way as she replied.
"He's the man who'll be the next King of the Pirates!"
As she said that, she turned around and headed for the stairs.
Although it wasn't a direct answer to his question, it perfectly conveyed her unwavering faith in their Captain. And it was all that Silk and the others needed to hear.
Those simple words were enough to transform their heavy heart into a burning desire to grow stronger!
On the other side of the Island Ori had managed to find his way to the coast that faced the direction of the New World. He stood their silently allowing for his tears to fall.
[Roman you idiot! Why didn't you just kill that bastard?! If Shaya had used her Time Fruit and you used 'that', killing Jack would've been easy. I know it and I know you know it too!
Even if it would've brought in more trouble in the future, we could've dealt with it together!
But now…]
As he said that, he collapsed to his knees and repeatedly punched the ground creating a giant crater around his body.
[You didn't trust me. You didn't believe that I was capable of weathering the storm! We're brothers, you should've trusted me!]
He carried on hammering away at the ground as if he was trying to punch his way to the inner core of the planet. He didn't stop until it went dark hours later.
He fell onto his back looking up at the starry night sky with a dull look in his eyes. What was going through his head, only he knew. Minutes turned to hours and hours turned to days. It had been 14 days since Ori first fell into that lifeless state.
Over the past 14 days Sabo and the others had all taken turns in visiting him with meals and just talking to him about meaningless subjects. Ori had never even glanced at the food that was brought let alone touched it. Seeing that the food they brought was never touched, they weren't sure whether he could even hear their voices, but they didn't stop.
2 weeks ago Shaya had gone to collect the ship which ended up being free due to saving the lives of the shipwrights. She'd also spent some time training Sabo and Silk as they were the ones who had the most room for improvement. If she wasn't training Sabo or Silk she was focusing on her own training. After the recent incident with Roman, she more than any of the others felt a strong desire to get stronger.
Ori who lay in the crater blankly staring up at the starry sky failed to notice the appearance of an 8 giant potbellied figure.
The figure came and sat by Ori inside the crater.
"You remember when I said there has only been 3 occasions I've gone out of my way to offer my services as a shipwright to someone? Well other than Roger and you, the 3rd person was your father; Portgas D. Marcus!
Up till you, he was the only person who had ever rejected me for someone else. His vision was spot on though, Simian truly went on to surpass me as a shipwright."
The figure that appeared was Tom. As he spoke he noticed the young teens eyebrows twitch in response.
"You know, both you and Roman are a lot like your fathers!
Just over 20 years ago now, there was a famous war between the Joyous Pirates and their biggest rival on the sea at the time. Back then the Joyous Pirates were sweeping through the sea almost unparalleled. But his rival at the time, the Captain of the 'Locks Pirates' formed an alliance with a bunch of other powerful pirates of that era to kill the Joyous Pirates once and for all. They even broadcast it to the world to show the downfall of the seemingly invincible Joyous Pirates.
Known for his never give up attitude, Marcus and his crew fought against over 50 powerful New World crews. That battle raged on for a week before the Joyous Pirates looked like they couldn't hold on any longer…"
Tom stopped and looked up at the moon when he heard a hoarse voice.
"Wh…
What happened next?!"
Tom looked over at the young Rookie King who for the first time in 14 days had moved. Even though it was only his head and his eyes still appeared dull and lifeless, it was a change.
"Haha so you are still in there after all…
Your father was prepared to lay down his life to give his crew the opportunity they needed to escape when he was rendered unconscious by an attack from your uncle Walter.
Walter handed the unconscious Marcus to his wife and told her to leave with the others. When they realised that Walter intended on taking on all of the enemy forces at once so they could escape, each and every Joyous Pirate wanted to stay and fight alongside their Vice-Captain.
Do you know what he told them?!"
As he stopped there and looked at the young man, he saw those previously dulled eyes regain a trace of their clarity.
"Never in a million years could I forget what the masked Walter said next. Even now, over 2 decades later I still feel a tingle in my spine just thinking about it.
He said "Our captain is the man who will one day sit on the throne as the King of the Pirates. He'll be the one to bring an end to this age of oppression of all those who dare to dream. But for that day to happen, he'll need all of you at his side. This war will be my way of paving a road to the throne, as your Vice-Captain I'm ordering you: Make sure he becomes King!"
Despite not wanting to leave, each and every one of them left, bringing the unconscious Marcus with them knowing that Walter wouldn't make it out of there alive.
Later on I heard from Simian that when Marcus woke from his stupor he went crazy with rage! He was angry at Walter for sacrificing himself for him, but he was also angry at himself for not being strong enough to protect that what he wanted to protect!"
As he said that, he glanced at the Heavenly Demon from out of the corner of his eyes.
"Do you understand why I say you and Roman are a lot like your fathers?"
Ori turned back to look at the sky as Tom carried on.
"Just like Walter, Roman is willing to do anything to protect you and your dreams.
And just like Marcus you can't bear the thought of someone sacrificing them self for you because you're too weak to protect yourself, especially when that someone is the person your closest to in this world!"
Ori didn't reply immediately, he just stared at the sky seemingly deep in thought.
"What happened next, how did Uncle Roman survive?!"
Tom could hear from the young man's voice that his mood and state of mind was starting to improve.
"One of the crews in the alliance took Walter captive in an attempt to lure your father out. One thing lead to another and your father slaughtered every member of that crew rescuing your uncle in the process."
Ori who had spent the last 14 days in a rut, sat up looking at the oversized fishman.
"Thank you!"
Tom stood up and made his way out of the crater knowing that his work here was done. Before he left he stopped and added.
"With your father and uncle reunited, they spent that year obliterating all the crews that took part in the war that day. By the end of the year, even the Locks pirate could only stay hidden fearing they'd end up next.
Ooh and just a heads up. Both Big Mom and Kaido originated from the Locks Pirate. So If you wish to achieve what your father didn't, surpassing both Big Mom and Kaido; enemies who could only cower in fear at the mere name of your father is a necessary step!"
Ori didn't say anything further as Tom left silently. The young Heavenly Demon sat down with his legs crossed in the lotus position and his eyes closed. Even though he was sat in a meditative pose as if he was cultivating, he never actually revolved his Sacred Art.
