Where's our ship?

Alex was sitting on Whitebeard's shoulder and swinging his legs. "So where's our ship?"

Whitebeard paused for a moment before replying. "We don't have one! Gurararara! Rocks got the damn boat destroyed!"

Alex facepalmed. "Pops… are you fucking with me?"

Whitebeard laughed. "Gurararara! Nope!"

Alex grabbed his ear and tugged him backwards. "We need to get a ride! Hurry! Before that old man Roger leaves!"

Whitebeard laughed before turning around and walking in Roger's direction.

"Run! Hurry! RUN!" Alex was screaming from Whitebeard's shoulder as he laughed the whole time.

Luckily, the two caught up to Roger before he took off and were able to hitch a ride. They partied every night and during the day Alex spent every waking moment reading all the books in the library on board. Shanks had to drag him out of the library every day to play with him.

All in all it was a great time, and Alex learned that for some reason he had an unreasonably high tolerance for alcohol, as well as, seemingly, an immunity to hangovers. Shanks and all the adults were extremely envious every morning when Alex was completely unfazed from the drinks he had the night before.

Alex had even tried to keep up with Whitebeard and Roger once… it didn't go well. He might have a high tolerance but he wasn't a god.

The morning after that Alex berated Whitebeard with questions on how he could drink that much while Whitebeard just laughed, refusing to answer. Eventually the crew threw Alex off the ship for being too loud in the morning.

Roger laughed at the spectacle and Rayliegh got ready to save Alex before seeing that Alex was able to swim back aboard.

Alex cursed the crew before going back to the library for the day, not even coming out when Shanks went to get him.

The crew felt a little bad and gave Alex expensive booze that night to make up for it. Alex forgave them instantly and drank with a smile on his face. He was becoming a little alcoholic!

How fun!

Shanks was spending his day training and fighting with Roger and Rayleigh to become stronger.

Alex had finished all the practical books in the library and moved on to all the fiction books. He didn't enjoy them as much as learning new things but he still had fun reading them, plus they gave him cool things to think about. What if someday he really could make a flying robot? He scoured the books while looking for things he could make in the future with a smile on his face.

After around two months, the ship had landed at Sphinx, which was Whitebeard's home. The group had an emotional goodbye and Alex and Shanks fist bumped with a smile on their faces as they walked away from each other.

Alex waved goodbye to everyone as the ship sailed into the distance.

"So, what now Pops?" Alex asked with a strained neck as he looked up towards Whitebeard.

"Gurararara! I don't know!"

Alex sighed and shook his head. "Well… first we need a ship."

Whitebeard laughed. "I know where to get one!"

He picked up Alex and let him ride his shoulder as he walked away.

1 hour later.

Alex was running as gunshots were fired in all directions. "What the fuck Pops?! I thought you said you knew where to get a boat?!"

"Gurararara! Yeah! The dock! Gurararara!"

Whitebeard turned around and a white orb glowed around his fist as he punched the ground in front of him, creating a ripple that sent everyone flying into the air and destroyed multiple buildings.

Alex ran ahead of him and got on the ship. There were two people on board with knives. Alex ran at them and tackled him to the ground. He picked up the knife and stabbed the man he had just tackled in the neck before seeing a large shadow looming over him on the ground.

He turned to face the second man, but he was too late as the knife was already plunging towards him.

A shockwave flew through the air. "Gurararara! Did you think I'd let you touch my son?!" Whitebeard called out as the ship was smashed to pieces.

Alex held on to a railing that was barely hanging on to the back of the ship.

"POPS! THAT WAS OUR RIDE!"

"It's not anymore!" Whitebeard replied happily.

Alex climbed his way back onto the sinking ship and leaped back to shore just before the rest of the ship was swallowed by the sea.

He looked around and noticed that no one else was near them. He took a seat on the ground and started panting, he had dropped the knife earlier while he was hanging onto the railing for his life.

Whitebeard sat down next to Alex with a serious face. "Why did you kill him?"

Alex looked up in bewilderment. "Pops? Are you going to tell me not to kill people or something???"

Whitebeard laughed and shook his head. "Killing is part of the life of a pirate. However, it is not something to enjoy. It is something that you should only do when necessary or … if they really deserve it." Whitebeard looked down at Alex who was mulling over the situation and continued. "You don't have to kill everyone you meet. Have you ever seen me or Roger try to kill each other? We have fought over a dozen times!"

Alex hummed before responding. "But what if someone I let go comes back to kill me later?"

"GURARARARARA!" Whitebeard laughed and slapped the ground, creating a crater. "Do you think anyone can touch you? You're my son! They would have to kill me first!"

Alex smiled and looked down. "Thanks, Pops. I'll try not to kill next time… if I can."

Whitebeard nodded and pat his back lightly. "How do you feel after your first kill?"

Alex looked down at his hands. "... fine."

"Really?" Whitebeard asked.

Alex nodded. "The first time I saw someone die… I threw up a bunch… but I guess I got used to it."

Whitebeard suddenly laughed. "Gurarara! That's right!"

"What?" Alex asked.

"I thought of another reason to not kill people! It's more fun when they come back and you can fight them again!" Whitebeard replied.

Alex shook his head before smiling. "Pops, you're a weird person."

Whitebeard laughed.

Alex smiled and looked out towards the sea as the sun began to set. "But, normal people are boring. It's better to be with weird people… it's more fun."

"GURARARARA!" Whitebeard laughed as the sun finally disappeared behind an island in the distance giving the mountain a faint outline.