Chapter 7: The Great Age of Pirates
<span style="font-weight:400">Nearly 6 months passed since Rick started training under Vice-admiral Garp.
<span style="font-weight:400">To Rick however it was more like sixty years.
<span style="font-weight:400">He remembered what Luffy said about him when the two met in Water Seven. How insane Garp was.
<span style="font-weight:400">5 months ago Garp kicked Rick (literally, Rick was one moment on the deck of a marine ship and the next flying in the sky, a boot mark on his ass) onto a deserted ind full of wild beasts.
<span style="font-weight:400">Once again he was amazed at the difference between knowing and experiencing things. Because those 5 months were hell.
<span style="font-weight:400">Surviving poisonous nts, not ending up as beasts’ food, and at the same time training himself and his powers.
<span style="font-weight:400">But it paid well.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick now could float a couple of meters above the ground, and even fly a bit, or to be more urate glide a bit.
<span style="font-weight:400">His gravity area reached 15 meters. Though not an outstanding progress, what is, is; no matter where in the 15m area someone is, the gravity change would be the same.
<span style="font-weight:400">That was no small feat.
<span style="font-weight:400">Inbination with the gravity increase, more than 10 times, Rick could make submit and apprehend a lot of criminals effortlessly.
<span style="font-weight:400">It will be soon the day the Roger will be executed.
<span style="font-weight:400">When he learned the date, Rick made Garp promise toe get it out of the ind to witness it.
<span style="font-weight:400">A promise that Garp kept.
<span style="font-weight:400">They were now just arriving in the docks of LogueTown.
<span style="font-weight:400">As soon as they were on the head quarters, the Vice-admiral dragged him to the training ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Show me how strong you got”.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was hard but Rick finallynded a punch on Garp, who was surprised at his progress.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘ I knew he had potential, but to grow that much in such a short time.. And his progress with his gravity is no joke.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hehehe, I’m really a great teacher.’
<span style="font-weight:400">While Garp was, perhaps unjustly, praising himself, Rick was enjoying his victory.
<span style="font-weight:400">He was ted and was massaging the hand that lent the blow on Garp at the same time.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘That old bastard, how durable is he ? I almost broke my hand!’
<span style="font-weight:400">... Or maybe not.
<span style="font-weight:400">~~~~
<span style="font-weight:400">A week passed, and today was the day where a new age would begin by the death of one man.
<span style="font-weight:400">The Pirate King.
<span style="font-weight:400">Gol D. Roger.
<span style="font-weight:400">The man who conquered all seas, went to the end of the world and came back.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick was patrolling the street, infos from the higher-ups said that even though Roger dissolved his crew two years ago, some of them might still want to be there.
<span style="font-weight:400">As for why Rick was patrolling the streets and not on the za, well…
<span style="font-weight:400">To put it simply he got tricked by Garp.
<span style="font-weight:400">Garp promised him to get him back from the Ind for the execution, but never promised to let him watch.
<span style="font-weight:400">“An execution is no ce for a kid” said the Vice-admiral with a smug face.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick was despairing for not being able to see the moment a new age began and at the same time was mad. More at himself for letting himself get tricked than Garp for tricking him.
<span style="font-weight:400">He quickly put aside his emotions, and started his patrol again, when he saw his ticket to get to see the death of Roger.
<span style="font-weight:400">As stealthily as possible he approached the man from the back and grabbed his coat.
<span style="font-weight:400">“ Hey old man. Take this.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The man turned back and looked at Rick handing him a Marine cap.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re going to cause amotion or worse get caught when the marines spot you, so use it to disguise yourself a bit”.
<span style="font-weight:400">The man took the cap and put it on his head.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you, kid.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s not, kid, it’s Seaman Recruit Rick Wald”.
<span style="font-weight:400">The man chuckled at the kid''s words.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Aren’t you a little young to be a marine kid?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“ Maybe, but I’m still a marine and instead of making fun of me you should thank me for not alerting myrades that the first mate of the Pirate king, Dark king Silvers Rayleigh is here.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Rayleigh’s eyes narrowed.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Who’s that kid ?’
<span style="font-weight:400">“So here is the deal old man. I helped you, now you help me. Consider not calling reinforcement a freebie.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘What an interesting kid. It’s cute how he''s acting all mature before me knowing who I am.’
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright, what do you want my help with kid?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I want you to carry me on your shoulders.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What?” ‘ Is that kid crazy?’
<span style="font-weight:400">“Think about it, an old man with a cap going alone to the za is suspicious. Now an old man with a kid on his shoulders? It’s just a grandfather and his grandson going to the execution. The marines won’t even throw a look at us. “
<span style="font-weight:400">Rayleigh was dumbfounded.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘That kid is freaking smart !”
<span style="font-weight:400">“And why do you want to go to the za, the marines are going to kill my friend there, why would you want to watch that?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick looked at the dark king in the eyes and full of conviction, respect and admiration said.
<span style="font-weight:400">“ I want to witness the end of the greatest man that sailed the seas.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Rayleigh could see what the kid''s eyes contained. He could not bring himself to refuse him. Besides, the kid’s n was good. It was a win-win for everyone.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fine, get on kid, let’s hurry up”.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rayleigh turned around and was about to lower himself, when Rick floated up and sat on his shoulder.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Giddy up old man.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Rayleigh started to walk.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘A really interesting kid, too bad he’s on the marines side’
<span style="font-weight:400">“Old man, what are you doing?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What ?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“The za is the other way.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Howe you reached the end of the world when you can’t even find your way in a simple town like LogueTown?”
<span style="font-weight:400">A vein popped on Rayleigh temple. But the dark king said nothing and walked toward the directions the kid sitting on his shoulder pointed at.
<span style="font-weight:400">~~~~
<span style="font-weight:400">Almost all the town was at the za, here to witness the death of Roger.
<span style="font-weight:400">The media seem to be on the first seats in front, transmitting the event all around the globe.
<span style="font-weight:400">Roger was up on the scaffolds, on his knees, handcuffed.
<span style="font-weight:400">He looked tired, but something was odd.
<span style="font-weight:400">He was smiling, as if his death didn’t matter.
<span style="font-weight:400">As if he would not truly die.
<span style="font-weight:400">Marines were everywhere. Encircling the za from every side.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘The kid was right, I would have been spotted long ago if not for him. Nobody threw us more than a nce. I got lucky on that one.’
<span style="font-weight:400">“Old man, don’t do anything stupid. Or I’ll just me you and say you kidnapped me and threaten me to help you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Damn, that kid sure is viciously smart’
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t worry, I won''t.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Then the execution began.
<span style="font-weight:400">A high officer of the marine was standing near Roger.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Gold Roger, known as the Pirate King, you are to be executed for the numerous heinous crimes youmitted. Anyst word?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Roger’s smile widened even more. It was almost ear to ear.
<span style="font-weight:400">What he said next would be remembered in History forever.
<span style="font-weight:400">“ My treasure? If you want it, you can have it. Search for it! I left it all in that ce!”
<span style="font-weight:400">The high officer realizing what the Pirate King just did signaled the two executioners to act, stopping Roger to say anything more.
<span style="font-weight:400">But it was toote.
<span style="font-weight:400">Gol D Roger’s execution was televised all over the world.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hisst words were enough.
<span style="font-weight:400">They light up the me of piracy in the heart of many men and women, no matter young or old.
<span style="font-weight:400">They brought the dawn of an era with no precedent.
<span style="font-weight:400">An era of adventure and romance.
<span style="font-weight:400">The Great Age of Pirates.