Chapter Eighteen

The Dreamer and the Farewell

Saber was quiet, his eyes distant as he looked towards the sky. It was a clear, beautiful day, but Demetra couldn't really enjoy it. They were currently huddled inside an underground bunker, surrounded by steel mesh gates. The air was stale and dry, but still cool, compared to the blistering heat outside. It was a fairly modest place, and from the shovels stacked nearby, Demetra figured Saber probably dug out the place himself. Shelves lined the walls, filled with snacks, freeze-dried foods, and water. A small generator hummed in the corner, and a flickering lightbulb illuminated the rest of the room. Saber hadn't closed the hatch, and so a bright beam of sunlight spilt across the floor.

"Explain. What's going on with you?" Saber asked, quietly, but not harshly. "You- everyone saw you disappear. You landed in my arms for a second and suddenly you weren't there anymore. All that was left in my hands was… some sort of… blue apple. With funny patterns on it."

Now that was a development she'd not been expecting. After all, somehow he'd gotten her away, but in the form of…"…An apple? ….Blue?" Demetra asked, puzzled. "What sort of patterns?"

"…Swirly patterns- kind of like cartoon waves. But the funny thing was- it looked like someone or something already took a bite out of it. I thought I could figure out where you went or something and that it might contain some sort of clue so I took off like the devil was on my heels." Saber laughed, despite the strange atmosphere. "And then just as I get back to my place after making sure I wasn't being tailed, the fruit just- glowed, and there you were again."

Demetra thought quickly. Somehow she was taking the form of a chewed-up fruit when she visited her dreams? She wasn't simply unconscious? "Wait- but you woke me up that one time when I was unconscious in the junkyard!"

"Yeah- actually, I saw some flash of light from where you were- and assumed something funny was up on my turf, so I checked it out, and there you were, stirring. So it was probably you, turning back."

Was that why Kyle had believed she'd returned to her old life, because he couldn't find her in bed at night? Things were getting stranger and stranger… "I already tried telling Kyle once- about what's been happening to me at night when I sleep."

"Sleep? …Is this where that totally weird question about the dream argument came from?"

"Yeah, precisely." She nodded. "Look- you already have proof that what I'm going to tell you isn't a lie or some weird delusion of mine. I turned into a fruit in your hands, if that's not proof, then I don't know what is. So, just lend me an ear, okay?"

Still, he looked uncertain, or perhaps just plain puzzled. Eventually, Saber nodded, with a curious expression on his face. "All right. Go on."

"I… I think I've been falling into a different world every time I fall asleep." She was treated to an extremely deadpan look- although not completely unbelieving yet. The shock hadn't quite worn out from Saber's eyes though.

"It's… it's a very strange world." Demetra started, watching Saber's expression warily for any skepticism or disbelief. "Anyways, in that world, they have pirates. Lots of them. I don't know why, I think they said it was something about a Golden Age for pirates, and that there's some great treasure out there everyone's searching for. And every time I fall asleep here- I wake up there, on a pirate ship."

"The same pirate ship every time?" At least he was taking it seriously, Demetra could tell.

She nodded. "Yeah, the same. At first, when my dreams started, I was like a bystander. I didn't really exist in their world. I was just there, watching, but no one could see, feel, or hear me. And then eventually, the longer I stayed there, and the more I started interacting with that world like it was real and not just a dream, the more 'real' I got. Now, I have two people who can see, hear, and touch me.

A thoughtful expression crossed his face. The mood was somber again, but Saber paid it no heed. "So no one else can?"

It already felt like decades since she'd reveled in the fact that people were beginning to acknowledge pieces of her existence. A little sound here, a touch here, a brief sighting… "Actually some people can… sense me in a way. Some people can only see me but can't hear or touch me. Others can touch me, but can't see or hear me. And then there are people who can hear me and can't touch or see me. But look- the problem isn't what goes on in that world, it's that… time moves differently here and there- and it fluctuates too. Sometimes I'm there for one night in this world, and I'm only there for an hour in the dream. And then sometimes I'm there for… oh, say 3 weeks, and then I've only been out for… how long did it take you to get me here?" She treated her former leader to a pointed stare.

"Woah- wait. In the time it took me to get you as a fruit over here, 3 weeks passed in your dream world?"

"And that's not all." Wearily, she sat down, and toppled over on the dirt. "Ahh… I use energy in my sleep too. I wake up even more exhausted than ever."

Snorting, he joined her on the ground, sending dust flying everywhere. Demetra coughed and spluttered, then glared at Saber, who held up his hands in mock surrender. "I dunno about you- but I wouldn't really call turning into a chewed up fruit, sleeping. Maybe you're not even dreaming."

Now when he put it like that, it really didn't sound like sleeping. But how was she supposed to have known that she turned into a fruit whenever she dreamed? It wasn't like she'd wake up one day- and remain a fruit….

…Right?

Frantically, she shook her head free of troublesome thoughts and Saber treated her to a strange looks for her trouble.

"Sorry- I'd fancy not staying a rotten piece of fruit for the rest of my life. Just thoughts." A sudden rattling of the metal gates caught her attention. "What was that?" Demetra asked, shooting to her feet, sending another dust cloud over Saber, who burst into hacking. "Quiet!"

"Ack- agh…" Saber spat on the dirt, before sitting up himself. "Relax- I just called a couple of old friends over. Your parents and brother aren't going to find us here. Neither will the police or whoever else they call for. It's my secret base, you could say."

Demetra stared at him incomprehensibly, until a loud, boisterous, and very feminine voice split the silence.

"Saber! You gonna tell us what happened that day now?"

Demetra ducked and lunged out of the way when a blur came falling down the hole, landing in a crouching position. Sylvia took the opportunity to plop on the dirt next to Saber. Behind her, slowly making his way down the rope ladder, staring sheepishly and apologetically at them, was James.

Saber looked thoughtfully towards Demetra, and sighed wistfully. "What about the others? If this is gonna be told, may as well get everyone else here."

"There's no one else." James' steady voice cracked at the end. "Markell joined up with the Hots- he was killed 7 months back in some freak ambush. Iris's parents passed away and she moved in with her grandparents across the country. Ari's also in another country- he's studying medicine right now. Torch and his little brother Ferrel are in jail- they caught the two stashing explosives and shit, as well as plans to blow up a school or something. And the twins, Kendyr and Coryn are working someplace now, dunno where or what, but I know it's honest."

"And you guys?"

Sylvia, James, and Demetra looked at one another. Demetra shrugged. "Summer's on, I'm just waiting for school to get in, I guess…"

"Working at my grandma's bakery." Sylvia stated shortly.

James looked around and sighed, eyes to the floor. "I went with Markell. With the Hots. On that note, stay inside tonight. Fire spreads quickly."

"Is that metaphorical or code? You know you could get knifed in the back for using it with outsiders." Their former leader snorted. "But, that's a relatively new group, isn't it." Saber sighed, not meeting any of their eyes. "Looks like everything didn't go as well as I hoped."

"You tried to save ten people- you couldn't have believed all of us would heed your words and go on to become better people?" Sylvia rolled her eyes, picking at her nails. "Besides. No one's the same. You've got kinda half success stories and half… well… no offense, James."

He shot her a dry expression. "None taken, I know what I'm doing is pretty stupid. But… it's just not in some people to stop. And I'm one of them." Kicking off his shoes, he sighed. "S'just… I don't study well, don't have enough to get a job, parents always nagging… a guy's just gotta get away from it all." As if to prove his words, he slung down his beat up old backpack and fished around in it. "Drink, anyone?" James asked, holding up a can of beer.

"No thanks." Demetra quickly blurted. The last thing she needed was to get raging drunk, pass out, and turn into a fruit in front of everyone.

Saber was quiet at this as well. "Well… I can't really say anything, I'm just barely scrapping along being a mechanic's assistant in the garage downtown. Otherwise I'm also pretty damn active still on the streets- just a loner wandering these lawless places." He finished poetically. He pointedly ignored Sylvia's excited whoop as she caught the can James lobbed at her.

Demetra clenched her fists. "So that day happened for nothing? Now you see- you didn't save us, you didn't finish saving us either! You ran away!"

"Shut it!" Sylvia snapped back, can halfway to her lips. "We haven't heard the reason why you left yet either, you know?"

Immediately, Saber was between them, holding Sylvia's eyes for a second or two. "Calm down. Deme's right. I did run away. And I let her take the blame for it."

Hurt and betrayal shone in Sylvia's eyes as she backed down, shaking her head. "…So it really was the truth. What else have you lied to us about, eh?"

Inwardly, Demetra was glad Sylvia was now more or less on her side, since the other girl's wrath was often hard to contain and easy to trigger. But she couldn't help but feel a little guilt. Saber had just pulled her out of the stickiest situation she'd been in since… well, back then.

The four fell into melancholic silence. Demetra closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh. Dead, jailed, headed toward a destructive end. The sad reality that almost half of their group would not be making it back was a harsh tale to swallow.

Markell's biting but concerned attitude, always looking after Sylvia, Coryn, and herself. Torch, with his wonderful lighter tricks as he showed them the beauty and destructiveness of fire all in one whenever they all had time to kick back. Ferrel, the youngest of the group, and yet, the most brilliant, always toying with various science kits in his free time.

Markell's family was a broken one, and Demetra knew he was on rocky terms with both of his parents, until the day he eventually ran away and Saber had taken him in. Torch and Ferrel's mother was dead and their father, unemployed, bitter, and resentful. Torch had always been so busy trying to haul so many odd jobs at once, he'd never noticed Ferrel being mercilessly bullied at school. Ferrel, being Ferrel, bore it all without complaint, but underneath his understanding and quiet nature, Demetra had seen the hatred growing for his tormentors.

An angry outburst from Iris, Sylvia and Coryn, while Demetra remained silent, but her true feelings smoldered in her dark eyes.

"Look- it's not like I think you guys need any extra protection or anything, it's just this world's fucked up. Rightfully? I think you four girls should be able to walk the streets just like the rest of us at any time of the day. But that ain't how life is working right now." Markell scowled, running his hand through sandy blonde hair. "Those crazy bastards out there- they're looking for easy prey, and whether you like it or not, you guys are it. Stay safe out there, okay? There are those out there addicted to the pains and pleasures of life. Steer clear of them."

A tall bulky boy with his head shaved stood with his back to her. His right arm was covered in black, fiery tattoos. TORCH was scrawled across his other arm.

"… Hey, Deme. Watch the brat for me, will you? Sometimes, I think… he might try to take on too many things at once. It's hard for us, but I do what I can, and he understands that. I can't be more prouder of Ferrel than I am, but he needs to know he's still got people who care. Laters, Deme." Torch turned around with a wry, sad grin on his crooked lips. A gas canister rested in one hand- and a lighter in his other. Soon, the smell of smoke rose above the city.

A smaller, lankier boy with messy dark hair stared at her through heavy, deep eyes. Almost as dark as hers. "I hate them, Deme. I hate them all, so, so much."

"I want them all to die." And then Ferrel smiled, but Demetra could feel the cold sensation of fear trickling down her spine.

The next day, Ferrel was back to his normal, studious self. "Bye, Demetra!" He said with a small smile, as she left for home one day. But Demetra was not fooled.

"Wha- what's… w-what's g-going on with Demetra!"

Sylvia's shocked scream pierced her thoughts and punched Demetra back into reality, only to find her friends, with their faces illuminated in fear. She looked down at herself, and realized that her entire body was glowing and flickering wildly like a dying light bulb. Saber lunged for her, only to be held back by a hysterical and shock-ridden Sylvia. James had leapt to his feet and was bellowing something to her, but Demetra could no longer hear him.

A slim, tanned boy slowly adjusted the glasses he was sporting. In one hand, was a thick volume, in the other, a notepad and pen. "Oh- oh! It's just you Demetra. For a moment, I was worried."

Demetra cocked her head curiously. "Ari? What's wrong?"

"No- it's nothing." He looked off to the side, grimacing. "I… I was just thinking to myself."

"About?" She pressed.

"…well, saying good bye. To the gang. I- I did it, Demetra. I got into the college my parents wanted me to get. I… I didn't think I'd be accepted, so I thought, I'd rather have freedom from them. But… but I really did it. I… I don't have to be a failure anymore."

"Oh Ari… you were never a falure…"

"All ready?" Coryn's intense green eyes stared into her own. She was a scrawny thing with a round face framed in red hair. However, her movements betrayed her nature as an agile and quick person. "We've got a deal down at Rick's. But we're also expecting it won't go too smoothly, so be prepared."

"I'm on it. Everything's packed." Demetra automatically responded.

"Good. And… stay safe. I'd hate to say good bye tonight."

"Being a melodramatic ass again, Cor?" Kendyr plopped down next to them, snatched a butterfly knife from his sister's pocket, and unlatched it with a flourish. "Ew- dirty. You didn't clean it off?"

"What's the point. It's just gonna dirty again."

"…Whatever, look- point is, you gotta give these things some care. Where's the beauty in this? You can't send people off with such an unsightly thing. Here." He rubbed the knife's blade vigorously on his shirt and pushed it back into her waiting hands. "…Hm. Good enough. Well, I told Saber I'd be back quickly. Got my own job to do now. See you!"

"Do you know what Saber tries to do?" Under the streetlight, James sucked in a breath and let out of puff of smoke. "That guy's really something. It's loyalty, Deme. He's trying to help us. Your antipathy with life. My addictions. Coryn and Kendyr's boredom. Sylvia's attitude. Torch's burdens, Ferrel's depression, Ari's parents and schoolwork, Iris' situation, and Markell's anger. He's trying to fix it all." He looked away, snorting in disgust. "I don't think he can do anything about it though. Moron. But… you can't help but admire the guy for trying. But it ain't gonna last forever. One day, we're all gonna say good bye and blow this joint."

"…I have four more months, Demetra." A girl was hunched over on her bed with one of her hands clasped tightly around a dagger. Again and again, she plunged it into the pillow. Feathers flew everywhere, and Demetra reached out. One landed in her palm. "My parents want to move. To another country."

"But- what about-"

"SHUT UP! Don't you think I know it already!" The dagger slammed into the pillow one final time and Iris slouched until her forehead was touching the hilt. Demetra could see the hot tears streaming down her face. "I knew it… from the first morning sickness…I… what am I going to do. They don't want me to keep it…I'm not even sure whose it is… but I do know this. If it keeps like this… I'm just gonna run away! Good bye!"

The glow was overwhelming now- her friend's cries a garbled mess. Was that the howl of the sea? Demetra breathed- it seemed so salty. Something closed on her wrist- a human hand, but only for a split second, before the sensation disappeared.

"What do you think?" Sylvia asked, flicking something glittery in Demetra's direction. Without looking, Demetra snatched it out of the air and held it in front of her face, and her eyes widened. "Not bad, eh?"

"W-where did you get this?" Demetra gasped, awed as she held the diamond ring out into the light.

"Nicked it, 'course." Sylvia laughed wolfishly. Then she grinned, baring all her teeth. "Gotta find something to do with my time and all. "Too much of it makes hands idle. Ahh~ this makes me want to go out and do something else. Well, I'm off to sell my goods. Bye!"

The ring of police sirens caused them both to freeze momentarily, but then Sylvia smirked, and strode off confidently.

"Hey- Demetra, look. Can we talk?"

Immediately her back stiffened. "'Can we talk' is never a good way to start out, Saber." She said conversationally.

"Well technically, I started with 'Hey'." He sniped back, and laughed quietly. "But no, really. I… have a favor to ask of you."

"…Oh! Well, go on."

"Tomorrow… after the job is done… would you…

…say good bye?"

…

….

….

"I'd never thought I'd actually say this about you, but, you're such a coward, Saber! I'm not the esteemed leader here that everyone's elected to crowd around. But fine. I quit your group. Is that what you want to hear? Fine! FINE! I quit! I QUIT I QUIT I QUIT!"

Something heavy, hard, and painful caught her swiftly in the gut, and Demetra rolled away, moaning to herself. Slowly, she peeled open her eyes, and looked around. Blue. The sky. The ocean.

Kidd looked rather peeved, standing imperiously above her with a dangerous glare. "What was that, dolly?"

"…" So she had returned. But why? She hadn't even been asleep or anywhere near enough to do so. "…What was… what?" Deep breaths. Control. Calm down.

"Nobody-" At this, Kidd suddenly shoved his face into hers, and although he tried to grab for her hair, this time, his hand phased through. Unfazed, he stared harshly into her eyes. "…and I mean nobody quits this crew, unless they leave in a fucking body bag!"

She stared quietly at the fiery captain before her. And then, like so many months ago, when a man she'd respected asked her to take the reins and go, Demetra dipped her head slightly. "Aye, boss." She whispered- and for some strange reason, relief flooded through her veins.

It was the clipped march of her footsteps that resonated through the alleyway as she walked away from her friends. None of them made a move to stop her, but she could feel their stunned eyes on her back. When she'd finally gotten out of sight, at last, Demetra shed a tear.

Now there was no more going back.

"… bye, Saber. Bye everyone…"

"A dream on these seas- sometime's it's all you have to hang on. Or so some people say."

Startled, Demetra peered over her shoulder. It'd been weeks since she'd returned to the other world, and there didn't seem to be any signs of her waking up any time soon. She was currently looking out toward the sea, leaned against the grotesque giant skull that decorated the deck of the Kidd Pirates' ship. With a purposeful stride, the first mate of the crew had wound his way through the bustling crewmembers on the ship. Several of them seemed puzzled- wondering who, exactly, Killer was talking to.

"The upper deck is empty for now, follow me, Traumer." He muttered under his breath as he passed by, then walked on, seemingly unfazed.

Her head turned to follow as he ghosted away into the crowd. How curious.

Again, she had yet to return to her world for the past several weeks. Instead, she spent her days as a lookout, staying firmly out of her fellow unsuspecting crewmates ways while still working to serve the crew. Kidd had doodled a stick-figure version of their world's Marine's symbol and told her to keep an eye out for any ships bearing the design. Although it really hadn't been her fault she hadn't recognized the symbol in time during that previous incident just a few days ago…

After all, what Kidd had drawn looked more like two disfigured bananas on their side mashed together at one end with a double headed wrench forced through at the meeting point.

Really, it was nothing similar… Even Killer had heaved a great sigh when she held up the 'symbol' Kidd had drawn and told her to look out for and shook his head while Kidd finished sinking the enemy ship by causing any metals on board to drive in and out of the wooden hulls multiple times.

With a sigh, Demetra focused her ability just to ensure she didn't accidentally run into anyone, and then phased through the crowd, falling behind Killer with ease. As soon as they were out of earshot, she asked her question. "Did… you want something?"

"Merely a theory I have, that I wish to share." Killer responded, without stopping or facing her. They were far above deck. "Concerning your ability… and, their effects."

"You have an idea… why I'm like this?"

With an impatient huff, Killer threw open the door to the mess and motioned her in, closing the door behind them. "A theory- in fact, an old story that comes from my, and Kidd's hometown. Aside from word of mouth, there isn't much else to support the tale, but in some aspects, it makes sense to me, so I'll explain it."

Demetra raised an eyebrow "But really. You have better things to do than to be diagnosing me. So… I'm guessing this tale is important then. Or will reveal something about my ability that benefits the crew."

Clever. Killer was impressed despite himself, but remained stoic. "Because if this ridiculous and fanciful theory turns out to be true, then… we've as good as completed the journey to finding One Piece."

Demetra stared dumbly at Killer- her apparently temporary brilliance suddenly down the drain. "…One Piece?"

"There are those who say it resides in Raftel, the final island but if this is right, then we won't have to spend any time finding it."

"…What is One Piece?"

Startled, Killer halted in the middle of his monologue and focused on Demetra. "…Kidd didn't explain?" He asked, disbelieving.

Demetra shook her head. "I can hazard a guess that's why this crew's on the seas- some great treasure, but whatever it is…"

"It is that treasure." Killer interjected. "One that began this 'Great Era of Piracy'. How much do you know of, or heard, our world's history?" Internally, he was slightly frustrated to have to put off his theory for a while, especially when the girl shrugged confusedly. "None?"

Thinking back, Demetra's head immediately started hurting. "Ugh… well, if anything, I know the tale of the Twenty Kings and how they created the World Government…"

"The most propaganda and shit-filled tale of the century." The masked man snapped, blowing away her thoughts with a wave of his hand. "I'm speaking of something a little more recent. Only years ago, piracy wasn't this big. It happened when I was just a child, but there was a man named Gol. D Roger. King of the Pirates."

"A king…?"

"A title, given to him by Marine and the government, more like. The most notorious pirate to sail the seas. They say he massacred millions of civilians but that's only the cover story. Word on the seas is, he knew of things the government wanted to hide, and he was powerful, too powerful and entirely too wealthy. So they tried to turn him into a target for other pirates and gave him that title, in hopes some pirate would take his life in an attempt to usurp the position." The execution at Loguetown, the bold text of the newspapers that had been spilled from the sky. Killer remembered. "He was caught and executed, but his final words… 'I left all of it at that place…' many have interpreted his last words differently, and eventually, variations of it spread across the world. I believe the most common one is 'I left it all in one piece'. Hence the name of the great treasure of the Pirate King. And it's a mutual understanding that the person who finds it, inherits the title! That's Kidd's dream. And that's what I'm here to help him do."

"But how?" Sensing Killer's rising irritation, she quickly amended her comment. "I mean- how is it possible that an entire era of piracy was set off by one man's execution and his final words?"

"They say Gol D. Roger was a very charismatic man- capable of even turning enemies into friends. But, you have a point." He allowed. Killer made a quick mental note to continue investigating Gol D. Roger. The World Government and the Marines had to have known how influential the Pirate King had been- why had they not gagged him, given the circumstances? "Now- what about Devil Fruits?"

Demetra gave him a confused stare. "Um. Well, Captain mentioned them when you-" Her mind flashed back to Kizaru, the archipelago, Kidd dragging her toward the chaos none too gently as he interrogated her on her 'power'. "Yeah. He's mentioned them before but didn't really explain what they are." She thought it wise to, perhaps, not bring up that topic again.

"In laymen's terms- they are unique fruits with mystical properties that grant their eater a specific power."

Fruit… "Wait! What do they look like?"

Instead of being displeased at the interruption, Killer cocked his head slowly. "They vary in size, shape, and color, but can almost always be distinguished by a 'swirly' pattern across the fruit's skin." Noting the sudden rush of understanding lighting up her eyes, he asked, "Have you seen one somewhere?"

"I…" This world and her world… as far as she knew; only she was capable of transcending between the two. Deciding there was no harm in telling, she nodded hesitantly. "I was told… by a friend in my world who watched me… transition into this world… that I turned into a fruit in his hands." She muttered the last part lowly, shuffling her feet at the sheer nonsense spilling from her lips. "…As far as I know, these devil fruit things don't exist in my world."

A book on known devil fruits… Killer was sure he probably had one laying around somewhere in his room. "Describe your… fruit form."

"A blue apple with swirls."

The description didn't sound familiar to him, but it wouldn't hurt to take a look. Perhaps hers was still one of the ones yet undocumented?

Demetra started squirming slightly as his nonchalant stare drew on. "Is… that all? Sir? What about the theory?"

"Forget it. You've given me more to think on- I will discuss that later. For now…" He pointed at the sea through a porthole. "Every devil fruit user has a weakness- the inability to swim. But you, have the ability to cancel out your existence while still remaining, in a sense. I wonder…"

"…what happens to devil fruit users in the water?"

"Nothing too terrible." Killer deadpanned. "You won't be able to move a muscle, use your powers, and you'll sink. That's about it." Then, quicker than Demetra could blink, he was already moving, snatching her up, hurling her out of the room and she was suddenly found flying over the edge of the ship and hurtling toward the rich blue sea.

She had one second to snarl out a curse and screech Killer's name before berating herself and throwing away all emotion before she hit the water.

"You, are an ass." She coughed, throwing a half hearted punch at the first mate's head.

He brushed it to the side. "An anomaly."

"No! I said you're an ass and-"

She'd managed to phase through the water as expected- until a convenient Sea King decided to take a detour nearby and in the spur of the moment, she'd lost her concentration of apathy and suddenly understood what Killer meant by being unable to swim.

Fortunately for her- Killer was apparently not out to kill her, despite all appearances, and when she'd failed to reappear, he'd come in after her.

Still! This situation was entirely his fault!

A quick smack over the head silenced Demetra's spluttering and grumbling. "Quiet. Clearly, you can bypass this weakness if you can concentrate in time, but if not, or your concentration slips, the weakness applies as usual. Fascinating, that the sea doesn't automatically cancel out your inexistence, but that in itself is a train of thought I'd rather not get into."

You had to 'exist' to be affected by the sea but she had a power affected by the sea that could cease her existence… Demetra's brain automatically protested and she gave up, nodding in understanding. "Why are you so interested in… well, my powers… me… anyways?"

"Like I told you." Killer said, giving her one last languid look over before turning away. "You may have the answer to leading us directly to One Piece."

"…I don't get it." Demetra grumbled, returning to squeezing the sea water out of her hair as the first mate drifted off to research god knows what. Who knew a bloodthirsty pirate like him would be so into history? Then again, with an idiot like Kidd as captain, maybe this was Killer's way of self-preservation?

Wincing, Demetra stood up and looked down as a generous amount of water started gathering at her feet. Gods, even being covered in the liquid made her nauseous. Why hadn't she noticed before? Maybe fresh water had less of an effect?

The zombie-like crewmate wandered by- 'Heat' was his name, her brain supplied- and he stopped and stared down at the puddle she'd created, then stalked off, hollering for a grunt to come and mop up the mess while muttering about the New World and its apparent oddities.

"..."

"History… has always been written by the victor. That rule of thumb has been consistent since the fall of the Ancient Civilization- and the rise of the Twenty Kingdoms."

"That era has always been unclear but… there is new evidence now?"

"Gol D. Roger's final words…it seems like a distant stretch, lost among time and circumstances, but it can be said both he, the 'Pirate King' and his majesty Ethartus D. Makov, the renowned 'Failure King' of the legends have one thing in common."

"Well? Don't keep us waiting forever!"

"The details of the circumstances of their death. Minute things really. For example- what were Roger's final words?"

"I left everything in one piece."

"I left it all at that place."

"But you'll have to search the whole world."

"Now you'll just have to find it!"

"..."

A moment of silence reigned as the four Elder Stars who had spoken up turned to stare at one another.

Finally, he leaned back in his chair meditatively. "We five personally watched the execution's public televising. Together. In the same room."

"I can never forget that man! Or his final words!" The youngest of the group spoke up. He was heavily tanned with blond hair- the last of the five to still have his youthful looks. "There's no way… "

"Could it be that we have been influenced by gossip over these passing years?" The tall, thin one interjected.

"Enough- now, think of how Ethartus was said to have died."

"In battle? Peacefully? Vanished without a trace?" A heavily bearded man clutching his cane in his lap spoke. "There were many conflicting tales. That is your connection between Roger and Ethartus?"

"When Ethartus died, the Twenty Kingdoms completely obliterated the Ancient Civilization- and an era of prosperity began. A new age, if you will. When Roger died, the world was swept up in another wave, the Golden Era of Piracy. Now- listen to me a little longer, and I promise what I have to say, will be very fascinating indeed, if you can believe it."