Let's meet in the Grand Line
-AHHHHH! DON KRIIIIEEEEGGGGG!- Don Krieg's men yelled when they saw how the man fell unconscious into the sea.
-Way to go errand boyyyy!!!-
-H... He really did it! De defeated the Pirate Fleet Admiral Don Krieg...-
-If the fleet that Krieg amassed, along with the hundreds of his weapons, armours, and even his poison gas can be seen as his "might", then the "spear" of Luffy... Is his own brand of might all the same.- Zeff commented while crossing his arms with a smile.
-Spear...- Sanji stared in shock as Luffy stood there imposingly.- Conviction...-
-I happen to know of a certain idiot, who'd stifle that very spear for no good reason...- Zeff turned around and walked into the restaurant.- What're you sitting there for? Hurry up and go with him. After all, he is your captain now.-
Sanji took a step forward and started running to land next to Luffy and the others. They all picked up Luffy and threw him into the air, celebrating his victory.
-Well done, Luffy!!!- Nami said.
-We have won!-
-YAY!!!-
-Hmf...- Zeff glanced sideways as Sanji joined the celebration with a big smile.
-Krieg lost...?- Gin asked breathing heavily.- As if that could ever happen... He's the supreme ruler of the seas...!-
-Say all you want, but take a look for yourself.-
-His prized armour is in pieces! With just one punch!-
-He's... The only man... I ever admired...! I believed... He was the strongest...!-
-H-Hey you! Don't move or the poison will...-
-What was it again? Does it spread if you move?-
-How'd I know!? But in any case moving your body right now can't be a good thing! You need to lie down and rest!-
Gin got up as best he could and reached the place where Don Krieg was unconscious. He slung it over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
-Battle commander!-
-Let's retreat for today, and start anew. Thanks for everything, Sanji...-
-Yeah... Please don't come again.- Sanji said diverting his attention from Nami.
-Luffy... Let's meet again, out on the Grand Line.- Gin said with a smile.
-Sure!- Luffy answered with his typical grin.
-You're... Still gonna be a pirate?- Saji asked with disbelief.
-When I think about it, there's nothing else that I want yo do. I guess before I realized it, Don Krieg's ambition became mine as well...- Gin spit out some blood again.
-Gin!-
-Gin!-
-...... I might... Only have a few more hours to live... So it might be a bit cowardly for me to make this decision only at the end of my life, but its still good for me nonetheless. I've decided that this time, I'll do things of my own will... In my own way. If I do that, I won't have a place to run away to, right?- Gin said with a smile.- Ha. Loyalty to the Don, my ass! All I've been doing is using the Don's name as a "shield" to escape and hide behind. As long as you're prepared, things like being scared of your enemies or getting hurt, are nothing but useless worrying. Luffy taught me it's better not to worry about any of that stuff...!-
-Patty, Carne! Give them the boat we use to go out and buy ingredients.-
-What!? Are you retarded!?-
-Why the hell do we have to give a boat to the very pirates that attacked us!? Those scum can swim away for all we care!-
-How're we gonna buy food supplies if we give them our boat, you numskull!-
-SHUT UP AND GIVE THEM THE DAMN BOAT ALREADY!-
-Alright...-
-You don't have to yell... Why that son of a...! I swear I'm going to kill that bastard one day!-
-Always ordering us around!-
Luffy had his arms crossed and tilted his head thoughtfully.
-Is something wrong, Luffy?- Nami asked, noticing that Luffy was behaving strangely.
-I'm trying to remember something...- Luffy rummaged through his pockets until he pulled out a small metal box.- Here it is!-
-What's that?- Usopp asked poiting at the box.
-Torao gave it to me before he went out to sea a few years ago!!! Aunt Rouge said it would be a good idea to take it with me! I almost forgot that I had it!-
-What's in that box?- Zoro asked curiously.
Luffy opened the box and took out a small brown ball. He opened Gin's mouth and shoved it in, forcing it down his throat. The small ball melted in Gin's mouth and tasted extremely bitter.
-Blegh!! It tastes disgusting !!!- Gin complained sticking his tongue out.
-It's a medicine against poison!!! It works with most of them and it's very effective!- Luffy explained keeping the box.- I totally forgot I had it because I never got poisoned before! Torao says it's to prevent me from eating something strange and ending up intoxicating myself for being an idiot!!-
-A very smart move on his part.- Nami commented, nodding.
-It's definitely something Luffy will do in the future.- Zoro nodded with her body covered in bandages and leaning against the Going Merry's mast.
-... Thank you...- Gin had tears in his eyes and knelt on the ground, leaving Don Krieg next to him.- I will never forget this...-
Gin lowered his head until it touched the ground. He stayed like that for a few seconds before raising his head again.
-Thank you.-
-It doesn't matter! Shishishishi!! Hope to see you on the Grand Line!-
-It's a promise.-
Gin put all the crew members into the small ship and climbed aboard it. He has changed. He was no longer afraid. Luffy taught him that it is better to die fighting for a dream than to live without one.
He will no longer be the same man as before.
He reborned as a new man...
Nami and Usopp helped Zoro get inside the ship so she can rest, leaving Luffy and Sanji alone.
-Hey... Do you know about All Blue?-
-No.-
-What? You've never heard of the ocean of miracles? Well you see, in All Blue...-
Sanji started telling Luffy about All Blue while Zeff watched this from the balcony.
-...... Talking with such a stupidly wide grin on your face...- Zeff gave a lopsided smile and leaned his face against his hand.- Idiot.-