Lougetown part 3
*Luffy gets lost in the alleyways.*
Luffy: This really sucks. Damn. I just want to find the execution platform but I keep getting turned around. I’ll find it eventually. Let’s see… This way?
*He sees a bar sign in front of one of the buildings.*
Luffy: “Gold Roger”?
*Luffy enters it but finds it vacant except for an old man.*
Luffy: Excuse me. Do you work here? The sign hanging outside this place is called the Gold Roger. How’d it get that name?
Old man: Scram. You should leave. This isn’t a place for unaccompanied children. Besides, we’re closed for good starting today.
Luffy: You’re going under?
Old man: I’m not going under. I’ve decided to shut it down myself. I’m retiring.
Luffy: Sorry. I just wanted to know about the name. See, I’m looking for the execution platform but I’m lost. Could you tell me the way?
*But he notices a skull with a stab wound in its forehead on the table the gold man is sitting at.*
Luffy: What the heck is that? Whoa! It’s a huge skull. That is so cool.
Old man: Killer Giant. One of the most feared villains to ever haunt the waters of the sea. He sent hundreds of pirates to their deaths over the course of his life. But it only took Gold Roger a single blow to put the behemoth down for good.
Luffy: Gold Roger killed him?
Old man: With lightning speed! You see, Killer Giant was known for using this massive blade but it didn’t matter. The whole fight was over before he could raise it. And here’s the wound that did it. Killer Giant was a terrible waste of human flesh anyway, but he proclaimed with his dying breath, “Gold Roger… I take my hat off to you. You will forever be the king of the pirates.”
Luffy: Awesome! Tell me more.
Old man: Eric Down, the man known as King. Silver Silver, the world’s greatest gunman. The giant Gown Brothers. They were famous for their strength for they were indestructible demons feared by everybody. But not Gold Roger.
Luffy: Yeah?
Old man: Nobody ever wants to hear my stories these days.
Luffy: But I do. Keep talking.
Old man: Don’t rush me. Now Gold Roger, in those days, I suppose even now not afraid of facing the challenges of the sea head on. One day, he drank here and proudly said he was going to explore everything the high seas had to offer. After that, he set out and did just that. He set out the next morning just like he was going sightseeing. Then, when I heard he’d conquered the 8 seas, I wasn’t surprised. I was happy to hear that he was the one who finally survived all the evils they held, yeah. On this day 22 years ago, Gold Roger died on that platform. And that’s when it started. That’s when it all began. The so called Great Pirate Era where everyone with a boat claims to be a pirate. But look around this once great town. I’ll bet you won’t be able to find yourself a real pirate. Nothing here but cowards and scum. Men brave enough to make the journey to the open sea have all disappeared from these waters. There are hardly any true pirates left, that’s why I’m closing down.
Luffy: I’m going to sail around the seas.
Old man: Huh?
Luffy: Hell yeah. Gold Roger’s so cool. He’s exactly how a pirate’s supposed to be. That’s why I’m here. Get my hands on the One Piece. And then, be king of the pirates.
*The old man briefly sees Gold Roger in Luffy.*
Old man: Those are some pretty big words. Even more so cause you’re in this bar.
Luffy: I only said what I meant.
Old man: Young man, if there are still people like you out there, should I hold off on closing this place?
Luffy: I don’t know. It could just be me.
Old man: That’s right. It could just be you. In that case, let’s have a drink. I haven’t been in this good a mood in some time.
Luffy: Um, I don’t drink alcohol.
Old man: Alright. Then how about this?
*He pours 2 glasses of milk.*
Old man: Let’s raise our glasses together. To the eternal king of the pirates.
Luffy: Here’s to the king of the pirates.
*Smoker walks into the bar shortly after Luffy has left.*
Old man: Oh, it’s you.
Smoker: Now, that’s no way to treat a customer. Especially your only one.
Old man: Why don’t you cut the crap? You just want to see me close this place down.
Smoker: You don’t have a right to be angry with me. I didn’t turn all the pirates around here into cowards. That’s a decision they all made once they got to know me, that’s all.
*Smoker notices 2 empty glasses on the bar top.*
Smoker: Well isn’t that nice? So you had a guest. I think I’d like a taste of rum, old man.
Old man: I don’t have any for you.
Smoker: Don’t be such a bastard. Today is a very special day. Don’t you think?
*Smoker reaches over to grab a bottle of rum and drink it.*
Smoker: Good stuff. I can see it like it was yesterday. The day he was executed.
*Meanwhile, Luffy has found his way back to the streets.*
Luffy: Finally, I found main street. I wonder if Gold Roger ever walked down this street like me.
Smoker: It was hot, like today. Sticky. They had him shacked as they led him down main street toward the square where they built the execution platform. He walked through town like it was a victory parade. Wealth, fame, power… Gold Roger attained this and everything else life had to offer. He was facing his final moments before death, but he acted like it was his coronation.
*Flashback, 22 years ago, Roger is escorted in shackles to the top of the execution platform with a young Smoker watching.*
Executioner 1: Do you have any final words to say?
Roger: Would you mind taking these off? They’re beginning to chafe me quite a bit. Please?
Executioner: I can’t do that.
Roger: Where am I going to run? That’s alright. I guess I’m on my own for this one. Alright, let’s get this over with.
*The executioners prepare to impale Roger.*
Citizen: Hey, pirate king! Tell us where the bell you’ve hidden all your treasure! Is it somewhere in the ocean or someplace else? You found it, didn’t you?
Executioner 2: You there, shut up!
Citizen: The legendary treasure. The One Piece!
Roger: Hahahahaha! You want my treasure?
Executioner 1: Just shut your mouth!
Roger: You can have it! I left everything I gathered together in one place. Now you just have to find it.
*The executioners then impale Roger with large spears. The crowd cheers immediately after.*
*Flashback end*
Smoker: That’s how it all began.
*A marine enters the bar.*
Marine: Hey. Here’s a new wanted poster. Put it where people can see it. Captain Smoker! My apologies, sir!
*Smoker takes a look at the poster and sees it’s Luffy’s.*
Smoker: That’s a straw hat. That kid was Monkey D. Luffy.
*Luffy has finally found the execution platform.*
Luffy: There it is. This is where they executed the king of the pirates. The place where the greatest pirate ever lived died. And the place where the great pirate age began.