The water flowed eastward, leaves fell in abundance, and the fleeting moments of time quietly and slowly slipped away.
Ace, Sabo, Bai Yun, and Luffy lived together with Dadan's family. In those days, they were constantly fighting fierce beasts in the forest, delinquent youths from the town, scoundrels from the Gray Terminal, and pirates from the bay.
Day after day, their reputation spread, reaching even the ears of the nobles residing in the center of High Town.
Their days were fulfilling and exciting, but life would not remain peaceful forever; the trials destiny held in store were bound to arrive... On this particular day, Ace, Sabo, and Luffy headed into the town.
Bai Yun didn't join them. He often participated in their 'money-saving' activities, but not always. Though exciting, it was also exhausting.
He had planned on taking a good midday nap, but the newspaper Dadan was holding made it impossible for Bai Yun to sleep.
"Dogra, Magra, what exactly is [Goa]?"
Dadan asked, cigarette dangling from her mouth, holding the newspaper.
Fish-Eye Dogra explained that Mt. Colubo, the Gray Terminal, and Windmill Village were all technically territories of the Goa Kingdom. However, the King paid no mind to these filthy areas outside the wall; his kingdom was meant to be pristine.
Bai Yun turned slightly, thinking to himself that Dadan didn't even know the name of the place she lived.
But Dadan's next statement made Bai Yun shoot up to his feet.
"This country is expecting a visitor. Seems like a very important person."
"It's on the front page, making a huge fuss. Are they really that big of a deal?"
"The ones called the [Celestial Dragons]?"
"What?!"
Bai Yun instantly shot up and yelled.
"Gah!"
"You brat scared the hell out of me! Are you having a sudden fit?!"
Dadan was startled and complained loudly.
Bai Yun ignored her, quickly darted over, and snatched the newspaper right out of Dadan's hand.
"Descendants of the Creator!
The World Nobles—Celestial Dragons—will inspect the most beautiful kingdom in the East Blue, the Goa Kingdom, one month from now."
The largest section of the newspaper reported this event; the words 'Descendants of the Creator' were particularly huge—so big that even a blind man could almost read them.
"Wh-what's wrong? Why are you so surprised? Is this matter really that serious?"
Dadan knew Bai Yun was a polite child, and this was the first time he had ever snatched anything. Was the situation truly that dire?
"It's very serious!"
"But it doesn't concern us here at Mt. Colubo."
Bai Yun replied.
"Then that's all that matters! Who cares if the outside world collapses."
Dadan chuckled. If it didn't involve Mt. Colubo, she couldn't be bothered.
Bai Yun didn't reply. He immediately bolted outside to find Sabo. If Sabo's father managed to drag him back, then things would definitely become troublesome!
Leaving Dadan's residence, Bai Yun hurried down the safest route toward the Gray Terminal.
However, halfway along the path, beneath a tree near a cliff edge, he spotted Ace, Sabo, and Luffy.
Ace and Luffy had cornered Sabo, pinning him against the tree trunk. Seeing the scene, Bai Yun figured he was too late; Sabo's noble father must have already found him.
"Spit it out, Sabo!"
"What secrets could possibly exist between us? Tell us now!"
Ace and Luffy relentlessly pressed him.
Bai Yun walked up just then.
Sabo looked as if he had seen a savior.
"Bai Yun."
"Look at them constantly grilling me! I don't have any secrets!"
Bai Yun glanced at him, realizing he was still pretending, then walked over to Ace and Luffy and joined their side.
"Just tell them, Sabo."
Sabo froze. He thought Bai Yun was coming to save him—he was just adding fuel to the fire!
"You better tell us! Or I'll knock you flying!"
Seeing his resistance, Ace, with his explosive temper, snapped and grabbed Sabo by the neck. Luffy also pitched in, pressuring Sabo to make an honest confession.
"Ugh... Ah... Fine, I'll tell you! I'll just tell you."
...Ace: "A noble's son!!!"
Luffy: "Who is it?!"
Sabo: "Me, of course!"
"So what?"
Ace and Luffy replied while picking their noses with their pinky fingers, wondering why that was worth hiding.
"Didn't you two force me to tell you?!!"
Sabo yelled, gritting his teeth in frustration. Who was just moments ago pressuring him within an inch of his life, only to act completely indifferent now!!!
But Sabo immediately changed his demeanor, speaking with a hint of melancholy.
"I apologize for lying to you."
Luffy never held grudges over such things.
"Since you apologized, we'll forgive you then."
Ace walked to the edge of the cliff, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Bai Yun as they gazed out at the sea.
"This fact genuinely surprised me, though. Sabo, if you're a noble, why did you end up at the Gray Terminal?"
"You know that those nobles treat the people from the Gray Terminal like the trash beneath their feet."
"I'm nothing like them!"
Sabo immediately retorted.
"Even though I have parents, I am still utterly alone."
"All they care about is 'someone' who can provide them with power and wealth."
"If I can't marry a princess, then in their eyes, I'm completely worthless!"
"Noble? Compared to that suffocating High Town, compared to having my next few decades of life already arranged, I much prefer the life I have now."
"The life I share with you guys."
Bai Yun turned to look at Sabo. For someone who cherished freedom as much as Sabo did, the identity of a noble was nothing but a set of shackles.
"That's why!"
"Ace! Luffy! Bai Yun!"
"We absolutely must set sail! We have to leave this country and venture out freely!"
"I want to see this vast world and record it all in a book. Learning navigation knowledge isn't painful for me in the slightest."
"Let's get stronger! Let's become true pirates!!"
Sabo ran to the cliff edge and shouted his dream out toward the ocean.
Ace grinned. "Heh heh, you don't have to tell me twice!"
"Even if the whole world denies my existence, even if they all hate me! I'm going to become a great pirate and make them look at me with respect!!"
Following Sabo, it was Ace's turn. Ace's true desire was simply to shed the title of 'Son of the Pirate King' and become a pirate who surpassed Roger!
After Ace and Sabo finished, Bai Yun looked toward Luffy.
In the anime, it was never explicitly revealed what Luffy's actual dream was at this point.
Bai Yun was extremely curious.
It was the dream that would make Ace freeze up and Sabo burst out laughing.
It was the dream that Ace would regret not seeing come true when he was dying.
In Rayleigh's memory, Shanks mentioned that Luffy's dream was the same as Roger's.
It was the dream that Whitebeard would later deem childish.
What could it possibly be?
Luffy saw both Ace and Sabo passionately shouting their ideals, and he wasn't about to be left out. He put his hands on his hips and yelled toward the sea.
"Shishishi, alright!"
"Then I..."
...
A/N: The journey continues! If you're eager to read far ahead and support this story, consider joining the Eternal Phoenix community. You can find me on Patreon by searching for "Eternal_Phoenix".
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