Fourth Day

At the same time that Aren was out on the open seas, there were two pirate crews on an island...

These two pirate crews have been in battle for 3 days and 3 nights, trying to kill each other over a rivalry their captains had. It had all started with the two captains clashing their weapons together, causing a huge rumble around them including the waves that would travel throughout the sea that carried a certain basket...

Aren had landed on this island on the third night (on the other side of the island) and woke up. His eyesight was a blur, he had a high, deadly, fever, and he was hungry. Everything was dark and he could hear the waves, so he couldn't tell he wasn't moving at all. "This...is... it, isn't it? My end?" he thought weakly. However, he gave one last push and attempted to call out for help. He was ready to die, after all, it wasn't the first time this had happened. But a small portion of his heart, his soul, and body refused to give in to death's hand.

"He-Help! I...need help! Someone...please!" Aren coughed out loudly. "Help me! I just want to...continue this life!" he cried out as loud as he could and passed out once more... His baby language had matured enough to make out words and with him remembering how to speak using muscle (mind) memory for words, he could talk, albeit not that well.

On the other side of the island, unbeknownst to Aren, some had heard him...

"A baby?" Someone called out. His movement and voice woke up one of his crewmates.

"What is it, Teach?"

"Oh, nothing... I just thought I heard a baby cry, Marco," Teach replied to Marco. "What exactly was that noise?" he asked himself.

"I think...you heard wrong... Go back to...sleep... Peace... Roger Pirates..." Marco managed to yawn out before he immediately fell asleep again.

"Sleep? Who needs sleep—? Oh, you fell asleep again," Teach stopped talking once he saw that Marco had fallen back asleep. "Ehh, never mind..." Teach ignored Marco and the noise and went back to his vigilant pose.

Everywhere on the ground laid several men. Some were snoring, some were talking in their sleep, and some were punching the air in their sleep! Another few were in their ship sleeping

"Who... yer calling a... bag of farts?" a man groaned out while sleeping.

"C'mere... shit bag..." another man mumbled out in his sleep.

"Who... 'snor' are ya calling... a clown?" a certain boy with a red nose mumbled out while sleeping, tossing, and tuning.

"Gonna name... them...Red Hair...Pirates..." another boy talked in his sleep, however, this one had red hair. Could he be dreaming about the future? Or perhaps his destiny?

Almost everyone was sleeping or talking...while sleeping. Aren was asleep, but the deadly fever threatened to take over his life...

Nobody responded to his cries, only the chirping crickets and the waves did.

On the fourth day...

Lively music played in the background (not really) as the crew of both pirate groups exchanged goods and compliments. Some laughed, some joked around, some sang Bink's Brew, and some told tall tales of their journey with their captain and crew.

However, the most important place was above a mushroom-looking tree where two captains were discussing important matters...

"Please, Newgate!" The captain of the Roger Pirates bowed down to Whitebeard. "I'm begging you!"

"Hey, stop, Captain Roger! He's our enemy!" One of his crew members voiced his thoughts.

The pirates all around were stunned at the turn of events. Some were close to the mushroom tree and had heard what they were talking about, but they didn't care as much since they were all celebrating.

Beside Whitebeard was one of his crew members and also one of his commanders who was also looking at the other captain bowing his head. This was embarrassing, so he said, "Stop! That's pathetic! Don't bow your head!" This was Oden.

Roger had begged Oden to accompany him for a year on his journey, which infuriated Whitebeard. He punched the air beside him, cracking it and sending out waves on the ocean. Accenting his frustration.

Oden, however, couldn't help but feel excited about this... All the information that Roger had stated earlier drew excitement from him.

"Did I meet him now for a reason?" he thought inwardly. "Whitebeard, allow me to go." The words had popped out of his mouth before he knew it. "I wanna see the last island he talked about!"

The corner of Whitebeard's lips turned upside down into a somewhat ugly frown. "He's annoyed!" Oden said, knowing that expression of his too well.

"Of course I am!" Whitebeard yelled. "You and I are like brothers!"

This was true. Years together on the amazing journey Oden wanted to have; Oden had grown so much on Whitebeard for him to let him go just like that. Whitebeard was a selfish man always caring for his "family" members, so, seeing as one of them wanted to leave for a year—with his number one enemy/rival at that—annoyed him.

"It's just for a year. Whitebeard!" Oden tried to convince his ally, his friend, his captain. However, this infuriated Whitebeard more and he punched both of his sides, spreading cracks around the air.

Unfazed, Oden said, "Please..." insisting him to let him go...

***

[A/N: Well, well, well, we're finally starting to pick up pace. Ho? How will things turn out? Hmm? Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this chapter~! Ramen Sensei, signing out!]