The sea stretched endlessly into the horizon, a blanket of rippling sapphire beneath the afternoon sun. The Marine vessel carrying Vice Admiral Garp, Captain Haru, and Commodore Naomi cut through the waves with steady resolve. Though the trip appeared routine, tension clung to the air like salt. This wasn't an ordinary mission—it was a meeting shrouded in secrecy.
"I still can't believe we're going to meet Whitebeard," Haru muttered, resting his arms on the railing. His eyes scanned the horizon, mind racing.
Naomi chuckled beside him. "Try not to fangirl too hard, Captain. Remember, you're a Marine."
"Says the woman whose hands were shaking while tying her hair this morning."
"I was adjusting my headband!"
"You tied it five times."
"Shut up."
Garp, munching on a rice cracker nearby, grinned broadly. "You two argue like an old married couple. Keep it up, and Whitebeard's crew will think I brought my grandkids."
They rolled their eyes in tandem. "Yes, Grandpa."
By late afternoon, the silhouette of the Moby Dick came into view—a colossal ship anchored in a secluded cove, guarded by the towering figurehead of a whale. It radiated power, history, and legend. The ship that once rivaled the Pirate King himself.
As they boarded under a white flag, the crew of the Moby Dick stood silently. These weren't men to be trifled with—they were warriors who had faced the Grand Line's worst and survived. A massive presence awaited them near the bow: Edward Newgate, the man the world called "Whitebeard."
He was a mountain of muscle and aura, his signature bisento resting at his side, connected to various medical tubes. Age had grayed his hair, but not his power. His eyes, sharp as steel, settled on Garp.
"Well, well… the Fist of the Navy comes knocking. I hope you didn't bring a war with you."
Garp grinned and waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, Newgate. No war. Just me and two brats."
Whitebeard's eyes shifted to Haru and Naomi. "Kids, huh? I remember when you were the 'brat' running around with Roger on your heels."
"Don't remind me," Garp muttered.
Whitebeard gestured toward a shaded deck with cushions and sake already waiting. "Let's talk."
Legacy and Legend
The conversation began simply enough—tales of old skirmishes, mutual friends, lost comrades. But the mood gradually shifted as the names Roger and Xebec entered the fray.
"You know, Sengoku's worried you'll stir trouble," Garp said, sipping from a cup of tea rather than sake.
Whitebeard huffed. "The world's already drowning in trouble. I'm not the one starting wars. I protect my family. That's all."
Naomi listened quietly, absorbing every word. Haru, too, kept his posture respectful but alert. This was history unraveling before them.
"What about Rocks D. Xebec?" Naomi finally asked. "Was he really as terrifying as the stories say?"
Whitebeard's face darkened slightly. The air shifted.
"He was chaos incarnate," Whitebeard said gravely. "Powerful, ambitious, and utterly insane. He wanted to destroy the world to rebuild it in his image. Roger and Garp… they were the only ones who could stop him."
Garp leaned back with a sigh. "We barely did. The Battle of God Valley… we don't talk about it for good reason. That day changed everything. Marines and pirates fighting side by side. If the world knew, they'd never understand."
"But why did you follow him, even for a time?" Haru asked, genuine curiosity in his tone.
Whitebeard looked out toward the sea. "Back then, I was just a man looking for a place to belong. Xebec had strength and vision. I didn't see the madness until it was too late. When the moment came, I chose my own path."
"And Roger?" Naomi asked. "What was he really like?"
A strange softness touched Whitebeard's eyes.
"A fool. A madman. A brother. He laughed at death and cried for strangers. He drove me insane, and yet… I respected him more than any man alive."
Garp added, "He was a pain in my ass. But damn it, I miss that idiot sometimes."
They shared a moment of silence, the ghosts of old rivals and allies hanging heavy in the air.
A Pirate and a Father
Garp leaned forward, expression serious. "Newgate, I came here for more than memory's sake. There's a new enemy rising. A cult. The Eyes. They've infiltrated the Marines."
Whitebeard raised an eyebrow. "That's bold."
"Haru and Naomi uncovered the core. Took out their leaders. But this Gale bastard… he's still out there. And he wants revenge."
Whitebeard gave Haru a thoughtful look. "You've made enemies. Good. That means you've done something right."
Haru blinked. "That's… not comforting, sir."
Whitebeard laughed, the ship rumbling under his voice. "You remind me of Ace."
Haru's heart skipped. "You know him?"
"Of course. He's on my crew. He's wild. Fierce. Full of fire. But there's something missing in him… a piece that hasn't found peace."
Garp frowned deeply.
Whitebeard turned to Garp. "He's your grandson. You can't keep pretending he's not."
"I never denied it," Garp said, unusually quiet.
"Then stop trying to make him into something he's not."
Garp didn't respond.
Whitebeard leaned closer. "The world doesn't need more soldiers. It needs more men willing to make the hard choice. Ace made his. Let him walk it."
The silence spoke volumes.
Departing Legends
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the deck, the three Marines stood to leave.
Whitebeard stood as well, his massive form blocking out the sun like a titan of old. "Take care of those kids, Garp. They've got fire. And if they lose their way… send them to me."
Garp smirked. "Only if you promise not to adopt them."
Whitebeard laughed heartily. "No promises."
As they stepped back onto their ship, Haru turned once more, locking eyes with Whitebeard. "Thank you, sir. For sharing your story."
Whitebeard nodded. "Live long enough, and you'll have your own to tell."
The Moby Dick vanished behind them, swallowed by sea mist and legend.