"Damn, changing history isn't that easy after all."
Aus crouched beside the fever-red Buggy, shaking his head in disappointment.
Even though he'd consciously reminded Buggy to watch his diet and exercise, as their journey neared its end,
Buggy still pathetically fell sick.
Aus was powerless—couldn't exactly let Buggy risk his life forcing himself to continue.
And just like the original plot, Shanks volunteered to stay behind and babysit Buggy.
Aus knew that as long as Buggy didn't force himself to land, a few days of island rest would fix him right up, so he wasn't too worried.
After saying goodbye to Shanks, Aus realized the final moment was coming. His newbie protection period was about to end.
So during these days, he hunted down Gaban and Rayleigh more and more, trying to absorb every scrap of knowledge for his future sea-dominating capital.
If he wasn't worried that fighting Roger again before Laugh Tale might accidentally send the guy to an early grave, Aus would've loved a proper battle with such a powerhouse.
Not getting killed while clearly measuring the gap between himself and the world's peak.
Too bad—no chance now.
As Uncle Gaban finished the chart, Aus stared at the island marked "Final Island" and couldn't help getting pumped.
Landing on the island,
Aus walked forward with the entire crew, Roger leading the charge.
But as they looked around, everyone burst out laughing. "Looks like we're still early!"
Aus had plenty of theories brewing, but after seeing the truth, he grinned knowingly.
"So this is the One Piece, you bastard Oda."
...
The ship slowly left Laugh Tale. Aus sat at the stern, holding something like a bracelet
with several glass orbs embedded in it, containing three pointers.
Roger stood by the rail, slowly watching the island fade into the distance.
"Captain, I'm recording a pointer. You cool with that?"
Aus wasn't being sneaky about it, openly addressing the contemplative Roger beside him.
Aus had braced for rejection, but unexpectedly, Captain Roger gave zero shits.
"Sure thing, but you won't let this spread around randomly, right? Aus."
"Pure keepsake." Aus smiled.
Like the cheerful chaos on the way there, everyone stayed happy drinking and shooting the shit on the return trip. None of the crew stressed about the journey ending.
But Aus felt kinda gloomy inside,
because he knew
separation day was coming fast.
Silently sprawled by the ship's edge, Aus boredly tossed the Eternal Pose, caught it, tossed again, caught again.
Gaban spotted his funk. Newspaper in left hand, bottle in right, he slowly wandered over.
"Aus, want a drink?"
Looking at Uncle Gaban's outstretched hand, Aus—who never touched the stuff—was stunned, then unusually took it and clinked bottles.
"...Tastes like shit."
"Real sea men gotta drink to show their balls!"
"Don't get it..."
Though Aus said this, he still clinked with Gaban again.
They killed the bottle in a few swigs. Casually chucking it overboard, Gaban handed over a small paper slip.
"Here, my Vivre Card."
"Huh?"
"If you ever wise up and realize how awesome booze is, come drink with me."
"You might not live that long."
Aus grinned. He hadn't expected that near separation, the usually stern ship presence—one of Roger crew's few strict parent figures—would show him this chill side.
But Aus was totally down. If he got bored later, he could visit Uncle Gaban.
After all, he wanted to properly explore Elbaf and witness how Gaban tamed a wild female giant.
Plus Uncle Gaban even knocked up a giant—no clue how he pulled that off.
Did his whole body just... drill inside?
Aus felt his curiosity itching.
Elbaf—he was definitely hitting that place up.
The round trip took about ten days.
Approaching the island, Aus stood at the bow watching land gradually appear. Beside him were Oden, Rayleigh, and Roger.
Next to Roger's 2.7-meter frame, Aus barely looked better than some kid.
"Aus, remember what you said when you first boarded?" Rayleigh gazed into the distance, speaking slowly.
"Course I do." Aus wouldn't forget, even though he'd said it just to hitch a ride.
"Actually, I once told Rayleigh the same thing. By all rights, you should be the one most suited to inherit my will.
But I always get the feeling you're not the type to follow fate's script, Aus."
Roger smiled and ruffled Aus's hair, but his words carried weight.
Aus didn't deny it, just silently nodded.
"I'm damn good at reading people, so that's why I left Shanks and Buggy behind but brought you along. Aus, you're not who this world is waiting for.
Plus, your talent and power remind me of someone—a man even I had to watch out for, the former sea overlord, Rocks.
So do me a solid, Aus.
Leave the world's future to [Hope], just like what we saw at Laugh Tale."
Aus hadn't expected the usually carefree Captain Roger to have this calculating side.
The world's "Hope"?
Thinking about the new era Captain Roger would soon trade his life for, Aus stayed quiet for ages.
"Got it, Captain. You have my word."
Honestly, he'd never thought about supporting World Government rule, but he also gave zero fucks about overthrowing the old world.
He just wanted absolute personal strength, to do whatever he liked, live however he wanted in this world without any rules or forces holding him back.
He lived purely for himself, doing whatever made him happy.
In other words, his shoulders really couldn't handle the massive responsibility this world would dump on him, and he'd never sacrifice his life to push history forward.
Hearing Aus agree, Roger looked genuinely relieved, like some huge weight lifted off his chest. He turned to reminisce with Rayleigh about their younger days.
Before they knew it, the ship had docked.
From way off, Aus spotted an excited Shanks, who then spun around calling Buggy out too.
Both were bouncing with joy. Buggy flew over slinging an arm around Aus's shoulders as everyone chatted happily.
But soon enough, Shanks suddenly started bawling during his talk with Roger, killing the reunion vibe.
Aus didn't eavesdrop on their conversation, but could probably guess—
Roger had likely dropped the bomb that the crew was splitting up.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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