Footsteps echoed in the back of the ship as Jack walked into the room where a small child laid in a bed in the shape of a Ship. A blanket wrapped tightly around him as he breathed peacefully.
Jack approached the bed. His large hand stroking the boys hair slowly as he spoke "Leroy…Leroooyyy" He sang quietly. "Wake up sleepy head were here!"
His voice was quiet as the child began to stir. Leroy had short brown hair almost in a buzz as he turned over to look up at his grandfather. His eyes wincing. Blinking from his eyes the deep sleep. "Papaw?" The child asked in a high voice. Still clearly laced with sleep
"Yes yes. I'm right here." Jack said as he lifted up Leroy and into his arms. Leroy instinctively wrapping his arms and legs around his neck and body as he'd done dozens of times before.
He was only 5 years old.
Leroy had been living with his Father after he was born. Living on an island near Cobalt known as Feather Island. But…Tigre, who was 30 currently, left him. And had asked Jack to take care of him in his stead.
Tigre and Jack had a fight. Not just of words. But of fists.
But in the end. Jack relented. And allowed for Leroy to be under his care. And be raised by him. Jack grimaced as those memories went back through his mind as Leroy nuzzled into his Neck.
Leroy was used to his Grandpa. Him and Mamtha had been visiting Leroy ever since he was born. At most, it was every weekend that they visited him for a few hours before coming back home to none other than Azar.
Leroy never met Azar. Before today.
Jack didn't want the two of them to get mixed up until the time was right. That and…Well. There was complications with Leroys mother that prevented it from being sooner. After all. It was Tigre who was Raising Leroy while Jack raised Azar until this day.
The fight was still fresh in his mind. Having happened only a few hours prior. A adhesive bandage on his cheek from where Tigre had delivered a devastating blow to the Vice Admiral.
Jack was 59 Currently. His head was still mostly brown with a few streaks of grey at the rim of his hair line. His beard was fuller than in the present. And pitch dark brown
30 minutes passed. And they'd reached the house. And outside the House stood Mamtha and an 8 year old Azar.
Jack took a smiling Leroy from his shoulders and held him out from under his arms and declared proudly "Leroy! Meet your brother!" Jack said with a wide toothy smile
"Hi!" Leroy said shaking his arm in an attempted wave. And adorable sight to both of the grandparents as Leroy was sat down and ran up to Azar! Azar was more…Mild mannered in that moment. But the moment he saw the smile on Leroys face he couldn't help but smile himself
"Shihi! So you're names Azar?! Thats so cool! And youre my big brother?" Leroy asked.
"Yes. Azar here is your big brother now!" Mamtha cleared up as best she could to the child.
"Now?" Leroy asked
"Yes. Azar doesn't have your dad or mom. But he's still your brother anyway!" She said bending down to eye level of the two "You're both brothers. And you'll both be living here together from now on!"
"Awesome!!" Leroy cheered "I get to stay with Mamaw and Papaw forever!!" He laughed as he began to run in circles with his arms in the air. Suddenly he stopped
"Wait. What about my dad?" He asked looking up to jack. A worried look across his round baby face. Jacks own face nearly grimaced at the question. But he kept his composure as he smiled and bent down to Leroy and lifted him up
"You're Dad, had to leave Leroy. He went off to do something he wanted to do. And he wanted you to Live with us from now on for being so good!" Jack attempted to dilute and fuzzy the truth of the happen for the child
"Will I see him again?" The Boy asked
"I…" Jack blinked for a long moment "I don't think so." A sad look came over Leroy. But quickly his attention was grabbed again "But-!" Jack began
"You'll get to be here! And you'll get to play with Azar! And see all the cool stuff on the Island! I'll play Marine and Pirates with you!" Leroys face lighted up with joyt upon hearing that
"I wanna play Pirates! I wanna be Rojer! And you get to chase me and be the Marine!" Leroy declared. It was a game that Jack taught Leroy recently. And one day. Jack labeled Leroy accidentally as 'Roger'. But he rolled with it ever since
Jack did the game because he knew that Children needed fun. And he also thought that maybe it'd encourage him. Just like Azar, to hopefully want to become a Marine…
Leroy suddenly turned in his grandfathers hands and leapt out of grip and scampered up to Azar "Azzy! Lets play Pirates and Marines! You be a pirate with me! And Papaw will chase us as a Marine!"
But before Azar could even Respond. Leroy was off running into the Yard in front of the cabin
"Agh!" Leroy leapt from the Ice as it had began to melt in. He had to concentrate and attempt to use the heat from Gear 2nd to unfreeze himself. The Prisoner Transport Vessel had been swept up by the Tsunami that Redbeard Caused. And before they could leap out of the way and onto the island. Nokotori's Ice had frozen it and them all nearly solid! It had been only a few minutes since he had been rescued from the ice by Diva.
Marsyl summoned a flare to warm the both of them. Leroy rubbing his arms together quickly. "Pheww…Pheww…Fuck! Fuck! How long has it been we gotta go!"
He said as he attempted to not slip on the ice. Feet crunching the snow as he leans over teh edge of the iceberg. Looking all the way down. A small since of vertigo coming over him as he saw battlefield bellow.
He saw the glow of lasers. Explosions. Smoke and debris. Buildings coming down on the First City Layer of Ingens Fortezela
Just before he leapt down the moment that he saw the Scaffold where he assumed that Azar was. A voice roared from behind him!
"Red Sash wait!" Rhico said. Leroy froze. Slowly he turned around to see that Diva, Marsyl, Hornigold, Danny, Quinn, and Bonney had hopped off the Frozen ship. Most of them shivering. But Hornigold, still in the prison uniform, pulled a large fur coat he'd found over his shoulders
Rhico and Diva ran up to the Pirate. And began to speak "Wait wait. We have to be smart about this." Rhico said as he looked over the edge. Seeing the large fissure visible even from these kilometers up.
"Azar is there." He pointed to the Scaffold "I can sense him."
"We have to be strategic. I'd say it's best to land there, or there. Where fighters already are. And then maybe we can launch a surprise attack and attempt to grab Azar." Diva said pointing to the First and Second Level.
The Redbeard Pirates hadn't yet made it to the second city Layer where Diva had pointed out.
"If you die. There'll be no saving Azar." Rhico said bluntly. And the words were beheeded. He knew it. His fists tightened as his eyes looked to the clock tower. A minute till.
"Yeah…Okay…" Leroy closed his eyes and Calmed his mind. He had a plan "I think we should split up. I think."
"What? What do you mean?" Rhico asked
"Wait wait…I got it! That guy down theres Azars Captain right?! If we need to play this Smart…I think it's best to Land down there and talk to him and see whats going on. Or at least start at the back and work out way forward! See if we can find a weak spot! The Marines are already busy." He pointed from the Fancy and the Crescent Bay to then the Platform and finally the city.
"I see…" Rhico and Diva nodded.
"But just how are we going to get down?" Diva cocked her head to the side
"Oh well thats easy. Girl over theres got balloons right?" He smiled as he began to back pedal. Eyes gazing to quinn who pointed to her self with a confused look only for suddenly a hand to grab her!
Leroy grabbed Quinn, Bonney, Danny, Hornigold, Mar-Syl, Diva, and Rhico and made a running jump towards the edge of the Ice and leaping off the side!
"Wait wait! Don't you idiot!" Bonney protested far to late by the time he was already a hundred meters away from the ice and soaring down through the air!
"AZAAAR!! I'M HERE!!" Leroy screamed!