It took a few hours for Jack to Reach the East Blue.
The moment he stepped foot off the docks. Everyone looked at him with shock. Some with disgust. Others with sadness. Many of them knew Azar since he was a baby. Same for Leroy. But they believed in the Marines. But Horizon had a Culture of 'Dont cause trouble. We don't call' the Police were never on the side of them. So there was no point when Pirates docked
Whispers spread across the crowd. Some telling each other to call Galene. And tell her who just arrived…
Mamtha. Hadn't stopped crying once for more than time to sleep in the days since…She was bent forward. Food scattered around as she held jars in her hand. Bringing them up to he lips to kiss constantly.
Two of them had slivers of paper, dangling from a string. While the one in her hand…Held only ash.
The Door Creaked Open. Jack walking in. Mamtha did not pay any mind to him. Shaking her head quickly and muttering something under her breath.
"Galene-" Jack began. Taking his ball cap off.
"How dare you…" She began..Voice hitching hard in her throat as he sideeyed Jack. Her hair disheveled. Gray spotting the hair line as she did not dye it back to its brown
"I-"
"Don't you fucking dare say you're sorry! How could you! How could you!" She screamed. The house was empty. No one visiting her at that time. Pictures of Jack and Her. Leroy, Azar, Sara. Aunts. Uncles. Cousins. Friends. All lined the walls. The air was still and heavy…
"He was our baby! They were our babies! I saw it all! And you did nothing! You did nothing!!" He rose from her recliner. Holding the Jars close to her chest as if they would disappear if he grip loosened even a little
She watched as Jack moved closer. Looming up above her. Despite being feet taller. She did not buckle in front of her Husband. For she had no reason to.
She was about to reprimand him again when suddenly-
Thud
Jack fell to his knees. Bent forward. His head against her stomach and legs. Arms wrapped around her. Tears flowing down his cheeks in an ugly sob.
"I…I couldn't…I asked him…I asked our boy…I told him. I told him to just say the word and I'd take him away .I'd fight the whole world for him….But…He was adamant…He denied…He denied me…But he said that he loved me…" He hicked and sobbed repeatedly.
"Oh god…Gale…Oh god….Leroy…He fought so hard…So so hard…He almost did it. Our boy almost did it…But…That damn Asashi…I'd have killed him if Machi hadn't held me back…"
"He's lucky Sinatra wasn't there…" Sinatra…Jacks best friend and Right Hand
"I just…I…I…" He could get the words out…Sobs taking over…
But she understood. She slowly went to he knees. And set the jars down. Cupping her husbands face. She met his tear filled eyes…And planted a kiss on his lips
"Jacky…We did what we could…But they made their decision…As much as we don't like it…They left the nest…They're still ours. But theres only so much we can do…" She convinced herself. Repeating the same words that they had said to one another for ages Mamtha pulled Jack close. The two of them embracing each other in a tight tear filled moment of grief.
In that moment. They realized just how old they were. They weren't in their 20's. Or 30's. Or even 40's anymore. Mamtha had gained quite a bit of weight. And Jack lost much of the muscle he once had. They had grey hairs in places they didn't think they could. And wrinkles all over…
"I love you…" Galene said…
"I love you too…"
"GYAHHHHHHHH" A Scream reverberated through the Cyprus Castle. Suddenly. The entire side wall exploded! A fist shooting and spewing through the air for over a mile in under a second! Destroying the peak of a massive 100 meter round peak!
"AHHHHHH! HAAAHHHHH" Leroy wailed! Falling to his knees. Tears from pain and grief filling his throat. "GRAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
His wails could be heard all over. Far and wide all over the island. He could do nothing but wail and cry and sob. His body bandaged all over. Body stitched and wrapped. Hands. Fingers. Head, torso. Legs. Feet. He bent forward. Slamming his head against the ground again and again and again! The pain was the only thing that could dull the emotions. The only way he could lash out…Against himself
His hand slung through the air! Smashing another one of the walls before he lifted up the immense king sized bed and hurled ith with so much force that it shot into the horizon in under a second! "I'LL KILL HIM!"
"I'LL RIP OUT HIS FUCKING SPINE!" He suddenly leapt from the castle! Straight up through the air! Destroying the ceiling as he went soaring through the sky! Only to slam into the ground! He was leaking energy that caused all the animals around him to fall into fear and unconsciousness!
'My Fault….'
"I'M GOING TO KILL HIM! I'LL HIM! I'LL TEAR HIM TO FUCKING PIECES!!" He screamed his throat out raw. His spit spewing from his throat as he raised his hands above his head and slammed them into the ground! So much went shooting through the entire island that it disturbed the very ocean surrounding! Shaking those in the city miles away!
'My Fault….'
"DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! I'LL KILL HIM! KILL!!!" He swung his fist through the air! Utterly decimating an entire mile of trees! Decapitating them in an instant! Flattening the ground until nothing but the scalped earth and rubble remained! Trees and Brush went flying into the air for meters up!
'My Fault….'
Tears welled in his eye. His hand grabbing at all they could! Suddenly. A Massive boulder! Yes! Yes Leroy! Use it! His mind raced! It was a massive pillar that weighed a hundred thousand metric tons of stone! Casting an immense shadow over him! He launnched it through the air! Sending it flying only to smashing into the massive mountain in the middle of the island! Clipping and taking an immense chunk of it out!
'My Fault….'
"K…Ku…" His anger could barely form word! Each step! Each foot fall was a stomp that shattered the ground and earth beneath him! Leaving nothing but cracks and craters in his path! An utter aura of malice came from his body!
'My Fault….'
"KURORYU!!" His screamed was so loud! Filled with so much strength and force that the trees all around bellowed and beckoned to his throat! Many loosing their leaves and branches from the utter rage! His lung emptying of air while tears streamed down his cheeks!
'My Fault….'
Soon that anger was over come by grief. That same image of Azar in front of him playing again and again and again! That blazing heat against his skin! The heat he felt! That blinding white light of the plasma from the strongest soldier the navy have!
'My Fault….'
"A…Azar…Eheh…Ugh…" He became light headed. The rage was quickly leaving him as his body suddenly gave out beneath him. Each sob harder and more harsh against his already fragile voice box than the last. Blood spewing out. Filling his mouth with a rancid bile and metallic taste as he hicked. Chocking and gagging a dry heave onto the ground.
'My Fault….'
His hands. Bandaged in now dirtied white fabric clenched the ground. Pain and throbbing agony of both his mind and body wracked his very being. Snot trailing from his nose as spit slathered his mouth. He wasn't angry…
Just consumed…
Consumed by utter true dispair…
'My Fauly…!'
"WAHHHHHHHHH!" He roared! His body slacking as he rolled his body back and released the mind breaking sob!
Those words swam and swamped his brain again and again. Hands clawing his arms. Tearing at his skin. And tearing his stitches. Blood soaking the bandages.
"Leroy!" Eliza suddenly arrived. Breaking through the thicket of remaining trees not destroyed by leroys frantic and wild punches "Leroy stop! Leroy! Leroy"
"Theres no time for…." Her words were cut off. Suddenly his hand shot up. And grabbed Eliza by the throat. His vision was blurred. He didn't know who it was.
"You're right…There no time at all…None left…Nothing…Nothing left" He didn't even look at her. His voice was a growl. Deep and hoarse. Malice and vindication was returning to his mind. Not thinking. Not processing those who was around him but himself.
"Red Sash snap out of it!" Rhico screamed. Grabbing his arm harshly "Think! Think!"
"Huh? Oh shit! Eliza…I-" He suddenly snapped out of it. His eyes flooding and burning with tears. "Its okay…It's okay…Not first time you've done that…." She tried to lighten the mood
"Heh…It's over…" He said shaking his head. "It's….It's over…I'm done…I'm done….I can't do this any more…I'm so weak…"
"I'M SO WEAK!" He screamed… "I dont deserve it…I don't deserve to be King of The Pirates…I don't"
"Snap out of it!" Rhico said. Grabbing Leroys face gently "Listen! It helps no one to sob. You can cry all you want…But remember why you went there in the first place…!"
"Azar might be gone…But you're still here! You can still fight! You can still keep going! Think about what happens if you give up now! Azars dream…His want for you to succeed! His love for you! He protected you!"
"He protected me…" Leroy murmured.
"Yes…He did…" Leroy repeated again
"I…If I….Azar…I'd be failing him even more…" He said.
His mind began to clear…But those tears of grief. For everything that had happened since Desmare threatened… "But…My crew…My Crews Dead…."
He began to hyperventilate. On the edge of another derealization. Dissociation. Mind reeling…Threatening to tumble and collapse…!
"No…Listen." Zeke said Kneeling in front of Leroy "Condent did not kill your Crew…Think about it. Why are alive? The Captain…Your crew was different. But to him. The Captain is most important. If they were dead. You'd be dead…"
He thought back to what Condent had told him. 'I am not the enemy here. In one weeks time. It'll be over…'
"Theres rumors fitting the description of your crew. I've spent days getting information…They are still Alive! They are…!"
"Red Sash. You still have them…They aren't gone!" Low said. The final one to join them on the Floor "You still have time! You still have them! They still have you! If you give up, who will they have!"
"Imagine what they are doing right now. Staying alive! So that they can all reunite!"
"They're…Alive?" His eyes softened. Face smoothing. Entire body relaxing.
They were Alive! Every single one of them! Was alive! Kirk, Jeanne, Noir, Kale, Dezzi, Raven, Calliope, Eddie. They were all alive! Maybe not well. But that had survived! They were going to live!
"I still…"
Tears began to fall. And for the first time in what felt like far too long of time…He smiled! He smiled wide. Teeth shining, face morphed into a mix of anguish, joy, and relief.
"I still have my Crew!"