Chapter 18: The Banquet.
"His name is 'Marshall D Teach' and you also know him as Blackbeard. He waited his whole life in the Whitebeard Pirates crew for one thing 'the Dark-Dark Fruit'. Staying in an emperor's crew was his best chance to secure such a powerful and rare Devil Fruit, and he seized it by killing Thatch. He wanted the Marines and Whitebeard to go against each other".
"I don't know much but our captain may know more he has always paid a special attention on Whitebeard Pirates, Red Haired Pirates and the remanants of Roger Pirates. So enjoy the banquet here until he returns back."
"Paid special attention on us", the three raised their eyebrows doubtfully. "Anyway! enjoy the food and drinks as much as you want, no limits on that. All your favorites are available from giants booze to the best sweets and food."
Hearing the arrangements of banquet Shanks with his crew were the first to start enjoying, soon enough even rayleigh and whitebeard with his crew got in on it.
The grand banquet venue was alive with laughter, music, and the mingling of pirates from different crews, each with their distinct styles and personalities. Tables overflowed with dishes from every corner of the sea, different kinds of roasted meat, exotic fruits, and delicacies most of which they had only heard about in legends.
Giant barrels of ale and fine wine stood at every corner, with endless mugs passed around pirates, keeping the atmosphere jovial and rowdy the whole time.
The Whitebeard Pirates, notorious for their close bond, sat together with some of their closest allies, sharing stories of past adventures and rivalries and relief of having the war ended without much casualties.
Marco laughed as he recounted a particularly harrowing skirmish with the Marines, while Jozu playfully arm-wrestled one of the younger pirates who dared to challenge his strength.
A bit farther down, Shanks and his Red Haired Pirates clinked mugs with whoever dared approach them, their crew's laid back yet formidable reputation making them instantly likable to everyone. Shanks, with his usual carefree smile, swapped tales with Rayleigh, reminiscing about their time with Roger.
Rayleigh himself seemed nostalgic, his silver hair reflecting the dim light as he sat among pirates from all sides, listening to their stories and occasionally throwing in a piece of wisdom.
He was visibly enjoying to see so many of the new generation carrying the spirit of adventure that once defined their era. He remembered many things during his talks excitement, sadness and sometimes joy shown on his aging face.
Even among the joyous festivities, subtle glances and whispers exchanged between these legendary pirates hinted at some shared concerns. But seeing Shanks, Whitebeard and Rayleigh enjoying, they set those thoughts aside, choosing instead to celebrate with those they trusted and respected.
"Come on, drink up! You lot aren't gonna get another feast like this anytime soon!" Shanks shouted, holding up his mug and encouraging everyone to have a toast.
The pirates all raised their drinks, clinking their mugs together as laughter erupted. As the festivities continued, rivalries faded, and all that remained was a brotherhood of the sea, bound together by their dreams, battles, and the respect they had earned across the seas.
As they were partying and having fun somebody's sudden shout attracted the attention " What is that large thing moving in the sky?"
A large snake like thing was flying towards them at a fast speed. "Isn't that Emperor Kaido 'The King of Beasts?', in his devil fruit form why is he here"
Shanks and others who just fended off Kaido away from Whitebeard's territory sometime ago came to the forefront their weapons in their hands. The large flying figure was still above the couds.
Whitebeard and Rayleigh narrowed their eyes their faces had a serious expressions. buggy was searching for places to hide. Everyone went from drunk to sober within seconds. Some were afraid, some were serious and some were even excited.
Before anyone could react something fell from the sky with a bang. Everyone turned their gazes to the place where the thing crash landed and saw that it was a person.
A very badly beaten person with almost every bone from his body broken. His face unrecognizable as he was covered with blood.
When everyone was stunned and focused on the fallen person a loud roar came from the clouds. Hearing the roar shanks and others were again focused on the flying figure in the sky.
Before everyone's eyes a golden five clawed dragon emerged from the clouds from the sky and shrinked as it closed towards the ground. 'Boom' with a loud explosion a golden half human half dragon being landed before everyone.
Gyeong and some of the women familiar with these Pirates came out at this time and saw Shanks and other Red-Haired Pirates pointing their weapons to the just landed hybrid human-dragon being in silence.
The silence was soon disturbed by a gunshot and everyone turned towards Yassopp who was holding a gun and the gun point was smoking.
"Not bad a perfect shot of sea stone bullet totally covered with Armament Haki at my chest, still it's not enough to tickle me Yassopp of the Red Haired Pirates"
With a voice all the gazes again shifted towards the zoan hybrid being again seeing the bullet Yassopp shot fallen down without leaving a mark on his body leaving everyone seeing this shocked even Whitebeard and Rayleigh weren't exceptions.
"That's some way to welcome me...." he paused and a Conqueror's Haki so powerful that even Shanks felt suffocated. The voice again continued as the being retracted his Conquerer's Haki "....in my own home."
Nobody understood what he said for a minute until Gyeong and other women came towards him and kissed him. Soon everyone realized that this was the captain these women were talking and narrowed their eyes.
"So let's do the introductions later, let me first deal with that thing lying there" he said pointing the body dropped from above the clouds. Before everyone's eyes he stepped forward and picking almost dead guy and threw him towards Shanks.
Shanks cautious as always stepped backwards to avoid the body thrown towars him. "He has no use for me anymore you can kill him now" he said seeing shanks avoid it.
"That's Teach by the way" he said hearing which shanks and Whitebeard narrowed their eyes. Before Whitebeard could speak anything to shanks "Don't try to stop brother shanks from killing Teach pop's, he broke one of the important rules on your ship. He killed big brother thatch."
Now everyone focused on him instantly not because of what he said about Blackbeard but hearing the word Pop's from this stranger's mouth.