Raising Legends in Roger’s Shadow

Let me ask you something.

Out on the vast and endless ocean, imagine a tiny boat drifting aimlessly with only three people aboard. You could dress it up and call it "sailing the seas in search of adventure," but let's be real it's basically just a bunch of sea bums. Now narrow that picture down further: two powerful older brothers and one talented four-year-old kid. With nothing better to do, what do you think they spend their time on?

(Answer: written right here.)

—

Morning light shimmered across the South Blue. The waves gently rocked the boat.

On the deck, a black-haired, red-eyed little boy Ritter was sprawled out, gasping for breath as he struggled through a set of push-ups.

Sweat ran down his cheeks and dripped onto the wooden planks. His arms were shaking so violently they looked like noodles, trembling under the strain. Ritter was exhausted. Really exhausted. The last thing he wanted was to train Tekkai again. Getting smacked by Rayleigh hurt way too much.

"199… 200… whew… finally done…"

Just as he was about to collapse in relief, a large foot stepped down hard on his back.

"Well, well, if it isn't little Ritter. Who told you to stop? Weren't you just talking about how you wanted to sail freely across the Grand Line?"

Ritter struggled to lift his head and saw Rayleigh looming above him, glasses gleaming as he stared down from on high.

"Rayleigh, come on… I'm only four…"

"So what if you're four? Didn't you ask me the other day if this is how I planned to live half-baked and going nowhere? And don't forget, Roger told me he used to chase wild animals around when he was your age."

"Yeah, and he's a caveman! I'm a normal person!"

"Oh? So you're saying you're weaker than Roger?"

Ritter's eye twitched. A classic bait tactic!

But I'm a kid from the modern world I see right through your mind games.

"Old man Rayleigh, who are you calling weak?!"

Rayleigh's expression twitched. He was only twenty, but Ritter called him different things depending on the situation: "Big Bro Rayleigh" when he wanted something, "Uncle Rayleigh" when being polite, and "Old Man Rayleigh" when picking a fight.

Good. Very good.

"…Another two hundred. Not like you're tired, right? Start now."

"Watch closely, old man! Just two hundred? Piece of cake."

Watching Ritter grit his teeth and scowl, Rayleigh nodded with satisfaction and walked away.

After what felt like forever, Ritter finally flopped onto the deck for a break.

"Ku-hahaha! Ritter, today I'm gonna teach you Haki!"

Roger's booming laugh came as he clapped Ritter hard on the back hard enough to nearly slam him through the deck.

"I've had enough!" Ritter snapped. "Are you two training a police dog or something? Do you have nothing better to do than take turns torturing me?"

"Captain… are you sure about this?" Rayleigh asked, sighing nearby. "He can't even hold a sword properly yet."

Roger grinned. "Doesn't matter! I can tell his body's strong enough. This kid's got all three types of Haki, he just can't use them yet. Gotta start early!"

Ritter rubbed his numb shoulder. He was both excited and terrified. Who knew what kind of hellish training Roger had in mind?

"First off, Armament Haki is the clearest reflection of physical strength! You have to imagine your fists being harder than steel!"

To demonstrate, Roger punched the deck.

BOOM!

The wooden planks exploded into a splintered crater.

Ritter screamed in disbelief: "??????????????"

"Come on, give it a try!"

Ritter yanked on Roger's pants, yelling, "Do you have any idea how expensive it is to fix the ship, you idiot?!"

(Not that he could actually reach Roger's face.)

With no other choice, Ritter summoned a bit of fog to patch the hole. It didn't help much, but at least it looked less painful.

"Relax. Someday we'll have a ship of our own."

"Alright, alright, now you try."

Ritter took a deep breath, mimicking Roger's stance. He tried coating his hand in Armament Haki and slammed it down—

SMACK!

His hand swelled up immediately.

"OWWW! That hurts!"

Roger laughed so hard he nearly choked. "Not bad! Do it again!"

Ritter bared his shark-like teeth. "Do it again?! Don't think I didn't see you coat the plank with Haki just before I hit it!"

Roger adjusted his straw hat. "Ah, you caught that?"

"Of course I did! And I'm not stopping until I can break through the wood!"

This guy… did Garp teach you how to train grandkids or something, you maniac?

In contrast to Roger's wild approach, Rayleigh's training was much more structured though no less intense.

And so, the days passed in a blur of chaos and routine.

—

Cue dramatic sound effects: ku! swoosh!

The scorching sun beat down on the beach, waves crashing against jagged rocks.

Roger stood at the bow, shouting with excitement, "Hey, Rayleigh! There's an island ahead. Let's check it out!"

Rayleigh calmly adjusted his glasses. "Captain, we have enough supplies. It's not worth wasting time. And we're saving up to buy a new ship we can't afford to splurge."

"Ku-hahaha! How can you call it a waste when it's an adventure?" Roger laughed, leaping off the ship. "There might be treasure! Worst case, we grab a fellow pirate and cash in the bounty!"

Ritter leaned over the railing with a groan. "You said that last time, Captain. All we found was a nest of angry crabs. Sure, they were tasty, but still…"

"This time's different!" Roger promised, slapping his chest with pride. He scooped Ritter up under one arm. "Let's go! You need to experience real adventure! That's what makes it fun!"

Ritter wriggled in vain and gave up. He was going ashore whether he liked it or not.

The three made their way through the jungle, Roger leading the charge as he sliced through vines with his saber.

Suddenly, he froze and sniffed the air. "Hmm? I smell barbecue!"

Rayleigh frowned. "Why would anyone be cooking on a deserted island?"

Ritter, sensing something with his Observation Haki, felt the faint trace of a life force ahead concealed, but present.

"Let's check it out!" Roger charged ahead eagerly.

They pushed through a dense thicket and entered a small clearing where a campfire crackled. A mysterious beast was roasting on a spit. Seated beside it was a black-haired man wearing sunglasses, twin hand-axes strapped to his waist.

He didn't even flinch at their sudden appearance. He just took a bite of meat and smiled.

"Yo. You guys get shipwrecked too?"

Roger's eyes lit up. "You're a pirate too, aren't you? I can tell your strength isn't ordinary. I bet we'd get along."

The man shrugged. "You could say that. Name's Spinker Jabba. I hitched a ride on a merchant ship, but it sank in a storm. I drifted here."

Rayleigh's gaze sharpened. "You don't give off the aura of a weakling."

Jabba grinned but didn't deny it. "You guys aren't ordinary either. Not many pirates bring a kid along."

Roger laughed heartily and plopped down beside the fire, grabbing a chunk of meat. "I'm Gol D. Roger. These are my crewmates Rayleigh and Ritter. We're pirates."

Jabba raised a brow. "Pirates? Just the three of you? The sea's a dangerous place."

Ritter cut in, indignant: "Don't underestimate us just 'cause we're few! We're strong!"

He knew full well that Jabba and Rayleigh would one day be the Pirate King's right- and left-hand men. Ritter didn't admire many people, but Jabba? Total respect. (insert cheeky emoji face)

Jabba looked Ritter over with interest. "Kid, how old are you? Four? Five?"

Veins popped on Ritter's forehead. You calling me a kid again? I'll let it slide once.

"I'm four, so what? I'm the 'Crimson Mist'! Haven't you seen my bounty poster?!"

Jabba blinked, then laughed. "That's new! I've never seen a pirate that young before."

Roger, still chewing, mumbled, "Jabba, wanna join us?"

Jabba wiped his hands, eyes gleaming. "What's your goal?"

Roger stood tall and pointed toward the sky. "To be the freest man on the seas!"

Jabba paused, then burst into laughter. "Alright! Just for that line alone I'm in!"

No job security, no pension, just one dream and a spark of recognition. Ritter's heart lit up watching this moment.

This is the legendary sea-charmer, Gol D. Roger, huh?

Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "Welcome aboard."

Ritter watched the three of them laughing and drinking together.

This… this is what true safety feels like.