chsdbacks Chapter 55 The Legacy
Chapter 55 The Legacy
Two years passed quickly, and news of Roger becoming the Pirate King reached Fishman Island. Otohime smiled as she read the news in the newspaper.
"Neptune, it seems that Moko and the others will be back soon."
Neptune placed the cut fruit on the table, took the newspaper, and smiled as well.
"Yeah, I didn't expect Roger and his crew to actually succeed, hahaha, we'll have to treat them well when they come back, after all, he's the Pirate King now."
"Yes, you're right. No, I need to prepare some gifts for Xiao Moke. It's been two years, Xiao Moke must have grown a lot. I need to prepare some nice things. The pearls harvested this year are quite good..."
"Hey, slow down, slow down, don't fall."
Seeing Otohime's hurried appearance, Neptune rushed forward to protect her, his eyes full of helplessness and doting affection.
Time passed by in preparation, and Roger returned to Fishman Island. This time, however, only Roger and Moko were there. Even Neptune, who was slow to realize, understood that Roger's adventure had truly come to an end.
Neptune couldn't help but feel a little sad. It wasn't that they couldn't meet again after the adventure ended, but Roger's life force had weakened too much. Some mermaids could sense the strength of each other's life force, and Neptune was one of them. This ember-like life force made Neptune very uneasy.
"Hey, Neptune, don't look so gloomy. Even if it's just me and Momo, the banquet is still a must."
"Heh, do you think I'd skimp on a drink? Let's go, it's all ready!"
Roger didn't explain, and Neptune didn't ask either. Just like before, the two of them entered the Dragon Palace laughing and joking. Otohime swam to Moko's side and touched Moko's face.
Moko had grown quite a bit taller and was still as delicate and cute as a doll, but the smile on her face clearly carried a hint of hidden sadness and exhaustion. Otohime hugged Moko with heartache, not knowing how to comfort this child who might soon lose her father.
"What did you say?!" Seemingly realizing his voice was a bit loud, Neptune quickly looked at Moko, who was sleeping in Otohime's arms, and tried to lower his voice, "Did you tell the little one about this?"
"Hahaha, Neptune, does Xiao Mo know that she knew from the beginning that my illness was incurable?"
After Roger spoke, Neptune was completely speechless. He picked up the glass next to him and took a big gulp, gripping the glass even tighter.
Although Roger was always a nuisance and caused trouble whenever he came, they were still brothers. How could he accept that his brother was suddenly dying?
"Haha, enough of that, let's drink! Tonight we're not leaving until we're completely drunk!"
"drink!"
"boom!"
……
"King Neptune, someone is looking for you outside."
"Who's looking for me?"
Neptune followed the soldier outside with a puzzled look on his face. When he saw Roger, Neptune fell silent. A year had passed since that meeting, and he thought he would never have the chance to see Roger again.
"You little rascal, you've come to ask me for drinks again!"
Neptune was happy to see Roger again and invited him inside, but Roger refused this time. Instead, he pulled Neptune to sit on the steps and watched the various schools of fish swimming across the dome.
After a long silence, Roger finally spoke, "Neptune, I'm going to turn myself in."
"ha!?"
Neptune looked at Roger with a blank expression, wondering what Roger was up to.
"What's with that look? I'm not so sick I'm delirious. I... have to fulfill a momentous mission. The end of the world must have someone else to carry on the legacy... Neptune, do you believe it? The world will undergo a massive transformation in the near future, and our children might just be the ones leading this huge wave. So now I have to be the spark that ignites the world, hahahahaha..."
Roger talked on and on about the future, his eyes filled with anticipation for what it would look like, yet also with the disappointment of not being able to witness it. Neptune sat beside him, unable to respond, his furrowed brow betraying his turbulent emotions. Was this a farewell? A final farewell?
“Neptune, let me tell you, I have a wife now. She's beautiful, strong, but also very stubborn…”
Roger, anticipating what Rouge would do next, looked helpless. "I'll be counting on you for Mako, Otohime."
Roger didn't turn around, but he knew that Otohime was not far behind him. Otohime was holding the hand of a small blue-haired boy, her expression somber, biting her lower lip tightly. Because she also had her own mission and ideals, she couldn't blame Roger for abandoning Moko alone for his mission. But how lonely it must be to leave Moko all alone.
"Don't let Xiao Mo's mature appearance fool you. She's actually most afraid of someone. I didn't tell her what I was going to do, so she might not be able to accept the news when it gets back. But she'll definitely get better. Xiao Mo is very strong. She'll definitely return to the sea someday. If she comes back here then, Yi Ji, could you please comfort her?"
Roger turned around, his smile bitter. This was Roger's gift of love as a father to his beloved child. He couldn't be there to watch Moko grow up, so he left his love in all corners of the world. One day, his child would grow up and embark on her journey again, and these gifts would be opened before her one by one. This was all he could leave behind in the end…
……
Her thoughts drifted for far too long. By the time Otohime came to her senses, the sky had already begun to darken. Beside her, Moko looked exactly the same as when she was a child, as if nothing had changed, yet everything seemed to have changed as well.
With her mother's permission, Bai Xing quickly became close to Mo Ke. When she was tired from playing, Bai Xing hugged the fluffy rice flower and fell asleep next to Mo Ke. Mo Ke's eyes softened, and she gently stroked Bai Xing's long hair again and again.
"Are they planning to go to the new world?"
"Yes, I'm planning to go see Shanks."
Shanks? That red-haired kid?
"It's him, Otohime-neechan still remembers him."
When Shanks was mentioned, Mako was very happy, and even her voice was filled with joy. Seeing this, Otohime understood perfectly and couldn't help but smile as well.
"I remember that kid used to always stare at you, as if he was afraid you would disappear. No matter how big the matter was, he couldn't take his eyes off you. It turns out he's been raising a little wife for himself since he was a child."
"Sister Otohime."
Moko looked at Otohime with a hint of helplessness.
"What's wrong, Xiao Mo? Are you shy? That child was obviously smitten with you back then, and now that he's grown up, he's finally realized how much he likes you. That's good..."
Yi Ji patted Moko's head and said in a peaceful voice, "Little Moko isn't alone now. He will definitely stay with Little Moko all the way."
“Sister Otohime, I…”
“I know…” Otohime shook her head, interrupting Moko’s unfinished words, and gently hugged Moko. “Little Moko, you’ve had a hard time all by yourself.”
Otohime's embrace was so warm that Moko unconsciously became greedy. Her stiff body softened, and Moko quietly nestled in Otohime's arms, with tears seemingly rolling down her cheeks.
The wounds in one's heart are actually very difficult to heal. Even if a long time has passed, the pain has only become numb because it has been hurting for too long, not disappeared. If Shanks hadn't found her, even Moko herself didn't know how much longer she could have endured it.
For so many years, Moko has only been able to survive thanks to Ace. Ace is the last thing her parents have left her, a responsibility and a mission, and also a gift full of love. This love is tender yet powerful. It cannot pull her out of the mire of despair, but it can hold her hand tightly and prevent her from sinking any further.
Yes, she was never alone. Ace, Luffy, Sabo, Shanks, and many other people around her. But the more she was like that, the more afraid she became. She was afraid of witnessing the departure of those around her again, afraid that because of her weakness, she would be unable to protect anyone. She didn't want to experience the pain of losing her family again.
"Xiao Moke, separation is inevitable, but love will not. Love will not disappear because of separation; it will always stay with the one you love."
As if knowing what Moko was thinking, Otohime put a string of blood-red coral beads on Moko's wrist, making Moko's skin look even whiter and more delicate.
"Nora?"
"Yes, I still remember the first time we met, you came to find Sango because of your family..." A look of nostalgia flashed in Otohime's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of Moko's eyes.
"Little Moko, Nora is a very special species of coral. It comes from the surface of the sea, but it can grow in the deep sea where there is no light. Where there is Nora, there will definitely be life. Little Moko, the blessing that Nora represents is hope, light, and new life. The road ahead is still long, and there will always be people by your side. Don't be afraid. No matter what happens, we will always be by your side."
"Ah."
In the end, Moko did not enter the Sea Forest. Let the beautiful memories of the past remain there. Perhaps a long, long time later, when the wounds in her heart have completely healed, she will take Shanks to walk the path of the past again and see the places where memories were left.
"Let's not talk about that anymore. Are you going to the new world alone this time?"
“No.” Moko shook her head. “I have established my own forces and now have trade relations with many local forces. By the way, Otohime, do you want to join Moko? Through Moko, we should be able to increase the communication between fish-men and land people. Moreover, with Shanks around, Moko also has some strong people, so we don’t have to worry about safety.”
“Great! In recent years, the residents of Fishman Island seem to have become more accepting of living in harmony with land dwellers. If everyone can get to know each other better, perhaps the future I’m hoping for can come true.”
When Otohime spoke of her ideals, her eyes shone brightly. Mako rested her head on Otohime's shoulder and looked up at the sunlit bubble dome.
"That must be a fantastic future."
"Yes, it will definitely be a fantastic future."
After chatting with Otohime for a long time, the light cast by the giant tree of Eve shone white, indicating that it was already dawn on the sea. Otohime, along with Shirahoshi, took Moko to the passageway.
"Queen Otohime, Princess Shirahoshi!"
When the fish-man soldiers saw Otohime and Shirahoshi coming in person, they stood up straight in a nervous manner.
"Don't be nervous, go about your business. I'm just here to see off some important family members."
"Yes!"
The soldier scratched his head and walked away, pondering whether there were any royals who married humans. Moko had Yubi unload a lot of jasmine-scented wine and other goods from the ship.
"Consider these a belated gift from your older sister to Bai Xing. Next time I come, I'll bring you a little sun that's uniquely yours, okay?"
Moko pointed to a large pile of sweets and jewelry. Compared to the sparkly jewelry, Shirahoshi clearly preferred the sweets. Fishman Island's sweets are quite famous, but Moko's are not bad either. Both have their own flavors and unique features. With Moko's improvements, Moko's sweets on land can stand out.
Shirahoshi, who had been staring at the snacks, immediately turned her attention back to Moko when she heard about the little sun. Her eyes seemed to be filled with stars, twinkling brightly.
"The sun? Really? Can the sun go to the bottom of the sea?"
Since birth, Shirahoshi has lived underwater. The sun, the sky, and the forest have always been scenes from her mother's stories. She has always longed to see these scenes with her own eyes, but she is also very afraid because Uncle Tiger said that the land is dangerous and that terrible monsters will take her away.
"Of course I would. Shirahoshi is so cute, why would I lie to her?"
"Mother, my sister said she'd bring me the sun, the sun!"
Shirahoshi was overjoyed to receive Moko's affirmation, her eyes brimming with undisguised happiness. Otohime patted Shirahoshi's hand affectionately, then looked at Moko.
"When you come back, you should stay a few more days. I'll introduce you to my three sons then. Those three little guys are always pestering Neptune to learn how to be a knight, they're so mischievous."
"Then it seems I'll have to bring some gifts that boys like. Shark Star has grown up now, so I, as his older sister, can't be stingy."
Moko winked playfully, her eyes sparkling with a lively charm. Otohime gave Moko a helpless glare, but seeing the childlike liveliness in Moko, her gaze softened. She stepped forward, cupped Moko's face, and placed a kiss on her forehead, just like always.
"May the ocean protect you, my lovely little Moko."
"...I'm off."
Moko's eyes glistened with tears, but her smile was radiant. The merchant ship gradually sailed away from the passageway, rising slowly with the driftwood. Gradually, the ship's shadow grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared completely.
"Queen Otohime, over there at the entrance..."
At this moment, a merman soldier rushed over, looking nervous, but stopped speaking halfway through his sentence, his expression particularly strange.
"What's wrong with the entrance?" Otohime asked, puzzled. "The Sea Kings are here again?"
"No, it's a wrecked ship that wants to enter Fishman Island."
"What?! Let them in quickly! What about the casualties? Have you called a doctor?"
"..."
Faced with Otohime's question, the soldier seemed very troubled and didn't know how to answer. Otohime sighed and prepared to go and see for herself.
"They are Celestial Dragons."
"what?"
The soldier's words stopped Otohime in her tracks. Seeing the soldier turn his head away, unwilling to leave, Otohime understood why the soldier had behaved so strangely just now.
Compared to other human races on the land, the people of Fish-Man Island hate the Celestial Dragons who are high and mighty. Because of the existence of the Celestial Dragons, many fish-men and mermaids have been captured and enslaved and offered to the Celestial Dragons. Those who were captured can never return. How can such hatred, which is engraved in their bones, be easily eliminated?
Otohime sighed deeply, knowing that this matter had to be resolved. Looking at Shirahoshi, who was looking at her with a worried expression, she smiled reassuringly at Shirahoshi.
"How about Bai Xing and everyone take Xiao Mo Ke's gifts back to the Dragon Palace? Your mother needs to go to the entrance now."
"Then Mother should come back soon."
Shirahoshi obediently responded, hugged Otohime, and followed several fish-man soldiers towards the direction of the Dragon Palace. Seeing Shirahoshi leave, Otohime took a deep breath and walked resolutely towards the entrance.
Even if they are Celestial Dragons, she must save them. The hatred of the Fish-Men towards humans should not continue, and the future of Fish-Man Island should not continue to be filled with hatred and discrimination. She will change all of this, and she must change all of this.