Alright, I’ve had this chapter ready for way too long now. I think it’s about time to post something or other. I do not own One Piece. Reviewer thanks go out to Dixxy-san, Badger-taisa, Butterfly-san, Rose-chan and Z-kun, the latter’s presence being the one to finally kick my rear into gear with his presence.

Inherited Will, Destiny of the Age

Chapter Forty Nine

Dear Chimney

Paulie sat down at the small desk he had in his cabin. He pulled a few sheets of paper and a pen from the inside and put them on top the battered surface. While he thought, he stared at the few photographs that he had nailed to the wall of his family. Thomas was much taller than when he had left. The baby was running around the house, chasing the cat. Chimney still looked the same. Paulie sighed and put the pen to the paper.

Dear Chimney,

It’s been a while since I wrote you last. I did get your letter from before, so that you know. I’m glad that at least the postal system is still intact enough to correspond like this. I’d probably go mad without your letters. Those photographs you included are tacked above my desk now. The kids look like they’re growing fast. At the rate they’re going, Thomas might be as tall as me when I come back. At least he seems to fit into the role of a big brother just fine.

Well, we finally found Tashigi. It seemed like we had been searching for a decade because everyone was so down about it. Remember all those stories we heard about Drum Kingdom? That’s where she had ended up. The king had put her in prison and she almost died, but she’s fine now. Aisa, that witch-doctor I told you about, treated her. It’ll still take a few more weeks of recovery, but Aisa seems to put enough fear into that girl to make her listen. It’s about time she listened to someone if you ask me.

We also seemed to have picked up this little kid on Drum. According to Kappa and Aisa, he was in the cell next to Tashigi and decided to tag along. We tried to find him a family that would watch him on the island, but he stowed away on the ship before we could realize it. He’s only about Thomas’s age, but is as hyperactive as Rika. In fact, Rika is demanding that we take the brat home, claiming that it is on the way. You cannot imagine the frustration I feel with all this side-tracking.

Ninjin, the stupid one, somehow Aisa was able to give him back his memories. Now he can fight like the elite military soldiers could. His sister apparently taught him the stuff and he’s been going around putting holes in things all over the place. It’s very troublesome when he puts holes in the ship on accident.

Other than that, everyone here has been fine. They’re all the same as ever, now that we have Tashigi back. Kappa was looking pretty depressed before we landed on Drum, but now he’s back to his same old annoying self. I can’t stand guys like him, but I have to if this ship’s going to make it all the way to One Piece. I want Thomas and Kokoro to be able to talk about their father proudly. I know a pirate isn’t exactly the best thing for me to be; even the adventurous ones had bad reputations in the old days.

We seem to be affecting people though, bringing back hope of the former age of pirates where so many of them were of the adventure-type. One place even gave us free supplies, which was sort of odd. As we go farther and farther down the Grand Line, people become more accepting of us. It reminds me of Galley-La and how we never cared whether or not we were serving pirates, merchants or Marines.

I’ve enclosed some money that I earned a while ago fixing a few ships while we were waiting for a Log Pose to set. I hope that it helps. There’s also some treats for the kids that I found that I think they’d like. Keep Thomas away from girls; he’s starting to get to that age. That’s the last thing I need when I come home. Stay strong and thank you.

Love,

Paulie

The letter was mailed at the next port the Sorrow-go stopped at. Dan, curious, was wondering who in the world Paulie could be writing to. When the boy discovered that it was Paulie’s wife and a son his own age, he could not but help to ask to include a letter of his own to Thomas. It took much arguing, but Dan won in the long run.

A few days later, a mail bird came pecking at the kitchen window in Chimney’s home. She let it in and it dumped a package on the table before flying out. She sighed and shook her head with a smile.

At least he writes, she thought.

A time later, a mail bird came flapping its way miserably up to the Sorrow-go, only to collapse upon the deck. Kappa immediately snatched the newspaper, which was subsequently fought over between Tamanegi and himself. Paulie picked up the small brown-covered package and took it to his cabin. There, he opened it to find two letters and another box. The box had a little clay pot that was brightly painted in what he knew were Thomas’s favorite colors. One of the letters was addressed to him in Chimney’s handwriting, the other to Dan in Thomas’s scrawl. He put the one for Dan aside and opened his.

Paulie,

Thank you for the last letter. Thomas was so happy to see that you wrote again, and that he also has a pen pal. I think he is a little jealous that there is a child his age on the ship, but he is happy that you are helping someone like him. Kokoro wanted a letter too, but I told her she has to be able to read first before she gets letters from anyone. You should see her with books now; she can’t put them down.

There is nothing too much to report on back here. Thomas began school again and his teacher is perplexed over his artistic skills. He made that little mug we sent along for you (and it was all that I could do to not laugh when he brought it home), but he can draw things in such great detail that he is years beyond his classmates. He said he wants to become a shipwright just like you, so he needs to be able to draw things perfectly. He’s very good at math and technical drawing, but if you ask him to play an instrument or paint something and he’s lost. I already have him building a bookshelf; hopefully it will help keep him interested. He also hopes that he can meet Dan soon. I told him maybe, once everything’s better again, he can come for a visit. Thomas is a silly boy.

He wants to be called “Tom” now. Something about that makes me remember the old days.

I hope to hear from you again soon.

Love,

Chimney

Paulie smiled and picked up the letter to Dan. The careful pencil letters made him grin, remembering why he was there on the ship. He found Dan and threw him his letter.

Author’s Notes

Jeezum crowe Batman! The Third Person! That doesn’t correlate with the rest of the story! Sure it does. –grins- I said so. I also laugh at my lame, Rowling-esque child-naming-method. Haha.

Oh, and by the way, I’m pleading for reviews on three other things that are currently review-less: Friends (Vinland Saga), Take Me to the Pilot (One Piece) and Love Naught Kiss (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann). Even though I don’t deserve it, I would highly appreciate it if someone left a review. It would make this college student very happy.