"How beautiful..."
Before their eyes stood a majestic peak cloaked in a gossamer mantle of pure white. Pristine, delicate snowflakes drifted lazily from the heavens, casting an ethereal, mystical aura over the plum blossoms and willow branches below.
Weitian reached out her slender palm on instinct. The fallen flake melted into a dewdrop against her skin as a gentle breeze stirred, playing through the soft tresses of her hair.
"Do you like it?" Drake asked with a warm, gentle smile.
"Mm..." Weitian nodded with deep emotion. "I love it. I've always loved the snow; wherever it falls, the world feels completely purified, as if all the deafening clamor and filthy corruption simply vanish without a trace."
"Silver-clad and snow-draped, the peaks rise in breathtaking elegance."
"Yeah, it really is stunning..." Drake crouched down, scooping up a handful of pristine white snow before tossing it into the open air.
The world shifted around them. Gradually, the wind and snow faded from view. Rolling emerald meadows unfurled in every direction, and vibrant blossoms of every hue unfurled their petals, revealing their tender, radiant cores to the world.
Winter retreated, and spring arrived.
All living things awakened, and a hundred flowers blossomed in splendid harmony.
"In spring, every bloom gathers to burst forth at once. The vista is truly breathtaking—radiant, noble, fresh, and untouched by dust, a feast for the soul in every posture," Drake murmured. Reaching out, he gently plucked a spotless white lily and brought it close for a light scent.
Stepping before Weitian, he said softly, "This suits you perfectly. Let me put it in your hair."
The lily mirrored her pure, unblemished spirit; in Drake's eyes, no flower in the world could be more fitting.
Nestled amidst the ocean of blossoms, Weitian looked like a fairy stepping straight from a floral paradise, entirely untouched by mortal dust.
Just as she parted her lips to speak, the scenery inverted once more. They materialized beneath the canopy of a colossal, ancient tree.
Opening her eyes, she found herself resting gently in Drake's arms. The air was rich with the sweet fragrance of lush flora, while the steady, rhythmic hum of summer cicadas drifted through the canopy.
That gentle hum intertwined with the murmur of a mountain brook, weaving a mesmerizing melody that acted like a soothing lullaby, coaxing her to cast away every worldly care and drift into peaceful slumber.
When she woke, Drake greeted her with a tender smile, leading her down toward the banks of the winding stream.
An autumn breeze swept through, and a boundless expanse of crimson leaves set the mountains ablaze with color, making her eyes snap wide in pure wonder.
It was a panoramic tapestry capable of wiping away every sorrow with a single glance. Dancing with the draft, swirling and gently descending, every scarlet leaf etched itself deep into Weitian's heart.
With fingers tightly intertwined, they strolled through the rolling sea of autumn foliage, listening to the murmuring mountain springs, walking the crimson-carpeted hills, and watching the falling leaves dance upon the wind...
The beauty of the four seasons.
This was Drake's gift to her.
Where they stood right now was an alternate pocket dimension Drake had stepped into; through his mastery of spatial authority, he had projected these breathtaking landscapes directly before their eyes.
"This is what I wanted to show you—the pinnacle of the four seasons. And even this is merely the tip of the iceberg of what this world holds. The road ahead is long... will you walk beside me, and behold the world's untamed splendor together?" Drake gazed deeply into Weitian's eyes. Once dawn broke, he would be setting sail once more.
Yet his heart was firmly set: the day his voyage reached its conclusion would be the day they officially wed.
"No matter when... no matter where... I am yours, through eternity!" Meeting Drake's gaze, Weitian slowly raised their intertwined hands into the light.
Glistening upon her finger was the betrothal ring Drake had placed there—the eternal emblem of their sacred vow.
Crimson leaves swirled past their cheeks. Their eyes remained locked, radiant smiles blooming across their faces.
Amidst the towering ridges and sweeping valleys, their two tightly embraced silhouettes stretched long against the terrain. Birds danced and sang joyfully in the canopy, while fish broke the surface of the mountain stream.
Through the forested glen, a breathtaking, moving melody quietly took flight, lingering long and sweet upon the air, refusing to fade...
The following morning, the roaring departure of the Demon Warder sent reverberations echoing across the heights of the Red Line.
"Uncle Dragon, next time we cross paths, you'd better drink a few extra rounds with me!"
Standing atop a jagged cliff of the Red Line, buffeted by the ocean winds, Dragon watched the Demon Warder steadily shrink into the horizon, Drake's parting words ringing vividly in his mind.
"That little brat! Slipped away before I could even settle the score with him..."
Yet the perpetually stern Commander-in-Chief couldn't help but let the corners of his lips curl into a faint, immensely gratified smile.
The Dragon Flag Pirates embarked on the next leg of their grand odyssey. The only difference was that this time, their ranks had welcomed a new companion.
Weitian.
Though Weitian spent the vast majority of her hours stationed inside her Fleet Admiral's office, the spatial gate made her routine far more convenient than it had ever been.
The tedious commute had been reduced to nothing; stepping across a single threshold carried her directly into her command post.
Consequently, Weitian took all three of her daily meals aboard the Demon Warder, joining the Dragon Flag Pirates on their exploits whenever a window of leisure presented itself. In this way, Drake was blessed with the sight of her genuine smile every single day.
Gradually, having traversed the entirety of the Grand Line, they charted a course across the four blues—beginning in the South Blue, moving through the West and North, and finally returning home to the East Blue.
Advancing steadily along their mapped course, the renown of the Dragon Flag Pirates soared to unprecedented heights, their footsteps leaving an indelible mark across practically every corner of the globe.
Meanwhile, the world's supreme crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, likewise never faded from the public eye.
Across this boundless sea where the spirit of piracy burned bright, only these two legendary crews continued their ceaseless, fearless voyages.
As for the fellow pinnacle factions—the Red Hair Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates—whispers and dispatches concerning their movements had mysteriously dried up for quite some time.
Time slipped away like sand through an hourglass, and in the blink of an eye, three full years had passed since Weitian first stepped aboard.
They had finally completed every leg of their worldwide voyage.
Over those three years of daily companionship, the bond between Drake and Weitian had deepened into an unbreakable certainty. Yet even after three years, they had never crossed that final physical boundary.
To Drake, that restraint remained the sacred fulfillment of his initial promise.
The East Blue, Foosha Village.
"What did you say?! You're getting married too?!"
Inside Makino's tavern, Drake stared bug-eyed at Sabo sitting across the table, his voice laced with utter disbelief.
"What's the harm? Let's just hold a joint wedding right here in Foosha Village! Besides, I've already reached Luffy—he's already on his way back as well."
"According to him, he should be making landfall within the next day or two. Man, it really brings back memories... Four years. It's been four whole years since we last saw each other."
Ever since their parting in Foosha Village back then, Sabo had suffered exceptionally poor luck, never once crossing paths with a single one of his brothers.
He should have crossed paths with Drake three years ago, but by the time he returned from his deployment, Drake had already weighed anchor and departed.
Yet the reason four full years had slipped by without a reunion was partly of his own choosing. Stationed at the primary base, he had frequently chatted with Weitian.
Hearing him lament that it had been ages since they met, Weitian had offered to let him use the spatial gate.
He had declined.
Because there was no need.
That unscripted, serendipitous reunion out on the open seas was the meeting his heart truly craved.
"Oh, by the way, Luffy told me he's bringing us a massive surprise this time—told us to keep our hopes high," Sabo suddenly added, turning to Drake.
A helpless, amused chuckle escaped him as he spoke. "That really doesn't sound like Luffy's style at all..."
"That idiot isn't the type to be secretive or beat around the bush."
"True enough," Drake chuckled with a warm grin. "That certainly gives us something to look forward to."
"Come to think of it, there hasn't been a whisper of news about Ace lately. I wonder if he'll make it back in time," Sabo mused, tossing back the ale in his glass in a single draught.
"The Whitebeard Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates have been remarkably quiet lately. How long has it been since their names were in the papers...?"
"Actually, both the Whitebeard Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates officially disbanded three months ago," Drake stated calmly.
"WHAT?!"