The Ecliptic Express sailed toward Loguetown.
On the deck of the Bluma Jackson, Rhett sat atop the dragon figurehead, stroking the cannon barrel with a grin. "Heh heh heh... Damn, this is just too cool. Who's the baddest warship on the seas? Heh heh heh—"
Suddenly, he froze. "Wait! Did we forget something major?"
Perona, who'd been floating midair while combing her new doll's hair, nearly dropped it in shock. "Lord Rhett! Don't shout like that out of nowhere!"
"Our crew..." Rhett's gaze swept across the deck, pointing at Perona, Gekko Moriah, and the assembled zombies in turn. "We still don't have an official name!"
Silence fell over the deck. Moriah's scissor-hand froze mid-snip.
"The ship's built, we're sailing the Grand Line, and we still don't have a name?" Moriah's shark-like teeth gleamed as his bat-shaped shadow writhed on the deck. "The captain only remembers now?"
"Totally irresponsible!" Perona puffed her cheeks, her teddy bear mimicking her accusatory gesture. "Even my Kumashi has a name!"
Rhett scratched his head. "No time like the present! Crew meeting! Everyone assemble!"
Moriah deadpanned, "Captain, there's literally three living humans here. Do we really need formalities?"
Rhett scoffed. "You don't get it—gotta follow the full process. Feels wrong otherwise."
They gathered around a barrel at the deck's center. Moriah's towering frame cast a long shadow while Perona hovered above Rhett's head.
"First, name proposals." Rhett rapped the barrel. "Perona, you start."
"Ghost Princess!" Her eyes sparkled. "Pink sails, lace flags, and—"
"Vetoed." Rhett's tone brooked no argument, though he softened it seeing her crestfallen expression. "I mean—great suggestion, little Perona! Just... not quite fitting, y'know?"
Tears welled in Perona's eyes as her ghosts morphed into crying faces. "Lord Rhett's being meeean~"
Moriah's deep chuckle rumbled. "How about Devil Zombie Armada? Make enemies tremble at the name!"
"Pfft—" Perona burst out laughing. "Moriah-sama, that's so lame!"
"WHAT?!" Moriah's shadow flared violently. "You wound me, Perona! A fully pink ship would be way weirder!"
Rhett suddenly stood, staring at the pocket watch Roger had given him. Blood mist swirled behind him.
"I'm a man who'll stand at the world's summit. We'll be the freest souls on these seas. Let any fool dare challenge us—" He paused, raising his Black Tide greatsword skyward.
"Our crew shall be called Crimson Dawn! We are our own future. Our own dawn breaks here!"
Perona hugged her doll tightly. "Lord Rhett is SO COOL!!!!"
"Then," she spun midair, "check out the flag I just designed—"
She pointed to her sketch: a skull backlit by a sun tearing through darkness.
Rhett's laughter boomed across the deck, unrestrained and joyous.
"Damn you, Captain... Saying you didn't need to leave any last words. Between my past life's values and everything I learned aboard Roger's ship—" His grin turned fierce. "You already knew what kind of man I was, didn't you? Knew you didn't need to tell me a damn thing! HAHAHAHAHA!"
"I hereby declare Crimson Dawn officially founded today!"
"Seconded," said Perona.
"Reluctantly approved," Moriah shrugged, though his shadow gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Perona floated close, batting her eyelashes. "Can my crow's nest be pink then?"
"Sure."
"LONG LIVE THE CAPTAIN!"
That night, a naming feast erupted on Bluma Jackson's deck. While others drank merrily, Perona sulked—Rhett and Moriah had forbidden her alcohol. She pouted, downing fruit juice aggressively.
Rhett raised his tankard high. "Hear me, seas! From this day forth—"
"CRIMSON DAWN PIRATES!" the crew roared.
"—WE'LL CARVE OUR NAMES—"
"INTO THE GATES OF A NEW AGE!"
Surveying his crew, Rhett laughed heartily.
"Seriously... Even after serving on the greatest pirate crew, starting my own still gets me pumped."
He tilted his head back, staring at the stars—a poor disguise for the stabbing pain in his chest.
This feeling... It's perfect! Roger, you'd love this ship.
We'll meet again soon.
---
Execution Day, Loguetown Harbor.
The port swarmed with pirates, marines, journalists, and gawking civilians from across the world. Tension and anticipation hung thick—as if the globe itself held its breath, awaiting either an era's end or a new dawn.
Shanks adjusted his straw hat's brim, sharp eyes glinting beneath red hair. From his rooftop perch at the crowd's edge, Buggy fidgeted beside him.
"Oi, Shanks! Where the hell's Rhett? Execution's starting soon!" Buggy stamped his feet impatiently.
Shanks didn't answer, gaze locked on the horizon. He felt Rhett's presence approaching.
Then—a smirk.
"He's here."
On the distant sea, a crimson streak split the waves. Engine thunder followed.
"What the—?!" Screams erupted as people pointed at the approaching monstrosity.
A blood-red leviathan plowed through the surf, its dragon figurehead's eyes glowing scarlet. Bloodlightning wreathed its hull like a beast from hell.
"The Oro Jackson looks good..." Shanks murmured, spotting familiar contours beneath the transformation. He knew Roger had bequeathed the ship to Rhett—nostalgia and fighting spirit flared in equal measure.
Roger sat composed in his seastone prison cart, flanked by the Marines' future Admirals. His smile never wavered as he lifted his gaze beyond the crowd toward the harbor.
"Full speed ahead!" Rhett commanded from the prow.
Perona waved her teddy excitedly from the crow's nest. "Lord Rhett! Loguetown's packed!"
Moriah's shadow twisted gleefully. "Mmmhihihi... What a magnificent stage, Captain."
Rhett's Observation Haki already blanketed the plaza, reading every emotion—rage, grief, excitement, fear... and certain formidable auras hiding among the masses.
Those who have read this far are truly dedicated readers of this book, and only you have the right to critique the names I've chosen. Our voting starts today and will last until the end of the month, with changes being made at the beginning of the next month.
Some of the more frequently suggested names include:
Man in the Mist,
Pale Haze,
Little Mist God.
If any of these resonate with you, feel free to cast your vote by commenting in the section below. Make sure to create a separate comment for your vote. If you have better ideas, post them in the comment section as well, and we'll consider the ones with the most likes or comments.