A/N: Probably should point out that swan's are actually terrifying... they have bad tempers.

Tumblr: fanfiction-by-abalisk


Shanks stilled as a shadow fell over his ship, the lip of his sake pitcher mere millimeters from his open mouth. He recognized that silhouette. Glancing up, he squinted against the blinding rays of the sun, picking out the familiar black wings as they wheeled about, looking for a place to land.

He grinned.

"Clear the deck, we got a visitor!" Shanks crowed, and everyone scrambled to get out of the way as the sound of wing beats drew closer.

The Yonko just sat back and enjoyed the show as the enormous bird nearly took off a man's head as the wings swung out, fluttering closed when it stuck the landing. A black swan, as large if not larger than himself, stood imperiously on his deck, glowering at anyone who dared meet it's gaze.

Shanks smiled when the creature seemed to shrink and stretch, the magnificent wings retracting into a billowing cloak, a man standing in its place. Mihawk turned to pin him with his signature scowl, yellow eyes aglow.

"Hawky!" Shanks greeted exuberantly, flinging his arms wide, "What brings you all the way to this lonely corner of the New World?" Brandishing his pitcher with a flourish like he was toasting the swan man, Shanks took a deep pull, gulping down the alcohol greedily.

"Riskua has finally retrieved her mantle," Mihawk stated dully, watching as his red-haired friend smacked his lips and gave a satisfied sigh, "A man brought it to her."

"Really? I'll have to thank him." Shanks asked, excitement bleeding into his voice. He'd always wanted to see what his cute daughter's wings would look like. He'd been enamored with the idea ever since he found Raowl, who unfortunately never got the chance to find her wings, though she did tell him about it.

Who knew Valhallans and humans could have children? He certainly hadn't known, though he wouldn't trade his little Gully for anything in the world. They were so rare and blended in with humans so well, they were considered legendary, mythical creatures that served a higher power. Which was total rubbish because they were just as fallible and mortal as anyone else, they just had a higher sense of loyalty. Almost magically binding.

Well, except for Dracule Mihawk. He seemed to do whatever he wanted, he was an odd duck like that.

Shanks snorted at his own joke.

The Shichibukai blinked languidly, staring at the Yonko as if he were a particularly dim ant. "Do you even recall what it means once a Valkyrie's found her wings through the help of another?"

Shanks paused, a faint but very distinct feeling of dread rising into the pit of his stomach. No, he in fact, did not remember. He recalled that Valhallans weren't all swans, that they also had a raven specie (like that Law kid he's been hearing about). He remembered that Valhallan men were called Einherjar and typically worked on different rule sets than the Valkyries, earning their wings through feats as opposed to a search, though both were well versed in battle.

Still...

"Was I drunk when you told me?"

Mihawk's mouth twisted. So that was a 'yes' then. "When a Valkyrie's cloak bonds with and protects someone else, the two are irrevocably pair-bonded."

"Oh, a pair-bond that's not so bad," he said, taking a swig of his sake.

Only to spit it out a moment later when it clicked.