Shivered Timbers
by Kaline Reine

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of the characters/settings. This is just a fanfiction story. I do own Shiori, she is my character. I also own a few other original characters in this story (not affiliated with One Piece), which will be introduced as they are needed. c;

WARNINGS: This story contains (or may contain) graphic adult content and language, explicit sex scenes, possible violence, gore, cursing, adult themes, etc. I do not censor my writing, but I do my best to warn people about the subject matter and potential subject matter. So if you don't like that kind of thing or can't handle it, then I suggest not reading this story. You have been warned. Also, I know this doesn't follow canon but it doesn't have to, that's why it's a fanfic. xD

Also... The beautiful cover image for this story is by my friend, EzariaUmiko on DeviantArt. All credit for the image goes to her. c:

Chapter 19: The Power of Goodbye

One lone girl stood in the aftermath of what had to be one of the largest battles to ever grace the southern seas... Shiori dusted herself off, before staggering to her feet, and then collapsing onto the frozen ground. She could barely even open her eyes anymore...

Exhausted from using her powers so much, the Valkyrie could feel it as some of her crew mates carried her back on board the Icebreaker, as it swept past what was left of the glacier. She managed a demure smile, happy that she wasn't being left behind. She did not miss the subtle hints of ships on the horizon. The enemy fleet was leaving, and not a moment too soon! So her plan had worked... She felt an incredible sense of pride wash over her when she realized that defeating their Captain had gotten them to leave.

"Chouko...? Where is... she? My... N-nakama..." She managed, her voice shaking slightly.

"She's just fine," Whitey Bay's strangely warm voice greeted her. The Ice Witch swept her bangs out of her ruby-esque eyes. "She made it back on board before their fleet departed, don't worry. Sam-san brought her back just like some of the others brought you back to us. You've driven our enemies away, and I am eternally grateful."

She took her Captain's hat off for Shiori, in a gesture of sheer gratitude. She bowed to her. Bay was astounded that one so lowly on her crew would be willing to go so far, even so far as to stake her life on the safety of the rest of them.

'That's a relief...' She thought, still too exhausted to say anything, although the relief that flooded through her was almost tangible. It was all she could do just to sigh.

She knew she was on a stretcher of some kind, and her mentor was at her side, gently holding her hand. Some of the medics on board were fussing over her. A few went to get medicine while others prepared things ahead.

"Rest now, don't talk. You've done so much already. Let's get you bandaged up. Then once you're feeling better, we can discuss our next move."

"Mm-hmm..." Her voice croaked.

The only thing Shiori could see was the ceiling inside the medical ward, once she was carried in. She knew she was in pretty bad shape, but she was comforted by the fact that she also knew she was in good hands. The Whitey Pirates would be able to help her, especially now that she'd given up so much to help them.

'Yes, a little rest... That sounds nice...'

...

There was a tall person... A man? He towered over her, much taller... She could just barely make out his figure, broad-shoulders and slightly muscular frame... His face was blank, his eyes empty. His features were a blur. She wasn't sure how she felt about this person, this mystery, this enigma that continued to allude her.

'Am I dreaming? Am I... awake? Am I... dead?'

There was nothing but silence, and suddenly she was running. The girl didn't know where she was going or whether she was running away from something, but she just felt the urge to keep moving. It was almost like she floated in place though. No matter how fast she tried to run, it was like... running through... mud?

She was confused. The only thing she knew for certain, after catching glimpses of her frost white hair and the alluring faded sky blue hue of her favorite sweater, was that she was Shiori. And for some reason, she was here, though she knew not how.

"Where are you?" A haunting tone called out to her. It was a male voice. But it was distorted somehow and hard to make out.

'The man from earlier...? Where? How?'

She looked around. His voice seemed to come from every direction at once. She didn't recognize it. All she could see was a light color, like light brown or tan... Below her. There was something grating between her toes. Sand? Where were her boots? Why didn't she know what was going on? Why were there so many more questions than answers?

Everything was blank.

'A clean slate...' Her own mind whispered. 'Blank. Blink.' She blinked.

The mysterious figure seemed to be guiding her slowly toward him. But the path was directionless. Pointless.

She was unable to understand anything about this, or make heads or tails of it. She barely remembered the recent battle, not willing to think about it right now. It was strange that she didn't feel any pain though... There was something else to focus on, something important which eluded her. She could hear the soft sounds of waves breaking against the soft sand in the distance.

There was someone nearby, or ahead of her... It blocked her path. But no matter how fast she ran, it was like a treadmill moved beneath her feet. She couldn't get anywhere at all. Frustrated, she collapsed into the sand.

"Hey, that's not the girl I know... Get up." He became a bit more fierce. "Get. up!"

Shiori snapped to attention, looking all around but still unable to make out the details... She gasped when she saw something important, profound even to her hallucinating psyche. A semblance of a smile, that was all... A mischievous grin.

That was when it dawned on her. And a light began to engulf everything...

'Is this all... just a dream?'

...

The next time she opened her eyes, she noticed that the scenery had changed. When she tilted her head up to look out the window, she saw light clouds drifting overhead. They didn't appear to be the same muted greens of the arctic. The Aurora Borealis was missing too. Where was she?

She was in her own bedroom now. 'Someone must have brought me here...'

"Hiya!" A familiar sunny blonde was beaming down at her. "About time you woke up! I was kinda worried... Are you okay? You kicked some serious ass. You were amazing during the whole fight!"

"Y-yeah I'm fine..." Shiori replied, although she really didn't seemed super convinced of it herself.

"We're headed to warmer waters now. We should be stopping in just a few weeks or so."

Her anklet bells jangled. Chouko was sitting on the edge of her bed, looking down at her, concerned. Shiori wondered how long she'd been in here waiting for her to wake up... It was sweet how much her new friends really cared about her. They showed it in so many ways... Ways like this.

"How long was I out?" The Valkyrie rose up from her bed, rubbing her sleepy eyes and scratching the back of her head. She stretched, and winced a bit, feeling how sore her muscles still were.

"Quite a while. I think more than a few days. But it's understandable after everything you just went through... Using your Devil Fruit to that degree can be extremely draining. What you did was really stupid though!"

"Tell me about it," She giggled, and so did Chouko. "Why did we leave the arctic though? Wasn't the whole point of that to make sure that Bay-sama's territory is protected?"

"We have to go in for more supplies. It was more of a defensive maneuver than anything. Besides, after the thorough ass kicking Ahab's fleet just got, they won't be back for a while."

Shiori nodded, simply absorbing all of this information. "There's still one thing that bothers me though..."

"What is it?" Chouko placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Why wasn't he there with them? I mean, if it's Ahab's fleet, then shouldn't he at least-"

"Yes, if he were a lesser-known Pirate like you or me," The Captain herself stood idly in the doorway, leaning against the frame. She had overheard a little, but she'd only just walked in. "But that's not his style of doing things. He's incredibly full of himself... He has a lot of people under his command, and he doesn't believe in coming along with his crew on what he considers to be menial tasks."

"So it's basically his version of an insult?" The albino girl tilted her head sideways, not sure if she fully understood.

"That's exactly it."

"Oh I see..."

Shiori began to get up, but she didn't leave her bed. She just sat crossed-legged, still half under the covers, and fidgeted with her long almost-white locks. She noticed that her necklace had been removed some time during her treatment, or lost during the fight. She panicked until she saw that it had been placed on her nightstand. She picked up the navy blue pendant that held a peacock's feather sealed deep within it, holding it up to the light and examining it the way she always did.

"So listen," Whitey Bay joined Chouko in sitting on her bed, causing the moth to have to shuffle over to make room. "You've really done a lot for us, and I can't even express how grateful I am, my dear! You were amazing... And I don't want to overwhelm you right now... But there's an important decision you'll have to make soon."

"What k-kind of decision?" Shiori looked down and realized that her hands were trembling. Maybe what she'd just been through had affected her more than she'd thought it would.

"We're headed to a little port just inside the Grand Line. It's where we usually go to stock up on supplies and whatnot... But afterward, we'll be going straight back to my territory in the arctic. We have to make sure poachers and other bad people stay away. You'll need to decide if you want to stay on the Icebreaker with us for another run, or if you think you're ready for us to go our separate ways."

Shiori took a moment to respond. She fastened the peacock pendant back around her neck, tugging at it just a little to make sure it was in place. "Why are you asking me out of the blue like this?"

"Hey, you must be starving!" Chouko interrupted, breaking the tension. "I'm gonna go get you something to eat. Be right back!"

"Aww, thanks! Take your time." Shiori told her, turning to her mentor once the moth girl had left. "What do you think I should do? I want your honest opinion..."

"Me?" Whitey Bay blinked once, taken aback. "Well, on the one hand, I'd love to have you aboard with us for a little longer... But on the other hand, after that display back home, I don't think there's anything more I can really teach you. You're strong enough to hold your own now. The decision is up to you."

"Up to me... I see."

"You don't sound very happy about it."

"That's because I'm not. It's upsetting to think about leaving you all. I've really gotten used to things here. This is my home."

"The entire sea is your home," The Captain assured her, smoothing one thumb over her hand in a calming motion. "As it is for all of us... You want my real opinion? I think you should go."

"Why?" Shiori seemed surprised.

"Because... It's not easy to say, but I think there is at least one more lesson you need to learn."

"And what is that?"

"The power of goodbye."

"Power of... goodbye?" She tilted her head to the side, clearly not understanding what the older woman was trying to say.

"Yes. It's hard letting go of people and things that mean a lot to you. But sometimes you have to, and it's something you need to learn how to do if you're going to grow even stronger. I've seen you come a long way, but you can go even further. I think there's so much more out there that you still need to do, things you need to experience. I don't want to be the one holding you back from fulfilling your destiny. I think it's no accident that this has led us to have to go back to the Grand Line a bit early, and I think you should take advantage of it while we're there."

Shiori hesitated for a moment. She needed time to think about this... But it felt like Whitey Bay was expecting her to decide right now. The pressure was on, way on, and... She really didn't know what she should do. If she left, it would leave a definite hole in her heart. But if she stayed, there would always be a dark void there as well.

Too many 'what-ifs'.

"I don't know what to do..."

"Then I'll make the decision for you... Off you go!" Bay smiled sweetly at her little apprentice. "Fly free, little bird!" She made a flapping motion with her hands.

The Valkyrie couldn't contain her smile. Her mentor was doing her a kindness and she damn well knew it... Before she could process her train of thought any longer, Chouko was back with a tray of food for her.

"They didn't have any vegetarian dishes up for grabs at the moment," She explained, placing the tray on her friend's nightstand. "So I hope chicken noodle soup is okay. The cooks didn't expect you to wake for another few days, so they really weren't ready."

"Seems like everyone's underestimating me lately," Shiori gave a little laugh, but pushed back the blankets so she could bring the tray into her lap. "It'll have to do. I'm really hungry! Thanks Chouko-chan."

"No problem... So what's it gonna be?"

"Hmm?" She hummed through a mouthful of noodles. "What?"

"Are you staying with us or... Going?"

"I... I'm not sure, but..."

"Leave the poor girl be!" Whitey Bay scolded her navigator. "She's been through enough lately and she's probably tired. We'll talk more in a couple of days, when you've had more time to recover and everything. For now, just give it some thought and concentrate on feeling better. There's still time to make up your mind."

"I will, thank you for being so understanding... That's very kind of you."

"Are you surprised? Don't sweat it. Anyway, I have lots to do so I'll leave you now."

Shiori nodded and waved to her, while she silently continued her meal. It had been days since she'd eaten and she was so hungry. Even though it had chicken in it, she was enjoying the taste of the noodles and broth that her friend had brought her. It was warming her from the inside out and making her feel lots better already. It was no wonder some people gave this to others when they were sick. She also enjoyed the tea that was served alongside it.

"No, seriously... What are you gonna do?" Chouko began to pester her once the Captain had taken her leave. "I can't stand the thought of my best friend leaving! I don't mean to pressure you, but... Please say you'll stay?"

"I... I'm your b-best friend?"

"You seem surprised, haha! Yeah, it's not so easy to make friends out here on the open sea, ya know?" The blonde decided to tactfully change the subject then. "But... I also can't stand the thought of holding you back. So the decision is up to you. Just do what you need to."

"Honestly... I had fun here, I've learned a lot, and I care about you all. Truthfully, you're the best friend I've ever had Chouko... But I think it might be better if I leave. She's right, there are lots of things I still have to do. Things I can't do if I'm away in the arctic..."

"Like what? I'm not criticizing, I'm just interested to hear about it. Don't tell me it's that cute guy you were always hanging out with when you were little!" She giggled loudly, covering her mouth with one hand to muffle it.

"N-no, don't be silly!" Shiori's words were harsh, but her face betrayed her, having flushed a deep dark red. "I'll probably never run into him again anyway, and this has nothing to do with anyone else. It's personal... I can't fight the Marines and make this world a better place if I'm nowhere near the Grand Line. Think about it."

"Hmm, I guess you're right... Still, it won't be the same here without you!"

"I'll always treasure my time here," Shiori said, completely honestly. "But it's a moot point to have trained all this time if I'm not going to put it to any use. And besides, I still have... lots of other things to figure out too..." The Valkyrie clutched her pendant, holding it close, deep in thought.

"Ohhh, I get it... You're still hung up on figuring out your past." Her demeanor suddenly changed. Shiori had told her all about her crazy past during her time here, and she was curious about it too. "I completely understand. Will you at least write me sometimes, and let me know how it's going? Especially if you ever find out anything?"

"Of course I'll write to you!" Shiori smiled brightly. "I'd really like that. We'll probably meet again someday too."

"Definitely!" The blonde smiled at her. "Okay, I'll get outta here and let you finish your meal in peace, haha! See you later, Shiori-chan."

"See you."

Chouko left her alone for the time being. She was grateful right now, because she really needed to be alone to process this recent turn of events... There were so many big decisions that she had to make.

It had been at least another week or so since she'd first woken up from the battle... Shiori was feeling a little more confident in her choice to take her leave now that the others supported her decision. She knew they would miss each other, but who's to say she couldn't re-join Whitey Bay's crew later on?

'You never know which direction life is going to take you...' She mused, as she got dressed one morning.

She was supposed to meet Whitey Bay and Chouko in the Captain's cabin to discuss the terms of her deployment. She was still an honorary member of their crew. It wasn't often that crew members left a ship on good terms, but when they did, the crew liked to send them off right... Whatever that meant. That was all she'd been told thus far.

She'd chosen a lighter outfit for this occasion, consisting of her black dress that she'd fashioned from some of the old Nuns' habits that she'd managed to save from her childhood. It was short and often formed a skirt under her usual blue sweater, which she wasn't wearing at the moment. She wanted to save it for days when she really needed the extra comfort. And it was getting warmer now that they were nearing the end of their trek, so the little black dress was perfect. Her stockings were pristine this time, with no rips or visible tears in the sheer blueish green fabric. She generally walked around the ship barefoot in them, but this time she felt like her boots were needed.

She made her way down the corridors that led up to the main deck and then walked around to the Captain's quarters. She wasn't sure why they wanted to talk to her so officially like this, but hopefully it was for a good reason. Upon entering, she immediately saw Chouko standing off to the Captain's right. No sooner had the timid Valkyrie entered the room than her mentor began talking.

"I don't believe in long goodbyes," Came the first words from Whitey Bay's mouth. "So there won't be a going away party or anything like that. I'm afraid that's just not my style... But I hope you're okay with us giving you a few parting gifts?"

"I'll humbly accept whatever you have to offer me, with gratitude." Shiori nodded, waiting patiently for her to continue. She hadn't been expecting a party or anything anyway.

"You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that!" Chouko wore a knowing grin. She seemed excited, in a way. Her wings fluttered behind her, happily. "There's a certain item that I managed to take after a brush with this really nasty Marine guy and it's really cool and it's perfect for you 'cause-"

"Hush, Chouko! You'll ruin the surprise!" The Captain silenced her. "But yes, that's true. And I want to give you a small sailboat that's suitable to be manned by just one person. It won't take you all over the Grand Line, but it should get you to a few light destinations before it gives out on you."

"But-" She started, only to be shushed.

"Shhh! I'm not finished yet!" The blue haired woman drank deeply from a wine glass, sloshing it around afterward. "Anyway, as I was saying... I'll also set you up with plenty of supplies for a sustained trip at sea. You'll have food and water, as well as your own compass, spyglass, log pose... And a few sea charts I was saving for special occasions."

"Oh my... So much... I really don't think that's necessary, but I appreciate your-"

"No. This absolutely won't do!" Whitey Bay silenced her, bringing one boot onto the ground, stomping it down. "You will accept everything. You'll need it, trust me. It will serve you well."

"A-alright, if you insist. But that's a lovely gesture and I- I just... Th-thank you so much!"

She was nearly weeping, overwhelmed with pure joy. It was really touching that they would continue to look out for her in such a way, even though she was leaving. It was too much. She'd never expected her Captain to give her this many things as a parting gift. Maybe a few supplies, sure... But her own vessel on top of it? She couldn't believe it!

"Sure. It's the least I can do after you singlehandedly defeated Ahab's brother and saved us from dealing with the rest of his fleet."

While that was technically true, Shiori didn't like to feel as if she were being full of herself or anything... Maybe she did earn it.

"That was his brother?" She asked, somewhat absentmindedly. They ignored her question.

"There's something else we want to give you, something very special..." Her Captain signified for Chouko to step forward, with a slight nod in her direction.

"This is a real treasure map," The blonde opened a small briefcase and took out a scroll. She untied a ribbon that held it together and unrolled it. "And not just any treasure map..."

"If that leads to the One Piece, I swear I'll-"

"You baka!" Chouko smacked her over the head with the scroll. "Do you really think if we had a map to the One Piece that we'd just hand it over to you?!"

"Hahaha..." Shiori couldn't stop the laughter that filled the room right then. "Guess you're right."

"Sheesh... Can't blame a bitch for trying..." She muttered under her breath, before becoming serious once again. "Anyway, this is the map I stole from a particularly... 'difficult' Marine. I think his name was Jared or Xerod or something. Well, I-"

Shiori had to interrupt her there. Her jaw dropped. She'd been through a lot of horrible things in her past, things that she fought so hard to forget... But there was one name that stood out among the rest, a name that she could never allow herself to forget. Not after what he did. She may have been young when it happened but she definitely remembered.

"Wait a minute, did you say his name was Xerod?"

"Maybe... I mean, it might've been, but I don't really remember. I'm sorta bad with names. So what of it?"

"N-nothing, it's just that..." Crimson toned eyes fell downward to stare at the ground. Shiori's left hand held her right elbow sheepishly. "A Marine named Xerod is the one who k-killed my sister... He impaled her on these spears of his during a fire and-"

"He used spears too! Oh my gosh... Could it seriously be the same guy?"

"Wow... Maybe. Small world."

"Yeah. I guess so," The blonde scrunched up her messy hair, making the style look even more odd. Bright yellow spikes stuck up in every direction. "I never expected you to know the guy. Well I got this from him. And I guess that makes it even more right that you should have it."

Bowing her head, she held out the parchment for Shiori to take. She wasn't sure if she should really take something this precious away from their crew though. It was obvious that whatever kind of treasure it contained was of great value to them. They'd apparently gone through a lot of trouble to get it. Speaking of which...

"What kind of treasure does it lead to? And do you think it's still there?"

"We know it's still there, if it ever was." Whitey Bay cut in, before letting her navigator continue. "Otherwise he wouldn't have wanted to hang onto the map so much. He and the other Marines under his command put up quite a fight back then. And as far as we know, no one has ever been to the ice cave where it's held and lived to tell the tale. But you should also know that it is just a legend... No one's ever actually laid eyes on it."

"I've checked out the coordinates though," Chouko added. "It's located in a pretty isolated part of the Grand Line on an island where no one really goes, situated to the far north."

"What's dangerous about it? Don't you think I should know a little more about the area before I just go there?"

Their Captain picked up where she'd left off. "The island has an extremely cold climate, which shouldn't pose much of a problem for you. Rumor has it that the map leads to a legendary ice sword, known as 'Arashikari'... Though some know it by it's more common name, 'Stormfury'. The sword is said to be guarded by a deadly saber-toothed monster."

"Wow, that sounds amazing... But kind of scary. And why give it to me? Don't you need it?"

"My dear..." Whitey Bay stood to draw her sword, and began making intricate imaginary cuts with it. "Does it look like I need it?"

"Okay, I see your point. But still... Are you sure you really want to give me something so valuable?"

"Absolutely!" Chouko shoved it into her hands, insisting that she take it. "And don't look at me like that! I don't even use swords, I'm just the navigator, remember?"

Hesitantly, the timid girl reached out and picked up the scroll. She unfolded it to get a better look. It appeared to be a part of the Grand Line she didn't recognize, which was to be expected since she was still so inexperienced. There were several smaller islands nearby, none of which she'd ever heard of, and they didn't seem to have names either. The largest island in the center was marked clearly 'Arashi Ice Caves' and she did not miss the word 'BEWARE!' etched beside it in large bold red print.

"I think it could be a nice first goal for you to pursue..." Whitey Bay broke the silence. "Maybe not right away, but you could tackle it once you're ready. It would help you get started on your life of Piracy and debauchery." She couldn't stifle a light chuckle at the end, as she ruffled Shiori's hair, causing the girl to glare at her for a second.

"Y-yes, it sounds wonderful! I am honored to receive this gift." She humbly bowed.

"What've I told you about that? Now stand up! Is there anything else you'd like to say to us?"

"Only that... I've treasured the time that I've spent here. It means the world to me to have been given the opportunity and I appreciate all you've done for me. Thank you for all your help, and your friendship too."

"To Nakama!" Whitey Bay held up her glass of wine for a toast, before realizing that the others couldn't reciprocate.

"Shiori-chan, I can't believe you're leaving us! I'll miss you!" Chouko rushed over to her, unable to fight off the urge any later, and embraced her in a great big hug. Her wings fluttered, lifting her feet off the ground, and pressing their bosoms together.

"I'll... miss you as well." She returned the hug until her friend pulled away, settling her bare feet on the floor. "I'll miss everyone..."

An air of seriousness hung in the room, now that things had taken such a drastic turn. It was true. There was not a single person, not one individual here that did not help her in some way during her studies. Shiori was being completely sincere. Things wouldn't be the same once she left... But she also knew that her mentor was right and she would need to move on if she wanted to accomplish any of her goals.

Whitey Bay gave her a proud salute. "You will be dearly missed. I don't mean to rush you or anything, but you should probably start packing your things soon."

"Oh, right! I'll do that now. Thanks for everything." After saluting her back, she was on her way.

"It's my pleasure."

The next few days that followed flew by in a hurry. Shiori was up at a particularly early hour... Today was the day that would be her last serving under Whitey Bay's crew.

She walked outside in only her pajamas, not even fully awake yet... A shadow passed overhead when she crossed from one side of the ship to the other. She cast her eyes skyward just in time to catch a shock of vivid yellow. Chouko was up and had apparently been awake for some time... Her wings flapped, as she hovered just in front of the one of the sails, channeling the wind into it. It looked like she was trying to make sure they made it to the next port on time. It was odd, and a little sad, that this was perhaps her last time looking up to see such a sight.

Her friend paused in her duties to wave to her. Sighing lightly to herself, Shiori waved back to her before going back to her room. She paused, blinking at her own image in the mirror. She was still half asleep.

'I'd better get ready... Today's the day.'

It didn't take long for her to change into her normal everyday clothes. All of her things were either in boxes by her bed or already packed on board the smaller boat she was being given in return for her service. It was hard believe it had been two years.

Shiori walked out, carrying her last two boxes to pack them onto the little sailboat. The rest of the crew paused in their work to gawk or to gently wave to her. Everyone had already said their goodbyes to her separately, so it wouldn't be as sad. They were adamant about making sure she left on happy terms. No one wanted her to feel guilty about leaving.

"It's been an honor to fight alongside you, Shiori-chan." Sam saluted her, in lieu of a hug, on her way out.

"The m-mutual is-" She stopped short. "I mean uhh... The feeling is mutual. Yeah." It was obvious she was embarrassed that she'd messed it all up, as was demonstrated by the immediate blush that followed her awkwardly worded statement.

Whitey Bay stood by the plank that was being deployed for her to cross over. "I do not weep for you... Because I know this is the time when the baby duckling must leave the nest so it can transform into..." She held up her hand, in a grand gesture toward her pupil. "A beautiful swan!"

"We'll see each other again someday. Thank you again... for everything." Shiori smiled to her mentor, a sad little smile...

"Bye Shiori-chan! We'll be in touch, 'kay?" Chouko giggled as if nothing was wrong, but she could've sworn she saw a tear or two threatening to roll down her cheek.

"Of course! Be seeing you then."

It felt so surreal when she stepped from the deck of the massive Icebreaker onto that of the lesser vessel. She waited for everyone else to say their various goodbyes. Everyone cheered the moment she began to hoist the sails and drift away. She listened to Whitey Bay's crew cheer for her and it caused tears to well up in her own rosy eyes... She'd promised she wasn't going to cry today, repeated the mantra over and over, and it still wasn't doing any good.

It was because of Whitey Bay and her crew that she now had the confidence to even go out on her own like this. It was also due to all of the people who had always believed in her. And she was determined not to let them down...

'I can't believe this,' Shiori felt a surge of pride spew forth from within. 'I'm really doing this! I'm leaving... On my own adventure. This time it's for real. And it's just me... On my own. This will be great!'

Whitey Bay had to dab at her own face, as little droplets began to rain down... She and the rest of her crew watched her pupil sail away, until she was lost on the horizon.

"Think she'll be okay?" Chouko asked, somewhat nervously.

The Ice Witch cracked a knowing smile. "I know she will! She'll do just fine."

"..."

'I can't believe this... This is the worst thing that could possibly happen! Why me?!' Her thoughts were panicked as she frantically scoured the sea for any sign of life.

Shiori had searched in every direction, with no luck this far... She knew she should have paid more attention when Chouko had shown her how to navigate. Only a short time at sea on her own, and she'd already screwed up this badly...

"Damn! I'm lost!" She finally admitted to herself out loud.

Several weeks of travel over fair seas, and this is where it had gotten her. Currently, she was dreading the impending storm that she knew was coming. The skies darkened more and more with every passing moment. The waves were getting much choppier, the sea foam frothing at the top of every whitecap becoming gradually more worrisome.

Luckily, she'd had the forethought to stash the map they'd given her in a waterproof box that she'd received as a final parting gift from Sam. But that would hardly save the rest of her cargo. If her estimates were correct, which they probably weren't but they were all she had to go on, then she was way too far off from any islands to go in for supplies. And she most likely wouldn't find a port any time soon. She was also much too far out to seek shelter from the storm. There weren't even any uninhabited islands anywhere in her line of sight.

The winds were really picking up and a bolt of lighting crashed down into the ocean just a few hundred feet from where she was. Soon after, another powerful jolt hit the mast of the main sail. Down it went, lost to the vast gray ocean beneath her, leaving behind only a splash... At this rate, it wouldn't be long until her boat capsized.

She tried to summon snow from the atmosphere, but it seemed like the pressure was too high or something, because it didn't work. She didn't even fully know why she'd bothered with that anyway. It's not like it could help her with her current predicament. It was just instinct and her Devil Fruit powers were usually the first thing she reached for in an emergency.

"Great..." She muttered under her breath, irritated that her journey was already coming to an end. "I didn't even give my little boat a proper name yet. I've barely started my journey and this is how it ends... I'd might as well just go to sleep and pray that I wake up in Davy Jones' locker, for all the luck I'd have..."

She continued bitching about her current circumstances, even as she did her best to adjust the smaller remaining sails to carry her away from the encroaching storm. Suddenly, she lost control of everything. The winds began to howl like mad and it tore another sail right off. The rain was beating down on everything, pelting her with needle-like droplets that soaked her clothes. A big wave nearly got her, but the vessel given to her by her mentor could withstand a bit more than that.

This was so annoying! She'd already been through hell recently, and Shiori found herself wishing that she'd spot land and she could get out of this somehow... But relief was not to be had today. It was so dark out that it seemed to be nightfall already, even though it was still mid-afternoon at the latest.

Remembering what Chouko had taught her, she took out her log pose, adjusting it so that it pointed... It was spinning in circles. 'Great.'

There was no way out of it. She would have to weather the storm and try to find some way of repairing her boat later. The waves were getting worse. It was all she could do just to cling to the deck and hope for the best...

The thunderstorm waged on, howling and groaning, the waves crashing into the sides of it until there was nearly nothing left of her rickety vessel anymore. Chunks of it were missing here and there, which didn't bode well for her at all. She was very worried now that she was taking on water. The best she could do was to grab a stray plank that had fallen off and try rowing with it, but it didn't work so well. It just made her sore and tired, on top of being soaked and bedraggled.

'There's nothing else I can do...'

She knew she wouldn't make it much further with no sails or anything. Shiori was sore and tired from trying to row with a plank of leftover wood. She was worn out and to top it all off, she felt really gross from being at sea for so long...

She wondered what would happen to her now... It probably didn't matter, in the grand scheme of things.

Eventually, sick of fighting and exhausted from trying way too hard, Shiori collapsed onto what was left of the small deck. Her eyes closed and she sighed one final time before giving in to whatever fate the sea had in store for her. She was now utterly convinced that the stories about Devil Fruits were true, and the sea really did hate her...

She stirred when she felt herself being moved. It felt like she was being lifted straight up, even though that didn't make much sense, unless there was a tidal wave of some sort. How terrifying!

Ruby eyes opened, alarmed with fright and panic as she clung onto the large plank she held. It was all that was left of her deck. There was some sort of net cast over her entire body. She looked like a deer in front of headlights, completely blindsided by what was happening... Her only view was that of the side of a ship. It was a carnation pink color with white trim. She noticed there were two hearts on either side as she caught the words 'Miss Love Duck' etched onto the side in white print. The remnants of her own plain vessel, which paled in comparison, were floating down below.

Before she could do anything, she collapsed. She was too exhausted from getting through the storm that had just rolled through to even fight them off. She found herself being deposited on the deck, in a pitiful trembling heap.

"Oh... What fresh hell is this?" Was Shiori's first question, upon seeing a strange crew full of people she didn't recognize.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a drifter!" A tall, snake-like man with a southern accent hissed. "Someone go an' fetch the Cap'n!"

He inspected their latest catch, while some of the others scrambled to do as they were told. Shiori just kept looking around, trying to take everything in... There seemed to be an even mix of males and females on this crew.

"Don't piss her off," One voice taunted her. "Our Captain's got a nasty temper, hehehe!"

"Maybe she'll let her join our crew..." Someone else suggested.

"Tch. Not likely! I mean, look at her! She looks scared out of her wits!"

"Yeah you're right..."

This was followed by various murmurs of conversation, as the rest of the crew chattered amongst themselves over whether she would be set free, taken prisoner, or allowed to join them. Some had even started wagering bets already.

'Her...?' Shiori silently wondered. 'So their Captain is a woman too? How interesting. I hope she'll be as kind as Whitey Bay...'

She panicked when she realized that the only thing she had on her person was the map to the ice sword, and the ordinary sword she'd also been told to keep. All of her other belongings were left down below or already lost to the ocean's currents. But the little Valkyrie breathed a sigh of relief when she saw them retrieving a few of her things. They sat them off to the side for now, apparently still waiting on their Captain to get there.

She realized that she was vastly outnumbered and had no one to back her up. The only reason she'd been so confident in taking on Ahab's fleet was due to the fact that she had her friends there with her. But now she was alone...

When she finally arrived, Shiori saw exactly why it had taken her so long to get there... She was an enormous morbidly obese woman. She wore an unsightly pink plaid shirt and terrible looking pale blue shorts. This eyesore of an outfit was topped off with a plain white hat. The only thing that distinguished her from the rest of the crew was the fact that she wore a Captain's jacket with golden epaulets on her shoulders.

The woman carried an enormous teardrop-shaped iron mace! It was solid black and covered in spikes. Despite her weight, she looked like she could deal some serious damage with that thing... It appeared to be pretty heavy, and the fact that she could even lift it was already scary enough on it's own.

Shiori knew one thing for certain... She did not want to tangle with it! There was nothing her snow powers would be able to do to it. And even if she tried, she was caught in a fishing net and surrounded by her crew. She didn't stand a chance. Still, there was something in her that wouldn't allow her to give up so easily.

"EH?!" The Captain bellowed, swinging her club over her head. "What do we have here? A stowaway?"

"No Alvida-sama," One of the crew informed her. "We caught her in the waters just off the port bow. Her ship must've broke during the storm, she seems sick or something."

"Wh-who are you?" The albino girl looked up at her, terror in her eyes.

"Iron Mace Alvida, at your service..." She said with a flourish of her hat, by way of introducing herself. "Well, speak up girl! Who the hell are ya?" Alvida then began to wave her club around overhead.

Shiori flinched. She wasn't good at dealing with abrasive types like her.

"I'm, well... Shiori." She said, in a small and rather meek voice.

"Who? Ah well, doesn't matter!" The nasty Captain spat onto the deck, crinkling her freckled face. "You're our prisoner now! We need more people to clean up around here, after all."

"Prisoner? C-clean? What do you mean?

"This ship ain't above havin' slaves aboard. And you look like you'll be useless at anything else. Just to make sure you don't try to go anywhere..." Her ink black eyes landed on the pendant that hung from Shiori's neck. Her pudgy fingers greedily snatched it away, breaking the clasp in the process. "I'll just be hanging onto this for a while!"

"Hey! G-give that back, it doesn't belong to you!"

The albino girl attempted to grab it from her, but Alvida was taller than her and much stronger. She held the necklace away from her, making sure she couldn't get it. Shiori even jumped for it a few times, her leather boots clunking against the worn boards beneath them. She tripped over the netting and fell forward onto her face. The crew members all laughed at her. Just when she'd given up on getting it back, the woman slapped her across the face, knocking her easily to one side. She hadn't even had to use her mace.

"Oh, so it's important to you, is it?" She taunted, arrogantly. "Seems I made the right choice then! Hahahaha!"

The Captain had already begun to walk away. She didn't seem too concerned about this girl, convinced that she was absolutely no threat whatsoever. She snapped her fingers and several crew members slapped some shackles onto the meek girl she'd sentenced to a life of slavery. At least while she was here...

She got a sudden sick feeling in her stomach as soon as the metal cuffs touched her wrists. She instantly knew they must be using sea prism stone, even though she hadn't encountered it much before. It felt exactly the same way as when she'd tried to swim at the beach as a kid. It felt like she was slowly dying from the inside, but her face was stoic. She refused to show any overt signs of weakness. Just because she hadn't attacked their Captain yet didn't mean she wasn't going to... She just had to wait until Alvida left her club behind, once she was alone, then she would take the opportunity the moment it came up.

She flinched, as the wandering hands of these new Pirates confiscated her sword from her as well. They were trying to make sure she didn't have any weapons to do the very thing that she was contemplating...

Shiori was upset that she'd taken something so meaningful from her, but right now she was just glad that Alvida hadn't searched her person. 'She might have my amulet... But does she have the map? Nope, it's still all mine!'

She smirked to herself over her silent victory, even as she was led away in chains. Shiori swore to herself right then that she would never allow Alvida to know about her Devil Fruit powers... She would only exploit them for her own gain anyway.

A/N: Plot twist! xD Shiori comes face to face with Alvida! (This was before she enslaved Coby or anything, but she does have other captured slaves on her ship. I figured she would probably be in the habit of it or something.) I hope this recent turn of events is interesting enough for you guys... I don't like keeping things stuck in one place for too long, lol. Just to clarify, the part in italics right after she collapsed from the big fight was a dream sequence she was having. There will probably be a few more of those as the story goes on. c;

-Kaline