disclaimer: don't own One Piece; never have, never will.

I said I have some drawings for my OCs but I can't put the links up (they don't show). I'll try to find a solution for this.

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Chapter 2: The Absence and the Find

Night fell and there wasn't much activity in the Palace anymore. In the throne room there were three people and they seemed to be waiting for someone.

"Is she back yet?" a woman dressed in red asked.

"No, your Highness. I don't know what could have happened." replied Shandra.

"Your Highness, I'm sorry but we can't wait anymore. You said you had something important to tell us." a dark haired man, of medium build said. He seemed to be the queen's advisor.

"Atsu-san is right. When Ain comes back, I'll inform you, Kara-sama."

"All right, Shandra. What I have to tell you is that I have been corresponding with Nefertari Cobra, the king of Arabasta, concerning a possible alliance. We have been correponding for a while now, discussing the benefits our two countries will have through this alliance."

"My queen, why haven't you told us before? Or me, at least? I am your advisor, aren't I?" Atsu asked, trying not to sound disrespectful.

"If, for any reson, the alliance wouldn't have been such a good idea after exchanging a few letters, everyone would have been dissapointed. However, Arabasta has a lot to offer us and we have a lot to offer in exchange. Also, this is the perfect time to create an alliance. After what Arabasta has been through with the bussiness with Crocodile, helping them rebuild their country could make this alliance very strong from the beginning." the queen passionately stated.

"You are right, my queen." agreed Shandra.

"So, does this mean you two are for this alliance?"

"I am. " said Shandra.

"I am your advisor and I completly trust your judgement." said Atsu, bowing slightly.

"Thank you both. Now, Shandra, I want you to go to the last place you and Ain were together and see if you can find any trace of her. When you return come to my quarters and tell me what you found." ordered the queen.

"Hai, Kara-sama."

"That is all. You are both dismissed."

And the three of them left the throne room.

Hours later there was a knock on a door.

"Come in."

"My queen, I have returned." announced Shandra.

"Have you found anything?"

"I'm afraid I haven't. Ain said she was heading to patrol the eastern coast, so I went there. But I couldn't find anything. If there were any clues, they might have been covered up because of the wind. I just don't know what could have happened!" stated Shandra, very worried.

"All right, Shandra. Thank you. You can go."

Shandra bowed and then left.

Kara went to her window, crossed her arms and looked over the quiet city of Eureos, the capital of Euphaia. "Where are you, Ain?" she thought.

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The training hall was filled with the sound of clashing swords. Althought there were only two sparring parteners, the hits were heard one after the other. They stopped for a few seconds to regain their breath, after which they continued.

About two hours later, the two sparring parteners were walking through the halls of the Royal Palace.

"It's good to have time to spar once-in-a-while."

"That's right. After the bussiness with Crocodile, the entire country's been like a bee hive." They both smiled before they turned around to meet the guard that was rushing towards them.

"Chaka-sama! Pell-sama! There's an urgent call on the Den Den Mushi from the eastern harbour!" he said between breaths.

Immediately they rushed to the milliary quarters, where the Den Den Mushi was.

"Moshi moshi? What's the matter?"

"Chaka-sama, we just brought in a boat that was drifting in the sea. There's a woman in it and she's wounded. Can you send a doctor?"

"It's a four-hour journey to the harbour. Pell, how fast can you go there and be back?"

"In less that two."

"Good. Listen, Pell is coming to take the woman and bring her back here." said Chaka to the soldier on the other side of the Den Den Mushi.

"Understood, sir." and both he and Chaka hung up.

Forty five minutes passed since the Den Den Mushi call and Pell arrived at the eastern harbour.

"Pell-sama, the boat is this way. We haven't moved the woman." said a soldier leading Pell to the boat.

When they arrived, Pell was more than surprised. The woman in the boat had wings and a good part of the left one was covered in dry blood. He gently picked her in his arms, changed into his half human/half falcon transformation and flew back to the capital.

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I know last chapter I said I'll try and put this one up in three days; but they turned into three months. I'm so sorry for taking so long to update. Having writer's block from the second chapter... that's gotta be bad.

Ja ne!