Chapter 3: New crewmates

Today was their last day in Wano and the pirates had prepared to leave tonight.
The crew would be leaving the country in secret, without the samurai knowing. Shayla had spent a lot of time in Oden's castle and got along with her new friend Kiku.

"I'm going to miss you guys" Shay whispered as she drew Kiku. It was going to be her last piece in this land and she wanted it to be of the coolest yet weirdest samurais she knew. "Oden, I'm going back to the ship", Shay was out the door before anyone could answer. She wanted Oden to join them so badly.

When Shayla reached Kuri beach everyone was all ready to go and they were only waiting for her. "Hurry up, Shay, or we'll leave without you", someone shouted and she quickly jumped up into the air and boarded the ship. The anchor was raised, the sail set, and off they went into the darkness of the night.

"I feel bad for Oden, but we had no choice but to sneak out at night. In terms of strength, he would make a fine ally" Whitebeard started, "Even if I liked the guy, taking him would amount to kidnapping a member of the royal family from his own kingdom, it'd come back to bite us" the captain reasoned, "Did you leave the treasure chest as thanks?" he asked.

Before anybody could answer a metal chain got wrapped around on one of the masts, "I knew you would try to pull something like this, Whitebeard" a voice yelled, Oden's voice. "And I knew you'd try to pull something like this, Oden-sama! I'm not letting you leave", Izo ran after him and he jumped on Oden back. "Oden", the pirates were shocked to see him or in Shay's case happy. She went over to the rail and look out to see the two behind them.

"Leaving the country has always been my dream. Let's go together. Show me the world, Whitebeard," the daimyo screamed with the brightest smile.
Marco went up to the mast, ready to remove the chain when Whitebeard quickly stopped him and told him to get Izo instead. The captain warned them about the upcoming fall.

Marco had just grabbed Izo and right that second the ship went for a freefall down along with Oden. The little girl was no better and was saved by her father who lifted her up and protected her from falling overboard.

The strong stream forcing them forward and Shay looked back to see Oden still holding on. She could not help but admire his determination, 'I knew he was amazing'. When the fall was over her father sat her down.

"Oi Whitebeard, pull Oden-sama up or he'd die out there. That man will one day lead all of Wano" Izo sounded almost afraid. "Brat, you saw how many times I refused him, and he still forced his way here. I can't let someone that dangerous onboard. I have to think of the safety of my family first and if you want me to change my mind, I'm going to need convincing. He has 3 days" Whitebeard said.

The pirate captain turned around and went over to the back of the ship and stood next to his youngest daughter.

"You got that Oden. If 3 days from now you're still hanging on to that chain, I'll let you onboard". Oden was struggling a bit but he looked up "Is that a promise?" Oden managed to say. "Yes, and I will stand by it" Whitebeard vowed.

As the days went by, his appearance changed quite a lot. In stormy weather, he was swung from side to side, up and down. But somehow he held on.

Izo worried face didn't relax one bit as Oden was eaten by a fish, but he held on. It started to snow at some point and Oden was hitting icebergs. His face got all swollen, but he held on. Even the crew started to worry, but there was nothing they could do.

Shayla swore that she at some point saw him sleep, but he still held on, "so cool" she whispered.

The three days went by rather quickly. When there was only one hour left, Marco started to cheer on Oden. He has realized that he was still out there and could actually make it. "Why are you taking his side" the crew questioned, "if he passes this test, he'll be one of us, right?" Marco smiled and the others cheering on him too.

Whitebeard looked annoyed as if he didn't expect him to last this long, "How dare you subject my lord to this. I'll never forgive you, Whitebeard," Izo was in tears and the older pirate just walked away.
They really weren't sure when, but at some point, they discovered that Oden was no longer there.

They found Oden the next day on some island, he and a woman were being attacked by a man with an octopus on his head. Before they could attack him, Whitebeard hit over the head with his bisento and he looked at the samurai "come aboard on my ship, Oden"

The samurai didn't understand, "but I let go of the chain", before Whitebeard explained further he looked at the young woman, "yeah, you let go of your dream for the sake of a woman's scream. You are softer than I thought. We're about to go on an adventure that will far exceed anything you can imagine, little brother" and he turned around to go back to the ship. Oden was so excited with his bubbly eyes. Shayla had never seen him like this.

She was happy that he'll join them, but her father called Oden brother rather than son like everyone else. What makes Oden so special?

They all went back together and when everybody was on board, they took Oden and throw him up into the air. They were cheering for their new crewmate while making fun of Whitebeard, "pops really put you through a brunch of shit" they laughed.

They soon found two stowaways had sneaked on board, but only to discover it was Nekomamushi and Inuarashi following Oden.
Izo seemed to forgive her father and was joining them too along with the woman, Toki. She wanted to go back to Wano, but Whitebeard didn't like it. He showed that by making a funny face of dislike.

Shay couldn't be happier that so many new crewmembers, "There's no way I'll be lonely ever again" she whispered. She thought nobody heard it but Marco did and he made a silent vow to never let that happened.

A few days went by and Shayla had much better control over her wind power. She had learned to use it as an attack and was training with Izo. He has been with her every step of the way, so why stop now. She punched the air a couple of times and stronger winds came at him but he slashed it away with his sword, "You need to put more power into it, Shayla. Don't hold back!" he got closer to her with every attack.

She tried to put more force into it but couldn't release the full power within. The "duel" ended when Izo was right in front of her "I won, little one" he smirking. She wanted to learn a new element, but her father said it wasn't time yet.

Shay wanted to do something dramatic, so threw her hairband on the deck, making her hair look like a bird's nest, "why didn't you let me win" she pouted, "there is no learning in that" as he walked away.

She tried to tie her hair again, but with little luck. She didn't really care and went on with her day. A few hours, Toki looked shocked at her, "what happens to you", Shay look looked at herself. She wasn't hurt, "I meant with your hair, why is it like that", she touched the little girl's hair.

"I took my hairband off and couldn't get it in again," Shay said not getting what the big deal was. Toki took her hand, leading the bathroom to wash her hair and her.

"You have beautiful hair. It just needs to be taking care of," the older woman praised, "My mother used to do it and hers was much bigger" the little illustrated it with her hands.
After the bath, Toki brought her a long white t-shirt and black leggings with a black long cloth as a belt. You know, clothes that made her look like a girl yet still looking pirate-ish. The older woman also braided her hair into two pieces. When Toki was happy with the result she let Shay go, "Thanks Toki".

Shay went over to her father with a big smile. "Look daddy," she said excitedly while turning around to show him how she looked. Whitebeard took his daughter up to his lap and gave Toki a grateful smile, "You look great, did Toki help you?" her father asked.

"Yeah, and she said that she will help me with my hair from now on, too" she was so happy. She jumped down from the lap and ran to show everybody else, too.

"Thank you for doing this. I don't really know how to do stuff as that" Whitebeard appreciated it. "No problem captain, but we have to get her new clothes at the next island. Maybe at every island from now on. She is a growing girl," Toki thought out loud in the last part.

Shayla's first island with everybody was Yari island. Oden was the first to run into the island ahead of the rest. They were trying to warn him of the danger of a new island but he didn't listen.

Shay wanted to go too, but she was stopped by her father, "I think it's time for you to learn a new element and I will be teaching you" Shay's eyes shined like the stars, "Really? Which element" all excited "Earth and let me tell you about my powers".

The father and daughter went into the forest together to find an open space where they could practice. Whitebeard hasn't really spent much time with his daughter since she joined them, and he wanted to change that. "Your mother once told me that her earth power is like controlling the ground vibrations" Shayla looked at her father confused.

"See, like this" and he gently punched the ground with his devil's fruit and made a big hole. He then looked at his baby girl, "You have to listen to the earth and strike at the right time" Shayla didn't listen. She was too focused on something else.

"That was so cool, daddy. What kind of power is that?" he sighed at his daughter's lack of focus, but she was her mother's daughter after all. "That's the power of a devil's fruit. It comes in a form of a weird-looking fruit, but it takes your ability to swim in exchange for great power. I've eaten the Gura Gura no mi, I'm a Tumor human" He explained.
Shay tried to punch the ground too, but it didn't end as she had hoped, "oww, that didn't work like yours, daddy" she groaned in pain. "You just need a little more training, that's all" Whitebeard encouraged. The two used rest of the day to listen and strike the ground with little luck to no luck.

Whitebeard and Shayla returned to the ship by sunset. Shay was already fast asleep and carried by her father.

He laid her on his bed, "Daddy, I'm sorry I couldn't do it right" she said in a sad sleepy voice. Whitebeard laid down next to her while still holding her close, "No, treasure you did your best, and next time you are going to do it even better", the little girl's smile beamed up, and buried her face in her father's chest as she nodded.

Whitebeard didn't like seeing her doubt herself and he wanted her to have complete faith in her abilities. Shay's wind power is the element of freedom. Something you only can control with peace of mind, which is easy for a little girl with no concerns.

Earth on the other hand is different. You have to be strong and enduring, the opposite of the wind. That's maybe why it might take more time to master.
Maybe Shayla didn't manage to control her element today, but she proves that she had the determination and potential to be one of the strongest people on the crew, maybe even in the whole world.

-x-

As the weeks went by they went to a winter and summer island. Funny thing was that the cold and heat didn't affect Shayla that much. In the cold, she only had to wear a sweater, unlike Oden who was frozen stiff. While in the heat she wasn't even sweating.

She still had a problem with earth, but she could at least feel some vibrations. When she tried to punch a stone, she made a small crack. She didn't notice it but her father certainly did, "try again, Shayla". Not wanting to argue she punched the stone again.

This time making an even bigger crack and she smiled before doing it again. Shayla managed to punch a hole in the stone and was looking at Whitebeard. Suddenly she felt the ground shake and ran over to him. The shakes became louder and louder until a giant was in front of them.

Not having time to think she slammed her foot on the ground and a big stone came out and Shay kicked to the giant's head. The rest of the crew just came in time to see her do it and a proud smile on their faces.

Their attention was on the giant when he just caught it effortlessly, but didn't do anything and just walked away.

Shay blinked and she looked at her hands. Before she forgot this feeling, she slammed her foot even harder. This time a bigger stone came up and hit it with an open fist, making it flying into a tree.

Shay was so proud of herself, the pirates cheered and they threw her up in the air. Whitebeard was thrilled and took her away from the other and up to his shoulder, "That's my girl".

Controlling the earth became much easier for her after finding out how it really worked. Shayla took a big piece of stone with her to practice on board the ship since there wasn't any out on the ocean. Of course, she didn't carry it back herself. Shay made Jozu do it with her puppy eyes. No one could say no to that and it works every time.

Shay used most of her time playing with the stone that she formed like clay. Some of them looked like pirates. She didn't have anyone her age, so she had to use her secret weapon. To have someone to play with from time to time. Shay has sailed with them for months and her adventure had been rather peaceful, so far.

-x-

One day while Shay was playing out on the deck, a cannonball almost hit the ship. It made her fall back and slam into the deck really hard.

She was used to small fights at times, but this was different. Shay looked up to see a man in front of her, "What's a little girl doing here" the stranger could see fear in her eyes. "Get away from her," a deep voice said.
Shay looked to the side and saw see her father, "daddy", she knew he was going to save her. Shay didn't see the way the man smirked like he had found out a big secret.

The man took her by the arm and made her turn around facing to Whitebeard. He then was holding a knife to her face, "She is your biological daughter, isn't she" he held her tight. "I call my crew sons and her case daughter" Whitebeard defended; he knew someone would hurt her to get to him.

"I know, but you look at her in a special way and she looks like you. I wonder how much the government would give for her" the man's eyes full of greed.

Shay hated feeling this useless. She didn't want anyone she loved to die to protect her. She used her wind and blew on the deck making them both fly. His grip loosened a bit and she took this chance to turn around and push him away from her with her wind. Shayla then used it again to landing gently on the deck while the man landed in the ocean.

The battle was soon over, and Shay was hugged by her worried father, "are you okay. Does it hurt". Shay didn't understand why he was so worried, she was fine. But she quickly saw a big cut on her forearms.

Marco ran over and trying to heal her wound with his blue flames, but it didn't give the results he was hoping for. He picked her up and hurried to the infirmary and called the nurses to help.

Whitebeard was angry. Someone had hurt his family and there's no way he would let that go and the rest of the crew agreed, "she is the purest thing we have here and someone dared to hurt her. Our treasure!" Vista shouted. "No one gets to do that ever again" Atmos raised his sword and everyone else follow. It was the purpose that made the vow stronger.

An hour later Marco came out and told the crew that Shay was okay, but she had to get stitches. She cried because of the pain which made the crew even angrier. He had to give her something for the pain and was asleep now.

Everyone visited her in the infirmary at least once. Her father was there when she woke up and they were surrounded by flowers and candy.

"Daddy, what's is this" Shay questioned and picked up a flower to smell, "Everyone was worried and wanted to give you something" She smiled and took a piece of candy, but groaned in the pain.
"I'm sorry I let this happen" the captain had regret clear on his face. "It wasn't your fault, daddy. Did you see it? I beat him" she was proud of herself.

"Yeah, I saw it. I'm so proud of you, Shayla. I promise neither me nor the crew will ever let you get hurt" he held her good hand, "The crew too?" she sounded almost surprised. "We are your family. Like it or not but you are stuck with us" Whitebeard teased, but really meant it.

Family? Shayla loved the idea of everyone being her family, "Daddy, family protects each other, right? Then I'll get stronger, so you don't have to protect me anymore. Instead I'll protect you," hugging her father.

Whitebeard felt his heart melt at her word. The rest of the crew was outside not even bothering to hide their tears of happiness, "we don't deserve such a good girl" Rakuyo said and wiped away his snot. The rest of the pirates agreed with him.

Shay made a vow to herself: to become stronger and learn how to control her element better, 'I don't want to be a burden'. Not to them, not to her family, never again.