This chapter takes an unexpected turn. For good or bad here it goes :)
Chapter 7: The missing girl
Shay knew that it was Roger's decision and was a way to protect the people he loved. Yet, she couldn't help but be a little sad at the thought of him dying. How were his crew and Shanks feeling? If it were her father, she would never accept it.
She looked at Whitebeard and realized how lucky she was to have him here strong and healthy. Not only him but her crew too. She went over to her father and hugged him, "I'm lucky to have you alive and well," she said.
Shayla was playing out on the deck when got hungry and went to the gallery to get something to eat. She knew it wasn't dinner time ready yet so, she sneaked into the kitchen stealing food. Shayla was about to raid the supplies when suddenly she could feel footsteps coming closer and she quickly looked around in searching of a place to hide.
The footsteps were getting closer and she ended up hiding in the ceiling, hold on to it as if life depended on it. Cause t was and she had to be very quiet while chewing on a piece of meat. Shayla had been banned again for always eating a big portion of the ship's food, but it never stopped her from continuing even now.
The person entering the kitchen was Noki and he opened the fridge, but she didn't eat enough for him to notice. Thank God he didn't. He took something and quickly left and she sighed in relief. The girl jumped down and went over to the fridge stuffing her face again and didn't hear the door slowly open to busting her in the act.
When she heard a throat being cleared, Shay was about to deny everything and come with some lame excuse like she 'sleepwalked'. That was until she saw who it was and relaxed, "Oh, it just you Teach" she went back to eating, "If Noki catches you like this, you're in so much trouble" he laughed.
"Are you going to tell him? Here I was about to share this delicious pie with you" she waved it in front of him, he looked so hungry and sat down next to her.
The two were eating and enjoying themselves when she felt more footsteps approaching, 'Probably the chefs getting ready to make dinner' she thought. She refused to get caught then she turned to Teach and got an idea, "I'm stuffed. Here, you can have the rest of it" she said smiling and stood up to give him the food, "Thanks" he said and was too busy to notice voices closing in.
Shayla went over to the porthole, jumped out, and carefully closing it behind her. Shay put her hands into her pants pockets and walked away as nothing happened, letting him take the blame. The girl smirked to herself like she just won against some poor soul, which wasn't that far off.
-x-
Teach came over to her with an angry expression a few hours later, "I can't believe you did that to me. I'm on clean-up duties for at least a month for eating all the food". The young pirate girl looked surprised or acted like it, "That's what you get for being greedy" she smirked, "It wasn't me, it was you. I even told them that, but they didn't believe me" he complained.
"Of course not, It wasn't me caught stuffing my face and you too have a reputation for stealing food. That's why you were the perfect bait" she laughed and walking away.
Shayla was on her way to her father when she heard him talking to Marco about a wedding alliance with Big Mom. She sneaked closer to hear who was getting married on the ship, "I refuse to use my child as a tool for business. Shayla isn't going to marry her son. She is free to marry whoever she wants" he said and tore up the papers. Shay smiled at his word. He really was the best father ever.
-x-
One stormy night was approaching, and Shay hated to sleep alone in this weather. She wanted to stay with her father, but it was too far away and went to a certain blond instead, "Marco, can I sleep with you tonight" she said suddenly next to his bed. Marco already used to this, just lifted his arm with the blanket and she laid down beside him.
After about an hour she was still feeling uneasy. So, she got up, "Where are you going," Marco asked half asleep, "I'm going over to daddy. I have a bad feeling," she said and he got up to more awake now. "Wait, let me take you to pops," he offered, but she was already out of the door. Marco quickly followed after her because he was getting a feeling, too, and wasn't good.
Shay was very tired and on her way to the captain's quarter. She always felt safer with her dad right beside her. Shayla was used to bad weather, but this was on another level. The girl had trouble fighting the wind and she was pushed to the side, "Wait for me, Shayla" Marco said behind her.
She looked back for a second, strong wind blow her over the rail and into the cold dark ocean. The last thing she heard was Marco's voice yelling her name.
-x-
Shay woke up in a small bed covered in bandages, "What happen?" she asked. Shayla touched her face and tried to remember the following night and it suddenly came back to her.
"Oh, you are awake. I was worried when I found you near the docks 3 days ago," a woman said and coming into the room. Shay looked at her and saw a beautiful green-haired woman with a bandana around her head and a sign saying 'Makino' on her shirt.
"Thank you for helping me, but I need to get back to my father," she said and got up from the bed. Shay was struggling to take the bandages off, "No, you not healed yet," the woman said, but Shay was on her way out of the door, "I'm fine, don't worry," the girl told her and went down the stairs.
"Let me give you something to eat before you go. What's your name," Makino said and followed her. Shay opened to see a lot of drunken men in the bar but there was one voice that called her, "Shayla is that you!" she tried to see who it was.
Shay's eyes landed on a red-haired man with a familiar hat, "Huh, is red hair and straw hat really so popular? Because I have a friend, sort of, with the same style as you" she said and walked closer to the man.
She was looked at the man suspiciously, "How do you know my name", who was this man anyway? "It's me, Shayla, It's Shanks. Where have you been, and why are you still a child" he said and tried to take the hat off as if it meant something.
"What are you talking about, this is my normal age. More importantly, if you really are Shanks why are you an adult?" she asked and didn't believe him for a second, "Shayla, I'm sorry to tell you this but you have been missing for 12 years". Shayla's eyes widen and it was like a bucket of cold water was splashed over her body.
"I don't believe you," she said in a dangerously low voice, "What is the last thing you remember" he tried to reason with her. "I remember reading about Roger's execution was a week away" she answered, but didn't getting what he was trying to say.
"The captain was executed 12 years ago," he said and showed her today's date on paper. It was true, "How is that even possible" she was speechless as reality was crashing down on her. "Your powers are proved of the impossible" Shanks said and could see she was about to cry. He then hugged her close to not let her be seen like this.
"It's okay," he rubbed her head, "Does that mean that you are stronger than me now," the girl asked very seriously and Shanks laughed along with his crew that has been listening to the conversation.
"You're stronger than our captain? There is no way" a fat one mocked, Shayla wanted to tell them off and sat on the chair next to the captain, "It's true. She beat me with her eyes closed, but that was 13 years ago. I'm much stronger now" Shanks interrupted with fondness in his voice.
"I know a way to cheer you up," he said when feeling a certain someone was coming.
The tension was broken when a boy came into the bar, "Shanks let me join your crew" he said with determination. "No, you're not fit to be a pirate. You are too much of a kid, maybe 10 more years or so" Shanks lectured. "Stupid Shanks, I'm not a kid. I proved I'm not afraid of getting hurt" the boy protested. Shayla ignored them not really in the mood for anything right now.
"Now, now don't get mad. Here, drinks some juice" Shanks said before he pushed a glass over to him. The boy forgot his anger for now and smiled at the drink, "Thanks Shanks" he said and sat down to drink it
That made Shanks, Shayla, and the entire bar burst into laughter, "See still a kid" the red-haired man said and slammed his palm at the counter with tears in his eyes. "That was cheating, Shanks" The boy yelled, "Hahahaha, in a world of pirates there is no cheating," Shay said wiping a tear away.
The boy looked at her curiously, "Who are you? Are you Shanks' friend?". She was about to tell him 'no', when Shanks smiled while ruffling her hair, "Yes, her name is Shayla and this is Luffy" Shanks introduced them and Shayla got mad, "Stop it" she complained slapping his hand away. Why is he treat her like a child, they are almost the same age… or were.
A moment later, one of the doors to the bar was kicked open, and a lazy looking man came in with a group of men following him, "We are mountain bandits, but we aren't here to tear up the place. Sell us sake, 20 barrels ought to do" the man said.
"I'm sorry, I ran out of alcohol," the barmaid said apologizing, "Hmm, that's odd. The pirates seem to drink something. Is it water?" The bandit said not believing her, "They're drinking the last of it" Makino continued.
"Sorry, it seems we drank the whole place dry. But you can have this bottle, it's still locked" Shanks said and gave him his drink, but it didn't go as excepted.
Shayla quickly saw his movement and knew that he was about to smash the bottle over Shanks. She took her hand up, but the bottle still broke but there was no drink over him. The sake was in the air, "What is this?" the men around her panicked.
She wanted to throw it back at him but put it in the cup next to her. Shanks didn't want to fight, even though he could beat them all without breaking a sweat. "Look at this mess. I'm sorry Makino-san do you have a rag" Shanks asked before he went down to the floor and started to pick up the pieces.
"Oh, I'll do it," Makino said and was on her way over to the other side when she heard more bottle breaking, "It seems you like cleaning. Them maybe this is more fulfilling. See you wimps" and the Bandits left the bar. "Are you okay, captain-san?" Makino asked and wanted to help him, "Yeah I'm fine" he started to laugh, his crew following right behind.
Shay jumped down to the floor, "It would be easier to clean this if the floor was dry" she took her hand over the wet spot and lifted the drink off the floor, "I don't think you still want this, Makino? I don't know if I can remove all the dirt if you do" Shay said to the older woman, "No, you can throw it in the sink."
Luffy looked at her powers with stars in his eyes, "That's so cool, Shayla" She smiled at him, "Let me show to something else" Shay made the drink go around him and even freezing it to a big ball then unfreezing it moving it around like a snake to throw the liquid out the open door.
The pirates, Luffy, and Makino all clapped. She smiled a little embarrassed and Luffy remembered what he was doing before, "Why didn't you fight them? No matter how many there were or how strong they looked. You should have fought them. That's not how men are supposed to act" Luffy said offended.
"I can understand how you feel. But it's just sake, nothing to get upset about" Shanks reasoned. "I don't care," Luffy said stubbornly and started to eat something a purple fruit. "Hahaha eating your frustration out" the red-haired commented and a "Shut up" was thrown back at him from the small boy.
Shanks' face quickly turned blue when he realized what Luffy was eating. Shayla looked at the fruit "What's a weird-looking fruit" she said but didn't really care what was happening.
That the now older captain grabbed his legs and tried to get him to spit out whatever he was eating. That was until the moody little boy's body stretched like rubber and his face hit the floor. Shayla panicked at his weird ability but was fascinated too. She had never seen a devil fruit before and her attention landed on Shanks as he yelled at Luffy for eating that fruit and being an idiot.
-x-
Luffy ran into the village to show his new powers to everyone. In the meantime Shayla and Shanks sat outside talking, "I can't believe you got your own crew now. What happened to the goofy little kid?" she teased and took off his hat to ruffing his very red hair.
"Believe it, I'm not the kid, you used to beat anymore. I'm much stronger now," he said proudly. "The three scars over your eye make you look... mysterious," she meant cool but there was no way she'll ever admit that to him, nope. He smiled, "You still got this old thing?" she asked while looking at his hat.
"Hey, it's captain's old hat. It's precious to me" Shanks said and took the hat from her before laid it on her head, "Then again, so are you" Shayla blushed not really sure if he meant it.
Shanks laughed out loud, "Don't treat me like Luffy" she said and punched him over the head. He groaned in pain, "Even after all these years you still the same" He said but it made Shay sit quietly next to him, "For me, it was last night. How's daddy and the crew" She wasn't sure of what to expect. "I met him 5 years after you went missing. He and the crew were heartbroken. They almost went into war with Big Mom because he thought that she kidnapped you" she laughed a little.
"No one has ever seen him like that and the only thing the crew could do was to look for you. Last I've heard they are doing it even now." Shanks said and it made Shayla's heart melt to know that her family still cares for her. "Shanks…" she didn't know how to ask, "Of course, I will take you over to them". She smiled and hugged him, "Thank you" tears streaming down her cheek as he patted her back.
Shanks and his crew decided to go on their last voyage before leaving the island for good, "Come with us, Shayla" he yelled from the deck. "Hey, Shanks how come she can sail with you and not me" the boy next to her whined.
"Simple, she is an old friend and my special guest" he was trying to teasing Luffy, "I'm strong too" he defended. "You will be strong, but your body needs a lot more training," Shay said before she flew onboard the ship, leaving the little boy behind.
"Nice ship" Shay commented after looking around, "Boss, who is this girl and why is she with us?" a man with a bandana asked. "This girl is the true daughter of Whitebeard and has been missing for 12 years. So, we are getting her back to her crew" his men gasped. "Whaaaat" they yelled at the same time which was funny.
"Now Shayla-chan, what happened? Where have you been all this time," Shanks asked. Did he just call her, "Don't call me chan like a child. We are about the same age.
But I remember a storm and on my way to daddy when a strong wind took me over the rail. The next time I woke, I was in Makino's bar. I don't know how I ended up so far away or why" she said gently. The pirates were thinking of a solution. But none of them had any, not that's she expected to.
-x-
They went back to the village a couple of hours later, but the village was all quiet. In fact, no one was, "Where is everybody?" the fat one, Lucky roo asked. Shayla jumped down to land and felt some people gathered, "They're fighting over there" she pointed north.
The crew came and saw the mayor begging for the bandits to let go of Luffy. "Huh, that's why nobody was there to greet us at the port" the captain sounded disappointed, "We are pirates, why do you expect people to greet you at the port?" she asked, and Shanks smiled at her.
The bandit said something, but Shanks ignored him, "Luffy, I thought your punches were as strong as a pistol" Luffy didn't like it, "Shut up". The bandit said something annoying and she just sat by a house. Some weak bandit underling pointed a gun at Shanks and in the end, it was him that got shot by Lucky Roo.
The bandits had the nerves to call pirates unfair like it was some kind of game. The pirates were questioning their sanity too, like how they thought that they were some kind of saints.
Shanks gave them a speech, "Listen, bandits, you can spill food, drinks, or even spit on me I'll laugh it off. However, for whatever reason, if you hurt a friend of mine. I won't forgive you". Shayla looked at him with a smile, 'how cool' she whispered and if anyone heard her, she would deny it 100 percent.
The underlings charged toward them, and Benn Beckerman was ready to fight, "Wait Benn, Shayla, you go" Shanks said. The pirates, bandits, and villagers look at him like he was crazy to send a girl at them.
"But boss..." someone started but the captain was too focused on the girl, "You can do it, right?". Shay just stood up, a little offended that he would ask her that, and went over to him, "Let's make it fun. If you can beat them without your powers I'll give you my meat every day till you're home" Shanks suggested knowing how much she like food. "Come one that's too easy. How about I beat them with my eyes closed and get your desert too" She smiled devilishly, "Alright" and the two fist-boomed.
Shayla was about to take her cloth from around her waist but realized that it wasn't there anymore, "Where's my bandana?" she looked around, "It's at the bar, I washed it. But take mine" Makino said.
Shayla put it on and was ready, "Come at me, underlings" she felt the footsteps and a man swung his sword at her, but she punched him in the stomach. The next she kicked and breaking his sword in the mix. The battle was quickly over and the only one left standing was their stupid boss.
When he saw his men beaten, he got scared and quickly begging by telling them that Luffy started it, "A coward only threatens when he feels safe" Shay commented, but he threw a smoke bomb. She tried to hold his leg with her earth powers, but he got away.
Shanks panicked as he blames himself, but Shay didn't have time for that and took her shoes off then trapped the ground, "Calm down. They went dock to get a small boat" she told him and was about to leave. "I'll go, Shayla," Shanks said as he ran past her, but she suddenly got a bad feeling and ran after him. He threw his hat and coat at her before jumping into the water himself.
Luffy was in the water and was about to be eating when Shanks saved him. Tears became visible as she saw how a sea-king ate his arm and she fell but was caught by Yasopp who comforted her.
Shayla helped them out of the water with her bending and dried their clothes.
Shay hugged Luffy as Benn took Shanks to the ship, "Don't cry Luffy. I would love to see your smile shining like the sun again" she said. Shanks gave his arm for the boy and she would do anything for that sacrifice not to go to waste.
Shanks was in the infirmary at his ship and she decided to visit him, "What's so special about Luffy?" she questioned, "Dahahaha, reminds me of captain Roger. Don't you think" he smiled, "Yes, his smile certainly does" she didn't ask if it was worth it since pirates never live in regret.
"You'll see more soon enough" he leaned back and Shay sat at the bed next to him, but he pulled her closer, "It's okay let it all out" he encouraged, "Dummy, I'm not the one who should be crying. You lost freaking an arm" Shay cried even harder and he was there comforting her.
It's been 3 days since the incident and the red-haired pirates were going ready to set sail. For the last couple of days, Shayla has been trying to helping out even though Shanks told her not to worry.
Shay had become quite close with Luffy as well and she had come to care for him. For the last couple of days, Luffy begging for her to stay here with him but she couldn't, not when her family was looking for her.
Shay was finally going back to her family. For her, it has been about a week but for everyone else, it has been 12 long painful years.
She was at the harbor and waiting for Shanks to say goodbye to Luffy, "I've decided to become a pirate on my own." Luffy said proudly and of course, Shanks had to ruin that, "Either way I wouldn't have taken you with me. Like you could ever become a pirate" he pointing his tongue out mocking him or maybe encourage him.
Luffy got angry, "I will. I'll gather a crew better than yours and find the best treasure in the world. No matter what I'll become the pirate king" Shanks looked proud, "Oh, you are going to beat us" he asked with a big smile and took his hat off, "Then. I'll let you take care of this hat. It's very important to me.
Someday bring it back to me when you've become a great pirate. That's our promise Luffy" the captain went over to the ship and was ready to set sail "Okay, I can see the resemble" she said.
"Wait Shanks, I'll say goodbye to him too" Shayla jumped down and hugged him, "I'll see you at sea one day. Until we meet again" and kissed his forehead.
"Let's go, Shayla" Shanks yelled, and she ran over to the ship, already at the bridge connecting the ship and dock, "Shayla. Please don't go" Luffy almost begged, she looked at him as he was walking over her, "Sorry Luffy, I can't stay".
This time he grabbed her arm, "Please, don't leave, the kid here does like me" Shayla saw the sadness in his eyes, "Luffy…" she didn't knowing what to say, "Please, don't leave me here alone. I don't have anybody else" he said and it was her heart broke.
She knew she was so lucky to have her family and sometimes forget that not everybody was that lucky. Could she really stay here for him? Shay looked at Shanks like he could somehow give her an answer but there was none.
Looking into Luffy's eyes was probably a mistake, but seeing the sadness and hurt was what made her change her mind, "Okay, I'll stay" she said in a low voice not even sure of it, "But, Shay what about your crew?" Shanks questioned, "I've been gone for 12 years. Could a couple of months more hurt that much?" Shayla almost regretted saying.
She faced Luffy, "I'll stay but one for a couple of months, and then I'll go back" she was talking to both of them. Luffy was happy and hugged her, "Thank you, Shayla. We're going to have so much fun!" he said with a big smile, "Yeah, you're welcome, Sunshine" she patted his back and Shanks sighed, "Let's set sail".
But before that, she jumped up to the deck and hugged Shanks goodbye well at least till the next time they would meet again, "I'll be much stronger next time we meet so, don't go soft on me now. I want to beat you at your fullest" she said almost cocky, "Huh, you are challenging me, too? What should I tell your father if I see him"? the pirate captain asked.
"Tell him I'm still alive and on an island in East Blue to get stronger. Tell him I'll be back soon and that I love him." She felt tears were falling down her face. Shanks and his crew decided to ask one last time before leaving for good.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us, Shayla?" he asked. "I'll stay here and leave in a couple of months" she insisted and the red-haired pirate finally left for good.
"I guess you stock with me" she patted Luffy's head and he faced her with a bright smile that rivaled the sun.