Hey, guys guess what? It's been a year since I started this story. The first anniversary of the true daughter of Whitebeard. I want to thank you for your support and for reading my story. I really appreciated it - Much love 3
Chapter 26: Water paradise
"How high is that up?" Sanji asked, and Robin explain that there were only three holding that title and the only one above them was the fleet admiral Sengoku. The crew got intimidated but Aokiji wasn't listening to them at all and turned to the navigator, "Oh my, here is another curvy hottie. Are you free tonight?" he asked Nami.
Sanji yelled at him, but the marine explained that he wasn't there to capture them. Shayla just looked at him with a blank expression. She wasn't sure what to think; Aokiji didn't look that strong, but she knew more than anyone that looks could be deceiving.
"My motto is lazy justice" he answered calmly before he laid down. The admiral was debating with himself rather or not to report to headquarters about the addition of people with bounty in the crew.
That was the moment Luffy decided to react.
The young captain wanted to fight him, "I said I wasn't going to anything" Aokiji tried. "You're taking a walk? Yeah right! Well, don't walk around here again. Just go away." Luffy scolded, "Give me a break, man" the admiral replied.
As he switched his attention to the old man and offered him a way to reunite with the rest of his village. Luffy protested and told him not to listen to him since he was a marine, but the old man looked confused as to why that was a bad thing, "That's right. Normally marines are the good guys and we're bad".
The crew question how the admiral could help but Robin reassured them that he could make it happen.
Once old man Toto packed his things, he was ready to go. Aokiji went over to the sea and put his hand into the water when out of nowhere a sea king emerged from the water, "Ice age" he said and in seconds the entire sea was frozen.
Shayla's eyes widened, 'He can do it that fast?' "It's a logia type. He ate Hie Hie no mi" Robin said nervously. Aokiji stood up and walked back to the island.
The small crew saw the old man off and he soon disappeared into the distance. After that, they went back to the island and saw the marine looking at them, "What?" Luffy asked, "How can I describe it…? You're just like you're gramps, Monkey D. Luffy. You're wild and have no self-control," he finally answered.
Luffy's face suddenly changed, "Grandpa..." he flinched, "I agree" Shayla suddenly said next to him. While the crew question why their fearless captain would react like that, the admiral turned his face toward Shayla, "You the same, Edward Shayla. You look just as beautiful as your mother".
The pirate girl's heart skip a beat, "Y-you knew my mother?" she managed to say. "She was the reason I became a marine when she saved me. I owe both your mother and his grandpa a debt from long ago. I came here to get a glimpse of Nico Robin and you two." he answered as his face changed, "But I've changed my mind. Maybe you guys had better die now".
Robin got scared and use the power by sprouting arms all over his body ready to crack his back, "If you want to kill me then do it now" she yelled before she snapped him into two and he turned into ice.
The small crew panics and started looking at the crewmate, "Robin!" everyone panicked except Shay. She had traveled the grand line and seen how the logia worked. This wasn't surprising at all, "Guys, this is not over yet".
They all looked at her and then at the Admiral as he regathered himself, "That wasn't very nice" he said it took a handful of grass and threw it into the air before blowing it into ice. It was scarp and he was ready to strike Robin with it.
If not for the swordsman of the crew, who stopped it with his sword while Sanji came up in front of him and kicked the ice sword away. While they were doing that Luffy came up behind them and was ready to punch him.
But Aokiji held Zoro's arm and Sanji's leg as the young captain punch him in the stomach. Yet, they didn't expect the coldness coming from him and he turned the parts that were touching him into ice until all three of them fell to the ground in pain.
"You have met some fine comrades. However, you are the same old Nico Robin" the lazy Admiral laughed, "No, I'm…" but before she could finish the older man leaned over her and into a hug.
That was the moment Shay attacked him with a fiery ball.
The marine jumped back and look at her, "It's too late, Hell-bender" he said and moved his arm to show her that he'd already frozen Robin Shayla hummed and slowly walked over to her and laid her hand over the older woman's forehead.
She moved her hand over her face and the ice slowly disappeared. Robin was still unconscious, but Shay felt a weak breath, "Why you" Luffy screamed, "Don't whine…She'll still be alive when she thaws. Be careful. If she breaks, she'll die" Aokiji informed.
He came up behind her, "For example, if you were to hit her like this…" he swung but Shayla held him there, "Shay!" they all screamed happily, "Someone, take Robin back to the ship till I get back. Is there anybody who knows how to unfreeze her while I fight him?"
Chopper had an idea as he and Usopp took her back to the ship. Nami felt brave and hit him with her weapon, but he caught it and pushed her to the side. Shay kicked him away, but he only ended up taking a couple of steps back, she couldn't go all out with everybody here.
Sanji and Zoro took this chance to attack, "Hold it both of you!" Luffy yelled. They looked at their captain, "Luffy" Sanji complained, "Don't butt in. Shay got this and is going to settle this. Just go back to the skip" the young captain continued.
Shayla's eyes soften and she felt warm inside. Everyone left except Luffy. He sat down a bit further away from them and watched.
The female pirate turned to the admiral and took her stand and was ready for anything, "I won't hold back" he said, "Of course not, that would be stupid" she smirked, and he did too before he kneeled and took a handful of grass, like before but this time he threw it at her.
Shay easily dodged it, but he was suddenly in front of her "Ice block, Partisan" he crossed his arms and four ice spears appeared over her. She was about to jump away, but he held her arm so she couldn't escape.
This was the kind of fight she wanted; for her opponent to challenge her in a way for her to grow.
'Interesting' the smile never left her face, and she used her other arm to turn the spears into water. She hit it with him, and he flew back. The part of her arm Aokiji held was frozen, yet it didn't hurt as bad as she had thought.
The admiral was fine too. He held his arm at a ninety-degree angle, "Ice block: pheasant beak" he yelled before stretching his arm out. Shayla looked at the attack and a great way to beat ice was with fire. She took a deep breath and bowed forward a little, "Dragon breath" she yelled herself as his ice melted into nothing.
"Ah, I'm tired" Aokiji suddenly stated, "What now?" she asked confused, "It wasn't my intention to really fight you, to begin with. I just wanted to see if you really had her powers too" he scratched his head and took his jacket, "Oi, you can't just end the fight like that" Shay yelled angrily after him.
"See you around, Hell-bender" he waved as he walked into the forest. Shayla refused to let end and ran after him, but she could no longer see him. She tried to feel his presence, "Oi, Shay! What happened?" her sunshine asked as he came up to her.
Shayla didn't answer and concentrated on the admiral, but he suddenly disappeared, "Where did he go" she asked herself. "He's gone?" Luffy said a little pissed off. She turned to him and swung her arm around his shoulder, "Let's go back to the ship".
Luffy just nodded and they went back together, "You never told me your mom was a marine" he suddenly said, "Really? It must have slipped my mind" she smiled and remembered something. She embraced him, "Thanks for letting me fight him. I know you think it's your duty as captain to do so, but it meant a lot".
"Don't mention it" he giggled, and Shay felt something hard and cold on her back. She realized that his hand was frozen. "Why didn't you tell me sooner," she asked and took his arm to turn it into water, "Oh, I forgot" he replied and laughed. 'At least he's alright….' She sighed.
The two arrived at the small ship with Nami, Zoro, and Sanji sitting out on the deck, "I'm glad you're alright, Shayla-san" the cook smiled happily. "Shay hurry, you have to help Robin," Nami said panicky.
Luffy and Shayla jumped up to and only the female pirate went inside to help the others. As soon as Chopper saw her, he looked at her with teary eyes, "Shay…I-" she patted his head, "I know, you need my help to unfreeze Robin" and he nodded.
"Leave it to me" she gave him a bright smile.
Parts of the older woman were already back to normal, Shayla sat by the tub. She moved her hands up and the water followed till her entire body was covered, except her face. Then Shay stood up and crunched her hands to a fist.
The water was slowly heating up, "What are you doing!" Usopp screamed, but it didn't affect her, "Saving her" was the only response she gave, and soon the room was getting streamy. Shayla didn't stop when Robin's body turned back to normal.
She wanted her to get to the right temperature and after a few minutes, she knew it was right and drained the tub along with Robin from water. Chopper turned big to pick up his friend, "Thank you" he said crying.
"No problem," Shayla said and went out to the deck, "She's going to be alright" she answered before the crew could ask. They all sighed in relief, "Thank you, Shay" Nami came and hugged her.
-x-
It's been three days since fighting the admiral and everything was back to normal or as normal as it could get. Sanji was serving Shay and Nami something delicious while fighting with Zoro.
The silly trio was playing.
It wasn't long till they all relaxed even Robin had fully recovered. The sea was quiet too until a giant frog came swimming past them. Luffy with his curiosity ordered the crew to follow it and Shay must admit that it was very quick.
The navigator saw a lighthouse in the distance and told them to go there but they stubbornly followed the creature, "The frog is heading towards the lighthouse" Robin said. But as they got closer a bell started ringing and it only got louder. The frog suddenly stopped and turned towards them as a big green thing was rushing towards them.
Shayla didn't have time to lose and pushed the ship away from the metal-smoking ship. They just barely made it, yet the frog didn't dodge and took on the thing head-on. Which in her mind was kind of stupid and it was soon proven to be true when he flew into the air after getting hit.
A light voice came from the entrance of the lighthouse, "It's terrible! Granny, granny pirates" a small girl with green pigtails came out. Someone else came out too and it was an old lady who apparently was drunk.
The little girl started explaining that the smoking metal ship was a sea train that 'sails' between the islands nearby. It was connected to the rails just a few centimeters below the surface and the frog fought it every day.
Luffy was impressed by the determination of the frog and decided not to eat it.
The daughter of the Yonko didn't care to listen, so instead relaxed on board the ship. It wasn't long till they set sail again. Their next destination was an island named Water 7.
The Straw-hat crew was discussing the possibility of their new. Shay guessed the old lady must have told them something.
Sanji was the first to volunteer to search for a shipwright, he'll get them a 'real beauty' as he quoted. Luffy was heavily against it, "Are you an idiot? We're talking about a shipwright here! It's going to be a mountain of a man," he illustrated it by lifting his arm away from the side.
He had other criteria, but the real concern was pointed out by Zoro, "Anyone will do, as long as they're skilled. The real question was rather we can find anyone crazy enough to want to join a pirate crew".
The small reindeer got excited for a new crewmate while Nami looked at a paper, but suddenly she threw it to the deck, "Like that's going to help" she yelled angrily. Shay smiled amused at the navigator's reaction before turning to the captain.
He had drawn a picture of what he wanted the shipwright to look like, "So, we're looking for a guy like this" he pointed at it. Shay went over to him and took the drawing and burned it in her fist, "Why did you do that, Shay?" he asked.
"I can't let you draw something so ugly. It's an insult for me as an artist to know my brother draw this awful," she said a little heartbroken, "What are you talking about? I'm drawing now because I learned it from you,".
Her body froze for a second, "If you wanted to learn, all you had to do was ask. As for 'that' I refuse to take responsibility for it".
The others around agreed with her, "She's right, Luffy, If I saw a guy like that, I'd run away" Usopp commented with a frown. "Yeah, me too. And if there's a ship around, I'd sail out to sea, but if it looks like it related to an octopus, it might come after me" Sanji added.
While they were arguing Nami came to give them their allowance.
Usopp went over to the mast and hugged it. His friends wondered what he was doing, "This patchwork of tin plates holds the memory of our battles and adventure. And the thought of that she's going to get fixed up all nice and pretty. Steers up a lot of strong feelings in me" he said happily.
They continued talking about how they wanted to get it as good as new while adding a cannon. Then there was Luffy who wanted a bronze statue, 'Why would he exchange bronze with gold?' she thought.
Suddenly Zoro informed them that he saw an island in the distance and as they got closer, they saw a beautiful water paradise. Shay smiled at the view by jumping up to the crow-nest to get a better look.
The people there told them to go through the back because they were pirates and that it would be safer for them.
Shayla went inside to change. She came out 30minutes later wearing a high low dark green skirt with a brown belt and white low back top. Her hair was tied into a loose low ponytail, strings of hair framing her face. She had a pair of sunglasses and black sandals to finish it up.
Sanji was the one to approach her, "Shayla-san looks beautiful" he said and gave her a drink. "Thank you, Sanji," she winked at him, and he dramatically leaned to the side with a huge smile along with heart-shaped eyes.
She slurped the drink, and her eyes widened, "Wow, this is amazing. You have to make me one every day" she smiled happily.
Of course, the cook agreed.
They arrived at a small cape to anchor the ship. Zoro pulled the rope to get the sail up, but suddenly the mast bent over and almost broke. Shayla froze the mast at its place, so for now it won't break.
Probably...
Luffy and Usopp were the first to run into the island until Nami told them to go with her. They would first go into the island to look for the guy, Iceberg, the old lady told them about to get their ship fixed. Then they would cash in their gold.
Shay looked at the island in search of a good place to explore, she went in to get her drawing book to draw this unique island. Once she was out to the deck again, everyone except Zoro had left. She went over to him, but he was snoring.
It must be nice to sleep so easily.
The young woman quickly turned around and caught a tall man with the goggles' sword after he tried to attack her, "I thought you didn't pay attention" he smirked, "It's a good thing I never truly let my guard down" she calmly replied.
The man tried to pull his weapon from her hand. He was struggling very much, "Impossible! I can't get overpowered by a girl". Shayla just rolled smirked brightly, "To bad you are," before breaking the sword in two.
"You can't have all the fun, Shay" the green-haired swordsman stood next to her grinning. One of them got around her to attack Zoro, but he just blocked it effortlessly with his weapon, "Who are you? Identify yourselves".
They were bounty hunters called the Franky family, and they were after Zoro's bounty. Zoro just calmly turned his head towards Shayla, "She got a much higher bounty than me". They burst into laughter, "Yeah, right as if…".
But the bounty hunters stopped and looked around them to see ice spikes surrounding them, "What's wrong bounty hunters? Your faces looks pale… don't tell me you're afraid of a 'girl'" with every word her grinned turned sinister.
Shayla just leaned against the rail and fired one spike at them. It slashed them like swords and Zoro used his tornado attack to send them flying into the water.
Zoro went back to sleep, and Shayla finished the last of her delicious drink. She was about to leave when a squared-nosed man jumped up, "Who're you?" she asked while he checked the mast. Before he could answer Zoro woke up screaming, "Who the hell are you?".
"Oh, did I wake you?" he asked and kept looking around the ship, "The mast needs to be replaced too," he said to himself loudly. The man with the long nose went inside and Shay figured that Luffy and the others found a shipwright.
She waited a few minutes, and he came out again, "Let me guess, the ship can't be fixed" he looked surprised at her, and she could feel Zoro was too, "I knew the ship was damaged badly, but your sad express told me the rest" she elaborated.
"You're right, it can't be fixed" he responded, "Is that the truth?" Zoro who has been listening asked. "I don't lie about my work" the long nose explained, but to Shay, it wasn't anything new. She could very much see and feel that the ship didn't have much left.
The shipwright left soon after explaining.
Zoro went over to the figurehead with a sad frown, "Merry, will you really never sail again?". She never would have thought Zoro cared so much for a ship. Shay looked one last time before jumping to the island.
The young female went into the city and slowly started drawing. She had to get the details right and there was an easier way to do that. Which was to see it from a high place and get her eyes on the fountain.
But it didn't feel right.
Instead, she jumped into the water and shot herself into the tall wall with the numbers on. For now, it gave Shay the perfect view of the city, "It's going to be awesome" she whispered to herself and began drawing.
It was going well for Shayla, but her concentrate broke when an explosion got her attention. She didn't even have to guess; she knew it was Luffy and his crew's doing. 'What did they do now?' she thought.
Shay turned back to her drawing, for now, it wasn't her problem.
She had sat there for hours and wasn't even halfway done yet. She wanted to continue, but the sun was about to set, and she went back to the ship.
When she arrived at the Merry, everyone was in the kitchen, and she saw a crying Usopp clinging to Zoro's leg while apologizing. "What's…going on" she almost didn't want the answer. "Shay! Where have you been?" Nami asked.
"I've been drawing the island" Shayla responded and showed them her unfinished work. "What happened to Usopp," she asked while pointing at the injured guy, "Some bounty hunter beat Usopp into a pulp and stole two hundred million. So, we went over their hideout and destroyed the entire place, but a guy named Franky had already left with the money" Sanji explained.
"So, you didn't get the money back… I'm sorry" Usopp bowed his head in shame.
"But how about the ship? Will the 100 million be enough to fix the Merry? We came to this big shipbuilding center to get her repaired. We need to make her strong enough to handle all the upcoming voyages" he remembered.
"Well, Usopp I've decided to switch ships. We owe a lot to Merry go, but this is as far as she goes" Luffy smiled. He started looking through a small book with pictures of ships they could buy next, "Wait, so we don't have enough money to fix her" the long nose started blaming himself.
The captain assured him that that wasn't the reason, "Then explain. Don't hold anything back!" Usopp screamed. The two kept yelling and the rest of the crew tried to calm them down, but that didn't work at all.
That was when Luffy finally yelled, "The Merry go can't be repaired anymore. She just can't be fixed. I wouldn't be telling you this if there was any other way".
Usopp eyes widened for a moment before he started talking again, "But it's our ship… the ship we on right now?" he slapped the floor, "Yeah this ship is about to sink" Luffy responded, "What are you saying, Luffy" he firmly asked.
"It's true. That's what they said at the shipbuilding center. They said she won't make it to the next island!".
"Hoo… I see. She won't make it, huh? A bunch of guys you never met before convinced you of that and you just came back here? A bunch of supposedly first-rate shipwrights told you she's had it! This ship we journeyed on together over every wave! In every battle! This venerable friend that accompanied us through it all! And you not going to lift a finger… you just going to abandon her in a place like this?" Usopp glared at his captain.
"Is that all this ship means to you, Luffy!" he started again, but this time he started coughing. Luffy calmly asked him if he was an expert because this ship didn't have someone like that. That's why they asked those guys for help.
But that didn't stop Usopp at all and he kept saying he was going to fix the ship like before and that Luffy was an idiot for believing them because he certainly didn't. that's when he grabbed onto his captain's collar, "I misjudged you, Luffy".
Nami tried to interfere, but Luffy told her not to say anything and that it was his decision as the captain. There was nothing he could say or do to change that, "I can't turn my back to an injured comrade and go back out to sea".
It went on for a while, "Alright then. If you don't like my way of doing things you can just take this opportunity to-" Luffy didn't finish as Sanji kicked him away for almost telling their crewmate to leave the crew.
That's when Usopp decided to get up, "There's no sense in traveling together when we have completely different views" and just as he left the crew.
Shay, who have to watch everything in silence, had this rage inside of her. How did Luffy tolerate his continued disrespect?
Everybody except her was watching as he walked away, but she felt he stopped to turn around, "Monkey D. Luffy, FIGHT ME!".
Zoro and Sanji into the kitchen to start arguing. Luffy went into his room and Nami went in after him, probably trying to make him stop fighting. It didn't take long before she entered the kitchen too. The navigator stopped the two from fighting.
Shayla just leaned against the wall with closed eyes when Chopper came in crying because he wanted to treat Usopp, but he told him that they were no longer crewmates, "Can you do something, Shay".
She opened her eyes to see Nami in front of her, "What do you think I can do?" she asked, "You can talk to Luffy and make him stop fighting with Usopp" Nami desperately tried. "There's no stopping this. You guys need to prepare for the worse," she advised before going to Luffy.
Shay opened the door to the guys' room to see him lying in a hammock, "I don't have anything to say. Leave me alone, Shay" his hat covered his eyes. She looked shocked at him and punched him, "Don't give me that attitude even if you're angry".
Luffy rubbed his bump, "Sorry…" She went up to him and sat down by his legs.
Shay managed to lean back and the two lay there facing each other, "It's weird seeing you not smile" she muttered but he heard, "How can I smile after this?" he said sadly, "You'll find your way" she smiled and stretch her arm for him to take.
"Shay, did I make a mistake?" he asked and took her hand.
"Do you think you make a mistake?"
"No, but I lost my friend over it"
"Friends respect each other's decisions, but you're more than that. You're his captain and if he can't even see you're doing this for the crew. He doesn't deserve to be on it at all. This is the moment that will either make you guys stronger or fall apart," Shay answered honestly.
"Yeah…" he said hesitantly, and the two just stayed there in silence. Just enjoying the other's company. It was getting darker and darker Shay just fired a fireball into the lantern. It didn't light but better than nothing.
They weren't sure how much time they'd spent looking at the ceiling, until someone knocked on the door and Zoro can in, "Luffy, it's time". The young captain got up and the two followed close behind.
The crew stood by the head figure waiting for a duel to start.
Luffy jumped off the ship and stood a little away from the rest, "It's ten o'clock. Usopp will be here" Chopper announced, "You guys, stay on board. Don't get off" Luffy said to them as footsteps were getting closer and there he was - Usopp.