Chapter 1: Pirate Dreams and Noble Hearts.
High Town, the pinnacle of nobility in Goa Kingdom, stood proud with its opulent mansions and neatly paved streets. It was a world of privilege and isolation, and for a young noble named Shanaree, it felt suffocating.
Sabo, her childhood friend and fellow noble, shared her sentiments. They were two book-smart children with restless hearts. Their shared desire for adventure led them to the Gray Terminal, a stark contrast to the pristine High Town, where orphans eked out a meager existence.
On a sunny day, Shanaree and Sabo found themselves by a small pond, fishing for their dinner. Unbeknownst to them, they had an unexpected observer. Ace, with his unruly mane of curly hair and freckles, had been watching their efforts.
"You two are strong. Do you live here?" Ace leaped down from a tree and grinned at the young pair.
"Yeah, we're orphans from Gray Terminal," Sabo replied casually, while Shanaree gave Ace a curious once-over.
"I'm Shanaree, and this is Sabo," she introduced themselves, refraining from the instinctual nobility-taught bow. Instead, she assessed the wild-looking boy before her.
"Ace," he said simply, his stomach growling at that exact moment. Shanaree couldn't help but giggle.
"Join us, Ace!" she invited warmly. The three of them, with a large fish they'd caught, shared a meal that evening as laughter and stories filled the air.
Ace started visiting them every day, and their friendship blossomed. The two boys, Ace and Sabo, shared a dream of becoming pirates, while Shanaree harbored her own ambition to become a writer.
One day, Sabo proposed, "Oi, Shana, we're going to Gray Terminal. Wanna join?"
Shanaree raised an eyebrow, teasingly. "If you're going to beat up someone, I'll pass."
Sabo chuckled.
"Sabo and I are competing to bring more treasure for our pirate fund," Ace explained.
Shanaree shook her head with a smile. "Pass, but I'll gladly be your judge. Now, shoo both of you, I've got thinking to do."
However, Ace returned earlier than Sabo. Shanaree was in her usual spot, writing something in a small journal. Ace, who couldn't read or write, leaned in with curiosity. Shanaree, seeing his interest, decided to teach him, and together, they embarked on a journey of letters and words.
The sun hung low in the sky as Ace returned early from another successful day of piracy, clutching the loot he had plundered. He found Shanaree sitting in their makeshift hideout, engrossed in a book. Her presence, always a calming influence on him, brought a smile to his face.
Ace couldn't help but interrupt her reading, eager to engage in conversation. "Whatcha reading there, Shana?"
Shanaree looked up from her book, her eyes lighting up when she saw Ace. "Just a novel I found in one of the abandoned houses. It's about adventure on the high seas."
Ace plopped down next to her, curiosity piqued. "Adventure, huh? You like reading about that stuff?"
Shanaree nodded, her passion for literature evident in her voice. "Yeah, I love reading about far-off lands, treasure hunts, and brave pirates."
Ace's interest deepened as they continued to talk about her hobby. He asked her about the books she had read, the characters she admired, and the adventures that had captured her imagination.
Eventually, their conversation led them to the topic of Gold Roger, the Pirate King. Ace had a habit of bringing up Roger whenever he could, eager for information about the man who was his father. But this time, the question that had been haunting him took a different form.
"What if Roger had a child?" Ace asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Echo of the drunkards mockery and hateful voice echoed on Ace's mind.
Shanaree looked at him thoughtfully, unaware of the significance of her answer. "Well, I think the child is not his father, and the child should live as he wants to live."
Ace felt like a storm was raging within him. Shanaree's words struck him like a bolt of lightning. It wasn't just the answer itself, but the conviction with which she spoke.
Her words were a reflection of her own life, of her desire to be free from the constraints of her noble upbringing in High Town.
As Ace stared at Shanaree, he felt a rush of emotions he couldn't quite comprehend. Relief washed over him, knowing that she didn't harbor any prejudice against the child of a notorious pirate like Roger. But there was something more, something he couldn't quite put into words.
Shanaree, noticing Ace's prolonged gaze, pointed it out with a playful smile. "Ace, you've been staring at me for a while now."
Ace's face turned red, his freckles more pronounced, and he stammered in response, "I...uh, sorry about that. Just got lost in thought, that's all."
But in that moment, as he looked at Shanaree, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, he realized that he was indeed lost—in a world of feelings he had never experienced before.
Shanaree had a habit of expressing her gratitude with a kiss on the cheek. Ace couldn't help but blush every time, much to Sabo's delight, who never missed an opportunity to tease him.
Ace and Sabo had just returned from one of their trips to High Town, carrying a bundle of books, pens, and a few precious pieces of paper that they had managed to acquire. Sabo had a mischievous glint in his eye as he turned to Ace.
"You know, Ace, you should give these to Shana," Sabo suggested with a playful grin.
Ace's cheeks flushed at the mention of Shanaree's name. It was no secret to Sabo that Ace had developed feelings for their childhood friend, and Sabo had made it his mission to tease Ace whenever he could.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Ace mumbled, trying to hide his embarrassment.
They made their way to the hideout, where they found Shanaree engrossed in a book, as usual. Ace cleared his throat nervously, drawing her attention.
"Hey, Shana," Ace began, awkwardly holding out the bundle of supplies. "I thought you might like these."
Shanaree's eyes lit up with joy as she accepted the gifts. She couldn't help but feel grateful to Ace for thinking of her. In a moment of pure happiness, she leaped into Ace's arms and planted a quick kiss on both of his cheeks, her way of saying thank you.
Ace's face turned a shade of red that could rival a tomato, and he seemed to freeze in place. Sabo, who had been watching with amusement, burst into laughter.
Shanaree stepped back, a knowing smile on her lips. "Thanks, Ace. This means a lot to me."
Ace finally found his voice, though it was a bit shaky. "Uh, you're welcome, Shana."
As the three of them settled down, Ace couldn't help but steal glances at Shanaree. His feelings for her had only grown stronger over the years, and it had become increasingly difficult to hide them. Sabo, always observant, couldn't resist poking fun at his friend.
"You know, Ace," Sabo teased, "you're lucky to have such a grateful friend like Shana."
Ace's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red as he mumbled, "Yeah, lucky."
Shanaree, who had been quietly enjoying the banter, couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her two friends. She had always been touched by Ace's thoughtfulness, and the fact that he seemed to be more than just a friend was something she cherished.
Their lives took an unexpected turn when they met a young boy named Luffy, and though Shanaree had no interest in fighting thugs, she eagerly joined their adventures in hunting and exploring Mt. Corvo. She had found a place where she truly belonged and didn't want to return to High Town's suffocating embrace.
As fate would have it, Shanaree was absent on the day the three brothers exchanged cups, a ceremony that unknowingly bound their destinies.
"Where's Shana? She's our sister, right?" Luffy asked innocently.
"Ace wouldn't want Shana to be his sister," Sabo replied with a sly grin.
Luffy, oblivious to the nuances, protested, "Why wouldn't he want Shana to be his sister? That's mean, Ace. I want Shana to be my sister!"
Ace, not one for such discussions, reacted by smacking both Luffy and Sabo on the head.
Sabo chuckled, "Don't worry, Luffy, Shana will become our sister-in-law."
This innocent statement sent Ace into a furious blush, and he delivered yet another head-smack. From that day on, Luffy affectionately referred to Shanaree as his "sister-in-law."
The sun was setting over Gray Terminal, casting a warm golden glow on the four children gathered around an open flame. Ace, Sabo, Shanaree, and Luffy, had just finished a successful day of hunting and were now eagerly waiting for the crocodile meat to cook.
Luffy, always the talkative one, couldn't sit still. He fidgeted next to Shanaree, his eyes filled with excitement. "Shana, guess what!" he exclaimed.
Shanaree turned her attention to Luffy, her expression patient. "What is it, Luffy?"
Luffy beamed, his chest puffed out with pride. "Ace, Sabo, and I are now brothers!"
Ace and Sabo exchanged amused glances while Shanaree raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? And how did that happen?"
Luffy's eyes sparkled with mischief. "We drank wine from a sakazuki cup together, just like in the stories!"
Ace tried to maintain a stern expression, but he couldn't help but chuckle. "Luffy, you're not supposed to drink wine at your age."
Sabo nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you should wait until you're older."
Luffy's enthusiasm deflated a little, but he quickly perked up. "Well, we did it anyway!"
As the crocodile meat sizzled over the open flame, the aroma filled the air, making everyone's mouths water. When it was finally ready, the three boys pounced on it like a pack of wolves, their hands grabbing for the juiciest pieces.
Shanaree, used to their antics, calmly took her share and sat back, watching with an amused smile as the three boys fought over the meat. They wrestled and laughed, their bonds of brotherhood growing stronger with each passing day.
However, her share remained untouched, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by the boys. They had learned early on that Shanaree had a glare that could rival a Marine Admiral's, and they dared not touch her portion of the meal.
Luffy, who had managed to snatch a particularly succulent piece of meat, couldn't resist a glance at Shanaree. He chewed thoughtfully, swallowed, and then blurted out, "Thank you, sister-in-law."
Silence fell over the group. Shanaree looked at Luffy, her confusion evident in her expression. Ace turned as red as a tomato, his eyes darting away, while Sabo burst into hysterical laughter, nearly falling over in the process.
Shanaree finally broke the silence, her gaze shifting from Luffy to Ace. "Sister-in-law?"
Ace stammered, trying to find the right words. "I...uh, Luffy must have misunderstood something."
Sabo wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. "Yeah, it's just a kid's game, Shana. Don't read too much into it."
But Shanaree couldn't help but smile. In that unexpected moment, she saw the depth of the bond that had formed between these three boys and herself. They may not be brothers by blood, but their connection ran deeper than mere friendship.
As they continued to enjoy their crocodile feast, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over Gray Terminal. They were a motley crew of misfits, but in that moment, they were a family, bound by their shared adventures, dreams, and the occasional misunderstanding.
Their lives took a darker turn after a violent storm brought them back to Gray Terminal. Blue Jam, a ruthless pirate, caught Shanaree and Sabo. In exchange for Ace and Luffy's lives, they were forced to surrender their dreams.
When they returned to High Town, both of their families forbade Shanaree and Sabo from seeing each other. Shanaree was locked in her room, isolated from the outside world.
Due to her being a Princess of the Goa Kingdom, her presence was required in the entourage of the World Noble so they let her be part of the ceremony. It was in that event that she witness her horrifying nightmare. Sabo was shot by the World Noble.
She could only watch in silent fury as the Celestial Dragons paraded through Goa Kingdom, their cruelty etched in her memory.
The Celestial Dragon took an unsettling interest in her, promising to claim her as his prize when she turned eighteen. It was a prospect that filled her with disgust.
She tried to escape multiple of times but it was fruitless, it only resulted in tighter security.
The only glimmer of hope lay in the day they would "deliver" her to Mariejois. It was a chance to earn her captors' trust and, hopefully, find her path to freedom.