Shanks wanted to kick himself. He had let himself become distracted with the Witch and what she knew about Naia's mark that he completely forgot about Ace… and Teach.
"Boss, we should move."
"Ready the sails, we leave now!"
Weeks passed slowly as the crew set about preparing for what was sure to be a rather large battle. Shanks was surprised he hadn't heard from Naia yet, but if he was being honest, he wasn't expecting one.
The scouts they sent out earlier had very little to report but what they did wasn't good. Whitebeard was gathering all his allies, and the Marines were doing the same. Luckily, the Red Hair Pirates hadn't seen the Sea Witch again. Shanks' fist clenched at the thought of the woman. She was aggravating! The whole situation was! He wanted to know who she was, what she was, but part of him didn't want to open that can of worms. It would lead to a bigger mess than they were already in.
"Boss, they still haven't heard from her." Benn held out a small note.
"I am both surprised and not surprised." Shanks raked a hand through his hair.
"Boss, I know you are conflicted about this, but you have to think what is best for the crew-"
"I will not lose my head over her, Benn."
"I think you already have."
"When we were on Dawn Island, after the town and I went to go looking for her." Benn raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt him. "I came across her in the shallows. She was singing, and it was so beautiful, I couldn't resist getting closer to her, except it wasn't her. Her bandages were old and full of grime, like they hadn't been taken care of in a while. When I tried to reach out to help her… She told me I would kill her, slowly and full of love. I scoffed at the idea, but something about the way it was said stuck with me, so I followed her."
"Followed her?"
"She kept swimming away, so I followed. We were deep enough to be submerged but not far enough to be swept away, but when she reached out to me, we weren't in the shallows. She kept pulling me down, further and further into this abyss that had formed. I thought I was dead."
"She drowned you?" Benn asked, incredulously.
"No, I woke up on the shore with her over me, reprimanding me for being out in the waters at such a time. She was dry and there was no indication she had been out in the water besides her wet pants."
"Are you trying to tell me a siren lured you out?" Benn raised an eyebrow. "Those are fairy tales, Boss."
"And the Witch isn't?" Shanks countered. "What if this is it. The moment I kill her."
"Shanks, you love her. I don't think you could hurt her even if you tried, marine or not."
"But what if-"
"Shanks, you can ponder what if's all day, but it will not change the situation or the outcome. Only our actions will."
"BOSS! You've got a call coming in!"
"I'll leave you be, but I will interfere if necessary."
"Thank you, Benn." Benn smirked at him before pulling the other crewmate away.
"Shanks?" Her voice was soft and uncertain. She sounded tired.
"Naia, it's good to hear your voice," Shanks sighed, relaxing against the door to his quarters.
"You have no idea how good it is to hear yours."
"Are you alright?"
"Ace is there and they won't let me see him." The snail wilted, its eyes glistening with emotion. "They have him all the way on Level 6! He's just a kid! He doesn't need to be there!"
"Naia, how do you know what level he's on?"
"Garp, how else. He promises me no one is touching him, but I don't believe it! Magellan isn't known for being unnecessarily cruel, but his subordinates… I've heard the stories, Red. He doesn't need to be locked down there!" Tears poured from the snail.
"Naia, breathe, breathe," Shanks hushed. He could feel his heart breaking for her. Whether she was a marine or not, she raised Ace and he could only imagine what it felt like to see him chained to a wall. "Ace is a strong kid, he'll be alright."
"Physically maybe, but mentally. Shanks, that place breaks even the strongest adults. Ace… Ace reached out and I wasn't there. I wasn't there to help him!" Naia cried. "He told me something felt off about Blackbeard's trail. How it changed from being sporadic to more tactical. I told him to keep his distance, but it could be that Blackbeard found what he wanted. It spurred him on, Shanks! I-"
"Naia," Shanks said sharply. "This is not your fault. Ace is old enough to make his own decisions. He understood the consequences."
"I don't want this for him. He doesn't deserve to be chained up, but to be free," Naia said mournfully. "You never forget the feeling of chains weighing you down."
"I'll be there, Naia. I won't let him stay there."
"Luffy-" Naia hiccupped. "Luffy is gone."
"What do you mean?"
"Kuma… The whole crew just vanished and I can't find him!" Naia's crying grew in vigor. "Blackbeard attacked Baltigo and destroyed the Revolutionary's Base. I can't get into contact with anyone. I lost them all, Red. All in one go!"
Why was he just now hearing about this?
"I-I don't know what to do," Naia sniffed. "I wasn't there for any of them."
"Naia, you can't be in three places at once."
"I'm their mother! I should've been there!"
He wanted to hold her.
"I should've been there for them as well," Shanks sighed. "I'm the one with the power of an Emperor and yet, I let their story play out."
"What do we do, Red?"
"We rescue Ace first, and you go looking for Luffy. Sabo and the Revolutionaries most likely went underground until they found a new base."
"Okay, I-I'll ask around the ports. Maybe some old contacts might know."
"Naia, we will come out on top of this."
"I hope so, Red. I don't think I could handle losing any of them."
"I can't either." Shanks' shoulders slumped and it felt like the world was on them. "I can't lose any of you, Naia."
"Shanks," Naia paused. "I do not have to be there physically to always be with you. If you ever feel like you need me, all you need to do is stand on the hull and let the sea mist wash over you. I will know."
"How?" Shanks chuckled.
"I'm always with you, Shanks. It may not seem like it, but I keep my eye on all of you." A wave pounded against the side of the ship and a small trickle of mist floated through the small window he had open. Shanks blinked as it brushed against his cheek, almost like a hand was cupping it. "Never feel as if I am not there to support you."
"I don't think I could even if I wanted to." Shanks smiled. "I imagine it was you who helped guide us out of the lightning storm a few weeks back?"
"Now how would I do that? I wasn't there." A small smile flickered over the snail's face.
"Naia, what are you?" Shanks flinched after he asked. "I don't mean-"
"I am many things, Shanks. I have been known as many things, but this is something I would wish to discuss with you in person. As much as I fear telling you, I want you to know." The snail's eyes glanced down. "Just know I am here to help and nothing more."
"Naia-"
"Hey! What are you doing?" Naia asked sternly. "Get away from there! Hey! Let me go!"
"Naia?"
"Looks like my time is up, Red. Until we meet again," The snail's eyes grew teary. "I-I-"
Kalink.
Silence.
-On a Marine vessel-
"I hope that wasn't an important phone call?" Naia flinched as Akainu stared down at her.
"Nothing that was immediate, simply a contact giving some information."
"Anything useful?"
"Nothing we didn't already know. It was a waste of time."
"Then you best get to your position. I will not have anyone drag this down," Akainu growled, his hand gripping her jaw. "Put your veil on and get out there." Akainu emphasized his words every time he wretched her jaw back. Naia flinched when she collided with the wall.
"Of course." Naia stayed on the ground as the lava admiral walked by her. Her veil fluttered on her head and she waved off the help of her second in command.
"Was that wise, Admiral?" Naia turned from the horizon.
"Most likely not, but hopefully it makes him more passionate about getting here."
"Then, we will stick to the plan. Luffy is already barging through Impel Down, and Sabo along with a few allies are waiting in the distance."
"I hope this goes as smoothly as we planned."
Her small ship was dwarfed by the other ships as they walked out onto the port. The atmosphere was thick with tension and eagerness. Naia let her eyes drift towards the waves below. The pattern alternated just enough to rock a few of the larger vessels. She may be tied down, but she wasn't going anywhere without a fight. Naia sighed. This plan of theirs would shake the world and she could only hope the outcome would be better than the last time. She wouldn't be able to handle the world after if it didn't.
A/N: I am so sorry for such a long hiatus! I will try to do better, but the good news is this story is actually complete. I wanted to make a few tweaks before I started book two. I hope you all have enjoyed this story as much as I have writing it! Other news, I am also writing an actual book so let me know if you would like to see some previews of it before the publication!