War was a complicated subject. Some thrived off it, and others could only see the horrors it presented. The weather seemed to take into account the ominous tension settling over Marines and pirates alike as they stared each other down by dark clouds hung heavy in the sky, and the waves crashed with ferocity; even Naia wanted to stay clear of the raging water.
It didn't take long for chaos to reign over the bay area as Whitebeard and his allies took to the frontlines. Naia could feel the sea mourn all the lives lost in her waters, its anger at being used as a tool for destruction, but this was it. It was time for the plan to be put into motion. It was time to play her part and take the center stage.
"Teach is making his way here faster than anticipated," Marco reported. "Luffy's getting close but not quite where we need him to be. We may need to do something to pull the attention of the surrounding masses."
"This plan was always good in theory but never good in practice," Naia sighed, fixing her veil into place.
"Shall we make a scene then?" Marco inquired.
"We won't be enough, but Red is arriving earlier than expected. I will use him as a spectacle."
"Naia, this is what you meant, isn't it?" Marco glowered at her. "You've been planning this!"
"I'm tired, Marco," Naia said softly. "I'm ready to be one with the sea again, even if I can not consciously be a part of it."
"We will free you! Luffy has another plan, and this-"
"This time, we will free Ace, and you two will be able to have your lives," Naia finished. "You boys are too caught up on an old relic like myself. The future is where you should be looking."
"Then you will die like the 'relic' you are!" Marco sneered. "Alone and tossed to the side."
"As it should be," Naia whispered. Marco took off in a flurry of blue flames, and Naia could feel her heart clench at his lack of goodbye. She peered up at the scaffold where her oldest was being held, and she hoped he would forgive her one day, but if she was honest with herself, he would be better off forgetting all about her. Naia let her mist cover the battlefield, taking those who were injured to their ships and those who had the energy to help those who needed support. She paused above the platform, letting her mist caress the boy she wished to whisk away.
"Naia," Ace breathed. His eyes were wide with astonishment.
"Giving your last prayers? You'll need them," Sengoku commented. Naia wanted to wipe the smirk off the man's face but she knew deep down, he didn't want this either. Naia watched from above as Luffy made his way to the top of the scaffold. She watched as they fell. It was all happening too fast and yet not fast enough. She could see off in a distance Buggy the Clown using this horrendous occasion for his benefit. Oh, he was going to pay for that. Naia watched as the Red Force pulled up and Red Hair Shanks made his way through the battlefield. The ice was not slowing the man down at all. She twisted through the air, letting herself get as close to the man as possible. Naia pushed herself harder when the fighting began to intensify.
"Hello again, Red Hair."
"Sea Witch," Shanks growled, his haki poured off him in waves as he glared at her. "Get out of our way."
"I don't believe I can. Kind of my job, you know," Naia sounded.
"Then I'll make you!" They clashed with an impact that was felt across the field. His anger permeated into every slash and every strike he pulled while they danced around each other, knocking those who had ventured too close back by the sheer power and strength of the attacks. Their battle echoed across the bay, drawing the attention of everyone.
"I must say, this is the most fun I've had all day," Naia mused. "But I can't help but feel as though you are distracted."
"There is a lot riding on today."
"Yes, I suppose there is." Naia hummed. "War is always inevitable when two forces of opposing wills clash."
"This isn't war, this is a slaughterhouse." Naia let her eyes wander to the small crack in the ice. Water splashed through, tinted red with the amount of bodies that had fallen into it.
"Yes, it is. Maybe it is for the best, laying an end to an era in such a way."
"Killing is never the answer."
"Ever the pacifist, Red Hair."
"You are no different."
"You have me there. This is not something I would wish on anyone, least of all that boy. He deserves more than to be made into a spectacle by the World Government, but we all have our parts to play."
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Shanks snarled. "That boy will walk out of here a free man!"
"That boy will die, along with anyone helping him." Naia kept her voice steady.
"Puppets do not get to decide things!" Shanks shouted, bringing his sword down. It was an angle Naia was unfamiliar with. He changed his fighting style. The force blew across the battlefield and Naia could feel her veil flutter off her head.
"No, I don't believe we do." The world froze as they locked eyes. Naia could feel a heaviness settle in her chest at the emotions swirling in his gaze. Anger, denial all swam in those glistening dark orbs, but what stood out the most to her was disappointment.
"Naia," Shanks breathed. "It really was you."
"Yes." Whispers floated in the air as marines and pirates alike inched closer to get a better look.
"It's her."
"We finally get to see her face!"
"Did he just call her Naia?"
"They announced that name at the Marine Ball, don't you remember?"
"She wasn't there."
"I heard only higher ups, got to witness her."
"I heard it didn't even matter, she let her mist hide her face."
"So, it was true," Shanks said. "Not even your fellow marines knew what you looked like."
"You are one of a handful of people who know my face. Excluding the Gorosei," Naia hummed. "To be unmasked in such a way, I do not believe they will be too pleased."
"Oh?" Shanks cocked his head. "Will they keep you longer?"
"I assume so," Naia pondered. "You will be history by the time I will be allowed out."
"History?" Benn echoed.
"Your fellow cabin boy is keeping the cameras running. While I don't appreciate him using these circumstances to his own benefit, in the long run, it is for the best."
"Buggy is here?"
"Aye, Luffy freed him from Level One. Even after that man fed him to the dogs." Naia mumbled the last part. Her own opinions on the man weren't important. "You do realize he brought a pretty decent size crowd with him."
"Dahahaha, that's my boy." Shanks' grin was wide and bright. It took her breath away. The man could make any emotion seem so intense and so…so… full of life. She wanted to bask in his light forever. She wanted to keep it. "Naia, tell me. Why are you doing this?"
The question caught her off guard.
"I-it's my job."
"Naia-" There was that disappointment. Naia shook herself. Shanks' emotions were the best thing to use right now.
"And you were suspecting me this whole time, but did nothing," Naia cooed. "Says a lot about your character, Red."
"And it says even more about your position in all this." Naia stilled. "You're nothing more than a pawn, so get out of my way."
"Be that as it may, I can not let you pass." Naia gritted her teeth, holding Shanks' gaze.
"You can not mean to let the boy you helped raise die," Shanks snarled. "Does he mean nothing to you?"
Whispers flooded from the crowd surrounding them. Her raising Fire Fist Ace? Gol D. Ace? Impossible.
"I was given a task and I completed it."
"Was I also a task?"
"You were a bonus." Naia's lips curled into a dark smile. "The perks of being beached I suppose."
"You were purposefully running us in circles, keeping us away from Ace," Benn shouted.
"I did nothing of the sort," Naia snorted. "You all decided I was more interesting than a boy running off after a monster. I believe, Shanks, we traded more than enough information to be even."
"I don't care for your mark or you, Witch," Shanks spat. "I only care for that boy and what you're leaving behind."
"I'm sure." A ghost of relief fluttered across her face. Her trident twirled in her fingers effortlessly. "I guess that means I don't have to hold back anymore."
"Hold back?" She heard Yasopp echo.
"I had a feeling after what your second in command said about you training Garp. We weren't seeing the whole picture," Shanks stated, brandishing his sword. "Who are you?"
"I am many things, but mostly I will be your end."
Their battle raged, drawing more and more to watch as Shanks' haki bathed over the battlefield. It was just what they needed. It was just what she needed.
"You're haki is deliciously powerful, Red," Naia purred.
"Don't call me that!" Shanks growled, disgust ghosting across his face.
"Why not? Prefer it if I call you Captain?" Naia leaned in, letting her lips lightly brush against his ear. Shanks snarled, pushing harder against her staff and Naia let him push her. The crowd around them jumped as the ice shattered, sending a few plummeting into the icy water.
"I defended you against my own crew! Told them they were crazy to think you were an admiral!" Shanks snapped.
"Sounds more like your fault than mine," Naia hummed. "I fed you a lie and you chose not to question it."
"By the sea, Naia, this isn't you!" Shanks insisted.
"Isn't it though?" Naia grinned. "How would you know what I'm like? I've held a mask with you all these years."
"No, I refuse to believe it!" Shanks hissed. "You may be a witch but not even you are that heartless."
"Arrghh! Stay away!" Luffy's voice filtered over the battlefield. Why was he still out there? Her eyes scanned the crowd. Where was Ace?
"Keep your eyes on me, Witch," Shanks growled, thrusting his blade towards her. Naia flinched back, the blade barely grazing her torso before falling away.
"Don't touch him!" Luffy again.
Where was Ace?
Naia's heart pounded in her chest as she frantically searched for her… for Ace. A bob of yellow in the distance caught her eye, but the ships that were on standby were gone. Where was Sabo?
"Wi-" Naia spun towards Luffy's voice. The ocean roared underneath the ice slabs.
Time seemed to slow. Naia could feel the pearl lighting up rather than see it. Her legs burned as she pushed herself to go faster. The feeling of heat surrounded her as lava pooled between her and her son.
"ACE! Why are you still-"
"Showing concern, witch?" Akainu sneered at her. "Do you need to be reminded of your position again?"
"My position is right here. Between you and that boy." Naia held her head up, her back burning as she went against his orders.
"I knew you weren't loyal. Nothing more than a common whore spreading your legs for a filthy pirate." Akainu stocked towards her, his lava dripping off him in clumps. Naia hissed at the heat but refused to move.
"Naia, please don't do this," Ace begged behind her.
"It's alright, son. There is nothing he can do that I didn't teach him."
"My trainer was Zephyr."
"Who do you think trained him?" Naia raised an eyebrow. "I know for a fact he didn't teach you everything for fear of what your absolute justice would do."
"You lie! Vazo timoria!" Pain flooded through her veins, bringing Naia to her knees. "He entrusted his knowledge to me!"
"He feared you!"
"You bitch!" Akainu lunged with a lava fist which Naia met head on with her trident. "I will make you regret turning against us."
Her trident dispelled his magma around them, causing those nearby to flee. It wasn't a real battle, truthfully. She hadn't had a hand in his training, but she did train his trainer, Zephyr. He had been a great student and an even better teacher, but he held back when it came to Akainu. Something about his energy not being right. He would never be on par with her, no matter how much he tried.
"You, boy, have been out of control since the day you decided to enlist." Gasps flooded from the marines surrounding them. "Your absolute justice is nothing more than the faulty reasoning of a psychopath."
"People like you, that boy are the reason this world descends into chaos so often."
"You people should've left well enough alone."
"I hold your ring, you can't hurt me," Akainu sneered.
"Maybe not but I can hold you down until they are gone."
"Arrghh! Why don't you just stay down!" Luffy's voice filtered over the battlefield. Why was he still out there? Her eyes scanned the crowd. Where was Ace?
"Keep an eye on me!" The heat of Akainu's lava surrounded her, causing the ice below to hiss. "You won't leave this place!"
"Where are you going, Blackbeard!" Marco?
Naia flinched when a wave of black washed over her. The heat was becoming stifling and she could feel her skin begin to dry out.
"Zehahahaha, you seem mighty distracted." Naia raised her trident, repelling his black abyss. "You need to keep your eyes on you."
Why were they ganging up on her? Naia ducked out of the way of a lava fist, swiveling on her knees, but a wall of black blocked her retreat.
"Don't look away now, nymph." Blackbeard's grated against her ears.
"Don't call me that!" Naia gripped her trident, tightly before bringing it down. Her eyes flickered between the two of them as she bounced between defending and trying to attack. They were relentless and coordinated.
They planned this.
The realization hit her like a wall of bricks. Did he remember? This wasn't good. They had to get out of there and fast.
"I believe it is time to take you off the playing field, creature," Akainu growled. "I grow tired of you."
"Is this your reasoning because I rejected you?" Naia tilted her head. "You can't have me so no one can."
"You're far too old for me." Their battle ragged around the battlefield, taking out anyone who got too close. Naia hissed as Akainu's fist brushed up against her shoulder. It seemed he hadn't taken Sengoku's advice to hear and had kept the iron plate with him. "Like them? I had them fitted to withstand the heat of my devil fruit."
"How resourceful of you." Naia could feel her hands shaking as her nerves were alight with fear. It wasn't often she feared death but something about this situation felt wrong.. Off. She didn't like it. Her chest burned in remembrance.
"I like to keep my options open." They continued to exchange blows, cries of those caught in their lashes echoed around them.
"NAIA, stop this! Fighting him won't do any good!" Her whole body froze and all she could do was watch as Akainu's fist got closer and closer. "NAIA!"
"Shanks," Naia whimpered, but there was no moving. His command was so strong. She had only felt this kind of a command once before. When they had originally ordered her into her temple. The founding family of her mark. It couldn't be. Naia's eyes went wide as she took in Shanks' desperate face, but she couldn't move. The feeling that came next was all too familiar, but so different than anything she had remembered. And yet, all Naia could think about was how she couldn't move. He hadn't let her move. Hands snaked around her waist as she felt Akainu move away.