Shanks slammed his fist into the wood of the Red Force. His haki rolled off him as his anger built.
"Goddamnit!"
"Cap'n," Benn breathed, his hand falling heavy on the red head's shoulder.
"She actually- I don't understand." Shanks stared at his hands in confusion. "Benn, she won. With my move! She used my own move against me!"
"Captain," Lucky Roux said hesitantly. "How did she know that move? This is our first time having an all out battle with them."
"Who is she?" Shanks growled. "I want to know who she is!"
"W-We'll get ri-right on it, boss!" A few crewmates stammered.
"Captain, we have more important matters," Benn reasoned.
"He had to make his move at such an inopportune time." Shanks clenched his fists. "Get me Rockstar, I need to send a letter!"
Weeks passed before they heard back from the envoy he had sent, and the response wasn't necessarily one he had hoped for. It looks like they were going to need to make a little trip. The news of Ace heading off after the bastard did nothing for his anger and he had no way of contacting Naia or Luffy to know if they knew of his plans. It was frustrating!
"Boss." Benn tensed.
"I know, there's a chill in the air." The slight drizzle falling over the ship landed softly in a thin sheen of white. "What brings you to our ship, Aokiji?" Shanks stood tall as he faced down the Admiral. His crew was tense and ready to spring at a moment's notice.
"We have a similar interest," Aokiji mused, "A certain nymph."
"What is your interest in her?" Shanks' eyes narrowed.
"I believe I have something you want, and I hope you use it to her benefit." Aokiji tossed something into the air. It glinted before landing in Shanks' outstretched palm. It was a beautiful silver ring. It was simplistic with a few symbols etched into it, but its craftsmanship was genuinely astounding.
"What is this?" Shanks demanded.
"I'm told it's a key. To what? I don't know. Only time will tell." Shanks' eyes widened.
"A key?" he breathed.
"Captain? Is this important?"
"Do you know if this is what all of them look like? Aokiji! Tell me!" Shanks demanded.
"How should I know?" Aokiji said noncommittally. "The simple answer would be yes, but the journey to find them wouldn't be worth it otherwise."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Benn asked.
"Some go on a journey to be king of the pirates, others go on a journey to explore the sea and all of its bounty. To find the history behind it and the creatures that used to call it home. I believe you have met one."
"A creature that used to call it home?" Yasopp questioned.
"She longs to return." Aokiji waved as he walked away from the pirate crew. Leaving more questions than answers but Shanks felt a flutter of excitement as he knew what to do now.
"Wait! Aokiji! Is it true? It's rumored you have left the marines after a fight with Akainu?"
"I have found someone worthy of calling captain. While he is not used to such secretive and hidden moves, he understands the importance of that ring."
"A captain?" Shanks echoed, his brows furrowing as he tried to think of anyone who could have instilled such loyalty from a Marine Admiral. A rush of cold air broke him of his thoughts, and the admiral that was so calmly standing before him had vanished.
"Captain, what is that ring?" Benn asked.
"I told her I wouldn't tell, but with a clue like this, I have no choice. Men, gear up! We have an adventure to go on!" The sails were unfurled, and the ship was in motion before the sun had set.
"Captain! Are you going to tell us what's going on?" Yasopp asked.
"And who is this nymph you were talking about?" Lucky Roux questioned.
"Do you remember when Naia and I disappeared for a day?"
"Yeah, you said you went all the way to the Calm Belt," Benn replied.
"I learned… I saw…" Shanks ran a hand through his hair. "Naia has a slave branding on her back. Not from the Celestial Dragons but someone else."
"A slave mark?" Lucky Roux gasped.
"No one else brands their slaves," Yasopp pointed out.
"She wouldn't tell me details, but there are 5 keys that hold that branding onto her, and I think-"
"Do you mean to tell me an admiral… Admiral! Gave us one of those keys?"
"You know this means she is with the Navy," Benn stated. "She doesn't work for them; she's owned by them." Murmurs of disbelief flooded the crew.
"We can't possibly know that," Shanks snorted.
"One of them had one, so why not the others!"
"She could've been lying to us about everything!"
"They're not jumping," Benn interrupted. Yasopp and Lucky busied themselves by dismantling the crowd, leaving the core crewmates with their captain.
"What are you talking about, Benn! This is Naia we're talking about." Shanks glared at his first mate. "She-"
"The newest Admiral. The one you lost to, only one other person knows that move and to have replicated it so smoothly, there is no one else it could be," Yasopp explained.
"She practically gave herself away doing that," Lucky agreed.
"The scouts we sent off to investigate her came back rather empty handed," Benn added.
"Empty handed?" Shanks inquired.
"The ship has a figurehead of a mermaid, and as we learned from our battle she goes by the moniker, Sea Witch. No one seems to know her actual name ," Benn continued. "It's said the sea listens to her very command, and no pirate has ever escaped her grasp, so why is she keeping her distance?"
"We aren't normal pirates," Shanks tried.
"And she is apparently not a normal Admiral. Most don't even know what she looks like," Benn pushed. "They get lost in a dense mist or fog and somehow end up in front of a Marine base. Others who fight say they were outclassed in a matter of seconds."
"That doesn't mean it's Naia! You said no one has seen her," Shanks denied.
"Think Shanks!" Benn shouted. "Naia knew how to fight way better than any merchant or scholar I have ever met. Then we have ever met! She killed someone and didn't blink an eye, until Luffy said something. She beat you!"
"That doesn't- She's-" Shanks slumped onto a barrel, burying his face into his hands. "I love her, Benn. Naia can't be lying to me."
"If it is her and the Marines hold her keys, then she is just as much a victim," Yasopp mentioned.
"'I can be ordered, punished, and used through this mark.' She said that when she was explaining the mark to me. Naia said she didn't need a collar because the keys and branding did it all."
"Then I think it is safe to assume Naia is not doing any of this of her own free will," Lucky observed.
"I will wait to pass judgment and if it is her, she has a lot to answer to," Shank growled. "First, let's deal with Whitebeard and Teach. I would rather fight one enemy at a time."
"Of course, boss." They agreed. Shanks looked out onto the horizon. The last thing he wanted was to be on the opposite side of the battlefield from someone he loved, but he would do what he had to to keep the balance. Mihawk would be so proud of him. Shanks snorted. Maybe, an unexpected visit after all this would do him some good. He could use a good outlet.