"That's not true!" Ace put his hands firmly on her shoulders. "It pains me that it took me this long to realize exactly what it is I felt, but being surrounded by everyone here and having Pops accept me, I realized how much you mean to me and what you mean to me." His words came out like a flurry but Naia stayed silent, letting the boy stumble over his explanation. "What you've done for me and continue to do for me, has impacted me so much more than I could've ever imagined.

When I was young, I used to dream about what it would be like to have a mother and then I met you. You were accepting and kind, but never took any of my shit no matter what I threw at you. You're the mother I've always envisioned and even though I couldn't say it out loud before I can now."

"Ace," Naia whispered. Her eyes stung and emotion welled in her throat.

"So, I called you mom, because you are my mom." Reality crashed into her. Naia didn't know if she could do this. She had been questioning her sanity since Dawn Island but now, now it was clear she was insane. "Shit! I didn't mean to make you cry! What did I do? What do I do?" Ace fretted above her, but the sad look in Marco's eyes told Naia he understood.

"Gurarara, relax, son, I believe you just made her extremely happy," Whitebeard boomed. "Happy and speechless."

Ace nodded in understanding and Naia tensed when arms wrapped around her. It was too much. Between the experience with the Red Hair Pirates this morning and now this, Naia couldn't hold it together. She sobbed. Ace held her tightly.

"Naia? Is she okay?" Shanks' voice was coated in concern and it made her want to cry harder.

"Ace just laid a huge surprise on her," Marco hummed. "He called her mom."

"Oh? OH! Dahahahaha, it's about time, kid!" Lukewarm hands settled on her shoulder and she felt grounded. Naia wiped at her cheeks, trying to stop the flow of tears.

"Ace, my firecracker, words can not express what I'm feeling," Naia hiccupped. "You have always been my son and nothing will ever change that! By the sea, I've never felt so happy." Naia threw her arms around him, hugging him once more. "You better promise me you'll be careful on this journey of yours, my son. I need to hear you call me that at least another thousand times," Naia murmured into his ear. "Promise me, you won't underestimate him and won't let your emotions cloud your judgement. I need you to put yourself first in this case, Ace, my firecracker. No one but you."

"I will, Mom. I promise." Determination glittered in Ace's eyes and Naia nodded in response. Shanks gripped her hand, helping to bring her to a stand. Naia caught his gaze and was pleased to see the warmth pooling in them. She wanted to stay with this man forever. Marco placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I know." Was all he said but it was enough to let Naia know she wasn't losing her mind. He loved Ace with all his being. He had died from a broken heart the last time this all went down and here they were doing it all again. Marco led Ace away, giving Naia room to breathe. Shanks chest was warm against her back as he cradled her to him.

"What an unexpected turn of events," Shanks hummed.

"I-I never thought he would ever call me that," Naia hiccupped. "And he chose now of all times!"

"No one ever said he had good timing, but I can't think of a better time."

"I can! When all of this is done!" Naia pouted. Shanks smiled softly at her and Naia could feel her eyes sting. "Stop it! You're going to make me cry!"

"What did I do?" Shanks asked incredulously.

"You're you!" Naia huffed. "You make me not want to leave," she said softly, resting her forehead against his.

"Then don't," Shanks whispered.

"I wish it was that simple," Naia chuckled. "I only have a few more things to take care of and then I'm all yours."

"All mine? I like the sound of that," Shanks growled.

"Gurarara, you youth today, so full of life," Whitebeard boomed above them. "Although, one should know better than to allow such acts out in the open."

"No one asked you, old man!" Naia snapped, but her cheeks gained a healthy flush.

"Dahahaha, perhaps you left a little too hasty, my nymph," Shanks murmured into her ear.

"I did no such thing! I can le-

"Purapurapura…..purapurapura…" Naia froze.

"I believe, sea urchin, you're being called." Whitebeard's face grew grim and even Naia couldn't deny this could go either very well or very poorly. She tentatively held the small transponder snail. "Red Hair, I believe it is best we leave her to take this call. Let us go over a plan for what happens after Ace's voyage."

Shanks locked eyes with Naia and there was hesitation in his expression. Naia felt warmth envelope her being.

"I'll be fine, Red. If it's just work, and they have an inkling I'm here with you, it wouldn't be pretty for me."

"You will say goodbye!" Shanks ordered sternly.

"Of course, I will, my captain." Naia entwined her hand in his hair, bringing his lips to hers.

"Your list of promises keeps getting longer, my nymph."

"Then it's a good thing, I always keep my word." Naia smiled, letting her forehead rest against his. Shanks flashed her a grin before walking away. Naia let her smile drop. "Go ahead."

"You better have a good explanation for where you are, sea creature," a deep voice rasped. Naia could practically feel the heat coming off the snail.

"I am on my mission. Gathering information on what it is that occurred to kill those marines," Naia hissed.

"If you had stayed with your crew, you would know your mission had changed!" Naia flinched at the glare the snail gave. "Red Hair met with Whitebeard and there are rumors of an alliance. I want those squashed. We won't need Red Hair showing up."

"Showing up?"

"We've got it on good authority of a sure fire way to bring Whitebeard down."

"Then I best return."

"I will be waiting….gatcha." Naia's whole body froze. She had managed to avoid him, using the guise of the Red Hair Pirates constant movements, but now she had no excuse this time.

"Naia? Naia?" Warm hands landed on her shoulders. They were hot. She hated the heat. The heat was what kept her prisoner, what made her stuck here in this body! Naia hissed as they tightened their grip. Why was everyone so adamant about touching her? She wanted to return to the mist and nothing more.

"Naia, I need you to take a deep breath." Marco's voice was grating in her ears. Why won't anyone leave her alone? "Naia, you don't want to hurt Ace do you?"

"Naia?" The voice sounded choked, like it couldn't breathe. "Naia, pl-please."

"Naia! Snap out of it!" A sharp pain stung her cheek and suddenly her world tilted.

"Marco?" Naia muttered.

"Naia, I need you to let him go!" Naia rubbed the blurred tears from her eyes, taking in Ace, enraptured by mist. His lips were turning blue and Marco, for all his efforts, couldn't touch him.

"Ace! Oh my dear son!" Naia snapped her fingers, beckoning the mist away. "I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me! I'm so sorry!" Naia babbled, reaching out to him only to freeze when the boy flinched away from her. "It seems I have overstayed my welcome. Marco, take care of him."

"Naia, wait!" Naia leaped over the railing, letting the water envelope her. It was time to face her music.

"Mom, please…" Ace pleaded to the water. "Marco, why did she-? Why did I?"

"I believe she got some very bad news," Marco said, his eyes never leaving the horizon. "We should probably let Red Hair know she's gone. Jaime! Cut the dingy loose! We won't be needing it!"

Shanks was deep in thought as Whitebeard rambled on about what would inevitably happen. Something didn't feel right.

"You seem distracted, brat." Whitebeard smiled down at him. "It seems she has your attention even when she's not present."

"She's keeping things from me."

"Women often do. They have their own lives to live even if we wish to be a part of all of it."

"I do not mind her having her own adventures, but she's keeping things that impact our world, our relationship."

"Oh?"

"She's with the Navy or at least that is the speculation of myself and my crew."

"That is a grave assumption?" Whitebeard raised an eyebrow at him.

"No, not at all, but I don't understand why she feels the need to lie," Shanks sighed. "I want her trust but it seems I have not yet earned it."

"I believe you are looking at this from a pirates perspective and not a mother's," Whitebeard suggested. "This has nothing to do with trust, but everything to do with her wanting to protect her sons. If being in the Navy gives her an advantage, she would do anything to keep this life separate so she can keep an eye on the boys."

"That makes sense, but-" Shanks caught himself. Naia must have her reasons, even if he didn't understand them.

"Pops, Ace is preparing to leave," Marco called from over the deck.

"Naia must be preparing to leave as well, I should-"

"She's gone, Shanks," Ace whispered. "I came up behind her and she didn't see me. It wasn't me she was seeing and she kept muttering about how the heat kept her trapped. I've never seen her like that."

"I don't think she received the kind of news she wanted," Marco hummed. "Heat… It must've been-"

"Akainu," Shanks growled. "Akainu must've been the one on the snail."

"What's he done to her?" Ace snarled. "To make her so frightened she forgets where she is?"

"Ace, I don't think that is something she would want you to know," Marco said softly.

"Why not?" Ace snapped.

"She's your mother. You do not need to carry her burdens," Whitebeard explained. "She will always be willing to carry yours but it is not up to the child to carry the parents."

"I'm not a child anymore!" Ace argued.

"Ace, let us handle this," Shanks asked softly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Believe me Akainu won't walk away unscathed. Marco, I have a feeling you know a little more about this."

"I helped heal her the first time." Marco jutted his chin out and his eyes glowed with defiance. Shanks couldn't understand why. "But it is a personal matter you should discuss with her, Red Hair. It… it wasn't pleasant."

"Then I will be sure to ask the next time I see her." A dark tone coated his voice. "I believe it is time for us to set out. I have a few places I would like to check before anything major happens."

"Keep us up to date, brat," Whitebeard boomed. Shanks nodded his head and gathered the few lingering crewmates aboard the Moby Dick. It was time to pick at some shadows.

"You know when this island said there was a strange lady in the shallows you were the last person I would have suspected," Shanks smirked when the witch jumped. She could be caught off guard, good to know.

"I have no idea what you mean." the Witch huffed.

"Those look a little serious and I don't see your ship," Shanks frowned.

"What do you want, Red Hair, I'm not in the mood to tangle swords with you today."

"Is there a reason you're sitting in the water and not getting help from the townspeople? They are quite concerned for you." Shanks took a seat a little ways away from her, taking in the red staining her usually white outfit. It was a strange outfit. The veil most certainly should impede her, but it never did. It made him wonder how good her control over haki actually was.

"Concerned? I suppose I do look rather unsightly," The Witch mused, pulling at her sullied skirt.

"What happened?"

"What's it to you, Emperor?"

"You didn't look this way after our fight." Shanks raised an eyebrow.

"I don't look this way after most fights." The Witch attempted to shrug but her movement was sharp and uncomfortable.

"That doesn't explain why you're in the shallows and not asking for help."

"You are very curious, aren't you?" Shanks didn't respond and the Witch gave a heavy sigh. "Perhaps an evening of the playing field wouldn't be too bad."

"An evening?" Shanks echoed.

"I imagine after we met, you reached out to find information on me? Do you know why they call me the Sea Witch?"

"They say the sea listens to your every command."

"I suppose in a way it does," the Witch giggled. It was bell-like and something in the back of his mind itched. He had heard it before. "The sea is full of surprises and will help you in unsuspecting ways. I happen to be blessed with it's favoritism."

"Favoritism? The sea favors no one," Shanks scoffed. "I've been on it long enough-"

"You really are young or simply unobservant. Your captain was favored after all, as is the boy who currently has your hat." A small smile graced her face as she pulled a sharp rock from the sand.

"Hey! What are you-?" The Witch brought the rock down on her hand, slicing the delicate skin of her palm and a surge of surprise flashed through him when a thin bead of red flowed to the surface. The Witch let her hand bleed for a moment before she placed it in the water. The tide rushed around them for a moment, knocking the rock out of her hand. "How is that possible?" Shanks breathed when the Witch held her pristine hand up.

"The sea gives and takes as it pleases, but if you help it, it will help you." Naia… Naia had said that phrase a couple of times. "It's up to you if it does or not."

"Witch, how is it a rock could hurt you but my sword couldn't?"

"That's what you focused on?" The woman laughed. "I suppose it's only natural, but it would be highly stupid of me to tell you how to kill me."

"Who said I wanted to kill you?"

"I am your enemy. Is that not the way our fight is designed to end?" The Witch cocked her head at him.

"It doesn't have to be," Shanks said softly. "The world has seen too much death."

"I'm afraid I do not get to choose how it ends, simply how long it will take," The Witch hummed.

"You don't get to choose much, do you?"

"Does anyone in this world? Even you pirates operate under the assumption of finding freedom but end up becoming suppressors yourself."

"Suppressors? Like hell!" Shanks snarled, springing to his feet. "We protect our territories so they don't have to turn to people like you!"

"You humans are all the same. It's another way to show your power over another individual." The Witch came to a stand, letting the waves keep her steady. Shanks watched in amazement as the water swelled around her, almost as if it was cradling her. "You never change no matter how much evolution you go through or how many tragedies you cause. Humans will always have an obsession with power."

"Do you consider yourself above us?" Shanks glowered at the woman.

"My people were considered gods at one point, Emperor." The Witch smiled. "We still are by a few."

"Gods? You're no better than the Celestial Dragons then," Shanks snorted.

"I am nothing like them!" The Witch shouted. "My people were revered! Sailors trusted us with their lives!"

"The Dragons believe the same thing!"

"Do not speak of things you do not understand!" The Witch roared. Waves swelled behind her, reflecting the rage in her voice. Shanks tried to take a step back but the tide sunk his feet deep into the sand. "I am not here of my own free will, pirate," she spat. "Remember that!"

"Not of your own free will?" Shanks murmured, an image of Naia's branding flashed before his eyes. "You are not the only one."

"There are a handful of us, but most have withered and died." The Witch frowned. "You know of someone who is in a similar position?"

"I have been made aware of a different kind of slave," Shanks hinted.

"How interesting," The Witch hummed, caressing the water curling around her. She looked ethereal and Shanks could see how she could've been mistaken for a god. "Tell me, Emperor, what do you plan to do with this knowledge?"

"I plan to free her of course!" Shanks glared. "I want to make sure no one gets trapped in such a way again!"

"That is a rather bold goal to have," the Witch hummed. "Tell me, if it is the same people holding your person as me, are you willing to bring war to your crew?"

"War won't be necessary," Shanks replied harshly, his forehead creasing with his growing frustration. "What do you know about a slave branding that works similar to a collar?"

"It's ancient magic, something long forgotten by the world. If that is what your person has, I would give up now."

"I won't leave her to suffer!"

"Her?" Shanks froze. "You are doing all this for a woman?"

"Yes."

"She must be something special to have your attention." The Witch seemed to contemplate him for a moment. "The mark is a rune. A lost art which binds the will of the writer to whatever it is written on. In this case your woman is bound by what the mark's purpose is."

"I know what it says," Shanks hissed. The woman shot him a sharp look, or at least it came off as sharp. Her veil fluttered lightly but he still couldn't see her face.

"Breaking runes are hard but not impossible, but the one she has is tied to anchors."

"How do you know this?"

"I said there are few of us who remain," the Witch chuckled. "Destroy the anchors and you will have weakened the seal."

"The rings… we need to destroy the rings? How?" Shanks demanded.

"There is no growth if I tell you how to do everything." The Witch chuckled. Her body sank into the water and before Shanks could comprehend what was happening she was gone. What? Shanks stood in the shallows with the waves caressing his ankles for a minute, staring at the spot she had disappeared from.

This was aggravating! But now he knew a little more about the admiral on his tail. She seemed to know Naia or at least know of her. Which isn't all that surprising but something told Shanks it was a little bit more than what the Witch was telling. He really needed to learn her name. Calling her a witch all the time was irksome.