"I'm starting to enjoy our meetings, Witch," Shanks chuckled.

"That would make one of us," Naia scoffed. "Let's end this quickly."

"Got a hot date?" Shanks leered, his eyes trailing up and down her body. "You're stuck with me, honey."

"Is flirting your answer to everything?"

"I'm simply making things interesting," Shanks smirked. "Although if you're having thoughts, I'm going to have to break your heart. I'm taken."

"Tch, like I care." Naia felt her heart flutter. Did he-? He couldn't mean her right? Naia fidgeted with her trident as he stood before her. She swooned slightly at the thought. Did he tell every woman who showed interest in him this?

When had their battles taken such a light hearted turn? It was just like the first time around. Falling in love through their fighting styles, but this time they had already established a relationship. If only on her side. Naia shook her head at the thought. Now was not the time to be lost in her tho-. The boat rocked as the waves raged below.

"Shit! What the hell?" Weisman exclaimed. Naia focused on the echo of the waves. A warning.

"Look! Over there!" One of the Red Hair pirates shouted. Naia's eyes widened as a monstrous sea creature breached the surface. It wasn't a sea king but something else. It felt familiar. It felt like…

"To your stations, men!" Naia shouted, "I want this ship as far away from that thing as possible! Bring the oars out to paddle, time is of the essence!"

"Witch, what's going on?" Shanks demanded. Naia shook her head, choosing to focus her attention on the current. It was sweeping them away as fast as possible, but with two ships competing to stay in its waters, it would cause the ships to collide rather than get away.

"Anchor the Red Hair Pirates ship to ours! It'll be easier to ride out the current!" Naia instructed, hauling her own grapple towards their ship.

"What are you doing!?"

"That thing isn't a sea king and I'd rather not put my men at risk!"

"So, you're running away!"

"Didn't you hear me, Red Hair? This isn't something you can scare off with your haki!" Naia growled. "That beast will eat you before you can even swing your sword."

"Tch, so little faith," Shanks scoffed.

"Ma'am it's coming too fast! It'll be on us in-" The crews screamed as the beast knocked into the ship, taking with it a few marines and pirates. A flash of red caught her eye and before she could utter a word, Shanks swiped his sword. The creature screeched as Shanks effectively cut it's head off. Naia groaned. This wasn't good.

"See, you doubt me too much, little witch." Shanks grinned as his crewmates cheered him on.

"You imbecile! Do you have any idea what you've done!" Naia shouted, her anger cracking in the air. "Weisman! Abandon ship! Plan E is in motion!"

"P-plan E!?" Her second in command stammered. "But that means...it's a…"

"Exactly, I'll keep it distracted, but you all need to leave."

"But Admiral!" Her crew protested.

"No buts! Move!"

Shanks watched confused as the marine crew frantically fled to the lifeboats. They moved with such speed and panic, Shanks could feel a cold dread settling in his chest. The look in the second commander's eye at the contingency plan the witch had stated had him doubting his actions. What had he done? He beheaded the beast. Right?

"Red Hair! Get your crew and get out of here!" The ocean roared as the beast flailed. It should've stopped moving by now. It should be dead. A high pitch screech echoed as the beast's neck seemed to writhe. And as easily as he had taken the head, three more grew back. Each with their own sets of fangs and independent thought. The heads snapped at anything in their path, taking parts of the ships, men, anything that lingered. Shanks stood still, stumped. What just happened?

"Witch… what is that?"

"It's known as Hydra. Cut one head off and three more grow back," Naia snarled. "You had to go and show off!"

"How was I supposed to know!?"

"I guess you couldn't," Naia sighed. "I thought it was extinct."

"Extinct?"

"The last story told of a man fighting Hydra was well over a thousand years ago." Shanks paused. Had he heard that correctly?

"A thousand years?"

"Yeah, ever heard of Hercules?"

"No."

"Oh, well, he was said to be a demigod, son of the head god, godlike strength. By the will of his bloodline and the power of the gods, he defeated Hydra." Naia slumped. "No one here is a demigod."

"How do you know all this?"

"I'm old."

"You could've fooled me."

"I'm older than you!" Naia stuck her tongue out. "I remember when you were nothing more than an apprentice!"

"You would've been like 9!"

"How old do you think I am? I was already a captain at that point!"

"I thought you were younger than me or at least the same age!" Shanks gasped. "I had no idea I was fighting someone so old!"

"Don't get cheeky, brat!" Naia growled. "I can still kick your ass!"

"It was one time!"

"And I've let it go to a draw every time since!"

"That doesn't explain how you know these stories!"

"Old." Naia pointed at herself. "Like extremely old. Like Whitebeard is young to me old."

Shanks gaped at her and Naia felt a tiny spark of satisfaction at being able to shock the pirate captain. If only he knew.

Hydra roared as it crashed into her vessel. Naia swore when she lost her footing. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and she could feel her cheeks heat up as she was pressed into his chest.

"I believe we should continue this conversation at another time," Shanks stated. "We should deal with that first."

"We aren't dealing with anything," Naia emphasized. "You've already done enough. I will be dealing with it."

"I thought you said a demigod is what took it down last time!" Shanks shouted. "How do you expect to finish that thing off?"

"I expect to get eaten actually." Naia shrugged. Shanks glared at her.

"Like I would let that happen."

"Why do you care? It would mean one less marine on your trail."

"I prefer you to some old geezer." Naia growled at him. "Oh, right, sorry."

"You think you're so funny." Naia rolled her eyes. "Put me down."

"No."

"Now, Red Hair!"

"You know, now that you're this close, you sound familiar. Have we met outside of our battles?"

"No."

"I think we have."

"The answer is no." Naia gasped as he took a rather harsh jump away from a head. "Now, let me deal with this!"

"I don't know," Shanks drug out. "You seem knowledgeable but your fighting skills seem to be lacking."

"Lacking?" Naia could feel her brow begin to twitch. "We wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for you!"

"You challenged me and I never back down from a fight." Naia wanted to hit him. Sometimes he could be a little too simple minded. "Besides, Witch, maybe this is an opportunity for me to learn something."

"Learn what? How to service an ancient sea monster?" Naia deadpanned.

"Does it come from the same era as the mark?" Naia paused. He wanted a history lesson in the middle of a fight they may or may not survive? Shanks was officially more crazy than she was.

"I'm not giving you a history lesson right now!" Naia twisted out of his arms landing gracefully on a floating piece of deck. Hydra wailed behind them as the waters surged around them. "Now, leave!"

"The answer is still no." Naia ground her teeth and the man smirked as he came up next to her. "Tell me, how do we get rid of this beast?"

Naia hesitated for a moment. While she could handle Hydra on her own, it wasn't an easy task and having help would certainly only benefit both of them.

"It won't be easy," Naia sighed. "One of us will have to cut a head while the other cauterize the wound."

"Great, I can cut the heads and you can play with fire." Naia bit her lip. "Witch?"

"I can't touch fire," Naia mumbled.

"What was that?"

"I can't touch fire!" Naia said louder. Embarrassment shot through her and Naia was sure if the veil didn't hide most of her face, Shanks would see how red her cheeks were.

"Oh?" Shanks raised an eyebrow at her. "Not partial to the element are we?"

"I'm known as the Sea Witch, what do you think?" Naia snapped. "Besides, where are we going to get fire in the middle of the ocean?"

Shanks twisted his head around. "Fair point. Then what do we do?"

"You leave and I draw it out!"

"Yeah, that plan is no good," Shanks sighed. "How did you become an admiral?"

"By taking down people the likes of your captain!"

"You took on Captain Roger? I don't remember you."

"It was before you." Naia let her mist float over him, pulling him away right before one of Hydra's heads snapped the board. "Now, it is time for you to leave."

"Witch, put me down!" Naia smiled softly as the man continued to struggle against the mist. "You can't do this without me!"

"Watch me."

The man really did love to test her patients. His protests echoed despite the distance he was at. Naia let her attention waiver for just a moment, the feeling of the ocean swelling around her. Hydra was many things but a strong swimmer it was not.

"Bring it on, beastie," Naia whispered, bringing her trident down.