When The Red Force became aware it was to the feel of her shell broken and the all-consuming guiltragelove of her captain. Oh, the Red Force knew that she was loved, how could she not when her spirit was able to become aware!

All who lay their heads in the heart of her adored her, many whispering their thanks to her after a bad storm, after an attack where she sailed fast on the currents that carried her. Some paid their respects in tending to the wounds that she acquired when protecting those she loved and called her own.

She was there for all of them even the ones who only were with her crew for a short time, she loved them all and she knew they loved her.

Especially her Captain who sat atop her figurehead and whispered stories to her, shared all his woes and concerns. She had watched as he fell in love with the First Mate and was loved by said man. She shared in the woes and celebrations of her crew with a smile and laugh, though they could not see her.

Not yet.

Years they sailed together, years and years of laughter and battles. Twice since her creation had she had to repair herself, those two times were when her crew were too wounded to do so, battle-weary and prone to their grief after losing one of their own.

She grew, as all Klabautermann do when they are loved.

She grew and with it, she was able to warn her crew better, a rope here, a shifting board. She could pass along the omens coming on the wind and hope that they could hear her, they always heard her warnings, but none could hear her voice.

Not until the boy.

A child from an island in the calmest of seas she had ever traversed with a brightness in him that surpassed the sun. She could see that he was different, that he was one to be watched because he brought a change. Red could see all the omens, she must, to protect her little family but this one… this one was different.

The wind and the sea seemed to cling to him like a blanket, ruffling his hair and coating him in salt. The earth sang with each step he took away from them as he led her Captain further inland, his laughter wild and free but to her, it sounded like a tolling of a bell, deep with an echo familiar and yet not.

She could hear drums in the distance...

It made her wary. He made her wary.

The child on her deck felt like she was sinking and floating at the same time, her spirit wanting to rejoice in the freedom that the seas granted her and yet bow down, heavy like an anchor to the seashore.

Days had passed and she watched, all her focus on this little thing that radiated sunlight and power, his little body thrumming with it much like her Captains, but stronger.

Day by day she watched her crew leave for shore, laughter, and cheers as they made their way to the place her Captain always seemed to be. For the first time in a long time, she felt lonely.

"Anchor, we cannot play on the Red Force today, it's not safe, the boys are getting ready for another trip." Her captain laughed as he hoisted the boy – Anchor how fitting for the being keeping her from the sea– into his arms, smirking at his pout.

"Why not? They're lonely!" The little Anchor cried out shocking her.

Could this child feel her? See her? Would he be able to hear her?

Red welly boots squeaked as she ran back below deck, peering out between the gaps of the semi-shut windows to see the child's eyes roam over her hull with a frown and a pout. She watched as her Captain began to walk away, his head turning to smile at the child, it was not a new smile to her, tender in the ways only her First Mate received. It was a smile only shown to her in the dead of night as he brushed his fingers over her horns on the figurehead.

Love. Her Captain loved this boy and with that understanding, she noticed a new sensation. This child whom they had known for such a short time, loved her too. She could tell now, looking back, at how much he did so with every awe-filled gaze upon her returning, how his hands ran along her railings with bright laughter.

He even tried to help tidy her decks like her crew do, shining it without thinking in a mimic of her Captain.

Oh… this little Anchor was theirs.

He was not the one who kept her moored and shackled, that was not the purpose of an anchor after all. No, the purpose of an anchor was a steady point, it was to hold them while they rest, keep them tethered to the seas and land when they grew weary of the sea and needed rest.

Fierce burning love rushed through Red at the realisation and no longer did this strange boy make her wary. No, she embraced the joy he brought, she watched for his safety, not because of danger. She watched to see her Captain and First Mate love and dote on him like a child of their own, their little Anchor, her Captain's prince.

She could see now how far this child would go, what fun he would bring to the seas.

A small laugh escaped her as she touched the box in the depths of her, it laughed much like her Anchor, and shined just as bright and she knew that this was for him. It would help him, protect him, it would be the cause of so many adventures and that too was something she couldn't wait to see and prepare for.

What she was not prepared for was the sudden splash of red and hot on her figurehead followed by a cry. Her decks groaned with her rage, sails snapping in the wind as she watched her Anchor pull the blade out from his eye and drop it, screams tearing from his lips in pain as her Captain surged forward, panic on his face.

She screamed her fury daring the person who caused this to come forth while her wood soaked the blood and kept the knife.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Don't be mad!" Her Anchor wailed as her Captain rushed him towards the room where the Doctor tended to her crew when harmed like the healer of wood tended to her after battles.

'Mine, you should never be harmed on my deck! I am supposed to protect you! Your blood should never have been spilled!' She wailed back, her little feet slapping against the wood as she ran away from the boy who claimed her Captain's heart and her own.

She ran till she reached the spot her Anchor's blood will forever remain, she won't let it fade, it was a reminder after all. Her eyes turned from the flecks of red to her hands, ghostly white and roughened from a life of sailing and repairs. Long has these hands of hers that she thought were clever, were only to be pointed out they were clumsy. Today never should have happened, she should have been watching like always.

She stayed there, unseen by all and watched the sun set over the waters, her heart aching as she felt the shift in the air.

"He's never going to be able to swim again Beck!" Her captain snarled furiously as he walked back onboard, steps marching up towards where she sat. "He's so…"

"Like you," Her First Mate replied with a sigh. "He's like you, love, impulsive and reckless. What did you expect for him to do? Shanks, he stabbed himself because you have scars, he wants to be like you."

"I'm not one to be looked up to," Her Captain replied, and she frowned, sails snapping unhappily.

She watched as he continued up to where she was, his own eyes following the grain till they came across the blood. His fingers trembled as he tried to brush it away, only it was dried and forever absorbed by her.

'He loves you; he loves us all, can you not see that?' She whispered to him, rocking gently with the waves.

"He's been claimed like all of us." Her First Mate chuckled as he gestured to the knife embedded in her railing, no matter how much he pulled, she refused to let it go. "I believe Red is unhappy about today too, Yasopp said the ropes and sails snapped as we took Luffy back to shore."

This time a smile swept over her Captain's face. "He has a way of doing that, our little Anchor, our son." The smile didn't stay for long. "He wants to come with us still, adamant of it… Beck, I wish with everything I have that we could bring him, raise him… but I can't risk him… it's not safe on the Grand Line for him."

'I can protect him! I will! He's ours!' She expressed, dashing forward only to fall through her Captain.

"I know love, I wish the same too but he's safer here, I agree with that. Come let us get to bed, that son of ours will be up at sunrise to greet us." Her First Mate chuckled as he pulled her captain away from her.

She sighed and pouted, decks creaking in her displeasure at being ignored. She could manifest herself, true, could make them see her, but that required too much energy and she would rather have it in case it was needed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you mad at me too." The little voice of her Anchor stated long after everyone was safe in her embrace and asleep, shocking her.

'You can see me?' she asked gesturing to all of her.

Anchor gave a soft shishishi and nodded. "Always can see you, was mad at Shanks till I saw people walk through you… what are you?"

'I am The Red Force's Klabautermann.' She explained holding up her little hammer. 'I am the spirit of this ship; the ship is me. I came to be because I am loved by all who sail with me and loved fiercely, you've added to that.'

Sparkles and stars shone in Anchor's eyes as he rushed forward. "WOW SO COOL!"

'Shhh Anchor, the crew is asleep!' Red scolded causing the boy to wince sheepishly. 'You worried me today, worried the Captain.'

"I know, I'm sorry. I just wanted to prove I was brave to Shanks so he would take me with you." Anchor explained sadly, his eyes dropping down to the deck. "I love the crew and Shanks and you! And… and I think they love me too… no one loves me here, not like…"

'Shh Anchor we love you, it's why Captain doesn't wish to bring you.' She explained softly, stepping closer to the boy. 'Being a pirate is a dangerous life, you are still young and though I will do all I can to protect you, there is a chance that I may not be able to one day… that day would break this crew, we would not be the same without our Anchor.'

"Oh…" Anchor breathed out, realisation on his face. "I think I understand… I'm not strong enough yet, so I need to be stronger!"

A small laugh escaped her, 'Yes Anchor, you are not yet strong enough to stand with us on the waters of the New World, but you will be. But remember, no matter how far we are from one another, you are a part of us now, your blood is my blood, our blood is yours. No matter the seas now, I will know where you'll be and if you'll ever need me.'

She knew that Anchor didn't understand what she said or how she explained, but he would in time when he was older. She was selfish, broken and cruel, she reflected the crew and her Captain, but she loved them all dearly, loved Anchor dearly and though she knew her love would be a burden upon his shoulders if he was to stay with them… she could see it now as she watched Anchor smile wide, eyes burning with such innocence.

'Get some rest Anchor, I'll watch over you tonight.' She cooed softly, as he yawned, watching as he stumbled over to the coils of rope near her mast and snuggled in.

In a few days she knew they would sail away from here once again, a small trip to gather the last of what they would need and a gift for their Anchor.

But for now, he shall rest on her safely, protected always by her while she could.

It would be years later down the line, across several seas and instances of the tug in her, the tie that bound them since the spill of his blood on her figurehead that he needed aid, that news reached them.

Their Anchor finally was a pirate, he was a step closer to being with them once more and Red's sails snapped in the wind, the entirety of her dipping with the waves in her glee.

It would only be a few months later that Red would see another like her, drifting in the wind, their hood a little cloud and horns.

'Thank you,' they would say with a familiar shishishi. 'For showing my captain how to love me like he loves you.'

And Red would smile out across the horizon, proud of her Anchor, her Captain's son.

Soon she'll be able to see him, soon she will witness alongside her crew the coming of a new dawn, a new king.

And Red couldn't wait for the chaos Anchor would bring.

It was going to be an exciting adventure.

Author Note: Short but sweet, something different, hoped it made sense! For Bee who thrust the song Never Love an Anchor by The Crane Wives in my head and inspired this! Finally got around to writing it!