Hello Friends! So here is the beginning of part 3 of Ari's story! So if you are new here, welcome, you don't need to have read Volume 2 to enjoy this! I will put a little snippet of backstory at the end of this chapter for those of you who haven't read Vol. 2. But for those of you who have read Vol. 2 this chapter takes place a few weeks after the end of chapter 27. Also! I choose to put my chapter warnings at the end of relevant chapters, so if you have any worries then go ahead and check the bottom of each chapter for any warnings and summaries of triggering content (so you can skip things that make you uncomfortable but still enjoy the story). But overarching warnings for this story are depression, suicide (contemplating, but not attempted), past abuse (verbal, physical, and sexual), and general self hatred. But again, more detailed warnings will be provided when they come up, but if these things bother you then it may be best to skip this fic as those topics are pretty much in every chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any recognizable character from the anime, manga, or movies. Also, I do not own any song lyrics or songs mentioned in this fic. All artists will be credited and I don't own any of them. Nor do I receive anything from including them. However, Ariadne is my own creation and please do not use her without permission.

Warnings at end of chapter

New World

I sat on the cliff edge with my feet dangling and all I could do was stare at the waves beneath me. I watched as they violently smashed against the rocks they had spent the last millenia sharpening. As the light receded from the world so too did the water level from this pathetic spit of land I found myself on. This island was devoid of all life aside from a few trees and in fact the only noteworthy part of it's geography was this towering cliff I had chosen to contemplate… well myself.

The ocean had always been a part of me and it has always been the thing that brought me the most comfort in life. From the very time that I could walk I would constantly toddle my way to the shore near my home. My first word had been shouted in anger after my mother had pulled me from the waves. The ocean had always been my dearest friend, my closest confidant, my world. The ocean was the one I ran to when the resentment from my parents grew too loud. The ocean was the one to hold me when the cuts and bruises from those who claimed to love me grew too deep. The ocean was the one to carry me to safety when the weight of the world grew too much to bear.

And yet the ocean, for all the comfort she has given me, was the very thing that carried me to the places that inflicted unspeakable horrors upon me.

The ocean had jeered as men plucked innocence from my skin. The ocean had giggled as my dreams were ripped from my heart. The ocean had cheered as the very light of humanity fled my eyes.

I suppose it's fitting that I should be tied so closely to such a cold hearted bitch. After all I don't have much use beyond bringing hatred and hardship into the world.

But still… You'd think that after all these years the least she could do is grant me one last comfort. Surely if I try hard enough letting her end my suffering wouldn't be that difficult.

No. Of course that wouldn't work. Why wouldn't she betray me like everything else in this world?

I took a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut as tears forced their way down my cheeks.

I can't believe I was so stupid. Why the fuck would he need me?

No, of course not.

You were just forcing yourself into a place that you weren't wanted or needed.

Again.

Come on Ari grow up. When are you going to realize that no one wants you? You are just a cancer on this world so do everyone a favor and leave. But you can't even do that can you?

No.

Because you are just so useless that you can't even die.

Pathetic.

The waves just continued to crash below me without a care for my struggle.

Would I even die if I did jump? If I didn't use my fruit? Can I even drown or would my body just instinctively save itself? But what does it even matter? I don't have the stomach to jump anyways. If I did then I would have put an end to this years ago. But then again I can always try to bottle again...

Fuck, why am I so weak?

I gasped for breath as I roughly wiped the tears from my face with vicious swipes, leaving my skip burning raw.

"Fuck! Why am I so pathetic!" I yelled as the tears only came faster and my breaths came in ragged gasps.

I really thought that I had found my place this time. I really really did...

But guess not.

And he's right, it's my fault. I'm the problem. That's why no one wants me around. That's why everything always blows up in my face. That's why my own parents didn't want me. That's why no one wants me…

STOP CRYING! ACE WOULDN'T CRY NOW WOULD HE? NO! HE WOULD SUCK IT UP AND MOVE ON!

He already did…

So if you aren't going to jump then get off your ass and figure out what you are going to do next. You can't go back to Totto for another 2 years so what are you going to do until then? Where are you going to go? You have to find another crew because heaven forbid you do something alone right? Oh no, not delicate little Ariadne! She NEEDS to have others hold her hand. She can't EVER do anything on her own.

Ok so you can't go back to Totto and you can't go back to Sera or Law. They don't deserve to have to coddle you anymore than they already have. Besides, it's not like they really ever wanted you around anyways right? No, you were just forcing yourself into their lives AGAIN. Why is that the only thing that you're good for Ari? Why are you nothing more than a leech? Why are you so incapable of doing ANYTHING in your entire fucking life.

You are so useless…

"Well this is about the last place I would expect to find you, but here you are. What are you doing? Gonna jump? Hate to break it to you but I don't think that would work too well for you all things considered."

I jumped as I heard another voice for the first time in weeks. I whipped my head around to see a man standing a few paces behind me. I turned away from him and asked "What do you want?"

Wow now you can't even speak properly. Is there a frog living in your throat now?

"Nothing in particular but I wouldn't mind having someone to share a drink with." He said as he sat down next to me and with swish of his long black cloak. The smell of alcohol washed over me as he settled down and handed me a bottle. I looked from his outstretched hand to his face, shrouded by red hair, bright even in the fading light. WIthout another word I took the bottle from his hand and began to drink from it.

Bottle it is I guess...

The whiskey burned my throat as it went down but my body no longer had the strength to cough. The waves far below us were the only sound as we sat on that cliff drinking. After only a few gulps I had finished the first bottle and he silently handed me another. I was half way through that one before he finally spoke again. He simply said, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Talk about what you fool? There's nothing to talk about anymore… I just- I-

When I didn't say anything and instead just reached for another bottle, he spoke again, "You know I was pretty surprised to find you here all by yourself. What happened to your crew?"

"They're gone." I whispered.

"And they aren't coming back?"

I shook my head.

"So what's your next move gonna be?"

"I don't know I-I'm just tired." I said with a sigh that caught on yet another sob.

"You sure that's all? I don't know about you but I don't usually go drinking on a cliff on an abandoned island by myself when I need a nap." He said and I could hear the smirk in his voice.

I didn't have the energy to roll my eyes. "Not physically you moron. I'm just- I'm tired of people using me and then throwing me away. I'm tired of always having to pretend to be something that I'm not. I'm tired of being worthless."

"If you're sick of it then why not stop? Just be yourself and do your own thing. It's always worked out well enough for me. That's one of the perks of being a pirate after all."

"Well good for you. This may come as a shock to you, but not all of us can run around getting drunk and pissing the day away. Not all of us can live such perfect sunshiny lives as you. So why don't you just leave me the fuck alone." I said before ripping the cork from the bottle and beginning to drink from it. I felt my head begin to grow light but ignored it and kept drinking.

Why is he even here? I know he isn't here for me and there isn't anything else on this island so what does he want? Why won't he just leave me be?

He burst out laughing and said, "Oh little girl if you think my life is all sunshine then you don't know the first thing about me. Which, considering this is only the second time that we've spoken I know for a fact that you don't know a damn thing about me."

"Oh really?" I asked, feeling a bit of fight return to me. "So you weren't the golden child of the Roger pirates? You didn't have the whole damn world offered to you on a silver platter? You aren't the man who became one of the strongest pirates in the world just for the hell of it? I may not know you personally but I know you far better than you think I do." I paused. "Not that it matters anyways. I don't give a damn about you."

I watched as a smirk grew on his face. "Well if the rumors are to be believed then you don't give a damn about anyone other than yourself. After all I'm assuming that's why you're on this rock all by your lonesome. How is your fiery little rookie doing by the way? Oh wait-"

"Fuck you!" I screamed. "You have no idea what my life has been like! You have no idea what I have had to do to survive."

"No I don't. And you don't know what I've had to do to survive either." He said as his face hardened. "So maybe we shouldn't be taking jabs at each other when we're strangers hmm?"

"Whatever." I said, turning back to the ocean.

I don't have the energy to deal with this idiot. Why won't he just leave?

He laughed before sticking out his hand and saying. "Hows about we start over. My name is Shanks. It's a pleasure to meet you."

I rolled my eyes and glared at him. "You think I don't know your name you dumbass?"

"It's called a polite introduction. Come on I know you have some manners deep down in there."

"Fine. I am Donquixote Ariadne and it is entirely my pleasure to make your acquaintance good sir." I said with a mock bow. "Is that good enough for you?"

"Perfect! Now while we are on the topic of starting over why don't we take this little conversation from the top and I'll ask you again, what's going on with you? And don't say nothing we both know you are just itching to get it off your chest."

I forced out a sigh roughly before raising the bottle in my hand and taking a drink. Then I said, "Why do you care? What do you want? Why can't you just leave me alone?"

Just leave me be already.

I clenched my eyes shut tightly in an attempt to stop the world from spinning and nearly missed Shank's face falling serious yet again. "You want the truth?" He asked.

"Obviously." I said.

"I'm nosy."

"Nosy? So you're just here to poke your nose into my business and then carry on your merry way?" I asked as my eyes narrowed and my brow crinkled.

"Pretty much." He said with a shrug.

"Then why should I waste my breath spilling all my secrets to you?"

"You just said exactly why you should, now didn't you? I don't give a shit about you or your problems. But you obviously want to talk so why not talk to someone who doesn't care enough to remember whatever you say. Maybe that'll stop you being so melodramatic up on this cliff acting like you want to die."

I felt my face heat up as rage flooded my veins and the alcohol loosened my tongue. "You know what? Fine. But I already told you. I'M TIRED. I'm tired of this sea, I'm tired of these people, I'm tired of this whole FUCKING planet. All my life I have been fighting and struggling and for what? I will never be good enough. Never be strong enough, smart enough, fast enough, pretty enough. No matter what I do I will never be enough. NOTHING I DO WILL EVER BE ENOUGH. I'm tired of training. I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of trying to be something that I'm not. I- I just want to go home." I broke off with a gasp and a sob. "So go ahead and mock me all you want but it won't change that fact that there is no reason for me to be alive anymore."

Shanks sat in a silence that was only broken by my strangled sobs and the waves below. After a minute, after my breathing was somewhat normal he asked, "Where is home for you?"

"I don't have one. Not for a long time."

"Well if you don't have anywhere else to go then why don't you come sail with me for a while? It may not be home but you'll be safe to figure out where to go next."

What?

I straightened my back as my tears dried themselves in my eyes and the heat returned.

What the FUCK did he just say to me?

"What, so you want to use me as well? You want to be my friend so I can do all of your dirty work for you? So you can use me while it's convenient and then throw me away when I've outlived my usefulness? Fuck off I'm not joining your crew. Just leave me alone." I shook my head as disgust began to boil in my stomach.

Wow, that was a dirty trick you cold bitch. Give me someone to talk to who almost gives me hope and have him-

"I don't know why you thought you were welcome to join my crew." Shanks said, interrupting my thoughts. "I said you could sail with us. Not join us."

He doesn't want me to join him? He doesn't give a shit about me… So maybe he won't…

"Fine." I said before I could think too deeply about what I had just agreed to.

It's not like this'll matter in the end…

And even if this goes down in fla- nope can't say that anymore. Even if this fails, at least there will be booze.

After wiping my face again and being forced to accept the fact that I was apparently attempting to match my skin tone to his hair (although that could also have been due to the three bottles I had downed in only a few minutes), I followed Shanks down to the makeshift port where his ship, The Brattahlid was docked. He walked down the rocky ledge that had worn away almost in the exact shape of a dock and then quickly up the gangplank, but I hesitated before following. I could hear his notoriously rowdy crew all laughing and cheering at their captains arrival. The laughter was accompanied by the clinking of bottles, poorly tuned instruments, and off key singing. Through the mess of sounds it was impossible to hear anything other than pure joy coming from the deck of that small ship.

What the hell am I doing here? I clearly don't belong. Why would they want someone like ME around them…

My thoughts were interrupted by Shanks yelling down from the deck, "You know, the ship moves! Not the island!"

Right, doesn't really matter what I want, I don't have a choice…

It's not like I have anywhere else to go…

So I took a deep breath and started up the gangplank. When I got onto the deck I saw exactly what I was expecting to. A group of men who are happy just for the sake of being happy. There were about 7 men gathered around barrels and tables all filled with bottles of alcohol, food, and scattered cards. A few of the men made their way over to Shanks as we stepped on board but most were content to merely wave to their Captain.

I don't belong here…

"Hey Yasopp the lady's gonna to be traveling with us for a while. Can you show her to the guest room?" Shanks called to a man with blond wavy hair dressed in a dark blue shirt.

"Sure thing Boss." Yasopp said before waving for me to follow him.

He didn't say anything to me as he made his way through a door to the right of the deckhouse and down a flight of stairs. After that he led me down a narrow corridor and to a door towards the front of the ship. He opened it and it turned out to be a tiny cabin with a single bed on one side and a closet and desk on the other. "It isn't much." He said apologetically with a shrug.

"It's fine." I said quietly as I pushed past him to look around the room a bit more.

"Right, well I'll leave you to it. We're all up on deck if you need anything." He said before closing the door.

As soon as the door closed I sat on the bed and buried my face in my hands.

Damn it don't you dare cry…

I sat there fighting the tears for a moment before I lifted my head and stared at the beams that made up the ceiling in an attempt to keep the tears drowning my eyes from falling. When my eyes began to burn from how long I had resisted blinking I lowered my face and noticed a small journal with a pen on top of it sitting on the desk in front of me. I hesitantly reached for it and flipped it open. I don't know what I was expecting to find, an old log book perhaps, but blank pages were not it. Flipping back to the first page of the journal I stared at it while toying with the pen in my hand.

If you're going to dwell on this you might as well get it out…

There's at least one thing you can do...

I sighed as I started to write.

Warnings:

Depression, fantasizing about suicide. Ariadne is incredibly depressed and spends the majority of the chapter thinking about how much she wants to kill her self and hating herself because she can't work up the nerve to do it.

I do not and never will encourage suicide. This story is designed to show how trauma can affect a person and how they can grow from it and become a stronger person in the end by working on themselves and through the support of others. But if you have a history of suicidal thoughts then it may be best if you skip this story. I in no way want to cause harm to another person so please try and seek help if you feel you need it and do not read this story if you feel it will cause you to harm yourself or others. Additionally, I am not a health care professional, I am also not trying to be one. I am simply attempting to write a fictional story. Please do not use this story as advice on how to cope with trauma.

Yay! So there is the first chapter! It'll be a little while before the rest of the first arc is done but I couldn't resist posting this first chapter! Ok so housekeeping:

1) Ariadne is my OC and will be the main character in this fic, much like she was in Vol. 2 (obvi.) But for those of you who did not read Vol. 2 then here is a tiny bit of info to get you up to speed. Ariadne is the biological daughter of Shakky and Rayleigh, however she spent a great deal of time in Marineford as a child and grew very attached to Rosinante which is why she prefers to go by Donquixote. These relationships will be a major theme in this fic so if you are confused just hold on, I'll get to it I promise! Also, in Vol. 2 Ariadne met up with Ace and was his first mate with the Spade pirates, during which time they developed a highly toxic, romantic, relationship. This volatile relationship came to a messy end when Ace challenged Whitebeard, failed, and blamed Ari for his failing. Since the end of Vol. 2, and her time with the Spades, Ari has been wandering the New World unsure of what to do next, which is where our best ginger boi meets up with her.

2) Ariadne is also the user of the Water-Water fruit, which is an incredibly broken fruit which we will pretty much 100% never see in canon. But Ari can swim and only loses her fruit abilities when she touches sea water with her skin, she often will combat this by coating her body in her own water so she isn't technically touching the sea and won't lose her fruit. I understand that people have differing opinions regarding this fruit which is totally fine but please don't come for me over it. This is a fan fic about a world where fruits can turn your body into rubber. Let's just have a good time alright?

3) The Brattahild is the name I decided to give the Red Hair's first ship, the one we see in East Blue not the Red Force, they'll get the Force later on in this volume. I came up with the name because that was the name of the estate owned by Eric the Red in Greenland. There is a bit of debate about wether or not Shanks is based on Eric but I decided to run with it as it makes for a pretty cool ship name.

4) This will come up more in the next chapter but I decided to go with the Red Hairs as we see them at Marineford. So I made the crew only consist of those we get a clear look at during the battle and gave them names, personalities, and backstories as I saw fit. So if you are reading this after Shanks' crew has ACTUALLY been introduced then yea no my RHPs do not match at all. I don't want to wait another 10 years for Oda to get around to showing us Shanks' crew as he imagined them so I had to get rather creative. But Shanks, Beckman( it's fucking Beckman not Ben), Yasopp, and Roux will all be as close to cannon as possible. Although I did give them a bit more backstory so that they aren't just cardboard cut outs for Ari to interact with like the majority of the Spades were.

Ok is that everything? I think that's everything! Thanks for reading and I hope you like this story! Be sure to leave a comment or shoot me a message if you have any questions or if you want to try and give a kick in the ass to write faster lol!