What We Lost at Sea (Part 2)
Akagami no Shanks x reader Warning: Manga spoilers, part related to Shanks' story
Part 1
═════════════════════════════════════════════
The sun was beginning to illuminate the Sabaody Archipelago. The first rays of morning filtered through the giant mangroves as the crew of the Oro Jackson finished their preparations to depart. The port was already bustling with activity, sailors loading cargo, merchants opening their stalls, and travelers hurrying to their ships.
Onboard, the young pirate apprentice Shanks helped load the last crates of supplies. He knew perfectly well that these provisions wouldn't last long. Roger loved to celebrate anything, and the food disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived on the ship.
With a sigh, he placed the last crate on deck and wiped the sweat from his brow with his forearm. It was then that he peered over the bow and saw her. The reason Rayleigh always found an excuse to return to Sabaody.
His daughter.
Elaine stood on the dock, watching the ship with her arms crossed behind her back. The wind made her dark hair move in soft waves, as black as her mother's. In fact, almost everything about her was reminiscent of Shakky: her features, her demeanor, and even that beauty that seemed to draw attention without even trying.
But her eyes were Rayleigh's.
They held the same quiet determination, the same intelligence that seemed to silently analyze everything. It was a gaze capable of inspiring confidence and, at the same time, making anyone feel watched too closely.
“You and Buggy were planning to leave without saying goodbye?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as a small smile touched her lips. “What friends they are!”
Shanks chuckled and leaned against the ship's railing.
"Buggy had the misfortune of cleaning the toilets. I don't think your father was in a particularly good mood this morning."
"And was he in a good mood with you?" she asked.
"No, but I managed to escape before he saw me."
Elaine let out a small giggle, the sound making Shanks smile almost reflexively.
"So you were planning to leave without saying goodbye after all."
This time her smile was fainter. There was something different about her expression, a sadness she tried to hide, not very successfully.
This was no ordinary voyage. Roger was ill. Everyone knew it, though no one dared say it aloud. The captain had decided to sail one last time to reach the final island before it was too late.
Shanks's smile faltered slightly. He stepped away from the railing and climbed down the plank to the dock, stopping in front of her. The height difference between them had become noticeable. Though they were still young, the first signs of adulthood were already beginning to show.
Shanks observed her for a few seconds.
The small dimple that appeared on her left cheek when she smiled. The freckles scattered across her nose, barely visible against her sun-tanned skin, and those eyes.
He saw the same eyes every day in Rayleigh. But in her, they were different. Harder to ignore. Sometimes she felt she could see right through him, as if there was nothing, he could hide from her, and seeing her now, trying to pretend she wasn't sad, made her feel uncomfortable pressure in her chest.
“You know I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye.” Her voice came out lower than she intended.
The truth was, neither of them knew when they would see each other again. They didn’t know if the crew would stay together after this trip. Everyone knew the inevitable. They knew that the end was approaching. That sooner or later they would have to go their separate ways, but no one talked about it. Because as long as no one said it out loud, they could still pretend that nothing was about to end.
Elaine bit her lower lip slightly. For a few seconds, she tried to maintain her composure, but her eyes began to well up with tears. Her breath faltered slightly, and before the tears could fully escape, she brought a hand to her face to quickly wipe them away, as if she wanted to hide any sign of weakness.
Shanks watched her silently, unsure what to do. Part of him wanted to go to her, put his arms around her, and tell her everything would be alright. He wanted to assure her they would see each other again, that this wasn't the end, that one day they would return to Sabaody so he could tell her all the stories they still had to live.
But he couldn't. Because he wasn't sure they'd ever cross paths again, and Shanks hated empty promises.
So, he remained motionless, his fists clenched at his sides as he fought the uncomfortable feeling that pressed against his chest.
When Elaine finished wiping away her tears, she let out a long sigh and looked up at him again. Although her eyes were still slightly red, she had regained some of the smile she always wore.
They were silent for a moment when Shanks seemed to suddenly remember something.
“Wait, I almost forgot.” He began searching for his trouser pockets until he pulled out a small wooden box, somewhat battered from voyages at sea. “Your birthday is next week, isn't it?”
Elaine blinked in surprise.
“You remembered?” He nodded and handed her the box with a carefree smile.
“I won't be here to give it to you that day, so you'll have to be content with receiving it beforehand.” She opened the box curiously. Inside lay a simple silver necklace with a small white pearl in the center.
"A pearl?" Shanks scratched the back of his neck, a little embarrassed.
“I was fishing a few weeks ago and I caught it.” Elaine looked at him silently. “The others made fun of me because I spent half an hour fishing for just one oyster.”
“Sounds like something they'd do,” Elaine said.
“Buggy was the first to laugh.” A smile appeared on both their lips.
“When I opened it, I found the pearl. So I thought... I don't know... you might like it.
Elaine glanced down at the necklace.
It wasn't an impressive piece of jewelry. It had no diamonds or gold; it was simple. Probably any nobleman in the world would have scoffed at something like that. But she liked it.
“Thank you, Shanks.” Before he could reply, she took the necklace and slipped it around her neck.
"It fits."
Shanks looked at her for a second longer than usual; he would miss her terribly. The sparkle that appeared on Elaine's face made everything seem a little lighter. He smiled genuinely this time, and she extended a hand toward him.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Shanks...”
For a moment, the redhead stared at that hand suspended between them. Taking it was admitting that this was a goodbye. That the journey she was about to begin could change everything. That neither of them was certain they would ever meet again. But even so, Shanks extended his hand and gently took it.
“Same here, Elaine…”
──────────────────────────────
Shanks walked briskly through the long halls of Fingarland Manor. His footsteps echoed against the polished marble as he passed through nearly empty corridors, illuminated by enormous windows.
The meeting had lasted much longer than he expected, and to make matters worse, Sommers had intercepted him as he left. That despicable man always found an excuse to stop him and talk about the honor of being a Holy Knight, the privilege of serving the Celestial Dragons, or some other nonsense he had no interest in hearing. As usual, he had steered the conversation away with short, polite replies, hoping the other man would lose interest, but Sommers seemed incapable of understanding when someone didn’t want to talk to him.
Even so, Shanks hadn’t tried to shake off his company too quickly. He couldn’t afford to appear desperate to get back. He knew perfectly well that Garling and Shamrock would notice any strange behavior, and the last thing he needed was to arouse suspicion.
If either of them connected him to her, if they discovered that he genuinely cared about what might happen to her, any chance of helping her would vanish before it even began. That's why he had to be careful. With his words, his actions, and even the way he looked at her. In Mary Geoise, one mistake was enough to condemn someone.
As he walked through the corridors, his mind returned again and again to the scene in the throne room. To the image of her kneeling before Garling, chained, forced to endure humiliations she should never have had to face. That memory made his stomach churn.
He had spent years preparing himself to endure the atrocities of that place without reacting, convincing himself that it was a necessary sacrifice to fulfill the promise he had made to Roger. However, seeing her there had been different. It had shattered, in a matter of seconds, the control he had spent years building.
He quickened his pace.
He knew she would be in her chambers. What he didn't know was how to face her when he saw her. He would have to explain many things. He would have to tell her the truth. But how could he explain that he wasn't there of his own free will? How could he convince her that the white cloak, the title, and the obedience were little more than a front? From her eyes, he must look exactly like everyone else. Just another man in the service of the monsters who ruled the world, and that was what he feared most.
Because he wasn't worried that she was afraid of Mary Geoise. He was worried that she was afraid of him.
Besides, he needed answers. Garling had mentioned that she was now the Empress of Amazon Lily, news that was still difficult for him to grasp, but which made sense. If anyone could inherit such a title, it was her. She had always possessed an undeniable determination, a force that compelled others to take her seriously even when she was just a child. But she still didn't understand how she had ended up captured, or what circumstances had led her directly into Garling's hands.
Finally, she reached the enormous doors that led to his chambers. She paused for a few seconds and looked at both ends of the corridor. There were no guards watching the entrance, so he was grateful that no one saw him behaving like an impatient child.
He let out a slow sigh as he tucked a few stray strands of hair behind his ear. For the first time since leaving the hall, he felt a slight nervousness run through him.
Then he placed a hand on the door; a soft creak echoed as he opened it.
Shanks surveyed the room as soon as he crossed the threshold. Everything was exactly where it should be. The fireplace was lit, filling the room with a pleasant warmth that contrasted sharply with the cold of Mary Geoise's endless corridors. The fire cast shadows on the marble and dark wood walls.
To one side stood a huge bookshelf crammed with books. Dozens of them. Maybe hundreds. For years he had feigned interest in some, but most he had never opened. He loved to read, he always had, but these books were written by the victors of the world. Manipulated stories, half-truths, and carefully constructed lies to maintain the order the Celestial Dragons wished to preserve.
Near the fireplace lay a small parlor. As elegant as it was unnecessary. The carved wood gleamed in the candelabra light, reflecting the excessive opulence that characterized the Holy Land. Everything in that room was too big, too luxurious, too empty.
His gaze eventually shifted to the enormous bed at the far end.
Long silk curtains descended from the carved canopy, partially obscuring the interior. However, the orange light from the fireplace cast a shadow on the fabric. Someone was sitting there.
Shanks felt his throat go dry.
For a few seconds, he remained motionless, observing the figure through the curtains as he tried to gather the words he'd been repeating to himself since leaving the meeting room.
"El... hello."
The word came out stranger than he'd expected. He wasn't sure if he could still call her that. "El" had been the nickname he'd given her when they were children, back when she hated her own name and was convinced that being a girl was the worst injustice in the world. He still remembered the day she'd stood before Rayleigh, announcing, with all the seriousness she could muster, that she was now a boy and ready to become an official member of the crew.
She'd said it with a determination that didn't sound like a seven-year-old eager to see the vast ocean, ignoring the crew's laughter and her father's explanation that even though she was a boy, he wouldn't be taking her along. Shanks swallowed and cleared his throat.
“Look... I know this is all strange. I know you hate me, and frankly, you have every reason to. I understand. But I need you to let me explain.” The room remained still, disturbed only by the steady crackling of the wood burning in the fireplace. Silence was the only answer.
He walked toward her with slow, almost fearful steps. He had never been afraid of anything. Not the Marines. Not the dragons. Not even death itself. But in that moment, with Elaine's shadow silhouetted against the white fabric, he felt a lump in his throat.
“I don't agree with any of this,” he continued, speaking more to himself than to the person behind the curtains.” And I know you have no reason to believe me right now, but I promise I'm going to help you get out of here.”
It was the only promise he could make. The only one he was willing to keep, no matter the consequences.
He reached out and grasped one of the silk curtains between his fingers.
“Just let me...” He pulled the fabric aside, opening a path inside.
The words died in his throat. His eyes widened as he processed the scene before him. Elaine wasn't lying on the bed; instead, it was one of the officers assigned to patrol the corridors.
"What the hell...?"
The man was half-naked, his hands and feet bound with the bed curtains, and a makeshift gag covering his mouth. A dark mark was beginning to form on his forehead, clear evidence of a recent blow. But he wasn't dead; he could see his chest rising and falling with difficulty. He was just unconscious.
For a moment, Shanks simply stared and understood why there were no guards in the corridor. That was why no one was watching the door.
But before he could analyze the situation, he sensed a presence behind him. Years sailing alongside Roger, surviving in the New World, and the training he had received since arriving at Mary Geoise made him react purely on instinct. He felt the movement before he saw it, a slight shift in the air, an almost imperceptible change in the room's pressure.
He whirled around, his fingers closing around a wrist that held a knife just inches from his neck.
For a moment, they both froze.
She stared at him with an intensity that seemed capable of piercing him. Her black hair fell haphazardly over her shoulders, some strands clinging to her face with sweat and exertion. Her lip was still split from Garling's blow, and the bruise on her cheekbone was beginning to darken. Yet, there was no trace left of the prisoner they had dragged in. She had managed to free herself from her restraints, overpower a guard, and ambush him within his own quarters. Strange as it seemed, a small part of Shanks felt relieved. Because despite everything, she was still herself.
"Elaine..." he murmured, still gripping her wrist.
"Traitor!" The word fell between them like a knife.
Shanks felt something sink in his chest. He had imagined many times what it would be like to see her again after so many years, but never like this. Never with a gun between them and that contemptuous gaze fixed on him.
The memories came flooding back, unstoppable. The races across the dock deck. The arguments with Buggy. The visits to Sabaody. The afternoons listening to outlandish stories while Roger roared with laughter. The afternoons when Rayleigh carried her asleep in his arms after she had stayed awake longer than she could bear. Simple memories that now seemed to belong to another life.
Years had passed since they had last seen each other. Years without letters, without news and without explanations, and now she looked at him as if he were just another one of the monsters that inhabited Mary Geoise.
“It’s not what it looks like,” he tried to say.
But Elaine didn’t even let him finish.
With a swift movement, she used her free arm to propel herself at him. She didn’t try to stab him. She rammed him with all the strength of her body, forcing him back several steps across the room. There was rage in every movement, a contained fury that had been waiting too long for an opportunity to be released.
Shanks barely managed to maintain his balance. She used every second to struggle, trying to break free from his grip. She was fast. Much faster than he remembered, and even though she wasn’t at her best, she kept fighting as if her life depended on it.
He dodged the blows he could and endured the rest without responding. He didn’t want to hurt her. Not after everything that had happened. Not after seeing her chained up in front of Garling.
“Let me go!” she spat as she tried to break free.
“No.”
“Let me go!”
“Not until you calm down.” Elaine let out a bitter laugh that held no humor whatsoever.
“Calm down?” Her gray eyes flashed with a fury “I saw you standing there. I saw you watching as that vile man beat me. As they dragged me around like an animal. And you did nothing!”
"I couldn't..."
"You didn't even try!"
Shanks clenched his jaw. He knew this was going to be difficult. Much more difficult than he'd imagined as he ran through the corridors. Because he didn't just have to explain why he was there. He had to convince her that he hadn't become what she saw before her eyes, and seeing the way she was looking at him, he wasn't sure he could do it.
They struggled for several seconds. Elaine fought like a cornered animal, using every inch of space she had to try to break free. Every blow he blocked twisted something inside him. He didn't want to be doing this. He didn't want to hold her or see her looking at him with that hatred that seemed to grow with every passing second.
But the difference between them was too great.
Shanks was taller, stronger, and had spent years training both at sea and on Mary Geoise. Elaine had also grown strong, much stronger than she remembered, but she was still hurting from the blows she had received that day and from the exhaustion of having been captured. No matter how hard she fought, her body had its limits.
Taking advantage of a moment of inattention, Shanks spun around and used the momentum to change position. Before she could react, he lifted her off the ground effortlessly. Elaine kicked and thrashed, hitting him wherever she could and hurling all sorts of insults, but he barely flinched. He took a few steps and sat her down on the armchair that stood before the fireplace.
Before she could get up again, Shanks caught both her wrists and pinned them against the arms of the chair. He didn't use more force than necessary, but he also didn't leave her any room to escape.
They stood face to face.
Elaine's breathing was rapid and ragged. Her chest rose and fell violently as she tried to break free once more. Her hair plastered to her face, and fury still burned in her eyes with the same intensity as when she had tried to attack him.
Shanks, on the other hand, seemed barely agitated.
“Let me go, you damned traitor!” she growled, writhing uselessly.
"No."
"I said let me go."
"And I said not until you calm down."
For the first time since entering the room, Shanks held her gaze. There was firmness in his eyes, but also something vulnerable. As if he were desperately trying to make her see beyond everything that surrounded him.
He wanted her to understand that he was still him. That, despite everything, he hadn't forgotten who he was.
Elaine clenched her jaw tightly. The muscles in her arms trembled with the effort, with rage, and with the helplessness of finding herself trapped once again. She had escaped chains only to end up being immobilized by someone who, years ago, she had considered one of her closest friends.
Shanks waited.
He didn't try to justify himself. He didn't try to explain it yet.
Silence stretched between them as the fire crackled in the fireplace. In the distance, muffled by the thick stone walls, they could hear the occasional footsteps of a guard making his rounds, unaware of the small battle taking place inside that room and that one of their own lay unconscious.
When she stopped struggling, Shanks finally spoke.
“I’m not a traitor,” he said quietly. “I’m not with them.”
Elaine gave a bitter laugh.
“I saw you. You’re here, in their house, wearing their clothes.”
“It’s a front.”
“A front?” She looked at him as if he’d just said the stupidest thing in the world. “A front for what? To watch them enslave people? To watch them tear children from their homes? To watch them…”
“To destroy them from within.”
Shanks cut her off before she could finish.
The silence that followed was heavy. Elaine stopped moving for a moment, though disbelief was still written on her face.
Shanks felt his heart pound in his chest. He’d never spoken of this to anyone. Not to Buggy. Not to Rayleigh. Not even to the men on his crew. He’d carried this secret with him.
But she deserved to know.
“I didn’t choose this,” he continued. “I didn’t choose to be born with their blood. I didn’t choose Garling to be my father. I didn’t choose to be a Fingarland. But I did choose to come back.”
He loosened the pressure on her wrists slightly.
“I chose to wear this mask. I chose to be seen as one of them. I chose to smile at them as I watch, as I learn, and as I wait for the right moment to destroy all of this.”
Elaine held his gaze.
“And you expect me to believe you?”
“I don’t expect anything.” Her response was immediate.
“But I need you to hear the truth.” She shook her head.
“The truth is, you disappeared for years. The truth is, you’re wearing their uniform now. The truth is, when I saw you again, you were standing there watching them keep me chained up.”
Each word hit him hard. Shanks opened his mouth to reply, but then something caught his attention.
A small white pearl gleamed in the fireplace light.
Her gaze slowly drifted down to it.
The necklace.
Years passed. The chain showed the wear of time. But it was still the same necklace she had given him that morning on the pier before leaving with Roger.
“You still have it..." Her voice came out softer than she intended.
Elaine followed the direction of her gaze and understood immediately.
“Don't change the subject.” She spoke, but without the same force, as if she had been caught.
“I thought you’d thrown it away years ago,” Shanks admitted. “After all this time.”
Elaine looked away.
“It’s just a necklace.” I speak trying to sound convinced
Shanks almost smiled.
Because they both knew it wasn’t true. If it had been just a necklace, it wouldn’t have survived so many years. It wouldn’t have crossed oceans. It wouldn’t have reached Mary Geoise. It wouldn’t have remained around her neck even after everything she believed about him.
“Sure,” murmured. “Just a necklace.”
For the first time since the argument began, he loosened his grip on one of her wrists—not completely. His hand remained close, just in case, but he gave her space.
“Let me explain everything,” he said finally. “And if, after hearing me out, you still think I’m a traitor… then I’ll accept it. But at least give me a chance to try.”
Elaine remained silent. The light from the fireplace danced across the walls as they gazed at each other.
Finally, she nodded.
"Speak."
Shanks slowly released her wrists and stepped back. He sat at the opposite end of the sofa, leaving a respectful distance between them.
Elaine drew her knees to her chest almost instinctively. As if she were still preparing to defend herself. As if listening didn't equate to trusting.
The silence that followed was thick, heavy with untold years.
Shanks spoke in a measured voice, weighing each word, but without hesitating. There was no turning back now. If Elaine wanted to call him a traitor after this, at least she would know the whole truth.
“Before the crew disbanded,” he began, his gaze fixed on her, “Roger called me aside. I thought it was to say goodbye, like he did with everyone. But no. He took me to the bow of the ship as the sun was setting and said, ‘Shanks, I know who you are. I know where you come from.’
Elaine frowned but didn’t interrupt.
“I didn’t know what he was talking about at first. I… I didn’t know. No one had told me.” His jaw tightened.” Roger told me my father was a Celestial Dragon. That my blood was that of those monsters. That I was the son of one of the most dangerous ones in this place.”
“And how did you end up on the Oro Jackson?” Elaine asked, her voice softer than before.
“Roger found me in a chest during the God Valley incident. Even though he didn’t know how I got there, I suppose someone wanted to give me a chance. Someone who thought a child didn’t deserve to grow up in that hell.”
Shanks lowered his gaze for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts.
“Roger didn't tell me to hurt me. He told me because he trusted me. Because he needed someone to know the truth before he left.” He paused. “Because he asked me something.”
Elaine watched him intently out of the corner of her eye, the resentment slowly replaced by something more complex.
“He asked me to help the next generation,” Shanks continued. “Not to let the world rot as it was. That when the time came, when the King of the World was about to fall, I would be there so that those who came after could sail toward a dawn that Roger would never see.”
Silence settled between them once more.
“That's why I came back,” Shanks said, looking up. “Not because I wanted to. Not because I'm one of them. I came back because I needed to earn their trust. I needed Garling to see me as a loyal son, as another Holy Knight. I needed access to their meetings, their documents, and their secrets. To know how to destroy them.
"And have you succeeded?" Elaine asked.
“Partially,” Shanks admitted. “I've seen things. I know which levers pull the strings behind the scenes. But it's still not enough. One mistake and everything could crumble, and I can't allow that. Not after everything I've sacrificed to get here.”
Elaine remained silent. Shanks couldn't tell if this stillness was a good thing or a bad thing. She stared at him, as if trying to find the lie in his eyes, the crack in his story. But there wasn't one. Everything he had told her was true.
“How can you,” Elaine finally said, her voice barely a whisper, “submit to this? To them. To live among monsters, pretending you're one of them. How can you endure this torture?”
“I don't know either,” he answered honestly. “Sometimes I think I'm going to break. Sometimes, when Garling looks at me with those cold eyes, I feel like he knows. That he's always known and is just waiting for the exact moment to see me fall.”
He paused, staring at his hands. He didn't know when he'd brought them together, clenching his fists in anger, as if he himself believed he was part of it all.
“But then I remember why I do it. I remember the nights at the Oro Jackson, laughing without care, feeling free for the first time in my life, and I know it's worth it. Worth it if, in the end, all this suffering allows others to experience that freedom.”
She looked at him for a few seconds, as if she truly understood what was happening. As if she could see the weight he carried on his shoulders, the years of silence, the decisions he had made, and everything he had sacrificed to get to this point.
“You're a fool to think that” she murmured, looking away, and a small smile appeared on Shanks's lips.
“I know...”
Silence settled between them again. The flames in the fireplace crackled softly, filling the room with warmth that contrasted sharply with the cold outside. Shanks watched her for a few moments. She looked tired. More tired than someone her age should be.
Years without hearing from her. Years spent busy building his own name at sea, assembling a crew, pursuing goals too grand to pause and look back. Over time, the memories became less frequent, hidden among adventures, storms, and battles, until he almost forgot she still lived in that archipelago.
It would be selfish of him to think she had waited for him. That she sat every afternoon on the dock watching the horizon, awaiting the appearance of a ship that might never return. Because he never made her a promise. Never swore he would come back. Never ask her to wait.
Life went on for both, as it always did. While he sailed the seas, she too had grown up. She had found her own path, built her own story far from him, and yet, seeing her, a part of Shanks couldn't help but wonder if ever, even just once, she had gazed at the horizon thinking of him.
“And you?” he finally asked. “I'm a little surprised you're Empress.
Surprise crossed Elaine's face.
"Do you know about Amazon Lily?"
“I just found out.” Shanks scratched the back of his neck, somewhat embarrassed. “I think I'm pretty out of the loop on what's going on down there."
Elaine let out a small, low laugh. For the first time since she'd entered the room, the conversation seemed to have shifted away from Mary Geoise.
“Well, I haven't been Empress that long either.” Her gaze fell to the fire. “It all happened after Roger's execution.”
The smile slowly faded from her lips.
“My father was devastated.” Shanks felt a knot form in his chest.
“My mother kept saying to give him time, that he'd eventually be himself again. But the days went by and nothing changed. Every morning I found him sitting in front of a bottle. Every night he was still in the exact same spot. He drank and drank as if he could drown the pain that way.”
She was silent for a few seconds.
“I’d never seen my father like this. I always thought he was invincible. That nothing could bring him down. But suddenly he seemed… empty.” Her fingers closed on the fabric of her skirt. “I think it was the first time I understood how much Roger meant to him.”
The firelight briefly illuminated her moist eyes before she looked away.
“Then the Kuja arrived.” A tired smile appeared on her face. “And that’s when I found out my mother had been Empress of Amazon Lily.”
Shanks’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Shakky?”
The disbelief in his voice made Elaine chuckle.
“That was exactly my reaction.”
Shanks shook his head. He’d heard stories about Shakky. He knew she’d been a feared pirate in her youth, but he’d never imagined she’d ruled Amazon Lily.
“My mother never spoke of her past. I knew she’d been a pirate, but nothing more.” Suddenly, those women appeared and began speaking of her as if she were a legend.
For the first time she started talking, she seemed to relax a little.
“The Empress back then invited me to visit the island. To see Amazon Lily. To learn about my heritage.” Elaine let out a small laugh. “My father immediately refused.”
The amused expression became more pronounced.
“He didn't even let her finish the proposal. He heard the words 'Amazon Lily' and was practically prepared to throw them out of the bar.”
Shanks smiled; he could perfectly imagine the scene. The women flattering a young Elaine, and Rayliegh leaping from his stool to chase away that pack of snakes before his eyes.
"The problem is that the Kuja don't accept being denied anything by their Empress, much less by a man."
She leaned her head back against the armchair.
“So they decided to take matters into their own hands.” Her smile became genuine at the memory.” They kidnapped me.
Shanks chuckled.
"They did."
"While I was sleeping."
"I can't believe it."
"Neither could I when I woke up in the middle of the ocean."
For a moment, they both laughed.
“Although I think no one was angrier than my father when he found out I was gone.”
The image of Rayleigh waking up to find his daughter kidnapped by a group of Kuja was so absurd, and for the first time since arriving in that room, Elaine seemed to be herself again.
“Didn't Rayleigh come looking for you?” Shanks asked.
A small smile touched Elaine's lips.
“He would have if my mother hadn't stopped him.” She turned her gaze back to the flames in the fireplace, as if remembering that time. “I never knew exactly what she said to him. My father was ready to sail that very night. But somehow, she managed to convince him to let me go. Something about growing up on my own and finding my own way.”
Her smile softened.
“I spent years on Amazon Lily. At first, it was strange. Everything was different from what I knew. But eventually, I adapted. I learned their customs, their history, and their fighting styles. I trained with the Kuja warriors until they stopped seeing me as a foreigner and started treating me as one of their own.”
As she spoke, something shifted in her expression. He leaned back in the armchair.
“When Tritoma, the empress at the time, announced she would be stepping down, several women were proposed as possible successors. I was one of them,” she said, a hint of pride in her voice. “But wanting the position wasn’t enough. You had to prove yourself worthy. The Kuja are very proud. Nothing is given away there; everything must be earned.”
Her eyes sparkled as she recalled those days.
“There were trials and battles,” a smile spread across her face. “Battles that, of course, I won.”
Or the first time since they had begun speaking, she seemed to forget the chains, Mary Geoise, and everything that had happened that day.
“And that’s how I became empress.”
There was a moment of silence between them. It wasn’t awkward; after everything they had talked about that night, it felt strangely familiar. Shanks watched the flames in the fireplace as he listened to Elaine’s breathing on the other side of the armchair. She had always been like this—once she set her mind to something, she wouldn't stop until she got it, no matter how many obstacles appeared in her path. That's why something kept bothering him.
If she had fought to become empress, if she had survived for years among the Kuja and proven herself strong enough to lead them, how had she ended up there? The question had been nagging at him for hours. Ever since he saw her enter the hall in chains, he hadn't stopped wondering what had really happened. Because he knew that look. It wasn't the look of someone defeated. It was the look of someone waiting for the right moment to act.
But he didn't want to pressure her. Too many years had passed between them, and they were only just beginning to tear down the wall that had been built between them.
"Remind me not to mess with a Kuja," he finally murmured.
A small smile appeared on Elaine's lips.
"You'd be naked before you knew it." Shanks chuckled softly.
"I definitely don't intend to find out."
As if summoned, a soft groan of pain echoed from the bed, breaking the tension that had settled between them. They both turned their heads simultaneously. The guard was still tied to the canopy post, beginning to regain consciousness. Shanks raised an eyebrow before shaking his head.
“I think I just checked."
Elaine let out a more genuine laugh, one that reminded him for a moment of the little girl running along the Sabaody docks. Shanks stood and took a couple of steps toward the bed. Observing the reclining guard, he reached for the restraints—very good ones—and began to untie him.
“I'd better take him away before someone notices he's gone from his post. When he wakes up, I'll tell him he had an accident on the stairs, hit his head, and was unconscious for several hours. He won’t remember a woman taking his keys, leaving him naked, and tying him to a bed.”
He turned for a moment to look at her, somewhat worried.
“Besides, you should rest. It's been a long day.”
He was about to bend down to help the guard up when he felt a hand grasp his wrist. He stopped immediately and turned to face her. Elaine was still sitting in the armchair, but the slight smile had vanished. Her expression was different now. More serious. As if she had been gathering the courage to say something she had kept bottled up for too long.
"Shanks..."
Something in her voice made him give her full attention.
"One of mine was captured." Shanks frowned.
"What?" Elaine looked down at the floor.
“Several, in fact.” For a few seconds, she seemed to waver between continuing to speak or remaining silent. Finally, she took a deep breath.
"Girls."
The word landed in the room like a stone.
"The Boa sisters."
Shanks felt something settle in his head. Suddenly, he understood why she was there. He understood why she hadn't escaped sooner. He understood why he still saw that determination in her eyes even after everything that had happened.
"Celestial Dragons..." he murmured.
"Yes." The answer came out dripping with hatred.
Elaine looked away and stared at the flames in the fireplace.
“It was a simple mission. Just reconnaissance. Nothing I haven't done before. But they took several girls from the ship. By the time I arrived, it was too late.” Her fingers tightened on the fabric of her skirt.
"That's why you came," Shanks murmured.
“I came to rescue them. To bring them home. But Garling... he already knew I was coming. He set a trap for me, and I fell for it like a fool.”
"You're not a fool," Shanks said firmly. Elaine almost smiled. Almost.
“Now I’m here, and they are too, somewhere in this damned place, being…” She couldn’t finish the sentence. Her hand clenched into a fist in her lap. “I can’t just stand by and do nothing, Shanks. I can’t.”
Shanks nodded slowly, processing the information.
“Are they Kuja warriors?”
“No, they’re still just children.” His voice was a soft, impatient sigh. “They’re barely training. Hancock has potential, a lot of potential, but right now she’s just a scared little girl who needs someone to get her out of here.”
“Like you,” Shanks thought as he watched her.
Because he saw her do exactly what he had done years before. Shoulder a responsibility too great for one person. Try to save others even when he knew he could lose everything in the process.
The silence grew heavy.
The flames in the fireplace crackled softly, but even that sound seemed distant. Shanks already knew what she was going to ask for before she uttered a single word.
“Help me,” Elaine said, looking him straight in the eye. “Help me get them out. All of them. Not just mine. As many as we can. The slaves who have been waiting for years for someone to do something.”
“Elaine…”
“I know it’s dangerous. I know it could ruin your plan. But if you are who you say you are, if you truly want to destroy them from within… what better way to start than by taking away what they value most? Their toys, their slaves, their damned sense of power.”
Shanks ran a hand over his face.
"It's not that simple. If Garling finds out that I..."
“He won't know.” Elaine leaned forward insistently. “Listen to me. We can set up a prisoner ambush. I'll be the one to escape. The one to organize the revolt. The one to free the slaves. You won't have to lift a finger. I just need you to give me information: routes, guards, and schedules."
“And what about you? If you organize a revolt and escape, Garling will come after you. He'll hunt you down.”
“Let him come after me.” Elaine's gaze was steely, the gaze of someone who didn't fear death itself. “He already has me on his list. It won't change anything. But if I escape, if I free the slaves and take my girls with me... Garling will think I did it alone. He'll never suspect you.”
Shanks studied her silently.
The logic was sound. Too sound. If Elaine managed to escape without leaving a trace, his cover would remain intact, and in the meantime, he would continue gathering information, waiting for the right moment to strike the final blow. But the risk…
“I need a few days,” he finally said. “To study the routes. To identify where they’re keeping the slaves. To find out when there are fewer guards.”
Elaine nodded, suppressing the impatience that she saw inside her.
“In the meantime,” Shanks continued, “you stay here. In this room, recover your strength. You’re going to need it.”
“What if someone comes in?”
“They won’t. My quarters are private. Not even Garling would dare to barge in unannounced. You’re safe here.”
“Safe?” Elaine let out a bitter laugh. “In the wolf’s den.”
“Trust me,” he said, extending his hand toward her. Elaine looked at his hand. Then at his eyes. Then at his hand again.
The gesture was small, yet it carried years of meaning. A bridge across the distance that time, silence, and mistrust had built between them.
Finally, Elaine raised her own hand. Not to shake his, but to point at him.
“If you betray me,” she said, her voice low but deadly, “I swear by the Sun God Nika that there won't be a corner of this world where you can hide from me.”
A real smile finally crossed Shanks's face.
“Do you still believe in Nika?”
“You don't have to be a child to believe in him.”
Elaine said nothing more. But the tension in her shoulders had lessened, just a little, enough for Shanks to notice the difference.
Then she finally took his hand and squeezed it gently.
It didn't feel like a deal or a sealed promise. It was something much simpler, and at the same time, more important. As if they were both reminding each other that they weren't alone anymore. As if, for the first time since they'd found each other again, there was someone else bearing some of the weight they carried on their shoulders.
Shanks was the first to pull away. He blinked uncomfortably before approaching the unconscious guard again. He slipped one hand behind his neck and the other under his torso to lift him. The man was heavy, but after years of sailing and training, it barely felt like a strain to him.
He walked calmly to the door.
“Rest, Elaine,” he said, grasping the doorknob. “We'll talk tomorrow.”
"Shanks."
The redhead stopped without turning around.
“Thank you.
His voice was so low it was almost lost in the crackling of the fireplace. Shanks remained motionless for a moment. Then he nodded once and left the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
When the door closed, silence filled the room once more.
Elaine let out a long sigh and leaned back against the armchair. For a few seconds, she tried to stay strong, but as soon as she was completely alone, she felt all the tension of the day begin to crumble. Silent tears trickled down her cheeks and streamed down her face.
It had been too much. Everything had happened too fast.
That morning, she had been on the deck of her ship, checking routes and preparing for the voyage to the next island. Now she was trapped on Mary Geoise, plotting a rebellion with her childhood friend, who also happened to be the son of the man who had kidnapped her.
She still couldn't believe it.
She remembered the moment she received the news. The exact instant she was informed that the Boa sisters had disappeared. As soon as he heard their names, he ran to the deck and caught a glimpse of a ship sailing away on the horizon.
Without hesitation, she ordered an immediate pursuit.
The chase eventually led her to the Sabaody Archipelago, the place where she had grown up. The smartest thing to do would probably have been to seek out Rayleigh, ask for help, gather more Kuja warriors, and devise a plan.
But she had never been particularly good at asking for help. Besides, she didn't want to drag her Amazons to a place like that. She knew the risks all too well.
From a young age, she had heard stories about slaves. She had seen men and women in chains as she crossed certain mangroves. People sold like merchandise. People treated as if their lives were worth absolutely nothing.
Rayleigh had taught her how to escape chains if she were ever captured. He had taught her to defend herself, to be wary, and to survive. He had also forbidden her from going near certain places. Now she understood perfectly why.
What she hadn't expected was to find the girls so quickly.
She had managed to infiltrate one of the trading houses. She had moved undetected for a while, hiding among corridors and empty rooms. She even caught glimpses of them.
But before she could get close, before she could even break the lock and get the girls out, everything went dark. She didn't remember the blow. She didn't remember who had captured her. The last thing she remembered was the image of the Boa sisters behind those bars, frightened and confused, before waking up hours later in Mary Geoise.
From then on, it had all been a succession of moments that felt like a nightmare. The chains around her wrists. The guards watch her every move. The endless white marble corridors leading her to the hall where Garling's voice spoke contemptuously of her parents as if he had the right to utter their names, and then Shanks.
Shanks standing next to another man identical to him. Shanks wearing the uniform of the Holy Knights. Shanks watching her from across the room as she tried to understand what was happening. For a moment, she had believed that everything she knew had shattered before her eyes. That the boy she used to run with along the Sabaody docks had vanished, becoming one of the people she hated most.
Elaine closed her eyes and let the tears continue to fall silently. She was tired. More tired than she wanted to admit. She felt guilty for the girls, guilty for having failed, guilty for having believed she could handle everything alone. Maybe if she had asked for help. Maybe if she had waited for Rayleigh. Maybe if she had brought more Kuja warriors with her. There were too many "maybes" swirling in her head.
Yet, deep down, she knew that this guilt wasn't truly hers. The real culprits were the men and women who lived in that city. Those who built their wealth on the suffering of others. Those who chained people simply because they could. Those who believed they owned the world and treated human lives as if they were objects they could buy, sell, or discard at will.
For the first time since waking up in that place, Elaine felt something akin to hope. It was small, fragile, and dangerous, but it was there. Because now she had a chance. A chance to destroy them from within. A chance to give them back, even if only a fraction, of the fear they had sown for generations. A chance to rescue the girls and everyone else she could save before it was too late.
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and looked up at the flames in the fireplace. The fire danced slowly, reflecting in her eyes, no matter what she had to risk. No matter how much pain it cost or how many times she had to get up after falling. If there was a way to reduce that place to ashes, she would find
═════════════════════════════════════════════
If you read part one, I think you'll find the name Elaine strange, but I decided to give her a name because I wasn't sure I could write as "She" all the time, but I hope you liked it.
