Shakky's Rip-off Bar

Flying over the ocean was the easiest thing in the world. The constant evaporation of the seawater created an almost persistent updraft.

"I wonder how long until I reach the Sabaody Archipelago, Mary Geoise is on the redline, and I'm sure I didn't enter the new world."

Shuffling around with my bag of treasure, I sighed as I occasionally flapped my wings to keep me aloft. I had been gliding along for two days now, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could go on without food.

After flying for three days and two nights, I reached my destination, the Sabaody Archipelago. The whole island was one giant mangrove split into sections. Folding in my wings, I picked up speed as the extra weight of the gold pulled me down to earth.

Too late, I realized that I was going way too fast, and the ground was way too close. Opening my wings, I could feel them tearing from the force.

I slowed my descent somewhat, but the landing was rougher than I wanted. I skipped off the ground a few times before coming to a stop.

Groaning, I made sure none of my treasure had spilled out. Somehow it seemed that no one had noticed my explosive entrance.

Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I nodded as I stepped over the pile of debris from my impact. Exiting the alley like an average person, I tried to get my bearings. It looked like I landed in a tourist zone as stores lined the streets.

It took a while to find somebody willing to give directions, but a found a nice lady with a child of her own who was more than willing to provide me with a piece of paper with directions.

Navigating the mangrove was a little disorienting, but I managed on my own. Reading the sign over the bar, I crossed my finger, hoping that I would be in luck.

Opening the door, I looked around the empty bar beside the bartender smoking behind the counter.

"Your Shakuyaku right."

Putting out her cigarette Shakuyaku smiled, "Isn't it proper to introduce yourself before asking someone else's name."

"I believe you might already know who I am, but to keep up appearances, I am Soren D. Arvil," I said as I bowed at the waist.

"Well, aren't you the gentleman and smart as well? So kid, why are you here?"

Placing my bag of gold to the side, I sat down at the bar directly across from Shakuyaku, "Your husband is he around?"

"Oh, trying to make a move on me," Shakuyaku said as she lit another cigarette.

"It would be unwise to make a pass on the wife of the Dark King." Shakuyaku chuckled as she moved to the fridge next to the shelf of alcohol.

"Here, kid, let me make you something, I might not be on my husband's skill level, but I'm no pushover."

There was a brief period of silence before Shakuyaku made her move, "There was a recent slave revolt in Mary Geoise. Have you heard?"

" Can't say I have. I was flying for the past three days."

Shakuyaku wasn't expecting that as she stopped cocking for a few seconds before she resumed as nothing had happened.

"Oh, flying? How was it?"

"It wasn't too bad, but the initial transformation was a pain on my shoulders." I rubbed my shoulder blades, and I could swear they were pointer than usual.

"Here you go, one order of omurice."

I almost cried as I opened the omelet revealing its golden insides, "Thanks, Shakky!" digging into the meal, I had memories of my mother making the same dish for me as a child.

I didn't know whether it was mine or the original Soren's, but I didn't care. I cleaned my plates in a minute, and I washed the meal down with a glass of water.

"Flying must take a lot of energy?" Shakky asked as she started to make another plate of food.

"If you can find an updraft, you can glide for as long as you like. And as much as I've enjoyed this, how about, we stop with the foreplay."

"Taking charge, are we? I don't mind just ready this newspaper for me." Shrugging, I unfolded the newspaper, and the front cover was on the recent slave revolt.

"...Fisher Tiger climbed up the redline with his bare hands to free the slaves of Mary Geoise. But one of the marines we interviewed said that the slave revolt was already underway when the Fish-man pirate arrived."

I put down the newspaper after I finished reading the front page out loud, "I wondered who started the revolt in the first place."

Shakky nodded, "It is a great mystery, but I have a feeling you know what took place on that day."

"What would make you come to that conclusion," I said as Shakky placed another plate in front of me.

"Well, you're stronger than any child has a right to be, and your flying story lines up with the rest of the events. So tell me what happened that day."

Unbuttoning my shirt, I turned around to show Shakky the brand on my back, "I was the one who started the revolt. I've been a slave for the past four years since I was twelve."

"I expected something along that line, but why do you want to find my husband."

"I want him to mentor me. I was able to awaken my Observation Haki on my own, but I still don't know how to use Armament Haki."

For the second time, I made Shakky pause. Awakening Haki on your own was no small feat, and given my age, it was even rarer.

"Also, can I sleep here tonight? I don't have any either place to stay. I can pay rent if you like." I laughed as I rubbed the back of my head.

"You can stay until Rayleigh gets back, then he can decide."

Smiling I plopped down on the couch, "Thanks Shakky-san, I'll see you in the morning."

The warm meal in my stomach and the cushion of the couch dragged me into the dream world, 'Best day ever!'