Chapter 6: A Queen’s Call, Whispers of Departure

[Note:

" * " : Indicates abilities that can be upgraded with practice, experience, or unique opportunities.]

> System inner voice ["speaking"] <

> Ash inner speech "speaking" <

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At Makino's bar, a few days after the events with Higuma. The bar is bustling with lively conversation and clinking mugs, the atmosphere light and carefree despite the tension of the recent incident.

Shanks, his crew, and the village residents have settled into their usual jovial routine, enjoying their time together. Laughter fills the air as Uta, Lucy, and Ash sit among the crew, their mood lifted after the stormy events.

Despite the celebration, there's an underlying energy of change in the air, as if something significant is about to unfold. The bar, once filled with laughter, now seems quieter as the crew waits for something to happen, and everyone, knowingly or not, feels the anticipation building.

Shanks sat back in his chair, a nostalgic smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he surveyed the room. The laughter of his crew and the clinking of glasses filled the air, but his thoughts wandered back to the past. "You know," he began, his tone lighter than usual, "there was a time, a long time ago, when I sailed under the Pirate King himself—Gol D. Roger."

Lucy, sitting at the bar with Ash and Uta, listened intently. She had heard tales of Roger, but this was the first time Shanks had spoken about him so directly. Her eyes widened in curiosity, and she leaned in closer, eager to hear more.

"Roger wasn't just a Pirate King, you know," Shanks continued, his voice tinged with admiration. "He was a force of nature. The kind of guy who could change the world with just a smile. But more than that, he was a man who understood what it meant to be free." Shanks paused, the memory of his former captain flooding back with vivid clarity. "When I was in his crew as a rookie, I didn't know what I was getting into. But it was adventurous the time I spent with them and I knew I was part of something special. Roger and the others... they were like family to me."

Shanks' grin grew wider as he thought of the times spent on the seas with his crewmates. "And then there was Buggy," he added with a playful chuckle.

"Ah, Buggy..." one of the crew members teased, and the others followed with knowing smirks.

Shanks let out a hearty laugh, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "Yeah, Buggy and I, we go way back. That guy always had big dreams. He was always going on about how he'd find the biggest treasure someday—pretty funny, huh?"

Lucy blinked in confusion. "But... wasn't also Buggy with you on Roger's ship?" she asked, still trying to piece together the connection.

Shanks nodded. "Yeah, he was. And he's still that same guy. Always talking about becoming the greatest, even though he was afraid of every little thing that came his way." He shook his head, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement. "I remember when Buggy first ate that Devil Fruit. I had no idea what it was, but he was all excited about it. 'It's a treasure!' he kept saying. Well, turns out, he was right—sort of. That fruit changed his life, but not in the way he thought."

Ash chuckled, recognizing the reference to Buggy's fruit abilities. "You're the reason he ate the Devil Fruit?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Shanks gave a knowing smile. "Not directly, but I might as well have been. He found it and decided it was the key to his grand adventure. I still don't know how he didn't lose his head over it." Shanks laughed at the thought, shaking his head fondly. "But I can't deny, it was an interesting ride with him. He always kept things... lively."

The crew snickered, already familiar with Buggy's eccentricities. One of them, with a grin, added, "I bet he still hasn't let you live that down."

Shanks rolled his eyes but smiled. "Yeah, he never lets it go. But that's Buggy for you. Always looking for a way to stand out." He looked off into the distance for a moment, his gaze softening. "Those were good times, though. We all had our roles to play, even if Buggy's was... uh, a bit more colorful than most."

Lucy sat silently, her eyes sparkling with wonder as she listened to Shanks recount his time with Roger's crew. She could sense the respect Shanks had for Roger, not just as the Pirate King, but as a man who valued freedom above all else.

The crew, though familiar with the stories, teased Shanks a little more, nudging him and making playful comments. But Shanks simply laughed it off, his eyes glinting with the same carefree spirit that had made him the captain he was today.

"So, you really sailed with the Pirate King's crew?" Lucy asked again, her voice full of awe.

Shanks chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, I did. But even back then, I knew I had to find my own adventure. It wasn't about following Roger's footsteps. It was about creating my own path." He looked at her with a grin. "And you'll have to do the same, Lucy. Don't worry about the past. The world's waiting for you to make your mark."

Ash smiled at Lucy, seeing the excitement light up her eyes. The rest of the crew exchanged knowing glances, the teasing about Buggy fading as they realized Shanks was being serious for once. The mood was lighter again, but Lucy, Ash, and Uta were all thinking about the journey that lay ahead for them, inspired by the man who had once sailed with the Pirate King.

As the laughter from Shanks' story began to die down, Lucy stood up, her hands clasped together with a newfound sense of determination. The bar grew quiet as her presence filled the space, drawing the attention of everyone around her. Her gaze swept over the crew, her heart racing as she prepared to say something she had kept to herself for some time.

"I've been thinking," Lucy began, her voice soft but clear, with a trace of excitement. "About the kind of pirate, I want to be, and what my future holds. I've decided…" She paused, taking a deep breath, locking eyes with Ash, Uta, and Shanks before speaking again. "From today, my dream is…"Lucy start's revealing her dream.

The room seemed to hold its breath, the weight of her words settling in.

"To achieve that dream, I'll become Pirate King, and the freest person on the sea."

The bar erupted into laughter. Shanks and the crew burst into teasing comments, unable to hold back their amusement.

"A girl becoming Pirate King? That's a first!" one of the crew called out, earning more chuckles. "Your dream it's not possible to achieve" some others called out while laughing continuously hearing her.

Lucy's expression didn't waver. Her grin only grew wider. "You'll see. I'm serious. I'll become Pirate King and achieve my dream."

The teasing continued, but there was a glint of respect in their eyes now. The crew could see the fire in her words, the unshakable resolve.

Uta, always supportive, joined in with a laugh. "If Lucy can't be Pirate King, she'll just be Pirate Queen!"

Lucy's eyes sparkled with a new energy. "Exactly! I'll be Pirate Queen! The freest person on the sea!"

Ash, who had been quietly listening, chuckled and added, "Then I'll be Pirate King!"

Lucy rolled her eyes but couldn't help but laugh. "You? Pirate King?"

"Why not?" Ash shrugged, a playful smirk on his face.

"Ash, You Meany I'm going to be Pirate Queen not you." Lucy shouted her teeth becoming shark-like.

Uta again chimes in middle and tells lucy," Lucy if you're becoming Pirate Queen, Ash can't become Pirate Queen. So instead, he can take Pirate King". Lucy hearing this tells "Tadashii yo"(that's correct) punching her hand understanding. She then turns to ash and gives a thumbs up saying "Ash you take the Pirate King title I'll be Pirate Queen." 

Ash chimed in, laughing along with everyone. "Then it's decided, I'll be Pirate King!"

Shanks leaned back in his chair, amusement dancing in his eyes seeing their interaction but with a thoughtful edge to his smile. "Pirate King and Pirate Queen, huh? That's no small feat," he said, his voice light but serious. "You two've got guts, I'll give you that."

"Well, I'm going to prove I've got what it takes," Lucy declared, her voice full of resolve.

The crew cheered, enjoying the liveliness of the moment. But as the laughter subsided, Shanks grew quiet, his mind drifting back to a time long past. He remembered the man who had once shared a dream similar to Lucy's—the man who had given him this very hat. His thoughts lingered on Gol D. Roger, and the words he had shared with Shanks before parting ways.

Lucy's dream, the same ambition to become the Pirate King, mirrored what Roger had once said. That thought resonated deeply with Shanks. He knew the road ahead would be long and dangerous for Lucy, just as it had been for him. But the fire in her eyes reminded him of a time when he had believed that dream could become a reality.

"You're serious about this, huh?" Shanks finally spoke, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "Then you've got one hell of a road ahead of you. But that's what makes it worth it."

Lucy nodded firmly. "I'm ready for it."

Ash, his tone as serious as hers, added, "I'm ready too. I'll give it my all."

Shanks smiled, remembering Roger's words before handing him the Straw Hat. "Remember," Shanks said with a wink, "being Pirate King or Pirate Queen isn't just about the title. It's about proving to yourself that you can be the freest person on the sea and protect those who matter."

Lucy raised her glass, her eyes shining with excitement. "To becoming Pirate Queen!" she declared.

Ash raised his own glass with a grin. "To becoming Pirate King!"

As the lively conversation continued, Shanks casually dropped a piece of news that caught everyone off guard.

"In three months, we'll be setting sail again," Shanks said, leaning back in his chair. "We'll be leaving after we celebrate Uta's birthday."

Lucy's smile faltered as the words sank in. Her heart dropped at the thought of her friends leaving. She had been through so much with this crew, and now the time was coming to say goodbye. It felt like the reality of it was finally hitting her. The thought of losing Ash, Uta, and the rest of the crew made her chest tighten.

Uta, who had been quietly listening, glanced at Lucy with a sad smile. She could see the hurt in her friend's eyes. They'd become so close over the last few months, and now it felt like the time was drawing near for them to part ways. It was a painful thought.

"Wait, when is Uta's birthday?" Lucy asked, trying to distract herself from the unsettling thoughts.

"October 1st," Shanks answered, his voice light.

Lucy raised an eyebrow, looking at Uta with a playful frown. "Why didn't you tell us earlier?"

Uta smiled nervously, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "It... it didn't really come to mind."

Lucy laughed, shaking her head. "Well, in that case, it's going to be a big party. No excuses!"

The crew burst into laughter, teasing Uta. Shanks gave her a knowing smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, it'll definitely be a big one. Anything less wouldn't do for our diva!"

Lucy grinned, a glimmer of excitement returning to her face. "That's right. It'll be a celebration to remember!"

The mood lightened as the crew continued to joke, but the underlying sadness lingered in the air. Everyone knew that the time was approaching for Shanks and his crew to set sail once again, and though they didn't speak it aloud, the weight of the impending goodbye was felt by all.

As the conversation around him continued, Ash's mind began to drift. The weight of the decision he'd been putting off for so long pressed down on him with growing intensity. He had been silent about it for weeks now, but it was becoming clear—it was time.

"I can't stay with them forever..." he thought, watching Shanks and his crew laugh, oblivious to the conflict swirling inside him. "I'm not part of their crew. Not in the way they think I am. This journey, their journey... it's not mine."

He glanced at Lucy, who was laughing along with Uta, her excitement undeniable. The thought of leaving her and Uta behind after all they had been through, after everything they'd shared... it hurt. But he knew that his path wasn't the same as theirs. He wasn't meant to sail the Grand Line again with Shanks. He wasn't meant to chase after the same dreams.

"I'll stay with them, at least until Uta's birthday..." Ash reasoned with himself, his gaze flicking back to Shanks. "I owe them that much. I owe Uta that much. But once the celebration's over... I need to be honest."

The crew's laughter filled the room, but to Ash, it felt distant, like the sound of a world he was about to leave behind. "After Uta's birthday... I'll have to tell Shanks. No more running away from it. It's time for me to step away and find my own way."

As he looked at the happy faces of his friends, Ash couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. But deep down, he knew this was the right choice. "This is my journey. I've to decide how it goes and it's time to start it."

To be continued...

Hey everyone! I'm always looking for ways to make this story even better, and I'd love to hear your ideas. What powers do you think should be available in Ash's store? Maybe you have some cool concepts for abilities, weapons, or items that could make the adventure even more exciting!

Feel free to drop your suggestions in the comments, and if there's anything specific, you'd love to see in future chapters, let me know! I might even integrate your ideas into the story.

Also, don't forget to give some Power Stones if you're enjoying the journey! Your support means the world. 😊