The Radiant Eclipse sailed steadily along the coastline, following the trail of Scopper Gaban's vivre card, which pointed towards the other side of the island.
"This... is the ocean," Makino whispered, standing at the ship's bow with her arms outstretched, feeling the sea breeze on her face.
It was her first time aboard a pirate ship, and everything felt new and exhilarating. She loved it.
But after the initial excitement, she quickly remembered her duties. Looking at everyone aboard, her gaze lingered on Kuke for a moment before nervously glancing away. "Is anyone hungry? I'll go prepare something to eat."
Makino's presence on board meant that meals were no longer just about survival—they were now something to savor and enjoy.
...
At Gaban's Hideout
"Gaban! Hey, Gaban!" Red-Haired Shanks was already excited, leaping off his ship and charging toward the small wooden cabin, even before they docked.
He dashed straight for the hut.
"He's not here?" Shanks muttered, pushing open the door to find the cabin empty.
"Captain, barging in like this isn't polite, especially if Gaban isn't around," one of his crewmates called out in exasperation.
Shanks paused for a moment, before a mischievous grin spread across his face. "Gaban's not here... this is our chance! I know exactly where he keeps his wine stash…"
Like a sneaky fox, Shanks tiptoed toward the cellar, intent on raiding it.
"Oi, Red-Hair, what do you think you're doing?" Gaban's gruff voice came from behind, followed by a swift whack to Shanks' head with a wooden stick.
Shanks immediately stopped in his tracks, looking sheepish as he rubbed his head. "I was just checking to make sure the wine was still safe, Gaban!"
"If you check it, it'll be gone," Gaban retorted with a scowl.
Shanks, unfazed by the scolding, flashed a wide grin. "Gaban, I've brought new recruits, strong ones. They want to try their hand at wielding Ace."
Shanks gave Gaban a friendly nudge, all while signaling to his crew behind him with a wink. The message was clear: grab the wine while you can!
But the crew, including Yasopp, pretended they didn't see their captain's signals. It was too embarrassing to even acknowledge.
"Fine, fine. Just take the wine already and stop being sneaky about it. Just don't drink everything," Gaban said with a knowing look, finally giving in.
Then, noticing Shanks' missing arm, his eyes widened in shock. "Your arm... What happened to your arm, Shanks?"
Gaban's tone was serious, his aura shifting as a fierce and dangerous energy radiated from him. "Who could've taken your arm? Was it Whitebeard? Or Kaido?"
Shanks chuckled, not phased by his missing limb. He grabbed the stump of his arm, and with a cocky grin, said, "I bet my arm on the future."
He didn't care about the loss of his arm. In fact, he was eager. "This time, Gaban, we'll succeed. We're going to take Ace with us!"
Gaban, however, was quick to shoot him down. "You're forgetting the last time you tried. I seem to recall you crying when you couldn't wield Ace."
"Ha!" The crew burst into laughter.
"Wait, Shanks cried?" one of the newer members, laughing hard, asked Gaban. "Can you tell us more about that?"
Immediately, the crew gathered around, eager to hear about their captain's embarrassing moments.
Shanks' face turned beet red. "Get lost! Go grab some drinks or something. And those of you who haven't tried wielding Ace, now's your chance."
Still chuckling, the crew moved toward the drinks, while Shanks gestured toward the massive stone where the sword Ace was embedded. The legendary Supreme Grade Blade, once wielded by the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, was now just sitting there—waiting for a worthy user.
"Limejuice, Bonk Punch, you two go give it a shot," Shanks said, nodding to the relatively new recruits.
As the rest of the crew sat around the rocks and the ground, drinks in hand, they watched with curiosity. A makeshift party had started, as was often the case with the Red-Haired Pirates.
While gulping down a drink, Lucky Roux leaned over. "Any bets? Who thinks Limejuice can handle Ace?"
"I'll bet ten barrels of rum that he can't," one of the crew replied.
Lucky Roux frowned. "Yeah, I'm not taking that bet."
Shanks, trying to maintain a serious face, chimed in, "Believe in our comrades! I'm sure they'll surprise you."
Yasopp quickly jumped in. "Alright then, how about we bet against you, Captain?"
Shanks' hand froze mid-drink. He simply pretended not to hear, turning away and engaging Gaban in a completely unrelated conversation.
"They're a good group, Shanks," Gaban said, watching as Limejuice and Bonk Punch approached the stone with Ace. "Maybe... just maybe, one of them will be able to wield Ace, after all these years."
Shanks grinned proudly. He had high hopes for his crew, and even though Ace had rejected him in the past, he still believed one day, it would find a new master.
With everyone watching, Limejuice stood before the legendary sword. He took several deep breaths to calm his nerves. The weight of what was in front of him was staggering. This wasn't just any sword—it was the former weapon of the Pirate King himself.
Ace was a Supreme Grade Blade, one of the best in the world.
Finally, Limejuice reached for the sword's hilt, gripping it firmly. In one swift motion, he pulled Ace from the stone, causing the crew to collectively hold their breath.
"Boom!"
Limejuice swung Ace, and a powerful slash cut through the air, sending waves across the sea.
But in the next instant, Limejuice's face turned pale. He was visibly struggling, his arms shaking as he held the sword.
A collective sigh escaped from the crew.
"Well, that's it," Shanks muttered, shaking his head.
Ace wasn't just about being able to pick it up. Anyone with enough physical strength could grab the sword. But to truly wield it, one had to be in sync with its power. For Limejuice, like many others before him, it was clear that Ace rejected him.
The sword's immense power was too much for him, and instead of empowering its wielder, it drained him. Not being able to use Ace effectively was more of a curse than a blessing.
"It was worth a try," Shanks said, patting Limejuice on the back. "No shame in it. Ace is... picky."
The crew laughed it off, returning to their drinks and camaraderie, but deep down, they all hoped that one day, someone in their crew would prove worthy of the legendary blade.