One Piece: After Life

After Life

Sitting in a quiet tavern on an island somewhere in the Grand Line, Shanks, the captain of the Red-Hair Pirates, nursed a glass of whisky. His usual carefree grin was absent, replaced by a somber expression. In his hand, he toyed with a lock of red and white hair—the hair of his daughter, Uta, the greatest diva the world had ever known.

Benn Beckman slowly approached, his footsteps barely audible on the creaky wooden floor. He laid a firm hand on his captain's shoulder. "Captain... we should be heading out. We all loved Uta and miss her, but we can't stay here forever."

Shanks didn't respond at first. He shrugged off Beckman's hand, downed the rest of his whisky, and set the glass on the bar with a heavy thud. Slowly, he stood, his movement a bit unsteady, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. Bonk Punch, with Monster perched on his shoulder, stepped up beside Beckman.

"He's drunker than usual," Bonk Punch muttered under his breath, his massive arms crossed.

At a nearby table, Yasopp and Lucky Roux sat watching their captain. Yasopp, usually relaxed, looked tense as he stared at Shanks.

"Give him a break, Bonk," Yasopp snapped, his tone sharper than usual. "He just lost his daughter. Let the captain have some time."

Lucky Roux, usually always seen munching on something, nodded in agreement, his ever-present grin absent. "Yeah... it's not easy. Not for any of us."

The tavern fell quiet for a moment, the crew's mood as heavy as the air itself.

"It's been a few months now," Bonk Punch grumbled, his deep voice cutting through the silence. Monster nodded in agreement, the Monkey perched on his shoulder mirroring his master's frustration. "We can't just sit here while all the other pirates get ahead of us. With the other Emperors out there... he can't afford to be off the sea for too long."

Shanks, who had been silent until now, shot a sharp glare at Bonk. His hand instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword, the tension in the room skyrocketing. The crew watched closely, ready to step in if needed. Yasopp stood, ready to calm things down, but before anything could escalate further, the door to the tavern slammed open.

Hongo, the Red-Hair Pirates' doctor, burst into the room, panting heavily and clutching an ancient-looking book in his hands. His face was flushed, and his breath came in gasps, but his eyes sparkled with excitement.

"I found it, Captain!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the tension. "The island—the one we've been hearing rumors about. Advanced medicine, technology beyond anything we've ever seen. It might be the key... the key to bringing Uta back!"

The room went silent as all eyes turned toward Hongo, the weight of his words sinking in. Even Shanks, who had been ready to draw his sword, froze. For the first time in months, there was a flicker of hope in his eyes.

Shanks seemed to sober in an instant, his sharp eyes focusing on Hongo. "You found Medeina?"

"Yes, Captain," Hongo confirmed, his breath still labored as he laid the ancient book down on the table. He flipped it open to a page that depicted a mysterious island, surrounded by swirling waves and strange symbols. "And it's not far from where we are now. If the stories are true, this place holds medical tools and medicines far beyond anything the world has ever seen... even more advanced than Vegapunk's creations."

Bonk Punch scratched his head, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Hold on... what are we talking about here?"

Shanks let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temples before turning to Bonk and the rest of the crew. "We haven't been sitting on this island just for the booze, Bonk. Hongo needed time to research the stories... the legends about Medeina Island. It's said to be a place of miracles, where any illness or injury can be healed. If there's anywhere in this world that can bring Uta back... it's there."