Chapter 192 Mother
At the right point in history,
What exactly happened in God Valley, and how many powerful figures ultimately participated in the battle? These questions were no longer within the purview of Violet and Shanks at this point.
But since you've already decided to wade into these muddy waters, then just do your best to have a clear conscience.
Shanks' phone call informed Val that he had successfully found his mother, Ayagya. The woman was pregnant when Shanks found her, and was being monitored and protected by a dozen World Government agents.
But for a Yonko, such protection is no different from paper.
If Shanks had just disbanded the Roger Pirates and hadn't yet visited Mary Geoise to see his blood father and brother, he might have hesitated about taking a pregnant woman away from her husband. But after meeting Grindelwald and Shamrock, Shanks had no more hesitation.
Regardless of whether Grindelwald cared about Ayagia, the fact remains that Ayagia, who had just given birth, along with the infant Shanks and Shamrock, were drawn into the God Valley battlefield, ultimately ending with Ayagia's death, Shanks' disappearance, and his subsequent capture by Roger.
Neither in ability nor in character was Greene a good husband or a good father.
To Shanks' surprise, he thought it would take some effort to appease Ayagya, but he didn't expect that he would be exposed less than two seconds after he appeared in front of Ayagya with half his face covered.
Shanks: "..."
However, what's with calling a masked, suspicious man who looks like a kidnapper "son"?
Shanks' expression turned strange as he looked at the young woman in front of him, who possessed a maternal glow. He now suspected that Grimm had deceived his mother with his face, which had been decent-looking in his youth.
While Shanks was stunned by the title, Ayagia covered her mouth in disbelief and exclaimed, "It really is!"
One of the Four Emperors, who hadn't been outmaneuvered in a long time: "..."
With his identity exposed, Shanks stopped pretending and revealed himself directly. Ayagia looked at Shanks' face, which was almost identical to that of Grimm, and clicked her tongue in amazement.
Ayagya: "But red hair definitely looks better."
Shanks nodded in complete agreement.
After revealing his identity, persuading Ayagya to leave Grimm became much easier. Since he and Violet didn't know when they would leave this timeline, Shanks decided to move Ayagya to a sufficiently safe island.
Of all the places on the open sea, Shanks would say the safest place is none other than Garp's hometown, Windmill Village.
"Waaaaah—"
The baby's loud cry suddenly rang out, and Shanks, who was reaching out his wicked little hand to poke the baby version of Shamrock's forehead, froze on the spot.
Shanks!
Ayagya's angry voice rang out: "Are you bullying Shamrock again?!"
Shanks looked down at Shamrock, who was wrapped in swaddling clothes. He swore he had only poked him lightly, which was nothing to a guy like Shamrock who had a skin thicker than a city wall.
Shamrock's crying paused for a moment after being glared at by Shanks. Then, he reached his little hand out of the swaddling clothes and slapped little Shanks, who was sleeping soundly next to him and sucking his fingers, across the face.
Shanks opened his eyes, stared blankly at the man in front of him, pouted, and then started crying.
"Shanks!" This time, Ayagia was truly furious. She rushed into the room, looked at Shamlock with his forehead red and little Shanks with his cheeks red, her beautiful eyebrows twitched, and she pinched Shanks' ear without any politeness.
"How old are you, Shanks? How dare you bully your younger brother!" Facing her "son" who was older than her, Ayagia showed no weakness in her aura. "It's one thing to bully Shamrock, but Shanks, you even bully yourself."
"Seriously, who raised you in your original world?!"
Ayagia was furious at Shanks's awful floral shorts and unshaven appearance.
Who did this kid learn his fashion sense from? While Greengu's sense of style when it comes to hairstyles is questionable, at least he dresses decently. As for Ayagya herself, she has been skilled at making all kinds of beautiful clothes since she was a child.
No matter how you look at it, it all comes down to that pirate who raised Shanks, what was his name, Roger!
Ayagia glanced sadly at Shanks, who was laughing and forgetting about being slapped by his brother, as Shanks had just been scolded by her.
I really don't know how such a small child could grow up on a pirate ship in the original world.
Although Shanks's interesting adventure stories suggested he was indeed very happy in Roger's crew, Ayagia, as a mother, couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
She gently rubbed Shanks' earlobes, which hadn't even turned red, and then lovingly stroked Shanks' hair.
It was a heartwarming time for the family, but Shanks couldn't help but shiver when he saw his mother looking even younger than him.
Ayagya: "..."
Ayagya slapped Shanks on the forehead, then turned away angrily, saying, "We're not far from reaching the shore. You... you should spend some time with your brother."
After Ayagia finished speaking, she realized that at Shanks' current age, there was really no way he could get along with Shamrock, who couldn't even speak. She nervously clutched her cuffs, unsure of what to say next.
"I..." Shanks hesitated for a moment, "I won't go ashore."
"you?"
Ayagya suddenly turned around, her eyes flashing with a vibrant color like strands of hair.
"If someone sees that I was the one who brought you to the windmill village, it might affect your future..."
"What's wrong with a mother wanting to be with her child?!" Ayagya retorted excitedly, but quickly realized her outburst and lowered her head sadly, saying, "I just... I just feel that I couldn't spend more time with you in the other world, I couldn't... I couldn't be by your side to protect you."
"I feel like a real failure."
According to Shanks, in another timeline, she didn't survive this year, and her two children were forced to separate.
Shamrock was taken to Mary Geoise and became a Celestial Dragon, eventually growing into a powerful, intelligent, and troublesome man.
Shanks, on the other hand, was taken away by a great pirate named Roger and grew up on a turbulent pirate ship, experiencing adventures and interesting stories that are unimaginable to ordinary people, and making many like-minded friends.
Ayagia could tell that Shanks was genuinely happy and joyful as he recounted his adventures and his companions. This made Ayagia happy for Shanks, but at the same time, a thought quietly rose in her heart.
Is her being alive really a good thing for these two children?
In another timeline, she died young and couldn't do anything for her two children, but they still managed to grow into remarkable men through their own stumbles and struggles.
But if she's still alive in this timeline, does that mean Shamrock will never return to Mary Geoise, and Shanks will never be taken away by pirates again? Will their wonderful, extraordinary lives come to an end because of her cowardly existence?
Shanks never expected that Ayagia would fall into deep thought from time to time during this period, and that she would be thinking about such things.
Shanks shook his head vigorously: "Nothing can stop the sea from calling a man. If a man ends his adventure just because of his mother, it only proves that he is not suited for that kind of life."
Shanks knew himself; the sea held a fatal allure for him. Even if he had been the one brought back to Mary Geoise, he would one day rebel and leave that high and mighty, hypocritical holy city for the vast, boundless, free, and beautiful sea.
“If you’re worried about that brat Shamrock,” Shanks stroked his stubble, “I actually think it’s better for him and the world to just stay in Windmill Village, brewing wine and farming…”
Shanks shrugged helplessly: "But I don't think this kid will stay put for long."
Just like the yearning for adventure and freedom flowing through his veins, Shanks felt that what probably flowed in the veins of that bastard Shamrock was an arrogance that considered himself superior and an ambition to become stronger.
"So instead of worrying about that, we should take advantage of these two brats' youth and let them experience childhood." Shanks nodded affirmatively. "Especially Shamrock. The way he ended up in the other timeline is probably related to the fact that he wasn't beaten up much when he was a kid."
Shanks at least had his first mate Rayleigh to keep him in check, but Shamrock, who was brought to the Holy Land? Grimggle couldn't possibly take care of a little brat, and the others responsible for taking care of the Celestial Dragons probably wouldn't dare to say a harsh word to him, let alone beat him up.
Ayagya: "...You two brothers, your relationship is really complicated."
Ayagya gazed at the shimmering light reflecting off the calm sea in the distance: "Is the sea really that interesting?"
She blinked and brushed her wind-blown red hair behind her head: "What you said has piqued my interest too. If I have the chance, I'd like to try it."
"At that time, I might become famous even faster than Shanks in this timeline."
"Huh?!"
"Why are you so surprised?" Ayagia looked at Shanks, who was staring wide-eyed, and couldn't help but smile. "Well, according to you, if Shamrock's ambition was inherited from Gringu, then who did you inherit your desire for adventure from?"
"No matter how you look at it, the answer is only me."
Shanks opened his mouth, surprised at his own talent for comforting people. His words not only relieved Ayagya's anxiety about whether she should live or die, but also inspired her to go out to sea.
"Hmm." Shanks paused for a moment, but thought it was a good development. He looked back at little Shanks sleeping soundly in his swaddling clothes, snot bubbles coming out of his nose. "This brat is going to have some pressure."
Don't end up worse off than your mother and need her financial support.
"Ah, the ship has docked, Shanks. Are you leaving?"
"Um."
"Then, would you like a hug?"
Looking at Ayagia, who had her arms outstretched and looked expectant, Shanks felt a little nervous. He raised his hand to scratch his cheek and cautiously took two steps forward.
Ayagya held Shanks in her arms, gently stroking Shanks' beautiful red hair, which was so similar to her own.
"Go do what you want to do, Shanks."
"No matter what, you are my child, and I will always support you."
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Author's Note: Although I knew that skipping over Shanks' mother's story and giving a "too late to save her" explanation would be the most appropriate choice for the subsequent plot development, I couldn't resist giving this lady a happy ending in the end.
I don't care, Shanks' mother died before Valéry arrived in this timeline. If things are still like this after she arrives, then Valéry's trip was pointless. [Angry]
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