didn't want to let her go and as so often he pulled her in front of him and hugged her.
Mona was not in the least surprised by this reaction. But if he slept on her shoulder again, he would get a big headbutt for free. It was just too cold for Mona outside so they went in. "No wonder you're cold as thin as you are."
"Watch what you say grass skull." the girl growled and yawned.
Zorro heard the others coming.
The next day the ship was repaired. And the next day they headed for the Dawn Islands."We'll be on the road for another four days." Nami said and ran his finger over the map. "Here we are, there are the Dawn Islands, here are large currents and we pass a group of islands, we should arrange night watch. Ideally always in pairs."
Nami divided up Sanji and Usopp and Luffy and Zorro and Mona. Chopper was happy not to have to keep a night watch. He had hardly slept lately. The navigator even took that into account.
Mona didn't know whether to laugh or cry. A whole night with Zorro. That could only go wrong.
Mona and Zorro took over the first night watch. Wrapped in blankets, they crouched up in the crow's nest and gazed at the starry sky.
He was beautiful but it was shitty cold and almost unbearable, she would have loved to run around, but then she would probably have passed over.
So Mona stayed where she was.
Zorro snored softly. But that didn't matter. She could still wake him up.
The night passed calmly and when Mona reminded her that she was tired, she woke Zorro.
Zorro yawned and opened one eye. "What's happening?"
"It's your turn you lazy sack, I can hardly keep myself awake." said Mona. Zorro was immediately awake. "Who is a lazy sack here, please?" he asked indignantly.
Mona made herself comfortable on Zorro. However, now she could not fall asleep either.
Zorro stroked her hair. "I thought you were so terribly tired."
"Be happy if I stay up for you." the girl muttered.
Zorro's cheeks turned slightly reddish, thankfully it was so dark that Mona couldn't see it.
At some point they both fell asleep.
The next few days were similar. They got up, ate something, did something, then ate again, then did something again and then ate dinner and then went to bed.
>> Tomorrow we come to Dawn. << thought Mona and lay awake in the hammock.
The thought that she might have to leave this crew soon tormented her for several hours. Finally she got up.
She crept quietly outside.
There she was literally received by Zorro.
He leaned against the railing and looked out over the calm sea.
Shivering, she stood next to him.
"What are you doing out here?"
"I can't sleep anymore, can you?"
"Can't sleep either."
Mona had to admit that she liked the Marimo, really liked it.
"Actually, I should be happy, shouldn't I? But with every minute that goes by, I get more doubts." muttered Mona.
Zorro was silent.
He had liked the girl from the start. Before he even knew her name, it was clear to him that she was the woman or the girl after he had searched for so long.
He put his blanket on Mona.
Gratefully, she pulled the warming spring closer to her.
It would be ready in a few hours. They would anchor and step on the island.If she was lucky, her father wouldn’t be on the island anymore and she could stay with them for a long time. But something in her hoped that Shanks would still be on Down.

The next day the time had come.
They anchored and entered Down Island.
Hand in hand with Zorro, Mona felt somehow safer.
"If we want to find Shanks, then in a bar." said the straw hat and went ahead.
And indeed. The first bar they entered brought ripe fruit. Shanks and his crew sat around tables in the bar and laughed.
Ben Beckman spotted the pack first.
"Hey Shanks, look who's coming."
Shanks paused and turned in the chair. His eyes lit up when he saw Luffy.
"Hey Luffy."
"Hi Shanks." Luffy grinned up and down.
"Don't you want to introduce me to your friends?"
"Sure. This is Nami my navigator. Sanji my cook. Chopper the ship's doctor, Usopp the gunner and Zorro my vice."
“And the young lady?” Shanks eyed Mona curiously.
"Somehow she looks familiar to me." said the redhead.
Mona looked from Shanks to Luffy. "Is that Luffy?" she asked again just to be on the safe side.
Shanks laughed.
Mona looked at it carefully, it matched her mother's description of deep red hair, three scars above the eye and only one arm. He also seemed to like to drink.
“Let's sit down.” Shanks gestured inviting to the table. The gang of Shanks celebrated Luffy's presence. While Mona slumped more and more, the others seemed to get bigger and bigger.
She always imagined her father would immediately recognize her hugging her and then ask her about her mother. And then she should have told him the terrible truth.
Shanks had been looking at Mona the whole time. "Now tell me little, what's your name?"
"Mona." she answered uncertainly.
The glass of sake fell from Shanks' hand, it crashed to the ground and shattered there. Ben Beckman eyed his captain. Had he had too much to drink? Or why did he drop such good sake.
"What how did you say your name is?"
"Mona." repeated the girl a little more annoyed. She noticed that they wouldn't get on a green branch like this, so she took out her mother's photo and pulled out the dagger.
"Maybe these things will help you on your way."
Shanks turned slightly greenish around the nasal area. He looked at the dagger, which was clearly the one she had given Juley when he left. Juley was also shown in the photo. He even took the photo himself.
Shanks looked at Mona, he was silent for a long time, the other pirates had stopped shouting and drinking. There was an awkward silence in the bar.
Suddenly the redhead pulled the girl into a tight hug. Tears formed in the corner of his eyes and made their way down his cheeks.
Mona was also overjoyed and hugged Shanks. At last.She had finally found him.
"W ... what about Juley, how is she where is she?" finally brought Shanks out.
Mona pushed her father away from her.
"As for mum ..."
She told in a choked voice what had happened.
Shanks listened, even if every word made it harder to maintain his composure.
"I ... she wanted to know if you still love her." Mona sobbed and again Shanks took her in his arms.
"I love her like never before. Because she gave my daughter life. And because I can hold you here in my arms."
The other pirates began to cry and were touched. All in all, it was very cheesy.
Evening came quickly. Shanks Mona and the straw hats were on the pier.
Mona was just calming the weeping moose when Shanks asked the crucial question.
"And what do you want to do now? Are you staying with me. Or are you following ... your love?"
"Shanks, it would be way too dangerous to take her with you." was Ben Beckman a.
However, that wasn't true, she had struggled through her whole life on her own and Shanks knew that and he appreciated it.
Mona stood there between two fronts between father and love.
How will she decide?
Will she stay with Shanks? The man she wanted to find all her life.
Or does she join Luffy to be close to Zorro?
Two fronts meet a young girl who has often been on the brink of making a decision.
How will it go on?
Is there a sequel at all?

We shall see.

Yeah, I know something like that. But it would be unfair to Zorro if she stayed with Shanks and vice versa.

XP
Maybe you will get part 2 as a Christmas present. But that's still a long way off.
Did you notice anything. Both parents have red hair, only you have black.
X3 and Juley? Who was Juley anyway?
Shanks met her a year after saving Luffy's life.

I don't want praise for this story. No, really not (but actually already XD)

© writed by crazy_Factory 09.10