The crew erupted with joy and begun to party,
Shanks meanwhile was with Goku, as they sat near the bonfire, the heat of the flames casting a warm glow across his face. His usual carefree demeanor was replaced by a thoughtful silence as he glanced over at Goku, who was happily munching on his meat
Shanks couldn't help but reflect on the strange encounter that he had earlier with Goku and his original purpose in coming to this deserted island, as he was contemplating things he saw
Goku savoring the meal with an unusual enthusiasm as if the food would disappear if not eaten fast enough, suddenly his eyes shifted to Shanks. The red-haired man sat beside him, looking lost in thought, his plate empty. Goku blinked in realization.
"Hey, Shanks!" Goku exclaimed, his voice filled with a sudden concern. "You don't have any food! You're just sitting here while everyone's feasting!"
Shanks chuckled, brushing it off with a wave of his hand. "Nah, I'm fine, I'm not really hungry.
But Goku wasn't convinced. His stomach rumbled loudly, reminding him of his own growing appetite, and he glanced at the meat in his hand. He wasn't about to share that—he'd worked hard for that piece of meat! But then he remembered something. A flash of realization crossed his face, and without a second thought, he reached into his bag.
"I got it! I still have this!" Goku pulled out a bright, round fruit from god knows where and gave it to shanks The fruit was large, round, and had a smooth, shiny skin that seemed to shimmer with an ethereal glow. It was purple in color and it had swirls of black streaks running through it like the veins of a marble.
The fruit was the infamous Gomu gomu no mi otherwise known as the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.
Shanks froze for a moment his pupils coming out of his eyes [1] his mind raced. The purpose of his visit is in the hands of this strange monkey boy and for a split second, Goku wondered if he had made some kind of mistake. But before he could even ask, Shanks's intense gaze broke into an uncontrollable burst of laughter..
"Ha-ha-ha! This? This is what you've given me?" Shanks's laughter rang out across the quiet island, echoing in the still night air. His voice, loud and wild, was filled with both genuine amusement and something else—almost as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
The crew, who had been celebrating their recent victory, paused mid-dance and conversation, staring at their captain in a mix of curiosity and confusion. Shanks rarely had moments like this, where he suddenly erupted in laughter for no apparent reason. But to them, it was just another of his quirky moments. They exchanged glances and, shrugging, returned to their revelry as if nothing had happened. They were used to the unpredictable nature of their captain.
Meanwhile, Benn Beckman, Shanks's vice-captain, stood off to the side, arms crossed, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips. His eyes followed the unfolding scene with an amused, almost intrigued expression. He had seen Shanks go through a lot over the years, but this was something new. He knew better than to ask questions now; Shanks would explain when he was ready, but for now, the scene was a source of quiet entertainment.
Goku, on the other hand, was left standing there, looking a little lost, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Uh, did I do something wrong? I thought you might like it."
The sudden laughter had caught him off guard, but he quickly brushed it off, his typical, carefree attitude taking over. "What's so funny about it?"
Shanks wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. "Kid, I can't believe it. Of all the people in the world, it's you who hands me this fruit. The fruit I've spent years hearing about, chasing after, and trying to understand. The Gomu Gomu no Mi. And here you are, just handing it over like it's some random snack."
Goku blinked, his expression shifting to one of complete confusion. "Wait, what? This fruit is that important?" He scratched the back of his head. "I had no idea! I just thought i would save it for desert or something.
Shanks couldn't stop laughing, a mixture of disbelief and exhilaration bubbling within him. "You really are something else, Kid. You don't even know what you have in your hands. But that's the beauty of it, isn't it? The most powerful and dangerous thing in the world, and you just—" he shook his head, still laughing, "—you just gave it to me like it was a fruit you'd pick up in the market."
Goku, still oblivious, smiled sheepishly. "Heh, well, I guess I got a good eye for food, huh?"
Shanks's laughter finally began to die down as he caught his breath, his shoulders shaking with residual mirth. But underneath that laughter was a growing sense of realization, a mix of excitement and something else—something deeper, something that felt like destiny.
"Alright, kid," Shanks said with a tone that was both teasing and probing, "What's your dream?"
Goku blinked, caught off guard by the question. His expression shifted to one of complete confusion as he scratched the back of his head. The question itself felt a little… strange. But after a brief pause, he thought about it, furrowing his brows as if trying to dig deep into his own mind for an answer.
"I don't know about dreams and all…" Goku started, his voice almost uncertain, but then he perked up, a familiar excitement lighting his eyes. "I just like to fight and become the strongest I can possibly be."
Shanks couldn't help but chuckle at the simplicity and sincerity of the answer. It was so straightforward. "The strongest, huh?" Shanks mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I've been with and fought with the strongest of the people, this world can offer and i can assure you that you still have a long way to go ."
"I know, but I'll surpass them all." said Goku in a dead serious manner like it was supposed to be the truth of the world.
Shanks amused by this muttered "Maybe it's fate, that you found the fruit, Kid,". His voice grew more serious now, though his grin remained. "You've got no idea the chaos this fruit could bring, But then again, that's the problem. Nobody knows, what this fruit really means. Not even me."
The laughter faded, and a deep, contemplative silence settled over the two. For a moment, Shanks allowed himself to let go of his former ambitions, the chase for the fruit, and the weight it carried and began to understand his captain's final stand against the world government
As the night continued on, with the crew celebrating in the background, Shanks finally spoke, his voice calm and steady. "Goku, I think you might just be the one to carry the future in your hands."
[1] If you have seen anime, no need to explain it then