High above Fishman Island was the capital of the World Government, Mariejois the Holy Land. This city, always covered with fog due to its height matching the clouds in the sky, was where the Celestial Dragons and their slaves lived.
One such slave was a woman named Kasumi, who had black hair and had skin colored light blue. Kasumi was the product of a marriage between a male Bluefish Fishman and a mermaid. Though Kasumi inherited several biological traits from her father (such as, gills, legs, and strength ten times that of a normal human being), she had similar facial features to her mother.
However, this beauty would haunt her as it caught the eye of human pirates raiding the Fishman District looking for mermaids to kidnap and sell to the highest bidders at the auction house at Sabaody. What a curiosity she made! A slave who, though looking like a mermaid in the prime of her youth, had legs.
She was purchased by a Celestial Dragon named St. Cygnus, who put her to work in his home. But, she would find, much to her disgust, he had much more insidious plans in mind for her than just scrubbing his floors.
Kasumi shuddered as she remembered every time she had to have Cygnus inside her. And now, she was carrying his spawn.
Her child, his child. The child, though full Celestial Dragon status would be out of reach for them, due to their Fishman blood, would still be elevated above most of the creatures living in the world.
Due to her pregnancy, Kasumi was given a respite from the most grueling of her usual tasks. But, she spent most of her days, fearful of what kind of person her child would grow up to be, under the guidance of his father.
This fear was personified by Cygnus' ten-year-old son, St. Alessio. Alessio was the product of Cygnus past marriage to a late second cousin and was thus, granted full status as a Celestial Dragon. Like all his class, Alessio was raised from birth to believe himself to be a God, that he could do no wrong, that the 'commoners' were mere toys to be thrown away once he was done using them.
"Move, slave!"
Kasumi looked out the window to see, down in the courtyard, young Alessio sitting upon his 'mount' (a human slave lying on his stomach, unresponsive), screaming "I said move!"
The boy's attendant spoke up, "I believe he is unconscious, sir."
At this, Alessio growled and began kicking the 'mount' in the back of the head, "Worthless piece of trash!"
…
Under the sea, the sawshark Fishman pirate captain Arlong watched the coming of a ship with a black flag. A pirate ship, no doubt another crew of filthy humans here to kidnap the people of Fishman Island.
"Ready?", he turned to his crew, to which they enthusiastically shouted, "Ready, Big Bro!"
Among their number, was their latest recruit, Keiji, who had held a grudge against human pirates ever since they kidnapped his sister, Kasumi. Heaven only knew what torments they were subjecting her to at this very moment. It made his blood boil, making him relish any chance for revenge.
"Charge!"
At the order, the crew rushed up to the bottom and bow of the ship, attacking it will all their might. Within seconds, it was crumbled and sinking.
The Arlong Pirates seized the humans aboard and held them under the water, drowning them to the last man. A fitting end for those that wished to prey upon their people.
…
"Free cheers for Arlong!"
The denizens of the Fishmen District gathered around to celebrate the latest triumph of the Arlong Pirates.
"All in a day's work," the local hero bashed in the adoration, "Teaching those filthy humans who the true superior race is."
While the celebration was ongoing in the neighborhood, Keiji was skulking in the corner. No matter how many humans he killed, he still hungered for more. Vengeance for his sister was all that was driving him.
"How you feeling, brother?"
Keiji turned to see Arlong approach with a concerned look on his face, "Great, big bro."
"You thinking about your sister?"
"Every day."
"I'm sorry."
"Now, then," Arlong changed the subject, "what do you think about letting some new blood join the crew?"
Keiji was curious, "New blood?"
"Y'know, the kids in the district, like Hody and his friends."
Arlong was referring to a 15-year old Great White Shark Fishman and his group of friends (a Hammerhead shark Fishman named Dosun, a Japanese wobbegong Fishman named Zeo, a cookie-cutter shark named Daruma, and a giant squid Fishman named Ikaros), who, ever since they were little, gathered around Arlong whenever he came back from a raid and held on to every word he said as if it was holy gospel.
"Aren't they a little young?"
"Yes, but I can tell they have spirit," Arlong smiled, "In a few years' time, they'll be true soldiers of the cause."
…
The Red Line was the continent directly above Fishman Island. It was where the Holy Land stood and where the two halves of the Grand Line were cut off.
At ten thousand feet high, it was thought to be impossible to climb. But this would soon be dispelled as the adventurer, a huge sea bream Fishman named Fisher Tiger, through sheer will and determination had just managed the feat.
Tiger stopped to catch a breath when one of the city guards, carrying a lance, spotted him. A lone Fishman carrying several weapons (three swords, a pistol, and a bazooka) on his back.
"Halt," the guard demanded, "Who goes there?"
Tiger jumped up and kicked the guard in the face, knocking him out.
…
"What goes on here?", Jinbe, a high-ranking soldier in Neptune's Army, had just arrived on the scene of a brawl which had occurred in the Fishman District. He was surveying the damage when a soldier came up to him.
"Boss Jinbe, sir," the soldier reported, "there was a brawl between two of Arlong's boys and some of Willy's."
It was a frequent occurrence that, after Arlong came back from a triumph, some of his crewmates, with swelled heads from the victory, would go out causing trouble.
The two Arlong pirates involved in the incident was the namesake's 1st mate, a ray Fishman named Kuroobi and another officer of the crew, a smelt-whiting Fishman named Chew.
Willy was a rival of Arlong's within the Fishmen District and a powerful gang leader within his own right. They had been fighting over turf for years.
"Take all of them away," Jinbe glared at the punks, "A night in jail ought to cool them off."
…
St. Cygnus had just gotten to his estate, after an immensely enjoyable dinner at his friend's estate. Due to Kasumi's pregnancy, Cygnus turned elsewhere for his usual…proclivities, so as to not risk a miscarriage. His fellow nobles were all to happy to lend him their own slaves to satisfy him.
"Welcome home, sir," his attendant greeted him.
"Is Alessio in bed yet?"
"Yes, sir."
"And what of Kasumi?"
"In her chambers, prepared for your arrival, sir."
"Excellent."
After all, just a little time couldn't hurt the baby too much, couldn't it?
When Cygnus stepped inside her room, Kasumi was sitting on her bed, dressed in a thin rag. She bowed her head, "Master."
"Assume the position," Cygnus nonchalantly told her.
Kasumi turned around, but before he could do the deed, Cygnus noticed a large red Fishman standing in the doorway.
"What in the-," as a reflex, Cygnus pulled out his pistol and prepared to shoot, but Tiger drew faster (his own pistol being much larger) and fired first, hitting the noble in the chest.
Cyrus collapsed, his last moments spent staring in shock at his chest wound, before dying.
Terrified (for the consequences that might befell her, not for Cygnus' fate), Kasumi cried, "Do you know what you've done?!"
"Quiet," Tiger paused (the last thing he expected to see was a Celestial Dragon standing around in the slave quarters, "Tonight is the night you and all the others suffering in bondage in this city shall gain their freedom."
"What are you talking about?"
"Let me see your collar."
Tiger stepped forward and, after a minute of examination, removed the slave collar from her neck.
"How did you-," Kasumi touched her neck in awe.
"No time," Tiger took her hand and led her away, "follow me."
Once outside, Kasumi gasped, "By Heaven…"
The Holy Land was burning.
…
Alessio awoke to a startling sight. Outside his window, there was a brightness all around the city.
He began sweating as he felt the temperature was up rapidly.
"Father?"
He turned to his door to find smoke coming through the edges. Terrified, he cried, "Father, help! Servants, help!"
Alessio leapt out of bed and rushed for his door. His hands burnt at the touch of the doorknob. He held his burnt hand as he drew back into the corner while the fire entered his room.
"Aaaagh!" was his cry as the fire embraced him.
…
"Run!", Tiger bellowed at Kasumi, "Run and don't look back!"
He drew his sword to cut down any guard that dared to stand in his path.
Kasumi ran out of the city. Amidst a mass of slaves of all shapes, sizes, and species. Running to seize their sudden chance for freedom.
…
King Neptune was sitting on his throne while holding his newborn daughter, Shirahoshi, in his arms when one of his soldiers barged into the throne room.
"Your majesty!", the guard cried.
"What is it?", Neptune asked.
"The Holy Land is on fire!"
At this proclamation, Neptune was shocked. The Adventurer had really done it, after all…