Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece; that belongs to Eiichiro Oda.

A/N: I have three reasons why this took so long. First, my laptop broke. And I lost everything I had on the Dream, including my old plan. Second, Year 11 started (or the second last year of school) it is known as the hardest year of school simply because the jump from Year 10 to Year 11 is massive I'm also an overachiever so I choose 4 really hard subjects (Math B and C, plus Chemistry and Physics) and I am trying to stay at the top of the classes. Third, with my recent chapters I needed a new plan, it's still in the works but I know it's probably going to get thrown out the window again when I reach Canon, (so not long). I'm very sorry and I hope that you'll continue to read my story. Thank you.

WARNING: I messed up with the timeline, it was an accident! (Jimbei becoming Shichibukai was supposed to have happened in the middle of this time period apparently) Also, short. I had extra but it just didn't fit.

Big thanks to UmberAurumDragon and The Patient One for being my beta reader, to everyone who reviewed, Favorited, and Followed. Here's the chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 36: Assassination?

"I need your signatures! Express our desire to emigrate right here!"

"I-I can't, Your Majesty! It's just not possible anymore! Tiger saved the slaves without regard for species, and Jimbei went on a rampage to save a human he saw as a brother, but the humans, the Government, they killed Tiger and Jimbei's brother anyway! The humans don't even care for their own kind, how can we ever understand each other?"

Otohime sighed, dejected over the lack of success today. Even with Tiger saving human slaves as well as Jimbei having a human family, no one would sign the petitions. In fact, more people were coming each day to take back their signatures. It almost seemed helpless, but she wouldn't give up.

Her family was concerned for her, and Neptune had already asked her to stop. But she couldn't stop. Not now. So, she continued with the speeches, she continued to teach the children about the surface, she organized rescues for the wrecked ships, and she continued to struggle, day in and day out. Exhausting herself even as the numbers of signed petitions dwindled further and further down, until they were all gone.

She stared at the bottles of alcohol she had asked to be delivered to her and grabbed one. Chugging it down despite the vile taste. She continued to drink, tears running down her face and snot hanging out of her nose. This was definitely not a good thing but she swallowed down the alcohol anyway. While she still maintained some sense of clarity, she grabbed the Transponder Snail that would connect her to the whole kingdom.

It could have been the desperation or the alcohol, but what she said was not what she had originally planned and she would later note that it was probably for the best.

"THEY'RE ALL LIARS!" she screamed.

Noticing her outburst into the speaker the minister whispered, "Please stop, you're drunk."

"I said shut up! I'm not drunk!"

"Yes, you are!" he tried to take the transponder from her but she held onto it tight.

"Given that we can live anywhere in the water of this vast, vast ocean and on the dark, dark sea-floor… Why did we choose this place to live?! Isn't it because here we enjoy a little light and air?!"

She drank a little more alcohol, taking a deeper breath and continued.

"The surface has even more light! And an endless sky! Why do our children always sneak away to look at Sabaody Park? There are so many more wonderful places in the world! Like Water Seven, Ohara back in the day, and Drum Island. None of them should be off limits to us! Aren't we just making excuses so we don't have to try?! Jimbei didn't make excuses and he got himself a family with the humans!"

She gasped out another sob that wouldn't be held back. When Jimbei had been apprehended, Neptune had been forced to reveal Jimbei's human family and access to the Dream to quell the masses. The confusion of Jimbei's actions and capture had led to anger and there was no choice but to reveal Jimbei's family. They had made it very clear that Jimbei's Dreamer status could not be revealed to any humans otherwise he would be killed after being tortured to reveal who his family was.

Everyone on Fishman Island promised after realising that these few humans had absolutely no hate for Fishmen and even loved them.

"Please! Gather your courage and go after what you want most! If the humans form an obstacle to our dream, we should find a way to overcome it together! If we did that… We might change the destiny of the children of Fishman Island… for the better! The human children have not been taught to hate us yet! If we were to reach out, they would accept us like Jimbei's siblings and children do! The adults can learn to let go of their hate as well; Jimbei's father, a human, had let go of any previous hate he may have had and raised him! There's still hope for a better future!"

She let the minister rip the transponder out of her grip and cried. It was a gamble, a very big gamble. She hoped it would pay off.

The next morning there was no significant improvement but the hangover wouldn't let her go out so she was forced to stay inside so she really couldn't tell.

But the day after that before she left she overheard of a wrecked ship requesting entry but not receiving any. There was a mention of why they were getting refused access but she ignored it and set off to save them anyway. She had to set an example still.

At the landing of the Celestial Dragon's Ship, Hody Jones glared at the sight before him. A Celestial Dragon, the only survivor of a ship wreck, was lying bleeding on the ground, a gun pointing out at the people surrounding him demanding for a mask while simultaneously insulting them all.

There was no doubt that Celestial Dragons were the worst of all the humans. The World Government followed closely afterwards. The only decent humans were probably Whitebeard and his crew. Of course, Jimbei's family were undoubtedly the best humans out there. While Hody didn't know their names, he did know a bit about them. More specifically, Jimbei's two siblings and his father.

A human that would take care of a Fishman as if he were his own son and do his best to teach him about the world was undoubtedly good. And it was pretty easy to deduce who it exactly was. 'Humming Sword' Brook, Captain of the Rumbar Pirates, the only known person to be a Dreamer not on the Pirate King's crew and currently believed to be dead.

The siblings of Jimbei were easy to find out as well. 'Devil's Child' Robin, the only survivor of Ohara, and Cutty Flam, known as Franky to those close to him and one of Tom's disciples. Franky was the one the World Government killed and Robin's new bounty of 200 million Beri was evidence enough that they were not on the side of the Government, and that the Marines were a bunch of humans that were evil and needed to be dealt with.

They were a danger to Jimbei's family. To Brook and Robin. They had already killed Franky; they could not be allowed to kill any more of the only good humans to ever exist.

"A doctor! Huff Huff" The Celestial Dragon fired a shot. "Get me a doctor! Gasp I'm going to die!" He shot again.

Pathetic. Humans are all weak.

That means Jimbei's family are in even greater danger than he realised. He should have realised this before.

One of them has already died, the likelihood of another dying before they can get to Fishman Island where it'll be safe for them, away from the marines and World Government, is too high. Damn it, what could he do?!

Before Hody could continue thinking on this new problem, he was distracted.

"Where are the doctors?" one of the soldiers asked him, quiet enough so the Celestial Dragon couldn't hear.

Wasn't Jimbei's youngest aspiring to be a doctor?

"They're here, but how should we deal with this?" Hody whispered. "A Celestial Dragon shouldn't be allowed access to what Jimbei's youngest wants to be."

"We should kill him. That kind is the world's worst trash and they are a danger to Jimbei's family!" A fellow soldier muttered.

A collection of Fishmen and Mermen strode over with weapons in their grasp. They stood in a group in front of the fallen Celestial Dragon and glared down at him.

"Hey! You're my slaves! You're coming back with me! When did I grant you fish your freedom?"

Celestial Dragons are the absolute lowest. They deserve to be all wiped out, to protect Jimbei's family and all the members of the Fishman race.

"Stop! He's a Celestial Dragon! It'll nullify your pardons!" a random civilian yelled out. Why'd they support the scum is a mystery to him.

"Stop it, you fools! Don't you realise who I am?! Huff"

"In the world above, your position is protected by the threat of Marine Admirals coming to defend you. But we're in the depths. As long as the people keep quiet this will be no more than an 'accident at sea'!"

The Celestial Dragon's pitiful whimpers and annoying voice finally stopped working as the citizens voiced their support of the former slave's point.

"He'd just hurt Jimbei's family if we let him go!"

The citizens then spoke of torturing the Celestial Dragon before killing him, and Hody couldn't help but let a giant smile break out on his face. The humans would all pay for their actions to Fishmen, mer-people and Jimbei's family alike!

"WAIT…STOOOP!"

"DO ITTTTT!"

"STOP THIS AT ONCE!"

"IGNORANT FISH!"

BANG!

When Otohime finally caught sight of the sunken ship, of a survivor covered in blood with her citizens pointing guns at him, calling for blood, she couldn't help but let a few tears out. The agony and bloodthirst in their hearts made her falter a little. She crashed into the survivor, a bullet grazing her but thankfully missing him.

The confusion and an overwhelming sensation of anger and betrayal made her unable to not stop crying.

"Throw aside your weapons, all of you…! There are children watching!"

Her voice was quiet as she glared with teary eyes at her subjects. How could she have failed them so spectacularly if they thought this was right, that there would be no backlash? If Jimbei was still with the Marines this instant and not in the midst of returning then they could have used the Warlord to get back at them.

The former slaves tried to question her motives of protecting the Celestial Dragon and she tried to explain to them, to not pass their hatred to the children. But before she could finish, Jimbei had arrived at the scene and the people turned to focus on him instead.

To say the Jimbei was the embodiment of Fishman Island's collective hope for a peaceful future was an understatement. The civilians placed all their hopes in him, believing he could make the World Government more accepting of them. The former slaves placed their hopes in him, believing he could keep them free from imprisonment. Fisher Tiger had placed his hopes in him, believing he could overcome his own hate of humankind and accept them.

And he had.

Jimbei had made the World Government more accepting. Jimbei had freed the former slaves of ever going back into servitude again. And Jimbei had overcome any hate he grew for humans time and time again.

Jimbei was the most respected man in Fishman Island, even the royal family was second best to him now. He was their hopes fulfilled. There was a reason why their subjects accepted his status as a Dreamer to never be mentioned to any humans. They didn't want their fulfilled hopes to be broken, their unspoken dream to be broken.

Otohime couldn't help but find it slightly amusing that a Dreamer is the embodiment of their dream.

Jimbei didn't stop running as he entered the area, sprinting towards Queen Otohime and the Celestial Dragon behind her, picking up his gun and pointing it towards her. He disarmed and knocked out the man just as people started to realise what the Celestial Dragon was going to do.

He kneeled down next to his queen and picked her up, moving her away from the dangerous man and towards the doctors. "Someone heal Queen Otohime's wound and someone keep the Celestial Dragon from bleeding out. If another Celestial Dragon knew his purpose of coming here they would call for blood and we must let give them a reason to harm us."

He placed the Queen in the doctor's care and turned to face a squad of soldiers, recognising one of them, he called out for some of them to keep an eye on the Celestial Dragon while he ordered a few to stay by Otohime and make sure she stays safe.

"I'm relying on you, Hody Jones, to keep our Queen safe. If she were to die then we'd have no one to protect us from the Celestial Dragons."

Jimbei would never know that that line would save Queen Otohime's life, and allow Fishman Island to join the Reverie nearly a decade earlier. After all, Hody Jones had realized with that line that she was currently one of the few defences he could use to protect some of the few decent humans in existence.

If Fishman Island had a say in what happens in the world, then they could easily protect Jimbei's family from everything else. They could easily hide them from the World Government. It was common knowledge that Garp was now in charge of hunting down Nico Robin, and even though it was obvious his heart wasn't in it. They needed to find some way to protect her. Or else Jimbei's family was going to get in some very deep trouble.

The animosity towards Fishmen was at an all-time high now, but Otohime would soon ease their suspicions, and bring in a better relationship with the help of Jimbei as a Warlord and Tom as the creator and shipwright of the Sea Train. The network was small now, but it was steadily growing with more and more workers joining in on the construction. It would be quite impressive to see in the years to come.

Coming up Next: Incurable Disease

I hadn't realized that I never made any of the Straw Hats call Robin 'Mother' or Jimbei call the younger ones his 'children' until this chapter. I don't know why I just never did. Ha, can't wait until Garp hears one of the younger ones call Robin 'mum'. Just who should it be, Zoro or Chopper?

On another note, for those of you who know HaruHanabishi and have read their story, please give them your wishes to get better soon. The reason their getting a new car is because it was in an accident (with them inside it).

Responses to Reviews: (10)

DireGrim: Sorry it took me so long to finish this chapter. I always meant to continue but just never had the time. Thank you for helping me finish this chapter with your review.

kumico01: I never thought I'd get someone to feel like that with a response. Thanks! And thank you for liking the angst. I hope you continue to read my story! I'll also get to work on that omake then.

Thorn D. Cinni: Yep, I've thrown my own plan out the window with that. Still hoping I don't throw my new plan out the window again soon. I particularly like what I have planned for Spandam.

Bubble MaKeRr: Chopper does have a sixth sense for when someone in his Dream family is in pain… Next chapter is going to have the chunk that just didn't fit with the rest of the chapter.

UmbraAurumDragon: Thank you! And thanks again for the help with this chapter! My laptop breaking seems to have put a massive road block with getting this chapter up.

Boop-Ba-Doop: With my new plan the reveal is actually going to happen earlier than I previously intended it to be. But I'm still trying to decide on a course of action for Enies Lobby. Spandam could die soon yet.

Her wife: I know, it's growing up so fast. *Starts crying in a corner* I'm sorry I nearly abandoned you! *Comes out of corner* When they meet Vivi, she will gain access to the Dream. If she keeps it is still up for grabs.

Reydrago: Here's a severely late update. And I can tell you it won't be pre-timeskip since he has the blueprints and materials for a better version. (I really want to write Iceberg's, Tom's, and Kokoro's reactions to Franky's new body.)

Unfortunately Sengoku doesn't know this. He has never met her before after all.

Mel72000: You're welcome!

Ghostunderasheet: It hurt me to write it but it must be done. And I agree that that is the saddest thing I've ever heard that I know can actually happen in real life. Argh! I'm sorry Franky, the angst is not yet finished so I must remain strong! And I'm sorry Garp; thankfully I know you and respect you so it won't last long!