Part 15: Hachi in trouble
"Alright lets get going Megalo," Star said as the shark swam away from the tower.
"Hey so why did we have to leave anyway," Luffy said before looking back at the tower, "Wait what happened to those guys," he said looking at the wounded pirates.
"Long story, that's why we need to get Shirahoshi away from them," Star said, "Stay safe everyone," he thought.
"Mister Luffy, Mister Star where are you going," Brook said.
"Just what opened those doors," minister of right said looking confused, "Wait skeleton we have to make sure the princess is safe immediately," he said.
"Wow you really are a bone driver aren't you, Yohoho," Brook said.
"I don't know what you mean, just get in there already," he said before they walked into the room to see a large empty bed.
"No shes gone, someone's taken the princess, who could have done this," the minister of right said looking surprised.
"Wait the mermaid princess is gone," Brook said.
"This is just awful, how could this have happened at a time like this," the minister of right said as one of the wounded pirates stood back up.
He brought up his sword only for Brook to block him, "Just what do you think your doing," he said as he pushed the pirate back.
"Where is it," another pirate said standing up.
"The switch thats opens the passageway to the palace," the first pirate said speaking slowly because of his wounds.
"Quickly skeleton, we have to inform king Neptune on whats happened," the minister of right said.
"Quickly tell us where it is, or else were dead," another pirate said holding up a sword.
"Just what are they talking about," Brook said.
Meanwhile back at Coral hill. "Well theres goes my chance of getting to the palace to see the princess," Sanji said standing in front of the injured soldiers.
"Then again they were trying to lock me up," he said.
"What are you doing when you should be recovering and you just took out all the soldiers," Chopper said.
"Hey they were in the way and you took some of them out too with your Kung fu point, very impressive by the way," Sanji said.
"I'm not happy I beat them up," Chopper said, but still ended up dancing happily anyway. They then heard the sound of a woman screaming.
"A woman in trouble," Sanji said looking in the direction of the scream.
"I wonder whats going on," Chopper said.
"We need a doctor," a female voice said.
"I'm a doctor," Chopper said as he and Sanji ran over to what was happening.
"What happened to him," a voice said.
"Wait isn't he from the fishman district," a fishman said before Sanji and Chopper look surprised at what was in front of them.
"What the," Sanji said looking shocked.
"Hachi," Chopper said. In front of them was Hachi, who was wearing casts and had arrows sticking out of his back.
"Hachi its us, Sanji and Chopper," Sanji said.
"Who did this to you," Chopper said.
"Oh its you, I'm glad to see you guys, wheres straw hat," Hachi said.
"Never mind that, we need to get you treated right now," Chopper said.
"No, you need to gather your crew and get out of here now," Hachi said making them look confused.
"What do you mean?" Sanji asked.
"Its best if you guys don't get involved with fishman island right now, the new fishman pirates are making their move, the Ryugu kingdom is in danger," he said.
"You have to go," he said.
The two straw hats look confused, wondering just what had happened to Hachi.
Flashback:
"Bahohoho, alright you human pirates under Hody Jones, listen up my names Vander Decken and today you'll be taking part in a historic mission," Vander Decken said.
"Wait did he say Vander Decken," one of the pirates said.
"Don't worry I'm just a descendant of Vander Decken, but I am cursed since iam a fishman and I cant even swim," Vander Decken said, "But I still have the power of the mark mark fruit, now who will be the first up,".
"Hody," a voice said getting everyones attention. The fishman looked to see it was Hachi who had casts on.
"Is that Hachi,".
"Hachi," Hody said looking annoyed.
"You better stop this right now and stop taking those energy steroids as well otherwise your going to get yourself killed Nyau," he said, "Why would you want to destroy fishman island anyway and don't underestimate king Neptune,".
"Oh shut up, I cant believe we once looked up to you as one of Arlongs officers," Hody said, "Now your nothing but a coward and King Neptune is the only one in our way in showing the humans that we are the superior race, that was your teachings,".
"But Arlong lost, you know that and you two," he said looking at Vander Decken and Hyozu, "Why are you here, you didn't answer Arlongs call years ago so why are you helping these upstarts now,".
"Helping," Hyozu said looking drunk, "Their paying me and Arlong couldn't afford to hire me and I feel sorry if you were the best swordsman he could find,".
"Bahohoho, so your Hachi from the Arlong pirates, Arlong tried to hire me as one of his flunkeys but I would never be anyone's flunkey and Hody knows that," Vander Decken said.
"I always respected Arlong and his ambitions, but he was rough and lacked Finesse," Hody said, "While you were up there on the high seas we were to young to be pirates, but were all grown up now and we wont fail like he did," he said.
"That's why I will carry on Arlongs will, I am his successor," he said, "It really makes me feel down that one of his former officers brings down my plan and that the human who stopped him is here right now on fishman island, straw hat Luffy,".
"Did you know that he was here Hachi," Hody said.
"Yes I know, I was once one of Arlongs officers and Luffy called me his friend and saved my life more then once," Hachi said, "But I cant bring myself to face him when Arlongs legacy still exists," he said looking serious. There was a few moments of silence before Hody spoke spoke up.
"Friends with humans, that's the same crap Neptune keeps spewing about, Ive had enough of you Hachi," he said.
Vander Decken then tapped Hachi on the shoulder, "Now locked on Hachi, don't forget we pirates settle our disputes with blood," he said before throwing the knife into the air.
It spun in the air before turning around and stabbed Hachi in the back.
"Ah," Hachi said screaming in pain.
"What was that," one of the human pirates said looking surprised.
"It spun in the air before turning around," another pirate said.
"Here try using some of these," a fishman said before handing Hody some arrows.
"Wait stop, Ive heard rumors of what your powers can do," Hachi said, "Hody you have to get him to stop or else he will end up killing me,".
"Tell him what to do, were all equals in this pirate alliance and I'm sick of you, coward," Hody said.
Hachi looked surprised before he quickly ran outside and started swimming away as fast as he could.
"Now try these," Vander Decken said before throwing the arrows into the air.
The arrows started going fast as they chased after Hachi, "They're even following me in the water," he thought looking surprised. But he couldn't do anything before the arrows stabbed into him.
"Bahoho, I can designate a a target with each hand but only two, but I havent washed my right hand since I touched princess Shirahoshi ten years ago," he said looking at his gloved hand.
"Do you understand now, my love and my missiles will follow you anywhere, this is my power," Vander Decken.
"So that's how hes able to send all those messages," one of the fishman said.
"That's sneaky," another said.
"Very sneaky," another one said as Vander Decken laughed.
"All right human pirates you've seen what Vander Deckens power can do, the Ryugu palace is impregnable but Vander Decken has been throwing weapons into it for years," Hody said, "Now hell throw you in there heading for the mermaid princess but you'll probably end up hitting the wall of the tower first, your to open the place from the inside,".
"What theres no way we can do that, wed die when we hit the wall," one of the human pirates said looking worried.
"Of course, that's why I'm sending you human pirates first since your lives are cheep, your even more worthless then slaves," Hody said making them look surprised.
"If you manage to survive and complete your mission then ill set you free, but if you refuse then ill throw you into the sea myself right now, you inferior race," Hody said.
Flashback end
Back at the place with Brook and the minister of right. "Hurry skeleton, to the king," the minister of right said.
"Wait come back, if we don't complete our mission then will be killed," one of the wounded pirates said.
Brook then burst into the main hall, "Your majesty theres been an abduction, the princess has gone missing," the minister of right said.
"What," Neptune said.
"Also pirates have been hitting tower, were under attack," the minister of right said.
"The place is under attack, now what," Zolo said.
"Shirahoshis been kidnapped, who did it," Neptune said.
"Why did this have to happen, were stuck in the place in the middle of the attack, what are we suppose to do," Usopp said.
"If the big beast doesn't get em first then will cut em," Zolo said calmly.
"Don't say that," Usopp said.
Meanwhile far away from the palace. Megalo was swimming away with Star and Luffy on his back. Star then sat back, "Hey you okay?" Luffy asked looking confused.
"Yeah Im fine, you doing alright Shirahoshi," Star said.
"You know you can come out of the mouth now," Luffy said.
"No thanks, I much prefer to stay inside," Shirahoshi said as she looked out Megalos mouth.
"So how does it feel to be out after ten years," Luffy said.
"It feels rather exciting but I also feel like I'm doing something bad," Shirahoshi said, "Is this what an adventure is suppose to feel like,".
"Yeah if your excited that means its an adventure, but why do you want to go to the sea forest," Luffy said.
"Theres a grave that Ive never been able to visit before, it's a place ive wanted to go to for the last ten years," Shirahoshi said.
"Well don't worry will get you there," Star said calmly knowings whose grave it was.
In another part of fishman island in the sea forest. There was someone in front of a large tomb. "The incident that shook fishman island, an assassination in broad daylight ten years ago, has it really been that long," a male voice said. "Your sons have grown to be hardened warriors and even though your daughter the princess Shirahoshi has been confined to that tower,".
"We still remember your ideals queen Otohime," Jimbei said.