Part 18: Helping Hachi
"They did capture the mermaid princess," one of the fishmen in the crowd said.
"Hey what are you doing out of the shark," Luffy said.
"Ah," Shirahoshi said, "Please don't be mad at me," she said looking like she was going to cry again.
"He made the mermaid princess cry," one of the mermaids said looking angry.
"Please Sanji don't turn around," Chopper said.
"Hey Chopper this really is a two person Job," Star said as the bright blue light covered his body, "Then again I never did see if I could make more hands in this form," he thought as Hachi groaned in pain.
"So the mermaid princess is really behind me," Sanji said.
"Yes but you could barely handle looking at a mermaid and if you turn around your reactions going to be much worse," Chopper said.
"The mermaid princess, they say her beauty is nothing compared to the pirate empress, I need to reach out for my dream that's right in front of me," Sanji thought.
"Chopper I will fight for my dream even if I have to die," he said looking serious.
"I thought your dream was to find the all blue," Chopper said looking shocked.
"Hes not going to die is he," Nami said.
"Nope," Star said.
"Yeah Im starting to remember that we caught up to the anime and watched the fishman island storyline," Hermione said now knowing why she recognized Surume.
Sanji then quickly turned around.
"No Sanji don't," Chopper said grabbing onto his arm but was too late. Sanji had looked at the mermaid princess and looked surprised at the sight in front of him.
"I didn't imagine enough, she is beautiful," he thought, "Not even the greatest artist in the world could capture,".
"Her beauty," he thought as he froze still as if he was turned to stone.
"He turned to stone," Chopper said looking surprised.
"Is he going to be okay," Luffy said.
"Yeah hes just unconcious now, must be a side effect from the blood transfusions," Chopper said, "Anyway how did you want me to help, Luffy look out," Chopper said looking at the fishmen behind him.
"Huh," Luffy said as the fishmen were about to reach him to tie him up.
"Luffy get down," Star said standing up as Luffy lowerred his head and Star clapped his hands sending a blast of air at the fishmen. The blast was big enough that it sent the fishmen flying back.
"Capture them, they took the mermaid princess," one of the fishmen said.
"What no," Shirahoshi said looking confused.
"Don't worry princess, will protect you," one of the fishermen said getting up from Stars blast.
"Are you insane our captain and crew mate saved her," Nami said.
"But you all took over the Ryugu palace," a mermaid said.
"That's because they were going to arrest us for a crime we havent even done," Nami said.
"We were just defending ourselves," Hermione said as Hachi groaned in pain again.
"Damnit," Star said before taking off a metal piece and throwing in the direction of the fishmen. There was a bright blue flash as Godzilla appeared half the size of the main room at the Ryugu palace.
"What is that thing," one of the fishmen said before the beast roared at them. Shirahoshi looked a little nervous.
"Don't worry Shirahoshi hes friendly, I just need time to heal Hachi," Star said, "Chopper Im going to need you to take out the arrows, we need to be in sync doing this so he doesn't bleed more,".
"Right," Chopper said, "Wait your going to close his wounds," he said and Star nodded.
"Is there something we can do," Pappagu said.
"Sit in front of him and try keep his mind on the two of you, should keep his mind off some of the pain," Star said as he took a breath before holding his two hands forward.
"Why are you helping him, he used to work with Arlongs crew," one of the fishmen said.
"Would you shut up already," Nami said.
"Yeah were trying to save him," Luffy said.
"Okay Chopper, go," Star said as Chopper took out the first arrow and Hachi groaned in pain before Star held his hands over the hole. The wound closed as Camie and Pappagu spoke to Hachi. The fishmen and mermaids looked confused. Wondering why he was helping them.
"Why would they do this when they kidnapped those mermaids at the inlet," a fishman said looking confused.
"Wait they were kidnapped," Chopper said holding another arrow.
"That was probably Caribou," Star said making Nami look surprised.
"Wait the pirate who attacked us on our way down here, I thought he was stuck in a barrel," she said.
"The barrel probably went flying after we got here like the rest of the crew and ended up somewhere on fishmen island, the mermaids found it and opened it not knowing Caribou was inside," Star said calmly as Chopper took out the last arrow.
"Just one more thing," Star thought as Hachi bandages came off and his injuries from protecting the sunny were healed as well.
"Amazing," Chopper said before Star sat back as the bright blue glow stopped covering his body, "Star," Chopper said running over as Hermione crouched next to him.
"Are you okay, you already used a lot of your power since waking up," she said.
"Yeah I'm alright, being able to do this is still taking some getting used to," he said smiling before looking at something serious in the sky.
"Hey theres something coming Shirahoshi," he said.
"Yeah hes right," Luffy said looking serious.
"Princess look out," one of the fishmen said.
"Its Vander Decken," one of the mermaids said.
"Run princess," one of the fishmen said.
"No don't move, if you do how are we suppose to protect you," Luffy said.
"What are you doing, I thought you were helping us," one of the fishermen said.
"We told her we would look after her when we left the palace," Star said standing back up.
"Bahohoho," Vander Decken said from on top of the coral.
"Hes returned to fishman island after all this time," one of the fishman said.
"We finally see each other again after all this time, all you have to do is escape my wrath is marry me Shirahoshi, Bahohoho," Vander Decken said.
"Even after threatening her after all these years he still proposes to her," a lot of the fishmen and mermaids thought looking annoyed.
"Should have taken him out when I was on my way to the palace," Star said.
"I'm sorry Vander Decken I cant marry you, your just not my type," Shirahoshi said making Vander Decken and mostly everyone look shocked.
"That the reason," the fishmen and mermaids thought.
"Princess you do know hes a really bad person right," Nami said.
"Ive been waiting all these years, just who are you waiting for and if I cant have you then no one else can," Vander Decken said, "Die Shirahoshi,".
Luffy then entered second gear and jumped right at Vander Decken, "So you're the one whos been sending that stuff at crybaby all this time," he said.
"You're the ones who took her away from the palace, stay out of this," Vander Decken said, "Otherwise ill chop you up into pieces," he said.
"Not happening," Luffy said before wrapping his legs around him.
"What are you doing," Vander Decken said as Luffy pushed him off the coral. The bright blue light covered Stars body as he jumped up and kicked it away before it could reach Shirahoshi.
"Thanks, now gum gum jet hammer," Luffy said sending Vander Decken into the ground.
"He defeated him in one blow," one of the fishmen said looking surprised before Godzilla vanished and turned back into small metal piece before going back onto Stars wrist.
"Nice one Luffy," Nami said smiling.
"Alright I think its time we leave," Star said as the light stopped covering his body.
"Right lets go to the forest of the sea, come on cry baby," Luffy said.
"Right, come on Megalo wake up," Shirahoshi said as Megalo got back up.
"Princess where are you going," one of the fishmen said.
"Sorry I don't mean to worry anyone, but ill be back in time for supper," she said making them look confused. Star and Luffy got Sanji and Hachi onto Megalo before they left.
"Don't let them get away, Wadatsumi," Vander Decken said as the giant monk from earlier came out of the water.
"Now crush them," he said.
"Right, I got it," he said brining his right fist back.
"Gum gum, jet pistol," Luffy said pushing Wadatsumi in the face and sent him falling back.
"What you useless moron," Vander Decken said.
"Looks like we got away, Luffy you said were going to the sea forest," Nami said.
"Yeah me and Star are taking her there," Luffy said smiling.
"Well that's where Jimbei wanted to meet you," Nami said making him look surprised.
"Wait Jimbeis there awesome," he said smiling.
"Did you not tell him Jimbeis message," Hermione asked looking at Star.
"I didn't think about it," he said calmly.
"Theres more trouble, Jimbei had another message saying not to fight someone named Hody, but he attacked the palace and that's why Star went back for some of us," Nami said, "He also said something about being Arlongs successor," she said. After she finished speaking Luffy looked serious.
"Wait has something happened to my father," Shirahoshi said looking worried.
"Don't worry princess everything will be alright," Star said, "For now we should focus on getting to the forest of the sea and tell Jimbei whats going on,".
Back at the Ryugu palace as more water came flooding into the room, "Hear me my soldiers," Neptune's said.
"Your majesty," a soldier said as they swam up from the water, "Don't worry will take care of Hody and his men,".
"No Jamon," Neptune said making them look confused, "I cannot fight and you cannot die here, we must retreat from the palace and join Fukaboshi before returning here," he said.
"Surrender the palace, but your majesty," one of the soldiers said.
Usopp was trying to stay above the water, "Whats Zolo thinking, how long can he even fight a fishman in the water," he said looking annoyed.
"Usopp, I think I'm done," Brook said before Usopp dived again only to look surprised at the sight below. Hody had shocked look on his face after Zolo had cut him with one sword.
"Captain Hody," one of his allies said.
Zolo however had a serious look on his face as he held his sword and continuing to hold his breath.