Chapter 47: King Neptune Appears

Sting and his group arrived at Mermaid Cove.

"What is this place?" Lector asked.

"Looks like a cove," Yukino answered.

"For what?" Rogue wondered.

"Either way, let's get keep moving, surely, someone will be able to give us directions," Sting suggested.

"What about that Fishman Hammond and his gang?" Frosch asked.

"We'll worry about that jerk later," Lector answered. "Right now, we need to find our friends."

Just then there was a splash.

A mermaid came from the water.

Rogue was in awe. "Is that..."

"A mermaid..." Yukino concluded.

"She's pretty..." Sting thought.

"She is a mermaid," Frosch said smiling.

"Excuse me, can I help you?" The mermaid asked.

"Oh, do you mind giving us directions to a town that's on Fishman Island?" Sting asked.

"Yes, just keep going straight ahead and you won't miss it," The mermaid replied.

"Thanks, let's go!" Sting ordered.

"Right, guild master Sting," Yukino said making the blonde blush a little.

Fishman District Noah

Gyro

South Blue

Captain of the Gyro Pirates

"Let's get out of here, we'll escape or die trying," He along with his crew were sneaking away on a ship they sailed through the ocean.

"Those humans have escaped, ca-ca..." Daruma scoffed.

"Figures, humans are nothing but lowly cowards..." Zeo spoke coldly.

"Shall we go after them, captain?" Ikaros asked.

Hordy Jones stood from the couch he was sitting on. "No, you guys wait here, Aquauis will be here soon for the next part of our plan."

"What about Hyouzou and the others?" Douzu asked.

"Ca-ca...I just got word he's bringing Hammond and the others back after getting injured." Daruma replied.

Hordy Jones took some of the pills. "Munch...Munch..."

"Ca... boss be careful with those drugs!" Daruma warned.

His body began to intense and his muscles bulked up while his eyes glowed red.

"Jahahahaha!" Hordy laughed evilly.

The new Fishman Captain eventually caught up to the human pirates demonstrating his new powers and speed due to the power drugs, thus, damaging the pirate ship and landed on the deck.

"Fire!" Some pirate grunts fired pistols and bazooka cannons at the Fishman, but none of the weapons had an effect.

Gyro took out his blade. "I fought against your kind before and you all are nothing but fish."

He attempted to cut down the great white shark Fishman and tried to use his crab-like arm, but to no avail eventually, he's overpowered and defeated. "I'll let you and the crew live for now...I'll show that Arlong's dream of conquering humans will become a reality!"

Just then his transponder snail was ringing.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Aquaius has arrived captain as well as Hyouzou and the others," Douzo replied.

"Good..." Hordy said while smirking.

In part of Coral Hill.

Aquapad and Lisanna continued through the town.

"Did you say that your friend Hatchan was here too?" The white-haired girl asked.

"Right, I assume that's he's somewhere in the Fishman District, Camie also mentioned to me he made some Octopus fritters a while ago," Aquapad replied.

"Octopus Fritters, sound good eating, I'm sure Akame and Natsu would love to eat some," Lisanna laughed knowing the two's appetite.

"Hey, Aquapad!"

The two turned to the right, to Aquapad's delight, he saw his friends coming their way.

"Rena, Thorn, Angel, Jula!"

Lisanna was in awe at the creature she was seeing. "Amazing..."

"Welcome back!" Thorn shook Aquapad's hand in congrats.

Jula comically began to punch her fists on Aquapad's chest. "You got us worried since you were gone for a year!"

Rena blushed red. "Aquapad, I'm glad you're safe."

"Who's your friend?" Jula asked though she seemed cautious.

"Oh, guys...this is Lisanna, she's a member of the Fairy Tail Pirates and my friend," Aquapad introduced.

The white-haired girl waved kindly to the four creatures. "Hi, I'm a friend of Aquapad, nice to meet you all."

Thorn observed the human girl. "You seem okay, anyone who is a friend of Aquapad is a friend of ours." He handshakes the human girl's hand with a smile. "I'm Thorn, a Thorn Sea-Horse Merman."

Jula seemed a little concerned, however, she could tell that Lisanna wasn't a threat. "Nice to meet you, I'm Jula a Squid Fish-woman as you can see my extra arms,"

"I'm Angel a Saltwater Angel Fish-woman," Angel introduced herself with a smile. "Nice to meet you Lisanna."

Rena was cautious but, she walked over to the human girl. "Hello. I'm Rena the human-mermaid hybrid, unlike other mermaids, I can turn my mermaid tail into human likes though my feet have the web fins between my toes."

Lisanna was impressed. "That's so cool, mermaids that can walk on land."

"Anyway as much I would like for you to meet my other friends, we got some trouble," Aquapad interrupted.

His childhood friends were confused, so, they went to a nearby alleyway and spoke privately.

"What, Hammond was causing trouble again?" Thorn asked in surprise.

"No surprise, he's always been a loudmouth," Angel added.

"That's not all. Saizou and his friends are back too," Aquapad informed.

"What, those perverts, I thought they were lost at sea or something?" Rena said looking shaken up.

"Either way, we can assume that Hordy Jones is up to something too, we haven't seen him around lately," Thorn said. "As you probably heard, no humans have been here in the past month."

"I know, Camie mentioned that," Aquapad replied. "By the way, where's Hatchan?"

"We saw him this morning, but, that was it, though, I'm sure he's at the Fishman District, we can pay him a visit," Jula answered.

"In that case, Jula and Thorn go get Hatchan while Rena, Lisanna, and I will stay to look for the others," Aquapad said.

"Howl!" a wolf-like was heard from afar.

It was Gin, who approached the group in a matter of seconds. "Oh yeah, Jula, Angel, and Rena, you three look hot as always, wearing t-shirts that reveal your stomachs!" He began to take pictures with his camera then some photos fell out of his pants pocket.

Jula snatched them and looked at them with Rena and Angel behind her.

Then Lisanna's presence made him drool pervertedly. "You're the human girl back at Mermaid Cove, you got quite the body, will you show me what panties you're wearing?!"

"Great, another Brook..." Lisanna thought sweatdropping.

Just then Jula, Angel, and Rena started to comically kick the perverted wolf mink whale shark Fishman with a mix of flustered expressions on their faces.

"You peeping perv!"

"You were watching me while I was trying out a new bra, you pervy wolf mink whale shark!"

"You have a lot of nerve taking pictures of me in my panties and bra you dirty wolf-whale shark Fishman pervert!"

Thorn and Aquapad sweatdropped at the display.

"Things never change..." Thorn sighed.

Lisanna however just giggled. "They're so lively, I don't think we're any different from each other as I thought."

Aquapad cleared his throat. "Anyway, Gin, I have a favor to ask of you." This stopped the three sea women from kicking the perv.

M

Luffy's group eventually arrived at Pappagu's mansion.

Some Fishman and mermaid servants were at the entrance to greet their boss.

"Welcome master!"

"This mansion is huge," Luffy exclaimed.

"Yeah, but, it's not as big as the one that Lucy used to live in," Natsu whispered.

"That's right for sure," Happy agreed.

"Quite the building," Temukai said his eyes barely popping out.

"I have to admit it's more than I thought," Cana said seemingly impressed. "I hope there's more boozes."

"Such a manly place!" Elfman yelled in awe.

"Oh my, he's more famous than I thought," Mirajane added.

"It's even bigger than the guild," Gildarts thought.

Pappagu fixed his glasses with a cool smile. "Surprised you all are, after becoming a fashion designer everything I designed went up through the roof."

"Roof?" Natsu and Happy questioned tilting their heads.

"It's just an expression," Usopp answered seeing how dense the two were.

"Anyway, his company became some famous that everyone from Fishman Island came to buy whatever clothes they want," Camie spoke.

"I have a question, what about that pirate flag we saw while riding on the taxi fish?" Natsu asked.

"Oh, that's flag is one of Charlotte's, who is also known as Big Mom and one of the Four Emperors," Pappagu explained. "Also-"

"She demands a supply of candy that's made by the factory that's in town, in exchange she protects us from pirates that try to cause trouble here," Camie interrupted.

"Aw, you stole my thunder..." Pappagu sulked with blue lines above his head.

"Since she's helping that must mean she's a good person," Luffy presumed calmly.

"Hey, did you hear me, I want you to cut down the prices of these clothes," A voice spoke from a nearby clothes store.

"Please ma'am, if I do that I'll get fired..." A shopkeeper panicked.

"I think I know whose voice is that," Usopp said as he and the others looked inside the store.

"I don't care how fancy these clothes are, I want to cut the price by 10,000 berries..." Nami was arguing with the shopkeeper.

"That's half of the original price, you must understand that I can't do that!"

"Hey, Nami!" Luffy called.

Camie approached the navigator happily.

"Geez, you got to make such a big deal about these clothes," Lucy sighed carrying some.

"Lucy!" Natsu and Happy called out.

"You guys, I'm glad to see you are safe," Lucy said happily.

"Hey, Temukai!" Pango was coming over to his friend.

"Snort...snort... Pango!"

Leone and Akame were looking at some clothes. "Not bad, though, I need some clothes that fit my style." She was looking at some different tube tops that were similar to what she wore around her boobs. "What do you think Akame?"

"Looks good, I think this kind of clothes should suit me well," Her best friend held up new clothes that were much more fashionable than the ones she wore even long boots that were similar to the ones she wore on her feet.

Carla and Wendy were trying out some clothes as well.

"What do you think of these, Carla?" Wendy asked holding a pair of blue sandals and a simple green dress that was more fashionable than the one she wore before."

The white exceed giggled. "They look nice, though, you already have some, but, I suppose you can get new ones."

"Carla!" Happy flew toward his crush only for her to evade her admirer.

"Tomcat, at it again are you?"

"What is the problem?" Pappagu asked the shopkeeper.

"Oh, thank goodness you're here boss..." He bent down close that his boss was in earshot. "She wants her clothes half price off."

Nami hearing this grabbed the starfish by his cheek. "So, you're in charge of this shop, lower your prices or I'll lower you."

"Monsieur!" The shopkeeper exclaimed in worry.

"Calm down..." Lucy whispered to the navigator.

"Well, you know...it's business and you must know I can't lower prices down being the luxury designer I am..." Pappagu muttered in a low tone.

"Lower your prices now..." Nami demanded seriously pinching the starfish's cheek even tighter.

"Geez, be gentle young lady," Carla said.

Brook bowed and went over to the two assassins. "Akame, Leone, I'm pleased to see that you girls are fine."

Akame just gave a blank expression.

Leone was a little less pleased to see the pervert.

"Anyway, would you two be so kind of you to show me your-Ack!"

Leone punched the skeleton in the face. "Pervert..."

Pappagu was eventually put down. "Look forget the prices, I owe you guys for helping us so, take what you all like for free of charge."

Nami was delighted to hear so she, Leone, Usopp, Luffy, and Brook were carrying all the clothes.

"Haven't you heard restraint?!" Pappagu exclaimed with his eyes popping out.

"The store is empty!" The shopkeeper yelled with a gaping mouth.

Lucy handed some money. "Here, this ain't much, but, please take it for your troubles."

The shopkeeper was a bit relieved. "At least some customers are honest."

"Hey, Pappagu!"

"He's here!"

"Who's here?" Brook questioned.

The group went outside and saw a massive whale coming down towards them and riding on it was a huge merman.

"He's has traveled from the palace!" A Fishman citizen pointed out.

"AHHHHHH!" Pappagu yelped in surprise.

"King Neptune, why is he down here?" Camie wondered sharing the same reaction as her starfish friend.

Some other citizens began to whisper among each other.

"What is going on...he's here without his army!"

"Is there a matter of emergency?"

"Don't tell me this island is going to become a war zone?"

"Neptune!"

Neptune

God of the Sea and King of Ryugu Kingdom

A Coelacanth Merman

"HOEEEEEEEEELL!" The giant whale spoke.

"Aw, the whale is so cute!" Wendy cooed.

"Yes, it's so cute," Nami agreed.

Lucy had other thoughts. "He's probably just as big as the Celestial King,"

"That merman is so big..." Usopp said surprised at the size of the merman.

"I prefer to see a mermaid than a merman..." Brook said disappointed.

"He's even bigger than Makarov's giant form..." Gildarts whispered.

"Will you three shut up!" Pappagu demanded embarrassed.

"He's so hairy and shaggy looking..." Luffy said.

"He's even hairier than gramps..." Natsu added.

"Keep your observations to yourselves!" Pappagu whispered practically sweating while pulling the rubber boy's cheek. "Kneel and show some respect!"

"Yeah Natsu, don't screw this up!" Lucy yelled karate chopping her friend on the head.

"Snort...snort...merman is huge," Temukai said with a gaping mouth.

Leone began to wonder. "The ruler is a merman, quite interesting."

Akame was almost in awe at the sight of the merman.

Neptune then glanced his eyes at a familiar shark that was behind him. "Megalo, are these the pirates that saved you?"

The giant shark nodded his head confirming the king's question.

"That's the shark we met before the deep sea current!" Nami pointed.

"You're right, so he must've returned here safely," Wendy sighed in relief. "I was worried if he made it here or not."

"Here me Straw Hat Pirates and the Fairy Tail!" Neptune spoke deeply as he stared at the humans and their friends.

A few minutes pass as some group felt a little uneasy.

"I hereby invite you and your friends to the Ryugu Palace!" Neptune stated while raising his arms.

M

Gray and Juvia continued to search for their friends.

"This place is huge, it'll take a day or so to find them," Gray said while rubbing his head.

Up the road was Miyaka, Fujiko, and Millianna.

"Meow feels like we've been walking for hours," The cat-like woman said panting.

Miyaka decided to use her Observation Haki to find her friends. "I think I got something..." She looked around the area up ahead and saw two figures one she recognized right away. "Up ahead!" She ran off.

"Hey!"

"Meow, wait for us!"

Gray and Juvia continued to walk on.

"Geez...where is the" Gray abruptly stopped as he sensed a presence, but, he wasn't using Magic Sensor, he was feeling the aura, he looked to the right and saw Miyaka along with Fujika and Millianna coming their way.

"Hey!"

Miyaka was delighted to see her partner and jumped into his arms which took the ice mage by surprise. "Gray!"

Juvia was in awe for a moment until... "Love rival..." She growled as her body was covered in a dark aura and had red glowing eyes.

"Juvia...please...calm...down..." He whimpered while sweating.

Miyaka was too happy to notice the water mage's envious reaction.

Fujika was a little taken off by this.

Millianna got a shiver from head to toe. "Meow...scary..."

B

Luffy's group continued to talk with Neptune.

The citizens were surprised at the god of the sea's invitation.

"Are those people famous or something?"

"The king must think so since he's inviting them to the palace,"

"Isn't that Soul King?"

"Sure is... that other guy with the brown hair, he looks similar to Red-Haired Shanks!"

Gildarts heard this. "This Shanks guy must be more famous than I thought, then again, he is one of the Four Emperors."

"That buffalo isn't that a mink, I thought those creatures were supposed to be in the New World!?"

"That's strange, how would those creatures be here?"

Luffy and Natsu tilted their head in confusion.

"What is this..."

"Ryugu palace?"

"Don't you guys know anything?" Pappagu questioned while jumping up and down waving his little star-like arms. "Let me explain, the Ryuuguu palace is a holy eye con that none of us are allowed to enter without permission from those of the royal palace."

The group was suddenly interested in hearing this as the starfish continued.

"There's more, you see the God of Sea Neptune lives there along with his three sons and the mermaid princess Shirahoshi...they call it-

"Home, that's where the Neptune and his family live in," Camie interrupted finishing her friend's last words.

"Aw...I wanted to finish it!" Pappagu cried in disappointment.

"Merman geezer..." Natsu and Luffy spoke with deadpan expressions.

"Hey show some respect you two!" Pappagu yelled comically with his eyes popping out.

"Do you have some good meat at the palace?" The two asked while ignoring the starfish.

"Of course, like I said there's going to be a banquet for all of you," Neptune replied.

Hearing that sounded exciting.

"What an amazing yet unexpecting development, more than my heart can handle...if I had one still," Brook joked.

"Sounds good to me...I wonder if their treasure vault is guarded," Nami said as a sneaky smile formed on her face with money eyes.

Usopp and Lucy looked at the navigator while sweatdropping. "Should've known she wanted to go for that reason."

Gildarts grinned. "The Mermaid Cafe was good, but, I prefer to have a drink of boozes and sake."

"I hate to admit it but for once my old man is right," Cana thought.

Wendy was excited. "Sounds like fun, right Carla?"

Carla saw no qualms with this. "Sure child."

Akame began to drool. "I wonder what kind of meat they have."

Leone wrapped her arm around her best friend's neck with a laugh. "That's Akame for ya."

"Hold on, our friends are still out there somewhere, they must know where we're at first," Mirajane reminded the others.

"Right, Natsu, you guys go without us, Mira and I will find the others and explain where you guys are," Elfman agreed.

"Are you guys sure?" Natsu asked.

Mira and Elfman nodded.

"Well, we'll save some food for you guys, if we don't eat all of it," Natsu laughed.

"Very generous..." Lucy thought sarcastically.

"I'll go with them, I still want to repay Fairy Tail as much as I can for saving my life," Pango spoke and he looked at his buffalo companion. "Temukai, you go ahead, I'll stay with these two, and I might find Tigress and Usagi too."

"Snort...snort...that's fine me," The Water Buffalo mink replied.

Seeing this Neptune glanced at his daughter's family's pet. "Megalo, carry the pirates on your back."

The mega-shark nodded and approached the pirates.

"Let's ride the shark!" Natsu cheered excitedly.

"Yeah!" Luffy and Wendy said sharing the same reaction.

"I hope she's not going act like Luffy and Natsu all together," Carla thought sweatdropping.

Camie and Pappagu were just staying still.

Luffy noticed this. "Are you guys coming with us?"

Pappagu stuttered a bit. "Uhh...well...like I said that place is off-limits to us."

Natsu chuckled. "C'mon, it'll be fun besides we're friends too, we should have a good time, right Happy?"

"Aye!" Happy agreed.

Usopp just laughed. "That's right beside we can't say goodbye so soon."

Nami turned to look at the merman. "They can come, right grandpa?"

"You can't just call the king "Grandpa"!" Pappagu protested embarrassed again.

Neptune just ignored the mannerism. "Of course they can, anyone that's a friend of yours is allowed."

"See, grandpa says it's okay," Nami giggled.

Despite how happy Pappagu was feeling he was still embarrassed by the lack of mannerism. "Yeah, just show the king some respect."

"TIME TO EAT!" Luffy and Natsu proclaimed.

M

Gajeel and his group arrived at Coral Hill.

"Finally, we manage to get to Coral Hill," Gajeel groaned.

"Considering that we had to ask for directions, though someone didn't want to ask," Levy said eyeing the former Phantom Lord member.

Gajeel just scoffed.

"Anyway, our friends should be here by now," Tigress said.

"She's right, so we need to keep-"

"What is going Sharley?" A voice from up ahead said.

"Sharley had a vision!"

"What kind did she have this time?"

The three princes of Ryugu Palace heard of this and decided to talk with the fortune teller.

"What's going over there?" Chelsea wondered.

More of the Mambo elite guards were lined up.

This gave the former recon assassin an idea and took out her Gaea Foundation. "Let's do this." She took the form of a Mambo Elite Guard. "I'll check this out while you guys stay close by."

She snuck cautiously to the other Mambo Elite soldiers. "Who is that?" She noticed the strange mermaid Sharley. "She's huge."

"Madame Sharley, you had a vision of Strawhat destroying Fishman Island and Natsu the fire dragon destroying an unknown cave hidden in the sea, did you not?" Fukaboshi questioned.

Chelsea gasped quietly. "Natsu destroying an unknown cave...and Luffy destroying Fishman Island?"

Just when things were going smoothly Sharley has two visions of Natsu and Luffy destroying different places, but mostly her vision of Strawhat got her shaken to the core. The New Fishman Pirates and Tartaros are seemingly working together, question is, what is coming next.

Luffy: In the next chapter: Shirahoshi the Mermaid Princess

End of chapter.