Chapter 48: Shirahoshi the Mermaid Princess
Last time, some of the Strawhats and Fairy Tail pirates reunited while some are still separated from the group, now the new Fishman Pirates and Tartaros are going to have a meeting soon. Aquapad reunites with his childhood friends and introduces them to Lisanna.
Finally, Neptune the ruler of the Ryuuguu Kingdom invites the Luffy and Natsu along with their friends to the palace which they accept.
The Ryugu Kingdom
The port town, Coral Hill
Mambo Elite soldiers were having a chat with some of the mermaids, who reported their missing friends.
"Your friends must've been kidnapped by the Strawhats and Fairy Tail, there's no doubt about it,"
"Please, I'm sure there must be a mistake,"
"Yes, we know their friends of Camie,"
The Mambo Knights still weren't convinced.
"Alright, let's sort out the facts of what we know, from what we heard the Strawhats at least some of them along with members of Fairy Tail were seen at Mermaid Cove and got into a fight with three Fishman that were forced to flee," One of the Ammo Elite soldiers said.
"That's right, also we don't know what their intentions are, but more importantly, we can't deny that humans kidnapping mermaids is far too great and traded at a high price which is because of criminals like them," Another added.
"But, the Strawhats weren't just any pirates they saved Camie from slavery, and not to mention Aquapad is back thanks to Fairy Tail," A Fishman citizen spoke to one of the Ammo Knights.
"That may be, but often Fishman and Mermaids make friends with pirates until they end up hurt once they arrive on this island,"
Hearing this from afar.
Levy heard this behind a coral. "That's horrible, sounds like these creatures didn't have a good life with humans."
Lily had to agree. "Yes. It's just like what our kind the Exceeds went through."
Tigress hated to admit it but there was some truth to the Mambo Knight's words. "He is kind of right, however..." She glanced at Gajeel and Levy then at Chelsea. "These guys saved my life, Usagi trusted them and they freed us from the former pirate crew we were in."
Gajeel didn't say a word, but he was listening.
Chelsea is still in disguise. "So, it seems the relationship between humans and Fishman is not as good as Aquapad mentioned."
Fukaboshi continued to talk with Sharley, who got a glass of water and explained the vision.
Prince Fukaboshi put his finger on his chin. "It's quite the shame...the Straw Hats and Fairy Tail have a good relationship with the mermaids not to mention Aquapad is friends with them too."
He pondered for a minute and looked at his soldiers. "Listen, I think we should keep a close eye on them, bring them into custody at once, search the entire island."
A Fishman citizen came running towards the three princes "Prince Fukaboshi, some humans were seen riding two pairs of fish!"
"What?" The prince asked.
"Yes, they were at mermaid cove and they left after one of the mermaids gave them directions to get here," The citizen explained.
Fukaboshi was puzzled at this detail. "Giant fish, do they control sea kings, nevertheless, I want some Ammo Knights to go the ashore and await for these other humans,"
"Giant pair of fish, he must be talking about Yukino's Celestial Spirit Pisces," Levy thought.
Chelsea knew she had to use this opportunity to meet up with the others. "Sounds like some of our friends arriving, good, I should follow them."
Gajeel saw the former assassin following the Mambo Knights and had an idea of what she was doing. "Levy, Lily, Tigress, let's follow, but, be remain quiet."
M
The Ryuuguu Kingdom
The high-class district, Fishverly Hills
Luffy and his group were riding on top of Megalo while Neptune rode on his whale.
"Ohohohoh..." Neptune laughed with his arms crossed. "Careful not to fall."
Lucy saw how far high up. "Ah! We're so high up!"
Leone laughed. "Brings me back memories when we rode the mantra back in our world,"
Akame giggled. "Yes, it does."
"This is so cool!" Natsu yelled excitedly.
"Aye!" Happy cheered.
Wendy shared the other dragon slayer's excitement. "Whee~we're so high up!"
Carla was a bit nervous. "Careful child, don't move around so much or you'll fall."
Cana was just relaxing. "I can't wait to see what sake or boozes they have."
Gildarts had similar thoughts. "I second that emotion...though I wonder how beautiful the mermaid princess is."
"Snort...snort...I hope to have vegetables and sake," Temukai said.
Nami and Lucy looked at nearby floating islands, and both were amazed.
"Question, is Megalo the pet of the mermaid princess?" Luffy asked.
Neptune laughed deeply. "Of course, she was so worried about him when he didn't come home for a while, she was practically in tears how she missed Megalo."
Brook and Usopp cried. "Aw, that's so cute!"
"Anyway is the feast going to be good?" Leone asked.
Yes...slurp...the meat is something to drool over," Neptune said as drool dripped from his mouth.
"Yum..." Natsu and Luffy said as their drooled drift into the air.
"Gross..." Lucy and Nami said grossed out.
"Anyway, Nami, Lucy, where are the others, didn't any of you meet up with anyone else?" Usopp asked.
"Oh about that," Nami answered.
Nami along with Franky, Robin, Leone, Akame, Lucy, Wendy, Pango, and Carla were walking through town.
"Man, this town has a lot to see, shops, grocery stores, and everything," Nami said, and then she turned to the others. "Guys, any mood for shopping?"
"I'm in!" Wendy raised her hand.
"Me too!" Leone raised her hand with a huge grin.
Cana giggled. "I suppose I need something to attract some men."
Franky had other ideas. "If you guys want to shop that's fine with me, but, I want to do something, this is where my former shipwright master grew up..." Memories of his days when Tom flashed into his mind like a video album. "If his family still lives here, then I want them to know what an inspiration he was and that he was a true man to the very end."
The cyborg looked up at the sky. "I know we just reunited but, I would like to do this on my own."
"That's fine with us, though, if you spot our ship too, make sure it's safe and sound," Wendy requested.
The cyborg smiled. "You can count on me."
Robin had other ideas as well. "I also want to check out some ruins and to learn what I can about our forgotten history."
"That's a Robin thing," Nami commented.
"I see, so, Franky and Robin are going to do something," Usopp said.
"At least, we know they're fine," Brook said.
"We'll meet up with them later," Luffy said with a chuckle.
"Hey fish king I have a question," Nami called.
Pappagu jumped at the navigator and bit the top of her head. "That's Neptune the God of the Sea to you!"
This led to the starfish getting a beating from the navigator. "I was wondering if we're so deep down the ocean, how come we can see the sunlight?"
That was a good question.
"Hohoho," Neptune laughed deeply. "Our ancestors wondered the same thing, apparently this is the only place the light reaches. It is a glorious beckon for all Fishman as far as we can remember."
"This should be interesting," Leone thought.
"The roots of a colossal tree named Sunlight Tree Eve transfer light from the surface straight down to the ocean floor," Neptune continued.
"Whoa, that's over 10,000 deep!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Man, this is giving me a headache," Natsu said rubbing his head.
"Also, scientists have made up some kind of logic to it, but, it's really a holy mysterious tree whose roots from the light it absorbs on the surfaces and also supply air to the ocean floor through breathing," Neptune explained again. "If sunlight shines on the surface, then it will be bright at the bottom of the ocean, then during the night, our land too will lose that light."
"It might have some connection with the "Treasure Tree Adam" Whose wood was used to build the Sunny," Usopp speculated taking some notes.
"This science stuff gives me a headache," Natsu groaned.
"By the way, Mr. Neptune, did you see anyone else like any other of our friends?" Wendy asked
The god of the sea laughed loudly. "Indeed I did, three were swordsmen, one was feasting on strawberry cakes while the green-haired swordsman drink a lot of sake, and one had such emotionless faces."
"Erza, Kagura, and Zoro," Natsu Lucy, and Usopp thought.
"There was a rabbit mink too," Neptune added.
"Usagi too," Temukai added.
"Lastly was a spiky-haired man with a tattoo on his right shoulder and a short old man that also drank a lot of our sake," Neptune concluded.
"Mest and gramps are here," Lucy said happily.
"Never fear, I'll see to it that the other soldiers find the rest of your companions and bring them to the castle!" Neptune stated.
"Thanks, merman geezer!" Natsu said with a grin.
That earned him a kick in the face from Pappagu. "That's Neptune the ruler of the Ryugu Kingdom you punk!"
They soon approached the bubble above and Neptune pressed a strange button.
Ding Dong~
"Yes?" A voice answered
"It's me!" Neptune replied.
"K...king, sire, we will put down the corridor at once,"
"Here take these!" Neptune tossed two strange corals to the group, which Luffy and Nami caught in their hands.
"This looks like the coral that Aquapad showed us!" Lucy pointed out.
"Yes, it's called a bubbly coral, you can use it to create bubbles," Camie answered.
They created a large bubble that covered them.
"Can we take these as a souvenir?" Usopp wondered.
"I second that emotion, I can use this to cross oceans," Natsu said with a grin.
"Seriously?!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Yeah, that way I can swim to an island without using a boat," The pinkette boy said with an oblivious smile.
"He can't be serious," Usopp and Nami thought seeing how dense the man was.
"Now forward!" Neptune said.
They swim into the corridor that was made like a tunnel.
"Whoa so fast!" Natsu laughed. "This is fun right Happy?"
"Aye!" Happy said excitedly.
"Whee!" Wendy said putting her arms up.
Temukai was enjoying this too. "So fast, go faster!"
"This is just as fast as when we rode the air manta," Leone said with a chuckle.
"This ride is so fun!" Cana said with a goofy grin.
"Makes me wonder if Mine would be scared though," Akame wondered remembering how nervous she was while riding the air manta.
Just as they exited the other corridor, there in front of them all was a large palace.
"Here we are!" Neptune proclaimed.
"This place is so cool!" Luffy said with amazement.
Natsu saw a statue of a dragon on top of the palace. "Look a dragon statue!" He pointed out with stars in his eyes.
"It makes Pappagu's estate lool like a flea," Brook commented.
The Starfish felt offended by that comparison. "Don't compare it!"
"I agree, and it's bigger than Lucy's mansion," Happy said while crossing his arms.
"Shut it cat!" Lucy barked comically.
"Hold you own a mansion!?" Nami exclaimed.
The group went to the entrance doors.
The palace Fishman guards were assembled awaiting the king.
"Everyone, I have honored guests that helped save Megalo from the Kraken, now-"
"Hey, your majesty!" A sea horse merman interrupted with an anime vein on his head.
"You wandered off again and brought guests here, you had us, worried sick sire, you're the king and act like one!"
Minister of the Right
Seahorse Merman
"Shame on you, not only your daughter was worried as well!"
Minister of the Left
Catfish Merman
"Sorry...it won't happen again," Neptune whimpered in shame.
"He just got scolded..." Nami, Usopp, Lucy, Temukai, Camie, Pappagu, and Brook said clearly weren't expecting this display.
"Geez, this king is different from the one we have back in Fiore," Wendy thought.
"Perhaps he should've left a note," Carla sighed.
Luffy and Natsu were distracted by their hunger.
"Geez, I'm so hungry," Luffy whined
"I need some food," Natsu pouted.
"I want some fishy," Happy whined with a drooling mouth.
The three caught a whiff of scent. "Smells like food,"
Natsu smelled the scent too thanks to his strong sense of smell. "I smell it too, let's go Happy,"
"Aye, sir!"
Neptune continued to talk with the two Ministers. "Anyway, I brought these people back here so that I thank them properly for saving Megalo from the Kraken."
The two ministers looked behind the large merman.
"Where is the princess, I thought, she would've been here to see her pet is fine," The king wondered.
"We have another incident that occurred," The Minister of the Left spoke.
"There was an incident and Shirahoshi found out, the last thing we need to give her is something else to worry about, she's a very diligent girl!"
"Don't give me that!" The Minister of the Right scolded. "If you don't want her to worry then stop running off because we thought you were dead!"
"Sorry...it won't happen again," The king apologized lowering his head.
"Again..." Some of the pirates thought with blue lines above their heads.
"It's a bit unfortunate that you brought the guests, there was another incident and troublesome at that," The Minister of the Right said looking troublesome himself.
"Agreed, Fukaboshi reported to me about something that happened on the island," The Minister of the Left added.
"I trust our guests, so, explain," Neptune said not getting what his loyal subjects were implying.
While the three mermen had their discussion, Nami and Lucy noticed three members were missing.
"What happened to Luffy?"
"It's not just him, Natsu and Happy are gone too,"
"Crap, those idiots know when to sneak off," Usopp said.
"Same be said about Natsu," Lucy agreed.
"Those guys really can't stay still for a moment," Carla sighed.
Luffy, Natsu, and Happy floated across different passageways as nearby fish swam by them.
They continued as they did they came to a hallway that had no water. "No water, strange."
"Look over there," Happy whispered pointing towards a large door that was moving.
A palace Fishman guard came out of the room and closed the two large doors, by him were carts that scented of food that Natsu and Luffy whiffed earlier ago.
"Food!" Luffy said with stars in his eyes.
"They are in that room that guard came out of," Natsu said licking his lips
"Fishy!" Happy said drooling from his mouth.
They snuck past the guard and came to the doors.
"These doors are huge!"
"Yeah, but, look at those weapons, wonder where they came from?" Happy questioned.
"Who cares, let's find that food," Natsu said simple-minded as usual.
They quietly opened the door, but, the inside of the room was dark, with not much light.
"Why is it so dark in here?" Luffy questioned.
"C'mon you guys, let's find the food," Natsu said impatiently.
They jumped onto a strange table or so they thought.
"This table feels squishy..."
Natsu bends down feeling the squishy thing. "You're right, feels a bit strange too."
Happy began to lay down. "Feels bouncy!" He began to bounce up-down.
Natsu decided to do that too, however, he began to feel sick. "Damn...not now..."
"Uh oh," Happy said getting some medicine. "Here you go."
His partner tossed a pill which Natsu manage to catch and swallowed. "That's better!"
"Man, so bouncy!" Luffy laughed excitedly. "This is fun!"
"Hello...who's there?" A feminine voice asked in the darkness.
A chandelier with light bulbs was turned on and the strange thing the three boys were bouncing on began to move.
The three fell on their backs and looked to see what made they made fall.
There was the giant mermaid, who was seemingly frightened. "What a horrid thing to do to a lady..." She whimpered.
The three stood up trying to make sense of what they were seeing.
"Bouncing on a helpless girl...who are you three?" The giant mermaid continued with the same frightened look.
"Whoa, she's a big fish lady!" Luffy said in awe.
"She's even bigger than Pisces!" Natsu added.
"Have you come to hurt me!?" The mermaid questioned trying to put on a brave face. "I'll have you three know I'm not afraid, I'm the daughter of the God of Sea Neptune!"
Her eyes began to fill up with tears which caused her to sob loudly. "I'm not...afraid...of you...three..." Soon her tears were falling like raindrops.
"Waahhh!" She sobbed loudly. "Help me! Save me, father! Big brothers!"
"Damn, she's loud!" Natsu groaned covering his ears.
"Considering you have a strong sense of hearing that would be the case," Happy commented covering his ears as well.
"C'mon, we're not here to kill you!" Luffy assured.
Their words weren't being heard by the mermaid due to her loud crying.
This was getting on Luffy's nerves. "You suck lady, shut up!"
"Yeah, you're being too loud!" Natsu yelled.
In the Deep Sea Current
Vander Decken was on his ship thinking about the Mermaid Princess.
"My love, I suspect that you feel lonely without me!" He spoke. "Don't worry my love as soon as I come to see you I suspect that you'll accept my proposal!"
"Sir, I got some news...Hordy Jones wants to see you right away," A Fishman pirate grunt informed.
"I'm aware, I shall depart in a half-hour, but, first," Vander Decken put his left hand up which was wearing a red glove. "Thanks to my devil fruit the Mark-Mark Fruit, I can use this hand to send anything to you, I suspect my proposal will be enough to accept me as your future wife."
He looked at the old rose he had on his desk. "Hm...Wadtsumi, how long has it been since I proposed to Shirahoshi?"
"About 10 years, she's taking her time," The water giant replied.
"I can't blame Neptune still in the picture, I can't be with her, no doubt the king wants to keep me and my beloved separated!" Vander Decken shouted. "I'll make sure that she and I will be together even if I have to force her to, but first..." He tossed a large battle-ax which went flying off like a cannonball. "Just to make I don't miss my mark..."
He took hold of a large iron mallet. "I'll send this as my second wedding present!" He tossed into the air like a large ax.
M
Luffy, Natsu, and Happy were trying to calm down the mermaid princess.
"Calm down lady!" Luffy groaned in annoyance.
"I don't think she can hear us!" Natsu yelled.
"Aye!" Happy agreed.
Outside the hallway were some Fishman palace guards coming to the cries of the princess.
"Princess Shirahoshi is crying!"
"She must be attacked or something!"
The Minister of the Left was informed of the situation. "What, where are the other guards?"
"Sorry, they were busy with Neptune's return!" one of them replied.
"No excuses, let's get to the tower right away!" The Seahorse Merman demanded.
"Please help me!" Shirahoshi continued to cry. "Two blood-thirsty humans and their pet are here to kill me!"
"What?" Natsu exclaimed.
"Geez, she overreacts more than Natsu," Happy thought covering his ears.
"C'mon lady, we don't want to hurt you, we came here to find something to eat!" Luffy said, though his words weren't heard.
Suddenly the battle-ax that was thrown caught Luffy's attention, the sounds of it circling that is. "Uh oh..." He jumped into the air as the ax made to the door and caught it.
"Whoa!" Natsu and Happy yelled in awe.
Natsu then caught a glimpse of the large mallet which engulfed his hand in flames which he jumped and collided his fist with the mallet. "I'll give myself a boast with Fire Dragon's Flame Elbow!"
This burned to the entire mallet which dropped to the floor.
Luffy circle threw the large ax over into a nearby wall.
This took Shirahoshi by surprise as her crying stopped.
"Who is throwing axes and mallets?" Luffy questioned.
"Must be some jerk to do something meaningful," Natsu guessed feeling disgusted already.
"Aye," Happy agreed.
Shirahoshi noticed a rose on the side of the ax while the mallet had a rose on its handle.
The main entrance of the Ryugu Palace
Usopp was getting impatient. "Where is this feast, I thought the king brought us here for that."
Leone shared the same feeling. "Yes, I'm getting hungry."
Akame was feeling hungry and bored. "I hope to get some meat soon." She said in a dark tone.
"Now calm down," Lucy said quietly to the assassin girl.
"Where are Wendy and Carla?" Nami asked.
"Oh no, not them too,"
The two were sneaking through the same hallways that Luffy, Natsu, and Happy did.
"Child, we shouldn't wander off without the others," Carla said.
"I know, but, Natsu, Luffy, and Happy wandered off too, I assume they found food, not to mention I can smell something too," Wendy replied.
The white exceed sighed. "Fine, let's just find the three and get back to the others."
B
The remaining palace guards turned to the pirates.
Akame was able to sense some danger. "I think we got a problem." She thought.
Gildarts had other thoughts. "Those ministers must be talking with Neptune about something really important, however, I feel like we might be in danger."
"C'mon, bring on the boozes," Cana whined.
Brook held his stomach. "Geez, I'm hungry that my stomach feels empty, that goes without saying since I don't have one anymore...yohohohohoh!"
"Guys, I think the feast is postponed now," Nami said looking around.
"Wait, what's the idea?" Usopp questioned.
Temukai pumped up his muscles. "Snort...snort...Fishman palace...guards are surrounding us."
Lucy felt a bit threatened. "Now what?"
The Minister of the Right swam towards the group. "I just got word that some of your friends were at Mermaid Cove."
"So what if some of our friends were at this Mermaid Cove place?" Cana asked.
The Catfish Merman looked at them with a serious look on his face. "Not only that, another group that rode on two large fish was spotted with two cats, and that they're on their way to the island?"
"Giant pair of fish and two cats..." Lucy began to say until it hit her. "Wait, is he talking Pisces, Lector, and Frosch...that means Yukino and some of the other Sabertooth wizards are safe."
"I ain't done, mermaids went missing sometime after your captain Luffy and some other friends left Mermaid Cove!"
"Just get to the point old man!" Cana barked.
The Catfish Merman felt offended by that remark but decided to continue with his report. "What I'm getting at is that all of you including your friends are being suspects for kidnapping mermaids!"
"Hold on, we wouldn't do that!" Usopp assured.
But his words weren't being heard as the Minister of the Right continued. "Secondly, Sharley's vision of your two friends Natsu and Luffy...no...all of you destroying our homeland!"
"Hey, you suspect in something that didn't happen yet?" Usopp questioned.
"Yeah, what kind of crap is that?" Leone added a bit angry.
Akame put her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Calm down Leone."
"Snort...snort...catfish merman being rude..." Temukai said blowing air out of his nostrils.
The Minister of the Right and several palace guards were on their way to the tower's entrance doors.
"Princess Shirahoshi, are you okay!?"
"Looks like we got company," Natsu said eyeing the doorway.
"Aye, we need to hide and fast!" Happy added.
"Where can we hide?" Luffy asked.
Shirahoshi then took one left hand and snatched Luffy. "Sorry..." She then used her other hand to snatch Natsu.
"Little cat, hid behind the curtains," She whispered while motioning her head to a curtain that was hanging next to a pillar.
Happy nodded and flew up thus hiding behind the curtain.
She held the two human boys behind her back just as the Minister of the Right arrived at the door. "Princess Shirahoshi, are you okay, you were crying more than ever!"
"Oh, I'm fine..." She replied.
"Hold on, the door was already open before we got here," A Fishman palace guard pointed out.
"Perhaps a strong current opened, I just woke up from a bad dream, that's all," Shirahoshi answered struggling to keep Natsu and Luffy still.
"We need air-" Natsu and Luffy tried to speak only for their mouths to be covered by the mermaid's fingers
"I could've sworn I heard voices," The Minister of the Right said looking around firmly.
"That was my stomach, sorry about that," Shirahoshi answered.
Just Megalo came in.
"Megalo!" The mermaid princess cried out in relief.
The Seahorse merman just remembered something. "Ah, about that, we have some dare emergency that we must inform you princess...it's pirates that saved Megalo, on top of that they have minks with them too, all of them are prime suspects in kidnapping mermaids from Mermaid Cove."
Natsu's eyes widened. "Kidnapping mermaids!?"
Happy couldn't believe it. "Are they serious?"
"Secondly, Sharley's vision showed us of the Strawhats and Fairy Tail pirates being a threat to the entire kingdom,"
Little did they know that Wendy and Carla were listening from the balcony outside.
"Seriously, how do they think that we would kidnap mermaids?" Carla questioned feeling accused.
"Things just got more difficult," Wendy whispered.
"Also, we have Zoro along with some others in custody, we can be assured that all of them will be questioned once we find the others, the other group we have is the one that's at the main entrance," The Sea Merman continued.
"Oh no..." Carla said realizing what group the seahorse merman was talking about.
"I'm sure they'll be fine," Wendy said not looking too worried.
"However, we can't seem to find Luffy, Natsu, and their pet cat Happy," The Minister of the Right concluded. "We can assume that they fled after learning their intentions."
Shirahoshi gasped quietly at that last detail as she glanced her eyes at where she was hiding the two and she remembered the blue cat.
"Anyway, the three princes and Mambo elite knights are searching around the island for any more of the Fairy Tail and Strawhat Pirates, no fear, we'll bring them to custody as soon as we can," The Minister of the Right assured.
Blurghh
Two loud stomach growls were heard from Natsu and Luffy.
Blurggh
A stomach growl came from Happy.
Wendy heard this and giggled a bit.
"Child, be quiet," Carla hushed.
Megalo looked down at Shirahoshi's hands and began to freak out. "Cha...cha..cha...cha..."
Shirahoshi hushed the shark, but, the Minister of the Right saw this and got more suspcious. "Princess...you're acting strange, are you hiding something?"
"Minister, we got to leave at once," A Fishman palace guard said showing a clock watch.
The Minister of the Right looked at his watch. "Oh, five minutes already." He put his clock watch away. "Anyway, we must be going, be a careful princess."
The doors began to close.
Wendy quiet chanted her spells. "Vernier..." She used the spell on herself and Carla, giving them fast speed and past the guards.
The Minister felt the strange breeze. "What was that?" He looked around and saw nothing. "Perhaps Shirahoshi was right, must've been a strong current or something."
Wendy and Carla landed on the Shirahoshi's bed panting.
"That was close,"
"Too close child,"
Natsu and Happy heard the voices.
"Wendy!"
"Carla!"
Natsu got loose and went over to greet Wendy.
Carla had her arms crossed. "Honestly, you three need to be careful wandering off like that!"
"What's the big deal kitty lady?" Luffy asked.
"My name is Carla!" The white exceed yelled with shark teeth as her tail made a rattle sound.
"Take it easy Carla, at least we know where they are," Wendy said as she noticed Megalo. "Hi there Megalo!"
She jumped on top of the shark's head. "Glad to see you're safe!"
"Cha...cha...cha..." The giant shark replied with a smile.
"So, when you got here you informed the three princes of us," Wendy said.
Shirahoshi was surprised by this. "Wait, you can understand Megalo?"
Wendy looked at the mermaid and was taken off guard. "Whoa, she's so big?"
"You didn't notice her?" Carla questioned.
"Oh, forgive my manners, I think we introduce ourselves," Wendy suggested. "I'm Wendy Marvel, nice to meet you princess Shirahoshi."
"I'm Carla, I'm Wendy's guardian and partner," Carla introduced herself.
"I'm Happy, as you can see Carla and I are both cats called Exceeds, we can fly as you saw," Happy said flying which amazed the mermaid princess.
"That's amazing,"
"I'm Natsu Dragneel, nice to meet ya...uh...Sushihoshi,"
"It's Shirahoshi!" Carla and Happy corrected at the pinkette pronuciation.
Luffy laughed. "That's funny!"
"Well, I'm Princess Shirahoshi, but, you can call me "Shirahoshi"." The mermaid princess said with a smile. "Anyway, you guys are all pirates, does that make you bad guys?"
Luffy was unsure how to answer that. "I don't know, you can decide that for yourself."
Natsu laughed. "Same here, since we're pirates in this world."
"This world?" Shirahoshi questioned in confusion.
"He was just joking!" Carla said covering the boy's mouth, then she noticed the burned mallet and large ax in the corner of the wall. "Hey, what are those weapons doing here?"
Shirahoshi then got scared. "Well, about that, those were thrown by Vander Decken..."
"Vander Decken, Aquapad mentioned him before," Wendy thought in realization.
"He asked me to marry him but of course, I refused, so, he kept throwing weapons at me for as long as I can remember," Shirahoshi continued.
"Wait, this Vander Decken wants to kill for that?" Happy asked quite shocked.
"Yes, he ate the Mark-Mark Fruit which he used to mark me and he uses that power to throw weapons at me," Shirahoshi said her voice sounding more terrified. "If I'm not careful, then it's over for me."
"Scary..." Wendy thought shivering.
"This Vander Decken has some nerve putting this young girl at such extreme measures," Carla scowled.
Natsu was angered at this. "Bastard..."
"At this rate, I wasn't able to leave this tower for-
Blurrgh
Natsu and Luffy's stomachs growled again.
Blurrgh
Happy's stomach responded too.
"We're so hungry..." The three whined.
The mermaid princess showed the food that was brought to her.
"Here accept these for saving me," Shirahoshi said.
Natsu and Luffy began to chow down.
Happy was disappointed. "No raw fish?"
"Here tomcat, we managed to snatch some fish on the way here," Carla said holding a bag of fish.
"Thanks, Carla!" Happy said as he began to chow like a pig.
"Excuse me, do you mind if I have something to eat?" Wendy asked.
"Go on," Shirahoshi said with a smile.
Wendy joined in and ate some bread.
"By the way miss, how long as this Vander Decken been trying to kill you?" Carla asked.
"He's been trying to kill for ten years," Shirahoshi replied.
That was a surprise to them. "10 whole years, that's crazy!" Luffy exclaimed in disbelief.
"Did you ever get bored?" Natsu asked.
"Yes, but, I had no choice, ever since Vander Decken proposed to me, I had to stay here because the weapons can't get through the tower including the doors," Shirahoshi replied.
"It seems like he's been giving you quite the trouble," Carla said.
"Yes, however, I did have Megalo with me, without him I wouldn't have anyone to talk to," Shirahoshi said looking at her pet. "Also, I admit that it seems unfair about your friends have to be locked up, Sharley's vision of the future can be scary sometimes."
"Sharley, can she visions too like Carla?" Wendy thought in question.
Carla was surprised too. "So, there's someone like me."
"So, what was your name again?" Luffy asked.
"Oh, my name is Shirahoshi," The mermaid princess replied.
"Hmm...that's a tough name to say," Luffy said as he saw some more meat. "Good, more meat!"
Natsu began to chow on some too. "So good."
"Too bad Akame isn't here, she would chow as much as these two," Wendy said with a giggle.
Carla couldn't help but giggle. "You sure have a point."
"Also, did you guys become pirates so that you can go on adventures?" Shirahoshi asked.
"Uh-huh," Luffy replied.
"Well, our reason is complicated or rather a long story," Wendy said sheepishly.
"Okay, do you guys have a sky, and does it have stars when it becomes dark, wait, is the sun brighter up on the surface, and do you guys have a place called a forest?" Shirahoshi asked.
"Relax, you're asking too many questions," Luffy said putting his hand out.
"Yeah, give us a moment," Natsu added.
"Sure..." Shirahoshi said as she noticed Natsu's scarf and how big Luffy's cheeks were while he was eating.
"A nice looking scarf and Luffy's cheeks are so big," She used her finger to poke his cheek while feeling the scarf with her other fingers. "So soft."
This caused Luffy and Natsu to cough as their eyes began to pop out comically.
"CUT THAT OUT, WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
This frightened Shirahoshi as tears began to form in her eyes. "P-p-please...don't..." She turned around in tears. "Please don't yell at me, I can't handle a loud voice like that...!"
Megalo began to get worried.
Wendy and Carla began to panic though this was kind of reminding them of Mavis.
"Oh no, you two are such brutes!" Shirahoshi said as her tears began to fall from her eyes. "UWAAAAHHH!"
"What the...this isn't something to cry over," Luffy said calmly.
"Yeah, you just surprised us," Natsu added.
That didn't make the mermaid princess stop blubbering. "Nobody has yelled at me before and I don't like it, it's horrible!" She continued to cry.
Luffy wasn't impressed at this. "Man, for someone so big you're a real crybaby..."
"Luffy!" Carla exclaimed in shock.
"Man, she cries more than Lucy," Natsu added.
Lucy sneezed all of the sudden. "I feel like someone is talking about me."
Luffy and Natsu turned around and continue to eat.
"You know, I don't think I like you...Ahahahahahah!" Luffy laughed.
"Man, I didn't know mermaids cried a lot," Natsu said chuckling.
Shirahoshi, Carla, Megalo, Happy, and Wendy were taken off guard by those remarks.
Hearing those harsh words from the two made Shirahoshi feel worse as she covered herself in her bed's blanket...
Megalo started to growl at Luffy and Natsu, but, they didn't hear him.
"How can you say that!? Nobody has ever said something so awful to me!" Shirahoshi sobbed.
"Geez, Luffy and Natsu are such insensitive idiots," Carla groaned while facepalming.
"Shirahoshi, I'm sure they didn't mean what they said," Wendy assured calmly trying to comfort the mermaid.
"Just be glad they didn't take my fish," Happy said holding a raw fish.
"Seriously?" Carla questioned the blue cat's words.
Shirahoshi didn't hear them as she just continued to cry even more. "Natsu, Luffy, you guys are such terrible men!" She glanced at them. "Please you two take your friends and leave, I can't take it!" She lay down on her bed still having the blanket over her.
Luffy and Natsu were done eating the food.
"That was good, thanks for the grub!" Luffy waved.
"Yeah...anyway, I think if I were stuck in this tower, I would go nuts," Natsu said.
"I suppose that's the reason she's so scared of everything," Wendy whispered to herself.
"Luffy, Natsu, take your friends and get out of here!" Shirahoshi demanded.
"Okay, but, do you have any place you want to go?" Luffy asked.
This got the mermaid princess to stop her crying. "Well...yes...there is, but I can't leave."
Natsu tilts his head in confusion. "C'mon if you want to go somewhere then go for it."
"Now you two, don't put any pressure on the poor girl," Carla scolded.
"Cha...cha...cha." Megalo barked with a serious look on his face.
"Translation you two," Happy said.
"Megalo says that Shirahoshi can't go because she'll be out in the open and be vulnerable too," Natsu answered.
"He also mentions that no matter where she runs off Vander's devil fruit will keep coming at her whenever he throws a weapon or even if she dodges the weapon," Wendy added.
"I'm not sure about this..." Shirahoshi said a little nervous but mostly scared.
Two funny grins appeared on Natsu and Luffy's faces.
"Relax as long as travel together, we'll be fine, shishishishi,"
"Right, we'll kick anyone's butt that tries to hurt you, right Happy?"
"Aye!"
Wendy could see the two wanted to help the mermaid princess. "Then I'll go to, after all, we're friends, aren't we?"
Shirahoshi and Megalo were speechless at their words, but, were almost moved too.
M
The Fishman palace guards were being overpowered by the group that was at the main entrance.
Each of the Strawhats had their weapons out.
Lucy had her keys ready, though, she knew battling alongside one especially underwater would be hard.
Leone cracked her knuckles and was in her beast form.
Akame had a Fishman guard in her leg grip which made the guard pass out.
A Fishman guard was punched in the stomach by Gildarts.
Cana used one of her cards to electrocute a palace guard, who passed out.
"Brook-chan, Nami-Chan, Usopp-chan, Leone-chan, Akame-chan, Temukai-chan, Gildarts-chan, Makarov-chan, Cana-chan!" Camie yelled.
The Minister of the Left gritted his teeth. "Don't let up, we must take these guys into custody!"
Pappagu was getting worried at the display. "Please, don't continue this!"
"You must stop resisting, if you keep fighting then all of you will be criminals!" Camie agreed.
Even though what the green-haired mermaid was saying was true, her friends wouldn't back down.
"Even so, they intend to lock up due to some misunderstanding, sorry..." Brook spoke.
"Man, being pursued by angry council members or guild masters is one thing, but, this a new," Lucy said feeling a bit bad. "Then again, we did that once..." She remembered when she and some of her friends attempted to take Jellal back from the magic council.
"Snort...snort...I will give them a good brawl," Temukai grinned blowing air out of his nostrils.
"If you brats think I'm going to let you lay a finger on my friends and my daughter baby..." Gildarts began to say as a crazy smile appeared on his face. "Then you guys will get through me."
"Right, whether we're villains or heroes, all of you shouldn't cross us," Usopp said his goggles were over his eyes which reflected a few of the Fishmen guards.
Cana took a card into her mouth as she looked at three Fishman guards. "If you Fishman hunks think that a lady like me will down easily, then you underestimated us."
"Right, so don't think ladies like us will go down, I would break your skulls, but, since all of you only doing your jobs, I won't overboard," Leone said with a creepy grin.
Akame narrowed her eyes at the Fishman palace guards. "I won't let you harm my friends."
The Fishman palace guards were taken back as well as the Minister of the left.
"Surely they won't fight us in the palace?"
"They're bluffing, are they?"
Camie and Pappagu were impressed how Usopp, Nami, and Brook have such confidence since the last time they saw them.
"Usopp seems to have gotten his act together,"
"Nami and Brook seemed to have gotten stronger in the past two years too,"
Neptune could see the pirates had the upper hand. "I must admit you guys are quite impressive fighters, the mink, I believe your name is Temukai, correct?"
The water buffalo mink snorted while narrowing his eyes at the merman king. "Yes."
"You Gildarts..." The merman king spoke looking at once guild master of Fairy Tail. "You strike a resemblance to Red-Haired Shanks, I assume that you're holding back your full power."
The brown-haired man chuckled. "Yes, I would I use full power however...you guys are just doing your jobs, so, your friend thinks we're going to endanger your home...well I never been so insulted in my life, I can understand your cautiousness, but regardless I won't let you hurt my friends or my daughter."
"I respect the kind of man and father you are to Cana..." Neptune said calmly until he put his trident in the air. "Regardless this fight must end!"
The merman king began to swing his trident around in a circling pattern that blew strong breezes.
"He's quite formidable!" Brook exclaimed.
"SURRENDER!" Neptune lunged towards the group with his trident pointing down.
Out of the shadows came Zoro who blocks King Neptune's attack.
"Zoro!"
"Your majesty, I shall fight now!" The Minister charged down.
Then Erza arrived just as the catfish merman got close to the bubble. "I admit your attack is strong, unfortunately, I'm stronger." She was in her Sea Empress Armor which revealed some of her body.
"Erza!" Lucy called out happily.
Brook noticed that some of Erza's armor had some revealing parts including her dark bikini. "Whoa, that's quite the armor, so daring."
Bonk
"Cut it out!" Nami barked with shark teeth. "Good thing that Sanji isn't here."
Just then the Minister of the Right arrived with some palace guards, he attempted to fight and strike. "Your highness, I'm here, now charge men!"
Kagura used her sword to block the Seahorse merman's trident. "To think to you guys would oppose one us..." Her face had a dark glare. "I won't let you harm my friends."
"You brats are causing problems again," Makarov appeared with Mest behind him.
"I figured I should've acted soon, so, about this Makarov,"
Three palace guards attempted to attack from behind until Usagi swung his sword which let out a wind-like blade attack. "As a proud member of the Mink Tribe, I shall protect my companions, but, I insist you Neptune and your men stop so that we can talk about this calmly."
"Usagi!" Temukai exclaimed happily.
Zoro had something to say as well. "I see you guys were having some fun, so, here I am..." He looked at Kagura. "That's the sword style you use...I admit that's something, I've never seen anyone fight with a sword still in its sheath."
Despite not smiling, Kagura acknowledged the praise. "Thanks, but, I was merely holding back."
"So, that sword style that ms. Kagura uses, really impressive," Brook thought.
M
Laxus and his group were in the area where the Mermaid Cafe was.
"Damn, talk about the ride," Freed said.
"Yeah, I thought we were goners for a moment," Bickslow said as a huge grin appeared on his face. "It was nice to have some mermaids save our butts and brought us to the island."
Evergreen giggled. "Yes, I must admit, they could probably compete in the Fairy Tail's beauty contest."
Laxus was having other thoughts. "Something is off, the citizens seem a bit nervous, I have a bad feeling..."
Nearby were some Ammo elite knights.
"Prince Fukaboshi, I believe we found some of Fairy Tail's crew members, the location is at the Mermaid Cafe," One of the Ammo knights whispered through a transponder snail.
"Good, don't pursue them yet, I'll be on my way back after I report some news to the palace," The prince replied.
"Right..."
Little did they know Laxus was able to hear them due to his high sense of hearing.
Noah
Fishman District
"Captain, we have arrived!" Wadtsumi stated.
"Good, wait out here," Vander walked to the entrance.
A Fishman pirate grunt escorted the Flying Dutchman pirate captain to the main room.
Hordy Jones and his commanders were there waiting for him.
"Vander Decken is here!"
"I know he'd come!"
"Right this way,"
The Japanese bullhead shark Fishman approached the new Fishman pirate captain. "Hordy Jones, the new Fishman Pirate captain, the one and only..."
"Enough flattery, we need to start our plan, but first, you and I have one goal in common..."
"Yes, Neptune and his army are a nuisance, but, with our combined strengths...WE WILL CONQUERER THE RYUGU PALACE AND KILL NEPTUNE GOD OF THE SEA!" They both proclaimed with dark smirks on their faces.
"What the hell he is doing here?" The Fishman pirate's cheering died down.
Vander Decken turned to see three familiar faces and a sneer appears on his face. "Huh? What the hell are those three doing here?!"
Saizou, Taron, and Jester walked out from behind the shadows glaring at the Japanese Bullhead Shark Fishman.
Luffy and Natsu's group are escorted to the palace by King Neptune only to be later accused of mermaid kidnapping. Luffy Natsu, and Happy sneak away into the mermaid Princess's chamber along came Wendy and Carla. The four meet the mermaid princess. Now Vander Decken arrives at the Noah to form an alliance with Hordy Jones, then Saizou, Taron, and Jester see Shirahoshi's stalker which starts a glaring match.
Luffy: Story of the Three Fishman Perverts.
End of chapter.