SailorStar9: What's up, guys? I apologize for being MIA for the last week: the reason being my laptop crushed after installing the last Windows 10 update and I had to sent it to the repair guy to reformat the OS. I got it back on Friday evening and spent the weekend re-downloading just about everything. Heck, even right now, I'm manually installing Windows 7 Service Pack 1 because auto updates aren't working. On a personal note, if your repair guys offer data recovery, then by all means, let him do it for you. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Pairings: Ace/Sasha, sibling Luffy/Sasha and Sabo/Sasha, possible Ace/Sasha/Law if I get enough votes

SailorStar9: And speaking of votes, the pairing poll for Ace/Sasha and Ace/Sasha/Law is currently tied at one vote apiece. Come on people, you just can't leave me with a tie here!

Disclaimers: One Piece belongs to Oda Eiichirō-sensei. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except my OC, the pairing and the fic idea.

Chapter 123: Arc 10: Save The Takoyaki! Introducing Duval!

"What a shock!" Camie exclaimed, seeing Luffy and the rest of the crew looking intently at her. "There are so many humans here!"

"We're surprised, too." Chopper added.

"I thought I was going to be digested." Camie admitted. Thank you for saving me. I keep getting swallowed by monsters. This is probably the 20th time. I have to repay you somehow." she mused. "Oh, I know. Would you like some takoyaki?"

"Mermaid!" Sanji started gushing. "I've finally gotten to meet one of them! This is the first time I've met one! Camie, was it?"

"It's not the first time." Usopp reminded. "You met Kokoro-baa-san, didn't you?"

"Thriller Bark?" Sanji was immediately brought back to earth. "No, that wasn't scary. Not scary at all. The scariest thing we've encountered so far was..."

"Kokoro-baa-san was a mermaid?" Luffy echoed. "But she could walk, couldn't she?"

"I see." Franky realized. "You didn't know, huh? It happened when you were fighting that Lucci fellow after all."

"Imagining Kokoro-baa-san as a mermaid is for some reason really gross." Luffy grimaced.

"You are too freaking blunt!" Nami landed a punch on Luffy's cheek. "Geez, when it comes to these guys' expectations of mermaids..."

"But she seems like a cute mermaid, doesn't she?" Robin giggled.

"That's right." Luffy grabbed Pappagu. "Camie, what's this? This talking glove-like thingy."

"He did not just call a starfish a 'thingy'." Sasha sweatdropped.

"He's my pet, Pappagu." Camie replied. "He's a starfish and he's my master."

"I was taken in and for a reason." Pappagu jumped up on the railing on the second floor, a guitar in his hands.

"So, this T-shirt is of the 'Criminal' Brand and it's really popular on Fishman Island these days." Camie introduced. "Pappagu designed it. I want to become a designer, one day, too."

"But this is a relief." Nami noted, turning to Pappagu. "We were having trouble figuring out what to do. I want to ask you something."

"Nami, the takoyaki comes first!" Luffy protested.

"That's right." Camie recalled. "The takoyaki to show my gratitude. I've got to meet up with Hachi somewhere. Hello, Hachi." she pulled out a mini Den Den Mushi from her hair and dialed a number. "This is Camie. Sorry, I kinda got lost. Where are you right now?"

"That voice must be Camie, right?" Marco voiced from the other end of the line. "Do you know who you're talking to? This ain't Hachi, you know. This is Marco, from the simple-minded Marco Crew."

"Why do you people have Hachi's Den Den Mushi?" Camie demanded.

"Cause we beat that Hachi up." Marco mocked. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Liar!" Camie snapped. "There's no way Hachi would lose to you guys!"

"Yeah, you have a point." Marco conceded. "Usually, we're no match for him, but this time, we have the Flying Fish Riders on our side."

"The Flying Fish Riders?" Pappagu echoed.

"Camie, you're still alright?" Hachi voiced over the Den Den Mushi. "Thank goodness. I let my guard down." he admitted. "Don't come here! I'll take out these guys and come straight back. It'll be fine."

"Y'know, Camie." Marco took over. "We're just about to sell this guy. Octopus Fishmen are pretty rare, so he should fetch quite a price. Feel free to come and save him. We're at Sabaody Archipelago, in the waters five kilometers east of Grove 44. This is where the Flying Fish Riders' base is."

"No, Camie!" Hachi objected. "Don't come here!"

"Shut up, you damn octopus!" Marco has heard silencing Hachi. "See ya." he hang up.

"Wait..." Nami blinked. "The voice of that Hachi guy we just heard over the Den Den Mushi. It seemed kinda of familiar... it's just my imagination, right?" she wondered. "There's no way..."

"Sorry, Luffy." Camie apologized. "Can we do the takoyaki later? I've got to save my friend."

"Wait Camie." Nami interjected. "I shouldn't be meddling here, but if you want to save your friend, then we can help you. And in exchange, how about you help us get to Fishman Island?"

"Well, that's settled." Sasha noted. "Do you know where they are?"

"Grove 44 is an island at the very eastern edge of the archipelago." Pappagu pointed to the map Camie pulled out. 5 kilometers from there; I guess the Flying Fish Riders' base would be about there." he shifted his arm. "Seeing how we are about here right now," he shifted to the ship's approximate position. "If we head for the Sabaody Archipelago from here, we should pass it on the way. So, let's head west. Afterwards, we can talk to the fish and figure it out."

"Yeah, that's right." Camie nodded and hopped over to the edge of the ship. "Hey!" she shouted over the railing. In response, a school of fish popped their head out of the water. "We want you to lead the way." she requested. "They said they're afraid of the Flying Fish Riders, so they won't take us all the way there." she translated the fish's answer. "But they'll show us where to go."

"But how do we follow the fish in the sea anyway?" Nami wondered and was shocked when the fishes formed an arrow in the sea.

"I'll take the helm!" Usopp took the wheel.

"Zoro." Luffy looked at the swordsman who had just finished training.

"Are we setting off?" Zoro asked. "Does it look like we can make it to Fishman Island?"

"Forget that." Luffy grinned. "Look here, this is Camie, the mermaid." he introduced the ship's new passenger. "She's real. Awesome, right?"

"A mermaid, huh?" Zoro mused. "First time I've seen one."

"We're taking a short detour to save her friend's takoyaki." Luffy explained.

"Anyway, you guys are pretty quick to offer your help." Pappagu pointed out. "But are you sure you can handle this?"

"We're strong, you know." Luffy assured.

"I should warn you, there's not just one gang of kidnappers around here." Pappagu cautioned. "There are plenty of guys on the Sabaody Archipelago. Human trading is big business around here. And seeing mermaids are particularly valuable, the Marco Crew, a gang of three fishmen have been after Camie for a while now. Hachi from the Takoyaki shop probably thought we had been kidnapped by the Marco Crew and went after them since we'd been missing for awhile, after getting eaten by that monster."

"That's probably it." Camie sighed. "Hachi is a kind, straight-forward person, after all. It's my fault."

"Hearing about this octopus named Hachi, I can't help but think of that stupid fishman." Zoro took a gulp of water.

"Usually, Hachi could beat those guys easily." Pappagu admitted. "But who'd thought the Flying Fish Riders would help them?"

"Who're they?" Franky asked.

"Another kidnapping gang who start causing a lot of trouble around these parts recently." Pappagu replied. "They say if they target you, you're doomed. Their boss, Duval, is a guy with an iron mask. Nobody really knows what he really looks like. It seems like they're looking for someone. They check every single ship that passes this area."

"We're in trouble!" Usopp shouted from the helm, after the directing fish scattered off.

"The fish said, 'We're sorry, but we can't take you any further.'" Camie translated for the guiding fish.

"They're here!" Pappagu pointed. "The Flying Fish Riders!"

"They're not in the sea, but in the air!" Camie warned.

"Damn, they're gonna attack us!" Franky cursed, the riders' bombs missing the ship.

"Here they come again!" Sanji shouted from the crow's nest.

Bombs, huh?" Zoro drew his swords.

"Gomu Gomu no..."

"72 Pound..."

Both Luffy and Zoro readied to block the attack.

"Pistol!"

"Cannon!"

Both attacks deflecting the dropped bombs.

"Be careful." Camie warned. "Once the flying fish jump out of the water, they can stay in the air for five minutes.

"What the..." Luffy was confused when the three riders retreated.

SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.