SailorStar9: With Chapter 164 uploaded, I present Chapter 165 this fic. 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, Background Protector!Law/Sasha

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 165: Arc 12: The Two Beacons of Hope, Fisher Tiger And Otohime


"I'm going to tell you an incident that made Arlong rampage through the East Blue." Jinbe started. "I want you to especially to know about this." he looked at Nami. "It all began 16 years ago. She was so passionate and full of love. Queen Otohime went down to the island every day and addressed the nation." he recounted one of Otohime's many visits to the Lower World.

"So, Otohime-san is a very unusual woman." Nami noted.

"You're a crybaby just like your mother, huh?" Chopper looked at Shirahoshi.

"Well, I don't know..." Shirahoshi blinked.

"Were you a soldier of the kingdom?" Sanji asked.

"There weren't that many options for a man in the Fish-Man District who knew nothing but fighting." Jinbe explained.

"That's where you're from, right Hachi?" Chopper turned to his patient. "Sounds like a bad neighborhood."

"Yes," Jinbe confirmed. "It used to be a huge orphanage where they housed children without any relatives. But the orphanage started to get out of control and was too much for the administrators to handle, so it became a lawless area that drew misfits from all over the island. Fisher Tiger was the leader figure in the Fish-Man District but he left the country to chase adventure. And I was his lieutenant but I joined Neptune's army. Marco and the others became kidnappers even though they were Fish-Men themselves. And all the others went their separate ways as well. But one day..." he recalled the report Fisher Tiger made to King Neptune and Queen Otohime. "And then before long, something big happened: Fisher Tiger's attack on the Holy Land Mariejois. People called him the hero who freed the slaves. And at the same time, he became a criminal. And that's how the ruffians from the Fish-Man District who admired him assembled." he recalled how he had left Neptune's army to join Fisher Tiger and Arlong leading his crew to do the same. "In order to make it impossible to distinguish between those who were slaves and those who weren't, everyone used the Sun mark to cover over the mark of slaves and the Sun Pirates were formed by Fish-Men. Fisher Tiger's attack on Mariejois and the Sun Pirate's raids: those events had such impact on Fish-Men's future. We were fighting on a daily basis, as criminals wanted by the Government." he recounted the numerous sea battled the Sun Pirates were engaged in. "While Queen Otohime was fighting against the world in her own way, too. So, three years passed like that and then we met a young girl on some island." he called how the Sun Pirates had brought the then 11-year-old Koala on board their ship. "Just as Koala was fitting in so well, that's when we arrived at Foolshout Village, where she came from."

"Foolshout Village?" Ace echoed in surprise. "Seriously?"

"Ace-kun, what do you mean?" Jinbe looked at his male student.

"Luffy and I, we have another brother, Sabo, who is currently the second-in-command in the Revolutionary Army." Ace replied. "He told us back on Water 7 two years ago that his right-hand woman goes by the name Koala. And if she's from Foolshout Village, then she's the same Koala!"

"Is that so?" Jinbe nodded contently. "Then, I'm glad she's doing fine. And so, that's how the captain of the Sun Pirates, Fisher Tiger died." he held back his tears as he recounted Fisher Tiger's death. "Boss Tai, til the end, pleaded for Queen Selena's forgiveness. The captain's death... I think all of you must know how painful it was for the crew who were left behind. Enraged by Fisher Tiger's death, Arlong lashed out against humans and he was imprisoned. I start identifying myself as 'First Son of the Sea', Jinbe and as captain of the Sun Pirates, I did nothing but fight, day in and day out. Queen Otohime was working so hard day after day. Rescuing humans from shipwrecks, teaching the island children about the world above, collecting signatures... however," he sighed, recalling that due to yet another incident involving pirates, Queen Otohime's signatures were redrawn.

"I see." Ace nodded, after hearing Jinbe's reason for accepting the Warlord post. "That's the reason why you decided to accept the World Government's offer to join the Warlords."

"That's right." Jinbe puffed his pipe and continued his narration. "The Sun Pirates split into three groups and went separate ways. I knew there were many islanders who didn't like the idea of me joining the Warlords. And then something happened that would change Queen Otohime's life forever. An unwanted visitor came to the island." he recounted the Celestial Dragon's visit to Fish-Man Island. "A few weeks later, when the Celestial Dragon whose life has been saved was about to leave for home, Queen Otohime did an unexpected thing." he recalled how Queen Otohime went to Mariejois with the Celestial Dragon. "Queen Otohime's voyage was to determine the fate of Fish-Man Island. Of course, we were all worrying, but it was nothing compared to the burden of the Neptune family. The whole Ryugu Palace was restless. But all we could do was pray for the Queen's safety. There had been no word of the Queen for days and worries kept growing. That one week felt like 100 days and then after a few days of convincing, Queen Otohime finally succeeded in calming down the Celestial Dragons and she brought back with her a sheet of paper which held the fate of the Fish-Man Island." with the backing of the Celestial Dragons, Queen Otohime's petition signatures started gathering. "But then, the unexpected happened. Signatures were mounting up at the rapid pace. The islanders still didn't trust humans but they were beginning to see the beginnings of a new era." he then recalled the fateful day when the gathered signatures suddenly started burning and in the midst of the confusion, Queen Otohime was shot by a gun. After making her sons promise to protect Shirahoshi, the goldfish mermaid died right in front of her children's eyes.


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