SailorStar9: With Chapter 166 uploaded, I present Chapter 167 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 167: Arc 12: The Kingdom in Shock! An Order to Execute Neptune Issued!


"There is something I want to tell all citizens of the Ryugu Kingdom." Hody continued his broadcast. "This country will soon be destroyed. And it will be rebuilt under a new King: namely me! The new Fish-Man Island over which I will rule is going to be strict in discipline. Those of you who hope for friendly relations with humans, get packing and leave this country. Humans are weak and they don't know their place. They don't deserve any help from us strong Fish-Men. Instead, we will have new residents from the Fish-Men District soon. They hate humans and hope to change this island like us. They're in the same camp as us. I bet you all witnessed how your beloved Queen Otohime died. She was so selfless and tried so hard to bridge between Fish-Men and humans. But who killed her? It was a human. If you trust them and meet halfway in friendship, they'll disappoint you again. Why can't you see it? Duped by the Neptune family, you are all heading down the path of death. Their high-sounding dream is just unfeasible. It's a lie that will lead you to perdition. Look at this." the camera shifted to the chained King Neptune. "The Great King Neptune got old like anyone else. There is no future for the Fish-Man Island if the old guard remains in power."


"Unfortunately, the King is captured because of us." Nami mused. "Or Zoro." she looked at Sanji.

"Don't worry, Nami-san." Sanji assured. "It's all that Moss-Head's fault."

"What did you people do?" Jinbe snapped.

"But, Boss Jinbe!" Camie defended. "Soldiers of Neptune's army attacked Nami-chin and the others first."


"Citizens of the Fish-Man Island!" Hody's speech continued. "It's time to say goodbye to the old Ryugu Kingdom. Three hours from now, at Gyoncorde Plaza, I'm going to cut this incompetent King's head off. The Great Pirate Era begun when they executed a human: Gold Roger, the King of Pirates. That era saw humans grow to persecute Fish-Men. So this time, by executing Neptune, I'll start the Great Fish-Men Era where Fish-Men will dominate humans. As you know by now, I'm at the Ryugu Palace as I speak. And we found two very good items. One, is the letter from the Celestial Dragons that Queen Otohime got 10 years ago at the risk of her life." he presented the letter. "If I destroy that letter, it's over. You won't get another one. The second," he roughly pulled the bound Sasha to him. "The Dragon Goddess of legend. And in this big box," the camera shifted to the wooden box that contained the signatures Otohime collected. "There are signatures from the majority of this country. I couldn't believe my eyes." he stepped on a pile of signatures. "There are so many fools who want to befriend humans. Those of you who have signed your name would oppose my new Kingdom. So this is actually a list of traitors. No more stepping on her picture. It would be easy to pretend you don't mind stepping on it. But these signatures will tell who is my enemy and who is not. It's hard evidence. I will make use of the Dragon Goddess' power to take care of these enemies group by group. First: Togare from Coral Hill. Next, Gotan from Waterwheel Town. Luca from Mermaid Cove. Garcia from Fishverly Hills. Meverly from the Coral Apartment. There are a lot more."

"Stop!" King Neptune barked. "I won't let you hurt my folk or the Dragon Empress."

"Well, enough of that." Hody shrugged. "We don't have time anyway. Lastly, Straw Hat Pirates. I'll show you something good. I know you're on this island somewhere watching this." the camera moved to show the three unconscious Straw Hat crew locked in a cage. "You people shattered Arlong's dream: he was a symbol of Fish-Men's anger."


"Zoro, Usopp, Brook!" Chopper exclaimed.

"What fools..." Sanji muttered.

"I can't believe they got caught." Nami gasped.


"Do it." Hody told one of his crew who passed the instruction over to the pirates in the guard-tower who then pulled a lever to move the cage upwards. Another lever then let water gush in from the opening at the bottom of the room.

"That room will be filled with water by the time we finished executing the King." Hody laughed. "You lowly creatures can't survive that, can you? Straw Hat Luffy with a 400 million bounty. You people's heads will serve perfectly as a lesson to humans above ground. Lock her up!" he tossed Sasha to one of his men. "Now let's start cleaning up the old Ryugu Kingdom. Bury the embarrassing past and shift the helm towards a great future. The Fish-Men Island will win back its pride in three hours. Now, issue an order to Daruma and the others to assemble." he instructed, cutting off the transmission. "It's gonna get busy. I'll make your execution a big show. So that all the citizens of the Fish-Man Island will be afraid of me."

"How can you be so selfish?" King Neptune asked. "You can't govern a country like that."

"All Kings are selfish." Hody snorted. "You were a selfish King to us. You and Otohime's dream make me sick ever since I was a soldier in your army. When the leader changes, a country will change, too. I will utilize the Dragon Goddess' power and be the 'law' from now on."


In the deeper part of the Sea Forest...

"This is different from any of the Poneglyphs that I've seen before." Robin sat on a nearby rock. "This is like a letter, a letter of apology. Who are you apologizing to? And who are you? 'Joy Boy'."


"Hey." Luffy turned to his crew. "He said I'm worth 400 million. When did they raise it?"

"And that's what you focus on?" Ace exclaimed.

"This is not the time for that!" Nami slapped him on the back of his head.

"Obviously, they want to fight with us." Sanji concluded.

"What happened on Sabaody Archipelago made you infamous instantly." Ace informed. "And when it goes over 300 million, it's not easily increased again."

"But if someone wants to fight me, I'll fight." Luffy declared.

"Hold it, Luffy." Ace scolded.

"Father-sama..." Shirahoshi muttered. "Megalo!" she turned to the shark. "I have to go save him!"

"Wait, Princess Shirahoshi!" Jinbe called. "Stop, Megalo! Wait."

"Boss Jinbe, but..." Shirahoshi wept.

"Luffy, both you and Princess Shirahoshi have to wait." Ace agreed with his teacher.

"Princess, I don't think you should go either." Hachi cut in. "What Hody is most afraid of in the Ryugu Kingdom now is Princess Shirahoshi's ability. Even if he reshapes the Fish-Man Island exactly the way he wants, once she controls the Sea Kings to attack the island, it'll be gone. He took the King hostage to use him as a shield."

"So what they are really going for is Shirahoshi-chan." Sanji noted.

"Hody is not planning to capture her and get control of her power." Hachi corrected. "He prefers her power didn't exist at all. That's why he teamed up with Decken who is capable of killing her. Hody wants to get rid of everything that could stand in his way."

"He is right." Jinbe nodded. "Rushing to the plaza is just want Hody wants Princess-sama to do."

"I have been told about my power, but I have never communicated with the Sea Kings-sama." Shirahoshi admitted. "I don't even know if I really have that kind of power."

"But even so, I'm sure that Hody will try to kill you." Jinbe warned. "And we shouldn't let Hody know that you can't control that power. It's good that he's afraid of it."

"Is that all?" Luffy asked. "Then, I'll get going. Shark," he told Megalo. "Take me to the Ryugu Palace. Sanji, take care of Coward."

"We said, 'Wait, Luffy." Jinbe pressed. "You people shouldn't fight Hody.

"Why are you trying to stop me?" Luffy asked.

"Is it because we're humans?" Chopper and Franky chorused.

"I don't want to hear that coming from you two!" Ace retorted.

"That's right." Jinbe stepped forward. "You humans shouldn't do it. The surviving Fish-Men will hate humans again. You have to leave it to me."

"Jinbe, they have my crew." Luffy argued. "And I got to do something about Hody before my friends get into real trouble."

"Jinbe-sensei, on this point, I have to agree with Luffy." Ace stepped up. "This is still Pop's territory, and defending it from threats, outside or inside, is the main reason I'm here for."

"Why can't you two see it?" Jinbe looked at the two 'D' brothers. "I shouldn't let my guard down just because you were my student, Ace-kun." he readied himself for a brawl. "If you two are not going to listen to me, I have no choice. Are you two ready to do this, brats?"


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