SailorStar9: With Chapter 167 uploaded, I present Chapter 168 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 168: Arc 12: Preparation For War!


"Enough." Robin stepped between the two opposing sides, before dissolving into petals and letting Ace and Luffy land a punch each across Jinbe's cheek. "Don't fight." she entered the clearing. "I don't know the reason, but the three of you are friends, right?"

"Why did Robin come out of the forest?" Chopper exclaimed.


In the Ryugu Palace...

"Okay, let's go to the execution ground." Hody told his men.

"Do you want some of us to stay here in the palace?" one of the Fish-Men asked. "Boss Hody?"

"No, I don't think so." Hody replied. "This Ryugu Palace is impregnable. Leave some men to open the gate when we come back. We don't want the new King getting locked out."

"That'd be nonsense, jamon." King Neptune corrected. "You can't win the citizens' hearts with violence."

"You have only a little life left." Hody snorted. "Say what you want. This hurts." he winced, feeling the pain from the wound he had received from Zoro previously. "That stupid swordsman cut me there. The drug is wearing off. Give me the Energy Steroid." grabbing a handful of the pills, he threw them into his mouth. "The pain is gone." he laughed.

"Boss, what should we do about those 3 Straw Hats?" one of the Fish-Men asked.

"They're just humans." Hody scoffed. "They'll drown if we leave them like that. No matter who is coming to save them, no one can break into the palace. That aside, how are the new residents from the Fish-Man District doing?"

"They're doing fine." one of the Fish-Men reported. "They're already moving."

"That's good." Hody chuckled. "There'll be empty houses for them. Some will leave the country and I will use the Dragon Goddess' powers to amplify the hatred in the others. They can just move into those houses. We'll make a great country in which all citizens can look down on humans."


In the Sea Forest...

"Think about it, you two." Jinbe stated. "What will happen if you guys resort to violence now on the Fish-Man Island? Every time Fish-Men tried to open their hearts to humans, humans disappointed them. 'Humans are very violent', 'Humans hate and look down on Fish-Men'. What happened in the past planted those twisted ideas in Fish-Men's minds. In the case of Arlong, many Fish-Men believe that humans hunted him because he was a Fish-Man. If you, the people who beat Arlong, fight Hody now, what do you think will happen? Even if it helps the island overcome this crisis, witnessing you people knocking down Hody who is standing against humans, would make the islanders to think that things will never change."

"But Jinbe," Sanji reminded. "We have to rescue our crew. And if nothing is done, Hody will rule the Fish-Man Island. We have so many friends on this island. Hachi," he turned to the octopus Fish-Man. "You've been trying so hard to hide who did that to you, but you said a while ago that Hody attacks those Fish-Men that was sympathetic to humans. Did you get beaten by them because you spoke up for us?"

"Jinbe-sensei." Ace spoke. "Part of the reason why we want to fight is because this is your home. For the past two years, you've trained Sasha and myself to your best ability and we thank you for that."

"And if Luffy wants to fight, we will go along with him." Sanji declared. "We can't leave the island like this. We have reason to fight."

"Jinbe-sensei." Ace voiced. "I will have to assume you have an attack plan."


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