Chapter 6 A Man You Can Bet On
Flashback; several hours ago
"Monkey D. 'Straw Hat' Luffy," Jimbei declared, "is the man who will one day change this very world! He may be young, that much is true...but it is not any of the Seven Emperors who will rule these seas! I strongly believe that it is Luffy who will begin an entirely new era!"
For a brief moment, he thought back on when Luffy and Hayate was back on Amazon Lily, mourning the loss of Ace and Lang and wallowing in their own self-hatred. If not for Jimbei, back then, Luffy and Hayate would still have been lost in his guilt and regret.
"I want to be of help to him!" Jimbei exclaimed to the entire Sun Pirates crew, plus Wadatsumi, who had joined him after an incident involving a lost sea kitten and some old ruins. "I want to ride on his ship and pledge my entire life to his cause! Doing so will ensure that my voyage wins true freedom for all of Fishman-kind!"
"You've told us plenty about Luffy over the past 2 years," said Aladdin, the crew's new first mate. "I've always thought that if you felt that strongly about him, it was best for you to follow your heart."
Jimbei blinked in surprise before he scratched the back of his head and blushed, sheepishly.
"Err...have I really talked about him, that much?" the Whale Shark Fishman asked.
"Haha," Aladdin chuckled. "Well, go on then, Jimbei!"
"Yeah, go on!" agreed one of the crew members. "Go and join Straw Hat, for cryin' out loud!"
Jimbei gaped, stunned at their response.
"Y...you seriously don't mind?!" he asked.
"You kidding?" asked a Fishman with four arms. "Which one of us has the right to complain, Captain?"
"The only reason you left Neptune's army to be a pirate," another Fishman with a spiky dorsal fin began, "was so you could fight along with us former slaves from Mariejois!"
"Not to mention you took on the position of Warlord of the Sea to help raise the standing of all Fishmen!" added a Fishman with a long neck.
"The same thing with sheltering under the protection of the Big Mom Pirates!" added a large, muscular Fishman.
"To ensure our safety," stared a merman, "and to protect help our beloved Ryugu Kingdom with the power of her name! All your big life choices have been for the sake of someone else!"
"You've done enough for us, Jimbei," Aladdin grinned. "Now...we want you to live your own life, without having to worry about us!"
Soon, the Sun Pirates began to clamor in agreement.
"Go on, Jimbei!"
"Yeah, Captain Jimbei!"
"We'll do you proud, so don't go assumin' we won't, you hear?!"
Jimbei gaped at his fellow Fishmen, unable to believe what he was hearing. All this time, since the death of Fisher Tiger, he had only made decisions based on what he believed was for the good of his kind...and now, they were giving him the choice to do what he wanted, for a change. The thought actually made him want to tear up...but he didn't. He just smiled and bowed his head in gratitude.
"Thank you...all of you!" he told them.
"Hate to be a wet blanket," said a Scorpionfish Fishman, "but there's something that bothers me. It might be easy for you to say that Jimbei, but...will Big Mom really allow you, one of her best captains, to leave her, just like that?"
"Ha! You worry too much!" laughed his fellow crewmate. "If she decides to get pissed at us, we'll just run for our lives! BWAHAHA!"
"Hey, easy!" cried another Fishman. "Don't make light of this!" He then looked to Aladdin. "What do you think about this situation, Aladdin? I mean...you married Miss Praline, one of Big Mom's daughters, and that makes her your mother-in-law, right?"
"What was that?!" a voice questioned, causing the Sunny Pirates to yelp in surprise. "Did I hear someone worrying about me, just now? SHASHASHA!"
The group turned to see a rather large mermaid with freckles, light blue eyes and long, blonde hair pulled into a bun in the back and also forms a long appendage similar to that of an actual hammerhead shark. Her tail is dark blue with a light, frilly piece of clothing on the front, and she wears a dark open jacket with flowers on the edges. Her mouth contains pointed teeth like a hammerhead shark's.
29TH DAUGHTER OF THE CHARLOTTE FAMILY
CHARLOTTE PRALINE
(HAMMERHEAD SHARK HALF-MERMAID)
"Uh...Miss Praline!" exclaimed a Fishman with fins that looked like dreadlocks. "Uh...you didn't hear all that...right?"
"ALADDIN!" Praline yelled, causing the Sunny Pirates to shriek as they hid behind the Goatsbeard Brotula Merman, who seemed a bit taken aback himself. "What's the big idea?! You think your little secret's so important, I can't be involved?!"
"Now wait a minute, Praline!" Aladdin exclaimed. "I can explain!"
"If Mama gets angry over this," Praline started, "you weren't thinking about LEAVING me, are you?!"
"Of course not, love!" Aladdin answered. "You know I wouldn't! I was just about to tell you-"
"There's no need to talk it over!" Praline shouted...before she suddenly pulled her husband into a loving hug. "You know that I'd take you over Mama! And I know you'll take me with you when it comes to that, right?"
"O-of course, love," Aladdin replied, his face smushed into his wife's bosom, while the Sunny Pirates blushed and covered their eyes.
"What passion~!" they exclaimed.
"I'm sorry to leave you so soon, Wadatsumi," said Jimbei.
"Ah, that's okay," said Wadatsumi. "I'm glad to be here with everybody!"
"But Praline," Jimbei said to the half-mermaid. "Tell me...do you think that Mama will forgive us? Or myself, for that matter?"
"Hmm...I can't say, really," Praline admitted, a shark-line grin appearing on her face. "There have been many others who have tried...although, when they even suggested that they leave Mama's empire...they died right on the spot! SHASHASHA!"
Hearing that caused the Sunny Pirates to gasp before they glanced over at Jimbei, who only kept his determined expression.
"...I'm willing to accept whatever happens," he said.
Flashback end
Currently, in Sweet City on Whole Cake Island, the citizens were mourning the death of Moscato, who had just been killed by his own mother.
"Sir Moscato!" sobbed a little boy. "You can't be dead!"
"Move it, kid," said Opera, pulling the boy away from his dead brother.
"Take him away, now," said Galette to two men dressed like knight pieces from a chess game.
"Yes, ma'am," said one of the knights as they picked up Moscato's dead body.
"You got that?!" Mont d'Or questioned to some sort of black, shadowy blob. "Every last second!"
On that, he and his siblings began to walk away.
"Hey, Sir Mont d'Or!" called the boy. "Big Mom...she isn't gonna kill Boss Jimbei, too, is she?!"
"How should I know?!" Mont d'Or replied. "Mama would kill her own children if she got mad enough, that's all I can tell you!"
The boy looked disheartened before he glanced over at the shadowy blobs, which held up baskets as they approached Moscato's body.
XXX
Later that day, in the Whole Cake Chateau...
"So you really are leaving, aren't you, Jimbei?" asked Big Mom, sitting on her throne.
"Why, Boss?!" asked a living strawberry shortcake.
"Why are you leaving us?!" cried a talking spongecake.
"SILENCE!" Big Mom shouted as she grabbed the spongecake and ate him, causing him to scream in horror before they turned to silence. "Don't ever ask one who leaves why they're doing it in the first place! It's pathetic! It doesn't matter in the slightest! We're pirates, and therefore, we do what we want." She then swallowed the spongecake and glowered down at Jimbei. "However, having the ritual cups of parent and child thrown back in my face is an affront to the parent. You understand that, don't you, Jimbei? I'm losing quite a lot of power due to this!"
"Well, yes," Jimbei replied.
"I need more than just a 'well yes', you know!" Big Mom exclaimed. "You'll have to lose something, too! That's the only you can make this up to me!"
Jimbei only glared at her in response.
"Mamamama..." Big Mom laughed. "Bring out...the Roulette Wheel!"
"EEK!" the talking desserts cried before they all hopped away, and then came back with a giant roulette wheel...which had depictions of two arms, two legs, two heads with a crown on it, and some sort of shadowy blob with a face.
"Now then," Big Mom began, "let's see what you'll be losing!"
XXX
Later that night, somewhere between Biscuits Island and Nuts Island, the Sanji Retrieval Team had gotten into a bit of a sticky situation...no pun intended. Right now, the Sunny had somehow got stuck in the middle of the sea, which was actually made of candy syrup.
"This stuff sure is sweet!" exclaimed Chopper, who was in Heavy Point as he licked the frozen syrup.
"I want some of that exclaimed Nene
"Can't we just stop here and sleep?" Luffy asked, holding a giant torch, which he held to the syrup.
"Hell no!" Nami replied. "What if those giant ants wake up?!"
It was revealed that the group was surrounded by a colony of giant ants, which currently sleeping. However, they knew they wouldn't be asleep very long, so they had to hurry.
"When the sun sets and hits the sea," said Pedro as he drenched a torch in oil, "it will flow again, but at night, it's so cold, that the sea turns solid."
"You know, it would have been a lot more helpful if you had told us about this sooner, Pedro!" Nami said in irritation before she turned to Brook, Mimi Nene Chopper, Magnes, and Carrot, who was trying to pull the Sunny out of the candy syrup.
"We need to hurry and melt this stuff so we can get outta here we can afford to waste any more time!" exclaim Hayate
"Got it!" Luffy replied as he melted the syrup around the ship.
"It's only because of my music that those ants are sleeping," Brook said. "However, they'll be sure to wake up, soon."
"And we'll be in a lot of trouble if they wake up!" Chosuke added.
Those ants are pretty tough and ferocious huh said Magnes
"I know how fierce those ants can be. My ship got eaten by these things, once."
"Yikes!" Chopper squeaked.
That Scary said Nene nervously
"Oh, yeah, you said you came here before, didn't you?" Luffy asked.
"That's also something I've been wondering," Hayate said. "Pedro, why did you come here to Big Mom's territory in the first place?"
"Pedro actually used to have his own pirate crew!" Carrot piped up. "In fact, Pekoms was part of it!"
"Carrot!" Pedro chided.
"Whoa, you guys were pirates together?!" Luffy asked in surprise. "Really?!"
"...My crew was called the Nox Pirates," Pedro said. "Back then, though...we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. I thought we were just explorers, but somehow, we ended up with bounties on our heads. I was only with Pekoms and his group a part of the way."
"W-well, what happened?" Nene asked. "Why didn't you stay together?"
"...Circumstances," Pedro replied. "At any rate, this for your-gara ears, only...but the truth is...I was out looking for a Poneglyph!"
"What?!" Hayate questioned in disbelief while the others gasped.
"I wanted to be of service to Master Nekomamushi, and my final voyage was what brought me here, to Big Mom's territory," Pedro said. "It was here...that my men and I suffered a devastating defeat!"
The group all gaped, stunned at this revelation. Even Carrot, who knew Pedro for a long time, was shocked.
"I hardly ever told a soul about it," said Pedro.
"...I see," Carrot whispered.
"But Pedro," Hayate began, "why would you come back here if you have such bad memories of this place?!"
"I was hoping my experiences here would be useful in helping you all get Sanji back," Pedro answered.
I see said Hayate
"Plus," Pedro started, "my coming along won't be entirely meaningless, after all?"
"What do you mean?" Luffy asked.
"Our two kings showed you-gara the Road Poneglyph in the Whale Tree, correct?" Pedro queried.
"Yeah," Luffy nodded. "What's that got to do with anything?"
"I was honestly stunned by that action," said Pedro. "They showed it to you people- our saviors, that much is true, but you are not members of the Kozuki Clan."
"Yeah, so?" Luffy asked.
"It has been 26 years since that last happened!" Pedro answered. "The last person they showed it to...was Gol D. Roger and his crew!"
"EH?!" the group questioned.
"No way!" Luffy exclaimed. "Gold Roger?! Really?!"
"After that," Pedro continued, "Roger made his way to Raftel and became known as the King of the Pirates. Duke Inuarashi and Master Nekomamushi...they see him in you-gara."
"They see him in Luffy?" asked Hayate.
"Yes," Pedro replied. "They believe you people worthy enough, that the Road Poneglyph will be necessary to you, one day!" He then glanced to Luffy. "Tell me, Luffy...after you are victorious against Kaido, what do you plan on doing next?"
"Huh?" Luffy asked. "Oh! Uh...I guess I haven't that far ahead, yet."
"Of course not..." Hayate muttered.
"Next, you will need the Road Poneglyph that is in Big Mom's possession!" Pedro answered. "This means that this is our golden opportunity! We've already come this far into her realm!"
"That's true," Hayate affirmed.
"Once we rescue Sanji," Pedro began, "we should steal the Road Poneglyph, as well!"
"Oh, yeah," Luffy said. "Robin said for me to do that."
"I'm surprised you actually remember," Hayate snarked.
When we get to Whole Cake Island," Pedro began, "buy me some time, and I swear I'll steal it, this time!"
"Seriously?!" Luffy asked. "Well, if it's for our sake, then maybe I should go with you!"
"No," Pedro denied. "You should focus on getting Sanji back and keeping him safe. Neither of those will be easy, you know."
"...Oh, okay!" Luffy realized. "I get it! Thanks, Pedro! Shishishi!"
"It's settled then!" Pedro exclaimed. "I wish you the best of luck."
"You, too," Luffy smiled.
"Yohohoho!" Brook laughed. "That's Luffy for you!"
"GUYS!" Nene shouted.
"What is it, Nene?!" Luffy questioned.
"...That," Nene squeaked as she pointed to the ant colony...which was starting to wake up.
"AAAAAAH!" Nami, Chosuke Chopper, Brook, and Carrot shrieked.
"We can take 'em!" Luffy said with a cocky grin. "They're just a bunch of bugs!"
Can't wait said Magnes
This is no matter to take lightly said Hayate
"CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRGE!" Luffy roared as they rushed at the ants, who charged right back, eager to make their group their next meal...except for Brook, since he was only bones.
"Oh, that's just unfair!" Brook complained.
"YOOOOOOOOW!" Luffy howled as one ant chomped him right on the butt. "GET HIM OFF, GET HIM OFF!"
The next day, the Sunny was seen sailing along, having escaped the sea of syrup, but did not escape unscathed, for she had a few bandages on her smiling face.
Down on the deck, Hayate Chopper, Magnes, Mimi Brook, Nami (who, for some reason, was wearing a suit of armor), Nene, and Carrot were lying around on the deck, also wearing bandages. It seemed that the ants were hardier than most insects and proved to give the team a run for their money. They would've fought all night, had they not melted the candy around the ship's hull in time.
Up in the Crow's Nest, Luffy yawned and stretched as he was the first to wake up.
"Ugh...damn those stupid ants!" he complained. "Bit me all over!" He then reached behind his back to scratch a very annoying itch. "Ugh! Dammit, my back still itches!" That's when he felt something under his cardigan, which he pulled out and found that it was a set of teeth that one of the lost when it bit him. "Oh, so that's what it is!" He soon tossed the teeth away, but then, he spotted something in the distance, causing him to gasp.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed. "Hey, guys! Guys, wake up!"
"Huh?" Nami muttered as she woke up.
"What's going on?" Hayate asked as he tiredly opened one eye.
"We're here~!" Luffy called.
The group gathered at the helm, and soon, they all gasped at what laid in their sight: an island made entirely of giant cakes!
"This is it!" Luffy exclaimed. "Whole Cake Island!"
"Wow!" Chopper beamed. "It's a gigantic cake!"
We heading into deep into the Base of one of the Seven Emperor said Chosuke
"So this is where Big Mom lives!" Mimi chimed in.
"Look at 'em all!" Nene added.
"They actually look good enough to eat!" Magnes spoke up.
"The tallest cake in the center," Pedro began, "is Big Mom's castle."
"A castle?!" Chopper repeated.
"Do we go straight forward from here?" Brook asked.
"Yep!" Nami answered as she held the map. "That cape there is the only weak point in the security net!"
"Ohhh, all that cake..." Luffy drooled. "No, Luffy! Remember what happened on that Chocolate Island!"
Grrruuuuuuuuuurrrmbgh...! His stomach started grumbling, letting him know how hungry he was.
"...Maybe a few little nibbles won't hurt," he said before he suddenly spotted something up ahead. "Oh! Hey! I-I think I see someone, on the coast!"
The group looked ahead...and for a moment, they could've sworn that they had seen...
"...Is that Sanji...?!" Hayate whispered.
To Be Continued