Back with another chapter! Thank you all for the kind reviews and follows. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
As always – "I don't own One piece. I hope I did"
"They have finally done it! The Straw hat pirates have captured the Ryugu Palace!" A bystander yelled as he received the news about the capture.
"What? Why did they do that?" Commotion ensured as people talked and yelled about the news. Some disagreed about the capture, but most of them voiced out their hate towards the straw hats as they captured the royalty of their place.
The alley suddenly grew silent as they started to hear screams. They turned around to see the streets covered with blood and dead bodies. Some had their body broken in brutal ways, twisted and bent in several places.
Some looked alive, but it was for naught as they wouldn't be rescued since a huge number of Mermans holding weapons advanced towards them, with a malicious look on their eyes.
They advanced towards the now dispersing crowd, people who were running in all directions to escape from this slaughter. But they couldn't get far as the alley was completely surrounded by the merman's. They rushed towards them, slashing, kicking and piercing through them. Bodies started to stack around the place as it was filled with blood.
The entire district was annihilated in minutes, which sent a tarrying message across to the nearby district that these mermen were out for blood and they had to do whatever they ask in order to stay alive.
Many noticed that the force wasn't entirely consisted of mermen, but also had human pirates among them. It did nothing but fuel the hatred simmering in their hearts for a long time.
Ryugu Palace, Koukaku Tower,
"Hey! As I said, let's go outside.!" Luffy grinned.
"But… I cannot go Luffy-sama! I can't do such…" She trailed off, looking sad.
"Look here, you said you had somewhere to go right? If I were to be locked up in a single place, I think I will go crazy… It'll be a thank you for all the food you provided me. I'll make sure no one harms you!" Luffy said.
"But it is a selfish thing to do… it could cause great trouble to all the people in this palace…"
"Where do you want to go?" Luffy asked, ignoring the cries of the princess.
"Unmm… To the forest of the sea" she said. "That could only be a dream… I could never do such selfish thing…"
"Why do you cry just to say that...? Look at me… If you want to go, I will take you there. You don't have to think about being selfish. You were locked in this place for all these years because of someone's selfish desire to marry you. What if you are selfish for this one time and wander outside with freedom? I will make sure no one will question or harm you." Luffy said. Unbeknownst to him, his body gained a soft golden glow, which was noticed by Shirahoshi. Her eyes widened at shock.
Before she could reply, the castle shook with tremors travelling across the walls, dust falling on top of the princess sending her into another cry of shock. Luffy's Observation Haki pinged several auras approaching them at high speeds. He moved slightly Infront of Shirahoshi, standing in the path of her and the approaching objects.
The objects crashed into the wall of the dome. Shouts of them being human pirates ringed Luffy's ears. The soldiers, who were protecting the tower, looked shocked at the scene. Blood and gore covered the wall as some of the unfortunate soldiers who didn't survive the throw was hopelessly crushed against the wall, bones broken sticking into the wall and covering it with blood and gore.
Those who survived the crash, slid from the wall of the dome, standing up like zombies. The soldiers readied their weapons, to defend the princess from these human pirates.
Meanwhile, Brook was carrying the minister of the right on his back upon the insisting of the king to check up on the mermaid princess. Even though Sanji offered his help upon hearing it, but considering his... ahem…Mental condition, the straw hats didn't seem him appropriate in sending him.
When they closed in near the tower, both of them gasped at the gory display and the swarm of human pirates around the tower.
"Oh no! the castle has been penetrated. It's now filled with blood thirsty pirates. This is bad! His majesty and the princess are in danger!" Minister yelled.
Suddenly the tower shook with a resounding boom, sending vibrations around the floor. The pirates halted, looking around for the source of the sound. Another Boom echoed around the palace as the door to the mermaid princess's room was blasted across its hinges, rubbles shooting in all directions.
A huge whale swam out, though it looked struggling, as it had something on its mouth. Upon closer look, everyone yelled in shock as the mermaid princess was on the mouth of the shark, which they recognized as Megalo. They also noticed another figure on top of the shark.
"Luffy-san!" Brook yelled in surprise.
"Straw-hat! Megalo? What are you doing to the princess?" The minister shouted, trying to free himself from the shackles.
"Let's go!" Luffy's voice sounded as he sat on top of the shark, grinning widely.
"Luffy-san! Where are you going?"
'Father! Brothers! I am sorry for this. I will be going out of the tower… I will make sure to return by the dinner!' Shirahoshi thought as she hid inside Megalo's mouth.
"This is an emergency! We must report to the king. Carry me back to king! Skeleton, Hurry back!" Minister yelled.
Before Brook could reply, they were attacked by the pirates there. Brook whipped out his sword and defended against the blows.
"Where's the switch that opens the passage between fishman island and Ryugu palace? Tell me!" A pirate choked out as he advanced towards them.
"What switch?" Brook wondered.
"Tell us! Or we will be killed!" the pirate yelled as he jumped towards brook, swinging his sword.
Forest of the sea,
Chopper and Robin were looking around in the forest, Chopper accompanying Robin as she searched for clues regarding the ancient history. They suddenly stopped as a crash resounded near them. They rushed to the scene to see a familiar face lying there, covered in blood and bruises.
"Hachi!" Chopper yelled. "What happened to you? Who did this!?"
"Ah-h I-ts great to see you guys! I-Is Straw Hat with you?" Hachi asked, coughing blood out of his mouth.
"He is not here; we need to make sure you get some first aid" Robin said as she moved towards where their ship was anchored.
"It's better if you don't get involved with fishman island now. The new Fishman pirates are about to invade and the kingdom will lay to waste!" Hachi cried.
*Few hours prior*
Noah, Fish-man district,
"Hody! Don't do this!" Hachi yelled as he stumbled into the Noah, holding on to crutches. "Are you guys serious? Those steroids will kill you!"
Hachi was shocked as Hody did nothing but laugh boisterously at the claim. "Kill us? Don't worry. We have enough of this and we have tested it to see if it would kill us or have any ill effects. And it has none."
"Wh-what?" Hachi stepped back at shock, He gathered all his remaining hope into changing Hody's mind, "why would you want to destroy Fishman Island? And do not underestimate the great knight Neptune!" He said, hoping it would deter him from continuing this path.
"Give me a break, Hachi. I am tired of listening to you. You were one of Arlong's officers. Now? You are just a coward. Neptune is just standing the way of showing humans that we are superior to them!" Hody snarled.
"But Arlong lost! Vander Decken, Hyouzou! Why are helping the upstarts now when you didn't respond to Arlong's call years ago?"
"I ain't anyone's servant. Hody knows that. Arlong wanted me to serve him." Decken replied.
"I respected Arlong's strength and accomplishments. But he lacked finesse. I saw his mistakes. And we will be sure to not repeat them" Hody smirked. "I am his successor. And I will make sure to achieve the dream of his. Also, isn't the one who took Arlong's dreams on this island now? Straw Hat Luffy"
"I was one of Arlong's top officers. Yet Luffy called me his friend. He saved my life too." Hachi said. Decken simply touched his head.
"Locked on now! You can't escape" he sang.
"Calling a human 'Friend'? I have had enough of you!" Hody sneered.
Suddenly, a knife zoomed past everyone and stabbed Hachi. Vander Decken laughed.
"You are my target now. Now, anything I throw will come and stab you. It will find you no matter what!" He said as he picked several arrows.
"What are you doing with the arrows? I have heard rumours about your powers. It will kill me if those are thrown at me, Hachi! Stop him!" Hachi yelled.
"I cannot stop him. We are at an equal alliance here. Besides… I am sick of you, coward" Hody replied.
Hachi tried to escape by running into water and swam as fast as he could, but the arrows didn't stop and pierced him all over his body, which fell on the forest.
"Ba ho! That's how I have been able to designate each of my targets. Each for one hand. I haven't washed my hands since I touched princess Shirahoshi ten years ago. Do you understand now? This is my power!" Decken laughed and the pirates cheered.
"All right, human pirates. You have seen his powers. Now it's time for the first phase of our plan!" Hody announced. "Ryugu castle is said to be impregnable. But Decken has been hurling weapons at it for years. He will throw you guys towards the princess. You will probably crash into the tower. Your job is to open the castle from inside."
"But, that's impossible! We will be smashed from the impact against wall!" They cried.
"Of course," Hody drawled, "That's why I am using you humans! Your lives are less worthy than slaves. If you survive against the crash, fulfil the mission. And I will set you free. If you refuse, I will throw you into the water, you inferior species!"
Ryugu palace,
"K-king Neptune! Shirahoshi has been kidnapped!" The minister yelled as Brook carried him into the chamber. "And pirates are raining down on the tower! We are under attack!"
"Kidnapped? By who?" Neptune asked as the colour drained from his face.
"It was Straw Hat Luffy!" The minister yelled. Even some of the straw hats gasped at the news.
"EH? Luffy Kidnapping? That's impossible. He must have had some other reason!" Usopp said.
"Yeah, knowing Luffy, that is most probable!" Nami agreed.
"We are under attack? Let's cut em" Zoro said as he readied his swords, not really bothered about the kidnapping of the princess. He was sure Luffy wouldn't harm the princess nor any harm would be done to her.
"Do you want to come out of the shark's mouth?" Luffy asked as he looked down.
"No, I will stay here for now" Shirahoshi replied.
"How does it feel to come out of the tower after ten years?" Luffy asked.
"It's exciting, but I feel like I am doing something bad!" she replied.
"How is it bad? You are just going on an adventure after all!" Luffy laughed. "So, what is on the forest of the sea? Is there anything interesting there?" He asked.
"There's a grave. A grave I wanted to visit for the last ten years, but never had the chance to." Shirahoshi smiled softly.
Deep sea, the forest of the sea,
"Ten years huh? An assassination on the broad daylight. Has it been that long?" A figure wondered. "The princes grown to be hardened warriors and although Shirahoshi has been confined in the tower, none of us has forgotten your ideals.."
The figure was a large blue whale shark fishman with a sun tattoo blazed on his chest.
"…Queen Otohime" Jimbe said, sitting near her grave.
"Ryugu Palace! Ryugu Palace! Come in!" voice buzzed in all the speakers around the island. "This is the border patrol! Fishman island has been entered by some dangerous individuals from the fish-man district. We are making this announcement in public service! They don't look like they are here for a shopping trip. We sincerely hope nothing happens"
People whispered and pointed as several figures moved across the sky towards the connection to the Ryugu palace.
"Hear me! Today all of fishman island shall be untied as one. Merman, mermaids and fishman must all come together. Humans are inferior that they can't even breath underwater. It's our destiny to rule over them. Today we are going to set things right" Hody said. "From this day on, the Ryugu Kingdom is finished. We will be the rulers of the deep sea!" His crew cheered as he grinned wide.
Far away from them, Luffy noticed the presence of the crew as he travelled towards the forest. He was a bit worried about the aura of a certain individual on that crew, but he knew his crew would be safe.
Forest of the sea, Northeast of Fishman Island,
"This is called the graveyard of ships. The currents bring all the sunken ship here…the whales and fish gather here. They know, where the sea is fertile" A voice spoke. "I live in this mysterious forest to study it. It's fantastic wonderland in the lifeless depth of the sea."
"How did you get the jewel tree Adam wood anyway? This ship is worthy of its materials!" He wondered.
"I knew you would say that. Tom used exactly the same wood to make the pirate king's ship. This design is my masterpiece.!" Franky said.
"I'll handle the coating. Don't worry. You can trust me on that!" He said.
"Thanks…Uh what was your name by the way?" Franky enquired.
"Den!"
"Den, you don't look anything like Tom, even though you both are supposed to be brothers." Franky asked.
"Haha, that's a very human way of thinking. Sure, it is true that relations tend to resemble each other on land, but we fishman have their own genes." Den replied. "On fishman island, no one is surprised no matter how the child looks like. I don't understand human's obsessions over looks and resemblance."
"By the way, do you have any 'Robot' genes in your lineage?" Den asked curiously.
"I am human!" Franky replied exasperatedly.
"I have heard about you and iceberg in the letters. I also heard what happened to Tom. He lived a life he wanted. I am sure he will be proud of what you become." Den commented. Franky smiled. "You flatter me!" he replied with his hair standing up into funk style.
"By the way, who is sitting over there?" he asked, pointing to the figure near the grave.
"That's big boss Jinbe!"
"Big boss?"
"He's waiting for someone. He is a wanted fugitive. So, he cannot enter the island." Den said.
Main gates, Royal palace,
"You! How did you get in here?" Minister of right yelled.
"That face… you are that accursed Vander Decken, aren't you? You've decided to finally show yourself?"
"Look! That's Hody Jones from the fishmen district… what are you doing here?" he asked.
"No way, I came here to start a war. But the Neptune and his soldiers are all tied up. I can't believe it… is this a present for us? Maybe it is a trap since its all going too smoothly." Hody laughed.
"One thing after another. The palace is really active today." Zoro sighed.
"May be its you guys collaborating with them!" The minister pointed at straw hats.
"Mind your voice!" Hancock glared. "It's only because you invited us that we are here. Who are those guys anyway?"
"Vander Decken… Are you perhaps the culprit for kidnapping my daughter along with straw hat? Give her back!" Neptune yelled.
"What are you talking about? Did she go somewhere?"
"Don't play dumb with me. I know it's your planning!"
"My Shirahoshi disappeared?" Decken yelled in rage.
"She is not yours!" King yelled back.
"Calm down, Vander Decken. The humans you threw at Princess are here. Which means she was in the palace just a short time ago." Hody said.
"You are right, you are a sharp one, Hody" Decken walked towards a large coral and broke it. He placed his right hand on it and threw it.
"It is not going towards the tower. I have loved her all this time." Decken said as he jumped on the coral, travelling on it towards Shirahoshi. "If I can't have you… no one can! I'll kill you!" He yelled in rage, his eyes gaining a red look.
And that's it for this chapter. Sorry guys that it took long for this chapter to come out. I have been very sick for the past three weeks. With all my assignments on top of that, I didn't have enough time to work on the chapters.
I recently watched Film red and I really loved the characterization of Uta. It was very enjoyable to watch. I recommend you guys to check it out.
Thank you everyone for the kind comments that keeps me going. I will try to improve more on the chapter length and pacing. I do feel it slowing down a bit. So hopefully, by the next chapter, I will reach the final fight of the arc. I guarantee you that.
That's it and I will see you guys in the next chapter. Bye bye!