Hey guys, I'm back. After a hiatus I'm finally back and the next chapter is out. There were some things that I had to do and I still have to but I was able to finally get the next chapter out. Enjoy and review
This fic has now reached 200 000 thousand words, a huge milestone. One Piece Final Holy War is now really one of the longest One Piece fics out there and it just might be the longest.
Before reading this chapter it is highly recommended that you read the chapter, "The Prince and Two Princesses." The newer readers of this fic may have noticed that "The Prince and Two Princesses" was actually the same as "Two Princesses Hearts." That was an error on my part but it has been corrected and the correct chapter has been uploaded so please read it before reading this chapter. "The Prince and Two Princesses" will help make a lot of things in this chapter make sense.
A Mermaid's Grief
On Fishman Island, a certain beautiful mermaid princess was overlooking her kingdom from Ryuuga Palace. She was Shirahoshi, the daughter of King Neptune also known as the god of the sea. Some distance behind her were her brothers Fukaboshi, Manoboshi and Ryuboshi. The three of them also had glum faces, not unlike the ones before their mother's funeral.
"Shirahoshi," called out Fukaboshi gently.
"Huh, Fukahoshi-neesama," replied Shirahoshi.
"Are you alright?" asked Fukaboshi.
"Yeah, I'm fine," replied Shirahoshi with a forced smile.
Fukaboshi along with her brothers looked at her sadly knowing the cause of her depression.
"Listen Shirahoshi about …" started Fukaboshi before being interrupted by Shirahoshi.
"No neesama," Shiraaoshi suddenly interrupted.
Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi and Manoboshi were startled by her sudden interruption.
"Fukaboshi-neesama, Ryubosh-neesama, Manoboshi-neesama please stop, I know what you're trying to do but please don't," said Shirahoshi.
"This is something that I have to conquer myself. I want to be brave like mother. Mother faced a lot of hardships because she wanted to get closer to humans but she never gave up. She continued on when everyone was against her and even risked her life for something that she believed him. I want to be like that, strong and brave like mother. And I can't do that if I keep running to you all the time," said Shiraoshi determinedly.
"Shirahoshi," said Fukaboshi in a surprised tone in awe at his sister's strength despite her depression.
"Besides I made a promise to Luf … him that I would be a stronger person and not be a crybaby anymore," said Shirahoshi who despite saying that she would not be a crybaby anymore couldn't help the tears that were forming in her eyes.
The three Neptunes brothers were silent at the reference to who Shirahoshi was talking about. The one that Shiraboshi was talking about was the source of her depression, none other than the hero of Fisman Island Monkey D Luffy.
Monkey D Luffy, to them he was the embodiment of their mother's dream, for humans and fishmen to coexist. Luffy, a human risked his life to save their kingdom. He did not hold any kind of prejudice to their kind. In fact he was great friends with their kind because of his friendship with Jinbe and Shirahoshi. He was also friends with several civilians such as Camie, Pappug and the fishman Hachi. Luffy fought for them all despite their accusations of him kidnapping mermaids and Madame Shyrley's prophecy. He fought hard for his little sister Shirahoshi. For a human to go to such lengths for their kind, it was unthinkable to them given the long dark history of humans' persecution of fishmen. But he did. Not only did he save the island from Hody and his gang, but he finally gave the people hope that one day they could finally be beneath the real sun. He was the kind of good humans that their mother was always talking about, the humans she had faith in.
Luffy also was a huge inspiration on Shirahoshi. Shirahoshi was originally very shy, timid and fragile, though given her circumstances involving her mother's death and Vander Decken's relentless assault of love, it was understandable. However Luffy showed her a world beyond the tower, the world that their mother wanted her to see, a world where humans and fishman can get along. Shirahoshi's years before her isolation may have been terrible with regards to humans but her time after her isolation started with humans fighting to save her people, the same humans who oppressed her people for years. Luffy also gave her strength and courage. She went as far as to make a promise to him that she would be a stronger person. That promise was made solely because of Luffy's strength and influence on her. After Luffy and his friends left Fishman Island, Shirahoshi dedicated every second of her time to being a better person, for him.
However at Reverie, Luffy betrayed her trust. Luffy was probably the most important person to her besides her mother and family. She wanted to be stronger for him. She even went as far as deciding to go to this year's Reverie. That was the biggest step in fulfilling her promise to Luffy. She would no longer be in the safety of Fishman Island. She would be in the world above ground, a world where there would be many dangerous humans unlike the Straw Hats. Furthermore at Reverie she would have to confront perhaps the worst humans out there, the tyrannical Tenryuubito. Despite the risks, she still pushed forward and it was because he gave her the strength and courage to face her fears and pursue her mother's dreams. However at Reverie during the greatest invasion of Mariejois, she reunited with Luffy. And there she saw that Luffy, the person that she admired and loved with all her heart was completely different. He was no longer the boy she knew, the one who saved her and her kingdom, the one she admired for his strength and courage, he was instead a darker individual who wanted nothing but the total destruction of the world government.
She devoted everything for him and yet he changed so much. All of them were deeply saddened by his change but none more so than Shirahoshi. His betrayal was so intimate, so hurtful that Shirahoshi fell into deep depression. Because of that the three Neptunes brothers felt something for Luffy that they didn't think they could ever feel for him, hatred. They hated him because of how he hurt their little sister so badly. They didn't hate him like Hody who killed their mother and nearly destroyed their kingdom but they hated him because of how he betrayed Shirahoshi. They couldn't hate him for his change, because they didn't really understand the circumstances behind it. But how he hurt Shirahoshi, that was unforgivable to them. Shirahoshi had never harmed him in any way, in fact she practically worshipped him and yet he turned on her. For that they hated him.
"Um Fukaboshi-sama, Manoboshi-sama, Ryuboshi-sama," interrupted Shirahoshi shyly at seeing their rather grim faces.
The three Neptune brothers immediately snapped out of their stupor to look at Shirahoshi. They didn't realize that their thoughts on Luffy made their expressions more hateful and that they might have scared Shirahoshi. They immediately calmed their expressions when looking at Shirahoshi lest they make her uncomfortable. Shirahoshi was still grieving over Luffy's change and they're hatred of him could make things worse for her.
"I was going to go to mother's grave. Could you tell father for me please?" asked Shirahoshi kindly.
"Sure Shirahoshi, we would la-ti-do," replied Manoboshi while also trying to lighten the atmosphere.
"Yeah Shirahoshi, that's okay. Go see mother's grave. We'll tell father Moonfish Mambo," Ryuboshi also relied doing moonfish mambo to make Shirahoshi feel better.
"Thank you big brothers," replied Shirahoshi gratefully who then left to see her mother Otohime's grave.
As soon as Shirahoshi left, a very large merman wearing a crown came out from behind the corridor. The figure revealed to be King Neptune looked at the direction Shirahoshi left.
"How is she?" asked Neptune.
"Not good father. She has been so depressed ever since she saw Luffy-kun at Reverie during the invasion," said Fukaboshi.
"It's to be expected. Luffy-kun meant more to her than anything. For him to have joined the revolutionary army…" said Neptune who went off.
"I still can't understand why he did it. I mean when we saw him he seemed so happy. Just what could have happened that could have made him change so much in only a month?" said Fukaboshi.
"It could have been his older brother's death. The marines did kill him during the war and he actually admitted that his brother was part of the reason," said Ryuboshi.
"That's certainly true but he also said that it wasn't the only reason. He mentioned that it was also partially because of how the Tenryuubito took our kind as slaves and how the world government let it happen. But I sense there is much more to it than that," said Fukaboshi.
"Not to mention that when he came to Fishman Island, Portgas D Ace was already killed by the world government two years ago during the war and he didn't seem too affected. He looked like he got over his death or at least came to terms with it. Something must have happened after he left Fishman Island," said Manoboshi adding his own two cents.
"If that's the case then what could have happened then? His nakama were all extremely powerful so I don't see how anything extreme could have happened to him to the point of driving him away from his crew and into the revolutionary army," said Neptune.
"I don't know but it must have been really big," replied Fukaboshi.
Neptune nodded in reply.
"Speaking of which how is Shirahoshi taking all this?" asked Neptune.
"She's been crying almost non-stop. She eats very little and rarely speaks to anyone. However…" said Fukaboshi.
"However," replied Neptune.
"She's trying to be strong. Regardless of Luffy-kun's actions she's still trying to keep her promise to him. She also looks to mother for strength and guidance by going to her grave much more frequently," said Fukaboshi.
"Yes I have noticed that ever since that terrible event, Shirahoshi visits mother's grave a lot more la-ti-do," said Ryuboshi.
"Mother was always someone she looked to for strength. Even during her time locked up in the shell tower unable to visit her grave, she prayed a lot for her asking her for strength and guidance. Her determination to continue on even when everyone around her doubted her really inspired her to be just like her. Her memory is one of the few things keeping Shirahoshi from falling completely into depression," said Fukaboshi.
"There is also her as well," said Manoboshi.
"Ah yes, her as well, she too has also helped keep Shirahoshi in one piece," said Fukaboshi.
"Yeah those two have been practically inseparable ever since we came back to Ryuuga Kingdom moonfish mambo," said Manoboshi.
"That's good to hear. I'm glad she's with us. She'll have to leave eventually but for now, Shirahoshi really needs her. I'm glad that she chose to stay with us," said Neptune.
"Anyway we can't really help her as much as she can but we can still do our part. All of you, for now do what you can for her. Right now she needs all the support she can get," said Neptune.
"Yes," replied the three Neptune brothers.
Ryuboshi and Manoboshi then left. Fukaboshi however stayed behind with his father.
"Is there something you wanted to talk to me about Fukaboshi?" asked Neptune.
"Father it's just that …" replied Fukaboshi before stopping not knowing how to phrase the question.
"Is it right for me to hate Luffy-kun for making Shirahoshi suffer as much as she has?" Fukaboshi finally asked.
Neptune was silent when he heard Fukaboshi's question.
"Shirahoshi admired him so much. Everything she has done after he left was for him. And for him to have changed when he meant so much to her, it's, it's unforgivable," said Fukaboshi.
"I know it's not right for me to hate the one that saved this kingdom and finally made fishman start to trust humans again but I can't just forgive someone who hurt my sister," said Fukaboshi.
Neptune was silent again before answering.
"It's your choice who you want to hate and who not to hate. No one is telling you who to hate and you have every right to hate Luffy-kun. But consider this," said Neptune.
"You did not hate Hody despite the fact that he killed your mother, made Shirahoshi suffer for so many years, nearly took over this kingdom and destroyed Otohime's dream. Despite all those terrible things he has done, you did not hate him," said Neptune listing Hody's terrible crimes and the fact that Fukaboshi chose not to hate him.
"Luffy however hasn't harmed any of our people. And while he may have hurt Shirahoshi, I don't think it was intentional. Besides he actually admitted that part of the reason that he joined the revolutionary army was because of what the world government has done to our people," said Neptune.
"Also remember he may have hurt Shirahoshi, but he still cares about her. He said so himself, you remember that don't you," said Neptune.
Flashback
"I may be different but I still care about Fishman Island Shirahoshi. And on the whole island the person I care about the most is you Shirahoshi. Anyone who wants to hurt you will have to face me. That's why I killed Big Mom," said Luffy finally revealing who killed a member of the Four Emperors.
End Flashback
"He went as far as to kill Big Mom who would have likely destroyed our island because he still cares for our people, and most of all cares about her," said Neptune.
"Fukaboshi, keep in mind that despite his actions, he hasn't nor do I think that he intends to harm her or anyone of Fishman Island. He still cares about everyone, especially her and I don't think he intended to hurt her, that is just how things turned out," said Neptune.
"I am not defending his actions for I too do feel resentment towards him for making my daughter suffer. But I just want you to take all the facts into account before making your decision. Also remember what Hody did was far more terrible yet you forgave him. Luffy-kun despite his change is still helping us. Also I'm sure that if Otohime wanted you to forgive the one who murdered her, then I'm sure she would want you to forgive the one who helped her daughter and made it possible for her dream to become a reality," said Neptune.
"Also one more thing to think about, how will Shirahoshi feel if she knows that her brother hates him" finished Neptune.
Fukaboshi looked thoughtful for a moment.
"You're right father. I was only thinking about her but now I can make my decision. Mother didn't want me to hate Hody and she wouldn't want me to hate Luffy-kun as well. So I wouldn't. Luffy-kun hasn't really done anything to really earn my hatred and I can't hate the one who saved our kingdom, helped my sister and made mother's dream a reality. I do hate is actions, but I don't hate him," said Fukaboshi.
"That's good enough. Hating a person's actions is different from hating the person himself. I feel the same way actually," said Neptune.
"Thank you father, now I can really sort out my feelings on the matter," said Fukaboshi with a bow.
"Anytime, I may be your king but first and foremost I am also your father. You can talk to me about anything," replied Neptune.
At Otohime's grave Shirahoshi was in a kneeling like in a praying position.
"Mother, I need you now more than ever, it's about Luffy-sama, he's changed. He's no longer the same Luffy-sama that I knew," said Shirahoshi.
"I met Luffy-sama during this year's Reverie. After Luffy-sama and his friends saved our kingdom, our people were finally able to trust humans again. We finally gathered enough signatures to show at the world summit. I went as well because I wanted to help your dream come true," said Shirahoshi.
"While there I met some really nice humans from a far away kingdom called Alabasta. Their kingdom was also saved by Luffy-sama and his friends. One of them was a human girl named Vivi. Vivi-sama was really close to them. She actually travelled with them and was their nakama. We both become really close that we were like sisters. I have three brothers but I never had a sister. I've always wanted a sister and I'm happy to have met Vivi-sama," said Shirahoshi recalling the first part of the Reverie event.
"Everything was going so well, but, but then, it happened," said Shirahoshi.
"A group of people invaded the Reverie event. These people were really strong, in fact they seemed even stronger than Luffy-sama's pirate friends. I never saw anything like it. It was so chaotic and people were just dieing all around me. It was horrible," said Shirahoshi.
"But then that wasn't the worst thing. The worst thing was that Luffy-sama was one of them," said Shirahoshi whose voice began to break.
"Luffy-sama, he – he – he's changed so much. He's so different. He's no longer the nice human that saved my kingdom, that gave me strength that I didn't even know I had," said Shiraoshi as tears began to come from her eyes.
"All the warmth and happiness that he used to have is gone. All that is left now is rage and hate, just like – Ho – Ho – Hody-sama," stuttered Shirahoshi mentioning the name of her mother's killer in front of her very grave.
"You didn't want us to feel hate or else we might become like Hody-sama. But now Luffy-sama is," said Shirahoshi.
"Mother I don't know what could have happened that would make him act like this. He seemed so happy not too long ago and now it's like, it's like he'll never be happy again. I'll never see his smile again. I just can't imagine what could make him become like this," said Shirahoshi.
"But mother it isn't so bad. He said that part of the reason that he's like this is what the world government did to our people. He wants to change that. He's still helping us. There's still good in him. He even killed Big Mom so our island wouldn't be destroyed. And he said that he cares about me, he said that I'm the person he cares about the most on this island," said Shirahoshi while blushing at the last part.
"Please mother, give me the strength to help Luffy-sama. Whatever is wrong with him, I want to fix it. I want to help him just like he helped me. He helped me when I needed it the most and gave me strength so I want to help him back. I owe him so much and I have to help me. I can't let him be consumed by rage and hate. If he does I don't know what I will do. I need to help him mother, he means so much to me so mother please, please," said Shirahoshi in a pleading voice with tears in her eyes.
While Shirahoshi was pouring her heart and soul to her mother's grave a beautiful figure looked on sadly behind her. The figure at hearing Shirahoshi's speech began to tear up at Shirahoshi's grieving heart. Not being able to take it anymore, she walked up to the grieving mermaid princess and gently placed her arms over her. Shirahoshi in turn placed her head in her chest and began crying, something that became common ever since finding out about Luffy's change.
"Shirahoshi-chan," said the figure sadly.
The two females held each other next to Otohime's grave.
200 000 words, another milestone. This fic is really getting to be of length now. This fic might even be the longest One Piece fic available, as you can see it is 200 thousand words, quite long indeed.
This chapter is more of a Prologue for the Return to Fishman Island Arc of Final Holy War. It focuses on Shirahoshi and her grieving over Luffy's decision.
Before I go into anything I highly recommend that you read "Issues Explained, Not a Chapter." This is more of a behind the scenes look at One Piece Final Holy War. It would help you understand a number of issues about this fic as well as why I did a number of things. It explains why I chose Dragon as the main villain, my motivations for creating the Knights of D etc. It will help you better understand and appreciate this fic.
I highly recommend reading the chapter "The Prince and Two Princesses" before reading this chapter. Those of you who have already read it then fine, those who haven't please do so. Also it turned out that I accidently posted the chapter Two Princesses Hearts twice. This was a slight mistake but it has been fixed. So those of you who haven't read the chapter "The Prince and Two Princesses" which is about Luffy's reunion with Vivi and Shirahoshi, then you can read it now.
You can understand why Shirahoshi is so sad. She practically saw Luffy has a hero, a symbol of strength. He was the one who first made her come out of the tower and to see the world outside. He was also the one who offered to protect her and he was the one who fought really hard to save her and her kingdom even nearly dying from blood loss while trying to destroy the falling Noah. He was also the one who helped give her people faith that her mother's dream of humans and fishmen getting along could actually come true. To her, Luffy was the most precious person besides her mother, father and brothers. She even has feelings of love for him though she is too shy, sheltered and innocent to understand them. So for him to have joined the revolutionary army, it's like he betrayed her. Just think, the person you admired and love turns his back on everything he stood for, on everything that made you admire him and cast aside everything that made you idolize him, that is something that would really hurt you. And for Shirahoshi who was an extremely fragile person to begin with, that is perhaps the most hurtful thing ever and something that she would have great difficulty recovering from.
Regardless of her grief and depression she is still holding on. Despite the fact that the one she made the promise to changed so much, she's still trying to keep it. She said that she wouldn't be a crybaby and be a much stronger person and even though she lost her symbol of hope, she's still trying to keep it. Most people if they made a promise to someone who betrays them later, they wouldn't keep the promise anymore. But Shirahoshi admires Luffy so much that even though he cast aside everything that made her love him, she's still trying hard to keep her promise to him.
A certain someone, "she" is helping Shirahoshi to cope. This someone obviously female is one of her if not her greatest anchor right now. Some hints have been dropped on this certain someone's identity. According to Manoboshi she and Shirahoshi are practically inseparable. Another is that Neptune also mentions that this person would have to leave but for now she's staying. She's staying because she realizes that Shirahoshi desperately needs someone right now and she is that someone. She is helping to ease Shirahoshi's depression. This person would be introduced later. You can all speculate for now.
Fukaboshi's resentment towards Luffy. Fukaboshi doesn't really hate Luffy, but he does hold some resentment towards him. Luffy really hurt his sister and I'm sure if anyone ever hurt your sister, then you would hold some hatred for them as well. He knows how strongly Shirahoshi feels about Luffy and that his defection really affected her badly and he does somewhat hate him, not for joining the revolutionary army but for hurting Shirahoshi. However he also knows that Luffy still cares about Shirahoshi deeply since he said so himself during their meeting at the invasion. And Luffy did not intentional hurt Shirahoshi, that is just how things turn out so Fukaboshi can't really hate Luffy for hurting her when he himself didn't want to. Also Luffy actions where nothing compared to Hody's. Hody killed his mother, nearly destroyed the kingdom and nearly destroyed his mother's dream. Luffy saved the kingdom, helped fishmen develop faith in humans and despite his actions at Mariejois, he still clearly cares about the people of Fishman Island and Shirahoshi specifically. He even went as far as to kill Big Mom because she threatened Fishman Island. If Fukaboshi doesn't hate Hody for all the terrible things he did, then he can't really hate Luffy for the great deeds that he has done and unintentionally hurting Shirahoshi.
Shirahoshi visiting her mother's grave. That is another thing she's doing to cope. Her mother Otohime like Luffy was a major source of strength for her. If you recall the reason she was able to not hate Hody was because of the promise she made with her. She had every right to hate Hody but she chose not to because her mother wouldn't want it. So she stayed in the tower locked up with the knowledge of the real identity of her mother's killer and the only thing giving her strength was the memory of her mother. That speaks volumes about the strength she drew from her mother. And now she needs that strength more than ever. Since Otohime gave her strength in the past, she is now pleading with her deceased mother to give her strength again that she needs to help Luffy.
Shirahoshi's rather simplistic dialogue. Shirahoshi is actually a young girl if not in body then in mind. She was sheltered her whole life so her way of thinking and speaking is rather simple. Robin is an extremely intelligent and mature woman so she can talk using complicated vocabulary. Shirahoshi however is just a child so she would only use simple vocabulary to speak and convey her thoughts, hence why most of her dialogue is fairly simple. Also unlike Robin and Nami who are both seductresses per say, Shirahoshi is extremely shy and innocent as well so this is further shown in her rather innocent dialogue. You can tell from her way of speaking that she is a fairly innocent person. The sweat shy innocent girl has a very different way of speaking than the confident outgoing sexy girl. This is why the way Shirahoshi is talking is different from the way Nami and Robin. And unlike Vivi and Pellinopee, Shirahoshi is more sheltered than those two.