Chapter 13: Fishman Island! Ash Meets Royalty!
After going through a tunnel embedded with seastones, traveling underwater and journeying 10,000 meters, the Thousand Sunny have arrived at Fishman Island. The island inside the dome-like structure had fishmen and merfolk minding their business. In a small chamber near the giant bubble, fishmen wearing capes and conch shells as helmets and shoulder guards watched the seas. One more returned with cups of tea. "I'm back," he announced. The other guards received the cups handed out.
"Mermaid Cafe," another guard huffed. "Never getting an order wrong. I'm surprised about the recovery of Fishman Island since the New Fishman Pirates ravaged it. Then again, we did have the Straw Hats help us." One more looked through a telescope to see a speck from ways away.
"Knights, we may have company," he warned. The knight who brought the tea came to the telescope.
"Let me see!" he urged. The knight moved to let the delivery fishman to see the Sunny approaching the gate. The knight recognized the pirate ship. "They returned! It's the Straw Hat pirates!"
"Are you sure?" one of the knights asked. The delivery fishman stepped aside to let the requesting knight view it. Seeing the Sunny himself confirmed the return of their saviors. "That's the Thousand Sunny alright! Get me the Snail Transponder!" The Sunny was in range when they received a signal from the Snail Transponder by Franky who answered it with it shouting blips. "Ammo Knights to Thousand Sunny! Come in!"
"This is the Thousand Sunny!" he responded. "Ammo Knights, we read you loud and clear."
"Straw Hats, it's nice to see you again. What's with the return trip?"
"Oh, some time off after the latest adventures."
"Understood. Stand by as we prepare for your arrival." The knight adjusted the dial before the speakers around Fishman Island turn on. "Fishmen and merfolk of Fishman Island… The Straw Hats have returned!" The crowds gathered around the speakers cheered. A gate opened which allowed the Sunny to enter. Inside, the gate closed. Franky had an update.
"Alright, we're gonna be docking at the Coral Hills. Once we park, we'll get to see how Fishman Island is doing since our dealing with Hordy and the New Fishman Pirates."
"I bet King Neptune and the princes have recovered since we visited," Usopp hoped. "They did take quite a beating from Hordy and his goons. I know the princess had to be scared out of her fins." Pikachu wondered who Usopp referred to.
("Who are you talking about?") he squeaked. Chopper came to Pikachu's side to fill him in with Ash reaching as well.
"They were fishmen and human slaves that tried to throw a coup to take control of Fishman Island," he started. "They were led by Hordy Jones and he and his fishmen were fueled on Energy Steroids. Nasty stuff." Pikachu gasped to the thought.
"They were using drugs to attack the king?" guessed Ash.
"Indeed. It was tough for us to battle everyone of the New Fishman Pirates powered by the Energy Steroids, but we certainly defeated them. Of course, we learned how strong Luffy got over the two years we separated after our stop at Sabaody." Ash glanced to Luffy with a big grin while rubbing skin between his nose and mouth.
"I guess he's not captain if he didn't have that."
"Tell that to Zoro." The water drained below the lowest section which Zoro, Nami and Sanji attacked the bubble to break the resin substance. Franky got back on the Snail Transponder.
"Bubble down," he confirmed. "Ready to proceed."
"Roger that," the Ammo Knight relayed. "Lowering the gate." When the gate lowered, the Sunny entered. Looking over the prow, Ash and Luffy saw the crowd of merfolk and fishmen welcoming the crowd with cheers.
"Whoa, are we getting a heroes' welcome?" guessed Ash. Luffy irked to Ash's assumption.
"We're not heroes!" he snapped. "While I liked heroes, we're not! We're pirates!" Sanji and Nami groaned to Luffy's sudden outburst.
"Here we go again with this nonsense," Sanji mulled.
"I told this to Jimbei while we fought: Pirates and heroes are like meat. Heroes share meat with everyone around, including those who did nothing. Pirates take the meat for themselves, that's how pirates work, including the crew you're Vice Captain of." The other Straw Hats and Pikachu shared befuddled looks.
"I know he says some things that seem ridiculous but seriously," Zoro groaned. Ash heard Luffy as well, but nodded.
"I see what you mean," he replied. All gawked to the Vice Captain's acknowledgment.
"You understand Luffy's analogy?!" gawked Usopp.
"It's not that hard to figure out, and that the same thing applies to Pokémon as well. Once a Pokémon's captured, it's yours. No one else can claim it." The Straw Hats awed the explanation.
"So we do have another Luffy on board," Zoro scoffed. "Though, it's kinda tough to pick one right now."
"I didn't think anyone knew Luffy's words," Brook awed. "It just blows my mind that someone understands." The Sunny docked at the front of the town. The stairs lowered to which the Straw Hats began to walk down the case to cheering residence. Ash and Pikachu awed the merfolk, all having bubbles on their fins to float, as Robin came around.
"First time seeing mermen and mermaids?" she questioned. Ash gawked to Robin's tease.
"They're… really mermaids?" he gulped. "They're not in costume?"
"No, and they vary in sizes. You'll see." The crowd surrounded the Straw Hats, giving praise and welcoming the pirates back. One mermaid was a green-haired with pink fins. She wore a black tank-top with a gold star emblem on it.
"Luffy-Chin!" she called. "Sanji-Chin!" The calling had Sanji find the green-haired mermaid with hearts replacing his eyes.
"Camie!" he cheered as he grabbed her hands. "I wanted to see you again after being gone for so long!" Camie shuttered a little to Sanji's approach. "I've learned different recipes from our recent outings!"
"You have? I would love to try what you can make!"
"Anything for you, Camie-Cakes!" That's when Camie saw the others and broke away from Sanji. Pikachu crawled onto Nami's shoulder.
"Luffy-chin, Nami-chin!"
"Camie, you're looking good," Nami complimented while Pikachu squeaked curiously. Camie heard and saw Pikachu and reached for him.
"Is that one of the beasts in that new poster?" Pikachu growled at the item Camie guessed. "Whoa! I'm sorry!" Nami snagged the Pokémon to calm it down.
"It's okay, Pikachu. She didn't know." Pikachu squeaked in a moan, trying to get over what sounded to him was a misunderstanding.
"Pikachu? So this mouse has a name?" Suddenly, five little mermaids emerged, all having fedora hats, midriffs, curly hair and white-striped tails.
"That mouse is cute," cooed the redhead. She had a green-striped tail, her midriff's white and her hat's green with white polka-dots.
"It's really cute!" the blond squealed. Her tail, midriff and hat were all red.
"It's not that cute," the orange-haired doubted. Her tail, midriff and hat were all blue
"It might be cute," the pink-haired pondered. She had a brown-striped tail, a brown midriff and a white hat.
"Does it need to be cute?" the brunette wondered. She had a yellow-striped tail, a black midriff and her hat had jaguar-prints. Pikachu gawked to the five little mermaids as Ash saw the group.
"Are they your kids?" he asked.
"No, not really," she laughed. "They're the Medaka Mermaid Quintuplets. There's Ichika…"
"Hi!" the redhead greeted.
"Nika…"
"Hey, there!" the blond waived.
"Sonka…"
"Don't call me cute, alright?" the orange-haired grumbled.
"Yonka…"
"Hello!" the pink-haired greeted.
"And Yonka Two…"
"Who cares," mulled the brunette. That's when an orange octopus fishman arrived, head bandaged up. He wore a striped swimsuit and his silver hair formed spikes.
"Luffy, Zoro, welcome back, nyu!" he greeted. Zoro and Luffy met up with the new fishman.
"Hachi!" the swordsman named. "Still recovering from the wound by Vander Decken?"
"Yeah, but they'll be gone soon." Luffy palmed his back.
"You'll be moving around in no time," he assured. That's when Camie shrieked to Ash and hugged him.
"I didn't realize that was you, Beastman!" she yelped. "I saw your 75 Million Berry poster and hung it up at the cafe where I work." Ash didn't see a big deal with the delayed reaction. Other mermaids awed, giddy to meet the trainer.
"That's a warm welcome, and it's also the first time seeing touched by a mermaid, let alone being hugged by one," he admitted.
"Well, now you know how we feel. Say, is it alright if we see your beasts like that dragon of yours?" Ash groaned and palmed his face.
"Must I tell everyone? Charizard's not a dragon." Camie blinked to Ash's claim.
"It looks like a dragon." Ash brought out his device and highlighted the "dragon."
"Charizard, the Flame Pokémon," it registered. "Charizard is the final evolved form of Charmander. Often mistaken for a Dragon Pokémon, the flames it blows will melt boulders. Charizard is known as a Fire and Flying Pokémon." Camie blinked some more before her face twisted. Her mouth stretched around her head and her eyes bulged out of her head.
"That dragon's not a dragon at all!? We've been wrong about it the whole time!?" The others who saw the face faulting could only watch.
"I wondered if Camie would still have that face," Brook pondered. A blond pigtail fishgirl came forward with four arms and wearing a magenta sleeveless dress. There was a turquoise-skinned boy with spikes protruding from his chin. Last was a brunette merboy wearing a green sleeveless "Criminal" shirt. They wore a straw hat like Luffy's.
"Are you a Straw Hat pirate?" she asked Ash who knelt. "Where were you when the New Fishman Pirates attacked us?" To Ash, she wondered about why he didn't help the Straw Hats beforehand.
"I joined after they first stopped here, so I'm relatively new," he clarified. The girl nodded before Pikachu joined to see her. She petted the Pokémon.
"A new Straw Hat, huh?" peered Hachi. "I've heard rumors that Straw Hat Luffy had someone new, though not as built as Zoro."
"Not only that, but Ash is also our Vice Captain," Luffy bragged. The crowd gasped. Ash confirmed with a nod. The crowd erupted in all wanting to know more about the Vice Captain. Without warning, two creatures with bubbles around their body descended: one was a large dark whale with a red elaborate crown while the other was a black shark wearing a red shirt. Pikachu squeaked to see the two sea creatures which the Straw Hats peered.
"Hoe!" the navigator named the whale.
"And Megalo!" alerted Chopper on the shark. Megalo and Hoe descended before landing. On Hoe, a man-like seahorse wearing a blue military uniform met the crowd with some of the Ammo Knights.
"Clear a path!" the seahorse ordered. "We're here for the Straw Hats!" The crowd backed away to let the knights reach the pirates.
"Well, the Minister of the Right must be picking us up," Usopp pondered. The Minister of the Right came to the Straw Hats.
"We've been expecting you, Straw Hat pirates," he welcomed. "King Neptune is expecting you." The Straw Hats looked befuddled to the order.
"Already?" groaned Sanji. "Man, how did news get around so fast?"
"I have details about the events around Fishman Island since you left, including the New Fishman Pirates." Robin turned to see Ash playing with Megalo.
"Looks like Shirahoshi's pet's found a new friend," she snickered. The Minister of the Right pondered to the new human.
"Who's he?"
"Our Vice Captain," Luffy bluntly referred. The Minister of the Right awed to the title, especially to someone this young. Regardless, he had a duty to fulfill.
"Vice Captain!" Ash heard his title called and ran to see the Minister of the Right.
"What's up?" he asked.
"You're gonna be riding on Hoe to see King Neptune. There's a banquet for your return to Fishman Island, though I believe this will be the first time for you up here. Don't worry about Megalo. He'll return to the princess so you may have time to see him again."
"Gotcha." Ash leaped to join his crew before Hoe and Pikachu joined the rest. Megalo and Hoe began to climb back up where Ash had questions. "I know I'm still learning but what's this about word of the New Fishman Pirates?" The Minister of the Right bobbed his head as he turned to Ash.
"The New Fishman Pirates, ones who tried to kill King Neptune and his three sons to take over Fishman Island, have succumbed to the effects of the Energy Steroids." Ash gulped, hearing the name of the items.
"These pirates used drugs?" Zoro scoffed to the report.
"About damn time," he murmured. "I bet the effects were slow enough and painful."
"Slow, almost," the Minister of the Right clarified. "Painful… imagine rapid aging, your muscles dissolved and you're nothing but crumbs of skin and brittle bones. Those steroids made Hordy and his crew walking skeletons before dying… No offense, Brook."
"None taken," Brook shrugged off. "Though, I can bet the scene was gruesome enough to leave goosebumps on your skin."
"Well, I'm getting those goosebumps right now," Ash admitted. "The thought of someone using any type of drug isn't something that sits well." Hoe stopped at the gate and pressed a red button.
"Wait until you see the king!" urged Luffy. A stream tunnel formed and connected the two gates. That prompted Usopp to pull what looked like a piece of coral.
"Nearly forgot that Ryugu Palace is underwater," he remembered. He squeezed the coral which formed a bubble around the Straw Hats. A watery tunnel formed and Hoe and Megalo entered. Once they passed through, the group saw a gigantic palace with a statue of a dragon on the roof. Ash and Pikachu awed the size of the palace.
"So… huge!" he gasped. The doors opened and the creatures entered to which a giant bubble allowed the Straw Hats to enter and find a blond man with a long mustache to go with his goatee. He wore a purple robe, a top hat and had a long tail. He supported himself with a horned cane. By him and other than more of the Ammo Knights was a blue-haired man-like merman with plenty of muscle. He had blue fins and a shark fin on his back. He also had a yellow sash draped around him.
"Straw Hats, welcome back," he greeted, showing shark teeth. Pikachu became fearful of the merman.
"Fukaboshi, what's up?" cheered Luffy. "You're looking better! I bet your brothers are, as well!"
"We are. Ryuboshi and Mamboshi weren't as badly hurt as we assumed after our struggle with Hordy and his crew. I assume you've heard their sealed fates."
"Considering their crimes against you, it's poetic justice," Sanji sneered. Fukaboshi nodded before the blond man noticed additions.
"Who's this little human?" he pointed out. "And the yellow mouse?" Fukaboshi also noticed and observed closely.
"I didn't see him before you said something, Minister of the Left." Robin placed a hand on Ash's free shoulder.
"You haven't heard of the Beastman that's been making waves on the surface world?" she referred. Fukaboshi and the Minister of the Left realized who she brought up.
"I almost didn't recognize him with the muscular build," the blond surveyed.
"So, this is Ash Ketchum, the Beastman who ravaged a Marine fort," Fukaboshi recalled. A knight came from a hallway to alert the Minister of the Left.
"Appreciated. King Neptune and his other children are making their appearance." The Straw Hats anxiously waited for the king to show. They didn't wait long as a large redhead merman with a massive beard swam in with two other mermen. One was a tall merman who's head was smaller than his neck and had streaks down its back. He wore a white garment like a robe and an orange sash. The other was a stocky and round brunette wearing a skirt. He had red fins where ears would be and wore a blue hat with a streak of dirty white. Those two had purple tails with white spots. Seeing the crown on the redhead's head, Ash and Pikachu knelt to meet him.
"Neptune!" cheered Luffy.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite pirates- jamon!" greeted Neptune. "Welcome back to Fishman Island, let alone the Ryugu Palace." Chopper saw the three mermen and concluded on a state. Nami glanced to find the trainer and Pokémon kneeling.
"It's just like Fukaboshi said: you've made full recoveries," the reindeer saw.
"Of course we recovered," the long neck merman scoffed. "Especially me, fa, so, la~" The rotund merman jived his arms. That's when Neptune saw Ash and Pikachu kneeling.
"Young human, is this your greeting to royalty?" he asked. Ash looked up to see Neptune again.
"I've been taught how," he admitted. Neptune laughed.
"You're a Straw Hat pirate- jamon. Kneeling to me isn't necessary, though the gesture is a warm greeting. Besides, I bet you're all hungry. The banquet will be here any minute." Ash stood just as a table came to let the pirates sit. Brook settled with tea as Zoro guzzled booze. A smorgasbord of food came out and the pirates dove in. As they ate, Pikachu noticed pink hair from behind a pillar.
("Someone there?") he squeaked. Ash and Neptune turned to the pink hair.
"Come on out, Shirahoshi," Neptune commanded. "I know you wanted to see Straw Hat Luffy again." That's when a huge but young and skinny mermaid came out, wearing a yellow bra and her tail a salmon color. Her height reached the ceiling. Awe gripped Ash and Pikachu at the young giant mermaid.
"Hey, Weak-hoshi!" cheered Luffy.
"Inappropriate!" yelled Usopp as he slapped Luffy upside the head. That's when Ash stood from the table and glared to the teen mermaid.
"Hey, princess," Chopper welcomed. Ash heard the reindeer and looked up while Shirahoshi spotted the Vice Captain and the Pokémon. Nodding, Ash and Pikachu knelt to Shirahoshi. The princess gasped to the gesture. Silence. Shirahoshi's heart pounded to the sight that she grasped her chest.
'Wha- Why is my heart beating so hard?' she gasped in thought. 'This is the first time meeting this boy… yet my heart wants him!' Ash looked up to Shirahoshi while Neptune introduced his daughter to the trainer.
"Beastman Ash, this is my daughter, Princess Shirahoshi," he named. "She's the last member of my family." Ash stood with Pikachu and glanced to Neptune.
"She's left?" he repeated. "What about the queen?" Neptune and the children bowed their heads while the Minister of the Left came to Ash's side, entering the bubble.
"This happened before the Straw Hats first came to Fishman Island," he started. Before he could continue, someone else came by.
"Sorry I'm late," announced someone new. All turned to see a plump raven-haired blue man with fangs and a red tattoo on his chest. He wore a white robe with prints of leaves.
"Jimbei!" recognized Luffy.
"Luffy, nice to see you and the crew back in Fishman Island. I wanted to see the new member of the Straw Hats and that dinosaur I saw in his wanted poster." Ash figured what Jimbei wanted to see.
"I think I can help with that," he nodded before grabbing a Pokéball. "Lapras, I choose you!" Ash threw the Pokéball to release Lapras into the water. Jimbei met with Lapras and petted him.
"I see. Is it necessary to have him here for the day? I will make sure he's treated." Ash and Lapras glared at each other. Lapras also glanced to Shirahoshi and swam to meet her. Shirahoshi petted the Transport Pokémon with a finger.
"Hello, Lapras," she greeted. Lapras wailed to Shirashoshi which she smiled. This told Ash that loaning Lapras wouldn't hurt.
"Sure," he agreed. "Lapras seems to be fine with the princess." That's when Luffy used his big mouth to tell the palace the news.
"By the way, it's permission from our new Vice Captain," he gloated. All became shocked to Ash's position.
"He's the Vice Captain?" gawked Fukaboshi.
"That would shock me so, la, ti, do~" sang Ryuboshi. Ash shrugged off Luffy about the detail.
"Must you," he groaned. Taking a breath, he refocused on Jimbei and the story. "Anyway, what happened with the queen?" Jimbei bowed his head.
"Otohime was Neptune's wife and queen of Fishman Island. She's the one who gave birth to these children that Neptune's blessed with. Before he founded the New Fishman Pirates, Hordy Jones was a soldier for Neptune who we believed protected the royal family. It was also during the time that humans and fishmen didn't get along for racial reasons. Otohime made pledges to make peace with the humans… something the Sun Pirates like Fisher Tiger stood for. After Tiger was killed by the Marines, Hordy followed Arlong's desire to banish humans from life. To do so, he burned petitions to have an alliance between the merfolk, fishmen and humans. Then… Hordy assassinated the queen… and in front of her own flesh and blood." Ash stood in shock, the news trembling from anger. His body began to shake, his hair standing up. Zoro and Luffy sensed Ash's anger.
"Don't tell me that's what I sensed back on the Sunny a week ago…" groaned Zoro.
"That's what it was?" guessed Luffy. Robin came over and patted both shoulders.
"Calm down!" she urged. "I'm right here!" Ash snapped back to reality, not sure what to recall.
"What?" he blinked. Neptune and his kids realized Ash felt the burden of Otohime's death. After the banquet, the pirates felt ready to head back to their ship.
"Are you heading back?" he asked.
"It's been a long day," Nami expressed. "Going through a cave embedded with seastones, traveling 10,000 meters down to here, avoiding all sorts of Sea Beasts, meeting with Surume… We're exhausted!"
"We can tell," Jimbei accepted. "I'll escort you back. Besides, I wanted to explain a few items to Luffy." Nami nodded. Ash glared around the palace when Chopper came to his side with Pikachu wandering around in the bubble.
"So, what did you think of Shirahoshi, Ash?" he asked. Ash had a moment to think while Shirahoshi peered around a pillar.
"She's enormous but… she awfully kind, especially to Lapras," Ash weighed. "I can only imagine how kind the queen was before she was taken by Hordy."
"She's big but she's nice. In fact, when Sanji saw her for the first time, he turned to stone. I thought he'd be having a fatal nosebleed, considering how big he had one at Mermaid Cove. He's got a decent sense with women, though some I liked myself."
"Well, I don't blame him. After all, he liked my mom… and I agree that Shirahoshi is beautiful, even on the inside." Shirahoshi heard Ash's case and blushed with a smile.
"Please…" she whispered to herself. "I would want to meet with him personally." The light in Fishman Island dimmed and things settled down. Hachi boarded the Sunny with warm balls on a tray.
"Ash, here," he offered. "Takoyaki… After I disbanded from the Arlong Pirates, I became a chef and made these to sell with Camie." Ash snagged two and gave one to Pikachu.
"They look good," he studied before he flicked it into his mouth. Pikachu nibbled the takoyaki. Both eyes lit up. "Forget look, they are good!" Pikachu squeaked to approve of it. "I have to say, you did make a good career move."
"Thanks. I'd wish there was a Pokémon that I could have as a great cook."
"I'm sure there are some Pokémon who could help out like Magmar." Hachi nodded to the idea.
"Say, when you come around tomorrow, can I see the rest of your Pokémon?" Ash sensed a problem.
"Well, Lapras is with Jimbei at the palace tonight. I can show the rest tomorrow." Hachi couldn't wait. Ash stood at the prow and looked to Fishman Island. He'd be down here for awhile. How will Fishman Island treat him?
TO BE CONTINUED…
(I wanted to get this up sooner but computer problems delayed it. I do apologize for it.)