Chapter 15: Meeting! Beauty and the Beastman!
Ash and Robin rode an undersea bus from a wooded area. The bus was a giant yellow fish with orange fins and wearing a conductor's hat. Ash sported a serious look while Robin petted Pikachu on her lap. She looked to Ash, thinking about their visit as they traveled back to the Sunny.
(Sea Forest, 1 Hour Ago)
Ash, Pikachu and Robin came to a giant moss-co stone cube with different markings onto it among a forest. Far in the background was a giant wooden ship, one that would rival the Thousand Sunny. The size of the cube awed Ash. "This is more Poneglyph?" he guessed.
"Yes," Robin confirmed. "This is the ancient text. It's massive considering the little note you got from the fort. This one is a letter from Joy Boy." As Ash and Pikachu studied the symbols, questions grew.
"Joy Boy seems like someone who wants to have fun. Was he?"
"Most likely, a follower to Poseidon, an Ancient Weapon in the shape of a mermaid. The Poneglyph is a letter to the mermaid herself. He apologizes for not living up to the promise he made to her." Pikachu gulped to the belief of a mermaid being an Ancient Weapon.
"I bet to Sanji, he'd take whatever Poseidon had to throw and still come back. Anyway, did Joy Boy fail something?"
"That isn't known but it had to do with the ancient ship known as Noah." The name summoned a memory from Ash's travels.
"Noah's Ark?" Robin blinked to Ash's naming.
"You know something?"
"Just the name sounded familiar. Brock told me about it, referring to after the long storm that Noah would send a bird to find land. I don't remember much else." Robin pondered to the idea of the two perhaps connected.
"Maybe Poseidon didn't trust Joy Boy to begin with…" Ash tried to think before seeing a crypt in the distance. This caught Ash's attention.
"Did someone die?" Robin looked over to the crypt as well, remembering the one buried.
"Remember when we had that banquet? Neptune mentioned the assassination of his wife. This happens to be the grave of Queen Otohime." Pikachu on his shoulder, Ash walked toward the crypt.
"Otohime…" He felt a connection with Pikachu as they both nodded to a task. "Could you give us a minute?" Robin watched as he stood and Pikachu hopped off. Both knelt with their hands and paws together, praying to her crypt. Robin watched in awe to how the two prayed in respect to the late queen, a tear pouring out of her eye. After the moment, Ash and Pikachu stood and bowed to the crypt. Once Pikachu crawled back onto Ash's shoulder, the two reunited with Robin who palmed both on the heads.
"Neptune would be thankful of your respect to the late queen."
Robin shed another tear to the scene while riding back to Fishman Island. "You know, I'm still proud of what you did in tribute to Neptune's late wife," she complimented. Ash nodded before having a reply.
"Well, if not for you taking me out to see the Poneglyph, I probably wouldn't have done so," he said. Robin smiled, her role in watching over Ash growing. The fish bus reached Fishman Island and the crew's ship. After breakfast, the three had Nami join for shopping. She carried the clothes Ash wore when he first arrived in their waters. This befuddled Ash. "Did you go into the boys' room to grab my clothes?"
"I'd be lying if I did," Nami joked. "Usopp was the one who fished your gear from your room. Since we'll stop by Pappagu's store, I'll ask him to update your clothes for when you and your Pokémon return to your friends." Pikachu liked the idea as he leaped from Ash's shoulder to Nami's. The group reached the shopping district. "Aside from that, we've got some spending money from the results of the raid." As the group hit the town, a question popped in Ash's mind.
"Back before we entered the cave of seastones, I recall you hugging me. Was it some way to get back at Sanji for something?" Nami remembered the moment and sighed.
"Robin told me of your conversation with Luffy about not having dads. Being one without a parent so to speak, I felt bad about it." Ash understood Nami's compassion to him but wanted to assure that it's not her burden.
"Don't worry about it. I know why now but it's my problem." The group entered the district and began a shopping spree. Nami found all sorts of high-end clothes, including bras, gowns, shoes, even some that fit Robin's figure. As they continued, Robin made purchases on historic books. They picked up numerous items but made Ash carry. While shopping, the girls had Ash and Pikachu try on different clothing. Pikachu tried on different hats like the one Pappagu wore with different colors and patterns. Nami had Pikachu wear a yellow button-down "Criminal" t-shirt with a black star on, reverse colors of Camie's tank-top. Pikachu squealed happily to the clothing.
"I think we have a winner!" chuckled Robin. Ash tried on clothing as well from several different outlets. He wore different tops with varying sleeve length. He also tried on different bottoms like swimming trunks and dress pants. Sandals were tried on but Ash wasn't liking the feel, and even Robin agreed. Although searching for the right wardrobe had been tough, Ash's arms were getting the workout carrying the merchandise. Mermaids, fishwomen and kids saw the strong kid and became intrigued.
"Whoa, he's young but strong!" one mermaid awed.
"Where was he when I needed help with groceries?" a fishwoman wondered. As they stopped to rest their arms at a restaurant, comments waived in on Ash and Pikachu who seemed in awe to the responses.
"We're getting a lot of attention," Ash noticed. Pikachu squeaked, concerned to the attention. Nami decided to ask the two about this morning.
"So, where did you take Ash before breakfast?" she asked. "Sanji said he felt something off this morning. Knowing him…" Robin turned to Nami, willing to answer.
"To the Sea Forest," she replied. "I took him to show the Poneglyph within there, as well as Noah. While we traveled, I witnessed him and Pikachu offer a prayer to Otohime's tomb." Nami gasped to the act.
"He what?" Robin nodded, being truthful.
"After I heard from Usopp about him praying to the Mini Merry, I wasn't sure to believe it. Even now, I'm in awe at his respect to those who've fallen, even those he never knew." Ash nodded to Robin's claim.
"Believe me, I'd be doing it for Bellemere if I visited Cocoyashi Village," he promised. Nami gasped before hugging Ash between her breasts.
"Oh, Ash…" she cried. "Why couldn't I have a brother like you!" Those watching started to get jealous of the girls as they crossed a sign greeted the group, reading "FISHVERLY HILLS."
"If Pappagu can't find anything for Ash, I don't know who will," Nami promised. They entered a mansion where they came into a store. All sorts of "Criminal" material on display. Ash saw some clothes that stoked his interest.
"What do we have here?" Hearing curiosity from another room, Pappagu entered to see the group.
"Well, if it isn't the Beastman visiting my home," the starfish greeted. He jumped onto a rack of denim jackets. "Rather fortunate, I was thinking of bringing you up to see this since I got word about the big deal with your score." Ash and Pikachu gawked to the coincidence.
"Really?" Nami and Robin soon came to see Pappagu with their own request.
"Hey, Pappagu!" welcomed Nami. "Good timing… We were on our way to see you." Pappagu saw the two women that accompanied Ash and Pikachu.
"Why am I not surprised?" he huffed. "So, what can I do for you two?" Nami offered Ash's clothes to the fishman.
"Could you update this for Ash? When we do bring him back to his world, I want to be sure his friends recognize him." Pappagu observed the jeans, shoes the t-shirt and the blue jacket. The clothes in his opinion wasn't going to fit him.
"I see, and I bet Zoro's training's the reason for this request. Reworking this won't be for free. You should know that by now." Nami clasped Pappagu and pressed him toward her chest.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that…" Pappagu started to sweat drop from the flirting redhead. The playful flirt started to wear him down.
"Come on, Nami! You don't need to go that far!" He started to surrender to her charm. "Fine… Let me measure his new look before I make modifications. Ash, this way!" Ash followed Pappagu to the back while the girls continued to shop.
"One of these needs to be screaming 'Ash' and it's here." Pikachu looked as well. Robin and Nami found several different combinations of shirts, pants and boots. Time measuring Ash didn't take long. Robin came to the door reading "STAFF ONLY."
"Why don't you try these out while you're being measured?" she requested. A few minutes later, Ash came out with one, a new "Criminal" black baseball cap with stonewashed denim shorts and a muscle shirt like Camie's. Easily, Ash disagreed with this and so did the girls.
"Yeah… no," Nami denied. Back to behind the curtain. This time, he came out in a long-sleeve white shirt and denim shorts like Luffy with the "Criminal" star on one leg. Robin became iffy.
"If I did have a child, no way would he or she wear that," she objected. Ash retreated back behind the curtain. Coming out, his wear was now a red sleeveless hooded jacket with the brand located right of the zipper and blue windbreaker slacks. Nami palmed her forehead while Pikachu squeaked to refuse the wardrobe. That's when Pappagu had an idea.
"Let's try this," he offered. "It's our popular brand right now with the people." Nami and Robin could only wonder. When the curtain rolled back, Pikachu and the girls gawked in awe. Ash wore a sea blue denim vest with "Criminal" around the collar. The vest's over a sky blue tank-top with the yellow star covering the lower right. He wore midnight blue denim slacks and boots. A grin from Nami, a snicker from Robin and a squeal from Pikachu told Ash one thing.
"Perfect!" the girls decided.
"I like it!" added Ash.
"Great," Pappagu laughed. "Tell you what, I'll keep your pirate clothes and update these. You'll love the ideas I have in mind. Now, that should be 35,500 Berries." Ash scoffed, knowing the amount from the raid would easily cover the new wardrobe. Nami had a better idea.
"35 thousand seems a bit steep," she argued. "I see it more of… 25 thousand." Pappagu growled before getting in the face of the navigator.
"Are you out of your mind?! This is top-of-the-line material! Do you know how far I had to go to get it? The vest is worth 20 thousand!"
"You'd be fine with it being priced a little less for it all!" Robin wanted the haggle to end.
"Come on, Nami!" she laughed. "We've got plenty of Berries to go around." While the three worked out deals, Ash stepped out of the shop and glared to the sky. Pikachu took a breath of fresh air. Suddenly…
"There he is!" shouted a mermaid. Ash and Pikachu turned to a crowd of mermaids charging. Chants of "Beastman" echoed throughout the air. A wave of fans wanted Ash and Pikachu, who clearly wanted none of them.
"Run!" he shouted. Both Ash and Pikachu dashed away with the school of mermaids in hot pursuit. Nami, Pappagu and Robin stepped out to see the throng of women chasing the young Vice Captain.
"Here we go again…" groaned Nami. Without warning, the Minister of the Right and some Ammo Knights reached the shop and found the starfish and women.
"Nami, Robin, where's your Vice Captain?" he asked. Nami and Robin pointed in the direction of the chase. "Understood. Let's go!" With the Minister of the Right leading the charge, Nami found a problem.
"What should we do? We need someone to carry this back to the Sunny." The call from afar, Sanji sprinted to meet the ladies.
"Someone call for service?" he presented. The girls awed their cook's offer.
"We've got some merchandise we need brought back to the Sunny, including some new kitchenware." Sanji's eyes became hearts.
"Oh, you shouldn't have!" Robin huffed a giggle to the cook's antics. Meanwhile Ash and Pikachu ran through Fishman Island for a straight half-hour. They journeyed through alleyways, paved roads and across water. Suddenly, they took a wrong turn. The road ended and escape seemed impossible.
"Oh no, a dead end!" gasped Ash. The two turned to find the mermaids closing in. Their fate seemed sealed. "Well, buddy… It's been nice knowing you."
("We've had a lot of fun together,") Pikachu mulled. The school was within reach of Ash who looked nervous. However, help arrived.
"May I have your attention!" shouted the Minister of the Right. All turned to see the seahorse fishman who started to make their way through the school. With two Ammo Knights by his side, the Minister of the Right reached the two. "You'll have your time to see him later. The royal family has wished for his presence!" The girls whined about the denial.
"That is an order!" one Ammo Knight demanded. Begrudgingly, the mermaids listened to the order and moved out. Ash and Pikachu breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks for bailing us out of there," he praised. "But why would King Neptune want me?" Pikachu also wanted to know.
"Well, it's not his highness," an Ammo Knight corrected. "We're not sure but it's the princess who wants your attendance." Ash and Pikachu blinked to who wanted to see the two.
"Princess Shirahoshi?"
"Follow us," the Minister of the Right ordered.
"What about Nami and Robin? Can't I let them in on what's going on?"
"Relax. I sent a messenger to the Thousand Sunny to inform your crew of the ordeals." Ash shrugged his shoulders to Pikachu. Still, they proceeded with the royal guard in tow on their way to Ryugu Palace. "It does bother my scales since she's still… rather timid about mentioning you since you left the Lapras with us the other day." Ash recalled Jimbei mentioning how the royal family being able to communicate with sea creatures, and Pokémon like Squirtle and Lapras counted for them. That raised doubt to Shirahoshi's shyness.
"I don't think Lapras would've said anything to frighten her."
"And she concurred. Though, it may still be when she was threatened by Vander Decken who's in the dungeon." The new name didn't help Ash in understanding her fears.
"Vander Decken?" They soon arrived at a tower within the palace.
"Here we are. Shirahoshi's Tower." The steel doors of the tower were covered in steel patches.
"I'm starting to know what you mean…" Pikachu squeaked to the painstaking task the Ammo Knights dealt with. The door was ajar.
"She's inside. Proceed in. The princess will alert us of any danger." Ash nodded as the Minister of the Right and the Ammo Knights left for their posts. With Pikachu on his shoulder, Ash walked in to find the room lit. Her room was huge, a place where a mermaid of Shirahoshi's size would be comfortable with.
"This is the place… Now what?" The room wasn't disturbed, not even the lump on the enormous bed gave him pause. "Princess? You wanted to see us?"
("We came to see you!") squeaked Pikachu. No movement whatsoever…
"Maybe one of the princes knows. If she's not in her room, where?" One more quick look around, Ash decided to head out. "Let's get going. I'm sure the Ammo Knights wouldn't do this to us without a reason." After his first step to leave…
"Don't go!" she cried out. Ash and Pikachu turned back to see Shirahoshi uncovering herself from beneath the sheets. The princess soon revealed herself slowly. "Please, I'm sorry. I wasn't sure who it was." To Ash, the threats of Vander Decken still weighed on her mind.
"It's alright. I'm sure you have a good reason for hiding." Pikachu's ears pearked before turning to see Megalo swim by. The shark looked happy to see the two as he nuzzled Ash's cheek. "Hey, Megalo! Outside getting some exercise?" Megalo happily barked before swimming to Shirahoshi. Ash decided to tell the princess his experience. "I visited your mom's tomb in the Sea Forest today." Shirahoshi gasped and turned to Ash and Pikachu as the Pokémon squeaked to confirm.
"You… saw my mother's resting place?" Ash nodded to her guess.
"I offered a prayer to her tomb as a sign of respect." Shirahoshi gasped again, only in awe. She didn't expect someone other than the royal family to pay respect to Otohime. She sat on her bed and invited Ash and Pikachu over.
"That's… very kind of you. If she met you, she'd make an example of how humans and fishmen would get along. She was an advocate of peace and unity, always wanting to end the racism between the two." To Ash, Otohime was a role model to Fishman Island and not by having the role as queen. "Of course, she was also a target to those from the Fishman District, mainly Hordy Jones." Ash remembered the banquet which Otohime was mentioned.
"I heard and I'm sorry for what happened to her." Shirahoshi decided to change the subject.
"By the way, I had a great time with Lapras the other day. Not only with me but also with my father and brothers, not to mention some of the knights and Master Jimbei." Ash smiled to the word. "Although, I felt saddened by him saying how it was separated from his school, including his own mother when it encountered a storm, then was harassed by three humans before you and this Misty came to his aid. I understood why it lashed out at you when you came to save it." Ash nodded, knowing Lapras since he owned the Transport Pokémon.
"Being so young, it began having distrust to humans. Misty, Tracey and I did help Lapras." Shirahoshi smiled to know those helping Lapras through the difficulty.
"This makes me feel happy to know Lapras is raised by the right person." Ash decided to show Lapras again, with some additions.
"Let me show you who else I have. Come on out, everyone!" He tossed the five Pokéballs which opened and revealed the other Pokémon. Seeing Shirahoshi for the first time, Charizard and Bulbasaur gawked at the size of the mermaid princess. Snorlax slept.
"Welcome back, Lapras." Called upon, Lapras wailed happily to Shirahoshi as she saw the other Pokémon. "Who are they? And is it alright for that Pokémon's tail to be on fire?" Charizard growled before taking flight. Shirahoshi awed Charizard's wings. "I wanna say that you look like a dragon but I may be wrong." Charizard growled to the naming.
"Unfortunately, Charizard isn't a Dragon Pokémon as I've pointed out to many already."
"I guess I'm no different, then. Still, it's an awe to see something that has the appearance, if that makes you understand." Charizard growled to accept the compliment. "Anyway, what about the other three?" Ash glanced to the other Pokémon.
"This is my only other Water Pokémon on hand, Squirtle." The Tiny Turtle Pokémon shyly waived. "There's Bulbasaur, a Pokémon as stubborn as me." Bulbasaur grumbled as Shirahoshi offered a hand for the smaller Pokémon to meet up close.
"Squirtle, no question that you're also a Water Pokémon. Are you happy to be with Ash?" Squirtle barked to Shirahoshi happily, trusting Ash with his actions. Bulbasaur barked while trying to be brave at the size of the princess. Shirahoshi now turned to the Hibernate Pokémon. "Is that bear sleeping?"
"Yeah, Snorlax can be like that." Shirahoshi scooped Snorlax with some effort. Disturbed from his sleep, Snorlax woke to find himself in the large hand of the giant mermaid. "You wouldn't believe the trouble he's been. After his Pokéball broke, I had to lure it to the Pokémon Center by dressing as an apple." Outside, Neptune, Fukaboshi, Mamboshi and Ryuboshi gawked and imagined Ash as an apple with his head, arms and feet sticking out and chased by Snorlax on land. Shirahoshi gawked as well, shocked at the thought of Ash as the aforementioned apple. Suddenly, she snickered while others watched. Finally, she let out a burst of laughter to which the eavesdropping mermen outside heard.
"That is hilarious!" Her laughter could be heard throughout Ryugu Palace. When she relented, they continued to talk for an hour, enjoying stories from both. An Ammo Knight knocked on the door.
"Princess Shirahoshi?" he called. "Is the Vice Captain inside still?" The doors opened to find the two in their discussion. When the guard saw Ash, they nodded. "I'm sorry to interrupt. The Straw Hats request for his return." Shirahoshi started to whine at the news. To Ash, he had duties to fulfill.
"Hey, we're not gonna leave for sometime," he assured. "Especially with Pappagu fixing my trainer's outfit for when I go back home." Shirahoshi believed their time together didn't end.
"Maybe tomorrow?" she asked. "I want to hear more of your stories." Ash nodded, eager to hear some of hers.
"Same with you, including more about your mom." Shirahoshi nodded before Ash and Pikachu left with the Ammo Knights, but not before Shirahoshi had one more gift for him. She picked him up to meet face-to-face.
"Take care… Beastman." She sealed the day with a kiss, somehow lips meeting. Ash gawked to the smooch, perhaps due to her accuracy to connect lips. Exchange complete, Shirahoshi let Ash go. As Ash and Pikachu were led out by the Ammo Knight, they're met by the royal men.
"Sires!" the knight saluted. Ash knelt to the king and his princes.
"Vice Captain, that's not necessary- jamon," he reasoned. Ash stood upon hearing the request.
"We're actually thankful that you and our little sister found happiness together," Ryuboshi explained.
"Sis is still a little uneasy after those creeps, Hordy and Vander Decken, terrorized us," Mamboshi added. "So, we decided that you can come by here to boogie with us whenever you feel like it." Ash and Pikachu smiled to the gratitude from the royal family.
"Meantime, your Straw Hats need you," Fukaboshi excused. "Heard you went missing from your shopping trip. Luckily, that cook had that bubble coral to carry everything." Pikachu squeaked a sigh in learning about Sanji.
"Sure thing," Ash accepted. "I'll see you guys later." The Ammo Knight led Ash and Pikachu away as Neptune heard a swoon from Shirahoshi's room.
"Jamon?" he gulped. He and the princes reached the room to find Shirahoshi dancing around.
"Beastman, how much your kindness has won me over!" she cooed wildly. "I wish you could stay!" She flopped onto her bed with a smile that rivaled the sun. In bliss, her tail swayed around as Megalo regrouped with the princes and Neptune.
"That human has won the heart of our sister?" wondered Fukaboshi. Megalo garbled to the princes in silence.
"I'm worried about her myself, Megalo," Neptune mumbled. Back with Ash and Pikachu, they landed near the Mermaid Cove where Ash thanked the Ammo Knights of the news.
"Let me know if you need anything!" he requested.
"Of course, Vice Captain," the knight replied before taking off to other places. As the two headed back to the Sunny, Ash had a sudden thought about their time with Shirahoshi.
"You know something, Pikachu?" His name called, Pikachu turned to see reddening cheeks on his trainer's face.
("What, Ash?") he squeaked. His blushing face brought forth a telling.
"I think I'm starting to… really like Shirahoshi." Pikachu gawked to the information of Ash seemingly falling for the princess. "I mean, think about it. A princess who wants to know of us, a caring girl who's liking Pokémon… I mean, it would be great to have her around." Pikachu began to worry about Ash for a good reason.
("Who are you and what have you done with Ash?!") However, Ash saw problems with having Shirahoshi with him.
"But who am I kidding? I'm not a romantic. I'm a Pokémon Trainer and a pirate, and she's an heir to the Ryugu Palace. I just see each other as friends." To Pikachu, he admired Shirahoshi but knew they couldn't love each other.
("You had me scared.") Ash heard Pikachu's tone, thinking that he believed his owner's acting like someone else.
"You thought I was starting to act like Brock, right?" Pikachu giggled with a nod. "I'm sure he's doing fine with Professor Ivy and those sisters." Pikachu nodded with a squeak. As they made it to the Sunny, Franky was the first to greet him.
"Hey!" he shouted. "Looking rather snazzy down there! Come on board!" Ash and Pikachu joined the Straw Hats back on board, unaware of a new danger looming outside the bubble of Fishman Island. Back in the blocked-off district, a machine revved as a milky white liquid swirled in a circular glass container.
"So, that's all of the Energy Steroids?" the silhouette wondered. Chew nodded to the silhouette.
"Jessie, James and Meowth said they poured it all in the mixer, chew!" he explained. "They didn't take one pill for themselves… though Jessie did eat the Devil Fruit she found."
"I'm not worried about the Devil Fruit as I'm about returning home and seeing Fishman Island under my scales." To Kuroobi, the silhouette discovered the name of the Devil Fruit now devoured.
"Are you implying that you know what the power of the Devil Fruit is?" he asked.
"No, though it would've been better if she sold it instead. She cursed herself. The only way to get a new Devil Fruit like that is if she dies." A muscled gray arm appeared and a needle with a tube was plunged into the arm. The liquid bled into his arm and quickly, his arms began to bulge. "Neptune, be prepared for the return of the lost Sun Pirates!" What awaited Fishman Island, and what powers did Jessie obtain?
TO BE CONTINUED…
(Hey, I'm getting a lot of votes on the 7th volume of "The 12 Elements of AshMas. Continue to vote as I'll begin it later this month.)