Chapter 19: Goodbye, Beastman! Leaving Fishman Island!

Hundreds of meters above Fishman Island was a cliff. There wasn't much significance to the wall before a massive blue stream of water pierced through the rock. It caused the wall to collapse and the remains of stone and earth fell to the depths of the sea. A large and a tiny silhouette shells began to dive afterwards through the massive hole the beam burned through. Morning light illuminated Fishman Island and Ryugu Palace where Shirahoshi soon woke to greet the morning and her fiance. Her eyes opened to see that Ash had already been up, thinking about the dream he had while wrapped in her hands with an aquamarine ring on her ring finger. Ash had a matching ring on his left hand. "Good morning, handsome," she cooed. "Is something bothering you?" Ash heard his future wife and queen of Fishman Island, turning to her with a smile.

"Morning, honey," he replied. His smile did lower a little, causing concern for Shirahoshi.

"What's wrong? You seem to be disturbed by something." Ash nodded, confirming her concern.

"I need to see your dad and your brothers. It's important, and it also involves you… and Nami as well." Shirahoshi looked befuddled to his demand.

"Me and Nami?" An hour later, Ash was in the throne room of the palace. King Neptune, Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi and Mamboshi joined in the throne room. Nami, Robin and Pikachu also joined in a massive bubble to hear from Ash.

"Beastman Ash Ketchum," Neptune addressed. "I've heard you have something of importance for us -jamon." Ash nodded before speaking up.

"Overnight, I met Otohime in my dream," he started. The king and siblings gasped to the news as Ash turned to Nami. "I met Bellemere there as well." Nami gasped, her hands covering her mouth.

"Our mother?!" gasped Fukaboshi.

"Please, say it is so, la, ti, do~!" sang Ryuboshi.

"What did she say, Beastman?!" asked Mamboshi. Anticipation filled the room as everyone wanted to know the ordeal.

"Otohime had been watching all of you since her assassination," he started. "Knowing how you've been protecting and keeping the peace in Fishman Island, she couldn't be more proud that she raised a strong husband and king, as well as strong children. Even after her death, she still loves you and will continue to watch over everyone within the Ryugu Palace and Fishman Island." The message sent left Neptune, Shirahoshi and the princes in tears.

"Mother!" whimpered Fukaboshi.

"Oh, mama!" cried Ryuboshi.

"We miss you so much!" bawled Mamboshi. Shirahoshi hugged her fiance while shedding twin waterfalls from her eyes.

"Mother, we heard you!" she sniffed. "Thank you for watching over us… even after so long since you died!" Ash petted Shirahoshi's cheek to console.

"I'm sorry if it's too much," he apologized. Neptune, wiping tears from his eyes.

"No, an apology isn't necessary," he shook. "In fact, we thank you for relaying her words to us. Otohime meant so much to all of Fishman Island, hearing her words is a blessing and an aid to forever remember her in memory." Nami and Robin smiled, praising Ash in delivering the message when Ash turned to the navigator. He brought up Bellemere. He wanted to speak up about her.

"Nami, I do wish Nojiko was here with us… but Bellemere is happy that you're living out your dream. She wants to let you know that she still loves you like the mom you and Nojiko were raised as and is watching over the two of you as I speak." Nami sniffed as she wiped tears from her eyes.

"You don't know how happy you made me feel," she muttered as she hugged her Vice Captain. "I always believed Bellemere's watching over us, but you verified it for the both of us." Ash patted her shoulder in comfort. Jimbei and the ministers smiled at the joyous emotion. That soon shattered as an Ammo Knight stormed into the chamber.

"Your Majesty!" he shouted. "Urgent news from Fishman Island!" All turned to the knight, anxious to know of the interruption.

"What seems to be the issue?" questioned Neptune.

"A pair of shelled creatures have found themselves on Fishman Island! One is tiny and purple while the other is brown and huge! I-I don't know what to make of it, but none of us, not even my fellow knights, have any idea what they could be!" The others wondered what landed on Fishman Island.

"Tiny and purple?" wondered Shirahoshi. She turned to Ash for an answer. "Darling, could it be…" Ash wasn't too sure but the curiosity began to bother.

"Let's go check it out," he suggested. Everyone left Ryugu Palace and found a gathering among Gyoncorde Plaza. Fishpeople and merfolk surrounded a large red turtle shell and a small bluish-violet spiky bivalve shell. Franky and Zoro kept the crowd from engaging either creature. The Straw Hat boys awed the crowd size to the discovery.

"Damn, how many need to know?" growled Zoro. Before the crowd became out of hand, Ammo Knights aided the Straw Hats in protecting the two shells.

"We don't know what the hell these are but we can't risk these guys storming these things," a knight grunted. Before long, those from Ryugu Palace reached the Plaza.

"Stand down, everyone!" the king shouted. On Hoe, the crowd saw the royal family descend.

"Clear a path!" the Minister of the Right ordered. The three humans and Pikachu swam through the crowd to which Ash gasped.

"Blastoise!" he named the red shell. "And Shellder!" The women turned to Ash after the naming.

"You know them?" guessed Robin. Ash nodded for a reason.

"They're Pokémon!" He brought out his hand-held and pointed at the big shell. The picture displayed had a giant turtle with a cream-colored chin and two cannons protruding from its shell.

"Blastoise, the Shellfish Pokémon," it computed. "Blastoise is the final evolutionary form of Squirtle. It uses the cannons from its back to launch powerful Hydro Pumps." Ash now turned the hand-held to the little shell. The picture showed a face on a black pearl with a long tongue. "Shellder, the Bivalve Pokémon. The tender round body is protected by an impressively durable shell."

"So those things are really Pokémon?" wondered Usopp. Ash nodded to the assumption.

"I'm wondering if that's the same Blastoise I met at that one island near Cinnabar Island," he pondered. Chopper looked to Ash, curious to the belief.

"Are you saying you're familiar with this Blastoise?" he asked.

"I'm not too sure… but maybe this will help." With a Pokéball in hand, he tossed it up. "Squirtle, I choose you!" The ball opened to reveal Squirtle who saw the Blastoise shell. From inside, Blastoise saw the Squirtle and began to emerge, head, arms and feet. The two looked to each other before Squirtle brought out triangular sunglasses and wore them. Brook chuckled to the new look of Squirtle.

"There's something you don't see everyday, a turtle with fashion sense," he laughed. "It tickles me to the bone!"

"That's what you get with the Squirtle Squad Sunglasses." Blastoise acknowledged the sunglasses as it turned to Shellder. The shell began to open and see Pikachu and Squirtle before ducking back in its shell. Nami picked the shell to ease the Pokémon's tension.

"I promise, we're not gonna hurt you, Shellder," she tried to reason. Shellder opened up a to see Nami with a smile on her face. Blastoise barked to Nami about Shellder which Chopper and Squirtle listened to.

"Is that what happened?" the reindeer guessed. Blastoise seemed stunned to hear that Chopper understood it. The Shellfish Pokémon continued to explain the ordeal as others tried to listen.

"Can you give us a briefing?" requested Ash.

"Of course! Blastoise had traveled from the Squirtle Island for exercise when it saw that Shellder ganged up by… Tentacool?" Ash hit a few buttons on his hand-held and showed a blue jellyfish with red round crystals around its head and two tentacles.

"Tentacool, the Jellyfish Pokémon," it registered. "Tentacool often school around shallow seas. Fishermen who hook these are stung by acid within its tiny stingers." Hearing Tentacool's description, Nami looked to the Bivalve Pokémon.

"So, you were attacked by a school of them?" she asked. Shellder moaned and teared up. Chopper had more.

"Blastoise used its Hydro Pump to scare the Tentacool away," he continued. "However, the attack hit a weak floor spot and created a tunnel. Shellder fell and it gave chase to save the little guy. That's when it saw huge sea creatures that it used Withdraw to keep from getting eaten. They must have fallen here where everyone gathered." To Ash, Blastoise tried to protect the little Pokémon and ended up in Fishman Island.

"Well, at least you're both okay," he sighed in relief. That's when Pikachu started squeaking a storm. "Pikachu, what is it?" Franky looked up to the light and without Chopper's help, studied the situation and destination.

"They're Pokémon, right?" he reviewed.

"Right…" One conclusion came to Franky.

"Even Pikachu knows… I believe it… The Pokémon World awaits." Ash gulped to the realization.

"We're… going home…" Pikachu grew excited. Sharley's mermaids whined. They didn't want their favorite human to leave Fishman Island. Chopper helped treat Blastoise with any injury but whatever it had was minor. Robin confronted Ash about his new destination.

"Honey, are you worried?" she asked.

"Well, how can I put this?" Robin could tell that he wanted to go back but didn't want to leave the crew. Luffy came over with a grin on his face.

"How about that?!" he cheered. "You're going home! Back to the Pokémon World! Aren't you excited?!" Ash huffed a chuckle but the smile soon dropped.

"I'm glad I can go back… but it means I can't help out with your dream of finding One Piece." Luffy patted Ash in the back, never frowning.

"That's nothing you need to worry about… and besides, even while you're not on any of my ships, it doesn't mean you won't be Vice Captain anymore. After all, you're a Straw Hat… Nothing can change that." Ash's smile returned, knowing that regardless of where he is, he's a pirate with the best crew.

"Then I came at the best time, didn't I?" sounded Pappagu. Ash and Luffy spun to see the starfish fishman. He carried a satchel on his wagon. "I just got the finishing touches on your old uniform. Considering that you stopped Arlong in the most vicious way possible, I'm gonna give these back." Ash believed he won't need to pay for his work.

"You don't need any money? Not a tip?"

"After what you did, why bother." Ash smiled again and took the satchel.

"Thanks, Pappagu." An Ammo Knight came forward with a prize of his own.

"Vice Captain!" he called. Ash turned to the knight who held a necklace with Arlong's nose, the one he severed in his fight. The necklace also contained shark teeth.

"Are those Arlong's teeth and nose?" guessed Ash.

"The same ones you broke and tore away from the former resident and former Sun Pirate. Saw him in his cell. It's a fate no one wants to live like." Ash waived his hands, not wanting to know the detail.

"I don't wanna know… but thanks." He and the knight shook hands. Hachi and Camie came to Ash next.

"Ash, thank you for saving me and Camie from Arlong," the fishman praised. He held a heated storage container of takoyaki. "I heard about how Straw Hat ate your last bag so I wrote your initials on this to make sure that doesn't happen again." Pikachu laughed to the reminder.

"But they're so good, I can't get enough!" complained Luffy.

"I do want to make sure his friends get to have a bite themselves. Besides, you'll have to buy your own."

"Aww! No fair!" What Sanji saw next made Luffy's whine seem small.

"No…" he voiced. "That's not fair!" He pointed to Sharley and her employees giving Ash hugs, repeatedly shoving his head between their breasts.

"We wish for you and Pikachu to return," Mello wished.

"We may have to at some point," Ash reminded. "After all, I'm the princess' fiance." Ishilly, Adele and Sora laughed. Fillonce picked Pikachu from Ash's shoulder.

"That also means you as well, okay?" she checked. Pikachu squeaked nervously before she gave the Pokémon a kiss to the lips. Some of the mermaids giggled to the kiss.

"Maybe you should be named Fill Twice!" joked Ishilly. "So does that mean Pikachu can breathe underwater like Ash?" All Fillonce did was giggle. Ash released Lapras to which the mermaids praised the Transport Pokémon and awarded him with hugs and kisses. Lapras wailed in delight. The fishkids, now wearing duplicates of Ash's cap, came forward while Squirtle also got some love from the mermaids.

"We heard you're going to your world," the four-armed girl relayed.

"I am," Ash confirmed.

"Can we come with?" the merboy requested. "Can we?"

"I wanna go too!" the fishboy added.

"Me three!" the four-armed girl wanted. Ash wasted little time to answer.

"Of course!" he chortled. "I'm sure you'll want to see other Water Pokémon than Shellder and Lapras." The fishkids became ecstatic to the ride.

"There are some things that make me wish Ash's more than just 75 million Berries," Zoro scoffed. Jimbei came by, an eager to see the world as well.

"Vice Captain, I'll go along with you to this new world," he demanded. "I would like to make sure these three are safe." Luffy laughed, liking the idea.

"You don't need to ask, Jimbei!" he grinned. "You can board with us anytime!" Jimbei nodded, praising the permission. Shirahoshi felt as if she's being left out.

"Darling!" she called. Ash turned to his fiancee. "Since meeting your Pokémon, I want to see more of what it has to offer." Ash became excited for his fiancee's request.

"You're more than welcome to join," he granted. Shirahoshi squealed to the journey soon to depart. Her brothers didn't want to be silent.

"If Shirahoshi's going, we're going as well," Fukaboshi ordered.

"She may be your future wife," Ryuboshi added. "But we're responsible for her safety. I hope you understand as I bet you do so, la, ti, do!" Ash grinned to the invite requests.

"Well, you guys are now part of the family," he allowed. "Why would I deny you guys?" The brothers nodded, grateful for the addition.

"We thank you, Beastman," Fukaboshi praised before shaking his head. "I mean… brother." Franky and an Ammo Knight emerged from the Sunny.

"Good news, everyone!" the cyborg started. "The Sunny's ready to go and the knights will give us the bubble to let us travel up to Ash's home!" The Straw Hats felt ready to head back to the surface. The citizens of Fishman Island gathered while the mermaids waived farewell to their favorite pirates. Ash flashed the signature glint, causing a stir of excitement. With the fishkids and the crew on board, the Sunny began its departure with Ash and Pikachu waiving a fond farewell to their new friends. They entered the gateway where they waited for the bubble to coat the Sunny. In the meantime, Ash helped Sanji prepare boxed lunches in the kitchen. Tenderloin fillets from the Sea King, seasoned rice and steamed vegetables cooked and simmered while bread rolls baked in the oven.

"Misty will enjoy all of this with Togepi," Ash huffed. "Tracey as well."

"You talking about Misty, I'm kinda tempted to see her. Just stir the rice."

"Okay." Ash mixed the rice to keep from burning. "Okay… I'm gonna change. After all, I wanna look like a Pokémon Trainer when I see my friends again, not a pirate." Sanji nodded before letting Ash get dressed.

"I'll finish up in here." On the Sunny's way up, Franky and Usopp entered their workshops and Chopper into his office. Blastoise lead the Sunny and the merfolk upward as Shellder watched safely from the prow.

"I can finally see the sun for the first time!" a gleeful Shirahoshi cheered. "I bet it's as beautiful as everyone says it is!" Pikachu reached the prow by Shellder and squeaked to know her meaning. Robin also joined and helped explain her meaning.

"There's no way the sun can reach 10,000 meters below sea level," she taught. Pikachu still wasn't sure of her meaning. "Well, you could say that they built a replica to show when it's morning or night. You could say it's merman-made." Pikachu now had an understanding to the light among Fishman Island.

"It won't just be your first time," Fukaboshi corrected. "We'll be experiencing the sun for ourselves." Blastoise gasped to the detail. That's when the door to the men's room opened, Ash emerging in his Pokémon Trainer garb.

"Pappagu is a genius," he snickered. Despite all his muscular build, his outfit fit like a glove aside from his gloves. Turning, the girls awed Ash's old look, recalling the wear when he saved the Straw Hats from the Marines.

"Whoa!" gawked Nami. "I totally forgot what he wore when we first met."

"Indeed, but whatever he's wearing," Robin giggled. "Ash will always be Ash!" Pikachu leaped onto Ash's shoulder, still wearing the shirt from the shopping in Fishman Island.

"So this is what you normally look like?" awed Shirahoshi.

"Yup!" chuckled Ash. The fishkids admired the new look, stars covering their eyes. Ash showed a little embarrassment. "Pappagu may have done a little too good of a job."

"Can you blame us?" the merboy cheered. "It looks so cool!"

"I can't wait for every fishkid to hear about this," the four-armed girl adored. All Ash could do was smile. Shirahoshi smiled as well.

"It shouldn't matter what he wears, Darling will be my darling," she shrugged. That's when she had a question for her fiance. "Darling, you know what the sun's like. Can you tell me?" Ash gulped, rather caught off-guard with the question.

'Okay, no one bothers to ask about that,' he thought. He shrugged off the stun and came up with an answer. "You'll feel it when we surface. The sun's a lot like you actually: warm, radiant, bright and it makes the sky look gorgeous." The briefing made Shirahoshi more anxious to feel the sun's rays for the first time. Luffy laughed to how Ash described the sun. That's when he spotted a massive hole among the cliffside. Blastoise croaked to confirm their location.

"We're here?!" he gasped. The other Straw Hats saw the gaping tunnel, awing the size.

"You could drive at least four Sunnys through there at the same time!" estimated a shocked Usopp. Zoro scoffed, the hole not impressing him.

"That's nothing," he huffed. "I could cut a bigger hole than this." The reindeer looked through the hole. Up ahead, creatures swimming.

"Is that…" jumped Chopper. Ash looked up, seeing Seakings and white goldfish with flowing tails and horns on heads.

"Pokémon!" he announced. "Goldeen! And Seaking!" The first signs of Pokémon brought joy to those who wanted to see. They started to sail and swim through the tunnel, plenty of room between the princes, Shirahoshi and the Sunny. Reaching the other side, they saw all sorts of Pokémon from seals with horns on their heads to brown starfish with rubies in the center. Pokémon marine life came to Shirahoshi to greet, including purplish-blue tadpole with swirls on their abdomen. Luffy, Chopper and the fishboy saw a school of orange fish with yellow crown-shaped fins.

"Those fish look tasty!" drooled Luffy.

"I almost want to eat one right now!" gawked Chopper.

"Ash, what are those?" the fishboy spoke up. Ash turned to see the school of the orange fish.

"Those are Magikarp. They're not much to look at." He brought out his hand-held again to show the fish in question.

"Magikarp, the Fish Pokémon," it computed. "Magikarp are able to swim in the dirtiest waters." Ash had more about the fish.

"They only know two attacks: Splash, which is not really an attack; and Tackle, which plenty of Pokémon start off with." The fishkids groaned in disappointment to knowing the truth about Magikarp."

"I thought they'd be interesting to see," the four-armed girl moaned. Ash had more about Magikarp.

"They may look disappointing but they do evolve into something ferocious." Not only did the fishkids grew interested, Jimbei approached and wanting to know.

"How so?" he asked.

"They become Gyarados. They have a lot of bottled anger waiting to be released. It's no wonder they're called the Atrocious Pokémon." Jimbei and the fishkids awed to the hidden power.

"Gyarados, huh? I'd like to see one." Seeing all the Water Pokémon around the princess, Ash looked through the sea before finding a blue sea serpent with fins around the head and all over its back.

"Right there!" Ash pointed to the sea serpent to Jimbei's grin.

"That's a definite warrior! Wouldn't mind having that on Fishman Island!" Ash huffed a chuckle, knowing the nature of Gyarados.

"Good luck. Gyarados are hard enough to capture, let alone train." Jimbei didn't seem worried.

"I wouldn't mind a challenge now and then." Franky came by with bottles of Cola on hands.

"Speaking of bottled, how about a toast?" he suggested. The Straw Hats and the fishkids had a bottle. Zoro wasn't sure about having Cola.

"I'm not allowed to have booze?" he complained.

"We've got kids, so not now!" Usopp snapped.

"Fine…" With a bottle in each hand, Usopp made the toast.

"Ash, for the past few weeks, you've been one of the best pirates to sail in the New World," he started. "Now, you're about to step off and be back to your career choice of Pokémon Trainer."

"Still, you've given us a lot to remember you by," Franky acknowledged.

"Likewise!" agreed Ash. "I had a lot of fun with all of you, especially Nami, Robin… and of course, Luffy. In fact… I'd go so far as to say you're all family to me. Brothers, a sister… and an adopted mom." The boys smiled as they rose their bottles. The two women teared up to his toast as did Franky.

"Ash, we're glad to have you as our pirate!" he bawled.

"Jeez, Franky" moaned Brook. "Don't soak yourself to the bone."

"I'm not crying, you bonehead! The onions! They're overwhelming!" Nervous laughs lisped from everyone else. A while after the toasting, Ash hung around the prow of the ship, his and the Pokémon's time on the Sunny nearing the end. Shellder slept on the rail as someone removed Ash's cap. Just as quickly, something else took its place: Luffy's straw hat. Ash turned to see his comrade with smiles traded. Luffy donned Ash's cap, a switch.

"I know you'll be missed, Vice Captain," he said.

"Same with everyone, and the Sunny." Luffy joined Ash's side as he petted Pikachu. "It's… been a fun ride. Being a pirate, learning how to cook, training in swords… having a second mom…" Luffy chuckled to the point about Robin.

"A second mom…"

"…And a sister." Pikachu squeaked in favor of Nami. "If not for someone opening that trap door, I wouldn't have met my best human friend, second friend to Pikachu." Luffy became intrigued.

"Your best human friend? Could you tell me?" Ash snickered while turning to the Captain.

"He's standing right here with me." Luffy's eyes expanded to the realization. He soon laughed to the discovery.

"Good one…" From behind, Zoro snickered to Ash and Luffy's little discussion.

"At least those two don't need that dumb wig to have a good time," he grinned. Nami overheard Zoro and panicked, shutting his mouth with her hand.

"YOU IDIOT!" she shouted. "DON'T GIVE THEM ANY IDEAS!" Luffy heard the idea and grinned.

"I nearly forgot about that!" he praised before the two ran off to the men's room. Sanji saw the ruckus, nervous to their scheme.

"Oh boy…" he muttered. Nami bashed Zoro on the crown for his leaked idea.

"WHY DID YOU BRING UP THAT DAMN WIG, YOU DUMBASS?!" she shrieked. Before anyone could think, Ash and Luffy emerged from the room, the latter donning the headgear. Shirahoshi and some of the Pokémon turned to see the pair with the wig.

"A destination belongs to the people, but the soul makes the destination an adventure," Luffy sneered before applying the Afro to Ash.

"Those feeling the vibes can sense the soul of the adventurer and the passion of the reward waiting at the end," Ash sneered. "The soul is strong when the enjoyment is jived with wild sensation!" Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Franky and Brook became elated to the two wig warriors.

"We feel it!" they cheered. "So FUNKY!" Zoro and Nami cringed to seeing the wig once more.

"You just happened to open your trap about that stupid wig," she growled.

"Okay, I'm sorry," he murmured. "I'll try to keep it out of their ear range."

"Good luck. Those two have ears like elephants." Jimbei wasn't sure how to react to the "funky" words. Shirahoshi and the fishkids laughed to the two heads of the Sunny, but Robin collapsed to her knees in hilarity at Ash wearing the headgear. She shed one more tear.

'You've always brought humor to us pirates,' she minded. 'But no one has enjoyed it more than me. In fact, your sense of humor has given me a new reason to live. I made the right choice at Enies Lobby to live when Luffy gave me a chance two years ago. Ash, I was glad to be your mother while riding on the Sunny. I can't believe you'll be leaving my nest very soon. There are so many things I'll remember. I wish I had a way to enjoy the fun when you depart from the Sunny, from the Straw Hats… and from me… my dear son.' The Sunny began to climb with the Pokémon swimming among the royal merfolk. Shirahoshi will soon feel the sun's rays for the first time. To Ash, he'll be back with Misty, Tracey and Togepi.

TO BE CONTINUED…