Chapter 31: Imposter


Fishman Island

Ryugu Palace

The royalty sat inside the palace adorned with a Wano-style dragon and began to think about what to do next, especially about handling the message from Vegapunk.

The world might sink, and the only ones who might benefit from it would be the Fishmen and the Merfolk. While it would be a delight for more bigoted individuals like Arlong and Jones, it would be truly reprehensible to abandon the people that Otohime tried to have them befriend. The council looked at each other, a mix of anger and fear on their faces. They knew that the message was serious, but they had no idea of the gravity of the situation.

"To think the Reverie allowed such barbarity to be commenced on the princess- not once but twice, we shouldn't ally with them at all.," spoke the Minister of the Left, a short, rather rotund merman with light blond waist-length hair. He has a long beard and, like a catfish, two large whiskers for a mustache. He wears a monocle on his left eye and an oversized top hat. He uses a wooden cane that has a horned design on the top to get around.

Hidari- Minister of the Left

"We can't bring her again. We'll have to protect her from any attempts on her freedom from those so-called gods. 30 seconds have passed.," A seahorse merman, has ridges along his back and the sides of his face, as well as a curly orange tail like a seahorse rather than a standard merman's fishtail. His mouth also protrudes forward like a seahorse's. He wears a jacket with two circles and a band on each sleeve. His jacket's sleeves are very large on the end. He carries a katana on his left hip and a trishula-like trident.

Migi- Minister of the Right.

"I can't believe they ignore the autonomy of a person- Akkamanbo. Let's not let the situation worsen- Akkamanbo.," spoke a rotund, stocky, and large mermaid. Like his brothers, he has a polka dot tail, with a black variation along with white polka dots and red scales. He also has brown hair and red fins on his head. He wears a blue hat with a dirty white stripe going across the middle of it. The stripe is serrated on the bottom side and there is a dot pattern inside the stripe. He also wears a yellow sash, like his two older brothers. He was dancing nervously to calm himself down.

Manboshi- Royal Prince of Ryugu Kingdom.

"How can we immigrate- so-la-ti-do? We can't just repopulate- so-la-ti-do. We have to find a way- so-la-ti-do. Outside of Noah to save the day so-la-ti-do.," spoke an extremely tall and thin merman- being the second tallest of his brothers. He has wide eyes, long wavy dark pink hair, and beaverlike teeth. The only one of the princes to be clothed in the upper body, he wears a fancy robelike garment with sleeves that are puffed at the shoulders and wrists. He carries two swords behind him, held in place by an orange sash. He also has a long purple tail with white polka dots and a redfin.

Ryuboshi- Royal Prince of Ryugu Kingdom.

"Den must've had a reason that he allowed the Noah to be sent away.," spoke an enormous, muscular shark merman, with a wide chest and large arms. He has a long face, framed by wavy fair blue hair flowing down to his shoulders, a sharp and pointy nose, and a dot of some sort printed on the middle of his forehead. He has gills on his massive neck (although they may just be stripes) and a dark blue tail with light blue polka dots. He wears a dark garment around his waist, held up by an extremely long sash. He also dons a light blue long band, which passes over his shoulders, drawing a circle around the back of his neck, and falls to his waist, seemingly floating behind him; something all of the three brothers sport, as well as their mother and sister in a fashion, quite possibly implying it is a sign of the Royal Family, or they simply share taste in clothing. He carries around a gold trident with him.

Fukaboshi- Royal Prince of Ryugu Kingdom.

"I wasn't always the prince. The princess at the time, Otohime rejected all of her suitors except for me. The previous king, Glaucus, saw something in a violent thug like me and named me his heir over other novel candidates because apparently I had the soul of a true king. The man known as Whitebeard helped to fight for my claim for the throne- as an obligation to a very violent crewmate of his in the past. I learned that pirates that aren't the cutthroats always have their reasons for their eccentric actions.," spoke a giant-sized and muscular coelacanth merman. He has a red nose, small eyes, long thick orange curly hair despite his advanced age, and a beard of the same style/color. Both his chest and arms are covered with hair. He is bare-chested and has matching black tattoos on both arms, which look like a spiral with wavy protrusion designs around it. He wears a gold crown that resembles a tulip with jewels embedded, a golden bracelet on each wrist, and carries a gold trident with an elaborate design.

King Neptune- Current King of Ryugu Kingdom.

Shirahoshi was still lost in thought over the uncannily similar image of a mermaid who resembled her.

Shirahoshi is a giant-sized mermaid, approximately the size of her pet Megalo but shorter than her father, and is described as "cute but huge" in her introduction; this makes her roughly eight to ten times the size of Luffy, an average human, excluding the length of her tail; she can hold and hide Luffy in one hand alone. According to Caribou's estimation, he put her about seven to eight times the size of a human-sized mermaid Even as a baby, she was much larger than her mother and brothers, but still small enough to be held in her equally large father's hands. She has very long, flowing pink hair with an anko-filled taiyaki]hairgrip. Her breasts are large, even relative to her giant-like size, and much of her upper body is exposed. Her broadly striped tail ends in a ruffle around her waist. She tends to have blush marks on her cheeks due to her shyness. Shirahoshi has been noted for her beauty, which has been said to rival that of Boa Hancock, and Garp stated that her appearance alone was beyond everyone's expectations. She wears a cleavage-baring yellow halter top covered in pearls with a strap that widens and sticks out on the back of her neck. She also wears clam earrings and belly chains with a cloth hanging down in front. She has a very long light red and pink striped tail.

Shirahoshi- Princess of Ryugu Kingdom.

"Shirahoshi? What's wrong- Akkamanbo? Don't we worry about your safety because our allies are strong- Akkamanbo. Those two are likely going to Straw Hat- Akkamanbo. And for their enemies take that- Akkamanbo.," spoke Manboshi.

Shirahoshi gave a soft smile before an Ammo Knight rushed in as he yelled-

"It's Straw Hat. He's here by himself."

Fukaboshi immediately became suspicious of this statement for three reasons- one is that even with his power- it would be very unlikely he'd come to Fishman Island by himself, that he wasn't smart enough to navigate all the way down let alone with the right equipment, and lastly, he'd never abandon his crew to their fates unless it was something very important and he'd trust them to handle things.

Sensing something amiss, he said- "This might be a trap. A lot of people seek out the princess..."

He then turned to Neptune and said-

"Go to the Forest in case things go south."

"Shishishi. Suspecting me? After everythin' I did?," asked Luffy as he suddenly appeared on a window ceil to their shock.

Shirahoshi felt something akin to his "Voice" and it immediately felt off as if this was just someone dressed up as him. She looked up with her blue eyes wide open and she felt a shiver down her spine as she saw a pirate dressed like Luffy but something was very wrong.

"Yeah-yeah. It was very sad he died- he might've been a jerk but he made up for it via his life for your sake. But you are under the Red Line, and the Sunlight Tree Eve- the boss Yarukiman Mangrove at the Sabaody Archipelago is empowered by those fishbowl guys. You're likely under their watchful eye. So come with me.," spoke Luffy as he offered his hand to the princess.

This immediately alarmed the son trio as Luffy wouldn't have the knowledge of such events or specific details. More importantly, he'd be much more angry that Shirahoshi was kidnapped twice rather than downplaying it.

"That's not your decision for you to force her to make- Akkamanbo. After, all you're a total fake- Akkamanbo.," spoke Manboshi.

"W-what're you talkin' about? It's me Straw Hat Luffy-," spoke the young man before Ryuboshi stabbed him.

"Ow-owowowowowowowow. That hurt!," he cried.

"We'll hold off this masked imposter today. so-la-ti-do. Shirahoshi, sister- you need to get away- so-la-ti-do.," spoke the thinner brother.

"Luffy" gritted his teeth as he revealed the true form under his guise-

An extremely tall, pale-skinned, and slightly well-endowed woman of very tall height with her hair in a set of girlish pigtails that was very long. Her face has wrinkles, a sloping forehead, a long witch-like nose, a devilish grin, and a square jaw. She sported a new outfit that made her resemble a classical pirate. She wears a bicorn hat decorated with a single rose and feathers on one side and a plume on the other, as well as the Blackbeard Pirates' Jolly Roger printed on the front, a corset that is longer on the back and extends all the way down to her knee area, a striped dress shirt, a cravat, and heels that are slightly different from her previous ones. Her pants now have a pair of belts closing its hems. She also carries a sword on her right hip.

"Crescent Moon Hunter"- Caterina Devon- 6th Titantic Captain of Blackbeard Pirates/Former Impel Down Prisoner.

"You ruined the fun. Murunfuffuffu. Now your deaths will be excruciatingly agonizing and slow. I usually do it to women that are too pretty for their own good.," Caterina Devon, the Crescent Moon Hunter, snarled, her true identity bared. She raised her sword with a dramatic flourish, the blade gleaming with a malicious aura.

"The Blackbeard Pirates?... Could it be you're after...," asked Neptune, realizing that someone found about Shirahoshi's true nature.

"Of course. But we intend to frame Straw Hat for this so the world turns on him and looks up to us. I won't tell you what entails, since you're dead men.," spoke the woman.

Suddenly, Manboshi was stabbed from behind by an invisible figure that made himself known-

A tan man of notable height, at 3.4 meters comparable to his now-admiral Teach. He has a long face with a wide-bridged nose, a full-lipped mouth seen perpetually smoking a big cigar, and a wide, jutting, flat-ended chin. He wore a white overcoat draped over a modified version of his Jailer outfit with the Blackbeard insignia.

Shiryu of the Rain- 2nd Titanic Captain of the Blackbeard Pirates/Former Vice Warden of Impel Down

"Sorry for cutting down your majesty.," spoke the man sarcastically as he cleaned his blade.

It wasn't like he turned invisible...it was like he didn't exist yet affected the world., thought Hidari as he and Migi rushed to his aid as the doctors did their best to heal him.

"Don't expect the World Government to do anything special. They're going to have their hands tied up at the moment.," spoke Devon.

Unbeknowst to all parties, odd sounds such as a clock winding down was heard in the distance.


Mary Geoise

An immense giant appeared suddenly in the Domain of the Gods. The shape of his head and the disposition of his brown beard resemble a chestnut, making his spiky, round, and beige hair resembles a chestnut shell. His facial features include round eyes with dark lines around them, along with eyelash-like marks, similar to those found on Franky's face, that point downward. His body is broad and kind of on the chubby side with long arms, lean yet muscular and hairy, while his legs are thin and stubby compared to the rest of his body. He wears clothing of a similar style to the Giants of Elbaph, lacking an upper body garment but wearing dark pants with a large, studded belt with a skull buckle, as well as a dark cape fastened over his right pectoral with a light medallion.

"Colossal Battleship" Sanjuan Wolf- 7th Titanic Captain of the Blackbeard Pirates.

Armored knights arrived as they pointed spears.

"Wait, we have a proposition for you...says Teach.," spoke the Giant.

"How presumptuous. Get it out of here.," spoke one World Noble.

St. Jalmack walked forward.

"The Revolutionaries...those annoying guys...are starving us...and you say an offer to help us out?," asked the World Noble much to the shock of the others.


Empty Throne Room

Umi sat on the throne but noticed that Imu was standing near them- currently obscured by darkness.

The other Elders- both shown and currently in shadow, knelt before them.

They then proceeded to notice the doors open behind him.

It was a man with light green hair styled in a bob-cut and a traditional World Noble updo at the top. He has thick eyebrows and a long thin mustache. He has no upper teeth apart from two large buck teeth. As with all other World Nobles, he wears a thick white suit adorned with medal-like knobs on the front.

St. Pluming- World Noble

"Please sir! This isn't- I'm sorry! I will blind and sever my tongue to never speak of this!," spoke then begged the armored guard.

"Which descendant is this from?," asked Arcas upon seeing Pluming.

"Who are these guys? So uncouth," asked Pluming before complaining about the supposedly "unrefined" newly reawakened members

"What is the meaning of this? We're dealing with so much right now-," spoke Germain.

"That's not to worry. Those Blackbeard Pirates finally understand how foolish it was to defy us. They're going to give us food in exchange for making Beehive Island into a sovereign. With the Reverie to announce it.," he spoke as if self-assured it was a smart idea.

Imu's reaction was sudden but judging by the other's non-reactions, predictable. He generated Haki onto the guard as he fell down and his helmet revealed a skull.

"Pirates are meant to be killed or used- never battered with.," spoke Imu.

Pluming looked with mild disinterest and spoke with utter ignorance of what Imu had done, "How did you swap him with a skeleton? Where's that other guard? He needs to be punished for abandoning his post."

Imu gave an exasperated sigh as he complained, "These Nobility are naught but a shade of their overwhelming and immanent nature."

"If we had actual strong ones more than a few- those with Haki would rise to face them. This system was set up to confuse those with powerful Haki baffled that that those without raw might are in charge while they command the strong.," spoke Garling.

"An excuse of the common mortal. The fact you are shamed by the values of the masses proves how small-minded you are. We should be less concerned about this...zoo and towards becoming true gods.," spoke Imu.

Pluming was confused about the whole matter, which led Platinum to use Conqueror Haki to knock him out.

Umi the shadow on the throne spoke to Imu, "The goal will be the elimination of the sun, anyone who opposes me, and the return of the original world where no life exists. The lives of the people- no the insects infecting the world are irrelevant in the end- born to slaves or corpses to be forgotten. You and the others went out of your way to defy me, but your lives are mine to control. You're just pawns to me."

Imu then grabbed Umi's right arm as Byakuo, Germain, Wright, Miser, Ramses, Howard, Alister, Victor, Garling, and Ruth rose in response to Umi's surprise. Abraham, Darwin, Platinum, Malcolm, Midas, Acala, Arcas, and Irene got to their feet as if in opposition to Umi.

"You swindled the throne from me and rewrote history to pose as myself, you ungrateful half-sibling...and you've allowed the lesser nobility to make deals on equal terms with...," Imu realized before looking down.

"Wolf is outside which means that-," he spoke as Platinum immediately understood the implications as he teleported away to the confusion of the others.

"Teach is definitely shrewd...you've looked on him and didn't kill him when he was a child when you had the chance.," Imu argued.

"So Teach sent that subordinate not to just establish himself as a Warlord candidate but to get a layout of the palace Hmph. It doesn't matter if Fish Tiger, the Revolutionaries, the Pirates, or any of the other groups slaughter our World Nobles- they're just pawns to sacrifice for me. I'm the only one who matters.," said Umi.

Byakuo then felt a sensation as he fell to his knees.

"Those Pirates...They've managed to reawaken it...PLUTON...," he said as the others looked in shock- the Blackbeard and Straw Hats groups had somehow managed to get access to one of the three Ancient Weapons.

The tension in the room thickened as the implications of this revelation settled in. Pluton, the ancient weapon of destruction, capable of reducing islands to rubble, had been a dormant fear for centuries- they trying to annex Wano for the sole purpose of getting it- the other reason being the Sea-Stone material and the Samurai as assets being secondary. The very thought of it being in the hands of pirates was enough to make any world leader's heart race with dread. However, these 20 members' reasons were much more insidious.

"If they know how to activate it- they're understand how we came to power. And this might lead to a rebellion if they decide to pass it onto the public.," spoke Miser. "The people won't stand for our rule if they know what our goals are."

"Your goals, not mine.," spoke Imu. "Teach is a crafty one. Don't assume that he's after the National Treasure- it might be a bluff- like maybe gaining that battle force-"

Umi slapped his face as she yelled, "Use the other Uranus to blast Wano! Blast Ryugu Kingdom! Blast Kamabaka Kingdom! Blast Elbaf! Blast Lodestar Island! And blast Marine HQ! We'll drown everyone but us! We can clone the populace like I did before at the end of the Void Century and 400 years later!"

The Elders looked incredulous at Umi's intentions, but fear of his power kept them from questioning his command. Imu took a step back, his grip on Umi's arm tightening. Malcolm noticed he was holding a specific item in the grasp of the other arm, but using his assumed anger to obscure this fact. Turning it on and off only when Imu was making extremely outrageous statements.

"If you do this- the sea levels will rise and there will no islands to live on. No resources. People will become extinct. And all we'll have is an artificial garden and a slowly dying populace.," Imu argued with the item now turned on.

Umi's response was callous, "I didn't become the top to rule over others. It was to be free of anyone who could stop me from doing what I wanted. Getting PLUTON, Poseidon, and Uranus will be my way of purging the populace clean and then resetting with a more brainless population that will never disobey me again."

She then stabbed Imu with her shadowy barbed tail and he fell down the stairs. Darwin was confused as to what he knew of Imu's true character that he was weakly struggling on the ground with a helpless, benign expression.

"Rururururu. This is what you get for defying Umi- the real Imu!," Ruth boasted.

"What's with the weak old man act?," asked Malcolm in confusion.

"T-This is what I was talking about...," spoke Imu.

"What are you babbling on about? You can be locked up and sealed again.," Umi spoke.

"You can easily recover with your powers...what are you?," asked Darwin

"T-this tyrant has been controlling the world- making us against our moral duty to do the right thing through brainwashing...fear...and making us ashamed to do justice...I'm unable to do anything...I leave to you...," he spoke as Abraham came to the revelation of what exactly was going on.

Umi noticed the pentagram symbol as an unexpected figure emerged.

"K-Koby the Young Hero?" asked Germain.


Next Chapter: Demiurge

Author Notes: The chapter starts off with Fishman Island being attacked before it transitions to how the Blackbeard Pirates' appearance on Mary Geoise might be playing into a larger ploy by an even bigger manipulator. While the title can refer to Devon- in upcoming chapters, it will become clear who the real imposter is.

Since the Ministers of Right and Left don't have names- I gave them what Oda would typically do with name puns relating to who/what they are. Hidari for Left and Migi for Right