Chapter 3: New Friends and Bad News
I do not own One Piece! That will always belong to Eiichiro Oda! I only own my OCs
"Ooooooii! Momoo!" Riptide called, cupping his hands around his mouth.
Momoo surfaced from the pool entrance, looking far different from what he had two months earlier. Riptide had taken to training with him, and now, instead of the fat sea cow he had been before, Momoo had a lean, muscular form.
The Grand Line monster nuzzled the hybrid with ever-loving affection before looking around with a questioning "Ragrh?"
Riptide shook his head. "Sorry, buddy," he said, giving the old sea cow a pat on the neck. "Destiny and Long had to help Aunt Nojiko. So, it's just us today. You ready?"
At Momoo's enthusiastic nod, Riptide dove into the pool and took off. The giant beast quickly followed. Together, the pair swam to the old naval shipwrecks left over from when Arlong had still ruled. It was here that the pair worked on honing their abilities. Riptide was about to motion for Momoo to take off when something shot past him, shoving him into his companion's side. It took Riptide a few seconds to collect himself, and he shook his head, surprised.
"Wha-" Riptide muttered, looking around.
It was hard to see through the bluish, shady light darting in from among the pieces of wreckage. Then, Riptide spotted a greyish form darting behind a piece of debris and grinned. So, this is how their friend wanted to play, eh? He motioned for Momoo to head for the wreck while swam silently to where he saw their opponent go. The motion of a hand and Momoo let loose a mighty roar that sent schools of terrified fish bursting forth from their homes and caused the other to swim straight into a waiting Riptide. He caught his opponent by surprise and slammed straight into him, sending the newcomer into an old fishing net, where he quickly became entangled.
Riptide was surprised to see another from the Fishmen race. The newcomer was The Fish-boy with grey skin with silvery stripes along his sides, and a white underbelly with a large, pointed head with an underbite of shark teeth, and like Riptide, had a dorsal fin on his neck, but he had fins on his lower arms. His long hair was white with greenish-blue highlights. Riptide guessed he might be around the same age as he was. The lizard-like eyes were wide as he struggled to free himself.
"Slashback! Help me!"
Riptide whirled as Momoo smacked another fish-boy with his flipper, slamming him down onto the seabed below. "Attaboy, Momoo," Riptide grinned at his friend.
The sea cow snorted as if he were saying, "Did he think he got past me?"
The other fish boy, a five-gill saw tooth shark, moaned, rubbing the back of his head. "Damn it, Gaff," he said. "Why didn't you warn me about that?"
"Like you ever listen, Slash!" the one called Gaff said. "Take care of this guy and get me loose!"
"Hey!" Slashback yelped as Riptide quickly pinned him to the sea floor.
"How about we all calm down?" Riptide said, giving the other saw shark a glare.
"RIPTIDE!"
He looked up to see Destiny and Long swimming toward them. Distracted, Slashback managed to get free, but instead of attacking, he swam right up to Destiny with a goofy grin, daring to take her hand, "You have to be the most beautiful creature ever to swim the seas. Your skin is more silver than the moon as it rides high over the ocean, and-"
He was cut short by Destiny, who yanked her hand free and gave him a solid punch across the face. "Don't you dare touch me!"
"Who they?" Long asked, joining his brother.
"A good question," Riptide said, looking at the Gaff. "Care to explain yourselves?"
Suddenly, Momoo was smashed into one of the wrecked navy ships, roaring with surprise and pain. A shadow fell upon them, and the triplets looked up. Looming over them was Fishman, who was at least 15 feet tall with charcoal-grey skin and a white underbelly, much like Gaff, with a white scar covering his left shoulder and part of his arm. Other scars decorated his exposed skin, and an eye patch covered his right eye. His grey hair was short and flecks of black. He wore only tattered, camouflaged cargo pants and chain bracelets on both wrists.
Momoo emerged from the wreckage, rumbling angrily, eyes narrowing at the one who dared to attack him. The Fishman gave a fearsome grin, looking eager for a throwdown with the sea cow.
"Momoo, stop!" Riptide shouted, not wanting his friend to get hurt.
"Momoo win," Long said as he looked at his brother.
"What reason do we have to start an unnecessary fight?" Riptide said before he pointed at Gaff. "Besides, he still hasn't answered my question. So, I repeat, do you care to explain yourselves?"
"My son, answer his question," the giant Fishman said.
"He attacked me!" Gaff protested.
"Attacked?" Riptide said. "That's a lie, for I did no such thing. It was you who shoved me into Momoo and then hid in that wreckage."
"Is this true?" demanded the older Fishman.
Gaff, still trapped in the netting, swallowed as he looked uncomfortable. "It might be—"
"Gaff, what did I say about lying to me?" the other said.
"Not to do it," Gaff said. "Can someone get me out of this? I'm not liking it!"
"Suits you if you ask me," Slashback said as he rubbed his throbbing jaw.
"No one asked you, you hopeless Romeo," Gaff snapped.
"Stay still," rumbled the older as he quickly tore the netting open. "Now you boys apologize."
"What? We didn't do nothing wrong, Poseidon?!" the pair protested.
"You shoved me!" Riptide said.
"And dared to touch me!" Destiny added.
Poseidon eyed Gaff and Slashback, who looking more and more uncomfortable. Momoo nudged Riptide impatiently, mooing, which he only did when hungry.
Riptide sighed, petting his snout. "Let's go," he said, looking at his siblings.
"I have Momoo's food," Long said. "At Park."
As the triplets and Momoo swam off, Poseidon gave Slashback and Gaff a severe lecture about their actions.
~~.~~.~~
"What a rude lot," Destiny said, looking very disgusted. "Then that other saw shark—he dared to touch me! How dare he?!"
Long giggled, "He likes you!"
"Well, I certainly didn't like him!" Destiny said. "Who did he think he was?!"
"Not nice you hit him," Long said.
"He deserved it!" Destiny said. She looked over to where Riptide was sitting on some of the rubble, staring out at sea. "Of course, he has nothing to say!"
Riptide was quiet, thinking about Gaff. He had to be a hybrid like they were, but where did he come from? And what about this Slashback, as well as their guardian, Poseidon? He was a shark, much like a great white, but far more significant in height. Was he a hybrid as well? Where did they all come from? Were they from the East Blue or the other Blues? Perhaps from the Grand Line? So many questions with no answers.
"You thinking? What of?"
Riptide's head jerked up as Long sat next to him. "What?"
Long tapped him very lightly on the head, "You thinking."
"Oh, yes—yes, I was, baby brother," Riptide said.
"About?" Long asked, looking at him.
"Those three we just met," Riptide said. "Who are they? Where did they come from? Why are they here? Are they a threat to Cocoyashi Village?"
"Ask them."
"What?" Riptide looked at his brother.
Long pointed out to the sea. "Ask them."
Riptide looked to see the three from before heading towards them. "I guess they wish to talk," he said.
Momoo, having eaten and resting near the pool entrance, stirred, catching the scent of those from earlier. The sea cow raised himself, giving a warning rumble as they grew closer, but stopped when Riptide with Long raised a hand.
"What do you bakas want?" Destiny said.
"Des!" Riptide said.
"What?" his sister said.
"Very rude," Long said.
Destiny rolled her eyes. "Whatever!"
"What is with the attitude?" Riptide asked.
"We had to come and get you because tonight is the festival in Cocoyashi Village, and we're supposed to be helping Aunt Nojiko. Have you forgotten?!"
Riptide looked away. "Maybe I decided I didn't want to go this year," he said. "I've grown tired of portraying father so those arrogant people can humor the younger children. Some think I'm a monster because of that stupid festival play."
"What festival, and is there a lot of food?" Slashback said.
Gaff facepalmed before he smacked the young saw shark. "Seriously? How can you think of your stomach?"
"I believe we need to hear more about this festival and why it bothers you three," Poseidon said.
Riptide sighed before he told the three everything that had happened before their birth and everything that now followed.
"That's unfair; just because you resemble your father doesn't mean you should be the villain," Gaff said. "And no one says anything? Your Aunt says nothing?"
"She thinks Rip okay," Long said. "Rip, no, okay. Makes him bigger target for bullies."
Gaff growled. "I know how that is," he said. "Because you are different, others think it's okay to harass you, shove you around, or take food away from you."
"Happen to you?"
Gaff looked at Long, "What?"
"He wants to know if you suffered like me," Riptide said.
"Why didn't he say like normal?" Gaff grumbled.
"Because our brother nearly died at birth, you asshole!" Destiny snapped. "Long, let's go. I'm sure Aunt Nojiko will need our help."
"I'm coming as well," Riptide said. "Perhaps this is not the time to talk."
As the triplets left, Slashback and Poseidon looked at Gaff.
"You are the biggest jerk in all of the Blues," Slashback said.
"How am I a jerk?" Gaff said with a huff.
"You should have known that there was something wrong with the other brother," Poseidon said. "I wouldn't be surprised that he has suffered the same bullying as his brother because of the way he speaks."
Gaff sighed, frustrated as he sat down, arms folded and quietly fumed. Indeed, things couldn't become any worse.
~~On the Far side of the Island~~
A cloaked figure who stood 6' 9" tall stepped from the battered rowboat he had been using; he was ankle-deep in the ebbing tide. He looked off toward the left and right before strolling onto the beach. Then, he knelt and scooped up a small handful of sand. He sniffed at it before he gave a throaty chuckle.
"So, they were here, were they?" he said. "A few days ahead of me, eh? No matter. I will catch them."
He went to his vessel where he retrieved his weapon: a two-handed barbarian broadsword that was over 50 inches in length with a blade width of 6 inches, but what made the sword terrifying was the fact that the blade was covered in pointy sharp spikes like those of a dragon. Even though the sword was two-handed, the stranger wielded it with one hand and strapped it to his back.
"Now it's time for the hunt," he chuckled.
~~Elsewhere~~
The triplets arrived at their aunt's tangerine farm.
"Where have you three been?" Nojiko asked the moment she saw her nephews and niece. "Destiny, I sent you and Long to find Riptide, and all three of you returned two hours later. So, just where were you three?"
"We simply lost track of time, that's all," Destiny said.
"Well, we'll be late attending the festival, that's all," Nojiko said.
"I'm not going!"
Nojiko looked at Riptide in surprise. "Not going? Why? You've always taken part in the—"
"Well, I'm not going to anymore," Riptide said, arms folded. "I'm done portraying my father! I'm tired of being the monster that scares the younger children just because of those arrogant fools who enjoy scaring them. I'm done with their bullying!"
"I no go either," Long said. "Tired of being teased because I don't speak right."
Nojiko was stunned. "Destiny? What of you?"
"Honestly, I have a headache, and I want some damn quiet," Destiny said, going to build on the bedroom that was for her and her brothers. "I'm taking a nap."
Nojiko sighed. "Well, I better go and let Genzo know," she said. "Long, could you start dinner, please?"
Long grinned happily, "I will."
After their aunt left, Long turned to his brother, "Spit wood, please. Spend dinner outside."
It sounded like a good idea. "Sure, little brother," Riptide chuckled as he ruffled his hair before going out to do the task.
When Nojiko returned, there was a decent pile of split and stacked wood. Riptide and Long had a nice little campfire going. "What's this?" Nojiko said, seeing the triplets spreading out blankets.
"Eat dinner under stars," Long said.
"As a family," Riptide said.
The festival was still easy to hear, and Riptide knew the yearly favorite would be ruined. As the time for the play drew closer, the sounds of happiness became faint. Nojiko looked at Riptide, who shook his head.
"The hell with them," he said.
Soon, Genzo and a few other directors for the play came calling, and they weren't happy. Riptide glared at them since they were glaring at him.
"How dare you ruin this year's festival!" One of the directors' yelled.
"Oh? Not it bothers you when it's bothered me countless times when I'm forced to portray my father," Riptide said. "I've protected this village when needed, saved lives from the storms when they're out at sea, and I faced down Oni, that killer bear! Instead of being looked upon as a hero, I'm portrayed as the enemy to terrorize the children with the sins of my father! Well, I'm through!"
"You'll be through when we say you are!" another said.
"Not wait a minute," Nojiko said, getting to her feet. "Don't you come here and threaten my nephew!"
"You stay out of this, Nojiko!" the first man yelled.
"Get off my farm!" Nojiko yelled.
"Genzo!" a heavy-set man with a receding hairline said. "Arrest Nojiko as well as these—monsters!"
"Monsters?! You want to go there, you overweight bully?!"
Hearing the new voice, Genzo and the festival directors looked around. "Who said that?!" the first man said.
"I did," snarled Gaff as he and Slashback stepped from the tree line. "You're bullying them, and there's one thing I hate, it's a bully!"
"Gaff! Slashback! What are you doing here?" Riptide said.
Before Gaff could answer, Long pointed in the direction of the town. "Look! Something wrong!"
Riptide shifted his attention to the sudden plume of smoke rising in the evening sky. "That's not part of the festival!" he said. "Something's happening!"
"Pirates?" Destiny asked her brother.
"I don't know, but whatever is happening, I'm going to stop it," Riptide said before he rushed into the house to the room he and his siblings shared, pulling out an object wrapped in cloth from underneath his bed. He unwrapped it to reveal his father's old kiribachi completely reforged with sawtooth blades made from sea stone, making it far more potent than before. He rushed back out with sword in hand. "Let's go!" he called to his siblings.
Slashback looked at Gaff as Riptide and his siblings rushed off. "What are we going to do?"
Unsure what was happening, something in Gaff told him that they had to help. "We follow them!"
~~in Cocoyashi Village~~
The mysterious figure was pacing like a caged animal as he stared at the villagers now cringing on the ground before him. He had accidentally stumbled upon the festival, and seeing everyone laughing and having fun just set him off. He swung his sword to and from destroying whatever had been before him. He may have been alone, but his actions sent people screaming and panicking.
"SIT DOWN, YOU MISERABLE EXCUSES OF LIFE!" he roared.
People dropped to their knees where they were, so terrified of the commanding roar. The stranger strolled back and forth, jabbing them with his weapon. "Sit there, and be silent! You! Stop sobbing, or I'll end you!"
Now he paced, glaring at those before him. "Answer me, and I'll leave you in peace," he demanded. "Where is Gaff?!"
"Gaff?" a voice said among the crowd. "What is a Gaff?"
"None of you have seen a strange-looking Fishman, a hybrid?"
"The only hybrids we know of are Nojiko's niece and nephews," the lady who owned the bookstore said.
"Three hybrids live here?" the stranger said. "Tell me where to find them?"
"Right here, you damn bastard!"
The stranger had barely looked up when Riptide slammed into him with such force that he sent the being flying. Seeing Riptide, the village's children were on their feet, rushing to him, crying their eyes out.
"Genzo, I need you to get the children and everyone in the village to safety," Riptide ordered. "Des, you and Long help Genzo!"
"What about you?" Destiny said.
"I'll handle our friend here," Riptide said, looking over his shoulder. "Now hurry and get everyone out here! That includes you, my scared little ones." Riptide indicated that the children should go to his sister.
"Never take your eyes off your opponent!" The stranger shouted as he charged forward—only to be speared by Gaff.
"How about never believing that someone might be alone?!" Gaff snapped.
"Gaff?! What are you—" Riptide said.
"I had a feeling you might need some help," Gaff said. "And seeing children bullied, well, that rubs me the wrong way."
"GAFF! SO, THIS IS WHERE YOU'VE BEEN HIDING?!"
Gaff looked as the stranger slowly got to his feet. Riptide stepped up to stand by him. "Who are you to know my name?"
The mysterious figure undid his hooded cloak, tossing it aside. Gaff and Riptide blinked when they saw him. The being in front of them appeared human, but he had shark-like features, including gills. He had dark eyes that were beady and menacing, an oval-shaped nose almost like that of a great white shark, and teeth that were those of a shark. His red hair was styled in a fin, and on his cheeks were three dark marks. He wore robust cotton canvas trousers that were two-toned, a contrast between black and cream with thick cotton adjustable straps at the waist as a black short collared neckline laced up in the front sleeveless shirt. "You can call me Skarn!"
"Skarn, eh? What's your reason to be after my friend here?" Riptide demanded, causing Gaff to look at him.
"That is none of your concern," Skarn said.
"It is," Riptide snapped. "You came here, interrupted a celebration, threatened innocent people, and that's something I can't let slide by."
Skarn sneered at Riptide. "And what are you planning on doing? Do you plan on taking me on? If you do, that will be not only a costly mistake but also a deadly one."
"Is that supposed to scare me?" Riptide said. "Because I'll tell you, I don't scare or intimidate easily."
"Let's see if you know how to handle that sword you have with you!" Skarn said.
"I know how to handle this kiribachi, and you will regret taking me on," Riptide snapped.
"Bold words for a dead fool!" Skarn roared as he charged, his weapon raised.
Riptide countered with a powerful upward swing, stopping Skarn's blade mid-swing before he sent his opponent skidding backward. Skarn crouched, his blade raised before him. Riptide took a fighting stance, holding his sword out to his side and eyes staring intensely at Skarn.
'What is with him? No one has ever been able to stop my attack, but this one has.' Skarn thought, studying Riptide. "His stare—it's sending chills through me. I need to finish him—and quickly.'
Skarn rushed Riptide again and went to the right, taking Riptide by surprise. The Son of Arlong turned as Skarn dared to grab a handful of burning coals from the nearest bonfire, throwing them into Riptide's face. Riptide screamed, falling onto his back, his hands going to his eyes.
"Time to end this!" Skarn yelled as he rushed forward, his sword raised high above his head.
Without warning, a hundred arms sprouted from the ground, forming a crisscross fashion and creating a giant net-like structure that stopped Skarn's attack. Skarn was rattled and became more so when a muscular golden-colored reindeer nearly as tall as a six-foot-tall person with a blue nose came charging with impressive large antlers. What was more insane was that the beast was wearing a blue cap with a ring of dots around a circle, and there were even buckles hanging from the cap, an orange pair of shorts, and a white and yellow vertical-striped tank top carrying a blue backpack! He barely managed to dodge the charging beast.
"What the fuck is going on here!" he said, just two pairs of large arms sprouting on his shoulders. "WHAT THE HELL?!" Each large hand interlocked with its corresponding one on the opposite shoulder and slammed on Skarn's skull with two simultaneous blows.
Skarn screamed in agony as he fell to his knees, hands clutching at his throbbing skull, his sword lying on the ground by him.
"If I were you, I would seriously leave before I make you regret being here."
Skarn looked up and paled at the Fishman towering over him. The blue whale shark Fishman stood 9'11" tall with a stocky build, yellow eyebrows and sideburns, a bulb-like nose, and an angular lower lip that pointed upwards, and he possessed two tusk-like conical lower fangs which were from the severe underbite that made room for his huge fangs. A lightning-shaped scar from his left sideburn reached over his left eye. He had long, two-toned black hair with two long stripes of white coming from the roots over his forehead and trailing down the back, a topknot, and a tuft of chin hair with a slight green hue. He wore a black kimono with a skull pattern with a purple belt.
Skarn was not a fool and knew that Fishman before was not a joking matter, and despite being in agony, he got his feet and got the hell out.
~~.~~.~~
Destiny and Long had rushed to their brother's side as the reindeer changed forms, standing at a mere height of 2'11".
"Bring me a wet cloth and water so I can tend to his eyes," the reindeer said.
"Yes, Uncle Chopper," Long said, rushing off to do the task.
Riptide struggled to open his eyes, especially after hearing the all-familiar voice before him. He had to see him and see if his Uncle Chopper was here! He then felt the cloven hooves against his cheeks, making him still.
"Riptide, you mustn't move. I have to ensure that there is no damage to your sight."
"Chooper-san, is Riptide, okay?"
Riptide's heart leaped at the sound of the female voice. Aunt Robin! Was there a chance that the rest of his uncles, including his mother, were here?
"Here, uncle," Long said, having returned with water and cloth.
Riptide struggled to remain still as his eyes were cleaned and then slowly and carefully opened. He blinked several times before his vision ceased being blurry. "Uncle Chopper!" he said joyfully before hugging the reindeer doctor.
Chopper blushed so brightly as Long and Destiny joined in on the hug.
Riptide turned to his head to look at the 6'2" tall woman whose appearance had not changed much save for the fact that she had an hourglass figure and body curves, which were more pronounced, and her skin tone was lighter in color. Her black hair, also lighter in color, was longer, reaching to her lower back, and was pulled back, revealing more of her forehead and ears.
She wore a long salmon sarong skirt that had a design of green seaweed with red and yellow flowers on the side with ruffles that bared her hips along with a partially-zipped short-sleeved navy-blue leather vest with a V-neck line and an image of Chrysanthemum morifolium printed on the left breast near the shoulder that exposed her stomach. She also wore darker pink high-heeled pumps and a lavender pink backpack. On her forehead, she had white sunglasses with orange lenses.
"Aunt Robin….?" Riptide said, stunned by his aunt's appearance.
Niko Robin smiled as she reached to stroke Riptide's head. "You've grown so much," she said.
Riptide looked around. "Are the others here with mother?"
"No, it's only Chopper, Jimbei, and me," Robin said.
"We have new uncle?!" Long exclaimed, looking so happy.
Then the other Fishman stepped forward, gazing at Long for the longest time before it shifted to Riptide and then Destiny. "Yes, young one," he said. "I'm a friend of your mother and your other uncles, which makes me your newest uncle if I'm permitted to say that." His attention returned to Riptide. "When Nami told me of you three, I was shocked, but then she told me of—"
"—looking like the very bastard who fathered us? That's a curse I live with every day when I see my reflection," Riptide said bitterly.
"Jimbei-san knows your father quite well," Robin said.
Jimbei regarded Riptide with a look of understanding. "I would like to talk with you later on, but there is an issue we are most focused on."
Riptide suddenly had an uneasy feeling. "What's going on? Has something happened?"
"Nami—" Chopper said, looking ready to cry.
"Mother! Has something happened to her?" Destiny said.
"Mother okay?" Long was looking equally distressed.
Riptide looked at Robin. "Aunt Robin, what has happened to our mother?"
Robin's face expressed her fear and concern, and Riptide sensed she was dreading telling them.
"What has befallen our mother?" Riptide repeated.
"Nami has gone missing," Robin said.
Jimbei is now the family's newest member, but Nami has gone missing?! How is this possible, especially for one of her talents as a cat burglar and being part of the legendary Straw Hat crew? Read and Review as always.
