Grand Jipang was unaware as new visitors were coming to the royal city. Vivi came out of her castle and looked to the gray clouds in the sky. She started to cringe. "An omen…" she believed. "Are we expecting trouble?" A cold sweat dripped around her ear. She couldn't get the feeling of nervousness to settle. At Robin's flat, Ash and Pikachu opened the door to be greeted by Ocarrot who dove onto them.

"Ash!" she cheered before hugging them.

"Morning, Ocarrot," Ash sighed. She performed her Garchu on Ash's ear. "Did you come to see me before work?"

"Oh, I'm actually off today," Ocarrot informed. "I was wondering about what youteia have with the two princesses?"

("You mean Rebecca and Shirahoshi?") wondered Pikachu. Ash eased and took a breather.

"You know how popular I am being the Summoner," he relayed. "The same could be said for the last kingdom still arriving. It's like how Owanda and Hancock wanted to see me." Ocarrot believed Ash, thinking that it's not a big deal.

"I can safely say that we've all been wondering about the Summoner," she understood. "Heck, if youteia were much older, youteia and Vivi would be on the verge of governing Grand Jipang as a couple." Ash and Pikachu nervously laughed to the claim.

"Anyway, Mom wanted more sleep," Ash excused. "So, we'll get something to eat."

"That's thoughtful," Ocarrot smiled. They headed out, unaware that today was going to be chaotic.

Noble Attacks! Dragons' Ambush!

At the Pinwheel, Omao saw Ocarrot, Ash and Pikachu entering. "Ocarrot?" she gasped. "What are you doing here? Isn't today your day off?" Ocarrot giggled to the notice.

"I was just escorting Ash and Pikachu here," she excused. "Is that alright with youteia?" Onami giggled to the offer.

"He's more than welcome to join us," she allowed. "Are you staying?" Ocarrot shook her head.

"I'm okay, Onami," she refused. "I have somewhere to go."

"Oh, alright!" accepted Omao. "See ya later." Ocarrot bowed before leaving.

"Another reason was that we're letting Mom sleep in," Ash added. Sanji leaned out from the hole in the wall.

"You didn't by any chance do something that made Robin so sleepy, right?" he accused.

"She just said that she was really tired and that she didn't want to be disturbed," Ash shrugged. Sanji sighed, not willing to argue. Ocarrot toured the city when she saw Luffy.

"Boss!" she called out. Luffy turned to Ocarrot.

"How's it going?" he replied.

"Are youteia on patrol?"

"No, I'm looking to get something to eat."

"There's a spot over in the Mink District's marketplace if youteia want to try something new." An awe came over Luffy.

"Thanks! I can swing over there quickly!" He stretched his arms and latched onto a roof before flying off from the elastic swing.

"Youteia are welcome…" Alone, Ocarrot wandered off before seeing Rebecca. "Oh, there youteia are!" Rebecca turned to Ocarrot approaching.

"Oh, you're from the Pinwheel!" she recognized. "Did you need anything?"

"I did. I wanna know what relationship youteia have with Ash." Hearing about an interest, Rebecca felt something from Ocarrot needed to emerge.

"Let's talk about it with Shirahoshi." The idea made Ocarrot wonder.

"Why with the mermaid princess?" Rather than answer, Rebecca urged Ocarrot to follow. At the entrance, Usopp reached the gate before seeing something coming.

"I wonder what's coming," he pondered. Looking again, his face read dread. There was an army of men wearing white scaly robes. "Oh no! The Dragons!" The white robes came after Usopp while some used katanas to slice apart the decorations. Usopp dashed away while shouting. "THE DRAGONS! THE DRAGONS ARE HERE!" The Dragons continued to storm while three members stayed back. One was a giant rotund blond with his hair looking like a geyser erupting. He had a curly black mustache, fluffy gray beard and what looked like a blindfold over his eyes. Next to him was a raven-haired fat man with his hair in a similar fashion and a stubble while he had a huge drop of mucus hanging out of his nose. Last of the three was a dirty blond woman with the similar hairstyle and wearing coral-colored makeup under her eyes.

"So, this is Grand Jipang," the eldest mentioned. "We have arrived."

"What is the plan, Father?" the raven-haired wondered.

"Gather the children, Charlos," the father plotted. "Any resistance, kill. One of them has to be the Summoner."

"Part of me would rather have the Summoner to raise a big sister," the dirty blond sneered.

"Simmer, Shalria," the father settled. "You may want the Summoner as someone to raise if the rumors are true. Still, the Summoner will be punished for the discretion." The three continued to enter the city. Inside another building, Shirahoshi and Rebecca learned about Ocarrot's desire for Ash.

"I see…" awed Rebecca. "I'm surprised that you'd go that far for Ash. Did he offer his love back?" Ocarrot shook her head.

"I don't know if he's not interested in me or if I'm too strong on how to approach a human like him," she whined. Shirahoshi palmed Ocarrot's shoulder.

"Why not just tell him upright about it?" she offered.

"I thought he'd be smart enough to understand," Ocarrot tried to reason.

"Maybe when you see him again, don't hesitate," Rebecca briefed. "I like him myself, but I don't outright love him. Maybe if he saves my life…" Suddenly…

"DRAGONS!" shouted Usopp. "EVERYONE PREPARE YOURSELVES!" The girls seemed disturbed by the news.

"Dragons, as in the Imperial Dragons?" repeated Rebecca. "This isn't good. They're willing to storm Grand Jipang?" Ocarrot realized a problem with the news.

"But they shouldn't!" she remembered. "Grand Jipang and the Imperial Dragons have a treaty that forbids them from entering the independent royal city unnoticed!"

"But if they're the Imperial Dragons, they're the ones who proclaim to be above any law!" realized Shirahoshi. The Dragons broke in, finding the girls. Ocarrot and Rebecca stood and faced the Dragons.

"We'll protect youteia, Princess!" proclaimed Ocarrot.

"You have violated the treaty!" claimed Rebecca.

"What treaty?" a Dragon taunted. "Get them!" The Dragons stormed before attacking the girls. At the Pinwheel, Usopp reached the restaurant in the same panic as Brook and Franky were also visiting.

"Guys!" he shouted. "The Imperial Dragons! They're in Grand Jipang!" Everyone stood up in shock.

"Wait, that doesn't make sense!" voiced Sanji. "There's that agreement they don't enter town without provocation!"

"So, why are they here?" wondered Onami. The feeling of thundering feet made everyone prepare.

"We're about to find out!" gulped Brook. "They're coming!" Pikachu growled as the kids came inside.

"Ash!" cried Aisa. Sanji came out from the back before facing the kids.

"Stay here, okay?" he urged.

"We will!" agreed Carrot. The Dragons came barreling into the Pinwheel.

"Everyone with their hands in the air!" one Dragon demanded as he joined others with katanas and spears. Two Dragons slashed at tables, destroying them.

"NO!" cried Onami. Sanji raced in and punted a Dragon in the stomach. The Dragon flew into the wall back first.

"Now you've done it!" another Dragon growled before he started to attack with his sword. However, Brook parried it with his own sword.

"You will not harm this place anymore!" he announced. Three Dragons came after Brook and stabbed him a few times, blades skewering through his body. Something seemed wrong as Brook didn't seem bothered. There was no blood. Brook laughed. "Did anyone tell you that you can't kill what's already dead?" In a flash, he slashed the Dragons who fell. Other Dragons dropped back before their heads were grabbed by Franky.

"How about I give you a SUPER punishment!" he taunted before bashing the heads together. They fell as Ash delivered a shoulder tackle to another, propelling him into the group.

"Ash, now!" urged Omao.

"Right!" agreed Ash as he pulled two scrolls from his sleeve. "Greninja, Charizard, come forth!" A light emitted before Charizard and Greninja blasted the Dragons out of the restaurant. They, Ash, Sanji, Franky and Brook emerge outside to confront the Dragons while the kids got around the back. The Dragons realized that they found Ash.

"No question," one Dragon grunted. "It's the Summoner! Lord Rosward has been searching for him!"

"Why did it have to be a child!?" another Dragon questioned.

"Who cares!" one more Dragon groaned. "We have what we need!" The Dragons returned to attacking the men and Ash with the summoned creatures.

"Greninja, Water Shuriken!" ordered Ash. "Charizard, Dragon Rage!" Greninja threw Water Shuriken while Charizard spat an orange ball that struck the Dragons and exploded. Some of the Dragons flew far and bled from the explosion or the Water Shuriken slicing through. One Dragon managed to sneak to Ash.

"That's as far as you go!" he shouted as he slapped a slip onto Ash. It was followed by a roundhouse kick to his back. Ash rolled but soon recovered… but Greninja and Charizard were not there.

"What the…" he gawked before Pikachu found the slip.

("That ofuda!") he squeaked. Seeing the slip with the markings, Ash gasped.

"That's sealing my power!" he realized. He reached for the ofuda, but another Dragon knocked Franky into them before crashing into a building. Ash looked out of it while more Dragons wrapped up Brook in a wrap like a mummy with a blue stone as part. Brook couldn't move.

"Hey!" he complained. "Why can't I move!? What are you using!?" One Dragon smiled.

"It's a special sea stone that we wove into this fabric," he claimed. "It seems to work on someone like you." Sanji was floored by others with sword slashes and slams by a few more of the Dragons. Onami and Omao came out with Onami hovering over Sanji.

"Don't hurt them!" she cried. "They've done nothing to you!" One Dragon jabbed the back of his pike at Onami's chest, knocking her down.

"Back out of this, bitch!" he snarled. He stepped over Sanji before reaching Ash, unconscious. "As for you, this is who Lord Rosward wants… dead!" Omao stood in front of the Dragon, guarding Ash and Franky.

"That is enough!" she halted. "You have no authority here!" The Dragons weren't pleased with Omao copying Onami.

"Move, or you'll die with the Summoner!" he warned. Omao stood her ground while someone came from the sky.

"Gum-Gum…" sounded Luffy. The Dragons heard and turned their heads up, finding Luffy spinning wildly. "SHOWER!" Luffy threw hundreds of fists at the Dragons who were easily pummeled. The Dragons scurried to regroup as Luffy reached his friends.

"Boss Luffy!" a Dragon cried out. "The officer of Grand Jipang!"

"Run, we got what we came for!" another Dragon shouted. The Dragons retreated as Cobra came to the scene. Pikachu shook Ash's head to awaken him. Onami and Omao recovered enough to help those hurt.

"Sanji!" called out Onami. "Sanji!" Sanji heard Onami and started to awaken.

"Onami…" he called back. "You're… not hurt, right?" Seeing the scuff on Onami's face, Sanji grew mad. "Okay, who would dare put their damn hands on my Onami-Swan!?" Robin soon arrived and saw her son down.

"Ash!" she cried. "Ash!" Ash heard Robin and started to stir.

"Mom?" he wondered.

"Don't move, my son!" warned Robin. "You're hurt!" Ignoring, Ash worked his pained body to sit up.

"I'll… be fine," Ash assured. Others came around that were beaten down. Omao undid the wrappings done on Brook.

"Well, I hope that's the only time I'm trying out a role that makes me King Tut!" he stammered. "It's already bad enough that I feel out of place!" Ash looked around, only those around to fight.

"What happened to the kids?" he asked. Omao bowed her head.

"They took them," she apologized. "There were too many to fight off. Onami and I were powerless. All we could do was watch." Ash's eyes lit up.

"Carrot," he listed. "Onion… Orika…"

"They also took my daughter," Cobra briefed. Everyone turned to the Lord.

"Not the princess!" shouted Sanji. "Those bastards!"

"There were hundreds of those Imperial Dragons," Usopp studied. "It's bad enough they take every child. I sure hope Blue-Nose wasn't caught up in that."

"I hope so as well," Luffy began. "I was busy helping the Kuja and the Dragons over there. I couldn't help the Minks, though." The others believed their motive was clear.

"They were after Ash," Franky recalled. "They wanted to get every kid to see which one is the Summoner. It's just cowardly at how that happened." Ash nodded before seeing Ocarrot limping, her arm holding other other arm as she fell.

"Ocarrot!" shouted Ash as he painfully got to Ocarrot's side. Ash helped turn Ocarrot over, her yukata torn to shreds.

"I'm… sorry… Ash," she struggled. "Shirahoshi… Rebecca… those Dragons…" Ash gasped, believing the Dragons also got the pink-haired girls.

"No!" he shouted before starting to run. Luffy and Usopp held Ash down while Pikachu was in Robin's arms.

"They're laying a trap for us!" warned Usopp.

"We need a plan!" advised Luffy. Ash stopped and relented.

"Sorry… and you're right," he accepted. "We can't let those Dragons get away with this!" With the Dragons having the young children, Ash would be walking into a trap as said. Still, Shirahoshi and Rebecca's lives were on the line.

TO BE CONTINUED...