The Castle of the Imperial Dragons had been infiltrated by the strongest of Grand Jipang. Ash, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji. Robin, Franky, Usopp, Brook and Pikachu stormed the castle to rescue the children, mermaids and the three royal women: Vivi, Rebecca and Shirahoshi. Now, Ash and Pikachu faced down the family of Imperial Dragons: Rosward and his two children, Charlos and Shalria. "IT'S THE SUMMONER!" shrieked Charlos and Shalria. They had been after the Summoner ever since he made himself known around the country. Ash and Pikachu seemed to be prepared to end their dictatorial reign.

"We've been looking for years to find you, wretched Summoner," Rosward sneered.

"You have?" questioned Ash. "Why didn't you send me an invitation? I would've come sooner." A showdown between the Imperial Dragons and the Summoner had arrived.

History! The Dragons' Savagery!

Bodies of Imperial Dragons were sprawled before Luffy and Usopp helped escort the children who were captured. There was a moderate amount of blood drenching the grass and floor. More of the Dragons were injured than dead. The children cried in fear at the sight of bloody bodies. "Cover your eyes!" warned Usopp. "It's a bloody mess!"

"Okay!" cried Orika. Usopp led the children out of the castle. More Dragons emerged. Luffy set himself in front of the children.

"Get going!" he urged.

"But Boss!" cried Aisa. Before the Dragons could reach Luffy, an explosion blew up on the Dragons, hurling them through the air. They landed in a cascade of harsh thuds. Luffy turned to find Sulong Ocarrot. He seemed stunned. "Who's that?" Ocarrot turned to the Dragons staggering to stand. Seeing Ocarrot's face, Luffy had a double take.

"O… carrot?" he guessed as Robin and the royal women arrived.

"It's Ocarrot's Sulong form!" announced Vivi. "She's been able to control it!" Usopp heard Vivi and found the women.

"Where's Ash!?" he asked as the Dragons resumed their attack. Luffy flung his arm to the side, a ball of flesh shifting to his hand and then back out.

"He's found something ahead!" reported Robin. Luffy's body began to steam as his skin was pink. The Dragons were ready to slice Luffy and Ocarrot, but the two smashed flurries of fists into them, blasting them through the walls. Zoro and Sanji returned to find the last of the children leaving.

"Good, you found them!" awed Sanji.

"And just in time," Usopp sighed. "Who knows how many of these sardines are in this container!"

"And there's more still around," Zoro warned. Robin looked back the path she and the royals came from.

"Ash…" she whispered. Ash and Pikachu continued to face down Rosward and his children. Charlos and Shalria had their swords out while Ash armed himself with the jitte.

"We oughta slice and dice ya!" yelled Charlos. "Especially how my favorite treasure has cried for you for a long time. You influenced her, didn't you!?"

"You've committed so many sins; it's no wonder we have to burn you to cleanse the sins from your body!" snapped Shalria. Ash wasn't bothered. Rosward took a closer look at Ash's face.

"And kidnapping children is deemed holy?" retorted Ash. "Gimme a break!" Pikachu agreed. Suddenly, Rosward saw an image of a raven-haired man with the same zigzags underneath.

"It appears the years have shown Satoshi lives on," he remarked. Ash and Pikachu's eyes opened wide.

("Satoshi?") repeated Pikachu.

"What are you talking about?" asked Ash. "Who's Satoshi?" Rosward grinned, his mind focused.

"It's not a surprise, considering you were just an infant at the time Satoshi and Hanako died," he informed. "Of course, you shouldn't be here today." Ash's eyes grew in shock.

"Yeah, they were your mommy and daddy, Ashy-boy!" mocked Charlos. Ash gasped to the news.

"Satoshi?" he repeated. "And Hanako? They were… my parents?" Rosward bobbed his head.

"You bear a striking resemblance to Satoshi," he mentioned. "I can tell by the markings under your eyes." Ash and Pikachu remained still.

"Father, are you saying that Ash is the son of the guard of Shogunate Morozuki?" guessed Shalria.

"None other, Shalria," Rosward confirmed. "Of course, you were still learning to hold a knife when Satoshi and Hanako were married." Ash and Pikachu slowly started to understand.

"Let's say that you know my parents," Ash started. "Why are you telling me?" Rosward sneered to Ash's query.

"Boy, you should know of your history," he warned.

(Flashback/Rosward's POV)

We Imperial Dragons were of nobility, blessed by the gods to rule over everything… except Shogunate Morozuki called us liars, that we were never meant to rule as God has perceived. We are Dragons, we dominate everyone else! Of course, Morozuki dismissed us, but I didn't want to make my little Shalria think I was weak. Still, we had to bide our time. At the time, Satoshi, rather dark-skinned, was Morozuki's best samurai. In fact, he was never nicked. The closest he's been touched was his yukata being sliced on his left leg. He trained other samurai his moves, almost making him overpowered.

One day, Morozuki announced that he was in discussion with the Five Elders of us Imperial Dragons. This upset Satoshi… and I heard it. "You want to talk things over with those tyrants?" he argued.

"They seem to want to negotiate a deal that grants us more laws to make our lands safer," Morozuki explained.

"Are you saying that I haven't done enough to protect those from rebellious swordsmen!? Now, you want these Dragons to just govern us?"

"Sometimes, a change of perspective might do us some good. We feel as if they can do as well as I have. Besides, you know that I do not have as much time on this land."

"Your excellence, just because you may not have as much time, doesn't mean that you can throw all of your work away… let alone to some Dragons."

"Are you implying that the Dragons won't keep the country as peaceful?"

"I have seen their eyes. They want to rule with an iron fist. They'll want to enslave the people-"

"Satoshi! I know that you've had your best interests to everyone around as you've been taught by Jubei… but there are times where you must relax yourself and give them a chance. There may be a time your instincts are wrong, and Jubei has warned me about it-"

"Master Jubei has also sided with the Dragons!?" A jerk of Satoshi's head told how he was not listening to the truth of the matter. "I have been with you for several years… and this is the thanks I get!? From you and Master Jubei!?" He began to walk out. "If you want to commit Hara-Kiri, don't let me help you. You've hung your own rope." At that moment, he became Ronin. Instead of following the ideals of the Imperial Dragons, he chose to abandon his only task of protecting a dream that Morozuki envisioned. Before long, he wandered around as a thief as Morozuki was then assassinated.

"Sounds to me that the Shogunate was bribed into your demands," Ash believed. "What did you guys offer?" Shalria shrugged her shoulders.

"It doesn't matter since we didn't like the deal, anyway," she dismissed. "We probably should've kept an elder alive to explain it, but it makes no difference as soon enough, Morozuki was killed without his protector. Your dad was a coward!" Ash narrowed his eyes as he gritted the news. Meanwhile, Onami and Omao soon found Blue-Nose Sensei still watching the castle from outside.

"Blue-Nose!" called out Omao. Blue-Nose turned to the Pinwheel's waitresses.

"Onami…" he called back. "Omao…" They huddled by Blue-Nose.

"Did you get hurt?" asked Onami.

"A little, but nothing serious," Blue-Nose noted. "Everyone else is still inside." Omao and Onami looked to the castle when they saw Vivi leaving through the hole at the door.

"Vivi!" gasped Onami. "She's out!"

"Oh, that's good for Lord Cobra," Omao awed. "They did it!" Back inside, Rosward's story continued.

"You can tell how his fellow samurai believe Satoshi backstabbed the movement," Shalria added to the shame. "We wish the story ended there. Of course, we never got to the best part."

"Indeed," Rosward agreed. "And how you came to existence to meet us."

(Flashback/Rosward's POV)

A newly titled Ronin, Satoshi journeyed for days when he was attacked by wildlife. Wolves and bears chased him as he tried to survive with his sword that was getting dull overtime. He survived by dining on the dead animals before he reached a village that was attacked by ruffians. As he fought to save the village in an effort to regain his tainted reputation, he was helped by a young auburn-haired girl who could use the plants to fend off the ruffians. That was Hanako. After they chased out the remaining rogues, Hanako treated Satoshi to which he told her what had happened. He soon adjusted to a new lifestyle with Hanako and learned that the village he came across were full of people who could do amazing feats, as if magic was normal. It was also there that he learned how well-off Hanako was as she made food for the two. As if he never lost a step, he helped train the villagers on how to defend themselves, their spouses and their children. Some of Satoshi's newest students were women.

Then, Charlos came over. He fell in love with Hanako at first sight and proposed to her. However, my son met your father. I watched.

"Hey, pretty girl," Charlos greeted. "How about you go with me?" Hanako seemed hesitant, but I know Charlos had the right words to say.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"Everything you have, from your food to your body."

"No, that's not love!"

"I have my own brand!" That's when Satoshi stepped in and slashed at my son, that bastard! He cut Charlos on his left bicep. He bled greatly from it.

"Back off of my wife, you scoundrel!" he shouted. Charlos wasn't happy about the denial.

"Hey!" he snapped. "Don't ya know who I am? I'm an Imperial Dragon!"

"Ha, more reason for you to leave these people alone!"

"And how could they support someone who cowardly ran from his Shogunate?" Hearing that from my son had me believe the villagers would turn on him, including his so-called wife. Boy, was I wrong.

"How many other samurai did you kill in order to get to Morozuki? You know those people were trained by me, and I even told them as I left that they were the strongest pupils around." How he figured out that his fellow samurai were also slain baffled me.

"How dare you disrespect a noble like me!"

"Noble?" spoke Hanako. "What's so noble about raping a little girl like me!? I heard your intentions, Lardigan! Fat chance!" Other villagers surrounded my boy.

"You know I can have you all killed for defying an Imperial Dragon!" cried Charlos.

"And you know my blade is sharper than ever, whiny Dragon," Satoshi mocked. My son ran out, not wanting to die. We knew that Satoshi had the blade to end us, but we had a chance to end him. Since then, Satoshi and Hanako did in fact marry. Two years later… you were born, Ash.

"You've kept track of me since birth?" replied Ash.

("Pretty creepy,") Pikachu added.

"Heck, when I heard that you were born, I wanted to have you as my little brother and live a life free of struggle," Shalria wished. "However, Father knew you weren't going to work for us… and this is proof." Ash remained still. Brook and Franky soon reached the others with the mermaids that were taken.

"Special delivery!" announced Franky.

"Oh good!" awed Usopp. "We got everyone!"

"Even the princesses and their pant-" started Brook before Sanji landed an ax kick on his head.

"Now's not the time, Numbskull!" he retorted. Brook fell as Sanji and Zoro arrived.

"I heard that you got everyone, right?" questioned Zoro.

"We did a head count," Luffy pointed out. "Everyone is here." More Dragons came in, some with spears burning.

"Monk, why don't you cut their spears down?" issued Sanji. "I may be good with fire, but not like this."

"Neither do I!" agreed Zoro as he slashed all of the Dragons. The spears pierced the walls and the fire caught it, igniting the castle.

"We need Ash!" urged Robin. She started to rush to the stairs again, but the fire quickly blocked the path.

"We need to leave!" order Sanji. "I don't want to see you get hurt!"

"But-"

"He'll be fine! Let's go!" He dragged Robin from the castle along with the mermaids floating once again. Ash and Pikachu were about to learn about the time of his birth.

"When I learned that Satoshi had you, it was too perfect," Rosward mentioned. "He never had a child and now, we could attack."

"Wait, so you came after the village just to kill my dad!?" snapped Ash.

"Not just him, but the village altogether," Charlos corrected. "If I cannot have Hanako, no one should, not even you."

"But it wasn't that you'd be alive for it anyway," Shalria taunted.

(Flashback/Rosward's POV)

One night, we attacked. We burned the village down and struck down everyone there. Satoshi was having a hard time keeping Hanako and you safe. We showed them what it's like to rebuff us Imperial Dragons. In fact, one of us sneaked around Satoshi when facing his wife. "Go, protect Ash!" he called out. Hanako raced to find you, but a scream made her turn as some of my Dragons surrounded him, stabbing him several times in the chest and torso.

"Satoshi!" cried Hanako. Charlos removed a katana from Satoshi's wounds before slashing at Hanako… and her heart was slashed in two.

"Hanako!" cried Satoshi. That Dragon knew that Satoshi's wounds were fatal and turned to you.

"Let me take care of the baby," he said. There you were, crying from the violence. Seeing the fire, the Dragon had a second guess… and that really pissed me off. "Actually, the fire will cook him. As for you, send Shogunate Morozuki my regards." He stabbed Satoshi in the throat. It was the icing on the cake as not only were the villagers dead, as well as your parents, but you'd die from either the fire or starvation.

"Somehow, you survived," Rosward finished. "When I learned about it, I had to kill that coward. You should've died alongside the village, Ash! Otherwise, the Summoner would not be this nuisance that's now in our castle!" Ash slowly growled at the events from the Shogunate's dispute to the abandonment of him after his parents were slaughtered.

"My mom…" he mulled. "And my dad… You just proved that they were right all along!" He looked up, ready to face down those who caused chaos to him all of this time. "Killing a child, how is that noble!?" He pulled out a red scroll. "COME FORTH, CHARIZARD!" Charizard appeared from the scroll. Ash handed the scrolls to Charizard. "Take Pikachu and get out." Charizard and Pikachu gasped.

("Let me fight with you!") squeaked Pikachu.

"Pikachu, if anything happens, you'll be okay."

("But you don't need to do this!")

"There will be a new Summoner when I can't do it any longer. You belong here now, and with Mom." He looked up. "It's time I slay these Dragons." Reluctantly, Pikachu boarded Charizard as he flew away with the scrolls. That's when Ash faced the Dragons. "As for you… All of this time, you've haunted my life. It's about time I show you what a real haunting is all about." He flashed his katana, startling the family. Outside, Luffy saw the first floor be engulfed in flames. Onami and Omao soon reached the rest.

"BOSS!" cried out Onami. Everyone turned to the waitresses.

"Onami-Swan!" cheered Sanji. "Did you come to nurse us!? Not Boss, but everyone else-"

"One thing at a time, pervy cook!" snapped Onami.

"Did everyone escape?" asked Omao.

"Yeah, all of the prisoners are safe," Usopp reported. Soon enough, Charizard and Pikachu escaped with the scrolls. As they landed, Onami caught a jumping Pikachu.

"Hey, you made it out too!" she cooed. Pikachu pointed back to the castle. Onami looked before realizing someone wasn't there.

"Is… Ash still inside?" guessed Omao.

"He's gotta be," Onami gulped. "Did he get trapped by the Dragons?"

"I can't leave my son!" shouted Robin. "I want to get him!" Everyone became worried about their Summoner. He chose to fight the ones who killed the family for standing up to them. The battle was about to explode.

TO BE CONTINUED...