The groups form and get on their way as the Straw Hats start finding their way through Fishman Island! As always, I want to thank all my wonderful Patrons; Akamura, Alex P, Andrew Evans, Animephilosopher1, Ant Franklin, Cliford, CrazyMan, David Bowling, David Reynolds, Emi Stafford, Fenrir ragnarok, Garvin Lee Nelson-Mathlin, GODA98, Grim90, Iliasse Naji, Jacob Benson, JEP1010, JONATHAN VICARS, Jones4real, jordanitos, Jordem917, Joseph Morrison, julien digot, Kevin Calderon, Korakas, Lamont Hale, Matthew Burley, McBanjo, Milla, Nicole Morris, Philippa Sale, Rafael Cardenas, Rayark, Richard Barkley, Ricky Shaffer, Riley Bolerjack, S. , TheRevolutionaryRonin, Thomas Sanders, ViewtifulSoul, Willthamann, and Артем Сухоруков!

Chapter 7:

Deep Sea Politics

"Huh," Zoro grunted, glancing around at all the downed fishmen that had attacked them only a moment ago. Ace was so light on his shoulders, the swordsman practically forgot he was there, save for the hand that was pressed tightly to his forehead holding the child in place. "You know, you'd think they'd be stronger since so many pirates come though."

"I'm disappointed," Grace huffed, sitting atop a group of crying, paralyzed fishmen stacked in a pyramid. "I thought I was going to get to strut my stuff, but these guys all fell for the same trick."

"It does make sense," Chopper offered, shrinking back into his Brain Point. "We've spent an extra two years training compared to the average pirate that comes through."

"Gihihi!" Ace giggled, his little heels hitting Zoro's chest as they swung. "My fam-i-ly's jus' too stwong!"

"Well, when you put it that way..." Grace grinned, jumping from the stack. "Anyway, I say we leave these guys here and go. I don't know where we are at the mo...ment..." She paused, turning around to grab a blue fishman by the fin on his head. The fishman grunted in pain as the young woman yanked his face up. "Hey guppy, where are we?"

"You'll get nothing from me, you human bitch," the fishman spat. Chopper gasped, shifting into his Jump Point for the height it gave him to cover Ace's ears. "When Captain Hody gets you-!"

"Yeah, I don't care about that," Grace interrupted, giving his head a shake. "Now you're going to tell us where we are and which way takes us to the center of town, or I'm going to make you feel like all the happiness in your life has been nothing but a wistful daydream that you'll never have again."

The fishman smirked painfully. "Do your worst. No member of the New Fishman Pirates would ever break against the pathetic little threats of a human."

"Right," Grace muttered, tapping the sides of her suit. As she did, little bubbles of blue and white grew, floating into the air so everyone could see them. "Sadness Blue, one of my oldest techniques, and Intense Ivory, a new creation. When you blend them together, you get a beautiful color I've lovingly named Blue Songbird."

As everyone watched, the two bubbles met in midair, seeming to wrestle and twist until they were blended perfectly into a sort of darker light blue. The ball they created was smaller than the length of a fingernail, but it almost seemed to glow in the dim light. Grace snapped, the bubble twisting into the shape of a bird.

"W-Why is it c-called that?" the fishman asked, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead as the paint bird landed on the tip of Grace's finger.

"Because everyone I've ever used it on has sung like a canary," she explained. "See, the Intense Ivory causes every single one of your nerves to go into overdrive to the point of clothing being painful. At the same time, the Sadness Blue sucks away every bit of dopamine and serotonin your brain produces, leaving you with only the worst emotions against your hypersensitive nerves. Shall we?"

"That's sadistic!" Chopper gasped, unable to see Zoro's smirk. Grace knelt down before the sweating fishman, glancing over at the other conscious foes she'd defeated.

"Any of you want to save your friend? If you tell us what we want to know, no one gets tortured."

"You're sick," a different fishman, this one with gray skin and a shark fin, growled. "All you humans are the same. You beat and enslave any race except yourselves because you think you're better. Well you aren't! Fishmen are the superior race! We will-!"

Watching the shark fishman with half-lidded eyes, Grace flicked the Blue Songbird at him, the bird coming to rest on his nose before settling into a 2D picture on his brow. The effect was nearly instant, every nerve in his body going into overdrive. At the same time, the chemicals in the blue paint did their work, sucking away any happiness he felt at that moment. With everything save good left behind, the supercharged nerves had only pain to report, every touch making the man scream.

"Some superior race you are," Grace commented.

"There's a child present!" Chopper yelled. Grace ignored him.

"You're too loud," she muttered, punching the shark in the face. His eyes crossed as he fell over, unconscious. "Anyone else want to argue?"

"Th-There's a p-plaza 15 minutes down the r-road," an angelfish fishman stuttered, his small body having transparent skin. "Go behind th-that building and t-take a right. D-Don't stop till you s-see the sun!"

"Now was that so hard?" Grace smiled, drawing out a couple new paints. They fused into a pink bird the same size the Blue Songbird had been. "For that, you'll get a nice reward. Positivity."

The paint bird recreated the flight of the first, landing on the cowering angelfish's nose. He screwed his eyes shut, waiting for pain, only for his eyes to widen and cross as every good feeling he could have happened at once.

"Wow," Zoro whistled. "What are you, a drug dealer?"

"Oh shut up!" the girl shot back. "Like I haven't heard that one before. Come on, let's get out of here. Not that way!"

Zoro froze mid-step, his foot hovering over the water. Chopper sighed, shifting into his Walk Point.

"Let me carry Ace," the doctor offered, trotting up beside the swordsman. "If you take a wrong turn, you and Ace could end up totally separated from us. It'd be better for us if you just wandered off by yourself."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Zoro demanded.

"Actually, I'm gonna agree with Chopper on this one," Grace commented.

"You're the one who put him on my shoulders in the first place!"

"And I'm the one who's gonna take him off," the artist shot back, hooking her hands under Ace's arms. She pulled him down, setting him on Chopper's back. She turned to Zoro once more. "There's no chance you won't get lost, so keep an eye out for Ace's hat, mmkay?"

"You're pretty bossy now," Zoro grumbled.

"The phrase you're looking for is 'possessing leadership confidence'," Grace corrected, as of she were quoting some sort of synergy workshop.

"Whatever. Let's just go find everyone else."

The green-haired swordsman turned around, walking the correct way. Chopper and Grace glanced at each other, walking behind him.

"He's gonna vanish behind that building, isn't he?" the redhead asked.

"I once watched him lose his way in a straight hallway," the doctor replied. "He's..." Chopper blinked. "Where'd he go?"

"Uncle Zowo went poof and swoop!" Ace offered, emphasizing his onomatopoeia with a clap. "I saw it!"

Grace and Chopper simply stared at the boy, trying to pick their jaws up off the floor. Their expressions, bug-eyed and jaws agape, simply caused the child of their captain to laugh without a care in the world of the world-class anomaly he had just witnessed.

"Ace's mind isn't fully developed," Chopper realized, a theory already taking shape. "His brain is still flexible enough to accept the impossible, so he can see what we can't. He... He could see what happens when Luffy eats..."

"Chopper," Grace warned. "The last time you tried to study that, you went comatose for three days from the shock."

"I..." Chopper bit his tongue, his curiosity warring against his survival instincts. "Maybe there are some mysteries best left... unsolved."

"Agreed," Grace nodded. "Now, let's head to the plaza. I've got 500 Beris that say Luffy or Zoro cause a commotion before we get there, double that if it's both."

"No way," Chopper disagreed, feeling Ace touch and play with his antlers. The now-trio rounded the building. "With Ace away from her, it's going to be Nami that causes the property damage."

Hand shaking hoof, the two set their bet just as their snails started to ring.

Kaku grinned as he sat in a waiting room within the Tails of the Night bar and brothel, a pair of beautiful mermaids filling a wine flute in his hoof with champagne. He was still in his Man-Beast Form, though he was debating about whether it was safe to drop it yet or not. One of the mermaids stroked his long neck, the former assassin unable to resist letting out a happy hum at the sensation. The change could wait. There were certainly some perks that came with being an attractive Zoan. And what animal was more attractive than a giraffe?

"That's enough, girls," an older female voice said, both of the mermaids pouting. "Get back to work. If you're lucky, he'll stick around for a bit."

"Yes, Madam Finwaters," the girls chorused with practiced ease, the two swimming out the door with the help of their special bubbles. Kaku barely turned his head, just enough to see the woman that commanded so much respect out of the corner of his eye.

Madam Finwaters was not beautiful by any stretch, clearly being an anglerfish fishwoman in her upper years. She was tall and on the wider side, topping out at over eight feet. Her skin was a rough rust color, a lantern with a red light hanging from the top of her head down to above her face. A smile seemed to be plastered on her lips, revealing the set of needle-like teeth she had. She was dressed in expensive clothes, a white feather boa wrapped around her neck.

As befitting a woman in her position, Kaku stood and gave a shallow bow.

"Greetings, Madam Finwaters. They say you're the head honcho around here."

"Oh me?" the woman grinned, hiding her smile and teeth behind a hand fan. "I suppose I hold some sway, but I like to think I'm simply someone who turned a gossiping hobby into a pleasureful, profiting business. Ah, but you aren't here to hear an old woman like me tell my story, are you?"

"I would if I could," Kaku responded diplomatically. "I'm in something of a hurry, however."

"Ah yes, those pirates that just came in." Kaku didn't react, having revealed such information to earn this meeting in the first place. Madam Finwaters closed her fan with a snap. "Not that you looked like someone in a hurry, given how you were relaxing with my girls just a minute ago. Do drop the transformation, sonny. I know a Zoan Fruit when I see one."

Still, Kaku did not react, staying in his polite bow as he shrunk back into his human form.

"Now that's better," the woman commented, walking over to the couch opposite Kaku's. With the former CP9 agent in his Man Form, she towered over him, just as she liked it. "I apologize for the delay in this meeting. My contacts were having quite the difficult time finding out who you were, Kaku Savano."

"How do you know that name?" the Zoan sputtered, every piece of his composure training forgotten.

"Silly human, I know every single person who walks through those doors. I don't like not knowing. After all, those who shed light need not fear the dark of the unknown, and no light is more revealing than the red light." She tapped her natural lantern as if any person could have learned what she knew. "Kidnapped from a noble family at a young age and trained as a government assassin, only to be kidnapped again by a group of gutsy pirates. You vanished for two years, presumed dead, only to be revealed to have run away. Ah, but learning who you are is trivial. It's learning what you've been up to that is the real fun. What has brought you here?"

"Ahem." Kaku cleared his throat, trying to give himself time to get his scattered thoughts back in order and regain his composure. "I'm afraid I'm not here to talk about my past, Madam. Myself and my companions have only just arrived, but due to an unforeseen confrontation with a rival band of pirates, we have been scattered across the island. I was hoping you could give me some standard information. Factions, leaders, perhaps a map?"

"Well, I certainly could, but these sorts of talks are a tit-for-tat. If you can give me any sort of gossip and stake your words -all of them- on the validity, then I'll give you an equal level. As for the map, it's just a piece of paper, so just your standard price of a couple hundred Beris. Sound like a deal?" Madam Finwaters offered her hand, the red light of her lantern seeming to brighten.

"You seem pretty relaxed," Kaku diverted, not shaking. "Why do you want such information when there is little chance it will help you?"

The woman's needle-like smile grew as she leaned in.

"Shear, absolute boredom," she answered, her grin never vanishing. "When you've been around as long as I have, you'll always be looking for something you've never seen before, or listening for something you've never heard before. The world is always changing, always coming up with new ways to entertain her people. After all, the world is a stage, and the stage is a world of entertainment. Or at least, that's what my grandfather used to say, Goda rest his soul."

"Right..." the blond muttered, not fully convinced.

"Yes indeed, so provide me with the entertainment I'm looking for, and I'll give you everything you ask for. So! It's a deal, then?"

Kaku eyed her hand, still unsure. The light was doing funny things and he couldn't tell if they were just tricks of his eyes. Slowly, hesitantly, he reached forward, taking her hand.

"It's a deal."

"Brilliant!" Madam Finwaters grinned, shaking his hand with plenty of gusto before sitting down, allowing Kaku to do the same. "Now, why don't you tell me what you're willing to tell me, and it better be the truth, and I'll give you information in kind. Two secrets and some coin from you for the basics and a little more of what you've asked; factions, leaders, and a map." Her grin widened, showing more of her teeth.

"Well first," Kaku began, hiding his newfound nervousness at her devilish look. "I'm not alone here since I have... temporarily joined up with the pirates that I mentioned before. I have two of them with me on the street and I asked them to find their own way in."

"Oh, these two?" Finwaters snapped her fingers, Amy and Usopp getting thrown into the room. They were bound in a considerable amount of rope back-to-back, gags in their mouths. "My boys caught them crawling through the vents. That's why I was so late to meet with you."

"Really?" Kaku sighed, dropping his head into his hand. "That's what you went with? The vents?"

"Mmmphh!" the two pirates offered.

"I really am sorry, Madam Finwaters," Kaku apologized. "We couldn't risk them in the streets because we don't know the relationship between humans and Merfolk at this time."

"Not a problem, dearie," the anglerfish chuckled, snapping her fingers again. The rope fell away from the pirates, Usopp and Amy freeing themselves the rest of the way.

"That was your fault, Long-Nose!" Amy accused as soon as she could. "If you weren't lugging that big slingshot around-!"

"Do not blame this on me or Kabuto, cake-face!" Usopp defended. "It was your stupid umbrella-!"

"Ahem!" Kaku interrupted, his eyes gesturing to the amused boss across from him. Amy jumped to her feet, her two years in the New World allowing her to recognize the situation.

"Our apologies, Madam!" she cried, bowing.

"Brave warriors of the sea do not bow," Usopp huffed, crossing his arms and turning away. Madam Finwaters simply smirked at the defiance.

"Come join us," the fishwoman insisted, the pirates glancing at each other before sitting on either side of Kaku. "Do be honest with me. Your companion here has bet his words on your truthfulness. Should I learn that you have lied, there will be consequences."

Her words sent a shiver down the spines of her guests as both Amy and Kaku side-eyed the sniper. Madam Finwaters was not a woman to be trifled with.

"Now, let's follow up on that info that got you in here. Tell me what you know, and I'll give you the factions you'll find on the island currently."

"I came in with the Straw Hat Pirates," Kaku admitted after a moment's hesitation. "They were scattered around the world two years ago and have only just reunited."

"And the child you mentioned?"

"You told them about him?" Usopp demanded.

"We need information," Kaku muttered. "Everyone's gonna learn about him faster'n a cheetah chasin' a gazelle anyway." Kaku turned back to the woman. "He's the son of the captain, 'Straw Hat' Monkey D. Luffy, and his wife, 'Cat Burglar' Monkey D. Nami. He was born sometime shortly after their forced separation and his name is Monkey D. Ace. He's named after Captain Luffy's late adopted brother Portgas D. Ace who died in the War of the Best two years ago."

"How cute," the head of the red light district grinned, her mouth relaxing into a more natural smile. "You don't see little kids on pirate ships often, and sometimes it ends badly. We'll see where that goes."

Kaku, Usopp, and Amy shivered at the insinuation of misfortune, but none commented on it. Kaku forged ahead with his explanation.

"Apparently, both Luffy and Nami were separated from their parents while young, though I don't know the details. As a result, she is determined to give their son the family life they didn't get to have."

"Like I said, cute. I have quite a bit of info on the factions, though, so you need to give me a little more info on yours."

"The Straw Hat Pirates are the crew of the man who will become the King of the Pirates," Usopp swore. "There are 16 of us including Ace and not including Kaku. Seven of us are from the East Blue. Last we heard, all of us except Billy, our electric duck, and Ace have bounties. That might have changed, though. Our strongest fighters are Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Gin, and m-!" Kaku and Amy cut the sniper off, smacking him in the back of the head.

"Interesting," Madam Finwaters smiled. "Now, you wanted to know about the factions here, yes? People will tell you there are two main powers, but they aren't quite right. You can find up to five intertwined factions here on the island and in the surrounding waters.

"The obvious one is the Ryugu Kingdom and the army that rules as the government here. Next is the New Fishman Pirates based out of the Fishman District. Then you've got the pirates of the Flying Dutchman who come in every couple weeks, and they're due in the next few days. Both of those crews are at odds with the army for various reasons."

"You aren't going to tell us why?" Amy asked.

"That wasn't part of the deal," Madam Finwaters smirked, tapping her lips with a finger. "The only other group you might see outside is any sort of mob. When people gather with strong emotions about something, their force can rival any organized faction."

"And the fifth?" Usopp wondered, counting on his fingers.

"The underground organization of Challenger Deep. If there's something illegal, they can get it. They are the main suppliers of the local pirates and hide in plain sight, operating legal businesses as their cover. I doubt you'll notice them even if you try, but they're there. Now, what more can you give me worth the names of those in control around here?"

"Uh..."

"You've heard of us, right?" Amy jumped in, hearing her companions' faltering. Madam Finwaters nodded. "Is there anything you've been wondering about us now that you know we're here?"

"A good question," the woman admired. "Leaving the shell on my reef, as they say. Tell me about the powers of those on your crew with Devil Fruits. That should be a fair trade for the bigwigs of Fishman Island."

"Sounds good to me," Amy nodded. "There are seven, no, eight of us without counting Kaku. Luffy has the Gum-Gum Fruit which has turned his body into rubber. Coby has the Dragon-Dragon Zoan Fruit: Ancient Model Triceratops. Gin has the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, the electric Logia. I have the Kilo-Kilo Fruit, which lets me change my mass and the mass of things I'm holding in kilo increments. My sister recently ate the Chem-Chem Fruit, allowing her to freely control chemicals, though I don't know much more than that. We haven't had time to talk about it."

"Go on."

"Next is Chopper. He's a reindeer who ate a Human-Human Fruit, though we don't know if it has a specific model. It lets him transform into different body types and gave him human intelligence. After him is Robin. She ate the Flower-Flower Fruit which lets her bloom body parts like arms, eyes, or mouths anywhere she can see. Last is Brook. He ate the Revive-Revive Fruit, which brought him back to life after he died, so he's a skeleton now, and that's about it."

"That's all?" Madam Finwaters pressed.

"I mean, there's Kaku, but he's not a member of the crew. And everyone else's abilities are... well, not necessarily natural, but not from Devil Fruits."

"I see," the native nodded, recognizing that Amy was following the letter of their agreement and nothing more, like a true negotiator. "I'll accept that. There are quite a few key players, so you might want to take notes. Leading the pirates are Hody Jones and Vander Decken IX, and the latter has powers that I won't tell you about. At the head of the government is King Neptune and his children. He has three sons: Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi, and a daughter, Princess Shirahoshi. There are no direct leaders of the people, but many look up to Madam Sharley. She's a wonderful woman; I have tea with her every other month. Finally, there isn't much known about Challenger Deep, but one of their cover stores is called Pearls Before Swine run by one of their top brass called Mitsushi."

"Thank you, Madam Finwaters," Kaku muttered, giving a small bow while still seated. He reached back, only to freeze. His smile twitched as he switched hands, his movements becoming increasingly frantic.

"Is something wrong?" the fishwoman asked, whipping out her fan to hide a smirk.

"I don't seem to have my money with me," Kaku admitted after another short but fruitless search. "It must have gotten left on the ship when we got separated. I'm afraid we don't have nothing to pay you with for a map."

"Wait, I think..." Amy and Usopp paled, now frantically searching their own persons.

"Those guards of yours stole my wallet," Amy frowned.

"Mine, too," Usopp cried.

"Wait, did those girls from before...?" Kaku gasped, clearly ready to believe those pretty mermaids made off with his money.

"Oh that's unfortunate," the anglerfish grinned, pulling a map out of... somewhere. "Here, you can take this one as a loan, assuming you promise to come give me something of equal value later. I'll just take some collateral until then."

"Like what?" the Zoan blinked, the local pushing the map into his hand.

"Don't you worry about that," Madam Finwaters winked, her smile widening in a way they did nothing to dissuade the worry Kaku felt. "I do believe you have places to be, if you want to meet up with your friends and give me an entertaining time. Tata!"

The building's owner snapped once more, a trio of burly fishmen entering the room. None too softly, they grabbed the three guests before they could react, tossing them out the window. Use to similar situations of suddenly falling, Usopp was the first to react.

"Special Attack: Bounce Green!" Firing a seed at the street below, the plant inside grew a thick cluster of balloon-like vines in moments upon contact with the ground. Usopp hit the plant first, bouncing onto his feet. Kaku followed him, using Moonwalk to slow his decent. Amy landed last, having floated down like she usually did. The crowd stared at them, shocked.

"Well that was something," Amy groused. "At least we got some information for everyone. Speaking of, has anyone tried the snails?"

"I hadn't even thought about it," Usopp blinked. "I haven't used it in so long, I just about forgot about them."

Kaku opened him mouth, only for his eyes to widen. He waved his arms, getting the pirates' attention, and tried to speak. Still nothing happened, even as the former CP9 agent's mouth moved.

"I'm starting to think there was more to the deal you made than we thought," Usopp muttered, his face paling.

"Oh shit," Amy whispered, her eyes turning to the window where Madam Finwaters was looking down on them. Kaku threw his arms up, but neither pirate could tell what he was trying to imply. "You can have the map back!"

"No no, dearie," the anglerfish grinned, her words coming out with Kaku's voice, an effect that came off eerie considering Finwaters' choice of words. "I said I want entertainment, so entertain me!"

"Hey! Humans!" The pirates and agent swiveled, finding several fishmen coming closer with a pair of swords. They looked bloodthirsty, their eyes glinting. One had a visible tattoo on his arm, what seemed to be a simplistic humanoid character with the circle to represent its head beside its feet, all of this in a circle with a diagonal line through it. The meaning was obvious. These were not friendlies.

"Run!" Usopp yelled, all three locking into their Flight response and booking it as fast as they could, the sounds of the crowd drowning out the ringing of their snails and Madam Finwaters' laughter in Kaku's voice.

Nami, Coby, Brook, and their new soldier companions wandered through the shopping district of Fishman Island, the frantic mother calling for her son as loud as she could. Though she had tried to get her cohorts to search too, her own volume meant their assistance would mean little anyway. Instead, Coby conversed with the natives while Brook took in the sights (not that he had eyes to, yohoho!).

"The way the mangroves carry light is amazing," Coby smiled, walking alongside Dave and the knowledgeable soldier whose name was Shine. "I mean, I'd heard tell of it while on Sabaody, but seeing it in person is a whole different matter."

"Well, you get used to it," Dave shrugged, keeping an eye on the people around them.

"Tri-Horn, you're being pretty nonchalant for how the Cat Burglar is acting right now," Shine offered, his trident held against his chest like a child holds a teddy bear.

"This isn't the worst spot we've ever been in," Coby responded with a shrug. "Ace is with someone, so I know he's safe wherever he is. It's just a matter of us gathering, and that's going to happen when one of us makes a ruckus. That's just how these things go."

"I do not like the sound of that," Dave muttered.

"You said you were waiting for us," the Zoan pointed out. "That means you have to have heard of our... proclivities." Coby turned, slowly blinking at a small group that had formed around his tallest and eldest crewmate.

"Kya~! It's Soul King! Will you sign my arm?"

"No! Sign my tail!"

"Sign my shirt!"

"Sign my bo-!"

"I think that's enough of that," Coby cut in, stepping between Brook and his adoring, scantily-clad fans. "As Soul King's manager, I'm sorry to say that we can't stick around any longer, but if any of you can bring us information about a young human child named Ace, our crew would be very grateful. He's missing at the moment."

"Yohoho, that's correct," Brook quickly agreed. He wasn't able to say any more before the crowd dispersed, beginning their own goose chases for Ace. The wonders of stardom, Coby mused.

"So you're my manager now, Coby?" Brook questioned with a quirk of his nonexistent eyebrow.

"We need to get moving," the rosette shrugged.

"Well, well," a male voice mused nearby. "Aren't you all a sight for sore eyes."

Speaking of stars and stardom.

"If it isn't Pappagu," Coby smiled, getting down on one knee to offer the beanie-wearing starfish a hand. The talking animal accepted the offer, climbing up to rest on Coby's shoulder. "I would have thought you would be hanging out with Camie right now."

"Nah," Pappagu waved off. "She's got her job and I've got mine. We live in separate areas, too."

"Really?" Brook blinked (or he would have if he had eyelids!). "I was under the impression that you were her pet."

"That's completely false!"

"Mr. Pappagu," Dave and Shine greeted, not quite bowing but giving the starfish an air of respect that Coby was unprepared for. "Do you know these pirates?"

"You're pirates?!" the endoderm gasped, one arm over the middle of his body (since starfish don't have a heart, like a certain musician, yohoho!). His surprised face quickly relaxed into a grin. "Nah, I'm just kidding. Yeah, I know these guys. Their crew saved me and a couple friends a few years ago, so we said we'd meet up with them when they got here." He turned to address Coby. "Camie said you'd be here next month, though."

"Yet here we are," Brook chuckled. "Getting here was no easy feat and we got separated coming in."

"Yeah, I can see that," Pappagu nodded. "I heard you made it big, Soul King, so I thought I'd follow the sounds of a crowd of fans. Who's the Ace character you were asking about? You know, the one Cat Burglar is yelling about over there." The starfish gestured over his shoulder to where Nami was balancing on the shoulders of the three other fishman soldiers, each seemingly boxed in by the air around them complete with the face-pressed-against-the-window squish.

"Her son," Brook answered, the invertebrate doing a double-take.

"Luffy's the father," Coby offered quickly before any misconceptions could form. "Ace is nearly two, but because of Luffy's genes, he almost looks more like a four or five year old."

"I'm honestly surprised," Pappagu blinked behind his shades. "And after the crying ship, I though I couldn't be surprised by you all anymore."

"We're just full of surprises," Coby shot back. "Thank you for helping to care for Sunny while we were busy, though. I couldn't have done it all alone between my training and the job with the Red Embers."

"Don't worry about it," Pappagu waved off. "She's a real good kid. In fact, taking care of her has made me consider having a few brats of my own."

"But...?" Coby floundered. "Don't starfish reproduce asexually? And not have any sort of development?"

"Yeah, so?"

"..."

"..."

"... Never mind."

"You know, I'm curious," the starfish began, shifting the topic while Coby and Brook were trying to wrap their minds around his previous statement (not that Brook had a mind anymore). "You all had den-dens to talk on two years ago, so why don't you use them now?"

"I..." The skeleton and Zoan glanced at each other, one of them blinking in lieu of the other not having eyes or eyelids. They turned back to the starfish. "We forgot."

As if the universe was rubbing salt into their wounded pride, their snails started to ring.

"Actually, Camie, could you let me out here?" Franky's question came as their turtle taxi swam by the shore, the tops of buildings over the edge.

"You don't want to come see the mermaids?" Luffy blinked, turning away from his sightseeing to look at the shipwright. "I thought you, Brook, and Sanji would be the ones most excited to see them."

"I've got an errand I have to do," Franky responded, standing as Camie asked the turtle to stop. "My old mentor Tom is from the island and I want to track down his little brother Den so I can tell him just how super important he was to me. Plus, I want to try to track down Sunny. I'll meet up with you all later."

"That's fine," Luffy nodded. It wasn't his place to tell his crew what they could and could not do on their shore leave. "We'll meet up again later. Let us know when you find her."

"Go find her."

"Find her!"

"He won't find her."

"Maybe he'll find her."

"Who cares if he finds her?"

"I'm sure Franky-chin will find Merry-chin," Camie offered. "He built her, so I'm sure he will. Maybe he can... I don't know, call her or something?"

"Ah, Don?" Gin asked as their turtle taxi dipped below the water once more. "Did we forget we can call everyone on our snails?"

"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed. "Yeah! Oops, how silly of us! I'll give everyone a call right now!"

"This truly is a beautiful spot," Robin commented as she, Merry, and their new companion Mina rode on a Taxi Turtle, said turtle nearing its destination of the forest on the very edge of Fishman Island.

"This is it!" Mina smiled, extending an arm toward the trees in the distance. The underwater forest seemed to be inside its own personal bubble, a massive beam of transferred sunlight shining down on it. Even from their current distance, Merry and Robin could make out a good number of old and/or damaged ships cast around the edge of the forest. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Sunny was not one of them. The mermaid spun to face the pirates, one finger up in front of her lips. "Our little national treasure, the Sea Forest. Not a lot of people come out here because of the distance or the currents unless they want a romantic getaway from the crowds, so it's usually empty and quiet. Outsiders aren't supposed to be here, but I think we can make an exception for our Boss' friends."

"That's very generous," Robin nodded.

"Hey, Robin," Merry began, her face all but pressed against the bubble. "Could you let me try to read it out loud before translating it for us? I know I don't have that much practice, but I have this gut feeling that the ancient language is going to be important for us. I can't say how or why, though. It's just a feeling. A fairy feeling."

"Actually, I was going to suggest the same thing," the eldest of the women responded, turning her gaze from the forest in the distance to the white-haired girl. "I can make all the practice sentences in the world, but the only way to use the language is with a Poneglyph in front of you."

"We're here," Mina announced, their turtle transportation coming to a full stop halfway inside the bubble surrounding the Poneglyph and its forest. The mermaid hopped out, offering her hand for the human and Klabautermann. Neither took the offer, much to her disappointment.

"Where is the Poneglyph located?" Robin inquired.

"It's hidden in the forest," Mina answered as the dark-haired human stepped out of the bubble. "Some say the forest was planted to hide it, but I don't know if I believe that."

"The chances of that story being true as as likely as the alternative, but the results are the same in either case."

Merry's feet hit the soft dirt a moment after Robin's, the white-haired ship-girl sprinting toward the trees.

"Be careful!" Mina yelled. "There's an important grave you can't disturb!"

"She'll be fine," Robin assured, keeping her own doubts to herself while hoping Merry didn't go off the handle like Luffy or Zoro could. On the bright side, this expedition of theirs was purely archeological, so there should be no destruction.

Should, of course, being the optimal word, though there was no known method to damage a Poneglyph, so Robin was unconcerned about that.

Merry's form vanished into the treeline, Robin and Mina silent as the pair moved over at a more sedated pace. A second later, Merry burst from the trees, a look of confusion on her face.

"Is something the matter, Merry?" Robin asked.

"Uhh, no?" the Klabautermann answered, a hitch in her voice. "I'm just making sure I know the way out is all."

Quickly, before she could be questioned further, the young fairy turned and headed back into the forest. Robin stopped Mina several feet from the closest trees, a hand on the mermaid's shoulder.

"What is it?" the merfolk asked.

"Give it a moment," the archeologist said. "Three... two..."

Right on queue, Merry ran out of the forest once again, though this time from a different set of trees off to Robin and Mina's left. The horned girl blinked, her gaze landing on Robin's knowing half-smirk.

"...Dammit," she muttered, one hand grabbing a horn in frustration like one might run their fingers through their hair. "Fine, to ahead and say it, Robin."

"It appears Zoro's sense of direction has taken root in you, Merry," the older pirate chuckled. "How unfortunate."

"Shut up," Merry whined. "Back in Water 7, I was always following someone, or the city was so big that I had an excuse for getting lost."

"But you have neither in this scenario," Robin pointed out. "Now stick with the group and don't go running off like our dear captain.

"Alright, alright." Merry stepped over to Robin and Mina, preparing to enter the forest once more. They paused, however, a soft ringing breaking the silence around them. Robin and Merry reached under their clothing, each pulling out a ringing snail. Sharing a glance, Merry answered hers.

"We made it!" their captain's voice yelled from the snail. "Shishishi! Hey, everyone! Report in!"

"Hi, Daddy!" Ace called, his voice echoing through the snail. "Auntie Grace and Choppy and Uncle Zowo fought off some real mean guys!"

"Oh Goda, Ace!" Nami's voice breathed, relief evident in her cadence. "I thought I'd lost you. Stay with Aunt Grace and Chopper, ok? Not with Uncle Zoro!"

"Oi!"

"Ok, Mommy, but Uckle Zowo already went poof!"

"What about everyone else?" Luffy asked, some whispers beforehand showing the question was prompted.

"I... don't know where I am," Zoro slowly admitted, still a bit sore about being called out at being lost even though Nami had no direct evidence to the accusation's validity. "Some kind of smooth metal hallway."

Robin settled in for what would clearly be a long discussion.

End of Chapter 7

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-SwordOfTheGods