"Oi, that's enough!" calls a familiar voice. "Good job, Surume!" Luffy, Sanji and Zoro appear out of the gloom, all stuffed in a single bubble. "It was a really close call, everyone! My and Sanji's bubbles popped, so we had to get into Zoro's! Whew! I really thought I was done for!" The three finally squeak back into the ship's bubble and land on the deck. Sanji suffers another one of his massive nose-bleeds the second he lays eyes on Nami and Robin, much to Chopper's concern.
"Surume?" echos Run, looking over the railing of the Sunny at the massive Kraken. "Dahahaha~! I see you made a friend!"
"Alright! Draw the Sunny, Surume!" The Kraken settles the Sunny on top of it's head and takes off quickly. The red head glances back at the Angler, who floats in the same place as before looking extremely confused. He waves a hand at the giant fish with a grin. Before it can do anything, the whole sea bed begins to rumble violently, and lights up with a crimson hue. "Oi, oi, what's going on?"
"Th-The volcano...it's going to erupt!" screams Nami. That seems to be all that Surume needs to hear, and it begins 'running' in the opposite direction as quickly as possible. "Nice! It looks like we might just make if away from this after all!"
"He runs awful," Robin observes. The red head laughs while Franky chastises her for being 'mean' to the Kraken. Seconds later, the volcano behind them erupts violently, bathing the whole sea floor in a crimson light, and it's molten rock.
"Faster, Surume!" complains Usopp. "If you don't hurry up you're going to be cooked octopus!" The Kraken doubles his pace, sprinting along the sea floor away from the rapidly encroaching lava. "Go, go, go!"
"Keep going straight!" Nami says, staring at the log pose. "We're getting close!" Ahead of them, a massive sea trench stretches out as far as the eye can see, barring their way. "It's there! Jump into the trench!"
"I-It's a sheer cliff! You've gotta be kidding me! It's darker than dark!" The rest of them ignore their Sniper's complaining as they forge onward, and then leap into the trench. The red head grabs the railing of the Sunny with one hand and wraps his free arm around Robin's waist quickly. They drift down quickly into the trench...but, unfortunately, a huge shower of rocks follows after them quickly.
"Aah, c'mon, give us a break!" complains Run, staring at the massive rocks.
"It's an avalanche of rocks and earth!" calls Nami. "The eruption must have caused it!"
"There's no way the Sunny can take a hit from one of those things! We need to do something!" Zoro rushes to the railing of the Sunny, and grips the tsuka of one of his katana.
"Oi, Red!" shouts Zoro. "Give me a hand! We're gonna go cut those rocks! Luffy! Grab our legs and hold on tight! Get ready to pulls us back when we're done!" The red head moves to the railing beside him and grabs the hilt of his cutlass tightly. Before either of them can make a move, however, they quickly find themselves wrapped up by a great number of Robin's arms.
"Hold on!" demands Robin. "We're eight thousand meters deep! If you two go out there you'll be killed by the water pressure immediately!"
"Aah, well, I'm open to ideas," Run tells her with a grin.
"Just leave it to me, then!" Usopp exclaims. "Sure Kill; Green Star...Sargasso!" Usopp fires a small green pellets through the bubble over the Sunny, and the second it strikes the cliff face it explodes into...sea-weed? The long strands of vegetation immediately bind the falling rock, acting as a net to capture all the debris. Chopper and Luffy seem to be completely amazed with his cool new attacks. "It'll only hold for a moment! Now, Surume, we need to get away!" The Kraken surges away from the bound debris just as the sea-weed breaks, but it seems as though they're out of danger for the moment.
"Good job, Usopp!" laughs Luffy.
"Of course! It's not like I was just fooling around for the past two years. Let me tell you all about it! It's actually a very touching story!" As soon as he begins to talk about how he's spent the last two years, Nami stops him. This comes as a disappointment to him and to Luffy.
"We're safe! Good job, Surume!" cheers Nami. They've barely begun to relax, however, when a rock suddenly plummets from above and strikes the Kraken right on top of the head, knocking it out cold. "Nooooo!" They're knocked briefly from it's grasp as they drift deeper into the darkness of the trench...
- - -
"Aah...you alright?" Run asks, holding tight to Robin. Even spinning and tumbling like a top on the way down, the Sunny seems to have held strong against the current. The same can't be said for the crew, however, as they've been tossed about the deck...although, Run seems to have softened Robin's landing, with her landing in a full mount.
"Mm, luckily enough you seem to have broken my fall," Robin tells him with a smile. "Although..." She briefly glances over her shoulder at his hands on her behind. "...I'm not so sure about your hand holds."
"Well...seems my body moved on it's own." With a giggle she stands, and helps the red head to his feet. Thankfully, it seems that Surume softened the landing with his body...but that falls by the way side as they all slowly take in their surroundings. Everything is shining so brightly, as if they've never left the surface begin with. "It always impressive, no matter how many times I see it." Surume finally seems to come back around, lifting the Sunny up above it's head as it had before. Seems a blow to the head was only enough to stun it for a bit...no wonder it's considered such a legendary creature.
"It's so bright!" Brook adds. "It's dazzling my eyes! Ah. But I don't have eyes to be dazzled! Yohohoho~!"
"Oi, oi! Look!" laughs Luffy, pointing into the distance. "Nami! That's it, right? That's got to be it!"
"There's no doubt!" Nami assures him. "The needle is pointing straight at it! That's Fish-Man Island!" The 'island' is completely encased in one of the resin bubbles they've seen time and time again on the surface of the Archipelago. The bubble surrounding the island is so massive it even has clouds in it! Beautiful fish of all color and type swim lazily around the bubble, lending an even more astonishing air to the majestic sight.
"Yeah!! We finally made it!" Nearly everyone celebrates finally setting eyes on the island...some for different reasons than others, but it's a celebration none-the-less. Of course, it's short lived, as they suddenly find themselves confronted with a massive group of Sea Monster's. "Oooh~! So cool~! Look at those Sea Monsters! H-Huh? Oi, I think someone is riding one of them?" Chopper, Nami, Usopp and Brook immediately begin to panic as they face the Sea Monsters!
"Why are you obeying these foolish Humans, Kraken?" questions a voice. Surume breaks out into a panic seconds later, leaving the Sunny spinning around and around. When they finally strike the sea bed, they find themselves right in the middle of all the sea monsters. "You guys are the Straw Hat's, aren't you?"
"Who are you? How do you know about us?"
"Oh, we know all about you guys. You're the one's who foiled the plans of the Arlong Pirates. That was easy enough to understand...but then you stood up for Hachi, a former member of the Arlong Pirates, two years ago and knocked out one of the Celestial Dragons! Just like Fisher Tiger, the hero of Fish-Man Island!" The Fish-Man pauses to briefly laugh. "It's hard to decide what to do with you. Are you guys allies or not? I'll give you a choice, enlist under the banner of the New Fish Man Pirates...or refuse. Well? If you refuse, we'll sink you!"
"Work for you?" Luffy asks him. "No way! Idiot!" Luffy stretches his cheeks and sticks his tongue out immediately.
"Dahahahaha~! I guess that's the answer, then!" Run laughs. Nami begins whispering to Franky immediately, and the crew springs into action quickly. They're going to use what little bit of air they've got left in a final Coup de Burst, and bet it all on reaching Fish-Man Island. It's an all or nothing gamble but they've really got no other options. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Run all stand at the bow of the Sunny, staring up at the Fish Men and their pets.
"Hmph! Stupid~!" taunts Luffy. "There's no way we'd fall under you!"
"Fine! If that's how you want to be, then we'll just sink you here, you filthy Humans! Sea Lion!"
"Now!" shouts Franky. "Coup de Burst!" They go sailing past the Fish-Man pirates towards the Island in the distance. The bubble shrinks rapidly, pressing all of them against the deck of the Sunny. "We're heading in!" They strike the bubble and push through to the island. Unfortunately, there seems to be a big problem! Firstly, the bubble stripped the coating off the ship, and secondly, it's a double structure! They're surrounded by nothing but air and heading towards the second bubble! They strike it head on, surging straight into nothing but water! The whole crew is swept from the ship in the resulting whirling current, twisting and turning violently.
The red head struggles through the violent current, righting himself in the water almost immediately as he searches for their Devil Fruit eaters. Through the churning sea around him he spots Robin and quickly swims in her direction...
- - -
"Whew~! Talk about a close call!" says Run, pulling himself up onto the shore with a grin. "I thought we were never gonna make it to shore!"
"This isn't funny!" Nami shouts at him. "I thought you were gonna leave me behind after you grabbed Robin!" While they were left flailing in the sea he'd managed to grab Robin and Nami but unfortunately the rest of the crew had been scattered by the current before he could help them as was left with nothing else but to drag the three of them to the surface and swim for shore.
"Relax, relax! It wasn't gonna leave anyone behind." Run approaches and kneels at Robin's side. "Hey, rise and shine time." She stirs slightly as he lifts her up to lean against his knee while a grin appears on his face. "No sleeping on the job now." Her eyes open slowly and she stares up at him. "Hey, you."
"Mm, I knew you'd save me," Robin murmurs, slowly sitting up and pressing a kiss to his lips.
"Didn't know it was even in question." Run helps her to her feet and the three slowly scan their surroundings. Exactly where they've managed to come ashore at is...well, it's beyond them. Even though Run had come through here several times with Shanks before it was never anything more than a brief stop on the way to their final destination.
"Wow, it's hard to believe that we're underwater," Nami says, looking at the 'sky' over their heads. Of course, while she's admiring the scenery, she quickly notice something rapidly approaching in their direction from the water. "Wh-What's that? Run, look!" The red head turns in the direction, raising a hand to scratch the stubble on his jaw. In the blink of an eye, Nami appears behind Run. "Go! Get ready to--"
"Mmmm...SUPER~!" screams a familiar voice, leaping out of the water and landing on the rocky shore beside him. "Yow~! I thought I recognized the three of you! That was a close one but luckily you managed to make it to shore."
"Aah, Franky, good to see you," Run says. "I guess you didn't manage to grab any of the others."
"Unfortunately, I wasn't within reach of anyone else. I guess it can be considered good luck that you managed to grab Nico Robin and Nami. That said, we should probably take a look around and figure out what to do from there..."
- - -
Although they'd found themselves separated from the crew and the Sunny...their landing spot almost couldn't have been better. After a bit of scouting, they'd discovered that they'd come ashore just outside of what seems to be a large shopping area. Brightly colored shops and buildings of all kinds line the streets which are packed to the brim with mermaids and fishmen alike.
"Wow," Run begins. "I guess I should've done some sight seeing the last time we swung through here."
"It looks like there's so many good places to shop!" Nami gushes.
"There's so many people here," Franky says, scanning the crowds. "I guess it won't take long to get some information."
"What about Luffy and the others?"
"That, too. However, what I want to know most are the whereabouts of my shipwright master's relatives. This is where he came from, after all. If any of his family are here then I would like to tell them about the way that he lived. I know that we've just gotten back together but this is something I have to do alone."
"I'd like to check on some thing's, too," Robin tells them. "There are a lot of ancient traditions on Fishman Island. So, there must be some important pieces of history that haven't been revealed, yet." Nami looks pointedly at the red head who glances over either shoulder quickly.
"Aah, well, I should--"
"Thank you for volunteering!" Nami says, interrupting Run while Franky and Robin immediately scatter. "I knew I could count on you to hold my bags for me." Without giving him any chance to respond, Nami strides past him and catches him by the back of his coat, dragging him along on his heels.
"Wow! You're really strong all of the sudden..."
- - -
Shopping with Nami passes by in a blur for the red head...perhaps it's the dashing from store to store, or the blatant extortion to reach the prices she's willing to pay. Either way, it's surprisingly entertaining to watch the poor shop keepers sweat and stutter before Nami finally decides that whatever pieces she has tossed into his arms isn't what she's looking for and she drags him out once again. However, this trend seems to come to a sudden and abrupt end when she drags him into a 'Criminal' brand store. Even as little as he pays attention to such things, Run is aware of just had expensive and how nice the brand is...especially since it blew up during the two year period they were separated.
"Try this, this and this," Nami tells him, tossing several pieces of clothing in his direction. "They'll look good with your build." Run catches them with ease, his brow furrowing slightly in response as he looks at the clothes for a moment and then back at her. "What?"
"What's the catch," Run questions her plainly. "You've never been this nice to me." The two stare at each other in silence for several long moments. "Aah, alright, what of mine did you break or--" Nami responds immediately, striking him several times on the head and raising a knot each other. "Ow! Didn't hurt!" He reaches up to rub the knots on his head. "I'm tellin' Robin!"
"Just go change, idiot! And roll the sleeves don't fold them!" While still rubbing the knots on his head he beats a hasty retreat into the changing room. He quickly changes into the clothes she's picked out and is rather surprised to find that they all fit him perfectly...which raises the question of how exactly she knew his sizes. He takes a quick glance in the mirror...a navy blue button up shirt over a grey tank top and black pants. He drapes his coat over his shoulders as he steps out.
"Aah, these fit like a glove. How did you--" The words die in his throat as he finds Nami standing almost toe to toe with a man that Run can only imagine is the manager. If his expression is anything to go by, she's clearly been putting this poor man through the wringer the whole time he's been changing.
"Hmm, it's too much!" Nami complains to the manager. "You need to lower these prices!"
"M-Miss, that's impossible!" he tells her.
"Like I said, they're too expensive! They're cute but...let's make it ten-thousand Beli!"
"Yeah, there it is," Run mutters, approaching them. "Nami--"
"Huh? It IS them!" calls a voice from the entrance. "I knew it! Nami, Run!" Both immediately look in the direction of the voice, finding not just Luffy but Usopp, Brook and even Keimi and Papuug. The little starfish charges into the store quickly looking around.
"Oi, oi, what's going on here?" Papug asks.
"Oh, thank goodness!" sighs the manager. "Monsieru Pappagu, you came at just the right time! We have a bit of a...troublesome customer." Nami quickly approaches the starfish and lifts him up to stare directly into his eyes.
"So, you're the owner!" Nami says. "Just why is everything is so expensive here? Are you trying to rip me off? Give me a discount!" The little starfish manages to pull himself free by some stroke of luck, and lands several feet away from them.
"Now, just hold on a minute!" Pappug tells her. "I owe you guys big time from two years ago! So...it's all free! Take as much as you want!" That's all that Nami needs to hear, and in a flash she's nearly entirely cleared everything off the racks after enlisting the help of Luffy, Usopp and Brook. They've barely finished robbing them blind, however, before a loud commotion outside of the store draws their attention and they find themselves heading out the door to investigate. "I-I-It's him! Why did he come down to the lower world?" All heads turn skyward as a massive whale being ridden by an even bigger merman descends in their direction.
"Damn!" exclaims Run with a grin. "He's one big ass merman!" Pappug immediately responds by leaping up and actually delivering a kick, or rather doing his best attempt at a kick, to Run's temple.
"You insolent fool! How could you talk about him like that?! That man is the king of Ryugu Kingdom on Fish Man Island! That's King Neptune!"
"He's really hairy!" chirps Luffy, staring up at him.
"Not you, too! Bow down, you fools!"
"Aww, look at the whale!" Run says with a grin. "C'mere, buddy! Someone needs some belly pats!"
"Hmm, Megalo," begins Neptune, glancing over his shoulder as a massive shark descends in their direction. "Are you sure these are the ones?" The massive shark does his best to nod in agreement.
"Oh, I recognize him!" Luffy calls. "It's the shark that was caught by Surume!"
"You Straw Hat people. I'm going to...invite you to the Ryugu Palace-jamon...!"
- - -
A banquet with royalty as a thank you for rescuing a shark...as many times as Run turns it over in his head, it's difficult to believe. Of course, it's not the strangest thing to happen to them so maybe it's best for him not to dwell on it too much. Neptune was even kind enough to allow Keimi and Pappug to come along with them, and according to him Zoro had already been invited and started drinking ahead of them. Of course, with them scattered to the winds like they are they'll probably have to wait a bit for Neptune's soldiers to find the rest of the crew and bring them to the palace. After a few minutes of flying through the air, they eventually arrive at the entrance to the palace, a strange gate built into the bubble that nearly all of Fish Man Island.
"Oh, before I forget, you'll need this," Neptune tells them, tossing a small bundle in their direction. Luffy snatches it out of the air and quickly digs through the bag to produce a number of small pink coral pieces. "The majority of my palace is underwater, so you'll need a good bubble-jamon."
"It's Bubble Coral," Keimi tells them, looking at the pink coral. "You press it and--" Without waiting for her to finish, Luffy and Nami both press the top of the rather spongy coral, and they watch in amazement as two large bubbles suddenly grow in size before joining into one large enough to cover them all.
"Alright, let's go-jamon!" Saying that, Neptune and Megalo charge through the bubble gate through a long tunnel before finally being spit out in front of a rather opulent palace surrounded on all sides by massive and colorful coral. "Here we are."
"So cool~!" gushes Luffy as they're carried to the entrance. The massive doors open, and they're greeted by a massive number of guards all of whom welcome the return of their king loudly and proudly. The crew disembarks from the back of Megalo.
"Welcome to my palace-jamon! Stay as long as you--"
"You did it again!" screams a merman, immediately drawing their attention to a pair several feet away from Neptune. "You went out of the palace on your own again! It's inexcusable to go down to the lower world without guards!" They watch in shock as Neptune is brow beaten by the merman for several long minutes without a chance to get a word in edgewise. It's...difficult to believe this man is actually the ruler of Fish Man Island with the ear full he's receiving.
"A-Ahem! I brought the people who saved Megalo when he was attacked by the Kraken-jamon!" The two mermen look in their direction while Neptune turns back towards them. "Now, welcome our guests! Aah, actually, where is the Princess? What is Princess Shirahoshi doing?"
"W-Well, King Neptune, it happened again a few minutes ago."
"What? You have to guard the Princess to keep her calm, idiots!" Rather than intimidating the two mermen it only results in Neptune receiving another ear full from them. While he's busy being scolding, Run scans their surroundings and notices something wrong.
"Hm? Hey, did anyone see where Luffy ran off to?" Run questions them.
"Wasn't he just here?" Usopp asks. "Jeez, he just can't stay still...but really, when are we gonna get to the banquet? Are we just supposed to keep standing around like this?"
"My stomach is growling," complains Brook. "Aah, but I don't have a stomach to growl! Yohohohoho~!" Run reaches up to scratch the stubble on his jaw and sighs.
"Aah, I'd say the banquet has been cancelled," Run tells them, scanning their surroundings. They've very rapidly been surrounded on all sides by Neptune's soldiers, all of whom stand with their weapons at the ready. "Boy, we're sandwiched alright."
"I'm sorry that you've come all this way," begins one of Neptune's advisors. "But we've just received some new information! You Straw Hat people are the main suspects in two ongoing investigations."
"For WHAT?"
"First, for multiple counts of Mermaid kidnapping! Second, you people are suspected for being a potential threat to Fish Man Island due to Madam Sharley's prevision! Therefore, we're going to have to take you people into custody!"
"Prevision? Look, you throw a dart at a board long enough eventually you're gonna get a bulls-eye, pal."
"That's right!" agrees Usopp. "You don't know if it'll happen for real!"
"Catch them at any costs!" demands the advisor. "We have to protect Fish Man Island!" Several of the Fish Men surrounding them begin to move in their direction before suddenly collapsing face first to the ground, some foaming at the mouth in their bubble while others simply lie motionless in the water.
"Now, now!" Run says with a grin. "I'm sure that we can talk about this."
"See? This is the prologue to the future that has been predicted!"
"Yeah, right!" Usopp shouts back at him. "If you guys hadn't attacked us to start with then we wouldn't have had to fight back! But...fighting with these guys is gonna be nothing compared to the all-out attacks of the giant insects of Bowin Island! I hope you're prepared to witness the power of my new weapon - Black Kabuto! Now, bring it on!"
"K-King Neptune! We need your help!"
"Hmm, I doubt the fairness of the situation," Neptune says. "Arresting someone based on a prediction that may or may not come to pass...I need some time to think-jamon! Thus, I'll unfortunately need to take you all into custody for now!" Neptune raises his massive trident, whirling it around several times before finally launching it at them. Run grasps the hilt of his cutlass, and relaxes moments later when the attack is very suddenly intercepted by none other than Zoro. "If you continue to resist there will be casualties on both sides! It's better to surrender with some grace-jamon, Zori!"
"It's Zoro!" shouts Zoro, leaping back to land in front of the group.
"Surround them!" demands one of Neptune's advisors. "Pop the bubble! It's better if we fight them in the water!" Fish Man guards surround their bubble on all sides, weapons held at the ready. Before they can put their plan into action, however, their bubble rapidly expands on all directions. It forces all the water out of the hall as a result, leaving them no opportunity to get the upper-hand.
"Sorry!" giggles Nami. "I found this large piece of Bubbly Coral!"
"Aah, now that we're on equal footing," Run begins. "Let's talk about this..."
- - -
"Dahahahaha~! I see your temper is as foul as ever!" laughs Run, looking around at the now defeated and bound Fish Men. It was a surprisingly short fight, and eventually culminated in...well, the defeat and binding of every one who had stood against them. "I'd hoped that two years might've been enough to mellow you out but I guess some things never change, huh?"
"He's right!" agrees Usopp. "No matter how you look at it, this is completely over-kill, isn't it?!"
"You should regret your actions!" adds Brook.
"You guys started this fight!" Zoro shouts. "What's done is done! So, stop complaining!"
"What's done is done?!" echos Usopp. "Stopping by Fishman Island and occupying the palace accidentally?! What are we?! Some kind of evil pirates?! I told you so many times that we should look for a chance and then make an escape?! Now, how are we going to explain this?! No matter how you look at it, no one is ever gonna believe we did this on 'accident'!"
"Aah, relax, relax!" Run tells him, giving him a firm pat on the back. "It'll all work out in the end! Besides, we could exactly make an escape without Luffy, could we?"
"That's right, Luffy is missing! Where did he go?" Brook offers a shrug in response to his question, while Nami begins questioning the tied up guards. But rather than asking about Luffy's where-abouts, she asks them about the location of the treasure vault. "Don't ask about that!"
"What? Why?" Nami questions in the cutest voice she can muster.
"Don't act so naive! This is serious!" While the two continue to argue, Brook begins a song to life everyone's spirits. Although it seems to fall on deaf ears as the Minster of the Left and Right seem to be more concerned with the welfare of King Neptune. Honestly, Zoro didn't really have to do anything to the man. It seems that age is catching up with the King, as his back gave out on his second strike providing them the opportunity to quickly tie him up and deal with the others.
"We can't really stay here," Zoro sighs. "Where's the Sunny? We should bring her around, gather everyone and get out of here while we can."
"The coating came off, remember?" Usopp reminds him, breaking up his argument with Nami. "We can't go anywhere before we get it coated again."
"The Log Pose hasn't been working for a while, too," adds Nami, glancing at her wrist. "It's been unstable since we got here. See? The needle keeps spinning in circles." Nami holds it out for everyone to see and then sighs softly as she lowers her arm.
"Aah, actually," Run begins, digging into one of his coat's pockets. "I have something for that." He produces what seems to be a wrist watch and tosses it to her. "Since some islands can change or even completely hide their magnetic field in the New World, you need a special type of Log Pose to navigate. The one we have now can't be trusted because it has a single needle, so make sure to hang onto that one, Nami!" She states at the new Log Pose for a moment before looking pointedly at the red head.
"You've had this the whole time?"
"Yeah? I was gonna give it to you when we met up in Sabaody but it must have slipped my mind in all the excitement!" Before she can well and truly tear into the red head for his supposed forgetfulness, a transponder snail across the room suddenly begins to ring. All heads turn at the sound, and all the men in the room perk up.
"It must be Prince Fukaboshi!" exclaims the Minster of the Right. Zoro quickly walks over and picks up the receiver before anyone can stop him.
"Hello," begins Zoro. "Who is it?" Usopp immediately shouts at him not to answer, as if yelling can undo what has been done. Cries for help immediately echo through the room, alerting the Prince to the situation inside the palace. "Shut up!"
"What's going on in there?" demands a voice from the other side. "Open the gates immediately and let us in."
"And then what? I can't do that." Usopp shouts again for him to be honest and explain the situation to the Prince. Papug asks for them to tie him and Camie up in an effort to avoid being labelled accomplices to the Straw Hat's. It's not really an unreasonable request, considering the situation. The shouts for help continue, regardless of Zoro's demands to be silent.
"Are you a member of the Straw Hats?"
"Fukaboshi!" exclaims King Neptune. "It's the Three-Sword Style Swordsman of the Straw Hats, 'Pirate Hunter' Zori!"
"It's Zoro!" retorts Zoro quickly.
"Father!" cries Fukaboshi. "You have Father, too!"
"Like you heard, we have Neptune and many other hostages." Zoro quickly lays out their demands to the Prince. They want the Sunny made ready to sail, freshly coated, of course. They also want the rest of the crew, in Zoro's own words, a 'gloomy woman', a 'robot', a 'raccoon', and a 'dirty water imp', all gathered up safely. Nami quickly adds a billion Beli to the list before Usopp quiets her down. It's all Brook and Run can do to stifle their laughter at hearing Sanji's 'description' to the Prince.
"Very well. I'll make the arrangements for you to leave immediately with your friends. However...I want every hostage back alive!"
"Understood." Zoro lowers the receiver, intending the end the call when a voice comes through again. "Yes?"
"Under normal circumstances I wouldn't really tell you this but I can't ignore my duty to Jimbei. This is from the Former Shichibuki, 'First Son of The Sea' Jimbei to 'Straw Hat' Luffy. He left two messages for me to pass on when you arrived." The whole room falls deathly silent, with only a few murmurs of the name 'Jimbei'...it seems he's highly respected by everyone here.
"Luffy isn't here...but I'll tell him later. Go ahead."
"Firstly, he says not to fight against Hordy. Second, he'll be waiting at the Sea Forest. That's all." The line falls silent once again, and Zoro places the receiver back on the snail's shell. The room is completely silent once again, with the crew turning the information over in their heads. Before anyone can say anything, the whole palace begins to shake violently and loud explosions reach their ears.
"What's that noise-jamon?" demands Neptune. "Don't tell me it's Decken again! It's come from the Hard-Shell tower-jamon! Shirahoshi must be in danger! The guards! Are the guards with her?!" One of the tied up Fishmen immediately responds that every guard in the palace is tied up here. "D-Damn it! Oi, Pirates! Go see if the princess is alright!"
"What? Why?" questions Zoro.
"Dahahahaha~! Man, you are ornery today!" Run laughs. "You should lighten up a little! Try smiling!"
"K-King Neptune!" cries the same guard. "They'll find out about the princess!"
"We don't have a choice-jamon!" growls Neptune. "The Hard-Shell tower is on the northeast side of the palace! Please, go there!"
"Why are we being ordered around by the hostages?" grumbles Zoro.
"Silence! Shirahoshi is my only daughter-jamon! Somebody is trying to kill her constantly! If something happens to my daughter, I'll shove you all off the end of an ocean trench!" Brook comes rushing over quickly, appearing behind Zoro in an instant.
"So, she is a mermaid princess, is that right?!" questions Brook quickly. "Then, I'll go there as quickly as possible, yohohoho~!" He pauses for a brief moment in his celebration. "Can I ask her to see her panties?" Brook rushes quickly towards one of the doors at the far side of the room.
"No! He's heading there with lascivious intent!" shouts the Minster of the Left. "Now she's in a completely different kind of danger!"
"Wait, Skeleton!" pleads the Minster of the Right. "You don't have to untie me but please take me with you! I have jurisdiction over the tower! If something happens to the Princess I'll be beside myself with regret!" Brook immediately stops in his tracks...and then doubles back to pick the man up.
"You want to see her, too, huh?" exclaims Brook. "Well, I won't deny you, then, yohohoho~...!"