Neptune was startled. He quickly stood up and said, "Quickly, before—"
Before he could finish speaking, Luffy appeared in the hall.
"No need. I'm already here."
"Luffy!"
Everyone greeted him.
This island was currently under the protection of the Straw Hat Pirates' flag.
Ever since the flag was raised, the pirates who came here had become much more restrained.
"These two are Shirahoshi's brothers. It's your first time meeting them," Luffy said with a smile, looking at the two fish-men.
"It's our first meeting as well," the two princes replied immediately. "Last time, we were busy dealing with the surge of pirates. It's a shame we didn't get to meet you."
Luffy nodded and then turned to look at Neptune.
The king wore a troubled expression.
"The appointed time has come, Neptune."
"About that matter, actually…"
Neptune was about to explain.
Suddenly, Shirahoshi entered the hall.
"Father, I heard that Luffy is back!"
With a joyful expression, she immediately stretched out her hands when she saw Luffy, gently picked him up, placed him in her palm, and affectionately rubbed her cheek against his face.
"Luffy, are you here to fulfill the agreement?"
Luffy smiled and pulled himself away from Shirahoshi's face.
"Yes. I'm here to take you to the surface. However, your father seems to be in some trouble."
"Trouble?" Shirahoshi blinked and looked at her father.
Neptune sighed. "Less than two-thirds of the citizens agree to relocate. I've been trying to persuade them for the past month, but one-third of the people are still afraid of the danger."
They weren't afraid of the journey itself; the greatest danger came from the Sea Kings that lived in the deep sea.
Shirahoshi could communicate with the Sea Kings, but she couldn't tell the entire kingdom. It was only natural for everyone to have such concerns.
Moreover, towing Fish-Man Island to the surface—if anything went wrong—their homeland would be gone.
It would be strange if worries like this didn't arise.
Even the citizens who agreed to move were doing so only out of trust in the king.
All in all, it was almost impossible to get everyone to agree on such a matter.
"Don't worry. I'll use the power of the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi on the island and make sure it stays safe," Luffy said with a laugh.
"Also, have someone retrieve the Poneglyph from the Sea Forest."
This was the Stone of Promise!
He wanted to place that stone in the palace so that Neptune would look at it every day and never go back on his word!
"Really? This isn't a joke, is it?" Neptune confirmed repeatedly.
Luffy waved his hand. "If you go back on the agreement, I'll still take Shirahoshi with me."
"…Alright. Then please wait a moment, Luffy."
Neptune took a deep breath and said loudly, "Fukaboshi, take some men to the forest and bring back that stone. Luffy, I'll go to the plaza and inform all the citizens!"
After a short while, Fukaboshi led his men to the Sea Forest.
Neptune brought the second and third princes to the plaza to deliver the final speech.
As for Luffy—
The Minister of the Right led him to the banquet hall and prepared a lavish lunch for him.
Shirahoshi sat by the edge of the table.
"Luffy, I thought you wouldn't come back~"
"Do you really trust me that little?"
Luffy ate casually and said with a smile, "I'm different from the last Joy Boy. I'm a man who keeps his promises! When I lift Fish-Man Island, you'll be part of my crew."
"Yes I'm really looking forward to it"
Shirahoshi smiled happily, resting her cheeks on her hands, her eyes full of longing.
What was the world on the surface like?
Were there birds?
What was the sky like?
Where were the forests?
Right now, she was like a student in the last days before summer vacation. Final exams were no longer on her mind; all she could think about was where to go and play.
"There's just one problem. You're too big to fit on the Sunny," Luffy said helplessly.
In the past few days, he had been trying every day, hoping to obtain a fruit that could reduce her size.
The result, of course, was nothing.
Shirahoshi snapped back from her daydreaming and said weakly:
"I can stay in the water… Luffy, don't leave me! Uuuuh!"
Then she started crying.
Luffy thought: You still cry just like always.
"I'll think of a way. Don't cry—and don't summon the Sea Kings."
Shirahoshi immediately stopped crying, tears still in her eyes.
"Sorry… I can already control them, and I won't summon them casually. Luffy, what can you do?"
"Find an Akuma no Mi," Luffy replied.
The adventure shop hadn't provided anything useful for this problem, so he could only rely on the power of a Devil Fruit.
"Don't worry. Even if I can't make you smaller, I'll still take you with me. That's our promise!"
"Yes~"
Shirahoshi smiled through her tears and suddenly felt relieved.
Not long after, Fukaboshi returned with the Poneglyph.
Neptune also announced the relocation to everyone one last time.
Even after repeated assurances, there were still many people unwilling to take the risk.
But Luffy wasn't used to waiting for them.
A majority agreeing was already enough!
He activated the power of the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, controlled Fish-Man Island, pierced through the enormous hole beneath the Red Line, and then headed toward the surface of the New World's sea.
For safety, Luffy didn't move the island too aggressively.
It moved at about sixty meters per minute—almost like walking.
With such gentle movement, the people on the island felt only a slight vibration at first, and then everything became very stable.
The distance of ten thousand meters took several hours.
When Fish-Man Island broke through the sea, the blue sky of the New World came into view.
Countless cheers erupted across the island.
"It's the sky!"
"It's the sun!"
"We finally left the sea and reached the surface!!"
The shouts of hundreds of thousands—millions—of fish-men rang out.
"Long live Luffy! Long live King Neptune!"
---xXx---
Shirahoshi stood at the castle gate, staring at the blue sky.
The sun was already high in the sky after three in the afternoon, half of its body hidden behind white clouds.
"It's so beautiful… this is the real sky~"
Luffy sat on her shoulder and smiled softly.
"You'll be able to see a sky like this anytime from now on, Shirahoshi."
"Yes~ Luffy!"
And so, Shirahoshi finally joined the crew!
(End of the chapter)