The Megazord drifted smoothly through the dark abyss. Cradled gently in the machine's massive arms was the Thousand Sunny, perfectly safe within its Yar Yarman resin coating.
Below them, the soft, mesmerizing glow of Fish-Man Island illuminated the trench. The massive, double-layered bubble encompassing the underwater paradise grew larger by the second.
Inside the shared digital command center in the head of the Megazord, the crew was buzzing with anticipation.
"Meat," Luffy muttered, pressing his face against the holographic viewport. A thick stream of drool leaked from his mouth, pooling on the control console. "There has to be a giant underwater meat forest. Sea Kings, sea-pigs, giant crabs... I'm going to eat until I explode."
"I heard the candy in Fish-Man Island is famous all over the world!" Chopper cheered, bouncing excitedly on his hooves. "Kelp-flavor cotton candy! Sea-salt taffy! I can't wait to try it all!"
Sanji leaned against a terminal, taking a long, slow drag of his cigarette. His visible eye had already morphed into a pulsating red heart. "Mermaids," the cook whispered, a dreamy, lovesick grin spreading across his face. "The beautiful, elegant, angelic mermaids of the deep sea. I have dreamt of this day since I was a boy in the East Blue. My All Blue is right below us."
"Get a hold on yourself, Ero-Cook," Zoro grunted, crossing his arms.
"Shut up, Marimo!" Sanji snapped, instantly breaking his romantic reverie. "I have perfect control over my body!"
"Approaching the outer boundary," Ben announced from the central command chair. "Vanguard, brace for atmospheric transition."
"Aye aye, Papa!" Merry chimed from her terminal. "The outer layer is composed of a thick water barrier, while the inner layer contains the breathable atmosphere. We'll pass through the water layer just like a normal ship."
The Megazord gracefully descended, carrying the Thousand Sunny directly into the massive outer bubble of Fish-Man Island.
The moment the Sunny passed through the barrier, the physics of the Yar Yarman coating activated. Because the coating was made of the same resin as the bubble itself, the two substances naturally merged. The iridescent film that had protected the pirate ship for the last ten thousand meters harmlessly dissolved, peeling away from the Adam-wood hull and joining the island's shield.
"The coating is gone!" Usopp yelled, watching the monitors.
"We are in the air gap," Ben stated calmly.
The space between the outer water layer and the inner atmospheric bubble was a dry, empty void. The Megazord was now in freefall.
"Thrusters on!" Franky roared, slamming a fist onto his console.
The Megazord's Manta Ray wings flared. Massive blue repulsor jets ignited on the machine's boots and back. The rapid descent halted instantly, transitioning into a smooth, controlled hover.
Ben pushed the control yokes forward. The Megazord flew straight through the final inner barrier and into the airspace of Fish-Man Island.
The sky inside the bubble was a bright, beautiful blue, illuminated by the Sunlight Tree Eve that channeled light directly from the surface. Flocks of exotic fish swam through elevated water channels that weaved through the sky like liquid highways. Majestic coral architecture, vibrant mermaid coves, and bustling port towns stretched out before them.
"Wow," Bonney breathed, her eyes wide as she looked out at the underwater kingdom. "I've never seen anything like this."
"It's breathtaking," Vivi agreed, placing a hand on Caroo's head. "An entire civilization thriving at the bottom of the sea."
"QUACK!" Caroo flapped his wings in agreement, adjusting his pilot goggles.
"Alright, setting her down," Ben said.
The Megazord hovered over a wide, clear stretch of water near the island's main port. Slowly, the giant robot lowered its arms, placing the Thousand Sunny gently onto the water's surface. The ship bobbed for a moment before settling perfectly.
"Ship is secure," Sunny reported from his station.
"Everyone, back to the ship," Ben ordered.
The crew disengaged from their consoles. The cockpit hatch hissed open, and one by one, they leaped out of the Megazord and glided down to the grassy deck of the Thousand Sunny.
Once everyone was safely on board, Ben stood on the railing and raised his hand.
"Disengage," Ben commanded.
CLANK. VROOOM. SHING.
The colossal Megazord rapidly disassembled. The Shark arm, Eel arm, Swordfish legs, and Manta Ray backpack detached from the core of Mecha-Merry. The five independent Zords hovered in the air for a brief second.
In the blink of an eye, the fifty-foot-tall Zords shrank down to the size of small toy models using pym particles. They zipped through the air, diving neatly through the open hatches on the Thousand Sunny's lower hull, docking perfectly back into their designated storage bays.
"That trick never gets old," Dory laughed, clapping his massive hand on Brogy's shoulder.
"Indeed," Brogy chuckled. "A very efficient way to store an armory."
The Thousand Sunny caught the artificial wind of the island and sailed smoothly toward the main docks. The harbor was bustling with merchants, fish-men, and a few pirate crews who had managed to survive the descent.
As the Sunny approached, the sheer, pristine quality of the ship drew eyes. But it was the crew standing on the deck that caused the dockworkers to stop and stare.
"A skeleton?!" a mermaid gasped, covering her mouth.
"Yohohoho! Good morning, madam!" Brook tipped his top hat toward the docks.
"It's the Straw Hats!" a pirate from another crew yelled, backing away. "The ones who destroyed Enies Lobby! Don't look them in the eye!"
The Thousand Sunny bumped gently against the wooden pier. Franky tossed the mooring lines, tying the ship off with expert speed.
The crew disembarked, stepping onto the solid stone of Fish-Man Island.
Ben was the last to step off the gangplank. He turned around, looking at the massive, beautiful ship sitting in the harbor. He knew the reputation of Fish-Man Island's less savory districts. Ships were often stolen, coated over, or stripped for parts by ambitious thugs.
"Can't leave the Sunny unattended," Ben muttered to himself.
He raised his hand.
Ben placed it in his spatial dimension.
The dockworkers and nearby pirates screamed in absolute horror.
"H-He just made a galleon disappear!" a fish-man guard panicked, rubbing his eyes. "What kind of devil power is that?!"
"Let them stare," Robin smiled, walking up beside Ben. "It ensures no one tries to follow us."
"Alright, crew!" Luffy shouted, throwing his arms in the air. "Time to explore! I'm going to find the meat forest!"
"We are not separating yet," Nami ordered, stepping in front of the captain with her hands on her hips. "This is a massive island, and we don't know the layout. Plus, we actually have a contact here."
Nami reached into her pocket and pulled out a sleek, black Kimoyo Bead bracelet.
Nami tapped the center bead.
A holographic interface popped up, and the bead rang softly. Bloop-bloop. Bloop-bloop.
Click.
The hologram flared to life, projecting the smiling, energetic face of a young mermaid with light green hair.
"Hello? Nami-chin?!" Camie's voice chimed happily through the speaker.
"Camie!" Nami smiled. "We made it! We just arrived at the main docks of Fish-Man Island!"
"You're here?! That's wonderful!" Camie cheered, clapping her hands. "Hatchin and Pappag are going to be so excited! You have to come see us! We're hanging out near Mermaid Cove right now!"
"Mermaid... Cove..." Sanji repeated, his voice barely a whisper. He dropped to his knees, weeping tears of pure, unadulterated joy. "I have reached the promised land."
"We'd love to come see you, Camie," Nami said.
"We're on our way. See you soon!"
The call disconnected. Nami turned to the crew. "Alright, it's about a ten-minute walk from here. Stick together. Follow me."
The Straw Hat Pirates marched through the colorful, bustling streets of the port town. The architecture was stunning, blending natural coral formations with intricate stonework.
"This is fascinating," Chopper noted, looking around. "The pressure inside the bubble is identical to the surface. It's really a marvel."
"And the lighting is perfect," Usopp added, looking up at the Sunlight Tree Eve roots glowing above them. "You'd never know we were ten thousand meters underwater."
As they walked, Sanji was in a constant state of hyper-vigilance. He scanned every alleyway, every canal, and every shop window.
"Mermaids..." Sanji muttered. "Where are the mermaids? I read they congregate in the shallows..."
Suddenly, a group of three beautiful mermaids swam past them in an elevated waterway, laughing and waving at the tourists.
Sanji stopped dead in his tracks.
"Goddesses..." Sanji gasped. He didn't even have time to swoon. A literal geyser of bright red blood erupted from his nose with the force of a fire hose. The sheer hydrostatic pressure launched him backward, sending him skidding across the cobblestones on his back.
"SANJI!" Chopper screamed, instantly dropping into his medical panic mode. "HE'S BLEEDING OUT! MEDIC!"
Chopper scrambled over with his medical kit, but Sanji simply gave a weak thumbs-up from the floor, a blissful smile on his face. "Leave me... I die a happy man..."
"Get up, you idiot," Zoro grunted, grabbing the cook by the collar and dragging him along. "We don't have time to carry a bleeding corpse."
"Take your hands off me, Marimo!" Sanji snapped, instantly reviving out of pure spite.
"Uncle Zoro," Merry's voice suddenly called out from the front of the group. "Where are you going?"
The crew stopped. They turned around.
Zoro was confidently marching down a side street that curved sharply to the left. The rest of the crew was standing on the main road, which went straight.
Zoro paused. He looked back at them. "What? The map said turn left."
"Nami has the map, Zoro," Ben pointed out calmly. "She hasn't said a word."
"Besides," Robin chuckled softly, "you are walking directly into a bakery, Mr. Swordsman. Unless Camie is hiding inside an oven, you have taken a wrong turn."
Zoro looked at the building in front of him. It was, indeed, a bakery. He gritted his teeth, his face flushing dark red. "The street moved. Shut up."
"Just stay in the middle of the pack, Zoro," Vivi smiled gently. "We wouldn't want to lose you."
Zoro grumbled and moved back to the center of the group, flanked closely by Dory and Brogy to ensure he didn't wander off again.
They continued their walk, and within ten minutes, they heard the sound of splashing water and cheerful laughter.
They had arrived at Mermaid Cove.
It was a stunning, sunlit lagoon filled with vibrant coral reefs. Dozens of beautiful mermaids were swimming, sunbathing on rocks, and playing in the crystal-clear water.
Sanji took one look at the cove, his eyes widened, and he immediately stuffed two large wads of cotton into his nostrils to prevent another fatal launch.
"Nami-chin! Luffy-chin!"
Camie swam over to the edge of the cove, waving happily. She hoisted herself onto a rock, beaming at the pirates. Sitting on a small starfish-shaped chair next to her was Pappag, a starfish wearing a rasta hat and sunglasses.
"Camie! Pappag!" Luffy grinned, running over. "It's been a while! Are you guys doing good?"
"We're doing great, thanks to you!" Camie smiled. "Hatchin is back at his takoyaki stand getting things ready for a welcome party. We're so glad you made it down here safely!"
"Yeah, man, it's been a long time." Pappag nodded, striking a cool pose.
"Shishishi! It was a busy year," Luffy laughed.
"You guys look amazing," Camie noted. "I see you guys have a new member."
"I am Jewelry Bonney." Bonney crossed her arms, chewing on a piece of candy. "Nice to meet you."
Brook stepped forward, tipping his hat. "May I ask... do mermaids wear panties?"
WHACK! Nami kicked the skeleton into the lagoon.
"Ignore him," Nami smiled sweetly at Camie. "He's dead anyway."
While Nami, Sanji, and Vivi were busy punting Brook into the water, and Franky was striking poses for the mermaids, Zoro stood at the back of the group. He yawned, stretching his arms behind his head.
"Too noisy," Zoro muttered to himself, entirely unimpressed by the lagoon.
Without a second thought, the swordsman turned around. He spotted a random, curving path made of pink coral leading away from the cove. Assuming it led to a quiet place to nap or perhaps a tavern, he casually strolled down it, completely unnoticed by his distracted crewmates.
"We shouldn't just stand around here," Camie said brightly, oblivious to the disappearing swordsman. "Let me take you to my workplace! We can hang out at the Mermaid Cafe! I can get you guys some snacks and introduce you to my boss!"
"A cafe full of mermaids?" Sanji whispered, clutching his chest. "Lead the way, my aquatic angel."
The crew followed Camie a short distance away from the cove, arriving at the Mermaid Cafe—a bustling, vibrant establishment built into a massive coral reef. The air was filled with music, laughter, and the splashing of tails as mermaids served drinks and entertained guests.
Camie led them to a large, dimly lit lounge area in the back of the cafe.
Reclining on a massive velvet couch, smoking a long pipe, was a striking, imposing mermaid. She had dark hair, sharp, intelligent eyes, and the distinct lower body of a shortfin mako shark.
"Madam Shyarly!" Camie called out cheerfully. "These are the pirates who saved Hatchin and me on the surface!"
"So these are the famous Straw Hats," Shyarly exhaled a cloud of purple smoke, her gaze sweeping over the crew with a cool, calculating intensity. "Welcome to my cafe. You caused quite a stir up there."
"Thanks for having us!" Ben smiled politely.
While the others exchanged pleasantries and found seats, Luffy and Usopp had wandered to the back of the private lounge room. They were staring wide-eyed at a massive, cloudy crystal ball resting atop an ornate pedestal.
"Whoa! Look at this!" Usopp gasped, pressing his face close to the glass. "It's a real crystal ball! Hey, shark-lady! Are you a fortune teller?!"
"I was," Shyarly said, her tone suddenly flat and dismissive. She took another slow drag from her pipe. "But I quit."
"Eh? Why did you quit?" Luffy asked, tilting his head.
"I decided it is better to leave the future unknown," Shyarly explained, her eyes darkening slightly. "Knowing what happens takes the mystery out of life. And often, the things you see are not things you wish to know."
"Oh," Luffy nodded, staring intently at the mermaid boss. He seemed to process her statement for exactly two seconds before his curiosity shifted entirely. "I have a different question then."
"What is it?" Shyarly asked, expecting a question about the Grand Line or Fish-Man Island's history.
Luffy pointed a finger directly at her tail. "Do mermaids poop?"
Shyarly's sharp eyes widened in absolute shock. A thick vein immediately throbbed on her forehead.
"HOW VULGAR!" Shyarly roared, grabbing a velvet throw pillow from her couch and hurling it directly at Luffy's head with incredible force. "What kind of question is that to ask a lady?! You have absolutely no manners, you rubber brat!"
Whack!
"Ow! Sorry! Sorry!" Luffy apologized quickly, rubbing his head and ducking behind Usopp. "I was just wondering!"
Shyarly sighed heavily, massaging her temples. She waved her hand dismissively at her employee.
"Camie," Shyarly grumbled. "Take the rest of the day off. Show your friends around town so they stay out of trouble and far away from my cafe."
"Really?! Thank you, Madam!" Camie cheered, bowing respectfully before grabbing Nami's hand. "Come on, guys! Let's go see the town!"
Camie clapped her hands. "Since you're here, we have to show you around! We can go to the Coral Hill, or the Fish-Man Karate Dojo."
As they left the cafe, Pappag puffed out his non-existent chest from his starfish chair. "Since we have the whole day, I should take you to my flagship clothing store! Criminal! I'm the lead designer and CEO!"
"Perfect," Nami grinned. "I think the crew needs some new tropical outfits. You wouldn't mind giving your saviors a little discount, would you, Pappag?"
Pappag laughed. "A... a discount? Well, sure! Since you guys saved my life and Camie's life, I'll give you the VVIP treatment! Everything is free!"
"I love this island," Nami cheered.
The group followed Pappag to his massive, multi-story clothing boutique in the commercial district. The store was packed with high-end, incredibly expensive designer clothes.
"Take whatever you want, guys!" Nami ordered generously, treating the store like her own personal closet.
For the next hour, the Straw Hats raided the boutique. Luffy found an open, tropical red shirt. Sanji picked out a sharp, white linen suit. Chopper found a matching tank top. Merry was selecting dresses for herself. And Vivi was picking t-shirts for Sunny and helping him with the selection.
Pappag sat in the corner of the store, crying silent tears as Nami emptied the store.
Just as the crew gathered at the front of the store with bags full of clothes, a sudden commotion outside drew their attention.
Heavy, synchronized footsteps echoed down the street. The civilian fish-men and mermaids on the street quickly parted, bowing their heads respectfully.
Marching toward the Criminal boutique was a squad of heavily armored Royal Guards, wielding tridents and riding large, armored seahorses.
"The Neptune Army?" Camie gasped, looking nervous. "What are they doing here?"
The lead guard halted his seahorse directly in front of the store. He held a scroll in his hand. He looked past the glass doors, his eyes locking onto Luffy.
"Are you the pirate crew known as the Straw Hat Pirates?" the guard asked, his voice loud and authoritative.
The crew tensed. Sanji adjusted his stance, and Dory and Brogy subtly shifted their weight. They were fully prepared for a confrontation with the local authorities.
"Yeah, that's us," Luffy answered, stepping forward casually. "What do you want?"
The guard didn't draw his weapon. He didn't order an arrest. Instead, he bowed his head respectfully.
"I bring a message from His Majesty, King Neptune," the guard announced. "He has requested your presence immediately. The King formally invites the Straw Hat Pirates to Ryugu Palace."
The crew blinked.
"An invitation?" Vivi asked, surprised by the diplomatic approach.
"To the palace?" Usopp whispered. "Is it a trap?"
"It doesn't sound like a trap," Ben said, stepping up beside Luffy. "It sounds like a genuine invitation."
"Do they have meat at the palace?" Luffy asked the guard.
"We boast the finest royal banquets in the sea, sir," the guard confirmed.
Luffy's eyes turned into stars. "WE ACCEPT! LET'S GO!"
"Wait!" Nami yelled. "We can't just walk into a royal palace blindly!"
"It will be fine, Nami," Ben assured her. "We have nothing to worry about here. Besides, we shouldn't turn down a King's hospitality."
Ben turned to Camie and Pappag. "You two should come with us. It's not every day you get invited to Ryugu Palace."
"Us?!" Camie gasped. "But we're just commoners!"
"You're friends of the Straw Hats," Luffy grinned. "That makes you VIPs!"
The Royal Guard nodded. "His Majesty has sent royal transports for your convenience. Please, follow me."
The crew stepped out of the boutique. Waiting for them on the main street were not carriages, but massive sea creatures equipped with luxurious riding saddles.
For King Neptune himself, who had decided to personally escort them from a nearby plaza, there was Hoe, a massive, crown-wearing whale.
But the transport assigned to Luffy's specific group was a familiar face.
It was a massive, cheerful-looking shark wearing a red and white striped t-shirt.
"Hey!" Bonney pointed at the shark. "I remember you! You were swimming around the Kraken when we beat it up outside the island!"
The shark, Megalo, nodded vigorously, recognizing Luffy, Bonney, and Oimo.
"Chomp chomp!" Megalo barked happily, dipping his head to let them climb onto the large saddle strapped to his back.
King Neptune, a massive, jovial merman with a thick, flowing orange beard, floated nearby on his whale.
"Jamjamjamjam!" King Neptune laughed heartily. "I see you have already met Megalo! He is a very special shark to my family."
"Is he yours, old man?" Luffy asked, hopping onto Megalo's back.
"He belongs to my beloved daughter, Princess Shirahoshi," Neptune explained, his smile turning soft. "She was terribly worried about him. Megalo went missing a few days ago. The princess cried continuously, refusing to eat or sleep until he returned safely."
Neptune bowed his head slightly toward the pirates.
"Megalo managed to communicate to us that he was trapped by the Kraken, and that your crew defeated the beast and inadvertently freed him," Neptune said. "For saving my daughter's beloved pet and returning her smile, I wish to personally thank you. The royal palace is yours today. A grand banquet awaits you all."
"YAY! MEAT BANQUET!" Luffy cheered.
"We are honored, Your Majesty," Ben bowed politely.
"We will depart immediately," Neptune announced. He turned to his guards. "Have the rest of the patrols been notified to call off the search?"
"Search?" Sanji asked from his seat on a different transport fish.
"Ah, yes," Neptune chuckled. "When we heard your ship had arrived, I dispatched soldiers to find your crew. We received word that one of your members had wandered off near the Coral Hill district and was asking for directions. We are currently looking for him."
The entire Straw Hat crew froze.
They looked left. They looked right.
"When did he even leave?!" Usopp shrieked, grabbing his head. "He was with us at the cove!"
"No, he wasn't," Robin noted calmly, sipping from a small travel mug. "I believe Mr. Swordsman wandered off before we even reached the Mermaid Cafe."
"Jamjamjam? Are you sure?" Neptune pulled out a small piece of paper. "The reports said a green-haired swordsman with a terrible sense of direction was seen arguing with a signpost."
"That's Zoro!" Usopp yelled.
"We lost him on the first day," Nami groaned, rubbing her temples. "Of course we lost him."