The royal procession moved swiftly through the bustling waterways of Fish-Man Island. King Neptune rode comfortably on the back of his massive whale, Hoe, leading the way. Behind him, the Straw Hat Pirates, Camie, and Pappag rode on the backs of large, saddled transport fishes. Luffy, Bonney, and Oimo shared the giant, t-shirt-wearing shark, Megalo.
Despite the vibrant coral architecture and the colorful schools of fish swimming around them, the crew's attention was suddenly drawn to a large, imposing banner draped over the entrance of a major commercial district.
The flag was unmistakable. It depicted a grinning skull with a crescent-moon mustache, backed by a white cross.
"Hey, hold on a second," Sanji noted, his visible eye narrowing as he pointed at the banner. "Isn't that the Whitebeard Pirates' mark? Why is that hoisted here in the middle of Fish-Man Island?"
King Neptune looked back over his shoulder. The jovial expression on the massive merman's face softened into one of deep respect.
"Ah, you noticed," Neptune rumbled softly. "For many years, Fish-Man Island was under the direct protection of the great Edward Newgate. His name alone kept the slavers and rogue pirates from tearing our home apart. When the news of his death reached us two months ago... panic swept through the kingdom."
The crew listened closely. They knew the timeline, but hearing the local impact gave it weight.
"We thought we were doomed," Neptune continued. "And indeed, the predators came. The Big Mom Pirates, smelling blood in the water, immediately mobilized their fleet to take control of our island. They demanded submission and a tribute of candy."
Luffy frowned, crossing his arms. "Big Mom? She's one of the Four Emperors, right?"
"Yes," Ben nodded from his transport fish. "A very dangerous woman."
"But they did not take us," Neptune smiled, a fierce pride in his eyes. "Because before Big Mom's forces could establish a foothold, a new fleet arrived. The remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates, led by their new Captain. Fire Fist Ace."
Luffy's face instantly lit up. A massive, ear-to-ear grin spread across his face.
"Ace came here?!" Luffy cheered.
"He did," Neptune confirmed. "He became the Fourth Emperor of the Sea and immediately took Fish-Man Island under his personal protection, honoring his father's legacy. He fought Big Mom's forces right at our borders and pushed them back into the New World. He declared that any attack on Fish-Man Island is an attack on the Whitebeard Pirates."
"Gebababa!" Dory laughed loudly from his seat. "A true warrior king! He defends the weak and honors his father's vows! That is a man worthy of Elbaf's respect!"
"Indeed!" Brogy agreed, slamming a fist against his chest. "Fire Fist has a mighty spirit!"
"That's so cool!" Bonney grinned, taking a bite out of an apple she had saved from lunch. "Your brother is pretty badass, Luffy."
"Shishishi! I know!" Luffy beamed with absolute pride.
"Papa," Merry whispered, sitting next to Ben and adjusting her sunglasses. "Cross-referencing global threat levels. Emperor Ace is providing a significant geopolitical shield for this territory. The strategic value of this island just multiplied."
"He's doing well," Ben smiled, adjusting his glasses. "Taking on Big Mom's fleet and holding the line is no small feat."
While the Straw Hats celebrated the news of their friend's success, a very different scene was unfolding back in the lower districts of the island.
Coral Hill - Mermaid Cafe
The dimly lit lounge of the Mermaid Cafe was usually a haven of quiet relaxation. Madam Shyarly rested on her velvet couch, her long pipe resting forgotten in an ashtray.
She stared into the massive crystal ball resting on the pedestal before her.
Shyarly had quit fortune-telling. She hated seeing the inescapable, often tragic futures that the orb revealed. But today, it drew her gaze against her will.
Deep within the cloudy glass, a vision formed.
It wasn't vague. It was terrifyingly clear. She saw the beautiful, sunlit coral structures of Fish-Man Island cracking and shattering. She saw the massive, double-layered bubble that protected them from the crushing depths of the ocean tearing apart. Flames engulfed the Fishman Island.
And standing amidst the destruction, surrounded by falling debris, was a silhouette. A man wearing a very distinct, simple straw hat.
Shyarly's eyes widened in horror. The vision faded, leaving the crystal ball dark once more.
"No..." Shyarly gasped, her hands trembling as she backed away from the pedestal. "No, it can't be... that man..."
She remembered the cheerful, boisterous pirate who had casually asked her if mermaids pooped just an hour ago. Monkey D. Luffy.
Panic seized her. The destruction in the vision was absolute. Fish-Man Island was going to be annihilated.
"EVERYONE!"
Shyarly burst out of the private lounge and into the main seating area of the cafe, her sudden scream startling the mermaids and patrons.
She didn't stop. She swam frantically out of the cafe doors and into the bustling streets of Coral Hill.
"Madam Shyarly?!" a mermaid gasped. "What's wrong?!"
"THE STRAW HAT!" Shyarly shrieked, pointing wildly toward the upper levels of the island. Tears of sheer terror streamed down her face. "THE MAN WITH THE STRAW HAT! HE IS GOING TO DESTROY FISH-MAN ISLAND! HE WILL BRING RUIN TO US ALL! WE MUST GET HIM TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY!"
The citizens in the street froze. Madam Shyarly's predictions were never wrong. If she said the island was going to be destroyed, it was a guaranteed fact.
Panic erupted. The streets of Coral Hill devolved into absolute chaos as the citizens scrambled, terrified of the prophecy that had just doomed their home.
Ryugu Palace
High above the panic of Coral Hill, the royal transports arrived at the grand, sweeping gates of Ryugu Palace. The architecture was breathtaking, woven from massive coral reefs, shimmering pearls, and deep-sea gold.
The Straw Hats dismounted their fish, following King Neptune through the towering front doors and into the opulent main hall of the palace.
The moment Neptune stepped inside, a frantic chorus of voices assaulted him.
"YOUR MAJESTY!"
Two strange-looking mermen rushed forward. One was a seahorse merman carrying a staff, the Minister of the Right. The other was a catfish merman, the Minister of the Left. Both looked like they were on the verge of a heart attack.
"You left the palace without an escort again!" the Minister of the Right scolded, waving his arms frantically. "It is incredibly dangerous! What if you had been attacked?!"
"Jamjamjam, calm yourselves," Neptune laughed, waving a massive hand. "I was perfectly safe. I was escorting our honored guests. The Straw Hat Pirates."
The Ministers paused, looking past the King to the heavily armed, diverse crew standing in the foyer. They gulped nervously at the sight of the giants, the cyborg, the skeleton, and the stoic swordsman, but quickly bowed respectfully.
"Welcome to Ryugu Palace," the Minister of the Left said hastily. "Your Majesty, we have received a message from Prince Fukaboshi. He is returning from his patrol and wishes to speak with you regarding the recent border incidents."
"Ah, good," Neptune nodded. "Prepare the banquet hall for our guests while I attend to the message."
As the Ministers scurried off to organize the royal staff, Nami let out a relaxed sigh, looking around the golden pillars of the hall. "Well, this is nice. A royal banquet without having to fight a Warlord first. Let's just stay together and not cause any trouble."
Nami turned around to do a quick headcount. Sanji, Ben, Robin, Chopper, Usopp, Vivi, Bonney, Franky, Brook, Merry, Sunny, the Giants...
Nami froze.
She counted again. She looked behind Brogy's massive leg. She looked behind the transport sharks.
"Wait," Nami's voice dropped to a dangerous, panicked whisper. "Where is Luffy?"
The crew blinked. They looked around the massive, empty foyer.
"He was right beside me a second ago," Usopp stammered, sweating instantly. "He said something about smelling gravy."
"He wandered off?!" Nami shrieked, grabbing her head. "In a royal palace?! Are you kidding me?! We've been here for two minutes!"
Camie and Pappag, standing nearby, turned pale. "If he gets lost in the palace, the royal guards might mistake him for an intruder!" Camie worried.
The Hard-Shell Tower
Luffy wasn't trying to cause trouble. He was simply following the most reliable compass he possessed: his nose.
The scent of roasted meat and sweet cream was drifting strongly down a quiet, dimly lit corridor. Luffy jogged down the hall, his sandals slapping softly against the polished stone.
He came to a massive, incredibly thick metal door. It looked like the entrance to a bank vault rather than a normal room. Just as Luffy arrived, a heavily armed royal guard was stepping out, holding a tray. The guard turned his back for a second to close the door.
Luffy didn't hesitate. He slipped right past the guard's legs and squeezed through the closing gap of the door, slipping perfectly into the room before the heavy lock clicked shut.
Inside, the room was pitch black.
Luffy blinked, unable to see his hand in front of his face. But the smell of food was overpowering here. It was a literal feast waiting in the dark.
"Meat," Luffy whispered happily.
He took a step forward into the darkness.
Squish.
Luffy paused. The ground beneath his foot didn't feel like stone or wood. It felt incredibly soft, yielding, and highly elastic.
He took another step.
Bounce.
"Whoa," Luffy muttered. He jumped slightly. The floor bounced him back up. "The floor is bouncy! Is this a pudding room?! This palace is awesome!"
Luffy bounced a few more times, genuinely thrilled by the strange, soft terrain. He took a few more steps forward, eager to find the meat he smelled.
Suddenly, a massive, deafening scream echoed through the pitch-black room.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Click.
The lights in the room snapped on simultaneously, blindingly bright.
Luffy stopped bouncing and looked down. He wasn't standing on a pudding floor. He was standing directly on top of an impossibly massive, pale-skinned person. Specifically, he was standing squarely on top of her very large, very soft breast.
Luffy tilted his head, blinking. "Oh. Not pudding."
He looked up. The room was enormous, decorated like a lavish, gigantic bedroom. Lying on the massive bed was a mermaid. She was colossal—easily the size of a small ship. She had long, flowing pink hair adorned with fish-shaped hair clips, and a beautifully scaled, smelt-whiting tail.
This was Princess Shirahoshi.
And right now, she was terrified.
Shirahoshi scrambled backward on the bed, pulling her massive blankets up to her chin. Huge, anime-style tears were already pooling in her large blue eyes.
"W-Who are you?!" Shirahoshi cried, her voice trembling. "Are you... are you an assassin?! Have you come to take my life?!"
"No," Luffy said simply, stepping off her and onto the actual floor. He looked around the room, spotting a massive platter of food resting on a giant bedside table. "I'm a pirate. I followed the smell of food."
Shirahoshi sniffled, trying desperately to put on a brave face despite her overwhelming fear. She puffed out her chest slightly. "I... I am not afraid of you! I am the Princess of Ryugu Palace! Father! Brother Fukaboshi! Help me!"
"They can't hear you," Luffy pointed out, grabbing a piece of meat the size of a cow from her tray and taking a massive bite. "The door is super thick. Mmm, this is good!"
The Ocean Floor - The Flying Dutchman
Miles outside the boundaries of Fish-Man Island, drifting along the dark, muddy ocean floor, was the rotting, barnacle-encrusted hull of the Flying Dutchman.
Captain Vander Decken IX, the Japanese bullhead shark fish-man, paced the creaking deck. His four legs stomped impatiently.
"Wadatsumi!" Decken barked, glaring up at the massive, balloon-like sea giant standing beside the ship. "Has there been any reply from the palace? Any word from my beloved Shirahoshi?!"
Wadatsumi scratched his bald head. "Uhhh... no, Captain. We haven't heard from the Princess today. Just like yesterday. And the day before."
Decken's face twisted in rage. "It has been ten years! Ten years I have sent her my love! And still, she ignores me! She rejects my proposals from the safety of her tower!"
Decken stomped over to a pile of weapons on the deck. He picked up a massive, heavy iron battleaxe. He pulled a single, slightly crushed red rose from his coat pocket and tied it to the handle of the axe.
"If she refuses to marry me, then no one shall have her!" Decken roared, his eyes wide with psychotic obsession. "My patience is at an end! She will be my bride, or she will die!"
He didn't aim. He didn't even look toward Fish-Man Island.
Decken simply pulled his arm back and hurled the heavy axe into the open water.
The moment the weapon left his hand, it didn't sink. The curse of the Mato-Mato no Mi (Mark-Mark Fruit) took over. The axe defied the water currents, spinning through the ocean like a homing missile, locked unerringly onto the target Decken had touched a decade ago.
It flew toward Fish-Man Island at lethal speed.
The Hard-Shell Tower
Back in the princess's bedroom, Shirahoshi was still crying softly, watching in disbelief as the tiny human devoured a week's worth of her royal meals in mere minutes.
"You're eating all my food," Shirahoshi sniffled, wiping her eyes.
"You weren't eating it," Luffy replied with his mouth full.
Suddenly, Luffy stopped chewing. His Observation Haki spiked.
BOOM!
The massive, heavy iron doors of the Hard-Shell Tower were violently pierced. A massive battleaxe shattered the thick metal, flying into the room at terrifying speed, aimed directly at Shirahoshi's head.
"KYAAA!" Shirahoshi screamed, covering her face.
Luffy didn't even drop his meat. He stepped casually into the path of the flying weapon. His right fist turned black with Armament Haki.
CLANG!
Luffy punched the flat of the axe blade. The heavy iron weapon shattered into three pieces from the sheer kinetic force, dropping harmlessly to the floor. The crushed rose drifted down beside it.
Shirahoshi peeked out from behind her hands. She saw the broken axe. She saw the tiny pirate standing there, completely unbothered, continuing to chew his food.
"You... you stopped it," Shirahoshi gasped in awe.
Before Luffy could respond, loud shouts echoed from the hallway outside. The heavy doors, now damaged, were forced open.
"Princess Shirahoshi! Are you alright?!"
A squad of royal guards, led by the Minister of the Right, burst into the room. They saw the shattered axe on the floor and immediately raised their tridents.
"An attack! From Vander Decken!" the Minister yelled. "Search the room! Ensure the Princess is safe!"
Shirahoshi panicked. If the guards saw Luffy, they would arrest him, or worse, execute him for trespassing. And he had just saved her life.
Without thinking, Shirahoshi quickly grabbed Luffy with her massive hand and shoved him behind her back, hiding him completely from the guards' view.
"I-I am fine!" Shirahoshi stammered loudly, trying to sound composed. "It was just... a bad dream! The axe startled me, but I am unharmed! Please, you may leave!"
The Minister looked at the broken axe, confused, but bowed deeply. "As you wish, Princess. We will double the guard outside."
The guards retreated, pulling the heavy doors shut behind them.
Once they were gone, Shirahoshi let out a long breath and brought her hand forward, releasing Luffy onto the bed.
"Thank you," Shirahoshi said softly, her eyes wide as she looked down at him. "You saved me. And... I realized something. You are the pirate who saved Megalo from the Kraken, aren't you?"
Luffy swallowed his food. "Oh, the shark? Yeah, we untied him. He's a good guy."
Shirahoshi smiled, a genuine, warm expression breaking through her tears. "I apologize for yelling at you earlier. You are a kind person."
"I'm just hungry," Luffy sat down on the bed, grabbing another piece of meat. "Why do people throw axes at you anyway? That's dangerous."
"It is a curse," Shirahoshi explained sadly, looking at the broken weapon. "The man who threw it is Vander Decken IX. He has a power called the Mato-Mato curse. Anything he throws will always find its target. He touched me ten years ago, and ever since, he has thrown weapons, letters, and threats at me every single day. That is why my father locked me in this Hard-Shell Tower. I haven't been outside in ten years."
Luffy stopped eating. He looked at the giant mermaid. Ten years locked in a single room.
"Ten years?" Luffy frowned. "That sounds boring."
Shirahoshi watched him eat, temporarily distracted by his sheer capacity. "How can someone so small eat so much? Where does it all go?"
Curious, she reached out with one massive, delicate finger and poked Luffy's stuffed, bulging cheek.
Luffy's eyes widened. He glared at her.
"Hey! Don't poke me while I'm eating!" Luffy yelled loudly, annoyed.
Shirahoshi froze. Her lower lip quivered. Her eyes immediately welled up with massive, cascading waterfalls of tears.
"WAAAAAAAH!" Shirahoshi began to bawl uncontrollably, burying her face in her hands. "You yelled at me! No one has ever yelled at me before! You're so mean!"
Luffy crossed his arms, entirely unsympathetic.
"You're a crybaby," Luffy said bluntly. "I don't like crybabies. You're big, but you act like a coward."
The brutal honesty hit Shirahoshi like a brick. She cried even harder, the sound echoing loudly in the massive room.
"I can't help it!" she sobbed. "I'm scared!"
Luffy finished the last piece of meat on the tray. He stood up on the bed, wiping his mouth. He looked at the sobbing giant mermaid, then at the heavy, locked doors of her prison.
"Hey," Luffy said, his tone shifting from annoyed to serious.
Shirahoshi sniffled, peeking through her fingers.
"You haven't been outside in ten years, right?" Luffy asked.
She nodded slowly.
Luffy grinned, adjusting his straw hat.
"Wanna go for a walk outside?" Luffy offered casually. "If that Decken guy throws axes or anything else at you, I'll just smash them. I'll protect you."
Shirahoshi stared at him, her tears stopping completely as the sheer, impossible freedom of his offer hung in the air.