[A/N: 100,000 VIEWS OML EXCUSE ME?!?!?! WHERE DID YOU GUYS COME FROM?!]
[Everyone here is a genie because all of my wishes have been granted! You are all amazing and I'm s thankful for everyone!]
"Hordy? This guy is..." [King Neptune]
"H-Hordy?" I mumbled beside Zoro, catching his attention.
"Is this some kind of trap? It's too good to be true." the Fishman crossed his arms, his blood-red trident firmly between his hand.
Zoro took a step forward, "We've had guests one after another," he sighed, "What a lively palace."
"Ah-ha! You guys are their accomplices! You let them in, didn't you?!" The purple-robed man turned between me and Nami.
"You know what?! We wouldn't be here if you guys didn't invite us!" Usopp barked, then pointed at the large group of Fishmen who had just walked in, "They look formidable! Who are those people?!"
"--Hey, let us have our arms, at least!"
"--Please, let us fight!"
The guards started shouting behind us, and I glanced quickly, before looking back at the group in front of us. This group is super sketchy, obviously up to no good, and the main man has this presence about him...
"Vander Decken! Since you've shown up, there is no doubt!" King Neptune spat at Vander Decken, who looked confused, using his single-gloved hand to scratch his head, "You're the one who did it! Give me back my daughter!"
Vander Decken laughed, shaking his head, "We haven't even gotten married yet. It's too soon for you to be saying that, Father-sama."
"Don't call me Father-sama!" The King yelled back, clearly fed up with the jokes, "Where'd you take Shirahoshi?! You'd better tell me she's unharmed!"
"What are you talking about? You're talking like the Princess is missing." Vander Decken's creepy, toothy smile finally letting up.
"Quit acting dumb! Why else would Shirahoshi have disappeared from her room all of a sudden?!"
Vander Decken gasped a terribly overexaggerated one, "My Shirahoshi disappeared?!" Something about the way he said 'my Shirahoshi' made my blood boil. You can't just own her because you like her.
"She's my... my daughter-jamon!" The king yelled.
I heard the Minister of the right behind me quietly speak about not loosing his temper to this guy.
Though, all of the yelling, distressed or angry was quelled, and my boiling blood turned cold when Hordy slammed the base of his trident on the floor next to his feel, making a loud clanging noise.
He looked at Vander Decken and smirked, "Calm down, Decken," he grabbed a human pirate that we had fought moments ago, assumed to be their subordinates, by the neck and lifted him in the air. Seeing how easily he lifted him, like he was nothing, made my double take, "Look. All of the humans that you aimed at the Mermaid Princess are here. That means that Princess Shirahoshi was here at least during that time," The pirate he was holding whimpered something, clearly being alive, and Hordy threw him to the side, like he was nothing.
"Plus, it doesn't matter if they're lying or not," Hordy continued, "because you know how to check where she is now." Hordy's smirk grew, and my present crewmates took this seriously the moment the pirate was thrown. I, however, knowing who Vander Decken is, took this seriously from the moment they walked in.
"Check where she is?" Nami muttered, and I turned to her.
"He has a Devil's Fruit, I believe it's the Mark-Mark fruit."
"How do you know that?"
I turned bac to the group from before, still keeping my voice low, "I... saw a bounty on Fishman island...:
She didn't question it, and too turned towards the Fishmen.
"You're right! Hordy, you are a very smart guy, I suspect!" Vander Decken said, beginning to take off his red glove.
'Suspect...?'
"Huh? Is he leaving?" Zoro questioned, as him and Usopp took a cautious step forward as Vander Decken ran for the door they just entered.
"What is he gonna do?" Usopp asked, his voice only slightly shaky.
"He's gonna throw something. It will lead him to Shi- the Mermaid Princess." I said quietly, and Zoro only spared me a glance while Usopp turned his head to me.
"How do you know that?" [Usopp]
"He has a Devil's Fruit." [(Y/N)]
"How do you know that?!" [Usopp]
"...I saw his wanted poster..." [(Y/N)]
He made a bubble and jumped out of sight, before we heard a crash, and watched a large piece of coral aimed in a certain direction, Vander Decken riding it to it's location.
Al of a sudden, King Neptune started crying, hitting and soaking the guards with tears, "Vander Decken is going after Shirahoshi! Wah!"
"Neptune-sama!"
"I beg you-jamon, you people!" He leaned down, "I'll give you anything you want! Let me go after Decken!" He cried at us as we all sweat dropped, "He started shaking his chains desperately, "You can have silver, gold and jewels...or my soldiers lives or anything!"
"Huh?" [Guards]
"He's gonna catch Shirahoshi! My treasure, Shirahoshi!" [King Neptune]
My briefly relaxed figure whipped my head around first, faster than the others when Hordy took a step forward, letting out a deep and creepy chuckle, "How pathetic, Neptune. I never thought that the hateful Straw hats would help us conquer the Ryugu Palace!" he crossed his arms again, a winning and confident smirk on his face.
I heard Nami gasp and scanned her and Hordy for anything to cause that. Is appears the others didn't hear her, as they kept their eyes on Hordy. Nami looked down and my attention was brought back once again by the Minister of the right speaking, " Jimbei told me there was something going on in the Fishman District! I can't believe that you, a former proud soldier of Neptune's army, are the ringleader! Shame on you, Hordy!"
He let out more than a chuckle this time, even scarier than the laughs of before, "Shame?" He looked to the Fishmen at his sides, who were snickering as well, "I'd feel shame if I had felt any real pride to being in Neptune's army," He uncrossed his arms and stood his trident upright, "The only reason I joined the army was to learn fighting skills in actual combat. And that's all."
"--You bastard!" [Minister of the Right]
"--I became stronger, thanks to you" [Hordy]
"What do you mean?" [Minister of the Right]
Hordy lowered his hear, practically glaring at us through his eyelids, "You all have failed to notice what's been going on on this island."
"Since I was a child, I've seen Fishmen oppressed at the hands of irrational humans." Hordy slowed his speaking to think, then looked up slightly, "I admired Arlong's ambition to take the arrogance out of them!"
"We're gonna restore his dream! We're the new Fishman Pirates!" [Hordy]
'So that's why Nami was shocked.'
Hordy walked over towards the wall on my right, as I studies him carefully, "I was training myself to become Arlong's right-hand man one day when he set out to conquer the world from the East Blue, as he planned." Hordy stopped in front of the wide open doors, easily 10 times his size, bg enough for King Neptune, "But..." he turned to out crew, an evil toothy grin on his face, "...unfortunately, he was stopped by some humans."
I could tell Nami and Usopp were nervous, as Zoro kept a stoic face. Brook and I, however, weren't tied to this emotionally, as we weren't on the crew at the time, but we still care for Nami.
Usopp took a step back, now between Nami and I, me on his left, "So these guys are followers of Arlong?"
Zoro's face was deathly serious, as I remember one story I was told by the crew about Arlong.
Well, not really a story, but Arlong basically forced Nami to make maps for him as a young girl, keeping her, in all technicality, against her will.
"What?! Arlong?!" Brook stumbled back and shouted, then lowered his voice in a joking manner, "Just kidding, I've never had Arlong before. Yohohoho-ACK!" Usopp kicked him in the back of the head, "Ouch! Hey, Usopp-san, why'd you kick me?!"
"Just shut up for now!" Usopp whispered in a clearly distressed tone, his eyes locked on Hordy.
That made me nervous. Serious Usopp? Willing-to-fight- Usopp?!
Hordy saw Usopp's rushed and nervous actions, and his smile grew slightly, "Enough with chit-chatting and let's get down to business," he turned towards the door again and, "Stay away."
His underlings back away as he placed a hand on the door. All of the Straw hats were in a line now, Brook closest to the wall on my right, Nami with Cammie and Pappagu behind her, Usopp, myself, and Zoro, who was just barely n front of me.
"Shark Grip." I barely heard him say before veins became noticeable on his arms and his fingers dug into the wood of the door.
The door and the castle started to shake as we watched huge cracks go from the door into the wall across from us.
"What a strong grip! What the hell is he doing?!" Usopp barked.
Hordy dug his hand further inside the door, cracks appearing faster. It clicked in my head what he was trying to do. He closed his hand and the shakings got worse than they had been. He grunted and the pillar next to the door shattered into three large pieces. The terrifying sound of water rushing in caught my attention.
"Oh damn! It's a flood!" Zoro said, clearly nervous, but not as nervous as Brook and I were. The water was rushing in so fast, it was already reaching our feet.
"I'm gonna drown!" [Usopp]
"Oh, this is no good! Especially for me!" [Brook]
Brook Jumped on Usopp, and Zoro wasn't phased until I grabbed his sleeve, looking at the water at my feet, slightly feeling the affects, as I heard Hordy laugh. He phased us, his arm dripping in water, as the Fishmen yelled something about water drops, and taking cover.
'Weird, why would Fishmen be afraid of water-'
"Those water drops are becoming arrows!" I heard Zoro say behind me, and I turned towards the arrows, viewing them through my observation Haki.
Time almost slowed enough for me to get around them, but it was strange how even though time felt slower, they still moved incredibly fast.
'This must be a Fishman ability.' I thought, looking up towards Hordy again, who got upright from his throwing position. Zoro easily blocked them with the hilt of his sword, but I gasped as many guards around us were shot, and large holes in the walls were made from the mere force of these "bullets". They didn't exactly stop, bit there were less, as Hordy now aimed most of his attention at King Neptune.
King Neptune took them like a champion, but you could hear slight pain in his voice. He bent over and used his large body to his advantage, blocking the guards with his body.
"Idiot! What kind of king becomes a shield for his men?!" Hordy yelled, his bullets relentless, "You don't have what it takes to be king!"
Usopp cursed under his breath, and I glanced down at my feet.
The water was to my ankles, and as I tested it, I was officially unable to use my devil fruit. On the bright side, I realized that whatever I make before I'm touched by Sea Stone or sea water, will stay, as my duel daggers were still in tact, held tightly in my grip.
Zoro stalked forward, still dodging the bullets with ease. Hordy seemed pissed at how close Zoro was, sending an eerie glare to him as he sopped his fire, and Zoro prepared an attack with One-Sword Style.
I, on the other hand, was having a hard time staying awake, conscious at least. My stance had widened and my fighting stance slouched, as I lazily held the daggers, one in each hand, as the other hand rested on my head, as if convincing myself to stay awake.
I watched Zoro attack, along distance slice, and I tightened my grip as Hordy used one of his men as a full-on shield, holding him with ease by the back of his neck, his evil smile not fading. Even Zoro was shocked. The water was now halfway up my calves, but with this newfound anger rushing through me, it wasn't a problem staying awake, but just a problem of standing upright.
I staggered sideways, causing Usopp to put my arm over his shoulders and helping me stand upright, Brook whining on Usopp's back, not even having touched a single drop yet.
"That Bastard! He shielded himself with his own man" Usopp yelled.
"I-It's awful..." I groaned exhausted as Usopp nodded a solemn nod.
"Yeah, and this guy's stronger than Arlong was. This could be bad, especially for you two." he looked between the two of us.
"Guys-" Zoro turned to us, his gaze lingering on me for a split second longer before focusing more on Usopp, "Untie the soldiers. The negotiation with the Kingdom has broken down. We couldn't keep our word to bring back all of the hostages unharmed."
'I really appreciate his trustworthiness...' I thought, realizing how much I was leaning on Usopp, and staggering to stand on my own.
Brook pointed out Nami was gone, but I turned my attention to the Hostages, "Usopp, I'll take the right side, you go left. Untie everyone!" I started rushing over as fast as I could without falling as I heard Usopp stutter a 'R-Right!'
I continued Hearing Usopp complain about Luffy and Nami, while also hearing the thanks from the Fishman guards, who immediately jumped up after feeling the looser ropes, making my job easier.
'Is it that obvious I'm weaker in the water? Maybe I could try and hide it?'
The room was slightly slanted, so the water was much shallower where I was, although still covering my feet.
"Destroy all of Neptune's Army and the Straw hats!" I heard Hordy yell, and a wave of a cheer from the Fishmen, implying they agreed and were ready to fight. Aw jeez...
The water now reaching back to where it was before as I untied the last Fishman, cutting the rope as I fell towards the side, being caught by the Fishman I untied.
"B-be careful!"
"E-Emji?" I stuttered, opening my eyes to see my arm wrapped over his shoulders, and his kind eyes smiling thankfully at mine, "I sighed and closed my eyes, "I know I look pretty pathetic right now, but, thank you..." I stuttered, slightly leaning my head on his shoulder as we walked towards Usopp, who was also finished untying the guards on his side.
"Of course, we are friends right?" he asked. I turned to hi, slightly shocked, then nodded with a weak smile, and I watched the heat rise on his cheeks.
As we walked closer, the water had reached my waist, and My mind was becoming fuzzier. Once Usopp got sight of me and Brook, he called towards King Neptune, "Zoro! The water is rising!" I glanced to where he was yelling to see Zoro behind us, cutting the chains from King Neptune, setting him free. The chain splashed in the water as Zoro sheathed his sword.
"I have a favor to ask! Let those three get out of here!" Zoro said, as I grabbed Usopp's shoulder and pointed him to my pocket, where the coral Nami used earlier was there. She must've put it back. I now had both arms wrapped around Emji's neck as his arms were around my waist.
"What about you?" [Neptune]
"No one can get away with that guy chasing them!" Zoro said, and I turned to now see Hordy- well, nowhere to be seen. It irked me, not knowing that guy's location. Then, Zoro ducked his head under the water, his whole body disappearing.
I reached my arm out, "Z-Zor..o!" I said, as Usopp took the coral, "H-he needs air, too!"
Usopp clutched the Coral in his hand, "damn Zoro! He thinks he can beat a Fishman underwater?"
Emji helped me position myself on the Chains Neptune was still holding, draping my arms over the top of them and letting my feet dangle limp as I panted, trying to control my breathing. I turned to Usopp, "U-Usopp, we should make bubble's now. Outside of the Ryugu palace is water un-until we get to the town..." I said, looking at the coral in his hand, which he tightened his grip on.
"Right," He nodded. Before he did, however, he took a deep breath and went underwater. I turned to Emji and told him to hold me, which he reluctantly did, as I just dipped my eyes under to see what was happening. I was far away, but i could tell that Zoro was loosing his breath. Zoro probably thought about his before us, understandably.
'Hordy's trying to disadvantage us by making Zoro pass out, our strongest fighter...'
I saw Zoro slightly disappear, but I went above water before I passed out, pushing myself a good ways away from Emji and holding onto the chain. Usopp came u, gasping before going straight back down. After a while, he surfaced once again and swam over to where we were. Emji had helped me and Brook hold onto King Neptune's beard, so we wouldn't drown, as he moved the chains.
I groaned to myself, my mind fading in and out, throbbing with haziness. Usopp mentioned something about Zoro resurfacing, and I got worried. Once he finally resurface, I felt a rush of relief. Emoji was helping Usopp hold up Brook, and I was slightly on my own.
"Zoro!" [Usopp]
"The palace is going to be filled with water! You have to hang onto me, too." [King Neptune]
No one else seemed to noticed, but I watched as a few Fishman guards near me were plucked under the water, and I held my feet closer to Neptune.
Zoro was swimming over, and I watched more and more guards be pulled underwater unknowingly.
Usopp had swam over and made a bubble around my head, then his own, then went back to Brook, leaving me to myself once more.
"Zoro! This way! Hang onto the old man!" [Usopp]
I locked eyes with Zoro as he headed my direction, about a yard or two away when I felt something I dreaded grab my ankle.
a Large hand. A webbed one.
I let out a small yelp before being pulled under water and thrown away from King Neptune's body by a Fishman. I was thrown into a wall and I saw Usopp and Zoro's heads go underwater, checking on my.
My body fell off the wall, moving a decent ways forward. A light-gray hand appeared in my vision, but I pushed backwards with as much of my strength as I could, only to be et with the owner of the hand. The webbed Fishman's hand wrapped firmly around my throat and pulled be backwards further, as I struggled to breath, trying hard to get my hands to my neck.
And out of all the Fishmen...
... it had to be him to recognize me.
"A Celestial Dragon? Playing pirate? I won't believe it." Hordy's voice scoffed behind me as he wrapped his other huge arm around my arms, keeping them secured to my waist, and securing me in his arm, "I wonder, if I snap your neck, will it suffice for all the pain your ancestors put my brethren through?" He taunted, squeezing tighter.
"I-I'm not-" I grunted, as he somehow tightened his grip even more, me now f
I let out a cough, trying for air, and he laughed, his attention brought from me towards the figure I wasn't pleased to see. Zoro, with his swords unsheathed, just as earlier.
"Not another muscle." Hordy said, moving his hand from my neck into a pointing gesture, a water droplet dangling front he edge, pointed right at the bubble.
I was able to get some air, now not being choked, only to see Zoro contemplating whether to attack or not. Now, being fully submerged in the water, I couldn't even speak. Just whisper to myself, as I watched King Neptune and my crew get captured. I could only sit there and watch as I was separated from my crew, and taken by Hordy and his gang with King Neptune , as they put my crew in an unknown location inside the Palace.
[A/N: It's late, so there might be a lit of errors, but I tried my best XD
again, thank you all so much for 100K reads!]