Walking a little, Fukaboshi pointed to a gondola carried by a giant sea creature that floated thanks to an inflated balloon tied to its back. "We'll take this to the palace," he said, motioning the crew to board.
The Straw Hats climbed onto the gondola. Luffy was already at the front, leaning over to get a better look at the sea creature. "This thing is huge!" he exclaimed, grinning as the gondola lifted into the air and began floating toward Ryugu Palace.
The crew looked out as the underwater kingdom passed by beneath them—coral buildings of all shapes and colors stretched out like a living reef. Fishmen and mermaids went about their day, most too busy to notice the gondola above. The ride was smooth, and soon enough, Ryugu Palace came into view.
The palace loomed before them, a breathtaking vision of colors under the sea. Carved from smooth, gleaming coral, its sprawling structure glistened with a soft, ethereal light that came from the Sunlight Tree Eve. A golden dragon wrapped around the high towers, its scaled body arching gracefully over curved balconies. The towering archways, lined with sea-themed carvings, framed grand windows through which exotic fish swam lazily, adding dashes of color and movement to the already lively scene.
Above the main entrance, an elaborate golden gate showcased intricate designs of waves and seashells, symbolizing the connection between the Fishman Kingdom and the ocean. The roof was adorned with vibrant red and green tiles that sparkled like precious stones, and swirling pathways wound around the palace, leading to upper levels supported by massive coral columns. Around the palace, gardens of rare, glowing coral stretched out, teeming with life. Fish darted around, their scales catching the light, while sea creatures large and small moved along the grounds.
As they approached, Coby and the others couldn't help but be in awe of the palace's scale and beauty. This wasn't just any royal residence—it was a fortress of elegance, a testament to the pride of Fishman Island. The gates were open, guarded by soldiers in fish-scale armor holding spears.
"Wow, this place is huge!" Usopp said, his eyes wide as he took in the sight.
Chopper was bouncing up and down excitedly. "It's like something out of a fairy tale!"
The gondola descended slowly, coming to a stop at the entrance. Two guards stepped forward, bowing slightly as Fukaboshi led the Straw Hats toward the main doors. The giant gates creaked open, revealing a grand hall inside.
The floors were polished marble, and the walls were lined with colorful coral formations, each one glowing faintly. Massive pillars stretched up to the ceiling, where jellyfish-like chandeliers floated, casting soft light over the room. The air was warm, carrying a faint salty breeze.
"Welcome to Ryugu Palace," Fukaboshi said, gesturing for them to follow. "Father is waiting for you."
The crew walked deeper into the palace, marveling at the size and beauty of it. Luffy was already distracted, running ahead to peek around corners and stare at the decorations. Nami grabbed him by the back of his shirt, yanking him back before he wandered off too far.
"Stop running around! We're guests here," she scolded.
Luffy pouted but stayed close, his eyes still darting around in excitement. But his nose twitched wildly, smelling something delicious.
As they entered the throne room, they were met with the sight of King Neptune, a massive merman sitting on a throne made of coral and shells. His long white beard flowed down to his chest, and he held a large trident in one hand. Despite his size, there was a friendly air about him.
"Ah, the famous Straw Hat Pirates!" Neptune boomed, his voice echoing through the hall. "Welcome to Fishman Island!"
Coby realized Luffy had already wandered off somewhere, but he didn't give it much thought. Shirahoshi and Luffy were destined to meet soon enough. Standing alongside the crew before King Neptune, Coby and the others saluted.
"Thanks for the hospitality, King Neptune," Coby said with a relaxed grin.
The towering king chuckled, his laugh booming through the hall. "Friends of Jinbe are friends of mine. In fact, he sent a message for you all."
With that, Neptune's tone turned serious as he gestured for them to sit around. He began explaining the situation on Fishman Island. "The New Fishman Pirates have been stirring trouble, poisoning minds with their hatred of humans. Hody Jones and his crew are pushing for a revolution, one aimed at toppling the peace and driving out any human influence."
Jinbe had one request for Luffy and the crew: not to fight Hody Jones and the New Fishman Pirates. "Fishman Island needs a hero," he said gravely, "not human pirates defeating fishmen. Otherwise, the peace we're fighting for will never hold."
Zoro frowned, rubbing his chin. "Hero, huh? Not interested. A hero has to share his sake, and I don't intend to give mine away."
The crew blinked at him, dumbfounded. Coby stifled a laugh, knowing Zoro was dead serious.
King Neptune chuckled at the exchange and clapped his hands. "You all must be starving. Allow me to host a feast!"
Just as the dishes were being set, a massive explosion boomed from elsewhere in the castle, shaking the walls. Neptune's face turned pale as he rose to his feet. "Another attack—could it be Vander Decken again?" He looked frantically to his guards. "Check on Shirahoshi! Make sure her door is locked!"
They all left the throne room, striding quickly toward Shirahoshi's chamber. When they entered, they found the door wide open and a massive axe embedded in the wall, its handle adorned with a rose. King Neptune's face twisted with shock, and his sons looked around, equally distressed.
"Where is Shirahoshi?" Neptune demanded, his voice tense as he scanned the empty room. The princes and guards searched the area, but no one was there.
As they peered out of the window, they spotted a huge, bloated shark swimming away from the palace with Luffy sitting comfortably on its head. Coby immediately understood what was going on: Luffy was sneaking Shirahoshi out to let her experience the world outside her confinement.
Neptune's face twisted with suspicion and worry. "What if… Straw Hat Luffy hid Shirahoshi in Megalo's mouth?" He narrowed his gaze. "Are you pirates harboring any… unseemly intentions?"
Zoro and Sanji's hands moved to their weapons, ready to square off, but Coby stepped forward, raising a calming hand. "King Neptune, Luffy's a lot of things—reckless, for sure—but kidnapping? Nah. He's probably just letting Shirahoshi out because she felt trapped in here. It's more his style to give her some freedom than to hurt her."
The king's brows furrowed, and the princes exchanged doubtful looks. But before they could question Coby further, a loud crash echoed from the palace's courtyard. Bloodied human pirates, the unfortunate crews caught by Hody and Vander Decken, were strewn across the cobblestones, their bodies mangled and twisted. Some survivors clutched at the gates, struggling to pull them open under Hody's mad orders.
Coby positioned himself near the palace gates, catching Zoro's eye as the mangled human pirates began pulling the doors open. With a quick nod, he signaled for the crew to hold back just enough. "You guys, let them catch you," he muttered, keeping his tone casual.
Zoro and Sanji exchanged a brief glance, but neither questioned it. Nami frowned, clearly hesitant, but she caught Robin's slight nod and stayed put, half-heartedly swinging her Clima-Tact to keep up appearances. Franky gave Coby a raised eyebrow, but followed his lead without comment, smashing a pirate into a wall with less power than usual. Usopp's shots purposely went a little off, and Chopper's blows looked more like he was pushing than striking.
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