You Have My Gratitude

In the aftermath of the shooting, fish-men rush across the seabed near the palace. "THIS IS THE CULPRIT, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!!!" one shouts while another declares, "WE'VE TAKEN OUT THE SNIPER!!!" A caption reads: "OTOHIME, QUEEN OF THE RYUGUU KINGDOM, FELLED BY AN ASSASSIN'S BULLET..." Explosions and debris fill the air. Jimbei arrives and is met with cries of "JIMBEI-SAN!!!" and "WHO IS THE FIENDI!!!" A fish-man in ornate robes points accusingly. The scene shifts to a close-up of a furious, muscular fish-man with wild hair and a tattooed arm who roars, "IT WOULD BE TOO CRUEL!!!" Another voice cries, "....!! WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD DO TO ALL HER MAJESTY'S EFFORTSI!!!" Jimbei commands, "BUT, BOSS JIMBEI!!!" and orders, "HIDE THE BODY....!!!"

Hody Jones lunges forward in rage, shouting "STOP THIS...!!!" and "THAT CHANGES NOTHING!!!" A fish-man retorts, "NO!! THIS MAN IS A MERE PIRATE!!" while another states, "BUT THIS IS... THE TRUTH." The massive fish-man continues his outburst: "...HAS MURDERED..." and "THIS HUMAN..." The panel erupts with the anguished cry "...OUR QUEEN!!!!" as his face fills the frame, tears and fury visible. Smaller figures react around him with shock and motion lines emphasizing the chaos.

The crowd's fury builds. "THE HUMANS..." one panel reads as an explosion rocks the area. "URGH HH...!!!" a fish-man cries while another asks, "WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS...I!" A large spread shows the palace under attack with the declaration "...WAS A HUMAN!!!!!" and "THE MAN WHO MURDERED QUEEN OTOHIME..." Citizens shout in grief: "...AND SHATTERED THEM...!!!" "...HAVE TAKEN OUR EFFORTS TO LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE..." "DAMN HUMAN!!! YOUR DEATH WON'T BRING QUEEN OTOHIME BACK TO US!!!" "...WE LOVED ABOVE ALL ELSE...!!!" "THEY STOLE THE LIFE OF THE PERSON..." A young girl with long hair stands tearfully among the enraged mob as voices lament, "TOO CRUEL....!!!" "THIS IS TOO CRUEL....!!!" "IS THERE NO GOD...I!!!"

Inside the palace, a fish-man orders, "AND DO NOT OPEN IT UNTIL MY MURDEROUS DESIRES HAVE PASSED!" and "LOCK THE DOOR TIGHT!!!" Outside, guards discuss: "IS HIS MAJESTY STILL REFUSING TO LEAVE SHELL TOWER...I" "YES... HE CLAIMS THAT HE CANNOT TRUST HIMSELF TO CONTROL HIS URGES..." A caption notes "RYUUGUU PALACE, SHELL TOWER." In the throne room, the Minister of the Left speaks with Neptune: "...MINISTER OF THE LEFT... I WOULD HAVE MURDERED THE CULPRIT... EVEN HAD HE BEEN UNARMED." Neptune replies, "ON THE HUMAN......SO THE SOLDIERS FIRED ON HIM... THE CULPRIT WAS WELDING A GUN..." Later, Neptune sits alone, thinking: "AND THE EYES OF THE CHILDREN WHO WITNESS THIS GROW DRY AND COLD..." "THEY MERELY BECOME A PART OF IT WITH EACH NEW ACT OF MURDER..." "NOBODY CAN KNOW WHERE THE CHAIN OF HATRED BEGINS..." "...IN MY HEAD... I CAN UNDERSTAND THE REASON BEHIND OTOHIME'S WORDS, THE THEORY, I UNDERSTAND..." A final thought reads, "OTOHIME WOULD... NEVER FORGIVE ME FOR THAT..."

Neptune's anguished face fills the panel as he cries out, "MY HEART REFUSES TO ACCEPT IT!!!!" and "BUT WHY MUST I BE DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO KILL THE MURDERER OF MY WIFE...II!!" In the throne room he continues, "THAT IS WHY I ALWAYS FELT THAT I HAD NO RIGHT......TO AID IN OTOHIME'S EFFORTS. WHY I WOULD DO NOTHING BUT WATCH..." A close-up shows his conflicted expression: "...I HAVE AVENGED ANY NUMBER OF COMRADES ON THE BATTLEFIELD IN THE PAST...!! I HAVE TAKEN THE LIVES OF MANY HUMANS WHO MADE THEMSELVES MY ENEMY...!!" The ministers respond, "WE ARE ALL FILLED WITH CONTRADICTIONS. BOTH FISHMEN AND HUMANS. BUT, YOUR MAJESTY, A PERSON'S HEART IS A FICKLE THING..." Neptune replies, "I DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONTINUE WHAT SHE BEGAN... IT WOULD BE TOO FULL OF CONTRADICTIONS...!! WHY MUST THE INNOCENT OTOHIME DIE, WHILST I LIVE ON...I!" A warrior's voice adds, "THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ONLY A WARRIOR CAN PROTECT..."

An exclamation "!I" rings out as a messenger bursts in: "YOUR MAJESTY!! THERE HAS BEEN A STRANGE INCIDENT!!" Shirahoshi reads a letter aloud, "I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH YOU; I KNOW IT! MARRY ME! VANDER DECKEN" while the princes react in shock: "A LOVE LETTERI!" "THIS IS THE FIFTH LETTER ALREADY, FATHER!!" "THESE LETTERS KEEP FOLLOWING ME WHEREVER I GO!" "WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON...I" Fukaboshi shouts, "SHIRAHOSHI IS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD!!" Neptune orders, "AND SEE TO IT THAT THIS DECKEN IS CAPTURED AT ONCE!!" A guard replies, "YES, SIR!" The group discusses the threat: "THE ASSASSIN MAY STILL HAVE ACCOMPLICES LURKING IN THE AREA." "DO NOT TAKE THE CHILDREN TO THE FUNERAL." "WHATI!" "WHO IS THIS VANDER DECKENI" "THE LATEST IN A LONG LINE OF PIRATES."

A grand funeral procession fills the Ocean Forest. A framed portrait of Queen Otohime stands at the center of a flower-covered stage surrounded by a massive crowd of fish-men and merfolk. The caption reads "THE OCEAN FOREST". In the foreground, the royal family and ministers watch solemnly. Suddenly a monitor activates with a "*BZZT*" sound. A voice announces, "THE MONITOR...!!!" The screen displays the message: "...*BZZT*...PEOPLE OF FISHMAN ISLAND..."

Fukaboshi stares at the monitor, his face tense. A voice calls, "FUKABOSHI..." and another shouts, "PRINCE FUKABOSHI!!" with the sound effect "ごちゃっ..!" Fukaboshi's thoughts appear: "...THAT SHE BELIEVED WE COULD STILL REACH......THE LIGHT OF THE SUN. MY MOTHER TOLD ME..." The broadcast continues on the screen showing Otohime's portrait: "...TO HEAL IN TIME FOR THE NEXT REVERIE, WHICH IS ONLY TWO YEARS AWAY. BUT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER IN SIX YEARS, AND STILL ANOTHER IN TEN." Fukaboshi reflects, "OUR SCARS MAY RUN TOO DEEP..." The crowd watches in silence as the message concludes.

A young Shirahoshi weeps with determination as she and her brothers declare, "...EVEN IF IT TAKES US OUR ENTIRE LIVES. WE WILL FULFIL OUR MOTHER'S FINAL WISH..." The scene shifts to a flashback where a scarred figure vows, "SO I ASK ONLY THAT ONE DAY... WHEN THE SCARS ON YOUR HEARTS HAVE HEALED... AS SUCH, I WILL CAST ASIDE THOSE SIGNATURES WHICH SURVIVED THE FIRE!! I DO NOT DOUBT THAT THIS INCIDENT WILL HAVE SWAYED MANY PEOPLE'S HEARTS....YOUR HIGHNESSES...!!! WE WILL START OVER FROM THE BEGINNING." The crowd listens intently. In the present, beneath a massive waterfall, the same figure appears on a monitor as voices proclaim, "...IN OUR DREAMS OF THE SUN...!!! YOU CAN JOIN US ONCE MORE..."

Neptune declares, "FUKABOSHI, RYUBOSHI AND MAMBOSHI... THE THREE PRINCES HAVE NEVER WAVERED IN THEIR EFFORTS. THE KING AND PRINCESS, TOO, HAVE CONTINUED TO ADDRESS THE KINGDOM OVER THE MONITORS. TEN YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THAT DAY..." Shirahoshi kneels before a shark and small octopus-like creature, stating, "THIS IS THE BATTLE AGAINST DISCRIMINATION THAT HAS PLAGUED OUR ISLAND FOR SIXTEEN LONG YEARS... AND AS A RESULT, THE PEOPLE OF THIS KINGDOM HAVE ONCE AGAIN SUBMITTED A GREAT NUMBER OF SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF THEIR CAUSE...!!!" Neptune continues, "...WAS ONCE MY OWN COMRADE IN ARMS...!!! I FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS!! ARLONG, THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR TORMENTING THE PEOPLE OF YOUR HOMELAND... IS ALSO THE TALE OF THE FISHMAN PIRATES..."

Flashbacks show Arlong's misdeeds as Neptune explains, "...ARLONG ENSURED THAT WORD OF HIS MISDEEDS NEVER REACHED AS FAR AS MARINE HQ. BUT THROUGH HIS BRIBES TO THE LOCAL OFFICIALS... I ALWAYS INTENDED TO SEEK HIM OUT AND STOP HIM IF HE EVER WENT TOO FAR..." Nami and Sanji react as Sanji says, "HE NEVER MEANT FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN. BUT, NAMI-SAN... STOP, SANJI-KUN!! DON'T THINK THAT'LL BE ENOUGH FOR US TO FORGIVE YOU, BUT IT'LL AT LEAST HELP NAMI-SAN FEEL A LITTLE BETTER!!! RIGHT, THAT DOES IT!! CUT YOUR STOMACH OPEN!!" Nami replies, "AFTER ALL, YOU'RE LUFFY'S FRIEND, AREN'T YOUI NO! IT'S ARLONG THAT I HATE, NOT YOU. I'M JUST GLAD THAT THE RUMOURS ABOUT YOU BEING THE MASTERMIND BEHIND ARLONG'S CREW WEREN'T TRUE. I WILL SUBMIT TO WHATEVER PUNISHMENT YOU SEE FIT!!!"

Nami smiles warmly and tells Sanji, "YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ME, RIGHT, NAMI-SAAAN~I THERE'S NO RESENTING MY PAST NOW; IT'S A PART OF WHO I AM. THAT'S WHY I'M NOT GOING TO HATE YOU JUST FOR BEING A FISHMAN. I'M NOT GOING TO DENY THAT THE THINGS ARLONG AND HIS CREW PUT ME THROUGH WERE TERRIBLE... BUT IT'S THANKS TO THAT SUFFERING THAT I WAS ABLE TO MEET SUCH WONDERFUL FRIENDS! I'VE HAD SOME GOOD TIMES AS WELL, YOU KNOWI I'M HAPPY WITH HOW THINGS HAVE TURNED OUT! SO PLEASE, DON'T START APOLOGISING FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO ME!!" Neptune watches in shock with "...!!" and "...NYUUU UUUU... NAMI...!" as a fish-man weeps, "...SUCH KIND WORDS... WORDS THAT I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO DESERVE...!"

A massive fish-man with striped skin and a fierce expression looms forward, tears streaming as he declares, "YOU HAVE MY ETERNAL GRATITUDE...!!!" A small "!!I" reaction floats nearby. In the next tier, Nami smiles gently while thinking, "HE MUST HAVE BEEN SUFFERING TERRIBLY..." Franky is scolded mid-rant: "OH, SHUT YOUR FACE, FRANKY!" as the fish-man continues, "THAT TIGER, TOO... AND OTOHIME!! I LOVE ALL YOU FISHY GUYS!!!" and "UWOOOHHH!!! I FEEL YOUR PAIN, BIG GUY!! JIMBEI, YOU'RE A REAL MAN!!!" Luffy reacts with wide eyes, "OH, RIGHT...!!" then "...HMI" while the fish-man sobs, "BUE HHH! HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA STAY ASLEEP!!! AND AS FOR YOU...!" with a loud impact sound "DON!!"

The crew gathers as someone asks, "ARE YOU REALLY FRIENDS WITH THE SEA KINGSII" and "SO YOUR NAME'S SHIRAHOSHI, RIGHT--I" A voice exclaims, "N... NAMI-CHIN!! CHOPPER-CHIN!! THAT'S THE PRINCESS YOU ARE TALKING TO!!" while another demands, "DID YOU SLEEP THROUGH THE WHOLE DAMN STORYI!! THAT WAS RIGHT BACK AT THE BEGINNING!!!" and "SO YEAH, JIMBEI!! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE THIEF THAT CRYBABY'S MUM CAPTUREDI" Shirahoshi's face fills a panel as she realizes, "...SHE WAS!!" Nami smiles warmly, replying to "AH...! YOUR HIGHNESS, 'NAMI-CHIN' IS JUST A NICK-NAME -" with "IT'S STRANGE, NAMI-CHAN-SAMA... EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE MET... I FEEL AS THOUGH WE'RE FRIENDS ALREADY!" Shirahoshi adds, "...YES... AHH...!!! I MUST APOLOGISE...!" and "IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE WAS AN INCREDIBLE WOMAN." Nami wonders, "REALLYI" while Shirahoshi continues, "I GUESS IT COULD BE BECAUSE WE GREW UP IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES..."

King Neptune addresses the group in the palace: "HORDY AND HIS CREW ARE CURRENTLY OCCUPYING THE PALACE..." and "NOW THEN, I APOLOGISE FOR THE DISTRACTION... LET US RETURN TO THE MATTER AT HAND." A diagram labels "HORDY AND HIS GANG" and "NEPTUNE AND HIS SOLDIERS" with Brook, Zoro, Usopp, and Pappug visible among the prisoners. Neptune continues, "ALLOW ME TO CONFIRM EXACTLY WHO IS PRESENT IN THE ROYAL PALACE..." noting "...WITH HIS MAJESTY AND A NUMBER OF SOLDIERS AS PRISONERS... AND FOUR OF YOUR COMPANIONS ARE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR." Jinbe ponders, "...THEN SOMETHING EVEN MORE TERRIBLE MUST BE HAPPENING ACROSS THE ISLAND RIGHT NOW..." and "IF HORDY'S SCHEME IS PROCEEDING AS PLANNED..." while murmuring "NYUUU... JIMBEI-SAN..." Neptune concludes, "THAT'S AS MUCH AS WE CAN SAY AT THE PRESENT STAGE..." A fish-man soldier asks, "YES... I KNOW WHAT HE'S PLANNING..." as another reflects, "I ALWAYS SUSPECTED THAT HE WAS UP TO NO GOOD DURING THE YEARS HE SPENT THERE AFTER LEAVING THE ARMY... BUT HE MADE SURE NEVER TO LET ME UNCOVER WHAT HE WAS PLANNING." Hachi questions, "HACHI... OF COURSE! YOU HAVE BEEN SPENDING TIME IN THE FISHMAN DISTRICT... DO YOU KNOW OF THE DETAILS OF HORDY'S PLAN...I!I"

Jinbe explains, "BUT THERE IS ONE IMPORTANT WAY IN WHICH HE IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM ARLONG-SAN...!!! ARLONG-SAN DETESTED HUMANS, BUT ALSO HAD A GREAT RESPECT FOR HIS OWN KIND; HE WOULD NEVER LIFT A FINGER AGAINST A FELLOW FISHMAN." Shirahoshi stands before a wrecked ship as narration notes, "HORDY HATES THE HUMANS EVEN MORE THAN ARLONG-SAN EVER DID... HE WAS RAISED ON ALL THE RESENTMENT AND HATRED THAT OUR RACE HAVE SUFFERED..." A flashback shows Arlong attacking humans while Jinbe warns, "...IF THEY SHOW SYMPATHY TOWARDS THE HUMANS...!!!" Hody Jones roars, "BUT HORDY THINKS NOTHING OF VICTIMISING HIS FELLOW FISHMEN." Hody declares, "...AND HORDY MEANS TO PUT A STOP TO THATI!" Neptune states, "THIS IS THE YEAR WHEN KING NEPTUNE SHOULD FINALLY BE ABLE..." and "THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE REVERIE, THE COUNCIL OF KINGS THAT COMES AROUND ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS..." Shirahoshi gasps, "NYUUU... NO... HIS PLANS ARE MUCH BIGGER THAN THAT..." as Neptune finishes, "...TO DECLARE TO THE WORLD OUR PEOPLE'S INTENT TO MOVE FISHMAN ISLAND TO THE SURFACE...!" and "AND THE PRINCES HAVE GATHERED ALL THOSE SIGNATURES...!!!"

A giant Den Den Mushi emerges from the forest as alarms blare. "BZZ... BZZ ZZZT" crackles while someone yells, "THAT'S A VISUAL DEN-DEN MUSHI. IT'S GOING TO ACTIVATE A MONITOR...!" Another voice cries, "A GIANT DEN-DEN MUSHI CAME OUT OF THE FOREST!!" Panic spreads as figures shout "AHHH HHH!!!" and "IT'S HIM!!" with "AHEM... BZZT..." The screen activates, revealing a massive, muscular fish-man in a fur-collared coat and helmet marked with a trident. He glares forward and speaks: "CAN YOU HEAR ME...I AHEM... PEOPLE OF FISHMAN ISLAND... I AM THE CAPTAIN OF THE NEW FISHMAN PIRATES, FROM THE FISHMAN DISTRICT... MY NAME IS HORDY JONES...!!!" Below, Luffy stares up in shock as another figure gasps "HORDY...!!!"

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