Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
XXX
Deep beneath the ocean, en route to Fishman Island, the Thousand Sunny sailed steadily with its reunited crew. The Straw Hats were in high spirits, catching up on all they'd missed during their time apart. However, there was one glaring mystery that still needed addressing.
"Hancock! Mademoiselle, please allow me to serve you this drink," Sanji swooned, holding out a tray with a cool beverage for Hancock. She accepted it with a graceful nod. "Now, this is service," she remarked haughtily.
"Anything for the lady," Sanji said, hearts practically visible in his eyes.
"Pervert cook," Zoro muttered.
"What was that, moss head?" Sanji shot back, and in no time, the swordsman and the cook were at each other's throats again.
"Super! Looks like everything's going super here!" Franky exclaimed, strolling over with a big grin as the rest of the crew gathered on the grassy deck.
Brook, ever the gentleman, slid up to Hancock, tipping his hat. "Pardon me, my lady, may I ask one question? What color are your p—"
"Go die!" Nami shouted, punching Brook away before he could finish. She turned to Hancock with an awkward smile. "Please ignore him. He just talks nonsense."
"That's right, that's right!" Usopp and Chopper quickly chimed in, nodding furiously. They didn't want to risk upsetting the powerful Warlord.
Hancock smiled kindly. "It's really alright," she assured them, but her kindness only caused the trio to swoon with stars in their eyes, babbling that she could do whatever she wanted. Hancock sighed—getting used to this crew might take time.
"Shishishi! See, Hancock? There was nothing to worry about," Luffy said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"But, Luffy, how did this happen?" Robin asked, her sharp eyes focused on the unusual dynamic between their captain and the Pirate Empress. The entire crew fell silent, gathering around Luffy and Hancock, curious about how this relationship came to be.
Luffy and Hancock exchanged a glance before Hancock began, "Well, it may sound crazy, but—" She started to recount the past four years, with Luffy jumping in here and there to add his side of the story, especially the parts about how they had ended up in a romantic relationship. By the time they finished, the crew was left processing a whirlwind of emotions.
"Unbelievable!" Nami exclaimed, her expression one of disbelief. "The World Government really went to those lengths just to get to Luffy? They were prepared to wipe out an entire island! And now they're dismantling the Warlord system?"
"Ai, I've caught the 'let-me-off-at-the-next-stop' illness!" Usopp dramatically performed, clutching his chest. "Chopper, I'm sorry, but this is incurable!"
While the rest of the crew ignored his antics, Chopper, in a panic, rushed to his side. "W-what? We need to treat it immediately!"
Robin, unfazed, crossed her arms. "The World Government has done things like this before. For them, it's a routine task." She was reminded of the Buster Call that had destroyed her home, a grim memory that lingered in her mind.
"Right," Franky mused. "It makes sense, in a twisted way. Four years... Interesting. That's a puzzle we may never solve."
"But something good came out of it," Sanji reasoned. "You both faced the Fleet Admiral, after all." He acknowledged the strength Luffy and Hancock had gained from their extended time training. They will need that strength where they are going.
Hancock nodded seriously. "It definitely helped us prepare better for the challenges ahead, especially in the New World. You may not have been there yet, but it's a sea that will test all the strength you gained from your training. The World Government might think they don't need the Seven Warlords anymore because of their 'new toys,' but they're forgetting something. They'll still face the same monsters we'll be dealing with—the Four Emperors."
"Hm. Bring it on," Zoro said with a gleam in his eyes, already itching for a fight.
"That's right!" Luffy grinned, fired up by the thought of the adventures waiting for them.
With the explanations out of the way, the crew returned to their tasks as the Sunny sank deeper into the ocean, revealing the breath-taking underwater world. The colourful fish and coral dazzled them as they descended toward Fishman Island.
"Wow! This really is amazing, right, Robin?" Nami said, gazing in awe at the vibrant sea life surrounding them.
"Indeed," Robin replied, a serene smile on her face. "Reading about it is one thing, but experiencing it is something else entirely. I'm glad I can be here."
"Oh, Nami, how safe is this bubble, anyway?" Usopp asked nervously, his mind already racing with worst-case scenarios.
Nami put a finger to her chin, recalling Rayleigh and Shakky's advice. "It's pretty sturdy. It can handle a good amount of stress, but if we were to poke multiple holes in it or it too large of a mass hit it, the bubble would pop. So, let's steer clear of sea kings and coral reefs."
Usopp gulped, his mind racing with all the possible dangers ahead. "Yikes!" he squeaked, holding on tightly to Chopper, who was equally terrified.
"Oh, by the way, everyone, I've got something important to tell you," Franky called out, gathering the crew's attention. He began explaining what he had learned about Bartholomew Kuma—how the Warlord had guarded their ship during the years of their separation, and how Rayleigh had told him that Kuma had acted on some mission tied to Luffy's father, Dragon. Franky warned them that the next time they encountered Kuma, he'd likely be nothing more than a mindless machine.
The crew was quiet, feeling indebted to the man who had protected their ship.
"Wow, bear guy really is something," Luffy said, rocking back and forth. "Man, I really want to fight him!"
Hancock, looking thoughtful, added, "Even for a man like Kuma, I could respect his strength. But I do wonder why he would willingly become a mindless cyborg."
Luffy just shrugged, as he often did when faced with questions he couldn't answer.
Nami, sensing the somber mood, shifted their attention. "Well, as much as we can speculate, it looks like we're about to exit the Euphotic Zone and enter the Dysphotic Zone."
At the confused looks of her crewmates, she sighed. "Basically, we're about 1,000 meters below the surface. So be careful—Sea Kings live more around here."
"Got it," they responded in unison.
"What's that?" Usopp suddenly pointed behind the ship, eyes wide in panic.
A small dot in the distance was rapidly growing larger.
"Looks like trouble," Zoro muttered, adjusting the swords at his side.
"Maybe it's a Sea King ready to eat us," Robin added in her deadpan tone.
"Please don't say that, Robin!" Usopp cried, trembling.
As the dot grew closer, Robin's guess was half right—it was indeed a Sea King, but one towing a pirate ship. The Caribou Pirates.
"Alright, men, let's kill us some celebrities!" Caribou shouted to his crew, who cheered in response.
The Straw Hats turned to see the speaker—a tall man with wet hair, a swirl-shaped beard, and a tongue sticking out of his mouth. He wore dark pants, shoes, and an oversized long-sleeved shirt with a cross fleury design on the chest.
"Ah, Wet-Haired Caribou," Robin said, recognizing him.
"Robin, do you know him?" Nami asked.
Robin nodded. "He's been in the news a lot recently. One of the new rookies with a bounty of 210,000,000. He's especially infamous for killing Marines."
"How unsightly," Hancock said, wrinkling her nose in disdain. Her comment drew attention from Caribou's crew, who were torn between fear and adoration at seeing the Pirate Empress.
Before anything could escalate, Luffy grinned and patted his arm. "Oh, sounds strong!" He was eager to test his strength. Without giving the Caribou Pirates a chance to react, Luffy expanded his fist and drew it back, preparing to strike. "Gomu Gomu no—"
Caribou, anticipating the attack, grinned widely, imagining the fame he'd gain by defeating the Straw Hats. Maybe it would even earn him a spot in Blackbeard's crew, his idol. But before he could finish his thought, the Sea King that had been towing their ship suddenly jerked free of its reins. It fled into the distance, leaving Caribou and his crew stupefied.
Their confusion didn't last long—Luffy's attack connected.
"Giant Pistol!" Luffy's attack shattered the bubble surrounding Caribou's ship and smashed a large portion of its deck. The ship, broken and unstable, was forced back toward the surface, rapidly ascending as the oxygen and splintered wood lifted it. Even as he was carried away by his wrecked vessel, Caribou's enraged voice echoed through the water, cursing the Straw Hats.
"Curses!"
Luffy grinned, dusting off his hands. "Cool!"
"That was awesome, Luffy!" Usopp and Chopper cheered in awe, impressed by how much stronger their captain had become over the past two years.
"That's just the bare minimum of what our captain can do," Zoro muttered before strolling off to find a spot to nap.
"Hmph, it was just a small fry, but you were magnificent, my Luffy!" Hancock praised, quickly shifting from indifference toward Caribou to starry-eyed adoration as she fawned over Luffy.
"Hey, did anyone else recognize that Sea King?" Sanji asked, scratching his head.
"Oh! That was Momoo! I didn't think we'd see him again," Nami replied, snapping her fingers as she remembered.
"You're right, Nami-swan! I never forget a potential meal!" Sanji swooned, hearts in his eyes as he circled around Nami.
"Is it just me, or is it getting colder?" Usopp asked, rubbing his arms as a chill crept over him.
"Ah, Nami," Brook chimed in, turning toward her. "Aren't we approaching the colder levels of the deep sea where the Deep Currents flow?"
"Why does that sound so ominous?!" Chopper panicked, only to have Robin pat his head gently.
"Don't worry, Chopper," Robin reassured him. "The Deep Currents are simply slow-moving streams near the ocean floor. But, if we were trapped, it could take 2,000 years to reach sunlight again." She smiled sweetly, which made Chopper shriek even louder, begging her to stop.
"That's why we need to stay on course and strictly follow the route," Nami stated firmly.
"Yes, ma'am!" the crew responded in unison.
Luffy turned to Hancock with an idea. "Hey, Hancock, you were a Warlord for a long time. Did you ever use this route before?"
"Yeah, Hancock, do you know any other safer routes?" Nami asked, curious.
Hancock blushed, embarrassed by the question. It was true there were safer routes, but they were controlled by the World Government. During her time as a Warlord, she had relied on her Sea Kings to navigate around dangerous areas, or she had used the World Government's protected routes. Truthfully, this was her first time visiting Fishman Island. The experience was terrifying, exciting, and beautiful all at once, but before she could answer, Franky called for everyone's attention.
"Hey, everyone! Come to the bow of the ship!"
The crew gathered, curious about what Franky wanted to show them. As they looked ahead, they saw the massive phenomenon Franky was pointing out. For some, it was terrifying, but for most of the crew, it was a thrilling display of Mother Nature's power.
Usopp's voice trembled as he asked, "What's that downward plunge?"
"That, my friends, is the Downward Plume," Franky said with a grin. "And it's super!"
"No, it's not!" Usopp and Chopper disagreed, trembling.
"Oi! Look at the bottom! There's a monster down there!" Luffy exclaimed, pointing excitedly toward the base of the Downward Plume.
"Oh, you're right," Sanji commented, already thinking about dishes he could make. "It looks like a Kraken. I wonder how it'd taste. Calamari made of a Kraken. That would be something."
"It must've been lurking there for days, waiting for ships to pass by," Franky remarked, his voice full of admiration for the mythical creature. His words sent the cowardly trio—Usopp, Chopper, and Nami—huddling together, their minds racing with thoughts of retreating back to Sabaody.
"I wonder if it's as strong as they say," Zoro mused, eyeing the Kraken with interest, ready for a fight. Before he could make a move, Luffy latched onto him in a bear hug, pinning his arms to his sides.
"Ah, Luffy! Let go!" Zoro protested.
"No! I want it as a pet!" Luffy said, giving Zoro big, pleading eyes. Zoro hesitated for only a moment before caving.
"Alright, alright! Fine," Zoro sighed, pushing Luffy away like he was infectious.
"Luffy dear, let me handle this. We can make it take us further," Hancock offered confidently. Luffy gave her an enthusiastic nod of approval.
As the Thousand Sunny entered the Downward Plume, the crew braced themselves, feeling the ship sink deeper, inching closer to the Kraken. The creature, sensing the ship's approach, let out a deafening roar and lashed out with its massive tentacles, aiming to crush the Sunny. Usopp, Chopper, and Nami screamed in terror, while the rest of the crew remained calm, watching Hancock.
"Insolence!" Hancock cried out. Her Conqueror's Haki flared, radiating outward like a shockwave. The Straw Hats felt the pressure of her Conqueror's Haki for the first time—an intense weight on their shoulders, not enough to harm them, but enough to leave them curious about the power of others Conqueror's Haki they would meet. They had read and heard about it, but experiencing it first-hand was something else entirely.
The Kraken, however, was not so fortunate. Overwhelmed by Hancock's will, it halted its attack, trembling under her dominance. Within moments, the once-terrifying creature swam toward the ship, its head bowing in submission like a docile puppy.
Luffy's eyes lit up with joy. "Yes! It worked!" he cheered, jumping around the ship in front of the Kraken, marveling at his new 'pet.'
"Nice job, Hancock!" Luffy gave her a thumbs-up and a wide, carefree smile that made Hancock melt on the spot.
"I can't believe it," Sanji muttered, still processing what just happened.
"Just because you can't do it doesn't mean others can't," Zoro remarked with a smirk, earning a fiery glare from Sanji.
"What?! Don't talk like you could pull that off, moss head!"
"I could do it with one arm!"
"Oh yeah? I could make it obey me with just a finger!"
As Zoro and Sanji continued their heated competition in the background trading further insults, Chopper approached the Kraken with curiosity. It was a rare chance for him to study such a mythical creature up close. He tilted his head up and waved, introducing himself with his usual politeness.
"Hi! I'm Chopper!"
The Kraken turned one of its massive eyes toward the small reindeer doctor, its gaze calm but intense. The two stared at each other for a moment, and then Chopper broke the silence with a nod, as if understanding something profound.
He turned to Luffy, a thoughtful expression on his face. "His name is Surume. He's just an adolescent who got separated from his shoal. He said that he is guarding here as a fish man Hordy said that he would kill his family if he didn't do as he was told."
"So that's it—you were bullied into doing this, huh?" Luffy said sympathetically, enlarging his hand to give the Kraken a few gentle pats. "There, there, I'll help you beat up this Hordy and you can be with your family."
At Luffy's words Surume's eyes looking to be crying in joy. He could understand that this powerful human will help him. If he would help his family he would serve him.
Suddenly, Luffy's eyes lit up with an idea. "Oh! I know what we can do! Franky!" he called out, waving his arms to get Franky's attention.
Franky turned around, interested. "What's up, Luffy?"
"Can you make Surume some of those rope things, you know, the ones that let you steer?"
"Reins, Luffy," Robin chimed in with a smile.
"Ah, right! Reins! Thanks, Robin!" Luffy grinned, turning back to Franky with excitement. "So, can you? Please?"
Franky chuckled, striking his signature pose. "Of course I can! And they'll be the most SUPER reins ever!"
It didn't take long for Franky to craft a set of sturdy reins and attach them to the Kraken. Soon enough, Surume was leading the Thousand Sunny through the deep sea, with the reins guiding its path.
Luffy, naturally, stood proudly at the front of the ship in his favorite spot, with Hancock beside him. He pointed ahead dramatically, full of energy. "Alright, Surume! Now, up and away!"
With Luffy's enthusiastic command, the Kraken let out a sound that almost resembled a neigh, propelling itself forward with newfound speed. It swam eagerly, pulling the Sunny toward the shimmering destination of Fishman Island