[18] To the Deep

[2540 words]

----------------------------------------------

[Mariejois]

[Pangaea Castle]

Mariejois was located on the Red Line on the opposite side of the world from Reverse Mountain and served as the official route for people to cross between the two halves of the Grand Line.

The other path was under the Red Line by coating a ship.

[Image of Mariejois (in Discord)]

The capital of the World Government's interest was here, 10,000 meters in the sky. 

It was here that the very top members of the Government, alongside the Celestial Dragons, reside.

Even beyond the city is the Pangaea Castle which was allegedly home to the Supreme Authority of the World Government—the Five Elders.

Mariejois was protected by the Commander-in-Chief, Chief of Cipher Pol and Cipher Pol 'Aigis' Zero and the mysterious God's Knights.

…

[Pangaea Castle – Room of Authority]

Brilliant light entered through the wide-open windows, gracing the chamber with incredibly clean air.

Gold-plated walls, white furniture and grand architecture; an air of authority concentrated amongst the Five who sat at the majestic room's center.

[Five Elders' Images (in Discord)]

The Elder with the sword, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, sat on the sofa and placed a single bounty poster on the table.

"Einar D. Damien, are we surprised the chaos was caused by a D.?" he sarcastically said.

The Blond Elder, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, the youngest-looking one, also gave his thoughts: "Not only that, this Damien has now joined under that Rocks' flag. Alongside another troublesome young pirate named Kaido."

"This is no longer about the unruly pirates, it's about the constant challenges to the World Government's authority… it has been questioned again and again," the Scarred Elder, Saint Jay Garcia Saturn, chimed in.

The Long-Bearded Elder, Saint Marcus Mars, also spoke, "It's best to keep a tight lid on the news, we cannot allow things to get out of hand. Keeping them in the chaotic New World is best; let them kill each other."

"And this 'Sin Incarnate'? His father was a problem and it seems the apple didn't fall far from the tree. The death of three Celestial Dragons is on his hands."

The last Elder, Saint Topman Warcury, clenched his fist.

"It is best to nip them in the bud before they can truly sprout and blossom," he said in a tired tone, "however, the Overlords of the Seas and the other bad names are draining our forces, focusing on the future threats while allowing the present one to thrive is not without mistake."

Shing!

The V. Nusjuro unsheathed his blade just enough for his reflection to shine at the razor-sharp metal.

"Let Cipher Pol surveil them at Fishman Island, have the Navy ready to catch them when they resurface to the New World."

"Outside of that, we need to curb the ambition of that Xebec, he's far too dangerous to be left alive!"

----------------------------------------------

[The Same Day]

The ship was a little overcrowded.

Damien was given a small room, just large enough for him to lie down in, unfortunately, Kaido and Whitebeard did not have this luxury.

The dive to Fishman Island would take a couple of hours.

Damien had just walked into his room to take a nap but suddenly felt a familiar tingle.

*Purrup*

His shadow seemed to grow fluid as a figure jumped out, an instance of deja vu.

Damien's hand was instantly locked on the arm of the attacker and began to flail in the air.

"Even if I can't sense you when hidden, you're just too slow!"

Damien used this moment to examine the one attempting to take his life while she struggled in his grip.

The body was covered in a black shawl, a dark hood covering the face.

"Now, go to sleep."

Bam!

…

"Trouble?" Shakky's voice echoed in the hallway as Damien looked by the door that was ajar.

"A stowaway."

Shakky eyed the knocked-out assassin and hummed, "Looks like one of the Bounty Hunters who terrorizes cocky pirates, the 'Terror of Sabaody.'"

"Preys on either the fools who want to haphazardly waltz into the New World or those running from it, suspected of having a rather special Logia Fruit."

"The Aether Aether Fruit."

Damien scratched his chin in intrigue while pulling up the fruit's details in his mind.

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

[Aether-Aether Fruit (Sei Sei no Mi)]

[Logia Fruit]

[Fruit Rating: 6.5 Stars]

[Allows the user to create, control, and transform into aether at will, turning them into an Aetherial Human.]

[Expanded: Aether is the element that fills the universe beyond terrestrial space. It has void-like properties alongside the ability to travel in places absent of light.]

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

Shakky blew out a puff of smoke and continued, "She has ties with 'Black Fish' Barro – an Underworld Emperor, but knowing Barro it's nothing good."

Naturally, Shakky was well-versed in what happens in the world hidden away, where the rats make sneaky deals – the Underworld.

Shakky clicked her tongue, "Didn't think she'd be so young, how pitiful to be scrounging for big names."

Damien shrugged, "Unaware of Haki, just a cocky Logia user."

Shakky hummed in agreement, then asked, "Gonna kill her?"

Damien gazed at the unconscious assassin in his room, "She tried to kill me twice now so it's not unfounded…"

"But it would be a waste of a good fruit…"

----------------------------------------------

[Fleet Admiral's Office, Marineford]

"Are you sure it's confirmed?" Kong's tired voice questioned the snail before him.

"Yes, Fleet Admiral, CP-1 found someone who confirmed that the missing Saint was dumped into the sea by the Sin Incarnate."

The phone then hung up, leaving the top marine sitting, lost.

"Those dastardly D. only bring storms of trouble every time they appear!"

----------------------------------------------

[Three Hours Later]

"This broken ship would have gotten us here faster if it was in decent condition," Shakky complained.

"The shockwaves from that man-ape Garp and Newgate-kun left it barely mobile."

Newgate, who was drinking while leaning on the side, could only sigh.

"Garp may be a wild dog but he's strong."

Kaido also appeared while crashing his kanabo club into the ground, "WORORO! I can't wait to be strong enough to fight him!"

The others just rolled their eyes at his words, it wasn't the first time he uttered it and it won't be the last.

Soon all the eyes were diverted to the side of the ship.

"Rawwr!"

A school of Sea Kings soon appeared as they surrounded the ship, their mouths salivating.

It was almost pitched-black from the depth of their dive and the monsters were barely visible.

Shakky looked up and clapped her hands, "Dinner is here."

…

[Another Hour Later]

The darkness of the sea was soon brightly lit, almost as if the sun had risen undersea!

"So this is Fishman Island, truly a wondrous sight," Damien muttered as he saw it.

The island itself is a home for fishmen and merfolk, It serves as an underwater gateway to the New World for those who do not wish to enter through the Calm Belt.

The island resides in a giant double-layered bubble floating above the seafloor, seemingly filled with about half water and reef and half air. 

Ryugu Palace rested in a smaller bubble on top of the main island's bubble. It was illuminated by the Sunlight Tree Eve that grew down from the Red Line for a whole 10 kilometers!

[Fishman Island Image (in Discord)]

.

The band of pirates was still a ways away from the island but it being the only source of light for endless darkness made it quite conspicuous.

Damien walked back to his room to see something.

And indeed it was true, he had sensed a change in breathing from the assassin – she was awake.

"Rise and shine, I know you're conscious," his voice resounded in the room as the cloaked figure trembled.

"Ugh!" a groan escaped from under the black cloak as she failed to even get up.

"Those are seastone shackles, credit to our cook who has quite the stash of goodies."

Damien then sat on the tiny sofa and peered at his attacker.

The figure had given up on struggling through the hold and eventually climbed out from the cloak, exposing who was hidden below.

Damien's eyebrow was raised as he examined the so-called 'Terror of Sabaody'.

She had a dark purple dress that went down to her thighs. Purple arm sleeves that left her shoulders exposed alongside a colour-matching hood that covered much of her violet hair, leaving the bangs to hide her forehead.

[Image of the Assassin (in Discord)]

She was around Shakky's height.

"You're much younger than I fel- *cough* thought," Damien said.

The girl looked a few years older than himself.

She didn't reply, just glared at Damien with indignation.

"Don't look at me like that," he shrugged. "I only broke your sternum, maybe punctured a lung or two."

He then saw her relatively healed appearance, "If anything, I guess a Logia user can heal such injuries quite easily."

"…"

"Well, anyways…"

Damien's eyes then grew serious as a powerful burst of oppression fell upon the girl.

Her vexed face soon warped into fear and pain as the waves of pressure fell upon her body, causing her to shrink into the bed.

"I have a few questions for you."

The overwhelming Haki imposed on her slowly receded as the panting girl tried to regain her composure.

The girl tried her best to hide her heavy breathing as she spat out, "Just kill me."

Damien slightly leaned forward with a smile, "You sure? Seems like you have some mission to accomplish that perhaps requires the money on my head. Are you sure you can die now?"

His words invoked a tremble in her body as her face failed to hide the worry.

"You tried to kill me," he addressed. "So me sparing you is equal to you owing me a great debt."

Her purple eyes shot up with certain confusion, "Y-You'll let me go?"

Damien slowly nodded, "Your devil fruit has great uses, killing you means a future enemy might get their hands on this power so I rather have it on my side."

"You have some deal with an Underground Emperor, right?"

"Mhm," She nodded in honesty. "Barro asked me for three billion berries for his help for my revenge, your bounty will finish my hunt."

Damien scoffed in return, "You actually take the word of those rats hiding in the sewers? You want vengeance then you need the necessary strength."

The girl seemed to lower her head in a mix of shame at his words, leaving the room to silence.

Meanwhile, a few thoughts sprang up in the pirate's mind as he played out a few scenarios in his mind.

Eventually, Damien pitched a thought:

"We'll probably stay here for a few weeks to repair the ship, until then I'll teach you the basics of Haki, the same ability I used to hit you even though you are a Logia."

"Haki?" she reiterated absently.

"If you can grasp even a thin fragment of Haki in that time then perhaps my investment can be worthwhile."

Damien saw the bright flame in her eyes, perhaps if he hadn't lived his previous life, he may have embarked on a similar path. Recklessly chasing vengeance without any thought for preparation, grabbing at anything light of hope.

"What do I call you?" Damien casually said as he got up to leave the room.

The girl followed and slowly gave her answer, "Aurora, my name is Aurora."

*Creak*

The door opened as the pirate walked out of the room and the inner sanctum, the bounty hunter following behind with some trepidation.

Her eyes widened as she saw the surroundings of the main deck of the ship.

The weary vessel was encased with a transparent coating. 

Though the expected perpetual darkness of being undersea was not there, rather, there were around a thousand pairs of eyes glaring at the ship with ill intent.

Their skin colours ranged from blue, green, peach, purple, red, and so on. Fins and tails were present in some though every single one of them had gills.

Their weapons were ready as they locked onto the intruding ship. Numbering in the tens of thousands!

Bam!

Kaido's giant club slammed onto the floor as a wide grin was smeared across his face.

"WORORO! Look like you little fishies want a fight, bring it on!"

Shakky raised her beloved pistol, not showing any signs of fear in the face of great threats.

The truth was that they were around 10,000 meters below the sea, if the coating were to burst then things could get messy fast.

.

But a large hand was soon put in Kaido's way as Whitebeard slowly walked ahead.

"We don't need to fight."

He then saw a giant merman rushing through the masses of fishmen.

A golden trident in his hand as he warily watched the intruders.

He was around forty feet tall with a red nose, small eyes, and long thick orange-curly hair. His puffy orange beard covered the majority of his lower face and his entire mouth.

(40 Feet = 12.2 Meters)

.

"It's you, Newgate!"

The future Emperor also seemed welcoming as he nodded, "Neptune, been a while since I've seen you."

The ginormous merman then gestured to the others, "Stand down, he's a friend-jamon."

Shakky whispered to Damien, "That's the 'Great Knight' Neptune – the highest-ranking soldier of Ryugu Palace. Newgate-san has some history with him."

Damien nodded at the information. After all, Neptune is the future King of Fishman Island.

.

Soon the ship began to enter the island as it passed through each bubble. 

As the coating was removed the ship creaked its final cry and fell apart.

Cracks and scars covered the vessel as future travels seemed impossible.

Damien breathed in the fresh, coastal air as he marvelled at the beauty of the island.

"Can I ask for your help in fixing the ship, Neptune?" Whitebeard asked as the party landed on open soil.

The merman seemed hesitant.

"That'll be hard-jamon," he admitted with a heavy expression. 

"The King is ill and the appearances of humans looking to capture our own have increased a lot. Me letting you in is already the height of our patience!"

Damien, who stood nearby, had to agree.

'Based on my readings, Fishman Island has been at war with human traffickers and pirates for decades upon decades… it's no wonder it feels so tense,' he thought, feeling the distant glares from all directions.

Though the fishmen had stood down at Neptune's command, they remained nearby, ready to fight; great aggression emanated from them.

.

Whitebeard looked at the wrecked ship.

Shakky was going to offer a possible solution but something else happened.

An emaciated Fishman soon swam over in a great hurry, attracting the eyes of everyone.

"It's you!" he exclaimed.

The fishman was pointing at the red-eyed young pirate with stunned eyes.

"I couldn't thank you before, you probably didn't see me but I was one of the ones you freed from Sabaody!"

Neptune's eyes widened as he asked, "T-The one who killed the Celestial Dragons?"

*Gulp*

The giant merman took a deep breath and then gestured to the fishman around him: "Perhaps we can help with repairing your ship after all-jamon."

To Be Continued...

----------------------------------------------

Author's Corner.

Images: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q