Chapter 97: The young mermaid

Dialogue "sample"

Thoughts 'sample'

Author notes -sample-

Disclaimer: One piece and all of its characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.

Chapter 97: The young mermaid

"This is troublesome…the needle of the log pose keeps pointing down." Said Nami.

"It seems like the problem we had with the Sky island all over again." Remembered Sanji.

"True, even if we know where to go, we don't know how to get there…How do we get to Fishman island?." Wondered Nami.

"They are out already!" Shouted Usopp.

Luffy and the others arrived at the surface with the submarine.

"Welcome back!" Greeted Nami.

"Is not use!" Luffy stretched out. "We can't even see the bottom of the sea. Is there really an island down there?"

"Yohoho!, this is the first time I have ridden a ship like this." At least Brook seemed happy.

"If we had tried to go deeper, we would have died." Commented Robin.

"This is troublesome…I wish I had asked Kokoro more questions." Nami sighed.

"There is something big coming up. I guess your 'friend' has followed you up." Warned Vivi.

"What?" Luffy turned around and saw some bubbles appearing behind them.

"OAAAH!" The Sea King came out onto the surface and looked at the Strawhat crew with hungry eyes.

"It looks like a bunny!" Shouted Chopper.

"A giant bunny!" Shouted Usopp.

Luffy chuckled. "I had to run away down there. But don't think that you can beat me here! Gomu Gomu no...RIFLE!"

The creature shrieked in pain as Luffy punched it. Two small creatures came out of its mouth as it fell back into the waters.

"It spit something out!." Said Sanji.

"What's that? a fish?" Said Luffy while looking up at the descending creatures.

"No, that's a person," Said Franky.

"It can't be!" Sanji jumped into action and got beneath the 'fish person' so she wouldn't be hurt.

"Kyaa!" The fish girl screamed as she fell on top of Sanji. She then looked down and made a shocked expression."Oh no!, I flattened a human!"

"Don't worry, I have never been better!" Sanji had hearths in his eyes.

They observed the girl.

"That fin and tail" Whispered Usopp.

"I can't be!" Muttered Nami.

" A mermaid!" Exclaimed Brook.

The mermaid looked up, at the rest of the crew.

"AH!, there are a lot of humans!" She screamed in surprise.

She quickly calmed down and smiled at them.

"Thank you for saving me before I was digested. I am eaten by marine animals all the time, this is like the 20th time."

She then seemed to have an idea.

"I have to repay you somehow. Do you like takoyaki?"

"Yes!" Luffy jumped in joy. "That's one of my favorite foods."

"That's great! It will be 500 beri for one" Said the mermaid.

The starfish that no one had noticed before, stood up, walked to the mermaid, and smacked her in the head.

"Idiot!, we are not in the store!"

"Ah!, I got it wrong." Said the confused mermaid.

"Wow!, a talking glove!" Exclaimed Luffy.

Meanwhile, Sanji was running around, shouting "mermaids! I have finally met a living mermaid!"

"What about you? I thought you would be more excited with a mermaid on board" Asked Nami to Vivi. The both of them were sitting some distance away from the crew.

"You know? I thought that too, but after seeing one, I realized something…" Vivi looked pensive.

"What did you realize?" Wondered Nami.

"Mermaids are missing two of my three favorite things about a girl. So it's kind of a bummer…"

Nami smacked Vivi on the head. "You pervert!." She then went to sit with Robin, who didn't seem to have that much interest in the mermaid.

"You are so cute!" Sanji approached the mermaid. "I have never seen a real mermaid in my entire life. What is your name?"

"Im Camie" She answered.

"Wait, what about Kokoro?" Asked Usopp.

Sanji dramatically collapsed on the ground. "Ugg…no…I don't want to think about that…"

"Ah!, im sorry Sanji!" Usopp looked very remorseful. "Let's just pretend that never happened!"

"Oi!, that's just rude to poor Kokoro!" Shouted Nami.

"The old woman was a mermaid?" Luffy had just discovered. "But she walked and everything!"

"Oh, right, you weren't there. She explained that mermaids can split their tails and walk like they have legs when they reach a certain age." Said Franky.

"So she was a mermaid?... that's kinda gross." Said Luffy.

"Not you too!" Shouted Nami again.

"Honestly…what do those men think mermaids are…"

"This mermaid is very cute though." Commented Robin.

"Is the first time I see a mermaid too." Brook approached Camie. "Excuse me…could you lend me some money?"

"What the hell?!" Sanji kicked his skull.

"Ah!!, a skeleton!" Camie made a terrified face.

"Stop scaring her, you idiot!" Shouted Sanji.

"Look, I can open the top of my head too!" Said Brook while opening the top of his skull like a box with hinges.

Camie's mood immediately changes. She smiled and started clapping. "That's amazing!"

"That was a quick 180." Brook was impressed.

"By the way. Do you poop?" Asked Luffy with a serious expression.

"What kind of question is that?!" Shouted Sanji.

"Well, I…"

"Don't answer that!" Sanji interrupted her.

"Camie!" The starfish called for her. "I think there is something wrong… aren't we missing someone?"

"What do we call you anyways?" Said Luffy while looking at the starfish.

"Oh!, I forgot to introduce him. This is my pet Pappag." Said Camie.

"He is also my master."

"How can he be your pet and your master? it doesn't make any sense." Said Vivi.

"She keeps me as her pet…she always gives me clams," Said Pappag.

"So, she just feeds you." Said Usopp.

"The shirt I'm wearing was designed by him. He is a famous designer back in Fish-man island." Commented Camie.

Nami's eyes opened widely. "That's right! you can help us! We were having trouble with-"

"Wait!" Interrupted Luffy. "Before that…I have something more important to say."

They all stared at their Captain, wondering what could be more important than learning how to reach the next island on their journey.

Luffy looked at Camie. "I have been promised takoyaki. Now, where is it?!" Luffy demanded.