Imai's Past

"So this is the Sea Forest!" Luffy said as he looked around. "It's so pretty!"

"Despite how pretty it is, there are a lot of shipwrecks here. No wonder they call it a graveyard." Imai said.

"After ten years…I'm finally at the Sea Forest." Shirahoshi said with happiness laced in her tone. "Thank you Imai-sama!"

"I told you to just call me Imai…"

Shirahoshi giggled in reply.

"Oi! It's the Sunny!" Luffy shouted.

In the distance, the Sunny was spotted as well as a figure aboard the ship.

"Hey Franky!" Luffy called out. "I didn't know you were here!"

"Oi! Luffy! Sanji! Chopper! Imai!" Franky yelled back. "I'm glad you made it! Also who is that girl?!"

"She's Shirahoshi, the mermaid princess." Imai said. "She's with us because we kidnapped her and because she wants to come here."

"I see, she wants to visit this place…" Franky muttered. "Wait. Hah?! Kidnapped her?!"

"Yes, but that's besides the point. Are you the only one here?" Imai asked.

"Yeah. Robin came a while ago, but she said she had to look for something, and went into the forest of huge coral." Franky replied.

"Luffy-kun, you made it."

Imai heard a familiar voice, a voice that she hasn't heard in three years.

"Oi! Jimbei! You're here!" Luffy exclaimed.

Imai widened her eyes in surprise as she turned around. Jimbei seemed to have the same reaction as he stared at Imai motionlessly.

Luffy was confused by the reaction between the two.

"Huh? Do you two know each other?" Luffy asked.

"Yes, of course I know her." Jimbei replied. "She's the one that saved me from near death three years ago and the one who was able to single handedly fight off the strongest marines alone."

Imai laughed. "You're overexaggerating it, I only fought off like two marines. It wasn't that much really."

"Not that much? You fought Admiral Kizaru and Sakazuki at the same time. I don't think what I said was an exaggeration."

"Alright, alright." Imai said with a smile. "You win, I guess that is how it is."

"What about the part where she saved your life?" Luffy asked. His curiosity was growing and he wanted to learn more about Imai.

"I was caught in a fight between pirates and marines. However, once I arrived, the pirates used me as a distraction, and left." Jimbei said. "It went like this…"

–Three Years Ago–

Jimbei had arrived at the scene where the pirates and the marines were fighting each other. He had no choice but to help since he owed a favor to the person who requested his backup. However, he never expected that person to run away.

"Do you have no pride in yourselves?!" Jimbei yelled at the pirates, but they were already gone. "Damn it…"

Hundreds if not thousands of marine soldiers charged at Jimbei, but he didn't falter. He changed into his battle position and got ready for the attacks that were aimed at him.

Attack.

Defend.

Attack.

Defend.

The process kept repeating and the numbers didn't seem to drop.

Jimbei wiped the blood that was dripping from his mouth. He was tired, extremely tired, and he was holding on to the last bit of consciousness he had. No matter what, he can't pass out.

"Alright, stop."

"It seems we underestimated the warlord of the sea."

Two new voices entered the scene and Jimbei could recognize the two immediately.

"Admiral Kizaru and Sakazuki, what are the two of you doing here together?"

"I heard there's a warlord killing my soldiers, but that's not the real reason." Sakazuki said. "I'm here to take you to Impel Down."

"And you, Kizaru?"

"The same reason."

Jimbei gritted his teeth, there was no way he could take on the two admirals by himself, especially in his condition. He had a feeling he would one day meet his end, but he didn't think it'd be so early.

"Oh? There's two admirals and a warlord here?" a new voice asked. "What an interesting combination."

Jimbei turned his head and saw who it was. The newest emperor, Empress of the Blade, had arrived onto the scene with a relaxed demeanor.

"Fifth Emperor, Empress of the Blade, are you an accomplice to him?" Sakazuki asked.

"Nope, I don't even know who this fish-man is. I just heard there was a fight going on and I wanted to release some adrenaline." Imai replied. "I didn't expect two admirals to be together, but this makes it more interesting!"

In the past, Imai was a battle maniac. The constant desire to become stronger than anyone else and to fight. Even facing two of the strongest beings, she was unwavered by their presence.

Before she became an emperor, she was nicknamed "The Ruthless Battle Maniac."

"Let's fight!" Imai yelled while grinning with joy. "Fight me with your full strength admirals!"

Imai appeared before Kizaru and slashed at him with his blade which was blocked by a small light sword Kizaru was carrying. However, right as Kizaru was about to attack. Imai's figure was already fighting Sakazuki.

"Magma Fist!"

"Striking Tide!"

Imai slashed at the magma with her blade that was covered in haki and separated the magma in half. Even at a young age, Imai's Observation Haki was able to peer into the future.

She flared her Conqueror's Haki at Kizaru causing him to become off-balanced for a bit and miss his laser beam. Imai grinned and twirled into the air as she sent a kick towards Sakazuki's chest.

All that happened in less than two seconds.

Imai glanced between the two admirals.

"I told you to go all out, otherwise, you're going to be defeated by one person."

Jimbei couldn't believe what he was seeing. He couldn't process the thought of one person defeating the two admirals that were at full power. But sometimes the impossible became possible.

He watched Imai's precise and quick two-style swordsmanship with admiration. She was switching between Kizaru and Sakazuki without giving them a break to rest. When she was fighting Sakazuki, she was also dodging Kizaru's insanely fast laser beams as well. The same went for when Imai faced Kizaru, she used her other blade to dissipate Sakazuki's magma attacks.

Imai was truly a monster.

The fight continued for almost two weeks, all three of them didn't stop at all. Although Jimbei wanted to enter the fight, he felt that he was only going to be a nuisance to Imai.

When the fight finally came to an end, Imai stood in front of the two admirals who had their hands on their knees. The rising sun enveloped them in warmth.

"The fight is over." Imai said. "Go back to your base, this match will be considered a draw."

The two admirals felt frustrated, but they had no choice but to return since they had no more energy to spare.

"We will return."

"I hope you do."

Imai started walking towards Jimbei when the two admirals left.

"So? Who are you?" Imai asked.

"I'm Jimbei, the Knight of the Sea, and one of the warlords."

"A warlord, I guess I understand what was going on." Imai said as one of her blades shattered in pieces. "It finally broke, it lasted longer than I thought it would."

Jimbei stared at Imai with an unreadable gaze, just before she was grinning, and was fighting with delight. Now, she was relaxed, and was acting as if nothing happened.

"Since I helped you, one day, you're going to owe me a favor." Imai said. "I have to go now, let's meet again Jimbei."

"The day we meet, I'll return the favor to you."

–End–

"Wow…I didn't know Imai's background was that amazing." Chopper said.

Luffy started to think to himself and thought about the conversation he had with Imai.

Could he really defeat Imai if she was to rule the world one day?