The years of pent-up anxiety and frustration erupted all at once.
Ivankov leaned close, shaking his head with that flamboyant kind of scolding tone.
"Little Shiro, the problem with Kuma is—he thinks his bloodline will bring unhappiness to Ginny if they marry!"
"Idiot!"
Shiro's voice cut sharply through the night, ringing across the feast.
"Big Bro Kuma, that's where you're wrong. Ginny-sis is such a good person—if you don't hold onto her now and something happens later, you'll regret it forever! Don't believe in that bloodline nonsense! Isn't the whole point of your Revolutionary Army to smash the Celestial Dragons' disgusting 'bloodline theory'?"
His words struck like a hammer, pounding into everyone's hearts.
The raucous laughter of the feast died instantly. Every eye turned toward the three of them.
Dragon rose to his feet, his steps steady and heavy. He marched up to Kuma and Ginny, placing a firm hand on each of their shoulders.
"Shiro's right, Kuma. Our fight is to topple the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. Bloodline? What a load of crap! If you want to marry—do it here and now. I'll be your witness!"
The declaration lit the atmosphere ablaze.
Kuma froze, stunned for a heartbeat, before breaking into a wide, bashful grin. He scratched at the back of his head, face flushed with awkward joy. Ginny lowered her head, cheeks glowing red, but the corners of her lips betrayed her happiness.
"Marry them! Marry them!"
Shanks and Buggy started the chant, and soon the whole crew joined in, cheering at the top of their lungs.
In a flurry, everyone pitched in. The simple little cabin was transformed, decorated with ribbons and flowers until it radiated warmth and romance.
Kozuki Toki, drawing from her experience as a lady of Wano, worked her magic with thread and fabric. In no time, she had crafted a wedding dress fit for the occasion.
Moonlight poured down, bathing the scene in silver. The bonfire roared, casting flickering light across the faces of the bride and groom.
Amid the cheers and blessings of friends, Kuma and Ginny exchanged their vows.
From the crowd, Shiro's eyes grew misty. He had rewritten a fate that once ended in tragedy. That sense of accomplishment was more precious than any treasure.
The night burned with celebration. Laughter, music, and the scent of roasted food mingled with the sea breeze. Eventually, the clamor faded, the waves carrying the echoes of joy away into the dark horizon.
The Roger Pirates, brimming with dreams of the unknown, once again set sail aboard the Oro Jackson. Their course: the vast seas of the Grand Line, forever chasing the mysterious Poneglyphs that held the secrets of history.
After braving a long and perilous voyage, they finally arrived at the legendary Fishman Island—the hidden jewel beneath the ocean, burdened with both the hopes and sorrows of its people.
News spread quickly: Fishman Island held two precious Poneglyphs. For Roger and his crew, it was a destination they couldn't ignore.
Yet as the Oro Jackson drew closer, something strange happened.
The fishmen who had been swimming nearby scattered in a panic. Their shadows darted through the water, vanishing into caves and coral palaces. Their fear was palpable, the air heavy with tension.
Shanks frowned, tugging at Shiro's sleeve, his young face puzzled.
"Shiro-nii… why are they so afraid of us?"
Shiro's brows furrowed, his tone growing serious.
"Well… that's because of the world the Celestial Dragons built. They sit above everyone else, enslaving whoever they please, treating lives as if they're worthless. And the fishmen—because they're strong, and some merfolk are too beautiful—they've become prime targets for slavers. They're captured, sold off, and forced into lives of chains. Their history is scarred by it—time and time again."
Shanks' eyes flared with fury. His fists clenched tight, teeth grinding.
"So that's it… damn those Celestial Dragons!"
Shiro froze for a second, his face tightening with conflict.
He wanted to say it—that Shanks himself was born a Celestial Dragon, from one of the highest families of all.
But the words stuck in his throat. He swallowed them down.
The Roger Pirates knew this wasn't the place to linger. Avoiding further trouble, they pressed forward, heading toward the Ryugu Kingdom.
But before they could get far, a group of armed fishmen rushed out, surrounding them.
At the lead stood a towering figure, skin a striking crimson, muscles like steel, a headscarf wrapped around his brow. His very presence radiated strength and authority.
Shiro's heart jolted. He recognized him instantly.
It was the man who would one day storm Mariejois, liberate countless slaves, and found the Sun Pirates—the fishman hero, Fisher Tiger.
At his side were two young fishmen. One with blue skin, the other with purple.
They were none other than Jinbe and Arlong, still in their youth.
Arlong's face twisted with fury as he shouted, voice raw with hate:
"Oi! You filthy humans! You came to enslave us again, didn't you?! Brothers—tear them apart!"
His rage carried the weight of his people's scars, the hatred of generations.
But Fisher Tiger's massive hand landed on his shoulder. His voice was calm, yet commanding.
"Arlong, don't be so rash. Not all humans are our enemies. We must strive for peace."
"But boss, they—" Arlong tried to protest, but Jinbe held him back firmly.
"Arlong, if we meet humans with love, then maybe one day… humans will return that love to us. Do you understand?"
Arlong scowled but stayed silent.
Tiger's words, gentle yet powerful, struck the Roger Pirates deeply.
Especially one of their own—the fishman Sunbell.
"Sasuga na, Tiger. You're still just as kind to humans as ever!"
T/N: Means: As one would expect
Sunbell stepped forward, greeting him warmly.
Tiger blinked, then his eyes widened.
"You… Sunbell?!"
"Yeah. It's been, what, ten years since we set out to sea? We haven't seen each other since then."
Sunbell grinned and spread his arms wide. The two old friends embraced tightly.
Tiger's voice trembled, his grip firm.
"When you disappeared with that pirate crew, I feared the worst… I thought you'd been enslaved…"
Sunbell chuckled, teasingly.
"You thought I became a slave, didn't you?"
T/N: If you would like to read up to 20 chapters ahead for all my works, check out my P@treon: patreon.com/GhidorahWriter
Thanks for reading! Be sure to collect and vote for more chapters! A Bonus Chapter will be released once we hit 25 Powerstones!