One Piece: Shanks' Little Jasmine

Chapter 67 Otohime's Monologue 1

My name is Otohime. I was born on Fishman Island and am a very ordinary goldfish mermaid. My mother loves me very much, so my childhood was very happy. However, I have a secret that I can't tell you. When I started to understand things, my world seemed to be a little different from other people's. I started to be able to hear other people's thoughts and feel their emotions.

At first, I didn't realize this until I noticed that the adults around me were always saying things they didn't mean. It was a really magical feeling. Later, I often used this ability to help others say what they really wanted to say. Many people who were about to break up because of their words reconciled with my help in reading their minds. I am very happy that I can help them.

However, not everyone wants to speak their mind. When my mother and I were strolling around town, I spoke for a couple on their behalf. But when they heard this, their expressions became very strange, and even a very frightening one appeared on their faces. This was the first time I felt scared.

Later, my mother told me that there are many times and many things that adults cannot say. It is certainly a good thing to help others repair their relationships, but one cannot always rely on others to help express one's true feelings. Even if feelings and relationships that have not experienced setbacks are reconciled countless times, they will eventually break down.

My mother's voice was so gentle, but I didn't quite understand what she was saying. The adult world is so complicated. But I'm still a child. Right now, I just need to be a good girl and listen to my mother. After all, I love my mother the most (′▽｀).

I was the youngest child in my family. My older brothers and sisters all went ashore. My mother told me that my brother became a pirate and is now one of the most famous pirates in the world, with many land-based companions. My sister met someone on land with whom she wanted to spend her life and chose to stay on land. I've never even seen people on land! What are they like? Do they have tails like us? What is the land above the sea like? I really want to see them!

After that, I kept pestering my mother to tell me stories about the land. The land seemed completely different from the seabed. On land, there was a golden, glowing sun, white clouds, stars as bright as jewels, and lush, green forests like emeralds. Moreover, the people on land were completely different from us. Everything sounded so magical. I was incredibly curious and longing to see for myself the places my mother described and the different races that lived there.

Finally, on the night of my fifth birthday, I secretly ran ashore without telling my mother. My mother had said that mermaids who are not yet adults cannot surface, or they will be captured by terrible monsters. But I really wanted to see what the land was like and what the people on the land were like. I was just going for a little while and would be back soon. I was sure everything would be alright (o゜▽゜)o.

The journey to the sea was not smooth. After leaving Fishman Island, everything around us turned dark, and the fish lanterns stopped working. I was very scared, afraid that monsters would come and take me away, and if that happened, I would never be able to see my mother again.

Don't cry, Otohime. You are the bravest child. Sea God, please protect Otohime.

My courage must have awakened the Sea God. Countless beautiful schools of glowing fish appeared around me, but they didn't seem to speak. They just circled around me. After I said I wanted to go to the surface, they formed a beautiful path of light. I followed the path of light and actually reached the surface. These little guys were indeed sent by the Sea God. The Sea God is so gentle (*≧▽≦).

The sea surface was exactly as my mother described. The sun was so dazzling, completely different from the sunlight underwater. It felt warm on my skin. I'm sure everyone from Fishman Island would love to come to the sea.

The sea was so vast that it took me a long time to see the island. But I didn't know why the people on the island looked at me strangely, and their aura was unfriendly. Their inner thoughts were also terrifying. Were they the monsters my mother had mentioned?

Ahhh, they're coming to get me! Waaaaah! Otohime is a good girl, monster, please don't catch me! Sea God, save Otohime! e=e=e=┏?? ???? ? ???? ??┛!!

I knew the Sea God was watching me all along. The Sea God sent a knight to protect me, but this knight looks nothing like me. He doesn't have a fish tail, and he looks rather dull.

Ugh, this person actually called me an idiot, asking why I didn't run away when I saw slave traders. But what are slave traders anyway? (?o?o?)

This person scolded me, but he gave me delicious meat! He's such a nice guy. He also told me a lot of things mermaids should be careful about when coming ashore, but there were too many to remember. He called me an idiot! Ah! This person definitely isn't a knight sent by the Sea God. The Sea God wouldn't have such a sharp-tongued knight! (╯°Д°）╯

There really are stars at night, twinkling and as beautiful as jewels. I wonder if I can pick them down? If I gave the stars to my mother, she would definitely be very happy.

The sharp-tongued knight who saved me doesn't seem interested in the stars; he's always arguing with others about drinking. But being so loud will get him beaten up. Should I warn him? The blond knight behind him has already raised his fist. (o゜▽゜)o

The sharp-tongued knight said his name was Roger, and the blond knight was Rayleigh. They're definitely not Lord Poseidon's knights, but they're my friends now! I have friends on land now, I'm so happy! ㄟ(≧◇≦)ㄏ

Rayleigh said that many people on land hunt fish and fishmen because we are valuable, but why treat us as commodities? Aren't we also part of the world?

I've been away for several days now. I wonder if my mother is worried? It's alright, Roger and Rayleigh have promised to take me back to Fish-Man Island, and I'll be home soon! ( ′▽′ )

Waaah, I really got beaten up! My mother is furious. Even Roger and Rayleigh didn't dare say a word. She ran away without me. What a disloyal person! (‵3′)

Roger was like a little kid, running around Fishman Island. He even went to the King's Dragon Palace. He was so bold! Wasn't he afraid of getting beaten up?

It's amazing that the King didn't blame Roger and even had a pleasant conversation with him. But it seems that the others don't like Roger and his companions.

Why are the people of Fishman Island so hostile towards humans? Everyone finds the aura emanating from Roger and his crew strange, even though they are good people. If everyone were willing to understand them, they would surely see the truth.

Roger and Rayleigh didn't stay in Ryugu Castle for long. They said they had to go somewhere else and would be setting off again soon. It's a pity I'm too young to go with them. But it's okay, when I grow up, I'll also go to the seas and become a free pirate! ヽ(°▽°)ノ

When Luo Jie set off, the little radish-headed boy from the royal family was there too. Strange, why did he run away as soon as he saw me? Am I not pretty?! (??д?)b

It seems like no one on Fishman Island knows what the sun, stars, and forest look like. I've decided that I want everyone to become friends with the people on the mainland. I want Fishman Island to go to the mainland too. The beautiful sun, stars, and forest shouldn't be seen by only me. I'm sure everyone wants to go to the mainland as well.

Everyone laughed at my idea, but it wasn't funny. Don't you all want to go out on land and see the sun and stars? Besides, the forests on land are really beautiful! o(*≧д≦)o!!

No one agreed with my idea; they all said I was too naive. I thought my mother thought the same way, but she told me to stick to what I wanted to do. When she talked about this, something seemed to flash in her eyes. Was my mother missing that person again?

My special abilities seem to have become stronger as I've grown up, but why do I feel sad whenever I see other people sad?

My mother suddenly fell ill, but she still gently encouraged me to do what I wanted to do. She has always trusted me so much. I really love my mother the most. I want to become a gentle person like my mother in the future.

I'm no longer the clueless child I used to be. I've discovered that the people of Fishman Island and the people on land have such deep-seated conflicts, which is why they're unwilling to go to the surface. What can I do to change their minds?

My mother still went after that person. Before she left, she asked me to take her and that person to the surface of the sea. They didn't want to be buried at the bottom of the sea. They met on the surface of the sea, and now they naturally wanted to go to the surface of the sea to see each other again. Since they couldn't be together in life, then death could not separate them.

I stayed in the Sea Forest for a very long time. It was my mother's favorite place. Before she left, she told me to continue pursuing my dreams. But Mother, can I really do it? Is what I'm doing really right?

Those glowing little fish have reappeared! They're so beautiful! Do they live in the Sea Forest? Why haven't I seen them before? What a pity! If my mother were here, she could see this beautiful sight too…

Why do people from the sea have so much hatred for people on land? Why are the people of Fishman Island considered inferior? My mother and that person clearly loved each other so much, yet they were bound by this damned rule for their entire lives. My brother and sister can never return to Fishman Island because of this. I've had enough. I don't understand these racial rules, and I don't want to understand them. I must change all of this. I will lead everyone on Fishman Island to the surface of the sea!