Sanji's Siren Song

Chapter 7 ~ Somewhere in The East Blue ~

"Captain, we have received word from one of our Siren sisters is that there is a ship chasing us... Looking for mermaids" Andrina's first mate announced as she raced over to the Going Merry a few hours later to make her report, "Shit, we need to get out of here" Andrina stated, "But we can't leave Asherah yet. I know they have begun, but she will still be too weak" she continued, "I did spy some shoals over there. If we can position both ships, over there we can sing them onto the shoals to wreak" Andrina's first mate continued, "Sounds like the best plan that we have, but we may still have to result to hand to hand combat" Andrina nodded, "Also, it's the same ship that killed Haenyo" her first mate continued, "WHAT?" Sanji roared as he came out on deck, "Are those bastards chasing you now? They need to be dealt with!" he continued, "Who is Haenyo? Who is chasing us? And where is Asherah?" Luffy calmly asked when the yelling had died down.

Sanji closed his eyes and took a breath before lighting a cigarette "Ash is asleep in my bed... she passed out. Haenyo is Asherah's mother, she died while trying to fetch a ship to get Zeff and I off that rock, but all they saw was a mermaid, thought she would bring them good luck, so they killed her and tied her to the figure head of the ship. Clearly, they are now after a replacement. The name of the ship is the Oceanids", "Mama was also Zeff's Mate" Ash added from the doorway, "Sweetheart! What you doin' outta bed?" Sanji asks as he races over to Asherah's side, Nami and Zoro shared the same glance and smirk as Sanji rushes to Ash.

"I'm older now and if those are the pirates that killed my Mama, Sanji, I want them to be the first to hear my Siren Song in the last moments of their lives" Ash resolved, albeit leaning into Sanji's side, "Not you're strong enough, sweetheart" Sanji soothed, "Are you going to need to practice your singing?" Andrina suggests "A fight is perfect for focusing your Song in a certain direction" Andrina continued, "No, the Mako Village elders have been helping me. I've gotten pretty good at it" Ash replied, "Ok then, if you ladies head back to the Delphine, Nami can steer the Going Merry to where you feel it would be in the best position for the attack" Luffy commanded.

By the time the Delphine and Going Merry were positioned in the best fighting positions and the Delphine had lent out a few of their gunners to man the cannon on the Going Merry, the Oceanids had caught up to them. "That's the Delphine and that's the Going Merry" Mouse reported pointing out each ship to Captain Stelè as they drew close alongside, "Hello! I address the Captain's of the Going Merry and Delphine, I am Captain Dianaous Stelè and all I want is a mermaid to replace my last one, you can nominate the lucky lady or I will destroy both your ships and take my pick of who is left" Stelè finished, "I am Monkey D. Luffy, Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, future King of the Pirates and that will not be happening today, are you sure you can win? you will have to fight the crews of two ships just to get your hands on one of the ladies? And what if all the ladies you see are not mermaids? Are you willing to take the risk?" Luffy countered puffing out his chest. "Of course I am! We are not known as the Lucky Pirates for nothing! Very well, Gunners! Fire!" Stelè chortled and commanded.

"Sweetheart... Please... Please can you stay down here and out of the way? I don' think my heart could take you getting' hurt up there" Sanji begged Ash, "I'll stay out of sight" Ash relented, Sanji sighed thinking he had won the argument and gave Ash a soft kiss and leaning his forehead and nose on hers and whispered "I won't be long" before taking off out of his bedroom door, Ash counted to ten in her head before she snuck out and found an alcove under the stairs that was particularly dark so she could keep an eye on the battle.

It didn't take long for the battle to become a loud cacophony of noise for Asherah, all around there was nothing but a whirlwind of disorder and violence - a blur of colours and vicious motions - guns bursting, canon booming and swords or daggers scraping along each other. Asherah did see Nami striking out with her bow staff knocking two of the pirates clean off the Going Merry deck, and the thunder of steel striking steel came just before Zoro did flying past where Asherah was hiding, and one of his katana finding it's home in the chest of a third pirate.

Asherah saw one of Luffy's arms strike out all the way across the deck making Mouse fall to his demise into the ocean, before noticing Usopp high up on the mainmast spar taking out a couple of pirates with his slingshot, it was at this point that Asherah could hear her fellow Sirens singing and noticed that a few of the remaining pirates jump over the sides of the Going Merry with smiles on their faces.

Sanji took on a number of the Oceanids and with sweat stinging his eyes, dripping down his neck and his thighs beginning to burn he came to the Captain himself "How dare you kill Haenyo?" Sanji seethed through his teeth, "Who? Oh, the first mermaid I killed?" Stelè baited "Such a pretty thing..." Stelè taunted "Look around - was she just a mermaid? She was a fucking Siren! Your crew have drowned overboard!!" Sanji roared and kicked out at Stelè's chest which he had left open, but Stelè was a little on the fast side and managed to bring his sword up and slice across Sanji catching him on the leg, which made him cry out and gave Stelè the opportunity to slice in the opposite direction across Sanji's chest, Asherah saw all this from her hiding spot and she screamed as she came charging out from under the stairs, as the scream faded Asherah had not noticed that she had begin to sing, keeping her eyes locked on Stelè, who began to waver and sway with the motion of Asherah's hands. The pain from the sword wounds barely registered for Sanji, who kept his eyes on Asherah as she stood over him Singing to the Oceanids Captain, making him jump overboard and drown in the ocean below them along with the rest of his crew.