With different eyes

Fishman Island or wars that you cannot win

You know what I didn't think of? It is pitch dark! I had forgotten that I can't just turn on the light, unlike Ace, and as punishment I sit on the striker in the dark. Damn it. Hopefully we'll be there soon, here in the darkness and the silence around me with nothing but my thoughts, it's almost like in a grave, I think. "My goodness, we are positive" sounds Ace voice again in my head. I had almost forgotten that at the moment I am never alone with my thoughts. Which must not be nice for the fire fist, because if I'm honest, sometimes even I don't want to be in the thought carousel that is called being my consciousness. So now I have occupational therapy all the way to fishman island: squeezing out Firefist Ace, who practically cannot run away. I start to grin when Ace puffs. "At least no more gloomy thoughts" says Ace. "Ace?" I say sugar sweet. "No," says Ace, "at least no more dark thoughts."  "Talk to me, it's so quiet." I say. "You know that one voice in your head doesn't change the volume. And what am I supposed to tell you, you seem to know everything already?" he replies amused. And they say he is childish! "Tell me about the other wihtebeard pirates. So little is said about you, what are they all like?" I ask curiously.

"We are a crazy bunch, Marco for example is a coffee addict, even if not true in his own opinion. Besides, he always yells around, even though the others always claim that he is only doing it in my presence or that of Shanks. Why don't I know myself" Ace started to tell. "I' d have a hunch," I mumble in an amusing way. "What?" Ace asked irritated. "Nothing, nothing," I say. "Next," I ask the fire fist. "Uh yes, where was I... Oh, Marco, apart from his aggression problem, he fills the position of the vice captain with dignity and is loyal, you can always rely on him. But he always worries too much and should relax more often. If in doubt, I'll be happy to help with sedatives in the coffee again" Ace tells me. "Please what, tranquilizers?" I ask, very irritated. "Yes," says Ace, strangely proud of what he has done. Somehow I don't think Marco was as enthusiastic as you are now, I think amused. Ace puffs insulted "After he woke up again, he chased me over Moby Dick and what are the others doing about it NONE! The only thing I got for my care is the laughter of my father and the others and Marco who was still chasing me on the striker." I have to laugh and refrain from explaining to Ace why other people do not mix tranquilizers in other people's coffee. I don't even want to understand his definition of care. I know the Grap version, that's enough. Ace is silent and insulted and it gets quiet around me again. By telling the story I had forgotten the darkness and silence. Although Ace pants insulted, he tells many stories about Moby Dick and the crew. I can literally feel how much he longs for his family and home on Moby Dick. Through all the stories I couldn't stop laughing and the time flew by. And then I saw it: The first lights of fishman island.

I notice how it gets lighter and lighter and I can already see the bubble surrounding fishman island. More and more details become visible. I can already see the houses, corals and waterways. My mouth opens and I must look really ridiculous. Ace laughs and gives me instructions how to get through the locks, but I am too fascinated by the island. May you forgive me, but this island is so different from anything I have seen before: Exotic and colorful, so full of life. It was like another world. This thought makes Ace laugh and it takes me a few seconds to understand why: I really was in another world. Back in the here and now I can finally follow Ace's instructions and we pass the locks to fishman island.

I moor the striker at the harbor and enter the island. Everywhere I see fishman and mermaids. I know I must look like a little child entering a candy store for the first time: huge, looking around eyes and a mouth open in front of a jam. Well, there goes Ace's good reputation, but I didn't care either. "Close your mouth and please behave like the adult pirate you pretend to be" I hear Ace say. To the topic of adult pirate we can ask Marco, I think and finally close the mouth. Ace kept his mouth shut. What do we have to do now? I address the question to Ace. "We have to go to Neptune and ask if everything is ok here and then look for Den, so he can make us a new coating and we can set off for  New World." said Ace. "Why should I ask if everything is ok? They will know immediately that something is wrong" I tell Ace my concerns. "Because this island is under father's protection and I am the 2nd division commander," Ace answers. "Yes you, not me" I murmur, but I still give a beaten reply. Which way? I ask Ace and he explains the way. I walk along the path completely absorbed by my surroundings. Everything was so strange. I hear people calling and see the inhabitants swimming or running along the paths. "ACE" I hear someone calling, but I keep walking. Only when Ace points out to me that I was meant I remember that I am Ace. The just mentioned one was laughing again. He really does that all the time. I promptly turn around to the caller and wish I hadn't done it. Why didn't I just go on? Who came towards me: