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[moveyourdeadfros]

We open up with a fairly uneventful look at Zeff, catching up on the news while catching some rays on the Baratie. Not a lot to comment on here except how Zeff’s ridiculous hat continues to fill me with wonder, so lets move on.

The masses gathering around the sunken ship disperse once the only surviving passenger, the Noble St. Miosgard, starts shooting randomly and demands the citizens fetch him a mask so that he doesn’t have to breathe the same air as filthy fishkind. As you might imagine a bleeding, half-dead crazy guy with a gun doesn’t exactly make people inclined to help. While the guards discuss what to do (including Hodi who just thinks they should let him die, surprise surprise), Vander Decken walks in on the scene and the Noble flashes back to the very reason why he came to Fishman Island to begin with…



Yeah. We’re looking at a prime candidate for the Darwin Awards here, people. As it happens the Sun Pirates who were once St. Miosgards slaves arrive at the scene, and as anyone with a functional brain could guess their reaction to his claim that they should just stop being silly and go back to being his slaves again is… less than positive. As they raise their guns the people surrounding them voice their concerns on how the pirates pardon will be void if they harm a World Noble the former slaves remind the people that his ship is wrecked, and Miosgard is the only survivor. So if Fishman Island simply let the world know that Miosgard died in a tragic shipwreck accident, nobody would ever get in trouble… thus placatated the masses turn bloodthirsty, and Miosgards days are surely numbered. WHEN SUDDENLY-



Otohime makes her move and takes the bullet. But not because she cares for the world noble, oh no.



But because she cares for the children. If the grown-ups pass on their hatred, no matter how legitimate its nature might be, then they will poison the new generation and all she has fought for will be in vain. As Jinbe remembers Fisher Tigers last words, he too comes to realize that Otohime did what she did to send the message that violence is not the solution- not if coexistence is ever to be more than a beautiful dream. Thus she proves to her subjects and us readers that she is well worth her title as queen- which is more than one can say about the Noble who yet again draws his gun on the former slaves, causing Shirahoshi (yeah she and the princes rushed out after mommy) to react in a very…



… peculiar…



Manner. Which prompts an elated reaction from Vander Decken.



See, the Vander Decken familys goal all along has been to gain control over the legendary Mermaid Princess that could control Sea Kings, most likely in a bid to rule the seas with said power. Meaning that he didn’t START as a deranged homicidal stalker pedophiliac- he just GOT that way over the years. Boy don’t I feel so much better now. Either that or it’s all just an act to throw people off to the REAL reason he seeks hero ut, but I’m not willing to put too much faith in that idea.

Anyhow- the Noble and the Queen are soon patched up, but the Noble threatens with all of his butthurt that they shall RUE THIS DAY and other cartoony douchebag things, prompting Otohime to step up and says she’ll accompany him to the surface! The people are in an uproar as Neptune volunteers to go in her stead to speak with the nobles, but Otohime is adamant that she must be the one to go.



And so she does... and comes back! No, really, the very next page Otohome returns with a deal from the World Nobles which, the text-boxes claim, would be known as Fishman Islands Light of Hope aaaand she’s gonna die in the next chapter because we heard she died ten years ago and it is now ten years ago and Vander Decken is probably gonna be responsible. Just letting you people know in advance so you want have any silly hopes that this will end in a happy manner.
Lots of interesting things this chapter. I continue to be astounded by how cartoonishly incompetent and stupid the World Nobles are. Oda has to start selling me on why the World Government are backing these buffons up and soon, and I’m not buying it’s just because they’re the descendants of the founding members: a utilitarian organization like the WG would not nurture a limb infested with parasites just for traditions sake. The WG gets something from working with the Nobles, and I want to know what it is already.

And apart from that- wow. Otohime’s actions in this chapter could be debated until you’re blue in the face. The slaves were justified in wanting the noble dead, just like Otohime was justified in not wanting hatred to pass on to the children. But could one not also argue that the children must one day be made aware of the wrongs commited against their kind, and that those wrongs will be if not avenged then at least amended for in some way? To try and sweep history under the rug, to just grin and bear it like this, isn’t that same as just trying to pretend that history never even happened? That ALWAYS hurts more than it helps. Of course on the THIRD hand expecting any kind of change in a world where the World Nobles are as deeply entrenched into the power structure as they are is probably a fools dream and status quo won’t be changed so easily and yeah, you get the picture. Lots of thought-provoking stuff here, would be interested to know what ya’ll have to say about it.

Also- random image of adorable big-headed Shirahoshi now.



Because again, we’ll NEED all the cute we can get…

Comments

[kick-up-a-notch.livejournal.com]

Zeff expanded the Baratie, possibly to a chain- if the term 'headquarters' is anything to go by. It is freaking tall in the background.

The World Nobles however just... I dunno, they just remind me of a grander and worse Wapol- there ARE revolutionaries after are.

[moveurdeadfros.livejournal.com]

Oooh, you mean it's taller now than it used to be? Good catch, I didn't notice that at all.

Yeah, but the difference there was that Wapol was at least confined to a pretty small island, and was most likely able to lord of his people with strength and being able to pay people to follow him. Wapol was a mover and shaker- the World Nobles don't DO anything. In fact, they're a little bit like Hollywood celebrities tiny yappy lapdogs- utterly unnecessary and do nothing to enhance anything, they're just THERE as a... I don't know, fashion statement. That's my main beef here, that they, like tiny lapdogs, are so unneccessary yet hold such a central roll.

Ah well. I'm sure Oda will justify them sooner or later.