"Hahaha, we still have to thank Lord Karl. Without you, Hody would've stained Fish-Man Island with far worse crimes."
Hearing Karl's easy tone, Jinbe relaxed. He'd heard the name "Karl the Tiger God" across the seas—most recently about that clash with Kaido up in Paradise. With someone of that caliber, caution was only natural.
"Ho ho ho ho… Lord Karl, please rest in the palace tonight. We can depart tomorrow," King Neptune said.
Seeing the two getting along eased Neptune's mind. On paper, Whitebeard still sheltered Fish-Man Island. Jinbe handled the World Government. And now there was Karl. Neptune could finally breathe a little easier.
"Works for me. We've got time," Karl nodded, following the procession toward the palace.
"Princess Shirahoshi, hello. I'm Daphne—one of the brides this time," Daphne said, openly curious.
"Eh? Lord Karl… has several brides?" Shirahoshi blinked, stunned. Her father had only ever spoken of one queen.
"Yep. He's a big soft-hearted scoundrel," Daphne said, falling back to chatter with the princess, voices bubbling like a hidden stream.
—
"Your Majesty, Fish-Man Island feels… quieter this time," Karl remarked later. The simmering rage he'd felt before was muted, replaced by a gentler rhythm.
Whether that was good or bad depended on the era. Under Whitebeard's wing, it was welcome stability. But once Whitebeard passed… who could say? The Celestial Dragons and the machine of slavery were shackles the world struggled to shed. This sea managed to hold tribal instincts and modern cruelties in the same fist. It was strange—and cruel.
"After Hody Jones' plot was exposed, I tightened control over Fishman District," Neptune said. "When Jinbe returned, he purged it—rounded up the most fanatical followers who hated humans. Without agitators, tempers cooled quickly."
Neptune's beard curled with contentment. Peace—however fragile—let a king sleep.
A banquet followed. Neptune brought out his treasured wine again; this time he was the one who got tipsy. Karl stayed steady—Karlyn had already cracked the recipe months back and brewed an even better version.
"Lord Karl," Shirahoshi whispered, "how many brides… this time?"
"Uh… three. Just three. I'm marrying the women I already love," Karl coughed.
"Don't mind him," Daphne said, cheeks pink with wine. "He's a hopeless romantic—hmph. Be careful when you pick your future husband, Shirahoshi."
"I… I understand," the princess nodded, half comprehending.
"Hahaha! Lord Karl, a toast!" Jinbe arrived with a cup. He knew Karl had also helped during the Mary Geoise slave-liberation—many fishmen and merfolk had been saved. A debt of that size didn't wash away.
"No need for formality, Jinbe. Cheers!" Karl clinked and downed his cup.
—
Morning light filtered through the coral-glass. Karl stood on the balcony, looking out at the same sweeping view as last time.
"Karl… you're up early," Daphne mumbled from bed.
"Not that early. Still dizzy?"
"A little. Can't believe I lost a drinking match to a kid," she groaned. Losing to Shirahoshi stung her pride.
"Haha, don't compare yourself to a Sea King—one of the Ancient Weapons. Here, milk. It'll help."
"Looks like I'm not getting my Fish-Man Island shopping spree. Next time."
"We'll come back," Karl promised.
"When do we head out?"
"This afternoon. Rest up first. Once the princess leaves the palace, we keep her disguised the whole way—Sabaody, then straight to Tiger Roar. No slips."
"I know. If the outside world sees her, the waves will be huge. If the Five Elders—or Im—catch a hint…" Daphne shook her head.
By afternoon the party gathered in the throne hall.
"Karl," Neptune said somberly, "let Jinbe and Shirahoshi go with you. My sons aren't ready to govern; I can't leave yet. I'm sorry—I'm entrusting the princess to you."
"Understood. We'll keep her safe," Karl replied. He'd brought Daphne for this exact reason.
"I've had the Right Minister prepare Fish-Man Island confections as wedding gifts." A heap of glittering boxes was carried forward.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. We love these," Daphne said; she'd fallen for them at first bite.
Karl flicked his wrist; the gifts vanished.
"Eek! The sweets disappeared!" Shirahoshi gasped.
"Haha—storage bracelet that 'ate' a Devil Fruit. Super practical," Karl grinned, showing the palm-sized band.
"A bracelet can eat devil fruits?" Neptune boggled. Humans and beasts, sure—but objects?
"Newest tech. Pretty wild, right? Ahaha—"
"All right, stop showing off," Daphne nudged. "Time to move."
"Right. Jinbe—Daphne, set the disguise."
"Shirahoshi, stand on this cloud," Daphne said, raising a broad, downy bank of cloud beneath the princess.
"O-Okay, Sister Daphne!"
The princess stepped onto the cloud; Daphne's mist wrapped around her, bending sight and sense. From outside, there was nothing to see—just the hum of a coated ship.
They embarked, slipped through the gate, and left Fish-Man Island behind, a hidden princess riding a cloud toward the surface.
The coated ship broke the surface. Karl pinged Rayleigh, then Daphne lifted a billowing cloud and carried everyone high toward Tiger Roar Island.
"Rayleigh-san! Sashi buri dana!" Jinbe called out with a grin when they met up.
"Hahaha—long time no see, Jinbe! You've grown into quite the big name yourself," Rayleigh chuckled, seeing the once blue, burly shadow behind Fisher Tiger now a pillar in his own right.
Conversation bubbled across the cloud—Granny Nyon and the Nine Snakes chatted easily with the Fish-Man Island group. Sandersonia and Marigold drew shy little answers from Princess Shirahoshi; outside the deep sea, the princess already seemed a touch braver.
On Tiger Roar Island, Hancock and the others waited on the shore. The happiest was An—she hadn't seen her "Princess Shirahoshi" in ages.
A white cloud descended and thinned away.
"Princess Shirahoshi! Sashi buri dana! I missed you!" An sprinted over.
Shirahoshi startled at the sudden shout—then, recognizing An, beamed and gently scooped the girl up in both hands, cheek to cheek. "An! I'm so happy!"
"Big Bro—I'm finally getting married," Aili told her brother, Jinbe (Bunsen), eyes bright.
"Mhm. Then I can rest easy," he said, patting her head—thinking how far they'd all come from the days when surviving a sunrise felt ambitious.
"Welcome to Tiger Roar Island and to Karl's wedding!" Berg laughed. "Come rest at our home first—banquet tonight! We're ready."
"Much obliged, Mr. Berg," Rayleigh answered with a polite bow.
The house thrummed with voices. Thankfully, Karl had rebuilt it large enough to fit a small army. In the main hall, Berg and Emma chatted with Rayleigh, Shakky, Jinbe, and Gloriosa. On the other side, Hancock whispered with her sisters—whatever they said turned the Empress's ears scarlet.
An whisked Shirahoshi to the room she'd remodeled: widened doorframe, vaulted ceiling, and a sea of pink decorations. The two girls traded secrets like pearls.
The welcome feast that night dazzled Sandersonia, Marigold, and Shirahoshi most of all—they'd never attended a banquet in the outside world. Wine flowed; laughter rolled; lanterns bobbed along the shore till late.
—
At dawn, Karl checked the little island chapel. Everything was set—two days to go. Daphne arrived beside him; they shared a quiet smile.
"Feels like we're missing one last touch, doesn't it?" Karl said.
"Hm? I think it's perfect. Wait—did you plan a surprise?" Daphne's eyes sparkled.
"Well… what if the aisle floated on soft white clouds and the ceiling bloomed with colored cloudbanks—like a palace in the sky? If we wed in the heavens, then you'd be a celestial bride."
"Oh! Why didn't I think of that?" Daphne laughed, already weaving. Mist unfurled, the nave turned ethereal, and the chapel became a drifting fairyland. They stood back, satisfied.
—
Two days later, the whole town stirred at sunrise. The three brides were whisked off to dress and makeup. Word had spread—Karl was marrying three brides at once, and the island buzzed.
Outside the chapel, crowds pressed in; inside, the hall gleamed with floating veils of cloudlight. Daphne had even penned a wedding march from memory—leaving Karl blinking. "She really does have a head for everything…"
Rayleigh officiated—at Shakky's command he wore a proper suit, looking so upright that strangers would never guess he was the Dark King.
Music swelled. The crowd parted. Shakky led the three brides down the aisle, each with two children lifting the train. Applause rippled like surf; cones of flower petals burst overhead.
At the altar, Shakky placed their hands in Karl's, murmuring a few pointed lines about "treasuring them forever." Under Rayleigh's steady cadence, vows were spoken, rings exchanged.
"And by witness of sea and sky," Rayleigh declared at last, "I pronounce Karl joined in marriage to Aili, Hancock, and Daphne."
Thunderous applause. Berg, Emma, and Granny Nyon wiped their eyes but smiled through their tears—children grown, hearts finally settled. An and Shirahoshi clapped hardest of all.
The newlyweds lifted glasses of rose-colored champagne, filled to eight-tenths—an old blessing for a marriage that stays "pleasantly unfull," so it can always be filled with more joy.
"May the couple—well, the couples—share one heart, grow old together, and soon welcome little ones!" Rayleigh closed, and the island erupted into celebration.
A town-wide feast followed. Rayleigh ditched the suit for his polka-dots and drank with abandon. Laughter carried till morning; some wandered home, some fell asleep right on the sand.
Karl and his three brides returned to their room, each in silk sleepwear, nestled in a sighing hush after the storm.
"Lord Karl, I'm so happy… I finally became your wife," Hancock whispered.
"Karl, for the rest of our lives—please take care of us," Daphne said softly.
"Hubby…" Aili's eyes shone.
Karl looked at them—and spoke simply, "We're together for a lifetime. I'll love you—always."
"Mhm. Always together," Aili nodded.
Karl's smile turned playful. "Well then… shall we complete the ceremony… properly?"
"Mm…" the three answered, faces warm.
The door drifted shut. Outside, cloud-petals glowed in the moonlight; inside, laughter and soft whispers braided into a gentle, blissful night.
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