Manga: Chapter 625 (SPOILERS!)

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

I'm sympathising with a villain for once...what has the world come to?!
Forget my insanity people and buy Viz's One Piece!

So yes...the flashback continues from last time as a huge ship belonging to the Celestrial Dragons crashes into Fishman Island and all the citizens are in shock. To add to the confusion, a Celestrial Dragon called St Miosgard is still alive but heavily wounded  and forces the people to bring him a mask even while he insults them....yep I still hate their guts. Hodi thinks that scum like him should be killed (I actually agree with him for once) but of course they won't do that as you'll see why in a second, also a young Vander Decken wonders on the scene as he's curious. Through a flashback within the flashback, we learn that Miosgard is there since the dick wanted to take back the slaves who worked for him before being freed by Fisher Tiger because they happened to be part of his so called "treasured fishman slave collection"....douchebaggery at its finest ladies and gentlemen. The Sun Pirates go up to a confused Miosgard and clearly want to just shoot him (can't blame them) but if you remember back to the Sabaody Archipelago Arc, harming a Celestrial Dragon would be bad for the people since a Marine admiral and troops will be summoned. But in this case the pardon given to the people will be invalidated, however the pirates convince the people that as long as they keep quiet the Marines will believe that it will be just a ship wreck. The people cheer the pirates on and keep chanting to shoot him and as the shot is fired.....Queen Otohime jumps in at the last minute and the bullet hits her arm.

WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!

She orders the pirates to drop their weapons as there are children watching in horror as are everyone else, Jinbei, Aladdin, Shirahoshi and the princes all arrive. The bullet only grazed Otohime but shes still clearly wounded, she justifies her actions by saying she understands how the people feel about their hatred towards humans, but they shouldn't let the children deal with this in the future generations to come. Suddenly Miosgard picks up the pistol and is about to shoot Otohime in the head until...a crying Shirahoshi uses haki to summon giant Sea Kings!....didn't see that coming O_O. Everyone looks up in fear (even Hodi suprisingly) and Vander Decken seems pleased with that familiar wicked smile of his drawn across his face. He remembers that long ago there was a legendary mermaid princess with the ability to control Sea Kings and the person who came in pusuit of that legend was his ancestor Vander Decken I. He believes that he's found the legendary princess' predecessor and plans to marry her but of course he can't....because shes 6 years old. This begins the never ending string of annoying and creepy proposals he will have to her....great just great.

...THIS is why you shouldn't make fun of cry babies in anime or manga!

A few weeks later, Aladdin treats Otohime and Miosgard, Miosgard leaves saying he'll get his revenge even though they saved his life....again, a total twat is among us. Otohime decides to accompany him to the surface but everyone is against this. Heck even King Neptune himself shows up to  try and go instead of her, but she refuses as they need a strong leader on the island and she needs to prove that if a person as weak as she is can't go where they want, then that will fail to show how the surface isn't a place to be feared. She tells Neptune to trust in both her and humanity as she boards (much to Miosgard's grimace). During the passage of one week everyone is worried for the safety of their queen, however Otohime finally returns and our chapter ends with her showing a document that she has managed to calm and coax the Celestrial Dragons which became the islands light of hope as her beloved citizens cry in tears of joy at her safe return.

I know this sounds wrong, but something tells me this smile won't last long

So what did I think of this chapter? While many people are complaining that this flashback is going on too long, I am inclined to agree somewhat with that. However, we are getting good storytelling here people. Just the fact that Otohime practically told the Celestrial Dragons to do what they want makes this a win in my book. It also offers an explanation for Vander Decken's true motives for wanting to marry Shirahoshi, however we still ask more like: What caused Otohime's death? Does Miosgard have a plan up his sleeve? What are Hodi's true reasons for hating humans? Hopefully the flashback won't last too much longer, but even if it does we're still getting a good story here people. Do not forget that. So thats it and I'll see you all later!