Chapter 613

Chapter 613 is called "The Mermaid Princess in Hard-Shell Tower".

Cover
Short Term Cover Page: From the Decks of the World - Vol. 1: News Coo's travelling the world, bringing around newspaper telling everyone that the Straw Hat Pirates have returned.

Quick Summary
Shirahoshi screams and yells in need of help, being afraid Luffy will hurt her. Though, Luffy is her savior, as she has become target of a big axe, thrown to her from far away. Vander Decken IX, has once again thrown a big weapon in her directions to try and kill her, for not marrying him. Meanwhile, Zoro is arrested and the remaining three (Brook, Nami and Usopp) take out guards, trying to arrest them too. As guards falter one by one, Neptune takes a swing at them, but is stopped by two swords of Zoro. Having broken out of the palace prison, he aids his friends. Back in Fishman District, Hordy Jones and Vander Decken IX make a deal to take the head of Neptune.

Long Summary
Vander Decken IX and Wadatsumi are on the scouring the seafloor for a letter response from Princess Shirahoshi. Decken IX blames King Neptune, believing he is trying to get married the Princess for political reasons and that is why he locked her in a steel tower for ten years. He then "presents" the princess with a axe with a rose painted on it and, using his Mato Mato no Mi, throws it towards her tower claiming no one will marry her but him and he will kill her if she marries anyone else.

At Ryuuguu Palace guards rush to the Princess Shirahoshi's room. The princess cries for help as Luffy says he was only looking for food. Then Luffy sees the axe Decken IX threw and blocked it from the Princess, most likely using Haki. When the guard finally get to the room the Princess hides Luffy in her hand and says she just had a nightmare and apologizes. The guards then say they are looking for Luffy who snuck away from his crew. Due to the suspicions, kidnappings and Madam Shirley's predictions it has been decided that the Straw Hats will be retained in the castle's prison and that Zoro had already been retained.

The Princess apologizes to Luffy and explains that the axe was throw by Vander Decken IX using his Mato Mato no Mi and that she was put in the tower for her protection and that she been there for ten years and her only companion was Megalo. Luffy yells at the Princess when she poked at his cheeks when he was eating. When the Princess cries Luffy asks how could someone so big be such a crybaby. After he says he doesn't like her, she cries all the more and tells him to get out. Luffy offers to go out with her and protect her much to the Princess' Shock.

At the Palace the straw hats are surrounded by guards and say they have no intention of being arrested for something they haven't done yet. King Neptune intends to keep the straw hats confined until further notice. As Neptune readies to fight the straw hats, Zoro appears ready to fight.

Chapter Notes

 * On the newspaper announcing the Straw Hats' return on the cover, Sanji's picture shows only the back of his head, yet again continuing his bad luck in pictures as one of the Straw Hat Pirates.
 * Wadatsumi is revealed to be a fishman and not only a giant.
 * Wadatsumi's full name is revealed to be Oonyuudou Wadatsumi.
 * Vander Decken IX is fully seen for the first time and his crew is called the Flying Pirates.
 * Vander Decken IX is revealed to be the first fishman with a Devil Fruit ability.
 * Vander Decken IX was cast with a curse known as Mato Mato which lets him get guaranteed hits.
 * Vander Decken IX is revealed to be a Fishman.
 * Luffy saves Princess Shirahoshi.
 * This is the second time Luffy bluntly points out a person's negative qualities and says "I don't like you". The first time was with Coby.
 * Thanks to Luffy, Shirahoshi will apparently exit the tower for the first time in a decade.
 * Usopp introduces his new weapon, Black Kabuto.
 * Nami appears to have an upgrade to her Clima-Tact, resembling her old wooden bo-staff.
 * Pappug is the first being to ever call Usopp courageous in some way without being fooled or making a joke.
 * Zoro is seen for the first time on Fishman Island.
 * Hordy Jones and Vander Decken IX make a pact that includes taking the head of Neptune, and overthrowing the Ryugu Kingdom.

Characters
1: first introduction