Ripples, Waves, Tsunamis

by Xomniac

AU: When it isn't trying to kill you, the New World can be a wondrous place. It's also a place where your past generally can't find you. The key word, of course, being 'generally'.

2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Ow! Alright Chopper, that's tight enough!" Nami winced as she half-heartedly swatted the reindeer's hoof away from the bandage he was tying around her head. "Geeze, my skull is throbbing, not about to fall to pieces..."

Chopper winced slightly as he hastily loosened the bandage a bit. "Sorry about that. I'm not really at my best."

Nami eyed the doctor worryingly, noting how he seemed to be swaying ever so slightly on his hooves. "Is it anything serious?"

"Eh... not really, just... well..." Chopper scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Last night when I... 'fell in', I panicked and tried changing forms to get out and... well... ever get water up your nose and then have a hard time getting it out?"

"Yeah?"

"Changing your entire body's musculature does not help. And seeing how thanks to my Devil Fruit the smell of seawater in my nose always sets my teeth on edge..." Chopper let a shiver run up his body.

"Oh, Chopper..." Nami gave him a pitying look before picking him up and placing him in her lap. "C'mere!"

"Hey, wait wha-!? C-c'mon you bitch, it's not like this'll make me happy or any-ah-ahh..." Chopper's enthusiastic protests died as Nami's fingers worked their way under his hat and behind his ears. "Actually, that feels really good, could you just... ooooh..." The reindeer proceeded to all but melt under her fingers.

The door to the clinic swung open, allowing Sanji to poke his head in. "Oh Nami-swan, I just wanted to let you know I'm done running inve-GRK!" The cook then proceeded to burn over half his cigarette at once as he hissed furiously at the sight of Chopper relaxing on Nami's lap.

"Something wrong, Sanji?" Nami asked, her brow creased in slight worry. Her hands continued to scratch behind Chopper's ears, the reindeer moaning under the attention.

"Nothing…" Sanji ground out, taking an angry huff of the cigarette. "Just… letting you know that I'm done running inventory on our food stores. You should probably get come in to the kitchen so I can tell everyone." And with that, Sanji spun stiffly on his heel and marched out, practically slamming the door behind him.

"Weird…" Nami muttered. "So, anyway, Chopper, how's my head looking?"

"Aww... " Chopper whined as he Nami stopped scratching his head. "Oh! Uh, I mean…" Blushing under his fur, Chopper jumped to his feet and dashed over to grab his clipboard. "Well, it's all good news. You don't have a concussion, so the headache should be gone tomorrow."

"Did you say concussions?" Luffy asked, peeking his head into the clinic. "Ah, you don't have to worry about those! Grandpa said that they don't have any lasting effects."

Nami and Chopper sent confused looks at each other. "They… don't?" Nami asked quizzically.

"They don't what?" Luffy replied, tilting his head in confusion.

Nami, seeing where this was going, swiftly clamped her hand over Chopper's mouth before he could respond. "Oh, nothing, nothing. Just... give us a second?"

"Sure!" And with that, the rubber man was gone.

Nami waited a few seconds before letting Chopper go. "Did Luffy ever tell you how young he was when he ate the Gum-Gum Fruit?"

"I don't think that Garp's 'love' really cared whether he was rubber or not..." Chopper muttered.

Nami flinched sympathetically. "Yeah... trick him into taking a few tests?"

"Agreed."

And with that, the pair left the clinic, where they were met with the worried looks of their crew.

"Nami and I are fine, no long-term..." Chopper stumbled and shook his head to clear it before grinning meekly. "Eh... no serious long-term damage."

"How are our food stocks looking?" Nami asked Sanji, already pessimistic about the answer..

The gourmet cook sighed heavily as he took a hit from his fresh cigarette. "Yesterday, we had enough food to keep us going for two months, provided certain individuals," The glare he sent at Luffy was obliviously ignored. "Managed to control themselves. Doubtful, but still, I like to dream. But now, thanks to our 'guest' from last night," He tsked and shook his head. "We have three days' worth of food left. And that's if you like nothing but hardtack and vegetables."

A dull roar of disappointment and incredulity rang out in response.

"This is unacceptable! My stomach will shrivel up into nothing! Even though I haven't had one for years! YOHOHO!"

"That is so not SUPER!"

"I suppose we'll have to make use of our emergency food supplies, won't we?"

"STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT, ROBIN!"

"How'd this even happen!?" Usopp's question in particular drew a lot of attention.

"Long-nose has a point." Zoro grunted darkly. "I can understand dartboard brow not noticing..."

"You're getting anything that goes bad, mosshead."

"But me and Luffy should have noticed him somehow with Haki."

Luffy crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. "Unless this guy had Haki too."

The crew snapped their focus to their captain in shock.

"Come again?" Nami asked.

Luffy cupped his chin in thought. "I don't really remember it all that well, but while we were training, Rayleigh told me about how some people can use their Observation Haki to mess with other people's Observation Haki. He said something about... jamming frequencies or stuff like that? I dunno, it was a lot of big words. But still, it means that whoever did this can use Haki, and pretty good too, which means that he's definitely strong."

Silence reigned over the kitchen.

Luffy blinked and looked at his crew in confusion. "Huh? What's wrong?"

"L-Luffy..." Robin started up hesitantly. "It's just…"

"We're so used to you being a dumbass that you being this serious kind of caught us off guard," Zoro stated bluntly.

"Yes, exactly, thank you." The archaeologist sighed in relief.

Luffy's scowl darkened immensely as he tensed up. "Of course I'm serious! This bastard broke on to our ship, our home, hurt Nami, almost drowned Chopper... and most importantly..." His fingers fiercely dug into his arms.

The crew leaned forwards in grim anticipation.

Luffy suddenly flung his arms upwards. "HE STOLE ALL MY MEAT!" He bellowed furiously.

Silence reigned over the kitchen anew.

Finally, Nami broke the silence by clapping her hands. "Sanji. Zoro."

"I'll take the right side."

"I've got the left."

Luffy looked between his co-heavy-hitters in confusion. "Huh? What are you guys talking about?"

The sound of a door clicking made Luffy look around and blink in confusion. "Hey, why'd everybody leave?"

Zoro and Sanji cracked their knuckles in response.

-o-

Five minutes later, the Straw Hats reassembled.

"Do you have anything you'd like to say to us, Luffy?" Nami asked serenely.

"Yes," Luffy slurred. His face was a vivid mess of bruises, the right side covered in footprints and the left appearing to have been put through a meat grinder. "I'm sorry for putting food over my crew. It'll never happen again."

"Good boy." Nami chirped.

"Moving on from our local bottomless pit's stomach..." Sanji sighed. "Does anyone have any idea on how this jackass snuck up on us like that? I mean, even without Haki, we're miles away from any land, and I didn't see any ships of any sizes while we were saving Chopper."

"There are a myriad of possibilities for covert transportation," Robin mused. "A submarine, perhaps, a small coated ship, or a devil fruit with flight, or-"

"It was a fishman."

Attention turned to Nami at her flat statement.

"Are you sure?" Usopp asked.

Nami nodded slowly, a melancholic expression affixed to her face. "Yes, I'm sure of it. I couldn't make out a lot of details, but he was definitely bigger and stronger than the average human, strong enough to force the lock on the freezer with brute strength alone. He was also using a trident when we were fighting, and fishmen use them almost as naturally as humans use guns and swords. Plus, considering the way he dived off the ship..." She nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I... think he was a fishman."

Usopp blinked in confusion. "You're not sure?"

"Well..." Nami groaned as she marched over to a table and fell into a chair, leaning on her elbows as she clutched the back of her head. "I... last night, he gave me this by hitting me with a tail. His tail. But... I've never seen a fishman with a tail, mermen's tails don't split when they get older like mermaids, and that was definitely a guy, so it had to be a fishman, but... he could have been a Zoan-Type, but I've never heard of a fish-Zoan and he wouldn't be able to swim, so... so... URGH!" Nami shook her head furiously. "I don't know, alright!? I-I just don't..."

A hand falling on her shoulder caused her to snap her head up, fully intent on chewing the owner out. Then she saw that it belonged to a legitimately concerned Luffy and her bluster left her completely. After a second of gaping, searching for something to say, Nami ultimately settled on sighing and thumping her forehead on the table. "I... I don't know how to explain it, Luffy. I don't even know what it is to begin with. Just... something's been bothering me, since last night and..." Nami groaned in despair. "I just don't know..."

"Nami…" Sanji started, reaching out to comfort her, only to have his shoulder caught up in Zoro's iron grip.

"C'mon," the swordsman stated. "Let's give her some space."

The navigator distantly heard the others leave, Sanji and Franky discussing something or other about the fridge. Allowing herself to relax ever so little, Nami slowly exhaled through her nose, her eyes drifting shut.

"Alwa... ook for... llow-up..."

Nami grit her teeth as she clenched her eyes shut even tighter. "What was that?" she growled under her breath as she racked her brain. "What the hell does it mean?"

In the end, she had as many answers as she started with, which only served to exasperate her even further.

-o-

It was a relatively subdued crew that populated the Thousand Sunny's deck. For about five minutes before Brook tried serenading Robin with a song that had nothing to do with any form of clothing worn beneath- or at- the waist.

He managed to get three lyrics into "Ode to a Corset" before Nami wound up lodging her Clima-Tact in his ribcage. That set Sanji a-twitter around Nami again, which earned a comment from Zoro, which incited an impromptu duel between the two... Within about an hour, Luffy and Usopp were laughing their asses off as they tried to help Chopper regain his balance without much success, Brook was demonstrating his brand of swordsmanship to Zoro with his sheathed cane, and Sanji and Robin were running ideas for upgrades to the Sunny by Franky.

Nami smiled slightly as she looked down on the scene from the crow's nest. It was nice to have some form of familiarity on hand.

She then shook her head and stepped back from the window. "Alright, back to it..." And with that, she snapped her Clima-Tact out and started swinging it around. She swiftly and systematically ran through multiple katas with her weapon, twirling it around her body and arms, spinning as though the staff were an extension of her body. Her feet twisted and danced around the gymnasium as she spun her body along with the twirls of her staff.

After about a minute, Nami fell into one of the oldest katas she could remember. Spin to the left, jab with her staff, backstep, spin to the right, overhead swing, duck-

Nami flinched. She didn't know why... but she did, her body doubling over out of instinct.

"Alwa... ook for... llow-up..."

Nami panted heavily as she attempted to process what had just occurred. "I..." Nami blinked numbly. "What?" She swiftly racked her brain for the last time she'd employed that kata... and felt her blood run cold when she recalled the answer.

"HEY! NAMI!"

The navigator jumped in shock as Luffy's voice rang throughout the crow's nest. Still acting on instinct, she swung her Clima-Tact with the lightning section activated right into his face. Luckily, (or unluckily, depending on your perspective) being made of rubber, he didn't even flinch.

"What?" She growled, blushing furiously at the fact that the loudest member of the crew had just snuck up on her.

"I think I saw an island!" Luffy exclaimed, grinning his trademark grin and cheerfully oblivious to the fact that she had just attacked him.

"LAND HO!" Usopp bellowed from below.

"I definitely saw an island!" Luffy reaffirmed.

Nami glanced at her log pose and barely restrained a sigh of frustration when she confirmed that, once again, the needle was pointing off the side of the Sunny. Honestly, she was starting to get sick and tired of the New World's currents, this was the third time that week!

After taking stock of the clouds drifting along outside and formulating a plan, she addressed Luffy. "Turn the ship to a 325 degree bearing and start furling the sails. And for God's sake, leave the topsails up this time!" At Luffy's blank stare, she sighed and ran a hand down her face. "Put the island next to Sunny's head and bring in all the sails except for the one with our flag on it."

Luffy tilted his head in confusion. "But doesn't more sails mean more speed?" The murderous glare he got in response was answer enough. "Uh..." He promptly shot out of the crow's nest, relaying her orders to her-his! His crew.

Nami sighed and shook her head, half in amusement, half in exasperation, as she marched towards the window that faced the prow of the head. One day, she was going to sit her captain down and force every nautical term into his head that she could manage.

Not that decade, though. Or even that century, for that matter. Noooo, she'd wait until they were all ancient and retired. Then she'd browbeat the King of the Pirates until his brain was black, blue and bloody.

Dismissing her cathartic thoughts of the future, Nami instead picked up one of the spyglasses she'd stashed up here for lookout duty and took a nice long look at the Sunny's destination.

All in all, it was a nice location: A relatively large island, dense with foliage. The terrain was a bit rough, what with more than a few cliffs here and there, but it was peppered with agricultural plantations nonetheless. A rice paddy here, a grove of trees here, all in all very nice.

Even the ring of wrecked ships near what appeared to be the port of the central town wasn't too offputting, after seeing Water 7.

The fact that they all seemed picked clean and had Jolly Rogers on what remained of their masts was a little worrying though.

"Welcome to the New World..." Nami sighed as she lowered the spyglass, scrutinizing what little of the island there was to see with her bare eyes. When all was said and done, it seemed... quaint. Nice. Dare she say... beautiful?

"Got... mit, it... ell of... iew."

Nami barely resisted the urge to bang her head against the window. "Where the hell is this all coming from?!" she yelled at no one in particular. She made to turn around and march away... then froze and blinked at her reflection.

Slowly, contemplatively, Nami raised her hand and brushed her cheek. She stared at the moisture on her finger in shock. "What the...?" She blinked in confusion. "Wh... why am I crying?"

Before Nami could contemplate the sheer insanity of her situation any longer, she was drawn out of her musings by the sounds of the crew below deck. As she hastily made her way out of the crow's nest, the thoughts were postponed for a later date.

Postponed, but not forgotten.

-o-

"Just to be clear..." Usopp swallowed nervously as he looked over the array of mutilated ships that surrounded the Sunny. "I'm not the only one getting flashbacks to the Rainbow Mist, right?"

"Only tangentially, Usopp," Robin mused as she analyzed the vessels. "While the ships in the Mist ranged from ancient to contemporary, these all appear relatively recent. I'd estimate that they were sunk in the last five years."

"And they were sunk SUPER brutally, too," Franky noted as he pushed up his glasses, "See that one?" He pointed out one of the ships that had snapped in half. "Look familiar to you guys?"

Usopp swallowed uncomfortably at the image. "Just like the Merry... Don't tell me, its keel?"

Franky nodded gravely in agreement. "Yeah, though in that ship's case, I think it was an underwater explosion that broke it rather than an impact like with the Merry. You can see where the explosion left little tears all along the bottom."

"You mean like on that one over there?" Zoro pointed out another ship on the other side of the Sunny.

Franky glanced over at it before doubletaking. "Uh oh..." He grit out.

"D-d-don't tell me..." Brook chattered in horror. "All these ships were-!?"

"Sunk by the same thing?" Sanji sighed out a cloud of smoke. "Afraid so."

"SCARY!" Chopper, Usopp and Brook yelped as they clumped together.

"Oh calm down!" Nami snarled at them in aggravation as she scanned the water. "We're ten times stronger than these guys were! Now be quiet, I need to concentrate. The currents these things are making are insane."

"Maybe we can help!"

"Huh?" Nami blinked in surprise at the sudden voice.

"Down here!"

Attention shifted down to the waterline, where a man in a rowboat was waving at them.

"Hello!" He greeted them. "Pirates, right? What's your business here?"

"We wanna buy some meat!" Luffy called down before Nami shoved him out of the way.

"Along with a few other supplies!" She concurred. "A fishman robbed us last night and stole all our food!"

The man's pleasant expression morphed into one of worry and fear. "Wait, he-? Oh, that's not good..." He muttered to himself as he started scanning the water. "Okay, you guys are really going to want to follow me! And fast, before he comes back to finish the job!" And with that, the man took up his oars and started paddling through the water with surprising speed.

The crew glanced at one another in confusion. "Nami?" Sanji questioned.

The navigator shrugged helplessly. "He knows these waters better than I do. Do you guys really want to go round two with that guy? Don't!" She snapped furiously. "Answer that. Reign in the sails and follow him closely."

And so the Thousand Sunny followed the man through the wooden reef and into an open area around the docks proper. Once they were clear of the wrecks, the man in the rowboat whistled loudly, drawing attention of a bunch of men milling about the docks. "THEY'RE GOOD!" He shouted. "RAISE THE WALL!"

Usopp blinked in confusion. "Wait, raise the wha-?"

His question was cut off by the sound of a bell ringing out. All along the perimeter of the open area, a multitude of poles started to rise up and out of the water. Strung between the poles were large nets woven out of steel cables. Once the net was raised, a multitude of rowboats travelled out into the bay.

"It's a trap!" Usopp yelped, scrambling for his Kabuto.

"Well, if it's a fight they want..." Luffy chuckled as he cracked his knuckles.

"WAIT!"

The crew's actions were stopped by a loud voice calling out to them. In one of the larger rowboats, a large man was standing up and waving at them vigorously. A relatively middle-aged man, he was the spitting image of a stereotypical pirate: His wrinkly face framed by long salt-and-pepper dreadlocks that hung down from under his tricorn, he was dressed in a long black justacorps with red epaulettes, and to wrap it all up he had a gold tooth glinting in his mouth.

"I apologize, mateys! T'was our first time usin' our seawall, and me local hearties got a wee bit overenthusiastic! We dinnae mean ta scare ya like that!" The man apologized profusely.

"Are you a pirate?" Luffy asked eagerly.

The man threw his head back in an exaggerated manner and laughed enthusiastically. "HAR HAR HAR! Ah, no me matey, I be no salty sea dog like you! Me name is Polly! I be the mayor of this here town of Kayaku, a humble respite for pirates and buccaneers of all walks of life! But quite honestly, after spending so long wrangling these bilgerats, I might as well be one! HAR HAR HAR HAR!" This time, his laughter was heartily accompanied by the rest of the men in the other rowboats.

Nami blinked in surprise. "You mean this place is a pirate town?"

"At least it looks better than Mock Town..." Zoro muttered.

"Shishishishi!" Luffy chuckled. "I like this guy! He's funny!" He raised his voice as he addressed the mayor. "It's nice to meet you, I'm-!"

"Oh, no need to introduce yourself lad! We already know who you are!" Mayor Polly's grin widened as he drew a sheaf of papers out of his coat, waving them in the air. "The Straw Hat Pirates, composed of 'Straw Hat' Monkey D. Luffy, 'Pirate Hunter' Roronoa Zoro, 'Cat Burglar' Nami, 'Sniper King', 'Black Leg' Sanji, 'Cotton Candy Lover' Tony Tony Chopper-"

"Next time we get attacked by a marine ship, can I handle them on my own? I really want to have a talk with their captain, just a quick one!"

"Ah, Zoan type. Right, marines are idjits. Anyways, 'Demon Child' Nico Robin, 'Cyborg' Franky, and 'Humming' Brook." Polly's grin practically split his face. "Quite the crew you've got here, Captain Luffy! Highly impressive!"

Zoro cocked an eyebrow as he looked the man over. "You looking to get rich quick?"

"HAR HAR HAR!" Polly burst out laughing. "Not in the slightest, me bucko! You'll find no love for the World Government here in Kayaku! We might not go out to sea, but piracy's been in our blood for several generations! We wouldn't betray fellow adventurers for something as measly as a pile of doubloons! Nay, lad, so long as you don't try and pillage us..." Polly's grin widened further as he pulled his coat open slightly, revealing the cutlasses strapped to his side and the flintlocks over his chest. "We won't pillage you!"

Luffy's chuckling intensified. "I really like this guy!"

Nami, meanwhile, focused on the situation at hand. "Then would you mind telling us what's up with that sea wall? And the wrecked ships for that matter."

Before Polly could respond, the man who'd been their guide spoke up. "He already stole all their food last night, sir! I didn't see him, but you know how slippery he is!"

Mayor Polly's grin fell into a scowl as he crossed his arms and bowed his head. "Is that so, eh? Tch. Well then, lass, it would seem you've already had the misfortune of meeting the scurvy weevil who's responsible for our wall in the first place!"

Nami blinked in shock. "Wait, you don't mean-!?"

"Aye, lass, I do..." The Mayor nodded morosely. "Once you've docked yer ship, come with me ta town hall. I'll tell you everything you need to know..." He looked up, his eyes glinting viciously. "About the Scourge of the Sea."

-o-

Luffy snickered as he watched a couple of kids run around outside a window. "This seems like a pretty fun place!"

"Yeah..." Nami concurred, smiling at the pure... normalness of it all. "It looks... peaceful."

The two had followed the mayor into the town hall, while the rest of the crew waited outside and took in the sights.

"Aye, that it is, me hearties, that it is." Mayor Polly chuckled as he poured a bottle of red liquid into an old goblet of gold. "Would either of ye care for some fine, well-aged rum?" He shrugged at their dismissals before draining it. "Suit yerself. Anyways, yes, Kayaku is a free town. We were founded almost a century ago by a crew o' retired pirates and their families and we just... grew from there. We do well on our own, but we pride ourselves on harborin' any and all true warriors o' the sea like you." His mood darkened substantially. "Or at least, we did..."

"Until five years ago when the 'Scourge' came, right?" Nami asked.

Polly blinked in surprise. "What? How did you-?" He cut himself off as he shook his head. "Ah, it doesn't matter. Anyways, yes: The Scourge o' the Seas. That's the name we gave that fish-faced cur who attacked ye last night. He's been a pain in our poopdecks for the past five years, when he arrived. We dunno who he is or why he does what he does. All we do know is that he's got a damned grudge against all pirates. That graveyard ye passed through? His doin' entirely. He savages the keels of any and all vessels flyin' the Jolly Roger before comin' on board and massacring the crew somethin' fierce. He rarely even loots anything either, just kills 'em and leaves, like a damned plague."

"And he only targets pirates?" Nami clarified.

Polly nodded grimly. "Indeed, lass. Merchant ships pass by from time to time without worry, and our own fishing vessels venture out as well, but neither of them have faced his wrath without warnin'. Worst that happens is that some unlucky salt and his friends catches him in a net and he flips the boat before pounding the tar out of them. They're bruised, aye, but alive."

"That's... actually a pretty standard fishman thing." Nami noted.

"Aye lass, I know..." Polly nodded before sighing. "But either way, the fact of the matter is that whenever the Scourge catches sight of a pirate, he makes them regret ever bein' born. And quite frankly, that's rather annoyin' to us. Yer kind might not be our main trade, but we'd certainly appreciate havin' the company! It's why we put that there seawall in place. First time we've used it, but honestly? I doubt it'll slow the bugger down much. Should give yer ship some security though."

"So you can wine and dine them and get ahold of their 'doubloons'?" The navigator asked innocently.

This incited a flurry of panicked coughing from Polly. "I-I-I, t-that is to say, we... uh... arrr, shiver me timbers..." He ultimately groaned in defeat before slumping into his chair. "Anyways, that's neither here nor there. What is here is what I'm askin' of ya: to help catch this fishy sea lubber and put a stop to his destruction!"

Luffy blinked in confusion. "Huh? Why us? Why not ask the marines or something?"

The question incited a burst of laughter from Polly, though it was definitely derisive. "The marines!? Lad, I'll let you in on a little secret o' this here town: it's secret! Or at least, we try our hardest to keep it that way! Me an' me closest buckos keep a firm hold o' all Eternal Poses leadin' to this place, and we make special care to ensure that word don't spread around about us too much. And why do we do that? Easy! The marines! See lad, from time to time, pirates come back here to retire, settle down with families and what not, and get outta the business. If the marines ever heard about all the bounties we got growin old here, they'd arrest us all for harborin' fugitives from the law! And that was two years ago! Now? With that rabid mutt Sakazuki sittin' at the head o' things? HA! Why, he'd come here in person an' burn us all alive, man, woman and child alike, for havin' the blood o' pirates runnin' through our veins! Nay lad, the marines'd be of no use here."

"And I'm guessing you can't go to the Emperors because they cost too much, huh?" Nami queried.

Polly nodded gravely and pointed at her. "Got it in one, lass. We cannae pay the taxes o' Big Mom or Kaido, Blackbeard's a scurvy rat, through and through, and while Shanks might be a decent lad, he and his crew are too deep in the New World for us to reach. As it is, we're on our own."

"But why us?" Nami asked in confusion.

"Why not you?" Mayor Polly scoffed. "Yer the Straw Hat Pirates, by Whitebeard's glorious mustache, may he rest in peace! Ye took on those bilgerats in Baroque Works - oh don't look so surprised, we all know the only true word on the sea is that of mouth - ye took on the World Government and levelled Enies Lobby, and ye took on the New Fishman Pirates! Got a few new residents who want ta say thanks, by the way. But anyways, the point is that ye have a reputation that precedes ya, a good one. We'd be most obliged if ye lent us a hand and took care of the Scourge! I'd provide all the supplies ye'd need too!"

Luffy tilted his head in thought for a moment before grinning eagerly. "Why not? Pirates help other pirates all the time! Plus, it sounds like it could be fun!"

Nami, on the other hand, seemed rather reluctant, her eyes narrowed in concentration as thoughts ran through her head.

Noticing her expression, Polly made a show of sighing and leaning back in his seat. "We're not real pirates, we're much obliged either way. Still though, ye need not feel guilty should ye suddenly decide otherwise. I'll just have me hearties take these with them when they next go out on a shopping trip." He drew a piece of paper out of his coat and proffered it.

Nami glanced over it curiously. "Wanted, dead or alive, The Scourge of the Seas. Reward... ONE HUNDRED MILLION BERRIES!?" She screeched in shock, ripping the paper out of Polly's hands.

Polly grinned triumphantly at the reaction. "Aye, lass! As I said, the Scourge don't take much from the ships he sinks, so we've made a bit of a trust fund out o' both the dead men's booty and the gold we make sellin' fixins we loot of their ships and corpses! Helps keep us afloat, ye see. We'll pay the bounty to whosoever brings us the Scourge. Whether it be ye or someone-"

Nami suddenly rushed to the window, ripped it open and jammed her head out. "FRANKY! GO COMMANDEER THREE FISHING BOATS AS FAST AS YOU CAN!" She bellowed. "THE REST OF YOU GATHER UP EVERY FISHING NET, ROD, HOOK, LINE AND SINKER YOU CAN CARRY! WE'RE GOING BOUNTY-HUNTING!"

"HAR HAR HAR HAR!" Polly bellowed happily. "Glad to hear it, lass! I await yer swift and victorious return!"

"Shishishishi!" Luffy snickered. "Don't worry, we'll get him! Oh, ah... but now that I think about it..." He tilted his head in confusion. "Where are we supposed to find this guy in the first place?"

"Well..." Polly scratched at his chin in thought. "We don't have a real location of his pinned down... but there is one area where fishermen tend ta' run into him more often than not. Could be close ta where he lives. It's a small, out of the way area. More than a few crags and rock shelves. Real maze o' water and stone. Perfect place for a fishman ta lay low in."

Luffy's grin widened as he leaned in eagerly. "What's it called?"

-o-

"Jigsaw Bay, huh?" Sanji muttered as he warily eyed the surroundings. "Appropriate."

And indeed, it was. The waters of the bay were a mess of spikes and spurs jutting out of the water, alongside random columns jutting out of the waves and shelves carved at seemingly random into the coast itself. The waves were constantly pounding the rock walls, sending up massive gouts of spray, to the annoyance of a pack of sea lions sunning on a flat outcropping. A covering of grass with the occasional bush could be seen at the top of the rocks away from the shoreline proper.

All in all, it looked like some great and frustrated god had gotten frustrated halfway through putting the place together and taken a fist to it, resulting in a shattered, destitute stretch of coast.

Hell for ships... but heaven for an appropriately savvy fishman.

"Quit admiring the scenery and help me out, crap-cook." Zoro scowled.

"Fishing, fishing, gonna catch me a nice big fishman!" Luffy cackled eagerly as he flung a net out into the water.

"Not my fault you couldn't appreciate something beautiful if it walked up to you and hit you in the face," Sanji retorted. "I should know, I see the proof every day. Besides, I want to at least try and see this guy coming."

Zoro quirked an eyebrow at the cook. "You sound upset."

Sanji whirled on Zoro, his eyes ablaze. "Upset? Oh, no, I'm not upset. That fish bastard hurt Nami and stole our food. I am fucking pissed!" The last two words were punctuated by a burst of flame.

"Hey, cool it, dartboard!" Zoro snapped as the flames licked over the boat. "Do you want us to sink!?"

"SCREW YOU, MOSSHEAD! I'LL STAY MOTIVATED UNTIL WE CATCH THIS BASTARD!"

"Then I'll calm you down myself!"

"I think Sanji is upset," Robin noted as she observed the ongoing brawl from another boat, glancing up from her book.

"Y'think?" Franky grumbled as he cast out the net. "Y'know, I know you drown super easy, but it'd be even more super helpful if you guys would actually do something."

"I am doing something, dear Franky!" Brook retorted, strumming his shark-shaped guitar. "I'm providing moral support with my song! Oh, fishing for fish and-"

"I'm keeping the net in place," Robin added. Franky glanced over to the net, and sure enough, there were several of Robin's arms holding the net taut.

"Mmph... Still cheating, you know..." Franky pouted.

"Hmm..." Brook paused in his playing as a thought struck him. "I believe I require inspiration for further lyrics. Robin my dear-"

"Would you prefer for me to use your arm or your leg as bait, Brook?"

"..."

"STOP CONSIDERING IT, DUMBASS!"

"Well, looks like they're having fun." Chopper observed as he looked over his crewmates' vessels, reaffirming his grip on the fishing rod he was clutching.

"Yeah, while on the other hand..." Usopp muttered as he glanced over his shoulder... only for a metal rod to bounce off his forehead. "OUCH!"

"If you've got time to complain, you've got time to fish." Nami sighed as she leaned back, lounging over the prow of the small dinghy they were occupying, attempting to maximize the amount of skin the sunlight touched as she repositioned her sunglasses.

Usopp fumed as he nursed the minute lump on his skull. "You're the one who's so gung-ho about catching this guy. I mean, I want him too, obviously, but why aren't you doing more to help?"

Nami slowly turned her head to give the sniper a flat glare over the top of her sunglasses. "I realize we've gotten stronger over the last two years, but be honest: Do you really want us to be the ones to catch the homicidal fishman, instead of them?" She nodded her head at the boats containing their more combat-oriented comrades.

Usopp stared at them for a moment before hastily snapping his eyes back to his floater. "You are a great and wise leader, Nami."

"And don't you forget it." She smirked as she pushed her sunglasses back up onto her nose.

Usopp rolled his eyes before returning to his fishing. "So... Chopper, you ever fish before? Back on Drum Island I mean."

Chopper shook his head in disappointment. "Nope. Never got the chance. I was always studying with Doctorine. Most of my time was spent either up in Drum Castle or in her old house."

"Well don't you worry, Chopper! I'll teach you what I know!" Usopp grinned as he jabbed a thumb at himself. "Amongst my many talents is a grand specialty for fishing! In fact, I once caught a massive horned shark, ten times as big as the one we caught after we got the Sunny!"

Nami wasn't able to restrain her scoff as she rolled her eyes.

Usopp glanced over his shoulder at her before smirking victoriously. "Hey Nami... Remember those huge blue spikes I got Franky to mount in the Dining Hall?"

The navigator blinked in confusion before jerking upright as realization hit her. "You're not serious!"

Usopp was all but cackling by this point. "The Boin Archipelago brings in creatures of all shapes and sizes! And none of them could withstand... THE GREAT USOPP!"

"WOW USOPP, YOU'RE SO COOL!" Chopper squealed excitedly.

Nami cocked her eyebrow as she looked him up and down. "Never thought I'd admit this, but... nice work, Usopp. I'm impressed."

The sniper beamed as he puffed his chest out with pride. "Heh! It's about time you guys acknowledged the awesomeness of the GREAT and POWERFUL Usopp. Now, allow me to regale you with the tale of how I felled the mighty beast! It all happened about a year ago, while I was..."

Nami slowly tuned out the boisterous sniper as she relaxed once more, instead returning to her previous activity.

Half of her attention had been focused on her sunbathing, yes... but the rest was spent analyzing her surroundings. Specifically, the layout of the bay. Something about it was... familiar. Sure, the coastline appeared unique, but there was just something... something nagging her about it. It was right on the tip of her tongue. As familiar as the back of her hand, yet as foreign, alien and inconceivable as the inner workings of Zoro's mind.

It was infuriating. Despite raking through every map she'd memorized over her lifetime, she just couldn't begin to conceive of where she'd seen it. And how could she have in the first place?! Calm as it might be, the Island was in the New World. As good as another planet to the rest of the Blues, and even Paradise itself! The mere concept of knowing was... inconceivable.

And yet... that outcropping, the shape of that part of the shore... she'd seen it, she knew it. But for all her skills, her experience...

"No... bad f... little... at li... ou."

Nami's fingers cracked the edge of the dinghy as she dug into it. 'Why!? Why goddamnit!? Who the hell is that!? Why can't I remember, damn it all!?"

But almost as swiftly as her mood had dropped, she was yanked out of it. Specifically, she was yanked out of it by Chopper giving out a cry of surprise.

"I got a bite!"

Nami sat up slightly and caught sight of the ship's doctor struggling as something yanked hard against his line, all but yanking it out of his hooves.

"Yeah, go Chopper!" Usopp whooped as he positioned himself behind Chopper, ready to help at any time. "Now just reel her in and tonight we'll feast!"

Nami rolled her eyes slightly at the pair's antics, but couldn't help but lean up in slight interest at the amount of effort the reindeer was exerting. Her eyebrows practically shot up to her hairline as he shifted to Kung Fu Point.

"This thing is huge!" Chopper grunted as he yanked on the rod.

"Forget us, this thing'll feed the whole crew once Sanji's through with it!" Usopp cheered.

By this point, Nami was grinning as she sat up and stooped behind the pair, watching with excitement. Bit by bit, the line was coming closer, and closer, and closer, until finally...

"GOT IT!" Chopper cheered as he gave the line a final yank.

The water in front of the trio erupted outwards as something broke the surface of the ocean, dousing them all and blinding them in the spray.

Nami sputtered and spat as she attempted to clear her eyes... and froze in abject horror.

A silhouette, shadowed by the sun, half of his massive frame sticking out of the water. One massive hand was holding onto the edge of the boat, while the other was gingerly pinching a fishing hook.

Nami's breathing sped up furiously as she slowly inched her hand towards her Clima-Tact, an action that Usopp was imitating as he reached for his Kabuto.

Chopper reacted the swiftest of them all, breaking out in a straight up panic. "HE-GRK!" The reindeer's terrified scream morphed into a choked gargle as the figure's hand shot out and grabbed him by the throat.

"CHOPPER!" Usopp and Nami hollered simultaneously, grabbing his backpack... right as the fishman dove under the waves anew.

The Straw Hat's attention snapped to the third ship in their miniature armada when it suddenly capsized in a spray of water, dumping their friends into the sea.

Barely even a second passed before Luffy was on his feet with both his arms deep in the water, his face the picture of outrage.

"GET BACK HERE YOU BASTARD!" He roared.

Beneath the waves, Nami was fighting to hold her breath as she clutched Chopper's bag for dear life, unwilling to even conceptualize the thought of letting go. The saltwater all but burned as it was shot into her eyes at an unbearable velocity, but still, she fought to hold on. She fought and she fought...

Until her trajectory suddenly swerved, her head impacting with something harder than she thought possible...

And all went black.