One Piece: A Whole Different Beginning
Arlong Arrives!
The Determination of a Boy and his Friends
"Food! Food! Food! Food!"
"Luffy~, stop shouting! Bellemere will finish when she finishes."
"But I'm hungry now~."
"You're such a baka, Luffy!"
Bellemere smiled as she heard the two kids as she cooked their meal. When they first arrived, Bellemere had noticed how Nami had taken a shine to the boy. Something very unusual for Nami for many local kids seemed to avoid her. She was almost worried, but this new kid, Luffy, was very interesting. She had never heard Nami open up so much to someone other than for Nojiko and herself. She was glad that Nami could make a friend, and maybe something more, but that was for another time. Bellemere looked down on as she inspected the food she was cooking. "Don't worry, Luffy, the roasted duck will be ready in ten minutes and after that I'll put in some vegetables."
"Vegetables? Ew, gross." Bellemere chuckled as Luffy spoke in disgust. Nami looked over at her new friend in surprise.
"They're not gross. Bellemere says that they're healthy and will make you stronger."
"Really? They'll make me stronger?" Nami smiled and nodded though she figure that he was talking about being a stronger pirate. She didn't want to mention that it was still a bad idea, not knowing if her foster mother, having once been a marine, would react. Staring back at Luffy, the boy seemed to accept the addition of vegetables as he banged on the table again and shouted for food.
Bellemere was checking the rest of the meal, which was going to be even bigger than she expected since Luffy joined them. But once again, it was a good thing. She was rather surprised how Nami was able to get the boy, who looked so disgusted with the idea of eating vegetables, to readily agree to eat them. Maybe there was something more going on. As Bellemere looked at the clock, she tapped her foot as she realized someone was still missing. "I wonder were your sister is?"
"I didn't see her when we walked over here."
"You have a sister?" Nami turned to Luffy as the boy looked in surprise. Nami smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, Nojiko. She's older than me."
"Cool! I have an older brother."
"Geesh, you kids keep finding something in common." Bellemere couldn't help but laugh again seeing how similar both kids seem to be. Neither knew who their parents were, and both had an older sibling. It almost seemed too perfect that they became friends. As she lit a cigarette, there came a knock at the door. Everyone looked to the door. Instantly, Bellemere became suspicious. "She's here?"
"I'll get it!" Bellemere jolted as she saw Nami slide off her chair and run over to the door. While Luffy watched as Nami reached the door, Bellemere was already taking action as she grabbed a musket. Meanwhile Nami opened the door to greet her sister… "Hey Nojiko, I-" Nami stopped in mid-sentence as she saw that it wasn't her sister, but a very large purple man with an odd nose. As Nami stared speechless as the man toothily smirked down at the girl.
"Hello, little human, your parents home?"
As quick as a flash, Nami and Luffy watched as Bellemere got behind Nami and immediately sent a kick to the fishman brute. Continuing the motion, Bellemere followed on top of the fishman and stuck her musket into his mouth pinning him on the ground. Everyone - Nami, Luffy, and all the fishmen behind – gasped in surprise as this small woman had just taken down them fishman in one move. With a triumphant smirk, Bellemere spoke with authority to the pirate. "Sorry, but I used to be a marine."
Even though he was pinned, Arlong glared at the woman who dare defy him. But this woman impressed him, for a human, as she continued to speak. "Pirates from Grand Line, eh? You've come along way. What do you want from this village?"
"Bellemere!" The woman looked back, keeping her gun strictly in Arlong's mouth, as she saw Nami looking on in shock and Luffy joining her in equal surprise. She only sent them a smile trying to reassure the kids.
"Stay inside, kids. I can handle this."
"Shahahaha-Shahahaha!" Suddenly the humans' attentions were brought back to the downed fishman as he began laughing. Soon enough all his men began laughing as well making the young woman frustrated while the kids watched on in confusion. Nami stepped back in fear grabbing onto Luffy. The boy, however, was brimming in angry as these guys were starting to anger him. And he wasn't the only one.
"What are you laughing at?!" shouted Bellemere not understanding while these bastards were laughing as she had their leader at gun point. Without warning, Arlong chomped down on Bellemere's musket easily breaking it. The woman gasped in shock. "Wha…!"
"You are just a puny human. You can't hurt me." The fishman's eyes spoke volumes as Bellemere found herself without any strength. In a flash, Bellemere was sent flying back as Arlong stood back up with a toothy smirk.
"Bellemere!" Nami and Luffy watched in shock as the woman fell right in front of them. Nami let go of Luffy and ran over to Bellemere hoping she wasn't too hurt. Bellemere painfully raised herself. Seeing Nami, she quickly tried to calm the little girl down.
"I'm okay, Nami…Go back inside."
"Shahahaha! It's too late for that!" Bellemere and Nami looked back up, in frustration and fear respectively, as the fishman arrogantly laughed. "You see this island and all its inhabitants now belong to the Arlong Empire. And as such, everyone will pay tribute to us! But you have really pissed me off, human. So I will make you an example for this island."
Arlong went to grab the woman, but was suddenly blocked by Nami was she stood in front of Bellemere. "No! Please don't!"
"Nami!" Both Bellemere and Luffy shouted as the young girl stood in front of all the fishmen. Along with them, Genzo, Nojiko, and the local doctor Nazo had shouted as well once they had caught up with the pirates. While a bit surprised, Arlong only found the little girl's interruption annoying.
"So would you like to take her place, little girl?" Nami was taken back now scared that the scary man would now attack her. As Arlong's hand now went to Nami, Luffy suddenly stepped in and bit the fishman's hand. "Yeow!" While the fishman's crew gasped in shock, Arlong brought his hand back and furiously glared as the boy was now standing in front of both females. The boy sent his own furious glare as he looked to be ready to fight.
"Leave them alone, fishy guy! I'll fight ya!" Nami and Bellemere stared wide-eyed at the boy as he stood in confidence against the fishmen crew. Nami had never seen anyone so brave, or crazy, to actually stand against someone like this and all for them. Bellemere was trying to get back up as to protect the boy.
Meanwhile the pirate crew was frozen in shock; the boy had dared to insult Arlong. That usually results in bad things. As the fishmen crew looked towards their captain, they all began to sweat seeing their captain obviously enraged. "You Human Brat!" Without a moment hesitation, Arlong swung his hand backslapping Luffy to the side. Nami and Bellemere watched in horror as the boy flew and crashed far to the side.
"Luffy!"
"Get the boy." Genzo spoke to the doctor as he kept ahold of Nojiko. The doctor nodded and rushed to the boy's aid.
"That was easy." Nami and Bellemere glared back at the fishman in furious anger as the man laughed at his easy victory. As he and his men laughed, Bellemere quickly went for a pistol she had hidden near the door. As she found said weapon, Arlong readdressed her with renewed arrogance. "Now where were we…?"
"Die! Bastard!" Bellemere pulled out her pistol and brought Nami closer to her person. Unlike last time, she didn't hesitate to fire on the pirate. Though Arlong was caught off-guard, the captain easily dodged the bullet and then grabbed the woman's hand. "Ahhh!" The former marine screamed in pain as Arlong crushed both the gun and her hand. Arlong then jerked the woman up, dropping Nami in the process, and held her face-to-face.
"Bellemere!" Nami shouted as she reached for her foster mother. Nojiko tried to run to her sister and mother, but Genzo stopped her trying to protect her from doing something very dangerous.
"Ah, yes. Now I remember. I was about to make an example for the whole island." Answering his question from earlier, Arlong smirked as he held up his hand. One of the fishmen then placed a pistol in his hand and Arlong brought to the woman's head. Bellemere opened one of her eyes as she defiantly stared back at the cruel fishman.
"Let Bellemere go!" Arlong suddenly felt a slight pain in his legs followed by a shout. Arlong looked down as he saw the little orange haired girl kicking his leg. While only an annoyance, she was being just as defiant as the woman in his hand, which gave him a new idea.
"Fine, little girl." Arlong dropped Bellemere with little care for her safety. He then pointed the pistol at Nami, an action that surprised the girl. Arlong just smirked seeing her stunned face. "Then you can go in her place."
"Wait! Arlong! She's just a little kid." Surprisingly this voice didn't come from one of the humans. The adults looked over to see one of Arlong's crew speak up, a fishman with multiple arms with suction cups on the forearms and an extended mouth. Many of the crew looked at the man with concern as did Arlong though more in anger.
"What was that, Hachi? Sympathy for a human?"
"Well, it's just…she's only a kid, right? It's not like we should take her seriously." Bellemere looked over to who was talking, Hachi. If she didn't know better, she would think that he was actually defending her foster daughter. As she stared at the octopus fishman, she saw that he wasn't like the rest. His features, when regarding humans, were softer and less resentful towards them. She couldn't understand.
"No, Hatchan. She will be made an example, to show every human that we mean business." Bellemere looked back at Arlong as he finished his conversation with his crewmate and repositioned his pistol on Nami. The little girl stood frozen as the pistol was aimed right for her.
"Nami! Run!" shouted Bellemere in desperation. Nami didn't listen as she stared in fear at the cruel fishman. Arlong only smirked as he was about to pull the trigger.
"Good-bye, human."
"Nami!"
"Gum Gum Rocket!" Before Arlong could fire, something or someone suddenly crashed into the large fishman. The attack was totally unsuspected as it crashed right into Arlong's stomach. Everyone, the adults and Nojiko included, gasped as they watched as Arlong was sent flying back towards the grove of mikans.
Everyone looked where Arlong had landed in shock, Nami and Bellemere looked to where Arlong use to stand only to see someone else; Luffy. The boy was brimming with anger as he stared right where Arlong landed his straw hat on his back. Bellemere and Nami were completely stunned; who did this kid just take down a fishman? "Luffy?" Nami spoke as she realized her new friend had just saved her life. Before she could speak again, Luffy shouted out in fiery confidence.
"Leave Nami And Bellemere Alone!"
"Luffy…" Nami was stunned. This boy, who she just met a few minutes ago, was defending her and her foster mother. To her, he was like a knight-in-shining armor protecting the princess. This idea made Nami unconsciously blush as she stared at Luffy in admiration.
Meanwhile all the adults were staring at the boy stunned. Many of them not even sure what had happened just a moment ago; especially for the pirates. "What just happened?"
"How did that kid do that?!"
"He should be knocked out!"
While the fishmen were discussing amongst them, the human adults by Nojiko were too trying to figure what happened. Genzo looked over to Nazo looking as stun as he was. "Doctor Nazo…what did that boy…?"
"Have no idea! But when I checked him, he was perfectly fine."
"What?! Impossible!"
"Luffy…" Luffy turned to Bellemere quickly losing his enraged expression and looking at her with a plain expression. Seeing as she had his attention, she continued to speak. "What did… Who did you…?"
"Oh! I ate the Gum Gum fruit." With his trademark grin, Luffy then began to pull on his cheek making it stretch well beyond the normal limits. Everyone watching was stunned, many of the fishmen stepping back in shock, while the human adults and kids stared in disbelief. Luffy then continued to speak while his cheek was stretched. "Now, I'm a rubber boy." Despite hearing from the boy's mouth, none of the East Blue residents seem to understand. However Bellemere seem to understand; after all, she had been in the Grand Line she had been familiar with how commonplace devil fruit users were.
"That…explains it." A familiar voice spoke up that gained everyone's attention. Back over by the grove, Arlong stood back up with his eyes shadowed making his enraged expression even more so. All the fishmen pirates began to sweat nervously as they were familiar with that expression their captain was showing. Even the humans could tell the vibe the captain fishman was giving off was not good. Arlong then began to walk forward as he continued to speak. "No human child could take or give a hit like that."
"There's more where that came from." Luffy got back into fighting pose ready to fight and undeterred from the fishman's threatening attitude. Bellemere, however, would not have the young boy continue to fight. She grabbed the boys arm gaining Luffy's attention.
"Luffy, take Nami and get out of here now!"
"Bellemere…"
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine, get Nami out of here."
"Not gonna happen: Kuroobi, Chew, Hatchi. Take them out!" Hearing Arlong's order, the three men went into action. Each had their own style of fighting, Hachi with a sword, Chew his 'water' gun, and Kuroobi with his fist. Before any of them could do anything, Luffy's group was already surrounded them. Luffy was ready to fight though Nami was stunned and unable to move while Bellemere was still down and unable to protect the kids. What was she going to do?
"Shadow Entry." Suddenly a smokescreen appeared around the group stopping the three fighters. As they stopped just before the cloud of smoke, each was suddenly attacked from someone in the smokescreen including one stretchy punch nailing Kuroobi. As the three fishmen fighters stepped back, the smokescreen cleared revealing another person standing in front of them. As it fully cleared, everyone could now see the man defending them. The man then chuckled. "Well, Mister Monkey D. Luffy, you've certainly gotten yourself in quite a situation."
"Nato!" As Bellemere and Nami took notice of the newcomer as Luffy cheerfully greeted the man. Nami was surprised that Luffy knew this man, but sighed in relief as they – especially Luffy – were okay. Bellemere, on the other hand, was taken aback by something else.
'Did he just say Monkey? He couldn't mean…'
"Who are you?!" Before Bellemere could say or ask anything, Arlong shouted at the man that had just intercepted his top officers. Hearing the fishman's roar, Nato turned wearing a serious expression.
"Are you 'Saw-Tooth' Arlong?"
"What's it to you, human!"
"Enough." Arlong raised his brow hearing the blonde haired human's response. He watched as the man then brought his fingers to his mouth and whistled loudly. Suddenly a loud roar of people jumped out of the forest behind the fishmen surprising them. The monkey-looking men landed just outside the forest armed with sabers and pistols as they stared at the other crew excited. All the fishmen crew was surprised by the sudden back-up of humans, even more so for the Genzo and the others. As the new group stared down the fishmen crew, a spikey, white haired man walked in behind the human with a confident smile and directed his attention onto Arlong.
"Hello, Arlong. I am Jiro, captain of the Saru pirates, and I have to say your one to make enemies fast."
"How so, human?"
"Well, trying to sink our boat is one thing, and trying to kill off my crew is another. But attacking a woman, her daughter, and a friend of mine, ours actually, is overstepping things."
"Wait? My men!"
"Are all tied up at the moment." The whole Saru crew snickered as they found their captain's joke hilarious. The Arlong pirates were confused by the statement, but Arlong immediately figured what happened and was not pleased. Forgetting the kids and adult, Arlong stepped forward as he became angrier.
"You filthy human! How dare you go against me, a superior species?!"
"Superior species? Look pal, fishman, human, we've all gotta live in this world, why worry about who's better."
"How dare you compare fishmen to humans?! We'll show you who's superior: attack!" With a thunderous roar, Arlong's crew charged forward. In turn, the Saru pirates did as well and a massive battle began between the crews. The only ones not in the fight were those higher up on the crew; the captains and officers.
"How'd it turn out like this?" Genzo marveled over the scene before as two pirate crews fought each other tooth-and-nail. Doctor Nazo was just as baffled as he kept Nojiko from running into the fray. But she couldn't help but worry.
"What about Bellemere and Nami?"
On the other side of the fight away from the bystanders, Arlong watched the fight with great distaste. As he could see the humans, who he believed to be weaker than fishmen, were holding their own greatly against his crew. He couldn't believe it. However he soon realized he had unfinished business with a certain family and a straw hat kid. He turned to his officers and gave them their orders. "Kuroobi, Chew, Hachi, finish off those humans, but leave that straw hat kid for me."
"Right!" The three officers nodded and turned back to where the group still stood. This time, the three were no longer going to hold back. Hatchan brought all six of his swords, Chew drank enough water that looked bloated, and Kuroobi was fully ready to attack. Nami stood next to Bellemere while the woman was still down and unable to fight. Luffy looked ready to fight, but Nato stepped in front of him. The man remained calm despite the on approaching fishmen. As the fishmen officers neared, Nato smirked as he raised his clenched fist and threw it down.
"Shadowy Substitute." Again, another smokescreen covered the group, though this time the three officers were not going to let them escape. They separated and circled the smoke trying to cut off any escape. They then attacked with simple moves, but instead of meeting nothing their attacks were blocked or dodged. With a mighty gale, the smoke cleared revealing three teens now where the previous should be but wasn't. The officers stepped back in confusion while the teens took their poses; two without weapons and one with very large batons, and readied to fight.
"You're not going to harm a single hair on Luffy's hair." With a confident grin from the bright blonde haired girl, the three attacked the officers; Drake to Kuroobi, Justin to Chew, and Lucy to Hatchan. From afar, Arlong was getting fed up with this prolonging battle. With his rage almost boiling, Arlong was going to find those brats.
Elsewhere, Jiro watched the battle unfold until his attention was diverted to the side as Nato carrying Bellemere in his arms and the kids on his shoulders appeared right next to him. "Welcome back, Luffy." He smiled as he helped unload the kids off his shoulder. Luffy grinned back at the man as he and Nami were set down. Nato then laid Bellemere next to a tree and looked over the woman carefully.
"Are you okay, ma'am?"
"Yeah…he just crushed my hand…might have some of the pieces of the gun in me…"
Nato nodded. "Alright, I believe there is a doctor nearby, I'll go get him." The man then instantly disappeared shocking both Nami and Bellemere. The little girl then turned to Luffy as he was the only one not completely confused about what was going. She quickly rushed over to Luffy and grabbed onto his arm. Luffy turned in surprise as Nami looked at him.
"Luffy, who are these guys? Why are they fighting those guys? What's going on? You better answer me, mister!"
Luffy was rather stunned by all the questions Nami was sending him. He was bit lost with the question, looking incredibly dizzy. Nami noticed this and slapped boy's head with a straight face. It seem to work as Luffy shook his head. "Oh, um…they're the Saru pirates and I asked for a ride to the Grand Line so I could start my journey early. We became friends, and I think they're here to help?"
"The Saru pirates?" spoke Bellemere as she looked up to the white haired man. Jiro noticed the look he was getting from the woman and sent a smile.
"Not to worry, we're not here to double-cross or anything. After all, these bastards were trying to sink my ship and kill my crew. Can't let that go unpunished."
"Then how about I kill you instead!" Everyone turned to fight as Arlong suddenly propelled himself forward like a dart. Jiro swiftly dodged the fishman. Arlong continued flying into a tree splitting in half shocking the group. The fishman turned back the group, a cruel smirk plastered across his face, as he glared at them. "I've just had enough of you pesky humans."
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's note: Happy New Year everyone, and the winner of the Poll is ASL Pirates. But never free, this story's time will come!