"You can't save everybody. In fact, there are days when I think you can't save anyone. Each person has to save himself first, and then you can move in and help. I have found this philosophy does not work during a gun battle or a knife fight either. Outside of that it works just fine." ― Laurell K. Hamilton
"Oi! I think that's the Merry!" Usopp shouted looking in the distance hoping beyond hope that he was right. The closer they got the better Usopp could make out the wonderful shape of his beloved ship.
"We actually caught up with her…" Johnny said in surprise, but a small smile was beginning to form on his face.
"Zoro we're almost to Nami so hold on a bit longer!" Usopp said to the swordsman who was actually sleeping trying not to think about his injuries.
Nami was leaning on the railing of the Going Merry when she heard a voice she didn't expect to hear.
"Usopp?" She asked looking around finally seeing a small boat with the long nosed sniper waving frantically at her.
"Usopp!" She yelled running to the helm, and turning the ship slightly to meet up with the sniper.
"Nami, we finally caught up to you! I didn't actually think we would!" Usopp said in delight almost wanting to hug the girl in relief, but valued his life a little bit.
"Where's Luffy?" She looked around not seeing her captain, but her eyes landed on Zoro, and widened.
"Zoro! What happened?" She helped Usopp, and Johnny get Zoro onto the ship carefully.
"Luffy's fighting Krieg." Johnny said to her once Zoro was in a steady position.
"Usopp, go grab the first aid kit quickly!" She shouted, and the sniper saluted her before running off.
"He's fighting Don Krieg, and you guys just left him there?" She was shouting, and removing Zoro's shirt at the same time freezing when she saw the injury. "How is he still alive?" She whispered as Usopp returned with the first aid.
"He said he could handle it so I trust brother Luffy." Johnny said hoping Luffy was stronger than he sometimes looked.
"I hope you're right." But she knew he was it would take a lot to take out Luffy. Cleaning Zoro's injury, and stitching it up as best as she could before applying some ointment and fresh bandages she sighed.
"As long as he doesn't go running into another fight he'll be fine until we can get him to a proper doctor." Nami sighed as Johnny, and Usopp moved Zoro to a bed inside the Merry.
Once they had returned they looked at Nami who was frowning her eyes looked tired and sad.
"What's the plan Nami, should we wait somewhere for Luffy to catch up?" Usopp asked but Nami shook her head.
"If I'm away too much longer Arlong will start to think things. In a nearby village I have a sister who can help you out for now. I have to go to Arlong; once Luffy gets here we'll come up with a plan together." Nami said as they got closer to the island.
"What's your sister's name so we know how to find her?" Usopp asked and Johnny nodded excitedly.
"Knowing her she'll find you first." Nami smiled dropping it knowing her sister's personality well.
"Whatever happens though, please don't confront Arlong until Luffy arrives." She asked as Usopp nodded having no intention of going up against the Fishman if he didn't have to. Sighing, but taking them at their word Nami pointed to the closest beach saying they were to drop anchor there.
"Luffy will be here soon I promise." Usopp said to her comfortingly and she nodded.
"Follow this trail, and it will take you to my home village, but be careful…" She said throwing her backpack over her shoulder, and walking away from the Merry, and her friends.
"Zoro should be fine resting here right?" Usopp asked Johnny who nodded thinking Zoro was too injured to move.
"Should be, it'll probably be better for him to rest as much as possible." Johnny said worried for his friend.
"Luffy will hopefully be here soon so let's go check out the village, and see if we can find Nami's sister." Usopp suggested, and Johnny nodded following Usopp along the trail to unwanted, and unknowing danger.
Zoro woke up a few hours later yawning, and needing a good drink.
"The Merry?" He asked looking around sleep still in his eyes as he took in the ship. "When did we catch up to the witch?" He asked looking at the island in front of him, and smirking placing a hand on his chest to feel the injury he received he stopped in slight shock.
"That damn woman…" He said the smirk still in place as he fingered the bandages feeling them carefully.
"I'll be paying out of my ass for these stupid bandages." He was still grateful for them though, he knew Usopp hadn't done them, because he had proven he knew only a bit of medical knowledge while Nami had proven she knew quite a lot back with Johnny, and Yosaku.
"Which way to the village?" He asked himself before walking along the trail, and making a sharp left into the trees.
-x-
Luffy was jumping around the small boat in excitement, because he could see the island up ahead.
"We're here!" He shouted ready to get into whatever was next for him he had promised Nami he would help her so he would. Sanji was cleaning up the dishes from their meal when he felt the boat stop rocking slightly meaning Luffy had stopped moving.
"What's wrong?" He asked knowing Luffy couldn't sit still for very long.
"Mmm, it's been a while since I've seen a Seaking like this..." He said looking at the cow that had appeared next to them. Luffy wasn't afraid of Seakings he actually found them quite fun to bother and then eat later on.
"What is that monster!?" Yosaku shouted, and pointed, but Luffy smiled.
"That's lunch!" He was drooling again thinking of the good meat this big fish could bring.
"Like hell it is, you just ate shit head." Sanji said he had a few dishes in his hands as the Seaking looked towards him.
"You wanted some of this lunch?" Sanji asked the monster that nodded its big head before opening it mouth trying to eat Sanji whole.
"Then show up earlier next time you shitty fish!" He shouted at it kicking it in the face.
"Don't you dare try, and eat my chef!" Luffy growled at it as well punching it in the jaw knocking it down.
"Just what type of monsters are you guys!?" Yosaku asked looking at Luffy, and Sanji who both stared at the giant fish-cow
"Ne Sanji.." Luffy said a look of glee crossing his face that Sanji had come to know wasn't a very good thing.
"Back home I heard that some people use Seakings to pull their ships, if we tie some rope to this guy's horns maybe we could get to Nami faster." Luffy said the idea, but all Sanji heard was: get to Nami faster so he was all in for this idea.
"Sounds good captain!" He saluted running to get the rope.
"You guys really are crazy…" Yosaku said as Luffy just laughed not denying that at all.
-x-
Usopp was running for his life which was actually pretty normal at times. He had saved a man from being killed by one of the Fishmen, and even though he knew what he did was a good thing he really didn't feel like dying before getting to the Grand Line.
"Of all the times I need Luffy he isn't here to help me!" Usopp almost screamed as he tried to get away from the Fishmen that were chasing him.
"I know, I need to hide somewhere." Usopp thought his idea was quite clever as he jumped into a bush and tried to still himself as much as possible so they walked on by.
"Damn that long nosed human sure can run." One of them said while the other nodded, and continued on looking for him.
"I actually did it…" Usopp said in wonder as he saw the Fishmen leave him all alone in that bush.
"That was lucky." A voice said leaning on a tree causing Usopp to jump from the bush, and point his slingshot at the woman.
"You-you scared me." He said taking a deep breath to calm his beating heart.
"Sorry, but the fact that you got away after a stunt like that is a miracle at best." She said, but smiled at him brushing a strand of purple hair back "My name is Nojiko, what is an outsider like you doing here on this island?" She asked him seriously because not many people came here anymore.
"We're here to help a friend…" Usopp said carefully not too sure if he could trust this woman or not.
"I see its best we take this somewhere else though…" She knew that the Fishmen would be on the lookout for this guy now that he had attacked one of their own. "My house isn't too far from here so why don't we talk there." She said and Usopp nodded in agreement not wanting to be caught out in the open right now.
"Who's this friend that you're trying to help?" She asked as Usopp followed behind her.
"Oh, her name's Nami." Usopp said, but missed the way Nojiko's eyes widened in surprise.
"Nami huh…" She whispered softly.
"Nami is one of our Nakama, and our Captain said she asked for our help so who are we to turn our back on her?" Nojiko suppressed the smile, but barely.
"That's interesting…" Nojiko knew Nami didn't ask for help so for this guy to say she did was rather surprising to her.
"She told us to look for her sister, but with all the mess that happened I guess we got a bit sidetracked.." Usopp admitted rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"Oh, and did she give you her sister's name?" Nojiko asked humor in her voice.
"Nah, she said that she would find us first." Nojiko laughed at that, because that was a Nami thing to say.
"She was right, so let's talk about this a little later okay?" She smiled as Usopp's mouth dropped a little bit so he just nodded, and followed her the rest of the way to her home.
Once Usopp got there he couldn't help, but look around because this was the place Nami might have grown up in.
"So you're really Nami's sister?" Usopp asked wanting to clarify that information.
"Are you really her Nakama?" Nojiko asked countering him, but Usopp didn't pause to even think about the answer.
"Of course!" He said as Nojiko felt the conviction in his voice.
"What is she like when she's with you guys?" She asked him walking towards a picture that held a good memory for her.
"She laughs a lot, but is really scary. She keeps us together I mean, we've got a really childish captain that's really strong. If we didn't have Nami we'd probably be able to fight people still, but we'd probably end up lost along the way…" He said smiling at his little family.
"She laughs huh…" Nojiko said putting the picture down looking out the window she turned to Usopp.
"Do you know the kind of trouble she causes people?" She needed to make sure they knew they might have been used.
"Yeah." Usopp said quickly startling Nojiko. "Well kinda actually… Luffy knows a lot more than I do, but… Nami said she needs help so we'll help her no matter what." Usopp wasn't Luffy, and couldn't promise to kick people's asses, but he would promise to help her kick some ass-he just didn't want to be the one to start the fighting.
"I see…"Nojiko said smiling now glad to know Nami had met some good loyal people, but more importantly that Nami had begun to open her heart again.
"Luffy's here." Usopp said standing up looking out the window now Nojiko watched him carefully.
"You mean you can see him?" She asked looking out the window as well but Usopp shook his head.
"You can always tell when Luffy's nearby…" Usopp started Nojiko watched silently not understanding "Because when Luffy arrives some where he brings with him this weird feeling like…anything could be possible." He also knew that his observational skills were getting sharper the longer he was with Luffy and Zoro.
"Shall we go meet him then?" She asked, and Usopp nodded in excitement.
"Probably best we find the rest of the crew as well if they're here we have a swordsman who's supposed to be resting, but knowing him we'll be searching for days before he turns up." Usopp laughed walking out the door leaving a confused, and intrigued Nojiko behind him to follow.
"What strange friends you've discovered Nami…"
-x-
"Whoa! How do we get this shitty thing to slow down?!" Sanji yelled holding onto the railing as the Sea Cow began to drag them towards the island at an alarming pace.
"Shishishi, who cares! Faster!" Luffy shouted in glee as the other two held on.
"I think I might be sick!" Yosaku shouted as the sea cow flung them in the air towards the island. Luffy closed his eyes loving the feeling of the wind through his hair just like when he was a child. Suddenly the ship began to drop from the air.
"This isn't going to be fun; Luffy if we survive I'm going to kill you!" Sanji screamed as they hit land, and dragged into a few trees. Luffy jumped off the ship once it had stopped dodging a kick to the head with ease.
"Get back here Luffy, and take your punishment like a man!" Sanji yelled jumping off as well as Yosaku slowly began to pull himself back together.
"What, it's not like this was all my idea ya know." Luffy whined a bit then blinked, because it looked like Zoro was under his foot.
"Luffy…" It growled as Luffy came to the conclusion that it truly was Zoro he had just stepped on.
"Ah, Sorry." He said rubbing his head placing his hat on at the same time.
"Where the hell did you guys come from?" Zoro growled out at them Sanji taking notice of the swordsman.
"Oh look, it appears we ran over a ball of moss.." He said looking down at Zoro with a bored expression on his face lighting up a new smoke.
"Who's the swirl brow?" Zoro asked pointing his thumb at the blond.
"He's our cook." Luffy said cheerfully before running towards what looked like a path.
"Swirl brow?" Sanji growled out as Zoro stood up.
"Sorry, would you prefer dart board?" Zoro asked him seriously only to get a kick aimed at him so he blocked it with his sword.
"Stupid ball of moss!" Sanji growled under his breath as Zoro smirked.
"Oii! Stop fighting, and let's go find Nami!" He was waving his arms at them trying to get their attention.
"I'll deal with you later, Nami comes first." Sanji said dropping his leg, glaring at Zoro.
"Luffy, Usopp, and Johnny might be with her." Zoro said since he did wake up on the Merry.
"You guys actually caught up to her?" Luffy asked in mild surprise, and Zoro smirked.
"Yeah we did." He was looking at the new cook rubbing in that he got to meet up with Nami first before him.
"We had our own problems to deal with.." Sanji said biting down on his smoke.
"Excuses."
"Then they couldn't have gone far." Luffy began to look around walking along the trail hoping to run into anyone.
Luffy continued down the trail until he saw what he was looking for Usopp waving frantically at his friend Usopp began to run towards Luffy happy.
"And here I thought you'd never show up." Usopp said to Luffy a large smile on both their faces.
"Now you know that's a lie." Luffy chuckled as Nojiko watched the both of them carefully.
"Oh, what an outstanding beauty I see before me!" Sanji swirled towards Nojiko hearts in his eyes as the woman just watched him.
"Who are you?" Luffy asked her as Usopp introduced her to the others.
"You're Nami's sister?" Luffy asked wanting her to verify that information.
"I am, do you boys even know what's happening on this island?" She asked them as they all shook their heads.
"I'm only here because Nami asked for help, she's my navigator." He said making sure she knew that Nami was with them as their Nakama.
"You really expect to go up against Arlong without knowing anything? Are you all stupid?" She asked them. Yosaku, and Johnny had met up again somewhere along the way, and nodded in agreement with Nojiko at their stupidity for wanting to take on Arlong.
"Let me tell you the story of Nami, and the story of what has happened on this island." She said to them, but Luffy crossed his arms over his head and walked to a tree to Nap.
"No thanks, if she wants to tell me anything I'll listen, but that's her choice." Luffy said not caring about someone's past unless it came straight from their mouths.
Completely ignoring the group, and letting sleep take over him Luffy thought a nice relaxing sleep would be great before a battle, but he was wrong.
The moment sleep took over Luffy a strange nightmare crept in to his mind.
Luffy was looking around what appeared to be Thatch's room. On the bed he saw himself so young and Thatch standing up talking angrily with Teach-Teach!
"Teach? I thought you were supposed to be on watch?" Thatch said confused, Luffy felt like he wanted to interfere knowing what was coming.
"I am commander, I was wondering though; just what are you going to do with that devil fruit of yours?" He asked Thatch a slick grin on his face. Luffy himself began to shout at Thatch to slam the door in the man's face, but his voice was silent no one could hear him no matter how loud he screamed.
"I'm going to throw it into the damn sea now get out!" Thatch yelled pushing Teach back, but it didn't do much. Luffy tried to help his brother, but his hands moved right through the large man so all he could do was watch as Teach stabbed Thatch pushing him to the ground.
Luffy leaned down to check on his bleeding brother his hands passing through the older man. Luffy knew now that he was older, that Thatch was going to be alright, but seeing this now, remembering it, really hurt.
'This isn't real-this isn't real-this isn't real' Luffy said to himself, but like before his voice had no sound to it.
"I'll be taking this commander." Teach said picking up the box that held the devil fruit.
'Take it, and rot bastard.' Luffy thought glaring hard at the man who had turned his attention to the smaller Luffy on the bed who was shaking in fear.
"Thanks for not screaming little Luffy, you really helped me out ZEHAHAHAHAHA" He laughed before leaving.
'Bastard!' Luffy shouted as the man left the room the door falling closed as darkness took over Luffy's mind once again
Waking up with a start a cold sweat was on his brow as he took slow sharp breaths trying to calm himself down.
Zoro was sleeping beside him by the tree, but his breath was even, and his eyes open slightly looking at Luffy from the corner of his eye. Shifting slightly Zoro brushed his shoulder onto Luffy's in a comforting manner.
"I'm okay…" Luffy said, but Zoro refused to move from his new place. Standing up everyone looked at Luffy who didn't make eye contact just announced he was going for a walk.
"That was strange…" Usopp said watching Luffy's back, but Zoro was staring harder worry on his face not used to seeing Luffy like this.
"He'll be fine please continue Nojiko-swan.." Sanji said hearts still there, but Zoro's eyes remained in the direction Luffy had walked.
"Stupid-stupid-stupid! I haven't thought about that in years so why now?" Luffy asked himself out loud as he kept going on the trail not really seeing where he was going just walking.
"Luffy!?" He looked up bringing his mind back when he saw Nami running towards him fast.
"Nami!"
"You-you actually came!" She sounded surprised so he took a bit of offence to that tone.
"I said I would." He let her hear the hurt in his voice.
"I know it's just…" No one had ever cared enough before to chase after her. She took a look at him and frowned.
"You okay?" She asked him seeing how pale he was also how he looked away from her at those words.
"Yeah, I just had a bad dream that's all." He said but she didn't look away from him.
"It must have been pretty bad to scare you of all people." And if it did scare him she knew it would have had a worse effect on her.
"I'm alright, just haven't had dreams like that in a while…" He said as they walked together a bit.
"Luffy listen..." She started as he stopped walking. "I want to try, and do this on my own first." She said to him as he raised a brow.
"I needed to collect a lot of money to free my village, and I've done it... I can do this first Luffy, and then you can step in..." She said but Luffy frowned at her.
"Nami you asked for my help…" He needed her to let him help her, but he wouldn't force her.
"I know, but not just yet, just a little bit more time I promise." She said, and Luffy nodded, but still didn't like it, maybe it was because of the dream he had, but a weird feeling was settling in his stomach, and he wasn't sure he liked it or not.
Sighing he smiled at her kindly. "Alright, but you know where to find us if you need us." He said getting her to smile before she ran off towards Arlong Park.
"I'll at least check out the village there's gotta be something interesting around here until I can fight." He said continuing his walk all alone.
He got to the village, and saw a bunch of people getting angry about something, but it wasn't his place to step in so he found the closest tree, and sat down under it.
"Should I try for another nap?" He asked himself, but growled a little at the very idea of another nightmare-especially one with that bastard in it. "Maybe I'll just not sleep, but try and sleep." He said nodding to himself happy to have come to a good decision before closing his eyes once again.
-x-
Nojiko had left the group alone since they had made it pretty clear that they weren't going to back off from Arlong.
"We won't do anything until we've been given the okay to do so." Sanji said blowing smoke, but smiling.
"Luffy is our captain so it's his orders we're waiting on, but since he's decided to take a walk we'll have to wait I guess." Usopp sighed as Nojiko smiled.
"Then I'll leave you alone for now." She wasn't going to force them to leave since they clearly weren't going to, but she wasn't going to encourage them any further either. If they wanted to fight Arlong then they could do that on their own.
"Thank you for telling us the story of this Island Miss Nojiko." Usopp said to her as she laughed giving a wave as she walked away.
"To think that Nami has suffered so much for all those years…" Sanji said taking a deep inhale of smoke to calm his nerves.
"This entire island has suffered." Usopp looked around, but even in the shining sun he could feel the sadness in this place.
"We should go find Luffy." Zoro said standing up from where he had been sitting pretending to sleep while he thought about what was wrong with his captain.
"He said he was going for a walk, and this is Luffy, he'll be fine." Usopp said, but Zoro wasn't listening as he began to walk away.
"Damn it Zoro! You can't go off by yourself!" Usopp shouted after the man who looked back and grunted at him in half anger, and half confusion. "We don't have all year to look for you when you get lost!" He finished as Zoro shouted back at him.
"Oh? The moss head can't even take a walk without someone to hold his hand?" Sanji asked looking at Zoro who was ready to bring out his blade to shut this new comer up once and for all.
"Oi, oi, can't we save the fighting for later?" Usopp said trying to calm the argument that was brewing "Luffy is probably waiting for us so let's go already." Usopp knew the word Luffy could stop Zoro momentarily, but he wasn't sure if it would stop Sanji.
"Tch, fine." Zoro said, because he was worried for his friend, but mark his words, he would cut that cook later.
"I wonder where he went off to…" Sanji said looking down the trail.
"And Johnny and Yosaku have wandered off as well." Usopp looked around not seeing the other two people that were in their group.
"Well whatever, you said we should go find Luffy so let's do that." Sanji looked up to the darkening sky thunder rolling in the distance.
"Let's go before the storm hits."
-x-
Luffy was coming back from a nice dreamless sleep when he heard the chaos around him.
"What do you mean!?" A woman shouted causing Luffy to open his eyes slightly, and stare at the scene in front of him.
"Nojiko's been shot by the marines?!" Another said causing a roar from others around.
"The marines have been bought out by Arlong there's nothing we can do…" Someone said as Luffy frowned, and stood up going over to see what was going on.
"Ne what's the problem?" He asked a few people who had never seen him before.
"Who are you?" They demanded at him so he replied in the Luffiest way possible.
"I'm Luffy, Nami's friend." He said and they stared at him.
"You're really a friend of Nami's?" A man with a pinwheel on his hat asked and Luffy nodded smiling wide.
"Mn, she asked me to come here to help." He was never good at hiding his intentions from people.
"Then you probably know her older sister was just shot." Someone said as Luffy blinked.
"But I thought that lady was with my friends? Hmm she must have left I guess…" He didn't know how long he had been napping for.
While everyone was freaking out Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji had found where Luffy had been while they were talking.
"Bout time we found you." Zoro said but he was giving Luffy a look only they knew.
"I'm alright." Luffy answered his friend who nodded but still stood by him.
"What's wrong with everyone?" Usopp asked crossing his arms, and looking around taking in the scene of angry people.
"Ne, when did Nami's sister leave you guys?" Luffy asked suddenly causing the small group to look at him in question.
"Hmm, just shortly after you left for your walk." Sanji said thinking about it, she had finished her tale, and warned them a little, but then left, why was it a big deal to Luffy?
"Apparently she was shot." Luffy said as everyone froze even Zoro stilled, and eyes narrowed at the information.
"Was it Arlong?" Sanji questioned already not liking the Fishman.
"I heard it was the marines..." Luffy replied, but they all fell silent as Nami came into view with Nojiko following beside her bandages wrapped around her middle her arm over the injury protecting it.
"Stay here." Luffy ordered walking towards Nami who wasn't thinking straight right now.
"Nami." Luffy said walking up to her, but she ignored him as the town people began to become enraged.
"Everyone don't worry! It'll all be okay I promise!" She said, but the look in her eyes froze Luffy in his tracks anger filling his entire being.
"Nami…"A few people said in sadness.
"How dare that man take advantage of you, and all your hard work!" One shouted
"Arlong never intended to free her at all! He was just using her!" Someone else shouted as Nami shook her head.
"It's alright honest, I can just gather it all up again really, and it's not that big a deal." She tried to reason with herself, and the others but Luffy wasn't having any of it.
"You know what you need to really do, Nami." Luffy said crossing his arms, and standing beside Zoro. Luffy wouldn't act unless she gave him permission, and he would wait for as long as she liked.
"Nami, we can no longer allow you to sacrifice yourself for this village." A man said who had scars all over his body.
"He's right Nami, you've got some pretty good friends here now so go with them, and be free. You have a dream don't waste it on us." Nojiko said standing beside the man as the villagers began to gather any kind of weapon they could to face Arlong.
"I…I won't let you!" Nami had snapped, something in her was breaking down as she pulled out a knife pointing it at the man.
"You can't stop us Nami, so go!" He said grabbing the knife showing his resolution to fight Arlong then walked past her with the villages, and Nojiko to fight the Fishman. Nami fell to her knees her eyes wide, and whatever was left of her control faded, and snapped as she grabbed her arm where a tattoo lay in anger.
"That mark it's…" Luffy knew of pirate marks heck, he had one of his own on his lower back.
"Arlong!" She shouted in anger her eyes turning towards the knife on the ground as she grabbed it and began to hack at her arm shouting his name. Luffy realized quite quickly that the place she was attacking was the mark on her shoulder.
If Luffy didn't like this Fishman before he really hated him now, a pirate mark was meant to show that you belonged to a family. Much like his mark showed his love for his Ma, and Pops, and the others he called his family, Nami's appeared to be the exact opposite of that. Nami's mark appeared to be one more towards pain rather than love which sickened Luffy.
Having enough of her actions Luffy grabbed her wrist no longer allowing her to harm herself any more than she had.
"Luffy…"She looked back at him his hat over shadowing his face, but his mouth in a straight line showing hardly any emotions. Nami dropped her hand letting the knife fall to the dirt road her anger spent, but the deep sadness still there.
"Luffy I…I worked so hard, I'm such a fool for trusting that he'd keep his word! I can't believe that I honestly thought I could do this on my own!" She cried out, but Luffy remained silent letting her say all she needed to.
"You have no idea about anything that's happening here on this island... You don't truly know of the things I've suffered through for the past 8 years…" She said her voice dropping to a whisper, but Luffy once again remained silent waiting for her to give him permission; even the others who were watching from a distance were waiting for Luffy's orders.
"Luffy…Please help me…" She said looking back at him so he did what he knew needed to be done. Taking his hat off his head he placed it upon Nami's orange hair startling the girl.
"I already said I would, didn't I?" He asked her, and she nodded pulling the hat tighter upon her head protectively.
"Everyone, let's go."
Hello everyone! Before you question about no Arlong please hear me out! So I've been really busy right now, I'm working on filling out college applications, Government grant applications and asking for loans so I can go back to school in January. I decided a week ago that I needed more schooling to get the job that I wanted but I decided this a bit late so I can't start my first semester until January.
Under all this stress I thought I'd rather end it short rather than give you a crappy fight. I want Arlong's fight to be as good as it can be then Luffy will get his first bounty. I wanted Nami to keep her stabbing because I felt that it was important. Luffy had a dream about Teach I have reasons for that being there so be patient :) All in all I'll keep working as much as I can on this story so thankyou to all for sticking with me :D I'll leave you there for now I hope this chapter was good enough. Keep well everyone! DR