Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece. I only own my OC, Aurora.
Chapter 21
Arlong Park was practically in ruins by the time the two girls got there. No doubt a product of Luffy, Zoro and Sanji. Usopp was nowhere in sight. The two skidded to a stop, Aurora letting Nami take the lead.
"ARLONG!"
"Sister Nami…!"
"Nami!"
The villagers were shocked to see the girl, as were Johnny and Yosaku. Aurora glanced at the two, briefly wondering what they were doing there. Hadn't they said they were staying out of this?
"Nami…" Arlong rumbled, Sanji and Zoro lying at his feet. "Great timing. I was just about to kill these pirates. So what brings you here?"
"I came here… to kill you!"
"To kill me!? Shahahaha!" Arlong cackled. "In the 10 years you've been with me… how many times have you tried to kill me? Whether by assassination, poisoning, or surprise attacks… but did you ever succeed!? Shouldn't you know well by now that it's impossible for inferior humans to kill me…!?" Arlong's expression hardened. "Listen well… I'm not going to kill you… and I won't let you escape either! I'll have you be my cartographer forever!"
Aurora reacted to this, stepping forward and coming to stand next to Nami. The half-angel shifted, subtley shielding the navigator from Arlong.
"…But as you know, I'm an understanding guy! I don't want to chain down a young woman if possible. That's why I'd rather have you be my cartographer out of your own will. Other than you, I'm planning to kill everyone here right now but… if you agree to join the Arlong Pirates again, and continue drawing maps for me as one of my crew officers, I'll specially allow for the lives of those Cocoyashi villagers to be spared!" Arlong glanced down at the pirates near his feet. "I can't say the same for these guys, however… they've pissed me off too much. So which will you choose? Will you choose to side with me and save your fellow villagers? Or will you side with these weaklings and attempt to fight me…? But of course, seeing as how your most dependable fighters have been reduced to this sad state, your inevitable tragedy is only too easy to see! So tell me, Nami! Are you with me? Or with them?"
Glancing back at the navigator, Aurora took note of the stunned look on her face. Nami practically had the weight of the world on her shoulders in that moment. If she chose the Strawhats, everyone would be killed… but if she chose Arlong, the villagers would be saved. Unfortunately, it would also mean the demise of the crew.
"You rotten monster! You're still forcing Nami either way!" the villagers cried out.
Nami's mind was in turmoil. She gripped Luffy's hat tightly in her hands, pulling the brim further down upon her head. The decision she was about to make would determine not only her future, but the future of Cocoyashi Village.
In that moment, she knew what she had to do.
"I'm sorry, everyone!" Nami suddenly spoke. "But would you please, die with me!?"
"ALRIGHT!"
Aurora bit back a smile. It would seem Nami was choosing to fight back… and the villagers were more than willing to join her. The girl had more guts than the half-angel could ever hope to have.
"I see… so you choose to all die…"
"BFFFFT! PFAHHH!" a voice spat out, a fountain of water shooting into the air.
Arlong was in shock. "What!?"
"It worked! Now all we have to do is free his legs!" Sanji crowed, having moved into an upright position.
Zoro held a hand to his head. "Oh, so that's how it was…"
Nami and Aurora glanced at Johnny and Yosaku in confusion when they suddenly shouted. "Brother Luffy must be…!"
"BUHAAAA!" Luffy gasped out.
Movement caught the two women's attention. Zoro was slowly getting back up, his arm extended in their direction. His thumb was pointed downward and Aurora glanced at Nami when she breathed the swordsman's name. He was sending a message to her.
"30 seconds! I won't last longer than that." Zoro relayed, placing his katana back in his mouth.
Sanji took the hint, diving into the water. "That's more than enough time I need!"
"There shouldn't be any fountain over there…" Arlong grumbled. "Which means that rubber brat is…!?"
A slash across the face cut Arlong off. Aurora looked on in concern as Zoro stood before the fishman. It was obvious he was tired and the amount of blood he was losing certainly wasn't helping. Yet he stood ready to fight.
"Don't pay any heed to that. It's nothing at all, you half-fish mutant!"
"Didn't I already tell you to never call me that again, Roronoa Zoro…?
"EGG STAR!"
Aurora's head swiveled in the direction the voice came from as Arlong swatted away the oncoming attack.
"I'll back you up, Zoro!"
"Brother Usopp, is that you!? You're so brave!" Yosaku crowed.
"Are you alright!? Where are you!? What a bold entrance you're making!" Johnny agreed.
"So fight without any worries!"
Aurora couldn't help but share Zoro's exasperation as they both saw where the sniper was.
"That's where you are!?"
The sniper stood well outside the compound, his egg star having been launched through a hole in the surrounding wall.
"Usopp!" Nami cried, happy to see the sniper well and alive.
"Nami! I, all alone, took down one of their officers! All by myself!"
Usopp's words seemed to be all but ignored by the others, Johnny and Yosaku chiming in from behind the girls.
"I don't know what's going on down there but Brother Cook's actions seem to be the key to clutching victory!"
"Come on, Brother Zoro! Hang in there!"
"It's said that the sea robs devil fruit users not only of their abilities, but also every bit of their energy as well." Arlong imposed. "The fact that that rubber brat isn't dead by now, means that somebody's been unfairly interfering in our "game"!"
"Unfairly interfere!?" Zoro interjected. "I personally never considered this game to be a fair one from the beginning."
"Even so, I do need to see who's been doing the interfering."
"HEY, ARLONG!" Usopp called out in an attempt to distract the fishman. "OVER HERE!"
"B-Brother Usopp!?"
"You're so brave!"
Whilst Johnny and Yosaku fawned over the cowardly sniper's actions, Nami and Aurora shared a look. They were both shocked that Usopp was drawing attention towards himself. He wouldn't stand a chance against Arlong!
When Arlong glanced in his direction, Usopp prepared his attack. "USOPP RUBBERBAND!"
Arlong lost interest, his attention back on Zoro. "You standing before me, means that you want me to kill you first, right, Roronoa Zoro!?"
"Now, Zoro! Attack!" Usopp shouted, releasing his stretched out rubber band. The object flew pitifully through the air before landing on the ground just mere inches away from where Usopp stood.
"The hell are you even trying to do!?" Nami raged.
Movement caught Aurora's attention, the half-angel shifting her gaze back over to where Zoro and Arlong stood. It would appear the swordsman was about to attack.
"I'll break that nose you're so proud of!"
Zoro rushed forward, his katana clanging against Arlong's sawnose. The fishman held the swordsman off easily, barely moving an inch. Even from where she stood, Aurora could tell Zoro was struggling. He was still injured and the half-angel knew he'd only be able to last for so long against the vile fishman.
"Fool…" Arlong rumbled. "It's because my nose won't break, that I'm so proud of it!" The fishman surged forward, Zoro blocking his nose from skewering him. "Just perhaps! If you were in better health…! You might have left a little scar on it!"
"Look! Over there!" Johnny cried.
Everyone's heads whipped to where the bounty hunter pointed. It was then that Aurora noticed a fishman she hadn't seen up until this point. He looked vastly different from the others, if his six arms and two legs weren't an indicator, not to mention his octopus-like face. His hair was styled in five spikes and he had a very muscular build. One of his more notable features was the suction cups on his arms, along with a tattoo of the sun on his forehead.
"Ahh! That octopus is back up!"
"What's he doing though?"
The half-angel wondered the same thing herself. The octopus fishman was standing, but in a very peculiar position. He had all six arms raised, his hands shielding his face whilst his eyes were screwed shut. It was almost as if he were bracing for impact from an attack.
His eyes burst open. "Huh!? Damn it! I thought that rubber band might have hit me!"
"Whaaaat!?" the villagers squawked.
Even Usopp was in shock at this revelation. "What!?" The sniper recovered quickly though. "Hah! Exactly what I was aiming for!"
"But you shouted Arlong…" Nami pointed out, while at the same time Aurora blurted out, "Liar."
Nami gave the half-angel a look. The berry-haired girl smiled sheepishly, shrugging her shoulders in response. "Sorry. It's become a habit."
"Octopus…" Zoro recognized the fishman.
"I won't let you bastards have your way! Roronoa Zoro! I'll kill your friend that just went into the sea!" the octopus man declared, diving into the water.
"There's no reason to look so frustrated…" Arlong interjected, taking note of the look on Zoro's face. "Either way… you'll all die!" And with those words, Arlong broke through Zoro's defenses, striking the swordsman down.
"AGHHHH!"
"Brother!"
"ZORO!" Usopp cried, attempting to climb over the wall surrounding Arlong Park.
"What's with these bandages anyways? Did you happen to fall down somewhere?" Arlong questioned, holding Zoro up by his neck and ripping said bandages away. "W-What's with these wounds!?"
Both Nami and Aurora gasped in shock, Johnny and Yosaku freaking out in the background. The half-angel had to fight back tears, horrified by the sight she was seeing. She knew Zoro had been injured by Mihawk, but Usopp failed to tell her just how serious the wound was. The bandages had admittedly done a good job of hiding the worst of it. Blood poured from Zoro's chest, the wound stretching from his left shoulder all the way down to his right hip. Someone had crudely sewn the wound up, but the fighting appeared to have undone the stitching. His wounds from the fight with Buggy had been nothing compared to this.
'How is he standing? How is he even alive!?' Aurora internally fretted. Sure, she'd seen wounds before, but never of this caliber. The half-angel doubted even her powers would be able to heal him. She wasn't even sure they'd be able to stop the bleeding. 'No matter how much I want to heal him, I can't! I'm not strong enough to fix that kind of damage! It's a miracle I can even heal minor wounds!'
Soft, wheezing laughter broke Aurora from her thoughts. Arlong had extended an arm back, no doubt ready to strike a killing blow. The fishman had paused at the swordsman's laughter, confused by it. This man was close to death so why was he laughing?
"If you lied down quietly… those wounds wouldn't have reopened…!" Zoro choked out.
"How true…" Arlong mused. "Laughing at your sad state now?"
"I'm not talking about myself…! I'm talking about that octopus…"
"What!? Didn't we already tell you…? That this game is ours for the taking…"
A loud splash cut Arlong off at that exact moment, a figure flying up into the air. Even from her vantage point, Aurora could instantly tell who it was.
"I'M BACK!"
"It's that rubber boy!"
"Brother Luffyyyyyyy!" Johnny and Yosaku sobbed.
"Luffy!" Nami cried out.
"That rubber brat…" Arlong growled.
Zoro wheezed, gazing up at the rubber man. "So damn late, you moron…!"
"ZORO!" Luffy stretched his arms in mid-air, latching onto the swordsman.
"Huh!?" Zoro began to panic. "H-Hey… you wouldn't be… doing what I think you're doing, are you…?"
Luffy grinned. "Switch with me!"
"AGHHHHHH!" Zoro cried out, Luffy having ripped the swordsman from Arlong's grip and sending him sailing through the air.
"YOU DUMBASS!"
Aurora didn't think; she just reacted. The half-angel released her wings, propelling herself into the air and after the swordsman. Thankfully, Luffy had only sent Zoro high up and not far away. Otherwise, Zoro would have surely landed in the sea. Barely hearing the sound of Luffy calling out his attacks, Aurora flew under Zoro's descending body, extending her arms out to catch him. The rate at which he was dropping combined with his weight caused Zoro to slam into Aurora, sending the two crashing down onto the outer perimeters of Arlong Park.
The half-angel winced in pain. While her wings had taken the brunt of the landing, they were still very much a part of her and she bit back tears at the shockwaves of pain coursing through them. Zoro's heavy weight atop her didn't help matters either.
The swordsman began to grumble, his voice muffled due to his face being pressed up against Aurora's neck. "I swear… I'll kill him…"
Blushing at their close proximity and the warmth of his breath on her neck, Aurora gently rolled Zoro off of her, mindful of his wounds. The half-angel gingerly sat up, the swordsman lying motionless next to her but still very much conscious. The sounds of fighting drifted in the air, followed by what sounded like stone crumbling. Knowing Luffy, his and Arlong's fight was slowly leading to the destruction of Arlong Park.
Zoro flinched when he was flicked on the forehead. "Oi!"
"You're an idiot." Aurora sighed, meeting Zoro's gaze with exasperation and worry. "You should've told me how bad off you were. I can't do much, but I might have been able to heal you in some way."
"I wouldn't have let you."
Aurora's gaze hardened. "What?"
"Even if you had been there, even if I had told you how bad the wound was, I wouldn't have let you heal me, Aurora." The swordsman looked directly into the half-angel's eyes. Pride and determination shone through.
"It's a reminder." Aurora realized. "This wound is a reminder that Mihawk let you live…"
"…so I could get stronger and surpass him." Zoro finished.
Aurora sighed, but a small smile tinted her lips. "You just had to be one of those guys that takes pride in his wounds."
The swordsman grinned tiredly.
A loud shriek caused the half-angel to jump, the sound immediately followed by someone shouting, "He broke Arlong's teeth!"
Luffy's voice rang out. "Of course I don't know how to fight with swords you dumbass! I don't know a thing about navigation either! I can't cook! I can't fly! And I can't lie either! I'm confident that I wouldn't be able to survive if other people aren't there to help me!"
Aurora could hear the rumbling of Arlong's voice, but couldn't make out the words he was saying. That is… until he began to shout at their strawhat wearing captain. "You call yourself fit to be captain when you don't even have an ounce of self-confidence!? Just what exactly can you do!?"
Luffy's declaration came out loud and clear. "I can beat you."
"I'll kill you if you lose…" Zoro grumbled from next to Aurora. The half-angel shook her head, knowing that was the swordsman's way of showing his faith in his captain. He didn't truly mean what he said. It was a half-hearted comment. Zoro knew Luffy was more than capable of defeating Arlong… and Aurora knew too.
"Aurora…"
The berry-haired girl glanced down at her crewmate. Despite the pain he was in, Zoro gestured back towards Arlong Park.
"You should go check on the love cook. He could probably use some healing right about now."
"But-"
Zoro cut her off. "I'll be fine. Just go… and make sure Luffy doesn't get himself killed."
Reluctantly, Aurora stood, stretching out her wings. She knew there was no point in arguing with Zoro. The man was stubborn to a fault. He didn't want to be coddled and Aurora would respect that. But… she wasn't exactly looking forward to seeing Sanji. She knew the man meant well, but she dreaded his reaction upon seeing her. Not to mention, seeing her with her wings out. The cook had never seen them before and Kami only knows what would spill out of his mouth. Still, Aurora took to the air, flying over the wall and coming to land next to Sanji. Nojiko and Genzo sat next to the cook, both wet and tired. Those were indicators that the two had helped save Luffy in some way, no doubt.
Nojiko didn't seem all that surprised to see her, recognizing the half-angel. The woman wasn't even fazed by the sight of her wings, having gotten glimpses of them earlier on. Genzo seemed shocked by her appearance, but recognition quickly flooded his eyes. He must've remembered her from when she had saved Usopp in Cocoyashi.
Sanji, on the other hand, had frozen in place with his jaw hanging open. The half-angel quirked her head in confusion, baffled by the cook's lack of response.
'I thought he'd be waxing poetic by now…' she mused.
"Aurora, my beautiful angel!"
Said girl sweatdropped. 'There it is…'
She slapped a hand over the cook's mouth, shushing him. One quick glance over at Arlong and Luffy was enough to let her know they were too absorbed in their little battle to pay any heed to them. Slowly removing her hand, Aurora resisted the urge to shudder when she saw the heart-shape Sanji's eye had taken on. Ignoring the cook's silent fawning, the half-angel pulled her wings back in, taking a seat on the ground next to Nojiko. Healing Sanji could happen later. He appeared to be fine for the moment.
"You used my crew as a shield! You little brat." Arlong bellowed.
"You don't have the right to say anything because you did that, too." Luffy pointed out.
"That's so scary." Usopp said.
"Brother Luffy said that he came up with some good idea." Yosaku murmured.
"I wonder what his idea is." Johnny puzzled.
Even Sanji was curious, his attention no longer focused on Aurora. "He found a technique to beat that man?"
"Tooth gum!" Arlong charged at Luffy, what appeared to be a set of teeth in both hands. He was clearly using them as weapons against Luffy.
It was then that Aurora saw Arlong's teeth were not in fact broken. He still very much had them. But… the teeth in his hands looked identical to the ones in his mouth. The half-angel turned a questioning gaze to Nojiko, obviously having missed something.
"Arlong is able to grow his teeth back." The blue-haired woman explained. Aurora nodded in understanding, turning her attention back to the fight.
So far, Luffy was doing a good job of dodging Arlong's assault. Even with his speed, the fishman couldn't get the rubber man. Luffy saw an opening and took it, kicking Arlong away with a foot to the face.
The strawhat captain grinned. "It comes out."
Arlong sat up, wiping at the blood pouring from his mouth. "You! How many times have I told you that it's worthless to destroy my teeth? Don't you get it?" Arlong roared, his teeth growing back once more.
"So, Brother Luffy's good idea is…"
"Look!" Luffy placed the set Arlong had dropped in his mouth. "I have the same teeth as you now."
Everyone gaped at the boy in disbelief, their thoughts all practically the same. 'This is his good idea?'
"How long will you continue to insult me?" Arlong stuck at Luffy, the teeth he held drawing blood from his attack.
"Agh!" Luffy fell back. "The shark is biting me!"
"Stop playing around!" Johnny and Yosaku screeched.
"Who said I was playing!"
"Tooth gum!"
Arlong charged once more, repeatedly attacking the rubber man. Even wounded, Luffy was still able to dodge, no doubt frustrating the fishman. It was at that exact moment that Arlong saw an opening and took it, laughing the whole way. He clamped the teeth down on the left side of Luffy's chest, blood spilling from the wound.
"Ugh!"
"He got him!" Johnny and Yosaku cried out in horror.
Luffy wasn't one to sit idly by though. The boy cried out, reaching up and clamping the teeth he'd placed in his mouth onto Arlong's shoulder. The fishman threw him off, the unorthodox attack having done some damage.
"How was that? You got hurt by your own teeth!"
"It is my teeth…" Arlong mused, yanking the set of teeth from his shoulder. "But your jaws aren't strong enough. Listen! Shark's teeth has the power that can destroy the human body in just one bite." Arlong surged forward, clamping his jaw down on Luffy's right arm. "This is the real power of a shark's jaw!"
"Ah! He got his arm!"
"AGH!" Luffy cried out. Aurora wanted nothing more than to go over to her captain and heal him, but knew better. This wasn't her fight to get involved in. His next actions surprised her though.
Luffy took advantage of Arlong's teeth being sunk into his arm. The rubber man wrapped his other arm around Arlong's neck, swinging him around. With a bout of strength, Luffy threw Arlong to the ground, forcing him down with the arm the fishman's teeth were clamped onto. Luffy ripped his arm out, stumbling away from the stunned fishman.
"Is his arm ok?" Usopp wondered.
Genzo spoke up from next to them. "If he waited for another second, he could've lost his arm."
"A guy like him doesn't have time to worry about that." Sanji chimed in, Aurora nodding her head in silent agreement. Luffy wasn't one to worry about an injury or let it slow him down. It was a strength of his… but sometimes Aurora felt it could also be his downfall if he weren't careful enough.
Arlong slowly stood, reaching a hand back to rub at his neck. The fishman drew it back, gazing down at the blood staining his palm. No one knew what he was thinking, but next thing they knew he was diving into the pool of water located in the middle of the Park.
Luffy came to shortly thereafter, ripping the set of teeth Arlong had lost from his arm. The strawhat captain panted, glancing around. "Eh? Where is he?"
"Luffy!" Usopp got his captain's attention. "In the sea!"
"Sea?"
True to Usopp's word, Arlong was in the sea. His fin brushed the surface, the fishman no doubt circling the water like the shark he was.
Luffy didn't quite seem to realize who it was though. "It's just a shark!"
"That's Arlong!" Usopp shouted.
"What?" Luffy breathed, Arlong's fin having disappeared. "He dove to the bottom." The rubber man bent over, gazing into the pool. "Did he escape?"
A figure shot out of the water, headed straight for Luffy. It was Arlong. The fishman was a blur to the naked eye. He rammed into the boy, sending him spinning to the side. Arlong didn't stop though. His body continued to shoot forward straight into the building itself.
"What's that!?"
Aurora watched on in horror, her gaze darting from Luffy to where Arlong had landed. 'He shot himself from under the sea… like a torpedo!'
Luffy landed on the hard ground, clutching his body in pain. "Ouch! That hurt!"
Arlong chose that moment to resurface from inside the building, peering out of the hole he'd made. "Ho! He can escape? But no matter how many times he can escape, this hell game will continue." The fishman shot forward once more. "Shark On Darts!"
"AAAAH!" Luffy barely managed to get out of the way, Arlong's nose embedding itself in the ground.
Sanji perked up from next to Aurora. "His nose is so strong! That stupid shark. He can use his nose to destroy the floor."
Arlong leered at Luffy, moving once more "Shark On Darts!"
Luffy cried out when the fishman clipped him, not having the time to dodge when Arlong came back for a second attack. His body flew into the air once more before finding a resting place on the ground.
"Luffy! Don't stand there!" Usopp cried out. "He-"
Aurora cut him off, concern causing her to be silent no longer. "He went underwater again! Get out of there!"
"No."
"What the hell are you saying?" Sanji shouted. "You are his target! Get out of there!"
"NO!" Luffy refused. "I will catch him and destroy his nose! Come at me, shark!"
"Do you not know what the word "hide" means!? You only barely managed to dodge his attacks! If he lands a direct hit the next time, you'll die!" Usopp ranted.
"Gomu Gomu…" Luffy began stretching his fingers in front of his face. "Shield!"
"Huh? What's that stance…?"
"Don't tell me he's seriously planning to stop Arlong with just that!"
"SHARK ON DARTS!" Arlong's voice rang out, said fishman bursting forth from the sea. He slammed into Luffy, sending the two towards the building towering above them.
"He's hit!"
But he actually wasn't. Aurora narrowed her eyes, taking in the scene before her. It was hard to make out, but the half-angel was almost sure she knew what Luffy had done. Her captain had used his fingers as a sort of shield, the appendages stretched across Arlong's face. The fishman's sawnose peeked out from between them, the point mere inches from Luffy's grinning face. What happened next almost seemed to be in slow motion. Luffy pushed off of Arlong, sending the fishman crashing into the building itself.
"What happened!?" Usopp bellowed. "Was he hit!?"
"No!" Sanji answered. "He bounced himself away from Arlong!"
"Shishishishi!" Luffy's laughter could be heard. "That move won't work on me anymore!"
"SHARK ON DARTS!"
'Does he ever stay down!?' Aurora began to wonder. Arlong had burst through the roof, once more determined to take Luffy down.
"You can't escape from me. Time to finish this!"
"As if I'll let you! Gomu Gomu… Net!" Luffy's fingers stretched to several feet, interlacing to form an actual net. Arlong soared headfirst into Luffy's trap. "Time for fishing!"
After slowing the fishman down, Luffy released him in mid-air. Aurora had to admit his trap had been brilliant, but what on earth was he going to do next? Stopping Arlong's attack was one thing, but Luffy needed to retaliate…
"Followed by!" Luffy clapped his feet together, aiming them at Arlong. "SPEAR!" The strawhat pirate shot his feet down, stamping Arlong into the ground.
"GUHAA!"
"It worked!" the villagers cheered.
Aurora wanted to believe it worked, she really did. But something told her that was not the case. Arlong was strong, much like many beings that resided in the Grand Line. The attack might have caused some damage, but the half-angel highly doubted Arlong was out for the count. If anything, Luffy had probably just made him madder.
"Hm?" Luffy began to descend. "Is he dead…?"
Arlong's eyes snapped open, but something was different. Something had changed.
"Arlong's eyes changed!" Nojiko and Genzo cried.
"They're the same eyes that a sea king has when it goes berserk!" Sanji realized. "Luffy made him even angrier with his attack just now!"
"…That's the first time I've seen those eyes!" Nami trembled.
Arlong got up, grabbing Luffy by his hair and whipping his body around, the movement causing the rubber man to stretch in various ways. "How dare an inferior human… do this… to me, a fishman!?"
Another wall had been broken, courtesy of Arlong flinging Luffy into the building. The strawhat-wearing boy sat up from the rubble he was in. "Ahh… that was scary. Didn't hurt but it looks like he's seriously pissed off…"
'He's not wrong…' Aurora thought, watching as Arlong charged at Luffy, the fishman's eyes narrowed into slits.
"Whoa!" Luffy jumped out of the way, Arlong's arm breaking through the wall Luffy had just been in front of. The boy grinned down at the fishman, not realizing the danger he was about to be in. The wall Arlong's hand had gone through housed weapons on the inside, the fishman grabbing hold of one. He whipped it out in one fell swoop, gazing up at Luffy who was perched on the ledge of the roof.
"What's that?"
"That's one freakin' huge saw!"
"It's Kiribachi!" Nami cried out.
Cutting-teeth… the name was fitting. The saw stood taller than Arlong himself and looked highly sharp. No doubt its many teeth could do serious damage. Aurora wished she could say it was the first time she'd seen a weapon like that, but she'd be lying. Having traveled to East Blue from the Grand Line, Aurora had glimpsed various weapons in her time. She'd also seen what they were capable of. Sure, it had been from a distance, but she still knew. She also knew that if Luffy wasn't careful, Arlong would skewer him. Weapons such as Kiribachi were one of Luffy's weaknesses. Rubber was vulnerable to sharp, cutting objects.
"Agh!" Luffy dodged the moment Arlong swung, the saw cutting through the roof below them. The fishman would not be deterred though. The two kept climbing higher up the building, Luffy dodging and Arlong swinging Kiribachi in a rage. The fishman had not gotten the strawhat boy yet, but was certainly doing a number on Arlong Park itself. Vaguely, Aurora wondered if he knew what he was doing in his rage.
"He's not stopping!"
"He's chasing him all the way up!"
"Ack!" Luffy panted, frantically looking for somewhere to run. It appeared as if Arlong had him cornered, Kiribachi already being swung in his direction. At the last minute, Luffy took notice of a nearby window and made a split second decision. He jumped through it.
"He escaped inside!" Sanji breathed.
"The left window on the top floor…" Nami murmured. "It's the cartography room!"
Inside
"…Don't get in my way anymore, you damn rubber brat." Arlong snarled, stalking Luffy inside.
"What… is this room? It's full of paper."
"They're not just papers." Arlong explained. "These are all the maps that Nami spent 8 years drawing. For us fishmen, obtaining data about the sea is simple but using that data to draw maps is another matter. Even if you search the whole world, you won't find someone who can draw maps as accurate as these! That girl is a genius."
"Ohh…" Luffy murmured, glancing over at a nearby table.
"There is nothing more tragic than to waste those god-given talents that she possesses!"
"This pen," Luffy began, picking said object up. "Is encrusted with blood…"
"For Nami, there is no better happiness than to stay here and continue drawing maps! For the sake of my ambition, that is! Once we fishmen learn everything there is to know about the seas from her maps, we shall be invincible! The world shall become my empire!" Arlong raved. "And this island, or East Blue in essence, shall be my stepping stone for that!"
"Hmm…" Luffy gazed intently at the pen.
"DO YOU THINK YOU CAN USE HER MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN I!?"
Luffy softly placed the pen on the floor, raising a hand to grip the lingering Kiribachi.
Arlong looked on in confusion when he realized something. 'What…? I can't… move Kiribachi even a single inch…!'
The sound of metal being crushed echoed throughout the room, Luffy pinning Arlong with a murderous gaze. "USE?"
Arlong was in shock. "My Kiribachi!"
"Just what exactly, do you think she is…?"
Arlong smirked. "She's a brilliant cartographer. Of course, she is still a member of your inferior race, but she's got a good head on her shoulders. If I were to liken you humans to filthy rats, then she'd be a cheeky little cat… in any case, she's a cute lil' thing. I'll have her continue drawing maps for me in this room. For forever, that is. I'll feed her, and even buy her any clothes she wants! That girl will never be in want for as long as she lives. In return, all she has to do is draw maps for me. Because you see… we're crewmates."
Outside
"Damn it…! Just what exactly happened to Brother Luffy!?"
"We've got no way of knowing what's going on up there!"
Several minutes had gone by and not a peep had been heard from inside. Aurora truly was beginning to worry that something horrible had happened to her captain. What could the two possibly be doing in there? They weren't fighting, if the lack of noise and crumbline stone was anything to go by. So what was happening?
"Ahhh!"
"What!?"
An object came flying out of the hole where the window used to be. At first, many were worried that it was Luffy. But that was not the case.
"A desk…" Sanji realized.
"Whew…" Yosaku breathed in relief.
"It's just a desk…" Johnny finished.
"That scared me good. For a second I almost thought it was Brother Lu-"
Johnny interrupted. "Hey! Are you saying you don't believe in Brother Luffy's strength!?"
"Hey, you were scared too, Johnny!"
"Wha… No, umm… I uhh, thought it might be Arlong…"
Whilst the two bickered, neither noticed how Nami had stilled next to them. From across the way, Aurora could sense the change in the navigator's aura, peering over at the orange-haired girl. Nami was frozen, her eyes wide in shock and… something else. Was it recognition, perhaps? Yes… that was it! Nami recognized the desk.
"Luffy…?" she whispered.
Several more objects were sent flying from the room, crash landing below.
"What's with all these things being thrown outta there?" Usopp wondered.
As the object fell to the ground, splintering into pieces, Aurora watched Nami closely. The navigator was familiar with whatever was in that room. As more stuff was ejected from the room, one object in particular caught Aurora's eye. It appeared to be… a map?
Realization swept through Aurora as she whipped her gaze over to Nami. The girl had started crying, a hand clasped over her mouth.
'That was her room here.' Aurora deduced. 'Luffy's destroying her prison of the past 8 years.'
More maps fluttered to the ground, Sanji peering up at the building. "It stopped…"
All too soon, Sanji's words were proven moot. A leg shot straight up through the roof, everyone knowing it could only belong to one person. Mere seconds later, the leg shot back down and a loud CRACK! echoed in the air.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Wha!?" Everyone was in shock.
Aurora watched in amazement as the building began to fall apart from Luffy's powerful attack. It creaked and groaned, collapsing in on itself, floor by floor. It shook the earth around them to its very core.
"L-Look! After that impact just now, Arlong Park is…!"
"No way! It's all coming down!"
"It's too dangerous! Everyone evacuate immediately!"
"Sister Nami!" Johnny cried, reaching for the navigator as she moved.
"But Luffy's still in there!"
The building came down with one final resounding crash. Aurora jerked forward, her voice intertwining with that of Nami's before she was pulled to the safety of the water.
"LUFFYYYYYY!"
Everyone could only gape in shock at the destroyed building before them.
"Arlong Park… is destroyed…!"
"Brother…!" Johnny choked out.
"…Just what the heck happened in there!?" Yosaku wondered.
"Which one of them won!?" Sanji crowed, keeping a firm hold on Aurora, whom he'd pulled to safety. The half-angel floated next to him in the water, not even attempting to fight from his grip. She'd gone numb with shock and Sanji was probably the only thing keeping her afloat at the moment.
"…After that destruction, I can't possibly imagine that…" Genzo drifted off, not finishing his thought.
"Luffy…" Usopp breathed, watching with baited breath.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the rubble. He was smaller, didn't have fins, and certainly didn't sport a sawnose. It could only be one person…
"Luffy!" Nami cheered.
"Bhhhhrrruwwwtherrrr!" Johnny and Yosaku sobbed in happiness.
Usopp stared at their young captain in concern, the boy not having moved since he resurfaced. "Is he alright…?"
"NAMI!" The sudden shout caught everyone off guard. "YOU'RE MY CREWMATE, GOT IT!?"
Sniffling, Nami raised a hand, wiping at her eyes. "Got it!"
"He won!" Usopp crowed.
"He did it! He won!" Sanji crooned, leaping at the girl closest to him. Aurora broke out of her stupor, scrambling away from the cook in time to avoid his hug. He landed with a splash somewhere behind Genzo and Nojiko, the latter hugging the man she considered family.
"Genzo!"
"It feels like I'm dreaming… I'd never imagine that such a day would actually come…"
"ARLONG PARK HAS FALLEN!" the cheer rang out.
Floating idly in the water, Aurora smiled softly. 'She's finally free. There was hope for Nami… maybe there's hope for me, and my people.'
"That's enough celebrating! Chichichichi!" a voice snickered.
"It's him!"
Aurora took in this new figure, not having seen him before. Nami and the villagers seemed to be quite familiar with this man though. He was a marine, if the word emblazoned on his hat was anything to go by, and he was flanked by many more.
Aurora eyed the mouse resembling man suspiciously. 'These must be the men who tore up the tangerine grove and stole Nami's money.'
"What a lucky day it is for me today! I'd like to thank you all for showing me a most exhilarating battle. Whether by sheer luck or not, I'd have never guessed that the fishmen would actually be defeated by a bunch of no-name pirates." He smirked. "But thanks to you, the money that I had to hand over to Arlong, as well as all the riches of Arlong Park now belongs to me! So throw down your arms! I, Captain Nezumi of the 16th branch of the Marines, shall hereby take credit for your victory!"
Nezumi was cut off, a hand grabbing him by the collar of his jacket. It startled not only him, but the rest of the Marines as they took in the menacing figure that stood behind their leader.
"Zoro!" Aurora perked up, scrambling to get out of the water. While grateful for the interruption, the swordsman was still injured. Her inner angel cried out, beseeching her to go check on her fellow crewmate, lest he injure himself further.
"It ain't nice to be such a wet blanket, when people are busy celebrating."
"Go ahead! Lay eben one binger on me ib yu dare! I swear yu won't ged away widdit!"
"Is his mouth still alive…?"
Aurora could only blink as she gazed upon the scene before her. The boys had made quick work of the Marines, the group of men a bloody heap on the ground. Even after such a beating, it seemed Nezumi was still able to speak. Aurora blinked again, disbelief sweeping across her face. The man was practically asking for another beating!
His hat being placed on his head caught Luffy off guard. The strawhat crew watched as the navigator made her way over to Nezumi, squatting down next to him.
Nami placed a hand against his cheek. "This is for shooting Nojiko, and defiling Bellemere's tangerine grove…"
"Huh?" Nezumi gurgled out in confusion.
Nami's staff slammed into Nezumi's face, sending the man skidding across the ground. The Marines cried out for their fallen captain as he was sent sailing. Aurora bit her lip, hiding the smile that was beginning to form on her face.
"Thanks, Nami! I feel better already!"
"He still needs about 1000 more beatings!" Genzo grit out.
"BUHAAA!" Nezumi choked out, having resurfaced from the water Nami had sent him into.
Nami pinched the whiskers protruding from his face and pulled. "Now go clean up after the fishmen! Then help rebuild Gosa Village! And you're not to touch any of the money left here in Arlong Park! That's this island's money alone! And one more thing!"
"Owww owww owww!" Nezumi wailed. "I'll do whudeber yu say!"
"Give me back my money!"
"I will, I will!" he promised. With that, Nami let the marine go and Nezumi quickly swam away from the group, his subordinates not far behind. "Listen well, you rotten pirates! Especially you, strawhat-boy! You said your name was Luffy, didn't you!? And you're the captain, right!? Let me just say that you're gonna get your just desserts for angering me! I swear I'll get back at you for this!"
"He said you're gonna get your just desserts." Sanji echoed.
"How'd he know that I deserve to be the Pirate King?"
"That's not what he meant, dumbass." Zoro growled.
Usopp pointed at the retreating Marines in distress. "W-What do we do, guys!? What happens if he really does get back at us!?"
Aurora merely sighed, watching as her crew bickered amongst themselves. Whatever happened next, they would be ready for it… hopefully.
"UGYAAAAAA!"
"He's screaming again." Sanji drawled. From next to the cook, Aurora worriedly glanced at the building. A friend in pain was not something she was good at handling.
After the fall of Arlong Park, the crew had returned to Gosa Village, along with the rest of the villagers. Currently, Luffy and Zoro were being treated by the doctor, both having sustained more serious injuries than the others.
"Well, duh." Usopp said. "The doctor said it'd normally take 2 whole years for him to fully recover."
"And yet he still insists on moving around. He's out of his mind."
Another scream tore through the air. Aurora couldn't take it anymore. The half-angel abruptly stood, storming into the building. To her right, Johnny and Yosaku were lying in beds, somehow sleeping off their injuries through Zoro's screaming. Said man was on a bed to her left, writhing in pain as the doctor stitched his chest wound. Luffy was sitting in a chair next to him, his wounds already treated and wrapped up.
"You fool! How could you even think of trying to shoddily patch up these serious wounds on your own!? Don't you have a doctor on your ship!?"
"A doctor?" Luffy mused, chin in hand. "That's a good idea. But we'd need a musician first."
"Why…?"
"Because pirates gotta sing, you know."
Ignoring her captain's rambling, Aurora marched over to where he sat, unceremoniously shoving him to the floor. The half-angel took Luffy's place, paying no heed to his protests.
A cool hand slipping into his own, along with the dulling of pain, caused Zoro to crack his eyes open. "Aurora…"
The half-angel held up a hand. "I don't want to hear it. I am going to help you, whether you like it or not."
There was a brief pause before Zoro smirked. "Fine. You win this time."
Smiling softly, Aurora squeezed the swordsman's hand, continuing to let her healing powers numb the pain until his wound was stitched up once more.
Night fell upon the island once more, and the waves were as quiet as always. However, the thunderous festivities, did not subside this night nor the next, for the people had all endured for this moment. They had endured everything in order to laugh again.
"Ahh… I sure ate a lot. Feels nice to stuff yourself every now and then."
"Hey, Sanji!" Luffy popped up next to the man, holding copious amounts of meat. "Was there something on that last melon you ate just now…!?"
From his nearby perch, Zoro eyed his captain. "What's with all that meat you're holding onto?"
"Yeah, it was a melon with raw ham called "raw ham melon."
"Raw ham melon!? Where'd you get it!?"
"Not sure since there's food put out everywhere for all the villagers. Must've picked it up from somewhere…"
"Then I'll go find it!"
Zoro took a drink of his ale. "He's been eating non-stop."
Sanji ignored the swordsman. "Now that I've finished eating… it's time to flirt with the ladies!"
The cook ran off, leaving behind Zoro, who had fallen asleep. Aurora sweatdropped, her crewmates actions never ceasing to amaze her. The half-angel took a seat next to the sleeping swordsman, taking in the sight of Usopp standing on a platform. It would appear he was spinning his web of lies once more. Admittedly, the villagers seemed too drunk to care though. They were going to celebrate anything and everything.
"It is I, Captain Usopp! The warrior who defeated one of the fishmen! Allow me to sing you a song!"
"Alright!"
"Can I get your autograph!?"
Aurora shook her head at the villagers and Usopp's antics. There was no helping them now. They were in a world of their own. Taking a quick glance around, Aurora took note of a missing crewmember. Where was Nami?
Drowning out the sound of Usopp singing, Aurora closed her eyes and focused on feeling for Nami's aura. The half-angel blinked, her gaze drifting over to the small medical building Gosa Village had. Nami was inside… but why? Seeing as Zoro wouldn't be waking up anytime soon and all her other crewmates were occupied, Aurora got up and made her way over.
"Erase it? I'm afraid erasing it completely will be impossible, since it'll leave a bit of a scar. That's just how tattoos are."
"That's right…" Nami mused from her spot on the bed. "Tattoos aren't something you can just erase…"
From her place in the doorway, Aurora could see Nami become lost in thought as the doctor finished removing her Arlong tattoo. He was right. It had left a scar.
"Hey, doc…" Nami spoke up, handing the doc a piece of paper. "There's something I'd like you to tattoo for me… this."
"Hm?"
Taking in the design on the paper, Aurora couldn't help but smile. This new tattoo wouldn't just hide Nami's scar, it would represent those she held dear. As the doctor began his work, Aurora made her presence known by pulling up a chair next to Nami.
The navigator glanced up in surprise, Aurora picking up the tattoo design and looking at it once more. "It suits you."
Nami smiled. "Thanks, Aurora. But shouldn't you be celebrating with the others?"
The half-angel returned the smile, placing her hand on top of Nami's. "Parties aren't really my thing. Besides, I'd rather spend time with my best friend."
Her words seemed to shock Nami, but it was quickly replaced with happiness. As tears began to form, Aurora squeezed the navigator's hand. That was probably the first time in her life anyone had ever uttered those words to Nami. It was probably the first time she'd ever had a best friend.
And Aurora was happy to be that person, especially if it made Nami happy.
The day of the departure…
"We must now return back to our job as bounty hunters. So thank you for all your help until now."
"Thought we must say good-bye, may we meet once again someplace else in the future."
"I see then." Zoro muttered, the strawhat pirates looking down on the two bounty hunters from their ship. "Take care."
"The same to you, my brothers." They chimed.
"Where is she anyways?" Usopp wondered, keeping an eye out for the missing Nami.
"Maybe she's not coming?"
Zoro's question caused Sanji distress. "What!? Is Nami really not coming!?"
"Hey! That raw ham melon you were talking about wasn't anywhere!" Luffy griped, completely oblivious to the conversation about Nami.
Aurora shook her head at Luffy's one track mind. Nami seemed to be the least of his worries at the moment. 'Still…' Aurora mused. 'What could be taking Nami so long? She said she was coming with us. She didn't change her mind, did she?'
"SET SAIL!" a voice rang out. Everyone's head whipped around at the sound of Nami's voice, the navigator suddenly charging towards the ship.
"She's running over here? What do we do?" Usopp questioned.
"She said set sail so… I guess we should set sail." Luffy concluded.
Murmurs began to rise up amongst the villagers. A quick scan of their auras told Aurora that they were both confused and angered by Nami's actions. She wasn't really going to leave without saying goodbye… was she?
"RAISE THE SAIL!"
"Nami, stop!"
"At least let us thank you for all you've done!"
"Ahh! They're taking off! But we needed to thank you pirates t…"
"SET SAIL!"
"Nami!" Genzo shouted. "I can't allow you to leave this way!"
"You sure it's okay to let her leave like this?" Sanji asked Luffy.
"It's her goodbye so let's let her decide."
"Nami!" the villagers cried as said woman dashed right past them. "Nacchan! Why…!"
With one great leap, Nami soared through the air, landing with a heavy thud on the deck.
"Wha!?"
The orange-haired navigator didn't say a word, her back facing the village she called home. Slowly lifting her shirt up, various items fell to the ship's deck. Upon closer inspection, they appeared to be wallets and purses of all kinds.
"Wha!? My wallet's gone!"
"Mine too!"
"Me too!"
"Same here!"
"Mine as well!"
Nami peered back at the villagers with a wide grin on her face. She held up a single slip of beli, calling out in an impish voice. "Take care, everyone!"
"YOU ROTTEN LITTLE THIEF!" came the collective cry.
"She still hasn't changed a bit." Usopp deadpanned.
"Is she going to betray us again?" Zoro griped.
Sanji gave the navigator a thumbs up. "Nami, good job!"
Aurora joined Luffy in his laughter, the sight proving to be rather amusing. Nami certainly had a unique way of saying goodbye… but for her, it was quite fitting.
"You thieving cat!"
"Give it back!"
"Give my wallet back!"
"You little brat!"
Nami chuckled. "Heh heh."
The villagers continued to yell after her, but the comments became more positive the further away they got.
"Come back anytime you want, you hear!"
"Be sure to stay safe!"
"We have so much to thank you all for!"
One voice in particular caught Luffy's attention. "Hey, kid! Don't forget about our promise!" Luffy glanced back, catching sight of Genzo's smirking face. He held his thumb up in response.
"GOODBYE EVERYONE! I'LL BE OFF NOW!"
Aurora watched the navigator say farewell, a small smile on her face. 'She got her happy ending after all. Now she's free to live her life the way she pleases.' Turning towards the front of the ship, the half-angel gazed out unto the horizon. 'I wonder what adventures await us next…'
The skies are clear and the winds mild. Perfect weather for a pinwheel to spin.