Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece; that belongs to Eiichiro Oda.

A/N: I put Notifications about the Story on my Profile Page. So basically, if I'm late posting, look there and if nothing is up, complain or at least mention the lateness please, it's hard to guilt trip my imagination if no one complains. Which I am surprised no one did…

Also, I'm eventually going to go through the entire story and do a bit of a clean up (Just missed Grammar and Spelling things mostly). I was going to do it now but I unfortunately don't have the time and I want to request your help. Could you all help me find those mistakes because it's harder for me to notice with my Dyslexia (it's not an excuse I just want to be sure I don't miss anything).

WARNING: In this chapter are family fights, child abuse (practically), but actual invasion next chapter. Also, it's short, around 2 thousand words instead of the 4 thousand I've been aiming for as of late.

Big thanks to yggdrasil001 for being my (almost) beta reader,to Guest, The Patient One, Wolf Riddle, Theburper, KiKyojo, Thorn D. Cinni, Sage McGavin, reydrago, Guest1, Lerya-chan, Countrygirl3961, and Amelia Earhart5 for reviewing, to RedHound, silerwolverine, Lerobin, Helios Valhalla, BoundlessBlood, Serzian, fallendestinyxx, darkspawn89, Yuuri-tan, Happy-the-Nekomander, Alucard Bellsing, Curious Jack, Ryu the Full Metal Ninja, Loveoflife, Rodneysao, Lost-Wolf-Lover, TonyRexton, tksupersaiyan, Ragunea, Orion Smith, Mary-Pyroangel, Sethll7, and ZergKnight97 for Favouriting, and to Wolf Riddle, Traveler D Eclipse, silverwolverine, Helios Valhalla, DoctorKnight, gamershacked, Kazukimi, jfox99, Serzian, Nearwin, Lerya-chan, RisingDaemon, Curios Jack, Countrygirl3961, DragonGodElle, J. , killersoda57, gille, Alexwalker18, Rodneysao, Kyameron, TonyRexton, neehawk, DarthElendil, tksupersaiyan, Ragunea, Viniana, Jozina, Sethll7, and Naoko's Fiery Hell for Following. Here's the chapter. I hope you enjoy it!


Chapter 27: Fishman Invasion Part 1

Quickly but discretely looking around, Nami checked if who there was out there and where they were positioned. She quickly calculated the best route to take and strode off looking as though she belonged and as though she didn't just steal the book that was pressed into her chest while keeping an eye on everyone and their reactions, while innocently listening in to whatever they were talking about.

She could see the edge of the village, she was getting close to her goal. When she gets to sleep tonight she's going to have to thank Sanji and Robin for their lessons in espionage.

"Get back here you brat, I know that book was stolen!" Genzo yelled out across the plaza, gaining the attention of everyone in the area. Seeing this as a chance to escape, she sped through the legs of the confused villagers. After all, it's not like she had been caught stealing before and Nojiko is around.

She saw the edge of the village and was about to exit when a hand grabbed the back of her dress and lifted her up. Keeping a strong grip on her book of Navigation with one hand, she used the other to grab the hand that was keeping her up. It was definitely Genzo's hand; she could recognise the familiar texture his tough skin had.

She searched for any weakness in his grip while listening to his rant on how he thought she was better than this and wasn't like her sister. The half-true lie easily slipped of her tongue when he stopped for a moment.

"I am only borrowing the book, I'll return it either tomorrow or the day after when I finish reading it and record some notes down." She turned her head so he could she her glare, "I'm insulted that you think I would steal like Nojiko does, I'm happy with everything I have and I don't see a reason I would need to steal a book."

She really did intend to return the book, but she technically didn't ask permission before taking it so it would still be considered stealing. She also was insulted that Genzo thought she would steal like Nojiko does and get caught in the act without a plausible lie that would prove her innocent, but he would think that she's insulted that he thinks she would steal something. She nearly had everything she wanted to be happy, or should she say everyone? After all, all she really wanted was for her family and the Sunny to be here with her in the waking world. The last part was a complete lie; she did see a reason to steal a book. They were poor, she needed to learn Navigation, and she needed to improve her stealing skills who knew if they could be valuable on the seas?

Genzo then started to blink, his previous angry expression evolving into a shocked one before quickly changing into an apologetic face. After muttering an apology and putting her down, he offered to walk her home though she knew he wasn't really asking and more ordering.

They travelled in silence, Genzo displaying his awkwardness while Nami kept a confident aura and a nonchalant expression. Her house quickly came into view and she allowed a smile to break out on her face, forgetting momentarily that Genzo was watching, and rushed to the door calling out that she was home.

Belle-mere opened the door and spotted the book and Genzo but luckily, Nami realized what it could look like to her foster mother and quickly told Belle-mere what happened and what was happening using the half-truth she told Genzo. Belle-mere could she behind her words straight away and played along for now, though Nami knew she would be going back to the village to apologize after lunch.

Genzo left quickly after Belle-mere began her flirting. Nami remembers the one time she used Belle-mere's line, Genzo's reaction would have probably been hilarious if she used it on him but she had no reason to do that yet. He still hasn't caught her stealing. So instead she used the line on Sanji.

Needless to say she was banned from ever using any of Belle-mere's lines again. Who knew that just jokingly telling Sanji that she would repay him with kisses after he agreed to start teaching her stealth would cause such a large response?

She still wasn't allowed alone with Sanji, and while that may have been the reason Robin started helping in on the lessons Sanji had promised her, she could honestly say she missed being able to spend time alone with her brother, it was a part of the reason she asked him to teach her things, he doesn't spend a lot of time with people alone unless it's Zoro.

Nami noticed that while she was eating lunch that Belle-mere didn't have any food in front of her. While Garp was sending them about 10,000 Beri each month in return for a shipment of tangerines to Logue Town, Belle-mere had to talk him down from sending more, Nami could still see that they were poor and that was why she couldn't allow herself to be caught, otherwise Belle-mere would be forced to pay for something when she could be spending it on food for herself.

She knew better than to remark on it though, as much as she wished she could give some of her food to Belle-mere, she knew she wouldn't let her. Robin told her why when Nami asked why Belle-mere wouldn't accept any of the food she would try to give.

"It's because she doesn't want you to starve again, she sees it as her duty to make sure that you and your sister are well fed and health, and she'll sacrifice her own food to make that happen because she loves the two of you." Robin hadn't stopped there and went on to say that: "I know that I would stop eating if we ever ran low on food so that the six of you would be able to keep eating."

After her and Sanji starving it was a common rule on the ship that they all do their best to not let the others starve, whether it was Luffy teaching the others to fight and protect their food, Sanji not allowing anyone to waste any food, Robin making sure everyone knows how to cook basic meals, etc.

The youngest six wouldn't let Robin not eat, they'd employ the help of Franky, Jimbei and Brook if they had to, and if even that would not work. They had their trump card, the Puppy dog eyes that are even deadlier if they draw the most attention to Luffy and Chopper who are undoubtedly the best at it. Chopper never faced a woman's ire before because he knew exactly how to use his cuteness.

Back to the topic of food however, while Nami could keep her mouth shut about Belle-mere's lack of it, Nojiko didn't have the same principles.

"Belle-mere, you don't seem to be eating much these days."

Belle-mere looked up from her sewing. She knew while Nami could easily get close from the others on the Sunny, they wouldn't be able to get her much until she was older so she would have to mainly wear hand me downs from Nojiko and Robin that Belle-mere would have to adjust.

"But I'm eating my tangerines, aren't I? Besides, I'm on a diet right now." She held the string she was sewing with by her teeth and pulled.

"Umm… I don't need to eat much either." Nojiko murmured audibly and put her utensils down.

Belle-mere looked at her oldest daughter both sternly and amused, a look only an experienced mother could pull off. "Ha, there's no need for you to be so concerned with your looks just yet. I know you have a big crush on Ace but it's important for kids to eat a lot!"

A blush rose on Nojiko's face at the mention of the boy she met a fortnight ago but she let it go for now. "That's just a lie! It's because we're poor that you don't have enough to eat right!?"

If Nami didn't figure this out before she probably would have spoken but she remained silent and continued to listen to the conversation.

"Like I said, I'm on a diet!" Belle-mere rose her yellowed hand to cup her cheek, if Nami were Belle-mere she would have told a more convincing lie like, 'I've already had lunch' or 'I'll have it later but I'm busy with sewing at the moment'. Belle-mere continued to speak. "You kids should never underestimate the power of a tangerine! I may be 30 but it's thanks to the tangerines that I'm still able to have such smooth skin."

Nami couldn't resist remarking on something. "But your hands are yellow." She got the expected response of shark teeth and a shout to shut up and eat.

A minute passed in silence before Belle-mere held up her finished dress. She changed Nojiko's old sunflower dress to have a Lion and have the phrase 'I AM LION' written out of the scraps of one of Robin's irreparable dresses. Nami didn't really like getting hand me downs but Robin hand been given hand me downs too so she didn't complain as much.

It didn't stop her from getting a sour face whenever she was reminded though.

"Well there's nothing you can do about it Nami. You are two years younger than me so you have to put up with it."

One thing that Nami hated being reminded of was of Nojiko's supposed olderness, yes she knew that wasn't a word. Luffy was strangely enough the one to get the epiphany that perhaps they were in fact twice as old as they thought they were since they spent all their time 'asleep' or 'unconscious' awake and aware of everything. So in reality the half of their lives they were supposed to spend skipping over, his words, they didn't so they lived a full life.

It confused them for a while but they got the jist of it. They were mentally older than their bodies, for example, Luffy was nine years old but he had spent the same amount of time aware as his eighteen year old self that was not aware while asleep or unconcious. Jimbei mourned over the fact that it seemed that Luffy and Usopp would never grow up to be serious.

Nami didn't speak up and decided to let Nojiko do the entire argument for her.

"I have to wear second hand clothes too! You're my younger sister so it's only natural that you get my hand me downs! I wanna wear new clothes too!"

Belle-mere was seemingly ignoring the half spoken argument and started to stand up, "Now then, time to tend to the oranges."

"I know you steal things too, and I know you refuse to teach me how to get better. But then again, we're not really sisters! We aren't even connected by blood! I know that's why you refu-" Nojiko didn't get to finish speaking since Belle-mere had whipped around and slapped the blue haired girl with enough force to make her fall over.

"NOJIKO!"

Nami stared at her fallen foster sister and seething foster mother in shock, she couldn't believe that those words had come out of Nojiko's mouth and that Belle-mere had hit Nojiko.

Nami knew about bond families, and how the bond between them could be a lot stronger than the bond between blood families, look at Sanji for an example, and the Dream itself! The Dream World was made out of the bond the crazy mismatch family had.

Nami wasn't listening in to the scolding Nojiko was been given. If this world was the Dream World she knew that there would be big, giant creaking cracks running all over the sky and possibly the land.

Nojiko's words stung her that badly.

Freeing herself from her frozen stupor, Nami rushed out of the house, bringing the map of the island she had recently drawn and had planned to show them after lunch and the book of Navigation she had stolen earlier that day.

She ran with tears in her eyes right to Genzo's, she needed comfort, and a safe place to sleep to get that comfort.

Luckily Genzo didn't ask questions as she slammed into him and cried herself to sleep in his arms. Robin was already comforting her on the other side, having been woken up by her cries.

She loved her families, but she hated to see them fight.


Coming up Next: Fishman Invasion Part 2

I'm shipping Ace and Nojiko in this story for now, sorry if you don't like it. Also, after Sleeping 16 Hours and getting over the worst of my sickness I respond to the Reviews and put up the other thanks. (Also sorry if I offend anyone).

Wait, maybe I should have put that at the top instead of the other thing... Meh, I get lazy at times. Also I think there's about 12 chapters left of the Pre-Canon Arc, then we'll actually get into the canon! Why does that make me nervous, sad and happy all at the same time?

Poll Results: Currently winning: Evolution (By a relatively large margin)

No: 56

Yes: 32

On and Off: 13

Flashes: 8

Separation: 17

Evolution: 70

Don't know what they mean? Look at chapter 19:18:Burning of Trash Mountain.

Responses to Reviews:(12)

Guest: Haha. Okay, your vote is noted.

The Patient One: Thank you, it's nice to know that I'm getting better! :) It wasn't exactly Writers Block this time but I hope I'll never encounter it again and that you like this chapter. I'll admit that I'd like more attention but I'm actually content with what I have now, it's more than most others get and this is my first Fanfic so that along makes me overjoyed! \(^o^)/

Wolf Riddle: Hahaha, there is a lot of cuteness isn't there. Glad you love it all. I hope I won't do another impromptu break, what with all this eagerness. I love their closeness to and more importantly I love writing it and see people's reactions.

Theburper: I'm wondering how far I'll take it. Truth is I have no experience writing Romance and I am kind of hoping I could try some of it here and get some feedback on it. If you don't want me too I'll leave it as a childhood crush but I would like to try having a Pirate!Nojiko that joins Ace's crew.

KiKyojo: Haha, He is quite cute. I got a blushing Nojiko in this chapter though.

Thorn D. Cinni: I'm hyped for it too… While also simultaneously nervous beyond belief because I feel like I'm going to fail there.

Sage McGavin: Thanks! Still don't know for sure how it'll go yet.

reydrago: Thank you! Unfortunately, neither of them are in the East Blue at the moment and somethings must happen…

Guest1: Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the reunion though. It was a lot of fun writing Ace and Nojiko like that. I had to pause a bit when my Imagination gave me a picture, it was very adorable, so much so that I cried. With Merry approaching in 20 or so chapters I wonder what I'll be doing with her. I mean, they have the Sunny after all.

Wait! When was Merry made? I'll give her an introductory chapter like the rest of the crew and have her enter the Dream World then. Fool Proof! Wait is it really Full Proof? Nevermind. Sorry about the delay and I hope my next chapter will be up tomorrow. :D

Lerya-chan: Thanks! I wonder what I'll do next too.

Countrygirl3961: :'D Thank you! I hope you'll find out how to deal with the cuteness. Sorry about the long delay. I'll try to update tomorrow if not then the day after.

Amelia Earhart5: Thank you! I wonder how much I'll have to change and how much I will change. I know behaviours definitely will in fact they already are, and Water 7 is going to be so different, then there's the time period where Ace has been captured and the Separation. I can feel that is going to be different.