***Author's Note: I do not own One Piece, Oda does, I do own the characters I made up in this story (ex: Ivy, Cecily (Shadow), and any other made up characters throughout this story that I might create). Also, please do not copy this story and claim it as your own***
Chapt. 38: The Scheme Revealed, Nami's Plea, and Her friends Fight For Her Freedom
"Arlong, those Marine maggots you keep on your pay roll just stole ever berry I had," Nami fumed, storming into Arlong Park, "Whatever happened to all that crap about dying before breaking a promise when it comes to money, bastard?"
"Did they?," Arlong smirked, (apparently, some of the Marines bolted with the money while I was busy taking care of Nezumi), picking Nami up by her throat, "Refresh my memory, when have I ever broke my promise?"
"Don't play dumb," Nami glared, "I know you and the Marines…"
"If I recall correctly, we never agreed to a set period of time when you have to give me the money," Arlong smirked darkly at Nami, squeezing her throat, "So I never broke my promise."
"You pig." Nami spat, running out of Arlong Park.
(*******************************************)
Back To Nami's House
"Nojiko hold up for a sec.," Genzo yelled towards Nojiko, walking over to where Nami hid the money, only to widen his eyes when he saw it was gone, "Dammit, they must've taken it when we were watching Ivy."
"What's up Genzo…" Nojiko smiled, walking back to Genzo, only to glare when she saw the empty space where the money was, "Let's go, Genzo."
"Right," Genzo nodded, walking beside Nojiko towards the village, "It's time to end this."
(**************************************************)
Back To Ivy and Shadow (just entering the village)
"What in the world," I uttered with wide eyes, seeing all the villagers with pissed off faces, and carrying weapons, spotting Genzo from a far, kicking Shadow gently towards Genzo, "Genzo, what's going on?"
"The Marines took Nami's money," Genzo glared, looking straight ahead, "Now we're going to attack the Fishmen."
"WAIT EVERYONE," Nami called running towards the villagers with a "smile" but everyone could tell it was fake, "It's not that much money, I can get it back in no time."
"Nami…" I whispered with sad eyes, turning my eyes towards the back of the crowd, seeing Luffy, lightly kicked Shadow's side towards Luffy, "Hey Luffy."
"Hi Ivy," Luffy spoke quietly, staring at the scene in front of him with an intense stare, never looking up at me, "I want to see what's going on."
"Right." I spoke softly, getting off of Shadow, landing next to Luffy, and staring at the scene as well.
"You've done enough, Nami," Genzo smiled down at Nami, placing a hand on her shoulders, "I can't imagine the pain you had to go through when you joined them."
"Just wait," Nami pleaded, holding her dagger in her hands, "I'm not gonna let anyone else get hurt by these monsters. YOU'LL ALL DIE!"
"We know," Genzo smiled, lifting his hand off of Nami's shoulder (that made Nami drop the dagger), calling over to the other villagers, and they walked past Nami, "Let's go, it's time to end this."
When every villager left, Nami dropped to her knees, glanced at her tattoo for a second before gripping it tightly, then picked up the dagger.
"ARLONG, ARLONG, ARLONG, ARL…" Nami screamed, picking up the dagger, and stabbing her shoulder repeatedly, only to have Luffy grab her wrist when she was going to stab her shoulder again, "Luffy, what do you want? You know nothing of what happened on this island for the last 8-years."
"Nope, I don't." Luffy agreed.
"This has nothing to do with you," Nami hissed, attempting to hide her tears, "I told you to leave this place."
"Yup, you sure did." Luffy agreed, never releasing his hold on her wrist.
"I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE! GET OUT OF HERE! GO AWAY!," Nami screamed, throwing dirt at Luffy, then her voiced cracked as turned her head towards Luffy with tears running down her face, "Luffy, help me."
"Of course," Luffy nodded, releasing her wrist, putting his straw hat down on her head, glaring as he started marching towards Arlong Park, "I'M GONNA KICK HIS ASS!"
"All you had to do is ask," I smiled, walking over to Nami and giving her a big hug, "He never even let me wear his hat, he must really love you."
"S-S-SHUT UP!," Nami shrieked, a bright red blush on her face, slightly punching me on the shoulder, looking at me with a smile on her face, "Go give him hell for me alright?"
"You got it," I smirked, getting back on Shadow, calling over my shoulder, "Don't worry anymore Nami, let us take care of the rest."
"Thanks," Nami smiled, getting up, walking back to Nojiko's house, "Be safe Luffy…everyone."
(***********************************************)
Back To Sanji, Zoro, and Usopp
"WILL YOU QUIT PACING, ZORO!" Usopp fumed, baring his teeth at Zoro.
"I can't help it," Zoro smirked, holding onto his sword tightly, stopped his pacing, "I'm itching to fight."
"By the way, where are Luffy, Ivy-swan, and Shadow anyways?" Sanji questioned, lighting a cigarette, straightening up when he saw them walking closer to them, "There they are."
"Let's go." Luffy commanded, walking past them, never moving his eyes from staring straight ahead of them.
"Do we really have to?" Usopp cried, walking along side of Shadow and me (after Zoro pushed him forward by hitting Usopp's back with the butt of his sword)
"You guys ready?" I smirked down at Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp from where I was riding on Shadow's back.
"Been ready for a while now," Zoro smirked up at me, whacking Usopp on the head with his sheath, "This guy has been ready even longer than I have."
"If you count wailing, praying for safety, and pretending to be dead a few times ready for battle, then yeah," Sanji rolled his eyes, a sweatdrop on his forehead, glancing up at me with heart for eyes (I'll call it his heart-mode for now on), "But I've been ready for battle even longer than these idiots have, Ivy-Swan."
"Since we're going to battle, I'll let this one slide for now," I narrowed my eyes at Sanji, "Because I don't want to injury you before your battle, Sanji."
(***************************************************)
Back At The Entrance To Arlong Park
"I'm sorry, but we can't let you guys through." Johnny declared, sitting in front of the entrance with Yosaku on the other side, creating an X with both of their swords.
"Be patience, we're waiting for the arrival of some men and a short girl with a pet." Yosaku continued, holding his sword across Johnny's.
"What men and a short girl with a pet?" muttered the villagers, standing in front of Johnny and Yosaku.
"Don't worry, they'll be coming shortly," Johnny grinned, "I'll bet my life on it."
"There," Yosaku grinned, seeing all of us walking towards them with a purposeful stride, standing up, "If they can't beat Arlong and his gang, then there really is no hope."
"Those are the four men and the short girl with her pet, who are going to change your destiny," Johnny grinned, standing up, "Burn their images into your memories."
"Step aside," Luffy commanded, walking to the entrance, stretching his arms out, and smashing the entrance opened, "Now, which one of you is Arlong?"
"That happens to be me," Arlong glared at all of us, landing his eyes on me, smirking as he laughed, "HAHAHAHAHA! She's even shorter than a regular human." (I had jumped off of Shadow when I entered Arlong Park).
"Move it," Luffy glared, smashing two Fishmen's heads together, "My name's Luffy."
Shadow, am I gonna have to fight…a shark? I thought, gulping as I glanced around the park and walking slowly through the entrance.
More than likely yes…I forgot about how you're scared of sharks Shadow thought-smirked, walking alongside of me.
I am not scared of them, I just…don't really like them, there's a difference, I thought-defended, Besides, if it wasn't for that damn movie Jay made me watch…
Right, that just made it worse, Shadow thought-smirked, Why did he even think that watching Jaws would help you overcome you're fear of sharks?
I don't know, all I know is I barely watched even 10 minutes of it, before I bolted I thought-shivering (***AN: I am positively terrified of sharks, and when I was little, my brother found out about it, so he graciously decided to help me overcome it by forcing me to watch Jaws, which I only watched about 10 minutes of it, admittedly, he talked me into watching it for another 5 minutes by claiming it was only in the lady's head the shark wasn't real. However, 5 minutes later, I discovered that what he told me was a load of crap, so I bolted without watching the whole movie and ever since, my fear of sharks is worse. I even vowed if I ever get married someday and my honeymoon is somewhere near an ocean beach, I will only swim in the hotel swimming pool or I'll just lock myself up in the room, while he goes out on the beach to swim***)
"Are you ok Ivy?" Usopp inquired, putting a hand on my shoulder, "Usually, you're way up by Luffy and the others, but…"
"Eeek," I gasped with a scared face upon feeling Usopp touch my shoulder, only to turn around, smacking him in the face, and glaring at him, "DON'T EVER DO THAT, YOU JERK!"
"WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM!," Usopp fumed, baring his teeth at me, "THAT HURT!"
"DON'T SNEAK UP ON ME!," I scolded, baring my teeth at him, "AND I'M FINE!"
"If you two are done bickering," Zoro rolled his eyes, smacking us upside the head as he walked by, "I'd like to get to my fight."
"Right," I gulped, walking behind Zoro, muttering, "I can do this."
"Seriously, somethings up," Usopp observed, furrowing his brows, walking next to Shadow, "Hey Shadow, what's up with Ivy?"
"Oh that," Shadow smirked, whispering to him, "She's actually scared of something and she might have to face it today, if she wants to win her battle."
"Huh?" Usopp tilted his head in confusion, walking into Arlong Park.
"Never mind," Shadow smirked over her shoulders, "Just keep an eye on her."
"What does a pirate want with me?" Arlong narrowed his eyes at Luffy, only to have Luffy punch him, sending Arlong crashing into a pillar, "Who the hell are you?"
"That's for making our navigator cry," Luffy grinned, snorting out smoke, only to stop as he remembered something, "Uh-Oh, I forgot that Ivy…"
"Luffy don't worry about me, I'll be fine," I assured with a smirk, "You handle Arlong, we'll handle the others."
"Alright," Luffy nodded, turning back to Arlong, "I'm gonna kick your ass."
"I'm just letting you guys know that I don't mind if you hog all the action." Usopp stated, hiding far in the distance.
"Look, Long-Nose is still alive." Chuu intoned, glancing at Usopp.
"I see you're raring to go as usual." Zoro rolled his eyes with a sweatdrop on his head, walking into the Park, standing beside me, Sanji, Luffy, and Shadow.
"You guys are after Nami this whole time," Arlong laughed darkly, glaring at us, "But the girl is mine and I'm not giving her up."
"Wrong," I taunted smirking, "Nami, isn't someone's property."
"What?" Arlong glared down at me.
"I get that you've been treated like crap, Arlong," I frowned up at him, "But treating humans like this is only making you just like those Celestial Dragons."
"WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT IT?!" Arlong glared deeper, "You're even weaker than the normal humans."
"That maybe so, but that just makes me want to prove all the people who laugh at how short I am wrong," I frowned, pushing my hat down on my face, "And I do know how it feels to be treated like trash, but unlike you, I've decided to not let that define who I am, instead I'm embracing it."
"Enough," Hachi glared, "MOO-MOO RISE!"
"Well look who's back," Luffy grinned, smashing his feet into the cement, "You're mine now, dumb cow."
"Looks like he has a plan for once," Sanji observed, while Zoro had a sweatdrop on his head, "Ivy where are you going?"
"Don't count on it Sanji," I called, jumping onto Shadow's back, running far away from Luffy, "You guys might want to move."
"Why, what's he gonna do?" Sanji puzzled, furrowing his brows in confusion, only to follow Zoro.
"I don't know, but you heard her," Zoro called over his shoulder, running after me, "We need to move it."
"GUM-GUM PINWHEEL!" Luffy grinned, throwing Moo-moo far away, "Now Arlong, I came to fight you not your stupid cronies."
"YOU JERK!," I fumed, baring my teeth up at him, whacking him on the head, "HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY DON'T HURT ANIMALS!"
"THAT WAS THE WORST PLAN EVER!" Sanji fumed, baring his teeth, kicking Luffy on the side of the head repeatedly.
"WERE YOU TRYING TO KILL ALL OF US TOO!" Usopp fumed, smacking the air in front of him, still hiding.
"Uh-Oh," Luffy muttered, moving his body back and forth, and he couldn't dodge when Hachi shot ink at him, "Guys, there's something I need to tell you."
"NOW YOUR FEET ARE STUCK, YOU DUMBASS!," I irked, baring my teeth at Luffy with huge tick marks on my forehead, trying to get his feet unstuck, "USOPP, GET YOUR COWARDLY BUTT OVER HERE AND HELP ME!"
"BUT HE'S THE ONE WHO STUCK THEM INTO THE GROUND IN THE FIRST PLACE!," Usopp fumed, baring his teeth, storming over to me and Luffy, "Luffy, seriously sometimes…"
"Zoro, and Sanji, take care of the octopus and the ray guy, while Usopp and I will work on getting Luffy unstuck," I directed smirking, grabbing onto Luffy's right arm and Usopp grabbing Luffy's left arm and we pulled as we walked, "Don't you ever think ahead Luffy?"
"Nice work you two, but my feet are still stuck in there." Luffy stated in a bored tone.
"They're still stuck?" Usopp uttered in disbelief, still pulling Luffy, turning towards me with sympathetic eyes, "Were those two other boys you talked about this idiotic?"
"Not stupid like Luffy no, but the one is so hot-headed that he doesn't even know the phrase: Some battles you just have to let go," I smirked over at him, pulling Luffy, "Shadow, try to keep the Fishmen away from us."
"On it." Shadow smirked, jumping in front of us.
"He can't be that stubborn." Usopp raised his eyebrow in dubiety, still pulling Luffy.
"For example, if someone insults someone he cares about and there was a fight going on, but he could run away and survive, he would fight the person who insulted the person he cared about instead of letting it go until some other time." I frowned, pulling Luffy.
"We can pull all day, but I bet my feet would still be stuck in there." Luffy guessed in a bored tone, picking his nose.
"ARE YOU EVEN TRYING AT ALL OR DO YOU WANT TO BE STUCK?!" Usopp fumed, baring his teeth.
"QUIT PICKING YOUR NOSE!," I raged, baring my teeth at him, only to dodge something coming at me, glancing up to see a Fishman that looked like it was part shark, muttering under my breath as I let Usopp handle Luffy, "Sorry Usopp, looks like it's my turn to fight."
It just had to be a freaking shark, why couldn't it be a starfish or a seahorse or something small and cute I thought-wailed as I unclasped my Green Dragon Necklace, turning it into the Green short-sword, standing in my fighting stance in front of the Fishman (he looked like a slightly smaller version of Arlong, except he was still tall, but not as tall as Arlong), Shadow just stay there with Usopp
"Arlong, let us handle these guys," the smaller version of Arlong smirked, "Hachi take care of Zoro, Kuroobi take care of the blondie, while I'll take care of the Midget."
"Sounds good to me," Hachi agreed, turning towards Arlong, "Is that alright with you?"
"Works for me," Arlong smirked, turning towards Kuroobi, "What about you?"
"Fine." Kuroobi smirked.
"Zoro and Sanji, you know what to do right?" I smirked over at them, "I'll handle Arlong Jr. over here."
"If you didn't know it," Zoro smirked, taking out his sword, "You would think she's the captain instead of that rubber idiot."
"I know," Sanji smirked, getting into his fighting stance, "He may be an idiot, but he's got that aura about him that draws people."
"That short girl is fighting against…" one of the villagers observed with wide eyes.
"You scared yet little girl?" taunted Arlong Jr. with a smirk, "My name's Flounder….WHAT IS SO FUNNY?!"
"What…parent would….name their…kid Flounder?" I wheezed between snorts of laughter, my sword fell onto the floor, bending down to pick up my sword when I controlled my laughter, smirking up at him, "Fishmen or not, that name is just asking for people to pick on them."
"Did she just….taunt the Fishman?" some of the villagers gasped in shock, "Does she have a death wish?"
"Little girls should watch their mouths," Flounder seethed, charging at me, snapping his teeth at my shoulder (missed it…but barely), "You should just go home Arlong Park isn't a place for little girls."
"That would be true if I was a little girl," I smirked, dodging him, sticking my tongue out at him, "But I'm not, I'm actually 20, you stupid Fishbrain, bleh."
"WHAAAATTTTT!" all the Fishmen and villagers (except for Nojiko and Genzo) had their jaws hanging down to the ground with bugging eyes, "SHE'S SO SHORT!"
"Just because someone's short doesn't automatically mean they're a little kid," I scolded with a smirk, whacking Flounder on the nose with my sword as he charged past me again, "Too bad, looks like all you Fishmen are just brawns and no brains."
"Shut up, you pathetic human," Flounder hissed, snapping down on my shoulder as I dodged him, "Let's see you laughing when I break your shoulder."
"AHHHH! FUCK THAT HURTS!," I screamed, punching him on the nose attempting to get him to release my shoulder, only to drop my sword onto the ground, then getting an idea and activating Ace's flame power, "LET GO! TRY THIS, FIRE INFERNO!"
"YOU DARE HURT ME?!," Flounder hissed, releasing me, charging me again, slashing my leg, as he flipped me onto the ground, "YOU'RE JUST A WEAK PATHETIC HUMAN!"
"Oh you're dead." Chuu declared, running after Usopp (who had accidently let Luffy go, which sent Chuu flying into a wall.
"OH CRAP!" Usopp wailed, running out of Arlong Park with Chuu chasing him.
"I get it now, you must actually want me to kill you," Chuu droned, chasing after Usopp, only to stop when he saw the villagers outside with weapons, "I can only assume this is a rebellion, then you all have to…"
"EXPLODING STAR!" Usopp chanted, aiming one of his exploding stars at Chuu, "Did you think it would be that easy? You're dealing with me now."
"I'm gonna get rid of you right now," Chuu fumed, running after Usopp, GET BACK HERE LONG-NOSE!"
"WAAAAAA!," Usopp cried, running away, calling over his shoulder, "YOU'RE ONE TO TALK BIG-MOUTH!"
"He cracks me up," I chuckled, holding onto my shoulder with my left hand, holding my sword in my other hand, attempting to use Marco's fast healing ability power, only to have Flounder charge at me, "That jerk, fine, I'll use Jozu's Devil Fruit this time."
"I'LL KILL YOU, YOU PATHETIC HUMAN!" Flounder hissed, flipping me onto the ground, and stabbing the ground where I kept moving to avoid his nose, "STOP MOVING AROUND, YOU DAMN BRAT!"
"I just had an idea," I smirked, flipping myself unto his back, and holding onto his neck, as he flailed around the Park attempting to shake me off, "YAHOO! THIS IS FUN!"
"DAMN YOU PATHETIC HUMAN!" Flounder raged, failing at bucking me off of him, "GET OFF OF ME!"
"That girl is insane." The villagers muttered with wide eyes open seeing me holding onto Flounder as he struggled to kick me off of him.
"I don't wanna," I smirked, lifting my hand as I activated Jozu's Devil Fruit, turning my arm into Diamond, punching his nose with my fist, back flipping off of his head, "Let's see if I can break that precious nose you're so found of, DIAMOND FIST!"
"You stupid little girl," Flounder smirked, glaring at me, as he stood in front of me, "My nose is indestructible, there's no way a puny little human can break my nose."
"You sure about that?" I smirked, seeing his nose crack, putting my hand back onto my shoulder, "Because it looks like I just did."
"What," Flounder panicked, putting his hands to his nose, only to have it shatter a few seconds later, "M-M-MY NOSE!"
"I win," I smirked, charging at him, thrusting my sword at him, "GREEN DRAGON EMBER FLAMES!"
"Look, she did it," a villager pointed out to Flounder lying unconscious with a broken nose, "She took down Flounder."
"Take that…Fishman…" I laughed weakly, holding myself up by leaning on my sword, only to fall sideways onto the ground, "I…need a…rest…"
"Ivy, you did great," Shadow rushed over to me, putting me onto her back, taking me over to the villagers, setting me against a wall, "Now rest for a while."
"Yeah," I smiled up at Shadow, cuddling up against her, shutting my eyes, "I'm…."
And that was all it took for me to fall asleep.
TO BE CONTINUED….