Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece

Thank you CuddlyChristina for helping me write this chapter. I think this may be the chapter that closes this arc or maybe not because can't remember all I wrote for this chapter. Anyways, thank you loyal readers.

X_X_X_X

The mayor screeched as the hot sun over him was enough to make him feel like he was dehydrated, to his fellow Minks's shock. Charlotte felt strong...then she felt immense howling pain when a stray bullet was fired straight at her and tore through her left ear.

She stumbled to the ground, and turned her head to see who did this.

It was a big toothy Marine with a sniper rifle. Before she could move her legs to chase after him...severe damage was inflicted upon Hardy. Some green slush was poured over him, and this gush was corrosive since his bulbous body started to dissolve as he writhed in pain, nearly hopping on his solid pink bottom.

"I'm hit!" he called out to Charlotte.

She was so stressed the world around her looked black and white.

She reached Hardy. The first thing she desperately tried to do was pull something out of his hat that would neutralize the corrosive liquid. Before her hand could pull off his hat...her leg was shot off by the same gun.

Slumping to the ground, it seemed all hope was lost. The sniper didn't feel things were done. He raised his rifle preparing to fire.

He fired that bullet with Charlotte looking scared and helpless. She flinched her eyes shut and shuddered, the filial opposite of how Razi would see this. And then, the bullet was blocked by a twirling metal pipe wielded by a six foot tall blue Fishman.

"Huh...?" Charlotte managed to ask faintly.

"Charlotte!" Even though the person who saved her had fish skin, he could snap his fingers really loud. She still didn't know who it was because adrenaline was having the opposite effect on her brain due to her blood loss. "Hold on!"

A thought sprung up on her mind. Is that...Momo I hear?

It was him. For a moment she thought her uncle was a bipedal Fishman who could stand again, but he was the quadriplegic uncle she knew...and respected more. There was just one question in her mind.

'How did he manage to deflect those bullets?'

"Momo!"

The Marines bodyguard was leaning very close to the cliff while standing beside the sniper. Before the toothy marine could reload another round, he gripped his neck and squeezed him very hard, but let him go before he could kill him.

He clutched at his throat, and managed to utter, "What the hell's your problem, fish boy?!"

He jumped off the cliff and joined the quadriplegic in the village. He smiled that nasty smile that has been kept to himself for so long.

"I finally get to face you, old friend." He smiled.

"Nice to see you too, Giru. Your looking...more like me. Or as Emily used to say, gross." Momo said.

"That meant she liked you because she wouldn't even talk to someone she thought was very gross. And you...you killed her...with your attempt on revenge." Giru cracked his knuckles ready for the fight he was going to give Momo.

"I'm sorry. I failed then, but I made up for it by killing Razor and helping people like her...I have a daughter who looks up to me like Emily...looked up to Master Leopol."

"Well, Emily is only dead because of YOU! If you want to make it up to her...and master...then die already!"

Giru began charging for Momo, making the first move by attempting to punch him a few times.

What Giru didn't anticipate was Momo blowing on a metallic whistle under his chin that helped him move his pipe in the way of his fist.

He'd then strike him several times with his weapon, giving him amazing damage.

Giru should be foaming with rage being hit by that metal pipe, but all he felt was nostalgia.

"The only weapon you could ever use. Too bad it doesn't hurt like it used to."

Momo was perplexed by his statement. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Isn't it obvious? You don't strike with your heart, your hands are gone so your weapon isn't the killing machine it used to be. And I've...I've toughened up to be like you, when you could punch bricks."

To make his point, Giru tried hitting him. Although Momo's weapon was weak, his skin was stronger than its ever been. It hurt him with every blow he inflicts.

Then Momo blew his whistle again...

It didn't take long for his pipe to strike Giru again, inflicting more damage.

Giru was stuck being a ball for a stick. Even when he tried taking the pipe, Momo pulled away from him. And then, the wheelchair confined Fishman actually jumped.

This completely floored Giru, his jaw hung in shock.

Momo used his shock to hit Giru right in his perplexed jaw.

Giru groaned as he felt said area being hit, clutching in pain. He had attempted to attack him again, but unfortunately, it didn't go in his favor.

"What's the matter, Giru?" Momo said, calm and in a way only taunting to Giru. "Fighting isn't doing you any good, so let's stop this foolharded mess."

"Three hits." Giru threatened. "One to knock you out. Two to kill you...three you go see both heaven and hell."

"Oh, try and do that. I know you won't be able to put me away." Momo replied.

Giru wasn't getting anywhere with his fists. He charged like a rhino into the wheelchair bound Fishman. Before he knew it, the wheelchair fell down on its right armchair. Immediately when it fell, Giru was propelled off the ground by some force stronger than Momo's pipe.

Giru asked to himself, "What is this?!" as he tried to figure out what it was.

"I've been more alive for the last seventeen years than you've been alive holding this grudge against me, Giru." said a brass Momo. He could flip his chair back upfront.

This battle was slow and so far one sided...and then Charlotte heard a familiar enthusiastic voice.

"Charlotte, I managed to rescue a baby!"

She then turned her attention, and saw that one of her nakama was there, holding an infant in her hands.

Etoile looked so proud and protective of that baby...with little wolf ears sticking out. Charlotte heard a gasp. She turned her head to see the mayor on the ground panicking and choking on his own voice.

"You bitch! You killed us all!"

Charlotte was left shocked and perplexed; it was clear that she didn't know what to do.

She needed answers, and the best way to make a pig squeal was by wrangling it by the neck. She moved to the white lion and grabbed him.

"What's gotten you so scared, ghost?" She said very intimidatingly.

"I-I will...never tell." He choked. "Do your worse, bit-"

"He put a virus in the baby."

Charlotte heard that voice before. She looked behind to see Samuel walked in, pale and scared.

"I wasn't born on this island, I was born in an island full of foxes. Then, a fox baby washed ashore. At first it was loved, adopted, fed, and clothed...but the more it stayed the more my people started to face ailing health and get the plague. I wasn't getting sick, but my people started dying. I did the only thing I could, bury the survivors and then leave on a raft with food where I floated for two weeks...until I made it here."

Both Charlotte and Etoile were both shocked and speechless, with the latter looking down on the infant out of fear.

Charlotte's first instinct was to get rid of the baby, but Etoile was being protective of the baby, holding it like a mommy despite the hateful glares she was getting.

"Etoile, have you lost your mind?!" Charlotte asked.

"But...what if there's a way to treat him?" Etoile inquired.

"There's no treatment for it on this island." Samuel said, weeping as he said it. "I've been through this whole island and not a single thing but first, animals, and the same beautiful but deadly plants. And when that baby leaves the island...it will infect everyone close to it. Do what my people never wanted to do-we were too benevolent in our minds and in our blood. Kill it here and now."

Etoile gasped out of horror, looking over at Charlotte and the others.

Charlotte thought losing an ear and getting shot in the leg was bad, but a choice on a baby's life hurt her more.

"What do you think, Hardy? Do you seriously we'd let the baby live?" she asked Hardy.

"You can't...but I won't let anyone here hurt a child...but I know he can't stay on this island. I may still have a heart, but my body can become a mound of bubblegum that can protect me from this virus."

"And I have a slight blood moving sanctuary that will help me fight off this virus better than anyone here." Etoile said, still downtrodden about what this choice entailed. "Therefore, I'm getting my...or our own raft and sailing away with this child."

Giru was amazed that the dark skin lad wasn't a puddle of green acid by now. Someone saved him while he was quarreling it out with Momo. Although intrigued by this development, he scampered away from the group in fear of this virus.

But he didn't just leave alone. He picked up the unconscious body of his Marine boss and ran to the boat.

"I will still find you and get my revenge on you, Momo. For Anna."

Hardy tipped his hat, and took off. At the same time, Etoile told Charlotte, "I'm going; you'll never hurt this child." before following his lead.

Hardy was shinning for someone once moribund looking. Charlotte was a proud girl, someone who didn't usually hug people because of how she was still self conscious about her bulbous belly, but she hugged her friend all the way her arms could reach.

"I'll miss you," she whispered.

"I'll be back, captain. But you'll be a captain...and I'll be a father."

Charlotte smiled at him, and as they left, she turned her attention to the other three men.

She had to give an order on whether to leave or whether to punch the white lion. She wanted to hit him, but he wasn't worth it. These people she wasn't even sure if they were innocent or not.

Taking back her human form, Charlotte let out a sigh, before she told them, "Let's get out of here."

"Wait, there's something I need to tell you if you are to sail again." Samuel replied.

Charlotte stopped and turned to the so far nicest Mink she's met on this damnable island.

"Yes?" she asked. "I suppose you want to give me some advice about being out there?"

Samuel nodded his head.

"Your pirates, right. You have two human enemies out there, and at least a dozen other things that will be like enemies. First is the Marines, the most common threat even cubs know about. Second, there are pirates too out there...only these ones look down on pirates who aren't in the high bounty area. I wrote a map on the islands not to sail to...because if you do you'll be twisted, chopped, eaten, killed...and then they could even keep murdering you for eternity with their abilities."

Charlotte couldn't help but ponder things over, cupping her chin in thought.

She tried taking this information to Yukino on the train, but by the time she made it back to the train...all she saw was her ship. It seemed the train had left.

'Sounds like I'll just take the ship,' she thought to herself as she sighed.

Little did she know that inside the now moving train was Etoile cradling the baby inside a mushroom-esque bubblegum Hardy with holes for her to breath.

For now, the only ones to see her off were Samueal, Kelsey, and her uncle Momo.

As Samuel said his goodbyes to Charlotte, Kelsey awoke, and asked, "What the hell just happened?!"

Henry had to clear his throat to explain.

"Your mayor was smacked by my captain like a baby getting a spanking, the fish man to your right fought a Marine, and two of our nakama left to help a sick baby."

Kelsey groaned as she looked around, and replied, "Thanks...I guess." Suddenly, she paused. "Wait...a sick baby Mink? But how?!"

Charlotte being the captain had to explain, but being in this island she had to suspect something like this occurred.

"Was there any virus happening on this island?" she asked. "It's a pretty long story, Kelsey." Charlotte replied.

"And I think it's best I tell you the whole thing." Samuel offered.

"Okay. I'd learn more from another fox Mink than a wolf Zoan."

Samuel and Kelsey left. It was a shame, Charlotte kinda wanted him to be on her crew but he knew he was swayed by another "fox".

But for now, she had to be occupied with whatever was on her to-do list for today.

Elsewhere, a hooded woman was watching over her child.

She saw a girl not ready for the Red Line about to sail away to the Red Line.

"Be safe," she muttered.

A smile crept onto her lips, before she took off.

Charlotte heard some sage advice from Momo before she left the island: don't be a captain. He said she was better at thinking things ahead unlike Razi, but she couldn't act in situations like Razi could.

"So, it looks like we're off, aren't we?" Henry asked. "It's too bad that a couple of us are absent..." he added.

Herbert agreed but he didn't have the slightest vocals to tell someone who he had no kinship with.

"So what now?" he inquired Charlotte, crossing his arms.

"Momo says we sail until we reach the Red Line...where we either backtrack until he says we stop at an island we can learn from or we rendezvous with some old friends of his."

"Sounds fine in our book." Henry replied with a nod.

Charlotte still sighed a heavy unhappy puff knowing her luck just keeps getting worse.

X_X_X_X

Years ago a man appeared on the ship, then got away and was never seen again...at least for one year and came back to Razi and Eiza.

Razi and Eiza were finding jobs on Water 7. In this diverse island, there were plenty of jobs for them to look at.

"Let's see...librarian, teacher, bartender..." Razi said to himself while cupping his chin in thought.

"Those are more jobs I'd be suited for," Eiza said. "You'll do better as a dog trainer or a shipwright."

Razi shrugged, before replying, "Sounds fine, in my opinion."

Razi knew dogs could sense he was more wolf than man so being a trainer was more like being an adversary to them. He chose to try being a shipwright...too bad he couldn't walk without someone approaching him.

"Then again, I don't really think either one sounds fine." he told Eiza.

"We are not a crew so ergo I don't take orders from you, so stop lagging around and get your tail a** to that shipwright station, get on your knees, and beg for a job!" Eiza shouted.

Razi sighed, before replying, "Fine. I'll do it; I'm not sure if things will turn out for the better though." Eiza nodded in agreement, her annoyance transforming into happiness.

Razi had no map, but he could use his main sense to help him find the shipwright yard: smell. He wasn't a dog, not as fascinated or jovially interested in trees, but he had a good direction to wood.

He finally made it to the location where a dark skin muscular man with a big mustache and sunglasses was barking orders.

"Excuse me, but what are you doin' here?" he asked Razi.

"Uh, I was just here to get a job working a shipwright, sir." he replied.

He took a very long look at Razi. Razi had a confident smile on his face.

"You won't be here to help build ships, but if you can hammer and lift heavy wood planks, your hired." Razi was happy enough to want to hug this tall tough guy, but he had an international thought he didn't want Razi to know. 'That's the king of the pirates Wolffang Razi. He's hiding here?'

Some of the man's associates took notice and temporarily stopped working. "He's here?!" one asked.

The boss shushed him with his finger on his mouth and a loud whistling from his food hole. The worker immediately put his head down.

"Let me show you the area you'll be spending most of your work time."

"Okay..." Razi said, nodding in agreement.

Razi learned his job, and although he wasn't the best at it he got to keep it because first day was just learning the ropes. He actually enjoyed doing it, but life had a way of introducing a problem...a problem of a 5'7" foot male who was just itching to hurt him.

That aside, he had wondered how Eiza was faring with her own job search.

X_X_X_X

Eizawalked around trying to find a job without so much physical labor. Unfortunately, the best job for someone with a brain was operating a sea horse slide.

Having no other choice, Eiza went to see such a worker. "Greetings, miss. Are you here to work at the park?" she asked her.

She pursed her lips together and looked cynically at the place. Obviously she didn't want to say yes, but she had no choice but to.

"Yes."

"Well then, welcome to Party Land! The most beloved amusement park in all the...land!" the worker exclaimed.

Eiza rolled her eyes; she'd rather look at her left where she didn't see the amusement park. Just a few seconds without glancing at the park...she saw a man on his belly staring at her on the ground, and then he vanished. This sight almost made her flinch.

"What the hell was that?" she asked the worker, regarding the man on his stomach.

She looked again, but he was gone.

The worker shrugged, and Eiza rolled her eyes. "Great..." she muttered under her breath.

After a very long first day, she and Razi met up together and visited the landlord for their new home.

"So glad you came! Ready to see your new home sweet home?" the landlord asked with a grin.

To blend in with their soon to be neighbors, Eiza said she was Razi's fiancée and they keep their rings off because of work, but really it was just to lie low.

"You sure we know who are neighbors are?" Eiza asked.

"Yeesssssss." He sang jovially. "They invite you to their neighborhood potluck tomorrow."

"Uh huh...sounds interesting." Razi replied, cupping his chin in thought.

Eiza had to pay the landlord nine thousand beli for the first month in their new home.

She turned her head to Razi and asked, "What do you think? Does this new house look good to you?"

Razi had his ears moving like a hand groping something Eiza couldn't see. After that bizarre thing happened, Razi smiled.

"Sure. I hope it has enough rooms to put two beds in though."

"I hope so, too." Eiza replied, smiling back at her husband, before holding his hands.

Reconnaissance on the only two remaining Monster Pirates was finished. Now the mysterious figure knew where he was going to attack them. While they were checking their rooms, he slipped a note under the door's slit.

The note read as follows:

CP9

Eiza knew this wasn't a joke. Somehow the Marines found her and Razi...or just a copycat of a group the Marines hired. Either way, she needed an excuse to leave.

"Umm, Razi, I don't see any groceries here. I'll go buy some."

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead." Razi replied. Eiza nodded, before leaving the house.

While Eiza was outside, she would eventually bump into a man in a black suit. She asked, "Excuse me, but do I know you?"

He looked at her with bloodshot eyes and stood with strong calf muscles bulging out. He was a formidable looking foe.

"I have heard much about you, Razi, and your nakama. I also have something to tell you." he told her.

She conjured a saber made of ice and cocked her fingers around its hilt. With some fancy sword slashes in front of his face, she pointed the sharp edge at him.

"Well...begin already."

The man finally said, "Well, I was able to sneak onto your husband's ship some time ago."

"And then what?" She yelled, poking her saber at his shoulder.

"I don't know how , but your husband found out where I was going and followed me right back to our base, CP9. At first we didn't think much of him...then the nightmare started."

Eiza raised an eyebrow, and asked, "How did it happen?"

"How did it happen...HOW DID IT HAPPEN?! BITCH, YOU WERE THERE!"

He roundhouse kicked the air creating something so fast and sharp it shattered her saber and plowed into her torso with the strength of a Sea King's headbutt.

Eiza's eyes widened, feeling the sudden attack push her to the ground.

"The old CP9 had seven worthy assassins and two chiefs in their base...we had twenty assassins who fought with everything against your captain...BEFORE HE BECAME KING! We had all six powers, Devil Fruit abilities, and even two of us knew Haki...only for four members of your crew to beat us: a white skin scissor wielder, a white haired boy with two swords, that pirate who ripped good pirates out of being King of the Pirates, and you...bitch."

Eiza grit her teeth in anger. "If you want me dead...then try and kill me!" she retorted, preparing her powers.

Her opponent was harnessing all that Rokushiki had to offer him. First he used Geppo, leaping in the air and then leaping off the air itself. Instead of jumping towards Eiza, he jumped away from her. As he did, she conjured four icicles being held in the air through her ice manipulation. The battle started with Eiza launching all four of her icicles with a fiery flick of her eyebrows doing so.

Her four icicles were contradicting to a serious fight. Without even using another martial arts with Rokushiki, he leaped off the very tip of the spears, doing acrobatics and backflips just from the soles of his feet.

That gave him the opportunity to strike at her, though it became clear she was going to dodge this time.

This time she created a wall of ice around her hips before slipping through to the top of the ice...the ice she created was smashed to big chunks of frozen rocks while Eiza did a backflip and landed on her feet.

Eiza prepared a shield with her ice powers over a weapon. Versatility over offensiveness would give her more of an edge, but her shield only protected her from one Shigan that nearly punctured her neck.

The man attempted to attack her, using his spear to give her a blow or two.

Eiza would normally let a weapon scratch her on account she was made of ice, but have instinctively used her shield to block the thrust and repel it with small force.

Now she was turning the shield into icicle picks and launching a flurry of them at him, who used another move that made his body so hard the icicles shattered.

He smirked. "I know what your doing...your trying to hide yourself so nobody comes and finds out you have Devil Fruit powers...fighting small are we?"

"So you're thinking I'm just a coward? I don't think so." Eiza told him with a glare.

She had an idea involving a weapon falling from the sky and impaling him. If she was lucky this could happen.

Closing her eyes, she began to wait patiently for her weapon to arrive. Soon, a sword made of ice was emerging from the sky, and it eventually reached for the man, swiftly landing into his chest.

Although he was badly hurt, he retaliated with a roundhouse kick...the strongest power in Rokushiki sent her flying back. Although she was still fine after it, this move caused her to spurt blood out of her face.

After deciding to use Rankyaku against her, he fled with the blade still lodged in his stomach. Removing a blade without medical attention could cost him his life and he was wise enough to just hop on out of there.