This chapter will be covering Nami's backstory.
Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I only own the OCs
Chapter 17: A Navigator's Origins
"So what should we do, Big Bro Zoro, Big Bro Seth?" Johnny asked the green haired swordsman and the Pokémon Trainer. After Nami storms off in a fit of rage, they decided to wait here. Though Luffy is still sleeping in the middle of the road.
"Since we now know that Arlong will come after us, we should be running away!" Yosaku said
"Yeah! There's no reason that we should stay here for her!" Johnny added.
"My reason for staying… is there." Zoro said as he glanced at Seth and Luffy.
"I mean what I said earlier. End of discussion." Seth replied. "We're staying because Luffy's staying."
"Besides, I'm interested at what treasure does those fishmen has." Hoopa said his reason.
"Don't be stupid!" Yosaku said. "Are you saying you want to bring her back despite what happened?"
"What I want has nothing to do with this." Zoro replied. "I don't decide who the navigator is, he does." He said, still looking at Luffy.
"I'm with you on that one." Seth said, agreeing Zoro.
"I see." Johnny said. "I can understand that you're not leaving. Sorry to cut our reunion short but I won't stay, my role as guide end's here."
"I'm with him." Yosaku said. "I don't wanna deliberately get myself killed."
"Fine." Zoro said. "I'll see you around."
"It can't be help if you want to run away." Seth said. "But I respect your decision."
"Until we meet again, Big Bro!" Johnny yelled as he walked off.
"Take care you guys!" Yosaku yelled, walking off with his friend.
"You too!" Zoro said.
Once Johnny and Yosaku left, It was now quiet, the wind blew around them as they do their own thing. Seth and his Pokémon (plus Hoopa) are leaning against a tree with Sanji, Luffy is still sleeping near Zoro.
"Hey, what do you two think it is?" Sanji broke the silence, asking the others. "Why was she crying?"
"I don't know?" Zoro said. "Was she crying?"
"She was in her heart." Sanji said.
"I think she kinda did crying." Seth stated. "But I can't say for sure."
"If she were crying, it's probably out of guilt for killing Usopp." Zoro scoffed.
"Yeah right. Are you serious?" Sanji asked. "You really are dense. Do you honestly believe that Nami could've killed Usopp?"
"Nah, she won't." Seth said. "I'm sure she was faking his death but I don't really know how." Seth said.
"Yeah. Maybe it's just an excuse so that we leave this island." Hoopa added. "At least, that's my opinion in the problem."
"See? They get it." Sanji said.
"So what you're saying is that Nami didn't kill him?" Zoro asked.
"Am I wrong?" Sanji said.
"Well, who knows?" Zoro shrugged. "I always thought of her as sort of a small-time crook who wouldn't watch a guy die let alone kill him. Maybe she just snapped."
"Wait. What did you say!?" Sanji snapped, angered by Zoro's remarks as the aforementioned swordsman was surprised.
"SHE'S NOT SMALL TIME!" Sanji shouted angrily with sharkteeth. He then proceeds to try attacking Zoro.
"Is she all you think about!?" Zoro shouted as he proceeds to block the attack with his sheath.
"Hey! This isn't the time for-" Seth said before stopped talking as he sees a familiar person get caught in their crossfire… who was none other than Usopp.
"What the!? Usopp!?" Seth exclaimed as Zoro and Sanji noticed the person who thought to be dead.
"He's alive." Sanji said, sounding almost relieved.
"Well, he was." Zoro said, slightly relieved. "I hope he still is."
(Three minutes later)
"Usopp!" Luffy called whom now has awake. "Did Nami do all this to you!?" He asked while shaking the unconscious long nose.
"Sorry." Sanji said with a smile as he scratches the back of his head. "Zoro and I did that."
"No you did." Zoro corrected.
"Looks like he's waking up." Seth said as Usopp wakes up.
"Luffy, Seth, you're here now…" Usopp said.
"I'm sure am." Luffy said as he grins.
"I'm here too." Hoopa joined in.
"And me too. Hello." Sanji said as Usopp instantly gets up.
"One of these days I'll kill you!" Usopp said as he growled towards Sanji.
"Oh, you just made a full recovery." Sanji said.
"SHUT UP!" Usopp yelled.
"Usopp, buddy…" Seth said as the long nosed sniper turns to him. "There's something I want to tell you."
"Sure. What's-Oww!" Usopp said before Seth pulled his nose so Seth can talk to him face to face.
"You know, there's a punishment for knocking Henry out and tying him up." Seth said as he turns to his Mind Plate form before his eyes glows blue.
"What are you going to doooo…" Usopp said before he found himself hypnotized.
"Whoa. He can really do that!? That's so cool~!" Luffy said, impressed as always.
"He reminded me of that weird guy from the other day." Zoro said, reminded of Jango.
"Is it possible for him to hypnotize him like that?" Sanji asked.
"With Hypnosis you can." Hoopa told Seth. "One of the trickiest Psychic type move that ever existed. I don't need to explain what the move does."
"Now what to do…?" Seth said as he tried to come up a way to do with Usopp. "Oh, I got it! Do a silly dance while saying "I'm an idiot"!"
As he said that, Usopp start while saying "I'm an idiot" several times. The others are laughing at the sight.
"Usopp's being really silly now!" Luffy said as he laughed so hard.
"After what he did to me and Henry, I'm really enjoying this." Zoro said with a smirk on his face.
"Now, pull one leg up while keep dancing." Seth said as Usopp do as the red eyed young man ordered him to. Though he ends up falling when slipped on the ground.
"I'm stupid." Usopp said with a silly face
"This is kinda fun…" Seth said as he pulls out his phone to record Usopp in a video. "I'm so putting this on Pokégram." He said with a smile. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end as he put his phone away. "I think that's enough." He then snapped his finger, causing Usopp to stop what he was doing.
"Ohh. What happened." Usopp said while rubbing his head as he gets up.
"Oh you know, I have you do some funny things without you knowing." Seth said as he clears his throat. "Now with that out of the way…" He then turns to Usopp. "We heard that you were killed by Nami. And yet, you're alive and kicking. Why's that?"
"Yeah, you're actually not dead!" Luffy chimed in. "Stupid Johhny! He was spouting nonsense the entire time!"
"Well in a way, that's the truth." Usopp answered.
"What do you mean?" Seth asked before Usopp explained them about his recent discovery concerning Nami.
(With Nami)
"MORONS! ALL OF THEM!" Nami yelled angrily as she thrashed a furniture in a fit of rage. After coming back from Seth and the others, her mood so bad that she snapped and begin to thrash everything in sight. "They won't win against them… let alone Seth against Arlong." She said as she take a sit and proceeds to have her head down on the table. One can't blame her, she tried to warn them not to fight the fishmen but only for that warning to ignored. She then look towards the Pokémon Egg which she placed it on the table recently.
"I shouldn't have said that to them. Especially to him…" Nami said before she has her head down on the table again with her hands on the back of her head. Though she's not alone as the same blue haired woman from before appears as she comes in to the house.
"Geez, Nami. You sure know how to thrash a place." The woman commented.
"Hey, Nojiko…" Nami called out, still having her head down.
"What's wrong?" Nojiko asked.
"Nothing. I'm just resting a little that's all." Nami lied.
"You mean to tell me that pouring over a treasure map and after wrecking a house is how you relax?" Nojiko questioned. "You're not fooling me. Now fess up! What's bothering you?"
"Something happened to make me mad." Nami relented.. "But it's nothing."
"It's about those guys, isn't it?" Nojiko asked, causing Nami to lift her head in surprise.
"You know…?" Nami asked.
"Yeah, I met guy called himself a captain." Nojiko said. "I think he's a lying about it."
"That's one of them…" Nami replied.
"But the one thing that surprises me that you, of all people, smiled with them." Nojiko stated. "Nami, we both know that's rare for be honest, I haven't seen you smile in years. C'mon, who were those guys anyway?"
After what happened with that, Nami is really hesitant to talk about them. She had grown fond of those people. Seth… is something else. She doesn't know why, but she felt like they have something in common between them. Because of that, she fonds Seth more out of everyone else. After some pondering, she relents and decide to tell her.
"I... planned to forget them." Nami confessed. "At first, I thought I could just erase those memories of them..." Easy said than done as she reminisce a time with them.
(Flashback)
Nami was playing pokers with Seth, Luffy, Hoopa, and Usopp. Zoro didn't join them because he was napping as usual and Snowy was lying down next to Nami. She then placed the cards on her hand to the deck.
"I'm all out!" Nami said as she throws a fist in the air
"Oh man! How did you win again!?" Usopp whined as Nami laughed.
"I'm starting to think that you must've cheated somehow." Seth added. "I mean, there's no frickin' way that you win again."
"No, I play fair and square." Nami replied.
"Sure you were." Seth sarcastically said.
"You know, playing this "poker" game is kinda fun." Hoopa commented.
"You said it." Seth said as he look towards Luffy who has so many cards on his hand. "Umm, Luffy… why do you have so many cards?"
"I dunno." Luffy answered. "I thought that the more is better."
"That's not how this game works!" Seth retorted.
"Yeah!" Usopp chimed in. "Learn the rules like everybody else!"
"Then how about this." Luffy said before he suggested a rule. "The one with the most cards wins the game."
"I'll teach you not to make up an unnecessary rule!" Seth shouted as he lunged towards Luffy before strangling him. While Usopp was trying to break them up, Nami and Hoopa laughed from the sidelines. Particularly Nami, who clearly enjoyed the sight.
(Flashback end)
"But... The more I tried to erase them, the more I remembered." Nami told Nojiko as she reminisce another event.
(Flashback)
The six of them were currently sitting below deck while the Merry sailing through a storm. From inside the ship, a hole burst through as the water start pouring in.
"Oh shit! Guys, we have a leak!" Seth alerted them.
"Fix it quickly!" Nami commanded as Usopp and Zoro did their best to hold the leak closed with just their hands while Hoopa uses his powers to reduce the water that enters the ship.
"I'll go check to see if we have some spare woods and nails." Seth volunteered.
"That's a good idea, Seth." Nami told him as Luffy started running over to help.
"Leave it to me guys!" Luffy said, but Seth shuddered at what the straw hat boy going to do.
"No no no no no no no no no no!" Seth pleaded but ignored as Luffy placed his mouth over the hole and takes the water into his body. The straw hat bloated up like a balloon, knocking the four back. Unsurprisingly, Luffy couldn't hold it and ended up letting go. The water filled up the room all the way as everyone were swept by the water.
(Flashback end)
"Out all of them…" Nami said. "… I enjoyed being Seth the most."
"Seth?" Nojiko asked. "Who's that?"
"He's… someone not from the East Blue." Nami said, couldn't tell Nojiko that Seth from another world.
"A foreigner from the other Blues?" Nojiko asked as Nami nodded. She then reminisces another event, except it only involved between her and the Pokémon Trainer.
(Flashback)
At night, Nami was sleeping on the lounge with her head down on the table and a map in front of her. She heard the door opening and closing as she saw who it is… and the one who entered the lounge was Seth.
"Oh Nami!" Seth said as he clear his throat. "I-I didn't know you were here. In fact, why are you doing here?"
"Right back at you." Nami said as she noticed that Seth… was trying to hide something from her. "Seth, do you have something to hide from me?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Seth lied. "I'm just here for a midnight snack that's all."
"Yeah… I don't buy it." Nami said as she yawned while feeling a little drowsy.
"You should get some sleep 'cause there's going to be a lot of navigating tomorrow." Seth said while looking at her. But Nami instantly falling asleep.
"I didn't mean it in here." Seth said as he sighed.
Seth was feeling hesitant on what to do with Nami. It doesn't take him long as he sighed in defeat. "I supposed that I have to resort to that…" He said as he picked her up before carried her piggyback style. It doesn't take him long to reach her room located beneath the deck. As soon as he entered the room, Nami woke up.
"Seth…?" Nami called out, half eyes open. "What are you doing here?"
"Taking you to bed, obviously." Seth answered.
"Just put me down." Nami retorted. "I can walk to the bed myself."
"Yeah, I don't think so." Seth replied as Nami tried to get out of Seth's hands, but failed.
"Just be grateful that I'm tired." Nami remarked.
"Cut me some slack, will you? This isn't fun for me too." Seth said as he placed her onto her bed. "Now while I'm here, do you want a bedtime story before going back to sleep?"
"Real funny, Seth." Nami said. "Be sure to close the door on your way out."
"Planning on it." Seth replied as he immediately assumed that Nami already went back to sleep. "Good night, Nami." He said as he left the room.
What he didn't know that Nami was still awake. She smiled before closing her eyes.
"Good night to you too, Seth." The orange haired girl said as she went back to sleep.
(Flashback end)
"Sounds like that this Seth really close to you." Nojiko said.
"He sure was." Nami said as she look towards the Pokémon Egg. Nojiko notices it.
"I don't think I see that egg before." Nojiko said. "Where did you get it?"
"I… stole it from someone." Nami lied again as Nojiko seems to buy the lie. She then continue to talk again. "But the only thing I forgot about was the pain that I bared."
She began recalling the events from where Seth saved her from Buggy as well as Luffy's fight against the aforementioned clown, The events at Luminous Kingdom, and to the Black Cat Pirates at Usopp's home island. She can't help but feeling awed at their bravery and determination. Spending time with them is enough to make her feel happy. It's as if… she's a part of them even if she still refused to acknowledge that.
"If it's possible…" Nami said. "I like to join up with them and sail around the world. And maybe…" As she said that, she instantly falls asleep.
Nojiko proceeds to sit across Nami as she watches the latter sleep.
"I see…" Nojiko muttered. "Yeah, that would hit her hard. To think that someone actually showed up for her. Friends. That word means pain. It breaks her heart."
(With Seth and co.)
"That's it." Usopp as he has finished telling his story to the others. Seth has returned Henry back to his pokeball to recover. "That's how Nami pretended to kill me so I could escape from Arlong Park. From the looks of it, I say that there's a motive for Nami to join up with those ruffians."
"Obviously." Sanji said.
"I kinda figured that out already." Seth said with his arms folded.
"Now that we know, what's next?" Zoro said before asking. "Should we barge in and destroy Arlong Park?"
"Whoa! Hold on just a minute!" Usopp shouted while having his hands in front of him. "Shouldn't we know what's going on with Nami first?"
"You do have a point, Usopp." Hoopa said. "To know her problem, we have to know the cause."
"But the question is how…" Seth chimed in as he began thinking about what to do next. But he doesn't get to finish thinking as a familiar third party appears.
"It's no use either way." The other turns around and the source… who is none other than Nojiko.
"Nojiko." Usopp called her.
"No matter what you guys do, Arlong's rule won't come to an end." She said.
"Hey, Usopp. You know her or something?" Seth asked.
"Yeah." Usopp nodded. "Nojiko here is Nami's big sister."
"You don't say." Seth said as she stares at Nojiko. 'Funny, I don't see any resemblance of her with Nami.'
"Nami's sister!" Sanji said with heart shaped eyes. "No wonder she's so hot!"
"What do you mean that it's no use?" Zoro asked.
"Care to elaborate?" Seth added..
"Just trust me." Nojiko said. "Don't get yourselves involved in what's going on here and leave poor Nami alone. I'll explain the situation."
"The situation?" Sanji questioned.
"Do you mean that you can tell us why she joined up with Arlong's crew?" Usopp asked.
"Yeah." Nojiko answered. "And if that doesn't get you to leave, I don't know what will."
"Okay." Usopp said with a serious look. "So tell us all about it. I gotta admit I'm curious."
"I might as well hear this." Seth added. "So count me in."
"I'll pass." Luffy said as he walks away. "I don't care about her past."
"Where are you going, Luffy?" Sanji asked as he blow some smoke from his cigarette.
"For a walk." Was all the straw hat said.
"A walk!?" Usopp said. "Do you mean you're not gonna listen this!?"
"Nope." Luffy said as he kept strolling the road.
"What's wrong with him?" Nojiko asked as she watches Luffy walking away.
"Don't mind him. That's just how he is." Zoro said as he walk towards a tree to sit and lean against it. "We'll hear you out, though I can tell that's not gonna change anything." He said as he rest his hands behind his head.
"Well, I'll listen too." Usopp offered. "It might help me make some sense out of everything that's going on around here."
"Me too." Sanji smiled. "I wanna know all about her."
"Oh boy." Hoopa sighed as he facepalmed at Sanji's lecherous behavior.
Then, Zoro fall asleep while leaning against the tree.
"Now he's sleeping." Nojiko said as she watches Zoro.
"Hey! You said you'd hear her out!" Usopp yelled with sharkteeth.
"Good grief…" Seth said as he sighed in frustration. He then noticed Nojiko staring at him. "Is… there something wrong?"
"You're Seth, right?" Nojiko asked, surprising the Pokémon Trainer.
"How did you know my name?" Seth asked.
"I have my ways…" Nojiko answered as she turns to both Seth and then to Luffy, who is walking away.
'I understand now. This is why it was hard for her.' Nojiko thought as she and the others take a seat (with the exception of Hoopa, who floats down).
"From the beginning then…" Nojiko said as she began to tell them everything she knows. "Truth to be told, me and Nami aren't related by blood. As matter a fact, we're all adopted by someone from this village. The incident were eight years ago when we still lived normally in this village. Nami and I won't forget that person as long as we live. Her name is Belle-mére."
"Belle-mére?" Seth asked. "Is she the one who raised you both?"
"That's right." Nojiko answered. "She did."
"Tell us more about this Belle-mére." Hoopa said.
"I guess I should start…" Nojiko said as she begin to tell the others what happened on that fateful day.
(Flashback: 8 years ago)
"Sticky fingers, aren't you?"A villager said as Genzo was carrying young Nami by her dress. Apparently, she was caught stealing a book from the book store, not that owner mind.
"She never learns, does she?" Another villager commented. Judging from their tone, it's safe to say that this is a common occurrence.
"Let me go!" Nami said while struggling from the man. "I'm not cat!"
"You little urchin!" Genzo said. "How many times do I have to tell you that stealing is wrong!?" Eventhough she was scolded, Nami responds with a raspberry.
"How else am I gonna get what I need!" Nami retorted. "I don't have any money!"
Genzo proceeds to carry her towards the house where she lived. Once they arrived at the front door, Genzo knocked the door.
"Belle-mére!" Genzo shouted while knocking the door. "Belle-mére! I caught her stealing again! Open this door!"
The door opens, revealing a fuchsia haired woman in a chelsea hawk hairstyle. And she has a cigarette on her mouth.
"What do you want now?" Belle-mére asked with irritated tone. She then sees Nami who is holding a book about sea navigation. "You're back! That was a quick trip."
"I got a ride." Nami replied with a smile.
"Listen, you better get control of her before she winds up in a jail cell!" Genzo ordered.
"Thanks for the advice." Belle-mére said as she approaches Genzo and pat the man in the head. "Haven't you ever seen something you've wanted and just taken it?"
"She acts this way because of you!" Genzo retorted.
"Relax, I was just kidding." Belle-mére said as she puts her hand under the man's chin. "I hope that you were kind enough to pay her."
"Thanks so much, I don't have the money right now." She said as Genzo got red all over him. "I'll pay you somehow." She then moved towards his ear. "Does that sound good?"
This cause Genzo to move away from Belle-mére.
"YOU CAN'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT!" Genzo said as Nami and Belle-mére laughed at the man.
"Look, he's red as a beet!" Belle- laughed, along with Nami. The woman kneels down to Nami's eye level. "Laugh it up while you still can, Nami." She said as Nami stops laughing.
After Genzo left, Belle- mére proceeds to reprimand Nami by bonking her head.
"Do that again and you won't be sitting for a week." Belle-mére scolded.
"Sorry." Nami said while rubbing her head. "I just want that book so badly, Belle-mére!"
"You could've ask me to buy the book. So why didn't you?" Belle-mére asked.
"Knowing you, you can't afford it." Nami answered.
"Yes, I can." Belle-mére retorted. "There's some leftover from the last harvest."
"But I heard them in the village!" Nami said. "They said that the weather's been so good that everyone's tangerines will sell. So we can't raise the prices or worse we can't sell at all!"
"Let them talk. They even don't know what they're talking about." Belle-mére said.
"Way to go, Nami!" Young Nojiko said. "If I had stolen it first, there's no way I would've been caught."
(Bonk!)
(Bonk!)
"No more stealing." Belle-mére reprimanded after she swiftly bonked the two girls under her care. "Got it?"
"I was joking!" Nojiko said as she rubbed her head. "Why did you hit me too?"
"That really hurt!" Nami whined as Belle-mére laughed in amusement.
"I'm sorry. But there's one thing for sure…" Belle-mére said as she holding one of the maps that Nami made. "Your maps were amazing, Nami. I see that you're able to draw land maps now as well as sea charts."
"That's the map of our island, right?" Nojiko asked as Nami nodded.
Belle-mére proceeded to rub Nami by her head.
"Nobody will believe that this is drawn by a little girl." The fuchsia haired woman said.
"I wanted the book so I'll be able to start studying navigation." Nami told Belle-mére.
"Navigation too?" Belle-mére asked with a smile.
"You want to be a navigator?" Nojiko asked.
"That's right." Nami answered with a smile. "I'm going to guide ships around all the oceans of the world. And I'll be able to make maps of all the far off places."
"So, this island map is the first step toward realizing your dream?" Belle-mére asked.
"Hmmhmm!" Nami nodded.
"Your dream will come true. No doubt about that." The fuchsia haired woman said.
Later on, the three of them were in the dining room since it's raining outside. Nami and Nojiko were eating while their adoptive mother is knitting a dress.
"Hey, uh… Belle-mére." Nami called.
"Yes?" Belle-mére said.
"You stopped having dinner with us lately. Why is that?" Nami said before asking.
"I've been eating tangerines recently." Belle-mére answered. "Just a little diet, that's all."
Unfortunately, Nojiko didn't buy the answer as she knew better.
"In that case, I don't wanna eat either." Nojiko replied, quietly.
"What's with all of the drama?" Belle-mére asked. "You need to eat because you're a growing girl."
"Stop lying!" Nojiko shouted. "You're not eating because we don't have enough money to buy food!"
"Really!?" Nami asked.
"You let yourself starving on purpose so we won't go hungry!?" Nojiko said.
"Tangerines replenish my skin with the power of liquid sunlight." Belle-mére replied. "And they are the only reason why I'm still such a ravishing beauty eventhough I am in my extreme late twenties."
"But your hands are all yellow." Nami countered.
"WOULD YOU SHUT UP AND EAT YOUR FOOD ALREADY!?" Belle-mére snapped before she calm herself and finishes the dress she's been working on. "Here you go, Nami. A Belle-mére one of a kind original."
"Oh great. A hand-me-down." Nami said sarcastically.
"Yeah, that's true." Belle-mére said. "But it suits you." She then proceeds to hand herthe dress. "See?."
"The lion used to be a sunflower!" Nami complained.
"Quit your complaining!" Nojiko told Nami. "Either you take my hand-me-downs or no new clothes for you!"
"But it's not fair!" Nami talked back. "You get new clothes all the time while mines are used!"
"Hey! Mine's also old clothes!" Nojiko retorted. "Think about that for a second!"
Seeing how the situation escalated into, Belle-mére quietly back away from her adoptive daughters as they continued their argument.
"We didn't come from the same parents!" Nami shouted. "We're not even real sisters, so who cares!"
Nami just gone and said it as this made Belle-mére widen her eyes before turning angry.
"Nami!" Belle-mére shouted as she smacked the girl in the face so hard, she knocked down to the ground.
"Belle-mére, please!" Nojiko pleaded as Belle-mére looked towards the hand that she used to smack Nami around.
And speaking of Nami, she stood up while rubbing her cheeks.
"So what if you're parents are different than one another?" Belle-mére asked. "I DON'T WANT YOU SPOUTING THAT NONSENSE EVER AGAIN!"
"I don't care…" Nami said while looking at Belle-mére with tears on her eyes. "You're not even our real mother! You're just some lady that is currently taking care of us! You probably wish that we'd never come here so you can buy clothes and food for yourself! You'd be better off without us, right? That way you can be selfish and do whatever you want!" She said as she sniffed. "I WISH I WAS ADOPTED BY SOMEONE RICH INSTEAD OF A LOSER LIKE YOU!"
"Nami, that's enough!" Nojiko pleaded but she was ignored.
"If that's how you want to play, then fine…" Belle-mére said before she turned around while looking away from Nami. "You can just find someplace else to live. Or better yet, find someone who can tolerate a spoiled brat like you."
"You too, Belle-mére! Stop making this worse you two!" Nojiko said, trying to calm them down.
"FINE THEN! I'M NEVER COMING BACK HERE!" Nami yelled as she storms off from the house, running away through the rain.
"Nami, wait!" Nojiko tried to called her. "NAMI!"
(Flashback paused)
"That's… seems harsh." Seth commented as he processes the information he recently gained.
"Despite that, Belle-mére was willing to put that behind it." Nojiko said as she frowns which Seth noticed.
"I see…" Seth said as he fold his arms. "Usually, tragic things happen after an intense argument. So I can make a wild guess on what happens next and it's not going to be pretty."
"You're correct." Nojiko said. "Some time after the rain, they appeared." Nojiko said as she continued her story. You know what the say, nothing lasts forever.
(Flashback resumed)
"PIRATES! PIRATES ARE COMING!" A villager alerted about the incoming pirates. "EVERYBODY RUN!"
The ship that docked on their island has razor shaped tip. And there's something painted on the sails that says "Arlong".
"The Arlong Pirates!?" A villager exclaimed.
"Arlong?" Nami said.
"Nami, Nojiko!" Both of the girls sees Genzo running towards them. With him is the village's doctor.
"Genzo!" Nojiko called.
"Go hide in the woods. Now!" Genzo ordered. "It's too dangerous for you to be here!"
"But what about-"
"There's no time to argue!" Genzo interrupted Nami. "Just do it now!"
The two girls decide to go hide in the trees, just in time for Arlong and his crew to enter the village.
"Greetings and salutations, you pathetic little humans." Arlong greeted. "FROM THIS MOMENT FORWARD, THIS ENTIRE ISLAND AND ITS INHABITANTS ARE NOW BELONG TO THE FISHMEN!" He shouted while spreading his arms wide. His crew are cheering behind him, with the exception of Stone who only has a stoic look. "Listen very careful because I wil only say this once. You will start buying your lives from me on the first day of the month! 100,000 berris for adults and 50,000 berris for children! Those who do not pay will die!" He said before he laughed.
"What should we do, Nojiko?" Nami asked her foster sibling, still hiding. "We don't have that much money."
"Let's hope that the fishmen don't find our house." Nojiko answered. "You can't see it from here."'
The villagers began to put their money to the sack that the fishmen had.
"Is that it?" Arlong asked Kuroobi. "So, what's the hull?"
"About twenty five million, give or take." Kuroobi answered after he counted all the money.
"YOU ALL SHALL LIVE!" Arlong said as he laughed.
'Giving the money is easy, but let's hope that they don't come to Belle-mére's house.' Genzo thought. 'With two girls in her care, there's no way that she could pay 200,000 berris.'
"It's time to leave! Come, my brothers!" Arlong ordered as he signaled his crew to leave. The good news is that are leaving without making a fuss. The bad news is that it's going to happen anyway as one of Arlong's subordinate spotted a smoke.
"Arlong! There's a smoke coming from outside of the village!" One fishman reported, surprising the humans in the area.
"From the looks of it, I think that's a chimney smoke coming from someone's house." His friend added.
"Oh, we almost missed that one." Arlong said.
"Belle-mére!" Nami and Nojiko said in unison as they immediately hurried towards their house.
"All right! Let's go guys!" Arlong signaled his crew as they head towards the house with the chimney smoke.
It's one thing that the villagers worried about them going Belle-mére's house, but another as they noticed Nami and Nojiko's disappearance.
Belle-mére is currently cooking a duck stew or sorts while ignorant that a danger is heading towards her. While still cooking, she heard a knock from the front door.
"There they are." Belle-mére said before she notices multiple silhouettes by the window, giving her a clue that the one who knocked the door was not Nami or Nojiko. By the time she know what to do, she heard another knock on the door. "It's open. Come on in!"
"Why, thank you." Arlong replied as he pushes the door and walk inside. The fishman proceeds to look around left and right in order to find Belle-mére. But suddenly, he was met with a kick to the face as he was sent flying outside the house.
As Arlong fall flat, Belle-mére comes out from the house as she starts pinning him down while aiming her rifle towards his mouth.
"I guess you weren't expecting a former Marine, were you?" Belle-mére asked. "Now what would a pirate from the Grand Line want with Cocoyashi Village?"
Instead of an answer, she's met with hysterical laughter from most of the fishmen.
"Why are you laughing!? Is there something funny!?" Belle-mére asked in annoyance as she sees Arlong laugh at her before he chomps the rifle that was aiming at his mouth.
"Useless. Foolish. Stupid. Empty. Worthless." Arlong said, taunting the former Marine. "All of you humans are the same. You have no strength to speak of!"
Not too far from the house, Nami and Nojiko made their way towards Belle-mére, hoping to save her. It won't be long before they reached it.
"We'll help her escape through the back door!" Nami suggested.
"What if the pirates are already there?" Nojiko asked.
"We'll be okay!" Nami answered.
"STOP!"
The two girls are suddenly being grabbed by the village's doctor, Nako. The doctor proceeded push them back so he can see them.
"Doctor!?" Nami exclaimed.
"You both can't go home. Not anymore." Nako told the two girls.
"But we have to save Belle-mére!" Nami argued.
"Nojiko, Nami!" Nako said as he lift his shades in order for him to look them in the eye. "Be quiet and listen to me! There will be a time in life when you have to learn the truth no matter how hard it is to take."
They can heard a loud familiar scream of pain ahead of them. They can tell that the one who was screaming was Belle-mére.
"Belle-mére, no!" Nami said as she tried to run ahead, but she was held back by Nako.
"Listen, there's no way that those pirates will ever find out about you." Nako said. "But you have to leave this island immediately and don't look back! It's the only way for all three of you to survive!"
The girls developed tears after they hear what they should do.
"I wish there could be another way…" Nako said. "But we can't afford it any other way! You both are too young to be at sea alone, but you survived before and if there's even a chance-"
"No…" Nami interrupted him. "I don't want to go… Why do we have to leave!? They're the one's who came here." She cried. "I...I want to stay here. It's because we're poor! That's why we can't stay together. Why can't they just go away!?"
"I… understand." Nojiko said as she walks away. "We'll leave this island right now."
"Nojiko!" Nami called her out.
"We have to or Belle-mére will die." Nojiko replied.
It was fortunate that Belle-mére was saved by Genzo, but the former Marine was in a bad shape. Especially her left arm which is broken by Arlong. The torture only stops when she gave them the money, causing the fishmen to walk away in peace.
"Wait!" Belle-mére said as the fishmen stopped. "Who said I was paying for myself?"
This caused Genzo to have a shocking expression.
"That money I gave up was for my two daughters." Belle-mére stated. "In other words, I can't pay you."
"What are you doing!?" Genzo asked in disbelief.
"It's all right." Belle-mére said. "I have to do this for my family. Even if this going to cost me my life." She said. "It's true that the three of us aren't related by blood, but we're family through and through. Nothing ever changes that."
Coming from the sides of the house were Nami and Nojiko who ran their way towards their foster mother while crying.
"SORRY FOR BEING MEAN TO YOU!" Nami said as she and Nojiko embraced the former Marine in a hug, causing Belle-mére to to swell up and cry as well.
"Don't cry, girls." Belle-mére said. "I wish I could've provided you better. I wish I could've been a better mother for the both of you."
"Don't say that! We don't want you to die!" Nojiko pleaded.
"Yeah! I thought you're going to see my map of the world." Nami added.
"Yes, your map." Belle-mére said as she touched the orange haired girl's forehead. "I may not able to see your dreams come true, but I know you can do it. I believe in you, Nami..."
"Belle-mére…" Nami said as she sniffed.
"So these are your daughters?" Arlong asked.
"Yeah, they are." Belle-mére answered. "Promise me that you'll leave them alone."
"If you die like a good girl, I'll might consider it." Arlong said with a grin.
"You monster!" Genzo said as he began to fire his guns towards Arlong, but Kuroobi blocked them with his fins before slashing the man with his sword. Arriving at the scene were a few villagers who armed themselves with things that can qualify as weapons.
"Don't kill them. Just teach them a lesson." Arlong ordered Kuroobi and few of his men as they began to engaged with the villagers. "Now to set up an example." He said as he approaches Belle-mére with the intent to kill her.
In response, Belle-mére pushes her adoptive daughters back inside the house so they won't get caught in the crossfire.
"Belle-mére!" Nami and Nojiko yelled in unison.
"Any last words before I put an end to your miserable life?" Arlong asked as he aimed his gun at Belle-mére, who had accepted her fate.
"Nami… Nojiko…" Belle-mére said to her crying daughters one last time. "I love you."
(Bang!)
Arlong shot her as she falls to the ground, dead.
"Belle-mére!" Nami and Nojiko yelled as they just witnessed their foster mother murdered in front of them, including Genzo who watched it while he was beaten up by the fishmen.
"When I'm in charge, those who without money will die!" Arlong said before he laughed. "Do you understand now, you worms?"
"Hmm?" Hatchan noticed a piece of paper on one of Belle-mére's pocket. "Is this a map?"
"Looks well drawn." Stone said as he was next to the octopus fishman.
"Give it back!" Nami demanded. "It's my map, you can't have it!"
Arlong proceeds to take the map off of Hatchan's hand as he looked into it.
"A child drew this? Impressive…" Arlong commented before he smiled. "She will be useful to us. Bring her with us!"
"Got her." Stone said as he grabs Nami, who immediately starts squirming and struggling.
"Let her go!" Nojiko pleaded as she pulls Stone from behind.
"Wait!" Genzo said. He's the only left standing since his reinforcements were defeated. "You got your money, so don't hurt her!"
"Oh I won't hurt her…" Arlong replied. "Just borrowing her for a bit."
"I WON'T LET YOU TAKE HER AWAY!" Genzo yelled defiantly.
"Kuroobi." Arlong signaled one of his top subordinates as the fishman proceeds to made precise slashs to across Genzo's body.
"GENZO!" Nami yelled.
"I'll save you Nami…" Genzo said in pain. "Even if it kills me."
"ITS OKAY! YOU DON'T NEED TO SAVE ME!" Nami pleaded, can't bear to see the village leader suffering.
"Enough of this!" Kuroobi said as he hit Genzo with the hilt of his sword, knocking him out.
(Flashback end)
"The next day, she shows up at the village, telling us that she joined the Arlong Pirates." Nojiko said as she has finished telling them the story. "To make a choice like that when you're only 10. Do you know how hard that must have been for her?"
"All to save the village she loved so much." Usopp said. "Poor girl."
'Like it or not, I can relate to that.' Seth thought as he reminded the day his sister starts to abuse him, making him do the hard work while she does nothing. He had to please her for he has no choice. 'Damn it! Why she didn't bother tell me this!?'
"That's going to scarred on any child if they were in her shoes." Hoopa commented.
"WHOEVER MAKE NAMI SUFFER IS GOING TO ANSWER TO ME-" Before he could finish, Nojiko punches him in the cheek. "Why did you that?"
"Because I'm telling you to stay out of this!" Nojiko retorted. "If you go around saying she's your friend, they're going to become suspicious of her! Then her 8 years of suffering will be all for nothing. Don't make it harder than it already is! She has to fight this alone! Knowing there are people who call her a "friend" only makes the suffering worse!"
All of a sudden, Seth rises up as he begin to turn around.
"Hoopa, Shira, let's go…" Seth said as he began to walk away from the others.
"Hey, Seth! Where are you going?" Usopp asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to where Luffy is." Seth answered with his back turned. "Now that I know the circumstances between Nami and those fishmen, I have another reason to stay."
"Didn't I heard what I said!?" Nojiko said. "It's better that you need to-"
"And I said that I won't leave!" Seth interrupted her. "I'm staying and that's final. There's nothing you can do to change my mind." He said as he leave the area with Hoopa and his Mightyena.
"He's even weirder than that straw hat boy." Nojiko commented.
"That's Seth for you." Zoro said, revealing that he was awake the entire time. "Once something made his mind, he won't change it." He said as Nojiko leaves them.
Little do they know, Johnny and Yosaku was hiding near the bushes. Meaning that they heard the whole thing as they tears up.
And they're not the only ones who were hiding. Coming out from a bush is none other than Snowy.
"Nami…" Snowy said as she processes the info she recently obtained on Nami. With determination, she decided to find her way towards her house, hoping to reconcile with the orange haired girl.
To be continued…
Next…
G: THAT MONEY WAS MEANT TO SAVE COCOYASHI VILLAGE! WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM HER!?
?: Come on, Keep searching! It's only 100,000,000 berris for god sake!
N: Snowy!?
G: BUT THEY LIED! They never intended to honor their aggreement!
N: Seth… Help me…
S: Don't you ever... make our navigator cry again!
L: Time for something new!
S/H/L: Next time on A Star in the Ocean, Chapter 18: Friends
L: I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!
That's it for chapter 17, I hope you like it!
It won't be long now before the crew's fight against the Arlong Pirates so stay tuned!
Reviews and comments are appreciated :)