Recap:"ARLONG!", shouts a familiar female voice.
"Nami...?", Lambo whispers in shocked as he whirled to see the woman proudly, angrily standing there, with her shoulder bandaged, staff in hand, and straw hat securely on her head.
"Hey Nami.", Arlong greeted casually, "I was just teaching one final lesson to these pathetic little pirates. What are you doing here?"
He chuckled as he continued with that stupid shit-eating grin, staring down at Nami as if she were nothing but a tool for his delight.
"I'm here to kill you."
Lambo could hardly move a muscle. It took a lot of effort for him to just twitch a finger. Everything ached, his entire right arm burned, Lambo's right arm wasn't having a good day apparently. He was practically helpless, so all he could do was lye there and watch as Nami stared down the being that brought so much pain in her life.
"Me? You're here to kill me?", Arlong slowly asked, in disbelief before laughing mockingly at the ginger haired girl, "Haven't you learned your lesson yet? How many times have you tried to kill me in these last eight years?"
Lambo looked up at Nami blearily, his fingers digging into the ground as he stared up at her with an unreadable expression. While Nami's was hidden by the shadow the brim of Luffy's Straw Hat casted over her face.
"You tried assassination. Poison. Sneak attacks.", Arlong continued, hardly bothered, while every last one of the villagers looked absolutely devasted with this realization, "You must be aware that you mere humans can't kill me. Now Listen, I won't put you in the ground Nami. But you can't leave. You remain here. With us. As our surveyor. Forever."
With that, Lambo can practically hear the cage slowly trying to encase Nami inside, with Arlong turning the key inside the lock. The way Arlong looked at her, as if she were a mere tool instead of a living breathing human being. It made Lambo honestly sick to his stomach. Nami looked absolutely terrified, and Lambo couldn't blame her.
He had to get up!
"But you know, I'm quite good natured.", Arlong continues to speak, tone slick and coy, "If possible, I'd like you to be our surveyor of your own free will."
He chuckles, looking down at Nami with that wide shit-eating sharp tooth grin of his as Arlong regarded 'his surveyor'.
"I'm giving you a choice.", he declared with a finger pointed at her, "I will not take pause in having my Fishmen kill every living creature on this island, except for you."
Nami's eyes widened as a fearful, vulnerable even, look took place within her eyes.
"But's that's only if you refuse to come back to the Arlong Pirates, and draw sea charts as one of our own.", Arlong states casually, as if he wasn't threatening to commit mass genocide, "And if you decide to come back with us, I'll be kind and spare the villagers their lives."
Everyone gasped, staring at Arlong in shock. Lambo gritted his teeth, that can't be all. It's usually never is with people like Arlong.
"But I can't let these increts live.", Arlong looked down at the struggling Straw Hat pirates at his feet, easily pushing Sanji over on to his side with his foot as he glared down at the trio, "They must be made an example of. So, there's only one question... Will you come with me and save the people of Cocoyashi village? Or be foolish and refuse my request by fighting alongside them? Your choice."
"Some choice.", Lambo snarled as he glared up tiredly at the shark Fishman.
Who only glared down at him in disgust, as if Lambo was just an ant beneath his feet. Just annoying persistent pest to the Fishman. With a sadistic grin, Arlong stomped his foot down, hard, on top of Lambo's back. Lambo gritted his teeth as he grunted while Arlong squished his entire torso.
It was only when Lambo's air supply was cut off from the pressure, his back and ribs ached, about to be easily snapped any second, and spots appeared in his vision when Arlong removed his foot. The Guardian wheezed as he struggled to intake oxygen once more, clutching his ribs, rolling to his side as he did so.
"With them you will be hopeless. With them, you will die.", Arlong states pointedly as he regarded the human pirates unmoving forms beneath him gleefully, "Nami... will you come and stand by my side? Or not? The decision, is yours."
Lambo's vision clouded, black outlining the edges; he was hearing everything as if it were all from underwater. He could no longer tell what people was saying, all he knew was that the villagers' were all shouting in outrage.
He felt like he could feel the world spinning beneath him. Lambo couldn't comprehend what was going on, being squished is definitely not fun.
Time felt wibbly as Lambo just blearily stared at the water, no longer aware of his surroundings.
But then Nami's cut through everything else, bringing back the clarity Lambo was just missing.
"Alright everyone!", Nami's voice declared clearly, "We'll fight to the death! Go it!?"
Villagers were quiet, but it was hardly a moment later when they all cheered, ready to fight. Every last one of them willing to fight for not just their freedom, but Nami's as well.
Lambo slowly shifted so he could look up, smiling smugly as he watched Nami stare down Arlong determinedly with the cheering villagers behind her.
"Well then, it looks like they made up their minds...", Arlong growled lowly, glaring at the group that stood at the entrance of his smashed gate.
Suddenly, off to the side, and just out of sight, a large geyser of water appeared. Lambo, slowly, shakily, pushed his upper torso up, smiling with a dark mischievous glint in his eyes as he, as well as the other Straw Hat pirates, knew exactly what that meant.
"What!?", Arlong exclaimed in confusion.
Luffy's alive, and he's coming.
"Alright.", Saji rasped, "Now just remove his leg weight."
"I see.", Zoro grunted as he rolled to his side, "That's what you meant."
Lambo groans as he managed to push his torso up even more, now resting most of his upper weight on his elbows.
"Would've saved us the extra worry if you weren't so vague.", Lambo wheezes grumpily.
Only causing the cook to chuckle weakly, and Zoro's lips to twitch upward in amusement. Both Sanji and Lambo stumbled on to their feet, while Zoro pushed himself up so that he was kneeling, putting most of his weight on Johnny's and Yosaku's swords.
"Thirty seconds.", Zoro grunts, "That's all I got."
Zoro placed his sword in his mouth and swayed unsteadily back to his feet, Lambo stumbled to the swordsman's side, clutching his right arm and sides as he glared down Arlong.
"I'm with you Zoro.", Lambo hissed, only receiving a nod and a grunt from the older man.
"Zoro... Lambo...", Nami breathed happily.
Sanji kicks off his shoes, running straight for the water once more.
"That'll be enough!", he shouts as he dives right on in.
Arlong turned towards the direction of where Luffy is, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"There isn't a fountain over there. Could it be that rubber man...?", mused Arlong as took a step in its direction only to receive a cut on his cheek.
The Fishman grunted, stumbling back in surprise from the attack, glaring down at Zoro and Lambo, who stood side by side, staring back at the Fishman, neither even flinching.
"Just stay back...", Zoro panted, "You're not... getting... anywhere near him!"
"Ah, Zoro.", Arlong comments, his expression unreadable, "I thought I told you never to say that again?"
"Back off!", Lambo snarled, taking a shaky step forward, his Dying Will Flames activating, and sparking all around him wildly, "We're not going to let you take another step closer."
"Feisty for a mouse.", Arlong stated, a deep rumble in his chest as he licked the blood off his cheek, "You two are both nuisances. Now, prepare to die!"
Not wanting to chance it, Lambo immediately, struck his arm out, two fingers pointed at Arlong, green lightening jutting out of them. Arlong was quick to grab Lambo's wrist, directing his arm up in the air, causing the lightening to shoot out and hit nothing. He twisted Lambo's wrist painfully, on the verge of breaking it.
Arlong would've done it too, if Lambo didn't quickly become a streak of lightning, quickly rejoining Zoro's side, clutching his wrist tightly with tightly gritted teeth. Hissing in pain. Unluckily for Lambo, it was, once again, his right arm that was injured.
At this rate, Lambo is going to be lucky to have full use of it after it heals once this is all over.
"In the sea, one with Devil Fruit is supposed to lose even the energy to struggle.", Arlong taunted with a raised brow, "Not to mention his powers. He will die. And if he's still alive... well, that wouldn't be fair."
"You're one to talk.", Lambo hissed, panting tiredly, he just wants to lay down and do absolutely nothing.
Sleep would be a blessing right about now.
But he can't. Everything depends on these next few moments. Luffy's fate hangs in the balance now. Lambo's got to hold on.
Just a little longer!
He's got to keep going for just a little longer! He can do this!
"Wouldn't be fair?", Zoro grunts in agreement, "This game hasn't been fair from the moment we started playing it!"
"Well, anyways...", Arlong sighs, now looking bored, "If there is a hinderance I should be aware of it. Correct?"
Zoro just stares up at Arlong steadily, while Lambo glared, his Flames sparking viciously in his anger towards the Fishman.
"Egg star!", a familiar voice suddenly shouts.
Arlong raised his finger, causing the egg to smash into it harmlessly, some yoke splashing on to his face as he glared over to the stone gate. Both Zoro and Lambo gasped as they stared at the gate.
"I've got your back Zoro and Lambo!", Ussop shouts confidently.
"Big Bro Ussop! He's alright!", Yosaku shouts in surprise.
"How brave! And he got here just in time.", Johnny comments.
Standing right behind the hole Sanji created in the gate when Kuroobi punched him through earlier, was none other than the Straw Hat's long-nosed sniper himself.
"Go on give to him!", shouts Ussop from the distance while Zoro and Lambo sweat dropped at their cowardly crewmate.
"That's Where You Are!?", the villagers exclaim incredulously.
"He's alright!", Nami exclaimed, relieved.
"Hey Nami! I beat one of their leaders! Can you believe it? I wiped that smug look off his stupid face!", Ussop exclaims proudly, he then proceeded to make a mocking impersonation of the Fishman he fought before laughing in glee, "Fishmen are so easy!"
Arlong looked over to Ussop, his expression a mixture of anger and horror, "No you... beat Chew?"
Ussop smirked, "That's right~! And now that I'm back, it's time we finished this once and for all! This is the end Arlong!"
Lambo can't tell if Ussop is talking big game like he usually does, or he's high on his victory. Honestly, Lambo believes it's most likely the later.
"Alright cook!", Johnny exclaims, "Now if they can just set Big Bro Luffy free, then the Fishmen will be running for their lives!"
"Go Zoro and Lambo!", cheers Yosaku, "Take down Arlong once and for all!"
Lambo and Zoro remained in place, both not moving an inch. Both afraid that if they did, Arlong would take the mile and Luffy would die.
Suddenly, Lambo heard grunting off to the side. His head whipped around to see Hachi, the octopus, slowly gatting back on his feet.
"Uh oh.", Lambo muttered, not sure how he's feeling about these odds.
Arlong is a whole other level. One that, Lambo really doesn't to eave Zoro alone with when he's so heavily injured.
"Hey Arlong! I've got a present for you!", Ussop shouts with a wide confident grin, "Ussop...!"
Arlong just ignores the long-nosed sniper, turning back to Zoro and Lambo, eyes narrowing down at the swordsman.
"You seem keep standing in my way.", Arlong stated simply, "I take it you wish to die first then. I can take care of that."
Lambo really prefers if you didn't. He's had enough scares concerning Zoro's life at the moment. Give him a few more month before another scare. Preferably never, but life's not that nice.
"Zoro, Lambo, Now!", Ussop shouts, releasing the rubber band, only for it to flip in the air uselessly, falling to the ground.
"What do you think you're doing Ussop!", Nami angrily shouts with sharp teeth.
Lambo sweat drops, eyes keep flickering to Hachi, Arlong, Zoro, and Ussop.
"Now's my chance.", Zoro huffed, I just want a piece of that nose!"
He swung his sword in an upward strike, but Arlong's nose met it head long, hardly affected from the attack. Lambo gaped, unsure on what to do in order to help. He'd use his Dying Will Flames, but there is a high chance that Zoro could be electrocuted as well from holding his metal swords that are currently connected to Arlong's nose.
"You fool! It's a proud nose because it's unbreakable.", Arlong gloated, "If you were at full strength, you have been able to give it a little scratch."
With a jerk of his head, Arlong shoved Zoro's sword aside and lunged downward, Zoro managed to cross his swords together to block the attack, but was slowly pushed back to the water. Lambo was quick to get behind the swordsman, bracing behind him against his back, helping Zoro push against Arlong. But it barely helped, the two were still shoved right to the edge of the water.
Lambo gritted his teeth pushing as hard as he can, without hurting Zoro further, when he glanced out of the corner of his eye and did a double take at the sight of the octopus standing the his hands in front of him and eyes squeezed shut.
"EEEHHHH!? Seriously!? I thought the rubber band was gonna fly at me!", Hachi shouts as he waved his arms frantically.
Huh?
"WHAAATT!?", all the villagers shout.
But none were louder, or more surprised, than Ussop. The liar quickly tried to compose himself, laughing nervously as he pointed at the Octopus Fishman.
"He was the one that I was aiming for!", he declared, albeit, weakly.
"But weren't you yelling 'Arlong'?", Nami rebuked his lie, "Huh?"
Because of Lambo's distraction, the two were pushed a couple more inches closer at the edge. There was barely any ground between Lambo's feet and the water now!
"Oh great.", Zoro huffed when he noticed Hachi standing.
"We're not done Zoro!", Hachi declared, Lambo only half listening when his eyes spotted a long chain with a hook at the end laying just at Hachi's feet, "You may have put me down! But if it wasn't for good! Because I'm still alive and now I'm gonna finish off your friend!"
Hachi jumped in, barely able to finish his declaration as he did so, while Zoro and Lambo watched with wide eyes.
Zoro shouts, "Lambo!"
"Got it!"
Lambo ran from Zoro's side, quickly grabbing the chain, kicking off his shoes and throwing off his jacket, and dove right on in. Swimming after the octopus.
...
Nojiko paused on trying to free Luffy's legs, looking up in time to see Sanji swimming right for him. He nodded at her reassuringly, 'You've done enough Nojiko. Leave the rest to me!'
But Nojiko's eyes widened in terror when she spotted Hachi swimming right for him. 'A Fishman!'
Sanji, oblivious of the danger from behind, waved Nojiko away as he continued to swim towards Luffy's body, 'Watch out. I'll break the rock with a kick.'
He stopped in confusion when Nojiko suddenly swam past him determinedly, pushing him closer to Luffy's unmoving body. Sanji looked up only to gape in horror as he saw Hachi swimming right for them. 'What!?'
"Octopus Punch~!", Hachi shouts, "Frenzy!"
Hachi glared as he aimed multiple punches at the waiting Nojiko. Who remained in front of Sanji, arms spread out in front of her, ready for the attack. Sanji opened his mouth, silently screaming in horror, 'No!'
Hachi was just a foot away from the blue haired girl, when a chain and hook sped down, from out of seemingly nowhere, wrapping securely around Hachi's neck.
"Hrrk-!", Hachi exclaimed in surprise as he was pulled back, feet flying in front of him from the force, "Huh!?"
The group all slowly followed the chain up and up to see Lambo floating above them all, jade eyes blazing, as held the end of the chain wrapped around both of his fists for a tight and secure hold. 'Where do you think you're going?''
Nojiko and Sanji both smiled up at the teen with wide relieved smiles on their faces. 'Lambo!'
Lambo looked down at the still confused Hachi, noticing the barely healing wounds on his chest from his fight with Zoro. Not wanting to lose his advantage, with a muffled grunt, Lambo's hand that was at the farthest end of the chain, pulled down, while Lambo's other hand tugged up.
The sudden movement made Hachi to jerk back a couple feet by the chain, and made the octopus to, unexpectedly, arch his back. Causing every single one of his wounds that Zoro inflicted, to reopen. The Octopus shuddered violently as Lambo released him from the chain with a flick of hus wrist, causing the chain to fly back to Lambo, who easily caught the other end, by the bottom of the hook. The trio watching as the Fishman slowly floated to the bottom of the sea, unconscious once more.
Lambo gave Sanji a nod with a smile and a thumbs up. Sanji returned the gesture. 'That was too close.'
The teen, turned back, kicking his legs, and quickly swam back up from the surface, breaking through the water with a gasp. 'I may be able to swim...' Lambo thinks to himself, 'But I can't hold my breath for that long! How the hell are they doing that!?'
Taking in deep breathes, Lambo turned to see he wasn't too far from the edge of the water, just barely a couple of feet away from Arlong and Zoro, who was being held by the neck covered in blood. Lambo's eyes widened in shock and horror.
Meanwhile the Cook remained in the water turned to towards Luffy. He raised his leg high and struck it down hard on the giant rock with an axe kick, freeing Luffy. Instantly, Luffy's body began to rise back up to the surface. 'You're the one that made this complicated in the first place!'
With that, Luffy's body fly up to the water's surface.
'It's time to take care of that shark. Hurry up you idiot!'
Lambo heard loud shouting. He turned and looked up to see Luffy soaring up, high in the air. Lambo, watching from where he was treading in the water, gaped up at the rubber man as Luffy flipped over and over in the air, more than several feet off the ground. Almost as high as Arlong Park itself.
Luffy, of course, was laughing wildly as he soared through the air. Hardly a care in the world.
"I'm Back!", Luffy shouts gleefully, "Ha Ha!"
Lambo couldn't help but grin while the villagers cheered. He could even hear Ussop laughing triumphantly before falling off of the wall from leaning to far back in his excitement.
Nami had the biggest grin Lambo has ever seen on her yet. Her eyes wide and bright with hope.
"Luffy!", the navigator called up to the temporarily flying rubber man.
"That rubber bastard.", Arlong growled, looking very pissed.
"You're... a bit late.", Zoro grunts, looking up at their Captain, who finally began his decent.
"Zoro! Lambo!', Luffy shouts, suddenly stretching his harms so he had a firm hold on the back of the two's shirts.
"Hey...! Hold on!", Zoro protested nervously, "What are you...!?"
While in the background Lambo was muttering with wide eyes, "I don't like this. I don't like this. I don't like this. I don't like this! Idon'tlikethis! Idon'tlikethis! Oh Dio! Idon'tlikethisIdon'tlikethisIdon'tlikethisIdon'tlikethisidon'tlikethisIdon'tlikethis!"
But Luffy ignored the both of them, smiling widely as he pulled both of them out of their respected places. The two screaming as they careened through the air.
"Let's switch!", Luffy declared, throwing the two right out of Arlong Park.
The two screamed as they fell through the air, Luffy speeding towards Arlong. The last thing Lambo heard before crashing into the water, was the entire village yelling at Luffy.
"YOU IDIOT!"
...
It took a while, since Lambo had to help Zoro out because Arlong freaking ripped off the bandages of his Reopened WOUNDS!
The two groaned, both lying lifelessly, on the small rocky landscapes the were at the edge of the gates of Arlong Park.
"I'm gonna kill him.", Zoro growled, no real heat in his voice though.
Lambo grunted in agreement.
"My arm is numb.", Lambo then stated tonelessly.
Zoro chuckled weakly, "I'm a little surprised it's still attached to your body at this point."
"Don't remind me...", Lambo groaned playfully.
The two shared exhausted, but fond, smiles. After that, they both fell into a peaceful silence. They're part done.
Now it's just all up to Luffy.