The small boy watched as the night went over the sea. A completed seachart laid on the desktop with a pen, freshly dipped in ink, on the side. He closed his eyes and sighed as the moon lowered itself to the ground.

This was his room ever since that monster took over a new island.

He hasn't left this room since the transfer. "Don't come out until that chart's finished!" the voice echoed through his head. For once, he finally finished all of the sea charts of that day. And, for once he dared to open the door of his prison. He looked down the stairwell as if expecting the monster to appear once more and tuck him back inside.

Yet, no one came.

He raced out of the building into the moonlight, and soon arrived at a stream.

His feet chilled under the cold stream. The moonlight reflected off it, as well as the sea creatures underneath. Unlike the ponds within Arlong Park, these were filled with colorful life. He placed his hand under the water and chose a seashell.

"A boy?" a girl's voice echoed through the numerous trees.

He froze in place and slowly turned his head to the sound. He thought it was the guards once again, ready to take him back into that room filled with sea charts. Instead, it was a girl with a precious smile, "Hello! I'm Nojiko!"

He felt like his voice flew into the heavens at that moment. The girl didn't mind as she took a seat right next to him. Finally, he lowered his gaze onto the small stream, "I'm Niko."

"I've seen you before." She kicked her feet up and down, making the fish scatter away from them. The girl wasn't looking at the pond; instead, she was looking at the bright moon, which was now halfway blocked by a cliff. "You were here when Arlong came."

"Yeah..." his gaze never left the stream, even though the fish he was watching moments ago had already vanished from sight.

"What's wrong?" she questioned as she whipped her head around, "Did I say something wrong? Oh...Bellemere is probably worrying about me..." she paused and looked up, "Hey, do you want to come with me? We can find a spot for you to sleep tonight, unless you want to go home."

Home...

He didn't have a home.

Nojiko stood up as water splashed his face, "Come on and stop frowning!" She pulled her lips together. He glanced up at her and decided to follow. It wasn't like Arlong would punish him since he did complete his day's work.

/ / / /

The trio sailed across the sea within a compacted sail boat. Luffy laid his head against the bow of the small white sail boat and tilted his hat over his face. He was thinking about the events.

Nothing changed much from his first time around. Unless, he counted why Sanji and Zoro were girls and Nami made the captain sleep with him instead of the rest of the crew. In his other crew, Nami would have tucked him out the door the first chance she got, but this Niko fellow was different from Nami.

He left them on the Baratie as soon as the marines came.

Did Niko really want him gone that bad?

He didn't see many changes with the rest of his crew so far. Zoro still napped most of the day, while Urika took him tales. Savi acted differently as well. She stayed close to his side and cheered for him just like Sanji did for Robin and Nami.

Maybe it wasn't just their genders that changed, but something different as well.

"Oi! Luffy-sama~!" Savi called from her side on the ship. "There's something coming up in the water."

Luffy lifted one of his eyelids and looked around. Savi's voice took him away from thinking; but now he had a headache from thinking so much. He held his head as he looked down into the water. Savi was right; there was a dark shadow under the water surface. "Food?" he questioned out loud.

His hand dived through the water and clanked down on what struggled on the other end. Water splashed down over his face as he threw his catch onto the deck of the small sailboat.

Yosaku struggled against Luffy's grip over his neck. "L-Let go!" he pleaded as he tried to lift the fingers from around his neck.

"Oh, it's you again," Luffy gave a small smile. "But, we can't eat you..."

"Bello~!" Savi cheered with hearts in her one opened eye.

Zora lifted her head from the side of the ship and looked at him. "Aren't you supposed to be following Niko?"

"Niko?" Savi questioned as she turned back to glance at the injured swordsman. "Another Bello~?" She cooed. First there was Luffy-sama~ and now there was her Niko-san~. "I joined the right crew~!" she said with watery eyes, until her eyes met with Zora's body, and she played with a frown.

Yosaku jumped up onto his feet and looked around. "Luffy-bro! Zoz!" he shouted. These two were the ones he was looking for. He stood in the middle of the deck and looked at the two of them, when his eyes shifted to the third member; he raised his eyebrow curiously.

"I'm Savi~ But you may call me whatever you like~!" The blonde chef introduced herself to the bounty hunter. She used her seduction tone that she used with Luffy.

"Dumbass," Zora suggested, as she glanced at the starry night.

"Okama!" Savi shouted back.

As soon as Yosaku opened his mouth once more, Savi went back to her love-sick state and cooed over him. "One of Baratie's chefs?" he questioned.

"Former Sous Chef," Savi stated with pride. She showed off a childish grin.

"Did something happen?" Luffy asked the bounty hunter, getting back onto the topic.

Yosaku glanced away from Savi and to the ground. He petted his chin as he thought. Why was he here again? "Oh yeah! I remember! Niko-bro is going to Arlong Park." His face drained from color as his eyes watched the water surface. While he and Johnny were following Niko-bro, a giant beast came from the ocean and tried to eat them as they were only miles away from Arlong Park. "

"Arlong?" Zora questioned. She sat up and crossed her legs as she looked at her former partner. The name has rumors spread about it, maybe more than Zora's own. She knew of Arlong, who had a bounty placed on his name. Johnny and Yosaku always kept his Wanted poster in their stack of posters, but never once did they ever think of going after the fishman.

"Yeah?" Luffy quizzical.

"You don't know who Arlong is? He's a fishman who hide in the shadows of East Blu-"

"I know who he is."

"Then why aren't you scared?" he practically shouted at the man. He looked over to Zora for support, but she only stood up with the support of her sword. He finally turned toward Savi who was still in her love-sick state thinking about Niko. "You all are crazy!"

He shouted his head and placed it between two knees.

"Why would Niko-swan~ go there?" Savi quizzical. She hasn't even met this Niko, but she already thought of a sweet lovely nickname for Bello~.

"I don't know! That's where the ship was heading! An-And we were right behind it when a beast appeared and ate our ship! I ran, swam well, and now I'm here."

"You're probably hungry~ Let me cook something up for you~!" Savi suggested as if that would solve his problem. "What would you like?"

"Roast beef!" Luffy shouted.

"Sake," Zoro added.

Yosaku's stomach grumbled and he looked up at Savi with a childish smile, "Fried beans!"

"Roast beans and fried beans it is then~!"

"What about my sake?"

Savi completely ignored Zora's request, and moved into the back of the boat where the kitchen was placed. She felt her finger across the blade. It wasn't dulled like the other two she picked out.

Soon the meal was done and she called the two guys to a finely set table with four chairs. She filled her cup of wine as she gave the others cups of sake, after Yosaku requested it for Zora. "A midnight snack," Savi smiled as she picked up her glass of wine.

Luffy and Yosaku sat down and ate. Luffy grabbed Yosaku's roast beef and cleaned it to the bone. "Hey! That was mine!" he grumbled and took Luffy's.

"That's unfair!" he shouted back at Yosaku.

"I can always make you guys more~!" Savi suggested. But her suggestion was unheard while the two fought over the single piece of meat.

Yosaku smirked as he had a plan. He placed the bone in his mouth and ate all of the meat within one bite. "You monster!" Luffy gulped. Yosaku smiled as he chewed it down. "Give it back!"

"Tuu lute!" Yosaku smiled with meat stuck in his teeth. Luffy held up his arm, which was the signal for the bounty hunter to run. Zora watched as she finished her meal.

Savi's hair touched the table as she moaned in displeasure. They ignored her completely after she offered to make them some more. A plate of freshly cooked meat sat in the middle of the table. "Do they always do this?" Savi questioned as her cheek lay on the white linen.

"Much as I hate to say it, but you get used to it," Zora advised. For once, she didn't give the blonde a snarky comment or nickname. This girl was now a part of her crew if she liked it or not. And she was the one who Luffy set out to find.

A dark blue shadow rose from the water and showered the ship in water. "What's that?" Savi turned and looked at the sea.

"Johnny isn't that big," Zora commented. Seeing how the last time a dark shadow crept under the water surface, it was Yosaku.

"It's a cow!" Luffy smiled in delight. "Long time no see!" He waved at the giant cow-fish. The beast did not even glance Luffy's way. He was staring at something else. The meat on the table. The fish lifted his body over the ship, ready to eat the whole thing whole. Luffy's mouth widens, "That's my meat!"

"There's more meat?!" Yosaku shouted. He looked back at the table, where a plate had two pieces of meat. He turned back and widened his eyes at the cow beast, "It's back! It's after me!"

"You just noticed?" Zora gives a small chuckle as she unsheathes her sword. Her other two broke in the fight against Mihawk and she was left with one. Kuina's sword.

She didn't even have time to attack as Luffy's arm stretched and punched the animal across his face. Savi added a few kicks with Luffy's blow, "That's Luffy-sama~ meat!" she claimed.

Yosaku stood there and looked at the two. "Monsters...just like Zora-aneki..." He started to get dizzy and fainted on the ground.

"Oi! Zoro, throw me those ropes!" Luffy hollered as he stood on top of the cow's head. Within moments, Zora threw him the closest bundle of ropes. He caught them and started to tie them around the cow's horns. "You're going to take us to Arlong Park!"

"Luffy-sama, I could have taken you there~!" Savi remarked.

He chuckled and finished the knot, "It's more fun like this!" The blonde chef couldn't help but agreed. In moments, the three of them tied the cow beast onto their small ship. "Let's go get Urika and Niko!" Luffy declared with a childish smile as he tilted his hat over his face. For once he used their names correctly.

He wasn't letting Niko go no matter what. Even in this universe, he will make sure of that.

...

Urika laid down on the bed under four blankets. Surrounding her bed, which she was in the girl's room, was several traps: tats scattered, trip-wires, smoke bombs, and most importantly, a horn.

This was her second night guarded in the ship. When Niko took control of the ship and hightailed it away from the Baratie, she could only shake behind the door. She had no clue what Niko wanted to do with the Going Merry, so she prepared the ship with numerous traps in case she came back.

Or those fishmen.

She tried taking the boat, but as soon as she tried to get into the lounge room, she heard them and ran inside. They were guarding the docks and went on night walks. Every chance she had

And she even went against Luffy's orders, and slept in the girl's room.

A bookshelf leaned against the wall, inches away from the ladder that led to the deck; and on the other side of it was a desk. This room was meant only for Kaya, in Meri's first design, but now it was Luffy's ship. A small blue couch was in the other corner of the room, with a glass table. Urika lay down in a hammock tied to the ceiling. There were several other cords that led to more hammocks, but for now, only one was being used.

The longnose girl was supposed to be the only girl on the ship, before Savi joined, but she knew about Zora's secret, that she was also a woman. Soon two others would join her in this room, if Luffy allowed them. But for now, this room only housed her while she was supposed to sleep with the boys under Luffy's order.

Footsteps.

She shivered under the blankets and peeked out from underneath them.

"Anyone?" a voice echoed through the barren ship, followed by footsteps.

Urika's face paled as she grabbed her slingshot from the nightstand. What if it was Niko? And he came back to reclaim the ship? The orange haired man hasn't come back on board once they docked on this island; leaving Urika inside the ship by herself. Or one of the fishmen? Did they know she was here?!

She picked a pullet from her brown sachet and positioned it in her slingshot and aimed at the hatch; the way to get from deck into their rooms. The only other way to enter the girl's room was the emergency exit shared with the boy's room. A bookshelf was tied with tripwires for the non-expecting enemy. All she needed to do was blind shoot the target once they entered the room, then the horn would go off and a bucket of eggs would crash down on them. 'Urika's Greatest Plan!' she thought as her teeth shook.

"Niko-bro! Urika-sis!"

Johnny.

She hopped out from the hammock and smiled. Someone was here to save her from her untimely doom. "I'm here! Captain Urika's in here!" she shouted at the hatch.

"Urika-sis?" Johnny repeated one more time as he opened the hatch. "Finally, I've found you, Urika-sis!" He swung himself down on the ladder where the wires laid. "What?" he questioned as the wire broke and he fell down onto the ground, right on top of the tats. "Ouch!" he jumped up and tried to unpin the tats from his skin.

The bucket on the bookshelf overturned and dumped a dozen eggs, which were probably rotten from being out of the fridge for long, placed on him. "Eggs?!" he shouted as the shells broke on contact. The room was filled with the smell of rotten eggs. Urika held onto her longnose as the scent almost killed her. Johnny stood there with his arms stretched out. Sweat dripped from his tanned skin as anger pulsed through his veins. "Why?" he uttered with a grit of his teeth.

"I-I-It was meant for an intruder!" she claimed as she fell onto the ground. Tats pickled her skin. "Ouch!" she cursed as she stood up and hopped out of the room. The scent of rotten eggs followed her out of the hatch. Maybe rooming with the guys for now would be a better choice, unless she wanted to smell like rotten eggs for weeks.

Poor Johnny.

"Sorry," she wheezed as he climbed out and fell back on deck. "How could you..." he cried with his sleeve covering his sunglasses. Even if it was dark out, he was still wearing his sunglasses.

"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!" she paused for a second and tried to act all cute with sparkly eyes, "Sorries~!"

His tears vanished for a quick second, "...That doesn't make anything better." And they reappeared once more.

"Okay...I'm sorry." She took a large breath, "I thought you were fishmen because they have been guarding the docks since Niko brought me has as a hostage, and if they find out I'm, Captain Urika, is here then the whole island would be after me."

He leaned up from the deck with his nose sniffling. "What a sad story..."

Urika proudly smiled at herself for that story. But something was amiss with Johnny. She glanced around Merry's deck, but it was gone. "Where's Yosaku?" From what she has seen, the two were inseparable.

"A cow beast got him..." The flood of tears returned, even mightier than the last.

"He's gone?!" she shouted.

He nodded his head, "It just appeared out of nowhere and he ran for it...the beast followed him."

"Shit..." she cursed and clapped her hands over her mouth for cussing."Uh...what should we do now?"

"Shouldn't we like to take the ship back to Luffy-bro and Zora-sis?"

As soon as he uttered Zora's name, Urika's face froze for a second. She pounded her hand, "Zoro is a girl! I knew it!"

"Yeah?" he raised one of his eyebrows. 'Shouldn't they know her secret by now? They are her crew...'

"Why does she hide it?"

"I don't know...but shouldn't we like...get back to the subject of taking the ship back? Before those fishmen find us?"

"Oh, alright!"

Before Urika could even start walking to the lounge room to get to the steering post, she heard footsteps behind her. Johnny took a few steps back and leaned against the railings. He gulped from whatever was behind Urika. She really didn't want to turn around and find out for herself; and thus, she started to run to the railing to hop down, but hands kept her in place. Johnny didn't get much of a chance either. "So it was these two makin' the racket."

He lifted the girl up into the air, her feet were a foot away from the ground, and she slowly swirled around to face the fishman. "A tengu?"

"MY NOSE ISN'T THAT LONG!" she shouted as she raised one of her hands to hide her very long nose.

"Look like we got a couple of intruders," the other fishman stated as he held up Johnny. "This one stinks," he moaned as he faced the other direction, "What should we do about them?"

"It's too late to wake up Arlong-san now. Probably throw them in the cells till the mornin'."

Johnny and Urika looked at each other and gulped in fear. They were caught and couldn't do anything about it. 'Save us! Luffy! Zora!'

...

Luffy placed his finger under his nose as he sneezed. "How long until we get there?" he moaned to the three others.

"Probably past morning," Yosaku answered. That's about how long he's been swimming. He was moments away from nodding off from all the swimming he has done within the last 24 hours.

"Can't you go faster?" Luffy complained to the giant cow beast.

"Just get some shut eye," Zora suggested. Her eyes were already closed as she lay back against the cushion bench.

"I can't," he mumbled under his breath. He just felt like something was going wrong, and he didn't like it.

"Please, Luffy-sama~? It's better if you rest~ If you like, you can sleep with me~!" Savi suggested in her flirting tone.

"He needs sleep. Not nightmares."

And this led to their first fight with each other. Luffy turned around in amazement as the two hopped up onto their feet and blocked each others' attack with their feet/swords. Even if he felt something was amiss, at least these two were still doing their normal thing.

"Okama!"

"Savage!"

"Shitty swordswoman!"

"Ero-cook!"

"Marimo!" Savi's remark made Luffy's eyes widen and he chuckled.

"Dartboard!"

"Hey! Stop that!" Yosaku tried to get in between them, but it only led to his dismissal. He lay on the ground with a red bump on his skull; which Savi didn't acknowledge until a few seconds later.

"Bello!" she went to his side and growled at the Marimo Head, "Look what you've done!"

...

Nojiko wiped away the dust within her eyes as she sat up in her bed of blankets. She glanced around until her eyes laid on him, and she sighed in relief. "So...you finally decided to stay the night, Niko."

Niko didn't lift his head from the ground; instead he stayed there and slept. She only smiled down at her brother with nostalgic feelings grumbling in her stomach. Her brother gave a small smile in his sleep, which was very strange for her to witness.

She shrugged her shoulders as she lifted herself out of the bed, and over his sleeping body. Even now, he still sleeps on the ground. She had no clue why he did such a thing. She could only guess because they were both grown and opposite genders.

Nojiko walked up to the window and looked out at the sunrise. From here on the hill, it was beautiful to see. No wonder Bellemere built her house in such a location, away from all of the other villagers. Even from here she could spot the shore where smoke huffed, coming from a ship. "Supplies?" she wondered out loud.

"Nojiko...you are already up?" Niko yawned from his spot on the ground, which were mostly blankets piled up on top of each other. Nojiko knew her brother allowed himself in during the night.

The blue haired girl gave a small kindly smile at her younger brother, "You want some coffee?"

"Please..." Niko yawned once more. It took him a few seconds to move from the blanket pile to the wooden chair at the dining table. Within this time, she was already pouring hot liquid into a cup and placing it in front of her brother; who hated mornings with a passion. He lifted the cup to his lip and slipped. "Tastes like dirt..." he stated as he placed the cup back down on the table.

"Nothing changed, has it?" she questioned with the addition of a glare, but it lightens once she remembered that faint smile he was wearing while he was snoozing.

"Nor has your coffee." On the table, a little away from his cup, was a map. When he went to meet with Arlong yesterday, things got out of hand when one of his members found the map in Niko's room. He lucked out in the end, but they still think he's hiding treasures. His fingers went over the paper, "Only seven million berries left until I've collected one hundred million berries. Then I can buy back the village."

She knew the amount better than anyone; it was holed up in their garden and she kept her eye out of it. "You...smiled in your sleep." Even if she grew to accept that ever since that fateful day he quit smiling, but he wore one in his sleep. Ever since he has gotten back from his trip, he has been tight-lipped on what happened. "What happened this time you were gone."

He lifted himself from the table and turned to the door. "None of your business," he uttered as his shoulders slumped.

She gazed at his back and soon observed the floor. "You're leaving now?"

"Yeah..."

/ / / /

He placed another seachart on a pile on his desk, and raced out the door. He couldn't wait to see the two women again. Every day after their first meeting, Niko tried harder and harder to finish the charters so he had more time to spend with the two.

His path was halted by Hatchan. "Oi, Niko-kun, you're already done?" The fishman questioned.

He didn't even dare to look Hatchan in the eye. His smile imminently shifted into a frown. "Yeah, Arlong said I could come out after I was done with them."

"Oh, well Arlong-san sent me up here to give you this," the fishman pulled out another pile and handed it to the young boy.

More unfinished seacharts. "What?!" he shouted as he glared at Hatchan. "He says I could go!" He stomped on the ground and ran back up the stairs. Maybe if he worked fast enough and didn't waste any more time, he would be able to get back down to Bellemere in time.

His pen moved across the chart at such speeds. He tried to do it faster, but something inside of him made him slow down to make the sea chart as accurate as possible. "What...?" he uttered to himself in disbelief. "Why?!" he shouted to the walls as he kicked the back of the desk. "Why...did I become that man's slave...?" He laid down his pen. It was already past midnight. Bellemere and Nojiko would already be in bed.

His eyelids shifted, and he fell asleep on top of the seacharter.

Arlong gave him more work to do each day and his visits with Nojiko and Bellemere halted for quite some time.

...

"I was getting worried something happened to you," Bellemere blurted out as soon as she saw the young boy in front of her door. "Oh well, come on in. I've already set your place on the table."

Even when he visits, the woman made a place for him and made enough food if he ever came back. "Thanks Bellemere-san..." he sat down at the table with Nojiko smiling.

"You're back!" she cheered in delight. Bellemere sat down on a plate in front of the two, while she nipped on a tangerine. "Y-You aren't eating, Bellemere-san?"

"I'm going on a diet," she gave a small smile. Her red bangs shifted as she giggled.

"Thanks for the meal..." Niko stated one more time before plunging his fork in the food in front of him. It was home cooked, unlike what he got within Arlong Park. They fed him what seemed like scraps or leftovers.

"So...Niko," Bellemere didn't even glance his way as she sewed a shirt. "How would you feel with me as your mother?"

"Are you serious, Bellemere-san?!" Nojiko hopped in her seat and smiled at the two of them. She was also adopted by Bellemere, yet they were still mother and daughter at heart.

His fork clattered onto the plate as his eyes widened. "Y-You?!"

"Is something wrong?" she asked as if nothing was wrong. "Come on and join our family. I may not look like it, but I think I can handle both of you," she stood up and placed her hands on her hips. A cigarette was between her teeth as she glanced back down at the boy.

"I...I can't..."

"Why not?"

"Arlong." He gulped when he said that monster's name, "I belong to him..."

"Belong?" the two repeated.

"I was kept over a raid because of my skills in making sea charters..." he held his shoulder, "I'm a part of his crew..." The fabric of his shirt raised and revealed Arlong's Jolly Roger.

"A child!" Bellemere shouted. "You're only a child!"

"Arlong did that to you?" Nojiko questioned. All of her earlier happiness faded away as she stood there shell shocked.

A boot slammed down on the table as Bellemere took a hold of a gun, "That sick bastard! I knew I should have done something when he came to these parts!"

"No! You can't!" Niko yelled as his eyes widened. He grabbed onto her sleeve with watery eyes. He didn't want to see this woman lose her life over him. He already saw enough bloodshed.

Her breath started to even out as she took a few smokes of her cigar. "Stay with us, Niko."

"Y-Y-Yes!" He cried against her blouse.

"A son...and a daughter..." she hugged the two children."Our family's growing," she smiled.

/ / / /

Before either of them could move, there were several knocks at the door. He glanced back at her, while she lit one of her cigars and moved to open the door. Behind the door was a marine with a hat covering his hair, as well as a herd of marines behind him. Genzo stood there as if he guided them to the house. "What do you want?" she asked the leader.

"Niko, I believe?" he questioned the orange haired man who stood behind Nojiko. "I'm Nezumi of the 16th marine unit. You are an outlaw named Niko."

"Yeah. I'm an outlaw because I'm a part of Arlong's Pirates, someone you wouldn't want to mess with."

"A pirate? I never heard that before," he shook his head innocently, "And I wasn't thinking about harming you...but we have gotten some reports about you being a thief. Even though you steal from pirates, a thief is still a thief. Just like a sin is still a sin. This is why the government will take care of those treasures and give them back to their rightful owners."

Niko's eyes widened. His hand reached down back and grabbed an ax that was leaning against the house. "What did you say?"

"Niko! Don't!" Nojiko tried to calm down the orange haired, but Nezumi already ordered the other marines to strike. They disbanded and started to search around her property for the treasures. "Wait! Don't go into my house without permission!"

"No." He started calmly as he swung his ax. "Don't you know of the crimes going on on this island? Yet you marines attack me out of all of them? Do you know how many houses and people Arlong has destroyed and killed?!" With each word, his rage was building. "Under his control, we have been his slaves for years! Yet the government only now wants to step in to take down one lonely thief?!"

"Didn't you just say you were a part of Arlong's pirates a moment ago?" the marine taunted, "Don't worry about him and continue the search."

"If you didn't come to help us then you better get out of here!" Nojiko spitted on the ground.

"You are not listening to me!" By now, anger filled the boy's eyes. Nojiko glanced back at him and gasped.

"Niko!"

He started to walk toward the marine leader when one of the lower ranked marine's voices halted his tracks. "Sir! There's something buried here!"

They found it. Niko raised his ax and slammed in across. Nezumi was thrown several feet away.

Genzo stood there and tilted his head. "HIS MONEY IS THE MONEY TO HELP COCOYASHI VILLAGE! WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT MONEY AWAY?!"

Niko's eyes grew as sweat poured down his face.

/ / / /

Arlong stormed into the village with his force of fishmen behind him. "You know the routine," he uttered in distaste.

"Arlong...he came along...?" one of the villagers questioned with wide eyes.

Arlong's eyes raced through the crowd, looking for an orange haired boy. He was nowhere around. "Men, collect it all." He uttered. Villagers started lining up to add their tribute into Hatchan's sack, while another fishman took account. Each person had a certain price they had to pay.

Genzo stood up from his bent position and hoarded the two children into the forest, "Stay here," he uttered to them.

They didn't listen. The two ran back to Bellemere's house and banged on the door. "Bellemere-san! Arlong's here!" Nojiko pounded with such force.

"Don't worry..." the woman stated as she allowed the two back inside."I got things covered. You two will be safe." She turned and looked at Niko, "And, I'm not letting him get his hands on you again. Or else, what kind of mother am I?"

Niko stomped his foot down, "Don't say that! I shouldn't even be here! I should be in Arlong's Park, not here! I'm not your son...so don't worry about me, worry about yourselves!"

Bellemere slapped him. "We may not be blood related. But, when I said I would take you in, I meant it. I knew what was coming from it. I knew about Arlong."

"B-But...you don't have enough berries...I heard from Genzo...that you had barely enough for you and Nojiko..."

"But, I have enough for you two. And that's what counts." Bellemere stopped him in his tracks. She left her two kids as she picked up a sack on the counter, "Today...stay inside."

Blood spattered against the walls.

The two screamed.

Arlong laughed in their faces as he took back what was his.

...

He stood in front of his door with Arlong behind him. His eyes were still watery from that scene. His hands formed into fists as hatred rested in his heart for the fishman. So much he has tried to obey him, but this time, it went too far. He was able to meet those in the village, and they offered him their warmth. But the fishman took it away.

"One hundred million berries." His voice echoed through the stairwell, "That's the price of your freedom...or the cost of this island. Which one you chose is up to you."

The door closed behind Niko. His freedom away from Arlong's hands had always been his dream since the day he got caught by the fishman, but if he took too long to acquire the money for Arlong to free the island...then who would be left on the island? Would he also take away Genzo? Nojiko? Just like Arlong did with his own parents.

/ / / /

"You knew?"

"We've known each other for a long time, Niko." Genzo uttered as he looked at the ground. "Nojiko told us afterwards...We didn't want our hope to prevent you from getting away from Arlong."

"Sorry, Niko..." The blue haired girl looked down at the ground.

Niko's lip shook. They've only heard half of the deal, freeing the village. He never mentioned to Nojiko about the other side of the coin, his freedom; not like he would choose his freedom over the villager's freedom.

Nezumi watched them with a smirk, but his patience was wearing down. "Can't find it? I didn't order you to find a needle! Why can't you find 100 million berries?!"

Genzo turned to the marine and growled, "How did you know the amount?!"

"Oh..." Nezumi shifted his head, "I just assumed it would be about that amount."

"Arlong! Did he tell you?!" Niko lifted the ax and shouted at the marine.

"If he did or didn't. That's my business," he shrugged his shoulders.

That only proved his point. He bit his lip and swung at the nearest marine. Nezumi's eyes widened, "Shot! It's illegal to harm marines!" His squad lifted their guns and aimed at Niko as he attacked their fellow comrades.

"You piece of crap!" Genzo cursed.

"Move it!" Nojiko shouted, but Niko only stayed there in his bloodlust attacking the marines. The girl jumped in the way as bullets came speeding fast. Hitting her right in the stomach. She fell onto the ground and held onto his stomach.

Niko dropped his ax onto the ground and stared down at his sister. "Nojiko!"

...

They stood in the middle of the forest, "What now?"

"We found them," Luffy simply stated as he started walking forward.

"What a wonderful plan~!" Savi cooed after him.

"But where should we start?" Yosaku asked the next question.

A gunshot.

"What?!"

Luffy took off after it with the three following him. They raced through the forest until they reached a patch of tangerine trees. 'Nami's...' Luffy thought as he looked at one. He remembers the several beatings he got from Sanji and Nami from just touching one. His head turned back to the noise.

The dirt was covered in blood. "Someone's been shot," Zora uttered through her teeth, "Could it be Niko?" She raised her eyebrow at her captain.

As they walked past the tangerine trees, getting a closer look at where they were they spotted several marines carrying loads of berries out. "Hey! That's Nam-Niko's!"

"Who's this?" Nezumi questioned as he watched his squad carry out their order. A few marines stood by his side in case one of these newcomers tried to attack them.

"What are you doing here? This is Niko's house."

Nezumi gave a smirk, "Marine business. Taking back the treasures he stole."

Luffy didn't reply as his arm stretched backwards and punched Nezumi in the face. He was knocked back several feet, hitting his head against the house. "W-Why?!"

"That's Niko's treasures!" Luffy stated as he stood his ground. The marines who were surrounding him took out their guns and were moments away from pulling the trigger. Savi stood in front of him, ready to take the bullet, while Zora attacked a few of the marines.

The bullets shot forward and Luffy pushed Savi backwards. His stomach expanded and took in the bullets, which double backed to them. They squealed and raced out of the way. All of their eyes bugged out in surprise of his stretching, while he only merrily laughed as if it was no big deal. Soon they had the marines piled on out of each other. "Now, where's Niko?" he questioned the leader.

His arm rose out of the pile and pointed down the path. Luffy nodded and went that way with the others following him. As soon as they were out of sight, his arm fell down as he moaned in pain.

It didn't take them long to get to the village.

They all surrounded the girl with the wound. Luffy ducked through the crowd and looked. He was only a day late, but now everything seemed to roll past his eyes. It took him a while to even find Niko through the crowd, who was bent over with watery eyes. "Niko..." Luffy's voice turned into a whisper as he sat right next to the orange haired boy.

"Arlong...I'm going to kill him." He growled before looking up at Luffy. He pulled on his hair and bent over his knees. "He killed Bellemere and my old village! Went back on our promise! And now even Nojiko has been shot!" His voice was filled with anger as he listed each wrong deed Arlong has done.

"You're crying." He barely listened to his words; instead he was paying attention to the water filled eyelids.

'If you ever took away Nami's smile, I'm gonna hunt you down and kill you.' That voice echoed through Luffy's head and his eyes widened as he watched Niko. Even in this timeline, Niko was in pain because of Arlong.

Niko shook his head and bolted up. He couldn't even face Luffy. Not ever all of the things that happened. Hate, pain, and anger filled his heart as he left his former captain behind. He needed to see Arlong.

Now.

He raced through the crowd.

...

"Arlong!" His voice ranged through the park. The fishman barely glanced his way, while others backed away from Niko's path. "You used that marine to take away the money from me!" He went up to Arlong's chair and took hold of his collar. "You told me that you wouldn't break your promises about money!"

"Break my promise?" He repeated and looked Niko in the eye, "When did I break my promise?"

Niko grabbed a knife from his pocket and pulled it out. He was going to kill Arlong if it was the last thing he did. "Don't pretend!"

Arlong paid no attention to it, only merrily laughed at Niko's attempt. "Tell me. When did I break my promise?"

The knife dropped onto the ground as Arlong held Niko by the neck. "That's unfortunate for you. But a promise is still a promise, little boy. If you can't give me 100 million berries, then I can't give you or the village back. Plain and simple."

"I will kill you," he growled through his teeth.

Arlong laughed as he threw Niko back onto the ground, "A mere human like you going against a fishman? Remember, Niko, about our deal. If you can't return the money to me, then you still belong to me. Who will feed you through all of these years?"

"Bellemere!"

"Oops. She's dead." He laughed.

"You demon! You did this!"

Arlong didn't look fazed as he gestured up to the tower, "I gave you all of this. The clothes you wanted, as well as all of those seacharts and knowledge that you would find nowhere else other than here. I gave you all that you wanted. But, if you decided to escape from this island, then I only guess I will kill everyone in Cocoyashi village because of you."

Niko picked up his head from the ground and spitted in Arlong's direction. A few drops splashed onto his leg. "Hatchan." The fishman looked over at his leader, "Take Niko to his timeout room." Or, in other words, the cells at the bottom of the tower.

"I'm not a child!" he shouted as he stood up once more. His hand reached out and grabbed the knife; that fell on the ground a few moments ago. He was moments away from plunging it into Arlong, but Hatchan stopped him and locked his wrists behind his back. "Come now, Niko-kun."

The fishman led Niko into their cellblock, where Urika and Johnny shouted from their cells. "Niko!" Urika smiled, but it soon went away as Hatchan opened one of the cells and tossed him instead. "You got caught too?!"

Niko ignored her and looked down at his shoulders. That mark from Arlong. All he wanted to do was rip it out of his skin for good. He didn't care about the pain. He just wanted Arlong gone. He picked up his knife and made a clear cut.

Urika and Johnny gasped from their prison cell. "Niko! NO!"

...

All of the villagers started to rise up, but Luffy halted their tracks. "Arlong made Niko cry," Luffy's voice cut to their calls of action. Genzo glanced in Luffy's direction. "I won't forgive him." Luffy tilted his hat and started marching forward with the others following.

"Who is that?" Genzo questioned the blue hair.

"I have no idea..." she paused as they watched the villagers march behind him."...but I have a feeling he's the reason why Niko smiled."

"Let's go!"

"Yeah!" Savi and Zora echoed behind him.

Savi dusted off her skirt as she marched behind Luffy. Zora shifted her bandages as she joined Luffy. Yosaku stood behind the trio, separating them from the villagers. He tried to keep the villagers from following, but it did no good. They were done with Arlong. He went too far for each one of them, and shooting Nojiko was the last straw. They appeased Arlong because of Niko being under his spell, but it was time for payback. Not even Yosaku could change anyone's mind.

Genzo and Nojiko marched with them.

They were going to get Niko back.

Luffy didn't grin, nor did the others. Anger fused with their veins. His straw hat tilted to the side as his gaze went on Arlong Park. His fist expanded and punched an entrance through the stone walls. "Arlong..." he growled through his teeth as he stood in front of the hole with his party following.

"That's me. What do you want?" the fishman growled from his spot on his chair.

Luffy didn't answer as he marched forward through the crowd. When fishmen blocked his way, he took them out in a single punch.

Arlong's interest perked as Luffy walked closer and closer to him. "What do you want?" he repeated one last time.

Luffy's arm did not stretch when he gave Arlong a massive blow against his skull. "Don't you dare make my navigator cry!"

All of the fishmen went to defend their leader, but Savi and Zora stood in their way. And, Yosaku was able to keep the villagers from joining in the brawl. "Weaklings are not allowed to interrupt Luffy-sama!" Savi stated as she kicked one of them to the curb.

"Pirates, huh?" Arlong sat against the broken pieces of wall. He looked down at the ground, "So that's how all of you are related. You, Niko, and that long nose...But, Niko is my navigator."

"Niko's mine!" Luffy argued. He turned back to Zora, "Go find Urika and Niko."

"Aye, Captain," Zora nodded as she cut through some fishmen to get to the door of Arlong Park.

Hatchan stood by the pool and used his mouth as a horn. "Don't think you can get away so lightly! I will make all of you become my pet's meal!" A dark shadow appeared and stood raised out of the water. "SHOW YOURSELF MOHMOO!" The cow beast looked at him with huge red bumps and watery eyes. "What happened to you?!"

"Mohmoo?" Luffy questioned the name. He still didn't feel it was right.

"You're a merman?" Savi's eyes glanced at the giant cow beast. It started crying up and ran back into the water, not before Arlong's voice stopped him.

"Mohmoo. What are you doing?" He growled, "If you really want to leave, I won't stop you. Just go, Mohmoo."

Mohmoo shot through the air at the two Strawhats. All of the fishmen, with Mohmoo backing them up, charged forward at the two strawhat pirates. Smoke came from Luffy's nose as he stretched his limbs to Mohmoo's head and their heads came crushing together.

As soon as they impacted, Mohmoo was sent back into the ocean, while Luffy didn't seem hurt from the impact. He turned back and looked at the fishman.

"Arlong-san, you can just take a seat and relax," one of his minions stated.

"If we let you do anything, chu, Arlong Park will be destroyed."

Destroy.

Luffy turned around and faced the huge building. His fists expanded to giant size as he hopped to the top of the tower. He didn't remember which room it was.

Arlong's eyes glanced over to the pirate and growled. He didn't even listen to his minions as he followed Luffy to the tower.

Inside of the building, the green haired girl raced around the building, leaving knocked out fishmen on the ground. "Where are they?" she grumbled under her breath as she took the same turn for the fourth time.

"SOMEONE! HELP!" Urika's voice screamed through the building. Zora followed it through the hallways until he came to a row of cells. Blood dripped on the ground. "Zora!" Urika's eyes beamed, but turned worried as she glanced over at the orange haired. "Stop him!"

Niko held the bloody blade in his hand as blood dripped onto the ground. Where the skin remained intact, one could piece out blue ink from a tattoo.

"IDIOT!" Zora shouted at the navigator. She grabbed a ring of keys and grabbed the knife from Niko's hands. The blade was in between her fingers as she pulled it away from his hands. Blood from her own starts to drip and combine with Niko's own blood. "Come on, idiot!" The green haired plunged a key into the lock and freed Niko from his prison.

The boy did not move from his spot. He stayed there looking at the ground with his hand still up in the air as if it still held the knife. Zora didn't have any time for this and carried Niko out of his cell. The weight caused her chest to hurt from the attack that happened a day ago.

She took the keys and handed them to Johnny as the other two escaped from their cells. "Zora-sis!" the two cheered, "You're our savior!"

"Cut that shit out. It was Luffy who ordered me to save you guys." She shook off their thanks and ran back up the stairs.

Johnny started a river of tears as the two followed Zora, who went the wrong way. "Left!" Urika uttered.

"This is left!"

"Then your mother left!"

It took them a few moments to get outside. Johnny and Yosaku cheered in their reunion, as Urika and then dragged Niko onto the side. Nojiko's eyes widened as blood ran down Niko's arms. "Your...tattoo..." She placed her fingers on top of her own tattoos that she had gotten because of Niko's set.

Niko barely paid attention to his sister as he took the scene in. Arlong and Luffy were dueling on top of the tower. Zora blocked an attack which was aimed for Savi, who was busy fighting another guy. Urika stood by her side and took out her slingshot. "Don't worry! Captain Urika is here!"

The one enemy who was going in between Savi and Zora plucked his lips together when a pellet hit his lip. Urika gulped as soon as he laid eyes on her. "It was him!" she pointed to Johnny.

"I don't have a slingshot!"

"Oh...oh yeah," she looked down at her slingshot to the fishman, who was charging forward. "THIS IS NOT THE PIRATE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR!" She hopped up and ran out the hole in the wall, passing several villagers, with the fishman hot on her trail.

"Johnny! Yosaku! Your swords!" The green haired swordswoman ordered as she tried to block with her single sword against six others. The two bounty hunters obeyed and threw their broadswords at her. She caught them in time before Hatchan could attack while her guard was down. His six swords clashed against her three. The sunlight glinted in their eyes as she took on the fishman.

Luffy punched through the ceiling and landed inside of the tower. This looked like storage. Arlong followed him through the hole, and soon the two disappeared from everyone's sight. Smiles of triumph also disappeared from their faces as dust filled the air above the tower. "What do you think is happening?" Nojiko questioned with wide eyes.

"He's...going to...my room...?" He lifted his eyebrow at Luffy's actions. He didn't even know how the rubber captain got here, nor did the rubber boy know about the happenings within this village. He was just an outsider. Niko shook his head and stood up. His shoulder was now bandaged thanks to the villager's doctor, but his knife and ax was nowhere to be seen. These outsiders were fighting for him, yet he couldn't even fight one of them.

'I will kill you.'

He kicked a rock on the ground. He couldn't even touch Arlong. And it didn't look like Luffy was going to do any better than him. Even Urika, the coward, was fighting for him. Just what could he do other than sit there and watch others fighting for him.

Savi glanced back at Niko with sympathy in her eyes. "O~ Son of the sea~" No reaction came from Niko, which disheartened the blond chef.

"Don't drop your guard!" the blue fishman stated. He darted into the water, away from Savi's sight. "Huh?" she muttered as water came spiraling towards her. She dodged out of the water, but more shots were fired as he stayed within the water.

"These people...they are your friends?"

Niko paused before nodding. His eyes became watery as he thought. He told Luffy off, but the boy stayed and fought for him. No matter how much he denies it, these were his friends. He only had one other friend in his life, and it was Nojiko.

Zora had a slight difficulty keeping up with the six-armed fishman. She could feel her chest thumping against the bandages as she dodged each of his attacks.

"Roronoa Zoro! Do you know I'm very strong against swordsmen? Do you understand what I say?"

"How can I understand that?!" She slashed down with one side, and he tried to block it with his three pairs of hands. The sword went through them and hit him against his head. He gulped as he held onto his head. "I don't have time to play with you! Why don't you just die?!"

She fell onto the ground. Savi gasped, "Her wound!" But, something as small as a wound didn't stop her from lifting herself from the ground; she was going to finish this match even if blood streamed from her mouth. She picked up all three swords and tied her bandanna round her forehead, brushing her hair back from her eyes. She was moments away from passing out and the fever didn't help either.

"Idiot!" Savi shouted at the green haired. "You should be resting!"

Zora charged forward and the three swords slashed his body.

"SHE GOT HIM!" Yosaku shouted, while Johnny was in tears.

The fight continued, as well as the one that went on inside of the building. Luffy stood in the tower, looking around the room. This was almost an exact copy like the one Nami had. "It's his room..." he mumbled under his break.

"I intend to keep Niko in this room to make accurate sea charts until she dies, or I have no more use for him. I've always fed him, dressed him, and shown him the world. I will provide everything he needs as long as he continues writing those maps for me. Because we are friends."

"That's not how friendship works!"

"I have been the only one he had! I raised him with my own hands! Without me, he wouldn't be anything!"

"Nothing?" Luffy repeated as his eyebrow rose. "You have been using Niko to write maps for you!"

Arlong eyes were bloodlust as he heard the moans of pain coming from his comrades outside of the tower. Each echo was louder than the last. This was the last straw. "How dare you...beat up my beloved crew and storm into my home... It seems like I've been too easy on you!"

Luffy turned around and pumped his fist, "Really?" Instead of hitting Arlong, his fist expanded and broke through the wall of the room.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!"

"This should have been gone from the start!" He remembers all of the tears and blood his own Nami had within this room, and Niko had the same. His arm did a full circle until he came to a stop while Arlong grabbed his arm. His claws went through the rubber skin as blood started to drip. "YOU MADE NIKO CRY!" He finished the circle and the room came falling down on top of them. The whole tower collapsed on top of itself.

And soon, the two were piled within the debris. Luffy was the first to stand out as he looked around. Did Arlong really go down that easy? Was he really that stronger?

His answers were soon answered when Arlong lifted his arm up from the debris and grabbed Luffy's legs. "GUM GUM NO AX!" He raised his foot and stomped Arlong back into the debris. He turned and looked at the orange haired, "YOU ARE MY FRIEND, NIKO!"

"Yes!" Niko grinned under tears.

"LUFFY!" Zora shouted as she threw a piece of a broken desk from on top of her. Luffy stood on top of her.

"Oh, hey Zoro!" he smiled with a chuckle.

"You...defeated...Arlong..." Niko muttered through his fingers.

"Damn right," he grinned his famous smile.

...

All of them stood on board the Going Merry, even the two bounty hunters who were without transportation. Luffy and Urika waved to the villagers, while Zora rested from her battle wounds.

"Is Niko-san coming?" Savi questioned as she leaned over the railing. Her eyes traveled through the crowd of villagers, looking for their male companion. She only saw the navigator once, but her heart was already taken from first sight; the same way that happened when she saw Luffy for the first time.

"He will be here," Luffy smiled and patted Savi's shoulder. As soon as his hand contacted her shoulders, she melted onto the deck. The rubber captain didn't know why, but things were changed this time around. Not only did Niko take Merry away sooner, but it took him longer to get to the island, where everything was happening without him. Is it because he stayed on the Baratie too long? Or were his days shorter than he originally thought. He imminently stopped this train of thought as sweat dripped down his nose.

A dot ran through the streets with a small sack over his shoulders. "RAISE THE ANCHOR!" Niko called as he raced down the dirt path.

"Oi, you heard her," Luffy glanced back, and Savi was already lifting it out of the water.

The villagers weren't so pleased with Niko racing away from them without saying anything. Some even tried to stop him to say goodbye. He passed all of them and jumped from the dock onto the deck of the ship. Instead of a swift landing, he landed right into Savi and the two ended up knocking into Zora. "Oi!" Zora yelled as she tried to get out of the pile of bodies.

"Niko-swan~" Sanji uttered with a bloody nose.

Niko hopped onto his feet and went to the railing, lifting his shirt while all kinds of wallets fell onto the ground. "Wish you luck!" he smiled back at his sister and family friend.

"YOU LITTLE THIEF!"

"GOODBYE EVERYONE! SEE YOU LATER!" The navigator yelled back.

Urika's mouth dropped, "He...never changes..."

"Is he going to betray us again?" The swordswoman suggested.

"Niko-san is so cool~!" Savi had hearts in her eyes as she swirled from one side to the other. Zora was moments away from slapping some sense into the small blonde cook.

"Is he?" Johnny uttered, which earned a smack from Niko. The man grunted as he bit his tongue. "Ouch!"

Luffy just laughed. None of them had a clue. The villagers screamed for their wallets. Just like last time. Luffy's eyes opened up as he forgot something. "Oh! Niko!" Niko raised his head up and looked at his captain.

"You...say Niko..." He lifted his eyebrow.

"Yeah?" He shrugged his shoulders and turned to Savi, "Well, here's our che-"

The blond girl didn't even wait to be introduced as she started cooing at the young navigator. "I'm Savi~! Nice to meet you~ If you want anything~ Just tell me and I will get it for you~ Niko-swan~!" She even had a name picked out for him; not the best that he would have hoped.

Niko lifted his eyebrow at the new crew member. Even if they only just met, the chef already fell for his charm, as well as any other males. This was a very sudden change for Niko, who usually had to lure females to look the other direction.

Luffy grabbed Urika by the shoulder, "And this is our sharpshooter, Urika!" He gestured at the longnose woman in his grip.

The swirly-brow cook looked over at Luffy without her flirtatious smile, "I don't care about girls," she stated firmly.

"HEY!" The longnose girl stood up and pointed her finger at her. "Are you trying to pick a fight?!" The two banged heads.

"That means Savi-sis!" Yosaku frowns.

"Is it~?" She blinked at the man in the headgear. He fell under her charm imminently.

"Oh, you two don't have to fight over me. There's enough to go around," Niko smirked.

The longnose backed away several steps and raised her finger. "As if I would fight over you!" This earned a growl from Savi. "Hey Luffy! Why did you pick her?!" She turned and looked at her laughing captain, but the answer never came. Urika stood there by the railings as a groan escaped her lips. Just like Zora, she already knew that Savi was going to be trouble.

Johnny and Yosaku turned to stare at the straw hat boy, "Thank you for allowing us to join until the next island."

"Sure thing!"

Four tangerine trees were planted on the upper deck.

Guest1: Why does it seem like all main villains in East Blue sucks (other than Buggy)? Like, it's always the firstmate who gives a good impression (like Hatchan, Jango, Gin). And yeah, next chapter will shine through with Merry!