Chapter eight huh. Didn't think I'd make it this far if I'm being honest. Forewarning, more AU events will happen in this chapter. The warning I put here is because it's a large impactful change.
Marek chuckled to himself, feeling Mihawk's arrival to the Baratie. 'He's got potential, don't go wiping it out eh Mihawk.' He soon became serious as he trailed Nami from a distance, barely keeping the Merry within eyesight, instead following her aura through Observation.
He extended his senses to see if he could tell where she was going. He frowned softly, "Conomi Islands… isn't that where Bellemere is? It's been awhile since I've seen her." Despite his words, he had a harrowing feeling in his gut. He went to grab his jacket before a deadpan hit in. 'My chest was on the Merry. God damn it.'
An hour later
He saw her pull into a large bay, which he narrowed his eyes at. "That looks a lot like Sabaody." He saw a village not too far to the south and landed there at the port.
He got up off the ship, wearing a red Hawaiian shirt with flowers, much like his grandfather did when he stopped by. He had on a pair of sharp pants that were black. He walked through Cocoyashi Village, looking on in concern.
'This place looks like a mess compared to when I was here years ago. What happened?' He thought before seeing a few fishmen thugs roughing up a shopkeeper. His eyes widened slightly at seeing fishmen in this sea, not expecting any to be out of the Grand Line.
'That isn't normal. Jinbe would know if someone was here.' He saw one about to punch the shopkeeper, something about not paying his dues before he stepped in and caught the fist.
"That's not very nice of you. I'm sure if he had more time, he would gladly pay whatever he's owed." Marek said with narrowed eyes, the shopkeeper looking on in fear as the two fishmen stared in shock at a puny human catching his fist.
Marek smiled softly, a dangerous feeling behind it. "Now I'm sure you'll let him go, right?" The two fishmen nodded rapidly, feeling fear in fighting this individual and decided to leave it to the boss and ran off.
Marek sighed softly before picking up a few fruits that were knocked over as the shopkeeper shook in fear. 'That look….' Marek shook his head in anger. "Excuse me, but do you know where Genzo is? I need to talk to him."
The man nodded shakily, pointing out to a nearby building. Marek smiled and left the man who proceeded to run into his store and mutter about packing up.
Marek opened the doors and yelled slightly, "Oy, old man Genzo!" He looked around the place, noticing it was empty. He hummed to himself before leaving. He decided to walk around town for a bit before he saw Nami walk up to the hills.
'Wait, that's where Bellemere lived…' Marek followed her before after a few minutes arriving at the old house of Bellemere. Marek clenched his head softly.
Flashback
"Marek, I'd like you to meet my adopted daughters. Their names are Nojiko and Nami." Bellemere told him with a cheek grin, the young lad being only about fourteen at the time. He blinked slightly, seeing the two young girls.
"I didn't think you had it in you to be a mother, Sergeant. You certainly don't exude that aura of responsibility, usually putting me off to someone like Commodore Jonathan." Marek said, rubbing the back of his head.
She decked him upside the head, causing him to fall to the ground with shark teeth. "What the hell is that supposed to mean you little brat!" Nami hid behind Nojiko who giggled at the sight.
Marek rubbed his head, groaning in pain. "It's what I said, you're not responsible! You kept flashing me when you trained me, trying to sneak magazines to me and all that other kind of junk!"
Bellemere grinned, "I'm just making sure you're ready for your special someone! Besides, I do that all the time with Genzo, and his reactions are hilarious compared to yours. You don't even react to it." She pouted softly.
Marek sweatdropped, 'How am I the response one when I'm both younger and a lower rank than her?' "Besides, I figured you'd like this private training time. It'd be easier than having to train under those crazy devil fruit jerks and your grandfather."
Marek nodded quickly. 'Oh definitely.' "So what's the training?" Bellemere smiled softly. "Girls, go back to the house for now." Nami and Nojiko nodded, running off to go play.
"I know I don't look it, Marek, but the training you'll be doing is protection detail." Marek tilted his head in confusion with a simple "eh?" leaving his lips. "We don't just go out looking for pirates, some are stationed at bases designed to protect cities and village, sometimes even countries that are most at risk from pirates. What you'll be learning is how the people respond to our presence, and what it means to truly protect the innocent."
Flashback end
Marek let go of his head, seeing the old house. Genzo and a much older Nojiko came out of the house. 'Nami must be getting stuff together.' They noticed him and Genzo had a surprised look on his face while Nojiko had a soft but pained smile.
"It's been a long time Marek." She said softly as he walked up to him. She hugged him softly, surprising Genzo as Marek hugged back softly. "Yeah, it has, you little squirt."
Genzo smiled softly before placing a hand on his shoulder. "What brings you here lad?" "Nami did." Their eyebrows shot up. "Nami?"
Marek laughed softly, "I'm not here to arrest her. My brother founded her and practically made her his navigator. I just followed her to see where she was going, but now I know." Marek looked at the sheriff. "Got yourself a bit of a fishman problem, where's the marines?"
Seeing the uncomfortable look, Marek looked around. "Where's Bellemere?" Nojiko looked down, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes. Marek's eyes narrowed, "Where's Bellemere?" He repeated, his anger rising as he felt the gut feeling come back.
Nojiko gripped his hand and led him up the hill further, to a beautiful view of the ocean with a wooden gravesite. He grit his teeth. "No….." He said softly, walking up to the gravesite. He dropped to his knees, tears spilling out of his eyes. "Not another one." Nojiko's tears flowed as she watched him clench his fists tightly before Usopp came running up. He saw the scene and a somber look appeared on his face, remembering his mother's own death.
After a few minutes, Marek stood up as he wiped his tears away. "Nojiko, did Nami bring a chest up here from her latest trip?" "Y-yes why?" Marek's eyes narrowed as he walked past them. "It's my chest, with only one way to unlock it. It was a gift from Bellemere, to keep my stuff safe."
They followed him back to the house before he walked in after Nojiko. "There, on the floor. She was adamant about getting it open but couldn't." Marek pulled out the key from his shirt and unlocked the chest. Opening it up, there was no treasure, but instead Marek's vice admiral uniform. "Give me some time to get changed, please."
Nojiko nodded and left the room. As he was changing from his vacation attire, of which he used as a disguise to hide the fact that he was an inspector from Marineford, he heard a marine captain by the name of Nezumi talking to Nojiko and Genzo.
After donning his white buttoned shirt, blue dress pants and his vice admiral jacket, he exited the house. "Is there a problem here, Captain Nezumi?"
The rat-faced man shuddered in fear. "W-w-w-who are you?" Marek crossed his arms. "Vice Admiral Marek here as an inspector for Fleet Admiral Sengoku." Nojiko and Genzo's eyes widened significantly. "Tell me Nezumi, was my arrival a surprise? It shouldn't have been, as you acknowledged the fact that I would be arriving."
Nezumi sweated in absolute fear, as Marek's eyes narrowed. "Fishman pirates are here; you are aware of that right?" He shook his head as Nojiko yelled out. "He's a liar! He somehow knew of Nami sailing around and stealing from pirates to claim the 100 million beri!"
Nezumi scowled before shaking in fear as Marek's rage grew. "Nojiko, who was it that invaded here? Who are these fishmen led by that killed Sergeant Bellemere?" "His name is Arlong."
Marek's eyes narrowed. "Arlong huh. I know of him; he'll be taken care of soon enough." Marek's eyes gained an amused expression as the marine soldiers all took aim at him, cocking their guns.
Nezumi's fearful expression turned confident as he sneered. "Oh I'm sure you would, if not for the fact that you're surrounded by me and my men. I'll just tell the higher-ups that you were taken down by Arlong." Marek laughed as it unnerved the men. "I'm a Vice Admiral, do you really think you and your corrupt grunts can take me down? If I wanted to, you'd all be dead now. Stand down or suffer the consequences."
Marek's hands shots up at the two rifles closest to him, pointing them up in the air before elbowing the two men, grabbing the one rifle as he jumped up in the air, the men missing their shots.
He slammed it against the next closest, before throwing it away as he made short work of the marine grunts, causing Nezumi to shrink back in fear. Nojiko and Genzo both felt a sliver of hope start to rise up in them.
"Genzo, tie these traitors up." Marek said before walking to Nezumi who promptly passed out. "They'll all be in Impel Down or executed for their crimes." Marek started to walk down to the village before Nojiko stopped him.
"Marek, wait! You can't take them down! They killed Bellemere, they'll kill you too!" Marek's eyes were shadowed. "How long Nojiko." Nojiko whimpered, looking up at him. "How long have you and this village suffered? How long has Nami suffered? The suffering must end. Bellemere taught me that a good marine is capable of chasing down pirates, but a great marine is one that can protect the innocent and bring hope to a lost soul."
Nojiko covered her mouth as tears started to leak from her eyes as he stepped around her. Marek cracked his knuckles, his vice admiral's jacket flowing in the wind on his shoulders. Instead of the usual kanji for justice on his jacket, the kanji for "Hero of Justice" was on it.
(Insert Heart of Courage by Two Steps From Hell)
Marek walked through the village, ignoring the looks he was getting from people. Some were looking at him in fear, but many more were looking at him with hope. They started to form a crowd and followed him, to Arlong Park.
At the same time
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and the bounty hunter duo of Johnny and Yosaku had arrived on a small ship, supplied by the Baratie after the earlier three's defense of the Baratie. Luffy looked and saw a crowd following someone. "Eh? Where's Nami?"
Sanji swooned, "Nami-swan! I'm here to save you!" The five got off the small boat as Sanji quickly rushed towards the crowd, the others following suit. The crowd stopped as the figure they were following had reached a massive looking gate. They parted through the crowd to see Marek's cape flowing wildly, whether it be from his rage or wind.
Marek didn't look at them but spoke up. "Luffy, I know this fight should be yours, considering Nami is your navigator." Luffy went to spoke up before Marek looked back at him, a look of sorrow and rage in his eye. "But Nami's mother, Bellemere, was my teacher before Nami was your navigator. This is personal for me, not just as a marine, but as a woman who I considered an aunt."
Sanji lit a cigarette and took a puff of it. "Do what you have to, we'll keep the crowd away." Marek nodded in appreciation, before looking at the giant gate.
"What a mockery." He said lowly, "Of that hated place, the slave markets of Sabaody Archipelago." He walked up to it before bringing his fist back and punching it, bringing the whole gate down. The crowd's eyes widened as Johnny and Yosaku's jaws dropped.
He walked through the dust in contempt. "Arlong! I've come to claim your head you fishman bastard!" Arlong, from his throne, glared at the human. "And why is that hmm?"
"For your crimes against the people of Cocoyashi Village, and throughout the Conomi Islands, as well as the grave injustices you dealt out while a member of the Sun Pirates led by the late Fisher Tiger, you are herby sentence to Impel Down, and eventual execution with no hopes of salvation." Marek declared, making Arlong's eyes widen at the mention of his old captain before delivering a straight left to Marek's face.
Marek didn't move from the spot, his face only turning, before he straightened it and stared deathly at the captain of the Arlong Pirates. "Jinbe is ashamed of what you've become."
Arlong scowled, "Don't you mention that traitor to me! He sold out his people to be a government dog, like you! You're just a puny human! We fishmen are ten times stronger than any human!"
Marek chuckled lowly, "Borsalino." Arlong raised an eyebrow in confusion. "When you were sent to Impel Down after Fisher Tiger's death, Borsalino was the one who captured you. Vice Admiral Borsalino. He is now Admiral Kizaru, and one of my trainers."
Marek reached up, grabbing Arlong's arm and threw him towards the large castle of Arlong Park. Everyone was shocked by the sheer fact that Marek managed to do so.
Marek cracked his knuckles, "For those of you who are wondering, I am Vice Admiral Monkey D. Marek. "Silver Hand," "Hero of the People" and I will not let this injustice go unpunished!"
The crowd cheered as the fishmen growled, surrounding him. Marek took a glance at them, numbering about one hundred. He let out a calming breath, starting to slide back into a stance before three presences joined him.
"Oy, Marek. We're not going to let you handle this all by yourself. You may have Arlong to yourself, but Nami's still our navigator, our nakama." Zoro said, holding Wado close to him and ready.
Luffy had a serious expression. "I may have wanted Arlong for him hurting Nami and making her cry, but it seems he's hurt you just as much as her, although indirectly."
Sanji took a puff of his cigarette. "We'll take the small fry; you handle the big man."
Marek nodded, walking past them as he watched Arlong pull himself up out of the castle. "You hate how us "humans" treat fishmen, Arlong, but you never even realized that not everyone even knows fishmen exist. Only the nobles and those of the Grand Line even know about them."
"So you punish an island of innocents for your hatred, your agony, your rage. All because you can't let go of that hatred." Marek stated before Arlong jumped up with nose aimed at Marek.
"Shark on Darts!" Arlong roared out in rage as Marek threw out a fist, a tremendous boom being heard. "You would be here in the weakest sea. No one could possibly stand up to you here unless someone were to come home." Marek said sharply, his fist not even bleeding as they were evenly matched.
Arlong's eyes widened before being sent back as Marek's other fist rammed his face with a solid left hook. He bounced off the ground, landing on his stomach as he spit up blood and teeth.
Marek's eyes narrowed in rage, "Get up you piece of shit. I'm not done with you yet." Arlong got up slowly, grabbing his teeth and putting them on his hands. Rushing at Marek, he did everything in his power to hit or bite him.
Marek just sidestepped and dodged all of Arlong's attacks. "Where's the might that you showed during your time with the Sun Pirates? Or maybe you didn't have any power at all; maybe it was all Jinbe and Fisher Tiger."
"DON'T YOU SPEAK OF THEM YOU PATHETIC HUMAN!" Arlong roared with bloodlust before Marek grabbed both of Arlong's fists, clenching them. Arlong scowled in pain before Marek headbutt him, slamming a knee into his stomach and an elbow on his back.
Arlong coughed up more blood before Marek grabbed him by his shirt. "I'm not the pathetic one here. Are you out of tools and tricks yet? Because if this is your full power, it's disappointing."
Marek threw him back to the castle, creating another hole as he watched on. Sanji seemed to be handling the ray fishman pretty well, Zoro was holding his own against Hatchan as well as he could with his injury and only one sword. Marek looked to see if he could Luffy and he was sitting on one of the other officers with a bored expression.
"Marek! Why didn't you let me handle Arlong? My fight was so boring!" Luffy pouted with his arms crossed. Marek chuckled softly, "Marine business and it was personal. For you it was just personal Loof." Luffy's eyes widened as he saw Arlong, battered and bruised, come out of the castle with a giant sword.
"Call me pathetic….. you insufferable human…." Arlong panted out with bated breath, becoming more enraged at seeing that accursed justice kanji on Marek's coat. He ran at him with the sword drawn and over his head, slashing down at him.
Marek turned around and with his arm turning a silver color, raised it up and blocked the sword. Arlong grit his teeth, hiding his shock. "H-h-haki?!" The sword shattered as the crowd gasped.
Marek looked disappointed, "That was your last shot huh?" Marek grabbed Arlong and threw him up in the air and jumped up with him. Wrapping his arms around with him and starting to rotate him, they started to descend towards Arlong Park.
"W-what are you doing?!" Arlong yelled frantically. "Seismic impact." Marek stated calmly before releasing Arlong halfway through the descent, sending him flying through the building as it crashed down around Arlong.
Marek landed on the ground away from the building with an earthquake crash, showing that he was unharmed. Marek crossed his arms. "That was for Bellemere, you son of a bitch." Marek muttered, seeing that the clouds had cleared. He looked up at the shinning sky with tears filling up in his eyes. 'I'm sorry I couldn't be here to stop them Bellemere, but I've avenged you.'
Nami looked on in shock, falling back on her rear. "T-they did it…" She muttered numbly, Luffy's hat on her head. Luffy grinned. "Nami! We will always be Nakama!" Nami teared up and nodded, covering her mouth.
Marek chuckled softly before letting out a full blown laugh. "Ahahahaha!" He raised a fist up in the air, his hand still shining silver. "The Conomi Islands are free!" The crowd cheered and some threw their hats up in the air.
Marek smiled softly, noticing a foot sticking out of the wreckage, pulled it and pulled out Arlong's unconscious body. "Oy, Genzo, I'm going to need a Den-Den."