I slowly recovered from the knock out. My tired eyes gradually opening at a snail's pace. I leaned against the grey wall that surrounded the battlefield, my heart slamming against my chest when I heard Luffy announce something awkward.

"I don't know how to fight with swords," he began, "I can't lie, I can't cook, I can't swim or flip around with style, and I can't navigate." The dark haired boy glanced around and then straight ahead of himself.

"That is why I can't survive without my friends, but with them," he grinned mischievously, "I can win and be the Pirate King!"

I was in some pain, but relieved to see that Luffy was alright. The blue merman had hit me so hard that I could already see bruises forming on my stomach and I additionally felt some of them on my back. I glanced back up from my tummy, flinching at my own movements. Luffy was already fighting with his new found enemy while the rest of us - Sanji, Zoro, Usopp, Nami, and I – watched in awe. Everyone was cheering for him.

"Go Straw-Hat!" one of the people yelled out.

"Luffy!"

"Batir que los peces!" I yelled, hoping that he heard it. Some people stopped shouting and looked at me in confusion, staring at me in bewilderment about what I had said. I just said "Hit those fishes". Others did not really care at that moment in time, the villagers wanting nothing more than to be free. Suddenly the large building collapsed and fell into itself, the rubble spreading across the battlefield. Everyone including me just stared at it in amazement, wondering what had happened.

'Luffy, be okay,' I thought inwardly, worry bubbling in my abdomen. For me, what I really did believe was that Luffy never lost and always kept his promises. There wasn't one he ever broke. I was lucky to have him as a captain and I felt kind of special knowing that he had chosen me and Sanji.

Luffy stood tall and we cheered even louder. It took me a few moments to realize that our Captain had won and honestly said I was gob-smacked. Arlong was finally defeated! At long last his terror stopped. While we began celebrating in loud laughter, a few marines stepped into the scene, a big smile spread across the Leaders face. Why these entire soldiers were here and where were they during the battle?

"Stop the celebration," the front man exclaimed loudly, "there is nothing here worth for such an occasion," he sniggered.

Everyone blinked, a few scratching their heads. Who was this man? He seemed very weird, looked odd since his face resembled that of a rat and was dressed in a marine's lieutenant outfit which did not suit him. Everyone was staring at him and his eerie demeanor.

The squad behind him stood still, no motion coming from them.

"This is my lucky day," the weirdo glanced around eagerly.

"I had the pleasure of seeing this fight from the beginning to the end. No one is going to believe that an unknown pirate crew defeated those mermen," he laughed quietly, smiling happily in the process, "so the win is all for me!"

I growled a bit, not very amused with his attitude. He had the nerve to say all this in front of us, literally into our faces! Why hadn't he stepped in to help us? Or even…save the village before hand? How long had this wacko been here? And why…

Near by eyebrows perked upwards and the swordsman Zoro got up from his former resting position. He leisurely walked toward the Marine unnoticed, a bored look gracing his features.

"Because of you I will be rich," the male seemed to exaggerate a lot, "every single Beli of Arlong will be mine to take!" He got back some of his former dignity as he calmed himself…not that it was a lot to begin with, but.

"Everyone drop your weapons! I, Commander Nezumi of Unit Sixteen will be happy to accept all the treasure!" he grinned at the last word, but Zoro's appearance made him squeal. He made a scary face.

"Everyone is pretty happy at the moment," the green haired swordfighter stated, cracking his knuckles.

"So don't ruin the mood," he added and started to beat the living day lights out of him. His small troupe stared at the scene for a while, but then tried to help their 'beloved' captain. Sanji rolled his eyes and Luffy smiled with that large mouth of his.

They walked towards the group and started to take them apart just as roughly. After the good beating the Marine Soldiers didn't look all too thrilling with all the bruises, a few moans of pain echoing through the air. The insane Rat- Faced Man started to shout out random insults, talking trash all the way along after they were done.

"I will remember this and make your lives miserable," he mumbled out of his bruised lips, "you won't get away from me that easily!"

"Not on my watch," I replied as I stood up slowly, my lips curling upwards. Nami and I looked at each other and we both smirked devilishly. We knew exactly what we were about to do.

"This is for shooting Nojiko," she looked down at him dangerously, "and for destroying the orange farm my mother worked so hard for," Nami added! She swung her staff and sent the lieutenant flying into the ocean. When he managed to re-surface and swim back to shore, I pulled on to his whiskers and punched him three times. Damn, that felt good.

"That was just for watching this town being ruled and threatened by mermen," I felt angry, especially since he had actually known what had been going on.

"And watching us doing all the work that you should have done eight years ago!" I exclaimed loudly. I was about to punch him again but Nami held me back. I still had a grip on his whiskers though and really didn't want to let go. Nami squatted next to me. He groaned a bit.

"You have to rebuild the village after you get rid of the mermen," she stated abruptly.

"You don't have the right to touch any of Arlong's money because it belongs to the villagers! Oh, and one more thing…," she smiled sweetly until her expression changed to fury, "give me my money back you darn retard!"

I frowned and tipped to the side a little. 'Nami must love her money and oranges a lot,' I thought to myself, 'otherwise she wouldn't really do that.' At least I knew what to give her for a present in future. Wrap an orange in a Beli note and she would be happy.

I let go of the bruised male, his men snatching their captain before leaving abruptly, making threats in the process. He constantly called out to us that he would never forget this fight, but I couldn't help but wonder how such a man was able to work for the Marine Headquarters.

When no one was looking, I placed my hands directly on my knees, my breathing increasing tremendously. These bruises began to take their toll on me and it did not feel very pleasant at all. 'Never again will I fight underwater...' I thought to myself. I was glad this fight was over.

Later that night, the village started to celebrate the end of Arlong's rule, the doctor of this town treating Zoro, Sanji, Luffy, while looking at my bruises. He gave me a strong smelling cream and a few fresh bandages to make sure that it would heal.

I sat down far away from the party and just watched the village celebrate. The children were laughing and smiling, dancing along with the rest. The adults started to move and play music. Everyone was jumping around the bonfire and enjoying this new era of freedom.

Luffy and Zoro were drinking beer, the swordsman downing one glass after another. Nami was having fun dancing with her older sister while Sanji was flirting with all the different women. Usopp had taken a seat and was telling stories to the children about his great adventures.

I looked up to the clear sky, seeing thousands of stars. They looked very much like the ones at home, only brighter. I smiled warmly, happy that it was all over. I wondered if I would celebrate if I ever got home…'if' was the right word…

Then, someone behind me called my name and I slowly turned my head. I gazed upwards and saw that it was Tsuki. How did she know where to find me? She was looking at me with a weird face. Her eyes were not showing any emotions, but I saw tear stains on her cheeks. I was not fully prepared for what was going to happen next.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T GO BACK?" I yelled at her. Tears were flowing down my face. Slowly but surely my heart was tearing apart. My mind was scrambled. I couldn't concentrate anymore. I stood there in the middle of a road leading away from town. The fields were on either side of us. Tsuki just stood there, telling me lies. I knew they were lies.

"Angelina, I am sorry, but I am telling you that there is no hope for you. You are staying here in this world for the rest of your life…" Tsuki said with some compassion.

My lips quivered. The very thought of staying here, being a pirate and with, no hope of going back to my family. More tears washed down my chin. My knees buckled and I fell down to the floor on my knees.

"Why…why me and now…what about that Ghost Guy, huh? Doesn't he mean anything?" I questioned. I looked into her eyes. She closed them quickly for a bit and reopened them. She sighed.

"There is no way back," she beckoned to me, "don't make this hard, I just don't have enough power to send you back home. My sister can only bring people here and I use to be able to send them back." She sighed, placing a lose piece of her hair to the side.

"When you were working, I was actually looking for him for you…" She seemed disheartened and continued, "I found his tombstone in Chevron Island. It seems like that he died this year, six months ago."

My eyes widened. 'That was when I was found on Shell Island,' I thought to myself, frowning a little inside. I did not say anything.

"I came to Baratie to tell you that, but it seemed that you had ventured off. They told me where you had gone which was here." She looked at me sternly, yet friendly.

"...so come along now," she hushed quietly, "I will take care of you in this world. Now your life will consist of my library shop at Bracken Isle." she said, walking down the lonely road.

I bit my lip harshly to maintain myself. I wiped my tears away with my arm and stood up. I took a step, then another one, slowly following after her. I heard the town still celebrating, a few fireworks erupting in the sky. I looked back once and then heard Tsuki call my name. My eyes hardened. I would not leave Sanji there. Even though he freaked me out most of the time, he made me feel safe and at home. Same goes with Usopp, Nami, and even Zoro.

Although they were weird and unusual, they reminded me of my family and friends. I was part of Luffy's crew now, wasn't I? I bet my bottom dollar that when Luffy found out that I was missing, he would look for me. I glanced back at Tsuki; she was waiting for me not too far off. I smiled a bit.

"Sorry, Tsuki," I began, "but it seems that I have different plans than you," I added calmly, stepping back slowly. She on the other hand tilted her head slightly, confusion showing in her expression.

"It hurts me to know that I can't go back to where I come from. My heart is tearing in to two. I will miss my family and friends. But, I have new friends already and I plan to travel the world, practicing my swimming and gymnastics skills, making fashion trends and…" I took a deep breath and smiled. Tears were running down slowly. I looked back to her.

"….to be a pirate with them. I know that the world is dangerous, but I think that I am safer with my friends than with you." Tsuki looked hurt at that, "it is not you that makes it unsafe, but in this world there is no police, no real cops, FBI, CIA, or anything like that, just the Marines and World government," I took a deep breath.

"And let us just say that they are 'slightly' corrupt." I saw her nod. I knew that she would let me go, that I could live freely, truly into this world. She just had to. She sighed and rubbed her forehead.

"Fine, do as you please, but heed this. I will find a way to get you back home at any cost, so don't give up on that. Be careful when you travel as well. This world is very dangerous for a girl like you," she warned me, coming up to me.

I did not expect for her to hug me so tightly. For a moment I froze. She held me like my mother would. Her head went up to my shoulders, though. I hugged back tightly. For a second I pretended that she was my mother and in that moment alone I felt content.

"Thank you," I whispered into her ear. We hugged each other for a bit longer, but then she let go of me slowly.

"If you are going to be a pirate, at least carry this with you all of the time," Tsuki stated, pulling something out of her jacket.

"Why are you giving me a dagger?" I questioned when she held it in front of my face. The sheath was plain, black and small. It was probably the size of my hand. I took the dangerous object from her grasp and pulled it out of the sheath. It was sharp and shiny, almost fascinating. It had a very keen point and the hilt was covered in white leather.

"If you are going to be a pirate, at least arm yourself with something," she told me strictly, "you know what, give me this," she suddenly had changed her mind, grabbing the dagger and stuffing it back into her pocket. I sighed a bit in relief, but I eased up too soon. She placed a small gun into my right palm.

"No. No and no," I uttered in bewilderment, pressing the weapon back into her own hands.

"I will never use that," I added loudly, turning in my heels and walking back to town.

"Angelina, take this gu-" I cut her off.

"Bye Tsuki, got to go, party, friends, crew…the usual, need to be there," I almost panicked, running away from her. I didn't want to become a pirate like Don Kreig. It just felt wrong.

I kept going until I had reached the party. I knew this would hit me harder after tonight; the shock only eases the pain for a little while. I hoped that the others wouldn't notice my change in mood and that I could handle the truth even after this evening...

"This will be hard…"

Tsuki put her gun back where it was. She thought that Angelina would at least take the gun, but then she thought. 'Angelina is a naïve girl, a disaster waiting to happen...at least until she stand in front of the danger herself.' Tsuki turned around and walked away from the village, going back to research.

She hoped that she would find a way to bring Angelina back. When she found out that Jimmy 'Ghost' Emaki was dead, she denied it, but she had seen the tombstone and she had read his name with her own eyes. He was not kidding when he said the World Government was after him.