BROTHER ON BOARD
Lunapok - Glad you liked it. But you're going to have to wait a bit longer than normal for the next chapter. I wrote a message explaining why at the end of the chapter.
Hiezen - Yeah, Ace x Nojiko is a thing. It's actually a fairly popular One Piece ship despite the fact that they've never met and haven't shared one second of screen time together. The fishman shipwright wasn't mentioned in canon. None of the fishmen that Usopp fought were officially named in the series itself. But Oda likes to go back and give names to the background characters. I took the basic information Oda provided and managed to make characters.
rasEnshur1KEn - Human perseverance and hard work beats superior genetics yet again. Sabo beating his opponents first has been coincidences so far. Mohji attacked first when they dealt with Buggy and Zoro was half dead during his fight with Hachi so he was moving slower. When Zoro beats an opponent first once they get to the Grand Line he'll be sure to rub it in Sabo's face.
The Patient One - Thanks!
lostdog200 - Pixels was awful. I have no intention of watching or listening to anything that will remind me of it. You want to see a good video game movie? I recommend Hardcore Henry. It plays out like you're watching someone play a first person shooter. But fair warning, it earns that hard 'R' rating with crazy violence, language and nudity. I'm not sure what my Jolly Roger would look like but Sabo's would be the smiling Straw Hat-style skull wearing his top hat and an Advanced Wheel-Lock Rifle with added scope and custom revolving action replacing one of the crossbones.
anomynous - True. He could. But think it would take too long to get to Doflamingo and Dressrosa. I'm hoping to do something about Bonnie before the time skip.
Syluk - Good. I'm glad the jumping around wasn't too confusing. I may try more of it in the future if I'm going to be doing a bunch of fights all the same time. The roof of Arlong Park is such a unique piece of architecture and I wanted to make full use of it in the fight. Luffy kind of just skips passed it and goes straight to the Chart Room so that left me free to have Sabo run roughshot (Ker-Chohohoho! Gun Pun!) all over it.
crazyrubsoff - Well I'm glad you stuck with it. I made you laugh so I'm counting it as a win. I'm using the East Blue Saga as a period to establish Sabo's place on the crew and his relationship with the other Straw Hats. I want to have that set before I get to the Grand Line and start to really mess with the storyline. I think a new character joining a scene is something that should be emphasized. Usually 'entrances' in One Piece are pretty badass so I don't want anyone to miss them in case they're skimming. One Piece is a comic. I adopted the sound effects idea from QPython's Another Nakama series but for me they're extra important because they're Bonnie's main means of 'communicating'. I'm not sure what you're getting at about the dialogue. But that's just how I write. I don't really plan on changing it. Thanks for reading and reviewing though!
Guest - That's great. I'll probably include more of it down the line when I rearrange other arcs to have the fights all go on at once. And its always nice to meet another Monty Python fan. (Even if we haven't actually met.) I figure that since Sabo is One Piece British that gives him the right to quote Python.
Nojiko-
Back at her house, Nami had bandaged her arm and had a good cry. The last hour had been very emotionally draining. Arlong's betrayal, her sister, Genzo and her neighbors all going off to their deaths and then Luffy and everyone stepping up for her.
"I'm done crying," Nami resolved as she wiped her eyes. "Everyone else is at Arlong Park fighting… I need to be there too." Nami stood up and grabbed her bo-staff then ran off towards Arlong Park.
"Choo and Hachi are down…" Nojiko reported as she peered around the edge of front gateway into Arlong Park and took stock of the battle that had been waged between the three Straw Hats and Arlong's three officers. "And the other blonde just sent Kuroobi flying through the building."
"Shi…shi…shi!" Luffy managed a weak laugh. "I knew it. My crew would never lose to those fish guys. Only the best pirates can sail with me. That's why I want Nami. She's the best navigator there is."
Nojiko smiled at the Pirate Captain's heartfelt words about her sister.
Splash!
Genzo broke the surface and panted as he treaded water near them. "I'm sorry. I couldn't do anymore. What happened to the blonde?"
"All three of them won Genzo," Nojiko informed him. "Sabo lured Choo away from the water then blasted him out of a room on the third floor. The swordsman smashed through Hachi's six swords like they were toys. And the other blonde just sent Kuroobi flying through the first floor of Arlong Park. Ever since the battle started I've had this growing feeling of hope welling up inside of me."
"Then get me outta here and I'll beat up Arlong," Luffy offered.
"I'll see what I can do," Nojiko replied. "My turn, Genzo." She relieved him of the hammer and dove into the water.
Splash!
"Listen kid," Genzo said as he took Nojiko's vacated spot and held Luffy's head above the surface. "It's not really my place to say this… but if we all live you should probably warn the blonde with rifle that Nojiko has her sights set on him. If that girl turned out even half as shameless as the woman who raised her… your blonde friend might be in trouble."
"Sabo's got his rifle," Luffy replied. "He'll be fine."
"Right…" Genzo sighed, "Don't say I didn't warn you."
"I'll show you the gap between the strength of our species," Arlong resolved as he scooped a webbed handful of water out of Arlong Park, "one that no training can close. A mere handful of water is all it'll take to defeat you pests."
"HEADS UP!" Sabo yelled as he quickly tucked Bonnie Anne into his coat.
SPLAT!
The water hit them and Sabo, Zoro and Sanji were all blasted backwards like they'd been shot.
"Am I dreaming?" Dr. Nako wondered. "Those guy made Arlong's officers look like amateurs but he sent them all flying just by splashing them with some water.
"Crap…" Sanji cursed. "That was like getting shot." He looked over at Sabo, "No offense."
Click!
"None taken," Sabo replied on Bonnie's behalf. His coat had kept the rifle from getting wet. "This guy's on a completely different level from those other chumps. But on the plus side… he washed most of trumpet-lips' blood off my coat."
"Cook… what did you mean when you said Luffy was 'mostly' okay?" Zoro asked.
"The pinwheel guy was down there," Sanji recounted. "He and someone else have Luffy's head stretched up above the water. So he's breathing. But his feet are still trapped in the rock."
"Can you break it?" Sabo asked.
"One good kick should do it," Sanji told him.
"Alright, we'll buy you some time," Sabo said. "Get going."
"So you're still thirsty for more?" Arlong taunted as the three Straw Hats got to their feet. "By the end of this I'll make sure that you all come to grips with your inferiority. Only then will I finally kill you."
"I'LL SMACK THAT SMUG LOOK RIGHT OFF YOUR FACE!" Sabo yelled as he pulled Bonnie out of his coat and charged at Arlong.
"Save some for me!" Zoro called out as he readied his swords and charged after Sabo.
Sanji launched himself to the side and dove into the water.
Splash!
"KNOCKBACK!" Sabo shouted as he swung his rifle at Arlong's face.
Whap!
Arlong caught the rifle in his webbed hand and used the hold on the rifle to hoist Sabo off of his feet, swing him around and slam him into the incoming Zoro.
WHAM!
Zoro went flying backwards while Arlong turned and threw Sabo through one of the supporting columns under the first floor Arlong Park.
KROOM!
Sabo smashed through the column which caused the damaged roof to cave and fall after him.
Thud!
Sabo hit the ground and Bonnie Anne jammed handle-first onto the ground next to him and fired.
KER-CHOW!
Bonnie Anne's last bullet shot straight up and blasted a hole through the falling rubble.
KROOOM!
"Phew," Sabo sighed as he laid inside a ring of rubble with his girlfriend next to him. "Thanks, Bonnie. That was great shot… as usual."
"ARLONG!" Everyone turned to see that Nami had finally arrived. "I CAME TO KILL YOU!"
"Kill me?" Arlong repeated. "How many times have you tried to kill me over the years? I CAN'T BE KILLED! ESPECIALLY BY YOU INFERIOR HUMANS!"
"I'm not trying to kill you," Sabo admitted as he snapped Bonnie closed and stood back up. "I'm just keeping you busy."
"Should I be concerned that you've got blood splattered all over you?" Nami asked.
"Nah, none of its mine," Sabo reassured her. "There was a lot more but Saw-Tooth was nice enough to wash some of it off."
Arlong glared at Sabo then turn to Nami. "Nami, why don't you tell your stupid friend here what happened to the last human that pointed a gun at my face." Nami paled. "I bit straight through the barrel then killed her moments later."
Sabo's eyes took on a dark edge. "Try that with Bonnie and I'll blow your brains out."
Arlong recoiled slightly at the sheer venom in Sabo's tone.
"I'm not scared of a puny human!" Arlong growled. "Nami, I'm about to kill everyone here… except you, of course. But if you agree to voluntarily rejoin my crew… I'll spare the lives of your little mob there. But not these guys. They've pissed me off too much. What do you say? Are you with me… or them?"
"That's cruel making Nami decide!" a villager complained.
"If I say I'm with Luffy then everyone will be killed," Nami thought to herself. "But if say I'm with Arlong I can save all the villagers. A single word from me can determine their fate."
"OF COURSE I'LL HELP YOU!"
"They're fighting for me…" Nami realized as she clutched the brim of Luffy's signature straw hat. "I have to believe in them."
Nami turned around to face her neighbors. "I'm sorry everyone. BUT FIGHT AND DIE WITH ME!"
"ALRIGHT!" Everyone cheered.
Luffy's face suddenly stretched into a wide grin.
"What's with you?" Genzo asked.
"Don't know," Luffy admitted, "But for some reason I really, really wanna kick Arlong's ass now."
"I… am sick… of you… THROWING BLONDES AT ME!" Zoro yelled as he charged at Arlong.
Arlong leaned forward and once again blocked Zoro's strike with his dagger-like nose.
"That's not gonna work!" Arlong growled. He shot up his leg and drove his knee into Zoro's stomach.
WHAM!
Zoro coughed up blood as he was sent flying backwards and bowled over Johnny and Yosaku.
KER-CHOW!
"NEITHER IS THAT!" Arlong shouted as he smacked the bullet out of the way.
WHAK!
"ROTTEN EGG STAR!"
Arlong raised his hand and an egg splattered over it.
SPLAT!
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" Arlong roared.
"SABRO! I'VE GOT YOUR BACK!" Usopp called out from on the wall… twenty feet away.
"Thanks Usopp," Sabo replied.
"Usopp-bro?" Johnny and Yosaku chorused as they slid out from under Zoro.
"Usopp?" Nami asked as he looked up to see the sniper sitting on the top of the wall nearby.
"Hey Nami!" Usopp greeted her. "You should've seen me! I beat three fishmen all by myself!"
"THE ONLY REASON ANY OF YOU HUMANS ARE STILL ALIVE IS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T STARTED FIGHTING SERIOUSLY YET!"
"The only reason you're still alive is because my brother called dibs on kicking your ass," Sabo retorted.
"Your brother?" Arlong repeated. "I DROWNED HIS RUBBER ASS!"
"Yeah… not quite," Sabo replied, "Where do you think our Ship's Cook went? Luffy's gonna be back in action any second now and he'll break that big nose of yours."
"NYOO!" Hachi staggered back up. "I won't let you succeed!"
"Octopus!" Zoro grumbled from on the ground.
"I'LL STOP THE PIRATE IN THE WATER!" Hachi ran for the water way.
"PARTING SHOT!"
KER-CHOW!
Hachi dropped to the ground.
"Hah, now I'm three-for-three," Sabo boasted. "I've tagged all of your officers."
"YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" Arlong hollered as he charged at Sabo.
Sabo quickly raised his rifle and fired. "OVERWATCH! BURST FIRE!"
KER-CHOW! KER-CHOW!
WHA-WHAP!
Arlong stopped and revealed that he'd caught both bullets in his mouth.
CRUNCH!
Arlong bit through the magnum rounds and spat them out. "PTOI! USELESS!"
Sanji had a wide grin on his face as he swam up to Nojiko. He pointed to himself then down at the rock.
Nojiko nodded and moved out of the way. Sanji landed on the stone slab and raised his leg overhead then brought it down.
THWHAM!
The rock shattered and released Luffy's legs which snapped back up towards their owner.
WOING!
"HUH?" Genzo grunted as Luffy went shooting up into the air over his head.
"IIIIIIII'M BAAAAAAAAAAAACK!"
"IIIIIIII'M BAAAAAAAAAAAACK!"
"LUFFY/LUFFY-BRO!" Nami, Usopp, Johnny and Yosaku all cheered.
"DAMN IT!" Arlong snarled. "The rubber brat's back!" He glared at Sabo. "I'LL KILL YOU FIRST, TOP HAT!"
SHOOM!
Arlong launched himself at Sabo. Sabo ran to meet him but then drove Bonnie Anne's nozzle into the ground and vaulted over the charging fishman.
SKISH!
"MISSED ME, FISH-FACE!" Sabo called out as he landed behind Arlong.
WHA-WHAP!
Two rubber arms shot down out of the sky and grabbed Sabo's shoulders. "SAABOOO! SWIIITCH!"
"Hey Arlong!" Sabo called out before he raised his hand and flipped him the bird. "Now you're toast."
WOOOOOOIIIIING!
Sabo was yanked off the ground and went flying one way while Luffy shot passed him going the other.
WHAP!
"Huh?" Arlong grunted as Luffy shot his arms down and grabbed his shoulders.
"GUUUUM… GUUUUM… BEEEEELL!" Luffy snapped his head forward and rammed it into Arlong's.
DONG!
Arlong went flying backwards and Luffy whipped his leg around, "GUUUM… GUUUM… WHIIIIIP!"
THWHAM!
Luffy's foot hooked around Arlong and sent the surprised shark fishman flying back towards Luffy. Luffy shot his arm out behind him then snapped it forward. "GUUUM… GUUUM… BUUULLLLLEEEEEET!"
WHAM!
Luffy slammed his fist into Arlong's stomach and the fishman lurched backwards as he went flying again. Luffy stayed on him and let fly a rapid flurry of punches. "GUUUM… GUUUM… GATLING!"
POW-POW-POW-POW-POW!
Arlong went flying and slammed into the front of Arlong Park.
THUD!
"I'll need your help with this one, Bonnie," Sabo said as he flew through the air and pointed his rifle behind him and pulled the trigger.
KER-CHOW!
The recoil from shooting the rifle behind him caused Sabo's flying speed to cut in half and now he sailed through air in a slow drift.
"And one more for the landing," Sabo said as he glanced down at the front gate of Arlong Park as he started to pass over it. He pointed his rifle up over his head and fired the last bullet.
KER-CHOW!
This time the rifle's recoil sent Sabo shooting downward. He curled his legs in and braced for impact.
THUD!
Sabo landed right in front of a startled Genzo who let you a yelp, "Whoa!"
"And he sticks the landing!" Sabo exclaimed before he planted a quick kiss on his girlfriend's nozzle. "Mwa, thanks again, Bonnie."
"Was that it?" Arlong asked as he sat up.
"IT DIDN'T WORK!" Johnny and Yosaku yelped.
"Nah, those were just my warm up exercises," Luffy informed him.
"So they managed to save you," Arlong remarked. "With the mood I'm in… you're gonna wish that you did drown. Now you're going to be the target of my anger at my fishman brothers losing to a bunch of primitive monkeys!"
"It's not my problem that your brothers are weak," Luffy replied. "But I'll still kick your ass anyway."
Splash!
Nojiko and Sanji broke the surface by the front gateway into Arlong Park. Sabo offered his hand to Nojiko who happily took it and allowed him to pull her out of the water then immediately stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
"Thank you…" Nojiko whispered. "Is this blood yours or Choo's?"
"His," Sabo stated. "He shot a cannonball-sized bubble of blood at me and it burst all over."
"I guess it's good that I'm soaking wet then," Nojiko reasoned. "I'll wipe it off for you." She may or may not have used wiping the blood off as an excuse to fondle the muscular blonde pirate.
"I should've gotten out first," Sanji grumbled as he climbed out of the water. He nodded at Sabo, "So I take it she's the pretty girl that you promised you'd handle the fishman."
Nojiko grinned and swatted Sabo's chest, "Charmer."
"Yeah, this is Nami's sister Nojiko," Sabo introduced her to Sanji. "Thanks for saving my brother, angel."
Nojiko beamed when she finally stepped away from Sabo, "No problem, Magic Djinn."
"Saw this coming…" Genzo muttered.
"Love is a cruel mistress," Sanji sighed to himself as he lit up a cigarette then turned to the battle. "So… if Luffy loses we all die."
"Didn't you learn anything watching him face Don Krieg?" Sabo asked as he stepped through the entrance. "Nobody can take a beating like Luffy." Sabo casually sat down against the wall. "Ace and I used to kick his ass a hundred times a day when we were kids. But he always bounced back."
"You beat up your brother?" Nojiko asked as she sat down beside him. She looked down and saw that Sabo's hand was occupied holding up Bonnie Anne so she grabbed the other side of the rifle and used her hold on the gun barrel to intertwine her fingers with Sabo's.
"Of course," Sabo replied. "Getting your ass kicked toughens you up and builds character." He looked down at Nojiko's hand then eyed his rifle.
Bonnie Anne was notably silent.
"Zeff used to kick the crap outta me," Sanji admitted as he sat down on Sabo's other side.
"Ace used his fists… I used a pipe," Sabo recounted.
"You beat your brother with a pipe?" Genzo clarified as he sat down on Nojiko's other side.
"And he always bounced back," Sabo insisted.
"Actually the old guy has a point," Sanji realized. "You beat your brother a hundred times a day … using a metal pipe. Maybe now I know the source of his brain damage."
"HEY! He was like that before I met him!" Sabo defended himself. "And for your information I only beat him with a pipe fifty times a day."
"You're quite the character…" Nojiko noted as she nudged Sabo's arm with hers and skillfully steered the conversation way from Sabo being the partially responsible for Luffy's… Luffy-ness, "Who kicked your ass?"
"Ace and I usually had a pretty even split between us for our fifty fights a day," Sabo recalled. "So we beat each other up. And when Luffy's Grandpa showed up he'd kick all three of our asses at once. But the point is… short of throwing him in the water again… there's nothing Arlong can do that'll be able keep Luffy down. He always bounces back."
"Do you know what the difference is between you and me?" Arlong asked Luffy.
"Our noses?" Luffy suggested. "Pointy teeth? Webbed hands?"
"Is he joking?" Yosaku wondered.
"IT'S OUR SPECIES!" Arlong roared as he lunged at Luffy and snapped his sharp shark teeth.
CHOMP!
"Wah!" Luffy yelped as he back pedaled to avoid Arlong's snapping jaws.
WHAP!
Arlong finally caught Luffy by the throat and pinned him back against the column. "Gotcha!"
Arlong chomped at Luffy again but Luffy quickly grabbed his ear and yanked his head out of the way.
CHOMP!
Arlong ended up biting down on the support column and then shattered the stone pillar with his teeth while Luffy slipped away.
KRESH!
"WHOA!" Johnny and Yosaku yelped, "HE SMASHED THAT COLUMN WITH ONLY HIS TEETH!"
"If Arlong had actually bit him… there wouldn't be just a minor bite mark," Sanji realized as he stared across the waterway. "He would've pulverized his bones."
"And Luffy would've still kept going," Sabo insisted.
"Do you see how pathetic you are?" Arlong asked as he turned to Luffy. "Fishmen are gifted with superior strength from birth. That's why we're the Lords of Creation and you're just a weak, pathetic human-insect."
Luffy turned and smashed his fist through a nearby chunk of stone.
KRESH!
"I don't need to use my teeth to smash stone," he retorted.
"Whoa! He's got him there!" Yosaku exclaimed.
"GO LUFFY-BRO!" Johnny cheered.
"YOU'RE STILL A PATHETIC RACE!" Arlong argued. "WHAT CAN YOU DO!? YOU CAN'T EVEN SAVE YOURSELF FROM DROWNING!"
"It's because I can't do those things that I need all the help I can get," Luffy confessed as he reached down and picked up two swords that had been dropped by some fishmen. "Shishishishi!"
"Does he even know how to use a sword?" Sanji asked.
"Like I'd let him waste his time on an ineffective skill," Sabo scoffed.
Zoro sat up, "I suddenly have a very strong urge to kick Sabo's ass."
Luffy rushed at Arlong and swung the two swords around wildly.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Arlong weaved from side to side and easily managed to avoid Luffy's untrained swings. "You're just swinging those around randomly!"
KLAK!
One of Luffy's swings connected with Arlong's nose but he twisted his head and sent the sword flying out of Luffy's clumsy grip.
WHING!
"I don't have time to play around with you!" Arlong growled at Luffy swung the other sword at him. But Arlong caught the blade in his teeth and snapped the steel with his teeth.
KRACK!
"ENOUGH OF YOUR GAMES!" Arlong snarled as he spat out the broken sword.
Luffy spun around and swung his fist up into Arlong's jaw for a big uppercut.
KA-POW!
Arlong bent backwards and his shark teeth were driven together then shattered from the impact.
Krek-krek-KRESH!
"HE BROKE ARLONG'S TEETH!" Usopp exclaimed.
"I don't know how to use a sword, dummy," Luffy exclaimed. That was Zoro's thing. "And I'm clueless when it comes to navigating," That's why he needed Nami. "I suck at nego-negotiating." He had his brother for that. "I can't shoot. I can't cook. I can't even lie!" He also knew nothing about medicine, could barely read, broke everything he touched and couldn't do anything artistic like draw or play an instrument.
"Hey! I thought I was the shooter!" Usopp objected.
"Nope that's Bonnie," Luffy corrected him. "I'd be hopeless if I didn't have people to help me."
"Shahahahahaha!" Arlong laughed, "You're refreshingly honest about your own weakness. But if you're such an incompetent buffoon… why would your crew try so hard to save your worthless life? You're the sorriest excuse for a pirate that I've ever seen! JUST WHAT CAN YOU DO?"
"I can beat you," Luffy answered with a determined glint in his eyes.
Everyone cheered and offered their support before the battle began again.
Arlong used his ability as a shark fishman to regrow his teeth then produced two additional sets and used them as weapons to attack Luffy. But weathered the flurry of bites and even used Arlong's tooth-hold on his arm to slam the shark fishman into the ground.
Next Arlong tried to use his aquatic advantage from being a fishman and shot at Luffy out of the water like a torpedo. The first time he connected but as Arlong continued to shoot around Arlong Park like a high speed missile Luffy managed to avoid the attacks and then eventually used his rubber powers to counter them.
"SHARK ON DARTS!"
"GUM… GUM… NET!" Luffy caught the speeding shark fishman in midair with web made out of his rubber fingers. Then shot his feet down and drove them into Arlong, "GUM… GUM… SPEAR!"
THWHAM!
Arlong was driven into the ground and was left lying in a crater.
"Is he dead?" Luffy wondered as he stared down at Arlong.
Arlong's eyes flickered open. They had the look of a shark about to go berserk.
"I've never seen his eyes like that!" Nami gasped. Across the waterway, Nojiko's hold on a certain rifle and a certain pirate's hand tightened considerably.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Arlong hollered as he grabbed Luffy and flung him into the wall. Arlong surged after Luffy and swung his fist at Luffy.
CRUNCH!
Luffy managed to dodge and Arlong ended up driving his fist through the front wall of Arlong Park.
Unfortunately for Luffy, the ground floor of Arlong Park was the weapon room. Arlong had smashed his webbed fist straight through the wall and grabbed the handle of his personal sword.
KRESH!
Arlong ripped his sword out through the wall and everyone gasped in shock.
"IT'S KIRIBACHI!" Nami yelped. The massive sword was nearly as tall as Arlong with a long saw-like serrated blade that looked like shark teeth.
Luffy had managed to stretch his arm up and was dangling from the second floor roof that was still heavily damaged from Sabo's fight with Choo.
"RAAAH!" Arlong snarled as he launched himself after Luffy with a front flip and swung his saw blade around over his head like a giant cleaver.
CHUNK!
"WHOA!" Luffy yelped as he avoided the strike and scrambled up higher.
CHUNK! CHUNK!
"Arlong's relentless!" Yosaku exclaimed.
"He's chased Luffy-bro all the way up to the top floor!"
Luffy quickly dove through a window on the fourth floor.
"Luffy escaped inside!" Usopp pointed out. "It looks like it was the left window on the top floor. "
"The chart room…" Nami whispered.
"What room is this?" Luffy asked. He sat down on the floor and stared around him at the countless sheets and rolls of paper the line the walls, filled bookcases and crammed chests. "There's paper everywhere." But he could also sense a tremendous amount of sadness in this room.
"Those aren't just sheets of paper," Arlong corrected Luffy. "Those are sea charts. They're the results of Nami's hard work over the last eight years."
"Nami's room…" Luffy repeated as he reached out and snagged a feathered pen off of the desh.
"You'd never find better charts than these even if you searched the entire world," Arlong boasted. "That Nami's a genius. Fishmen are the best at collecting undersea data but it's worthless without a skilled cartographer to interpret it. That's where Nami comes in."
"There's blood on this pen…" Luffy noted as he stared at the dried blood stains that were on the pen. Just that was enough to tell him how much Nami had suffered in this room.
"There's nothing worse than wasting your God-given talent," Arlong continued a he brought his saw blade around and held it at Luffy's throat with two of the jagged blades going around Luffy's neck. "That girl's talents are wasted on a pathetic little cry like yours. A sorry excuse for a pirate like you could never use that girl like I do!"
Whap!
Luffy reached up and grabbed the jagged blade that was pointed at his throat.
Arlong tried to swing his sword to take Luffy's head off but it wouldn't budge. "Kiribachi! Why can't I move it?" Arlong struggled with all his fishman strength but he couldn't move his blade even an inch.
KRECK!
Luffy's bare fingers pierced through the steel blade as he tightened his grip and glared up at Arlong.
"USE?"
KRASH!
Everyone outside Arlong Park looked up in surprise as something large crashed through the wall.
"What's that? A desk?"
"I thought it was Arlong…"
"Let me borrow Bonnie," Nojiko requested as she glared at the desk as it landed in the water.
Sabo released his rifle and held out a handful of bullets. Nojiko quickly loaded the rifle, aimed and fired.
KER-CHOW!
A magnum round shattered wood as it tore through the desk. Sabo stood up and caught Nojiko when she was thrown backwards from Bonnie's recoil then braced her from behind as she fired again.
KER-CHOW!
The second high caliber magnum round ripped the heavily damaged desk to shreds.
"I…" Nami gasped. Not just from seeing her old desk go flying out of the room but seeing it blown to smithereens by her sister as she wielded a high powered rifle. "Luffy…"
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?" Arlong roared at Luffy.
Luffy didn't respond. Instead he turned and shot his leg out into the bookcase and smashed it straight through the wall.
KRASH!
"Aim slightly below it," Sabo advised. "Bonnie'll do the rest."
KER-CHOW! KER-CHOW!
The bookcase didn't even reach the ground before it was ripped apart by two consecutive rounds.
KRASH!
Next a chest stuffed with maps came flying out.
KER-CHOW! KER-CHOW!
"RELOAD!" Nojiko called out as he held Bonnie over her shoulder.
"Holy crap..." Sabo whispered as he stared wide-eyed at Nojiko. His cheeks were flushed bright red as he pulled out six more bullets and slipped them into Bonnie Anne just in time for Nojiko to blast Nami's chair.
KER-CHOW!
"DAMN YOU!" Arlong yelled. "THOSE CHARTS TOOK NAMI EIGHT YEARS TO DRAW!"
He swung Kiribachi at Luffy.
SWISH!
Luffy moved and Arlong ended up cleaving the new maps that were hanging from a string.
Luffy spun passed Arlong and smashed another chest out of the room.
KRASH!
"Luffy… thank you…" Nami whispered as she watched the furniture that filled her 'prison' and the charts she'd slaved away on go flying out of the room and then get blasted to pieces by her sister.
"Phew..." Nojiko sighed as she handed Bonnie Anne back to Sabo. "That was therapeutic."
"Yeah... and the single hottest thing I've ever seen," Sabo blurted out.
A wide smirk spread across Nojiko's face. "Keep talking like that and see what happens," she warned him.
"Hey… I think he finally stopped," Usopp realized.
"That must be some fight going on up there," Yosaku remarked.
"Is Luffy-bro okay?" Johnny wondered.
"YOU WENT TOO FAR!" Arlong growled from where his teeth were embedded in Luffy's shoulder next to his neck.
"I don't know anything about fishmen…" Luffy admitted. "I can't even imagine how much Nami suffered in this room. But I finally figured out how I can help her. This room is the source of her suffering… so I'm gonna destroy it. I'm gonna make sure there's nothing left to make her sad."
KREK!
Arlong's long jagged nose which he'd shown was a strong as a sword snapped in Luffy's hand as he grabbed it and used it as a handhold to wrench Arlong off of him.
"YOU BASTARD!" Arlong snarled as he clutched at his broken nose which was now bent to the side.
"GUUUUM… GUUUUM…" Luffy stretched his leg up over his head then smashed his foot through the ceiling as he continued to stretch it up, up, up into the sky.
"ARLONG PARK COULD NEVER BE DESTROYED BY AN INFERIOR HUMAN PUNK LIKE YOU!" He snapped his broken nose back into place and shot at Luffy like a torpedo. But his time he did it with his mouth wide open while spinning like a high-speed drill. "SHARK ON TOOTH!"
"AAAAAXEEEEEEEE!" Luffy yelled as he snapped his foot back down.
SLISH-SLISH!
Arlong's spinning teeth shredded Luffy's skin as he plowed into Luffy chest. But then Luffy's foot came down and smashed into his back.
THWHAM!
Luffy's attack hit Arlong so hard that the saw shark fishman was smashed through the floor.
KRASH!
And then he kept going and smashed Arlong down through the other three floor below them.
KRASH! KRASH! KRASH!
Arlong was left lying prone and unconscious at the bottom of Arlong Park.
Krek-krek-krek…
Arlong Park started shaking and the wall started cracking. The building had already sustained a lot of damage from the previous battles but it couldn't handle Arlong being driven straight down through it.
"IT'S COLLAPSING!" Usopp shrieked. "LET'S GET OUTTA HERE!"
"NO! LUFFY'S STILL IN HERE!" Nami yelled.
"WE'VE GOTTA MOVE OR IT'LL COME DOWN ON TOP OF US!"
"Heads up!" Sabo called out as he pulled Nojiko back around the outer wall. Sanji and Genzo scrambled out after them.
"Nyuu..." Hachi groaned as he dragged his limp body forward and dropped into the waterway to avoid being crushed by the falling building.
Everyone watched as Arlong Park crumbled and collapsed.
KA-BOOOOOOSSSH!
"LUUUFFYYYYYY!" Nami screamed as the rubber pirate was buried in the building he'd destroyed.
The dust finally settled and revealed that Arlong Park had been reduced to rubble.
"Do you think either of them are still alive?" someone asked.
"Luffy…" Nami whimpered.
KRECK!
A large chunk of rubble toppled over and Luffy climbed out of the debris. He stood on top of the remains of Arlong Park, took a deep breath and shouted, "NAAAAMIII! ARE YOU MY NAKAMA?"
Nami froze as it finally sank in. Luffy had won. Arlong was finished! She was free. She could do whatever she wanted now! She could set sail and draw her map of the world! She could rejoin the Straw Hats. And the best part was that Luffy was giving her the choice.
Nami smiled as she wiped her eyes. "Yeah…"
"Wah!" Sabo yelped as Nojiko threw herself at him and hugged him with everything she had.
"Thank you!" Nojiko squealed.
"Lucky bastard," Sanji grumbled, "I need to get a rifle."
"HOLD EVERYTHING!"
Everyone turned to see Commodore Purin Purin standing with a squad of marines.
"The Marines?"
"Now they show up?"
"What happened here?" Purin Purin inquired.
"Arlong Park has fallen!"
"This island is saved!"
"I see," the marine officer said. "And who is responsible for this?"
"I am," Luffy stated as he walked over. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy and I beat Arlong."
Nami reached out and placed Luffy's straw hat back on his head.
"Oh, you're Straw Hat," Purin Purin realized, "You're the pirate that defeated Buggy the Clown and Kuro of a Thousand Plans."
"And I beat Don Krieg yesterday," Luffy added.
"Luffy, don't say anything to incriminate yourself!" Sabo advised as he ran over. "I wouldn't put it passed the Marines to try and arrest you for saving the island."
"Don't even think about it…" someone in the Cocoyashi mob growled. "These pirates are heroes!"
"You wanna arrest the Captain... then you've gotta go through us," Zoro warned the Marines as he staggered back up. Usopp hid behind the swordsman while Sanji came over and stood on Luffy and Sabo's other side. Nami folded her arms under her chest as she took a step closer to her crew.
"Really there's only one thing to do in a situation like this," Commodore Purin Purin admitted. He dropped to his knees and bowed to the Straw Hat Pirates. "Thank you. Thank you for serving justice where the marines had failed all these years. Thank you for saving this island."
"All in a day's work," Zoro stated.
"Yeah, that's our thing," Sabo added, "We beat the crew, destroy their ship and Luffy takes out the Captain." Sabo's eyes widened in alarm. "GAH! We forgot to destroy their ship!"
"Actually… the fishman shipwright that I fought said they tore apart Arlong's ship to make Arlong Park," Usopp explained. "So when Luffy destroyed Arlong Park he destroyed their ship too."
"YES!" Sabo cheered. "The tradition continues!"
Purin Purin glanced at Sabo's rifle. "And would you care to explain why I found Captain Nezumi lying dead in Cocoyashi Village? It appears as though his fatal injuries came from a high powered rifle."
"He was working for Arlong," Sabo stated. "If you marines had actually bothered to verify his reports and discovered his corruption then you could have sorted out the problem at your own discretion. But when I encountered him that rat and his men were threatening to shoot a civilian and were attempting to steal some money without a warrant."
"And you people call pirates the lowlifes of the sea," Nami grumbled, "Arlong paid off those marines to steal my village's only hope of escaping Arlong's control."
"Those sound like criminal offenses to me," Sabo pointed out. "And I wasn't going to let that stand. If you have a problem with what happened when it took the matters into my own hands then you should have stopped him yourself."
"Killing a marine is a capital offense," Commodore Purin Purin stated. "But if what you say is true then Nezumi was clearly no marine." The Commodore addressed his men, "Everyone stand down."
"So you're letting us go?" Luffy asked.
"I'm letting you go," the Commodore confirmed. "All of you. But the least I can do now is clean up the mess and take Arlong and his crew into custody. I'll ensure that you receive the proper credit and a reward for your actions here today."
The marines headed into Arlong Park to clean up after the battle and the civilians let out a loud cheer.
"YAAAAHOOOO! ALRONG'S GONE!"
The Cocoyashi Mob ran off with one of the members waving Arlong's fallen flag.
"LET'S TELL EVERYONE ON THE ISLAND! ARLONG PARK HAS FINALLY FALLEN!"
"It's finally over Bellemere," Nami told her mother as she sat by a familiar grave overlooking the sea. Genzo and Nojiko were behind her. "It took eight years but at long last everyone's free."
"Hey Genzo, Nojiko, do you think Bellemere would've tried to stop me from becoming a pirate if she was still alive?" Nami asked.
"She was a former marine!" Genzo insisted. "Why would she allow her precious daughter to become—"
"No, she wouldn't," Nojiko cut him off. "But if she tried to stop you… would you have listened?"
"Nope! Of course not!" Nami replied as she turned and stuck her tongue.
"Hey, speaking of pirates…" Nojiko said, "Are you into any members of that pirate crew of yours?"
Nami's eyes widened in alarm and she yelped, "WHAT!?"
"Oh, good grief," Genzo muttered, "Here it comes…"
"I just wanted to make sure it was okay with you before I went after one of them," Nojiko told her.
"Oh my god, you actually like Sabo!" Nami realized. "Nojiko… just… drop it. This is a bad idea. You're not his type."
"Not his type?" Nojiko questioned. "And what is that exactly? Cute with orange hair?"
"No, more like made of metal and able to shoot bullets long distances," Nami replied.
"Nami… you just described a rifle…" Genzo pointed out.
"Yeah, that's his type," Nami assured her sister. "You mean he never told you about his girlfriend?"
"Top-hatted two-timing son of a bitch…" Genzo growled.
Nojiko blinked. "No. Who's that and why haven't I seen her?"
"You have," Nami told her. "This is gonna sound crazy… but he's dating his rifle."
"What?" Genzo grunted.
"Dating his rifle?" Nojiko repeated skeptically. "Look, Nami, if you want me to back off then I will. You don't have to make up farfetched stories."
"I'm not making it up!" Nami insisted. "I'm completely serious! He calls it his girlfriend and everything! He never shuts up about it. The first time we met I tried to sweet talk him and he pointed his gun at me and said his girlfriend didn't appreciate my advances and that I should apologize. Are you telling me that you spent all that time around him and he didn't mention his relationship once?"
"No," Nojiko answered. "I mean, he was really happy to get her back. He said she meant the world to him. But I just figured he was very enthusiastic about her. Some people care a lot about their weapons."
"Nojiko, trust me," Nami implored her sister, "Sabo is top hat over heels in love with that rifle. You don't stand a chance."
Nojiko stared at Nami then smirked, "Oh, I get it. He rejected your advances and you're trying to justify the fact that he's not into you."
"What? No!" Nami yelped. "But there was that time he claimed his rifle was prettier than me…"
Nojiko gave a condescending shake of her head. "You've always had this problem Nami. You're as subtle as a sledgehammer to the head. That's why you got caught stealing when we were kids and that's why you can't land a guy."
"Good!" Genzo chimed in.
"I've had more pressing things to worry about then landing a guy!" Nami argued. "You know what? Screw it. I tried. Do what you want Nojiko. But it's not gonna work." Nami turned and stormed off.
Nojiko folded her arms under her chest and looked thoughtful, "In love with his rifle…"
"I just know I'm going to regret asking this…" Genzo muttered before he turned to Nojiko, "But what do you plan on doing with that pirate?"
"Oh, I'm just gonna thank him," Nojiko answered then she smirked and added, "…with my body." Genzo's face went beet red and Nojiko laughed as she headed off.
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Genzo yelled at the grave. "You see how you raised these girls? One's setting off to become a pirate and the other's become even more of a temptress than you!" Genzo sighed and shook his head fondly. "There's no doubt that they're your daughters."
"AAUUGGHH!" Zoro's pained screamed carried through Cocoyashi Village.
"There he goes again," Sabo noted as he sat on the town well with Bonnie Anne in his lap. Usopp and Sanji were sitting with him. Their various injuries from fighting the fishmen had already been treated. But Zoro still had his wound from Mihawk that was long overdue for treatment from a proper doctor.
"The doctor said those wounds would normally take two years to recover from," Usopp noted.
"And that blockhead still insists on moving around," Sanji remarked, "He's out of his mind."
"YOU FOOL!" Dr. Nako scolded Zoro in the office as he tried to stitch up the massive cut on Zoro's chest. "How could you even think that a shoddy patch job like this is proper treatment for your wounds? Don't you kids have a doctor on your ship?"
"A doctor, that's a good idea," Luffy said as he sat nearby and ate a snack. Johnny and Yosaku were in a couple of beds nearby sleeping off their injuries. "But I think we need a musician first."
"What? Why?" Dr. Nako asked.
"Pirates have gotta sing," Luffy informed him. "Everyone knows that."
Dr. Nako let out and exasperated sigh and continued his work.
"AARRGHAAAHAA!" Zoro hollered as a result.
"Commodore, are we really going to ignore the actions of those pirates?" a marine inquired back on the Seventy-Seventh Branch's Ship.
The 77th Branch had the imprisoned and still unconscious Arlong on board their vessel while a small part of the Commodore's crew was trailing behind them with the rest of Arlong's Crew on Nezumi's ship. The only fishman unaccounted for was Hachi.
"Those pirates carried out our job for us," the Commodore replied. "Because of Nezumi's lies we were made to look like corrupt rats and incompetent buffoons. Those pirates are the heroes here. I'm not going to punish them for freeing that island from Arlong's tyranny. The pirates served justice. In my eyes, that's not a crime."
"But what about the one with the top hat?" the marine persisted, "I admitted that he killed Captain Nezumi."
"If the pirate hadn't killed that rat… I would've done it myself," Purin Purin insisted. "He's a traitor that failed to perform his duties. He is as much to blame for everything that happened here as Arlong. One day those pirates will commit an offense that will bring them to the World Government's attention. But that day won't be today."
"So… no new bounties?" the marine asked.
"No new bounties," Purin Purin confirmed.
And so the celebration on the island went underway. Everyone was singing, dancing and celebrating the fall of Arlong. The island was free once more. The celebrating lasted a full day and then carried on into a second without losing any steam or showing any signs of stopping.
Cocoyashi Village had become party-central. Banquet tables had been laid out across the entire town and there was upbeat music filling the air as everyone celebrated with a joyous feast.
"I sure ate a lot," Sanji remarked as he spotted Zoro drinking in an alley between two houses and sat down across from him to have a cigarette. "It feels good to stuff yourself every once and a while."
Zoro silently nodded in agreement as he continued to down his mug.
"How're your injuries treating you?" Sanji inquired.
"Doctor said I needed to take it easy," Zoro answered. "But what does he know? I'm gonna start training again tomorrow. I can't let these injuries prevent me from being in top form."
"Right… I guess there's no helping some people," Sanji realized.
"Sanji!" Luffy exclaimed when he spotted his cook and Boatswain in the alley. "What was on that melon I saw you eating earlier?"
"Got enough meat there?" Zoro asked as he eyed the Captain's haul. Luffy had three slabs of meat in each hand and a seventh slab stuffed in his mouth.
"It was prosciutto and fresh ham," the cook informed him.
"Oh yeah?" Luffy questioned. "Where'd you get that?"
"I think someone was carrying it around on a tray," Sanji replied. "Good looking find it… the whole town is one big party."
"I'M COMING MELON-MAN!" Luffy bellowed as he charged off.
"Alright, I'm done eating," Sanji announced, "Now I'm gonna go find a girl." The love cook darted off to get his flirt on.
Nearby, Usopp stood on a stack of tables happily regaling everyone that cared to listen with the tale of his battle again the fishmen. "There were three of them! But I wasn't afraid! I was armed only with my slingshot and my wits! But I knew I had to keep fighting! BECAUSE I'M CAPTAIN USOPP!"
"Whoa! Captain Usopp's so brave!" someone exclaimed.
"He's got a flare for storytelling," Sabo remarked as he sat in a chair at the edge of the crowd with Bonnie Anne in his lap. He spotted a familiar bluenette working her way through the crowd and waved to her. "Hey Nojiko." Nojiko smiled as she made her way over to him.
"Hey there, Magic Djinn," she greeted him as she deftly plucked Bonnie Anne out of Sabo's lap then took the rifle's place while holding Bonnie Anne on her own lap. "So… if I polished your rifle another two times… would I get two more wishes?"
"Two more?" Sabo repeated. "That was kind of a one-time thing. Mainly because we were gonna beat Arlong and his crew anyway."
"That's too bad," Nojiko sighed. "'Cause there's this guy I'm kind of into… He's a cute blonde but is also a badass outlaw. I wanted to have some fun with him before he left the island and set sail… so I was hoping you could hook me up."
Sabo's eyes went wide in surprise. He looked down at Bonnie Anne then back up at Nojiko. "Um… is there any chance you're talking about Sanji? Because he's dancing right over there."
"Who?" Nojiko asked before her eyes widened in realization. "Oh, your blonde friend. Nope. Not him. C'mon don't play dumb, hot-shot."
Again, Sabo eyes darted down to Bonnie Anne then back up to Nojiko. "I… um… look Nojiko… I'm flattered but there's something I probably should have told you a while ago. I'm in a relationship."
"I see," Nojiko replied as she drummed her fingers along Bonnie Anne's barrel. "She's a really lucky girl. Do I know her?"
"You're uh… holding her," Sabo answered.
To her credit, Nojiko's reaction was only a faint smile as she looked down at the rifle in her lap. "So Nami was telling the truth. I thought that maybe you were just messing with her. It seems kind of farfetched but you're actually dating your rifle."
"I know it's strange," Sabo admitted, "But Bonnie and I care about each other. She's usually a lot more possessive of me. She must really like you… if any other girl had tried what you're doing… she would've blasted them backwards by now."
"Damn," Nojiko cursed, "Passed up for a rifle. That's gonna do some damage to my self-esteem. But…" Nojiko leaned passed Sabo and snagged a mug off of a nearby table. She sniffed it before she downed the contents.
"Okay… here it goes… all or nothing." Nojiko resolved as she tossed the mug aside and ran her hand along Sabo's cheek. "I'll make this real easy for you. I'm gonna go back to my place… I'm gonna take off all of my clothes… and I'm gonna get in my bed. If you decide you want to join me in that bed… I'll show you how grateful I am for everything you've done for me and Nami. I've still got some rifle polish leftover so if you want to bring Bonnie along… we can call it a three-way."
Sabo's jaw dropped in shock. Nojiko reached out and traced her fingers along his jaw before she darted in and kissed him. She took advantage of his open mouth and slipped her tongue into the kiss.
Bonnie Anne was notably silent.
"If not…" Nojiko said when she pulled away a full five seconds later. "That'll have to hold me over." Nojiko stood up and placed Bonnie back in Sabo's lap. "But I'll be really happy if you decide to grant my second wish."
Nojiko walked off towards her house and left Sabo staring after her in complete and utter shock.
KER-CHOW!
The familiar sound jarred Sabo out of his shocked state and the focus returned to his eyes. He looked down at Bonnie Anne. "She seduced you first," he pointed out. "And uh… you know that blue's my favorite color."
Sabo got up and tucked Bonnie under his arm before he darted after Nojiko. Nojiko had turned to look back over her shoulder and her face lit up with a wide eager smile when she saw him coming after her.
"I uh…" Sabo said intelligently when he caught up.
Nojiko wordlessly reached out and snatched his top hat off of his head and put it on her own then leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. Nojiko pulled away then looked over at Bonnie. She took a deep breath before she grabbed the barrel of the rifle and planted another quick kiss on the side of the rifle's nozzle. Sabo's eyes widened in surprise but then Nojiko smirked at him before she grabbed his free hand and they ran off together.
Early the next morning, Genzo was standing over a familiar grave overlooking the sea.
"Bellemere… your daughters have grown up to be fine strong women," Genzo said as he poured some sake on the grave. "When I look at them it's almost like I'm seeing you again. From now on… all of us are going to live our lives to the fullest and laugh from the bottom of our hearts. Our freedom came at price… so those of us who survived have to laugh and smile until our cheeks hurt."
"HEY! Is there any prosciutto melon here?"
Genzo turned to find a familiar pirate in a straw hat standing behind him. Luffy still had a slab of meat jammed in his mouth.
"Oh, there's no food here," Luffy realized. "I guess I'll keep looking."
"Hold on, boy!" Genzo called after him.
"Hmm?" Luffy grunted as he turned around. He took note of Genzo and the grave. "Oh, a grave! Did somebody die?"
"Yes, a long time ago," Genzo confirmed.
"Well accept my condiments."
"That's condolences."
"Right, those."
"Listen kid," Genzo said, "Nami's said she plans on setting sail with you and your crew. You took down Arlong and as a result that girl is finally smiling again. But if you do anything to take away her smile… I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND MURDER YOU! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?"
Luffy nodded resolutely. "Understood."
Nami made her way into her house. She was in a great mood. Now that Arlong was gone and the island was free a huge weight had been lifted off of her. She had spent all night celebrating.
"Morning Nojiko!" Nami greeted her sister who was standing at the stove. "What're you making?"
"Tangerine sauce," Nojiko chirped.
Nami took note of her sister's appearance. Her blue hair was ruffled and she was wearing only a large white collared shirt and of course her ribbon which she never took off. Nojiko's low income as a tangerine farmer meant that Nami was used to seeing her sister wearing skimpy sleepwear so she didn't pay the outfit… or lack there-of much mind.
"Is that for breakfast?" Nami asked.
"Not exactly…" Nojiko practically sang then flashed her sister a wink. "More like dessert."
"Okay… and I thought I was in a good mood," Nami noted. She took stock of the room and spotted a familiar yellow top on the ground and a blue waistcoat was draped over a nearby chair. Nami's smile faded. "Nojiko… what did you do last night?"
"Who? Me?" Nojiko inquired. "I went and did that thing you said I couldn't do. And by 'thing' I mean a certain rifle-loving pirate."
Nami's eyes went wide and she staggered backwards in shock. "You didn't!"
"I did," Nojiko confirmed with a big grin. "Sabo just left to grab us something to eat. The tangerine sauce… well, that's for something else."
"No!" Nami gasped, "But… what about the rifle?"
"Bonnie?" Nojiko questioned with an impish smile. "She's right there."
Nami slowly turned and saw a familiar rifle lying 'innocently' on the bed. "You…" she hissed.
"Yeah, it was pretty weird," Nojiko admitted, "There was rifle polish everywhere. I'm gonna have to wash those sheets. Maybe even replace them…"
"I DID NOT NEED TO KNOW THAT!" Nami shrieked. "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?"
"Me? You said I couldn't," Nojiko defended. "I'm a grown woman with needs plus Sabo's cute and built like a—"
"NOT YOU!" Nami snapped as she whirled around and glared at Bonnie Anne, "THE BITCH IN THE RIFLE!"
"Um… Nami…" Nojiko attempted to calm her sister.
"THAT'S RIGHT! I'M ONTO YOU, YA EVIL RIFLE-DWELLING POLTERGEIST!" Nami yelled.
"Okay, Nami, you need to take a deep breath and—"
"Oh no, that bitch has had this coming for a long time!" Nami growled as she charged at the bed.
"NAMI! SHE'S STILL LOADED!"
Nami froze and jerked around to stare at Nojiko, "YOU LEFT THE BULLETS IN!?"
Nojiko pointed up and Nami looked up to see a hole that had been blown in the ceiling.
"Sabo promised he'd fix it."
"This isn't over!" Nami growled at Bonnie Anne before she turned and stormed out. "DEMON-RIFLE!"
"Bye Nami!" Nojiko called after her. She hummed to herself as she turned back to the stove. "It's nice that I had this last chance to mess with her before she left."
Nojiko casually stirred her pot of tangerine sauce before she looked over at the rifle on the bed. "You're not actually possessed… are you?"
KER-CHOW!
Nojiko dropped her spoon and her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh… my god… SAAAAABOOOOOO!"
"YOU KNEW!?" Nojiko exclaimed as she sat cross-legged at the head of her bed still wearing only Sabo's white collared shirt.
Sabo was seated on the side of the bed wearing his coat and pants with his 'possessed' rifle in his lap. "Of course I knew. I'm dating her."
"But…" Nojiko trailed off and massaged her forehead. "Okay… why don't you explain this whole situation so I know what I just slept with?"
"The real Bonnie Anne's trapped in there," Sabo explained. "I'm trying to find a way to get her out. The Grand Line is rumored to be a magical ocean where anything is possible. So if there's any way to get her out I'm bound to find it there."
"Does your crew know?" Nojiko asked.
"Luffy knew before I did," Sabo recounted. "I'm pretty sure Usopp's caught on. Zoro doesn't care. From what you told me about Nami's reaction… she knows. Or she's crazy. Sanji's still new and I haven't really known him long enough to let him in on it."
"But everyone thinks you're nuts!" Nojiko pointed out. "Nami certainly does!"
"That doesn't matter," Sabo said. "Bonnie's always there for me and always has my back. She's made it her mission to help me achieve my dream. So I'm gonna do everything I can for her and treat her like she's still a person."
"That's… really sweet," Nojiko remarked. She leaned in and kissed Sabo's cheek then slid over so she was seated next to him. "So… can I talk to her?"
"Sure," Sabo agreed. He fished into his pocket and pulled out a handful of bullets. "Here, put these blanks in. I doubt you want to blow any more holes in your house." Nojiko cracked Bonnie open and slipped in the blanks. "You've gotta limit yourself to yes or no questions. When she fires it means 'yes', 'wake up, you idiot' or 'get the hell off me'. A click from an intentional misfire usually means 'no' or 'screw you'. You've gotta judge it based on the situation."
"Okay," Nojiko said as she turned her attention to the rifle. "Hey Bonnie… um… are you… upset about me sleeping with your boyfriend?"
Click!
"Oh, well that's good."
"Honestly, I'm starting to think she wanted us to hook up," Sabo admitted.
KER-CHOW!
"So… you wanted us together," Nojiko realized. "Why? Oh wait… that's open-ended. Umm… did you do it to piss off Nami?"
Click! KER-CHOW!
Nojiko looked over at Sabo, "Uh… translation?"
"No, that's not the main reason," Sabo said, "But yes, she did like pissing Nami off. My guess is that she's still a little upset about the kidnapping thing."
KER-CHOW!
"Wow, you're really good at reading her," Nojiko noted.
"Years of experience," Sabo answered. "Most of our conversations are one-sided. But I try to get all I can out of her responses."
"Then let's see if we can find out her real motivation," Nojiko resolved. "Bonnie, did you like seeing Sabo naked and in action?"
KER-CHOW!
Nojiko raised an eyebrow and turned to grin at Sabo. "Naughty girl. Bonnie, do you think I should show Sabo why I made that tangerine sauce?"
KER-CHOW!
Nojiko handed the rifle off to Sabo then dashed over to the stove.
Sabo looked down at Bonnie. "What the heck did you get me into?" He wondered before a familiar balled-up white collared shirt hit him in the face.
Having decided to avoid her house at all costs, Nami swung by Dr. Nako's office to deal with something.
"I've successfully removed all traces of the Arlong tattoo," Dr. Nako informed Nami as she laid shirtless on a bed in his office. There was a faint scar in place of the tattoo on Nami arm. "But I'm afraid you'll always have a scar there. That's the way tattoos are… and you weren't exactly gentle when you tried to get rid of it yourself."
"That's alright," Nami said. "Here Doctor… I want to get a new tattoo to cover it up." Nami handed a slip of paper to the old doctor. "You can do that right? Nojiko told me you did hers."
"I can," Dr. Nako confirmed. "But why this symbol?"
"I'm gonna set sail with my friends," Nami told him. "But no matter where I go… I want something that'll always remind me of home. Now… if you don't mind… there's an evil spirit haunting my house… I'm gonna take a quick nap."
"Sure, go ahead."
But the girl was already asleep with a peaceful smile on her face that only came from finally being freed from her long ordeal.
"Sorry we got tangerine sauce on you, Bonnie," Sabo apologized as he sat up in the bed. Both he and Nojiko were wearing nothing but a shared sheet and Nojiko's hair ribbon between them.
CLICK!
"Oh, that's what a 'screw you' sounds like," Nojiko noted as she sat up beside him. "Here, I'll clean her. I've still got one wish left." She snagged the new bottle of rifle polish that Sabo had brought back with him off of a nearby table.
"Another wish?" Sabo asked. "I'm still working off the last one."
"Oh no, you took care of that one last night, stud," Nojiko assured him. "But this one's really important."
"And beating Arlong wasn't?" Sabo countered.
"Please?"
"Fine, what do you need?"
"It's about Nami…" Nojiko told him. "She's setting sail with you. I've heard stories about how dangerous the Grand Line is. Arlong was just one monster from that ocean. Nami's dreamed about drawing a map of the entire world ever since she drew her first one as a kid. So I always knew she'd have to head to the Grand Line eventually. And… I know this is asking a lot since you and Nami don't get along that well…"
Nojiko looked down and directly addressed the rifle she was cleaning. "You especially." She looked back over at Sabo. "And I'll admit that I probably didn't help matters with that second wish. But… could you guys… look after her for me? And maybe… help her when she needs it?"
"Nami's Nakama… we would've done that anyway."
"I know… but with this dangerous adventure she's about to go on… I'd just feel a lot better if someone promised to look out for her."
Sabo reached out and cupped Nojiko's chin then leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.
"I promise to look after Nami and help her achieve her dream."
KER-CHOW!
Nojiko smiled, "Thanks guys. This means the world to me. Actually…" Nojiko trailed off as she reached up and untied her hair ribbon. "I know that Nami can be hard to deal with sometimes. So I want you to take this that way you'll always remember your promise…" Nojiko carefully tied her ribbon around Bonnie's barrel then added, "…and me."
"Like we even could forget you," Sabo retorted as he reached out and wrapped his arm around her.
"I'm glad I'll be leaving a lasting impression then," Nojiko replied. She glanced at Sabo's arm. "Also… before you leave… did you want to finish off that tattoo?" Nojiko reached up and traced the dark blue 'S' that was on Sabo's upper left arm with her finger. "I can take you to the guy who did mine."
"Sure," Sabo agreed as he glanced over at Bonnie Anne, "I've known what I was going to finish it with for a long time now."
After two full days of celebrating and the first half of a third it was finally time for the Straw Hat Pirates to set sail. The afternoon sun hung high overhead as the Cocoyashi Villagers gathered by the shore to wish the heroic pirates and one of their own a final farewell.
Johnny and Yosaku stood on the dock beside the Going Merry and waved to the Straw Hats.
"Farewell, Luffy-bro, Zoro-bro, Usopp-bro and Cook-bro!" Johnny called out. "We're going back to becoming bounty hunters now."
"Oh, good luck then," Zoro replied.
"We've always wanted to be bounty hunters that fought for justice," Yosaku recalled. "We learned from you guys that we need to chase our dreams with everything we have."
"I only hope that someday we can be half as strong as you are," Johnny admitted.
"Farewell brothers!" both bounty hunters exclaimed.
"Both of you take care," Nojiko said as she wrapped her arms around Sabo and his rifle for one final hug. She was still wearing Sabo's white collared shirt while Sabo was down to his blue coat, waistcoat and pants. His cravat tie hung loosely around his neck. Bonnie still had the familiar red ribbon tied around her barrel.
Nojiko gave Sabo a quick kiss on the cheek then grabbed Bonnie and planted another kiss on her nozzle. "And good luck. Let me know if you ever manage to get her out of that rifle."
"Will do," Sabo agreed.
"And… don't forget," Nojiko said as she slid her hand down to Sabo's and squeezed it around Bonnie's barrel and her ribbon.
"We won't," Sabo assured her. He held up a bag, "I've already got something that'll hopefully make Nami less angry with me… and hopefully Bonnie too."
Nojiko finally released him and Sabo leapt from the dock onto the Going Merry.
Sanji turned to Sabo, "One of these days you're going to have to tell me how you managed that."
"Managed what?" Sabo asked.
"How you managed to charm a beautiful woman like Nojiko," Sanji clarified.
"Oh that," Sabo said. "Honestly, I didn't have much to do with it. I think it was mostly Bonnie that brought us together."
"I see…" Sanji said as he turned and eyed the rifle. His eye lingered on the red ribbon tied around Bonnie's barrel. "And where exactly would I get a rifle like that then?"
Sabo smiled and shook his head, "Sanji, believe me, you could search the entire world and you'd never find another rifle like Bonnie Anne."
"So… Sabro and Bonnie are here," Usopp noted. "Where's Nami?"
"Dunno," Luffy admitted.
"Maybe she's not coming?" Zoro suggested.
"WHAT? NAMI'S NOT COMING!?" Sanji yelled. "IF NAMI-SWAN ISN'T COMING THEN I LOSE HALF MY REASON FOR JOINING THIS CREW!"
"She's coming," Luffy assured them.
"SET SAIL NOW!"
The Straw Hats spotted Nami running towards them.
"Alright, let's go!" Luffy announced.
"Right, I'm on it," Boatswain Zoro stated as he went to the anchor room and raised the anchor.
"Shouldn't we let her say goodbye?" Usopp asked.
"Let her do it her own way," Luffy told him.
The Going Merry pushed off from the shore as Nami ran through the crowd of protesting well-wishers. She made a long jump off of the dock and landed on the Going Merry.
"HEY! MY WALLET'S GONE!"
"YOU LITTLE THIEF!"
The thief smirked as she pulled up her shirt which caused a large collection of wallets to spill out onto the deck.
"Goodbye everybody!" Nami called out to her neighbors as Going Merry sailed off.
"GOODBYE NAMI!"
Everyone called out well wishes as the reunited Straw Hat Pirates sailed off into the horizon.
"That girl's really something," Nojiko remarked as she made her way over to Genzo.
"Oh, so the succubus finally emerges," Genzo remarked.
"Hey, we weren't holed up this entire time," Nojiko insisted. "We visited Doctor Nako this morning to see about a tattoo." Nojiko reached into her pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. "Actually… we just missed Nami. She got this tattoo to replace her one from Arlong."
"What's this… a pinwheel and a tangerine?"
"Yeah, he said she wanted it to remind her of home," Nojiko explained. She glanced at Genzo's hat. "Hey, what happened to your pinwheel?"
Genzo smiled. His pinwheel was stuck in the ground by Bellemere's grave. He'd adorned his hat with the silly pinwheel in order to get Nami to smile and laugh when she was a baby. But now that she was free from Arlong and sailing off in pursuit of her dream… it was time to retire the pinwheel.
"Oh that old thing… I won't be needing it anymore."
Once Conomi Island was out of sight, Nami turned to Sabo and glared at him.
"We need to talk," she growled as she grabbed his ear and dragged him off to the rear deck.
"How is he so lucky with women?" Sanji wondered.
"It doesn't take a genius to figure out what he and Nojiko got up to last night," Usopp pointed out. "You do realize that Nami's probably gonna scream at him, right?"
"Yes!" Sanji answered. "What I wouldn't give to be in his shoes!"
"Ero-cook," Zoro mumbled, "You've got problems."
"Hey guys, I don't get it," Luffy said. "What did Sabo do?"
"I'm not touching that one," Zoro insisted. Usopp and Sanji didn't look eager to explain either.
"Okay… look… I know that you're mad… justifiably so," Sabo said when Nami finally released his ear. "But before you start screaming… I've got something for you that'll hopefully make up for what I did."
Sabo handed his bag over to Nami.
"Is this a bribe?" Nami asked as she opened the bag and peered inside. She was greeted by numerous bundles of monetary bills. "You're giving me… money…"
"Yeah," Sabo confirmed, "It's—"
"ARE YOU TRYING TO PAY ME OFF AFTER SLEEPING WITH MY SISTER!?" Nami yelled. She jammed the bag back into his chest. "IS THAT ALL SHE'S WORTH TO YOU?"
"No!" Sabo immediately refused. "Are you implying that your sister could be bought?"
"DON'T PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH!" Nami scolded him.
"Then how 'bout you let me say my piece before you bite my head off?" Sabo suggested.
Nami glared at him and folded her arms under her chest. "Make it quick."
"Look, what happened with Nojiko was a mutual decision between her, Bonnie and me," Sabo stated. "But it happened and there's really nothing you can do about it. The life expectancy of a pirate isn't a long one… so I'm not going to regret taking the opportunity to live my life. The best thing for us to do now is to move passed it. This is a gift… a token off good faith so we can start things off on a better ground."
"Not likely," Nami refused. "What you did is still too fresh." She decided to not mention the fact that Nojiko had asked her permission and that she had sort of given it. She hadn't counted on Sabo succumbing to her sister like any sane person would. "How would you like it if I kissed your brother?"
"Well you've never met Ace," Sabo pointed out, "And we both know that you wouldn't kiss Luffy."
Nami's eyes narrowed at the perceived challenge. "Oh… you think I'm bluffing? LUFFY! Come here!"
Sabo immediately folded and started sweating. "No! Nami don't!"
"What's up, Nami?" Luffy asked as he arrived an instant later.
"Nothing! She wants nothing!" Sabo insisted. "Go! Leave!"
"Luffy, I wanted to thank you for everything you did for me," Nami told him while watching the seemingly terrified Sabo out of the corner of her eye.
"Nami! I'm sorry!" Sabo apologized in a desperate panic. "I see your point! I never should have slept with your sister! Don't do it! Don't do it!"
"No problem, you're Nakama!" Luffy easily replied.
"And that's it!" Sabo exclaimed. "You can go now!"
"Not quite Luffy," Nami said as she reached out and grabbed his hand.
"NAMI! DON'T! I'M BEGGING YOU!" Sabo pleaded. "YOU'RE MESSING WITH POWERS THAT ARE BEYOND YOUR COMPREHENSION!"
"What's with all the shouting?" Usopp asked as he, Zoro and Sanji approached the front deck… just in time to see Nami grab the sides of Luffy's face and plant a long, hard kiss on the surprised pirate.
Luffy's eyes flew wide open in shock.
"Whoa!" Zoro and Usopp gasped in surprise.
"WHHHYYY!?" Sanji cried. The poor cook's heart broke and he collapsed to the ground in a dead faint.
"NOOOOOOO!" Sabo screamed in horror.
Nami released Luffy and the rubber man dropped to the ground stiff as a board.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE!?" Sabo yelled at Nami. "Up until now… Luffy has shown absolutely zero interest in the opposite sex! You could've skipped across the deck of the ship in your birthday suit and he would've laughed it off as a fun game! But now… YOU'VE KICK STARTED HIS HORMONES!"
"I don't see what the big deal is," Nami replied with a casual shrug.
"You wouldn't!" Sabo growled, "But now I've gotta deal with a Luffy that's interested in girls! I'm gonna have to give him the talk! He's gonna ask me questions! Do you have ANY IDEA how awkward and annoying that's going to be?"
"Yeah," Nami answered, "I guess this makes us even then."
Sabo sighed and rubbed his forehead then tossed the money bag back at Nami. "Just… take it. It's the twenty million berries I got from that marine with the funny hair. It's Arlong's bounty. After everything he put you through I thought you should have it. I've gotta… I'm gonna be sick…"
Nami stared down at the bag as Sabo started to stagger away.
"Sabo…" Nami called after him and grabbed his hand. Sabo turned to face her and Nami quickly wrapped him in a hug. "Thank you. And thank you for protecting Nojiko from those marines. If I had to pick someone to be with her it would be a strong, upstanding, noble guy like you."
"Don't call me a noble," Sabo requested with a hint of iron in his voice.
"My point is…" Nami said, "I forgive you for sleeping with Nojiko. Mostly because I know it was her idea… and possibly the riflegeist's. And also because she's not going to be around for you to do it again. So you and I… we're square."
Sabo nodded then his eyes widened in surprise when the thief released him and stepped back with Bonnie Anne in her hands. "You on the other hand… I'm still pissed at. You've already got a boyfriend… but then you seduced my sister and dragged her into your crazy relationship. And now you're throwing it back in my face by wearing her ribbon."
CLICK! KER-CHOW!
The rifle's recoil once again sent Nami flying backwards and the thief landed hard on her back.
THUD!
"You little…" Nami growled.
"Damn it, Bonnie…" Sabo growled as he snatched his rifle back and took off running.
Nami shot back up and raced after him, "GET BACK HERE! I don't care how many bullets she's got left! I'm gonna kick that bitch's ass!"
Zoro, Usopp and a recovered Sanji watched as Nami proceeded to chase Sabo and his rifle all around the Going Merry.
"So yeah…" Zoro dead-panned, "Nami's insane now."
"Is it strange that I find Nami-swan even more attractive now that she's crazy?" Sanji asked.
"Yes, yes it is," Usopp confirmed.
"Well tough!" Sanji snapped. "I don't need to impress you bastards!"
Luffy suddenly sat up with a wide grin on his face, "Hey! That was fun!"
"Something tells me we're gonna regret that Nami did that for a long, long time," Zoro stated.
"Shows what you know, marimo," Sanji retorted, "I already am."
The other Straw Hats probably just imagined the dark cloud that hung over their head as they sailed off with their reunited crew towards their next adventure.
And that's the Brother on Board Arlong Park Arc. I'm very proud of it. But now I'm gonna take a week off to recharge and let everything sink in. I posted a chapter a week for the last 13 weeks. I think that justifies a small break. I'll be back on May 16th to finish off the East Blue Saga with the Loguetown Arc.
A/N: Sorry gang, one of my jobs is at a movie theater. Captain America: Civil War kicked my ass this weekend. I was too exhausted to do my writing like I had planned. I'm in the process of writing the new chapter now and its turning out to be longer than I expected. I'll post it next Monday so I can keep up my usual pattern. By then I should hopefully get a head start on the following chapter.
Silver signing off…