AN: WOW! Thanks for your reviews! I didn't expect to have this much in 2 days. It's mind-blowing.
Review replies are posted at the end.
Disclaimer: I don't own any version of Beauty and the Beast or One Piece. I do own this story.
As the door opened, it struck the small bell hanging over the threshold indicating a customer. "Hello?" called a young woman with short orange hair. She donned a simple white and orange dress.
"Coming!" Someone called back, and then sounds of crashing books filled her ears. "I'm okay!" An elderly man wearing a green apron came out. He wore large spectacles that rested easily on his nose He had a receding hairline with his bright white hair. "Good mornin' Nami!" He grinned as if nothing happened.
Nami stared at him in shock, before replying, "Good morning, Mr. Wordsworth. I'm here to return this book and pick up another."
"Ah, yes." He took the book away from her, "Go ahead, but beware of the falling books."
Nami chuckled and agreed. As she near a book shelf her eyes brighten when her eyes fell on a green book. She picked it off the shelf and hugged it.
"That one again?" The book keeper asked. Nami smiled and nodded. "Then keep it."
She protested, "I can't! It's part of your collection."
"Take it." He replied, "You enjoy more than any other customer. It's my gift for you."
Nami smiled and hugged him, in doing so; she slipped a small sack of coins down his apron pocket. "Thank you," she said again as she left the shop with the book in her hand.
Not before long, she was stopped by a large man and his three companions. The man towered over her by almost 2 feet. His long black hair was tied back in a pony tail keeping it out of his wide sharp face with his long nose. He had broad shoulders and long arms and legs.
"Greetings, Nami. How do you fair today?"
"Good," She replied, reading her book and walking back home.
"What's this?" He plucked the book from her hands. His three companions Hachi, Chuu, and Kuroobi crowded around it. "What kind of book is this?" They cried out, "It only has black and white pictures."
"It's map of parts of the world," Nami glared and pulled her book out of their grimy hands. "It's a topographic map, and a geological, and political… Oh never mind." She rolled her eyes as she turned to leave.
"Hold on," Arlong grabbed her wrist, "Have you ever thought about getting married? Have a male in that household of yours?"
Nami jerked her arm away from his grip, "My father is returning any time soon. He'll be back before the end of the season."
"You know, I heard a rumor that all the Pinwheel ships didn't return." Before he could say anymore, another voice called out, "NAMI!"
She turned to see her older sister, "Nojiko! What is it?" Nami shouted back at her sister. Nojiko had short blue hair pulled back with a ribbon. Her skin was tanner than her younger sister, but they were both beautiful in their own way.
"Father is back! Hurry!" Nojiko shouted.
"If you'll excuse me, Sirs, I have to go home and I don't need an escort." Nami ran to meet her sister and they talked back to their estate disusing the return of their father, Genzo.
"Father!" Nami ran up to greet him with hugs and kisses.
"Nojiko! Nami!" He smiled at them, "My daughters, my sweet daughters, my sweet beautiful daughters. Please sit, for I bear depressing news in my wake." Once they sat down comfortably, Genzo began, "Our ships were attacked by pirates and those who escaped met up with a terrible storm. Ill fortune is upon us, for none of my ships survived and returned. My buyers are furious and want their money back. Money that I lost on one of the ships. I'm sorry to say, but we have to sell our house to balance the debt. Forgive me, my daughters."
"Of course, father." They replied. "Your life is worth more than this house. We can live somewhere else, in poverty is needed."
"In a few days, I will go and sell the remaining tangerines in the city. But after I've seen you settled in our new home. We can refurnish Bellemere's cottage in the orchard."
Days passed and their lives changed forever. From riches to rags, all in less than a week. Genzo sold everything but his late wife's tangerine orchard. The orchard belonged to Bellemere and now to her family. Genzo, Nojiko, and Nami were able to part with everything except the orchard. It was their life.
With the remaining tangerines from this years harvest, a large wagon load, Genzo could sell them for enough beli to last for the winter, spring, and maybe more. Upon leaving, Nami and Nojiko saw him off.
"Take care, father!" Nojiko shouted.
Nami informed him, "Stay safe! Don't try and take short cuts! The map shows no other path to the city. It's only one road! Take this map I drew!"
Her older sister laughed, "Your maps are not accurate. You have never left Cocoyashi and you believe you know the roads." Nami flushed in embarrassment.
"I want father to be safe. I know the atlas is old, but it's certain that I path I marked is the safest."
Hey everyone. I'll answer your questions now.
What is the pairing? – Well, Nami x Zoro of course. I'm going to keep pairings simple and not add more to the mix.
Mihawk as the Gaston? – Hmm, I didn't think of that. However, Mihawk it too noble and chivalrous to be 'Gaston.' That's just my opinon.
Disney version? – Not all parts of my story will be from the Disney version. I'm won't spoil my ideas just yet. You'll just have to read and find out!
Who's the Beast? – So many people asked this one… and believe it or not, I'm not going to answer you. This is my spin; it's the main part, the essence of my version. You'll have to find out, but most… few… one… of you already did. Ha ha ha. Or did you? So sorry, but, seriously, most of you guessed it however, I'm not going to confirm it.
Did Chopper get turned into anything? – No he did not, since the cursed people are animals, I believe I need Chopper to be normal to converse between the two parties.
Why didn't Zoro become an animal? – I guess… I had to have one person in the castle that speaks human, other than Chopper. Everyone else is animals. Besides, as Robin of the Blossom said, "You already are one."
Who is Sanji playing? – The cook? "Lumiere?" I don't know. I haven't decided what animal he's going to be. I narrowed it down to two. Lumiere is leaning too far toward Disney's version, but by the time he's introduced, I'll have him fitted into my story.
Thanks for all your reviews! YounamemeAkira, Kilnorc, Mirathin, Nehszriah, T.O.B, Takahane, Ravenrogue19, Thermopyle, Ziggi, xXSanji-KunXx and Wolfie.
I have a project that is due Monday, so I can't update as fast as I wanted to.
