I do not own One Piece! That will always belong to Eiichiro Oda!

AN: Since this story is a mixture of the anime and the LA, it's only fair that Kuroobi and the others get some spotlight; after all, they're Arlong's brethren.

Kuroobi couldn't get over the insanity of Arlong wanting to marry a human, but not any human Nami of all people! He did not trust her, yet Arlong did. He was always forgiving towards her, no matter what she had to him. The girl had tried killing Arlong in different ways, and though she failed, his captain never really punished her. He knew the others had made sure of specific punishments, such as not giving her food because Nami had been rebellious. Well, not everyone. Hatchi had been a little too soft when it came to Nami, just like he was back home.

The ray man hated being told to accompany Chew when Arlong left his base to fetch Nami. He was satisfied that their arrival at the Baratie had caused the humans to fear them. They should be afraid of them since Arlong always said that they were the superior race. Yes, when they were children, he, Chew, Hatchi, and even Arlong had longed to be part of the human world. They had snuck countless times out of the so-called orphanage known as the Fishmen District, daring to swim up to the surface where they would stare at the light of Shabody Park. Arlong was so fascinated by the lights of the Ferris wheel. It was like that until humans invaded their homeland, taking whoever they wanted and selling them to the Celestial Dragons.

Kuroobi, like Arlong, had watched in horror as pirates attacked them, grabbing children, even mermaids, and placing them in cages, keeping chains on them. Arlong's fascination turned to hatred, and he declared war, forming the Arlong Pirates. When Fisher Tiger attacked the holy land of Mary Geoise, Arlong took their crew and joined Fisher Tiger, as did Jimbei with the slaves that had been freed from the clutches of their masters.

Arlong never shared the same ideals as Fisher Tiger, a man he looked up to and admired. Fisher Tiger was compassionate and very merciful, never approving of senseless violence where killing of humans was not allowed. Arlong and even Jimbei had killed a few humans.

Kuroobi did not understand how Fisher Tiger remained idealistic, making the principles of liberation and freedom the basics of the Sun Pirates. Arlong and Fisher Tiger often argued about that. Arlong wanted to slaughter any humans they came across to make the world fear the strength of their race, but Tiger did not wish to do this, stating they would stoop to their oppressors' level. When Tiger was not only betrayed and killed, Arlong, heartbroken, cried and attempted to get revenge by attacking those who had committed the treason.

Kuroobi was loyal to his captain, so his sudden desire to marry a human never made sense. So he decided to speak with Arlong about this, only to find Arlong's room empty. This Kuroobi did not like. He checked on Nami only to find the door to her room locked. The ray cursed, knowing Arlong had to be there with her. Finally, he decided Nami had to go and waited for her to leave Arlong Park. He was sure Arlong had returned to his room, but when he checked on his captain, Arlong still was not there.

Kuroobi assumed the worst, and he roused his brethren up.

"Arlong-san is gone!" he said once they were all gathered. "He's lost his way and forgotten what the humans have done to us and what they did to Fisher Tiger!"

"What should we do?" a Fishman wearing a baseball cap with the triple AAA named Takahiro said.

"We destroy not only Cocoyashi Village but Nami and her sister!" Kuroobi roared, snatching up a light torch. "We'll erase that town and orchard!"

"Kuroobi, we can't do that!"

The ray man turned to look at Hatchi, who had always been nice to Nami. "What did you say?"

"This is wrong," Hatchi said. "Arlong-san isn't here, but it doesn't mean he's in danger. He's probably off somewhere, thinking."

Kuroobi glared at the octopus Fishman. "Are you so blind that you've forgotten what they've done to us?! Arlong called us his brothers and talked about the truth of this world. How we're the rightful rulers of this world and how the humans knew it as well."

There were nods of agreement as they recalled Arlong's proud words, but not all agreed.

"This isn't right," Hatchi argued. "Arlong-san is finally seeing what Fisher Tiger wanted him to understand. So what if he wishes to marry Nami? She's helped him finally see that he was wrong."

"You're a stupid fool!" Kuroobi snapped.

"I'm not!" Hatchi said. "There are good humans out there, just like Fisher Tiger said was. I should know. I saved a man named Silvers Rayleigh when I was a child, and he treated me fairly, as did Shakuyaku. Some people are accepting and willing to be friends with us. If Arlong-san can improve, what's wrong with us following his example?"

Kuroobi glared as more started seeing Hatchi's argument. "Then answer this," he said. "Where's Arlong-san then? Where could he have gone if he's not here?"

Hatchi could not answer.

"I'll tell you where he is!" Kuroobi yelled. "He's with Nami! She's poisoned his mind, let him astray, and I will bring him back to his senses. Who's with me?!"

There was a roar of wild agreement.

~~.~~.~~

"Kuroobi is out there with the others, and they have torches!" Nami said.

"What?" Arlong said as he painfully got from the bed. "He dares to lead a mutiny against me?"

Nami looked back as Arlong put his shirt back, limping forward. "What are you doing? You're injured!"

"Nothing is going to keep me down significantly at this moment," Arlong said, ignoring the pain. "Is there a back door?"

Nojiko was shaken, but she answered Arlong. "Yes."

Arlong nodded. "Nami, take your sister and go," he said. "Go to your village and tell them to clear out while they can."

"Arlong, they won't listen to me, and we know this," Nami said.

"They'll listen to your sister, won't they?"

Nami glanced at Nojiko, who gave a nod. The sisters headed out the back door, but Nami paused briefly. Arlong either knew or sensed that she did because he looked back at her, giving a firm nod. He turned his attention towards the front entrance and opened it, stepping outside.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Arlong demanded, his tone commanding.

"Arlong-san!" some of his men said, relieved to see him.

They parted like a wave before Arlong as he walked forth, refusing to let them see him hurt. He stopped before Kuroobi, then slowly looked at his men.

"Kuroobi, answer me," Arlong said. "What are you doing here and with torches?"

Even though Cocoyashi Village lay a fair distance from the tangerine farm, Arlong caught the smell of smoke and lifted his head. He looked at Kuroobi, who had a look of utter satisfaction.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Arlong roared.

~~.~~.~~

Nami and Nojiko ran towards the Cocoyashi, and before they reached the edge of the village, both caught the smell of smoke.

"No!" Nami screamed as she and Nojiko saw their village ablaze.

"Nami!"

The sisters turned to see Hatchi and a few loyal to Arlong hurrying towards them. The octopus Fishman was genuinely horrified at the sight of the burning village.

"Hatchan!" Nami shouted. "Help put out the fires and anyone who needs aid!"

Hatchi nodded, not hesitating in doing so. Nami and Nojiko hurried to help who they could with the remaining Fishmen. Genzo was directing a fire barricade trying to save a single house. The sudden appearance of some of Arlong's men caused a panic until Hatchi started helping.

"Hurry!" he shouted, pointing to the fire barricade.

The race to save the village from destruction began, with humans and Fishmen working as one.

"Nami, the village is lost," Nojiko said, tears starting to flow.

It appeared, so then Nami recalled their best chance. "Momoo! Hatchi, call Momoo! He's our best chance!"

The air was filled with a loud, trumpet-like call as Hatchi summoned the sea cow. Villagers screamed as Momoo surfaced eyes on Hatchi; Nami ran up to the Fishman.

"Momoo, please put out the fires!" she yelled.

Momoo looked at the human girl in bewilderment.

"Momoo, wave time," Hatchi said, moving his arms in a wave motion.

The Grand Line beast reared up and came down, sending a wave of seawater. There was a mad scramble to get clear of the rushing water as flames hissed as they went out.

"Nami, it worked," Nojiko said, hugging her sister.

Genzo was staring at Nami as she hugged Hatchi, who was blushing. "Why?" he said. "Why help us when you set our village on fire?!"

"That was Kuroobi's doing," Nami said. "Seems there's a mutiny."

"Nami, where's Arlong-san, chu?!" Chew said.

"At the farm," Nojiko said. "He told us to head here."

Genzo and everyone looked shocked.

"NAMI!"

Nami blinked at the yell. It couldn't be! She turned to see—

"Luffy!" she shouted, happy he was alive. She ran to the rubber boy, hugging him, Zoro, and Usopp.

"Nami, what is happening?" Luffy said.

"Luffy, please," Nami said, knowing she had no right to ask him anything. "You have to help Arlong."

"The fish guy you left with?" Zoro said, still not happy about the events that had taken place. "Why should we?"

"He's hurt and fighting a battle alone," Nami said. "Luffy, please."

"He's strong," Luffy said. "And he must be important to you."

"He is," Nami said.

"Okay," Luffy said. "Let's go."

~~.~~.~~

Arlong and Kuroobi were staring each other down. "What have you done?" the saw shark repeated.

"Doing what you should have done," Kuroobi said.

"Your foolish actions have ruined the deal I had with Nami!" Arlong said.

"What deal?" the ray man said.

"We would leave this island and the East Blue in exchange for Nami to be my wife," Arlong said. "Now you've gone and destroyed it. She'll think I've lied to her, all because you had to act on your own!"

"Leave?" Kuroobi said. "Listen to yourself, Arlong-san. You're talking about giving up your dream of an empire. What was it you preached about?"

Arlong remained silent, staring hard at his officer. Kuroobi dared to start circling him like a predator.

"You talked about restoring the natural order in this world," Kuroobi said.

There were cheers of agreement from those with Kuroobi.

Kuroobi continued. "Didn't you say for centuries that humans have used us, kept us down? Our so-called leaders allowed it to happen by waving banners of unity and love, which were, in truth, flags of surrender, willing defeat. Did you not say that to us?"

"I said that," Arlong said, nodding some. "I also said I didn't know about you, but I ain't surrendering. That we were the embodiment of Fishman superiority."

More cheers followed as Kuroobi stood before his captain. "Shouldn't we do what you said we should?" he asked. "Teach every human their rightful place beneath us?"

"Yeah! Kill them!"

Arlong heard his brethren getting worked up. He had to regain control before it grew worse. Then Kuroobi noticed the trinkle of blood running down Arlong's arm.

"How did this happen?!" Kuroobi shouted. "Look, brothers! Our captain, once so mighty, stands before us, wounded!"

They fell silent as they stared, seeing that Kuroobi spoke true. Arlong had always been the strongest among them, protected them, and now he stood before them injured. He was no longer strong, their protector.

"You became soft; this is proof," Kuroobi spat at his captain. "A human lover."

"ARLONG!"

His head jerked up as Kuroobi and the others turned. He saw Nami, Hatchi with the rest of his men, those of Cocoyashi Village, and- wait, was that straw hat? He survived?!

"Kurrobi, stop this," Hatchi said. "There's no reason to do this."

Kuroobi pointed at Arlong. "This is the reason," he said. "Arlong has become so soft and weak that he allowed himself to become hurt."

"I was making amends," Arlong said. He no longer cared about the deal he made with Nami. It was ruined thanks to Kuroobi; his pride was at stake. "But I know now that was pointless because things will never change!"

Kuroobi looked at him, smiling. That sounded like the Arlong he knew.

"I tried to do the one thing you wanted me to do, and look what happened, Nami!" Arlong said.

Luffy took a step forward. "You want to go again, Arlong," Luffy said. "That's fine. I'm up for round two."

"Arlong, please," Nami said. "This doesn't need to happen. The deal doesn't matter, not anymore. You showed you can change, and that is enough for me."

"Arlong-san, please," Hatchi begged. "We just proved it is possible to live peacefully and work together."

Arlong was struggling with his feelings. Kuroobi reminded him of what they had suffered, but his eyes saw Hatchi and a few others standing among those of Cocoyashi. He shifted his attention to Nami, struggling more than ever. She came forward until she stood before him, raising a hand—

The sound of a gun going off brought Arlong back to reality, and Nami slumped forward. He caught her in his arms as she fell. Confusion reined in as everyone looked around, trying to find the source.

"Nami," Straw hat was there, equally upset.

Nami's hand moved to her belly, blood soaking through her top. She looked up at both Arlong and Luffy. "Oh god, our baby—"

Arlong blinked. Did he hear Nami right? Did she say baby as in their baby? "You're pregnant….?" He whispered.

"Chi Chi Chi Chi."

Hearing the laughter, Arlong looked up, as did everyone else. There stood Nezumi with some of his marines, and he still had his gun pointed in his direction. Arlong growled in anger, but he wasn't the only one to become angry as the straw hat boy stood up.

"You dare to shoot my fiancée?!" Arlong snarled. "Who do you think you are, rat?!"

Nezumi shrugged, looking so unconcerned. "A man who is about to collect a few bounties and a criminal's treasure," he said with a smirk.

"You wanna what I see?" Arlong said, getting up, Nami still in his arms. "A bunch of dead marines."

"It would be wiser if you and your pirate crew surrendered," Nezumi said.

"Hatchi," Arlong said. "Take Nami."

Hatchi did as asked. Forcing all his pain from his mind, Arlong rolled his shoulders as he strode forward. He wasn't alone as Luffy stood by him.

"Are you going to surrender?" The boy asked, glanced at him.

Arlong barely glanced at him. "I don't know about you, but I ain't surrendering!"

The boy grinned. "Good. How about we make this guy pay for hurting Nami?"

Arlong grinned as he gave a deep chuckle. "Sounds like my kind of party."

It appears Nezumi has gone and angered both Arlong and Luffy. I know what you're all saying, "No way would Arlong team up with Luffy." Yet, you must admit that some of you would love to see it. What of Nami? Has Nezumi's foolishness taken an innocent, unborn life?