Arlong heard a muffled argument below. Eventually, the sources of that argument moved up to where he was.
"Th-The hell!?" gasped Ace, who was being carried under-arm by Kuma. He stared at the headless corpse of Borsalino. "You were telling the truth about that!?"
Arlong glared at Kuma. "Yeah, he is. I saw it with my own eyes, him dealing the finishing blow to Kizaru. But, he still hasn't told me what he actually wants."
Kuma set down Ace gently. Of course, no amount of gentleness was enough to stop the latter from wobbling on his legs. The latter hadn't had nearly enough time to properly recover from Magellan's poison.
"If it will assuage your suspicions…" Kuma said. "I am a member of the Revolutionary Army. My goal is to fix the current order of the world."
"Revolutionary—"
"—Army!?"
Arlong and Ace shared shocked glances. Both of them had heard of the organisation, of course. It wasn't surprising to learn the Revolutionary Army had sent infiltrators into the World Government's ranks. It was surprising for one to be as highly placed as a Warlord.
And yet he did kill one of the admirals… even if he's lying and is actually working for someone else, he must not be afraid of defying the World Government…
Suddenly, Arlong heard pained coughs. He wondered—in a brief moment of desperate hope—if Jinbe had regained consciousness. However, it turned out to be Ace.
"Gak, gak!" Ace leaned against the nearest support available, which was the stump of the damaged mizzenmast. "Damn him… Magellan… if it weren't for him, if I'd just been able to fight…"
"Neither Arlong nor I has the ability to help you," Kuma said. "However, as I recall, one of your crewmates has the ability to heal others. Marco the 'Phoenix'."
"Marco?" Ace groaned. "Sure… gak… but he's nowhere near here—"
Then Kuma palmed Ace out of sight.
"Do you deal with all your problems by pushing them away!?" Arlong asked.
"We have no time to waste," Kuma replied seriously. "Ace's condition was worsening over time, he required prompt care. And the longer the two of us remain here, the greater the chance of Marine reinforcements arriving. Admiral Borsalino and I may have Devil Fruits that allowed us to travel here quickly, but I assure you that—"
"Tch… I get your point, so you can shut up about that."
Kuma looked down at the body of Jinbe. "Saying that, there is still a little time. Time enough for you to give your fallen comrades the proper respects."
Arlong clenched and unclenched his fists. It felt irritating, going along with the suggestions of an untrustworthy stranger, but he had no choice.
Besides… it's not like I can just leave their bodies lying around. They deserve… to be reunited with the sea. Just like we did with Brother Tiger.
Arlong returned to the main deck of the ship, picked up the corpses of his friends and stuffed enough metal objects into their clothes to ensure they wouldn't float. He brought them over to the side of the ship.
While lifting up the two halves of Kuroobi, Arlong took a deep breath.
Kuroobi… my Fish-Man Karate would be utter shit if I didn't have you around to practice with. Without you, I would've died a long time ago.
And the truth is… I did enjoy it, helping teach your students. It made me feel… like I was a better man than my own drunk of a father.
He cast the remains into the sea, where they began sinking.
Chew… you always were able to spice up any party, by setting up bottles and shooting 'em down. The rest of us would bet on how many you could get in a row… Come to think of it, did you mess up your shots just to screw with our bets?
And I wish you had more time for your new interest. You would've invented so many things… shown the world that fish-men can be more than just dumb muscle.
After a moment's hesitation, Chew was cast into the sea as well.
Hatchan… I'll never forget the food you cooked up. Even the fanciest restaurants in Fish-Man Island have nothing on your cooking…
I should've listened to you more often. Everyone else kept thinking of you as the crew idiot, but you always had the right ideas… I should've listened to you… treated Koala better.
A third body was cast into the sea. Arlong watched it until it was gone from view completely.
It doesn't matter now. Now, you lot… get to see Brother Tiger again, drink and laugh with him again.
You guys… are the lucky ones…
Tears spilled from Arlong's eyes again. He wiped at them, but they kept coming.
"Why…" Arlong said out loud. "Why am I the one who keeps surviving!? Brother Tiger died, a man better than me even on his worst days! I attacked the humans he tried to help, and the Marine who stopped me, didn't finish me off! And now… now… all of you are…"
A hand touched Arlong's shoulder. It wasn't too different in size from Arlong's own hand, despite its owner being bigger in most other respects.
"Again, I am sorry," Kuma said. "If you must blame anyone, blame me for being unable to save them as well."
Arlong brushed the hand away. "Shut up. Like Jinbe said, we were the ones who went up against an admiral. There's no way we could've gotten out of that with everyone alive. We were lucky just to win, in the end."
With the first three taken care of, Arlong returned to where Jinbe was. He bent down and placed a hand on the chest. There was no longer any movement, nor any body heat.
"…I'm the one who should be sorry," Arlong said quietly.
Arlong placed weights in Jinbe's clothes. He started carrying the massive fish-man over towards the edge.
Jinbe… you…
In the end, you were an idiot. You followed the World Government, propping them up even when you knew about their crimes. And when you finally decided to rebel, you couldn't even do it properly, you let 'em chain you up.
It's your fault that you're dead now. Along with Hatchan, Chew and Kuroobi.
Arlong staggered, but quickly righted himself.
"Do you need help—"
"Fuck. Off," Arlong snarled. "I'll do this myself."
You helped the sheltered royals, especially that idiot of a queen who thought we could achieve peace with humans. You betrayed who you were, someone from the Fish-Man District…
…but it's what Brother Tiger would've wanted.
Heh. At first, you were more violent on the humans we fought, and Brother Tiger had to hold you back… After he died, you were the one who carried on his vision…
Arlong sobbed. It was mortifying to do this when right next to a stranger like Kuma, but he couldn't help himself.
This is all your fault, you hear me?
It's your fault I got released from Impel Down. If I stayed there, I would've died in the darkness one day. Would've been the right end for a thug like me. Nami's home would never have suffered for years under my rule.
It's your fault the Fish-Man District has changed! All bright and happy and prosperous… if you hadn't forced me to clean it up, then its people wouldn't have had to… to get stupid ideas in their heads, like hope and a better future!
Arlong laughed. He was now past the point of caring what others might think of him.
Ah… I'm just a contradictory mess. I've always been a mess. Fighting to free slaves, then taking slaves myself. Respecting Fisher Tiger, then lying about his final wish.
At least… you won't have to put up with my mess anymore.
"Goodbye… Brother Jinbe…"
Arlong lifted up Jinbe's body and hurled it over a railing. Jinbe landed in the water with a loud splash. He sank for a few seconds before disappearing from sight.
The sounds of heavy footsteps approached Arlong.
"I did not know him well…" Kuma said. "We Warlords of the Sea don't work together, generally speaking. Even so… he was someone I truly respected."
"…Yeah," Arlong said. "So did I."
They spent a few moments in silence. It was oddly peaceful, considering they were on a devastated ship that might sink at any moment.
"So, just what the hell is your plan for me?" Arlong asked.
"After sending you away, I will destroy this ship entirely," Kuma said. "It will appear that you, along with the Straw Hat Pirates and Portgas D. Ace, have all perished in intense battle. As long as you remain hidden for some time, there will be no problems."
"Makes sense," Arlong said. "Except for the 'some time' bit. If we ever show our faces again, it'll be obvious what you did, since you were supposedly the only survivor."
"That is not something you need to concern yourself with," Kuma said cryptically.
Arlong glared at the Warlord, who did not even flinch in response.
"…Doesn't sound like you'll give any answers," Arlong said. "Hmph. Guess there's no point asking where I'm getting sent."
"To a little-known island, Baltigo, the base of the Revolutionary Army," Kuma said. "And… well. You have little reason to accept a request from me, but I'd appreciate if you could pass on my regards to them."
Kuma stretched out his palm towards Arlong.
"And my farewell."
Arlong suppressed his instinctual desire to resist, and allowed the strange hand to tap him on the chest.
Guh!
I've been… getting thrown around… too much TODAYYYYY!
A translucent, oddly shaped bubble now surrounded Arlong. Almost everything outside the bubble was blue: blue sky above, blue sea below, with just a few white clouds to break up the scenery. But those clouds were moving past so quickly, Arlong couldn't track any individual one for more than a second.
Can't… even… see the ship anymore!
Must've been mad… to agree to this!
Rationally, Arlong had had no real choice in the matter. The Straw Hats and Ace certainly hadn't chosen to be sent away by Kuma.
I might've tried killing myself, not given him the chance.
But it's not what those guys would've wanted. For their sakes… I have to keep going.
-ooo-
After what might have been hours or days, Arlong made landfall.
Baltigo turned out to be a barren island of grey soil and rock formations. Arlong saw himself plummet towards that soil at dizzying speed.
Fuck… Kuma had better be telling the truuuuuth!
Arlong reached the ground, the bubble disappeared… and that was all. He'd come to an abrupt stop mere inches above the ground, all of his momentum completely gone.
Arlong landed on the grey soil. He blinked, then rolled onto his side and began retching.
EUURGGH! It's not right… to just… stop suddenly… EURGH!
While Arlong emptied the contents of his stomach, he heard the footsteps of several people.
"Identify yourself!"
"Wait, that crater—did Kuma send you!?"
"Eurgh…" Arlong groaned. "Just… give me… a second…"
Arlong took a few seconds to stand up, during which the strangers stood around him awkwardly.
Once he was up, Arlong took in his surroundings in more detail. The group of strangers were dressed in dark brown cloaks with hoods and carrying rifles, though the latter weren't currently aimed at him. Behind them was a multi-storey building composed of the same material as the island's rock formations.
"Uhh…" Arlong said, still recollecting himself. "You mentioned… a crater?"
Arlong looked down. Indeed, he was now standing in the middle of a shallow crater, albeit one resembling the footprint of a giant animal.
"Did Kuma send you?" one of the Revolutionaries asked.
Arlong nodded slowly. He saw no point in hiding that fact.
After a quick discussion among themselves, the Revolutionaries faced Arlong again.
"Very well, you may enter."
Arlong allowed the Revolutionaries to lead him into the building via a door cut into the stone. He half-expected them to comment on him being a fish-man with a bounty on his head, but none did.
Seems they get a lot of outlaws in here… I suppose only outlaws would consider overthrowing the World Government in the first place…
And this building… looks like it was carved into an existing rock, instead of them piling up blocks and mortaring them together. Do they have a Devil Fruit user who can control rock?
There were many more Revolutionaries inside. These ones were playing cards or drinking, but they stopped and stared as Arlong passed by.
"Since you're injured, we'll give you some first aid," a Revolutionary said. "Follow us to our infirmary."
Arlong looked down at his body. It was true that he had assorted cuts, scrapes and burns from all the fighting he'd done today. Still, it felt laughable to pay any attention to that when…
…When I can still walk around by myself, while those four… aren't walking, or doing anything else ever again.
Arlong was led to an infirmary. It wasn't as well-furnished as the infirmary on the Marine ship, but it still had beds separated by curtains. He sat down on one of these beds.
A white-coated doctor arrived to tend to Arlong. He applied bandages and ointments, and asked Arlong a series of questions about his condition. The fish-man answered these questions absentmindedly.
I reached out to the boys and even the Straw Hats trying to save Jinbe. We got him out… and he died, the boys died.
The Straw Hats succeeded… but they don't even know it. Thanks to being split up, they have no idea if the others are still alive, including the one they were trying to save. Just what was Kuma thinking?
"Is the Revolutionary Army a bunch of lunatics?" Arlong wondered out loud.
"H-Huh?" the doctor said with a flinch. "If there's anything wrong with my treatment, just let me know!"
"It's nothing," Arlong sighed. "Don't worry about it."
Arlong continued letting himself be treated in silence. That lasted until someone new approached his bed. Someone new and yet familiar at the same time.
"I heard stories of a saw shark fish-man coming here…" said a young human woman with large round eyes and short orange hair. "I never expected it to be you… Arlong."
"K-K-Koala!?" Arlong gasped. "How the hell'd you get here!?"
The now-adult Koala looked at the doctor. "Sorry, but could I speak to him as soon as you're done with him?" She looked back at Arlong. "We have… a history together."
-ooo-
Twenty minutes later, Arlong found himself in a room with a table, two chairs and a window. On the table was a small pot with a leafy plant growing inside. Visible through the window was the dreary grey landscape of Baltigo, with not a single plant in sight.
"Not the nicest place to live," Arlong quipped.
"It has its charms, once you get used to it," Koala said. She sat in one of the chairs. "And it's easy to hide in, since most people don't want to go anywhere near here. Now, Arlong, why would Kuma send you of all people here?"
As he took the other chair, Arlong considered various responses: evasive, sarcastic, polite. He eventually decided to be blunt and to start with the bad news first.
"Because I'm a broken man now, and he apparently thinks I'd make good Revolutionary material."
"W-What!?"
"Jinbe. Kuroobi. Chew. Hatchan. You remember them?" Arlong asked. The names hurt to even say, like razor blades slicing across his lips and tongue.
Koala looked indignant. "Of course I remember them! I remember every single one of the Sun Pirates!"
Arlong let out a sigh. In their previous encounters, he'd refuse to show any sign of weakness in front of a human. How times had changed.
"Those four are dead now."
-ooo-
It took over half an hour for Arlong to recount his tale. By the end of it, Koala was gripping the edge of the table while openly weeping.
"Dead… dead…" Koala slammed a fist on the table. "If Kizaru wasn't dead already, I'D TEAR OUT THAT BASTARD'S THROAT WITH MY HANDS!"
"I helped in killing him, a bit," Arlong said quietly. "It hasn't satisfied me at all."
Arlong had always been familiar with death. In the Fish-Man District, he'd seen people die all around him, some of them by his own hands. Later, as one of the Sun Pirates, he'd felt unstoppable and invincible… right up until Fisher Tiger's bloody end.
For that, I went berserk, got caught and thrown into Impel Down… and I saw death every week there, sometimes multiple times a week…
Did that mean he'd become accustomed to death, able to shrug off the loss of those he cared about?
No. That's not it. When I came back to Arlong Park, saw my boys almost killed by Roronoa… I lost it again.
Is that what Kuma's aiming for? Taking this anger I have, directing it against the World Government?
If it is… well, have to give him credit, it's not a terrible idea…
Borsalino might be dead now. However, he'd merely been one cog in an enormous, world-spanning machine. There were plenty more to kill, and even if Arlong spent the rest of his life fighting them non-stop, he'd never run out of targets.
…But it's not what Brother Tiger would've wanted. Not what Jinbe, Hatchan, Chew and Kuroobi would've wanted. They'd want me to live, to do more than be just a violent brute…
Authorities aren't just some horde of useless and corrupt snobs. There's people there who actually care about ruling, about protecting. I saw it back on Fish-Man Island, I even saw it in the Marines who took us to Impel Down. The world is more complicated than I used to imagine. Just crushing the ones on top won't help—who'll keep pirates from plundering islands then?
Deciding to change the subject, Arlong asked, "So, Koala, how'd you end up in the Revolutionary Army of all places?"
"H-Huh?" Koala started in her chair. "Oh… it happened three years after your crew—old crew, I should say—brought me back to Foolshout Island." She sniffed. "I always knew something was wrong, the way everyone around me was behaving… I did some digging around, and found out that my own family had sold out Fisher Tiger to the Marines!"
Something that had enraged Arlong at the time, yet he accepted it calmly now. Villagers on a tiny island could hardly defy the will of the Marines.
"I found out… roughly a year after it happened," Koala continued. "I couldn't take it any longer. I spent the next two years preparing, saving up money and buying things I'd need, and then I ran away from home."
"You would've been… fourteen back then?" Arlong said in amazement. "A fourteen-year-old girl sailing the seas by herself?"
"I did have lots of great teachers," Koala said, smiling a little. "From the Sun Pirates, I learned how to sail, catch my own food, prepare my own food, haggle with merchants… and how to use a knife, and the basics of Fish-Man Karate."
That was something that had made Arlong laugh at the time. He'd thought Fish-Man Karate was a useless thing to teach to a human, who lacked the natural strength and innate understanding of water to properly use it. Yet Kuroobi and others had thought otherwise, arguing she needed to know how to defend herself.
They were right in the end. Koala's survived until now, and the Revolutionaries even trust her strength enough to leave her alone with me…
But those guys didn't survive. Dammit. I… when I get the chance, I have to let everyone else now. Four of the original Sun Pirates are dead… but they died as heroes.
"I eventually ran into members of the Revolutionary Army, Koala continued, "and—"
"—we accepted her into our ranks."
Arlong jumped in his chair. Despite his developing skill in Observation Haki, he hadn't even sensed the person who'd just entered the room until hearing those words.
"Welcome to our headquarters," said a human man with spiky black hair and a red tattoo on the left part of his face, looking somewhat like crisscrossing scars. "I'm the Supreme Commander of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon."
"I-I hadn't been told you were returning today, sir!" Koala said. She'd already stood up from her chair and was now saluting. "It's good to see you back!"
Arlong stood from his chair as well. "I'm… my name's Arlong," he said. "Kuma, your… subordinate? Sent me here. I… uh…"
It was mortifying to be lost for words in this situation. However, he'd never expected to meet the leader of the Revolutionary Army before.
It's a weird life I'm leading, when I know how to talk to a king but not a rebel leader…
"I already know you are, Arlong of the Sun Pirates," Dragon said. "I've been keeping track of the news of your activities."
"…Just one thing wrong with that," Arlong said nervously. "I'm not in the Sun Pirates anymore. Struck out to form my own crew."
"And yet you still proudly wear their mark," Dragon pointed out.
Arlong looked down at his chest. His shirt was torn in a few places thanks to a day of combat, with one of those tears partially exposing his brand.
"And of course, Kuma decided to send you here," Dragon said. "I'm curious about how that happened. The latest news about you was that your crew fought the Straw Hat Pirates on the Sabaody Archipelago, then both were captured by the Marines. And it wasn't your first fight with that crew, was it?"
"Wait, how do you know that?" Arlong asked, surprise overriding his nervousness. "Our first fight wouldn't have been news outside East Blue."
Koala shot a dirty glare at Arlong, presumably not liking how he was asking questions instead of answering them. However, Dragon showed no change in expression.
"Let's just say I have an interest in the activities of Straw Hat Luffy, and leave it at that," Dragon said. "Now, how was it that you encountered Kuma and managed to impress him?"
"Wouldn't say it was anything impressive, really…"
Arlong repeated the story he'd told to Koala, now limited to the most recent events. He noticed, whenever he talked about Luffy's actions, the faintest hints of a smile from Dragon.
"Not sure where he sent Straw Hat," Arlong finished, a little apologetic. Just what is their relationship? I only just met Dragon, but there's something about him…
"Yes, Kuma has always been a secretive one…" Dragon said. He looked out the window for a few moments. "Well, I trust that he made the right choice. More importantly, what about you? Kuma saw potential in you, clearly, but what do you want to do from now on?"
Dragon looked at Arlong with a piercing gaze, as if seeing right through to the latter's core. It was reminiscent of the gaze of the only captain Arlong had ever served under.
Arlong recalled the life he'd led so far, the mistakes and the triumphs. He recalled all the happy memories he'd shared with his friends, even the hard-headed Jinbe. He recalled casting the bodies of those friends into the sea.
I could go back to Fish-Man Island, live a life of peace. I'm better at it than I used to think. It's definitely a path Brother Tiger would approve of.
…But that's not the right path for me.
"I want…" Arlong began. He cleared his throat. "I want to change this fucked-up world so there's no more prejudice… or slavery, or kids going into piracy because they've got no choice, or… Marines working with the pirates they're meant to fight."
These words were childishly idealistic. The Arlong of ten years ago would have laughed at them. The Arlong of ten months ago would have laughed at them. But these were the words that came to mind.
"I'll do whatever it takes to get there, whether it means breaking," Arlong recalled his recent work in the Fish-Man District, "or building things. And… well, that's all I have to say."
"…You've grown a lot, Arlong," Koala said. She was looking at him with admiring eyes for the first time ever.
"Even adults still have room to grow," Arlong retorted.
Dragon smiled. It wasn't the smile of someone merely having fun. It was a smile of grim determination, of someone ready to walk a path of blood and dust until his body gave out.
"Then I have only this to say: welcome to the Revolutionary Army, Arlong."
AN: And so this story ends with a neat twenty chapters. If it gets enough interest, I'll do a sequel continuing Arlong's story ("Revolutionary Shark"? "Shark's Rebellion"?). It wouldn't be right away, though; I hope to take a break from having two ongoing fanfics at once.