Hey everyone, and welcome to my One Piece fanfiction. This covered a lot more than the last chapter, so it took a little longer than I was expecting to finish, but I'm pretty sure you'll be happy with it.
Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit fan-based parody. One Piece is owned by Funimation, Eiichiro Oda, Shueisha, Toei Animation, and Fuji TV. Please support the official release.
"Pirate" Regular speech.
"Pirate" Thoughts.
Finger Pistol Attack names.
(Pirate) Words said previously.
"PIRATE!" Shouting speech.
[Pirate!] people talking at the same time.
"Pirate" people talking over communication.
Thief With A Heart Of Gold
—…
After leaving Gosa Village and along the pathway, they walked down the open area that separated the villages from each other as they proceeded to Cocoyashi Village.
"How much further?" Zoro asked.
"The villages aren't too far from each other." Johnny told him while looking at the map. "It shouldn't be that much longer."
"Hopefully, we'll find Usopp there." Sanji said.
"On another note, does anyone find it a little odd that we have seen a single person since we got here?" Gin noticed.
"Now that you mention it, even though this place is supposed to be ruled by Fishmen, we haven't run into a single Fishman, much less people." Silk noted, though not too concerned by that fact.
"You gotta keep in mind the fact that we just got here, and we've only been to a ruined town; it wouldn't make much sense to find people there." Light pointed out.
"Personally, I'd rather not run into any Fishmen." Yosaku said with a bit of sweat.
As they kept walking, Silk turned her head slightly but stopped when she noticed something in the corner of her eye and looked again to see a familiar sight.
"Wait, look!" Silk pointed at it.
The rest of them stopped as well and looked to see what she was pointing at. That was when they saw it. The Going Merry. The path they were on was near the shoreline, and not too far away was a small peer where a ship was docked, and it happened to be their ship, right where Nami left it after she returned to this Island.
"Whoa, we found it already?" Johnny was surprised.
"I didn't think it would be this easy?" Yosaku was also surprised.
"Who cares? Let's go." Zoro thoughtlessly made his way to the peer.
The others followed him and quickly arrived in front of the Going Merry. Light and Zoro climbed aboard to see if everything was still there while the rest of them stayed on the peer.
"So this is your ship?" Gin looked it over.
Silk nodded. "I know it's not as big as what you're used to, but it'll grow on you."
"To be honest, I think I prefer it like this." Gin admitted. "A bigger ship would just be unnecessary space and a hassle to maintain all the time."
"And the way I see it, as long as it's got a kitchen and a fridge, it's good enough for me." Sanji chimed in.
Silk was happy to hear that their newer members didn't have a problem with the ship. As they finished their conversation, Light and Zoro came back outside and hopped off the ship to land back on the pier with the others. While in there, Zoro took two of the Swords from the barrel of Swords in the cabin, and so now, Zoro had three Swords tied to his belt again.
"So, how's the inside?" Johnny asked.
"Good news is that pretty much all the food and supplies are still there, so Nami didn't take those." Light informed them before frowning. "Bad news though, like we suspected, Nami helped herself to the treasure before she left."
"So she really was just after our money." Silk narrowed her eyes.
"Well, that's the thing." Light as though he was about to explain something he didn't quite understand. "Money has been stolen, yes. But not all of it."
What he just said seemed to confuse them as much as himself as Yosaku asked. "What do you mean?"
Zoro answered this time. "He means that we checked, and even though there's less treasure than there was before, a lot of it is still there."
"So wait, you're saying Nami left a lot of the treasure behind on the ship?" Silk asked, still not getting it. "Why would she do that?"
"You got me?" Light didn't have a clue.
"Maybe there was too much for her to carry on her own?" Sanji guessed.
"I doubt that. Once, she stuffed all of Buggy's treasure into two carrying sacks and tried to carry them away while we were still fighting." Light reminisced. "Considering that there's no reason she couldn't take all of our treasure."
"And yet, she didn't; the only question is why?" Gin pondered.
Yes, that was the question. Why would a thief who steals from Pirates and goes to great lengths never leave any treasure behind, only steal a fraction of Pirate treasure while leaving behind a large amount of it? It made no sense.
"Hey, what are you doing there?!"
They were taken out of their thoughts when an angry voice called out to them. The crew looked to see three new Fishmen on the peer standing a few feet away.
[Fishmen!] Yosaku and Johnny jumped in fear.
"So those are Fishmen." Light muttered.
"Answer the question, what are you humans doing here?" One of them asked as the three of them approached. "You aren't from here, so why have you come to this Island?"
"Calm down, would you? We just came here to get our ship." Zoro pointed to the ship behind them.
"And we're looking for a girl who should be around here." Sanji added.
"A girl, huh?" One of the three asked. "And that's your ship, is it?"
The Fishmen looked like they were ready to start laughing as they deduced who these people must be, and one of them spoke. "I get it; you must be another bunch of suckers that were duped by Nami."
Those words made them all pause for a moment as it wasn't what any of them expected to hear.
"W-what?" Yosaku stuttered.
"These guys know Big Sis Nami?" Johnny was taken aback.
"This just keeps getting stranger." Silk stated.
"You all really made the wrong decision on following that girl. You may have come to get back your stuff, but now you've found yourself in the territory of the Arlong Pirates." One of them said mockingly.
"And any outsiders who step into our turf never leave here alive." Another one said threateningly.
Light stepped forward and faced them, unintimidated. "That might be, but we don't really care about whatever rules you have around here. We're just looking for our friends and our ship."
The blatant disrespect and complete lack of fear that Light showed them seemed to almost throw them off, as though the Fishmen had never seen a human who wasn't afraid of them and didn't know how to respond.
"Y-You stupid human!" One of them snapped at him. "Don't you get it? That's not your ship anymore. Now that it's been docked on this Island, it belongs to the Arlong Pirates!"
"And as for whatever friends you might be looking for, if they're also on this Island, we'll find and kill them after we're done with you." Another one promised.
"Is that so?" Now, Light gave them a threatening gaze. "Well, there's no way I'm going to let that slide. If you plan on hurting my friends, we'll just have to stop you right now."
As he said that, the rest of the crew responded by taking out their weapons and putting weight on one of his legs in Sanji's case. The Fishmen, however, appeared to only be amused by his threat.
"Ha, it seems you still don't understand what you're up against." He said as the three of them prepared to attack. "We are Fishmen, a superior race. Ordinary humans are nothing compared to us!"
Upon that proclamation, they charged forward on the peer, intending to rip their human targets to shreds. But they didn't just wait for them and moved in as well. Zoro tried to charge forth but was stopped by Silk, who placed her hand in front of him, signaling him to hang back.
Then, she moved in while Sanji and Gin were right behind her. They all dashed forth faster than the Fishmen and closed in right away. Silk swiped her Sword, Gin swung his tonfa, and Sanji kicked out his leg.
The result was the three of them simultaneously striking each of their individually targeted Fishmen before they knew what hit them. Silk slashed her target over the shoulder, Sanji kicked his over the neck, and Gin bludgeoned him in the stomach. All three Fishmen were instantly defeated and blown away as they were knocked off the peer and fell into the ocean. Because they were Fishmen, they were in no danger of drowning, but they still sank like rocks.
With that done, the trio stood up straight and made their way back while putting away their weapons as Gin muttered. "When did we say we were ordinary humans?"
"That was amazing, you guys!" Yosaku cheered in awe.
"You took out those Fishmen like it was nothing!" Johnny marveled as well.
"Those guys were just grunts." Sanji brushed it off. "It wasn't anything we couldn't handle."
"I could have taken them." Zoro grumbled at not having joined the assault.
"You're still recovering. It's better you don't waste your strength on minor stuff." Light reminded him. "Not when we'll be needing you for the real thing."
"Shouldn't we refocus on what we were talking about before?" Silk steered the conversation back on topic. "Not only do we not know Nami's intentions, but we now know she has a connection to the Fishmen, and by the looks of things, not as an enemy."
"That's true, but what does all that mean?" Sanji pondered. "We barely knew anything beforehand, and now we know even less."
"Let's stop worrying for now." Light spoke out, getting their attention. "Look, I'm confused as well, but going around in circles isn't going to help anything. Let's just set aside all the complicated stuff for now and focus on what we do know. Like, for one, we know where the Going Merry is."
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Zoro was in agreement with his Captain. "And honestly, if we want answers, the quickest way would be finding Nami and asking her directly."
"Then, is our next move finding Nami?" Gin asked.
Light shook his head. "No, our next move is our original move, finding Usopp. Remember, we were heading to Cocoyashi Village to see if we could find him there."
"That's right, and considering we just ran into some Fishmen, the possibility that he might be in danger has only gotten bigger." Silk pointed out with concern.
"Then we better not waste any time." Light decided.
With that settled, the crew set off again, walking off and away from the peer and the Going Merry as they restarted the march toward Cocoyashi Village to find their friend.
At an earlier time, at Cocoyashi Village, there was a commotion in the middle of town.
Cocoyashi Village was very similar to Gosa Village in size and shape, but this town wasn't destroyed, and the people were still alive and well. Right now, many of them had gathered around a round bench with a patio umbrella on top as one of them made an announcement.
"Hey! Arlong's coming!" He informed the others.
"He is, but why?" One of the villagers asked fearfully. "We just paid him this month's tribute, didn't we?"
"It's probably about my weapons stash they found." The one who said that was the man sitting on the bench. "Everyone, go home."
"…Genzo?" One of them whispered.
All the villagers looked at him with unease. He was the village sheriff, Genzo. He was a man with a thick mustache and scars along his body, as well as stitches around his face. He wears a brown uniform with a matching shirt and shorts. On his head is a cap that matches his clothes with a pinwheel stuffed in the front.
"They're here." One of them noticed.
Just as he said, approaching from the distance was an entourage of Fishmen heading for the village, and the one leading them was Arlong. Nobody had to be told a second time as everyone rushed into their houses and locked their doors as all the men, women, and children fearfully gazed through their windows to see how this would turn out. By the time Arlong and his men arrived, Genzo was the only human still outside.
Arlong leaned his head beneath the patio umbrella as he gazed down at Genzo. "So, you're the fool who thought he could horde weapons on my Island?"
"That's me. I'm a collector." Genzo didn't deny nor give Arlong the satisfaction of showing any fear. "Is there a new law that forbids us from having hobbies now as well? Next, you'll be telling us that we can't read books or play with our children anymore."
"No, hobbies are fine. It would be weapons that I have forbidden." Arlong clarified. "They make it difficult for me and my men to keep the peace."
Nojiko took Usopp to Cocoyashi village and found Arlong and his men had come to the village. Arlong was currently talking to Genzo. Usopp practically jaw dropped when he saw Arlong for the first time.
"That's him?" Usopp asked quietly while hiding behind a house. "Arlong's gigantic; he's not even human."
"Nope, he's a Fishman." Nojiko said bitterly.
"I'm responsible for 20 towns and villages, including this one." Arlong told the village leader. "And as your leader, I cannot tolerate even a little rebelliousness. Wiping out Gosa was just a small example of what can happen when you do not do as you are told. Tribute money must be paid no matter what?"
"What? Tribute money?" Usopp wondered.
"It's just what it sounds like." Nojiko informed him. "Money we pay him so we can stay alive. Adults and children, if there's even a single person who can't pay, then what happened to Gosa will happen to everyone in this village as well." She explained ruefully. "Our town and the people in it will be wiped from existence."
Usopp paled just from picturing it. "He destroyed an entire town because of one person?"
"That's how Arlong rules," Nojiko stated. "To them, we're nothing but a sub-species. Killing us has always been easy."
"You pathetic humans need to stop with all this thinking you're up to." Arlong said to Genzo. "It's your greatest weakness." Arlong grinned. "I am allowing you to contribute to greatness here! Soon, Fishmen will conquer the humans, and your tributes will play a small part in the beginning of the glorious Arlong empire!" Nojiko stayed silent but had a worried expression on her face.
"Arlong empire?" Usopp repeated as he had come to realize Arlong's plan. "They're planning on taking over the entire East Blue!"
Usopp and Nojiko watched as Arlong clasped a webbed hand on Genzo's neck and lifted him up.
"Genzo!" Nojiko called in concern. Usopp showed a look of worry as he watched the scene.
"The possession of weapons is a clear affront to my authority." Arlong informed. "As an example to any other would-be rebels in this town. I'm going to kill you right now. So they can see the fate that awaits them!"
"No way! That guy is insane!" Usopp commented as Nojiko only looked on in horror. "He'd kill someone just for having a weapon!"
"I won't let him!" Nojiko decided and ran out from her hiding spot.
"Wait, don't go out there!" Usopp tried to stop her, but it was too late as Nojiko was already making her way toward the group of Fishmen.
"You have absolutely no right to do this, Arlong!" Nojiko told the lead Fishman, getting his attention. "We've paid your tribute without fail for over 8 years! Why would we rebel against it now?! Just think about it! It makes no sense! Now take your hands off Genzo!" This caused the townspeople to come out of their homes to defend their leader.
"Yeah!"
"It's not like he used the weapons!"
"Yeah, let him go!"
"Yeah, let Genzo go!"
"Hoarding weapons shows he was planning a rebellion against me." Arlong stated. "But on the other hand…" He grinned. "I could destroy you all. Please try to protect your friend, so you don't give me an excuse to do that. Either way is fine, but rebellion will not be tolerated."
"Everybody, just go home." Genzo urged all of them. "Do you want to waste all of our work over the past 8 years? For what? The time for you to give your lives for this village was back when they first came. Now, we must continue to be patient. The most important thing is to continue to live. We swore we would not let them defeat us as long as we're alive."
"Genzo…" Nojiko muttered.
"Well said." Arlong said, lifting Genzo in the air. "I agree with you. It's good to know that even disgusting insects like you enjoy BEING ALIVE!" Arlong threw the village leader onto the ground as Genzo hacked out some blood. "There is no way any of you will ever come close to the perfection of the Fishmen! Shahahaha!"
"Damn you!" A villager cursed.
"Don't move!" Genzo warned. "He wants you to attack." He held a hand out to keep the people back. "Your deaths will mean nothing. You must continue to be patient… Even if I die…!"
"That's a good ending for you." Arlong agreed as he picked up Genzo and hoisted him up once more. "Pay close attention, humans! This is what happens to those who defy me! Even if it's just inside their tiny heads!"
"Exploding Star!"
Something had hit Arlong before he could slam Genzo into the ground. Whatever had struck Arlong caused him to drop the village leader. The townspeople and Fishmen were alerted when they saw where the attack had come from: none other than Usopp. The sniper stood proud with his arms folded with his long nose in the air.
"What was that?!" One of the Fishmen questioned before he turned around and spotted the perpetrator. "Look! Up there, there's someone on the roof!"
No longer hiding behind the house, Usopp stood tall on the roof after firing his slingshot at Arlong and remained standing there for all to see.
"Who the hell is that guy...?"
"I am... The Great Warrior of the Sea!" Usopp announced with quivering legs. "Captain U-Usopp!"
"Usopp…?" Nojiko muttered.
"Also known as the 'Demon King' Usopp, feared and hated by almost half the world!" Usopp declared. "I command thousands of men! Loyal, ambitious men!"
"That's the guy I told you about!" Called the Fishman that was Chasing Usopp before. "The one with the long nose! The guy that got away!"
The smoke from Usopp's Exploding Star cleared around Arlong. The lead Fishman was angered now by the arrival of the long-nose sniper.
"Bring on your thousands of men..." Arlong growled. "I'll crush them one by one!"
"The Exploding Star did nothing, and now he's pissed…" Usopp thought worriedly.
"Repulsive human…" Arlong snarled as his eyes showed just how enraged he was. "WHAT CAN A CREATURE LIKE YOU DO TO ME!?"
Arlong made his way up to the house Usopp stood upon and began to lift it with his bare hands. He managed to pick it up off the ground as the Sniper did his best to keep his footing on the now-risen home due to Arlong's incredible strength. The Fishmen were trying to stop their leader from wrecking the town, and they wouldn't be able to make any more money.
"Arlong! Hold on just a second!" One of the Fishmen tried to stop him.
"After losing Gosa, we can't afford to kill off any more tribute money!" Another tried talking some sense into him.
"Villages are fun to destroy, but ruling over them makes us more money!" Another one tried reasoning with him.
"If we lose some, we can always get more!" Arlong assured and tossed the house as it collapsed into pieces. "FISHMEN MUST REIGN SUPREME!"
"Usopp!" Nojiko called worriedly. Thankfully, Usopp was just fine as he crawled out from the rubble of the destroyed home.
"Am I… Dead… Yet…" Usopp breathed out with bulged eyes.
"He's not dead yet!" A Fishman pointed.
"Oh, crap…!" Usopp took that his cue to leave as the Fishmen began to chase after him.
"Catch him and tear him apart!" Arlong ordered as some of his men stayed to try and calm down their Captain.
"Let's get him back to Arlong Park before he destroys everything!" A Fishman suggested as he and the others carried Arlong away from the town.
"Don't let him get away!" Arlong roared, still enraged. "Who does that chum sucker think he is?!"
"We'll be back." Kuroobi grinned at the Cocoyashi villagers and left. "You can all live for now."
Nako, the village doctor, let Genzo lean on his shoulder. They watched the Fishmen leave on their way back to Arlong Park. The doctor patched up the village leader as Genzo apologized to everyone.
"I'm so sorry, everybody." Genzo said. "This has all been my fault."
"What're you talking about…?" Nako asked. "You're not a Fishman, are you?"
"But who was that guy who attacked…?" A villager wondered about Usopp.
"Hello, everyone." A familiar voice got the villager's attention. "It's good to be back home." The voice came from Nami, who was approaching the group.
"Nami!" Nojiko called out.
But the rest of the villagers were not happy to see her.
"It's Nami?"
"You."
"Oh, it's only her."
The villagers, aside from Nojiko, Genzo, and Nako, all went back inside their homes and shut the doors behind them once Nami showed up. Nami had a bouquet of flowers in her hand as she stopped before her adopted sister.
"What's wrong?" Nojiko wondered. "You never just come walking through Cocoyashi anymore?"
"I heard quite a commotion." Nami replied as she noticed the destroyed home. "Arlong, huh?" The wind blew through the town, causing the pinwheel in Genzo's hat to spin.
They left the village, and the two of them left the village and made their way to their little house outside of town that stood near a cliffside that overlooked the ocean.
Near the edge of the cliff, the flowers that Nami brought were placed before a grave with a cross at the head of it.
"I'm almost there, just a little more." Nami mentioned as she sat cross-legged in front of the grave.
"Your already bad reputation just keeps getting worse." Nojiko told her.
"That's fine." Nami said nonchalantly. "I am a Pirate. Arlong can be a very reasonable guy when he wants to be. I just need a little more money to finish our agreement. Just a little shy of the 100,000,000 goal." Nami's lips curled in a smile. "You know, it's really not that high a price considering that it's gonna buy back our village!"
In the middle of a forest path, surrounded by trees and greenery, Arlong was still being dragged down the path by his crew as he was still seething with anger just from remembering Usopp. Finally, he snapped at them.
"LET GOOOO!" He forcefully freed himself from their grasp by knocking them away. "Find him! I want that long-nosed freak now!" He yelled while tightly clenching his fist. "To think some lowly human scum would defy us, the Fishmen!"
Finally, Arlong stopped and opened up his hand. He also noticed that he was scaring some of those around him, so he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he started walking on his own.
"Come on. We're going back to Arlong Park." Arlong still sounded upset but was much calmer now.
On a different part of the Island, Usopp found himself doing what he always seemed to do—Running for his life. He ran past the trees, through the tall grass, and down the pathway.
He had to keep running as fast as he could because a gang of Fishmen were chasing after him and weren't far behind.
"Ah, man." Usopp worried as he turned his head and saw his pursuers were still right behind him. "I can't shake these guys."
Usopp managed to evade them for a while by hiding in the bushes and leaving a decoy for them to find before hitting them with his Egg Star, which was basically launching rotten eggs in their faces. That kept them occupied long enough for him to run away as much as he could.
"Hahahaha! I guess Fishmen aren't all they're cracked up to be!" Usopp bragged as he scurried through a field of tall grass. "Not one of those scaly morons can catch Captain Usopp, Hahahaha!"
"That's good. I was worried they might have already gotten you."
"Ahhhhhhhh?!" Usopp screamed in terror when he heard a new voice suddenly appear beside him as though it had come out of thin air. But then he stopped when he saw the voice come out of the familiar smiling face of Light. "C-Captain?"
"Good thing you were screaming so loud, or else I would never have found you." Light joked lightheartedly.
"Boy, am I glad to see you." Usopp was greatly relieved now that he was no longer alone. "But listen, we gotta get out of here. There are some Fishmen who are after me."
"Alright, let's go. You can explain what you've been doing ever since you got separated from us when we met up with the others." Light decided.
And so, the two of them cleared their way through the field of tall grass without ever being spotted by the Fishman pursuers and took off down the path to meet up with the rest of the crew.
Back at Arlong Park, Arlong was met with a surprise of his own. After he and the others returned to their base of operations, they opened the front gate and stepped inside while Arlong sat down on his chair and tried to calm down fully. But, shortly after they returned, a few of his men came in from the waterway, and to Arlong's horror, they were carrying the bodies of three badly wounded Fishmen, the same three that were beaten by the crew near the Going Merry.
Arlong was trembling with dismay as he went up to his injured crewmates and kneeled beside them. "What… The Hell… Happened here?" He reached for one of them and gently lifted his head up. "Who did this to you?" He still trembled as he became emotional again. "TELL ME WHO DID THIS, BROTHERS!"
Arlong's screech was filled with both anger and pain. He hated to see his fellow Fishmen in pain so much that he could practically feel it himself, and his rage at whoever might be responsible was uncontrollable and could only be satisfied with death.
One of them coughed painfully and tried to speak. "Roronoa…"
"What?" Arlong barely heard him and leaned closer. "What are you saying?"
"Roronoa… Zoro…" He coughed out completely.
"What?" Arlong's eyes widened at the mention of that name. "The Pirate Hunter? Has he come to collect my head?"
Another one of them tried to speak. "It was… At the pier… By the ship that… Nami brought."
"The ship?" Kuroobi repeated with concern.
"Zoro and a group of humans were there." The one in the least amount of pain told them. "They did this."
"I see, so the humans that Nami stole from came after her to reclaim their ship and treasure." Chew summarized what had transpired. "This kind of thing has happened before, but…"
"But it's never been someone as big as the Pirate Hunter." Kuroobi agreed. "This is a serious matter."
"It doesn't matter who it was. No human responsible for something like this can be forgiven." Arlong stood up. The rage in his eyes was still burning. "Search the villages, the whole Island, if that's what it takes. Find Zoro and his gang and bring them to me so that I can kill them myself!"
All the other Fishmen cheered in acknowledgment of that command. Every one of them was in favor of getting retaliation for their crewmates. Unbeknownst to them, though, Nami was also present in Arlong Park. Having returned just before Arlong and heard everything.
"Those morons." Nami only balled her fist in anger as her body slightly trembled. "Why now when I'm so close?"
A little while later, after Light and Usopp escaped from the Fishmen pursuers, they met up with the rest of the crew. Right now, they all converged by an open road just outside the forest and near a field of water springs.
They were relieved and happy to see that Usopp was alive and well but then went on to ask where he disappeared. Usopp explained right away and told them what he learned while separated from them, including what he had learned about Nami.
"What? Nami's a member of Arlong's crew?" Light asked in disbelief.
"It's true." Usopp insisted. "I heard it from a trustworthy source. She joined up with them years ago."
"But why?" Silk wondered. "Why would a group of Fishmen Pirates want a human on their crew?"
"The reasoning doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things." Gin pointed out. "The fact remains she's one of them."
"So that's why Big Sis Nami was so interested in Arlong's poster. He's her Captain." Johnny realized.
"So everything we knew about her this whole time was nothing but a lie." Zoro glared hatefully. "All this time, she had us believe she hated Pirates more than anything when, in reality, she was one."
"I wouldn't go that far." Light argued with his hand on his chin. "She may have been lying about some things, but hatred like that isn't something you can just fake. She might have been serious about that."
"Well, if she hates Pirates, why is she a member of their crew?" Zoro argued scornfully.
"You realize that same question could be asked about her and this crew?" Sanji argued back, making a good point.
"That just makes it more confusing." Yosaku complained while rubbing his head. "And there's still a lot of questions we haven't figured out."
"Look, we found the ship, and we found Usopp. Now, all that's left is to find Nami." Light reminded them. "That's the reason we're here in the first place."
"You still want to hear her in spite of the fact that she lied to us?" Zoro asked.
"We owe her that much." Light said with hesitation. "She may not be who she said she was, but she's helped us out enough times on our journey to deserve my trust, and more than anything, she's our friend."
The others didn't argue with him. They knew the kind of person he was and how he valued his friends. It was clear that his faith in Nami wouldn't be swayed by mere words. But then another familiar voice spoke up in a contemptuous way. "What was that about friends, Light?"
They looked up to see that Nami was standing on the road. They were surprised to see her as she stood there with her staff in her hands, arms folded, and staring at them all as if they were strangers who were bugging her.
"Nami!" Light exclaimed in surprise as he faced her right away.
She didn't answer for a moment as her eyes narrowed coldly—And they all had their eyes widen in surprise. That cold look in her eyes was unlike anything they had ever seen from her. "What are you doing here?" She asked, her voice bored as if she couldn't care less for the answer.
"What are we doing here? Is if you don't already know." Light said in practically. "We came to get some answers out of you." He let his hat hang behind his neck as she just jeered at him.
"What a pest." She grumbled.
"Nami?" Light questioned, wondering as she spoke in the same cold voice.
"Friends, huh? Don't make me laugh. You're just pathetic enough to deserve each other." She said with a sneer that made her look quite unlike herself.
"Nami, you aren't making any sense. Why did you steal our ship and run off back there?" Usopp asked emotionally, pointing a shaking finger at her. "Come on… Just explain already. What's going on with you?!"
"I had my reasons, and they don't concern any of you." Nami said without batting an eye.
"What!?" Gasped Usopp, who seemed stunned that she answered him so causally.
"Word to the wise, fellas." She said sarcastically, "Because of your stupidity." She looked to Usopp and rolled her eyes, and explained. "Arlong is preparing to kill Zoro along with his entire crew. And I don't care about how monstrously strong you guys think you are; you're no match for the real monsters." She played with the staff on her shoulder. "I promise you, if you stay on this island, you will die."
"And you expect us to believe anything that comes out of your mouth at this point?" Silk questioned her with an angered expression.
"I'm just stating the facts for you. So you have a choice to make between life and death." Nami finally finished as Zoro was now growling angrily at her.
On the other hand, Sanji looked lovestruck once again and cried out. "Her heartless face is so hot." He waved his arms excitedly as he swooned. "Hi Nami, it's me, Sanji! Let's run away together!"
"Can it, Romeo! This isn't the time or place for that!" Zoro yelled in annoyance at him.
"Excuse me!?" Sanji challenged. "Love is like a hurricane! So back off!" But Zoro was no longer listening as he turned his back to him and looked directly at Nami, something that ticked him off. "Hey! Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
"Listen, Nami; we're not leaving until you tell us what's going on." He told her warningly as he pulled out one of his Swords. "So, cut the crap and start talking."
He looked ready to attack her, but Sanji stood in the way, and Zoro had to dodge the kick aimed at his face. "How sad, a Swordsman attacking a lady?" He asked him coldly.
"Idiot!" Zoro growled at Sanji, and they all looked up. "Can't you see what's happening here? You're starting to piss me off!"
Sanji laughed. "If someone stopped me that easily, I'd be mad too."
"What?" Zoro demanded hotly. "You… Should watch your mouth!"
"I'll say whatever I want, bastard." Sanji growled right back, and it looked like they were going to have a fight.
Yosaku was now trying to get them to stop their memory version from fighting. "Big Bros! We're all in this together, okay?" He yelled. "This is no time to fight!"
"At least someone's showing some common sense." Usopp answered coolly.
"Your pal's right." Nami agreed darkly. "Now quit you're bickering and leave while you still can. You, outsiders, have no right to butt into this Island's affairs. Don't you get it yet? The only reason I got close to you idiots was so that I could rob you of everything you had. But now that I've done that, it looks like your dream's dead. So go, take your ship! Go on, find a navigator dumb enough to join you, and go to the Grand Line. Continue on your quest to find the One Piece or whatever." She went on before she pointed her staff at them all, "Just leave here! You're an eyesore!"
Johnny and Yosaku growled furiously at her, looking like they wanted to attack. Convinced that she had scared them away, Nami sighed, and her eyes were now hidden by her bangs as she told them all one last thing.
"Goodbye." But there, her voice had changed. It was no longer cold or scolding…
It was sad.
Light could detect the sadness in her words. This was how he knew that she was lying… Maybe not about wanting them to be without her… But there was something that she wasn't saying that got his attention.
"Nami…" He said softly. For a few more seconds, he stood there before he closed his eyes and opened them with a wide smile. "You're a terrible liar."
Nami and the others all looked at him with confusion, not knowing what he meant by that, but they didn't have to ask as Light continued.
"I mean, honestly, you didn't really expect us to fall for this cold-blooded witch act, did you?" Light asked almost mockingly. "You might have a gift for thievery, but definitely not acting."
"Hey, Captain, what are you saying?" Usopp asked but was ignored.
Nami narrowed her eyes at him. "Oh, and just what makes you think I'm lying?"
"For one thing, I can see the fear in your eyes." Light informed her.
Nami perked up but tried to hide it. "What's that supposed to mean? Just what do I have to be afraid of?"
"Yeah, that's the question, isn't it?" Light didn't answer but changed the topic. "But here's another question: if the only reason you joined us was to rob us of our treasure, why didn't you?"
"What, of course, I did." Nami argued with his statement. "I took the treasure from your ship."
"But not all of it." Light pointed out, and Nami stopped as though she had just been caught. "You only took a portion of our treasure but left most of it behind. How do you explain that?"
"Yeah, that's something we planned on asking you." Silk added while crossing her arms. "Why would you, of all people, leave treasure behind?"
"I… Just…" Nami's cold and callus persona was starting to break apart, and it felt like they were seeing through her. "I couldn't carry it all at once, so I planned on getting the rest later."
"Even though you just told us you'd give us back the ship and told us to sail away?" Light reminded her.
Nami was like a chess player who could see themselves getting cornered into a checkmating. The longer the conversation went on, the more she felt herself losing control.
"Like I said, you're a terrible liar." Light said with a smirk.
Nami tried to hold back her frustration and turned a bit to the side. "Forgot it. Believe whatever you want. It doesn't matter to me. Just leave this Island already."
"That's not going to happen. As you already told us, Arlong is after us, which means we're already involved in all this." Light said with confidence. "And if Arlong wants a fight, I plan on giving him one."
"Are you crazy?!" Nami immediately reacted to that. "I already told you that you guys are no match for them! Those Fishmen are monsters!" Nami persisted, trying to do whatever she could to talk him out of what was certain death. "If you stay here, you'll die!"
"I'm surprised. I didn't realize you cared about us so much." Light's comment made her stop again as she just realized what she was saying. "I guess that's something else you lied about."
She lost all coldness in her expression, and she was now shaking with rage, and she finally screamed out. "WHATEVER! JUST GO AHEAD AND DIE!"
And without a backward glance, she turned and went running away as fast as she could, as if afraid to stay near them any longer.
After lashing at the crew, Nami went to the one place to find some kind of solitude. Her old house, the home she grew up in with a tangerine orchard out front. Nami had hoped to find peace here but still found herself more wound up just standing in the house. She started to completely trash the place in a rage. Nami grabbed a vase and hurled it at the window, which smashed through to the outside. Nami felt her body calm as she sat in a chair at the table, her hands resting behind her neck. The door opened, but Nami didn't bother acknowledging who was there, but she had an inkling who it was.
"Geez, Nami…" It was her only sister. "You sure know how to trash a place. Hey, what's wrong?" she sounded concerned.
"Nothing." Nami lied. "I'm just resting a little, that's all."
It obviously wasn't nothing. Moments ago, she had to tell off the others and let them know she was done with the crew. She heard Nojiko pull up a chair and sit at the table.
"You mean to tell me that pouring over a treasure map and after wrecking a house is how you relax?" Nojiko questioned. "You're not fooling me. Now, fess up already! What's bothering you?"
"Something happened to make me mad." Nami answered quickly. "It's nothing."
"Those guys." Nojiko sighed. "Who're they?" Nami brought up her head to stare in surprise.
"You know…?" Nami asked.
"Yeah, I met some captain guy." Nojiko explained. "He seemed kinda Liar-ish, though. Nami, I heard that you smiled with them. We both know that's rare for you. As a matter of fact, I've never seen you smile in years. C'mon, tell me who these guys are?"
Nami was silent. She was trying to forget about them but couldn't as she had grown quite fond of them.
"It's okay." Nojiko promised with a smile. "You can tell me anything, remember?" Nami was hesitant to speak about them. But she steeled herself and told her sister everything.
"I had planned to forget about them." Nami stated with a thoughtful look on her face. "I thought I could erase them from my mind."
However, it was hard for her to do even that as she remembered all the time she spent with them...
"The truth is…" Nami spoke softly. "The only thing I forgot about was the pain that I bared."
Nami remembered back to Usopp's village and what those guys went through. Light's fight with Kuro, Usopp being attacked by the Pirates and trying to protect his village, and Silk and Zoro's fight with the Nyaban Brothers, just fighting and risking their lives. Sailing with those five people, she's grown fond of had to be the most she's ever been happy.
"If it were possible…" Nami said with a hint of sadness. "I'd join up with those guys and sail around the world."
Nojiko listened to Nami's story. She was overjoyed that her younger sister was able to find happiness with people she met out there. Nojiko watched Nami from across the table as she'd fallen asleep.
"Now I see…" Nojiko realized. "Yeah, that would hit her hard. To think that someone actually showed up for her. Friends. That word means pain. It breaks her heart."
After Nami ran off, the rest of the crew just stayed by the road. Usopp sat on the road, Zoro sat by a tree, the others sat by the grass, and they merely took in the silence, not exactly sure what their next move would be.
"Hey, what do you think it is?" Sanji broke the silence. His question was directed at the crew. "Why was she crying?"
"I don't know?" Zoro questioned. "Was she crying?"
"She was in her heart." Sanji stated.
"If there were, there'd be tears of guilt for being the person she is." Zoro scoffed. "I always thought of her as sort of a small-time crook who only cared about filling her pockets. Maybe she just snapped."
"Wait, what'd you say!?" Sanji suddenly snapped. Because, of course, Sanji must've had a short fuse when it came to women. Even Zoro seemed puzzled by it, judging by the stare he gave the cook.
"SHE'S NOT SMALL-TIME!" Sanji shouted as he snapped at him.
"Is she all you think about!?" Zoro shouted as Sanji went for a kick; Zoro raised his sheath to block.
Before they could get into a real fight, the others got between them as Silk held back Zoro and Gin held back Sanji. Both of them held the two of them by their shoulders while Yosaku, Johnny, and Usopp tried splitting them up.
"Would you two stop fighting for one second already?!" Gin snapped at them.
"Captain, don't just sit there. Help us!" Silk shouted, also fed up with them.
After Light stepped in and helped pry those two apart, the crew settled down again and went back to sitting or standing around the street. At that point, Usopp decided to ask.
"Hey, Captain, why did you keep provoking her like that?" Usopp asked curiously. "Was there a point in making her upset?"
"Yeah, I was trying to figure out her real motives. She kept trying to feed us half-truths and fake apathy, but it was all just a cover." Light explained calmly. "People always show their true colors when backed into a corner, and that's what she did."
"So, what exactly are her true colors?" Johnny asked.
"It's like she's acting like she hates us and wants us gone, but the truth is that she just wants us to leave because she's worried we'll die if we stay and fight." Silk summarized before concluding. "So, she's worried about us."
"Oh, Nami, to think she'd have so much concern for my safety~ I truly don't deserve her bighearted kindness~" Sanji swooned lovingly.
"You are not going to stop, are you?" Gin remarked dryly.
"But still, why's she working with Arlong, to begin with, if she still cares about us enough to worry about us?" Usopp wondered.
"I don't think it's as straightforward as that." Light guessed. "She might be part of his crew, but she may not consider herself as his Nakama."
"What do you mean?" Usopp asked again.
"Sometimes, when you're pretending to be someone else to fool other people, it's easier to just be yourself without telling them where you came from." Light informed them knowingly. "I think everything we knew about Nami was real, that she does love money and hates Pirates, but there are certain reasons she's working for Arlong despite the fact that she doesn't want to. I'd bet that aside from the Arlong stuff, everything Nami told us was the truth."
"How do you know all that?" Sanji asked, wondering why he seemed so aware of the subject.
"Experience." Light answered, putting his hat back on his head. "Let's just say I knew someone who lived among others while pretending to be a different version of himself." He said as he thought back to Sabo. "There are a lot of people who'd rather cut out certain parts of their lives."
Sanji didn't question it further. There was something that reflected in his eyes as he thought about that; it wasn't just acceptance, but there appeared to be a bit of understanding as well.
"So, in short, Nami hates Pirates but is one. She stole our ship but still worries about us and wants us to stay safe, and through unknown circumstances, is a member of a Fishman crew and can't tell us why." Light summarized all that they knew.
"Just sounds like a mess of confusion when you say it all out loud." Gin sighed.
"You think she's got some sorta hidden motive for hanging out with a bunch of renegade Fishmen?" Usopp theorized.
"The real question is what kind of motive could there be?" Sanji asked no one in particular.
Zoro had his arms folded. "What next? Are we gonna destroy Arlong Park?"
"Sounds like a plan to me." Silk answered coolly.
But Usopp was waving his hands around in front of them, trying to get their attention before they did something they'd regret. "Whoa! Hang on just a second!" He said loudly. "Don't you think we better find out what's going on with Nami first?!"
Just then, as they were talking, another voice spoke up. "It's no use either way!"
Blinking in surprise, they all looked to see another face. It was Nojiko who appeared before them—But she was giving them all a dark and stern look.
"Who is…?" Gin began, but the woman went on speaking before he could finish his sentence.
"No matter what you guys do, Arlong's rule won't come to an end." She informed them.
"Nojiko!" Usopp exclaimed in surprise.
"Who is this woman?" Light questioned him.
"Nami's big sister." Usopp stated.
[Her sister!?] Yosaku and Johnny both said in surprise.
Sanji was already smitten as he swooned. "What? Nami's sister? No wonder she's so hot!"
"Of course, you would be thinking that." Usopp said to him irritably.
"What do you mean that it's no use?" Zoro questioned her.
"Just trust me. Don't get yourselves involved here." Nojiko said bluntly, and those who hadn't met her could tell that she was just as stubborn and strong-willed as her little sister. "And leave poor Nami alone. I'll explain the situation."
"Situation?" Sanji repeated in confusion.
Usopp was now giving her his complete attention. "Do you mean you can tell us why she joined Arlong's group?" He asked.
"Yeah." Nojiko admitted, folding her arms. "And if that doesn't get you to leave, I don't know what will."
"Okay, if you know, then, by all means, explain it to us." Silk told her.
Zoro rested his hands behind his head. "We'll hear you out, though I can tell you right now, I doubt it's gonna change anything."
"Well, I'll listen too." Usopp said. "It might help me make some sense out of everything that's going on around here."
"Me too." Sanji smiled. "I wanna know all about her."
"Yeah, us too." Yosaku added.
"We also wanna know." Johnny insisted.
Nojiko listened to all of them, but before saying anything, she looked at Light, almost as though she had to hear it from him more than anyone else. Light stared back at her, and while he didn't speak, he looked her in the eye and nodded, which was enough of an answer for her.
"Fine, from the beginning then…" Nojiko started. "It all goes back to 8 years ago. Up until that day, when we were still little children, she lived here in the village. Nami and I will never forget her for as long as we live. Her name is Bell-mère…"
The story began many years ago. Nami was an orphan of war from the Oykot Kingdom. She was found as a baby by a young Nojiko, then shortly after by a heavily injured Bell-mère, a female Marine, in the aftermath of a hostile battlefield. Despite the ruins and bloodshed she was found in, her innocent smile and laughter rang true. Bell-mère took Nami and Nojiko back to Cocoyasi Village, where she would adopt the two children. The three became as close as any real family.
As a child, Nami developed a love for drawing maps and navigation and the dream of drawing a complete map of the world. However, Bell-mère's tangerine trees provided only meager means of support, and they were unable to afford anything other than the bare necessities. As a result, Nami could not afford the navigation books, leading her to often steal them from the village bookshop. One day, Bell-mère scolded Nami when she got caught stealing. However, she applauded Nami's first drawing of the island as the first step of her dream and put faith in Nami that she really could do it.
In one year, in which the price of tangerines fell due to an ample supply, Bell-mère had to eat only tangerines and gave most of the food to Nami and Nojiko, but did not let on how bad the situation was to Nojiko and Nami. One day, Nami was given one of Nojiko's dresses by Bell-mère, and Nami was offended because she wanted her own clothes and not Nojiko's hand-me-downs. This ensued an argument between her and Nojiko. During the argument, Nami said she did not consider Nojiko a real sister, causing Bell-mère to slap her. Bell-mère angrily tells Nami that even though they aren't blood-related, she does not want to hear Nami say something like that again. Nami barks back, saying Bell-mère isn't their real mother, and even goes as far as to say she wished she was adopted by someone richer. Bell-mère coldly tells Nami to just go live with someone else then, and a crying Nami takes her up on her offer, running outside into the cold rain.
There is brief silence in the house as Nojiko finally speaks up to Bell-mère, saying they are indeed a family no matter what. Bell-mère is proud of Nojiko for acting mature and is incredibly touched, and she decides to spare some money and prepare Nami's favorite meal even though it would break her budget. She sent Nojiko to fetch Nami while she prepared the meal.
Nami is seen at Genzo's house being dried off by Genzo. Nami believes that Bell-mère would be better off not taking care of her, but Genzo assures her that isn't the case. He even tells Nami a small story about how Bell-mère used to be a troublemaker as well and even joined the Marines. Nami is surprised to hear Bell-mère used to be a Marine. Genzo mentions that Bell-mère was on the verge of death from the battle until she discovered Nojiko and a baby Nami. Both Bell-mère and Nojiko are surprised to see a baby still alive and acting cheerful. Genzo tells Nami that thanks to her, Bell-mère was able to find the resolve to live. After Bell-mère arrived in Cocoyasi Village, Nojiko and Nami were sick, and she was demanding a doctor. Genzo and Nako are both stunned that Bell-mère decided to adopt the two young girls, not believing she'll be responsible enough. However, Bell-mère doesn't want to hear it, believing as a former Marine. She is more than capable of taking care of them. Genzo then assures her their bond is strong. Nojiko finally shows up, telling Nami to come home as Bell-mère is making them dinner. An excited Nami then heads home with Nojiko. Genzo, Nako, and the other villagers all remark on how Bell-mère and the others have come a long way since then. Unfortunately for the villagers, a Pirate flag is shown with a man yelling that pirates are coming. It turns out to be the Arlong Pirates, and the villagers are in deep shock, wondering why a group of Fishmen are on their island. Genzo and Nako catch up with Nami and Nojiko, with Genzo telling the two to go hide in the nearby bushes. Arlong is seen leading his men into the village, and he introduces himself to the village. Arlong then declares he and his crew are taking over the village and demands the villagers to "pay for their lives" every month. Arlong wants 100,000 beri for each adult and 50,000 beri for each child. He says those who cannot pay those prices will die on the spot. Nami is worried about that since they cannot afford the prices, but Nojiko assures Nami that the Fishmen cannot see their house in the distance. Arlong and the Fishmen manage to get over 25,000,000 beri, and a pleased Arlong tells the villagers that they can live for now. Some villagers are worried about being able to pay that much each month, but Genzo is just happy that no one has been killed, hoping they won't notice Bell-mère's house, knowing she won't be able to pay. As Arlong and the Arlong Pirates are about to leave, one of the Fishmen notices smoke out in the distance. Arlong knows they have missed a house, and he leads the Arlong Pirates to the house. The villagers worry about Bell-mère as she is at home cooking. Nami and Nojiko rush to their house, knowing she may be killed.
The Arlong Pirates make it to Bell-mère's house, and Arlong himself knocks on the door. Bell-mère tells the person knocking to come in, and Arlong does so. Arlong looks around, not seeing anyone at first, but is then attacked by Bell-mère, who kicks him down outside and holds a gun to his mouth. Arlong is caught surprised by this, and Bell-mère, addressing herself as a former Marine, asks what a Pirate like him wants with Cocoyasi Village. Suddenly, the other Fishmen start to laugh, surprising Bell-mère, and Arlong effortlessly bites through her gun, destroying it. Arlong brags about his superior strength to Bell-mère, and Nami and Nojiko are seen running toward the house, wanting to help Bell-mère escape. Suddenly, the two girls are caught by Nako, who tells them they cannot go back. Nako also tells them that the truth is hard to take, and Bell-mère can be seen having her arm brutally crushed and stepped on by Arlong. Genzo soon shows up, telling Bell-mère not to waste her life away if the situation can be settled with money. Arlong tells Bell-mère that he will stop if she pays the fee he wants (100,000 Beri for each adult and 50,000 Beri per child). Genzo asks Bell-mère how much she has, and Bell-mère says she isn't even close to the price. Hatchan inspects the house and points out there is a table set for three. Arlong is pleased to hear this, but Genzo quickly says that it's for himself and his friend. Kuroobi confirms this as he is looking over a paper revealing Bell-mère has been single her entire life, never having any birth children.
Back over in the bushes, Nako tells Nami and Nojiko they must leave the island and never turn back, as this is the only way no one has to die. Nami argues with him, not wanting to leave, wanting the Pirates to go. Nojiko ends up agreeing to leave, not wanting Bell-mère to die, and Nami appears to agree reluctantly. However, as everyone (the Arlong Pirates and Nojiko) is about to leave, Bell-mère speaks up, saying the money is for her two daughters, shocking everyone that she is revealing her secret. Genzo is upset at her, but Bell-mère does not want to pretend her daughters don't exist. Bell-mère is happy to die being able to have been a mother in her life. Nami and Nojiko tearfully hug Bell-mère with her, saying she wishes she could've been a better provider and mother. Nami and Nojiko plead with her not to die, with Nami wanting her to see her finished map. Bell-mère tells Nami to continue her dream without her being able to see her completed work.
Arlong suddenly walks up to the family, noticing Nami and Nojiko as Bell-mère's daughters. Bell-mère tells Arlong that he must leave the two of them alone, and Arlong agrees. However, Arlong says that Bell-mère has to die without fighting. Genzo tries to shoot down Arlong, but Kuroobi blocks the gunshots with his fins and uses his sword to slash down Genzo. An angry mob appears behind the Arlong Pirates, and Arlong tells his men to teach them a lesson rather than kill them (since Arlong wants the monthly payments from them). As the Arlong Pirates are beating up the villagers, Arlong himself points his pistol at Bell-mère, preparing to kill her. Bell-mère pushes Nami and Nojiko off to the side so they won't get hurt. Bell-mère tells Nami and Nojiko that she loves them one last time before Arlong shoots her straight through the chest, killing her instantly. Nami and Nojiko tearfully watch as their mother drops to the ground dead. Arlong calls out to everyone, saying that this will happen to them if they do not listen to him. Hatchan suddenly picks up Nami's map, and Arlong is very impressed by its work. Arlong decides that Nami will be of use to him, and Hatchan grabs Nami, taking her away. Genzo yells at Arlong, saying that he promised not to hurt her, but Arlong says he's not but is just using her for a while. Kuroobi slashes down Genzo once more, with Nami calling out to him. Genzo promises that he will try to save him, but Kuroobi ends up knocking him out. Nami tearfully says she doesn't want to see any more killing.
Much later, the once peaceful Cocoyasi Village is damaged, and Genzo is seen in the hospital bandaged up. With all of their ships damaged, Genzo is upset there is no way to get the girls off the island. Nako remarks that Bell-mère knew this all would happen since, being an ex-Marine, she knows what the Fishmen would be capable of. Elsewhere, Nojiko is seen crying at Bell-mère's grave, upset that Nami has been taken away. The next day, Nako can be seen talking with the villagers, saying that the Arlong Pirates are going to make their home close by and should decide to either fight or hope that the Marines will save them by then. Genzo says that the Marines would have their hands full with the pirates of the Grand Line and probably won't bother helping a small village out the way. Genzo then says that they must fight, and the other villagers agree to want to save Nami. Suddenly, Nami is seen walking back toward the village, and Nojiko and the other villagers greet her. However, Nami says she is joining the Arlong Pirates, saying she will be able to be a navigator and draw maps. Genzo believes the Arlong Pirates are threatening her, but Nami says they aren't. Everyone then sees the tattoo of the Arlong Pirates on Nami's arm, shocking the entire village. Nami then says that they gave her a lot of money, but Nojiko angrily tackles Nami, not wanting to believe she would side with someone who killed their mother. Nami says she doesn't want to die like that, disgusting everyone in the village. Genzo then tells Nami to leave the village and never come back. Nami runs off crying, and Genzo is shocked that Nami would betray Bell-mère for money. Later in the day, Nojiko is walking back to Bell-mère's grave, still not wanting to believe that Nami would turn her back on Bell-mère like that. Nojiko then spots Nami at Bell-mère's grave, and Nami speaks up, remembering Bell-mère's words that good things will come to those who wait for it. Nami reveals that she watched Arlong sink five Marine ships and knows they cannot do anything to help them. Nami says she came up with a solution: To buy Cocoyasi Village from Arlong for 100,000,000 beri. Nami says to do that. She simply has to join the Arlong Pirates and continue to draw up maps for them. Nojiko is surprised by this saying that there is a lot of money to save up, but Nami is determined to raise that money herself. Nami assures Nojiko that she will be fine and will try not to cry anymore.
After finishing the story, the crew reacted in different ways. Zoro's expression remained stoic while he frowned, Sanji was wide-eyed and stayed silent, Usopp looked down and was upset, Gin tightly gripped his shoulder, and Silk looked away as her eyes were covered by her bangs, Yosaku and Johnny were quiet while tears of grief were streaming down their faces, and Light just looked down while his hat covered his eyes.
"To make a choice like that when you're only 8 years old, do you know how hard that must have been?" Nojiko asked as she wrapped up her story.
"All to save the village she loved so much." Usopp said with understanding. "That girl…"
Sanji shot up and shouted emotionally. "Haaaa! Whoever makes Nami suffer is going to hear from me—!"
BOINK!
Right after those words left his mouth, Nojiko slugged him in the face and knocked him to the ground.
"Why'd you do that?!" Sanji groaned as he hit the ground.
"Because I'm telling you to stay out of it." Nojiko answered with annoyance, as though she was talking to an idiot. "If you go around saying that she's your friend, they're going to become suspicious of her, then her 8 years of suffering will have been for nothing. Don't make it harder than it already is."
"So you're telling us to do nothing?" Silk asked, sounding more concerned for Nami now than she ever had before.
"There's no other way. She has to fight alone. Knowing there are people who call her "friend" only makes the suffering worse." Nojiko told them, not happy about it either.
After being silent the whole time, Light turned around and started to walk down the path.
"Huh, Big Bro?" Johnny noticed through his tears.
"Where are you going?" Nojiko questioned him.
"Where else?" Light stopped but didn't turn around. "I'm going to see my friend."
The others reacted to that, but none more so than Nojiko. "Have you not been listening to a word I said?!" She snapped at him. "I told you that you need to stay out of this!"
"That may be what you say, but I just can't do that." Light told her. "I can't just sit on the sidelines after everything I've heard. Now I'm going to where Nami is."
"Don't you get it?" Nojiko stepped forward. "I'm her sister. I hate this as much as you, more so even, but this is the only way. She has to face this alone."
"Unfortunately, that's not how we do things. She might not be an official member of our crew, but she's sailed on the same ship as us, and as far as I'm concerned, that makes her Nakama." Light said with a hint of doubt. "And that means any burden one of us carries, the rest of us carry with them. I won't let her fight this or any battle alone. Besides…" Light trailed off and started walking again. "There's something I want to ask her."
With that, Light continued his departure. None of them stopped him as he got further away. Nojiko was still upset by his actions and how he wouldn't listen to her.
"That guy…" Nojiko said before closing her eyes. "Is just so stubborn."
"That might be true, but he knows what he's doing." Usopp told her with a smile. "Trust us. He's not the kinda guy you need to be concerned about. He won't make things worse."
"I can attest to that." Silk agreed, also smiling. "If anything, he'll make it better."
"That is his specialty." Gin was in agreement.
"Just let him do what he wants." Zoro waived it off, getting ready to take a nap.
Nojiko just looked at all of them and sighed, not knowing what to make of them.
Nami made her way out of her house after she had taken a much-needed nap. Nami saw that Nojiko was nowhere to be found after she told her about the others. Nami stepped outside her house and stretched her arms above her head.
After that, she went outside. Nami went over to her tangerine groves and looked down at a certain spot, this spot being the place where she buried all of her stolen Pirate treasure. There was a wide yet peaceful smile on her face as she gazed at it.
"100,000,000 beri. It's taken a while, but I've finally gathered it all." Nami said, filled with a sense of catharsis. "It's done. Now, this will finally be over. Arlong's rule will be over. Cocoyashi Village will be free." She looked up at the sky as though she could already picture it. "I will be free. And then, and then I think I'll finally be able to smile again, for real. Bell-mère."
"The only things I love are money and tangerines."
A familiar voice suddenly spoke, which grabbed Nami's attention. She looked and saw that it was Light. He stood only a few feet away with his hands in his pockets.
"That's what you told me when we first met, remember?" Light reminded her with a nostalgic smile. "I never really got what you meant back then… Until today."
"Light?" Nami was surprised to see him again. "How did you find this place?"
"It wasn't hard to find the only house outside of town and by the ocean." Light informed her.
Nami tried to frown. "Why are you here? I told you—"
"You don't have to keep up the act anymore." Light waved her off. "We met your sister already."
"What?" Nami stopped and blinked. "Nojiko?"
Light nodded. "She told us everything."
Nami sighed lightheartedly. "Of course she did. Well, I suppose that makes things easier." She was a little relieved that she didn't have to pretend anymore.
"You also said that your dream was to collect 100,000,000 beri back then." Light brought up again. "I always wondered; why that much specifically? Now, it all makes sense."
Nami looked away a bit before she faced him. "I'm sorry." She apologized sincerely. "For stealing the ship and ditching you guys at the restaurant and everything, really. I just really need money, but even so, I'm sorry."
"Yeah, I can finally see why you did it, and it's not like any of us can be mad at you at this point." Light told her magnanimously. "So, is that also why you left a lot of the treasure behind?"
"Yes, I only took the amount I needed to reach 100,000,000. I didn't want to take any more from you guys." Nami assured him. "I already felt bad enough about it."
"And now, are you going to bring that money to Arlong?" Light asked rhetorically.
Nami looked a little nervous as she tried to find the right way to say her next words. "Listen, Light. Once I buy back my village from Arlong, I'll finally be free. I can go anywhere I want in the world."
"Mm-hmm, just like you always wanted." Light noted.
"Yeah, it's just… There's something else I want." Nami began before she looked at him, even more nervous. "I know that this is pretty shameless of me, but I loved sailing with you guys and being part of your crew. You were the best friends I could have asked for, so…" Nami looked back down. "So, once this is over, could… Could I rejoin your crew?"
Her request was genuine; it was almost like a personal plea. Nami truly wanted to be a member of the crew again. After sailing with them for so long, she could no longer picture herself wanting to set sail with anyone else. Now, she was just waiting for Light's answer.
"No." Light answered bluntly.
It hit her like a rock, and Nami almost tripped over her own feet due to how out of the blue it was. "No?!"
"You never actually officially joined our crew. You only sailed with us while our interests aligned. That's how you wanted it, remember?" Light pointed out with a smile. "And you can't rejoin if you never really joined to being with, so you'll have to change your request."
Nami processed everything he had just said and could tell he was messing with her, and it made her slightly amused as she smiled back at him. "You jerk."
"So, what is it that you want?" Light asked, still going along with it.
"I want to join your crew." Nami reworded her request, still smiling as well. "Will you let me go out to sea with all of you again?"
Light nodded. "Nami, you—"
He was cut off, and they both turned their heads as they heard footsteps approaching. A group of Marines was making their way toward the house. But what really caught Nami's attention was that a familiar village leader was with them.
"Marines...?" Light wondered.
"Why is Genzo with them?" Nami wondered.
The Marines were led by Nezumi, the same Navy officer who was allied with Arlong. The man had a sneer on his face as he addressed Nami.
"Are you the Pirate thief known as Nami?" Nezumi asked. Nami made no attempt to deny it and only grit her teeth. "According to our investigation, you've buried a good deal of Pirate treasure somewhere in this tangerine grove."
This caused a look of shock to cross Light and Nami's faces. Even Genzo's own eyes widen at hearing this.
"Now, you stole from Pirates, so we have no intention of arresting you." Nezumi explained. "But theft is theft. Therefore, as of this moment, Stolen goods become the sole property of the World Government." Sweat poured from Nami's face as her body shook from the proclamation. "Now, hand it all over!" Nezumi exclaimed. "IT'S OURS!"
Nami didn't say a word or move a muscle for a while. This couldn't be right. How could the Marines have found out about the money she had stashed in the grove? The Marine officer only snickered at her.
"Sorry, perhaps you didn't hear the first time." Nezumi said. "The government hereby confiscates everything you've stolen. It is required that you comply immediately. Do you understand?"
Nami wasn't about to give up everything she's worked for. She wasn't going to break down, not a chance, and decided to instead use her alignment with Arlong as an advantage.
"Isn't that something?" Nami remarked and crossed her arms. "I can see you're very passionate about your duties. You won't bring a brutal gang of Pirates to justice, but you will shakedown a lowly sneak thief. That's so very noble." Nezumi snickered in response. "I'm only gonna warn you once: I'm one of the leaders of the Arlong Pirates. If you mess with me, Arlong won't sit by quietly."
"Silly girl." Nezumi commented. "Who do you think I am? Do you honestly think you can intimidate me? FIND THE STOLEN GOODS!" The rest of the Marines scattered and started to search for the stolen treasure.
"DON'T MOVE!" Nami shouted but went unheard as the Marines kept Searching about the grove. Nami ran and connected her staff together. "I… Said… STOP!" Nami knocked down 3 Marines, preventing them from searching for the treasure. "Do you really think this is what the Marines should be doing now?" Nami exclaimed with a glare. "The Arlong Pirates are murderers! They've destroyed entire cities, and you're doing nothing! He's ruling over this island and trampling over people's lives! You'd ignore Arlong's atrocities to steal from a thief? Is that what you stand for!?"
"Checheche." Nezumi chuckled. "Big talk from a filthy criminal. Continue the search, men!"
"Every person on this island has been waiting for the Marines to come and help them for years!" Nami yelled. "How dare you pass them by and come here searching for money!"
"Colonel!" A Marine addressed the officer. "This tangerine orchard's a little suspicious."
"Dig it up." The Colonel ordered. "The whole thing, if need be!"
Nami wasn't about to let these Marines touch that treasure. But she sure wasn't going to let them defile her mother's orchard. Nami quickly attacked a Marine holding a shovel.
"Keep your filthy hands off Bell-mère's tangerine orchard!" Nami said and then went on to knock down a few more Marines who were digging. There's no point in hiding it now. "I won't let you take my money! It's for—!"
"That poor girl's money is meant to save Cocoyashi Village!" It appears Genzo, who had been quiet, also has had enough. "What gives you the right to take our salvation away from her!? Damn you!"
"My my, a mere village representative talking down to a Marine Colonel…" Nezumi said. "How bold." After Nami knocked out one more Marine soldier, she turned to the man she'd known since she was a child.
"Genzo, how did you know about that?" Nami wondered as the pinwheel in Genzo's cap spun rapidly as the wind picked up.
"I've always known, Nami." Genzo said softly. A look of pure distress appeared on Nami's face. "I couldn't believe what you had done. So I confronted Nojiko about it later. Since then, everyone has known that you stayed with the Arlong Pirates so that you could save the village. But we all agreed that we'd never tell you that we knew. If you ever thought the villagers were placing their hopes on you, you might never leave his gang for fear of letting us down."
"That can't be…" Nami mumbled. She thought the money kept here was a secret. Nami didn't know Genzo, and the villagers were pretending like they never knew about the money. The money that's going to be used to buy Cocoyashi's freedom.
Light had pretty much remained quiet this whole time but was paying attention to everything that had been said. And after hearing that confession, he was silently seething with anger and looked ready to blow at any moment.
"Now, hold on a minute." Nezumi remarked. "Just what are you trying to say here? Are you telling me that the villagers are thieves and that we should arrest every one of them? Is that what you're saying?"
"What he's saying is that every last of us is fighting to survive!" Nojiko's voice rang out as she walked up the hill. "We have to fend for ourselves because we can't rely on support from you government people! So, if you're not gonna protect our village, then get the hell outta here! And be quick about it, or Arlong will sink your ship, too!"
"Arlong will?" Nezumi questioned. "I wouldn't be so sure." Nami thought about what he could possibly mean by that. What did Arlong have to do with these Marines?
"You still haven't found it?" Nezumi asked his Marines. "We're looking for a 100,000,000 beri here, not a grain of rice!" Genzo's eyes widened as he approached Nezumi.
"How do you know how much there is?" Genzo wondered with shaking fists.
"Oh, I don't know." Nezumi said whilst trying to act nonchalant. "I just have a hunch that that's the amount we're looking for." Nezumi chuckled as Genzo glared at him. Nojiko gritted her teeth in anger, and the color drained from Nami's face. Nami figured out who tipped the Marines about the amount of money stashed there. The one who's had her village under his rule for 8 long years.
"It's him…" Nami murmured and heard the booming laughter of Arlong in her mind. She glared and clenched her wounded hand. "Tell me! It was Arlong that sent you, wasn't it!?"
"Checheche." Chuckled Nezumi. "Course not. I wouldn't do a Pirates dirty work. That'd be wrong. I'm just a public servant dealing with theft the way any government worker would."
"YOU CORRUPT MARINE SCUMBAG!" Genzo shouted.
"THE MARINES HAVE STOOPED TO BEING NOTHING BUT PIRATE CRONIES!" Nojiko exclaimed. Nami's other hand clenched her staff as she bit her lip in anger.
Arlong, Nami seethed in her thoughts.
"Sir, I found it!" A Marine announced. They moved the dirt to reveal a brown box that was buried in the ground. Nezumi opened the box and laughed as he saw everything that had been stored inside. A pile of gold bars, coins, jewels, and stacks of beri bills all together in one place.
"Incredible!" Nezumi commented. "I must say I'm impressed you've gathered this much treasure!"
"The money's all ragged and bloody." A Marine commented as he picked up one of the bills.
"No matter." Nezumi dismissed. "Money's money, Checheche." He snickered as he leered at the money in his hands.
"Don't. Touch. That!" Nami growled. Watching this corrupt Marine officer touch the money she's worked so hard to steal over the course of 8 years brought a fierce look to her eyes. "Don't touch that!" She repeated as she approached the officer with her staff firmly in her grasp.
"Nami!" Nojiko said as she and Genzo immediately ran to her.
"Stop it!" Nami shouted. "Don't touch that! STOP IT!" Nami started to make a dash at Nezumi. The officer took a pistol out of his coat and aimed it at Nami. This didn't stop Nami's advance as she kept running.
BANG!
The sound of a gun firing echoed, and everyone was surprised at the result; the gun hadn't shot anyone. Nezumi stared in shock as Light stood directly in front of him before Nami could reach and placed his hand over the one Nezumi used to hold his pistol. Light then reached his arm upward and pointed the gun at the sky so it wasn't aimed at anyone there.
"You've taken this far enough." Light stated with an icy cold tone.
"L-Light…?" Nami didn't know how to react.
"It's him?" Nojiko muttered, also in shock.
"Who is that young man?" Genzo wondered.
"How dare you!" Nezumi became angered by Light's interference. "Unhand me right—!"
Nezumi was cut off when Light snatched the gun out of his hand, pulled Nezumi by his arm as he held him in front of him, and pointed the gun to the side of his head.
Now Nezumi became pale as Light stared warningly at the rest of the Marines, who stopped what they were doing the moment they saw what was going on.
"I'm gonna spell it out for you: The treasure or the life of your Colonel, you decide which is more important to you." Light told them while threatening Nezumi.
"W-Wait… Don't shoot." Nezumi begged fearfully. All his confidence deflated once he became the one at risk.
"Don't worry; I won't." Light asked him. His tone was still cold. "Provided you take your men and leave, and you won't be taking a single piece of Nami's treasure."
Nami was just watching him, still trying to process everything that was going on, while Genzo and Nojiko were surprised that he—Someone not from here and who wasn't involved in all this was acting to protect Nami's treasure.
At the mention of the treasure, Nezumi became angry again and forgot his fear as he snapped at Light. "Who do you think I am?! I am an officer of the Marines! Do you think you can get away with threatening—"
CHILLS!
He stopped again when Light stared down at him. This time, he gave him a predatory look that he just wanted to intimidate the weak, similar to the one wild beast gives to their cornered prey.
"I don't see a Marine. All I see is a rat." Light told him silently and deadly. "A greedy rat who only cares about money has no business acting like a Marine. It's an insult to all the real Marines out there." He tightened his grip in a bid to scare him further. "I have no attachment to the Navy. All the same, when I see scum like you, I feel so sick that I can't calm down until I crush you."
Nezumi was trembling while his whole body was perspiring. His fear was on a higher level than anything he had experienced. He never thought it was possible, but the boy in front of him right now scared him more than Arlong.
"No, wait, I have Arlong backing me." Nezumi was so desperate he was attempting the same excuse Nami tried on him earlier. "If you do this, he won't let you get away with it."
"Is that so?" And just Nami, his attempt didn't work at all. "Well, I hope Arlong can find you at the bottom of the ocean."
Before Nezumi could ask what that meant, Light dropped the pistol, released his grip on the Marine, and, in a flash, kicked him in his side. The kick was so strong that it blew Nezumi off his feet and sent him flying. He screamed as he was launched away from the house and all the way off the cliff as he fell and plummeted into the ocean below.
"Colonel!" A Marine shouted in horror.
The whole battalion completely forgot about Nami and the treasure as they ran off to head down to the shore in order to reach the ocean and hopefully salvage their superior officer before he drowned.
Now that they were gone, Nami, Nojiko, and Genzo tried to assess the situation, and they looked at Light while he just remained standing there. Nami then went over to where her treasure was and was relieved.
"Thank goodness." Nami breathed out a sigh of relief. "It's all still here. Now, I can—"
"Didn't you find his choice of words interesting?" Light asked, recapturing their attention. "We know that Arlong sent him, but given the fact that he knew the exact amount and the timing of this whole thing, it's clear that all this was premeditated." Light pointed out stoically. "No doubt, Arlong didn't just come up with this a few days ago. This was something he's been planning for a while, maybe since the beginning."
Nami's pupils flared. Light just said what she had just figured out at that same moment. Her emotions were going haywire. She kept staring at her large pile of stolen treasure. Even though it gave her hope just a short while ago, now it only gave her rage and frustration.
Nami couldn't control herself as she sprung to her feet and took off, running down the path as fast as she could to get to Arlong Park.
"Nami!" Nojiko called out to her.
"Nojiko." Genzo spoke calmly but thoughtfully. "We're heading back to the village. It's time; gather everyone."
Genzo's eyes were filled with a firm resolve, like the face of a soldier who was ready to go to war. Nojiko knew precisely what he was planning and had the same look in her eyes as they both took off as well.
Light didn't say anything as he saw them go. He just lowered his gaze as he also left.
After a while, Light returned to Cocoyashi Village, where he found the rest of his crew already there. All of them were close together so that they could see what was going on, but out of the way, they couldn't be seen. Light arrived and stood in front of them as they became aware of his arrival.
"Hey, did you talk to Nami?" Zoro got right to it.
"Yeah." Was all he said in response. "Where's Yosaku and Johnny?"
"Beats me." Sanji shrugged. "After you left, they just ran off somewhere."
Since they were all together again, Light took this time to explain everything he witnessed back at Nami's house so that they would all be caught up with everything. While he was doing that, Genzo and Nojiko arrived in the village to inform the townspeople of the same thing.
Once everyone in Cocoyashi Village learned of Arlong's betrayal, they were outraged and rallied behind Genzo in taking up arms. They all had enough of being enslaved by the Fishmen, and this was the breaking point. Now, they were prepared to rebel.
Here, what looked like the entire village was out holding weapons—Mostly things like clubs and homemade spears that were knives tied to staffs. There wasn't even a gun among them as they all gathered around, with Genzo cheering them on to take up arms.
But they weren't confident… Light could see the sorrow in each of their eyes was similar to the mayor when he went running off to fight Buggy when he knew he didn't stand a chance of victory. But like him, these people were still willing to fight.
"8 long years ago." Genzo told the townspeople. "We promised we wouldn't live our lives in vain! No matter the pain and humiliation we had to endure under Arlong, we swore we would fight the long fight so that Nami could meet their demands! BUT THEY LIED!" He shouted out, getting them all riled up. "They never intended to keep their end of the deal! Instead, they stole our only chance at freedom! So now…" His eyes were bloodshot as he finally called out. "We should make those filthy Fishmen pay for the years they manipulated a kind young girl! Am I right?!"
YEAH!" The whole mob cried out.
"Yeah! Let's do this!" someone yelled out.
"We've always been ready to fight those monsters!" someone else yelled.
"Time to show those lousy, stinkin' Fishmen what we're made of!" more shouts came, and they were all ready to go.
The members of the crew were all watching calmly. They looked like they wanted to join in, but something seemed to be holding them back. But what that was became clear when they heard someone shouting for them to stop.
"Everybody, wait!" Nami called out to them. The villagers turned, and as she approached them. Nami had to wipe the tears from her eyes and put a smile on her face. Her plan was to reassure them that everything was fine.
"Nami...?" Nojiko wondered as Nami made her way toward the villagers.
Looking up the road, they spotted Nami coming toward them with a big, forced smile, but they knew her well enough to see that she was fighting back tears as she came up to them. "Calm down! There's nothing to worry about! I still have all the money, remember?! I'll take care of it! Don't worry!"
No one else said anything, though. In truth, they had no idea as to what they could say to her. But each one was feeling rage surge inside them at the thought of what Arlong had done. Each of them wanted to go to Arlong Park and destroy that entire building before breaking Arlong's face until they're wasn't anything left.
"If he asks for more, I can get it right away! I'll be fine." Nami said, still in that fake confident voice that fooled no one. "Just relax. It'll be okay. Hey, it's nothing compared to back then…" She came in front of them. "Come on, everyone… I'm perfectly fine."
Everyone there felt as if their insides were shriveling at how hard she was trying. She was clearly in denial—Just trying to stop the people she loved so much from getting themselves killed.
But Genzo wasn't fooled as he walked to her and embraced her tightly. She stood there frozen as tears fell from his eyes. "You've done enough." He said softly but firmly. "You have to know that there's no point now. You've struggled so hard, carrying our lives on your back this whole time. I can only imagine that joining them must've been more painful than getting stabbed in the heart. You fought very well…"
"Genzo…" Nami whispered in a broken voice as she also started to cry.
Genzo pulled away, his hand firmly on her shoulder before he said. "Set yourself free from this village."
Nami looked horrified at those words, and she cried out, unable to believe what he was saying. "Genzo!"
"Nami, do it!" Nojiko encouraged her as well.
"What? Nojiko!" Nami yelled as she looked around for some support, but it was clear from the rest of their faces that the entire town agreed.
Nojiko gave her a brave look, no fear on her face, as she said. "You're an exceptional young woman, and you have a dream."
"Everyone—Listen!" Nami yelled desperately, still trying to stop them. "I won't let you go!" And to the surprise of some, she pulled out a knife and pointed it at them with shaking hands. "Just stay right there! I'm not going to let anyone else get hurt by these monsters!" Her eyes were pleading as she told them. "You'll all die."
"We know that." Genzo told her as he grabbed hold of the knife and gripped it so hard that he was starting to bleed.
She looked startled at that as the doctor—Nako also spoke up in a grim way. "Nami, it's no use. We've made up our minds."
Still crying, she shook her head, not wanting to do it, but Genzo wasn't taking no for an answer. "Get out of the way!" He finally yelled, and she backed off, startled as he pulled out his sword and shouted to the people behind him. "MOVE OUT!"
"We may not win, but we will give 'em hell!" Nako added, and without anyone showing any fear, they charged off, past Nami and heading towards Arlong Park. Nami just stood there, not moving as they ran past her before the knife fell from her limp hand, and she fell to her knees.
Nami was left alone to drown in her thoughts. All her suffering to keep anyone else from getting killed was all for nothing. Here, she had nothing left… She had finally given up and let her emotions out for the first time in years. She wasn't a strong woman here anymore… But a lost child whose village preferred to die than to let her suffer anymore.
She was shaking as she glared at the mark on her arm and dug her nails into it so hard that it looked like she might've ripped her own skin off. Tears fell as she stared at it, and her eyes widened as she finally snapped.
She hated that disgusting mark with so much loathing and detestation, and she couldn't stand to look at it anymore. The tears of pure, uncovered feelings were smearing her face and falling fast as she grabbed the knife again, and to some of the crew's horror, she began to stab her arm.
"ARLONG!" Nami shouted with tears tearfully. "ARLONG! ARLONG!" Nami continued the act of impaling her own shoulder with the knife. She was much too angry to even care about the pain as she continued screaming Arlong's name with each stab in her shoulder.
With each stab with the knife, she screamed out the venomous name of the pirate who robbed her of her family and her dreams… the one who had given her so much hopelessness and hatred. She kept going and probably would've gone on until she either bled to death or simply severed her entire arm.
At this point, she no longer cared what happened to her. She couldn't even feel the pain of the knife because her insides were what was hurting her more than anything. Here, she had given up on everything… She couldn't see even the tiniest glimmer of hope… At least until…
Light had come over and grabbed hold of Nami's wrist and stopped her from another stab. She didn't move for a second before she slowly turned to see who it was. Light's face was blank, his eyes hidden by the shadow of his hat… But also letting her know that he wasn't going to let her hurt herself like this anymore.
"Light…" She whispered softly as her hand went limp a second time, and she seemed to lose all strength as she let the blood-soaked knife fall onto the road.
"What do you want?" Nami demanded in a choked-up voice.
"Nothing much." Light answered honestly. "I just didn't want to keep seeing you hurt yourself."
She was shaking as her hands gripped handfuls of dirt as she cried softly. "Why do you care? This has nothing to do with you!" She said louder.
"Tell me something—Deep down, didn't part of you see this coming?" Light asked curiously.
Nami's eyes shot open, and she looked up at him. "What?!"
"All these years, did you really believe Arlong would keep his deal with you?" Light elaborated on his question. "You've known him this whole time and had a front-row seat to his cruelty, not to mention his hatred of humans and your hatred of Pirates. Why would you be so sure that he'd ever an agreement he made with a human, and why would you ever trust the word of a Pirate like him?"
"It's because I've known him for so long?!" Nami snapped at him, staring back at the ground. "I know that the only thing he trusts in this world is money! He's obsessed with it, and he'd die before he'd ever break a deal involving money. That was what I was counting on. His greed was the one thing I thought I could trust!"
"But dealings can always have loopholes." Light pointed out. "Even if he didn't have the Marines try to steal your money, there were other things he could have done. He could have decided to increase the cost of the village or set them free only to conquer them all over again, or just killed them after freeing them. Arlong is soulless and has no sympathy towards humans, so it wouldn't be hard to imagine." He reasoned, not liking it but still saying it.
"Shut up!" Nami yelled at him, unable to hold back her tears. "What are you trying to say?! That I'm stupid?! That I was an idiot for even thinking I could save my village?!"
"I'm saying that you've been going about this the wrong way." Light clarified, remaining calm. "Trying to win while playing his game and under his terms was never going to work. This will never end as long as Arlong is still around."
"Then what am I supposed to do?!" Nami started to tremble again as she cried painfully and quietly. "I can't stop him. No one can. He's a monster." She finally ran out of steam and openly cried out, sobbing and no longer trying to hold herself back as she let out all the feelings she had kept inside for those eight miserable years.
Light didn't react at all as he watched… Just standing there as she finally said the words that he had been waiting to hear her say. At the end of her rope, she whispered.
"Light…" She looked back, tears in her eyes. "Help me…" She finally begged.
For a moment, Light didn't do anything. But then he silently took off his straw hat and placed it on her head, and for a moment, the tears stopped flowing as he turned and walked a few steps away.
Once he was no longer looking at her, his gaze was different. His face may have looked calm, but by no means whatsoever was he calm. He was angrier than he had been in years. There was a fiery, vengefulness burning in his eyes that promised that he would kill Arlong if it were the last thing he ever did.
"Light…" Nami said, her hand to her face as the tears continued to fall again—Only this time, they were tears of happiness when she noticed the other five waiting for orders—All of them ready to fight.
"We're going." Light ordered.
They all looked up.
[Right!] They said, and they left Nami there… Not speaking a word about what they were going to do, but she didn't need it as she sobbed openly, her hand still on the straw hat.
The villagers of Cocoyashi reached the doors of Arlong Park and found two battered young men sitting in front of them. The two happened to be a certain Bounty-Hunting Duo.
"Hey, are you guys alright?" A villager asked.
"Did Arlong do this to you?" Nako wondered, but the two didn't answer.
"Move aside." Genzo ordered. "We have business to take care of with the Fishmen."
"When we finally found out the truth about Big Sis Nami…" Johnny started. "We realized the only thing we can do is defeat Arlong in battle. So we decided to come back here and challenge him."
"Yeah, then we lost." Yosaku stated. "But only by a hair."
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you through this door," Johnny said. "You have no chance of victory."
"What's that…?" Genzo questioned.
"Be patient." Yosaku said. "It won't be long now. You see, we're waiting for the arrival of those guys."
"What? Those guys?" Genzo asked.
"Don't worry." Yosaku assured. "They'll be here soon."
"I bet my life on it." Johnny said with confidence in his voice.
They were on their way. The six were all side by side as they walked along—No one speaking a word as they marched along the road. They were ready to fight for each other merely for the sake of defending a single friend.
The walk to Arlong Park for the six Pirates was long. They walked the dirt path in between the trees that brought them ever closer to the Fishman leader's tower. None of them said anything, as their minds were focused on the fight ahead of them. This fight was for a friend of theirs, and failure wasn't an option. The expressions on their faces showed no sign of fear. If anything, it was Arlong and his crew who should be afraid.
"There!" The Bounty-hunting duo exclaimed with grins on their faces. Genzo and the villagers turned and saw six figures approaching from the path that led to Arlong's domain. Each of them had looks of determination so deadly serious that even the devil himself would find himself running to escape from them.
"It's them…" Nojiko murmured as she recognized each of them. Nojiko knew Nami considered these guys her friends. If they were walking to Arlong Park to challenge the Fishmen, they were doing it for Nami.
"But why would they come to defend our village…?" Genzo wondered.
The villagers seemed stunned that they were here to help, as well as confused.
Looking now, they had reason… A small band of mismatched Pirates coming out of nowhere to help them fight off their oppressors, seemingly without any reason? It would be about time that those Fishman Pirates got their dues for all the suffering they had caused.
"If those guys can't handle Arlong and his gang, then there really is no hope." Yosaku stated. "Not only for this island but for the whole East Blue."
"Those are the faces of the ones who're here to change your destiny!" Johnny said. "Burn their images into your memory!" The crew walked toward the crowd of Cocoyashi villagers.
When they neared them, Light told them all to step aside, and they parted almost at once without a word.
Johnny and Yosaku moved aside respectfully as they got to the door.
"Take them out, Big Bro!" Yosaku cheered on.
"Show them no mercy!" Johnny added, holding up a fist and grinning.
Light didn't even smile as he cracked his knuckles and held up his own fist.
Before they knew it, he pulled his fist back and punched the door enough times to make it seem as if a bomb went off as the front gate was smashed apart and exploded.
When the door was busted down, it caused dust to scatter in the air. The dust cleared, revealing all of the Fishmen inside who stared at the destroyed front gate with shock and confusion, especially Arlong, who was the most surprised while sitting on his chair. Light looked at them all with a glare on his face.
"Now… which one is Arlong?" Light asked threateningly, holding up his fist and glaring at each one of them, daring them to speak.
—…
And that's the chapter.
First off, I didn't plan to make the chapter this long when I started. I just couldn't find a better point to end it on. That said, I'm glad I was able to cover so much and can now focus on the fights of this Arc. I'm really looking forward to writing Light Fighting Arlong. It'll be super satisfying for anyone who really hates Arlong.
Anyways, thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed. If you want more, leave a review. If you like the story, click the follow/favorite, and as always, have an awesome day.