Chapter 5: The Final end

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

Arlong glared at Nezumi. The rat had seriously overstepped not only the boundaries but also their arrangement! "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"Sir! We found it!"

All eyes turned as a group of marines came carrying a dirt-covered chest that was partially open. Greedily, the marine captain removed the lid and laughed with delight at the sight of the gold, stained bloody Beli and other treasures Nami had stolen over the years.

"93,000,000 Beli!" he said as he smiled. "And it's all mine!"

"That's not yours!" Arlong growled. "That belongs to Nami!"

"Why was Nami saving all that up?" Luffy asked.

"That was to buy back our freedom!" Genzo shouted. "Of course you have those marines steal it!"

Arlong looked at the man. "I had nothing to do with this. I offered her a new deal, which allowed her to keep what she had gathered and freed all the villages."

Those of Cocoyashi looked at the Fishman in surprise. Arlong was surprised by their reaction. Hadn't Nojiko told them what he had offered Nami in exchange for her marrying him? It appears that she hadn't. The only question that needed answering was how Nezumi knew how much Nami had and where to find it?!

"How did you know where and how much she had hidden?" Arlong said. "I certainly never knew what or where she had it stashed."

"That's because she led us right to it a year ago," Nezumi giggled.

~~Flashback, One Year ago~~

Nezumi waited for Arlong to arrive; his men stood at the gate as he ordered. Since the marine captain saw no other Fishmen around, this seemed to be a fine thing to do. Soon, Arlong came walking out of his headquarters, followed closely by Nami. The Fishman and marine exchanged calm, pleasant greetings while Nami only gave the marine a simple nod. Nezumi noted that the girl was holding a bag that no doubt contained his payment.

"Nami, be a good girl and hand me the good captain's payment," Arlong said with a slight grin.

She nodded, opening the bag, fishing out a large amount of Beli, and then handing it to Arlong. Arlong grinned as he gave the Beli to Nezumi without counting it, something the Fishman had always done.

"If you don't mind, I will be counting this out," Nezumi said, looking at the amount in his hand.

Arlong laughed. "Of course, but I assure you that Nami is trustworthy."

Nezumi hummed slightly in acknowledgment as he was about to start counting when something caught his attention. Arlong had moved his attention to the girl by his side; more pointedly, he had his hand on her ass. Nami looked unhappy with his actions, yet her cheeks were flushed some as he rubbed her ass.

"Disgusting," muttered Nesumi under his breath. "Dirty little whore."

It didn't shock him. Why else would this fish freak put up with her besides her gifts as his cartographer and her thieving ways? Then, the rat-faced captain paid attention to the bag in Nami's arms, which was now being held closer than before, noting that it was not empty. It seemed to have more money in it! The girl was hiding it from Arlong. But why? What reason did she have? Nezumi needed to find out!

"It's all here," Nezumi announced, drawing Arlong and Nami's attention.

"See? I told you Nami is trustworthy," Arlong said with smug pride about Nami giving him the correct amount.

Nezumi had to keep from rolling his eyes at the statement, but he nodded. "Of course, my apologies."

"Good," Arlong said. "If there is nothing else, you're dismissed, Nezumi."

"No, nothing. I'll be taking my leave. Pleasant doing business with you, Arlong."

Before Arlong could respond, Nami spoke up. "Arlong, if this meeting is over, I have an errand I need to do."

Arlong wasn't happy. "Already? We still had some business of ours to discuss," he said.

Nezumi had a damn good guess what this so-called business was. So unholy and genuinely disgusting! He hid his smile because her leaving was good since he could now follow her and see what she did with money.

~~End of Flashback~~

"She never knew that she had been followed," Nezumi laughed. "If she manages to survive, but I am sure your little—abomination won't."

Arlong visibly shook with rage at this statement. "If Nami loses our baby," he growled. "I promise you, you will not live to see another day!"

~~.~~.~~

Hatchi hurried Nami to the doctor's office with Nojiko right with him. Both were concerned for Nami's and the baby's lives.

Nami was scared, tears flowing as Hatchi rushed into the office of Doctor Nako, scaring the man. "What is going on?!" the older man said.

"Doctor, Nami's been shot, and she claimed she's pregnant!" Nojiko said, rushing in.

Nako directed Hatchi to a table close by. "Here."

Hatchi placed her down, backing up some as the doctor took over. Nami looked at him, eyes full of fear as tears flowed. Nojiko moved past the Fishman to take her sister's hand. There was sudden yelling outside, and Hatchi looked out the window just as Nezumi's marines ran up the street.

"Ohno," the octopus said. "The Marines are here!"

"What?" Nojiko said. What are they doing here?"

"Arlong-san and the others are in danger," Hatchi said. "What are we going to do?!"

"Hatchi, you have to help them," Nami said before she winced. "it hurts so much!"

Nako looked at her. "You were shot. Nami, you said you are pregnant." To which Nami nodded. "Are you positive that you are pregnant?"

"Yes," Nami sobbed. "I haven't had my time of the month for the past three months."

"Three months?" Nojiko said. "Nami, that's when you told me about that deal Arlong offered you. You had sex with Arlong?"

Nojiko realized she should have taken her sister to the doctor. The sudden weight gain and anxiety were all signs that her sister was pregnant, yet she missed it. Dr. Nako continued to work on Nami, who screamed the whole time.

He sighed in relief. "Whoever shot you was a very lousy shot."

"My baby…?" Nami said.

"Unharmed," Nako said.

Nami hugged her belly slightly, relieved that her baby was unharmed. Her thoughts were now on Arlong and the injuries he had. He would keep fighting until he either won or was killed.

She looked at Hatchi once more. "Hatchan, you have to go and help Arlong."

Hatchi looked at her. "Arlong-san would want me to stay and ensure you're okay," he said.

"I'm in good hands," Nami said, her brown eyes pleading. "Please, Arlong will need all the help he can get."

Hatchi looked at her for a long time before he nodded and left.

~~.~~.~~

The fight with the Nezumi and his damn marines was not going in Arlong's favor, even with Straw Hat's aid. The boy had his headaches when more marines arrived, led by a vice admiral who turned out to be Straw Hat's grandfather, and their fight was very intense. Arlong was fighting through pain from his injuries earlier, keeping his mind focused on Nezumi. He knocked one marine after another to reach the treacherous rat, who ran from the battle like the stinking coward he was.

"Get the hell out of my face!" Arlong roared, knocking marines aside who had dared to try and stop him.

Arlong pursued Nezumi to the cliff's edge near Belle-mere's grave marker. The marine turned as Arlong moved slowly toward him like a hungry predator. The Fishman was already thinking of slow and painful ways of torture he was going to do to the rat.

"You dared to shoot her," Arlong growled. "You dared to threaten the life of my heir. Who do you think you are?!"

Arlong was expecting Nezumi to be afraid, but the human wasn't as he faced the Fishman. Something didn't feel right. What was Nezumi planning? The marine captain was smiling cockily as he slowly moved Arlong, following his steps, staying alert.

"I'm about to be the hero of the navy," Nezumi said. "The heroic captain who brought the mighty Arlong and his filthy pirate crew to their knees."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Arlong growled. "No filthy, pathetic human will ever take me down!"

"We'll see," Nezumi had raised his arm before dropping it.

Arlong was confused before the ground around him exploded, raining dirt down. He raised his arms to protect his face. His ears rang from the sound of the explosions, and then the earth gave away under Arlong's feet, and he fell. The saw shark struck the shore below, followed by tons of earth and rock, which buried him. On the cliff above, Nezumi smiled, watching with great satisfaction as the ships under his command fired their cannons, destroying more of the cliff. Soon, the firing stopped, and Nezumi gave a hearty laugh seeing the massive pile of stone and dirt that had buried Arlong.

"So much for that annoyance," he said. "Now all that money is mine and Arlong's bounty."

Nezumi turned and returned to the battle, unaware that Hatchi had seen what had happened.

~~.~~.~~

"ARLONG-SAN!" Hatchi shouted as the sounds of the explosions drowned out his voice.

The octopus Fishman watched in horror as Arlong fell, striking the ground only to be buried uneath tons of earth and stone. Finally, the attack from the naval ships ceased, and Hatchi waited, hoping, praying that Arlong would emerge. Seconds then moments passed, and there was no movement. Hatchi watched the ships of the navy start to move, heading towards the docks of Cocoyashi village before he rushed to Arlong's aid.

"Arlong-san!" he sobbed, digging at the mound of earth and rock. "Arlong-san!"

Hatchi soon saw Arlong's tattooed forearm emerging from the sliding earth, and he became more frantic as he dug more. Finally, Arlong's body slid free and lay at Hatchi's feet.

"Arlong-san!" Hatchi said, checking for any signs of life.

Arlong showed no signs of life, and tears spilled down Hatchi's face. His captain couldn't be dead! Not Arlong! What would he tell Nami?! She was relying on him to protect Arlong!

"Check over here! Captain Nezumi said that's where this Fishman freak should be!"

Hearing the shouts, Hatchi quickly lifted Arlong over his shoulder and headed for the water, not knowing of the blood trail from Arlong.

~~.~~.~~

Nezumi, with his marines, and Bogard, Vice Admiral Garp's trusted right-hand man, hurried to the spot where he was buried but only to find nothing.

"Where is he?!" Nezumi shouted.

Bogard was looking and spotted the blood trail. "It appears he wasn't as dead as you thought," he said. "See the blood trail?"

"Damn that wretched bastard!" the rat face marine said. "We need to go after him!"

Bogard knelt, studying the amount of blood, and knew Arlong was undoubtedly severely hurt. "Going by the amount of blood here, he won't get far or last long."

"Won't we need his carcass, so I came to claim his bounty?" Nezumi said.

Bogard stood up, his eyes narrowing at the marine captain. "I would be more concerned about yourself."

Nezumi looked at him, startled. "What do you mean?"

"Admiral Garp has questions, and you have been accused of criminal dealings." The morane officer said.

"Th-that's outrageous!" Nezumi said, clearly rattled. "Who dares to say that?! That thief who worked for Arlong, or was it that Straw Hat and his criminal gang?!"

"Try the people of Cocoyashi Village," Bogard said. "They told the admiral an interesting story of you accepting bribes from Arlong to keep his operations under wraps."

Nezumi was startled. "THAT'S A LIE!" he screamed.

"Is it?" Bogard said before gesturing to the marines close to them. "Arrest this man and take him to the ship."

Nezumi was dragged off kicking, screaming, and eventually bawling.

~~.~~.~~

Arlong's crew, minus Hatchi and Arlong himself, were arrested, loaded onto a ship, and taken to prison. Hatchi had seen it happen, as well as the departure of Straw Hat with his crew, which now included a pregnant Nami. The Fishman felt terrible not telling Nami, but what could he tell her? Arlong wasn't in good shape, and deep down, the octopus feared his captain would die.

Hatchi had found a cave near the sea, and he and Arlong stayed there. Not medically trained, he did his best to tend to Arlong's injuries and make him as comfortable as possible.

The sun was setting, and Arlong slowly came to. "Where—am I?" the saw shark muttered.

"Arlong-san!"

Arlong shifted his attention to Hatchi, who had returned from his fishing and gathering trip. "Hatchi, where am I? Where's Nami? Is she safe? What of my child?"

Hatchi swallowed before slowly telling Arlong everything that had happened. When Arlong inquired how much time had passed, he wasn't happy with Hatchi's answer.

"Four months?!" Arlong yelled. "I've been unconscious for four damn months?!"

"You were severely hurt," Hatchi said.

Arlong slowly got to his feet and started forward.

"Where are you going?" Hatchi asked, alarmed.

"I'm going to find Nami," Arlong said.

"But Arlong-san, you don't know where she is!"

Arlong looked at him before he shifted his attention to the waters of the East Blue. "It doesn't matter where she is; I will find her," he said. "Even if it kills me, I will find my wife."

~~.~~.~~

Nami was resting, tired not only from the pregnancy but also from giving birth, propped up with pillows as she held in her arms her twins, a boy, and a girl. Her friends had gathered to look at what Luffy was calling the newest members of the Straw Hat crew.

"So that's what hybrid baby looks like," Usopp said.

Despite Arlong being their father, the twins inherited their mother's human appearance, which didn't upset Nami.

"It will be easier to pass them off as humans if we enter a town." Robin, the latest member, said. "It will be interesting to see if they inherit the legendary strength of the Fishmen race."

"You did a good job delivering Nami's babies, Chopper," Luffy said.

Chopper, the reindeer doctor, clapped his hooves and did his silly little dance. Everyone's happiness was interrupted by something landing heavily on the deck of the Go Merry, causing Usopp and Chopper to yell in fear as Nami held the twins closer to her.

"Usopp, Chopper, Sanji, protect Nami and the babies," Luffy said. "Zoro, Robin, come with me."

Nami held her breath as Luffy, Zoro, and Robin stepped onto the deck.

"Hey, I know you! You're Nami's fish friend!"

"Nami? Is she here?"

Nami blinked when she heard the voice. It couldn't be, could it?! "Arlong!" she called out.

Stumbling through the doorway, having to duck was Arlong. He looked so tired, but seeing her gave a sudden renewed strength as he went to her, falling to his knees.

"I found you," he said. "I knew I would one day find you." Then he noticed the bundles in her arms and looked at her. "We have twins….?"

Nami nodded. "You're a proud daddy to a son and a daughter," she said. "Do you want to hold them?"

Arlong could barely contain his tired body's joy as he carefully accepted the precious treasures into his arms, holding them close to him. He didn't care if they had a slight human appearance; they were his children! His and Nami's! Blue eyes welled with tears as he looked at his offspring, which in his mind were so perfect.

"Have you named them?" Arlong asked.

"Is Aaron and Umiko okay with you?"

Arlong felt his heart swelling at the names. Aaron was a different version of his name, while Umiko meant daughter of the sea. "They're perfect," he said proudly.

"You're bleeding!" Chopper said, seeing the blood that was starting to drip onto the floor.

Nami remembered the injuries he had gotten back in Cocoyashi Village. "Arlong, you need to have Chopper look at you," she said, taking Aaron and Umiko back.

"I'll be all ri- " Arlong started to say before he passed out.

~~.~~.~~

Arlong didn't know how he had been out, but when he awoke, he found himself in a bed, his right arm bandaged from the elbow down and lying across his middle. He felt like hell from the pain that still wracked his body, and it became worse as he attempted to sit up,

"Ah! Don't move, or you'll reopen your wounds!"

Arlong glanced as the little reindeer rushed in, followed by Nami and Straw Hat. "My throat is parched," he said, looking away.

"Here," Nami said, pouring water into a glass before holding it to his lips.

After everything that had happened between them, Arlong was surprised that she was willing to look after him as he drank. "More," he said.

Nami refilled the glass, and Arlong drank. He drank five more times before he laid back, eyes focused on Straw Hat. "I survived the fight with you without a scratch," Arlong said with a rough laugh. "But with the cursed marines and those of Cocoyashi Village—I did not. I was once a mighty and feared pirate, but I am no longer. I have become nothing but a joke."

"What was your dream?"

Arlong blinked. "What?"

"Your dream," Straw Hat said. "You had one, right? What was it?"

"My dream was to have an empire where we would rule all of the seas and you, humans, as our slaves," Arlong thought before he spoke. "Why would my dream concern you? I cannot happen now."

"Then find a new dream to pursue."

"Luffy, this isn't the time or the place to be talking about other people's dreams," Nami said.

"Nami, when we arrived at your village, you asked me to help him because he was important to you," Luffy said.

Arlong looked at Nami. "I'm important to you?"

Nami looked at Luffy, "Could you give us some privacy?"

"Of course," Luffy said with a nod.

"When I learned that I was pregnant, I was so scared," Nami said the moment they were alone. "I kept quiet about it, but as the wedding came closer and the weight gain started, I couldn't face the truth, let alone tell you."

So, you ran away?" Arlong said, to which Nami nodded. "Why would you have done that? Why didn't you come to me, talk to me?"

"How would you have handled it?" Nami said. "This wedding was only happening because of the deal you offered me, and with a baby—"

"It wouldn't have mattered," Arlong said. "We could have talked, but instead, you ran off. Do you know how that upset me?"

"So would have me telling you that was I pregnant! I was carrying what you might have considered a disgrace to you!"

Her words surprised and stung him some. "I wouldn't have thought that," he said. "I would have been shocked, but I wouldn't have ever thought of our baby like that."

"You say that now."

"You had a family while I did not," Arlong said, looking away. "You had someone who wanted you, loved you, didn't think you were nothing."

Nami looked at him but said nothing.

"My father—the bastard that he is," Arlong said. "He took me to a place called the Fishman District, an orphanage, mind you, and dumped me like I was nothing but mere trash. He turned his back on me, his son, and left me crying and begging for him not to go. I can still see him walking away like the cold-hearted sonofbitch he was."

"What about your mother?" Nami asked.

"I barely remember her anymore," Arlong said. "But she worked herself almost to death as a waitress, struggling to ensure we had food. She never hesitated to put my needs ahead of hers. One night, she went to her job—I never saw her again." He looked at Nami. "I vowed if I ever had a family of my own, children—I wouldn't make them go through what I did. I would be there, ensuring they would never starve and have every comfort needed."

To hear Arlong talk about his past and the broken family he came from was heart-wrenching for Nami. "Was that the dream you had?"

Arlong chuckled. "It was when I was younger, foolish, and then humans came to our island, destroying, pillaging whatever they wanted and even taking some of us to be sold off as enslaved people. We were animals in their eyes, and we still are."

"That dream can still happen," Nami said. "You have children that will need you."

"Yes," Arlong said quietly before focusing on her. "They will, but what of you? We were to marry only because of the deal I offered, but everything has changed now. Does it even matter because it's all gone?"

Nami was quiet as she thought about everything that had happened. Yes, the deal was now null and void, but she gave birth to his—no, their children. She could easily walk away and deny him everything, but was that fair? Arlong's life had been nothing, making him become what he was: angry, hateful, wanting to crush every human that crossed his path. Yet, she saw something that was no doubt rare even to him: a side that was gentle, loving, and protective. He showed that to her gotten severely injured trying to make things right because she asked him. He had nearly died because of it.

"Can I ask what became of Hatchi?" she said.

"We parted ways once we reached the Grand Line," Arlong said. "He wanted to go on an adventure by himself. I have no idea where he may be, but it will probably be better than anything I would ever do."

Nami rested a hand on his. "I think you mean what we will do."

Before he could question what she meant, Nami kissed him.

~~Ten Years Later~~

The massive ship equipped for salvage and recovery operations dropped its anchors within a sheltered cove.

"Aaron, make sure you have everything tightened down," Arlong said as he moved to join his son.

"Dad, I've done it at least a hundred times, and I haven't ever messed it up," Aaron said, pausing to secure the equipment.

"Yes, but all it takes is one mistake, which could set us back months," Arlong said. "And this storm is supposed to be nastier than the ones we've faced before, according to your mother. Her advice I would take to heart."

Arlong had healed but wasn't one hundred percent and far from what he once was. He suffered a permitted limp in his right leg as well as a lack of feeling at times in his right hand, but that didn't stop Arlong.

"Dad, how does mom know a storm is coming?" his son asked as Arlong checked his boy's work. "The sky is clear, and the waters are calm."

Satisfied with what he saw, Arlong ruffled Aaron's brown hair. "How does a fish know where to go when it's time to spawn? Or when the birds need to go to a warmer climate?"

"They just know," Aaron said.

Arlong chuckled. "They know because nature tells them it's the same as your mother. She's gifted with Nature's ability to understand the seas and the weather, which is why we've succeeded. Now come, dinner will be ready, and I, for one, am starving."

~~.~~.~~

Roasted marinated beef filled the kitchen as Arlong and Aaron entered, almost making the saw shark drool. Nami knew his favorite, and smelling it made him hungrier than ever. Umiko, as pretty as her mother, with her black hair and green eyes behind her glasses, had finished setting the table.

"There's my other treasure," Arlong said, petting her head affectionately.

"Arlong, you and Aaron clean up before sitting down," Nami said as she finished plating dinner. "And make sure you save room for tonight's desert."

"When I have not done that?" Arlong asked before taking his seat.

"When you started to get this," Nami said, patting the slight belly Arlong had gotten over the years. "I may have to put you on a diet if you get any fatter."

"The result of all the good cooking I've had over the years," Arlong said before he spied the stack of paper nearby. "More orders already."

"I hope that's not you complaining over our successful business," Nami said before placing a two-layer cake covered in frosting on the serving cart and the plates for later.

Arlong peered at the cakes and the writing on the top, as did the twins. "Happy Anniversary," it read.

"It's today?" Arlong said as Nami nodded. "How did I forget our wedding anniversary?"

"We've been busy, and I'll forgive you if you promise to make it up to me later," Nami said, kissing his cheek.

"Dad, will you tell us about the wedding?" Aaron asked.

"When you're both older," Nami said. "Now sit before dinner gets cold and your father becomes a grumpy old shark."

As the storm raged outside, Arlong Park Salvage's family ate Arlong and Nami, sitting by each other and holding hands at the table.

There you all go, the ending of the story. I hope you all enjoyed reading this. If anyone has a question or even I dare say a suggestion for follow, please PM me. Remember to Read and Review.