"Let's try this, one more time."
Stalking toward the disarmed fishman, Ashe is embraced by the shadows of the trees. The leader of the trio whimpered in a cold sweat, kicked and flailed upon the tall grass and dirt, struggling to crawl with a missing appendage. "W-Wait! Do you know who w-we are?! Attack us and we'll destroy your vil—" A heeled boot pressed against his chest, cutting him off. Struggling to breathe, yellow, predatory eyes pierced him from above.
His world slowed, as if everything was crawling, yet his body refused to budge. A bloodied dagger, approaching his chest, that neutral and calm expression, causing his heart to race and meltdown inside his breast. Only for a silent breath to whimper out, the beating muscle being pierced through with ease and no struggle.
Those yellow eyes would haunt him in the after, yet it did not end. She lowered down, nestled next to his ear as she produced warmth that conflicted with his frigid and cold body. The words she whispered into his ear and his alone, horrified the fishman.
Once more standing, Ashe kicks her bloodied dagger free from the pierced cage.
Clutching at the wound, he struggled to turn, blood trickling down his chin. The two remaining fishmen could only watch in a frozen horror. Lips, trembling, quietly coughing, struggling to wheeze out his final words. He didn't need to speak.
His eyes spoke for him.
Run.
With a dull flop, their group leader fell upon the cold dirt.
"Brother…" The small of the two felt his chest pounding, nearly deafening him as his comrade beside him roared in anger.
"What did you do to him?! I'll kill you!" Bulging his muscles as they tensed in rage, the bigger of the two leapt forward, eyes white in blinded fury. It all happened so fast, the three of them enjoying the good life. Partying, drinking, and eating all they wanted at the expense of others.
Just for one of their brethren to lose their life before them in less than a minute.
The smaller of the two cried out in shock, scrabbling as his steps slid and tripped upon the grassy dirt. His pupils dilated before widening, pouring sweat down his hardened skin and scales. When faced with a greater foe, the body instinctively chooses one out of two options.
Fight or flight.
Finding himself at the edge of the tree line, a blood curling scream drowns into the branches in a gurgle. Whimpering escaped his lips, a branch tearing his tropical shirt in a snag, stumbling the bulky fishman into foliage.
Flight was the correct choice.
Catching himself upon a trunk, his claws bore into the timber frantically. Dread nestled upon the back of his nape, a sense of being watched. "Who are you? What do you want?! Do you know who you're messing with? I am of the Arlong Pirates!"
Silence.
Wrapping his thick arms around the base of the tree, the fishman bellows in desperation, ripping it out from the ground. Swinging it around in a frenzy, crushing plants, bushes, and demolishing smaller trees. "Are you one of those intruders? I'll kill you! I swear it!"
Serenity.
The dread only grew by the second. A prick on his shoulder startled the fishman into fright, hurling the weaponized tree in the near vicinity with a boom. Heart racing in overdrive, his pupils speed in trepidation, unable to focus on a singular object. "Are you with the Marines?!"
A quiet gust of wind in the rustle of leaves.
"We had a deal! You—"
Clear blue skies and white clouds filled his vision. He barely felt the leg hooking and sweeping under him, an arm pulling his, but the cold steel against his neck burned. Bashing into the ground, a shadowy figure clogs his vision, amethyst colored hair and yellow, dead eyes scowling at him.
"Tell me more about this deal with the Marines."
"I ain't telling you—Argh!" Snap. His wrist lit aflame in pain at being broken.
Ashe's brows furrowed into a snarl, "Last warning. Next is your jugular." The sharp edge of her blade teasingly sliced into the scaly skin. Showing him the gravity of his situation. Her knee pressed into his shoulder in a pin. The fishman could easily overpower her with his strength if he tried.
The power of fear.
"I-I'll t-talk. I'll talk!" The fishman tried to disappear into the earth, with no success. "Please, don't kill me."
She released the pressure upon his throat for ease of speaking, "Tell me about this deal with the Marines. I'll let you walk away. Do we have a bargain?"
He readily agreed, "Y-Yes! I'll tell you everything, whatever you want. Please."
Humming to herself, Ashe silently stands, twirling her dagger expertly between the fingers. "Sit up and speak."
Obeying, the fishman slowly sits up, rubbing at his throat as a small amount of blood smears from the threatening cut. A visible shiver at the sight of those lifeless eyes. "We…Arlong, made a deal with some Marines, years ago. I-I don't know the details, but they turn a blind eye for Beri."
Pupils sharpening, Ashe squats before him, staring. "Who?"
The fishmen gulps and leans away, "I-I don't know his name. Just that…we call him Rat, because he looks like one." A sudden dash of hope with a fragile smile. "Oh! He was to meet Arlong today. He might still be around. That's all I know."
Thinning her lips, Ashe stands with her knuckles against the chin in thought. "I see." She could attempt to force more information out of him, but he seems like a low lackey. That might truly be all he knows, and the effort would not be worth it.
"C-Can I go now?"
Peering at the shivering voice, Ashe finds no further use for the fishman. With a backhanded dismissal, she watches him scurry along before disappearing down the hill. The heat of the sun filtered through the lush trees as she thought.
She begins to speculate what's been happening on this island so far. Barely containing any information, everything would just be an assumption, but it is not a very difficult situation to ascertain. 'I need more information.' And there's only one place to get it.
Shuffling her backpack comfortably into position, she glances up to the sky, noticing vultures beginning to circle above. Without batting an eye, Ashe descends the hill back to the village. A calm and slow walk without a care in the world.
When she made it back, Ashe was expecting there to be more activity. Instead, she found the village nearly deserted. It was a bit eerie, even the dust and debris from the thrown house had settled. Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar young voice.
"Oi, Big Sis!" The young boy from earlier rushed up to her, hope and enthusiasm swelled in his chest with a smile. "The Marines are here! I told everyone they would come to save us. Come look and see for yourself!" Ashe pondered for a moment, realizing she had never learned his name. A woman's voice broke her thoughts.
"Chabo? What are you going on about now?" Ashe turned to find a beautiful, dark-skinned woman approaching them. She wore sandals, blue capris, a yellow tinted tank top, and light blue hair that was short with a red ribbon. The woman noticed Ashe on approach with a perked brow, "Oh? We're getting lots of visitors today. Who are you?"
The now named Chabo grinned in eagerness, "Nojiko, this is the big sis I told you about earlier. She helped my mom when she got hurt."
Ashe's gaze flickered toward the blue tattoos decorating the woman's shoulder and collar bone. "Ashe, pleased to meet you. I'm just a traveling alchemist."
The woman crossed her arms, sizing the alchemist up in curiosity. "Well, at least you have some manners. I'm Nojiko, did you arrive here with the other lot?"
"No, I arrived here by myself. What other lot?"
Before Nojiko could respond, Chabo grabbed them both by the hands and dragged them along the village road. A plateau overlooking the harbor and beach in the distance. "Talk later! The Marines are coming! I told you they'd come to rescue us! Some Gosa survivors must have called for help."
Rescue them? That certainly reinforces what is going on this island, but more information would get a better picture. Easily keeping pace with Chabo, Ashe turns to Nojiko with a questionable expression.
A smile that betrayed its meaning with a shrug, "I'll explain when we get there. If its true and the Marines are here…I already know how it is going to end."
Silently staring, Ashe turns to look ahead. Making no comment with an inkling about what will happen. A few moments later, a crowd begins to form in the distance, it seems the village came out to inquire about the situation themselves. The salty breeze tickles through the hair as they reach their destination.
"See! I told you! The Marines are here. They are going to rescue us!" Spoke Chabo, a big smile, full of hope. He went ahead of them, nearing the edge of the cliff to get a better view.
Ashe strolled next to her new acquaintance, finding her with arms crossed and a neutral expression before questioning her. "I take it…this isn't the first vessel?" Out in the distance, a single Marine vessel sailed the ocean in their direction. The flag of the World Government, proudly on display in the wind.
"No…There has been a few attempts before, but it always ends the same." Nojiko's eyes shifted around the crowded villagers with a neutral expression. "Look for yourself. What do you see?"
Relaxing a hand upon a dagger's hilt, Ashe peers over the crowd with a more analytic gaze. It took a moment before realization struck. Their neutral expressions, sunken and downcast eyes, and slouched shoulders. Slowly blinking, Ashe looks back at the Marine vessel as a cannon explodes, opening fire along the coast before turning to Nojiko.
No words were needed, the dark-skinned woman merely nodded at the silence with a deep exhale. Ashe crossed her arms over her bust. "Mind telling me what's been going on with this island?"
"I'm sure you've figured it out by now." Shrugged the woman. "We are under the thumb of the Arlong Pirates, we pay tribute to live, or we die. What else is there to tell?" The Marine ship begins to drift off-course, as if its lost control.
Ashe peered at the adrift boat. Even by her lack of navigation skills for reading currents, she could tell they were getting violent. "That was my theory, I just needed it confirmed. How long has this been going on?"
"Around eight years." A whirlpool forms within the ocean, pulling the helpless ship into its vacuum.
Ashe's fingers buried into her biceps, "No way this could have escaped the World Government or Marines for this long. Such incompetence." Swirling within the violent currents, the Marine ship begins to be torn apart, ripped into pieces.
Chabo dropped to his knees at the sight, despair etched upon his face. "This can't be happening…"
Nojiko shrugged her shoulders, "They don't care about us. This is reality." With a sigh, she turns and makes her way back to the town. "There's no way we can escape from Arlong's control."
Watching the woman disappear down the trail, Ashe once more gazes over the dispersing crowd. Their hope is gone, downtrodden people. They left with their heads low, backs hunched, and without a whisper but the dragging of their feet. The soft sounds of sobbing caught her attention.
Ashe finds Chabo, struggling to keep the tears at bay with a sniveling voice, "Why is this happening to us? Why won't anyone help us?"
She stands behind him in silence, his small body shivering in despair with a knot in her belly. Nearly eight years in these conditions. That's unheard of for the Blue Oceans. Most pirate groups are small fry, and the bigger ones eventually plunge into the Grand Line. The Marines have a firmer grip of the Blue Oceans for this reason. Just the fact that they've done nothing for these people is a disgrace.
There truly is no justice here.
Slowly reaching out with her shivering hand toward Chabo, it flinches before retreating. "Perhaps…we should go back to town…Will you show me the way?" Did she need him to guide her? No, it was a straight shot down the path.
Rubbing at his eyes, the boy regains his bearings before nodding. "…Sure…Follow me." Retracing their once joyful steps, it was now filled with despair and heavy footsteps. An awkward silence between the two settled in, a contrast to the beautiful and bright day. What was a short distance, now felt like a long stretch.
"We're here…See ya." Not even waiting for a response, he drags his feet back to his home. Ashe is now free to go about her day and search for a passage off this island.
Watching him go, a small pang wretched at her chest at the tiny back. A breeze causing her locks of hair to tickle along the ears and cheek while Ashe bites onto her lower lip. An absentminded hand slowly rising, caressing the clear gem resting around her neck. It drops with a light tap against her chest; mind made up.
She quietly strode behind Chabo, following him to his house.
The front door creaked open, "Mom, I'm home."
A middle-aged woman was sitting up in bed, long black hair held together with a hair band over the shoulder. The familiar bandage upon her temple with an obvious bruise and swollen. "There you are, Chabo. I was worried when you weren't here." Her voice was warm with the accent of a farmhand. "Who's your friend?"
Chabo straightened up and tilted his head in confusion before looking around. "Friend? What are you—Ah!"
Ashe placed a slender hand upon his shoulder, forcing Chabo from jumping in fright. "Pardon the intrusion, my name is Ashe."
The boy perked up with a smile while stepping closer to his mother with a hand outstretched toward Ashe, "This is Big Sis! She's the one that helped when you got hurt." Chabo's face scrunches into thought for a moment, "Why did you follow me?"
"I had some time and thought I could check in on your mother if the bandages need to be changed." She shrugged, "Don't mind, do you?"
The mother spoke up, her body swaying ever so slightly. "Not at all, call me Chai." The woman raised a hand to rub the bridge of her nose as the bright sunlight floods through the window.
Striding passed Chabo, Ashe sets her backpack down upon the small dining table before reaching the window. Promptly closing the curtains. "I noticed you are swaying, and does the light hurt?"
Chai nodded in relief at the shade, "Yes, I'm sorry. Its just a bit of a headache."
Approaching the bedridden woman, Ashe inspects the patch, finding it darken with dried blood. "Have you seen a doctor yet?"
"Nako? No, he's the only doctor in this village, and he's old. I am sure he's rather busy lately."
Ashe hummed quietly, asking Chabo if they had any fresh patches or bandages for her to use. He fetches them for her eagerly, earning a word of gratitude. Scooting a chair for her to sit alongside the bed. "I see, you have no need to be sorry either. I'm not a doctor, but I know symptoms of a concussion when I see them." Cleaning and applying a new patch and bandage were a quick job for her. "Thankfully, it does not appear to be that bad. I'd still ask a real doctor though."
Chai gives a slight nod of acknowledgement, "Of course, I'll be sure to pay Nako a visit later for a check-up." The questioning glance from Ashe caused the mother to shake her head with a bitter smile. "Nako is our only doctor on this island and he's old. He must be overwhelmed right now with what happened if there are other victims."
"…I see." The two were suddenly interrupted by the sound of a rumbling stomach. Ashe and Chai turn toward Chabo, who was blushing and holding his stomach.
"Sorry…I'm hungry."
With a perked brow, Ashe hums and turns toward the small kitchen area. "Shall I make something then?" Before she could stand, a warm hand holds her wrist in place.
"I'll take care of it." Ashe opened her mouth to protest, but a whispering voice canceled it out. "Don't, this is all I have left." The hand tightened around her wrist, strong, yet fragile. Chai released the hold before rising from the bed, a smile to combat the slight sway of her steps.
Even Chabo made to question her health, "Oh hush, I am stronger than I look." Her hand reached out to affectionately ruffle his beanie on his head. "What kind of mother would I be if I let my boy go hungry?"
"Mom! Not in front of Big Sis!" Chai laughed at her son, enjoying the embarrassment she gave him.
The knot returned to Ashe's throat, causing her to quickly stand and sling her backpack over the shoulder. "Seems you'll be fine then. I'll be on my way."
Quickly striding to the door, Chabo calls out to her, "Big Sis, won't you stay for lunch—"
"No, thank you for the offer." Ashe's purple hair shadowed over her eyes.
"At the very least, take this with you, as thanks." Door half open, she hears Chabo's footsteps quickly at work. From the corner of her eye, she finds the boy smiling up at her with a small bag of tangerines. "It's not much…but I hope you will accept it."
"They taste great!" Beamed Chabo.
With a deep inhale and breath, Ashe quells the storm within her chest for the moment, for a light smile. "I accept, thank you. Enjoy your lunch." Briskly disappearing out the door, the faint sounds of their farewells tickled the ear.
For a moment, her body and mind wandered aimlessly through the village. She earned a few curious glances, but nothing more. Standing amongst the road, she peers inside the gifted bag, bringing a bright tangerine into the sun. With a sigh, she moves to put it back into the bag before a voice calls out to her.
"Oi! Is that a tangerine? It looks good, I want one!"
The booming voice came from down the road as she turned. Loud steps of sandals against the dirt road followed by a goofy grin at the sight of an all too familiar straw hat. "Luffy?"
Not someone she expected to see again.
Though, he seemed more interested in the goods she was holding in the bag. "Are you going to eat those yourself? I could totally use a snack right now."
Ashe pondered for a moment, there was too much for herself to eat right away. While tangerines are good, they aren't her favorite. Besides, she could use a moment to rest and collect her thoughts and come up with a plan for herself. This is also a good opportunity as well.
She didn't converse much with Luffy back on the Baratie. "Sure, lets find a place to sit."
Luffy's face lit up in a grin, "Alright! Let's go!" With no hesitation, the straw hat grabbed onto her slender wrist and dragged her down the road. Ashe made a protest, but they fell on deaf ears. Only the joyous chat of "Food, food, food!" ringing out boisterously.
Ashe couldn't resist the small smile at the absurdity of it and allowed herself to be pulled along to a large palm tree with plenty of shade. Luffy plopped down first with a grin and tapped the spot next to him. "Hurry, hurry, I'm starvin'!"
With a sigh, she antagonizes the red vested pirate by going slower, causing him to fidget even more. Before she could fully sit, a hand was already buried into the bag of tangerines and plucking one for himself.
He swallowed the tangerine whole.
The disbelief upon her face went wholly ignored by Luffy before she commented, "You know…you're supposed to peel them."
"Really? Why?"
Perhaps this was a mistake.
Resigning herself to fate, Ashe pulls out a tangerine and properly peels it for Luffy before handing it to him. "Like this, and then pick the pieces one at a time. It is tastier and juicier." She watched him under scrutiny, making sure he followed instructions. Pleased for the moment, Ashe plucks her own tangerine to peel.
"Ashe, right?" She grunted, at least he remembered. "What are you doing here? Looking for some food as well?"
How should she respond to this? Considering Nami was their companion, he should have an idea of how she got here. Popping a slice of tangerine into her mouth, she stares at Luffy. Only to find him stuffing his face with multiple slices before grabbing another. Head tilted and more focused on the food than her actual response.
Perhaps she's over thinking it. "My boat wrecked and now I need a ride off this island. So, I've just been asking around." Which, now that she thinks about it, Ashe hasn't asked anyone.
She's terrible at this.
"Oh, just board my ship and we'll give you a lift."
Eh?
The tangerine slipped from her fingers with a thump against the grass. Did she hear him correctly? "Are you gonna eat that?" A hand stretched across her and plucked the tangerine from the ground before being gobbled up in one bite. "It's not good to waste food."
Her brow perked in question, "Should you be offering strangers a ride on your vessel that easily?"
For a moment, a strange breeze bellowed between them. Ashe found Luffy staring at her, a face of complete neutrality, as if he was just…seeing through her. A smile broke free upon his lips after a pause. "Mah, you're a friend of Sanji and Usopp, so you're a friend to me!"
Ashe's lips thinned in a line, "…You don't know what kind of person I am—"
A smack on her back repeated as Luffy laughed boisterously and freely, "Shishishi, you shared your food, that's good enough for me!"
She wouldn't admit it, but the pain on her back from Luffy kept her grounded. Even if he could not realize his own strength from smacking her back. "Very well, thank you. Let me know if there's anything I could do for you in return."
"Got it!"
"So, why are you here?"
Luffy smirked while leaning forward with his hands upon his knees, "I'm here to pick up my Navigator! I'm not going to the Grand Line without her."
Ashe hummed in thought, "Nami?" He nodded with a grin, he stated he'd except no one else but her as his navigator. "That might take some work. There's something going on this island, and she seems to be at the center of it."
Grumbling, Luffy leaned against the palm tree in a pout. "I know, and everyone keeps bad mouthing her. I don't like it. I don't care about her past. I want her to join my crew and that's all that matters."
Turning away, she looked down at her empty hands, a chill causing a shiver and whisper. "If only everyone could be so lucky to have their past ignored."
"Hm, you say something?"
"No…Did you eat all of my tangerines?"
"Ah…Sorry…" Luffy chuckled nervously while rubbing the back of his head. "I was thinking of a new move I came up with after I saw that cool guy with those Marines earlier."
That caught her attention, "What cool guy and Marines?"
Luffy crossed his arms before pointing at his straw hat. "You know, the cool guy with the spinny thing on his head."
Genzo.
Ashe nodded, "I met him once, and the Marines?"
Shrugging, he grabbed the empty bag and shook it before frowning at the lack of food. "Dunno, I didn't get a good look at them." Tilting his head, he laughs while slapping at his knee, preparing for a joke. "Ah, but one looked like a rat!"
Elsewhere at an earlier time.
A fishman ran across the roads in a frenzied panic. Sweat pouring from his body in loud pants, constantly looking over his shoulder. Any sound of rustling leaves or branches causing the poor man to cower and whimper in cowardice.
So preoccupied with his fear, the fishman didn't even notice Nami clutching at her bloodied hand as he raced through the gates of Arlong Park. "Big Bro! Big Bro Arlong! We have a problem!"
Under the stone canopy of Arlong Park was a large fishman in a reclining beach chair. Arlong had the features of a sawshark with his long black hair and blue skin. He wore a yellow and black cabana shirt that was unbuttoned and short sleeved, green shorts, a purple sash around his waist, and simple sandals.
"Ah, brother. There you are, I was worried you and the others got lost or had a party without inviting me." Arlong's voice was rough, calm, and prideful.
Slowly to a standstill before him, the henchman struggles to catch his breath in a hunch. "W-We have a p-problem, b-boss."
Arlong raised his hand, indicating for him to hold and be at peace. Slowly taking a drink from his exotic fruit drink, he motions for another to step forward to deal with this. He has had enough to deal with and could use a moment to relax.
A large and muscular fishman steps up with a long braid and a dark blue gi outfit with a black belt and two straight ponytails atop his head. "Relax, brother. Tell us what is wrong." It was then he looked around and noticed he was alone. "As I recall, three of you followed after the long-nose. Where are the other two?"
"They are dead."
A loud crash and boom shook the foundation in destruction. All eyes turned to Arlong who had a fist smashed into the ground with a murderous snarl upon his sharp teeth. The beach chair he reclined in was destroyed and broken. "Brother…if this is your idea of a joke."
The fishman swallowed and bowed his head in shame, "I wish I was joking…but its true."
"Who did it?" Demanded Arlong.
"I don't know. It was a human woman with purple hair, a backpack and a purple vest. She's the one that killed them, and she nearly killed me when I mentioned the Marines."
Arlong reaches down to his destroyed beach chair and roars in anger, flinging it against the wall to shatter it into pieces. "Kuroobi." The now named Kuroobi in the dark blue gi steps up in practiced discipline. "Has Eelz returned from his mission?"
"Yes, he's currently feasting inside after returning not too long ago."
The predatory smirk upon Arlong's face betrayed his murderous glee. "Tell him to shadow our…Friendly Marines I tipped off earlier. I have a new hunt for him."