Hatchan quite like the Cocoyashi village.
It was a nice place. With easy and nice weather and no need to fear of Celestial Dragon coming after them. East Blue's reputation makes those demons turned their gaze away from "boring sea".
The people here are nice. He means, sure. They are not exactly accepting, like what Boss Ti-Jinbe and Queen Otohime hoped for (may the sea embrace her soul gently), and yes, Hachi is not blind or dumb enough to not notice that their welcome is anything but warm. But compares to many places Hachi has been to (especially that hell on earth), Cocoyashi Village is the best.
There are jeers and insult, especially when Humans thinks the fishmen doesn't notice. But nobody outright saying hateful things to their face. And compares to things he had heard, the things people in Cocoyashi village said is, as brother Chew call it, "cute".
Still hurt, though.
But Hatchan understands. Fishmen are different from human. Humans doesn't take one look at them and accept their existence just as easily. Especially people from the East Blue who heard word "Devil Fruit" and would reply with "it's just a myth".
Maybe it's also because they're pirates, and Pirate Territory Protection is a thing in Grand Line but not in the Blues. The people in Four Blues never heard about Pirate Territory, or how a Pirate crew claim an island as theirs and swore to protect it from other pirates and other scum of the seas, namely Slave Trader, in exchange of few tributes.
Still, Hatchan wish the villagers didn't take it out at the girl who joined them. Little Nami didn't deserve their hatred just because she bore Arlong's tattoo on her shoulder. He had seen her crying on late nights where she worked on a map (which Arlong forced her to) enough times to connect the dots.
Humans are really cruel, even to her own kind.
Since as a Fishman, there's very little Hatchan could do to help her situation, he can only leave blankets and warm drink. Boss Ti always did this to Koala when she was having bad times. So it surely works.
That's why he didn't understand…
"YOU BITCH!"
…why this happened.
Nami easily evade brother Kuroobi's attack and smack him around with her staff. The odd, red-colored three-segmented metal staff that Nami twirled expertly as if she had been using it all her life. Where did she pick that trick? Hachi know for certain Nami didn't have any weapon the last time she was in Cocoyashi village!
A Boxing Glove sprung up from the staff's tiny muzzle (okay, Hachi really need to know, how?!) hitting brother Chew in…
That was cruel, Nami. That was really cruel.
Yesterday Nami had returned and about to reporting to Arlong about her hunt of 100.000.000 Berri. She said she was close to completing the amount. That got Arlong in good mood that he threw a party after making a call. Hachi didn't know who he call since he was never around. There are so many things to do, including feeding Moomoo. Maybe it was his Marine friend.
(Arlong hate humans how come he made friends with human, with Marine? Didn't Marine complicit in their torture? What is happening? Something is wrong)
Today, though?
WHACK!
Nami display acrobathic feat Hatchan didn't know she had by kicking Brother Kuroobi's jaw when he rushes to attack her again.
Today, though, today Nami had return to Arlong Park with dark smile and throw a sack worth of treasures and tell them to get out of her village, as if they haven't been protecting the Island. And when Arlong refuses, she attacked.
(Hatchan thinks he saw three figures dealing with other Fishmen outside the park)
Was Hatchan wrong to hope Nami was different from other Humans who view Fishmen as lesser species?
"Nami! How dare you do this! After all we've done to you!"
Nami regard him blankly.
"Really? After all you've done to me? Are you that waterlogged in the head?" She replied, twirling her weapon(s). "You, who come to my village, kill my mom, and force the people to pay unreasonable tax? And you get a gall to get angry when someone, me, snapped back? Who do you think you are? Celestial Dragons?"
What.
"DON'T COMPARE US TO THEM!" The Whole Arlong Pirates present, as one, yelled at Nami!
How dare she!
"Tornado Tempo."
"Gagh!"
One moment Chew was swinging his swords at her (non-lethal, because humans are weak and fragile), next thing he know birds were stringing strings around him and he got thrown through walls.
"Do enlighten me where I was wrong, then. Looking down on another species just because, enslaving them and made them cough money by hook or crook and enjoy their suffering… really. What's the difference between you and the Celestial Dragons because, race aside, I saw none!"
"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT THE FUCK UP! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!"
"Heat Tempo."
"Gyaaaaah! Hot! Hot!"
Hatchan dodges the red bubbles, feeling his skin prickle how they raised the temperature.
Did Nami eat a Devil Fruit?
"I know enough." She states. "Enough to say it with confidence: if Fisher Tiger were to witness how low you've fallen, he would tan your collective hides."
"KEEP HIS NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, WHORE! SHARK DART!"
Nami dissappears from her spot and appears few feet to her left, dodging Arlong entirely. How-?! What kind of Devil Fruit she ate?!
Everyone rushed to attack her.
Nami is a good fighter, Hatchan had to give to her. Facing onslaught of Arlong himself atop of his three Officers and still standing, after Chew get out of the wire, even if she was quickly tires out and not just once lose her footings (even if she quickly move in way she seemingly planned of doing that), really telling of what a formidable fighter she was.
Hatchan is getting worried and scared. For Nami? Or… of Nami? He… wasn't sure.
Nami is not this strong before. Not this experienced.
Before, he was sure, even if Nami didn't cower in fear from them, she cannot fight them. She was simply too weak, too inexperienced, too slow. He have never seen her fighting. Perhaps making threat with knife but certainly not with a staff. Never have that sort of dexterity and speed and stamina needed to last in long fight against superior beings.
This Nami fought them off with ease, hindered with her stamina only. Her reflexes are top notch, better than some pirates and marines Hatchan can name of. Her skill with her staff(s) spoke of long usage and countless trial-by-fire. The way she switched between elemental attack and physical ones are no joke. The quick wits and calm manner she present herself with, almost casual, spoke of numerous battles she went through, and survive. Win, even.
She was no longer the girl he saw months ago.
She resembles the seasoned Pirate from Grand Line more. Of one who had seen battles and sneers, saying "I can do better" and deliver the promise. One who went through Fishman Island and has potential to survive, to thrive, in the crazy water that was The New World.
"I admit," grinned Arlong. Blood dripping from his mouth from here Nami hit him in the Jaw, and boy do she hit hard. Hatchan's sides are still throbbing and sure to bruise tomorrow. How come?! Isn't human suppose to be weaker than Fishmen? "I underestimate you. So much. You have potential to be so much more than mere map-maker. Perhaps I was too lenient, yes, and that made you unruly!"
"Arlong… Arlong… Arlong…" Nami sighed. "Are we going to keep doing this dance and song? It get tedious after the third time." She leaned against the wall, next to the hole brother Chew create with his water shot. It display the Map Room. The Room Arlong gave to her.
"You know… when you've first arrived, you could've done something different. You could've upheld Queen Otohime's wish… you could've build something great… but you didn't. You just spread pain."
"You humans know Pain the most, aren't you." Brother Kuroobi stated angrily. "You're the ones who started it! And you are no different! You could've just stayed silent and keep your head down but you get too greedy! Just like every human scum!"
"So wanting to be free is wrong, now?" Nami cocked an eyebrow. "I thought you guys know it the most… I mean, you do know of the Sun Pirates? Or was the Sun Symbol just a decor you did not understand the significance of and thus make mockery out of?" She sighed. "Fisher Tiger would be pissed that you desecrate Nika's symbol like this."
Hatchan is startled.
"You know about Nika?"
Nika look at him. A soft smile graced her lips.
"More than you do."
Chills.
There's chills going down on Hatchan's spine.
Nami say it with certainty. As if it was a fact that the universe acknowledge as Truth.
(As if she personally know the Warrior of Liberation)
"Impossible!" Arlong roared. "You humans are the enemy of Nika! You erase everything about him! There's no way you could speak of His Name!"
"Joy Boy was human, wasn't he? The Promise about Noah Ark was a Promise between Fishmen and Human, wasn't it?"
Hatchan almost dropped his swords.
"WHERE DO YOU GET THAT INFORMATION?!"
As her response, Nami dissappears and reappears on the stairs. Running up with more of those balls floating behind her. Red, and blue.
Hatchan and others rushed to go after her. There's only one more floor. The topmost floor.
Clouds gather round them. Strange though. It has been sunny this morning so why…
"Thunderbolt Tempo…" Nami calls from the-top of the rooftop?!
The cloud was charged with electricity.
She switched the formation of her staff(s) into one polearm. Both end charged.
"Thunder Strike!"
And Hatchan only know pain as he, alongside Arlong, Chew, and Kurobi, were zapped and thrown out of the topmost balcony and straight into the ground. Static covering them.
…he thinks he saw a part of Arlong's torso caved in, right where where Nami stabbed him…
"You… bitch…" Arlong groaned. Trying to get up. "Imma kill you… kill you all kind of dead… will make you wish you're dead…"
"No. You won't."
A strict voice got them all stiffen, worse than the electric current that dance on their body. Slowly, they turned their head.
Right there, before the villagers and the kids Hatchan had seen Nami with, holding a rope that was leading to their beaten up and tied brethen, was a figure they didn't expect to see in East Blue.
"Knight of the Sea"Jinbe was standing there. Unamused.
"Hello, Kuroobi, Chew, Hatchan." Jinbe greeted each of them. Voice louder than thunderbolt. "Arlong. I'd like to say fancy seeing you again… however,"
He glowered over them.
"After hearing what you've done to Cocoyashi Village, after seeing remains of Gosa Villages, of… antics… you've been up to and how far you've gone to ensure I know nothing of it all until one call finally manage to reach me,"
Hatchan can see one of the boys Nami come with, the one with Straw Hat, was grinning and holding a Den Den Mushi and all Hatchan can think was they are screwed.
Especially as Jinbe give them a smile.
A smile that did not reach his eyes.
"That would be a lie. Shall I reeducate you of appropriate reaction to human discrimination and whatnot?"
…they are so screwed…