I am well aware this chapter came wayyy late. Real life kept me doing extra shifts and I was too tired to even think, also I wanted to finish this arc in one chapter and kept changing how I wrote the fights to show how Ashley's existance could change them. And until I was satisfied with the final result.
So, read, enjoy and I will see you guys in the bottom comments.
14
"HAHAHAHAHA! What a bunch of weaklings!"
"I can't believe they were so stupid as to challenge Arlong-san for a fight!"
"Dumb humans! It would take an army to even scratch our captain!"
Arlong reclined on his chair, idly pondering about the two swordsmen humans that tried to attack him a couple of minutes ago. The two men yelled for him to leave Arlong Park and face them, and he had been in such a good mood after seeing hope leave his pet's eyes that he had humored.
The humans might be considered good swordsmen for their species standards, but they were weak. He had easily beat them up and left their bloodied bodies outside his base, not bothering to finish them.
Killing weaklings was only funny until a certain point. He much preferred to kill strong opponents.
"Hey," He spoke to his officers, "You guys think those two were part of Zoro's crew?" After eight years ruling these islands he could easily recognize the newcomers, and the odds that two different groups of bounty hunters came for his head at the same time was low.
"Those two? No way. Zoro is heralded as a demon. No way he would have such weaklings as part of his crew."
"Hmmm." Maybe it was a coincidence.
No matter.
No bounty hunter, pirate or marine in these waters could challenge him, all to busy fighting each other in the Grand Line. The marines didn't give a crap about what he did as long as he didn't attack their precious Tenryobitu, and by the time they realised his true plans, it would be too late.
Soon, he would have the entire East Blue under his heel. With the weakest sea at his control, he would focus on conquering the other three Blues, one by one. And after that, the Grand Line and the Red Line would fall to his feet.
He could see it clearly, the lowly humans on their knees, begging for mercy while he and his brethren ruled the world, like they were meant to.
It was his dream.
And he will see it done.
BAAAAAM!
The main door of Arlong Park was suddenly blasted into pieces, a young man standing where the door was.
"Which one is Arlong?" The blackharied human asked calmly.
"I am. You?"
"I am Luffy."
"Luffy? The fuck you are?"
"A pirate."
Arlong's eyes narrowed at the calm and resolution that the human showed, walking towards him without fear. Two of his brethren intercepted the human, looming over him threatingly. The human didn't back down; he grabbed his men's heads and bashed against each other, knocking them down instantly.
Arlong felt a sudden urge to tear those hands with his teeth, but controlled it. He could tear this human into pieces later for daring to hurt his brothers.
The human stop in front of him, an unscrutable look on his face.
"What does a pirate want with me?" He asked.
The human didn't answer, he just kept staring at him blankly. Then, faster that he could see it, he felt a fist collide with his face, the force kicking him from his seat and throwing him to a wall.
"DON'T MAKE MY NAVIGATOR CRY!" The human yelled furiously.
"Fucking bastard." Arlong muttered, his own anger rising.
"Fucking human!" "Kill him!" His men grabbed their swords and leapt at the human, eager to kill him for hurting their captain.
"BACK OFF TRASH!"
"Brick Break! Air Slash!"
"Haw!" "Noi!"
Arlong narrowed his eyes at the group that defeated his men's attack on the human pirate. He recognized two of them: Roronoa Zoro, the bounty hunter who harmed so many of his brothers before running away like a coward, and the long-nosed human that made a fool of him at Cocobayi.
The third human was also a male, a blonde one who used kicks to defeat his men, but it was the female of the group that gave him a pause.
At first glance, she didn't seem that different from any other female human he had seen. That was until he saw the strange animals that followed her commands.
On her left shoulder sat a big yellow mouse, and in front of her some kind of giant bat and bipedal falcon, not like any he had ever seen or heard of. All three animals were ready to leapt at her first command, not taking their eyes away from his brothers.
Arlong was born on the Grand Line; he was of the New World. He had sailed with Fisher Tiger and Jinbei during their strikes against humans, freeing their brothers and sisters from the disgusting slavers that kept kidnapping them. He had seen many animals and beasts during his sailings, both on the Grand Line and later on in the East Blue.
But these animals were different.
He could feel it.
Whispers of an old story from his childhood came to his mind. Stories of powerful creatures that could rival Devil Fruit users. Creatures that could live anywhere in the world, some living side by side with the gyojins, until they suddenly disappeared one day.
Arlong shook away that memory. Those were just fairytales old fishwomen liked to entertain little fishes with.
Those creatures were most likely animals from some island he had never visited.
Just that.
Ashley could honestly say that she had seen so many weird, strange, amazing, terrifying and impressive things during her many years of Journeys.
She had met almost every other species of Pokemon known, battled many rivals, including Champions and Elite Four, faced criminal organizations, met Legendary and Mythical Pokemon, traveled across space and time, and so much more.
But she had never seen a species that wasn't human or Pokemon.
The gyojin, or fishmen, were utterly alien to her.
And she loved it!
Even if they were her enemies—and they were, for she wouldn't forgive them for hurting Nami and her family—there was a thrill about meeting something utterly new during a Journey.
Ashley had her reasons for going to the Grand Line, but she wouldn't deny that the opportunity of seeing things that didn't exist on the Pokemon Regions didn't thrill her.
Winning badges and battles hadn't been the best part of her Journeys. Important and proudful? Yes. But making new friends, catching new Pokemon to add to her big family and seeing new places had been her favorite part.
And now was the same.
Ashley loved making new friends and rivals, the first were great companions, and the latter help her and her team grow in strength.
Her new friends were more weird than the usual ones she made, but they were her friends.
Luffy was kind of dumb, but he was cheerful, loyal, had a great dream, and didn't lie.
Zoro was quiet and reminded her of a Vigoroth: vicious during a battle and lazy the rest of the day.
Usopp was a coward and liar, but his lies were funny, and he was braver than he thought.
Sanji reminded her so much of Brock, just more pervy and weaker towards women. He had backed down from his flirting with her, but still treated her like she was a princess.
And Nami… Nami was so strong.
Nami had lived as Arlong's slave for eight years, losing her family and home to him, forced to risk her life in hope of one day rescuing her home from his grasp, only to be betrayed at the last moment.
Ashley had made plenty of enemies during her Pokemon Journey. From criminal organizations to pirates to abusive trainers and a few crazy scientists. She had faced sadistic Pokemon hunters and malicious Pokemon. She had fought against many to protect her Pokemon, her friends, and strangers.
And she never once regretted it.
Arlong had hurt one of her friends and countless innocents that wanted to live their lives peacefully in their homes. She knew that not every pirate was like Luffy or Usopp, who wanted to enjoy adventures, or Zoro, who wanted to face stronger opponents. Not even like Zeff or Sanji, who braved the seas looking for a fantastical sea. Most pirates were like Krieg and Buggy, criminals who sacked towns, leaving dispair and suffering behind.
But Arlong was another kind of monster.
Arlong wasn't just a raider and murderer. He was a slaver.
And that boiled her blood.
Memories of caged, scared, and abused Pokemon flooed her mind when she heard Nojiko's story. It reminded her too much of some of the worst criminals she had faced, those that had no empathy for neither humans nor Pokemon, who just wanted power and would stop at nothing until they got it.
Ashley despised those kinds of people. She truly did.
"So that's what this is about." Arlong chuckled. "Nami. Shahahaha! Four inferior creatures coming here, to my territory, trying to steal that woman? SHAHAHAHA! As if that would happen!"
"Fool humans! Arlong-san, don't bother with these idiots! I will teach them to fear the true powers of the sea!" The octopus gyojin, Hachi, grabbed his mouth as if it were a horn and released a below, calling something.
The water of the pool began to churn, a gigantic shape taking shape under it.
"Tremble at the sight of your death, humans! Destroy them, Moomoo!" Hachi ordered to the enormous Sea Beast that stared down at the humans blankly.
"Pi! Pi ka Pi Chu!" Pikachu pointed at the familiar sea cow they had not long ago, waving at it cheerfully.
"Oh, him again?"
"So the hippo is friends with the gyojins? Makes sense, they both live in the water."
"Moomoo? Is that your name?" Ashley called out to him, earning a timid nod in response. "That's a cool name! I like it!"
Moomoo blinked in surprise at Ashley's reaction. He hadn't expected the girl to be happy to see him, not after he launched her and the other humans to the sky as payback from punching him when he was hungry.
Moomoo looked down in shame. The girl had been nice to him, striking her companions and sharing her food, and he had been petty in return.
"Eh? What's wrong? Is this because of what happened earlier? Don't worry! Its water over the bridge! We are even!" She cheerfully reassured him, Pikachu giving out his own cries of agreement.
The experimented trainer had years under her belt of misunderstandings with Pokemon. She lost count of the times a wild Pokemon would cause her trouble of some sort at first, only to join forces together later on and end up becoming friends.
This was just another Tuesday for her.
"Moomoo." Arlong's cold tone froze the sea cow. The Sea Beast looked at his captain, a shiver going down his spine at the rage and impatience lurking in his shark eyes. "What the hell are you doing? Are you disobeying my orders, Moomoo?"
Moomoo began to tremble in fear at the threat in Arlong's words, his mind going blank from terror.
"Oy! If he doesn't want to fight you can't make him! What kind of shitty captain are to intimidate your nakama!" Ashley stood protectively in front of Moomoo, earning looks of surprise and bafflement from all spectators.
"I am his captain. And a captain's words are law. Right, Moomoo?"
Moomoo gave one last look of regret at Ashley. He didn't want to hurt her, but he had to. If he didn't then he would have to face Arlong's ire. Arlong might care for his crewmates, but he wouldn't tolerate disobedience or disloyalty, much less from him, a Sea Beast.
"MOOOOOOO!" Moomoo growled furiously at the group of humans, rushing to attack them and finish the fight in one move. He would focus his attack on the two humans that hurt him, and only graze Ashley and her partners.
"That's it Moomoo!" "Show those humans our strength!" "Follow Moomoo's lead guys!" The fishmen grabbed their weapons and ran towards the strawhat pirates, invigorated by Moomoo's attack.
"So they want to fight then." Sanji flicked of his cigarette, right leg ready to bash some heads. Zoro began to unsheat his remaining sword, not bothered by the overwhelming number of pirates and the Sea Beast coming their way, unlike Usopp who was yelling desperately in fear.
"Pikachu! Focus on Moomoo! Noivern, Hawlucha-"
"STAY OUT! I will deal with all of them!" Luffy slammed both of his feet on the floor, breaking it and planting his feet on it. With that done, the rubber pirate began to spin in place, punching at the surrounding pirates easily. Then he stopped, his torso looking like a spring, and he stretched his arms until he grabbed Moomoo's horns, and began to pull.
"A Devil Fruit user?!"
"What is he planning!?"
"Something stupid surely! Run!"
"Noivern! Hawlucha!" The older strawhats had no idea what their captain planned, but after some time with him they could recognize when he was going to do something utterly reckless, so they dashed away. Ashley jumped on top of Noivern, who grabbed a shrieking Zoro before flying off. Hawlucha grabbed Zoro and Sanji from their scruffs using his clawed feet without issue, following Noivern's path, not a moment to late.
While pulling against Moomoo's horns, Luffy unwond his coiled body, making his body spin rapidly in the opposite direction, with Moomoo along as a mallet crushing and slamming against the pirates.
"Gomu Gomu no Kazaguruma!" He yelled, spinning in place and destroying everything around. With a final yell, he used the force of the spin to throw a dizzy Moomoo to the air, the Sea Beast crashing somewhere outside Arlong Park and sinking under the water.
"I didn't come here to fight these guys! I only want to fight you, Arlong!" Luffy pointed at the pirate captain, who smirked sadistically.
He was craving to tear this fool apart.
"Gen-san. What- what was that?" Gen couldn't answer Daigo; he was having trouble understanding what the hell just happened.
After learning of Arlong's treachery and deciding to free Nami from the weight of having their lives in her hands, all the adults of Cocoyasi went to Arlong Park with one objective in mind.
Free Nami, whatever the cost.
If they somehow won, then they would all be free.
If not. Then at least Nami wouldn't have to return to Cocoyasi again. Bellemere's youngest daughter would be free to run somewhere else, far away from Arlong's grasp.
They had reached the entrance of Arlong's domain when a pair of badly wounded men stopped them. The men said that they picked a fight with Arlong to make him pay for making Nami cry, only to end utterly defeated in mere seconds, alive by sheer luck.
They forbade the group from entering Arlong Park, claiming that they had no hope against the gyojins and that they would die if they tried to attack them.
Gen and the others accepted that they had no chance but that they were done living as their slaves, their hostages. At least if they died, then Arlong would lose his precious money and Nami.
The marine left them to the fate, not even caring how many of their own Arlong massacrated whenever he took a new village or island. The few bounty hunters that tried to take Arlong's head lost their owns. And their hope of freedom ended up being a lie.
They were done. They wanted to be free. Whether living or dead didn't matter.
The bounty hunters understood their wishes yet remained stoic on their decision, saying that they were waiting for those that would defeat Arlong.
All were confused by those words, wondering who they were talking about, when a group of strangers showed up.
Four men and a woman, all young, with three strange animals with them, walking resolutely to Arlong Park. The crowd parted in the middle to let them pass, some type of feeling telling them to do so. The bounty hunters let them approach the door without making a fuss, and that's when the first shock came.
One of them, a young blackhaired boy, destroyed the door with his bare fist, yelling for Arlong, and then he actually punched Arlong. And when some of the pirates tried to attack him, his companions easily defeated them without breaking a sweat.
That scene alone left the civilians of Cocoyasi breathless. Never once they saw a human harm a gyojin, less defeated them so fast. Hope began to pool in their hearts, more when the monster that destroyed Goza was defeated by the same boy in an incredibly powerful display of power.
"Who are they?" Gen asked the bounty hunters.
"The last hope of the East Blue." Johnny answered.
"If they don't defeat Arlong, then nobody else will." Yosaku added grimly.
"But why? Why are they risking their lives for us? This isn't their problem. This isn't their battle."
"Arlong made Nami-aneue cry. What other reason might they need?"
Cry? Was that really the only reason they needed to fight one of the strongest and ruthless pirates in the East Blue?
For the next couple of minutes, Gen stared speechless at the actions of the strangers. After defeating the Sea Beast and most of Arlong's men, a feat he once thought impossible, the boy ended up stuck to the ground, vulnerable to the attacks of Hachi, the octopus gyojin who first blinded him with his ink and then tried to smash him with what once was part of an arch decorating Arlong Park, only to be stopped by the blonde man with a curly eyebrow and the bird creature.
The sword user then challenged Hachi, giving some room for the curly-haired boy to try and unstuck his captain from the floor. Not that it succeeds. The curly-haired boy lost his grip on the rubber pirate and accidentally threw him as a slingshot towards an unsuspecting Chew.
The enraged pirate immediately began to chase him, only to stop when he saw that Gen and the rest of the villagers were outside the gyojin base, weapons on their hands.
Chew successfully deduced that they planned on rebelling and was about to attack them when the boy suddenly struck him with a burning pellet and taunted him, drawing the gyojin's ire towards him and not the villagers, luring him towards the forest.
That was when Arlong made his move.
The feared pirate captain walked towards his stuck opponent, easily blocking his next punch with one hand, and with the other he digged up the slab of cement that the boy was stuck in and lifted it before throwing it to the pool, all the while laughing.
Gen could clearly see Arlong's plan. The other pirates would jump to the water to save their captain's life, and the two remaining gyojin would tear them to pieces there. None of the strange creatures that hovered around the blackhaired girl seemed to be able to swim.
Gen gritted his teeth in rage. Once again, he could only watch impotently how Arlong toyed with someone's life. Once again, he would see someone die trying to stop that monster's bloodlust.
"Ashley-chan!" "Ashley!"
"What is she doing!?" "Is she crazy?!"
The girl jumped in the pool.
"Ashley-chan!" Sanji went to jump right after the blacknette and Pikachu, only for Zoro to get in the way.
"Stop it dumbass! That's what these fuckers want! Ashley has the mouse with her; she will be fine. If you want to help her, then be useful here." Zoro placed his bandana around his head, sword ready to cut.
"Beat them up before they can jump? Fine by me."
"HA! We don't even need to be on the water to kill those weaklings!" A fourth gyojin suddenly spoke. It was big, bigger than the other gyojins. It was male, gray-skinned, with a big rectangle nose and small, sharp teeth displayed in a cruel smirk.
"You fools thought that Moomoo was the only animal we brought from the Grand Line? HAHAHA! Arlong-san! Let me make this game more interesting! Let's see how many pieces of your friends are still attached to their bodies once my little friends finish with them!" The unknown gyojin opened his mouth and much like Hachi released a sound, however, unlike Hachi's cavalry calling, this one reminded them more of a whale song.
Under the water surface they could see a muddled shape forming from one of the ends of the pool, a large muddled shape that went deeper.
"What is that?! What the heck did you bastards call!?" Sanji reclamed, Hawlucha and Noivern snarling and growling threatengly next to him, worried about their trainer and teammate.
"SHASHASHASHA! Well done, Kuji! I like this twist! SHA-" Arlong's amusement was cut short by the sudden yellow light and sparks that danced across the pool.
All eyes turned towards the pool, not understanding where the sparks came from, wondering if it was because of whatever Kuji called or if it was something Ashley and Pikachu did.
Bodies began to float on the surface. One, two, four, seven, ten, and more. Soon, the pool surface was covered by the floating shapes of at least forty small, almost rounded reddish fish with extremely sharp teeth.
"Piranhas?! Those fucking bastards have an army of piranhas!?" Sanji yelled in disbelief before widening further at the sight of Ashley and Pikachu resurfacing and gulping for air.
"Ashley-chan!" "Ashley!" "Noi noi! "Lu Hawlu!"
Hawlucha flew over Ashley's head, his claws grasping her shoulders and pulling her and Pikachu from the water, flinching from the static that was covering her body.
"Ashley-chan! What happened?! Are you hurt!?"
"Ah, ah, ah. Luffy is fine! I gave him my rebreather!" Sighs of relief came over both pirates. Now they got why she jumped. "Shit! Stupid knockoff Carvanhas. What idiot keeps a pod as pets?" Ashley released a small hiss, her muscles twitching from the electrical discharge running through them.
While on land she could handle without much fuss Pikachu's Thundershooks and Thunderbolts, underwater were still a pain in the ass.
"You." Kuji trembled in rage. "You fucking whore! What did you do to my friends?! Fucking human! I will tear your flesh from your bones myself!" The infuriated gyojin jumped towards the trainer, maw open showing his sharp teeth.
"NOI!" Noivern intercepted his attack with a Wing Attack, throwing off his aim and making him fall to the ground.
Hawlucha prepared to support his younger adoptive brother when Noivern shook his head, standing in front of his trainer, ready to attack at her command.
The masked Pokemon nodded in understanding, falling back next to Ashley. The girl couldn't get up, the electric shocks wouldn't let her, but she still could lead him.
Ashley glanced around. Sanji was facing against a pale-skinned gyojin with sharp fins on his elbows and a large ponytail, and Zoro had his only sword aiming at the octopus. Arlong was reclined on his chair, his eyes cold, no longer amused.
"Pikachu, keep an eye on the water. Anything happens, zap it."
"Pi."
She didn't bother telling Hawlucha to help Zoro or Sanji, well aware that both men would reject her help. They were stubborn and prideful. Like she.
"Noivern, to the air! Test his defenses with Air Cutter!" "Noi!"
The bat-like Pokemon obeyed without hesitation, flying over his opponent and launching wind strikes. The gyojin let them strike against his skin, laughing at how they passed without harming it.
Ashley didn't let it deter her. "Dragon Pulse!" Noivern released a blast of purple energy against Kuji, who jumped backwards to avoid it, his eyes widening when he saw the crater that formed on his previous spot.
The gyojin grabbed pieces of rubble lying around and began to throw them towards the flying Pokemon, who evaded them easily. Kuji glanced at Ashley and let out a dark grin, grabbing a bigger piece of rubble and throwing in her direction, expecting the bat to dart in her direction, and left himself open to his attack.
However, Noivern didn't tear his eyes from him, smirking when he heard Hawlucha destroy the projectile with a well-placed Brick Break.
Kuji snarled when he saw that his strategy wasn't working. The beast's master was well protected by the other two creatures and the bat had an attack that he wasn't sure he could withstand more than one or two shots. He would have to use his secret weapon.
"Kuji Blast Sonar!" A painfully high screech came from his mouth, making Noivern shriek in pain and drop from the air, his foreclaws clutching his ears.
"Kuji Ultra Blast!" Soundwaves crashed against the dragon type, one after the other, throwing him against a pillar.
"Noivern!" Ashley yelled worried, wishing she could run to his side.
"Pi! Pikapi Pi!" "Haw Haw!" Pikachu and Hawlucha cheered on their baby brother, encouraging him to get up and defeat Ouji.
Noivern shook his head and roared towards his opponent. The dragon Pokemon gave his opponent a taunting smirk, which made the gyojik snarl in fury and release another Ultra Blast against the Pokemon, hitting him again.
Ashley made eye contact with her youngest Pokemon, silently asking him what he was doing. Noivern shook his head, a pleading look on his yellow eyes, asking his mother figure to trust him, to which she nodded without hesitation.
Feeling confident by the lack of defense from the bat Pokemon, Kuji ran towards him, right arm pulled, going for a punch. Right when he was closest, Noivern sprang into action and released one of his own ultrasonic waves, bursting his opponent's eardrums and leaving him open for a point blank Dragon Pulse to the face, rendering the whale-like gyojin unconscious.
"Noi!" He celebrated victorious, proud of defeating one of Ashley's enemies on his own.
"Great job, Noivern!" "Pi Pika Pi!" "Haw Hawlu!"
With one pirate down, Ashley glanced around to see how her other friends were doing.
Zoro glared at the stupid octopus he was fighting. The damn fishman had spent the last couple of minutes of their fight fooling around, wasting his time.
What for he had no clue.
Thanks to Ashley, Luffy wasn't in risk of drowning anytime soon, and since his body was made of rubber the mouse could keep shocking the pool all he wanted and fry anyone and anything that tried to harm their captain without harming him.
"Stop toying and fight back, damn octopus!" He snarled
"Ha! Don't be so eager, Roronoa Zoro! No swordsman can defeat me! Do you know why? Do you want to know why? Nyu."
"Just get down so I can fucking cut you into takoyaki, damnit!" His chest tightened in pain, Mihawk's wounds had begun to open after the idiots crashed on him earlier, it was only because of the medicine and his own quick healing that he didn't have a fever.
But still, he couldn't waste to much time. Ashley and her Pokemon were dealing with that weird whale and keeping an eye on the pool, Usopp was being chased by one of the gyojins and the pervy cook crashed over the wall.
What?
"Uh? What the hell?" The perv got thrown out of Arlong Park, a circular hole made by his body impacting against the wall.
'Stupid shitty-cook.'
"Now is my chance! Die Roronoa Zoro! Takoyaki Punch!" Hachi jumped from the roof, six arms unleashing a flurry of punches, only to impact nothing since Zoro evaded them.
"Nyu?" Hachi was surprised that his fast punches didn't knock out his enemy, barely registering that Zoro was behind him, a hand on his shoulder and slamming him against the wall.
"Fucking tako. Just stay down."
"NYUUUUUUU! THAT'S IT! Prepare to die Roronoa! See my true power! The Rokutouryuu! The six-sword style that has made me the Number 1 swordmaster in Gyojin Island! Compared to my Rokutouryuu, your Santouryuu is hopeless!"
"Heh. Listen well, tako. There is a man I must defeat. So until I do so, then no one can kill me. Not even the Shinigami can claim my soul! Johnny! Yosaku! Lend me your swords! I will turn this pulp into takoyaki!"
"Yes aniki!" Both bounty hunters threw their swords immediately, aware that their aniki needed to use his full power to win the fight against not only Hachi but also Arlong.
With Kuina's blade held by his teeth and his bandana around his head, Zoro closed his eyes. His vow of never losing again until he defeated Mihawk and the hawk-eyes man words resonating on his mind.
All this time he had trained himself hard, harder than the rest of his dojo, harder than anybody else. But he had trained to the limits of what a normal human could do.
For his dream to be achieved, he had to surpass his limits. He had to go beyond what a normal human could do.
"Takoashi Kiken!" Six tentacle arms wipped around, each one holding one sword, all aimed at a still Zoro.
In a single move, the human swordsman grabbed both swords, evaded, and parried Hachi's six swords effortlessly.
"Santouryuu: Tourou Nagashi!" Blood poured from the octopus torso, three large slashes showing where the human's swords had cleaved, while Zoro had no injury from his enemy.
"NYUUUUUU! THAT'S IT! YOU ARE DEAD! DEAD!" Hachi positioned his swords in front of him, curved so that the tips will touch each other in the center and lurched towards Zoro. "Rokutouryuu: Takotsubo no Kamae!"
Zoro struggled to contain the attack with two blades, Hachi's strength and the array of the blades focusing all the power in a single point.
"Shin Sun Tako Age Takai!" Zoro felt his arms being forced apart so he quickly backstepped, but not before Hachi's large head collided with his chest, aggravating his injuries and launching him away.
The greenete ignored the shouts of fear and worry from his comrades, panting and fighting to get up, never once losing the grip on any of his blades.
"Nyu Nyu Nyu! Do you see now, Ronoroa? This is the power of the Rokutouryuu! Three swords can never beat six! A human can't beat a gyojin!" The octopus pirate gloated, sure of his inminent victory.
"...It doesn't matter how many swords you use. One, three, six, ten, twenty, a hundred. I don't care. I won't lose to anyone. Human, gyojin, and whatever else exists in the world. Until I accomplish my vow, I won't be defeated by anyone."
"Big words! But it doesn't matter! Because you will die here and now! Rokutouryuu: Tako Tsudo Kamae!" Once again, Hachi launched himself towards Zoro, this time moving faster and putting more power behind his attack, planning on finishing the fight with the attack.
Zoro didn't panic. He focused on what he had to do. He focused on overcoming his limits. He had seen firsthand the abyss that separated him from Mihawk, the true difference between him and a man that lived on the Grand Line, the power that no normal human could use.
That meant that he couldn't continue to be normal.
He had to be more. Stronger. Faster. Sharper.
He had to overcome the barrier that separated common people from monsters like Mihawk.
"Oni Giri!" Hachi jawdropped at the sight of his six 300 kg swords being shattered by the three normal human swords. Filled with fury, he careless unleashed a flury of punches, completely ignoring the three sharp blades already preparing another deadly attack.
"Tatsu Maki!" Zoro spinned his three blades with such strength that it produced a wind vortex that blew and slashed at the raging octopus, sending him flying and crashing to the ground, multiple slashes covering his body, utterly unconscious.
"Told you I will turn you into takoyaki." the greenete panted, falling to his knee for one second, blood soaking his bandages, exhaustion settling in now that his opponent was defeated.
'Damn it! I need to get to Luffy!'
"Roronoa." Kuroobi stepped behind Zoro, arm ready to decapitate the pirate, taking advantage of his weakened state. "I will make you pay for harming Hachi!"
"Oi. We still got a fight to finish." Kuroobi stared in surprise at the black pant covered leg blocking his strike, the owner smoking even while blood leaked from the top of his head. "Don't go picking on someone wounded. It's tacky."
"Impressive. I didn't think a simple human would be able to survive my fist."
"That thing? Compared to my old boss' kicks, that punch is a love tap."
"What?" Kuroobi was enraged by Sanji's words. "Gyojin karate is the most powerful martial art to exist! Its superiority is only capable of being harnassed by us because of our superior strength! On land and underwater, gyojin karate is-!"
"Collier!" A hard kick to his neck shut him up, throwing him to the ground.
"Wha-" "Epaule!" What came next shocked all spectators. Sanji released a barrage of attacks against Kuroobi, not letting the martial artist set a defense, kicking him to the ground again and again.
"Superior this, superior that. I give a fucking crap about all that speciest shit! All I care about is beating the shit out of you bastards for making Nami-swan cry!"
Fury invaded Kuroobi's mind. An inferior human was beating him? HIM?! He! An officer of Arlong's crew, a former member of Fisher Tiger's crew?! Of the Sun Pirates!?
"You-!" "Mouton Shot!" Sanji moved his leg so fast that it resembled a blurry shape, multiple impact shocks appearing at the same time on Kuroobi's head, sending him flying past Arlong furious body and knocking him out.
"Who is the superior species now, fishie?" The cook mocked.
"Haw! Lu lucha! Hawlucha!" Sanji glanced at the masked Pokemon, who was pointing at him, lifting his fists and making a fighting pose. Sanji smirked when he realized what the bird-like Pokemon was saying.
"Eh? A match between us? Is that it?" Hawlucha nodded. "Is that alright with you, Ashley-chan?"
"Of course! Hawlucha loves fighting against strong opponents. And Sanji is really strong!"
"Ahhh, Ashley-chan's words are a soothing balm for my injuries." The blonde swooned, paying no heed to the irritated looks on her Pokemon's faces.
"What the hell?" Arlong said. The gyojin captain was furiously staring at his defeated comrades bodies. Rage poured from his body, his eyes two slits. "How dare you inferior beings, HARM. MY. BROTHERS!"
"Big hypocrite, huh?" Ashley muttered, stretching up after finally feeling the effects of paralysis wearing off. Her eyes darted towards the pool, where Luffy waited for one of them to break him free.
Not that Arlong would let them.
"Sanji." The cook eyed her. "Can you breat that block?" She nodded to the water.
"Yeah." "Good. We will buy you time."
"What for? If we beat him this is over." Zoro pointed out.
"I'm not a battler thief." "Eh?" "Luffy said he was going to beat Arlong." Both men's eyes widened in understanding. It wasn't that she didn't think they could beat Arlong on their own, it was that she didn't want to steal Luffy's fight from him, not when he still could have it.
"Mosshead! Don't let a single hair of Ashley-chan get touched by that shark!"
"Stupid ero-cook. She can take care of herself."
The three pirates and three Pokemon prepared to fight, five of them to retain Arlong, the other to release Luffy from the mess he got stuck by himself, when a new voice interrupted them.
"ARLONG!" All eyes turned to the entrance, where a bandaged Nami was standing, Luffy's strawhat on her head and Talonflame on her uninjured shoulder.
"Nami. I'm surprised. I thought you would be recollecting my money. What are you doing here?"
"I am here to kill you."
"SHASHASHASHA! Kill me! Shashashasha! How many times have you tried this past eight years?! Poison, guns, knives? Hell, even when I was asleep. Time after time you tried to kill me, always failing. Remember the bomb hidden in the chest? That was a clever one! You can't kill me Nami! No human can! Your weak species was born to be my servants! You were born to draw maps for me forever!"
Nami flinched at that, her hands tremblings.
"But, I can't have you doing something foolish like killing yourself in a foolish attempt to escape. So I will make you a new deal: remain in my crew drawing my maps, and I will let the citizens of Cocoyasi Village live. I will forget their futile attempt of rebellion. Of course this group of pirates will die, I can't let them live."
"So Nami. Are you my nakama? Or theirs?"
Nami didn't know what to do. If she said she was Luffy's nakama, then everybody would die! But if she said she was Arlong's nakama, then the villagers would live, and only her friends would die.
Friends.
How long had it been since she had called someone a friend?
She had betrayed them. Stolen from them. Put them in danger. And yet…
'OF COURSE!'
"Na-chan." Her sister was right at her side, bandages covering her torso where the marine's bullets had hit her. "We are with you."
"Whatever you decide, everyone will stand with you Nami." Gen-san nodded resolutely.
Nami closed her eyes.
She knew what she had to do.
"Everyone!" She smiled shakily at Nojiko, at Gen-san, at the people she had known for her entire life, the only family she had ever know. "I'm sorry! Can you guys die with me!?" Nami asked them.
"OF COURSE!" They shouted without hesitation, much to Arlong's ire.
"Cook, do it now. We will cover you." Zoro dashed towards Arlong, trying to take advantage of his distraction. The fishman however was able to see the attack coming and parried it with his serrated nose.
"You really want to die, Roronoa Zoro."
"Aerial Ace! Steel Tail!" Wind slashed against Arlong's back, cutting his shirt but not doing anything to his skin, and Pikachu's silver coated tail struck the back of his knees, not earning much reaction.
"Tamago Bochi!" An egg crashed against his eye, only irking him further.
"Zoro! Ashley! Don't worry! I will cover you guys!" Usopp yelled from a safe distance on the other side of a Sanji shaped hole.
"Usopp?!" Nami was happy to see the cowardly sniper here, helping in the fight against Arlong's forces.
"Nami! I did it! I won against one of his officers! So don't worry! We will defeat Arlong in seconds!" Usopp was smiling wildely, elated that he had actually won his first solo fight against an experimented and stronger pirate, a gyojin no less. His whole body hurt and was covered in bruises, and in no way he was getting closer to Arlong, but he was happy! He had actually proven to himself that he was a pirate. A brave warrior of the sea! Like his dad!
"Eh? Where is Luffy?"
"Arlong threw him into the pool! Sanji went to free him so he can kick Arlong's ass!"
"Got it! Then all I have to do is stall Arlong until Luffy comes back. Good!" Usopp muttered to himself, relieved that he wouldn't have to risk his life. Fighting against that fishman with weird lips had been more than enough. "ARLOOOONG! Usopp Wagomu!" Usopp pretended to throw him a plastic band, which the gyojin pirate completely ignored, focusing on attacking a tired Zoro.
Hawlucha and Pikachu helped to intercept his attacks, coating their arms and tail, respectively, in steel-type energy. However Arlong's strength proved to be bigger, and he sent them flying with one slap.
"Hawlucha! Pikachu!" Ashley was shocked to see both Pokemon were disoriented by the hit, especially Hawlucha. The masked Pokemon spent most of his life fighting against strong and powerful Pokemon like Hariyama, Machoke and Pangoro. That Arlong could hurt him so easily meant he was stronger than she first assumed.
"Agh!" Ashley screamed in pain when Arlong grabbed her by her neck, slowly tightening his grip to asphyxiate her, his sadistic grin growing the more she glared at him.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu shouted desperately. Ashley nodded her head sharply, silently ordering to do it. Her best friend nodded and began to charge electricity on his body.
"Piiika-chuuuuu!" "GRAAAAAHHH!" Arlong cried out in pain when Pikachu's Thunderbolt impacted against him and Ashley, while the black haired girl took advantage to kick him in the chest with as much strength as she could.
Arlong released her, making her fall to the ground, where Hawlucha dragged her away from Arlong's reach.
"You-!" "NOI!" Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by Noivern's scream.
While his family and the swordsman human fought against the shark fishman, Noivern had been following Ashley's instructions.
With his ultrasound waves and his ears, he had a mental image of Sanji breaking Luffy's prison and dragging him to the surface. Noivern dived to the pool, his wings tucked close to his torso, a boost of Agility helping him reach both boys faster.
Once he was close enough, the bat-like Pokemon rolled over, positioning his upper body towards the surface and grabbing his trainer's friends with his lower claws. With that done, he focused all his power, spread his wings, and batted.
The water of the pool explouted when the dragon type rose from it, his wings batting furiously, the two humans hanging by his claws.
"Luffy!" Luffy!" "Mugiwara!"
"Bat! Throw me!" "Noi!" Noivern launched the rubber pirate towards Arlong, and then descended on the ground with Sanji.
Luffy stretched his arms so that he could grab Arlong by his shoulders, then he stretched his head back and began his attack.
"Gomu Gomu no Kane! Muchi! Buretto! Gatoringu!" Arlong didn't try to defend himself against any of the attacks, tanking them all and letting the younger pirate throw him around.
"... is that it?" He asked calmly, no injury on sight.
"Nop. That was the warm-up."
"Fool human. Dying in the water would have been more peaceful that what I will do to you."
"Nop. I will defeat you."
"Shashasha. Let me ask you something. What do you think is the difference between us?"
"Nose."
Silence enfulled Arlong Park. Nobody could even think how to answer that.
"Jaw? Hands!"
"SPECIES!" Arlong launched a barrage of attacks with his teeth, making Luffy skip and move around, trying to avoid being bitten by his shark mandible. At one point, while stretching his neck to avoid being decapitated, Arlong's jaw sank into a column, shattering it into pieces.
"Do you see! This is the kind of power we gyojin have been gifted since our birth! Humans spent their entire lives trying to reach our power, all in vain! Humans are the inferior species, not gyojin! What can a pitiful creature like you that can't even swim do?!"
"I don't care if I can't swim! There is ton of things I can and can't do! I can't use swords, or train Pokemon, or navigate, or cook or lie! And I don't care! Because my nakama can! They can save me when I need them to, and I can save them when they need me to!" Luffy grinned, full of confidence. "And I can defeat you!"
"Do it, Luffy!" "Go Mugiwara! "Beat him!"
"Tch. I will have to teach you our true differences." Arlong put his hand in his mouth and began to pull until he had his gum in his hand. Immediately, a new set of teeth emerged from his mouth. Then he pulled again until he had two set of gums filled with sharp teeth in his hands and a third on his mouth.
"WOW! How did you do that!?"
"Fool! I am a shark gyojin! Changing teeth is a unique power of my kind. And every time I change them, they grow stronger!" And with that said, he launched a faster attack using all three sets of teeth against the rubber pirate. Luffy evaded all of them, biding his time until he punched Arlong in the face again, forcing him to lose one of the gums he held on his hands.
When the gyojin got up again he grew even more furious at the sight in front of him.
"Now I have shark teeth too." Luffy placed the gum on his mouth, like a fake denture.
"STOP MOCKING ME!"
"AAGHH! I got bit by a shark!" Luffy held painfully his shoulder where blood was beginning to pour from the bite wound.
"THEN STOP FOOLING AROUND!" Was yelled from many of the spectators.
"I am not fooling!" He protested only to quickly backtrack to avoid another volley of Arlong's Tooth Gum, until he lost his balance and Arlong managed to sink one of his gum sets on his torso. Immediately, Luffy used his stolen gums to bit the older pirate on the shoulder, making him recoil from the pain and let him go.
"Hah! How do you like being bitten by your own teeth!?"
"They might be my teeth, but your human jaw is weak. What makes shark teeth so deadly... is our powerful jaw!" Arlong bit Luffy's elbow, holding his jaw shut and about to tear the limb away, when the younger pirate used his other arm to grab him by his nape and throw him violently to the ground. Taking advantage of the shark gyojin's temporary daze, Luffy forced his jaw open, liberated his arm, and fell to his knees.
After taking a moment to shake the pain away, Luffy got up and searched for his enemy.
"Eh? Where is he?" Arlong was nowhere in sight.
"Luffy! The water!" Usopp warned him.
"Water?" He looked at the pool, where a fin was visible. "AAHHH! A shark!"
"THAT'S ARLONG IDIOT!" His crew yelled at him.
"Ah, right. Uh? It sunk?" The fin disappeared. Luffy peered at the water, trying to figure out what Arlong was planning when the pirate suddenly came at him from the bottom of the pool, crashing into the building.
Arlong emerged from the second floor of his base, blood soaking his nose, a satisfied smirk on his face.
"You managed to avoid it. But no matter. I will just keep going. Shark on Darts!" He jumped from the roof at high speed, like a torpedo, aiming where Luffy was recovering from the previous attack.
Luffy barely managed to jump away, staring incredously at Arlong's sawed nose holding his entire body against the ground. The sadistic pirate took advantage of his distraction and swiftly jumped from his position, striking him again before jumping to the water.
"Luffy! Hide!"
"No!"
"Don't be an idiot! He is much faster underwater!"
"I don't care! I'm going to break his nose. Gomu Gomu no Tate!" With his left hand, he stretched the fingers of his right hand and held them over his face. "Come and get me, shark."
Moments later, Arlong jumped from the pool, his sharp nose aiming right at Luffy's face, who was grinning when he saw that his finger shield stopped the attack. When Arlong realized that he couldn't overcome the tension, he jumped backwards, sending Luffy soaring to the building. Once he was on the floor, he quickly jumped again towards the younger pirate, grazing him again. He followed the younger pirate down, intending on killing him once for all when Luffy once again stretched his fingers, forming a giant net that grabbed the fishman and interrupted his impulse.
Once the impulse of his torpedo attack was gone, Luffy clasped his feet together and shot them towards Arlong's abdomen, making him gasp in pain and crash to the ground.
For one moment, everyone thought that the fight was over.
Then Arlong opened his eyes.
Nami was shocked by what she was seeing. In the eight years she had been forced to work for the gyojins, to live in their base while drawing their precious maps, she had seen Arlong in many moods.
Angry, satisfied, cruel, pleased, amused.
But never this.
She had never seen Arlong's eyes slitted and filled with so much rage.
"That's the eyes of a Sea Beast when angered!" Sanji remembered Moomoo's eyes being the same after he and Luffy hit him.
"Luffy really pissed him off." "Pi-ka."
Nami could only watch Arlong grab Luffy and slamming him against the world. Thankfully, those types of impacts didn't harm the rubber boy; sharp weapons were more harmful for him.
Her eyes widened when she saw Arlong's right arm break one of the walls and grab a sword that she had only seen him use a handful of times, a sword he made sure she could see what type of damage could do in his hands.
"Kiribachi!" A giant black pole with six serrated blades on one side, similar to Arlong's sawed nose.
Arlong began to swing his most powerful weapon against Luffy; its large size forced the younger pirate to run away to the building, jumping from roof to roof, going up until he reached the last floor and was forced to enter throw a window, Arlong hot on his heels.
While everyone stared at the destruction left by Arlong's rage, Nami kept her gaze on the destroyed window of the room Luffy entered.
"The navigation room." Memories surged through her mind. Nights crying, remembering Bellemere's death, missing Nojiko and Gen-san. Not being allowed to leave the room for days until she finished her workload, only receiving food and water by a slot on the door, relieving herself in a pot, sleeping on the hard floor. Arlong hiting her whenever he realized she was making fake maps.
"Flame?" Talonflame touched her cheek with his beak, trying to pull her from her painful memories. The firebird hadn't left her side since Ashley told him to protect her, staying with her while she cried, doing his best to comfort her. He had helped her tie her self-inflicted wounds as best as he could, holding the tape with his beak while she grabbed it around her shoulder.
"What's that?!" Something was thrown from the room, falling to the ground and breaking into pieces.
"A desk?"
"Phew. I thought it was aniki."
"Aniki is stronger than that. He will definitely defeat Arlong."
Nami paid no heed to the people around her, her eyes glued to the broken desk lying so close to her. Even broken and damaged, she could recognize it.
It was the desk where she had been forced to work for the past eight years. She could picture in her mind the places where her tears and blood was absorbed.
A bookshelf was thrown, books broken from the impact. Then another. Another table. Chairs. And maps. Many maps and books.
"Flame?" Talonflame poked at her cheeks. Nami touched them, feeling them wet, not realizing she was crying.
"Luffy." She cried outloud.
'Thank you.'
A stretched leg broke the roof, stretching farther and farther until it stopped, Luffy's so loud they could hear it.
"Gomu Gomu no ONO!" The leg came down, reentering the building with a loud SLAM, cracks forming on the outside of Arlong Park resonating with Luffy's furious yell.
The damage done by Luffy caused the structure to fall apart, everyone running away, only Nami and Ashley wanting to remain.
"Luffy!" "Let me go, Sanji! Luffy is still there!"
"Noivern, grab them!" "Noi!" Noivern grabbed his trainer and the orangette against their will, dragging them to safety. By the time they were released, Arlong Park was a big ruin, and neither Luffy nor Arlong where seen.
Hushed whispering began to sound when a shape emerged from the ruins.
"LUFFY!"
The rookie captain was covered in blood, panting and barely holding himself straight. And yet.
"NAMI!" He yelled. "YOU ARE MY NAKAMA!"
Seeing Arlong's defeated body among the ruins, Luffy victorious and Arlong Park destroyed forever, there was only one thing Nami wanted to say, something she never thought she could ever say.
"YES!"
"Arlong was defeated!" "We are free Gen-san!" "Arlong Park has fallen!" "We gotta let know the rest of the villages! Arlong's tyranny has ended!"
For a beautiful moment, everyone celebrated their freedom. Everyone was happy.
Then the rat showed up.
"HOLD IT! Chichichichi!" A disgusting, familiar voice interrupted the celebrations.
Captain Nezumi and his corrupt force were standing right behind them, fully armed and with greedy smirks on their faces.
"I truly have good luck. To think that Arlong would be defeated by a bunch of no-known pirates. Now I can seize all of Arlong Parks riches and don't have to share the fortune I took from that thief. And the cheries is that I can take credit of this battle as my own! Me, Captain Nezumi of the 16th Divi- AAGH!" Nezumi's gloating was interrupted by a irate Zoro who grabbed him by his nape.
Like hell he would let this shitty rat take credit of their victory.
"Learn to read the room bastard."
"Let him go pirate!" "Prepare to shoot." The marines pointed their guns at Zoro.
"Noivern, grab Zoro! Pikachu, give them our special treatment!"
"Noi!" "Pi-ka!"
Noivern flew above Zoro, grabbing him with his claws carefully and putting him away from the blast zone. Pikachu clenched his fist, sparks dancing on his red spots before releasing one of his favoured attacks with a cheerful grin.
He always loved giving the special treatment to bad guys.
"PIIIKA-CHUUUUU!"
"AAAAAGGHHHHHHH!" The corrupt marines cried out in pain at feeling the full power of Pikachu's Thunderbolt. By the time the attack finished, the few that weren't uncouncious were wishing to be, crying in pain, burn marks covering their bodies.
Nami approached the snivelling Nezumi with a calm expression. She put Luffy's beloved strawhat back on his head, where it belonged, and let Talonflame fly to Ashley's shoulder, giving her a warm smile in thanks.
"This is for shooting Nojiko and destroying Bellemere's orange trees." She gripped her bo staff and slammed it into Nezumi's face with as much strength as she could, breaking the rat's jaw and teeth, sending him to the pool.
Nami crouched in front of the defeated marine, pulling him by his whiskers painfully, making sure she had his full attention.
"First you will arrest the gyojin like you should have done years ago. And don't even think about stealing credit! We all know those pelicans are surely watching us right now and will let everyone know who really defeated Arlong. Second, you will help to reconstruct Goya Village! Third, you won't touch Arlong's treasures; they belong to the villagers. And last: GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY!"
"I WILL! I SWEAR, I WILL!"
Once Nami left him go, Nezumi went back to his still twitching and unconscious men, glaring hatefully at the pirates that humiliated him.
"All of you filthy pirates! I will make you pay for this! You girl! The one with those beasts! You will pay for humiliating me! I will make sure your pets end up as stuffed dolls decorating my office while you lic-" "BAM" Luffy's stretched fist collided against his nose, breaking it.
"Don't threaten my crew." Luffy warned the corrupt marine, not a single sign of his usual cheerfulness present.
Nezumi blanched in terror at the terryfying visage in front of him. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, even Usopp and Nami were staring at him coldly, hands in their weapons and in Sanji's case, foot tapping the ground. But it wasn't just the pirate, all the villagers and the bounty hunters had their hands gripping tightly their weapons, killing intent visible on their eyes.
Nezumi realized that if he even attempted to finish his threat, he would die.
"Fucking strawhat! I will make sure you get what you deserve!" And with that he ran away, his men following him, some of the villagers right behind them, making sure they wouldn't try to run away before fulfilling Nami's demands.
"Let 's go! We got to let know everyone know that Arlong has fallen!"
"Today is a day of celebration!"
"The Fall of Arlong Park!"
For the next two days, a great party was held on the entire island. Flags with Arlong's pirate insign were burned, drinks and food flowed, and people sang, danced, and celebrated their newly recovered freedom.
After eight long years, happiness returned to the Conomi Islands.
Finally finished with Arlong's arc. As you can see I made some small changes in the battles. Sanji only got hit by Kuroobi because he got distracted while Kuji was trying to hurt Ashley, and Zoro, while still dealing with his injuries from Mihawk, isn't suffering from a fever thanks to Ashley's medicines. Kuji is a gyojin I created for this fight, I based him of a sperm whale and the name is actually taken from Makkokujira, wich acording to google translator means sperm whale. I apologize if I butchered the japanese language, I know that kujira is the part that means whale but I thought that Kuji sounded better. I give permission to butcher spanish in response. XD
I am excited by the new revelations made by Oda regarding the Void Century. Fortunately, I have a lot of arcs to cover before needing to see how to adapt into my fic, but I have a couple of ideas that mix well.
See you guys and remember, ONE PIECE IS REAL!