Chapter 29 - Chapter 14; Part 2

"Usopp!" Nami cheered happily, but winced when she saw all the wounds on him. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I forced myself to come here, but I don't think I can move anymore," Usopp sighed as he sat down before grinning at her and Sanji with a peace sign. "Guess what? I took them all down! I did! Three Fishmen attacking all at once, and I came out on top!"

"Unbelievable…" Nojiko commented.

"Wow, really?" Nami asked disbelievingly, but she knew he was telling the truth. "Good job!"

"Heh. Knew you had it in you," Sanji patted him on the back, sitting next to him.

Usopp then looked inside the Park before hesitantly asking, "Uh, so why is Zoro struggling… and why is no one helping?"

"Who kno-" Sanji was saying when Luffy suddenly stood up with a grin.

"Oh, looks like whatever Zoro was trying to achieve either happened or failed…" Nami trailed off and watched in bewilderment as Luffy picked up a large piece of debris, and cracked it in his hands just as he threw it into the air… the debris broke off into multiple pieces of rock, big and small, and headed right over… over…

Nami and everyone else gasped loudly, seeing where it was heading, and yelled in unison. "WHY THE HELL ARE YOU THROWING IT AT ZORO?!"

———

While all the fights were going on, Zoro was completely focused on his battle, knowing Luffy would take care of everything else. He heard things, knew what was going on around him, but didn't bother thinking about anything.

"Nyuu, I thought the famous Roronoa Zoro would be a worthy opponent, but looks like you're extremely incompetent!" Hachi complained again to get no answer. He usually liked to banter during fights, but Zoro was as unresponsive as a rock.

"I'm ending this! Octopus Leg Miracle Swords!" Hachi lunged at him with six swords in a circular formation. Zoro waited until the tips of his blades were right in front of him before slashing his single sword at all of them while twisting his body. He managed to deflect five of the swords, but the last one slashed him right across his chest, and he fell to his knees.

"Nyuu almost deflected all my swords. That was really impressive!" Hachi praised his enemy and thought the fight was over, but Zoro stood back up, his eyes completely focused on Hachi.

Hachi kept talking, yelling attack names, yelling at him that he was ignoring him, yelling that he shouldn't be so rude, body slamming him… but Zoro didn't care. Or rather, he didn't have the strength to care. He was at death's door, with all the wounds from Mihawk opening up on top of all the new ones Hachi gave him. Plus, he was using one sword against Hachi's six, so each time Hachi attacked, he focused on blocking only those strikes that would be fatal. And so, non-fatal wounds kept accumulating on his body… but enough non-fatal wounds would also lead to a fatal ending. He kept trying to sense Hachi's attacks rather than see them, tried to concentrate on his breathing as he tried to sense the breath of his surroundings, whatever that meant. He had started attacking too, but Hachi's six sword defences were solid and he managed only shallow cuts on him.

"…Listen, Zoro. There are those who can cut nothing in this world. And the same people can cut steel too with the same sword. The pinnacle of swordsmanship is the power to protect what one wishes to protect, to cut what one wishes to cut…"

His sensei's words and Luffy saying the same things reverberated in his head. His thoughts were interrupted when Hachi came at him again, and only three swords were blocked while the other three slashed his chest. He collapsed to the ground, feeling like he was on the verge of dying, but he controlled his breathing and tried to keep a steady head, observing his surroundings as he got up again.

Zoro's head buzzed, his body screamed for rest and wanted to fall, his eyes wanted to close, and his heartbeat…

He didn't know it at the time, but that's when Luffy threw all the rocks over his head. All Zoro saw was that many rocks, big and small, were about to fall on him. His body automatically moved a few steps and he casually stood idly while the rocks fell all around him, not even a single one hitting him.

"ZORO! ARE YOU OKAY?!" He heard distant shouts but didn't care as he observed his surroundings. He hadn't just dodged all the rocks falling on him; he had moved to where he knew it wouldn't fall. 'This isn't the first time I'm in this…state… I've felt this feeling before. Everything around me was eerily silent, my heartbeat sounding like distant thunder. It was like I was standing at the gates of Hades… I could feel the rocks around me just now. Sounded like they were… breathing. Is this it? Rocks, trees, the ground itself. I can feel them all breathing… So, this is what Sensei and Luffy meant…'

"Nyuu, what is this? Infighting?" Hachi whined again at not getting a good fight.

Zoro didn't know what he was talking about, but observed Hachi's swords and could feel them breathing before looking at all the rocks strewn around him, and felt them breathing too. 'Cut what I want to cut. Cut only what I want to cut… It's my will… My blade should only cut what I want to cut… Channel my will through my blade…'

He slashed at a nearby rock without putting too much power behind it, and the rock split open in half like it was butter. He then looked around for anything soft like paper, and suddenly a large palm leaf came flying at him. Zoro slashed at the leaf with his sword, and it simply fell down with not even a scratch. 'I see…'

Luffy was the one who had thrown the palm leaf when Zoro looked like he was looking for something like it. But that action had everyone confused.

"What the fuck is that guy doing?!" Nami hissed.

"Maybe he's… Yeah, I got absolutely nothing," Usopp sighed, not able to come up with some fantastic story that would explain his behaviour.

"Octopus," Zoro finally spoke, silencing everyone. "Sorry for ignoring you. Come at me. I'll fight back."

"Nyuu, finally! Yes, let's test it! My six swords against your one sword!" Hachi held all six swords such that they were pointing at a single spot and charged at Zoro. "Six Sword Style. Octopus Pot Stance. New Yea-"

"One Sword. One Strike." Zoro waited for him to come to him, and just before he got skewered by the swords, he swung Wado in an arc. "Lion Slash!"

All six swords got cut. Zoro had shattered plenty of swords before due to sheer strength, but this was different. All six swords were clearly cut where he wanted them to be cut.

Zoro wanted to follow it up by slashing at Hachi and taking him out, but he felt his concentration slipping and felt the state he was in slipping away from him. He hastily kicked off the ground and slashed at Hachi, the slash deep enough that he was done for with that single strike.

Hachi fell on his back, blood gushing out from his chest, and at the same time, Zoro staggered on his feet and fell forward… and Luffy was there to catch him.

He leaned into him and relaxed on his captain's shoulder, but clicked his tongue in annoyance, seeing the cut on Hachi's chest. "It's an unrefined cut."

Luffy eyed the slash too and nodded, "Yeah, but you sliced apart the swords though."

"…It was such a fleeting moment of clarity…" Zoro said as Luffy walked him to the others. "I'm already forgetting the feeling… the state…"

"You just arrived at the starting line," Luffy chuckled as he reached the others and gently laid them down on the ground. "You'll have to train some more to do it on command."

"Move!" Nako pushed past everyone and let out an unholy shriek when he saw Zoro's condition. "YOU MOTH&@#(*@##@-" A really long string of curse words, unfit for a doctor, came out of his mouth as he began treating him.

"Well, that was new…" Nami commented. "I don't think I've ever seen you curse, Nako"

"Wow…" Luffy whistled in appreciation. "You kiss your mother with that mouth, old man? I gotta learn some of those words"

"AND YOU!! DON'T GET ME STARTED ON YOU! WHY THE HELL DID YOU THROW ROCKS AT YOUR OWN CREWMATE?!"

"Oh, that was you, Luffy? I was wondering why so much debris started falling on me out of nowhere. Thanks for that"

"Shishi no problem"

"WHY ARE YOU THANKING HIM, YOU #@&%=+&#£$€{§"

"Down, Nako…" Genzo patted his shoulder calming him down.

"GRRRAAAHHHHHHHH!"

An unholy rage-fueled growl reverberated in the air, this time much louder, much angrier, much more primal. Eyes turned towards the one responsible for it and they saw Arlong standing in front of Hachi.

"YOU FILTHY INFERIOR HUMANS DARE DO THIS TO MY BRETHREN?!"

All of Arlong's crew had fallen in a very short interval. All the fights had happened simultaneously, so first Chew lost to Nami. Kuroobi lost not even a minute later by Sanji's hands, and then just a few seconds later, Usopp arrived saying he had defeated all the Fishmen that had went after him. Not even 20 seconds later, Luffy threw rocks at Zoro and a minute later, Hachi was taken out.

Seeing his crew drop like flies one after the other in less than 3 minutes, that too by normal filthy humans, had amplified Arlong's rage. All the hope that the villagers felt seeing the Strawhats taking down the Fishmen vanished into thin air when they saw Arlong's rage-filled eyes.

Luffy turned back to the others and saw the terrified, horror-filled eyes on all of them, especially on Nami's face. "I still haven't fought him huh? Guess I forgot where we were for a second there…"

"You forgot?!" Sanji and Usopp comically snapped.

"Yeah, seeing Zoro, I thought we were in another country," Luffy said as he stood up. He patted Nami's head, making the hat sit tighter on her head before giving her a reassuring smile and went to face Arlong. Nami's hands involuntarily pulled on the hat as she watched him go. From what she had heard Arlong was stronger than everyone put together on his crew… well, Luffy was the same too if she thought about it.

"I'LL MAKE YOU PAY! I'LL MAKE YOU ALL PAY! ESPECIALLY YOU, NAMI! FOR BRIN-"

"Oh shut up, Arlong," Luffy said in a tired tone and Arlong turned his glare on Luffy. "There are lots of things I want to say to you. How you don't deserve to wear that mark," he said pointing at the Sun Tattoo on his chest, "How you're a disgrace to everything that Tiger stood for, a disgrace to that symbol, how much of a coward you are, how you've unintentionally started-" Luffy stopped himself from saying anything more and sighed shoving the thoughts of Otohime, Hody and all the others events that were flashing in his head.

He sighed running his fingers through his hair, "Well, all that doesn't matter. There are only two reasons I'm here today"

"Human, what did you just say about Big B-" Arlong furiously hissed but Luffy didn't let him continue. He jumped on Arlong, grabbing his nose. "First reason - You killed Bellemere!"

He yanked on his nose, flipped and whipped him into the ground. "Second reason," Luffy growled anger flashing in his eyes, "YOU MADE MY NAVIGATOR CRY!"

Arlong didn't get a chance to say anything as he was whipped again and again into the ground before Luffy swung and threw him at the Arlong Park building. Arlong crashed through the walls, landing inside the building and Luffy jumped into it right after him.

The onlookers soon heard shouts from Arlong trying to say-no, yell something but he kept getting cut off by a loud crash followed by screams and groans. They were almost in a trance, some even wondering if they were dreaming.

Nami felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to face Nojiko, who had disbelief written all over her face. She opened her mouth to say something but shut it not able to come up with anything to say. The situation unfolding before their eyes was just too unbelievable and at the same time, everything they had ever hoped for.

"Ugh… easy there, doc," Zoro hissed when Nako applied a bit too much pressure while stitching him up.

"Ah sorry… just…" Nako, who was looking at the building in shock, looked back down at him, "…you know…"

"Yeah…"

"It's your fault for getting so hurt," Sanji taunted him while they waited for Luffy to come out.

"Shut up…" Zoro sighed, not in the mood for bantering as he saw the fight was moving to the upper floors of the building.

"I don't know what you achieved," Nojiko said wincing at Zoro's wounds, "But did you really have to push yourself so hard when you had… him?"

Zoro stared at the building for a few seconds before answering. "It's precisely because he's there that I pushed myself so far"

Nami came out of her reverie before staring down at Zoro. "What does that mean?"

"I quickly want to become someone he can lean on," Zoro said resolutely. "Right now, he's babysitting the rest of us. Giving us opportunities to fight and grow, showing us the path to strength… I don't want to waste it…"

"Umm the guy fell into the sea yesterday because he was trying to dance on the figurehead and had to be fished out of the sea cause he can't swim," Sanji said with a sweat-drop.

Zoro chuckled, "Well, I didn't say he's not an idiot"

Nami giggled before turning back to the building as she thought about Zoro's words. "You're right…"

"Well, you think about all that later, witch," Zoro said with a smile, "For now, just enjoy watching your tormentor get beaten up by an angry Luffy"

Nami smiled with a nod while also tearing up with happiness.

The next instant, Sanji's foot came down on Zoro's chest. "Don't call Nami-swan a wit-" His words died in his throat when Nako glared dangerously at him.

THWACK!

"I'm sorry, sir. Won't happen again," Sanji politely bowed to him causing the other three Strawhats to lightly snicker.

Things finally changed when Arlong came bursting out from the middle of the building and crash-landed on the ground with his sword - the Kirabachi in his hands. He was in a miserable state. Blood poured out from petty much everywhere, one of his hands seemed to be broken, he couldn't even stand and was leaning on one knee while he wheezed, and he kept spitting blood through his broken-no, shattered teeth.

Luffy jumped out a second later and they all expected him to have the look of someone on a vengeful path, but Luffy looked happily at them. "Hey guys, look! I got shark teeth!" He grinned showing off the sharp shark teeth he had apparently gotten from Arlong before putting it in his mouth and clamped it open and shut like he was playing.

They all face-faulted. "Take some things seriously, dammit!"

"Shishishishi"

"No wait, did you rip Arlong's teeth out?!" Usopp shakily pointed out.

"No no, he did it himself. They grow back apparently"

"Inferior human…" Arlong croaked out, his voice hoarse. "You… are a filthy human! I… I am a superior Fishman!"

Luffy took one step forward as he took the shark teeth dentures out and Arlong flinched before he quickly jumped into the pool. "Shahahaha! You made a huge mistake by letting me jump in, you inferior human! Now that I'm in my element, there is no way can defeat me!" Arlong yelled, getting his bravado back now that he was in water. "I'll show you! I'll show you the difference between us! I am from a superior species! You are from an inferior species!"

Luffy just played around with the shark teeth dentures while Arlong yapped on. The villagers wanted to warn him that Arlong would be stronger but they felt like it wouldn't matter much. And as predicted, when Arlong yelled "SHARK ON DARTS!" and flew out of the pool, his sharp nose aiming to pierce Luffy, he just grabbed the nose and abruptly stopped his entire momentum.

Arlong's eyes trembled as Luffy stared back into his eyes and started panicking when he felt his nose being bent. "My nose! My nose is the strongest! There's no one who ca-" He stopped speaking and screamed when his nose was bent upwards by Luffy in a single instant. Luffy then let go and Arlong collapsed on all fours panting hard with tears in his eyes. "You! You… YOU! GRAAAHHH!"

His eyes became bloodshot, he looked like he lost all his reason and became a raging beast that recklessly charged at Luffy. Luffy caught him by the nose again but Arlong clamped his mouth shut on his hand. Luffy immediately pummeled him into the ground making him groan in pain which released his hand. Arlong recklessly got up, charging at him again and Luffy flipped him back before jumping on one of the upper floors of Arlong Park. With his sword in hand, Arlong swung it at him, wrecking his own building before the attacks continued as Luffy kept jumping up and up to the higher floors and Arlong chased after him.

The two again disappeared inside the building when they reached the top floor and things were relatively silent for a while. They could still hear vague words being exchanged but they couldn't make out what exactly they were saying. Very soon though, something came flying out of the top floor.

BOOM! CRASH!

Arlong was launched straight out of the building and he fell all the way to the ground, his teeth crushed, nose bent, eyes rolled back, a couple of limbs broken, and he was unmoving as he lay in a crater created by his fall. The villagers became elated seeing Arlong in that state and it was finally settling in their minds that Arlong had been defeated. Nami moved her eyes from the broken Arlong to the upper floor from where she was expecting Luffy to come out, but he didn't.

Instead, a desk came flying out next. Nami's eyes widened seeing the desk while the others got confused as to why Luffy was still up there. A bookshelf came out next and Nami's hand covered her mouth, realizing what he was doing.

"What's he up to now?" Sanji asked confused when more and more things came flying out, as did the others.

Nami watched the desk she had been forced to make her charts on fall to the ground, shattering into a million pieces on impact. The shelves shattered, the chair shattered, and many maps and charts fluttered in the air all around the building as every single item in that room - in that prison - came crashing down and shattered into pieces.

Seeing Arlong lose made her feel like her tormentor was being punished but watching what Luffy was doing with the room, watching all those things get destroyed felt like her own shackles were being destroyed and she was finally being freed from her prison.

'Thank you Luffy…' she cried, grateful and happy tears pouring out her eyes.

The building soon started to rumble as Luffy seemed like he was rampaging inside and cracks formed from the top of the building down to its foundation.

"What's going on?!"

"The building is coming down! Everybody, move back!"

"But Luffy's still in there!"

The building started collapsing in on itself and soon, Arlong Park fell with a resounding crash. Everyone watched with worry when the rubbles settled wondering what had happened to Luffy but he suddenly burst out of from all the debris, covered in dust and some blood.

"NAMI!" He yelled looking straight at her and declared "YOU'RE FREE!"

"Mm" Nami nodded wiping away the happy tears that uncontrollably came out.

"ARLONG PARK HAS FALLEN!" The villagers cheered ecstatically as they embraced, danced, and celebrated.

Luffy watched them all with a grin as he came down from the broken remains of the building before he caught sight of the Marines standing in the far distance, observing what was happening. When they saw that Luffy was looking at them, they screamed in terror and tripped over themselves as they ran away.

"Heh, looks like you put the fear of devils in them huh?" Sanji smirked as he came up to him and watched the Marines run away too.

"Shishi yep!"

Nami walked up to him and plopped his hat back on his head while giving him a shaky barely-able-to-hold-back-happy-sobs grin. Luffy returned the grin, they high-fived and she was about to say something but couldn't when Luffy was body-slammed by Nojiko and a few other villagers.

——o———o———o—— ​

"Shouldn't we call those Marine guys?" Genzo asked eyeing all the Fishmen who were being rounded up and tied up with chains by Luffy.

It had been a few minutes since the fall of Arlong Park. Nako had dangerously insisted that everyone get a check-up from him and leave his sight only after he was done with him. Only Luffy and Sanji were let go after he was done while the others were made to stay under his care, especially Zoro, who was bedridden.

The celebrations were already starting, news of their freedom was being sent to the other villages and people seemed to be in a festive mood when Genzo came up to Luffy asking what they should do with all the Fishmen. Luffy intervened then and tied up all of them with a chain.

"Nah, don't worry about it. I called someone to come get these guys," Luffy said as he dragged all the Fishmen and started making his way outside the village. 'I hope he comes!' He thought excitedly, 'If not, I'll just hand them over to the Marines…'

Genzo perked up in surprise. "You did? Who?"

"Someone who'll make sure that these guys won't ever hurt another soul again," Luffy said and Genzo nodded letting it go. Luffy dragged them to Gosa village and after flipping one of the houses upright to make a temporary cell, threw them all in.

It was late at night when the party was raging on and he was stuffing his face with raw ham melon that he received the call from the person he was waiting for.

"Hello… …Hey!… …You're already here?! Wow, that was fast… …Yeah, we're done with him… …Okay, come near the village where the houses are flipped… …Yeah, that one. You already were on the island huh?… …Okay, see you soon"

Luffy slipped out of the party and quickly went to Gosa village to the temporary cell where he just sat leaning on the house, waiting for him to show up.

"Who is that?!" Arlong's hoarse voice came from inside the house, having heard Luffy's footsteps. 'Looks like he's regained consciousness huh?' Luffy thought but didn't respond.

"Arlong, please stop. You shouldn't move with all those injuries," one of the Fishmen said but Arlong struggled against his chains trying to break out of them. "I am a Fishman! How dare that inferior human beat me like this?! He must have used some trick! I'm sure of it! That bitch Nami must have gotten her hands on some strong new poison and slipped it in my food!"

Luffy couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"WHO'S LAUGHING?!" Arlong roared as he struggled against his chains. "I'll kill you! I will get free from here and I'll kill you, you filthy humans!"

"Arlong, you'll hurt yourself more, please stop," Hachi pleaded, but Arlong didn't settle down.

"Don't worry, everyone. We'll all get out of this and we'll create the Fishman Empire! We'll show these filthy humans an-"

Luffy opened the door then and sat at the entrance with his arms crossed as he studied the inside that was illuminated by the moonlight.

"YOU?!" Arlong roared. "IT'S ALL YOUR DOING! HUMAN SCUM! What kind of trick did you us-"

"I wasn't gonna interfere, but I heard something really funny and strange just now. You said something about creating an Empire? Did you really mean that?"

"Of course, I did, you human scum! I am going to cre-"

"Why didn't you until now then?" Luffy cut him off again and Arlong glared at him. "You guys have been here for eight years. And what did you do in all that time? Conquered a grand total of… One island. Well, a tiny archipelago technically, but you get my point. If you really did have any intentions of creating a Fishman empire here, I think you'd have done more, don't you think? So, I'm gonna ask you again, did you ever really have any intention of creating anything?"

"I have nothing to say to you, you filthy human scum!" Arlong spat.

"Dodging the question, huh? What about you guys?" Luffy asked turning to Chew and Kuroobi, who both spat the same thing Arlong did.

Hachi, on the other hand, gasped loudly, sucking in air like a vacuum, before nodding vigorously, "The human's right! We could have put so many more islands under our rule if we wanted!… Why didn't we?" He tilted his head thoughtfully before turning to his captain "Arlong?"

By the looks some of the other Fishmen were giving Arlong, they also seemed to be thinking the same, but the saw-toothed bastard just scoffed. "You guys wouldn't get it! We needed mo-"

"If you're not gonna, let me answer," Luffy interjected, "You see guys, Arlong here was scared shitless. Scared that if someone heard what he was doing here, his life would end. So, he made sure to keep his operation small, bribed the local Marines so that the higher-level Marines never figured what he was up to…"

"Bastard!" Arlong scowled, "Filthy human scum spreading lies! Don't listen to him!"

"Who?" Hachi asked regardless, even though he should have realized the answer by then.

Before Luffy could answer though, a huge figure suddenly appeared behind him. The towering build of the person covered the entire door frame and stopped any moonlight from entering the makeshift prison. The silhouette he had against the backdrop of the moonlit night created a terrifying visage in everyone's eyes. Adding to that the fact that everyone recognized the figure instantly and also noticed that the person was furious, they gulped in fear.

"ME!" The towering man growled answering Hachi's question just as Luffy looked up at him with an excited smile.

"J-Jinbe?" Arlong stuttered, fear clear in his eyes.

Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea and Captain of the Sun Pirates, scowled before jumping over Luffy and pummeled the saw-toothed Fishman's face into the ground.

——Flashback——

One Month ago. When Luffy called Sengoku after defeating Ganzack

"Hello?" Sengoku's voice came over the snail.

"Yo Sen, it's me!"

"You again? It hasn't even been like two weeks since you last called me," Sengoku grumbled, his voice clearing taking an irritated tone.

"Aww, I can't call you whenever I want?"

"Get to the point, brat, or I'm disconnecting"

"Okay okay, I have two things. First, the base I'm calling from, it's abandoned apparently. People on this island were enslaved for a few years under a pirate called Ganzack. I just defeated Ganzack and freed the people, but they'll still need a good Marine presence here. Send someone good"

"…"

There was a brief silence before Sengoku sighed deeply, "…Okay fine, I'll look into it"

"First, that Makino woman calls asking us to investigate and remove a corrupt Marine Captain," Tsuru's voice came over the snail next, "And now you. Are you doing our jobs for us now? I thought you were gonna give us headaches?"

"Shishi well, that'll come later. For now, the main point I called - I need a favour"

"A favour? What makes you think we'll do you of all people a favour?"

"Please? It's important"

Sengoku took a few moments to think about it before sighing again, "Well, you did just free an island… I'll hear you out at least. What is it?"

"Great. I want you to call Jinbe"

"Jinbe?" Sengoku said surprised before scowling, "You think this is some service I'm running for you here? Why the hell would I do that? And why the hell do you want to get in touch with Jinbe?!"

"Hear me out. You've heard of Arlong, right?"

"Arlong? Hmm, the name does seem familiar…"

"It's that Fishman that was imprisoned," Tsuru reminded him, "Jinbe asked that he and a few other Fishmen be let go when he became a Warlord"

"Ah, that's right… So, what about him?"

"Well, he's here in East Blue hurting people. I'm gonna take him down soon and I want Jinbe to come pick them up"

"…"

"Kid," Tsuru was the one who spoke up first, "You gotta give us more details here. First off, Arlong is hurting people in East Blue? How so?"

"He basically demands tribute from people and kills them if they don't pay"

"I see. Well, leave it to the Marines," Sengoku intervened, "Tell us where he is and we'll send in a unit"

"I'm pretty sure the Marines in East Blue know where he is, some of them at least. When he arrived here 8 years ago, he destroyed five battleships. I don't know how many more have tried over the years, but I'm sure many Marines have been killed by him. Do you really want to send more of your people just to get killed by him? I told you I'll take care of him, so let me do it. I have a personal grudge against him"

Tsuru gave a long sigh before agreeing with him. "Well, Arlong is from the Grand Line after all. Our people in East Blue might not be able to handle him. And we're already stretched thin as is with New World and Paradise… We don't have the resources to spare to handle something that small happening in East Blue"

'Something that small huh?' Luffy smiled bitterly. Nami's entire childhood was destroyed because of the 'something that small'… But he couldn't actually refute that. The world was so vast and filled with events similar to what was happening on Cocoyashi after all…

Sengoku's sigh brought him out of his thoughts. "Well, fine. You are taking down a pirate for us… I'm pretty sure I already know the answer to this, but do you want to become a Warlord? Knowing Garp and your brother, you'll no doubt start causing waves when you come to the Grand Line. If you're gonna do stuff like taking down evil pirates, then you can do that as a Warlord"

"Shishi in your dreams, Senny"

"Yeah, figured as much. Your brother was offered the title too, you know. He said the same thing… Well, anyway, let's get back to this topic. So, you're gonna take down this Arlong guy. Why do you need Jinbe? You can just leave them at the nearest Marine Base"

"Hmm well, I don't want them turned into slaves"

"…What do you mean?"

"I know about the Human-Fishman history. I know about Sabaody. I know what happens in Mariejois… Maybe the Fishmen arrested here will be sent to prison, but there's a chance that they'll be sent to the Celestial bastards too. I don't want that to happen, so I want Jinbe to take them"

He didn't remember if their fate was ever mentioned in the story but Arlong or any of the others weren't there when Luffy broke into Impel Down. Maybe he was in some other part of the prison and he just didn't run into them, maybe they had all died at some point, maybe they were in some other prison altogether… or maybe, they had been taken as slaves. He recalled how Mjosgard had gone to Fishman Island to retrieve his 'property' - The Sun Pirate slaves that they had released when Jinbe became a Warlord - and that was more than enough reason to suspect some other Celestial bastard could also do the same. And as much as Luffy hated Arlong, he didn't want him and his crew to become slaves to the Celestial Dragons.

Silence had descended in the room again for quite sometime before Sengoku's irritated voice came from the snail. "That damn Garp! Looks like he filled your head with all these things! 'Stupid grandson', my ass!"

They, of course, assumed that Garp was the source of Luffy's knowledge and Luffy didn't bother to correct it. He was only amused wondering what kind of conversations they would have with Sengoku accusing Garp that he lied about Luffy's stupidity and Garp having no idea what the hell Sengoku was talking about.

"Kid. I need you to understand that the Celestial Dragons are like our bosses. You can't just call me and ask me to do something that goes against them. Why the hell would you think I would ever agree to this?"

"Hmm really? I thought this wouldn't be a big deal at all… How would they even know what happens here? Just do this quietly"

"Kid, you and I are enemies. And you yourself are directly telling me all this… that's almost the same as telling them. I honestly can't understand as to what's going through your head right now"

"Hmm… Well, I'm gonna play on your feelings a bit right now, okay?"

"Wha-?"

"I think you have a conscience. I know you have to overlook, partake in, or straight-up order some really fucked-up things on a daily basis. So, I'm assuming that if you can get away with it, you'll also overlook, partake in, or straight-up do some things that prevent some of those fucked-up things from happening. I know for a fact that Gramps does, so I'm assuming you do too… No, forget assuming, I'm hoping you do that. Cause I don't know how someone like you will be able to sleep at night if you don't."

"…"

Tsuru burst out laughing and Sengoku grumbled under his breath. "You sure have a way with words, kid. It's rare to see Senny this befuddled"

"It's like talking with Garp all over again!" Sengoku snapped, "That bastard also keeps doing stuff like this, and leaving me to cover it up!"

"I'm just asking you to call someone who will take pirates as prisoners. I'm not asking you to cover up anything, you know. I just don't want some corrupt Marines to sell them off as slaves"

"Shut up! Garp has a ton of achievements, so he gets a pass! But you?! You're a pirate! And you have the audacity to talk about having a conscience! I can't decide if I should be angry or laugh that a fucking pirate is telling me this!"

"Oh c'mon, Sen. You used the terms 'evil pirates' earlier in this very conversation. That establishes that you recognize the existence of good pirates too"

"PFFTAHAHA! He got you there, Senny!" Tsuru only laughed harder and Sengoku hurled some colourful curses at Luffy, and also Garp before finally calming down with a sigh.

He grumbled a bit more but with Tsuru siding with Luffy, finally agreed to call Jinbe for him. Luffy cheered having gotten what he wanted. Of all the reasons he had told them, there was one main reason that he had left out. A selfish and simple one - He just wanted to meet Jinbe.

His thought process went something along the lines of - 'Man, I want to meet Jinbe. I have to wait so long to even see him though… Hmm, wait. Maybe he would come here to East Blue if he heard about Arlong? Yes, he definitely would! How could I let him know though? Hmm… Oh! I can ask Sen. But what reason would I say? Hm…' And then he thought about what would happen to Arlong, didn't remember if they were ever mentioned again in the story, thought they might become slaves… and so on. Thus, he ended up coming to very valid reasons to justify his request, which lead to this call and he excitedly waited to hear Jinbe's voice.

Unfortunately for him, he had to wait a bit more. Sengoku called Jinbe using another transponder snail aand… it didn't connect, much to Luffy's growing irritation with the communication system of his world. "Well, guess we'll have to send a carrier bat. Tell us the message, kid"

"Alright," Luffy sighed.

"Shouldn't take too long. Carrier bats are quite fast," Tsuru said taking out a pen, "Go ahead"

"Hey, Jinbe. This is Monkey D. Luffy, Future Pirate King."

"Should we really put the pirate king part?" Sengoku complained but Tsuru chuckled and told Luffy to continue as she wrote it all down.

"I'll get right to the point. I want you to come to East Blue. As for why? Saying the name Arlong should make you understand…"

"He came here eight years ago. Took over an island, demands tribute every month - 100,000 for an adult, 50,000 for a child. If even one person fails to pay up, he not only kills that person but also every single person in that village"

"Good lord…" Tsuru sighed.

"Now, I know after reading this, you'll want to come to East Blue and take care of this problem, but you're not allowed to. - Highlight that part, Tsuru - Why? Well, that's because the island he took over is home to a friend of mine. She was 10, living with her sister and her mother when Arlong came. They were poor, so they couldn't afford the 200,000 Arlong demanded. They only had 100,000, so the mother chose to sacrifice her life so that her two daughters could live and Arlong shot her in cold blood right in front of her daughters. My friend is talented in drawing maps, so Arlong took her- A 10-year-old girl, branded her, and for the last 8 years, has forced her to work for him… work for the same man that killed her mother… She has fought for the last 8 years, trying to gain her freedom back and she finally sees a way to do just that and she will see to the end of it…"

"…I'm not blaming you, Jinbe. I just want to you understand that this is her fight. He's destroyed her life and so, how and when Arlong falls will be decided by her and her alone… The only reason I'm asking you to come to East Blue is because there's a chance that they might end up as slaves after they're arrested. And I don't want that to happen- even to my enemies. Just under a month from now, we'll deal with Arlong and if you're free, come by to East Blue and call me to pick them up. If you can't, that's okay too. I know you're a busy man. I just want to inform you and I'm sure that you'll make sure that they all don't get enslaved…"

"Again, I really don't blame you for what Arlong did. And it's not your fault… The end, I guess. Just include my number in the message too."

"Wow… so this is the grudge huh?" Tsuru sighed, "Hit him a couple of times from my end too"

"Shishi will do. Thanks, Tsuru"

"Add this at the end too," Sengoku spoke up, "Jinbe, I know it was your condition to release Arlong. But he has committed a crime again. If you are going to East Blue to pick them up, I want you to bring them straight to prison"

"Okay done"

"Thanks for doing this, Sen" Luffy said gratefully.

"…Hope you aren't gonna keep using me like this"

"Oh come on, Senny," Tsuru interjected and Luffy could feel that she was smiling wide. "If he's gonna do stuff like this, then I'm 100% behind him. Hey kid, if you have a request like this again, call me directly. Here's my number," she said and gave her number out.

"…I'm getting a headache now…" Sengoku sighed, while Luffy and Tsuru laughed, before he added seriously, "Call me when this thing happens. I'm letting you do this, but I still want to know what takes place."

"I don't think I can. I have to call you from a Marine Base always to connect to you, and I won't be in a Marine Base when it happens."

"Just call a nearby Marine Base and ask someone to connect to me by giving them my number that you have. That's it."

"Oh… right, that works… Why didn't you tell Makino this? She said she usually had to go to the Goa Kingdom's Marine Base to connect to you"

"If I told her that she could do that to reach me, she would have called me like ten times a day and screamed at me every time!"

"Shishi, yeah, I guess. Well, anyway, thanks for this. Bye-bye!"

"Goodbye brat" / "Bye Luffy"

Luffy disconnected the call before sighing deeply. 'That sure was tense… I didn't like talking to him like that… even if it was in a message. I hope Jinbe isn't too distressed… I hope he comes through!'

——Flashback End——

'Oh yeah, Sen asked me to call him, didn't he?… oh well,' Luffy shrugged as he watched his future helmsman repeatedly punch Arlong into the ground.

"You bastard! You haven't changed at all even after all these years! You have only become worse!"

"Alright, big guy," Luffy said grabbing his fist and pulling him back, "Calm down"

Jinbe stopped, huffing and puffing and tried to calm himself down as he swept his gaze across everyone there. The other Fishmen cowered at the sight of Jinbe glaring down at them and Arlong was down, wheezing and coughing, barely alive.

"Let's cool you off," Luffy said as he pulled Jinbe out of the house and Jinbe didn't protest. Once they came out, Luffy properly saw Jinbe in all his glory. The first thing he noticed was that Jinbe was big. Really big. Vertically and horizontally too, but it was by no means fat that covered his body but pure muscle from which he could feel radiating strength. When he pulled Jinbe just seconds ago, he could already tell that he was no match for him. He would lose miserably if he fought him. Another humble reminder to him that he was nowhere near strong enough to stand with the monsters of this world.

"Well, I wish it was under better circumstances but it's really nice to meetcha, Jinbe!" Luffy said giving him his signature wide smile, shaking all other thoughts away.

"You must be Luffy," Jinbe said looking downcast before he kneeled down.

Knowing what he was doing, Luffy immediately grabbed him by his shoulders and stopped him before he put his forehead to the ground, "First off, as I told you in the message, you're not to blame for this"

"No, you do not understand. I knew there was a chance he would do something like this, and yet, I let him go… This is m-"

"Okay okay, just relax, will you?" Luffy said pushing him up. "I'm not the victim here. So there's no point in this. My friend was the one who suffered… Her name is Nami. I want you to meet her and all… but…" he trailed off turning towards Cocoyashi village in the far distance which was lit up by festive lights and faint music and cheers could even be heard.

"She's celebrating right now," Jinbe sighed with an understanding look as he sat cross-legged. "She probably hates me… and her mood will only sour if she sees me"

"Well, all she has heard is that you released Arlong into East Blue. She doesn't know you, does she? If she does, I'm sure she'll like you"

"Know me, huh?"

"Yep. You can give her an explanation the next time we meet. I don't want her to be bogged down with learning about all the messed-up history between humans and fishmen today. She's gained her freedom after years and at this moment, I want her to be happy with no other thoughts…"

"I understand… It's that orange-haired girl, is it not?"

"Yeah… You were watching the fight? I was looking for you, but couldn't see you anywhere"

"Yeah, I was underwater in the sea outside… I was ready to intervene if any of you couldn't handle it, but you were plenty strong"

"I see. I wasn't sure if you were even gonna show up, but you were already here? When did you reach East Blue?"

"Just a couple of days ago. As soon as I received your message, I swam as fast as I could, used whale sharks and sea currents to make the journey faster… I spent the last two days observing Arlong and the others… it was truly horrible. If you hadn't said anything about this being your friend's fight, I would have bashed his skull in…"

"Thanks for holding it in"

Jinbe nodded solemnly before looking at him questioningly. "How exactly do you know about me… and everything else?"

"Long story. I'll tell you when we meet on Fishman Island"

Jinbe just nodded accepting his answer. Luffy somehow had connections to Sengoku too, so thought he had some sensitive identity and didn't pry. "Well, thank you for stopping Arlong and bringing this to my attention," he said getting up to leave.

"No no, c'mon, we only talked about depressing stuff. Let's hang out a bit more," Luffy whined as he caught his hand and started leading him away from the village towards the shore.

"Umm okay," Jinbe couldn't help but let out a light chuckle seeing him acting like a child.

"I heard you fought my brother. How is he?" Luffy asked as they slowly walked together.

"Your brother?"

"Ace"

"…Fire-fist Ace?" Jinbe gasped surprised, "You're his brother?!"

"Yep!"

"You're that man's brother…" Jinbe trailed off studying Luffy carefully before smiling, "Well, sorry to say this, but I hated your brother. At the beginning, at least"

"Shishishi he burned down Whitebeard's flag, didn't he? I don't blame you"

Jinbe agreed with a smile. "Yes, I chased after him for that. When I finally caught up to him, we fought for five days. I gained respect for him as a warrior then. And when Whitebeard came, he told his crew to run while he stayed behind. That's when I gained a bit of respect for him…"

"Hmm"

"Whitebeard accepted him as a son after defeating him. Even then, I still hated him as he apparently kept trying to kill Whitebeard," Jinbe said but then started laughing, "But then, it became a sort of a joke. I couldn't visit the Whitebeards often but whenever I did, Ace's different attempts at trying to kill the old man and miserably failing were always a fun conversation topic!"

"Really? Like what?"

"Hm. I'm sure you know about Ace's narcoleptic episodes"

"Runs in the family" 'Even though we're not blood-related'

"You too?!"

"Not as much as him, but sometimes, yeah. Shishishishi"

"Wahahaha! Well, Ace dozing off while he waited for Whitebeard to show up somewhere ended up in him falling overboard many times, getting sucked into a tornado somehow… I'm sure many stories were exaggerated by the others, but still, it was fun hearing of his exploits!"

"He got sucked into a tornado?!" Luffy laughed along with Jinbe.

They kept chatting for a long time, shifting from Whitebeard to the Sun Pirates and also some matters regarding the Ryugu Palace. Luffy confirmed some things he knew from the story while also keeping the topics light-hearted and fun. He thought about telling Jinbe about Otohime's real assassin and Hody's schemes… But in the end, decided against it. With Vander Decken knowing a major secret about Shirahoshi, really bad what if? scenarios played in his mind and he was reluctant to take any chances.

Jinbe was pleasantly surprised by the mysterious human known as Luffy. He was expecting an angry reception given what had happened, but not only did Luffy not show a slick of hostility towards him, but was actually extremely friendly with him like he was talking with an old friend.

He couldn't help but smile and laugh along with him as they kept chatting about random topics that, given the context of their meeting, should have been impossible. He did try to ask why he was being so friendly with him to which Luffy's response was to look at him like he was stupid and ask "Why would I not be friendly with you?"… And Jinbe had no answers. At some point, he even forgot why he had come there in the first place and just enjoyed his time with Luffy.

"Well, I'll be taking my leave," Jinbe said after a long time, "It was very fun spending time with you, Luffy"

"Yeah, for me too!" Luffy grinned as they both started making their way back to the temporary cell. When they reached the place, Arlong again lashed out.

"YOU GOVERNMENT DOG! I should've known you were behind this! The minute that filthy human started talking about Big Bro T, I should've known! You bastard! Couldn't fight me yourself, so you hired a human?!"

"What is he talking about?" Jinbe asked turning to Luffy.

"Oh, I told him that he doesn't deserve to have the Sun symbol on him. Also told him that Tiger would be disappointed in him"

Jinbe's eyes widened with surprise. 'He knows Big Bro T too? Just who is this?'

"GRAAH! THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BIG BRO T?!" Arlong roared before Jinbe could talk.

"An adventurer, creator of the Sun symbol, a Hero… He saved close friends of mine too who were in Mariejois at the time of the attack. I have nothing but respect for him and I'm telling you - He will be disappointed by what you've done here"

"You filthy human brat! You have no idea what you're talking about! You don't know the suffering we've been through!"

"Shut up, Arlong," Jinbe glowered, "What the boy says is true. Big Bro T would be utterly disappointed in you"

"I don't want to hear that from you, you fucking sellout! You're the one who's become the Government's dog!"

"And what did you do, Arlong?" Luffy interjected, "You enslaved an island that is totally unrelated to all the suffering you went through. Then became buddy-buddy with guys like that corrupt rat-bastard who, by the way, are exactly the type of people who hunt down Fishmen as slaves. You stayed here, built a replica of Sabaody, asked for tributes from people, killed them like they were nothing if they didn't follow your orders, branded Nami… Does that sound familiar?"

"You're trying to live a life like those Celestial Dragons" Jinbe finished and Arlong instantly spat at them.

"Bastard! I'm nothing like them!"

"Yeah well, no one can be as bad as them. But still, if you weren't afraid of Jinbe and didn't need money from the people here, I'm sure you would have started slave trading and whatnot"

"Bastard! I'm going to kill you! I'm going to kil-"

"He's right," a new solemn voice entered the conversation and all eyes turned to Hachi who had his head down.

"Hachi! What are you saying?!" Arlong growled.

"Big Bro T would've hated that we've done something like this, nyuu… especially what we did to Nami… to a child…"

"Did you forget what happened the last time we saved a filthy human kid?! Big Bro T died because of that child!"

"It wasn't her fault"

"She's a human! That's enough to make her guilty! She's just like every last one of those filthy humans who killed Big Bro T!"

"Actually, that little girl practices Fishman karate now" Luffy interjected.

"You know her?" Hachi asked perking up in surprise.

"Yeah, Koala"

"And she's learned Fishman karate?! A human has?"

"Yep! She also goes around the world freeing slaves of all races and fighting against what the Celestial Dragons do," Luffy informed before turning to Arlong, "She's carrying on Tiger's will. She's honouring the Sun symbol and what it stands for. Unlike you, who are just sullying it and degrading it…"

Arlong finally lost his mind as his eyes became bloodshot and he thrashed around like a raging beast roaring nonsensical threats at Luffy.

"I don't think he'll learn…" Jinbe sighed as he walked up and punched Arlong in the face sending him into unconsciousness. The rest had remained silent the whole time, some with their heads down, either afraid of Jinbe or feeling guilty… or possibly, both.

Hachi kept glancing at Luffy thought as if wanting to ask something and Luffy, guessing he wanted to know more about Koala, answered, "She teaches Fishman karate to others too"

"She does?" Hachi brightened up, "I kinda got attached to her when she was with us nyuu. So she's doing good now? That's good!"

"Yes, she was quite a nice kid," Jinbe also nodded with a smile.

Hachi nodded enthusiastically turning towards Jinbe, but when their eyes met, Hachi lost the enthusiasm and hung his head low in shame again, causing Jinbe to sigh and look away.

He then started dragging all of them towards the shore with Luffy walking beside him. "You have my word that Arlong and the others will never hurt anyone ever again"

Luffy smiled bitterly. "They've already unintentionally done enough damage…"

"What do you mean?"

"Earlier during the celebration back at the village, I heard a few kids talking. One kid's father was killed by Arlong very recently… The kid was saying that when he grows up, he'll kill all the Fishmen he sees"

Jinbe froze mid-step before sighing darkly. "…And I've seen some of the fishmen kids back home, who were influenced by Arlong, say that they want to kill all the humans they see when they grow up…"

'He's done much worse than that…' Luffy added thinking about Otohime's death. He was again tempted to reveal it, but held back worrying over how it would affect Shirahoshi.

"He's done the exact opposite of what Big Bro T's dying wish…"

"Yeah…"

"…You know what his dying wish was?"

"Something along the lines of don't taint the next generation with hate"

A confused Jinbe again questioned him. "How do you know that? Even if you know and heard about us from Koala, she wasn't there where he died either…"

Luffy grinned at him. "I'll tell you when I come by Fishman Island"

Jinbe sighed, wanting to know more and more about Luffy, but knew he wouldn't be getting any answers that day. They soon reached the shore and Luffy watched in amazement as Jinbe whistled and a few large whale sharks gently emerged from the seas, and so did Momoo.

"Hey Momoo, sorry for earlier," Luffy said feeling bad when he saw that Momoo was shivering as it looked at him.

"It's okay, Momoo," Jinbe said with a smile as he threw the chain at one of the whale sharks and it caught it in its mouth. It then descended back into the sea pulling all the Fishmen along and Momoo and the other whale sharks dived right after them.

"Well, Luffy, I'm extremely curious about your identity. How you know everything about me, Tiger and so much more… But as you said, I'll wait until you get to Fishman Island for answers"

Luffy silently held out a hand and Jinbe took it with a smile.

"I know I'm a nobody right now with zero achievements to my name so you might think I'm just a kid just mouthing off nonsense…but…" Luffy said as he looked into Jinbe's eyes with resolve and released his Conqueror's Haki at full blast.

Jinbe flinched before his eyes went wide with shock. "Y-you're a Co-"

"Otohime's will, Tiger's will, I promise that I'll help you carry it too"

Jinbe stared at him in bewilderment and shock, but also felt a sliver of excitement run up his spine. 'Just who are you? How will you help me? Why will you help me? What are your reasons?' A multitude of questions came to the tip of his tongue again but he just nodded.

Luffy smiled as he stopped releasing his Conqueror's and let go of his hand.

"Okay then… I'll be waiting for you," Jinbe said as he got ready to jump into the sea.

"One more thing," Luffy stopped him, "You can let Hachi go"

"Hachi? Really?"

"Yeah. His childhood dream was to open a takoyaki shop right? Let him do it near Sabaody"

"Why?"

"Well, he's mostly innocent. Just got dragged along with the bad crowd, I guess… Besides, I have a feeling that the takoyaki he makes will be delicious and I want to eat it when I come by Sabaody!" He declared, his mouth literally watering, causing Jinbe to sweat-drop.

Jinbe chuckled shaking his head. "Wahaha! I don't understand you at all…Well, guess I'll have to wait. See you!"

"See you soon!"

Jinbe dived into the sea and Luffy hoped he had alleviated his mood just a little bit at least. He stared at the sea for a while with a blank look before slowly making his way back. He didn't feel like partying though, so just aimlessly walked around the forest.

———

Some time later, he spotted his navigator walking alone in the forest too looking like she was searching for someone. His blank face instantly lit up when he saw her and he grinned as he suddenly appeared next to her, making her yelp in shock.

"You idiot! Stop doing that already!"

"But your reactions are so cute though. I can't get enough of them!"

"Grr! Stop it!" She snapped smacking him on the head and as always, he took it with a laugh. "Where were you anyway?" She asked with a huff. "I was looking everywhere for you"

"Just handing off Arlong and the others to a friend"

"Oh… I heard that you chained them up and took them somewhere… so your friend? Who are they?"

"I'll introduce you to him in the future. And don't worry, Arlong won't be hurting anyone"

"I see…" Nami nodded with a smile and decided to forget about Arlong. "Well, c'mon, let's head back to the party. There's loads of food waiting for you"

"You go ahead. Feel like just walking around right now…"

"Oh… well, in that case, come with me then. Need to introduce you to someone"

"Someone?"

"You'll see"

"Okay"

Nami started leading the way as the two slowly walked through the forest.

"So even you have times where you just want to enjoy the peace and quiet huh?" Nami asked with a smirk.

"Shishi sometimes yeah. Who doesn't?"

She hummed in response and they stayed silent for a few seconds before she softly said, "I never got a chance to say thank you"

"You don't have to"

"But I want to… but at the same time, I don't want to because it feels too… little, too small…"

"Good god… you think too much"

"Hehe, I guess so…" She chuckled, but didn't say thank you because she knew Luffy didn't like stuff like that. He would much rather see someone he saved live their happiest life possible, and she promised herself that she would do exactly that. Chase her dream, do everything in her power to help Luffy become the Pirate King, and live the best life ever.

"You know, I've been thinking…"

"About?"

"Training… I need some too," she said causing Luffy to give her an incredulous look and she hastily added, "Not like Zoro! God, no. I can't do such intense and harsh training… but like battle strategy, learning new tricks and techniques, tricking an opponent… and other things like that"

"What brought about the change?"

Nami tilted her head with a thoughtful expression. "Well, I think it started when I met you… You gave me the shock staff and for the first time in my life, I felt powerful. I was powerful. Taking down pirates who had given me so much trouble on the seas for all these years… That feeling… I can't get enough of it! And today, I took down one of the officers who I had been terrified of for so long…"

She had a wistful smile as she recalled all her battles. "Honestly, I don't want to forget that feeling. And I also know that enemies are gonna get stronger in the Grand Line… so," she stopped and stared at Luffy with burning determination, "I want some training"

"Sure," Luffy smiled and she beamed. "You need a better weapon too," he added as they started walking again.

"Yeah, this," she held her shock staff up, "is just a one-trick weapon huh? I'm thinking of asking Usopp to build me another one or modify this one"

"Good"

They came out of a clearing and reached a cliff which overlooked the beautiful sea. Luffy realized who she wanted him to meet when he saw a grave on the cliff which was nothing but a mound with a cross on it.

"Bellemere huh?"

"Yep"

Luffy smiled as they both sat down in front of the grave.

"Hey Bellemere, this is the Luffy I talked about"

"You talked about me?"

"Yeah well, I don't know why but you did seem pretty angry that Arlong had killed Bellemere too so thought you should meet her at least…"

"What do you mean you don't know why? Bellemere must have been a very cool mom!"

"Why do you say that?"

"You still love her, so she must have been"

Nami giggled at the logic and nodded, "Yeah, she was the best…"

Luffy agreed with a smile when a very cool breeze swept over them at that moment and Nami shivered. "So cold tonight…"

"I don't have a jacket on to give to you"

"I wasn't expecting one!"

"Shishi, well, I got the next best thing," Luffy said as he scooted closer to her and activated Gear 2, the hot steam rising from his body instantly warming her up.

Nami became dumbfounded as she stared at his body for a few seconds before sighing, "What exactly is up with your body, Luffy? I thought I was seeing things back on Baratie, but you're actually steaming?" she said running her fingers over his hands, "What the actual fuck?"

"Shishi well, this is a direct effect of my devil fruit"

"Tell me what your fruit is already!"

"Nope"

"Tell me!"

"Noppity nope nope nope!"

She groaned as she turned her gaze to the grave. "Now do you understand what I meant by this guy is crazy? Forgot to mention that he has no concept of personal space either"

"Wow, you complained about me to your mom?"

"Well," Nami laughed, "I guess it could be seen that way, yeah"

"Rude." Luffy shook his head as if disappointed before putting his hand on the cross, "Hey Bellemere, my name is Monkey D. Luffy, Captain of the Strawhat Pirates. And I guess I'm stealing your daughter away to become a pirate"

"Idiot~" Nami drawled smacking him lightly, "You don't have to phrase it like that"

"Also, your daughter is a handful. She keeps smacking m-"

"Hey! You complaining about me to my mother now?!"

"You started it. Let me tell you Bellemere, she keeps smacking me, yelling in my ears like a banshee - I even suspect she has eaten the Banshee-Banshee Fru-"

"Hey! Stop it!" Nami giggled as she tried to cover his mouth but Luffy chuckled, grabbing her hands and keeping them away from his mouth as he continued complaining.

"She even bit me once!"

"It's your damn fault!"

"And she keeps saying 'It's your fault!' again and again knowing full well that Zoro and I have a game where we take a shot each time she says that. I suspect she's trying to get me drunk!"

"Slander!" Nami playfully yelled in protest before doing all the things he just accused her of. She smacked him on the head, got close to his ears and yelled into it like a banshee, then grabbed his hand and bit it, before devolving into a fit of giggles as she yelled "It's your fault! Hehehehehe"

"Nami?" A sudden voice interrupted the two and they both looked back to find Nojiko and Genzo staring at them.

"Oh hey, guys!" Nami cheerfully waved as they came closer and stood behind them.

"What are you guys doing?" Genzo asked, his eyes flashing dangerously at seeing the two's close proximity.

"Just introducing Luffy to Bellemere"

"Oh?" Nojiko smirked teasingly as she pointed at how Nami was almost sitting on Luffy. "Doesn't look like you were just introducing him"

"We were just playing around…" she said slowly separating from him, "It was cold, so he was just warming me up"

The two's eyes widened and Nami realized how that sounded and quickly backtracked, "No no! Not like that. His body's strange. It's hot and steamy-"

The two gasped loudly and Nami's face flushed with embarrassment realizing what she was saying sounded even worse.

"You should stop talking, Nami," Luffy nonchalantly butt in, "You're just digging your grave deeper"

"Shut up!" Nami hit him hard, "It's all your fault!"

"Another shot…" Luffy chuckled as Nami got up and stomped away with a flushed face and a giggling Nojiko running after her.

Genzo stayed in place though and if looks could kill, Luffy would have a hole drilled through his heart right then and there, given the way Genzo was glaring at him.

Luffy gulped, suddenly feeling like he was back in high school when he had been caught by Serena's dad while sneaking into her room late at night. 'Nope. Not me… wrong universe'

"Umm, we really were just playing around," Luffy said as Genzo kept up the glare before he walked up and sat down next to Luffy, his eyes not leaving him for even a second.

'Yeahhh, not letting this happen!' Luffy thought and before Genzo could open his mouth, Luffy started speaking, "Listen, I know you're her father figure, so let me say some things first. Nami likes me. And I like her too. Is it love or something that'll blossom into it eventually? I have no clue. We've just started our journey, so it's way too early to decide those kinds of stuff. Regardless of what happens, as her Captain, I'll protect her with my life, make sure she achieves her dream, always keep her happy and make sure she never loses her smile."

Genzo was stunned at his declaration. It was everything he wanted to hear but him saying that with no prompt left him a bit speechless. He sat in silence for a while before grunting "Do you promise?!"

"Yeah, I promise!"

"Good!"

He sat idly and awkwardly for a couple more seconds, with a serious face still, before he stood up, nodded at him and only when he turned his back and started walking away did he allow a small smile to grace his lips.

'Well, I handled that waaay better than Leo did. In your face, brother!… Not that Nami is my girlfriend or anything…'

Luffy chuckled shaking his thoughts away and then laid down next to Bellemere's grave, staring up into the beautiful star-studded sky. His eyes eventually fell on her grave and memories of the time he had visited Rouge's grave on Baterilla came to his mind where he was sure he had heard Rouge's voice and had also felt her running her fingers through his hair.

'Would it work again?' He wondered before slowly closing his eyes and deciding to give it a try.

"…Hey Bellemere. If you're somehow listening, I'm making those promises to you too… I'm going to become the Pirate King and I want to explore every corner of this world, so her dream is tied with mine too, and she'll definitely achieve it…"

"…Anyway, just wanted to let you know that your daughter's in safe hands. Nami is an amazing woman and what little time you had spent with her has shaped her personality in a good way… Well, not entirely if I'm being honest. She did pick up some moves from you. She acts cute and all when she wants something… Wonder where she got that from huh? Shishi I know how you used to say 'I'll pay you with my body' to Genzo. Pfft~ You should've seen the face on Genzo when a 10-year-old Nami used the same line on him Pftthahaha!…"

———

The Dead Club, Buffer Space

"UWAHHHH! UWAAAH! SANJI HAS MET SUCH NICE PEOPLE!" Sora's loud cries reverberated through the mansion, her tears gushing like a water fountain out of her eyes as she reread the Baratie and Whole Cake Island arcs.

"Will someone shut that damn woman up!" Bellemere huffed in irritation.

"Yes, this is getting too out of hand," Olvia commented calmly but her brows were furrowed in irritation too.

"I-I'M SOWWY!" Sora choked back a few sobs and Serena was instantly next to her, patting her head in comfort.

"It's okay, it's okay," she placated her before glaring at Olvia and Bellemere, "How could you say such things to her?!"

"Oh please, it was fine the first few times," Bellemere scoffed, "But she keeps reading and rereading the same thing and keeps crying every damn time! This is probably like the 20th time she's cried over the same thing!"

"33rd" Olvia supplied the correct number.

"As if you two weren't sobbing messes when you read about your children!" Serena shot back and the two froze, coughed, and averted their eyes making Serena grin.

"Ugh, it's not like I don't get it, alright," Bellemere huffed before going to comfort Sora while Olvia just sat in place with an understanding look in her eyes. "I'm sorry, go ahead, cry all you want…" she said patting Sora's head and Sora hugged Bellemere as she continued sobbing.

A few minutes later, Sora was sleeping like a baby after having cried her heart out and Bellemere, Olvia and Serena went to another room making sure not to disturb her.

Serena sighed as she closed the door. "You all are gonna be bringing the mood down for a while huh? Banchina just read Enies Lobby, cried and is sleeping in another room"

"Oi, don't blame us, brat! These are our lives we're reading about…" Bellemere rebuked.

"Yeah yeah, I understand. Guess we gotta wait until all of you are done reading the whole thing to make this place lively… It's just too depressing right now"

"Yes, true" Olvia agreed.

"Again, we can't read it all in one sitting! It's so damn long!" Bellemere said with a sigh.

"Yeah yeah, fake fan!"

"I'm not a fan! I'm a character in the damn book!"

"Hehe, still can't get over it huh?"

"Ugh… well, it is what it is, I guess"

The three walked into the living room of the mansion and found Leo, Kuina and Hiruluk hanging out near the window.

"Hey, whatcha guys up to?" Serena asked.

"Just explaining what the internet is to these guys"

"Heh, I miss it so much"

"I still don't get it though… whatever information you want is in the air? How does that make sense?" Kuina asked.

"No no," Serena said and took over the explanation while Olvia got Leo's attention.

"I finished"

"You finished?"

"Reading everything"

"Damn, you're really fast," Bellemere commented, "I'm still starting Grand Line"

"Well, you were stuck on reading Arlong Park for days on end," Leo chuckled, getting a smack from Bellemere, before he faced Olvia knowing what her next question was gonna be, "You want more?"

"Yes"

"Well, there aren't more. Luffy was still fighting Kaido in Wano when I died, so that's where it cuts off. I begged White for more, and so he graciously gave me chapters until the end of Wano knowing it was cruel to leave us hanging in the middle of the arc like that. It was just a few chapters though so guess he didn't mind… And that's all we're getting"

"So Robin saying Pluton is in Wano and getting no more after that is better?"

"Shishi well, it is what it is. There are tons of restrictions to what we can actually get made here, you know"

Olvia sighed. "Why though? It's not like these are getting generated from your memories. Why can't White just… pluck stuff from your universe?"

"And why the hell doesn't he show himself to the rest of us?" Bellemere added, "I want to see what a god looks like!"

"Ladies, ladies, I don't have answers to your questions. I'm sure we'll learn soon enough, so just hang out and have fun. Here, let me show you the wonders of what massage chairs are!"

Five minutes later, multiple massage chairs were built by robots right in front of their eyes and five minutes after that, everyone was moaning in pleasure while they sat in them and let the massage chairs do their thing.

"Oh god, this is heaven~" Bellemere purred in ecstasy.

"Leo… put on some good music~" Hiruluk sang and Leo complied, pushing a few buttons on a remote and soon, a classical piano piece started playing over the home speakers that were installed everywhere in the mansion.

"Is that Canon in D?" Olvia asked.

"You know it?! You guys had Johann Pachelbel too?" Leo asked curiously.

"No, it was composed by James Palseky in our uni-"

"There they go again, comparing stuff from respective universes again," Bellemere sighed.

"Hey, it's interesting and also sometimes funny! Did you know that your Ibell Peace Prize is our Nobel Peace Prize?!"

"Wow, so interesting…" Bellemere drawled sarcastically, but the two ignored her and continued.

"Ah yes, we were talking about this earlier," Olvia said with interest, "What exactly did this Nobel person do?"

"Oh, he inve-"

Bellemere tuned the two of them out and just relaxed on the massage chair. A few minutes later, just as she was drifting off to peaceful sleep, she started hearing a voice. It sounded like faint faraway whispers at first but it became clearer and clearer with time, and soon, she was able to make out clear words.

"-and she paused listening to all the pirates laughing at her. And then she turned the dial up and zapped them! You should've seen the faces of all the Krieg pirates. Shishishi! And Nami-"

Bellemere slowly opened her eyes.

———

Conomi Islands

"-And Nami smiled at all of them while they looked at her… like she was a…witch…" Luffy trailed off when he felt a familiar warmth spreading over him. He still kept his eyes closed and soon, he felt slender fingers running over his face and heard an ethereal voice say "Open your eyes, brat"

Luffy's lips curled up into an ecstatic smile as he recognized the voice and his body shivered with excitement. "I really want to, but I'm afraid you might disappear if I open my eyes though…"

"Oh, just open 'em, brat!" The voice snapped before he felt a little slap on his forehead.

"Like mother, like daughter, huh?" He chuckled as he slowly opened one eye and came face to face with a translucent figure hovering just inches above him. It was a very faint figure, barely translucent, but he could make out the smile on her face, and also the unique hairstyle she had. And when she didn't disappear, he smiled wider and opened both eyes.

"Hey, Bellemere. Nice to meetcha!" He greeted as he sat up and the translucent figure smiled back at him.

"…"

"…"

"Wow" / "Wow"

"I'm here"

"You're here"

"I was dead and now, I'm back here"

"Well, doesn't look like you're here here"

"Right…" she nodded looking down at herself, "No body, it seems… so just as a soul? Can I, like, enter my body again?"

"It's been eight years, so I don't think there's anything to enter?"

"True. How about your body?"

"Try it?"

"Not at all afraid of possession?"

"Not really. It'd be so cool if I could house other souls inside my body!"

"Heh, I can already tell you're insane. Anyway, I don't think it works like that. I can already feel something pulling me back…"

"I see… you're very calm given the situation"

"My mind is still processing this…"

"Right"

"…"

"…"

"Wow!" / "Wow!"

"I'm actually here!"

"You're actually here!"

"How am I here?"

"I thought you'd know"

"No idea. I was just hanging out with your brother and I was dozing off when I suddenly felt like someone was talking to me. I opened my eyes and here I am"

"You were hanging out with my brother?"

"Yeah"

"My brother?"

"Yeah"

"Leo?"

"You got more? I'm only at Little Garden still"

It only took a moment for things to click in Luffy's mind. "…You're reading the manga"

"Hehe yeah, I'm reading the manga"

"In the Soul Plane?"

"Just outside the Soul Plane"

"The Buffer space?"

"Yeah"

"White pulled you out"

"White gave Leo the power to pull people out and Leo pulled me out"

"Wow… Haha! Wow! THAT'S GREAT!" Luffy cheered throwing his hands up in joy. "I thought it could be a possibility! So Leo is pulling you guys out and you guys are what? Just floating around in space?"

"We got a mansion. With robot helpers and all!"

"Oh cool! So, you're like a ghost club?"

"Dead club"

"Right… Haha! This is so amazing! How's Leo?! Is Ser-"

"Okay, okay, I know you got loads of questions but first tell me about Nami and Nojiko. You saved them? How are they?"

"You've read the manga. This is just after Arlong Park fell"

"Yeah, but you're different, right? Future knowledge and all? Leo said that your adventure will be different"

"Ah yeah. Well, many things have changed and are new… but nothing much changed here for Nami and Nojiko. Arlong's down and both are safe and happy"

"Oh thank god…" Bellemere sighed in relief.

"Wait, you guys aren't watching me?

"No. We can't watch you"

"Really?"

"Not for a lack of trying. Leo asked White but he apparently isn't answering"

"Huh" Luffy deflated a bit wondering why he sometimes felt like he was being watched then. He shelved the top for now and concentrated on Bellemere. "So what do you guys do up there?"

"It hasn't been that long since we uhh… 'woke up.' So it's still pretty depressing given all the…"

"Tragic backstories, yeah"

"Yeah. We're still reading our way through the story. Only Olvia finished reading the whole damn thing"

"Like… the whole story? Until the end?"

"No, until the end of Wano. She was saying that it stops when Robin finds Pluton in Wa-"

"AHHHHHH!" Luffy screamed plugging his ears. "DON'T TELL ME! I DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED ANYMORE!"

"Hehehe okay okay, I won't say anymore… Stop plugging your ears… I won't say anything more… hey brat, open your ears!… Oi!"

SMACK!

"Ouch… getting hit by a ghost, that sure is new. Shishishishi"

"Why ouch? Aren't you made of rubber?"

"Ehh makes people feel better if I react like that"

"Right… Leo did say you're smarter than what you let on"

"Shishi well, enough about that. How many of you are up there?"

"Just six for now from our universe, plus Serena"

"Ooh let me guess - you, Sora, Hiruluk, Olvia, Banchina and Kuina?"

"Spot on. You and Leo are on the same wavelength… Guess that memory transfer thingy wasn't a joke huh?"

"Shishi nope!"

"Sigh, this whole thing is so weird… anyway, tell me more about Nami"

"Sure." Luffy again began telling her about all the things Nami had done since he had met her and Bellemere gasped, cheered, grumbled (that she got hurt while fighting), and laughed.

"…She'll do great in the future too. Navigation - she's gonna be the best, not much to say there, but in fights, she's always part of what's called the weakling trio in the story, but I think our Nami will be different. I know a few weapons we can get from our future enemies that will help her a great deal, so she'll be stronger too!" Luffy reassured with a smile.

"I see. Good then. Thanks, kid… for saving my family, being there for Nami, giving her a place she can call home, and giving her a chance to follow her dreams…" Bellemere said ruffling his hair lovingly. "How's Noji?"

"Haven't talked to her much, but she's good too. She's great in the future too. It was mentioned in just a page but she had opened up a huge tangerine business or something… I think… And Genzo. HAHAHAH In Nami's bounty poster, she's doing a sexy pose in a bikini and Genzo freaks out about it, but also has an enlarged picture of it hung in his house. HAHAHA!"

"HEHEHEHEHE Oh god! I can totally see that happening… and also…" The spirit who was gently ruffling his hair until then yanked it hard. "The hell do you mean Nami's bounty poster?!"

Luffy sweat-dropped. "Umm… she's a pirate you know… and we do some pretty crazy things… so it's inevitable…"

"…Sigh… guess I can't do anything about that… You better protect her with your life or else when you die and come here, I'll make your afterlife a dying hell!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Luffy saluted and laughed. "Shishi you know, you're like the second dead mother I've promised that I'll take care of their child"

Bellemere yanked his hair even harder. "Two?! You're two-timing my daughter?!"

"What?! No no! The other was my brother, Ace's mother… Wait! Nami and I don't have a relationship like that either!"

"What? My daughter's not good enough for you, Mr Future Pirate King?!"

"No no, she's amazing! She would mak-… Wait! What am I saying? I have no such intentions for now… Ugghhh!"

Bellemere started laughing after his little outburst and Luffy sighed before joining her a couple of seconds later. Bellemere gently patted his head with a grin, "Well, I can't be there for her, so I'm leaving her to you. Take good care of my daughter please"

"Okay. I promise"

"Looks like my time's up. I feel something pushing me back now for som-" She paused when she saw two people in the far distance and Luffy turned around to see them too.

It was Nojiko and Genzo who were walking towards them but when Bellemere saw their eyes meet hers, they froze in place.

"Can't you hold on just a bit longer? I'm sure they want to talk to you"

"No, it's because they're coming closer that I'm being pushed back"

"Oh, so it works like that"

"I'm pretty sure you're the one who kinda pulled me down here. Can you do it again?"

"Hmm, I'm not sure how this works. Maybe because I was in the Buffer space, so I have a connection to it? Maybe the Voice of All Things is playing a role here too?"

"Basically, you have no idea"

"I have no idea. But I think I have to be near the specific person's grave. I did it to Rouge once before - didn't have a conversation like this though"

"Well, alright. Then, give those two these messages-" Bellemere said before she told Luffy her final messages for Nojiko and Genzo… which had Luffy bursting out in laughter.

"Well, kid, it has been a pleasure meeting you," she said kissing his forehead, "Go crazy, alright?"

"Shishi okay. Oh, two messages from me. Tell Sora that I've befriended Reiju and she hasn't joined me yet, but she'll be on my crew one day"

"Her daughter, right? Man, she's gonna flood the room"

"A crier huh?"

"I suspect her eyes are a fountain"

"Shishi and second message. Te-"

Bellemere flickered once and when the two looked back, they saw Nojiko and Genzo had finally come out of their shocked frozen states and were dashing towards them.

Bellemere gave them a wide smile and a wave before she blinked out of existence.

"…and the second message I couldn't say…" Luffy sighed but shrugged it off and just watched as Nojiko and Genzo came closer.

"Did I see that right?! Was that Bellemere?!" Nojiko shrieked.

"I saw her too!" Genzo shrieked back.

After appeasing Nami, Nojiko just wanted to sit at the grave again and Genzo followed, only to find the shocking scene. The spirit was faint but they could recognize the shit-eating grin and unique hairstyle anywhere.

They finally reached Luffy, panting hard and looking around everywhere before settling their gazes on Luffy.

"Hey, guys. Sorry she couldn't stay"

"How?! That was Bellemere just now?! Her ghost?! Where is she now?!"

"Yes, that was Bellemere's spirit. I can somehow talk to dead people"

The two looked at Luffy incredulously with jaws hanging wide open.

"Just sit down. I'll explain," Luffy said and the two followed obediently. "Well, just think of me as a psychic. The truth is weird which will just confuse you to no end, so let's not do that. This is actually just the second time I've been able to talk to a 'dead' person and the first I've been able to have a conversation"

"How is that even possible?!"

"Ehh… long story. You wouldn't believe me, so let's skip it. As I said, just think of me as a psychic who can talk to dead people alright? Bellemere had some last words to give you so I'm explaining a bit…"

That brought them out of their stupor.

"Why didn't she just wait for us?! We were right there!" Nojiko yelled with tears in her eyes.

"She wanted to. But as you got closer, she felt herself being pushed back… From what I can speculate, it seems living souls don't like dead souls and kinda reject and push them. I'm kinda special in that regard, so not affected by me, I guess"

That did nothing to calm her down but Genzo gently rubbed her back, placating her. "This is too crazy so let's skip over the 'how' bit… What did she say?"

"First to you," he said pointing at Nojiko, "'Take care Noji. You've become so beautiful and strong, always being there for Nami and the others. I'm so so proud of you and I love you'"

"Bellemere," Nojiko cried, "I love you too"

"And to you, Gen!" Luffy grinned which sent alarm bells ringing in Genzo's head, "'Take care of Noji and when you die and come here, I'll reward you with my body'"

Nojiko and Genzo blinked for a second before Nojiko burst out laughing falling to the ground clutching her stomach while Genzo's face burned with a dark crimson hue as he cursed "THAT DAMN WOMAN!"

Luffy and Nojiko laughed at the blushing Genzo for a full minute before finally calming down.

"That sounds like Bellemere, alright" Nojiko smirked wiping her tears away to which Genzo grumbled curses at her.

"What else did you talk about?" Nojiko excitedly asked Luffy.

"Well, I just told her about myself and promised her that I'll take care of Nami and all… Told her how Nami and you turned out, told her about some of the adventures we had…"

"I see…" She slowly crawled towards him and gave him a tight hug "I don't know how this is all possible… but thank you so so much!"

Luffy hugged her back with a smile before saying, "Thank you too, Nojiko"

They separated and Nojiko looked at him questioningly. "What for?"

"You saving Nami on that battlefield when she was a baby and going to Bellemere…" he said getting a gasp from Nojiko, "I don't know if she ever told you but Bellemere had decided to die on that battlefield that day. But seeing you saving a baby you didn't even know and seeing Nami's carefree smiles and giggles, and then seeing you smile even through your tears… She found a reason to keep living. You saved two lives that day, Nojiko"

She seemed to know already but still cried recalling it and Genzo smiled softly as he rubbed her back.

"And getting tattoos so that Nami wouldn't feel too bad about her own," Luffy continued only making Nojiko gasp harder and cry harder, "You were always the mature one even when Bellemere was alive. Shishi, she feels a bit embarrassed about that actually… She knows all that you've done here and she's really really proud of you"

Happy joyful sobs overwhelmed her, causing her body to shake uncontrollably with emotion, and Genzo quickly brought her into a hug with tears in his own eyes.

'I got way too much to tell Noji. Tell her that I'm really proud of her and love her. Tattoos, battlefield, her always being the mature one, that it even made me feel embarrassed… And you add more things that'll make her happy, sobbing like a baby!' Was Bellemere's message to Nojiko, and now Nojiko was happy, sobbing like a baby.

His job done, Luffy left the father-daughter pair with a grin.