Chapter 100: The rescue

Dialogue "sample"

Thoughts 'sample'

Author notes -sample-

Disclaimer: One piece and all of its characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.

Chapter 100: The Rescue

"I'm right here, Camie! Don't worry, I'm fine." The one inside the cage spoke. He was completely covered in black so it was difficult to distinguish his features.

"Ah!, Hacchin, you're all black. What happened?!" Shouted Camie.

"Did you get burned?!" Added Pappag.

"Uh?, no…this is…don't worry about this, I'm fine. More importantly, this is a trap! you have to turn back. You know that I'm strong, right? I'll find a way to escape."

"mmm" Zoro observed the man in the cage. "I have definitely heard that voice before."

"There is something very suspicious about him." Said Nami.

"What is it?" Asked Luffy.

"Let me try something." Said Sanji. "Oi!, how is Arlong doing?"

"Mister Arlong?" Said Hacchi. "He and Chuu and Kuroobi are all still prisoners of the marines. I was the only one who escaped."

'So, Arlong is probably in Impel Down then…if I ever make a visit to that place, I will have to make a stop and say hi to him.' Vivi made sure to remember that.

"What?!" Exclaimed Luffy.

"Oh crap!" Hacchi shouted.

Nami tensed immediately after hearing Hacchi talk. Vivi noticed this and held her hand for moral support. She is not supposed to know about Arlong since that is not something that Nami talks about, so she can't say much about it.

"What is this about?" Asked Robin.

"Oh, right…that was a while ago. "Said Usopp. "Nami's hometown was under the control of this nasty pirate crew called 'Arlong pirates' for many years. They killed Nami's mother and treat everyone like slaves. That guy Hacchi was part of that crew."

"An old enemy then." Said Franky.

"Of course, I took Luffy and others along and beat them all up! That is how the Arlong pirates met their end " Proclaimed Usopp.

"Wow!, you are amazing" Cried Chopper.

"I thought they were all imprisoned, but apparently one got away," Usopp said.

"Wow, you guys went through a lot already." Commented Brook.

"So wait! The takoyaki seller was you all along?!." Shouted Luffy. "That crazy octo-hachi from Arlong's crew? Like hell will come and save a guy like you!"

Vivi whispered to Nami's heart. "Do you want me to kill this guy?."

Nami looked at Hacchi for a moment before shaking her head.

"No…that would not make things right. And I don't want you to kill a defenseless person trapped inside a cage. We are not that type of pirate."

She was trembling slightly as she said that so Vivi hugged her tightly until she calmed down a bit.

"So…you guys knew Hacchin already. Were you guys friends?" A very clueless Camie asked Zoro.

Pappag had a more serious expression. He did hear what Usopp said about Hacchi and the Arlong crew.

"Oh, for the love of…" Zoro had no patience for the mermaid. "We are enemies, not friends!"

"Turn the ship around!" Usopp started yelling.

"Nami?" Camie looked at her.

"Sorry, I never thought that your friend Hacchi would be him…" Said Nami.

Tears appeared on Camie's face. "No way…no one is going to help me save him?"

"Don't put that burden on her shoulders!" Shouted Vivi. "If you knew the things he has done, you would not be asking us to save him."

"But Hacchi…" She looked at the cage.

"It's okay Camie, just leave already!, please." Begged Hacchi.

Camie looked at Pappag. "They are not going to help us…I heard what the big nose guy said…If that is true…" He looked at Hacchi with a complicated expression.

"We…then I will go save him myself!" Shouted Camie with indignation. She then jumped into the waters…and got immediately captured by three fishmen.

"Shit, that was quick!" Shouted Usopp.

"Haha, we got Camie!"

"No Hacchi is coming to save you this time!"

"We are going to be rich!"

Said the trio of fishmen while holding Camie.

"Why!...those bastards!. She is an innocent mermaid. I will at least save her." Sanji was prepared to jump.

Vivi held Sanjis's arm. "Where are you going? you idiot! You cant jump into the water anymore! Let someone else do it."

"It's okay…we can save Hacchi too." Said Nami. The endure crew turned to look at her, not believing what she had just said.

"After what those guys put you through?, you want to save him?" Asked Usopp.

Nami smiled sadly. "To be fair…from the entire crew, Hacchi was the least bad. He never hurt any of us. That doesn't mean that I will ever forgive him for being part of that…but we can't leave him like that, even if it's just for Camie."

"You guys are too good to be pirates. Thank you for that." Said Pappag.

"Then…we can go get the takoyaki then?..." Luffy's mouth was watering already.

"Alright!." Luffy extended his arms and grabbed Camie, taking her away from the fishmen trio.

"Damn!, a devil fruit user!" One of them shouted.

Luffy took hold of the mermaid and landed on the enemy base.

"Luffy!" Exclaimed Camie in surprise, since she did not expect to be rescued.

"Strawhat!, thank you. I'm in your debt." Said Hacchi.

"Zoro! Cut the takoyaki guy's cage and ropes!" Ordered their Captain.

"Gotcha!" Said Zoro.

"Strawhats!" Shouted Hacchi. "You need to be careful. You are in the middle of a trap by the flying fish riders!"

"Let them try!" Said Luffy with a smile. "Everyone! To battle!"

Dozens of men riding flying fish came out of the water and flew into the air.

"Here they come!" Shouted Franky.