CH 43

Back at the village, everyone saw Genzo and Nojiko, both with pure anger across their faces.

"Hey Genzo, what's wrong?" one of the villagers asked. Genzo was trembling with rage as he looked at everyone.

"Those marines from earlier." he hissed.

"Oh no." someone said.

"Did Arlong kill them?" "No." Nojiko said. "Arlong sent them." Everyone just looked at her confused.

"Those marines were acting on Arlong's orders to steal Nami's money." Genzo said. Everyone just stared as his words sunk in.

"Then...that means..."

"They lied to Nami!"

"Even though they failed to get their hands on her money, I doubt Arlong will give up." Genzo said before he got a determined look in his eyes. "Spread word to the whole village. Tell everyone to meet here and to gather whatever weapon they have."

()()()()

Nami was running back towards her village as fast as she could. "Genzo...Nojiko...everyone! Please, don't do anything rash!" she said.

()()()()

Everyone gathered in the village with makeshift weapons in hand, each scared but determined.

"Eight years ago," Genzo said. "We made a vow to live our lives, despite what Arlong threw at us. That as long as Nami fought, we would endure until Nami honored her deal with Arlong. BUT IT WAS ALL FOR NOTHING!" he screamed out, getting everyone angry. "Those bastards never intended to keep their promise! They never intend to let this village or Nami free! But now, we're going to make them pay for all the years they tricked a kind little girl! WHO'S WITH ME?!"

"YEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHH!" roared the whole village.

"Let's do this!"

"We'll teach those rotten fishmen!" "STOP!" someone shouted. Everyone looked to see Nami walking towards them with a smile on her face. "Wait everyone! There's no need to fight them. They didn't get any of my money, so it'll only be one more trip and I'll have enough. Don't worry about it. Calm down everyone." Everyone watched her as she tried to keep them calm, but Genzo walked up to her and held her in a tight hug.

"Enough Nami." he said in a calm voice. Nami just stood there as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. "There's no point. Even though they failed this time, Arlong will try something else to keep you from buying our freedom. There's no doubt about that."

"Genzo." Nami said in a choked up voice.

"Set yourself free Nami." Genzo said, shocking her.

"What?" she said.

"Do it Nami." Nojiko said with a smile. "Nojiko?!" she said. She looked around to see the whole village agreed. "You're a smart girl, and you have a dream."

"Everyone stop!" she said as she pulled out a knife. "Stay where you are! I won't let you go to the fishmen!" she said as she started trembling. "You'll all die."

"We know." the village doctor said. Genzo walked up to her and grabbed the knife with his bare hands, causing them to bleed.

"OUTTA THE WAY!" he screamed at her. He then looked back at the crowd with his sword drawn. "MOVE OUT!"

"LET'S SHOW THOSE FISHMEN WHAT WE'RE MADE OF!" someone screamed as they all ran off to fight the fishmen. Nami just stood there before the knife fell from her hands as she fell to her knees. All she could hear was Arlong's horrible laughter as her eyes darted towards the tattoo on her left shoulder. She placed her fingers on it, looking ready to rip it right off her shoulder. 'Arlong!' she thought before she grabbed the knife and stabbed her shoulder, screaming out Arlong's name. Over and over she stabbed, each time speaking his name as blood fell from her shoulder. She kept going until she felt another hand grab her wrist. She looked up to see a familiar face under a straw hat. "Luffy?" she said before she dropped the knife. She looked back to the ground with her head down. She was quiet for some time as the tears continued to fall from her eyes. "They left..."

"Yeah. I saw."

"They'll be killed. All of them." she said. "Even though I'm almost there, they still ran off to fight them." She sat there trembling as the thought of everyone she loved dying at the fishmens hands went through her mind. "I was so close..."

"You know, the offer still stands Nami." Luffy said. Nami just sat there for a moment before she raised her head.

"Luffy...help me." she said as she looked at him with tears in her eyes. Luffy had a blank look as he took off his straw hat and placed it on her head. Just like last time, he took a few steps away before taking a deep breath.

"DARN RIGHT I WILL!" he screamed.

'Do NOT touch my hat!' Nami remembered as she stared at Luffy. He was leaving his treasured hat in her care. She couldn't stop the tears as Luffy walked off towards his crew, who were all waiting for his orders.

"Let's go."

"Right." they all said. All five then made their way to Arlong Park.

()()()()

"Whoa!"

"What happened?" "Did Arlong do this to you guys?" All the villagers were outside the gate to Arlong Park, where they saw a beaten up Johnny and Yosaku leaning against the gate.

"Step aside." Genzo said as Johnny looked up at them. "We've come to see the fishmen."

"After we heard the truth about big sis Nami, there was only one thing we could think to do: Beat Arlong." Johnny said. "With that in mind, we came here to do that."

"But as you can see, he thrashed us easily." Yosaku finished.

"Sorry, but we're not moving for you guys. Especially since you have no chance of victory." Johnny said.

"What?" Genzo said.

"Be patient. We're waiting for those guys to show up." Yosaku said. Everyone just looked at them in confusion.

"Those guys?" Genzo asked. "I bet my life on it. Those guys will show up soon." Yosaku said. After a moment, both he and Johnny stood up with smiles on their faces.

"There!" they both said. Everyone looked behind them to see five people walking side by side towards them all. Gin, Zoro, Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp."

"Those guys?" Nojiko asked.

"Why would they help us?" Genzo asked.

"If they can't beat Arlong, then not only this island, but the whole East Blue is finished." Yosaku said.

"Etch those five into your minds. They're the men who'll change fate itself." Johnny said. Soon all five were near the crowd.

"Move." Luffy said as they approached. As they did, Arlong's laugh could be heard inside. Luffy's eyes narrowed at that laugh. All the pain he made Nami go through was about to thrown back at him 100 fold. Everyone moved away from the gate as Luffy balled his hands into fists. He then punched the gate a few times before it exploded. All the fishmen inside were staring with disbelief as the smoke cleared, showing one pissed off Luffy.

"What the?!" Arlong said with bloodshot eyes. Luffy stood up with a fist in the air as he glared at them all.

"Which one of you is Arlong?" he asked. Though he knew, he wanted them to know he wasn't messing around.

"Arlong?" Arlong asked as he lay in his chair looking at Luffy with a bored but annoyed expression. "I'm Arlong."

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