Chapter 12: Arlong Park
"I'd want to talk with Genzo."
"That'd be me," Genzo said as he approached the Marine Captain. Genzo was a scarred guy who wore a brown police uniform with short sleeves and a matching pair of shorts, practically all of which had come from Arlong. Except for the pinwheel on a pole affixed to it, his hat matched his clothing. "Captain, how may I assist you?"
"I'd like to speak with a young woman named Nami, who I believe lives in this village, correct?" Nezumi inquired, a sleazy grin on her face. The townfolk were immediately skeptical and concerned about the Marine's arrival.
"I'm afraid Nami isn't here; she's been away for a long time," Genzo replied, his face expressing no emotion.
"Chichichi...that is not an issue," Nezumi said, nearly giggling at the impact his words had on the villagers. "Her sister will suffice; I think her name is Nojiko?"
"That's true," Genzo said, fighting the urge to frown in order to be courteous.
"Then lead the way, Mr. Genzo," Nezumi said as he observed Genzo turn and begin walking from the docks to the island's interior. He strolled around at a leisurely pace, surveying the settlement and observing the Cocoyashi residents' suspicious expressions. The gang arrived upon a little, ordinary dwelling. Its main distinguishing feature was a sizable grove of mikan trees behind it.
Genzo knocked on the door, which was answered by a really lovely young lady. Her right arm was covered with tattoos, and she had light blue hair and dark blue eyes. The ink flowed up and around her arm, then crossed over her shoulder and onto her breast, making a heart shape. She was dressed in a green pair of slacks and a basic white tank top.
"Genzo, what's going on?" Nojiko said, suspiciously watching the Marines.
"My name is Captain Nezumi," he said as he took a step closer and introduced himself to her, appreciatively gazing her up and down. As she cringed at his leering, his smile expanded somewhat. "I came to talk with your sister Nami, but she is unavailable, so you'll have to make do."
"About what, Captain?" Nojiko inquired, her stomach churning at the prospect.
With a growing grin, Nezumi remarked, "I'm afraid this will not be a nice chat. We received an anonymous tip about your sister's thievery recently."
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you're talking about," Nojiko said, her stance and tone shifting.
"Oh, but I believe you do," Nezumi said, grinning. "Don't worry; no one here will be injured." His smile deepened as he proceeded. "After all, your sister's targets were all Pirates, so they were just criminals having stolen things taken from them. As things are, we won't be bringing any charges against her," he shrugged, feigning sheepishness. "But a thief is still a thief, and a crime is still a crime, do you see what I'm getting at?" he said, almost laughing at Nojiko's rising anxiety. "It is only reasonable for the government to recover stolen things so that we may assure that they are restored to their "rightful owners."
"What did you say?" Nojiko clenched her teeth, her panicked eyes widening.
"I'm sure you heard me the first time," Nezumi said, sweeping his palm in front of him. "Chichichi! You will immediately give over everything your sister has taken!" He ordered his minions to "search the home!" One Marine advanced, only to be greeted by a powerful blow from Genzo. With a cry of anguish, the Marine collapsed to the ground.
Genzo said angrily, "What the heck do you think you're doing? Don't you bastards have more important things to do?! The Arlong Pirates are destroying villages and killing people! Why aren't you doing something about it?! The people here are slaves under his control! Yet you disregard all of that and concentrate on one little thief?!"
"Chichichi!" Nezumi said, laughing. He sneered at the sheriff before motioning towards the home, saying, "A criminal shouldn't talk so blatantly. You just attacked a Marine. Be fortunate I don't start bringing charges against you as well. Sailors, what are you waiting for? Ignore them and keep searching!"
"The people of this island have been waiting for the Marines to aid them for for a decade!" Genzo exclaimed as he took a step forward; ready to beat all of them, they were nothing but trash after all.
The Marines started aiming their guns at them, ready to fire.
"Chichichi. What's the hold-up? We aren't hunting for a single grain of rice! How difficult is it to discover a hundred million Beri? " As Nojiko and Genzo were being held at gunpoint, Nezumi questioned his troops.
"How do you know how much money is missing...?"
Nojiko inquired, then trailed off as the knowledge dawned on her.
"That jerk," Genzo grumbled as he understood who had provided Nezumi the 'advice.'
"Did Arlong send you, you knucklehead?!"
Nezumi grinned maliciously as Nojiko shouted.
"We found them sir,"
"Chichichi...I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. We'll be taking them with us," Nojiko and Genzo could only watch as the Marines and Nezumi removed everything Beri Nami had spent the last eight years amassing, with the two holding them at gunpoint only following after the rest of the Marines had departed.
"Damn it...damn it...damn it!" Genzo repeated as he ground his teeth so hard he feared splitting them. Nojiko collapsed to the ground as tears streamed from her eyes, how could they possible explain this to Nami?
Later
"Gah!"
Sanji choked as he rolled across the deck after taking a punch from Luffy. His new Captain was apparently very serious about his crew's training, and it was Sanji's turn to spar with him. The only problem was that Sanji had only just barely gotten a grasp on the most basic utilization of Haki, whereas Luffy was near enough a master, and none of Sanji's kicks landed if Luffy didn't want them to.
"Are you giving up, Sanji?" Luffy said to his Chef with a smile.
"You're a jerk, Captain!"
Sanji replied before launching himself at Luffy with a kick. This was how their sparring had gone every day since Sanji had joined the crew. Using his electricity to to help improve Observation, and sparring to help with Armament, all while Luffy put them through exercise drills that almost made them all collapse afterward. Sanji wouldn't complain, though; he already felt stronger than when he'd left the Baratie, so all the training was working.
Next Afternoon -Cocoyashi
"We'll dock just a little bit away from what used to be Gosa Village," Nami told her nakama as she showed them a map of her home island, which she had drawn from memory and which, although not her greatest cartography work, most stores would still sell because of how accurate it was.
"Used to be?" Usopp inquired, intrigued.
"Arlong got angry and destroyed the settlement just before I began this journey because someone in Gosa Village couldn't pay him." Nami hissed, her face revealing her disdain at the memories. The guy physically turned every structure in the community upside down one by one to show he could, or maybe he simply felt like it. Because no one lives there any more, Arlong's staff doesn't spend any time patrolling it.
"This dirty bastard is going down," Sanji said as he exhaled the smoke from his cigarette. Nami smirked and nodded in response to the Chef's proclamation.
"You bet he is!"
"Anyway, from Gosa, shall make a brief stop by mine and my sister's home," Nami cried, her eyes gleaming with vengeance.
"I want Nojiko to watch this, to see Arlong and his men annihilated, because she deserves it just as much as I do."
Luffy suddenly felt something as they approached, his eyes widened knowing why he was having this feeling, a grin spread on his face, wondering just what kind of power it had.
Zoro was looking at his swords, Nami looked ready for what would happen.
As they approached Nami's home, the Navigator suddenly gasped, her eyes widening in horror.
"What's wrong Nami?" Luffy was quick to ask.
"Someone was here," she said before quickly rushing inside followed immediately by the crew.
"Nojiko, Nojiko where are you?" Nami screamed, searching inside the house only to see Nojiko crying on the floor, wiping away the tears, the blue haired woman looked up suddenly remembering the voice of her sister.
"Nami!" She exclaimed in surprise to see her sister back, feeling happy but in same time sadness that everything had been for naught.
"What happened Nojiko?! Thank god you're alright," Nami rushed towards her kneeling down, but Nojiko instead of explaining sobbed louder.
"H-he took all of it. I'm so sorry Nami, W-we tried," Nojiko stuttered, kept crying.
"What, who took what?" Nami asked not understanding what her sister was trying to say, Luffy on the other hand was looking around with his observation Haki.
"Your money Nami, the Marines came and took it all to give it to Arlong," Nojiko explained still crying, knowing what her sister had done for so many years had been for nothing.
Nami looked surprised that she knew about the money but ignored it for now.
"Don't worry Nojiko, we don't need the money anymore. My crew will take care of Arlong," Nami stated pointing at them.
Nojiko looked confused at seeing the strange people standing at the door.
"Who are they?" She asked, standing up helped by Nami.
"They're my crew, this one is my captain, he will take care of Arlong" Nami said putting a hand on Luffy's shoulder who grinned.
"Don't worry Lady Nojiko, we will take care of Arlong, you don't need to worry about it," Luffy promised.
Nojiko looked confused, her sister had became a pirate, not only that but if the hand of the captain around Nami's waist was a clear indication that there was more to it.
"Gather the whole village Nojiko, I want everyone to see this," Nami said, her sister could do nothing but nod deciding to ask Nami later about everything.
They started making their way towards the entrance, Luffy in the center, Sanji ligh up a cigarette, Zoro put his hand on his swords, Usopp surprisingly didn't look scared, eventually the villagers came lead by Nojiko and a man with uniform.
"Stand Back," Luffy ordered before turning to look at the door.
As the Straw Hats stood before Arlong Park's entrance, Luffy said, "This area definitely sticks out." The residents of Cocoyashi were beginning to arrive, and Nami smiled to see Nojiko and Genzo among them.
"We might as well get started," Zoro said as he slung Johnny's and Yosaku's swords around his waist. The Bounty Hunter Duo's Dao swords weren't what Zoro was used to, but he'd make do.
'The first thing I'm doing when we get to a good sized town or city is replacing my destroyed swords,' he thought to himself as he tied his bandana around his head.
"I'm ready," Usopp said as he drew two of his four revolvers from his bag at his side: a lever action Repeating Rifle across his back and a trick slingshot.
"I'll knock," Luffy said, his face serious as memories of Nami telling him what the jerk behind this gate had done to her resurfaced. He raised his foot and kicked forward in a picture perfect front kick, ripping the gates from the wall and sending them flying into the compound. Three Fishmen were brained by the steel doors and left lying on the ground, possibly dead from the impact.
"What the heck is going on?!" A Fishman, frightened by the abrupt onslaught, yelled.
"They are Dead" Another screamed as he saw his crewmates being shattered by the doors.
"Are you Arlong, then?"
As he caught eyes with the saw-nosed Fishman lying on a throne-like chair, Luffy inquired.
"Who the heck are you?" Arlong affirmed as he scowled at the human.
Luffy answered, "I'm Luffy, a Pirate," as he crept closer to Arlong.
"What are you doing here, you useless human?"
"To murder you," Luffy murmured as he found himself next to Arlong, the Fishman's face distorting around Luffy's fist, and Arlong flew from his chair and smacked against the wall that surrounded Arlong Park.
"Boss!"
The Octopus Fishman that Nami had informed the crew about trumpeted for a minute while muttering something about a monster, and from the water a giant beast came up and showed itself to be a cow-like Sea King.
"Momoo! Get these invaders out of here! " Hachi yelled, and the Sea King roared as it moved deeper into the compound. Luffy turned his gaze on the Sea King, and Momoo came to a complete stop. Luffy's look screamed a primal warning into the Sea King's mind, and Momoo began to tremble as he broke out in a flop sweat and began to slowly back up.
Momoo shouted out before swiftly turning and plunging back into the water in panic, and all of the Fishman, as well as the residents of Cocoyashi, could only watch in awe as the straw-hat kid sent a Sea King fleeing with just a glance.
"Momoo?" Hachi inquired, the Sea King having already vanished from view.
"Now...where were we?" Luffy asked.
As Arlong yanked himself out of the wall and stared fiercely at Luffy.
-Hachi vs. Zoro-
"Hey, Octopus," Zoro said to Hachi, "I heard you're a Swordsman."
"Huh? Yes, yes," After a little pause to consider, Hachi answered.
"How about we compete to see who is the best Swordsman?" As he drew out the two Daos and Wado, Zoro challenged.
"You'll be sorry for this person!" Hachi yelled as he drew out six enormous swords and held them at the ready, while Zoro was already examining Hachi's physique for flaws.
"I doubt so," Zoro responded, having already seen three 'weak places' in the Fishman's posture. Perhaps Hachi felt he could compensate with his several arms, but if his shape was any indication, Zoro would make fast work of the Octopus.
"I'll demonstrate!"
"Let's watch you take on my Six Sword Waltz!" said Hachi.
Hachi came in, swinging all six of his blades, and Zoro just side-stepped to the right, dropping two of his left-hand swords as severe wounds opened up on two of his left arms with a rapid movement.
As he moved back to gain distance, he yelled out in anguish.
"These are really heavy," Zoro said, raising one of Hachi's swords with his left hand.
"They each weigh 300 kilos," Hachi said, and Zoro nodded before throwing the sword he was holding back to Hachi, followed by the second sword.
"What?" Hachi inquired as he examined his weapons that had been restored to him.
"This is a swordsman's duel; it would be a disgrace to me if I didn't beat you at your best," Zoro remarked, and Hachi nodded in agreement.
"All right, then you'll witness the might of Fishman Island's second strongest Fishman Swordsman!"
"Octopus Pot Stance!" Hachi snatched up his blades and charged at Zoro one again.
"New Year's – Open – Body Slam!" he yelled as he gathered the points of all six of his swords and tried to spear Zoro. The green-haired swordsman used all three of his swords to block, but didn't anticipate the following move.
Hachi then utilized his flexible limbs to swiftly turn his swords around and bring all six blades down on Zoro from various angles, breaking Zoro's defense. Zoro deflected three of the swords and then sprang backwards to evade the other three.
"You make excellent use of your Fishman physiology," Zoro commented before exhaling and sinking into his Observation.
"Thank you, you too...!"
"Hey!" Hachi said as he prepared his swords. "Hold on a second! Don't attempt to fool me with flattery! " Zoro shook his head at Fishman, who was easily sidetracked.
"If that's all you've got, I'm calling it a day," Zoro said as he prepared his swords.
"You won't be able to defeat my strategy!"
"Octopus Pot Posture!" screamed Hachi as he retook his stance.
Hachi charged forward to spear Zoro once again, but the green-haired Swordsman deflected the hit and moved his swords back as Hachi launched his second attack. "New Year's – Open – Body Slam!"
This time, though, Zoro didn't fight back; instead, he merely drew his swords back and slid between the blades, seeing the path all of Hachi's swords were traveling in.
"Tora Gari!" Zoro intoned, and three lacerations tore through Hachi's chest, erupting in blood.
"Argh!" Hachi screamed in agony at the pain and the sight of his blood flying, collapsing to the ground and looking up at the sky for a split second before everything went black.
"He'll survive," Zoro said, nodding to himself after feeling the difference between human and Octopus Fishman skin when he sliced him. Those cuts had only struck the equivalent of a layer of fat on a human body, but the shock of the pain and the intensity of the blow had knocked Hachi unconscious.
-Kuroobi vs. Sanji-
"Who are you, human?" Kuroobi demanded, his jaw clenched, denying that the kick had not only caught him off guard but also caused him serious pain.
As he tapped the toe of his shoe on the ground, Sanji introduced himself as the nakama of the lady you were attempting to harm.
"So Nami duped you into attempting to preserve her home?" Kuroobi hissed, and Sanji's gaze sharpened.
"I've heard about what you scumbags have been up to on this island. You should be ashamed of yourself for what you've done to Nami and her sister." As he drew closer to Kuroobi, Sanji grumbled, "It makes my blood boil."
"What are you, a pitiful human, going to do about it?"
"I'm a level forty practitioner of Fishman Karate!" Kuroobi said. I'm going to murder you with one hit! "
As the two squared off, Sanji responded, "A fish has no business attempting to back talk a Chef. I'll deal with you for what you've done to Nami-swan."
"Die, you scumbag! Seiken Hyakumaigawara!" Kuroobi lunged forward and landed a tremendous punch; Sanji countered with a kick, and the two blows collided, causing a whirlwind of wind. "Impossible!" Kuroobi exclaimed. When Kuroobi saw his strike deadlock against a human, the two broke off and backed away before resuming their respective postures.
"Was that all there was to it?" The old geezer was a lot more powerful than that! I'd be astonished if you could kill Patty or Carne with such feeble strikes!" mocked Sanji at the prejudiced Fishman.
"It's no matter, you may be able to equal my Hyakumaigawara Seiken, but my Senmaigawara Seiken will kill you without fail!" Kuroobi tsked at Sanji.
Kuroobi approached Sanji with his arm cocked back, taunting him, "Try it, fish."
"Senmai-!
Kuroobi began, only to have his stomach smashed in by Sanji's foot, forcing all of the air out of his lungs, along with a combination of bile and blood.
"In most cases, legs are longer than arms," Sanji said as he raised his leg high and delivered a powerful axe kick to Kuroobi's injured form. The heel of Sanji's shoe slammed into Ray Fishman's head with the force of a Warhammer, burying the Fishman's head in the concrete beneath them. The blonde stepped back, surprised to see Kuroobi forcing himself to his feet.
"You...damn...pa-pathetic...human!
"I...I...w-wi-will...not...be...de-defeated," Kur
"Tougher than you seem," Sanji conceded before springing forward with all of his might, the concrete he stood on cracking from the impact. "Mutton Shot!"
The blonde said as his right foot crashed into Kuroobi's chest. Sanji felt the Ray Fishman's sternum crack beneath his foot, and the sight of his chest collapsing in further proved that this would be their last blow.
"Done now?" Sanji inquired, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.
Usopp vs. Chew
"Damn it, Hachi! I'll be the one to clean up after you! Prepare to die human!" shouted a blue Fishman with wide lips at the fallen Octopus Fishman. The Swordsman pulled out of the path with his Observation before shifting his eyes to the Fishman, inhaling before spitting out a 'bullet' of water towards Zoro.
"Hey, you filthy fish!"
Usopp exclaimed as he fired a bullet at the Fishman, who was hit in the shoulder and screamed in agony and anguish.
"You scumbag!"
"You want to die first?" Chew shouted at Usopp. "That's OK by me! Hold still, you weakling!" Chew shot another water bullet, but Usopp was already moving and shooting, and Chew moved along with him, escaping a few bullets but being grazed by the rest.
"It's like hell!" Usopp cried as he avoided another water bullet before returning fire, while Chew grumbled as he absorbed another hit to his left arm, able to take so many rounds with such little damage because to his Fishman physiology.
"Then I'll simply use my most powerful strike to destroy you!"
Chew screamed as he dashed for the pool that went to the sea.
"Not if I first use mine!" Usopp retorted before firing a round from each of the pistols he was holding, tossing them both into the air, then drawing and firing his other two untouched pistols. The rapid fire juggling had less punch this time because Usopp had already used three rounds from each of his first two pistols, but eighteen rounds still lodged themselves into Chew's body.
Chew snarled as he dropped his arms, which had received the brunt of the gunfire. "I'm...going...to...kill you," he panted out.
"Exploding Star!" Usopp yelled as he drew his trick slingshot and fired one of his Special Stars, which landed in the wounded Fishman's chest and burst.
"You're a jerk!" Chew shouted, his arms hanging limply at his sides as he surged out of the smoke.
"Triple Exploding Star!" Usopp cried as he unleashed a barrage of Special Stars on the charging Fishman, each explosion accompanied by a scream of agony as Chew struggled to fight his way through the assaults. The damaged Fishman limped out of the cloud of smoke and moved shakily towards Usopp.
Chew tried to speak as he collapsed to the ground. The blonde Fishman forced his head up as he attempted to kill the Gunman with a water bullet, but all he saw when he looked up was the barrel of Usopp's Repeating Rifle. A final shot rang out, and Chew was no more, Usopp, even though he was breathing heavily, smiled at Zoro as the Swordsman approached.
"Wonderful job, Usopp," Zoro said with a nod.
"Even I can beat these men," Usopp said, his body slowly regaining its equilibrium after the adrenaline rush.
"Now we just have to wait for Luffy to deal with Arlong," Zoro said, looking across at Luffy and Arlong, who were staring one other down.
Usopp said, "This is going to be extremely terrible," and Zoro grumbled in agreement.
"I'm looking forward to it," Nami said as she came towards them, her gaze never leaving Luffy. Looking back, Usopp was startled by the quantity of corpses scattered over the ground; there had to be at least twenty-five Fishman dead or unconscious where Nami had been battling.
"Did you see my fight, Nami-swan?" Sanji asked as he walked over, hearts for eyes.
"Yeah, awesome work, Sanji," Nami said distractedly, not wanting to look away, she was going to enjoy this, it was time for Arlong to feel helpless, to become nothing but dust in the Wind.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone