"You damn fool!" The olive-skinned woman smacked the pistol from the boy's hand and promptly smacked his cheek a stinging red. His cheers had quickly morphed into tears. But no apology ever left his lips.
"If that guy hadn't saved you-! No before that, if you hadn't gone and tried to kill a fishman! Kids, I swear... It isn't just you that could get hurt from this!" She continued reprimanding the small child.
"...And? Those fish bastards killed my dad. He didn't have enough to pay for both of us. So, they butchered him in front of me... I swear on my life; I'll kill every last one of them!" The look on the boy's face was one of clear animosity. He'd raze them all to the ground given the chance, not that he ever would get one. He lacked every necessary attribute to ever be successful in that endeavour.
SMACK! The child was sent scraping along the destroyed interior of the building. Skidding a distance before coming to a dead stop at the wall.
"You can't even beat me, what hope do you have against one of them?! You fool." She screamed at him.
"If you're both quite done..." Their argument was beginning to become annoying. The matter was already solved, no need to carry this on.
"And you! Are you completely insane? You could get every last one of the islanders killed. Don't drag the rest of us into your death wish."
"What difference does it make? You guys have rolled over pretty submissively to your new overlords. Maybe it'll make your suffering less prolonged." Worst case scenario they would all be given a quick death, arguably better than indentured servitude. Depending on who you ask.
"Listen here. If you ruin the last ten years of sacrifice me and my family have made to get here, then I swear I'll..."
"Let me guess; kill me? Take your own advice. Just like that child can't hurt you, the same is completely out of your hands with me." Her hands were trembling with anger. As her teeth bit into her bottom lip in frustration I couldn't help but liken her to the navigator.
"...Nami didn't suffer for the past decade for some dumbass to ruin everything." No, she suffered for nothing. They lacked the strength to ever overturn this state of affairs. I wanted to test if the others were any different...
"Our goals align, only your ways about accomplishing it are completely insufficient." Safe to say their servitude was inevitable so long as I and the rest of the crew would never arrive on this island.
"What the hell do you know about us? Huh? No really, how would you know anything about the hell we've experienced every day for the past decade?! It must be so nice being strong..."
"I could ask you the same."
"..."
"What do you know about strength? Have you stood until you can no longer breathe easy, have you shed bloody tears or sweat until the last drop? To me it looks as if you've just been awaiting a saviour. This entire island and its people is fully dependent on the sacrifice of a single girl, who probably never asked for any of it. If you ask me; you're all infinitely more pathetic than this child." At least this one chose to fight... There was something to be said about surviving despite the circumstances and even the dedication to wait for the deal to be made. However, I couldn't view it as anything less than an exercise in futility.
"...To what end? Just to die...?" She said whilst shivering. Her eyes misting over with a ghostly precipitation.
"..."
"There's been enough death already... I don't want to leave Nami alone. I couldn't face Bellemere ever again." Her hand subtly nudged the cloth tying her hair in place. Some sort of memento?
"Bellemere?"
"...Our mother." Her downcast eyes looked into my own. I didn't think they looked particularly alike. I mean even judging by their faces and hair colour. Perhaps different fathers? Or adopted? Or any other reason... I mean the swordsman had green hair for god's sake and apparently it was natural... "She was killed by them all those years ago. It's all we've managed to do to stay alive till this point. Paying their taxes and waiting for Nami to..." She paused for a moment the words incapable of forming on her blue stained lips. She strained visibly, her face contorting in anger and frustration. "We might be pathetic. But even the weak have the right to live."
This woman is pitiful. But above all...
"..."
Wrong.
The weak by definition have no right to that.
This is a world of the strong. Where might makes right. Just look at your own situation. Honeyed words, flowery excuses. All of it is fantasy. With a life this bleak it makes sense why they would turn to it.
"Do you believe in the afterlife?" There was no indication that religion was any different from my original world. Not as if pirates were the sort to abide to the tenants of the holy scripture anyway.
"...I hope it exists. Seeing as you'll probably get us all killed." She still had some humour in her.
"If it does... Your mother will have seen you and the rest of this village stand by as their entire hopes of freedom were placed on the shoulders of a child. Her daughter. And your own sister. For the past decade. Throughout it, what do you think she feels? Pity? Rage? Sadness? Or immeasurable disappointment in her own flesh and blood?"
"..."
"When dawn breaks and a new day arrives. Only then will you realise the truth. In that moment; will you choose the same life you have for the past 10 years, or will you decide on a different path?" I'm interested in the direction they will choose. Either way the end result wasn't in my hands...
I'm just giving them the opportunity. The same as I had been given all those years ago.
I was once beaten bloody and left on the ground, forced to change. A metamorphosis thrust upon me. I came to the realisation much earlier in my life.
Nobody is coming to save you.
Even if it was you against the entire world. So long as I remain safe, then I am the victor. So long as I am capable of that. Nothing else matters.
[Piracy?]
In the early hours of the morning two things had occurred.
A sloop off the coast of a neighbouring island, with the intent of selling goods pilfered in Cocoyashi village was slowly sinking to the bottom of the East Blue. A single fishman was observed hurrying to the coast with a bloody corpse in tow...
The second, was the arrival of a navy ship circling the island of Cocoyashi. The residents howling in happiness at the thought of their shackles finally being broken... Only to be sent into the downwards spiral of despair. As each and every one of the marines rushed to an orchard and begun dismantling it. The sweet smell of the trampled tangerines effervescing, making the destruction and reality of their inhabitants all the more bittersweet.
[Piracy?]
"Stop! Don't touch those trees!" Nami screamed as marines plundered the tangerine plantation. Desecrating the trees and fields as they searched for her hidden treasure.
"Shut up, bitch!" One of the marines smacked her upside the head with the barrel of his musket. Spitting on her as she fell to the ground.
"Please! Stop!" She crawled in the dirt, blood blinding and mixing with the tears that formed in her eyes. Crimson tears that dropped uselessly into the soil. Another of the orchard's owners' bodies would provide nutrients for the tangerines' growth. That would be such a waste.
Parsing through the large hedges I approached her.
"...Ayanokouji." I crouched down in front of the beaten cat burglar.
"Do you want help?"
"..."
"You only need to ask. But if we do it, we do it my way."
"..."
"I'll save you and this village. But not a single person will remain. Not a single person that sees this sight, bar you and me."
"But... Nojiko and Genzo!" The same olive-skinned woman from last night was nursing a wound on the ground. She had been shot in the abdomen. A middle-aged man wearing a strange hat with a pinwheel held her in his arms.
I couldn't risk information about me coming to light after we left here.
"A necessary consequence." She gave information away too easily.
"She's, my sister. She's the only family I have left!"
"Yeah, such a sweet sister. Really, such a sweet family this entire village is. Would such a caring family really allow their youngest daughter to be sold to Arlong?"
"...What are you talking about?"
"They all know." The older man dropped his gaze towards the floor. Not daring to look at either of us.
"...What?"
"Every last one of them knows about your deal. They put on their false smiles when you walk by, but they all know the pain you feel every day. They want you to serve your purpose. No matter how. So long as you buy their freedom, I'm sure they'd be fine if you sold your mind, body or even soul." Strange. Neither of them were refuting my words. Why? They still cared for her. And they could probably convince her...
"That sort of thing doesn't matter... So long as I can be of some use." She had already settled into the role of martyr.
"What a great deal of use it is... Did you really think that Arlong would let you go after paying this arbitrary sum?" The tiniest ray of hope had blinded you to the almost absolute outcome... this. It should have been something you expected and prepared for. Soon enough they would have the treasure and have reneged on the deal you put so much faith in. All the while the only thing you could do in retaliation is curse under your breath and hope someone ends your suffering.
"..."
"Power is what rules. So long as he is the strongest, he is free to use you for as long as he likes."
"..."
"Freedom. True freedom; is the ability to never be shackled. Right now, you lay writhing in the dirt of your own land that was your mother's before you. Crying tears of blood whilst others take your labour. Shackled by Arlong and his deal, tied down by your commitment to this village and blunted by your useless morality. Have any of these people truly cared for you? These marines, the protectors of the world are greedily taking your riches instead of saving this village. Should they be spared?"
"...I-"
"Just ask and it can all be over." That's all I needed. Ask and I'll wipe this place off the map. You will be the freest a person can possibly become. Not a single tether in this world or the next, nothing to hold you down or back from your desires. Just like me.
"..."
"I... Don't want that..."
"..."
"I don't care if they knew... I just want to be with Nojiko and the others again!" Those words were clear, piercing through the fog in my heart despite the blubbering tears and strained voice that was their origin.
"...Even if you were just being used?"
"Even if that's true.... I just want them back!" She clawed at the dirt, grabbing fistfuls in frustration.
"..." True freedom meant cutting all ties so that you were a ghost in this world. For what human can touch, let alone see a ghost? A pirate wanted to give up that freedom for the bonds she shared with others. She was fine suffering immense pain and trial after trial to buy their freedom... even if she might be broken after it.
So that was just how much they meant to her? Bonds, relationships, ties. Whatever you wanted to call them; they trumped true freedom?
I don't understand it.
If that's your answer...
The only thing I can do... is respond to those feelings with the only thing I know.
"Close your eyes."
"What?"
"You've seen enough of the ugliness of the world... I'd prefer not to add to it."
"Huh? You as well?! Stay on the ground like those two or I'll use this!" The same marine that had assaulted the navigator was brandishing his arms at me.
"Don't blame others for this... This is a consequence of your own choices. Marines should be the force for good on these seas. At the end of the day, you can only blame yourselves for becoming no different than the pirates you serve."
"Enough of your prattling! Shoot him already!" A mousy looking captain shouted from behind a group of soldiers.
Crunch!
A single punch...
That was all it took.
The soldier's neck bent and twisted at an unnatural angle. Human life really is... incredibly fragile.
The marine hung lifelessly in my outstretched hand, the rest of his squad threatening with their muskets. I held him in their view, my body eclipsed by their past comrade.
I wonder, would they try to preserve the body of a past friend and compatriot, or would they riddle it with holes to serve their own interests?
"Fire!"
"B-But corporal Nezumi-!"
"Never mind all that, he's already dead! Do you want the same?! Fire at him now!"
I flung the corpse with enough force to knock the squadron over, the lifeless body of their comrade stuck to the frontline, impaled on the rudimentary bayonets at the end of their rifles.
"If you're going to shoot, you should've just done it." The moment which they took their eyes off of me was enough for me to blitz past and sneak up on their captain.
"AHHHHH! DIE SCUM!" He rushed for a flintlock pistol in his breast coat pocket, taking the knife off of his belt I stabbed through the retreating hand. If I pushed any harder it would penetrate through the hand and encroach upon his body, that injury would be much more difficult to patch up. Though that isn't something he'll have to worry about for much longer.
"Your men won't find what they're looking for here."
"STOP, STOOOPPPP! AHHHHHH!" Nami did a good job of hiding it, even though I didn't know where it could be. Well, I could guess... But that wasn't really the point.
"You guys should understand by now... Leave this place, in return I'll go instead."
"W-What are you talking about?" One of the marines asked in desperate confusion.
"You came here looking for the treasure, I can assure you that it isn't here. Only I know where it is. Do you really think a little girl like that managed to amass that wealth herself? She's served me well; leave her be. In return you take me and me alone."
"H-How do we know you're telling the truth?"
"For one I could just kill your captain now... Though, I'd be dead after it. Money is nice, but I prefer living. You clearly aren't here for any good reason. An exchange is in order; I give you the treasure and we go our separate ways without reporting this to your supervisors. Sound agreeable?"
"C-Corporal, what do we do?" I twisted the knife slightly into his hand, resulting in further cries of agony.
"AHHH! I don't know, take that damnable knife out of my hand!" His whiskers flared up comically.
"Oops. My bad." The knife came out with a plop and more exaggerated bleeding.
"AHHHHHHHH!" What did you think was going to happen after I took it out? His face drained of colour, and he collapsed onto the ground.
"Corporal!"
"That's the offer, do you plan to take it?" I asked the closest soldier. The one who was least bewildered by the situation.
"...Get sea prism shackles. Do not resist, or we'll use every avenue to subdue you..." I was surrounded by muskets pointed in my direction.
"Understood." Sea prism? Some kind of special material, but why specify it? It would be enough to simply say shackles, was there something I was missing? The only thing I could think of was the strange characteristics of certain people. If Luffy isn't completely unique then perhaps it was a useful substance that controlled those strange characteristics. Come to think of it, it would be difficult to apprehend a person like Luffy if his powers remained intact. The same could be said if other such powers existed...
Did this mean that they viewed me as some strange creature? With power that wasn't exactly human. That my strength would be under control from that substance... I could be overthinking it, generally people would assume that handcuffs or shackles would completely eliminate a threat.
They would be completely misguided.
[Piracy?]
"The transponder snail! Quickly, get contact with the-!"
"What the hell am I supposed to tell them?!" They placed themselves between a rock and a hard place. If they called for help from a major base they would be discovered as taking bribes, as well as aiding and abetting criminals. The only saviour they could hope for was Arlong. I wasn't going to betray those expectations.
"Transponder? You guys even have things like this... What a strange place." Gripping the strange snail like creature in my outstretched hand. It was a befuddling contraption. Was it alive? How did it connect with other lines? It appeared to function like a transmitter of some kind... In essence this world's version of the telephone. A large somewhat familiar looking implement seated next to it. My vigilance was paying off, this would be useful for the next few steps... Still, it's strange seeing the small differences between this world's technology and my own.
How bizarre.
"Ah, p-please... let us go! I swear we won't speak a word of you!" The marine crawled on the ground, begging for mercy. His hand slowly reaching towards the splintered wood behind him... You aren't nearly as careful as you should be... I suppose I can't blame him for trying. At least you can die saying you tried your best.
Who knows maybe you'll get the same opportunity as I did?
Though, I suppose in my case. I never did die.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure of that myself."
After all, dead men tell no tales.
As soon as my business was done here, I could embark to the lowest level.
A certain thing had sparked my interest.
[Piracy?]
"Shahaha! It looks like our marine friends are on their way! Open the port gate."
"Brother, shouldn't we just get rid of them after taking the sum?"
"They have their place. And they know it. So long as these guys stand between us and the marine forces we don't have to worry about interruptions. Bear with it a little longer... We've already waited this long, haven't we?"
"...As you say. Hey, Hachi. Have you seen the Banji brothers? They should've returned by now."
"Can't say I have, where did those guys go off anyway?"
"...I don't like this."
"You're worrying too much Kuroobi. We'll have the money and Nami crawling back to us soon enough. Have you seen the ship return?"
"No, I suppose not."
"See? Those two are probably taking a break after a job well done."
"Didn't that guy say he swam here?"
"Are you going to believe everything that a human comes out with? If it were all true, we would be dead a hundred times over. But what do you know, we're still standing here."
"...Yeah. Apologies brother. Must be my nerves, it's been a while since we fought. I'm more on guard than I thought."
"Nothing wrong with that. If those guys are just hot air now, I'll be disappointed."
The large marine ship entered through the sluice gate. Approaching the park, though it didn't seem to be losing any speed.
"Oi..."
"They're on board... Why aren't they moving?"
"Tell those idiots to stop! They're going to damage the port!"
"You hear me; you, marine! Stop the damn ship!"
"Oi, four of you. Stop it with your hands. Dumb marine must want to play games."
"Yes sir!"
The ship came to a halting stop as the four fishmen barrelled under water. Using their gargantuan strength to prevent the vessel from crashing into the port.
"Arlong."
"Yeah... I don't smell blood. You two, greet our business partner." The leading fishman pointed to two of the men responsible for stopping the ship.
"Ah man, I hate ships. Can always smell the gunpowder, even from here."
"You call yourself a pirate?"
"I can't help it, my nose is sensitive man! Besides you say that as if we don't thrive underwater. Gunpowder's a whole lot of use whilst wet, ain't it?!"
"Whatever, just grab that idiot. Captain's orders."
"Yeah, yeah..."
"Oi, human. We might have some business but stop ignoring m-!" Each and every one of the marines on deck was holding onto ropes and pulleys, in position to operate their ship. Their eyes covered by the caps donned by each and every crew member. The captain acting as helmsman with a tight grip on the wheel...
But upon a single nudge... the entire system of strings fell apart.
"What?"
CLICK!
A small yet resounding mechanical sound came from the sluice gate. Or rather just above it.
A single man. Stood with a camera in hand. Still and composed as if he were sightseeing.
"They should receive it soon enough..." He uttered through shallow breaths.
"...You!"
"I knew it, the Banji brothers have been gone too long."
"You've intruded on a deal you had no part in human. I hope that you're prepared for the price!"
"Kill him!" Fishmen ran from the large grand pagoda that was Arlong Park towards the sluice gate. Intending to run past the ship.
The world appeared to have slowed to a halt. Save for the two words said by the man above the bridge, all the while the camera in his hand captured the moments in a frame. Each and every click of the shutter leading to a crescendo. Until the final frame arrived...
"Say... boom."
Another click of the camera shutter was followed by the sudden ignition of the ship. Wood exploding externally and shredding the passing by fishmen. Napalm erupted from the ship, slowly encompassing the forces of the Arlong pirates and leaving naught but the smell of seared hair and burnt flesh in its wake.
"..."
A bloody rain fell from the sky.
Mangled limbs and digits fell from the heavens.
In the centre Arlong stood with a mist of red surrounding him. The body parts of ex-marines strewn around the predator.
CLICK!
Surpassing the shell-shocked state of the fishmen a single sound gathered their attention. The shuttering of a camera. Whilst the human stood atop the sluice gate.
Not laughing, crying or even cracking the slightest smile.
A plain face.
It wasn't a poker face. He wasn't attempting to hide any feelings.
For there were none to hide.
In this moment there was only one thing playing in the mind of this human.
'What a mess.'
The lingering smell of gunpowder followed by burning wood and the charred remains of corpses was all it took to set the entire army on edge. Their eyes burning this sight into their mind. A reminder of the cruelty humans were capable of.
A reminder that the seas did not solely belong to them.
---
Word count: 3931
Bit of a mess of a chapter. I wanted to include Ayanokouji meeting and escaping from the job that Arlong sets him but honestly it wasn't entirely necessary. It would've dragged the pace and possibly split this into two chapters which probably wouldn't be as satisfying to read. But you know, its subjective so maybe I'm wrong.
Might've made it a tad too dark so apologies in that case. Feels like something Ayanokouji would do. He wouldn't risk information on him getting back to the marine base. So instead he gets rid of the marine forces and sends information regarding this to the authorities. Blaming the entire catastrophe on Arlong and his men.
As for Nami's part. From a young age she would be vigilant with the money, so Ayanokouji managed to interfere before they found any traces of the treasure. Thanks to the threat of a strong adversary and the fact they don't know all the ongoing details they believe Ayanokouji's bluff and take him prisoner.
From there he directs and then takes care of his captors, making way to the Arlong pirates with the ship he had rigged to explode. Making use of the munitions on board.
Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter, let me know any of your thoughts in the comments below.
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