Hi Everybody. Sorry for the delay. I was held up with a combination of writer's block and procrastination. But I'm back now with some exciting news. I've made some changes to my Patreon that I think you might like.
The Beginner Tier is now 3 dollars and will give you access to the next 10 paid chapters.
The Rookie Tier is 5 dollars and will give you access to the next 15 paid chapters.
The Advanced tier has remained the same. You can read all available chapters for 10 dollars.
Also, I'm now offering a 7 day free trial on the Advanced Tier. I hope that excites some of you.
Shoutout to Angel Zamora for still being an Advanced tier member. You are amazing!
...
Chapter 13
Nami and Bellemere!
"Bellemere?" Luffy said, as Nami's world was shaking. "Like your tangerine trees?"
"I noticed those tangerine trees," Lilia said. "Bell-chan sure did love her tangerines. I suppose you inherited that love, Nami-chan."
"Back up!" Nami snapped. "You were Bellemere's superior when she was in the navy?! When?!"
"I'll tell you everything," Lilia said. She waved her hands, and like magic, a round wood table with cushioned seats appeared. "Take a seat, both of you. Let's take this slowly."
Nami looked at Luffy, who nodded at her reassuringly. They both took a seat next to each other. Lilia sat across from them at the table.
"Alright. Let me start by reintroducing myself. I'm Aura D. Lilia, a vice admiral in the marines. Once upon a time, I recruited a certain wayward young lady onto my ship when I was just a captain. That was your mother, Nami-chan."
"I knew she was a marine," Nami said after a beat. "I did not know she was under the command of someone like you, Lilia-san."
"I didn't know your mom was a marine, Nami," Luffy said.
"And I didn't know your mom was a vice admiral. Or your grandfather. Or about your brother, or your father."
"I didn't know about my dad, either, you know?"
"True. Didn't Nojiko tell you guys everything back then, though? She told me she told you."
"Oh, yeah. I think she did say she would tell us about you, but I didn't stay to listen. I don't care about your past."
"You didn't care?"
"Your past isn't important to me. It's not going to change anything for me. I know who you are, so I wanted you."
Nami blushed at him saying he wanted her, but more than that, she was touched by his trust in her. "You flatterer..."
Lilia observed their interaction with interest. She could tell their bond was true. Yuki had competition. "So, back to the topic at hand. Bellemere was my subordinate. I met her when I was at East Blue. I had just been promoted up to captain. She tried to pick pocket me."
"Huh?" Nami looked surprised. "Bellemere tried to steal from you."
"Yes," Lilia said coolly. "Very badly, I might add. I caught her in the act immediately and beat the crap out of her."
"I-I see..." Nami was unnerved by the easy smile on her face. "Where was this?"
"Not at Coconami Island, if that's what you're wondering. You might not know this, but when she was young, around eighteen years old, Bell-chan left there to make her fortune. In selling tangerines."
Nami listened, intrigued. She knew very little about her mother's life outside of raising her and Nojiko. "Really?"
"Yes, but unfortunately, her business acumen left a lot to be desired. She couldn't attract customers well enough to make a profit. It got to a point where she couldn't make enough to even feed herself."
"Sounds rough..."
Nami couldn't say she was surprised to hear that. She loved her mother, but she remembered her skills at business were what left them struggling. Not that she'd ever trade a second of her time with her for even a billion berries.
"It was. By the time we met, she resorted to thievery to survive, which was how we met. After she tried to pickpocket me and I kicked her butt, some stuff happened and I gave her a choice. Go to jail, or join the Navy and become my subordinate."
"So, you threatened her."
"You could call it that. Or you could call it me giving her a break. She was a clumsy thief. She would have been caught by somebody else eventually, somebody who wouldn't be so interested in giving her a better choice."
Nami could see her point. "Why did you make her the offer anyway?"
Lilia shrugged. "Call it a whim, call it a hunch. I thought she'd be fun to have around."
Nami grinned, despite herself. "And was she?"
"Yes, she was very fun," Lilia smiled.
Somehow, she was pleased to hear that. "So, did she travel around the Grand Line with you?"
"That's correct. Not only that, we went to the New World together as well."
"Really?! Even the New World?! I never knew that at all!"
"It was only for a brief time that she was there with us, but it's true."
"Unbelievable, but... hold on. I honestly don't know much about Bellemere-san's life as a marine, but... I'm certain she was an East Blue Marine before she retired."
Otherwise, she never would have found her and Nojiko.
Lilia nodded. "You're right. Bell-chan indeed spent the last years of her Navy career in the East Blue."
"Does that mean she left your crew, mom?" Luffy asked.
"Yes. A lot was happening back then. Not least of which was the beginning of the Great Pirate Age triggered by Gold Roger's execution. The sea was tumultuous back then. It still is, but those first few years were really rough for the world. East Blue included. Bell-chan, she felt like she couldn't really make a huge difference for those who lived in the Grand Line, which is filled with so many strong people. If she was going to continue fighting, she wanted to put the skills she'd gained to good use at her home sea. And she did. Her experience on the Grand Line made her hugely valuable over there and she was made a captain and did a lot of good. Then, one day she was stationed at the Oykot Kingdom where her unit fought a bloody battle against pirates. She nearly died but held on when she discovered two little girls, one of whom was barely more than an infant."
"Wow. Who were they?" Luffy asked.
"They're obviously Nojiko and me," Nami sighed. "Can't you pick up on the context clues?"
"Oh. So, that Bell lady saved you and your sister?"
"That's right. I already heard the story, too. After she found us, she took a boat and sailed all the way back to Cocoyashi Village to get help for us. She literally begged everyone to save us."
"And that was very much like her," Lilia said. "Here's something you might not know. Days after that incident, she reached out to me, telling me everything that had happened."
"She did?"
"I was pretty surprised to have heard from her. It had been awhile. Plus, I was off duty at the time and I don't usually receive word from the Navy on my down time. I was interested, so I went to Cocoyashi Village to meet with her, where I was surprised to discover she had adopted you and your sister Nojiko."
"...You met me as a baby?"
"Not just me. Him, too."
She pointed at Luffy. Nami and Luffy stared in shock at each other.
"Eh????!!!!" They screamed.
"I brought baby Luffy and his twin sister Lucilia with me when I visited your mother. I don't know exactly when you two met on the sea, but technically your first meeting was o when you were babies seventeen years ago. In Luffy's case, he was only a few days old."
"Wait!" Nami snapped. The pace of this conversation was overwhelming her. "You had Luffy and his sister just days before you visited Bellemere-san, and you traveled to Cocoyashi Village with them?! Isn't that kind of dangerous?"
Lilia made a face. "What are you, my husband? Dragon said the same thing back then."
"My dad did?" Luffy said, surprised.
"Believe it or not, he is quite the worrywart," she said, a fond smile on her face. "Kind of makes sense for a revolutionary, don't you think? Anyway, you two were quite fond of each other. Nami was really happy to be around Luffy, and baby Luffy was really at ease around baby Nami. You two had an almost instant connection."
"Did we...?" Nami felt a little embarrassed hearing that, but she also felt happy knowing she and Luffy had such a connection.
"Huh? I wonder why?" Luffy asked, clearly not on the same page as Nami, which pissed her off.
"Jerk," she muttered.
"You cried the whole way back after we left," Lilia said. "We only spent a day with them, but you two were really attached to each other. I can show you."
Lilia wore a look of concentration. The space around them went from total blackness to them being inside a house.
"What the?!" Nami gasped. She recognized this place. "This is my house!"
She was sure of it. This was definitely her childhood home in Cocoyashi Village.
"It is?" Luffy asked, looking around. Thinking back, he had never been to her home back then. But if he recalled, Usopp had. It was certainly better than the home he lived in with Dadan and the bandits.
"It is," Lilia confirmed. "When I'm in Lilia World, I can show people my memories, like so."
They heard the sound of babies playing. They turned and saw two babies on a blanket. One of whom had bright orange hair. She was playing with a newborn baby with a full head of black hair.
"Is that... us?" Luffy asked. "Well, obviously that's you, Nami. But is that me?"
"It is, dear," Lilia said.
"Wow..." Nami said in awe. "I am so cute!"
"That's what you're thinking?" Luffy said incredulously.
"You're cute, too, Luffy."
"I can't believe you actually have kids, Nee-san," a certain woman said from behind. Nami's body instinctively jerked at the familiar voice. She knew that voice anywhere. She turned and saw a woman sitting at their dining table. She had vibrant colored red hair cut into a mohawk.
"Bellemere-san..." Nami's voice cracked. She stared at the mohawk woman with tear filled eyes. "It's her..."
Luffy stared at her. "That's your mom? She looks nothing like you."
"I'm adopted..." she didn't have the energy to say more than that. Her mind was fixated on her mother, she was sitting across from another Lilia. The memory version, she presumed.
"Why, is that surprising?" Memory Lilia asked, shooting Bellemere a look.
"Oh, uh, I don't know...?" She said nervously. "I'm just surprised. Who's their father?"
"That's a secret," memory Lilia said.
"Is it a dangerous guy...?" Bellemere asked curiously.
"I'll neither confirm nor deny that."
"I see. Well, in any case, your babies are so cute. Nami's really attached to your baby boy. There aren't a lot of children or babies in the village so it's nice that she can interact with another baby her age, if even for a bit."
Bellemere was right. The infant Nami was playing with the newborn Luffy the way babies do. They both looked very happy.
"Nami really is attached to Luffy-chan," a certain little girl said.
"Nojiko!" Nami said in shock. It was indeed her big sister as a little girl.
"She's really tiny," Luffy mused. He saw a baby in the little girl's arms. "Is that Lucilia?"
"Yes, that's her," Lilia said.
"That's your twin sister?" Nami said. She looked at the baby boy and girl. There was no real way to distinguish them, except he was wearing a red baby onesie and she was wearing a pink one. "She's sleeping."
"She does that," Luffy and Lilia said together.
"She was always such a sleepy baby," she said. "And remained like that growing up. Although, I haven't seen her in a few years. Still, I was rather endeared by how comfortable she was with Nojiko. Babies can be very fussy and uncomfortable with strange people, but Luffy and Lucilia clicked with you sisters right away."
"Well, we are charming," Nami said smugly.
"Every time I try to pick up Luffy," Nojiko said. "Nami and him cry until I put them back together."
"You were pretty obsessed with me, huh, Luffy?" Nami teased.
"I was a baby!" Luffy argued. "And you were the same."
Nami just smiled at him.
"Looks like Nami's got herself her first friend!" Bellemere said cheerily. "Good for her!"
Nami stared meaningfully at both the adult and baby Luffys. First friend, huh? That was definitely true.
"My kids are loveable," memory Lilia said. "Don't you think, Nagi-chan? Rizen?"
"Definitely," a slim dark haired woman with a sharp gaze said.
"Yes," a handsome and muscular dark haired man in a blue buttoned shirt.
"Aunt Nagika!" Luffy said excitedly. "Uncle Rizen!"
"Those are your god parents?" Nami asked. They were both sitting at the dining table with their mothers. "I don't think I saw them a second ago."
"My memory world isn't perfect," Lilia explained. "The important people appear when it's their time. Like in a story."
"Which ones are yours again?" Rizen asked.
The memory Lilia sighed. "Take a guess."
He stared intently at the little ones for what felt like a long time.
"He can't tell?" Nami asked, looking at him strangely.
"Uncle Rizen has a bad memory," Luffy said. "Worse than mine."
"That's a bad memory..."
"It's nice to know you haven't changed, Rizen-aniki," Bellemere said affectionately.
"It's not always nice," Nagika said, annoyed, but she touched her man's finger with gentle affection.
"So, Bell-chan," memory Lilia said, a serious look on her face. "Let's address the elephant in the room. Are you serious about taking in those two girls and raising them?"
Nami turned to the real Lilia, who met her stare earnestly.
"I had to ask," she said.
"I have to ask," her memory version followed up.
Bellemere considered her words for only a moment. Nami noticed her mother had a lot of respect for Luffy's mother. She was certain if anyone else questioned her resolve about raising them, she would have brushed them off with a confident smile. "I'm sure, Nee-san. The fact is these two girls saved my life, and I saved theirs. None of us have any family, so it only makes sense for me to take care of them. Don't you think so?"
"About that, you know Oyokot Kingdom has restabilized since you were there before, right?"
Bellemere looked at her surprised. "I didn't. Well, that's good. The pirates who attacked their practically leveled it. I honestly thought that place was done for... what's your point?"
"I know a guy with a really thorough information network. In all likelihood, the girls' parents are gone, but it's possible they have relatives out there who are still alive. If you want, I could ask him. Have him look around."
Bellemere lowered her gaze. "...Would it be selfish if I didn't take you up on that?"
"I would say, by their nature, mothers are prone to selfishness."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, primarily, mothers will want to keep their children close to them even when the alternative is probably better."
"So... you're saying it'd be best if I tried to find the girls' families?"
"I didn't say that. Nor can I say one way or the other. It's your choice. I'm just offering you an option."
"Maybe you should take her up on it, Bellemere," a new man said. Nami recognized him immediately.
"Genzo!" She said happily.
"It's the pinwheel guy!" Luffy said, just as excited. Genzo looked much the same as the last time they had seen him. He wore the same maroon uniform and had the same full mustache. Not to mention the pinwheel stuck on his cap. The only difference was that he wasn't heavily scarred, which made Nami feel a certain way.
"What're you saying, Genzo?" Bellemere glared at him.
"Be honest. You don't got the maturity to raise two kids. If there's a chance there's someone better suited to raising them, then don't you think that'd be best for them?"
Bellemere was about to say something, but then Nagika spoke. "I'm inclined to agree with Genzo-san. You aren't exactly a reliable woman most of the time."
"Nagi-neesan!" Bellemere said, glaring at the sharp eyed lady.
"Do you disagree?"
"I do!"
"Is that so? Then I guess I'm misremembering the total screw up you were back when you were in our unit. But we both know I don't misremember anything."
"Hey! I've grown since then!"
"Clearly, not enough. Otherwise, those two girls wouldn't be orphans, would they?"
"Hey, that's too far!" Nami snapped. "Bellemere did what she could!"
"Aunt Nagika sure is looking scary right now..." Luffy said. It was a stark contrast to the sweet godmother in his memories.
"It's time you learned the truth, kiddo," Lilia said. "Your godmother is an awful person."
"That's not true." Luffy looked adamant.
"That's too far! Nagi-neesan!" Bellemere snapped. "I ought to hit you!"
"Go ahead," Nagika said, a threatening glint in her eye. Bellemere flinched and immediately hid behind Rizen.
"...I said I ought to hit you. I'm not crazy enough to actually pick a fight with you."
Nami and Genzo stared incredulously at Bellemere. Neither one of them had ever seen Bellemere back down or fear anyone before.
"You're still a wimp," Nagika sighed.
"Well, only with you two," she retorted, looking at both Lilia and Nagika. "I don't know how I can prove to you I'm capable of raising the girls."
"Bell-chan," Lilia said softly. "Do you honestly think you're capable of raising them properly?"
Bellemere hesitated. With anybody else, she would have just grinned and said yes with bravado, but when the one asking was Lilia, clearly she couldn't fake it with her. She needed to be honest. "I don't know. I am probably not the most capable person for the job, but let me tell you one thing I know without a doubt!" Her eyes flared with resolve. "No one will love those girls more than me! Even if there is a distant relative willing to care for them out there, they couldn't possibly be more willing to care for them than me! So, yes, I'll be selfish and keep them with me for keeps! So, if anyone has anything to say about that, then you can say it to my face!"
Those were strong words. They would have had more impact if the woman hadn't still been cowering behind Rizen's broad back.
"You gonna stop hiding behind my man's back anytime soon, wimp?" Nagika said dryly.
"Give me a break," she whined. "I'll stand up to anyone. Even an emperor or the admirals, but you two, I enjoy living a bit too much. Besides, it's nice back here."
She gave Rizen's large shoulder a squeeze. That didn't make Nagika look any less severely at her.
"I'll say your resolve is true," Lilia said. "And so is your love for your girls. That's who they are now. Your daughters. And that alone is enough to be a mom. I think. Truth be told, I'm not too confident in my ability to raise the twins properly, especially since I have no intentions of leaving the navy at this time. In that regard, you're far more selfless than me."
"You're a lot more valuable to the marines than me, Nee-san. No doubt you and the others will continue to save tons of people. And even change the world."
"That's the plan. But don't go discounting yourself, Bell-chan. Besides, certainly Nami-chan and Nojoko-chan are proof of your value as a marine." Memory Lilia flashed a beautiful smile at the little ones still playing with each other, oblivious to the adults conversing. "Those two certainly lost everything when you found them. Even so, Nami can still smile with Luffy and Nojiko is still holding Lucilia with kindness and affection. They've got strong spirits, just like my own kids. They'll grow up strong. I can see it."
"Thanks, Nee-san..." Bellemere said, moved by her former superior's kind words.
"You can do it, Bell-chan. I know it. I'm sure Mikhail would agree, too."
Rizen, Nagika, and Bellemere's eyes widened. A complex set of emotions manifested onto Bellemere's face.
"Mikhail?" Nami said, confused. She had no idea who he was, but it was clear he was someone deeply important to Bellemere.
"Maybe," Bellemere said softly.
"Well, time to go," Lilia said, getting up from the table.
"You're leaving already?" Bellemere said, almost sadly. "You've just got here."
"I just wanted to see you and check how you are. Now that's that done.." Lilia bent down and picked up baby Luffy, which made both him and baby Nami cry their lungs out. "Besides, I get the feeling if I stay any longer, Luffy won't be able to separate from Nami without crying for the rest of his infancy. There, there, sweetie. Come on. You aren't even three full days old yet. It's far too soon for you to be picking girls over me yet."
Nami flashed Luffy another teasing grin-despite the complex emotions she was experiencing seeing Bellemere-and he looked away, pouting childishly.
"You're crying, too," he said.
"I know," she said, still grinning. It was fun to tease him like this. She didn't often have that kind of advantage over him.
"Guess you're right," Bellemere said as she went to Nami and picked her up, holding her close, matching how Lilia was holding baby Luffy. Both babies were still crying. They would only stop when both mothers brought their children together close enough for them to be holding hands as tightly as two babies could. "I'm in trouble. She's only a baby, but she's already got her first crush on a boy. What am I gonna do when she grows up?"
Nami bit her lip. That was something they would never get to find out.
"Any chance you want to move here?" Bellemere asked.
Lilia stared at her in surprise.
"This is a small place. Not too many parents with kids the girls' age. Plus, I don't exactly have the best reputation around here. I imagine the mothers will tell their kids not to go near the daughters of "Bellemere the Delinquent"."
Lilia nodded. "I can see that. I guess I could move here, but... that would likely cause my other friends to come with their families, and honestly, I don't think this place could handle it."
"What? Do you got a gang of dangerous mothers back home?"
"I wouldn't call it a gang..." she said hesitantly. "More like a group of colorful characters. Bottom line, I feel that your Cocoyashi Village would appreciate me not bringing that chaos here."
"I see. Too bad."
Nami wondered what the memory Lilia was referring to. Although, she had an idea. She already knew of Garp. Then there were the two men, Ryuuhei and Sairo, who both probably had wives. She had to agree, if all the characters from that crazy group were to come to her hometown, it'd be crazy.
"Better grab Lucilia. Nagi-chan, get her for me."
Nagika obeyed her. She moved to retrieve Lucilia from Nojiko, who had fallen asleep with baby Lucilia in her arms. The baby girl's sleepiness was contagious, it appeared.
"Wow," Bellemere said, looking at her sleeping older daughter. "Nojiko doesn't usually take naps."
"My girl's a sleepyhead," Lilia said. "It's infectious. While it makes it easy for me, I do hope she grows out of it."
"My wish was not granted," the present Lilia said.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye," Lilia said. "Later, Genzo-san. Please take care of Bell-chan and her daughters."
"I will," Genzo nodded. "It was an honor meeting you, Vice Admiral. You both as well. Rizen-san. Nagika-san."
"Likewise," Nagika said.
"You, too," Rizen said. "Gento...?"
"...It's Genzo."
"I don't need help," Bellemere said. "I'll walk you all out."
She led them outside. Nami saw the familiar scene of their family's tangerine orchard.
"Before you go," Bellemere said. "Can't you please tell me who your kids' father is?"
"It'd put you in danger, but whatever," Lilia said casually. She leaned in close and whispered into her ear. Bellemere's eyes widened, then she sighed.
"Fine. Don't tell me."
"I told her the truth," the present Lilia said as memory Lilia just smiled. "Dragon wasn't quite as renowned as he is today, but he was still a dangerous revolutionary at this time. It's funny how the truth is often harder to believe than a bold faced lie, isn't it?"
Nami just stared at her incredulously. "How did you manage to stay together as long as you two did?"
"I guess we were just pushing it as long as we could?"
"Say, Bell-chan," memory Lilia said. "Do you have any regrets?"
"Regrets, huh...?" She said with a wistful look. "I would be lying if I said if I said I had none. Most of all, I wish I could see Haga, Matilda, Ellie, Saizel, and Rion again. Hell, I even want to see that old crank Kureto again. I would love for them to see my girls one day."
"I see," Lilia smiled. "That'd be fun. I know they'd feel the same. Maybe one day I'll bring them here."
"That'd be great!" Bellemere beamed.
The memory ended there and they were all returned to black void.
"...That is a promise I can never fulfill." Lilia said, sounding regretful. For multiple reasons.
"...Yeah," Nami said, her voice cracked. She wiped away a single tear. She was rather surprised she hadn't been sobbing the whole time. "Lilia-san... I noticed you hadn't asked how Bellemere is. I guess you know...?"
Lilia nodded. "I do. I know she's dead."
Luffy, who had been silent most of their interaction, was not surprised. For starters, he had not met Bellemere back when they were at Nami's hometown. And the vibe Nami and his mom had when they were watching the memory made it obvious enough. He wasn't clever, but you didn't need to be as smart as Kyosuke to figure it out.
"I was surprised," Lilia continued. "To see that baby girl-now all grown up-on a wanted posted and living as a pirate. With my son of all people. I guess your connection from when you were babies stuck still remained even after seventeen years, eh?"
Luffy and Nami looked at each other, and smiled. Maybe that was it. Although, Nami would like to believe that, one way or another, she and Luffy would always find each other.
"To be honest, I hadn't been thinking much about Bell-chan in all this time, besides the occasional reminiscence, but when I saw the news of Enies Lobby, and that you were a part of it, Nami-chan, I became curious. How did you, who I had thought was living a safe and ordinary life at Cocoyashi Village, end up with Luffy? What triggered it? I became curious. No, that isn't right." Lilia's face became grim. "I had a forboarding feeling. I researched your crew's history and discovered something that I hadn't known until then. Arlong the Saw, captain of the Arlong Pirates, had been occupying the whole of the Coconami Islands for the past eight years, including Cocoyashi Village. It didn't take long for me to figure it out. Bellemere would never sit quietly while trash like that terrorized her home. The home of her daughters. She would either fight to get rid of them, or die trying."
"Yeah, you're right." Nami said, emotionlessly. "I'm sorry you had to learn about it like that."
"...I would have learned about it a long time ago," she said bitterly. "If that corrupt captain Nezu-whatever hadn't been working with Arlong to keep his bounty low and his reputation hidden. If he hadn't, every half decent marine would have stormed Arlong Park to arrest that bastard fish. I'm sure Smoker would have been enough, but we would have ripped him to shreds the moment the news reached us. Just so you know, I have moved to have that piece of trash captain stripped of his rank and court martialed. I'm confident he won't be seeing the light of day for a long time."
"Well, good," Nami said coldly. She didn't care about Nezumi. He was just a tool Arlong used to his advantage. Still, she couldn't stand it if he was still allowed to act as a marine and do the things he did to her village to anybody else. She was glad he was finally being punished for it.
Lilia stared resolutely at her. "Nami, if you can, will you allow me to see it?"
"S-See it?"
"Just as I can show my memories, I can do the same with others' memories. Will you allow me to see Bellemere's last moments?"
Nami froze for several moments. She hadn't expected her to ask that. "Um... let me ask this. You don't need my permission, do you?"
"No," she said, a small grin on her face. "It would take a bit longer without your cooperation, but I can get it now that I've brought you into Lilia World. And since I have the basic timeline, I can find it pretty quickly. Still, I'm not just going to invade your head like that."
Nami smiled in understanding. "Alright. Do it."
Lilia nodded. She could tell the girl was sure. There was no need to confirm. "Thank you. Also, can I let my friends see it, too? Those who knew Bell-chan?"
"Bellemere's old friends?"
"Truthfully, most of the people from back then have moved on since then. Or have been killed in action. But a few from back then remain. They loved your mother, and would want to know what happened to her. Will you allow them that?"
"...How much will you pay me?"
"What?" Lilia stared at her dumbfounded.
"I mean it is my memories. I think I deserve some compensation."
"...You've got nerve. I'll give you that. I don't hate that my kid has someone with a good head for finance on her shoulders. Fiscal responsibility is unfortunately not one of the qualities I've instilled in him."
"Did you just insult me, mom?"
"Of course not, dear. Alright, Nami. I'll make sure to give you a juicy little pay that I'm sure won't disappoint when we return to the real world."
"Thanks!" Nami was feeling really good now. Yesterday, Ryuuhei gave them five million just to use their kitchen and ingredients, and now she was going to get paid by his mother. For once, being connected to Luffy was gaining them money instead of costing them.
"Now, allow me to introduce you to those who were Bell-chan's friends." Lilia snapped her fingers and in an instant, multiple new people appeared beside them. Nami immediately recognized two of them. Nagika and Rizen from Lilia's memories. "These are-pwh!"
Nagika sucker punched Lilia hard enough to send the vice admiral rolling.
"You think you can just trap us in the darkness with your power and bring us over when it's convenient, you worthless leader?!"
"Nagi-chan..." Lilia hissed, slowly getting back onto her feet. "What makes you think you can get away with sucker punching me like that, you bitch!"
"Oh, no. You don't get to play victim, you selfish who-"
"...Aunt Nagika?" Luffy said, getting the woman dressed in white priestess clothes's attention.
She turned and stared. She was so angry at Lilia, she hadn't even noticed him or Nami. Her angry face turned happy at the sight of him. "Luffy!"
She ran and hugged him tightly. She was over six feet tall, so he was pressed into her modest chest. "I haven't seen you in so long. I've missed you, sweetheart!"
"Me, too!" He said cheerfully, hugging her back.
"Luffy," Rizen said as he approached them. He wore a blue buttoned up shirt. Strapped to his back was a large great blade. "Hey, there, kid. It's been ten years."
"Uncle Rizen," he said looking up at him with a funny smile. "It's only been two or three years!"
Rizen looked confused. "It has? Then what happened to ten years ago?"
"I don't know. Lots of things?
"Hey, Nami!" Luffy called out. "Come over here and meet my godparents."
Nami nervously approached them. She wasn't typically an awkward person, but this situation was different. "Hi... I'm Nami."
Nagika stared at her. "I know. I'm sure Lily-chan explained our connection to you."
"She has."
"Y-You're Nami," a chestnut haired woman in a blue blouse approached them. She looked at Nami with an emotional expression. Aside from Nagika and Rizen, there were five other members of the demon unit brought to the space. "Bell-senpai's daughter?"
"I am. And you are...?"
"I'm Ellie. Your mother was a dear friend to me a long time ago."
Ellie. That was one of the names Bellemere said in the memory before. One of the people she wanted to see again.
The other members from back then introduced themselves to Nami, too. Except for Kureto, who looked ancient, they were not among the names Bellemere had mentioned. She wondered where they were...?
"Nami here has allowed me to see the memory of Bell-chan's death," Lilia said straight forwardly. "Are you all prepared to see it?"
They stared at her in shock.
"Nami, are you sure?" Nagika asked. "That must be a-"
"I'm sure," she asserted. "I can understand where you guys are coming from. In your position, I would want to know, too. Although, I should warn you. It's going to be rough."
Even if they only saw the moments leading up to Bellemere's execution, it would be horrible.
"There you have it. If you guys don't want to see it, I'll send you away. I won't force any of you. I want to see it, because I want to know what happened to my friend."
They all stared resolutely at her. None of them wanted to leave. Lilia expected no less from her crew.
"Alright, then. Nami. Luffy. I'll return you two to your crew. You don't need to relive this."
"I want to stay," Nami said in a firm voice. "Please allow me to see this."
Lilia's eyes narrowed as the others gaped at her.
"For what purpose?"
"I just want to..." She didn't have a concrete reason. There was no way reliving that day wouldn't hurt her, but she had faith in herself that she was strong enough to take it.
Lilia sighed. "I don't know if I'd call you strong, but you certainly have guts, Nami. If you're sure."
"Well, if Nami's staying," Luffy said, putting an arm around her. "Then I am, too."
Nami's face reddened despite the situation. "Thank you, Luffy."
Lilia had complex feelings about him witnessing what they were about to see, yet she said nothing. She felt pride for her son for wanting to be beside his crew mate during such a difficult time.
"Very well. Let's do this."
"You don't need to search my head or anything?" Nami asked.
"No. The moment I pulled you into Lilia World, I had everything I needed to get the memory."
"Huh... that's quite something." Nami couldn't quite put into words how she felt about that. It seemed like an easy way to get your secrets stolen. From the looks of it, Luffy and the members of the Demon Unit had similar feelings.
"Now... let's see what happened."
Lilia concentrated. The black void of Lilia World changed to a colorful, sunny day. They were now in a town that seemed like any other filled with people that under any other circumstances would have been quite happy and cheerful, but the memory found them at a point where they all looked scared and anxious.
"This is your village, right, Nami?" Luffy asked. To be honest, he had mostly forgotten about her hometown, but it seemed this memory was different from when they were there. Probably because they hadn't yet been under the tyranny of Arlong. But they would be soon.
"Yeah," she said softly. "Cocoyashi Village."
The villagers were discussing the horror that the Arlong Pirates had come to their little village, and were wondering why Grand Line Pirates had come to a small island in the East Blue. They mentioned that the Fishman Pirates had split up recently.
'That's right,' Lilia thought. 'That did happen. Jinbe got Arlong released after he got captured when Fisher Tiger was arrested. Arlong must've gone to East Blue to throw his weight around because it's a weaker sea.'
It was a common scheme. Pirates too weak to have their way in the Grand Line, travel to one of the four Blues to wreak havoc on seas with a weaker marine force. They were nicknamed Blue Bullies.
Usually, when that happens, Headquarters would send a capable unit to take them out, but Arlong acted a little more intelligently than the average East Blue Bully. He must've found an easily bribed marine captain and took over one the islands they were responsible for. The Coconami Islands.
The Arlong Pirates approached the village with lax but threatening calm. They didn't need to do anything more than show up. No normal civilian would dare to challenge a crew of fishmen.
Arlong announced his immediate occupation of the village. He immediately declared a hefty tax of 100 thousand berries for each adult and 50 thousand for each child. Those who couldn't pay, would be killed.
When he made that declaration, two little girls hiding away in some bushes to avoid being seen by the Fishmen spoke in fear that they could never pay that. They were a little Nami and Nojiko.
"I don't see Bellemere-senpai," Ellie said, her voice empty. She scanned the area, but saw no sign of her.
"We lived outside of town," Nami explained. "We might've been able to avoid being discovered by him, but..."
Fortunately, all the villagers were able to pay the tax, but it was a temporary relief if they had to pay such exorbitant costs. It'd be a miracle if they could make a living like that.
The fishmen were moving to leave after collecting all of the money. It seemed as that would be it for now, when one of them noticed something in the sky. Smoke rising from somewhere. Presumably a house.
Nami and Nojiko and the entire village became terrified.
"That was from our house," Nami explained with hurt in her voice. "Bellemere-san was making a special dinner for us. We had a stupid fight. That was her way of making amends."
The fishmen went to see where the smoke was coming from. Nami and Nojiko ran through the woods to try and beat them there and save Bellemere. As they ran, those watching the memory didn't have to run. The scene moved with them as if they were in a film. Their home was in sight. They were planning to get Bellemere and escape through the back, but it was clear to the Demon Unit that the fishmen had already arrived.
If they knew their old friend like they thought they did, then she wouldn't have meekly done as they wanted, regardless of the risks.
A pair of old hands grabbed the girls, stopping them from going to their home. Nami told them it was the village doctor. He told them it was too late and that they had to leave the island.
It was a hard thing to tell anyone, little girls at that. Being just children, they could barely comprehend what was being asked of them. Little Nami cried at the idea of leaving Bellemere. She couldn't understand why they had to leave when this was their home and those evil pirates were the ones intruding onto their home.
Then they heard screams. The raw unfiltered screams of a woman brutally beaten.
Ellie immediately ran towards the screams, to Bellemere's house. She was followed by several of the other Demon Unit veterans. They moved like the wind. Despite the fact that Nami wasn't actually present to see this part of what happened, the fact she was close enough to hear everything was enough for Lilia world to fill in the blanks.
They saw their friend beaten and her right arm broken by the monster that was Arlong. Him and his crew stood over her beaten and bloody self with sadistic glints in their eyes.
Without even thinking about it, Ellie snapped and kicked the air, unleashing a powerful Tempest Kick large enough to cut a ship in half. Nami and Luffy, who had followed them, stared in shock at the sheer power of her attack. Luffy thought not even the Pigeon Guy of CP9 had that much power. The Tempest Kick hit the memory of Arlong. If he was real, it would have left nothing but a bloody mess of him, but he was only a memory so the attack passed through him like he was a ghost.
"Ellie," Lilia said firmly. "This is a memory. Nothing you do can change the past!"
"...I know," she said hoarsely. "Sorry, I lost my head."
Unaware of the anger and hatred they were causing for the Demon Unit, the Arlong continued to beat on Bellemere as his pirate crew watched with sadistic satisfaction. Their hatred for humans was obvious.
"Stop this, Bellemere! Don't be a fool!" Genzo shouted at Bellemere as she was laid beaten by the fishmen. "There's no need to die! If things can be resolved with a mere exchange of money, then hand over the cash!"
"Genzo...?" Bellemere said weakly.
"Hahaha!" Arlong laughed cruelly. "He's right! Just give me the money and I'll let you live, pathetic human!"
"So, that's Genzo, huh?" Ellie said, as Arlong explained the costs for adults and children.
"You know of him?" Nami asked.
"Occasionally, Bellemere-senpai would tell us stories of her life growing up in Cocoyashi Village. The uptight sheriff of the village often came up. I could tell he meant a lot to her."
"I see..." Nami said softly.
They could hear Genzo whisper to Bellemere if she could pay for all three of them. She couldn't. She only had half the set amount. Enough for either one adult or two children. Hearing that, Lilia knew exactly what would happen next. It was very like her.
"Arlong!" An octopus fishman shouted from inside the house. "The table is set for three in here!"
"Is that so?" Arlong said with a dangerous glint in his eyes. "So... you do have a family, huh?"
"No, you're mistaken," Genzo said in a controlled manner, barely hiding his terror. "My friend and I were going to come over here to have a nice dinner with Bellemere... before you all came along."
Arlong looked skeptical. But a white ray fishman read over the village registry and said that it listed her as unmarried and having never given birth. She was labeled single and childless.
"I was pretty shocked to hear that," Nami said. "I never knew Bellemere never officially adopted us."
"It's just a piece of paper for government purposes," Lilia said. Even she didn't have Luffy or her other children officially registered. Of course, that was for their safety. "She was your mother in every way that mattered."
"I know."
After the one hundred thousand berries were handed to Arlong, him and his crew were satisfied and were going back to their ship, but there was a look of resolution in Bellemere's eyes that her old friends knew all too well.
"She's going to do it, huh?" A short man said, resigned.
"There's no other way," a woman with wavy hair said.
"These guys may be trash who couldn't cut it on the Grand Line," Ellie said. "But they're still fishmen."
"What do you mean...?" Luffy asked. He had been silent up to this point.
"Fishmen are most dangerous in the sea," Lilia explained. "If the plan was to have Nami and Nojiko escape by boat, it was doomed to fail."
Nami looked down. They knew it best. Just as Bellemere did.
"Hey!" Bellemere shouted defiantly. "Who said that money was for me? That berry is for my two daughters. Unfortunately, I don't have my share."
"Bellemere!" Genzo shouted in horror.
"Sorry... Genzo. I just can't say I don't have a family. We may not be related by blood, but I want to be their mother. It might be selfish, but someone told me mothers are naturally selfish."
Lilia's eyes widened slightly.
"...Plus, I don't want that unsmiling woman to be right about me."
Nagika's eyes trembled. Rizen instinctively placed a hand on her shoulder. "Fool..."
"Bellemere!" Little Nojiko and Nami ran from behind their home and both hugged her desperately. They pleaded with her not to die.
"I didn't mean it, Bellemere!" Little Nami cried. "I didn't mean to say we weren't a family! So please don't die!"
"You girls..." Bellemere said weakly. She was was certainly in horrible pain, but she forced herself to put her arms around her daughters, the broken arm included. "I'm sorry... I wasn't a better mother. That I... couldn't provide for you better..."
"Don't say that!" Nojiko shouted.
"Bellemere, you have to see the map of the world I'm going to draw!" Little Nami shouted desperately.
"Nami..." Bellemere said, shakily putting her broken hand on the sad girl's cheek. "Your map... I wish I could see it. You have to follow your dreams, no matter what. Remember... good things will come if you wait for them."
"Bellemere!" The two girls hugged their mother even tightly. They sobbed uncontrollably, more afraid for their mother than for themselves at that moment. It was an emotional scene. One which only the heartless would ruin.
"So, those are your daughters?" Arlong said coldly, unmoved by the display of love. Lilia, despite it all, found that rather tragic. He wasn't incapable of love. He loved his fellow fishmen, certainly. But his hatred towards all humans had consumed him, making him into what they saw now.
It was as pathetic as it was horrible. She had never encountered the Fishman Pirates when they were led by Fisher Tiger, but she'd imagined he'd be disappointed in his crewmate.
"That's right!" Bellemere said, glaring defiantly at Arlong and his men and holding her girls protectively. "And you've got to promise you won't harm them!"
"Sure," he sneered. "So long as you die like a good girl."
"Help us!" Nami begged.
"Haaaa!" Genzo cried. He shot a pair of pistols he had hidden at Arlong, but Kuroobi blocked the bullets with his thick white fins then swiftly slashed Genzo with a sword.
A mob of villagers ran carrying whatever weapons or tools they could grab to fight against the fishmen and save Bellemere. Arlong barely gave them a passing glance as he ordered his crew to not kill them, just teach them their place.
When Arlong looked down again at the mother and daughters, Bellemere pushed both Nami and Nojiko into their home, an impressive feat, considering her injuries. The two girls stared in horror at their mother who stood up proudly in the face of the monster who would end her life.
"Nami. Nojiko." Bellemere said softly, smiling at the two of them reassuringly. "Love you."
Arlong pulled the trigger on the pistol in his hand. The bullet hit her square in the head. She died instantly, but the moments leading to the execution felt like an eternity for the Demon Unit.
In the back of their minds, they had hoped for some small miracle that it was a mistake. That somehow, Bellemere had survived this somehow. That it only looked like she had been killed, but... there was no mistaking the corpse of the woman on the ground.
Bellemere had certainly been killed. There was no denying that fact. Grief hit all of the Demon Unit officers. None of them cried, but none of them looked emotionless either. Not being there for their friend when she needed them would always be a regret.
...
Hope you all enjoyed this. I've always loved reading One Piece memory watching fics like Warm Memories and Brotherly Bond by Rose Dragon Witch. Glad I could sort of create one thanks to Lilia's devil fruit. Makes me want to write that kind of fic later. Like as a side story.
Well anyway, you can continue reading this on my patreon. Remember, I'm offering a 7 day free trial on the Advanced Tier, so you can read everything so far.
Once again, my thank to Angel Zamora for still subscribing to the 10 dollar Advanced tier. You're amazing!