Cocoyasi Village.
A quiet and peaceful little town.
The village's law enforcer was just and kind, and the local doctor treated everyone with skill and compassion.
A large Marine base lay nearby, giving the region a sense of order and protection.
Being close to the sea, fishing was abundant. The soil was fertile, and farming thrived.
The villagers lacked for nothing, food, clothing, and daily necessities were never a concern.
In the age of chaos brought on by the Great Pirate Era, being born in a place like Cocoyasi was a rare blessing.
But, as always, fate had other plans.
The sun hung high in the sky. Waves rolled in from the horizon, crashing against the jagged rocks, sending up sparkling sprays of seawater, like shattered glass, dancing in protest. As if the sea itself was warning of the storm to come.
Far off in the distance, faint silhouettes appeared on the horizon, few could have imagined that they were the harbingers of nightmares.
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At the home of Cocoyasi's local officer, Genzo...
A young girl with short orange hair sat quietly on a stool. She wore a light summer dress, and from afar, she looked like a tiny, overgrown tangerine.
Nami kicked at the floor with her bare feet, then mumbled under her breath:
"I ran away from home..."
Across from her stood a middle-aged man in an old-fashioned police uniform, Genzo. Strangely enough, a small pinwheel was attached to the top of his hat, spinning softly with every movement of his head.
Upon hearing Nami's words, Genzo clenched his jaw, his face turning red as he tried to suppress something.
And then,
"Hahahaha!" Genzo slapped the table and burst out laughing.
"So you ran away... and ended up back in the village!?"
Throwing his head back in laughter, he teased,
"You call that running away? Leaving the house and going back to town? That's the simplest rebellion I've ever seen! Hahaha!"
With Genzo's laughter echoing around her, Nami only lowered her head further.
After a while, she muttered softly:
"Maybe... Aunt Belle-Mère would be happier without us..."
"Huh? Why would you say that?" Genzo's laughter stopped abruptly. Even the pinwheel on his hat ceased spinning.
Realizing she'd said something she shouldn't have, Nami turned away, avoiding his gaze.
"Because with us around... she's poor. And people in the village don't like me."
Belle-Mère had to take care of two children alone, working less and earning barely enough.
Nami loved reading books about navigation, but they were expensive. So she often stole money, or books, from around the village.
Though the villagers never truly hated her, whispers and complaints started to grow.
But in Nami's mind, it was all her fault, that Belle-Mère was struggling because of her.
Genzo's lips slowly curved into a smile again. The pinwheel resumed spinning.
"Haha... little Nami's growing up, huh." He remembered the first time he saw her, just a tiny baby bundled in Belle-Mère's arms.
"Don't worry. When Belle-Mère was your age, she was the worst kid in the whole village."
"Aunt Belle-Mère... really?"
"Oh yeah. Compared to her, you're practically an angel."
Genzo turned to look out the window at the village.
"But then... that same Belle-Mère left the village, became a proud Marine, and came back with two kids. The whole village was stunned."
"Marine?"
"Yep. I'll never forget that day... In the middle of a raging storm, she came back on a tattered naval ship, soaked in blood, carrying two children. She shouted,
'Someone help! These kids have high fevers! Please, call a doctor!'"
"Those kids were Nojiko, who was three... and you, still a baby."
"But... she told me she found me under a bridge."
"Haha, Belle-Mère was just messing with you."
While Genzo and Nami talked, on a remote coast of Cocoyasi Island...
A massive ship docked quietly.
From it, tall, looming figures stepped ashore.
The villagers remained blissfully unaware of what was coming.
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"Nami!"
The door to Genzo's house suddenly flew open.
A girl slightly older than Nami stood in the doorway.
She had soft, wavy purple hair and wore an old pair of overalls.
It was Nojiko, Nami's adoptive older sister, three years her senior.
"I knew you'd be here, Nami."
Genzo patted Nami's head.
"Well, someone's come to take you home. Off you go."
Just as the sisters were about to leave...
"Pirates!!"
A loud cry rang out.
Genzo's face changed instantly.
He shoved the two girls toward the back door.
"Run! It's not safe here, head into the forest!"
"But... Aunt Belle-Mère, "
Nami tried to protest, but Nojiko, older and more level-headed, grabbed her hand and pulled her into the trees. Their small figures quickly vanished among the foliage.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
"Adults, 100,000 Berries. Children, 50,000."
Arlong, a towering fish-man with a long saw-like nose, declared to the trembling villagers.
His crew spread out, inspecting homes for anyone trying to hide.
"How much have we collected, Kuroobi?"
Arlong asked another fish-man with a humanoid body and a shark-like face.
"About 250 million Berries," Kuroobi replied.
The villagers clenched their fists in silent fury.
"That's enough for today, everyone," Arlong said with a wave of his hand.
Just then, a pudgy fish-man pointed to the distance.
"Boss! Look over there!"
Smoke was rising from a chimney.
Arlong's expression darkened.
"Tch... almost missed one."
The Arlong Pirates followed the smoke trail and arrived at Belle-Mère's home.
Genzo and a few villagers trailed quietly behind.
Inside, Belle-Mère was cooking lunch.
She'd argued with Nami that morning and decided to prepare a feast to make it up to her.
"Maybe I should even open a bottle of wine for them..." she mused, smiling.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Two heavy knocks echoed at the door. Belle-Mère turned.
"They're back already?"
Arlong waited outside.
"It's unlocked. Come in," she called out.
The door creaked open,
And Belle-Mère came flying out with a long rifle in hand, flipping through the air.
Her foot slammed into Arlong's neck, knocking him to the ground.
She thrust the barrel of her gun into his mouth.
"Surprised? This village has a Marine, too."
"What's a big-name pirate from the Grand Line doing in a tiny place like Cocoyasi?"
For a moment, Belle-Mère was back in her Marine days, fierce, cigarette dangling from her lips, eyes sharp.
"HAHAHAHA!"
The Arlong Pirates laughed loudly.
They weren't afraid. They were amused.
Belle-Mère's face tightened. She pushed the barrel deeper.
"What's so funny!?"
CRACK!
Arlong bit the gun in half.
"I'm laughing at how weak you humans are."
He grabbed Belle-Mère and slammed her to the ground.
Just then, Nami and Nojiko, who had run back, saw everything.
Nami tried to scream, but Nojiko quickly covered her mouth and shook her head.
CRACK!
Arlong stomped on Belle-Mère's shoulder. Bones shattered audibly.
He raised his foot again, aiming for her head.
"You fool!" Genzo rushed in, yelling,
"Don't throw your life away for pride! Some fights aren't worth it! Some problems can be solved with money!"
Arlong paused, then lowered his foot.
"He's right. Adults, 100,000. Kids, 50,000. So, Marine lady, will you pay... or die?"
Genzo knelt beside Belle-Mère, whispering:
"How much do you have at home?"
"Scraping everything together... maybe 100,000," she said weakly.
"That's enough." Genzo stood and declared,
"Belle-Mère has the money. I'll get it for you."
Suddenly, the octopus fish-man Hachi spoke up:
"Boss, looks like this house was preparing food for three people."
"Belle-Mère invited me and the doctor over for lunch," Genzo lied quickly.
"We'll go get the money now."
They returned with the money and handed it over.
"There. Everyone's paid. The village is safe now," Genzo said.
Arlong took the money and nodded.
"Let's go, men."
"We're safe... right?" Belle-Mère smiled faintly, holding her injured shoulder.
"Two kids, 100,000. That money's for them. Not for me. I didn't pay my share."
"Belle-Mère!" Genzo snapped.
She shook her head, crying.
"I'm sorry, Genzo. I just... can't say I don't have a family."
Arlong turned slowly.
"You have kids?"
Belle-Mère wiped her tears.
"Even if I'm only their mother in name... they're still my daughters."
"Belle-Mère!"
"Mama!"
Nami and Nojiko burst from the bushes and ran to her.
All three collapsed into a tearful embrace.
"I'm sorry... I wanted to buy you so many things, clothes, books... but I never could. I was never a good mother..."
Belle-Mère wept, knowing this might be her last chance to say these words.
"So these are your daughters..." Arlong said coldly.
Belle-Mère stood tall.
"Yes. You won't harm them, will you?"
"Not if you die obediently."
"You bastard!" Genzo drew his pistol and aimed at Arlong.
But before he could fire, Kuroobi slashed him, leaving deep wounds across his face and chest.
"Just a worthless human. A lesson's enough, we don't need to kill him," Arlong sneered.
Then, he raised a gun to Belle-Mère's forehead.
"You'll be the first to die... for the foolish crime of love."
Belle-Mère closed her eyes.
"Nojiko... Nami... I love you."
WHOOSH,
A stone whizzed through the air, striking Arlong's pistol. It exploded in his hand.
"Phew... made it in time."
Luffy stood atop a nearby ledge, grinning at the sea of fish-men.
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