Chapter 12
The crimson sky burned above Arlong Park like an open wound. Nami stood alone in the dusty courtyard, clutching a bag heavy with 100 million berries. Eight years of theft, sacrifice, and silence had led to this moment. Her orange hair caught the dying light as she looked up at Arlong, hope flickering in her eyes.
"I have it," she said, voice trembling. "All of it. One hundred million berries. Now keep your promise. Free Cocoyasi Village."
Arlong's laugh was grinding steel. He snatched the bag and dumped it out, berries scattering like broken dreams.
"Promise? You actually believed I'd let these pathetic humans go free?" His shark grin widened.
"Humans are tools, navigator. This village is mine forever."
His crew roared with laughter. Nami's knees buckled. Eight years—wasted. Her world collapsed.
---
That's when the Straw Hats arrived.
No dramatic entrance. No battle cries. Just quiet footsteps through the gates, dust swirling around their feet. Johnny and Yosaku pointed toward the fortress.
"There," Johnny said, adjusting his sunglasses. "That's where the fish-bastard should be."
Nojiko tried one last time.
"Stop! You'll only make things worse!" Villagers grabbed at their arms, pleading.
But the Straw Hats didn't stop. Didn't explain. Just walked forward like they'd already decided how this story ends.
Luffy's hat cast a shadow over his face, but his eyes burned. Zoro's hand rested on his swords, bandages still fresh. Sanji's cigarette smoke curled in the still air. Usopp's knees shook, but he kept pace. And Silas… Silas walked like a man who'd finally found the fight worth dying for.
They reached the courtyard. Saw Nami. Saw the scattered berries. Saw the truth.
---
Arlong rose from his throne.
"More humans who don't know their place?"
His crew flanked him—scales, blades, and malice.
Hatchan spun six swords lazily.
"Dinner just walked in!"
Kuroobi cracked his knuckles.
"Three-sword style? I'll show you real power."
Chew spat a water bullet into the dirt.
"Pathetic humans playing pirate."
Then Quadshot stepped forward, four arms, four flintlocks, each aimed at a different Straw Hat.
"Four guns. Four dead pirates. This'll be over fast."
Silas's eyes locked onto those barrels. His tattoos pulsed beneath his shirt—the sun over his heart, the warrior across his stomach. This is it.
The Fishmen expected fear. What they got was silence.
The Straw Hats stood like they'd already won.
---
That's when Nami broke.
She pulled out a knife and slashed at the tattoo on her arm—Arlong's mark, burned into her skin. Blood flowed.
"I hate this! I hate all of this!"
The Fishmen laughed.
"Eight years and she's finally lost it!"
Luffy caught her wrist.
"Nami," he said quietly.
"I'm going to help you."
He took off his straw hat—his most precious thing—and placed it on her head.
"We're going to tear this place down."
---
Then the fight began.
Arlong's crew surged forward like a tidal wave. But they crashed into something they'd never faced before: the unbreakable will of true nakama.
The gates of Arlong Park stood wide open. The Straw Hats charged in. No speeches. No hesitation. Just raw resolve.
Villagers watched from the walls, stunned.
"Are they really doing this?" a woman whispered.
"They're fighting for Nami," an old fisherman said. "Never seen anything like it."
---
Silas met the first wave. His flintlock barked—BANG! BANG!—two Fishmen dropped. His sabre flashed, parrying a spear, pommel strike dropping another.
"Too easy!" he called, already reloading. His flash reload—one-handed, mid-motion—was poetry in motion. Empty shells hit the ground. Fresh bullets clicked into place.
Zoro followed, swords singing.
"Oni Giri!" He carved through Fishmen like paper. Bandages soaked, but he moved like death.
"You're bleeding, moss-head," Sanji said, kicking three opponents aside.
"Shut up, dart-brow!" Zoro grunted.
"I could fight a hundred more with my eyes closed!"
Usopp hung back, slingshot snapping.
"Captain Usopp's special attack!" Explosive ammo cleared groups. His knees never stopped shaking.
---
In the center, Luffy faced Arlong.
Ten feet of muscle, scales, and cruelty.
"So you're the rubber boy," Arlong sneered.
"I've ruled the East Blue since before you could walk."
Luffy's answer:
"Gum-Gum Pistol!"
Arlong caught it. Grinned.
"Is that supposed to impress me?"
He squeezed. Luffy's rubber body absorbed the pressure. Then snapped forward—headbutt to the nose.
"Gum-Gum Bazooka!" Both fists slammed into Arlong's chest, sending him skidding.
---
Elsewhere, Hatchan's six swords whirled around Zoro.
"You're good," Hatchan admitted.
"But six arms beat three swords."
Zoro grinned, blood dripping.
"Maybe. But I've got something you don't."
"What's that?"
"The ambition to be the strongest."
"Tora Gari!" His blades broke through. Hatchan crashed into the pool.
---
Sanji fought underwater. Kuroobi's Fishman Karate sent pressure waves through the sea.
"In here, I'm ten times stronger!" Kuroobi boasted.
Sanji treaded water, suit immaculate.
"Hmph." His kick connected with Kuroobi's jaw. Ship-fighting technique—perfect underwater.
---
Silas faced Quadshot.
"Four guns versus one," the Fishman taunted.
Silas spun his flintlock.
"Quality over quantity, fish-face."
Quadshot fired—BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Silas rolled, dodged, returned fire. His reload never stopped. While Quadshot paused to reload four guns, Silas kept shooting.
"Hold still, you slippery bastard!" Quadshot roared.
"Not happening!" Silas fired again—bullet through the shoulder.
"You want to dance? Let's dance!"
---
The villagers watched. And something shifted.
Hope.
For the first time in eight years, they saw Arlong's empire cracking. They saw pirates who fought not for gold—but for one of their own.
And in the center, Nami stood with Luffy's hat on her head, tears streaming down her face.
Tears of relief.
Tears of finally understanding what it meant to have true friends.