Chapter 25: What Makes Us Different
Thirteen passed through the village and the villagers looked at him in fear and disgust. A boy pointed at Thirteen and said "Mama, is he a bad guy too?" the mother took her child and said "Yes, baby. Very bad man."
Thirteen looked at the kid and blinked at him before the marines behind him kicked him, shouting "Move, Slave!" some of the villagers changed expressions and watched on as Thirteen was brought away.
A few minutes later
Genzo came by with Nojiko and started rallying the villagers against Arlong. When Nami got there, she said "What are you doing!?" Genzo said "Fighting against Arlong." Nami waved her hands and said "No! You can't! You'll all die!" Genzo looked her dead in the eyes and said "So?"
Nami shouted "I don't want you all to die! What do you think I suffered for!?" Genzo and the rest were silent, Nojiko spoke up "That's why we're fighting, Nami. For you." Nami shouted with wet eyes "I don't want you to! I'll just collect it again!"
Nojiko and the rest of the Villagers stayed silent and Nami said "Where's Thirteen?" Nojiko asked "The tiger boy?" Nami nodded and looked anxious, the same boy from before said "The marines took the slave. Mommy said he was a very bad guy!"
Nami looked at the boy and then his mother before shouting "What!?" the woman said ruthlessly "He's not a human, he's probably just like the fishmen. He was in chains, if he's not a bad guy what is he? Plus he's a slave." as her eyes flashed with disgust.
Nami clenched her fists and swung her fist, punching the woman in the face and knocking her to the ground. Nojiko gasped and Genzo watched Nami as she said in absolute rage "What did you say?! A slave? He's different so he's bad? You think he's a half-breed? Huh?! Answer me!" before she kicked the woman.
Genzo watched and Nojiko said "Nami!" completely shocked by the violence. Nami was breathing heavy as she roared at the woman "Did you forget that WE'RE all slaves too?! What makes you different from him!? You think that joining a rebellion against Arlong makes you special? Makes me touched?"
She turned to the crowd and continued "You're all running to your deaths. You know you're going to die and you still go because you don't want to be slaves anymore! What am I? An idiot!? As far as I'm concerned that 'Slave' is 1000 times better than you!"
She scanned the crowd and they averted their eyes as she said "And you insult someone in the same conditions, if not worse, than you!" before collapsing to the ground and clenching the dirt in her hands, crying.
Genzo walked over silently and patted her head, saying "It's gonna be okay, Nami." he paused before looking towards Arlong Park as he continued "It's not about wanting to free ourselves."
Nami looked up and Genzo's pinwheel whirled as he added "It's about freeing you." Nami's expression froze and she went into a daze as the villagers picked up the woman and gave her dirty looks while Genzo turned around and raised his weapon, shouting "We may be slaves! But we won't let Nami suffer because of us! That same man saved her today! You should be ashamed to call yourself Cocoyashi citizens without standing up for heroes!"
The villagers raised their weapons and roared as Genzo finished "Follow me and take down Arlong!" The villagers cheered and rushed past Nami towards Arlong Park, leaving Nami on the road.
She watched them leave before crying silently, picking up a knife and stabbing the Arlong Pirate tattoo on her shoulder, roaring "ARLONG!" through tears.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her wrist and stopped her from continuing before placing a Straw hat on her head as she cried harder.
Luffy stared at her as she sobbed "Luffy… Save me…" Luffy looked up and passed her as veins throbbed on his forehead, replying "Of course I will."
Meanwhile
Thirteen wasn't brought to a ship but Arlong Park, where he saw a group of Fishmen. The leader of the Marines walked up to Arlong and smirked "Thanks for the tip, I even got a bonus." he snapped his fingers and half of the money bags were left at Arlong's feet as he added "Here's your cut."
Thirteen surveyed the fishmen and looked at the massive Shark Fishman, who was sitting on a chair. He wore a hat and had the nose of a sawtooth shark, he also had a sun tattoo on his chest but Thirteen could see the brand through it.
He looked at the Shark and tilted his head.
The Shark Fishman said "Where's the rest?" before looking at Thirteen, the leader of the Marines said "That's not the deal, Arlong. We split it half and half!" Arlong's pupils constricted at Thirteen when he looked at his chest before he stood up and said "Give me the rest or I'll split YOU in half."
The leader of the marines backed off and stammered "I-I-I'll call HQ! Don't touch me!" Arlong ignored him and walked towards him, the man covered his face and squealed as Arlong passed him and looked down at Thirteen.
Thirteen looked up and Arlong said "You're the Mink that escaped?" Thirteen nodded and asked "You're from the massive break in by the fishman a long time ago?" Arlong nodded and asked "How long you been out?" Thirteen thought about it and said "A year and a bit. I was captured about a year after you were rescued."
Arlong patted his shoulder and said seriously "Do you need help?" Thirteen looked at the guns pointed at his head before shaking his head and saying blankly "I was going to break out on the ship and sail away."
The marines twitched and Arlong laughed before saying "I like you, kid! How about you join me? We can take over together!" Thirteen shook his head and answered "No thanks… I…" he paused and thought about it, looking down as he continued "I just want to leave… I think."
Arlong chuckled and said "If you change your mind come and find me." before waving over a fishman and adding "Throw these marines back to their ship, make sure our new friend doesn't get hurt." the fishman nodded and Arlong continued "Oh right! Don't break the ship." the fishman nodded and shoved the leader of the Marines, saying "Hurry up, rat."
The leader of the Marines was enraged and shouted "No! You can't do this to me! We had a deal! I'll tell the Government you were a Slav-" Arlong's pupils shrank and he shot his arm forward, clenching the Marine's neck as he lifted him in the air, saying "You can die right now if you want? I dare you to say that again."
The leader of the Marines gasped for air with wide eyes, pissing himself in fear. Arlong looked at him with red eyes as he said "You're easily replaceable, rat. Remember that. You can't escape from me."
The leader looked around at all the enraged fishmen and Thirteen, who was looking at him blankly with a red glow in his eyes and a slight frown. He tapped on Arlong's hand and choked out "I'll never… forget… please… let me live!"
Arlong dropped him to the ground and he gasped for air before Arlong kicked him flying through the wall and said "Now get out of my sight before I kill you all!" the marines scrambled and grabbed their leader before leaving.
Thirteen was dragged away and Arlong saluted him as he left, saying "Goodluck, brother." before turning around and sitting back down. Thirteen nodded and disappeared from Arlong park.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone