Ameliorate ✦ One Piece

33

They stood in the centre of it all, smoke still billowing into the air, the smell of char and soot invading the senses as destruction surrounded them. What were once huts and houses were now bare bones, crumpled and brought to the ground. Homes turned to dust and livelihoods destroyed in the span of a single night.

"Arlong did this?" Sanji questioned in a state of shock as his eyes took in the scene. "Why?"

"To punish the villagers." Nami explained weakly. "And to punish me."

Before they could dive into it more, or question anything further, the approaching villagers had the entire group turning to look at them as they stepped up in front of the Straw Hats, Nami questioning what they were doing. "Nojiko told us about your sacrifice." Sheriff Genzo spoke to her. "We didn't know. Can you ever forgive us?" He questioned, tone apologetic and remorseful.

"There's nothing to forgive." Nami said firmly. "Coco Village is my home."

"Then it's our turn to sacrifice. We're done living in fear." The man announced, steadfast confidence displayed not only on his face, but on all those surrounding him too, all of the villagers banding together in determination. "We're gonna march on Arlong Park. If those fishmen want a fight-"

However, before he could finish, Nami cut him off. "That's not a fight." She warned instantly. "That's a massacre. You will all be killed." And yet somehow, when looking them over, Akira suspected that it was a fact that many of them knew was a possibility and were ready to face.

"If there is no hope for us to buy our freedom, then I say we die trying to fight for it!" The villagers cheered on his words of determination, loudly and confidently. All of them were ready to do what needed to be done, no matter the consequences.

"No, everyone, please!" Nami called over their zealous voices, trying to get them to stand down from the idea. "No, I won't let you do that." She said, finally managing to get them to quiet down as they listened to her again. "This is my fight."

But even she was soon proven wrong as Luffy spoke up next. "No." He announced firmly. "This is our fight. Right, guys?" He looked to his crew for support, nods passing along between them while Zoro spoke.

"Finally, I get to cut something." Akira shook her head at the comment and his dry tone, not even surprised by it anymore.

"But how are we gonna beat Arlong?" Usopp questioned in a worried tone, fearful of rushing into this without any sign of the odds being in their favour. "We saw what he did at Baratie."

"Every creature has a weakness." Akira noted. The fishmen may be stronger than ordinary men, but no one was invincible. They just had to know when to take an opportunity once it presented itself.

"Even bulletproof ones?"

"I'll know it when I see it." Luffy commented thoughtfully. "And when I do, I won't hesitate."

"We should come up with a plan." Akira announced, knowing it would be unwise to rush into Arlong Park without thought and care. She remembered what Genzo had said about other bounty hunters who'd come for Arlong and failed before.

"This way." Nami instructed, motioning for the group to follow her as she led them through the streets to a more secluded corner of the village so they could think in peace.

Sitting down on one of the crates left lying around in the wake of Arlong's attack, Akira's eyes turned to their best source of information. "You've been in there. You've seen it. What can you tell us about Arlong Park?" She questioned Nami who grabbed a stick from the floor, kneeling down to the ground as she began to draw the structure in the dirt and dust.