18~ The Fall of Arlong Park

Mira

I stood from beside Nojiko and stared at Luffy. He almost seemed to be just sleeping with his neck stretched out. "Come back, Luffy..." I whispered softly as I headed back around the park for the second time now. I have to help Zoro. He can't manage another fight on his own. I have to be with him every step of the way.

I pushed past the people of Cocoyashi village just in time to see Sanji's head break through the water for a desperate gasp of air.

"Sanji!" I rushed forward beside Zoro and got down on my knees. "Sanji, give me your hand!"

"Yes... Mira..." He gasped as he started swimming toward me. He gripped my hand tightly and I pulled him from the water onto shore. "Don't worry..." He whispered to Zoro and I. "He's okay."

"I saw him. He'll be just fine..." I confirmed as I helped him sit.

"Really?" Zoro asked.

"Yeah, sort of." Sanji held his stomach.

"Sort of?" Zoro questioned.

"We'll explain later." I said for Sanji. I turned to face him. "Sanji, are you okay?"

"Yes.. Mira... I'm alright." He wheezed. He stood and faced the water, jabbing a finger at it. "Anyhow, come out of the water, you damn fish! Let's settle this!" The dojo fish man satrted crawling out of the water, panting and gasping.

"You still don't get it, do you?" He asked, his eyes blood shot. "Whether it's in the water or on the ground, it's all the same. I'm really angry!" He was out of the water by now on his hands and knees. "I'll make you experience the essence of Fish Man Karate!"He stood and faced us head-on.

I stood and held my ground beside Sanji, my katana out in a defensive angle in front of me.

"The earlier attack I used to send you flying was the Hundred-Brick Fist!" He continued as he glared daggers at Sanji. "But my ultimate attack is the Thousand-Brick Fist! Your survival probability is zero!"

In two second flat, Sanji had the dojo fish flat on his back with one powerful kick. Sanji spun back around on the balls of his feet. "Collier." He said, vemon dripping from his voice. The ground below the fish man was cracked and shattered.

"My chivalry is naive?" Sanji asked in a low voice. The fish rolled over and got to his hands and knees. "Epaule!" Sanji dug his heel into his head, shoving it farther down into the concrete. "I can't protect anyone, you said?" Oh boy... Sanji's on a rant about love. He preformed three rapid kicks in succession, breaking the concrete even more and dealing lethal damage to the fish man. The forth one sent him flying.

"You..." dojo struggled to get to his feet.

"Aw, Sanji..." I pouted. "You left him alive... How can I eat him if he's alive?"

"Sorry, Mira! I'll fix that problem." Sanji turned an icy glare to the fish man.

"Son of a bitch!" Fish man shouted as Sanji bent down onto his hands as he charged at the fish man. "Ultimate Fist! Thousand-Brick!" I follwoed Sanji with my eyes as he launched himself into the air, did a flip, and landed with a solid kick right to the face, sending dojo straight into Arlong's building and through at least five walls and out the other side. "Mouton Shot!"  Sanji shouted as he landed back on his feet.

Sanji took a staggered step back as he stood back up straight. "I guess," He turned and faced where he just sent the fish man flying. "He doesn't want dessert?" I sweat dropped and face palmed. Of course he'd say that...

I looked back to where my meal had gone through, seeing a perfect outline of his body as it flew through. He should be nice and tenderized by now. I scanned over the damaged area of Arlong Park and caught gazes with Arlong. His eyes were narrowed slits as he lifted his head to look down his long nose at us. Wait, when did he move from the wall to just a few yards from us?

"Kuroobi..." He hissed through his teeth. Is that his name?

"Sanji, I'd like some sautéed Kuroobi." I said casually.

"In a few minutes, Mira. This fight isn't over yet."

Arlong turned his head and stared at Hachi. He whispered his name.

"Oh, and hold the octopus, Sanji."

"Yes, Mira." He slipped his shoes back on. "They're small fish, after all. It's a million and fifty-thousand years too early for them to go against a cook. We win this game."

Arlong stood and slowly turned to face us. "How dare you bastards defeat my dear brothers one after another?" He clenched his fist tightly. "Aren't you getting a little carried away?!" His eyes were now large and buldging from their sockets.

"Hey.." Zoro stood shakily on is feet. "What do you mean by Luffy being sort of okay?" He stood strong on his feet, barely even swaying.

"It means he won't die at the time being." Sanji answered.

"His head is above water, so he'll be able to breathe sooner or later." I added as I studied Arlong closely. We can easily win this, but we need Luffy to give us a one hundred percent chance at a victory.

"But in order for us to revive him, I need to go into the sea once more." Sanji stood with his hands in his pockets. "Though, it doesn't seem like that guy is gonna let me." The three of us stared intently at Arlong as he waited for one of us to back down or show signs of weakness and giving in.

Arlong smirked wickedly and slowly walked to the edge of the pool, cupping some water in his hand. "For what you have done to my brothers, you must all pay."

"I've got a thousand berries!" I pulled the wet money from my pocket.

"That's not what I meant!" He growled at me, tossing a drop of water at me. I just stayed still, not expecting it to hit me like a bullet. It pierced my arm and I gasped in pain, crumbling to my knees. The hell was that?!

"Mira!" Zoro and Sanji cried. "You bastard!" They charged at him, but he sent those deadly drops at them too. When they were hit, they flew back, blood spewing out where they were hit and from their mouth.

How can simple water droplets do this much damage?

"I thought they just had a chance in this fight." Sanji stood unsteadily on his feet. "Was it just a dream...?"

"I can kill humans like you without directly touching you if I have some water." Arlong's smirk widened into a ferocious grin. He raised his cupped hand. "That's the difference between us."

I stood on my feet and ignored the ache in my arms and side. "But Arlong? Have you forgotten? I'm a Neko. By Nature, I should be stronger and more superior to you."

"I will break the laws of Nature if I have to in order to be on top!" He shouted at me and threw more droplets at me. I waited until they almost hit me to dodge out of the way. They flew past me and hit the wall or fell short of the people of the village.

"I'm more agile than a mere fish," I pulled up my katana and held it before me. "I can eat fish raw if I so desire to do so. My teeth and nails can rip flesh from bones! Nekos are far superior to mere fish-lings! I don't need to wait for Sanji to cook you to the perfect golden-brown! I'll cut you up and eat you right here and right now!!" I let out a battle cry and charged right at Arlong with blinding speed. I ducked and rolled out of the way of the water bullets he shot at me

"HA!"I leaped straight at him and swung with all my might at Arlong, managing to bring my blade around and slice right on his side. Somehow, he twisted his body at the exact rotation I had my katana going. I did, however, manage a fairly large slash on his stomach just as I fell into a summer sault and rolled back to my feet.

He cried out and clutched the wound I inflicted on him. "But..." He tried to get out. "But even you Nekos' can't hold your breath under water. You can't swim... Therefore, we Fish Men are higher ranking than you!"

While Arlong was distracted with me, I saw Sanji stand and kick at Arlong. Arlong simply bent backward and tossed more water at Sanji as he nimbly avoided Sanji's kick. The water splashed right in his face. It sent Sanji back, blood flowing heavily from his mouth.

"Sanji!" I stood and took this time to attack Arlong a second time. He predicted it this time and got past my defenses. I got a faceful of water and out gushed a shit load of blood from I don't know where. I skidded on the concrete back first. I rolled over and spit out as much of the blood as I could. It burned my throat coming up.

"Sick bastard..." I mumbled as I staggered to my feet.

"Die already," Arlong said in a bored tone. "Your lives are not worth that much."

I turned and opened my mouth to say a snide remark, but the flow of words stopped at who I saw.

"Arlong!!" She shouted out with fierce determination and authority.

"Big Sis Nami!" Johnny and Yosaku cried in shock. Whispers of her name rang out around the village people as they finally caught sight of her standing at the entrance to the park. She had a tight bandage around her hand from where she had stabbed herself and one on her shoulder from just a little while ago.

"Hey, Nami!" Arlong called out to her. "I was about to crush some pirates just now! What did you come here for?" He asked as if they had this conversation a million times. He gave a dark chuckle at his words as if sharing a personal joke.

Nami looked up to stare him right in the eyes as she spoke these next words. "To kill you..." Silence. The silence was tangible.

"To kill...me?" Arlong drew out, uncertain as to what she just said. After a few more seconds, it clicked and he cackled. "You never learn, do you? How many times did you try to kill me during the eight years you were with us?" A collective gasp rang out amongst the villagers. "You've tried assassination, poison, sneak attacks... Were you actually able to kill me?" I slowly walked toward Arlong, my katana poised and ready to stab him through his heart.

"You must be completely aware that mere humans can't beat me." He rambled on. "Now listen. I won't kill you, and you can't escape from me... Nami... You'll be our surveyor forever." Her eyes slowly grew in shock and fear. "But, as you know, I'm a good natured man. If possible, I want you to be our surveyor of your own free will."

"Like hell she will!" I cut off his next words and lunged the last few meters at him, my katana digging right into him. My little yell at him had caused him to move, so my mark was off. My katan had burrowed itself to the hilt in his right side. His eyes flew open wide in pain.

The entire village froze. Arlong froze. Nami's mouth was in the shape of a silent scream.

Since I'm this close... I repositioned my grip on the hilt and gave a sharp twist. His flesh gave a sickening squishing sound as the blade sliced anything in its path. Something in Arlong snapped. His pupils were barely even there as he grasped me by the back of my throat and brought me right up to his face.

"You filthly little girl..." He sneered. "You can't defeat me... It's impossible!" He gripped my wrists with one hand and forcefully pried them off my katana. "You will pay with your life for what you have done to cross me. Your life is over, Elmira Hojosen." He brought his head back with the intent to head-butt me, to drive his nose into my head, breaking my skull and turning my brain to mush.

"Elmira, I just want to say one thing to you before you die perminately." He said in a deathly cold voice.

"I'm all ears..." I whispered.

"Nami will come back to me and draw sea charts." He snarled. "When she does, I'll let her village friends live. But..." he nudged Sanji with his foot, making him slump over. "Your friends here will die immediately after you do. You guys went way too far in this game. Goodbye, Elmira Hojosen."

"Everyone!" Nami suddenly shouted, breaking Arlong's focus. "I'm sorry! Please die with me!"

"What...?" Arlong hissed. The crowd burst out into cheers and shouts of approval as they began to charge on Arlong Park. "Take one step and this Neko dies!" His voice rang out over the crowd and Nami paled.

As luck would have it, a huge fountain of water shot up from behind the water entrance to Arlong Park. Yes! I shouted mentally. Luffy is back in action! In this fraction of a second distraction, I kicked my blade from Arlong's side. He cried out in pain and released me. I grabbed my katana as it clattered to the ground and flipped away from Arlong.

Sanji and Zoro started to stir as Arlong remained oblivious to them, distracted by the pain and the sudden stream of water shooting into the sky. Sanji and Zoro both sat up, Zoro sticking a sword into the ground.

"Thirty seconds!" He called to Sanji. "I won't last longer than that." He stuck his white katana in his mouth and raised his hostile glare at Arlong.

"I'll help!" I shouted to Zoro. "Together, we'll buy Sanji more time!"

"I don't need more time!" Sanji stood and kicked off his shoes. "That's plenty of time!" He dove right into the water.

"There isn't a fountain over there..." Arlong muttered as he straightened up and stopped clutching at his wounds. "Could it be that rubber man?!" He advanced a step to go after Sanji, but Zoro and I were soon in his path. Zoro gave Arlong a warning cut on his cheek.

"Don't worry about it!" Zoro panted heavily. "It's nothing, you damn half-fish!"

"Your main focus is us!" I added as I crossed my katana in front of me. Arlong's blood slowly dripped from his cheek.

"I thought I told you never to say those words again." His tone of voice sent chills up my back, but I didn't let it show. He reached up with his tongue and licked the wound Zoro had given him.

I narrowed my eyes and watched Arlong closely. "In the sea," Arlong stated. "One with Devil Fruit powers is supposed to lose even the energy to struggle, as well as his powers, and die. If he's still alive, that means someone is putting a damper on this game."

I blew a strand of hair out of my face. "Don't focus on that. Focus on us." I glanced over at Zoro. He was panting hard and he looked like he would collapse at any second. If he falls, I'll step in for him and give Sanji all the time he needs.

"Putting a damper on?" Zoro questioned. "It didn't seem like a fair game from the start."

"I agree." My tail twitched and I held back a grimace of pain.

"At any rate," Arlong said over him. "If there is a hinderance, I need to check on it. Standing in my way, it looks like you two want to die first, Roronoa Zoro and Elmira Hojosen."

"Usopp Rubberband of Doom! GO! Now Zoro, Mira!" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a small rubberband skitter off into the bushes next to Usopp. Idiot...

"There's no way I'll die." Zoro managed to say through his labored breathing.

"I won't die, either. Nekos heal extremely fast. I even came back to life." I glared up at him, waiting for him to make a move.

"I'll break your proud nose!" Zoro shouted as he swung back with all his might and aimed right at Arlong with the intent to slice his nose off. Wait, if he cuts it off...won't all the blood and snot rain down on us? Oh, ew... This is gonna be gross.

Metal clanked against metal. I blinked, not sure what happened. Zoro's sword was against Arlong's nose, but it didn't go flying off. Zoro began shaking at the force he was putting against his blade to will it to move. I swung my katana on the other side, hoping it was just Zoro not being up to par.

Same result.

"You fools..." Arlong chucled darkly. "It's a proud nose because it's unbreakable. If you two were at your full strength, you might have given it a scratch!" He moved his head up and got his nose free and went on the offensive. He lunged at Zoro and I, first striking at Zoro then swinging around to get me.

Each time, Zoro and I managed to block it just before it did some serious damage. Soon, Arlong lunged at Zoro. He brought his swords up into an X to hold it back, but he was still pushed around as Arlong tried to break his defenses.

"Dammit! I thought the rubberband was gonna fly at me!"

The hell?!?! I thought he was dead!!

"See?! He was my target!" Usopp quickly lied from his spot at the wall.

"Octopus..." Zoro muttered as he cast his gaze to Hachi.

"Roronoa Zoro! Neko! I won't let you have your way!" He shouted at us. "I'll crush your friend who went into the sea!"

"Sanji!" I cried as Hachi dove into the water after our only hope to get Luffy back.

"You won't have to be concerned since you'll be dead, after all." Arlong said with a low growl in the back of his throat.

My eyes widened when I saw Arlong notice the break. "Zoro!" I ran to help, but it was too late. Arlong drove his nose right at Zoro into his previous wound from Mihawk. Zoro cried out in pain as blood flew everywhere. It got on the ground, in the water, all over Arlong, and some even landed on me.

"You sick son of a bitch!!" I shouted as I charged at Arlong. Just before I reached him, Arlong held Zoro up by his neck. I skidded to a stop and froze at all the blood oozing and flowing off of him. "Zoro..." Tears pricked at my eyes. I shook my head to clear it, but I couldn't get the image out of my head. Zoro was dying...

"So that was it?" Arlong asked with a laugh. "That was too quick. What's up with these bandages?" He reached up and ripped the bandages from Zoro. "Did you fall somewhere?" Blood sprayed onto Arlong's already blood soaked shirt.

I gasped in mute horror and fell to my knees. Everyone was horrified at the fatal wound that should have killed him in an instant. Even Arlong was shocked at seeing it. "W-what's this scar?"

Blood dripped off of Zoro like it would before a pig was about to be butchered. It flowed freely and steadily, not wanting to stop. There has to be a limit to ones blood flow...

"Zoro..." I barely whispered. "You said it wasn't that bad..." Like his blood, my hot tears wouldn't stop.

Zoro managed to open his eyes and look right at Arlong, begining a glaring contest. Arlong dropped Zoro's useless bandages, not breaking eye contact. He lowered his arm and bent Zoro backward, ready to strink him down.

"No...no!" But he didn't listen to me. "Enough! Stop it!" My last words echoed all through Arlong Park and beyond. All noise and activity stopped and no one dared to move. I looked up and saw why. Time was frozen once again. I was the only one moving in this frozen waste land.

I stood, hoping I could get Zoro out of Arlong's clutches. He doesn't deserve to die... He doesn't deserve to die...

When I got between Zoro and Arlong, I averted my tear filled eyes and reached out to help Zoro. I stopped, amazed at what I saw. Zoro was smirking. I looked over my shoulder at Arlong. His eyes seemed to be boring into me, but they were unseeing. He doesn't know that I froze time.

That's when it clicked for me. Zoro has a plan. I bowed my head and stepped out from between them, but not before slicing a huge chunk out of Arlong's left leg.

Interference with the frozen time brought everything back into motion. Arlong staggered a little at the new pain brought to his leg.

"Get him, Zoro..." I barely whispered as I licked Arlong's blood on my katana.

"If a person stays put," He said just loud enough for us to hear. "Their wounds won't be opened."

"That's right," Arlong cut him off, grunting from the pain in his leg. "Do you find your current situation amusing?"

Zoro's smirk grew wider as he gave a hard chuckle. "I'm not talking about me... I'm talking about the Octo-man." It clicked with Arlong. I looked to the water and saw a huge pool of red float to the surface fo the water and spread out.

"What?"

"I thought I told you..." Zoro asked calmly. "We win this game."

I was about to add my two-sense when I was suddenly cut off by Luffy's victorious yelling as he went flying into the air. I followed him, waiting for him to land to help us with this fight. Any second now...

"I'm back!" Luffy shouted as he did cartwheels in the air.

"That damn rubber man!" Arlong swore.

"You're late, idiot!" Zoro  tilted his head back to watch our captain about to land.

Luffy spotted Zoro and I. "Zoro! Mira!" He stretched his arms out and grabbed the back of our shirts.

"Huh?" Zoro knew what was coming. "Hey! Stop it!" This was obviosly causing him pain.

I realized right then and there what was going to happen. "Ah, f-"

"Let's switch places!" He pulled us back and sent us into the air so he was now falling toward Arlong and we would be out of harm's reach.

"You idiot!" The villagers and I shouted at the same time.

"Luffy! You know Nekos can't fly!!!"

"Gomu-Gomu no... Bell!"He brought his head back and slammed it right into Arlong. "And, Whip!"I didn't get to see the attack, for that was when Zoro and I landed on the other side of the wall near the water's edge.

I turned my head a little and saw Gen-san. "Hello, Gen-san. Lovely weather for flying." I said sarcastically.

"That idiot..." I looked over to Zoro. He'd landed on his chest where his open wound was. "I'm gonna kill him!"

"Get in line!" I called over to him. "I'm first!"

"If he loses, you guys will all die, too." The sound of someone trying to light a match made me look over to see who it was.

"Oh! Sanji! Hi!" I sat up and waved.

"Mira-chan!"

"If that happens, it's the end of the East Blue, too." Nojiko added.

"Jeez.... That's depressing..." I looked over at Zoro. He was still laying face first on the ground. "And you, Mr. Lazy-Butt!" I crawled over to Zoro and carefully turned him over. He grunted when he flopped onto his back. "You need medical attention!"

"D-do not..." He protested. "I... I'll be fine."

I went to push on, but the sound of stone breaking brought my attention away from him temporarily. Arlong had crushed one of his own pillars with his teeth!

"Okay, Zoro..." I grabbed him from under his arms and began to drag him from here. "Let's go to a place where we'll be less likely to be seen..." I brought us to a rocky shore and found a fairly flat surface to work over him on.

"Mira..." He gasped out. "S-stop worrying over me! Go help Luffy!"

I shook my head. "No, you're injured. I wanna help you."

"Mira! Just go!" He shouted with more energy. "Leave me here! Go help our idiotic captain!"

"B-but..."

"GO!" I flinched, but listened to him. I stood, gave him one last look over my shoulder, and walked back to Arlong Park.

I stopped a few paces from Zoro. "I'll be back." I didn't wait for his responce. I ran, not looking back. The faster I get there to help Luffy defeat Arlong, the faster I can get back to Zoro to help him.

One can't simply leave a friend behind. He says he's fine, but his wound says otherwise. I just hope I'm not too late when I get back to him.

------------

Zoro

I didn't want to send Mira on ahead without me, but she needs to be there to help Luffy. She froze time again. I know she did. How else would Arlong have a huge gash in his leg? It had to have been Mira.

With Mira beside Luffy, all of our battles will be won.

We did good together, but she got in my way. I was more worried about her, and that caused me to slip up and get seriously injured. If she just stayed back and let me handle Arlong, none of this would have happened. She shouldn't have tried to help me and interfere with my work. I had it al under control!

She should have stayed back and-

"I can't be the greatest swordsman because I'm a girl. You're lucky, Zoro."

I closed my eyes and sighed. No, I'm glad she helped. She has great skill with a katana. But if she starts to get in my way with my quest to becoming the greatest swordsman, I'll have to cut her down to size, whether I want to or not.

-----------

Mira

I arrived in time to see Arlong break a sword with his teeth. On the other end of it was Luffy. Wait, Luffy can use swords? Amazing...

"Clench your teeth!" Luffy shouted as he swung back and punched Arlong right in his jaw, his set of razor sharp teeth breaking into pieces.

"Go, Luffy!" I shouted as I took a few steps back into Arlong park.

"I don't know how to use swords, you bastard!" Luffy shouted at Arlong when he stood straight again. "I don't know how to sail the oceans. I can't cook. I can't lie, either. Hell, I don't know what's it's like to be a Neko and be rejected on a deep level. I'm confident that I can't live without help!"

Arlong chuckled darkly. "Openly admitting to how pathetic you are... You sure are honest." Arlong sat up. "I bet your crew is bothered by having such an incompetent captain like you."

"Why you..." I hissed. "If I can just get my claws on you..."

"I wonder why your crew tried so desperately to save you." He continued. "Someone like you without any pride has the calibar to be a captain? What on earth can you do?" He stood, holding his hand over his mouth.

"I can defeat you!" Luffy said confidently.

"I'm right behind you, Luffy!" I walked up to where I was a little way behind Luffy. "If you ever need a shoulder, you can always have mine." And that started the chain reaction. Everyone was claiming they had a stand in this and would stand behind us, no matter what.

"Go ahead and babble, you inferior species!" Arlong shouted above the crowd. Bile rose in my throat when I saw his teeth pop out of his mouth and a new set grew in.

"Ugh... That's disgusting..." I spat the bile onto the concrete.

"He's got new teeth!" Luffy cried in shock.

"I'm a shark," Arlong explained. "New teeth grow in one after another. And they're stronger than the previous ones." He reached his hand into his mouth and pulled those teeth out. "As many times as needed." I threw up a little in my mouth when he pulled out the next pair that grew in.

Now, Arlong had a set of teeth in each hand and his new ones in his mouth.

"This is a distinctive quality that Heaven gave us." Arlong smirked with his new teeth.

"Amazing!" Is that the only thing you can say, Luffy?

"Are you starting to realize what a superior species we fish men are?" He asked, his pulled teeth pointed toward us. He clenched his fists, the teeth opening and snapping shut as if they were still attached to his mouth. "Tooth Attack!" And he charged.

Luffy and I were just barely managing to dodge his flying teeth fists as they whizzed right by us. Luffy, being the idiot he is, grabbed onto Arlong's arm. This left him wide open as Arlong's second hand flew right at Luffy.

"Luffy!" Then I saw what he was doing as he was shouting and crying out. Maybe he's not as much of an idiot as I thought he was...

This went on for another ten seconds before Arlong finally stopped. "A-Arlong-san..." One of his fellow fish folk gasped out. "T-that hurt..."

"Wha?!" Arlong staggered back. "B-brother!" Luffy let his fish shield fall as he stared at Arlong.

"Phew..." Luffy sighed in relief.

"Dam you, rubber man..." Arlong twitched and jerked, trying to keep his rage under control. "How dare you use one of my brothers as a shield!"

"What're you saying?" Luffy asked casually. "You're the one who attacked me."

"Don't move..." Arlong demanded as he opened and snapped his teeth fists. "You damn rubber man!"

Luffy suddenly smirked. "I have an idea."

So do I... I thought to myself as I snuck around Arlong. I motioned to Luffy to be quiet and not give my position away. He gave a slight nod.

I pulled out my katana as silently as I could and raised it above my head, ready to strike. The villagers gave a collective gasp. "Look!" My cover was blown. Arlong turned and snapped his teeth at me just as I swung my katana down. I changed direction at the last second, but I was half a second too late.

A small, tiny chunk of my katana flew in front of my face. I flipped backward to avoid anymore damage. That damn bastard... He chipped and cracked my katana... I ran a finger lightly over the damaged section. If I use this anymore, it'll break for sure. I can't afford to get a new one; this is the only katana I've ever known. It's perfect for me.

If we get out of this alive, I'm definitely finding a shop that will fix it for me. I closed my eyes and carefully slid my katana back into its sheath and untied it from my belt loop. I stared at it for a few more seconds before I tossed it out to the crowd.

"Yosaku! Hold this for me." I lifted my head and opened my eyes. I willed my nails to elongate as well as my canine teeth. I kicked off my shoes and let my toe nails grow just as sharp as my finger nails. "I'm going in."

"Look! Now I have fangs, too!" Luffy cried happily as he clamped his teeth together. Only you...

The villagers were silent as they stared at our stupid captain.

"S-so there wasn't a secret plan of action?!" Johnny and Yosaku yelled in disbelief.

Arlong puffed out his chest and straightened his spine. "How long are you going to keep fooling around?!" He shouted in pure rage. His right teeth fist connected with Luffy's arm, but it got mostly his vest.

"AAAHHH!! I got bit by a shark!!"

"That's because you're playing around!" Johnny and Yosaku accused.

"It's not like I'm playing around!" Luffy contradicted. His eyes widened as he saw Arlong about to land another gash at him.

Luffy dodged and rolled away from each attack. If he was a dog, his tail would be between his legs.

All the while, I was circling the two, trying to find a weak spot in Arlong's defenses. He's not showing any pain from his injury to his leg; adrenalin must have kicked in.

Arlong mangaed to pin Luffy down and dig his fist into Luffy's side. Luffy cried out in pain and bit back into Arlong's gills. Hold him steady, Luffy... Just long enough so I can get him!

Arlong grunted and released his hold on the set of teeth in Luffy's side. Luffy gave a triumphant smirk as he stood away from Arlong, his own stolen set embedded deep into Arlong's neck and gills.

If I can get the other side, he won't be able to breathe under water! I came around on the other side and gauged my distance. This has to be perfect...

"How do you like your own teeth?" Luffy then did a cheap impersonation of Arlong's cackle.

"Even if it's my own teeth that you used," He yanked the set out of his skin. "It's your weak jaw that prevents you from injuring me." NOW!

I launched myself at Arlong and dug my hind claws all the way in into his back and used my finger nails to create a clear path into his other set of gills. Arlong let out a howl of pain and used his right fist to try and pry me off of him. Just before he'd hit me, I'd pull back so he was hitting himself.

This infuriated him.

A sharp pain dug into my left side and I was wrenched from his back and neck. He brought me around to his front and glared daggers at me.

"You wretched girl..." He snarled. I hung onto his wrist to help keep me from falling out of his grip, losing flesh and bone in the process. "You think you can beat me? Do you?!"

I snarled back at him and swiped at his face, my claws digging in deep into his skin, tearing it. His glare intensified as he brought his other hand around and clamped onto my right side. He brought me right up to his face.

"I can kill you slowly and painfully," He dug into my sides deeper as I struck his wrists with my claws. "Or, I can do it quickly and messily. Which do you prefer?"

"Option C!" I shouted as I raked my claws down the full length of his face, making sure their path brought them over his eyes. As I had planned, he let me go and staggered back, holding his head in his hands as a steady stream of blood dripped down his arms.

"Mira!" Luffy rushed to my side. "Are you okay?!" He asked, his voice full of concern, as he pulled the teeth from his side.

"Yeah... yeah, I'm fine." I forced the clenched teeth open on my sides and tossed them away from me. "But now, Arlong can't stay under water. His gills are damaged and he now has to hold his breath, just like a human."

Arlong jerked at my words and raised his icy glare to me. His anger made him speechless as he tried to form insults to throw back at me. The only sounds he made was incoherant grunts and sputters of supposed to be words.

"Heh..." I nudged Luffy with my elbow. "That struck a nerve, didn't it?"

"Yup!" He cracked his knuckles. "Now, let's kick his ass!" We charged, his fists ready and my claws out stretched. Arlong was ready, as well. He quickly opened his mouth and pulled out two more sets of teeth for his fists.

I slid between his legs and stood up behind him. He turned half way around, and Luffy took this time to punch him square in the stomach, sending him right into my claws. I dragged my claws down his back as Luffy started punching and kicking the hell out of Arlong.

Just then, there was a sickening crushing sound as Luffy's pain filled scream echoed in the air.

"Luffy!" I yanked my claws back to help him, but decided to step back as he pulled Arlong closer, brought a leg up, and slammed it into Arlong's head, smashing it into the concrete. Arlong gasped at the sudden impact and Luffy's arm was free.

Luffy rolled over, glad to be out of the grip of his bone crushing teeth. I knelt beside Luffy and helped him sit up as I inspected his arm.

"You're gonna be fine, Luffy..." I assured him. "You're gona be fine." I looked over to Arlong as he began to sit up. He rubbed the back of his head and brought it around to look at it. Even with the quick glimpse, I could see the blood.

I blinked and he was gone.

"Er, Luffy? We have a problem..." I helped him stand.

"Huh?" Luffy and I glanced around. "Where'd he go?" Arlong was no where in sight.

"This is bad..." I whispered. "This is really, really bad." I extended my hearing to see if I could pick up on his breathing.

"Luffy! Mira! The sea!" Nami called to us.

"Sea?" I asked to clarrify. Sure enough, a trail of red from where Arlong was led to the water. He's down there.

"There's a shark!" Luffy pointed to a dorsal fin sticking out of the water, a pool of red flowing out behind it.

"Luffy, that's Arlong." I placed a hand on his shoulder. "But he won't be able to last very long down there without his gills." Soon, after swimming around for a bit, the fin disappeared under the water.

"I give him two minutes before he bursts through the water for air." I guessed.

"Did he run away?" Luffy asked as he leaned over the edge a little.

"He can't Luffy." I tried to pull him back. "He's injured and can't breathe. He won't get very far." Just as I predicted, Arlong shot out of the water at us. We leaned back just in time to avoid being impaled. Of course, the sudden appearance caused us to go flying back and land hard on the ground.

"Sorry, Luffy..." I apologized as I got off of him.

"S'alright..." He mumbled around a mouthful of concrete. We both sat up and scanned the area for any sign of Arlong.

"Wow, I'm surprised you dodged that." We looked up and saw Arlong standing in a huge hole he most likely caused whe he shot out of the water. "But the more you dodge it, the longer your hell continues. Shark Darts!" He flung himself from his spot and flew right for us.

"Luffy, move!" I shoved him away as I leaped to the other side. Arlong landed nose first into the concrete, stuck tight. "Luffy! Now's our chance! Let's charge him and-" I was suddenly cut off by the sound of the concrete breaking, and Arlong was free once more. A cloud of dust rose into the air, blocking our view.

"Shark Darts!" Is it aimed at me, or Luffy? I ducked out of the way anyway, just to secure my safety. I glanced over and saw Luffy just barely dodge out of harm's way. Arlong charged again, only this time, he managed to get Luffy.

Luffy fell back to the ground and Arlong dove back into the sea. I jumped onto my feet and got down beside Luffy.

"Hang in there, Luffy." I urged. "Hang in there! Nami is counting on you, so no presure!" I don't think that helped...

"Hey, Luffy, Mira! Hide! Arlong dove into the sea again!" Usopp warned us as I helped Luffy to his feet again.

"Big Bro and Big Sis!" Johnny called to us. "Please hurry up and hide!"

Hide? At a time like this? They must be crazy. We didn't move.

"Get out of there!" Usopp tried again to get us to move.

"N-no..." Luffy panted out through bared teeth.

"Don't be stupid!" Sanji shouted at us. "Are you knowingly going to become a target?! Hide!"

"Shut up." I growled. "We can do this."

"I don't want to!" Luffy added. "I'm going to catch him and break his nose! Come on, Shark!"

"Don't you see that you two have to hide?!" Usopp cried out. "Luffy, you barely dodged those previous shots and they all grazed you! Mira, he can easily get past your senses and sneak attack you! If either of you take a direct hit, you'll die!"

"Luffy." He cast his eyes to me. "I'll stand behind you and help stop Arlong when he shoots out of the water again."

"Okay." He gave a hard nod as I went behind him and placed one hand on his shoulder and the other on his waist. Any second now...

"Gomu-Gomu no... Shield!" He stretched his fingers out and created a barrier between the water and his chest. I tightened my grip, ready for the strike. Within a few seconds, Arlong burst throuigh the water again and I ducked my head out of the way just in time. Luffy and I got pushed back several feet as Arlong's momentum hit us full force.

We flew through the air and chuckled as Arlong growled. We have him, and he isn't going anywhere. At the last second, Luffy flung us off of him and Arlong crashed into the building as Luffy and I landed on a wall, Luffy hugging it to keep us on it.

"You lose!" Luffy laughed triumphantly. "Your attack won't work anymore!"

"Shark Darts!" And he came out from underneath us. I lost my grip on Luffy as he let go of the wall. My arms flailed to grab anything to stop my fall. I finally made contact with a rail and held on tight. Luffy wasn't so lucky; he was falling for towards the water.

"You bastard! That was on instinct, wasn't it?!" Luffy shouted up. I looked up and saw Arlong holding on to one of the rafters on the roof of the building.

"This is the final blow!" Arlong kicked off the roof and charged right at Luffy.

"You won't hit me!" Luffy brought his hands back and made his fingers into a net. "Fishing! I'm going fishing!" This allowed Luffy and Arlong to trade places so Luffy could hit him again.

"Spear!" Luffy drove his feet into Arlong, slamming him hard into the unforgiving concrete. He then grabbed the railing next to me and stretched back to his original size.

"Hi, Mira."

"Hi, Luffy."

The villagers errupted into cheers and leaped into the air. But this isn't over yet... I can feel it. Luffy slung me onto his back and jumped off to the ground.

"Huh?" He asked as we got closer. "Is he dead?" Just then, Arlong's eyes snapped open, but they were different than before. They were cold, hard, and murderous. His pupils were narrow slits and you couldn't see the irises.

"You inferior human and Neko!" He stood with blinding speed and snatched Luffy out of the air. With his other hand, he snagged me by the back of my neck and tossed us both in different directions. I flew through the wall and landed on something that broke my fall.

"M-Mira... Please get off..."

"Oh, sorry, Usopp." I climbed off him and helped him stand back up. I shook myself and walked back into Arlong Park like nothing even happened.

Arlong slammed into the wall as Luffy grabbed a ledge above him to avoid getting crushed. His hand broke through the thick wall and stopped. In an instant, Arlong was holding a huge sword that resembled his nose.

Okay, time to step in. I advanced, but was quickly restrained and held back.

"Big Sis Mira! Don't go in there or you'll be killed!"

"Johnny?! Yosaku?! Let me go!" I struggled against their hold. "I gotta help Luffy!"

"No, Big Sis!" Johnny protested. "He can handle himself!"

"Let... GO!" I broke free of their hold and ran right for Arlong, slamming into him before he could swing at Luffy. I quickly stood and moved Luffy with me as Arlong swung at the both of us. He leaped into the air, his saw-like sword raised high above his head.

"Move!" I shoved at Luffy just as Arlong swung the sword down, nearly cutting the building in half. Arlong followed us all over the building, hacking and swinging at us until there was no where else to go but up.

We were trapped on the top floor. Arlong came in for another slice. Luffy covered me and jumped through a window. The sword sliced right above us, cutting the wall and the already broken window.

We skidded on the floor a few feet before finally standing up again. The room was filled to the top with boxes, papers, books, and pens.

"That was close..." Luffy panted as he tried to restart his heart from nearly being sliced into mince meat.

"Luffy, this is..." I touched the desk and gasped. Blood...

"You've no where else to run!" Arlong said triumphantly as he stepped on the broken glass, his sword propped on his shoulder. "This is the top floor of Arlong Park. Looks like your final moments are finally here."

"What's this room?" Luffy asked, not paying attention to Arlong. "It's full of papers."

"These're not just ordinary papers!" Arlong snapped. "This is the room where I make that woman draw sea charts for me!"

"Nami's room..." Luffy said in a breathy gasp.

"Luffy, look." I pointed to where the blood on the desk was.

"These're all the sea charts she's drawn as of today." Arlong said over me. "Aren't they great? They're my treasure, ones that I've made her draw for eight years. To us, getting data about the ocean is very simple, but it's a different story when we have to draw charts off of it. We needed a talented surveyor."

"And Nami was just the person to do it?" I finished in a question.

"Precisely," He smirked. "That's why I had my eye on that woman. She's good. She draws quite accurate sea charts." Luffy just stared at Arlong. "She's too good for you inferior humans!" That's when Luffy started to look around the room and notice the same things I did.

"In the past as well as in the future," Arlong chuckled deep in his throat. "Her talent should be used for us fishmen!" Soon, Luffy and I were each on the other side of one of the saw blades on the sword. "Nami is our friend."

"Friend?" Luffy whispered as he look Arlong straight in the eye.

"So, don't interfere any more..." Arlong ordered. "You damn rubber man and Neko!" My eyes narrowed into slits. "What's with that look?" He asked us both.

"She is...Nami is..." Luffy met Arlong's gaze.

"Hm?"

"Our navigator!" Luffy finished.

Along chuckled darkly. "You plan to make her the navigator of some shabby boat? You'd only end up wasting her talent! Just look! How many people in the world can draw such accurate charts?!"

"More that you think." I snarled through bared teeth. "Leave Nami alone."

"But that girl has a gift." Arlong countered.

Nami's blood soaked feather pen fell off the desk and onto the floor. Luffy saw it and bowed his head in pure hatred for Arlong.

"There's nothing as unfortunate and foolish as letting a natural-born talent go to waste!" Arlong forged on, oblivious to Luffy's glare. He picked it up and studied it. "Staying here and drawing sea charts is the greatest happiness for her!"

"This pen is stained with blood..." Luffy twirled the pen.

"She isn't happy here." I told Luffy.

"I know." Luffy agreed. "I can tell."

"Nami's charts are absolutely vital if I'm to attain world supremacy!" Arlong lifted his sword again and put it to where in one swing, Luffy and I would be cut in half. "She's going to continue drawing sea charts! For my ambition! And once her charts give me full knowledge of all the world's seas, we fishmen will be invinsible, and the world will become our empire! Our first stepping stone is this island... Then the East Blue!"

"Shut up."

"Eh?"

"I said, shut up!" I shouted louder. "I'm sick of hearing you spout off your ugly mouth with such idiocity! You're too blinded by power to see that she isn't happy! Can't you see that she hates you?!"

"She loves it here!" Arlong snapped back. "Could you use a girl as efficient as her?!"

Luffy gently set the pen down and grabbed the saw blade that was in front of him. He just sat there and held it, not moving an inch. I watched as Arlong's eyes grew wide in shock. What's got him all worried?

Luffy's grip on the blade tightened. I jumped at the sound of the pure steel snapping into tiny pieces. He snapped the saw blade! He's royally pissed at Arlong!

"'Use?!'" He snarled at Arlong. I was in the wrong position to see Luffy's expression, but I could tell by Arlong's that Luffy was ready to kill someone. He snapped a few more blades. "What do you take her for?!"

Arlong laughed. "An inerior being, but a smart girl. If all the humans were sewer rats, she'd be a cheeky-as-hell cat. After all, she is adorable! I'm going to keep feeding her and buying her clothes she likes. She'll have every thing she needs to live!"

"But she'll never be happy!" I shouted at him. "You can't buy happiness!"

"But she will forever be a tool, happiness, or no happiness." Arlong sneered at me and let out his signature cackle.

"Luffy," I whispered to him. "We have to do something."

"I know..." He barely looked over his shoulder at me. "But what?"

I glanced around the room. "For starters, we can trash this place then take out our anger on Arlong."

He popped his neck. "Sounds good to me." As soon as he said that, he kicked Nami's desk through the wall and crashing outside. I wheeled around and began ripping up every paper I saw while Luffy threw and kicked anything in his path. Papers, books, pens, chairs, everything in that room was destroyed and thrown out.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Arlong shouted and tried to stop us. Luffy kicked at him and I clawed and hissed whenever he got too close. Luffy then kicked a bookshelf, sending it and all the books onto the ground below. It pained me to see these amazing charts go to waste, but Nami was forced to make them.

We'll go on new adventures and she can make new ones all on her own free time. She won't have to feel pressured to get it done and she can do whatever the hell she pleases to do with them! The ocean is her canvas and she is the artist! We'll let her creativity and talent shine in its own way!

I moved onto another box and tossed it at Luffy, who, in turn, kicked it out the already gigantic hole. There was a muted splash and I smirked. I ripped and tossed and shredded all of the papers and books. All the while, Arlong was commanding and begging for us to stop.

"Stop that!" Luffy jumped out of the way and Arlong sliced through a stack of charts on his own. "The charts!" Luffy then proceeded to kick those charts through the wall. "M-my charts!"

"Not anymore, Arlong!" With one swipe of my hand, I raked my nails across his arm and through a stack of charts.

"Damn you!" He grabbed us and slammed us into the wall. "I made her spend eight years drawing all of those! I invested eight years into those charts! My ambition!" Luffy bagan flailing his arms to keep up the destruction of the room.

Arlong threw me into a pile of rubble and pinned Luffy's arms to his side and bit his neck. My eyes widened in fear for him. "No... No! Stop it!"

"One move and he dies!" Arlong said around Luffy's neck. "You've gone too far you damn rubber man and Neko!"

"'Fishmen are great,' and 'sea charts' that," Luffy gripped Arlong's nose. "'Circumstances' this... I don't know much about any of that stuff, but we finally figured out how to save her!" Luffy twisted his hands to the point where he was drawing blood. I flinched at the sickening snap as Luffy broke Arlong's nose. Arlong cried out in pain and fell back, releasing Luffy.

"She can't leave because this room is here." His glare was so intense, it made a Sea God look like a lost puppy was trying to be intimidating. I stood and popped my knuckles. "If she doesn't want to be here, then I'll just destroy it all!"

"I'll help, Luffy." I picked up Arlong's sword and grunted at it's weight. "Tell me what you wamt me to do."

"Destroy it! Hack it to pieces! Just get rid of the damn place!" He shouted his order.

"Yes, Captain!" I swung the sword back behind me and turned as Luffy shot his leg up through the roof.

"Gomu-Gomu no..."

"Shark Tooth Drill!"

"Battle Axe!"

We all attacked at the same time. I swung down with the sword with all my might, Luffy crashing his leg onto the park building, and Arlong digging his teeth right through Luffy. Luffy turned, getting free of Arlong's hold, and slammed his leg down into Arlong.

The whole building began to collapse at the sudden shock waves that coursed through it. Depris and chunks of the building rained down upon us as the entire building began to collapse. This is it; the fall of Arlong Park. It will be no more.

I swung an extra time, just in case. Smoke and dust rose up everywhere in the building as windows shattered, doors splintered, and floors and roofs crumbled. It felt like an earthquake was happening and the epicenter was right smack-dab in the middle of this very building.

I tossed the sword away from me to prevent being impaled on it and waited for it to be over. The floor gave out from under me, but I didn't scream. I simply smiled and waited for it to finish its course.

~~~~

"Mira... Mira, wake up!" I opened my eyes and saw Luffy standing over me, protecting me from most of the collasped building.

"Huh? Luffy?"

"Come on, Mira. Everyone must be worried about us." He helped me to my feet and we pushed our way through the debris. Soon, we reached the top. The sun was shining brightly and I had to shield my eyes from the harsh light.

"Luffy! Mira!" Nami cried happily over Johnny and Yosaku.

Luffy and I were panting hard from our long battle. "W-we did it..." I whispered to him.

"Yeah..." He gasped and wheezed. "NAMI!" He gave a dramatic pause. "You're my friend!!"

"They won..."

"They won."

"They won!"

"THEY WON!!!" The entire village broke out into joyous and ecstatic cries and cheers of triumph and victory.

I smiled. They should be happy.

A major tyrant has fallen.

They're free.

No one rules them.

Nami can do what she wants.

Arlong Park is no more.

Everything we did was for a good cause.

Arlong, ruler of Cocoyashi village, the entire island, the East Blue, is gone.

And it was all thanks to me, Luffy, and the entire Straw Hat crew.

----------------

A/N:

Sorry this took so long to update! But it finally happened! I basically took 3 1/2 episodes and put hem into one chapter. I hope this makes up for the long delay!

More "Neko Pirate" is coming your way! Look for it! ;)

-M12