Sigh~
Ash sighed as he punched the bridge of his nose .
" Listen nami .....why don't we calm down and explain what is going on..?"
Nami's eyes widened.
"I-I .. d-don-"
Before she could reject Ash spoke again.
"You have to believe in your friends nami.Trust is earned - but if you don't give the chance to the next person to earn the trust ....then it's all meaningless."
Nami calmed down a little wiping tears from her face and sighed in defeat.
15 minutes later ...
At this moment everybody knew the situation of nami as she finally told everything about the fishman pirates and their cruel actions over the years .
Sigh~Ash sighed as he spoke.
"So you just wanted to protect us from arlong hm ?"
Medusa's also chimmed in with a calm voice tinged with a hint of anger .
"Those fishmen or whatever they are - we should just kill them all."
Ash chuckled-
" My...how violent, it doesn't suit a beautiful lady you know ?"
Medusa raised an eyebrow behind her vaiser -
" My...but ..Aren't I your blade ? Isn't it... my purpose to cut your enemies...hnm?"
Ash grinned -
" Well ....guess I got a crazy blade ? "
"Sigh". Nami sighed -
"You guys - do you really not fear him ? Ash....you are a bounty hunter ..you should know how terrifying Arlong is ....no bounty hunter ever tries to go near him."
Ash's grin turned wolfish -
"Well I never had a reason to pay a visit to arlong - I just wanted to travel around before we entered the seas of North blue. But I guess now I gotta pay a visit to our little fish ...yeah ?"
Zoro snorted.
"As long as I get to fight a decent enemy"
Nami's eyes filled with tears as she spoke.
"T-thankyou everyone , Thankyou Ash...I don't know how to repay your kindness ..but I still think you should not go there....I-I know a way- yes ! A-arlong promised me if I gave him 100 million berries he would free the village -"
She paused and smiled as she looked into Ash's eyes.
" I already have around 47 million berries earned now- I ..I just need to get that money and it would be all fine, yess.....it would be fine."
Ash remained silent for a few seconds -he wanted to tell her that she was being naive ,that arlong was a pirate who wouldn't keep such promises but he held back ...as it might help her grow up and learn about people and the cruel world.
"Very well nami - I'll give you the 100 million berries .....you can take them and go to arlong and see for yourself that he gives you freedom he promised or not."
Nami's eyes widened -
" Y-You...would do that ?...for who ? ...me ?"
Ash smiled as the morning breeze carried his loose hairs-
"Ofcourse I will - even if you were a temporary member of our crew ....I still considered you as a friend ."
Nami smiled softly
" You are kind ash.... Too kind ....you should not believe anyone you know?"
Ash snorted -
" Heh, you think it is easy to fool the grim reaper himself ? "
Nami giggled- slowly getting back to her usual self.
"Hehe- that's true too"
After finally getting the problem solved and listening nami's story and resolving medusa's (rider) crew entry - it was time to set sail.
"...ano....you might have forgotten about me ?though I know it's impossible to forget about the great me !"
Ussop's loud voice caught everyone's attention.
Ask grinned.
" My apologies....captain ussop- We were kind of in middle of something important you see."
Ussop smiled proudly in his comical sense
"Hahaha- you don't have to ! I the great warrior of sea ' captain ussop ' who fought 100 pirates and protected the village have a very
big heart ! "
Nami raised an eyebrow -
" The total pirate number wasn't even over 70 though ?"
Ussop continued his proud talk ignoring the obvious jab at him-
"Ahemm...anyways ! I have decided to sail the seas ! So I'll give you lot a chance to sail with the great me . Hahaha you should be proud !"
Zoro smirked -
" Yeah ? And who decided that ?"
Ussop stammered-
"..U-Uh ..I-I mean I-isnt it natural hahaha ?"
Ash sighed as he finally spoke -
" I am sorry ussop as much as I want to take you on the seas , It's not your time yet ussop."
Everyone quited down - not expecting the answer and not Ash rejecting him on his face-
"I don't really mean any disrespect ussop but you are not ready for the seas yet-The sea is vast and carries people far beyond what you can imagine both great and worst, and you ussop your time is yet to come ."
Ussop was shocked and the only word he was able to speak was-
" Why ?"
Ash smiled softly and said
" Because you have yet to learn about the world ussop- you are barely 15 , you just play around pirates with kids and scare the village."
Ash paused a moment to let his words sink in.
"We don't play around on seas ussop- sigh~
Learn about the world ussop . Learn a skill that would help you raise your name and you on these vast oceans. And maybe in 2 years when you are finally ready to sail you will find someone trustworthy who will take you to the top."
"But now is not the time ussop."
Ussop finally realised his short comming and said softly -
" I-I understand Ash"
Zoro's voice broke him out of his reverie -
" Ussop - we can always meet on the seas . We will wait on the top for you - though if you can come up there will be upto you ."
Ash added-
" That's true . Our fate is already decided it just depends on you ussop - wheather you can do your part or not ."
Nami also chimmed in.
" Do your best ussop - I believe you will be a great warrior of the sea one day."
Meanwhile Medusa didn't knew what to say-
"W-what ? Don't look at me like that ! ...I-I barely know his name !? What am I supposed to say ?"
She sounded eager to defend her dignity -
Ash sighed -"sigh"
"Anyways- go and get treated yourself , I am going ahead on the ship, ....we leave after 2 hours."
" Aye aye captain ~"
Nami responded playfully completely recovered now.
Zoro gave a nod of acknowledgement.
Medusa looked at ash as he gave a nod and she also joined the group .
2 hour's later
At ship.
" You could have stayed a few more days ....we would have given you a better hospitality."
Kaya said as she looked at the group which was about to depart.
Ash responded lightly -
" It is fine kaya- moreover you gave us lot of supplies for our journey . We are already thankful to you ."
Nami also spoke
" That's right kaya you should instead rest and recover your health . "
Kaya laughed softly grateful for their help.
" Again .....Thankyou everyone,to help us in such dire situation.....syrup village will always remember you ."
Ash grinned-
" Well.... isn't it wonderful.... that's the kind of thing I prefer as a thanks ."
Kaya laughed .
" Haha - well you are indeed worthy enough to be remembered for eternity ash ."
Suddenly a loud voice broke the sweet atmosphere as a lanky figure with curly hairs standing above a cliff was shouting at them-
" Oye Ash !!! You guys better wait for me at the top ! Because no matter what , I'll come !"
Ash smirked and waved a hand lazily as he walked upto the deck of ship his fading voice barely audible over the soft breeze of salty ocean.
" I'll be waiting for you .....ussop ."
Zoro also gave a smile and waved his hand boarding the ship,nami and Medusa followed the suit.
"Alright then ,set coarse and raise the sails, we are going to cocoyashi village !"
"Aye aye captain"
Came a rare unified shout from his ragtag group of crew members and the ship finally leaved the docks of syrup village.it's silhoutte disappearing over the horizon.
Ussop standing at the cliff whispered to himself-
" I'll definitely climb to the top - just wait for me guys ."
.
.
.
________To be continued________