Chapter 4: The Best Navigator
One day after leaving Shell Town...
"So that's how you got your Devil Fruit." Zoro commented after he took a big chug of his sake bottle.
"Yeah basically" Luffy says as he picked his nose. He had just told his first mate about accidentally eating the Gum Gum fruit and promising Shanks to become King of the Pirates.
Likewise Zoro went on to tell Luffy about his sword the Wado Ichimonji, It's previous owner Kuina and her death, and his promise to her about becoming the greatest swordsman in the world.
"You know I actually believe you when you say you've met someone as notorious as Shanks" said Zoro. "Why is that" asked Luffy who was gazing towards the sea. "You don't seem like the type to lie." The rubberman chuckled at this "That's true, I'll admit it I can't lie to save my life" he said with real sincerity. They laughed at his own and stupidity and went on to sleep
A couple hours later at dawn...
YAWN! "Why are we still at sea?" the strawhatter said out loud. "Maybe if we got ourselves a navigator we would know our course!" Zoro scolded the captain.
"How long have you been up for Zoro?" "I'm not sure maybe about an hour or so" he responded.
"You're right we will need the best navigator in the East Blue and nothing less. Especially since we're headed to the Grandline." Zoro gave a slight nod and continued to metaphorically swim in sake.
"We will get the best man or woman we can possibly have, best cook, best shipwright, best doctor and most importantly... best musician." After hearing this Zoro felt like objecting but his common sense prevented it.
"Well at least recruit a navigator in whatever island we end up on" Zoro suggested. Luffy acknowledged it and looked into the horizon. After some minutes of fog his eyes widened in joy.
"I SEE LAN- " The rubberman's shouts were cut short as he immediately moved outta the way, dodging, what he felt through his Haki, was some sort of projectile.
He looked at the spot he was on moments ago..."Bird shit!" he screamed furiously.
Zoro was gonna question how Luffy managed to dodge in the first place. But instead bursted into laughter. The culprit was some pink poka dotted bird way up high.
After landing...
Both pirates landed and entered the town, They began to look around. The town was quiet, almost too quiet. But unlike Shell Town there was no aura of gloomines, After scanning it with Haki Luffy came to an unsurprising conclusion based on those he did sense.
"This place is gloomy, there's hardly anyone" Zoro commented. "That's the thing, the number of regular people that are here can be counted with your hands." Luffy observed. "In fact this town is basically a pirate town." Zoro was taken aback at how Luffy could know all this.
"Luffy how can you possibly be sure of that? We've only been here 10 minutes max, probably less." Luffy told him he would explain later. But Zoro continued to think about how he could tell the presences in the town. Luffy then said "I feel some hostile auras up ahead, around the next corner to be precise." This only fueled the swordsman's curiosity but he immediately focused on the path ahead
The duo turned the corner and Zoro immediately took note of Luffy's previous words. It was a red-headed girl who appeared to be cornered by what seemed to be pirates. "What the hell?" said Zoro.
The red-head noticed the duo and immediately dragged them in to her dilemma. She looked at the first man she saw. He wore a strawhat. "Hey watsup boss I got the loot you asked for from Buggy!" The thug's attention immediately shifted to Luffy and Zoro. The red-head continued "Anyways see you around, you can take it from here!" She ran off as she took the opportunity given by the diversion.
"Wait he's her boss?" The thug questioned looking at his partners. "He ordered the theft on the great Captain Buggy, he was gonna take that map, he must die!" exclaimed another thug.
"Buggy? could it be that Buggy?" Luffy thought. His attention shifted to the pirates charging at him. "Zoro" was all Luffy said for the first mate to get the hint.
The swordsman made short work of these losers as he didn't even break a sweat. Luffy just shrugged, "I thought I could at least get a warm up." Zoro pouted. The red-headed thief stopped dead in her tracks as she looked back. "He beat them without even looking exhausted" She thought.
The duo walked in the opposite direction of her yet she was able to catch up to them. "Hey" she yelled at them. They turned "You guys were pretty strong back there." She looked at them both.
Zoro noticed the girl staring longer at Luffy than she did him and said "I think she's checking you out captain." Luffy just laughed while she blushed heavily at the comment. Her thoughts however were shifted when she heard the word "Captain".
"So you guys are pirates" The red-headed thief asked coldly and with a confrontational voice. 'Yeah we are, you don't sound too thrilled to hear it" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Why would I be thrilled? pirates are all scum and evil who ravage cities and destroy lives." She spat with obvious hate in her tone. "Don't you think that's a little rich coming from a thief who had just framed us immediately after seeing us?" The rubberman asked coldly. Zoro was grinning at the fact that Luffy called her out.
"Oh shaddup you don't know anything, I knew you were strong so I didn't feel guilty, now I care less since you're pirates."
"Wait you knew we were strong? how?" They both asked desperately. "Hmph three swords, green hair, and the recent incident at Shell Town, which is not far from here. It only makes sense for you to appear here. You're obviously Roronoa Zoro" she answered giving Zoro a stern look.
"He was also said to be with a strawhat wearing guy, so I guess that's you" She said looking at Luffy. "Oh" They both said as they clapped their hands. She on the other hand resisted the urge to facepalm.
"Well now that you're done with your morality speech can you point us in Buggy The Clown's direction also a restaurant's, I need to ask him a few things and I'm starving."
She was startled by his request but complied. "Well thanks uhh... oh wait, where are my manners I'm Luffy!"
"I'm Nami...Well there's a reason why I even decided to approach you" Nami spoke sternly. Zoro didn't trust her one bit but. "Lemme guess you want us to help you" He responded for her.
Nami was stunned at their ability to pick up on things, she thought they were just mindless brutes.
They agreed to work together, and headed of to find Buggy. Nami had told them that she needed Buggy's treasure and agreed to give them a cut of 30% for their help. Zoro of course wasn't about to be cheated but Luffy held him back with a shit eating grin. He didn't mind since he knew The Star Clown was a weakling.
After reaching Buggy
The trio walked up to the platform where Luffy said Buggy was. Zoro's mind was on another subject entirely "how the hell does he do that, sensing then knowing where people are?!"
What do you bastards want? a flashy death perhaps?" The clown interrogated. Luffy scoffed, Zoro rolled his eyes while Nami did the same.
"Hey big nose she's here for your treasure so let's make this easy and just hand it over." said the extremely confident rubberman with a toothy grin plastered on his face.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU CALL ME?!!!" asked the infuriated clown. "I said hand over the treasure you big nosed dipshit!" Luffy yelling his response in annoyance this time. "THAT'S IT YOU'RE DEAD STRAWHAT BASTARD!"
"Point the cannon towards him and release the Buggy Ball" The flashy clown screeched "Mohji and Richie kill the girl and Cabaji take out the swordsman!"
Luffy's response was "Zoro." The first mate immediately got to work. Nami ran the other direction after Luffy told her to get to safety.
"Did he just say Zoro?!" asked a scared Cabaji "Who cares just kill him" answered his captain. Cabaji reluctantly accepted and charged at Zoro.
Zoro was easily parring Cabaji strikes and warned him "I'm a little tired but unlike when I fought that Axe-hand bastard I'm at full strength." Cabaji didn't acknowledge this as his full attention was directed towards attacking "Let's finish this I'm bored" Zoro said with an uninterested look on him.
A vein popped on Cabaji's forehead. "You're dead Roronoa!!" he yelled charging at Zoro. "Oni Giri" Zoro muttered under his breath. In an instant a slash appeared on Cabaji's chest, blood splattering all over. "Caba-chan!" screamed a pissed off Buggy.
BOOSH! The cannon roared. Buggy Ball was flying directly at Luffy. The rubberman smirked, in an instant Luffy caught the Buggy Ball without stopping it, The strawhatter did a 360 turn redirecting the cannonball and throwing it, not only with more power than the cannon itself, but sending it farther than it normally would.
Buggy was not furious but rather scared at the fact this kid redirected his famous Buggy Ball. Likewise Zoro was astounded at his captains strength, speed and reflexes. Other Buggy pirates were scared shitless at the strawhat wearers strength, some actually shat themselves.
Luffy switched gears as he began to concentrate "Nami being chased by a Lion Tamer and the Lion itself" He recapped in his mind what he had sensed using Haki. "Soru" The rubberman mumbled as he disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Back over with Nami she had been chased by a Mohji and his lion Richie. "Hey Richie rip this slut apart." The tamer commanded. Richie jumped in front of Nami and was on his hind legs ready for a pounce. Nami herself stood frozen out of fear. "Is this really the end, I'm sorry Bellemere-san I couldn't save the village." She closed her eyes ready to accept her fate as she heard.
Gum Gum Stamp!" She heard a crash. Nami slowly opened her eyes, and there he was, the strawhat wearing pirate she had met about 30 minutes ago. "Luffy" she mumbled quietly with clear confusion.
"Hey don't be scared the lion guy and his pet won't be up for a while" he stated calmly. There was just something about his voice that soothed her. "Uhhm thanks Luffy" Nami said now with a calm voice.
He gave her a soft smile, she responded with a blush "You know, you gave up pretty easily back there" Luffy informed her. Nami's blush instantly disappeared and a frown replaced it. "Shaddup I'm not a monster like you or Zoro." He just chuckled at her response.
"Ya know Buggy, unlike my captain I ain't generous or talkative so sit down and wait for Luffy, or fight me, other than that shaddup." The swordsman warned him with a demonic look. Buggy just scoffed at him calling him a "flashy bastard." Buggy didn't wanna fight Zoro, even though he couldn't hurt him because of his Devil Fruit, but when he mentioned the strawhatter wanted to talk he decided to wait.
Eventually Luffy reunited with an annoyed Zoro and Buggy who were just sitting there avoiding contact with the other.
After Buggy spotted Luffy he got up and walked towards him, "Hey strawhat I heard you wanted to talk!" "That's right I just want- oh by the way your swordsman is alive he's just out cold" Luffy said pointing towards Cabaji.
"I know your own swordsmen told me" Buggy said nonchalantly no longer worried for his first mate. "Also your lion guy and his pet are still alive, I just knocked them out"
Buggy sighed of relief knowing this. He turned to his remaining men and signaled them to leave as Buggy wanted to talk alone
"Now that everything is out of the way what did you wanna talk about" The star clown asked seriously.
"Well I wanted to know you a little as you are my friend's friend." Luffy said referring to Shanks. "Friend's friend" Buggy and Zoro asked equally confused. "I know that you are Shanks friend" Buggy immediately stood up straight as he heard the mention of Shanks.
"You know him too strawhat?! Wait that's his strawhat in the first place isn't it" The clown asked, Luffy nodded at both questions and began to tell him everything.
"That certainly sounds like the flashy bastard" Buggy said as he himself reminisced. Then Buggy went on a rant about why he hates Shanks.
Eventually their conversation ended. Luffy asked Buggy to point him in the direction of a store and he complied. They parted ways on good terms.
"That big nose idiot sounds ungrateful to me" Zoro commented as they were finally at a safe distance from them. "He does doesn't he, saving you from drowning is serious stuff especially if you're a Devil-fruit user" Luffy responded. "Anyway Nami said she would meet us at the only store open so lets go there immediately"
"That's assuming she hasn't ditched us already!" A doubtful Zoro spat. "I mean she framed us once, without even knowing who we we're, she clearly hates pirates so who's to say she won't steal our shit especially our 7 mil!" Zoro finished.
"She won't, trust me." Luffy said firmly. Zoro rolled his eyes at his captain's naivety.
When they reached the shop Zoro instantly swallowed his words as Nami stood there waiting for them. Luffy elbowed his first mate and said "Told you she wouldn't ditch us." Zoro grinned "glad I'm wrong."
Nami handed them 3 mil which was their arranged share as she stole 10 mil from Buggy. They headed to the store and restocked on food and mostly sake, due to Zoro's pestering.
On they're way out the trio encountered Chouchou and the mayor of the town, who introduced himself as mayor Boodle. A name which made Luffy snicker before Zoro straightened him out. Chouchou was a dog who was protecting his "treasure" which was his deceased owner's store.
Luffy empathized with Chouchou as they had an emotional moment. Nami looked at him in disbelief as she couldn't understand how a pirate didn't fit her usual negative description of them.
Eventually the time had come for them to set sail. However just as they thought they had a peaceful departure. They heard a cannon go off. Luffy dodged the cannonball in time and got off unscathed. He looked up in shock.
"STRAWHAT YOU BASTARD I NEVER SHOULD'VE TRUSTED YOU!" Buggy yelled charging towards him. Luffy began to explain that Nami had her own agenda while he simply wanted to talk. This only earned him a smack from Nami. Despite his valid reasons Buggy wasn't hearing it.
Luffy signaled the other two to set sail and escape, they did. They sailed getting away from the shore with Buggy not far behind spouting all sorts of insults. They mananged to escape from Buggy's battleship unscathed.
Hours Later...
The trio were on a separate boats Luffy and Zoro on the one they had before, and Nami was on her own. She was asleep and the boys were talking about various things until he Zoro remembered two things he would ask Luffy.
"Dammit Luffy we're back where we started!" Shouted an upset Zoro
"Waddaya mean" Luffy asked unsure of what Zoro spoke of.
"I mean you said you would recruit a navigator, but instead we're stuck with her.
"Oh shit you're right I guess with everything that had happened I forgot."
Nami had woken up earlier but she pretended to be asleep to hear their conversation, when she heard them talk about a navigator she got up and waited to jump in.
"We'll regardless I was gonna ask about how you were able to sense thin-" "What about a navigator?" Zoro was cut off Nami.
"Oh you're awake" Zoro said surprisingly
"Well to answer your question, captain here said he would recruit a navigator but he forgot" Zoro whined pointing at Luffy
"Now we don't know where we're going."
"You know Luffy might've forgotten to recruit a navigator but you're not lost, at least I'm not" She said
"Waddaya mean" Asked Luffy.
"What I mean is that even though you didn't recruit me, not like I'd join you, I am a navigator." Nami said as she pulled out a compass and map of the East Blue.
"WHAT!!" Luffy screamed joyfully while Zoro screamed stunned.
"Yup that's right and the best one in the East Blue too"
Zoro was at a loss for words while Luffy immediately asked her to join. She declined but she said she would still ally themselves until she reached her goal. Luffy asked what her goal was but she denied an answer. Zoro and Luffy asked Nami their course and she answered the Gecko Islands. This sparked up an idea in Luffy.
"Hey Nami lets go to a certain village called Syrup Village" Luffy suggested
"Why" the other two asked.
He bunched up his lips to the right and shifted his eyes to the left and said "No reason." Zoro cringed, he knew Luffy was a horrible liar but this was on another level. Nami face palmed as she realized how much of a horrible liar he was.
"I guess I'll finally meet your son Yassop"
A/N: Well that was an unexpectedly long chapter. I will say that i kinda rushed it but im satisfied with the way it came out. Anywho, i know lots of you guys can care less about Syrupp Village, i personally like Syrupp Village much more than this arc Orange Town, Which is why i my version is kinda rushed. My version of Syrupp village might be extremely different than the original but I'll have way more fun writing it than this one. Not saying that I didn't enjoy writing this but still...I've read lots of your guy's comments and i've replied to them in the comment section, please leave more feedback as it really helps.
PS: If you made it to this part thanx for reading.