The Straw Hats are beginning to run low on money, and Usopp proposes that they try scamming, but Nami doesn't believe it's safe, so Usopp and Luffy go along with the idea in secret intending to keep the crew away from being berriless as much as possible.
One Piece belongs to Oda
Blizzard belongs to XfangheartX
This story was inspired by the avatar episode 'The Runaway' which belongs to Nickelodeon, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konitzko
The coconut game was a homage to a scene from the movie 'Despicable Me' which belongs to Universal studios and Illumination Entertainment
The Thousand Sunny had arrived at its latest destination. The island itself was fairy peaceful; however the crime rate was also fairly high, mainly in theft and scamming. Because of this, the town was littered with dozens of desperate bystanders who attempted to scam folks out of their money with all kinds of tricks. Be it selling fake merchandise, or cheating them at card games. On top of all that since, the marines saw this as a petty annoyance and saw no reason to take action, the citizens had continued their scamming ways for many years. But anyway, the Straw-hats were actually in a bit of a predicament. They were beginning to run low on money and at the rate they were going, they wouldn't be able to buy enough food or medicine to make the journey to the next island. As of now, Nami had called a staff meeting to discuss the matter. WHAP! The navigator slammed her palms on the table to gain the groups attention.
"Guys, the log sets the day after tomorrow and we're almost out of money. We need to find a way to make some cash before the log sets. If we can just get enough supplies, we can make it to the next island and hopefully run into some enemy pirates along the way so we can raid their ship."
"Well that's a good plan for the future, Nami. But right now we need to figure out how to make some dough, here and now in two days or we're in SUPER trouble." Franky said.
"I know. That's why I called this meeting together. Do any of you have any ideas?" Nami asked, as she looked at the crew.
"Community service?" Chopper suggested.
"That's voluntary. You don't get paid for that, Chopper." Blizzard explained.
"Oh."
"Are there any fight clubs. We could enter Luffy, Zoro or Sanji in a fight and bet everything on them." Brook said, but Nami shook her head.
"There're no clubs."
"How bout we hunt some bounties?" Zoro proposed.
"There are posters for us here too. We can't hand in any criminals or we'll be captured as well." Nami said. The crew sat there wracking their brains before Usopp leapt to his feet.
"I got it! Scamming!" he said.
"Scamming?" Luffy asked.
"Yeah. This island's full of scammers. We could make money off of them, or even set up our own stall. We could make millions in minutes."
"Hey, that's a good idea." Zoro smiled.
"Sounds like fun." Luffy grinned.
"Wait hold on a second." Nami spoke up. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"What are you talking about? It's the perfect idea." Zoro said. "What's makes you think it won't work?"
"I'm not saying it won't work. I'm saying it's too dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Luffy asked confused.
"The crime rate on this island is very high. It may not seem like it, but it is. I actually saw one of those scammers get stabbed when he blew his cover. I can't risk any of you getting hurt."
"What you think we're weak or something, 'Mum'?" Zoro snorted sarcastically.
"No! It's just….I don't know. I just don't feel comfortable with this." Nami sighed.
"Fine, I won't go ahead with scamming." Usopp said.
"Promise?"
"Promise." Usopp smiled, though he sneakily crossed his fingers behind his back. "Promise to make this crew some money that is." He thought.
XXX
After a small simple lunch (due to Sanji not wanting to use up much of the supplies) Usopp headed out onto the deck and looked towards the town. But as he was about to take a step…Ahem! Usopp wheeled round to see Zoro and Luffy standing there.
"Off to do some scamming, Usopp?" Zoro asked.
"Look guys. No one else has any ideas and I'm the only person who does. If it means helping the crew, then I'd be willing to kill for their sake. I'm going to get some money and you're not going to stop me." He said, trying hard to keep his knees from shaking, knowing the monster duo's strength.
"Stop you? We want to go with you." Luffy said.
"You…want to come with me?"
"You're damn right we do. You think I'm gonna miss a chance of finally repaying Nami's debt?" Zoro said. "That woman'll never be able to blackmail me again. Plus I've noticed Robin wanting a certain book. I think she'd be pretty happy if I got her it." He added with a smirk.
"All right! Let's go make some cash!" Luffy cheered.
"But why do you want to come along?" Usopp asked.
"To have some fun." The Captain grinned.
"Fair enough. But first, we need to put on some disguises. Our posters are in this town after all so we can't get spotted."
"Good call." Zoro said.
"And also, I finally get to try my new invention." Usopp said before he pulled out a pair of red dice.
"Oh, I've heard of that game. You call the number, and if it lands you win the bet." Luffy realised.
"Yep." Usopp replied.
"But let me guess. You've loaded them. Sorry but this one's not gonna work, cause eventually the people are gonna see that the dice are loaded if they keep landing on the same number." Zoro said.
"Not this time." Usopp grinned as he pulled out a remote from his pocket. "This lets me control the ball that's inside the dice. I make the ball roll to any side I want and therefore I can control which number it lands on. No one will suspect a thing."
"Shishishishishi~! You've got an answer for everything Usopp." Luffy chuckled.
"That's me. Now let's go." Usopp said as the trio made their way towards the town.
XXX
Usopp, Luffy and Zoro (who were now all wearing weak, but adequate disguises) wandered through the streets as they looked at the many people either trying their luck at one stall or some had their own games set up in an attempt to scam passers-by. As they observed the many games, Usopp noticed a small stall that had three posts, each with a coconut perched on top.
"Let's try this one guys. It looks simple enough. I don't think we'll even need to cheat." Usopp said as they walked up to the stall.
"Ah, good day gentlemen. Care to play the game?" the owner greeted.
"You bet. What are the prizes?" Usopp asked.
"Just knock down all three coconuts and you get 10,000 berries." The owner explained. "One try for 1000 berries." Usopp handed over ten hundred berry coins, before the owner handed him three balls.
"Here we go." Usopp said before he threw the balls towards the coconuts. POK! POK! POK! The balls hit and knocked all three coconuts clean off their posts.
"Congratulations Sir! You've got a sharp pair of eyes." The owner said as he handed Usopp his winnings. "Although, would you care to make the game more interesting?"
"Interesting?" Usopp echoed inquisitively.
"Bet your winnings, and I'll make the prize 50,000 berries." The owner said.
"Okay, bring it on." Usopp said as he pushed his winnings back to the owner and picked up the balls. POK! POK! The first two balls knocked the coconuts down, but when the third ball hit the last coconut, it just bounced away and the round brown nut remained in place.
"Hey, what the hell?! I hit that! It should have fallen over!" Usopp said in a mixture of shock and outrage.
"Sorry pal, but if the nut's not knocked over, you don't get the winnings. Uh-oh! Someone's got a frowny face." He chuckled at Usopp's pout.
"The game's not over." Luffy suddenly spoke up. "Let's make it even more interesting."
"How so, Sir?" the owner asked.
"How about I bet my friend's slingshot," Luffy began before swiping Usopp's black Kabuto off him "and my other friend's swords," he continued as he took Zoro's katana, much to the latter's shock "and you make the prize 150,000 berries." The owner looked at the four weapons and nodded his head.
"These are very fine swords, and I've never seen a slingshot like this. Okay, you've got a deal."
"Are you out of your mind?!" Usopp hissed.
"And you must have a death wish betting my swords. Don't think I won't be able to kill you without them." Zoro snarled.
"No guys listen." Luffy whispered as he gathered them into a group huddle. "Usopp, he cheated you."
"He what?!"
"SHHH! When you took your second go, he glued one of the coconuts down. I know, because I used my Observation Haki."
"That sneaky rat. But how do you plan on winning the game?" Zoro asked.
"Just watch." Luffy grinned before going over and picking up the three balls. "Okay…my turn." He then turned around and walked a few steps away from the stall, before he threw his first two shots. POK! POK! As expected the first two coconuts fell off, but Luffy was ready for the last shot. At that moment, he used his Armaments Haki to coat the last ball, before he began to spin his arm in comical circles, and with a hard swing, he threw the ball right at the last coconut. WHOOOOOSH! CRASH! On impact, the ball left an enormous gaping hole in the stall and the last coconut was completely obliterated. Luffy smiled proudly before facing Usopp and Zoro and gave them two thumbs up.
"KNOOOCKED OOOVERRR~!" he cheered as Usopp and Zoro took their weapons back and claimed their 150,000 from the owner who was now utterly flabbergasted.
"Thanks for the money, buddy." Usopp grinned as the trio walked off. "That was INCREDIBLE! You blew up the whole wall!"
"You really scammed him back, Luffy." Zoro smiled, impressed.
"Shishishi~! I know. Now let's go have some more fun!"
"YEAH!" Usopp and Zoro cheered.
XXX
"Where are those three?! They've been gone all day." Nami said to Robin as she paced about the deck.
"I sure hope my darling Zoro didn't get captured by the marines and executed." Robin said.
"How can you say that about your own boyfriend?!" Nami shouted. "And besides, you know he's stronger than that." but no sooner had she spoke, she noticed the trio walking towards the ship. Luffy and Usopp were both wearing enormous backpacks slung both of them were grinning like a pair of Cheshire Cats. Zoro had a smaller bag slung over one of his shoulders and was only smiling proudly, like he'd had a good day (which he had).
"HI NAMI~!" Luffy sang as he went to greet her.
"Speak of the devil. Where the hell in the world have you been?!" Nami said as she hugged him.
"We've just been out shopping." Zoro grinned as he put down his bag and handed Robin a book, who gasped at it.
"I've wanted to buy this one for weeks." She said as she joyfully kissed Zoro.
"I knew you'd be surprised." Zoro laughed. "Oh which reminds me." He then tossed Nami a small sack of coins.
"What's this?"
"My debt: repaid." The swordsman said.
"But how the hell did you get 30,000…"Nami began before she realised what was going on. "You went scamming didn't you?!"
"Guilty as charged. Well not anymore." Zoro said smugly.
"Usopp, you promised!"
"Well whaddya expect, Nami?! I'm a liar. You should have known better."
"And besides, we only cheated because the guy was cheating us first. We scammed a scammer. What's wrong with that?" Luffy asked.
"He does have a point." Robin said.
"Don't side with them!" Nami barked at the archaeologist before turning back to the trio. "Guys, you need to stop this now. I should have expected Usopp to go back on his word and it's no surprise Zoro went along if meant repaying his debt. But Luffy?"
"I'm sorry Nami, but I have to agree with Usopp on this one. We really need the money and this is the only working idea anyone's come up with. If you have any better ideas, then I'd really like to know, please." Nami opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Luffy sighed before giving her a hug. "I know you're concerned for our wellbeing, but we've got everything under control. We wore disguises so no one would recognise us and I'm only going along with this for the sake of the crew. You must understand. If it meant keeping the crew alive, I'd do anything."
"I…I know, Luffy. Just…please promise you'll be careful." Nami said as she hugged him back. The Captain then pulled away before brushing a lock of her orange hair behind her ear.
"I love you, remember? And I'm only doing this cause there's no other options. I promise, once we have enough money and we're ready to leave, I'll stop." Luffy then unbuttoned his shirt before tracing his finger over the X-shaped scar on his chest. "Cross my heart." Nami smiled warmly before crossing her own heart.
"I'm sorry I got the wrong idea. And I'm sorry I doubted you guys so much. I guess…I was getting worried over nothing. It's just those two years still hurt a little and I never want to lose any of you again. Especially you."
"Hey don't beat yourself up. We know how responsible you are. You're the only one who can keep this nutcase in his place. Besides, the marines want Luffy dead for ringing a damn bell. What more damage can a bit of scamming do?" Usopp grinned as he patted Nami on the back. "Tell you what. Come with us tomorrow and we'll show what it's all about. We know you're a good card player; you could really help us scam some of those dealers. I really got screwed over when one of them turned all the cards black so I couldn't find the red one. Besides, you're Cat Burglar Nami after all. You can scam in more ways than one." he smirked at the last part of his sentence.
"Okay. I'll come along." Nami smiled.
"That's the spirit. Learn to have some fun for once." Zoro said.
"What do you mean by that?! I'm fun!" Nami said, blushing from embarrassment.
"Yeah right? Name one time you were fun to be around. And chatting doesn't count."
"Well…"
"That's what I thought."
"Leave her alone Zoro. Nami's fun when she chooses to be. You'll see." Luffy said.
XXX
The next morning, Luffy, Usopp and Nami headed back into town to continue scamming. Zoro had decided he'd had enough since he only went along in the first place to repay his debt and get Robin her book, and he saw no other reasons to keep going. They first stopped at a card game where which Nami decided to play. With Luffy's Observation and her own intelligence, Nami was able to see past the dealer's trick and was able to sneakily scam him back. By the end of the game they managed to make 2,000,000 berries, and Nami had to admit, she was beginning to enjoy herself. As of now, the trio were currently in the middle of playing a dice game, which gave Usopp the chance to use his new gadget. Nami would roll the dice and call the number while Usopp cleverly used his remote to control the dice so they would land on the number Nami called. So far they had 150,000,000 berries up for grabs and a mountain of bills and coins was lying in the centre of the street where the game was commencing.
"Alright! Now show me seven!" Nami called as she rattled to two dice in her hand before throwing them forward. The two red cubes bounced across the street before stopping on a five and a two.
"YES~!" Nami, Usopp and Luffy cheered.
"You're luck is just extraordinary, Miss." One of the citizens said.
"WAIT! Her dice are loaded. They must be!" another spoke up.
"You idiot! If they were loaded, they would have landed on the same number every time. Don't you know anything?!"
"Well, nice doing business with you." Nami smiled as she bent down to gather her winnings from the ground, but as she did, one man, who was about Franky's size and had shortly cut black hair, a fairly muscular body and green eyes, noticed her blue tattoo just peak out from underneath the sleeve of her t-shirt. His eyes narrowed.
"Say, Madame? If your luck is just as extraordinary as that man believes it is, then how about we make the prize 200,000,000?" he asked.
"You're on." Nami grinned before rattling the dice again and throwing them. "Eight!" as if on command (of course) the dice landed on their called number and Nami, Luffy and Usopp cheered.
"Now we have more than enough money for supplies!" Luffy cheered.
"And plenty left to spend!" Usopp added happily.
"Now Miss. If you'll just follow me, I can give you the rest of your winnings." The man said as he began to make his way to a large warehouse at the end of the street.
"Guys, take the rest of the money back to the ship, I'll catch up with you." Nami said.
"Are you sure? You don't want me to come with you?" Luffy asked.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." Nami said as she gave him a reassuring kiss on the cheek which made him blush slightly.
"Okay then, we'll see you back at the ship then." Usopp said as he and Luffy began to head back, while Nami followed the nameless man.
"Right this way." He said as he entered the large warehouse. As Nami stepped through the doorway, she began to feel uncomfortable. Something just seemed off about what was happening, and she feared, she may have just made a big mistake. She was right. In a flash, two figures were behind her and grabbed her arms while a third gagged her, muffling her screams.
"Surprised? I think you should have thought twice before entering with your hopes high…Cat Burglar Nami." The latter's eyes widened when she heard her pirate name.
"I saw your tattoo. Wear a long-sleeve shirt next time. And I also know that you were with Straw-hat just minutes ago. It's surprising that he's now in a romance with you, but who can blame him? You are quite a gem after all."
"Vat ve heh do vou vant (what the hell do you want)?!" Nami said muffled, by her gag.
"Your man's bounty, what else? And I know what you're thinking. Why did I not bring him here too? Because I know how powerful he is and I'm not going to go making wild assumptions that I can just take him head on. So I'm going to do things the old fashioned way. Bait him here using you, and then kill him when he's attempt to free you." As Nami was dragged off and thrown into one of the cells, all she could think of was one thing.
"Don't make me wait, Luffy."
XXX
After Luffy and Usopp had got back to the ship, they divided their winnings out between the crew, giving a fair cut to Sanji and Chopper so they could buy medicine and food supplies. The other members of the crew were also given a bit of the money for themselves and Luffy and Usopp agreed to give the rest to Nami for safe keeping. As of now, the two friends were sitting out on the deck feeling proud of their accomplishment in the past two days.
"We really did it this time, Luffy." Usopp grinned.
"You can say that again. Not only did we get the crew out of a hole, but we had fun doing it too." Luffy chuckled back as he and Usopp hi-fived.
"Yep. I don't see how anything could go wrong from here." But just then, the loud clip clop of hooves was heard nearing the ship. KLOMP! KLOMP! KLOMP! KLOMP! Luffy and Usopp turned to see Chopper galloping towards them in Walk Point.
"LUFFY! USOPP! WE'RE IN BIG TROUBLE!" he cried as he braked to a halt in front of them.
"Chopper what's going on?!" Luffy asked as the little reindeer changed back to Brain Point and handed Luffy a ball of paper.
"I was coming back from shopping for medicine and then this ball of scrunched up paper hit me in the head. So I opened it and….I had to come back and get you guys!" Luffy un-crumpled the paper and gasped at what it read: 'We have your woman, Straw hat. And we know you never leave a crew member behind. If you want to see her again, come to the warehouse at the end of the town. You have two hours to comply. Signed Gunpowder Slim.' Luffy stared at the note and glared at it before throwing it over his shoulder and into the sea.
"Let's go." He said venomously.
"But wait, Luffy. This could be just like when Robin got captured. They're using Nami as bait to get your bounty. We can't just go to them, or you'd be playing right into their hands." Usopp said.
"Then what do you propose we do, Usopp?! This is all our fault. Nami was right all along, but we didn't listen and now look what's happened! I'm going to get her back and if you don't then I've lost a lot of respect for you!"
"No! I'm not saying we don't go get her back and I'm not abandoning her. What I'm saying is that we make a plan first. We can't just go charging in. They might have Nami at knife point and kill her before we can take a step. How about Chopper and I create a distraction and while we've got their attention, you go get Nami." Luffy stared for a moment before smiling.
"You're always good with the plans Usopp. I'm sorry I got the wrong idea." But at that moment, Blizzard came trotting out.
"What's with all the ruckus?" he asked.
"Nami's been captured and we're going to save her. Wanna come along, big brother?" Chopper asked. The wolf dog grinned when he heard the offer.
"You bet your little blue nose I do. I'm really in the mood for biting some scumbag's ass."
"All right, the gang's all hear." Usopp said before standing up.
"But Usopp, how are we going to create a distraction?" Chopper asked. Usopp smiled mischievously before leading the group to the soldier dock system and pointing to Channel 5. The sniper and the doctor looked at each other before grinning and nodding their heads.
"UH-HUH!" they both said to each other.
"OHHH YEAH!" Chopper added.
XXX
Meanwhile, at the warehouse, the man now identified as Gunpowder Slim was smiling mockingly through the bars of Nami's cell. The orange haired navigator still cuffed and gagged only glared back at the bounty hunter in disgust.
"I know what you're thinking. I don't plan on underestimating your boyfriend, but I can promise you this. He's not going to beat me easily. You see, I also hold the powers of a devil fruit, therefore I'd say we're evenly matched." Nami's eyes widened slightly but her faith in Luffy didn't dwindle whatsoever.
"What type you say? Oh you'll see soon enough. In the meantime sit back and enjoy the-" KABOOM! Before Slim could finish his sentence an earths-shattering explosion sounded form with in the building. Slim immediately sprinted to the entrance of the warehouse to find the entire front wall obliterated and several of his men out cold and charred and standing tall and proud in the centre of the hole…was the Brachio Tank. The hatch at the top flipped open before Chopper popped his head out, happy tears streaming down his face as he moved his hoof into a salute.
"C…Commander Chopper! Reporting for duty!" he sobbed happily.
"What the hell is this?! Who are you?!" Slim demanded. No sooner had he spoke, Usopp poked his own head out, his goggles over his eyes.
"We're Captain Usopp and Commander Chopper. Two of the Straw-hat pirates, and we and our Captain are here to kick your ass!" he grinned.
"Then where the hell is Straw hat?! He's the one I want, so where is he?!" Slim shouted.
"Oh, I think you should be more worried about us blowing you sky high! And besides, Private Luffy and Sargent Blizzard are way ahead of you." Chopper smirked.
"What are you talking about?!" Slim said, utterly confused. Unbeknownst to him, Luffy had used the explosion as cover to sneak passed Slim and the other bounty hunters on Blizzard. The latter had used his sense of smell to locate Nami, and now the two had arrived at the cell holding her, much to her joy.
"Don't worry Nami. We'll bust you out." Luffy said as he reached out to pull the bars off the cage but before he could touch them, Nami frantically shook her head. "What's wrong?"
"Luffy, I think the bars are made of sea prism stone. You can't touch it or you'll be drained of your energy. I'll bite through them easily though." Blizzard said, but Nami only shook her head again.
"What's she trying to say? You can bite through sea stone easily, so why's she telling you to stop?" Luffy wondered as he reached out and lightly touched one of the bars with a finger, and as he did, his body was instantly engulfed in electricity. KRRRRZZZZZZZTT! "WHOA! It's electrified, that's why she didn't want you to bite it." Luffy gasped as he quickly pulled his finger away. "Now what do we do? Neither of us can get through that, unless…I got it! Blizzard, go get Chopper."
"I'm on it Luffy!" Blizzard said as he turned tail and galloped back towards the entrance leaving Luffy and Nami alone.
"I know you can't answer me back, Nami, but I just want to say, I'm so sorry." Luffy apologised. Nami cocked her head to side, looking slightly confused. "You said this was a bad idea, but Usopp and I wouldn't listen. I know we only did it for everyone's sake, but we should have expected something like this to happen. I'm sorry for being so stupid, as usual." Luffy said, his head hung in shame and Nami now looking rather sympathetically at her Captain/boyfriend/fiancé.
XXX
Back at the entrance Commander Chopper and Captain Usopp were blasting more and more of Slim's men left and right. Slim himself had managed to get away from the tank's powerful shots, but at that moment, Blizzard shot passed him and braked to a halt in front of the tank. Chopper popped out of the hatch and saluted his big brother.
"Sgt. Blizzard. How's the rescue mission?"
"We've hit a little snag actually, Commander. We need you on the mission." Blizzard said.
"Aye-aye Sarge! Captain Usopp, you'll have to fight the rest on your own." Chopper said as he jumped onto Blizzard's back. Usopp then emerged from the tank before readying his Kabuto.
"Don't sweat it Commander Chopper. I can handle Slim. Go get Lieutenant Nami. She's our top priority." Usopp said as he aimed at the bounty hunter who glared at him. Blizzard then immediately sprinted back to Nami's cell.
"What's the problem, Private?" Chopper asked as he jumped down form Blizzard's back.
"Blizzard and I can't get through this cage. It's sea stone, and electric so I can't bend it and Blizzard can't bite it. However, you can dig under it and get Lt. Nami to safety."
"Lietenant?" Nami thought, before smiling behind her gag. "I'm actually honoured to be given such a high position. Then again, I am the smartest member of the crew."
"You can count on me Private Luffy. Stand back." Chopper said as he morphed into his Horn point and began to rapidly dig into the concrete floor before quickly appearing on the other side of the bars and gathering Nami into his arms before jumping back into the hole and climbing back up to Luffy and Blizzard. The former then pulled off his girlfriend's gag, while the latter bit through her cuffs.
"My heroes." Nami smiled before giving Luffy, Blizzard and Chopper each a kiss on the cheek. "Now let's get the hell out of here, boys."
"You got it, Lt!" Luffy grinned as the quartet ran back towards the entrance, but they suddenly braked to a halt at what they saw. Slim was standing in front of them, grinning wickedly and behind him, Usopp was trying to get back on his feet. The sniper didn't seem too injured, but he looked really exhausted, plus he his left leg was bleeding heavily.
"I'm…not…through with you yet…bastard." Usopp gasped as he collapsed back onto the ground.
"Well I'm through with you." Slim muttered back over his shoulder.
"What did you do to Usopp?!" Luffy yelled, as Chopper ran over to the sniper.
"He…he's been shot in the leg!" the reindeer gasped.
"But that's impossible. None of his men had guns." Blizzard said. "Unless…" he then thought.
"Confused? Well let me explain. As your girlfriend (and now your long nosed pal) already knows, I have the power of a Paramecia devil fruit: The Barrel-Barrel fruit." He then lifted his hand, in a gun like position before his index finger began to turn jet black and shiny, before morphing into the barrel of a pistol. The group gasped. "I can transform any part of my body into any form of barrelled weapon. I have to admit, your friend put up a good fight. Those plants were really irritating, but I managed to land a lucky shot to bring him to his knees."
"I said I wasn't finished with you!" Usopp shouted as he grunted from the pain in his leg.
"Usopp, don't! You need to rest your leg. You fought well." Chopper said.
"Chopper. Get back in the tank with Usopp and Nami and go back to the ship. I'll handle this idiot. He clearly has no idea who I am." Luffy grinned but, then Nami put her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm joining you in this one." she smiled. Luffy at first wanted to protest, but as he thought for a moment, he smiled back.
"Ok. Just promise you won't get hurt." Nami nodded before assembling her Clima-tact.
"Ten figure SHOT!" Slim morphed all eight of fingers and both his thumbs into pistol barrels before firing. Unsparingly, the bullets hit Luffy's body only to rebound.
"Do you even know who I am?" he grinned. "I'm a rubberman!"
"WHAT?! You have devil fruit powers too?!" Slim asked in shock.
"WHAT KIND OF MORON ARE YOU?!" Nami, Chopper, Usopp and Blizzard shouted.
"Actually, I can't really blame him. My wanted poster doesn't mention my powers." Luffy said. "It's almost like…he got scammed." Luffy grinned before slowly walking towards the bounty hunter, pounding his fist into his palm. Despite the fact Slim was now shaking like a leaf, he tried turning his limbs into several firearms. Cannons, rifles, Gatling guns, shot guns, but all proved futile against the rubberman who began to stretch his fist back.
"GUM GUUUUUUM…!" he began.
"I surrender." Slim shouted quickly, but it was too late.
"PISTOL!" POW! Luffy's fist connected with the hunter's jaw sending him shooting backwards and hitting the side of the Brachio Tank, leaving him knocked out.
"YEAH! That's from the Straw Hats!" Usopp laughed.
"Man what a let-down. I can't believe a guy with the power of guns, had no idea you were made of rubber, Luffy." Nami sighed.
"Shishishi~! Oh the anvil of irony." Luffy chuckled. "But enough of that, let's go home."
"Roger that, Private." Usopp grinned as Chopper helped him back into the tank, before climbing in himself, while Luffy and Nami both climbed onto Blizzard. As the group began to make their way back to the ship, Luffy sighed.
"Again, I'm really sorry I got you into this mess. If Usopp and I hadn't started all this scamming and I hadn't been so stupid like I always am, you would have never got captured."
"Luffy, please, don't beat yourself up. This is my fault. I was stupid to follow that guy. I mean just look at me! A complete stranger tells me he has money for me and I follow him into a warehouse?! That's the kind of lesson you teach little kids not to do. And also, the scamming was a good idea. I was wrong to doubt you guys and you really helped the crew out quite a jam. I had fun too and if we ever have to scam again…I'll look forward to it."
"You mean you're not mad at me for being an idiot?"
"Luffy, you may be a bit thick in the head, but you're not an idiot. If you were do you think you would have been able to master your Gum-gum powers, or all three forms of Haki, or gather the greatest crew in the world, or most of all…make me fall in love with you." She then hugged her Captain warmly from behind and kissed his cheek. "You may be a dummy, but you're my dummy, and I wouldn't want you any other way." Luffy smiled warmly as he kissed her sweetly.
"Thanks Nami. You always know how to make me happy."
"Amen to that, brother. Amen to that." Usopp praised as clapped his hands together. While many events may occur out in the Grand Line, there are two things you must never forget. Expect the unexpected, and should you ever meet a scammer, be sure to scam them back.
The End
