A/N: If this chapter looks off, I'm super sorry. I posted it 3 times, and it screwed up every time for some reason. Just ignore it.
"You've got 10 seconds," Zoro said simply, face closed off. I started fidgeting, feeling like a little girl all over again.
"What's happening?" I heard the orange girl whisper. "Zoro doesn't like it when Aela gets hurt," Luffy answered and I scoffed. That's an understatement.
"Zoro-nii, before you get pissed, which I can see has already happened, you really should let me explain.." my voice trailed off, waiting.
No change.
"Okay..so...so we were stuck in the cage right? Remember the cage?"
Nothing.
"...Well….after you left this huge lion came around the corner, and there was this guy, Mohji, who looked like a lion himself now that I think about it..which is probably why his hair was like that…"
"6 seconds…" he interrupted, making my heart beat erratically. I took a deep breath...
"Luffy was knocked into a building and there was a puppy protecting this store cuz her owner died and I didn't want the puppy to get hurt so I fought the lion guy who had this whip and I had to stab his pet lion which made me feel really bad cuz it wasn't his fault he wasn't a bad lion it was the guy controlling him but I stabbed him in the thigh and stomach and then the weird guy got really pissed at me and smacked me with his whip a couple times and I didn't wanna fight niichan but the guy was after you and I couldn't let him find you of course so I.."
"Stop," the green haired teenager commanded, and I did gratefully. My lungs were burning from spitting all of that out at the same time and I gasped for air.
"Where is he?" the pirate hunter asked, and no one needed to question whom he was speaking about.
"I got him," Luffy's voice cut through the air then, and I glanced behind to see that while his voice sounded relaxed and Luffy-like, if that's a thing, his dark eyes were staring seriously into Zoro's. They were obviously having some sort of silent, private conversation about me, that I wasn't invited to.
Zoro's brows furrowed in concentration as he stared at Luffy, looking for something in the dark haired boy's eyes. He apparently found what he was searching for, because after a few seconds he nodded at Straw Hat, and gently hit me upside the back of my head.
It didn't hurt in the least, but I grabbed the back of my head anyway, turning towards my brother angrily."What was that for you big meanie?!"
"I told you to stay out of trouble," he reprimanded me and I sniffed. "I'm not the one who got a building blown up on top of me," I mumbled childishly.
"WHAT WAS THAT, BRAT?!" Zoro shouted, shaking his fist at me.
"YOU'RE DUMB!" I shouted back, sticking my tongue out at him. He took a step towards me threateningly, and I ran and hid behind Luffy who chuckled at us.
"I can't stand it anymore!" the mayor suddenly exclaimed, and I jumped. I'd forgotten all about the guy for a second there… "Some random scum bag has no right to destroy our 40 years of hard labor! I am this town's mayor and I will protect this town or die trying!"
"Hey wait!" Nami stopped the man who started walking towards Buggy's base. "Don't be so hasty!"
"There are fights a man can't run from, missy," he said. "Isn't that right, young-uns?!"
"Yeah!" Luffy agreed, pumping his fist in the air. "That's right!" I shouted, stomping my right foot in excitement.
"Don't urge him on!" the thief said worriedly. "What can he possibly accomplish by charging at them? It's suicide!"
"I'm aware of that!" the mayor cried, and pulled himself out of Nami's hold, running off into the distance.
Silence from the four of us.
"...Whelp, he's gonna die," I said bluntly, and cried out when I felt not one, but two punches hit the back of my head.
"Don't say that!" Nami.
"Don't be so callous!" Zoro's voice.
"Why are yall so mean," I whined, nursing my fresh bumps. "I'm injured!"
"Looks like the fun's about to start!" Luffy laughed, and Zoro nodded in agreement. "Sure does."
"How can you guys be laughing at a time like this?" Nami demanded, throwing her hands up at us. "It'll be fine," Luffy reassured, readjusting his hat. "I like that old guy."
"Meh..he's a little strange," I commented, shrugging. "You're one to talk…" Zoro muttered, and I stuck my foot out towards him, 'accidentally' causing him to stumble.
"You little shit!"
"Oops..I didn't see you there Niichan!" I snickered.
"Why you…"
"Geesh, you guys argue like siblings!" Nami complained, and I blinked at her owlishly.
"But...we are siblings Nayomi…" I stuttered, and she whipped around to face me, shark teeth in full force.
"I WON'T TELL YOU AGAIN! MY NAME IS NAMI!"
"Blehhhh!" I stuck my tongue out at her and blew bubbles. Off to the side, Zoro sighed.
"Unfortunately, she's right. Same parents and everything." "What do ya mean by that?!" I stopped growling at my brother and turned to the girl, one eyebrow lifted up in puzzlement. "Can't you tell? I mean, same green hair and everything," I gestured between the two of us pointedly.
"I guess…" she trailed off. "It's a different shade of green though, and your eye color is different." "It's cuz of my devil fruit," I shrugged. "When I ate it, my hair and eyes lightened up. That's why I look normal and Brother here still looks like a bush."
"You outta be glad you're injured, twerp," Zoro huffed, and I grinned at him cheekily. "So what's our next move, Cap?" I turned to the teenager, energy flowing through me. I was still in pain, but adrenaline was an amazing thing, and I was pretty high on it right now.
"Well," he started, "Our destination is the Grand Line so our next move is simple. We have to go steal the map from Buggy." He grinned widely at us and directed his next statement to the thief, "Join our crew, Nami!"
"I'm never going to be a pirate," Nami began, slapping Luffy's hand out of her way, "but how about we team up for our common goal?"
"Shishishishishi," Luffy laughed, and I took that to mean he accepted her cryptic answer for now.
"Alright!" I shouted out, punching Zoro's shoulder in excitement. "Let's go kick that clown's ass!" "Don't be so excited!" Nami scolded all of us. I realized that we all had shit eating grins on our faces, and I felt mine fade a little bit at her words. "This is no laughing matter!"
"Don't worry," Luffy soothed, wide smile across his face. "I like that old man. I won't let him get killed." And with that statement, we took off in the direction that the mayor had run.
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The four of us arrived at the bottom of Buggy's base. The mayor was currently in a face off against Buggy, and the clown was taunting him from the rooftops. I was impressed to see that the mayor was holding a spear in his hand...however, a second later I felt a little nauseous. Buggy's detached hand was wrapped around the mayor's throat.
I shivered. Something about that was just...icky. Suddenly, the mayor was lifted into the air, legs flailing about. He tried in vain to kick his way free, but he was outnumbered due to the cannon being pointed towards him.
"I'll bet you a strawberry pie that there's a Buggy Ball in the cannon," I whispered, and Zoro grunted.
"I-I won't let you destroy this town!" the mayor choked out, and I grit my teeth at the determination in his voice. "Even if it costs me my life!"
"Tch," Buggy scoffed at the pitiful man in front of him. "Is the Buggy Ball ready?! On my mark, get ready to fi-"
"I'M BACK!" Luffy shouted suddenly, appearing in front of the Mayor. I blinked. Geez he's quick.
Captain reached out and pried the clown's hand off of the mayor's neck. He took several breaths of fresh air, and I reached up to rub my own neck, cringing in sympathy for the man. "I'm here to kick your ass just like I promised," Luffy continued, waving Buggy's hand at him mockingly. Straw Hat let go of the disembodied hand and it flew back towards its owner.
"Are you alright, old man?" I questioned, rubbing his back as he coughed. "I'm fine," he answered, looking at me gratefully.
"How dare you come walking back here so flashily!?" the clown captain shouted, voice indignant. "You brats must enjoy pain!"
"Listen!" Nami cut in. "All I want is the map and the treasure." "Yeah we figured that," I responded, rolling my eyes.
"What are you all doing here?!" the mayor questioned angrily. I knew he wasn't truly angry at us; simply concerned. "You young-uns are outsiders. This is not even your fight." He held the spear out towards Buggy. "I will protect this town or die trying!"
Luffy reached out then and punched the mayor, knocking him out cold. I squawked at the random attack, but quickly reached for the poor man, making sure he didn't hit the hard ground. Even Buggy seemed surprised at the younger captain' actions.
"What the hell?! Whose side are you on?" Nami bellowed out in anger. "Why'd you do that to the mayor?"
"He was in the way," Luffy grinned, his eyes now targeting the clown captain.
"It was for the best," Zoro grunted, helping me carry the guy to a safe spot. "He was just going to get in our way otherwise." "I feel like we coulda tried talkin' to him first though…" my voice trailed off.
"You're too reckless," Nami spat at Luffy.
Nami's words rang true when the next thing Luffy decided to do was tilt his head back and belt the words, "Fight me BIIIIIIGGGGG NOOOOOOSSEEE!" His voice rang confidently through the air.
I cracked up at the screams of horror that erupted due to Luffy's battle cry. The orange girl bawled her hands up towards her face and gawked at Captain. "What the hell is wrong with you?! That's the one thing you should never say to him! I was right! You're just an idiot pirate!"
I wiped imaginary tears from my eyes as Zoro began readying his swords. "Hey," his voice cut to me then. "Pay attention." I nodded at him, impish grin remaining on my face, but eyes sharp. I'd been studying the rooftops since we got here. I wonder who was going to attack first…
"Damn you, you flashy idiot!" Buggy shouted, beyond pissed. "I'll teach you to mess with me! FIRE THE BUGGY BALL!"
Nami screamed loudly and ran away from Luffy and the rest of us as fast as she could, screaming, "Look what you idiots did! Why'd you have to say that?! You've killed us!"
"OI! Luffy get the hell out of the way!" Zoro shouted, but our captain did nothing. He simply stood there as the ball got closer and closer. I stood right behind Luffy, puzzled at his reaction.
"Aela what the hell are you doing?!" Zoro screamed at me. He tackled me to the ground seconds before the ball was to hit. I wasn't concerned about me though.
"Captain!" I shouted, struggling against my brother. "Luffy move!"
"That measly cannonball's not gonna work on me!" Straw Hat shouted, and my mouth hung open in shock. What is he…
"Gomu gomu BALLOON!" The cannonball slammed into Luffy's stomach who had at this point, sucked in so much air his body had expanded to the size of a hot air balloon. Zoro and I watched in shock as the cannon ball bounced right off of the teenager's stomach, flying back into the direction in which it was launched.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS GUY?!" Buggy shouted, eyes practically falling out of his skull. "HE TOOK A DIRECT HIT!" the clown's crew shouted behind him. Buggy and his crew screamed when the cannonball blew not only the rooftop away, but destroyed the entire building, leaving behind nothing but rubble.
"Shit, Captain, at least warn us next time," Zoro scoffed, but he had a shit eating grin on his face as the both of us stood up from our position on the ground.
"That was amazing!" I had stars in my eyes, staring with awe at Luffy who was grinning ear to ear. "You just bounced it off of you!" I ran up to Luffy, poking his stomach and stretching his skin. "Shishishisshi," the teenager merely laughed and rubbed his finger under his nose.
"What the heck are you?!" Nami raged, stomping over to Luffy. "No human being is able to survive a cannon ball to the stomach! Explain yourself, pirate!" "Hey lady, lay off!" I shot back, annoyed with her tone. "We're alive aren't we? That should be good enough."
"I'm just trying to understand what's happening!" the orange girl huffed. "Our captain is frickin' awesome!" I explained to her in a 'duh' voice. "That's what's happening!"
An angry tick appeared on her forehead and she opened her mouth, probably to yell at me some more, but the sound of wood breaking and glass bottles shattering interrupted her. We all turned to see Buggy making his way out of the rubble. He was holding something in his arms, and I squinted trying to see what it was.
Nami gasped out in shock. "He used his crew members as shields." "What?!" I cried, disgusted. What kind of low-life bastard would do such a thing?!
"Captain Buggy!" Suddenly, Mohji, the lion tamer, came running towards the clown captain, both hands in the air. "These guys are trouble. The red haired bitch took down Richie and the black haired boy is made of rubber!"
Zoro growled when he heard the man's words, hand automatically reaching for his swords. "Is this who.." he asked me quietly, and I nodded, trying to resist the urge to grab my neck.
"A rubber person?" Nami echoed, openly staring at Luffy. "I got him, Zoro," Luffy stated, ignoring Nami's state of shock. Luffy's arm stretched out then, moving all the way down the street to slam his fist into the lion tamer's face. The punch hit the man right between the eyes, sending him straight back to where he came from. "STAY DOWN!" he shouted.
Zoro relaxed his stance, though he still looked a little pissed. Luffy turned to Nami then, grinning at her as if nothing had happened. "Yeah that's right. I'm a rubber man."