Penny had spent enough time with Luffy to know that he was insane. Their time in Foosha Village passed by quickly. While her illness still ate away at her, she found that she was stronger than she had been before coming here. Something about running from wild animals and dodging Garp's blistering blows created an atmosphere for growth.

But, they were leaving soon.

Penny didn't know how to feel about that. Luffy had become such a central part of her life that leaving him felt like detaching a part of herself.

"I've had it with you guys!" he shouted, standing on the bow of the ship. He was brandishing a knife wildly. "Now you'll have to take me seriously! This is how tough I am!"

"HAHAHA!" Shanks raised his fist in the air to cheer him on. "Get it over with! Whatever it is…"

"What's he up to now?" asked Beckman, looking to her for an answer.

Penny whipped out a cord of rope, stomping toward Luffy. "I'm going to hang you if you do something—"

He stabbed himself in the face.

A scream tore from her throat as the others shouted in surprise.

"He's trying to kill himself!" screamed Penny as blood dripped down Luffy's face. "Someone save him!"

"You idiot!" shouted Shanks, grabbing the knife from Luffy and tossing it off the side of the ship. Fat tears spilled down Luffy's cheeks as he clutched his face, only bringing him more pain. "What'd you do that for?!"

Beckman caught the collar of her dress, holding her up before her panic caused her to do something stupid like fall into the ocean. "We'll fix him up quick, Pen."

It took longer for them to calm her down than Luffy. After he was patched up, Penny's worry turned to fierce anger, and she nearly gave Luffy another wound to match his stupidity. All it took was one second for him to go and find some new danger to awaken.

"What kind of moron are you?" asked Penny, shaking her fist in his direction. He walked confidently, with his hands behind his head, as the crew trailed behind them. "You think getting hurt is tough?!"

"Shishishishi, it's just a little scratch!"

"Then why were you crying?"

"Just cause!"

"You're a crybaby! If I stabbed myself, I wouldn't be a nuisance and cry right after!"

"You'd be crying before you even did it!"

"YEAH, SO WHAT?!"

"SO, I WIN!"

Shanks laughed, knocking their heads together. "Come on, guys. You gotta be more mature than that—we all know the only thing Penny's stabbing is someone else."

"Want me to start now?" asked Penny hotly. Her arm was clenched tight, rolling with pain, but she was determined not to let it show.

Makino was standing outside her bar as they approached, wiping at the windows as she spoke to Mayor Woop Slap. A smile lit her face at the sight of Shanks which made Penny want to vomit a bit. It dimmed at the sight of Luffy's bandaged face.

"What happened?!" she asked, taking Luffy's face in her hands and turning it left and right. "Are you all right?"

"Tell her what happened, Luffy," goaded Penny.

Luffy smiled proudly, "I stabbed myself."

Makino's face turned white and then a glare entered her eye as she looked at Shanks. Mayor Woop Slap cracked his back and shook his cane. "I thought I told you not to hang out with pirates, Sunny."

"Captain Shanks spent a lot of money at the market today, Mayor-san."

The mayor's face grew even dimmer. "Stolen money?"

Shanks smiled sheepishly, knocking her head down his elbow to keep her from answering. The crew shuffled into the bar as Shanks tried to alleviate the Mayor's worries. Penny caught sight of the treasure chest they had stolen a while back in Lucky's hands and snuck over to his side. No one would tell her what was in it.

Curious as to why the chest followed them around and what was inside it that wanted to be let out, she asked, "Why do we take that everywhere?"

Beckman intercepted her before she could open it and peer inside. Standing almost triple her height, he carried her away, letting her hang limply from his arm. Penny wouldn't admit to it ever, but it was sort of fun to be carried around.

"Where were you guys this time?" asked Penny, being dropped off at his table. She crossed her legs over one another accepting a plate from Makino with a quick 'thank you.' Beckman lit a cigarette, leaning back in his chair as he watched the crew party.

"We stopped by Flora Flora to get more sunbeam powder for you."

"Anything cool happen?"

"Nothing much. We'll head off soon—another couple of trips to make sure we've got what we need and then it's straight to the Grand Line. Shanks has an old friend there that's one of the best doctors in the world. He'll get you sorted out."

"It doesn't hurt all the time."

"The longer that stuff stays in your body the more it'll ravage your nerves and the rest of you. You might feel okay with the medicine now, but…"

Penny didn't like to think about her illness. No one had a name for what was happening to her, but her body was resisting every antidote they had tried. It was the uncertainty of everything that scared her more and made her more desperate to leave and see the world before she couldn't anymore.

Her body hurt all the time, a burning pain that echoed down to her bones, and the fever that accompanied it left her warm to the touch.

"I'll get better," vowed Penny. She didn't want to place any further burdens on their shoulders.

"I've been training! My punch is as powerful as a pistol!" Luffy struck the air in front of Shanks. Penny snorted to herself. He'd been using her as target practice which earned him more than a few bruises because Penny was a pushover only to a certain point.

Looking bored, Shanks leaned against the palm of his hand. "A pistol, eh? Is that so…"

Luffy climbed onto the chair next to him. "ARE YOU DOUBTING ME?!"

Bonk Punch lead the crew forward with an overflowing glass of beer in his hand, "Calm down, Luffy!"

"Just have a good time," chimed in Yasopp.

Lucky roared at the top of his lungs, forcing Penny to place her hands over her ears. "Pirates always have a good time. There's too much to explore to spend time being mad!"

"And best of all, we have freedom!"

Everyone cheered. Penny shook her fists mocking their enthusiasm which made Beckman laugh.

Luffy stood in the middle of it all, face glowing with wonder and joy. Penny tapped her fingers on the table, feeling a small sense of trepidation. Luffy wasn't her family, though not a day had gone by during her stay in Foosha Village that wasn't spent at his side. Something was compelling about the joy that he managed to bring whether he went.

Penny wanted to see what kind of pirate he'd be in the future.

They would have to say goodbye soon and she didn't know how to do so without revealing that part of her didn't want to go yet. Did Captain Shanks feel the same way? Did he have a place somewhere in his past that he had left too soon?

"You're too young, kid. Maybe in ten years, I'd give you the chance," said Shanks, answering Luffy's demand to come with them.

"Cap'n Shanks, I'm telling you I'm not a little kid!"

"You peed your pants last week," called Penny out, smiling as steam came out of Luffy's ears.

"SHUT UP! THAT'S BECAUSE I WAS LAUGHING TOO MUCH! EVERYONE DOES THAT!"

"I've never done that."

"Don't get upset," said Shanks, ruffling Luffy's hair. He reached over the bar, accepting a glass of milk from Makino. "Here, have some milk and calm down."

"Oh, boy!" Luffy grabbed it greedily. Penny snickered into the palm of her hand. "Thanks!"

Shanks lost it at the same time she did. Their laughter echoed together causing Luffy to turn a furious red. "DHAHAHAHAHA, A REAL PIRATE WOULD NEVER DRINK MILK!"

Penny stood and circled her arms around Luffy, squishing his face between her hands. "THAT WAS SO CUTE OF YOU!"

"I'M NOT A LITTLE KID!"

Even though that was exactly what a little kid would say, Penny, decided it was best to leave that thought to herself. Taking a seat next to Shanks as Luffy escaped to go calm his raging temper, Penny leaned forward eagerly. "What's in the treasure chest?"

"A devil fruit. Don't go eating this one or you'll die."

"Oh."

Penny's hand circled around an imaginary fruit, remembering smooth pink skin, a color that only appeared during Spring, and deep swirls embedded in the surface of the cherry-like fruit.

"Not cool?"

"Not at all." She shook her head, wrinkling her nose. "I thought it was real treasure. There's this old story about a kingdom that fell into the sea and the people there used to be able to make all sorts of things the way we make vivre cards. Swords that were alive and jewels that shone forever! Shadow cloaks that made you invisible and cloth that could heal injuries! Is there stuff like that in the New World?"

Shanks stared at her for a long moment, seeming surprised by what she said. Penny didn't know where she had learned the information either. "It is possible to imbue objects with your spirit, but there are all kinds of wonders in the world. You just have to find them."

"We'll have to leave soon then."

"Getting bored?"

"Of being left behind? Yes."

"Watch this," said Shanks, spinning around and calling for Luffy as he laughed to himself. "Hey, Anchor!"

Luffy glared back, an indignant look on his face. "I told you!" he said to Beckman, pointing a finger in Shanks' direction.

Makino walked into the bar, carrying another barrel of beer. Penny shot out of her seat to help her bring it over.

"I'm glad to see you guys are enjoying yourselves," said Makino. Knowing the crew, they would drink her dry before sunset. Though, having seen how hard Makino worked, it would give her a reason to close up early and spend the evening relaxing.

"Luffy's fun to tease."

Luffy jabbed his finger at Shanks again. Beckman sighed, giving up on defending Shanks. "You've got a point, lad."

Makino interjected before Luffy decided to fight Shanks. "Luffy, do you want something to eat?"

Perking up, Luffy immediately had a fork and knife in hand and a seat on Shanks' opposite side. "Yeah, just put it on my treasure tab!"

"Treasure tab?" asked Shanks amused. "Don't try and swindle the lady, Luffy."

"I'm gonna become a pirate, find lots of treasure, and then I'll come back and pay her!"

Penny raised her hand, "Do I get paid too?"

"Huh? For what?" asked Luffy.

"Babysitting."

"Heeheehee, you have to do that for free."

Penny wrinkled her nose but shrugged. Money wasn't something she lacked in life.

"How much longer are you staying here?"

Shanks took a moment to answer, eyes skimming Penny's face for a moment. She put on her best smile, hoping that she looked healthy enough to keep him from worrying. "We've been using this village for about a year now. After two or three more trips, we'll head to get Penny sorted out, and then it's North."

"North Blue or the North Pole?" asked Penny eagerly.

"North."

"You're no fun when you're being all mysterious."

"Two or three more trips…" Luffy's gaze turned to her as well. She wondered if the realization was setting in that she was leaving or if he was thinking of something else. "I'll finish learning to swim by then!"

Penny snorted. "No, you won't."

"I will!"

"Won't."

"WILL TOO! I'LL THROW YOU IN TO PROVE IT!"

The door to the bar crashed against the wall, making Penny jump in her seat. Clutching her knife tightly, she turned around slowly, half expecting that Garp or some other Marine had arrived to arrest all of them. A tall man with a topknot and beard strolled in, grinning to himself as his cold eyes scanned over all of them.

Penny bristled.

The energy in the air felt wrong. Shanks' presence was more subdued than normal, not cautious, but uncaring. He felt like a wolf staring down an ant, but the man who walked in didn't seem to realize.

"So, you're the ones calling yourselves pirates. First time I've seen pirates…I gotta say…it's a pretty sorry sight."

Penny felt offended. Her dress, with its deep red skirts and gold buttons, the white sleeves peeking out at her wrists and dagger sheathed at her side, was the picture of pirate attire. She had made the outfit herself from some old curtains Mayor Woop Slap threw her way.

Everyone paused, watching to see what the man would do as he walked toward the bar.

"I feel a bit guilty," said Shanks, smiling widely. "Looks like we've finished all the liquor here. Sorry about that."

Penny stared at the bottle of rum by his side, fingers hovering near it. Shanks' hand caught her wrist, preventing her from copying the bottle and offering it. He took it and held it in his hand, offering it to the man. "Why don't you take this one?"

"Let the Captain handle it," murmured Makino. Penny nodded and tucked her hands beneath her things, fingers scratching against the wood.

The bandit stared at Shanks' outstretched hand and then reached for the bottle over her shoulder. Glass shattered, liquid spraying everywhere as the bandit broke it over Shanks' head.

Fights were nothing, but her anger was new and bright at the sight of Shanks being stared down by a mere bandit.

"What do you take me for?!" demanded the bandit. "You can't make a fool out of me. What good is a single bottle."

He was doing a fine job making a fool out of himself without Shanks' help.

Shanks' eyes shot to the broken glass on the floor and then to her and Luffy. He'd protect them if he needed to, Penny knew that from experience, but Shanks also wasn't the type to give in to his anger easily.

The man pulled out a wanted poster, looming over her to speak to Shanks. Higuma, a mountain bandit, worth only 8,000,000 berries. There were children with higher bounties than that on the Grand Line. As he threatened Shanks, who had lost interest in the boastful pride Higuma displayed in murdering people, the top of Penny's head brushed against the poster.

A copy of it floated to the ground unseen by anyone but her as she caught it and rolled it up to place in her pocket.

"Sorry about the mess, Makino," said Shanks sliding from his seat to pick up the glass. Penny kept her back straight, unmoving as Higuma unsheathed her sword.

The moment he swung, Penny ducked down.

Her hand brushed against Shanks' back and copied the space around him as he dropped low. The swinging blade met thin air causing the bandit to lose his balance slightly. Rather than stop, he swung again, sending all the plates and dishes on the counter into the air. Penny was dragged out of her seat before she could even think to act.

Makino's hand went over her mouth, silencing her muffled shouting. "He's just a bully. Don't give him the satisfaction of feeling big," whispered Makino, too low for anyone else but Penny to hear.

They held their breath as the mountain bandits disappeared. Once the door swung shut behind them, Penny and Makino raced around the bar toward Shanks. Other than the alcohol dripping down his body, the Captain was alright. Penny knew he would be as bar fights were a regular occurrence for the crew, but her pride reared its ugly head.

"Are you hurt?" asked Makino kneeling beside him.

Penny reached onto the counter, handing him a wet rag.

"I'm fine," said Shanks' waving Makino's concern off. "No harm done."

He looked up, sending Penny an expectant smile. Penny giggled and held the poster she copied up. The glaring 8,000,000 million on the bottom sent a roar of laughter through everyone. "He looked so stupid bragging over something so small."

"He got you good!"

Shanks pulled off his hat, laughing heartily. Penny folded the paper up, reminding herself to add it to the wall in the kitchen where they kept bounties of all the losers that tried them wherever they went.

"YOU THINK IT'S FUNNY!" roared Luffy. "THEY MIGHT HAVE OUTNUMBERED YOU AND MAYBE THEY LOOKED TOUGH, BUT WHAT KIND OF MAN LETS HIMSELF BE TREATED LIKE THAT AND THEN LAUGHS ABOUT IT? YOU'RE A DISGRACE TO ALL PIRATES!"

"Like you'd know," snapped Penny. "You think stabbing yourself in the face is tough."

"DON'T TALK TO ME EITHER! YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT STAND AROUND AND WATCH!"

Shanks exhaled slowly and leaned against the bar. Penny bit the inside of her cheek, contemplating whether it was worth it or not to teach Luffy a lesson about messing with her.

"When you grow up, you'll understand." Shanks pressed his hat back onto his head, folding his legs into his lap. "He just spilled a drink on me. Needless killing doesn't make a man."

Luffy stared at Shanks for a long moment and then turned around. Shanks grabbed his wrist, "Where are you going?"

"To find a real role model!"

Luffy's arm stretched and continued to stretch as he walked toward the door. A weak sound left Penny's throat as Lucky stared and stood to his feet abruptly, heading toward the small treasure chest he had brought with him.

She stepped back, not mindful of the glass on the floor, and opened her mouth to say something, anything to stop what was happening, but it was already done. A foul taste flooded her mouth, the choking memory of the fruit in her mouth, juices smeared all over her face and a shadow watching her from the distance flashed across her mind.

"What's wrong with me?!" screamed Luffy over the sound of the crew and Shanks freaking out.

Penny wobbled on her feet and promptly passed out.

It was back again. She could feel the fangs of the snake sinking into her skin again, something alive and thriving moving from it to her, determined to steal her life away as Penny had accidentally done to it.

Cool hands passed over her hair whenever she turned. Her sleep was full of whispered words and the odd feeling of something wrapped around her torso.

Get better.

Get better and go with them.

Penny willed it into being. The thought circled her head with the same force as an ocean tide. There was too much to see for her to die.

Shanks' was gone again by the time she woke and Luffy was now a rubber boy.

"He went to get you medicine," said Luffy, chewing on a piece of chicken. He looked more dog than human with his scruffy hair and grease on his face. "He'll be back soon. Wanna go play?"

"Later."

"Okay. Wanna see what I can do now?"

Penny nodded, half hanging off the bed as she kicked off the ten million blankets. The cool air made her shiver, but she was sweaty and too hot otherwise. Luffy's arms knotted together, stretching toward the ceiling.

Penny had never seen another Devil Fruit in action before. Hers was too subtle, too useless for her to rely on much, but Luffy's was wonderful. Versatile and literally elastic, her mind ran through a thousand scenarios that he could use it for on a ship.

"I was right about you not learning to swim."

Penny expected his laughter, but Luffy turned strangely silent. He turned around abruptly, crossing his arms over his chest, and stared at the wall. Penny slid off the bed, sitting on the ground next to him. Her arm went around his shoulder, pressing him to her side.

"Do you regret eating it?" she asked.

Luffy bunched up his fists and shook his head. "No!"

"I do."

"That's why you're on Shanks' ship. Real men know to face life with no regrets and to stand up for themselves."

"Stupid," snapped Penny, pulling Luffy's cheek and letting it snap back. "If he fought those guys, what would it have achieved but messing up Makino's bar and getting people hurt?"

Luffy mumbled something under his breath.

"And for the record, I regret eating mine because yours is ten times cooler! All I do is copy things—you get to be all stretchy and fun!"

His mood changed instantly. "YOU MEAN IT?!"

Penny nodded, a bit more enthusiastically than she meant to.

Luffy, not paying much attention to the fact that she was still very ill, tackled her to the ground.

"Mayor-san, don't you have a school here?" asked Penny, sitting outside of Makino's bar. It had taken a couple of days for her fever to break, but it finally had. Luffy was out haggling fish from the fishmonger for dinner, so Penny had to find her way to amuse herself.

"Otherside of the mountain. That brat's father dropped him off years ago, so we've taught him what he needs to know. Now, don't go telling people we're some backcountry Hicksville—"

"But aren't you?"

Mayor Woop Slap's jaw unhinged, nearly smacking into his cane. "Why you little—"

"I gotta go. I think I'll visit the tailor today."

His grumbling followed her down the street. Penny smiled to herself, looking at the mountain in the distance with a curious eye. It didn't seem very tall, and she was feeling a bit more energetic. Stupid decisions were like breathing, so Penny began her ascent the moment she got to the bottom of the mountain.

About mid-way up, she was practically dying. Legs and arms shaking, her lungs burned as she took careful steps. Maybe mountain climbing while ill was a horrible idea.

Flopping down on the ground, Penny stared up at the sky, watching the clouds roll by. She'd nap and then go out looking for the school once more.

A chill went down her spine. Had hanging out with Luffy made her lose all common sense? Or was this a brief moment of land-induced insanity that would disappear once she was back at sea?

Drifting off into a dreamless sleep, Penny put the thoughts to the side, deciding to worry about it later.

An hour into her nap, something stumbled over her body jerking her awake.

Hands prodded at her skin, "Hey, are you dead?"

What a stupid question. If she was dead, then she wouldn't be breathing. Actually, if she was dead, she wouldn't be in as much pain as she was.

A boy with dark curly hair and freckles stood over her, a sharp stick in his hand. Penny frowned. "Are you going to hit me with that?"

"If I have to," he said blandly and then poked her with it. "Go back to where you came from. People like you shouldn't be up here."

"Do you mean pirates or girls? If it's the latter, I can assure you that I'll beat you black and blue before you can even move."

"You're a pirate?!" A thread of hatred ran through his voice. "I bet you're one of those idiots that want to be like that bastard."

"Which one? There are lots of them."

"Get out of here before I kill you."

"Your kinda cute, sobakasu-kun. Can you help me up, please?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"I wasn't feeling great, so I took a nap."

The boy looked at her like he agreed with the sentiment. His expressive eyebrows bunched together and then he huffed loudly. "Just get lost. I don't know how you know about me, but if the old man finds out, you'll end up in—"

Penny stood up, dusted her skirts off, and turned down the mountainside while the boy finished talking to himself.

"I'm Penny, by the way! It was nice meeting you," she called over her shoulder, throwing a wave for good measure. She didn't need the weirdo to follow her down.

When she made it back to the village, a small commotion was happening in the center of town. Penny climbed onto the roof of the local tailor and snuck between the shops and houses until she was on the roof of Makino's bar.

The mountain bandit that had attacked Shanks had his foot pressed against Luffy's face, gloating that he would sell Luffy to a circus for being a freak. She pulled one of the stones she found on the mountain from her pocket.

Penny tossed the stone up and down in her hand. One multiplied into two into four. She threw it quick and sharp, hitting one of the bandits in the face. "It's not very nice to sell people, even if Luffy is a bit weird."

Luffy struggled harder under the bandit's foot, looking up at her with a hopeful expression.

"This isn't your fight, girl. Stay out of it."

"No, thanks!" Penny leaned over the edge of the roof. "I don't like you guys at all and the only person who gets to send Luffy to a circus is me."

One of the bandits swooped up, trying to catch her. Penny kicked him in the face and slid down his back to land on the ground. She threw another rock at one of the other bandits and kicked his leg out from under him. Ducking beneath his falling body, she grabbed Luffy's hand. "You can thank me later, so just run!"

Higuma's hand latched onto Luffy's cheek and pull hard, stretching the skin as Penny tried to hold on tight. One of his minions crept up behind her and pressed a knife against her throat. Penny shoved her head back, only to be caught against the blade. A sharp, billowing pain bloomed across her neck.

"LET LUFFY GO!"

"I'LL FIGHT THEM OFF!"

"Now, now, we were just enjoying a drink and talking. Two brats like you shouldn't interfere."

"APOLOGIZE TO MAKINO, RIGHT NOW!"

Penny lowered her head, pinching her thigh until tears slid down her eyes. "P-please," she whimpered, adding a stutter to her voice. "Luffy's not even worth anything. He's just rubber, so let him go. I-I'll get you all the money you want."

"PENNY, SHUT UP! SHUT UP OR I'LL TOSS YOU INTO THE OCEAN!"

"How are you going to do that?" asked Higuma, twisting his foot against Luffy's face. Penny never hated anyone more.

"I ate a devil fruit too. A better one than he did."

"Go on."

"The Kopi Kopi no Mi. I can make you all the treasure in the world. It's easy, so let Luffy go."

Higuma threw his head back and laughed coldly. Penny gave a nervous smile and then the blade was gone from her neck and pressed into her hands. "Show us and we'll talk."

"SHE'S LYING!" shouted Luffy desperately. "YOU'RE ALL COWARDS! IF YOU WERE STRONG YOU WOULDN'T PICK ON PEOPLE WEAKER THAN—"

"Luffy, stop it," said Penny harshly. Her heart trembled inside her chest, aching at the tone she used. "You're just a little kid. What would you know about being strong?"

Luffy's face turned furious. "I'M GOING TO BE KING OF THE PIRATES!"

All the bandits laughed, and the sound was grating. Penny, for the first time, wanted someone to die. She didn't put much weight in dreams unless they were realistic and within reach, but there wasn't a doubt in her mind that Luffy would achieve his.

She tilted her chin up, glaring at the bandits with cold eyes. "What are you laughing at? You think being King of the Pirates is funny? Have you ever been to the Grand Line, you pathetic, spineless piece of—"

Higuma's hand came down quick and fast, throwing her down onto the ground as he had done to Luffy moments before. Her face burned from her temple to her chin where he had struck her, the taste of iron in her mouth, but it was nothing compared to the constant pain she lived with from her illness. One of his bandits wrapped his hand around her hair, holding her in place.

Breathing out harshly, she met Luffy's gaze, hoping he saw that she only said what she did, because she wanted to spare him from any further pain. Luffy's answering smile was infused with warmth.

Despite the situation they were in, Penny found herself smiling back.

They wouldn't die today, nor any other day, vowed Penny.

"THEY'RE CHILDREN!" shouted Makino. "LEAVE THEM ALONE!"

"I was wondering why no one greeted us at the harbor." Penny's head jerked toward Shanks' voice, seeing him standing tall behind Makino and Mayor Woop Slap. A dark look crossed his face, his hand fell to his sword and remained there unmoving.

"Luffy!" grinned Shanks, hoping to reassure them. "I thought your punch was as powerful as a pistol!"

"NOT NOW!" he shouted behind clenched teeth.

Shanks smiled, gaze drifting toward her bright pink cheek and the trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth.

"You pirates are still here?" asked Higuma, gazing at Shanks with derision. "Taking a break from your cleaning duties?"

Shanks stepped toward them, not paying attention to the bandits.

"I don't know what you want, but you better back off before someone gets hurt. Come any closer and we'll kill you cowards…" threatened Higuma.

Shanks continued walking, his easy smile never leaving his face.

Click.

A gun cocked, rising to rest against Shanks' temple. Penny inhaled sharply as Luffy struggled even more beneath Higuma's boot. Her fingers stretched against the ground, ready to act at a moment's notice.

"Don't come any closer or I'll blow your brains out!" The bandit holding the gun laughed, looking greatly amused by Shanks' predicament. The other bandits joined in.

"You're putting your life on the line by pointing that at me."

The bandit's laughter cut off, and the gun dug into Shanks' skin. "Huh? What are you talking about?!"

A cold look entered Shanks' eyes, revealing his anger for the first time. "I'm saying it's not safe to point guns."

The crack of a gunshot filled the air.

The man fell over dead.

Penny clapped a hand over her mouth as Lucky put down his smoking gun. The grip of the bandit holding her tightened around her hair and yanked her back as Shanks' advanced. Shouts filled the air calling attention to the unfairness of Lucky's shot.

Beckman's calm voice washed over everyone. "Quit whining. You're not dealing with saints!"

"We're pirates," said Shanks proudly. "And we don't play by the rules."

"This was none of your business," shouted the bandit holding her. Penny scratched at his wrist as he pulled at the roots of her hair. Shanks' jaw clenched.

"Listen up," said Shanks, eyes hidden beneath the brim of his hat. "You can pour drinks on me, you can throw food on me, you can even spit on me. I'll just laugh that stuff off but…good reason or not, nobody hurts a friend of mine!"

Higuma threw his head back and laughed. The sound was grating. Penny struggled in the man's grip.

"Good speech, very intimidating!" Higuma's foot ground against Luffy's face. "You pirates spend your time floating around in your little ships and think you can stand up to mountain bandits? Don't make me laugh!" He looked at his men and jerked his head. "Kill them!"

Swords slid out of their sheaths as the men charged forward recklessly. Penny had been with the Red Hair Pirates long enough to see the destruction that followed them, but she had never wanted to see it in Foosha Village.

Beckman's gaze burned into the side of her face, taking in her wide eyes. "Cap'n…I'll take care of this."

He swooped in, putting his cigarette out in the first man's eyeball. The man dropped to the ground, screaming. Benn Beckman was one of their best fighters. Rumors followed them all over the Grand Line and it was a well-known fact that Beckman was not only a great fighter but the smartest of them. A dangerous combination that mere bandits couldn't stand up to.

He made quick work of the advancing fighters, taking them down with an ease that hinted at boredom.

Beckman paused when he was done and then nodded at her.

Penny flipped around, digging her fingers into the man's arm, and copied her pain over to him, tenfold. The man screamed and dropped her quickly. She kicked his knee out and then kicked him again between his legs for good measure. "If you ever come near me again, I'll send you to the bottom of the ocean," threatened Penny hotly.

She stepped toward Luffy as Beckman raised his rifle pointing it at Higuma. "If you wanna fight us, you'd better bring a battleship," warned Beckman.

"Let Luffy go," ordered Penny.

"T-the…brat's the one who started it!"

"Doesn't matter," said Shanks' voice hard. "There's a price on your head, isn't there?"

Smoke filled the air, clogging her throat and blocking everything from sight. A hand on her shoulder pulled her back, holding her tight as the smoke cleared. Penny coughed, rubbing her eyes.

"That doesn't look good," said Beckman, kneeling to inspect her face.

Penny nodded, eyes skimming everyone as she realized Luffy was missing.

"OH NO!" screamed Shanks, clutching his head. "I LOST LUFFY!"

Penny sighed.

"There was a boy here!"

Ace sat in the tree, watching Penny stomp around with the man she was with. He'd never met anyone with hair that smelled like flowers or eyes like the moon. She was tall for a girl, with ears that stuck out slightly but lent her an impish, mystical air.

Too bad she was a pirate—if she had been wealthy, he and Sabo could've robbed her.

The man she was with had a thick scar running down his face. "There's no trace of footsteps around here."

"Maybe he's got a Devil Fruit?"

"He would've used it if he did. I'll go a bit higher and see if there are any trails to follow. Stay here."

Penny nodded, finding a rock to sit on while the man wandered off. She hummed to herself for a few minutes and then got up, rummaging around the wildflowers, talking to herself…or maybe to them.

"I thought I told you to go away," called out Ace, startling Penny. She opened and closed her mouth like a fish. "Don't bring pirates up here either."

Penny shook her head. "I'm looking for my…well, he's my friend, I guess. He's a little kid, black hair, really loud. A bandit kidnapped him."

"He's probably dead."

Her face turned red and fury lit her eyes. "Take that back!"

"Bandits kidnap people all the time. They don't usually last long after that."

A fist flew into his face, cutting his mouth against his cheek and sending him straight to the ground. The girl shook her hand out, looking ready to cry. "I'm not apologizing since you brought that on yourself by saying something stupid. Luffy's obviously not here, so I'll take my leave."

Ace wiped at his mouth and then tackled the girl to the ground. She dodged his first punch and then blocked the next. "I'm going to teach you a lesso—"

A hand pulled at his collar, lifting him until he was face to face with the tall man smoking a cigarette. "Let it go, lad."

"It's fine," said Penny, resting on the ground. "We're on sobakasu-kun's territory anyway. No sign of Luffy?"

"No—let's head back and gather with the others."

Ace watched them leave, feeling slightly curious about the pirates, but too stubborn to go seek them out himself. The last thing he wanted was to come in contact with some Roger-loving idiot and have to hear about how great his deadbeat dad was.

Shanks had lost an arm. Penny sat in the med office, watching with wide, terrified eyes as everyone worked to get the stump properly dressed. Her fingers were wrapped around the edge of Shanks' cape, trembling as she held in her worried cries.

"I think you could probably beat me now," joked Shanks looking more at ease than anyone else.

Penny burst into tears, making Shanks panic to calm her down.

"Why are you crying?" Penny picked up a shell and then tossed it aside a moment later. Luffy dragged his arm across his eyes while he forced the snot back into his nose.

"I'm not crying! Pirates don't cry."

"Shanks cries."

Stars shone in Luffy's eyes. "He does?"

"Yeah, all the time. He's a big baby like you," Penny ruffled Luffy's hair lightly. "He's alright. He's resting now and he'll be drinking and laughing again in no time." Pausing, she watched Luffy's face carefully. "Do you still want to be a pirate, Luffy?"

Luffy crossed his legs into his lap, rocking back and forth with a goofy smile. "More than ever. I'll meet so many people and see so many things."

"And you'll be the freest person in all the oceans."

The day they left, Penny locked herself into her room to avoid saying goodbye and embarrassing herself by crying. One day, when she was a great pirate, she'd come back and say thank you to everyone for taking care of her, but until then, Penny decided she would rather keep the emotions at bay.

Now that they were far enough from the village, Penny ventured out onto the deck, climbing on the bow, and sat watching as they pulled out to sea.

"PENNY!" Luffy ran to the edge of the dock, screaming at the top of his lungs as he waved Shanks' hat. "I'LL COME FIND YOU!"

Wrinkling her nose, she inhaled sharply to keep her tears at bay. "DON'T BOTHER!"

"I'M GOING TO BE…."

Penny's eyes widened and she threw her head back and laughed in delight. "ALRIGHT THEN! I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU IN THE GRAND LINE!"

"YOU'D BETTER BE!" His voice was lost to the wind, but Penny spotted him standing there for a long while afterward. When Foosha Village was a speck in the distance, she climbed back down onto the deck, skipping up the stairs toward the helm.

A couple of hours after Penny and the Red Hair Pirates disappeared, Mayor Woop Slap and the residents of Foosha Village returned to find a small red bag hanging from their doors. Inside were a glittering array of gold coins.

Seeing the same bag hanging from his door, Luffy opened it eagerly, hoping that Penny had left him behind something fantastic like a treasure map, but inside was a gold ring with a single red gem in the middle. It was too big to fit on anywhere but his thumb and a bit girly.

Remembering Penny telling him once that fake gold wouldn't have any dents, Luffy raised it to his mouth and bit into the metal as hard as he could. A sharp pain resonated in his mouth as his loose tooth cracked against the metal.

"OWWWWWWW!"

He could hear Penny's laughter echo somewhere.

END CHAPTER