Chapter 6: A Buggy Showdown.
Orange Town, Drinker's Pub.
...
"Argh! So you came back, Straw Hat!" Buggy grunts as his separated hand try to pull out from Luffy's grasp before the young pirate released him. "You dare to interrupt my little show by waltzing in!?"
Luffy dropped the mayor to the floor and the old man coughed for air. Elt rushed in to help him get back to his feet.
"Old man, are you alright!?"
"I-I'm fine...! You brats... what are you doing here!? Can't you see you're outsiders!?" Broodle protested while grabbing his spear. "This is my fight! As the mayor of this town, I need to protect it!"
"But Mr Broodle, you can't do it all by yourself!" Wilmarina complained in worry. "That guy is a Devil Fruit User! There's no way you're going up against him!"
"Sh-She's right! Captain Buggy is no ordinary human!" Elt agrees, pleasing him with a firm look. "That's why we're here to help you!"
"Even if it costs my life... I don't care whenever they laugh at my pitiful attempts!" Broodle then pushed through Elt, making his way towards the Buggy Pirates. "I do not need your meddling!"
Once Broodle pushed through, Luffy grabbed Broodle the back of his head and smashed his face into a nearby wall. Nami was shocked, and so were Wilmarina and Elt. Zoro remained silent but raised his gaze in surprise while the Buggy Pirates went dumbstruck by the turn of strange events. Mayor Broodle slid down and lay unconscious, while Luffy patted off the dust from his palms.
The Strawhat smiled in relief. "Good! Now we can do our job easier."
"LUFFY! WHAT IN THE HEAVENS WERE YOU DOING!?" Wilmarina raised her voice. "YOU JUST KNOCKED HIM OUT!"
"THAT WASN'T NECESSARY!" Elt agreed and angrily pointed his finger at Luffy while sharing the same expression as Wilmarina. "HE WAS JUST AN OLD MAN!"
"Well, he's in our way," Luffy replied casually. "So I have to knock him out to be sure he's safe."
Wilmarina and Elt then yelled in unison. "YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ANOTHER OPTION, YOU DUMBASS!"
"To be fair, I think this is the best way." Zoro defended Luffy while crossing his arms and sighed, causing Wilmarina and Elt to freeze in disbelief. "As long as he's knocked out. Then he should be fine. We don't want him to plan on dying, anyway."
"Ugh... You guys are just.. full of weirdos." Nami sighed with a facepalm.
"Wait a minute..." Elt raised his concern and turn to Wilmarina. "Did you just cuss a word... in the most vulgar way possible?"
"Yeah... thanks to this buffoon here. I'm no longer a Noble Hero you're used to imagining." Wilmarina groaned in admittance with a nod while pointing a thumb towards Luffy, who was picking his nose. "Now I can say whatever the shit I want if this moron would do something stupid... hm?"
Then she turns around with a suspicious glance, now seeing the Straw Hat boy making his usual habit. "... WILL YOU STOP PICKING YOUR NOSE!?"
"Ah-... I-I see." Elt felt a nervous sweat running down his face. "Hah~... What will the Priests think if we ever come back home...?"
Luffy then stepped into the open ground and came face to face with the Captain of the Buggy Pirates, who looks down at Luffy in suspicion. The young pirate smiled as he was about to call out an insult that the Buggy Pirates and anyone else who doesn't want to hear.
"Alright... here we go," Luffy said as he breathes in and Elt felt a bad vibe going on. "YOUR NOSE... IS BIG! STUPID AND RED!"
The Buggy Pirates went slacked-jawed and Nami trembled in fear, knowing that insulting a pirate captain would mean a serious offence.
"Y-You shouldn't have said that!" Nami cried out.
"You damn brat... dare to call my nose like that!?" Buggy felt his veins popping in anger. "Get ready to fire the Buggy Ball! Destroy them!"
The pirates on top of the Drinker's Pub moved the cannon in their direction and aimed steadily for the straw hat boy. Everyone scattered for cover as Wilmarina and Nami carried Broodle's unconscious body away before Elt stopped and turned around to Luffy.
"Luffy! RUN!"
"Now die flashily, straw hat!" Buggy mocked. "Take the taste of our Special Buggy Ball that will send you into the pits of hell!"
Luffy stood before the pirates fired the Special Buggy Cannonball, and then he smirks at the incoming projectile.
"Gum-Gum Balloon!"
The straw hat boy bit his thumb and inhaled an amount of air, causing his body to inflate until Special Buggy Ball dived through, but Luffy's rubber abilities successfully stopped the large projectile and bounced back. The Buggy Pirates screamed in fear after they had witnessed what had just happened before the cannonball flies straight to the rooftops.
*BOOOM~!*
Thus, blasting the top floor into smithereens and the building completely collapsed from the blast.
"Huh...? You can do that as well!?" Elt said out loud, slacked jawed towards. Luffy. "Just how many abilities do you have in store!?"
"I dunno, I just came up with something!" Luffy spoke with an ecstatic grin. "Now there are even fewer enemies that we can deal with!"
"C-Captain Buggy! It's that guy!"
Luffy and Elt turn their attention around towards a pair of silhouettes behind a cloud of smoke and dust. Once it clears off, Buggy stood unscathed while holding up a pair of his crewmates, whom he used as meat shields.
"Now I see how you defeated Mohji and deflected our cannonball." Buggy growled while dropping the pirates into the ground. "You're a Devil Fruit User!"
"Yup, I ate a Gum-Gum Fruit!" Luffy said merrily while stretching out his chin. "Which means I'm a Rubber Man!"
"Every time I see your friend doing like that gives me the creeps!" Nami said as her shoulders shuddered.
"Well, you're right on that." Wilmarina nods while brandishing Orufoyu. "But let's not dawdle around. We still have an enemy to deal with!"
"Cabaji! Josie! Get your asses here!" Buggy called out in rage and the body of a large creature emerged from the rubble. Cabaji held Richie with his one hand and Josie emerged as well while rubbing her head and groaning in pain. "You two, deal with them! Those brats and that one with the straw hat!"
"So that must be the guy who defeated Mohji," Josie growled in irritation. "Who else knew we got a Devil Fruit User to deal with?"
"Hey Mohji... here's your cat." Cabaji then tossed Richie to the ground, much to the tamer's dismay.
"AH! Richie~!" Mohji rushed over to Richie in worry. "Richie~! Are you okay~!? Speak to me!"
The giant lion growled with a few grunts while catching breaths and Mohji yelled some complaints towards Cabaji. Josie didn't bother with the tamers' lament and brandished her knives, licking her lips seductively towards the Straw Hat crew.
"Heh... let's see how you can fare against us, Straw Hat!" Josie smiled wickedly.
Wilmarina gripped her weapon tight to see their new opponent isn't what she expected to see. A voluptuous violet-haired woman with werecat features, and it gave the hero a hint that this female pirate is a monster girl.
"Y-You're a mamono!" Elt speaks up in shock. "They exist in this world as well!?"
"Mamono...? I don't know a single word from what you kids were talking about." Josie responds as she furrowed her brows, unbothered. "But talks aside. I'm going to rip your faces apart!"
"Everyone! Get ready!" Elt warned as he pulled out his sword from his back and promptly took a defensive stance.
Josie sprints towards Wilmarina at lightning speed, and the heroine caught a glimpse. She swung her sword and blocked the pirate's twin daggers until Josie kicked Wilmarina across the face, sending her across the ground. Elt charged in to assist Wilmarina, but a single spinner interrupts him and another one knocked his face off. The young soldier looks up and saw Cabaji riding on a single wheel and swung his blade.
Elt countered a few swings until the acrobat flips up and smacked the soldier back in a few steps.
Cabaji then pushed the pedals at bringing speed and brought up his sword. "DIE BRAT!"
*CLANG~!*
...
"Oi, Elt. Don't get caught up in his swing." Elt looks up and saw Zoro holding against Cabaji. "You want to find your way home without dying... am I right!?"
"Don't get cocky, Zoro! I had him!" Cabaji growled and flips back in a fair distance. "You dare to interrupt me from killing my prey? How about taking a taste of my spinners!"
Elt and Zoro caught a swarm of spinning tops coming forth. Elt dodged and sliced some of the deadly tops while Zoro blocked them off until he received a blade through his nasty wound, worsening his condition.
"Zoro!" Elt cried out and charged forth while holding his sword tight. "You bastard!"
He let out a horizontal swing against Cabaji, yet the acrobat avoid his attack and spins his unicycle, sending a kick powerful kick against his chest. Elt felt the damaging impact through his armour but the force sends him flying to the other side of the road.
"D-Damit...!" Elt grunts while trying to stand up.
"Hehehe~! You're damn brave to put your life on the line. I appreciated that." Cabaji chuckled. "Too bad that you're going to die here!"
Elt raised his sword and blocked Cabaji's sword until he noticed another blade ejected from the tip of the acrobat's shoe, then swing it up from below. Elt reeled his head back to avoid the deadly blow and blocked the overhead swing. However, Cabaji spins his heel and kicked Elt once more in the groin. The young soldier grits his teeth and is forced to maintain balance while standing as his feet skid the cobblestone ground for a few meters.
The acrobat raised his brow in amusement to see him standing and the soldier of Lescatie takes a few breaths.
"Hohoho~! Now, this is amusing to see~!" Cabaji smirked. "You truly get a hang of yourself to what it's like to be in a serious battle."
Elt furrowed his brows and takes a firm stance, clenching his sword tight. "Come and get me, you bastard!"
"With pleasure!" The acrobat licked his lips and pushed the paddle of his unicycle, raising his dagger like a lance. "And now... YOU DIE!"
*CLANG~!*
"Wh-What!?"
"Zoro!?"
Elt was shocked to see Zoro standing up against and blocking the acrobat's attack with his sword. The former bounty hunter then swings his other sword and the Cabaji jumps back.
"You again!?" Cabaji growled, growing frustrated. "How are you still standing with that wound of yours!?"
"I lived with it, and surviving that... is what it means to be a strong swordsman." Zoro grinned and turns his glance around to Elt. "Hey kid, you alright? You're truly lucky that your head hasn't been chopped."
"Ah... Y-yeah! I'm... I'm alright!" Elt nodded, still surprised to see Zoro standing despite his condition. He could tell that the former bounty hunter has an extremely durable body to take more lethal blows than an ordinary human could withstand. Then he stuttered. "Z-Zoro! I-... I want to become strong like you!"
"Huh?... You want me to teach you?" Zoro raised his brow in question without batting an eye. "Didn't know I got an admirer."
"Despite Luffy choosing me as the Vice-Captain of the Crew... I want to be strong!" Elt said it out loud, raising his fist without hesitation in his voice. "My dream is to become the Strongest Knight than anyone who could image and I need someone... someone who can teach me to reach beyond that limit!"
"I see... If that's what you want..." Zoro joins his sword together, facing Cabaji with a glaring look. "Then be my guest. No need to be afraid to join... but we still have to deal with the bastard first!"
...
"Ice Spear!"
Wilmarina materialised ice from thin air with her magic and thrusts forth against the werecat. Josie reeled back in surprise by her unusual powers which came out of nowhere and dodged the attack to the left. The buggy pirate sprang into the building and sprinted into wall-run while throwing a pair of daggers at the heroine. Wilmarina blocked them until she was pushed back by Josie's unrelenting assault with a kick through the chest and then flips back in a distance.
"I thought that Straw Hat boy was the only guy in your group to be a Devil Fruit user." Josie chuckled in amusement. "I didn't know there was another one."
"Quit with your talking, monster!" Wilmarina furrowed her brows. "I'm going to end you!"
"Me? A monster? Tsk, what a joke you're spouting." The werecat laughed while twirling her blades. "I've heard there are more monstrous pirates out there who can take on the Marines."
"I do not mean pirates in general." The heroine growled. "What I meant is about the existence of your monster hereditary!"
"My... monster hereditary?... What the hell are you talking about?" Josie raised her brow in confusion. "Look, I don't have time to talk some nonsense, you puffball. Either you're stupid for playing pirates or just being that stupid to ask me for who I am... I'm just a strange person born with cat features, get it?"
"But you are a monster! A werecat!" Wilmarina pointed out. "I know those features too well!"
"Were... cat?... Ugh! Alright then, enough of this!" Josie then bends her knees to prepare for her next assault. "I'm going to cut off your tongue once I'm done with you!"
Within a flash, Wilmarina caught a glimpse of her opponent's blade and reeled her head back in a nick of time, almost having her neck sliced. Josie drew her daggers in swift blurs, dancing with her blades while Wilmarina blocked her attacks and didn't have time to cast her spell due to her combos of relentless assault. One of Josie's blades almost caught her neck using a thrust and Wilmarina countered with a swing of her sword.
"May the Blessings of the Gods heed my voice..."
Josie noticed something that sent chills through her skin and flips back. Then Wilmarina casts her own spell and swung Orufoyu downwards, sending a trail of ice towards her opponent.
"ICE TRAIL!"
Josie saw the incoming attack and jumps away to the left, almost getting caught by Wilmarina's Ice Magic and freezing the walls of a nearby building. The werecat growled after witnessing the display of her power as if she were jealous.
"Tsk! Putting up a nice show, huh." Josie spat in a cold tone and expressed her malicious smile. "Heh, Too bad. I can tell you're inexperienced. You could've done better than that ice sculpture you've made!"
'Damnit! She's fast and her reactions are quick!' Wilmarina held her ground firm, her glare focusing on her opponent. 'There must be something to distract her...!'
"Go! Go Wilmarina! You can do it!" Wilmarina perked her left ear and turn her glance to Luffy, who was cheering up for her. "Go kick her butt! Tell that cat woman who's the boss!"
At this moment, Wilmarina couldn't help but growl frustratingly, directing to the Straw Hat's uncooperative behaviour.
"LUFFY! WHY ARE YOU STANDING THERE!?" Wilmarina screamed out in anger. "Can't you see that we're getting our butts kicked!?"
"Heh~? I thought you were proving yourself." Luffy shrugged off his shoulders and then smiled, giving her a thumbs up. "But at least I'm giving you my support! You can do it! Hehehe~!"
Wilmarina clenched her teeth, raising her fist in anger. "Y-You... you d-damn buffoon! I'll-"
"Don't talk while your opponent is around!" Josie sprints forth, interrupting her speech while bringing her blades down. "Else I'm going to send you into the gallows, you puffball-!"
"I'M HAVING A SPEECH HERE YOU DAMN CAT!"
Without warning, Wilmarina unleashed the deadly payload of her magic, bringing her sword to overflow with mana to the point where it cannot maintain its limits. Josie saw a powerful blast had weaved onto her and was sent flying towards Cabaji, Zoro and Elt.
...
...
"... Hm? Did the wind suddenly get cold?" Zoro asked himself in question as he felt the surrounding atmosphere drop to freezing conditions until he spun around to the source.
Cabaji and Elt heard an angry scream coming from Wilmarina and noticed Josie crying out in terror as a powerful blast of wind washed over them. The three combatants shrieked in terror until they were sent flying and come crashing down against a nearby building, collapsing it into ruins. Nami gasped at the sheer destruction and Luffy smiled even wider to see the full extent of her powers.
"E-Eh!? W-Wilmarina can do that!?"
"WHOA~! THAT WAS SO COOL~!"
Buggy slacked his jaws in disbelief while the rest of the Buggy Pirates, who had just got woken up to see the events... pretended to be unconscious after witnessing the display of her powers.
"The power of that girl is scary!"
"Who knew there's another devil fruit user!?"
"Psst! If you don't want to get killed, pretend that you're knocked out!"
After the impact, Elt and Zoro groaned while standing up from the rubble and noticed Cabaji and the Pirate Werecat, Josie, were knocked out cold and lying in pain with swirls in their eyes. Zoro turns around to see Wilmarina giving off a wave of rage and exhaled.
"Damnit... that girl needs control over her powers." He said irritatingly while rubbing the back of his head. "She'll end up knocking us down with friendly fire."
"Y-Yeah...! I didn't think she went overboard like that." Elt agreed with a nervous nod.
"That was AWESOME, WILLY!" Luffy cheered while jumping with fists raised. "I knew you can do it-"
*BONK~!*
"Oww~!"
"Grr!... You better support us next time... for real, Luffy." Wilmarina spoke bitterly while raising her fist and cracking her knuckles. "You're our captain and help us when we're in trouble... you get me?"
Luffy rubs the bruise on the top of his head and brushed off the pain with a smile. "Oh, Okie-Doki~!"
"Haaah~!? That's not fair! She's a total cheat!" Wilmarina, Elt, Luffy and Zoro turned their attention around to see Buggy throwing a fit towards the Straw Hats. "It's not fair that you have two devil fruit users on your side and I'm the only one here!"
Then Buggy looks up at the Straw Hat. "Gyeh! And seeing that damn hat makes my blood boil even further!"
"Oi! This hat is my treasure!" Luffy then expressed his serious glare at the Captain of the Buggy Pirates, defending his hat. "Shanks gave it to me and I promise him to return it once I become pirate king!"
"Eh!?... Shanks gave you that hat!?" Buggy then growled after hearing his name. "So that was his hat all along!?"
"Huh? You knew Shanks!?" Luffy then expressed his friendly smile. "So you were his friend!?"
"Him!? Friends!? No! I had enough of that screwhead!" Buggy yelled in complaints and Luffy turned down his smile to a serious look. "I've parted ways from that bastard because it was his fault that I was forced to eat a devil fruit I was about to sell and deprived me of my ability to swim!"
"Wait... Devil Fruit Users can't swim?" Wilmarina raised her brows in question. "How does that make any sense!?"
"I dunno. Since I'm a Devil Fruit user, I can't swim either." Luffy explained as he tilts his head in deep thought and then crossed his arms. "I remember what Shanks told me after eating that Gum-Gum Fruit. While anyone can get powers by eating it, it strips off the ability to swim and I'll just drown completely."
"So... that means their weakness is just water!?" Elt spoke up in realisation.
"Actually, I don't get weakened by rain or showers," Luffy said while scratching the back of his head. "I'm gonna have a hard time if we're fighting nearby a large pool."
"Huh... probably it makes sense that should have a drawback for having powers. Now we know what their weakness is!" Wilmarina smiled confidently and then turned her glance to Buggy in worry. "But the problem is... how can we beat this guy?"
"Gyeheh!? You brats are going to gang up on me!?" Buggy prepared his daggers and then separates his body parts, swirling in all directions. "Don't mess with me! I'm going to show you how I can flashily kill you all!"
...
Drinker's Pub Ruins, Basement.
...
"So this is where they hid the chart of the Grand Line."
Nami had sneaked away from the battle between the Straw Hats and the Buggy Pirates without them noticing a thing. After Wilmarina displayed her power by being angry at Luffy, she saw the chance that the thief can get away with it. Nami pulls up her staff and breaks the lock into pieces before entering the room.
"This must be it!"
Nami smiled while opening the chest. But her moment of relief came to an abrupt once she heard someone waking up in a drunken mood. She spotted a pirate walking around in a disorderly manner with a bottle of alcohol in his hands.
"W-Whu~? Who are y-you~?" The drunken pirate slurred. "I've never seen y-you around-AGH!"
The thief didn't hesitate to hear his ramblings and knocked him out cold. Nami quickly grabbed the chart, but something stopped her from fleeing away with what she had. Instead, she looks around and saw a pile of gold and jewellery lying around the corner.
"Hmm~! Maybe~... I'll take whatever they had as a bonus~!"
...
Orange Town, Town Square.
...
"Gyahahaha~! There's no way you'll beat with me all your weapons!"
Buggy laughed like a madman as his arms and limbs were flying around, giving the Straw Hats some difficulty. Luffy shot out his arms and Buggy separates himself in half and re-merging himself in front of the straw hat boy. Luffy ducked, avoiding his floating hands with daggers.
"Luffy! Hang on!"
Elt charged in and swung his sword overhead. But the Captain of the Buggy spits himself in half and sends a dagger towards Elt. The young warrior blocked his attack and batted it away.
Wilmarina thrusts her magic sword, and Buggy dissipates his body once more. "Damnit! There's no end to this guy!"
Zoro jumped into the air and raised his swords in his attempt his attempts to slice off the Pirate Captain. Buggy laughed at his pitiful attempt once he separates himself from his lower body from the former bounty hunter's attacks.
"Gyahaha~! Can't you see your blades won't work on me~!?" Buggy crossed his arms with a smile on his face, showing off his knives. "I'm invincible and anybody who attempts to flee won't survive!... Hm?"
While in the air, Buggy spots Nami, who was running away with two sacks filled with valuable treasures over her shoulders. He gives off a dark glare with a demented smile.
"Especially... Her... a thief who tries to steal my treasures!"
The upper half of Buggy slows over Elt, Wilmarina and Zoro while heading his way to the thief and raising his daggers to slay her.
"Think you can escape from me, Nami!?"
Nami froze in fear to see the upper half of Buggy flying towards her until... he stopped with a painful scream and dropped to the ground.
"GYAAAHHH~!"
"Wh-What happened!?" Wilmarina was surprised to see the Pirate Captain halt his assault and lie down in constant pain. "He's in... pain?"
"Oh... so this worked huh." Wilmarina, Elt and Zoro turned around to see Luffy had kicked his lower half between his legs. The lower half of the Buggy Pirate fell down and clamped its legs in agony. Luffy turns around to the trio with a smile and sweat runs down their faces. "Now I know how to beat him!"
'Wait... that means Buggy's weakness is to hit his body parts all along?' Elt spoke up in thoughts. 'I thought he was using them as projectiles!'
'Huh, so the pain can be transferred to the user, despite being disconnected from the main body.' Wilmarina then smiles at her newfound confidence. "Now this makes our fight easier!"
Buggy groaned and looks up at Nami with a scowl on his face. "D-Damn you...! Give back my treasure!"
"And what~? Trying to lecture a criminal from a criminal?" Nami smirked. "I haven't stooped too low to be corrected by pirates like you!"
The pirate captain then jumps into the air, yet Nami swings her sack upwards in her attempt to knock him off. However, she felt two hands grabbing the sacks and tries to shake them off.
"Hey! This is my treasure!"
"What're you talking about?! This was mine all along!"
"I said hands off!"
"No! You hand it off, damn thief!"
"... Is it me or are they forgetting we're here...?" Elt felt awkward to see Nami and Captain Buggy quarrelling over a sack of stolen treasures. "Uh...? Should we help her?"
"I HAD ENOUGH!" Buggy yelled out and separate his body parts into smaller pieces. "Chop-Chop FESTIVAL!"
"Huh!? He separates himself into even smaller parts!" Zoro widened his eyes as body parts flew past him.
Nami ran away while Buggy tries to catch her. Meanwhile, Luffy noticed a pair of feet walking down the road.
"What the-!?" Luffy then grabbed the right foot in his curiosity and removes the shoe. "Hey, guys! Let's test this out!"
"Ew! I don't want to touch that!" Wilmarina scowled in disgust while holding her nose, avoiding the smell. "Geez! That smell! This guy hasn't surely taken a bath for days!"
"I don't mind him what he's gonna do," Zoro spoke with a devilish smile. "But I know what you're going to do with it."
Luffy then grinned as he tickles the feet. "Coochie-Coochie Coo~!"
Once Buggy cornered Nami to the ground, he felt a tickling sensation and then laughed. Luffy then twists his upper feet, making Buggy feel uncomfortable. Elt then joins in.
"Hey, mind if I can tag along?"
"Ehh~? Sure! Let's do it!"
Both Luffy and Elt get a hold of the Pirate Captain's and then stomped into the foot's toe. Buggy screamed in agony and turns to the Straw Hats with an irritated look.
"HEY! KNOCK IT OFF WILL YA!?"
"No! You knock it off!"
Nami pushed Buggy one more time with the sack. Unfortunately, Buggy remained unscathed and blocked her attack with his other foot, then the thief saw two hands floating with daggers, aiming straight for her eyes.
"Don't think I'll fall for that! Now DIE!"
Nami screamed for help and the Pirate Captain noticed someone rushing up to him.
"HEY! YOU'RE STILL DEALING... WITH US!"
Luffy sprints and extends his legs forth, kicking Buggy right in the face. Elt and Wilmarina cheered that their captain finally got the upper hand, sending Buggy crashing through the ground. Nami looks up to Luffy in awe and felt overwhelmed by saving her life.
"Way to go Luffy!"
"Yeah! We got him!"
"Hehe~! This finishing move is for that old mayor!" Luffy spoke up, feeling victorious.
Nami slowly stood up from the ground and thanked the Straw Hats. "Th-Thank you!... I owe you one."
"No problem!" Luffy replied ecstatically while patting off his straw hat until he realise one thing that came into his mind. "Oh right! The map of the Grand Line!"
"Th-That's right! The treasure-... Huh!?" Nami noticed Buggy went missing and felt chills through her skin, knowing that he is still around. "Wh-Where's Buggy!?"
This isn't over yet, Straw Hat!"
Zoro, Nami, Wilmarina, Elt and Luffy spun around and saw Buggy floating with his remaining limbs, catching everyone in shock.
"H-He's still alive!?"
"I can't believe the guts of this bastard!"
"No way! He's still up!?"
"We should have aimed for his vital parts!"
"Gyahaha! How dare you flashily do this to me!?" Buggy chuckled menacingly while everyone stepped back, preparing his next attack while the Straw Hats got into their fighting stance. However, Nami got a better idea and ran off. "You pay for this! Chop-Chop... ASSEMBLE!"
...
"... Huh?"
Buggy felt something went wrong and looks down on his own body, realising that he has gotten shorter than his original height. Then he screamed in horror when he saw Nami tying up the remains of his body while struggling to release themselves from the ropes.
"EEHHH~~!? MY BODY!" Luffy then laughed out loud as Elt and Zoro lowered their weapons in relief. "You damn thief! How dare you-"
"Oi Willy! Let's send him flying! Shall we?" Luffy asked Wilmarina merrily. "Then he'll no longer bother us!"
"Heh, alright then," Wilmarina replied with a friendly smile and prepares Orufoyu. "Let's finish this!"
"GYEH!? W-WAIT!" Buggy begged to surrender, but the Straw Hats paid no heed as they send in their final blow. "I SURRENDER!"
"Wind Blast!" Wilmarina chanted out her spell and send the Chop-Chop Pirate screaming into the air. "Now Luffy!"
"Gum-Gum..." Luffy now extends both his arms backwards while giving Buggy a mocking smile. "BAZOOKA!"
*BAAM~!*
"GYAAH~"
Buggy was sent flying into the skies until his presence was now reduced to a tiny speck from a distance. Elt looks up to see a sparking star for a moment until Buggy was nowhere in sight. The Buggy Pirates were even shocked to see their captain was defeated.
"Uhh... What should we do now?"
"... Let's keep pretending that we're knocked out."
...
"Now that's a relief we sent that bastard flying... Ngh!" Wilmarina and Elt noticed Zoro collapsing on his knees and wheezing. "Guh!... Damn, I'm losing blood again."
Wilmarina noticed his blood began spreading the bandages and held him up by her shoulders.
"Don't worry, we're going to find you a place to rest," Wilmarina said until her senses picked up multiple footsteps coming from around the corner. "For now... There are multiple people coming!"
Luffy then asked curiously. "Huh? People? More Pirates?"
From all around the corner, several groups of people emerged from the alleys with a variety of improvised weapons. The heroine inspected their attires, and every individual seems to wear casual attire. To her relief, it turns out to be the citizens of Orange Town.
"Are there still pirates here!?"
"Who are these guys?"
"Hey! That's Mayor Broodle! Is he okay!?"
One of the town residents rushed over to their unconscious mayor, much to their shock. However, help came along the way when one doctor came to inspect his condition.
"Calm down, the mayor is unconscious." The doctor waved his hands, and the residents felt relieved. "He was knocked out and the wound isn't severe."
"So, by the way... who were these kids?" A woman asked while pointing her thumb towards Nami, Luffy and his crew. "From where do these youngsters come from?"
The residents turn their glance and Elt noticed they were wary of them, especially suspicious if they reveal themselves to be pirates. Then they would be relatively screwed.
"I have a bad feeling if we told them who we are," Elt whispered to Nami in worry.
"Just keep your mouth shut," Nami whispered back, feeling sweat running down her face. "If we told them we're thieves or pirates. It'll be ugly-"
"Oh, we're pirates!"
Nami, Elt, Wilmarina and Zoro froze in silence once they heard Luffy speaking out loud merrily with a wide smile, causing the town residents to agitate and draw their homemade weapons. Wilmarina couldn't help but slapped her own face from Luffy's impetuous habits.
Zoro chuckled nervously. "Heh... so what now? Looks like they're not listening to us anymore."
"L-... Luffy..." Wilmarina stuttered, almost as if she was crying in hopelessness. "You... shouldn't say that out loud!"
"These kids are pirates!?" One town resident raised his wooden bat. "Then these guys must've hurt the mayor! How dare they!"
"He's right! Get them!"
Luffy quickly grabbed Zoro by his shoulders while dragging Elt and Wilmarina by the back of their collars as they run away from the angry mob while Nami rushed alongside the straw hat boy.
"You moron! Now, look what you've done!" Nami yelled angrily with complaints. "They're going all out for our heads!"
"Y-You shouldn't say that out loud, Luffy!" Elt cried while running as fast for his life. "It could've been better if you didn't tell them!"
"You buffoon! I'll drown you in water once we find a boat!" Wilmarina screamed in rage as her face turned red. "You'll regret this!"
"Hahaha~! Isn't this fun~!?" Luffy smiled and noticed an alleyway at the corner, taking another route to the left. "Oh! This way!"
Once Luffy and the gang took a detour, he noticed an obstacle standing in their way and jumped over. Wilmarina looks back and is surprised to see the same dog from before. Once the mob of citizens came around, the dog barked, causing them to back off in confusion.
'That's Shushu!... Wait, don't tell me...' Then Wilmarina widened her eyes in realisation. 'H-He's helping us!?'
While running, Luffy turns his glance around to see Shushu blocking the mob from chasing them and then turns around to the Straw Hat crew with a grin. Luffy then smiles, thanking the dog for covering them until they've reached the harbour.
"See ya~!"
...
Orange Town, Harbour.
...
"Whew! That was close!" Luffy said out loud, ecstatically, while heading to a nearby boat. "Let's do that again if we got chased!"
Elt, Nami and Wilmarina scowled at Luffy. "HELL NO!"
Luffy then walks to a nearby boat and then turns to Nami. "Say, Nami. Is this your boat?"
"Oh, that? I just stole it from some idiot pirates along the way." Nami replied with a cocky smile. "But that's mine, by the way."
"Don't get cocky, you thief!"
All of a sudden, three Buggy Pirates jumped up with their daggers drawn. Glaring towards Nami with bloodlust, then one pirate with the black beanie licked his tongue over his blade.
"We won't get fooled this time!"
"Hey... don't forget I'm here." The three pirates then turned around and yelped to see Wilmarina crossing her arms while casting them a dark glare. "And I thought you three blokes just ran away for good."
"W-We're sorry!"
...
"Yosh! The sails are off!" Elt smiles in hope once he pulled down the ropes and then turns to everyone. "We're heading out!"
"Whew~! It's about time to leave." Wilmarina sighed as she rests her back. "Thank goodness we've escaped."
"Yawwnn~! Finally, I can get some rest!" Zoro grunts in relief while stretching his arms and looks around. "Looks like we're heading off to another town!"
"Whoohoo~! I can't wait to have more fun on the next island!" Luffy stood in front of the boat, standing proudly while observing the oceans from across the horizon. "Isn't that exciting, Elt~?"
"H-Huh!? Luffy, you always find something dangerous to be exciting?" Elt then breathed out in exhaustion. "Seriously, I bet we're going to encounter another pirate group."
"I hope it isn't another guy like Buggy." Wilmarina groaned in discomfort, remembering Buggy's Devil Powers. "The Powers of the Devil Fruit... are really something. Anything like that which renders a hero like me wouldn't comprehend..."
'Agh! What am I thinking? I'm a Hero for Chief God's sake...' The Heroine then shakes off thoughts. 'Only in this world. I felt I'm the one being fooled around here without knowing what comes next...'
"Hey~! Youngsters~!"
Wilmarina then perked up and looked around to the harbour from a distance. Luffy, Elt, Nami and Zoro noticed the old mayor of the town, panting heavily and standing on his ground despite the injury on his head.
"I-I was ready to die... to die filled with despair!" Mayor Broodle then clenched his fists, tears leaking out from his eyes. "Th-THANK YOU! WE'RE ALL IN YOUR DEBT!"
Luffy couldn't help but smile towards the mayor. Nami, Zoro, Elt and Wilmarina felt the same way and smiled after receiving thanks from the old mayor. While Broodle was having his absolving moment, he noticed a huge sack standing behind him.
"... Huh?"
...
...
"WHAT!? YOU LEFT ONE OF THE TREASURE BAGS BEHIND!?"
"Yep!"
"THAT WAS WORTH 5 MILLION BELLI'S! WHY DID YOU LEAVE IT BEHIND!?"
"They need money to rebuild their town. It was worth it."
"You damn wench! Do you know how I suffered much to steal them!?" Nami growled and raised both of her hands, dragging Luffy's face into the seawater. "Why did you do that!? Tell me!?"
"S-Stop it! I can't swim!" Luffy blabbered out in fear while trying not to fall into the water. "You're going to kill me! If you want to get your treasure, get it back for yourself!"
"I can't do that, you idiot!"
"Hahahaha~! Jeez! I didn't know you were that greedy!" Wilmarina laughed in tears, seeing the greedy side of Nami. "I was about to punish Luffy for his behaviour, but oh well~!"
Nami then yelled back to the Heroine. "Oh shut it, you puffball!"
"Huh!? Wh-Who're calling a puffball!?" Wilmarina reeled back from that insult. "Also, why is everyone started calling me that!? What the hell is a puffball anyway!?"
Zoro and Elt laugh out loud at their comedic moment while the bounty hunter looks up at Elt.
"Hey Elt, do you think this voyage of ours would be interesting?"
"Yeah, I think so! I didn't think that being so carefree could lift our spirits!" Elt replied with a smile, feeling the thrill as the ocean winds brushed his face. "I truly bet we'll be making one great pirate group, don't ya think?"
The former bounty hunter chuckled. "To be better or worse... but a good thing we got a navigator on our side."
...
Unknown.
...
"Wilmarina isn't here."
...
"Elt is gone as well... Oh, I truly missed him~"
...
"We missed them as well, Queen Francisca."
...
"Druella, did they find them?"
...
"No... It seems they're... completely gone. No longer in this world."
...
"Whatever happened to them, I bet they are suffering out there. Remained cold-hearted and lacking love... I shall pray for their return... and if they returned. Then Fate shall award us to give our future husband some love~!"
...
Chapter 6: Ends.