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One Piece - Freedom
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East Blue Arc
Chapter 3 : Thief at a Circus! Enter: Nami
0o0o0 East Blue – Middle of the Ocean0o0o0
"You're a former commander of the Red-Hair Pirates?" Zoro asked with a serious tone, eyeing the other teen sitting across from him.
"Mmm," Luffy nodded, confirming the question. He was currently hanging himself across the side of his boat, his stomach grumbling. "It's not like I really did much with them though. It wasn't until a year ago that I even got a bounty. It was more out of necessity or something according to Shanks."
"Necessity?" Zoro shot Luffy a curious look.
"A bunch of stuff happened and I wound up with a bounty. So Shanks decided to make me a commander of his crew to give me protection until I could handle things on my own. They certainly put me through hell before I left. Shishishishi!" Luffy laughed heartily as various memories of his time with the Red-Hair Pirates ran through his head.
"So what exactly did you get a bounty for?"
"So hungry…" Luffy lamented as his stomach growled even louder, demanding sustenance. Inadvertently this led to Luffy ignoring his first mate's question.
"DON'T IGNORE ME!" Zoro yelled as he glared at the starving man. "And it's your fault we have no food! If you hadn't insisted on having a party, we'd still have a decent supply of food, most of which you ate!"
"But we had to celebrate! It's what pirates do!" Luffy whined, now holding his cramping stomach.
"Not at the expense of starving!"
"Caaaww!" High above the two bickering pirates, a massive pink bird had begun to dive toward the small boat.
"What's the point of a celebration if you don't celebrate with all your might!?"
"Caaaaaawwwww!" the bird's speed increased as it came ever closer.
"Living to see the next day!"
"CAAAAWWW!" Both Luffy and Zoro were taken aback as they felt massive claws wrap around them and be lifted up out of Luffy's boat and carried off into the distance.
0o0o0 Orange Town 0o0o0
The deserted streets of the once bustling town left Nami with an eerie sense of familiarity. Time and again she had come across towns and villages besieged by pirates that couldn't care less about the lives they had disturbed. Whilst the majority of the town had been left alone and simply abandoned, various sections had been decimated by cannon fire. Seeing the ruins of homes and businesses set a fire alight within her heart, but there was little Nami could do about it. She wasn't here to help the people of Orange Town after all.
It had been several days since Nami had made landfall at the small island in search of not only Buggy the Pirate's treasure but also possibly the greatest score she may ever come across in all of East Blue: a map of the Grand Line. What kind of idiot pirate leaves a calling card, Nami could only guess, but Marine Captain Morgan had not been pleased when he found that the precious map he'd been charged with safeguarding had been nicked by the eccentric clown. Almost overnight every major port knew what Buggy the Clown had done, and that Captain Morgan was going to pulverize the foolish pirate for embarrassing him. If she wanted to get the map before the Marines arrived, she needed to act quick.
"I just didn't think a bunch of idiots would have this much security." Nami tsk'd at the sight of the near constant guards patrolling the bar that Buggy had claimed as his base of operations. For three days straight the place had been lively at all hours of day and night, and by some miracle on the guards' part, they had managed to restrain themselves and not join in on the festivities.
"I suppose I only have one choice," Nami nodded to herself as she made up her choice and headed towards the bar. "These idiots won't even know what hit them."
0o0o0 High Up In the Sky Off the Coast of Orange Town 0o0o0
"Oi, Luffy," Zoro lamely called out to his captain.
"Mmm, what is it?" Luffy asked as he let his arms dangle freely in the wind.
"Would you mind… ELECTROCUTING THIS FREAKING BIRD ALREADY!?" Zoro yelled, thrashing wildly within the claw that held onto him tightly, preventing him from withdrawing his swords.
"I've been thinking about it." Luffy replied, continuing to remain motionless.
"And why haven't you done it?"
"Couple reasons."
"And those would be?"
"Well we've had nowhere to land for a while now, though I see some land coming into view," Luffy pointed out the growing land mass that the bird was taking them toward.
"And the other reason?"
"Thinking about what you'd look like completely electrocuted because I electrocuted the bird."
"Oh..." Zoro replied lamely.
A number of minutes passed quietly between the two, the bird cawing every so often.
"So why haven't you cut the bird yet?"
"Shut up!"
0o0o0 Orange Town 0o0o0
"GIVE THAT CHART BACK, YOU DAMN THIEF!"
Nami kept on sprinting, not looking back at the few Buggy pirates giving chase.
"WE'RE GOING TO KILL YOU FOR THIS!"
"Because that's going to make me surrender!" Nami taunted, waving the chart of the Grand Line she'd managed to swipe in arrogance, though still lamenting the vast amount of treasure that Buggy had been hoarding for who knows how long. "Grr! Why do I have to leave so much treasure behind? It's just going to sit there and collect dust! All because that stupid guard had to wake up!"
Her infiltration into Buggy's makeshift headquarters had been a success. She had just barely managed to slip into the back entrance of the bar, the patrolling guard missing her by mere seconds. Like she'd assumed, Buggy's men were harshly hungover from all of their partying the last few days and were still sleeping or too concerned with their aching heads to pay any mind to anyone moving about.
They were utilizing the bar's cellar as their treasure room as well as a planning room as Nami recalled various islands on hung maps being either crossed out or circled with arrows pointing to them. One island that seemed to be given a lot of attention were the Gecko islands which weren't far from Orange Town if she remembered correctly. She also had taken note of the sleeping guard within the cellar next to a barred section of the room with piles of gold and jewelry. However sitting in all its glory on the center table was the prize she was here to collect. A map of the Grand Line.
With this map, not only could she make a decent sale of it, but she'd also be able to go after even bigger scores that she'd never been able to even dream about before. Hoards of pirates rushed into those cursed waters every year. Making the last 20% of the 100 million bellies that she needed was at last within her sight. "Bellemere… soon we'll all be free." Shaking her head, Nami greedily turned her head toward the piles of gold. "Now come to mama!"
And it was that exclamation of greed that had woken the guard and her current predicament of running through the abandoned streets of Orange Town. "I suppose it was smart to make a light sleeper the treasure room guard, but come on! He at least still should've been hungover if not drunk still with how much he stunk of booze." Nami once again lamented at her lost treasure, but there would be chances to strike against the Buggy Pirates some other time. For now she needed to ditch her pursuers and get over the horizon as fast as possible.
"If only lightning would strike these idiots so I can get away," Nami joked, not noticing various strands of her hair beginning to stand on end.
0o0o0 High Up In the Sky Over Orange Town 0o0o0
"I think this is good," Luffy began to stretch as much as he could within the talon to get his blood flowing again. At long last the bird had finally managed to get over the coast of the medium sized island, giving Luffy a safe place to land.
"You say something Luffy!?" Zoro yelled over the wind.
"Get ready Zoro! It's a long way down!" Luffy had no intention of giving his First-Mate any time to prepare as his arm began to glow.
"You're not serious!" Zoro began to panic at the sight of the glowing arm. "I thought you didn't want to electrocute me!"
"I didn't say that! I said I was wondering what you'd look like because I electrocuted you! Now… Bolt-Bolt Strike!" Luffy's arm shot forth, his hand remaining at the end of electricity in search of anything to grab hold of to pull the bird, Zoro and himself out of the sky.
0o0o0 Orange Town 0o0o0
In one brilliant flash Nami's whole world lit up. It was as if time had frozen as the impact of a lightning bolt struck just behind her. Before, what she at first assumed was the sound of thunder, a second impact uplifted her, blowing Nami off her feet. "Kyahh!"
"Whew! That was a neat experience we had. Wouldn't you say so Zoro?" a figure emerged from the massive dust up. Brushing himself off, Luffy took in the surroundings that he, Zoro and the bird had landed in.
It appeared they had managed to land in the middle of a cobbled street. The townhouses and businesses were all boarded up, abandoned even with windows left open and outside furniture knocked over. Doors looked as if they had been kicked in and windows shattered. "Wonder what happened here?" Luffy questioned, ignoring the fact that he had just created a massive crater with the bird's massive body. Luffy's attention was drawn to a girl coughing just in front of him.
She was laying on her side, attempting to sit upright. She had short bright orange hair, an orange skirt, and a white tee with blue stripes running across her midsection. In her hand was a rolled up piece of paper that she seemed to be clinging onto tightly. Luffy walked over to her and asked her the most important question he'll ever ask. "You know where to get something to eat? I'm starving!" His stomach rumbled to attest to his proclamation of starvation.
Nami had tensed as she heard someone approach her. She had inhaled quite a bit of dust and was having quite the coughing fit. She needed to get control of her breathing if she wanted to defend herself from the Buggy Pirate that had approached her. What she wasn't expecting was the absolute ridiculous question that she'd been asked. Looking up at the man towering over her, the first thing Nami saw was the stupid shit-eating grin on a young man's face with a small crescent scar under his left eye. A straw hat blocked out the sun that was radiantly shining from behind him and raven locks of unruly hair stuck out along the hat's edges. She took note of his buttoned up red vest, his baggy blue jean shorts, and the sandals adorning his feet. But what had captivated her were his expressive black eyes.
It was like looking into a black void of… joy? Nami couldn't describe it any other way. It was as if just by looking into his eyes all was right with the world and she'd never have to worry about anything again. As she stared into the depths of his gaze, she could've sworn she saw an electric storm raging deep within him. Like the joy he was expressing was a mask for something much darker.
Nami was snapped out of her trance as the teen offered her a hand. "You ok?" As if the hand had offended her, Nami smacked it away before staunchly standing.
"I'm fine!" She stubbornly declared.
"That's good, I was worried I'd have to pay for a doctor or something. It's also a good thing you didn't get crushed by the bird!" The teen thumbed toward the massive bird that was blocking the entire street, it's wings having crashed into the buildings on either side of it.
Nami's eyes bulged at the sight of the massive monstrosity. "What the hell is that!?"
"My lunch if I have anything to say about it," the teen salivated. "Still gotta cook it up though. Couldn't electrocute it because it was holding onto Zoro… Ah! Zoro!" He suddenly ran over to the massive bird and began to ruffle through its feathers. "Zoro where are you!?"
"Hey! Don't just ignore me! What the hell happened and just who are you!?" Nami demanded garnering the teen's attention again.
"Oh right! I'm Monkey D. Luffy, a pirate! And this stupid bird was trying to eat me and my First-Mate. So I dragged it out of the sky, shishishishi!" Luffy then turned back toward the bird and began his search once again. "Zoro!"
Nami glared at Luffy's back. "Of course he's a pirate! Everyone and their grandmother, I swear! I'd rather he be a useless marine! And what the hell does he mean he dragged that monster out of the sky? And isn't Zoro that Pirate Hunter or whatever? Just what exactly is going on?" Nami watched as Luffy climbed atop the massive bird. "What am I doing here still? Stop gawking and get going girl. This is the perfect chance to get off this island." Despite her own words Nami still hadn't moved an inch.
"AH! There you are!" Luffy exclaimed as he jumped on the other side of the bird, leaving Nami on her own.
"Ugh…" Zoro groggily pulled himself out of the bird's talon, grateful that it had absorbed the majority of the impact. The first thing he checked for were his three katana, which thankfully were still strapped to his right hip. "I'm gonna kill him," Zoro muttered as the dust cleared, giving him a view of the town they'd landed in and the three men staggering back to their feet.
"What happened?" One of Buggy's men asked dusting himself off, coughing away the debris from the impact that had gone off in front of him and his fellow lackeys.
"Th-that bird is massive!" The lackey on the right pointed at the unconscious fowl in disbelief.
"ZORO!" This drew the lackey's attention to Luffy who had pounced atop Zoro and was crying profusely. "I'm so glad you're ok! I thought you died!"
"Dammit Luffy, get off me! I'm fine! No thanks to you!" Zoro managed to separate himself from his overly emotional Captain, and threw his attention at the three unknowns. "You three, where are we?"
Snapping out of their stupor over the sight of the massive bird the three pirates withdrew their sabers. "Grrr, you're working with that thief aren't you!? You better surrender now! Captain Buggy isn't a very forgiving guy, but I'm sure he'll spare your lives if you grovel before him!"
Zoro adorned a dangerous look. "We have no idea what you're talking about. But if it's a fight you're looking for I'm more than willing to give it to you. My day hasn't been good so far, so if you know what's good for you, you'll get lost." Zoro withdrew his two black scabbard swords ready to fight. "But by all means make my day."
Luffy meanwhile had a look of concentration. "Mmmm… I know that name… Buddy? Bully? Buffy?"
"It's Buggy! He's the terror of the seas in these parts! With a bounty of 15 million bellies no one dares challenge him! This town is his territory and if you think you can play innocent, think again! Get them!" The three pirates charged, 2 of them going after Zoro while the third attacked Luffy who was still deep in thought.
Zoro smirked, recognizing the lack of form the three possessed before rushing in and decimating the two focused on him in seconds flat. The two Buggy Pirates fell before they could comprehend what had happened, blood streaming from their wounds.
"Let go!" Zoro swiftly turned back toward Luffy and couldn't help but sweat at the sight. Still deep in thought, Luffy had caught the pirate's blade with his bare hand while the pirate was struggling to pull back his saber.
"Hmmm I know that name! How do I know that name!?" Luffy pondered aloud, not seemingly bothered by the struggling pirate.
Recognizing his captain wasn't in danger, Zoro sheathed his swords and walked up to Luffy. "Who're you talking about?"
"That guy these guys work for. I'm pretty sure I know him… but I can't remember from where. Was it Bulgy? No. Budgie! No…"
"It's Captain Buggy! I told you this already! Now let go of my sword!" The pirate tried with all of his might to pull the sword free of Luffy's grasp.
"Ah it's Bujjy! But where do I know that name from?" Luffy pondered further, still not letting go of the saber.
"Buggy is an infamous pirate in these waters. It's speculated he's going to take over Don Krieg's territory, who set out for the Grand Line. I'm surprised a pirate doesn't know whose territory he's invading." All three pirates turned toward the still unconscious bird to see Nami sitting atop it.
"A true pirate never does," Luffy grinned stupidly. "And I didn't really bother learning about the territories of Blue pirates and I don't really plan on staying in the East Blue long enough to care."
"It doesn't help we didn't even mean to come here," Zoro added, eyeing the newcomer. Whoever this girl was, he didn't like the way she was looking at them. "Who are you?"
"I'm Nami, and I'm a thief who steals from pirates," she said with confidence, obviously not caring she was currently speaking with pirates.
"Unfortunately we have nothing of value, thief. So why don't you scram before you get hurt little girl," Zoro threatened.
"I'm sure your bravado demands you belittle a woman, but you're wrong when you say you have nothing of value. However, before we continue, how about you deal with him already and we can discuss a proposition that will leave us all making out like bandits." Nami smirked slyly as Luffy and Zoro looked at the sweating pirate still struggling to wrench his weapon free.
"Who's he?" Luffy asked, as if just noticing the pirate who attacked him.
"I'm the guy trying to kill you!" The Buggy pirate screamed at the top of his lungs. "And you!" He briefly turned his attention to Nami, "Don't think for even a second you're going to get away! No one steals from the Bug-" The pirate was unable to finish as he suddenly found himself flying through the air and crashing into a building faster than he could comprehend.
Nami had barely blinked when the pirate who had been threatening her had just simply vanished. It took her a second to realize that Luffy had even moved, having thrown the man by the blade of his sword and acting as if he'd done nothing spectacular.
"So are you going to tell us this proposition or can we get something to eat? I'm still starving!" Luffy complained as his stomach once again grumbled it's stance on obtaining sustenance.
"You just-"
"Look thief, he does impossible shit. He and I are both starving so find us some grub and start proposing before I decide negotiations have failed," Zoro growled out, his stomach also grumbling it's dissatisfaction with being left empty.
"Fine! Just follow me, I have a place we can lay low and discuss things. Why I'm bothering with pirates is beyond me!" She complained as she stood up and hopped down from atop the bird. "Come on!" She yelled angrily.
Looking toward one another, the two pirates shrugged as they followed the girl.
0o0o0 Orange Town - Drinker's Pub 0o0o0
Buggy the Clown.
That was his name. The name he'd terrorize all four oceans with, and rule the world with an iron fist.
He'd waited so long, but at long last he had not just a crew, a ship, and a map of the Grand Line, but he also had a vast wealth of treasure. The one and only thing that mattered in this world. Thanks to that no good red-haired Shanks his plans were severely halted, but he'd overcome. And now, after so many years of biding his time, he was ready.
He, Buggy the Clo-
"Captain!"
"I WAS MONOLOGUING!"
"But Captain Buggy something came crashing out of the sky! It crashed near where our men were chasing that thief!"
"Huh?..." Buggy blinked in confusion for a moment. "What thief!?"
"Forgive him Captain Buggy, I thought it best the matter be dealt with quietly and sent several men to chase the thief down. But it seems the situation is evolving." Entering the tent was Mohji, second in command of the Buggy Pirates.
"Mohji… tell me what was taken."
Far and wide, Buggy the Clown's yell of rage could be heard across the island.
0o0o0 Orange Town - Abandoned House(Nami's Hideout) 0o0o0
"So you want us to take on this Buggy so you can steal his treasure," Zoro summed up as he took another bite of one of the sandwiches Nami had made for both him and Luffy.
"If you want to be blunt about it. You two seem pretty strong and more than capable of taking on the literal clowns of Buggy's crew. Although I must admit I never thought the infamous Pirate Hunter Zoro would become a pirate himself one day."
Zoro just scoffed at the woman's attempt to rile him up, "It's just how it turned out. I have yet to hear why we should help you though. So far all I've heard is you asking us to fight your battle."
"While it goes against everything I stand for," Nami took a deep breath as she swallowed her pride, "IF we pull this off, I'll be willing to work with you. I refuse to become a pirate however."
"And just what is it you can do for us." Zoro asked, giving the young thief an incredulous look.
"I'm a thief and I'm a damn good navigator. That's what I can do for you or did you mean to come crashing out of the sky while being taken to that giant bird's nest?" Nami leered at the flustered swordsman. "Help me rob Buggy the Clown of all he owns and I'll navigate for you guys for a time."
"No-"
"I'll beat Bujjy for you." Luffy cut off Zoro, who was about to refuse the thief. So far he'd only been listening, allowing Zoro to speak for their group. Not to mention he'd been eating everything on the table whilst the other two hashed things out.
"You can't be serious. She's just trying to use us. That much is clear. I'm sure once we have enough treasure, she'll rob us blind and leave us stranded in the middle of the ocean. I say we tie her up and leave her for the clown to find. Her problem has nothing to do with our objectives."
"Hey! First off it's rude to speak about someone like they're not two feet in front of you! And if you don't want to help me that's fine. It's clear I was right about pirates and that they're all nothing but a bunch of selfish self-absorbed greedy murderers." Nami glared at the two sitting across from her.
Luffy suddenly stood up, startling the thief and swordsman into silence. "I said I'd beat Bujjy for you. However… you have to become my crew's navigator if I do." Luffy gave the girl, who was now staring at him in abject shock, a grin that seemed to brighten the room.
"You… I said I refuse to become a pirate! Forget this, I have what I came here for anyway. Buggy's treasure was just a bonus, the map of the Grand Line is all I need." With that Nami turned and began to leave the small townhouse.
"If you think you'll be able to rob Grand Line pirates, you should think twice about that." Luffy commented as he watched the now known thief-navigator come to a halt.
"And what would a wannabe pirate like you know about the Grand Line?" Nami turned on her heel as she looked down on the backwoods style and fashion Luffy dressed himself in. "Do you honestly believe you can make it as a pirate simply because your friend here is a little famous?"
Luffy only continued to grin. "You hear that Zoro? She thinks I'm famous! Shishishishi!" Luffy laughed.
"Oi!" Zoro gave his Captain a glare.
"I was talking about you!" Nami seethed.
Luffy's grin faded off as his features took a serious tone. "You shouldn't underestimate pirates, with a half-assed resolve like that." And just like that his grin returned.
"And what kind of resolve should I have then? The same kind as a pirate? To murder defenseless woman and children and leave nothing but destruction and misery in my wake? I've been fine the past eight years robbing every pirate in the East Blue, I think I'll be fine robbing pirates in the Grand Line." Nami once again turned to leave.
"Then bet your life on it." And once again Nami stopped in her tracks. "If I take down Buggy the Clown, you become my navigator and you can have all of his treasure. If I don't, you're free to do as you wish."
0o0o0 Orange Town - Pet Food 0o0o0
"I'm glad you seem to be doing fine Chouchou," Boodle, the mayor of Orange Town, smiled gently at the guard dog of the Pet Food store that his dear friend used to own. Striding up to the small dog, Boodle sat down next to Chouchou and merely took in the ruins of his once bustling town. Every day, more and more of his beloved town was destroyed by that Clown's blasted "special" cannonballs.
Chouchou gave no indication that he acknowledged Boodle's presence, but allowed the aging man to pet him.
"Heh, if he could see us now, he'd laugh and say we need to work harder to rid our town of these detestable pirates, and then scold us when we get hurt doing so." Boodle laughed grimly.
Chouchou gave a growl in agreement.
The two sat there for a while longer, enjoying the other's company, when Boodle suddenly stood. "Let me make you a meal Chouchou. I'm sure you haven't rested since I saw you yesterday."
Chouchou suddenly started growling and took a defensive position as he glared down the street, "Bark, Bark!"
It was moments later that Boodle heard the quaking footsteps of the Buggy Pirates infamous beast, Richie the Lion. And where there was Richie, there was Mohji the Beast Tamer.
Boodle's first instinct was to run and hide. He knew the Buggy pirates were a merciless bunch and were more than likely to kill him on sight, especially Buggy's officers. They had made it clear that they wanted no one in the town whilst they occupied it. But as he turned to flee, he heard Chouchou bark even louder as the beast and its master came ever closer.
Boodle hung his head in shame as he listened to that small dog stand its ground. How long had it been since the people of Orange Town had been forced to flee into the back hills of their home? A month, two? He could no longer tell. And because they were a small town, the only one on the island, they couldn't afford to pay for a Naval base to be built on the island. Everything they had; they had built themselves. It had been hard work, but it had been worth it to see the smiling faces of his people when all was said and done.
Every day since the occupation, his people had prayed that a detachment would be sent out and that a Marine ship would cross the horizon to set them free of Buggy's control. But each day that passed, so did more and more of their hope.
But not Chouchou. Of all the residents of Orange Town, Chouchou had been the only one to stay. No one could convince the small dog otherwise. Many had tried to reason it. They thought he missed his owner and that he would return at any time. But Boodle knew. Chouchou was a smart dog. Chouchou knew his owner was never coming back, he was simply defending the pet store that his owner loved so much.
And now as he stared at the small dog, who was ready to die to defend what was precious to him, Boodle saw that the only answer to their prayers would be their own. Even if it meant their doom. Because what kind of Mayor would he be, if he let a lone brave dog fight on its own?
And so, Boodle stood his ground. He would not flee, when even a small dog wouldn't. He remained by Chouchou's side as the massive beast stopped before them, Mohji sitting atop it's head, a clear indication of his power over the monstrous lion.
Mohji was surprised to see one of the former residents standing outside one of the few remaining establishments that had been left untouched in the town that the Buggy Pirates now occupied. His men had reported a vicious dog that wouldn't allow anyone near the pet store. But all he could see was what looked like a puny mutt that his precious Richie could eat in seconds. "I didn't realize you vermin were still lurking around. I thought Captain Buggy had made it clear none of you were to return to this town until we left. I also believe we said to never arm yourselves," Mohji pointed out the spear the old man was holding onto.
"This dog has refused to leave. I've been taking care of him since your occupation. I'll leave afterwards. As for the spear, there are still wild animals on this island. Am I not allowed the ability to defend myself from them? Certainly you're not threatened by an old man taking care of a defenseless dog?" Boodle managed. There was no going back now. He had chosen this path, he no longer feared death. Perhaps he would meet his dear friend after this was over? He would tell him how brave and strong Chouchou had become.
"Defenseless? That's not what the men say. You'll be dealt with another day however. Today I am looking for a thief with orange hair. Perhaps you've run into her while you were skulking about. I may even forget I saw you if you have," Mohji offered, more concerned about the thief having run off already, than the old man before him.
"I'm afraid I haven't. I simply come here, take care of Chouchou, and then leave. The only ones I've seen in the town are you miscreants," Boodle declared boldly.
"Miscreants, are we?" Mohji's eye twitched at the blatant disrespect to his crew.
"What else would you call scum that ransacked a town, ran its people out, and destroyed all they hold dear?" Boodle glared at the pirate.
"I would call it foolish bravery. Say anything more, and Richie will be well fed tonight old man. Or perhaps you've grown tired of living and this the last stand you'd like to make. Standing side by side with a pathetic mutt that needs to learn its place!" Mohji laughed at the pathetic sight of the old man and small dog. "You don't honestly believe you could beat me and Richie, do you?"
"Don't you mock brave Chouchou. When we ran, he remained and has been protecting his treasure from you filth for the past 2 months! He's braver than any man, and certainly braver than you!" Boodle clenched his spear tightly. He'd not allow this man, this pirate, to mock such a brave dog as Chouchou. "I may not be the spry young man I once was, but I'll be damned if I ever lost to a man like you!"
"Don't make me laugh! What treasure? That store? There's no treasure in there, there's probably nothing but out of date, rotting food that I wouldn't even feed to maggots. But since you seem adamant in insulting the Buggy Pirates, I'll amuse you, old timer. Richie!" Mohji cracked his whip, directing the massive lion to act.
Giving a roar only a king of beasts could give, the lion pounced.
"This is it. I had a good life, I'm glad I got to end it fighting beside such a wonderful dog as Chouchou. My friend, I'll see you soon," Boodle steeled himself as he charged, Chouchou beside him. "RAAAH!"
0o0o0 Orange Town – Streets 0o0o0
"You don't have a plan." Nami blanched as she walked besides the two pirates she was currently in accords with.
"Nope. Don't need one." Luffy said nonchalantly. "I'm just going to kick his ass."
"But you don't know anything about him. There are numerous rumors he's eaten a devil fruit - no matter how ridiculous it sounds, there are far too many about him for there to not be some kind of truth to it all. Whether it's some kind of trick or just a lie he made up, surely you want to do some reconnaissance or… something! You can't just show up and challenge him to a fight." Nami was going spare trying to reason with the way too lax pirate walking beside her.
"Why not?" Luffy genuinely asked.
"Because if you go in blindly, you could die." Not that she actually cared about the wannabe pirate dying, it was more about him dying because he made a deal with her and his death would be her fault if he did die. Though, that would mean she wouldn't have to join his crew. Which was a good thing. But that would mean Buggy would stand between her and her treasure. Which was a bad thing. "Thankfully I hid the map, so even if this guy does die, I still come out on top."
"I'm not going to die," Luffy stated resolutely.
Nami could only stare.
"Give it a rest, witch. He's already made up his mind. All you have to do is keep your promise to join us when we bring this clown down. Just sit back and watch when we get there. You'll see just what kind of crew you're joining." Zoro stated arrogantly, already declaring their victory.
"Who are you calling a witch?" Nami glared.
"You." Zoro bluntly stated, not caring if their soon to be navigator was insulted or not. She'd yet to prove herself, and until she did, he'd keep a close eye on her.
"Was there always smoke over there?" Before Nami could continue arguing with the swordsman, Luffy's remark forced the two to look up and see a column of smoke dominating the eastern part of the sky.
"Oh my god," Nami looked in horror. Normally the blasted pirates only destroyed the town with their cannon fire. Never did they actually set parts of it ablaze.
"Let's go," Zoro didn't even hesitate to follow his Captain's order. The two pirates were already rounding the corner when Nami realized they had gone. She soon took off after them.
0o0o0 Orange Town – Pet Food 0o0o0
Nami felt like she'd been dropped into Hell. The sight of the old man clinging onto a struggling dog as an entire section of buildings burned before them was truly haunting. She had to steel herself as she took note of the man's missing left leg, and the massive claw marks that dug into his back. She didn't even want to think what his front looked like. The dog was in no better shape. Blood was everywhere on the poor thing. Though what was its own and what was the old man's, was impossible to tell.
Zoro and Luffy stood not far in front of her. Like her, they had been frozen by the sight before them.
"It's too late Chouchou! There's nothing to be done now. We can only watch, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! If only I hadn't become so old! Curse this useless body! I'm sorry my friend! I couldn't protect it like brave Chouchou! I'm truly sorry!" Boodle cried as he held onto Chouchou to prevent the dog from running into the raging inferno before them. Not that Chouchou could run anymore. Not with his missing front right paw. "Damn that lion! Damn Mohji! And damn you Buggy! What more can you take from us!? To not even kill us and make us watch this. I curse you Buggy the Clown!" Looking up at the fire, Boodle yelled with what little energy he had left, "I CURSE YOU! YOU HEAR ME BUGGY! I CURSE YOU! MAY ALL YOU HAVE BE STRIPPED FROM YOU, LIKE YOU'VE STRIPPED EVERYTHING FROM US!"
Luffy took in the sight of the broken old man, and all he could feel was rage. For a moment, he didn't see the old man but a younger version of himself before a different inferno. One that threatened to consume everything and that which there was no escape. Taking a breath, Luffy walked up to the old man. "Who did this?"
Boodle swiveled, turning toward the unknown voice, Chouchou clutched tightly to his chest. "Who are you? Are you another one of Buggy's men? Have you come here to taunt us? Just get it over with already and kill us! At least then I could see my dear friend and beg his forgiveness!"
"I'm not with Bujjy. My name's Monkey D. Luffy, a pirate." Luffy staring directly into Boodle's eyes. "I'm here to kick Buggy's ass. So, tell me, who did this?"
0o0o0 Orange Town – Streets 0o0o0
Mohji laughed to himself as he thought about the defiant old man and the pathetic dog that thought they could take on his precious Richie. "I was even right. All that was even edible was a singular bag of dog food. The rest was better left off for the insects!"
Held within the mouth of Richie the lion, was the last bag of food that Pet Food had left. The lion chuckled alongside it's master as it thought about the weak canine that dared challenge him, the king of beasts! Not to mention the old man that had fought with the stupid canine.
Richie came to a sudden stop as a new scent touched its nose.
Shocked as he was flung forward and off from atop the lion's head, Mohji smacked face first into the ground. Angrily standing, holding onto his now broken nose, Mohji turned on Richie, "WHO TOLD YOU TO STOP YOU STUPID LION!"
"It's fine, it stopped because of me."
Mohji turned to see a young man in a red vest, blue jean shorts, jet-black hair covered by a straw-hat that had been lowered to cover most of the youth's face.
"I don't recall you being among the villagers. You must be working with the thief. Good, you must have seen what I did to the old man and decided to surrender yourself. If you want the minimum punishment for theft you best tell me where your bitch is hiding and hand over the map without-" Mohji knew nothing more as his face was firmly planted into the ground by a fist.
Luffy stood over Mohji's motionless body. The man wasn't dead, but that was fine. He deserved much worse than death. Shooting a glance at the shell-shocked lion, Luffy gave it an order, "Drop. That. Bag."
Richie had never let go of anything as fast as that bag before in its life. The bag fell flat against the ruined cobbled stone of the road.
"Good. Now… Bolt-Bolt Pistol!" a brilliant light filled the area as Richie was struck by the electrical attack and sent flying.
Luffy silently picked up the bag and left, returning to where he'd left his crew to take care of the old man and Chouchou.
0o0o0 Orange Town – Boodle's House 0o0o0
"You need to rest! What is with men and their bravado? He'll be back soon, so lay down," Nami shook her fist at the wounded Mayor.
Boodle lay in the bed he'd once abandoned, heavily bandaged thanks to Nami's care. Laying next to him, was Chouchou who was also just as heavily bandaged. "How can I rest knowing I've sent that young man to his doom? It's bad enough I failed to protect what's important to Chouchou, but to have someone else take up my cause? Does my shame know no bounds!?"
"It's not shameful," Zoro had quietly observed Nami fuss over the wounded Mayor and dog until now. There was nothing for him to say or do. He already knew that this Mohji was lying in a puddle of his own blood. The look on Luffy's face as he left indicated that there would be no other outcome. "You've done everything you can. Leave the rest to us."
"You honestly believe he can take on a monster that did this?" Nami gestured to Boodle and Chouchou. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's runaway! You pirates are all the same, every last one!"
It was at that moment that Luffy walked into the room.
Nami gave the pirate a critical eye, noting that he looked exactly the same as he left. There wasn't even a hint that he'd done battle with a gigantic lion. "Seems like I was right. What, did the sight of the lion shock some sense into you?" Nami patronized.
Luffy ignored her and approached the bed. "Here. This was all that stupid lion had when I caught up to them." He then settled the bag of dog food next to Boodle and Chouchou that he'd recovered.
"Oh come on, you can't expect us to believe you actually took on that lion. There's-"
"Enough!" Boodle yelled, glaring at Nami. "Everything was burnt save for one bag that the monster took. This bag is all that's left of Chouchou's treasure..." Boodle turned to Luffy with tear-filled eyes. "Thank you young man! Thank you!" Boodle sobbed as he pulled both the bag and Chouchou into an embrace.
Luffy smiled at the scene before him. "It was no problem. I was already going to kick their asses anyway. Right!" Luffy cracked his neck and punched his fists together. "Let's go."
"Un," Zoro affirmed as he stood from the wall he'd been leaning on.
Both pirates left without a word more.
Nami stared at the entryway for a time before Boodle spoke up. "Aren't you going to go with them?"
Snapped out of her thoughts, Nami turned to him. "Huh? Why would I? I have no intention of dying today! Especially to a literal clown!"
0o0o0 Orange Town - Drinker's Pub 0o0o0
Buggy stared down at the still unconscious form of his First-Mate. "And you just found him lying in the street with Richie nowhere to be found?"
"Y-yes! He was just lying in the middle of the street," Buggy's subordinate reported, knowing his Captain was not fond of bad news.
"And why is it, that no one… IS OUT LOOKING FOR HIS ASSAILANT!" Buggy roared as all of his men flinched, terrified to be on the wrong side of their Captain's wrath.
"Because I have ordered them not to Captain," a voice spoke up drawing the attention of Buggy's ire.
"And why is that… Cabaji?"
"We have a thief and an unknown assassin that have appeared on the same day. Not only have we been robbed, and not once, but twice, we have had our men attacked and defeated. We could scour the town for these scum, but we are at a disadvantage. We know not their numbers nor who they are. It is best that we allow them to come to us where we can lay a trap, rather than us fall into theirs." Cabaji reasoned as Buggy calmed, agreeing with his Chief of Staff.
"I see. Still you should've discussed this with me first. An insult like this cannot be tolerated. You!" Buggy pointed at one of his men.
"Sir!"
"Bring as many cannons to the roof as possible. If these cowards think they can hide away in this miserable town, we'll just show them how special the Buggy pirates-"
"BUJJY!"
Everyone in the Big Top, Buggy's command circus tent, that had been erected on the roof of the pub froze at the yell coming from down in the street.
…
…
…
"WHO CALLED ME THAT!" The pirates surrounding their captain watched in fear as Buggy raged out of the Big Top and to the edge of the roof, following him in order to witness a fool's flashy death.
Standing before the pub were two figures. One was a green-haired teen with three swords strapped to his waste via a haramaki. Standing next to him was a black-haired teen in a red vest in blue jean shorts and a straw hat sitting on his head.
"Which one of you was it? Which one of you is going to die!?" Buggy yelled down to the two.
"BUJJY! Come down here so I can kick your ass!" Luffy yelled as once again Buggy's whole crew turned stone cold white.
"KILL HIM!" Buggy ordered. "I want him wiped out with a Buggy Ball!"
"Wait Captain!" Cabaji called out, staring down at the green-haired youth.
"What was that Cabaji? Are you defying my orders?" Buggy glared.
"No Captain, but I believe we are in the presence of East Blue's premiere bounty hunter, Roronoa Zoro!" Cabaji called out, drawing the attention of his entire crew.
"Zoro, you say?" Buggy stared down at the swordsman. "So that's what this is all about. At long last someone of note has come after me. Well then Roronoa, step away from that fool next to you… I wouldn't want your corpse to be unrecognizable!"
"Heh, I'm not here for your head! I'm no longer a hunter! Now get down here so my Captain can kick your ass!" Zoro yelled up, not caring for Buggy's idle threat.
"Huh? A pipsqueak like that is a captain? Hahahaha! Don't make me laugh! If you don't want to move, that's fine! Either way, both of you are dead men! Fire!" Buggy shrieked, ordering his men who'd been at the ready to open fire. Along the top of the roof were three cannons, all pointed down at the duo.
Lighting the fuses, the cannoneers covered their ears in anticipation of the cannonfire.
Down below Luffy lifted his arms, sparks coming off his hands as he had them mimic pistols. "Bolt-Bolt Tracer!" Just as the cannons fired, three bright flashes consumed the street as each Buggy Ball exploded just as they exited the barrels of the cannons.
Drinker's Pub was enveloped in smoke and fire, collapsing to the ground, as a massive dust heap shot forth covering both Luffy and Zoro.
0o0o0 Orange Town - Across from Drinker's Pub 0o0o0
Nami stared in disbelief at what used to be Drinker's Pub. What was once the headquarters of the Buggy pirates, was now fire and rubble. Standing before it all was Luffy and Zoro, covered from head to toe in dust. What had her shaking though was what she'd witnessed prior to the current destruction before her.
Lightning. Lightning had come out of Luffy's outstretched arms. Not once, not twice, but three times. Unable to see from the immense flash, Nami's senses told her that three lightning strikes had just occurred. And all three had stemmed from the strange boy that had fallen out of the sky.
"Just who are these guys?" Nami thought as she stared at the duo of Luffy and Zoro.
"Damnit Luffy! I'm completely covered in dust! Why can't you do anything normal!?" Zoro complained, trying to dust himself off in vain.
"Normal's boring," Luffy nonchalantly said, picking his nose with his pinkie. "Mah, I guess I can't kick his ass anymore, if he even has one left shishishishishi!" Luffy laughed, not bothering to dust himself off.
Nami approached the pair, still in shock over the sight before her. "What are you?"
"Hmm?" Luffy turned toward her, a stupid grin spreading across his face at the sight of his future navigator. "I ate the Bolt-Bolt fruit and became a lightning man!" Luffy let arcs of electricity flow out of his body freely.
"You… ate the Bolt-Bolt… became…" Nami was having a hard time digesting the incredible amounts of stupid hard hitting facts that were proving the existence of devil fruits. Whilst never out-right disbelieving their existence, Nami had chalked it all up to be some kind of trick or illusion that pirates employed to further terrorize their victims. She wanted to scream and yell that he was lying, but the electricity arcing out from his body silenced any protest she had.
"It's annoying but he really did. So far it's caused more problems than solved them," Zoro commented giving Luffy an annoyed look.
"Don't be like that Zoro! You'd still be starving on that execution ground without me!" Luffy reminded the swordsman.
"I would've found a way regardless," Zoro crossed his arms. "Like I would die so easily."
"That's true. I would've starved much sooner than you shishishishishi!" Luffy laughed as he recalled the adventure in Shells Town.
"And what are you brats laughing about!?"
The three teens turned toward the rubble as bits of debris were shifted aside. Luffy couldn't help the ear splitting grin forming on his face as he stared at the two forms rising. "Maybe I'll get a decent fight after all."
Rising from the debris, Buggy the Clown glared at the trio as he moved two of his subordinates from in front of him that he used as shields from the premature explosions of his Buggy balls. Next to him was Cabaji who had also managed to grab several of his crewmates to use as shields to protect himself.
"Captain this is the worst insult our crew has suffered since we hoisted our flag," Cabaji declared as he threw his crewmates to the side, not caring for their well being. "We cannot allow word to get out that we were nearly bested by just a few sneak thieves."
"I agree, but first," Buggy glared even harder at the straw-hat wearing teen. "Just who are you brat? No one in the East Blue could've done what you just did."
Luffy stepped forward, cracking his knuckles as he did, "Monkey D. Luffy, the man that will become King of the Pirates!"
Buggy blinked as he absorbed what Luffy had just declared. "Heheha… hahahahaha! You've got a great sense of humor, but a country brat like you will never become King of the Pirates!"
While Buggy remained blissfully unaware of who he was talking to, Cabaji didn't. It was just a few days ago that he had stopped one of the men from informing their Captain that a member of the Red-Hair pirates had travelled into the East Blue. Cabaji could only stare in horror at the raven-haired teen. Of all the calamities to befall their crew, a member of Red-Hair Shanks' pirate crew could only be out done by the man himself. And of all the crews in the 4 Blues and Grand Line, there was none more than the Red-Hair pirates that Buggy the Clown despised more. "No! This is an opportunity. Despite the large gap in their bounties, if we manage to not only bring down Roronoa Zoro the Pirate Hunter but also a known member of the Red-Hair pirates, our renown will be known the world over. Captain used to sail with Red-Hair, he should be able to handle Straw-hat. Which leaves Roronoa to me."
"Captain! Allow me to deal with Roronoa. That boy there has a high bounty placed on his head. I'd forgotten about it, but news of a Grand-Line pirate making his way into the East Blue was spreading around the last several days. Had I known we'd be dealing with a failure of a pirate, I would've brought this to your attention sooner." Cabaji sneered at Luffy. "He's nothing more than a boy who couldn't cut it on the Grand-Line!"
"Couldn't cut it? I never even started!" Luffy laughed at the barb thrown his way. "But I'm about to. Once I've assembled a good enough crew, I'll finally show the world why I'm the man who'll be King." Luffy smirked.
"If we're done mouthing off, I think I'll get this party started!" Zoro drew his blades and charged at Cabaji.
Having little time to react, Cabaji barely managed to block the first of several well-aimed strikes from the green-haired swordsman. Spotting an opening, Cabaji took a swing at Zoro's right abdomen. Blood flew, and pain shot through Cabaji's spine as Zoro successfully countered the attack. Along Cabaji's chest was a deep cut that ran from the top of his shoulder to his midsection.
Eyes bulging and having difficulty breathing, Cabaji created distance between himself and his opponent. "So… this is Roronoa Zoro. To have created such an obvious trap to lure me in. And I fell right for it. But we're only beginning. My pride as Chief of Staff… no. As a swordsman, I swear I won't lose here. Prepare yourself Roronoa Zoro for my acrobatic swordsmanship!" Producing a unicycle he kept hidden within his coat, Cabaji hopped on it and began to ride up a wall. "Acrobat Technique: A Hike in the Mountains!"
Zoro watched unimpressed as Cabaji launched himself off the building, finding a high point of several stories. "Acrobat Technique: Fireworks in the Cool Summer Breeze!" While Cabaji distracted him, Zoro remained unaware that Buggy had also joined the fight, and had sent a disembodied hand racing toward Zoro's backside to hold him in place for Cabaji.
"These fools don't know who they're dealing with. Once they realize I have a devil fruit they'll beg for forgiveness. This kid thinks he'll be King of the Pirates? Nonsense! I, Buggy the Clown, the user of the Chop-Chop - ow!" Buggy's thought's became a cry of pain as he witnessed Luffy appear before his hand and stomp on it. "OW!" Buggy clutched his forearm in agony.
"This is Zoro's fight. Stay out of it." Luffy warned, squashing the hand beneath his foot.
"Tch," Cabaji watched in annoyance as Straw-hat stopped Buggy's attack. "Sting of the Unicycle!" Cabaji dropped swiftly, his sword pointed down at Zoro.
Zoro watched with patience as the so called swordsman dropped. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike. "Oni Giri!"
…
…
"How could we, the Buggy Pirates, be beaten by mere sneak thieves…" Cabaji hit the ground, blood splattering from his new wounds, defeated.
"Heh, we're not sneak thieves. We're pirates." Zoro stated as he sheathed his swords.
"Cabaji!" Buggy called out to his Chief of Staff, rage filling him as his hand was continually being squashed by the damnable country brat. "Damn you! You think this is funny!? How would you like it if someone kept squashing your hand!"
Luffy, who had turned to watch the end of Zoro's fight, turned back to the Pirate Clown, a serious look on his face. "It must be like someone feeding it to a lion. Though I think this is probably worse. Having a disembodied limb being smashed and still feeling it." Luffy emphasized his point by stepping harder.
"AHHH!" Buggy cried in agony. "Step off it already! Just what is it that I did to you anyway? Why are you attacking my crew?"
"I guess it was just bad fortune on your part. I honestly had no intention of even coming to this island." Luffy lifted his foot high enough for the disembodied hand to crawl out from beneath.
"Then why?" Buggy recalled his hand and safely secured it back to his forearm.
"Because you stole someone's treasure."
"Treasure? I haven't taken any treasure other than the map you stole from ME in weeks!" Buggy argued.
"It doesn't matter. All that does matter is that I'm going to kick your ass Bujjy!" Luffy cracked his knuckles.
"IT'S BUGGY! Why do you keep calling me that? There's only been one man who's ever dared call me that, and someday I will have revenge against him!" Buggy declared.
"You… you want revenge against Shanks for giving you a nickname?" Luffy blanched as the surrounding area fell quiet.
"NO! That damn Red-Hair has caused me the greatest pain of my life," Buggy growled out. "If not for him I'd have become an even more powerful pirate than I am now! Treasure beyond any man's dreams and a devil fruit worth more than one can count would have been mine to sell if not for that bastard! Because of him, I lost it all! But I, Buggy the Clown, persevered and have turned every disadvantage into my greatest strength. With my Chop-Chop fruit I will conquer all of the Grand Line and become- how do you know that bastard Shanks!?" Buggy blanched as he cut himself off from his rant.
"He was my captain." Luffy picked his nose with his pinky. "Not for very long mind you, after all, how can the King of the Pirates serve under an Emperor? Really, he just wanted to teach me some stuff. Brought you up a lot though. Said you were best friends and always got a kick out of when you would get mad at being called Bujjy." Luffy finally dug out the snot from his nose and flicked it away.
"... I'LL KILL HIM!" Buggy raged, splitting himself into several pieces, separating his lower half, arms and head from his torso. "So you're a Red-Hair are you? I'll send your head to him in a box! Chop-Chop Rice Cracker!" Stomping on the ground to flick out the hidden knives in his boots and sent his lower half cartwheeling toward Luffy.
Luffy casually dodged out of the way. Not missing a beat Luffy appeared before Buggy's floating torso and gut punched it causing the disembodied head to dry heave. Luffy scrunched his face in confusion as he landed and watched Buggy shakily pull himself back together. "I… hit you?" Luffy turned his head side to side trying to understand how he landed a blow so easily on someone of Shanks' calibre.
"Of course you did! How did you just pop up in front of me!?" Buggy cried, as the vomit so desperate to escape, was finally able to once his head reattached to his body.
"But I wasn't moving that fast? I think I was moving slower than I did against Morban…" Luffy pondered. "Or was I moving faster? Wait… no I was moving slower this time. I'm sure of it! Yeah definitely slower. Yassop could've dodged that. Maybe he thought I would be faster? Hey, did you think I was going to be faster!?" Luffy called out, to Buggy who was wiping his chin clean of his own bile.
"I didn't think you were going to move at all!" Buggy yelled.
"Oh. Damn. I don't want to disappoint the man Shanks thinks so highly of, so I'll ramp it up this time. I'm still working on it, but this is what got Shanks to lemme strike out on my own. I'm going to give it my all." Luffy's eyes began to glow a luminescent blue.
"What… what's happening to you?" An epiphany suddenly dawned on Buggy. "You ate one didn't you! You ate a devil fruit! But… No! Those are the rarest. You actually ate one of those devil fruits! Wait, wait a moment! We can talk about this can't we?"
Luffy's entire body glowed as he was enveloped in light. "Zeus Series!" As the blinding light died down, electricity sparked around Luffy causing his once raven locks to stand on end, appearing to strike out like live lightning. Luffy's hat had flown off from his violent transformation. His black irises now glowed a brilliant blue as his skin gave off a blue hue. "I can only use this for a few minutes, but it should be enough."
Buggy just stared at the visage before him. How long had it been since he'd stood before a monster like this? To stare down one of those lucky bastards that had won the jackpot of all jackpots. Logia. The most powerful of all devil fruits. And now, just over two decades later, there was no one at his side to protect him from the raw power of a Logia user. No crew. No Shanks. No Rayleigh. No Captain.
Thrusting both his arms behind him, Luffy prepared himself. This was a man that once fought alongside Shanks and sailed under the King. It was all or nothing. "1 Million Volts: Bolt-Bolt Bazooka!" Luffy's arms turned to pure lightning before they shot forth and struck true.
"AHHH!" Buggy cried out as the lightning coursed through him. Every part of him hurt as he was cooked alive by the intense plasma interacting with his body. Not one part of Buggy hadn't been electrocuted. Reaching an apex, the attack exploded sending the clown of a pirate flying off into the distance.
The light exuding from Luffy died down as his eyes and hair returned to their normal black.
"A little overkill don't you think Captain?" Zoro remarked as he approached Luffy.
Not responding, Luffy just looked on into the distance of where Buggy had flown off in. "Yeah. Yeah I think it was."
"You're actually made of lightning." The two pirates turned toward Nami who had approached them. In her hands was Luffy's hat that had blown off during his transformation.
"Oh! My hat!" Luffy immediately bounded over to her and took back his beloved straw-hat. He grinned as he placed it back where it belonged. "I told you I would kick his ass."
"Which means you're now our Navigator, right witch?" Zoro asked, having not forgotten the deal they'd made with the orange-haired girl.
As if being snapped out of a trance, Nami folded her arms and looked away. "And all of Buggy's treasure is mine, right?" She countered.
"Of course it is. That was the deal. Though, from now on any treasure we find from here on out belongs to the Straw-hat Pirates." Nami immediately locked her gaze on Luffy, a fire in her eyes. "Wouldn't be right if all the treasure only went to one person, of course you'll get your fair share. After all you're our Navigator. Can't have you being unhappy or you'll lead us into a whirlpool or something shishishi!"
"Hmph! I'm a professional. I wouldn't do anything that would also endanger myself. I would simply toss you overboard if I thought I was being cheated out of what I'm due." Nami then sighed. "I can't believe I'm doing this. Fine I'll be… I'll…" Nami closed her eyes as she swallowed her pride. "I'll be a pirate with you two morons. Goda knows how long you'd actually last without someone competent navigating for you. Speaking of just how did you end up in the clutches of a giant bird? Also I'm assuming the rest of the crew is with the ship right? And just how big is the vessel I'll be helping navigate. I can then at least start making preparations for the list of tools I'll need."
Zoro and Luffy looked at each other. Making eye contact they burst out laughing, Luffy keeling over as Zoro used his captain to keep himself upright. "Hahahahahaha!"
"What!?"
0o0o0 Orange Town - Boodle's House 0o0o0
"Mayor! What happened?" Surrounding the mayor's home were the townspeople of Orange Town. Having become worried with how long it was taking their beloved mayor to return from tending to Chouchou they had come to investigate what was taking him so long. In their hands were pitchforks, scythes, and any other implementations that they could pass off as weapons.
They had come to his home first, which was a rendezvous point they had all agreed upon, before they were going to move on to Pet Food. Should they not find Boodle and Chouchou there they knew there was only once choice left to them. To take on the Buggy Pirates and fight for their home and land.
What they'd found instead was Boodle sitting in front of his home, heavily bandaged, smoking a pipe, while Chouchou sat in his lap. His makeshift armor had been carelessly tossed about and his spear firmly planted in the ground. What horrified them the most was his missing leg and the red colouring that Chouchou now sported in his usually pristine white fur.
"Quickly get the doctor up here, it's bad!" One of the town's leaders called out as they crowded the aging mayor and the small dog. "Don't worry Mayor, we're going to make Buggy pay for this!"
Boodle exhaled a deep breath of smoke as he continued to look to the sky, his smile that he'd worn for the past twenty minutes never leaving his face. "If you can find him, by all means. He owes us quite a lot." He gently petted Chouchou.
"Mayor what do you mean? And where's that doctor!?" Another citizen asked as they garnered confused looks.
"Isn't the sky so beautiful today? I think lightning just may strike," Boodle laughed as tears streamed down his face.
"Mayor please! What you're saying doesn't make any sense! It must be worse than it looks, please Mayor stay with us! Damn Buggy the Clown. You three gather the men, this madness ends tod-" The citizen was interrupted as Boodle had pulled the man down and forced him to sit with him. "Mayor?"
"Just sit with me a moment. Enjoy the sky, the air, the sea. We'll round up the rest of Buggy's men in a bit. For now, take in this moment of freedom." Boodle closed his eyes as thoughts of a grinning bolt of lightning ran through his mind. And who could forget the straw-hat that bolt of lightning loved so much.
He would tell them about their saviors in time.
For now though.
Boodle just wanted to relish in the feeling of freedom.
0o0o0 Middle of the Ocean - Not Far From Shells Town 0o0o0
"Is it his Captain?" A towering man looked over the side of his war vessel, and down at a small boat that had been adrift. In his hand a den-den mushi.
"Yes Vice-Admiral! Though there's no trace of Straw-hat or the Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro. There doesn't appear to have been a struggle, they're just simply not here. It also looks like Straw-hat had set up an intercepting den-den mushi. Probably how he's been avoiding us thus far," the Captain reported, his voice ejecting from the snail's head of the den-den mushi.
"I see. Go through everything. I want to know where Straw-hat planned to go if anywhere at all. If I know my grandson, he's probably just aimlessly wandering. Regardless, we can't underestimate what Red-Hair may have taught him. As of right now he's the most powerful and influential pirate in the East Blue. It's possible he's already managed to gather quite the impressive crew." Garp hung-up his den-den mushi with click-clack as he stared out into the open ocean. "Where have you gone you brat?"
0o0o0 To Be Continued 0o0o0
Wow. I finally got this done. Won't lie, they had us in the first half. But we got it done!
Also is it bad that I now play way too much Warzone? Probably. So glad to be finished with this little arc. I'm not gunna lie, I'm kind of sick of episodes 5-8. I actually really like the Ussop introduction so much more than Nami's so I'll hopefully get that out much sooner than I did with this chapter.
I also wanted to introduce my replacement of the "Gear" system. I know it's early, and we won't be seeing much of it as of now until much later, but this is what I've come up with. "Zeus" is just the first stepping stone of the "God Series" that will be Luffy's power up system. Again we're not going to touch it again for a while but wanted opinions on it. Also Luffy is way overpowered for East Blue. Pretty much any Logia is overpowered for East Blue. I'm going to do more in-depth reveals for the "God Series" within the story as that's honestly where it should happen.
And so now you all know where Nami's been! Just a small ripple change in the timeline from Luffy's ascension into Shank's crew. Things are going to be like that. Not much mind you. I do want East Blue to more or less be the same as cannon. It's going to be later on where consequences pop up. But there will be differences. So don't expect everything to necessarily pan out as they're supposed to.
Reviews:
Appreal: I'm… not sure if you're being sarcastic or not… hopefully not.
Seductive Sausage: I hope I didn't disappoint you. Honestly your review blew me you so much for the kind words and faith in me. I can only hope each chapter meets the criteria you've put on me.
Thedarkpirateking: no, it's a Logia. It's fine that you all know that. There's still plenty of mystery surrounding it that I have no intention of revealing for a very long time. Mwuhahahahaha!
Nami4life: yeah it was fun frying Morgan's ass, frying Buggy's was even more fun. And Garp is on the hunt! Will he find Straw-hat Luffy before he returns to the Grand Line?
BossBoss: Luffy's bounty. I have plans for it, and a specific reason its at 250 million belli. We're not there yet. A lot of this story is, we're not there yet. I explained it a little at the start of the chapter, but there's a bit more to it.
As I stated previously I don't want to directly address reviews in chapter as its a buff to word count and I'd like the vast majority of the word count to be primarily story. But its been a long while and I figured I'd answer here this time around. Though I think I did send direct replies to a few of you that reviewed.
And for any of you that do have thoughts on the story and want to let me know, please do review. It lets me know I'm doing a good job, even if you didn't like the story. I got you engaged and that's all that matters. I won't ever put a review requirement on any of my stories, but it does help motivate me to write.
Hopefully I and everyone in the Grand Adventure will be back soon with our favorite liar,
The Revolutionary Ronin