"But, Captain Buggy!", Clancy pled, tears streaming down his terror-filled eyes, "I can't swim!"

"Well, you better learn fast then!", Buggy bellowed as he shoved the crewman off the side.

Clancy fell into the water with a splash. The crewmates on deck shuddered as they heard him gargle and splash below.

But suddenly, the splashing stopped, and it could be heard that someone was climbing up the ship. This puzzled the crew: if given the choice between being at the mercy of the sea and risking their captain's wrath, the majority of them would choose the former in a heartbeat. What was Clancy thinking?

Clancy's body came up on deck but made no movement on its own. Upon quick inspection, it was easy to tell he was unconscious. Which meant that he was being carried by someone or, for all they knew, something…

Buggy grew irate at the sight of Clancy, "Who said you could come back on board?" but paused when he saw Clancy drop on deck on his backside.

Now, standing before him, was a young black-haired boy, early teens at most. A red scarf covered his mouth and neck.

Buggy looked at this interloper quizzically, "Who are you, kid?", to which the boy responded, "My name is Kiso, sir. A pleasure to meet you,"

Briefly forgetting himself, Buggy smiled, "A pleasure to meet you too-wait, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON MY SHIP?!"

Taken aback by the man with clown makeup's sudden shouting, Kiso blinked, "Apologies, but I saw this man fall into the water, so I pulled him out, else he would drown."

"Pulled him out, eh?", Buggy looked over the side, but was confused to find nothing but the sea, "Hey, kid, where's your boat?"

"Don't have one, sir."

"Don't have one…" Buggy paused, wondering what this kid was playing at, "Then, what the hell are you doing out in the middle of the ocean."

"Out swimming, sir."

"Swimming?", Buggy was incredulous for there was no land for many miles away, "But, how?"

"With these, sir," the boy removed his scarf.

"What the? AAAAGH! What the hell are you?!"

The entire crew screamed once they caught sight of the boy's appearance. He had sharp teeth, like that of a shark. And on his neck there seemed to be three large slits on each side.

"I'm part Fishman, sir."

Mohji pulled Buggy aside, "Captain, I've heard of these fishman. Heard that they're ten times as strong as an ordinary men-and even stronger when they're underwater."

This peaked Buggy's interest, "You don't say?"

"So…Kiso, is it?" Buggy approached the boy, "You can breathe underwater with those…"

"Gills, sir."

"Right…and just what is it you are doing out here?"

"Well, sir, I was looking for a pirate crew to join up with," the boy paused, "you are pirates, are you not?"

"What gave you that idea?", Cabaji asked rhetorically.

"The sail," the boy absentmindedly pointed up at the Big Top's black sail: a skull and crossbones with a big red nose, like its captain.

Buggy hatched an idea, "So, you want to join my crew, do ya…Okay kid, I'll give you a shot.

You see, directly beneath us lies a treasure chest lying at the bottom of the ocean. One would need to be an exceptional swimmer in order to retrieve it.

And, as you've seen with poor Clancy here…", Buggy gestured at Clancy, who was being revived by one of his crewmates, "I'm afraid we're a bit challenged on that department.

But it shouldn't be too hard for a Fishman like you, would it?"

Kiso shook his head, "No, sir."

Buggy grinned, "Well, step to it, then lad!"

On command, Kiso leaped into the water.

"Captain, are you sure about this," Mohji spoke up, "this is the first I've heard of a Fishman wanting to sign onto a human crew."

"What's your point?"

"I'm just saying: be careful around this one, his kind is trouble."

…

Buggy, a local orphan boy on a small island in the East Blue was planting apple tree seeds in a field when he heard a yell, "Hey, kid!"

Buggy grunted. People were always interrupting him when he was working.

"Kid!"

Oh, would he just go away?

"Big Nose!"

That set Buggy off, "WHAT?! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"

In front of him was a large man with a black moustache, "Just wanted to know where the nearest saloon is on this island."

"Enter the village forty steps north from here, then take a right."

"Thanks, kid."

Buggy returned to work, grumbling, "Lousy idiot…"

That night, Buggy was almost finished when he heard a tune, "Yo ho, yo ho. A pirate's life for man. Yo ho, y-," grow closer and closer.

Suddenly, he felt someone bump into him in the dark, "Hey, watch it you-."

It was the same man from before, "I remember you-kid from before."

"What do you want?"

"Tell me somethin'," the man spoke, "this hard day's work?"

"Of course, it is."

"Well, what would you say if you had the chance to leave this dreary island, sail the seas, and find any adventure you want?"

"What are you blabbering about?"

The man gave a wide grin, "I want you to join me pirate crew!"

…

Kiso jumped back onboard, carrying the treasure chest with him, "Done!"

Cabaji opened the chest and was in awe of its contents, "Well, I'll be-hey Captain, the kid pulled it off!"

Buggy rushed excitedly to the chest, shoving Cabaji out of the way, "Lemme see!"

Drooling from his mouth, Buggy turned to Kiso with a smile, "Well, kid, a deal's a deal."

The fish boy had a hopeful look on his face, "Does this mean you'll let me join your crew, Captain…", then paused, realizing the captain hadn't given his name yet.

Buggy took the opportunity to act theatrical, "Buggy, 'the Genius Jester', the most feared rogue to ever sail the East Blue!"

Then, in a more serious tone, "And yes, you may join us."

Kiso smiled, "Thank you, sir!"

Buggy turned the rest of the crew on deck, "Men! Gather round! So, you can meet our new cabin boy!"