BROTHER ON BOARD
Bluejay Blaze - I figured since Garp was in the area from dealing with Morgan that he'd be able to respond to the call from Syrup Village. Especially when someone mentioned the bit about the Straw Hat. I thought it would be a funny thing to include. You'll see Garp on Luffy-clean up-duty again but it's only for the East Blue Saga.
dhampire712 - Thanks. The non-interfering thing sort of goes out the window when the opponent starts attacking everybody though. And let's be honest, the Kuro fight isn't exactly in Luffy's top ten so I thought it would be okay to tweak this one. I felt that it would be more meaningful in showing the contrast between the heartless Kuro and the loyalty that the Straw Hats have for each other. Also, Jango's not dead.
Mikila94 - I specifically added this line to note that Jango was still alive "The surviving Black Cat Pirates, Kuro and Jango among them, had been tied and bound on board the Bezan Black." He's just critically injured. So no more MJ-style dancing for the Hypnotist. Sabo, Bonnie and Usopp in a love triangle? For that to work Usopp would have to have some kind of feelings for the rifle. Absurd. Ridiculous. Could never happen. Um... actually... perhaps you should take a look at this chapter first?
Johnny Spectre - Thanks for pointing that out. It's fixed. Let me know if you spot any other mistakes.
lostdoggy - No problem. As long as you give me a name and something to respond to that doesn't give too much away, I'll keep responding and answering questions. I write during the week, edit over the weekend, then post first thing on Monday. That's when I'll respond.
Fairy of the Friz - Good choice joining the Bonnie Anne fan club. Especially after you see this and the next chapter.
PipeDream - Ch 2 Review. Yup. Ace has no idea how 'attached' Sabo got to the rifle he sent him. But we also have no idea how Ace got Bonnie. Ch 3 Review. Nami actually touches on that in this chapter. Luffy's natural gullibility plus Sabo's charisma and persuasiveness and the fact that they're brothers makes Luffy a lost cause as far as Bonnie is concerned. Ch 10 Review. I'm glad I've already got you this excited over my story. I haven't even gotten to the good stuff get. There's a long way to go before I can even really think about the time skip. Also, remember that the Straw Hats split up before the Krieg fight.
Pippalina - A Zoan Devil Fruit was actually my initial idea too. They're horribly underrated. But the problem is, I can't think of an animal that would particularly fit Sabo. I don't want to go cliche and pick an OP Mythical Zoan type. Unlike the Straw Hats and the Warlords, Sabo doesn't have an animal theme. His only 'theme' is Steampunk with his Victorian era clothing plus the goggles. I'm currently trying to think of something that works with that.
Johnny and Yosaku-
The Straw Hats Pirates sailed through the peaceful waters of the East Blue with their new recruit Usopp and their new ship the Going Merry.
"Alright, Sword-Hoarder, I've finally figured out a job for you!" Sabo proudly announced to Zoro.
"Took you long enough," Zoro grunted.
"You didn't give me much to work with!" Sabo argued. "You can't navigate for crap, you can't cook and I bet you couldn't fire a cannon to save your life. Our only use for you so far was in battle."
"If you have a point, hurry up and make it," Zoro advised, "Otherwise I'll show you how useful my swords and I can be."
"You had my brother's back in that fight against Kuro," Sabo said as he looked passed Sabo at Luffy as he messed around with a black flag and some paint in the middle of the deck. "That means a lot to me. You were also our first recruit so that gives you seniority. Now that we've got a ship, we need someone to ensure that she can keep sailing."
"So… what? You want me to be a shipwright?" Zoro asked.
"I doubt you're a skilled enough carpenter for that," Sabo said. "You're gonna be our new Bosun."
Zoro blinked. "Okay, now let's pretend I've been sailing mostly on my own for all these years and don't know what that is exactly…"
"And you call yourself a pirate," Sabo muttered, "A 'Boatswain' is an officer that's in charge of maintaining the deck of the ship before, during and after travel. Your duties include raising and lowering the anchor, ensuring that the sails are rigged properly before we set off and stay that way during travel then fixing anything on the deck that breaks. Also while we're sailing you've gotta take lead everyone in adjusting the sails based on our navigator's orders."
"Sounds more like I'm stuck doing all the grunt work," Zoro pointed out.
"You don't have to do it all on your own," Sabo told him. "I'm sure Usopp would be more than happy to help you maintain the Merry. Your job is just to ensure that it all gets done. Our crew's small but as it grows you'll have more and more people to work under you and help you. We've all gotta pull our weight around here so I figure giving you some important responsibilities will keep you from napping and drinking all day."
"I'm still going to sleep and drink," Zoro assured him. "Now I just have some stuff to do in between."
(A/N: The official name for the position is Boatswain but it's pronounced 'Bosun' which is why, going forward, Zoro's new position will be written out as Boatswain but spoken as "Bosun".)
"HEY GUYS! I'M FINISHED!" Luffy announced as he held up the flag he'd painted.
Sabo, Zoro, Nami and Usopp gathered in front of Luffy as he unveiled his artwork. They were all… unimpressed.
"Maybe… it's supposed to be abstract?" Nami suggested.
"Pirate flags are supposed to be scary," Zoro reasoned. "That is pretty scary."
"That stinks!" Usopp objected.
"What? You guys mean you don't like it?" Luffy asked.
Sabo adjusted his top hat and walked up to Luffy. "Luffy, you know as Quartermaster I'm the voice of the crew and that it's my job to speak up in their interest and on their behalf." Luffy nodded. "Well on behalf of the crew, I've got to tell you that your painting stinks and if you make that our symbol you'll be banned from the galley. And the only meals you'll be served will be vegetarian!"
Luffy's eyes bulged in horror, "WAH? NO FOOD? NO MEAT!?" Luffy tossed the flag away at Sabo.
"There's another reason he's Quartermaster," Nami whispered to Zoro. "He knows Luffy better than anyone so he's best at reining him in."
"He can have that job," Zoro replied. "Too much talking, paperwork and dealing with Luffy. I'm happy with mine."
"Here, let me try," Usopp offered.
A moment later Usopp had painted his own version of the Jolly Roger on the other side of the flag. His version meant that the skull had a long nose and one of the crossbones was replaced with a slingshot.
"HEY! I'M CAPTAIN!" Luffy protested.
"Usopp… insubordination like that is grounds to lock you in the brig," Sabo said.
"But the Merry doesn't have a brig," Usopp reminded him.
"Then we'll use the anchor room until we can add one," Sabo decided, "Unless of course, you'd like to try your hand at Luffy's idea."
"Seems like a waste of my artistic talents but I'll give it a shot," Usopp agreed.
A moment later, a smiling skull and crossbones with a straw hat had been painted on a new flag. Everyone agreed that it was much better.
"Now you guys just need to paint it on the sail," Nami resolved.
Sabo turned and grinned at Zoro. "Hear that Bosun. Sounds like you've got your first job."
"Fine," Zoro responded. "But you and long nose are still helping me." The new Boatswain glared at the Captain. "And if you so much as touch a paintbrush I'm throwing you overboard."
A while later, Sabo and Zoro sat on the wooden yard above the main sail.
"And that's how you properly rig the sails," Sabo concluded. They both took a moment to look down at the main sail that they'd just finished rehanging after Usopp painted their new Jolly Roger on it. Their new pirate flag was fluttering in the breeze from where it had been hung at the top of the rear mast.
"So you actually do know how to do this stuff," Zoro noted. "I thought you were just pawning the stuff you couldn't do off on me."
"Any sailor worth his salt knows how to do this stuff," Sabo assured him. "If you're gonna be a proper Bosun then you've gotta know these sails inside and out. Plus, it's more of a matter of it being stuff that I don't want to do instead of not being able to do it."
"At least this place looks like a decent spot to take a nap," Zoro remarked.
"I wouldn't recommend that," Sabo replied. "You roll over or get hit with a strong breeze and you'll fall all the way down to the deck. You want to nap up here? Use the crow's nest."
Zoro looked over at the nest and shrugged. "Don't mind if I do." Zoro stood up and carefully walked along the yard to the crow's nest then hoisted himself up over the edge and into it.
Sabo shook his head as he slipped over to the rope ladder and started to climb down.
KA-BOOM!
Directly below him, Luffy had just fired off one of the cannons.
"What're you doing Luffy?" Luffy's actions had drawn the attention of Usopp.
"I can't make this stupid cannon work," Luffy complained.
Sabo dropped down off the rope ladder and sat on the railing. He reached back into the ship and picked up Bonnie Anne from where he'd left the rifle propped against the side of the ship while he helped Zoro rig the main sail.
"You're probably just using it wrong," Usopp chided him.
"Oh yeah?" Luffy retorted. "Let's see you do it. Hit that rock."
"Fine!" Usopp retorted but then faltered, "But only if Sabo does it first!"
"I guess I'll give it a shot," Sabo agreed. "Luffy, hold Bonnie." Sabo handed his rifle off to his brother and took his position behind the cannon. He eyed the rock and carefully lined up his shot then lit the fuse.
KA-BOOM!
They all watched as the cannonball sailed across the water but then veered to the side at the last moment and crashed down into the water beside the rock.
"Booooo!" Luffy and Usopp chorused.
"Shut up, the wind took it," Sabo insisted as he turned and took his rifle back from Luffy.
KER-CHOW!
Bonnie Anne fired and blasted a round off the side of the ship.
Luffy, Sabo and Usopp looked up in time to see a chunk of the rock break off of the side.
"Yes, yes, we all know you're the best shot here," Sabo chided his rifle with a bemused smile. "You don't have to rub it in."
"Not so fast!" Usopp objected. "I've still gotta take my turn!" Usopp loaded another cannonball into the cannon then slipped around behind it. "Now judging by how Sabo did... I just have to compensate for the wind resistance and how much further we've gone…" Usopp squinted at the rock and lit the fuse.
KA-BOOOM!
The cannonball soared over the water and blasted the rock to pieces.
"Whoa, he hit it on his first try," Sabo remarked.
"WHOA! YOU HIT IT ON YOUR FIRST TRY!" Luffy exclaimed.
"WHOA! I HIT IT ON MY FIRST TRY!" Usopp cheered.
Usopp turned and pointed smugly at Bonnie Anne, "Top that, you prissy pistol!"
Sabo raised an eyebrow while Luffy laughed. "Shishishishi! Okay, Usopp. I've decided. You're gonna be our new sharpshooter.
"Or," Sabo said, "If you want to use the actual professional title like a proper pirate, you can be our Master Gunner."
"Sure!" Usopp happily agreed. "And if you ever get tired of being Captain just say the word and I'll take over for you."
Up in the crow's nest, Zoro hadn't quite gotten to sleep yet. He looked down at Usopp in concern.
"Okay, so I finished taking stock of everything we have," Nami announced to the others. The Straw Hats had gathered in the galley and were sitting around the table for a meeting. "Kaya was nice enough to fully stock this ship for us. We've got cannonballs, kegs of gunpowder, fresh water and booze…"
"Oh, and food!" Luffy chimed.
"Right, and food," Nami added, "We've got dry food in the pantry also meat in the fridge and icebox along with various fruits and vegetables. But that actually brings me to my point. We've got a Captain, a Quartermaster, a Bosun, a Master Gunner and I'm your Navigator for now. But there's still someone important that we need."
"Right!" Luffy agreed. "Absolutely! We have to get one as soon as possible."
"Now… I'd be willing to do it," Nami offered, "But it won't be free and it won't come cheap."
"Or we could recruit a professional that wouldn't charge us a fortune," Sabo suggested.
"Right," Luffy resolved, "We need to recruit… A MUSICIAN!"
"Rubber idiot!" Nami rubbed the large tick mark on her forehead.
Zoro shook his head, "I thought you were going to say something smart for once."
"Do you have any idea what sailing on the seas is like?" Usopp snapped. "This isn't a cruise ship!"
"But pirates have to sing," Luffy argued.
"Hold on," Sabo said, "I can help him get this." Sabo turned to his brother. "Luffy… Kaya gave us a lot of raw meat. That means you can't eat it yet."
Luffy's eyes went wide. "YOU'RE RIGHT! WE NEED A COOK!"
"Took you long enough," Usopp complained,
"Rubber idiot," Nami muttered again.
"COME OUT YOU, DAMN PIRATES!" a loud voice shouted from outside. "I'LL KILL ALL OF YA!"
KRASH!
It sounded as though an angry intruder had boarded the Going Merry and was smashing stuff on the deck. Luffy raced out the door onto the deck to confront him. "HEY! WHO'RE YOU?"
"WHO AM I?" the man replied. "I SHOULD BE ASKING WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE! YOU TRIED TO MURDER MY PARTNER!"
CHUNK!
This was followed by the sound of the railing outside the galley being broken.
Sabo looked across the room at Zoro, "You do realize that you're responsible for getting everything he breaks repaired."
"Shit," Zoro cursed as he grabbed his swords and raced out the door after Luffy. But he stopped in his tracks when spotted the intruder. "What the heck… Johnny?"
"Zoro-bro!" the man exclaimed.
"I guess Zoro knows him," Nami realized.
'Johnny' was a dark haired swordsman with sunglasses that wore a blue hooded jacket. He had the kanji for 'Sea' tattooed on the side of his tanned face.
"What're you doing here?" Zoro asked. "Where's Yosaku?"
"That's just it!" Johnny exclaimed as he sheathed his sword. "Yosaku… IS DYING!"
A little bit later, Johnny's partner Yosaku had been brought onto the Going Merry. Yosaku was another swordsman who wore a green hooded coat, red headgear and plaid yellow shorts. He was pale, wheezing, coughing up blood and missing a number of teeth.
The Straw Hats gathered around and took note of Yosaku's horrible condition.
"I can't believe we ran into you, Zoro-bro," Johnny sighed.
"What's with the 'bro'?" Sabo turned and asked Zoro. "These guys your brothers?"
"He and Yosaku call everyone that's earned their respect 'bro'," Zoro told him. He looked down at the sick man. "What happened, Johnny?"
"He was fine a few days ago," Johnny explained as he sat sadly next to his partner. "But then he went pale and started fainting. I don't know what's wrong with him but his teeth are falling out and his old wounds are reopening… I don't know what to do! I brought him to that big rock so he could get some rest but then it blew up!"
Luffy and Usopp went wide eyed and gulped, "Oops. Sorry!" They both bowed apologetically.
"It's okay," Johnny said, "A chunk of the rock was blasted off before the explosion. Thanks to that warning I was able to get Yosaku to safety in time."
Usopp turned his shocked gaze to Bonnie Anne, "Okay. You win this round, Bonnie. But trust me there will be a rematch!"
Nami eyed the sniper with concern while Zoro shook his head.
"I can't believe this is how it's going to end," Johnny sobbed. "Our names used to strike fear into the hearts of pirates… but now… I don't know if I can continue without my partner."
"Would you knock that off?" Nami snapped at him.
"Nami? What the hell!" Zoro protested.
"How dare you make light of my partners suffering!" Johnny growled at her.
Nami ignored them. "Luffy, Usopp, there are fresh limes in the galley. Squeeze some juice into a bowl and bring it back here."
"Right!" the Captain and Master Gunner quickly carried out the Navigator's orders.
"It's scurvy," Nami explained as Luffy and Usopp poured the lime juice into Yosaku's mouth. "It's caused by a lack of fruits and vegetables in a sailor's diet. In the past it was considered a death sentence for sailors because ships didn't have the technology to store fresh fruit for long voyages. But if we acted in time he should be fine in a few days."
"Really Nami-sis!?" Johnny gushed. "He's going to be okay?"
"He'll be fine," Nami assured him. "And don't call me that."
"Wow, Nami!" Luffy exclaimed. "You're like a Doctor!"
"I always knew she was special," Usopp remarked.
"THIS IS ALL BASIC INFORMATION ANY PIRATE SHOW KNOW!" Nami berated them.
"This kind of stuff never seemed important," Sabo admitted as he rubbed the back of his head. "Luffy, Ace 'n' I never got sick."
"It might be fine for you freakish lunatics," Nami retorted, "But it's a big problem for NORMAL people!"
Yosaku jumped up off the ground and started dancing, "HOORAY! I'M SAVED!"
"SAVED BY LIME JUICE!" Johnny cheered as linked arms with Yosaku and joined his dance.
"Quit dancing!" Nami scolded them, "You haven't fully recovered yet."
"And you called us weird," Sabo commented. "Of course two swordsman would be nuts."
"You ARE weird!" Nami insisted. "You're even more nuts than they are!"
Johnny and Yosaku stopped dancing and struck cool poses.
"Sorry for the late introductions," Johnny apologized, "But I'm Johnny."
"And I'm Yosaku," Yosaku continued. "We're Zoro-bro's old bounty hunting partners. I thought I was a goner for sure. Thanks for your help."
Johnny looked over at Zoro, "I never thought I'd see the day where 'Pirate Hunter' Roronoa Zoro became a pirate himself."
"This is a special group of pirates," Zoro told them. "Also, I'm actually the Bosun on this ship. And since you broke our railing and smashed those barrels you've gotta fix it."
"Right, of course, Zoro-bro," Johnny and Yosaku chorused.
PLURT!
Yosaku coughed up blood and dropped to the ground proving that he wasn't fully recovered yet.
"So… what have we learned today, my special crew?" Nami asked the other Straw Hats while Johnny set about repairing the railing.
"There are all kinds of dangers we'll face on long voyages," Zoro stated.
"He would've died if he hadn't come across us," Usopp added.
"He almost died because he came across us," Sabo reminded him.
"Geez, I said I was sorry!" Usopp protested. "You don't see Bonnie rubbing it in."
Zoro and Nami shared a concerned look,
"Oh, I know!" Luffy exclaimed, "We definitely need to find a cook so he'll make us good food and meat!"
"That's… actually right," Nami commented as she tried and failed to hide her surprise. "A good cook would ensure that we'll all have healthy, nutritious food that'll help us keep our strength up as we continue our voyage."
"Oh, Zoro-bro!" Johnny called out and raised his hand.
"Yes?" Zoro asked.
"I know a place you can find a cook!" Johnny happily informed them. "Although, getting one of them to join you might be a problem. But there's this great restaurant on the sea called 'the Baratie'. It's about two or three days from here. The cooks there are all top notch. But they're really tough too. It's north from here and is pretty close to the Grand Line. All sorts of rough customers go there."
"When you consider the journey we're on, we'll need a tough Ship's Cook," Sabo reasoned. "It sounds like just the place."
Johnny leaned in and whispered to Zoro, "Zoro-bro, I even hear that 'Hawk Eye' guy you're looking for was once sighted there." Zoro went stiff as Johnny turned to the other Straw Hats. "I'll happily take you guys there as a show of gratitude for saving my partner."
"YEAH!" Luffy cheered. "LET'S GO TO THE OCEAN RESTAURANT!"
And so with Johnny and Yosaku's small skiff tied to it, the Going Merry changed course and headed north towards the ocean-going restaurant known as the Baratie.
Later that night, Usopp was walking along the deck thinking fond memories of the home he'd left behind when Johnny and Yosaku suddenly grabbed him and dragged him up into the galley.
"Hey! What's the big idea?" Usopp protested as he was deposited in a seat at the galley table and found himself facing Nami with Zoro standing behind her.
"Usopp… this is an intervention," Nami announced as Johnny and Yosaku barred the door. "Zoro and I both noticed you showing some strange behavior that has us both concerned about your mental health. It seems as though you've been treating Sabo's rifle like it's a member of the crew."
"Isn't she?" Usopp asked. "Sabo loves her and Luffy treats her like Nakama."
"There's a reason I call him 'gun-nut'," Zoro told him, "Sabo's crazy."
"And Luffy's naturally very gullible," Nami added, "Even if he wasn't, Sabo's his brother so Luffy would probably go along with whatever he says regardless. Sabo's had plenty of time to corrupt his brother. We're trying to save you while we still can."
"But… she saved my life," Usopp replied.
"It is a gun," Nami reminded him. "Sabo's just messing with you."
"Then you weren't paying attention during the last battle!" Usopp retorted hotly. "The hypnotist had Zoro and Sabo hypnotized. Sabo pointed Bonnie, Sabo pulled her trigger but Bonnie missed."
"Usopp…" Nami attempted to cut in but Usopp kept going.
"How many times have you seen Sabo fire Bonnie?" Usopp demanded. "He stood next to me while we were on our own facing those pirates and fired her off almost a dozen times and not once did she recoil! But I fired her at the hypnotist and she threw me back three feet! Bonnie didn't like that Sabo was hypnotized so she recoiled and smacked him the face to snap him out of it. She saved me!"
"Look Usopp," Nami said, "There's a perfectly logical explanation for all that."
"You've seen how strong Luffy is, right?" Zoro asked. Usopp nodded. "He might not look it since he's mostly a distance fighter but Sabo's really strong too. Luffy and Sabo trained together before they set out. So I'm pretty sure the gun-nut is close to our rubber captain in terms of strength."
"Exactly," Nami continued, "I saw Sabo hit a lion tamer with his rifle and send the guy flying over thirty feet. I bet that the rifle recoils every time that it fires. Sabo's just strong enough to hold it back and has probably gotten used to it. But when he was hypnotized he wasn't consciously holding onto it so it recoiled and smacked him in the face. You see? It was all a lucky coincidence."
"Repeat after me," Zoro instructed, "It's just a gun."
"She's just a gun," Usopp repeated.
"IT'S just a gun," Zoro corrected him.
"It's just a gun," Usopp repeated.
"Keep repeating that," Zoro advised. "Maybe it'll eventually stick."
Usopp nodded and left the room. "It's just a gun… It's just a gun…"
Nami looked over at Zoro, "He's worse than I thought…"
Usopp made his way across the deck and headed for the anchor room like he had originally planned. He stopped when he saw a bit of white cloth wrapped around the handle but shrugged and went inside. The sight that greeted him immediately froze Usopp on the spot.
Sabo was sitting shirtless on a barrel with Bonnie Anne between his legs. The Quartermaster had a bottle of warm oil on the floor next to him and was polishing the rifle's revolving cartridges in a manner that could only be described as intimate.
"URK!" Usopp gulped in shock. Sabo's head snapped up and he finally noticed the intruder.
"THE HELL, MAN?" Sabo snapped as he hugged Bonnie Anne to him seemingly to preserve her modesty. "YOU EVER HEARD OF KNOCKING?"
"I-sorry!" Usopp sputtered as he stumbled backwards, tripped then frantically crawled out of the room.
Usopp slammed the door behind him then panted as he slumped against it. His face was now beet red. "She's just a gun… she's just a gun…"
"The tie means don't go in."
Usopp looked up to see Luffy sitting above him on the rear railing of the front deck. "What?"
"Sabo's tie," Luffy said as he pointed down at the white cloth on the door knob that Usopp had dismissed. Usopp now recognized it as Sabo's cravat tie. "When it's on the door it means don't go in. Shishishi! Sabo hates to have his private time with Bonnie interrupted. I learned that a long time ago."
"I… right thanks," Usopp replied. "I'll remember that." Once his blush finally faded, Usopp stood up and went down to the men's quarters. He threw himself into his bunk and whimpered to himself. "She's not just a gun… She's not just a gun…"
Usopp had been so flustered by walking in on Sabo and had been in such a hurry to leave that he had completely forgotten to ask about the large burn mark scar that he'd spotted on the Quartermaster's side and looked like it spread around to his back.
Two days later, the Straw Hats had made it the Baratie.
The bounty hunter duo called the Straw Hats to the deck and happily presented the restaurant that was designed to look like a fish floating in the middle of the ocean.
"Whoa! What a big fish!" Luffy exclaimed.
"But why is it a fish?" Sabo wondered.
"Wow!" Nami gasped.
"That's so cool!" Usopp gushed.
"Hey… it looks like we're not the only ones coming for a bite to eat," Zoro warned them.
Everyone turned in time to see a marine ship close in from behind and then pull up alongside them.
"Who's that guy?" Luffy wondered as he pointed at a young gray-haired officer standing at the railing. He wore a fancy suit and had iron bolts on his hand.
"I am Marine Lieutenant 'Iron Fist' Fullbody," the Marine Officer announced. "Who is your Captain? I don't recognize your flag."
"I am!" Luffy replied. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy. We're the Straw Hat Pirates"
"And I'm Sabo the Quartermaster," Sabo added. "You don't recognize our flag because we just made it two days ago. We haven't been sailing for long."
"Two days ago?" Johnny whispered to Yosaku.
"Hahaha! What amateurs!" Yosaku laughed.
"I'm Usopp the Master Gunner."
"You didn't need to chime in," Zoro told him.
"You kidding?" Usopp questioned. "I'm proud to be the Master Gunner of this crew! I'm telling everybody!"
"Wait a minute… I recognize you two," Lt Fullbody realized as he focused on the Bounty Hunter Duo. "You're those two-bit bounty hunters Johnny and Yosaku. Looks like you two bit off more than you could handle and got captured by pirates."
"Two-bit? This guy's insulting us!" Johnny realized.
"I think we should teach that snooty marine a lesson!" Yosaku decided.
The two Bounty Hunters lunged from the Going Merry to Fullbody's marine vessel.
POW! POW!
And were quickly defeated and dropped barely conscious back onto the deck of the Going Merry.
"Wow… you guys are really weak," Luffy commented.
"Who were you guys calling amateurs?" Sabo asked.
"Hey… that guy's really strong!" Yosaku insisted.
"Almost… got him…" Johnny groaned.
Only Zoro noticed Nami as she picked up one of the fallen wanted posters that the bounty hunters had dropped when they came crashing back onto the Going Merry.
"Fullbody, that's enough playing around. We have to go if we want to keep our reservation."
"Right, of course, dear," Fullbody told his unseen date. He looked back at the Straw Hats. "You pirates are lucky that I'm off duty. I only came here to eat so I don't have time to fight you." Fullbody turned to one of his men and whispered. "Sink it." Then prepared to leave the ship with his date.
"HEY! THEY'RE AIMING THEIR GUNS AT US!" Usopp warned everyone. "Should we fire back?"
"I've got it!" Luffy called out as he jumped onto the railing as the Marines fired their cannons.
KA-BOOM-BOOM!
"GUUM… GUUM… BALLOOOON!" Luffy's body stretched as he inflated himself to a much larger size. Fullbody, Johnny and Yosaku all gaped in surprise at the sudden display of Luffy's Devil Fruit Powers.
BA-BOING!
"YOU CAN HAVE THESE BACK!" Luffy shouted as the cannonball bounced off his inflated belly.
KRASH-KRASH!
Unfortunately, Luffy's aim was off and the cannonballs went flying off course and smashed through the roof of the Baratie.
"Oops…" Luffy mumbled sheepishly.
"WATCH WHO YOU'RE GIVING IT TO!" Usopp berated the Captain. "This is why I'm the Master Gunner!"
Sabo took off his top hat a rubbed his forehead in annoyance. "Something tells me that I'm going to have my work cut out for me here."
A bunch of tough, angry-looking cooks came charging out of the Baratie looking to find the one responsible for damaging their restaurant.
Everyone was so caught up in the ensuing confusion that, once again, Zoro was the only one to notice that Nami still hadn't looked away from the Wanted Poster she'd taken and that she was regarding it with a grave but determined expression.
Fullbody smirked as he stepped off his ship onto the deck of the Baratie with his sexy date and pointed back at the Straw Hats. "Those pirates are the ones responsible for damaging the restaurant. It was the one with the straw hat."
Sabo glared after the marine as he smugly made his way inside. "Okay. I hate that guy and suddenly want something really bad to happen to him."
The cooks were led by a big scrappy-looking man with huge bulging Popeye forearms. "What's the big idea?"
"I didn't do it on purpose!" Luffy insisted.
"Yer comin' with us, ya pirate brat!" Patty snapped. "Yer gonna see the Head Chef!"
"Hold on, hold on," Sabo cut in, "As this crew's Quartermaster, I request that I come along so I can speak in my Captain's defense."
"Fine," Patty agreed. "Both of ya 're comin' ter see Head Chef Zeff!"
The other Straw Hats watched as the angry cooks dragged off their Captain and Quartermaster.
"Do you think Sabo will be able to talk them out of this?" Nami asked.
"I don't know," Usopp admitted as he eyed the holes the cannonballs had smashed in the Baratie. "That's some pretty extensive damage. I doubt they'll be able to just sweep it under the carpet."
"Something tells me that we may be here for a while," Zoro said.
Sabo's scar - There's a reason why the Sabo in my profile and story picture is missing his facial scar. He never got it. Which is why Sabo never had amnesia. Back in the Prologue when Saint Jalmack fired at Sabo's ship the second time he ended up blowing up a barrel behind Sabo. Sabo was caught in the explosion which resulted in a burn scar on his side that spreads around to his back. This shows that even though the encounter went differently, Sabo was still scarred by it both physically and mentally.
Sabo meets Sanji next chapter!
Silver Signing Off