"Penny chan! Join my crew!" The girls eyebrows flew into her hairline and her jaw dropped, nearly falling out of her chair from surprise and shock. The kid wasn't serious, was he?

She took a good look at his face. Oh yes, he was dead serious.

"You want me-" Penny paused and pointed to herself.

He nodded.

"To join your-" She paused again and pointed to him.

"-Pirate crew" He beamed.

"Yea! Your voice is sugoi! We need someone who can sing! And jii-san said that you were a thief and really good at knife throwing! And that you could spot a marine in a crowd from a mile away! Besides, you're wanted, right? Do you wanna stay here forever?" He asked manically and Penny shook her head.

"Course not. I have dreams and the like. I want to go to the grand line one day. But, Luffy, I'm a loner. I've never worked with a crew. And besides throwing knifes and singing, I suck at fighting and just about everything else." She said. Luffy simply grinned as he tugged at the rim of his hat.

"Well DUH! That's why we have the crew, to make up for that stuff! I can't do anything but fight either. I have Zoro as my swordsmen, Nami as my navigator, Usopp as our liar and sharpshooter, Sanji as our chef, and now, we have you as our musician and a knife thrower! We're headed to Reverse Mountain right after leaving here, too!" He said, excited, and Penny forced herself not to let him get to her.

"Congratulations! Gotta go! Bye bye!!" she chirped nervously seeing Smoker walk into the bar. The girl all but vanished.

"Sugoi! She's fast!"

---- ---

"A pirate, hm?" Penny thought to herself, and then sighed as she leaned back against a building. Said building was in an alley in which she hid to finally lose the marines.

'It wouldn't be so bad. But the Grand Line's a dangerous place. I'm a good knife thrower, but I can't just throw knifes at Grand Line sea kings and expect to live for long. Is Luffy really that strong? His bounty says he is, him having defeating Arlong and all……what was that?' Penny mused silently, hearing something strangely loud.

She stepped out of the alleyway, nearly becoming run over by Luffy and what appeared to be his crew.

The girl let out a cry of surprise when she saw a rubber hand fly at her, was grabbed by her orange-brown vest, and snapped to Luffy.

"There you are Penny-chan! Come on, we gotta leave now!"

"Leave? Wait, but I never agreed to leaving with you!" she exclaimed, struggling against him in vain. He was a lot stronger then his appearance let on.

"Come on, Penny-chan, it will be fun! Everyone, this is Penny. She's our new musician! And she's a awesome knife thrower!" The girl was put on her feet and easily ran with the others. "Plus she's fast!"

She scowled.

"Well, you tend to get that way living in a town with marines and being wanted and all…..err…hi. Nice to meet you." Penny said as she felt the eyes of the group turn on her.

The blonde of the group appeared beside her, eyes turning to hearts.

"Luffy no Baka!! That's not how you treat a lady!"

'Eh?'

-------

"Man, that was a close one! We were almost caught back there! I'm Captain Usopp of the Going Merry, and this is my crew!" Usopp said proudly after their escape from the marines. They were leaving Rougetown.

"You're not the captain, I am!" Luffy yelled, and then moaned. "Saaanji, when's the food gonna be ready?"

"Idiot! You should have ate when you were in town! I'm not making lunch" He was

interrupted when a loud growl resounded from Penny's stomach. She blushed sheepishly.

"Ah, sorry. I can wait until supper, I sorta had a run in with the marines and didn't get to eat,"

"Come into the kitchen while I make you a snack, Penny-chan!"

"Eh?" She blinked, confused as he danced off.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to the attention. I'm Nami, in case Luffy didn't mention me. That's Zoro, Usopp, and the lovesick cook is Sanji." she explained to the new girl, whom sighed in relief seeing someone who was a bit sane.

"Thanks, Nami-san. Are they always like this?" she asked, watching as Usopp chased after a laughing Luffy, whom had stolen the sniper's slingshot. Both tripped over a dozing Zoro, who immediately got angry and chased them both around, swords at the ready.

"Like I said, you get used to it. But let me explain a few rules. Actually, for you, there's really only one: no going into my tangerine trees. Got it?" The Navigator explained, a menacing aura coming from her as she spoke.

Penny gulped slightly.

"Err, y-yes, of course. I'm not really crazy about tangerines anyways!" she said, truthfully.

…..though if it were in a dessert of some sort then she would be all over it.

"Great! Then come with me, I'll show you around while Sanji is cooking. Despite his habits, he's an incredible cook." She said, then grabbed the girl's wrist and begin to give her a tour.

-----

"Man, Sanji-kun, that was incredible! Even better then the sandwich you made me!"

Penny said with a laugh, in the good, carefree mood with the others.

Luffy jumped up suddenly.

"Penny-chan, sing another song!" he said, and she blinked.

"Yes, Penny-Chwan, sing for us!"

"Yea, Penny-chan, sing!"

"Sing!"

Zoro took a swig of his drink and looked at her demandingly. She sighed, but then looked

thoughtfully, before she grinned.

"Alright.

And she sang for them; the same song she had sang when she first meet with Luffy, only this time she got to finish it.

Singing always gave her a sense of peace, eased her into whatever mood of the song she was singing, and she had the abilities to use her voice to do the same with others. When she would sing a sad song, she would feel sad, and those that heard would feel a twinge of sadness as well.

So as she sung the cheerful, upbeat, hope filled song, it got their spirits up exceptionally high, her own included.

"Sugoi!" Luffy cheered, along with the others, as Penny laughed along with them.

"Thanks. The old barkeep taught me that song. Actually, he taught me all the pirate songs I know, but I picked up a few off the streets."

"Another! Another!"

"Fine! One more….hmm…..

When I was just a lad looking for my true vocation, my father said "Now son, this choice deserves deliberation

Though you could be a doctor or perhaps a financier

My boy why not consider a more challenging career"/

Hey ho ho

You'll cruise to foreign shores

And you'll keep your mind and body sound

By working out of doors

True friendship and adventure are what we can't live without

And when you're a professional pirate

That's what the job is about…

"Ya! Another! Another!"

"Aw, come on, Luffy! Can't I sing tomorrow? I'll sing all you want then, but I'm tired now!" Penny whined slightly, her eyes a bit droopy and the alcohol not helping.

"Penny-chan's ready for bed, so leave her alone! I'll escort you, Penny chan." Sanji said in his usual love struck tone, and she shook her head with a laugh.

"Thanks, Sanji-kun, but I think I remember the way. Good night, everyone!"

"Night, Penny-chan!"

'These guys….they're crazy…..I love it……

What in the hell have I gotten myself into….?'

Again, sorry for the shortness, but it will get longer as I get more into the story.

Reviews are appreciated!

Pyro chan