" I drop you here . " Taurus assured, placing Luffy's cage on the floor.
" Thank you, cow. " Thanked him Luffy. " You got me out of a mess. "
" There is nothing, moo. "
" You can go back now. " Said Lucy, arriving with Zoro.
And while the bull disappeared, Raynare dropped to the ground, while her shoulder injury was struggling to close.
" Hell, if I hold the idiot who shot me, he will pay me. "
Suddenly looking up, she noticed Luffy turning his head to the side, not to look at her.
" Who has he, yet ? " Zoro asked him, seeing the gesture of his captain.
" I am angry. " He learned. " I almost died because of one of my companions. "
" Are you still sulking ? " Raynare asked him. " Don't be spiteful for so little ! And then, I did this for three reasons! Know the level of Baggy's crew ! Find out if stealing his treasure was possible ! As well as showing our friend, the navigator, the dangers of putting someone stronger than her on her back. "
" Navigator ? " Repeated Zoro and Lucy, looking at Nami. " She joins the crew ? "
" No. " Retorted the redhead. " And then, I don't see how it is your business that I put my life at stake like this! I'm smart enough to manage. "
" That's what I thought too, when I decided to ignore Azazel-sama's orders and do whatever I wanted. " Raynare taught her . " I very quickly regretted it. "
" Azazel ? " Repeated Zoro. " Who's that person ? "
" He was my boss before I met Luffy! But forget it, this girl reminded me of me when my arrogance took over reason and overestimated my abilities ! I wanted to teach her a little lesson. "
" Tsss, a good pirate ? Don't make me laugh. "
However, suddenly rummaging through her pockets, she ends up extracting a key.
" Hold ! Use this to open the cage. "She say, as she threw it in his direction
" The key. " Rejoiced Luffy.
However, a small figure then came out of an alley and jumped towards the object, which it managed to catch in mid-flight.
" Huh ? " Said Luffy, trying to identify the figure.
Stopping outside a pet store, a little white dog was the little thief, who now held the key between its teeth.
" A dog ? " Wondered Lucy.
" What is it doing here, all alone ? " Wanted to know Nami.
" The key. " Suddenly shouted Luffy, stretching his arm. " Give me the key. "
Catching the dog, he managed to pull it up to him. Unfortunately, banging against the bars of the cage, the dog opened its mouth wide and the key fell there before being swallowed. Seeing this, there were a few seconds of silence.
" It has … " Began Nami.
" ... eat … " Continued Lucy.
" ... the key. " Zoro finished.
For her part, Raynare suddenly burst out laughing, while Luffy began to strangle the dog so that it spit out what it had just swallowed.
" Spit the key! Spit the key! Spit the key! "
" Hey, you ! What are you doing to this poor animal ? " Asked a voice.
" Hum ? " Said the pirates, turning to see the silhouette of a man in armor.
" Who are you ? " Wanted to know Zoro, taking a saber in his hand. " Friend or enemy ? "
" I will return the question to you. " Retorted the old man, pointing a spear in their direction. " Who are you ? "
" Pirates. " Luffy told him, finally letting go of the dog.
" Pirates ? " Repeated the man. " Are you from the crew of Buggy the Clown ? "
" If that can reassure you, he wants to kill us. " Raynare informed him.
" What do you mean ? And why is this young man in this cage? "
" Buggy locked him in there. " Taught him Lucy. " We had the key but the dog just swallowed it. "
" If you are pirates wanting to plunder this city, you can leave. " Informed the man, putting away his spear. " Since Buggy is here, there is nothing more to steal. "
" Who are you? " Asked Nami.
" My name is Boodle and I am the mayor of this city. "
" The mayor ? "
A few minutes later, looking at Chouchou eating a bowl of kibble, Lucy understood.
" So his name is Chouchou and he decided to stay in town ! So you come to feed him every day. "
" That's it. " Said Boodle, sitting down in front of the store. " Okay, I just took your two injured friends! The swordsman fell asleep and the girl insisted on taking care of her shoulder on her own. "
" These two are not human. " Said Nami.
" What does this stupid dog, all alone, do here? " Wanted to know Luffy, still trapped in his cage.
" He keeps his owner's store. " The mayor told him.
Then lighting a pipe, he told the story of the young dog as well as of its owner who was now deceased.
" For three months now, this dog has stood guard in front of this store ? " Nami wondered.
" But does he really have no idea what happened to his master ? " Wanted to know Lucy, stroking the dog's head.
" I'm sure he does. " Affirmed the mayor. " It may be me, but I have the impression that this shop is like his treasure and that he makes sure to protect it to honor the memory of his master. "
" Treasure ? " Repeated Luffy.
" Take example on him. " Suddenly advised Nami. " Even animals can behave better than humans. "
" Why do you say that ? " Questioned the two pirates.
" For nothing, bunch of ... " She began.
A loud roar was suddenly heard.
" What was that ? " Panicked the two women.
" It's Morge, a Buggy's lieutenant, and his lion! " Boodle taught them, trembling with fear.
" Lieutenant ? "
" Yes, Buggy has four lieutenants. In the order of power, there is Morge, the beast traine, Bull, the cannon-man, Cabaji, the acrobat and Magi, the magician ! Morge is still riding on the back of a gigantic lion, Ritchi ! Better to run ! "
Looking at each other, the two girls eventually ran away, leaving Luffy.
" Hey, don't go ! Help me out ! "
Then turning to the dog, he begged him.
" Spit the key, please. "
Starting to yawn, the animal showed him that it was not ready to cooperate.
Suddenly stopping to run, Lucy ends up turning to look behind her.
" Hey, what are you doing ? " Asked Nami. " Let's not stay there. "
" I ... I ... I have to go help Luffy. " Affirmed the blonde. " At first, I thought he could manage on his own but, in the end, maybe fighting in this cage is too big a handicap for him. "
Then turning around, she let out the other woman's weary sigh.
" Damn it ! But what is the problem with these pirates ? "
However, as she prepared to flee further, something inside her made her refuse to continue. She, who had insulted them so often, realized that she was more cowardly than them. Raynare had been right on one point : she was nothing ready to go, alone, on the Grand Line. Finally, with regret, she ends up making a turn.
"These morons ... "
Arriving in front of Chouchou's store, Lucy suddenly stopped, seeing the store completely burned by the flames.
" What … ? "
Screaming to death, Chouchou was in front of his store, which went up in ashes. If it had been a human, it was clear that he would be crying and begging for the flames to stop the carnage.
" But… the store? "
" This tamer burned it. " Nami was horrified, coming behind her.
Arriving in turn, Boodle then fell to his knees before punching the floor.
" How ? How many more things will they destroy until they are satisfied ? "
Clenching her fist, Lucy ends up hearing a footstep behind her. Turning around, she saw Luffy, wide-eyed, stunned by what he saw. He was now out of his cage and, unfortunately for the one who had just delivered him, able to beat up anyone.
Approaching him, Lucy questioned him.
" Let's go ? "
" Yes. " Luffy assured her.
With a dark look, he ends up punching his fist before affirming.
" Let's smash the head of this trainer. "
" Damn it, Ritchi ! Do you see where your greed leads us ? " Asked Morge, seeing the bite mark on his arm. " You eat and I get bitten. "
" Grrr. " Just said his lion, holding a packet of kibble, between his teeth.
" Finally, anyway, now that your stomach is full, Roronoa will not stand a chance against us. " Morge assured, sneering.
However, he was silent when he saw two people standing in front of him.
" You? " Wondered the trainer, recognizing Luffy." I thought I had already settled your account. "
Then looking at Lucy, he smiled again before noticing.
" You, I assume that you are the blonde who arrived with Roronoa. Great, since you kindly offered to come and see me, I would have taken care of a good part of the job! But before you kill yourself, can you tell me why you came here instead of staying hidden ? "
" You dared to take it out on Chouchou and you destroyed its store. " Said Lucy, taking out her keys.
" So we came here to avenge him. " Assured Luffy. " No one has the right to destroy someone's treasure without suffering the consequences. "
" Avenge ? " Was surprised Morge. " That stupid pooch ? I have never heard anything so ridiculous ! But OK ! Richie, attacks ! "
Letting its master leave its back, the feline immediately ran towards the two pirates.
" I'm taking care of it. " Assured Lucy, waving one of her keys. " Scorpio, over to you. "
Appearing then, a humanoid scorpion raised his tail in the air, before shouting.
" Let us do it ! SAND BUSTER ! "
A tornado of sand then emerged from his tail and spurted towards the lion. Unable to fight against the power of this attack, he ended up being thrown back and crashed against the facade of a house which then collapsed on him.
" Rit… RITCHIE ?! " Morge horrified, seeing his animal being beaten so easily.
A hand grabbed him at the neck and the man panicked when he saw Luffy's very long arm.
" But that ... that ... that ? "
" I ate the fruit of Gum Gum. " Luffy told him, face down.
" Devil's fruit ? You ... Do you both have powers ? "
Seeing them remain silent, he ends up begging.
" Pity ! I am sorry ! If you want, I will give you all the treasures you want. "
" Too late. " Retorted Luffy. " Now that you've destroyed Chouchou's treasure, nothing can bring it back ! Suddenly, it only remains for me to break your face. "
" I ... I don't recommend it. " Replied the man. " In the crew, he has other very strong people: Bull, Cabaji, Magi ... and the captain, of course ! If you ever touch me, they'll all fall on you. "
" But when are you going to close your mouth ? " Asked Luffy, pulling him towards him. " If you see your captain again, tell him this for me: "Big nose, get ready to take a beating". "
Then hitting Morge in the face, he dropped him to the floor, unconscious.
" Ah, it lets off steam. " Affirmed the captain, adjusting his hat over his head.
As Scorpio returned to the spirit world, Lucy suddenly picked up something from the ground.
" Hey, Luffy? "
" Hum ? " Said the captain, looking at the packet of kibble she had just picked up.
Returning, a few minutes later, to the place where they had left Nami and the others, they saw only a heap of burnt wood at the place where the Chouchou's store once stood. The dog seated before the place, had stopped barking and looked at the carnage with a head devoid of emotion. No one could tell if he was still sad for his store, or angry against Buggy and his gang.
" Poor animal. " Lucy noticed, walking towards him.
" All of this is your fault. " Then got angry at Nami, running towards them. " The fuckings pirates like you, ... I ... I hate them. "
Stopping her then, Boodle prevented her from hitting them. Finally ignoring her, Luffy sits next to Chouchou before placing the bag of kibble in front of the animal.
" Here ! Sorry, but this is the only package I could recover ! The lion had eaten the rest. "
Then stroking the head of the animal, he said.
" I didn't see you fight, but, seeing your wounds, you fought with dignity. "
" Your master would be proud of you. " Assured Lucy, approaching the animal in turn. " But, you know, now that the store is gone, I think he would like you to start a new life ! How would you like to join the people of this village, in the mountains and see if none of them would try to have a dog as extraordinary as you ? "
" No, but isn't it okay to tell him that ? " Cried Nami. " This poor animal has just lost his store and you ... "
But she stopped when she suddenly saw the animal go, taking the packet of kibble with him, the only memory, from now on, of his master.
" But that … ? "
" I know what it's like to lose someone you love. " Said Lucy, dropping in a suit. " I know that rehashing the memories of the person we lost is the worst torture ! Now that it's only connection to this world has disappeared, it is essential for him to find another, rather than moping. "
"Stop ... moping ? "
" W… What ? " Buggy wondered. " What happened to you Morge ? "
" I ... I lost against two of the people, the captain. " The tamer told him, while his face was covered with blood, like the body of his lion.
" What ? Did Zoro and Raynare put you in this state ? "
" No ! It's the blonde and Mugiwara. "
" What ? Mugiwara ? Impossible ! How come ? "
" The blonde, ... she ... she can make monsters appear. " Affirmed Morge. " And Mugi ... he…. he is … "
Fainting then, he fell to the ground, again unconscious.
" Make monsters appear ? " Repeated a pirate. " Does it unlock or what? "
" As if it were possible. "
" Maybe not. " Buggy retorted, suddenly scratching his chin. " Don't forget what happened, just now ! The guy I killed ... the red-haired ... he suddenly disappeared, as if he had disintegrated ! He was maybe one of this famous spirits. "
" Say like this, that would explain a lot. " Confessed a pirate.
" But then… that means that with Raynare, they have two demon fruit users in their team ! What are we going to do then ? "
"Simple. " Said Buggy. " Prepare the cannon ! This time, they will taste the Buggy Ball ! And we're going to bomb them until this city is smashed. "
" Luffy, what are we going to do now ? " Lucy asked him.
" What do you mean ? " Wanted to know Luffy.
" At the start, the main goal was to free yourself from your cage and leave this city ! However, now that I have seen the cruelty of these men ... I will never forgive myself for leaving this city in their grip. "
Clenching her fists, she said.
" I want to fight against the Buggy's crew. "
" No, but are you crazy ? " Wanted to know Nami. " You have no chance, face them ! Do I have to remind you that our escape was played by a thread, earlier ? "
" It's because I was locked in a cage. " Luffy retorted.
" And how does it change ? "
" It's not up to you to fight them. " Suddenly Boodle replied, tightening the grip of his spear. " Yes, the only one who has to fight him is me. "
" What ? " Cried the other three.
" You two, thank you for beating one of Buggy's lieutenants! However, let me do the rest ! I will beat them, no matter what it costs me. "
" Don't do that, you don't have the necessary strength. " Retorted Lucy.
" You are going to get killed. " Adds Nami.
" Chouchou fought ! Lucy fought! Luffy fought ! Should I really be called 'mayor' if I decide to do nothing to help my village find the peace it has always known ? We must ... I must show Buggy that we are not just a bunch of cowards ready to flee at the slightest suspicious noise. "
" Don't put your life in danger for nothing. " Retorted Nami. " Even if they take time to leave, they will end up clearing away when there is nothing more interesting here! You will then only have to repair what they damaged. "
" No way. " Retorted the mayor. " This city is only 40 years old! It's me ... the Chouchou's master ... and the rest of the city who built it, with our hands ! If the store was Chouchou's treasure, this city is my treasure. "
Raising his spear, he finally says.
" And no one will destroy my treasure. "
But suddenly, a powerful explosion ravaged a whole row of houses, which collapsed like a tower of cards.
" what … ? " Boodle was surprised. " My city ? "
" It was… the Buggy Ball. " Recognized Lucy. .
" Big nose. " Luffy got angry.
" No. " Cried the mayor. " The grocery store, the florist ... My house … "
Suddenly freezing, he ends up declaring.
" No ! Your friends were at my house. "
" What ? " Panicked Lucy.
Immediately running towards the rubble, Luffy began to clear away everything that came to hand.
" Zoro ! Raynare ! You are there ? Answer me. "
" Luffy! That ... it is useless. " Retorted Nami, looking away from the pirate. " They can't be alive! It's impossible. "
" And why is that ? " Asked a female voice.
Raising their eyes immediately, the quartet could see the fallen angel, flying through the air, while holding Zoro by his hair.
" Ouch ! Ouch ! Ouch ! Let go of me, silly girl. " Ordered the swordsman, gesturing in the void.
" Your wish is my command. " Raynare assured him, dropping him.
" NOOOOOOOOOO. " Cried Zoro, crashing into the rubble.
Then landing near him, Raynare saw him get up while saying.
" I will make raven sashimi. "
" Thank you for your gratitude! Do you realize that you would have died if I hadn't heard the bullet that hit us? "
" You speak ! It was not this little bullet that would have killed me. "
" Band of idiots. " Suddenly Lucy cried, throwing herself on them.
" Hey, what are you doing ? " Wanted to know the two pirates, suddenly quite uncomfortable, feeling her arms tighten around them.
" Hum ? " Wondered Luffy. " Are you again on our side, Raynare ? "
" I have been from the start, stupid. " Replied the angel. " You sleep or what ? By the way, how did you manage to free yourself from your cage ? "
" A giant lion freed me. "
" A lion ? "
" To storm. " Suddenly the mayor cried, running towards Buggy's headquarters.
" No, don't go. " Implored Nami.
" I am not afraid of these pirates! And I will beat them, even if my defeat is run ahead. "
Going away, the five other people saw him leave without one of the pirates making the slightest gesture to stop him.
" But… But we can't let him go like this. " Remarked Nami.
" And why this ? " Asked Luffy, watching him disappear from his sight. " This grandpa… he really looks like a real warrior now. "
" Hey, could someone explain to me what I missed ? " Wanted to know Zoro. " Since the house has exploded, I guess the clown still has not had his account. "
" What shall we do now ? " Asked Raynare.
Smiling, Luffy said.
" We will take the Grand Line card, save a grandpa and kick the clown's buttocks ! The five of us can do it. "
" How about that, five ? " Got upset, Nami. " No way I'm putting my life in danger. "
" Is that so ? However, it was you who wanted Buggy's treasure. " Noticed the fallen angel. " After all these adventures, it would be a shame to leave without stealing his precious booty! And then, he has your Grand Line card. "
" Grrr. " Said Nami, hesitating.
Finally, her greed took over and she finally said.
" Good, this is what I offer you ! We will team up to fight Buggy to leave this city and join the Grand Line ! I will accompany you, until I have collected enough money, before you leave."
" Great. " Said Luffy, smiling at her. " Now that we have a navigator, the One Piece is at hand. "
" I told you it was temporary. " She retorted.
A second explosion was then heard, while a new part of the city went up in smoke.
" Ok, in this case, let's save this city. " Cried Luffy.
Who will join Luffy's crew ?
Before Shells Town : Raynare ( Highschool DxD ) / Lucy Heartfilia ( Fairy Tail )
Arc Shells Town : Roronoa Zoro
Arc Kuro : Usopp
Arc Baratie : Sanji / ?
Arc Arlong : Nami / ? / ?
Arc Drum : Chopper
Arc Alabasta : Nico Robin / ? / ? / ? / ?
Arc Skypiea : ?
Arc Enies Lobby : Franky
Arc Post Enies-Lobby : ?
Arc Thriller Bark : Brook
Arc Punk Hazard : ?
Arc Tesoro : ?
Arc Dressrosa : ? / ?
Arc Wano Kuni : Jinbei / ?
Arc Post Wano Kuni : ?
Arc Battle Teach : ?