Luffy
Luffy stepped onto the weathered dock of Orange Town, the creaking wood beneath his sandals echoing in the stillness. He had heard tales of this bustling port, where the air was thick with the scent of fresh produce and the sounds of laughter and trade. Now, an eerie quiet hung over the town and the smell of dust, a stark contrast to Shanks' lively descriptions.
Zoro and Koby joined him, the latter tying the boat up. Zoro stepped up to Luffy's side, his eyes scanning the desolate streets. "Is it supposed to be this empty?" A lone seagull called, landing nearby briefly before flying off.
Luffy stretched out his haki, but felt nothing. "There's no one nearby. Maybe there's something going on in town?" The faint sounds of music reached them, but were too low to make out anything specific. There was no wind, and the heat was almost oppressive here.
Zoro and Koby stayed close as they walked down the deserted main street. The faint strains of music grew louder with each step, weaving through the empty alleyways and abandoned market stalls. Luffy felt a grin tug at the corners of his lips. Something about this music seemed…familiar. Not like he had heard it before, but heard of it before.
The medley of carnival sounds reached them—laughter, shouting, and the exaggerated screams of people in mock peril. Luffy recalled Shanks stopping by a port once that had a small carnival. It had been fun, but they hadn't stayed long. It had sort of sounded like what he heard now. There was something off about this though.
"Luffy, do you think everyone's at the carnival?" Koby asked after a moment.
Zoro scoffed. "I'm not so sure that is a carnival. Sounds like pirates to me. Throwing a party?" He cast a look at Luffy.
He shrugged. "It's not Shanks. His parties don't sound like that. Plus, he left for the New World months ago. Yeah, we got wild, but this is another pirate. And I might know who." He picked up his pace, leaving a confused Zoro and Koby behind. Plus, Shanks and his crew drank so much that alcohol that the air heavily reeked of it. There was none of that smell here.
After a few blocks, it was obvious that the houses were completely empty. Luffy saw the telltale signs of them being ransacked, though he had never done it himself. Doors being scratched or barely cracked open, a few windows shattered from the outside, window gardens destroyed, even something spilled on the doorstep that looked like old beer.
But the stain was damp.
They hadn't been here long then.
Luffy stopped a block from the carnival. Ahead of him, a girl was running his way. Behind her, three…clowns? No, pirates. Dressed somewhere in between, each carried a sword and a dagger tucked into their belts.
The orange hair girl raced past him and the three pirates stopped when they saw Luffy.
Hiding behind Luffy, the girl panted, "Oh please save me boss!"
Boss? Luffy glanced at her. Orange hair, maybe a year younger than him, wide eyes, and clutching a rolled-up map. She wore shorts, sandals, and a blue and white shirt.
One of the pirates grinned. "Oh, so you're her boss? Better hand that minx over. She stole something of ours." He held out his sword, the tip almost touching Luffy's chest.
Zoro and Koby stopped a few feet away.
Luffy sensed Koby's fear, the tension in his friend's posture, and Zoro's curiosity, the swordsman's hand inching toward his katana. Keeping his eyes locked on the three pirates, Luffy asked, "What'd she steal?" He didn't exactly want to play along, but were they going to hurt her just because she stole a map?
"None of your business!" the pirate on the left snarled. "But it belongs to Captain Buggy."
Luffy grinned. So his suspicion was correct. "I think we'll keep it, actually."
The girl gasped. Luffy's observation told him that Zoro and Koby were surprised, but neither of them spoke.
The middle pirate growled and poked Luffy's chest with his sword. "Then we'll just take you to Captain Buggy then and he can get the map back."
Luffy said nothing as they surrounded him.
The walk to the carnival wasn't that long, maybe three blocks. Pirates were dancing around. Knife throwing contests, dunk tank, balloons, and Luffy wasn't surprised when he heard a lion roar. As Luffy and his companions, the girl included, walked through, many of them stopped and watched. Luffy caught the grins and smirks, but ignored them.
He heard the girl whisper her name to Koby when he asked; Nami.
The town's center square had been taken over by a large pirate crew. They were gaudy in the worst sense, but it was clear they were pirates. In front of the largest building stood what Luffy could only think of as a throne.
And he had to hide his grin as he saw the red-nosed pirate sitting with one leg thrown over one side and an arm over the other. Wearing an orange cloak and sash, red-and-white stripped shirt, and with his face painted with a pair of crossbones and blue markings above his eyes, he looked older than Shanks had described but this was obviously Buggy. Shanks' fellow apprentice from before they made their own crews.
Buggy grinned and rested his cheek on his hand as Luffy and the others approached. "Who do we have here?"
"We caught the thief captain, and apparently this is her boss," the middle pirate said, stepping to the side.
Buggy took one look at Luffy.
Luffy barely kept his grin in check as recognition flickered in the older pirate's gaze.
Buggy stood, his cloak reaching the ground in a dramatic sweep. "To what do we owe the honor of this meeting, Straw Hat Luffy?" His voice dripped with sarcasm, but Luffy caught the fear there.
The music cut off abruptly, the sudden silence amplifying the tension. Pirates paused mid-revelry, turning to stare. Zoro and Koby instinctively moved closer to Luffy, their expressions a mix of readiness and confusion. Nami, trembling, edged further behind Luffy, clutching the map tightly.
Luffy finally let his own grin show. "I finally get to meet you, Bug."
Silence descended like a knife as Buggy's face twitched.
"How do you know that name, kid?" His voice went low, but the anger simmering within was easy for Luffy to detect.
Luffy chuckled. "I've heard a lot about you from my dad, that's all."
From the corner of his eye, he saw Zoro's brows raise.
Surprise and alarm flickered across Buggy's face just before he jumped back. "WHEN DID SHANKS HAVE A KID?!"
Luffy couldn't help but laugh. "I was his apprentice, but he kinda raised me." He never told Shanks he considered the man his dad, but he started thinking of him that way pretty soon after coming aboard.
And he couldn't wait to tell Shanks to his face.
Zoro looked just as startled as Buggy and Nami looked like she was going to faint. Koby just sighed and hung his head, muttering something under his breath.
Buggy growled and took a pace forward. The nervous twitch of his eye was barely perceptible, but clear to Luffy. "What do you want here?" His gaze flicked to Nami, who was trembling next to Zoro now.
"We came here for supplies, but didn't expect the town to be taken over," Luffy said with a smile. "Then we heard the carnival and came to see it."
Buggy didn't raise his arm, but suddenly, his disembodied hand shot forward, grabbing Nami by the shirt and lifting her off the ground. Her scream pierced the air. "So this girl isn't with you then?" Buggy's voice dripped with mockery.
Nami shrieked, her feet a full foot off the ground. "I'm sorry!"
Luffy eyed her carefully before speaking. "Just let her return whatever it is she stole and let her go."
Buggy chuckled darkly. "No. She stole a map from me. Anyone who steals from Buggy the Clown won't get away so lightly."
Luffy felt something ping in his observation but didn't turn. If he acted now, it could end badly. He had to wait.
A rumbling sound drew the attention of Luffy and his crew. A cannon rolled over, two people on each side. It stopped twenty feet away and Luffy stiffened as Buggy held Nami in front of it.
The clown laughed. "She stole. Even if she returns it, I can't let her get away scot free!"
Luffy frowned. "So you'd kill someone who returned something they stole?"
"I've done it a hundred times, brat!" Buggy scoffed. "She's not with you, so why do you care?"
Luffy clenched one fist. Even if she had stolen, why should she die? He recalled one man who stole from Shanks, not long after Luffy had joined them. It wasn't much, just a pistol from the armory that had been stored there until Yasopp could fix it. That was the second time Luffy had ever seen Shanks mad, but more because the man could've asked. When he returned it, Shanks had knocked him out for a while with haki then let him go.
But to die? That was too much.
"Let her go," Luffy told him. "She'll return the map, but let her go."
The corner of Buggy's lip lifted into a smile. "You're a pirate. You should understand the rules. Someone steals, they get punished."
"Let her go," Luffy let haki creep into his voice.
Several people dropped. Buggy released Nami; Zoro raced forward and caught her quickly.
"So you've got conqueror's haki too?" Buggy gritted his teeth. Without warning, his other hand flashed out, three daggers stuck between his fingers, and launched at Luffy's head.
He ducked but felt something nick his hair. Glancing back, his eyes widened as his hat went flying off. Time seemed to slow as Buggy's hand raced back around. Before Luffy could reach it, the daggers slid through the hat and then Buggy's hand was back on his arm.
A bolt of haki shot out. Buggy narrowed his eyes but didn't move. "Watch it kid, you're nowhere near a match for me."
A man rolled forward, balancing easily on a unicycle. "Let me take care of him Captain."
Luffy clenched his fist, but didn't move. His observation pinged to someone behind him.
The man shot forward, a sword aimed for Luffy. "You won't even be a match for me!"
Zoro suddenly appeared, two swords blocking the man's attack. "Poor form to attack a captain like that." He grinned and shoved the man away easily, then glanced back at Luffy. "I can take care of this joker."
Luffy gave him a nod, masking his tension with a casual stance. Without warning, he threw a quick punch at Buggy, careful not to put too much force behind it, lest he damage his hat.
Buggy dodged with a cackle. "Too predictable, Straw Hat! Or should I even call you that now?" He flipped the hat from his daggers, examining it critically. "I'm surprised you still have this. But you won't need it after today, so maybe I'll destroy it now."
Luffy's eyes narrowed, his focus sharpening. In an instant, his arm shot forward again, faster than Buggy could react, knocking the hat from his hands. Luffy caught it mid-air, pulling it back to inspect it. Three large gashes marred its surface, but it was still intact. A sharp burn sparked in his chest. "This hat was given to me. And you won't destroy it!"
Several more people fainted as the tension in the square reached a fever pitch. The surrounding heat seemed to rise as haki leaked out, making the very air around Luffy hum and vibrate with an invisible energy.
Buggy shot a hand out again, but Luffy, with his Observation Haki, anticipated the move. He dodged effortlessly, feeling the rush of air as Buggy's fist missed him by mere inches, then countered with a swift, powerful punch. His knuckles met Buggy's cheek with a satisfying thud,.
The clown was sent flying, crashing into a stack of barrels. Splinters and shattered wood flew everywhere. Buggy struggled to his feet, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip with a growl. His eyes burned with fury. "You'll pay for that, Straw Hat!"
Luffy cracked a grin. "Try it, Bug." He knew it was probably reckless to taunt Buggy, but he couldn't help himself. Luffy despised pirates who killed without a second thought. To him, killing was a last resort, reserved for the gravest situations. Trivial disputes could always be settled without bloodshed.
"Kick his butt, Luffy!" Koby's voice rang out.
Luffy extended his Observation Haki, sensing Koby a good distance away and safe. His eyes then spotted Nami darting through the chaos with a sack over her shoulder. He smirked—probably treasure, he mused, recalling how she had already swiped a map. He had already clocked her as a thief, so this was no surprise.
Buggy lunged forward, knives flashing in the sunlight. Luffy sidestepped the first strike, ducked under the second, and countered with a swift kick to Buggy's midsection. The clown stumbled back, cursing loudly.
"You're not going to win this Straw Hat! Doesn't matter who trained you!" Buggy gave a wide grin and burst out. His body split apart and he was suddenly everywhere.
Luffy ducked, dodged, leaped, rolled, but then noticed that while most of Buggy was flying, his shoes were on the ground still. Grinning, Luffy pelted forward and slammed down on one of Buggy's feet. A dirty move, but who said pirates fought fair?
And from what Shanks told him, Buggy rarely fought fair.
Buggy yelled out. "You bastard!" His parts battered Luffy as he ran, but, with a wide grin, he hooked one hand on a post and kept running. Buggy paused for barely a second, then launched a barrage of knives after him.
Luffy stretched his arm across half the square, feeling the familiar tension in his muscles as he prepared for his next move. Skidding to a stop, he turned with a chuckle, "Gum gum rocket!" With a burst of speed, he launched himself forward. The memory of Shanks's disapproving look flashed through his mind; he had once accidentally knocked his mentor overboard with this move, landing them both in the water several feet from the ship.
Buggy, unprepared for the haki-coated fist, took the full brunt of Luffy's attack. The impact drove into Buggy's stomach, sending him flying. He hit the edge of the squares fountain.
Luffy laughed and stepped back. "I figured you would've been tougher than that Buggy." He had trained alongside Shanks, and they were Roger's apprentices! Not that everyone was the same, but this was almost…disappointing.
Buggy scrambled to his feet unsteadily, his face contorted in pain and rage. "You think you can just walk away, Straw Hat? I'm not done yet!"
Luffy's eyes narrowed, his grin fading. "You never learn, do you?" He recalled Shanks telling him how stubborn Buggy could be. Even when it was something silly, like trying to guess if the north or south pole was colder. It was ridiculous.
Buggy forced himself to stand, wobbling slightly. He reassembled his scattered parts, panting heavily. "I'm going to make you regret ever crossing me!"
Luffy prepared himself for the next attack, his stance firm and unwavering. "Bring it on." He cracked his knuckles.
With a furious roar, Buggy charged at Luffy, knives drawn and eyes blazing with fury.
Luffy let both hands stretch far back. "You asked for this! Gum gum bazooka!" He let his hands fly forward and slammed them into Buggy's chest. The older pirate was sent flying, well over the houses. There wasn't even the sound of the crash.
Luffy stepped back.
Koby came rushing over. "That was awesome!" His eyes wide, Luffy could almost see Koby trying some of those moves himself.
Luffy grinned, but a crash made them whip around to see the swordsman from Buggy's crew fighting with Zoro still. Zoro picked himself up, a thick patch of red soaking his shirt. Koby started forward, but Luffy held him back. When Koby gave him a scared look, Luffy just grinned. "He can handle it."
The other man came through the smoke, riding on a single wheel still, but before he could do so much as raise his sword, Zoro raised two swords and sliced upwards. The other man fell after a second.
"Nice job Zoro!" Luffy called, running over. Around them were scattered various members of Buggy's crew, all of them downed by Luffy's haki.
The green-haired swordsman grinned but stumbled. Koby caught him before he hit the ground.
"Quick, get him inside the house!" They all looked to see Nami waving them over. "We need to stop the bleeding!"
Picking Zoro up easily, he dashed over. Nami already had bandages out, and Luffy guessed they were taken from this house. But it was justified in this case. Zoro had already passed out.
Luffy waited as Koby helped Nami. Luffy had no knowledge of healing. Hongo had tried to teach him, but the doctor didn't have as good as knowledge as he should've himself. When your crew was the strongest and the only wounds were bruises or the occasional cut, why did he need to know much more?
He leaned against the wall. "What was so special about that map you stole?"
Nami tucked the end of the bandage into a fold. "It's a map of the Grand Line. I'm heading there to steal treasure." She washed her hands in the sink and put away anything she had taken but not used; Luffy felt a glimmer of respect that she didn't just keep it.
"So you're a thief?" Koby asked.
Nami nodded. "I only steal from pirates though." That explained her putting the unused supplies then.
Luffy watched her for a moment. "How will you get to the Grand Line on your own though? Shanks told me stories of the strange weather there. Going with no crew is dangerous." He had warned Luffy that going there without a crew was certain to end in his death.
Nami shrugged. "I'll manage."
Luffy cocked his head, crossing his arms. "We're heading to the Grand Line. Come with us." He wasn't particularly fond of having a thief aboard, but there was something about Nami he liked.
Nami scoffed. "I steal from pirates. Why would I travel with you?"
Cracking a grin, Luffy stood straighter. "Because you'll never make it there alone."
Koby eyed him, then turned to Nami. "We can at least take you to Loguetown. We'll have to go there before the Grand Line, anyway."
Nami hummed, then shook her head. "I'd be better alone than with a pirate." Luffy didn't miss the almost wistful tone hidden in her voice.
"But would anyone else let you come with them?" Luffy asked. His grin grew as uncertainty flickered across Nami's face. "You don't have to stay with us, but just come with us to the next island at least."
Nami looked at Zoro, then back at Luffy. "Why are you so eager to help me?"
Luffy's grin softened. "Everyone needs a crew. Even if it's just for a little while." If he didn't know any better, he could almost guess she didn't spend a lot of time with people; she was lonely. He understood that well.
Nami hesitated, glancing at Koby, who gave her an encouraging nod.
"Where are we going?" Koby asked. Nami gave Luffy a resigned look, but he knew she would come now.
Luffy chuckled. "Syrup Village."